Authorities say north Queensland's flood emergency could roll on for days, with more torrential rain expected in already sodden catchments.

The region remains on alert with heavy rain that flooded homes, washed away cars and sparked multiple rescues expected to continue for days.

The state government announced disaster assistance would be made available to far north Queensland communities affected by the deluge.

Venezuela’s Government has imposed a travel ban, frozen bank accounts, and approved an investigation into the self-declared interim president Juan Guaido.

The sanctions against Mr Guaido appear to be in retaliation for US sanctions against Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Guaido has been recognised as the legitimate head of state by several countries including the United States and Australia, while Mr Maduro has been backed by a number of other countries, including Russia.

Freezing conditions and a major snowstorm that proceeded a blast of Arctic air in America’s midwest has killed at least five people, according to US media.

The morning temperature in Chicago was -30 Celsius which is colder than Alaska's state capital and even colder than parts of Antarctica.

The cause of the sub-zero chill was a swirl of arctic air that broke away from the polar vortex that usually encircles the North Pole.

The Huawei executive implicated in the trade secrets theft scandal that allowed Huawei to covertly operate business in Iran established and oversaw the firm’s Australian operation.

According to corporate records, Meng Wanzhou was a director of Huawei’s Australian subsidiary between 2005 and 2011, and was allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to defraud international banks and US officials for four of the years she was an Australian director.

The Palaszczuk government has been warned against their plan to make life easier for drivers stuck with cars that have manufacturing issues by taking action against car sellers, as it could stretch the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to breaking point.

The bold government proposal would raise the limit for motor vehicle defect claims in QCAT from $25,000 to $100,000 as part of its crackdown on ‘lemon’ vehicles.

Scott Morrison has intervened in the case of Melbourne-based refugee footballer Hakeem al- Araibi, urging Thailand’s leader to stop his extradition to Bahrain and release him from detention.

Mr Morrison wrote to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, emphasising the importance of the case to him and the Australian people, noting returning Mr al-Araibi to Bahrain would infringe on his international human rights.

A survey has found parents spend more to send their children to government-run schools than any other Australian capital city.

In 2017, Brisbane was the third most expensive city in the country, however it has now jumped to the number one, with parents spending around $75,600 over 13 years to send a child to school, with Sydney at $66,470 and Melbourne at $74,604.  

Additionally, parents are having to buy other hidden school-related expenses such as uniforms, books and laptops.