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Good morning!
Here is today’s trivia question: Psalm, Saint, and Chicago are the names of what?
The answer is in the titbit!
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “We found that there were sufficient visual cues, performance data, during the match, and an understanding of Elijah's individual circumstances, to indicate that he should have been removed from play earlier than he was.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon in a press conference yesterday announcing a $75,000 fine for Carlton over the club’s mishandling of player Elijah Hollands’ mental health episode. Hollands was admitted to hospital days after a match against Collingwood on 16 April.
The stat: 750,000. The number of fraudulent identity verification requests that have been blocked by the national Credential Protection Register since 2022. Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said: “Blocking a passport on the register helps prevent it from being used in fraudulent loan, rental, or employment applications, while still allowing it to be used for overseas travel."
The big question:
Do you always see the same GP?
Yesterday’s results: 61% of you think that Australia will head into a recession in the next six months. 13% of you said “no” while 26% of you said “I’m not sure”. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2033 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
National electric vehicle sales have surged to a new record for the second consecutive month. New data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows one in every six new cars sold in April was electric. Petrol and diesel car sales dropped by 30% and 21% respectively, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to impact fuel prices. Yesterday’s figures coincide with news that the Federal Government is scaling back its EV discount. Current regulations exempt drivers who buy an EV for less than $91,000 (through a novated lease) from fringe benefits tax. A novated lease is a salary packaging agreement where an employer allows their employee to finance a car using their pre-tax salary, also lowering their taxable income. These benefits are subject to a levy known as fringe benefits tax. From April 2027, only EVs under $75,000 will be eligible for the discount.
The U.S. and Iran have launched new attacks in the Persian Gulf as they wrestle for control over the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. said it destroyed six small Iranian military boats and facilitated the passage of two commercial vessels through the waterway, while Iran struck a United Arab Emirates oil port that hosts an American military base. It comes after U.S. President Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the strait. The vital waterway has been virtually closed since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February, with a four-week ceasefire now hanging in the balance. Iran's Foreign Minister said “events in Hormuz make clear that there's no military solution to a political crisis,” as Pakistan continues to mediate peace talks.
Together with AAP.
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I’ve got 1 minute
CW: Distressing themes
Australian author Craig Silvey has been charged with alleged production of child abuse material.
Silvey has written several acclaimed books, including ‘Honeybee’ and ‘Jasper Jones’.
A 68-year-old woman was also arrested in February in connection to the charges.
Background
On 12 January, WA Police said officers had raided a 43-year-old man’s home, catching him allegedly actively engaging with child exploitation offenders online.
He was charged with alleged possession and distribution of child exploitation material.
Silvey was widely named as the alleged offender by multiple media outlets, and faced Fremantle Magistrates’ Court on 13 January, where he was granted bail.
Further charges
Silvey appeared in court again on Monday, and was charged with two additional alleged offences:
producing child exploitation material; and
an additional count of possession of child exploitation material.
A 68-year-old woman, also from Perth, was charged with allegedly producing and distributing child exploitation material, uncovered following Silvey’s arrest.
WA Police said forensic analysis of devices seized from the author’s home led to the woman’s arrest.
Reporting by Adella Beaini.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Billi and Emma explain how a luxury cruise ship is stranded in the Atlantic Ocean after a rare virus killed three passengers.
🏉 Want more sport news? Sign up to TDA Sport for a full report in your inbox every weekday.
I’ve got 2 minutes
Reporters Without Borders has released its 2026 World Press Freedom Index. It ranks 180 countries and territories by journalists’ ability to do their jobs.
Australia dropped four places in this year’s ranking. The overall global average score has hit the lowest level on record.
Context
Reporters Without Borders (aka Reporters Sans Frontières or RSF) is a Paris-based non-profit that advocates for press freedom worldwide.
Every year, it surveys 180 countries and scores them across five areas: the political, legal, economic, social and security environments for journalists.
Countries are given a score out of 100, putting them on a scale of “good” to “very serious”.
The numbers
This year marks the 25th edition of the Index.
More than 50% of countries are now classified as “difficult” or “very serious” for press freedom.
Fewer than 1% of people worldwide live in a country classified as having “good” press freedom.
Back in 2002, 13.7% of countries had a “difficult” or “very serious” environment, and 20% of people lived in a country with “good” freedoms.
Australia
Australia has fallen four places to 33rd in the 2026 Index.
RSF flags media concentration as a key concern, with three private groups dominating ownership, and close ties between media owners and political leaders raising questions about editorial independence.
Press freedom is also not explicitly guaranteed in Australia’s Constitution, though it has historically been protected to some degree by High Court decisions.
International
The U.S. has dropped to a historic low in the rankings (#64), with RSF pointing to President Donald Trump’s “systematic” attacks on the press, police arresting reporters, and the consolidation of media companies.
Norway scored the highest in the 2026 index, followed by the Netherlands (#2) and Estonia (#3). Norway has topped the ranking for 10 consecutive years.
Eritrea ranked last for the third year running, with a score of 10.2. Local journalist Dawit Isaak has been imprisoned since 2001 without trial. North Korea (179) and China (178) rounded out the bottom three.
Syria recorded the biggest improvement after rebels ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, though press freedom remains rated "very serious."
War
RSF partly attributes the overall lower scores to several ongoing conflicts across the world.
According to RSF, the Israeli military has killed more than 220 journalists in Palestine since October 2023, including at least 70 killed while working.
Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq have also seen press freedom decline during conflict.
Eastern Europe and the Middle East were ranked as the two most dangerous regions for journalists in the world.
Criminalisation
The legal indicator dropped the most this year, worsening in 110 of 180 countries.
The RSF describes the criminalisation of journalism as “one of the most serious threats to democracies worldwide.”
It says governments are increasingly weaponising criminal charges and legal proceedings against journalists, rather than using overt censorship or physical violence.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
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Give me some good news
Eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore has won the Gold Coast Pro, her first title after a two-year break.
The 38-year-old Aussie beat 21-year-old Brazilian Luana Silva in yesterday’s final at Snapper Rocks to claim her seventh title at the Gold Coast event, including her first career win as a 17-year-old wildcard in 2005.
After two years away from full-time competition, Gilmore said she didn't think she was going to win a comp this year, telling reporters: “The girls are just at a whole new level… I'm up for the challenge, but this is a surprise to me so I'll take it one step at a time, one trophy at a time.”
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
A local council in Hobart has secured a sweet deal: renovating the old Cadbury factory to create a “chocolate experience”.
The $150 million project, set to open in 2028, will include a chocolate lab, immersive experience, premium studio, dessert lounge and emporium.
Developers say it will be “the world’s most extraordinary chocolate experience”.
Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.
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Trivia question answer: Kim Kardashian’s children. (We didn’t include North because we thought it would be too easy!)
TDA asks
