Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Tuesday, July 25. Today will be another sunny day, with expected highs of about 20 degrees. Enjoy your day!
- Get up to date with traffic in your area via our live blog.
Spring-like conditions ahead for Sydney as snowfields eye another top-up
Another bout of spring-like weather is in store for much of NSW including Sydney, possibly putting some July warmth records in play by the weekend.
Only Thursday looks likely to break from the run of relatively mild days with top temperatures five to six degrees above the July average of 16.4 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts.
Even Thursday, though, will be on the mild side with 18 degrees tipped. Read more.
Is this as good as it gets for the Aussie dollar?
The Australian dollar is holding near two-year highs despite the Reserve Bank cooling speculation of an impending rate hike, but a jump above the US80¢ hurdle is looking more elusive.
The currency had rallied 5 per cent over the past two weeks, with gains accelerating after optimistic sounding RBA minutes, which surprised markets last Tuesday with a discussion of the appropriate "neutral" cash rate.
It shot up to a two-year high of US79.89¢ before deputy governor Guy Debelle on Friday spoiled the party by hosing down expectations of a nearing rate rise, saying the central bank did not intend to signal anything by discussing the neutral rate. Read more.
Car manufacturers admit to refitting vehicles with faulty Takata airbags
At least five car makers in Australia have recalled their vehicles over dangerous airbags, only to refit them with the same faulty product, an investigation by consumer group Choice has found.
The manufacturers are among 14 affected in Australia by a worldwide recall of Takata airbags, which have now killed 18 people and injured more than 180 worldwide.
The death of a man in Cabramatta last week was also likely caused by the faulty airbag. Read more.
Blue Mountains and Blacktown mayors unite over airport at Badgerys Creek
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill joined his Blacktown counterpart Stephen Bali on Sunday to push for protections against the impacts of Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.
Backed by about 250 people at a forum held in Blacktown, the mayors called on the federal government to give the people of western Sydney the same protection as those in eastern Sydney. Read more.
Calls for added sugars to be used in Health Star Rating calculations
Health groups are urging food companies to disclose added sugars on product labels, saying this will lead to more accurate health star ratings and win back consumer trust.
Researchers at the George Institute for Global Health analysed more than 34,000 products and found 70 per cent contained added sugars, which they say are simply "empty calories" contributing to Australia's obesity epidemic. Read more.
Sydney to Wollongong F6 Extension toll to cost commuters $100 per week
The proposed F6 Extension toll road from Sydney to Wollongong would charge about $10 for each one-way journey, according to a leaked planning document seen by Fairfax Media and the ABC.
The return toll of around $20 would amount to $100 per week for people who commuted from Wollongong to Sydney five days a week. Read more.
Anger and tears as Cronulla Women’s Rest Centre closes
More than 50 young mothers and their babies turned up at the Women’s Rest Centre in Cronulla Mall this morning to find the doors had been closed.
The Women’s Rest Centre in Cronulla Mall will be demolished and replaced by a temporary children’s playground, under a resolution adopted by Sutherland Shire Council. Read more.
Armed thief holds up Rooty Hill store
A shop attendant at a Rooty Hill store was forced to hand over cash to a man armed with a carving knife and a spanner on Sunday.
The alleged thief is on the run following the incident about 5.45pm on July 23. Read more.
Penrith Council say Queen Street will be 'safe and accessible' for St Marys Spring Festival
Penrith Council has pledged that ongoing upgrades on Queen Street will not impact on this year’s St Marys Spring Festival.
Concerns were raised about the returning festival following confirmation street work would continue until late spring, with the festival to be held on September 2.
But a council spokesman said the streetscape works, which have moved to the south-east end of the street, would run smoothly alongside the festival. Read more.
Trainer banned for life following scuffle with Penrith player Dallin Watene-Zeleniak
St Marys Junior Rugby League Club has issued a life ban to a trainer who allegedly assaulted NRL star Dallin Watene-Zelezniak during a junior rugby league match in St Clair at the weekend.
Chief executive Rod Desborough on Monday labelled the incident “unacceptable” and “totally contrary to club’s beliefs, culture and high standards of behaviour”. Read more.
Des Hasler's future on agenda at Canterbury Bulldogs board meeting
Des Hasler's future is set to be on the agenda at a meeting of the Canterbury football club board on Tuesday, with the Bulldogs coach under fierce scrutiny again less than four months after he was re-signed for two more seasons.
The blowtorch is back on Hasler with the Canterbury all but out of the semi-finals hunt and figures behind the scenes agitating again for change. Read more.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert resigns
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert has resigned from his post at the AFL club.
The one-time All-Australian-turned-administrator is leaving as part of a wide-ranging review into the powerhouse club's underperformance.
Pert has been chief executive since 2007 and has overseen tremendous change, including the formation of a Super League netball team and an AFL Women's team. Read more.
Winx back ‘better than ever’ before third Cox Plate bid
Winx preserved her bizarre record of never winning a barrier trial, but Australia's champion racehorse is back bigger and better than ever as she bids to win a record-equalling third Cox Plate.
Chris Waller's mare, which has won 17 straight races, coasted to the line to finish third in a Randwick barrier trial on Monday morning in her first public appearance before a historic spring campaign.
She has never won a barrier trial throughout her illustrious career, but it didn't bother Waller or her regular jockey Hugh Bowman who was gushing about the mare's appearance. Read more.
