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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $200 million funding boost for housing and infrastructure in regional parts of Western Australia.
The announcement comes during the Prime Minister's visit to Kununurra in the state's far north.
The funding is set to lead to the development of over 1,300 new homes across the state.
Mr Albanese says the government's actions create an obvious choice for voters ahead of the upcoming federal election.
"At the next election, this year, Australians will have a choice between a government that's committed to providing support for people during tough times, cost of living relief, whilst building Australia's future, and an Opposition just committed to negativity, going backwards, even in their slogan, refers to back, says it all, and simply not delivering."
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, who made the announcement alongside the Prime Minister, says the government is focused on improving the quality of life for all Australians.
"We are governing for all Australians and these announcements that we are making today really are focused on making sure that our regions, people who live in our regions have every opportunity to have great jobs, have great careers, great education, great childcare, but also great facilities."]]
This investment comes in partnership with the state government of Western Australia.
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Afghanistan's Taliban authorities on Wednesday announced the death of Australian Jibra'il Omar.
He had returned to the country after having been kidnapped and held hostage by the group for more than three years.
Omar, originally named Timothy Weeks before he converted to Islam, was taken hostage in 2016.
He was captured alongside a U-S academic as they left the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, where they both worked.
Both men were released in 2019 to the custody of United States forces in southern Afghanistan in exchange for three high-ranking members of the Haqqani Network armed group, a Taliban ally.
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The fires in Los Angeles continue to leave devastation in their path, with over 1,500 structures confirmed to have been destroyed.
More than 100,000 people have been urged to flee from the region which has been covered in thick smoke, making the work of firefighters significantly harder.
That figure comes in addition to the 100,000 people who have already received mandatory evacuation orders.
The Fire Chief of the Los Angeles locality of Pasadena, Chad Augustine, says authorities hope to assess the exact size of the damage within the next few days.
"We really need as, as it becomes safe to do so and we get a better handle on this fire, we're going to be able that we need to come in and be able to survey the damage to get an exact total of number of structures that have been damaged or completely lost. We continue to be in red flag conditions, and we expect that to be through Thursday with variable and high wind speeds, thankfully not as strong as what we saw last night."
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The U-S will send 500 million dollars [[USD]] worth of weapons to Ukraine, as the Biden Administration makes a last-bid dash to bolster the nation as it defends itself against Russia.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is also making a final trip to meet with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
The Group includes 50 allied countries the Defence Secretary brought together in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh addressed reporters on the fate of the remaining four billion dollars allocated to Ukraine's defence.
"It's really up to the incoming administration to decide what they use, what they decide to do with the remaining authority that's left. But, of course, we hope that, you know, in some way the Ukraine Defence Contact Group continues on. But certainly, support for Ukraine remains strong within Congress."
U-S President-elect Donald Trump will take office on January 20, after which the future of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group is in doubt.
Since 2022, the U-S has provided Ukraine about 66.5 billion dollars [[USD]] in weapons assistance.
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In cricket, all-rounder Cooper Connolly has been picked in an Australian Test match squad for the first time.
The 21-year-old is one of 16 players picked for the two Test match tour of Sri Lanka later this month.
With conditions in Sri Lanka generally favouring spin bowling, Connolly has been picked alongside Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy in support of Australia's main spin bowler, Nathan Lyon.
Seam bowling all-rounder Mitch Marsh has been dropped from the squad, with the man who took his place in the most recent match against India, Beau Webster, retained.
Batsman Nathan McSweeney, dropped earlier this season, has been recalled, whilst fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss due to his calf injury.
As expected, Steve Smith will captain the team, with regular captain Pat Cummins on paternity leave.
