Sydney news

Australia takes a 1-0 series lead to the MCG as the hosts take on Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Follow our live blog.

Lost and a long way from home, an adult male Australian fur seal wanders into the suburbs of Launceston, about 50 kilometres from the sea, on Boxing Day morning and causes thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The Bureau of Meteorology is assuring Victorians their New Year's celebrations will be a lot cooler after Melbourne roasted through its hottest Christmas in 18 years, but there may be some showers around for the cricket.

A nine-year-old boy is in a critical condition after being hit by an alleged drunk driver while walking with his family at Springwood, south of Brisbane.

Flames were seen leaping from the windows of an apartment building in East Melbourne during a suspicious blaze that forced 20 people to evacuate their homes on Christmas Day.

Police urge Canberrans to be vigilant around waterways after a man drowns on Christmas Day at a popular swimming hole in the territory.

A Muslim group delivers messages to homes in Hobart saying they stand for peace and loyalty to Australia, in a move sparked by the rise of One Nation and Reclaim Australia.

Australian captain Steve Smith backs off-spinner Nathan Lyon to return to form at the Boxing Day Test.

Some turn back to Sydney, others will retire in a small NSW coastal town.

A 27-year-old man drowns at the busy Wattamolla Lagoon, south of Sydney, on Christmas Day.

Christmas feasts are being held across Australia today, but few are as big as Mission Australia's charity lunch in Perth which saw 2,300 gather for a festive lunch.

A 57-year-old man dies after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest while swimming near Leighton Beach, south of Perth.

More than 200 people share singing, dancing and prayer at a Sudanese Christmas Day service in Melbourne.

Christmas feasts are being held across Australia today, but few are as big as Mission Australia's charity lunch in Perth which saw 1,000 gather for a festive lunch.

Thousands of worshipers packed St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney this morning for the annual Christmas mass.

This year's Sydney To Hobart is shaping up to be the fastest of all time after a favourable weather forecast.

A Russian defence force Tu-154 aircraft disappeared from radar, and is reported to have crashed over the Black Sea.

Juraj Zdunic was last seen leaving his Doubleview home around 4pm on Wednesday, December 21. He left his home in his white coloured Toyota Camry, which was located on 60 kilometres north on Reserve Road, near Great Northern Highway in Muchea on Friday, December 23.

Convert, flee or die: that was the ultimatum given to Chaldean Catholics in Iraq by Islamic State.

Queanbeyan's Formula One star Mark Webber reflects on a career of highs and lows after 20 years in motorsport.

A woman has died after a two-car collision in northern NSW on Christmas Day.

There was nary a scrap of tinsel or a single bauble decking the halls at Parramatta children's court to give hint that, outside, Christmas was unfolding on a glorious Sydney summer day.

Baird government approves expansion of one of the biggest coal mines in Sydney's water catchment without knowing its impact.

The west of New South Wales will be hit by higher temperatures in the coming days before cooling off midweek, as a hot air mass moves towards Sydney.

The detainees on Manus Island began to fear the worst when Australian Border Force officials began asking if anyone had contact details for the family of a young Sudanese refugee.

A toddler has survived after nearly drowning at Rye beach on Christmas Day.

Melbourne has had a hottest Christmas Day in 18 years, with the temperature topping at 36.3 degrees at 4.30pm today.

A three-year-old child has died after being found unresponsive in a car in Sydney's north-west.

Thousands flock to Sydney's busiest beach to make the most of the sun and surf on Christmas Day.

As families all over get together to celebrate Christmas Day, one family spend the day as they have done for a week leading up - distraught over a uncle gone missing.

Brexit, Trump, Mariah Carey. It was a year of surprise and unexpected consequences.

A dull grey house on a hillside has to become a home. Another Syrian family of refugees will be arriving soon.

Iraqi Christians have flocked to a northern town to celebrate Christmas for the first time since 2013, their joy tainted by the desecration of their church.

A grass fire in Victoria's Mallee region is now under control, but residents are being told to be prepared for any change in the situation.

A small army of volunteers kitted out in aprons, rubber gloves, caps and hairnets served lunch to an expected 400 clients

For the first time more Australians support decriminalising the use of marijuana than those who back retaining its classification as an illicit drug, a survey conducted over three decades has found.

Sharks have been reported off three beaches along the Great Ocean Road and oceanside of the Bellarine Peninsula, with three confirmed sightings in less than an hour.

A fake news article led to gunfire at a Washington pizzeria three weeks ago. Now it seems that another fake news story has prompted a nuclear threat.

The threat of terrorism at St Paul's Cathedral was not enough to keep the community away on Christmas Day. If anything, it had the opposite effect.

Patrick Scorse has given up his ambitions of representing Australian in equestrian to follow in the footsteps of his father John.

Erik Adriaanse is gearing up for his 28th Sydney to Hobart campaign but he still has "many moments" where he questions why he is even there.

Nick Winter spends most of his days in Adelaide, but for two months he calls Melbourne home - all the while his family is in Canberra.

It's not an animal, nor a plant or even a fungus, but it can learn and pass on the information to other brainless blobs.

Faria Hossain was looking forward to finding out her baby's gender at her 19-week scan. When she realised something was not right, her heart began pounding with fear.

US President-elect intends to dissolve his charitable foundation, which has been under investigation by the New York attorney-general.

Malcolm Turnbull has asked us to "reach out to those less fortunate" ("Peace and goodwill as Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten release Christmas messages", December 25).

For Casey-Rae McCrickard, Christmas has taken on a new meaning that is less about giving gifts and more about giving back.

The world and the Star Wars universe remained in shock on Saturday at the news that Carrie Fisher had suffered a heart attack on board a flight headed into Los Angeles airport.

How does providing a feast with all the trimmings for 250 guests sound?

First came Santa - then the rein-dogs.