The main rebel group in southern Syria says it is negotiating with a United Nations delegation about ceasefire, aid and the evacuation of urgent medical cases.

Reports estimate that approximately 50,000 people had left the southern pocket of eastern Ghouta in the past 72 hours and that thousands had left on Sunday.

Wael Alwan,the Istanbul-based spokesman for the rebel group Failaq al-Rahman, states the group is in serious negotiations to guarantee the safety and protection of civilians.

Health officials warn a confirmed case of measles has been identified in the Brisbane area.

Public Health physician Dr Bhakti Vasant said the infected person visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary last Sunday, Woolworths on Fifth Avenue in Marsden on Wednesday, and Logan Hospital on Thursday and Friday.

Health officials say anyone who develops measles-like symptoms in the next three weeks should stay at home and contact their doctor for advice.

A Brisbane business owner who is owed $1 million is furious at the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) for what he labels a lack of action and regulation.

Stefan Styles operates one of Queensland's largest shower screen and wardrobe companies, employing about 120 people. Mr Styles said the industry is still recovering from a difficult year, and says the QBCC is to blame.

A QBCC spokesperson said that over 300 licensees were suspended or cancelled in the last year for not meeting Minimum Financial Requirements (MFR).

At least 40,000 hectares have been burnt through in Victoria’s west. Authorities believe the fires were sparked by lightning strikes on Saturday night.

Emergency warnings or ‘watch and act’ alerts were in place for up to 40 towns as hot weather and strong winds fanned numerous blazes around Camperdown, Warrnambool and Hamilton.

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner, Craig Lapsley says no deaths, missing persons or major injuries have been recorded.

The Australian Capital Territory Greens will table legislation to improve access to medical abortions this week in Canberra.

The 2018 Health Amendment Bill will make medical abortion available to women across the ACT, improving access for Canberra women to exercise their reproductive rights if the bill is passed.

Greens spokesperson for Women Caroline Le Couteur said that “it is not acceptable that Canberra women are forced to travel interstate to access medical abortions.”

Female president of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, will resign this week over claims that she used a credit card that was provided to her by an NGO for personal expenses.

The president’s lawyer, Yousouf Mohammed said in an interview with a local news agency that Ms Gurib-Fakim has resigned for the “stability of the country” and that she would be leaving office on the 23rd of March.

More than 70 homes and other buildings are feared to have been destroyed in and around the seaside town of Tathra, on the New South Wales south coast, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) says.

Four people in the Tathra region have been treated for smoke inhalation and one RFS volunteer has been injured, but there are no reports of missing people.

Favourable weather conditions overnight have allowed fire services to control the blaze which has now been downgraded from an emergency to ‘watch and act’ level.

Brisbane Broncos’ sponsor NRMA Insurance is pressuring the club and the National Rugby League to ensure forward Matt Lodge takes full responsibility for his actions during a drunken rampage in New York in 2015.

NRMA Insurance pays more than one million dollars a year to sponsor the team and has told the Broncos that they expect the club to work with Lodge making sure victims receive the 1.2 million dollars in damages that was ordered by the American civil court.

Sunshine Coast school teacher Rachel Downie has created a computer program for students to stymie cyber bullying.

Miss Downie created the website ‘Stymie’ from her home in Buderim, which allows students to utilise social media to anonymously report evidence of any cruelty happening to someone for investigation by their school.