Radio National Breakfast

Today, the latest agreement shackling the nuclear arsenals of Russia and the US is set to expire.

The New START Treaty, signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev capped how many nuclear weapons each side could deploy.

But with no replacement deal in place, those restrictions are disappearing opening the door for both Washington and Moscow to rapidly build up their nuclear forces.

• Guest: Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association
• Producer: Tyler Hall

The launch of a new AI tool has sparked a dramatic sell-off in tech stocks around the world this week.

Claude Cowork Plugins, was developed by AI startup Anthropic and allows users to customise tasks involving legal, sales and data analysis. This is work that's traditionally done via specialised software or professional services.

So what message does this send to tech companies?   

• Guest: Mike Isaac, New York Times technology reporter
• Producer: Tyler Hall

The list of the world's rich and powerful who had alleged links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is growing... as journalists continue to sift through millions of unclassified documents released by the U-S government last week.

In the latest development, Melinda French Gates says her ex-husband, billionaire Bill Gates, needs to answer for his alleged behaviour outlined in the Epstein files. 

• Guest: Andy Sullivan, Washington correspondent for Reuters
• Producer: Pip Cook

With interest rates up once again, there are calls from the opposition and business for the government to lower spending, while experts say that's not the true culprit for rising inflation. 

Today the Breakfast Wrap hears from a former policy advisor to the Prime Minister's office, as well as both sides of the political fence. 

Then, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has extended controversial restrictions on public assembly for another fortnight quoting "significant risk to community safety". That period takes in a four-day visit from Israeli President Isaac Herzog who arrives on Sunday. 

The NSW Opposition shares its perspective. 

When crisis hits, you need all the help you can get.

But what if you don't know how to ask for help...or others around you want to help, but don't know where to start?

Psychologist Susan Palmer saw many of her patients suffer through this challenge...whether it be cancer, a sudden illness or the loss of a loved one.

• Guest: Susan Palmer, founder of Gather My Crew

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon extended controversial restrictions on public assembly for another fortnight quoting "significant risk to community safety".

That period takes in a four-day visit from Israeli President Isaac Herzog who arrives on Sunday.

• Guest: Damien Tudehope, NSW Shadow Attorney-General
• Producer: Jason Whittaker

Editor's note: A UN Commission of Inquiry has found Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Allegations of genocide against Israel are currently before the International Court of Justice.

The Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate to three-point-eight-five per cent, in its first rate rise in more than two years. The government has argued that private spending is the driver of higher inflation.

The Shadow Treasurer joins the program to respond to those comments.

• GUEST: Ted O'Brien, Shadow Treasurer
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

The Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate to 3.85%, in its first rate rise in more than two years.  

It's also forecasting underlying inflation to peak at 3.7% in the middle of this year.

Key business have called for more disciplined government spending to help reign in inflation. 

• GUEST: Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

As the Paris office for social media platform X is raided, and the UK opens a fresh investigation into its AI software Grok, owner Elon Musk is moving to fuse X with another of his big companies. 

Luke Siddham Dundon and Carrington Clarke explain what is going on at X.

The Reserve Bank's decision to raise the official cash rate, the first since November 2023, is set to put more pressure on households with mortgages.

While the decision likely means borrowers will tighten their purse strings, attention has turned to the effect of government spending, ahead of the Albanese Government's fifth budget. 

• Guest: Dr Pradeep Philip, Head of Deloitte Access Economics and former director of policy for the Prime Minister's Office
• Producer: Grace Stranger