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Coronavirus pandemic
Vaccine push to pave the way for country to reopen
National cabinet will start creating the path out of lockdowns this week when the country’s leaders look at how many Australians must be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to end economically damaging restrictions.
Pfizer’s vaccine gets slightly weaker over time, study finds
The vaccine had a sky-high efficacy rate of about 96 per cent against symptomatic COVID-19 for the first two months, but then declined about 6 per cent every two months after that, a study showed.
One in 10 workers to lose job in Sydney as food prices surge
Major banks are warning up to 300,000 jobs in Sydney will be lost due to extended lockdowns, as prices for staples rise at double the rate of wages growth.
ICU cases reach highest level as non-urgent surgery suspended
Non-urgent elective surgery has been suspended in at least three major Sydney hospitals as COVID-19 exposures take their toll on staff numbers and facilities work to free up resources for a potential surge.
‘Beacon of hope’: How a whole nation was jabbed in just a week
In the extraordinary vaccination effort in Bhutan, health workers trekked for days through landslides and pouring rain to reach remote villages and administer doses.
We’re back: Australia’s big day has nation basking under the Tokyo sun
The Australian team moved beyond the disappointments of London and Rio to equal its most successful single day in Olympic history.
No more Dressel rehearsals, Chalmers will need race of his life to defend crown
Kyle Chalmers is one flawless swim away from etching himself into Olympic folklore, but a US superstar is standing in his way.
Olyroos’ Tokyo dream over after crashing out at hands of Egypt
The Olyroos’ group of dreams has ended with a cold jolt of reality after suffering a 2-0 loss to Egypt to end their Olympic campaign.
Olympians like Simone Biles have the right to say ‘I’m not OK’
Even for those that muddle in the shallow end of elite sport, like I did, the pressure to do justice to the time, money and effort your family invests in you, the pressure to prove your potential, is real.
Closing the Gap: Incarceration and suicide rates rising
The first analysis of Closing the Gap data has been released, a year after a historic agreement was reached to reduce the inequality faced by Indigenous people.
National Gallery hands $3 million in looted art back to India
The National Gallery of Australia is finally set to purge its collection of artworks associated with disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor.
Our fitness routines are no longer the same – but will they go back?
Brett Farago is one of many Australians who have overhauled their exercise regimen in lockdown, and for some, it may mark a permanent shift.
Woman convicted of swapping pebbles for gems in audacious London heist
The woman secretly swapped seven pebbles for $7.94 million worth of diamonds during the heist at a luxury jewellery store.
Stuart Diver on how to survive a natural disaster, or a pandemic
The Thredbo disaster survivor is putting his personal knowledge to good use in a new podcast about natural disasters and how to survive them.
Tokyo Olympics
Titmus gold helps a swimming legend reconcile with her lost triumph
- by Phil Lutton and Tom Decent
Sydney
Police backflip on search for missing man as protesters take to the street
NSW Police are again calling in specialist units to help search for Gordon Copeland after giving in to pressure from the local community.
Second Afghan villager tells trial about ‘big soldier’
“Even if I die, I will tell the truth,” an earlier witness told the war veteran’s defamation trial against The Age and the Herald.
Not a ‘NIMBY issue’: Concrete plant approved for Glebe Island
Residents have rallied against a plan to build the industrial facility opposite hundreds of apartments in Pyrmont.
Police track plans for more anti-lockdown protests, organisers warned
Police are monitoring the online planning of further anti-lockdown protests and are pre-emptively approaching organisers to warn them against going ahead with the “selfish” events.
Tradies welcome return to work but concerned over lack of staff
Work on building sites across much of Sydney will start from Saturday but not in the eight local government areas of concern.
Politics
‘List of enemies’: Affordable housing advocates say Labor abandoned them
Affordable housing advocates say federal Labor has abandoned Australians on low incomes in favour of wealthy landlords.
Business
Why this Silicon Valley CEO is hopeful of a post-COVID ‘roaring twenties’
The chief executive of international retail giant Poshmark is confident Australia and the world is set to experience a surge in economic activity post-COVID.
World
‘Progress we can all enjoy’: England reopens its doors to Europe, US
The British government said it was able to reopen international travel safely due to the country’s successful vaccination program.
Opinion
Young Australians should score Labor’s housing policy gymnastics harshly
Jessica Irvine
Senior economics writer
Berejiklian offers little comfort to those struggling because of lockdown
Alexandra Smith
State Political Editor
New government support is JobKeeper in all but name
Steven Hamilton
Economist at the Blueprint Institute
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Property bydomain
Sydney median house price hits $1.41m, rising $1200 a day
Over the past year, median house prices have shot up by a staggering 24 per cent – or $272,887 – the fastest annual growth since Domain records began in 1993.
'A bolt of realism': House prices in six Aussie capitals hit new record highs
Exasperating for potential buyers, exhilarating for existing owners: the median price for a house in all capital cities has gone up for yet another quarter.
Life & Culture
★★★★
Review
The Rock and Emily Blunt’s new film is good fun, and full of wit
This blithely uninhibited yarn combines plots from a host of other adventure movies.
Sport
No more Dressel rehearsals, Chalmers will need race of his life to defend 100m freestyle crown
Kyle Chalmers is one flawless swim away from etching himself into Olympic folklore, but a US superstar is standing in his way.
Olyroos’ Tokyo dream over after crashing out at hands of Egypt
The Olyroos’ group of dreams has ended with a cold jolt of reality after suffering a 2-0 loss to Egypt to end their Olympic campaign.
Hockeyroos, Kookaburras keep perfect records intact
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are both travelling nicely, having continued their winning ways at the Toyko Olympics on Wednesday.
‘You couldn’t row because of the drought’: Australian women make history in forgotten event
The women’s coxless four was dropped from the Olympics for 30 years. The Australian quartet celebrated its return in style.
Opinion
Tokyo Olympics
Games’ magic moments show athletes rising above the controversy
On a bad day, the whole Olympics thing really can look like a soulless exercise. But so far in Tokyo, it has been all good days.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
Even as Titmus takes centre stage, Ledecky is still making women’s swimming history
Katie Ledecky became the first women’s Olympic 1500m freestyle champion on Wednesday, washing away the disappointment of the 400m and 200m.
From the futon
Tokyo Olympics
Stop calling BS whenever athletes like Simone Biles cite mental health
Gymnastics is a brutal sport that borders on inhumane. When the greatest of all time says it’s too much, we should listen.
Have Your Say
We’re back: Australia’s big day has nation basking under the Tokyo sun
The Australian team moved beyond the disappointments of London and Rio to equal its most successful single day in Olympic history.