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Opinion

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Engelbert Humperdinck’s voice has aged, but has also matured in the range of emotion it can convey.
Opinion
Review

Dreamy songs, dirty jokes: Engelbert raises roof at sold-out Perth show

It was at first hard to tell if the 88-year’s voice had held up as the packed house sang along so enthusiastically – but he’s definitely still got the charm.

  • by Mark Naglazas

Latest

Chad Warner has been brilliant for the Swans.
Analysis
AFL 2024

The Cripps-Warner connection; Blues’ missing piece; big fortnight for Pies: Key takeouts from round 11

Chad Warner and Patrick Cripps have a mutual connection who is having a big impact on their seasons, while the Blues may have found an unlikely missing piece to their forward puzzle.

  • by Andrew Wu
Jarome Luai.

Luai might be the most polarising player in NSW. But Maguire needs his belief

The Blues coach wants players who run towards the fire. After weeks of injury carnage, his Origin hopes rest with Luai leading the way.

  • by Adam Pengilly
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles.

Politicians don’t control immigrant numbers, and usually don’t want to

Politicians could exercise more control over immigration, but neither side has particularly wanted to.

  • by Ross Gittins
Palestinians line up for food amid the Israeli air and ground offensive.

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.

  • by Sean Kelly
In Victoria, donor sperm can be used by as many as 10 separate people.
Opinion
Parenting

I’ve fathered five children in NSW. If I lived in Victoria, I’d probably have none

The state government’s donor recruitment drive may have good intentions, but without a review of family limits the idea of donating sperm feels too risky.

  • by Gary Nunn
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Darren Coleman

Waratahs are not the only problem child in Super Rugby’s dysfunctional family

Rugby Australia must be learning that centralisation means taking on the problems of the franchises, not magically making them disappear.

  • by Paul Cully
Child’s play? Not quite.
Opinion
Parenting

I’m a bona fido dog lover, but stop telling me a fur baby is the same as a kid

Last week, I passed another woman with a pram, but hers contained a plump little sausage dog, not a furious-for-no-reason two-and-a-half-year-old.

  • by Hannah Vanderheide
The ICC has applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Let’s be clear, Peter Dutton: prosecuting Netanyahu is not antisemitism

This is not about moral equivalence, but seeking arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli leaders is an attempt to impose equal justice.

  • by Geoffrey Robertson
Mitchell Moses and Brad Arthur.
Analysis
NRL 2024

Arthur, Moses back Eels culture after sacking

Sacked coach Brad Arthur is still defending the culture at Parramatta, and a TV reporter has accused star half Mitchell Moses of swearing at him at training.

  • by Danny Weidler
GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Danny Vukovic of the Central Coast Mariners holds aloft the Championship Trophy alongside team mates after winning the A-League Men Grand Final match between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory at Industree Group Stadium, on May 25, 2024, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Analysis
A-League Men

Miracle Mariners: Is this the greatest team Australian soccer has ever seen?

Before the Central Coast Mariners even had a chance to compute that they had just won the treble, they were swarmed by a pitch invasion.

  • by Vince Rugari
The introduction of crypto ETFs has sent investors into a frenzy. But it’s important to remember the market is still unregulated and volatile.

Don’t be fooled by record prices, crypto is still as unsafe as ever

The introduction of crypto ETFs has sent investors into a frenzy. But it’s important to remember that the market is still unregulated and volatile.

  • by Victoria Devine
Running out of money is a common worry when people first retire.

I’m terrified of running out of super. How do I prevent this?

Running out of money is a common worry when people first retire, but there are many options that can guarantee you income for life.

  • by Paul Benson
Dustin Martin was offered a huge deal by North Melbourne, which he declined.
Analysis
Draft

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.

  • by Jake Niall
Birth rates are declining.

Immigration cuts only work if women have more babies. Dutton knows they won’t

Our real population problem is not one of excess. Birth rates are declining.

  • by Jacqueline Maley
Many people shy away from tracking their spending, even though knowing where your money goes is vital to budgeting.
Opinion
Hip pocket

Why debt is not always a dirty word

Debt is generally considered detrimental, but there are times when the finance world begs to differ.

  • by Dominic Powell
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In a magic moment, a group of boys realised that the score in a game of basketball was not the most important thing.
Opinion
Parenting

The boys knew nothing about my son’s struggles. Yet somehow they knew what to do

One day, these boys will be men. Seeing how they treated my son - who’s happy just to be out on a basketball court with them – gave me faith in the future.

  • by Tamara Walsh
Emojis have become signs of devolution of the English language.
Opinion
AI

NVM the LOLs, IMHO fully-formed words slay

If you use cutesy words such as nom, laughing emojis and acronyms such as LOL, you are going to hate this column.

