Donald Trump to put his name on all US paper money

Donald Trump to put his name on all US paper money

9News

Donald Trump's signature will be added to all US banknotes in a first for a sitting president.

Historically, the only signatures to appear on American money are the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer.

But Treasurer Brandon Beach's name will be taken off the cash to make room for Trump.

READ MORE: Trump on shaky ground after Democrats win Mar-a-Lago seat

The announcement was made in a statement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

"Under President Trump's leadership, we are on a path toward unprecedented economic growth, lasting dollar dominance, and fiscal strength and stability," Bessent said.

"There is no more powerful way to recognise the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J Trump than US dollar bills bearing his name, and it is only appropriate that this historic currency be issued at the Semiquincentennial."

The United States is marking its 250th anniversary this year.

Beach will become the first treasurer of the United States since 1861 to not have their name on American paper money.

But in a statement, Beach did not mention his own name getting bumped.

READ MORE: $800m in trades before Trump announcement 'is treason'

"The President's mark on history as the architect of America's Golden Age economic revival is undeniable," Beach said.

"Printing his signature on the American currency is not only appropriate, but also well deserved."

The decision has been panned by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

"Now Americans will know exactly who to blame as they're paying more for groceries, gas, rent, and health care," he wrote on Bluesky.

"Americans now have to pay a dollar more on average for a gallon of gas because of Donald Trump's war with Iran.

"But don't worry! Our beloved president is moving heaven and earth to make sure he...can golf all day at his private golf course this weekend."

READ MORE: How a stationery store owner crashed an entire economy

As Trump staffers tout his economic achievement, Wall Street has seen its biggest drop since the beginning of the Iran war overnight.

The S&P 500 fell 1.7 per cent, as it braces for its fifth week of losses.

The Dow Jones and the Nasdaq composite also saw steep falls.

The ASX 200 also began the morning down on the back of Wall Street's drop.

READ MORE: Iran looking to turn Strait of Hormuz into massive toll booth

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Iconic outback music festival Big Red Bash cancelled due to flooding

Iconic outback music festival Big Red Bash cancelled due to flooding

9News

Queensland's iconic Big Red Bash music festival has been cancelled due to widespread outback flooding.

Organisers had been attempting to relocate the festival from its Birdsville location after intense rainfall flooded the region.

"After careful consideration of the available options, we decided that relocating the Birdsville Big Red Bash was not feasible for 2026," event founder and managing director Greg Donovan said.

READ MORE: Fines for dodgy petrol pricing doubled as fuel crisis continues

"Mother Nature is the highest authority; this year she has spoken and we have heard the message."

He said patrons were surveyed before the decision was made to cancel.

The event was 90 per cent sold out.

The 2026 line-up included Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, The Whitlams, Tim Finn, among others.

Organisers say next year's event will go ahead with the majority of this year's line-up confirmed for 2027.

The three-day event has drawn thousands of campers to the edge of the Simpson Desert for more than 10 years.

"We fully understand and appreciate the planning, excitement and anticipation all our adventurous patrons have when they buy tickets and lock in plans to head into the great Australian outback for the Bash," Donovan said.

"We also know our own team's excitement and passion for delivering the festival in this unique and amazing location. It's a very special and spiritual place."

Ticketholders can request a refund via Oztix, transfer their tickets to the 2027 Birdsville Big Red Bash or transfer to the 2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash from 20–22 August 2026.

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Dire warning as 60 people potentially killed by Super-K flu strain

Dire warning as 60 people potentially killed by Super-K flu strain

9News

At least 60 people have potentially died from the deadly Super-K flu strain so far this year, with doctors warning the figures will only rise.

The new and highly mutated strain of influenza A (H3N2), dubbed 'Super-K', was first detected in the United States in June and led to the deaths of dozens of children.

Now, the highly contagious strain has been confirmed in Australia. 

