French President Emmanuel Macron's increasingly tested relationship with US counterpart Donald Trump has taken another blow as the European leader issued a stern rebuke over the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron also expressed disgust at comments Trump made at a private event mocking Macron's relationship with his wife Brigitte.

Trump has indicated recently that the US does not consider itself responsible for opening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping passage that Iran has effectively closed off following the recent attacks by Israel and the US.

LIVE UPDATES: 'More to follow': Trump posts video of key Iranian bridge cut in half

"Go to the Strait and just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves," Trump exhorted his NATO allies in his presidential address this week.

"They must grab it and cherish it. They could do it so easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so depend on."

He also previously said "the hard part" had been done, though Iran still has the capacity to strike neighbouring Gulf states and shipping remains bottlenecked and blocked.

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In response, Macron, who is on a presidential tour boosting relations in eastern Asia, said that using force to open the strait was "unrealistic".

He also appeared to rebuke Trump's inconsistencies on Iran, saying, "When we want to be serious, we don't say the opposite of what we said the day before".

Trump is known to be angry at European allies for not joining the US's attack on Iran, although the US did not discuss the campaign with any of them.

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Some nations, including Spain and Italy, have refused to allow their air bases to be used by US aircraft involved in the war.

France has sent troops to the Middle East, but as a defensive gesture to help protect allies there.

Brigitte Macron dragged into fray

While in South Korea, Macron was also asked about comments Trump had reportedly made during a speech at a private event yesterday.

"I called up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly, (he is) still recovering from the right to the jaw," Trump said.

He was likely referring to a video from last year which appeared to show Brigitte Macron shoving her husband in the face while disembarking a plane.

President Macron later said the couple had been joking.

Asked about Trump's new comments, Macron said they "weren't elegant, and they weren't up to par" but otherwise dismissed them as unworthy of attention.

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A tropical low off the coast of Queensland has a moderate chance of intensifying into a cyclone tomorrow, increasing to a high chance on Sunday.

The chances of a cyclone forming remain high through Monday and into the week.

Tropical low 37U is currently hovering between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

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It has an up to 70 per cent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the weekend, but the slow-moving low may not reach Queensland.

It's expected to move west towards Papua New Guinea over the weekend, then head south or south-west through the week.

The BOM predicts the system will stay well away from Australia regardless of whether it remains a tropical low or develops into a cyclone.

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Earlier this week Weatherzone said though it may not make landfall in Australia, it could still impact local weather.

"This convergence of three tropical atmospheric waves is likely to enhance cloudiness and rainfall over the western Pacific Ocean, possibly including parts of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and northern Australia," the weather reporting site said.

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Rain is forecast for many parts of the sunshine state over the Easter long weekend.

Wide-spread scattered showers are predicted along the Queensland coast, particularly near the Cassowary and Daintree regions.

Weatherzone has forecast a high chance of rain in Brisbane today, followed by clear skies and sun from Saturday to Monday.

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A Brisbane woman has been left shaken after being attacked by a pair of e-scooter riders in broad daylight.

Ruby Fraser, 23, was on an afternoon run at a walking track at William Jolly Bridge, near the Brisbane River, on Tuesday when she suddenly felt a tug on her headphones.

Two male e-scooter riders attempted to steal Fraser's headphones, before spitting at her and verbally assaulting her near Lang Parade in Auchenflower, police said.

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They both fled the scene shortly after.

While Fraser was not physically harmed in the incident, the young woman told Today she is "shocked and shattered" and is now afraid to go out running.

"I'm pretty shattered, feeling pretty defeated the last few days. It's beem a tough few days," Fraser said.

"Then they came up within a metre of me, verbally abusing me, projectile spitting on me, giving me the middle finger and saying some pretty hurtful things.

"The thought of going on that run alone again anytime soon just brings me major anxiety."

Fraser was able to quickly move to safety by hiding out at a nearby apartment complex.

LIVE UPDATES: 'More to follow': Trump posts video of key Iranian bridge cut in half

READ MORE: Pam Bondi out as US attorney general after controversial tenure

She called the police and officers began a search for the two young offenders, but were unable to find them.

"I was luckily able to escape up a ramp up the main road and get away from them," Fraser added.

"It was lucky I was there, because there's kilometres [on that track] with no escape."

The two offenders are described as being in their mid to late teens.

The first is described as having a fair complexion with a slim build, around 160 centimetres tall, and wearing a red hoodie and black pants.

The second is also described as having a fair complexion, a proportionate build, approximately 180 centimetres tall and was last seen wearing a black windbreaker jacket and black pants.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.

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Police were called about 4pm after two people were found dead.

A shopping centre in Melbourne's west has been thrust into lockdown after dozens of students clashed in an after-school brawl.

Shoppers were seen scrambling through Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre in Hoppers Crossing after a major brawl unfolded about 4.30pm.

Vision shows a stampede of more than 50 youths surrounding a group of females who were throwing punches and kicks at other girls on the ground.

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Students from multiple schools were involved in the fight, which unfolded in front of terrified shoppers doing last-minute Easter shopping.

Shoppers ran into nearby shops and huddled in store rooms during the lockdown, witnesses told 9News.

Police stepped in and used capsicum spray to disperse the crowd, at which point the students all run from the scene.

No arrests have been made and no injuries have been reported, police said.

The centre has since reopened, but there remains a significant police presence.

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A new transition agency will oversee the sport’s wind‑down and rehoming of dogs.

There's no denying many Australians jump at the chance to share a drink with friends and family during a leisurely public holiday.

But Australia's tight liquor trading laws heavily restrict what can and can't be sold over the Easter long weekend.

Good Friday and the Easter weekend are some of the only days of the year that have specific restrictions on alcohol sales.

