Paris Olympics opening ceremony quick hits — Lady Gaga, heavy metal beheadings, Celine Dion, and a queer polycule

In a remarkable turnaround, former President Donald Trump was named Time magazine's 2024 Person of the Year after a historic comeback from being convicted of a crime six months ago. He will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and has been recognized for reshaping American politics. Trump plans to pardon those convicted in the US Capitol riot and is set to mark the ceremonial start of trading on Wall Street, showcasing...

Noah Johnson, a 12-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma 281 days ago, has successfully completed his cancer treatment, including 31 rounds of chemotherapy and 14 rounds of radiation. Noah's emotional milestone of being declared cancer-free was celebrated by family, friends, and medical staff at Perth Children’s Hospital, where he rang the bell signifying the end of his treatment. His mother expressed relief and excitement at the prospect of Noah returning to a normal...

Two mining industry giants are accused of permitting unsafe workplaces where women faced harassment and discrimination, including instances of urination and unwanted sexual advances. Lawsuits alleging inaction when offensive comments were reported have been filed against BHP and Rio Tinto, with potentially thousands of affected women eligible to participate. The companies have stated a commitment to creating safe and respectful workplaces, with Rio Tinto referencing an external review and BHP focusing on addressing disrespectful behavior,...

Meta is working to restore operations "back to normal" after users worldwide reported difficulties accessing Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads since 4.30am AEDT. Downdetector has received over 150,000 complaints regarding these platforms, with Facebook experiencing an outage that affected user sign-ins. Meta has issued a statement acknowledging the technical issue and apologizing for any inconvenience, while their "status and outages business products" page confirms the disruption, with engineering teams investigating the issue impacting message...

Syrian rebels have lifted the curfew in Damascus to encourage people to resume work and rebuild Syria after Assad's fall. The rebels warn of pursuing those involved in past atrocities, including burning Assad's father's mausoleum. The new government faces challenges of stabilizing the country, securing aid, and addressing the needs of millions of displaced refugees, while navigating international concerns about terrorism and minority rights. Full Article

The North Melbourne AFLW premiership team has made significant moves in the trade period, acquiring Richmond's Eilish Sheerin and Fremantle's Ariana Hetherington to strengthen their midfield and forward line. Sheerin's versatility and strength are expected to bolster the Kangaroos' already dominant defensive structure, led by Emma Kearney and Nicole Bresnehan. Other notable trades include Melbourne's Tayla Harris staying put and St Kilda adding youth and experience with new recruits Charlotte Baskaran, Amber Clarke, and Nicola...