What in the World
Our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world.
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Exclusive
ALP
Leaked letters reveal Labor MP lobbied for school to be exempt from tax he voted for
Leaked letters reveal that Labor MP Tim Richardson lobbied senior ministers to exempt a private school in his electorate from the government’s payroll tax.
Exclusive
Russia-Ukraine war
Ukraine pleaded for help from Australia six months ago. It hasn’t heard back
Ukraine fears it will not receive a requested shipment of Australian coal by winter, despite pleading directly with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Exclusive
Crime
Police adopt new tactic to muscle key players out of tobacco turf war
Investigators have found illegal tobacco products in about 100 of the stores they have raided.
Exclusive
Visual art
The painting a prime minister tried to ban
June Mendoza’s painting of John Gorton caused a sensation when it was unveiled. She remains the only woman to have painted an official portrait of an Australian prime minister.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Amid the ugly Middle East debate, we’ve lost sight of the obvious
One wonders how many of those making the Israel-Hamas equivalence point, including quite a few in the press, had taken 10 minutes to read the ICC prosecutor’s statement.
Sean Kelly
Columnist
The ‘extraordinary numbers’ signalling years of pain for renters
An expert analysis shows migration, low vacancy rates and soft investment will drive rental inflation beyond its current 15-year high.
These 10 popular supermarket foods are worse for you than you probably think
Some food products may look and sound healthy, but a closer look at their nutritional profile reveals they can be anything but.
A contestant serves up yellow strings and green slime. And the judges love it
What’s worse – egg that doesn’t run, egg that is filled with horrid seafood, or overcooked custard? One popular contestant finds out the hard way.
Demand for prescription skincare is on the rise. But do you really need it?
Influencer beauty culture has supercharged the demand for prescription skincare, particularly among younger people.
Updated
Formula 1
‘Oscar, we do see the impact of the damage’: Piastri’s third F1 podium is his most telling yet
Australian Oscar Piastri avoided a horror crash to claim his third Formula 1 career podium ahead of some of the sport’s biggest names at the Monaco GP.
Four Points
AFL 2024
‘Baaaallll! Yes!’: Why AFL umpires need to revive this great footy catchcry
The holding-the-ball rule hasn’t changed, but the way the AFL’s umpires are officiating it has. It’s no wonder players, coaches, past greats and fans are confused and frustrated.
Donald Trump booed, berated during speech at libertarian convention
The raucous event for the former president marked a sharp departure from the typical celebratory atmosphere at such Trump campaign gatherings.
Albo’s open for business: The companies the PM keeps
A peek inside the PM’s diary shows he has plenty of time to meet people from the big end of town.
Frogmen, tanks and an ever-present threat: The tiny islands standing between China and Taiwan
Less than 10kms from mainland China, the Taiwan controlled Kinmen islands would be right in the path of Chinese forces. Our correspondent Lisa Visentin went there to see it for herself.
Opinion
Tripologist
Four common items of travel gear that could get you in trouble
Several years ago, waiting for a bus in Warsaw, a pair of police officers were paying me close attention. Something was not right.
Michael Gebicki
The Tripologist
Review
Gadgets
Is the Ray-Ban Meta mash-up worth putting on your face?
Meta and Ray-Ban’s smart glasses put cameras, microphones, speakers and a little bit of AI into an object you would probably be wearing anyway.
Movie soundtracks transport us. These films are bringing them back
Just when it looked like streaming might have killed the soundtrack, several recent films show the artform might be entering a new golden age.
Victoria
Exclusive
Roads
The West Gate Tunnel is years delayed and $4b over budget. Now its builders are suing
The West Gate Tunnel Project’s builders have blamed the project’s engineers for design errors that led to cost blowouts and a three-year delay.
Farmland or townhouses? The fight for the future of Daylesford
Like many areas, Daylesford is facing a housing crisis. But some locals fear a plan to extend the popular spa town’s urban boundaries will threaten its very identity.
They’re not old enough to drink it yet, but these students are producing their own pinot noir
It’s been five years since Upper Yarra principal Scott Tully had a “crazy idea” to plant a vineyard on school grounds. This week, the school will launch its first drop.
This town’s only store has closed. Now heartbroken locals are banding together to buy it
A campaign to save a town’s historic general store is asking the community to pitch in $5000 per person to help raise the money needed.
Who are the YIMBYs? Inside the group that is shaking up Melbourne’s neighbourhoods
The YIMBYs want to rewrite the planning rules, scrap heritage overlays and start a housing revolution. And they have the ear of government.
