The Kremlin on Friday welcomed US President Joe Biden's proposal to extend the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the two countries, which is set to expire in less than two weeks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia stands for extending the pact and is waiting to see the details of the US proposal.

The White House said on Thursday that Biden has proposed to Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty.

"We can only welcome political will to extend the document," Mr Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

"But all will depend on the details of the proposal."

The treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance.

It expires on February 5, 2021.

Russia has long proposed to prolong the pact without any conditions or changes, but former President Donald Trump's administration waited until last year to start talks and made the extension contingent on a set of demands.

The talks stalled, and months of bargaining have failed to narrow differences.

"Certain conditions for the extension have been put forward, and some of them have been absolutely unacceptable for us, so let's see first what the US is offering," Mr Peskov said.

Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian ambassador at the international organisations in Vienna, also hailed Biden's proposal as an "encouraging step."

"The extension will give the two sides more time to consider possible additional measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability and global security," he tweeted.

https://twitter.com/Amb_Ulyanov/status/1352414657533849600?s=20

The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said in a statement that Russia always has called for maintaining the treaty and said Russian diplomats are ready to quickly engage in contacts with the US to formalise its extension for five years "without any delay."

Biden indicated during the campaign that he favoured the preservation of the New START treaty, which was negotiated during his tenure as US vice president.

The talks on the treaty's extension also were clouded by tensions between Russia and the US, which have been fuelled by the Ukrainian crisis, Moscow's meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and other irritants.

Despite the extension proposal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden remains committed to holding Russia "to account for its reckless and adversarial actions."

Such as its alleged involvement in the Solar Winds hacking event, 2020 election interference, the chemical poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the widely reported allegations that Russia may have offered bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Asked to comment on Psaki's statement, Mr Peskov has reaffirmed Russia's denial of involvement in any such activities.

After both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, New START is the only remaining nuclear arms control deal between the two countries.

Arms control advocates have strongly called for New START's preservation, warning that its lapse would remove any checks on US and Russian nuclear forces.

Last week, Russia also declared that it would follow the US to pull out of the Open Skies Treaty allowing surveillance flights over military facilities to help build trust and transparency between Russia and the West.

While Russia always offered to extend New START for five years — a possibility envisaged by the pact — Trump asserted that it put the US at a disadvantage and initially insisted that China be added to the treaty, an idea that Beijing flatly rejected.

Trump's administration then proposed to extend New START for just one year and also sought to expand it to include limits on battlefield nuclear weapons.

Moscow has said it remains open for new nuclear arms talks with the US to negotiate future limits on prospective weapons, but emphasised that preserving New START is essential for global stability.

Russian diplomats have said that Russia's prospective Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile and the Avangard hyper-sonic glide vehicle could be counted along with other Russian nuclear weapons under the treaty.

The Sarmat is still under development, while the first missile unit armed with the Avangard became operational in December 2019.

The Russian military has said the Avangard is capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound and could make sharp manoeuvres on its way to a target to bypass missile defence systems.

It has been fitted to the existing Soviet-built intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of older type warheads, and in the future could be fitted to the more powerful Sarmat.

Three people have died after being swept into the surf at Port Kembla, in the Illawarra region of NSW, this evening.

A group of people were standing on rocks near Hill 60 Lookout when a large wave crashed on top of them and washed them into the water at about 10pm, NSW Police said.

Witnesses sounded the alarm with emergency services launching a rescue operation, later confirming three people deceased following the incident.

Emergency services are continuing to search the area, with the possibility other people may still be in the water.

Local police, NSW Ambulance, rescue helicopters, local lifeguards and Marine Area Command are all on the scene.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Almost 100 million cases of coronavirus have swept around the globe since the pandemic began last March, leaving many mourning loved ones, countries divided, cities locked down and the world as we knew it decimated into a distant memory.

The United States is home to almost one quarter of total cases worldwide, reaching 24,631,890 cases of the deadly virus – a figure 856 times Australia's, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University.

The global COVID-19 death toll has reached over two million and the US continues to take out the top spot, with 410,349 coronavirus-related deaths. It is followed by Brazil, with India, Mexico and the UK rounding out the Top 5.

