The weather bureau says Tropical Cyclone Narelle could dump half a metre of rain in parts of far north Queensland as it tracks west across Cape York.

The system crossed the coast north-east of Coen as a category four cyclone this morning, and a cyclone warning remains in place for areas between Lockhart River and Cape Melville and west from Mapoon to Pormpuraaw.

The bureau says more than 200 millimetres of rain is expected to fall across the region over the next 24 to 48 hours, with totals in excess of 500mm possible for areas north of Cooktown.

The system's expected to move into into the Gulf of Carpentaria late tonight before impacting the Northern Territory from late tomorrow.

Fresh military strikes have been felt in the Israeli city of Jerusalum and the Iranian capital Tehran as the Israeli Prime Minister held his first media conference since the war began, saying it may end sooner than people think.

Benjamin Netanyahu also confirmed US president Donald Trump didn't know about Israel's plans to attack Iran's main gas field and that he's agreed not to do it again.

Meanwhile, European leaders are demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a moratorium on strikes on water and energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

As the war in the Middle East disrupts the global oil market, the federal Energy Minister has announced the government will keep subsidising Australia's two remaining oil refineries.

Chris Bowen says the government will continue the Fuel Services Payment scheme which pays refineries a certain amount during loss-making periods.

It comes as economists call for Australia to start introducing measures to save fuel now, such as encouraging companies to allow more people to work from home.

Wild weather is lashing far north Queensland after Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall this morning as a category four system north-east of Coen.

A cyclone warning remains in place from Lockhart River to Cape Melville and west between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw.

The weather bureau says very destructive wind gusts over 250 km/h are possible near the centre as it crosses the Cape York Peninsula.

Meanwhile hundreds of people have been evacuated from the remote Northern Territory community of Numbulwar as others in the eastern Top End prepare to "shelter in place" ahead of the expected arrival of the cyclone this weekend.

US President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed not to attack Iranian energy facilities.

His comments follow a sharp rise in oil and gas prices after Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field on Wednesday.

Iran retaliated by targeting a major gas facility in Qatar.

Meanwhile the death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes against claimed Hezbollah targets has now reached more than 1000.

Three people have been taken to hospital, following turbulence on a flight into Sydney.

Ambulance crews were called to Sydney Airport earlier this morning over reports of passengers being hurt during turbulence on a Delta Airlines flight.

Five people were assessed by paramedics at the scene, with three taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with minor injuries.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle has begun crossing the far north Queensland Coast, north-east of Coen.

The category four system is expected to lash parts of the region with wind gusts of up to 270 kilometres an hour near its core and heavy rain.

A cyclone warning remains in place from Lockhart River to Cape Melville and the to west between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw.

The weather bureau says the system will continue to move west across the Cape, and is expected to track just to the north of Aurukun later this afternoon and into this evening as a category two system.

Dozens of countries including Australia are pushing for the urgent creation of a humanitarian corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, so commercial ships and their crews can be safely evacuated from the Middle East.

The International Maritime Organisation, the UN agency for the safety and security of shipping, has been holding an emergency session in London to discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict.

At least seven seafarers have been killed, several others have been severely injured, and around 20,000 remain stranded on their vessels in the Persian Gulf or Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke have been heckled in Sydney's south west, during Eid celebrations.

The PM and minister were invited by the Lebanese Muslim Association to the service at Lakemba mosque, where today 50-thousand-Muslims are expected to attend.

During speeches, several worshippers could be heard shouting "genocide supporters", "get them out of here" and "go home" before the PM was led out of the mosque.

The hecklers were escorted out shortly after by security and community members.

Far north Queensland residents are taking shelter with Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossing the east coast of the Cape York peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Melville as a category four system.

A cyclone warning's been issued for most of Cape York, including areas from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery and to the west between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw.

Forecasters say the cyclone could bring wind gusts of up to 250 kilometres an hour near its centre and will likely dump heavy rain which could lead to flash flooding across the warning area.

The Israeli prime minister says Iran can no longer make ballistic missiles and the middle east war could end sooner than people think.

In his first press conference since the start of the war, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel didn't drag the US into it, and Israel has decimated Iran's ability to enrich uranium, the main ingredient needed to make nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile US President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed not to attack Iranian energy facilities following a sharp rise in oil and gas prices after Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field.

The Matildas will be aiming to win their first major trophy in a more than a decade when they host Japan in the Asian Cup final in Sydney tomorrow night.

It's been 16 years since the Matildas won the 2010 Asian Cup in a penalty shoot-out against North Korea.

The Matildas are likely to need to produce something special again when they meet the world number six Japan, which has scored 28 goals in the tournament and conceded just one.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle set to cross the coast of far north Queensland shortly as category four system.

A cyclone warning is in place from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery and to the west from Mapoon to Pormpuraaw.

Very destructive winds of more than 250 kilometres an hour are possible near the eye of the cyclone as it crosses the coast.

Northern Territory communities will be next in Narelle's firing line, with the cyclone set to hit the NT this weekend bringing more rain to saturated catchments.

Israel's Prime Minister claims Iran no longer possesses the capacity to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles.

Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons was among the key goals stated by Israel and the US in launching attacks on Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't provided a possible timeline to the end of the war, and rejects claims Israel is the driving force behind America's involvement.

Meanwhile gas prices have jumped to four-year highs and oil prices have risen again after an escalation of attacks by Israel and Iran on gas fields.

Three men who alleged that actor Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted them have settled their civil claims before going to trial at the High Court in London.

The three men alleged the Academy Award-winning star abused them at times between 2000 and 2013, claims he denied.

