We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world so you don’t have to go searching.
1. Jalal brothers admit to staging videos.
The Jalal brothers, consisting of 20-year-old Max, 18-year-old Arman and a 16-year-old minor, from Melbourne have confessed to Seven News that their latest and extremely controversial video was “staged and that all the people in it are actors.”
This confession comes after the boys were dealt public nuisance charges – inappropriate behaviour in a public place and possession of a prohibited firearm by counter-terrorism police on Thursday.
The video, which has millions of views on YouTube, depicts a terrified man and young girl running for their lives after a man dressed in white robes pretends to fire shots at them with a replica AK-47.
Max Jalal says he played the role of the father while the little girl is revealed to be the boys’ 9-year-old cousin, Merry Jalal.
“The little girl in that video was actually our cousin and the dad was men on the pay phone,” said Jalal.
Arman Jalal claims their confession was to avoid any more controversy on the issue.
“It’s better that we admit that it was fake rather than get the hate for scaring a little girl.”
The Jalal brothers do claim the police were aware the video was staged.
“Six weeks ago, we did notify the police, a detective at Fawkner Police Station that the videos were staged and that the people in them were actors.”
Victorian Police declined to comment on this and have not dropped the charges, which will see Max and Arman face court in May. Their younger brother will appear before a children’s court.
2. Families arrive in Rome to watch Cardinal George Pell tesitfy.
Around 20 people have already arrived in Rome is anticipation for Cardinal George Pell’s appearance at the Royal Commission.
Those who have flown from Australia to watch the testimony are hoping their presence will increase the pressure on Pell to reveal more information.
“We really thought there should be victim representatives to hear what Cardinal Pell has to say,” said Anthony Foster, father of two girls who were sexually abused by a parish priest.
“This is, in some ways, just another one but in so many ways it’s a very, very important hearing because it is Cardinal Pell and he’s created the atmosphere of anticipation by not going back to Australia and so it’s gained worldwide attention.”
Hotel Quirinale, where Cardinal Pell’s hearing will occur, has been sold out and security is expected to increase over the next few days.
3. Monumental truce takes place in Syrian conflict.
An agreement developed by the United States and Russia has seen a cessation of hostilities occur in Syria, beginning at midnight (9am AEDT).
If the truce were to hold, it would be the first time five years that a time of peace has been negotiated by other countries.
The resolution, which was adopted by the UN Security Council, aims to allow people who need aid in besieged regions to get help. The areas, included eastern and western rural Aleppo and Deir al-Zour, which is in combat with IS.
The truce has only been agreed upon by government and rebel forces, so does not include IS or any al-Qaeda linked groups.
Despite the agreement being drafted by Russia, reports are still claiming that attacks on Syrian rebels have increased by the Russian air force.
United States President, Barack Obama, has recognised that the success of the cessation would be largely reliant on the Syrian government and Russia.
“The coming days will be critical and the world will be watching,” President Obama said.
4. Naura workers reveal their suffering after working on the detention centre.
In an interview with Fairfax Media, former workers on the Naura detention centre have opened up about their ongoing mental health issues since working on the island.
The traumatic reports reveal numbers of workers have developed a myriad of mental health conditions, have ruined relationships, and seen their careers fall to pieces.
One teacher who worked with Save the Children, says that her time on Naura has left her in therapy and unable to work.
She says she can still remember the screams of the children, attempted suicides, and their worsening states of mind.
“You just saw them progressively deteriorate…and that’s incredible distressing,” she said.
“There is a huge sense of survivor guilt…that I got out but I’ve left these people behind and they are still suffering.”
Lawyers representing workers who are seeking compensation for psychological damage say it’s a difficult legal situation as the damages occurred in overseas detention centres.
17 cases of metal health issues caused by the work at Naura are currently being conducted, including another 10 that are being investigated.
5. Victorian school drops ranking to get into university.
Students at Templestowe College will now be given the option to not receive an ATAR, but still have the ability to apply for any course at Swinburne University, under a new model.
In accordance with the approach, students will not receive entry based on their ATAR, rather a measurement on their abilities, including grit, leaderships and strong interpersonal skills.
Vice-president of engagement at Swinburne University, Andrew Smith, has said the ATAR is not enough to measure the ability of students.
“The ATAR is simply a ranking tool, people imbue too much status in that.
“There are many students who have talent and show commitment, but to whom the ATAR system is not suited. This gives them an opportunity to come through university using a different pathway,” Smith said.
Students who choose the new system will have to apply for a course at the university between 12 to 24 months before finishing school. For most of their final year in school, they will complete a long-term project and ultimately write a thesis on it. The project and thesis will have exemplify the skills in their chosen area of study and why they chose the course.
Other measurements will include their extra curricular activities, community engagement and leadership abilities.