Good afternoon.
The Albanese government says it has no plans to send ships to help secure the strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on allies to provide support.
The transport minister, Catherine King, acknowledged the strategic importance of the vital waterway that Iran has mostly blocked to oil tanker traffic, but said sending a ship to the strait was “not something we’ve been asked or we’re contributing to”.
The home affairs department confirmed earlier on Monday that the captain of the Iranian women’s football squad has left Australia after withdrawing her claim of asylum – the fifth member of the cohort to change her mind.
The Guardian’s live coverage of the Middle East crisis continues here.
Top news
Kiis FM banned from airing strong sexual content on Kyle and Jackie O shows for five years
ACM to brief staff after co-owner Antony Catalano charged with assault of a woman
Author Craig Silvey facing more charges after being accused of producing child exploitation material
Nine-year-old Australian boy allegedly caught driving car at 1.30am on major highway
Virgin Australia flight met by firefighters at Melbourne airport after smoke seen coming from vape
In pictures
Rose Byrne embodied Old Hollywood elegance on the Academy Awards red carpet but missed out on the best actress Oscar. One Battle After Another was the big winner at the Academy Awards, collecting six Oscars, including best picture and best director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Conan O’Brien had earlier roasted Timothée Chalamet in his opening monologue after a red carpet stare delivered one of the show’s best viral moments.
What they said …
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“You always find it when you have a good score, the bowlers start getting nervous and you can see in their eyes there.” – Darren Cheek
The Adelaide amateur cricketer and his son, Sam, combined for an unbeaten opening partnership of 590 on Saturday. Darren’s impressive 175 not out off 108 balls was dwarfed by his son, who spanked 402 off 137 balls including 42 sixes and 30 fours.
Full Story
Was Iran really building a nuclear weapon?
Among the many justifications Donald Trump has presented for the US and Israel attacking Iran has been the supposedly imminent threat posed by its nuclear weapons program. But how close was the country really to developing an atomic weapon?
Ian Sample hears from Kelsey Davenport, the director of non-proliferation policy at the Arms Control Association.
Before bed read
What was it like playing in a band with Courtney Love? Melissa Auf der Maur, the one-time Hole bassist, tells all in her new memoir – revealing why she stuck around after her first gig with the “raging, rolling tornado” after the death of Love’s husband, Kurt Cobain, by suicide four months earlier.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: UKE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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