News

Donald Trump, a dangerous thug emblematic of America’s decline

“Trump is not running to be the next chief custodian of the great American experiment. He’s running to be its executioner. ”

Martin McKenzie-Murray From his vulgarity to his misogyny to his love of Putin, Donald Trump is running to destroy the great American experiment.

News

News

Mike Baird’s conviction politics comes undone

“I believe Mike believed what he was doing was right. But frankly, I think people are sick of his captain’s calls.”

Mike Seccombe The NSW premier's backdown over his ban on greyhound racing threatens his government and reveals the limits of his dictatorial style.

News

Exposing the inhumanity of banks to their customers

Rainer Mora Mathews When his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness, the author sought help and understanding from his bank. He was left dismayed by the callous treatment he received.

News

Cybersecurity concerns after attack on BOM

“So why would hackers from China or elsewhere be interested in Australia’s weather forecasts? The BOM runs a supercomputer linked to a range of other agencies, including the Defence Department. ”

Karen Middleton A new report from the Australian Cyber Security Centre describes a recent foreign-state attack on the Bureau of Meteorology and highlights ongoing threats to government agencies.

News

NSW’s tentative steps towards racehorse rehabilitation

Susan Chenery While Racing NSW has announced it will direct a portion of prizemoney to the welfare of horses when their racing career is over, the national industry continues to kill thousands of unwanted animals each year.

World

Rude awakening for Trump’s supporters

Hamish McDonald Trump’s locker-room talk hits support; Republicans stand back from candidate; Russian hacks not helping; South Australian citizens contributing to nuclear debate.

Opinion

Opinion

Karen Middleton
Sexual harassment in politics

“A few colleagues and I drafted a blacklist of politicians with lecherous reputations and worded up new female journalists about which ones to avoid. ”

Opinion

Paul Bongiorno
Malcolm Turnbull’s first 100 days since election assessed

“The difficulty for Turnbull is the split between the hardliners and the moderates. Throw in bruised egos and thwarted ambitions and all Shorten has to do is add water and stir.”

Diary

Gadfly
Expert panel beaters

Richard Ackland Diarist-at-large Richard Ackland flies about the nation.

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

Read

Editorial
Political indecency

Letters

A letter from the camps

Today in the 21st century, in every corner of the world, human beings are making endeavours for the growth and development of science and awareness for the residents of our planet as well as exploring …

Take action yourself

Yet again you show yourself to be just about the only mainstream media outlet that sees the importance of human rights. How can this be happening, on our watch, with our money (Martin McKenzie-Murray, “Leaked …

Read More

Food

Read

Food

Summon up the blood

Andrew McConnell It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for some it’s bloody marvellous.

Life

Technology

Virtual reality sex therapy

Gillian Terzis As virtual reality technologies have improved, the pornography industry was always going to be an early adopter, but are its claims of sex therapy are too far-fetched?

Health

The science of sleepwalking

Michele Tydd Somnambulism affects an alarming number of people – particularly children – but despite its prevalence very little is known about its cause or possible interventions.

Sport

Down to business: Jeromie Hill, 25, basketballer

Richard Cooke The Sydney Kings’ Jeromie Hill on the strength of our National Basketball League.

Books

Margaret Atwood
Hag-Seed

Mark McKenna
From the Edge

Larry Writer
Pitched Battle

The Quiz

1. What beginning with ‘l’ forms the solid, outer part of Earth?
2. In which decade did golfer Arnold Palmer win his first major PGA championship?
3. What type of mammal is a pipistrelle?
4. Which series holds the record for the most Emmy Awards won by a fictional TV show? (Bonus point for naming the previous record holder.)
5. What is the closest national capital city to Christmas Island?
6. What fruit is a hybrid of a tangerine and pomelo or grapefruit?
7. Which two statesmen shared the 1994 Nobel peace prize with Israel’s Shimon Peres?
8. What does the abbreviation SIM stand for, in relation to the circuit-bearing card?
9. Name the documentary film that follows Owen Suskind’s battle with autism.
10. What comedian’s book of essays is titled The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo?

Quotes

WEIRDNESS

“Ever thought why there is no celebration for those that decide to go from the homosexual to heterosexual lifestyle?”

Eric AbetzThe Tasmanian senator highlights the media’s double standards on sexuality. Follow-up questions included: Ever thought why they’re called “Barbecue Shapes”? Ever thought how they make those carrot roses at Vietnamese restaurants? And ever thought about not being such a weird old bigot?

MEDIA

“The ABC long ago abandoned any semblance of patriotism, or even balance.”

Brian BurstonThe One Nation senator calls for money to be taken from the ABC and used on a “Patriotic Broadcasting Corporation”. What white power had to do with balance was not immediately clear.

POLITICS

“I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that Rosa Parks would not have accepted this segregation in 1955.”

Walter VillatoraThe NSW Liberal powerbroker bemoans preselection rules, likening them to the struggle for black rights. Parks’ desire to branch stack against moderates has finally been exposed.

ECONOMICS

“A good surplus warrants a good pie #steakandcheese.”

Bill EnglishThe New Zealand finance minister celebrates economic news with a treat from the pie oven. When things are really good, he also gets a Slurpee.

FAMILY

“I can tell you, I’m getting a lot of nasty emails and all the rest of it. So it’s quite difficult.”

Angela ShanahanThe News Corp columnist describes correspondence with her son after she told him she did not believe his marriage to his gay partner was the same as the marriages of his heterosexual siblings. It’s political correctness gone mad when you can’t even mistreat your own children.

TERRORISM

“We were well aware of these two 16-year-olds. We have been concerned about them.”

Catherine BurnThe acting NSW police commissioner briefs the media on two boys who were arrested with bayonet-like knives in Bankstown. They were charged with planning a terrorist act.