Hundreds of Australians recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours list, as tributes are paid for Former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer who has died from brain cancer.Concerns grow for the fragile ceasefire in the middle east as Iran launches waves of missiles into Israeli territory.And the third shark attack death of a spearfisherman in as many weeks  prompts a call for an overhaul of the sport from its governing body.CreditsMelissa Clarke, PresenterProgram:More from AMTranscriptMelissa Clarke: Good morning welcome to AM, it's Monday the 8thof April. I'm Melissa Clarke in Canberra, coming to you from coming to you from Ngunnawal country, and acknowledging other custodians.     Israel says Iran has launched three waves of missiles at the country's north in the first direct attack since the ceasefire was announced in early April. The Israel Defence Forces says Iran has made what it's described as a grave mistake and that it will continue to operate throughout Lebanon regardless of Iran's intervention. Meanwhile the White House says US President Donald Trump has been briefed about this latest escalation. Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran is in Jerusalem. He joined me a short time ago.Matthew Doran: Mel, good morning. Over the course of the last hour or so we have seen warnings going off for at least three waves of Iranian missiles fired predominantly at northern Israel. And I think that kind of gives us a sense as to what has prompted these attacks from Iran, although of course we do need to monitor for any further information about that. But certainly in the course of today we have seen increasing fighting once again between the Israeli military in southern Lebanon and also the Iranian backed militant group Hezbollah that has of course culminated in an attack by the Israeli military on a claimed Hezbollah target in the Lebanese capital Beirut in the southern suburbs there, those stronghold suburbs around Dahir, which we've heard so much about through the course of this conflict. We did see earlier today at local time a warning from a senior Iranian politician saying that Israel would receive a painful response with regards to that attack on Dahir. And perhaps this is what we are seeing at the moment. So at least three waves of Iranian missiles to this point. We are continuing to see whether or not this is going to be an extended barrage throughout the course of the night. But again, it is focused on those northern communities. It hasn't started to set off warning sirens in the more densely populated parts of Israel around Jerusalem, around Tel Aviv there. The IDF for its part is saying that it has intercepted all of the missiles which have been launched at Israel that it has come across to this point.Melissa Clarke: Talk me through the broader dynamic here because there is meant to be a ceasefire between the US and Israel and Iran, although there have been various issues that bring that into question, particularly given what's happening between Israel and Lebanon. But take me through what this latest salvo suggests about the state of this complex web of relationships.Matthew Doran: A complex web is a very apt way of describing it. I think it's safe to say that a lot of people had said that the negotiations between the US and Iran through mediators Pakistan had stalled. They hadn't really presented much progress there, regardless of the fact that the US President Donald Trump had continued to insist that a deal was looming, that it was very close to being arrived at there. Donald Trump clearly talking up the prospects, even though no deal had eventuated. We know that Iran has been demanding an end to the fighting in Lebanon as a precondition for any deal it strikes with the US to end the broader war. And what will really determine what happens next is how Israel responds. If Israel decides to start attacking Iran, there is a real fear that this could be the return of all-out fighting. This region could once again be engulfed in broader fighting. The ceasefire, even though Donald Trump was saying as recently as Friday that it was a ceasefire in his view in this part of the world means a moderate amount of fighting as opposed to a total end to hostilities. It does appear that if this is the precursor to something broader, that ceasefire is in tatters as we go to air this morning.Melissa Clarke: Matthew Doran in Jerusalem.Melissa Clarke: Former Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has died from brain cancer at the age of 59. The renowned researcher's work on immunotherapy drastically improved outcomes for melanoma patients all over the world. Professor Scolyer went on to use that pioneering treatment on his own brain cancer, paving the way for future clinical trials. Rachel Mealey reports.Rachel Mealey: Richard Scolyer spent his working life striving to cure cancer in others, but in May 2023 the cancer doctor became the patient.Richard Scolyer: Unfortunately for me, I've got one of the worst of the worst