The Ukrainian Parliament has declared Russia has occupied the far eastern regions of Ukraine in a statement yesterday.

Ukraine denounced Russia as an aggressor state which is temporarily occupying areas of the Donbass region, and further relaxed laws allowing Ukrainian citizens to sue the Russian government for damages to their property.

In response, Russia stated the declaration could increase diplomatic tensions and reignite a new conflict in the region.

Queensland’s unemployment rate is now the third worst in the country, rising to 6% in December from 5.9% in November.

The figures, released by Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday morning, placed Queensland behind Tasmania and Victoria, both on 6.1%.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says 143,900 jobs were created since Labor won the 2015 election, however, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington believes the unemployment rate is “not good enough”.

Civil libertarians have called a police operation in Mount Isa 'illegal' and urged it to be stopped after it was found officers were questioning and photographing unsupervised children.

Operation Tucson involves police officers recording children’s names, addresses, clothing, destination, and at times escorting the children home.

The Queensland Civil Liberties Council will petition the state’s privacy commissioner to review the operation after several politicians suggested the operation be extended to other regional areas.

Regulatory reform on new genetic engineering techniques will allow Australian scientists to speed up research on health and agriculture.

Raj Bhula, Australia’s gene technology regulator hoped the newer and more efficient forms of gene editing will no longer be considered ‘genetic modification’, as gene editing manipulates existing material, unlike genetic modification which uses foreign genetic material.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast another heatwave over the weekend, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees in some states.

Total fire bans have been declared across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, with approximately 10 uncontrolled fires burning in New South Wales alone.

Victorian Emergency Management officials have urged people to be prepared to stay vigilant in regards to heat, fire and water safety.

Members of Austria’s newly elected right-wing government have come under fire in the last week for statements relating to ‘concentration’ camps for refugees.

Interior Minister Herbert Kickl stated last week that he planned to set up ‘camps’ for refugees ‘to keep them concentrated in one place’.

Although Minister Kickl has since retracted his statement, up to 60,000 people have since taken to the streets in protest against the new government’s hardline stance on immigration.

Hindu supremacy was publicly promoted by members of India's incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party, which led to aggression against Muslims and other religious minorities, say human rights groups.

Human Rights Watch claims at least thirty-eight attacks against religious minorities occurred with at least ten people killed in 2017 over the slaughter of cows and trade of beef.

The BJP right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, failed to prevent or seriously investigate the attacks against the victim, according to the rights group.

A powerful storm has torn through Europe overnight, causing at least seven casualties in three different countries.