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ABC News Top Stories

ABC Australia

250 episodes

ABC News Top Stories delivers the biggest breaking news and headlines from Australia and around the world, updated throughout the day.

More about the show

Get fast, trusted coverage of politics, business, extreme weather, and major national events from the ABC's newsroom direct to your podcast feed.

Whether you're catching up on the morning's top headlines or need a quick update between meetings, ABC News Top Stories gives you the essential news of the day.

You can also hear the biggest stories of the day explained in-depth in just a few minutes.

Follow now for daily Australian news briefings from the ABC, Australia's most trusted news source.

Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. Counting's underway in consequential Israeli election | ABC News Top Stories

    · 1:33

    Counting is underway in what is being considered Israel's most consequential election. Police are investigating whether the discovery of a burnt-out car is linked to a fatal shooting in Melbourne's north. The federal…

  2. Which Centrelink recipients are eligibile for government compensation?

    · 3:00

    The federal government's welfare compliance regime is being partially switched back on. It's also offering compensation to tens of thousands of people whose payments were wrongly cancelled. Advocacy groups say…

  3. Is AI giant Anthropic really worth up to $2 trillion US?

    · 4:02

    US artificial intelligence company Anthropic, the firm behind Claude, is about to launch what could become the biggest stock market float in history, with forecasts putting its value at up to $US2 trillion. Australian…

  4. Is 2026 the year of 'maxxing'?

    · 2:55

    Online dictionary, Dictionary.com has named "maxxing" as it's Word of the Year for 2026.

  5. What are the proposed changes to sunscreen?

    · 3:41

    Australian sunscreen brands will be forced to test the SPF of their products multiple times, under stricter rules designed to restore public confidence in sunscreens.

  6. AI to drive more everyday disruptions, warns cyber agency

    · 3:06

    The Australian Signals Directorate is warning the country to prepare for disruptions to essential services more often, as it grapples with a surge in AI-driven cyber attacks.

  7. How MPs honoured Helen Haines as parliament returns

    · 3:08

    Federal Parliament has spent most of its first sitting day since the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines hearing tributes to her. Helen Haines remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, with the…

  8. Why Brazilians see Lula's win as a rebuke to US meddling

    · 4:09

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has defied polls, precedent and global anti-incumbent sentiment to be elected to a fourth term in a run-off. With every vote counted, Brazil's electoral court says Lula…

  9. Why are working families struggling to buy food?

    · 3:45

    There is a concerning creep of food insecurity into 'middle Australia' according to the latest hunger report by Foodbank. One in three households is now struggling to put food on the table, and even those in full time…

  10. Can Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership survive Israel's elections?

    · 5:06

    A large crowd in Tel Aviv has held a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, ahead of what has been described as the most consequential election in the country's history.

  11. What are the allegations against Meghan Markle's dad?

    · 3:40

    The rift between Meghan Markle and her estranged father is back in the spotlight - after it was revealed that she was told of disturbing allegations relating to him back in 2018. And, recently, it's been alleged…

  12. Sydney finally gets a second airport, but where's the control tower?

    · 4:11

    Western Sydney International Airport is preparing for its first passengers, with a second Sydney airport finally a reality after more than half a century of concept discussion, protests and delays. Its check-in…

  13. Could a vaccine stop melanoma deaths?

    · 2:42

    A personalised mRNA vaccine plus an immunotherapy drug cut the risk of death or melanoma returning by 42 per cent compared with the drug alone, a trial led by Professor Georgina Long has found. Each vaccine is…

  14. Snowy Hydro 2.0 costs have doubled again, will the project go on?

    · 3:46

    The cost of building the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme has doubled again, with a new report finding it could reach $25 billion and not come online until 2029. Announced in 2017, Snowy 2.0 is Australia's biggest…

  15. Why are hosts angry with new Airbnb rules?

    · 4:21

    Guests will find leaving an Airbnb rental is soon more like checking out of a hotel. The company is moving to ban hosts from asking to them to do check out chores, like stripping the beds or washing dishes. The…

