VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Australian retail sales volumes fell for the first time in a year last quarter as shoppers trimmed spending on goods, a sign higher borrowing costs are finally working to curb spending.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Monday showed real retail sales dipped 0.2% in the December quarter to A$96.9 billion ($66.99 billion). That was still better than market forecasts of a 0.6% fall and will make a slight drag on economic growth.

The report also showed growth in retail prices was the slowest all year in the quarter, which might reassure the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that its aggressive policy tightening is starting to cool demand, albeit slowly.

The central bank meets on Tuesday as is widely expected to hike rates by a quarter point to 3.35%. (Reuters)

South Korea's central bank said it renewed on Monday a currency swap agreement with its Australian counterpart, valued at 9.6 trillion won or A$12 billion, for five years until early 2028.

The agreement, first signed in 2014, allows either party to exchange funds in own currency for the other currency under pre-set terms.

The Bank of Korea and the Reserve Bank of Australia have since renewed the agreement several times. (Reuters)

Leading members of North Korea's ruling party will meet this month to discuss the "urgent" task of improving the country's agricultural sector, as international experts say food insecurity has worsened amid sanctions and COVID-19 lockdowns.

State news agency KCNA reported that the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) politburo decided on Sunday that a larger plenary meeting of the Central Committee will gather in late February.

"It is a very important and urgent task to establish the correct strategy for the development of agriculture and take relevant measures for the immediate farming in the present stage of the struggle to promote the overall development of socialist construction," the report said.

The politburo recognised that "a turning point is needed to dynamically promote the radical change in agricultural development," KCNA said.

Last month the U.S.-based 38 North programme, which monitors North Korea, said in a report that "food availability has likely fallen below the bare minimum with regard to human needs," with food insecurity at its worst since the famines of the 1990s.

"Resolving North Korea’s chronic food insecurity would require, among other things, strengthening property rights, opening and revitalising the industrial and service sectors of the economy, and embracing an export-oriented model," the 38 North report said. "The regime, which fears internal competition and its own demise, has so far proved itself unwilling to pursue such reforms."

North Korea is under strict international sanctions over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. Border trade has further been choked off by self-imposed lockdowns aimed at preventing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Those lockdowns have partially eased in recent months, with some trade resuming between North Korea and Russia and China, though at still limited levels.

The country is also routinely struck by natural disasters such as floods and heavy rains that damage summer crops. (Reuters)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will push for bipartisan support on a referendum that aims to set up an Indigenous consultative committee in parliament, when it meets on Monday for the first time this year.

The landmark referendum, to be held later this year, will establish an Indigenous "Voice", that can make representations to parliament on policies affecting them.

If passed, that would add language to its constitution - which cannot be amended without a referendum - to recognise Australia's Indigenous citizens for the first time.

A poll by The Australian newspaper released on Monday showed 56% of voters supported the change in the constitution, with 37% opposing it.

Australia is seeking to give more recognition to its Aboriginal people, who have inhabited the land for 60,000 years but track well below national averages on most socio-economic measures.

"I believe very firmly that Australians should take the opportunity that they'll have in the second half of this year to cast a vote for yes, to cast a vote to walk upon the path of reconciliation," Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

"It might just make some people's lives, some of the most disadvantaged people in our country, their lives better."

Albanese, who has staked much of his political capital on the referendum in a country that has only passed eight of them since becoming an independent nation, said he wanted to get "as much agreement as possible".

"This should be above politics," he said, adding he hoped to introduce the legislation in the current term of the parliament.

The federal opposition Liberal Party has not yet backed the referendum but a group, which includes some prominent Indigenous Australians and lawmakers, have launched a campaign against it.

They say it will not resolve the issues affecting the country's roughly one million Indigenous citizens.

Opposition is also forming among progressives. A Greens party senator quit the party and moved to the crossbench on Monday because of concerns about to the Voice proposal. She first wants a treaty between the government and indigenous people, similar to what exists in New Zealand and Canada.

"Greens MPs, members and supporters have told me they want to support the Voice. This is at odds with the community of activists that are saying treaty before voice," said Senator Lidia Thorpe at a news conference on Monday.

Her exit complicates the passage of legislation through the senate, where the government is in minority. A combination of independent crossbench members and the Greens are needed to pass non-bipartisan legislation. (Reuters)