An increase in incidence of the earthborn disease melioidosis is being linked to urban expansion in far north Queensland.

The diagnosis of the bacterial infection in Cairns Hospital has more than doubled in the past two decades.

Doctors theorise that the increase in incidence is being caused by the churning up of soil involved in urban construction.

Queensland has recorded two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases.

Both cases are linked to a known cluster and are in home quarantine.

Two cases have also been recorded from overseas.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied lying to the French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron about the $90 billion French submarine contract. 

Macron said earlier this month that Morrison has broken the trust between the two countries. 

Morrison has denied ever telling a lie in public life and said these criticisms are a part of a politician's job.

NASA is delaying its moon landing expedition due to budgetary issues.

The space agency says Congress did not give them enough money to develop a landing system for the Artemis moon program. 

The moon landing is expected to happen in 2025 at the earliest.

The Australian Government has agreed to assess the water usage of the North Queensland Adani Carmichael mine. 

The mining company has proposed building an 102 km water pipeline which is predicted to take 1.25 billion liters of water from Queensland rivers and waterways. 

The Stop Adani organisation is calling to hold the federal government and the mining company accountable for the damage that this pipeline could cause the wider ecosystems.

Blockade Australia stopped another coal train from reaching Kooragang Island Terminal in the Worlds largest coal port which is in Newcastle. 

Fifty five year old Zelda stopped the train by standing on top of it in a HAZMAT suit. 

This protest is one of eight that have occurred this week by Blockade Australia, who say they plan to use actions like these to shut down Sydney for a week from the 27th of June next year.

Australian veterans are calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to provide more support for people from Afghanistan. 

Veterans from the war in Afghanistan want the Prime Minister to provide more protection for people who worked with Australian forces and increase the humanitarian intake of Australia.

The Afghan-Australian Advocacy Network reports 198 interpreters under the Locally Engaged Employee Program with valid Australian visas have not yet been evacuated from Afghanistan.