| | 09/12/2024 Bashar al-Assad flees Syria, CSIRO refutes Coalition’s nuclear costing claim, gambling ads on Snapchat filters |
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| | | Good morning. We lead today with reports that Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria with his family and was granted asylum in Moscow, after rebel factions seized control of the capital, Damascus. Many are rejoicing at the stunning downfall of the Assad regime – but questions remain as to how the country’s next chapter will be shaped. Back in Australia, the CSIRO has refuted Peter Dutton’s claims that the long operating life of nuclear power plants makes them a cheaper option than renewables. And there are concerns over children being exposed to gambling advertising through filters on the Snapchat messaging app. |
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| Australia | | Nuclear energy | The CSIRO has rejected Coalition arguments that nuclear power plants (proposed Queensland site pictured) could be developed in Australia in less than 15 years – and that their long operating life makes them a cheaper option. Firmed solar and wind remain the cheapest option for new electricity, Australia’s national science agency says. | Exclusive | Gambling ads from Sportsbet can reach children on Snapchat through special promotional filters despite the platform attempting to restrict access. | Homelessness | Ten thousand extra Australians are becoming homeless each month – a 22% increase in the past three years – according to a new report from UNSW and Homelessness Australia. | Analysis | Labor made a mess of Queensland youth justice – now the LNP seems hellbent on making it worse with its proposed “adult time” laws for children, writes Ben Smee. | Avoiding a bumpy ride | Catching the bus can be a jarring experience – the engine shudders, the driver accelerates and brakes – but Sydney researchers say there are solutions for a smoother ride. |
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 | Full Story | | What really helps with hangovers? What if you could take a pill or a shot that reduced your blood alcohol level and made you feel better in the morning? That’s the promise of a range of wellness products aiming to be the next big hangover antidote. But what exactly are hangovers, and which methods of preventing them are backed by science? Madeleine Finlay speaks with Dr Sally Adams from the University of Birmingham to find out more. | |
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| | | | | | | | | The most important news from Australia and the globe, as it breaks |
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| | Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties |
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| In-depth | | Every three years the Australian Council of Trade Unions meets for its congress, a big decision-making gathering to set policies and strategies for the movement. That is not what is happening in Canberra on Monday. Instead, union leaders extremely cheesed off about the construction union being placed into administration will plot their own way forward. And, as Paul Karp writes, it appears that everything is on the table. |
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| Not the news | | In the latest instalment in our weekly Three Things series about the importance of objects, standup comedian and TikTok sensation Tom Cashman shares the tale of a devastating theft, a piece of art conveying a quiet sense of stoicism, and the PlayStation game that’s essential to his creative process (hear him out). |
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| What’s happening today | NSW | A coronial inquest into the death of Corowa baby Kevin Patten is due to be held in Albury. | RBA | The Reserve Bank of Australia’s board is meeting ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled rates announcement. | ABS | The latest employee earnings, building approvals and union membership figures are due for release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. |
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| Brain teaser | And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. | |
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| Contact us | If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk |
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A message from Lenore Taylor editor of Guardian AustraliaI hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider contributing to our end-of-year fundraiser as we prepare for a pivotal, uncertain year ahead.
The course of world history has taken a sharp and disturbing turn in 2024. Liberalism is under threat from populist authoritarianism. Americans have voted to install a president with no respect for democratic norms, nor the facts that once formed the guardrails of public debate.
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In this uncertain time, fair, fact-based journalism is more important than ever – to record and understand events, to scrutinise the powerful, to give context, and to counter rampant misinformation and falsehoods.
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| Lenore Taylor
Editor, Guardian Australia |
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