☕️ Diddy denied bail

Quick question for you: Do you have any plans this Sunday?

If you were planning on spending the day in your pyjamas while watching Legally Blonde for the 87th time, can I tempt you with a sunny afternoon at the AFLW instead?

We’re giving away four double passes to the 2024 NAB AFLW Sydney Derby between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants this Sunday at Henson Park. (Just FYI, "Derby" means the competing sport teams have a local rivalry.)

To enter, sign up to TDA’s sport newsletter in the next 24 hours! Just click here.

“I think it’s the complete definition of stupidity, really… It’s just ridiculous, stupid, irresponsible driving behaviour.”
South Australia Police Superintendent Darren Fielke on drivers caught on their phones by a range of new cameras across the state. 68,000 warning letters have been sent to drivers over the last three months.

78
How many years container company Tupperware was in business before it declared bankruptcy this week.

1837
New Zealand became the first country in the world to legally allow women to vote.

The NSW Government has announced plans to ban council rangers from issuing parking fines without a printed ticket.

Under the draft legislation, rangers would be required to attach an immediate, printed ticket on the vehicle.

The Government says this would enhance transparency and provide drivers with a clearer opportunity to contest their fine if they have a valid reason.

The change addresses years of complaints from drivers who argue they only became aware of parking fines when it was too late to contest them.

The former NSW Coalition Government first introduced ticketless parking fines in May 2020.

This system means drivers in some councils don’t receive physical infringement notices on their cars.

Instead, council rangers send details of the fine and car registration to the state’s tax collector.

Then, a penalty notice is mailed to the driver, or issued via the Service NSW app.

Last year, councils across NSW issued over 820,000 ticketless parking fines, up 49% from 2022.

Opponents of the measure have argued ticketless fines make it harder for drivers to challenge a fine.

With no immediate indication of the ticket, a fine recipient may have driven away before taking a photo or noting any details needed to dispute an infringement.

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said that while no one “likes” receiving a fine, “the idea you only find out about [it] weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test.”

The NSW Government is planning on introducing new requirements for council rangers to attach an “on-the-spot notification” to a vehicle.

This could take the form of the fine itself, or a short description of the infringement with a notice that the driver will soon be sent a fine.

Under the proposed legislation, drivers can’t be fined multiple times for the same offence before they are made aware of the first infringement.

The changes will not apply to police officers issuing fines.

Peak body Local Government NSW (LGNSW) criticised the State Government for a “lack of detailed consultation” over the proposal.

LGNSW President Darriea Turley said, “one of the main reasons” many councils introduced ticketless fines was to reduce “verbal and physical abuse” against rangers.

Reporting by Chloe Christie.

CW: Distressing content

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs is in police custody after he was charged with sex trafficking in the U.S. this week.

Investigators have accused Combs of using his “business empire” to cover up decades of abuse against women “to fulfil his sexual desires” and “protect his reputation”.

The 54-year-old was arrested in New York on Monday and has been denied bail by a federal court judge.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, and Diddy, is a rapper and producer.

He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993. The music label has represented some of the world’s most famous rappers, including the Notorious B.I.G.

The 54-year-old has been investigated over several allegations – including sexual abuse, assault, trafficking and domestic violence – which he denies.

Combs was arrested in New York this week following a months-long police investigation.

It comes after authorities raided his homes in LA and Miami in March, where they allegedly seized evidence of illicit activities.

The charges against him are linked to alleged sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Combs has been accused of running a sex ring through his business, ‘Combs Enterprise’.

Authorities allege the rapper used “the pretence of a romantic relationship,” to “intimidate, threaten, and lure female victims” into his “orbit”.

Combs would eventually force victims to “engage in extended” and “elaborate” sex acts “with male commercial sex workers,” according to investigators.

He’s also been accused of using his staff to coordinate and conceal these incidents, which were often recorded.

U.S. Department of Justice Attorney Damian Williams said his office was “determined” to hold anyone who engages in sex trafficking to account, “no matter how powerful or wealthy or famous,” they are.

The federal prosecutor said the charges against Combs were brought, in part, with the assistance of alleged victims and witnesses.

Williams thanked those who “used their voices and helped bring this criminal conduct to light.”

Speaking outside a New York court, Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said his client is innocent, and will “fight this until the end.”

Agnifilo said Combs has “been looking forward to clearing his name”.

The rapper was refused bail and is expected to remain in police custody until his next court appearance.

Agnifilo has filed an appeal against the court’s bail decision. He argued Combs flew to New York to hand himself in, but was intercepted by authorities before he had a chance to do so.

Combs’ former partner Cassandra Ventura accused the rapper of sexual assault in 2023.

Her lawyers described Combs as a “vicious, cruel, and controlling man”. The rapper denied the allegations and the matter was settled out of court.

In May, U.S. news outlet CNN published footage that appeared to show Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016. In a video posted to Instagram, Combs apologised.

1800 RESPECT:

Call: 1800 737 732

Text: 0458 737 732

Video: 1800RESPECT.org.au

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Tinder Launches New Consent Course

Tinder’s new Consent Course, with Chanel Contos, WESNET and The Relatables, is now live on School of Swipe!

What you’ll learn:

Why take it: Become a more respectful partner and improve your relationships and intimacy.

Start learning today - visit Tinder’s School of Swipe here!

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has provided an update on the status of the ozone – which absorbs most of the sun’s UV radiation, helping to shield the Earth from the harmful rays.

Holes in the ozone layer started appearing in 1980, but the WMO now says its on track for a full repair by 2045. It said this recovery is thanks to sustainability efforts and the reduced use of synthetic climate polluting gases.

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

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

If you’re on the dating apps, you’ve probably been ghosted, or even ghosted someone yourself.

Now, Hinge is releasing a new feature that will force users to either reply to messages, or end some of their ongoing conversations, before they can keep sending or receiving likes.

The new update is coming into effect today, globally, and it’s designed to help people focus on quality instead of quantity when it comes to online matches.

The app said Australian users are over 56% more likely to meet a match in person if they respond to messages within a day.

RIP to ghosting.

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

The Federal Government has introduced a new piece of legislation to crack down on the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms. It’s an attempt to regulate false information from spreading in the online world, and is the second time the Government has had a go at this specific issue.

Not everyone is pleased with the new legislation though, with critics arguing the legislation could override free speech principles in Australia. In today’s deep dive, we’ll explain the history of this legislation, what the latest bill says and why it’s being criticised.