Chinese amputee successfully climbs Mount Everest after fifth try.

A Chinese amputee has scaled Mt Everest after losing his feet during the climb more than 40 years ago.

Xia Boyu was 25 when he lost his feet to frostbite and 46 when his legs were amputated above the knee from his battle with cancer.

At 69 years old, he has successfully climbed the mountain after five attempts.

NT investigating whether dumped building material in Indigenous community is asbestos

The Northern Territory Government have visited an Indigenous community after fears the residents have been exposed to decades old asbestos.

The Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics is investigating material that was likely dumped decades ago about 400 kilometres south-east of Darwin.

The department is testing the material to verify the extent of the problem and to determine if there is asbestos. 

Female tradies on demand

A woman has compiled a website listing all female owned trade businesses in an effort to publicise female-run businesses.

After noticing a lack of publicity of female electricians, carpenters, mechanics and builders, Wendy Pinch created a directory called ‘Lady Tradies.’

Pinch hopes people who feel vulnerable such as the elderly or domestic violence victims, use the directory to access trade-qualified women.

Brisbane apartments selling for less

An excess of apartments has resulted in massive discounts throughout Brisbane.

A recently available apartment in Chermside that was originally purchased in 2010 for $522,000 is being advertised for $315,000 - a forty-percent decrease.

SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher says “there has been an oversupply of properties…[but] there is a chance now that the worst may actually be over.”

 

Female representation in Liberal parliament declines

The number of female Liberal MPs serving across the six states’ parliaments has gone backwards compared to five years ago.

The liberal party’s lack of female representation has been brought to light following the disendorsement of Liberal minister Jane Prentice on the weekend.

Currently, women make up 22 per cent of the Liberal party compared with 24 percent in 2013.

Catalonian MPs elect new leader

Catalonian MPs have elected a new leader, Quim Torra, who has pledged to continue the fight for independence from Spain.

Others have criticised Mr Torra as being just a puppet for separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who remains in a self imposed exile since Catalan declared independence in October last year.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, says he has offered to talk with Catalan’s leader.

Plane forced to land after windshield flies away

A windshield panel of a passenger plane has cracked and flown away mid-flight, causing cockpit equipment to malfunction and injure the crew.

The pilot and co-pilot were saved from being sucked out by their seat-belts, and went on to land the plane at Chengdu twenty minutes later.

Passengers on the Chinese airliner experienced a sudden loss of pressure and uncomfortably cold temperatures before the cabin crew closed the cockpit door which had flown open.