Good morning, it's Wednesday. Thomas Morgan here with your AM NewsMail.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is backing Kevin Rudd to stay on as Australia's ambassador to the US at the end of an eventful two-day visit to Washington DC. The critical minerals sector is celebrating the signing of a new deal with Donald Trump, but concerns linger around the future of the AUKUS deal. We'll have all the latest.

Plus, Brittany Higgins drops her appeal against a court ruling, and finally an inside glimpse into the breeding program trying to save an endangered Tasmanian fish.

Rudd backed: Anthony Albanese is throwing his support behind Australia's ambassador in Washington DC, Kevin Rudd, after that awkward exchange with the US president on Monday. The PM is also declaring his two-day visit a "success" after inking a critical minerals deal and getting the president's verbal commitment to go through with the AUKUS submarines program.

Concerns remain: Speaking exclusively to the ABC, one of the architects of AUKUS is warning that promises from US President Donald Trump are worthless. The federal government is celebrating the US president's emphatic backing of the $368 billion deal's future.

Warm welcome: Australia's critical minerals industry is overwhelmingly backing the US–Australia multi-billion-dollar deal signed in Washington DC earlier this week. Our business team has been talking to key figures inside the sector, who say the deal will "bolster the Western world's concerted efforts to develop independent critical minerals".

PLUS: On today's episode of the ABC News Daily podcast, National affairs correspondent Jane Norman shares why the timing of the meeting between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump