Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen has been approved by the European parliament to become the first female European Commission president. 

The former German Defence Minister secured the backing of socialist and liberal lawmakers, as well as fellow conservatives in the parliament, receiving 383 votes in favour to 327 against. 

Ms von der Leyen’s plans include making Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050, launching a Green Deal for Europe within her first 100 days in office and the introduction of a Carbon Border Tax.

The number of koalas hospitalised at the RSPCA’s Brisbane headquarters has almost doubled in a year to a record 690. 

Many of the koalas killed were hit by cars or attacked by dogs in a small area dubbed the ‘triangle of death” from the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Cannon Hill.

The threatened species are cornered in islands of bushlands surrounded by urban developments causing their run-ins with cars and dogs.   

According to the latest Deloitte Access Economics report, Queensland’s economy is in the middle of a slump which has been exacerbated by recent natural disasters. 

The state government has already announced $1.3 billion of economic damages caused by the summer of draughts and floods, however the Deloitte report estimates the figure is closer to $6 billion.

On Sunday the Queensland government outlined the first round of projects funded through its $38 million Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund.

Australia’s health system depends on the federal government’s approach to private health insurance after findings in a recent according to a Grattan Institute report.

An “unhappy mix” of partially public and partially privatised healthcare in Australia has led to a system “riddled with inconsistencies and perverse incentives” according to a report released on Tuesday.

Data showed all age groups over 65 were increasing their insurance while the remaining Australians were reducing their coverage.

Australia’s defence department contracted the company Lock N Climb, a US firm blacklisted for corruption and bribery, providing them with tens of thousands of dollars of work.
 

The four Democratic congresswomen attacked by US President Donald Trump in ‘racist’ tweets have collectively retaliated in a press conference, vowing they will ‘not be silenced’ and accusing the President of promoting a ‘white nationalist agenda’.

It comes after President Trump defended the tweets, saying he was not concerned if people thought they were racist and accusing the politicians of hating America.

Jeanswest, Cotton On and Target are investigating their cotton suppliers in the wake of forced Labor reports of Uighur people in China.

The program ‘4 corners’ released an investigation detailing instances of detained Uighurs being funnelled from so-called re-education camps to involuntary labour in factories.

It was reported earlier in the year that China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ may be a cause of the escalating oppression and declining standards.

Government appointed liquidators of Queensland Nickel brought Clive Palmer to Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday in a bid to take back $200 million owed over Q-N’s collapse in 2016.

The trial was immediately delayed, with Mr Palmer today pleading for further postpones it because expert defence witness, Peter Dinoris, is unavailable to testify.