ABC radio news and current affairs afternoon program reporting on Australia and the world.

Headline inflation has jumped again, although the new figures aren't as bad as economists had expected.

The Reserve Bank has delivered its fourth interest rate rise this year, taking the cash rate to a 15-year high.

The Treasurer, is spruiking new data, which shows the latest federal budget came in 6 Billion dollars better than expected, but tomorrow the Reserve Bank is expected to hike up interest rates.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has used a 20-minute address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to advocate for Australia to secure another term on the Security Council - arguing middle powers had a vital role to play in a changing world order.

The Federal Government has launched a taskforce to investigate how a rogue AI agent hacked into a Medicare data website.

It's been almost a year since four year old, Gus Lamont disappeared from the family's homestead in far-north South Australia and to mark the anniversary his parents have spoken publicly for the first time. Â

Western Australia will introduce the nation's strictest ban on smart glasses in public schools, the state's education minister has announced.

A senate inquiry has recommended that control of triple zero calls be removed from Telstra and handed to a government authority.

An appearance by officials from the Reserve Bank of Australia at a parliamentary committee has left observers even more convinced that more interest rate rises are on the way.

Labor is tightening visa rules for international students and backpackers, while increasing efforts to remove overstayers as it seeks greater control over migration.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia say they've intercepted a drone fired by Houthi rebels at Mecca. It's the latest sign of escalating tensions in a conflict which is threatening the transport of oil through the key Bab el- Mandeb strait.Â

China says calls for an AI slowdown from industry leaders are a "Cold War" tactic, aimed at curbing its progress in the sector.

Up to 600 jobs will be lost after South Australia's, Whyalla steelworks plant announced its shutting down its blast furnace.

Australians are marking the 25th anniversary of the shocking terror attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

The US President, Donald Trump has promised to give every American adult US $5000 if the Republicans win the mid-term elections in November.

The father of two Australian men killed in Mexico has told a court he does not hold animosity for their killers.

The federal government has released draft laws that would change Australians' social media feeds and allow people to decide if they want an algorithm to determine what they see.

One Nation's plan to give Australians early access to their superannuation to help with the cost of living is being criticised by the super industry, the government and some economists.

Two men have been rescued from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal, nine days after devastating floods hit the country.

Health groups have slammed the Coalition's plan to slash the tobacco tax by 80 per cent as a strategy to tackle the illicit tobacco market.

In Nepal and Tibet, the search for flood survivors continues with nearly 4,000 people still missing.

An Australian missing in the Himalayan flood disaster has been found safe in Tibet as more than one thousand people are confirmed to have died in the flash flood.

More than two-thousand-four-hundred people remain missing after last-week's flash floods in Nepal and Tibet including over 40 Australians.

PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia.

34 Australians are among more than one thousand people missing after devastating flash floods swept through central Nepal.

The federal government's proposed rules for AI data centre power use have been debated at a meeting of National Cabinet today.

The Australian Energy Market Operator is warning that data centres will put huge pressure on the national electricity grid over the next decade.

The Prime Minister has again promised not to change Western Australia's GST deal while he is running the country.Â

The captain of the Sydney Swans women's team is urging fans to stand by the club as it deals with the hotel scandal that has seen five male players suspended for the rest of the season.

The Australian government is furious with the decision of the Israeli military not to prosecute soldiers for the death of Australian aid worker, Zomi Frankcom.

The case of the convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson was back in court in Victoria today, as her lawyers seek to overturn her convictions.

Two Coalition MP's have crossed the floor of the parliament to vote against the federal government's gambling reforms. Â Â

The CEO of the Sydney Swans, Matthew Pavlich says the AFL club is "shocked and disappointed" by an alleged incident involving several players in Melbourne overnight.

An interim report from the Productivity Commission has found that Western Australia's GST deal has been a big mistake that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Taxpayers are to fund a $2.5 billion bailout of Australia's largest aluminium smelter at Tomago in New South Wales.

The Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has referred the Labor Government's handling of its gambling ad reforms to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Reserve Bank has decided to leave interest rates on hold today, but the Governor is warning that inflation is still too high and if it does not come down another rate rise is inevitable.

The federal government body responsible for controlling air traffic in Australia has apologised for a near miss involving Jetstar and Qatar airways planes on the tarmac at Sydney airport.

Victoria is the first state to require poultry producers to keep their birds indoors as the H5 bird flu crisis worsens in Australia.

The Albanese government is facing a battle to get its gambling ad reforms through parliament with the Greens and the Coalition refusing to back the legislation in its current form.

Today's NAPLAN results are raising concerns for educators and parents with the latest figures showing a third of Australian students are not meeting expectations in literacy and numeracy.

At a Senate inquiry, gambling industry representatives have rejected allegations that problem gamblers have been offered drugs and sex workers to lure them into betting more.