brain cancers where there isn't a cure for it.Rachel Mealey: An internationally recognised melanoma pathologist, Richard Scolyer had spent decades pioneering new treatments for patients with melanoma. The diagnosis gave him months to live.Richard Scolyer: Bugger that. I'm not happy to accept that. I want to do something that gives me a fighting chance against this tumour.Rachel Mealey: Using the knowledge he and his research partner and medical oncologist Georgina Long had gained in melanoma treatment, Richard Scolyer embarked on a world first treatment for brain cancer.Georgina Long: We've taken everything, absolutely every bit of knowledge from melanoma and we've thrown it at Richard's tumour.Rachel Mealey: The pair's research on immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to attack cancer cells, has dramatically improved outcomes for advanced melanoma patients around the world.Richard Scolyer: 15 years ago, if you had melanoma that had spread around your body, the survival rates were terrible. Less than 5% of people were alive five years later. And now it's more than 55% of people alive five years later.Rachel Mealey: Richard Scolyer grew up in Launceston and studied medicine at the University of Tasmania. He said applying the immunotherapy protocol to his own cancer wasn't a difficult choice, or as he liked to joke, it was a no-brainer.Richard Scolyer: Well I didn't need convincing because I understand the field so well. This is, Georgina's obviously a world leader in this field and for me with this type of brain cancer that I've got, it's got tentacles or tree roots that extend everywhere that you can't see on x-rays, the surgeon can't see when they get inside. So the idea of getting a treatment that can identify the tumour cells and leave your normal brain cells alone, that's pretty appealing.Rachel Mealey: After letting the immunotherapy drugs go to work on the tumour, a neurosurgeon then removed it. Six months after that, he and Georgina Long were named Australians of the Year for their work in skin cancer and their groundbreaking treatment of Professor Scolyer's brain cancer.Anthony Albanese: The 2024 Australian of the Year I'm proud to announce is Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard ScolyerRichard Scolyer: From where I stand, with a future now measured in months rather than decades, it's impossible for me to properly articulate how proud and hopeful that this also makes me.Rachel Mealey: But after keeping the cancer at bay for 22 months, in March of 2025 he announced that his brain tumour had returned.Richard Scolyer: But the honest truth is I knew this was on the writing at some stage. When we were awarded Australians of the Year, I didn't expect that I'd be still alive, kicking, able to participate and interact with people at the end of the year. So I'm very thankful of that.Rachel Mealey: He led a life dedicated to science and hoped his contributions would far outlive him.Richard Scolyer: I am very proud that it's going to make a difference for future brain cancer patients. And what a legacy to be able to leave, even if it doesn't cure me.Melissa Clarke: Rachel Mealey with that report. And the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has described Professor Scolyer as a remarkable man who took on his cancer diagnosis with determination and purpose. The Prime Minister said Professor Scolyer faced a difficult and confronting experience, but that he shared his journey with profound generosity and showed Australians what it means to hope.Melissa Clarke: To the King's Birthday Honours list, where a maths prodigy who went on to make a key scientific breakthrough, where a former senator who helped shape Australia's response to domestic violence and a giant of the Indigenous health sector will all be recognised today for their vital contribution to the community. That's Professor Terence Tao, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Pat Turner, who are among the hundreds of Australians being recognised. Oliver Gordon reports.Oliver Gordon: This year's King's Birthday Honours list highlights 949 outstanding Australians, among them classical pianist Simon Tedeschi, who uses music to promote harmony between Jews and Palestinians.Simon Tedeschi: I think music can even bring people who would otherwise regard themselves as committed enemies together into a room. There's not many things that can do that.Oliver Gordon: Mr Tedeschi has been appointed a member of the Order of Australia, or AM, and is one of 35 artists recognised in this year's awards.Simon Tedeschi: time when we're not quite sure in Australia how to really look at ourselves and what is Australia, what is it to be Australian, I think music and the arts can really help to reflect and tell a story to ourselves about ourselves.Oliver Gordon: There are four levels of award and the Companion of the Order of Australia, or AC, is the highest honour. Among the five getting the top gong is former Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, who most recently led South