The World Today

Do you know where your smartphone phone is right now? Do you know how many times you've checked it today and how many hours you've been connecting online? Chances are you're addicted to your device and that's not good news for you, your health, your relationships and your kids.

For those diagnosed with cancer, the inevitable and sometimes unanswerable question is 'why me?' Two major causes are usually to blame: inherited and environmental factors. But a recent study has highlighted a third and prominent source: random DNA mutations. The landmark study was published today in Science.

Community advocates say there is an increasing number of people who fall into a legal grey area where they don't qualify for free legal aid but still can't afford to pay for a lawyer. They say it's causing social problems such as family breakups and putting pressure on the legal system. But a potential solution is set to be unveiled at an influential legal conference being held in Adelaide today where big firms are encouraged to provide legal advice to certain clients at discount rates.

Central London remains in lockdown over the deadly attack outside Britain's Houses of Parliament. At least five people are dead - including the killer and a policeman. More than 40 people have been injured in an attack that Police say could have been inspired by 'Islamist terrorism'. Witnesses say a large car ran down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before crashing into railings surrounding Parliament. The attacker then walked into the parliamentary precinct and stabbed a police officer.

The Prime Minister says there'll be extra police at Parliament House in Canberra today in response to the London attack. But there was already a heightened police presence for a visit by the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang. Mr Turnbull has condemned the London attack and offer support and condolences to the UK. The Opposition leader Bill Shorten and other Australian politicians have also expressed their shock and sympathies.

So are the security measures protecting this nation's parliaments and public precincts adequate? Neil Fergus was the strategic security advisor to the London Olympics and is now the CEO of a private security consultancy, the Intelligent Risks Group.

In the United States, Donald Trump says he's been 'somewhat' vindicated after a senior Republican intelligence committee chairman came forward to claim he'd seen evidence the President and his team had come under surveillance by spy agencies. But those claims still fall a long way short of President Trump's original accusation that he was 'wiretapped' by his predecessor in the oval office, Barack Obama.

New South Wales police have arrested a man in Victoria in connection to the disappearance and alleged killing of a toddler almost fifty years ago. 3-year-old Cheryl Grimmer was allegedly abducted near a surf club toilet block in Wollongong in 1970. A 63-year-old man will be extradited to New South Wales today and is expected to be charged with the child's murder.

At the child sexual abuse Royal Commission, six leaders of the Jewish community have sent a strong message to their fellow Jews that allegations of child sexual abuse must be reported to the police and that it is unacceptable to shun people who report their abuse. Their evidence follows Commission hearings into the Yeshivah communities in Melbourne and Bondi which were told many orthodox community members uphold the concept of Mesirah, that Jews don't report fellow Jews to the secular authorities.

The crisis gripping Victoria's youth justice system has deepened with a report showing the number of inmate lockdowns doubled shortly after riots last year. The Commissioner for Children and Young People's inquiry into isolation and lockdowns has been tabled in state parliament today.