In pics: Nature's wrath — Inferno in Australia

Untested Australia doubles pairing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/roger-federer-brushes-de-minaur-aside-to-claim-record-10th-basel-title-258408">Alex De Minaur</a> and Nick Kyrgios saved four match points before sealing a nail-biting win in the deciding match of their quarter-final clash with Great Britain at the inaugural&nbsp;ATP&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;team event on Thursday.

The Australian duo, better known for their singles play, defeated doubles specialists Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury 3-6 6-3 18-16 to set up a semi-final against either <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rafael-nadal-once-again-claims-no-1-spot-in-rankings-novak-djokovic-slips-259888">Rafael Nadal</a>-led Spain or <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovic-destroys-david-goffin-to-reach-semis-234792">David Goffin</a>'s Belgium.

In something resembling both a hug and a wrestle, De Minaur and Kyrgios fell to the ground in a celebratory embrace after edging the half-hour-long extended tiebreak, used in place of a deciding third set.

"That was the most stressful tie-breaker I've ever been involved in," Kyrgios said in an on-court interview after the match. "I'll definitely be having a couple of red wines tonight."

The pair were subbed in by team captain Lleyton Hewitt at the last moment after the teams split the two singles matches, a decision he attributed to Kyrgios' irresistible form.

While Kyrgios' on-court behaviour often raised hackles, few handle pressure moments as well as he did on Thursday. Facing a match point in the doubles tiebreak, he ripped a backhand winner off a serve down a narrow gap.

&nbsp;

Earlier, Kyrgios was too strong for London-based left-hander Cameron Norrie, winning 6-2 6-2, while Britain's Dan Evans then outlasted the top 20-ranked De Minaur 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nick-kyrgios-beats-alexander-zverev-to-win-acapulco-title-200862">Kyrgios</a> said after his comfortable victory that he wasn't happy with his serving rhythm, although he did successfully use an underarm serve that appeared to confuse his British opponent, who was looking out for the tactic to be redeployed throughout the match.

"Anytime is a match where the opponent stops thinking about what he needs to do ...I think I have an edge straight away," said Kyrgios.

Krygios has previously employed the obscure but long-used tactic, notably against Nadal, the world's top player, who has criticised the Australian's on-court behaviour.

"If it gets in Rafa's head, then it's a success," Kyrgios said after Thursday's match.

De Minaur and Evans split the opening sets, setting up a third set contest that went to a tiebreak. Britain's top player used his all-court game to press his younger opponent and successfully employed serve-and-volley tactics at key moments.

De Minaur saved four match points before Evans eventually secured a morale-boosting victory weeks out from the Australian Open.

Hewitt then made the prescient call to put the 20-year-old immediately back out on court, partnered with Kyrgios, instead of doubles specialists.

"You have five minutes to decide after the second singles," said Hewitt, who added that Kyrgios' form was too good to leave him out of the deciding match.

&nbsp;

Untested Australia doubles pairing Alex De Minaur and Nick Kyrgios saved four match points before sealing a nail-biting win in the deciding match of their quarter-final clash with Great Britain at the inaugural ATP Cup team event on Thursday.

Untested Australia doubles pairing Alex De Minaur and Nick Kyrgios saved four match points before sealing a nail-biting win in the deciding match of their quarter-final clash with Great Britain at the inaugural ATP Cup team event on Thursday. The Australian duo, better known for their singles play, defeated doubles specialists Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury 3-6 6-3 18-16 to set up a semi-final against either Rafael Nadal-led Spain or David Goffin's Belgium. In something resembling both a hug and a wrestle, De Minaur and Kyrgios fell to the ground in a celebratory embrace after edging the half-hour-long extended tiebreak, used in place of a deciding third set. "That was the most stressful tie-breaker I've ever been involved in," Kyrgios said in an on-court interview after the match. "I'll definitely be having a couple of red wines tonight." The pair were subbed in by team captain Lleyton Hewitt at the last moment after the teams split the two singles matches, a decision he attributed to Kyrgios' irresistible form. While Kyrgios' on-court behaviour often raised hackles, few handle pressure moments as well as he did on Thursday. Facing a match point in the doubles tiebreak, he ripped a backhand winner off a serve down a narrow gap. Earlier, Kyrgios was too strong for London-based left-hander Cameron Norrie, winning 6-2 6-2, while Britain's Dan Evans then outlasted the top 20-ranked De Minaur 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2). Kyrgios said after his comfortable victory that he wasn't happy with his serving rhythm, although he did successfully use an underarm serve that appeared to confuse his British opponent, who was looking out for the tactic to be redeployed throughout the match. "Anytime is a match where the opponent stops thinking about what he needs to do ...I think I have an edge straight away," said Kyrgios. Krygios has previously employed the obscure but long-used tactic, notably against Nadal, the world's top player, who has criticised the Australian's on-court behaviour. "If it gets in Rafa's head, then it's a success," Kyrgios said after Thursday's match. De Minaur and Evans split the opening sets, setting up a third set contest that went to a tiebreak. Britain's top player used his all-court game to press his younger opponent and successfully employed serve-and-volley tactics at key moments. De Minaur saved four match points before Evans eventually secured a morale-boosting victory weeks out from the Australian Open. Hewitt then made the prescient call to put the 20-year-old immediately back out on court, partnered with Kyrgios, instead of doubles specialists. "You have five minutes to decide after the second singles," said Hewitt, who added that Kyrgios' form was too good to leave him out of the deciding match.

Australia oust Britain in knife-edge ATP Cup quarter-final

Australia's bushfires catastrophe shows no sign of relief. The authorities have issued new warnings of evacuation notices amid fears of huge bushfires in the next few days. Watch report: #Australia #AustraliaBushfires #Bushfires

Australia fires show no sign of stopping, New warnings issued by authorities

American qualifier Jennifer Brady claimed the first top 10 wins of her career with an upset 6-4 7-6(4) straight-sets victory over world number one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/djokovic-and-nadal-rally-for-merger-of-atp-cup-and-davis-cup-271915">Ash&nbsp;Barty</a> on Thursday to advance to the Brisbane International quarter-finals.

With the tournament moving into the Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre following the end of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-kicks-off-with-shapovalov-win-271903">ATP Cup</a> group stage, Brady had to contend with not only the Australian top seed, who was given a bye to the last-16, but also a vociferous home crowd.

Barty, who had never dropped a set to Brady in two encounters last year, was unable to muster a single break point while the American needed only one break of serve in the opening set before sealing the result in the second set tiebreak.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/djokovic-and-nadal-rally-for-merger-of-atp-cup-and-davis-cup-271915">Djokovic and Nadal rally for merger of ATP Cup and Davis Cup</a>

"I'm very happy to get the win," Brady said in a post-match interview. "Ash&nbsp;is obviously a great player and a great person.

"It's a little bit surreal. I'm super stoked and I'm shaking a little bit, but I really played well today."
<img alt="Jenifer Brady" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d1fe49f-651e-46b3-bced-708dab1f98b4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_39.jpg" />
Barty, who exited the tournament in the first round in 2018, struck more winners than Brady but the 16 unforced errors opened the door for her American opponent who wrapped up the match in 91 minutes.

Brady, who beat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sharapova-to-return-next-month-as-brisbane-wildcard-271149">Maria Sharapova</a> in the first round after coming through three qualifiers, became the fourth American to qualify for the quarter-finals after Madison Keys, Alison Riske and Danielle Collins.

American qualifier Jennifer Brady claimed the first top 10 wins of her career with an upset 6-4 7-6(4) straight-sets victory over world number one Ash Barty on Thursday to advance to the Brisbane International quarter-finals.

American qualifier Jennifer Brady claimed the first top 10 wins of her career with an upset 6-4 7-6(4) straight-sets victory over world number one Ash Barty on Thursday to advance to the Brisbane International quarter-finals. With the tournament moving into the Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre following the end of the ATP Cup group stage, Brady had to contend with not only the Australian top seed, who was given a bye to the last-16, but also a vociferous home crowd. Barty, who had never dropped a set to Brady in two encounters last year, was unable to muster a single break point while the American needed only one break of serve in the opening set before sealing the result in the second set tiebreak. Also Read: Djokovic and Nadal rally for merger of ATP Cup and Davis Cup "I'm very happy to get the win," Brady said in a post-match interview. "Ash is obviously a great player and a great person. "It's a little bit surreal. I'm super stoked and I'm shaking a little bit, but I really played well today." Barty, who exited the tournament in the first round in 2018, struck more winners than Brady but the 16 unforced errors opened the door for her American opponent who wrapped up the match in 91 minutes. Brady, who beat Maria Sharapova in the first round after coming through three qualifiers, became the fourth American to qualify for the quarter-finals after Madison Keys, Alison Riske and Danielle Collins.

Tennis: Barty stunned by qualifier Brady in straight sets in Brisbane

As thoughts of Australia's fire crisis hung in the air, hundreds of hip-shaking and wig-wearing Elvis Presley impersonators and fans of the late King of Rock and Roll began their annual pilgrimage to the Elvis Festival in outback Australia on Thursday (January 9).

Bushfires won't stop Elvis enthusiasts as they rock and roll to Australian town

Australia's&nbsp;weather&nbsp;agency&nbsp;sees&nbsp;no&nbsp;sign&nbsp;of&nbsp;cooler&nbsp;weather&nbsp;or&nbsp;significant&nbsp;rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt&nbsp;bushfires&nbsp;sweeping across the country.

Following&nbsp;Australia's hottest and driest year on record in 2019, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drought-hit-australia-recorded-third-warmest-year-last-year-189344">Bureau&nbsp;of Meteorology</a> said on Thursday temperatures were likely to remain higher than average over the next few months.

While there was some&nbsp;rainfall coming from the north it would not be enough to douse the&nbsp;bushfires&nbsp;raging in the country's southeast, the&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;said.

"While the&nbsp;rainfall will be welcome, we’re stopping short of saying that it’s going to be drought-breaking or really relieving the conditions we’ve seen," the&nbsp;Bureau&nbsp;of Meteorology’s Manager of Climate Monitoring, Karl Braganza, told reporters at a briefing on its annual climate statement.

Australia&nbsp;has been battling large&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lack-of-forecast-rains-to-prolong-australian-bushfires-threat-261992">bushfires</a>&nbsp;for months. A three-year drought that has left the countryside tinder-dry, which experts have linked to climate change, has helped fuel the crisis.

More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea has been razed since September, killing 26 people and killing or injuring an estimated one billion animals, including livestock.

