UK prosecutors have confirmed they are providing advice to police during the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested as part of a police investigation and detained for hours earlier this year, is being investigated over suspicions he possibly passed on classified information to Epstein while acting as the UK's trade envoy.

The former prince was released without charge after his arrest and two properties where he had resided were searched by officers.

ANALYSIS: Was Albanese's prime-time address really worth all that bother?

Now, multiple UK outlets, including the BBC, are reporting the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it is providing advice to police on the case.

"We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force's investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested," a statement provided to the BBC read.

"We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man."

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Mountbatten-Windsor is the 66-year-old man, while the 72-year-old man is understood to be former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, who has also been linked to Epstein.

Mandelson is suspected of passing on market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a UK government minister.

Both Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson have had communications with Esptein published by the US Justice Department.

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Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing in his association with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in US custody in 2019.

Mandelson, who was arrested and released without charge earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has claimed he was unaware of any criminal activities by Epstein and expressed sympathy for his victims.

Crown prosecutors often provide advice to police during investigations, particularly those that are high-profile or stretch back years.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

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With the Easter break right around the corner, last-minute chocolate purchases for the long weekend will be a little harder than usual, as supermarkets and big stores shut nationwide.

While most stores will be shut on Friday, there are some exceptions and varying trading hours until Monday.

Here's what you need to know about when and where you can shop this Easter long weekend.

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Westfield

Good Friday

Westfield shopping centres will be closed on Good Friday.

For the rest of the long weekend, they will be mostly open with varying trading hours.

Easter Saturday

Most Westfield centres will be open from 9am to 5pm, with some stores across NSW and Victoria with varying trade hours.

Easter Sunday and Monday

Westfield centres will open with reduced public holiday hours in all states, except South Australia, where they will be closed.

Opening hours vary by store, and customers are encouraged to check the Westfield website for trading hours.

Coles

Good Friday

All Coles stores across Australia will be shut except for some in Western Australia and South Australia.

Easter Saturday

All stores will be open with reduced trading hours in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. 

Easter Sunday and Monday

All Coles stores will be open with reduced trading hours, except some in South Australia, which will be closed.

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Woolworths

Good Friday

All Woolworths stores across Australia will be shut except for some in Western Australia, South Australia and the Brisbane Airport store.

Easter Saturday

On Easter Saturday, all Woolworths stores will be open, with certain Metro stores closed nationwide. 

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, a large number of stores across the ACT, NSW, South Australia and the Northern Territory will be closed.

Most Woolworths stores across other states are expected to remain open with a few exceptions. 

Easter Monday

Most Woolworths stores across Australia will be open on Easter Monday, with exceptions in some states.

Customers are encouraged to check the Woolworths website for their local store hours over the long weekend.

Aldi

Good Friday

Aldi stores will be closed nationwide on Good Friday. 

Easter Saturday

All Aldi stores will be open on Easter Saturday. 

Easter Sunday

Stores will be open on Easter Sunday with varying hours across NSW, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT.

Easter Monday 

All Aldi stores will be open on Easter Monday, with varying hours in South Australia.

Customers are encouraged to check the Aldi website for their local store hours over the long weekend.

Target

Good Friday

All Target stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

All Target stores across Australia will be open on Easter Saturday except for some stores across Victoria, Queensland and NSW.

Easter Sunday

All Target stores across Australia will be open on Easter Sunday except for some stores across the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and NSW.

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Kmart

Good Friday

All Kmart stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

Kmart stores will be open on Easter Saturday with varying hours in some locations.

Easter Sunday

Most Kmart stores will be open on Easter Saturday, with some closed in NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.

Bunnings Warehouse

Bunnings stores will be closed on Good Friday and open across the remainder of the Easter long weekend.

Easter Sunday trading hours vary by location, with some stores closed.

Customers are encouraged to check the Bunnings website for their local store hours.

Big W

Good Friday 

All Big W stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

Big W stores across Australia will be open with reduced trading hours in some states.

Easter Sunday

Stores nationwide will be open except in NSW, South Australia and the ACT.

Easter Monday

Stores nationwide will be open except in South Australia.

READ MORE: How many days does Australia have left of fuel?

BWS

Good Friday

All BWS stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday except for a select few in South Australia.

Easter Saturday

All BWS stores across Australia will be open on Easter Saturday.

Easter Sunday and Monday

Most BWS stores will be open nationwide with limited trading hours.

Customers are encouraged to check the BWS website for their local store hours.

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Dan Murphy's

Good Friday

All BWS stores across Australia will be closed on Good Friday.

Easter Saturday

All Dan Murphy's stores will be open with normal trading hours. 

Easter Sunday

Most Dan Murphy's stores will be open with normal trading hours except Cellar stores, which will be closed. 

Easter Monday

All Dan Murphy's stores will be open from 10am to 7pm. 

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Donald Trump has decided the rest of the world will clean up his oil spill.

After the US president claimed US troops will leave Iran within "two weeks, maybe three", there has been tentative relief over the possibility of the conflict in the Middle East winding down.

