TRANSCRIPT
- $7.2 billion in funding announced to upgrade a major highway in Queensland.
- Ukraine launches a new attack in Russia's Kursk region.
- And in Tennis, Team USA wins United Cup.
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The federal government has announced $7.2 billion in funding to upgrade the Bruce Highway, which stretches almost 1700 kilometres between Brisbane and Cairns.
The pledge follows an increase in fatal accidents on the Bruce Highway and is the single biggest investment any government has made into fixing this section of road.
The date for next federal election has yet to be announced - although it has to be set before mid-May this year.
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma told Sky News, the Coalition is already working on its strategy.
"What we'll be focused on is putting forward a strong alternative vision for government as a credible alternative. And we will be seeking to appeal to voters not only in Queensland or Western Australia, but in New South Wales and Victoria. People with mortgages. People who are retirees. People who are just making a start in life. People who are concerned about higher electricity prices. This is where we hope to win the election, by commanding centre ground."
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Russia says Ukraine has launched a counterattack in the western border region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces began a shock ground offensive last August.
It is not immediately clear how much Ukraine has advanced in the region, but pro-Kremlin military bloggers reported earlier that a powerful new offensive is under way.
The assault comes at a critical point in the nearly three-year conflict, with both sides seeking to strengthen their negotiating hand ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this month.
Ukrainian officials gave little detail on the new offensive.
In his daily video update, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian and North Korean forces have suffered heavy losses in fighting in Russia's southern Kursk region.
"The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the situation in the Kursk region. Specifically, in battles yesterday and today near just one village, Makhnivka in the Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroopers. This is significant. Overall, I want to commend the professional and effective actions of our soldiers in the Special Operations Forces and the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade."
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A court in South Korea has rejected a legal challenge from lawyers for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The legal team argued the arrest warrant - due to expire within the next 24 hours - is illegal and invalid.
Mr Yoon became the first incumbent South Korean president to face arrest for his attempt to declare martial law on December 3, which triggered political chaos in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
The chief of security for South Korean President Yoon, Park Chong-Jun, says Presidential Security Service officers will continue to resist attempts to execute an arrest warrant.
"Although the impeachment motion for President Yoon Seok Yeol has been passed at the National Assembly, Mr Yoon is still the current president of this country who is elected by the sovereign residents of South Korea. And Mr Yoon is receiving the appropriate security service according to that, as stipulated by law."
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Seoul where he will seek to encourage continuity with the policies of the impeached president.
He is meeting with meet his counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, later today.
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Nicole Kidman, Selena Gomez, Timothee Chalamet and other Hollywood stars will gather in Beverly Hills for the annual Golden Globes celebration.
It is the first major awards ceremony in a year without a clear frontrunner for the top movie accolades.
Kidman, nominated for best actress for Babygirl, leads the Australian actors vying for awards at the ceremony later today.
Guy Pearce is nominated for best supporting actor for his work in The Brutalist and Cate Blanchett is nominated for her role in Apple TV thriller Disclaimer - up against Naomi Watts for the series Feud: Capote vs The Swans.
Golden Globes host, comedian Nikki Glaser told CBS, her gig as host will be challenging.
"The Golden Globes, these celebrities are there to win an award. They don't want to be roasted. So it is this delicate balance of having to give the audience at home what they expect. What they expect from me as a roaster and what they expect from the event itself - given what Ricky has done - an Tina and Amy. It is a moment for a host to shine comedically, with some edge."
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In Tennis, Team USA has won the United Cup mixed team tournament title in Brisbane after defeating Poland 2-0.
The victory is the second for the US in the United Cup, following its win in the inaugural tournament in 2023.
Coco Gauff has now won 17 of her last 20 matches - and three of those victories came against Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
"I think for me I just realised the worse thing that can happen today is that I lose. And especially in this type of format, even if I lose, I still have a chance to win. So I just said I am going to give myself my best effort. And I think that is all the team can ask of me."
