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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Iran warns the US against a ground invasion
- Israel's Prime Minister orders expansion of invasion of southern Lebanon
- And in Formula One, Oscar Piastri finally gets off the starting line to take second place in Japan
The speaker of Iran's parliament has accused the United States of plotting a ground attack, despite publicly pushing for a negotiated deal.
In a statement, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Iranian soldiers are prepared for any potential US ground operation.
He also urged for unity among Iranians, saying the war is at its most critical stage.
A US warship with around 3,500 military personnel arrived in the Middle East over the weekend, adding to speculation that a ground operation may be imminent.
Iran’s joint command spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, said Iranian forces are ready and prepared.
(Farsi* then translated into English): "The US President has proven that the only language he understands is the language of force. In response to Trump’s recent threats of a ground operation or the occupation of any part of Iran’s territory, which is nothing more than a wish, we declare: the fighters of Islam have long been awaiting such actions in order to demonstrate that aggression and occupation will yield no result other than the humiliating capture, dismemberment, and disappearance of the aggressors."
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A blackout in Iran has now extended to 30 days, leaving millions of people isolated from news since the beginning of the war in the Middle East.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks says the nationwide censorship measure continues into its fifth week, after 696 hours.
Although domestic intranet - which includes local messaging apps and banking platforms - remains operational, access to global internet has been severely restricted.
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Pakistan says it is ready to host meaningful talks between the United States and Iran to bring an end to their war.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey for several hours in the Pakistani capital on Sunday.
In a televised statement, Mr Dar said the visitors "expressed their full support" for potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
The ministers are expected to meet again in the next 24 hours.
The United States said last week it had offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, with a proposal to reopen the waterway and restrict Iran's nuclear program, but Iran has rejected the list and put forward proposals of its own.
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As the conflict enters its second month, Israel's military says it had launched over 140 air strikes on central and western Iran.
This includes Tehran over the past 24 hours, hitting ballistic missile launch sites and storage facilities, among other targets.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will widen its operation in southern Lebanon, as the fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants intensifies.
He says he has instructed the military to further expand the so-called buffer zone, vowing to change the security situation there.
(Hebrew* then translated into English): “We are bringing great achievements, achievements that create visible cracks in the terrorist regime in Tehran. Iran is not the same Iran, Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is not the same Hamas.”
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will hold a fresh meeting with state and territory leaders today to discuss how best to tackle disruptions to fuel supply.
The leaders are expected to discuss a range of options to prevent serious shortages if the global fuel supply continues to be disrupted by the war in the Middle East.
Also on the agenda will be potential options for voluntary measures to save fuel.
More than 500 service stations across the country are without at least one fuel type.
Victoria and Tasmania have moved to offer free public transport but New South Wales, Queensland and W-A have ruled out following suit.
Meanwhile, draft legislation will be introduced into parliament today, which allow the government to underwrite additional fuel imports.
The measure aims to give suppliers the confidence to buy additional cargoes by reducing the financial risk.
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Authorities are still working to restore power to communities hit hard by Cyclone Narelle, as the popular tourist town of Exmouth remains effectively cut off.
After lashing coastal communities with 250 kilomteres per hour winds and dumping a year's worth of rain in a day, the now-subtropical low has again headed offshore after ripping through parts of Western Australia.
The heavy rainfall has brought minor to moderate flooding to the Lyons and Gascoyne river catchments.
The cyclone left a trail of destruction in parts of the Pilbara and North West Cape.
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And in motorsport, Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri's season has finally got going - with a runner up finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.
After failing to make the start line in Melbourne and Shanghai - the Australian soared into the lead on the opening lap at Suzuka.
But he was eventually overtaken by Kimi Antonelli who started from pole position.
The 19-year-old Italian claiming his second straight race victory - with Piastri finishing second for his first points of the season.
Piastri was philosophical about the result.
"I think for us at this point, to be disappointed about finishing second... it's a pretty good place to be, so a massive thanks to the team, I think we did a really good job of executing with what we had I think. You know, we clearly still need to find a bit of performance but, yeah we took every opportunity we had today."
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