But the pandemic has reached every corner of the globe, and only a few tiny, isolated nations have reported no deaths.

Figures collated by Oxford University show the UK has the highest death rate per capita, recording an average of 935 daily COVID-19 related deaths across last week – equivalent to one in every 16 million people dying from the virus.

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed a more positive outlook for Australians, today confirming Australia has "prevented" a third wave of coronavirus infections.

"It is now clear that through the actions of every Australian, we have successfully prevented a third wave of infections, a rare achievement given the significant increase in global cases," Mr Morrison said.

There have been 28,754 confirmed cases in Australia since the start of the pandemic last year and, sadly, 909 people have died.

There are currently 34 people in hospital and more than 12.6 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.

Let's have a look at how other countries are enduring the coronavirus pandemic, based on the latest data by Johns Hopkins University.

India

India has recorded the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the world behind the US, reaching 10,625,428.

The country has reached a devastating 153,032 deaths — ranking third behind the US and Brazil.

In a bid to tackle the growing figures, India has begun what is likely the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign, joining the ranks of wealthier nations where efforts are already well underway.

READ MORE: Fire hits building at world's largest vaccine maker in India

While a fire this week ravaged a building at the world's largest vaccine maker, located in India, authorities say it won't impact the production of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Indian authorities have already vaccinated more than 380,000 people in the first three days of rollout.

Brazil

Brazil's coronavirus death toll has reached an astonishing 214,147 deaths.

While it is the second highest in the world, Brazil has recorded just over half the deaths compared to the top-ranking US.

Cases in the country have reached 8,697,368.

Brazil's government is eagerly awaiting today's arrival of 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India.

However, experts fear the delivery will only scratch the surface in distribution to priority groups.

Portugal

Portugal has the highest seven-day average rate in the world of new cases per 100,000 population and the second-highest rate of new deaths after the United Kingdom.

The country of 10.3 million has been in lockdown since last week but cases continue to climb sharply, setting almost daily records and threatening to overwhelm hospitals.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Portugal has recorded 595,149 cases and 9686 deaths.

https://twitter.com/antoniocostapm/status/1352388925025878016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

On Thursday, the country ordered the closure of schools for two weeks, amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that the prime minister blamed on the rise of the more contagious UK variant.

The proportion of COVID-19 cases in Portugal attributed to the variant has jumped from 8 per cent last week to 20 per cent this week and may reach 60 per cent in coming weeks, Prime Minister António Costa told local media.

As a result, the Portuguese government has suspended all flights into and out of the UK.

Russia

Russia's death toll ranks at number eight in the world, with 67,376 deaths.

However, experts are concerned inadequate testing numbers may mean there are hundreds of thousands more that have gone unrecorded.

"There are extreme cases such as Ecuador, Peru or Russia where total deaths are 300-500 per cent higher than reported deaths… but where we have data, the average relationship is 20 per cent higher," Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, told CNN.

Russia has the fourth highest number of coronavirus cases at 3,637,862.

France

All of France is subject to a curfew from 6pm to 6am in a bid to curb COVID-19.

It comes as the romanticised country has reached over three million cases and 72,139 deaths.

The current curfew is expected to remain in force until at least the end of January. It follows a slightly later 8pm curfew, which was previously in place as of December 1.

The measure "has proven to be effective," French Prime Minister Jean Castex said last week.

Spain

Spain coronavirus figures are surging, putting the country's public health system against the ropes.

The country's overall tally is heading to 2.5 million cases with just over 55,000 confirmed virus deaths, although excess mortality statistics add over 30,000 deaths on top of that.

Italy

Italy is currently in a state of emergency, extended from January 31 to April 30, as coronavirus numbers continue to spiral.

The country has recorded 2,428,221 cases and 84,202 deaths.

Italy was one of the first to reopen to visitors in June, although entry is largely limited to European Union residents.

Indonesia

A favourite travel destination for Aussies, Indonesia is now a country with locals struggling to survive.

With over 951,651 coronavirus cases to date and 27,453 deaths, the nation is relying on the vaccine roll-out to tame the rapid spread of infections.

It comes as on Wednesday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo received the country's first CoronaVac shot, after the government authorised it for emergency use.

