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News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday.
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A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
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Hospital mulls axing elective surgery as budget crisis sparks fears of waiting list blowouts
Victoria blitzed elective surgery waiting lists down after the pandemic, but looming health cuts threaten to blow them out again and force more people to take out private health insurance.
The six weeks that turned Fatima Payman’s rift with Labor into a chasm
Fatima Payman was a quiet backbencher for her first two years in the Senate. But for the past six weeks the former union official has become a household name.
Opinion
Political leadership
Will Fatima Payman become the Pauline Hanson of the left? That’s up to her
The now-independent WA senator has chosen performative identity politics over Labor Party solidarity. But her next decision could have even more profound implications for Australian politics.
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
From tobacco factory to artistry, this suburb is the southside’s northside
Creatives, breweries, patisseries and young families are springing up in the suburb’s once-gritty industrial precinct, which used to be home to soft drink manufacturers and big tobacco companies.
‘Trying to push me out of the race’: Joe Biden rejects calls for him to step aside
A fired-up Biden made it clear he would not back down, telling supporters: “I’m not going to let a 90-minute debate wipeout three-and-a-half years of work”.
Diagnosing dementia is complicated. An algorithm could change that
Scientists in the US and Australia are using artificial intelligence to keep up with an estimated 78 million dementia cases by 2030.
The match that convinced young Australian he can topple Djokovic at Wimbledon
Alexei Popyrin has never gone beyond the third round at a grand slam and will need to eliminate Novak Djokovic to change that.
Opinion
AFL 2024
Booed, under-paid and over-scrutinised: Who’d be an AFL coach?
The AFL must end the conversation about improving the lot of coaches, and act. Watching Ken Hinkley after last Sunday’s game should have proved another wake-up call.
Caroline Wilson
Football columnist for The Age
Far from groovy: How did this 70s house win a top architecture award?
Think of sunken lounges - often referred to as “conversation pits” - indoor gardens, exposed timber ceilings, built-in bespoke joinery, and vast open plan entertaining areas.
Updated
UK election
King Charles asks Starmer to form government after Labour election landslide
Rishi Sunak has stood down as leader of the Conservatives after Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party swept to power, all but wiping out the ruling Tories.
Crackdown targets foreign agents harassing dissidents
Australians with Iranian, Chinese, Cambodian, Rwandan and Indian backgrounds have reported foreign agents harassing and assaulting them on local soil.
Nedd’s injury-laden 4000km run fascinated physios. His new plan may stun them
Nedd Brockmann became a national sensation in 2022 when he ran from Perth to Sydney. Now the man with the famous haircut has set himself a new challenge.
Gold, silver and denim: The best and worst Olympic uniforms
Judo suits, splattered skirts and bro blazers will be worn by athletes from around the world at the opening ceremony on the Seine.
★★★★
Streaming
How Maggie Beer’s small changes make a big difference
In a new series, the 2010 Senior Australian of the Year and TV presenter takes her skills into a Perth aged care home to improve the lives of residents.
How Mia Goth became Hollywood’s most gloriously demented scream queen
With MaXXXine, the British actor wraps up a film trilogy for the ages.
‘Couldn’t see the mainstream appeal’: How the world’s best-selling video game defied expectations
Minecraft’s lead developer Jens Bergensten speaks on the global phenomenon that has lasted for 15 years.
Traveller Letters: Virgin bumped me from flight because my fare was cheap
“Half an hour before take-off, Virgin unapologetically informed me I would not be boarding my flight to Bali.”
WEEKEND READS
Tony Wright’s Column
Donald Trump and the king who could do no wrong, but lost his head
The US Supreme Court grants immunity from prosecution for former presidents like Donald Trump. But could a king really do no wrong and keep his head?
Good Weekend Superquiz, July 6
Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today’s interactive superquiz.
Victoria
Accused killer teen driver bailed despite objections of dead man’s family
The 17-year-old boy was released on bail to live with his mother, despite opposition from the family of dead man William Taylor.
