AS IT HAPPENED: Qantas and Jetstar extend flight cuts; Trump to hear military options as part of efforts to pressure Iran into deal; More fuel shipments bound for Australia

Thanks for following our live coverage of US politics and the conflict in the Middle East.

Here is a recap of today's key developments:

- Anthony Albanese announced a further 100 million litres of jet fuel and 50 million litres of diesel are heading for Australia.

- Australia and South Korea have pledged to work closer to strengthen the fuel supply chain, as the war continues to impact energy markets.

- Supermarket giant Coles says Australians should brace for further grocery price rises as the fuel crisis continues to bite.

- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled by legislators as he put his case for a $US1.5 trillion lift in military spending, which would represent a historic boost to US defence spending.

- FIFA has reaffirmed that Iran will compete at the 2026 World Cup.

- Donald Trump says he will remove tariffs and restrictions on whiskey in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit.

The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war.

Under that rationale, the administration has not yet met the requirement mandated by a 1973 law to seek formal approval from Congress for military action that extends beyond 60 days.

The dispute between the Trump administration and key European allies shows no sign of easing.

The US president has repeated his threat to pull American troops from some NATO countries for what he says is a lack of support in the Middle East, while doubling down on Germany.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz drew Trump's wrath this week for saying the US was being "humiliated" by Iran and criticised the administration for not having an exit strategy in the war.

"The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He also signalled troop cuts in Italy and Spain when asked if they were on the cards.

"Why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely."

The US Congress has approved a short-term extension of a critical surveillance program used by American spy agencies, staving off a looming expiration

Trump and intelligence officials have for weeks urged legislators to renew a key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows agencies such as the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant.

But negotiations have stalled over concerns that the program can incidentally sweep up Americans' communications.

Critics want a warrant requirement when those communications are accessed.

The temporary patch extends the program until June 12.

Jeffrey Epstein's former cellmate claims the paedophile financier wrote a suicide note, which has been kept secret by a court, the New York Times claims.

Fellow inmate at Metropolitan Correctional Centre Nicholas Tartaglione said he found the note within the pages of a graphic novel.

The piece of yellow paper ripped from a legal pad read: "What do you want me to do, bust out crying? Time to say goodbye."

Tartaglione said he found the note after Epstein had been found dead in another cell.

Weeks earlier, Epstein had denied a previous suicide attempt and told staff at the jail that marks on his neck were from Tartaglione attacking him.Epstein was moved into another cell by himself, where he was found dead.

FULL STORY HERE

New surveillance camera footage has been released showing the White House Correspondents' Dinner gunman charging through security.

The footage, released by the US Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia, shows Cole Allen barge through the security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

With most of the guests already in the ballroom, officers are midway through packing up one of the metal detectors at the time of the major breach.

The video shows Allen running past a group of officers while he holds a shotgun.It shows one police officer firing their gun three times at point-blank range as Allen runs past.

Other agents are standing behind Allen when the officer fires unsuccessfully at him, but it does not appear any of them are struck.

The footage is released as the government is facing questions as to how a Secret Service agent was injured in the shooting.

FULL STORY HERE

Supermarket giant Coles says Australians should brace for further grocery price rises as the fuel crisis continues to bite.

The warning came as the company released its third quarter sales results today.

"In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in supplier cost price increase requests and higher costs within our own operations, particularly in fuel, freight and packaging. We are actively managing these and will mitigate impacts where possible, while balancing the needs of customers and suppliers."

Coles says there was "elevated" demand through March for pantry staples as shoppers responded to uncertainty sparked by the Iran war.

There was a spike in demand for items such as tinned tomatoes, long-life milk, spaghetti and rice,.

Coles recorded a 3.1 per cent rise in its quarterly revenue to $10.7 billion.

Qantas has today announced it will continue switching planes to Europe and prolong flight cuts in response the fuel crisis caused by the Iran war.

The carrier says its budget arm Jetstar will continue a 5 per cent reduction in domestic services until September, mainly impacting capital city routes.

Qantas international flights will also be reduced by 2 per cent going into the next financial year.

The Sydney to Bengaluru, or Bangalore service in southern India will be put on hold from August to October.

The airline will also ramp up flights in Europe, with extra Perth to Rome services through October and maintaining Paris flights through Singapore.

Iran's Supreme Leader has vowed to protect the country's nuclear and missile capabilities, which the US has sought to curtail through airstrikes.

In a statement read by a state television anchor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the only place Americans belonged in the Persian Gulf is "at the bottom of its waters" and that a "new chapter" was being written in the region's history.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking over as supreme leader following the killing of his father in the war's opening airstrikes.

His remarks come as Iran's economy is reeling and its oil industry is being squeezed by a US Navy blockade halting its tankers from getting out to sea.

The world economy is also under pressure as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all crude oil is transported.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced today a further 100 million litres of jet fuel and 50 million litres of diesel are heading for Australia.

"We have now secured more than 450 million litres of additional diesel and 100 million litres of additional jet fuel to keep Australia moving," he said.

The fuel deliveries are bound for Darwin, Perth and Brisbane.

The federal government says more are expected.