
Hosted by ABC Australia · EN

Peace talks in Qatar had barely begun when the US initiated a new wave of strikes against Iran. The US says targeting Iranian boats and missile sites was an act of self-defence, but what will it mean for a deal to end the war? Today, Hussein Ibish from the Arab Gulf States Institute explains what the US President actually needs to finally walk away from a conflict he no longer wants.Featured:Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute

Memes featuring an AI-generated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claim he’s effectively taking a 47 per cent stake in businesses. But what’s the reality of the government’s budget tax changes? Today, we speak with a small business owner who’s concerned about the economic realities of doing business in Australia. We also speak with an economist about the implications of the changes for how Australians build wealth. Featured: Sarcha Thurston, Owner of Yogahub Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics at Adelaide University

The cost of fuel across Australia has come off its highs, despite there being no resolution yet to the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But don’t get comfortable because the real pain from the global oil crunch hasn’t really hit us yet. Today, Saul Kavonic, energy expert at MST financial, on how we’ve weathered the storm so far and what could happen in the months ahead. Featured: Saul Kavonic, energy analyst, MST Financial

It’s almost three months since Donald Trump began the Iran war, but is there any chance that America can achieve anything that looks like victory? As the US president considers whether to launch new strikes or pursue a compromise deal, what would Iran actually agree to? Today, Robert Malley, a lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on why a new deal might look just like Barack Obama’s and how the quagmire can be compared to the Vietnam war. Featured: Robert Malley, Special Envoy for Iran in the Biden administration and now a lecturer and Senior Fellow at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs

There are questions about the future of Taiwan after Donald Trump declared he’s “not looking to have somebody go independent”.The US president met China’s leader in Beijing and says Xi Jinping asked him whether the US would defend Taiwan. What do Trump’s comments mean for US-China relations and how likely is a Chinese invasion of the self-governed island?Today, Samir Puri, visiting lecturer in war studies at King’s College London on President Xi Jinping’s warning to Trump and whether the Chinese are ready for war. Featured: Samir Puri, visiting lecturer in war studies at King’s College London

Labor wants its budget to be seen as a concrete step towards levelling the playing field between the generations. But Newspoll suggests it’s the most unpopular federal budget in more than 30 years. Across the polls, Labor’s support is steady or declining, while One Nation rises above the Coalition. Will bolder economic policies from Labor and the Coalition stop the collapse of Australia’s two-party system and the rise of minor parties and independents?Today, Michelle Grattan, political correspondent at The Conversation and professorial fellow at the University of Canberra on the reaction to the budget. Featured: Michelle Grattan, political correspondent at The Conversation and professorial fellow at the University of Canberra

With so many tech bosses accompanying Donald Trump on his recent trip to China, expectations were high that AI and high tech business deals would be central to the talks. But in the end, there was no breakthrough on selling US firm Nvidia’s high tech AI chips to China.So where does that leave the race for AI dominance and how are China and the US approaching AI differently?Today, China tech expert Selina Xu on who’s ahead right now and what happens next.Featured: Selina Xu, China tech researcher, writer and analyst

If you’ve got a family trust, you’re probably doing pretty well.They’ve been used for generations to distribute wealth and reduce tax bills. Now the government’s moving to make sure the tax office receives more from the earnings, imposing a minimum 30 percent tax on discretionary trusts. Today, Kristen Sobeck a tax expert at the University of Canberra on the new tax on trusts. Featured: Kristen Sobeck, economics lecturer at the University of Canberra

Marco Rubio is hitting his stride, he’s Trump’s National Security Advisor and his Secretary of State, he’s taken over the White House press briefing, sat down with the Pope and is now in China for Trump’s showdown with President Xi.No wonder speculation is growing that he could be the next Republican presidential nominee, instead of Vice President JD Vance.Today, Geoff Kabaservice from the Niskanen Center think tank on the new political battle in the US.Featured: Geoff Kabaservice, Niskanen Center Vice President for Political Studies

It’s been an ordeal for those who embarked on a cruise across in early April and it’s not over yet. The ship's passengers are being repatriated across the world after potential exposure to hantavirus, which caused the death of three passengers. Among those heading home are four Australians who will soon be placed in a quarantine facility in Western Australia. What is the virus, how does it spread and should we be worried about it? Today epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre from UNSW on everything you need to know about hantavirus. Featured: Raina MacIntyre, epidemiologist and Professor of Global Biosecurity at the University of New South Wales