☕️ Trump safe after gunshots heard

And happy 68th birthday to television in Australia.

Thanks for bringing us Bluey, the man who was waiting for a mate, and Margot Robbie. We’re not worthy!

"There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!”
Former President Donald Trump in an email to his fundraising list after gun shots were heard at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, while he was there on Sunday.

6
The number of terms Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore has won after she claimed another victory on Saturday night. Moore was first elected as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 2004.

1975
Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia. It was under Australian administration from 1906, and before this PNG was a German colony.

A billionaire has become the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space.

The first commercial spacewalk was conducted by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which sent a crew of four on its Polaris Dawn mission.

Mission Commander Jared Isaacman exited the spacecraft and conducted mobility and performance tests of the SpaceX spacesuit. Engineer Sarah Gillis followed shortly after.

Before this moment, activities outside a spacecraft orbiting Earth had only been performed by trained astronauts.

The private mission, funded by Isaacman, included the first post to X from space using Starlink internet.

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

A group of Australian army officials who led commands in Afghanistan have been stripped of their service medals.

It follows the 2020 Brereton Inquiry, which found evidence of alleged war crimes within Australia’s Special Forces in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.

The inquiry identified the unlawful killing of 39 people by or involving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

It recommended some ADF commanders be stripped of their medals.

In 2001, Australia agreed to send troops to Afghanistan as part of a U.S-led effort against “international terrorism” in the wake of 9/11.

Australian defence personnel were stationed in Afghanistan until 2021.

In 2016, an inquiry was set up to investigate alleged war crimes involving Australian defence personnel in Afghanistan.

It was chaired by Major General Paul Brereton, and became known as the ‘Brereton Inquiry’.

The Brereton Inquiry handed down its findings in 2020. It concluded that it was “credible” that dozens of war crimes had been committed by members of the ‘Special Forces’ unit.

The inquiry identified 25 incidents in which a total of 39 people – civilians or disarmed combatants, like prisoners –had been killed.

A total of 25 Australian personnel were implicated, including veteran Ben Roberts-Smith. Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigations into alleged war crimes by Robert-Smith and others are continuing.

Brereton recommended a review of some honours and awards given to ADF members who served in Afghanistan

For example, Roberts-Smith received the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest military honour for acts of bravery.

Last year, a defamation trial brought by Roberts-Smith was dismissed in the Federal Court, when a judge ruled that alleged war crimes by the veteran were substantially true.

Roberts-Smith denies all wrongdoing.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed an undisclosed number of “relevant commanders” will have their military honours revoked.

He condemned a “sub-culture of elitism and deviation from acceptable standards” by military leaders in Afghanistan.

Marles acknowledged that “bar the actions of a few,” more than 26,000 Australians served in Afghanistan “with professionalism, honour and integrity... We are proud of them.”

Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie said he supports the Government’s actions.

Hastie, a former special forces commander, said in Parliament: “Our soldiers must tell the truth, and those in leadership must seek it out. If both our soldiers and our leaders had done so, we might not be in this place today.”

He called the Brereton Inquiry “painful” but “necessary,” adding, “We believe in accountability and making things right when we uncover wrongdoing.”

The SAS (Special Air Service) is a unit of Australia’s special forces.

The Australian SAS Association provides support to SAS veterans. It criticised the decision to revoke some military awards.

National Chairman, Martin Hamilton, accused the Government of betraying the “sacrifice” of those sent “to fight and die in our country’s name.”

The Association suggested some younger officers were being blamed for alleged war crimes they were not directly involved in.

Former ADF corporal, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, has raised concerns about the mental health of veterans who she says are being “thrown under the bus”.

Lambie told SBS ground troops are still being blamed for alleged war crimes while some senior commanders haven’t been held to account.

“[Soldiers] are watching their mates being thrown under that bus, and none of those commanding officers going to jail.”

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

Tinder Launches New Consent Course

Tinder’s new Consent Course, with Chanel Contos, WESNET and The Relatables, is now live on School of Swipe! 

What you’ll learn:

Why take it:  Become a more respectful partner and improve your relationships and intimacy.

Start learning today - visit Tinder’s School of Swipe here!

The device is compatible with the newest Apple AirPods Pro which were released last week in the U.S.

Acting Director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health Michelle Tarver said this device “is another step that advances the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of hearing support for adults”.

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

Is the Fyre Festival making a comeback?

In case you missed the 2017 disaster, the organiser of the festival was imprisoned on fraud charges for four years. Billy McFarland was the man behind the festival which scammed partiers and investors, who were sold a dream about a luxury music festival in the Bahamas. What they got was…a disaster that played out in real time on social media. We think this picture of their meals sums it up.

McFarland has been released from jail, and now that he’s done the time, he’s making plans for a Fyre comeback… for real this time.

Fyre Festival 2.0 is planned for 25 to 28 April next year, with tickets starting at $US1,400 ($AU2,080). The most expensive ticket package is $US1.1 million ($AU1.6 million), which apparently includes luxury yachts and island retreats.

In an interview with NBC, McFarland said: “We have the chance to embrace this storm… and if it’s done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry.”

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

A court case out of France has captured the attention of the world – a disturbing story about A 71-year-old woman, her ex-husband and 50 other men.

For the next three months, Gisèle Pélicot will sit in a courtroom in Avignon, France, as those 51 men (all but one who are strangers to her) face rape charges for alleged crimes against her, that she has no memory of.

In today's deep dive, we'll take you through the Pélicot case, and why the woman at the centre of it wants you to know her story.