Real estate agents in rural areas are experiencing strong interest as first home buyers and retiring baby boomers move to country as a cost cutting measure.

Real Estate Institute of Australia president Malcolm Gunning says there is a $300,000 difference in the combined house price between regional areas and capital cities.

Areas with improved road, rail or airport connections are recording the highest percentage of population growth.

Conservationists are reporting an increase in population of a sea urchin species is becoming unmanageable and threatening marine biodiversity.

According to sea urchin supplier Rachel Theodore, the Centro sea urchin is an underwater pest and numbers have become so high they are wiping out seaweed habitats, causing a biodiversity imbalance and threatening the seafood industry.

Israel has been criticised for failing to abide with human rights laws and resolutions put in place by the UN while also being labelled an apartheid state during a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva overnight.

This occurs concurrently while Israel was undergoing its third Universal Periodic review, a process led by the UN  which assesses the human rights record of each state and makes recommendations for improvement.

South African jazz legend and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela has died overnight, aged 78.

Widely regarded as the Father of South African Jazz Mr Masekela was a leading figure in the struggle against the white minority rule with his song Soweto Blue becoming synonymous with the movement.

His family released a statement says that he had passed away peacefully in Johannesburg after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.

George Weah has been sworn in as President of Liberia at a ceremony in Monrovia overnight.

It is Liberia’s first translation between democratically elected leaders since 1941 and during his inauguration speech, Mr Weah thanked his predecessor Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her work in bringing peace to the country after years of civil war.

President Weah also said he would offer steady progress towards the goals of Liberians.

Technology giant Apple are releasing their first ever smart speaker and Australian consumers will be some of the first to experience it.

The Apple HomePod will go on sale in Australia next Saturday, after a surprise announcement by Apple overnight.

Marketing senior vice-president for apple Phil Schiller, explained the HomePod’s audio capabilities are huge, using a woofer, six microphones, spatial awareness and is compatible with Apple Music.

The New South Wales Southern Tablelands are experiencing one of the driest summers on record, leading farmers in the region to make tough decisions about how to deal with the scarcity of water.

Braidwood farmer Mark Horan said the dry spell means many properties in the area are lacking grass for cattle to feed on, and he is considering selling livestock prematurely.

Neighbouring farmer Ian Cargill says the dry conditions are making it difficult to operate their farms and says he is praying for some rainfall during autumn.

Researchers from the University of Queensland have found almost half of all Australian families in a long-term study have experienced poverty at least once.

Emeritus Professor Jake Najman says the study, which followed families for 30 years, indicate it is common for families to slip in and out of hardship, mostly due to circumstantial changes such as relationship breakdowns and employment loss.

Professor Najman says the study found single mothers, the unemployed and elderly pensioners were the most likely groups to suffer poverty.

The Visit Sunshine Coast CEO believes a fast rail network is the missing piece for connectivity between the Coast and Brisbane.

The Federal Government  evaluating a project which will connect the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane by rail and decrease travel time to a paltry 45 minutes.

Simon Latchford expects there to be an increase in tourists to the Coast if there was an ease on the congestion hotspot which is the Bruce Highway.