A court has heard that Clive Palmer’s nickel refinery was trading insolvently until administrators were called in to assist. 

An insolvency expert told the Brisbane Supreme Court that Queensland Nickel, which has now collapsed, was incurring losses as early as October 2015.

Justice Debra Mullins said that proving that the refinery was still insolvent in January 2016 was the main purpose of the trial, which continues today.

Image: Katherine Times

The Hong Kong authorities are preparing to conduct a chaotic day on the streets of the city on Tuesday, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Metro stations and shopping centres will be closed before the protests, fearing that this may turn into violence.

Tse Chun-Chung, chief administrative officer of the Police Public Relations Office, said at a news conference on Monday that this would be a "very serious violent attack."

The Amery Ice Shelf in Antarctica has just produced its biggest iceberg in more than 50 years. The piece occupies 1,636 square kilometers - smaller than the Isle of Skye in Scotland - called D28. 

The size of the iceberg means that it must be monitored and tracked as it may be harmful to transportation. Since the early 1960s, Amery has never cut a larger iceberg. The previous one was 9,000 square kilometers.

Amery is the third largest ice shelf in Antarctica and an important drainage channel in the eastern part of the continent.

A Queensland koala named Teadoro was seen to be injured and wandering the ground at Noosa National Park last week.

Queensland Koala Crusaders spokesperson Bernard Jean stated that the koala did not have enough strength in his arms to climb and had puncture wounds in his abdominal area which placed him in critical condition.

Teadoro is currently under the care of Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and awaiting surgery- with professionals believing that his injuries are the result of a domestic dog attack.

This week, shark drum lines have been removed from the Great Barrier Reef following a Federal Court ruling.

Queensland government uses the drum lines or unmanned traps to lure sharks using baited hooks - agencies later kill the sharks, a practice the Federal Court in April ruled inhumane, forbidding the Queensland Department of Fisheries to shoot the animals.

Four allied health students from the University of Sydney are receiving free accommodation and meals by living in Scalabrini Bexley, a nursing home in South Sydney.

This is due to the Gold Soul Companionship Program, which allows these students to receive these benefits for 30 hours of volunteering hours each month.

Vaping has been a common practice for over a decade in other countries. It is a phenomenon that only recently become popular in Australia, however, and the trend has been met with a mixed reception.

Vapes or e-cigarettes are especially popular with young people, but research recently released by the University of Adelaide has found vaping can kill lung cells even without nicotine.

Despite this, vapes are still being promoted as a viable, "healthy" way to quit smoking.