The NSW State Emergency Services have made six rescues in Sydney after unprecedented downfalls have led to commuters becoming trapped in rising waters.

The bizarre torrential rain saw almost a months worth of rainfall in two hours, leading to dangerous road conditions and power outages across the region.

Sydney Airport has cancelled a number of domestic and international flights as a result of the rain, and the SES is urging drivers not to risk their lives driving through flood waters.

Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has praised Julia Banks as a “strong sensible centrist” after she abandoned the governing Liberal Party to move to the crossbench.

Bishop added that no political party could reach its potential unless it sought to achieve an equal number of women in its ranks.

According to Bishop, Banks’ reclassification as an independent has highlighted the challenge for the Liberal Party to promote women and establish a pipeline of talent willing to enter politics.

A new report by the UN has revealed that global efforts to tackle climate change are way off track, as CO2 emissions rise for the first time in four years.

The emissions gap report lists economic growth as the main contributor to climate change, with huge change needed to cap global CO2 emissions and meet the goal of the Paris climate pact by 2020.

The report was published in time for a major UN climate conference in Poland, with the aim to inform delegates of the urgency to take action.

RACQ has released data showing five rescues of Queensland children or dogs a day, from hot cars in the past year.

Spokeswomen Kirsty Clinton says its important for people to be vigilant in the summer months as temperatures in cars can rise by ten degrees in eight minutes, even if parked in the shade or with an open window.

The report comes as a heatwave breaks records across Queensland, continuing into the weekend, with Cooktown recording a scorching 43.9 degrees yesterday afternoon.

A proposed class action against Uber on behalf of taxi and limousine drivers will be extended to Queensland.

Law firm Maurice Blackburn has been investigating plans for a multimillion dollar class action against the ride sharing giant in Victoria.

While arguing Uber should be held to account, the Taxi Council of Queensland has not yet advised its members to join the class action, with Chief Executive Blair Davies saying members should fully consider all elements before making a decision.

US prosecutors say Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign advisor, has breached his plea bargain agreement by repeatedly lying to the FBI.

Manafort was convicted of financial fraud in August, but accepted a plea deal in return to cooperate with the investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US election.

Experts say Manafort will now face a longer prison sentence, further charges, and will no longer be seen as a credible witness in the Russia investigation.

North Queenslanders have been given a final warning to leave their properties with firefighters working through the night to keep bushfires at bay, in what has been described as never before seen fire behaviour.

More than 80 fires are burning, the worst at Deepwater, where 20 000 hectares of bush and farming property has been destroyed.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the state is facing a horrendous 48 hours, with no respite in sight.

President Donald Trump has defended the use of tear gas at the Mexican border to contain a crowd of migrants that included children.

While Trump acknowledged children were affected, he said it was a “very minor form of the tear gas itself” that he assured was “very safe”.

Though the showdown at the San Diego-Tijuana border has been portrayed by Trump as a threat to US national security, others insist he is exaggerating in order to achieve political goals.

Stephen Hillenburg, creator of Nickelodeon TV show Spongebob Squarepants, has died at the age of 57, after a year long battle with ALS.

Almost in its twentieth year, the cartoon has spawned a movie and broadway musical while also being subtitled in 60 languages.

In a statement, Nickelodeon said Steve’s utterly original characters and the world of Bikini Bottom will long stand as a reminder of the value of optimism, friendship and the limitless power of imagination.