ABC News Top Stories

Epizodai

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  Sex crimes detectives to travel to Sydney amid Swans scandal | ABC News Top Stories 19.08.2026 1min

  Victorian sex crime detectives are expected to travel to New South Wales as they investigate an alleged sex assault scandal engulfing the AFL's Sydney Swans. Five Swans players stood down for breaking club standards have apologised, saying they've let down their partners and families, members, supporters, teammates, the AFLW team, corporate partners and everyone at the club and the wider community. And the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services' spring outlook shows an increased risk of fire in most states and territories over the coming months.  Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode. For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.
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  What Sydney Swans players did to deserve a ban 19.08.2026 3min

  Five Sydney Swans players have now been stood down for the rest of the season for breaching behavioural standards over their late night drinking and bringing women back to their hotel. At the same time, an investigation by Victoria police continues into a report of sexual assault at the hotel where the Swans were staying. It is not suggested that any of the banned players are being accused, and the club says none of them have been formally interviewed by police.
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  New details emerge in Hayden Panettiere's shock death 19.08.2026 3min

  There's been intense speculation surrounding the shock death of US actor Hayden Panettiere on Sunday. Her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach were at the South Carolina apartment where she died suddenly aged 36, according to a police report. Who was Hayden Panettiere and what is known about her death?
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  Why is Meta on trial in California? 19.08.2026 3min

  Social media giant Meta is on trial in California in a case that could force the company to make fundamental changes to Instagram and Facebook.
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  Mushroom killer Erin Patterson's appeal explained 18.08.2026 3min

  Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson's appeal against her triple murder conviction will be heard on Wednesday August 19 and Thursday August 20. Patterson is serving life in prison after she killed family members using poisonous death cap mushrooms hidden in a beef wellington lunch. She was sentenced to a non-parole period of 33 years in September last year. Why does she insist there's been a miscarriage of justice? 
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  Are the gambling ad laws reform or capitulation? 18.08.2026 3min

  After weeks of negotiations, the government has struck a deal with the Coalition to pass its long awaited gambling ad laws. The amendments include a centralised system for opting out of online advertising, and some restrictions on inducements. The deal has been criticised by anti-gambling advocates, the crossbench, and some Coalition MPs for falling short of the recommendations of a review which called for a blanket advertising ban. 
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  No arrests after Sydney Swans incident in Melbourne 18.08.2026 3min

  Victoria Police is continuing its investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel the Sydney Swans AFL players stayed in over the weekend. Several of the club's players have been linked to the investigation, but there is still no confirmation they're directly involved.
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  Tupak Shakur murder trial begins in Las Vegas 18.08.2026 3min

  It's been almost 30 years since American rapper, Tupac Shakur was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. After decades of swirling conspiracies a murder trial is now underway.  Opening statements have been delivered with the prosecution arguing the 1996 killing was 'an act of revenge' but the accused is maintaining his innocence.
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  How to tackle Australia's illegal tobacco trade? 18.08.2026 3min

  The illegal tobacco trade in Australia is booming after years of steep increases in the cost of legal cigarettes. Australia's had a tobacco excise since federation, but over the past 15 years it's more than quadrupled, making cigarettes $50 or more a packet. Now there are calls to slash the excise in a bid to stamp out organised crime linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
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  Could superannuation help with cost-of-living pressures? 18.08.2026 3min

  One Nation says Australians should have greater access to their retirement savings while they're still working. And that's reignited debate over whether the current rules are too restrictive or not. So how does super currently work?
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  Sydney Swans involved in 'alleged incident' 17.08.2026 2min

  The Sydney Swans AFL club has confirmed several players were involved in an "alleged incident" in Melbourne. The club issued a statement at the same time that Victoria Police released details of an investigation into a report of a sexual assault at an East Melbourne hotel. Details are thin, but here's what we know. 
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  Trump slams 'hostile' US-South Korea military drills 17.08.2026 3min

  US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the nation had declined to help denuclearise Iran. He also brought up his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It's another case of Trump taking aim at a strong ally of the United States. 
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  How do deepfake scams work and how can you avoid them? 17.08.2026 3min

  Artificial intelligence is making investment scams more convincing than ever. Fake videos featuring well-known Australians are flooding social media feeds, costing people hundreds of millions of dollars. So how do these scams work, and how can you avoid them?
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  Is Australia at risk of a measles outbreak? 17.08.2026 3min

  Australia eliminated measles more than a decade ago but that doesn't mean it can't come back. New research suggests around 1.7 million people may not be fully protected against the highly infectious disease. So who's most at risk?
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  How will the NSW gun buyback work? 16.08.2026 4min

  NSW will become the first state to sign up to the federal government's gun buyback scheme, announced following the December 14 Bondi Beach terror attack.
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  Why did Luigi Mangione make shock confession in court? 15.08.2026 4min

  Luigi Mangione has admitted to shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in 2024, and pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges, resulting in death. He's also told why he tracked down and shot the executive, in one of America’s most high profile criminal cases.
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  The predicted impacts of bird flu on coastal communities 15.08.2026 3min

  Australia's wildlife authorities and coastal communities remain on high alert as the deadly H5 strain of bird flu continues its advance across the country.
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  Will 'east-coast clowns' kill WA's special GST deal? 14.08.2026 4min

  Get ready for an almighty battle between Western Australia and the productivity commission and the states who think it's had it too good for too long. The lucrative deal on how the proceeds of the GST are distributed has come under new scrutiny with a report declaring it has led to perverse outcomes that favour WA. How does the West benefit under the deal?almighty
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  Nigel Farage celebrates victory over Count Binface 14.08.2026 3min

  Far-right populist politician Nigel Farage has won one of the most unusual by-elections in recent history in the UK. He was up against more than 30 independent candidates, among them a comedian known as Count Binface. But his victory party may be cut short as scrutiny continues over donations.
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  Should AI be taking notes about your health? 14.08.2026 3min

  Artificial intelligence tools are listening to many people's medical appointments, but they're not always producing accurate summaries. One patient has described how a letter from a specialist to her GP included a false suggestion that she was taking illegal drugs.  A so-called AI scribe had been used by the doctor. New research by a privacy watchdog has raised serious concerns about AI being used in medical settings due to its propensity to "hallucinate" false symptoms or conditions, and warned patients were at risk.