The World Today

Indigenous land holders in Central Queensland have questioned the Prime Minister's apparent assurances to the Adani company that uncertainty over native title will soon be resolved to help clear the way for the controversial Carmichael mine to proceed. The ABC understands that during a private meeting, Malcolm Turnbull told the Adani Group chairman that the issue needed to and would be fixed. But traditional owners caution that there are other legal challenges that could prevent the development of the massive coal mine.

Australia should consider offering the Indian military access to our defence facilities being developed on the Cocos Keeling Islands, according to one analyst. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is on the second day of his first official visit to India, with security and strategic ties expected to be on the agenda. Mr Turnbull yesterday admitted that a free trade deal with India is a long way off. But Dr David Brewster, who's a senior research fellow with the National Security College at ANU believes more could be done to cement the defence partnership between the two nations.

Scientists have discovered what they say is the faintest galaxy ever detected in the early universe. It's birth date is roughly 700 million years after the start of the universe, and it's provided huge clues about a vital part in the history of the universe.

Data from last year's census has been released, giving us some insights into who is the 'typical Australian'. The World Today spoke to demographer Dr Liz Allen from the Australian National University's Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research.

As the clean-up continues from severe flooding in parts of central Queensland and northern New South Wales, one expert has called Australia's flood mitigation efforts 'laughable'. In Rockhampton there's now a push to build a flood levee, while in Lismore there's debate about whether the town's levee is high enough. To talk a little more about flood mitigation efforts in Australia, The World Today spoke with Ian Dinham. He's a civil engineer who's the president of Floodplain Management Australia, a group that includes over 120 councils, catchment management authorities, businesses and professionals involved in flood risk management.

The Australian accent as we know it might be unrecognisable just a few generations from now. Australian linguist Greg Dickson has a penchant for Aboriginal languages, and says the Aussie accent has already changed much more than people might realise.

One half of Australia's best-known political satirical duo Clarke and Dawe has died suddenly. Comedian, actor, and writer John Clarke died on Sunday, while hiking in the Grampians with his wife. The ABC understands he died of natural causes. John Clarke was a household name in his native New Zealand, as well as his adoptive home of Australia. He was 68.

Ross Stevenson co-wrote the award-winning TV mockumentary The Games with John Clarke. He spoke with Zoe Ferguson.

Anxiety about the rising cost of property in the nation's big cities looks to be driving some policy tweaks in next month's Federal budget. But the Treasurer Scott Morrison says that won't include changes to negative gearing, and he denounces as cruel the Labor plan to scrap the tax breaks for any new investments.

The national homeless agency is calling for long-term funding to beat Australia's problem with rough sleepers on the streets. Homelessness Australia has released a ten-point plan this morning calling for consistent funding and affordable housing supply.