  16. If the AI boom goes bust, what happens to our super?

    · 4:46

    You may have heard about the artificial intelligence bubble. In finance, a bubble is when the hype around something far outstrips its actual value and at some point it can pop in a big way. Then, as the famous…

  17. Is Snowy 2.0 still worth it after years of cost blowouts?

    · 3:30

    Snowy 2.0's budget may have blown out again, with a new cost reassessment putting the price tag at 22 billion dollars, up from an original estimate of just 2 billion when the project was announced in 2017. There are…

  18. Will Trump become a lame duck after the US midterms?

    · 4:00

    Midterm elections are coming up in the United States, and they could seriously shake up Donald Trump's second term. Republicans currently control both the House and the Senate, but polling is telling an interesting…

  19. Would parents know if their child was being radicalised online?

    · 3:30

    The Australian Federal Police has told a parliamentary inquiry that AI is speeding up the radicalisation of children. Police say children as young as 11 are being radicalised, in some cases within days, and that they…

  20. How dangerous are e-bikes and e-scooters?

    · 4:22

    The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released the first national data on hospitalisations linked to electronic bikes and scooters and it shows e-scooter hospitalisations have more than tripled since 2019.

  21. Vodafone accuses rival of being behind millions of scam calls

    · 3:59

    Vodafone analysed millions of scam calls on its network during a one-year period, finding 98 per cent came from internet phone company Symbio. Symbio is owned by Aussie Broadband who says stopping the scammers is very…

  22. Why are house prices continuing to fall?

    · 3:39

    Over the past few months we've been hearing house prices are going down. The latest figures from real estate platform Domain confirm that trend.

  23. Why are experts sounding the alarm about youth radicalisation?

    · 3:49

    Youth deradicalisation experts, the AFP and ASIO are calling for a societal approach to tackling rising threats, as the AFP warned of a 'tsunami' of youth crime hitting the country, due to rapid online radicalisation.

  24. Husband speaks of 'fighter' Helen Haines and her long recovery

    · 4:17

    Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition in the Alfred Hospital, and her husband says she has had both legs amputated after the alleged attack. The man accused of the attack, Brendan Nugent, has…

  25. Helen Haines' alleged attacker Brendan Nugent faces court

    · 3:35

    The man accused of repeatedly ramming independent MP Helen Haines has faced court in Wangaratta. Brendan Nugent did not speak or enter a plea, and court documents show police have also charged him over cannabis…

  26. Is AI behind job cuts at NAB and the big banks?

    · 3:07

    National Australia Bank has become the latest Australian bank to announce job cuts, saying it will shed about 2,500 people. The bank blames challenging economic conditions and a sharp drop in home lending, while more…

  27. What have Russel Brand's accusers told the jury in his rape trial?

    · 4:15

    The jury in Russell Brand's criminal trial in London has now heard evidence from all six accusers. Mr Brand, who's 51, is on trial for three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent…

  28. What we know about the attack on Helen Haines

    · 3:05

    Shock waves are still reverberating through the community of Independent MP Helen Haines after a horror attack on Monday. The 65-year-old has lost a leg after being rammed by a car outside her electorate office in…

  29. Is online abuse fuelling real-world violence against politicians?

    · 3:20

    Threats and harassment against Australian politicians have been rising for years, and the alleged attack against Independent MP Helen Haines has brought that danger into sharp focus. Senior figures including…

  30. What we know about the attack on Helen Haines

    · 4:30

    Indi MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition in a Melbourne hospital after being "attacked" near her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is leading cross-party…

  31. Why protests are igniting across Europe

    · 3:30

    A wave of protests is sweeping parts of Europe, with people voicing their discontent about a range of social issues linked to the rising cost of living. It's leading to violence in the streets and some regions are…

  32. Will Australia ever have universal mobile coverage?

    · 4:00

    Australia has just passed laws requiring mobile coverage almost anywhere in the country, including remote areas currently outside the mobile map. The new rules would rely on low-Earth-orbit satellite technology to…

  33. Are we measuring Australia's productivity the wrong way?

    · 3:00

    Australia's productivity problem is a familiar story, but there's a growing argument that the way we measure it is flawed. As the economy shifts away from manufacturing toward health, education, and care work,…

  34. What is Jordon Steele-John saying about allegations against him?

    · 3:54

    The Greens have been in crisis management for days over reports of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women by WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John. The Senator's denied the allegations, and has now blamed…

  35. What we know about Sally Contarino's disappearance in Las Vegas

    · 2:58

    The family of a young Melbourne woman who's been missing in Las Vegas for four months have criticised US police efforts to find her.

