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TRANSCRIPT
- A US fighter jet shot down in Iran...
- Iran's former foreign minister says Tehran should make a deal with the United States to end the war...
- FIFA increases ticket prices for the World Cup final.
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The White House says US President Donald Trump has been briefed about the downing of a US warplane in Iran.
US media reported US special forces had rescued one of the two crew members from the F-15 jet.
Iranian media said the Islamic republic's air defence systems had shot the jet down.
Iran has launched a search for the US crewmen, deploying troops and offering a bounty.
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Iran's former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, says Iran should make a deal with the United States to end the war by offering to curb its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.
He made the comments in a piece for the US journal Foreign Affairs.
Iran has blocked the key waterway since the war began.
Before the war, ships using the route transported one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas.
The leaders of South Korea and France have committed to work together to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait.
Speaking after a meeting in Seoul, French President Emmanuel Macron says the countries need to progress efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.
"We addressed the crisis in the Middle East, the conditions for a de-escalation process and the conditions, in a clearly established international framework, of a deconfliction being negotiated with Iran and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz."
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Mediation efforts led by regional countries, including Pakistan, to broker a ceasefire between the United States and Iran have reportedly reached a dead end.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Iran has officially told mediators that it is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers US demands unacceptable, the report said.
The report says Turkey and Egypt are seeking a way forward by considering alternative sites to host the talks.
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The federal government says Australia will consider imposing a cap on gas and coal prices if they skyrocket due to the Iran war.
As Australians head into the Easter long weekend, hundreds of service stations across the country are without fuel, with 182 service stations without diesel and 48 without unleaded petrol in New South Wales alone on Friday ((03 APR)).
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says unlike the energy situation following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, gas and coal prices are yet to be impacted in the same way.
He says the government has planned for all eventualities, and will act accordingly if gas prices start to rise.
"Prime Minister made clear in his press club address yesterday, the government will act. If we see any increases in gas and coal prices further in Australia, the gas price is actually quite low at the moment and the coal price hasn't been impacted as much as it was post-Ukraine, but we'll continue to monitor the situation. And if we need to act, be very, very clear we will."
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Australians have celebrated the start of the Easter long weekend, with services and events held across the country to mark Good Friday.
Many bought fresh seafood at the new Sydney Fish Market, while others flocked to the Stations of the Cross re-enactment procession at Australia's largest Catholic parish.
Thousands lined the streets of Punchbowl, in Sydney's west, outside St Charbel's Parish for the annual re-enactment to mark one of the most important days on the church calendar.
Church services have been held around the country, including at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Western Sydney, where community members have celebrated the generous spirit of Easter.
"It's about giving back to our community. It's hard when there's over 5,000 people here. Someone's got to give a helping hand. The priest can't do it all on their own. So we just come and give back to our community. That's what our religion's about, giving back, showing love to everyone."
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And in football, FIFA is charging almost A$16,000 [[US$10,990]] to be at this year's World Cup final.
It is thought to be the most expensive ever general admission to a football match, based on box office prices rather than the resale market.
The most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final was about A$2,320 [[US$1,600]].
FIFA is using a dynamic pricing model for this year's World Cup, with prices changing at each sales point depending on past demand.
While that pricing strategy has been widely criticised, FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino has hailed the sales process so far, saying in January that ticket demand for the tournament is the equivalent of "1,000 years of World Cups at once".
The 48-team World Cup opens on June 11, with matches taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
