ABC News Top Stories

Episod

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  Pilot attacked on flight to Tel Aviv tells what happened | ABC News Top Stories 02.10.2026 1min

  The Indian pilot who was attacked in the flydubai flight incident says he opened the cockpit door while being attacked, allowing passengers to come in and halt its rapid descent. Smit Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by a co-pilot on board the flight bound for Tel Aviv, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia. A rogue OpenAI agent has accessed another New South Wales government website. The Premier's Department says the model entered a National Parks and Wildlife Service web application containing historical information and data on fires. More than 400 schools across France will be closed on Friday with classes taught remotely as student demonstrations are expected to continue. On Thursday, police made 2000 arrests as students blockaded schools to complain about overcrowded classrooms and rundown facilities. 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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  Which insect wins your vote for Australian Insect of the Year? 02.10.2026 3min

  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 insects and conservation, and entomologist Ken Walker says only 30 per cent of Australia's insects have been named. So which insect will win the national vote, which runs until the end of October?
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  Why death row inmate Christa Pike didn't die after two shots of a lethal drug 02.10.2026 4min

  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 Slemmer in 1995, and her clemency plea citing childhood trauma was rejected. But why was Christa Pike still breathing after being given the supposedly lethal injections? A medical expert says her veins fell apart and the drug burned her arm. What happens next?
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  Former minister revealed as co-founder of offshore casino 02.10.2026 3min

  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 Act decades before LuckyBet was warned about allegedly contravening it.
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  What we know about the flydubai attempted hijacking 02.10.2026 3min

  We're getting a clearer picture about the terrifying incident that happened mid-air during a flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
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  What’s to gain from getting it right with data centres? 02.10.2026 4min

  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 Australia can benefit in the long run.
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  Why businesses are angry over the ATO ban on credit card payments 02.10.2026 3min

  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. 
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  How did US inmate Christa Pike survive two 'lethal' injections? 01.10.2026 3min

  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 Supreme Court before the attempt, and the state's governor has halted executions for the rest of the year and ordered a review. So how can an attempted execution go so wrong? Be aware that this story includes disturbing details of a crime and how the death penalty is administered.
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  Is it time for an e-bike crackdown? 01.10.2026 3min

  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 children are being injured on e-bikes and scooters. Laws vary widely across the country, so should e-bike rules be the same everywhere?
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  How much further could house prices fall? 01.10.2026 2min

  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 to housing tax breaks. Cotality's Home Value Index fell 1.1 per cent in September taking cumulative declines to 5.2 per cent below March's peak. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story suggested the auction resulted in investors purchasing the property, the audio has been changed to reflect it was actually won by first home buyers.
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  What we know about the mid-air incident on a flight to Israel 01.10.2026 3min

  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. Two off-duty pilots then stepped in and brought the plane in for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
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  Why an NRL Grand Final means so much for Newcastle 01.10.2026 4min

  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 the Roosters, it's been a long time between drinks for the Knights: a quarter of a century.
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  What new inflation data means for the next RBA rate decision 30.09.2026 3min

  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 5.6 per cent over the year, while trimmed mean inflation, the measure the Reserve Bank watches most closely, is steady at 3.6 per cent. ANZ says a November hike is more likely than not and Westpac expects one unless energy costs fall, while the Commonwealth Bank expects a hold, so will the Reserve Bank raise rates again?
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  Trump's pact with 'super intelligence' leaders to self-police AI 30.09.2026 3min

  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 accord's signing at the White House, declaring it 'morally binding' rather than a matter for government regulation. OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, xAI and Nvidia have committed to internal risk reviews, external audits and board oversight of their AI systems, according to Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.  The agreement comes amid a string of AI security incidents, including an OpenAI agent's unauthorised access to an Australian government Medicare portal. Is self-regulation enough to keep AI safe?
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  How Manchester City was found guilty of football's 'biggest scandal' 30.09.2026 3min

  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 independent commission found the club guilty of more than 100 breaches of the league's financial rules, spanning a nine-year period from 2009. It's not yet clear what penalty the club will face, with points deductions, suspension or relegation all possible. 
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  Was Netanyahu warned about the October 7 attack? 30.09.2026 4min

  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 in Israel, and as the anniversary of the October 7 attacks looms, pressure is mounting on the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what he knew and when in the lead up to the attacks. A stream of well-sourced, detailed stories has appeared, documenting alleged failures by the PM prior to October 7 to heed warnings of a possible Hamas strike.
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  Could the RBA's rate hikes tip Australia into recession? 29.09.2026 3min

  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 to happen to bring inflation down, and conceded a recession was possible if inflation expectations get away from the bank. Economist Cherelle Murphy from EY Oceania says the reasons behind high inflation are not easy to reverse, and further rate rises can't be ruled out. 
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  Should OpenAI have to report an AI hack the moment it happens? 29.09.2026 2min

  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 Medicare data portal. An OpenAI agent got into public and private files containing information about government health programs in June, but the company didn't tell Services Australia until September. Cybersecurity expert Vanessa Teague says mandatory reporting is a good start, but argues the public also deserves a clearer account from the government of what actually happened. 
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  What do we know about the RAF Fairford incident in the UK? 29.09.2026 4min

  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 air base - which has been used by the US air force to attack Iran. But questions remain over the men and what information intelligence authorities relied on.
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  Why the RBA is expected to raise interest rates 29.09.2026 2min

  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 due to the war in the Middle East as well as A-I-related infrastructure demand, the central bank has little choice but to move.