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A big fire, a small community and a firetruck from eBay
The fire brigade in the tiny community living on French Island has one firefighting truck and a ute with a water tank to service 170 square kilometres of farmland and dense bushland.
- by Rachael Dexter
Storm dumps rain and hail across city's north-east
The SES has received almost 250 calls for assistance as a severe thunderstorm rolled through Melbourne's north eastern suburbs, bringing damaging winds and large hailstones.
- by Rachel Wells
'Tragedy will be compounded': calls for food drops for Victoria's wildlife
Animal welfare organisations fear that a lack of food airdrops to wildlife in Victoria is compounding the catastrophic loss of animals as a result of the bushfires.
- by Ashleigh McMillan
Analysis
Royal family
Queen's message to Harry and Meghan could not have been clearer: It's over
The British monarch knew her subjects would never have let the couple have their cake and eat it.
- by Camilla Tominey
More top stories
'The weaponisation possibilities are almost endless': New tech breaks privacy taboo
A little-known start-up helps law enforcement match photos of unknown people to their online images — and "might lead to a dystopian future or something", a backer says.
- by Kashmir Hill
Crews pulled from fires as storms threaten state's east
Heavy rainfall forecast to lash the state, with authorities warning the downpour could block more roads.
- by Sumeyya Ilanbey
Push to redefine 'Chinese restaurant syndrome'
Japanese firm leads campaign to resurrect MSG's reputation by urging dictionary publisher to update definition.
- by Amelia Nierenberg
A blow to the head makes an instant hero in India
A student leader has become a lightning rod for resistance to the Hindu nationalist government.
- by Jeffrey Gettleman and Hari Kumar
How you can save some cash on back-to-school items
Getting the kids ready for school can add up but by taking a few simple steps it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
- by John Collett
In Other News
weekend READS
Debbie Harry: 'Does anybody have any style any more?'
- by Georgie Gordon
Want to make a New Year’s resolution permanent? There are ways to train your brain
Our brains respond well to repetition and clear direction, so it’s important to change the way we speak about, and identify with, new and old habits.
- by Johanna Leggatt
My year ahead: Well-known Aussies on what they hope 2020 will bring
It’s a new year and a new decade, which means looking ahead to the future. Jane Rocca asks some of our favourite Aussies what they’re looking forward to.
- by Jane Rocca
Local
Rats! Race to Lunar New Year celebration in Melbourne begins
Melbourne's Chinese and Vietnamese communities are preparing for Lunar New Year and the start of the Year of the Rat.
- by Tom Cowie
Updated
Bushfires
'Incredible fire behaviour': French Island koala haven burning
Waterbombing was all that stood between homes and the French Island blaze, as authorities warn of potential flash flooding.
- by Ashleigh McMillan
Nazi memorabilia for sale at trash and treasure market
Swastika badges and rings being sold as war memorabilia in Melbourne has angered the Jewish community.
- by Erin Pearson and Ashleigh McMillan
Exclusive
Victoria Police
'Game-changing' gun bans yet to live up to police hype
Victoria Police said thousands of suspects would be hit with new firearm prohibition orders. But so far, only 252 people have been banned from having guns.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Fire-ravaged residents to get up to $75m in clean-up help
The federal and state governments will allocate up to $75 million to demolish, remove and safely dispose of any buildings that were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
- by Paul Sakkal
From our partners
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Naomi Osaka's determined state of mind
There is nothing in Naomi Osaka that will see her overwhelmed at being defending champion at the Australian Open, but in the past that wasn't the case.
- by Anthony Colangelo
Court couture: what the players will wear at the Australian Open
Sponsors focus on sustainability as they slug it out for fashion supremacy.
- by Melissa Singer
Politics
Albanese calls Labor's 45 per cent emissions target a 'mistake'
The federal Labor leader's comments come amid an intense debate about Australia's climate change policies during the devastating bushfire season.
- by Anthony Galloway and Rob Harris
Business
'Cancel your trip to Bali': the tourist towns crying out for visitors
As the threat from bushfires subsides, coastal towns are fending off an economic crisis.
- by Angus Thompson
World
Clashes shake Beirut as anti-government protests explode
Protests are the most intense since those last year that triggered the resignation of Lebanon's prime minister.
- by Ben Hubbard and Hwaida Saad
Opinion
Two women, two different repressive regimes
Julie Szego
Julie Szego is an author and freelance journalist.
Why it's shocking to feel 'embarrassed to be Australian'
Claire Kimball
Columnist and the founder of The Squiz
The advice I wish I knew before my house burnt down
Diana Simmonds
Explore
Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
The unfolding Melbourne housing crisis many feel powerless to stop
A growing cohort of Melburnians face rising costs to stay safe and comfortable in their homes, but are limited in how they can mitigate the problem.
- by Jim Malo
Australia's Amalfi Coast is closer than you think
The summertime playground's moniker is befitting a place that took its name from a glamorous Italian coastal resort town.
- by Larissa Dubecki
Life & Culture
Romance fiction a 'largely invisible' cultural export
Romance fiction is one of Australia’s biggest cultural exports, and it’s growing at a rate that outstrips any other genre.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
'Inevitable, imminent': Djokovic flags a changing of the guard
Novak Djokovic has warned that he and his main rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, are closer to being superseded by the next generation of tennis stars than some might think.
- by Anthony Colangelo
McGregor back to his best with a quickfire KO
Conor McGregor made a huge statement on his return to the UFC on Sunday with a devastating TKO defeat of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246.
- by Ronny Lerner
United thrashed by Breakers, could miss top four finish
Melbourne United had no answers for a dominant New Zealand on Sunday and are now in jeopardy of missing the NBL semi-finals.
- by Roy Ward
Serena quiet ahead of latest bid to break Court's record
While all the big names like of world tennis fronted the media for traditional pre-tournament press conference Serena Williams chose to keep a low profile.
- by Anthony Colangelo
Why Australian Open champion Djokovic wins heaps, but not hearts
Novak Djokovic might surpass Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most major titles. So why are fans ambivalent about him?
- by Greg Baum
Updated
Melbourne City
City coach is happy to now that Noone is on song
Melbourne City are looking to shore up their defence with Scottish reports linking them to Celtic defender Jack Hendry. But Erick Mombaerts is happy with his attack.
- by Michael Lynch
Bangalore memories set to spur on Australians
Australia will return to the scene of where they turned their cricket fortunes around for Sunday's ODI decider against India in Bangalore.
- by Scott Bailey
Have Your Say
Sport Thought: Is signing Grundy for seven years too big a risk?
Collingwood's decision to give ruckman Brodie Grundy the seven-year deal he desired is worth debating.
