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.

The prime minister says his upcoming national address will recognise the impacts the war in the Middle East is having on Australia's economy.

Anthony Albanese's address will be broadcast on television and radio across Australia at 7 o'clock Eastern daylight time tonight.

It's a significant escalation in the government's response to the war, as fuel prices continue to increase.

The Prime Minister says his address will encourage Australians to look after one another amid the crisis.

US President Donald Trump says his troops will be leaving Iran very soon.

It's been over a month since the US-Israeli war on Iran began, with thousands of people killed in Iran and Lebanon.

Mr Trump initially said the campaign would take around four to six weeks, and now says it will another two or three weeks.

Police have carried out DNA testing confirming fugitive Dezi Freeman was the man killed at a remote property this week, bringing an end to Australia's largest-ever tactical police operation.

Freeman had been on the run for seven months after killing two police officers and injuring a third last August.

police say they can't provide any detail on Freeman's movements between the fatal shooting in Porepunkah last year, and the incident near Victoria's northern border where he was killed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver an address to the nation tonight as the local impact stemming from the Iran war continues to intensify.

It will be broadcast on television and radio at 7 o'clock Eastern daylight time.

It's expected to focus on the government's response to the Middle East conflict and outline ways Australians can assist... including by saving fuel for critical industry.

The last prime minister to deliver a national address was Scott Morrison during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Washington's top diplomat say he can see the finish line in the Iran war.

The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its fifth week, has left thousands of people dead, and sent oil prices skyrocketing.

Israel says they are beyond the halfway point, and US President Donald Trump insists his military campaign will wrap up in two or three weeks.

His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has echoed that and says they're very close.  

Victoria Police has officially confirmed the person shot dead by officers at a property in Victoria's north-east on Monday morning was Dezi Freeman.

Freeman had been on the run for seven months after killing two police officers and injuring a third last August.

A police statement says the investigation into the shooting, on a rural property in northern Victoria, is being conducted by the Homicide Squad.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address the nation about the war in the Middle East tonight.

He's expected to outline the government's response to the conflict and encourage Australians to play their part by saving fuel.

Prime ministers have previously delivered national addresses during the COVID pandemic and the global financial crisis.

The address will be broadcast across all TV and radio networks at 7pm Australian Eastern Daylight time.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says his troops will be leaving Iran very soon.

It's been over a month since the U-S-Israeli war on Iran began, with thousands of people killed in Iran and Lebanon.

Mr Trump initially said the campaign would take around four to six weeks, and now says it will be another two or three weeks.

New gender equity laws for Australian businesses are now in force.

Under the changes, businesses with more than 500 employees must have measurable gender equality targets.

The Federal Workplace Gender Equality Agency says employers must choose targets like getting more women in senior management or narrowing the gender pay gap.

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Heavy strikes have been reported in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, after Israel said it wants to destroy Lebanese border villages in the same way it demolished parts of Gaza.

Israeli soldiers have been inside southern Lebanon for weeks, with Israel saying it's fighting Hezbollah militants, who are also allied with Iran.

The foreign ministers of 10 European countries have  issued a joint statement urging Israel to avoid more conflict in Lebanon, and asking it to respect the country's territorial integrity.

An American journalist has been been kidnapped in Baghdad.

Shelly Kittleson had written for outlets including US-based Middle East news site Al-Monitor, which is calling for her immediate release.

The US says she'd been informed of threats against her, and one of her suspected kidnappers has ties to an Iran-backed militia group.

And Victoria Police remain at a rural property in the state's north-east where they shot fugitive Dezi Freeman dead.

Freeman was on the run for seven months after he shot and killed two police officers last year, fleeing into the  bush.

Police found him and shot him dead on Monday after a three hour stand off....and are still piecing together whether anyone helped him while on the run.

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

Four astronauts are gearing up fly to the moon this week, and Australia's playing a key role.