Please Explain podcast
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Morning Edition
Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
Daily Crosswords
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BUDGET DAY 2021
Budget to bet on consumers spending $130b in savings
Australians saved $130 billion through the pandemic. Josh Frydenberg is hoping they will spend that cash to offset a huge fall in COVID government support.
Victoria seeks more federal cash for state infrastructure blitz
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan on Monday said she expected the Commonwealth to contribute to the $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop
Exclusive
Federal
Intensive support: Youth skills push to boost recovery
Australians will be offered “intensive support” to retrain for the economic recovery in a sweeping package that tells young people to sign up for new skills.
COVID-19 CRISIS
Zero daily COVID deaths in England for second time since pandemic began
New research suggests Britain’s world-leading vaccine rollout slashes the risk of dying from COVID-19 by up to 97 per cent.
Pfizer beats back variants as AstraZeneca gets a timely boost
Pfizer’s vaccine seems to offer good protection against the South African variant, while British data has given AstraZeneca a lift, in positive news for Australia’s vaccine mix.
When some Aussies are more Aussie than others
Questions of identity and rights are underlined in a series of posters by artist Peter Drew.
MasterChef recap: Rushed ragu gets some through, but for one team it’s pasta la vista, baby
It’s Masters Week on MasterChef and the first challenge? Perfect pasta - and not from a packet.
Opinion
Real Footy Podcast
‘The Cameron effect’: How ex-Giant is transforming the Cats
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Greg Baum discuss how Jeremy Cameron’s arrival from GWS changed the Cats – and how the Cats have helped Cameron.
Billionaire Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group pounces with $8 billion bid for Boral
Kerry Stokes’ holding company has made an opportunistic play for the largest supplier of building products in the country.
As China freezes out Australia, the superpower befriends Indonesia
China and Indonesia staged a joint naval exercise in the Java Sea only days after Beijing offered to recover the sunken KRI Nanggala 402 off Bali without charge.
Hamas fires rockets deep into Israel as tensions rise
The rockets set off air raid sirens throughout Jerusalem, after hundreds of Palestinians were hurt in clashes with Israeli police at a flashpoint religious site in the contested holy city.
Asylum seekers face ‘interview of their lives’ as caseload blitz launched
Asylum seekers have been given two weeks to prepare for interviews for temporary protection visas in a process that refugee advocates say compromises fairness and denies justice.
Opinion
Diversity
For attitudes to change, more African voices are needed
African-Australians are often missing from the media dialogue on matters concerning their own community. As a result,the positive and constructive stories are rarely covered.
Stephane Shepherd, John Kuot, Berhan Ahmed and Selba Gondoza Luka
Opinion
Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle’s tearful apology an exercise in cynicism
Robert Doyle says he is sorry. When this might have made a difference to the women he accosted, the former lord mayor offered nothing.
Chip Le Grand
Chief Reporter
Disgraced former lord mayor tearfully apologises to victims
Former lord mayor Robert Doyle has embarked on a television and radio blitz, apologising for the hurt and “offence” caused by his actions towards three women during his time in office.
Yarra councillor attacked near South Yarra club
A Yarra City councillor was injured last month outside a South Yarra nightclub, in a violent altercation that is now under investigation by Victoria Police.
FEDERAL BUDGET 2021
Explainer
How does the federal budget work – and how is it different from yours?
What is a federal budget trying to do? How does the government decide where to spend its money? And where did rituals such as ‘the lock-up’ come from?
Opinion
Little has gone right for the Morrison government, but it’s not clear much has gone badly wrong
The political dynamic is fuzzy and there’s no certainty that any of the government’s missteps are having an impact on voters.
Sean Kelly
Columnist and former adviser to Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
Local
Mum saw fear in daughter’s eyes as partner interrupted call, court told
A woman killed in her home, allegedly by her partner, was accused by another man of trying to extort money over a rape claim, a court has heard.
Truck protesters doubt new freight rail link’s congestion-busting benefits
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group, which lobbies for the removal of trucks from inner-western roads, fears a proposed Inland Rail hub will do little to alleviate road traffic and rising pollution.
Undercover police helped nab Stuart MacGill’s alleged kidnappers
An undercover police operative was used to investigate the brother of Stuart MacGill’s girlfriend after the former cricketer reported the incident to police.
