This Month
Leaders depart UN empty-handed, facing wider Middle East war
There was no expectation of major breakthroughs at the annual gathering of presidents, premiers and other leaders. There rarely is. But this year was especially grim.
- Edith Lederer and Jennifer Peltz
September
‘Free to assassinate Trump’: plot suspect’s message to Iran
The man arrested after apparently plotting to assassinate the former president, wrote a book in which he apologised to Iran for Trump cancelling a nuclear deal.
- Patricia Mazzei, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Eduardo Medina and Glenn Thrush
Afghanistan’s long dark shadow still hangs over the military
Two major reports this week brought home painful reminders of the legacy of Australia’s contribution to the war on terror. Will anything change?
- Andrew Tillett
Veterans lash Marles for stripping medals over war crimes probe
Most of the military officers who will lose their medals are junior and not accused of war crimes themselves, as the government seeks to close the book on a war crimes inquiry.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
White House dismisses Republicans’ savage Afghanistan report
Security spokesman John Kirby derided what he called the “one-sided partisan nature” of the findings and noted that it was not the only one issued by the GOP.
- Peter Baker
Chalmers open to RBA deal; Khuda’s migration push; $6trn PE squeeze
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
- Opinion
- Gender equality
As the Taliban silences Afghan women, we must raise our voices
Since 2021, the world has stood by and watched as the basic rights of women in Afghanistan have been dismantled.
- Suzanne Moore
Trump hits the lead as Harris’ momentum stalls: poll
Ahead of the crucial debate, the new survey finds Donald Trump is retaining his support and voters are unsure they know enough about where Kamala Harris stands.
- Jonathan Weisman and Ruth Igielnik
August
‘People are horrified’: Moscow turns to reluctant conscripts to defend Kursk
Despite Ukraine’s advances, Vladimir Putin appears unwilling to divert more significant resources from the eastern front, leaving him with few options.
- Anastasia Stognei
‘You don’t embarrass the New Yorker in Trump’ says military adviser
Chris Miller, a former acting secretary of defence and Project 2025 contributor, says the AUKUS military alliance will be fine if Donald Trump wins the election, but Vladimir Putin could be in a jam.
- Kevin Chinnery
July
‘I love you, Mum’: Vance draws on his own struggles in voter pitch
Donald Trump’s running mate introduced himself to Americans at the Republican convention while using his story to argue he understands their everyday problems.
- Nathan Layne, James Oliphant and Gram Slattery
June
Biden is a good man and my friend, but he must bow out
We are at the start of the biggest disruptions in human history, so if there was ever a time the world needs America at its best, it is now.
- Thomas Friedman
- Analysis
- US election
Only one question for Democrats after Biden’s debate
Joe Biden faltered early. At one point, the words simply failed him. He appeared momentarily lost and Donald Trump went for the jugular.
- James Curran
Assange ‘won’t be silenced’ after guilty plea deal
Julian Assange is officially a free man, with the WikiLeaks founder now a convicted felon after pleading guilty in a remote US Pacific island courthouse.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
Australia crashes from T20 World Cup after epic Afghan win
Australia is heading home from the Twenty20 World Cup elimination after a heavy loss to India and Afghanistan’s enthralling win over Bangladesh.
- Updated
- Scott Bailey and Oliver Caffrey
Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said militant leaders from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen had previously offered to send tens of thousands of fighters to help.
- Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Bassem Mroue
May
Foreign Minister another hardliner close to Revolutionary Guard
Hossein Amirabdollahian represented the hardline shift in Iran after the collapse of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers when Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew.
- Jon Gambrell
High Court might rule on Assange extradition
Two judges at the High Court in London are set to rule on whether the court is satisfied by US assurances that Julian Assange, 52, would not face the death penalty.
- Michael Holden and Sam Tobin
For the Taliban, Afghans’ best status symbol is a $2120 iPhone
Commerce is thriving for some entrepreneurs despite the difficulties imposed by the country’s rulers.
- Riazat Butt
War crimes whistleblower jailed for nearly six years
David McBride, who leaked documents that revealed allegations Australian soldiers committed war crimes, will spend at least two years and three months behind bars.
- Michael Pelly