ABC News Daily

The firebomb attack on a childcare centre was the eighth anti-Semitic attack in Sydney in just three months. 

So, is enough being done to stop the crimes and are our political leaders making things better or worse? 

Today, social justice advocate Tim Costello on the unrest in our cities linked to the October 7 terrorist attack and the bloodshed in Gaza. He says there's an urgent need for political leaders to turn down the temperature. 

Mr. Costello shares his personal experiences and observations on the impact of these attacks on the Jewish and Muslim communities in Australia. 

He calls for justice for both sides and stresses the need for grassroots efforts to foster understanding and cooperation.

Featured: 

Tim Costello, senior fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity 

Key Topics:

• Anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney
• October 7 terrorist attack
• Israel-Hamas war
• Social cohesion 
• Jewish and Muslim communities 

Donald Trump is back and after his inauguration it was down to business. 

One of his first acts was to pardon more than 1,500 defendants from the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

He also withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation. 

Today, political scientist Geoff Kabaservice from the centre-right think-tank the Niskanen Centre on Trump’s busy first day back in the White House. 

Featured: 

Geoff Kabaservice, Vice President for political studies at the Niskanen Centre

Donald Trump has brought the social media app TikTok back to life in the United States after an outage lasting less than 24 hours. 

The platform run by Chinese-owned ByteDance went offline for US users, with the firm saying it acted to comply with a law that banned it unless it sold its US operations to local owners. 

The law was passed with US politicians citing national security concerns. 

But it only took a promise from the incoming president to sign an executive order delaying the ban to get content creators and scrollers back online. 

Today, Vittoria Elliott from WIRED on why the TikTok ban failed and what happens next. 

Featured: 

Vittoria Elliot, WIRED reporter covering platforms and power

2024 was a huge year for artificial intelligence, with AI powered features integrated into everything from search engines to phones.

So, what can we expect from the technology this year?

Today, Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the AI institute at the University of New South Wales on whether this is the year that AI tools really start to make life easier.

He explains what AI developments mean for job losses and why you should start using AI tools at work. 

Featured: 

Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at UNSW.ai, the AI Institute of University of New South Wales Sydney

After months of talks a deal has been done for a ceasefire in Gaza, with it set to start on the weekend with the first phase to include the release of some Israeli hostages.  

Incoming US president Donald Trump has taken credit for it and his impending inauguration did give the negotiations a boost.

Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute on whether peace will hold.

He says there's enormous relief felt on both sides, with Israelis overjoyed at the prospect of getting hostages back and Palestinians desperate for a break from the violence. 

He highlights the significant pressure placed on Prime Minister Netanyahu by Trump to finalise the deal before his inauguration. 

Dr. Ibish also discusses the complexities of the agreement, including the phased approach and the challenges of ensuring a lasting peace. 

He notes the potential for renewed conflict if key actors are not fully committed to the ceasefire.

Featured: 

Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute

Key Topics:

• Gaza ceasefire
• Israeli hostages
• Donald Trump
• Benjamin Netanyahu
• Joe Biden
• Humanitarian aid
• Hamas
• Palestinian Authority
• Rebuilding Gaza
• Middle East peace process
• US foreign policy

The Australian dollar is at its lowest level against the US dollar in five years. 

That hurts travellers going to the United States for a holiday, but some economic commentators think it also means Australia’s Reserve Bank should hold off longer on cutting interest rates. 

Our chief business correspondent Ian Verrender doesn’t agree. 

Today, he explains why China and Trump are largely behind the fall in the Australian dollar and why interest rate cuts should still be on the table. 

Ian says the strength of the US dollar, driven by Trump's tariffs and economic policies, is a major factor in the Australian dollar's decline. 

Featured: 

Ian Verrender, ABC chief business correspondent

Key Topics:

• Australian dollar decline
• US dollar strength
• Trump's tariffs
• Reserve Bank interest rates
• Local exporters
• Import prices
• China's economic slowdown
• Economic policies
• Currency speculation

Is there a risk that bushfires as intense and destructive as those that have ravaged Los Angeles could bear down on an Australian city?

The head of Australia’s largest firefighting service says yes, Sydney, with its national parks so close to homes, could see similar devastation. 

Today, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers, who will leave the service at the end of this fire season, on how firefighters have responded to the threat in LA and how we need to prepare. 

Commissioner Rogers discusses the challenges faced by firefighters in LA, including the impact of strong winds and drought conditions. 

He highlights the importance of timely warnings and the role of AI in improving fire response. 

As he prepares to retire, Rogers reflects on the evolving nature of fire seasons and the critical role of volunteers in firefighting efforts.

Featured: 

Rob Rogers, Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Key Topics:

• Bushfire risk in Australian cities
• Firefighting strategies in Los Angeles
• Impact of drought and strong winds on fires
• Role of AI in fire management
• Global sharing of firefighting resources
• Fire seasons
• Volunteer firefighters
• Future of firefighting 

For almost two decades Australian artist Mark Whalen has called LA home. 

But last week as wildfires tore through communities, he and thousands of others saw their homes burn to the ground.

Today, Mark describes the apocalyptic scenes he witnessed and the emotional toll of losing his home. 

We also speak with Vivien Thomson who has been a rural firefighter for decades and was a fire captain during the 2003 Canberra bushfires. 

Vivien speaks about the lessons learned over the years and whether we’re better prepared now. 

Featured: 

Mark Whalen, Australian artist in LA

Vivien Thomson, rural firefighter and farmer

Key Topics:

• LA wildfires
• Mark Whalen
• Vivien Thomson
• Rural firefighting
• 2003 Canberra bushfires
• Fire preparedness
• Climate change and wildfires
• Community resilience
• Firefighting resources
• Building codes and fire safety

In 2024, voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in what’s believed to be the biggest year for elections in history. 

This year it’s Australia’s turn and if we follow the voting trends of other nations, we’ll either kick Anthony Albanese’s Labor party out of office or come close to it. 

That’s because there’s a big movement, particularly in western democracies against incumbent governments.

Today, Mark Kenny from the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University explains the major shift in voting patterns. 

He highlights how the post-pandemic economic struggles and rising distrust in democratic institutions are driving voters to seek change.

Mark Kenny warns of the potential long-term implications for democratic stability if current trends continue. 

He says a lot of voters feel betrayed by their governments and there is a factual basis to the sense of umbrage felt by citizens towards their governments. 

Featured: 

Mark Kenny, director of the Australian Studies Institute at the Australian National University and host of ‘Democracy Sausage’ podcast

Key Topics:

• 2024 global elections
• Australian federal election 2025
• Anthony Albanese
• Labor party
• Peter Dutton
• Liberal party
• National party
• Voting trends
• Incumbent governments
• Populist movements
• Cost of living crisis
• Public trust in government

Seven people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have evacuated their homes as wildfires raging across Los Angeles continue to spread, fueled by dry vegetation and howling winds. 

These conditions have highlighted the dangers of climate change and how it’s making life harder for firefighters around the world, something that’s been felt deeply by Australians.

Today, Former Fire and Rescue New South Wales commissioner Greg Mullins on the threat posed by increasing overlap in fire seasons between Australia and the United States. 

We’ll also hear from Maddie Power, a resident of Altadena in LA who has lost everything in the blaze.

Featured:

Greg Mullins, Former Fire and Rescue New South Wales commissioner

Maddie Power, Los Angeles resident