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The Coalition reveals the cost of its nuclear power plan – but the devil is in the missing detail A successful transition to clean energy is vital to Australia’s prosperity. But the Coalition’s latest nuclear salvo leaves many unanswered questions.

A successful transition to clean energy is vital to Australia’s prosperity. But the Coalition’s latest nuclear salvo leaves many unanswered questions.

What is the drug captagon and how is it linked to Syria’s fallen Assad regime? Captagon was once a pharmaceutical drug but it’s now made illicitly, generating billions of dollars for the Syrian economy.

Captagon was once a pharmaceutical drug but it’s now made illicitly, generating billions of dollars for the Syrian economy.

Teenage prodigy Gukesh D defeats Ding Liren to become youngest world chess champion A dramatic blunder sealed a match between Indian and Chinese chess champions that has highlighted the resurgent popularity of the ancient game.

A dramatic blunder sealed a match between Indian and Chinese chess champions that has highlighted the resurgent popularity of the ancient game.

A new treaty could prevent some misappropriation of Māori and Indigenous design – and shouldn’t be ignored In 2024, two treaties were signed to protect the rights of Indigenous groups. But the second one, signed in November with little fanfare, is the one that could protect Māori knowledge and design.

In 2024, two treaties were signed to protect the rights of Indigenous groups. But the second one, signed in November with little fanfare, is the one that could protect Māori knowledge and design.

Naughty, often naked, deeply wild: F Christmas is a joyous gift at the time we need it most This year, Malthouse Theatre brings audiences a new kind of Christmas variety show: F Christmas is a camp Christmas pageant.

This year, Malthouse Theatre brings audiences a new kind of Christmas variety show: F Christmas is a camp Christmas pageant.

From bean-counters to cyber-sleuths: how accountants are a frontline defence against online crime As the keepers of sensitive data, tax records and payroll information, accountants play a key role in protecting businesses from cybercrime.

As the keepers of sensitive data, tax records and payroll information, accountants play a key role in protecting businesses from cybercrime.

Fluoride in drinking water is in the spotlight again. Let’s not forget how it transformed our oral health The debate over adding fluoride to drinking water is almost as old as the practice itself.

The debate over adding fluoride to drinking water is almost as old as the practice itself.

A new treaty could prevent some misappropriation of Māori and Indigenous design – and shouldn’t be ignored In 2024, two treaties were signed to protect the rights of Indigenous groups. But the second one, signed in November with little fanfare, is the one that could protect Māori knowledge and design.

In 2024, two treaties were signed to protect the rights of Indigenous groups. But the second one, signed in November with little fanfare, is the one that could protect Māori knowledge and design.

Naughty, often naked, deeply wild: F Christmas is a joyous gift at the time we need it most This year, Malthouse Theatre brings audiences a new kind of Christmas variety show: F Christmas is a camp Christmas pageant.

This year, Malthouse Theatre brings audiences a new kind of Christmas variety show: F Christmas is a camp Christmas pageant.

How is the Big Bash League faring after 14 years of ups and downs – and what’s next? The Big Bash League started off with a bang 14 years ago but has struggled to capture the public’s imagination since then.

The Big Bash League started off with a bang 14 years ago but has struggled to capture the public’s imagination since then.

Tech companies claim AI can recognise human emotions. But the science doesn’t stack up Emotion recognition technologies endanger fundamental rights without proper justification.

Emotion recognition technologies endanger fundamental rights without proper justification.

The work of Chinese artist Cao Fei explores our brave new human condition in a technological world Cao Fei’s first retrospective in Australia, My City is Yours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, sets out to overstimulate the senses.

Cao Fei’s first retrospective in Australia, My City is Yours at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, sets out to overstimulate the senses.

Been drinking and your heart’s fluttering? You may have ‘holiday heart’ A type of irregular heartbeat is common over the festive season. Here’s what you need to know if you’ve had a few drinks.

A type of irregular heartbeat is common over the festive season. Here’s what you need to know if you’ve had a few drinks.

Will we have a COVID wave, spike or blip this Christmas? It depends where you live For some, the current peak of the wave has passed. For others, it’s more a slow rise in cases. Here’s what we can expect as the festive season approaches.

For some, the current peak of the wave has passed. For others, it’s more a slow rise in cases. Here’s what we can expect as the festive season approaches.

Decorating your Christmas tree? Try these crafts inspired by Aussie plants and animals Let’s cast the holly, snowmen and reindeer aside to decorate our homes with Aussie Christmas crafts instead. How about Christmas beetle baubles, paper parrots and ornamental echidnas?

