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TRANSCRIPT:
- More Australians return home on repatriation flights amid the Iran war;
- Three Indonesian peacekeepers now confirmed killed in Lebanon in the past 24 hours;
- Adelaide Crows defender Jordon Butts sidelined by concussion.
More planes carrying Australians from the Middle East have arrived in Australia this morning.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says there have been more than 100 repatriation flights in recent weeks, but says future flights are not guaranteed and can be disrupted by the conflict at any time.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reiterated advice to Australians not to travel to the Middle East, urging those who are there to leave if it is safe to do so.
Minister Wong also says Australia wants the U-S, Israel and Iran to continue to engage in peace talks.
"We want to see return to negotiations and deescalation. This conflict is having an enormous effect on global energy markets and on the global economy. And of course, on the Australian economy."
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U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U-S operation in Iran is well ahead of schedule, and that they will achieve their objectives in what he describes as "a matter of weeks, not months".
In an ABC America interview, Mr Rubio has said Donald Trump has several options at his disposal, and the Department of War is preparing for various other contingencies that might arise.
"The Iranians are threatening that they're going to set up some permanent system in the Strait of Hormuz where they get to decide who goes through international waterways. That will never be allowed to happen. By the way, the rest of the world should take note of that. They have more at stake there than we do.”
The U-S President had earlier suggested that American troops could seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub.
He also repeatedly claims to be making diplomatic progress, while Iran has denied any talks and accused the US president of lying - and using the talks as cover while he prepares for a ground invasion.
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Three UN peacekeepers from Indonesia are now confirmed to have been killed in Lebanon in the past 24 hours.
UNIFIL says two of the peacekeepers were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan, while a third was killed when a UNIFIL base was hit by a projectile.
UN Secretary General spokesman Stephane Dujarric says these attacks are not isolated incidents, with troops being subjected to harassment on an ongoing basis.
"This Saturday, a UNIFIL convoy traveling along a coastal road near our headquarters in Naqoura in sector west was subjected to six warning shots fired by IDF elements stationed nearby resulting in some small arms impact on one of our vehicles. On their way back a Merkava IDF tank fired its main gun with the shell exploding just 15 metres from a vehicle of UNIFIL's quick-reaction force convoy."
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Attention is turning to those who may have assisted Dezi Freeman during his time on the run, before he was shot dead by police on Monday.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush says it was likely the accused killer of two police officers had help in remaining in hiding for seven months, ahead of the confrontation at a rural property at Thologolong, near Walwa, on the Victorian-New South Wales border.
Victoria Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt says police plan to speak with anyone suspected of assisting Mr Freeman in avoiding arrest.
"Anybody that's helped this person over that point of time should be worried. They should be concerned. They should know that the dogged determination that led to today's events will persist. Our members will chase every rabbit down every burrow to make sure that anybody that supported criminal activity of this nature is brought to justice."
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Five social media platforms are under investigation for potentially breaching Australia's world-first social media age limit.
Communications Minister Anika Wells says Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube may have allowed children under 16 to access their apps after the age restrictions took effect in December.
The eSafety Commission says in its first compliance report since the ban kicked in that some children were allowed to create new accounts straight after their previous one was deactivated.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Imnan Grant says the agency won't allow this to continue.
"I want to reassure you: if a platform has not taken the reasonable steps they need to comply, we will take action. That's our role and we're committed to it."
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A funeral service is underway for Rhoda Roberts at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, on Bundjalung country in northern New South Wales.
Her family wanted her farewell to be accessible to the many communities and people she connected with throughout her life, and the service is bring broadcast live by NITV on TV and social media.
Later tonight, NITV will begin a seven-day tribute under the title 'Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy', a collection that will include her role as SBS's inaugural Elder in Residence.
[[The service is available to watch on NITV, SBS On Demand (login required), on NITV Facebook and NITV YouTube.]]
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To sport and in AFL news,
Adelaide defender Jordon Butts will miss the Crows' next two games because of concussion.
The club say Butts reported mild concussion symptoms on Sunday, three days after he had a head clash during the team's narrow loss to Geelong.
The diagnosis means he will be out of action for the Good Friday home game against Fremantle and the Gather Round clash with Carlton.
