The United States has returned 280 archaeological pieces to Mexico, amid efforts to recover the country’s cultural heritage.

The archaeological assets, which include pre-Hispanic pieces, were stolen from various sites in Mexico, and have been both seized and surrendered by museums.

The head of the United Nations World Food Program has described Yemen as "the worst place on earth," after visiting the war-stricken nation, which is on the brink of famine.

David Beasley says the UN food agency is underfunded and will need billions of dollars in private donations in order to meet its targets. 

Disability organisations are calling for the government to abandon a plan to introduce independent assessments of people’s disability.

The plan will force all National Disability Insurance Scheme participants to explain their support needs to a stranger in less than three hours, or risk losing their NDIS funding.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced this morning that several COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from this weekend.

The premier says gathering limits at homes will increase from 50 to 100 people with gatherings outside set to increase from 100 to 500.

Experts say new species of mushrooms could be waiting to be identified in Brisbane backyards after recent wet weather.

Queensland Mycological Society President Wayne Boatwright says the fungal kingdom is largely unseen until rain occurs and grows mushrooms.

Flood warning infrastructure will be implemented in Queensland's north and north-west regions. 

171 warning devices have been secured to combat floods and improve safety and resilience.

The eight million dollar project funded through a disaster recovery package will see signage, cameras, rain and river gauges installed.

An indigenous native title body aims to publish a scorecard to rate mining companies in Western Australia on environmental, social and governance measures. 

The livelihood of farmers in East Africa is threatened due to the worst locust outbreak in 70 years. 

Swarms of the short-horned grasshopper species have devoured crops and tea plantations, eating into farmers' food source. 

The United Nations Department of food and agriculture says the outbreak is due to unusual weather patterns.