AFL 2024
Analysis
Why cashed-up clubs face a struggle - of the AFL’s making - to entice star players
The AFL’s new pay deal has created space everywhere, and smaller clubs have to offer more than money when competing against the powerhouses for signatures.
Naarm back in eight after downing Euro-Yroke; Dawson leads Crows past Eagles
Narrm have secured a top eight spot after downing lacklustre Euro-Yroke, while Hawthorn climbed to 13th on the ladder by defeating Brisbane, and the Crows gave their percentage a boost against the Eagles.
Politics
Antisemitic chants could be banned under new hate speech laws
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government was also weighing whether people should face jail time for hate speech.
Opinion
Political leadership
Five prime ministers in five years was dismal. But a new reality is unfolding
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Business
Threat of legal action as billionaire attempts to surrender Russian coal play
Tigers Realm shareholders, including billionaire Paul Little, are set to approve the sale of its Russian coal mines but a sanctions complication looms.
World
Twelve people injured after Qatar Airways plane hits severe turbulence
The incident comes five days after a man died and dozens of people were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London hit severe turbulence.
Opinion
Let’s be clear, Peter Dutton: prosecuting Netanyahu is not antisemitism
Geoffrey Robertson
Human rights barrister and author
When they cater for women, even the menu is misogynist
Parnell Palme McGuinness
Columnist and communications adviser
Explore
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Property
Britt made a temporary move, but she loved the area so much she stayed
The rising cost of housing in a string of bayside and inner-east suburbs hasn’t deterred buyers, bucking the trend of Melbourne’s softening market.
Comedian Rhys Nicholson’s ‘maximalist’ home sells for $842,500 after auction
The Coburg home passed in for $810,000, but soon sold to the highest bidders in post-auction negotiations.
Good Food
Lifestyle
I was born from an extramarital affair. This is how my life has played out
My dad’s name wasn’t even on my birth certificate, but I was intent on not erasing him completely from my life.
Opinion
Trends
In appealing to the rich, has trail running lost its dirtbag spirit?
Sarah Berry
Lifestyle Health Editor
Opinion
Oral health
Yes, we love to hate them, but here’s some sparkling news for dentists
Jo Stubbings
Writer and reviewer
Culture
A lover, a one-time hater and a newcomer debate the original Mad Max
George Miller’s thrilling, apocalyptic vision spawned Australia’s biggest film franchise. How does it hold up nearly half a century later?
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Updated
Formula 1
‘Oscar, we do see the impact of the damage’: Why Piastri’s third F1 podium is his most telling yet
Australian Oscar Piastri avoided a horror crash to claim his third Formula 1 career podium ahead of some of the sport’s biggest names at the Monaco GP.
Four Points
AFL 2024
‘Baaaallll! Yes!’: Why AFL umpires need to revive this great footy catchcry
The holding-the-ball rule hasn’t changed, but the way the AFL’s umpires are officiating it has. It’s no wonder players, coaches, past greats and fans are confused and frustrated.
Ross the boss at a loss as ‘sloppy’ Saints slide into deeper hole
This time last year the Saints were top-four contenders, but 12 months on they are mired in the bottom four and in a deep slump that’s testing even their most optimistic supporters.
Naarm back in eight after downing Euro-Yroke; Dawson leads Crows past Eagles
Narrm have secured a top eight spot after downing lacklustre Euro-Yroke, while Hawthorn climbed to 13th on the ladder by defeating Brisbane, and the Crows gave their percentage a boost against the Eagles.
Aussie wipeout at Roland-Garros as Tomljanovic, Vukic and Thompson exit
Ajla Tomljanovic was one of three Australians to suffer a first-round exit on day one of Roland-Garros despite taking the first set against her seeded opponent.
‘Not the same buzz’: Zampa rejects club riches to chase more World Cup glory
He’s had a spin on the lucrative franchise circuit, but for Adam Zampa it will never compare to the “buzz” of playing in big tournaments for Australia.
Medal threat: Australia’s Hull smashes national record on eve of Olympics
Jess Hull is dramatically closing the gap on the world’s best and is now poised as a medal threat at this year’s Olympics after smashing the Australian 1500 metres record in a Diamond League meet on Sunday morning.
Have Your Say
Why some AFL clubs’ recruiting ‘war chest’ won’t deliver guns
The AFL’s new pay deal has created space everywhere, and smaller clubs have to offer more than money when competing against the powerhouses for signatures.