Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT:
- Tensions escalate between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz;
- New South Wales rejects work from home calls to ease demand on fuel supplies;
- The Matildas already looking ahead to their next international games in April.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has rejected calls for a work from home mandate to help lower demand on fuel supply.
Countries in Asia like Thailand have told public servants to work from home and use stairs to limit energy use, while the International Energy Agency last week recommended Australians work from home where possible, and drive at slower speeds.
Australia is heavily reliant on fuel imports, bringing much of it in from South Korea and Singapore, which in turn relies on oil from the Middle East.
Chris Minns says the state government is keeping a close eye on strategic reserves - and that ordering state government employees to work from home would not help ease the pressure.
"Mainly because 85 per cent of our public servants work at the coal face. They're not work from home (staff). It is not possible to work from home. Most of our employees are nurses, paramedics, police officers, firefighters. We just can't issue that order. If we did, it would have a negligible effect in terms of fuel consumption."
.
The federal government says a range of options are being considered to secure Australia's fuel supply amid the war in the Middle East.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed six tankers bound for Australia had their journeys cancelled or postponed because of the war, while Labor Minister Mark Butler says companies had increased their imports from the United States in response.
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite says the Prime Minister is calling his global counterparts to try and shore up Australia's fuel stocks over the coming weeks.
.
The United States has doubled down on its threats to attack Iran's power plants - unless it fully opens the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
The US President issued his warning on Saturday evening, less than a day after signalling the US might be considering winding down the conflict, and even as US Marines and heavy landing craft are heading to the region.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Donald Trump is using "the only language the Iranians understand" by issuing the threat.
He has told NBC’s 'Meet the Press' program, Mr Trump is considering a wide range of options to achieve his goals.
"He is leaving all options on the table. We had a very successful bombing campaign against the military installations at Kharg Island, the nexus for all the Iranian oil supply. What could happen with Kharg Island? We'll see. And again, just to be clear, the command and control system of the Iranian regime is in chaos. This is Hitler's bunker. Hitler is dead. Himmler is dead, Goring is dead."
.
Israeli settlers have rampaged through multiple Palestinian villages, smashing cars, setting fires and wounding several men in the latest flare-up of violence in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says at least three Palestinians in the village of Jalud suffered head wounds from beatings and were sent to the hospital after confronting settlers, who were also reported injured.
Reports of the attacks have come from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, who says at least six communities have been affected.
The rampage came a day after an 18-year-old Israeli settler was killed in a collision with a Palestinian vehicle in an area near two of the villages attacked.
.
Ex Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to continue its path into Western Australia today.
It's now a tropical low, and tracked past the Northern Territory town of Katherine overnight, which has already been struck by widespread flooding from a previous storm and is in a region where the ground is saturated and the rivers already full.
Jonathan How from the Bureau of Meteorology says the system is expected to re-intensify over the Pilbara coast in the coming days.
"As we head into Tuesday, is expected to rapidly intensify back into a tropical cyclone. That's as we look into Wednesday - by Thursday morning, could reach severe, category three strength, and this stage is expected to remain off the Pilbara coast, but we could still see very strong to gale force winds right along the coast as well as large waves and showers, pushing down into the second part of next week."
.
A musician has been hospitalised after being repeatedly stabbed outside a club on the New South Wales mid north coast.
The 69 year old man is said to be in a serious condition after being set upon near the entrance of a sports club in Merewether, in south Newcastle.
Investigators say the man had been working as a musician at the venue.
.
To sport and in football news,
The Matildas are set to return to action in April in a friendly series in Nairobi.
While the fixtures have yet to be announced, it is expected Australia will take part in a four team FIFA Women's Series tournament in Kenya.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro says the team are regrouping after their Asian Cup finals loss to Japan, and intend to come back stronger for their next game.
He says he is considering the best way to prepare the team ahead of next year's World Cup.
"I will be leaving a few players home - for obvious reasons because they have brutal league scenarios happening. But it is a good idea to have a look at a few areas that I want to have a look at with the next generation of players."
