The Front

Straight-talking new defence boss Mark Hammond got his start scrubbing decks as a junior sailor in the Royal Australian Navy - and now faces the huge challenge ahead: getting Australia’s military ready for the new age of asymmetrical warfare focused on drones. Foreign Affairs and Defence Correspondent Ben Packham is here. Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video b...

Qantas is slashing flights and lifting prices, and will suspend several regional routes - in its response to the fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran. Plus, Iran’s nuclear offer, and Harry and Meghan arrive in Melbourne.  Read more:  Qantas braces for $500m profit hit as soaring fuel prices force flight cuts Iran offered five-year nuclear pause, US wanted 20: report Harry and M...

He runs 19.67 in the 200m and is two years ahead of schedule for Olympic glory - and Queensland sprint star Gout Gout, who’s only just finished high school, is honing his skill for bouncing back from knocks. Sportswriter Will Swanton is here to discuss why this teenage hope-of-the-nation is loving the pressure.  Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by sub...

Anthony Albanese announced Vice Admiral Mark Hammond as Chief of the Defence Force, and Hammond said the Navy is ready and able to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz if requested by the United States. Read more:  Anthony Albanese appoints Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, as new defence chief Warships await strait’s battle of the blockades Trump blasts Pope, NATO, says Iran...

Busted-up radio duo Kyle and Jackie O will appear in court on the same day, Steve Jackson reveals today. Plus, how Seven’s Liam Bartlett successfully got cranky Energy Minister Chris Bowen dancing to his tune. Jacko is with us for all the latest Media Diary news.  Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel . Jackie O...

It’s the show Hedley Thomas and wife Ruth Mathewson can agree on: Apple TV’s Tehran - the spy thriller with a big human heart. The action is relentless, the protagonist gorgeous, and the storylines are eerily reflective of events playing out in the Middle East conflict.  Find out more about The Front podcast here . You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website...

Israel will negotiate directly with Lebanon about disarming the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, with representatives to meet in Washington for talks next week. Plus, a key deadline in the Gaza peace deal looms. Read more:  Trump warns Iran against tolls in Strait of Hormuz; Israel to start talks with Lebanon Hamas refuses to hand over weapons as deadline looms See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Absurd, ridiculous, insane, offensive, fantastical - and that’s just Donald Trump’s words . As for his actions, our Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan reckons Trump has miscalculated, alienated his allies, strengthened Iran’s evil regime - and is now starting to look like a pirate himself.  Read Greg Sheridan’s commentary at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscrib...

An application by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann for special leave to appeal the outcome of his defamation action against Network Ten has been thrown out by the High Court. Plus, a fledgeling ceasefire deal between the US and Iran is on shaky ground.  Read more:  Bruce Lehrmann suffers crushing court blow as High Court knocks back appeal on Brittany Higgins defamation findings Ira...

A nasty surprise for digital disruptors as the AI revolution sideswipes companies like Canva, which themselves helped transform the economy and wipe out whole categories of work. So - is Canva actually making money? And can it survive the giant shift in tech?  Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel . Canva’s $1 bi...

The Strait of Hormuz will reopen for two weeks as Iran agreed to a ceasefire deal on Wednesday – but the regime warned it’s a temporary pause in hostilities, not a permanent end to the war. Plus, Gina Rinehart lashes Ben Roberts-Smith arrest and Commonwealth lawyers seek more time on Naveed Akram brief of evidence. Read more:  Ceasefire doesn’t cover Lebanon, says Netanyahu;...

Australians know him as the affable mining billionaire Twiggy - but is Andrew Forrest living a double life as a top-level diplomatic powerbroker? Our North Asia correspondent, Yoni Bashan, spent a while at the court of King Twiggy and joins us to discuss this charming, confounding character. Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube ch...

