Australia is facing severe wildfires amid an intense heatwave, with authorities warning of potentially catastrophic conditions across eastern and southeastern regions. On Thursday, firefighters battled multiple blazes as temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Residents in Victoria and New South Wales, including major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, were urged to remain on high alert, according to AFP.

Victoria’s Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan said fire danger levels could reach “catastrophic” in some areas, warning that any ignition could spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch noted that hot, dry winds would intensify the fires, while Acting Premier Ben Carroll instructed officials to prepare early evacuations. Meteorologist Sarah Scully reported that extreme heat and dry thunderstorms could trigger new fires.

Authorities fear the situation could become the most dangerous since the 2019–2020 “Black Summer” fires, which devastated vast areas of forest and property. Researchers have linked the increasing frequency of extreme weather to a 1.5°C rise in Australia’s average temperature since 1910.

Australia concluded the Ashes series with a dominant performance, defeating England by five wickets in the fifth and final Test in Sydney. The hosts chased down a 160-run target after bowling England out for 342 on the fifth day. Earlier, England had scored 384 in their first innings, while Australia took a strong lead with 542 runs. Travis Head’s first-innings century and steady partnerships guided Australia to a comfortable win, ending the series 4-1.

England’s second innings featured a resilient 154-run knock from Jacob Bethell, with Harry Brook and Ben Duckett contributing 42 runs each. However, their efforts were not enough to prevent another defeat. For Australia, openers Travis Head and Jake Weatherald gave a brisk start, followed by useful contributions from Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, and Cameron Green.

Travis Head was named Player of the Match for his 163-run innings off 166 balls, while Mitchell Starc earned the Player of the Series title after taking 46 wickets and scoring 202 runs across five matches.

England ended the fourth day of the Sydney Test in a precarious position despite a century from Jacob Bethell. The visitors reached 302 for 8 in their second innings, holding a slim lead of 113 runs. Bethell remained unbeaten on 142 alongside Matthew Potts at stumps. England’s batting collapse after a promising start left them vulnerable, with only two wickets in hand heading into the final day.

Earlier, England’s bowlers had wrapped up Australia’s first innings for 567 runs after the hosts resumed on 518 for 7. Trailing by 183, England began their second innings strongly, reaching 219 for 3 before losing Harry Brook and Will Jacks in quick succession. The collapse continued as they lost five wickets for just 83 runs. Bethell’s partnerships with Ben Duckett and Brook had earlier steadied the innings, but no other batter could provide lasting support.

With Australia needing only a modest chase, the match appears tilted in their favor unless England’s tail can resist early on the fifth morning.

England’s batting lineup, which struggled in the first three Tests of the ongoing Ashes series, showed renewed form in the fourth match and carried that momentum into the final Test in Sydney. At the time of reporting, Joe Root and Harry Brook were guiding England toward a strong total, remaining unbeaten with scores of 72 and 78 respectively. England reached 211 for 3 in 45 overs before rain interrupted play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Earlier, England’s top order faltered again as Zak Crawley (16), Ben Duckett (27), and Jacob Bethell (10) failed to build substantial innings against Australia’s pace attack. Root and Brook then steadied the innings with composed yet aggressive batting, both reaching half-centuries and moving toward centuries.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland each claimed one wicket. The match situation suggests England are in a strong position to post a large first-innings total once play resumes.

Australian captain Steve Smith has said that teammate Usman Khawaja faced unfair treatment during his international cricket career. The 39-year-old left-handed batter is set to retire after the Sydney Test, which will be his final match in the ongoing Ashes series. Smith voiced his support for Khawaja, noting that the player had been dropped from the national team multiple times, including eight occasions in his Test career and again during the current Ashes.

Smith refrained from commenting directly on Khawaja’s criticisms but described some of the claims against him, such as being injured while playing golf before a match, as unjust. He praised Khawaja’s 15-year career and his consistent improvement over time. Smith recalled that Khawaja had also been dropped during the 2017 series against India but used that setback to refine his playing techniques.

Smith concluded by calling Khawaja an exceptional talent whose development over the years had been remarkable, highlighting their early days playing together in New South Wales youth cricket.

