Locals are concerned about the sprawl of dry creek bed at Breakfast Creek’s ‘Turtle Bridge’ and say the area desperately needs heavy rain.

Many parts of south-east Queensland are on track for the driest January on record, and no significant rainfall is forecast.

Brisbane is not drought-declared, but the city’s ecosystems located in parklands and environmental corridors along creek catchments are showing signs of strain.

As the school year begins this morning, an increasing number of Queensland parents are delaying their child’s first year of schooling, citing concerns their four-year-olds are not ready to start prep.

Prep was initially optional but become compulsory in Queensland in 2017. Education Department figures show the rate of delayed entry rose from 1.5% in 2010 to 6.9% in 2018.

Australia is doing darndest to cut down more trees, resulting in all kinds of disasters, forests are disappearing in NSW and Queensland that WWF International has put Australia on the list of global deforestation hot spots.

The University of Melbourne botanist Dr. Gregory Moore says gum trees can help fight global warming, and some are as “ tough as old boots” to immune Australia heat stress.

Climatologists say one of the easiest and cheapest ways to reduce carbon emissions should protect the size of forests.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his coalition has gained ground in the first newspoll for 2019, receiving the highest rating since the removal of Malcolm Turnbull.

The news arrives before Morrison is due to make his first major economic speech of the year. Beginning the uphill battle to save his government before the May elections.

Labor still has a significant two-party lead of 53 to 47.

About 40,000 (forty thousand) Mexican Border factory workers took to the streets to demand for higher pay.

The workers were promised a 20 percent raise in the new year and a bonus of $30,000 pesos, about $2000 dollars. Instead they were told they would have to wait until next year.

The strike comes from over 40 factories in Matamoros and workers say they will continue to strike until they get their money.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has publicly hanged a 31 year old Iranian man in the city of Kazaroon after it is alleged he violated Iran’s anti-gay laws.

According to a 2008 British WikiLeaks dispatch, the regime has been responsible for the execution of 4000 to 6000 gays and lesbians since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The State-controlled Iranian Students News Agency has reported that the citizens of Kazeroon express their satisfaction and thanked the judiciary for their decision.

Chicago-based design firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture has unveiled its winning design for a 700-metre skyscraper in China’s south-eastern metropolis of Shenzhen.

When complete the Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre will be China’s tallest building, eclipsing the 635-metre skyscraper Shanghai Tower.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney says Ireland will not back down on a backstop to ensure there will be no hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland should Britain and the EU fail to strike a free trade deal.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has proposed the soft border being removed or time limited following the completion of Brexit negotiations which would see the introduction of inspections for goods and services crossing the border.

Clive Palmer's big budget advertisements and unsolicited text messages have fallen on deaf ears, with his United Australia Party being behind two other alternatives to the major parties in the electorate he plans to run in, a fresh Newspoll shows.

Mr Palmer is expected to run in the marginal Townsville electorate of Herbert, currently held by Labor's Cathy O'Toole, but a Newspoll conducted by The Australian has found his primary vote there is just eight per cent.