A Victoria Cross recipient who has always denied being a war criminal has been arrested over five alleged war crimes murders, including two he’s accused of committing himself. Today - the case against Ben Roberts-Smith, and how he will defend himself.  Read more:  Roberts-Smith faces life in prison if convicted   War crimes prosecutors will face challenges convicting Ben Rober...

Only now is it becoming clear how Iran has survived the combined might of the US and Israeli military for over a month: cast underground tunnel systems, packed with fuel, drones and missiles. Our reporter Shokoofeh Azar is here.  Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel . Revealed: Iran’s secret missile ‘megac...

The war in Iran has yielded its most dramatic survival story yet, with the United States pulling off a high-stakes rescue mission for a fighter jet crew member who was shot down by Iranian forces.  Read more: US aviator has been rescued How elite US forces survive behind enemy lines Trump’s foul-mouthed threat to Iran See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents are busy hiding them, kids want all of them. But for author Charlotte Ree, she’s freezing them. It’s Easter and we’re talking about eggs - and how these little ovoid shapes can take on a whole different meaning to single women in their 30s.  Find out more about The Front podcast here . You can read about this story and more on The Australian's website or on The Austr...

The UN Security Council will this weekend vote on a bid by Bahrain to use “defensive” force in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, part of Blake Lively’s claim against Justin Baldoni is dismissed and property prices wane.  Read more:  UN Security Council to vote on authorising force in Hormuz Iran drafts plan with Oman to charge ships for Strait of Hormuz passage Bowen delivers...

Donald Trump has declared the war with Iran a, quote, “decisive, overwhelming victory”, and says America’s objectives in the Middle East are nearing their conclusion. Read more:  Donald Trump says US objectives in Iran ‘nearing completion’ in address to Americans Premiers strike deal to turn GST windfall into petrol cut Alleged Bondi shooter Naveed Akram’s...

The promise of ultra-productive workplaces fuelled by AI giants and big data centres is very tempting for government - but in return, AI companies want a copyright law change to allow them to hoover up art, music, Indigenous heritage, architecture and pretty much everything else for free.  Read more about this story at theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube chann...

Two weeks, and the US is out of the Iran war: that’s Donald Trump’s blunt message. So why are there 50,000 US military personnel in the Middle East? Plus, sources say slain fugitive Dezi Freeman was shot more than 20 times in a dramatic shootout with police. Read more:  UAE willing to join the war; Albanese to address the nation on Iran crisis Is Trump planning a ground invasion o...

New research shows e-cigarettes likely cause lung and oral cancers, and scientists are urging vapers to quit now instead of waiting for disease to develop. What does it mean for Big Tobacco and the new generation of vapers? Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel . Human biomarkers already showing vapes likely cause cancer, s...

She’s supposed to be a star witness for broadcaster ARN in its dispute with fallen star Kyle Sandilands - but now Jackie ‘O’ Henderson is taking Fair Work action against the company, seeking $82 million.  Read more:  Jackie ‘O’ sues ARN for $82m Trump tells aides he's willing to end war without reopening Hormuz Make-up empire Mecca fined nearly $600,000 for...

A $2.6 billion taxpayer-funded fuel crisis ‘solution’ sees Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese flick the switch to spending - but does anyone believe the Government can stop the panic? And why aren’t we rationing fuel?  Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by subscribing to our YouTube channel . Deeper reading: Calls to avoid ‘nanny...

A cop-killer shot dead while brandishing a dead officer’s gun: the dramatic end to ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman’s violent life.  Read more right now at  theaustralian.com.au :  ‘Coward’ Dezi Freeman shot dead by police Inside the hunt for a man on the run From the archive: Why our journo always believed Freeman was alive See omnystudio.com/lis...

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson will be called as a witness to claim that Kyle Sandilands subjected her to a prolonged campaign of bullying and harassment - an allegation Sandilands will strongly deny. Steve Jackson’s here with the scoop - plus networks Seven and Nine fight legal claims by their own staff.  Read more about this story at  theaustralian.com.au and see the video by s...