According to new research, heavy drinkers can alter their DNA in ways to increase the desire for alcohol which may help explain why addiction is so powerful and hard to resist.

The study, conducted in the US, assessed two genes - one which influences the body clock, and the other which regulates stress responses, finding that the two genes had undergone ‘epigenetic’ changes in both heavy and binge drinkers, but not moderate drinkers.

Scientists say this may contribute to new ways of treating alcoholism, or to prevent at-risk people from becoming addicted.

Websites belonging to Queensland’s Deputy Opposition Leader, a real estate business, and Surf Life Saving Australia are among thousands of pages caught up in the latest international data breach.

Information being shared in hacking forums show usernames, email addresses, passwords, and other personal details were obtained from thousands of websites exposing millions of online users details.

Security analyst Wade Alcorn says the biggest risk is for people who reuse the same password on a number of accounts.

The Western Australian Government is demanding assurances from the Chinese technology firm Huawei over if they can deliver on a project worth $200 million following indictments from the US Government.

Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the State Government is seeking assurances over whether tensions between the US and China may impact Huawei’s ability to import and export technological components.

Huawei Australia chairperson, John Lord, says the Government has nothing to fear and that the project was the company’s number one priority.

A University of Queensland-led study has found an endangered Queensland bird is at risk of extinction due to environmental legislation failing to protect its habitat.

Researchers reviewed Australian and Queensland laws that protect threatened and endangered species, in light of an 80 per cent reduction in the distribution of the southern black-throated finch’s population.

The researchers found that despite the protection laws, extensive finch habitat loss has continued to be approved, threatening the finch population.

Maverick LNP backbencher Jason Costigan has been suspended from the party, after a complaint alleging he harassed a woman.

A woman complained to the LNP that Mr Costigan allegedly harassed her 18 year old daughter after she returned to her grandparents home, where he was staying temporarily, and found him shirtless.

Mr Costigan will be suspended until the LNP state executive meets on Friday, February 1, when he could be expelled. If expelled, Mr Costigan would join the crossbench at the first sitting of the Queensland Parliament for 2019 in less than two weeks.

European Union leaders have collectively declined Britain’s bid to negotiate changes to the Brexit divorce deal.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose economy stands to suffer most from a 'no-deal' Brexit, told British Prime Minister May he would not accept her plans to renegotiate a post-Brexit arrangement for the Irish border.

Other European Union governments backed that stance, leaving little room for Ms May to realistically secure any changes to the Brexit deal.
 

The United Nations migration agency has reported that the death toll after two migrant boats sank in heavy seas off the coast of Djibouti has risen to 52, with scores still feared missing.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) say the boats capsized half an hour into their voyage on the Horn of Africa nation’s northeast coast on Tuesday.

Migrations continue even to Yemen even though it is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

News analysts predict Australian universities will continue to enjoy “booming” demand from international students despite a predicted drop of Chinese students.

Australia is estimated to overtake Britain this year, second to the United States, for the most popular destination for international students.

Analysts say the increase of international student numbers at Australian universities has led to concerns over foreign students being treated as “cash cows” and negatively impacting education standards.

Former Liberal MP turned independent Julia Banks will challenge her former colleague, Greg Hunt, for the seat of Flinders at the next election.

Ms Banks will campaign on climate change and energy – issues she has accused Mr Hunt, who has a margin of 7 per cent, of failing to address.

The former lawyer joins a growing list of progressive independent women contesting 'traditionally safe’ Liberal seats in the wake of last year’s leadership spill.