Tangalooma Resort drinking water contaminated

Sixty people have fallen ill after drinking water at Moreton Island’s Tangalooma Island Resort was contaminated. 

Health authorities are investigating the possibility of the island’s natural groundwater being polluted by sewage or other contaminants. 

Dr Kari Javenin from Queensland's Public Health Unit advised guests to only use bottled water as the bacterial infection may not be avoided by boiling.

Amsterdam pilot accidentally triggers hijack alert

Passengers have been evacuated from a plane at Amsterdam's Schipol airport after the pilot mistakenly triggered the hijacking alert on an Air Europa flight. 

The alerts prompted the arrival of heavily armed police, trauma helicopters and ambulance to the airport. 

Air Europe reassured passengers that nothing happened and all passengers were waiting to fly safely.

 

Africa's drought is killing Zimbabwe's elephants

Africa’s southern drought is killing Zimbabwe’s elephants and leaving other wildlife vulnerable. 

Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa have been feeling the effects of the drought since late last year, threatening wildlife and an estimated 11 million people with hunger.

Rangers have been forced to abandon their ‘non-intervention’ policy, but are struggling to save the animals without financial support. 

Wildlife officer Munyaradzi Dzoro says letting nature take its course is no longer an option in the face of climate change. 

Sydney council considers scrapping Australia Day

A Sydney council is considering scrapping Australia Day celebrations and instead encouraging residents to attend the Aboriginal Yabun festival, in an effort to mark January 26 in a way that's more respectful’ to the indigenous community.

Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne says for Aboriginal people, January 26 marks the beginning of colonisation, dispossession, the removal of children and deliberate destruction of language and culture. 

Head of National Farmer's Federation steps down

Former head of the National Farmers’ Federation Jock Laurie, has been removed from his role as the New South Wales government’s drought coordinator after less than a year. 

The deputy NSW premier, John Barilaro says there is a dedicated office of drought establishing by the government, assisting for regional communities.

“State drought co-ordinator Jock Laurie played an important role in helping to lead the immediate response to the drought on behalf of farmers,” Mr Barilaro said.

Local high school finds success in Year 13

Sunnybank State High School has trialed a new program that brings ex-students back into the classroom for ‘Year 13’, where teachers provide practical help with finding, preparing for, and securing work.

The program — funded from the school's own budget — started at Sunnybank when teachers realised nearly half their 2017 graduates hadn't found full-time work or study six months after leaving.

Indigenous community pushes for freehold land

The mayor of Indigenous community Woorabinda in central Queensland is pushing for their land to be converted from a government lease to freehold, and claims it's like still living on a mission’. 

Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Cheyne Wilkie says little has changed as the land is still a reserve and residents can’t own land or by a house. 

"But as the mayor of the Woorabinda Shire Council, I need to start asking the questions of when they will release us from the shackles and chains,” Mr Wilkie said.

Man has 15-year-old tapeworm removed

Doctors were shocked to discover 12cm tapeworm had been eating away at a 36-year-old Chinese man’s brain for 15 years.

The man’s health quickly deteriorated, suffering regular seizures and muscle weakness before deciding to have brain surgery to have the tapeworm removed. 

Dr Gu Youming, a deputy director at Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital said he suspected Mr Wang had eaten snails or another exotic meat that had not been cooked properly.