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TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan.
The White House says Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately, after Iranian media reported Tehran had moved to close the waterway following Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says President Donald Trump had been briefed on the reports.
"Well, with respect to the first reporting out of Iranian state media, the President was made aware of those reports before I came to the podium. That is completely unacceptable. And again, this is a case of what they're saying publicly is different privately. I will reiterate the President's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely. That is his expectation. It has been relayed to him privately that that is what's taking place, and these reports publicly are false."
Major shipping companies say conditions remain uncertain, and vessels are concerned about security in the strait.
The White House has also confirmed Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation in talks with Iran in Islamabad this weekend.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on Israel to end its strikes on Lebanon, saying the Middle East ceasefire should be expanded to include Lebanon.
The US, Israel and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
But all sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms.
There are also conflicting views on whether the ceasefire includes Israel ending its fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Mr Albanese says long-term de-escalation must be the focus.
"This is an important step forward. Of course, this is fragile peace, but we want it to lead to an agreement. The Australian government also firmly believes this has to apply to Lebanon as well. We want to see peace in this region. And it will make a difference. And I know that many Australians are concerned about the events that are happening in Lebanon. This is a matter of not just the impact there. But the impact that is having right around the world."
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The government has repeated its warnings to consumers are being warned that economic relief from the fuel crisis won't follow immediately from the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to Singapore for talks on fuel supplies, as the opposition calls for a public database of how much petrol and diesel are in the nation's reserves.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Australian government is taking a proactive approach.
"And the end of this war can't come soon enough. There is still a lot of uncertainty. There is still a lot of volatility. We still expect the economic consequences to be felt for a little while yet. Australians didn't choose the consequences of the beginning or the end of this war. But they're being asked to pay a very hefty price for it. And that is really the government's focus. That is why we're working around the clock. They're being asked to pay a very hefty price for it and that is really the government's focus. And that is why we're working around the clock to help with the cost of living with our fuel excise cuts. It is why the prime minister is engaging with his international counterparts."
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Australia’s leading charities say they have raised more than $3.4 million in a month to help people caught up in the worsening humanitarian crisis across the Middle East.
Emergency Action Alliance executive director Kerren Morris says that despite cost of living pressures, Australians have responded with compassion.
She says the need remains urgent, with the U-N reporting more than 1.1 million people displaced in Lebanon alone.
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The Australian Securities and Investments Commission says it removed nearly 12,000 scam websites last year.
The fake sites are designed to look likes legitimate ones - but trick users into handing over sensitive information.
The financial regulator says many are using AI to create targeted professional looking videos to direct people to fake websites peusing misleading claims about the chance to get rich quick.
ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland says consumers to stay alert - and look for tell-tale signs of fraud.
"Celebrity endorsements, videos with celebrities spruiking a certain type of investment, and claims that AI bots can somehow outsmart the market. If you see any of those signs, you're most likely dealing with a scam and it's best to log straight off."
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To sport and in football news,
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are coming to Australia to play in pre-season games in Perth.
Currently top of the Italian league, Inter is travelling to Australia for the first time - but it is the third year in a row that AC Milan has played a match in Perth.
The team faced fellow Italians AS Roma last year, and A-League Men's side Perth Glory in 2024.
Inter’s first match will be the derby against AC Milan, on August 5; followed by a game against Juventus three days later.
And that's SBS News in Easy English.
