Senate Hearing Promotes Unproven Drugs and Dubious Virus Claims

Panelists called by Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, deployed inaccurate information in disputing the need for mask wearing and social distancing.

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After Trump’s Loss in Arizona, State Republicans Hurl Insults at One Another

A top Republican told the governor to “shut the hell up.” Another official described a lawmaker as a resident of “Crazytown.” All this in a state where the party recently reigned supreme.

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Biden’s Pentagon Pick Reignites Debate Over Civilian Control of Military

Congress would need to approve a waiver for Lloyd J. Austin III, a recently retired general, to serve in the civilian post, four years after President Trump’s first defense secretary received one.

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House Passes Defense Bill Overwhelmingly, Defying Trump’s Veto Threat

The $741 billion measure passed with a veto-proof majority, setting up a potential showdown with President Trump in the final weeks of his term.

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Pandemic Fatigue, Meet Pandemic Anger

If shaming people for flouting Covid-19 safety guidance doesn’t work, what are we supposed to do with all of our frustration?

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Republicans Make Clear Their Georgia Senate Strategy: Attack Warnock

For the crucial Senate runoffs, the G.O.P. is focusing its attacks on the Rev. Raphael Warnock, portraying him as radical, a claim he has rejected but one that worked for Republicans in down-ballot races last month.

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Most of California Locks Down Again as Coronavirus Strains Hospitals

As the United States approached 15 million cases, California’s situation despite its earlier restrictions was a cautionary tale.

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Sorry, Gen. Lloyd Austin. A Recently Retired General Should Not Be Secretary of Defense.

After a tumultuous four years, we need civilian leadership and a return to normalcy.

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The Stimulus Compromise Is $908 Billion Better Than Nothing

The Senate’s plan is flawed. Doing nothing would be much worse.

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Republicans Can’t Handle the Truth

You shouldn’t be surprised that they’re still backing Trump.

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On Iran, Biden Can Bide His Time

The new administration should not be stampeded into returning to the nuclear deal.

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Christchurch Inquiry Says New Zealand Couldn’t Have Prevented Mosque Attacks

But the Royal Commission, the country’s highest-level investigation, faulted lax gun regulations and the country’s “fragile” intelligence agencies.

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Covid: UK vaccination programme getting under way

The first people are due to be given the Pfizer/BioNTech jab as vaccination of all over-50s begins.

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Lottery player age to rise amid gambling crackdown

There will be 'a major review' of gambling laws in a bid to protect children and vulnerable people.

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Sewage testing will show virus traces for months to come, experts say

COVID-19 fragments likely to continue surfacing in Victoria's wastewater, with infectious disease experts warning that some people could keep on shedding virus.

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Thanks, Spotify, for the 2020 music memories – but you don't know me yet

David Bowie is hands-down my favourite artist of all time ... but I resent some vacuous AI accusing me of being a middle-aged art-rock trainspotter.

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Business and consumer confidence rides high ahead of Christmas

Business confidence has hit a two year high while consumers are now at their most buoyant this year.

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Woodside CEO Coleman to retire after torrid year for oil and gas

Woodside CEO Peter Coleman will retire next year after serving more than 10 years at the helm of Australia's oil and and gas producer.

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2GB's Ben Fordham finishes ratings year on a high

With an audience share of 17.1 per cent, Fordham is the most popular breakfast presenter on Sydney radio.

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Biden chooses retired General Lloyd Austin for defence secretary

US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen retired General Lloyd Austin for defense secretary, Politico reported. 

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Boat battered, homes blacked out as hail, winds lash south-east Queensland

Heavy rain, 90km/h wind gusts and hailstones have damaged cars and boats and cut power to more than 20,000 buildings.

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Home for health

As the aged care industry faces scrutiny, experts weigh in on the benefits of at-home care.

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No more than 10 drinks a week recommended to reduce risk of alcohol-related harm

The experts behind the new guidelines say they bring Australia into line with France, Denmark, the United Kingdom and proposed guidelines in the United States.

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Melting up: Soaring markets raise bubble fears

November's euphoria leads to the question of whether investors have simply got ahead of themselves. There are no dissenting voices right now - and that's never a good sign.

