The alleged revolver used by Vincent van Gogh to kill himself has been sold at auction in Paris

A revolver believed to have been used by famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh has been sold at a Paris auction.

The revolver Van Gogh allegedly used to kill himself had been featured in a 2016 exhibit at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum and has now sold for $212 000.

The weapon was discovered in the 1960s in the northern French village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh is believed to have committed suicide in 1890.

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Trump administration accuses Iran with links to Al Qaeda

The Trump administration, has told the American Congress that there are ties between Iran and Al Qaeda, prompting skeptical reactions and concern in Washington DC.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, has sought to convince Congress that there is a pattern of ties between Iran and the terrorist group going back to after the 9/11 attacks,officials said.

Brian Hook, the State Department’s special representative on Iran said, We will do everything that we are required to do with respect to congressional war powers; and we will comply with the law.

Malcolm Turnbull's publisher has been denied a defamation insurance policy

Malcolm Turnbull's publisher has been denied a defamation insurance policy over fears the political memoir will trigger a slew of defamation claims.

Hardie Grant publishing found new defamation cover after its existing insurer Chubb Baulked renewed the company's policy, and raised concerns over provocative titles already in print under the company's banner.

The publishing veteran said the insurer's decision is a sign of the increasingly fraught nature of Australian defamation law.

Car park in Western Australia installs open-air shelter for homeless

A small city in Western Australia's south-west has installed a transportable open-air shelter in a car park, in a new approach to homelessness.

The Bunbury Council had been frustrated with people sleeping at a local soundstage but instead of moving them on, the council spent $15,000 on installing an open-faced donga in a city carpark earlier this week

However, housing advocacy groups say a more coordinated approach was needed to give people homes, rather than just shelter.

Toowoomba residents are upping the solar stakes by investing in battery storage

Toowoomba residents are upping the solar stakes by investing in battery storage, bringing more jobs to the region and embracing Queensland’s renewable future.

While visiting The Garden City today, Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham says Toowoomba was seeing a solar and battery surge thanks to the Government’s interest-free loans and grants.

Dr Lynham said It’s a great opportunity to cut your power bill and your emissions, by being able to store excess solar energy generated during the day to use at night.

Mother calls for loophole in Queensland's anti-smoking to be closed

A mother who discovered workers are allowed to smoke near the sandpit of her daughter’s childcare centre is calling for a loophole in Queensland’s anti-smoking to be closed.

Smoking has been banned within metres of childcare in Queensland since 2016; Clarissa Brown saw employees from neighbouring business smoking at Edge early Learning in West End in Brisbane.

Ms Brown said she did informally approach the commercial building workers and nicely ask people to stop smoking but that did not work.

 

A Brisbane law student, Ethel Chan,  has settled her legal case

A Brisbane law student, Ethel Chan,  has settled her legal case after a two year battle against Brisbane City Council.

Ms Chan claimed that the council painted a yellow line beside her parked car before fining her twice for illegal parking, totalling $252.

Ms Chan says she discussed her case with Brisbane City Council's legal representatives outside the court on Wednesday, and eventually agreed to pay one parking fine, but not the second.

A Gold Coast couple has been granted extra time in court  to sue an ultrasound clinic and doctor

A Gold Coast couple has been granted extra time in court  to sue an ultrasound clinic and doctor after both parties failed to diagnose their unborn daughter with Down syndrome.

A sonographer and a doctor reported that the risk was in the "low range" and advised not to undergo more extensive testing.

The parents claimed they would not have continued with the pregnancy if they had known, and indicated they would seek damages for child-rearing costs of their daughter, who is now four years old.