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Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
COVID-19 vaccine tracker
Explore the latest data on vaccinations around the world.
Exclusive
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.
Bunnings, supermarkets among NSW’s latest exposure sites; new restrictions for three LGAs
From today, workers in three additional local government areas in Sydney’s west and south are subject to stricter rules.
Pfizer’s vaccine gets slightly weaker over time: study
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.
‘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 to reach remote villages and administer doses.
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.
Live
Tokyo Olympics
Five gold medals up for grabs: Titmus, Chalmers lead big day in the pool
There are five finals in the pool today and Australia has medal hopes in every one of them. And Jessica Fox has a shot at another medal in the canoe slalom.
Exclusive
Judo
‘That match absolutely wasn’t set up’: Australian judoka denies match-fixing claim
Kayhan Takagi has broken his silence about the match-fixing accusations that prevented him competing in Tokyo after Judo Australia refused to nominate him.
Sydney house prices reach record median of $1.41m, rising more than $1200 a day
Sydney house prices are breaking records yet again, surging to $1,410,133, new figures reveal.
‘Just so we can do an exam?’: Confusion over plan for year 12 return
Principals say there’s no detail behind an ambitious plan to test and redirect vaccines to year 12 students so they can return to school and prepare for their HSC.
Hollywood stars rally for Bob Odenkirk’s recovery after ‘heart-related’ collapse
The beloved Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul star collapsed on set and was rushed to a local hospital in New Mexico.
Our fitness routines are no longer the same – but will they go back?
Brett is one of many Australians who have overhauled their exercise regimen in lockdown, and for some, it may mark a permanent shift.
★★★★
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.
Opinion
NRL 2021
NRL has a big decision to make: Is there a place for giants in the game?
We’re heading down a path where almost every player on the field will be a bit over 180cm tall and about 100kg. But is it the right way forward?
Andrew Johns
League columnist
Woman convicted of swapping pebbles for gems in audacious London heist
The woman secretly swapped seven pebbles for $7.94m worth of diamonds during the heist.
Postecoglou out of Champions League after Socceroo breaks Celtic hearts
Celtic have again surrendered a lead and will miss out on Europe’s top competition for a fourth straight year.
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
Five Eyes warn about hacking dangers in wake of China cyber attacks
Australia’s premier cyber security agency has joined forces with its “Five Eyes” partners for the first time to issue an unprecedented warning about hacking vulnerabilities.
Business
‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Fortescue powers to iron ore record on back of China boom
Fortescue’s iron ore exports hit an all-time high in the past year, driven by strong demand in China.
World
Johnson’s fight over the right to party - with proof of a jab
The public approves but Boris Johnson faces political and business opposition to his plans for vaccine passports.
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
Explore
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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 $272,887 – the fastest annual growth since Domain records began in 1993.
'A bolt of realism': House prices in six Aussie capitals hit new record highs
Exasperating for potential buyers, exhilarating for existing owners: the median price for a house in all capital cities has gone up for yet another quarter.
Life & Culture
![Untitled [Portrait of a Woman] Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, was purchased in 2009.](http://web.archive.org./web/20210728235816im_/https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.2297%2C$multiply_1.4577%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_140/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/df29b8fb28f69c719ed6c8b910f5485c74cb4df2)
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.
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.
Live
Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo Olympics LIVE updates: Titmus relay team, Chalmers lead big day in the pool
There are five finals in the pool today and Australia has medal hopes in every one of them. And Jessica Fox has a shot at another medal in the canoe slalom.
Exclusive
Tokyo Olympics
‘That match absolutely wasn’t set up’: Australian judoka denies match-fixing claim
Kayhan Takagi has broken his silence about the match-fixing accusations that prevented him competing in Tokyo after Judo Australia refused to nominate him.
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.
Ange out of Champions League after Socceroo breaks Celtic hearts
Celtic have again surrendered a lead and will miss out on Europe’s top competition for a fourth straight year with attention now turning to the domestic campaign.
Opinion
NRL 2021
NRL has a big decision to make: Is there a place for giants in the game?
We’re heading down a path where almost every player on the field will be a bit over 180cm tall and about 100kg. But is it the right way forward?
Andrew Johns
League columnist
Have Your Say
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
