United States government agencies are beginning to come back online after the country’s longest government shutdown ended over the weekend.

Acting White House chief of staff says the 800,000 furloughed employees will receive back pay by the end of the week, relieving the financial strain of thousands of missed debt payments, damaged credit ratings and doubts about future job security.

Athlete turned barrister Zali Steggall is off to a flying start in her bid to seize the Warringah electorate seat from Tony Abbott.

The former alpine skiing Olympian launched her campaign yesterday morning as an independent, and is not shy to the challenge in taking on the former Prime Minister, who has held the seat of Warringah for 25 years.

Flash flooding is affecting far-north Queensland residents as the Daintree river records its highest flood level since 1901.

Flood waters reach heights of 12.4 meters and villages and ferries have been cut off.

Queensland police are urging residents to exercise caution as the rain is expected to continue across the next week and poses a serious threat of injury or death.

South-East Queensland’s mayors have announced plans of 47 road and rail projects across the region completed to prevent total gridlock by 2041 at a total cost of $63 billion.

The plan was announced on Thursday morning with the release of a SEQ People Mass Movement Study, investigating the impact population growth was likely to have on transport issues.

E-cigarette liquid containing nicotine can be lethal to children, according to a new Queensland study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Author and manager of the Queensland Poisons Informations Centre in Brisbane Carol Wylie says the number of child poisonings and deaths from e-liquids rise every year.

The paper reports children become exposed through uncapped vials, drinking separated liquid containers, inhalation or eating exposed cartridges.

Venezuelan opposition minister and self proclaimed rightful interim president Juan Guaido says he plans to force acting president Nicolas Maduro from power and re-establish peace and prosperity within the country.

Mr Guaido says international support, opposition unity and strong local support give Venezuela a unique opportunity to leave the chaos and economic devastation behind.

Britain, France, Germany and Spain say they will recognise Mr Guaido as president unless a new election is called within the next 8 days.

A traditional dhow sailing boat made entirely of trash has set off on an expedition along the Kenyan coast to raise awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste.

Dhows, with their billowing triangular sails, are iconic on the Kenyan coast, having traversed Indian Ocean waters for some 2,000 years.

On Sunday, the dhow set off from the coastal town of Watamu for the fourth leg of a 500-kilometre expedition that began on Lamu island on Thursday and is set to finish in Zanzibar on February 6.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten promises environmentally conscious voters he will spend $200 million restoring urban rivers and waterways.

Mr Shorten says he will engage with state and local governments, councils and community groups to revitalise Australia’s wetlands, creeks and rivers which have for too long been treated like industrial waste drains.

Australian university professor and scientist Lily Pereg and her sister have been found dead after disappearing more than two weeks ago in Argentina.

54 year old Dr Pereg, a microbial ecologist at the University of New England, and her sister, 63 year old Israeli citizen Pyrhia Sarusi, were last heard from on January 11 after travelling to the country to visit Ms Sarusi's son.

Their bodies were found on a lot beside the home of Ms Sarusi's son Gilad Pereg, near the city of Mendoza on Saturday.

Queensland high schools see the introduction of five new subjects this year as the state moves to abolish the OP system in favour of nationally adopted Australian Tertiary Admission Rank System in 2020.

The change is prompting a review of Queensland’s secondary school curriculum to allow subjects that would not have been graded under the OP system.

The new subjects are psychology, design, engineering, food and nutrition, and literature, with a 6th subject Aboriginal and Torres strait islander cultural studies still pending approval.