ABC radio news and current affairs afternoon program reporting on Australia and the world.

The Head of the International Energy Agency is warning that as the Middle East crisis deepens, no country is immune from the worst fuel crisis in decades.

Communities on Queensland's north-west coast are taking shelter as tropical cyclone Narelle moves across the country's north.

The Prime Minister has met with state and territory leaders and announced the setting up of a new fuel supply taskforce to co-ordinate a national response to the oil crisis.

Iran has attacked an airbase in the United Arab Emirates where Australian soldiers are stationed but none were injured.

In a blow to everyone struggling to pay off a mortgage and deal with rising fuel costs, the Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate 4.1 per cent.

The American president has asked NATO to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

As the war in the Middle East continues, the Federal Government is set to release hundreds of millions of litres of fuel from Australia's national stockpiles, as farmers and motorists complain of shortages and soaring prices.

The price of oil has continued to rise as emergency reserves are released around the world. The International Energy Agency, agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil in an effort to maintain stable flow of fuel to try and prevent further price surges.

The Iranian regime has warns its citizens not to hold street protests and said if they do they will be treated as the enemy. The warning comes as rocket attacks across the Middle East escalated.

The US President says the war in the Middle East will be soon be over. Despite the president's statement, the Federal Government has deployed Australian military personnel to the conflict.

The Iranian regime has defied Donald Trump, choosing the son of the slain Ayatollah Khamenei as the country's new Supreme Leader.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that three Australian Navy personnel were on board the US submarine that sank an Iranian ship, but says they were not actively involved in the attack.

The Middle East war has widened with an American submarine sinking an Iranian warship in waters off Sri Lanka.

The Federal Government is deploying crisis teams to the Middle East to help more than 100,000 stranded Australians.

As the war in the Middle East intensifies, there are growing concerns about how the conflict will affect fuel prices and the broader Australian economy.

The war against Iran has escalated with Israel and Hezbollah exchanging rocket fire and towns struck in Lebanon.

As the Liberal Party gears up for the Farrer by-election, it has been revealed the results of the party's review of its disastrous 2025 election campaign won't be made public.

Australians have been warned to leave parts of the Middle East as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise.

A bomb threat to the Prime Minister's Canberra residence has been linked to the opponents of a Chinese dance group.

The Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has begun. Eye witnesses to the Bondi terror attack have been ruled out of giving evidence to avoid prejudicing Naveed Akram's trial.

The Federal Opposition has called for new laws to be introduced which punish people who help families linked to Islamic State, return to Australia.

Some observers think the arrest of the former Prince Andrew will strengthen the campaign of Jeffrey Epstein's accusers and put pressure on US authorities to take action against the late billionaire's associates.

The federal government and opposition are both ruling out helping the Australians in Syria who have links to Islamic State and are trying to return here.

Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner has called on Pauline Hanson to apologise and withdraw her inflammatory comments about Australia's Muslim population.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has unveiled his new front bench, promoting key allies and relegating backers of deposed Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

The Liberal Party leader, Angus Taylor, has set out a new vision for Australia focusing on reducing immigration numbers and winding back government spending.

Angus Taylor has won the Liberal leadership over Sussan Ley and nominated immigration and cost of living as two of his policy priorities.

The federal Liberal party room is set to meet tomorrow morning with Angus Taylor challenging Sussan Ley for the leadership.

The Israeli President Isaac Herzog has visited Canberra just as the Albanese government condemns Israel's plans to expand settlements in the West Bank.

The New South Wales Premier rejects claims of police brutality after violence erupts at a Sydney protest against the visit of the Israeli President.

The visit of the Israeli president Isaac Herzog is prompting protests around the country.

The notorious Melbourne underworld figure Tony Mokbel is now a free man after prosecutors dropped a final drug trafficking case against him.

In South Australia, detectives have declared the disappearance of 4- year-old Gus Lamont is now being treated as a "major crime."

The Federal Government has announced plans to sell nearly 70 Defence Department sites across the country and reinvest the proceeds in the defence force.

In its first meeting of the year, the Reserve Bank has decided to increase the interest rate to 3.85 per cent in an attempt to slow the growth of inflation.

The leader of the National Party, David Littleproud, has retained his position after an attempt to topple him failed this afternoon.

After a stand-off with the states, the Federal Government has agreed to allocate an extra $25 billion to fund public hospitals for the next five years.

The approaching visit to Australia of the Israeli President Isaac Herzog is already dividing opinion, as anger about the Israel-Palestine conflict continues.

In Victoria, fire fighters are battling six major bushfires, three of which are out of control.

A severe heatwave is continuing to grip much of south-eastern Australia. Victoria has recorded a new all-time temperature record, with one town reaching 48.9 degrees.

Australia Day has been observed with citizenship ceremonies and celebrations across the country.

In central west New South Wales, police have flown in specialist officers to search for a gunman suspected of killing three people including a pregnant woman.