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Polls have now closed in several states in the US midterm elections and there are big swings to the Democrats as expected. Democrats have won Georgia's Senate race, and they're hoping to take both houses of Congress which would dramatically impinge Donald Trump's presidency. Uber will have to fork out more than $80 million into New South Wales coffers after the High Court determined the rideshare company owed payroll tax in the state. For more news at any time you can follow the ABC News Top Stories podcast.

Canva's one of Australia's most celebrated tech success stories. But it's announced it's cutting more than 1,200 jobs, or about 22 per cent of its global workforce. Experts say it's not an isolated case as AI reshapes the tech industry.

The Reserve Bank's raised the cash rate for the fifth time this year, and with Christmas approaching, millions of Australians with mortgages are feeling the pressure. So who's hurting, who might actually be better off, and when could relief finally arrive?

A parliamentary inquiry is looking at why so many Australians are struggling to access specialist medical care. Long public waiting lists, high out-of-pocket costs, and workforce shortages all on the agenda. The committee is exploring potential fixes, including formalising a system where GPs can consult specialists directly, which experts say could free up appointments and save patients money.

US voters head to the polls this week for high-stakes midterm elections that could hand Democrats control of Congress and deliver a major blow to Donald Trump's administration. Polling suggests a significant swing toward the Democrats, driven by deep unpopularity over the Iran war, cost of living pressures, tariffs, and a sharp backlash among Latino voters over immigration enforcement. There are also serious questions about how the administration might respond to unfavourable results, with moves to challenge voter rolls, potential deployment of federal agents at polling stations, and early legal skirmishes already underway.

The Reserve Bank has lifted the cash rate to 4.85 per cent, the highest since late 2008, adding about $90 a month to minimum repayments on a $600,000 mortgage. The RBA says excess demand and the risk of people accepting fast-rising prices as the new normal drove the fifth rate rise, alongside fuel costs. The board was split six votes to three and economists are divided on whether rates will rise again, so is this the last increase?

The New South Wales government is leading the push for the NAPLAN writing test for Years 5, 7 and 9 moved from computers back to pen and paper. Online NAPLAN testing began in 2018 and writing scores have been about the same over the past few years. One researcher says handwriting is important for learning and memory. But would a switch make sense in a digital world?

Supermarkets in several European countries have been the target of massive cyber-attacks, affecting fridges and freezers.

Australia's social media ban for under 16s is heading to the High Court, with challengers arguing the law voids the right to communicate on political matters. The federal government says it'll stand firm on the law, but with many teenagers still getting around it, the debate over how the ban should work is far from settled.

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Anthony Albanese plans to raise the issue of British backpackers with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after a 2021 deal let them stay up to three years without having to do specific work. There were nearly 80,000 British backpackers last financial year, up from about 47,000 in 2024, while other working holiday visa holders must work in regional areas to extend beyond a year. Tony Burke wants a cap and ballot for second and third year visas and the Coalition wants a fee for working in a city, so what would it mean for farmers?

Home values across Australia are dropping at their fastest pace in decades. While that's happening, people are paying more interest on their home loans because the Reserve Bank keeps pushing up the cash rate to deal with high inflation. If home values continue going south, as they're expected to do, at what point does the Reserve Bank decide to reverse course on interest rates?

Young people across Europe are taking to the streets over the cost of living, soaring housing costs, and what they see as governments that aren't working in their interests. In Portugal, Germany, and France the most recent protests have drawn huge crowds, with some demonstrations turning violent and spilling into looting. So what's behind the unrest, and why is it flaring up now across so many countries at once?

Some licensed gun owners in New South Wales can now walk into police stations and hand in firearms in exchange for money. It is part of the national gun buyback scheme that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in the days after the Bondi terrorist attack. So how does it work?

A new report has found that support for democracy among young Australian men has dropped notably, and that trust in politicians and government is down compared to last year.

Australia's housing market has now fallen for seven consecutive months, with the pace of decline tracking at the fastest rate in 40 years. Buyers are holding back amid higher interest rates, tighter lending conditions, and changes to property tax breaks, with falls recorded across most cities.

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The world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange Binance says it'll cover all losses and allow clients to trade again within days following the AU$9 billion hack of its platform.

Could US voters be confused by two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot in Alaska's Senate race. New York Times' reporting suggests there was an elaborate scheme by Democratic party operatives to get another Dan Sullivan on the ballot against the Republican incumbent. The US Justice Department says that if the original Dan Sullivan narrowly loses, the result should not be certified and an investigation should be launched into whether voters were confused. So are voters confused, and what could the reporting about the second Dan Sullivan mean for the result?

Victoria's highest court has dismissed mushroom murderer Erin Patterson's appeal against her convictions and granted the prosecution's appeal, meaning she will likely die in jail. The Court of Appeal found her offending involved such shocking criminality that it was inappropriate to fix a non-parole period, removing the chance of parole after 33 years. So what legal options, if any, does Patterson have left?