Her lawyer said such a move was ‘very, very rare’.

Air New Zealand’s online payment systems are currently down.

The Reserve Bank's interest rate cut earlier this week was widely welcomed, but millions of Australians are now starting to feel an unpleasant after-effect for their combined $1.6 trillion in savings.

Seven banks have now cut the interest rate on their savings accounts, including Macquarie, NAB and Bank of Queensland – the latter of which had been offering a best-in-market 5.10 per cent to 14-to-35-year-olds.

"The third RBA rate cut of the year is already hitting savers in the hip pocket with NAB, Macquarie and BOQ all cutting key savings rates today, alongside some smaller banks," Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said.

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"BOQ's rate has dropped back to 4.85 per cent, which will be disappointing for their customers who have sought out a market-leading rate to turbocharge their savings."

It leaves the vast majority of available rates now starting with a 4, and two of the three banks still offering 5 per cent – ING and Move – are yet to announce their response to the RBA's rate cut.

The one exception is Westpac, which said it will leave its savings rate for 18-to-29-year-olds on hold at 5 per cent.

Commonwealth Bank and ANZ are still yet to announce a change to their interest rate for savers, although Canstar said they were likely to be cut next Friday.

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"Once the August RBA rate cut filters through, know that a competitive ongoing savings rate is estimated to be 4.75 per cent and above, however, you'll have to be able to meet monthly terms and conditions to achieve this rate," Tindall said.

"We expect more savings rates will fall victim to this latest RBA cut in the weeks ahead, however, banks aren't likely to make a song and dance about them.

"Our rate tracker shows more than 60 banks have rushed to share the good news on mortgage rates, yet many banks are leaving their savings customers guessing.

"If your bank hasn't told you what's happening with your savings yet, don't wait – call, email, or even reach out on social media.

"It's your hard-earned money, and you have every right to know where your rate is headed."

As of July, Australian households had about $1.6 trillion deposited with financial institutions, according to APRA.

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Auckland Council said delays couldn’t be afforded after the January 2023 floods.

A 19-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly approached two 10-year-old girls in Sydney and asked them to get into his car, and exposed himself on one occasion.

The first alleged incident occurred on August 8, when a 10-year-old girl walking in Heckenberg was approached by the man.

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The man attempted to speak to the girl before getting out of his car and allegedly gesturing for her to enter the car. 

The girl was able to run away.

The second incident occurred on August 13, when a man approached a 10-year-old girl in Busby and attempted to speak to her before allegedly exposing himself.

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He allegedly demanded she get in the car with him, but the girl ran away.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man at Liverpool Police Station yesterday.

He was charged with intentionally inciting a child over 10 and under 16 to do a sexual act, and intentionally doing a sexual act with a child more than 10 and less than 16.

The man was refused bail and appeared before Liverpool Local Court today.

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A fitness app founded by Chris Hemsworth has laid off more than a dozen Australian staff and closed its Melbourne office in a shift to the US.

Centr has long had headquarters in Melbourne and California, but is now moving operations almost entirely to the US, with just a handful of Australian staff to continue working remotely.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed to 9news.com.au that it will no longer have a Melbourne office, and that 15 staff have been caught up in the transition.

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"As Centr continues to scale globally, we've made the strategic decision to consolidate operations in the US to improve operational and geographic efficiency," they said.

"This transition affects 15 roles, with a few team members continuing remotely as part of the US-based team.

"Centr remains focused on continued growth across its digital platform, performance-grade equipment, and global partnerships."

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The writing has been on the wall for a long time: South Korea's birth rate has dropped throughout much of the past decade, spelling trouble for the military as regional threats and global conflicts simmer.

Now, a new report has found that the number of South Korean troops declined by 20 per cent in the past six years, in large part because of the dwindling pool of young men – reflecting the shrinking workforce and swelling elderly population in one of the world's most rapidly aging countries.

The Defence Ministry report attributed the drop to "complex factors" including population decline and fewer men wanting to become officers due to "soldier treatment." The report didn't elaborate on that treatment but studies and surveys have previously highlighted the military's notoriously harsh conditions.

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As of July, the military had 450,000 troops, it said – down from 563,000 in 2019.

"If the number of standing army (members) continues to decline, there can be difficulties in securing elite manpower and limits in operating equipment," warned the report, shared last week by lawmaker Choo Mi-ae.

The news comes at a bad time for South Korea, a key Western ally which hosts huge numbers of US troops and has a mutual defence treaty with Washington.

