MORNING BRIEFING: Eastern suburb residents are particularly at risk after smoke haze blankets Sydney, and a north-bound lane on M1 remains closed after four trucks caught fire after a collision

Wendy Morgan has a degree in science, 40 years of work experience and even a forklift licence, but no-one will give her a job. She says living on Newstart makes the job hunt even harder.

Researchers uncover long-term patterns in Sydney's underwater ecosystem from illustrated diaries made by a 1950s scuba diver.

Some people are turning to professional organisers for help with decluttering does the industry reveal our complicated relationship with our stuff?

South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Sam Burgess has been forced into early retirement from the NRL aged 30 due to a chronic shoulder injury.

MORNING BRIEFING: The Metro network is experiencing significant delays after a train breakdown less than 24 hours after yesterday's mechanical problems, while health warnings for poor air quality are issued along the NSW coastline.

Court documents provide insight into the shambolic and costly planning issues being created by a major housing expansion on the southern outskirts of Sydney.

While the big aged care chains may have copped many of the torrid headlines, the Federal Government has been another target at this royal commission, writes Anne Connolly.

Having left Melbourne in her 20s because she couldn't see a place for herself, Thai-Australian playwright Anchuli Felicia King is now forging a global career, with plays in London, Washington, Melbourne and Sydney this year.

NSW's Law Enforcement Conduct Commission recommends disciplinary action be taken against two police officers who engaged in misconduct by racially abusing two Afghan women at a traffic stop in Western Sydney.

The first report from the 10-month royal commission into aged-care standards offers blunt condemnation of the system, describing it as "unkind and uncaring" and fails to deliver safe care.

Under the proposal, if a person is found with drugs they would be referred to a health service one of more than 100 recommendations to be delivered next month.

Challenged by animal activists over the slaughter of newborn male calves, some dairy farmers are marketing older calves as veal to the ethical consumer.

CEO Andrew David says the 3 Boeing aircraft will be grounded for weeks.

MORNING BRIEFING: The Federal Energy Minister 'unreservedly' apologises to Sydney's Lord Mayor for falsely claiming her council spent $15 million on travel, while parts of NSW remain blanketed in haze as winds fan smoke from bushfires.

Kangaroos have been spotted digging for water in dried-up creek beds as severe rainfall deficiencies continue.

Defending A-League champions Sydney FC move to the top of the ladder after putting on a clinic to hammer the Newcastle Jets 4-1 in a one-sided affair at Leichhardt Oval.

A former Catholic priest accused of assaulting 40 victims across eight NSW parishes from the 1960s to the mid-1990s has pleaded not guilty to the 139 charges.

Horses, then cars and motorbikes staged races at low tide on a beautiful stretch of sand on the NSW south coast, but it has fallen silent now that it is a national park.

Western United come away with a 3-2 win in their Melbourne derby against the Victory despite trailing 2-0 after just seven minutes. Look back at that remarkable win and Western Sydney's 0-0 draw with Brisbane in our ScoreCentre.

The theory in media circles is that the banking royal commission was big news because "everyone has a bank account". There seems to be no corresponding extrapolation for aged care, writes Anne Connolly.

As the drought bites deeper, residents in a growing number of rural communities are fighting to stop local groundwater being taken to satisfy Australia's thirst for bottled water.

The New South Wales police watchdog finds an officer engaged in serious misconduct by using unreasonable force during a motorist's arrest. It is among just 2 per cent of complaints last year able to be fully investigated due to NSW Government funding cuts.

Rain washes away Australia's Twenty20 series opener against Pakistan at the SCG, despite captain Aaron Finch's best efforts with the bat.

An entire wing of the school is being taken over for three weeks including "art bombing" of the halls with bubble wrap and transforming classrooms into discos and caves.

A Vietnamese man carrying four kilograms of pork-filled mooncakes has been turned away from Sydney Airport after failing to declare he was carrying food.

A $2.9 million payout is being challenged in court today after it was found Nationwide News defamed actor Geoffrey Rush in a high-profile case earlier this year.

MORNING BRIEFING: The $2.9 million awarded to Australian actor Geoffrey Rush in his defamation case will be challenged in court today, while much-needed rain has fallen in some of the state's driest areas.

A NSW school principal who has been accused of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl has been released from custody on strict conditions.

Geoffrey Rush's barrister tells an appeal hearing his client has been "slurred" by The Daily Telegraph's lawyer, who yesterday accused the actor of "delivering lines" when describing the impact the newspaper's articles had on his life.

Sydney woman Susan Leslie O'Brien may be home before Christmas after being sentenced to three-and-a-half months in jail for hitting and killing a Balinese teenager with her car.

The mayor of the Inner West Council says a "very deep hurt" is caused to Indigenous Australians by the "jingoistic celebration" on January 26. But an independent councillor has called the move divisive.

One of the lead authors of the study says it outlines key indicators to track the depth and scale of climate change.

It's criticised for being "disingenuous", and many Christian students say it can be socially draining. So why hasn't face-to-face evangelism gone out of fashion in a digital world?

Four years ago, Jonda Stephen found herself in a life or death situation. Her partner had hit her in the head multiple times with an iron, so she picked up a knife and stabbed him, in self-defence.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott says he would want officers to strip-search his children, after new data reveals 122 underage girls had been subjected to the practice since 2016.

The new FFA pay deal will close the pay gap between Socceroos and Matildas players, and has been praised by players, fans and administrators alike.

MORNING BRIEFING: Temperatures are set to soar to over 30 degrees Celsius in some places as firefighters stare down a difficult 48 hours on the east coast. Plus a Russian national is wanted for a double stabbing in Sydney's south.

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has notched up plenty of career highlights, but her biggest is being involved in the "watershed moment" of women's sport in Australia.

Whether you are dealing with a noise complaint or being asked for ID, having a grasp of your basic rights when dealing with the police can help.

All four major banks have now announced a fall in earnings for the year. A new report from KPMG says there is no end in sight for the profit squeeze on the banks, with consumers set to benefit.