The World Today

The Reserve Bank's warnings about the risks of a potential real estate bubble in Sydney and Melbourne are getting louder. In the minutes from its most recent meeting a fortnight ago, the RBA does not appear to see an end to accelerating real estate investment in Australia's major east coast cites. It says recent data suggest risks associated with the housing market are building.

The Federal Government is proposing substantial changes to the racial discrimination act, but it's facing a very tough fight to get the proposal through the Senate. The Government wants to remove the words 'insult, offend and humiliate' from section 18C of the act, so it would only be an offence to 'intimidate' and 'harass' someone on the basis of their race. Nick Xenophon's team looks unlikely to support the change, but will back a proposal to improve the Human Rights Commission's complaint handling process.

Police in New South Wales have opened an investigation into the alleged rape of a teenage girl in Sydney's eastern suburbs earlier this month. Police are interviewing the alleged rapist today. But they have already charged a 15 year old boy who filmed the alleged attack and who appeared in a Sydney Children's Court yesterday, charged with the production and distribution of child abuse. Susan McClean, a former police officer and now a consultant to schools on cyber safety, explains the charges and penalties faced by those involved.

FBI director James Comey broke convention to declare the existence of an investigation that could hang over the Trump administration for years and to debunk the President's spying allegations against his predecessor. He confirmed under oath there was no evidence to support President Trump's claim that Barrack Obama had wiretapped his headquarters. Mr Comey also confirmed that the FBI is investigating whether there was collusion between senior members of the Trump administration and Russians who wanted to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

A study into the amount of salt in bread has found that for some products a single slice can contain more salt that a packet of chips. Researchers at the George Institute for Global Health, looked at more than 1400 bread products and found that rye and sourdough breads were some of the worst offenders.

It's one of the deadliest animals in the world, and can kill a human in 15 minutes. But venom from the funnel web spider could now be used to help stroke victims. Australian researchers have stumbled upon a protein in the spider's venom that appears to limit brain damage and disability after a stroke. This could lead to a world-first drug for stroke survivors.

A new study has identified the sources of water into the Murray Darling Basin, over the past 90,000 years. Researchers have analysed the orgin of sediment buried deep under the sea floor off South Australia's south-coast. Studying the sediment - transported by the waterway over thousands of years - has helped explain what the basin was like during significant climatic changes.

A Victorian coroner has launched an investigation into the death of an infant left unintentionally in a car two years ago. One cognitive neuroscientist has given evidence that memory failure or forgotten baby syndrome may have played a part.

A brawl over the first AFL women's grand final being dumped by the Gabba has escalated, with the ground manager hitting back at the AFL. The game has been relocated to the Gold Coast after concerts by pop star Adele damaged the pitch. The AFL has questioned the Gabba's competence, but the Gabba says the AFL only approached it to host the final a few weeks prior to the concerts. Commentators say the AFL is developing the women's league on the fly.

The much-loved children's television show Sesame Street has introduced its newest character - Julia. The four-year-old girl muppet laughs, plays and sings with other characters and she also has autism. Australia's autism lobby is thrilled that iconic children's TV show is doing its part to educate children and normalise the condition.