The Morning Edition

US President Donald Trump's act of war on Iran at the weekend seemed inevitable but nevertheless shocking. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and civilians died when joint American and Israeli strikes rained down on the country, beginning on Saturday. Trump says it’s time for the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow their government. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses who is likely to rule Iran and if this will lead to a wider war.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we had some not-so-great inflation figures and also reports that there'll be another interest rate rise right before the government hands down its federal budget in May. Newly-minted shadow treasurer Tim Wilson, aka the "energiser bunny", accused Treasurer Jim Chalmers of pouring fuel on the economic flames, but what is the government saying about the situation? Also in this episode, we discuss the extraordinary situation where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to be evacuated from The Lodge in Canberra. Joining host Jacqueline Maley is chief economics correspondent Shane Wright and chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pentagon once said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could succeed in three days. So, as the war rages on, more than four years later, what else have world leaders got wrong? For one thing, what a nation’s most important source of power is. Today international and political editor Peter Hartcher on the underestimated power that Ukraine holds, and what it would take for us to acquire it.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamal Rifi is the Sydney doctor at the centre of a controversial mission to repatriate the so-called ISIS brides – 34 Australian women and children who are living in a camp in Syria. He also wants to bring back a young man who was taken to Syria as a boy who is now in an adult men’s prison.  The women travelled to Syria and were married to jihadists, who are now dead or in jail. When Islamic State's so-called caliphate fell, they were put in detention camps. For seven years they have lived in no man’s land, trying to return home to Australia.  Dr Rifi, a medical doctor and friend of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, speaks to senior writer Michael Bachelard for this special episode of The Morning Edition.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riley Walter, a crime reporter for The Age and SMH, walks through a shocking Sydney kidnapping and its fallout. He recounts the early-morning abduction, how investigators discovered it was a case of mistaken identity, and the links to organised crime. He also covers forensic leads, disturbing images that escalated the search, and the discovery of remains near Pitt Town.

David Crowe, Europe correspondent who reports on UK affairs, gives on-the-ground analysis of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest and its shock to the public. He walks through why the arrest felt historic. He outlines the investigation focus, how emails factor, police searches and legal hurdles for charges. He also discusses consequences for the monarchy and what files might still surface.

Angus Dalton, a science reporter who investigates IVF and genetic testing, explores embryo selection and polygenic risk scores. He explains how companies rank embryos for many traits and the gaps in US regulation. He also discusses cost, racial bias in genomic data, societal pressures, and the tension between reducing disease and fears of eugenics.

Paul Sakkal, Canberra political correspondent, and Michael Bachelard, Walkley-winning conflict reporter, unpack Australians trying to return from Syrian camps. They map who these women and children are. They discuss passports, legal rights, temporary exclusion orders, political shifts after the Bondi attacks, hardline migration leaks and the risk of mainstreaming extremist rhetoric.

Tony Wright, associate editor at The Age and 50-year political sketch veteran, riffs on Jane Hume’s claim that Labor is the nation’s worst government. He compares recent Coalition leaders, revisits McMahon and Whitlam’s chaotic years, recalls Billy Hughes’ party hopping and Scullin’s Depression-era woes. A witty tour of notorious political moments that asks: who really deserves the crown?

Peter Hartcher, international and political editor who analyzes global strategic risks. He discusses why rising nuclear tensions and erosion of US guarantees are forcing Australia to rethink its options. He explains the effects of treaty lapses, worries about renewed testing, and whether a new arms race led by China is already underway. He also covers when regional proliferation might prompt Australia to act.