Carless Days in 1979 cut fuel use only slightly before being scrapped in 1980.

Every day Australians will be able to make extra cash on TikTok by opting in to one of the app's latest features; TikTok One.

The new advertising tool, highlighted at the app's industry event TikTok Spotlight yesterday, lets brands turn existing user videos about their products into ads.

And the users – whether they have a following of 1 million or 1000 – get paid.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran reveals underground 'missile tunnels

"This is giving people an opportunity to not just create content … but also be rewarded," Amy Bradshaw, TikTok's general manager global business solutions AUNZ, told nine.com.au.

Once a user joins TikTok One as a creator, brands can contact them directly and ask to use their videos in ad campaigns.

Users can also respond directly to call-outs from brands for specific content.

READ MORE: Rain set to continue in wet start to autumn across parts of country

The best part, Bradshaw said, is that you don't need to be an influencer with millions of followers to get involved.

"It's not about how popular you are as a creator, it's how interesting and unique your content is," she said.

"So it really democratises the creator landscape."

TikTok users must meet eligibility criteria to join TikTok One, like being 18 or older.

TikTok users who don't want to have their videos turned into ads need not worry.

Users must opt-in to the program and agree to let a brand use their content before it can be pushed as a paid advertisement.

"You get to choose which brands [you work with], you can accept or decline if they want to use your ads," Bradshaw said.

"It's just another opportunity to create revenue stream.

"You're creating the content anyway, so you can be rewarded for that."

READ MORE: Qantas agrees to $105 million settlement over COVID-19 flight credits

Like with any new feature, there will be teething issues.

Earlier this week Australian influencer Cheree (@chereeanne on TikTok) was shocked to see one of her videos was being used by Merit Beauty with the 'paid partnership' tag.

Cheree made a video expressing her shock and frustration at not being paid for the ad.

In a follow-up, she said her video had been picked up through TikTok One.

She said she must have signed up without realising or been added to the program due to her follower count, but that she had since removed herself from the program.

Cheree declined to comment for this article.

Bradshaw couldn't comment on Cheree's experience but said steps are taken to prevent situations like hers.

"There may be teething problems," she said, but added that TikTok strives to "make sure we're being measured with how we're rolling out new products".

Other new advertising tools announced at yesterday's event included Prime Time, which lets brands push up to three sequential video ads to users in a 15 minute window.

But Bradshaw promised users won't be bombarded by extra ads "no matter how many advertisers" come onto the platform.

And there are a lot of them.

READ MORE: Search underway for man who vanished off a houseboat amid Queensland floods

More than 350,000 Australian businesses already use TikTok, including major success stories like HiSmile.

Launched in 2014 with just $20,000 in capital, it has become a global empire due in no small part to advertising on TikTok and its presence on TikTok Shop in the UK and US.

TikTok Shop allows users to buy products directly within the app and lets creators earn commission by promoting specific brands or items.

HiSmile has made more than $2.6 million in sales on TikTok Shop in the first few months of 2026 alone – but none of those purchases came from Australia.

Despite TikTok Shop's popularity among brands and consumers, TikTok has yet to roll out the feature to its more than 10 million Australian users.

So when will Australia finally get access?

"It's the question I get in every meeting," Bradshaw confessed, but said there's no launch date set for TikTok Shop Australia.

There's no "hidden reason" why the feature hasn't been rolled out in Australia yet, but Bradshaw said that it will come – eventually.

"There's a roadmap, we're opening new markets all the time [and] Australia is not on the immediate roadmap, but we will get there."

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Donald Trump has weighed in on the wellbeing of new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei amid growing questions about his health and whereabouts.

Khamenei has not been seen since he was elevated to the top role following his father's assassination, but issued a statement overnight.

Speaking to Fox Radio following that statement, the US president was asked if he thought Khamenei was actually alive.

READ MORE: Conservative commentators lash Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran

"I think he probably is," Trump said.

"I think he is damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form, you know."

The supreme leader's statement was read out on Iranian state television by a news anchor.

"We will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs," the statement addressed to the Iranian people read.

"The popular demand is to continue our effective defence and make the enemy regret! The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used."

Israeli intelligence has said they believe Khamenei was injured in the bomb strike that killed his father, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

This was backed up by comments made by Iran's ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian.

"I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm," Salarian said.

"I think he is in the hospital because he is injured."

The strike also killed the new supreme leader's wife, sister, brother-in-law, infant niece and son.

READ MORE: Trump's past comments on Iran come back to haunt him

It was widely reported his mother was also killed, but Iranian state media denied the claims overnight.

