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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Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iranian power plants over Strait of Hormuz closure

Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iranian power plants over Strait of Hormuz closure

9News

Donald Trump has threatened to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country does not lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US president gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the critical waterway in a chilling ultimatum shared on Truth Social at 10.44am AEDT.

"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST," Trump wrote.

READ MORE: 'They don't like any of us': One Nation's surge is now a federal threat

READ MORE: Petrol theft on the rise as calls for fuel rationing ramp up in Australia

"Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Trump has previously called on key NATO allies to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices," Trump said in an earlier post on Truth Social.

The Strait of Hormuz is the only waterway in or out of the Persian Gulf and is a vital passageway for crude oil tankers.

Its closure has put enormous pressure on global oil supply, sending liquid fuel prices soaring across the world.

Trump's latest threat against Iran follows the president's extraordinary criticism over Australia's lack of involvement in the conflict thus far.

The president on Friday told journalists that Australia should get involved and that he was "a little bit surprised that they said no because we always say yes to them".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Trump had not officially asked Australia for support.

"We have done what we have asked been asked to do," Albanese said at a press conference in Melbourne.

The truth is that we have said yes to the request [from] the UAE for the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft that is operating there with personnel operating as well. In addition to that, we've sent AMRAAM [interceptor missiles].

"That's making a difference as well, to intercept missiles or drones aimed at the UAE. So we continue to provide the support that we have been asked to provide."

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Petrol theft ramps up as unleaded nears $3 per litre

Petrol theft ramps up as unleaded nears $3 per litre

9News

Fuel theft is on the rise in Australia as motorists reach breaking point over the spiralling costs at the bowser.

Incidents of theft have been reported on the streets of regional Victoria and in Queensland, including brazen thieves who siphoned fuel from trucks as drivers slept at rest stops.

The cost of unleaded petrol has now nudged $3 per litre, crippling motorists and businesses, as the global oil crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East shows no sign of easing.

READ MORE: 'They don't like any of us': One Nation's surge is now a federal threat

Victoria Police are investigating afters several streets in Kyneton, in central Victoria, were targeted by fuel thieves yesterday and on Friday.

It is believed unknown offenders tampered with fuel cap covers of cars parked along Wedge and Powlett streets between 5pm on Friday and 8am yesterday, police said.

An investigation into the incidents is now under way.

Meanwhile, truck drivers in rural Queensland have been urged to lock their fuel tanks after drivers reported having fuel stolen overnight as they slept.

"With the rising cost of fuel across Australia, unfortunately we all know what tends to follow… opportunistic theft," a spokesperson for Ambrose Haulage Pty Ltd said on Facebook

"One of our drivers had a very close call overnight at Moonie with someone attempting to access the truck.

"Please keep an extra eye out when you're parked up especially overnight."

The surging price of fuel and regional shortage has prompted calls for stricter fuel rationing across the country.

READ MORE: Labor landslide in South Australia amid seismic One Nation shockwave

READ MORE: One Nation's surge could send 'seismic shockwaves' across border

One Nation's Barnaby Joyce said now was the time to ramp up conservation efforts as our existing stock is depleted.

"We should be going towards rationing," Joyce said.

"The problem is taking its second iteration, because you've got to remember, the oil we were using at the start of the crisis had already been extracted from the Middle East.

"So we weren't having to contend with the closure of the Strait of Hormoz. It's actually going to become more difficult."

Current petrol supplies are expected to run dry at the end of April.

The International Energy Agency has urged Australians to work form home or catch public transport to preserve fuel.

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'They don't like any of us': Biggest lesson from One Nation's record surge

'They don't like any of us': Biggest lesson from One Nation's record surge

9News

The Coalition's failure to unite in policy left a "vaccum" for Pauline Hanson's One Nation to lure voters during the South Australian election – but the insurgent party could shake up federal politics too.

One Nation's strong performance in the election was accompanied by a significant dip in support for both the victorious Labor party and the Liberals, and politicians in Canberra should be taking note, former Nationals leader David Littleproud said.

Littleproud said the biggest takeaway from Hanson's seismic upswing in popularity is that voters are disaffected with every side of politics.

READ MORE: Labor landslide in South Australia amid seismic One Nation shockwave

READ MORE: Trump considering 'winding down' his war in Iran, but invasion plans reportedly being drafted

"I think the lesson for that, not just in South Australia but federally, is that people are angry and if you look at where the polls are federally, they don't like any of us," he told Today.

"The reality is, no-one is sitting there with 40 or 50 per cent of the primary vote in any of the polling.

"Everyone is scratching around 20 to 30 per cent. That's because people are angry, they are hurting, they're looking for hope, they're looking for direction."

Both major parties bled votes to One Nation across the state.

While SA Premier Peter Malinauskas secured a second term with a landslide win for Labor, the party's primary vote still dipped slightly to around 38 per cent.

One Nation burst onto the scene with an historic 21 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Liberals on just 19 per cent.

