“The rapid rise of new cases has been followed by a rapid fall and it appears we’re seeing the beginning of the decline of this wave.”

Australia is right to join with other nations to call out the deterioration of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong.

A new program includes “patriotic education” and aims to attract at least 600,000 children as young as eight to join the ranks of a uniformed Youth Army.

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

Scientists said “Baby Yingliang” was found in a pose similar to a chicken before hatching.

Since the Omicron variant emerged last month, we have been navigating mixed messages as we plan our holidays. Here are the key points you need to know.

A ruling by a judge at the High Court detailed an order to Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed to provide much more than £554 million ($1 billion) to settle a long-running custody battle. 

The jury in federal court in Manhattan began deliberations on sex abuse charge late on Monday afternoon after three weeks of emotional testimony from the four accusers.

The US president offered both a warning to the unvaccinated and confidence about the power of vaccines and additional measures.

The NHL flagged last September that it could withdraw if COVID-19 disruptions forced games to be rescheduled during the Olympics window. 

“The guy should be fired on the spot,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said after learning the Fox News host encouraged a crowd to ambush him.

The settlement is the latest development in a legal saga that began when Princess Haya bint al-Hussein fled to Britain in April 2019, fearing for her safety.

The announcement on quarantine came a day after Thailand reported the first case of local transmission of the Omicron variant.

The Australian PPE giant is being taken to task over its response to forced-labour claims at a company whose products have now been banned by the US.

The President shared a video of his new German Shepherd puppy Commander, but rescue dog Major will now live elsewhere after a few biting incidents.

Victims said Richard Daschbach taped a roster of their names to the door of his room at the orphanage, outlining which one he would abuse each night.

The Ardern government had planned to allow fully vaccinated citizens and residents to arrive from Australia from January 16 without going through quarantine.

Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said the British socialite believed her four trial accusers were beneath her: “In her eyes, they were just trash.”

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

Viya, 36, is known for her ability to sell “anything” via livestreaming on the Taobao Live platform. Last year, she sold a rocket launch service for 40 million yuan.

It’s a boost for Novavax, which has suffered months of delays despite securing some of the largest funding in the early stages of the pandemic.

Britain has reported record levels of COVID-19 cases over the past week, with officials and ministers warning that hospitalisations are also rising.

While Trump has expressed opposition to vaccine mandates, he has long taken credit for the vaccines developed on his watch.

“Are Malaysian mothers less Malaysian than Malaysian fathers?” asks the Sultan of Johor. For women whose children were born elsewhere, the answer is still yes.

The former US president claims that Attorney-General Letitia James violated his rights under the US Constitution by pursuing a politically motivated investigation.

All travellers over the age of 12 had to be fully vaccinated and produce a negative test result before the voyage, but nearly 50 passengers still fell ill.

As the death toll in the Philippines climbed to 375, a rescue effort has continued in Malaysia, where thousands have been left stranded by flooding.

The company still plans to develop a vaccine specifically to protect against Omicron, which it hopes to advance into clinical trials early next year.

At 35, Gabriel Boric will be the second youngest country leader when he takes over in March.

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

The city recorded its lowest ever turnout on Sunday, as pro-democracy Hongkongers used the free transport on election day for a day off.

With Republicans universally opposed to the bill Democrats call “Build Back Better,” Manchin was the linchpin for passage in the 50-50 Senate.

From the introduction of a 'Covid Pass' in the U.K. to the Miss Universe competition in Israel, these are the best photos from around the world in the past week, as chosen by The Age's photo editors.

From Santa hitting the slopes in Maine to the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center, these are the best photos from around the world in the past week, as chosen by The Age's photo editors.

The birth was regarded as something of a novelty by nurses who flocked to see the “Tesla baby”, who was named Maeve Lily.

Britain’s PM has been hit by a string of media stories over alleged Christmas parties in government offices, including his own, last year in breach of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Political correspondent Matthew Knott lived through a tumultuous time in US history.

The Chinese tennis star’s wellbeing became a concern last month when she appeared to allege a former top government official had sexually assaulted her.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched to the presidential palace in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on Sunday in protest at the October 25 military coup, drawing volleys of tear gas and stun grenades from security forces, Reuters witnesses said.

Britain’s health secretary has refused to rule out imposing tougher COVID-19 restrictions before Christmas amid the rapid rise of infections and continuing uncertainty about the Omicron variant.

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious-disease specialist, warned on Sunday that the United States is likely to see record numbers of coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly.

As a human being, I was alarmed by much of what I was witnessing. As a journalist, I was electrified.

The sport, in which people compete with brooms between their legs like the witches and wizards from JK Rowling’s books, says it is a leader in gender equality and inclusivity.

The Nobel peace prize-winning former East Timor prime minister and president is weighing up a return to the political stage.

The ruling for the prosecution came in a rare weekend hearing convened to discuss the judge’s instructions to the jurors on Monday.

Early research finds the new variant’s mutations that help it evade antibodies may also reduce the severity of disease.

The Brexit minister has blamed disillusionment with Boris Johnson’s government for his resignation, piling pressure on the embattled prime minister just as the Omicron variant sweeps across the country.

Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, with the Netherlands leading the way by imposing a nationwide lockdown.

All the candidates are vetted by Beijing, but authorities are threatening to arrest anyone who boycotts the vote.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries and is spreading rapidly even in places with high levels of population immunity, the World Health Organisation said on Saturday.