Today, we bring you the first episode of the ABC’s Looking for Modi podcast. Hosted by the ABC’s South Asia correspondent Avani Dias, it’s all about the myths and secrets of one of the most powerful world leaders - India’s Narendra Modi. 

Who’s to blame for harassing a princess when she’s seriously ill?  The frenzied search for information about the welfare of the Princess of Wales came to a sudden halt last weekend, when Kate revealed she is receiving treatment for cancer.  Leading up to the revelation, the conspiracy theories about her absence from public view were running wild on social media, between friends and family, and in the mainstream press.  ABC broadcaster and royal historian Julia Baird explores how we forgot...

Supporters of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange have always warned he could be locked up for the rest of his life if he ends up in the United States to face charges which include espionage. But now judges in London, where the Australian is in jail, have asked for assurances that if they agree to extradite him, the death penalty is off the table. But could Assange actually face that fate in the US?  Today, international law expert Don Rothwell explains the latest court...

Should your taxpayer dollars be used to construct sports stadiums? Some politicians think bringing big sporting events to their voters is a core part of their job, with little regard for the cost.  But building the venues demanded by event organisers is becoming increasingly costly and controversial. A Tasmanian government plan to put hundreds of millions of dollars into a big ritzy new stadium in Hobart was one of the most contested issues of last weekend’s election.  Today, Kos Samaras...

Russians are mourning after the worst terrorist attack in the country in two decades.  More than 130 people died when gunmen opened fire at a concert hall on Moscow’s outskirts on Friday night.  It’s a major security lapse, but will it cause more Russians to doubt Vladimir Putin’s leadership? We’ll also explain why the Islamic State group that’s claimed responsibility for the attack would want to strike Russia.  Featured:  Rajan Menon, director of the grand strategy program at Defense...

When the tax office comes knocking, it’s not usually good news.  And right now the Australian Taxation Office is pursuing thousands of people over historical debts that it had previously put on hold.  Today, business reporter Nassim Khadem, on why the ATO is trying to recover the funds now and why some people are comparing it to Robodebt.  Featured: Nassim Khadem, ABC Business reporter

When one of China’s most senior figures came to Australia this week, it was one unofficial meeting that really stuck out.  Foreign Minister Wang Yi was very keen to meet former prime minister Paul Keating. It’s a move that would have frustrated Australian officials. Today, foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic on what China’s playing at.  Featured:  Stephen Dziedzic, ABC foreign affairs reporter

When former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd declared Donald Trump the most destructive US president in history, a lot of people agreed.  But his scathing assessments of the former president don’t sit so well now he’s working as Australia’s ambassador in Washington.  Donald Trump could be elected president again in November and he isn’t happy.  So, what happens to Kevin Rudd and our alliance with America if Trump returns? Featured:  Dr Emma Shortis, senior researcher in international and...

Last week, hundreds of US politicians got behind a bill that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells it.  They’re worried the app could be used by the Chinese Communist Party to steal data and influence Americans.  But is there really any evidence of that?  Featured:  Alex Barinka, tech reporter at Bloomberg

We can’t avoid getting old, but when we do need care, after paying taxes and saving all our lives, should we really have to fork out more to pay for it?  The government is looking to shake-up the aged care sector to make it much more user pays. Today, investigative journalist Anne Connolly on what that means for the family inheritance. Featured:  Anne Connolly, ABC investigative reporter

You can barely buy anything with it, but the price of Bitcoin has hit an all time high. So how has the cryptocurrency that many people wrote off just a few years ago, surged once more? Today, Andrew Chow, technology correspondent at Time Magazine, on the Bitcoin boom.

The Russian president is about to tighten his grip on power in a farcical, so-called election.  It means he’ll have another six years at the helm, at least.  Today, Russia expert Matthew Sussex from the Griffith Asia Institute on how Vladimir Putin has transformed Russia into a dictatorship and how much further he’s willing to go.  Featured:  Matthew Sussex, adjunct associate professor at the Griffith Asia Institute

While other countries were embracing nuclear power decades ago, Australia put a ban on it.  Now the federal opposition wants to lift that ban and build nuclear power plants on the sites of ageing coal-fired power stations.  Today, we investigate the feasibility of the idea with Dylan McConnell, an energy systems analyst at the University of New South Wales.  We ask why would we go down that path when renewable energy is surging ahead? Featured:  Dylan McConnell, renewable energy and...

