Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Iranian regime, stating the United States will take "very strong action" if Tehran begins executing individuals as part of its severe crackdown on widespread anti-government protests.
International Pressure Mounts on Tehran
While Trump did not specify the nature of the potential response, his comments come amid reports that 26-year-old Erfan Soltani faces imminent execution. According to activist groups, the death toll from the unrest, which has seen significant protests in cities like Tehran, has now surpassed 2,500 people.
The situation highlights the intense international scrutiny on Iran's internal affairs. Trump's warning, though lacking detail, underscores the geopolitical tensions surrounding the protest movement and the regime's harsh response.
Legal Action and Deepfake Dangers Dominate Australian News
In other major developments, prominent Palestinian-Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah has initiated legal proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. Her lawyers have served a formal concerns notice for defamation following Malinauskas's public comments about her after her scheduled appearance at Adelaide Writers' Week was cancelled.
"We have never met and he has never attempted to contact me," Abdel-Fattah stated, accusing the premier of making harmful public statements.
Meanwhile, a disturbing deepfake video featuring a fabricated Guardian Australia watermark went viral in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack. The video falsely portrayed AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett claiming four Indian nationals had been arrested. Technology experts warn that such AI-generated forgeries are becoming increasingly easy to produce and pose a significant threat to public information.
From AI's Environmental Cost to Tennis Court Hierarchies
A new report raises alarms about the substantial energy and water consumption of datacentres required to power the artificial intelligence boom, a sector Australia is keen to join. The environmental impact of these facilities is becoming a critical concern for climate advocates.
On a lighter note, the Australian Open has revealed the unspoken social hierarchy of practice courts in professional tennis. As players like Jessica Pegula have found, climbing the rankings can change your access to training facilities, with strict, unwritten rules governing court time and etiquette in Melbourne.
In other news, 2025 has been confirmed as the third-hottest year on record, with human activity cited as a primary cause, and K-pop superstars BTS have announced a world tour set to reach Australia in 2027.
