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Robert De Niro's undercover CIA interrogator and prospective father-in-law for mild-mannered nurse Ben Stiller is one of the great comic creations of all time. Photo: Supplied Movie dads are often a hapless bunch. Hapless and helpless. In comedies, much is made of an inability to change a nappy or make dinner without burning it. In dramas those inadequacies can become toxic - an inability to pay attention, or an unreasonable desire for control. But there are plenty of good dads, too. Morally upright role models like Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird. Nicolas Cage in Con Air, prepared to risk everything to escape prison transport with a toy rabbit for the daughter he has never even met. Marlin in Finding Nemo confronting all of his fears to go and rescue his son from the unknown ocea...

By Idrees Ali, Reuters Former US President Donald Trump looks on during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on 26 August. Photo: AFP Army defends employee's professionalism Military rarely comments on political matters Father of Marine killed says family invited Trump The US Army defended an Arlington National Cemetery employee who was pushed aside during a visit by former president Donald Trump, saying that she acted professionally and was being unfairly attacked. The military rarely comments on political matters and while its statement on Thursday did not explicitly mention Trump or his 2024 presidential campaign, it made reference to a Monday ceremony. On that day Trump, the Republican candidate in the 5 November preside...

By Andrea Shalal, Steve Holland and Stephanie Kelly, Reuters Kamala Harris Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP Harris' first formal interview since nomination Harris has moved to center on immigration, fracking Could name a Republican to cabinet if elected Kamala Harris vowed a tougher approach to migration along the US southern border and said she would not withhold weapons to Israel, in her first interview with a major news organisation since becoming the Democratic nominee for president. Harris' interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash reflected an effort to show she is in command of the issues and give Americans a sense of her policy positions with little more than two months until Election Day on 5 November. Harris said she would renew a push for comprehensive border legislat...

By Jake Evans, ABC News Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a new question on sexuality will be tested for the next census, overturning a decision earlier this week not to add a question to include LGBT Australians in the national survey. Albanese told ABC Radio Melbourne it was a "commonsense position" to put a question. "We've been talking with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and they are going to test for a new question, one on sexuality," he said. "There will [be a question] as long as the testing goes well." Treasurer Jim Chalmers yesterday said the government did not want to add a question out of fear it would become "divisive". The decision prompted an internal Labor revolt, including critic...

Photo: supplied Fletcher Building has reached a multi-million dollar settlement over the issue of leaky pipes in Western Australian homes which has dogged the company. Fletcher Building shares had been on a trading halt ahead of the announcement. Trading will begin again soon. It has just told the NZ stock market that it will have to set aside $A155 million ($168 million) in its next financial statement to cover the settlement. The West Australian government will pay up to $A30m ($32.5m). Fletchers said it expects the first year of the settlement will need some $A40m ($43m) to $A50m ($55m), and in subsequent years in the order of A$15m($16m) to A$35m ($38m). At issue has been who is responsible for leaky pipes in Western Australian homes. The pipes are manufactured by Fletcher's Iplex su...