There is good reason why the Iranian regime would seek to keep Khamenei's whereabouts and wellbeing under wraps.

The US and Israeli governments have indicated they will continue their military strikes, including another decapitation strike against Iran's leaders.

And if he is in a serious condition, the regime would still want to project strength from their leader.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani made it clear Khamenei's condition "has not been reported as critical".

READ MORE: Son of ousted king positions himself to take over in Iran

"Despite this incident, he continues to provide full authoritative guidance and oversight of the operations, and all actions and attacks are carried out with his direct permission and orders," Larijani said.

Former crown prince and leading opposition figure Reza Pahlavi's response to the ayatollah's statement came with some doubt.

"Whether it was Mojtaba Khamenei or his IRGC handlers, the first statement from the current regime's new leader confirms what the Iranian people have known all along: the Islamic Republic is incapable of change. 

"Terror and repression are in its DNA. 

"This latest statement promises only to continue the same insatiable bloodlust and chaos that has held our nation and the world hostage for decades."

READ MORE: The four-letter acronym that could pull Trump out of Iran

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Respected journalist and presenter Georgie Gardner has resigned from her role after a near 25-year career at Nine.

The Sydney newsreader, who will present her final 9News Sydney bulletin on Friday, April 17, said it was time for fresh beginnings.

"I could not be more grateful for the range of opportunities Nine has afforded me over nearly a quarter of a century," Gardner said.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump says new Iran leader 'probably' alive as conspiracies swirl

"Anchoring news bulletins across the day, as well as reporting and hosting roles on virtually every news program at the Network has been incredibly satisfying and an enormous privilege.

"I will be forever thankful for having worked with countless colleagues, who are quite simply the best in the industry and I am humbled by the knowledge that there are viewers who have followed my career."

Executive Director of News and Current Affairs Fiona Dear said Gardner's versatility as a presenter saw her hold almost every on-air news role at Nine.

"It's a remarkable achievement and during that time Georgie has been loved and respected by audiences across Australia," Dear said.

"She has had a front row seat to some of the most important moments in history, delivering the biggest news stories to audiences first thing in the morning, in prime time at 6pm and late into the evening with Nightline.

READ MORE: Bank jumps the gun with fixed rate hike before predicted RBA double blow

"Georgie's professionalism and composure during breaking news events makes her one of the most talented newsreaders in the country.

"Georgie's decision to step away from television news has our full support and we thank her and wish her well in her future endeavours."

Gardner got her foot in the door of the media industry with a radio cadetship at Radio 2NX in Newcastle NSW in 1992.

She moved to Sydney in 1994 to read the news at 2Day FM in 1994.

She also worked as a television news reporter and fill-in presenter at multiple networks before she joined Nine in July 2002.

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After starting at 9News presenting 6pm weekday weather with Brian Henderson and reading the Morning news, Gardner joined the Today Show in 2007 as newsreader and fill-in host – a role she held until 2014.

In 2018 she rejoined the Today Show as host for two years.

For the better part of 17 years, Gardner has anchored 9News Sydney's 6pm weekend bulletin.

Gardner told viewers on social media it was time to embark on a new chapter.

"I'm open to new opportunities and I'm excited," she said.

"Starting out at 2NX Newcastle in 1992 as a wide-eyed 21-yr-old from Perth, little did I realise my career path would be so rich and rewarding.

"Opening my mind to new ideas, satiating my curiosity for news and current affairs, highlighting causes for positive change, and accommodating my passion for communicating and connecting with people – broadcasting has been a great gift."

Gardner said there were countless colleagues and interviewees who enriched her journey.

"They are the reason why the decision to resign has not been made lightly," she said.

"So to them and our viewers, I am immensely grateful.

"It's been awesome, and it's time."

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter fired pistols during an inspection of a light munitions factory, as he pushes to modernise conventional forces after years of focus on nuclear weapons.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited a factory producing pistols and other light arms a day earlier and reviewed a new pistol that recently entered production.

After testing the weapon at a shooting range, Kim rated it “excellent,” the agency said. The agency did not mention the presence of Kim’s daughter in its text report but its photos showed her firing a pistol along with senior military officials.

READ MORE: Penny Wong told thousands of Australian expats in the Gulf to fly home now. Here's why plenty of them want to stay

Kim said the factory was crucial for supplying pistols and other light arms to the military and security forces, and urged expanded capacity and more modern production lines, KCNA said.

