A Sydney woman charged with joining the Islamic State has been refused bail, with prosecutors describing the case against her as 'strong and straightforward'. The woman, who returned from Syria, appeared in court where the magistrate ordered her to remain in custody.
The Australian Federal Police have also charged two women arrested in Melbourne yesterday after their return from Syria. The cases are part of ongoing investigations into individuals linked to foreign conflict zones.
In other news, Australian shares fell heavily today, wiping nearly $50bn in value as US and Iranian forces traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 1.5% at 8,744.40 points, erasing most of the week's gains.
Four Australians onboard a cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak remain en route to the Canary Islands. The MV Hondius left Cape Verde and is expected to arrive in Granadilla by the end of the weekend. Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed all four Australians are in self-isolation and asymptomatic.
A former private school teacher, William Roberto Gulson, avoided jail after sending sexual texts to a minor. Gulson, 28, was sentenced to a three-year community bond and 400 hours of community service for the offence, which occurred on a dating app.
