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In-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts.
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Fire
Bushfire downgraded to ‘watch and act’ on northern beaches
The Rural Fire Service has lowered the alert level for the blaze which began as a hazard reduction burn in Oxford Falls. However, residents in certain areas “should be aware of ember attack”.
‘Lost in the crowd’: Is going to a sandstone university worth it?
Students are often motivated by prestige in applying for universities. But that might not be the best metric for choosing a degree.
Free train travel continues after one in five services disrupted on Friday
Negotiations between the rail union and government broke down earlier this week, but the government has subsequently agreed to staff the metro’s driverless services.
Live
Bledisloe Cup
Wallabies 14, All Blacks 28 at half-time in Bledisloe clash
Australia’s Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt is looking to mastermind an upset as the Bledisloe Cup returns to Sydney. Follow the action
Latest live posts
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AFL 2024
Cats take on Lions for a chance to face the Swans in grand final
Will Geelong secure another grand final clash with Sydney Swans or will the Lions cause the upset and book a return to the season decider after falling just short last year.
‘Legs were like jelly’: The sonic boom that lifted the Swans to the grand final
In the middle of the chaos in Sydney’s rooms after their preliminary final victory, forward Joel Amartey couldn’t stop smiling, and why not?
Family pays $4.25m for Gladesville house, saving it from wrecking ball
The five-bedroom house with water views, sold by a long-term owner, had drawn interest from parties hoping to knock it down and rebuild.
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?
Sick leave soars amid flu, COVID and cold collision
The storm of flu, pneumonia, colds and other germs circulating this winter drove a massive surge in the number of Australians taking sick leave.
‘Mohamed al-Fayed was a monster’: More than 100 women make sex abuse accusations
The late billionaire and former owner of the London luxury department store Harrods has been accused of serial rape and the sexual abuse of minors.
Kiwi pilot held hostage in West Papua freed after 592 days
Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a pilot from Christchurch who was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was captured by separatist rebels last year.
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.
To treat an incurable illness, Stephen quit science – and took up Qigong
What happens when science can’t offer a solution or a cure? The story of how one researcher took things into his own hands.
‘Longest cold case we’ve ever solved’: Alleged Easey Street killer arrested in Italy after 47 years
Police have arrested a man in Italy over the 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their home in Easey Street, Collingwood. He fled Australia in 2017.
Opinion
Parental leave
Despite our parental leave win, super is still sexist
Paying super on parental leave will add billions of dollars to the retirement funds of parent carers across the country. But it’s not enough.
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Money contributor
Recipe collection
Asparagus (Recipe ingredient)
Here’s a tip – asparagus is cheap and in season. Here are five ways to use it
Make asparagus the star of the show with these light, bright tarts and gallettes.
Nine highlights of Washington DC most visitors miss
Beyond the US capital’s monuments and museums are waterfront precincts and historical neighbourhoods waiting to be discovered.
Enjoy nightclubs? Try this monumental new art installation
On first encounter, the installation feels like Stonehenge meets 2001: A Space Odyssey.
WEEKEND READS
From truck-stop tyke to international cake queen: The rise of Nadine Ingram
Flour and Stone’s cakes are adored by everyone from Nigella Lawson to teenage influencers – but that taste of success didn’t happen overnight.
Cool stuff: The ‘depaving’ trend turning hot streets into green oases
Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.
Sydney
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.
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.
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.
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.
NRL 2024
Hynes asked Cleary for advice. Now he can show the Panthers star what he’s learnt
Nicho Hynes sat down with Nathan Cleary this year to learn about handling clutch moments. Now they’re pitted against each other for a grand final berth.
Exclusive
‘Nanny state’: NRL, AFL storm the field over gambling ads
Australian rugby league chief Peter V’landys and AFL boss Andrew Dillon are using their sway with political leaders to stop a total digital ad ban.
Politics
Political Sketch
Radio
Albanese snapped at an ABC host, but he didn’t mind these FM radio questions
The prime minister told ABC’s Patricia Karvelas her questions were “not terribly clever”. Here are some he’s answered without complaint.
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.
World
Americans will now be able to administer nasal flu vaccine at home
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised at-home use of nasal spray vaccine FluMist, opening the door for needle-shy people to have easy to live-saving immunisation.
Opinion
Smartphones have robbed teenagers of freedom. No law will change that
Jacqueline Maley
Columnist and senior journalist
Gisèle’s 80 rapists were monstrous, but not monsters. They were ordinary men
Julia Baird
Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author
If Trump loses, will this American carnage end? Don’t count on it
Nick Bryant
Journalist and author
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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
It’s so funny how we don’t talk any more. What’s up with late night TV?
Jimmy Kimmel is worried US late-night talk shows may soon cease to exist. Here, they already have.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Live
Bledisloe Cup
Bledisloe Cup LIVE updates: Wallabies v All Blacks at Accor Stadium
Can the Wallabies respond after a huge defeat in Santa Fe against Argentina and shock the All Blacks?
Hynes asked Cleary for advice. Now he can show the Panthers star what he’s learnt
Nicho Hynes sat down with Nathan Cleary this year to learn about handling clutch moments. Now they’re pitted against each other for a grand final berth.
‘His toughness goes unnoticed’: How Holmes played eight minutes with a broken leg
The Cowboys believe their departing star played on with a fractured fibula on Friday night as he tried to keep the club’s season alive.
‘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 officially became extinct.
‘Legs were like jelly’: The sonic boom that lifted the Swans to the grand final
In the middle of the chaos in Sydney’s rooms after their preliminary final victory, forward Joel Amartey couldn’t stop smiling, and why not?
Does anybody beat Adam Scott 10 times in a row at the Presidents Cup?
The non-European answer to the Ryder Cup has been an American whitewash despite all of Adam Scott’s efforts. Is he down to his last chance?
Have Your Say
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
