It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines
- US President Donald Trump announced a deal in the Gaza peace process was reached last week, including the complete disarmament of Hamas. The agreement, which includes plans for Hamas to hand over weaponry to the US Board of Peace, came just days before the latest series of Israeli strikes killed at least 13 Palestinians in Gaza. The deal insists that Israeli forces are to withdraw from Gaza after the disarmament takes place.
- The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones began on Monday, as he pleads not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching. Jones was arrested in 2024, as six men alleged a series of incidents occurring between 2003 and 2020. The judge-only trial is expected to last for about four months, with testimonies from some 76 witnesses.
- The first mass mortality event of the H5 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in Australia, with the government confirming a total of 74 cases. In South Australia, a group of infected birds were found at Baudin Rocks, with several cases also identified in seagulls. The disease was also responsible for the deaths of thousands of elephant seal pups on Heard Island.
What else happened this week?
It's census time
The census is held every five years and helps inform the government about demographics in Australia / Shutterstock
The Australian census will take place on August 11, with people in Australia to complete the 66-question survey online or via paper forms. This year, new questions about gender, sexual orientation and sex recorded at birth have been added.
Ariana Grande to take break from public life
Conversations surrounding Grande’s health and physical appearance have dominated media coverage of her performances in recent months /Wikimedia Commons
A representative for Ariana Grande announced this week that, due to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny," the pop star will be taking a break from public appearances after her Eternal Sunshine tour. At the same time, she has filed a lawsuit accusing unnamed hackers of stealing and selling her unreleased music.
Bateman speaks out in gambling inquiry
Bateman’s episode of Australian Story (ABC) detailed his crippling gambling addiction, as he advocates for an end to gambling inducements / Wikimedia Commons
Former NRL player and social media influencer Luke Bateman gave evidence on Monday in the Senate’s inquiry into the federal government’s legislation on gambling advertisements. He alleges that gambling company executives offered to secure illicit drugs for him while he was losing "tens of thousands of dollars a month" in gambling debts.
Migrants surge from Morocco into Spain
Italy suspended the Schengen Agreement, which allows people to travel across Europe without routine passport checks / Wikimedia Commons
Around 50,000 migrants from Morocco entered the Spanish city of Ceuta last Thursday, often with deadly results. The Spanish government have recovered 67 bodies, with death tolls predicted to be higher on both sides of the border. The surge forced Italy to introduce stronger border controls with Spain.
Fuel excise discount ends and electric car sales spike
The 16-cent-per-litre reduction came in response to oil price hikes due to the war in the Middle East / Shutterstock
The Government’s fuel excise discount ended on Monday after four months, with prices set to rise from this week. At the same time, Australia has recorded its largest ever quarterly surge in hybrid and electric car sales, making up nearly one in every two vehicles sold.
FIFA scrap plans for private investment
FIFA president Gianni Infantino responded to opposition from the European football’s governing body, UEFA, in a statement last week / Wikimedia Commons
The world football governing body ditched plans to allow for private investment in flagship events, like the World Cup. The move to sell minority stakes in FIFA events was met with backlash from football officials and fans alike.
Traditional owners appeal $150m mining payout
The court found that Fortescue mined without consent from the Indigenous community in the Western Australian region of Pilbara / Shutterstock
The Yindjibarndi people are set to appeal a $150 million compensation payout from mining company Fortescue, claiming it does not meet what they’re owed. It was the largest native title payout to date, but $2 billion was originally sought.
NAPLAN results reveal national crisis
Some 1.2 million students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sat the examinations in March / Shutterstock
The annual National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) scores were released this week, revealing that one-third of Australian students are not meeting English and mathematics expectations. Around 10 per cent of low-scoring students were flagged as needing additional support to catch up.
Government imposes levy on tech giants
The levy will be equal to 2.5 per cent of the tech company’s digital advertising revenue / Pexels
The News Bargaining Incentive Levy legislation was finalised this week. Under the plan, big tech companies like TikTok, Meta, Google and LinkedIn will be charged a levy if they don’t establish agreements with Australian publishers to use their content.
Call out for blood donors across Australia
Victoria has the highest demand, followed by New South Wales and Queensland / Shutterstock
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood says that over 12,000 blood donors are needed over the coming week. Australia has a severe shortage of type O and A blood following the winter flu season, which prevented donations.
And now for some good news
Over one million observations recorded in Aussie Bug Hunt
These observations have helped detect invasive species, including fire ants and the Asian honeybee / Shutterstock
Over one million observations were recorded in the Bug Hunt initiative led by the Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia, a significant milestone for citizen science. Since the initiative’s launch in October 2025, Australians have digitally uploaded images and observations of insects, allowing experts to catalogue them for further research.
