Parliament preview: National security and cost-of-living will dominate discussion in Parliament this week, as the Coalition tries to land its final blows against the Albanese government in the last sitting week for both houses of the year.
Federal politics: Dave Sharma has been preselected to fill the Senate vacancy left by Marise Payne, dashing ex-ACT senator Zed Seselja's bid to return to Parliament.
Business: The federal government needs to tighten procurement rules to create greater opportunities for local small and medium businesses and reform processes that favour big firms, independent ACT senator David Pocock has said.
Music: The new director of the Canberra International Music Festival knows about music in the broadest sense: Eugene Ughetti's father owned a music store where rock musicians rubbed shoulders with violinists.
Israel-Hamas war: Israel will only be "secure and free" when Palestine is, Cabinet Minister Chris Bowen said as Israel and Hamas swap prisoners for hostages.
Music: That pre-Christmas Canberra tradition of enjoying a night of pure 1980s pop majesty at a Cell Block 69 gig won't be happening this year due to an unfortunate incident involving heli-skiing, an avalanche and, possibly, Tears for Fears.
Feature: The star of Tanya Hennessy's latest kids' book, Pink Santa, may one day end up in the same league as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Boss Baby and the crew from Madagascar.
Opinion: Australia has adopted a lot of bad habits from the US. But bringing in Thanksgiving - our own version - is an idea we need to consider, writes Mark Kenny.
Sport: A Lyneham Hockey Centre makeover could cost almost $2 million as Hockey ACT calls for ACT government investment in a venue which hosts "10,000 people per week".
Security: Australia's maritime sector will soon be at greater risk of cyber attack, affecting trade, defence and shipping safety - with added risk of major environmental damage on the Great Barrier Reef.
World: A four-year-old US girl held by Hamas in Gaza has been released, US President Joe Biden says, as the militant group said it had freed 13 Israeli hostages, three Thais and one with Russian citizenship.
