A 4.9-metre saltwater crocodile has been spotted near a popular swimming spot in the Northern Territory at the height of the wet season.

Rangers were doing routine inspections of crocodile traps downstream of Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park, about 150km south of Darwin, when they found the massive crocodile inside. 

In comparison, the largest saltwater in captivity in the world was Cassius in Far North Queensland at 5.5 metres. 

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Wildlife rangers safely removed the crocodile and relocated it to a crocodile farm.

NT Parks and Wildlife said it was a timely reminder to only swim in designated waters.

Wangi Falls is typically closed for the wet season.

"Where the risk is too high, we close, because public safety is paramount," Parks and Wildlife senior executive director Neva McCartney said.

Rangers have captured seven crocodiles in the Northern Territory so far this year as part of routine wet season risk management, which is an average figure around this time.

Last year, 241 saltwater crocodiles were captured across the territory.

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Parks and Wildlife Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said exceptional wet season rainfall has driven increased crocodile movement, with waterways expanding and connecting earlier than usual.

"Our crocodile management teams and park rangers are on the ground every day responding to reports, installing and checking traps, and conducting day and night surveys to keep Territorians and visitors safe," she said.

"Our government has strengthened crocodile management capacity through additional staff, new traps and upgraded infrastructure, allowing faster responses to sightings and earlier reopening of popular parks and swimming spots when it is safe to do so."

Residents or visitors in the Northern Territory are advised to be Crocwise and report a sighting to Parks and Wildlife.

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DoC says between 50 and 100 campers set up on the Newcastle Track site.

A Givealittle has been set up to help her family with their costs.

Arrested 33 times as a student, he went on to have distinguished career in local politics.

The pair had played the same Lotto numbers for 35 years.

One of two men accused of murdering a fellow prisoner has told a magistrate he killed the victim because he was a child sex offender.

Shannon Daniel Norgate, 28, was found unresponsive with significant injuries from an assault at Maryborough Correctional Centre, north of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, on November 26.

He died in hospital on December 1.

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Norgate had been jailed in 2020 for sexually abusing young boys in a shopping centre toilet block.

Fellow prisoners Bodhi James Barry Johnson, 29 and Isaac James Martin, 31, were both charged with murder yesterday.

In a brief Brisbane Magistrates Court appearance today, Martin said he killed Norgate after being told he faced a mandatory life sentence if found guilty of murder.

"That's right, Your Honour. I killed old mate because he was a child molester. I'm not denying anything. I killed him," he said.

Martin appeared via videolink wearing a white prison-issue smock and sporting a beard.

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Magistrate Aaron Simpson told Martin he should seek legal representation.

"Killing a person does not necessarily mean it's murder. There are different levels of killing a person. A lawyer might be able to help you get the best result if that's the case," Simpson said.

Martin had earlier said he had not applied for legal representation because he had not bothered to do it.

"I'm representing myself, mate," Martin said.

"It's a murder charge," Simpson said.

"All good," Martin said.

Martin was remanded in custody for his case to return to court on March 9.

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He was previously sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment in 2023 for unlawfully striking and causing the death of fellow inmate Zlatko Sikorsky, who was awaiting trial for the murder of 16-year-old Larissa Beilby.

Johnson also appeared briefly via videolink wearing a prison-issue green t-shirt.

He was applying for legal representation and was now in custody at Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, Simpson heard.

Johnson was remanded in custody for his case to return to court on March 9.

He had been eligible to apply for parole next month while serving a sentence for car theft and arson.

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People who take weight loss drugs see their lost kilos and bad health markers return in less than two years on average, a new study has found.

The study, published in the BMJ, found that not only did people put the weight back on, but they also again developed high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

It showed that the average rate of weight regain was 0.4kg a month after stopping treatment, with weight and risk markers for diabetes and heart disease predicted to return to pre-treatment levels in less than two years.

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It also finds that the rate of weight regain after stopping weight loss drugs is almost four times faster than after diet and physical activity changes, regardless of how much weight people actually lost.

"This evidence suggests that despite their success in achieving initial weight loss, these drugs alone may not be sufficient for long term weight control," the researchers said.

While the drugs are wildly popular and have transformed the treatment of obesity, it's estimated that around half of people with obesity discontinue GLP-1 drugs within 12 months.

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"The study findings cast doubt on the notion that GLP-1 receptor agonists are a perfect cure for obesity," a US researcher said in a linked editorial.

"People taking GLP-1 receptor agonists should be aware of the high discontinuation rate and the consequences of cessation of medications."

He said "healthy dietary and lifestyle practises" should remain the foundation of weight loss treatment and management, with the GLP-1 medications used as an aide.

"Such practises not only help prevent excess weight gain but can also lead to numerous health benefits that go beyond weight control," he said.

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Eight people are now facing double murder charges over the alleged machete murders of Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek, after the boys were fatally stabbed in Melbourne's west last year.

Dau, 15, and Chol, 12, were allegedly attacked by a group of people wielding knives and machetes shortly before 8pm on September 6 in Cobblebank.

The pair were found critically injured about 200 metres apart, with Chol on Marble Drive and Dau on Cobble Street.

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Eight boys and young men, aged between 15 and 19, have been charged over the alleged murders.

Police initially charged a 19-year-old Thornhill man, two 16-year-old boys and two 15-year-old boys with the murder of Dau.

A 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man and a 16-year-old boy were also charged with the murder of Chol.

All eight accused have now been charged with two counts of murder.

The charged people remain in custody and will appear in court at a later date.

