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Good morning!
If your office is anything like ours, Monday mornings are for checking how everyone went in the AFL tipping comp over the weekend.
My strategy of simply picking whoever is playing at home has, so far, landed me in second last. But it’s a new week. Onwards!
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “As I’ve always maintained, I categorically deny all these allegations. While I would’ve preferred these charges not have been brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name.”
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, in his first public statement since he was released on bail after being charged with war crimes by the AFP.
The stat: 9.84 seconds. The time recorded by 20-year-old Australian sprinter Eddie Nketia in the men’s 100m at a meet in the U.S, breaking the Australian all-conditions record. However, the time does not officially count because of an illegal tailwind of 2.3 metres per second (anything over two metres per second is considered illegitimate for official records).
The big question:
Friday’s results: Friday’s poll was a tight contest on whether your employer’s position on social or political issues affects how you feel about working there. 44% of you said it “matters a lot” while 31% said you “notice it but it’s not a dealbreaker”. 14% of you said “not really.” 11% of you said you would prefer if employers “stayed out of it entirely”. [1,639 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed again on Saturday, one day after it declared it had reopened. The passage, which is the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, was first announced open by Iran’s Foreign Minister, who said: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire.” However, a day later, Iran announced it would close again, claiming President Trump’s decision to leave in place a U.S. blockade on ships from Iranian ports was a violation of the ceasefire. At least two vessels were attacked on Saturday while trying to transit the waterway.
One person has died and another is seriously injured after a car ploughed into pedestrians near a popular comic convention in Melbourne on Saturday night. A man is in police custody after a grey Toyota mounted a kerb and hit two pedestrians at Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale just before 5pm on Saturday. It occurred outside the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Event, a two-day fan convention hosted at the showgrounds.
Together with AAP.
Recommendation of the day
PBS prescription medicines cost no more than $25
Earlier this year, the Australian Government cut the maximum co-payment from $31.60 to $25 for Medicare card holders – saving Australians millions on the medicines they need. Commonwealth concession card holders stay at $7.70 until 2030.
If you've ever delayed filling a prescription because of cost, that barrier just got a lot smaller.
To learn more, visit www.health.gov.au/cheapermedicines
In partnership with the Australian Government.
Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.
I’ve got 1 minute
TW: Child sexual abuse
A former Sydney childcare worker has been hit with 129 new child abuse material charges
A man accused of abusing children across multiple Sydney daycare centres is facing 129 new charges.
The man was first arrested by the Australian Federal Police last year, but has now been charged with additional offences.
Authorities are yet to notify the affected families, as police say they are still sifting through 2.4 million files linked to the case.
Background
In July 2025, police arrested and charged the Sydney man with eight child abuse material offences.
He was first identified after a U.S. child protection organisation flagged with police in Australia that an online user was allegedly uploading child abuse.
A non-publication order was issued, meaning the man cannot be identified by the media or linked to his place of employment.
He has remained in custody since his arrest.
Charges
On Friday, the man was charged with a further 129 offences. He now faces a total of 137 charges from 2009-2025, including:
68 counts of production of child abuse material.
29 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act and three counts of filming a person’s private parts without consent.
18 counts and 11 aggravated counts of using a child under 14 years for child abuse material production.
Seven counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years.
AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said: “We know matters like this are a parent’s worst nightmare, and we have investigators and digital forensic experts working around the clock to methodically review 2.4 million electronic files.”
What’s next?
Police are in the final stages of identifying victims from seized material before contacting their families.
“The AFP is following... processes to ensure that impacted families receive the support they need,” Det. Supt. Needham said.
The man appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
Some of the new charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment each.
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Elliot and Billi talk about the landmark verdict against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
🎾 Already thinking about the French Open? You can sign up to TDA Sport here to get your sports fix.
I’ve got 2 minutes
The death toll from Türkiye’s second school shooting in as many days has risen to 10.