  36. Trump's new press secretary ousted... what went wrong?

    · 3:17

    US President Donald Trump has reportedly sacked Katie Zacharia, less than a week after she took on the role of White House press secretary.

  37. Who's in the wrong amid the Kelly Clarkson bird dispute?

    · 4:00

    Kelly Clarkson has gone viral after claiming staff at a Brooklyn toy store refused to sell her a mechanical bird. The store's co-owner has a very different version of events, and what followed was a messy…

  38. What will Victoria's new auction reserve laws change?

    · 2:55

    Auctions in Victoria will look different from this weekend. New laws requiring vendors to advertise the reserve price one week in advance of an auction, will be fully in effect. The change will make the buying…

  39. What are the allegations against Jordon Steele-John?

    · 2:56

    "Multiple allegations" of inappropriate behaviour in the presence of women have been made against Greens senator Jordon Steele-John. The WA senator says he "utterly rejects this characterisation" and is prepared to…

  40. Military police probe hidden camera on HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns

    · 3:00

    Military police are investigating the discovery of a hidden camera inside a female-only cabin on a navy ship. The incident has prompted Senator Jacqui Lambie to raise the alarm in the Senate, and she says it's far…

  41. Does higher unemployment mean interest rate rises are now over?

    · 3:30

    The unemployment rate has crept up to its highest level in five years, and it's a result some policymakers have actually been hoping for. So why would anyone want to see more Australians out of work, and what could it…

  42. Is the US abandoning Ukraine on the battlefield against Russia?

    · 4:00

    The relationship between the US and Ukraine appears to be fracturing. Kyiv's accusing Washington of withholding critical intelligence about Russian missile strikes and restricting Starlink services at a moment when…

  43. No restaurant in Australia had a Michelin star. How did SA change that?

    · 3:46

    South Australia has made culinary history this week, with 11 eateries becoming the first in the nation to receive world-renowned Michelin stars. The red carpet was rolled out for the Michelin Man in Adelaide, dishing…

  44. Russell Brand's rape trial begins

    · 2:38

    The rape trial for British comedian and actor Russell Brand has begun in the UK. Brand has been has charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault He's pleaded not…

  45. Is the high price of fuel here to stay?

    · 4:38

    Australians are once again getting smashed at the bowser. Petrol's bad enough at about 240 cents a litre across the country. But diesel is much worse, over 280 cents, which is a blow for the likes of farmers and…

  46. Were Russian propaganda bots taken offline by Ukrainian attacks?

    · 3:15

    Ukraine has launched attacks on Russian data centres, knocking out services tied to Yandex, Russia's biggest search engine, and causing disruption across dozens of cities. President Zelensky's claimed the strikes took…

  47. Is a shaky start fatal for Trump's new press secretary?

    · 3:15

    The new White House press secretary Katie Zaharia has made her debut at the podium, and by most accounts it didn't go well. With the midterm elections just weeks away, there's a lot riding on how effectively the Trump…

  48. How serious is Pope Leo's lung cancer diagnosis?

    · 3:20

    Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung at a Rome hospital. There are questions now about what this means for the 71-year-old pope's future, and how the…

  49. What's behind the rise in violence against children?

    · 3:25

    New research has found recorded rates of sexual and family violence-related assault involving Australian children rose over the last decade with the sharpest increase in recent years. The study from the University of…

  50. How hackers are targeting French supermarket fridges

    · 3:02

    Hundreds of French supermarket refrigerators have been targeted in a cyber attack that's caused fires and food losses.Paris prosecutors are investigating after hackers remotely raised fridge temperatures to as high as…

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