The World Today

The Australian Medical Association is calling for sanctions against hospitals that ask female doctors applying for jobs about their plans to have children. The New South Wales Branch of the AMA has received a spate of reports of the practice, especially in private hospitals. The Association's state President suspects the problem is widespread and wants it stamped out.

The Victorian Government has announced it's going to buy the Heyfield timber mill. The mill's future has been in doubt for months after its timber supply was cut by the state-owned body Vic Forests. The Government is confident the mill can still be viable, but it and workers know not all 250 jobs can be saved through this deal.

Pope Francis has chosen to replace the Vatican's cardinal in charge of sex abuse cases. The World Today speaks to Catholic Church commentator and former priest Paul Collins.

Australian researchers have found the street you grow up in can have an effect on brain development, and the future course of your life. Figures show the more disadvantaged the suburb, the slower the development. But that's not always the case, especially for boys.

Prescriptions of anti-psychotic drugs are on the rise, and experts are worried about the potential side-effects. Time-strapped parents and GPs are turning to drugs to deal with behavioural issues in children that could lead to sudden weight gain and dependence on pharmaceuticals in adulthood.

Scientists say they've identified the 'perfect storm' conditions, which led to last year's mass coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. Oceanographic data shows three factors caused the water around the reef to reach excessively warm temperatures, which damaged the coral. But the researchers say they cannot determine whether it was a fluke event, or if it was caused by climate change.

A year and a half after Alinta Energy closed its coal mine at Leigh Creek in South Australia's Northern Flinders Ranges, the mammoth job of remediating the mine is well underway. The mine closed in late 2015, months ahead of the power station at the other end of the 250 kilometre long rail line at Port Augusta. But it's not just the land being restored, as the town works to find a new purpose as a tourism hub.

The language barrier between Aboriginal patients and their doctors is contributing to poor health outcomes, and shorter life expectancy. Doctor Rob Amery is an expert in linguistics from the University of Adelaide, and says it's far from obvious to a doctor when their Aboriginal patient isn't understanding the conversation.

An international drug cartel has been disrupted after Australian authorities arrested seven men and seized a huge amount of cocaine in Melbourne. It coincides with the release of a new report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission which reveals gangs are using air and sea to transport their illicit cargo.

The 'Information Warfare Unit' will begin operating from tomorrow. The unit's aim is to defend Australian military targets from cyber-attacks and to launch assaults on foreign forces if necessary.