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TRANSCRIPT:
Australia will not join the United States' efforts to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
After peace talks between American and Iranian negotiators collapsed over the weekend, President Donald Trump declared the US Navy would stop "any and all" ships from entering or leaving the key trade route.
Cabinet Minister Murray Watt has confirmed no requests to assist have been made - and that they would prefer an alternative.
"We're not considering sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz. What we want to see is negotiations between the US and Iran resume as quickly as possible. We want to see the ceasefire hold. We want shipping reopened in the Strait of Hormuz. And more than anything that relies on negotiations between US and Iran resuming."
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The Prime Minister will travel to Asia tomorrow [[Tues 14 Apr]] as the government ramps up efforts to safeguard the flow of petrol and other critical imports into the country.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will also meet her counterparts on the four-day visit to Brunei and Malaysia.
Both nations play important roles in Australia's fuel-supply chains and the trip will build on a recent visit to another vital exporter, Singapore.
Mr Albanese has told Channel 7 that visit has helped Australia as uncertainty continues to rage in the Middle East.
"One of the benefits of travelling to Singapore is that Singapore was able to show us - by going to the refinery there - of the work that they've been able to achieve, which is to replace the Middle East fuel with stocks from Africa and the Americas. So they're very confident that they won't be imposing any export controls and Australia is at the front of the queue, because of the strong relationship that we've built up with Singapore."
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Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election.
Partial official results show Peter Magyar’s Tisza party has won a landslide victory against Orban, an ally of Russia who also had the strong support of Donald Trump.
The Tisza party is projected to win more than two-thirds of all 199 parliamentary seats.
These voters in Budapest have told SBS News they are cautiously optimistic.
MAN 1: "Now we are finally standing here in the gates of a new world, and yeah, we, we need the change. "
WOMAN 1: "So fed up with Viktor Orbán and all of his government. Like, they did not deliver in the 16 years that they was voted, but, like, in the last four years it was horrible."
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Eleven people have died after tropical cyclone Maila caused devastating floods and landslides in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The federal government has now announced Australia will provide $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the response.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape says relief efforts are being mobilised to provide food, water and temporary shelter.
He says communication with affected communities remains challenging.
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The father of Queen Mary of Denmark has died in Hobart at the age of 84.
Queen Mary last visited her father John Donaldson during an extended trip to Australia at the end of March.
A Danish palace statement says the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
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Legendary Bollywood singer and Indian cultural icon Asha Bhosle has died at the age of 92.
The celebrated performer, whose career spanned more than eight decades and included the release of more than 12,000 songs, died in Mumbai after suffering a heart attack.
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Two years on from the deadly Bondi stabbing attack, eight people are receiving special bravery awards for their actions in helping to save lives that day.
Two posthumous bravery awards have been given to the security guard Faraz Tahir, and mother Ashlee Good - who charged the attacker to protect her infant daughter in a pram.
Frenchmen Damien Jean Guerot and Silas Despréaux have been named for confronting the attacker and using metal bollards to try to stop his rampage; along with security guard Muhammad Taha, and Detective Inspector Amy Scott who shot Joel Cauchi dead.
Governor General Sam Mostyn says recipients are being recognised for their "determined response in unspeakable and horrific circumstance".
"Every one of them showed strength, and profound courage, as they placed the safety of others above their own. Their acts of bravery reflect the best of us, and remind us of the valour, compassion and service that are enduring and present across our communities.
