The Prime Minister says next week's federal budget will include a 10-billion dollar fuel security and resilience package.

The Federal Police Commissioner says some Australians with connections to members of the Islamic State group will be arrested when they return to Australia.

US President Donald Trump says great progress has been made toward a "final agreement" with Iran to end the war.

It's been revealed a group of Australian women and children with ties to former Islamic State fighters have made plans to travel to Australia from Syria.

The Treasurer says the details of a new fuel security plan will be unveiled later today following National Cabinet.

Donald Trump says he's paused his military's effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to finalise a deal with Iran.

A group of Australian women and children with ties to former Islamic State fighters have made plans to travel to Australia from Syria.

The Treasurer says the details of a new fuel security plan will be unveiled later today following National Cabinet.

Donald Trump says America's effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz is paused while they try to reach a peace deal with Iran.

The federal government has halted plans for the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail, amid concerns the project could cost more than $45 billion to complete. 

 The federal government will unveil a new "fuel security package" today ahead of the federal budget.

The Infrastructure Minister says money slated for the inland rail project will be re-prioritised into the existing network.

The US President has announced on Truth Social that 'Project Freedom' aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz will be paused for a short period of time, to see whether a 'Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran' can be finalised and signed.

America's top diplomat Marco Rubio says the the objectives of "Operation Epic Fury" have concluded and the offensive stage of the war with Iran is over.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is promising next week's federal budget will take inflation seriously.The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will continue probing how anti-Jewish hate has escalated in recent years when it resumes hearings today.

For the second day in a row, the United Arab Emirates says it has intercepted Iranian drones and missiles fired into its territory.

The attacks – which Iran denies - are the first strikes on countries in the gulf since the ceasefire began on April 8.

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing Iran of committing "economic arson" in the Strait of Hormuz, and insist's the US operation to escort stranded ships there is purely defensive.

The Federal Government has shelved plans for Australia's largest freight rail infrastructure project, ahead of this month's budget.

The 1600 kilometre-long Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail promised to deliver faster, more resilient freight, resulting in safer roads and less emissions.

But an independent assessment estimated the cost of completing it would exceed $45 billion and the federal government says funding for the project will end at Parkes in New South Wales.

The Federal government will spend $74 million over two years to set up a Counter Terrorism Online Centre to combat rising youth radicalisation.

The Counter Terrorism Online Centre will be led by the AFP and ASIO, to identify online risks, including on gaming platforms and in private chat groups.The funding comes after the Royal Commission into Antisemitism's interim report noted a significant decline in counter terrorism funding in the five years prior to the Bondi terror attack.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

Some economists say it's unlikely Australia will head into a recession in the near future.

That's as the Reserve Bank raises the cash rate to 4.35%, returning to the level of February 2025, before the RBA began its rate-cutting cycle last year.

It comes a week before the Albanese government delivers its federal budget on May 12.

Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, Diana Mousina says Australia is in a good position despite its current challenges.

Iran's military command says it has not ‌carried out attacks against the United Arab Emirates in ‌recent ⁠days, but warns of ‌a "crushing response" if ‌any action is carried out by the Gulf country against it.

The UAE has been subject ⁠to a ‌second day of ‌what it says are missile and drone attacks ‌from Iran, ⁠after four weeks of relative calm since the US announced ⁠a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the United States says countries around the world, including Australia, will soon be expected to assist in opening the Strait of Hormuz.

WA author, Craig Silvey, has pleaded guilty to one count of possessing and one count of distributing child exploitation material

The celebrated author received the charges in January, and was later charged with producing child exploitation material and a further count of possession - two charges that have now been discontinued.

Silvey appeared in the Fremantle Magistrates Court where his bail was continued, and he's scheduled to appear in the District Court in July.

The World Health Organisation says it suspects human-to-human transmission between a Dutch couple who died from the rare hantavirus after falling ill on a luxury cruise.

Hantavirus is usually spread from rats via their faeces, saliva or urine but is rarely transmitted from human to human.

The WHO suspects the couple were most likely infected before boarding the ship, which is currently sitting off Cape Verde Islands west of Africa with around 150 people stuck onboard, including four Australians.  

A German national has also died and another four people have since fallen ill.

Romania's pro-European coalition has collapsed, after a successful no confidence vote toppled the sitting prime minister Ilie Bolojan.

The PM's recent austerity measures to tackle debt has angered the ruling coalition's largest party who joined far-right MPs to pass a no confidence motion in the Mr Bolojan.

He'll have to act as the interim PM before standing down once parliament approves a new government.

Press the 'Follow' or '+' button on this show page to add us to your playlist, so you never miss an episode.

For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

The federal government will spend $74 million over the next two years to set up a national Counter Terrorism Online Centre... in an effort to curb youth radicalisation.

Necessary pain - that's how the Reserve Bank governor describes the latest interest rate rise.