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Your weekly hit of the most interesting pop culture news, reviews and recommendations.
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‘Publish the marks’: Parents bristle at secret selective school entry scores
Parents like Rav Singh are annoyed that his son Veyaan, who sat the test on Thursday, doesn’t know where he stands.
Ordinary weather is now extraordinary, as Sydney braces for more rain
Australia has always experienced swings between hot, dry weather and heavy rain, but this is now amplified.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
When uni students endorse terror, it’s time for political intervention
The university protests in Australia arising from the Israel-Gaza conflict have moved beyond a debate about free speech.
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Parents killed after man took drugs amid lockdown boredom
Graeme Murray stabbed his parents to death with “utmost brutality” in their NSW home, a judge says.
Exclusive
Crime
Man charged after allegedly stabbing woman at Sydney gym
Police have charged the alleged attacker, Anthony Monteleone, with wounding with intent to murder and contravening an AVO.
Super-Earth: Astronomers finally find a rocky planet with atmosphere
The planet, called 55 Cancri e or Janssen, is about 8.8 times bigger than Earth.
Live
NRL 2024
Sea Eagles and Dolphins locked in see-sawing battle
The Dolphins are sitting pretty in the top four as they prepare to host a Sea Eagles side smarting from one of the great NRL capitulations last week.
Latest live posts
LoadingWaratahs lose playmaker to Japan as Rebels saga causes chaos
The prospect of the Rebels closing and Wallabies No.10 Carter Gordon moving to NSW was a factor in another Waratah electing to move offshore.
Exclusive
NRL player movements
Fifita signs with Sydney Roosters, turns down Panthers
The Roosters have pulled off a major signing coup, beating Penrith to the services of David Fifita on a deal worth $3.3m over four years.
‘I’ve sacrificed everything’: Lydia Williams to retire
After two decades, 103 caps, five World Cups and six Asian Cups, the 35-year-old goalkeeper will bid farewell to the national team - after her third Olympics this year in Paris.
Sydney, Monash unis warn students as Dreyfus refuses legal advice
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus noted that people could make a complaint under the Racial Discrimination Act if they were concerned about phrases being used by protesters.
Opinion
Gadgets
Apple’s tone-deaf iPad ad triggers our darkest AI fears
Apple has made its worst marketing faux pas since it forced everyone to listen to U2.
Dave Lee
Heineken family owns a historic hotel that can never be sold
The billionaire brewers filled the hotel, built in 1896 on the site of Amsterdam’s first inn, with their priceless Dutch art collection.
How pop music met its Waterloo in ABBA
What is it about ABBA’s songs that generate so much ardour? English music writer Giles Smith tries to find out.
Let’s call time on famous actors making travel shows, unless it’s Stanley Tucci
It was said of US troops in Britain during WWII that they were overpaid, overfed, oversexed and over here. Same goes for most celebrities on the tourist trail.
Opinion
Mother's Day
By cancelling Mother’s Day, this school is so inclusive it excludes mums
Hunter Valley Grammar School has cancelled its Mother’s Day gift stall for children in K-6 and replaced it with a “Family Gift Stall”.
Brad Emery
Freelance writer
Opinion
Home loans
Parents thinking of helping kids into property must consider this
I have long been of the “help sooner rather than later” view, but if you hand over a lump sum to your children, is it going to be a gift or a loan?
Noel Whittaker
Money columnist
NRL 2024
Opinion
This is the most important three weeks of Hynes’ career
Over the next month, the Sharks star can prove he belongs at Origin level.
Andrew Johns
League columnist
Opinion
Why I will continue to argue for concussion victims
The column written by my colleague last week shocked me, but this issue is far bigger than a difference of opinion.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
Sydney
This mayor says he’s ‘more YIMBY than NIMBY’, but his council will sue over housing
Ku-ring-gai mayor Sam Ngai has come under fire from the planning minister for making a legal challenge to the state’s new laws.
Exclusive
Hospitals
The seven-day healthcare clinic that’s closed 14 per cent of the time
The GP clinic is meant to cut wait times at Northern Beaches Hospital. Instead, it’s struggling to stay open.
