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Russians begin voting in staged election Putin is guaranteed to win – with parties that support his war the only ones allowed to enter
Russia began a three-day parliamentary election on Friday, with polling stations opening first in the Far East before progressing through the country’s eleven time zones. President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party is all but certain to win the vote for the 450 Duma seats, the first such election since the invasion of Ukraine in February…
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No Land to Stand On by Mahmoud Khalil review – a searing account of political imprisonment
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-American Columbia University student and green card holder, was detained by US immigration authorities for 104 days in 2025 after advocating for pro-Palestinian causes on campus. The book review presents his detention as emblematic of the Trump administration’s authoritarian approach to immigration enforcement and suppression of political speech, with no criminal charges…
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Paul, John… and Yvonne? The French novelist asking: what if a woman had written the Beatles’ greatest hits?
Celebrated French thriller writer Michel Bussi has released a new novel, Code Yesterday, which imagines that all the Beatles’ greatest hits were actually written by a French-born woman named Yvonne McKenzie. The fictional premise serves as a commentary on the historical exclusion of women from classic rock music and songwriting, with Bussi noting that he…
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Best of the Best review – college comedy formula gets a Bollywood makeover
Netflix comedy *Best of the Best* follows two lifelong friends who join rival Bollywood dance groups at UCLA and compete in a college dance contest. Although its storyline and characters closely follow familiar campus-comedy conventions, the film stands out for its rapid-fire humour, energetic direction and inventive choreography. Maya and Anjali, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan…
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Exaudi: Pocket Universe album review – virtuoso vocals with a joyfully bonkers bent
Exaudi’s *Pocket Universe* brings together four eclectic vocal works written for James Weeks’ ensemble during the 2010s. The recording showcases virtuosic singing, unusual textures and a playful imagination, while exploring devotion, political history, personal memory and the cosmos. Cassandra Miller’s *Guide* transforms a Maria Muldaur folk performance into controlled cacophony, while Andrew Hamilton’s *Proclamation of…
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Jetstar flight delayed after man allegedly boards plane without ticket
A Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Brisbane was delayed after a man allegedly boarded without a ticket. Crew reportedly found him at the rear of the aircraft and called police, who escorted him off before departure. Flight JQ562 was scheduled to leave Melbourne Airport at 9.35am on Wednesday but departed about 30 minutes late. Jetstar…
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Chilling new video shows moment NBC helicopter plunges toward the ground in Los Angeles as family of reporter share heartbreaking tribute
An NBC Los Angeles helicopter crashed while covering a fatal bus collision in Los Angeles, killing reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and a tourist on the ground. Surveillance footage shows the aircraft falling rapidly before impact, while the resulting fire destroyed vehicles and storage containers; investigators are examining the crash to determine its cause.…
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MPs urge ministers to break off Thames Water talks with US hedge funds
A cross-party group of MPs has called on the government to break off negotiations with US hedge funds controlling Thames Water and instead take direct public control of the company. The Efra committee, chaired by Alistair Carmichael, argues that ministers should consider emergency legislation to stabilise the financially troubled water company, which carries debts of…
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‘The damage was much worse than I had imagined’: the shocking inside story of Salman Rushdie’s survival
Salman Rushdie’s wife, Eliza Griffiths, documented his recovery after he was stabbed multiple times at a 2022 speaking engagement, fearing initially that he might die. Her footage forms the basis of Alex Gibney’s documentary *Knife*, which explores both the attack’s devastating aftermath and Rushdie’s decades-long experience living under threat after Iran’s 1989 fatwa. Rushdie suffered…
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Cue shuts stores across the country: What really went wrong for the Aussie retail giant
Cue Clothing Co and its sister brand Veronika Maine have entered voluntary administration, with five Australian stores closed as receivers reduce costs and seek a buyer. The closures affect locations in Woden, Parramatta, Melbourne Central, Armadale and Mosman, although the companies’ remaining stores are continuing to trade while potential buyers are considered. Founded in 1968,…