Morning Edition
Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
Daily Crosswords
Challenge yourself with today's quick and cryptic puzzles.
Please Explain podcast
Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19
Djokovic lists demands for Australian Open players in hotel quarantine
World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic has reportedly issued a letter asking for more support for players now in strict quarantine. At least 72 players are in hard lockdown after another COVID case was detected on a third plane.
Updated
Melbourne
All-clear for quarantine staff who returned early positive COVID swabs
A nurse and a police officer working at a Melbourne quarantine hotel returned positive preliminary COVID-19 tests, leading to 41 other workers being stood down while they awaited their own test results. The pair have now tested negative.
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Police to drop most COVID-19 fines and hand out cautions
More than 19,000 penalty notices were issued for breaches of orders by October last year. The new direction would mean all but the most egregious offenders will avoid paying.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Pfizer vaccine process 'shouldn't be delayed over Norway reports'
Health Minister Greg Hunt said there were no plans to change schedules but the government would accept advice from the medical watchdog.
Office workers begin to return, but will the CBD ever be the same?
Thousands of employees will head back into the city this morning for the first time since work-from-home orders began in March last year.
Exclusive
Political donations
'Highly problematic for public trust': Australian political donations revealed
Mining and gas companies ramped up their spending on political parties in recent years to outstrip property developers and other big donors, led by a funding blitz from coal and iron ore magnate Clive Palmer.
Opinion
Donald Trump
If something can happen once, it can happen again: The US cannot ignore the lessons of history
Watching the attempted coup unfold at the Capitol building, the two fundamental lessons of history kept working through my mind. Never have I felt like I was living so intensely in history.
Dennis Glover
Explainer
Future Power
What is the role of gas in a green economy?
In the second part of our series Future Power, we explain why the government wants more gas. We also ask, how clean is natural gas – and what is its future in Australia?
Victoria's economic recovery to outstrip all other states as nation's economy bounces back
Victoria could show the fastest recovery of any state or territory after suffering through the worst downturn in the country, with new forecasts showing the national economy will grow 4.4% in 2021.
Opinion
Australian economy
Should the government pull back fiscal support?
This is not the sky-diving plummet from 10,000 feet it initially appeared to be.
Battle to stop development underneath Melbourne's flight paths
Melbourne Airport wants the right to block developments in areas affected by flight noise, in a bid to prevent a future Sydney-style curfew.
summer of sport
Grandstand finish looms as India force Paine's hand
The Border-Gavaskar Test series is set for a thrilling climax after another stirring fightback on day three of the fourth and final Test by India.
Coronavirus Crisis
'Heartbreaking' losses push border town tourism businesses to brink
Businesses owners, industry and politicians are warning tourism businesses in border towns will sink under the weight of two summer wipeouts in a row.
Phil Spector, music producer and killer, dies after contracting COVID-19
Spector produced 20 top 40 hits between 1961 and 1965 and went on to work with the Beatles on Let It Be, as well as Leonard Cohen, the Righteous Brothers and Tina Turner.
Local
Exclusive
LGBT
'The same person inside': Olivia's journey coming out as a transgender teen
Four years ago, Olivia Stewart realised the reason she'd always felt different from boys her age was because she was a girl. Working up the courage to speak about it would take another nine months.
US boat takes flight and almost sinks in chaotic America's Cup preliminaries
In a spectacular Prada Cup challenger race off Auckland, American boat Patriot flew through the air, tipped over and had to be saved from sinking.
Law reform needed to allow deaf and blind people on juries
People who are vision or hearing impaired have served on juries in NZ, the UK and the US, but they still aren't allowed on a jury in Victoria.
Health watchdog probes thermometers amid inaccuracy concerns
In the past 10 months, the Therapeutic Goods Administration received 44 complaints about the thermometers which often greet people at the entrance of shops, businesses, schools and childcare centres.
Father released without charge after fatal Glen Waverley house fire
The bodies of Kaoru Okano and her three young daughters, aged 3, 5 and 8, were found huddled together after fire ravaged their townhouse.
Politics
Exclusive
Interest rates
RBA says low interest rates will push up house prices
Banking regulators are prepared to tighten lending standards if record low interest rates deliver the nation a new housing boom.
Business
Exclusive
Interest rates
RBA says low rates will push up house prices
Banking regulators are prepared to tighten lending standards if record low interest rates deliver the nation a new housing boom.
World
Breaking
Putin's Russia
Kremlin critic Navalny detained after returning to Russia
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been detained after returning to Russia for the first time since he was poisoned.
Opinion
Is Morrison ready for a Biden administration?
Anthony Galloway
Foreign Affairs and National Security Reporter
Raise a tinnie to the Coldest 100 and the dulcet tones of Alan Jones
Andrew Hornery
Private Sydney Columnist
Explore
Got a news tip?
Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially. Learn more
Property bydomain
The sunny coastal towns where sea-changers have arrived in droves
With an exodus of remote workers from the capital cities, these lifestyle destinations have seen rents rise to record heights.
The secret Hollywood town hidden in the outback
It has appeared in so many films and advertisements, locals have lost count. And its 50 residents love the place for its quintessential Aussie look and feel.
Life & Culture
'She has no vanity': Kate Winslet at her best as forgotten fossil hunter
In preparation for her role as Mary Anning in Ammonite, the British star spent unpaid months prising fossils from rocks on the Dorset coast.
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Grandstand finish looms as India force Paine's hand
The Border-Gavaskar Test series is set for a thrilling climax after another stirring fightback on day three of the fourth and final Test by India.
Analysis
Test cricket
Test narrative veers further from expectations
A record seventh-wicket partnership between a pair of Indian no-names stretched belief - and this series - to the wire.
Stars claim Melbourne derby in final over
Another Renegades batting collapse helped the Melbourne Stars climb to third on the Big Bash League ladder with a final-over victory.
Giddey up: NBA prospect recovers from face plant to lift Sixers to win
Teen guard Josh Giddey is only two games into his NBL career but he proved a match-winner for his Adelaide 36ers as they beat the Phoenix in double-overtime.
Spectators hurl abuse, bottles at City goalkeeper during derby thriller
Seven days earlier Victory, inspired by Lisa De Vanna, had beaten City 6-0. But on Sunday the light blues turned the tables in dramatic style despite crowd abuse.
'Insane': Tennis players unhappy in hotel quarantine
Tennis players have reacted angrily to the news that they are facing 14 days stuck in their hotel rooms with no practice, after people on their charter flights to Australia returned positive COVID-19 tests.
Aussie sprinter cracks 10-second barrier
Rohan Browning became second-fastest Australian in history over 100 metres with a blistering 9.96 seconds at a meet in Wollongong.
Have Your Say
Don't shoot arrows, get creative in Open lockdown
Physical work should have been done in the recent off-season, and given this off-season happened after a year of pandemic disruptions every player has been well aware that situations can change on a whim.