Let’s cast the holly, snowmen and reindeer aside to decorate our homes with Aussie Christmas crafts instead. How about Christmas beetle baubles, paper parrots and ornamental echidnas?

Many people don’t get financial advice even though it can help ensure a comfortable retirement Financial advice will always be more useful to those who can use super to minimise tax, but even households with small balances should seek guidance.

Financial advice will always be more useful to those who can use super to minimise tax, but even households with small balances should seek guidance.

Are tobacco and cannabis economic substitutes or complements? New research suggests it changes with age New modelling suggests increasing the price of tobacco would cause young people to use less cannabis – but those aged over 50 to use more.

New modelling suggests increasing the price of tobacco would cause young people to use less cannabis – but those aged over 50 to use more.

From ‘ghost guns’ to gangs, 5 lessons from Canada for NZ firearms reform Canada has grappled with similar firearms problems to New Zealand. In some areas it has made more progress, but even its backward steps provide valuable lessons.

Canada has grappled with similar firearms problems to New Zealand. In some areas it has made more progress, but even its backward steps provide valuable lessons.

Grattan on Friday: Dutton’s nuclear policy would have coal-fired power stations operating for a lot longer A Dutton government would keep coal working hard for much longer under its nuclear policy, while renewables would provide only a little over half the electricity generated in 2050.

A Dutton government would keep coal working hard for much longer under its nuclear policy, while renewables would provide only a little over half the electricity generated in 2050.

Moira Deeming’s defamation win shows nobody can play fast and loose with language – not even politicians A Federal Court judge ruled in favour of the Victorian MP, who sued the state’s Opposition Leader, John Pesutto, for comments he made about her appearance at a rally.

A Federal Court judge ruled in favour of the Victorian MP, who sued the state’s Opposition Leader, John Pesutto, for comments he made about her appearance at a rally.

News bargaining incentive: the latest move in the government’s ‘four-dimensional chess’ battle with Meta The government has been playing ‘four-dimensional chess’ to work out how to drag big tech back to the bargaining table with news publishers. So, will this new scheme work?

The government has been playing ‘four-dimensional chess’ to work out how to drag big tech back to the bargaining table with news publishers. So, will this new scheme work?

Big tech firms like Meta forced to pay for news, under Albanese government’s ‘news bargaining incentive’ charge The new plan follows the Morrison government-era system known as the news media bargaining code, which saw companies such as Google and Meta (which owns Facebook) pay news organisations.

The new plan follows the Morrison government-era system known as the news media bargaining code, which saw companies such as Google and Meta (which owns Facebook) pay news organisations.

Victorian independents’ potential High Court challenge to political donations laws has merit - and there are federal implications too Victoria’s political donations laws favour the major parties - and now a High Court challenge may test their constitutional validity.

Victoria’s political donations laws favour the major parties - and now a High Court challenge may test their constitutional validity.

Sports diplomacy: why the Australian government is spending $600 million on a new NRL team in PNG The Australian taxpayer will fork out $600 million for a new NRL team in PNG. It is a bold, expensive and untried sports diplomacy adventure.

The Australian taxpayer will fork out $600 million for a new NRL team in PNG. It is a bold, expensive and untried sports diplomacy adventure.

A Meta outage hit Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and more. Here’s what we know so far Meta’s massive outage may soon be resolved - but the causes remain a mystery.

Meta’s massive outage may soon be resolved - but the causes remain a mystery.

Republicans soared in the recent US elections, but Democrats have reasons for optimism for 2026 If Democrats benefit from higher turnout and Trump is unpopular, they could heavily defeat Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

If Democrats benefit from higher turnout and Trump is unpopular, they could heavily defeat Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

Hypnosis won’t put you under a spell. But it can open your mind to change – and help treat pain The heightened relaxation of a hypnotic state can be similar to meditation or an athlete’s ‘flow’.

The heightened relaxation of a hypnotic state can be similar to meditation or an athlete’s ‘flow’.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: For Mark Dreyfus, antisemitism is very personal Mark Dreyfus joins the podcast to talk about his family's story of fleeing Nazi Germany, his own and his community's experience with antisemitism, and his reaction to criticism of the government.

Mark Dreyfus joins the podcast to talk about his family's story of fleeing Nazi Germany, his own and his community's experience with antisemitism, and his reaction to criticism of the government.

Disaster happens when soldiers don’t act ethically. We can provide better training to support them The Brereton Inquiry recommended reassessing the Australian Defence Force’s ethics training approach. Four years later it’s improved a bit, but could be much better.

The Brereton Inquiry recommended reassessing the Australian Defence Force’s ethics training approach. Four years later it’s improved a bit, but could be much better.