Puzzled with David Astle newsletter
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Trial by Water podcast
A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
The Traveller Quiz
Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with our weekly travel quiz.
Russia v the Olympics: How hacks, bedbug scares and a fake Tom Cruise could disrupt the Games
Total meltdown or death by a thousand hacks? Paris 2024 faces the biggest cyber threat so far.
Liberals, Nationals split over support for big wind and solar
Liberals insist they want more renewables while leading Nationals are calling for tougher rules on wind and solar projects to prepare the way for nuclear power plants.
Only at risk ‘lying on the ground licking the road’: CFMEU fined 109k over safety issues
A Federal Court judge said the construction union’s record showed a “general disregard” for workplace laws after three officials were fined over beaches.
Keon Park station is officially open. Residents were already painfully aware
Goran Torbakov was woken at 7.30am on Friday by an announcement blaring into his apartment: “Dear passengers, this station is now open.”
Blues dine out on Geelong, Cats won’t ‘jump to conclusions’ on Hawkins
Carlton have stamped their authority on a disastrous Friday night for Geelong at the MCG, with Tom Hawkins injured and Patrick Dangerfield in match review trouble. The Blues won by 63 points.
Opinion
Drugs in sport
Chinese doping scandal has muddied the waters for clean athletes in Paris
Athletes lining up at next month’s Olympics, with no known doping skeletons in the closet, face a harsh reality of the unknown unknowns.
Darren Kane
Sports Columnist
AFL teams and tips: Gresham to miss for Bombers, Petracca’s absence forces Demon changes
Our experts have entered their tips for the six games of round 15. Jade Gresham (personal reason) will miss for Essendon against West Coast but Sam Draper, Mason Redman and Xavier Duursma are back.
Opinion
City life
This French city was once a crime hub. It could teach Melbourne how to green its laneways
Melbourne spent millions in a failed attempt to green its grey laneways. A successful scheme shows the better way to beautify the city comes from empowering residents.
Justine Costigan
Contributor
Woman takes boyfriend to tribunal after he fails to take her to the airport
The woman involved had arranged to be picked up by the man, who she was in a relationship with, but he never arrived to collect her.
Opinion
Parenting
It’s not selfish not to want kids. It’s selfish to have them
I’ve had three babies and none were born of an act of altruism. Every time I had a child I did so for me.
Kerri Sackville
Columnist and author
‘I love you but this is just greedy’: Can you manufacture success? Sceptics say Taylor Swift is
Is Taylor Swift really “chart blocking” Charli XCX and Billie Eilish? And what does that even mean?
Tripologist: What should we do on a Dubai stopover if we don’t like malls?
With a few days stopover in Dubai, one of the best things to do is to leave Dubai.
Opinion
Royal family
Catherine gets it – being honest doesn’t always feel terrific, but it gets the job done
The princess’s glossy My Fair Lady return was a masterclass in not just doing what you do best to keep the masses happy, but in controlling the narrative.
Kate Halfpenny
Regular columnist
Adding an owl to this painting was a wise move, it just won a $75,000 prize
A portrait rejected by the Archibald Prize judges has scooped this year’s Darling Prize.
Travel quiz: What is the northernmost destination Qantas flies to?
Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with the weekly travel quiz.
WEEKEND READS
Two of Us
‘It’s borderline crazy’: The feat that leaves this coach in awe of his athlete wife
They both lost limbs through tragic accidents – now, former gold-medal sprinter Scott Reardon coaches his fellow Paralympian wife, long-jumper Vanessa Low.
Modern Guru
After 42 years of teaching, I’ve grown to dislike people – and just want me-time. OK?
You’ve earned the right to dislike humanity for the rest of your life, writes our Modern Guru.
Victoria
Jury deliberations in missing campers murder trial headed into second week
A Supreme Court jury will continue to consider its verdict on Monday in the trial of former pilot Gregory Lynn after viewing part of his evidence again earlier this week.
Jessica’s killer ate pizza as she died from the injuries he brutally inflicted
Robert Rickerby violently punched, kicked and hit partner Jessica Geddes then left her slowly dying as he went to get food.
Exclusive
City life
Councils alarmed by government orders that could double housing. See the plans for your area
Councils across Melbourne warn of fundamental changes to their suburbs after the state government ordered them to find space for millions of new homes.
Think it’s cold? Try a dawn ocean swim on winter solstice
On the shortest day of the year in the depths of winter, this Torquay group wades into the water after a lantern parade.
