Your daily digest of the top headlines and must-reads from Australia and around the world, along with sport, culture, lifestyle, opinion and more
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Headlines
‘Rort has gone on for too long’: RBA should ban all debit surcharges, Labor MPs say
Banking  
‘Rort has gone on for too long’: RBA should ban all debit surcharges, Labor MPs say
Calls for central bank to reduce ‘unfair’ costs for consumers and stop businesses ‘being gouged’
Australia news live  
Naomi Watts says her ‘heart is broken’ over death of David Lynch; Burke unveils new counter-terror strategy
Middle East  
Palestinians in Australia await Gaza ceasefire ‘but now we must grieve this unimaginable pain’
Elon Musk  
SpaceX’s Starship test flight ends in failure after spacecraft is destroyed
Dover Heights  
Former home of prominent Jewish figure vandalised in antisemitic attack
Cost of living  
PhD students cite 'unlivable' stipend rates as numbers fall by almost 10% in five years
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The rural network
Town residents take goldmine to court over noise they claim is causing health issues
Victoria  
Town residents take goldmine to court over noise they claim is causing health issues
Two Axedale residents allege ‘excessive’ low-frequency noise from the Fosterville site is causing headaches, nausea and heart palpitations
Full Story podcast
Full Story  
Labor’s attempt to reboot the NBN – Full Story podcast
Labor’s attempt to reboot the NBN – Full Story podcast
Sport
Australian Open live  
Sabalenka in action; Alcaraz and Zverev to follow on day six
Sabalenka in action; Alcaraz and Zverev to follow on day six
Australian Open  
Vukic’s patience pays off ahead of clash with Australia’s nemesis
Motor sport  
Australia’s Sanders on the verge of historic Dakar Rally triumph
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Culture
Film  
Hollywood pays tribute to David Lynch: ‘A singular, visionary dreamer’
Hollywood pays tribute to David Lynch: ‘A singular, visionary dreamer’
Film  
David Lynch: the great American surrealist who made experimentalism mainstream
Television & radio  
You’ve always wondered, here’s the answer: do dogs actually watch TV?
Opinion
Australia is becoming an uninsurable nation. There may only be one solution
Australia is becoming an uninsurable nation. There may only be one solution
I knew one day I’d have to watch powerful men burn the world down – I just didn’t expect them to be such losers
Stationery shopping may be the finest form of procrastination – but who can resist the joy of a perfect pen?
Lifestyle
After Dad died I dressed like an extra from The Matrix. Now I’m blooming again like the flowers on my psychedelic new vest
After Dad died I dressed like an extra from The Matrix. Now I’m blooming again like the flowers on my psychedelic new vest
Leading questions  
I’m 24 years old and embarrassed that I’ve never dated anyone. How do I meet a girl?
Technology
Internet safety  
Stronger age checks to come into force for online pornography sites in UK
Stronger age checks to come into force for online pornography sites in UK
Science
International Space Station  
US astronaut takes first spacewalk after seven months stuck in orbit
US astronaut takes first spacewalk after seven months stuck in orbit
Environment
Australian climate and environment in focus  
New weather system to strike eastern Australia with strong winds and rain
New weather system to strike eastern Australia with strong winds and rain
Sydney  
Ball-shaped debris washes up at Sydney’s Bondi, Coogee, Maroubra and Cronulla beaches
Video
'People that hate me pay my bills': Danielle Collins thanks rowdy Australian Open crowd – video
'People that hate me pay my bills': Danielle Collins thanks rowdy Australian Open crowd – video
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I hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider contributing to our end-of-year fundraiser as we prepare for a pivotal, uncertain year ahead.

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