ABC News Daily

Streaming giant Netflix is battling Paramount for control of the historic Warner Bros studio, which includes HBO and a treasure trove of film and TV content. Warner Bros has backed the $72 billion US Netflix bid, despite Paramount offering billions more in a deal that would include the television assets, including news network CNN and the Discovery channel.  Today, Chris Bumbray, editor-in-chief o...

Imagine being able to claim thousands and thousands of dollars in expenses so your family can join you on work trips, or to fly business class to New York, or for private drivers to take you to the biggest sporting events.  Well, Minister Anika Wells is under intense pressure to justify her use of taxpayer funds, even if it’s all within the rules. Today, the chief political correspondent at The Co...

In the first week of summer, dozens of homes have been destroyed in bushfires; at Dolphin Sands in Tasmania, on the New South Wales Central Coast, and at Bulahdelah, north of Newcastle where a firefighter also died.   A local builder at Koolewong in New South Wales noted that a recently constructed home, built to modern fire safety standards, was left standing while others around it burned to the...

They’re a cheaper and convenient alternative to driving a car, but some e-bike riders are causing massive headaches for other road users and police.  A string of serious injuries and deaths in e-bike crashes, particularly involving children, is fuelling calls for a crackdown.  Today, Geoff Rose from the Monash Institute of Transport Studies on the influx of illegal e-bikes on the roads. Featured: ...

Parents and teens are preparing for life cut off from social media when Australia’s world first ban for under-16s officially starts on Wednesday.  The government has admitted it will take time to remove everyone aged under 16 from the platforms and it’s becoming clear older users could get caught in the net.  So, how can you prove that you’re old enough to use the 10 platforms being targeted and h...

The United States has deployed 15,000 troops and sent warships to the Caribbean in the biggest military build-up there since the Cuban Missile Crisis. It follows months of deadly US strikes on boats from Venezuela it says are smuggling drugs. Today, Latin America expert Orlando Pérez from the University of North Texas on why Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Venezuela’s president Nicolás...

Australia’s renewable energy transition is well underway with new poles, wires and transmission towers planned across the country. But some farmers say they’re being pressured and harassed to hand over land for the infrastructure to get electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s used.  Today, reporter Alysia Thomas-Sam from ABC’s 7.30 program on the farmers pushing back at the farm gate a...

Australian property is now more expensive than ever and soaring mortgage debt has the financial regulator hitting the brakes on risky lending. But could stopping banks for offering some loans do anything to stop rapid price growth for homes and units?  Today, the ABC’s chief business correspondent Ian Verrender on what’s worrying APRA and the outlook for the housing market.  Featured:  Ian Verrend...

In a flurry of peace talks over the last week, Ukrainian officials have been desperately trying to avoid an unjust deal with Russia being imposed on it.  They’ve been pushing back against a controversial 28-point proposal that would have required Ukraine to surrender significant territory, restrict the size of its defence force and give up on ambitions of joining NATO.  The US is leading the talks...

Every day millions of Australians take vitamin supplements, hoping for a health boost.  But there’s been a sharp rise in people suffering numbness, nerve damage, even paralysis, after accidentally overdosing on vitamin B6.  Many don’t even realise B6 is in so many products at high concentrations and that the vitamin can build up in the body.  Today, reporter for the ABC’s 7.30 program Tom Hartley...

Donald Trump has called a female journalist piggy, labelled another insubordinate and demanded Democratic politicians be arrested, even suggesting they could be executed for seditious behaviour. The US president is no stranger to unconventional acts and confronting statements, but does his recent behaviour go beyond even his usual standards?  Today, staff writer at The Atlantic magazine, Tom Nicho...

For many years the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was a pariah on the world stage, but the US president is bringing him back into the fold.  We know Donald Trump wants the US to do business with the wealthy Gulf Arab state, but what else does he like about the country? Today, The New York Times contributor Noah Shachtman on how Trump wants America to be a lot more like Saudi Arabia and how...

