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.

Calls for repatriation of art or cultural heritage have increased in recent years, as Western museums acknowledge the ethical case of returning often looted objects to their countries of origin. 

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. 

"In a children's wing or ward of a hospital, you know you normally hear crying and laughter. There's no crying, there's no laughter, there's dead silence," says Mr Beasly. 

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.

Sydney woman Melanie Tran, who lives with a disability, says three hours is not enough to convey the impacts of her disability, and the change is a regression in disability rights. 

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.

Campsite restrictions will be completely lifted, and elevator capacity will increase from four people to six.

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.

 Mr Boatwright encourages anyone who noticed fungi had popped to photograph them (without touching them) and post the photos in mycological Facebook groups, where experts could help identify them.

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.