READ MORE: Aussie households set for triple-whammy bill price hike next month

More than 22,000 flu cases have been reported in Australia so far this year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

And 63 deaths were recorded in January - roughly double the typical figures for the month.

Mater Director of Infectious Diseases Paul Griffin believes the Super-K strain has caused the unusually high number of deaths.

"This is largely due to the Super-K variant, which is easily transmitted, and also due to low vaccination rates," he said.

This year's flu vaccinations have been updated to combat the new variant ahead of the flu season, which typically starts in April.

But fewer people are getting their shots. 

READ MORE: Fines for dodgy petrol pricing doubled as fuel crisis continues

Only about one in three Australians are receiving their flu shots, compared to more than half before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those most at risk of flu hospitalisations and deaths include the elderly, children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people. 

Only 25 per cent of children under five received a flu shot and 60.5 per cent of people over 65 were vaccinated last year - the lowest number in six years.

Low vaccination rates have contributed to the deadliest flu season in a decade after 1701 people died from influenza last year.

That was about 400 more deaths than the national road toll.

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Griffin urged people to get their flu, COVID and RSV vaccines ahead of the flu season as it typically takes about two weeks for them to kick in.

"Flu is a major public health threat, and everyone should have the annual vaccine, especially those who are most vulnerable and need the added protection it brings," he said.

"This year, we need to do better and get as many people vaccinated as possible, before more lives are lost unnecessarily."

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Truckie left stranded twice on remote highways as diesel runs dry

Truckie left stranded twice on remote highways as diesel runs dry

9News

Truck drivers are facing dangerous situations as diesel shortages in Australia's remote outback leave them stranded on isolated stretches of highway.

Long-distance driver Robert Cook has been stuck twice on his Melbourne to Perth run, first for over 24 hours on the Nullarbor Plain and again in Keith in South Australia's south-east.

Cook waited hours alongside five other drivers for a fresh supply of diesel to be delivered to a remote fuel station on SA's Limestone Coast yesterday evening.

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He had been driving for around 500 kilometres without seeing a single drop of diesel at any service station.

"Some of the guys I've been speaking to have said, 'Look, we're thinking about hanging our keys up'," Cook, who runs his own heavy haulage company Helco Group, told Nine.com.au.

"I've had to stand down two trucks. It's a struggle."

After filling up late yesterday, Cook said he may only manage to make it to Brisbane before needing to fork out for another tank, if he drives "conservatively".

Diesel fuel costs for Cook's regular Melbourne to Perth drive have now doubled from $5000 to $10,000.

The cost of diesel is now over $3.15 per litre at some petrol stations.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran dismisses US ceasefire plan, issues its own counterproposal

Although the ballooning price of keeping his trucks on the road is not the biggest problem.

Careful fuel management is crucial even without a global oil crisis – at one point, there is a 192-kilometre gap between fuel stops on the Nullarbor, which is among the longest straight stretches of road in the country.

Cook is now worried for the safety of his drivers.

"I tell our drivers, minimum 20 to 30 litres of water, enough canned food and stuff... because our trucks have microwaves and inverters, so they're completely self-reliant," he said.

"It can go south very quickly, especially out there in the summertime.

"It's very dangerous."

Cook is on the road for a job with freight carrier Loadshift.

Loadshift's Operations Coordinator Alex Randall said drivers like Cook are being left "high and dry", despite trucking companies being the backbone of Australia's supply chain.

"There's no system telling them which servos have fuel and which don't. They're driving blind," Randall said.

"What makes this even worse is that a third of trucks on Australian roads are running empty at any given time. "

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The Transport Workers Union (TWU) and Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation (ARTIO) have also warned surging diesel prices have now reached "deadly" new heights.

The unions have called on the government to pass emergency laws to keep truck drivers in business.

"Businesses are at imminent risk of collapse and workers are under deadly pressure because there are huge retailers and other clients out there refusing to pay their fair share for skyrocketing fuel costs," TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said.

