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The Drop podcast
Your weekly hit of the most interesting pop culture news, reviews and recommendations.
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Exclusive
Schools
Students missed more than 9 million days of school last year. Here’s why
Attendance levels remain below pre-pandemic levels, while a third of public school students are leaving before finishing year 12.
Exclusive
Crime
Prosecutor feared detainee would reoffend before home invasion
A Commonwealth prosecutor twice raised fears a former immigration detainee would reoffend but did not oppose bail in the months before the man was accused of a brutal home invasion.
Opinion
Immigration
‘Community safety is our priority,’ the government says. Tell that to Ninette
The Albanese government wanted the alleged basher of Ninette Simons to remain behind bars, but it cannot escape the political fallout from the fact he was set free.
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Raw silence: A shattered community says farewell
As mourners remember Molly Ticehurst as a devoted mother, a talented educator and a lover of cob loaf, her alleged murder has galvanised a national movement against domestic violence.
Editorial
Gender equality
Australia needs to ditch its dinosaur attitudes – but Molly Ticehurst shouldn’t have paid the price to make it happen
Molly Ticehurst’s death and the allegations against her former partner have fuelled nationwide despair and anger at the growing toll of Australia’s domestic violence.
The Herald's View
Editorial
Katy Gallagher reveals taking antidepressants after tragedy
The finance minister has told former prime minister Julia Gillard she hit the “bottom of the bottom” after the death of her fiance.
How a letter to the editor exposed a fake identity and earned an ICAC referral
On Wednesday, the editor of the Southern Highlands Express referred the local MP to the corruption watchdog. By Thursday, the saga took on another life.
Exclusive
Music festivals
Another Sydney music festival calls it quits, blaming 529% increase in costs
Return to Rio was born in 2013 but last year confronted $300,000 in extra costs under the state’s controversial “user pays” system.
Opinion
General insurance
Who’d pay $3440 to insure my tiny Picanto? The NRMA thought I would
My Kia Picanto is worth about as much as a Taylor Swift ticket. Check out the swifty my former insurer tried to pull.
Margot Saville
Journalist and author
Live
NRL 2024
Panthers heap more pain on injured, miserable Souths
The end couldn’t have come quick enough for Souths. A 30-point loss was probably what they deserved with Penrith scoring the final 42 points of the match.
Rabbitohs settle on length of Dodd deal - without star speaking to coaching staff
The St Helens halfback will arrive in Australia as one of South Sydney’s highest-profile recruits in years.
Phil Gould fined $20,000 over television rant
The NRL has sanctioned the high-profile TV commentator after he labelled the game “stupid” in a rant about rules interpretations.
Police move in to dismantle pro-Palestinian protest camp at UCLA
The pre-dawn police crackdown at UCLA marked the latest flashpoint for mounting tensions on US college campuses over Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
‘Near unliveable’ extreme heat poses national security risk
Climate change could throw into doubt the feasibility of crucial military bases, a group of leading defence figures has warned.
Alexis Wright wins Stella Prize with ‘perhaps the great Australian novel’
The Indigenous writer has won the $60,000 award for her acclaimed novel, Praiseworthy, making her the first to win the prize twice.
Protest, pain and family the themes as Archibald Prize entries arrive
As the entries arrived at the Art Gallery of NSW ahead of Friday’s deadline, you could tell a lot about recent events in Australia by the faces painted.
★★★★
Airport reviews
It’s one of the best airports in the world - I wish I was stuck here longer
If you’re flying out of Incheon International be sure to arrive at least three hours before your flight to enjoy the facilities and entertainment.
NRL 2024
South Sydney to offer Bennett three-year deal as Eels pass on supercoach
Parramatta held a board meeting on Wednesday night but they won’t be making at an immediate play for Bennett, who is about to be be offered a three-year deal to return to the Rabbitohs.
Analysis
Bennett beckons, but is it wise for Souths to get back with an ex?
History offers mixed results regarding coaches who return to their former clubs, and nostalgia has a tendency to distort the reality of past break-ups.
Sydney
Exclusive
Roads
Ghosted: The unanswered letter that sparked a fight over Rozelle Parklands
The troubled park, on top of the equally troubled interchange, has reopened – but new fencing, and a new fight, have emerged.
Exclusive
City life
‘Cash grab’: Elite Sydney institution accused of dudding new members
It can take up to 13 years to become a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground – and it now comes with a sting in the tail.