Since first appearing in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022, Kim’s daughter — believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and about 13 — has accompanied her father to a growing number of events, including military displays, factory openings and a September trip to Beijing, where Kim Jong Un held his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years.

Her increasingly prominent public appearances have prompted South Korean intelligence officials and experts to assess that Kim Jong Un is likely grooming her as a future leader to extend the family dynasty into a fourth generation.

READ MORE: US tanker aircraft crashes; Australia slashes minimum fuel requirements

State media last month showed the girl testing a sniper rifle as Kim presented the weapons to senior officials following a ruling party congress where he issued his major political and military goals for the next five years.

The visit to the pistol factory followed an inspection on Tuesday in which Kim and his daughter watched the test launch of what state media described as nuclear-capable cruise missiles from a naval destroyer, as Kim called for speeding up the nuclear armament of his navy.

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Service stations across Australia have been hit by fuel shortages, leading to panic buying and queues of cars around the block in some places.

But there are no lines of locals hoping to fill up jerry cans at the independent Batlow petrol station – because it's clean out of fuel.

The only servo in the town more than 400km from Sydney ran out of petrol earlier this week and no one knows when more will arrive.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran reveals underground 'missile tunnels

"We've got no fuel, and the operator hasn't got any and can't give us any sort of date when the fuel is going to come back," Batlow service station worker Sam Hughes told nine.com.au.

He said operators are having a hard time finding fuel at a reasonable price, leaving independent stations like Batlow in strife.

"This is the environment where independents get squeezed out of markets," he said.

"We're waiting to see if the market comes down or we get some sort of government assistance."

READ MORE: Rain set to continue in wet start to autumn across parts of country

Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr echoed Hughes' fear that independent retailers are being squeezed out by big companies, leaving communities like Batlow to pay the price.

"I'm hearing of independent operators under quite a lot of pressure, not getting fuel, running low on fuel, even running out of fuel elsewhere too," he told nine.com.au.

"That says to me, there is an issue with the system, this is not just panic buying.

"Batlow is a bit like the canary in the coal mine."

The fuel shortage caused by the war in Iran has hit regional areas especially hard, as most have access to a limited number of service stations but rely on petrol for more than just getting around.

Plenty of Batlow locals own acreages and need fuel for tractors and other machinery as well as their cars.

It's also vital to the local agriculture industry, as well as emergency services in the region.

READ MORE: Qantas agrees to $105 million settlement over COVID-19 flight credits

With the local servo all sold out, Batlow residents are being forced to drive 30 minutes away to Tumut for reliable fuel.

But if you've only got a quarter tank left, and there's no public transport, that's a big ask.

"It's been a shock to the local population, especially in the lower socio-economic [bracket]," Hughes said.

"Hopefully there's a bit of community spirit when it comes to jerry canning around."

He added that Australians living in metropolitan areas don't understand just how hard the fuel shortage has hit regional areas.

Because it's not just Batlow struggling; it's small towns across the entire nation.

And the shortage could have a significant long-term impact on those local economies.

READ MORE: Search underway for man who vanished off a houseboat amid Queensland floods

"In regional areas, agriculture and truck transport are the lifeline of our economy," McGirr said.

"They're important for all of our wealth, so our focus on that is going to be pretty critical in the months ahead."

Today, Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the government will help address the fuel shortage by releasing up to 20 per cent of its local "rainy day" stockpiles for petrol and diesel.

It will free up more than 760 million litres of fuel from the nation's domestic reserves.

Bowen said the government is also taking steps to prioritise supply to regional areas hit hardest by the shortage.

In the meantime, McGirr and Hughes said Batlow is a resilient community and will rally together until more fuel arrives.

When exactly that will be, however, remains unclear.

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In a city teeming with expats, Emiratis are a minority in Dubai.

Foreign nationals represent close to 90 per cent of the entire United Arab Emirates (UAE) population.

When the war began, an estimated 20,000 Australians were living permanently in Dubai alone.

And despite Foreign Minister Penny Wong's insistence that Australian expats still in the Middle East should book a flight home now, plenty have no plans to leave.

READ MORE: Jessica's family trip was ruined over a 'distressing' citizenship revelation

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In the battle for Aussie dollars, a new winner has been crowned.

Kmart was named the country's No.1 retailer at the Power Retail awards in Melbourne on Thursday night.

The shopping giant owned by Wesfarmers — a Perth-based conglomerate valued at $85 billion — beat out Big W for the top spot.

READ MORE: Iran's new supreme leader speaks for the first time

Big W, which is owned by $43 billion Woolworths Group, was last year's winner.

