Radio National Breakfast

Sweden is considered a global leader in decarbonisation — with the country aiming to achieve a a net-zero emissions target within two decades.

This week a member of the Swedish Government attended the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney. So why is Sweden looking to become more involved in the resources sector?

• GUEST: Diana Janse, Swedish State Secretary for International Trade
• PRODUCERS: Oscar Coleman and Brooke Young

Rare earth minerals have been at the centre of politics this week, with the US and Australia signing a critical minerals framework accounting for billions of dollars worth of investment.

And a key part of that agreement is the development of a gallium refinery in Western Australia.

But what are gallium and antimony? And why are they in demand?

• Guest: Dr Chris Vernon, Critical Minerals Lead at CSIRO
• Producer: Rob Kelly

More than one in 10 houses in Australia are in flood risk zones, tanking market values as the impacts of climate change worsen.

A new report out today by the Climate Council and property insights firm PropTrack puts a dollar figure on it for the first time at $42 billion dollars. 

• Guest: Nicki Hutley, independent economist with the Climate Council 
• Producer: Eddy Diamond

Regional Express (Rex) may live to fly another day, with US-based air services company Air T stepping in to buy the embattled airline.

The airline was placed into voluntary administration more than a year ago, with tens of millions of dollars owed to creditors.

• Guest: Ayesha de Kretser, aviation and tourism reporter, Australian Financial Review
• Producer: Jason Whittaker

US Vice President JD Vance says he believes the ceasefire in Gaza is going better than expected, and is confident it will hold.

Speaking in Israel, he's called for patience with Hamas, as it works to deliver the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, saying the locations of some of the bodies are unknown.

• Guest: Lahav Harkov, Senior Political Correspondent at Jewish Insider
• Producer: Teodora Agarici

The NSW government will pay $190 million to buy the Northern Beaches Hospital and move it into the public system.

Quality of care at the embattled public-private facility was brought into sharp focus following the death of two-year-old Joe Massa in 2024. And in March, the government introduced Joe's Law — a legal commitment to prevent public-private partnerships at acute care hospitals.

• Guest: Ryan Park, NSW Health Minister
• Producer: Grace Stranger

Giving birth and breastfeeding could do more than nurture a family — they may protect against breast cancer.

That's according to new Australian medical research published this week which points to a reduction in a woman's long-term risk of developing the disease by reshaping their immune system.

• GUEST: Professor Sherene Loi, Medical Oncologist and clinician scientist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• PRODUCER: Brooke Young

Warning: This story involves child sexual abuse and suicide.

Almost one in five boys in Australia experience child sexual abuse and at least one in sixteen men will experience sexual violence after the age of 15.

And while we've seen a welcome shift in the way we discuss sexual abuse in the wake of the #MeToo movement, men remain less likely to disclose sexual abuse and assaults than women.

Craig Hughes-Cashmore often thought about taking his own life after he was sexually abused as a child, but after meeting other male survivors of sexual abuse he decided to act.

Using the money he'd been given as victim's compensation, he set out to start a new group to support survivors, believing that with help, they can heal and recover, thrive and be leaders for change. 

Guest: Craig Hughes-Cashmore, co-founder and CEO of the Survivors and Mates Support Network

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed a deal with US President Donald Trump that will see a multi-billion dollar joint investment in Australian critical minerals refinement.

It comes as China has put a chokehold on supplies of rare earths in its escalating trade war with the US.  

• Guest: Warren Pearce, CEO of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies 
• Producer: Isadora Bogle 

The bonds between the United States and Australia appear tighter than ever following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

On the face of it, the prime minister ticked off his Washington to-do list: inking a landmark critical minerals deal, securing the US president's emphatic support for the AUKUS defence pact, and earning glowing praise from Mr Trump who called Mr Albanese a "great prime minister".

• Guest: Charles Edel is a former policy adviser to US secretary of state John Kerry. Senior Adviser and the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
• Producers: Jason Whittaker and Grace Stranger