Opinion

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Religious history invites us to expect the unexpected, and there’s no reason to rule out a future where Kirk’s martyrdom provides the impetus for a genuine revival. 

EDITORIAL: The fact is Australia needs the US. We need a powerful friend who will come to our aid.

SOPHIE GANNON: What he does off the field draws more attention than what he does on it — but the AFL’s biggest star is on the verge of joining an elite club.

AARON PATRICK: Celebrating its 80th birthday this week, the global body created to prevent wars and other man-made catastrophes is weak and compromised, according to critics.

ANDREW CARSWELL: Sussan Ley appears up for the fight. To drag the Coalition back to its core values of fiscal conservatism, reward for hard work and personal responsibility.

CHRIS REASON: The business of war reporting has always been a dangerous one. But never as dangerous as it is now.

EDITORIAL: Israel is the only nation which has shown any appetite to rid the world of Hamas’ toxic influence. And in return, the world has turned its back on the Jewish state.

CAMERON MILNER: Its time for Albo to stop making hollow gestures and realise in a hostile world, we need our nation’s long-term friends and allies more than ever.

GEORGIE PARKER: At the midway point of the AFLW season here are five things that have caught my eye and why I am so passionate about State of Origin not just being for the blokes.

MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Cronulla have gone much further in the finals than anyone expected, but they are letting themselves down with this silly trait.

AARON PATRICK: Chief executive Stephen Rue boasted of investing in the phone network to make it safe, secure and reliable. Its failure raises questions about whether he and the board should resign.

KATE EMERY: The reality is that most Australians aren’t eating enough fruit and vegetables and we’re eating too many so-called ‘discretionary’ foods.

For me, success is what Gout Gout did in Japan. To test yourself against the best in the world at 17 and walk away with lessons, confidence and the respect of your competitors — that’s success. 

THE NEW YORK TIMES: If liberal democracy fails, it will be because a variety of forces have undermined the emotional foundations on which liberalism depends.

KIERSTEN DUKE: Toby Sexton was discarded mid-season in favour of a bright new NRL toy — now he holds the fate of the club that ditched him in his hands.