Australia's Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.Natasha Stott Despoja: I'm quite overwhelmed. I am aware of the enormity and the generosity of this award, but I'd prefer to focus on the policies that I've been working on. I'm also conscious that there are many people who never get this kind of recognition despite their hard work, so I do know how fortunate I am.Oliver Gordon: Professor of Mathematics Terence Tao is awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia.Terence Tao: It's sort of stunning that my country has given me this recognition. I'm on the same list as Don Bradman.Oliver Gordon: The Adelaide-born 50-year-old has spent the past three decades in the US in academia. While much of Professor Tao's work is theoretical, one of his proudest achievements has directly improved a key medical scanning machine.Pat Turner: We've managed to find a new way to process signals from things like MRI machines. And now MRI scans that used to take several minutes, they can now take 30 seconds.Oliver Gordon: Former Tasmanian Premier William Hodgman, philanthropist Elizabeth Calvert-Jones and virologist William Rawlinson are also recognised with the top honour. Indigenous Health Leader Pat Turner is appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, or AO, for her decades of work in the sector, which included years of public advocacy, including this moment in 2017.Pat Turner: Malcolm Turnbull has to put his money where his mouth is. You don't set up a Royal Commission and then walk away from the implementation of it.Oliver Gordon: ABC broadcaster Fran Kelly also gets an AO for her distinguished service to journalism, advocacy in the LGBTIAQ plus community and equality.Frank Kelly: Equity is important. It's important for all of us and as a democracy, if we're not equitable, then we're failing. So I've always seen that as part of my journalistic instincts.Oliver Gordon: Some of those honoured have risen from deeply traumatising life events to make a positive difference in their communities. Michelle Turvey's son, Cassius, was killed coming home from school in Perth in 2022.Michelle Turvey: Our main focus is on young people because Cassius worked with a lot of his schoolmates and friends as a mentor, as an old soul.Oliver Gordon: She's been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, or OAM, in recognition of decades of service to WA's Indigenous communities. The oldest recipient this year is 106-year-old Queensland woman, Mrs Florence Drury, who was a wireless telegraphist in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in the early 40s, before spending decades volunteering in community groups. Mrs Drury is more than 70 years older than the youngest recipient, 34-year-old Sarah Ward, who's being honoured for her work in social welfare organisations in Victoria.Melissa Clarke: Australia's peak body for spearfishing is calling for more regulation of the sport following three fatal shark attacks in the last three weeks. 35-year-old diver Daniel Turpin is the latest victim, bitten by a shark off the southern coast of Western Australia at the weekend. Kathleen O'Connor reports.Kathleen O'Connor: The family of 35-year-old Daniel Turpin say they're devastated by his tragic death after a shark attack at Micklemouth Island, 13 kilometres from Albany. He'd been on a spearfishing outing with his family, who in a statement have thanked emergency services for their compassionate care, after he was rushed back to shore where he was unable to be revived. They say their adored husband, son, brother and uncle brought joy to all and had a lifelong love and deep respect for the ocean. The incident has shocked locals.Locals: You can't sort of stop it happening. So sad for the familyKathleen O'Connor: It's the third fatal shark attack in Australia in three weeks, with two in WA and one in Queensland and all three spearfishermen. Graham Henderson is from the Australian Underwater Federation, the governing body for the sport of spearfishing.Graham Henderson: It's uncommon to have spearfishermen involved in so many attacks in the last month. Generally you'll see surfboard riders and that are more at risk sitting on the surface.Kathleen O'Connor: And while the circumstances surrounding Daniel Turpin's death are not yet known, Graham Henderson says recreational spearfishers are often uneducated about the risks.Graham Henderson: We have specific things and what we need to get across to recreational spearfishers is they shouldn't be burling. And for those who don't know what burling is, it's putting sort of blood and bone into the water to bring fish in so that people can shoot them. And that's not a good practice. We don't do that anymore. We don't do that in competitions.Kathleen O'Connor: Mr Henderson says members of the Federation will be meeting this week to push for better safety measures for recreational spearfishermen.Graham Henderson: They really need to join a club, gather experience from like-minded people who are really well experienced in spearfishing and