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Just across the border, neighbouring North Korea has sent tens of thousands of soldiers to fight for Russia along the front lines with Ukraine – raising fears that Moscow may share advanced military technology with Pyongyang in exchange, violating international sanctions.

Meanwhile, North Korea's ruling Kim family has continued blasting hostile rhetoric, threatening to destroy South Korea with nuclear weapons if attacked and warning that Seoul remains "the enemy."

However, experts say, that doesn't necessarily mean North Korea's military is better off.

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The North is facing its own population woes and birth rate decline – and its technology lags far behind the South, which is now hoping to plug the shortfall in military recruits through innovation.

"South Korea is incomparably far ahead of North Korea in terms of conventional weapons," said Choi Byung-ook, a national security professor at Sangmyung University. "We have smaller troops now, but I like to say 'small but strong military,' that's what we need to become."

Double the babies, triple the soldiers

On the surface, North Korea has a few advantages.

It's one of the world's most heavily militarised nations, with up to 1.3 million armed forces personnel, according to the CIA World Factbook. That's nearly three times higher than South Korea's troop numbers.

Those troops also serve in the military for far longer – an average of 10 years, which allows them to have higher "unit cohesion (and) knowledge of each other's capabilities," said Sydney Seiler, senior adviser to the Korea Chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

By contrast, there's "really not much advanced skills that you can develop" within the year and a half that most South Korean conscripts serve, Seiler said.

North Korea's fertility rate – defined as the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime – is also far higher, at 1.77 in 2025 compared to South Korea's rate of 0.75, UN data shows. The North has been having more babies per year than the South since 2018, said Jooyung Lee, senior economist at the Bank of Korea Economic Research Institute.

But the full picture is more complicated, experts told CNN.

For one, South Korea has a reserve force of about 3.1 million men. While their training may be basic, it would give them the numbers needed for potential warfare – and that's not including the 28,500 US troops stationed in the country.

Pyongyang is also facing its own population problems, with its fertility rate dipping in the last few years after the pandemic. The nation's authoritarian leader, Kim Jong Un, pointed to the problem at a national conference of mothers in 2023, urging them to "give birth to many children" as a patriotic duty.

That could bode ill for a highly isolated nation with an economy that relies on labour-intensive industries like agriculture and mining, said Lee.

It's hard to tell how much this has impacted the North Korean military so far. But the fact that Pyongyang has sent tens of thousands of troops to fight for Russia suggests Kim "doesn't feel concerned about not having enough soldiers on board to do the task of defending the homeland," Seiler said.

Their military has also enlisted more women to fill whatever gaps do exist. This trend began near the turn of the century after a previous dip in fertility, Lee said, with the proportion of female recruits now reaching as high as 20 per cent by some estimates.

Many are younger women serving in the military's communications, administrative and anti-aircraft artillery sectors, said Lee, who has interviewed many North Korean refugees who fled the country. Meanwhile, middle-aged and older women have been mobilised to fill gaps in other civilian sectors.

By contrast, women are not conscripted in South Korea – a controversial point that has stoked resentment among some young Korean men who argue their mandatory service puts them at a disadvantage in their studies, careers and personal lives.

As of 2023, volunteer females accounted for only 3.6 per cent of the entire military, according to the Defence Ministry.

The way forward

Some experts have suggested that conscripting more women could solve South Korea's problem, which the Defence Ministry has not ruled out. But Choi, the national security professor, argued the country needs to move away from the idea of increasing its manpower – and instead focus on advancing its technology and making the troops elite.

"I don't personally agree with opinions that we must have a large number of troops because North Korea does," he said.

"The size of our troops has decreased and there are not many options to increase it … I think we need to take this crisis as an opportunity as South Korea is in the route of becoming a science technology powerhouse."

On the battlefields of Europe, Ukraine has shown firsthand how an out-manned and out-gunned military can still hold back and inflict painful losses on a much larger opponent by embracing new and affordable technology.

Tools like drones and cyber-warfare could help decrease South Korea's reliance on infantry and artillery, Seiler said. AI-assisted and autonomous systems could further boost a shrinking military, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Choi pointed out that South Korea spends far more on defence than the North, and conducts many military drills including with allies like the US – making it better equipped in overall combat readiness.

However, Seiler warned, at the end of the day "you still need people. There's no robots or automation that can replace a trained soldier, airman, marine." Easley agreed, saying South Korea's military would still face shortages in manpower in the event of war.

