The World Today

In a dramatic public appearance, the sacked head of the FBI has criticised the President's character and accused Donald Trump of lying about the reasons for getting rid of him. But James Comey has told the Senate Intelligence Committee that it's up to a special independent inquiry to decide whether the President committed a crime when he put pressure on him to drop an investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn and his contacts with the Russians.

James Fallows, an author and national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine, describes former FBI director James Comey's appearance at a US Senate intelligence committee hearing as an extraordinary episode, unlike anything the nation has seen since the Watergate hearings in the 1970s that ended with the resignation of president Richard Nixon. In the wake of Donald Trump's lawyer denying Comey's testimony, he says it's a question of who you wish to believe: a career prosecutor and FBI agent testifying under oath, under penalty of perjury; or Donald Trump?

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has apologised for any offence caused when its players didn't line up for a minute's silence at a match in Adelaide last night. Australian players were honouring the victims of the terrorist attack in London. Football fans and political figures have expressed outrage, with a former Socceroos captain saying he's disgusted.

A long-awaited shake-up of for taxis and ride sharing in New South Wales is taking shape. Under the reforms, booked taxis would be able to turn off their meter and offer a fixed price instead. The changes could also see taxis printing variable rates on their windows.

Indigenous leaders and unions have united to call for better rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers. It coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Palm Island strike, when seven men on the north Queensland island protested against their poor conditions and wages. The ACTU says, while conditions have significantly improved since then, it wants major reform to the Federal Government's 'work for the dole' scheme.

The Arabic satellite news channel has been blocked by several countries including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Some of its regional offices have been closed and Al Jazeera now says it's undergoing cyber attacks. Former jailed Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste says it's a dangerous time for the network's staff.

Excavators at a hotel in Mexico City have found an ancient court used by the ancient Aztecs in a high stakes ball game, where ritual sacrifices were performed on the sidelines.

Melbourne researchers have discovered that two immunotherapy drugs combined with chemotherapy are showing promising signs of treating triple negative breast cancer. It's a particularly aggressive and hard to treat form of the disease and is often developed by women carrying the BRCA 1 gene.

More Australian children are being immunised than ever before, although we still haven't reached the national target, according to new data. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report says for the first time all major primary health zones in Australia have vaccination rates above 90 per cent. But the picture changes when we look at postcodes, with rates as low as around 70 per cent in some inner-city suburbs.

Victoria's Police chief has revealed the state's deradicalisation program is at a turning point and it's unclear who will run it in future. The Brighton gunman involved in Monday's siege took part in the scheme but it failed to curb his violent behaviour. One terrorism expert is concerned the Victorian program is facing an uncertain future and wants a rethink of how it operates.