ABC News Top Stories

Episodes

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  David Jones receiver confirms 19 store closures | ABC News Top Stories 11.11.2026 1m

  The receivers of David Jones have confirmed that 19 sites will be shuttered after the retailer was put into voluntary administration less than a week ago. The sites impacted include seven in New South Wales, three in Victoria and one in New Zealand. Thousands of people living in Bupa aged care homes will not receive cooked breakfasts unless they sign up for a $42-a-day meal package under a contentious new fee schedule rolling out across the sector. The Higher Everyday Living Fees program means residents will need to sign up for Bupa's Enhanced Dining Experience at more than $15,000 per year. The Australian producers of Fing!, an upcoming children's film based on a 2019 book by British comedian David Walliams, have confirmed his cameo has been removed. The Guardian and ITV have published the accounts of two women who say they were groomed from the age of 15 by Walliams, which he denies. 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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  Is digital gold really gold if you never hold it? 11.11.2026 2m

  Gold's been a safe-haven investment for centuries, but a newer digital version is gaining popularity, especially with younger investors. Digital gold lets you own a share of real bullion without having to store it yourself, and it's cheaper and easier to trade than the physical kind. But there are tradeoffs to consider before investors buy in.
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  Is Qantas using AI as an excuse to offshore jobs? 11.11.2026 3m

  Qantas will cut 850 Australian jobs over the coming years, with some roles moving to consulting firm Accenture in India. The Australian Services Union says the airline is using AI as an excuse to shift jobs offshore, while Transport Minister Catherine King has called the decision incredibly disappointing. So are more big Australian companies likely to move corporate jobs offshore?
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  What are the grooming allegations being made against David Walliams? 11.11.2026 4m

  British comedian and children's author David Walliams allegedly groomed teenage fans and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl, according to reports in British media. Multiple women allege Mr Walliams used his fame to target them for sexual purposes when they were young and vulnerable. Mr Walliams is denying the allegations.
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  Why is Olivia Rodrigo being accused of plagiarisng Robbie Williams? 11.11.2026 3m

  Olivia Rodrigo's debut Christmas track has sparked accusations of plagiarism online, with some listeners drawing comparisons to a Robbie Williams hit from 2012. But Williams has defended the young singer, and Rodrigo herself has been open about her inspirations for the song. It's a story that raises bigger questions about how plagiarism accusations have come to haunt the modern music industry.
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  Will Australia's new AI regulator have enough teeth? 11.11.2026 2m

  The federal government has unveiled plans for mandatory AI safety standards, including a new regulator with the power to penalise companies that don't comply. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions, with the Coalition broadly supportive but the Greens arguing the proposed penalties don't go far enough. Experts are also weighing in on what the framework could actually achieve, and what it might take to hold the world's biggest AI companies to account.
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  The fallout after Qantas announced 850 job cuts 10.11.2026 3m

  Qantas has confirmed 850 local corporate jobs will be cut and outsourced under a new partnership with Accenture, with work going to Accenture staff in India and to AI. The Australian Services Union says the cuts send jobs and skills offshore, while Qantas says the changes will start from mid 2027 in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing. So can Qantas legally outsource all these workers, and will other big companies follow?
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  Was Nvidia's Jensen Huang intimate with a Chinese spy? 10.11.2026 4m

  Nvidia's board has launched an investigation after the New York Times reported that chief executive Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Mr Huang acknowledged to the board that he had been intimate with a business executive, whom the New York Times reported US intelligence agencies determined was gathering information for China. With Donald Trump calling him an honourable man, what does the investigation mean for Mr Huang and his push to sell more chips to China?
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  Can Pete Hegseth survive an impeachment push after the midterms? 10.11.2026 3m

  Republican Congressman Thomas Massie is attempting to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing that his support for military operations in Iran bypassed Congress and violated international law. The articles accuse Hegseth of waging war without congressional approval, while President Donald Trump says he is doing a great job. So is removing Hegseth from office realistic, when it would take a two-thirds majority in the Senate?
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  Should Cricket Australia reopen its ball-tampering investigation? 10.11.2026 2m

