Category Archives: Sydney

Two men accused of attempting to set fire to Sydney synagogue denied bail

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Pair charged with destroying property over attack on Newtown synagogue last month

The two men accused of attempting to light a Newtown synagogue on fire have been refused bail.

Adam Moule, 33, and Leon Sofilas, 37, who are co-accused, appeared via video in Downing Centre local court on Thursday when their individual solicitors made applications for them to be released on bail.

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One-year-old found dead in car outside Sydney childcare centre

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NSW police investigating girl’s death in Earlwood in Sydney’s inner west on Tuesday afternoon

A one-year-old girl has been found dead in a car in Sydney’s inner west.

New South Wales Police are investigating after emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive child in a vehicle outside a childcare centre on Marana Road in Earlwood at 5.35pm on Tuesday afternoon.

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‘Intensely hot’ weather continues in south-eastern states as Victoria battles bushfires

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Heatwave not expected to end until Tuesday or Wednesday as fires burn in multiple national parks

South-eastern states sweltering in a heatwave may be waiting until late Tuesday or Wednesday for a cool change to bring some relief.

On Monday, temperatures in Melbourne peaked at 37.8C just before 4pm, after a high of 38C on Sunday.

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Man charged after allegedly drawing Nazi symbols in Sydney in latest antisemitism crackdown arrest

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The 37-year-old was charged after police allegedly found him using a marker to write on a wall in the city’s eastern suburbs

The New South Wales police strike force investigating antisemitism has charged another person, after officers alleged they saw a man drawing Nazi symbols including a swastika in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

In a statement, police said that officers from the Strike Force Pearl proactive team were performing “high-visibility patrols” about 4.30pm on Friday when they saw a man allegedly using a marker pen to write on a wall in Anzac Parade, Kingsford.

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Man with ‘sexsomnia’ not guilty of raping woman after judge warns jury in Sydney trial

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The 40-year-old had a medical condition where people exhibit sexual behaviour during sleep, court heard

Jurors have acquitted a man diagnosed with “sexsomnia” of rape.

On Thursday, Timothy Malcolm Rowland, 40, was found not guilty of having non-consensual sex with a woman at his Sydney apartment on 26 August 2022, after the pair spent a night out together.

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Caravan laden with explosives found in Sydney allegedly intended for antisemitic attack

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NSW police investigating after explosives found in Dural with premier Chris Minns warning incident could have led to ‘mass casualty event’

More than 100 counter-terrorism police are investigating after a caravan was found laden with explosives at a residential property in greater Sydney with indications the explosives would be used in an antisemitic attack.

Police said they had found the caravan on a property in Dural, on the outskirts of Sydney on 19 January after a report was made.

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‘Very rare’ sighting of juvenile Antarctic minke whale off Sydney coast

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Scientists unsure what prompted juvenile whale to leave icy southern waters for warmer shallows, but ‘it may be a case of mis-navigation’

A young Antarctic minke whale has treated ferry passengers to a rare spectacle after surfacing beside a wharf to the south of Sydney.

Christine Hack, the manager of Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises, which manages the Cronulla ferry, said the whale began following the vessel as it approached Bundeena wharf at about 10am on Monday.

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Three people in hospital in Sydney after suspected botulism cases linked to anti-wrinkle injections

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Woman in intensive care as NSW Health urges community to only receive cosmetic injections from authorised practitioners

A Sydney woman is in intensive care and a further two people are being treated in hospital with suspected cases of botulism linked to unregulated home anti-wrinkle injections.

The case prompted New South Wales Health to issue an alert urging the community to only receive cosmetic anti-wrinkle injections from authorised practitioners or risk “serious harm and … death”.

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Captain Cook statue in Sydney doused with red paint ahead of Australia’s controversial national day

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Randwick mayor says vandalism does ‘disservice to reconciliation’ but Greens councillor says statue marks ‘devastating impacts of colonisation’

A statue of Captain Cook in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been damaged and doused in red paint for a second year in a row.

New South Wales police were investigating after the damage to the sandstone statue of the explorer and naval captain was discovered on Friday morning before the Australia Day long weekend.

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Sydney man arrested over Newtown synagogue fire

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Adam Edward Moule is ninth person charged under Strike Force Pearl investigation into spate of antisemitic attacks across Sydney

The arrest of a man who allegedly attempted to set a synagogue on fire in Sydney’s inner west this month is a “big breakthrough”, the New South Wales premier has said, as investigations continue into a spate of antisemitic vandalism in the city.

Adam Edward Moule, 33, had his case briefly mentioned at Downing Centre local court on Wednesday and was scheduled to appear again on Thursday before the same court.