More than 100 fires remain alight and authorities have said the largest of the blazes will only be doused by&nbsp;significant&nbsp;rainfall.

The&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;said climate change and natural drivers, including warmer than normal waters in the Indian Ocean off Africa, had made 2019&nbsp;Australia's hottest and driest year on record, with the highest ever forest fire danger rating.

The country had only 6 per cent&nbsp;of its typical annual&nbsp;rainfall last year, while daytime temperatures across were more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.

"These are large departures that we saw in 2019, both in terms of how different they were to the average temperatures and&nbsp;rainfall that we see, but also compared to previous records as well," Braganza said.

He said these were part of longer term trends in temperature and fire&nbsp;weather&nbsp;that the&nbsp;bureau&nbsp;has observed.&nbsp;Rainfall has been tracked since 1900 and temperatures since 1910.

"Australia's getting warmer, the fire season's getting longer and the severity of the fire&nbsp;weather&nbsp;during that season is getting more frequent and severe," Braganza said.

"When we look at the projections that we do for climate change, certainly&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;should be preparing for those trends to continue."

Australia's weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt bushfires sweeping across the country.

Australia's weather agency sees no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, an unwelcome forecast for authorities who have warned that only a large downpour will halt bushfires sweeping across the country. Following Australia's hottest and driest year on record in 2019, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday temperatures were likely to remain higher than average over the next few months. While there was some rainfall coming from the north it would not be enough to douse the bushfires raging in the country's southeast, the bureau said. "While the rainfall will be welcome, we’re stopping short of saying that it’s going to be drought-breaking or really relieving the conditions we’ve seen," the Bureau of Meteorology’s Manager of Climate Monitoring, Karl Braganza, told reporters at a briefing on its annual climate statement. Australia has been battling large bushfires for months. A three-year drought that has left the countryside tinder-dry, which experts have linked to climate change, has helped fuel the crisis. More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea has been razed since September, killing 26 people and killing or injuring an estimated one billion animals, including livestock. More than 100 fires remain alight and authorities have said the largest of the blazes will only be doused by significant rainfall. The bureau said climate change and natural drivers, including warmer than normal waters in the Indian Ocean off Africa, had made 2019 Australia's hottest and driest year on record, with the highest ever forest fire danger rating. The country had only 6 per cent of its typical annual rainfall last year, while daytime temperatures across were more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. "These are large departures that we saw in 2019, both in terms of how different they were to the average temperatures and rainfall that we see, but also compared to previous records as well," Braganza said. He said these were part of longer term trends in temperature and fire weather that the bureau has observed. Rainfall has been tracked since 1900 and temperatures since 1910. "Australia's getting warmer, the fire season's getting longer and the severity of the fire weather during that season is getting more frequent and severe," Braganza said. "When we look at the projections that we do for climate change, certainly Australia should be preparing for those trends to continue."

Australia weather bureau sees no sign of cooler weather or rain to quell bushfires

Former world number one <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sharapova-to-return-next-month-as-brisbane-wildcard-271149">Maria Sharapova</a> will be awarded a world card to play in this month's Australian Open, the organisers of the year's first Grand Slam said on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Russian is currently ranked 147th in the world after a season in which a long-standing shoulder injury restricted her to eight tournaments.

Sharapova played her first match since losing in the first round of last year's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2019-serena-williams-wins-first-round-against-maria-sharapova-245883">US&nbsp;Open</a> at the Brisbane International on Tuesday but was defeated 3-6 6-1 7-6(3) by American qualifier <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/johanna-konta-maria-sharapova-fall-at-rogers-cup-in-toronto-241052">Jennifer Brady</a>.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed on Wednesday that the 2008 champion will receive a wildcard entry into the main singles draw for the tournament, which starts in Melbourne on January&nbsp;20.

She responded with a "Thank you!!" to a post from the official Australian Open Twitter which read: "We'll see you at #AO2020 @MariaSharapova..."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We'll see you at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaSharapova?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaSharapova</a>...<a href="https://t.co/s9Ahx8UJRI">https://t.co/s9Ahx8UJRI</a>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1214731296108236800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The five-time Grand Slam champion has been troubled by shoulder problems throughout her career and underwent surgery early last year, with lingering problems hampering her throughout the 2019 season.

"I've been fighting a virus for a couple of weeks and ended up in the hospital the other day, so that wasn't fun," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/johanna-konta-maria-sharapova-fall-at-rogers-cup-in-toronto-241052">Sharapova</a> said after her loss in Brisbane.

"I just couldn't keep anything in (but) that's the extent that I'm going to share with you."

Sharapova lost to Ash Barty in the fourth round of last year's Australian Open.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova will be awarded a world card to play in this month's Australian Open, the organisers of the year's first Grand Slam said on Wednesday.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova will be awarded a world card to play in this month's Australian Open, the organisers of the year's first Grand Slam said on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Russian is currently ranked 147th in the world after a season in which a long-standing shoulder injury restricted her to eight tournaments. Sharapova played her first match since losing in the first round of last year's US Open at the Brisbane International on Tuesday but was defeated 3-6 6-1 7-6(3) by American qualifier Jennifer Brady. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley confirmed on Wednesday that the 2008 champion will receive a wildcard entry into the main singles draw for the tournament, which starts in Melbourne on January 20. She responded with a "Thank you!!" to a post from the official Australian Open Twitter which read: "We'll see you at #AO2020 @MariaSharapova..." We'll see you at #AO2020 @MariaSharapova...https://t.co/s9Ahx8UJRI — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2020 × The five-time Grand Slam champion has been troubled by shoulder problems throughout her career and underwent surgery early last year, with lingering problems hampering her throughout the 2019 season. "I've been fighting a virus for a couple of weeks and ended up in the hospital the other day, so that wasn't fun," Sharapova said after her loss in Brisbane. "I just couldn't keep anything in (but) that's the extent that I'm going to share with you." Sharapova lost to Ash Barty in the fourth round of last year's Australian Open.

Tennis: Former champion Sharapova to get Australian Open wildcard

Australian firefighters used a break from searing temperatures on Tuesday to strengthen containment lines around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-bushfires-2000-homes-destroyed-military-buries-4000-animals-to-prevent-diseases-272607">huge wildfires</a> as the financial and environmental costs of the crisis mounted.

More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea - have been razed by bushfires across the country in recent weeks, according to the latest data, with the southeast particularly hard hit.

Imagery posted online from the Himawari 8 Japanese satellite and NASA's Earth Observatory showed plumes of smoke from the fires reaching as far as South America.

Firefighters on the ground were making the most of a few days of cooler temperatures in the southeast to prepare for the expected return of heat and wind later this week that is expected to fan existing blazes and spark new ones.

"We need to remain vigilant," Andrew Crisp, Victoria state's emergency management commissioner, told reporters.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-celebrity-chris-hemsworth-donates-1million-to-australia-wildfire-272741">Hollywood celebrity Chris Hemsworth donates $1million to Australia wildfire</a>

"We talk about benign conditions, and the fire is suppressed, but it is still there. It is still tinder dry."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everythings-just-gone-weve-got-nothing-aish-australian-bushfire-victim-272566">Australia's bushfire</a> season started earlier than normal this year following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland vulnerable to fires.

Thousands of people have been left homeless, while many in rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Military-coordinated rescue and support efforts are going on.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the crisis would have a significant economic impact as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg met chief executives of insurers Insurance Australia Group, Suncorp Group and QBE Insurance Group, and local heads of Germany's Allianz and Switzerland's Zurich Insurance Group, plus heads of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Group.

Morrison on Monday pledged A$2 billion ($1.39 billion) to a newly created National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

The Insurance Council of Australia increased its estimate for damage claims from the fires to more than A$700 million, with claims expected to jump when more fire-hit areas are accessible.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dont-know-what-were-going-to-do-australians-in-town-ravaged-by-bushfire-272703/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Following are some highlights of what is happening in the Australian bushfires crisis:

- Two men reported missing in New South Wales have been found, police said.

- Forty-eight US&nbsp;firefighters are scheduled to arrive in Australia on Wednesday, officials said, joining 39 compatriots already on the ground. A further 18 incident management personnel from the United States and Canada will arrive on Wednesday.

- Prime Minister Morrison said he spoke with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Tuesday, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also offered support.

- Morrison attended the funeral of volunteer firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer, who was killed along with colleague Geoffrey Keaton on Dec. 19 after a burnt tree fell in the path of their firetruck, causing it to roll.

- Data showed the fires were beginning to have an effect on the economy. The ANZ gauge of consumer confidence fell last week to its lowest level in more than four years, while its job advertisement data recorded the biggest monthly drop in seven months in December.

- The military was deployed to help bury an estimated 4,000 dead sheep and cattle.

- Authorities said the number of people calling for urgent medical care in Victoria jumped 51 per cent on Monday as smoke covered the state.

- There were 132 fires ablaze across New South Wales state, but all were back at the "advice" level, the lowest alert rating.

- Victoria state had 39 fires with 13 "watch and act" alerts.

- Almost 1,600 homes have been destroyed in NSW, Australia's most populous state, authorities said. In Victoria state, authorities believe 300 homes have been destroyed.

- Insurers have received 8,985 bushfire-related claims in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland since the Insurance Council declared a bushfire catastrophe on Nov. 8. The claims are estimated to have a loss value of A$700 million. The council recorded the destruction of 1,838 residential properties.

- A member of parliament from Morrison's party was criticised for an appearance on the "Good Morning Britain" ITV program during which he said there was no link between climate change and the bushfire crisis. "There is no link, the facts that cause the fires are the drought and the drying of the environment," lawmaker Craig Kelly said.

Australian firefighters used a break from searing temperatures on Tuesday to strengthen containment lines around huge wildfires as the financial and environmental costs of the crisis mounted.

