The World Today

There are signs of oversupply in the Brisbane apartment market. One property agent in the city offered cashbacks this week to renters signing on to apartment leases. And with construction work still going strong in many Australian capital cities, market analysts are asking whether renters elsewhere in Australia can expect some relief.

A genetically-modified banana produced in Australia, could help people in east Africa suffering from a vitamin A deficiency. Scientists from the University of Technology in Queensland have transferred the banana gene to Uganda, and have already produced the first crop of fruit. It's hoped the pro-vitamin-A rich banana could save 100,000s of children, and also lower rates of blindness.

Australian researchers have found that drinking sugary drinks increases the risk of diabetes, independent of obesity. The Australian National University study also revealed that women who consumed sugar-laden drinks are at much higher risk than men. Researchers say a reduction in sugary drink consumption is likely reduce rates of diabetes in Australia and the study bolsters calls for a sugar tax.

In the Northern Territory, a Wikipedia club has sprung up to rectify what it says is a massive shortfall in articles showcasing its rich history.

For green thumbs across Australia, Mayfield Garden in central west New South Wales is a paradise. It's one of the largest cool climate gardens in the southern hemisphere and attracts thousands of tourists every year. But plans for a nearby quarry extension may force the gardens to be closed to the public putting locals jobs at risk.

The surface of Mars is more uninhabitable than previously thought, according to researchers in Scotland. A study has found that chemical compounds in the soil combined with UV radiation are toxic to cells, killing them in minutes. It means more work needs to be done to explore how to grow food there, before human colonisation of Mars is viable.

A new documentary claims a black and white photo found in the US national archives is proof the famous pilot Amelia Earhart crashed near the Marshall Islands and was taken captive by the Japanese in 1937. But others who have tried to solve the mystery have dismissed the photo theory.

A turbulent time in Australia's political history will make its world premiere as a musical tonight in 'Joh for PM'. The producers of the show say while Joh Bjelke-Petersen's reign is still divisive for many Queenslanders, putting his life in a satirical musical is by far the best approach to discussing his legacy.

A pay dispute involving Australia's elite cricketers has escalated, with the Australian Cricketers Association deciding to boycott the Australia A Tour of South Africa. The team was due to fly out on Friday, and had been training in Brisbane. But the Association had failed to agree on a new pay deal, leaving more than 200 cricketers out of contract.

Former Australian cricketer Nathan Bracken says younger players will be the ones to feel the bite from the latest twist in the sport's pay dispute. He says international competition gives up-and-coming players a chance to test their skills, and get noticed by selectors, and the boycott of Australia A's tour of South Africa will limit that opportunity. He also believes the latest stalemate will be a test to see who can hold out the longest.