"The federal government must act now to put in place emergency powers to ensure the industry can cope with the current crisis – otherwise we will see more transport workers die on our roads, more businesses go under, and our supply chains at breaking point."

The time spent waiting for diesel to arrive has put Cook almost two days' behind schedule.

He warned the knock-on impact is not "sustainable" and that prices will inevitably rise across the board.

"The problem is that we have to pass that on to somebody, and unfortunately, it's going to be the consumer," he said.

"It's double for us, it's going to be double for them, just to stay afloat. It's going to affect a lot of people, like, without a doubt."

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'Iran's enemies' preparing ground invasion of island, says top politician

'Iran's enemies' preparing ground invasion of island, says top politician

9News

Iran is anticipating a ground invasion of one of its islands, one of the country's top politicians has said.

Speaker of Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf announced the news via X this morning.

"Based on some data, Iran's enemies, with the support of one of the regional countries, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands," Ghalibaf said.  

READ MORE: Trump says Iran has sent expensive gift to US, but won't say what it is

"All enemy movements are under the full surveillance of our armed forces. 

"If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks."

Ghalibaf did not specify who he meant by Iran's enemies or which regional country he was referring to.

But Iran is surrounded on several sides by nations with which it has long and animus histories.

The most obvious target Ghalibaf might be alluding to is Kharg Island, a vital infrastructure hub from which 90 per cent of Iran's oil is exported.

Because mainland Iran lacks substantial deepwater ports, oil is piped to the island where it is loaded onto tankers.

READ MORE: There's four-hour queues at US airports. Trump's solution isn't helping

The US has already conducted air strikes on the island, and Axios reported on Saturday that Trump was considering an invasion there.

Iran has been laying land mines as well as moving more troops and air defences to Kharg Island.

The rough, rocky terrain and substantial layered defences of the island indicates that if Iran were to resist a US invasion there, it would be bloody.

But there are other islands that are of strategic value to Iran.

Located in the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm Island is another likely potential target.

The island reportedly contains underground tunnels hiding anti-ship missiles, mines, drones and attack craft.

It remains one of the most strategically vital locations for Iran if it wants to continue cutting off the Strait of Hormuz to foreign shipping.

Abu Musa is another potential target.

The island in the Persian Gulf contains significant military infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates has also staked a claim on the island, but Iran currently occupies it.

READ MORE: Trump on shaky ground after Democrats win Mar-a-Lago seat

Yesterday the US confirmed it was sending 2000 paratroopers to the Middle East.

The 82nd Airborne Division is considered an elite unit that was among the first boots on the ground in Normandy on D-Day in 1944.

Earlier today Iran dismissed any talks of a ceasefire with the US.

The US had drafted a 15-point proposal that would end the conflict.

But Iranian officials refused to consider the deal.

"Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met," the official was quoted as saying.

Iran has thus far publicly rejected any overtures of peace and denied claims from Donald Trump that negotiations were taking place.

READ MORE: Iran looking to turn Strait of Hormuz into massive toll booth

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$800m in trades before Trump announcement 'is treason'

$800m in trades before Trump announcement 'is treason'

9News

A series of trades worth $800 million made minutes before a Truth Social post from Donald Trump sent markets swinging is an act of treason, one of America's most prominent economists has said.

An entity or several entities traded heavily on S&P 500 and oil futures, making an immense sum of money in the process.

Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman lashed out at the mystery traders.

READ MORE: Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM

"When officers of a company or people close to them exploit confidential information for personal financial gain, that's insider trading — which is illegal," Krugman wrote.

"But we have another word for situations in which people with access to confidential information regarding national security — such as plans to bomb or not to bomb another country — exploit that information for profit. 

"That word is 'treason'."

Krugman suggested the traders were either people who knew directly what Trump was going to say, or had been told by people in the know.

"Are decisions about war and peace in part serving the cause of market manipulation rather than the national interest?" he wrote. 

"If you dismiss this as unthinkable, you just haven't been paying attention."