  • by Dan Kaufman
Crying in public is having a moment. Unless, of course, you get turned into a meme.
Opinion
Comedy

The power of crying in public, more specifically, on the 8.08am train to Central

I’m sorry to everyone in the silent carriage who listened to my stifled sobs, but I finally understand the benefits of having a good – and public – cry.

  • by Thomas Mitchell
Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak, right, and Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris wait on board an Artemis Technologies boat before a tour during a visit to the maritime technology centre at a dockyard in Belfast, on Friday.
Analysis
UK election

Sinking Sunak steers Tories towards iceberg as MPs jump overboard

Nearly 80 Conservative MPs will not seek re-election on July 4, that’s nearly a quarter of all Tories serving under the British prime minister now.

  • by Rob Harris
Richard Glover on memories.
Opinion
Spectrum

Quiche used to seem amazing, when did we become so immune to delight?

Is there a way to recapture that enthusiasm? To channel our younger selves, and remember our giddy surprise?

  • by Richard Glover
Jack de Belin arriving at court in April 2021.
Analysis
NRL 2024

No-fault stand-down policy isn’t perfect, but NRL has little alternative

You can argue the stand-down rules are neither an effective deterrent nor a fair punishment – but that’s not the point of them.

  • by Darren Kane
The demolition of the Hazelwood coal-fired power plant in May 2020, three years after it closed.
Analysis
Energy

This week in Australia energy and climate collided; it’s a global story

This week in Australia energy and climate collided; it’s a global story

  • by Nick O'Malley
You never know what life might throw at you, so income protection insurance can provide some peace of mind.

My income protection costs $362 a month. Is it really worth it?

Income protection insurance can be expensive, but it’s a comforting parachute to have if you’re suddenly unable to earn.

  • by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Life expectancies are changing rapidly, with 42-year-olds today possibly living until 99.

You’ll probably live longer than you think, so start planning now

Life expectancies are changing rapidly, with 42-year-olds today possibly living until 99. It’s key to factor this into your retirement planning.

  • by Bec Wilson
No country loves rugby league more than PNG.

PNG league team is a great idea – but why should we pay for it?

Albo’s mob is talking about putting in $60 million annually for 10 years to sustain the Port Moresby team. Something does not add up here.

  • by Peter FitzSimons
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Ricky Ponting in discussion with  Shikhar Dhawan during his role as Delhi Capitals coach in the IPL.
Analysis
India

‘It’s almost a no-win role’: Why you won’t see an Australian as India’s $2 million coach

It’s the best-paid coaching job in world cricket, and it’s up for grabs. So why won’t an Australian coach India?

  • by Daniel Brettig
Britain’s prime minister in waiting, Labour leader Keir Starmer.

Britain’s best hope is a PM with the charisma of frozen peas

A boring prime minister in Keir Starmer may be the best Britain can hope for if it’s to end the omnishambles era.

  • by Nick Bryant
Marvel Stadium’s tenant clubs are pushing for more games at the MCG.
Analysis
AFL 2024

Grounds for complaint: Why Dons, Blues and Saints want fewer Marvel games

Tenants of the AFL-owned Docklands stadium are queuing up to ask for more games at the MCG.

  • by Jake Niall
The stories are timeless, even if the authors are of another time.
Opinion
Racism

I’m not cancelling my favourite books, despite my dark skin troubling their authors

I can’t cancel the stories of my childhood. Great stories can survive the sins of their writers.

  • by Satara Uthayakumaran
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin review the honor guard during an official welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Xi and Putin’s love-in is an ominous sign for the West

Russia and China have traditionally treated each other with mutual suspicion and loathing. But now they are closer than ever.

  • by Liam Halligan
Origin.

We asked data nerds to pick the NSW Origin team. Here is who they selected

The team have been in the lab crunching the numbers, our experts have their say and we also get AI on board for the NSW campaign.

  • by Dan Walsh
Niger Farage and Jeremy Corbyn.
Analysis
UK election

Besides rain and bad polls, Sunak also must contend with ghosts

Two key figures, adored and detested by their respective tribes in equal measure, will make life harder for Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

  • by Rob Harris

Yes, we love to hate them, but here’s some sparkling news for dentists

Sure, they extract quite a bit of dosh from us, but when it comes to our teeth doctors, the haters should just build a bridge.

  • by Jo Stubbings
Bulldog Aaron Naughton will be nervously awaiting scans.
Updated
AFL 2024

Dogs learn Naughton’s fate as injuries mount heading into crucial stretch of season

The Bulldogs’ 14-point loss to premiership favourites Sydney was compounded by injuries to Anthony Scott, Aaron Naughton and Ed Richards.