It will be faster to take a train to the existing airport than a bus to the new one
Forecast journey times show it will take about an hour to travel on new bus services to Western Sydney Airport from nearby urban centres.
Minns flags tougher bail laws for high-risk domestic violence orders
The move comes after yet another high-profile alleged domestic violence incident which saw a woman stabbed outside an Alexandria gym on Wednesday.
‘Thank you for living’: Bondi survivor meets her superhero
Liya Barko nearly died when she was stabbed at Westfield Bondi Junction, but she was saved by a tall, calm man in a green T-shirt. Now she’s finally met Wayne Tolver-Banks.
SEE & DO
This tale of the Nazi resistance is both gentle and heartbreaking
From Hilde, With Love avoids Nazi film cliches while telling the story of a brave couple in 1942.
★★★★★
Blue Lights is one of the best police dramas in years
Set in Northern Ireland, this police drama is a genuine sleeper that deserves the wide acclaim it’s earned over two seasons (with two more on the way).
Politics
Labor’s gas boost opens new front in crossbench election battle
Teal independents, the Greens and even Labor MPs are pushing back against the government’s gas plan as a Morrison-era rerun.
Business
Orica boss says gas pledge won’t fix today’s soaring price problem
The high cost of gas in Australia is skewing investment decisions towards other countries, says manufacturing boss.
World
Biden vows US will cut off weapons to Israel if it goes into Rafah
The comments represent the most direct threat the president has made to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the war began on October 7.
Opinion
Uni protests are messy, but they prove that campuses have come back to life
Alexandra Wake
Journalist and academic
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Property
Renters would be nearly $4b better off under a rent freeze
Tenants would have saved as much as $3000 over the 12 months to March, and proponents say the cash would be life-changing.
Eight of our favourite luxury homes for sale right now
From a private sandy beach to equestrian facilities for horse lovers and a 15-metre pool, we’ve rounded up our pick of the bunch.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Opinion
Sunday Life
Mums, learn to put yourself first for once in your life
“Motherhood is as easy as climbing Everest in high heels and hotpants, carrying a disco ball.”
Kathy Lette
Writer
Culture
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is less entertaining than a nature doco
This Aussie-made reboot of Planet of the Apes is not a movie to be taken too seriously.
Traveller
Drivedrive
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Sport
Exclusive
NRL 2024
Fifita signs with Sydney Roosters, turns down Panthers
The Roosters have pulled off a major signing coup, beating Penrith to the services of David Fifita on a deal worth $3.3m over four years.
Live
NRL 2024
NRL round 10 LIVE: Sea Eagles, Dolphins locked in see-sawing battle; Saab out with shoulder injury
The Dolphins are sitting pretty in the top four as they prepare to host a Sea Eagles side smarting from one of the great NRL capitulations last week.
Waratahs lose playmaker to Japan as Rebels saga causes chaos
The prospect of the Rebels closing and Wallabies No.10 Carter Gordon moving to NSW was a factor in Will Harrison electing to move offshore.
Updated
AFL 2024
Powell’s social media posts revealed after homophobic slur
Gold Coast’s Wil Powell used homophobic language online before abusing a Brisbane opponent last Sunday, as prominent gay rights advocate Ian Roberts called for the AFL to invest more into anti-vilification education.
‘I’ve sacrificed everything’: Lydia Williams to retire from Matildas
After two decades, 103 caps, five World Cups and six Asian Cups, the 35-year-old goalkeeper will bid farewell to the national team - after her third Olympics this year in Paris.
‘It took 10 years to become an overnight success’: How Penrith built the ultimate footy factory
The Panthers spend $3 million every year to nurture junior talent. The result is a production line of superstars, although the premiers can’t keep them all.
Updated
Around the clubs
Fifita is a done deal. Can the Roosters keep Angus Crichton, too?
One representative Roosters player would love for Angus Crichton to stay put, despite David Fifita’s arrival at Bondi Junction next season.
Have Your Say
Why this is the most important three weeks of Nicho Hynes’ career
Over the next month, the Sharks have a golden chance to shake their tag as flat-track bullies – and their star man can prove he belongs at Origin level.
Andrew Johns
League columnist