The state numbers threaten to spill across borders as One Nation circles ahead of the looming Victoria election and Farrer byelection.

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Littleproud said Hanson's promising showing in SA should spook the Coalition into action.

"The biggest mistake the Coalition made after the election was basically to abolish all policies, and that left a vacuum for Pauline Hanson to walk in," he said.

"It also poses a significant opportunity. We've got a prime minister who is unpopular, not like Peter Malinauskas, there's an opportunity there, but we've got to put out our policies.

"You've got to fight for what you believe in and people reward that."

Hanson yesterday said a "clear message is being sent" as early poll numbers indicated her conservative party was securing a record primary vote.

"I want to take this opportunity to give a big thnak you to the people of South Australia for giving their trust and confidence to One Nation," Hanson told 9News.

"This will send a clear message. I'm not going to stop at South Australia, I'm going to go to after the seat of Farrer... and then Victoria."

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Aussies urged to work from home as petrol prices reach eye-watering new highs

Aussies urged to work from home as petrol prices reach eye-watering new highs

9News

With fuel prices rocketing and supplies tightening, the world's energy watchdog is now urging Australians to work from home, as conflict in the Middle East threatens global oil supply.

The International Energy Agency has issued a warning as diesel hits a record three dollars a litre.

In its list of 10 recommendations, the watchdog has also urged Australians to slow down on the roads, avoid air travel and carpool to work or take public transport.

READ MORE: Peter Malinauskas is the favourite going into South Australia's state election but the win might not be that simple

This morning, the cheapest petrol in Australia was in Perth, at $2.19 a litre, and Melbourne was the most expensive place to fill up at $2.99 a litre in Hawthorn.

Some petrol stations in Kingsbury in Melbourne's North are charging $3.10 a litre.

The next most expensive petrol in Sydney is in Lewisham, at just over $2.79.

The nation's average is currently sitting at $2.45 a litre with little relief in sight due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

"We need to see the government come out and clearly communicate with the Australian people what fuel supplies we have, and where our future fuel supplies are coming from," Liberal Senator Paul Scarr told Today.

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"We need to make sure that diesel flows through to our farmers, and that's really incredibly important to make sure that we get the food on the table and we support all of our productive industries."

In an urgent decision, the ACCC has allowed fuel companies to collaborate and coordinate fuel supply.

"This is part of the government's decisive action to make more fuel available to industry and households and keep fuel flowing to where it's most needed, including the bush," Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

READ MORE: Crisis escalates as petrol stations across NSW run out of fuel

"It's really important that the big players in the fuel markets don't treat this as a chance to disadvantage the independents who play a vital role, including in regional Australia."

The decision will allow fuel companies to exchange and coordinate information surrounding the fuel supply across the country to prevent shortages without breaching competition laws.

However, fuel suppliers are still not allowed to share information or reach agreements on fuel prices.

The call comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns announced yesterday that about 80 petrol stations in the state were without diesel and about 40 had no petrol at all.

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Trump considering 'winding down' his war in Iran, but invasion plans reportedly being drafted

Trump considering 'winding down' his war in Iran, but invasion plans reportedly being drafted

9News

Donald Trump said he is considering winding down the war in Iran, even as reports emerge of the Pentagon planning a ground invasion.

In a post on Truth Social this morning, Trump detailed his achievements since starting the war three weeks ago.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," he said.

READ MORE: How the war in Iran is impacting Australia's oil supply

"(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them. (2) Destroying Iran's Defense Industrial Base. (3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry. (4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place. (5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others. The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!

"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn't be necessary once Iran's threat is eradicated. 

"Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them."

But his claims come as Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared victory in his own statement.

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

"The enemy has been defeated," Khamenei said.

"(Iranians have) dealt him a dizzying blow so that he now starts uttering contradictory words and nonsense."

Trump's purported consideration of winding down the war comes at the same time as reports of an invasion being planned.

CBS News reports the Pentagon has made detailed plans for a ground invasion of Iran.

But Trump denied the plans in an obtuse way.

"No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," he said.

"If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you."

READ MORE: Donald Trump lashes out at NATO 'cowards' for not joining war

He is also considering using ground troops to occupy Iran's strategically valuable Kharg Island, according to reports.

Axios cited four sources as saying the Trump Administration was considering a blockade of the island or even landing troops there.

When questioned about this outside the White House, Trump was coy.

"I may have a plan, I may not," he said.

"It's certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can't tell you that."

READ MORE: Trump berates allies as he finds himself alone on Iran war

Because Iran's coastline is too shallow for massive tankers, 90 per cent of Iran's oil is exported via Kharg Island.

US Central Command confirmed today that 232 American service members have been injured since the war began three weeks ago.

Of those, ten are seriously wounded, and 207 have been able to return to duty.

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

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What Olivia's daughter did here almost cost her mum her licence

What Olivia's daughter did here almost cost her mum her licence

9News

The number of Perth drivers hit by seatbelt fines from artificial intelligence-based cameras has soared, with tens of millions of dollars in penalties handed out for 40,000 fines in the past five months.