Australians are all pretty invested in the weather and the Bureau of Meteorology is our go-to source of forecasts and information.  So, people noticed when the BOM changed its website and many, including farmers, complained that data sources they relied on were either missing or hard to find.  A change in the rain radar has already been rolled back and now the bureau has revealed it cost close to...

The devastating Optus outage that was linked to three deaths revealed we can’t always trust we can get through when we call Triple Zero. More than two months later, surely the system has been fixed. Today, consumer affairs reporter Michael Atkin on why some people still can’t get help when they need it most. Featured:  Michael Atkin, ABC consumer affairs reporter Editor’s note: On Monday, WA Polic...

Our peak scientific body, the CSIRO, has made extraordinary discoveries and invented everyday wonders like Aerogard, plastic banknotes and WiFi.  But once again the CSIRO is axing jobs, saying the cost of doing science has outpaced its funding and it needs to refocus on big issues.  Today, Adam Spencer, ambassador for mathematics and science at Sydney University on what happens when science is und...

There’s a secret US-led plan to end the war in Ukraine, but it reportedly asks a lot of the country that’s been invaded by Russia.  Media reports suggest the plan would see Ukraine would give up land, reduce the size of its army, relinquish weapons and make Russian an official state language.  At the same time, Putin’s forces have launched new strikes on Ukrainian cities and a Russian spy ship off...

The remaining Epstein files are finally set to be released after a vote in US Congress and a shift in the US President’s position.  Despite dismissing calls to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for months, Donald Trump reversed course when it became clear a bill to compel the release would pass in the US House of Representatives.  Today, David A Graham, staff...

Asbestos is highly carcinogenic, is banned and can’t be imported in Australia.  But in the last week it’s been found in various children’s coloured sand products from China, causing a major alarm across the community.  The discovery has led to the closure of dozens of schools and products have been recalled from stores including Kmart, Target and Officeworks. Today, Associate Professor Anthony Lin...

The Liberals and Nationals have now officially dumped the net zero emission target from their climate and energy policy.  It keeps the Coalition together, but what do voters think?  Today, pollster, former Labor strategist and director of the RedBridge Group, Kos Samaras on whether it’s a winning strategy. Featured:  Kos Samaras, director of the RedBridge Group

Donald Trump’s been all over the place with his tariffs, but the US is now bringing in billions of dollars in revenue from them. Months since the tariffs were first announced and after dire warnings from economists, how is the American economy really faring?  Today, Penny Goldberg, professor of economics at Yale University, on why the US economy hasn’t yet seen a major downturn and the dark clouds...

How is it that a neo-Nazi rally targeting Jewish people was allowed to take place on the steps of the New South Wales parliament?  Why is it that the same group of people, who want a 'white Australia', could be allowed to form a political party? Today, extremism expert Josh Roose explains the tactics neo-Nazi groups are using to skirt the law and continue to build their brand.  He outlines why eve...

More than one million workers sent home or working without pay, the poorest Americans left hungry and travel plans thrown into chaos. The longest government shutdown in American history is coming to an end, more than 40 days after it began.  Today, political scientist Charles Hunt from Boise State University on why a small group of Democrats ended up giving Donald Trump what he wanted. Featured: ...

We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 2025 ABC News Daily Audience Survey Donald Trump wants to sue a media organisation - again.  This time he’s threatening a US $1 billion lawsuit against the BBC, capping off one of the worst weeks in the British public broadcaster’s history. Both the corporation’s director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness have resigned followin...

We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 2025 ABC News Daily Audience Survey Three hours of free electricity sounds pretty good to many Australians struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. But is the federal government’s latest solar offering, which features energy retailers being made to offer free power in the middle of the day in selected states, really going to reduce hefty power...

We want to hear from you! Please complete our survey: 2025 ABC News Daily Audience Survey You may have noticed a crypto ATM in the corner of a shopping centre or in a convenience store.  There are thousands of them, tapping into investor’s interest around booming markets for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. But increasingly crypto ATMs are being used by criminals to launder money and to scam Au...