The politics of Palestine
JONATHAN SWAN When Joe Hockey, Bob Carr and a half-dozen other politicians schmoozed a crowd of worshippers in pouring rain outside the Lakemba mosque during the election campaign, SBS news summarised the spectacle: ''Labor and Coalition court Muslim vote''.
Abbott needs a leap of faith
ANNE SUMMERS Just around the corner from where I am staying in Rome is Gammarelli, a small shop that describes itself as ''Sartoria per Ecclesiastici'' - clothing for religious orders.
Parole ... eventually
John Anderson, Felicity Wardhaugh, Daniel Matas NSW must pay attention to its human rights obligations when it comes to prisoners, write John Anderson, Felicity Wardhaugh and Daniel Matas.
Can't you see I'm not working?
RICHARD GLOVER If you work in an office and have left for the holidays, you are supposed to program your computer to send an out-of-office message.
A year of living dangerously
Jason Cleary-Gorton Was 2013 a year when the world went out of the control, or am I just noticing more as I grow older? It felt like a turbulent year: a year of change, war and loss.
Eastern religion has its share of abuse too
Anthony Ackroyd Midway through 1968, a disillusioned and angry John Lennon could be found inside the Beatles' London offices channelling his frustration by scratching the lyrics to a new song into a piece of wood.
Darwinian model of economics flawed for firms
ROSS GITTINS What can the theory of evolution tell us about how the economy works? A lot. But probably not what you think it does.
Abbott, Rudd, Gillard: a year of frantic politics
MARK KENNY Opinion It was a year when a colourful cast of politicians bumbled their way, writes Mark Kenny.
Still Knox
Farewell Jacques Kallis and Graeme Swann
MALCOLM KNOX Death, as the Two Ronnies said, can be fatal. And retirement can be so very final. With Jacques Kallis and Graeme Swann quitting within two days, Test cricket has lost star power and personality.
DECEMBER 28
Letters to the Editor
Cardinal George Pell has been in Sydney since 2001. There is no suggestion that he is guilty of covering up cases of abuse, or attempting to stop people bringing complaints to the police.
G20 presidency a big test for PM
When Australia took on the presidency of the G20 this month Tony Abbott said it would be an opportunity to shape the global economic agenda and to "showcase the best of our nation".
Column 8
''I am calling on the considerable combined talents of Column8ers to help me research a TV series of the late 1950s or early 1960s, entitled Spoiled Darlings,'' pleads Peter Noone, of Lane Cove North.
Abbott running against himself
WALEED ALY This year, we've had three prime ministers, Victoria has had two premiers, the Northern Territory has had two chief ministers (and, while we're at it, Catholics have had two Popes).
The law needs a bit more spit - and polish
RICHARD ACKLAND "I consider that these costs were within parliamentary entitlements, since they were incurred in the course of attendance at a function primarily for work-related purposes."
Bloodshed puts Africa's energy future at risk
Conflicts such as South Sudan's mean oil-fuelled growth on the continent could stay a pipe dream, writes Keith Johnson.
An ode to spam
Gail Collins Thanks for all the messages by internet, especially those wanting my banking details.
Column 8
''Regarding Thursday's item about RTA computers and identity,'' writes Brad Elliott, of North Rocks, ''the RTA used my mother's passport as ID before issuing her with an identity card, but misspelled her name.
Sochi Games put pressure on Putin
Staging the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for any host country. But with the extra international attention comes heightened international scrutiny. The next host, Russia, seems to be responding to that pressure.
Letters to the Editor
Barney Zwartz addresses an issue many Catholics must be considering: the departure of George Pell (''A final, unsolicited tip for Pell and Hart'', December 26).
In the Herald: December 27, 1955
Stephanie Bull ''Ersatz'' rubber in N.S.W, Bomb in Paris church, She shopped for cattle.
