The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of the NBA’s most influential owners.
Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global, is set to take the majority ownership under the agreement which values the Lakers at $10 billion, ESPN reported, making it the largest-ever sale of a professional sports team.
The Boston Celtics had become the latest NBA franchise to change ownership in March, closing a $6.05 billion sale to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, a record figure for the league at the time.
Walter, already an established figure in Los Angeles sports, has existing shares in MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers and WNBA franchise Los Angeles Sparks.
The Lakers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The late Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 and turned it into one of the most popular franchises in all of professional sports, winning five championships during their now-iconic “Showtime” era in the 1980s.
His daughter, Jeanie Buss, took over as principal owner after Jerry died in 2013, making her one of the most powerful women in sports.
Jeanie Buss will stay on as governor after the sale, according to the ESPN report.
Lakers Hall of Fame point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson – a former player, coach, and executive with the team during the Buss family’s tenure — congratulated both parties on reaching the agreement.
“Laker fans should be ecstatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark – he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way,” Johnson, who is also a co-owner of the Dodgers alongside Walter, said in a post on X.
“He will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike.
“Job well done to my sister Jeanie Buss for striking an incredible deal and picking the right person to carry on the Lakers legacy and tradition of winning… Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand.”
The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of the NBA’s most influential owners.
Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global, is set to take the majority ownership under the agreement which values the Lakers at $10 billion, ESPN reported, making it the largest-ever sale of a professional sports team.
The Boston Celtics had become the latest NBA franchise to change ownership in March, closing a $6.05 billion sale to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, a record figure for the league at the time.
Walter, already an established figure in Los Angeles sports, has existing shares in MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers and WNBA franchise Los Angeles Sparks.
The Lakers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The late Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 and turned it into one of the most popular franchises in all of professional sports, winning five championships during their now-iconic “Showtime” era in the 1980s.
His daughter, Jeanie Buss, took over as principal owner after Jerry died in 2013, making her one of the most powerful women in sports.
Jeanie Buss will stay on as governor after the sale, according to the ESPN report.
Lakers Hall of Fame point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson – a former player, coach, and executive with the team during the Buss family’s tenure — congratulated both parties on reaching the agreement.
“Laker fans should be ecstatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark – he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way,” Johnson, who is also a co-owner of the Dodgers alongside Walter, said in a post on X.
“He will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike.
“Job well done to my sister Jeanie Buss for striking an incredible deal and picking the right person to carry on the Lakers legacy and tradition of winning… Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand.”
European foreign ministers are set to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday aiming to create a pathway back to diplomacy over its contested nuclear programme despite the U.S. considering joining Israeli strikes against Iran.
Ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, as well as the European Union’s foreign policy chief spoke to Abbas Araqchi earlier this week and have been coordinating with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a rare call, they pressed upon Araqchi the need to return to the negotiating table and avoid further escalation. At Iran’s suggestion, the two sides agreed to meet face-to-face.
The talks will be held in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. They come after negotiations between Iran and the United States collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12.
“The Iranians can’t sit down with the Americans whereas we can,” said a European diplomat. “We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens.”
The European powers, who were not part of Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the United States, had grown increasingly frustrated by the U.S. negotiating strategy in the talks. They deemed some of the demands unrealistic, while fearing the possibility of a weak initial political framework that would lead to open-ended negotiations.
Two diplomats said there were no great expectations for a breakthrough in Geneva, where the European Union’s foreign policy chief will also attend.
But they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped, Iran’s nuclear programme would still remain unresolved given that it would be impossible to eradicate the know-how acquired, leaving it potentially able to clandestinely rebuild its programme.
An Iranian official said Tehran has always welcomed diplomacy, but urged the E3 to use all available means to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Iran.
“Iran remains committed to diplomacy as the only path to resolving disputes — but diplomacy is under attack,” the official said.
Speaking after holding talks in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there was a window for diplomacy.
“We discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” he said on X, referring to the White House saying on Thursday that President Donald Trump would give two weeks before deciding whether to join Israeli strikes.
Prior to Israel’s strikes, the E3 and U.S. put forward a resolution that was approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. watchdog, which declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
As part of last week’s IAEA resolution, European officials had said they could refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council later in the summer to add pressure on Iran if there was no progress in the nuclear talks.
That would be separate to them reimposing UN sanctions, known as the snapback mechanism, before October 18 when the 2015 accord expires.
The Europeans are the only ones who can launch the snapback mechanism, with diplomats saying the three countries had looked to set a final deadline at the end of August to launch it.
“Iran has repeatedly stated that triggering snapback will have serious consequences,” the Iranian official said.
