The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is reporting that a ceasefire extension between the U.S. and Iran in their ongoing war appears to be delaying a resolution, with both nations trading demands. ABC Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran writes that Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, the first such action since the war began, hours after President Donald Trump extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely. Trump stated the extension was to give Iran time to present a unified proposal to end the war. However, Iran is questioning the purpose of negotiations while the U.S. maintains its blockade of Iranian ships and ports. The U.S. insists Iran must ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz before progress can be made. In other news, ABC reports that disability advocates are expressing dismay over the government's overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), with proposed cost-cutting measures expected to save $35 billion over four years. Minister Mark Butler defended the plan, acknowledging the savings would have a material impact on participants. The report also touches on concerns that a government scheme intended to help first-time homebuyers may be contributing to price increases in the entry-level housing market, and that Australian firms lack access to a new AI cybersecurity risk for testing.
