Good morning. Maddy Morwood here with Wednesday's AM NewsMail.

Today our focus is again on the war in the Middle East, with global affairs editor Laura Tingle bringing us the latest from Dubai. After reporting yesterday that the government would grant five Iranian female soccer players asylum, the ABC understands at least seven members of the team have now sought asylum in Australia.

We also take a look at a landmark Indigenous-led report which finds it could take more than 118 years to end racism in Australian workplaces, the rise of an AI-generated Pauline Hanson, and check in on some blonde echidnas.

AND REMEMBER: You can now see more ABC News stories in your Google search results.  

I'm ABC global affairs editor Laura Tingle in Dubai. I'm giving you daily updates to help you quickly understand what's going on.

• Australia: An RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and 85 personnel were expected to have arrived in the UAE. A supply of air-to-air missiles is on the way, on a defensive mission to help intercept Iranian missile and drone attacks that have rained down on the Gulf State despite it not being a combatant in the war.
• Mixed messages: Signals from all sides have become increasingly contradictory. Analysts believe US messaging shows Donald Trump wants to find an "off ramp" at some point soon, while both Israel and Iran are signalling they're prepared for a prolonged war of attrition.
• Oil and gas: There have been conflicting messages from the Trump administration overnight after the US energy secretary announced on X that the US Navy had "successfully escorted" an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. He later deleted the message and within an hour the White House confirmed that the US Navy had not escorted a tanker. The overall the picture remains grim, with more Gulf refineries shutting down and Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowing to maintain its oil export blockade until US and Israeli attacks cease.

So, what's the fallout?

People, naturally enough, want to know when the war will end — which brings us to the mindset of those who are prosecuting it. The erratic and bombastic statements of Donald Trump and his officials don't really offer any reliable guide. The more ominous statements come from the two main regional protagonists: Iran and Israel.

While Trump — under pressure on Tuesday from soaring oil prices — was saying the war could be over "very soon", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was saying "we are not done yet". On the other side, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country would keep fighting "as long as it takes".

These two bitter enemies are not looking for the quick win Trump seeks. Both sides have shown what commitment to a long-term battle means, and how deeply they are locked into one.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman reflected last week on the devastating war in Gaza against Hamas that raged for two years, observing "Israel has not been able to eliminate Hamas in Gaza after over two years of a merciless air and ground war — and Hamas is right next door." 

The Iranian regime is even more dug in to Iranian society than Hamas. That raises the question of just what Australia, or any of the other countries being dragged into the war — through being attacked, or through offering to provide defence support — are getting themselves into.

Thanks for joining me. You can keep track of the latest updates from Iran and around the world throughout the day via our live blog.

• Foreign fake news: An ABC NEWS Verify investigation has uncovered a raft of foreign Facebook accounts using AI-generated images combined with compelling but completely fake stories, largely involving Pauline Hanson, to manipulate Australians.
• Iran footballers: After Tony Burke confirmed yesterday the government had granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian soccer players, the ABC understands at least seven members the team have now sought asylum in Australia.
• Analysis with Ian Verrender: "Up the stairs and down the elevator" has been the rule of thumb for decades in financial markets — but apparently it's not the case any longer.
• Australia's fuel struggles: Dozens of docked fishing trawlers and other vessels have been stranded as a result of Australia's worsening fuel shortages due to the conflict in the Middle East, which some distributors have described as the worst they have seen.

• Racism report: A landmark Indigenous-led report has found almost 60 per cent of Indigenous employees experience racism in Australian workplaces and, at the current rate, it will take 118 years to eliminate racial slurs from workplaces.
• Nationals leadership contest: Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan and Queensland Senator Matt Canavan are among the contenders to replace David Littleproud, who stepped down as the party's leader yesterday.
• Lululemon fined: Activewear fashion brand Lululemon has been fined $702,900 for breaching spam laws after hundreds of thousands of emails were sent without an unsubscribe option.

- That's retired Australian police detective Tracey Michel, who spent thousands of dollars on a "back-up" flight to the UK, determined to make it to her daughter in London in May despite airspace chaos in the Middle East. 

She's one of thousands of Australians going to extreme lengths to salvage their holiday plans through expensive reroutes through Asia.

Her original flight via Dubai is still booked, but she's bought an alternative ticket through Singapore for $2,800 return, just in case. 

"You can't let fear stop you, I'm not getting any younger, I'm 65, and I don't want to miss this trip," Ms Michel told the ABC. 

The electric guitar Kurt Cobain played in Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit video is expected to sell for a pretty hefty price at auction in New York later this month.

We'll give you a hint: the left-handed 1969 Fender Competition Mustang previously sold in 2022 for $6.7 million, making it the most expensive electric guitar ever sold.

The slice of history is among hundreds of items to be auctioned by Christie's from the collection of late American billionaire Jim Irsay.

PLUS: Blonde echidnas and other rare animals have been spotted on remote island cameras. Do you reckon they get a full head of highlights? 

And that's it for today. Thanks for reading! We'll be back at the same time tomorrow with more.

Maddy and the ABC News Digital team.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who was at the airport, said border force officials made multiple representations to all of the team before departing Sydney.