

ABC KIDS News Time
ABC Kids listen
Every Friday, join Ruby for News Time as she counts down the week’s most interesting news stories for kids. From amazing animals to special events, the natural world to outer space, News Time is made especially for children to help them understand the world around them.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 7, 2025 • 12min
Bird backpack and rocket set back
This week on News Time we’ll track down a backpack-wearing bird, we’ll crash down to earth in a rocket, and then we’ll think like a fish in our Wow of the Week!Quiz Questions1. What name has been given to the women's shed in Cairns?2. What have researchers placed in each of the birds' backpacks?3. Which soccer team is Hannah Hampton part of?4. How long was the rocket in the air?5. What has grown on the tiles?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat is the name of the bird that's back on Phillip Island?Answers1. She Shed2. GPS trackers3. England Lionesses4. 14 seconds5. Algae and barnaclesBonus Tricky AnswerBush stone-curlew

Jul 31, 2025 • 12min
Turtle care and cricket scare
This week on News Time, we’ll meet a teenage turtle protector, we’ll hear about an artist selling out inspired masterpieces, and then we’ll go searching for undiscovered bugs in our Wow of the Week!Quiz Questions1. What job does Eva the border collie have?2. What is the traditional name for the white-throated snapping turtle?3. Which sport is facing concerns about extreme heat?4. What did Cole do recently for the very first time?5. What sort of insect did the students of Gin Gin discover?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat is the name for a group of turtle eggs?Answers1. Working cattle dog2. Milbi3. Cricket4. Held an exhibition of his artworks5. Parasitic waspBonus Tricky AnswerClutch

Jul 24, 2025 • 12min
Green drinks and shopping trips
On this episode of News Time you’ll meet a teenager who can lift more than her own body weight, we’ll do our best to track down a green drink that’s taken the world by storm, and then we’ll inspect some royal subjects in our Wow of the Week.Quiz Questions1. How long did it used to take the residents of Burringurrah to do their weekly groceries?2. How much weight could Carly lift at the recent national championships?3. Which continent are fire ants native to?4. What colour is matcha tea?5. What is the title of the people whose job is to count and check the swans?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat is matcha made from?Answers1. Ten hours2. 52 kilograms3. South America4. Green5. Swan UppersBonus Tricky AnswerTencha leaves

Jul 22, 2025 • 10min
Special Episode: Invasive Species
Ruby hands this special episode of News Time over to junior reporter Miranda whose home town in northern New South Wales is being invaded by cane toads.Miranda also interviews experts about other invasive species in Australia like fire ants, cats and horses. We find out how they got here and what's being done to prevent them spreading further.Quiz Questions1.What is the scientific name for cane toads?2.What is behind a cane toad's ear drum?3.Which Australian state were cane toads first introduced to?4.How did fire ants get to Australia?5.How many native animals do cats eat every night in Australia?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat year were cane toads brought to Australia?Answers1.Bufo marinus2.A poison gland3.Queensland4.In shipping containers5.About 8 millionBonus Tricky Answer1935Special thanks to South Grafton Public School for their help with this episode.

Jul 17, 2025 • 12min
Vegetable-powered vehicle and dinosaur discovery
This week on News Time you’ll hear about a puzzling new dinosaur discovery, we’ll hit the road in a vehicle powered by veggies, and then meet some cheeky animals in a sticky situation for our Wow of the Week.Quiz Questions1. What does Ian use to power his ute?2. Where have the migrating whales swum from?3. What is the name of the newly discovered dinosaur?4. Which country won the recent Deaf Rugby Pacific Rim Championship?5. Where did the bears find honey?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat does enigmacursor mean?Answers1. Vegetable oil2. Antarctica3. Enigmacursor4. Fiji (in both men's and women's)5. A storage roomBonus Tricky AnswerPuzzling runner

