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TRANSCRIPT:
- The federal government says Australia can rely on continued fuel exports from Asia;
- Calls for patience as families head home from the Easter long weekend break;
- A heroes welcome home for Graham Arnold from the Iraqi community in Sydney.
At least 13 people have been killed in an airstrike on a residential building southwest of Iran's capital.
It remains unclear why the building near Eslamshahr has been hit, with neither Israel nor the United States claiming responsibility for the bombing - despite profanity laden threats from US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, a defiant Iran has struck infrastructure targets in neighbouring Gulf Arab countries and threatened to restrict another heavily used waterway, the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the Arabian Peninsula.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei says they remain determined to continue their strikes - and defend against Trump's threats to hit civilian infrastructure.
"This is an express public incitement for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and I would say for genocide, because threatening to attack a country’s critical infrastructure—energy sector—it would mean that you want to put at risk the whole population."
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The federal government says Australia can rely on continued fuel exports from Asian countries, amid concern about the country's level of supplies.
Australia imports the vast majority of its refined fuel from overseas, much of it is sourced from Asian refineries.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the nation originally had supply until mid-April, but that has now been secured into May.
He says Australia's regional partners have been clear they will maintain their role as reliable suppliers, despite the pressure they're also under.
"The important thing is that they have indicated that they have no intention of banning exports. They will work with their suppliers and with their partners like us, not just us, but like us, to make that fuel supplier as reliable as it can be. They're also diversifying supply of oil. So they're getting oil from other sources like the United States, Mexico, other places, which is good. So this requires careful management between governments and industry, and that's exactly what we're doing."
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Drivers returning home from Easter holidays have been urged to slow down, after a string of road deaths over the long weekend.
Since Friday [[3 April]], at least 14 people have been killed on roads across the country: one in Victoria, two in Tasmania, three in South Australia, one in the Northern Territory, and three in New South Wales.
Queensland Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler has told Channel Nine he doesn't want the toll to go any higher.
"Behind all of those numbers is a person, a family, a loved one. And what we're seeing time and time again is dangerous driving behaviours, including speeding, drink and drunk driving, driving whilst fatigued. Driving whilst distracted and not wearing seatbelts play a part in all of these tragedies."
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Police have found the body of a 65-year-old man who was swept into floodwaters in South Australia's far north.
He had vanisjed three days ago in Innamincka, on the banks of Cooper Creek, which the CSIRO says is part of one of the world's last major free-flowing desert river systems.
Authorities say the creek system remains in flood, with fast‑moving water and submerged hazards.
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Experienced barrister Ruth Higgins has made history as the first woman to be appointed Australia's solicitor general.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland says Ms Higgins will start her role in early June for a five-year term.
Ms Higgins will be responsible for representing the Commonwealth in significant matters in court, and providing advice to the government on questions of law, especially on matters relating to the Constitution and public law.
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Australian scientists have been kept busy helping NASA track the lunar flyby being conducted by the Artemis II crew, who are now more than halfway to the moon.
The CSIRO's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, and New South Wales telescope known as Murriyang are among the Australian support links, along with South Australian-based aerospace company Southern Launch.
Australia-based astrophysicist Rajan Chhetri has told SBS Nepali their contributions will lay the groundwork for future missions.
"This kind of Moon mission is going to inspire the whole next generation of people to be involved in science to explore things outside of our own Earth and move to the Moon and beyond. There will be a lot of people involved and necessary to go from the move; and onwards to Mars as well."
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To sport,
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has received a warm welcome at Sydney Airport, after returning from leading the Iraqi team to its first FIFA World Cup qualification in forty years.
The nation gained passage to the World Cup after a 2-1 victory over Bolivia.
Members of the Iraqi community have told SBS Arabic they feel immense pride and thanks.
"You fulfilled not only the team's dream after 40 years of not making to the World Cup, but every Iraqi in Iraq and outside. We've all made it to the World Cup together."
"We didn't really realise how hard it was going to be for him because it's been a hard 10 months since he's been there, but he did the job and we're very, very proud of him."