Australian firefighters used a break from searing temperatures on Tuesday to strengthen containment lines around huge wildfires as the financial and environmental costs of the crisis mounted. More than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land an area the size of South Korea - have been razed by bushfires across the country in recent weeks, according to the latest data, with the southeast particularly hard hit. Imagery posted online from the Himawari 8 Japanese satellite and NASA's Earth Observatory showed plumes of smoke from the fires reaching as far as South America. Firefighters on the ground were making the most of a few days of cooler temperatures in the southeast to prepare for the expected return of heat and wind later this week that is expected to fan existing blazes and spark new ones. "We need to remain vigilant," Andrew Crisp, Victoria state's emergency management commissioner, told reporters. Also read: Hollywood celebrity Chris Hemsworth donates $1million to Australia wildfire "We talk about benign conditions, and the fire is suppressed, but it is still there. It is still tinder dry." Australia's bushfire season started earlier than normal this year following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland vulnerable to fires. Thousands of people have been left homeless, while many in rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Military-coordinated rescue and support efforts are going on. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the crisis would have a significant economic impact as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg met chief executives of insurers Insurance Australia Group, Suncorp Group and QBE Insurance Group, and local heads of Germany's Allianz and Switzerland's Zurich Insurance Group, plus heads of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Group. Morrison on Monday pledged A$2 billion ($1.39 billion) to a newly created National Bushfire Recovery Agency. The Insurance Council of Australia increased its estimate for damage claims from the fires to more than A$700 million, with claims expected to jump when more fire-hit areas are accessible. × Following are some highlights of what is happening in the Australian bushfires crisis: - Two men reported missing in New South Wales have been found, police said. - Forty-eight US firefighters are scheduled to arrive in Australia on Wednesday, officials said, joining 39 compatriots already on the ground. A further 18 incident management personnel from the United States and Canada will arrive on Wednesday. - Prime Minister Morrison said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also offered support. - Morrison attended the funeral of volunteer firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer, who was killed along with colleague Geoffrey Keaton on Dec. 19 after a burnt tree fell in the path of their firetruck, causing it to roll. - Data showed the fires were beginning to have an effect on the economy. The ANZ gauge of consumer confidence fell last week to its lowest level in more than four years, while its job advertisement data recorded the biggest monthly drop in seven months in December. - The military was deployed to help bury an estimated 4,000 dead sheep and cattle. - Authorities said the number of people calling for urgent medical care in Victoria jumped 51 per cent on Monday as smoke covered the state. - There were 132 fires ablaze across New South Wales state, but all were back at the "advice" level, the lowest alert rating. - Victoria state had 39 fires with 13 "watch and act" alerts. - Almost 1,600 homes have been destroyed in NSW, Australia's most populous state, authorities said. In Victoria state, authorities believe 300 homes have been destroyed. - Insurers have received 8,985 bushfire-related claims in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland since the Insurance Council declared a bushfire catastrophe on Nov. 8. The claims are estimated to have a loss value of A$700 million. The council recorded the destruction of 1,838 residential properties. - A member of parliament from Morrison's party was criticised for an appearance on the "Good Morning Britain" ITV program during which he said there was no link between climate change and the bushfire crisis. "There is no link, the facts that cause the fires are the drought and the drying of the environment," lawmaker Craig Kelly said.

Australia strengthens bushfire defences as economic, environmental costs mount

Smoke from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">bushfires</a> raging across Australia reached Brazil on Tuesday, an arm of the National Institute for Space Research said on Twitter.

Referring to satellite images, the agency's Department of Remote Sensing said the smoke had arrived in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul.

Private meteorological company MetSul also tweeted about the arrival of a smoke cloud to Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, but emphasized that "the presence of smoke from Australia in the air is almost imperceptible, despite the satellite showing smoke in the atmosphere over the great Porto Alegre."

Chile's meteorological service said Monday that smoke from the fires was visible in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strong-68-magnitude-earthquake-off-chile-coast-252706">Chile</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-goal-gives-argentina-1-0-win-over-brazil-262481">Argentina</a>. 
 
Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-bushfires-smoke-travels-through-south-america-272919/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">That means the hazy cloud of smoke, sitting at about 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) in the air, traveled more than 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) to reach South America.</div>

But the drifting smoke won't negatively affect the health of the continent's inhabitants, the Chilean service said.

Fires ravaging Australia since September have left 24 people dead and destroyed some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometers) of land&nbsp;an area the size of Ireland or the US state of South Carolina.

After a catastrophic weekend, Australian firefighters supported by US and Canadian forces welcomed rain and a drop in temperatures to boost their efforts early in the week before another heat wave is expected in the coming days. &nbsp;

Reserve troops have been deployed to help throughout the country, and the government has earmarked an initial Aus$2 billion ($1.4 billion) for a national recovery fund for devastated communities.

Smoke from bushfires raging across Australia reached Brazil on Tuesday, an arm of the National Institute for Space Research said on Twitter. Referring to satellite images, the agency's Department of Remote Sensing said the smoke had arrived in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul.

Smoke from bushfires raging across Australia reached Brazil on Tuesday, an arm of the National Institute for Space Research said on Twitter. Referring to satellite images, the agency's Department of Remote Sensing said the smoke had arrived in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul. Private meteorological company MetSul also tweeted about the arrival of a smoke cloud to Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, but emphasized that "the presence of smoke from Australia in the air is almost imperceptible, despite the satellite showing smoke in the atmosphere over the great Porto Alegre." Chile's meteorological service said Monday that smoke from the fires was visible in Chile and Argentina. Watch: That means the hazy cloud of smoke, sitting at about 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) in the air, traveled more than 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) to reach South America. But the drifting smoke won't negatively affect the health of the continent's inhabitants, the Chilean service said. Fires ravaging Australia since September have left 24 people dead and destroyed some eight million hectares (80,000 square kilometers) of land an area the size of Ireland or the US state of South Carolina. After a catastrophic weekend, Australian firefighters supported by US and Canadian forces welcomed rain and a drop in temperatures to boost their efforts early in the week before another heat wave is expected in the coming days. Reserve troops have been deployed to help throughout the country, and the government has earmarked an initial Aus$2 billion ($1.4 billion) for a national recovery fund for devastated communities.

Smoke from Australia bushfires reaches Brazil

Australian farmer, Anthony Thomas, sat on his quad bike on Wednesday (January 8) as he looked at his farm, wiped out by the catastrophic bushfires which swept through Kiah in New South Wales, taking everything in its path when it blazed through four days ago.

'It just meant so much to me': Australian farmer loses entire deer farm to raging bushfire

The Australian government on Wednesday approved an initiative to kill as many as 10,00 feral camels in an aboriginal region using firearms.

Officials in the remote northwest of south Australia approved the cull, which is set to last for five days, during which marksmen in helicopters will use firearms to shoot and kill the camels.

The country apart from being struck by massive bush fires is also facing severe droughts. The feral camels consume too much water in the drought-hit area.

This decision is bound to be controversial, taking into consideration the estimated half a billion animals perished due to the unprecedented bush fires that continue to be uncontrolled.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-to-kill-up-to-10000-camels-amid-bushfires-273004/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a Facebook post put up by the local administration, the camels were trespassing into properties and trying to drink the water of air conditioner ducts as rising temperatures continue to make the region even more arid.

‘Feral camels breed at such a rate the population doubles every nine years, contributing more greenhouse gases that worsen climate change. One million feral camels emitting one-tonne carbon dioxide per year is the equivalent of having an additional 400,000 cars on the road. With the number continuing to grow as the camel population swells without critically needed management intervention, as is being taken by locals and partners through the development of cull plans’.

The post also seeks federal government to award carbon credits to the region for getting rid of feral animals that were contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases.

Netizens are enraged over the development and have questioned the silence of animal rights groups on the matter so far.

The environment department of the country that has supported this decision. Officials say the drought has created critical animal welfare issues, as camels have died of thirst and often trample on each other to find water.

Australia has experienced its hottest and driest year in 2019, with severe drought causing towns to run out of the water and worsening the raging bush fires.

Interestingly camels were introduced to Australia from India in the 1840s to explore the interiors of the nation. With time Australia became home to the largest wild camel population in the world with over one million of the animals roaming the inland deserts of the vast continental country.

While the culling operation is the biggest in this state in South Australia, countries have in the past resorted to culling the wild for multiple reasons. In 2005 South Africa has used controlled culling as a means of limiting the elephant population in the region.

Draft proposals in 2014 in the United States declared mute swans as prohibited invasive species and outlined plans to eliminate them by 2025. The non-native beautiful swans were believed to be destroying the habitats of native ducks and geese.

In 2016, Finnish authorities had ordered the culling of 20% of the endangered grey wolves.

In 2018, Zambia revived plans to cull 2000 hippos but was forced to cancel plans owing to opposition against the move.

In India, the state of Uttarakhand ordered for the culling of wild boars in 2016 after began venturing outside protected areas. In 2016, Kerala went on a dog culling spree that invited much criticism from animal rights groups. In 2019, the government approved culling of monkeys for a year in Himachal Pradesh, as they were found to be causing a nuisance in non-forest areas.

The Australian government on Wednesday approved an initiative to kill as many as 10,00 feral camels in an aboriginal region using firearms. Officials in the remote northwest of south Australia approved the cull, which is set to last for five days, during which marksmen in helicopters will use firearms to shoot and kill the camels.

The Australian government on Wednesday approved an initiative to kill as many as 10,00 feral camels in an aboriginal region using firearms. Officials in the remote northwest of south Australia approved the cull, which is set to last for five days, during which marksmen in helicopters will use firearms to shoot and kill the camels. The country apart from being struck by massive bush fires is also facing severe droughts. The feral camels consume too much water in the drought-hit area. This decision is bound to be controversial, taking into consideration the estimated half a billion animals perished due to the unprecedented bush fires that continue to be uncontrolled. Watch: According to a Facebook post put up by the local administration, the camels were trespassing into properties and trying to drink the water of air conditioner ducts as rising temperatures continue to make the region even more arid. ‘Feral camels breed at such a rate the population doubles every nine years, contributing more greenhouse gases that worsen climate change. One million feral camels emitting one-tonne carbon dioxide per year is the equivalent of having an additional 400,000 cars on the road. With the number continuing to grow as the camel population swells without critically needed management intervention, as is being taken by locals and partners through the development of cull plans’. The post also seeks federal government to award carbon credits to the region for getting rid of feral animals that were contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases. Netizens are enraged over the development and have questioned the silence of animal rights groups on the matter so far. The environment department of the country that has supported this decision. Officials say the drought has created critical animal welfare issues, as camels have died of thirst and often trample on each other to find water. Australia has experienced its hottest and driest year in 2019, with severe drought causing towns to run out of the water and worsening the raging bush fires. Interestingly camels were introduced to Australia from India in the 1840s to explore the interiors of the nation. With time Australia became home to the largest wild camel population in the world with over one million of the animals roaming the inland deserts of the vast continental country. While the culling operation is the biggest in this state in South Australia, countries have in the past resorted to culling the wild for multiple reasons. In 2005 South Africa has used controlled culling as a means of limiting the elephant population in the region. Draft proposals in 2014 in the United States declared mute swans as prohibited invasive species and outlined plans to eliminate them by 2025. The non-native beautiful swans were believed to be destroying the habitats of native ducks and geese. In 2016, Finnish authorities had ordered the culling of 20% of the endangered grey wolves. In 2018, Zambia revived plans to cull 2000 hippos but was forced to cancel plans owing to opposition against the move. In India, the state of Uttarakhand ordered for the culling of wild boars in 2016 after began venturing outside protected areas. In 2016, Kerala went on a dog culling spree that invited much criticism from animal rights groups. In 2019, the government approved culling of monkeys for a year in Himachal Pradesh, as they were found to be causing a nuisance in non-forest areas.

