The World Today

Russia's President has responded to the threat of new US sanctions by ordering the US mission in Russia to cut more than 700 staff. This would see the US diplomatic presence in Russia shrink by almost two-thirds. In a TV interview, Vladimir Putin has said he's been holding off on the move, but that he decided over the weekend he had no choice. Earlier, the US Senate voted for new sanctions in retaliation for alleged Russian meddling in last year's US presidential election - the White House says the President will sign the Bill.

Venezuelans have boycotted a vote to elect a new constituent assembly that's expected to rewrite the constitution, granting more powers to president Nicolas Maduro. Around thirteen people have died in the latest round of nationwide demonstrations against the unpopular president.

Australian researchers say all women aiming to have children should be offered testing for a syndrome that causes intellectual disabilities. Testing for Fragile X, an inherited genetic condition, is only currently available to pregnant women who have a family history of the syndrome. But a study has shown that all pregnant women or those planning a family, could benefit from the test.

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts says he's confident he'll beat any legal challenge to his eligibility to be in parliament. There's a question over it because a form showing he renounced UK citizenship came five months after last year's election. Under the constitution he should have renounced any foreign citizenship before running for parliament.

A study by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute shows Australian babies are prescribed more antibiotics than children in many other comparable countries. The research examined the health records of 660 children who are part of the Barwon Infant Study in Victoria. It found 50 per cent were given at least one course of antibiotics before they turned one. Researchers say it's a tricky and nuanced issue, but the findings should prompt a more considered approach to prescribing antibiotics.

Drug treatment experts have welcomed the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's plan to introduce real-time tracking of scripts for drugs like morphine and oxycontin, but they say they do have concerns about implementation. Mr Hunt's announced the plan in a bid to both crack down on 'doctor-shopping' and to identify opioid addicts. But some are worried the plan could put GPs and pharmacists in harm's way, while others say the jury is still out on whether monitoring will help solve Australia's growing opioid addiction crisis.

Hepatitis advocacy bodies have welcomed the Federal Government's plans to put a new hepatitis C treatment on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. But, they say there still needs to be a much more targeted approach to treating marginal groups with hepatitis, particularly those in prisons. One north Queensland prison has declared itself hepatitis C free, and public health experts say that should set a precedent across the country.

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has announced that British nuclear aircraft carriers may soon be sailing through contested waters in the South China Sea, in a move likely to escalate regional tensions. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, believes Australia should rethink its reticence to act on its commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, given that several nations have now pledged to sailing their naval vessels through the area.

Another day, another crisis in the Trump White House: once again, entirely of its own making. Donald Trump's chief of staff and his new communications director are in open warfare, being played out on cable news - apparently with the knowledge and approval of the President. The appointment of financier Anthony Scaramucci to the communications job has already seen the White House's press secretary, Sean Spicer, resign in protest. Now Scaramucci is openly accusing Priebus of leaking White House information to journalists.

The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly to support tougher sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill already has the support of the House of Representatives. But it now has to go to the President, who has threatened to veto the bill on the grounds that it would harm US relations with Russia. It's still unclear how Donald Trump will respond.