Sydney's air quality plummeted on Tuesday as a thick blanket of bushfire smoke clogged the city.
The haze has left the city as the 14th worst in the world on the World Air Quality Index.
A warning for severe fire danger has been issued, as temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius in the city's west.
Residents have also been advised to stay indoors, with the New South Wales Ambulance service emphasising that those with respiratory issues should "take extra care".
Pakistan bombs targets in Afghan cities, minister calls it 'open war'
Pakistan has bombed Taliban government targets in Afghanistan's major cities overnight, officials from both countries said on Friday, with Pakistan's defence minister describing the conflict as "open war".
Hillary Clinton tells panel she has no information on Epstein
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told a congressional committee on Thursday that she did not remember ever meeting the late convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein and had no information to share about his criminal activities.
US, Ukraine discuss post-war reconstruction as Russia pummels grid
Ukrainian and US officials met in Geneva on Thursday for talks on post-war reconstruction despite a deadlock in peace negotiations with Russia, which pounded infrastructure across Ukraine with drone and missile strikes overnight.
Israeli fire kills three people in Gaza as truce deal staggers
An Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, the territory's health officials said, and the Israeli military said it killed a rebel who posed a threat to its forces in the south of the enclave.
Cuban forces kill 4 exiles who attacked from Florida speedboat
Cuban forces have killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed aboard a Florida-registered speedboat on Wednesday and opened fire on a patrol, the government said at a time of heightened tensions with the US.
