If you were forwarded this email (hi! welcome!), you can sign up to the newsletter here.
Good morning.
The AFL has announced it is investigating the leaking of a batch of “private images” of current and former players. It comes after a number of clubs separately notified the AFL that these images were being distributed “illegally and without the players’ consent”.
The AFL Integrity Unit, a number of state police bodies and the eSafety Commissioner are involved in the investigation.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting f---ing show etiquette and throwing shit on stage?” – Singer Adele talking to fans at a performance this week. It comes after fellow singer Bebe Rexha was hit in the face by a mobile during her concert.
The stat
1 in 3
The share of parents who admit to reading texts while driving their kids in the car, according to new research from Monash University.
Today in history
1942: Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Amsterdam. Frank’s diary entries of this time later became one of the defining pieces of wartime literature.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
A luggage search at Sydney airport has led to the rescue of 16 children from alleged sexual abuse. A joint investigation by police in Australia and the Philippines discovered evidence in a Queensland man’s luggage, which led to a major breakthrough in an international child protection investigation. Children as young as 10 were found during the raids.
The discovery of a white powder that led to a partial shutdown in the White House has been identified as cocaine. The Secret Service said a precautionary closure was triggered after an unknown item was discovered in the West Wing on Sunday. President Joe Biden was not there at the time of the shutdown.
I've got 1 minute
The Taliban in Afghanistan has ordered the closure of beauty salons for women. Salons have been given a month to wind down operations.
The Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue confirmed the ban to TOLOnews, an Afghan news network based in the capital, Kabul.
It is the latest restriction on women's freedoms since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
Background
The Taliban is an extremist Islamist group which held power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and then seized power again in 2021 after Western troops withdrew from the country.
Its administration is not recognised by the UN. Since seizing power, it has banned women from many forms of employment, education and from going to places like public parks and gyms.
Beauty salons
Many salons in Afghanistan have remained open since the Taliban seized power two years ago.
These parlours are typically female-only and have their windows covered so that customers cannot be seen from outside.
A ministry-issued letter said it conveyed a verbal order from the Taliban's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, outlawing women's beauty parlours in all parts of the country. It's unclear what prompted the announcement.
Response to the ban
The international community has condemned growing restrictions on the rights of women in Afghanistan.
In response to the salon ban, UN women Afghanistan said "women must be part of the economy for any country to chart a sustainable way out of crisis & improve development outcomes".
In its 2023 World Report, Human Rights Watch said the Taliban continues to violate "a wide range of fundamental rights of women and girls, including freedom of movement, right to work and... access to education and health care."
Enjoying the newsletter?
If you want your friends to wake up with us too, forward this email to them.
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here (it’s free!)
I've got 2 minutes
TW: suicide
An Australian has become the first professional female athlete to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated brain injuries. It can cause severe mental health issues, and has been found across the world in former athletes who have died by suicide.
The incurable disease can, so far, only be diagnosed post-mortem.
Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson played for the Adelaide Crows as part of their AFLW premiership-winning team in 2017.
After one season, Anderson was forced into retirement by injuries. She died suddenly last year, aged 28.
The Anderson family donated Heather's brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank to shed light on the circumstances leading to her death.
The diagnosis
Anderson's CTE diagnosis was announced in an academic paper published this week and first reported by the ABC.
Researchers at the Australian Sports Brain Bank analysed Anderson's brain and discovered that she had "low-stage" CTE.
CTE has historically been studied in male athletes, in part due to the male-dominated nature of some contact sports.
Concussion
Anderson suffered at least one diagnosed concussion during her playing career, though four other possible concussions were not formally diagnosed.
She played contact sports for most of her life, including AFL and rugby league.
Anderson had also served in the Australian military and partook in amateur martial arts, though no concussions were reported from these activities.
Women in sport
Researchers said Anderson's diagnosis could indicate a wider presence of CTE in female professional athletes, who are more susceptible to concussions than their male counterparts.
They said as the number of women in professional sports expands, it "seems likely" that more cases of CTE will emerge.
The researchers warned of an "urgent need" to understand concussion risks in female contact sports, and to add specific strategies that will protect female athletes.
AFL lawsuit
A separate group of AFL and AFLW players are suing over the long-term effects of concussion injuries sustained during their careers.
They allege the AFL failed to proactively prevent continual concussions, and did not implement sufficient measures to stop head injuries from occurring.
Following the lawsuit, the AFL launched a 10-year long-term study to investigate the impacts of concussion injuries in the game.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Give me some good news
Victorian pet owners can now take part in the state’s first pet census.
The initiative from the Victorian government’s animal welfare department is aimed at developing more effective policies and programs to promote responsible pet ownership across the state.
A message from our sponsor
At the moment, we’re all keen to save some cash where we can. However, it’s tricky to cut costs on those unavoidable expenses, like groceries, electricity, phone bills, and insurance. That's where Cashrewards comes in.
With Cashrewards, you can actually earn cash back on your regular, essential purchases. Get up to 20% cash back on utilities, groceries, and more when you shop with Cashrewards during their Ease The Squeeze campaign. It's a great way to save while buying the things you actually need!
Sign up today with the code TDA and receive a $20 bonus cash back on your first shop today! T&Cs apply.
A TDA tidbit
A California-based start-up has received regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in the U.S. to test flying cars.
The car is produced by a company called Alef, and is estimated to cost $US300,000. For just a few pretty pennies, you’ll get a sports car that can take off vertically and fly in any direction (that’s all according to the company - we haven’t taken it for a test drive yet) - and be used on real roads too! This regulatory approval means the aircraft (car?) can be used for “exhibition, research and development” purposes.
The Daily Aus acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.