** Israel-Lebanon dispute threatens proposed Iran peace agreement... ** Notorious childcare predator faces further charges in New South Wales.... And in the FIFA World Cup, ** Aussie coach Graham Arnold to send his Iraqi Lions out to face Norway's Vikings.
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TRANSCRIPT
The agreement to end the war between the United States and Iran is facing fresh uncertainty, with Tehran insisting Israel must withdraw from southern Lebanon .
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the conflict cannot truly end while Israeli forces remain in territory captured during the war.
But Israel has rejected the demand, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying troops will remain 'for as long as necessary'.
President Donald Trump says Israel's ongoing campaign against Hezbollah is complicating matters.
"I'm not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah. I've had a great relationship with Bibi but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon. And I suggest that to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because, to be honest with you, I think they do a better job of doing it."
The deal is scheduled to be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday.
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The Federal Government has welcomed the Reserve Bank's decision to keep the cash rate on hold.
The decision to keep the cash rate at 4.35 per cent was unanimous but the central bank is concerned inflation remains high.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says while inflation is definitely a challenge, the RBA's decision will help households cope with the rising cost of living.
"This decision by the Reserve Bank's very welcome in the context of Australians still under pressure and these global pressures intensifying in recent times, as well."
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Australia's most notorious childcare paedophile is expected to be extradited to New South Wales to face further child sex abuse charges.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington says Ashley Paul Griffith's transfer is now in the hands of the courts, after he lost an appeal against his life sentence last week.
Griffith was jailed for life after pleading guilty to more than 300 offences involving 69 girls in Queensland.
He is also facing 180 child sex abuse charges in New South Wales, where authorities have been seeking his extradition.
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The Federal Government is investing $7.7 million to extend the Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration program (EPRI) for another year.
The program funds social enterprises with the goal of improving workforce participation outcomes for refugees and humanitarian migrants.
The program including support for those who primarily speak a language other than English, have limited local experience or fewer established social and professional networks.
The office of Multicultural Affairs Minister, Dr Ann Aly, says EPRI has supported more than 3,400 participants and 130 businesses, through the program.
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New legislation has been put before the Victorian parliament which gives people the legal right to work from home two days per week.
The laws will apply to full-time and part-time workers and casuals.
If passed, the changes will take effect from September.
Victoria's Opposition leader, Liberal party leader Jess Wilson, says she has an open mind about the proposed laws.
"Well, we support flexible working arrangements but we've always said we'll review the detail of any legislation that is put to the parliament. We'll see that now in the coming days if the government tables it in the parliament this week."
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy says G7 leaders have demonstrated "unanimous" support for his country.
Mr Zelenskyy was speaking to Ukrainian media following a meeting with the heads of leading industrialised nations in Evian-les-Bains [[ev-ee-an ley ban]], France, on the first full day of the Group of Seven summit.
Leaders met to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, along with a tentative agreement struck by U-S President Donald Trump aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.
Mr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to end the war but Russia is not, and he acknowledged the support of the G-7 nations.
“We spoke about what Ukraine needs. Air defence - everyone acknowledges it, everyone will help, absolutely the entire G7 will work on strengthening our defence as well. We spoke about both the systems and the missiles.”
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Increased tension between Russia and the UK has seen a Russian warship fire warning shots at a U-K-registered pleasure yacht in the English Channel.
It's understood the yacht, which has no motor, had drifted toward the Russian vessel in foggy conditions.
The incident caused no damage.
Britain's Defence Ministry said it was investigating the “incident” which took place about 37 kilometres south of the Isle of Wight, outside U-K territorial waters.
There were no reports of injuries or damage to the sailing yacht, which continued its journey from the U-K toward France.
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To the World Cup, and Australian coach Graham Arnold will be fielding Iraq's national team in their first world cup in 40 years - and their second ever appearance in the tournament.
Arnold is the first Australian coach to take teams to two World Cups, guiding the Socceroos to Qatar in 2022.
This morning at 8 AM AEST ((Wednesday morning )), Arnold's Lions of Mesopotamia go head-to-head with Norway in Boston for their first World Cup match in 40 years.
FIFA defendiung champions Argentina will take to the turf against Algeria at 11 AM AEST...
And as we go to air, heavyweighrs France and Senegal are battling it out in in New Jersey.
