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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 3 of 5

  1. Genetic testing legal protections begin. What's changing?

    · 2:45

    Life insurance companies are now legally banned from using genetic test results to deny people cover or charge them more.It ends a long and anxious wait for some Australians, who've been delaying the tests out of fear…

  2. The mystery illness at a Russian plague laboratory explained

    · 3:48

    A mystery illness linked to a plague laboratory in Russia is being watched around the world, after a 28-year-old woman died on October 2. Russian authorities say they have traced her contacts and the situation is…

  3. Christa Pike is speaking, can she be put to death again?

    · 3:55

    Lawyers for US death row inmate Christa Pike say she is awake and speaking six days after Tennessee's attempt to execute her by lethal injection failed. Tennessee's governor has halted executions for the rest of the…

  4. What the Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery merger means for Hollywood

    · 3:43

    Paramount Pictures has bought Warner Bros Discovery in a mega-merger that has created Skydance, one of the biggest media empires in the world. Skydance will control HBO, DC Comics, New Line Cinema, CBS, CNN and…

  5. Why are French high school students protesting?

    · 3:19

    Tens of thousands of high school students have been protesting across France against under staffing and dilapidated classrooms. The demonstrations have turned violent at times , with police firing tear gas and…

  6. What Israelis say three years after October 7

    · 4:23

    Three years on from Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israelis are pausing to remember the day that changed their country and set off a chain of events that has reshaped the region. About 1,200 people were…

  7. What's with all the moths in Australia's south-east?

    · 3:58

    After a devastating population crash around 2017, the endangered Bogong moth appears to be making a remarkable comeback. Researchers have a few theories about what's behind the explosion in numbers this year, from…

  8. What the Coalition's immigration plan means for students and bridging visas

    · 3:53

    Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has announced the Coalition's migration policy, which he says is the biggest cut to immigration in the history of the country. Under the plan, net overseas migration would fall to…

  9. How Jeffrey Archer went from young MP to bankrupt to bestselling novelist

    · 3:28

    British author and former MP Jeffrey Archer has died at home aged 86, on the eve of the release of his final novel, Adam and Eve. He became an MP at 29, was bankrupted, turned to writing novels, and was jailed for…

  10. Why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking police to court

    · 3:18

    The former Prince Andrew has launched legal action against police in the UK who arrested him earlier this year. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has filed a claim with the High Court in London against Thames Valley Police…

  11. Cockpit doors keep threats out, but what if the threat is within?

    · 4:37

    A flydubai pilot has been accused of attacking his colleague in the cockpit in an alleged attempt to seize control of the plane and crash it. With reports the alleged attacker had been grounded at another airline over…

  12. What are the lessons from Qld's illegal tobacco crackdown?

    · 4:00

    Queensland's crackdown on illicit tobacco appears to be having an impact, with new data showing a significant jump in legal cigarette sales after tough new laws came into force in November. Other states are watching…

  13. Could Democrats take control of US Congress next month?

    · 3:20

    Midterm elections in the Untied States are just weeks away, and Republicans are facing real pressure to hold onto their narrow majorities in both houses of Congress. Polls suggest Donald Trump's economic policies have…

  14. What we know about the flydubai pilot and his Australian links

    · 3:02

    A clearer picture is emerging about the attempted FlyDubai plane hijacking and the man allegedly behind it. And while Omani national, 29 year old Hammam al-Hammami's exact motive for attacking his co-pilot with an axe…

  15. How Newcastle united amid elation and heartbreak

    · 3:30

    On the eve of the decider, a crash involving fans transformed the mood from excitement to heartbreak, leaving a Newcastle's community struggling to balance its grand final hopes with concern for those injured.