  • by Andrew Wu
Opinion
Religion

Confessions of a disabled parking sticker offender

Last Sunday, I took my mother to church and committed many sins.

  • by Malcolm Knox
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Jake Trbojevic, Isaah Yeo and James Tedesco

Maguire’s call on Tedesco will decide NSW’s Origin fate

He’s not only the fullback but also the incumbent captain, so the decision Maguire makes about the Roosters No.1 will have major implications for the Blues’ campaign.

  • by Roy Masters
Harley Reid.
Opinion
AFL 2024

Watching Harley Reid play footy has made me feel hopeful again

Dave Grohl, Virginia Trioli, Kate Middleton. With so much grief and worry in the world right now, these people feel like the antidote. They turn everyday things into acts of beauty.

  • by Kate Halfpenny
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks after stepping off his plane in New Caledonia on Thursday.
Opinion
Protests

Macron’s supreme arrogance to blame for riots in New Caledonia

In the ongoing blame game, it’s hard not to point to Macron himself as the arsonist in chief. He’s the one who set in motion a vote in Paris that triggered the protests in New Caledonia.

  • by Anne-Elisabeth Moutet
In all the discussion about stalking Baby Reindeer has provoked, no one has discussed how writers themselves can be predatory - but what are they hunting?
Opinion
Streaming

Why I’m grateful for Baby Reindeer, the anti-hero alternative we desperately need

In this era of self-congratulatory and safe memoirs, the Netflix series dares to be dangerous.

  • by Mark Mordue

Treasury tells all: How the housing market is so stuffed up

Our housing industry has been too slow to respond to the increased demand for housing. What’s the Albanese government doing about this mess?

  • by Ross Gittins
Rebekah Brooks.
Opinion
CBD

Birkin hell! Rebekah Brooks has Murdoch’s News Corp in the bag

The controversial star of the global Murdoch empire is turning heads in Australia with her regal style.

  • by Kishor Napier-Raman and Noel Towell
There’s a desire in our society to believe most companies exist on a reasonably narrow spectrum with nothing radical at the extremes. But that’s a myth.

Is workplace abuse more prevalent than I realised?

There’s a desire in our society to believe most companies exist on a reasonably narrow spectrum with nothing radical at the extremes. But that’s a myth.

  • by Jonathan Rivett
Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s memoir of her time in jail in Iran is on the shortlist for the non-fiction award.

I won’t mourn the sudden death of the man who oversaw my sham trial

Iranians are celebrating the death of their president by dancing in the streets, setting off fireworks and posting an endless stream of helicopter-themed memes. Meanwhile the Australian government has sent its condolences.

  • by Kylie Moore-Gilbert
Too many rocks, not enough diamonds this season for Latrell Mitchell to be picked for NSW for Origin I.

Why Michael Maguire simply cannot pick Latrell Mitchell for Origin I

The South Sydney fullback doesn’t deserve the jumper, nor can he be trusted to perform in it.

  • by Andrew Webster
Manly coach Anthony Seibold.
Analysis
NRL 2024

Are Manly, Anthony Seibold and Isaac Moses still on the same page?

The Sea Eagles have told their coach that contract talks are on hold after three straight losses. But Seibold insists he didn’t storm out of a meeting on the eve of a season-defining clash.

  • by Adam Pengilly
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Netflix decided to release season three of Bridgerton in two parts.
Opinion
Streaming

Is Netflix killing off the binge model it created? The signs say yes

The latest season of Bridgerton has been split in two, spread out across a month. It’s the latest sign the streaming giant is shifting from the binge model.

  • by Aine Ryan
Baby Reindeer recounts the tale of a chance meeting that quickly escalates into stalking.
Opinion
Real life

When I had a Baby Reindeer experience, I resolved to find my stalker

It began with an anonymous Twitter account posting about me and tagging my colleagues. Who from my past –  exes, housemates, former colleagues – might bear this kind of grudge?

  • by Damien Nowicki
The writer on the dirtbag trail: Trail running involves as much walking as running.
Opinion
Trends

In appealing to the rich, has trail running lost its dirtbag spirit?

Have we become so comfortable in our lives we are now seeking – and willing to pay big money for – discomfort?

  • by Sarah Berry
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has signed a deal with OpenAI.

No ‘dirty deals done dirt cheap’: Why Murdoch teamed up with OpenAI

Rupert Murdoch has decided that a deal done with the ‘thieves and counterfeiters’ of AI is better than no deal.

  • by Elizabeth Knight