Radio National Breakfast

The World Health Organisation says person-to-person transmission of the Hantavirus has likely occured on a cruise ship sitting off the Cape Verde coast. 

Three people have already died, one who's confirmed to have contracted the deadly disease. Multiple other people are displaying symptoms. 

So what could happen next?

RBA Governor Michele Bullock says the Reserve Bank remains focused on returning inflation to target, delivering another interest rate rise yesterday. 

The 0.25 percentage point jump is the third rate hike this year, with the cash rate returning to the January peak of 4.35%.

• Guest: Cherelle Murphy, Oceania Chief Economist with EY
• Producer: Jason Whittaker

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth insists the ceasefire with Iran is not over - despite more military exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has fired missiles and drones at military and commercial ships - insisting it maintains control of the Strait, while the US says it's destroyed a number of Iranian military boats.

Mr Hegseth told reporters overnight that the US was "not looking for a fight" - but Iran cannot be allowed to block shipping routes, as the US launched what it's calling a humanitarian effort to protect freedom of navigation and rescue stranded seafarers.

• GUEST: Barbara Leaf, former US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Assistant Secretary of State of Near Eastern Affairs
• PRODUCER: Pip Cook, Eddy Diamond

A spate of arson attacks on licensed hospitality venues in Melbourne in recent weeks has Victoria Police investigating whether illegal alcohol is the motivation behind the attacks.

The National Drug Research Institute recently found 30 per cent of bottle shops in Melbourne and regional Victoria are stocking illicit liquor.

• Guest: Dr Nic Taylor, alcohol policy researcher at National Drug Research Institute
• Producer: Grace Stranger

The Reserve Bank delivered another whack to borrowers yesterday, hiking interest rates another quarter of a percentage point - for the third time this year.

It comes one week before the federal government delivers a high-stakes budget, with inflation running hot and financial distress growing across the country.

• GUEST: Jim Chalmers, Treasurer.
• PRODUCER: Tom Crowley

The US has launched what it's calling a humanitarian mission to protect freight ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Project Freedom - as US President Donald Trump has dubbed it - aims to free some of the 2,000 ships currently stuck in in the Strait, with 20,000 seafarers believed to be stranded on board in dangerous conditions.

• Guests: Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India and Salman, Indian Seafarer
• Producer: Eddy Diamond

The federal government and the Greens are demanding answers after a Liberal-led Senate inquiry allowed tobacco giant Philip Morris to deliver evidence behind closed doors yesterday.

Liberal Senator Leah Blyth chairs the committee looking into illegal tobacco in Australia and granted the closed hearing - to the dismay of several health organisations already giving evidence.

We hear from one of the organisation's who gave its evidence publicly. 

Then, what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz? A former US Naval commander shares their insights. 

And we ask the government about gambling reform. 

Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap.

Trachoma is the world's leading infectious cause of preventable blindness, and in Australia the burden has been felt largely in regional and remote First Nations communities.

But in recent days the World Health Organisation declared Australia has finally eliminated trachoma as a public health problem — a landmark achievement and a huge step in preventing avoidable vision loss.

Guest: Laureate Professor Emeritus Hugh Taylor, founder of the Centre for Eye Research and founder of the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at Melbourne University.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a new agreement with Japan will help secure energy supply lines for Australia.

Mr Albanese met his counterpart - Sanae Takaichi - in Canberra yesterday, signing separate deals on energy, defence, critical minerals and economic cooperation.

Plus, the government has announced its pairing back the tax discount for electric vehicles. 

• GUEST: Dan Tehan, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle 

The federal government is finalising the budget a week away from handing it down. 

The Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says there will be quote "savings and re-prioritisations in every portfolio". 

• GUEST: Anika Wells, Minister for Communications 
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle