New research shows Australian magpies that live in larger groups are smarter than those living in smaller groups and cleverer female birds make better mothers in terms of raising their young.

The study suggests that development and intelligence within animals improves with social interaction and confirms the hypothesis of intelligence in animals which can be evolved in relation to complex social systems.

Previous research had been conducted in captivity with comparing brain sizes of animals.

Thousands of Queenslanders have been fined over the past 8 years for smoking in their cars with children present.

The Queensland government has reportedly made over $800 000 in fines over the last 8 years, with just over 3600 fines being given, and the on the spot fine costing $252.

Cancer Council Queensland Chief Executive Chris McMillan said the fines are vital to protect children from second-hand smoke in cars, and care should also be taken in the home.

The Bayswater City Council in Perth, has voted to cut the red tape preventing the planting of fruit and vegetables in public parks.

Deputy Mayor Chris Cornish, believes the initiative is the first of its kind in Australia where local residents simply need to notify the council of the time, place, and type of planting they wish to carry out.

The policy is a response to a resident planted a garden in a small reserve near Bayswater train station that was originally done without Council permission.

A breakthrough new drug aimed at treating HIV patients is almost certain to be approved for federal subsidies this week.

Hopes are high in the LGBTIQ community as the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will meet on Friday and it is hoped it will issue a long-awaited "positive recommendation" for drug Truvada, commonly known as PrEP.

Japanese Princess Mako has announced that she will delay her wedding for two years due to a cited ‘lack of preparation’ for the ceremony and its year of proceeding rituals.

Princess Mako is the eldest grandchild of Emperor Akihito who is due to abdicate in early 2019.

The Princess’ engagement to college sweetheart Kei Komuro has attracted significant media attention because Imperial Household Law holds that female family members lose their royal status if they marry a commoner.

Sufferers of the ancient disease of leprosy have been labelled as one of the minority groups hardest hit by the 3 year long war in Yemen.

Lepers have been banished from their villages, had their possessions destroyed and been completely ostracised by their communities as the disease is incorrectly labelled as a disease of sin.

Fighting has killed at least 10,000 people, wounded tens of thousands of others and forced more than one million people from their homes.

Poor weather conditions and heavy snowfall has covered Paris has forced the Eiffel Tower to close.

The dangerous weather and ice on the roads has set off high-level orange alerts in twenty-eight french departments and is causing major travel disruptions in France’s northern half.

Meteorologists said snowfall accumulation could reach 10 centimeters by the end of the day.

Amnesty International has labelled the Chinese Government’s brazen and outrageous contempt for fair trial and other human rights ‘ludicrous’ after their admission that Hong Kong-Swedish dual national, Gui Minhai is again detained and faces criminal charges.

Gui Minhai is a Hong Kong bookseller who went missing from Thailand in 2015. He later appeared in Chinese custody without apparent charge and was not released until two years later in October 2017.