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In this bulletin;
- US and Iran conclude talks in Pakistan without reaching a deal;
- Government considering extra cost-relief measures in upcoming budget;
- And in athletics, Lachlan Kennedy pulls out of 200m after winning first national 100m title.
United States Vice President J-D Vance says no agreement could be made with Iran after 21 hours of talks in Pakistan.
In a brief statement, Mr Vance told reporters he will be returning to the United States without a deal after key disagreements were unable to be resolved.
The Iranian foreign ministry said earlier that the success of talks depends on the US avoiding excessive and unlawful requests.
JD Vance says the US has provided their best and final offer to Iran.
"We just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms. I think that we were quite flexible. We were quite accommodating. The president told us, you need to come here in good faith and make your best effort to get a deal. We did that, and unfortunately, we weren't able to make any headway."
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Transport minister Catherine King says the government is considering extra cost relief measures in the May budget, after a three-month cut to the fuel excise was introduced to ease the impacts of soaring prices.
Despite a tentative ceasefire between the US and Iran, Ms King says Australians can expect further hits to the economy even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
This comes as the government rolls out a $20 million ad campaign urging Australians to conserve fuel titled "every little bit helps".
Speaking to Sky News, Liberal frontbencher James Paterson called the campaign "taxpayer funded political propaganda about driving less".
"Frankly, I don't think Australians want to be lectured by taxpayer funded political propaganda about driving less, they want a government that does its job and make sure that we are supplied with the refined fuel that we need. We want them to make sure that petrol and diesel and aviation fuel comes into our country and that it gets to the service stations that they turn up to to fill up their car and an advertising campaign is not going to make that happen."
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Agriculture minister Julie Collins says Australia is working hard to secure fertilizer supply as the war in the Middle East disrupts supply chains.
More than 60 per cent of Australia's Urea, a crucial nitrogen fertiliser used in agricultural farming, comes through the Strait of Hormuz and has surged in costs since the start of the war.
While Ms Collins says Australia has plenty of food and fertiliser in stock, concerns are mounting that the ongoing war will lead to food shortages.
Speaking to Sky News, she says the government is speaking with countries in southeast Asia to shore up supply.
"This is about longer term supplies, because of the unpredictability, and we don't know how long this is going to go. We're obviously doing that careful and considered work about dealing with the immediate challenges, but also planning for the medium and the long term to make sure that we can get the fertilizer that we need for Australia, and obviously we're doing everything we can do in that regard. And again, we're having discussions with our international relations, overseas governments and businesses, right across to make sure that we can secure the fertilizer that we need."
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Cyclone Vaianu has battered New Zealand's North Island, cutting power to thousands and forcing hundreds to evacuate.
National weather forecaster MetService says the cyclone has brought destructive winds exceeding 130 kilometres per hour, heavy rain and large swells, with the system expected to make landfall in the afternoon.
Several regions are under emergency declarations with authorities issuing 'red level' wind warnings, which are reserved only for the most extreme weather events.
New Zealand Defence Force members and heavy equipment have been deployed to assist with evacuations.
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To sport and in athletics,
Lachlan Kennedy will not race in the 200m at the Australian athletics championship, putting his rivalry with teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout on hold.
Kennedy pulled out of Sunday's 200m event at Sydney Olympic Park a day after clocking 9.96 seconds to win his first national 100m title.
It was the second time the 22-year-old had legally bettered the 10-second mark in as many days, also running 9.96 to win his heat.
He is the first Australian to complete the feat on home soil, with national record-holder Patrick Johnson running 9.93 in Mito, Japan, in 2003.
