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Please Explain podcast
Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
Daily Sudoku
Challenge yourself with today’s four difficulty levels.
HSC top achievers list accidentally published early
“So proud of my son Mark for getting band 6 in all his subjects,” one parent gushed upon the discovery.
‘They are the most remarkable young people we’ve had go through the school’
The class of 2021 will get their HSC results on Thursday, but their certificate will not recognise the hardship they overcame to get it.
Updated
Australian Open
Djokovic touches down in Belgrade as new French Open storm awaits
Deported tennis star Novak Djokovic posed for selfies upon arrival at Belgrade Airport on Monday, but fresh threats of a French Open ban were already overshadowing his warm welcome home.
Updated
Ashleigh Barty
World No.1 Barty breezes through first round with clinical win
There was a time when Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko got the better of Ashleigh Barty – but not on Monday at the Australian Open.
Omicron cases milder but weight of numbers puts pressure on hospitals
Early data shows cases in the NSW Omicron wave have been less likely to enter hospital than people the same age who caught COVID-19 in mid-2021.
Joyce: ‘We’ve got anti-vaxxer MPs, but what can you do?’
Senior ministers faced accusations of hypocrisy for their hard line against Novak Djokovic while government MPs continue to spread anti-vaccination messages.
Unions threaten to stop work unless Omicron safety measures improve
The union movement is demanding urgent Omicron risk assessments, free rapid antigen tests and N95 masks, and upgraded protections.
Tongan blast was violent and vast, but may not disrupt global warming
While Tonga’s neighbours struggled to access information about what was happening on the ground, scientists equipped with modern monitoring technology saw the blast in real time.
Families in Australia are desperate to hear from loved ones
The last time Sikahema Aholelei spoke to his family in Tonga was when the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted.
Tongan NRL players’ agonising wait for contact from loved ones
The communications blackout in Tonga after an underwater eruption has left many rugby league players feeling anxious.
Novak Djokovic is heading home. Question is, which home to choose?
After his sensational deportation from Australia, Djokovic has a string of prestige homes around the world to choose from.
Beforepay shares sink 44 per cent on debut
The pay-on-demand fintech company is the ASX’s latest newcomer - but did not receive a warm welcome.
It seems like a hard sell, so why can’t we stop watching?
You might imagine a story about a devastating viral outbreak would be the last thing we feel like right now.
Opinion
MyCareer
Unhappy at work? The problem might be within yourself
When we think changing jobs will make us happier, it might help to first consider if the source of unhappiness is within ourselves.
Jim Bright
‘I felt a sigh of relief’: The significance of Cummins’ classy Khawaja gesture
When Cummins called Khawaja back on stage to celebrate Australia’s Ashes win, there was more to the story that spoke volumes about this team.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The one musketeer: Rafael Nadal gets free swing at a record 21st major title
Of the three men tied on 20 major championships, only injury-cursed Nadal is playing at the Open this year. So far, good.
Kyrgios keen to put on a show for COVID-weary public
Nick Kyrgios knows he’s right up against it at this year’s Australian Open, and Tuesday’s assignment against British qualifier Liam Broady spells danger.
Sydney
Sydney beachgoers cool off after tsunami warning closed sites
Thousands visited Sydney’s beaches on Monday as the city was treated to a reprieve from La Niña’s wet season with temperatures close to 30 degrees.
‘New life’: High-rise plan for Sydney’s historic Shelbourne Hotel
Heritage NSW warns the proposal would have a “substantial impact” on the hotel building, which opened on Sussex Street in 1902.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
NSW warned of rising death toll as healthcare workers grow weary
Residents have been warned to brace themselves for high numbers of COVID-19 deaths in the coming days.
The secret mini-submarines that played a crucial role in World War II
A flotilla of Allied X-craft mini-submarines were deployed to the Pacific to cut underwater telephone cables and disrupt Japan’s communication.
Exclusive
Private schools
NSW private schools reaped $72 million in JobKeeper payments
New data contained in annual reports reveals the majority of that funding was received by just 10 schools, while all 33 schools that received the wage subsidy also posted a surplus in 2020.
Politics
Exclusive
Australia votes
Albanese’s election pitch to aspirational Australians
The Opposition Leader says he will offer voters an election platform to help create personal wealth for millions of aspirational citizens, while ruling out any new taxes.
Business
Opinion
Retail
COVID fear and supply famine join to decimate Kmart, Target’s earnings
Over December and January as physical stores reopened there emerged a new set of challenges - the scarcity of staff and an abundance of consumer fear.
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
World
California pot growers say life is hard without double-dealing
In the five years since California voters approved a legal market for marijuana, farms have sprouted but say they can’t survive on legal pot alone.
Opinion
Dear Novak, here’s why Australians are really glad you got the boot
Pete Shmigel
Writer and business owner
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Property
Fresh record expected for Bill Papas’ waterfront holiday home
Hot on the heels of selling alleged fraudster Bill Papas’ home in Rozelle last week, liquidators have put up for sale the colourful soccer identity’s luxury holiday home on the NSW Central Coast.
Four-bedroom house offered free, with just one catch
It’s the home that’s free to a good home, you just need to pay the relocation costs and have somewhere to house it.
Lifestyle
How explaining ageing (and death and birth) has changed me
The closest thing we have to an anti-ageing option is exercise. But we’re not talking about running marathons.
Culture
★★★½
Review
Cartoonish new Scream can’t rise to horror franchise’s former glory
The iconic series would hardly have lasted this long without Neve Campbell, so is the fifth movie just rehashing a tired formula?
Sport
Updated
Australian Open
Barty breezes through first round with clinical win over Tsurenko
There was a time when Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko got the better of Ashleigh Barty but the Australian on Monday easily won her opening round of the Australian Open 6-0 6-1.
Key players unmoved on Langer despite Ashes, World Cup success
Ordinarily, a coach who has won the country’s first men’s Twenty20 World Cup and retained the urn in such convincing fashion would be walking into head office to name his price, but this is not the case with Justin Langer.
Djokovic’s absence does not put on asterisk on men’s title: players
Rafael Nadal said the Australian Open would be better with Novak Djokovic in it, but players rejected the notion that this year’s men’s title would be diminished by his controversial absence.
‘Worst thing is not knowing’: Tongan players’ agonising wait for contact from loved ones
The communications blackout in Tonga after an underwater eruption has left many rugby league players feeling anxious.
The one musketeer: Nadal gets free swing at a record 21st major title
Of the three men tied on 20 major championships, only injury-cursed Rafael Nadal is playing at the Australian Open this year. So far, good.
‘No skin off his nose’: How captain’s backing turned Head into Ashes hero
Travis Head’s death-or-glory approach to batting has the potential to go horribly wrong but he was reassured by Pat Cummins there would be no repercussions. And it helped Australia dominate the Ashes.
Australian Open 2022 Live Updates: Victory for Barty and Millman, French sports ministry’s message to Djokovic
The action is finally getting underway on the court after a tumultuous lead up to this year’s tournament.
Have Your Say
Heroes and zeroes: How every player rated in the Ashes series
No player received a 10 but two Australians went within a whisker in the dominant series win, while there was a dismal set of numbers for England.
