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A cultural guide to going out and loving Melbourne.
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Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
Daily Sudoku
Challenge yourself with today’s four difficulty levels.
20,180 new COVID cases in Victoria, 22 more deaths
The state government says of today’s cases, 8433 were positive PCRs and 11,747 were self-reported from rapid tests. There are 1152 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus, 127 of them in ICU.
No cash relief as Omicron spread batters businesses
Experts predict state and federal government will wait before providing more cash assistance to COVID-hit businesses and workers.
Editorial
Political leadership
Summer of frustration has angered voters
Only a third of survey respondents now think the Morrison government will be returned at the next election down from almost half in June.
The Age's View
Editorial
Eat like the French for a slimmer waistline? Skip the ‘magic’ leek soup
When a French weight-loss “secret” made its way into Netflix series Emily In Paris, viewers were shown a side of French eating culture the English-speaking world doesn’t normally see.
Review
Pop music
What makes a pop star? Rethinking 60 years of music icons
Kelefah Sanneh’s epic Major Labels starts with Dion and the Belmonts and ends circa Ed Sheeran, Beyonce and TikTok.
I tried deleting Twitter off my phone. I used it just as much
Tom Ballard knows smelling the roses or going for a bike ride is better for you, but found himself constantly scrolling on his phone.
British woman dies trying to rescue dog in Tonga tsunami
Angela Glover, 50, had been living in the archipelago with her husband where they set up a welfare society for stray dogs.
Exclusive
GPs
GPs warn of higher fees without increased Medicare rebates for long consultations
GPs are warning they may have to increase fees to keep practices viable unless they receive a Medicare rebate increase.
‘Insane catch-22’ rule turns Fiji holiday into nightmare
Melbourne mother Martina Cullen has been left marooned and thousands of dollars out of pocket due to an Australian government rule on travellers that have tested positive to COVID-19.
How do you make a $270,000 profit? Sell your property during lockdown
There wasn’t much for sale, and lots of people stuck at home wanted to move somewhere bigger and better. But sellers’ profits during lockdown depended on what was on offer - and where.
Exclusive
Property development
Path to home ownership for women ‘falling through the gaps’
Vulnerable women with steady but low incomes could rent and then buy their homes under a new model of property development.
Opinion
Opinion
Political rhetoric insufficient to help Aussies own their own home
The upcoming election looks set to be long on rhetoric about the joys of home ownership, as well as decidedly short on policies of real substance to help more people buy a house.
Jessica Irvine
Senior economics writer
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.
Updated
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic touches down in Belgrade as fresh grand slam storm awaits in France
Deported tennis star Novak Djokovic posed for selfies upon arrival at Belgrade Airport on Monday, but fresh threats of grand slam bans were already overshadowing his warm welcome home.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2022
Updated
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.
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.
Local
Unions threaten to stop work unless Omicron safety measures improve
Unions say safety measures must be improved at Australian workplaces in response to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
Teachers fight easing of isolation rules for close contacts
Unions warn the planned relaxation of isolation rules for school staff risks increasing the number of COVID-19 cases, particularly among unvaccinated schoolchildren.
11-year-old boy fighting for his life after Great Ocean Road horse-riding accident
Police say two young girls were also injured in the incident, when they fell off their horses at Aireys Inlet.
Anxious wait for Australia’s Tongan community after volcano
The last time Sikahema Aholelei spoke to his family in Tonga was on Saturday night at the very moment the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Victoria’s Omicron outbreak shrinking but Sutton warns of looming hospital surge
The state has reported 22,429 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths as the Chief Health Officer says infection numbers might have peaked.
Politics
Hypocrisy cries over the no-vax voices in the federal government’s own ranks
Senior ministers faced accusations of hypocrisy for their hard line against Novak Djokovic while government MPs continue to spread anti-vaccination messages.
Business
Rio Tinto’s iron ore exports fell in 2021 amid labour crunch
Mining giant Rio Tinto has reported a drop in yearly shipments of the steel-making material iron ore, Australia’s most valuable export amid labour shortages and pandemic-related supply chain issues.
World
Tortured and isolated in a Chinese jail, Yang Hengjun has ‘no regrets’
Chinese-Australian writer says his plight has allowed him to put a spotlight on China’s legal system.
Opinion
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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
Eat your way to a better night’s sleep
Rethinking the supermarket shop – specifically, your intake of red meat and cheese – could be the key to a better kip.
Culture
★★★½
Arts
An excess of drama and talent in this artful Jagged Little Pill
The cast of the Alanis Morissette jukebox musical perform as if their lives depended on it and sing with roof-raising force.
Sport
Australian Open 2022 as it happened: 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.
Updated
Australian Open
Barty breezes through first round beating 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.
‘Immediately and correctly dispose of the ball’: AFL to crack down on holding the ball interpretation
The AFL has tightened two rule interpretations in a bid to keep the game moving and avoid congestion.
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.
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.
Quirky rituals carry Osaka to easy first round win
No woman, over the past three years, has been a finer performer on hard courts than the Japanese star Naomi Osaka, who opened her Australian Open defence in stylish fashion.
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.
Have Your Say
‘Immediately and correctly dispose of the ball’: AFL to crack down on holding the ball interpretation
The AFL has tightened two rule interpretations in a bid to keep the game moving and avoid congestion.
