SOCIAL MEDIA HIGH COURT CHALLENGE
The social media ban for children under 16 is being challenged in court. Yeah, so the ban on platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit starts in less than two weeks but it's just run into bit of a speed bump. This advocacy group called Digital Freedom Project, which 15-year-old Noah is a part of, reckons all Australians have a right to political communication. Pretty much, to know what's going on around you, say what you think, and, if you're old enough, vote on that stuff. The group says the social media ban goes too far in the efforts to keep young people safe. The government is keen to keep moving ahead with the ban. While Noah and the group are asking High Court to stop the ban while their challenge is heard.
US NATIONAL PARKS
The US National Park Service are gonna start charging foreign tourists to visit some of their most popular spots. From the start of next year tourists from overseas will have to pay an extra $154 dollars to visit 11 different national parks. Including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. The national park service are calling them "America-first entry fee policies" and say it's a way to tackle big budget cuts and staff reductions.
COLOMBIAN SHIPWRECK
Now to a 300-year-old shipwreck in Colombia, where scientists have recovered artefacts worth $30 billion. Only, there's a bit of a fight over who owns them. Okay, this is the San Jose. It's a Spanish ship that was sunk in battle off the coast of Colombia way back in 1708. On board was billions of dollars worth of treasure that Spain took from South America. People spent years looking for it, including this US company called Sea Search Armada. It's known as 'The Holy Grail of Shipwrecks,' but when it was finally found in 2015 there was a big question on who keeps the treasure. The company who began the search? Spain, who owned the ship? Or Colombia, where the wreck was found? So how do they decide? Well, the case is being handled in a special kind of court called the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It's an intergovernmental organisation that can help settle big disagreements between international organisations. Sea Search Armada says they found the ship back in the 1980s and say they should get $15 billion dollars. Colombia doesn't agree, saying the ships on their territory. Spain says the ship is theirs. The legal battle is ongoing, but this week the very first objects from the wreck were recovered. They include a cannon, 3 coins, and a porcelain cup. It was such a big deal that the Colombian President even attended. Colombia's government says this is about research and not about taking the treasure. The artefacts will now undergo a restoration process. While the legal battle goes on, the exact location of this wreck is top secret. So sorry, you can go looking, but I don't think you'll find it.
ROBERT IRWIN DANCING WITH THE STARS
First, to the finale of Dancing With The Stars US, where everybody's favourite animal conservationist Robert Irwin and his dance partner Witney have moved and grooved their way to the top! It was a special moment because it's been ten years since his sister Bindi won the show!
2025 AUSTRALIAN TIKTOK AWARDS
Now, to Sydney for this year's TikTok Awards! It was a star-studded night, with Wicked's Jonathan Bailey making a special appearance! Keli Holiday stole the show with an epic performance alongside Abbie Chatfield and The Wiggles! The big award of the night, Creator of the Year, went to Illai Matangi aka Havea_676!
MOLLY THE TURTLE RELEASED
Finally to a beach in Florida, where hundreds of people gathered for the release of Molly the turtle! Molly here was rescued a few months ago after she was discovered to have a tumour. While Molly was being nursed back to health, she became pretty popular online, receiving more than 100 million views on videos documenting her recovery. So, it's no surprise there were some paparazzi at the beach, excited to watch her return home.