Ex Home and Away actor charged with drug ring offences in Byron Bay
Local police said the arrests will reduce the availability of illicit drugs in Byron Bay.
Motivational speaker to stand trial over baby daughter’s drowning
A motivational speaker and author will stand trial after pleading not guilty to a criminal charge over the death of her baby daughter in a bathtub drowning.
AFL 2021
Updated
Howe grounded: High-flying Pie set for hamstring surgery
Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe was pushing for a return to the senior team but now needs surgery on his hamstring and will miss a large chunk of the season.
Dressing room ‘leak’ disappointing but De Goey has our support: Adams
Magpies vice-captain Taylor Adams has opened up about his private conversation with Jordan De Goey and has defended the forward in the wake of stinging criticism.
Politics
Exclusive
Trade
Industry, unions warn of fresh wave of ‘dumped’ foreign imports
The coronavirus-induced economic downturn has fuelled a global oversupply of steel, paper, alloy, glass, processed food and solar panels among other products.
Business
‘We’re in a new world’: Iron ore surges 10 per cent to new record
Iron ore futures surged more than 10 per cent and copper extended its record run amid increasing bets they’ll be among the biggest winners from a commodities boom.
World
Minke whale calf put down after getting stranded in London’s River Thames
An injured minke whale calf that became stranded in London’s River Thames has been put down after its condition deteriorated and hopes for its survival faded.
Opinion
Time to revisit Australia’s golden goose
Paul Cleary
Crown-Star proposal creates potential for more poker machines
Rebecca Thorpe
Alliance for Gambling Reform spokesperson
Ramadan a chance to dispel vaccinations myths across Islamic world
Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
Explore
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Property bydomain
Melbourne suburbs now out of reach for buyers using government scheme
Rapidly rising prices have reduced the number of homes eligible for the government's loan deposit scheme, set to be expanded in the budget tonight.
First-home buyers flock to the ‘wild, wild west’ to get into fast-rising market
Desperate home buyers are ditching their 'cool' addresses for these less affluent 'burbs, realising there are cafes and wine bars on the other side of town.
Life & Culture
Burn, baby, burn: 2021’s most extraordinary film tosses rule book on the fire
Seductive drama Ema reveals the full force of a dancer’s fury as she burns bits of a Chilean city to the ground. Don’t expect a happy ending.
Sport
Updated
AFL 2021
Tigers star Bolton injured in nightclub fight
Shai Bolton will miss the next two to three weeks of football with a fractured wrist sustained in a nightclub fight, after stepping in to defend teammate Daniel Rioli and his girlfriend.
Analysis
AFL 2021
The troubling stats behind Carlton’s fadeouts
Carlton’s capitulation to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday was the 18th time during David Teague’s tenure that the Blues have conceded five or more unanswered goals.
Updated
AFL 2021
Howe grounded: High-flying Pie set for hamstring surgery
Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe was pushing for a return to the senior team but now needs surgery on his hamstring and will miss a large chunk of the season.
Updated
AFL injury ward
Caldwell’s season in doubt, Stephenson sidelined
Boom Essendon recruit Jye Caldwell’s season could be over, with the Bombers considering surgery for the midfielder after he suffered a relapse of a hamstring injury at training last week.
NRL won’t allow de Belin to return despite Dragons request
After a jury was unable to reach a verdict on five out of six charges against Jack de Belin, details emerged of a contract extension he signed last year which will see him remain at the Dragons until 2024 if cleared.
Dressing room ‘leak’ disappointing but De Goey has our support: Adams
Magpies vice-captain Taylor Adams has opened up about his private conversation with Jordan De Goey and has defended the forward in the wake of stinging criticism.
‘Everything will work out’: Jackson confident Cambage will compete at Olympics
Opals legend Lauren Jackson says she ‘knows’ Liz Cambage will sort out her differences with the AOC in time for the Tokyo Games, and backed the star for expressing her opinions.
Have Your Say
‘The Cameron effect’: How ex-Giant is transforming the Cats
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Greg Baum discuss how Jeremy Cameron’s arrival from GWS has changed the Cats – and how the Cats have helped Cameron.
