Americans William Nordhaus and Paul Romer have won the 2018 Nobel Economics Prize for work in integrating climate change and technological innovation into economic analysis, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Proceedings have been overshadowed by the absence of the literature prize, postponed to give the Swedish Academy time to restore public trust after a sexual assault scandal. Mr …

Human Rights lawyer Amal Clooney has thrown her weight behind the crusade to free two journalists imprisoned after uncovering a bloody military massacre of minority Rohingya, with the victims said to include mere children. Ms Clooney, wife of Hollywood idol George Clooney, has urged Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to immediately pardon the reporters and reverse what she termed “a …

Demand for properties has plummeted to the lowest level in six years in the major cities, as buyers took a break from auctions over the long weekend. Capital city auction activity took a back seat to the AFL and NRL grand finals, with buyer disinterest sending the preliminary combined capitals clearance rate below 50 per cent for the first time …

A man has been charged over a fatal car crash that killed a 23-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn twins as well as a 17-year-old girl in Sydney’s west. Newlywed Katherine Hoang (nee Gordon) and 17-year-old driver Anh Hoang, who is also known as Belinda, were killed in the collision at Orchard Hills, near Penrith on Friday night. Katherine’s husband Bronko …

Labor is demanding that Prime Minister Scott Morrison extend the banking royal commission, after it handed down a scathing report that slammed the big banks for their greed. The opposition is concerned that only 27 victims had their voices heard, out of more than 9000 submissions. “This is a crucial national issue, and we want the royal commission’s report not just to …

There were fist pumps, furious dropshot chases and four match points saved as the Australian claimed a stunning first ATP tournament victory in three years at China’s Chengdu Open. The oft-maligned 25-year-old dug deep to snatch a brave 6-1 3-6 7-6 (9-7) win over world number 13 Fabio Fognini. He hadn’t played someone ranked as high as Fognini in a …

Michelle Guthrie’s interim replacement is unable to say why her “dynamic” leadership style was wrong for the ABC board or why she was sacked as managing director. Acting managing director David Anderson, a 30-year ABC veteran, has given his first interview since Ms Guthrie’s shock ousting on Monday. “Michelle’s leadership style was dynamic. Michelle challenged us in a lot of …

When Ed Robins noticed bruising and skin tears on his 92-year-old mother, he decided to install a small video camera in her room at Perth’s Morrison Lodge nursing home. The footage he captured over three weeks made for distressing viewing. Mrs Robins had recently broken her leg and had worsening dementia. Often, she would wake up and, forgetting she could …

A nondescript Toronto shopping plaza is set to welcome a new tenant in September that advertises itself as the first sex doll brothel in North America. Aura Dolls, which will operate alongside a nail salon, massage parlor and dry cleaner, promises to bring its patrons “an exciting new way” to achieve their needs “without the many restrictions and limitations that …

Billionaire Frank Lowy has offered a scathing assessment of Australia’s current political climate, describing the recent spate of leadership challenges as unacceptable and urging democracy to be “treated with care”. “Having five prime ministers in five years is not acceptable,” he said in the speech in front of political and business heavyweights on Thursday night. “Democracy needs to be nurtured …