November 18 – 24, 2023

Two young boys outside their home in Afghanistan.

News

Exclusive: Afghan war crime families ready to testify

Michelle Jasmin Dimasi The widows of Afghan civilians allegedly killed by Australian soldiers say they have had no contact from the Australian government but are ready to testify about the war crimes.

News
A Free Palestine march.
Ministers Mark Dreyfus, Amanda Rishworth, Katy Gallagher and Bill Shorten.
A man wearing a suit and glasses stands with his fist raised in the air.
A woman with grey hair stands in crystal blue water with her hands covering her face.
A doctor peers around a corridor, Other hospital staff stand in the darkened hallway behind him.

Comment

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

ReadCartoon image, links to full cartoon page

Editorial
The asylum suture

The legislation that follows is always thin and a little scabby. It’s always a suture. Over time the whole Migration Act has become like this, patched up and half-healed.

Letters

Elitist language

The word “elite” appears no fewer than 13 times in Rick Morton’s article (“The age of entitlement”, November 11-17). Instead of the media giving publicity to private schools by continually …

Important lessons

One would hope that having read the comments surrounding the murder of Lilie James by Paul Thijssen, many parents who send their boys to expensive private schools would be questioning whether they are doing the …

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Culture

Books
Image for article: Days of Innocence and Wonder

Lucy Treloar
Days of Innocence and Wonder

Book cover: silhouette of a hooded figure with a sunset in the background.

Mick Cummins
So Close to Home

Image for article: Right Story, Wrong Story

Tyson Yunkaporta
Right Story, Wrong Story

Life
Image for article: Tonnato

Food

Tonnato

Karen Martini

An elderly man in a suit playing a game of pool.

Life

The Footscray Mechanics’ Institute Library

Anita Punton The author follows the example of many aspirational working men in the 19th century by joining a mechanics’ institute – one of a handful that have survived.

A pair of shoes.

Fashion

Allbirds eyes sustainable profits

Lucianne Tonti Allbirds claims to be producing the world’s first zero-carbon shoe. But to really get a toehold in the market, the challenge lies in turning sustainability into profitability.

Sport

Plays of the month

Martin McKenzie-Murray From an Optus breakdown to a rising soccer star’s big break, a father’s release to an opposition player’s arrest, a six-wicket over to a 600-gamer’s farewell – the sporting month is off to an enthralling start.

A soccer player dribbles around a defender.

Puzzles

The Cryptic

link to this week\'s crossword

Crossword No. 476

The Quiz

1. Where in Australia did Donald Campbell break the world land-speed record in July 1964?
2. What links the surnames Kiefel, Gageler, Gordon, Edelman, Steward, Gleeson and Jagot?
3. ChatGPT stands for Chat [What] Pre-trained Transformer?
4. Which city is home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum?
5. What is removed during a cholecystectomy: (a) the appendix; (b) the thyroid gland; or (c) the gall bladder?
6. What starting with ‘f’ is a variety of pasta formed into helical, or corkscrew, shapes?
7. Which Australian called stumps on their international career this month after 13 years, 241 games (182 as captain), seven World Cup titles and a Commonwealth Games gold medal?
8. True or false: an AA battery and an AAA battery carry about the same nominal voltage.
9. What word is both a shade of green and a type of pool game?
10. How many times does 5 go into 555?

Click through for answers.

Quotes

Family

“I also think getting the media involved and having them at the wedding is not only tacky but poor taste.”

Odette JoyceThe daughter of Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says she was not invited to his second wedding. The ceremony was pink and ivory-themed, like Barnaby’s head.

Sport

“At Norman Estates in Sydney, Shawood has set a new standard in premium living in master planned communities…”

Greg NormanThe former golfer announces his involvement in a luxury housing estate on the edge of Sydney. Once you’ve shilled for Saudi royalty, everything else is a walk in the recently landscaped park.

Transport

“All imported containerised cargo will be impacted, which could potentially range from medical supplies through to toys for Christmas.”

Paul ZalaiThe head of the Freight and Trade Alliance describes the cyber attack affecting Australian ports. The most troubling part of this is still the use of the adjective “containerised”.

Fundraising

“It seems to be selling government knowledge to a select few.”

Geoffrey WatsonThe senior lawyer criticises a birthday lunch held for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland as part of a fundraising initiative for gambling executives. Of anyone you would bet on…

Politics

“I believe in public service.”

David CameronThe former British prime minister announces he will return as foreign secretary, taking a peerage to do so. His career is welcome proof that having sex with a pig at university does not need to hold back your prospects.

Parliament

“There is no issue too big for him to show how small he is.”

Anthony AlbaneseThe prime minister condemns Peter Dutton for attempting to politicise the Israel–Hamas war. It’s true: for a man who looks as if he uses a bicycle pump to get ready, he’s always seeking out an angle.

ISRAEL–HAMAS WAR

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