Sport newsletter: Olympics edition
News, results and expert analysis from the Paris Olympics sent daily during the Games.
Trial by Water podcast
A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
Interactive: Do you earn enough?
Take a guided tour of the median income in your profession, and your suburb.
Exclusive
Building Bad
How bikies, underworld have become a construction industry ‘cancer’
A months-long investigation featuring secret surveillance reveals how bikies, criminals and underworld figures have infiltrated the building industry including on large publicly funded projects.
Updated
CFMEU
John Setka resigns immediately as head of CFMEU
The powerful construction union boss resigned on Friday night in the face of a raft of explosive allegations about misconduct involving him and the CFMEU.
Left to rot: The ‘ghost homes’ scourge in our big cities, amid a housing crisis
Tens of thousands of homes sit empty across our major cities, while luxury units replace old apartment blocks - all while debate rages about our home shortage.
Exclusive
City life
One in 20 Melbourne homes empty as people waiting languish
Almost 100,000 homes in Melbourne are either unoccupied or barely occupied. They could fix the public housing waiting list twice over.
Cat lived in her dream location. Then she was forced out – and in with her boyfriend
Spiralling housing costs have meant Melburnians are making difficult decisions about their living situations.
Alcaraz and Djokovic storm into Wimbledon final rematch
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz continues to live up to his billing as tennis’ next superhero, moving within one victory of defending his Wimbledon title and becoming the sixth man to win the “Channel Slam”.
The night sessions that showed how Cripps became a champion
The Carlton captain plays game 200 not only as an idol to Blues fans, but also with the universal respect of football lovers Australia-wide.
‘Shocked’: The moment Joe Biden lost George Clooney and Hollywood
At a June fundraiser in Los Angeles, some of the president’s biggest backers had their eyes opened.
Possum poo, no showers after games: A long-promised Fitzroy footy fix-up faces a downgrade
The state government allocated $6.5 million to improve the facilities at the historic Brunswick Street Oval in 2018 and another $6.3 million a few years later. But the council says it’s still over budget and is now seeking a new design.
Opinion
Gender equality
Don’t jeer at cheerleaders until you’ve watched this show
A Netflix documentary series forces many of us – including me – to rethink long-held stereotyping of cheerleaders as simply pin-ups of the patriarchy.
Julia Baird
Journalist, broadcaster, historian and author
Few answers in Australian-Philippine triple-murder mystery
A Philippine father is wrestling with the question he has had since Wednesday: How to tell his four children their mother and Australian grandparents were dead.
Are you being served? Aldi follows Coles, Woolworths into self-service checkouts
Years after the big two introduced self-serve checkouts, Aldi is rolling out the “win-win” technology in hundreds of stores.
When did you last check your phone plan? It could be time to save some money
The nation’s “big three” telcos have lifted their prices – so there’s never been a better time to ditch your provider.
Opinion
World politics
The West, like Biden, is in the wars. But the architects of peace are mobilising
Despite rising global uncertainty and geopolitical anxiety, Western democracies have started building the “sinews of peace” to prevent another colossal war.
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Man sentenced to life over plot to kidnap and murder British TV personality Holly Willoughby
Gavin Plumb’s elaborate kidnap plan, as fleshed out in vivid detail in an online chat group, involved attempting to “ambush” the television presenter at her family home.
Breaking
Alec Baldwin
Judge dismisses charges against Alec Baldwin in Rust killing
The Hollywood actor, who was facing involuntary manslaughter charges, cried and embraced his attorneys after the decision was announced.
![Melbourne designer Tara Sutherland makes pockets a feature of her dresses for her label [Act One].](http://web.archive.org./web/20240712221917im_/https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.21618707093821513%2C$multiply_1.2328%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_191%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/7d74777b4bda15253d0f64a093d5fc2bf3d5ac0e)
What do women want? Pocket equality is a good start
For centuries, pockets were considered essential for men but optional for women. These Australian designers are making a difference.
★★
Review
Emma Stone returns for another wacky film, but sadly this is no Poor Things
If the filmmaker’s much-praised, award-winning Poor Things was the main meal, Kinds of Kindness is the offcuts.
Traveller Letters: Budget airline-style fees in business class? No thanks
“Qatar Airways has a so-called ‘business class lite’ fare which doesn’t allow lounge access or seat selection without significant additional charge.”
Paris 2024
Catley in doubt for Matildas’ Olympic opener with mystery ‘lower leg’ injury
Not for the first time, Tony Gustavsson is being coy about the fitness status of Australia’s captain on the eve of a major tournament.
‘Absolutely surreal’: Hall and de Rozario to fly Australian flag at Paralympics
Paralympic veterans Brenden Hall and Madison de Rozario have been named as the Australian team’s flag-bearers for Paris.
WEEKEND READS
Bleeding knees, burning abs: I spent a week living like David Pocock. It nearly killed me
How does Canberra’s most shredded politician stay fit? Angus Thompson underwent five days of pain involving heavy weights, burning abs – and a winter dip in frigid waters.
