01-08-2025
BTN Newsbreak 01/08/2025
PETS ON PLANES
Virgin Australia has been given the green tick of approval by Australia's national food regulator to allow pets on board for domestic flights. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has just given Virgin airlines the all clear to carry small pets on board. But it's taken a while to get here. See, under aviation regulations, an aeroplane is considered a restaurant, and since we're not normally allowed to bring pets into restaurants, Virgin had to get the rules changed to allow pets in the cabin which has stirred up some mixed feelings. Pets will have to be a certain size and weight must stay in a pet carrier and would only be allowed in specific rows so that people who don't want to be near animals can book a seat away from them. Virgin says we could have pets flying by the end of the year, but that the final say on each flight will rest with the pilot.
MOLLIE O'CALLAGHAN
Aussie swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan has snagged her 11th world championship gold medal! Winning the women's 4x200m freestyle relay in Singapore last night, O'Callaghan has now equalled Ian Thorpe's record of 11 world championship gold medals for the most by an Australian, not too shabby hey.
BMX KID
11-year-old BMX racer Penny has just taken out a junior BMX World Championships title this week, all the way in Copenhagen, Denmark. Penny competed against 77 other girls from around the world. She was chased down by competitors from Japan and Colombia who came away with second and third, but they were no match for Penny, who came out on top by 1.3 seconds. It's a whole lotta pressure to be on top but Penny has a special way of preparing for her races. The journey to Denmark has been no small feat. She's had to keep up with a dedicated training schedule 6 days a week! And she has no plans to stop.
HEAVIEST STICK INSECT
First up, to a new species of stick insect discovered in Far North Queensland. Researchers reckon it could be the heaviest insect in all of Australia, coming in at 44 grams, or about the same weight as five $1 coins.
BIGGEST LIGHTNING
Now to a world-record-breaking lightning flash in the US. Yes, spanning 3 states, this lightning flash covered a bit of ground. But there's a twist, it actually happened in 2017, but only now has the tech caught up to allow scientists to properly put all the data together, and see it in 3D.
PONY SWIM
And finally to dozens of wild ponies going for a big swim in the Assateague river in the US. This is the 100th annual Chincoteague pony swim, a tradition which started as a way to auction young foals and raise money for the local fire department.
