On Saturday morning, Brisbane streets were shut down by approximately 100 protesters who say they are fed up with being ignored by the Brisbane City Council over their concerns about inner-city developments.

The group, which consisted largely of locals, gathered at the intersection of Vulture Street and Montague Road in West End, resulting in the closure of surrounding streets.

Syrian government forces captured a number of villages and towns bordering the rebel-held area of Ghouta.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting intensified in the area over the weekend, and rebels responded by attacking nearby Damascus.

UN aid officials said they have not been given permission from Syrian officials for 40 trucks carrying supplies to reach the area, despite optimism earlier in the week the convoy would be granted entry.

Isolated areas of Papua New Guinea experienced major aftershocks following a large earthquake which killed at least 31 people in the area.

Three aftershocks measuring higher than magnitude five hit the Southern Highlands area early on Monday.

Aid organisations said nearly 150,000 are in urgent need of emergency supplies as damage to roads hindered the delivery of aid to remote areas.

The United Nations aims to deploy aid convoys into the rebel held enclave of Eastern Ghouta over the next few days.