The World Today

Defence Department chief Dennis Richardson has warned that the sixty-five year ANZUS alliance with the United States cannot be taken for granted. Speaking publically for the first time since Donald Trump won the US presidential election, the Defence Secretary has reflected on what could lie ahead for Australia's most important strategic and military partnership.

Victoria has announced a 10-year plan to try and wipe out family violence. The head of a support agency says it's unprecedented. The government will acquire more housing, and change privacy rules to allow courts, police and agencies to share more information.

The Australian Medical Association says if euthanasia laws are introduced, doctors should have the right to opt out the treatment as conscientious objectors. After a year-long review and survey of its members, the AMA is maintaining its opposition to euthanasia, but it acknowledges that change may inevitably come.

There's a push for South Australia to join a widespread trial of a pill which has shown to be highly effective in reducing infection rates of HIV. The Kirby Institute, which is behind the trial has joined calls from a South Australian MP, to extend its use nationally, to help virtually eliminate HIV in Australia by 2020.

Scientists believe they are on the verge of understanding a whole lot more about the cause some of the most mysterious human illnesses, including encephalitis and Lyme-Like disease. New technologies that allow the study of animal genomes have revealed a huge collection of unknown viruses and microbes in invertebrates DNA - some of which could help to unlock the secrets of some diseases that affect humans.

A report out today debunks claims that construction worker wages are fuelling high housing prices in Australia. The Australia Institute says the research defies claims made by federal government ministers in its campaign to revive the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Since Donald Trump's election win billions of dollars have left emerging Asian economies and headed straight to the United States. Interest rates on US government bonds are now rising, and have become more attractive to international investors. That means countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and Taiwan are seeing their currencies fall sharply, as investors sell their assets in favour of US investment products.

Tensions have flared between Bangladesh and Myanmar, over a military crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The crackdown has sent hundreds of Rohingyas fleeing into Bangladesh for refuge. Myanmar doesn't recognise them as citizens - even though they've lived in the country for decades. And Bangladesh has called in Myanmar's Ambassador to protest at a security operation,that has forced thousands to flee their homes.

The Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has moved quickly to quash a proposal for a sugar tax from the think tank, the Grattan Institute. He's been backed by the Health Minister Sussan Ley who says the Government is not in favour of a sugar tax, but will continue to consider the evidence. The Grattan Institute has recommending taxing sugary drinks by 40 cents per 100 grams of sugar, saying it would cut soft drink consumption by 15 per cent and would halt climbing obesity rates.

At the child abuse royal commission, a senior member of the clergy has been recalled to give evidence about his knowledge of abuse within the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle in New South Wales. The former assistant bishop of the Diocese, Richard Appleby, has long maintained that he was never told about the actions of a paedophile priest back in the 1980s. But now he's apologised to the commissioners for failing to remember a meeting that was recorded in his diary at the time.