A fierce and widespread heatwave, described as Australia's most significant since the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer, is gripping the country's south-east, pushing temperatures well into the 40s.
The severe to extreme intensity heat developed in Western Australia and is now moving through South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, and Tasmania.
Extreme Fire Danger Warnings Issued
Victorian authorities have issued a stark warning, stating the entire state will face fire danger at the "upper end of extreme" on Friday. The threat is already materialising, with at least one blaze in the state's north-east burning out of control as of early Wednesday afternoon.
Photographs from the region show plumes of smoke darkening the sky, a grim reminder of the catastrophic bushfire seasons of recent years.
National Heatwave Context and Other News
The scorching conditions dominate the national agenda. In other news, inflation has slowed to 3.4%, easing immediate fears of an interest rate hike in February.
In sport, England are pushing to set a tricky target for Australia in the ongoing Ashes cricket series. On the global stage, former US President Donald Trump claimed that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro copies his dance moves, while it was reported that CIA agent turned spy for the Soviet Union, Aldrich Ames, has died aged 84.
International Scene: Snow and Investigations
Meanwhile, Europe faces a very different extreme, with picturesque scenes of snow and ice covering cities like Heidelberg, Germany.
A major investigative podcast series continues to delve into the controversial 'Free Birth Society' movement in the United States, questioning the credentials of its founders.
As the heatwave continues, residents across south-eastern Australia are being urged to stay informed, prepare their properties, and follow all advice from emergency services in the face of the escalating fire threat.
