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TRANSCRIPT:
- Hundreds more Australians arrive home safely from the Middle East
- President Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' from Iran as strikes intensify
- Cristiano Ronaldo takes a break from the Saudi Pro League for treatment in Spain
A further 516 Australian residents have arrived home from the Middle East.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite says two flights arrived into Sydney, one into Perth and one into Melbourne, bringing the total number of arrivals to 1,324 since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began.
Mr Thistlethwaite says the government is trying to put in place transfers from Kuwait to Riyadh to help those Australians who wish to leave that area.
He says the government will start bus transits from Qatar's capital Doha to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
"It's a fast-moving situation and the airspace around the region is opening and closing. The best option for people to get out is on commercial flights. So once people get to Riyadh they will have to avail themselves of commercial flights to seek to come back to Australia."
**
US and Israeli strikes on Tehran are intensifying.
The Israeli military says 50 warplanes have struck a bunker beneath the destroyed compound of the Supreme Leader where Iran's leadership continued to meet after he was killed.
Meanwhile reports from residents say they have endured one of the heaviest nights of bombardment since strikes began a week ago.
US President Donald Trump, posting on social media, has demanded the 'unconditional surrender' of Iran - and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US is achieving that goal.
"What the president means is that when he, as commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the United States of America and the goals of Operation Epic Fury has been fully realised, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not, frankly, they don't have a lot of people to say that for them."
**
Lebanon's health ministry says the death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 217.
The strikes have targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, in retaliation for Hezbollah strikes on northern Israel.
The United Nations say more than 100,000 people have taken shelters in evacuation centres.
UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher says nearly a million people are lacking food.
He has also warned aid supplies in Gaza are dwindling with the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Egypt shut down.
**
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited the site of an Iranian missile strike in the southern city of Beersheba, where 19 people were injured.
The attack on Beersheba was part of a retaliation campaign launched by Iran against Israel on the seventh day of the war, even as Israeli warplanes pound Beirut and Tehran.
Speaking at the blast site, Mr Netanyahu has said Israel would continue targeting its enemies.
“We are on the seventh day of Operation 'The Roar of the Lion'. We are striking the enemy - both at its leadership, its oppressive regime and at various targets, including in Lebanon. First, I would like to extend my best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to our wounded, including the son of our friend, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and I want our soldiers and wounded to know that the entire nation stands behind you.”
**
The Islamic Council of Victoria says a mosque in West Melbourne has been temporarily closed while police investigate reports of a suspicious package.
The Council has said in a social media post that the mosque and part of Jeffcott Street was cordoned off.
They say all activity at the mosque has been suspended until further notice, and no public access to the building is allowed.
**
Thousands of workers in New South Wales could soon receive stronger legal protections from abuse on the job.
The state government is considering workplace protection orders, which would allow courts to ban repeat offenders from entering specific shops.
More than 500 people have been charged over retail crimes since October.
Attorney-General Michael Daley says no one deserves to be harassed, intimidated or abused simply for doing their job.
**
To sport, Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to Spain for rehabilitation after suffering a hamstring injury.
He is currently playing for the Pro League in Saudi Arabia, which has been coming under attack from Iranian strikes in the region.
Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed the 41-year-old Portugal forward was injured during Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win over Al-Fayha on 28 February.
It remains unclear whether the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be fit for Portugal’s friendlies against Mexico on 29 March and the United States on 1 April.