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Powerful agent Isaac Moses loses appeal against NRL deregistration

Isaac Moses, rugby league’s most powerful player agent, has lost his appeal against his deregistration.

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Libs back O'Brien as Smith attacks 'demented' gay conversion practices

Opposition Leader’s senior colleagues give him their backing ahead of party room meeting where MPs are expected to vent frustration about party performance.

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Russia's Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Hobbled by Public Distrust

Distrust of the government is so widespread that 59 percent of Russians say they have no intention of getting a shot.

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Indoor Dining May Be Banned Again, Threatening N.Y.C. Restaurants

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a new restrictions model that could end indoor dining in the city as early as next week.

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Marvellous Melbourne: It's time to celebrate what makes us special

A 30-day celebration of Melbourne in pictures from our award winning staff photographers and regular contributing photographers at The Age.

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Queensland chases Olympics again after reports China would nab Games

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state's olympic taskforce would get back together in the new year to progress the bid after it disbanded during the pandemic.

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Thomas Banks is used to having romantic doors slammed in his face

A new short documentary looks at the love life of a gay man with cerebral palsy. He's determined to stay positive. But it can hurt.

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SCEGGS saviour, art collector and philanthropist

Cullen acquired early Aboriginal photographic portraits and brought them back to Australia.

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Pucovski, Burns fail in key Test audition against India A

Will Pucovski and Joe Burns needed runs at Drummoyne Oval to stamp their selection claims, but both were sent packing on Monday morning for single-digit scores.

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The world's biggest coal miner faces a 'back to the future' moment

Ivan Glasenberg has long made it clear that the only real business of Glencore is to make money for shareholders. He has just created an awkward conundrum for his successor.

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VCE blues: the reality of finishing school in a pandemic

Year 12 was unforgettable for the Class of 2020 - but for all the wrong reasons.

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Anti-Vaccine Doctor Has Been Invited to Testify Before Senate Committee

The selection of Dr. Jane M. Orient as federal health officials are trying to promote a vaccine to end the coronavirus pandemic prompted harsh criticism from Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York.

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A Powerful Reporter Got Away With Sexual Misconduct for Decades. His Paper, and His Union, Looked the Other Way.

Michael Fuoco was a bigfoot reporter with a fiery personality and a reputation for harassing young women. No one seemed to want to rein him in.

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How Black People Learned Not to Trust

Concerns about vaccination are unfortunate, but they have historical roots.

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Byron Bay: Why a famous Australian beach is disappearing

Byron Bay's beach is eroding away, so how is the headland is to blame?

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Why Arsenal's Aubameyang has lost his scoring belief - Jermaine Jenas analysis

MOTD2 pundit Jermaine Jenas says Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's lack of confidence in Sunday's defeat by Tottenham is an ongoing issue for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

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The best locally-sourced gifts for every kind of family member

After a year that brought bushfires and a pandemic, buying gifts from Aussie makers is the best way to pay it forward this Christmas.

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I watched the ABC's Reef Live - and I've been spawned anew

Prior to this weekend, I confess – and a shameful confession it is too – I had devoted precious little of my life to even considering the sex life of coral, let alone observing it.

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RBA says unlikely to force Afterpay surcharge

The Reserve Bank says it is unlikely to recommend changes to rules that prevent retailers from surcharging customers who use buy now, pay later schemes like Afterpay and Zip.

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England players fear being stuck in South Africa after bubble breached

England are due to fly home on Thursday and there is a strong possibility they may have to leave some members of the touring party behind after two positives.

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Forget 2024, Politis plans to make Tedesco a Rooster for life

James Tedesco has signed off on a three-year, $3.3m deal, now the Roosters are already dreaming about ensuring the world's best player stays put beyond 2024.

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England star Tom Curran granted release from Sixers due to bubble fatigue

English all-rounder Tom Curran has requested a release from the Sixers after being under biosecurity protocols since July.

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Geelong oil refinery 'energy hub' plan gains global backers

Viva Energy, which is considering shutting down the 65-year-old refinery, said it had entered into agreements with top global energy companies to transform the site.

