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Good Food - Eating Out
A weekly wrap of restaurant news, reviews and the hottest openings.
Two new cases as Bondi testing ‘nowhere near’ needed levels
Eastern suburbs residents have been warned testing rates are “nowhere near” what they should be in an outbreak, as other states start to place restrictions on travel.
From Moscow to Mississippi, COVID’s Delta variant is spreading fast
The World Health Organisation’s chief scientist says the variant, more infectious than others, will soon be dominant globally.
‘My boss has hooked up with the perfect bloke’: Berejiklian’s new beau given the tick
Police Minister David Elliott said Arthur Moses was the ideal man because “he’s a Parra supporter, a westie, a Liberal and a Reservist”.
Breaking
Police
Top police officer in hospital after being glassed at country pub
Peter McKenna, a rising star of the NSW police force, has been injured in a violent confrontation in Dubbo.
Investigation
Private schools
Top private schools build up multimillion-dollar investment portfolios
Australia’s richest schools have hundreds of millions invested in the sharemarket, reaping big financial returns while also receiving more than $600 million a year in government funding.
Vatican priest-turned-whistleblower pens world’s only Latin news column
The star witness in tell-all The Closet of the Vatican, gay activist Francesco Lepore writes about “Vladimirum Putin” being called “pro homicida habet” (a killer).
‘A hard sell’: the Aussie dad battling to get his ‘ISIS bride’ daughter home
After Kamalle learnt his daughter had travelled to Syria with her IS fighter husband, he was told to stay quiet. Now, he’s battling for her return.
Analysis
Secrets of War
Attacks on war crimes researcher in a tawdry, misogynistic tradition
A loose grouping of media obsessed with alleged “wokeness”, veterans and social media trolls have piled on to Canberra-based sociologist Samantha Crompvoets.
How Canberra’s problem with women has shaped Peta Credlin 2.0
Peta Credlin has transformed herself from political aide to one of the most powerful conservative commentators in Australia. What comes next?
Opinion
Scott Morrison
A PM running on Trump time risks getting left behind by Biden
Biden sees action on climate as a key plank of restoring international respect for the US.
George Megalogenis
Columnist
‘I wish they’d listened’: Former Eels doc warned of concussion dangers 43 years ago
Dr Peter Manollaras publicly aired his concerns about concussions four decades ago. He wishes more had been done to protect players sooner.
‘It might put a target on my head’: Luai roars defiance as THAT Origin photo riles Maroons
The Blues star is not bothered if Queensland target him in Origin II after taking offence to an image of him standing over Felise Kaufusi in Townsville.
‘There’s always a way forward’: Crunchtime for Mesoblast as legal threats loom
Investors in the ambitious biotech have been on a rollercoaster ride for years, but 2021 sees it fighting for validation and fighting off class action lawsuits after a year of smashed hopes.
Has social media put an end to the Christchurch movie They Are Us for good?
The furore could prove to be a test of how much influence people power now wields over decisions in the world of arts and entertainment.
How to finally stop sweating the small stuff
Instead of letting an annoyance snowball, pause and ask yourself two questions.
Editor's Picks
Opinion
Superannuation
Older Australians getting fat on housing profits engage in generational betrayal
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Just in
NRL 2021
Panthers 38 Roosters 12
‘Conducting the orchestra’: Cleary produces a masterclass as Penrith run riot
Nathan Cleary was outstanding in the Panthers’ big win over the Roosters as Penrith got back to winning ways after two weeks without their Origin stars.
Jake Trbojevic ruled out of Origin II with hip injury
Saturday looms as D-day for COVID protocols before game two as the Queensland government closed the border to those who have visited the Waverley area.
Sydney
Grim climate forecasts point to shrivelling rivers in northern NSW
Dams will fill less frequently, farmers will face water cuts and rivers will cease flowing more often as the climate warms and dries, according to draft water strategies released by the Planning Department.
Exclusive
City life
Cahill Expressway to be closed for seven-day New Year’s Eve party
The maligned stretch of road that cuts Sydney city and Circular Quay in two will be opened up for foot traffic for a week-long party between December 31 and January 6.