READ MORE: The comments from Trump's right-hand man that should annoy every Aussie

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy demanded to know who was making the trades.

"Who was it? Trump? A family member? A White House staffer?" Murphy said.

"This is corruption. Mind blowing corruption."

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates futures trading, has not commented on the trade.

The Commission normally has five members, but currently only has one, a Trump appointee.

The White House dismissed any inference of wrongdoing.

"The White House does not tolerate any administration official illegally profiteering off of insider knowledge, and any implication that officials are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting," Kush Desai told FT.

READ MORE: Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports

The future market trades are not the first time eyebrows have been raised at suspicious bets before a Trump decision.

Betting app Kalshi has refused to pay out $77 million in winnings to punters who bet Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be out of office by March 1.

Khamenei was killed by a US and Israeli bombing strike hours before the deadline was reached.

Meanwhile on Polymarket, 150 accounts bet more than a million dollars that the US would strike Iran the next day.

And in January, a Polymarket user made about $570,000 betting that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would be out of office before the end of the month.

They had doubled down on their bet hours before the US seized the leader in a military strike.

READ MORE: Trump says Iran has sent an expensive 'gift' to US, but won't say what

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Sydney teen charged with terrorism offences

Sydney teen charged with terrorism offences

9News

A teenage boy in Sydney could face 15 years behind bars after being charged with several terrorism offences.

Police will allege the boy, aged 16, held a "mixed ideology plan" and had plans to carry out acts of violence after analysing extremist material found on a computer he allegedly owned.

Investigations into the boy began last year when police searched a home in the Inner West, where a gel blaster and a flick knife were found.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran gloats over Australia's fuel crisis

The boy was initially arrested and charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol and a prohibited weapon without a permit, and was granted bail for each offence.

However, after finding the alleged extremist material, authorities have laid further charges on the boy.

These include one count of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, two counts of making documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, and two counts of possessing violent extremist material.

The boy will face NSW Children's Court today.

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Minutes before Trump's announcement, $800 million in trades made on oil prices

Minutes before Trump's announcement, $800 million in trades made on oil prices

9News

At 9.50pm AEDT yesterday, there was a sudden spike in trading on the oil and S&P 500 futures market.

6.50am New York time is an unusual time for a rush on trades on West Texas Intermediate May futures.

But it showed that all of a sudden, a substantial sum of money was bet on oil prices dropping and the stock market rising.

READ MORE: Single Trump post sends oil prices tumbling

In the space of a minute, more than $800 million in trades was made on oil futures.

Then a few minutes later, US President Donald Trump made a Truth Social post.

"I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East," Trump wrote.

"Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch (sic) will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions."

The S&P 500 futures market surged and crude oil prices dropped through the floor.

And whoever made those trades made an incredible amount of money.

A White House spokesperson brushed off the suspicious activity.

READ MORE: Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports

"The White House does not tolerate any administration official illegally profiteering off of insider knowledge, and any implication that officials are engaged in such activity without evidence is baseless and irresponsible reporting," Kush Desai told FT.

Hours later, top Iranian politician Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf denied the president's claim.

"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," he said.

"Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors.

"All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved."

READ MORE: Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM

Today's future market trades are not the first time eyebrows have been raised at suspicious bets before a Trump decision.

Betting app Kalshi has refused to pay out $77 million in winnings to punters who bet Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be out of office by March 1.

Khamenei was killed by a US and Israeli bombing strike hours before the deadline was reached.

Meanwhile on Polymarket, 150 accounts bet more than a million dollars that the US would strike Iran the next day.

And in January, a Polymarket user made about $570,000 betting that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro would be out of office before the end of the month.

They had doubled down on their bet hours before the US seized the leader in a military strike.

READ MORE: The comments from Trump's right-hand man that should annoy every Aussie

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Cyclone Narelle could reach Perth in rare southward charge

Cyclone Narelle could reach Perth in rare southward charge

9News

Residents in Perth and Western Australia's south-west are being urged to keep a close eye on the horizon as ex-tropical cyclone Narelle prepares to redevelop on the open ocean.

