The Australian government's letting oil companies dip into their reserves, amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked global fears about fuel supplies, with Iran blocking a key oil supply route.

Australia yesterday announced it'll add some less environmentally friendly fuel into domestic supply and now the energy minister's announced he's lowering the amount fuel companies must legally keep in stock in Australia - letting them use some of the fuel they have stored.

The Opposition's asked the government to guarantee Australia won't run out of fuel, and while Minister Chris Bowen has stopped short of any promises, he's reiterated the country's supply is secure.

Meanwhile, the United Nations is urging all parties involved in the war on Iran to stop hostilities.

The UN's refugee agency says the conflict has displaced up to 3.2 million Iranians and 800,000 people in Lebanon

And NASA's cleared a rocket for a launch with four astronauts set to be the first people on the moon in over 50 years.

Scientists have set an early April 1st launch window for  Artemis II after completely the latest round of repairs.

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The US-Israeli war on Iran has killed or displaced thousands of people. 

The opposition's urging the government to guarantee Australia won't run out of fuel amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The federal government's relaxed fuel standards, letting some less environmentally friendly fuel into the market to boost supply.

It's reiterated Australia is prepared to handle Iran's blockage of a key oil supply route, and is urging people not to panic buy.

But Deputy Opposition leader Jane Hume's asking the government to promise fuel won't run out, while One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce calls for fuel rationing in cities.

Meanwhile, there's concern a U-S suggestion to lift sanctions on Russian oil producers could undermine Ukraine's war effort.

The U-S is considering the move to ease supply pressures amid its war against Iran.

But Estonia - which neighbours Russia  - says America shouldn't relinquish its pressure on Russia while its attention is on Iran.

And Qantas has agreed to settle a class action by customers who's flights where cancelled because of COVID.

The class action alleged the airline breached its contract around refunds.

The airline has indicated to the Federal Court it'll pay out $105 million to the class action, but hasn't said it's guilty of doing anything wrong.

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The government says Australia's fuel supply is safe, despite the blockage of a key oil supply route in the middle East.

Iran's new Supreme leader says he'll keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz as long as US-Israeli attacks continue.

US officials say the American navy is planning to escort vessels through the strait.

With prices already soaring, the Australian government's letting less environmentally friendly fuel into the market to boost supply, and is urging people not to panic buy.

Resources Minister Catherine King says the government will take further action if required to make sure Australia doesn't run out of fuel.

Israel says it's killed top Iranian nuclear scientists, while Lebanese officials say Israeli strikes on Beirut have killed 600 people and displaced around 800,000.

While all eyes are on the US-Israeli war with Iran, Israel's military's also dropped the prosecution of five reservists accused of raping a Palestinian man in a detention centre.

The incident was caught on CCTV in 2024, sparking debate about Israel's treatment of Palestinians in its prisons.

Queensland authorities are searching for a man who went missing in the flooded Burnett River near Bundaberg overnight.

As the cleanup continues in the region, the weather bureau says there are concerns further west in Longreach.

Meanwhile in the NT, The Insurance Council of Australia has declared widespread flooding around Katherine a "significant event".

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Flooding is receding in parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory as the clean up gets underway.

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.

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