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Good morning!
Here is today’s riddle: I come along at the beginning of December. But, I am not in any other month. I am not a celebration or a holiday. What am I?
The answer is in the tidbit!
I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
“I love Gen Z... They’re so wonderfully impatient.”
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in a sit-down conversation with Republican politician Liz Cheney. Gen Z is those born between 1996 and 2010.
Stat of the day
7%
The increase in the infant mortality rate in the U.S after the Supreme Court returned the right to make abortion laws to individual states, leading to abortion bans and restrictions across the country.
Today in history
2001
The original Apple iPod was introduced — becoming the first MP3 player to hold 1,000 songs and have a 10-hour battery life.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for independent Senator Lidia Thorpe to resign from Parliament after she protested at an event with King Charles III earlier this week. In an interview with Channel 7’s Sunrise, Dutton said Thorpe should resign if she “doesn’t believe in the system” of government. Coalition Senators later denied reports they would move a censure motion against Thorpe — where members officially reprimand the behaviour of a fellow Senator. Liberal Senator James Paterson told 2GB radio he believed Thorpe “would probably wear it as a badge of honour”. Thorpe told Nine newspapers that while she has no intention of resigning, she will not run for re-election at the end of her six-year term in 2028.
The teenage driver who accidentally killed the son of South Australian Police Commissioner in a hit-and-run during last year’s Schoolies has been handed a suspended sentence. Recent high school graduate Charlie Stevens died in November last year of multiple injuries sustained when fellow graduate Dhirren Singh Randhawa hit him with his car at a beach south of Adelaide. 19-year-old Randhawa, who pleaded guilty, has been disqualified from driving for 10 years and will serve a suspended sentence on good behaviour for two years. Presiding Judge Joanne Tracey said while she did not want to “overlook the terrible loss”, the fact that Randhawa had “no history of offending of any sort and [has] good prospects for rehabilitation” was considered in the judgement.
Recommendation of the day
Transparency: This is a sponsored section of the newsletter. It's the best way we can keep this newsletter free for you
Need a book to fire you up?
MACCA by Mackenzie Arnold takes you behind the scenes of the Matildas' World Cup journey, from the opening match to that nail-biting quarter-final penalty shootout.
Why we love it: It’s raw, real, and guaranteed to inspire!
I’ve got 1 minute
A New Zealand airport imposes a 3-minute max hug time rule.
Dunedin Airport on New Zealand’s south island is encouraging hasty goodbyes in a new series of signs installed in the drop-off zones,
The signs give drivers “Max hug time: 3 minutes” outside the airport check-in area. They then read: “For fonder farewells, please use the carpark.”
Dunedin Airport’s website says the signs are designed to “improve traffic flow” and “reduce congestion”.
For friends and relatives sending off their loved ones in Dunedin: get used to pouring out your feelings in under 180 seconds!
If only flight delays could be capped at three minutes...
Reporting by Harry Sekulich.
I’ve got 2 minutes
Two unnamed celebrities have been accused of sexual assault in new lawsuits against Sean “Diddy” Combs
CW: Sexual abuse
U.S. rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been named in seven new sexual abuse lawsuits.
One suit alleges Combs and an unnamed male celebrity raped a 13-year-old girl, in front of an unnamed female celebrity.
Combs has been held in a New York jail since he was arrested on sex trafficking charges last month. The 54-year-old denies any wrongdoing.
Background
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Puffy, and Diddy, is a rapper and producer. He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993.
Police allegedly seized evidence of illicit activities after raids on Combs’ LA and Miami homes in March.
He was arrested in New York on September 18, and charged with sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He’s facing up to life in prison.
Authorities allege the 54-year-old used his “business empire” to cover up decades of abuse against women “to fulfil his sexual desires” and “protect his reputation”.
In addition to these criminal charges, Combs is being sued by dozens of alleged victims across more than 20 lawsuits.
The suits accuse him of a range of sexual misconduct and other illegal activity, which he has denied. These legal proceedings are civil cases — non-criminal disputes between two private parties. Plaintiffs typically seek monetary damages.
