The US and Iran prepare for peace talks in Switzerland; Albanians take to the streets protesting over a luxury resort development; and in sport, the smallest nation in the Football World Cup earns a nil-nil draw and its first point.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- The US and Iran prepare for peace talks in Switzerland
- Albanians take to the streets protesting over a luxury resort development
- The smallest nation in the Football World Cup earns a nil-nil draw and its first point.
Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, citing what it's called Israeli 'crimes' in Lebanon and a US violation of commitments to establish a ceasefire.
The United States insists the Strait remains open.
The two countries are about to embark on peace talks in Switzerland in a bid to end the war that started in March when the US attacked Iran.
United States Vice President JD Vance says the US is looking forward to the talks with Iran, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.
But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, says the US has failed to halt Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
"The commitments are very clear an end to the war on all fronts including in Lebanon. We have honoured our commitments, have failed. This constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire memorandum."
.
Fuel cost relief will continue for another month but at a reduced rate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a limited extension of the fuel excise relief but reduced it to 16 cents from 32 cents.
The current saving of 32 cents a litre was introduced three months ago, following the outbreak of war in the Middle East which has slowed global oil supply.
Peter Khoury from the NRMA says the fuel price in Australia is still at the mercy of unrest in the Middle East.
"The only real relief we will ultimately get at the bowser is an end to the war, also the reopening of the Strait. Without that, we are pretty much relying on the volatility of global markets and on the 1st of July when we reintroduce 16 cents a litre onto the wholesale prices, even though there's a 16 cent cut from what we would normally pay on the excise. If things deteriorate overseas, that could get eaten up overnight with another oil shock.”
.
Governments across the country are preparing for the possible spread of bird flu, after it was detected in a migratory seabird that died after being found sick on a remote beach south of Perth.
Authorities in Australia say they have been expecting the arrival of the virus and have been preparing accordingly.
In New South Wales, Environment Minister Penny Sharpe says officials from every level have already been working together to get ahead of the virus.
"Both federal and state governments have been preparing for this. Literally had some emergency practice preparations even just a couple of months ago in relation to this. So all of those activation plans have been put in place. We're working really carefully with the federal government."
.
Thousands of protesters have again gathered in Albania's capital demanding the government revoke a decision to allow a luxury resort development in a protected wetland area.
The luxury resort project is backed by a company linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The demonstrations have since expanded from initial opposition of the specific project into broader anti-government protests.
Drone footage showed large crowds of demonstrators carrying Albanian flags throughout the capital.
Protester Ylli Billa says the country is not for sale.
“We are here to protect Albania from the corrupt, the most corrupt government in Europe. Not only Europe, but all over the world. Albania is the biggest, the nicest country in the Balkans. They want to get it. They sold it. They sold it to, I don't know to who. We are pro-investments, but we are not for the corrupt government. This is the most corrupt government in Europe.”
.
Australian expeditioners in Antarctica celebrated the Winter Solstice with a traditional midwinter swim.
For a few weeks each winter at the Mawson and Casey research stations the sun does not rise.
Expeditioners dug a hole in the ice for the swim, at an event that also encourages them to reflect on those who have come before them, and their achievements on the icy continent.
Leader of Mawson station, Dave Buller, says there are over 100 Australians currently stationed across Antarctica and on Macquarie Island.
"Part of what we do as part of those commemorations is to do this stuff. Preparing an ice hole, to swimming, and the water down below is about one-and-a-half metres worth of sea ice, water down below is around minus two degrees, so we are going to have a great time."
.
And in sport,
The smallest nation in the Football World Cup has earned a nil-nil draw against Ecuador in Kansas City.
Curaçao Coach Dick Advocaat saw his side bounce back after a 7-1 loss to Germany in their opening game.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room's fifteen saves gives the side a historic first ever point in a world cup, in their first appearance at the event.
The 37 year-old fell one short of the sixteen *saves record set by US goalkeeper Tim Howard, in an extra-time loss to Belgium at the 2014 World Cup.
"Curaçao has shocked Ecuador. An extraordinary point for Dick Advocaat. A historic performance for Eloy Room. Curaçao nil. Ecuador nil. One of the most shocking results in World Cup history."
Curaçao could still progress to the knockout stages with a win over Ivory Coast in their final match on Friday.