Australia: Over 10,000 camels to be culled in a bid to save water

Authorities in Australia will begin five-day campaign to kill thousands of camels in the country as they drink too much water amid the wildfires.

Australia to kill up to 10,000 camels amid Bushfires

The bushfires in Australia show no signs of abating. Satellite images taken on January 7 showed bushfires smoke drifting across Chile and Argentina, some 11,000 km away from Australia's east coast. #WION #Australia #AustraliaBushfires

Australian bushfires smoke travels through South America

A row has erupted around the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smoke-from-australia-bushfires-reaches-brazil-272837">devastating, raging bushfires in Australia</a> as fresh reports inform of more than 180 people being accused of allegedly starting the blazes during the bushfire season.

Australian media on Tuesday reported that as many as 180 people have been arrested for bushfire-related offences of which over 20 people have been charged for deliberately setting up the blazes.&nbsp;

People have also been arrested and charged for not paying heed to fire bans and caution notices put up by the local authorities.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">devastating bushfires</a> seem to see no signs of abating and have swallowed over 10 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land, claiming lives of more than 20 people this season and killing around 1 billion animals.

<img alt="australia bushfires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a3532c2-dbc6-434b-a1f6-036b85b7d999" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/animals%20australia.jpg" />

As per reports, as many as 10,000 camels could be culled in the northwest of South Australia as locals complain thirsty animals, in search of water, are posing a threat to the inhabitants. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/smoke-from-australia-bushfires-reaches-brazil-272837" hreflang="en">Smoke from Australia bushfires reaches Brazil</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dont-know-what-were-going-to-do-australians-in-town-ravaged-by-bushfire-272703/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-strengthens-bushfire-defences-as-economic-environmental-costs-mount-272815">bushfire</a> season in Australia this year started earlier than normal following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland vulnerable to fires.

While thousands have been left homeless, many rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday and said that the US and the UK have offered support.

An area as big as South Korea has been destroyed by bushfires in Australia. Satellite imagery captures smoke emanating from the bushfires is travelling through South America.&nbsp;

In the meanwhile, authorities have predicted another temperature spike as soon as January 10, with little rain indicating a return to hazardous conditions.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

A row has erupted around the devastating, raging bushfires in Australia as fresh reports inform of more than 180 people being accused of allegedly starting the blazes during the bushfire season.

A row has erupted around the devastating, raging bushfires in Australia as fresh reports inform of more than 180 people being accused of allegedly starting the blazes during the bushfire season. Australian media on Tuesday reported that as many as 180 people have been arrested for bushfire-related offences of which over 20 people have been charged for deliberately setting up the blazes. People have also been arrested and charged for not paying heed to fire bans and caution notices put up by the local authorities. The devastating bushfires seem to see no signs of abating and have swallowed over 10 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land, claiming lives of more than 20 people this season and killing around 1 billion animals. As per reports, as many as 10,000 camels could be culled in the northwest of South Australia as locals complain thirsty animals, in search of water, are posing a threat to the inhabitants. Also read: Smoke from Australia bushfires reaches Brazil × The bushfire season in Australia this year started earlier than normal following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland vulnerable to fires. While thousands have been left homeless, many rural towns have spent days without electricity, telecommunications and, in some cases, drinking water. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday and said that the US and the UK have offered support. An area as big as South Korea has been destroyed by bushfires in Australia. Satellite imagery captures smoke emanating from the bushfires is travelling through South America. In the meanwhile, authorities have predicted another temperature spike as soon as January 10, with little rain indicating a return to hazardous conditions. (With inputs from Reuters)

Australia bushfires: Over 180 people arrested for blaze-related crimes, deliberately starting fire 

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 07, 2020

Around two thousand homes have been destroyed in the deadly Australian wildfires that has&nbsp;ripped more than 8 million hectares of land in New South Wales and Victoria. According to reports, the bushfires have wiped&nbsp;out 480 million&nbsp;animals, killing at least 25&nbsp;people.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>With temperatures rising due to the bushfires, forecasters fear more&nbsp;fires are expected which is likely to form a new “mega blaze”&nbsp;along the New South Wales border. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The cloud of smoke caused by the wildfires was spotted as far as in Chile and Argentina. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>An estimated $485.59 million or more will be required to cover the damage caused by the catastrophic bushfires, as per the reports of Insurance Council of Australia. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently instituted ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>An insured loss of $375 million has been estimated as 5,850 fire-related insurance claims have been lodged since early November last year. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>PM Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis.</li>
</ul>

Watch:&nbsp;Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-bushfires-scott-morrison-announces-new-recovery-agency-272334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-bushfires-2000-homes-destroyed-military-buries-4000-animals-to-prevent-diseases-272607">Australian bushfires: 2,000 homes destroyed; military buries 4,000 animals to prevent diseases</a>

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-update-authorities-race-to-reopen-blocked-roads-evacuate-people-272450">Australia bushfires update: Authorities race to reopen blocked roads, evacuate people</a>

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everythings-just-gone-weve-got-nothing-aish-australian-bushfire-victim-272566">'Everything's just gone, we’ve got nothing': Australian bushfire victim</a>

(With Inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

Around two thousand homes have been destroyed in the deadly Australian wildfires that has ripped more than 8 million hectares of land in New South Wales and Victoria.

Around two thousand homes have been destroyed in the deadly Australian wildfires that has ripped more than 8 million hectares of land in New South Wales and Victoria. According to reports, the bushfires have wiped out 480 million animals, killing at least 25 people. With temperatures rising due to the bushfires, forecasters fear more fires are expected which is likely to form a new “mega blaze” along the New South Wales border. The cloud of smoke caused by the wildfires was spotted as far as in Chile and Argentina. An estimated $485.59 million or more will be required to cover the damage caused by the catastrophic bushfires, as per the reports of Insurance Council of Australia. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently instituted ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''. An insured loss of $375 million has been estimated as 5,850 fire-related insurance claims have been lodged since early November last year. PM Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis. Watch: Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency × Read More: Australian bushfires: 2,000 homes destroyed; military buries 4,000 animals to prevent diseases Read More: Australia bushfires update: Authorities race to reopen blocked roads, evacuate people Read More: 'Everything's just gone, we’ve got nothing': Australian bushfire victim (With Inputs from AFP)

Australia bushfires update: Forecasters fear 'mega blaze' along New South Wales

The community of Eden braced for the worst as fires raged towards their borders on New Year's Eve, and whilst the town itself remains intact, residents will be feeling the effects of the flames for a while to come.

'Don't know what we're going to do': Australians in town ravaged by bushfire

In South Australia, the Kangaroo Island Ravine fire complex that has burnt a third of the island has six areas still burning.

Australia: Fire in NSW leaves more than 2,000 homes damaged

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everythings-just-gone-weve-got-nothing-aish-australian-bushfire-victim-272566">Australia's months-long bushfire crisis</a>, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia.&nbsp;

Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis.

The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter</a>

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction.

Scores of people have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-update-authorities-race-to-reopen-blocked-roads-evacuate-people-272450">rendered homeless</a>, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water.

Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing.

Watch:&nbsp;Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-bushfires-scott-morrison-announces-new-recovery-agency-272334/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''.

"There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported.

High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-24-die-in-australia-bushfires-prayforaustralia-trends-on-twitter-272293">arsenal of bushfires</a>.

"They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported.

Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. Temperatures are likely to soar again, fears heightened that two fires could form a new "mega blaze". Earlier today, Australian firefighters employed cool weather as a tool to strengthen containment lines across 200 wildfires burning in Southeast Australia. Additionally, the Australian military today helped to bury 4,000 dead sheep and cattle to curtail diseases from spreading as the corpses rot. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet insurance and bank executives to discuss the ongoing crisis. The fires, that have been burning for months, have razed more than 8 million hectares of land across Australia. 25 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed. Also read: As 24 die in Australia bushfires, #PrayforAustralia trends in Twitter According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the damages are going to cost $485.59 million. This figure is expected to jump further as fires continue to gain traction. Scores of people have been rendered homeless, with disruption in electricity and telecommunications, and also drinking water. Rescue efforts in tandem with the military are ongoing. Watch: Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency The PM recently pledged 2 billion Australian dollars to institute a ''National Bushfire Recovery Agency''. "There's going to be a very significant economic impact, but ... we want to get money out into these communities as fast as possible," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp before the planned meetings between Morrison and financial bosses take place, Reuters reported. High temperatures and winds are expected to return later this week, which could, in turn, unleash a new arsenal of bushfires. "They are trying to secure fire lines where they can to try and minimise where these fires will burn again when conditions do warm-up," Rob Rogers, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner told reporters in a morning briefing, Reuters reported. Bushfires have started to create a ripple effect on the economy. The gauge measuring consumer confidence in Australia fell to its lowest level in four years. Additionally, job advertisement data recorded the most drastic drop in seven months. (With inputs from Reuters)

Australian 'mega-blaze': 2,000 homes destroyed; military buries 4,000 animals to prevent diseases

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 06, 2020

A gauge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-asian-shares-lower-as-investors-book-decade-end-profits-271229">Asian shares</a> was toppled from an 18-month top on Monday as heightened Middle East tensions sent investors scurrying for the safety of gold, which hit a near seven-year high while oil jumped to four-month peaks.

The United States detected a heightened state of alert by Iran's missile forces, as President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-stocks-rattled-after-donald-trump-says-no-deadline-on-us-china-trade-deal-266025">Donald Trump</a> warned the US&nbsp;would strike back, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner," if Iran attacked any American person or target.

Iraq's parliament on Sunday recommended all foreign troops be ordered out of the country after the US&nbsp;killing of a top Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader.

