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.

Protesters and police clashed in Hong Kong for a second straight day on Sunday, throwing the city's business and shopping belt into chaos and sparking fears of more ugly scenes leading up to China's National Day this week.

Protesters are planning to march again on Tuesday despite a police ban, raising fears of more violent confrontations that could embarrass Chinese President Xi Jinping as his ruling Communist Party marks 70 years since taking power on Tuesday. 

Posters are calling for October 1 to be marked as "A Day of Grief."

Moscow's largest sustained protest movement in a decade occurred on Sunday, as 60,000 people  rallied to demand the release of protesters who were jailed in July.

The July protests occurred as more than 12 opposition candidates were not allowed to run in an election on September 8th due to a technicality- with police stating that the protesters were prosecuted for  breaking the law in the unauthorised rallies.

Climate change protesters are blocking traffic in both directions on Victoria Bridge in Brisbane. Pedestrian access on one side of the bridge has also been closed off. 

Members of the Extinction Rebellion are suspending themselves from a tripod like structure established in the middle of the road. 

Police say delays are expected and are advising motorists to use an alternative route where possible.

A Queensland man has saved his neighbour's life, using a mop bucket to fight the fire that was destroying the unit.

Four days ago, in the early hours of the morning, Matthew Langler woke up to the smell of smoke and the sight of his neighbours unit door on fire. 

Barefoot and wearing just his Roosters footy shorts, the 24-year-old jumped over his neighbour's fence in search of something to fight the fire.

Australia has been urged to “step up substantially on the issue of West Papua [New Guinea]”, with  Vanuatu’s leaders taking to the stage of the UN General Assembly to "emphatically condemn" alleged human rights violations in the region. 

Vanuatu urged global leaders to assist West Papuans (pa·poo·uhnz), following reports of a mass exodus from the town of Wamena and increased violence on Monday. 

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas said “we condemn, emphatically, violations of human rights of the indigenous people of West Papua”

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud is scheduled to tour drought affected towns in northern NSW and southern Queensland later this week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently pledged an extra $100 million for affected communities, also providing the Moyne Shire Council in southwest Victoria $1 million as the Bureau of Meteorology predicted that 62 per cent of that shire would be in drought.

The drought tour will be conducted for three days- Minister Littleproud urging states to build more dams during this dry spell.