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Three Americans confirmed dead as air tanker fighting fires crashes near Cooma

Three Americans confirmed dead as air tanker fighting fires crashes near Cooma

Three people have died after a C-130 water tanker plane crashed while battling a fire in southern NSW on Thursday.

  • by Matt Bungard and Eilidh Mellis

Crane on Packer's tower swings in high winds, smashing window

The crane has smashed at least two large windows on the tower.

Workers in nearby towers at Barangaroo were shocked to see the crane rotating quickly in the high winds.

  • by Matt O'Sullivan

Police watchdog commissioner sacked after complaint investigation

Patrick Saidi

The NSW government has sacked Patrick Saidi from his position as oversight commissioner at the LECC, weeks after it revealed the chief commissioner would also leave.

  • by Lisa Visentin
Opinion
Big four

In McFarlane, Westpac picks boardroom troubleshooter par excellence

John McFarlane says he is ''battle hardened'' and has a harder edge than his former protege, and former Westpac chief executive, Brian Hartzer.

Westpac lucked out in its search for a successor to Lindsay Maxsted as chairman. The right man was in the right place at exactly the right time.

  • by Stephen Bartholomeusz

More top stories

'Worse than predicted' fire conditions test firies as southerly buster marches up coast

'Worse than predicted' fire conditions test firies as southerly buster marches up coast

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting gusty storms across much of the state that could bring 'damaging winds large hail or even heavy bursts of rain.'

  • by Jenny Noyes and Matt Bungard
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's father John has died aged 84.

Morrison pays tribute to 'much-loved' father John

Mr Morrison announced his father's death on his Facebook page, a few hours  after holding a press conference in Parliament House in Canberra.

  • by Rob Harris
The Yarra River turns a deeper shade of orange brown after dusty rain fell over Melbourne.

A present from the Mallee: sludge coats cars, Yarra River and closes public pools

First it was hazardous smoke, then golf ball-sized hail and flooding rain. Now Melburnians have to deal with sludge.

  • by Zach Hope
Inside Trump's impeachment trial, where a glass of milk stole the show

Inside Trump's impeachment trial, where a glass of milk stole the show

The US Senate rarely attracts media attention, but it's a different story with Donald Trump's impeachment trial. 

  • by Matthew Knott
White Island volcano death toll hits 20 as Australian teen named among dead

White Island volcano death toll hits 20 as Australian teen named among dead

New Zealand's chief coroner has ruled that Winona Langford was killed, though her body has not been found.

  • by Praveen Menon
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In Other News

Sydney

The NSW Government has announced reforms into the apartment construction industry.

Unit buyers to pay for ratings check on dodgy apartments under reforms

Rating agencies have been asked by the NSW government to rate dodgy builders and developers - and prospective unit buyers will have to pay see the results.

  • by Nigel Gladstone and Carrie Fellner

$200m InterContinental redevelopment gets approval despite objections

The owners of the InterContinental Hotel plan to build a grand ballroom over Transport House, which stretches between Macquarie Street and Phillip Street in Sydney's CBD.

The plans to refurbish the five-star hotel and construct a grand ballroom above a heritage building have passed a major hurdle.

  • by Matt O'Sullivan
Exclusive
Water

Australia faces falling inflows even as demand for water grows

Climate change is already making it harder to fill Australia's main dams, such as Warragamba, and the problems are likely to get worse, new research finds.

Reservoirs across the country are recording reduced inflows as the climate warms and dries.

  • by Peter Hannam

'Abandoned': Sydney passengers trapped in tram on new CBD light rail

'Abandoned': Sydney passengers trapped in tram on new CBD light rail

Hundreds of passengers were trapped on a tram for more than an hour and had to call the police to get them out after Sydney’s light rail service broke down.

  • by Tom Rabe

Sydney to hit 41 degrees as NSW bushfire danger returns

Sydney to hit 41 degrees as NSW bushfire danger returns

Recent rainfall has not extinguished the bushfires, and the RFS says there is no room for complacency.

  • by Jenny Noyes

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Australian Open

Aussie wildcard in fifth set battle with No.5 seed Dominic Thiem
LIVE

Aussie wildcard in fifth set battle with No.5 seed Dominic Thiem

  • by Peter Ryan
'If lightning strikes twice': Millman eyes another Federer upset

'If lightning strikes twice': Millman eyes another Federer upset

John Millman has his sights set on performing another miracle when he faces Roger Federer in the next round.

