Rockhampton's residents are sleeping a little easier. The water level hasn't reached its predicted peak of 9.4 metres. In fact, it hasn't risen since Tuesday, but more rain is on the way. At this stage, authorities don't think it'll add to the water level, but it's likely to make the flood last longer.

 

And over in the west, they're dealing with their own flood emergency. Western Australia's Gascoyne region is flooding for the second time in three weeks. The Gascoyne River is about to peak and residents have been advised to leave their homes. 

 

South of the state in Queensland, in St George, it's a race against time to get ready for Monday's expected flood peak. It's still raining there, and the town has now run out of sandbags. Most residents in the town's nursing home have been evacuated to Brisbane, and many people are preparing to leave their houses there. 

 

A former Australian soldier convicted of murder in Afghanistan has escaped the death penalty. Robert Langdon was found guilty of shooting an Afghan colleague during a dispute in 2009. The Australian newspaper is quoting court documents that reveal he's now been sentenced to 20 years in jail.

 

And Washington is preparing for yet another bruising political year. The new Republican-dominated Congress has just been sworn in. The party wrested control of the House of Representatives in the November mid-term elections. And it's vowing to make life very difficult for President Obama.