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Australia news LIVE: Treasurer approves ANZ acquisition of Suncorp; Nine to cut up to 200 jobs
Keep up to date on today’s national news headlines with our live blog.
- by Josefine Ganko
Opinion
Superannuation
The simple super move that could make you $500 richer this EOFY
Not only is this free money from the government, by the time you retire it could mean an extra $60,000 in your pocket.
- by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon
Live
US Votes 2024
US presidential debate LIVE updates: Donald Trump, Joe Biden clash over abortion, economy and foreign affairs ahead of 2024 US election
The first general election debate of the 2024 season kicked off with US President Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump squaring off. Watch the debate live.
- by Chris Zappone, Jessica McSweeney, Farrah Tomazin, Nick Ralston and James Lemon
Unionist and clever boxer fought back when stung
Stan Sharkey provided leadership to establish industry superannuation, severance pay and banning unsafe practices on work sites.
Doilies be damned, this ain’t your grandma’s crochet
Textile artist Luise Elsing returned to crochet after nearly 50 years - instantly she was hooked.
- by Nick Galvin
Breaking
Crime
‘Familial generosity’: Fadi Ibrahim learns fate after gangster brother repays $600k
The Sydney identity has been sentenced for dealing with suspected proceeds of crime after his brother, Michael, tried to smuggle black market tobacco.
- by Perry Duffin
Is Dracula an antihero? Kip Williams prepares to farewell STC with bite
Dracula is the final piece in STC’s Gothic trilogy, which started with The Picture of Dorian Gray and continued with Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
- by Louise Rugendyke
Lunch With
Lunch with
He’s shaped how Australians dress for 50 years. And he’s far from done
Steve Bennett, who founded Country Road in 1974, has been called “Australia’s Ralph Lauren”. Some of his most iconic work is probably in your closet.
- by Melissa Singer
Rupert Murdoch slashes New York penthouse price by more than half
He reportedly paid just under $US58m a decade ago, then tried to sell for slightly more. He’s now asking $US28.5m.
- by James Warrington
The art of gnaw: Niggling opponents is a dark art, but does it work?
Most evidence in sport is anecdotal. Anything beyond that would be a rigorous, perhaps impossible, undertaking for social scientists. But some have tried.
- by Emma Kemp
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown (and Origin)
After two Origin games, it’s getting harder to see exactly what playing role Michael Maguire has in mind for his captain. But would the Blues coach be game to leave Jake Trbojevic out for the decider? Inconceivable.
- by Malcolm Knox
Opinion
Wallabies
My Wallabies team against Wales - and Kurtley Beale is in
Beale’s return to top-level rugby has been a surprising subplot this year, and his selection indicates Joe Schmidt has a particular role for him in mind.
- by Paul Cully
Opinion
Missing campers trial
After Lynn’s murder conviction, all I can think about is the families left behind
Amid all the sensational details of a case that gripped many of us for four years, I can’t stop thinking about one thing: those left to pick up the pieces.
- by Kate Halfpenny
‘It’s Netflix – it’s got to be drama’: Australian star speaks out on rivalry ahead of Tour de France
Jai Hindley headlines the group of six Australians who will start the 111th Tour de France on Saturday – a race defending champion Jonas Vingegaard enters on the back of a death-defying crash.
- by Sophie Smith
Updated
World markets
ASX boosted by banks; Wall Street braces for inflation report
The ASX has gained on Friday morning, following Wall Street which edged higher as traders looked ahead to a key report on inflation that could influence the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates.
- by Jessica Yun
Australian Christopher Esber scoops $480,000 fashion prize in Paris
The designer known for his daring cutouts and celebrity clientele debuted on the Paris Fashion Week schedule less than 12 months ago.
- by Melissa Singer
Updated
NBA
Late NBA draft twist as Melbourne prospect realises dream, former United player chosen with final pick
The NBA dream of Melbourne-born Johnny Furphy has been realised, but only after another shock move during the second round of the NBA draft on Friday morning.
- by Jon Pierik and Roy Ward
Updated
NBA
LeBron James, son Bronny to play together at Lakers after draft move
No father-son duo has ever played alongside each other in the NBA before but that will soon change after 19-year-old Bronny James was picked up by his famous father’s team.
- by Rory Carroll
Tony Abbott, John Howard earn Putin’s ire, hit with sanctions by Kremlin
Russia’s relations with Australia has deteriorated to unprecedented lows since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
- by Rob Harris
Updated
Mergers & acquisitions
Treasurer gives the tick to $4.9b ANZ-Suncorp deal
The transaction is the biggest banking deal in Australia since Westpac bought St George in 2008.
