The World Today

The Prime Minister says Australia's political parties will be given a briefing by the nation's intelligence services, to help them to reduce the risk of cyber attacks like those seen in the United States during their last election.

They're meant to be peace talks, but on day one negotiations between Syrian government leaders and rebel factions have degenerated into a war of words.

Negotiators from Syria, Russia, Turkey and Iran as well as opposition rebel groups are meeting in the capital of Kazakhstan, in the latest effort to reach a peace deal.

Researchers have stumbled across a major breakthrough in their quest to treat a potentially fatal pregnancy complication. Pre-eclampsia occurs when the placenta releases a toxin into the mother's bloodstream, damaging her organs, and forcing the early delivery of her baby. It affects one in 20 pregnancies, kills an estimated 70,000 women around the world each year and there is no medical treatment. But a team from Melbourne's Mercy Hospital has found a drug used to treat reflux could stop the production of the toxins.

A group of Australian hip hop performers say they're devastated by the shooting death of an actor filming their video clip. Johann Ofner was shot in the chest on set in an underground bar in Brisbane. Police, workplace safety officers and the film industry are all looking into what's believed to have been an accidental death.

Physicists at the ANU have invented a tiny device they say creates the highest quality holograms ever seen. They are hoping industry will use their invention to create new products like lighter lenses for cameras and smartphones.

New South Wales has a new Premier. Gladys Berejiklian was elected unopposed earlier today in a Liberal Party room meeting that lasted about 10 minutes. Premier Berejiklian has given her first press conference in the job and has named housing affordability as one of her top priorities.

Despite the Trump administration vowing to pull out of the deal, the Australian Government is pushing ahead with its plans to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The Coalition says that it's important for the Australian Parliament to pass the deal even without the US.

Donald Trump has started his presidency much in the same way he led his campaign; inspiring millions of people, while angering and alienating others. In his first few days in the Oval Office, President Trump has accused the media of lying about attendance at his inauguration, defying evidence, he's also criticised people attending massive women's marches, in protest against his policies around women. President Trump has also vowed to quit the TPP, and to renegotiate the country's trade deals.

Bill Whalen is one Republican who was recommending that Donald Trump take a more conciliatory approach in his first Presidential address to the nation. He has worked on several Republican campaigns, including George Bush Senior's. He is now a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and he spoke to The World Today from San Francisco.

The Labor Party says that the Government's plan to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership makes no sense, without the US on board. But speaking earlier to Julia Holman, Labor's Trade spokesperson Jason Clare refused to say whether his party would vote against the deal.