Sydney desk

Filed from the Sydney desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Politics · 22 October 2026

Australian MPs Say Listening Is Dangerous, Yet Refuse 24/7 Security

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Australia’s politicians argue that the act of listening has become increasingly perilous, but they insist they don’t want constant security detail, preferring to stay accessible to the public.

World · 22 October 2026

Macron Slams Trump’s Migrant‑Riot Theory, Calls It ‘Stupid’ in Fiery Paris Press Conference

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

France’s president blasted the former US leader’s claim that migrants sparked recent riots, accusing him of exploiting unrest for political gain.

Finance · 22 October 2026

Meta Ordered to Pay $36 B, Wall Street Climbs, ASX Flat as Tesla Beats Expectations

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Meta was ordered to pay a $36 billion privacy fine, Wall Street indices rose, the Australian market opened flat, and Tesla reported earnings that topped forecasts, all amid strong profit reports from SpaceX and Capital…

Politics · 22 October 2026

Rising rates turn Sydney lunches into a game of hide‑and‑seek, with the missing steak the most elusive player

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank’s interest‑rate climb is nudging food prices above oil, leaving many households to swap dinner plates for dust‑bins of optimism. It’s a fiscal diet no one signed up for, but the city’s queues a…

Technology · 22 October 2026

Apple’s iPhone Duo: Foldable ‘Oh Wow’ Gadget, But At $3499 You Might Want To Wait

Ash Park, Sydney desk

Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, dazzles with its size and design, but its steep $3499 price and a shortage of ready‑made apps mean most people should hold off buying it for now.

Sports · 22 October 2026

Silver Ferns Shine Brighter Than Stars, Outpace Diamonds in 62‑50 Christchurch Thriller

Noor Hale, World desk

After a 62‑50 defeat in Christchurch, the Silver Ferns have secured a 2‑0 lead in the Constellation Cup, leaving the Australian Diamonds with a lot of time to star‑glow in home soil.

Politics · 21 October 2026

AFP warns of AI-fuelled youth crime tsunami as children as young as 12 targeted

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Federal police have warned a parliamentary inquiry that artificial intelligence is accelerating a 'tsunami' of youth crime and radicalisation. Officials stated that children as young as 12 are among dozens subject to ope…

Business · 21 October 2026

War‑Hero’s New T‑Shirt Venture Leaves Observers Scratching Their Heads

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a two‑and‑a‑half hour interview, disgraced war hero Ben Roberts‑Smith launched a clothing brand and an Instagram page, prompting speculation about whether the move is a genuine business venture or a PR stun…

World · 21 October 2026

Trump’s Midterm Gambit: Throwing Zelensky Under the Bus Hands Putin a Checkmate

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

By sidelining Ukraine’s president ahead of the midterms, Donald Trump lets a war‑winning Russia take the lead as Kyiv’s allies disappear.