☕️ The world's first trillionaire

Have you ever noticed Instagram changing your videos?

Well, TDA has. And yesterday, we published our investigation into what happened when we realised some of our Reels had been AI-modified on Instagram without our knowledge or consent.

It is a brilliant piece of journalism by journalist Achol Arok. Highly recommend watching!

The quote: “I saw the shark come out of the water and it was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen.”
Paddleboard world champion Charlie Verco, who rescued the 35-year-old woman who was bitten by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee Beach on Saturday, speaking to Weekend Today. The woman remains in a critical condition.

The stat: 53 years. The number of years it has been since the New York Knicks were last NBA champions. The Knicks won the finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday with a score of 94-90. The team’s captain, Jalen Brunson, scored 45 of those points – a Knicks record for points in a finals game.

The big question:

Yesterday’s results: Last Friday’s poll was about whether you feel your employer’s approach to AI is “ahead of, keeping pace with, or behind where you are personally”. 32% of you said their employer is “keeping pace”, while 29% said your employer is “behind”. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [1043 votes].

Together with AAP.

If you're looking for extra content this week - we have you covered.

We've been digging into some big topics with The University of Sydney and if you missed it, now's the time to catch up:

Every story includes expertise and insights from researchers from the University of Sydney, which was recently ranked 6th in the world for social impact.

^{Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.}

Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire, following the public listing of his company SpaceX.

SpaceX was listed on Friday (U.S. time), and is now valued at more than $US2 trillion.

Musk’s wealth comes from his equity in SpaceX, along with his equity in other companies, including Tesla.

On Friday (U.S. time), Musk’s space exploration, telecommunications, and AI company SpaceX went public. When a business goes public, it invites people to purchase a ‘stake’ or ‘share’ in that company. A person who buys shares becomes a part-owner of that company, also known as an investor or a stakeholder.

SpaceX’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) was the largest in history by a significant margin. An IPO is when a company first sells its shares to the public. It sold about 555 million shares for $US135 each. After its first day on the stock market, the share price had increased to $US161 (nearly a 20% increase).

The result made Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire.

Musk was already the richest person in the world. By a lot. Even before his $1 trillion net worth, he was around three times richer than the next-richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page.

However, net worth is complicated. Musk’s fortune is not liquid, meaning this is not cash in his bank account. Rather, it’s tied up in the equity of his companies, including SpaceX.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, editor-in-chief Billi and multimedia journalist Elliot investigate Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship, following Gates’ testimony before a U.S. congressional committee last week. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.
⚽️ Want the latest on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while staying across the biggest storylines across men’s and women’s sport? Sign up to the TDA’s Sport newsletter here.

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☁️ Up to 40% off 500+ home essentials is the kind of EOFY maths worth paying attention to. Pillow Talk’s EOFY sale includes 40% off flannelette sheets, 30% off faux fur cushions and throws, 30% off goose down quilts and pillows, plus half-price selected quilt cover sets – shop the savings in-store or online before 5 July.

Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.

This week, U.S. scientists announced that an El Niño system has formed in the Pacific Ocean.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said it has “not yet confirmed” an El Niño is underway, but noted sea surface temperatures are elevated.

In Australia, the weather pattern brings hot and dry conditions, and can lead to drought.

Here’s what you need to know.

El Niño is a weather pattern featuring unusually warm waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

In Australia, it causes higher temperatures and can lead to droughts. Unlike the increased rain during La Niña, the most direct consequence of El Niño is less rainfall.

On Thursday (local time), the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said an El Niño has developed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

NOAA scientists predict there is a 63% chance that sea surface temperatures will exceed 2.0ºC in the part of the Pacific they monitor for El Niño. If the temperature exceeds 2.0°C, it will be considered a “very strong” El Niño.

El Niño events in the U.S. tend to be strongest during December to February, causing drier and often warmer than usual winters.

So, what does this announcement mean closer to home?

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) noted that while sea surface temperatures are at El Niño levels, “there needs to be a sustained response in the atmosphere before we confirm an El Niño event is underway.” Previous BoM modelling has indicated the weather event could develop this winter.

“We need to observe an established response before we report the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is in an El Niño phase,” a BoM spokesperson said.

ENSO is the cyclical climate pattern of the tropical Pacific Ocean. It includes El Niño, La Niña (which generally brings more rain to Australia), and the neutral phase.

Last week, BoM modelling predicted a moderate to strong El Niño. International forecasters have previously predicted a “super” event this year.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

You’ve heard of Dry July®, but did you know it’s more than a month off alcohol?

Every year, thousands of Australians go alcohol-free for the month and raise money for people affected by cancer. Funding goes towards transport to treatment, accommodation near hospitals and care programs during treatment and recovery. You sign up, ask your people to sponsor you, and the money makes a real difference for those going through a cancer journey.

You'll also sleep better, have more energy and wake up with no hangover on a Sunday morning. That part's just for you!

Corbin Bullard was exploring a quarry with his school’s geology club when he spotted several large vertebrae. The club returned to the site several more times in what became a months-long excavation effort to uncover a 4.5-metre-long Tylosaurus – a marine reptile that once dominated prehistoric seas. Speaking to local media, Corbin said he didn't know what he’d found at first, “but I knew that it was something big.” The discovery has since inspired him to pursue a career in palaeontology.

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

Budget European airline Ryanair is under investigation for charging parents to sit with their kids.

According to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Ryanair “typically” charges parents £8 ($AU15) each way to sit with children aged two to 11.

Multiple outlets report the airline has called the probe “bogus”, insisting the policy follows the rules.

The CMA has the power to fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover if they break consumer law.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.