And a broader challenge remains: how do authorities change cultural attitudes toward the military within South Korea?

While people can volunteer to become professional cadres who serve longer terms and train with more advanced weapons, the number of applicants has dropped steadily over the years.

High-profile cases of hazing, bullying and harassment within the South Korean military may have contributed to negative perceptions of the force.

In recent years, the government has loosened restrictions on conscripts – including allowing them to use cell phones at certain times of the day – and offered a longer civilian service alternative to conscription.

But that's not enough, said Choi.

"We need to improve military welfare and fighting spirits as a whole," he said – adding that supporting the current size of the military will become even harder in the coming decades as the population declines further.

"By 2040s, even maintaining 350,000 troops will be difficult, and that is why we need to establish an optimized manpower structure system … as soon as possible."

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South Australia will become the first state to ban soy sauce fish containers in a matter of weeks.

The containers, as well as plastic straws and cutlery attached to food or drinks, non-compostable fruit and vegetable stickers and prepackaged cups and bowls containing meals, will be phased out from September 1.

The items will join a wide list of banned single-use plastics like grocery bags, straws, cutlery, stirrers, cups, bowls, plates, containers, cotton buds, pizza savers, confetti, balloon sticks and ties and food bag tags.

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Environment Minister and Deputy Premier Susan Close said the use of soy sauce fish containers was "undeniably high" given their pervasiveness in sushi and takeaway culture.

"Each fish-shaped container is used for just seconds, yet remains in the environment for decades or centuries if littered," she said.

"Their small size means they're easily dropped, blown away, or washed into drains, making them a frequent component of beach and street litter.

"In kerbside recycling, they're too small to be captured by sorting machinery and often end up in landfill or as fugitive plastic in the environment.

"If littered, they can break into microplastics, which persist in soils, waterways, and oceans."

Close added that the soy sauce fish containers were a "convenience packaging" item that can be replaced with more sustainable solutions.

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Nina Wootton, a marine scientist specialising in microplastics and plastic waste at the University of Adelaide, said the soy sauce fish containers turn up in sums on beaches.

"I do find them a lot, often the whole actual sushi soy sauce little mini fish. They're common," she said.

Wootton admitted that she struggles to minimise her own single-use plastic waste at sushi restaurants, but said it was impossible to avoid entirely.

"Even before you ask if you want the soy sauce, they've already started putting it in there," she said.

"There is still so many single-use plastics I use in my everyday life, even with being really conscious, so anything where the decision is taken out of our control, I think, is really good."

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South Australia is the first state to ban soy sauce fish containers, with two other states considering following suit. 

NSW is currently considering a proposal to phase out plastic sauce packages, such as soy sauce containers, and require them to be recyclable by 2030.

The government expects to make an announcement on this in the coming months. 

Tasmania is also considering phasing out the same containers, but has not yet developed any draft legislation or undertaken consultation.

Queensland has ruled out any more single-use plastic bans beyond the straws, stirrers, plates and unenclosed bowls, cutlery, takeaway food containers, cotton buds, peanut packaging and microbeads already prohibited.

Western Australia is expanding its single-use plastic ban to include non-compostable plastic barrier bags for fruit and vegetables, unpackaged meat, seafood and dairy products on September 1. 

The remaining states and territories are making no changes at this stage to their current single-use plastic bans.

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Australia is one of more than 175 countries attempting to finalise a legally-binding global plastics treaty in Geneva, as plastic production and consumption around the world is set to triple by 2060

"We are determined to push for an effective and meaningful global treaty to achieve our goal of ending plastic pollution by 2040," Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said.

"These negotiations are a critical step toward preserving the world's ocean and environment for future generations, and we strongly believe in global action."

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A group of rabbits in Colorado with grotesque, hornlike growths may seem straight out of a low-budget horror film, but scientists say there's no reason to be spooked — the furry creatures merely have a relatively common virus.

The cottontails recently spotted in Fort Collins are infected with the mostly harmless Shope papillomavirus, which causes wart-like growths that protrude from their faces like metastasising horns.

Viral photos have inspired a fluffle of unflattering nicknames, including "Frankenstein bunnies," "demon rabbits" and "zombie rabbits."

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But their affliction is nothing new, with the virus inspiring ancient folklore and fueling scientific research nearly 100 years ago.

The virus likely influenced the centuries-old jackalope myth in North America, which told of a rabbit with antlers or horns, among other animal variations.

The disease in rabbits also contributed to scientists' knowledge about the connection between viruses and cancer, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer.

