☕️ Australia's maths standards drop

For those playing along at home, the first all-female crew since 1963 was indeed launched into space during the wee hours of this morning. Among the six women on board was popstar Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King.

In the livestream, as the rocket was launched into the sky, one of the women screamed: “Oh my goddess!”

The flight lasted a total of 11 minutes. Katy Perry did not confirm if she felt like a plastic bag drifting through the wind.

"It ain’t the way that it’s supposed to be, the money we’re spending on groceries, I just want to buy some eggs and cheese, 100 bucks you kidding me … Bring the prices down, this is what we need, cos Albo’s got to leave, Albo’s got to leave."
The lyrics to a ‘diss track’ released on SoundCloud by the Coalition, called ‘Leaving Labor’. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded, saying": "It’s beyond my comprehension, some of the things they’re doing in this campaign."

485,000
The record breaking number of people who have attended Yayoi Kusama's exhibition so far at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). In to a statement to TDA, NGV confirmed it is the biggest attendance at any art exhibition in Australia.

Did you know that every minute the human body sheds over 30,000 dead skin cells? These skin cells often end up as gathered dust particles around you.

At least 32 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and more than 100 others have been injured in a major Russian attack.

Russia launched two ballistic missiles at the northwestern city of Sumy as people gathered in the city centre for Palm Sunday, a Christian religious observance.

Recovery efforts are underway, as authorities work to remove bodies on the streets.

Russia has not issued an official statement on the attack.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the missiles damaged a total of 20 buildings, including one part of a university.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has confirmed two children were among the 32 killed.

At least 117 people were injured in the strike, including 15 children.

Dozens were hospitalised.

Since being sworn in as President in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has engaged with Ukrainian and Russian leaders to strike a peace deal.

In talks last month, the U.S. proposed a 30-day pause in fighting, during which it would restore military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.

While Ukraine said it had “expressed readiness” to accept the deal, Russia has yet to approve it without further amendments, including stopping military aid to Ukraine.

In the wake of this latest attack, Zelenskyy called for a global response to condemn Russia.

In a statement posted to social media, Zelenskyy said: “Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also criticised Russia’s actions.

“Today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue [the war,] with blatant disregard for human lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts,” he said.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

In case you missed it, over the weekend the Coalition and Labor shared how they would each help more first-home buyers if they win the federal election on 3 May.

Labor’s plan involves reducing the minimum home deposit for first-time buyers. The Coalition has proposed allowing first-home buyers to claim part of their mortgage repayments as tax deductible.

However, housing experts say the major parties’ election pitches could place upward pressure on property prices.

On Sunday, both the Coalition and Labor launched their official campaigns for the election.

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Labor) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Coalition) gave speeches focused on home ownership.

PropTrack’s Housing Affordability latest index, published in August 2024, showed Australia has hit a record low of affordable homes. It found a typical household earning $112,000 would be able to afford loan repayments on 14% of the homes sold in Australia across 2023-24.

Labor wants to expand the ‘Home Guarantee Scheme’ measure, first rolled out in 2020, which allows people to buy their first homes with a 5% deposit.

The scheme currently has a limited number of spots each year. If re-elected, Labor will open up the scheme to anyone buying their first home.

However, it would be capped at properties that cost up to the average price in every city and region.

Matthew Bowes, a housing policy researcher at the Grattan Institute, said Labor’s plan doesn’t address the overall cost of home ownership.

Bowes said the plan will mean people saving for a house will be able to buy one “maybe a year or two earlier”.

“If you are not able to service the loan, this doesn’t change the reality that housing is very unaffordable,” he said.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil told the ABC on Sunday the new policy won’t have a “significant impact on house prices”.

If the Coalition wins the election, first-home buyers would be able to deduct their mortgage interest repayments from their income tax.

The policy would apply to the interest payments on the first $650,000 of a mortgage for a “newly built home”.

Those eligible would need to be earning under $175,000, or have a taxable income of under $250,000 for a couple, when they apply.

The scheme would be in place for five years, and participants need to live in the home through that time.

Taken together, Bowes said both parties’ housing policies are “demand-side” measures that could drive up prices.

“ Housing in Australia is expensive because it’s scarce,” he said.

“Until we address that scarcity, we’re going to be fighting an uphill battle on home ownership.”

Bowes said other “fundamental constraints” are causing housing strain, such as low vacancy rates and slow construction.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

Alright, who’s heading overseas this year?

For those that raised their hands, we know there’s nothing quite like the feeling of experiencing new cities, embracing new cuisines, and the satisfaction of mastering a new phrase or two.

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Plus, if you’re a sucker for a discount code, they’re offering a 15%* discount on travel insurance to TDA readers with the promo code 15TDA (until May 31 2025). *T&Cs apply.

🍊 Rory McIlroy won the Masters. Here’s your rundown.
🍊 The shining stars at the Australian Athletics Championships.
🍊 Oscar Piastri won the Bahrain GP. Check out what he said.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: soccer, rugby union, and more…

Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, say their newly-developed at-home spit test is a more accurate way to screen for prostate cancer than traditional blood tests. Findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine show the saliva screener is able to search for 130 mutations in men’s DNA.

Each of these mutations is linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Researchers found the test to be more accurate than an MRI scan. The Institute of Cancer Research said the breakthrough could “turn the tide on prostate cancer,” showing a “relatively simple, inexpensive spit test,” is “an effective tool to catch prostate cancer early.” The team is now working on expanded trials to learn more about the test’s capabilities.

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.

A man in the U.S. state of Nevada has been arrested after claiming seven tigers in his home were “emotional support animals”.

The man said he had rescued the big cats from Joe Exotic, known for Netflix series ‘Tiger King’, who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence for attempted murder.

Sheriff Joe McGill told local news police he believed the tigers were walking “around the property, off the property [and] in the desert.”

According to McGill, the tigers will be taken to an “undisclosed sanctuary where they will be held until ordered to be released.”

Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.

With less than three weeks until the Federal Election, first-time home buyers have become a big campaign focus for both major parties. It comes after Labor and the Coalition unveiled their housing policies over the weekend.

Labor is promising to cut home deposits for first-time buyers from 20% to 5%, while the Opposition wants to make some mortgage repayments tax deductible.

In today's deep dive, we'll break down the latest on these housing policy announcements, and discuss what they could mean for young Aussies.