ABC News Daily

You would have thought with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, China wouldn’t be too worried about the number of people living there declining a bit.

But as it faces the challenges of an economic slowdown and an ageing society, Beijing is urging families to have more babies to stop a population decline that’s been recorded for a second year in a row. 

But is a falling birth rate necessarily a bad thing? 

First published 26 February 2024. 

Featured: 

Stuart Gietel-Basten, Professor of Social Science and Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Have you ever wondered just how much better electric vehicles are for the environment?

It’s more complicated than you’d think. 

Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder compares the lifetime greenhouse gas footprint of an electric car with that of a petrol car and delivers the verdict. 

First published 31 May, 2024.

Featured: 

Jo Lauder, ABC climate reporter

We all love a trip to Europe in summer, but have you ever felt like you’re not really welcome there? 

Melbourne woman Claudia had that inkling in Barcelona recently when locals made it clear they wanted her to go home. 

Today, we look at the growing anger in some of the most popular tourist cities and what is being done to try to ease the pressure. 

First published 24 May, 2024.

Featured: 

Claudia, Australian tourist

Sebastian Zenker, professor in tourism at the Copenhagen Business School

Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson said no when OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman asked if she could be the voice for a new version of ChatGPT. 

But they went ahead and released a chatbot that the actor thinks sounds “eerily similar” to herself. 

As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, how do we protect ourselves from being copied? 

First published 24 May, 2024.

Featured: 

Sharon Goldman, AI reporter at Fortune

Fifty years ago, Cyclone Tracy's ferocious winds destroyed 85 per cent of Darwin's housing and most of the city's infrastructure. 

It was the third time Darwin had been razed to the ground by a cyclone, but within three days the prime minister had committed to rebuilding Australia's northern capital in the same spot. 

In this final of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears how Tracy prompted an overhaul of the National Construction Code. 

It's supposed to ensure buildings on Australia's northern coast can withstand a category four cyclone.

But is the building industry adhering to the code, and as climate change threatens more severe cyclones and storms surges, is the code up to the job?

Featured:

Jane Bardon, ABC Darwin journalist

Leo Athanasiou, Darwin builder and Athanasiou Group Director

Dawn Lawrie, former Northern Territory Assembly MLA

Jared Archibald, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory history curator

Elisha Harris, Harris Kmon Solutions structural engineer

Charmain Enthaler, Charles Darwin University architecture lecturer

On Christmas Eve in 1974, Cyclone Tracy razed Darwin to the ground, killing 66 people and prompting a massive evacuation from the city of 35,000 people.

Now, 50 years since the disaster that changed the nation, Darwin's population is three times what it was then. 

Why did so many survivors return to the cyclone belt to rebuild Darwin and their lives?

In this first of a two-part series, Darwin reporter Jane Bardon hears first hand accounts of a night of terror and explores how the event became life-defining.

What we can learn from how survivors have dealt with their trauma, as we face a changing climate in which many more communities will suffer the effects of cyclones, floods and fires?

Featured: 

Jane Bardon, ABC Darwin journalist

Richard Creswick, former ABC Darwin journalist

June Mills, Larrakia elder

Alan Haines, former fuel depot worker

Dr Sadhana Mahajani, former Darwin doctor

Dr Arun Mahajani, former Darwin surgeon

Jared Archibald, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory history curator

It's been a year of stretched household budgets as the cost of living crisis continues. 

But given the cost of housing, it's being felt very differently across the generations. 

Today, ABC finance expert Alan Kohler and his son, Nine News finance editor Chris Kohler on how the pinch is affecting Australians and what’s in store for 2025. 

Alan Kohler discusses the significant impact of high interest rates and the challenges faced by younger generations in entering the housing market. 

He explains how immigration and government spending masks the true extent of economic hardship. 

Chris Kohler discusses the lack of competition in key industries, such as supermarkets, and its effect on consumer prices. 

Featured:

Alan Kohler, ABC finance presenter

Chris Kohler, Nine News finance editor

Key Topics:

• Cost of living crisis
• Housing affordability
• Generational economic divide
• High interest rates
• Immigration and economy
• Government spending
• Competition in supermarkets
• Economic outlook 2025
• Consumer prices

From conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine, to the election of Donald Trump and Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour, this year has brought pivotal events, one after the other.  

Today, the ABC's global affairs editor John Lyons reflects on how 2024 played out and what 2025 could bring. 

He's travelled the world to cover the big stories. 

In this episode, John Lyons shares personal anecdotes from his travels, noting the resilience and common aspirations of people in conflict zones. 

Featured: 

John Lyons, ABC global affairs editor

Key Topics:

• Middle East conflict
• Ukraine war
• Donald Trump re-election
• Global elections 2024
• Gaza humanitarian crisis
• Geopolitical shifts 2025
• Economic challenges 2025
• Taylor Swift Eras Tour
• International resilience
• Global affairs analysis

Anthony Albanese’s government has faced an uphill battle in 2024, dealing with mounting discontent over the cost of living. 

Ahead of an election year, will the prime minister's message cut through?

Today, 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle on the year in politics and what 2025 could bring. 

She says the government has tried to provide relief through targeted tax cuts and energy subsidies, though these measures have had limited impact on reducing everyday expenses. 

Laura Tingle also examines the political challenges faced by the government, including the optics of Prime Minister Albanese's personal decisions and the opposition's critique of government spending. 

Looking ahead to 2025, she explores the potential strategies for both the government and the opposition as they prepare for the upcoming election.

Featured: 

Laura Tingle, 7.30 chief political correspondent

Key Topics:

• Anthony Albanese
• Cost of living
• Australian politics 2024
• Inflation in Australia
• 2025 federal election
• Peter Dutton
• Economic policy
• Energy subsidies
• Tax cuts
• Political strategy

When artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT first landed, students rejoiced as they began using it for homework and assessments. 

That’s why universities and schools were quick to ban it entirely.

But now, the University of Sydney is leading the way to overturn that ban which it says doesn’t work. 

Today, Professor of Educational Technologies Danny Liu on a new way to test students that gets around the AI problem. 

Featured: 

Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies, University of Sydney