Morning Edition newsletter tile for homepage CTA

Morning Edition newsletter

Our guide to the most important stories,analysis and insights.

Campus Hub CTA tile

Interactive:Search for uni courses

Search for uni courses across Australia with Campus your essential education guide

The Morning Edition podcast

The Morning Edition podcast

Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation,with Samantha Selinger-Morris.

SydneyWeather forecast

House prices blamed for Australia’s lowest birth rate on record

Australia’s birth rate is declining.

Births have fallen to a 17-year low while the nation’s fertility rate has never been lower. High-priced housing is not putting people in the mood for children.

Exclusive
Building Bad

‘Imminent death threat’:CFMEU administrator targeted as union schism deepens

CFMEU administrator Mark Irving,KC,in his chambers on September 5.

Police have warned the CFMEU administrator of an imminent death threat,as the labour movement ruptures over the federal government’s efforts to stamp out criminality in the building industry.

Liberal MP defies her party to support equality bill

North Shore MP Felicity Wilson has crossed the floor to support independent MP Alex Greenwich’s omnibus equality bill.

Police files reveal the damage done to the home of Jordan Shanks,aka FriendlyJordies,in what police call an organised crime arson attack.

Inside the ‘organised crime’ arson attacks on FriendlyJordies’ Bondi home

A stolen Mercedes,cloned plates,a bikie stabbing and two arson attacks – a police file released to the Herald outlines the alleged underworld attack.

UK ‘education firebrand’ has lessons for Australian schools

England’s school reforms included a change to a knowledge-rich curriculum

Nick Gibb led an ambitious suite of education reforms during his more than 10 years as England’s schools minister.

‘Bit of a waste’:Students forced to abandon creative stories in HSC English twist

Advanced English students were met with a surprise on Wednesday when the final question asked them to ponder a world without the amenity of modern technology.

Updated
Pollution

Mysterious dark spheres on Sydney beaches identified

Black balls have also washed ashore at Gordons Bay.

Preliminary testing by Randwick City Council has identified the black balls that have washed up on Coogee,Maroubra and Gordons Bay beaches as “tar balls”,made from oil and debris.

Pratt love child’s battle over billion-dollar family trust

Paula and Sharilea Hitchcock

Paula Hitchcock is trying to prove she is legally entitled to a slice of the multibillion-dollar Pratt family trust.

Exclusive
Crime

The new go-to weapon for criminals is being made on the cheap,in suburban homes

3D-printed and privately made guns are becoming the weapon of choice for criminals with some weapons now able to fire dozens of rounds within a few seconds.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin’s spies are plotting global chaos

The chief of MI6,Britain’s foreign-intelligence agency,says Russian intelligence services “have gone a bit feral”.

British MPs vote to abolish ‘indefensible’ hereditary rights in the House of Lords

 Members of the House of Lords in July.

The Labour Party government says the decision will complete a long-stalled reform of parliament’s upper chamber and remove an “outdated and indefensible” relic.

Donald Trump’s fortune gets a $3 billion boost

Over the past few weeks,former US president Donald Trump has become a lot richer.

Sorry,online haters,but The Office Australia is genuinely fun

Felicity Ward as the incompetent Hannah Howard in<i>The Office</i>.

Comedian Felicity Ward nails it as an incompetent,zany “girlboss” in the much-discussed Australian version of the hit comedy.

Skipping a coffee and bargain hunting won’t get you ahead

To cut the cost of your wants,you’ll need to make some sacrifices.

If you’re playing small,there’s a good chance you’re not dreaming big enough. Why stop yourself at getting excited over saving $50,when you could be saving $500 or $5000?

Gen Xers,it’s time for some superannuation housekeeping

While retirement may increasingly seem a far-off illusion,spend a few minutes daydreaming and then do some fact-finding.

 The Treasury in Petra.

‘Stunning’ hidden tomb found at Petra site featured in Indiana Jones

Researchers found at least 12 skeletal remains and artefacts – including a ceramic vessel that “looked nearly identical to the Holy Grail” in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

‘Dallas with Dingoes’:On the set of Netflix’s outback drama,Territory

‘Dallas with Dingoes’:On the set of Netflix’s outback drama,Territory

Could this show be Australia’s answer to Yellowstone? Its makers certainly hope so.

★★★★½
Hotel reviews

Former NSW jillaroo camp is now an oasis between beach and bush

This Spanish Mission-style boutique hotel on NSW’s South Coast has undergone a renovation while respecting its 1970s roots.