Travellers and locals alike have been urged to batten down the hatches and be cautious as a heavy storm rolls across Western Australia.

"We couldn't see 20-30 metres ahead of us, so we turned back," traveller Riley Even said.

"Probably a good decision, it's only getting worse."

The tropical low is moving in a southerly direction about 250km southwest of Broome, towards Eighty Mile Beach and Sandfire Roadhouse.

However, it's no longer expected to turn into a cyclone.

"It is, though, still a very powerful system and is producing gusts in excess of 100km/hr," Neil Bennett of the Bureau of Meteorology said.

The storms began early this morning and even without the cyclone there's more to come, with authorities thinking parts of the main road between Port Hedland and Broome will flood.

In the past 24 hours, 119mm of rain has fallen in Mandora, with 80mm at Anna Plains Station, and 67.6mm at Pardoo.

The BoM has predicted up to 300mm could fall in isolated areas during the next 24 hours, posing a flood threat to parts of the Pilbara and the Kimberley.

No major roads so far have been closed, but could be at any moment.

READ MORE: Four-day heatwave will be 'shock to the system'

The low is generating scorching temperatures on the other side of the country, pushing a mass of hot air toward the southeastern states.

A four-day heatwave is set to hit NSW, Victoria, the ACT and South Australia over the long weekend, with temperatures forecast to surge today.

Daytime temperatures are expected to be well above average today, with daily maximums set to reach between 35C and 45C through Sunday and Monday.

"It is really going to build and come to head on Sunday and Monday. For South Australia, it will peak on Sunday. Up to 41C in Adelaide. On Monday it will be Victoria's turn, 41C in Melbourne and then Tuesday is really going to get hot in NSW," The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Jonathan How told Today.

"It is getting up into the high 30s and low 40s across Western Sydney and even the 30s along the coast as well. For many people, it will be the hottest day since last January and February, with very uncomfortable nights ahead as well."

The BOM's Gabrielle Woodhouse said the hot weather would be a departure from recent cool temperatures, particularly in NSW.

"We haven't really been experiencing this kind of heat, compared to say last summer when we were having this heat fairly regularly," she said.

"It's going to be a bit of a shock to the system for many people, so it is quite significant because we haven't been seeing these temperatures recently."

People in NSW hoping to escape the heat at the beach today are being warned of dangerous surf conditions with large waves and dangerous currents between Sydney and Byron Bay.

Mr How said the heat will stick around for at least four to five days.

"There is a cool change coming through on Monday and Tuesday. For South Australia, the change will come through just after lunchtime on Monday. For Melbourne, it will be on Monday, late afternoon,early evening. Unfortunately for NSW, it won't come through till later on Tuesday night," he said.

Here's your state-by-state weather forecast for Friday January 22, 2021:

New South Wales and ACT

Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the northeast. Fog then sunny, very warm in the southeast. Windy on the Alps. Mostly sunny, hot in the southwest. Showers/storms, very warm in northwest.

There is a strong wind warning for the Batemans Coast and Eden Coast as well as a dangerous surf warning for the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast and Sydney Coast.

Sydney will be sunny morning minimum of 18C and maximum of 31C in the city. Medium chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm during this afternoon and evening.

Canberra will be sunny with a low of 15C however temperatures are forecast to climb to top of 34C at around 3pm – roughly 5C above average for this time of year.

Victoria

Mostly cloudy, cool-to-mild in the south. Mostly sunny, warm-to-hot in the north.

Central Gippsland Coast and East Gippsland Coast

Melbourne for will be mostly sunny minimum of 17C and a maximum of 26C.

Queensland

Becoming mostly sunny, mild-to-warm in the southeast.

Showers easing, very warm in the northeast. Late showers/storms, very warm in the northwest. Mostly sunny, very warm in the southwest.

Brisbane will be partly cloudy with a low of 20C and a top of 29C.

Temperatures in Brisbane will be less severe over the long weekend with tops of 30C until Monday however conditions are expected to persist for the remainder of next week.

South Australia

Mostly cloudy, warm in the southeast. Mostly sunny, very warm in central. Sunny, very warm-to-hot in the west and north.

