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TRANSCRIPT
- The leaders of Australia and Singapore discuss fuel security
- The Israeli Prime Minister says Israel will continue military action in Lebanon while he pursues negotiations with Beirut
- Alex de Minaur advances to the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says ties between Australia and Singapore are more important than ever, as the two countries prepare to sign a new fuel agreement.
Mr Albanese landed in Singapore on Thursday night ahead of formal talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong later today.
Singapore is the largest supplier of refined petrol to Australia; and the prime minister is seeking to finalise a deal that would ensure continuity of supply, as global oil markets continue to be impacted by the conflict in the Middle East.
Mr Albanese says he is confident a strong agreement will be reached.
"We know that it is in both of our countries interests to engage with each other, to make sure we are both reliable suppliers, and our word means something. And we have each others word, and indeed we have each others back at this time."
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The opposition is calling for more transparency on the distribution of fuel across the country, as diesel prices surge.
By Thursday, diesel prices had risen to record highs of nearly 330 cents a litre around Australia, with Western Australia recording the highest prices at just over 366 cents a litre.
The federal government says without the fuel excise cuts delivered earlier this month, these prices would be even higher.
Deputy leader of the Opposition Jane Hume has told Channel Seven, more clarity is needed on why some states are impacted more than others.
"Well, we're frustrated, particularly for Western Australians who rely so heavily on diesel. Why the price there is higher than anywhere else, is a mystery. That's why the Coalition has been calling for a national dashboard to create some transparency and accountability about where the fuel is short, and where the supplies are. How it's being distributed across the country, and when it's being imported in. This is available information, but it's really unclear right now."
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, signalling Israel will continue military operations while pursuing planned negotiations with Beirut.
Earlier, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced he had instructed his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon, and a US State Department official said the negotiations would take place next week in Washington.
Hezbollah has rejected the idea of direct negotiations with Israel, demanding a ceasefire before any further steps are taken.
It comes a day after more than 300 people were killed in a barrage of Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Mona Naoura is a Beirut resident whose home was destroyed in the recent strikes.
"I can't tell you how intense it was, how terrifying it was, how scary it was. The sound was very loud, very terrifying, and very scary, honestly."
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Victoria's upcoming state election in November will feature more accessible options for neurodivergent voters.
The Victorian Electoral Commission says it is rolling out low‑sensory mobile voting facilities in all 88 lower‑house districts.
It marks a significant expansion of an initiative first trialled at recent by‑elections.
The commission says the initiative follows requests from disability and neurodivergent communities.
The low-sensory facilities are designed to reduce stressors like noise, bright lighting and crowding that can make voting inaccessible for some people.
Martin Turnbull, from the Council on the Ageing, says the expansion of low-sensory options will also help older Australians.
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The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is set to return to Earth, after flying deeper into space than any humans before them.
The four astronauts are expected to splashdown in the Pacific at around 10am tomorrow morning.
The 10-day lunar flyby mission, which took the crew around the shadowed far side of the moon, revealed new views of the hidden lunar surface.
NASA's associate administrator, Amit Kshatriya, says the information collected on the historic mission will inform future lunar exploration.
"Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, the crew of Artemis II will come home. They will have traveled 400,000 miles (644,000 km). They will have seen what no living person has seen. They will have tested every system on the spacecraft and the environment it was built for. And they will have given us 10 days of data that will shape every mission that comes after."
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In Tennis, Australia's top ranked men's player Alex de Minaur has defeated Alexander Blockx to advance to the Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinal.
The result makes de Minaur the first Australian to make three Monte Carlo quarterfinals in the Open era.
He will be facing local hero Valentin Vacherot in the quarterfinals, who made Open era history of his own, becoming the first Monegasque player to reach the Monte Carlo quarterfinals.
The 27-year-old beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-4 in two-hours and 53 minutes - something which he says was hard fought.
"Of course, physicality is one of my weapons. I love long matches. The longer it goes, the more confidence I have and the more I want to win. And the mentality also. And thanks to all my friends, family and everyone."
