It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines:
- Israel and the United States launched missile strikes against Iran, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with strikes against Israel and US bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Donald Trump urged the Iranian people to "take over your government" once the strikes cease. The missile strikes are ongoing.
- Israel also fired missiles into Lebanon and stationed troops at the Lebanese/Israeli border in response to missile and drone strikes by the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has banned Hezbollah’s military activities, called for them to turn in their weapons, and pleaded for peace.
- Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia supports the US "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon" and stands with "the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression." Foreign minister Penny Wong declared that Australia was not involved in nor informed about the Israeli-US attack on Iran. She confirmed six crisis teams have been deployed in the Middle East to help around 115,000 stranded Australians.
What else happened this week?
Pakistan declares open war with Afghanistan and the Taliban
Pakistan and Afghanistan troops have been fighting along their shared border for weeks. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Pakistan has launched air strikes on Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, in response to attacks by Afghan forces at the border.
WGEA releases new report on gender pay gap
The WGEA report showed a slight increase of women in high-paid roles, but the gender pay gap is still wide. (Photo: Pexels)
A report from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows men are almost twice as likely as women to be in the upper quartile of earners, making more than $220,000 a year.
Jackie O quits Kyle and Jackie O show after 25 years on air
The radio show was a commercial success despite its highly controversial and often sexually explicit content. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Jackie Henderson has quit the KIIS FM radio show after a dispute with co-host Kyle Sandilands, who has since been suspended by ARN Media for "serious conduct." The pair were reportedly signed to a 10-year contract worth $200 million.
South Sudan at risk of civil war following latest attack
A power-sharing deal between South Sudan president Salva Kiir and his rival is at risk of collapsing and causing 'all-out civil war'. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
A group of unidentified youth has launched an attack on the Ruweng Administrative Area in South Sudan, killing 178 people. The UN has warned that such continued violence pushes the country closer to civil war.
OpenAI trials ads in ChatGPT responses
OpenAI said the advertisements could be targeted at consumers based on their chat history. (Photo: Shutterstock)
OpenAI has confirmed it is testing advertisements at the bottom of ChatGPT responses in the United States, something that has raised privacy concerns with digital rights advocates.
Hanson censured for anti Muslim comments amid alleged misuse of taxpayer funds
The One Nation leader called the censure "a joke" before sarcastically slapping herself on the wrist and leaving the Senate chamber. (Photo: Shutterstock)
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been censured by the federal Senate for her "inflammatory and divisive" anti-Muslim comments. Hanson is also facing allegations of using taxpayer funds on flights to One Nation fundraisers and an event honouring Gina Rinehart.
Total lunar eclipse creates ‘blood moon’ in Australian night sky
A lunar eclipse is caused by the Earth passing directly between the sun and the moon, turning the moon blood-orange. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The eclipse lasted for roughly an hour on Tuesday night. It was the last time stargazers will see a blood moon for almost three years .
Protests against new Northern Territory administrator
A Larrakia elder was arrested while protesting the appointment outside NT parliament house. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Around 100 protestors gathered outside parliament to protest the appointment of David Connolly as NT administrator because of his offensive posts about First Nations people and drugging women.
Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at Eurovision
The popstar will perform during the second half of the second semifinal on May 14. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Singer Delta Goodrem was selected by SBS to perform her single ‘Eclipse’ at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria in May. It will be Australia’s 11th time entering the contest since 2015.
And now for some good news:
Bird song of critically endangered birds restored
Regent honeyeaters are native to south-eastern Australia, but are now mostly located in just the Blue Mountains. (Photo: Unsplash)
Researchers have saved the song of the regent honeyeater, one of Australia’s most critically endangered birds. The songbird population dwindled to just 250 in the wild, and the song has become shorter and simpler as a result. But scientists have used audio recordings and two wild-born males dubbed "song tutors" to teach zoo-bred honeyeaters the original call and restore their magical song.