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Dau and Chol's deaths sent a ripple of grief and concern through the tight-knit community.

A community leader in Cobblebank told 9News last year the tragedy left families feeling unsafe.

The attack took place just a week after Victoria enshrined a ban on machetes in state law.

Families of the slain children have called for stronger action.

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The most severe heatwave in Australia since the 2019-2020 Black Summer has failed to deter many people from their exercise routines.

Despite the extreme weather conditions across south-eastern Australia sending the mercury over 40 degrees, many dedicated exercisers have been spotted working out.

But is it safe, and what should you beware of?

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Prepare for the heat

Even fit people are at increased risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke when the mercury climbs. 

Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) chief executive Jamie Crain advises exercisers to take increased precautions to guard against heat exhaustion or the more serious heat stroke.

"During times of extreme heat, it's vital for people exercising to take precautions over and above what they would on a temperate day," he told 9news.com.au.

They include limiting activity times to the cooler periods of the day, such as early morning and evening.

It's best to avoid the warmest hours, from 10am to 3pm.

Maintaining hydration is essential, and during extreme heat you should keep sipping water even if you don't feel thirsty.

On very hot days, the SMA advises drinking at least 500 millilitres of water in the hour before taking exercise. And caffeine, including coffee, should be avoided in the hours leading up to working out.

If you're outside, remember to wear sunglasses, sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.

Choice of clothing is also important. Where possible, select lightweight and breathable clothes with extra ventilation.

For those taking exercise indoors, try and find a location with air conditioning.

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Signs of heat-related illness

Crain says the health impacts of heat-related illness can be a direct result of an increase in core temperature or the result of the strain on the heart associated with combating the jump in body temperature.

"If anyone experiences nausea or vomiting, that is a sign they need to cease exercising and take immediate action to cool down," he said.

Other symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, cramps, headache and general weakness.

Anyone experiencing these should move immediately to a shaded area, remove as much clothing and protective equipment and rehydrate.

Crain says more serious warning signs such as slurred speech, impaired decision making and poorer brain function indicates heat stroke.

"That requires immediate medical attention … straight away you'd be calling for medical help … trying to cool them down with something like an ice bath," he said.

While even elite athletes are at risk from heat-linked conditions, some people are at more risk than others.

They include those aged over 65 years, especially if unfit. The SCA cautions that age effects on thermoregulation, the body's process of controlling internal temperature, may become progressively worse with age.

The risk of falling victim to heat stress is also greater among heart or kidney disorder patients.

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One Battle After Another has dominated nominations for the Actor Awards, with Paul Thomas Anderson's ragtag revolutionary saga landing a record seven nods in the annual SAG-AFTRA honours.

In the 31 years of the Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, no movie has received more than five nominations.

Along with a nod for the guild's top award, best ensemble, the cast of One Battle After Another was showered with nominations for Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and its stunt performers.

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The four other nominees for best ensemble are: Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and Frankenstein.

Usually, to win best picture at the Oscars, a movie needs a SAG ensemble nomination. Only four films in the last three decades have managed the feat without that. Among the films that missed the cut this year were Sentimental Value, Wicked: For Good and Train Dreams.

Sinners had an especially good result. Along with a best male actor nod for Michael B Jordan, supporting actors Miles Caton and Wunmi Mosaku were both nominated. It collected five nominations in total.

In television, Apple's The Studio, HBO's White Lotus and Netflix's Adolescence led the nominees.

Historically, the Actor Awards have been one of the strongest Oscar indicators. Actors make up the largest branch of the film academy, and, in the past, individual SAG nominees have overlapped with the Oscar field at a rate of roughly four out of five. The Actor Awards are presented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

That means the nominees announced today may closely resemble those headed to the Oscars. They are:

Best male actor: DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Michael B Jordan (Sinners), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia). The only surprise of that group was Plemons. The favourite remains the 30-year-old Chalamet who won the same award last year for A Complete Unknown and vowed to pursue greatness in his acceptance speech.

Best female actor: Infiniti, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue) and Emma Stone (Bugonia).

In the supporting male actor category, the nominees are: Del Toro, Penn, Caton, Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) and Paul Mescal (Hamnet).

The nominees for best supporting female actor are: Taylor, Mosaku, Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good), Amy Madigan (Weapons) and Odessa A'zion (Marty Supreme). The biggest surprise in that category was the 25-year-old A'zion.

Snubbed altogether was Joachim Trier's acclaimed Norwegian drama Sentimental Value. Both Renate Reinsve, in lead female actor, and Stellan Skarsgård, for supporting male actor, have been viewed as shoo-ins. Many analysts have even considered Skarsgård the favourite to win. With more than 122,000 voting members, the actors guild has tended to skew more populist and the guild often shies away from non-English language nominees.

Membership in the academy, meanwhile, has grown increasingly international. Along with Sentimental Value, movies like the Iranian revenge drama It Was Just an Accident and the Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent should have greater success come Oscar nominations on January 22.

There have been some prominent differences between SAG and the Oscars. Last year, Chalamet won best male actor but lost to Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) at the Oscars. The papal drama Conclave took best ensemble, but Sean Baker's Anora won best picture at the Academy Awards.

On the television side, the leader in comedy was The Studio, which scored nods for its ensemble, Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O'Hara and Ike Barinholtz. The top drama was The White Lotus, which collected four nominations including best ensemble and nods for Parker Posey, Walton Goggins and Aimee Lee Wood. The limited series Adolescence also landed four nominations, for Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco.

The Actor Awards will take place this Sunday.

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