The federal government's pulling non-essential Australian officials out of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as the American-Israeli war on Iran escalates across the Middle East.

Yesterday, the foreign minister urged Aussies to leave the region before it's too late.

Israel says it's now killed top Iranian nuclear scientists, while in Lebanon, authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 600 people and forced 800,000 from their homes.

Despite the war in the Middle East, Australia's Resources Minister Catherine King says the country's well supplied with fuel.

There have been serious concerns for global fuel supply since America and Israel attacked Iran, with Iran now blocking the Strait of Hormuz - a critical oil supply route.

Iran's new Supreme Leader took over this week after US-Israeli strikes killed his father, and has vowed to keep the strait closed while the war continues.

Prices are already up at Australian bowsers and the government yesterday lowered the fuel standards, letting some less environmentally friendly fuel into the market to boost supply.

Queensland police are searching for a man who went missing in the flooded Burnett (BURN-uht) River overnight.

It's understood the man entered the water from a houseboat around 1AM and hasn't been seen since.

It comes amid a major cleanup in Bundaberg...and also in the Katherine region of the NT, which has copped its worst flooding in decades.

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Fears for a global fuel crisis are continuing, with the Australian government and lobby groups urging people not to panic buy.

The concerns stem from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical for global oil supply.

Iran's new leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei took over this week after American-Israeli strikes killed his father, and he says he'll keep the strait shut until American-Israeli attacks stop.

The Australian government's relaxing fuel standards to let more into the market and cautioning against stockpiling, with prices already up at the bowser.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon are continuing, as fighting between Israel and militant group Hezbollah intensifies.

The air strikes have been hitting Beirut's southern suburbs after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel.

Lebanese authorities say Israel's strikes have killed more than 600 people and displaced around 800,000.

Major clean-ups are continuing after flooding in parts of Queensland and the NT.

There's relief payments available for people affected by the Katherine region's worst flooding in decades.

But locals lining up for hours for the payments yesterday were turned away, with a burst sewer main causing further delays.

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Iran's new Supreme Leader says the Strait of Hormuz will stay blocked as long as war with America and Israel continues.

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

As the oil price surges amid Iranian attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the Australian government says an extra 100-million litres of fuel will enter the market for the next two months.

The UN's children's agency says 1,100 children have been killed or injured in war in the Middle East so far. 

The latest search for evidence around the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont has wrapped up in South Australia.

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Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced Australia's fuel standards will temporarily change to allow more supply into the petrol market.

Grace Tame says her speaking engagement in Hobart this morning is her last for the year at this stage, blaming a "smear campaign" against her.

The Northern Territory's Chief Health Officer says the boil water alert for Darwin and surrounding areas has been lifted, and tap water is now safe to drink.

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Iraq says its oil ports have completely stopped operations after Iranian attacks on crude tankers that have killed at least one crew member.

The Mayor of Gympie Glen Hartwig says the flood-related death of two Chinese tourists in southern Queensland is devastating and that he's deeply sorry for the loss.

Former spy boss Dennis Richardson says he didn't inform the prime minister before resigning from his role as a special advisor to the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion -- because it sits outside of government.

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US President Donald Trump insists oil prices will come down substantially, but analysts are being more cautious.

The NAPLAN online assessment was plagued with issues in its first few days, with technology problems forcing 1.3 million students to pause their test. The results are not primarily used to measure an individual's performance but to inform the education sector.