The Middle East, so often in the news for its problems, has, during the past year, pioneered a major historic breakthrough likely to have enduring effects, in the form of the Abraham Accords.

Platypuses are so elusive that the location of all their different habitats remains a secret, but new technology may be about to change that.

The education department is preparing COVID-19 mitigation measures for when school resumes but public school classrooms will not be fitted with air purifiers or carbon dioxide monitors despite them being part of the plan in Victoria.

Follow along for all the action from the fashions to the final winner on our 2021 Brownlow Medal live blog.

It's a Brownlow red carpet divided across cities but the common theme is glamour

Sydney’s hotspot areas will be given the same freedoms of the rest of the city as vaccination rates rise.

The Penrith trainer hauled over the coals for an incident earlier in the year is now under investigation by the NRL. He wasn’t even on the field at the time.

Melbourne Demons small forward Charlie Spargo will be available for the AFL grand final in Perth next week after surviving an injury scare at training.

For the PM, for Porter to stay was untenable because it would have redefined the standards for ministers in a way that would have opened a Pandora’s box of secret deals.

There is a road out of this – a long, slow and at times bumpy one to be sure. But we are heading in the right direction.

Queensland schools are being urged to sign up for a new citizen science program in which children will collect insects to help discover new species.

New emails reveal a major reason why a water resource plan for a NSW river wasn’t accredited was because of inadequate consultation with Aboriginal people.

A new research hub led by the University of Queensland will use the money to study evidence-based rehab treatments.

The Australian Medical Association has cautiously backed the national plan for reopening, Victoria will release its re-opening plan and NSW has eased outdoor recreation restrictions for people in hotspot LGAs

Victorians will find it jarring that NSW will gain significant freedoms about a month earlier than them under the Premier’s reopening plan.

Scott Morrison says France should have known Australia may have ditched its $90 billion sub deal, while France has accused Australia of treachery.

Black ties were out, replaced by a relaxed vibe more conducive to the AFL hubs spread across the country.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys believes the use of quick antigen COVID testing has been key to keeping racing’s participants safe through the pandemic.

The seven-race program at Grafton on Monday kicks off with the maiden sprinters at set weights.

Victoria’s roadmap looks to be a sensible balance of cautious opening up and trying to keep within the principles of the national plan for reopening.

Online customers (and curious home-cooks) are swapping and sharing discount codes as demand for easier dinner options grows during lockdown.

As Russians go to the polls for one of the least free elections in years, how does their nation’s political system (and Putin’s empire) work?

Brandon Smith thought his season was over. But he has made a remarkable recovery as Josh Addo-Carr also firms for a preliminary final return against Penrith.

Ellyse Perry believes the success of The Hundred and the WBBL should encourage India’s board to launch a full women’s IPL

The Age photographer Luis Ascui was hit with capsicum spray by police at an anti-lockdown rally on Saturday, with a complaint to be lodged with Victoria Police.

The federal government’s latest appointment to the commission has generated a huge storm of controversy, but Lorraine Finlay’s defenders say she is a classical liberal who will be no government patsy.

The NSW government has tipped in $200,000 to a pilot program pairing elderly homeowners who live alone with young people struggling with housing affordability.

Argentina managed two draws against Australia last year but coach Mario Ledesma insists this Wallabies team is vastly improved ahead of Saturday’s clash in Townsville.

The Manly young gun was reportedly agitating for a move back to the halves before Kieran Foran’s return to the Sea Eagles. But he’s happy to be a destructive back-rower for years to come.

Christian Porter has resigned as a minister after he accepted money from unknown sources through a trust arrangement for his legal battle against the ABC.

Ant Middleton is known for his tough exterior and saying it how it is. But there is one vice he just can’t give up.

The AUKUS defence pact is unlikely to have a material impact on iron ore prices in the short-term, investors say, but warned of longer-term risks of pinning the country’s defence strategy to the US.

Vaccines could become mandatory for all Victoria’s authorised workers, teachers, childcare workers, parents of childcare workers, hospitality staff and hospitality patrons as the state moves to reopen schools and businesses.

Gold Coast are eyeing former Geelong captain and current Western Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King to provide further support for senior coach Stuart Dew.

Security forces have killed Indonesia’s most wanted militant who had ties with an Islamic State group.

With seven successive rookie contracts to his name, and two knee reconstructions, Western Bulldog Roarke Smith has lived his football life on the fringe. But on Saturday he’ll play in the grand final.

Manchester United stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Dean Henderson have sent well-wishes to soccer player Danny Hodgson as he remains in an induced coma at a Perth hospital on his 26th birthday. 

No AFL supporters are stereotyped more than Melbourne’s, but some of the great characters Martin Flanagan has met in football are Melbourne supporters. The first once tangled with Polly Farmer.

It’s not often you strike a seven-year-old facing the starter for only the sixth time in just his second career prep.

Mr McGowan said after he saw he was being portrayed as Hitler by some protestors, he didn’t pay any more attention to the rally.

Premier Daniel Andrews says Victoria is aiming to have 80 per cent of the state’s eligible population fully vaccinated by Melbourne Cup Day, leaving the door open for crowds at the track.

The return of Australia’s favourite TV family after eight years away is welcome, heart-warming and well-judged for the age we find ourselves in.

Reports from New Zealand say the Black Caps received a bomb threat to their hotel after their decision to abandon the limited-overs tour of Pakistan.

October 26 and November 5 look set to become dates when many rules fade into history, and vaccines, not lockdown, are counted on to protect Victorians from coronavirus. Find all the details of the state government’s road map here.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to call an early election that few people wanted. The move has turned into a political miscalculation that could either seriously weaken his leadership, or cost him his political career.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

There are tears being shed in Brett Sheehy’s last weeks at Melbourne Theatre Company – many by actors he can’t give work to.

The face of the US fight against COVID-19 says he believes that the proper regime for an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer’s, is that the two original doses should be followed several months later by a third shot.

Cricket Australia’s medical experts have acknowledged the cumulative mental health impacts of bio-secure bubbles as the governing body searches for Ashes protocols acceptable to state and federal governments and the England touring team.

The federal government’s shake-up of threatened species recovery plans will downgrade protections for rare and endangered animals, experts warn.