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In this bulletin;
- Donald Trump threatens to resume Iran strikes as ceasefire deadline nears;
- Victoria extends free public transport, fares to halve after May;
- And in sport, Zak Butters to challenge AFL ruling over umpire remark.
US President Donald Trump has threatened new attacks on Iran's bridges and power plants unless it accepts his terms, as he says his envoy will return to Pakistan for new talks with Iran.
President Trump says the US delegation will arrive on Monday evening [[20/4]], a timetable that leaves just a day for talks to make progress before a two-week ceasefire ends.
There was no immediate confirmation from Iran that it would attend any new talks.
Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that there had been no decision taken to send a delegation while a United States blockade of Iranian ports was in place.
Iran reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after Trump declined to lift a US blockade of Iranian ports.
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Victorian commuters are to get another month of free public transport, to give some economic relief and help alleviate the fuel crisis due to the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
Victoria's Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams says all rail, bus and tram fares will then be halved until the end of the year.
Ms Williams said said the cost of the initiative, including free public transport during both April and May, was about $432 million.
She said there had been about a 10 per cent increase in patronage across metro and regional public transport since fares began to be waived at the start of the month.
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Eight children aged between one and about 14 have been killed in domestic-related shootings across multiple homes in Shreveport, Louisiana.
At least 10 people were shot just after 6am on Sunday local time before the suspect attempted to flee.
A police pursuit then took place which ended in the shooting death of the suspect at the hands of police.
The shooter has not been named pending family notifications.
Shreveport Police Spokesman Chris Bordelon says all of the victims were children.
"The ranges of the decedents are from one year of age to approximately 15 years of age. All of the deceased in this case are juveniles. The individual responsible, once leaving this scene, performed a carjacking ... and at which point in time Shreveport police officers did discharge their firearm and that individual is deceased. We do believe him to be the only individual that fired gunshots at these locations here."
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Ben Roberts Smith has appealed for his family to be left alone by the media following his arrest in Sydney.
The Victoria Cross recipient spent days behind bars on remand after being charged with war crimes.
He was granted bail on Friday and has made his first public statement since being charged.
He says his arrest was an 'unnecessary spectacle'.
"Could the media please allow my family their privacy at this time. Particularly my children who have already unfortunately suffered through a deliberate sensational arrest that was made last week - an unnecessary spectacle."
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The federal government is introducing free Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccinations for older Australians to ensure they are protected from the common and potentially deadly virus.
From May 15 Australians aged 75 and over can receive free RSV vaccination, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible from the age of 60.
Normally the single-dose RSV shot would cost more than $300.
Eligible Australians can receive the free RSV vaccine through their preferred local health service including GPs, immunisation clinics, community and Aboriginal health services and participating pharmacies.
Speaking at Adelaide hospital, the Health Minister Mark Butler has also recommended that vulnerable Australians should access the free influenza and COVID-19 vaccine programs.
"Yeah look, I do want to take the opportunity as we head into the winter season to remind Australians to consider the benefits of the winter vaccines. COVID and flu in particular, particularly for over 65s, flu shots are available on the national immunisations program completely free of charge and are strongly recommended by the medical community."
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Port Adelaide star Zak Butters will face the AFL appeal board on Monday as he challenges a tribunal decision that has kept him in the spotlight.
Butters was fined $1,500 last week for abusing field umpire Nick Foot during the Power’s round five loss to St Kilda.
The umpire told the tribunal Butters questioned whether he was being paid to favour the Saints after a free kick was awarded.
Butters strongly denied making the remark, but the tribunal sided with the umpire, finding it unlikely the comment had been made up.
Port Adelaide argue the ruling effectively labels Butters dishonest and have moved to appeal the decision.