The view from flats where train announcements have become an ‘intrusive force’
A train station has moved and now sits less than five metres from balconies. Residents have been offered noise-cancelling headphones to deal with it.
AFL 2024
Draper poised to return; AFLW to adopt ‘wholly national draft’; Charlie McCartin bound for the VFL
Essendon are set to be significantly bolstered as they start their assault on the second half of the season, poised to welcome back guns including Sam Draper. Meanwhile, the AFLW will adopt a fully national draft model, to take effect for the 2025 season.
AFL teams and tips: Gresham to miss for Bombers, Petracca’s absence forces Demon changes
Our experts have entered their tips for the six games of round 15. Jade Gresham (personal reason) will miss for Essendon against West Coast but Sam Draper, Mason Redman and Xavier Duursma are back.
Politics
Dutton’s nuclear plan on former coal sites not as easy as it seems
Experts have called into question Peter Dutton’s insistence that existing coal power plant sites and transmission lines could be used for nuclear power.
Opinion
Nuclear energy
Dutton’s plan contains a fib, but there’s also a fact in its favour
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Business
News chiefs slam ‘toxic’ social media, urge government to consider potential Meta ban
The bosses of Nine, News Corp and Seven West Media have called for a potential ban on Facebook if parent company Meta fails to comply with local laws and values.
World
When the only escape from war in Gaza is to buy a way out
For many Palestinians, securing approval to exit the territory is possible only after raising thousands of dollars to pay middlemen or an Egyptian company.
Opinion
Dutton’s nuclear play is delighting his Victorian opponents
Annika Smethurst
State Political Editor
Explore
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Property
The regional property markets tipped to hit fresh records in the next year
The COVID-era tree- and sea-change boom is over, but some states can expect to see their regional house price markets improve in the next year.
How house prices will buck the trend in Melbourne next year
Despite higher interest rates, property prices are tipped to grow to new highs, but not all capitals will keep up.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Furiosa star declares war on red carpet ‘waste’ by selling her looks
Model turned actress Charlee Fraser has teamed with one of Australia’s top designers to launch a new charitable initiative by giving her gowns a second life.
Opinion
Motherhood
Is my biological clock faulty, or is motherhood just not for me?
Genevieve Novak
Spectrum columnist
Culture
Donald Sutherland, versatile star of Ordinary People and Hunger Games, dead at 88
The Canadian actor, whose lengthy career spanned from the 1960s into the 2020s, managed to switch effortlessly from character roles to romantic leads.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Russia v the Olympics: How hacks, bedbug scares and a fake Tom Cruise could disrupt the Games
Total meltdown or death by a thousand hacks? The Paris Games face the biggest cyber threat so far. And the fallout could reach well beyond cyberspace.
Red-hot Blues dine out on Cats, Dangerfield could face MRO scrutiny
Carlton have stamped their authority on a disastrous Friday night for Geelong at the MCG, with Tom Hawkins injured and Patrick Dangerfield in match review trouble. The Blues won by 63 points.
Opinion
Drugs in sport
Chinese doping scandal has muddied the waters for clean athletes in Paris
Athletes lining up at next month’s Olympics, with no known doping skeletons in the closet, face a harsh reality of the unknown unknowns.
Darren Kane
Sports Columnist
‘You’re only No.1 because Ash retired’: How Barty’s shock call changed tennis history
Ash Barty’s second – and almost certainly final – retirement two years ago not only broke Australian hearts but also unleashed a potential all-time great.
Pat-trick: Australia’s engine humming after Cummins’ purple patch
How laser focused is Australia’s World Cup campaign? Pat Cummins forgot he was on a hat-trick against Bangladesh
Geelong’s nervous wait on Hawkins foot injury
Geelong will nervously await scans on champion forward Tom Hawkins’ left foot as coach Chris Scott concedes they are concerned he may have suffered a serious injury.
Analysis
AFL 2024
Five burning questions ahead of the second Sydney derby of the AFL season
The Swans are flying without a care in the world, while the Giants would love another win to help get their season back on track. We take a closer look at Saturday’s huge clash.
Have Your Say
He’s a villain after just seven games. But this young Hawk will be a star
Nick Watson is only 19 and has kicked 5.15, but I’ve seen enough to be convinced he will, in time, become one of the most marketable sports stars in the country.
Kane Cornes
AFL columnist
