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Good Weekend Talks
In-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts.
Superquiz
See how many of today's questions you can get right.
Exclusive
Sex, sleaze and hospitality
Revealed: New rules aim to end sex, sleaze in venues
Sweeping changes are coming to the responsible service of alcohol training for bar staff in NSW. But is that enough to keep venues safe?
Dramatic turnaround as state backs water testing for forever chemicals
Hours after the Herald published revelations of high levels of “forever chemicals” at a dam this week, NSW Health moved to get all water utilities to screen for PFAS.
Exclusive
Online gambling
‘Nanny state’: V’Landys backs PM as sports codes storm the field over gambling ads
The Australian rugby league chief and AFL boss Andrew Dillon are using their sway with political leaders to stop a total digital ad ban.
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel kills top Hezbollah figure in Beirut airstrike
The Israeli military said it had conducted a “targeted strike” in Lebanon’s capital that has killed nine people and wounded 59 others so far.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
These are the things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel
I’ve been called a “kapo”, a “token Jew”, and a denier of Judaism for asking hard questions.
Louise Adler
Analysis
UK politics
Keir Starmer’s love for freebies ends his short-lived honeymoon
A growing controversy – dubbed “frockgate” – has threatened to undermine the PM’s vows to lead a government of transparency.
Exclusive
Title Deeds
Sirius irony: The elites who’ve bought into former public housing block
Sydney’s former social housing block Sirius is set to be home to a slew of regular names from Title Deeds columns past.
NIDA, Randwick Council call in lawyers after student housing towers approved
A planning panel chaired found the project, which will be 16 storeys at its tallest, was well-designed, well-located and would provide much-needed student homes.
The reviewers’ guide to the best fine, fun and fuss-free dining spots along the metro
Explore new dining destinations within a10-minute walk of five metro line stations.
‘I’m angry’: Lily was 17 when her baby was taken. Now, she’s asking the UN to help
Lily Arthur was one of the young, vulnerable women coerced into giving up their babies for adoption mid-last century. Now, she’s taking her fight for justice to Geneva.
Opinion
Crime
Gisèle’s 80 rapists were monstrous, but not monsters. They were ordinary men
The victim, however, was extraordinary in her courage. She made her name public so the “shame” would rest with her abusers.
Julia Baird
Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author
We received $573 for just a two-hour flight delay
“We were bumped from a flight in Europe. How we were treated was a welcome surprise and a lesson for Australia.”
‘Live in the moment’: Forget pain of grand final thrashing, Longmire tells Swans players
John Longmire wants his players to lose themselves in the work ahead of them, rather than mine the horrific memories of their last grand final appearance for motivation.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is the last of the rugby league enforcers
If Saturday against Manly turns out to be the Roosters prop’s final game, historians will determine that September 21 was the date the NRL’s endangered species became extinct.
Opinion
The Fitz Files
Look on the bright side: The All Blacks are going like busteds, too
Whatever the Wallabies enduring woes, they have at least shown signs of life under Joe Schmidt that we never saw under Eddie Jones in last year’s endless cluster-ruck.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
‘They exist on a different level’: The transformation of Gaga and Phoenix
Director Todd Phillips says the stars of anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux don’t know how good they are.
Simple nutrition advice every 40-something should follow
According to experts, these are the best seven ways to ensure a healthy diet in your 40s and beyond.
Opinion
The Empty Plate
No mouth is big enough. It’s time to slice sandwiches down to size
These days you need two hands to hold doorstopper-thick bread and layers of filling.
Terry Durack
Chief restaurant critic for The Sydney Morning Herald
WEEKEND READS
Two of Us
When Dean was locked up, he told Felicia to move on with her life
Miner Dean told his then fiancée, a former Miss Australia winner, not to wait for him when he was sent to jail for drug trafficking. Thankfully, she ignored him.
Dicey Topics
Musician Michael Franti on ‘middle-escence’ – what hits when the kids leave
The American singer-songwriter discusses the state of the US, losing his biological father and what his wife said when they first met.
Sydney
Metro conversion back on track after breakthrough in negotiations
The Minns government has agreed to additional staffing levels on Southwest Metro, ending a standoff with the rail union over the project.
‘Significant impact on patients’: NSW nurses to strike for 24 hours
The state’s health system will be brought to a standstill for the second time this month after nurses voted to return to the picket line.
