Russian President Vladimir Putin has suspended the Cold War-era Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty on Saturday after the U.S. said it would withdraw from the arms control pact, accusing Moscow of violations.

Putin said Russia will start work on creating new missiles, including hypersonic ones, and told ministers not to initiate disarmament talks with the Washington, accusing the U.S. of being slow to respond to such moves.

The Brisbane City Council has requested state government approval to prevent townhouses and apartment blocks from being built on blocks larger than 3000 square metres in low density residential zoned suburbs.

City Planning Chairman Matthew Bourke has said this new plan would protect the character of brisbane suburbs and stop the ‘cooking cutter townhouse developments’.

Councillor Bourke has said residents have made it clear to the council that retaining the style and size of the suburbs was important.

Two men are missing near floodwaters and thousands of people have been evacuated as north Queensland’s flood crisis rolls into its 11th day.

Hughie Morton and Troy Mathieson were last seen on Ross River Road near floodwaters on Monday morning

Townsville remains the hardest-hit area although floodwaters are affecting communities as far west as Mt Isa, in the state’s interior.

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.