Two of Us
On an early date, Sammy introduced Rachael to his sport. Now, he’s her Olympic coach
Olympic breaker Rachael Gunn needs Samuel Free to be her husband some days, her coach others. The two aren’t always the same.
Victoria
The teenage killer who penned a rap song glorifying the stabbing death of his victim
After plunging his knife into Hashim Mohamed (pictured) on St Kilda Beach, a teenager took out his phone and wrote a set of violent rap lyrics glorifying the stabbing.
They’re the playgrounds of Melbourne’s rich and famous. But who owns our ski fields?
It’s been a slow start to this year’s ski season in Victoria – and climate change poses an ongoing threat – but business on the slopes is booming.
Residents warned to watch for headaches after toxic factory fire
The health of firefighters who battled Melbourne’s largest fire in almost seven years in Derrimut is being monitored.
More teens are committing more violent crimes. How did we get here?
William Taylor’s death has thrust the issue of youth crime back into the headlines, but statistics show it is a problem years in the making.
Exclusive
Fire
As fireys battled the inferno, toxic chemicals pooled around them – while authorities feuded
Water authorities allowed huge pools of water and firefighting foam contaminated with chemicals to collect around an enormous industrial site in Derrimut.
AFL 2024
Sore Carlton stars set to face Western Bulldogs; AFLW practice match schedule announced
Carlton coach Michael Voss expects Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering to face the Western Bulldogs despite the Blues stars pulling up sore, while the AFL has announced the AFLW’s practice match schedule.
The Cameron, Curnow-like traits that have this Bomber on the runway to stardom
The 193-centimetre 18-year-old showed the signs last weekend against Collingwood of what’s to come, says Matthew Lloyd.
Politics
Soldier, labourer, gold diggers: who are the married couple accused of spying for Russia?
It was gold Kira Korolev was obsessed with, filling her YouTube channel with footage of her never-ending search for a few glimmering flecks.
Business
Fortescue accused of keeping key meeting a secret in intellectual property case
Billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue has been accused of failing to disclose “material” information when it secured a warrant to raid the homes and offices of ex-Fortescue staff.
World
Why so many of Bali’s foreign visitors don’t – or won’t – pay its modest tourist levy
Scepticism of scams, tightness and a sense of entitlement play their part, but that’s not the main problem.
Opinion
Compromise will be key for Allan to manage youth crime
Annika Smethurst
State Political Editor
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Property
Eleven of our favourite homes for sale in Victoria right now
Looking for your next home? From an Edwardian beauty to a pretty Victorian villa, we’ve got you covered.
How the average household got priced out of the average house
Australian home buyers are taking on less debt when compared to their income, despite rising property prices across the country.
Good Food
Recipe collection
Baking
Five zingy lemon cakes to bake this weekend
Recipe collection
Beef
Winter warmers: 10 ways to cook ‘impossible to ruin’ beef cheeks
Lifestyle
Does alcohol prevent muscle loss? Don’t raise a drink to that
A large new meta-analysis looking at the association between loss of muscle mass and alcohol had surprising results.
Culture
Lovers of musical theatre should not miss this unusually poignant hidden gem
With a spectacular cast that includes Nadine Garner, Elegies: A Song Cycle is a moving and memorable production guided by emotion.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
The night sessions that showed how Patrick Cripps became a champion
The Carlton captain plays game 200 not only as an idol to Blues fans, but also with the universal respect of football lovers Australia-wide.
Why a player suspended for seven matches this year is still eligible to win the Brownlow
Isaac Heeney can’t win the Brownlow after an off-ball incident with St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster. But, ironically, Webster – who was handed a seven-match ban earlier this year – is still eligible to win the coveted award.
McRae urges Magpies to move on from ‘dark cloud’ as Cats sense flag chance
Follow along for all the major moments and post game reactions as Collingwood and Geelong battle it out at the MCG.
How Torrie Lewis became Australia’s fastest woman
She could have been a gymnast, and she could have represented England or Jamaica. But “sliding doors″ moments set Lewis to run for Australia in Paris.
Sore Carlton stars set to face Western Bulldogs; AFLW practice match schedule announced
Carlton coach Michael Voss expects Charlie Curnow and Jacob Weitering to face the Western Bulldogs despite the Blues stars pulling up sore, while the AFL has announced the AFLW’s practice match schedule.
‘A-grade forward’: The signs pointing to Caddy as a future star
The 193-centimetre 18-year-old showed the signs last weekend against Collingwood of what’s to come, according to Essendon legend and former star key forward Matthew Lloyd.
Tests or T20? Top players may skip BBL after India showdown
Australia’s showdown with India and a bid for back-to-back world Test titles may keep all but a handful of Pat Cummins’ team from featuring in the Big Bash League this season.
Have Your Say
Forget poos in the Seine. Doping is the biggest concern at the Olympics
Confidence in WADA’s ability stop drug cheats is at rock-bottom after it was cleared of mishandling of a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
