TRANSCRIPT
- An Australian man among growing death toll in LA wildfires
- Ukraine says its captured two North Korean soldiers in Kursk
- The Australian Open gets underway
Consular support is being provided to the family of an Australian citizen who has died in the fires in Los Angeles.
In a statement posted on social media, Shelley Sykes says she is heartbroken over the death of her son, 32-year-old Rory Callum Sykes.
She says the fire hit their Malibu home, and her attempt to put the flames out with a hose failed because there was no water available.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says they are aware of the Australian citizen's death and are engaging closely with local authorities to assist his family.
Meanwhile, a strict curfew has gone into force in the impacted areas to prevent looting from evacuated properties.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell says more personnel will be deployed to enforce the curfews.
"Lastly, you may see the National Guard present in impacted communities. Their support is invaluable during the emergency, enabling law enforcement to help focus on crime suppression. The National Guard is assisting us in the following areas. Traffic control. They're managing roadways and ensuring access to affected areas is restricted only to authorised personnel."
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, representing the first live capture of North Korean troops since they joined the war last autumn.
The two soldiers are currently in Kyiv, cooperating with Ukraine’s Security Service and receiving medical care.
Mr Zelenskyy says the soldiers were captured by Ukraine's special forces working alongside paratroopers.
North Korean forces joined Russia in October, with the United States estimating at least 10,000 soldiers were deployed by North Korea.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar.
A date for David Barnea's trip to Doha has yet to be scheduled.
Mr Netanyahu's office says this latest decision followed a meeting with his defence minister, security chiefs and negotiators on behalf of the outgoing and incoming US administrations.
In 15 months of conflict, only one brief ceasefire - in the earliest weeks of fighting - has been successfully negotiated during the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
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The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that heavy rain leading to flash flooding will continue to soak parts of Australia's east cost.
Severe thunderstorms - spanning from the central coast of Queensland down to Tasmania - are disrupting weekend holiday plans, with flood warnings in place across the east coast.
The Bureau says multiple flood warnings are in place for parts of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Meteorologist Angus Hines says the conditions could become dangerous.
"Some of the severe storm impacts which are expected could well be flash and river rain flooding. That's really the big one for the next few days, as that rain comes through very heavy and widespread, that can lead to dangerous driving conditions, not just water over the roads, but potentially poor visibility and poor traction when that rain is coming down heavy and the combination of rain and strong winds, especially that we might see in Queensland, can damage crops, trees, and property as well. There is a whole other array of impacts which could happen."
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And now to Tennis.
It's day one of the Australian Open and America's Coco Gauff says she is more confident than she was when she won the US Open in 2023.
The world number 3 made the final four in the Australian Open last year before she was knocked out by Aryna Sabalenka in two tight sets.
The 20-year old and Poland's Iga Swiatek pose the biggest threat to Aryna Sabalenka's hopes for three straight titles at Melbourne Park.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka says she tries not to think too much about previous successes when she's preparing.
"Like every year, it's something different, different experiences. The way you feel is different, but I just remember that last year, I wasn't thinking at all about being a defending champion, and I was just taking it step by step. And I think that was the key, basically. So this year, I'm just gonna be the same, you know, I'll just try to take it step by step and do my best. And , hopefully, hopefully I'll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one more time."