- by Clancy Yeates
New housemate charged with stabbing murder of Sydney woman
Police arrived at the inner west home to find a bloody crime scene. The man charged with the woman’s murder moved into her home only two weeks ago.
- by Sally Rawsthorne and Jessica McSweeney
Analysis
AI
‘Jensanity’: The party animal who is now one of the world’s richest people
Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1991, in a Denny’s fast food restaurant where he once washed dishes. Now he is racing up the world’s richest people list.
- by James Titcomb
Russian satellite breaks up in space, forcing ISS astronauts to shelter in capsules
Astronomers said they didn’t believe the Russians would have blown up their own satellite. However one remarked, “but, with the Russians these days, who knows.”
- by Joey Roulette
Opinion
Paris 2024
Why is Australia picking a fight with the US Olympic swim team?
Australia is looking at a record haul in the pool at the Paris Olympics — but we’re setting ourselves up for a monumental face-plant with the job not yet done.
- by Andrew Webster
The physical abuse was criminal. Sarah’s isolation and humiliation weren’t. That now changes
New laws that take effect on Monday are a major shift in NSW’s response to domestic violence.
- by Jordan Baker and Clare Sibthorpe
Opinion
Work therapy
How can I quickly solve a workplace mystery?
Sometimes, the best way to get an answer to a mystery is not by asking the right question, but the wrong one.
- by Jonathan Rivett
Analysis
Manufacturing
What will future manufacturing jobs really look like?
The government is set to spend $22 billion on manufacturing over the next decade. But what does the future of the industry look like?
- by Sue White
Sky’s exclusive Rupert Murdoch interview suffers a confusing fate
Was footage of the Murdoch family patriarch lost on the cutting-room floor?
- by Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
Luxury clothing family to sell old uni building in hip city lane
The Poulakis family, owners of luxury clothes retailer Harrolds, are selling the old Victoria University CBD campus.
- by Nicole Lindsay
How to turn your $2000 tax cut into $28,000
Workers will have extra cash in their pay packets from next week, but beware the siren song of “lifestyle creep”.
- by Jemimah Clegg
Spike in NSW passenger train faults sparks urgent repair project
New figures show train faults have increased almost one-third in the past year, resulting in cancellations and delays to services.
- by Matt O'Sullivan
Exclusive
Political leadership
Barnaby Joyce quits alcohol, loses 15kg after infamous night he barely remembers
Colleagues say the firebrand has never been sharper having lost 15 kilograms, partly through runs around Canberra’s northern suburbs and playing touch footy.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Development outrage
ANSA Homes’ building licence suspended leaving home owners to wonder what next
Sydney home builder ANSA Homes has been hit with a 60-day licence suspension after allegations of defective work emerged. See what this means for affected owners.
- by Max Maddison
From Dave Grohl to Charli XCX: Five ways to maximise a pop feud in 2024
In today’s saturated pop landscape, feuds are a proven way to boost yourself to viral stardom. Here’s how it’s done.
- by Robert Moran
Opinion
Social media
Do you recognise this man? He has 300 million die-hard fans but isn’t famous
MrBeast created possibly the single largest mass-truancy event in Australian history this week, and yet you probably haven’t even heard of him.
- by Waleed Aly
Analysis
Naked City
Crime scene to court: Why the jury didn’t buy Greg Lynn’s story
Six men and six women of the jury heard two versions of the events that led to the deaths of Russell Hill and Carol Clay. They agreed there was a third version.
- by John Silvester
Exclusive
Pollution
‘Major pollution incident’: Toxic sludge poisons pristine Sydney river, expert says
The NSW Environment Protection Authority warned about the pollution two years ago but has made no attempt to clean it up.
- by Ben Cubby
Warning over narrow roads near new Sydney airport
One of the world’s biggest shipping companies says the roads near Western Sydney International Airport cannot support the size of its planned freight operations.
- by Amelia McGuire
Long before streaming, video stores offered happiness for hire
Youth groups were too holy, malls too expensive and skate parks too unpredictable when I was growing up. Thank goodness I had somewhere else to get my dopamine hit.
- by Simmone Howell
Analysis
FIFA World Cup
Despite World Cup expansion, this will be no cakewalk for Socceroos
But for a total of 3.35 FIFA ranking points, Australia could have had a much easier road to the 2026 World Cup. Instead, they are facing a familiar, but no less formidable challenge.
- by Vince Rugari
Rate rises hit the jobs market as ‘help wanted’ signs disappear
The Reserve Bank has said it wants to bring down inflation and keep the jobless rate as low as possible. Now job vacancies are starting to fall sharply.
