Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has not been contacted by the US for wildfire support, Former US President Jimmy Carter farewelled at state funeral, The draw for this year's Australian Open takes place.
A pair of massive wildfires affecting Los Angeles are still burning uncontained.
Officials say at least five people have been killed, thousands of structures have been incinerated and nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu has turned entire neighborhoods to ash.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley says the fires have been devastating for Los Angeles.
“Damage assessments are ongoing at the Palisades Fire. However, preliminary reports estimate the damaged or destroyed structures to be in the thousands. It is safe to say that the Palisades fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the U-S has yet to request assistance from Australia as the nation struggles with some of the worst fires in its history.
Mr Albanese, who says these types of natural incidents are occuring more often, says his thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the disaster.
“Well these are devastating photos and I say to people as well that they will be triggering for many Australians who have been through the 2019 fires in southeast Australia and indeed in W.A. (Western Australia). They will be triggering for people who have been through bushfires including, still continuing around the Grampians in Victoria.”
Hundreds of mourners including all five living current and former US presidents have packed into Washington DC's National Cathedral to mourn former President Jimmy Carter.
As the sombre ceremony began and a cold wind blew, Carter's flag-draped coffin was carried up the stone steps of the cathedral by a military honour guard.
His body has lain in state for two days in the Capitol building in Washington.
Fellow Democratic President Joe Biden will eulogise the 39th president who died on December 29 at the age of 100.
Russia has reacted to US President-elect Donald Trump's comments on Greenland and Canada, saying the Arctic is of 'strategic national interest' to Russia.
Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he would consider military or economic action to acquire Greenland, which is Denmark's overseas territory, after he takes office on January 20.
A spokesperson for the Russian government says they are watching the situation closely, and says it wants peace and stability in the Arctic.
Russia's comments come as US President Joe Biden is expected to announce new sanctions on Russia this week to support Ukraine's war efforts.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has repeated her party's calls for a crackdown into unfair pricing practices used by major supermarkets.
It comes as yesterday's inflation figures revealed a significant drop in energy and fuel prices.
The two have been flagged by grocery store chain owners as the most significant contributors towards persistently high product prices.
But Ms Hanson-Young says she doesn't believe there will be much change in consumer's wallets.
"The big supermarkets have been making it tougher for Australians and better for their profits from day 'dot'. They don't care about the cost of living pressures of Australians, they care about their profits. And it's time that we had a proper crackdown on the price gouging of supermarkets. So yes, supermarkets have no excuse not to be fairer with their customers, fairer with the Australian people."
Last May, a Greens-led Senate inquiry on price gouging revealed the devastating effects of the practice on consumers, making 14 recommendations to address the issue.
In tennis,
The draw of this year's Australian Open has set up a difficult path for world number eight Alex De Minaur.
The 25-year-old is facing a potential matchup against eleventh-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round.
Should he succeed, he may then be called to eliminate last year's winner and number one seed Jannick Sinner.
Nick Kyrgios will have his own trials to contend with, facing a possible matchup against world number two Alexander Zverev in the third round.
The first round of the Australian Open is set to begin on Sunday.
