It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines:
- War in the Middle East rages on. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the Ayatollah killed in attacks by Israel and the US on Iran, has been named his successor. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of unlawfully using white phosphorus in strikes on Lebanon, while the US has been found responsible for the bombing of the girls school in Minab. Iranians have described scenes in Tehran as "apocalyptic", as thick plumes of black smoke obscure the sun and acid rain pours from the sky.
- Six members of the Iranian women’s football delegation have been granted asylum in Australia. After refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem before their Asian Cup game against South Korea, the footballers were labelled traitors on Iranian state television. This raised concerns for their safety, as treason is punishable by death in Iran. Home affairs minister Tony Burke confirmed that a seventh player who was granted asylum had decided to return to Iran.
- Queensland senator Matt Canavan has been elected the new National party leader after David Littleproud stood down earlier this week. Canavan is the first senator to lead the Nationals in the party’s 105-year history. He called for "more Australian everything", including babies, jokes and barbecues powered by fossil fuels in his inaugural press conference as leader.
What else happened this week?
eSafety commissioner introduces age restrictions on some content
Concerns have been raised about the safety of data collected in age-verification processes.
Unsplash
The new online safety codes will mandate age verification for games and websites displaying high-impact, self-harming or pornographic material.
Economists warn rising petrol prices could cause inflation hike
Motorists have been stockpiling petrol in anticipation of a spike in oil prices.
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Oil prices have surged due to the war in the Middle East and NAB economists say the surge could cause inflation to peak above 5 per cent.
NT residents told to stay out of floodwaters after croc sightings
A saltwater crocodile was spotted on a flooded AFL oval in the Northern Territory town Katherine.
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The mayor of Katherine has warned locals not to go into floodwaters due to increased numbers of freshwater and saltwater crocodiles.
Victorian women to access the pill without prescription
Women in Victoria could previously access repeats without an updated prescription.
Pexels
The Victorian government announced that, from July, women purchasing the contraceptive pill will no longer need a prescription from a GP.
Nepal elects youngest-ever prime minister six months after protests
Balendra Shah, known as Balen (left), is the leader of the centrist Rastriya Swatantra party.
Wikimedia Commons
Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah defeated four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the Nepal election in a landslide victory on the weekend. The election comes after the widespread Gen Z protests.
GI cancers now Australia’s deadliest cancer
GI cancers affect organs vital for processing food, controlling glucose and producing hormones.
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Upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer was responsible for 18 per cent of all cancer-related deaths in 2024, overtaking lung cancer on 17 per cent.
Lululemon fined more than $700,000 for spam law breach
Australia’s spam laws require marketing messages to have an unsubscribe option.
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Activewear giant Lululemon was found to have sent 370,000 emails between December 2024 and January 2025 that contained marketing material but did not have an unsubscribe option.
Women arrested after shots fired at Rihanna’s home
Police said Rihanna was home at the time of the shooting but no one was injured.
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A 35-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pop star Rihanna’s Beverly Hills home was struck by gunfire.
Piastri crashes out of Melbourne Grand Prix before race starts
Oscar Piastri said it was “even more disappointing” to crash at his home race
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Australian driver Oscar Piastri’s McLaren race car spun out and collided with the track wall during a reconnaissance lap, leaving the crowd of supporters in stunned silence.
And now for some good news:
SA man sails around the world in boat built in garage
The 15 competitors in the Mini Globe Race competed in 5.8-metre Class Globe yachts
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South Australia's Dan Turner crossed the finish line of the Mini Globe Race in Antigua this week after 16 months at sea. The 41-year-old's handmade boat, named The Immortal Game, is to be sold to another Australian who plans to enter it in the 2029 Mini Globe Race.