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Magic at midnight from Pinchgut

Program of Christmas music was presented with subtle grace.

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Homicide squad investigating after man dies following altercation

Emergency services were called to a property on Bayley Street in Alexandra, 130 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, in the early hours of Monday.

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'Starting to see the cracks': The US economy needs more than a $US900b plan to fix it

The economic recovery, slowing for months, is in danger of going solidly into reverse.

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NFL Week 13: What We Learned

The Jets found a new way to lose, the Saints continued to roll and the Browns held on for a huge win over the Titans.

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Chelsea move top, Man City and United win as fans return

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United enjoyed comfortable wins in the Premier League on Saturday as fans returned to stadiums after an eight-month absence.

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What the new coronavirus restrictions mean for Victorians

Here's the run down on your new-look lockdown rules, what they mean and when they will apply.

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Australia needs to look beyond China for trade: Senator

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong also said it was not a matter of fixing the country’s relationship with China, but about taking a “different stance” towards the region.

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'Hidden crisis': When your domestic abuser is also the local police officer

Where can women turn when their assailants are police officers?

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Russia starts mass rollout of Sputnik coronavirus vaccine

The centres in the capital started giving shots to willing recipients three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “large-scale” COVID-19 immunisation campaign.

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The Newest Hotel Amenity? Virus-Scrubbed Air

Hotels, and even some cruise ships, are installing state-of-the-art filtration systems that claim to tackle the coronavirus where it is believed to be the most dangerous: in the air.

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Los Angeles Coronavirus Restrictions on Dining Draw Criticism

Restaurant owners say Los Angeles County is unfairly enforcing its ban on outdoor dining, but health officials say rules for film crews are much more strict.

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Covid test-and-trace: Is backwards contact tracing the way forward?

How turning back the clock with contact tracing can stop coronavirus superspreading events.

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Newspaper headlines: 'Final throw of the dice' for Brexit trade deal

Several papers report Boris Johnson has given a Brexit trade deal a "final throw of the dice".

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Couple divided for nine months by Covid and an ocean

A special pass for long-distance couples allowed Tina and Victor to reunite after nine months on different sides of the world.

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'Proud to be different, proud to stand out'

A video of an incident in which a Sikh boy was kicked and punched outside his school in Telford has sparked an outpouring of messages of support.

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National Trust volunteer: 'He can do things they said he would never do'

James Drury, a volunteer on the Longshaw Estate, has no speech and communicates through photographs.

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Covid tensions in US hotspot of North Dakota: 'Grow up, mask up'

One in every 800 North Dakotans has now died from Covid, but people remain split on how seriously to take it.

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Noor Hossain and the image that helped bring down a dictator

A search for the story behind a picture of Noor Hossain, whose killing helped inspire an uprising.

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The Black Panther who hijacked a jet to Algeria and started again in France

Melvin McNair hijacked a US airliner with his wife and children and then became a model French citizen.

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Alex Wheatle: Why the 'amazingly exciting' Chester Himes should be better known

Himes' stories of crime, racism and poverty remain relevant 60 years on, says novelist Alex Wheatle.

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How a lockdown 'sex party' doomed a Hungarian Euro MP

It was not just breaching Covid rules that did for Hungarian Jozsef Szajer but claims of hypocrisy too.

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Starc withdraws from remainder of T20s on 'compassionate grounds'

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc left the Australian camp on Saturday after being informed of a family illness.

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Three key areas leave Johnson and Europe deadlocked on Brexit

Brexit trade talks to restart in one last push for deal but Britain warns EU must respect its independence.

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Drugs and cash strewn over motorway after car crash

Police found cannabis, guns and $39,000 in cash when boxes became dislodged and fell on the road.

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Japanese asteroid mission drops capsule carrying samples in South Australia

Hayabusa2 sent the capsule toward Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on our planet.

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Raiders rookie Tom Starling charged after allegedly assaulting police

Police were called to the Shady Palms Bar Restaurant on the NSW Central Coast by security at the venue after a patron refused to leave. 

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Joe Biden and the Decency Agenda

Joe Biden promised to be a president for all Americans. Here’s a way to start.

