The royal commission into aged care has wrapped up its first hearings in Adelaide with a call for Australians to commit to change.

Australian shares are higher despite losses in the energy sector following concerns about coal exports to China.

Stocks of interest at the close of trade on the ASX on Thursday, February 21.

The deportation of Kiwis from Australia is "corrosive" to the trans-Tasman relationship, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

Dozens of orcas and beluga whales captured for sale to oceanariums have brought Russia's murky trade into the spotlight, but efforts to free them are blocked by government infighting.

Scott Morrison says he would act if he believed there was a weakening in the coal export market, after imports have reportedly been banned at a Chinese port.

Sales of existing homes in the United States dropped in January for the third consecutive month, hitting their lowest level in more than three years, industry data showed Thursday.

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who has inspired pupils worldwide to boycott classes, urged the European Union on Thursday to double its ambition for greenhouse gas cuts.

British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn warned Thursday a no deal Brexit was a "very serious and present" risk and blamed Prime Minister Theresa May's inflexible negotiating position.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says it is important to keep declining house prices in big Australian cities in perspective.