ABC News Daily

Donald Trump once declared mRNA vaccines a medical miracle, now his health Secretary is taking an axe to them.

Robert F Kennedy Junior doesn’t believe in the science behind the vaccines that were deployed to save lives as Covid spread around the world and he’s cut nearly half a billion dollars in research funding.

Today, professor of public health Julie Leask on what Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance means for global health. 

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Julie Leask, social scientist and professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney

This week, five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

Israel confirmed it had targeted one of the men it says was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell, an allegation Al Jazeera denies.  

So, who is telling the truth? 

Today, former Al Jazeera correspondent and executive director of the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom Peter Greste on the problems that arise when foreign reporters are blocked from covering a war. 

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Peter Greste, professor of journalism at Macquarie University and executive director of the  Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom 

Donald Trump wants to win a Nobel Peace Prize and so he’s desperate to end the war in Ukraine. 

He’ll be in Alaska later this week meeting the Russian president in the first face-to-face encounter the two men have had since Trump returned to the White House. 

The problem is the Ukrainian leader won’t be there and Trump’s talking about some ‘land-swapping’ between the Russian invaders and Ukraine. 

Today, international relations expert Rajan Menon on Trump’s theatrics and what the summit will really achieve. 

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Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York

In a move that will further anger the Israeli leader, Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September following declarations from the UK, France and Canada.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears.

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu says recognising Palestinian statehood is a win for Hamas and he’s defending his decision to expand the war in Gaza. 

Today, ABC Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn on Netanyahu’s war plans and why his own military is opposed to them. 

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Allyson Horn, ABC Middle East correspondent

Elon Musk’s Tesla electric vehicles can not generally be used to power Australian homes.

Why is that, when the batteries in Tesla EVs are much more powerful than most home batteries? 

As Australia transitions to more green energy, other models of electric vehicles are being used to power homes and even the grid, feeding in when electricity is needed most. 

Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer on the revolutionary technology and why the world’s richest man has been wary of it. 

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Dan Mercer, ABC energy reporter

Donald Trump didn’t like the numbers, so he sacked the messenger. 

So, what are the implications of the US President’s decision to get rid of the nation’s chief statistician, who dared to release revised jobs figures? 

Today, Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic on the jackhammer Trump is taking to democracy. 

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Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic

This week a Chinese woman was charged with foreign interference, accused of spying on Buddhists in Canberra. 

Separately, the boss of Australia’s spy agency has warned that other nations are spying in Australia at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication. 

Today, ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic on the allegations against the woman in Canberra, how it affects the China-Australia relationship and the growing cost of espionage. 

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Stephen Dziedzic, ABC foreign affairs reporter

If reports are correct, Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu wants to expand the war in Gaza so his forces fully occupy the strip. 

As international outrage grows about the devastation and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, could more countries recognising a Palestinian state make a difference? 

France, Canada and the UK are trying to pressure Israel by announcing plans to do so in the coming months and Australia could join them at some point.

Today, Guy Ziv, associate professor at American University’s School of International Service on what recognising statehood means and the elusive two-state solution in the Middle East. 

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Guy Ziv, associate professor in the School of International Services at the American University and associate director of the university’s Center for Israel Studies

It was a protest the New South Wales government and police tried to stop but couldn’t.

In the end, more than 100,000 protesters were permitted to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge demanding an end to the war in Gaza. 

But should we be concerned that organisers had to fight in court for the right to hold the rally? 

Today, associate professor in law at the University of South Australia Sarah Moulds on our right to protest and the barriers in the way. 

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Sarah Moulds, associate professor in law at the University of South Australia

On average there’s a class action lodged in Australia every week.

But do they really help bring justice to groups of Australians exposed to wrongdoing? 

Today, Anne Connolly on her Four Corners investigation into the class action traps leaving victims short changed and lawyers richer. 

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Anne Connolly, Four Corners reporter