Sydney

On Tuesday, level two restrictions were enacted in the capital of New South Wales (NSW), a state 99.9% in drought.

These could be increased to level three within months, local media report.

Temperatures are predicted to soar above 40C (104F) from Tuesday, worsening fires which have already killed six people since October.

There are now more than 100 fires in NSW and Queensland states, many of which have been burning for several weeks.

What are the water restrictions?

A second woman was found dead inside an apartment building on the same street.

"All the information we have at hand would link these two crimes," police commissioner Mick Fuller said at a press conference.

He said the suspect was a "lone actor" with a history of mental health issues.

He was known to police but "his history was unremarkable compared to the gravity of the crimes he committed", Mr Fuller said.

The police commissioner said the suspect had some ideologies related to terrorism, but had no apparent links to other terrorist organisations.

Sosiua Tonga, 34, allegedly assaulted another 34-year-old man early on Sunday morning at an Eastern Creek house, resulting in a serious head injury

7News reports the injured man was taken to Westmead Hospital but died shortly after.

Tonga, who was arrested at the scene, was refused bail on murder charges.

On Monday, Tonga made no application for bail and it was formally refused during brief mention in Mount Druitt Local Court.

Tonga allegedly attacked the victim after he caught him at his girlfriend's home.

Ben Apikatoa had responded to a call for help from Cassie Sanders, who was allegedly assaulted by her former partner, Nathan Chatimba.

Police allege the two men - who were known to each other - were arguing in the front yard of the St Clair house when Chatimba attacked Apikotoa.

Chatimba was arrested about two hours later at a home some 2km away and was charged with murder and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Taimi Fananga literally translates to 'story time' and began last year in June, when two Tongan mothers Una Betham and Annabel Piliu wanted to teach their Australian-born kids about their Tongan heritage. 

"I'm originally from Auckland and I grew up in a very strong Tongan community and I soon found that living in Australia, it's a little bit harder to be around more of my Tongan people," says Betham.

"We realised it was a need in our community for this and decided to form a group and invite other like-minded families to join us."

It is forecast to reach 33 degrees Celsius in Sydney city, and 40C in western suburbs.

On Sunday, a reading of 47.3C was recorded in Penrith by the late afternoon, making it the hottest temperature recorded in Sydney since 1939. It was also the hottest city on Earth.

The Australian and England cricket teams suffered temperatures in the 50s out on the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

England captain Joe Root was taken to hospital to be treated for severe dehydration.

Vivid transforms landmarks across the city using light, colour and sounds and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

But making the spectacle accessible for people with limited or no vision is a challenge, particularly when it comes to what is arguably the highlight of the show, the lighting of the sails at the Opera House.

For the first time, films that have been made and acted by people living with disabilities will be a key part of the program.

It has been made possible by Screenability — an arts initiative in New South Wales to help more people with disabilities break into the film industry.

"I think it's really important that you have creatives with disability in charge of that narrative," Sydney Film Festival's Screenability programmer Sofya Gollan said.

"Chinese people like whitening, [they consider it] beautiful — whitening and brightening because it's good," she says, smiling.

The smile is genuine, as Amanda is a fan herself.

"I use this one in the morning and at night … it can make your skin look very healthy, very clear," she says.

"It's very popular."

And this popularity is on the rise with the market for skin lighteners projected to reach $US23 billion ($30.5 billion) by 2020, according to market intelligence firm Global Industry Analysts.

Ben McCormack, 42, a well-known reporter for the local A Current Affair programme, was arrested in Sydney.

Police searched an apartment and the offices of his employer, the Nine Network, seizing computers, a mobile phone and an electronic storage device.

The Nine Network immediately suspended Mr McCormack from his reporting duties.

Police released images of Mr McCormack's arrest, showing his face blurred, and charged him with using a carriage service for child pornography material.