The Front

How did Yayoi Kusama - a recluse who lives in a psychiatric facility - become the world’s biggest-selling artist? Today we reflect on the most significant presentation of Kusama’s work, a blockbuster NGV show that drew 600,000 visitors - and what Kusama has planned next. Plus, Donald Trump reshapes the global order with the military capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Kristen Amiet and Claire Harvey and edited by Jasper Leak, who also composed our theme. Our team includes Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Joshua Burton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A devilishly difficult New Year job awaits Israel: how to deal with a fractured, degraded - but still seriously dangerous Sunni Muslim guerrilla movement in Yemen, just south of Saudi Arabia. It’s the Houthis - a deeply anti-Semitic terror movement with nothing to lose and the capacity to catastrophically disrupt international trade whenever they like. Cameron Stewart is here. Read more about this story, plus see photos, videos and additional reporting, on the website or on The Australian’s app. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beloved cookbook author Nagi Maehashi accused cookie queen Brooke Bellamy (who denied the claim) of plagiarising her recipes for baklava and chocolate caramel slice, sparking a literary scandal and a conversation about big ideas: the worth of women’s work and the concept of courtesy. So - who won? This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We first met Robert Irwin when he was an adorable toddler. Now he’s sending women wild for very different reasons - because the 22-year-old wildlife activist also happens to be charming, sensitive, talented and a very smooth dancer. Today, Bianca Farmakis joins us to discuss - with only a few blushes - this remarkable young man’s global success. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Joshua Burton. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a dramatic year for the House of Windsor, our Europe correspondent (and royal expert) Jacquelin Magnay reflects on the King’s moves to go hard on Andrew and soft on Harry, as Charles II continues his own battle with cancer. This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey with editing and sound design by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.