Morning Edition
Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
COVID-19 vaccine tracker
Explore the latest data on vaccinations around the world.
Live Well newsletter
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition.
‘Very real and present danger’: New restrictions for Sydney after 16 new local cases
Urgent investigations are currently under way to identify the source of four out of 13 new infections identified after 8pm last night.
What are NSW’s new COVID-19 restrictions - and where are the exposure sites?
The new restrictions will affect Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour, effective from 4pm Wednesday for one week.
Opinion
Vaccination
Vaccine hesitancy horse has bolted - we need a powerful new campaign
Russel Howcroft
Australian businessman and media personality
What we know about Sydney’s ‘long jumping’ Delta variant
The Delta COVID-19 variant is spreading in Sydney, prompting fresh restrictions and concern from authorities.
Mourners gather at funeral of slain gangster Bilal Hamze
Police were a highly visible presence at the event at Lakemba Mosque amid concerns about gangland conflict and the safety of senior family members.
Exclusive
Workplace culture
Former Sony Music employees consider class action lawsuit
A dozen former staff members are considering legal action after the music company launched an investigation into its workplace culture.
Breaking
Immigration
Biloela asylum seeker family given three month bridging visas
Three members of the Tamil asylum seeker family that had been detained on Christmas Island have been granted three-month bridging visas.
‘A damning indictment’: Three graphs that show where Australia is not closing the gap
High rates of Indigenous suicides and the over-representation of Aboriginal children in out of home care and adults in prison have worsened according to new data.
★★★★
Review
Hate romcoms? You’ll find it very hard to dislike this one
Award-winning New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo’s six-part romantic comedy updates the genre for a modern audience.
The Orthodox Jewish doctor who wants to boost your ‘sex points’
Dr Bat Sheva Marcus says there are four quadrants vital to good sex: (lack of) pain, arousal, orgasm, and desire.
Zoom CEO says five days in the office will not return as hybrid work model goes mainstream
“To let every employee come back to the office five days a week, I do not think that model works,” the Zoom CEO has told Australian investors.
Analysis
China relations
Winter Olympics a new excuse for Beijing’s crackdown on everything
COVID-19 has provided a blanket of security for an increasingly restrictive state.
Breaking
Tokyo Olympics
‘Shattered’ Huni out of Olympics after injuring hand against Gallen
Paul Gallen said in the lead-up to last week’s fight that he hoped to destroy Justis Huni’s Olympic dream. He has, but not in the way he predicted.
NSW BUDGET 2021
Cash splash for families, schools as NSW finds way out of pandemic recession
A resistance to state-wide lockdowns and a surging property market have pulled NSW out of a pandemic-induced recession.
Analysis
Seven charts to explain the Treasurer’s budget sales pitch
A complex mix of spending and revenue decisions underpins the Treasurer’s political sales pitch. Here is how it works.
Sydney
Exclusive
Education
Boys asked to use rating system on girls, female students taught to keep virginity
The year 10 male students at co-ed St Luke’s Grammar School were separated from the female students for the Christian studies exercise.
Exclusive
Teaching
Teacher shortage hampers schools as enrolments collapse
NSW schools are struggling with a major teacher shortage as enrolment numbers for education degrees fall by a third and half of trainees fail to finish their degrees.
Alleged Asian drug kingpin fighting extradition to Australia
Tse Chi Lop, who has been compared to Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, is fighting extradition to Australia, saying he would not get a fair trial.
Sydney to get its first new selective high school in 25 years under $7.9 billion plan
New schools are also planned for St Leonards, Chatswood and Macquarie Park - one of them on the site of the Premier’s old high school.
Daughter of Charlie Teo has crash case withdrawn
Nicola Annabel Teo was due to face trial in Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday before the case against her was withdrawn and dismissed.
Politics
Most Australians blame China for poor relations but ambivalent about government’s approach: poll
The Lowy Institute’s annual poll shows trust in China has fallen to record lows and 56 per cent of Australians believe Beijing is more to blame than Canberra for tensions between the two.
Business
Opinion
Quantitative easing
Where have all those central bank trillions gone?
Central banks have pumped trillions of dollars into their financial systems and economies during the pandemic, but only relatively modest amounts have found their way into the real economy.
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
World
Teenagers on trial for online abuse did if for ‘laughs’, subscribers
One girl criticised a religion, then dozens piled on with death and rape threats.
Opinion
Explore
Got a news tip?
Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially. Learn more
Property bydomain
Bargain? Penthouse apartment sells for a 75 per cent discount
The four-level apartment in a historic building has found a buyer after sitting on the market since 2015, and still managed to change hands for millions. Take a look inside.
'Life-changing': How landlords can benefit from reduced rent
This renter never expected the generosity of a landlord to help her get back on her feet - but that's exactly what happened.
Life & Culture
The lesson of Loki is that spinning blockbuster films into TV can work
The Disney+ streaming service is banking on its ability to spin big-movie franchises into TV shows; the results so far are mixed but promising.
Sport
Cleary is a big fan of Walsh – but plans to make his Origin debut a nightmare
NSW halfback Nathan Cleary thinks Reece Walsh’s unconvincing performance under the high ball against the Knights was a one off. But he intends to find out on Sunday.
Breaking
Tokyo Olympics
‘Shattered’ Huni out of Olympics after injuring hand against Gallen
Paul Gallen said in the lead-up to last week’s fight that he hoped to destroy Justis Huni’s Olympic dream. He has, but not in the way he predicted.
Calls for calm after Vaughan demands Ashes cancellation
Cricket Australia has called for calm after former England captain Michael Vaughan demanded the Ashes be cancelled if players’ families are unable to tour.
Why Christian Welch might give Roy Masters a slice of his next deal
Christian Welch appreciated Roy Masters’ excellent piece in the Herald about how Origin I could be decided by him pressuring Nathan Cleary. Take Two on Sunday.
World Rugby set to approve NRL-inspired rule changes in all competitions
The 50-22 and goal line dropout are here to stay. But some of the leading rugby nations aren’t happy.
Super Rugby negotiations stall as Australia cools on trans-Tasman competition
Rugby Australia appears to be going cold on the idea of a full trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition next year unless it is financially compensated.
Why Bennett’s influence on Mitchell could be the undoing of Queensland
Queensland’s greatest ever coach has helped conjure many Maroon miracles but his formidable bond with a Blues star could steer NSW to a series win in Brisbane.
Have Your Say
Bravo, Carl Nassib ... and let’s hope that, one day soon, no one cares
Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay - a milestone on the road to equality and another step towards the day when a player’s sexuality does not count as news.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
