“My boy, being a top spook is not compatible with being a media tart,” former ASIO director-general David Irvine is reported once to have responded jovially to a question from a journalist. And indeed, the “top spook” — one of very few ASIO employees who are allowed to be named in public — is by necessity a behind-the-scenes role most …

Exclusive: Australian National Imams Council and Islamic Council of Victoria say they will not attend Ramadan events amid ‘frustration’ in Muslim communities over response to Gaza conflict Two peak Muslim bodies have rejected invitations to premiers’ iftar dinners in New South Wales and Victoria, as members of the community turn against state governments over their response to the war in Gaza. The Australian …

Aryna Sabalenka has become the first woman to win back-to-back Australian Opens in 11 years following a straight-sets victory over Qinwen Zheng in the final. Sabalenka, who did not drop a set during the tournament, overpowered the Chinese 12th seed to triumph 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. Follow all the action from the …

The Australian government has been “put on notice” by several human rights organisations following the top UN court ruling that South Africa’s accusation Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people is “plausible”. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has warned the Israeli government must do everything in its power to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. It was among several …

Nour Haydar, a political reporter in the ABC’s Parliament House bureau, has resigned over concerns relating to the national broadcaster’s coverage of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as its treatment of culturally diverse staff. Haydar, who joined the ABC as a cadet in 2017, covered NSW state politics before moving to Canberra as a federal politics reporter …

Letter to attorney general and state prosecutor demands action to stop ‘explicit calls to commit atrocious crimes’ A group of prominent Israelis has accused the country’s judicial authorities of ignoring “extensive and blatant” incitement to genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza by influential public figures. In a letter to the attorney general and state prosecutors, they demand action to stop …

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed off Coalition attacks about a meeting with ex-Qantas boss Alan Joyce, labelling the comments as an “absurdity” and a “conspiracy theory”. Albanese has come under fire from the opposition after a freedom of information request showed he had a half-hour meeting with Joyce at Parliament House in November 2022. The government was criticised in …

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear Donald Trump’s appeal of a judicial decision barring the former US president from Colorado’s Republican primary ballot, taking up a politically explosive case with major implications for the 2024 presidential election. At issue is the Colorado Supreme Court’s December 19 ruling disqualifying Trump from the state’s Republican primary ballot based on language in the …

Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyers say their client should receive “substantial damages” even if the judge in his defamation trial finds he was dishonest on “occasions”. Lehrmann’s legal team filed a 136-page written submission with the Federal Court of Australia, which was made public on Friday. They accepted that Justice Michael Lee could make adverse findings about the former Liberal staffer’s honesty. …

An 11-year-old girl has died following a horror crash in the Blue Mountains two weeks ago. She is the third person to die after five vehicles crashed on the Great Western Highway at Wallerawang, 15 kilometres north of Lithgow, in December 29. Two people died initially, while more than a dozen others – including at least five children – were injured. …