Ben Roberts-Smith is charged, and TikTok goes prehistoric

This episode of Squiz Today covers several major global and domestic stories. The most prominent is the charging of Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, with five counts of war crimes related to alleged murders of unarmed Afghan civilians during his service in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The charges follow a lengthy investigation by the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator, and while Roberts-Smith previously won a defamation case over similar allegations, this is now a criminal matter requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The episode also highlights escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with President Donald Trump issuing dire warnings about destroying civilian infrastructure if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by the 10am Sydney deadline. Critics have condemned Trump’s rhetoric, with some calling for his removal from office, while Iran warns of immediate retaliation. On a lighter note, the episode touches on the cancellation of Kanye West’s headline slot at the UK’s Wireless Festival due to backlash over his past anti-Semitic remarks and travel restrictions. Meanwhile, the Artemis II mission crew is returning from a historic lunar flyby, having named a crater after the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman, and sharing emotional reflections on seeing Earth from space. A viral TikTok trend centered on mourning dinosaurs—sparked by a new Morgan Freeman-narrated Netflix docuseries—adds a quirky cultural moment. Finally, tropical cyclone Myla has intensified to Category 4 and is moving toward northern Queensland, following recent damage from Cyclone Norel.