England captain Ben Stokes and Australian batter Steve Smith expressed dissatisfaction with the Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch after England’s victory in the fourth Ashes Test. The match ended in less than two days, with 20 wickets falling on the first day and 16 more on the second before England sealed the win. Stokes said that although his team was proud of the win, the pitch’s behavior was not ideal for Test cricket, as it offered excessive assistance to bowlers and produced an unusually short match.

Smith echoed similar concerns, noting that the pitch provided too much movement throughout the game, preventing batters from settling. He suggested that reducing the grass length from 10 millimeters to 8 might help achieve better balance. The result gave England their first win in Australia in 15 years, but both captains agreed that the surface was overly bowler-friendly.

The debate over the Melbourne pitch has divided cricket fans, with some viewing it as a challenge for bowlers and others criticizing it for undermining the traditional endurance of Test cricket.

England are edging toward victory in the low-scoring Melbourne Ashes Test, where bowlers have dominated all three completed innings. As of the latest report, England reached 77 for 2 in 12 overs, needing 98 more runs with eight wickets in hand to chase a target of 175. The match has seen no team surpass 150 runs in an innings so far.

Australia were bowled out for 132 in their second innings on the second day, undone by the pace attack of Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes. Carse took four wickets for 34 runs, while Stokes claimed three for 24. Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson added two and one wickets respectively, meaning all ten wickets fell to pace bowlers. Earlier, Australia had scored 152 in their first innings, with England replying with 110.

The report indicates that England, led by Stokes, are building resistance and moving steadily toward what could be their first win of the current Ashes series.

On the opening day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne, a total of 20 wickets fell as Australia took a narrow lead. England’s Josh Tongue produced a five-wicket haul to bowl out Australia for 152 runs in their first innings. However, England’s batting collapsed even more dramatically, managing only 110 runs in reply. By the end of the day, Australia reached 4 without loss in their second innings, leading by 46 runs overall.

Australia’s innings unraveled early, losing wickets rapidly after reaching 27 runs. Michael Neser top-scored with 35, while Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey contributed 29 and 20 respectively. For England, Harry Brook scored 41, Gus Atkinson added 28, and captain Ben Stokes made 16, but the rest fell cheaply. Australia’s Michael Neser took four wickets, Scott Boland three, and Mitchell Starc two.

The first day’s play left Australia in a stronger position, holding a modest but valuable lead heading into the second day of the Test.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ordered a full review of the country’s police and intelligence agencies following a violent attack at Bondi Beach. The decision, announced on Sunday, aims to assess whether existing security frameworks and authorities are adequate to protect Australians from emerging threats.

In a statement, Albanese described the incident as a “horrific antisemitic terrorist attack” and said the government would examine the coordination, capacity, and preparedness of law enforcement and intelligence bodies. The review will evaluate how effectively these agencies share information and respond to extremist violence.

The move reflects growing concern over domestic security and social cohesion in Australia. Analysts expect the review to recommend stronger inter-agency cooperation and updated counterterrorism strategies. Findings from the assessment are likely to shape future national security policies and resource allocation.

England’s Ashes campaign ended in disappointment after losing the series to Australia within just 11 days. Captain Ben Stokes admitted the team’s dream had collapsed following the defeat in Adelaide, calling the result ‘devastating’ but vowing that England would continue to fight in the remaining matches. The loss marked a major setback for coach Brendon McCullum’s side, which had entered the tour with high hopes of reclaiming the Ashes.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins, meanwhile, expressed his determination to complete a series whitewash, emphasizing that his team would not relax despite already securing the trophy. However, Cummins hinted that he might miss the upcoming Melbourne Test due to a lingering back injury, saying he would reassess his fitness before the final matches. His possible absence could open opportunities for Australia’s pace reserves.

The remaining two Tests will determine whether England can salvage pride or if Australia will achieve a clean sweep. Both teams now face strategic decisions regarding player rotation and injury management ahead of the next fixtures.

Australia sealed the 2025 Ashes series with a commanding 82-run victory over England in Adelaide, taking an unassailable 3–0 lead with two matches remaining. Pat Cummins’ side wrapped up the contest on the fifth day, dismissing England’s final hopes early in the morning session. The win marked Australia’s first home Ashes triumph in record time — the series concluded within just 11 days, the second-fastest in Ashes history.

