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The Drop podcast
Your weekly hit of the most interesting pop culture news, reviews and recommendations.
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Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with our weekly travel quiz.
Sinking feeling: Labor’s day of economic reckoning may have arrived
Surrounded by debt, the Allan government finds itself backed into a financial and political corner.
Analysis
Naked City
‘Stop the crocodile tears’: How a judge silenced a remorseless killer
Monique Lezsak died in a frenzied knife attack at the hands of her then partner Sven Lindemann as her daughter desperately tried to help.
Labor adds billions to state deals on housing
Albanese struck a deal with state and territory leaders on Friday to inject more cash into construction, including a five-year agreement on social housing.
Holding the ball interpretation under fire from Cats coach as he bemoans advantage decision
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the game needs to have a conversation about how long players are being allowed to hold the ball when tackled.
Australia joins 142 nations in backing Palestinian statehood in UN vote
In a day of high emotion at UN headquarters, Israel’s UN ambassador theatrically inserted a miniature copy of the charter into a transparent paper shredder.
‘Nobody erred on the side of caution’: Racecourse flood wall mistakes identified
A flood management expert says avoiding flood problems means making the right decision at the start - and now the Maribyrnong River’s issues are almost impossible to fix.
There are plenty of threats to The Age’s best-known promise to readers, as explained by Editor Patrick Elligett
The Age aims to be “Independent. Always”. There are several ways we try to keep that commitment.
‘It’s a huge part of who I am as a person’: Raf Epstein goes home for lunch
The host of ABC Radio Melbourne’s Mornings show sits down for a meal at a place that has been practically a second home for most of his life.
Opinion
Arts
Why I won’t go to the NGV’s perplexing and problematic Pharaoh blockbuster
When Indigenous artefacts are being returned, and there is global recognition of the sanctity of the dead. Why do we make an exception for Egyptian rulers?
Alan Attwood
Contributor
A ritual once marked marriage as a spiritual death for women. It’s now a stunning performance
The Bridal Lament by Rainbow Chan brings together the ancient and contemporary to explore the line between cultures.
Investigation
Scams
Fast cars, forgery and a bogus Banksy deal: Australians caught in collapse lose millions
A suspected international scam has dissolved into acrimony and recriminations - all played out on social media.
Bill Gates to sell $1.1 billion green megayacht – before it’s even set sail
The world’s fourth-richest man is offloading his floating palace, but it comes at a rocky time for the yacht industry.
Architect Philip Thalis paid the price for being outspoken. Now he’s won the profession’s gold medal
Australia’s newest gold medal winner for architecture has called on those engaged in shaping our cities to be bolder, braver and more vocal.
WEEKEND READS
House-sitting: The cozzie-livs life hack saving some $40,000-plus a year
From young professionals to grey nomads, more people are bouncing rent-free between strangers’ homes. Indeed, for some it’s a lifestyle choice.
Lowanna Grant stayed living with mum Karla into her 30s. Here’s why
The journalists work together, watch TV together – then there’s the tattoos ...
Victoria
Jury discharged on first day of missing campers murder trial
A new trial is expected to begin early next week after former pilot Gregory Lynn pleaded not guilty to the murders of campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.
Former Home and Away star to plead guilty to assault after three-day manhunt
Melbourne actor Orpheus Pledger has been remanded in custody to face charges after he allegedly assaulted a woman.
Exclusive
Healthcare
‘Absolute bunkum’: Issue government blamed for surprise hospital axing had been known for years
The health department knew about the issues three years ago, The Age can reveal.
‘Autopilot’ hit-and-run driver sentenced to nine months in jail
Driver Sakshi Agrawal struck 26-year-old nurse Nicole Lagos before fleeing the scene and lying to police that her Tesla had been in self-driving mode.
Pulped fiction: Thousands of library books removed as collection culled
A truckload of books has been taken away under plans to reduce shelving at Melbourne’s City Library and replace it with meeting spaces.
