TRANSCRIPT
- The government announces support for residents affected by bushfires in Victoria
- Extreme weather events have cost $3.2 trillion globally in the past decade
- Australia insists it remains in a strong position against India in the Boxing Day Test
Property losses are expected to mount after a huge bushfire claimed at least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings in Victoria as a new blaze threatens lives and homes in Western Australia.
Cooler conditions have brought some relief to fire crews battling a blaze in Victoria's Grampians region but residents threatened by a bushfire in WA's Mid West have been urged to leave now.
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government is activating financial support for Victorians directly affected by bushfires.
"From tomorrow at 2:00 PM the disaster recovery payment will be available. That's a payment available to workers and sole traders who have directly been impacted by this fire event. This will provide up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders. It is something that has kicked in on top of the other support that we've made available, the hardship payments between the Commonwealth and the Victorian government, as well as disaster assistance by councils."
In the Grampians, emergency crews will continue impact assessments in affected areas where a blaze with a perimeter of more than 380km has so far scorched more than 75,000 hectares.
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Relatives of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas lit Hanukkah candles in Tel Aviv on Saturday during their weekly protest to demand a ceasefire deal that would bring their loved ones back home.
Hanukkah was also observed with the display of a menorah installation constructed from fragments of missiles fired at Israel.
Earlier, hostages’ relatives read a statement urging the release of captives after 449 days of being missing.
Naama Weinberg the relative of a hostage still unaccounted for wants her government to do more to return them home.
“We all recall that in July, (prime minister Benjamin) Netanyahu sabotaged the deal by demanding the addition of the unnecessary Philadelphi corridor. Today, the excuse he’s using is the lack of a hostage list, which he demands Hamas provide. Every step on the way Netanyahu has come up, with excuse after excuse, to prevent a hostage deal.”
Relatives have been holding such actions weekly in the coastal city since the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas which have seen Israel retaliate by bombarding the Gaza strip.
Hamas and Israel traded blame this week over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in recent days.
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A new report commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce highlights that extreme weather events have cost $3.2 trillion dollars globally in the past decade.
During the year, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded hit America, wildfires ravaged forests in Canada and Greece, unprecedented monsoon rains led to devastating floods in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, affecting millions of people.
It was also according to the report the hottest year on record, with the global average temperature more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group says funding needs to be directed towards tackling climate issues.
"There isn't lack of money for tackling the climate crisis. It's just that the money is still going in the wrong direction and we need to recalibrate and shift that investment out of fossil fuels."
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And the latest from the cricket,
Debutant Sam Konstas has been bowled out by Jasprit Bumrah early in Australia's second innings on day four of the fourth match test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia MCG.
India were bowled out for 369 on day four of the fourth test in Melbourne on Sunday in reply to Australia's first innings total of 474.
Australia, who lead by 129 runs, won the toss and elected to bat.
The five-test series is level at 1-1.