The big news publishers in Australia are in an almighty stand-off with Mark Zuckerberg and the tech giant he heads.  Meta runs Facebook and has decided its users don’t care for news content anymore and it doesn’t want to pay for it.  The Australian government now faces a choice; pursue Facebook and risk all news being blocked from the site, or let the funding deals currently in place with media companies come to an end, putting journalists’ jobs in jeopardy. Today, is it game over for...

A beaming photo of the Princess of Wales and her children, taken by Prince William, was supposed to kill off wild conspiracy theories about Catherine’s health.  But after sending it around the world, the Associated Press news agency removed the photo from circulation over concerns that it may have been manipulated and did not meet its standards. Today, royal commentator Juliet Rieden reveals the royal family’s tactics to control the images that get out into the wild.  Featured:  Juliet...

Five months since the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza began, the death toll has climbed above 30,000, according to Gaza health authorities.  About a third of the victims are children and global leaders have been increasing pressure on Israel to pause the fighting and let more humanitarian aid into the territory.  Today, Global Affairs Editor John Lyons takes us to the Middle East as part of a special Four Corners' investigation into Israel’s approach to...

A rematch for the US presidency pitting Donald Trump against Joe Biden has been all-but locked-in after the Super Tuesday votes.  But many Americans are dreading the contest, with high disapproval ratings for the two presidents.  Today, Trump’s possible return to the White House. Featured:  Geoffrey Kabaservice, vice president of political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington DC

For years, there have been financial incentives to encourage households to install rooftop solar and feed excess power back to the grid.  It’s helping the green energy transition and driving down power bills for those able to afford the upfront costs.  But the so-called “feed-in” tariffs are being cut as there’s a massive oversupply of energy on sunny days.  Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer on whether rooftop solar is still worth it.  Featured:  Daniel Mercer, ABC energy reporter

For more than 20 years, Australians have turned to botox when unwanted wrinkles begin to emerge. It’s widely seen as a harmless way to look younger without surgery.  Until recently botox and other cosmetic fillers have gone largely unchecked, so why have regulators decided to crackdown now? Today, we speak to a long-time botox user and a health law expert about why we need to rethink what we’re injecting.  Featured:  Alison Rice, former botox user Dr Christopher Rudge, law lecturer at...

Have you ever struggled to get a response from an insurer, or have they fought you on the details of a claim?  The profitable insurance companies are facing increasing scrutiny and customers are calling them out for not paying out.  Today, investigative reporter Adele Ferguson reveals the firms’ ‘delay and deny’ tactics that make them so hard to deal with.  Featured:  Adele Ferguson, ABC investigative reporter

Every so often a product comes along that takes us by storm and in the process, shifts spending and changes economies.  The iPhone, Netflix and ChatGPT spring to mind. But less obvious is something like Ozempic, the drug that’s now helping millions of people around the world lose weight. Today, the ABC’s business editor Ian Verrender on how it’s breaking down business models of fast-food giants and health companies.  Featured:  Ian Verrender, ABC business editor

She had a grand ambition to knock off Donald Trump and become the Republican Party’s choice to run in November’s US election. But Nikki Haley couldn’t do it and it’s almost certain now that Trump will run against Joe Biden for president again even as he faces more than 90 criminal charges. So why has she held on? Why doesn’t she just give up before almost certain defeat at so-called Super Tuesday next week, the biggest contest in the primary process.  Featured:  Kim Hoggard, a former...

On a Sunday morning more than three weeks ago, Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy set out for a run in dense bushland not far from her home. She was expected back mid-morning for a family gathering, but she never arrived.  Police have now wound back their search for the missing mother, while locals have rallied to try and find answers.  Today, what happened to Samantha Murphy? Featured:  Norman Hermant, 7.30 reporter

For more than 20 years New South Wales Police have marched in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.  But not this year, with the board of the event telling them to stay away.  It comes on a difficult week for the force after a senior constable was charged with the alleged murder of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.  But police participation in the event has long caused controversy. Today we unpack why.  Featured:  Nicole Asquith, the professor of policing at the University of...

We’ve probably all experienced a less than desirable trip on public transport or ride-hailing services, but for people with a disability every day is an absolute horror show. From buses missing stops to Uber drivers refusing to take guide dogs.  Today, we bring you an ABC investigation into how millions of Australians are being let down by our public transport networks. We’ll hear how laws against discrimination are continually broken.  Featured:  Nas Campanella, national disability...