- by Shane Wright
A budget forever in the red: Beating bracket creep will cost billions
Without big spending cuts or tax increases, the budget faces “forever” deficits if governments try to deliver further tax cuts to working Australians.
- by Shane Wright
Queensland win series with emphatic 22-6 victory in decider
Queensland has won the first-ever women’s State of Origin decider against an error-riddled Sky Blues side that struggled to get into the contest.
- by Billie Eder and Tom Decent
Olympic sports funding package worth weight in gold – and almost half a billion
Australia’s Olympic sports and athletes have received a record-breaking financial boost less than a month out from the Games getting under way in Paris.
- by Chris Barrett
Talking tactics at an airport baggage carousel? Michael Maguire has no off switch
When the going was so good in Melbourne, the NSW coach climbed out of the coaching box and walked all the way to the MCG sideline in the first half - just to know what they were feeling.
- by Adam Pengilly
On Sydney’s most hated road, idea of adding light rail takes root
There is support for plans to install light rail along Parramatta Road, but the reception from the government is much less enthusiastic.
- by Christopher Harris
A stitch in time: The wardrobe wizards of Beauty and the Beast
These two veteran wardrobe managers work wonders in the wings to maintain the magic of musicals on stage.
- by Carolyn Webb
Exclusive
Trump's White House
Winning friends and influencing people in Trump 2.0’s orbit
The launch of former prime minister Scott Morrison’s book was an unlikely look at what Australia’s diplomatic efforts might look like under a return of Donald Trump.
- by Farrah Tomazin
It took ‘creative nous’: Rudd on behind-the-scenes efforts to secure Assange release
His comments came as the opposition accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of giving Assange, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge, an overly warm welcome.
- by Matthew Knott
Updated
Terror charges
‘I will be actually doing my attack’: Terror teen’s alleged manifesto
The 19-year-old allegedly livestreamed video of himself walking into an MP’s office armed with a knife. His manifesto reveals he had planned other attacks.
- by Jessica McSweeney and Perry Duffin
Release of Assange calls for change of whistleblower laws
My elation and relief at the release of Assange were quickly displaced by rage at the injustice heaped upon this man.
Cheika out of the running for NRL, Waratahs roles after joining English club
Michael Cheika has been linked with multiple roles in the NRL and Super Rugby. But he’s signed to coach a rugby team in England - who just sacked an Aussie.
- by Iain Payten
As it happened: Rate rise on RBA agenda after inflation bump; Julian Assange returns to Australia
Read the national news headlines for Thursday, June 27.
- by Josefine Ganko and Lachlan Abbott
‘Part of our DNA’: Australian journalism loses one of its finest
Judith Whelan, as the second of three women to edit the Herald, was known for her sharp news judgment, kindness and surprising love of sport.
No prosecution after two workers nearly killed at Santos facility off WA
WA’s safety regulator has let companies off the hook, says the union for offshore oil and gas workers.
- by Peter Milne
Ex-Collingwood player granted bail following deaths of two WA women
Two elderly women described as the “backbone of their community” were killed this month when their car collided with one allegedly driven by Shannon Cox.
- by Claire Ottaviano
Editorial
Violence
Violence must never be allowed to creep into our national discourse
A recent spate of concerning events involving electorate offices of state or federal MPs should ring alarm bells for those who believe in democratic values.
- The Herald's View
North shore council ordered to pay woman $283,000 over slip on mulch slope
Kathie Beatrice Salman successfully sued a Sydney council after she rolled her ankle while moving from a bark surface to spongy rubber in a children’s playground.
- by Michael Koziol
Airport prepares fight after mediator backs skyrail for Tullamarine
An underground station should not be built at Melbourne Airport unless the airport operators show it makes commercial sense, a federal report has found.
- by Kieran Rooney and Patrick Hatch
Mission improbable: My race to Saipan for a date with history
I was woken by a phone message from my editor: could I get to a remote Pacific archipelago within 24 hours in time for Julian Assange’s plea hearing?
- by Lisa Visentin
Wong on Payman: She should vote with us, like I had to on gay marriage
Penny Wong has rebuked senator Fatima Payman for crossing the floor, with the foreign minister pointing out she had had to vote against same-sex marriage before Labor changed its position.
- by James Massola
Socceroos land difficult World Cup qualifying group with Japan, Saudi Arabia
Graham Arnold’s side avoided the logistical nightmare of a trip to North Korea, but have been drawn to face two very familiar opponents for the third consecutive World Cup qualifying cycle.
- by Vince Rugari
Even being hit by a truck didn’t stop this author finishing her novel
Irish author Caoilinn Hughes’ new book explores grief, isolation and sibling love and rivalry.
