Your morning Briefing

Welcome to your morning roundup of what’s making news and the must-reads for today.

Hello readers. Here is your two-minute digest of what’s making news today and a long read for later.

Men walk past an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Asian shares rose Tuesday, cheered by the upbeat mood on Wall Street and hopes for U.S. economic growth. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Global growth

For the first time in many years, the World Bank’s outlook for the global economy is better than expected rather than worse, with all regions seeing improved growth, according to its latest forecast. However, the bank warns that countries must make investments to improve their growth prospects, and the time to do that is before the next economic crisis hits, as it inevitably will.

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Pictured in Ryde today is former NSW Labor Premier Kristina Keneally, who will take on Liberal MP John Alexander in the Bennelong by-election. Picture: Tim Hunter.

‘No KK, OK?’

Failed Bennelong candidate and former NSW premier Kristina Keneally is said to be still “making up her mind” whether to make a bid for Sam Dastyari’s Senate spot, with party and union officials expected to decide on a ­replacement later this month. Yesterday, NSW Health Ser­vices Union secretary Gerard Hayes called on the party to preselect someone other than Ms ­Keneally and opt for fresh blood.

“We have got a real interest in workers’ representation going forward and we need to be thinking broadly into the future as ­opposed to thinking about what we can do that’s easy.”

Gerard Hayes

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Michael Goldring posted this picture on twitter showing the extensive delays across the sydney train network today. Source: ABC Sydney

Off the rails

Sydney train commuters are again being warned of “major delays”, a day after the network went into meltdown and frustrated passengers were left stranded on platforms. Transport NSW tweeted on Wednesday morning: “MAJOR DELAYS ACROSS THE NETWORK due to staff availability & earlier incidents. Trains running at reduced frequency. Buses supplement some services. Listen to station announcements for the latest.” NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley labelled the situation as “shambolic”, saying he had been caught up in the chaos at Town Hall station on Tuesday night.

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9/1/18 Arnav Sati is a Tarneit resident angry at the government and police response to a wave of street gang violence in Mlebourne's western suburbs. He has started a petition urging the government to take stronger action two days ago, and it has already amassed 6500 signatures. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Safe streets save seats

Victoria’s Andrews government is fighting to contain the fallout of street gang violence in a swag of safe seats where residents who have had enough of feeling scared have started petitioning for ­immediate government action. Tarneit resident Arnav Sati has attracted more than 6000 signatures in just three days with a petition demanding the government fast-track changes to bail laws and give police more powers to immediately control thugs who commit violence on the street.

“We’ve always had crime on the street, but it just feels as if it’s coming into our homes.”

Arnav Sati

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Christopher Pyne and his sandcastle.

Divining Pyne

Trying to figure out just what makes Christopher Pyne tick is a task way beyond the powers of mere mortals, writes Richo. There is no better companion for lunch or dinner than this man. He is intelligent, witty and has a wealth of general knowledge. He can also be the most frustrating and annoying politician in the entire nation. He can speak the greatest load of rubbish, sound like he believes it, but can’t help allowing the hint of a smirk at the same time.

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Members of the South Korea delegation (R) talk with members of the North Korean delegation (L) during their meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 9, 2018. North and South Korea began their first official talks in more than two years on January 9, focussing on the forthcoming Winter Olympics after months of tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme. / AFP PHOTO / Dong-A Ilbo / - / South Korea OUT

The long read: Kim comes to the table

The final surviving conflict of the Cold War last year threatened to flare back into life to consume much of the world in nuclear conflagration. So it was symbolically appropriate that the talks that started yesterday between North and South Korea took place in Panmunjom, the area where the armistice between them was signed on July 27, 1953 — and where core unfinished business remains on the table. Rowan Callick ponders the reasons — and motives — behind Kim’s outbreak of diplomacy.

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Comment of the day

“So what about someone with some life experience, track record of success and contribution to others in society. But I guess that would rule out union hacks and failed politicians.”

Andrew, in response to ‘Kristina Keneally still ‘making up her mind’ about Senate bid’.

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Clement’s view

Rod Clement Letters Cartoon for 10-01-18Version: (650x366)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.