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Our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world.
‘A river under my house’: Suburban flash flooding during Brisbane storm
Brisbane recorded almost 25mm of rain in an hour, while Alexandra Hills in Redland City had almost 15mm in 30 minutes.
Breaking
Coronavirus pandemic
Australia buys 25 million Moderna vaccine doses, negotiates onshore manufacturing
Moderna has struck an agreement with the Morrison government to supply 10 million doses this year and 15 million booster shots in 2022.
‘There is no time to waste’: WHO needs new powers to control future outbreaks, report says
The report also urges world governments to allow WHO infection experts immediate access to inspect outbreaks anywhere in the world in an effort to prevent future cover-ups and delays.
Investigators battle surge in self-produced child exploitation material
Investigators are seeing a surge in self-produced child exploitation material, as they fight an increase in the availability of encryption services making it easier for paedophiles to live stream child abuse.
Boosting mental health workforce is key with budget funding just the start
Tuesday’s budget had a $2.3 billion investment in mental health, but experts want to see more focus on the workforce.
Court bid to oust Porter barrister from acting in defamation fight
A friend of the woman who accused Christian Porter of rape has made a court bid to stop one of his barristers from acting for him in his defamation case against the ABC.
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
‘Is this the big one?’: The next intifada could be fuelled over TikTok
The Israeli government, the surrounding Arab nations and the Palestinian Authority all desperately want to shut down the crisis but the call to arms has moved to social media.
Thomas L. Friedman
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Step out of the COVID bunker: Scientists say Australians should embrace more risk
Leading scientists say Australians should embrace a different approach to risk from the coronavirus as millions of people sign up for vaccines.
Australian companies given assistance to combat China’s trade strikes
The Department of Foreign Affairs will gain staff to help Australian exporters and other countries deal with the trade disruptions caused by COVID-19 and China’s trade strikes.
Reynolds set to sign three-year deal with Broncos
The South Sydney captain has told those close to him that he will be taking up a three-year deal at Brisbane next season.
Exclusive
Wallabies
Gold standard: First look at the new permanent Wallabies jersey
The Herald has obtained a photo of this year’s Wallabies jersey, which is the same colour as Australia’s famous 1991 strip.
Afghanistan Test to be Ashes warm-up for stars with Perth to host series finale
The match against Test minnows Afghanistan will provide much-needed red-ball practice for Test stars Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and David Warner leading into Australia’s defence of the urn.
FEDERAL BUDGET 2021
Treasurer challenges voters to make LNP seats marginal in budget response
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also lamented the lack of funding for a regional quarantine hub in Toowoomba in the federal budget.
Migraine relief on the way for sufferers with new drug added to PBS
Emgality, a drug which could previously cost up to $6800 a year, will instead cost $41.30 a script.
Queensland
Corruption watchdog finds police ‘discriminated’ against men for 50-50 gender equity
Queensland Police recruiters used “misleading and vague” statements while hundreds of men missed out on jobs with the service because of gender targets, the crime watchdog says.
Graphic content
Government
Cops, medics and prison guards to get easier access to compensation for PTSD
A former prison officer has detailed the graphic and horrific scenes workers face inside Queensland’s jails.
PA Hospital ward 5D partially reopens amid bed stress across region
The ward, which was the source of two recent south-east Queensland virus clusters, has partially reopened to help deal with recent bed shortages.
COVID-19 passenger in Brisbane Airport had recovered
The traveller who arrived at Brisbane Airport from PNG had fully recovered and there was no need for Queenslanders to be concerned, the state’s Chief Health Officer said.
Queensland nurse-to-patient ratios saved lives, research finds
The ratios set minimum numbers of nurses per shift, and research shows clear benefits for patients.
Politics
Research could take ‘decades to recover’ after budget overlooks universities
Universities warn with international students shut out from the country for another year, research programs are at risk and will be very hard to rebuild.
Business
Exclusive
Start up technology
‘We did very very poorly’: Airwallex vows to improve culture amid staff survey backlash
Airwallex scored a negative result in a survey that measures job satisfaction across its compliance and legal operations.
World
Internal emails reveal WHO knew of sex abuse claims in Congo
Young women working on the Ebola outbreak in 2019 claim they were offered or appointed to jobs in return for sex.
Opinion
Back to the future budget delivers jobs, but no pay rises
Jessica Irvine
Senior economics writer
Explore
Property bydomain
Burnt by the hot market: Aussie home-buyer sentiment dips
Rapidly rising prices and limited choice have begun to dampen buyer's spirits as their positivity about the market declines.
Brisbane's best property buys from just $399,000
Competition for well-priced properties is stiff, so here's our pick of some of the best to inspect when you're out this weekend.
Life & Culture
Opinion
Streaming
Detective series Mare of Easttown is a hallelujah moment for TV
Kate Winslet investigates a murder in HBO’s deeply watchable seven-part series that upends cop show cliches.
Craig Mathieson
Film, music and TV critic
Sport
‘Boutique quarantine’ for F1 drivers Australia’s best hope of hosting grand prix
The desperate COVID situation in Brazil has heightened concerns about the feasibility of Albert Park hosting the F1 drivers and their entourages a fortnight later.
‘Won’t last five rounds’: Swift Justis predicted in Gallen showdown
Paul Gallen’s fight with Justis Huni is scheduled for 10 rounds, but the budding Olympian’s camp doubts it will even reach the halfway point.
Afghanistan Test to be Ashes warm-up for stars with Perth to host series finale
The match against the minnows will provide much-needed red-ball practice for Test stars Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and David Warner leading into the defence of the urn.
‘Bats must consist solely of wood’: MCC rejects bamboo to replace willow
A day after research suggested bamboo bats could replace willow, the club that maintains cricket’s official laws has rejected the idea because bamboo is grass.
Opinion
NRL 2021
No winners in de Belin situation – but even so, stand-down rule must stay
The Dragons forward faces a third trial for an alleged rape.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
Analysis
NRL 2021
Brad Arthur has no qualms handing teenage son debut
Eels coach selects son for his NRL debut in a week in which he may not have a single training session.
Djokovic’s tantrum in Rome rain, Nadal’s Tokyo doubts
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic shouted at the umpire before regaining his cool at the Italian Open.
Have Your Say
Howzat for innovation? Researchers say bamboo cricket bats could replace willow
In a development that could send shudders through the game, researchers say bamboo bats are lighter, stronger and offer a larger “sweet spot” than willow.