Advertisement

MIDDLE EAST AT WAR

Villagers and the Red Cross sift through the rubble of a house flattened by an Israeli air strike in Aitou,Lebanon.
Editorial

Netanyahu damaged by airstrikes on civilians and peacekeepers

The Israeli government claims its bombing is targeted,but the collateral damage is undermining its cause.

The accidental politician:Australian in Lebanon speaks out against Hezbollah
Exclusive

The accidental politician:Australian in Lebanon speaks out against Hezbollah

Two years ago,Ihab Matar was running a successful construction company and living in western Sydney. Now he’s a member of Lebanon’s parliament.

Sydney

The seven-storey apartment block in Lindfield was the first application lodged under the state government’s reforms.

Two houses razed for 38 apartments:First DA lodged under housing plan

“We had a joke in the office that wouldn’t it be amazing if the first[one] was in Ku-ring-gai LGA,and it was,” Planning Department deputy secretary Monica Gibson told a developers’ conference last week.

Exclusive
Courts

‘She’s mine’:Baby killer tried to kidnap girl at Sydney bus stop

The bus stop where a woman tried to kidnap a nine-year-old girl from her grandmother.

A nine-year-old girl clung to a seat as her grandmother grappled with the woman. Now,the would-be kidnapper’s shocking past can be revealed.

High-speed train link would need some of the world’s longest rail tunnels

High-speed rail GIF.

More than half of the proposed 140-kilometre link would need to comprise twin tunnels because of the challenging terrain north of Sydney.

Graphic content
Crime

Daycare worker ‘filmed abuse of children’ in Sydney classroom

Greater childcare supply could help deliver benefits in labour supply,female participation and education standards.

The man,who allegedly abused children over a number of years,is the second daycare worker charged in unrelated child abuse cases in Sydney in two days.

Exclusive
Defence

Dysfunctional RSL NSW board is going to war with itself

RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge,pictured at the Domain in July,is the subject of an internal complaint.

An external consultant found the RSL NSW board was so dysfunctional it would be difficult for the organisation to support veterans and their families.

From our partners

Politics

Business

World

Advertisement

Opinion

Explore

Got a news tip?

Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially.Learn more

Advertisement

Property

The higher cost of a new build is here to stay as a growing cohort of experts forecast prices are not going to fall back to pre-pandemic prices.

Building a new home will be more expensive than ever before

While different components of housing constructions costs have eased since the pandemic,experts have tipped higher prices are here to stay.

The Seaforth property was bought for $11.3 million in 2020.
Auctions
Auctions

Family splashes on $15.7m Seaforth mansion as first-home buyers nab $3.4m terrace

A six-bedroom,seven-bathroom trophy home in Seaforth has defied a softer Sydney auction market,while a couple landed their first property in Annandale.

Good Food

Lifestyle

Culture

Traveller

Advertisement

Sport

Adam Douiehi and Ben Hunt.
Updated
NRL 2024

Dragons consider Doueihi move amid Hunt saga,Ilias-Hastings swap deal off the cards

The Dragons are considering making a play for Adam Doueihi after informing Ben Hunt he could test the market. It comes as Lachlan Ilias ended any chance of a Jackson Hastings swap deal.

James McDonald holds his Everest trophy towards the crowd after winning on Nature Strip in 2021.

Sold-out Randwick to party for running of first group 1 Everest

The Everest’s group 1 status has been confirmed as Randwick sells out for Saturday.

Mal Meninga.

Green and gold giveaway:The 25 Australian debutants since 2022

You get a jersey. You get a jersey. And you get a jersey. Mal Meninga is “extremely mindful” not to cheapen Australian representation as debutants rise to 25 and counting.

Tony Popovic in the dugout at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday night.

Why ugly is beautiful for the Socceroos

Five things we learned from Tony Popovic’s first two fixtures in charge of Australia.

The Giants are in hot water over an end of season party.

AFL set to ban eight Giants after Hayne,Giddey,blow-up doll antics at post-season function

A “controversial couples” themed end-of-season gathering is set to cost the Giants.

The Everest was granted group 1 status last week - or was it?

Racing wars reignite after revolt over Everest status

A match has been put to the racing wars as a dispute arises over NSW’s The Everest and its bid for group 1 status.

Rocky Elsom as a Waratahs player.
Opinion
Wallabies

I chatted to Rocky Elsom after he had been sentenced to five years in jail. He seemed strangely calm

I expected the former Wallaby to be tense. Instead,he calmly explained his version of events.

Peter FitzSimons
Peter FitzSimons

Columnist and author

Racing

Advertisement

Most Viewed today

Loading