Travis Head’s 170 and Alex Carey’s consistent batting, including a century in the first innings, powered Australia’s dominance. Cummins reached his 150th Test wicket as captain, while Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon contributed key breakthroughs. England’s “Bazball” approach under Brendon McCullum faltered again, with Zak Crawley’s 85 and Jamie Smith’s 60 proving insufficient.

The defeat extends England’s 14-year wait for an Ashes win in Australia, last achieved in 2010–11. With two Tests left, Cummins’ men now eye a 5–0 whitewash, while England face growing scrutiny over their aggressive strategy and inconsistent batting lineup.

Australia are poised to secure the Ashes series in Adelaide after dominating England across four days of play. Pat Cummins’ side set England a daunting 435-run target following strong batting displays from Travis Head, who scored 170, and Alex Carey, who added 72. By stumps on the fourth day, England were 207 for six, still needing 228 runs with only four wickets in hand.

Cummins led from the front, dismissing Ben Duckett early and reaching 150 Test wickets as captain, joining an elite list topped by Pakistan’s Imran Khan. Nathan Lyon also played a crucial role, removing Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley in quick succession to tighten Australia’s grip. England’s top order faltered again, with only Crawley showing resistance through his 85-run knock.

If Australia complete victory on the final day, it will mark one of their fastest Ashes series wins on home soil since 2002–03. The result would also deepen England’s ongoing struggles under captain Ben Stokes, raising questions about their batting consistency and tactical approach.

Australia strengthened their hold on the Ashes series after dominating the second day of the third Test in Adelaide. The hosts posted a total of 371 runs, led by Alex Carey’s century and solid contributions from Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc. England’s reply faltered badly, reaching only 213 for eight at stumps, still trailing by 158 runs with just two wickets in hand.

England’s batting woes continued as early wickets fell cheaply, leaving them struggling at 59 for three before lunch. Only Ben Stokes and Harry Brook offered resistance, while captain Pat Cummins returned to form with three wickets for 54 runs. Mitchell Starc, who earlier scored a half-century, went wicketless but maintained pressure with the ball.

With Australia already leading the five-Test series 2–0, another victory in Adelaide would secure the Ashes. England’s hopes now rest on Stokes and Jofra Archer, who remain unbeaten, but the deficit and lack of batting depth make a comeback highly unlikely.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced sweeping reforms to strengthen hate speech laws following the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 people. After a National Security Committee meeting, Albanese outlined new federal offenses targeting hate speech promoters and leaders, with increased penalties for incitement to violence. The reforms also classify hate motivation as an aggravating factor in online harassment and threats.

The proposed legislation comes amid a surge in hate crimes and extremist rhetoric across Australia. Authorities have reported a rise in both anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish incidents since the Bondi attack. In one case, a Muslim cemetery was desecrated with a pig’s head, highlighting growing communal tensions. The government has also begun listing organizations whose leaders advocate racial hatred or supremacy.

Analysts say the measures mark one of the most significant updates to Australia’s hate crime framework in decades. Lawmakers are expected to debate the bill early next year, with civil rights groups urging careful balance between security and free speech protections.

Indian police have confirmed that one of the two attackers killed in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney was an Indian citizen named Sajid Akram, aged 50. Akram, originally from Hyderabad, had moved to Australia in 1998 for work and participated in the attack alongside his son, Navid Akram. The incident, which left at least 16 people dead, is being described as Australia’s deadliest shooting in nearly three decades.

According to Telangana state police, Sajid Akram had no prior criminal record or known extremist affiliations. His family reported no signs of radicalization, and Indian authorities stated there was no evidence linking the attack to any Indian group or network. Australian police revealed that Sajid and his son had traveled to the Philippines last month, but the purpose of that trip remains under investigation.

Authorities in both countries are examining possible extremist motives and international connections, including whether the attackers targeted specific communities. The Bondi Beach tragedy has sparked widespread concern in Australia and abroad, prompting heightened security and a joint investigation into the attackers’ backgrounds and motives.