Updated
Cybersecurity
Police arrest man in Sydney after NSW club data breach
Police launched an investigation into an alleged data leak involving clubs and pubs across NSW, with fears customers may have had their identity documents compromised.
Sydney teen wanted ‘something catastrophic’ for Jews and Assyrians, court told
The 15-year-old – an alleged associate of the boy accused of stabbing Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel – was refused bail.
‘The night she was killed we were robbed’: Loving mother killed and dumped in beachside suburb
Toni Tiki’s battered body was left in scrubland at Maroubra. Police believe a local sex offender may be the culprit as a $1 million reward is offered.
SEE & DO
The Beach Boys tell their own story of triumph and tragedy
It’s not all good vibrations, as our reviewers reveal in this week’s pick of fiction and non-fiction releases.
These are the gigs not to miss in May
A Jungle visit, not-so-fresh Air, an inner-city indie music festival and a couple of PNG-born singers round out the month of May.
Politics
Exclusive
How To Poison a Planet
The vanishing words exposing a Wall St giant’s decades of deception over cancer link
The explosive document delivered a “holy shit” moment to lawyers fighting 3M, showing the company had known for decades about the dangers of its forever chemicals.
Business
All Bonza flights cancelled until Wednesday with no refunds imminent
Bonza’s administrators say early discussions with the owners of the grounded fleet will continue into next week.
World
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Cops to remain on Ivy League campus until after graduation
The sight of law enforcement officers in and around a prestigious college campus is somewhat jarring, even with its history of activism.
Opinion
Competition kicks the stuffing out of NAB and Woolworths
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
Lou’s Place saves women every day – without a cent from Macquarie Street
Alexandra Smith
State Political Editor
Where is the urgency? Action to protect women is too slow
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Explore
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Property
How well-heeled buyers are paying millions for luxury homes - without a loan
In the rarefied air of some of the most well-heeled areas, it’s routine for buyers to spend millions without a mortgage.
‘Aussie’ John Symond lists Point Piper home. Yours for $200 million-plus
The last time the Aussie Home Loans founder listed the waterfront mega-mansion, he knocked back an offer of $110 million because he didn’t want to part with it.
Good Food
Lifestyle
This is exactly how long you should be sleeping, moving and standing each day
A study has worked out precisely how we should be spending each day for optimum health.
Culture
Mamma mia, here we go again … Australia is back in the Eurovision fold
Australian contenders Electric Fields have hit the stage in Sweden with a two-pronged mission: Eurovision victory, with a side serve of world peace.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Live
NRL 2024
‘I’ll ask for his advice’: Hornby to lean on likely Souths’ successor Bennett
The three-time premiers have scored a comprehensive 42-12 win over South Sydney at Accor Stadium.
South Sydney to offer Bennett three-year deal as Eels pass on supercoach
Parramatta held a board meeting on Wednesday night but they won’t be making at an immediate play for Bennett, who is about to be be offered a three-year deal to return to the Rabbitohs.
Phil Gould fined $20,000 over television rant
The NRL has sanctioned the high-profile television commentator after he labelled the game “stupid” in a rant about rules interpretations.
‘We can’t be killing our young footy stars’: Why Perrett intends to sue Sea Eagles
Lloyd Perrett claims he has never been the same person since a training incident in 2017. But that’s not the reason he intends to sue the Manly Sea Eagles.
South Sydney settle on length of Dodd deal - without star speaking to coaching staff
The St Helens halfback will arrive in Australia as one of the Rabbitohs’ highest-profile recruits in years - and there has been a huge show of faith from the embattled club.
Updated
AFL 2024
Three down, two to go: Florent signs long-term extension with Swans
Ollie Florent has followed in the footsteps of Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom by pledging his long-term future to Sydney - and he hopes Logan McDonald and Will Hayward do the same.
Opinion
Wallabies
Why the Wallabies must snub game’s hottest property and NRL target
Max Jorgensen is a teenage phenomenon with a huge future. But decisions need to be made about how to best maximise his potential.
Iain Payten
Senior Sports Reporter
Have Your Say
Bennett beckons, but is it wise for Souths to get back with an ex?
History offers mixed results regarding coaches who return to their former clubs, and nostalgia has a tendency to distort the reality of past break-ups.