Iranian Politician's Son Secures Australian Residency
The son of a leading Iranian politician, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has been able to secure Australian residency, raising questions about the country's visa and sanctions rules. Eshagh Ghalibaf, son of the Iranian parliamentary speaker who is leading peace negotiations with the US, lived and worked in Melbourne. This development has sparked concerns regarding national security and the effectiveness of existing sanctions.
One Nation's Historic Win in Farrer Byelection
A deep dive into the numbers reveals how voter shifts in the Farrer byelection drove One Nation's David Farley to victory, leading to the 'total destruction' of Liberal support in the electorate. The swing towards One Nation played out across every polling booth, even in regional centres such as Albury. Voters in regional NSW have been putting a stick in the eye of major parties for decades, according to Julianne Schultz.
Mysterious Whale 'Gaping' Phenomenon
Off the coast of Australia, a humpback whale has been observed performing a rare behaviour known as 'gaping', where it pirouettes with its jaw wide open. With the help of citizen scientists, researchers believe this underwater ballet could be a social display. Whale-watching tours and citizen scientists are a significant source of data for researchers, capturing such rare phenomena.
Other News Highlights
- Homeless First Nations Woman: The family of a homeless First Nations woman with septicemia fears she will die without a safe home, but it could be years before she reaches the top of the public housing waiting list.
- Antisemitic Incident: A woman has been charged with using offensive language after alleged antisemitic comments at an under-12s netball match involving a Jewish-led team in Sydney.
- Adult Cycling Boom: Learn-to-cycle courses are booming across Australia as adults seek cheaper and more eco-friendly transport, marking a 'golden age' of biking.
- Iran-US Peace Talks: Iran has replied to a US peace proposal as the month-old ceasefire showed signs of fraying, with drones hitting Gulf nations and Benjamin Netanyahu warning the war is 'not over'.
- Hantavirus Outbreak: Dozens of passengers and crew have been evacuated from a cruise ship in Tenerife due to a deadly hantavirus outbreak; British paratroopers landed on Tristan da Cunha for a suspected case.
- UK Politics: Keir Starmer's chances of staying on as UK PM appear to diminish as about 40 Labour MPs called for him to quit after disastrous local election results.
- Russia-Ukraine War: Russia has conducted assault operations on the Ukrainian frontline in breach of a three-day ceasefire announced by Donald Trump, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Hungary's New Era: New PM Péter Magyar apologised to those maligned during Viktor Orbán's time, as a politician's viral dance moves mark a new, optimistic era.
In-Depth: The Mystery of Whale Gaping
Researchers studying humpback whales off the coast of Australia have documented a rarely seen behaviour known as 'gaping', where a whale pirouettes with its massive jaw hanging wide open. With the help of citizen scientists, they believe this mysterious underwater ballet could be a social display. The phenomenon provides valuable insights into whale communication and social structures.
Not the News: Play 'Saplings'
Playwright Hannah Belanszky spent a year talking to children in youth centres and juvenile detention. Her new play, 'Saplings', opening at Sydney Opera House before a national tour, is a collage of brief scenes showing the different ways young people come into conflict with the law and grapple with its systems.
Sport
- AFL: The contrast between two AFL clubs in Western Australia could not be more stark, writes Brendan Foster.
- Football: Arsenal took a dramatic Premier League win; a late equaliser stunned Newcastle; Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler scored for Manchester City in the Women's FA Cup semi-final.
- Cycling: Paul Magnier powered to victory on stage three of the Giro d'Italia.
- Cricket: England squeezed past New Zealand in the first women's ODI thanks to stand-in captain Charlie Dean.
- Tennis: Casper Ruud says Jannik Sinner is 'beatable' as the world No. 1 seeks a record run at Italian Open.
Media Roundup
The federal budget will reveal details on how AI will be used to speed up assessments of housing and energy projects waiting for environmental approval, ABC News reports. Rugby Australia signed off on a secret plan that would have structured the game to favour NSW and Queensland at the expense of other states, the Age reports. The launch date is looming for mega tunnelling machines' descent under Sydney Harbour in the final stage of the Western Harbour Tunnel project, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
What's Happening Today
- Antisemitism: Hearings continue for the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion.
- Frocks: Australian fashion week begins in Sydney.