  16. Which insect wins your vote for Australian Insect of the Year?

    · 3:56

    Two butterflies, two beetles, a glow-worm and a fly with eyes on stalks are the finalists for the 2026 ABC Australian Insect of the Year. Poll coordinator Gavin McGrath says the vote is about drawing attention to…

  17. Why death row inmate Christa Pike didn't die after two shots of a lethal drug

    · 4:02

    Tennessee officials were unable to put murderer Christa Pike to death after two doses of pentobarbital, and her lawyers say she is in a critical condition. Pike was 18 when she tortured and killed schoolmate Colleen…

  18. Former minister revealed as co-founder of offshore casino

    · 3:11

    A German activist has released documents from inside a Caribbean gambling regulator. The leak revealed De-Anne Kelly's past involvement with LuckyBet casino. Ms Kelly had argued in support of the Interactive Gambling…

  19. What we know about the flydubai attempted hijacking

    · 3:37

    We're getting a clearer picture about the terrifying incident that happened mid-air during a flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

  20. What’s to gain from getting it right with data centres?

    · 4:25

    Data centres are popping up everywhere as Australia rides the AI boom. But they are causing controversy here and around the world, so experts say it is crucial Australia’s leaders negotiate hard with tech giants so…

  21. Why businesses are angry over the ATO ban on credit card payments

    · 3:37

    The small business sector has slammed the ATO for giving only two months' notice of the change which they say could leave some owners struggling to pay their tax bills.

  22. How did US inmate Christa Pike survive two 'lethal' injections?

    · 3:57

    Christa Pike, who has spent more than three decades on death row in Tennessee, survived two doses of what was supposed to be a lethal injection and was taken to hospital. A court-ordered pause was lifted by the US…

  23. Is it time for an e-bike crackdown?

    · 3:06

    The New South Wales government has crushed its first batch of illegal e-bikes into scrap metal under tough new confiscation laws. The 23 high-powered e-bikes were seized by police on Sydney's northern beaches, as more…

  24. How much further could house prices fall?

    · 2:52

    Australian house prices fell for a sixth straight month in September, and experts say the property market could experience falls of up to 15 per cent in the coming months off the back of higher interest rates and cuts…

  25. What we know about the mid-air incident on a flight to Israel

    · 3:30

    Investigations are continuing after a pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed his co-pilot. The attacker allegedly tried to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew stormed the cockpit and intervened.…

  26. Why an NRL Grand Final means so much for Newcastle

    · 4:58

    The NRL season is nearing its conclusion. The Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights will battle it out in Sunday for a shot at glory. And while grand final appearances have been fairly common in recent years for…

  27. What new inflation data means for the next RBA rate decision

    · 3:07

    Inflation rose to 4 per cent in the year to August, slightly lower than many expected, and market odds of another rate rise in November have fallen to 20 per cent. Housing costs are up 5.7 per cent and transport is up…

  28. Trump's pact with 'super intelligence' leaders to self-police AI

    · 3:42

    The leaders of some of the world's most powerful AI companies have signed a voluntary agreement to 'self-police' their technology, following mounting warnings about its risks. US President Donald Trump hosted the…

  29. How Manchester City was found guilty of football's 'biggest scandal'

    · 3:29

    Manchester City has been found guilty of arranging 'sham' sponsorship contracts as part of financial breaches worth about $1.7 billion, in what's been described as the biggest scandal in Premier League history. An…

  30. Was Netanyahu warned about the October 7 attack?

    · 4:02

    It was the worst ever breakdown of Israel's national security, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack, killing more than 1,200 people, and taking over 200 hostage. Now, with only weeks to go until elections…

  31. Could the RBA's rate hikes tip Australia into recession?

    · 3:54

    The Reserve Bank has raised the cash rate to a 15-year high of 4.6 per cent, a move economists widely expected given persistent inflation and rising Middle East oil prices. Governor Michele Bullock says the rise had…

  32. Should OpenAI have to report an AI hack the moment it happens?

    · 2:47

    The federal government is exploring whether to force tech companies to immediately report it when an artificial intelligence agent breaches a website, after OpenAI took months to reveal one of its agents had accessed a…

  33. What do we know about the RAF Fairford incident in the UK?

    · 4:37

    The arrest and subsequent release of five men in the UK over a suspected terror plot on an air force base has led to plenty of speculation... and confusion. They were detained after three vans were found close to the…

