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Eight more rare clot cases linked to AstraZeneca; PM agrees to new federal quarantine site
One person is in intensive care after developing the rare clotting disorder linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The total number of confirmed or probable cases linked to the rare condition is now 41.
Australians caught in lockdowns will get up to $500-a-week under strict rules
The new cash grant comes with a demand for federal control over eligibility, setting up tensions between Canberra and the states over how to define the “hotspots”
Opinion
Retail
Wesfarmers’ message to governments: Don’t make us pay for the COVID stimulus
The stimulus-fuelled shopping bonanza has left companies like Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks explaining to shareholders that the party is over now as more normal pre-COVID trading patterns return.
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
Exclusive
ABC wars
ABC bosses pull Four Corners episode linking Morrison to QAnon figure
The decision to pull the Four Corners episode about the Prime Minister could be seen as an attempt to dampen tensions between the national broadcaster.
ABC director defends chair Ita Buttrose amid growing disquiet
“Would I prefer a world in which these allegations were never made? Yes. But that’s not my choice,” the ABC board director said.
Australian brothers’ bedroom startup snapped up for $2bn
Sam and Ryan Kroonenburg have become instant richlisters after US giant Plurasight bought their online learning startup.
History gets personal for Malcolm Turnbull
The former prime minister was prepared for the odd skeleton in the family closet during the SBS show Who Do You Think You Are?
Man arrested after alleged rape in Double Bay car park
Sarkis Elbayeh, 37, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman in a car park on Cross Street, Double Bay, on May 30.
Buckingham Palace announces plans for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
A four-day holiday, a year of celebrations, star-studded concerts and beacons lit up across the Commonwealth are planned to mark Her Majesty’s 70th year on the throne.
★★★★
Review
Whatever you think of him, Johnny Depp acts here with grace and grit
The actor plays a real-life magazine photographer who revealed a mercury poisoning scandal that caused deformities in children.
Opinion
Family
I was never the favourite, which is tough when you are an only child
Some parents may have “achieved perfection”, but others stopped because they were too exhausted, or too old, or they decided they didn’t much like being parents.
Richard Glover
Broadcaster and Sydney Morning Herald columnist
$2 million of cocaine allegedly found in car near Byron Bay
A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody after police allegedly found $2 million of cocaine hidden inside a Nissan X-Trail.
Powers for Treasurer to intervene in super fund investments scrapped
Last-minute amendments were made to ensure crossbench and Nationals support for changes to the $3.2 trillion super sector.
Rattlesnakes infest Qantas’ A380s in California desert
Qantas engineers maintaining the airline’s grounded Airbus A380 fleet in a Californian desert are facing a novel problem: rattlesnakes are making homes in the landing gear.
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
Finding a way out of lockdown’s endless loop
If there’s been a pattern repeated throughout this pandemic, it’s that humans are surprisingly terrible at pattern recognition. The same story unfolds and yet we are surprised – and strangely unprepared.
Michelle Griffin
World Editor
Sydney
Updated
Crime
Male model among senior Finks bikies charged over alleged extortion of shopkeeper
Three senior members of an outlaw motorcycle gang have been charged over the extortion of a shopkeeper in Sydney’s north-west.
Natasha Darcy ‘made things worse’ with repeated lies, her lawyer tells court
Ms Darcy’s barrister acknowledged she had told “lots and lots of lies” but said she may have had reasons aside from being guilty of her partner’s murder.
More than 500 in isolation after infectious family’s road trip
Locals on the South Coast and along the Hume are awaiting COVID-19 test results after NSW Health revised its list of sites visited by a holidaying Victorian family.
Exclusive
Water
‘Trying to exert political pressure’: State-funded sporting complex jeopardises Sydney dam
Hornsby Council has been accused by Sydney Water officials of being “pushy” and misrepresenting facts over a proposed road extension through the secure and secretive Thornleigh Reservoir.
Exclusive
Disability
NSW pledges $28 million to help cognitively impaired people navigate justice system
The funding, included in this month’s state budget, also covers a new court-diversion program for defendants accused of low-level offences.
Politics
Universities should capitalise on research arms race between US and China: Sinodinos
Australia’s Ambassador to the US says our researchers have lots of opportunities to collaborate with US government agencies on defence and sensitive technologies.
Business
‘Impossible to contain’: Wesfarmers boss wants faster vaccine rollout
Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has stressed the importance of getting Australians vaccinated quickly so the country could put an end to repeated lockdowns.
World
Singapore ready for Australia bubble despite uptick in cases, health expert says
With Scott Morrison visiting the south-east Asian city-state next week, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wants to “stay connected to the world”.
Opinion
Paid leave for periods and menopause will improve gender equality
Sydney Colussi, Elizabeth Hill and Marian Baird
Economy roars back but celebration must be tinged with caution
Jessica Irvine
Senior economics writer
What matters most - power within Labor, or Labor in power?
Alexandra Smith
State Political Editor
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Property bydomain
Jimmy and Tam's house from last year's Block finally sells for about $4m
The Palm Springs-inspired 1950s-style home won last year's season of the reality renovation show before settlement fell through. Now, it's found a buyer.
Home bought for $8m, now worth $15m with the house knocked down
This exclusive pocket is so sought after, it's worth nearly double as a vacant block. As far as real estate offerings go, this is practically the holy grail.
Life & Culture
★★★★
Review
Whatever you think of him, Johnny Depp acts here with grace and grit
The actor plays a real-life magazine photographer who revealed a mercury poisoning scandal that caused deformities in children.
Sport
Opinion
State of Origin
Silence of the spam: Latrell Mitchell trolls all quiet since police complaint
Critics say the recalled Blues centre plays the victim too much. Since taking two online trolls to police for racial abuse, he hasn’t received a single threatening message.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
Welch fires back at Cherry-Evans critics, fears Origin will be another scorefest
The Queensland Maroons forward and RLPA director went into bat for his captain and also shed light on the behind-the-scenes documentary that never took flight.
Lack of UEFA coaching badges won’t derail Postecoglou bid for Celtic job
Ange Postecoglou doesn’t hold the UEFA coaching licence required for Europe’s top tier clubs, but that fact is unlikely to prevent him from coaching Celtic.
A veteran at 26, now ‘exhausted’ Bronte is eyeing life out of the pool
After a decade of elite racing and a suite of painful injuries, Bronte Campbell, 26, admits she is ready to see what lies in the outside world after the Tokyo Games.
Saker calls for CA to release ball tampering report
Australia’s bowling coach at the time of the scandal says the release of the report would help put to answer questions around the events of Cape Town.
Opinion
NRL 2021
This is madness: NRL must find middle ground on crackdown, before it’s too late
The game is divided about the messy handling of the high-tackle crackdown. It’s time for the NRL to listen to the fans and calm things down.
Andrew Johns
League columnist
Can he still play?: Inside the Dragons’ decision to re-sign de Belin
After almost three years sidelined under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy, Jack de Belin will finally play for the Dragons in the NRL again. The club couldn’t have chosen a softer landing.
Have Your Say
Origin is where NRL will see high-tackle crackdown hit game’s hip pocket
Rugby league desperately needs a high rating Origin series but the high-tackle crackdown has star players suspended and is making people turn off.
Roy Masters
Sports Columnist
