Australia's joining 34 other countries in talks about reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's been blocking the vital oil shipping route since the US-Israeli war on Iran kicked off, which has sparked chaos for global fuel supply and prices.

Australia will join a UK-led virtual meeting exploring potential options to get the channel open.

US President Donald Trump's threatened to end the war without making sure the Strait reopens.

The US is not invited to the meeting.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese's set to announce a billion dollar package for truckies, freight carriers, and fertiliser producers amid the fuel crisis.

The money will go to interest-free loans, and comes from an existing fund.

It comes after the PM gave a rare national address, encouraging people to save fuel where they could.

The Opposition says the speech did not give a clear plan.

And nearly half-a-million people have gathered in Florida to watch the first humans head to space in 50 years.

The four astronauts won't land on the Moon, but plan to circle it, while travelling further from Earth than anyone has ever been before.

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Australia will join international talks today on reopening key oil supply route, the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the US-Israeli war on Iran began, Iran's been blocking the strait, causing oil, gas, and fuel prices to soar around the world.

The UK's hosting a virtual meeting today with about 35 countries including Australia to discuss possible diplomatic and political measures to reopen the channel.

The US has not been invited.

Meanwhile, there's been mixed reactions to Anthony Albanese's speech on the Middle East war and fuel crisis.

The PM last night gave a rare national address - the seventh in Australia's history.

He didn't announce any fuel restrictions, but encouraged people to save fuel where possible while "going about their lives as normal."

The Opposition says there should have been more detail and a clearer plan, but communications experts and the chamber of commerice and industry say the message struck the right tone.

And four astronauts are set to blast off to the moon, to help figure out if humans could one day live there.

NASA's Artemis II mission is due to launch from Florida this morning, sending people into space for the first time in over fifty years.

The won't actually land on the moon but will fly around it on a ten day journey to gather data for future missions and space exploration.

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The prime minister's set to announce a billion dollar package for sectors hit hard by the fuel crisis.

It comes after Anthony Albanese made a rare address to the nation about the war in the Middle East and the pressure it's putting on Australian fuel supplies.

The speech was highly anticipated, but the PM did not announce any restrictions like working from homes rules or rationing, instead encouraging people to save fuel where they could.

He'll follow up the address today with an announcement on interest free loans for the trucking, freight, and fertiliser industries.

Meanwhile in the Middle East, Iranian officals are rejecting US president Donald Trumps claim they've asked for a ceasefire.

On social media, Mr Trump's said Iran's "new regime president" requested a ceasefire, but Iran's president's been in position since before the war and does not actually control the Iranian regime - so it's not clear who Mr Trump's referring to.

Iran's foreign ministry says the US president's claims of a ceasefire request are false.

And the first human space voyage since the 1970s is counting down to launch.

Artemis II is set to blast off from Florida this morning, carrying four astronauts on a ten day journey around the moon.

The mission will gather data and test technology for future missions, to help figure out if humans could one day live on the moon.

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For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

The Prime Minister will follow up his national address with a billion dollar program to help industries hit hard by the fuel crisis.

Anthony Albanese has given a rare address to the country about the war in the middle east and the disruption to global fuel supply.

He did not introduce any restrictions like fuel rationing, encouraging people to enjoy their Easter and save fuel where they could.

Mr Albanese's today expected to announce interest free loans for truckies, freight companies and fertiliser producers.

U-S President Donald Trump claims Iran wants a ceasefire, but Iranian officials say America hasn't made any peace offer.

On social media Mr Trump claimed Iran's "new regime president" asked for a ceasefire, which he said the US would only consider if key oil shipping route the Strait of Hormuz was opened.

But it's not clear exactly who Mr Trump's referring to and just a day ago, he said America would not have "anything to do" with securing the Strait.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson has reportedly said the US president's claims of a ceasefire request are "false and baseless."

Donald Trump's also again threatening to pull out of the NATO alliance, calling it a paper tiger.

NATO's is the world's biggest alliance, covering 32 countries across Europe and North America - and the US is a massive part of it.

Mr Trump says US military support isn't reciprocated.

Germany and France have responded by explaining it's a defence alliance, not an attack force.

As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues across the Middle East, there are growing fears Lebanese people displaced by Israel's invasion of the country's south may never be able to return.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 12 hundred people and displaced over a million in Lebanon.

Israel says it's making a security zone to protect it's citizens from attacks by Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah, but it's been accused of making a landgrab for Lebanese territory.

And the countdown's on for humanity's first trip around the moon in more than 50 years.

Nasa's Artemis II mission is set to launch this morning, carrying four astronauts over a ten day trip around the moon.

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For more news, politics and current affairs podcasts go to ABC listen.

With the war in the Middle East impacting fuel and food prices, Easter is bound to look a little different this year.

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered a rare address to the nation as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues.

In his message, Mr Albanese sought to reassure Australians, who've been dealing with skyrocketing fuel prices and the fear supplies will run out.

The PM says he knows people are doing it tough, but he says the government is working to shield Australians from the worst impacts, with measures such as the adoption this week of a national fuel security plan and the halving of the fuel excise for three months from today.

He's also urged Australians to save fuel for people who need it most and to consider taking public transport where possible.

Strikes are continuing across the Middle East, as Israel and Iran trade attacks in the fifth week of the conflict.

Israel says 14 people have been injured in an Iranian strike in Tel Aviv, after it launched a wave of attacks into Iran at suspected regime targets.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks".

The federal Greens are raising concerns that the government's new partnership with major artificial intelligence company, Anthropic, could disadvantage creatives.

The US-based firm has signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government.

It's aimed at boosting local research, skills and investment.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Anthropic says it will align any future Australian operations with the government's expectations for data centres and AI infrastructure.