But as for the Strait of Hormuz and the global oil crisis the conflict triggered? Well, that's everyone else's problem.

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Trump appears to have washed his hands of the Strait of Hormuz and has little sympathy for US allies who are grappling with soaring oil prices.

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!"

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the world's oil supply, has been effectively closed since the war in began after Iran began targeting commercial ships.

For some time, an effective end to the war on Iran has felt dependent on prying back open the strait.

Now, it seems, Trump is more than willing to finish the US campaign without loosening Tehran's grip on the waterway.

However, Trump's suggestion that the US will not assist in reopening the strait to ships might be a slight exaggeration.

FUEL CRISIS: Servos cut prices as fuel excise reduction passes Parliament

Adjunct professor with the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute Jennifer Parker said she expects there will be heavy US involvement in any diplomatic negotiation with Iran.

"You've got to remember with President Trump, he'll say one thing one day and another thing another day," Parker told nine.com.au.

"I don't think, despite Trump's comments, that the US will not be engaged in [opening the strait].

"I think those tweets are unhelpful. But I don't think that the US will walk away from that problem."

The Trump administration previously threatened to forbibly take control of the Strait of Hormuz "one way or another".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it may happen a few different ways, one of which could see a coalition of nations intervene to allow traffic back into the waterway.

Parker said, even if the conflict ends overnight, it will take a delicate operation to ensure ships can safely pass through.

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"There'll need to be a consistent campaign of making sure that civilian ships feel safe to go through the Strait," she said.

"And that will involve military patrols, it may well involve some escorts, it will involve strategic communications and broader naval presence.

"And then my view is that that will involve a coalition of some sorts."

Parker said she is almost certain that the US would be part of this coalition, despite his recent verbal retaliation against key allies.

"I think that they will play a leading role, as they have always done, in terms of the maritime security around that Strait," she added.

But Trump's words on Truth Social will carry some meaning.

The president's worldview stems from the Reagan-era of an aggressive US superpower, where allies will respond swiftly to a call to arms.

Parker doesn't believe this is entirely "unfair".

"Where it becomes unreasonable, though, is the way that Trump expresses that," she added.

"You also can't say that alliances also don't depend on trust and political suitability.

"I do think that it does undermine public trust in those alliances."

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The economic shocks from the war in the Middle East will remain for months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared in a rare prime-time address to the nation, suggesting Australians should try to save fuel where possible.

In a short speech broadcast on all networks tonight, he outlined the measures the government had already taken to address the soaring cost of petrol and diesel and promised to do "everything we can to protect Australia from the worst of it".

Albanese said Australians should "go about your business and your life as normal" but urged motorists not to take more fuel than they needed ahead of Easter holidays and called on commuters to consider public transport.

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He admitted it was "hard to be positive" as the war in the Middle East "caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history".

"Australia is not an active participant in this war, but all Australians are paying higher prices because of it," he said.

"I know that you're seeing this at the servo and at the supermarket, and I understand farmers and truckies, small businesses and families are doing it tough, and the reality is, the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months."

In a speech light on detail and without any new announcements aimed at addressing the crisis, Albanese said national cabinet had adopted a fuel security plan and leaders from both sides of politics were working to respond.

Albanese listed the 26-cents-a-litre halving of the fuel excise and the temporary removal of the heavy vehicle user charge for truck drivers – passed overnight by the Senate – as key ways the government had acted to help.

"We are working to bring the price of fuel down, to make more fuel here, and to keep it on shore and get more fuel here, using our strong trading relationships with our region to bring more petrol, diesel and fertiliser to Australia," Albanese said.

The prime minister said it was the "Australian way" for people to want to "do their bit" to help.

"You should go about your business and your life as normal," he said.

"Enjoy your Easter and if you're hitting the road, don't take more fuel than you need. 

"Just fill up like you normally would. think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries, and over coming weeks if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so."

Albanese left voters with a parting message that the "months ahead may not be easy".

"No government can promise to eliminate the pressures that this war is causing," he said. 

"I can promise we will do everything we can to protect Australia from the worst of it. 

"These are uncertain times. But I'm absolutely certain of this, we will deal with these global challenges the Australian way, working together and looking after each other, as we always have."

'This wasn't so much about plans and policies'

Nine chief political editor Charles Croucher said there wasn't much detail in the speech but it was more about assuring Australians there was a strategy to deal with the crisis.

"This wasn't so much about plans and policies," he told A Current Affair's Ally Langdon straight after the address aired.

"It felt to me, this was about addressing rumours and stopping any kind of whispering campaign, WhatsApp messages or Facebook status updates that say, 'We're going back into lockdown' – stopping that now, before the Easter long weekend, when everyone goes home or goes to family functions or just goes and enjoys themselves."

Croucher said it seemed the government was taking the "anti-COVID approach" to dealing with the fuel crisis.

"Remember back five years ago, we'd all gather around to hear a premier say, if we could stay in our house or leave their house tonight, that's different to here.

"Now the prime minister is saying this is a long-term strategy. 

