Timber workers and businesses are sweating on their future, with the Victorian Government delaying the release of plans for industry to access native timber reserves for logging.

The timber release plan is a key strategy that dictates where native timber can be logged by the state-owned VicForests.

VicForests says it has been directed not to proceed with a new timber release plan "until further policy work has been completed".

An alarming number of natural disaster victims are turning to high-cost, short-finance loans to avoid going broke.

Legal Aid Queensland has called for better industry oversight and is concerned a lack of financial literacy in regional centres means many disaster victims saw no alternative to payday loans.

It is predicted that personal financial problems in drought and flood-affected areas will likely reach crisis point in six months' time once all avenues for compensation claims had been exhausted.

The Queensland Government has defended giving almost $3.5 million to the controversial Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

In May, Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch slammed the Federal Government's decision to hand over nearly half a billion dollars to the foundation, despite her government giving a large sum to the same organisation.

Minister Enoch has highlighted that the criticism of the federal government did not stem from the organisation itself, but the way that the funds were allocated without tender, consultation or discussion.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin warned the United States against deploying new missiles in Europe, threatening to retaliate in kind by targeting Western capitals with his own new weaponry.

Delivering a state of the nation address, Putin said the US abandoned a key arms control pact - the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty - to free its hands to build new missiles and tried to shift the blame for the move on Russia.

Many analysts say abandoning the treaty effectively signals the start of a new arms race.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives plan to introduce a resolution to end President Donald Trump’s national emergency declaration on border security, according to aids to Representative Joaquin Castro.

Ninety-two lawmakers have joined Mr Castro in backing the legislation, which under House rules, could advance within weeks to a debate by the full chamber, controlled by the Democrats.

The move follows Mr Trump’s declaration of national emergency last week to take already appropriated funds for other activities to build a border wall.

The University of Queensland (UQ) is partnering with a North Stradbroke Indigenous community to undertake joint research and development projects.

The partnership will offer UQ students, researchers, and the Quandamooka community opportunities for study, work experience, internships and job placements.

Professor Aidan Byrne says the partnership is a win for all and an example of UQ’s close relationship with the Quandamooka people.

A suburban intersection where a pedestrian was killed when two cars crashed in August last year will be considered for safety upgrades following a petition by Annerley residents to Brisbane City Council.

The death of the 68-year-old man at the intersection of Venner Road and Frederick Street was described by Infrastructure committee chairman Amanda Cooper as “unusual”, who says their response to petitioners will depend on the outcome of a Queensland police investigation into the crash.