Hundreds of motorists who argue their fines are unfair are preparing to take their cases to court but there are no apologies from the state's top cop.

When Olivia Wood's eight-year-old daughter's seatbelt shuffle was snapped on the Kwinana Highway in Salter Point it almost cost the Perth nurse her licence.

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"I always make sure my kids have their seat belts in at the beginning of the trip and throughout the whole trip," she told 9News.

But Wood was hit with eight demerits and a $550 fine.

"You can actually see from the image that her seat belt is plugged in, she may have momentarily adjusted her knee," Wood said.

She's one of a growing many who plan to fight the infringement in court. 

"I think what would be much better ... would be that if she was taken into the police station, given some education," Wood said.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch maintained a hard-line stance on road safety. 

"We also want people to make sure at the start of a trip that adults in the car are wearing their seat belts, kids are wearing their seat belts, and they continue to do so," he said.

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"But that doesn't neglect your duties from looking at the windscreen being safe as well. 

"People can do both things at the same time. "

Transport expert Ross Taylor is preparing to face court after his granddaughter shifted her sash, landing his daughter in hot water.

"As a single mum with three neurodivergent children, to have her car is really fundamental to getting the children to medical appointments, to school," he told 9News.

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An email account he created to help others in the same situation has received about 200 responses.

"Absolutely 100 per cent of the people that have made contact with me, in every occasion they acted honestly and reasonably at the beginning of the journey to make sure their passengers were correctly buckled in," he said,

In one instance, a front-seat passenger with a shoulder injury snapped wearing the sash off to the side, leaving the driver with eight demerit points and a $550 fine.

A new mother with mastitis who moved the strap off her sore chest was caught twice by AI cameras and slapped with $1100 in fines.

The Road Safety Commission review into WA AI camera legislation and penalties is expected to report next year. 

In the meantime, lawyers are preparing to challenge a spate of seatbelt fines in court.

"We've been approached by a group currently containing in excess of some 80 potential clients who are aggrieved by their infringements and are wanting to explore their legal options," Parella legal barrister and solicitor Tom Dellar told 9News.

Some drivers have already been successful in having fines overturned but others have been forced to pay after their penalties were upheld. 

"The cameras only capture a single moment in time, and if the driver honestly believed that their passenger was properly belted up, and it was reasonable for the driver to believe that, then they may have a defence," Dellar said.

But the commissioner remained firm. 

"One in five deaths on WA roads is seatbelt related; 2026 started with our highest number of road deaths in years," Blanch said.

"Wear it properly. It's designed a certain way by very smart people, much smarter than me."

The fine saga is growing by the day as more drivers find they're copping penalties for how their passengers wear seat belts.

The Road Safety Commission is looking at what can be changed, but ultimately it is a decision for the government, and that could be cold comfort for drivers. 

"These safety cameras are about changing behaviour," a government spokesperson said in a statement. 

"Drivers were issued an eight-month warning period. 

"The law is clear and responsibility remains with the driver to ensure passengers wear their seatbelt correctly."

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Thousands queue for vaccines, antibiotics as deadly outbreak grows

Thousands queue for vaccines, antibiotics as deadly outbreak grows

9News

The UK has issued an urgent public health alert as a deadly meningitis outbreak continues to grow in south-east England.

Students at the University of Kent queued around campus on Wednesday to receive vaccinations and antibiotics after one of their peers died earlier this week.

The outbreak has been identified as a known strain of meningitis B, which is typically spread by prolonged and close contact.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran pledges to hit back over gas field attack

The explosive outbreak is believed to have originated at a nightclub in Canterbury.

At least 20 confirmed and suspected cases of the potentially life-threatening virus have been recorded in Kent over the last few days.

Two people have died: a University of Kent student, and a sixth former (high schooler) from nearby Faversham.

At least 11 others have been hospitalised.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Chief Executive, Susan Hopkins, told the BBC the organisation is trying to figure out how the virus spread so quickly.

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"We see clusters all the time," Professor Paul Hunter at the Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia told The Guardian.

"What's unusual is the size of this cluster. That's the scary thing."

Vaccinations have been offered to about 5000 students at the University of Kent.

Students told the BBC some of their peers have packed up and fled the city.

Local pharmacies have reportedly started wait lists for locals seeking the meningitis vaccine.

No cases have emerged yet that are not linked to the original cluster in Kent but health workers across England have been warned to look out for signs of infection.

READ MORE: Warning Cyclone Narelle 'may be biggest weather system in living memory'

Meningitis is a potentially deadly infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord.

It's usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection and can spread through sneezing, coughing or kissing.

Symptoms develop suddenly and can include fever, headache, a rash, neck stiffness, light sensitivity, drowsiness and seizures.

It can cause permanent brain and nerve damage, sepsis, or death if not treated quickly with antibiotics.

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