Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Friday, December 22. Expect a clearing shower today. Temperatures are expected to hit 25 in the city and up to 29 in the west. Enjoy your day!
Horrific attack on pedestrians in Melbourne ‘not terror-related’
The horrific attack on pedestrians at a busy intersection in Melbourne's CBD was not believed to be terror-related, Victoria Police have said.
Nineteen people were injured, including a four-year-old boy, after the driver of an SUV mowed down pedestrians on Flinders Street at Elizabeth Street on Thursday just before 5pm. Read more.
Two men being investigated for eating live goldfish in Penrith store
Two men are being investigated by the RSPCA after they ate a live fish in a Sydney pet shop and posted the video online.
Vision of the stunt, which was filmed at Petbarn in Penrith, has been watched more than seven million times.
In the video, one of the men can be seen pointing at a goldfish in a tank and saying "let's go that one there".
A staff member scoops the fish out of the tank and puts in a plastic bag, before leaving to get elastic bands to seal the bag shut. Read more.
Double demerits set to sting as thousands of NSW drivers ignore road rules
Double demerits come into effect on Friday as part of the annual attempt to reduce dangerous behaviour on roads at Christmas.
The operation targets potentially fatal infringements, including speeding, drink- and drug-driving, phone use, and not wearing seatbelts. Read more.
Disqualified L-plater charged over fatal crash misses court date
An allegedly disqualified driver charged over a fatal van crash in Kemps Creek has missed her first court mention as she prepares for the funeral of her two-year- old niece killed in the crash.
Police allege the 20-year-old L-plater was driving eight of her family members from Griffith to Sydney in late November when the passenger van collided head-on with a commercial van at Kemps Creek. Read more.
Snowy Hydro expansion could hit nearly $12 billion
The full cost of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Snowy Hydro expansion could hit nearly $12 billion by the time the project is built and the federal government negotiates a buyout of NSW and Victoria's stake in the scheme.
But the cost blowout, revealed in a new feasibility study, has failed to dampen the Coalition's enthusiasm, with Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg on Thursday promising the technically challenging undertaking "will go ahead and Australians will be better off for it". Read more.
Two-year-old girl dies after being hit by a car in Campsie
A two-year-old girl has died in hospital after she was hit by a reversing car in Sydney's south-west.
The driver was "absolutely hysterical" after hitting the girl with a Kia car at the rear of a mechanic workshop in Campsie, police said. Read more.
Woman hit pedestrian twice in road-rage incident: police
A woman, 50 has been arrested at Beverley Park after allegedly hitting another woman twice with a car in Sydney's inner city on Wednesday morning.
Police allege a 49-year-old woman was standing on John Street in Waterloo just after midnight when she was hit twice by the driver of a green Holden Commodore sedan, who then fled the scene. Read more.
NRL to interview Jarryd Hayne over not disclosing rape allegations
The NRL will talk to Jarryd Hayne when he arrives back in Australia as they examine whether or not he should have told his club that he was helping US police with a criminal investigation into an alleged rape.
Hayne arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to resume a religious holiday in Israel and made contact with Parramatta, the club he this month agreed to re-join, having been on a flight to the Holy Land when news emerged that a 25-year-old woman had launched a civil action against him in California. Read more.
Thunder batsman Callum Ferguson racing the fitness clock
Callum Ferguson is in a race against time to debut for the Sydney Thunder on his domestic home ground against the Adelaide Strikers on Friday.
New teammates have been picking Ferguson's brain on the nuances of the Adelaide Oval wicket ahead of the Big Bash blockbuster, but the South Australian native is still yet to be given the all clear from a minor quadriceps injury sustained in a practice match last week. Read more.
Kings blow big lead in costly NBL loss to New Zealand Breakers
Unheralded bench forward Rob Loe poured in a career-high 24 points to lead the New Zealand Breakers to a tense comeback win against the Sydney Kings.
The Breakers trailed by 10 in the third quarter before fighting back to lead by two heading into the final period of Thursday night's round 11 clash in Sydney. Read more.
Ben Simmons could become first Australian-raised All-Star
Ben Simmons' campaign to become the first Australian-raised NBA all-star begins when early fan voting opens on Friday morning [AEDT].
The NBA lets fans vote on the starting fives from each conference and worldwide voting opens at NBA.com and the NBA App early Friday morning then full voting across social media channels opens on Boxing Day [AEDT]. Read more.
