It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
The big headlines
- The US and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire deal to end the war in the Middle East, with an early signing of the official memorandum of understanding by both presidents. The Strait of Hormuz has also reopened with limited marine traffic. Tehran has noted that Iranian forces will continue to have a "finger on the trigger."
- Hundreds of protestors gathered outside Los Angeles stadium on Tuesday during Iran’s 2-2 World Cup clash with New Zealand. The anti-Islamic Republic demonstrators were there at the same time as a large crowd of Iranian football supporters. This comes after the team was forced to relocate its base to Mexico following a number of officials being denied US visas.
- Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire as his company SpaceX floated on the stock market last Friday. On its first day as an IPO, SpaceX broke the record for the largest ever public offering at a valuation of US$2.1tn. This caused the founder’s net worth to rise to US$1.4tn, with his extreme wealth prompting mixed reactions from politicians and consumers alike.
What else happened this week?
Anti-racism rally takes over Belfast
The anti-racism group were also met with counter-protestors shouting anti-Muslim chants. / Shutterstock
Thousands of protestors staged a rally in Belfast on Saturday to condemn anti-immigration riots following the stabbing of an Irish man by a Sudanese asylum seeker last week.The attempted murder prompted arson and attacks upon the community and police.
Young Australian girl shot dead by Pakistani police
Hania was visiting family in Chakwal with her parents and brother, who were also rushed to hospital following the incident. / Shutterstock
Nine-year-old Hania Ahmed was fatally shot by police in Pakistan last week after officials mistook her family’s vehicle for one belonging to those suspected of robbing her family. The police officer responsible for the shooting is being investigated for misconduct.
Potential explosives found in Antarctic huts
Ernest Shackleton's ‘Nimrod Hut’ and Robert Falcon Scott's ‘Terra Nova Hut’ were built in 1908 and 1911 respectively. / Wikimedia
Old chemicals found in two historic huts in Antarctica are believed to contain potentially explosive chemicals, according to recent New Zealand reports. Mitigation plans have been put in place to remove the substances.
Japan drafts LGBTQ+ education reforms
Japan has not legalised same-sex marriage. / Shutterstock
The Japanese government has announced a LGBTQ+ action plan to be rolled out in schools, workplaces and universities. The plan aims to encourage diversity and understanding of gender and sexual diversity. It is expected that the cabinet will approve the draft soon.
Musician presumed dead after helicopter crash
Tree had an Australian tour planned for October, including stops in several capital cities, including Sydney. / Wikimedia
The American musician and internet personality Oliver Tree is believed to be among six people killed in a helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning. He was listed on flight manifests provided to aviation authorities before take off. One of the helicopters fell into a yard of electric vehicles and burst into flames.
UK announces social media ban for under-16s
Restrictions on online gaming and streaming platforms are also set to be enforced across the UK. / Shutterstock
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for children under 16 on Monday. This comes after Australia became the first country to ban social media for teens in December last year.
Grill'd sued over alleged greenwashing
Grill’d has been accused of greenwashing. / Shutterstock
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched court action against the burger chain Grill’d this week over their Tree Day Tuesday campaign. It is alleged that the company overstated the scale of environmental donations through restrictive terms and conditions. While Grill’d pledged $1 from every burger purchased on a Tuesday towards planting trees, the ACCC alleges that only 4 per cent of orders qualified for the scheme.
Reserve Bank keeps cash rate frozen at 4.35 per cent
The cash rate refers to how much the RBA charges banks for short-term loans. / Shutterstock
The RBA announced that it would keep the cash rate on hold on Tuesday, even though the board said the inflation rate was still too high. This decision comes in response to previous interest rate rises and disturbances to oil supply following the Middle East war. It has already been raised three times this year.
El Niño officially declared active
Australia is predicted to have a dry second half of the year, with cooler winter nights and a shorter snow season. / Shutterstock
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that El Niño has started, with warmer than average water temperatures in the central tropical Pacific. The rate of warming this year is the fastest since 1943, marking the seventh consecutive year with either El Niño or La Niña.
Nationwide crackdown on peptides
Social media influencers have linked peptides to weight loss and muscular strength, among other health claims. / Pexels
The Australian medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), will increase regulations around unapproved peptides. The TGA will dedicate more resources to education, monitoring imports and issuing fines to suppliers and advertisers of the harmful substance.
And now for some good news
Cat upstages performers during ballet
During one scene, the cat licked and played with Romeo’s hair as he lay on stage / Shutterstock
Crowds were enthralled during a recent performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Imperial Russian Ballet Company in Izmir, Turkey, as a stray orange cat wandered onstage. The feline was seen lazing alongside the leads during the tragic final death scene. At one point, Juliet was forced to drag Romeo away from the mischievous cat as the dancers persevered through the performance.