  Usman Khawaja's new autobiography is reigniting cricket's Sandpaper scandal. The retired batsman is claiming far more of the 2018 Australian cricket squad knew about the ball-tampering than the official investigation found. Cricket Australia isn't reopening the case, but former players and commentators are questioning whether the original inquiry was thorough enough.
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  Beaconsfield mine survivor Todd Russell dies aged 54 10.11.2026 2m

  Todd Russell, one of the two miners pulled alive from the Beaconsfield mine collapse in 2006, has died at 54. His survival after 14 days trapped nearly a kilometre underground made him famous, but the years that followed brought their own struggles.
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  Russell Brand jailed for rape, sexual assault 10.11.2026 3m

  British entertainer Russell Brand has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail for rape and sexual assault. A jury had earlier found the 51-year-old guilty of the charges involving four women between 2004 and 2009. The 51-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges, and claimed that he never engaged in any non-consensual sexual activity.
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  Melbourne crime in the spotlight after a fatal stabbing 09.11.2026 4m

  Victoria Police is working to reassure the public that Melbourne's streets are safe after a delivery driver was fatally stabbed in the city's CBD. The fatal stabbing of Feng Jianming has rocked Melbourne's Chinese Australian community and put crime back on the minds of voters ahead of the Victorian election on November 28. So what are the parties promising on crime ahead of the election?
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  Was Trump really kidding about making Dana White his press secretary? 09.11.2026 3m

  US President Donald Trump says he was only kidding when he announced he had offered Ultimate Fighting Championship boss Dana White the job of White House press secretary. The role has had six press secretaries across Mr Trump's two terms, and Katie Zacharia left after less than a week in the job. So what does the episode say about Mr Trump's thinking after the Republicans lost Congress to the Democrats at the midterms?
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  Do Australia's export emissions make COP31 a bit awkward? 09.11.2026 4m

  As it leads negotiations for a major United Nations climate conference this fortnight, Australia's under more scrutiny over its coal and gas production. The latest government data shows emissions from Australia's fossil fuel exports, when burned overseas, almost doubled over the past two decades. Now the government's facing growing calls to take responsibility for the so-called "Scope 3" emissions.
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  Will Eisenkot build a coalition to topple Netanyahu? 09.11.2026 2m

  Israel's election has produced a fragile result, with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot tasked with trying to form a coalition government to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu. The negotiations ahead are complicated, with deep divisions among the parties that want to work together and real questions about what compromises Eisenkot might have to make. Netanyahu is pushing hard to exploit those tensions and make Eisenkot's job as difficult as possible.
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  How will the Republicans shift towards 2028? 07.11.2026 4m

  Just days after suffering a massive midterm election loss, US President Donald Trump has replaced his Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with the architect of his hardline immigration crackdown Stephen Miller. Mr Trump thanked Wiles for her service, saying she was moving over to his political operation. But US media outlets are reporting the president blamed Wiles for the Republican Party's disastrous election result. So what else will the Republican party be looking to change as they head to the 2028 elections?
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  What Beau Lamarre-Condon told his murder trial 06.11.2026 3m

  Beau Lamarre-Condon has told his double murder trial he is responsible for the death of his former partner Jesse Baird, but that he did not intentionally kill him. The former police officer is accused of using his police pistol to shoot dead Mr Baird and his new boyfriend Luke Davies in Mr Baird's Paddington share house in February 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to both murder charges and has given evidence over two days in the New South Wales Supreme Court, so what has the court heard from him?
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  What the midterm result means for JD Vance and Marco Rubio 06.11.2026 3m

  The Nasdaq lost about $2.5 trillion in 24 hours as investors weighed what Democratic control of Congress could mean for data centres and AI. Elon Musk's companies fell too, and Ken Paxton, the Texas Senate candidate he poured hundreds of millions of dollars into, failed to beat James Talarico. With the 2028 race already under way, JD Vance has blamed the Iran war for the result while Marco Rubio is reportedly weighing whether to leave the administration to run. Americas editor John Lyons explains.
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  Why is there a crocodile rap about Bob Katter? 06.11.2026 3m

  Bob Katter's 'thousand blossoms bloom' crocodile rant has taken on a new life, almost a decade on, thanks to a song written from the perspective of a saltwater crocodile. The Cherabins' track "Katter" has the croc calling for no more culling, and the MP says he loves crocodiles and thinks it is 'a bloody good song'. He has written his own rap-style reply and offered to sing backup, so will the two sides end up making music together?