Morning Edition
Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
Please Explain podcast
Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
The Watchlist newsletter
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees.
'The answer is no': Borders to stay closed despite huge vaccination program
A new warning against overseas travel has sparked calls for billions of dollars in aid for the tourism industry.
'Djokovic is a tool': Kyrgios slams Serbian star over list of demands
The Australian hit out at the world No.1 for making the requests on behalf of players currently going through 14 days of hard lockdown.
Opinion
Opinion
Paging Dr Djokovic: public health guru pens prescription for lockdown fever
Tony Wright
Associate editor and special writer
Biden's inauguration rehearsal evacuated after fire near US Capitol
The US Capitol complex temporarily locked down during a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration after a nearby fire caused security concerns.
No parade: Trump's dawn departure to be a subdued affair
As Donald Trump prepares more than 100 pardons and commutations, he is not expected to pardon himself - because it would make him look guilty.
Union steps in over Sydney academic's sacking to 'defend freedom of speech'
NTEU has given the Federal Court notice of an appeal against a court decision which upheld the sacking of a university lecturer.
Locked-down Aussies spend up big on electronics, camping
Some of Australia's largest listed retailers have revealed bright spots after a tough year of COVID trading.
Strict quarantine for Matt Damon and family after claims of other celebrity breaches
The Hollywood star is locked down with his family in the Byron Bay area before filming a new Thor movie.
Starc injury scare adds late twist as series goes down to wire
After 16 days of absorbing theatre, it has come down to three sessions. Ninety-eight overs. Six-and-a-bit hours of play... weather permitting of course.
Analysis
Australian cricket
No man has more riding on the line at the Gabba than Tim Paine
The most unlikely of Australian captains has achieved all that could be reasonably asked of him since taking over after the trauma of Cape Town - but the halo has slipped.
'Caught in a political war': First sailors set free after months stuck at sea
But scores of others remain stranded in the multibillion-dollar trade dispute between Australia and China.
Teacher shortage opens gate to country lifestyle
Ashley Price never imagined living outside a big city until she moved to regional NSW last year to work as a primary school teacher.
Opinion
NRL 2021
'Complete crap': V'landys comes out firing on first day back
The ARL Commission chairman's stocks are sky high after rescuing the game last year. But there's still a lot of work to do.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
'It got totally out of control': Pigeon that flew the coop finds a home
Now that Joe the pigeon is not longer on death row, his new best friend, Kevin Celli-Bird, says he can hang around as long as he wants.
AUSTRALIA-INDIA TEST
'I think he's in trouble': Wade under pressure after lean series
Selectors are craving stability but Australia will finish the series having axed two of its top six from the first Test and with question marks hovering over two incumbents.
'They are going': Harris says Australia will tour South Africa
Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris says Australia's tour of South Africa next month has been confirmed but Cricket Australia insists biosecurity protocols have yet to be rubber stamped.
Sydney
Union steps in over Sydney academic's sacking to 'defend freedom of speech'
NTEU has given the Federal Court notice of an appeal against a court decision which upheld the sacking of a university lecturer.
Teacher shortage opens gate to country lifestyle
A looming teacher shortage and cheaper education degree fee could spur some students to consider a career in the profession, but experts say better information is needed.
Deadly rampage in Bega sparked by missing motorbike: court
A 20-year-old who stabbed his grandparents before killing a retired police officer with a hammer was in the early stages of schizophrenia, the Supreme Court has heard.
Exclusive
Biodiversity
Forestry Corp sought to ease post-bushfire logging curbs to save jobs
Hundreds of jobs are at "imminent" risk due to the lack of available timber, the state-owned logging company warned in a letter to the environmental watchdog.
'It doesn't require a lot of effort': Sydney council's food recycling trial extended
Erin Clay was quick to join the program and says Australians need to be better educated about what goes in which bin.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL
★★★
Despite a queer treatment HMS Pinafore feels a bit straight
It’s hard to outcamp the inherent campiness of a nineteenth-century operetta set on a British navel vessel.
★★★½
Circus at its grittiest as the grimmest future imaginable becomes real
Imagine grinding your own dislodged tooth into a powder so you can ingest it to survive.
Politics
Morrison, without naming Trump, criticises incitement of riots
The PM has criticised "things that were said" which incited the riots on the US Congress without directly naming the US President.
Opinion
Australian economy
'That's all, folks': Should the government be pulling back fiscal support?
Jennifer Duke
Economics correspondent
Business
Opinion
Mark McInnes
Corporate kryptonite to retail rainmaker: Premier's McInnes departs
The terms of Mark McInnes' departure include gardening leave during which Premier will pay him his base pay for two years - a total of $5.4 million.
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
World
Teenage terrorist who plotted Anzac Day attack released from prison
The boy became the youngest Briton ever convicted of terrorism after he encouraged Australian jihadist Sevdet Besim to attack police.
Opinion
Global threat from three strongmen
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Freedom of speech: Voltaire would applaud Trump Twitter ban
Josh Bornstein
Principal, Maurice Blackburn
The verdict's in on Donald Trump's trade war with China
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
Explore
Got a news tip?
Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially. Learn more
Property bydomain
'Throwing away an umbrella': Warning on plan to make borrowing easier
With new home lending already hitting record highs, experts are warning against proposed changes to make it easier to borrow money.
Where home owners are most likely to sell their house for a profit
Most sellers are more likely to come out ahead now than they were before the pandemic hit, but in some neighbourhoods owners are taking losses.
Life & Culture
Spector 'ultimate example of the art always being better than the artist'
After Phil Spector's death, some have lauded his early contributions to music, while others struggled to forgive his past.
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
'Djokovic is a tool': Kyrgios slams Serbian star after list of demands
The Australian hit out at the world No.1 for making the requests on behalf of players currently going through 14 days of hard lockdown.
Starc injury scare adds late twist as series goes down to wire
After 16 days of oscillating, absorbing theatre, it has come down to three sessions. Ninety-eight overs. Six-and-a-bit hours of play ... weather permitting of course.
Opinion
NRL 2021
'Complete crap': V'landys comes out firing on first day back at work
The ARL Commission chairman's stocks are sky high after rescuing the game last year. But there's still a lot of work to do.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
Arzani should consider A-League return, says Socceroos boss
Daniel Arzani looks headed for the exit at FC Utrecht after his coach at the Dutch Eredivisie club said he was falling short of "our expectations".
Updated
Big Bash
'Tight table': McDermott stars as Hurricanes blow away Thunder to surge up ladder
A stunning knock of 96 runs off 56 balls at Manuka Oval led Hobart to victory and kept them in finals contention.
Analysis
Australian cricket
Rain or shine, it's day of reckoning in world of Paine
The most unlikely of Australian captains has achieved all that could be reasonably asked of him since taking over after the trauma of Cape Town - but the halo has slipped.
Analysis
Test cricket
Australia counts the bird in the hand
With tropical weather always likely to interfere with the fourth Test, Australia may have another agenda in mind.
Have Your Say
Australian Open can't afford one miss after hotel quarantine scrutiny
Authorities are backing that the systems will work this time but in the community the appetite for the Australian Open is diminishing.
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
