School bus plunges off cliff in India

A school bus has plunged off a cliff in India on Monday and killed at least 30 people, including 27 children, 2 teachers, and the driver.

A senior local police official said the bus rolled into a 60 meter deep gorge while carrying students home.

500,000 rupees had been given to each victim’s family as compensation from the state government. 

Up to $3,000 payouts for injured and killed protestors in Gaza

Injured protesters at the Gaza border have been distributed payouts by Hamas, the terrorist organisation which governs the Gaza territory.

Hamas spokesman, Hazim Qassim, revealed on Thursday that Palestinian protesters critically and moderately injured received $500, while families of those killed in protests were given $3,000.

The Israeli defence force have described the situation as ‘violent riots’ stating protesters have thrown molotov cocktails and rocks at soldiers, opened fire on them and also set tires on fire.

Australia's listeria outbreak gone global

The World Health Organisation said that rockmelons contaminated with listeriosis were exported from Australia to at least nine countries.

This followed 19 confirmed cases and six deaths resulting from listeriosis so far this year in Australia.

Rombola Family Farms, the growers of the melons,  continued to work with authorities and started supplying melons again.

Almost 500 aged-care residents ‘dumped’ in Toowoomba

Understaffed nurses and expensive care needs have lead to a trend of for-profit aged-care facilities calling ambulances with the intention of dumping their residents at the hospital.

An assessment by the Queensland Department of Health revealed 460 of Toowoomba’s residents in aged-care have been led in emergency departments since July of last year.

USQ professor Bob Knights said the situation observed in Toowoomba reflects what is happening across Australia.

South-east Queensland water bills set to increase

A new proposal from the Queensland Competition Authority could raise water bills by up to $38 a year.

The proposal was part of the state government’s goal for all eight councils in south-east Queensland to share the same bulk water price.

Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said the government was aware of how cost of living pressure is affecting Queensland households.

Papua New Guinea hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has hit a remote part of Papua New Guinea on Saturday afternoon after the same area was still recovering from a 7.5 magnitude earthquake earlier this year.

Emergency helicopter response teams were flown to the area where landslides have devastated parts of the landscape.

PNG’s emergency controller, Bill Hamblin, said the landslides may exacerbate the water pollution problem which was already affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

US ambassador questioned after causing fatal incident in Pakistan

New CCTV footage in Pakistan showed a car belonging to the US embassy running a red light, killing a motorcyclist and injuring another.

The father of the deceased motorcyclist has called for the driver to be arrested and punished.

The US embassy expressed its sympathy towards the families of the motorcyclists and said they are cooperating with local police to investigate the incident.

Crack down on the horizon for live-exporters

Agriculture minister David Littleproud, took steps to launch an investigation into his own department and punish unethical operators further than legislation currently allows.

This came after a concerned crew member on a live-export ship captured footage of sheep being kept in unacceptable conditions by one of Australia’s largest exporters.

Mr Littleproud was only appointed to the job four-months ago, replacing Barnaby Joyce.

Six international students evicted from a university library

Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie evicted six international students from a library last month after it was discovered the students were sleeping there overnight.

CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Jenny Roberts said the students were given choices of accommodation through the University.

President of the National Union of Students, Mark Pace, said with Australian universities attracting more international students and the demand for affordable housing increasing, he is not surprised these students found they had to sleep on campus.