As details of our belated climate action bill were published this week, Australians — including climate change denier prime minister Scott Morrison — had to come to terms with the fact that something around 8.4m hectares of their continent has been razed by uncontrollable, relentless, and far-from-finished bush fires.

A ruling by the Dutch Supreme Court - that the country must press ahead with significant cuts in carbon emissions - could prove a breakthrough for climate activists, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Some early images of how climate change impacts on our world were pictures of polar bears struggling to find food on ever-diminishing ice caps. Underweight and distressed bears pulled at our heartstrings.

Australia continues to battle “catastrophic” fires as the severe heatwave and bushfire crisis continues.

Australia continues to battle “catastrophic” fires as the severe heatwave and bushfire crisis continues.

Within hours of the re-election in Australia of the sitting coalition Government led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday, the first in what can be expected as a series of steps is underway to fight the falling property market.

Australia's prime minister has been hit on the head with an egg and a 70-year-old woman was knocked off her feet during a protest ahead of a general election next week.

An Australian senator has been censured by his colleagues for seeking to blame the victims of last month's mosque shootings and vilify Muslims.

Australia has announced that the last child refugees held on the Pacific atoll of Nauru will soon be sent to the US, ending the banishment of children under the government's harsh asylum seeker policy.

Australia’s government finally took up the central bank’s call for economic stimulus in its annual budget, with a A$75bn (€51bn) infrastructure plan as its centrepiece.

A controversial tax on backpackers working in Australia has been signed off.

Nine Australians, including a government adviser, have been arrested in Malaysia for stripping down to their briefs and drinking beer from shoes after their countryman Daniel Ricciardo won the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott could face a second challenge to his position this year after a senior minister called for a vote on his party leadership.

The Thai surrogate mother of a baby born with Down syndrome vowed to "never abandon" him as the Australian parents, who reportedly refused to care for the child, claimed they did not know of his existence and were only told by the surrogacy agency about his twin sister.

The Australian government is considering intervening in the case of a sick Down Syndrome baby left with a Thai surrogate mother by Australian biological parents.

Around 150 Australians are fighting with militants in Syria and Iraq, raising fears of a terrorist threat if they return home.

Arbroath 0 Celtic 1

Celtic 1 Arbroath 1

Ross County 0 Dundee United 3

Celtic 0 Ross County 2

Dunfermline 0 Celtic 1

IAN DURRANT watched Rangers crash out of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup to Dunfermline, then told furious fans: “I’m sorry”.

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan admits he will be reluctant to fine Neil Lennon, Artur Boruc and Aiden McGeady after their three-man spat at the end of the 2-1 win over Dunfermline at East End Park.

Aberdeen 0 Rangers 0

Livingston 1 Aberdeen 0

Aberdeen 1 Celtic 3