Trump tells allies to get own oil | ABC News Top Stories
·2 min
The episode opens with US President Donald Trump's directive to Western allies to secure their own oil as the US-Israeli war in the Middle East causes global fuel supply havoc. Trump singles out the UK and suggests taking oil from the Strait of Hormuz, a key route blocked by Iran. Iran's armed forces respond by announcing they will target US companies in the region, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Tesla, and Boeing, starting today. In Australia, the government passes new rules to tackle high fuel costs, including a bill to halve the tax on fuel, though motorists are warned it may take a week to affect prices. Australia also passes a bill to create strategic reserves for fuel and critical minerals, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese focusing on supply over restrictions. Indonesia is rationing fuel and introducing work-from-home rules. The United Nations body Unifil opens investigations into the deaths of three peacekeeping troops in Lebanon from two separate explosions. This occurs as Israel expands its military assault in southern Lebanon, planning to destroy border villages similarly to parts of Gaza. Unifil will examine the origins of the projectiles that killed its peacekeepers. House prices across capital cities have risen more than 2% in the first quarter, with data from analytics company Cotality showing a widening divide: Perth's prices surged over 7%, while Melbourne's fell 0.9%. Economists expect house prices to slow due to interest rate changes and the Middle East war. Scientists warn that a beloved Australian bird could be extinct within 40 years.