After drenching the Northern Territory and the Kimberley, the system is forecast to re-intensify into a powerful cyclone and could potentially track as far south as the state capital by the weekend.

On Monday morning, Narelle was positioned as a tropical low over the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, about 25 kilometres north-north-west of Wadeye.

READ MORE: Push for four-day week to manage fuel crisis in Australia

The system has already left a trail of destruction across the Northern Territory, where it made landfall as a category 3 cyclone on Saturday night.

According to Weatherzone, the deluge has been relentless. A rain gauge at Adelaide River Town recorded 202 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, triggering major flooding.

"Ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle is expected to redevelop off the north coast of Western Australia later this week, before possibly turning south and heading towards Perth this weekend," Weatherzone reported.

The system was moving west across the northern Kimberley, bringing damaging gale-force winds and further flooding risks. However, the real concern begins on Wednesday.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jonathan How said that once the system moved off the Kimberley coast and over open water, it was expected to "re-intensify back into a tropical cyclone".

On Wednesday, Narelle is expected to reach category 2 or 3 strength, and by Thursday it could become a category 4 severe tropical cyclone as it tracks north of the Pilbara.

By late week, Weatherzone said there was a chance it could even reach category 5, the highest tier on the scale.

Will it hit Perth?

While the system is currently staying offshore from the Pilbara, computer models show a significant "curve" in the track starting on Friday.

"By Saturday morning, [it] is expected to lie somewhere between Carnarvon also down towards Geraldton," How said. "Beyond this, there is still a range of scenarios possible."

One of those scenarios is a direct impact on the south-west. 

If Narelle tracks southwards, it is expected to accelerate and may transition into an extra-tropical cyclone. 

While technically different in their energy sources, both systems are equally dangerous, capable of bringing powerful winds, heavy rain, and large waves to the Perth metropolitan area by Sunday.

A cyclone reaching Perth is an unusual occurrence, but it is not without precedent. Bureau records show that 14 systems classified as tropical cyclones have brought gale-force winds or property damage to Perth between 1910 and 2024.

The most recent comparison for many locals is Tropical Cyclone Seroja, which devastated Kalbarri in 2021. Jonathan How noted that while these events don't happen every season, the threat to Perth is real.

"Another possibility is that the system remains offshore for longer and actually crosses the coast further down towards the southwest, potentially impacting places like Perth and the far southwest of Western Australia," How said.

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Kyle kicks off legal battle against ARN days after being sacked

Kyle kicks off legal battle against ARN days after being sacked

9News

Kyle Sandilands has officially kicked off legal proceedings against former employer ARN Media after it ripped up his $100 million contract last week.

Court documents were served on Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN that holds the licence for KIIS 1065 Sydney and the contract with Sandilands, on Friday.

ARN announced the news in an ASX market update released this morning.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran's military says Strait of Hormuz will be 'completely closed' if US bombs power plants

Sandilands' legal team is arguing that ARN's claim he committed "serious misconduct" during an on-air bust-up with co-host Jackie O Henderson is untrue.

They argue his termination on the grounds of serious misconduct is therefore invalid.

"They allege that there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract, and that the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law," the statement from ARN reads.

"The applicants seek an order for specific performance of two contracts, payment of whatever amounts are due and payable under the contracts at the time of judgment, and damages."

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ARN disputes Sandilands' claims and said it intends to defend the proceedings.

It could be a costly legal battle, given that there was believed to be more than $80 million still on Sandilands' 10-year contract.

"Given the early stage of the matter, ARN is unable to reliably estimate the outcome or any potential financial impact," the statement said.

Sandilands announced his contract with ARN had been terminated last Wednesday.

He said in a statement at the time that he planned to take legal action and alleged that the network wanted a way out of the $100 million deal with him.

"They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it," Sandilands claimed.

Henderson is also reportedly considering legal action after she was taken off air in February.

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