Australia's home for the best coverage of the biggest breaking news events with specialised analysis of politics, business and sport and agenda-setting interviews with some of the world's leading experts, and change makers.

Did you know the Pope once signed an agreement with Beijing to appoint Bishops in China?

On the Breakfast Wrap we dive into some of the stories you may not know about the Pope, as the world marks the death of the 266th Pontiff. 

Nine days of mourning have begun for Pope Francis after he died of a stroke and heart failure, according to the Vatican.

Just over the weekend, the pontiff wished worshippers a Happy Easter before being driven around the Vatican's St. Peter's Square in his pope-mobile. Catholic cardinals from around the world will now start to make their preparations to travel to the Vatican, and elect a new Pope.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis' death has landed right in the middle of the Australian election campaign - so how will it affect the remaining few weeks of the race?

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

Australia's home for the best coverage of the biggest breaking news events with specialised analysis of politics, business and sport and agenda-setting interviews with some of the world's leading experts, and change makers.

The Coalition is today unveiling a package of tough-on-crime promises and funding commitments, including more resources for federal police and a trial of a National Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

The measures are all grouped under what the Coalition has dubbed "Operation Safer Communities" — subtitled as a "crackdown on crime from the border to the backyard."

Also, a deputy commander in the Israeli military has been fired after an investigation into the deaths of 15 aid workers killed by the IDF last month.

The report into the incident was released by Israel on Sunday and listed "several professional failures, breaches of orders, and a failure to fully report the incident".

And from Donald Trump's America, to Xi's China, to Russian and Indonesian security cooperation, the election campaign has seen foreign affairs and matters of defence feature prominently. Where are these geopolitical issues driving Australia and how are our leaders responding to them on the campaign trail?

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

Australia's home for the best coverage of the biggest breaking news events with specialised analysis of politics, business and sport and agenda-setting interviews with some of the world's leading experts, and change makers.

The ABC's Religion & Ethics team presents a special RN Breakfast for Good Friday.

The Federal election campaign has clocked past the half way mark and the leaders have now met each other in the debating ring - for the second time - to make their pitches to Australians.

It comes on the back drop of Indonesia assuring Australia any Russian request to station long range aircraft in Papua province was not entertained. 

New analysis conducted by Reuters has revealed politicians from both of Australia's main political parties received almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of free tickets to major Australian sporting matches all while parliament was mulling over a proposed ban on gambling advertising.

According to the report the tickets were handed out over nearly two years by the country's most popular sporting leagues.

The major sporting codes have been lobbying against a ban on gambling advertising - which was a key recommendation of a 2023 parliamentary inquiry into the harms of online gambling and which the government is yet to respond to.

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

The federal election campaign has been rocked by an unverified report of a Russian request to station military aircraft in Indonesia, that left the federal government scrambling to confirm its authenticity and accuracy.The government says it had been assured by Indonesia that the report isn't true, and a request was not made.'

But still, the opposition has gone on the offensive.

And ahead of the second leaders debate, Mel Clarke and Peter Martin break down everything you need to know before the spectacle on the ABC. 

And the federal election campaign has passed the halfway mark, and still the possibility of a minority government hasn't been ruled out.

This prospect has put into sharp focus the independent candidates running in this election. 

Caz Heise is among key independents backed by political fundraising group, Climate 200, and is vying for the most marginal Nationals seat in Australia - hear from her on the Breakfast Wrap.

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

Australia's home for the best coverage of the biggest breaking news events with specialised analysis of politics, business and sport and agenda-setting interviews with some of the world's leading experts, and change makers.

Mark Zuckerberg has taken the stand on the first day of this historic antitrust trial.

He's trying to defend his company against allegations it illegally monopolised the social media market.

The body taking him to court is the Federal Trade Commission - and its former Chair spoke to Radio National Breakfast.

Meanwhile, economists have criticised new housing policies from both the government and the opposition, warning they risk pushing already unaffordable house prices even higher.

The Coalition's plan would allow first home buyers to deduct the interest on mortgage payments from taxable income, for five years.

And while the Greens have dismissed the government's latest announcements as quote, "tinkering around the edges" — will the party stand in the way of passing them?

Lastly, as Australia heads into week three of the election campaign, advocates for people with disabilities say their community has been largely left behind by the major parties.

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