That’s a wrap – thank you for reading the Need to Know blog today. These were some of the main stories:

• Pentagon chief orders US spies to go easy on Russia: The new US defence secretary has ordered the nation’s Cyber Command to halt planning to counter threats from Russia, according to reports.
• Cyclone threat for south-east Queensland has increased: Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says the threat of Tropical Cyclone Alfred hitting the state’s coast in the populated south-east has increased as he urged residents to be vigilant about monitoring warnings.
• Dutton: Zelensky is a war hero who needs our support: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he was “disappointed” by the extraordinary clash between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky and described the Ukrainian leader as a “war hero”.
• Rubio attacks Zelensky; finds him guilty of doing a ‘Ukraine-splain’: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio fiercely defended Donald Trump’s sharp turn against Ukraine’s leader, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to derail the peace process with Russia by openly challenging Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in a heated televised exchange from the Oval Office.
• Support for Ukraine crucial to Australia’s national interests: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated the government’s strong support for Ukraine in the aftermath of the extraordinary White House clash between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.