Iranian authorities have published a map of alternate shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz which appears to suggest that sea mines have been planted in the critical waterway.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shared a chart which urges commercial vessels to avoid sea mines – a type of underwater explosive – which were deployed following the US and Israel's war against Iran, Iranian state media reports.

"All ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified that in order to comply with the principles of maritime safety and to be protected from possible collisions with sea mines…they should take alternative routes for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement reads.

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https://x.com/sentdefender/status/2042077140275933595

The statement was accompanied by instructions for safe entry and exit routes for ships travelling the Strait of Hormuz.

There are fears this latest development will deter ships from entering the strait.

Hundreds of vessels are believed to still be stranded as both sides of the conflict carry out strikes, despite reports of a ceasefire.

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, sea mines are fairly easy to deploy and don't require much specialist support.

An unsubstantiated threat of sea mines may also be enough to bring trade through the strait to another screeching halt.

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"Sea mines offer distinct advantages as a maritime weapon. They require little training or specialist support. They are easy to deploy: they can be placed in the water from civilian boats, small craft or submarines," retired Royal Australian Navy mine warfare specialis Andy Perry wrote.

"And unlike many other naval weapons, they can be laid without direct combat interaction with an adversary, remaining dormant until activated by a passing vessels."

The US Naval Institute estimates Iran may have between 5000 to 6000 mines.

"The discovery of just one in the Strait of Hormuz would compel interested parties to assume there are many more," retired US Navy Captain Kevin Eyer said last week.

Perry said mine warfare doesn't need to leave a trail of sunken ships to be considered a successful military strategy.

"Maritime access through the strait can be shaped less by firepower and more by caution, uncertainty, and slow responses of mine countermeasures forces," he added.

The US military has previously claimed it "eliminated" Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump threatened severe consequences for Iran if it deployed mines along the oil chokepoint.

"If ​Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports ⁠of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!" he wrote on Truth Social.

He said the US was deploying the same technology used against drug traffickers to "permanently eliminate ​any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait."

Trump later claimed the US had hit "and completely destroyed" a number of "inactive mine laying boats and/or ships".

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Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has run out of options to appeal a ruinous defamation loss, including a civil court judge's finding that he likely raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.

The 30-year-old took his case against Network Ten to the High Court, where he challenged findings by dual courts that the broadcaster did not defame him by airing Higgins' allegation during an interview on The Project in February 2021.

Today, the High Court rejected Lehrmann's application for special leave to appeal.

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Typically, the court refuses to hold a substantive hearing if it thinks an appeal does not grapple with a major question of Australian law.

In April 2024, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee first dismissed the 30-year-old's case against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, describing it as an "omnishambles".

The judge's findings, including that Lehrmann raped Higgins on the balance of probabilities, were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.

Higgins had been out drinking with colleagues, including Lehrmann, in 2019 before the pair wound up at Parliament House in the office of their then-boss Senator Linda Reynolds.

It was there that the alleged rape happened.

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The 30-year-old Lehrmann has consistently repeatedly denied any sexual conduct occurred, saying he returned during the early hours to write notes about French submarine contracts.

This claim was roundly rejected by Justice Lee, saying the young man had been seen kissing Higgins, whom he found attractive.

"Now does a man in a situation like that have French submarine contracts on his mind or does he have something else on his mind?" the judge quipped.

A criminal case against Lehrmann in the ACT was derailed due to juror misconduct.

A further trial was ruled out and no findings have been made against him in a court of criminal law.

The failed High Court bid could lead to Lehrmann being forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2 million legal bill to Ten.

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

The Mic-Key will replace the nasogastric tube her son relies on.

Four-week-old puppies in one Porirua litter all had to be euthanised.

Jobs at Bendigo Bank are at risk after the lender confirmed a new round of operational changes tied to outsourcing deals with global firms.

The bank said the changes "will lead to workforce changes" affecting employees across its technology and business operations teams, with consultation yet to begin and the full scope of job impacts still unclear.

Chief executive Richard Fennell said decisions that impact staff are "never easy".

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"Decisions that impact our people are never easy. We acknowledge this will be a challenging time for our people and we are committed to leading these changes with compassion, care and respect," Fennell said.

"We will consult with our people impacted by these changes, and we are committed to ensuring the support they need is available.

"The health and wellbeing of the Bank's people continue to be key considerations in the planning and implementation of these essential workplace changes."

The workforce changes come as the bank announced the next phase of its "Productivity Program", including two major partnerships with Infosys and Genpact aimed at overhauling its technology and business operations.

Under the plan, Infosys will take on a seven-year technology services agreement. At the same time, Genpact will manage aspects of business operations over six years – moves the bank said would streamline processes and lift efficiency.

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Fennell explained that tapping into global expertise would allow the bank to simplify its systems and reinvest in new capabilities.