- by Susan Chenery
‘Farage our saviour?’ Divisive Brit’s bid to win over his country’s worst resort town
Long the butt of jokes, Clacton-on-Sea, a 90-minute train ride north-east of London, is at the forefront of British politics ahead of the July 4 election.
- by Rob Harris
ASX dips after choppy day on Wall Street
The Australian sharemarket closed lower today after Wall Street struggled for direction ahead of a key US inflation report.
- by Jessica Yun and Millie Muroi
Exclusive
Education
Private school alumni association split over ‘toxic culture’ report
The former vice president of a high-fee grammar school alumni association has been suspended over alleged threats as the group’s “toxic” culture is laid bare.
- by Alex Crowe and Adam Carey
Opinion
Assange saga
Assange, hero or villain? Either way, Albanese is keeping his distance
Now Julian Assange is free, a huge divide remains about whether he is right to insist on the unfettered release of information.
- by David Crowe
Updated
Education
University students face expulsion over pro-Palestine protests
Several Victorian universities have threatened disciplinary action against students for joining campus protests against the bloodshed in Gaza.
- by Alex Crowe
Unis blame government for student visa delays weeks before semester two
Several alarmed universities believe the visa delays are more evidence of the government suppressing foreign arrivals due to a political fight over migration.
- by Angus Thompson
‘Never been so unprepared’: Schmidt flags Wallabies experimentation in July Tests
He is one of the most experienced Test rugby coaches in the world, but new Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt is battling the butterflies.
- by Iain Payten
‘Bring it on man’: Luai says his boys are ready to rock Maroons
NSW’s pantomime villain Jarome Luai is already taunting the Maroons ahead of a mouth-watering State of Origin decider.
- by Adam Pengilly
Exclusive
AFL 2024
‘It’s something we should look at’: Dillon puts State of Origin back on the AFL’s agenda
The AFL seemed to have given up hope of a State of Origin of its own, but new CEO Andrew Dillon has different ideas. He wants to see the best face off against the best in the AFL and AFLW.
- by Peter Ryan
Exclusive
Human trafficking
Sydney man abandons wife overseas after she fell out with his mother
The 44-year-old man drew up an itinerary for their trip with details of their flights. It was bogus. He had a return flight, but his wife’s ticket was one-way.
- by Perry Duffin
Opinion
Aviation
The Virgin dilemma: How to catch the IPO Mexican wave
Qatar Airways is eager to become a cornerstone shareholder in Virgin, but this brings another complicated twist.
- by Elizabeth Knight
How to buy a one euro house in some of the world’s most gorgeous locations
Is Aussie property giving you the pip? Don’t get mad, get on a plane.
- by Emily Power
Chokers no more? South Africa break 32-year cup curse
Thirty-two years of World Cup hurt were wiped away in the couple of hours it took South Africa to hammer Afghanistan.
- by Daniel Brettig
Sex sells: How Hollywood got steamy again
From The Idea of You to Poor Things, sex is back on the silver screen. What explains the resurgence in eroticism?
- by Nell Geraets
Updated
Crime
New housemate allegedly murdered inner west woman
The man is in police custody after he allegedly stabbed his housemate to death on Thursday morning.
- by Sally Rawsthorne
These are the July gigs that should be on your calendar
From Australian punk-rock royalty to a rapper who now plays the flute, here are the month’s must-see shows.
- by James Jennings
Opinion
Parenting
Renowned for their stench, teen boys are now experts on designer fragrances
It used to be that the pungent and distinct waft of a teen’s body odour would be covered by overly generous sprays of Lynx. Now, tween boys are turning to Dior to mask their B.O.
- by Shona Hendley
This inventive debut novel is a love letter to Australian music
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction releases, including new fiction from Bruce Pascoe and a memoir from champion surfer Pauline Menczer.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Sister Act to Streetcar: Your mid-year guide to Melbourne stage shows
The transformation of the Arts Precinct is in full swing, but there’s still plenty to see and do, from ballet at the Regent to My Brilliant Career.
- by Cameron Woodhead
Opinion
Work/life balance
Why we should all be taking more time off work
Taking time out from work for other important things in your life might be just what you need for a career reset.
- by Tim Duggan
Julian Assange freed as it happened: WikiLeaks founder returns to Australia for first time in 14 years
Follow today’s coverage on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with our live blog.
- by Olivia Ireland
‘We’re the hunted’: Florent relishing Swans’ time at the top
Defender Oliver Florent has never experienced a Swans team like this and is keen for his out-of-contract teammates to stay in Sydney.
- by Jonathan Drennan