National News

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are among the global role models inspiring Australian women and girls to become leaders.

Germany must crack down on hate, violence and hostility, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said, a day after a gunman killed two people near a synagogue in a live-streamed rampage.

An elderly couple has died on their remote rural property when bushfires swept across northern NSW, destroying at least 29 homes and razing businesses, including a timber mill.

Australia is worried Turkey's military incursion into Syria will lead to the resurgence of Islamic State.

The government hasn't asked for advice on an increase in the Newstart payments from the departments overseeing Australia's welfare, social security and employment.

The Arab League will hold an emergency meeting following a call by Egypt for the body to meet over Turkey's offensive into Syria.

An IKEA product "bad at its one job" has taken out a gong in consumer group Choice's annual Shonky Swards, along with a provider of "zombie" superannuation and a health insurer accused of ripping off customers.

One man rang his mother to say a final goodbye while others were left with little more than the clothes they were wearing when a blaze destroyed at least 15 homes in a rural hamlet in northern NSW.

Turkish forces and Syrian rebel allies will cross the Syrian border "shortly", a Turkish official says, as a surprise withdrawal of US troops makes way for the Turkish incursion.

Senior Victorian police tried to palm off informant lawyer Nicola Gobbo to Australia's criminal intelligence agency amid fears of "trouble" within their informers program.