Spot gold surged 1.5 per cent&nbsp;to $1,579.55 per ounce in jittery trade and reached its highest since April 2013.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-prices-tumble-ahead-of-opec-meeting-global-stocks-fall-265363">Oil prices</a> added to their gains on fears any conflict in the region could disrupt global supplies.

Brent crude futures rose $1.46 to $70.06 a barrel, while US crude climbed $1.17 to $64.22.

"The risk of further escalation has clearly gone up&nbsp;given the direct attack on Iran, Iran's threat of retaliation and Trump's desire to look tough - posing the threat of higher oil prices," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital.

"Historically though oil prices need to double to pose a severe threat to global growth and we are a long way from that."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-warns-he-may-hit-iraq-with-sanctions-272385/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan&nbsp;slipped 0.7 per cent.

Japan's Nikkei slid almost 2 per cent&nbsp;in a sour return from holiday, while E-Mini futures for the S&amp;P 500&nbsp; fell 0.5&nbsp;per cent in very choppy trade.

Chinese shares opened in the red too, with the blue-chip CSI300 index off a shade while Australian shares were off 0.4 per cent.

"Geopolitical tensions look like remaining elevated in the coming days, so lending support to oil prices and keeping risk asset markets on the defensive," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank.

Sovereign bonds benefited from the safety bid with yields on 10-year Treasuries down at 1.769&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;having fallen 10 basis points on Friday. Treasury futures gained 5-1/2 ticks.

In currency markets, the Japanese yen remained the favoured safe harbour courtesy of Japan's massive holdings of foreign assets. Investors assume Japanese funds would repatriate their money during a truly global crisis, pushing the yen higher.

On Monday, the dollar was last at 107.98 yen, after falling to a three-month trough of 107.78 earlier in the session. The euro likewise eased to 120.55 yen having hit a three-week low.

The dollar was steadier against the other majors, with the euro little changed at $1.1161. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was holding at 96.86.

The risk-sensitive currencies of Australia and New Zealand were on track for their fourth straight session of losses.

A gauge of Asian shares was toppled from an 18-month top on Monday as heightened Middle East tensions sent investors scurrying for the safety of gold, which hit a near seven-year high while oil jumped to four-month peaks.

A gauge of Asian shares was toppled from an 18-month top on Monday as heightened Middle East tensions sent investors scurrying for the safety of gold, which hit a near seven-year high while oil jumped to four-month peaks. The United States detected a heightened state of alert by Iran's missile forces, as President Donald Trump warned the US would strike back, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner," if Iran attacked any American person or target. Iraq's parliament on Sunday recommended all foreign troops be ordered out of the country after the US killing of a top Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader. Spot gold surged 1.5 per cent to $1,579.55 per ounce in jittery trade and reached its highest since April 2013. Oil prices added to their gains on fears any conflict in the region could disrupt global supplies. Brent crude futures rose $1.46 to $70.06 a barrel, while US crude climbed $1.17 to $64.22. "The risk of further escalation has clearly gone up given the direct attack on Iran, Iran's threat of retaliation and Trump's desire to look tough - posing the threat of higher oil prices," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital. "Historically though oil prices need to double to pose a severe threat to global growth and we are a long way from that." Watch Video: MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.7 per cent. Japan's Nikkei slid almost 2 per cent in a sour return from holiday, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.5 per cent in very choppy trade. Chinese shares opened in the red too, with the blue-chip CSI300 index off a shade while Australian shares were off 0.4 per cent. "Geopolitical tensions look like remaining elevated in the coming days, so lending support to oil prices and keeping risk asset markets on the defensive," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank. Sovereign bonds benefited from the safety bid with yields on 10-year Treasuries down at 1.769 per cent having fallen 10 basis points on Friday. Treasury futures gained 5-1/2 ticks. In currency markets, the Japanese yen remained the favoured safe harbour courtesy of Japan's massive holdings of foreign assets. Investors assume Japanese funds would repatriate their money during a truly global crisis, pushing the yen higher. On Monday, the dollar was last at 107.98 yen, after falling to a three-month trough of 107.78 earlier in the session. The euro likewise eased to 120.55 yen having hit a three-week low. The dollar was steadier against the other majors, with the euro little changed at $1.1161. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was holding at 96.86. The risk-sensitive currencies of Australia and New Zealand were on track for their fourth straight session of losses.

Gold, oil prices soar amid US-Iran tensions

Just when John Aish and his partner Jenny Shea thought they had beaten the inferno ravaging their two properties in Australia's southeast on New Year's Eve, a roaring fireball came through forcing them to flee.

Aish and Shea did not see each other until the following morning. They are now camping near <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-scrambles-to-reach-thousands-stranded-by-bushfires-at-least-8-dead-271387">Cobargo</a>, about 10 km (6.2 miles) away from their hometown of Wandella.

"We tried really hard. We thought we’d had it beat but the big fireballs came and I said, 'come on kids, we got to go'," Shea told reporters.

"Glad we got out when we did."

Fires have ripped through more than 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres) of land this summer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/making-sense-of-australias-bushfire-crisis-means-asking-hard-questions-and-listening-to-the-answers-272544">fire season</a>, an area nearly the size of Austria, razing thousands of buildings and leaving some towns without electricity and mobile coverage.

Watch:&nbsp;Much needed respite from bushfires in Australia

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/much-needed-respite-from-bushfires-in-australia-272539/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Everything’s just gone. We’ve got nothing," Aish said.

Police on Monday confirmed the death of a 71-year-old man on the south coast of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-bushfires-update-authorities-race-to-reopen-blocked-roads-evacuate-people-272450">New South Wales</a> (NSW) state who was reported missing on December&nbsp;31, bringing the death toll to 25.

Among those dead were Aish and Shea's neighbors, a father and a son, killed that same night battling the fires.

"I’d say, like a hurricane. Just bloody quick and, just hard to describe," Aish told reporters as he described the fire.

"The noise was just like a bloody jet, jet engine like just got louder and louder and, just the roar of the wind and that sort of thing."

Just when John Aish and his partner Jenny Shea thought they had beaten the inferno ravaging their two properties in Australia's southeast on New Year's Eve, a roaring fireball came through forcing them to flee.

Just when John Aish and his partner Jenny Shea thought they had beaten the inferno ravaging their two properties in Australia's southeast on New Year's Eve, a roaring fireball came through forcing them to flee. Aish and Shea did not see each other until the following morning. They are now camping near Cobargo, about 10 km (6.2 miles) away from their hometown of Wandella. "We tried really hard. We thought we’d had it beat but the big fireballs came and I said, 'come on kids, we got to go'," Shea told reporters. "Glad we got out when we did." Fires have ripped through more than 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres) of land this summer fire season, an area nearly the size of Austria, razing thousands of buildings and leaving some towns without electricity and mobile coverage. Watch: Much needed respite from bushfires in Australia × "Everything’s just gone. We’ve got nothing," Aish said. Police on Monday confirmed the death of a 71-year-old man on the south coast of New South Wales (NSW) state who was reported missing on December 31, bringing the death toll to 25. Among those dead were Aish and Shea's neighbors, a father and a son, killed that same night battling the fires. "I’d say, like a hurricane. Just bloody quick and, just hard to describe," Aish told reporters as he described the fire. "The noise was just like a bloody jet, jet engine like just got louder and louder and, just the roar of the wind and that sort of thing."

'Everything's just gone, we’ve got nothing': Australian bushfire victim

Temperatures in Australia have provided some much-needed respite to the Australian bushfires. Some dangerous fire conditions are now being forecasted for the end of the week. Cooling temperatures and calmer winds have now brought some relief to the Australian communities. #Australia #WION #Bushfires #AustraliaBushfires

Much needed respite from bushfires in Australia

By Nicole Hasham

Bushfires plunder lives and landscapes in myriad ways, but they often start the same way. A bright morning suddenly turns to night. Ash flutters down from the sky, propelled ahead of the roaring fire front. An awful red glow slinks over the horizon.

When I awoke in the NSW south coast town of Bermagui on the last day of 2019, I should have twigged straight away. At 8 am, the sky was a gruesome orange-black, the surrounding bush freakishly quiet. Our mobile phones had no signal. Outside, my car was coated in soot.

We knew fires were burning more than 100km up the coast at Batemans Bay, but Bermagui had seemed a safe distance away. Suddenly, it wasn’t.

Fire was bearing down on the seaside town, burning so fiercely it created its own thunderstorm. Residents evacuated to the beach after emergency text messages at 4am, but with our phone service down we’d slept on, oblivious. When my partner and I woke and worked out what was happening, we too bundled our bewildered young son into the car and fled.

Of course, amid the devastation wrought this fire season, a disrupted holiday is nothing to complain about. Bushfires have decimated huge swathes of Australia this fire season, taking with them, at the time of writing, 23 lives and more than 1500 homes.

Thousands of holidaymakers in NSW and Victoria were stranded for days in towns with dwindling food and fuel supplies. Some were forced to shelter on beaches, dodging embers and watching flames creep ever closer. And we cannot forget the animals – millions have been killed this fire season, or will soon die from lack of food or shelter.

With all roads out of Bermagui closed, we spent New Year’s Eve at a local club which had hastily been converted into an evacuation centre. Many evacuees were from the nearby fire-hit town of Cobargo. Some knew the father and son who died after staying to defend their property. Many would presumably soon discover their own homes were gone. They watched, hands over their mouths, as the club’s giant plasma screens beamed images of their once-charming town, now a jumble of rubble and corrugated iron.

We lay our doonas down between rows of poker machines and lined up for dinner with hundreds of other evacuees. Food supplies in the town had already run short – the shelves of the local Woolworths were all but empty. To feed the hordes, volunteers began rationing dinner portions to just half a sausage and a slice of bread. They had no idea where tomorrow’s meals would come from.

All this raises inevitable questions. To what extent is climate change driving these fires, and how much of that is Australia’s fault? Do we need a permanent, paid rural fire-fighting force to deal with this “new normal”? Are our fuel, food and communications systems resilient enough to cope with these disasters? And how do we cope with the deep anxiety these fires provoke, on both a personal and societal level?

Over the coming days and weeks, The Conversation will examine the tough issues emerging from this crisis. Our authors, experts in the field, will cut through the political spin and information barrage to help you understand this national disaster, and what it means for our future.

Today, the University of Tasmania’s David Bowman examines whether it’s time to ditch the traditional summer holiday, when thousands of people head to bushy areas in peak bushfire season. And while the fires absorb our attention, Monash University’s Neville Nicholls reminds us that cyclones, floods and heatwaves are also likely this summer.

