Sydney

Sydney gets toughest water restrictions in a decade

On Tuesday, level two restrictions were enacted in the capital of New South Wales (NSW), a state 99.9% in drought.

These could be increased to level three within months, local media report.

Temperatures are predicted to soar above 40C (104F) from Tuesday, worsening fires which have already killed six people since October.

There are now more than 100 fires in NSW and Queensland states, many of which have been burning for several weeks.

What are the water restrictions?

Man arrested over stabbings in Sydney city centre

A second woman was found dead inside an apartment building on the same street.

"All the information we have at hand would link these two crimes," police commissioner Mick Fuller said at a press conference.

He said the suspect was a "lone actor" with a history of mental health issues.

He was known to police but "his history was unremarkable compared to the gravity of the crimes he committed", Mr Fuller said.

The police commissioner said the suspect had some ideologies related to terrorism, but had no apparent links to other terrorist organisations.

Samoa Airways Apia-Sydney flight diverted to Canberra

The airline said the unforeseen diversion took place while customers with confirmed bookings on the return flight (OL856) from Sydney to Apia were being processed through check-in and departure formalities.

Whilst flight OL855 was eventually able to operate from Canberra to Sydney Saturday night, it did so after 11:00pm local time meaning that the Sydney Airport curfew would be a factor.

Sydney set to swelter again with fire bans in place and crews on standby

It is forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius in Sydney city, and 40C in western suburbs.

On Sunday, a reading of 47.3C was recorded in Penrith by the late afternoon, making it the hottest temperature recorded in Sydney since 1939. It was also the hottest city on Earth.

The Australian and England cricket teams suffered temperatures in the 50s out on the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

England captain Joe Root was taken to hospital to be treated for severe dehydration.

Vivid Sydney uses sounds, touch to bring light festival to vision impaired people

Vivid transforms landmarks across the city using light, colour and sounds and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

But making the spectacle accessible for people with limited or no vision is a challenge, particularly when it comes to what is arguably the highlight of the show, the lighting of the sails at the Opera House.

Sydney Film Festival's Screenability puts spotlight on people living with disabilities

For the first time, films that have been made and acted by people living with disabilities will be a key part of the program.

It has been made possible by Screenability — an arts initiative in New South Wales to help more people with disabilities break into the film industry.

"I think it's really important that you have creatives with disability in charge of that narrative," Sydney Film Festival's Screenability programmer Sofya Gollan said.

Skin-whitening uptake sparks concern among Australian dermatologists

"Chinese people like whitening, [they consider it] beautiful — whitening and brightening because it's good," she says, smiling.

The smile is genuine, as Amanda is a fan herself.

"I use this one in the morning and at night … it can make your skin look very healthy, very clear," she says.

"It's very popular."

And this popularity is on the rise with the market for skin lighteners projected to reach $US23 billion ($30.5 billion) by 2020, according to market intelligence firm Global Industry Analysts.

Australian reporter faces child pornography charge

Ben McCormack, 42, a well-known reporter for the local A Current Affair programme, was arrested in Sydney.

Police searched an apartment and the offices of his employer, the Nine Network, seizing computers, a mobile phone and an electronic storage device.

The Nine Network immediately suspended Mr McCormack from his reporting duties.

Police released images of Mr McCormack's arrest, showing his face blurred, and charged him with using a carriage service for child pornography material.

Crusaders back their discipline

Memories of the way the Waratahs used bruisers like Will Skelton and Tolu Latu to poke, niggle and provoke - illegally and otherwise - the Crusaders when they last visited Sydney haven't been forgotten.

Neither they should be. Watching the Waratahs forwards steam into the Crusaders in 2015, and you have to admit the city boys really did give the men from New Zealand the big V, made for painful viewing.

Dan Vickerman Cup introduced

Waratahs and Brumbies fans will get to watch their teams square off for the newly introduced trophy, which is named after the 63-test Wallaby who died last month in non-suspicious circumstances. 

The former South African-born lock played 20 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies between 2001-2003, before heading north to the Waratahs and notching 58 caps between 2004-2011.