A blackout left over half of Venezuela without power on Monday, causing traffic congestion and forcing businesses and schools to close for the following day.

Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez blames the power cut on an “electromagnetic attack”, although he didn’t provide evidence for the claim.

Venezuela was hit by a series of blackouts in March, including one that plunged all states into darkness for a week.

Authorities in Singapore have seized 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory worth an estimated $12.9 million in the largest haul in the country to date. 

Nearly 12 tonnes of pangolin scales valued at $35.7 million were also seized from the shipping containers after a tip-off from China’s customs department. 

Authorities discovered the animal products after inspecting a shipment from the DR Congo, which was passing through Singapore on its way to Vietnam.

As few as three wombats are alive in Tasmania’s Narawntapu National Park following an outbreak of mange disease in 2010, which reduced the population by 90 per cent.

Wildlife ecologist Dr Scott Carver says wombats were treated with a chemical drench in an attempt to eradicate the disease, but the treatment was not successful in the long term.

Zoologist Michael Driessen says there is still hope, with his team looking for a treatment that could protect wombats for up to three months at a time.

Russia’s defence ministry has announced its first ever joint air patrol with China, with four bombers, supported by fighter jets, patrolling a pre-planned route over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea yesterday. 

South Korea scrambled fighter jets in response, firing flares and warning shots after it claimed Russian planes had intruded on its airspace over the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islands. 

Boris Johnson has won a ballot by Conservative party members to become the next Prime Minister of the UK. 

The former foreign secretary and Mayor of London comfortably beat Jeremy Hunt, gaining over 90,000 votes to Mr Hunt’s 46,000. 

In a victory speech, Mr Johnson promised he would “deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn” at the next election.

The first terminally ill Australian has been granted access to receive life ending euthanasia drugs under Victoria’s landmark euthanasia laws.

No details on the age or illness of the patient is available under the strict wording of the law which also ensures patients must have six months to live or 12 months for those possessing a neurodegenerative disease.

However, with the program in its infancy there are fears there are not enough qualified doctors and that the scheme may be hard to access with its conservative guidelines. 

Queensland’s third publicly-owned electricity generator, CleanCo, will commence trading in the national electricity market on October 31, encouraging up to 400 megawatts of new generation and storage.

CleanCo is working with 10 short-listed renewable energy proponents to boost its starting pack, including the Wivenhoe and Swanbank E power stations near Ipswich. 

New guidelines surrounding the renovation of old Queenslander houses will be released by the Brisbane City Council next month. 

Over 800 residents contributed to determine the Queenslander character elements they want protected by the not-legally enforceable guidelines.

City Planning chairman Matthew Bourke says the guidelines will ensure the traditional Queenslander lives on in Brisbane with adaptations and extensions  of a “sympathetic nature to capture the Queenslander”.