He's the one that's going to be addressing the nation and also, here's what you can do. In no way was it here's what you have to do."

Rare step for PM to take

The last time a prime minister gave a national address of this scale was during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Scott Morrison spoke to the people of Australia on the evening of Thursday, March 12, as borders slammed shut and the country went into the first of many lockdowns.

He outlined government plans to manage the impacts of the virus and reassured Aussies that "we are well prepared and are well equipped to deal with it".

About 12 years prior, Kevin Rudd addressed the nation regarding the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008.

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"I have absolute confidence that as a nation, we will get through these tough times together," he said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed US President Donald Trump will "provide an important update on Iran" at 9pm on Wednesday (midday Thursday AEST).

Leavitt's announcement came just hours after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that US forces could leave Iran in "two or three weeks".

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Anthony Albanese has urged Australians not to take more fuel than they need in his address.

ANALYSIS: The Foreign Minister has gone to Rarotonga to meet PM Mark Brown.

Police are assisting with traffic management near Waitematā Train Station in the CBD.

CCTV footage shows the man went into the water just after 11pm on Tuesday.

One local said the ‘playful beasts of the sea’ swam under the wharf.

Motorists around the country could be waiting days for the new fuel excise cut to bring petrol pump relief, but some servos are moving quickly.

Cameras at a Canberra service station early this morning caught the moment prices dropped, with e10 falling from $2.57 per litre to $2.27 per litre, and diesel dropping from $3.21 per litre to just under $3 per litre.

But other drivers have been warned it could take time for the excise cut to filter through around the country, with calls for the ACCC to crack down on companies that don't comply.

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The opposition and the crossbench expressed reservations but got behind the government's push to halve the tax, cutting 26.3 cents per litre from fuel prices to save about $19 on a 65-litre tank.

But calls have also emerged for more radical changes such as drilling more Australian oil, forcing electric vehicle drivers to pay up and trying to pressure US President Donald Trump to end his war in Iran more quickly.

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The three-month fuel excise reduction passed the Senate last night along with new laws offering financial guarantees for companies buying fuel in the volatile world market.

Labor Senator Deborah O'Neill said the reduction would make a difference for people and businesses struggling with the rapid rise in fuel prices.

"It's not just farmers. It's not just families or small businesses that are feeling this," she told the Senate tonight. 

"It's providers of the heavy machinery that builds this nation that's putting all the essential infrastructure in for the housing development that we want, that's building the roads that we need for the productivity gains that this country deserves mind to all of those things, and we need to keep the businesses afloat that are building our nation."

Both the opposition and One Nation claimed credit for the policy, with the Liberals going as far as to try to make the government officially acknowledge that they proposed the cut first.

"This amendment makes clear that this policy originated with the Coalition, that the government delayed in acting, it failed to provide offsets, and that uncertainty remains around GST arrangements and fuel security," Senator Clair Chandler told the Senate.

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The change, along with the Greens' attempt to include language criticising the government for supporting "President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu's illegal war", were voted down.

Independent David Pockock echoed concerns raised by a string of economists that the discount at the bowser would likely push the Reserve Bank towards raising interest rates again, costing mortgage-holders more in the long run.

But he, both parties and several other crossbenchers still supported the bill.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the excise cut would apply from today but would take time for the impact to be seen at the browser, particularly in regional areas with less turnover.

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"The fuel in the tank at the service station might have been there for days. They have already paid the tax," he said yesterday.

"So please, if you turn up tomorrow and the price has not gone down, they are just waiting for the new petrol with the lower tax to come in."

He said the government had considered inflation concerns but decided prices were high and "unlikely to plummet any time soon".

"We don't see people racing down saying, 'The situation's solved and Albo's fixed it and now we'll buy more petrol', because that's not what we think, and I don't think that's what Australians would think," he said.

There are concerns from some that even the sizable discount won't be enough.

"It'll be burnt up in a couple of weeks. It'll have no effect at all," Wholesale Sleeper Co director Murray Flakelar said.

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg today backed Queensland Premier David Crisafulli's call for the state to refine its own oil.

"The fact that we have 40 years of oil under the ground that we haven't been able to get out because of the environmental laws is a bloody disgrace, frankly," he said.

Bowen was cautiously open to the idea.

"I think these things should always be determined on economics and engineering, not on ideology," he said.

"If there's oil there that can be easily and cheaply extracted, sure, and it replaces oil imports. Great. 

"But there have been many attempts to do this."

Another suggestion is to Fast track a long-discussed road user charge for electric vehicle users to replace some of the money lost in fuel excise.

"Well everyone should be paying their fair share and EVs use the road and those roads need to be repaired," former Nationals leader David Littleproud said.

National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association chief executive Rohan Martin said it was important such a move didn't disrupt EV sales and Bowen said the fuel tax would apply for three months whereas EV take-up would be here for years.

The Greens said the country should invest more heavily in renewable energy to reduce reliance on foreign fossil fuels.

Things are bad now but there are warnings it could get worse next month as refineries in Asia that refine fuel for Australia are reliant on oil from the Middle East.

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