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TRANSCRIPT
In today’s bulletin,
- Donald Trump calls on countries to send ships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open
- Australia has less than 30 days of jet fuel
- And in football, Matildas to face China in Asian Cup semi-finals
US President Donald Trump says many countries will send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, without providing details on which countries will participate.
In a post on social media, he declared the US will get the strategic Strait of Hormuz open one way or another.
He listed countries that he hopes will send ships to the area - naming China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK.
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Iran told people to evacuate three key ports in the United Arab Emirates, claiming the US is using the facilities to launch strikes on Iran.
It's the first time Iran has openly threatened non-US assets in a neighbouring country during the war.
US President Donald Trump on Friday said the US had "totally obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, which has an export terminal for 90 per cent of Iran's oil shipments.
Iran, however, played down the extent of the damage, while threatening to step up its use of more powerful weapons.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari says parts of the UAE are now a legitimate target.
(Farsi* then translated into English): "We announce to the leaders of the United Arab Emirates that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate right, in defence of its national sovereignty and its territory, to target and strike the points of origin of the launching of American missiles in the shipping ports, docks and the military hideouts of America under the cover of some of the cities of the United Arab Emirates. We ask the Muslim people of the United Arab Emirates and the population centres to take action regarding the evacuation of the ports, docks."
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The United Nations secretary-general says the Lebanese people have been dragged into war and he has called for an end to the fighting.
Antonio Guterres is visiting the country to launch an appeal to support more than 800,000 who have been internally displaced since Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war two weeks ago (on March 2), when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"The diplomatic avenues are available, including through my Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and through key Member States. This is the pathway to spare communities on both sides of the Blue Line more needless suffering."
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Australia has less than 30 days of jet fuel on hand and the federal government says it's in discussions with the airlines.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has released the latest data on fuel stocks with Australia having a 37-day supply of petrol, a 30-day stock of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel. (As of March 14)
Mr Bowen says Korea is a major source of petrol and diesel.
"Korea is a particularly important source of refined fuels. Not so much jet fuel but the other two, to Australia and we continue to engage very carefully with them. Just as we are a very important source of gas to those countries. So, of course, the two systems talk to each other regularly."
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan says Mr Bowen needs to look for more alternative sources given Australia's heavy reliance on oil from the Middle East.
"Are they looking at trying to get contracts from other countries as well. All these eventualities need to be looked at because as we know, if this
Iran war continues for another one or two weeks, then the issue becomes more and more serious."
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Security is reported to be tight as Denmark's Queen Mary and King Frederik continue their tour of Australia.
The couple travelled to Uluru on Saturday as part of a six-day tour which is designed to deepen ties with Denmark and has a focus on clean energy.
Next week, the royals will receive a ceremonial 21-gun salute at Parliament House in Canberra, visit Melbourne, and spend time with Queen Mary's relatives in Tasmania.
Royal Correspondent for The Australian Women's Weekly Juliet Rieden says those wanting to see the couple won't get much advance warning of their movements.
"They're being very careful with the security on this trip. So, you will only hear about where you can go and see the royal couple very close to the time. So, it's going to be a bit of fancy footwork on behalf of royal watchers."
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In sport, and in football,
The Matildas will play China in the semifinals of the Women's Asian Cup, after a 2-nil win over Taiwan.
Defending champions China are aiming for a record-extending 10th title - and will face the Matildas on Tuesday in Perth (17 March).
Taiwan will go against North Korea on Thursday [[19 Mar]], with an automatic World Cup spot on the line.
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