New allegations
This week, Combs was named in seven new lawsuits. The proceedings were filed across Federal and State courts.
The anonymous plaintiffs – four men and three women – allege abuse by Combs in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, between 2000 and 2022.
The plaintiffs allege that Combs (or one of his associates) drugged them before he assaulted or raped them. It brings the total number of lawsuits against Combs to at least 24.
One male plaintiff said he was a 17-year-old aspiring musician when he was assaulted by Combs at a party, according to reports from several U.S. media outlets.
Another plaintiff, a celebrity personal trainer, claims Combs forced him into “sexual acts with both men and women,” including with an unnamed celebrity.
An anonymous woman alleges she was drugged and raped by Combs and an unnamed male celebrity when she was 13 years old in 2000.
The alleged incident took place at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards. The plaintiff claims an unnamed female celebrity watched the assault.
More lawsuits
Earlier this month, Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee, came forward claiming some 3,200 people have approached his law firm with allegations related to Combs.
During a press conference, Buzbee said one of the victims was nine years old when the alleged misconduct occurred.
This week, Buzbee said the latest round of lawsuits against Combs detailed “egregious” (shockingly bad) conduct, and that his team would “work to see that justice is done.”
Buzbee’s firm also filed six cases against Combs last week, “alleging aggravated sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation” spanning 1995-2021.
The lawyer said one person “was a minor at the time of the alleged occurrences.”
In a statement on Monday, Buzbee suggested more legal proceedings will be filed against Combs. He added that others who are “referenced in the case filings” could also be named.
“We expect to be filing cases weekly naming Mr. Combs and others as defendants as we continue to gather evidence and prepare the filings,” he said.
Defence
Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo said his client is innocent, and will “fight this until the end.”
Agnifilo has requested a ‘gag order’ on Combs’ accusers and their lawyers to protect Combs’ right to a fair trial.
The order would protect certain details about the case from being made public, and restrict Combs’ alleged victims from making statements to the media.
The rapper is expected to remain in police custody until his criminal trial, which is scheduled for May 2025.
Reporting by Chloe Christie.
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🍊 The Diamonds are in action against NZ tonight. More details here.
🍊 Lionel Messi scored his 59th hat trick. Guess how long it took him.
🍊 The World Series begins on Friday. No idea what that means?
🗞️ Also in today’s Sport Newsletter: soccer, rugby union, and more…
Give me some good news
Scientists at the University of Central Florida have developed a liquid gel they say works like a bandage to slow down heavy bleeding in emergencies, before doctors are able to help.
When sprayed, the gel expands into a foam that disinfects wounds and significantly reduces bleeding by applying pressure, in the same way you might press down with your hand. Researchers said the foam can also be removed gently because it’s “a soft sponge” that “doesn’t stick to your skin”.
The team have so far tested the gel on specially-designed mannequins, but hope to test on people in the near future.
Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!
Reporting by Achol Arok.
TDA tidbit
Take four five seconds out of your day to learn something cool: the songwriter behind Rihanna’s 2006 hit ‘SOS’ has recently revealed he used the titles of number one hit songs from the 80s to write the lyrics of an entire verse of the song.
Songwriter Evan Bogart shared his wild wild thoughts on the podcast Behind the Wall earlier this month, unpacking a verse of the 2006 track.
Bogart didn’t stop the music when writing the song, with several 80s references in the lyrics including A-ha’s ‘Take on Me’, and Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’.
What a rude boy to hide his work from us for all these years! The song is great, though - go on and take a bow 😏
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
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Riddle answer: The letter D.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
Queenslanders will choose their next Government this weekend. 50 cent public transport fares, free primary school lunches, youth crime, and abortion, have become big talking points in this election.
Two men in their 40s wanting to lead the state – the current Premier Steven Miles and opposition leader David Crisafulli – have also taken the fight to social media, both using TikTok as part of their campaign strategy to reach young people.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear an interview with the Queensland Premier on how he plans to win the election and what his plans are.
TDA asks
