ABC News Daily

It’s the most lucrative sports broadcast deal in history, worth $5.3 billion for seven years.  The deal between the NRL and broadcasters Nine and Foxtel outstrips the previous $4.5 billion deal the AFL secured in 2022.  Today, sports media expert Merryn Sherwood from La Trobe University on how the rugby league managed it and who ultimately pays the cost.  Featured: Merryn Sherwood, Senior Lecturer...

On Monday, China’s military launched a nuclear capable ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean from a submarine hidden in the sea off China.  It gave Australia and other nations about 24 hours’ notice.   So, what’s XI Jinping up to?   Today, Sam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute on China’s massive expansion of its nuclear arsenal and what it means for us.  Featured:   Sam Roggeveen, director of t...

Even an extraordinary intervention by the US president couldn’t save his soccer team, with the USA now out of the FIFA World Cup after being thrashed by Belgium.  Donald Trump has admitted calling FIFA to urge the governing body to overturn a red card ban for the star American player Folarin Balogun.  He was allowed to play after what FIFA insists was an independent process, but has the meddling u...

Vladimir Putin's war is running off course as the Russian capital Moscow comes under repeated Ukrainian attack.   Ukrainian strikes are leading to major fuel shortages and growing discontent among the Russian people. Today, Simon Shuster, a staff writer at The Atlantic magazine on how Putin is reacting to growing pressure.   Featured: Simon Shuster, The Atlantic magazine

Last month the Trump administration forced AI company Anthropic to shut down two of its most powerful models because of national security concerns.  It’s now lifted the ban, but while attention has been on the US, China has released an AI model that rivals the most advanced American offerings at a much lower price.  Today, ABC finance expert Alan Kohler on what that means the tech bros in Silicon...

For decades, the US has been one of Israel’s staunchest allies.  But there’s a shift underway in America. US President Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance have publicly criticised the Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and polling shows Americans have increasingly negative views of his government.   Today, Guy Ziv, associate director of Israel studies at American University on what’s driving the b...

A data centre boom is underway that promises to help drive Australia’s economic growth.   We’re seen as a key location for the data centres that drive the latest AI technology.   But a lot of the revenue generated by the multinational big tech firms won’t come anywhere near Australia, so should the taxpayers hosting the data centres get a bigger cut of the profits?  Today, independent economist Sa...

When the Iran war broke out, we were warned of an oil shock not seen since the 1970s when fuel was rationed.   We were told the price of oil could reach $200 a barrel and airlines might ground planes.   But that hasn’t happened and now petrol prices are back down to where they were before the war.   Today the ABC’s Laura Tingle on how China is cushioning the world economy.  Featured:   Laura Tingl...

One Nation has had a seismic surge in support since the start of the year, so how is it managing to attract attention and potentially voters?   Part of it is One Nation and Pauline Hanson’s prolific use of social media.   At the same time, we’ve seen former Nine journalist Karl Stefanovic embrace podcasting that platforms right-wing figures.  Today, marketing expert Toby Ralph on why outrage goes...

We love Aussie rules football, but like other contact sports it comes with risk of head knocks for the players.  New figures based on analysis of the brains of deceased players, reveal a big increase in the number of them known to have the degenerative brain disease CTE.  Is the AFL doing enough to support families after a tragedy and inform players at all levels of the game about the risks associ...

The US Vice President JD Vance is the chief negotiator, tasked with coming up with a enduring peace deal with Iran.  But is the United States willing to put in the time and the effort to seal a new deal with the Islamic Republic?  Today, Nate Swanson, who worked on Iran policy in the Obama, Biden and Trump administrations on why a deal may never be done.  He explains his view that Iran risks overp...

It’s an AI company valued at almost a trillion dollars, but Donald Trump is clipping Anthropic’s wings.  The US president effectively banned the company's state of the art Claude AI models Mythos 5 and Fable 5, citing security concerns.  But how founded are those concerns and is it problem that the US government can control the release of groundbreaking AI?   Today, Sharon Goldman, journalist and...

