Radio National Breakfast

Thousands of families and employees have been left in limbo after one of Australia's largest childcare operators announced it's closing 40 centres across the country. 

G8 Education says it's grappling with numerous challenges - from cost pressures to falling birth rates and "serious child safety incidents" that have led to a collapse in occupancy.

The sector has been embroiled in scandal over the last year following reports of abuse, predatory employees and other serious safety risks, which has led to scores of centres closing their doors.

• GUEST: Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, CEO The Front Project
• PRODUCER: Brooke Young

Consumer prices increased at an annual pace of 4.6% up from 3.7% in February. 

The Shadow Treasurer acknowledged the impact of the Iran war on prices, but says, "it's because we've already had a raging inflation fire running."

• GUEST: Tim Wilson, Shadow Treasurer 
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle 

Australians got numerical proof yesterday of the cost pressures they're feeling across the economy.

Headline inflation accelerated dramatically in March, with consumer prices increasing at an annual pace of 4.6% - up from 3.7% in February.

Transport costs were the biggest driver, with petrol prices jumping more than 30% in March.

But trimmed mean inflation - which is the Reserve Bank's preferred measure - remained steady at 3.3% ahead of an interest rates decision next Tuesday.

• Guest: Sally Auld, NAB Chief Economist

The Minns government is opening new areas of New South Wales for gas exploration for the first time in more than a decade.

The government says it's necessary to ensure reliable power in the coming decades, but it's faced opposition from farmers and environmentalists.

• GUEST: Courtney Houssos, NSW Minister for Finance and Natural Resources
• PRODUCER: Brooke Young

Israeli troops and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire this week, further jeopardising the fragile ceasefire which took effect earlier this month.

Lebanon's Health Ministry says at least 2,500 people have been killed and almost 8,000 wounded in the country since the start of the conflict.

As peace talks between the US and Iran hit a stalemate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hezbollah still poses a threat and promises further strikes.

• GUEST: Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister from 2006 to 2009 
• PRODUCER: Pip Cook

It might sound like a good problem to have - a glut of wine sloshing around local barrels.

But a decline in export markets and changes in consumer behaviour have left some grape growers ripping up their vines and exiting the industry altogether. 

In the latest development - one of Australia's largest wineries - Winemasters SA -  has appointed administrators following a failed sales bid.

• GUEST: Lee McLean, CEO of Australian Grape & Wine
• PRODUCER: Grace Stranger

Betting on everything and anything has seen a surge in unregulated online prediction markets, like Polymarket.  In the latest development, a U.S. special forces soldier pleaded not guilty to charges that he used classified information about the mission to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to win more than $400,000 on Polymarket.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke made the plea in a New York federal court yesterday.

So how is polymarket being used to observe and predict military strikes?  

• GUEST: Bobby Allyn, NPR tech correspondent 
• PRODUCER: Eddy Diamond 

Overnight, King Charles followed in his mother's foot steps - telling the joint session of Congress that the bond between the US and UK is irreplaceable and unbreakable.

We'll unpack the historic address and look at how the royal visit is going. 

Then, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled the government's long-awaited proposal to make tech giants pay for Australian journalism. 

And with the Foreign Minister in China, calls are growing for renewed attention on the ethnic minority Uyghur population.

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

When Jayden Sheridan was 17, he received a life-changing call from his girlfriend: "shape up or ship out".

Jayden was about to become a dad — but spent much of his youth selling and using drugs and drinking.

So he made a choice: he pledged to become the role model he never had.

Gnarly Neighbours — the group he founded — offers free skateboard lessons and workshops in his regional Victorian town, fostering community and connection.

Guest: Jayden Sheridan, founder of Gnarly Neighbours

Foreign Minister Penny Wong lands in China today continuing the government's mission to stabilise diplomatic relations with the securing of fuel supply expected to be high on the agenda.

Yalkun Uluyol hopes the plight of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang in China's far-western province might also be on the agenda.

His father is among hundreds of thousands of Uyghur people who have faced imprisonment, torture and forced labour with the United Nations previously accusing China of "serious human rights violations".