Australia’s Victoria state will set up a anti-hate task force to help frame laws giving police more powers to tackle violent protests, as it probes a suspected arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue when worshippers were inside, it says.

A man has been charged after a Melbourne synagogue was set alight with more than a dozen people inside, prompting a furious response from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 34-year-old man entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street at 8pm on Friday, police said.

The July 4 attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.