Biwa Kwan

Revised drinking water guidelines in Australia have been released for public consultation. The update includes more stringent standards on the allowable level of the so-called forever chemicals or PFAS in tap water - based on the latest scientific evidence and international guidance on human health…

A new report by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group has outlined how the government’s risk and security agenda fails to include climate change, leaving the country and the population vulnerable.

A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.

Could improving the quality of Australia's political debate, come from the approach of what a new nonprofit is calling "finding uncommon ground"? The founder of Amplify, Paul Bassat, spoke with Biwa Kwan.

A new grassroots organisation seeks to open up spaces for everyday Australian citizens to participate in creating policy solutions to issues like housing, education and Indigenous Affairs. Georgina Harrison is the CEO of Amplify. She says after 23 years working in the public service, she saw a…

During a tour of the Pacific and Australia, Ajay Banga has visited Tuvalu - the first ever trip to the country by a World Bank president. There, he has observed the acute and severe impacts of climate change - and he has outlined the role he sees the World Bank playing to respond.

A new organisation has launched in Australia with the aim of tackling political polarisation and division. Amplify says it has deliberately chosen to stand apart from affiliation to a political party to encourage national debate on community-driven solutions to policy challenges like housing and…

A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.

A daily 5 minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability.

Australians are being urged to check their devices - including older phone handsets and medical equipment - to ensure they will still work after the 3G network is retired. The wind-down date was set for end of August, but has now been extended another two months after advocates warned many…

Australia's athletes have returned home to a hero's welcome after the 2024 Olympics. The Paris Games were Australia's most successful overseas performance: a fourth place finish and a record 18 gold medals.

The Refugee Olympic Team has made history at the Paris Games, with boxer Cindy Ngamba becoming the team's first medallist. This is the third Olympic Games for the team. And as Biwa Kwan reports, Ngamba's success has lifted the hopes of what else the team's 37 athletes can achieve.

Australian travellers will soon find it easier to enter the United States, as part of a plan to strengthen ties between the two nations. The announcement comes as foreign and defense ministers of the United States and Australia hold annual bilateral talks.

The Refugee Olympic Team is hoping to make history at the Paris Games by winning the team's first ever medal. It is the team's third time participating in the Olympics, after it was created in 2016 to raise awareness about the plight of refugees, amid a record number of people fleeing to Europe. In…

Inflation in Australia remains stubbornly above the target range set by the Reserve Bank, although there are signs of a clear downward trend. The latest inflation data will be carefully considered by the Reserve Bank board in its decision on whether to lift interest rates next week [[5-6 August]].

Options for Australians to immediately leave Lebanon have been reduced with disruptions to flights out of Lebanon's only international airport in Beirut. In 2006, the airport was rendered unuseable after Israeli forces bombed it. Australians were forced to evacuate by sea, a process which took much…

United States Vice President Kamala Harris has sought to engage marginalised voters, including a more ethnically diverse voting base, in her first campaign rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin. As the first woman, and the first Black and Asian-American, to serve as vice-president, her…

Australians are being warned it could take up to two weeks to fully resolve the disruption to computer systems affected by the global tech outage. Microsoft says up to 8.5 million devices using its operating system were affected by the outage, triggered by a faulty software update from CrowdStrike.…

A new report by the Centre for Policy Development has recommended three days per week of free childcare for some families with a small fee for others. The report argues child care should be seen in the same light as public education and Medicare, which is offered to all Australians.

A new report by the Centre for Policy Development has recommended three days per week of free childcare for some families, with a small fee for others. The report argues child care should be seen in the same light as public education and Medicare, which is offered to all Australians.