AFL 2024
AFL Briefing
Gale force heads to Tasmania; Newman fined over bump
Brendon Gale has been announced as the inaugural CEO of the Tasmania Devils.
AFL round nine teams & tips: Tigers lose premiership star, Pies name debutant
It’s been a big week at AFL selection tables. Richmond will be without Liam Baker because of a corked leg against the Western Bulldogs, while Collingwood have confirmed a debutant for their clash with West Coast. Check out all the teams and our experts’ tips.
Politics
Lehrmann ordered to pay significant portion of Ten, Wilkinson’s legal costs
The former Liberal staffer has been ordered to pay after a judge found he had sued for defamation on a “fanciful” and “knowingly false” premise.
Business
Air Vanuatu in liquidation following fleet issue, poor trading
Liquidators say they intend to resume normal trading as soon as possible, while considering all opportunities to place the airline on a stronger footing.
World
People-smuggling boat carrying Chinese stopped en route to Australia
The group was discovered near the city of Kupang, and believed to be heading to Australia.
Analysis
US Votes 2024
‘It could boomerang’: Daniels testimony on sex, lies and money is risky for both sides
Shayna Jacobs, Perry Stein, Marianne LeVine and Devlin Barrett
Opinion
Uni protests are messy, but they prove that campuses have come back to life
Alexandra Wake
Journalist and academic
When university students endorse terror, it’s time for political intervention
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Explore
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Property
Regional Victorian towns that boomed most in the last five years
Some have recorded 60 per cent growth since 2019 as more workers arrive to take jobs in flourishing industries or hospitals.
How Melbourne households could have saved $2537 without doing anything
The amount of money saved could have been life-changing for some households in the cost of living crisis.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Why you won’t be seeing some of your favourite labels at fashion week
Labels such as Zimmermann and Dion Lee are blazing international trails while newcomer Dissh steers clear of the runway.
Culture
Tony Birch wins Book of the Year for timely novel about one of Australia’s great challenges
Birch says that while his book wasn’t written “with that issue in mind”, it had become timely given the crucial discussions under way.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Power hold off fast-finishing Cats to score first win in Geelong since 2007; slick Swans outclass Dockers
Port Adelaide scored their first win in Geelong since 2007 while the Swans strengthened their place at the top of the ladder with a win over Fremantle.
Opinion
AFL 2024
Latest allegations should spell the end of Tarryn Thomas’ career
If new allegations of harassment against former Kangaroo Tarryn Thomas are verified, his case to return to play AFL football must be ruled off for good.
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
Updated
AFL 2024
‘Prodigious talent’: Former Dockers and Giants player Cam McCarthy dies
Former teammates of Fremantle and GWS player Cam McCarthy will play with heavy hearts this weekend as they mourn the tragic death of the key forward at the age of 29.
Updated
Horse racing
Another big-name executive walks from Racing Victoria
A second big name has announced he is finishing up at Racing Victoria as the industry prepares for Gillon McLachlan; clubs fight to host All-Star Mile; super Cox Plate wish list.
‘Walk the walk’: Clubs cast doubt over Tarryn Thomas’ AFL future as ex-North star faces fresh police investigation
The troubled AFL player was sacked by the club earlier this year after an investigation revealed threatening behaviour towards a woman.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Gale force heads to Tasmania; Newman fined over bump; Howe forward with Elliott out
Brendon Gale has been announced as the inaugural CEO of the Tasmania Devils, Carlton’s Nic Newman is free to take on Sydney he was fined for a high bump on Alex Neal-Bullen, while injury-hit Collingwood will be without Jamie Elliott against West Coast.
‘Not all midfielders can do that’: The Sam Walsh move that put Carlton’s flag quest back on track
Carlton and Melbourne played out another MCG thriller, and the narrow margin could have far-reaching consequences for the fate of both teams this season.
Have Your Say
Homophobic and dumb: Why the punishment is right for Powell’s slur
Gold Coast player’s language shows that changing behaviour takes both time and decisive action.
Peter Ryan
Sports reporter