☕️ Canada's PM resigns

How are the New Year’s resolutions going? If it’s to be more informed by reading the TDA newsletter, then you’re killing it!

“The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”
Elon Musk posted this statement on X about Britain's right-wing Reform UK Party Leader, Nigel Farage. The two men appeared to support one another earlier this month posing together for a photo, however Musk’s statement comes amid media speculation of his possible financial endorsement of The Reform Party.

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The age of the world’s oldest person, Tomiko Itooka, who died over the weekend in Japan. She was born in 1908.

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The Australian Aviator, Guy Menzies, became the first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea. He crash-landed on New Zealand’s west coast, but survived.

New York has introduced a law that grants pregnant employees an extra 20 hours of paid time off per year.

The additional sick leave covers pregnancy-related medical appointments, including physical examinations.

It means New York is the first U.S. state to mandate paid leave specifically for pregnant employees.

The changes were passed last April, and came into effect on 1 January.

The updated laws expand existing sick leave policies, which allow employees up to 56 hours of leave annually.

According to the state’s government, approximately 130,000 pregnant women are expected to qualify for the new benefit each year.

It will apply to full-time, part-time, and hourly wage workers in the private sector.

State Governor Kathy Hochul said the reform ensures pregnant workers no longer have to choose “between getting medical care or earning a pay check.”

“New York is making sure pregnant women get paid time off to attend prenatal appointments so they can give their babies the best possible start in life,” Hochul said.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

More than 700 people used Victoria’s first pill testing service at the Beyond the Valley Festival.

Early data released by the Victorian Government found nearly 40% of those who used the service said they would take less of their drugs than they previously planned.

When the trial was announced, Premier Jacinta Allan told TDA that pill testing was a critical measure to “save lives”.

Here’s what else it found.

Last year, the Victorian Government passed legislation permitting pill testing trials at summer music festivals.

The first event to trial the free and anonymous service was Beyond the Valley, a four-day festival held over the New Year period.

Festival attendees were able to submit drug samples for chemical analysis to identify potentially harmful or unexpected ingredients.

Health professionals discussed the results and provided general health and harm-reduction advice.

According to the Victorian Government, health professionals at the festival spoke to over 700 attendees and tested around 600 samples of drugs.

Attendees were able to anonymously submit drug samples for testing to determine their purity and potency.

MDMA, ketamine, and cocaine were among the most commonly submitted substances for testing.

Over 70% reported it was their first “open, judgment-free discussion about drug and alcohol safety with a health professional”.

In multiple instances, festival-goers discovered the drugs they submitted for testing were not what they thought.

Health workers reported some attendees reconsidered taking the drugs after consultation, especially among those with pre-existing health conditions.

“What starts as a simple drug check often evolves into deeper conversations about health and wellbeing — a crucial step in our harm reduction approach,” Acting Mental Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

The Opposition voted against the pill-testing law when it passed in October, saying “drugs are not safe at any level.”

At the time, Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier told Parliament that pill testing tents were not an appropriate place for young people to receive information about drugs. She said festival attendees “actually should be informed before they rock up to a festival.”

TDA contacted the Opposition for further comment on the data but did not receive a response by the time of publishing.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Maximise your optical extras with Specsavers!​

If you wear glasses, investing in private health insurance could help with accessing your eyewear. Many policies offer annual optical allowances, which can be used for frames and lenses.​

Specsavers partners with most health funds to offer extra value on your glasses. With certain health fund policies, you can claim two pairs of glasses from the $199 single-vision range - including designer brands.​

It’s a simple way to keep your eyewear up to date whilst making the most of your optical cover!

🍊 U.S. Olympic sprinter arrested and charged. More details here.
🍊 Ilona Maher makes her Bristol Bears debut. Here's what she said.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: a random fact, cricket, and more…

The English competitor defeated three-time world champ Michael Van Gerwen from the Netherlands over the weekend 7-3. Littler was awarded a cash prize worth nearly $AU1 million for his efforts.

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

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

The 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles yesterday. Winners at this year’s Globes didn’t just walk away with trophies – they also had access to what the awards ceremony called “The Ultimate Gift Bag”.

The ‘gift bag’ was actually a range of items and experiences that winners could choose from. The most expensive listing was a three night stay at a Caribbean villa valued at $AUUS507,500 ($AU815,000, only available to nine winners).

Other items include oxygen facials ($US1,400), a personalised dance experience ($US15,000), and a $US272,000 wine tasting experience in Bordeaux, France.

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

Over the break, one of the biggest stories was the lawsuits filed between actress Blake Lively and her fellow co-star and director in ‘It Ends With Us’, Justin Baldoni.

Just a few days before Christmas, Lively filed a legal complaint - and has since filed a lawsuit - against Baldoni alleging that he sexually harassed her on set and that after she complained about his alleged behaviour, he retaliated by staging a PR campaign to ruin her reputation.

The complaint was first reported by The New York Times, who was then sued by Baldoni and his team just over a week later for defamation.

If that sounds like a lot, don't worry, we're here to break it down for you on today's deep dive!