TRANSCRIPT
- Families in Western Australia devastated by multiple blazes raging near Perth;
- The United States Supreme Court decide not to fast-track Donald Trump's immunity case;
- And in cricket, Bangladesh face up against New Zealand in their third one-day international of the series.
Firefighters are battling multiple blazes across Western Australia as authorities warn of more difficult days through the Christmas period.
Seven emergency-level blazes have destroyed homes and torn through bushland, rural properties and suburbs in Perth's fringes in the past three days.
Firefighters are battling a blaze in Parkerville, as well as fires near the town of Toodyay, northeast of Perth, and near Bunbury, 180 kilometres to the south.
Two more blazes reached emergency level late on Friday - one in Perth's east, the other northeast of Mandurah.
One family who lost their home told Channel 9 that the fires have been devastating.
"Our son had his 17th birthday the day before the fire so all of his presents are gone. All the Christmas presents are gone. It's going to be a not-so-pleasant Christmas this year but at least we'll never forget it."
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The United States has defended the value of a watered-down resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council calling for a boost to humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The initial draft called for "an urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities", but the language was changed in tense negotiations to appease the United States which has vetoed all previous calls for a ceasefire in support of its ally Israel.
The final resolution is much more non-committal, simply calling for steps to be taken toward conditions that would lead to an end to hostilities.
The US abstained from the final vote to allow the 15-member council to adopt a resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates.
US representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield says the resolution is significant and her country still supports temporary pauses in the violence to allow for the entry of aid and hostage-transfer operations.
"The Council must continue to support the resumption of humanitarian pauses. Israel is committed to reaching another agreement. Now, Hamas must agree to additional pauses. Still, there is no doubt that today was a massive, positive step."
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The Victorian government will announce that those who have fled the Israel-Gaza conflict will be eligible for free healthcare throughout the state.
State health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, will announce the program today which will allow for those who do not have access to Medicare due to visa conditions to access all forms of healthcare including access to hospitals, dental health and specialised mental health care.
This follows a less-extensive program by New South Wales which allowed some free healthcare such as emergency care, some surgery, ambulances and limited emergency dental care.
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The United States Supreme Court has declined to immediately decide former President Donald Trump's claim that he cannot be prosecuted for trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat, allowing a lower court to continue reviewing the issue.
The justices, rejecting a request by Special Counsel Jack Smith, refused to effectively leap-frog a lower appeals court to speed up a final ruling on Mr Trump's claim of criminal immunity ahead of his trial, due to begin in March.
The court, which is made up of nine justices - six of which are Republican, issued its decision without explanation in a brief one-page order.
This decision means Mr Trump's criminal trial for his attempts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election is currently on pause until this immunity question has been decided by lower courts.
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The Bureau of Meterology is warning of the potential for severe storms across the east coast of Australia on Christmas Day.
They say there's a chance of flash flooding, hail and intense winds, due to polar air escaping from Antarctica and moving up from the southeast.
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In cricket, Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bowl against New Zealand in the third one-day international at McLean Park.
New Zealand hold a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first match by 44 runs and the second by seven wickets.
A win on Saturday will allow New Zealand to equal Australia's record of 18 straight ODI victories at home.
New Zealand named an unchanged lineup while Bangladesh made one change, recalling fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman in place of Hasan Mahmud.