Alleged ‘puppeteer’ brother of tobacco war kingpin released on bail
The brother of an alleged organised crime kingpin has been granted bail despite fears he’s a flight risk and player in a violent illicit tobacco syndicate.
Record-breaking weather system brings rain and freezing mornings
Rain in Sydney and record-breaking cold in Victoria is down to an abnormal anticyclone that could go down in history.
Exclusive
Education
Education Department takes legal action to prevent terrorised teachers getting help
The Education Department is trying to block a WorkSafe demand for an in-house mental health worker for teachers at a troubled high school.
Exclusive
Smoking & vaping
Vape ban chaos: No one wants to raid shops for fear of organised crime
Four days into a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes, federal and state authorities are playing the blame game about who should be enforcing the rules.
AFL 2024
AFL’s ‘opening round’ set to return in 2025 – but clubs want change
Clubs are preparing to make it clear to the AFL that significant issues that arose due to opening round need to be addressed.
Big Hawks changes, Blues make surprise move: AFL round 17 teams and tips
See the selected teams as they’re announced for round 17 and what the expert tipsters think.
Politics
PM warns against faith-based political parties as Payman hints at next move
Independent senator Fatima Payman said “stay tuned” when asked if she wanted to collaborate with a coalition of Muslim groups planning to run against Labor MPs.
Business
The dirty secret of Australia’s green energy transition
Australia has little choice but to urgently boost investment in a whole new generation of gas-powered turbines to back up renewables and keep the lights on in times of critical need.
Opinion
Inside China
China’s desperate bid to fix one of its biggest problems has backfired
Keith Bradsher
World
Biden says he is ‘first black woman to serve with a black president’
A week after Joe Biden’s disastrous debate with Donald Trump, the sitting US president appears to be fighting for his political life.
Opinion
Think the Middle East has little impact on us? Think again
Rodger Shanahan
Middle East and security analyst
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Property
Our favourite 14 homes for sale in Victoria right now
Looking for your next home? From a modular home with mountain views to a modern executive townhouse, we’ve got you covered.
The regional Victorian towns drawing priced-out Melburnians
Three councils on Melbourne’s fringe have had similar or stronger rental price growth over the past 12 months, a sign of a spillover effect.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Hangover cures are on the rise. But could they promote riskier drinking?
Evidence on the effectiveness of certain hangover cures is still slim, but how might they impact our habits?
Culture
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.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
‘Pretty good yardstick’: Bombers solidify top-four spot with significant win over Magpies
Essendon have solidified their spot in the top four with an important win over rivals Collingwood at the MCG. For the Magpies, they now risk falling out of the eight come Monday.
Opinion
AFL 2024
Booed, under-paid and over-scrutinised: Who’d be an AFL coach?
The AFL must end the conversation about improving the lot of coaches, and act. Watching Ken Hinkley after last Sunday’s game should have proved another wake-up call.
Caroline Wilson
Football columnist for The Age
Blues’ contracts on hold amid salary cap squeeze
A tight salary cap is behind two Carlton players not yet being offered new deals.
‘Super special’: Opals win despite Jackson’s struggles as hope builds for medal run
The Opals scored another win over rivals China and stand-in coach Cheryl Chambers senses something special is building ahead of Paris 2024.
Analysis
India
His dad is Modi’s right-hand man. India’s Jay Shah may soon be running world cricket
Why was Jay Shah on the podium when India won the Twenty20 World Cup? There is an election coming up.
In Depth
Paris 2024
Head start: The psychology of competing at the Olympics
The Olympic Games are unique - and so are is the pressure that come with racing in them. Not everyone finds a way to handle it.
‘Feels a bit worse’: Kokkinakis out of Wimbledon as injury strikes again
Only two Australians remain in Wimbledon contention after a day of elation mixed with heartbreak and missed opportunities, capped by an emotional Thanasi Kokkinakis injury withdrawal.
Have Your Say
Too many whingers: Why the footy sook-fest has to stop
The constant complaining in the AFL has gone too far and threatens to tarnish the code’s reputation as Australia’s premier sport.
Kane Cornes
AFL columnist
