A court today lifted a ban on naming the only person charged with lighting one of Australia’s recent deadly wildfires, and officials urged people not to target the suspect or his family and to let justice take its course.

Australia’s deadly wildfires destroyed at least 640 houses and that tally was expected to rise today.

Three houses and a golf club were destroyed today as extreme weather conditions in south east Australia fuelled wildfires and fear and crews battled scores of blazes.

An Australian judge has ruled against the widow of “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin in the first stage of a case seeking more than €1.56m in allegedly unpaid debts.

Detectives investigating race riots that rocked Sydney last week seized a pistol, ammunition, knives and smoke bombs in a series of raids today.

Animal welfare groups squared off against two Australian zoos today as arguments began in a legal battle to halt the importation of eight Asian elephants from Thailand.

A girl, her father and two of her uncles drowned today on a Christmas camping trip in an Australian national park.