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Russian spies pose as reporters in "honey trap" strike on Skripal probe

UK journalist Katie Morley was shocked her identity was hijacked: "knowing I have been used as a pawn in this monstrous crime has been difficult to digest".

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A Gathering Political Storm Hits Georgia, With Trump on the Way

With two crucial Senate seats up for grabs, Mike Pence and Barack Obama joined the fray in support of their party’s candidates, and President Trump is headed there on Saturday.

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Biden, Pelosi, McConnell Push for Year-End Stimulus Deal

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have agreed to try to reach a deal that could be included in a must-pass spending measure.

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Flaws in Census Count Imperil Trump Plan to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants

More problems arise as the Census Bureau rushes to compile information needed for apportionment before Mr. Trump leaves office.

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Responding to Terrorism in France

President Emmanuel Macron and others there have been angered by outside criticism.

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Brexit: Boris Johnson and EU chief seek to break trade deal deadlock

EU and UK negotiators call in leaders in last ditch effort to secure a trade deal.

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World's biggest iceberg captured by RAF cameras

A reconnaissance flight in the South Atlantic obtains spectacular imagery of the giant iceberg A68a.

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Newspaper headlines: 'Le bust-up' as France 'derails Brexit talks'

The pause on the post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU dominates Saturday's front pages.

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COVID-19: The students at school in a pandemic

Students in Hartlepool talk about what it's like going to school during a pandemic.

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Beirut explosion: The abandoned ship in the blast 'war zone'

This is what happened to Lebanon's only cruise ship, which was docked in the explosion's epicentre.

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Week in pictures: 28 November - 4 December 2020

A selection of striking images taken around the world this week.

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Fighting air pollution: 'Without solidarity the world will be doomed'

Nineteen-year-old Abhiir Bhalla has campaigned against air pollution in Delhi most of his life.

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Christian Picciolini: The neo-Nazi who became an anti-Nazi

Christian Picciolini became a Nazi skinhead as a teenager but now he fights extremism.

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Leg-lengthening: The people having surgery to be a bit taller

Hundreds of people are having long, often painful surgery to extend their legs. Is it worth the risk?

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Covid Christmas: Are gift cards wise or wasteful?

With High Street retailers such as Topshop in trouble, will we give gift cards and vouchers this Christmas?

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Brexit: What trade deals has the UK done so far?

Securing a UK-EU trade deal is a top priority in the weeks ahead.

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Coronavirus: Defiant ski nations bid to save winter season

Many of Europe's ski slopes will be closed, but the Swiss and Austrians have made their own plans.

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New Zealand's Stuff news group apologises for anti-Maori bias

After a deep dive into their reporting, Stuff found their coverage of Maori issues had been racist.

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Court documents claim Prince Andrew's accuser 'paid half a million' by Epstein

Prince Andrew's chief accuser Virginia Giuffre was a prostitute who lied about her age, new court documents allege, suggesting she was paid 'half a million' by Jeffrey Epstein.

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'I think about my kids. They cannot lose their dad today': Grosjean reveals 28-second struggle to stay alive

Romain Grosjean survived a horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He details for the first time exactly what he was thinking as his car was engulfed in flames.

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Further Slowdown in Job Creation Sets Off Economic Alarms

November’s hiring of 245,000, the fifth straight monthly easing in new employment, reinforces calls for action on a fresh relief package.

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A $900 Billion Plan Would Help the Economy, but Not Fix It

While a compromise package gaining steam in Congress would provide urgent help to the economy, some people and businesses would be left out in the cold.

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Judge Orders Government to Fully Reinstate DACA Program

Up to 300,000 additional undocumented immigrants could be allowed to apply for protection from deportation under a new court ruling. President Trump had sought to cancel the program.

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Joe White: UK appoints entrepreneur as first tech envoy to US

Joe White will also act as consul-general to San Francisco when he takes on the role later this year.

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Government to 'redefine treasure finds' in UK

Changes to the 1996 Treasure Act are aimed at protecting newly-discovered treasure.

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No new COVID-19 cases as fresh infection linked to overseas strain

There were no additional cases reported in NSW on Friday as the Health Minister said an infection in a quarantine hotel worker had likely come from overseas.

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