  • by Anthony Colangelo
Tennis fans get behind Greece's Maria Sakkari on Wednesday.

Evicted Greek fans claim they were singled out

Greek supporters evicted from the Australian Open on Wednesday night deny they were "moshing" in the crowd.

  • by Rachel Eddie and Michael Gleeson

Politics

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is standing by Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie over her handling of sports grants.

McKenzie resisting demands to resign

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will not pre-judge the findings of a review into the Nationals deputy leader's conduct as a minister.

  • by Rob Harris

Business

iSignthis chief executive John Karantzis: The company has sued the ASX in the Federal Court, saying it has unfairly kept its shares suspended.

iSignthis top rating downgraded then reinstated by ISS arm

Suspended tech stock iSignthis lost its 'prime' rating from ISS ESG one day after the controversial company was touting its success in receiving the highly coveted rating.

  • by Colin Kruger

World

In a passionate speech to the Senate, Democratic congressman Adam Schiff made the case for Donald Trump's removal from office.

'Descent from democracy': Democrats outline case for Donald Trump's removal

Democrats warned Republicans they will cause long-term damage to American democracy unless they remove the US President from office.

  • by Matthew Knott
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Property bydomain

Is this relatable? 10 of the worst things about moving house

Is this relatable? 10 of the worst things about moving house

In no particular order, here is a completely objective and non-definitive list of the absolute worst parts about shifting.

  • by Mikaela Wilkes
'Reminiscent of the boom': Sydney house prices soar towards new record

'Reminiscent of the boom': Sydney house prices soar towards new record

Prices bounced back more than $73,000 in just three months, with the latest data revealing house prices grew in every region of the city.

  • by Tawar Razaghi
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Life & Culture

Sanna Marin is perfectly able to be the world's youngest prime minister, and a mother, in a country set up to support working parents.
Opinion
Motherhood

Why it's totally normal (in Finland) to be a young mum and PM

She’s just lucky to be living in Finland, a place that allows women with small children to work with minimal fuss.

  • by Annabel Battersby

Food bygoodfood

Travel bytraveller

Cars bydrive

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Sport

Kyrgios practises on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's second round match at the Australian Open.

Nick Kyrgios tells AOC he wants to stay in athletes' village in Tokyo

Nick Kyrgios is so committed to representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics he has already told officials he wants to stay in the athletes’ village.

  • by Andrew Webster
Jordan Petaia (left) and James O'Connor (right) chat during last year's Rugby World Cup.

'He could be like no other player': O'Connor's stunning praise for Petaia

James O'Connor has played with a few handy footballers over the years but the veteran holds new Queensland Reds teammate Jordan Petaia in very high esteem.

  • by Tom Decent
Gone: Fox Sports host Nick McArdle has been sacked on the eve of the Super Rugby season.
Exclusive
Super Rugby

Top rugby host sacked on eve of Super Rugby launch

Executives told Nick McArdle he was no longer required on Wednesday, the day before Fox Sports and Rugby Australia were due to launch the new season.

  • by Georgina Robinson
Jordan Thompson congratulates Fabio Fognini after their match.

Jordan Thompson suffers heartbreaking five-set loss

The 25-year-old Australian lost to the Italian 12th seed Fabio Fognini in a match that ticked over four hours at Melbourne Park. 

  • by Anthony Colangelo
Burnley's Jay Rodriguez, right, celebrates with his teammates after the final whistle.

Burnley stun Manchester United in Premier League

Jay Rodriguez's stunning strike sealed Burnley's first Old Trafford triumph since 1962 as Manchester United fans expressed their anger at the state of the club under the Glazer family.

Kosta Barbarouses will make his return to AAMI Park on Friday night for the first time as a Sydney FC player.

Winner to sinner: Barbarouses ready for not-so-warm welcome ‘home’

Kosta Barbarouses never wanted to leave Melbourne Victory and will interpret the jeers he is likely to receive on Friday night as a sign of respect.

  • by Vince Rugari
Serena Williams slams a shot back at Tamara Zidansek.

Serena Williams brutal but erratic in second-round win

The 38-year-old, seven-time Australian Open winner played brutally but also inconsistently to beat Slovenian Tamara Zidansek in straight sets. 

  • by Anthony Colangelo

Racing

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