One of the few paintings in Claude Monet's celebrated Haystacks series that still remains in private ownership has sold at an auction in New York City for $160 million, setting a record for an impressionist work.

The US Treasury Secretary has indicated trade talks with China are to resume soon as he aims to further discussions to end the months-long US-China trade war.

Steven Mnuchin said he will likely travel to Beijing soon although he did not mention details on the timing of potential negotiations.

Mnuchin said although the discussions are continuing, there is still a lot of work to do as the trade war disrupts global markets.

Australian officials listened on Wednesday as several Pacific leaders delivered strict warnings about the lethal threat that climate change poses to their nations.

Regional leaders had gathered at an historic climate change summit convened with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Mr Guterres is determined to build global momentum for sharper cuts to emissions, arguing that drastic action is necessary to stave off ecological catastrophe, adding that the Pacific is on the “front line of climate change”.

Washington has ordered the withdrawal of "non-emergency employees" from Iraq while the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned of a possible "full-scale confrontation", as tensions between the US and Iran mount.

The US State Department said employees at both the US embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, were being withdrawn immediately due to safety concerns.

A public consultation process for a new Queensland coal mine has not received a single submission from any environmental group despite its plans to clear 55 square kilometres of koala habitat and 11 wetlands.

Queensland’s independent coordinator-general approved the Bowen Basin mine proposed by Pembroke Resources, which will be about the same size as Adani and will clear koala habitat the size of Sydney Harbour.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care has heard that a lack of staff is resulting in the chemical sedation of patients in aged care facilities.

A panel of three nurses and one diversional therapist gave evidence on Wednesday, saying aged care facilities are understaffed and they often had to work unpaid overtime.

When asked why chemical restraints are used, one nurse said that it shouldn’t be happening at all but is often used because there aren’t enough staff.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said the Federal Court’s decision to allow freight operator Pacific National to buy an Acacia Ridge rail freight terminal gives the company a monopoly on rail freight and will leave Australians paying more for goods.

The Commission lost its case in the Federal Court trying to prevent rail freight operator Aurizon from selling the Acacia Ridge terminal where rail freight is transferred between New South Wales and Queensland.

Brisbane City Council has commissioned auditor reports on the status of the heritage-listed School of Arts building on Ann street ahead of restoration.

The building was closed to the public several years ago due to public safety concerns but is to be restored after the council pledged last year to begin the refurbishment.

Last year’s budget allocated almost $9 million for the refurbishment over three years, with council to go out to tender for appropriate contractors to begin the restoration work in the future.