Sydney desk

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

Politics · 2 October 2026

EU Envoy Declares Canberra Must ‘Regulate’ AI or Face a Robot Revolt

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

In a dramatic Canberra briefing, the EU’s new envoy warned that Australia’s failure to adopt stringent AI regulation could trigger a global technological uprising, even as China and the US snicker from the sidelines.

Finance · 2 October 2026

RBA’s New Game Plan: Let Unemployment Take a Breather

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank of Australia has hinted that a modest climb in unemployment is acceptable while it tugs the economy back from overheating, leaving market participants to wonder if the next policy meeting will be held in…

Politics · 2 October 2026

Greens Trade Their Protest Signs for Committee Minutes as Shoebridge Takes the Helm

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

David Shoebridge assumes leadership of the Greens, nudging the formerly anti‑establishment party toward the comfort of bureaucratic routine and committee paperwork.

Technology · 2 October 2026

AI Decodes Napoleon’s 217‑Year‑Old Cipher, Reveals Secret Recipe for Victory (and Vegemite?)

Ash Park, Sydney desk

An AI system claims to have solved a century‑old French military cipher, unearthing a bizarre mix of strategic advice and culinary instructions. The revelation has sparked debate about historical accuracy and the limit…

Business · 2 October 2026

Miller Street Pub’s Final Toast: $28 Million Sale Leaves Market Participants Staring at Empty Glasses

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Pub owners Athol and Lee Davis sold their historic Miller Street establishment for $28 million, prompting a wave of last‑night libations and market participants wondering whether property prices are as spirited as th…

Finance · 2 October 2026

Bond Market Jitters, ASX Dances: Oil Prices Keep the Party Going

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a turbulent night, the Australian market greets a modest rally, buoyed by higher oil prices, while the bond market’s restless swings continue to send ripples through global equities.

Politics · 2 October 2026

Lawyers Told Their 'Sharp Practices' Are Actually Just Razor-Sharp Competition, Says Government

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

The government has issued a stern warning to a select group of migration lawyers, informing them that their fraudulent parent applications constitute 'sharp practices' rather than simple forgery. The lawyers, meanwhile,…

World · 1 October 2026

Sydney’s East Couple Survives Flydubai Hijack: A Love Story, Luggage, and Unplanned Legislation

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

An eastern Sydney couple, aboard Flydubai to Israel, reportedly faced an attempted hijacking that ended in a courtroom showdown rather than a plane crash.

Business · 1 October 2026

Whispers and Warnings: Corporate WhatsApp Groups Reveal Hidden Liability Traps

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

In the age of instant messaging, a seemingly harmless group chat can become a goldmine of regulatory risk. Market participants must now navigate the treacherous waters of informal communication to avoid legal and reputat…