More than 400 schools in Bangkok have been closed for the week due to increasing concerns over dangerous air pollution.

Faced with a possible health crisis, the city’s governor has declared the city a ‘pollution control zone’, which allows authorities to take special measures in combating the threat including road closures and diversions.

It is believed still air and heavy traffic is causing a build-up of particles in the air.

Lebanon has agreed to a new government of national unity, ending nearly 9 months of political wrangling.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister - now in his third term - says Lebanon must “now turn the page and start working.”

The 30 member cabinet includes lebanon's first female interior minister and 3 other female leaders.

Community groups in Alice Springs have invited Kerri-Anne Kennerley to visit their town camps, following her criticism of Australia Day protests on TV.

Kerri-Anne recently accused Australian Day protesters of ignoring issues within indigenous communities saying “children [and] babies are being raped, their mothers raped, their sisters are being raped”; and was challenged by Yumi Stynes who said her comments were racist.

A Melbourne school principal has stepped down after video footage of him dragging a student along the ground has surfaced.

Steve Warner the principle of Manor Lakes College is seen dragging a student by the arm across the playground while parents and students can be heard yelling in response.

The police are now investigating the incident and the Victorian Education Minister, James Merlino says “[he] will not tolerate this kind of completely unacceptable behaviour in schools”. 

The fight against coeliac disease has opened up on a new front with the launch of a clinical trials research facility in Mackay.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the Coral Sea Clinical Research Institute would capitalise on the expertise of Queensland medical researchers and scientists to trial life‑changing drugs and vaccines and help build the state’s biopharmaceutical sector.

The Queensland Government contributed $300,000 in seed funding to help establish the facility.

Vinnies are looking for “Sunday superstars” to volunteer at their recently renovated Noosa store.

The store began Sunday trade in October and it is popular with customers.

Vinnies retail operations manager, Lisa Baker, says “the more volunteers we have, the more the store can open which means we can have more sales and donations, it’s a circle of life really.”

At least eight people have died in the US Midwest region as it faces its worst cold snap in decades.

An Iowa student found dead outside a college building is among the latest victims of the deadly freeze.

Ninety million people have seen temperatures of -17C or below, with forecasters predicting that the iciest blasts are yet to come.

Cameroon’s opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has been charged with insurrection.

In response to Maurice’s political party losing to the now president, Paul Biya, in last year’s presidential poll, Maurice’s party organised protests in four cities saying the election was rigged.

Following the protests Maurice was detained along with 200 other protesters and is set to face charges of insurrection, holding illegal gatherings, and disturbing the peace.