It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
- Exit polls reveal no clear winner in the Israeli election, with more results not expected until next week. It's a tight contest between current President Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot's Change bloc. The election is the first since the October 7 attacks in Israel and Gaza.
- Almost 70 people were killed in a high-speed train collision south of Madrid on Thursday. Over 500 people were on board the two trains when they collided due to what Spanish authorities say is a suspected human error. The crash is the second of its kind this year, coming just nine months after a deadly crash on the same line in January, which killed 46 people.
- The latest Foodbank hunger report found that approximately 3.6 million Australian households have felt food insecurity over the past 12 months, up from last year's 3.5 million. The report found food insecurity is higher among renters, First Nations individuals and young Australians, along with other factors like region and employment status.
What else happened this week?
World’s coral reefs at risk of extinction
Climate scientists say cuts to fossil fuels and conservation action could help reefs survive. / Unsplash
United Nations environment advisors have warned that almost all of Earth’s shallow-water coral reefs could face extinction before 2075 due to global warming. About 24 per cent of the world’s reefs are already at risk of extinction, but that number is set to grow to 96 per cent if climate change continues on the current trajectory.
Helen Haines honoured in parliament
The independent MP is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after her legs were amputated / Wikimedia Commons
Tributes have flowed in parliament this week for MP Helen Haines following last week’s brutal attack that left her fighting for life. Members of parliament wore orange and placed an orange cockatoo on her seat, representative of the politician's local campaign in the electorate of Indi.
First plane departs from Western Sydney Airport
WSI could reach its maximum capacity of 82 million passengers a year by 2060 / Wikimedia Commons
The first flight from the newly opened Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport took off on Sunday, flying to the Gold Coast. WSI CEO Simon Hickey described the opening as a “generational change to aviation”.
Bluey held at knifepoint in One Nation colouring book
One Nation defended the book, calling it ‘political satire’ / Wikimedia Commons
One Nation colouring books featuring images of the ABC character Bluey being held at knifepoint were handed out to children at a Mount Gambier event. The book, endorsed by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, includes eight pages of images depicting current and former politicians, and other celebrities.
Lula da Silva re-elected as Brazilian president
Voters were given an extra two hours to vote due to public transport issues. / Wikimedia Commons
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been re-elected as Brazilian president after defeating right-wing opponent Flavio Bolsonaro. It marks the fourth non-consecutive term for left-wing President Silva, who took almost 52 per cent of the nation's vote. Bolsonaro, son of former president Javier Bolsonaro, has fled the country for the US after being investigated for corruption.
French protests continue
Over 1,000 people have been arrested from the protests / Shutterstock
Over 400,000 people have taken part in another weekend of protests across France as concerns over education and cost-of-living continue. French law enforcement has had a heavy presence at the protests, and were scrutinised for firing tear gas and shooting indiscriminately during peaceful demonstrations to disperse crowds.
New SPF rules for sunscreens
Sixteen out of 20 sunscreen brands didn’t meet their advertised SPF levels last year. / Shutterstock
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has announced stricter testing rules for sunscreen brands after widely reported failures to meet SPF requirements. The proposed changes would force brands to test their products multiple times and provide results to the TGA before hitting the market.
Logan drive-by shooting leaves four critically injured
Police are still searching for the attackers. / Shutterstock
A 19-year-old girl and three men are recovering in hospital after a drive-by shooting in Brisbane’s south. The incident happened around 8pm Sunday night during an intermission for a boxing event at Fitzy’s Loganholme, where shots were fired from the passenger window of a silver Mitsubishi.
Review found Kumanjayi Little Baby at risk of domestic violence
The review made 45 recommendations towards the department, which have all been accepted in full. / Pexels
The Northern Territory’s domestic violence protection measures are under scrutiny following a review into Kumanjayi Little Baby’s record with child protection services. The report revealed the little girl had 14 notifications of contact with the department since 2020. Her father was the main perpetrator through instances of verbal and physical abuse towards Little Baby and her mother.
Nigeria confirms first case of Ebola in over a decade
The Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak has no approved vaccine. / Shutterstock
A 42-year-old woman in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, tested positive for Ebola last week, marking the first case of the virus in the nation in over a decade. The case comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences its largest ever outbreak of the virus, with over 9,000 confirmed cases and approximately 5,000 reported deaths since May 15.
And now for some good news
Kangaroo rescued after swim in sea
Murray says he’s never seen anything like it. / Unsplash
A kangaroo has been rescued by fisherman after finding itself three kilometres off the shore of Boston Bay in South Australia. Kangaroo rescuer Jake Murray saved the animal from the water, cradling him as the boat returned back to land.
