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WHO chief warns of 'fatal mistake' as California monitors thousands for virus
The rapid outbreak of the coronavirus raised the spectre of a global pandemic as governments ramped up their emergency responses and financial markets slumped again. Follow our live updates.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos and Megan Levy
Updated
Coronavirus outbreak
Wall Street crumbles, Dow Jones suffers biggest point-drop in history
The Dow Jones recorded the biggest one-day point drop in history as markets continued one of the worst weeks since the global financial crisis.
- by Rachel Siegel and Thomas Heath
Breaking
Drugs in sport
Sun Yang to learn fate as Court of Arbitration for Sport reaches verdict
The fate of Sun Yang will become known tonight after the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport announced it had reached a verdict in the doping case against the Chinese Olympic champion.
- by Chip Le Grand
Toxic landfill in city's west known and not talked about for years
The Environment Protection Authority and Brimbank Council knew seven years ago that hundreds of residents in the western suburbs were living above a former landfill site containing toxic and radioactive waste, but failed to warn them.
- by Chris Vedelago and Michael Bachelard
More top stories
Exclusive
Organised crime
Two Australians named in Italian court as alleged leaders of the mafia
Papers filed in an Italian court identify two fruit and vegetable kings as having alleged dealings with the secretive Calabrian mafia.
- by Nick McKenzie, Chris Vedelago and Gabriella Coslovich
Worried about coronavirus? Stop touching your face
Infection control experts are urging Australians to start practising a difficult but effective infection-control measure – not constantly touching their face.
- by Liam Mannix
Ban on $10,000 cash purchases set to become law
A controversial bill to ban cash payments over $10,000 is poised to pass Federal Parliament despite bitter divisions within both major parties.
- by Rob Harris
Canada to end security assistance for Harry, Meghan
While the Sussexes have been welcomed in Canada, there has been public opposition to taxpayers covering their massive security costs.
Fremantle Dockers great says CTE 'waiting game' a concern
'I had three pretty significant concussions even prior to being drafted, and at least half a dozen while I was playing.'
- by Kate Hedley
In Other News
Coronavirus outbreak
Explainer
How will the coronavirus outbreak affect your overseas travel plans?
- by Bianca Hall and Josh Dye
Coronavirus empty: bare planes, ferries, beaches make for a simple Philippine getaway
Rory Lovelock likes to be the last to board the plane on the chance he can nab a row of spare seats. On a recent flight in the Philippines he struck gold.
- by Zach Hope
Were you on a bus with Patient No. 31? South Korea is on the hunt for infections
Within hours of the woman's positive COVID-19 test, 'Patient No. 31 movements' shot up as a trending search topic on South Korean web portals.
- by Victoria Kim
Local
Koala massacre: Gun seized after search of homes
Wildlife authorities and police swoop on Portland properties in koala deaths probe
- by Noel Towell
Meet birthday buddies five-year-old Abbey and her 18-year-old nan, Margaret
It’s a leap year and since Abbey Alvin and her nan Margaret share a special day, they wanted to make a splash.
- by Carolyn Webb
Australian students failing science: Can you answer these year 6 questions?
Half of all Australian year 10 students don't meet the benchmark for scientific literacy. Take the NAPLAN science quiz.
- by Adam Carey
Buchan Caves to receive $2m for fix after fires
Premier Daniel Andrews promised the East Gippsland tourist attraction would be rebuilt to make it 'better than it's ever been'.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Man in court over tram sex assaults urged to consider a guilty plea
Man accused of sexually assaulting three women on Melbourne trams has been urged to consider pleading guilty to spare alleged victims giving evidence in court.
- by Adam Cooper
From our partners
Politics
Australia ready for a coronavirus pandemic and sustained outbreak
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 'we're effectively operating now on the basis that there is a pandemic' as the government prepared for a sustained outbreak.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Updated
Government grants
Labor accuses PM of 'cooking the books' with timing of sports grants
- by David Crowe and Nick Bonyhady
Morrison to steer clear of visa outsourcing process despite resignation of friend
- by Rob Harris and Anthony Galloway
Business
World economy faces weakest year since 2009, says Bank of America
The world economy is now on course for its weakest year since the financial crisis as the coronavirus damages demand in China and beyond.
- by Simon Kennedy
World
Pope cancels visit with Rome priests for 'slight' illness
There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the Pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.
Opinion
Scott Morrison's coronavirus response shows he's learnt a lesson
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
The coronavirus might succeed where President Trump has failed
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
Why $723m on domestic violence is nowhere near enough
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
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Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
Parts of this popular holiday town are now uninsurable due to flood
Residents in parts of this coastal town face high premiums or may struggle to get home insurance coverage at all, as the risk of inundation rise.
- by Jim Malo
Melbourne's 'tower of power' residents worried over short-stay rentals
Holiday letting, unauthorised access by food delivery drivers and vandalised building signage have raised the eyebrows of well-heeled apartment owners.
- by Elizabeth Redman
Life & Culture
Opinion
Dating
Tinder has a new safety feature, but does it shut the door to abusers?
Having been abused by a man who found her on Tinder, the author believes the new 'safety measures' do not go far enough to protect women.
- by Shantel Wetherall
Redemption: Ed Norton and Shia LaBeouf deliver two unmissable movies
- by Paul Byrnes, Jake Wilson and Sandra Hall
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Concussion symptoms rule West Coast forward out for 2020 season
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says the club will put their arms around Daniel Venables after the premiership forward was ruled out of 2020 with ongoing concussion symptoms.
Breaking
Drugs in sport
Sun Yang to learn fate as Court of Arbitration for Sport reaches verdict
The fate of Sun Yang will become known tonight after the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport announced it had reached a verdict in the doping case against the Chinese Olympic champion.
- by Chip Le Grand
Former AFL player convinced he's showing symptoms of CTE
Former AFL player Shaun Smith fears he has chronic traumatic encephalopathy and says the diagnosis of Graham "Polly" Farmer is only "the tip of the iceberg".
- by Jon Pierik
Essendon beat West Coast and avoid more injuries
The Bombers led by 24 points at three-quarter-time and West Coast within seven points in the final quarter thanks to a better final term performance but the Bombers held out in a what was a measured display, a far cry from the often frantic and sloppy side of 2019.
- by Anthony Colangelo
Australia miss out on team pursuit medal, Denmark destroy world record
Australia missed out on a medal as Denmark powered to gold in the men's team pursuit, breaking the world record for the third time in two days.
Australia catch fire ahead of huge game with New Zealand on Monday
Openers Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney set an Australian partnership record in T20 internationals in their side's crushing 86-run win over Bangladesh in Canberra.
- by Tom Decent
'Open and honest': Doco lifts lid on Smith and Warner's reintegration
Steve Smith told teammates he considered quitting during "open and honest" addresses he and David Warner delivered to teammates as part of their reintegration.
- by Andrew Wu
Have Your Say
Call to end 'warrior culture' after Farmer's CTE diagnosis
One of the authors of the study that identified CTE in Graham 'Polly' Farmer's brain has called for a cultural change in AFL that would see players take themselves off the ground during games
