Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / Australia's Defence Boost, Trump's Iran Ceasefire, Toyota's SUV Launch
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Thursday April 23, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — — [serious] We begin in Melbourne where Defense Minister Richard Marles announces a massive boost to Australia's military spending. The Iran war complicates our strategic landscape like never before ... since World War II. Australia commits an extra 53 billion dollars over the next decade. Defense spending rises from 2.8 percent of GDP now to three percent by 2033. This funds Ghost Bat drones ... Ghost Shark submarines ... and long-range strike capabilities. Marles calls it the biggest peacetime increase ever. For Australians ... it means stronger self-reliance amid rising threats in our region. — — [serious] In Canberra ... political tensions simmer as migration policies tighten. Iranian passport holders now face entry bans or refusals at our borders. Student visa refusals surge ... and Visa 485 fees double. Approval times drag on amid backlogs. This hits families and skilled workers hoping for a new life Down Under. Why? National security in uncertain times. Home Affairs urges patience ... but frustration builds. — — [curious] We move to our auto scene where Toyota fires the first shot in the family SUV wars. The next-gen RAV4 Hybrid launches here ... Australia's top seller fights back against Mazda's CX-5. Prices start at 45,990 dollars before on-roads. A massive 12.9-inch touchscreen ... upgraded safety tech ... and plug-in hybrid options coming soon. Fuel economy shines on Aussie roads. For families ... it's practical power amid high living costs. — — [urgent] Overseas now ... to the volatile Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump extends the fragile ceasefire in Iran. He warns of hitting them extremely hard in two to three weeks without a deal. U.S. forces near their objectives ... Trump vows to finish the job. Global oil prices spike ... fuel surcharges soar 157 percent on flights from Taiwan. Australians feel it at the pump and in travel wallets. — — [serious] In Washington ... Trump shakes up his cabinet. He fires Attorney General Pam Bondi ... Deputy Todd Blanche steps in acting. Army Chief Randy George resigns at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's request. State Department revokes green cards of IRGC general Soleimani's relatives after arrests. These moves signal a hardline push as the Iran crisis drags on. — — — — [warm] That's NewsCard Daily. For more top stories and quick summaries that keep you informed in minutes, download NewsCard ... available in the App Store.