If you're wondering what your options are ahead of, or during Easter, here's a state-by-guide to alcohol laws across the weekend.

READ MORE: Easter trading hours 2026: When shops are open this long weekend

NSW

It is prohibited to purchase alcohol takeaway on Good Friday in NSW, so most liquor retail outlets will be closed.

Most licensed premises will offer drinks in-house on Good Friday, though for some you may need to sit down with a meal.

Saturday will see regular trading hours for licensed premises and retail outlets.

On Easter Sunday, normal trading hours resume for licensed premises but most retail outlets will be restricted again and closed.

Victoria

The rules in Victoria are similar to those in NSW, with all bottle shops closed tomorrow.

On-premises purchases are allowed and will be offered at venues, restaurants and cafes.

Venues are generally allowed to start serving from noon, but if your local go-to is a brewery or a distiller, you can head over at 10am.

It's safe to say regular trading hours will resume Easter Saturday and Sunday – Victoria's liquor laws don't mention any particular restrictions.

Queensland

Similar to Victoria, Good Friday affects trading hours of licensed premises in Queensland.

Takeaway alcohol can't be sold, so retail outlets will be closed.

You can buy drinks at venues from 10am to midnight, but only with a sit-down meal.

READ MORE: Easter long weekend weather forecast: The states and territories set for a drenching

But beware – this is only permitted for substantial meals, roast beef with vegetables, lasagna, a stir-fry or a curry with rice, as per the state government's website.

You won't be served alcohol if you only order light snacks like hot chips, an entree or a kid's meal.

Furthermore, you'll only be served alcohol one hour before and after your meal – so keep an eye on the time.

Regular trading hours resume Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

READ MORE: The Easter long weekend is almost here – but not all Aussies get the same public holidays

South Australia

South Australia had all alcohol sale restrictions lifted after legal reforms several years ago.

That means there's no restrictions on the sale of alcohol on Good Friday, and for the rest of the weekend.

Venues can choose to be open over the weekend for purchases and takeaways.

Some liquor stores will be open all weekend, while others will close to observe the Easter publi holidays.

Western Australia

Liquor stores will be closed on Good Friday in Western Australia.

However, people will be allowed to have a Good Friday drink with a meal in most clubs, hotels, pubs, and restaurants.

Clubs will remain open until 3am.

Regular trading hours resume for the rest of the weekend.

READ MORE: All the roads where double demerits don't apply this Easter long weekend

Northern Territory

Takeaway sales are restricted on Good Friday.

You can still buy drinks at venues like restaurants, bars and clubs between 11am to 9pm so long as you buy a full, sit-down meal as well.

No finger foods, sandwiches and pies for those bargaining for a drink too – the territory's website says.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT doesn't have any restrictions on alcohol sales or trading hours on Good Friday.

Despite this, many liquor retailers are still choosing to close, including Liquorland, BWS and Dan Murphy's.

They'll reopen for the rest of the long weekend across the territory.

Tasmania

Tasmania remains much the same with no restrictions on sales or trading hours over the long weekend.

But again, most retail stores will shut their doors on Good Friday, outside of select Liquorland stores.

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Australia would suffer a sharp recession under a prolonged war in Iran, according to an Oxford Economics report released as US President Donald Trump declared plans for three more weeks of intensified attacks.

The report ran a scenario where the global conflict continued and kept the Strait of Hormuz disrupted for six months, finding world growth would slow by 1.2 per cent and oil prices would rise above $US150 ($218) per barrel.

This would push global inflation to 7.7 per cent, near the 2022 peak.

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While this scenario would be temporary and eventually ease, the report found it would push the Australian economy into a "sharp recession". 

This would see GDP, the indicator for economic growth, fall 1.1 per cent by September.

"Excluding the pandemic, this would be the sharpest quarterly fall since the early 1990s," economist and report author Harry McAuley wrote.

Industries with the highest reliance on fuel, like transport, manufacturing and mining, would suffer the most.

The report noted that the opportunity for de-escalation of the war in Iran was "narrowing", with a prolonged conflict becoming increasingly likely.

Trump used his national address today to declare that war operations in Iran will intensify over the coming two to three weeks.

He also appeared to wash his hands of responsibility for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after receiving little support from allies he'd continuously tried to cajole into doing the job.

"(Countries) should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on," the president said.

READ MORE: 'We'll come through this': PM details $1bn plan, defends lacklustre national address

"Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait and get it, take it. Protect it, use it for yourselves."

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock warned that the war in Iran posed a "global recession risk" last month when her colleagues met to raise the cash rate for the second time in a row due to the global situation and a surprise inflation jump in January.

"We don't want to have a recession, but if it's hard to get inflation down, then we're going to have to deal with that, possibly," she said at the time.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has tried to downplay the risk of a recession, but has admitted that the longer the global conflict continues, the longer it will take for the economy to recover.

"The longer the shock drags out, obviously, the harsher the consequences for our economy, whether that's measured by inflation or by growth or by impacts on the labour market," he said at a press conference yesterday.

"I would remind people that we go into this quite severe global economic shock from a position of genuine relative economic strength."

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Australia's last technical recession occurred during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and ended almost 30 years of back-to-back growth. 

Before that, the last recession was the "recession we had to have" in the early 1990s.

A recession is most commonly defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth in real GDP but the RBA notes it can have other, broader elements.

Australia's latest unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.3 per cent in February, rising from 4.1 per cent in January. 

While the figure alone is relatively low, it has been tracking upwards since October 2022.

The highest unemployment rate in the past decade was 7.4 per cent in June 2020 during the pandemic.

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Air NZ has apologised to affected passengers and said safety was a priority.

Angus Taylor has taken aim at Anthony Albanese following his national address last night.