TRANSCRIPT
- Elevated fire risk as large parts of Australia experience a heatwave
- The highest civilian honour in the United States awarded to 19 people
- Poland to face the United States in the final of the mixed-team United Cup in Sydney
Hot, dry and windy conditions are causing elevated fire dangers in South Australia and Victoria and parts of Tasmania and New South Wales.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a three-day heatwave warning for South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, with temperatures set to reach the 40s in some parts of the country today.
In Victoria, Country Fire Authority's chief officer, Jason Heffernan says total fire bans have been declared because of the potential for gusty conditions.
Meteorologist Jonathon How says conditions should start to ease on Monday for South Australia and Victoria, but it won't be until the middle of the week that New South Wales gets some relief.
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Chilean President Gabriel Boric has made a historic trip to the Antarctica.
Boric landed at the US-operated Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, where he toured the facilities, as part of a two-day trip under Operation Polar Star III, which aims to extend environmental monitoring of pollutants in Antarctica.
Chile is one of seven countries with a territorial claim to Antarctica, along with Argentina, Australia, France, New Zealand, Norway and the UK.
Mr Boric says his trip represents the first by a Latin American president to Antarctica.
"There are those who suggest that in Antarctica they could exploit mineral resources. We, from Chile, an Antarctic country by vocation and excellence, tell them no. Antarctica is and will continue to be a continent of science and of peace; and Chile reaffirms the sovereign claim it has over the Antarctic territory."
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In the United States, Ralph Lauren has becomes first fashion designer to win Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honour.
He joins 18 others to receive the award, coming from fields as diverse as politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTIQ+ advocacy and science.
Awardees included conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; singer Bono; retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson; megadonor George Soros, and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
President Joe Biden says the recipients are "truly extraordinary people" who gave their efforts to shaping the cause and culture of America.
"So today I want to congratulate on all you’ve accomplished and I’m grateful for the work you’ll inspire for generations to follow, to stay engaged, to never give up, always keeps the faith."
**
Advocates have called for better integration of Braille in public spaces as the world marks World Braille day.
Since 2019, the international day recognises the right of access to Braille as a means of communication in the full realisation of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people.
The day coincides with the birthday of Braille's inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille.
The system is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols.
The president of Blind SA in South Africa is Christo de Klerk.
He tells public broadcaster, SABC News, it is dangerous to think that technological developments have made Braille redundant.
"When you are in a meeting or a conference you need your notes. You can't do that on audio. You can't listen to the audio and what's going on around you. And you need Braille for that. Blind people who do not know Braille and rely on audio - their spelling deteriorates. They don't have a good sense of punctuation, paragraphing that sort of thing. So it is really important to us. Within reason, the jobs that we can do, we need the opportunity to do those."
**
In Tennis, Poland will face the United States in the final of the mixed-team United Cup later tonight in Sydney.
Team Poland is aiming for their first ever win at the tournament, after losing to Germany in last year's final.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek says she is pleased with how she has been playing - and it's good preparation ahead of the Australian Open.
"For sure, it is giving me a lot of confidence. I wouldn't say at the end of the season...I played my game. So playing these matches now and being able to push through some tough moments. And playing with pressure on my shoulders - and still being able to play well, it gives me a lot. So I would take this over being super, super fresh."
Team USA won the inaugural event two years ago - and is intent on winning two of three titles.
Coco Gauff is playing in the tournament for the first time.
She says she is looking forward to seeing how she goes.
"I think it is going to be a great level of tennis. I'm super excited to go our there and hopefully bring the Cup back home. I think just confidence. I was very confident in Riyadh. And I think when I am playing confident tennis that is my best tennis. And it makes it hard for her or anyone to really doing anything. So I am just going to go out and there and be confident."
