The Gold Coast is set to host 360 dancers and 300 spectators in the city’s biggest ever live-music ballroom dance competition this Saturday, with $3500 in prize money up for grabs across four events.

180 couples, including two former Dancing with the Stars contestants, will face the challenge of adapting their performance to live-music that will be played by a nine-piece band, without any choice on their routine or choice of music.

The Federal Government has pledged $1 million to the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to support koala populations in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

The announcement on Tuesday from Gold Coast MP Karen Andrews is part of a $6 million initiative to protect the region’s koala habitats, with Senior Veterinarian Doctor Pyne saying the funding will allow upgrades to the facilities already overflowing with over 11,000 wildlife admissions annually.

US President Donald Trump has imposed new sanctions against the Iranian metal sector, further escalating tensions, with Tehran saying it will return to enriching uranium.

Trump imposed further restrictions on Iran’s mining industry on Wednesday after a frustrated Tehran said it would suspend some promises it made under a nuclear deal rejected by Washington in a move aimed chiefly at persuading Washington's European allies to step up to preserve the agreement.

Polls closed in South Africa on Wednesday as nationwide elections seem to almost certainly keep the ruling ANC in power despite frustration over corruption scandals, sluggish growth, and record unemployment.

The election was the first measure of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa can restore support for a party whose support flows largely from its liberation credentials.

Australian beekeepers are calling for restrictions to a controversial pesticide that reduces bees’ ability to fly.

Scientists from the Imperial College in London found that neonicoinoid causes bees to only be able to fly one third of the distance they normally would.

The pesticide is banned in the EU but is still widely used in Australia.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has issued a state-wide alert warning homeowners of audit price gouging on cladding audits following the Grenfell London tower fire in 2017.

Industry experts and authorities said tradies have been increasing quotes up to 160 per cent to check if Gold Coast homes have the same external materials as the Grenfell tower.

A Federal Minister has proposed shortening a Gold Coast tram line extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads to end disagreement on the Federal Government’s funding commitments to the project.

Federal MP Karen Andrews for Gold Coast seat McPherson said rescoping the project 700 metres shorter than before so the tram stops at Burleigh Heads State School rather than the township is a way to get the project moving without the Federal Government having to commit further funds to their $112 million pledge to Stage 3 of the light rail.

A new report has found that bacteria causing gonorrhoea, meningitis and other health issues is becoming increasingly resistant common antibiotics in Australia.

The report into antimicrobial use and resistance trends showed antimicrobial resistance, increased by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, showed little sign of decreasing and is posing a risk to patient safety.