Civil trials were due to start later this year, but the presiding judge last week ordered them to be paused, saying the parties had agreed to the terms of the settlement.

Far north Queensland is set to be slammed by Cyclone Narelle in the coming hours, having weakened to a category four system overnight.

The storm is expected to have a severe impact when it makes landfall this morning in the Coen area on Cape York Peninsula, bringing dangerous and destructive winds.

Heavy rain, which could lead to flash flooding between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation, is likely to extend into inland areas west of Coen today.

Once making landfall, the system will weaken before gaining strength again as it crosses warm waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria and heads towards the Northern Territory.

The Albanese government is exploring options to impose a new windfall tax on gas companies, as they rake in profits from the war in the Middle East.

The ABC can reveal the prime minister's department has requested treasury work up options to further tax gas giants, and reform the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax ahead of the May budget.

It comes as the government considers how it can protect Australia, and its budget bottom line, from the economic impact of the war.

The UN's maritime body is pushing for the creation of a humanitarian corridor in the Persian Gulf to evacuate stranded vessels and seafarers, after holding emergency talks in London.

Following two days of talks about the Middle East war, the International Maritime Organization said a corridor in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz should be established as "a provisional and urgent measure".

Currently 20,000 seafarers are stranded on around 2,000 commercial ships in the region.

Residents in Far North Queensland are bracing for winds of up 260 kilometres per hour as Tropical Cyclone Narelle intensifies into a category five system as it approaches the Cape York peninsula.

The cyclone is forecast to remain at category five as it makes landfall this morning.

Authorities are warning of the cyclone's intensity and urging residents to prepare, with councils issuing Take Shelter Now warnings for the communities of Hope Vale, Lockhart River area, Cook shire, Coen and Port Stewart area and Wujal Wujal.

Narelle is expected to track west and cross into the Northern Territory from late Saturday, with Groote Eylandt, Numbulwar, Borroloola, Ngukurr, Gapuwiyak and Bulman now issued a cyclone watch.

+++

The Prime Minister's department has asked for options to impose a new tax on gas companies, to collect a share of profits during the Middle East war.

A document prepared by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, seen by the ABC, has asked treasury to model "new levy options" as a means of taxing windfall gas company profits.

The request comes as the government tries to shield Australians and its budget from the economic shock of war in the Middle East.

+++

Global oil and gas prices have increased further after Iran and Israel traded strikes on key energy facilities.

After Israel struck the South Pars gas facility in Iran, Iran retaliated by attacking the world's largest liquified natural gas facility, the Ras Laffan gas hub.

Qatar's prime minister has warned that Iran's a very dangerous escalation and has demanded an immediate end to the strikes.

+++

The death toll in Lebanon has surpassed one-thousand, after more than two weeks of deadly Israeli strikes against claimed Hezbollah targets.The Lebanese health ministry says at least 118 children are among the dead, while more than 2500 are injured.

The milestone comes as Israel intensifies its strikes in the south of the country, attacking bridges across the Litani River.

Meanwhile the US Department of Defence is seeking a huge cash injection to continue its war efforts in Iran, with the pentagon reportedly requesting an additional 200 billion US dollars in funding.

It comes as President Trump says he's not sending ground troops to Iran but says the US will do whatever is necessary to keep the prices of gas and oil down.

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

The weather bureau  says tropical cyclone Narelle is currently 240 kilometres north-east of Cooktown in Far North Queensland and moving west at 27 kilometres an hour.

It's now expected to maintain its Category 5 strength when it makes landfall in the Cape Yorke Peninsula in the morning - roughly around 7 o'clock.

A warning zone extends from Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation and between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw.

Iran has intensified its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours' energy infrastructure, setting Qatari liquefied natural gas facilities ablaze after Israel's attack on its main natural gas field in a major escalation in the Middle East war.

Production had already been halted at the Qatari facility after earlier attacks, but officials say the latest wave of missiles caused "sizeable fires and extensive further damage."

Authorities in Abu Dhabi say it's been forced to shut down key energy facilities.

And Saudi ​Arabia says its Red Sea port of Yanbu, ​currently its only export outlet for ‌its ⁠crude oil, has also been targeted, but with minimal ⁠impact.

Consumer advocates have welcomed the ACCC's decision to investigate Australia's fuel market, following reports of possible corruption and price gouging in regional areas.

The watchdog will also examine whether diesel supply has been restricted to independent wholesalers servicing remote communities, with major fuel companies including BP, Ampol, Mobil and Viva Energy in focus.

Cyclone Narelle is bearing down on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland with multiple alerts is sued for the region.

It's now about 275 kilometres north-east of Cooktown.

The system is expected to make landfall tomorrow morning in the Coen area at its current Category 5 strength - or possibly a severe Category 4.

it's then forecast to keep tracking west and cross the NT coast as a category three system on Saturday

US President Donald Trump has denied reports that he knew in advance about an Israeli attack on an Iranian gas field.

The South Pars gas field was struck by Israeli fire, in an attack that has been condemned by many regional and Western leaders. Iran retaliated by attacking Qatar's energy-industry hub, Ras Laffan.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the US President knew about Israel's attack in advance and supported it, but Donald Trump has since denied that.

He's promised that no more attacks will be made by Israel to the South Pars field - unless, Iran attacks Qatar again.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the government is following through on its promise to release fuel reserves.

Mr Bowen said 519 million litres of petrol and diesel will be directed to regional Australia.

It comes after the prime minister Anthony Albanese established a national task-force to ensure fuel flows to affected regions.