All articles tagged with #sydney
During Eid al-Fitr prayers at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed and heckled by protesters angry about Australia’s stance on Gaza; security intervened to remove a heckler as Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke left, reflecting tensions within Australian communities over the Gaza war and Israel’s actions.
Meghan and Harry’s Australia visit is shaping up as paid private engagements, with a £1,705 VIP 'Meet Meghan' weekend in Sydney — including a group photo and two nights’ hotel — after Meghan reportedly contacted the organiser; insiders compare Meghan to Sarah Ferguson as Harry is tipped to pocket around £30,000 for a Melbourne appearance, highlighting their shift from royal duties to lucrative appearances.
Two men, aged 29 and 24, have been charged with kidnapping and murder in Sydney after 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian was abducted from his North Ryde home. Police say he was not the intended target of the attack, and remains later found near a golf course have been identified as Baghsarian. Bail was refused for the two suspects, with investigators noting more arrests are likely as they pursue others involved and seize items during searches.
Australian police say 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian was kidnapped in a case believed to target someone linked to organised crime, but he was the wrong man; his body was later found. Two men, aged 24 and 29, have been arrested for questioning and are expected to be charged as investigations continue into others involved. The case underscores a rise in mistaken-identity crimes in Sydney's underworld, with authorities urging witnesses to come forward.
A Northern Beaches Council bus service in Sydney has banned boarding for passengers wearing bikinis or shirtless, citing modesty concerns. The rule, not yet added to the official code of conduct, would be at the driver’s discretion. Reactions split along generational lines, with older commuters largely supportive and others concerned about where to draw the line. The incident echoes a longstanding history of beachwear debates in the area.
In Sydney, AEW Grand Slam 2026 delivered a night of title holds and major moments: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita ended in a time-limit draw for the Continental Championship; Hangman Page defeated Andrade to become the number one contender; Orange Cassidy and Toni Storm defeated Marina Shafir & Wheeler Yuta, leading to Yuta’s head being shaved; Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron retained the Women’s Tag Team Titles with Lena Kross debuting alongside Bayne & Ford; Kyle Fletcher retained the TNT Championship against Mark Briscoe in a ladder match; and MJF defeated Brody King to retain the World Championship, with Page signing to challenge MJF at Revolution.
Australian UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 325 in Sydney, extending his control of the division.
Four shark bites across New South Wales in 48 hours, including three in Sydney, have led to beach closures, spurred fear among local surfers, and prompted officials to urge people to stick to pools as events are canceled or rescheduled.
A woman drowned after being swept into the ocean at Sydney's Maroubra Beach on New Year's Day amid dangerous surf conditions, which also led to a missing swimmer at Coogee Beach and multiple rescue operations along the NSW coast, prompting warnings to stay out of the water due to hazardous conditions.
Countries worldwide celebrated the arrival of 2026 with fireworks and festivities, starting with Kiribati and including major events in Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, and Lusail, amid heightened security measures following recent incidents.
The world welcomed 2026 with celebrations starting in the South Pacific, including fireworks in New Zealand and Australia, despite recent tragedies and security concerns. Many countries observed traditional customs, while some regions like Hong Kong and Indonesia scaled back festivities due to recent disasters. Political tensions and security measures marked celebrations in places like Sydney and the US, with a focus on resilience and solidarity. Overall, the global festivities reflected a mix of hope, remembrance, and adaptation to recent events.
Sydney is heavily policed with over 2,500 officers, including armed personnel, to ensure safety during New Year's celebrations following the December Bondi Beach attack that targeted the Jewish community. Despite the heightened security, crowds gathered to enjoy the fireworks, with officials urging resilience and normalcy in the face of terror.
Police investigating the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney found no evidence that the perpetrators, Sajid and Naveed Akram, trained or acted as part of a terrorist cell in the Philippines, where they had briefly visited. The pair, inspired by Islamic State, acted alone in the attack that killed 15 and wounded 40, with police emphasizing the importance of heightened security for New Year's celebrations. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are taking extensive measures to ensure public safety.
Australia announced a national gun buyback program following the Bondi Beach shooting, which killed 15 people, as part of efforts to strengthen gun laws and address rising antisemitism, with community support and increased security measures.
Naveed Akram, the suspect in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting targeting Australia's Jewish community, has been charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder and a terrorist act, with the attack being Australia's deadliest since 1996 and believed to be motivated by Islamic State ideology. The incident resulted in 15 deaths, including two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a child, and injured dozens. Akram, critically injured, was charged from hospital, and the case is scheduled for April 2026. The attack has prompted national mourning and discussions on antisemitism.