It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines
- President Donald Trump has blasted the US’s allies for refusing to join the war on Iran and he's publicly considering withdrawing from Nato. Israel has announced plans to occupy areas of south Lebanon, while thousands of US troops have marshalled in the Middle East for a potential ground invasion of Iran. Israel has been criticisedfor a "discriminatory" new law permitting the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terror charges.
- The federal government has halvedthe fuel excise for the next three months, reducing the cost of petrol and diesel by 26.3 cents a litre. This is part of a four-point plan to combat rising fuel costs triggered by the Middle East conflict. In a televised national address, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians to use public transport instead of their cars.
- Dezi Freeman was fatally shot by police in rural Victoria on Monday morning following an hours-long standoff. Police said that Freeman was armed when he exited the storage container he was living in, and officers opened fire. Freeman’s death concludes a seven month-long manhunt after he allegedly killed two police officers at Porepunkah in north-east Victoria in August.
What else happened this week?
Transgender women banned from Olympics
Athletes must pass a one-time SRY gene screening to compete in female category events. (Pexels)
The International Olympic Committee announced that transgender women will be banned from competing in female category events from the 2028 Olympics onward.
Public transport free in Victoria and Tasmania
New South Wales and Western Australia said they won’t be following suit. (Wikimedia Commons)
Public transport across Victoria and Tasmania is now cost free to incentivise people to switch from driving amid the current increased demand for fuel.
Study finds vaping likely to cause cancer
The study states that vaping can no longer be considered "safer than smoking". (Shutterstock)
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have found thatvapes containing nicotine are likely to cause lung and oral cancer.
Five social media companies not following teen ban
The online regulator found companies have only taken "some steps" to comply with the ban. (Shutterstock)
The eSafety commissioner is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube over"potential non-compliance"with Australia’s social media ban for under-16s.
Credit and debit card surcharges to be scrapped
The RBA estimates the ban will collectively save Australians $1.6b per year. (Unsplash)
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced Mastercard, Visa and Eftpos card transactions will no longer incur surcharges from October .
One in two Australians priced out of health care
More health workers, lower costs and improved access needed to improve situation. (Shutterstock)
A Consumers Health Forum report found that half of the Australians they surveyed skipped health care that they needed last year because they could not afford it.
NASA’s Artemis II rocket lifts off
The rocket launched on Thursday morning for the 10-day test flight. (Wikimedia Commons)
There are four astronauts aboard the first moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972, including the first woman and the first person of colour to breach lower Earth orbit. It won’t be landing on the moon.
Australians lost over $2b to scams in 2025
Investment scams were most prolific, responsible for $837.7m in losses. (Shutterstock)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has revealedthat Australians collectively lost $2.18b to scams in 2025.
End to discounted pay rates for young Australian workers
Some of those under 20 have been limited to receiving only 70 per cent of the full award wage. (Shutterstock)
The Fair Work Commission announced that Australians aged 18 to 20 would receive the full award wage for their work starting in December. Currently 18 year olds receive 70 per cent of the full award wage, 19 year olds receive 80 per cent and 20 year olds get 90 per cent.
And now for some good news
Baby corals transplanted onto Great Barrier Reef
The scientists produced roughly 40,000 coral-seeding devices. (Shutterstock)
Scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science have grown tens of thousands of baby corals, attached them to ceramic coral-seeding devices, and transplanted them onto the Great Barrier Reef. The baby coral was grown on land or settled from wild spawn slicks. The transplants are part of a three-year program testing restoration methods on the Great Barrier Reef, which began last year.