Poison fire coral, one of the world’s deadliest species of fungus has been found on the outskirts of Cairns. 

A photographer was in a pocket of rainforest in Redlynch when he found the fungus previous known to be native to Japan and Korea. 

The discovery indicates the likely occurs naturally in other parts of Australia and south-east Asia. 

Poison fire coral is commonly found on tree roots and in soil, and is the only known fungus whose toxins are absorbed through the skin. 

Donations to Queensland’s Children’s Hospital have dropped by $321,000 after the 

renaming of the government's decision the rename the hospital. 

Health Minister Steven Miles said the new name would bring in more donations as it would eliminate confusion over whether the hospital was public or private. 

The government justified the name change with an online poll, however, it was recently revealed that thousands of votes coming from identical IP addresses inside the government. 

US presidential contender Senator Bernie Sanders has canceled upcoming campaign events after having emergency heart surgery overnight. 

Senator Sanders was in Las Vegas for a gun safety forum when doctors discovered a blocked artery in his heart. 

Senator Sanders’ senior advisor Jeff Weaver said the senator is recovering well. 

"Senator Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days. We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates,” Mr Weaver said. 

India has gone back on its plan to ban single-use plastics, as it is seen as too disruptive during the country’s economic slowdown and job losses. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to outlaw six items yesterday on the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi as a part of a broader campaign to rid India of single-use plastics by 2022. 

The government says it will try to curb the use of plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws, and sachets rather than enforcing an immediate ban. 

The National Home Doctor Service is facing a government investigation into Medicare billing.

Director of Professional Standards Review Julie Quinlivan, is launching an investigation as to whether the service, known as 13Sick, "knowingly, recklessly or negligently" allowing doctors to engage in “inappropriate practice” regarding Medicare billing.

The company is arguing it cannot be responsible for its doctors’ actions as they are contractors as opposed to employees.

The Department of Home Affairs has denied a request by the UN to release a Tamil family facing deportation to Sri Lanka from detention on Christmas Island.

The UN Human Rights Committee notified the family’s immigration lawyer that it would push for the Australian government to release the family into community detention.

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said the family will not be removed from Christmas Island. 

Six Extinction Rebellion protesters have been charged after some of them locked their necks to barricades that blocked a street in the Brisbane CBD on Wednesday morning.  

Officers found four men and two women in the middle of the road locked to metal fencing. 

Laura Harland, a spokeswoman for the Extinction Rebellion said the protesters used different devices to lock their necks to the barricades. 

“We’ve been doing this [protesting] for a while now and nothing seems to be changing,” she said. 

Newly released figures show that Queensland public servants have spent $5 million in international travel over the last 12 months. 

A spokesperson Treasurer Jackie Trad defended the Queensland Treasury Corporation spending $458,000 for 16 officials to travel internationally for various roadshows and conferences.