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Graph tells story of state's second wave; 17 more deaths, 222 new cases confirmed
A graph that plots genomic sequencing explains why, since late May, nearly every COVID case can be traced back to a handful of infections at two quarantine hotels. That comes as Victoria records the lowest daily case tally in a month, but 17 more deaths.
- by Mary Ward
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Case numbers not going down 'as fast as I would like,' says expert
Professor Tony Blakely says he's surprised the daily case numbers hadn't dropped much further considering the implementation of stage four lockdown in Melbourne.
- by Kate Lahey and Rachael Dexter
COVID-19 danger may rise in dry weather, 'provocative' study shows
The same humidity-related trend has been found in a study of China's COVID-19 outbreak, and during outbreaks of the related coronaviruses that cause SARS and MERS.
- by Liam Mannix
BHP seeking thermal coal exit, profit falls short on coronavirus hit
BHP has confirmed it is seeking to exit thermal coal mining globally and offload some its metallurgical coal mines in Queensland in a bid to remove risk from its portfolio.
- by Nick Toscano
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US votes 2020
Bernie Sanders, Michelle Obama address party faithful as Biden's nomination begins
Former vice-president Joe Biden will be officially named the Democrats' presidential pick at their 2020 convention, where key speakers include Senator Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama.
- by Farrah Tomazin
New York has tamed COVID. Can it stop a second wave?
Leaders are consumed by the likelihood that, any day now, the low numbers that surprised many will begin to rise again.
- by J. David Goodman
New global temperature record may have been set
The planet's hottest temperature in at least a century - possibly ever - has been recorded in California's Death Valley.
- by Jonathan Allen and Kanishka Singh
Online shopping hacks to take out the guesswork
Whether you're in lockdown or just a little wary about visiting the shops, consider this a refresher course.
- by Melissa Singer
Ex-CIA officer charged with giving China classified info
Alexander Yuk Ching Ma is accused of revealing government secrets to Chinese intelligence officers in a hotel room.
- by Daphne Psaledakis
coronavirus crisis
First legal action launched against aged care owners
- by Clay Lucas and David Estcourt
Exclusive
Auditor-General to scrutinise state's mammoth coronavirus borrowing
Victoria's financial watchdog will scrutinise the state government over plans to borrow up to $24.5 billion in emergency funding to deal with the economic fallout of the pandemic.
- by Sumeyya Ilanbey
Exclusive
More heartbreaking days to come as state's COVID-19 death rate triples
Infectious disease experts have warned Victoria to brace for more harrowing daily death tolls after 25 lives were reported lost to the virus on Monday.
- by Aisha Dow and Noel Towell
Local
Exclusive
Crime
A mother's life sentence after daughter's brutal end
It felt like a punch in the guts when a judge ruled Courtney Herron's killer was not guilty due to mental impairment.
- by Simone Fox Koob
CBD
City life
Andrew Bolt 'leaving the madhouse of Melbourne'
The conservative commentator and Sky News presenter is moving to the Victorian countryside.
- by Stephen Brook and Samantha Hutchinson
Exclusive
Industrial relations
It's 20 years since the waterfront dispute. The battle lines have hardened
Two players from opposite sides still have no time for the other's view on how to make the country work better.
- by Nick Bonyhady
Report takes aim at plans for Crib Point floating gas hub
A Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has urged councillors to oppose AGL's plans for a gas hub in Western Port Bay.
- by Benjamin Preiss
Elite private school on alert after tuberculosis case
Melbourne Girls Grammar families are on alert after being informed of a tuberculosis case at the school.
- by Madeleine Heffernan
From our partners
Politics
Unis demand government retreat on fee hikes and student failure crackdown
Universities have called on the Morrison government to retreat from key elements of its funding shake-up, including significant fee increases for students and a crackdown on academic failure rates.
- by Fergus Hunter
'There is a trade-off': Super slug tipped to stem wages, assistant minister says
- by Jennifer Duke and Charlotte Grieve
Business
Updated
Earnings season
Westpac scraps dividend due to uncertain outlook
Westpac will not pay shareholders a first-half dividend due to the uncertain economic environment, the bank said as it reported third-quarter profits of $1.32b.
- by Clancy Yeates
World
Coronavirus death toll tops 170,000 in US as concern turns to campuses
At Oklahoma State in Stillwater, where a widely circulated video over the weekend showed maskless students packed into a nightclub.
- by Susan Montoya Bryan
Two men arrested in 2002 killing of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay
- by Jim Mustian, Michael Balsamo and Tom Hays
Trump administration finalises plan to open Arctic refuge to drilling
- by Brad Plumer and Henry Fountain
Opinion
Don't hold your breath for radical reform of Big Tech under Biden-Harris
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Elsewhere they get it but the Australian media's still living in White Australia
Tim Soutphommasane
Political philosopher and columnist
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Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
What prospective buyers have searched for during coronavirus crisis
One particular keyword has soared in popularity by more than 1000 per cent in one state, thanks to new restrictions amid the pandemic, new data shows.
- by Melissa Heagney
How Michele timed the market to future-proof her finances
Although she was reluctant to sell her beloved art deco apartment, Michele Mossop's strategy was to take advantage of the lack of stock on the market.
- by Kate Farrelly
Life & Culture
Mark Seymour: 'I do struggle with Hunters & Collectors'
The singer-songwriter discusses the grief and relief following his mother's death, how he's not yet over his old band, and what he dislikes about ageing.
- by Benjamin Law
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Collingwood push to 'free' Aboriginal flag
Collingwood players will wear special T-shirts at training ahead of next Monday night's clash with North Melbourne as the Magpies throw their support behind the movement to "free" the Australian Aboriginal flag.
- by Daniel Cherny
Newnes shouldn't have taken after-the-siren shot: AFL
The AFL says Michael Gibbons, not Jack Newnes, should have taken the late free kick that saw Carlton claim a miraculous victory over Fremantle.
- by Anthony Colangelo
F1 driver's house ransacked while he was racing
Formula One driver Pierre Gasly has issued an emotional plea on Instagram after his house was burgled.
Cambage signs with Flyers, returns to WNBL
Liz Cambage is back playing in Australia after opting out of a US return and signing with the Southside Flyers for the upcoming season.
- by Roy Ward
Ewan puts Tour rivals on notice with win at Wallonie
Caleb Ewan has confirmed he is in race-winning form two weeks out from the start of the Tour de France, where he made an emphatic debut last year.
- by Sophie Smith
Teeing off: Sutherland in running for top golf job
Former Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland may be about to return to a prominent sporting role, this time with Golf Australia.
- by Jon Pierik
Updated
Racing integrity
Stewards hand down hefty penalty to Hyeronimus
The group 1-winning rider transferred money to his cousin with the descriptions 'gift' and 'savings'. Stewards saw it differently.
- by Adam Pengilly
Have Your Say
Real Footy podcast: 'The whole thing unravelled'
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the teams that have done well during the AFL's festival of football, and the ones that have struggled.