Planning for all, not the loudest few
ELIZABETH FARRELLY Residents groups are relentless in their demands for more ''consultation'' - by which they really mean the right to insist on their own views.
Why women run my life
PAUL SHEEHAN Journalism is being feminised. Not by quotas, but by talent and sheer weight of numbers and drive.
What the Catholic Church really needs to hear
BARNEY ZWARTZ What the church needs, I suggest, is new archbishops in Sydney and Melbourne. It needs men with no connection to the clergy sex abuse crisis who are capable of inspirational leadership and example.
Banana Lounge quiz: Holy and unholy unions
Damien Murphy Unfortunately, marriage and divorce can go hand in hand.
DECEMBER 26
Private health insurance barely worth cost
I have had private health insurance for more than 40 years and I am slowly coming to the conclusion that, apart from providing speedy access to a hospital bed, it is of little benefit (''Health insurance soars'', December 24). Rebates on dental bills are pitifully small .
Now it is time to retool the economy
The time has come for Australia to shift its efforts from sunset to sunrise industries.
Column 8
''It may or may not have occurred to Geoff Lyons that most of what we refer to as roasted food is, in fact, baked,'' writes a mildly uffish Garry Hubble, of Zillmere, Queensland (''roast/ed?'' Column 8, Tuesday).
In the Herald: December 26, 1863
Stephanie Bull His Excellency has received a despatch notifying that the Peruvian Government have consented to give up the slave trade they have been carrying on in the Pacific
Iraq's devastation outlasts Saddam Hussein
Tom Switzer Far from becoming a viable state and flourishing democracy, post-Saddam Iraq has proved an unmitigated disaster.
Not comment was stirring, no click of a mouse
John Birmingham 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the site, the munters and trolls were abed for the night.
Overseas adoption: the case against
Ian Robinson Tony Abbott wants to reform our overseas adoption regulations to make it easy to bring babies into the country.
Social media leads to new level of hyperbole
Claire Lehmann In the age of social media, a new currency is emerging. It is the currency of outrage. It erodes our ability to listen to one another.
China will inflict pain if Abbott blunders on
HUGH WHITE Asia is not a zone in which Tony Abbott should take sides or throw his diplomatic weight about to show we mean business.
If your boss is ripping you off, do something
Emma Koehn Young workers are too often being taken for granted and denied their entitlements.
Putting family first: the real Christmas miracle
JENNA PRICE Christmas for me is all about celebrating your family. And that's why I will always love it.
European Union could go the way of corks
Boris Johnson In the next couple of years we are entitled to pose the question: what is the point of the EU?
Banana Lounge: Tinselled teasers
Harriet Veitch How well do you know Christmas carols and Yuletide traditions?
Highlights
Social media leads us to a new level of hyperbole
In the age of social media, a new currency is emerging. It is the currency of outrage. It erodes our ability to listen to one another.
Meet Australia's future Prime Minister
He has a formidable resume, is a former national debating champion, and is extremely funny. It's a rare gift in politics.
The meltdown: How Labor self-destructed
Together, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard had the support of the nation and the party. Divided, their feud would be the undoing of a government. An investigation by Peter Hartcher.
Dear grandchildren, I can only say sorry
I don't have grandchildren but I'm hoping for some, someday, so this column is for them.
How Michael Kirby saved my life
I never thought I would write this column, but I am because of Michael Kirby.
What women don't want
The time is now to change the way women are portrayed in the media. And it is up to us to do it.
Some baby steps vital in role of fathers
While discussing the imminent birth of my daughter with my friends, conversation turned to new roles for dads as they try to play a larger part in raising children.
A note from the Letters editors
Why a Letter to the Editor that says, "there is no sign humans have caused climate change" would not make the grade for our page.
Mothering lessons for the girl who cried bear
It's only now, as a parent, that I understand the story my mum used to tell about me.
Now, the good news: poverty in retreat worldwide
Imagine having to pick just one of your children to save, while leaving the others to face death.
