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The Drop podcast
Your weekly hit of the most interesting pop culture news, reviews and recommendations.
The Traveller Quiz
Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with our weekly travel quiz.
Blood expert accused of ‘half-baked’ theory in Lynn trial
The defence for alleged double murderer Gregory Lynn has accused the prosecution of collaborating with a blood-splatter expert to introduce a new theory without warning.
Exclusive
Domestic violence
Domestic violence fix could be devastating for women, experts warn
A plan to boost Victorian police powers to extend family violence safety notices and introduce new minimum lengths for intervention orders could unwittingly cause “devastating” harm to victim-survivors.
‘Escalate for Rafah’: Protesters plan to occupy Labor MPs’ offices
Palestine supporters plan to occupy the offices of Labor MPs across the country on Friday in a national day of action over the war in Gaza.
Allan told to put money where her mouth is in antisemitism fight
Premier receives fiery reception at Jewish Community Council of Victoria event.
ABC boss backs Tingle, but not how she made comments
ABC managing director David Anderson said he regretted that Laura Tingle’s comments were made without the “usual qualification”, but declined to apologise to Peter Dutton.
Opinion
Immigration
Four reasons why the prime minister won’t sack Andrew Giles
The Coalition has dominated the debate on the release of criminals from immigration detention, yet Anthony Albanese won’t sack his minister. To fix the politics, Labor needs to fix the policy.
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Rampaging Blues sink Port and bury the curse of Adelaide Oval
Carlton have put the Adelaide Oval curse to bed. After entering the final term with a seven-point lead, they booted clear through late goals to Zac Williams and Harry McKay.
Police found a phone in the mud. Now they hope for a breakthrough in the Samantha Murphy search
The first physical clue to the missing Ballarat mother’s fate has emerged. Police are investigating whether it contains data that might give them answers.
Opinion
Real life
‘Honey, you’re overreacting’: The reason why too many men get away with it
My father went berserk and admitted his obsessive control of my mother. My ex-partner stalked me and attacked me. But doctors and police just wouldn’t listen.
Jennie Hollamby
Contributor
Former Nine boss Darren Wick’s $1m golden handshake on the line after harassment claims
Nine will try to claw back at least part of the payment to the former news boss accused of drunkenly groping staff after complaints to management and anger from journalists.
The plan to save the Mona Lisa from crass crowds and Instagrammers
Jostling crowds have made viewing Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece one of Europe’s most disappointing experiences. Now there are moves to protect her from the hordes.
His licence suspended, a man appears in court via Zoom from behind the wheel
The judge appeared to be stunned by the irony of the man’s actions given the charge he was facing.
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Trump’s air of confidence has vanished as jurors deliberate in hush-money case
The former US president has vehemently denied wrongdoing. Now 12 jurors will decide his fate.
Still scarred: The Japanese comedian who unknowingly starred in a reality TV show
Twenty-five years ago Nasabi went through his own version of The Truman Show.
This airport has good facilities – until you’re stuffed in like herrings
Chic Scandi wood details punctuate the high ceilings, but there is frustration in the air at this Norwegian airport.
You can experience more than one type of anxiety. Here are tips to cope
There are many ways in which anxiety can manifest, and many people’s experiences don’t fit neatly into a category.
SEE & DO
This coming-of-age novel features strikingly precise characterisation
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction releases including a swashbuckling tale of a woman pirate and a deep dive into the symphony beneath the waves.
Bob Dylan, Socrates and a speaking sky: this thrilling book has it all
Poet Anne Carson pairs words and drawings in a celebration of beauty and absurdity.
Victoria
‘The scale is our issue’: Well-heeled residents up in arms over Port Melbourne housing plan
Port Melbourne residents have joined forces with former tenants of the Barak Beacon public housing block to fight plans to build an 11-storey tower on the site.
Alistair Thomson went bushwalking in the NT outback. No one has heard from him since
The Victorian man, 64, started walking alone on the Larapinta Trail about 240 kilometres west of Alice Springs. No one has heard from him for nine days.
Teens showed friend ‘bloody knife’ after Doncaster doctor’s death
After entering not guilty pleas, two teenagers accused of killing Ash Gordon have had their cases fast-tracked to a higher court.
Updated
Missing person
Phone found in fresh search for Samantha Murphy’s body
A police source, speaking anonymously owing to the sensitivity of the investigation, is confident the phone belonged to the 51-year-old mother.
