1,600 campers have been rescued in three regions of southern France as heavy rain caused flash flooding and transformed rivers and streams into torrents.

Four German children were hospitalised for hypothermia among 10 hospitalised with minor injuries.

More than 400 firefighters and gendarmes, many sent in from other regions, helped in the evacuations, using helicopters to spot campsites and occasionally to perform rescues.

Independent member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, asked Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday to declare a state of emergency around homelessness.

The renovation of an inner-city building has uncovered historical original signage that Brisbane City Council wants to preserve and leave on show for the public.

After United States officials unveiled the new sanctions against Russia, the Kremlin has responded by vowing to retaliate.

US Vice President, Mike Pence, announced on Thursday that the Pentagon has begun planning to create a Space Force, in what would be the first new armed service since 1947.

Destructive winds averaging 80 to 90 km/h are forecast for Victoria today, with gusts expected to peak above 125 km/h in higher areas.

Fossil hunters and palaeontologists have unearthed a set of teeth belonging to the megalodon shark that roamed the oceans 25 million years ago.

The speed limit on five inner-Brisbane roads could drop to 40km/h to ensure the safety of Brisbane State High School students and parents crossing the major roads on school days.

More than 700 kilos of dead fish have been pulled out of a Brisbane waterway, prompting a Brisbane City Council investigation.