Fury at move to outlaw private companies running council elections
Chris Minns says he’s inclined to ban private election companies. One mayor says he’s trying to deflect from Labor’s poor showing with voters.
Updated
Fire
Fire engulfs industrial complex in south-west Sydney
More than 25 firetrucks and 100 firefighters worked to control the blaze that badly damaged several businesses.
The $15 million roundabout that ended a popular local brewery
The craft brewer is closing down after losing almost $1 million in trade during roadworks after failing to secure compensation from the state government.
NRL 2024
Manly muscle: Meet the Sea Eagles’ unlikely king of the gym
Taniela Paseka? Matt Lodge? Haumole Olakau’atu? Keep guessing. The identity of Manly’s weightlifting champion will come as a surprise to most Sea Eagles fans.
Analysis
Backline blitz or old-fashioned bash-up? The styles and fights of a finals classic
Two of the best attacks in the game go head to head in a clash of rugby league’s greatest attributes – pace and power.
Politics
The teals stunned the nation in 2022. They could make or break the next government
The seven women who won formerly blue-ribbon Liberal seats in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth promised a “new way” of doing politics. How have they changed the parliament?
Business
Perspective
Software
‘Land of dreams’: The Australian high-flyers on edge as Trump and Harris duke it out
Australia’s tech insiders are enjoying a surge in optimism from the Fed’s bumper rate cut, but all eyes are now on the US election.
Opinion
Murdoch family case
Anna Murdoch told me succession would bring heartbreak. How right she was
David Leser
Senior freelance writer
World
Harris meets Oprah to ‘Unite for America’ as Trump vows another Muslim ban
The presidential candidates’ campaigns couldn’t be more different.
Opinion
If Trump loses, will this American carnage end? Don’t count on it
Nick Bryant
Journalist and author
Explore
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Property
Six of our favourite homes for sale in Sydney right now
Looking for your next home? From a warehouse conversion with rooftop pool to an architect-designed beach retreat, we’ve got you covered.
The risky loan type on the rise as homeowners try to stay afloat
After years of high-interest rates and inflation, struggling homeowners are taking this hardship measure in the hopes of riding out the storm.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Exclusive
Fashion designers
The Aje of affordability: Luxury label lowers prices for Gen Z
A collection targeted at young customers has Aje expanding its universe and putting rumours to rest.
Culture
Succession with fish? Billionaire Island is much more than that
With its Shakespearean family battles and themes of sustainability and corporate responsibility, the Netflix series is a compelling drama about Norway’s salmon industry
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
‘Live in the moment’: Forget pain of grand final thrashing, Longmire tells Swans players
John Longmire wants his players to lose themselves in the work ahead of them, rather than mine the horrific memories of their last grand final appearance for motivation.
Analysis
NRL 2024
Nicho Hynes used to run the circus, but the main stage is all Braydon Trindall’s now
Nicho Hynes wears the No.7, but after Cronulla broke their finals hoodoo, there’s no doubt who runs the show in the Shire.
Analysis
AFL 2024
Two down, one to go: Swans’ redemption tour continues. Next stop, the MCG
It began when they ended their 3-0 finals hoodoo against GWS a fortnight ago. Now they have vanquished their 8-0 Port Adelaide demons.
Cronulla 26 North Queensland 18
NRL 2024
Sharks snap finals losing streak with victory over the Cowboys
The Braydon Trindall-inspired Sharks have won their first finals match since 2018 to set up a preliminary final showdown against Penrith.
Sydney 14.11 (95) Port Adelaide 8.11 (59)
AFL 2024
Swans bury Port hoodoo to charge into another grand final
The Sydney Swans will face either Geelong or Brisbane in the grand final next Saturday.
Opinion
The Fitz Files
Look on the bright side: The All Blacks are going like busteds, too
Whatever the Wallabies enduring woes, they have at least shown signs of life under Joe Schmidt that we never saw under Eddie Jones in last year’s endless cluster-ruck.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
Analysis
NRL 2024
Backline blitz or old-fashioned bash-up? The styles and fights of a finals classic
Two of the best attacks in the game go head to head in a clash of rugby league’s greatest attributes – pace and power.
Have Your Say
The NRL intellectuals: Rugby league’s intrepid thinkers to square-off
From sweat lodges and energy analysis to fashion gurus and Harvard University, Trent Robinson and Anthony Seibold are two of the most creative coaching minds in the game.