ABC News Daily

While everyone has their eyes on the war in Ukraine, another war is threatening to break out in West Africa.

There's been a seemingly unstoppable wave of coups washing along the edge of the Sahara, gaining strength each time.

After the recent military coup in Niger, locals were seen chanting "down with France" and "long live Putin".

What are France and Russia doing in West Africa? And could they end up in a proxy war?

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He wouldn’t be the first enemy of Vladimir Putin to end up dead, so no wonder suspicion falls on the Russian leader for the apparent demise of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man who staged a short-led mutiny in Russia back in June. 

Russia says the Wagner group leader was on a plane that crashed north of Moscow, leaving no survivors.

Today, Rajan Menon from the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities on what it means for Putin’s war and his power.  

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Rajan Menon, Grand Strategy Program director at Defense Priorities

Australia’s dominant supermarkets Coles and Woolworths have returned bumper profits of $1.1 billion and $1.62 billion respectively for the full financial year.

So, are shoppers getting a fair deal during a cost of living crisis?

Today, Prashan Karunaratne from Macquarie Business School on the market power of the big players and why it might be worth avoiding them altogether.

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Prashan Karunaratne, Bachelor of Commerce course director at Macquarie University

It used to be known as wagging - skipping a day of school here and there.

But now Australia is facing a much deeper problem with thousands of students refusing to go at all. 

It was first blamed on the pandemic, but now it’s clear the problem runs far deeper. 

Today, the ABC’s national education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy on school refusal and what can be done to stop it.   

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Conor Duffy, ABC national education and parenting reporter

The federal government has a new plan to help solve the rental crisis. 

It’s going to give the states and territories $15 thousand every time a new home is built, targeting an additional 1.2 million homes by 2029. 

Today, urban planner and policy analyst from Sydney University, Nicole Gurran, on whether that’s really going to help and what more could be done. 

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Nicole Gurran, professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Sydney

Did you know the AFL is the only major sporting code in the world where not a single elite male player has ever come out publicly as being gay? 

Today, Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan on her investigation into the league, its management and its fans. 

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Louise Milligan, Four Corners reporter

Microchips are in your car, your microwave — there might even be one in your kettle. They run everything.

And the best microchips are made by TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

TSMC chips have put Western tech companies and militaries streets ahead of China, and China is not happy about it.

TSMC is so important, that the world could go to war over it.

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If there was an Australian politician facing 91 criminal charges would you consider voting for them at an election?  

Probably not, but in America there are plenty of people who would. 

Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time this week but still he’s the Republicans’ pick to run at next year’s US election.

Today, political scientist at the University of Chicago, Susan Stokes, on Donald Trump’s supporters and why they won’t give him up.   

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Susan Stokes, political scientist at the University of Chicago

Almost a fortnight after three people died from suspected mushroom poisoning in Victoria, details about the fatal lunch are still emerging. 

The woman who cooked what’s believed to be the killer meal has now produced a statement for police which adds even more intrigue to the story. 

Today, investigative reporter Dan Oakes who exclusively obtained the statement, on what we know now and the lingering questions. 

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Dan Oakes, ABC investigative reporter

The Matildas will take on England tonight in a World Cup semi-final. If they win and go on to take out the entire tournament do we really deserve a public holiday?

Today, ABC Grandstand’s Quentin Hull on when politics and sport mix and why we’ve all jumped on the Matildas bandwagon. 

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Quentin Hull, ABC Grandstand commentator