We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.
1. Sydney tornado causes $50m of damage leaving homes destroyed and trees uprooted.
The tornado that ripped through the Sydney suburb of Kurnell yesterday has caused up to $50 million worth of damage.
The tornado hit at 10.30am yesterday ripping the roof off a school and pulling trees from the ground. Forecaster Michael Logan said the wind speeds recorded were “up there” with the fastest ever registered in the Sydney area.
“We don’t get situations like that without it being a tornado,” he said.
“It is what’s called a super cell thunderstorm and they’re one of the most dangerous thunderstorms we get.”
One family had only sold their home for a record price on Wednesday – to find it destroyed by the tornado. Frank and Michelle Partlic who sold their Kurnell home for a suburb record of $1.15 million told The Daily Telegraph they were still hoping the sale would go through.
Three people suffered injuries caused by shattered glass with the winds just 27km/h slower than the 240km/h gusts that flattened Darwin during Cyclone Tracy in 1974 reports The Daily Telegraph.
2. US Federal Reserve raises interest rates by 0.25% first time in a decade.
In a move with potential global repercussions the US Federal reserve has raised interest rates for the first time in nine years. The historic decision officially marks the end of the global financial crisis.
The move takes the range of rates banks offer to lend to each other overnight – the Federal Funds rate – to between 0.25% and 0.5%.
The US central bank also raised its projection for economic growth next year slightly, from 2.3% to 2.4%.