"By leveraging global expertise and becoming simpler and more efficient, we can reinvest in new technologies and capabilities," he said.

Bendigo Bank serves around 2.9 million customers across Australia, with the restructure forming part of its broader strategy through to 2030.

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The federal government is appearing to distance itself from an increasingly "unpredictable" US President as his public communications over the conflict in Iran become increasingly concerning.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia was trying to diversify its relationships as she singled out Donald Trump in a rare criticism.

"We know that the US under President Trump will be more unpredictable," she told Today.

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"What we are doing about that is continuing to work with them, but also diversifying our partnerships, working in our region with Southeast Asia, with the Pacific, with Canada, with the United Kingdom and with the European Union."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Singapore today to meet his counterpart and shore up trade on essential supplies, including petrol, diesel and liquefied natural gas.

He said the trip was to help Australia build resilience in an increasingly "uncertain world".

Albanese was one of the first to support the US and Israel's joint attack on Iran on February 28, which killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei.

He brushed off any concerns of international law breaches as a matter for the US and not Australia. 

Australian military assets, like the E-7A Wedgetail, were also sent to the Gulf region to help protect citizens and civilians.

Albanese confirmed he signed off on keeping the aircraft in the region for "a period of time" this morning, but reiterated that Australia was not involved in the Middle East in any offensive capacity.

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Since his initial support, Albanese and his government have appeared to change their tone.

Albanese said the war's original objectives had been met as Trump considered sending troops to the ground in Iran.

This week, he questioned what the current war objectives were and called for a de-escalation.

"I think it's very clear that any further escalation needs to be outlined, what the objective is," he said on Tuesday.

In a rare rebuke of a US President, Albanese also condemned Trump for threatening to bring Iran "back to the Stone Ages" and that a "whole civilisation will die" if it did not bow to his narrowing deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"Open the F—–' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," he said in a Truth Social post.

While Trump did abandon his threat at the 11th hour for a shaky two-week ceasefire, Albanese told Sky News the threat was both "inappropriate" and "extraordinary".

Wong said no one should threaten the destruction of a civilisation.

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Australian motorists are being warned cheaper fuel prices won't become immediately apparent at the bowser despite the price of crude oil dropping after the Iran-US ceasefire.

Brent crude oil, the international standard, tumbled 13.3 per cent to US$94.75 per barrel overnight. It had briefly topped US$119 when worries about the war with Iran were at their highest, but it's still above its roughly US$70 price from before the war.

But experts and the federal government say it will take time for reductions in the price of petrol and diesel to flow through to Australian service stations.

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NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said that after yesterday's ceasefire announcement, it was the news motorists had been waiting for.

"If the ceasefire is sustained, then yes, we expect oil prices to fall, and that will start to flow on at the bowser. It will take a little bit, but flow on it will."

Khoury said it had historically taken seven to 10 days for changes in global oil prices to be reflected at the bowser.

Given the pace at which prices rose in the early stages of the war, he said there was the expectation any reduction "needs to be much quicker".

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said today it could be some time for petrol prices around the country to come down, after the Strait of Hormuz – which carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies – has again been closed.

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"My answer is, we want it to be as soon as possible but I think the hard reality is this may take some time," she said of the prospect of relief at the bowser.

Swinburne University of Technology transport expert Professor Hussein Dia warned closing and reopening the Strait of Hormuz could lead to an oscillating global oil price.

"When a key area like the Strait of Hormuz is repeatedly closing and reopening, it creates a high level of uncertainty in global energy market," said Dia.

"Markets respond very quickly to risk. Each time there is a disruption or threat of disruption, a risk premium is added to oil prices. When conditions ease, that premium may fall, but not always fully or immediately."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today announced that Export Finance Australia has come to terms that will allow Australia's largest fuel suppliers to bring in more stock from overseas.

"This is not business as usual, importantly, this is more fuel in Australia," he said.

The PM was speaking in Brisbane before he heads to Singapore where he will discuss Singapore to discuss fuel supply options.

The city state is one of Australia's major suppliers.

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is on the move again today, with the weather system resuming its path towards Far North Queensland.

It is currently sitting about 1300km from Australia but over coming days will gradually head south-west.

The category four system, which is generating wind gusts of up to 260km/h, is forecast to cross the coast from next Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

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Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila stalled yesterday between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, but forecasters say it is now moving again towards Queensland at a speed of about 10km/h.

"It is expected to approach the Far North Queensland coast on Sunday and into Monday morning … confidence is increasing it will move towards Cape York," senior meteorologist Jonathan How said.

How said current modelling pointed to the cyclone making landfall either late next Monday or early Tuesday.

It is forecast to decline to at least a category three cyclone before then.

The weather system is expected to impact a large area of Far North Queensland between Cooktown and the Lockhart River shire, which was struck by Tropical Cyclone Narelle last month.