The virus in rabbits was named after Dr. Richard E Shope, a professor at The Rockefeller University who discovered the disease in cottontails in the 1930s.

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News about the rabbit sightings in Fort Collins, 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Denver, started getting attention after residents started spotting them around town and posting pictures.

Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the agency has been getting calls about the rabbits seen in Fort Collins.

But she said that it's not uncommon to see infected rabbits, especially in the summer, when the fleas and ticks that spread the virus are most active.

The virus can spread from rabbit to rabbit but not to other species, including humans and pets, she said.

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The growths resemble warts but can look like horns if they grow longer, Van Hoose said.

The growths don't harm rabbits unless they grow on their eyes or mouths and interfere with eating.

Rabbits' immune systems are able to fight the virus and, once they do, the growths will disappear, she said.

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The Premier League is back! And for tens of thousands of football fans in Australia that means nine months of late nights and early starts following their favourite clubs.

This year the Premier League is set to be bigger than ever. For champions Liverpool, another title would put them one ahead than bitter rivals Manchester United.

For United, surely the season can't be any worse than last year – a title challenge is unlikely but stranger things have happened, after all, this season will mark ten years since Leicester City stunned the world by winning the championship.

And what about Arsenal? Is this finally their year. Spurs too have a huge fanbase in Australia, despite the decision to sack Ange Postecoglou.

But we understand not everyone is a diehard fan, so we've put together a quick guide to everything you need to know ahead of the new season.

Football has a new home. Stream the Premier League, FA Cup, J.League and NWSL live & on demand, including Premier League with 4K on Stan Sport

How does the Premier League work?

The Premier League is made up of 20 football teams in England.

Each season, three teams from the division below – called the Championship – are promoted and replace the three teams that finished in the bottom three places in the previous Premier League season.

The competition takes place in a round-robin format, where each team plays each other home and away in a 38-game season.

The team with the most points at the end of the season are crowned champions.

Which teams have been promoted to the Premier League in 2025-26 season?

A couple of big teams are making their return to the Premier League this season.

Leeds United are back after two seasons away; they are one of the best-supported clubs in England and have plenty of Aussie fans thanks to the exploits of Aussie stars Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sunderland are also back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017; they became known around the world thanks to their Netflix documentary 'Sunderland Till I Die', which charted their struggles after relegation from the Premier League.

Burnley round off the promoted teams, who replaced Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

Which team is likely to win the 2025-26 Premier League?

The bookmakers currently back Liverpool to retain their Premier League title after spending big in the transfer market, including spending a whopping $222 million on German star Florian Wirtz.

It is most likely to be a three-horse race for the Premier League this season, with Liverpool set to battle Arsenal and Manchester City.

Arsenal have finished second three seasons in a row, but have made a couple of key signings, including Viktor Gyokeres, a striker who scored 54 goals last season.

Manchester City have arguably the best manager in the world in Pep Guardiola and the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland, and will be out for redemption after a tough season last time out.

What is the 'big four' in the Premier League?

The big four are the four biggest teams by support in the Premier League, and have historically been the most significant.

It refers to Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, who became part of the special group in the 2000s as they often finished in the top four positions.

This has been challenged in recent years by Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, with the moniker 'the big six' now used to describe the biggest sides in the league.

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What is the new 2025-26 Premier League ball?

The new Premier League season is also significant because it is the first time in 25 years Nike will not be supplying the Premier League ball.

Instead, a deal with Puma has begun, with the new 'Puma Orbita' set to be used this season.

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When does the 2025-26 Premier League begin?

The new season gets underway tomorrow morning (AEST) when champions Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield.

On Saturday night, Aston Villa take on Newcastle in a game you can watch on Channel Nine at 9.30pm AEST as free-to-air Premier League football returns to Australia for the first time in six years.

The biggest game of the opening weekend sees Arsenal travel to face rivals Manchester United. That takes place on Tuesday at 2am AEST.

The season concludes on May 25, with all 10 games being played simultaneously.

How to watch the Premier League in Australia

The Premier League has a new home in Australia, with every match available live and on demand on Stan Sport. Nine, the publisher of this website, also owns Stan Sport.

In addition, one game for the first three rounds of the season will be shown on free-to-air television on Channel Nine.

These games will be Newcastle United's trip to Aston Villa on the opening weekend, Manchester City's heavyweight clash with Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea's local rivalry match against Fulham.

These three matches all begin at 9:30 pm (AEST).

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