Several countries have announced they are suspending all chilled meat imports from South Africa, following a listeria outbreak; the same bacteria that has been responsible for the rockmelon saga at home.

Listeria, a bacteria originating from soil, animal feces and vegetation, has been traced-back to a meat processing factory near Pretoria.

People are being encouraged to not buy processed meat as 948 people have so far contracted the disease and 180 people have died.

Germany equality commissioners are calling for the national anthem to represent gender balance.

Equality commissioner, Kristin Rose-Moehring, is campaigning for the stanzas containing the word ‘fatherland’ to be changed to ‘homeland’.

Officials from the Christian Democratic Party have expressed their disapproval for the change to two hundred and twenty two year old song, with women in the party saying they have never felt excluded by the anthems wording.

Revelers are still coming down from the high that was last weekend’s Mardi Gras.

The 40th anniversary of the festival was a massive celebration with celebrity appearances and a wedding.

The parade also gave pause for thought as attendees reflected on how far equal rights have come since the festival started.

Less than a third of young Australian women believe they are treated equally to men according to a new university survey.

The University of Sydney survey has revealed far more women are holding off having children or giving up on starting families to safeguard their careers.

The survey also stated one in ten women surveyed have, or are experiencing sexual harassment in their workplace.

A Far North Queensland council is looking into setting up a breeding facility for their local icon - the endangered cassowary.

With less than 1,500 cassowaries in the wild, the Mayor of the Douglas said his council is firmly dedicated to preserving the dwindling population from car accidents and predator attacks.

90% of local residents surveyed believe that wild pigs are the biggest threat to cassowaries, and many suggested efforts could be better spent in pig hunting or baiting pigs with contraceptives or poison.

A shipping container has been discovered floating in the ocean off the sunshine coast.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has been trying to hunt down the boating hazard since it was first sighted on Friday.

The area has been labelled high risk, and fishermen are being warned to remain vigilant of the slow-moving but damaging runaway cargo.