Adelaide will be sunny with a low of 16C and top of 32C before temperatures surge past 40C this weekend.

https://twitter.com/BOM_SA/status/1352073262818320392

Western Australia

Wind easing, sunny, hot in the southwest. Mostly sunny, very warm in the south. Showers/storms, warm-to-very warm in the north. Wind and rain increasing in East Pilbara and West Kimberley.

Very hot and sunny with a low of 21C and a top of 26C. Winds gusting up to 60 km/h at times about the Darling Scarp.

Weather conditions are generating a severe fire danger for Gascoyne, Inland Central West, Exmouth Gulf Coast and Eucla.

https://twitter.com/BOM_WA/status/1352239939069464585

A tropical low on the WA coast is triggering gale-froce winds between Bidyadanga and De Grey today and may extend to other parts of the warning area during Friday afternoon.

Destructive winds with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may develop today or early Saturday as the system nears the coast.

Heavy rainfall combined with strong winds may develop along the west Kimberley coast and east Pilbara coast, east of Port Hedland, early today, and extending inland east of Port Hedland during Friday afternoon and evening.

A flood watch is also current for parts of the Kimberley and Pilbara.

Tasmania

Windy with showers, mild in the southwest. Windy on the highlands. Mostly cloudy, warm in the southeast. Increasing sunshine, mild-to-warm in the northwest. Mostly cloudy, warm in the northeast.

Hobart will be cloudy with a medium chance of showers in the afternoon and early evening.

Overnight temperatures falling to between 9C and 13C with daytime temperatures reaching between 17C and 23C.

– Reported with Weatherzone.

A Queensland Labor MP has apologised after he was fined over a drunken brawl inside a nightclub while celebrating his birthday that left him knocked unconscious.

Les Walker faced the cameras this morning, still sporting marks from the fight, and revealed his phone call with a furious Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The first-term Townsville MP said he had no memory of the fight in the Mad Cow Tavern in the north Queensland city's CBD at 1am on Saturday.

READ MORE: Queensland tradie will keep working after $10m Powerball win

"I was knocked unconscious, so I can't recall the incident," he said.

Mr Walker was celebrating his birthday at the bar – and it ended with him being knocked out, fined, and banned from Townsville's CBD.

He said his phone call with Ms Palaszczuk had been "frank" and he accepted the standard for MPs had to be "very high".

"Just to be mindful of the position I carry in the community," he said.

READ MORE: Men fined over campfire that burned half of Fraser Island

His behaviour was condemned by Ms Palaszczuk and opposition leader David Crisafulli.

The latter said he condemned alcohol-fuelled violence and that Mr Walker had a standard to set as an MP.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was "very disappointed".

"I don't think he wants another conversation with me like that because I'm not happy," she said.

Police have arrested a high-ranking bikie boss outside a Sydney court over an alleged assault at a fine dining restaurant at Crown's Sydney casino.

Comanchero Tarek Zahed, 40, had just been slapped with a good behaviour bond at Sydney's Downing Centre and walked out of the courtroom thinking he was a free man when police arrested him yesterday afternoon.

NSW Police's Criminal Group detectives took the gang's sergeant-at-arms into an interview room and informed him he was going to be charged with affray after he allegedly assaulted a bikie affiliate at A'mare, an Italian restaurant at the Crown's Barangaroo casino about 8.30pm on Saturday, January 16.

READ MORE: Bikie arrests, homes raided in police crackdown in Sydney

In the lead up to his arrest, Mr Zahed had spent the entire day in court where he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

He had spent much of the day happy and hamming it up in front of the media, blowing a kiss and roaring like a lion as he walked to and from court.

Once snapped in a designer shirt, Mr Zahed told journalists he wanted the record corrected: the shirt he wore was Versace, not Gucci.

Mr Zahed, who has an affinity for designer clothes, was once convicted of dealing with proceeds of crime after police seized fluffy Louis Vuitton slippers and a Gucci backpack from his Sydney home.

READ MORE: Homes raided as cops crack down on crime gangs in Sydney

After he was bundled into a car by detectives he was later charged with affray and entering a casino where he was listed as being excluded.

His matter was mentioned at Central Local Court today but Mr Zahed did not apply for bail and it was formally refused by magistrate Robert Williams.

