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Brisbane 2032 Olympics
Olympic glow-up proposed for ‘tired’ Central Station
New escalators and open-sky ceilings: How a UK-based firm plans to fix Brisbane Central’s capacity issues before the 2032 Games.
- by Cameron Atfield
Updated
US politics
Trump’s chief-of-staff Susie Wiles diagnosed with breast cancer
Susie Wiles, the first female White House chief-of-staff in US history, will continue to serve in the role “virtually full-time” while she undergoes treatment.
- by Michael Koziol
US-Iran war live updates: Trump hits out at allies who rebuffed his calls for help to secure Strait of Hormuz; Israel continues to pound Iran and Lebanon
Welcome to our rolling coverage of the war in the Middle East, which continues to rage across multiple fronts, fuelling fears of a global energy crisis.
- by Emily Kaine
ASX set to rise on RBA day as falling oil prices boost Wall Street
Oil prices are down, and stocks are up, though such moves have been quick to reverse since the war in Iran began.
- by Stan Choe
Randa Abdel-Fattah sells out Sydney Writers’ Festival appearance
The academic was sensationally dumped from Adelaide Writers’ Week in January, sending the festival into meltdown. Her Sydney appearance has already sold out.
- by John Buckley
Opinion
Middle East at war
If Trump’s America is not winning this war – and it’s not – who is?
US credibility is harmed, its power in the Indo-Pacific is drained and its munitions stocks are depleted. Yet the president can’t say what his goal is.
- by Peter Hartcher
Exclusive
Education
Revamped school reports to free up teachers and give parents ‘plain English’
The reforms promise to cut down on teachers’ administrative burdens and give parents a better understanding of how their children are tracking at school.
- by Noel Towell and Nicole Precel
Exclusive
Guns
The ‘gaping hole’ being used to get a gun licence in NSW
People claiming to be recreational hunters or sporting shooters but who do neither are slipping through the net.
- by Perry Duffin
The $5 million court battle over a defective Sydney tennis centre
A stoush between a council and builders over defects emerging in a sports facility has found its way to the Supreme Court.
- by Cindy Yin
Exclusive
Property tax
‘I want my $1m back’: Wealthy cattle baron in legal fight with valuer-general
As typos go, the one issued to Theo Onisforou turned out to be an expensive one.
- by Lucy Macken
‘Clean up the rorts’: New rules to crack down on dodgy visa agents
Labor’s new measures will aim to improve integrity in the migration system as fresh polling shows most Australians still think numbers are too high.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
AFL Briefing
AFL 2026
‘Messiah’ hopes for Wanganeen-Milera ‘not realistic’; Swans blow with Gulden out for months
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has cautioned pundits to temper expectations on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. In tough news for the Sydney Swans, Errol Gulden needs surgery on his shoulder and will miss four months of football.
- by Peter Ryan, Jon Pierik, Jonathan Drennan, Scott Spits and Marc McGowan
Updated
Media & marketing
Penthouse to courthouse: Antony Catalano’s empire unravels
The media mogul’s real estate agents have pulled his luxury Melbourne penthouse, which police were called to on Thursday night, from sale.
- by Kishor Napier-Raman, Lucy Macken and Julius Dennis
She’s been a Matilda for half her life. On Tuesday, Emily van Egmond will break new ground
The veteran midfielder is set to become the most capped Australian footballer ever when the Matildas take on China in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.
- by Emma Kemp
Exclusive
Resolve Political Monitor
Voters blame Albanese, not Trump’s war, as cost-of-living pain deepens
The Reserve Bank is tipped to lift interest rates, but voters are likely to blame the Albanese government for the inflation that is forcing the bank’s hand.
- by Shane Wright
What Jefferson wants boys and parents to know about the manosphere
Jefferson Nguyen went looking for advice on how to talk to women. What he discovered online turned him into a young man even his sister found disturbing.
- by Wendy Tuohy
‘We’ve got to have some influence’: UK owners await details of NRL deal
The NRL could pump millions of dollars into the northern hemisphere competition as part of its ambition to strengthen the code internationally.