Jul 10, 2025 • 13min
Whiffy artworks and tremendous telescope
We’re bowling at pace and heading to outer space on News Time today! Hear about a ginormous telescope, some courageous cricketers and paintings made of… something that might surprise you. I’ll give you a hint… you might want to wash your hands after handling one! Quiz Questions1.In which country can you find the new telescope?2.What position did Australia finish in the cricket competition?3.Why is plastic on farms often hard to recycle?4.What are the artists using to create their artworks?5.Can you remember at least one of the final scorelines for Auckland City's games?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhat sort of mysterious thing are scientists hoping to understand through the telescope?Answers1.Chile2.2nd3.It's often dirty4.Poo5.10-0, or 6-0, or 1-1Bonus Tricky AnswerDark Matter

Jul 3, 2025 • 13min
NAIDOC Week: The Next Generation
Ruby has passed the mic to Wayilwan storyteller and journalist Laura Murphy-Oates for this special NAIDOC Week episode of News Time.NAIDOC week is a time to celebrate and recognise the achievements, history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme this year is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’, and on this episode of News Time, you’ll meet some of the next generation of First Nations artists, firefighters, environmentalists and trailblazers.Quiz Questions1.What did Jeremy design for NAIDOC Week?2.What does Arlene volunteer doing?3.What do koala's eyes look like when a light is shone on them at night?4.In which state or territory is the NAIDOC Little Athletics event happening?5.What does the work Yorrook mean in Wamba Wamba language?Bonus Tricky QuestionHow do you say 'thank you' in Wayilwan?Answers1.The official poster2.Firefighter3.Twinkling stars4.Queensland5.TruthBonus Tricky AnswerGamba Njindu

Jun 26, 2025 • 12min
Bell mystery and sheepdog showdown
What do you get if you cross a sheepdog with a stolen church bell? Today’s episode of News Time, of course! You’ll hear about delightful dogs, nature nurturers and a mysterious missing bell. Quiz Questions1.What is the name of Annie's sheepdog?2.What are the three activities in a triathlon?3.Where was the missing bell found?4.What did the students make, to help fight PFAS?5.How old is Goliath the tortoise?Bonus Tricky QuestionHow did the bell get a crack in it?Answers1.Mini2.Swimming, Biking/Cycling, Running3.In a dump4.An app5.135Bonus Tricky AnswerRinging loudly to celebrate the end of the war, it was swung hard enough that a crack appeared.

Jun 19, 2025 • 12min
Scurrying rodents and a dino mascot
On this episode of News Time, we'll meet some globetrotting soccer players from Wollongong and a dinosaur who travelled to South Australia! We'll then hear an amazing story of lives improved thanks to important surgeries in Katherine, NT.Quiz Questions1. What is the name of the Spanish soccer club the kids trained at?2. How big are subalpine woolly rats?3. What is the name of the Saltasaurus dinosaur Mascot?4. What remote community did the Indigenous and Remote Eye Service go to?5. What new skill have some cockatoos in Western Sydney park learnt?Bonus Tricky QuestionHow many eyes received cataract treatment?Answers1. Real Madrid2. The size of a small dog3. Milano4. Katherine, Northern Territory5. How to use a bubbler/water fountainBonus Tricky Answer27 eyes

Jun 12, 2025 • 11min
Chatbot mess and team protest
This week on News Time, we’ll meet some librarians bringing Indigenous culture to their bookshelves. We’ll also hear about a big win for women’s sport, and then prepare to climb very high very slowly in our Wow of the Week!Quiz Questions1. What name did wildlife carers give the echidna?2. How did the library organise their books?3. What is the name of the Irish sport that now allows its players to wear shorts?4. What did the journalist use to write the article about books?5. What has been built to help endangered turtles?Bonus Tricky QuestionWhere do wildlife carers think the echidna swam from?Answers1. Eddie2. By Māori atua (gods)3. Camogie4. Artificial intelligence5. Turtle ladderBonus Tricky AnswerBribie Island