There’s a revolving door at 10 Downing Street, a prime minister goes in and they’re popped out again.  This time it was Keir Starmer.    Can his likely successor, the former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham last the distance?   Today, Simon Tormey, Professor of Politics at Deakin University on why Britain’s woeful economy will make it hard.    Featured:   Simon Tormey, Professor of Politics and Execu...

Before the war it was open, safe and toll free, but now the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest problems for Donald Trump as he tries to end the war and keep peace talks on track.  While the global oil supply has been disrupted for months, petrol price here are now as low as they were before the war began.  Today, energy analyst Kevin Morrison on how long that can last.  Featured:   Kev...

Ukraine is now striking deep inside Russia using drones developed during its war with its invading neighbour.  At the same time, the Ukrainian military has been regaining some its territory using short range drones.  The embrace of new technologies is giving Ukraine an edge in the war and bringing to fight to Vladimir Putin’s doorstep.   But that doesn’t mean the war is set to end any time soon.  ...

This week Pauline Hanson addressed the National Press Club and a new poll showed she is Australia’s preferred prime minister.  Today, columnist, author and academic, Waleed Aly, on how One Nation could win the next election and why it’s so hard for the major parties to stop the rise of Pauline Hanson.  Featured:   Waleed Aly, co-host of The Minefield on ABC Radio National, a columnist, author and...

Australia’s Socceroos were underdogs going into their World Cup match against Türkiye.   They achieved a surprise win, but can they do the same in their next match against the host nation USA?   The young team and coach Tony Popovic will have to beat the odds.  Today, sport journalist Niav Owens, who’s a host of the SBS coverage of the FIFA World Cup, on why it might not be an easy win for the Ame...

Australia led the way, now the UK government has announced its own ban on social media for under 16s.  But six months since the restrictions came into force here, are they really working, given most young teenagers who were using social media still are?    Today, Amanda Third, co-director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University on what we need to do to help our chil...

A new deal between Iran and the United States to stop the fighting and negotiate is not even signed yet, but the US president insists the Strait of Hormuz is set to open.  Donald Trump has declared ‘let the oil flow’, even though the memorandum of understanding won’t be signed until Friday in Switzerland.   But what did the United States have to give Iran to secure the ceasefire agreement and is i...

GLP-1 drugs were first approved to treat diabetes and then caused a frenzy when it was discovered they were great for weight loss.  But now scientists are discovering the drugs that have brand names including Ozempic and Mounjaro might offer so much more, from reducing the risk of heart attack to treating kidney disease.  Today, Doctor Paul Joyce, a pharmaceutical scientist at Adelaide University...

When Donald Trump stormed out of an interview after hurling abuse at the female anchor it wasn’t surprising, he often attacks those who dare to challenge him.   But why does the US president continually get away with it with little push back from the press?   Today, host of ABC Radio National’s Saturday Extra, Nick Bryant on his encounters with Donald Trump and the changing media landscape in the...

Donald Trump keeps saying a deal with Iran to end the war is close, but there are no signs of it.  Iran and the US have been engaged in retaliatory strikes and Israel is pushing further into Lebanon.   So, can the US President still get out of the war?   And how far is Israel prepared to go in its fight against Hezbollah?  Featured:   Randa Slim, director, Middle East Program at the Stimson Centre...

A mobile billboard campaign has hit the streets of Melbourne, decrying the state of Victoria under the leadership of Premier Jacinta Allan.   But it’s the ‘ditch the witch’ slogan slapped next to the premier’s face that has sparked outrage.   Ms Allan says it’s sexist and misogynist, but the One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says the premier should just ‘suck it up, sweetheart’.   Today, Amy Remeik...

The FIFA World Cup is supposed to bring the world together.   But with fans from some countries facing US travel restrictions, the Iran war spilling into the tournament through visa disputes and controversy over soaring ticket prices, the road to the event has been anything but easy.  Today, sports journalist Tracey Holmes on how FIFA's global tournament is colliding with the realities of Trump's...

America’s big tech bosses are trying to get artificial intelligence deployed everywhere, taking over our homes, our hobbies and our work.   By now, most of us are using AI for daily tasks, even if by accident.  But it doesn’t mean we all agree with the path we’re on and increasingly people are voicing their concerns about the AI revolution.   Today, the ABC’s national AI reporter Cam Wilson on the...