It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines
- Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, after holding the position for almost two years. Hours later, former mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was sworn in as a Labour MP, and he will stand for the PM position when nominations open in July. Until then, Starmer will remain as caretaker prime minister.
- Footballer Lionel Messi became the World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria on Tuesday at Dallas Stadium. The Argentinian captain bounced back from missing an early penalty to scoring twice, solidifying the team's position at the top of the leaderboard in their group. Australia is set to play Paraguay on Friday in a do-or-die match for the Socceroos, who need at least a draw to guarantee their spot in the next rounds.
- Channel Nine TV presenter Karl Stefanovic is reportedly leaving the broadcaster, after he published an independent podcast interview with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson. In his appearance on Stefanovic's show, Robinson praised Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, criticised multiculturalism and linked Islam to terrorism. The episode was briefly taken down from Stefanovic's channel, before reappearing on Hanson’s YouTube channel.
What else happened this week?
Fuel excise rebate extended, but halved
The price of fuel has been impacted by the Middle East crisis / Shutterstock
The federal government has extended the fuel excise rebate into July, as the temporary measure was set to expire on June 30. The discount, which took 32 cents off each litre of petrol, will drop back to 16 cents. The changes are likely to cause a slight increase in fuel prices, although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out future extensions to the discount.
Ukraine strikes Russian oil facilities in Crimea
The Ukrainian president has led the country's defence since Russia invaded / Wikimedia Commons
Ukrainian strikes targeting occupied Crimea and Russian transport routes have intensified over recent weeks, forcing Russian authorities to suspend civilian fuel sales because of the disrupted supply lines. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the "long-range sanctions" intend to isolate the territory and raise the cost of occupation on Russia.
Tennis star suspended for refusing doping test
Vondroušová noted ‘mental stress’ when the testing agent appeared at her home without clearly identifying themselves / Shutterstock
Former Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová has been suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for refusing an anti-doping test in December last year.
Bird flu detected in Australia
Over 60 reports of sick or dead birds have been received since last Friday / Shutterstock
H5N1 avian influenza was detected in two seabirds found in Esperance, south-east of Perth, this week. On Wednesday, a third case of the deadly disease was confirmed in a migratory bird on the coast of South Australia. The rise in reports has seen poultry producer Inghams lock down its operations in Western Australia
NSW Government budget offers cost-of-living relief
The state’s health budget will receive $10.3 billion over four years to recruit health workers and increase hospital capacities / Shutterstock
The NSW government outlined its annual budget on Tuesday. The priorities included a $561 million transport affordability package, with cuts to vehicle registration costs, the lowering of the weekly toll cap by $10 and the freezing of Opal fares at 2025 prices.
Vet industry presses for student financial aid
Veterinary students have the highest practical requirements of any profession / Shutterstock
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has called on the government to cover student placements amid regional shortages. The push for financial support comes as an AVA survey found that a third of veterinary positions took more than a year to fill, because veterinary students struggle to afford rural placements.
Australians' trust in the US at record low, polls reveal
While Australians remain more suspicious of China, the gap has narrowed as trust increased to 28 per cent / Shutterstock
A recent Lowy Institute poll shows that Australians’ trust in the US has taken a dive, with only 31 per cent of respondents who believe that the Trump administration would act responsibly in the world.
Kids Helpline interventions on the rise
The support service saw a 350 per cent increase in crisis interventions in 2025 compared to 2018 / Shutterstock
Kids Helpline have released their 2025 report, and it shows that the number of young Australians needing mental health support is growing. Around 14 cases a day required a counsellor to contact emergency services due to a risk of harm. This is the second highest number since COVID in 2021.
France’s hottest day in history linked to drownings
Weather service Météo-France says Tuesday recorded the highest temperatures since measurements began in 1947 / Shutterstock
France registered its hottest day on record on Tuesday. Tourist attractions were shut down because of the heat and 40 people drowned while swimming during the heatwave. The heat forced the closure of more than 1,350 schools, and it was also linked to the death of two children in their family vehicle.
Olivia Rodrigo announces all-female music festival
Rodrigo has just released her third album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love / Wikimedia Commons
The Grammy award-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo has announced the launch of Daisy Chain Fields, a one-day all female music festival. Scheduled for August, the festival will see performances byChappell Roan, Katseye and Stevie Nicks, among others, with all proceeds going towards women’s rights charities.
And now for some good news
Bluey translated into Indigenous language
Bluey is one of Australia's most successful cultural exports / Wikimedia Commons
For the first time, Bluey will be available in an Indigenous language for Australian viewers. Five episodes of the show, which is already available in over 140 countries and dubbed in more than 20 international languages, were selected for their themes of family and Country. They have been dubbed by north-east Arnhem Land residents in Yolŋu Matha, with the release scheduled for NAIDOC Week, from July 5-12.