On New Year’s Day, the wind having blown the fires away from Bermagui, officials opened a road out. They warned us to leave before conditions changed again. We had just under half a tank of diesel, and neither Bermagui nor the next town, Tarthra, had supplies. We drove on. No diesel at Bega either, until a local told us of a truck station on the outskirts of town where we filled up.

The trip home was slow and smoky, and phone reception patchy. It struck me how vulnerable we are to technology and transport systems that can so easily shut down. We tried to buy a paper map in case of detours, but no service stations stocked them.

Our three-year-old son grasped little of what was happening. I suggested a game of I-Spy, but it was soon abandoned – the smoke meant there was nothing much to see. We drove through blackened landscapes where sheep wandered paddocks with the wool burnt off their backs. My son, sensing the mood, asked why his dad and I were so quiet.

In the days after we arrived back in Canberra, air quality was more than 20 times above hazardous levels. Shops and swimming pools were closed, and mail deliveries were cancelled. A woman reportedly died from respiratory distress after exiting a plane to a tarmac filled with smoke. Babies were born into smoke-filled hospital theatres; their parents despaired at what the future holds.

When the immediate threat of these fires has passed, many bigger questions will remain. The Conversation will continue to bring you the responsible, evidence-based journalism you need to be properly informed. Thank you for your continued support.

(Nicole Hasham is Section Editor: Energy + Environment)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/making-sense-of-australias-bushfire-crisis-means-asking-hard-questions-and-listening-to-the-answers-129302">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

By Nicole Hasham Bushfires plunder lives and landscapes in myriad ways, but they often start the same way. A bright morning suddenly turns to night. Ash flutters down from the sky, propelled ahead of the roaring fire front.

By Nicole Hasham Bushfires plunder lives and landscapes in myriad ways, but they often start the same way. A bright morning suddenly turns to night. Ash flutters down from the sky, propelled ahead of the roaring fire front. An awful red glow slinks over the horizon. When I awoke in the NSW south coast town of Bermagui on the last day of 2019, I should have twigged straight away. At 8 am, the sky was a gruesome orange-black, the surrounding bush freakishly quiet. Our mobile phones had no signal. Outside, my car was coated in soot. We knew fires were burning more than 100km up the coast at Batemans Bay, but Bermagui had seemed a safe distance away. Suddenly, it wasn’t. Fire was bearing down on the seaside town, burning so fiercely it created its own thunderstorm. Residents evacuated to the beach after emergency text messages at 4am, but with our phone service down we’d slept on, oblivious. When my partner and I woke and worked out what was happening, we too bundled our bewildered young son into the car and fled. Of course, amid the devastation wrought this fire season, a disrupted holiday is nothing to complain about. Bushfires have decimated huge swathes of Australia this fire season, taking with them, at the time of writing, 23 lives and more than 1500 homes. Thousands of holidaymakers in NSW and Victoria were stranded for days in towns with dwindling food and fuel supplies. Some were forced to shelter on beaches, dodging embers and watching flames creep ever closer. And we cannot forget the animals – millions have been killed this fire season, or will soon die from lack of food or shelter. With all roads out of Bermagui closed, we spent New Year’s Eve at a local club which had hastily been converted into an evacuation centre. Many evacuees were from the nearby fire-hit town of Cobargo. Some knew the father and son who died after staying to defend their property. Many would presumably soon discover their own homes were gone. They watched, hands over their mouths, as the club’s giant plasma screens beamed images of their once-charming town, now a jumble of rubble and corrugated iron. We lay our doonas down between rows of poker machines and lined up for dinner with hundreds of other evacuees. Food supplies in the town had already run short – the shelves of the local Woolworths were all but empty. To feed the hordes, volunteers began rationing dinner portions to just half a sausage and a slice of bread. They had no idea where tomorrow’s meals would come from. All this raises inevitable questions. To what extent is climate change driving these fires, and how much of that is Australia’s fault? Do we need a permanent, paid rural fire-fighting force to deal with this “new normal”? Are our fuel, food and communications systems resilient enough to cope with these disasters? And how do we cope with the deep anxiety these fires provoke, on both a personal and societal level? Over the coming days and weeks, The Conversation will examine the tough issues emerging from this crisis. Our authors, experts in the field, will cut through the political spin and information barrage to help you understand this national disaster, and what it means for our future. Today, the University of Tasmania’s David Bowman examines whether it’s time to ditch the traditional summer holiday, when thousands of people head to bushy areas in peak bushfire season. And while the fires absorb our attention, Monash University’s Neville Nicholls reminds us that cyclones, floods and heatwaves are also likely this summer. On New Year’s Day, the wind having blown the fires away from Bermagui, officials opened a road out. They warned us to leave before conditions changed again. We had just under half a tank of diesel, and neither Bermagui nor the next town, Tarthra, had supplies. We drove on. No diesel at Bega either, until a local told us of a truck station on the outskirts of town where we filled up. The trip home was slow and smoky, and phone reception patchy. It struck me how vulnerable we are to technology and transport systems that can so easily shut down. We tried to buy a paper map in case of detours, but no service stations stocked them. Our three-year-old son grasped little of what was happening. I suggested a game of I-Spy, but it was soon abandoned – the smoke meant there was nothing much to see. We drove through blackened landscapes where sheep wandered paddocks with the wool burnt off their backs. My son, sensing the mood, asked why his dad and I were so quiet. In the days after we arrived back in Canberra, air quality was more than 20 times above hazardous levels. Shops and swimming pools were closed, and mail deliveries were cancelled. A woman reportedly died from respiratory distress after exiting a plane to a tarmac filled with smoke. Babies were born into smoke-filled hospital theatres; their parents despaired at what the future holds. When the immediate threat of these fires has passed, many bigger questions will remain. The Conversation will continue to bring you the responsible, evidence-based journalism you need to be properly informed. Thank you for your continued support. (Nicole Hasham is Section Editor: Energy + Environment) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Making sense of Australia’s bushfire crisis means asking hard questions – and listening to the answers

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/djokovic-and-nadal-rally-for-merger-of-atp-cup-and-davis-cup-271915">Novak Djokovic</a> said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-2020-tennis-innovative-24-team-tournament-to-begin-from-january-3-271406">Grand Slam</a> of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health.

The opening major of 2020 is due to start at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuelled-by-high-temperatures-and-strong-winds-australian-bushfires-continues-rage-272114">Melbourne</a> Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality.

Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said in the early hours of Sunday that any delay would be a last resort, but it needed to be discussed.

"I mean, it's fair from you to say that (ask the question)," he said when pressed on the matter in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-kicks-off-with-shapovalov-win-271903">Brisbane</a>, where he is playing for Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup team event.

"Obviously, you have to always&nbsp;because of some extreme weather and conditions, you just have to consider it.

"But I think that's probably the very, very last option for anything. I think they're going to try to do anything to not delay in terms of days and when it starts.

"I mean, and I understand why, but if it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it."

Catastrophic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">bushfires</a> have been raging in Australia for weeks, leaving 24 dead and hundreds of properties destroyed.

Tennis officials last week took the unprecedented decision to relocate the Canberra International, an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atp-cup-2020-tennis-innovative-24-team-tournament-to-begin-from-january-3-271406">ATP</a> Challenger 125 event and on the women's ITF World Tennis Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the full tour.

They said play would not have been possible in the Australian capital which has been choked by smoke, with the tournament now due to start Monday at Bendigo in Victoria state.

Djokovic said he had experienced air quality issues at tournaments in China, but the bushfires had created an unprecedented situation.

The Serbian superstar said he not spoken to Tennis Australia chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-prize-pool-jumps-to-49-million-biggest-gains-for-early-rounds-269945">Craig Tiley</a> "but people from my team have".

"They're obviously tracking the situation every single day as it's evolving and hopefully calming down with the smoke and fires," he said.

"I think they will, if it continues the same way and if the quality of air is affected.&nbsp;I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to, I think, create some rules about it.

"I mean, it's tough for them because scheduling has to be respected in terms of play and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sharapova-to-return-next-month-as-brisbane-wildcard-271149">Australian Open</a> starts at a certain time, so there's a lot of different things involved.&nbsp;

"But health is a concern for me and for anybody."

He said the ATP players' council was due to meet before the Australian Open and the issue would be on the agenda.

Novak Djokovic said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first Grand Slam of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health.

Novak Djokovic said Australian Open organisers should consider delaying the first Grand Slam of the year if haze from bushfires raging around the country threatens players' health. The opening major of 2020 is due to start at Melbourne Park on January 20 and the city was blanketed by smoke from blazes burning to the east on Saturday, compromising air quality. Djokovic, president of the ATP players council, said in the early hours of Sunday that any delay would be a last resort, but it needed to be discussed. "I mean, it's fair from you to say that (ask the question)," he said when pressed on the matter in Brisbane, where he is playing for Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup team event. "Obviously, you have to always because of some extreme weather and conditions, you just have to consider it. "But I think that's probably the very, very last option for anything. I think they're going to try to do anything to not delay in terms of days and when it starts. "I mean, and I understand why, but if it comes down to those conditions affecting the health of players, I think we should definitely consider it." Catastrophic bushfires have been raging in Australia for weeks, leaving 24 dead and hundreds of properties destroyed. Tennis officials last week took the unprecedented decision to relocate the Canberra International, an ATP Challenger 125 event and on the women's ITF World Tennis Tour, which serves as a stepping stone to the full tour. They said play would not have been possible in the Australian capital which has been choked by smoke, with the tournament now due to start Monday at Bendigo in Victoria state. Djokovic said he had experienced air quality issues at tournaments in China, but the bushfires had created an unprecedented situation. The Serbian superstar said he not spoken to Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley "but people from my team have". "They're obviously tracking the situation every single day as it's evolving and hopefully calming down with the smoke and fires," he said. "I think they will, if it continues the same way and if the quality of air is affected. I think Tennis Australia probably will be forced to, I think, create some rules about it. "I mean, it's tough for them because scheduling has to be respected in terms of play and the Australian Open starts at a certain time, so there's a lot of different things involved. "But health is a concern for me and for anybody." He said the ATP players' council was due to meet before the Australian Open and the issue would be on the agenda.

ATP: Novak Djokovic concerned about smoke at Australian Open as bushfires continue to blaze

A dangerous fire flared up in&nbsp;southeastern&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the&nbsp;damage&nbsp;from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday.

