Radio National Breakfast

In Iran, at least 22 prisoners have been hanged in the last six weeks - according to the Center for Human Rights in Iran - including 10 people who were detained during the anti-government protests in January. 

Iran's most famous human rights campaigner - Narges Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 - has been in prison in north-west Iran since February. 

Her family says there's been a sharp deterioration of her health in recent days - and fear she will die if she doesn't receive adequate medical care.

• GUEST: Hamidreza Mohammadi, brother of detained Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi
• PRODUCER: Pip Cook

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 chagrin of several health organisations already giving evidence.

• GUEST: Dr Danielle McMullen, President of the Australian Medical Association

Borrowers are preparing for a possible interest rate rise today, which would be the third this year.

The predicted point 2.5 percentage point rise from the Reserve Bank would be another financial hit for households with inflation now running at a two-and-a-half year high.

Diphtheria cases are extremely rare in Australia.

But over the past month, cases of diphtheria have been rising in the Northern Territory and in regional Western Australia.

Prior to the current outbreak, diphtheria had not been detected in the Kimberley for about half a century.

• GUEST: Professor Michael Kidd, Chief Medical Officer 
• PRODUCER: Katie McAllister

Live fire near the Strait of Hormuz overnight has again demonstrated the fragility of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

Iran launched missile strikes overnight, hitting oil production facilities in the United Arab Emirates as well as an an Emirati tanker. Several civilians were left injured.

The US military says it fired on Iranian forces and sank six small boats targeting civilian ships as it moves to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military also says it has successfully escorted two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait.

• GUEST: Ret. Vice Admiral John W ‘Fozzie’ Miller, former head of US Naval Forces Central Command
• PRODUCER: Eddy Diamond

The US military says it has fired on Iranian forces, sinking six small boats as it tries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military also says it has successfully escorted two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait - a claim strongly denied by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates says it has come under attack from Iran for the first time since the ceasefire - between the US and Iran - took hold last month. 

• GUEST: Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell 

Is this Australia's Cool Runnings moment?

Australia's mixed team curlers Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt have claimed world championship gold in Switzerland.

We hear from Dean fresh off the win. 

Then, the Japanese Prime Minister is in town for annual talks, so why is this a particularly important trip from the new leader?

And we'll return to Alice Springs days after the devastation of the death of a five year-old girl. 

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

Ever since she was a little girl, Bliss Cavanagh lost herself in art.

She was just six years old when symptoms of Tourette syndrome first appeared, a lifelong condition which can result in involuntary movements and vocal tics.

When Bliss started studying at university, she discovered that — like art — purpose-built sensory rooms could also have a calming effect.

It's an experience that set her on a journey to make these rooms more accessible to the general public and create her own inclusive spaces.

Guest: Dr Bliss Cavanagh, founder Creative Sensory Spaces

The United Nations has warned civilians are being subjected to a range of human rights abuses with an internet crackdown continuing across the country.

At least 21 people have been executed since the start of the war, with the United States and Israel two months ago - according to UN human rights chief Volker Turk.

More than 4,000 people have been arrested on national security-related charges.

Rights groups have also warned of detainees facing appalling conditions in Iran's prisons - including torture, sexual abuse and being forced to make confessions.

It comes as the family of imprisoned Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi has raised the alarm over her condition - calling for her to be transferred to adequate medical facilities following a sharp deterioration in her health.

Japan's first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is in Australia for high profile talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

It comes after foreign affairs minister Penny Wong held talks with her Japanese counterparts in Tokyo in a bid to shore up fuel supplies for Australia. 

• GUEST: Melanie Brock, board director, Chair Emeritus of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan and Senior Adviser at Bondi Partners
• PRODUCER: Eleni Psaltis