Power Retail's top Australian retailers, in order, are:

1. Kmart
2. Myer
3. Bunnings Warehouse
4. Officeworks
5. Chemist Warehouse
6. Big W
7. JB Hi-Fi
8. The Iconic
9. Dan Murphy's
10. Adore Beauty
11. BCF
12. Rebel
13. The Good Guys
14. David Jones
15. Petbarn
16. Appliances Online
17. Target
18. Bonds
19. Ikea

READ MORE: Trump's decision wiped a trillion dollars from the market. But this is one call he can't chicken out of

Power Retail, an industry outlet providing companies with news, data and insights, said its rankings were weighed according to four pillars: acquisition, conversion, fulfilment and retention.

Power Retail head of data David Fear said Kmart ticked all the boxes to reclaim top spot.

"We score retailers across five pillars, with the highest weighting on how well they integrate their online and in-store operations," he said.

"Kmart led the Index because they delivered where it matters most — and where most retailers still have gaps.

"Less than half show real-time store stock online. Only around 30 per cent have a dedicated app or wish list functionality. Kmart has all of them, backed by a strong returns policy and a cross-channel loyalty program.

"In a market where shoppers are rapidly changing their habits, that kind of completeness across the entire customer journey is what separates the leaders."

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Mass confusion over the United Kingdom's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme and its impact on Australians with British ancestry has forced some Australian travellers to cancel trips abroad.

Dual Australian-British citizens must now travel on their UK passport to visit England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales after the government updated its entry requirements.

The controversial new rules also means many Australians may unknowingly be a citizen of the UK if their parents were born in there or in a British territory.

Darwin couple Jessica and Steven Sangster's long-awaited family holiday to visit elderly parents in Scotland was ruined over this murky rule change.

READ MORE: Debbie was grieving her mum's sudden death. Then her ashes were stolen

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at our breaking newsletter here

In the past year, some of the biggest swings on the financial markets can be directly attributed to one man: Donald Trump.

The sharpest drop came from his tariff announcement on his so-called Liberation Day.

The sharpest jump came several days later when he backed down.

READ MORE: Trump denies knowledge of report blaming US for school bombing

And a few days later, the market tanked again when he announced new tariffs.

For traders around the world, including in Australia, so much of their financial future is tethered to the unpredictable nature of the president.

And the results are far more severe this time around than in Trump's first term.

"In Trump's first term, there were two things that held him back," independent economist Saul Eslake told nine.com.au.

"One was that he didn't expect to win, and so he didn't really have a plan.

"And second, there were adults in the room, both on his staff and in the cabinet, to restrain his worst instincts."

His volatility has also rattled the traditional safe haven of investors: the US dollar.

"When markets feel very uncertain about the economic or geopolitical outlook, the US dollar goes up and US bond yields go down," Eslake said.

"Well, not any more."

Now, that safe-haven status has switched to the Swiss franc and to precious metals like gold and silver.

READ MORE: Trump has been giving the Iranians the boot. Now he demands asylum

But traders have taken solace in a four-letter word: TACO.

The acronym, short for Trump Always Chickens Out, is based on the idea that the president will back down from his worst impulses once he sees the stock market response.

"Donald Trump tends to see the share markets as a barometer of his success," AMP economist My Bui said.

"Donald Trump actually backed out last year to appease the voters a little bit by getting rid of tariffs on furniture and cocoa, beef and bananas."

But said traders were buying and selling on the assumption Trump would back out of his war in Iran.

When markets opened after Trump began his war in Iran, it was a bloodbath.

The ASX lost $90 billion in a day. Wall Street lost $1.1 trillion.

Trump has been sending mixed messages in the meantime on the duration of the war, claiming simultaneously it was nearly over or with much worse to come.

READ MORE: Joe Rogan pans Donald Trump's 'insane' actions in Iran

But this war with Iran does not give him an easy option to "chicken out".

"He has always had an off-ramp," Eslake said.

"And most of the time when there's been an adverse market reaction to something stupid he has said or done, he takes the off-ramp.

"But it's not obvious that there's an off-ramp here."

Peace with Iran appears a difficult proposition. The US attacked the country during its negotiations, which should make it less likely to willingly enter ceasefire talks.

And the new supreme leader may be unwilling to back down after air strikes killed his father, mother, wife, sister and son.

For the US, simply pulling out of the region won't guarantee the Iranian regime won't use its weapons to stop shipping traffic in the Straits of Hormuz.

READ MORE: Epstein files involving uncorroborated claim about Trump published

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