World Animal Protection has urged Australians not to buy, own, or breed exotic animals as domestic animals.

Welfare advocates warn the practice is contributing to a multi-billion dollar trade which has been noted as cruel and often deadly for animals such as snakes, lizards, birds, and ornamental fish.

It comes following a survey that reveals more than a quarter of exotic pet owners did not research the animals before buying them.

The banking royal commission’s final report has recommended sweeping changes to address the root causes of poor behaviour in the financial sector.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the government has agreed to take action on all 76 recommendations handed down by Commissioner Kenneth Hayne QC on Monday, with a focus on restoring trust in the financial system while maintaining the flow of credit.

Bleeding noses and blood-shot eyes as Bangkok battles new levels of toxic air.

With the air quality of Thailand’s capital hovering at unhealthy levels, many people have become severely ill with some people taking to social media to share images of them coughing up blood, having bloodshot eyes and sharing concerns about the air quality of the city.

A new study on ocean pollution has discovered microplastics in the bodies of every dolphin, whale and seal studied.

The study conducted by the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) in the UK examined 50 animals from 10 species of dolphins, seals and whales and discovered the presence of microplastics in all of them.

A motorcycle gunman has shot dead an Iraqi novelist close to his house in the holy shiite Muslim city of Kerbala, police and witnesses say.

50 year old Alaa Mashzoub was on his way home when he was shot multiple times, police say late Saturday night.

Iraq's Culture and Tourism Minister says in a statement released yesterday the local cultural scene has lost one of its special authors and creators.

United Kingdom prime minister Theresa May is back in negotiations with less than two months until the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union.

Britain faces a disorderly ‘no deal’ exit if the UK parliament cannot reach an agreement on the post-brexit border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Ms May says she is armed with a fresh mandate, new ideas and a renewed determination to find a pragmatic solution Brussels will approve of.

80 firefighters were deployed to a building in Melbourne’s Spencer Street on Monday morning to battle a blaze that has prompted fresh concerns about combustible cladding on apartment buildings.

The fire began shortly before 6am and shot up several floors of the apartment complex, prompting the Metropolitan Fire Brigade to upgrade the emergency.

Doctors may receive greater power to bring critically ill asylum seekers into Australia, according to a new proposal by prime minister Scott Morrison.

Mr Morrison is pledging to create a new independent medical review panel that would allow doctors to bypass departmental blocking if needed to provide medical or psychiatric care for those residing in offshore detention centres.

The proposal hopes to alleviate suspected human rights violations that have seen twelve people die due to medical neglect.

Around 400 fines were dished out last financial year to smokers who decided to light up in Queensland smoke-free zones, including bus stops, taxi ranks and ferry terminals.

A caution or on the spot fine of $261 is issued to people who breach a smoking ban, totalling to over $100,000.

Executive Director of Queensland Health’s Preventative Health Branch Kaye Pulsford said the fines were a tough, but necessary reminder that smokers not only put themselves at risk of serious health problems, but also the people around them.