Shipments of liquified natural gas from Gladstone are helping China tackle its air pollution crisis.

China is currently taking action to reduce air pollution, particularly in Beijing, by forcing millions of homes and businesses to switch from coal to natural gas.

Last year China imported almost 12 million tonnes of coal from Gladstone and an additional 11.5 million tonnes of liquid natural gas.

An explosion in the Belgium city of Antwerp has brought down a residential building, injuring dozens of people and damaging adjacent buildings.

Local authorities have ruled out terrorism, instead linking the explosion to a gas leak.

Belgium remains on high terrorism alert following the 2016 suicide bombings and wave of Islamic attacks across Europe.

A further 3000 people are being urged to evacuate islands off the north coast of Papua New Guinea amidst the possibility of tsunamis caused by a nearby volcanic eruption.

This follows the evacuation of 1500 people from the island of Kadovar, after the volcanic island started to erupt on Friday.

According to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Australia will be contributing more than $19,000 in humanitarian supplies for the evacuees.

The Greens have listed their plan to change the date of Australia Day as one of their top priorities for 2018.

Federal leader Richard Di Natale urged more local councils to follow the lead of Yarra, Darebin and Fremantle by moving Australia Day celebrations from January 26 to another day.

The change the date campaign has gathered attention over the past few years, and has proven divisive.

Lead has been found in honey produced in the central-west New South Wales town of Broken Hill, with traces also found in the bees and their wax.

Macquarie University Professor Mark Taylor revealed the bees have been contaminated by ongoing mining emissions from the surrounding area and petrol sources.

The research also found the bees were protecting the quality of their honey by absorbing and filtering the contaminants in their systems, limiting the presence of lead in the honey.

Queen Street bus station’s $3 million makeover is entering its final stages of renovation, with the work scheduled to be complete in time for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

While the upgrade will not increase the station’s capacity, it will involve upgrading the ceiling, floor and wall tiles, while also upgrading seating, handrails and lighting to ensure the station meets disability compliance.

Four people have required immediate treatment after being stung by venomous stonefish in South-East Queensland over the past eight days.

The incidents occurred at popular swimming spots across the state including Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast and Bulcock Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

Surf Life Saving Queensland recommends wearing thick-soled shoes and shuffling your feet when walking in shallow waters, as stonefish are the most venomous of all fish and are often found in the shallow coastal waters of Queensland.

Romania’s ruling Social Democrat Party has voted to remove Prime Minister Mihai Tudose from office, forcing the leader to resign.

Party sources say Mr Tudose resigned moments after his own party voted to withdraw political backing for the Prime Minister, following an alleged fallout between him and party president Liviu Dragnea. 

The resignation of Mr Tudose marks the second Romanian prime minister to step down in seven months.