Tropical Cyclone Alfred is already wreaking havoc in parts of south-east Queensland with tens of thousands of homes without power and warnings it's not safe to reconnect them.

Later and longer - Tropical Cyclone Alfred to now make landfall Friday night, as four million Australians across two states dig in.

Residents across two states are making final preparations for Tropical Cyclone Alfred's arrival. Evacuations centres have been opened in South East Queensland and northern New South Wales, and residents whose homes are at risk of flooding are being told to consider leaving while they can.

The future of US military aid to Ukraine is up in the air, with the White House confirming the Trump administration has paused its funding.

European leaders are uniting behind Ukraine with the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledging a 'coalition of the willing' be assembled to protect the country against Russia.

President Trump appears unfamiliar with the AUKUS defence pact, as UK and US leaders meet over trade and Ukraine; China has shifted from spying and stealing to laying the ground for hugely disruptive cyber operations against Western critical infrastructure. 

A fierce political fight has erupted between the Federal Government and Opposition over China's live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea.

Progress on reducing inflation appears to have stalled. Official figures show monthly inflation remained unchanged at 2.5 per cent in January.

The US and French leaders have emerged from a meeting on the war in Ukraine - Donald Trump claiming progress towards a peace deal, while France's President Emmanuel Macron stressing the need for security guarantees.

Clinicians are mixed in response to the Federal Government's promise to boost Medicare by making GP visits free for a majority of Australians. Nurses have welcomed the plan, but say it's a short-term fix.