protecting themselves and doing things safely.Kathleen O'Connor: WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis says better education is something the government would support. I'm open to looking at more education programs if that's what the industry is calling for. The recent spate of shark attacks has reignited calls to change shark culling laws in Australia. It's not illegal, with many states and territories still using shark nets and drumlines to kill or remove sharks, despite heavy criticism from conservationists. Dr Brianna Le Busque is a marine social scientist from the University of South Australia. She says shark attacks are increasing, but the reasons why are still unclear.Brianna Le Busque: This is something that we just do not have all of the data and answers for. We know that there's also population increase in Australia as well, so we're seeing more people in the beach. Things like climate change and overfishing and things can definitely change shark activity and where sharks go.Kathleen O'Connor: Meanwhile, Daniel Turpin's family say they're just trying to come to terms with the loss.Melissa Clarke: Kathleen O'Connor reporting there.Melissa Clarke: Leading developer of artificial intelligence, Anthropic, is warning there's a real risk of losing control of frontier AI. It has already slowed the release of its model, Claude Mythos, over concerns about its hacking capabilities. Now, some of the world's top AI CEOs are urging the US Congress to bring in controls on the sale of synthetic materials they believe could, with the help of AI, build dangerous bioweapons. Four Corners reporter Steve Cannane has more.Steve Cannane: Jeffrey Ladish used to work inside the AI machine as part of the security team at Anthropic. He's now the director of Palisade Research in Berkeley, where he tests the latest AI models and the risks of humans losing control of them. He says the people he talks to inside the big AI companies are genuinely frightened about the forces they're unleashing.Jeffrey Ladish: I think the scariest thing I hear from people working inside of the companies is that they think they are on the way to recursive self-improvement. The point where AI agents are writing all of the code and doing all of the research for the next generation of AI agents. You have really smart AI making smarter AI making smarter AI and so on. And that's a runaway process, potentially. And they think that they're going to be able to do it. They're like, we are not that many years, maybe one, maybe two, maybe three years from that process happening. That terrifies me.Steve Cannane: It was these very concerns that were at the heart of a stark warning released by Anthropic via a blog post on Friday, Australian time. It suggested slowing down or pausing frontier AI development might be a good thing if there was a global mechanism to monitor and enforce it. Connor Leathy is the US director of Control AI. He believes the race to try and build machines smarter than humans should be halted.Connor Leathy: Almost everyone understands that if you build something vastly smarter than yourself and you don't know how to control it, which we currently do not know how to do, that's a very, very, very dangerous thing. We must create a global trust but verify regime where various countries such as the US, China and others can mutually verify that no one is attempting to build super intelligence and then commit to not doing so and including stopping, if necessary, rogue actors or private companies or others from attempting to build super intelligence.Steve Cannane: Helen Toner used to be on the board at OpenAI and is now the executive director at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology in DC. She says it would be a hard sell to pause development at the big US companies if others continue to charge ahead and develop AI.Helen Toner: What I do think would make sense would be to think really seriously about what it would look like to install brakes. We can't really hit the brakes right now because we don't really have them. But there's simple things like making sure any AI system that you're developing, do you have a way to turn it off if it's going rogue? Under what conditions might we actually agree that it's in everyone's interest to try and slow down or pause for a period?Melissa Clarke: Helen Toner from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology in Washington DC, ending that report by Steve Cannane.And that's AM for today. Thank you for your company. I'm Melissa Clarke. 6itemsIn this episode1 of 6Iran launches waves of missiles at IsraelDuration: 3 minutes 52 seconds3m 52s2 of 6Professor Richard Scolyer dies at 59Duration: 4 minutes 26 seconds4m 26s3 of 6King's birthday honours listDuration: 4 minutes 15 seconds4m 15s4 of 6Shark attacks prompts calls to make spearfishing saferDuration: 3 minutes 9 seconds3m 9s5 of 6Neurologists outcry over weedkiller reviewDuration: 3 minutes 26 seconds3m 26s6 of 6Growing fears surround growth of AIDuration: 3 minutes 19 seconds3m 19s