Key Points
- Ceasefire at risk between US, Iran with Strait closed
- Israel continues attacks on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
- McIlroy defending title as US Masters Champion
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TRANSCRIPT
Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Tehran had earlier signalled it would agree to the Strait being open to traffic for the next two weeks as it negotiates with the United States through mediator Pakistan.
The White House has maintained the ceasefire requires a 'free' reopening that includes no tolls through the crucial waterway.
Iran Ambassador to the United Nations Ali Bahreini says Israel should expect its actions to have a particular outcome.
"I'm sure it would complicate the situation, and it would have some consequences. And we hope that everybody would observe the ceasefire in all its terms and aspects.”
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Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 254 people and injured over 1,000 since the US–Iran ceasefire was announced on Thursday.
The strikes hit Beirut, Sidon and parts of the Bekaa Valley, flattening buildings and overwhelming emergency services in what is being described as the deadliest day of the conflict so far.
Lebanon’s health ministry says the toll rose sharply as rescuers reached more areas.
The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, says civilians are bearing the brunt of the escalation.
"Around 2:15 local time, the IDF reported carrying out a wave of over 100 airstrikes in something like 10 minutes... So, this has been dramatic. It's been enormous. The level of these strikes...It's believed that, you know, hundreds may have been killed and certainly lots of casualties. The hospitals are overwhelmed."
At least 254 killed, 1,100+ wounded — Lebanese civil defence / officials, reported by Al Jazeera, The Guardian and others
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Australian Defence Minister, Richard Marles, has met with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, overnight, with the pair discussing the volatile global security situation.
During his visit to Tokyo, North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea.
Mr Marles has highlighted the importance of focusing on the Indo Pacific region, as matters in the Middle East dominate the world's attention.
“The missile launch today of North Korea is a reminder of the challenges that we face in the Indo-Pacific and how important that is that countries of the Indo-Pacific maintain a focus on the challenges that we have here.”
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A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
Peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the U-S have been postponed multiple times since late February.
Dmitry Peskov says Russia hopes the pause in Iran will pave the way for a resumption of talks about the war in Ukraine.
"Overall, these are not directly linked processes. They are only indirectly connected by the fact that U.S. negotiators are currently focused on Iranian issues. We hope that in the foreseeable future they will have more time and greater capacity to meet in the trilateral format. We are waiting for that and we continue to highly value the peacemaking efforts of U.S. negotiators and of President Trump personally on the Ukraine track.”
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The federal opposition has called for a public database of how much petrol and diesel are in the nation's reserves, as concern continues about pricing and availability.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is expected to call on the government to implement a publicly accessible dashboard, which would provide information on service stations without fuel, the number of days of remaining stock and available storage.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing to travel to Singapore today [[Thur 9 Apr]] for talks aimed at further shoring up Australia's fuel supplies.
Australian Institute of Petroleum chief executive Malcolm Roberts, who represents major petrol companies including Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva Energy, says a ceasefire in Iran would take some time to flow through supply chains.
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To sport now, and in golf, defending US Masters Champion Rory McIlroy says he's more relaxed about playing at Augusta than ever before.
The tournament begins today and runs until April 12 at Augusta National Golf Club.
As organisers put the finishing touches on preparations for this week's iconic event, the Northern Irishman has been enjoying the trappings of last year's career-defining success.
He hosted the Champions dinner overnight, but in terms of his preparations, McIroy says he's in the right frame of mind.
"It's completely different. I feel so much more relaxed. I know that I'm going to be coming back here for a lot of years. I'm going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here and doesn't make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, but yeah, just more relaxed about it all."