  34. Why the RBA is expected to raise interest rates

    · 2:42

    The Reserve Bank is widely tipped to raise the cash rate this afternoon to its highest level in almost 15 years. Economists say inflation remains stubbornly high, and with the continuation of elevated energy prices…

  35. Why credit card rewards schemes are being slashed

    · 3:06

    Banks are cutting credit card rewards points, increasing fees and trimming travel insurance perks ahead of a ban on card surcharges. The Commonwealth Bank has wound up its Qantas Frequent Flyer partnership in favour…

  36. Would you buy a COVID shot for $150?

    · 3:43

    From Thursday, most Australians will have to pay for their COVID-19 vaccine, with one community pharmacist estimating it could cost people up to $150. Free vaccines will still be available to anyone 65 and over,…

  37. The fallout after OpenAI agents bypass security around the world

    · 3:10

    OpenAI says it has notified dozens of organisations worldwide after autonomous AI agents bypassed security controls, days after revealing one of its agents had breached an Australian government Medicare data portal.…

  38. Card surcharges are gone, but will consumers actually save money?

    · 3:30

    Card surcharges are banned from Thursday, in one of the biggest shake-ups to Australia's payment system in years. The change is expected to save consumers around 1.6 billion dollars annually, but businesses and banks…

  39. Why Trump rejected Iran's deal to re-open Strait of Hormuz

    · 4:08

    Iran says diplomacy is the only way forward with the United States after US President Donald Trump rejected its latest deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

  40. Drivers wince as diesel threatens to hit $4 a litre

    · 3:49

    Drivers, farmers and the transport industry can't help but notice the price of diesel at the moment. It's been rising again as the war in Iran shows no sign of stopping and now Donald Trump is considering cutting off…

  41. What Albanese and Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly

    · 2:06

    Australia wants a say on the biggest issues in the world as it pitches for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the world…

  42. Why Fat Bear Week is about personalities, not just fatness

    · 4:05

    It's Alaska's most-watched popularity contest: Fat Bear Week is back for its 12th year at Katmai National Park. Sixteen brown bears are competing and millions of people worldwide are voting online for their favourite…

  43. Could training AI models in Australia make us safer?

    · 3:20

    Is Australia at the "mercy" of foreign AI? The Open Ai breach has exposed Australia's current reliance on voluntary disclosure of incidents and raises questions around protections against overreach in Australia. Now,…

  44. Lions' three-peat bid meets Fremantle's first shot at glory

    · 3:00

    It's the AFL Grand Final, and this one's steeped in history. The Fremantle Dockers are chasing a maiden premiership after 30 years in the league, while the Brisbane Lions are one win away from a feat no team has…

  45. What the OpenAI agent accessed in the Medicare portal breach

    · 4:23

    An artificial intelligence agent built by OpenAI has accessed non-public Medicare data, in a breach Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says is extremely concerning. The agent got into a Services Australia statistics…

  46. Could screening new dads' mental health help families?

    · 3:14

    Fathers would be screened for perinatal depression alongside their partners under a new proposal. Many pregnant women are offered mental health screening as part of their care but only about two per cent of men are…

  47. What do we know about the OpenAI-Medicare breach?

    · 4:00

    A swarm of artificial intelligence agents has hacked into protected data on Australia's Medicare portal, one of the first breaches of its kind on a government database. The prime minister says it took OpenAI three…

  48. Daylight saving is upon some of us, so how can you prepare?

    · 3:10

    The days are getting longer and warmer, and for the majority of the country that means daylight saving is upon us. About two thirds of us will lose an hour of sleep on Sunday the 4th of October, while for others the…

  49. What does Australia's largest longitudinal study say about us?

    · 3:20

    Australia's cost of living crunch is showing up in more aspects of our lives than ever, including how long adult kids are sticking around at home and what's ending up on the dinner table. But the latest HILDA…

  50. Rock legend Angry Anderson dies at 79

    · 2:59

    Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson has died just weeks after being admitted to a hospital in Germany during the Australian rock band's European tour. The 79-year-old singer spent 50 years in the music industry and…

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