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"Communities in these areas could see further damaging to destructive winds as well as heavy rainfall and flooding and coastal erosion," How said.

Meanwhile, a second storm, currently a tropical low, is forming in the Indian ocean off to the north-west of Western Australia and Fiji.

The Bureau rates it a moderate chance to attain cyclone status from mid-next week.

A third weather system, Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, is continuing to move southwards today, the Fiji Meteorological Service said.

It is roughly halfway between Fiji and New Zealand with winds of 95km/h near the centre.

It is expected to make landfall on Sunday.

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Lydia and Wehan had a plan: travel Australia in a campervan for a few years, save up some money and buy a house.

The Western Australian couple just didn't anticipate just how difficult it would be to tick off all three items on their agenda.

Heading home after four years on the road, they discovered that re-entering the property market was not on the cards.

The solution? Stay on the road, and deck out an old patient transport van for $50,000 instead of a house.

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"We previously had a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Perth, lived in that for probably a few years and then decided to take the leap, sell the house and fit out a van," UK-born Lydia told Nine.com.au.

"We also both had long commutes. It would be an hour train ride for me, leaving in the dark and coming back in the dark.

"And it just didn't feel rewarding or fulfilling, and when we sat down and talked about it, we both said: We want to travel, we want to see more, we want to get out there."

During their multiple laps around Australia in a different campervan, Lydia, 29, and Wehan, 28, ticked off every state and territory while living an impressively frugal lifestyle.

The pair spent around $64 per day, averaging under $2000 per month, during their last 595-day journey.

Most of the bigger expenses – particularly in recent weeks – are related to fuel and van insurance.

At first, they had planned to save enough cash to buy property again.

But that dream was quickly extinguished.

The median house price in the WA capital now sits at about $1.3 million, double what they paid in their early 20s.

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There's a horror flu season on the horizon as the new super-K flu strain spreads across Australia, and it may have already claimed several lives.

The fast-moving strain first emerged in the US, where it killed dozens of children before leaping to Australian soil.

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has urged Australians to book in their annual flu shot as seasonal influenza and super-K strain infection numbers rise.

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Bupa chief medical officer Dr Nic Woods said super-K has already driven unusually high per-winter flu activity, including a spike in recorded deaths in 2026.

"We cannot afford to be complacent or ignore the warning signs," he said in a statement.

"Super K is spreading earlier and faster than flu strains seen in previous seasons."

Woods said high flu activity combined with low vaccination rates will make this flu season "extremely dangerous and potentially deadly" for high-risk groups, like children and the elderly.

Here's everything you need to know about the new flu strain that experts are so worried about this flu season.

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What are the symptoms of super-K flu?

Though the super-K flu strain has undergone significant mutations, they mostly affect how the virus behaves and spreads, not its symptoms.

That means the symptoms of super-K flu are very similar to typical seasonal influenza symptoms.

Common symptoms include a cough or sore throat, headache, fever or chills, extreme tiredness, and body aches.

Symptoms usually come on suddenly and can worsen rapidly.

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How long does the super-K flu last?

The duration of a super-K flu infection can vary, much like a typical seasonal flu.

Some people only experience mild symptoms for a few days, while others may experience symptoms for a week or more.

When am I most contagious with the super-K flu?

You can be contagious before symptoms begin with any flu, including the super-K strain.

Most adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms start and remain contagious for three to five days.

Children tend to remain contagious longer, usually for the first seven to 10 days of their illness.

How bad is the super-K flu strain?

This is a difficult question to answer.

Research currently suggests that the super-K strain spreads very quickly, faster than typical seasonal influenza, which can make it challenging to contain.

However, the super-K strain does not appear cause more severe disease per infection.

That means while you may be more likely to come into contact with the strain this flu season, it is not guaranteed to cause more severe symptoms.

But the CSIRO reported that historically, flu seasons dominated by strains from the H3N2 have been linked to more severe outcomes at the population level.

That's why many scientists and health experts are urging Australians to get vaccinated.

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Does the flu shot work against super-K flu?

Because the super-K strain has mutated significantly, last year's flu vaccine may not be as effective at preventing super-K infection compared to existing flu strains.

However, the 2025 flu shot can still reduce the severity of symptoms.

Early data has shown that you're less likely to need a visit to the emergency department if you catch the super-k strain but have already received the flu shot.

But only one in three Australians were vaccinated against influenza last year.

This year's flu vaccine includes protection against the 'Super-K' variant, so the RACGP, CSIRO, and health organisations are urging Aussies to get jabbed.

How long should I stay home if I have the flu?

Anyone with the flu, be it super-K or another strain, should stay home and avoid close contact with others until they've recovered.

At a minimum, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever breaks.

Avoid contact with pregnant women, infants, older people, and anyone with a compromised immune system while contagious.

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