‘This should not have occurred’: Uni admits it underpaid staff
Deakin University has turned itself in to the Fair Work Ombudsman after discovering it had been underpaying casual academic staff – two years after the union first accused it of doing so.
AFL 2024
Exclusive
Who is whispering in the umpire’s ear and why some AFL coaches aren’t happy
AFL umpires are receiving in-game feedback through an earpiece from an official at the ground, prompting senior coaches to seek answers from the league.
AFL Briefing
Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee will miss prime-time Blues clash
The Power have taken a no-risk approach with Rozee and ruled him out of the Adelaide Oval encounter against the Blues.
Politics
Senator quits committees after genocide comments
Fatima Payman accused Israel of conducting a genocide in Gaza, using the controversial “river to the sea” chant in a dramatic intervention.
Business
Opinion
Company mergers
BHP walks after Anglo breaks off the engagement – but never say never
Anglo American’s refusal to engage with BHP forced the world’s largest miner to abandon its $74 billion mega-deal.
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
World
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Trump’s air of confidence has vanished as jurors deliberate in hush-money case
The former US president has vehemently denied wrongdoing. Now 12 jurors will decide his fate.
Opinion
Laura Tingle called out racism. So why is she the one facing a backlash?
Giri Sivaraman
Race discrimination commissioner
Explore
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Property
‘We all seem to be happier’: Where you can be a sea-changer for under $750,000 in Victoria
The finest homes of Torquay and Portsea might be out of reach, but Melburnians are ditching the commute for more affordable and less hectic options.
Eight of our favourite luxury homes for sale right now
From a palatial penthouse to an elegant Italianate villa and a hinterland showstopper with infinity-edge pool, here’s our pick of the bunch.
Good Food
Lifestyle
At 30, this writer put bad boys and drink behind her. Then she sold 30 million books
Novelist Marian Keyes’ life is divided into two, but she says her painful youth still haunts her.
Opinion
Parenting
I regularly travel for work. Why do people keep asking who’s looking after my child?
Melissa Singer
National fashion editor
Culture
Why being an Archibald finalist can mean a lot more than fame
On Thursday, 57 artists will be announced as Archibald finalists, and the winner of the Packing Room prize will be revealed.
Opinion
WordPlay
Why the Streisand effect could be morphing into the Gina effect
David Astle
Crossword compiler and ABC Radio Melbourne presenter
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Double delight for Voss as Blues overpower Port and rule tweak starts well
The Carlton coach left the Adelaide Oval rapt with his team and skipper and impressed with how the umpires adapted to the new interpretation of holding-the-ball decisions.
Dreamtime heads north: AFLW moves showpiece Indigenous match to Darwin
Essendon and Richmond will head to the Top End this AFLW season; a move Tigers chief Brendon Gale hopes will “lay the foundation for future Dreamtime games in Darwin.”
Updated
AFL 2024
Alastair Clarkson cleared following AFL investigation
The North Melbourne coach has been cleared of directing profanities at an umpire, following an AFL investigation.
Opinion
AFL 2024
Forget the contract, Max King must leave the Saints
The St Kilda forward is at a crucial moment in his career and needs to start asking the hard questions about his future.
Kane Cornes
AFL columnist
Updated
Super Rugby
Collapse of Rebels sparks legal battle, puts MCG World Cup final in doubt
Rugby Australia has shut down the Melbourne Rebels after 14 seasons, sparking a court battle with the consortium that planned to save the club and casting extreme doubt on the Victorian government’s commitment to hosting the 2027 World Cup final.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Lyon calls for transparency on umpire comms; Bombers avoid virus catastrophe
Ross Lyon and Sam Mitchell have very different views on umpire coaches speaking with umpires during breaks in play, while St Kilda’s newest player had a life-changing night on Wednesday.
Craig Hutchison’s sports empire offered $40m to sell Perth Wildcats
Sports Entertainment Group is considering an offer for its NBL club Perth Wildcats, as an August deadline looms for the group’s multimillion-dollar debt repayment.
Have Your Say
Watch how the AFL tightened holding-the-ball calls; Wounded Pies lose Pendles
The AFL has ordered umpires to reduce the “reasonable time” they give tackled players to dispose of the ball; a throwback to how holding-the-ball decisions were made in 2006, one senior umpire says.
