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TRANSCRIPT
- Iran denies Donald Trump's talks to end the war in the Middle East
- Emergency action announced to protect truck drivers from rising petrol costs
- And in football, Socceroos Ajdin Hrustic says qualifying for the World Cup earlier than last time is a double-edged sword
Iran says no negotiations or discussions with the United States have taken place since the start of the war three weeks ago.
US President Donald Trump earlier cited productive conversations as the reason for why he postponed threatened strikes against Iranian energy and electricity targets.
He says he has delayed military action to allow five days for diplomacy.
"So they called. They want to make a deal. And we are a very willing to make a deal. And it is got to be no more wars. No more Ukraine weapons. They're not going to have Ukraine weapons anymore. They are agreeing to that. Any of that stuff, there is no deal."
Iran’s foreign ministry says there has been no dialogue between the two countries, but says there are initiatives from regional countries to reduce tensions.
The ministry says that all such requests should be referred to the US.
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Officials at New York's LaGuardia Airport have announced it is reopening* for flights, after two pilots were killed and dozens others injured following a plane crash with a fire truck on a runway at the airport.
The Air Canada plane - which claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot - was carrying more than 70 passengers and four crew members, when it crashed.
The moment of collision was captured in a released audio recording from the air traffic tower, after a controller had signalled all clear.
"AUDIO: Was the vehicle near the cross runway?
PERSON 1: Truck One and Company to LaGuardia Tower, Truck One and Company, Truck One and Company with LaGuardia towers across runway four at taxiway Delta. Truck One and company across port. Truck One --report at Delta.
PERSON 2: Frontier 4195, just stop there please. Stop, stop, stop, stop. Stop, Truck One. Stop (MULTILPLE BEEPS)"
Kathryn Garcia, the head of the city's Port Authority, says 41 people - some with serious injuries - were taken to the hospital, though 32 were later released.
US aviation investigators alongside their Canadian counterparts have launched an investigation into the incident.
The federal government says it will take practical actions to support truck drivers and transport operators amid soaring fuel prices.
The Albanese government says it will amend the Fair Work Act to allow truck drivers and road transport operators to make an emergency application for a contract chain order to deal with the price spike.
Under the Fair Work Act, the Fair Work Commission can require transport clients to offer fair contract terms, ensuring operators are paid enough to cover fuel costs.
The proposed amendments will remove the typical six month wait time currently required for the contract chain order.
The NRMA says it is probable that diesel fuel prices will rise to well over three dollars per litre, with heavy flow-on effects throughout the Australian economy.
The motorists' body is reporting the average price for diesel is $2.94 per litre- a rise of 37 cents per litre in the last week alone.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury says there's little that can be done about diesel prices until the war in the Middle East is over.
But he says, given the amount of trucks that use diesel that transport key goods, Australians will feel the impact when they shop for groceries and other essentials.
"Our economy runs on diesel. When the price of diesel goes up, so too does everything else. And it absolutely going to have an inflationary effect on the economy - which is the last thing Australian families need in a cost of living crisis."
Journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation have voted to strike in the organisation's first major strike in 20 years.
Sixty per cent of ABC staff who took part in a vote rejected the pay deal that included a 10 per cent pay rise over three years.
The 24-hour strike, expected to disrupt live broadcasts, is scheduled for 11am on Wednesday.
While unions say the offer was below inflation, some staff say insecure working arrangements which leave staff stuck on rolling short-term contracts was just as much of a problem.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks says the deal was financially responsible and competitive for the industry.
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In football, Socceroos midfeidler Ajdin Hrustic says Australia qualifiying for the World Cup earlier than last time is a double-edged sword.
Australia only booked their spot for the 2022 World Cup through a playoff, five months before the tournament.
This time around, they booked their spot before the playoffs, almost a year in advance.
Hrustic says when it comes to preparation time, it's a case of to whom much is given, much is expected.
"Having... how can I say it... a bit more time, knowing you are going to be there.... gives a bit of relief. But... I think it also puts a bit of pressure on us to step up and preapre well, and prepare the best you can. In '22, you didn't have much time to prepare. And this time, you've really got months and months ahead of you."
Hrustic is part of the Socceroos' squad for a key part of that preparation- their final matches on home soil before the World Cup- against two teams who have also qualified for this World Cup.
They play Cameroon in Sydney on Friday, followed Curacao in Melbourne one week from today (31 March).
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