Officials told residents and others in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-wildfires-developing-their-own-weather-systems-authorities-272116">New&nbsp;South Wales</a> (NSW) state town of Eden to leave immediately and head north if they did not have a&nbsp;bushfire&nbsp;response plan.

"If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave towards Merimbula or Pambula," the Rural Fire Service said in an alert.

Tens of thousands of homes in both NSW and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-will-never-go-back-traumatised-bushfire-evacuees-land-in-melbourne-272142">Victoria</a> states were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate thousands of people who have been trapped for days in coastal towns by the fires.

Initial estimates put&nbsp;damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said the mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented the major loss of life. Twenty-four people have been killed since the start of this year's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-calls-in-reserve-forces-to-tackle-bushfire-crisis-272029">wildfire season</a>.

Sunday's cooler temperatures and light rain forecast in some coastal areas in coming days could bring some relief, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control.

Fire officials said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat.

"The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns at the peak of the summer holiday season, in one of the biggest coordinated operations since the evacuation of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy flattened the northern city in 1974.

Australia&nbsp;has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires.

Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/australian-prime-minister-scott-morrison-defers-trip-to-india-japan-as-bushfire-crisis-looms-272011">Scott Morrison</a> said Singapore and Papua&nbsp;New&nbsp;Guinea have made offers of military support;&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand was sending an additional three Air Force helicopters and crews, two Army Combat Engineer Sections and a command element to support&nbsp;Australian Defence efforts.

In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a&nbsp;new&nbsp;fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers.

Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at an Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres.

Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings.

Haze from the fires was turning skies orange in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand; police there asked people to not call the emergency phone number.

The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24. NSW <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-dead-several-missing-as-australia-counts-the-cost-of-devastating-bushfires-271335">Premier Berejiklian</a> said there was no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victorian authorities said seven people were unaccounted for in Victoria.

The federal government on Saturday announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. It also announced the creation of a federal&nbsp;bushfires response agency.&nbsp;

RFS Commissioner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-firefighters-get-brief-reprieve-as-death-toll-rises-272175">Fitzsimmons</a> criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires.

PM Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days.

More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season. Almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed in NSW state alone.

A dangerous fire flared up in southeastern Australia on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the damage from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday.

A dangerous fire flared up in southeastern Australia on Sunday even as cooler conditions elsewhere allowed authorities to begin assessing the damage from heatwave-spurred blazes that swept through two states on Saturday. Officials told residents and others in the New South Wales (NSW) state town of Eden to leave immediately and head north if they did not have a bushfire response plan. "If your plan is to leave, or you are not prepared, leave towards Merimbula or Pambula," the Rural Fire Service said in an alert. Tens of thousands of homes in both NSW and Victoria states were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate thousands of people who have been trapped for days in coastal towns by the fires. Initial estimates put damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said the mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented the major loss of life. Twenty-four people have been killed since the start of this year's wildfire season. Sunday's cooler temperatures and light rain forecast in some coastal areas in coming days could bring some relief, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control. Fire officials said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat. "The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. Thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns at the peak of the summer holiday season, in one of the biggest coordinated operations since the evacuation of Darwin after Cyclone Tracy flattened the northern city in 1974. Australia has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Singapore and Papua New Guinea have made offers of military support; New Zealand was sending an additional three Air Force helicopters and crews, two Army Combat Engineer Sections and a command element to support Australian Defence efforts. In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a new fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers. Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at an Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres. Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings. Haze from the fires was turning skies orange in New Zealand; police there asked people to not call the emergency phone number. The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24. NSW Premier Berejiklian said there was no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victorian authorities said seven people were unaccounted for in Victoria. The federal government on Saturday announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. It also announced the creation of a federal bushfires response agency. RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires. PM Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days. More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season. Almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed in NSW state alone.

New bushfire flares in southeast Australia as damage assessment begins

Fire threats eased in parts of southeastern Australia on Sunday after a horror day of blazes that killed one man and injured four firefighters, but authorities warned several fires were still burning at emergency levels and hot weather was set to return.

As the immediate danger passed and cooler weather tempered the intensity of many fires, authorities began assessing the damage from Saturday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuelled-by-high-temperatures-and-strong-winds-australian-bushfires-continues-rage-272114">wildfires</a> that swept across eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales (NSW) states.

Tens of thousands of homes were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate people who have been trapped for days by the fires in coastal towns.

Initial estimates put damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented major loss of life.

"It was an awful day yesterday. It was a very difficult day yesterday," NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Sunday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-wildfires-developing-their-own-weather-systems-authorities-272116">Australian wildfires developing their own 'weather systems': Authorities</a>

A southerly wind late on Saturday helped bring temperatures down from highs above 40 C (104F) and light rain was forecast in some coastal areas in coming days, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control.

Fitzsimmons said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the immediate focus was on helping people who had lost their homes as well containing the fires still burning.

"The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," Berejiklian said.

Australia has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires.
<img alt="australia bushfire" data-caption="A resident uses a garden hose to wet down the house as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire towards Nowra, New South Wales, Australia January 4, 2020." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44452f14-6372-42c7-ab83-aad12b4ea08a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2020.01.05T013153Z_3_LYNXMPEG030PW_RTROPTP_4_AUSTRALIA.BUSHFIRES.jpg" />
Following are highlights of what is happening across Australia:

- The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24.

- In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a new fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers.

- Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres.

- Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings.

- NSW Premier Berejiklian says there is no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews says six people remain unaccounted for in Victoria.

- The federal government has announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief.

- RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires. "I was disappointed and I was frustrated in the middle of what was one of our worst days ever on record with massive dislocation and movement of people and a focus on really difficult weather," Fitzsimmons said.

- Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days.

- More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season.&nbsp;

Fire threats eased in parts of southeastern Australia on Sunday after a horror day of blazes that killed one man and injured four firefighters, but authorities warned several fires were still burning at emergency levels and hot weather was set to return.

Fire threats eased in parts of southeastern Australia on Sunday after a horror day of blazes that killed one man and injured four firefighters, but authorities warned several fires were still burning at emergency levels and hot weather was set to return. As the immediate danger passed and cooler weather tempered the intensity of many fires, authorities began assessing the damage from Saturday's wildfires that swept across eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales (NSW) states. Tens of thousands of homes were without power on Sunday as a large-scale military and police effort continued to provide supplies and evacuate people who have been trapped for days by the fires in coastal towns. Initial estimates put damaged or destroyed properties in the hundreds, but authorities said mass evacuations by residents of at-risk areas appear to have prevented major loss of life. "It was an awful day yesterday. It was a very difficult day yesterday," NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Sunday. Also read: Australian wildfires developing their own 'weather systems': Authorities A southerly wind late on Saturday helped bring temperatures down from highs above 40 C (104F) and light rain was forecast in some coastal areas in coming days, but officials said that would not be enough to bring the almost 200 fires still burning under control. Fitzsimmons said the next major flashpoint would come later in the week, but it was too early to gauge the likely severity of the threat. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the immediate focus was on helping people who had lost their homes as well containing the fires still burning. "The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're going, the way in which they are attacking communities who have never ever seen fire before is unprecedented," Berejiklian said. Australia has been battling blazes across much of its east coast for months, with experts saying climate change has been a major factor in a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and susceptible to fires. Following are highlights of what is happening across Australia: - The death of a 47-year old man who was defending a friend's rural property in NSW took the national toll this season to 24. - In the Southern Highlands region south of Sydney, a new fire was burning out of control after the winds helped drive an existing blaze to jump the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers. - Another fire near the southern coastal town of Eden was at Emergency level, and the ABC reported police have warned people should leave for evacuation centres. - Five fires in Victoria had Evacuate Now or Emergency Level warnings. - NSW Premier Berejiklian says there is no one unaccounted for in NSW; Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews says six people remain unaccounted for in Victoria. - The federal government has announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. - RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons criticised the government for not informing him of its policy proposal, saying he found out about it from the media and it created confusion on one of the busiest days ever for fighting fires. "I was disappointed and I was frustrated in the middle of what was one of our worst days ever on record with massive dislocation and movement of people and a focus on really difficult weather," Fitzsimmons said. - Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced criticism for a video he posted on social media outlining how the government is tackling the fires. Morrison has been under sustained attack handling of the crisis after he jetted out for a family holiday in Hawaii. He apologised and returned early but was heckled and snubbed when he toured fire-hit regions in recent days. - More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land has been burnt this fire season.

Australian firefighters get brief reprieve as death toll rises

The World is One News, WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. #WIONSpeedNews #WION

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 05, 2020

As 24 people were killed in massive bushfires that caused great damage in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced the largest military call-up in living memory, deploying up to 3,000 reservists to assist volunteer firefighters. #WION #Australia #PrayForAustralia #AustraliaBushfires #Bushfires

Australia Bushfires: Scott Morrison announces new recovery agency

With the big blaze in the Australian state of Victoria destroying the flora and fauna of the area inch-by-inch, Bollywood divas including `Climate Warrior` Bhumi Pednekar are taking to social media platforms to share their concern over the major environmental degradation.

