Nationals’ leadership rodeo ride

The National Party has chosen Matt Canavan but cartoonist Mark Knight imagines the new leader as next to saddle up against One Nation’s bucking bronco and its threat to Coalition support

What caused big highway closure?

Imagine your main road link closing overnight, which is what has just happened to one major highway connecting an Australian capital to an entire region – how did it happen and what’s next?

Teacher learns secret of happiness

It was one of the greatest disasters of the 21st Century that led this former teacher from Australia to discover that helping others is all that matters in life – and that happiness will always follow

Paralympic pets set gold standard

Aussies are usually pretty popular around the athletes’ village, but these members of the squad are more sought after than most at Milano Cortina – meet the pooches supporting our Paralympians

Fynn sets sail for Olympic dream

An Aussie teenager has become the first Territorian to ever make the national sailing youth squad, despite having no coaches, clubs or competitions in his local area. Find out how he did it 

Great Book Swap takes fresh flight

With the help of a preening pair of red-tailed black cockatoos, Australia’s Children’s Laureate has launched the 2026 Great Book Swap at Taronga Zoo – here’s how your school can get swapping

Hidden homes under the highway

About 100 homeless families are living beneath a major highway in the Philippines. But while rats are rife and the air stinks of sewer water, the inhabitants aren’t complaining. Here’s why

Sea urchins inspire oil spill minibot

Pods of robotic dolphins could be the environmental clean-up crew of the future as Aussie engineers test a minibot prototype that can hoover oil spills from water. Here’s how it works

Iranian footballers’ brave escape

Under threat of war and potential persecution, five Iranian female footballers have been granted visas after making a courageous escape from Iranian officials while in Australia for the Asian Cup

Stowaway quoll takes 2400km trip

A juvenile northern quoll survived an interstate Christmas road trip after accidentally hitching a ride hidden with the luggage. Find out how he survived and how he was returned to the wild