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Debris balls that closed Sydney beaches contained faecal matter and E coli bacteria, tests reveal

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As Northern Beaches mayor awaits confirmation of pollution source, water expert says: ‘We know it’s sewage’

Testing of the debris balls that closed nine Sydney beaches last week has revealed they contained faecal matter, E coli bacteria and saturated fatty acids.

The Northern Beaches council said on Tuesday it had received the results of further analysis of balls it sent to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for testing.

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Teacher who told Sydney Catholic Schools she was transitioning allegedly asked to move and not given shifts

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Zoe Conolan-Glen’s discrimination case has now been referred to the federal court

A music teacher who told the management of Sydney Catholic Schools she was transitioning was allegedly asked to move to a different school before being given no shifts for a year.

Sydney woman Zoe Conolan-Glen lodged a discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission in July 2024, which was referred to the federal court on 18 December, claiming the prospective school’s management also asked intrusive questions, including which staff bathroom she would use and how she would react if a parent complained about her identity.

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Kyle & Jackie O Show drew nearly half of all decency complaints on Australian radio in last financial year

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Exclusive: Kiis FM show promises to ‘behave’ in 2025 as regulator reveals 146 complaints made to broadcaster about material in 2023-24

Almost half of all complaints made in the last financial year about decency standards on Australian radio were about The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the Guardian can reveal.

In the 2023-2024 financial year, 321 complaints were made to radio stations across Australia about “material not suitable for broadcast”. Of these, 146 complaints (45%) were about The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

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Two injured by falling tree at Sydney’s Hyde Park as strong winds damage houses and SCG grandstand

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More than 1,000 trees have fallen in Sydney as wild weather causes problems around city

At least two people have been hit after a huge fig tree fell in Sydney’s centre amid strong winds.

The large tree in Hyde Park crashed to the ground across a footpath and on to a busy street at about 3pm on Friday.

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Greater Sydney council bans ‘revealing swimwear’ sparking debate about double standards

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One expert says women’s bodies and attire have long been a source for public debate in a way that doesn’t happen with men

A council in Greater Sydney has announced it is banning G-string bikinis at its public pools without providing further details about how the rule will be policed, sparking debate about gender standards.

Earlier this month, Blue Mountains Leisure Centres (BMLC) posted on Facebook that it had noticed some “confusion” about “appropriate swimwear” when visiting one of their pools.

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ABC names Hamish Macdonald as new Sydney Mornings radio host after dumping Sarah Macdonald

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Decision not to renew former presenter’s contract triggered angry backlash from listeners and colleagues

Hamish Macdonald will replace Sarah Macdonald as host of ABC Radio Sydney’s Mornings program, two months after listeners and staff reacted angrily to the axing of the popular female presenter.

In November Sarah Macdonald revealed on air that her contract would not be renewed after two years in the slot, sparking a backlash and delaying the announcement of a replacement.

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Climate activist who graffitied Tanya Plibersek’s office says he stands by his actions

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Environment minister said vandalism and intimidation were ‘completely unacceptable’

A climate activist who graffitied the word “liar” on the federal environment minister’s office has stood by his highly publicised actions, urging the public to stand up for their beliefs.

Zachary “Zack” Edward Jaworowski Schofield took a can of red spray paint to Tanya Plibersek’s Sydney electorate office in December.

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Counter-terrorism police take up investigation of swastika attack at Sydney synagogue

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Vandals also started a fire in Newtown that could have had deadly consequences, commissioner says

Counter-terrorism police have taken over the investigation of a swastika vandalism attack at a Sydney synagogue as the police commissioner and premier call on the public to help catch the perpetrators.

Jewish leaders condemned the latest antisemitic attack, in which red swastikas were spray-painted across the front wall of Newtown synagogue in Sydney’s inner west by a male and female about 4.30am on Saturday.

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Second Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas as NSW premier condemns ‘monstrous’ acts

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Police investigating graffiti on Newtown synagogue a day after similar attack in Allawah

A second Sydney synagogue has been vandalised with swastikas in as many days in an attack the Jewish community said was intended to erode social cohesion.

The Newtown synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was the latest site targeted, with red swastikas spray painted across its front wall.

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Stormy, hot weather forecast for most of Australia with flash flooding risk in NSW and Queensland

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BoM says expected storms in Brisbane and severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Sydney due to lingering north-easterly winds

A stormy and hot weekend is in store for most of Australia with tempestuous weather continuing in the north and along the east coast, while some parts of the country swelter through dry conditions and severe heatwaves.

Central and south-east Queenslanders were warned that widespread severe thunderstorms on Saturday may bring large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall with the threat of flash flooding, while temperatures were expected to climb into the mid-40s in the west of the state.

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