- by Chris Barrett
Inside the battle to save Sydney’s rooftop go-karting track
A clash between entertainment and Sydney’s obsession with parking has left 156 jobs in the balance at the Entertainment Quarter.
- by David Barwell
The Oscars after-parties fashion: More famous names, less fabric
From the Beckhams to the Kardashians and Dua Lipa – who wore what after the main event.
- by Damien Woolnough
US-Iran war as it happened: Iran denies asking Trump for ceasefire negotiations; Four more Iranian women footballers withdraw their asylum bid to stay in Australia
The war in the Middle East continues to escalate, disrupting oil exports and sending fuel prices rising across the world. Follow our rolling coverage.
- by Emily Kaine, Ellen Connolly and Rachael Ward
Fuel reserve released as farmers warn of food price hit
The government has authorised the release of up to 760 million litres of petrol and diesel, giving priority to regional areas that have been running short.
- by Jessica Yun, Paul Sakkal, Alexandra Smith and Cindy Yin
KIIS licence could be at risk if Kyle and Jackie O Show makes further breaches
The media watchdog has imposed licence conditions on the radio network behind Kyle and Jackie O’s show one day before a key deadline.
- by Colin Kruger and Kishor Napier-Raman
‘Biblical disaster’: Trump plots a radical move to control oil prices
The Trump administration is considering intervening in oil markets to push down prices despite warnings that it would have severe ramifications.
- by Chris Price and Joe Wright
Opinion
Letters
Trump trivialises war and makes a mockery of politics
Under Donald Trump, the US frames war, whether just or unjust, in the language of Nintendo.
Updated
AFL 2026
‘Error of judgment’: Swans admit to script change before pre-game Bondi tribute
Sydney have admitted to changing the script of a pre-game tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack to remove reference to the Jewish community, saying the AFL was not involved.
- by Jonathan Drennan and Jon Pierik
Updated
Nationals
Coalition attacks Joyce in bitter byelection fight with One Nation
Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said voters need more from their politicians than Joyce “flat out on a pavement”.
- by Paul Sakkal
Analysis
Political leadership
Burke’s celebration of Iranian players’ asylum now looks more like an own goal
A week ago, a beaming Tony Burke stood alongside five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team. It is now the picture of a cautionary tale.
- by James Massola
Emirates flights from Australia diverted after attack on Dubai
Even as the airline seeks to scale up flights following the start of the war, Canberra is advising travellers to avoid the region, including the airports.
- by Chris Zappone
Opinion
John F Kennedy
How this Kennedy drama has flipped the Camelot script
A new dramatised series tracing the romance, wedding and stunningly sad death of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette has found unexpected audiences.
- by Maureen Dowd
Gold Coast snags Olympic stadium architects for new $480m arena
Mayor Tom Tate says the 12,000-seat Carey Park arena will give the Gold Coast “first chop” at global acts usually destined for Brisbane.
- by Cameron Atfield
Opinion
Oscars
Oscar-winning movies were political but speeches barely went there
Sinners, One Battle After Another and even Hamnet speak to the big issues of our times. But at the Academy Awards, the people who made them didn’t.
- by Karl Quinn
Opinion
Population
It’s one of the greatest challenges we face, but oh baby, simplistic solutions won’t fix it
Just because some commentators fail to grasp what is morally at stake or because they offer misguided solutions doesn’t mean we don’t have a serious problem on our hands.
- by Luara Ferracioli
Updated
Crime
Man arrested over fatal shooting in Sydney apartment building
Police say a group of men dressed in black opened fire and killed a man in the Lidcombe unit as detectives probe potential links to the city’s underworld.
- by Jack Gramenz and Perry Duffin
‘Someone’s lying’: Cleary hits out at Tago transfer rumours
The Panthers coach has rubbished reports of a swap deal featuring Penrith centre Izack Tago and Canterbury’s Bronson Xerri, and says the NRL’s rules on player movement rules are to blame.
- by Dan Walsh
Updated
Middle East at war
‘Everything will be fine’: Iranian player poses at Brisbane waterfront as captain flies home
Five members of the Iranian delegation have now abandoned their asylum claims, leaving just two remaining in Australia.