Mr Zahed is expected to make a bail application when his matter returns to court on January 27.

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Sam Burgess' ex-wife and father-in-law have been accused of engaging in a campaign to destroy the former NRL star.

Burgess was in Moss Vale Local Court for day two of his hearing, denying allegations he intimidated his father in law after a visitation with children at Mitch Hooke's property near Bowral in 2019.

In his closing submissions Burgess' barrister Phillip Boulten SC referred to the current court case and a 50 page affidavit Ms Burgess handed to The Australian newspaper which alleged drug use and domestic violence, allegations he has denied.

"Mitchell Hooke and Phoebe Burgess have tried to destroy my client's career, this case is part of it. And it's not going to stop here" he said.

He argued the Prosecution hadn't proved Burgess said "I'll get you" which meant the Magistrate was left with "two grown men arguing about the end of the access visit and that is not intimidation."

Giving evidence earlier Burgess says the disagreement began when he was told it was time to leave the property after the two hours allotted.

"I told Mitch that I thought this was inhumane, there was a better way for us to do it and I think he knows that."

"He then said if you'd like to talk about inhumane, we can talk about what's inhumane Sam."

"I said to Mitch, Mitch please not in front of the children, let's just leave it" Burgess said.

He told the court as he walked out the front door he said to Mr Hooke "Mitch I think you're a bad person inside and out and that's the result why Phoebe is the way she is…"

Outside he said voices were raised and they swore at each other.

"I said f*** you Mitch, you're a piece of s***."

"He said Sam no one loves you… we love you and you're throwing it all away."

Mitch is then alleged to have said "I'm going to make sure I ruin your career if it's the last thing I do."

Burgess said he had been concerned about leaving the children at home with Mr Hooke and that was reinforced when he saw the children had made their way out of the house as he drove away.

After she arrived home Ms Burgess texted her ex husband.

"You're a pig…we're done. At least people have now seen who you really are, you f***."

The court heard she also called triple zero.

Police phoned later that evening.

The court was previously shown vision of Burgess drinking schooners before he went to the house but a pharmacologist report says the mid strength beers would have left him with a blood alcohol reading of 0.00 or slightly above.

The Magistrate will hand down his decision on February 5.

Tennis great Margaret Court says she is not fazed by the immense backlash and criticism she has copped after being recognised in the 2021 Australia Day honours list.

Court will be made a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) on Tuesday – the nation's highest honour – for her success as a player and as a mentor to athletes.

However, her recognition has been the subject of criticism due to her controversial views on same-sex marriage and homosexuality.

Speaking to 9News this afternoon, Court said she was honoured to receive the prestigious title and she did not care about the backlash.

Court said she would be praying for those who did not support her and blessing them.

"I think over the years, I've had so much criticism that it doesn't really affect me," she said.

"I call them blessed because I pray for them and I pray for my nation."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was among those to say he does not support the recognition of Court today.

READ MORE: Daniel Andrews expresses disdain over Margaret Court Australia Day honour

Mr Andrews expressed his disdain over the decision to honour Court, while adding he was "sick of talking about that person every summer".

"I do not support that," Mr Andrews said.

"You know my views on a whole range of issues. I don't believe she has views that accord with the vast majority of people across our nation, that see people particularly people from the LGTBI community, as equal and deserving of dignity, respect and safety.

"I don't believe she shares those views and I don't believe she should be honoured because of that. I would prefer not to be giving oxygen to some of these views."

When asked what she would say in response to the premier's comments, Court said:

"I call him blessed. I pray for him, I pray for our premiers."

Court did not apologise for her religious views, emphasising she was entitled to speak freely about her opinions.

"I think for freedom of speech, I should be able to have a say for what I believe," she said.

"I teach what the bible says. That's my beliefs and I stand with that.

"There's a lot of people who agree with me. The bible has been around for thousands of years."

Honours lists are sent under embargo to media outlets prior to Australia Day for preparation purposes.

However, the news Court was set to be honoured was made public on social media this morning by a Melbourne columnist, who said 'other sources' had made him aware of the decision.

Court said the award was a "great honour" and she had not expected to receive it.

"I'm just so thankful that this honour has come."