Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar have been freed after over 500 days in custody.

The journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe OO, were jailed after being convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act and sentenced to seven years in jail, which raised questions about Myanmar’s progress toward democracy, sparking an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

Reuters’ editor-in-chief Stephen J Adler, released a statement saying the reporters have become symbols of the importance of press freedom around the world.

Bill Shorten has accused The Daily Telegraph of a “new low” for an article the newspaper has written about his mother.

Mr Shorten appeared on Q&A on Monday and spoke of his mother, Dr Ann Shorten, as his inspiration.

The publication accuses the Labor leader of omitting parts of his mother’s career while talking about the sacrifices she made to raise her children.

Mr Shorten wrote on twitter, “The Daily Telegraph has decided to use my mum’s life as a political attack on me, and on her memory”.

The Brisbane City Council has plans to buy and demolish four houses that are beside already council-owned land in the north Brisbane suburb of Windsor in order to build a new sports facility.

The properties are located in a flood-prone area close to Breakfast Creek and will be purchased using dividends from the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation which will lead to the acquisition of a total of 16,000-square-metres of land.

A Mooloolaba fisherman has gone missing in calm waters off Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and although an extensive search for the man continues, Police say there is a slim chance of finding him alive.

Luke Howard, who is 35, was fishing from a jet ski off Mudjimba with a friend when it began taking on water so he got into the water to try and fix it but was unable to climb back on.

His friend tried to tow him back to shore while clinging to the back of his jet ski when he disappeared.

Labour and LNP candidates have both placed independent Ray Karam, an anti-vaccination campaigner, above the other major party in their preferences sheet in the seat of Richmond.

The Greens also placed the LNP below Karam in their preferences.

The seat has one of the worst immunisation rates for children under five in the country.

China’s trade talks with the US are still set to be held despite Trump’s tweets announcing an increase in trade tariffs.

The president tweeted he would raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods from 10 to 25 per cent.

It comes after an apparent reneging in commitments to a deal made by China, which occurred in the last week, according to US trade representative Robert Lighthizer.

A new study has revealed climate change may be helping spread a fungus that attacks bananas.

Black sigatoka, commonly known as “black leaf streak,” can reduce the fruit produced by infected plants by up to 80%, according to the study published on Monday.

The US Department of Agriculture says the fungal disease is virulent against a wide range of banana plants and increases production costs with fungicide necessary to maintain crop yields.

Germany thinks it may have found a way to overcome the issues surrounding trucks diesel consumption polluting towns and cities leading to climate change by using overhead lines to power big rigs.

According to the German government, a system that allows trucks to draw electric power from overhead cables began operating on 10 kilometres of the autobahn on Tuesday.