- by Matthew Knott
Dire strait: No ships for Trump’s mission from Australia’s shrinking fleet
The navy has a shrinking fleet of warships, set to include just nine surface combatants by the end of the year, down from 11 two years ago. As one expert put it: “we simply don’t have enough ships”.
- by Matthew Knott
Australia’s Oscar hopes dashed but a history-making night for women
It was one loss after another for Australia’s five nominees while Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as both the first woman and first woman of colour to win the best cinematography category.
- by Michael Idato
‘We will cease doing so’: Roosters extend olive branch to Rabbitohs for scoreboard snub
The NRL is set to ask the Bondi club for an explanation following a breach of the game’s rules during Friday night’s match at Allianz Stadium.
- by Christian Nicolussi
How Trump’s elite marine unit could wrest control of the Strait of Hormuz
The redirection of this elite, rapid-reaction unit from Asia has raised concerns that the Pacific region could be left exposed.
- by Allegra Mendelson
Injured horse returned to work six months early before jockey’s fatal fall
Marina Morel was fatally crushed underneath a racehorse in country NSW. An inquest will examine whether the animal’s prior injury contributed to its fall.
- by Amber Schultz
★★★½
Review
Dawn French is back to her funny best in this playfully chaotic and very silly British comedy
Can You Keep a Secret? has just enough emotional ballast to make the daftness buoyant.
- by Craig Mathieson
Updated
NRL 2026
Knights lose $2.7m of talent with Ponga and Brown’s brutal injury verdicts
Newcastle’s two best and highest-paid players have received scan results that spell bad news for the club, and potentially Queensland’s Origin campaign.
- by Dan Walsh and Christian Nicolussi
The best looks from the Oscars red carpet
Fashion Christmas came early this year as stars including Rose Byrne and Teyana Taylor made the red carpet feel more like the Met Gala.
- by Damien Woolnough
Updated
World markets
ASX falls as miners slump; Investors brace for RBA rate rise
The Australian share market has retreated as the Middle East conflict continues to cast a heavy shadow over global markets, while oil prices rose again.
- by Staff writers
What to stream this week: Louis Theroux gets inside the manosphere, plus five more picks
The veteran Brit weaponises his eyebrows for his first documentary with Netflix, while Alan Ritchson gets his punch on in War Machine.
- by Craig Mathieson
Strathfield family home sells for $6 million after six swift $100k bids
Five bidders pushed the large double-bricked house in the suburb’s “Golden Mile” $100,000 over its reserve.
- by Carmen Forward
Opinion
Middle East at war
Trump is holding the world hostage
The globe’s leading central banks, including Australia’s RBA, are meeting this week and face a dilemma they have been desperate to avoid.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
When Australia fell in love with the Matildas, she’d left the country. Now Amy’s making up for lost time
Amy Sayer missed the cut for the 2023 home World Cup, while injury robbed her of a shot at selection for the Paris Olympics. So, the Asian Cup has been a long time coming.
- by Vince Rugari
Analysis
Middle East at war
With the Iran war entering its third week, what is Trump’s exit strategy?
The president must decide whether to wrap the war up, leaving Iran’s regime battered but intact, or press on and risk a spiralling conflict with even greater economic shockwaves.
- by David E. Sanger, Eric Schmitt, Tyler Pager, Ronen Bergman and Julian E. Barnes
Analysis
Formula 1
China was Piastri’s chance to start anew. Then disaster struck again
Two races into 2026, McLaren’s dominance of last season is a distant memory. They are no longer the frontrunners, and there’s now a five-week gap in the race schedule for them to get things right.
- by Hannah Kennelly
Oscars 2026 as it happened: One Battle After Another dominates, Anne Hathaway teases Devil Wears Prada sequel
There was no joy for the Australian nominees at this year’s Academy Awards, but big strides were made for gender equality.
- by Michael Idato, Karl Quinn, Nell Geraets, Damien Woolnough, Lauren Ironmonger and Kayla Olaya
Four Points
AFL 2026
Any fixture changes should be primarily focused on fixing inequities, not creating new ones
The AFL coach didn’t raise the problem of the distortion and avoidable inequities that opening round creates, but he was clearly glad someone noticed there was an elephant sitting in the corner.
- by Michael Gleeson