Third mass fish death in a matter of weeks

Hundreds of thousands of native fish, including Murray cod, have died this weekend in the third mass death event in a matter of weeks.

A sharp temperature drop from over 40 degrees to under 30 degrees overnight has caused layers of water with different oxygen levels to mix, reducing the oxygen available and suffocating the fish.

Department of primary industries have sent fisheries officers to assess the situation in the Menindee weir pool and neighbouring sections of the Darling river.

Teaching shortage across Queensland

Fewer Australians are entering the teaching profession, generating an ongoing tussle with unions and universities to attract enough teachers, Queensland's Education Minister Grace Grace says.

Ms Grace says Queensland education authorities would provide 3700 more teachers over the next four years and were ahead of projections to provide the extra 7000 teachers.

Queensland families call for adult adoptions

More than 200 Queensland families are calling on the state government to recognise adult adoptions.

The current laws require biological parental consent and restrict anyone over the age of 17 to be adopted.

Legal researcher Kent Bloe says bans on adult adoption use age as a restriction to lifelong practical and emotional benefits.

The adoption act is scheduled to be reviewed by the Palaszczuk government in 2020.

Former South African mercenary claims group tried to spread aids

Aids was intentionally spread across Southern Africa in the 80s and 90s, according to new statements from a former South African mercenary group intelligence officer.

Alexander Jones claims the South African Institute for Maritime Research’s leader Keith Maxwell believed the spread of AIDS would decimate black populations, cement white rule and bring back religious conservatism.

20 killed in cathedral blast in Philippines

At least 20 people have been killed in twin blasts at a Roman Catholic cathedral on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

Yesterday's incident claimed the lives of at least 15 civilians and five soldiers, police said, adding that 111 others were injured.

According to security officials, the first bomb went off in or near the cathedral of Jolo, the capital of Sulu province, followed by a second blast outside the compound as government forces were responding to the attack.

Doctors seek legal advice ahead of My Health Record rollout

Australian doctors are seeking legal advice as they face the challenge of populating 17 million Australians My Health Records.

Wentworth MP and Sydney GP Kerryn Phelps is calling on the government to indemnify doctors against potential lawsuits if a patient suffers an adverse reaction after their doctor relies on incomplete or inaccurate information on their health record.

Single mothers pressured to give sensitive information

Single mothers placed on a compulsory welfare program for disadvantaged parents allege they were pressured into allowing private job service providers to collect their sensitive information.

The program is compulsory for those who want to receive parenting payments and are considered “disadvantaged”, but some case workers have told participants that they would have their payments cut if they refused to sign the form and effectively hand over their private and sensitive information.

New biocontrol experiment hopes to control damaging aquatic plant

Weevils from Paraguay may hold the secret to eliminating the destructive aquatic plant Cabomba, according to a new CSIRO study being conducted in Brisbane.

Cabomba is listed as a nationally significant weed which forms an underwater carpet, preventing the growth of other aquatic plants and limiting light for marine life.

The scientists behind the biocontrol experiment say they’re exercising extreme caution to ensure the weevils do not affect any other Australian flora or fauna.

Roma residents face water shortage

A Southern Queensland local council has called for more funding to upgrade water infrastructure as Roma residents are asked to cut out non-essential water use due to a depleted supply.

The town's water reserves are diminished due to high, heat-related consumption and multiple equipment breakdowns, according to Maranoa Regional Council.

Council utilities spokesman David Schefe says while $10 million per year was spent on upgrading water infrastructure, the "exasperated" council needed more state and federal funding.

Sick cows slaughtered for meat in Poland

Undercover footage that appears to show extremely sick cows being smuggled into a Polish slaughterhouse is raising alarms about standards in one of the EU’s largest meat exporters.

Covert footage in a slaughterhouse in the central Polish region of Mazovia appears to show cows so sick that they are unable to stand up being dragged out of trucks, and sold on with little or no veterinary inspection.