Inside Sydney’s collection of exclusive private clubs
The vote at the Australian Club to keep female members out has put the whole notion of private clubs - six of which are dotted across Sydney’s CBD - firmly in the public spotlight.
Exclusive
Vocational training
$250m TAFE boost to retrain workers for the post-pandemic world
Mark Adamik lost his tourism sales job last year during the pandemic. This forced him to rethink his life, and he is retraining to be a carpenter because the building industry is “future proof”.
Opinion
Architecture
Powerhouse project reeks of empty immensity
Enthusiasm is lovely and I have nothing against frocks, or even wallpaper, but really? What are they on?
Elizabeth Farrelly
Columnist, author, architecture critic and essayist
WEEKEND READS
Weekend baking: 20+ fantastically fudgy brownie recipes
A good, gooey, chocolately brownie will never go out of fashion (and nor will a blondie, gingie or other variety)
Analysis
Media’s barrister circles Ben Roberts-Smith, campaign by campaign
Ben Roberts-Smith had a challenging day in the witness box on Friday, on day 10 of the 10-week trial.
Politics
Alex Hawke: Powerbroker who signed off on shift for Biloela family
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke made one of the highest-profile policy decisions of his career when he allowed the Biloela family to move to community detention.
Business
Opinion
Nuix investigation
Passing the buck on Nuix fiasco a bad look for ASIC
The corporate regulator’s scrutiny of the ailing data analytics outfit’s prospectus may not have been a ‘tick and flick’ exercise but it wasn’t a deep dive either.
Adele Ferguson
Investigative journalist and columnist
World
Hardline judge under US sanctions elected Iran’s next President
Ebrahim Raisi has been congratulated on his victory by the other two candidates, but his dark past troubles Washington DC.
Opinion
It haunts me still. I had helped our family’s real estate man to fib
David Astle
Crossword compiler, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
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Property bydomain
Grand north shore house soars $1.4m above reserve at auction
The Longueville house sold for $7.415 million on Saturday, making a $1.88 million price gain in just over four years since it sold at the last property peak.
Dilapidated inner-west house sells for $5.5m at auction
Crumbling ceilings, cracked walls and a murky brown pool were not enough to deter buyers from spending big on this abandoned house.
Life & Culture
What is wrong with this picture? Cinema feeds our latest sci-fi fears
My Zoe and Little Joe join a long list of films in which science slips its ethical leash.
Sport
Knights 10 Warriors 6
NRL 2021
Pearce’s return helps lift Knights to dour win over Warriors
The former NSW Origin playmaker was a calming influence for Newcastle in his comeback game after a 10-week break from a pectoral injury.
Pain in the butt: Jake Trbojevic racing clock to be fit for Origin III
Jake Trbojevic suffered a glute tear, not a hip injury, that has him touch and go for Origin III, as the secret sessions to help Tom’s hammys can be revealed.
Reynolds confident he can help Brisbane’s $1 million enigma get back to his best
Adam Reynolds has been in regular dialogue with Brisbane coach Kevin Walters about next year, and he’d love to partner off-contract Anthony Milford in the halves.
‘I wish they’d listened’: Former Eels doc warned of concussion dangers 43 years ago
Dr Peter Manollaras publicly aired his concerns about concussions four decades ago. He wishes more had been done to protect players sooner.
‘Who’d have thought we’d still be here?‘: Aussie swim stars’ amazing journey to fourth Olympics
They were introduced to the world as smiling teens in Beijing. Much water has passed between their feet since then as Emily Seebohm and Cate Campbell head to Games number four.
‘It might put a target on my head’: Luai roars defiance as THAT Origin photo riles Maroons
The Blues star is not bothered if Queensland target him in Origin II after taking offence to an image of him standing over Felise Kaufusi in Townsville.
Sea Eagles hail DCE resilience on road to ‘huge milestone’
Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his 250th against the club he backflipped on after missing just 15 games in 11 seasons.
Have Your Say
Why four wins from 10 Tests this year would be pass mark for Wallabies
With three Tests against France, three against the Kiwis and two each against South Africa and Argentina, even five wins would be very positive for Australia.
