Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Concerns mount over rising food prices;
- Energy minister warns against stockpiling fuel as supply disruptions spark panic buying;
- And in basketball, Australia's Nyadiew Puoch selected for Portland Fire in WNBA expansion draft.
World food commodity prices have increased for a second month in a row.
The Food and Agriculture Food Price Index rose to 1 percent above its level a year ago.
Economist David Georges Robert Laborde, from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, says that has been largely driven by increasing energy costs linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
"The main issue we have right now is actually the impact of the conflict on energy and on fertilisers. So actually the cost of producing the next harvest, not the food we have today, but the food we need tomorrow and after tomorrow. So the more this conflict continues, the more we are going to impact farmers. The more farmers will be impacted, the less they are going to plant or they are going to use less fertilisers and in this case they may have lower yield and that's what can really start to increase food prices in six months from now, in nine months from now."
—
The government says Australia's fuel supply remains strong, warning consumers against stockpiling fuel.
Energy minister Chris Bowen provided updates on the fuel situation, saying Australia currently has 39 days worth of petrol, 29 days of diesel, and 30 days of jet fuel amid ongoing strong demand.
However, he says panic buying and stockpiling fuel is dangerous, warning that storing Jerry cans of fuel inside garages is very risky.
"I wouldn't lump everyone into the same category. There's been some panic buying, no question. No doubt about it. But there's also been Australians trying to get ahead of potential price rises, I understand that, but the key message remains. Regardless of what your motivations are, regardless, please buy as much fuel as you need, buy no less fuel than you normally would, buy the fuel you usually would, but don't buy more. It's not helpful, it makes the challenges worse. And also if you're storing it in Jerry cans in your garage, it's really unsafe."
—
US forces are searching for an American crew member from the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war.
US media says one crew member has been rescued, with the other still missing.
Iran says it shot down a US F-15 warplane, with officials saying they are searching for the downed plane in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.
Veteran and Democratic Representative from Massachusetts Seth Moulton says US President Donald Trump is lying to Americans about the war.
"That this happened a day after the president got on TV to the nation and said, among other bombastic claims ,that they had completely eliminated Iranian anti-aircraft facilities. So a day later, 24 hours later, they shoot down an advanced US fighter jet. This just shows how incredibly out of his league the president is. The commander in chief doesn't know what he's talking about, he's lying to the American public, and he's putting our troops at grave risk."
—
Cuba has started releasing prisoners from its jails, in what the government called a "humanitarian" gesture timed to coincide with Easter.
Authorities say more than 2,000 inmates are to be set free.
The Cuban government did not confirm whether any of the inmates are political prisoners.
The move came days after US President Donald Trump eased a de facto oil blockade of Cuba by allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the fuel-starved island.
Yuri Sanchez says he is happy to be released from the La Lima prison in east Havana.
"Everybody inside is satisfied, happy and joyful, because this was unexpected for us inmates, very unexpected. Everybody is happy, and it was also said that these days, delayed probations would also be granted for the inmates who are waiting."
—
And in basketball,
Australian rising star Nyadiew Puoch has been rewarded for her stellar season with the UC Capitals, gaining selection for Portland Fire in the Women's National Basketball Association's expansion draft.
Puoch was the breakout star for the Capitals last season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals as her team fell just short of the Women's National Basketball League finals.
Her biggest moment came in the dying seconds of Canberra's 77-74 win against the Perth Lynx in January when she tossed the ball into the basket from the halfway line to seal victory.
Chosen to be the No.17 pick on Portland's 12-player roster is another achievement for the 21-year-old, following her 2024 draft selection by the Atlanta Dream although she did not take the court.
