Thanks very much for reading Need to Know this Thursday, April 11. Here are some of today’s biggest developments:

- Global economic trends are changing, says PM: Anthony Albanese says an increasing number of nations are drawing greater links between their economic and national security, as he unveils Labor’s “Future Made in Australia Act” to drive local manufacturing.

- Dutton casts doubt on PM’s manufacturing push: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is dubious about the Albanese government’s push to increase local manufacturing, saying rising power costs as a result of the energy transition will make business conditions even harder, not easier.

- Biden comment on Assange charges ‘encouraging’, says PM: Signals from US President Joe Biden that the prosecution of Julian Assange could be dropped are “encouraging”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.

- Labor failing ‘to act in the right way’ on Israel: Former Liberal prime minister John Howard has denounced Penny Wong’s reaction to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, saying the foreign minister has “failed to act in the right way”.