At least 28 people have died nationwide, and in the state of New South Wales (NSW) alone, more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. State and federal authorities are struggling to contain the massive blazes, even with firefighting assistance from other countries, including the United States.

Natural causes are to blame most of the time, like lightningstrikes in drought-affected forests. Dry lightning was responsiblefor starting a number of fires in Victoria's East Gippsland regionin late December, which then traveled more than 20 kilometers(12.4 miles) in just five hours, according to .

Humans can also be to blame.

In total, more than 7.3 million hectares (17.9 million acres) havebeen burned across Australia's six states -- an area larger than thecountries of Belgium and Denmark combined. The worst-affectedstate is NSW, with more than 4.9 million hectares (12.1 millionacres) burned.

The minimum wage cannot be lower than the cost of living; the mandatory increase of pensions, benefits and other social aids is established. At the constitutional level, it is determined that the pension system is formed based on the principles of universality, justice, and solidarity of generations.

Decisions of interstate bodies adopted based on the provisions of international treaties ratified by Russia in their interpretation that is contrary to the Constitution of the Russian Federation will not be subject to enforcement. The contradiction shall be established by the Constitutional Court.

The requirement of permanent residence of a presidential candidate in Russia for at least 25 years, as well as the absence of foreign citizenship or residence permit of another state, not only at the time of participation in the elections but also in the past is now established in the Constitution.

The Federal Assembly also supported the amendment to nullify the presidential term.

Immunity for the President of Russia, who ceased to exercise his powers, is introduced into the Constitution. At the same time, the former head of state may be deprived of immunity in the manner prescribed by Art. 93 of the Constitution for the removal of the current head of state from office.

Besides, after the exercise of his powers, the President of Russia can become a senator for a term of life.

The legislative procedure concerning the Federal Constitutional Law and Federal Law is supplemented by the President’s right to appeal to the Constitutional Court with a request to verify the constitutionality of the law approved by the parliament before signing it.

If the constitutionality of the law is confirmed, the President signs it. If the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation does not confirm the constitutionality of the Federal Constitutional Law and Federal Law, then the head of state returns the law to the State Duma.

One of the amendments establishes the status of the Russian language as the language of a nation-forming nation.

The cost of hosting, organizers said in December, was some $12.35 billion but, according to Reuters, that figure did not include the cost of moving the marathon and walking events from Tokyo to Sapporo to avoid the summer heat.

Sponsors, insurers and broadcasters have also committed billions to the Games.

Some experts believe the truer sum is likely to be $25 billion, a vast majority of which has already been spent on large-scale infrastructure projects such as transportation networks, hotels and new venues.