A 14-year-old opened fire on a high school in the southern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras last Wednesday, killing a teacher and eight students.
Another victim died in hospital overnight.
The shooting came one day after a 19-year-old gunman attacked a school in the nearby province of Sanliurfa.
The attacks are not believed to be connected.
Tuesday
The first of the two shootings was perpetrated by a former student of Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School.
The 19-year-old, who died at the scene, “carried out the attack by firing indiscriminately with a shotgun,” local governor Hasan Şildak said.
A total of 16 people were injured, including several students.
In an update on Thursday, Şildak said six of the wounded remain in hospital.
Wednesday
The next day, a 14-year-old opened fire on two classrooms at the Ayser Calik Middle School, killing nine at the scene and wounding at least 13 others.
A 10th person died overnight, with several still in a critical condition.
Local governor Mükerrem Ünlüer said the shooter, who was found dead at the scene, was “an eighth grader, a student”.
It’s believed the teen used guns belonging to his father, a retired police officer.
In response to the attack, schools in the region were closed for two days.
Funerals for these victims were held on Thursday.
“We have bid farewell with prayers to our beloved children and our precious teacher who lost their lives in [this] tragic incident,” Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said.
According to Turkish police, the 14-year-old shooter had a WhatsApp profile picture of Elliot Rodger – a student who killed six people in California in 2014.
Rodger wrote in an online manifesto: “All of those beautiful girls I’ve desired so much in my life, but can never have because they despise and loathe me, I will destroy.”
Response
Around 20 people have been arrested in connection with the first shooting.
The father of the teen gunman behind Wednesday’s shooting has also been taken into custody.
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have arrested 162 people over social media posts following the attacks.
Of those, 95 were accused of sharing footage of the incidents despite a media blackout, spreading misinformation, or celebrating crime. Another 67 were arrested over posts suggesting more school attacks were coming.
Over 1,100 social media accounts have also been restricted.
Federal and local officials gathered for an emergency meeting on Thursday, to evaluate “existing school security practices, risk areas, and the need for additional measures”.
In particular, officials discussed the impact of “harmful content spread through digital channels”.
“Every necessary step will be taken to ensure the safety of our children, no area of negligence will go unpunished, and no risk factor will be ignored,“ a statement from the Turkish Government said.
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
A message from CommBank Newsroom
Game on: Brisbane 2032 Games land first partner
The countdown to Brisbane 2032 Games is starting to take shape, with the first domestic founding partner locked in.
CommBank is backing the Games as the Founding Partner and Official Bank, in a move expected to support communities, small businesses and athletes in the years ahead.
Olympians and Paralympians including Ian Thorpe, Jess Fox and Rae Anderson were at the announcement as the journey to the home Games begins.
Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.
Give me some good news
Credit: ABC iview
Kids and families can now stream Auslan-interpreted episodes of the iconic Aussie kid’s show ‘Bluey’.
Auslan is short for Australian sign language. The move follows a Change.org petition, which called for Bluey episodes to be more accessible to deaf and hard of hearing children. The popular series joined several other pre-school programs in rolling out Auslan-accessible episodes on ABC iview last week, coinciding with Auslan Day on 13 April. ABC TV executive Jennifer Collins said the broadcaster was “delighted… to create a more accessible, inclusive and connected experience for all young Australians”.
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
Victoria Beckham has spoken publicly about her relationship with her son Brooklyn Beckham for the first time since he accused her of dancing “very inappropriately” with him at his 2022 wedding.
In January, Brooklyn posted a series of Instagram stories about his relationship with his parents, accusing Victoria and husband David Beckham of trying to sabotage his relationship with his wife, Nicola Peltz, through “endless attacks… send to the press”.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Victoria answered a question about Brooklyn by saying: “We’ve always tried to be the best parents that we can be.”
She added: “We’ve been in the public eye for more than 30 years right now, and all we’ve ever tried to do is protect our children and love our children. And you know, that’s all I really want to say about it.”
Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.
TDA asks
