☕️ The attempted hijack of an Israel-bound plane

What do you call a sleeping bull? That would be a bulldozer.

I hope that made you smile, because today is World Smile Day :)

The quote: “I've never read a book. Like, maybe Dr. Seuss?" U.S. influencer Alix Earle, after Interview magazine editor-in-chief Mel Ottenberg asked her to name the last book she'd read. The rapid-fire Q&A, posted to the magazine's Instagram.

The stat: 1,149. That's how many large companies operating in Australia paid no corporate tax in the 2024/25 financial year, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The ATO's annual corporate tax transparency report covers public, private and foreign-owned companies with incomes of $100 million or more.

The big question:

Yesterday’s results: 38% of you think about your money goals most during big life changes, like a new job or moving out, followed by 25% who don't really set money goal. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [1,549 votes].

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When will the rental hunt get easier?

If you've been fighting for a place at an inspection, there's a reason: more people looking than places available. New rentals are asking 5.7% more than a year ago. CommBank economists expect that to ease as more homes are finished, but it won't happen overnight.

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For the first time, Morocco has a female Prime Minister.

King Mohammed VI named Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as PM after her party won the most votes in the country’s general election last week.

It comes as a member of her party is under investigation for electoral fraud.

Here’s what you need to know.

Similar to Australia, Morocco’s head of state is a monarch (King Mohammed VI) and its head of government is a Prime Minister.

The King appoints the leader of the party that wins the most seats at a general election to lead the country.

Morocco’s general election was held on Wednesday 23 September.

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the most votes of any party, with 97 of 395 seats.

Voter turnout was around 38%, compared to around 51% at the last general election.

As the leader of PAM, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri was appointed by the King this week, making her the first woman to lead the country.

El Mansouri is a lawyer who served as the mayor of Marrakesh from 2009 to 2015 and again from 2021 until she ran for Parliament at this election.

Addressing her appointment, El Mansouri said: “We are fully aware that this is a crucial period, accompanied by high expectations from citizens, especially the youth.”

Last year, allegations surfaced on social media that El Mansouri had a conflict of interest over land she sold in Marrakesh.

She denied the allegations, calling them “defamatory campaigns”.

This week, local media reported PAM regional leader Mounir Limouri is being investigated for electoral violations.

Limouri is also the mayor of Tangier, Morocco’s second-biggest city.

It came after a person was captured on video carrying a bag of ballot papers on the day of the election.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, we talk about the alleged hijacking of a flight to Israel. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.

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💰 What does a $95,000 salary actually buy a young Australian? That's the average for professionals aged 21 to 34 and housing shapes nearly every choice that follows. See how it stacks up at CommBank Newsroom.

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A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane.

Israeli officials say passengers and crew helped stop the alleged attacker, while Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised the bravery of the captain and passengers on board.

Flydubai says the motive is unknown.

Here’s what we know so far.

Flydubai is a low-cost airline based in Dubai and owned by the Dubai Government (part of the UAE).

It has run flights between Israel and the UAE since 2020, when the two countries set up an official diplomatic relationship.

There were around 180 people on board Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Most passengers were Israeli nationals, according to international media.

As the plane got closer to Israel, it sent out a general emergency code, then an “unlawful interference” code, which is used to indicate hijacking.

Two and a half hours into the flight, the plane began to nosedive.Flight tracking data shows the aircraft dropped around 17,000 feet over two minutes.

Netanyahu alleged the flight’s co-pilot (who hasn’t been named) stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar as the plane approached Israel.

Netanyahu said the wounded captain fought back and opened the cockpit door.

A group of passengers and crew members went into the cockpit and subdued the attacker, who was allegedly trying to sabotage the plane’s systems.

Flydubai crew members then took over the plane and completed an emergency landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu said Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot. Both pilots were taken to hospital.

A plane carrying passengers from the diverted flight landed in Israel on Wednesday evening.

Some of them met with Netanyahu, including a man named Yaniv Hayun, who aided in subduing the attacker.

The Israeli PM also praised Captain Machchhar for “his extraordinary bravery” and wished him “a speedy and full recovery”.

Flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.

The airline said “motives behind this event are unknown,” and urged “all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts”.

Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relationship.

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.

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Translation: Take the cost and planning out of the invite and grab free tickets.

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According to a report published in Communications Biology, researchers have found evidence that the gentoo penguin consists of four different species, with one of those species previously unknown to scientists. The new species, named Pygoscelis kerguelensis, lives on the Kerguelen Islands, which is one of the most isolated places on Earth. 

Reporting by Billi FitzSimons.

At some point in time, everyone in a relationship has been asked: “How did you guys meet?”

For people in Singapore, the answer could soon be: “The Government set us up!”

Move over Tinder, Hinge and Bumble! Here comes FirstDate – the Singapore Government’s very own matchmaking service.

FirstDate launched this week for public service workers aged 21 to 35, spruiking “a different approach to dating” that uses a Nobel Prize winning algorithm to match participants.

It’s all part of the country’s push to tackle its falling birth rate. It comes after Singapore announced a new package earlier this year that will pay couples to have kids.

I guess they’ve now decided that the offer doesn't really work if a large portion of the population is chronically single….

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.