With the big blaze in the Australian state of Victoria destroying the flora and fauna of the area inch-by-inch, Bollywood divas including `Climate Warrior` Bhumi Pednekar are taking to social media platforms to share their concern over the major environmental degradation. Bhumi Pednekar, who recently launched her pan India campaign of 'Climate Warrior', reposted a post about the bushfires from climate activist Greta Thunberg and explained how it could be related to the current climate emergency in the world. View this post on Instagram #Repost @gretathunberg with @get_repost ・・・ Australia is on fire. And the summer there has only just begun. 2019 was a year of record heat and record drought. Today the temperature outside Sydney was 48,9°C. 500 million (!!) animals are estimated dead because of the bushfires. Over 20 people have died and thousands of homes have burned to ground. The fires have spewed 2/3 of the nations national annual CO2 emissions, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The smoke has covered glaciers in distant New Zealand (!) making them warm and melt faster because of the albedo effect. And yet. All of this still has not resulted in any political action. Because we still fail to make the connection between the climate crisis and increased extreme weather events and nature disasters like the #AustraliaFires That has to change. And it has to change now. My thoughts are with the people of Australia and those affected by these devastating fires. A post shared by Bhumi✨ (@bhumipednekar) on Jan 4, 2020 at 9:18pm PST × Actor Dia Mirza, who has always been vocal about social issues, also shared a post about the devastating disaster on her account. The actor shared a picture of a seemingly helpless koala bear held by fire security officials and penned a long caption urging the people to act on the situation. View this post on Instagram This is also real. This is also happening. This must stop. We can stop this. Come together. Stay united. Act on climate. Invest in nature. Secure/protect forests. Grow indigenous trees. Empower organisations and individuals who make a difference. Learn the facts. Don’t be scared. Don’t run. Don’t hide. Face it. Feel it. Spend time with children. HEAR them. 🌏 #AustraliaBushFires #ForPeopleAndPlanet #SDGs #SundayVibes #NoteToSelf A post shared by Dia Mirza (@diamirzaofficial) on Jan 4, 2020 at 9:56pm PST × "This is also real. This is also happening. This must stop. We can stop this. Come together. Stay united. Act on climate. Invest in nature. Secure/protect forests. Grow indigenous trees. Empower organizations and individuals who make a difference. Learn the facts. Don't be scared. Don't run. Don't hide. Face it. Feel it. Spend time with children. HEAR them," reads Mirza's caption. Pataudi scion Soha Ali Khan shared a series of informative pictures about the growling forest fires and wrote: "It is hard to imagine that while we are on holiday in Sydney having such a wonderful time in the parks and farms, there are catastrophic fires blazing in many parts of Australia, not so far from us." View this post on Instagram It is hard to imagine that while we are on holiday in Sydney having such a wonderful time in the parks and farms there are catastrophic fires blazing in many parts of Australia not so far from us. People have lost their lives, their homes and millions of animals have been killed. In case you have only just started reading about the fires in Australia here is what you need to know about them and how you can help. A post shared by Soha (@sakpataudi) on Jan 4, 2020 at 4:51pm PST × "People have lost their lives, their homes and millions of animals have been killed. In case you have only just started reading about the fires in Australia, here is what you need to know about them and how you can help," further read her caption. View this post on Instagram These haunting images illustrate the state of a country i’ve called home for as long as I can remember! Today blood red skies loom over Australia in what is the most apocalyptic catastrophe this nation has faced! With temperatures soaring at 48 degrees C, the bush fires are raging and difficult to contain as they are far too big and are now creating their own weather patterns causing lightening strikes that start new fires. The smoke plumes are 14kms high & have reached New Zealand melting glaciers. Areas like the town of Eden and others have been evacuated as they can’t be saved. Roads are closed due to fallen trees & thick smoke. Fires in Victoria and NSW will most likely join and burn for 8 more weeks!!! 95 percent of koalas gone 😢😢500 million animals dead 💔an area the size of Belgium has been decimated ,that’s 5 million hectares of land gone and it shows no signs of slowing down in the peak of an Australian summer. To think of the devastation across this beautiful country is just heartbreaking.. this is tragic on a major scale! To the firefighters who have fought tirelessly and to their families who have stood by them selflessly .. nothing but respect and gratitude 🙏🏽 appreciate you and applaud your bravery! To those who would like to help there is a link in my bio of sites where you can donate.. my thoughts and prayers to everyone effected 💔🙏🏽 A post shared by Shibani Dandekar (@shibanidandekar) on Jan 4, 2020 at 11:42pm PST × Singer and model Shibani Dandekar, who has spent a considerable chunk of her life in Australia, also took to Instagram and shared a series of heartbreaking pictures from the bushfires and wrote a heartfelt post."These haunting images illustrate the state of a country I`ve called home for as long as I can remember! Today bloodred skies loom over Australia in what is the most apocalyptic catastrophe this nation has faced! With temperatures soaring at 48 degrees C, the bush fires are raging and difficult to contain as they are far too big and are now creating their own weather patterns causing lightning strikes that start new fires," read a part of her caption. Dandekar further urged her fans to donate for helping those affected by the bushfires. She shared the link to the donation in her bio and mentioned the same in her caption. The raging wildfire that has already destroyed around 12 million acres of land and 1500 homes is still far from coming under control. 23 people have given their lives to the crisis, reported news agency.

Bhumi Pednekar to Dia Mirza, B-Town divas urge people to donate, act on Australia bushfires

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-archer-may-miss-test-against-south-africa-271563">Nathan&nbsp;Lyon</a>&nbsp;took 5-68 as a dominant&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;dismissed New Zealand for 251 before the home batsmen took over to extend their lead to 243 by the close of play on the third day of the third and final test on Sunday.

Already 2-0 down in the series after thumping defeats in Perth and Melbourne, New Zealand have been ravaged by illness and injury and now face a huge battle to avoid a third heavy loss before they head home.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-labuschagne-leads-as-australia-take-charge-in-sydney-271812">Sydney</a>&nbsp;Cricket Ground was turned pink for the 12th straight year in aid of cricketing great Glenn McGrath's breast cancer foundation but there was nothing charitable about&nbsp;Australia's approach to the match.

Openers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-stunned-new-zealand-fight-to-save-second-australia-test-270820">David Warner</a> (23) and Joe Burns (16) steered the hosts to 40 without loss at stumps to add to the first-innings tally of 454 built on the back of Marnus Labuschagne's maiden double century.

It was the&nbsp;Australian bowling attack, though, that once again set the tone as they took all 10 New Zealand wickets for the fifth time in the series.

Off-spinner&nbsp;Lyon&nbsp;carried the ball off the pitch to huge applause an hour after tea after he had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-nz-new-zealand-woes-continue-with-bowler-matt-henry-injury-272088">Matt Henry</a> stumped to end New Zealand's innings and secure the 17th&nbsp;five-wicket haul of his career, his first against the Black Caps.

"It's always special being part of the&nbsp;Sydney&nbsp;test match and playing in front of your family and friends, and to perform in the first innings was pretty special,"&nbsp;Lyon&nbsp;said.

"There's still plenty of work to do in the second dig&nbsp;but if you were rocking up today and saying we'd end up with a lead of 240 and 10 wickets in hand, we'll take that every day," he added.

Henry batted despite breaking the thumb on his non-bowling hand on day one of the match, the latest in a catalogue of misfortune that robbed the tourists of captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-new-zealand-sweat-on-ailing-williamson-and-nicholls-271562">Kane Williamson</a> and a string of other top players.

Glenn Phillips, flown over from New Zealand on the eve of the test to cover for the sick Williamson and Nicholls, offered the most resistance with a 52 on his test debut.

The 23-year-old enjoyed some luck when he was dropped twice by the normally reliable&nbsp;Lyon&nbsp;and again just before tea when he was caught in the deep off a James Pattinson no-ball.

He brought up his maiden half-century with a brilliant pull shot through square but two balls later were clean bowled by paceman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-neser-likely-to-debut-in-australias-five-bowler-ploy-270113">Pat Cummins</a>, who took 3-44 to show once again why he is the world's top-ranked test bowler.

"It was a really enjoyable time out there," Phillips said. "It's a shame I wasn't able to go on and extend the innings a bit, but that's cricket."

Lyon&nbsp;tops a few lists of his own these days and it was the unassuming off-spinner who broke New Zealand's early resistance after they had resumed on 63 without loss.

He bowled opener <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/de-grandhomme-removes-labuschagne-as-australia-move-to-155-3-at-tea-270279">Tom Blundell</a> for 34 and trapped Jeet Raval leg before wicket for 31 in the first session and returned after tea to send back tailenders Will Sommerville and Neil Wagner, both for ducks, in a magnificent two-wicket maiden.

Conditions were much cooler than on Saturday's second day but there was a distinct smell of smoke in the air from the bushfires that have been raging around&nbsp;Sydney&nbsp;for the last couple of months.

Nathan Lyon took 5-68 as a dominant Australia dismissed New Zealand for 251 before the home batsmen took over to extend their lead to 243 by the close of play on the third day of the third and final test on Sunday.

Nathan Lyon took 5-68 as a dominant Australia dismissed New Zealand for 251 before the home batsmen took over to extend their lead to 243 by the close of play on the third day of the third and final test on Sunday. Already 2-0 down in the series after thumping defeats in Perth and Melbourne, New Zealand have been ravaged by illness and injury and now face a huge battle to avoid a third heavy loss before they head home. The Sydney Cricket Ground was turned pink for the 12th straight year in aid of cricketing great Glenn McGrath's breast cancer foundation but there was nothing charitable about Australia's approach to the match. Openers David Warner (23) and Joe Burns (16) steered the hosts to 40 without loss at stumps to add to the first-innings tally of 454 built on the back of Marnus Labuschagne's maiden double century. It was the Australian bowling attack, though, that once again set the tone as they took all 10 New Zealand wickets for the fifth time in the series. Off-spinner Lyon carried the ball off the pitch to huge applause an hour after tea after he had Matt Henry stumped to end New Zealand's innings and secure the 17th five-wicket haul of his career, his first against the Black Caps. "It's always special being part of the Sydney test match and playing in front of your family and friends, and to perform in the first innings was pretty special," Lyon said. "There's still plenty of work to do in the second dig but if you were rocking up today and saying we'd end up with a lead of 240 and 10 wickets in hand, we'll take that every day," he added. Henry batted despite breaking the thumb on his non-bowling hand on day one of the match, the latest in a catalogue of misfortune that robbed the tourists of captain Kane Williamson and a string of other top players. Glenn Phillips, flown over from New Zealand on the eve of the test to cover for the sick Williamson and Nicholls, offered the most resistance with a 52 on his test debut. The 23-year-old enjoyed some luck when he was dropped twice by the normally reliable Lyon and again just before tea when he was caught in the deep off a James Pattinson no-ball. He brought up his maiden half-century with a brilliant pull shot through square but two balls later were clean bowled by paceman Pat Cummins, who took 3-44 to show once again why he is the world's top-ranked test bowler. "It was a really enjoyable time out there," Phillips said. "It's a shame I wasn't able to go on and extend the innings a bit, but that's cricket." Lyon tops a few lists of his own these days and it was the unassuming off-spinner who broke New Zealand's early resistance after they had resumed on 63 without loss. He bowled opener Tom Blundell for 34 and trapped Jeet Raval leg before wicket for 31 in the first session and returned after tea to send back tailenders Will Sommerville and Neil Wagner, both for ducks, in a magnificent two-wicket maiden. Conditions were much cooler than on Saturday's second day but there was a distinct smell of smoke in the air from the bushfires that have been raging around Sydney for the last couple of months.

Aus vs NZ: Nathan Lyon takes five as Australia dominate in Sydney

australia

Australia, News on Australia, stories on Australia, articles on Australia, Australia stories at Wion, Australia news, Australia latest news