Separatist and jihadist militants on the Pakistan-Iran border could take advantage of any collapse of authority in Iran, fears that Pakistan’s army chief pressed in a meeting this week with the U.S. President Donald Trump.
Anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides of the 560-mile (900km) long border. As Israel bombs Iran’s nuclear program, its officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilize the Iranian government or see it toppled.
As well as worrying about chaos spilling over from Iran, Pakistan is concerned about the precedent set by Israel of attacking the nuclear installations of another country. Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India fought a four-day conflict in May.
Following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trump said: “They’re not happy about anything”, referring to Pakistan’s views on the Israel-Iran conflict.
Pakistan’s military said on Thursday that the two had discussed Iran,“with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict”.
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran as a violation of international law.
“This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran,” Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. “It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply.”
Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval.
Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian jihadist group formed from ethnic Baluch and Sunni Muslim minorities and which operates from Pakistan, said Israel’s conflict with Iran was a great opportunity.
“Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance,” the group said in a statement on June 13.
Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baluch minority, which are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks.
“There’s a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups,” said Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington.
Pakistan has unstable borders with Taliban-run Afghanistan and arch-rival India. It does not want to add another volatile frontier on its long border with Iran.
The Iran-Pakistan border region is populated with ethnic Baluch, a minority in both countries who have long complained about discrimination and launched separatist movements. On Pakistan’s side, the region is a province called Balochistan and in Iran it is Sistan-Baluchistan.
Until Israel’s bombing of Iran, Tehran was closer to Pakistan’s arch-rival India. Pakistan and Iran had even traded air strikes last year, accusing each other of harboring Baluch militants. But the attack on Iran has upended alliances, as India has not condemned Israel’s bombing campaign.
China has also said that it is deeply concerned about the security situation in Balochistan, with the area being a focus of Beijing’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment program in Pakistan, centred on the new Chinese-run port of Gwadar. Baluch militant groups in Pakistan have previously targeted Chinese personnel and projects.
On Iranian side of the border, Tehran has at different times accused Pakistan, Gulf nations, Israel and the United States of backing the anti-Iran Baluch groups.
Simbal Khan, an analyst based in Islamabad, said the different Baluch groups could morph into a “greater Baluchistan” movement which seeks to carve out a new nation from the Baluch areas of Pakistan and Iran.
“They’re all going to fight together if this blows up,” said Khan.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CANBERRA, June 20 (Xinhua) — The Australian government has suspended operations at its embassy in Iran and ordered its staff to leave the country amid an escalation of military conflict in the region.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday that authorities had ordered the departure of all Australian embassy staff and their families from Iran and suspended the diplomatic mission in Tehran amid reports of deteriorating security conditions.
She said Australia’s ambassador to Iran would remain in the region to support the government’s response to the crisis, while consular staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would be deployed to Azerbaijan to assist Australians leaving Iran.
“We urge Australians who can leave Iran to do so now if it is safe to do so. Those who cannot or do not want to leave are advised to shelter in place,” Ms Wong said.
As of Friday, more than 2,000 Australian citizens had registered for assistance leaving Iran. –0–
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Outreach Music Interest Courses open for applications Introductory courses available include classical vocal singing, classical guitar, ukulele, little harp, keyboard and musicianship. Instrumental enrichment courses include erhu, zheng, yangqin, dizi, violin, cello, flute, clarinet and saxophone. There are also ensemble training for Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $320 to $1,350.
Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, liuqin, pipa, zhongruan, zheng, yangqin, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,440 each.
In a new course of OMICs, “Introduction to ‘Pure Data’ Music Programming”, participants will learn to use “Pure Data”, a free graphical programming software, for sound design and music creation. The course welcomes adults that have passed Grade 5 or above in music theory. Participants should bring their own laptop computer and other necessary equipment to class. The fee of this course is $760.
In addition, the “Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)” course, which covers numbered musical notation reading, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications, welcomes adults who have completed the “Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)” course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic skills in playing the keyboard with both hands. The course fee is $650.
All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Participants of the online course “ABCs of Musicianship” are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and the software Zoom in advance.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of Miss Hotchandani Mamta Chandiram and Miss Waverly Yeung Yuk-mui to the Women’s Commission (WoC) through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) for a term from July 15, 2025, to January 14, 2027.
Since its establishment in 2001, the WoC has spared no effort in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong and advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women’s affairs.
The Government regularly recruits young persons aged between 18 and 35 who are eager to serve the community to join the Government’s advisory committees through the MSSY with a view to providing more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of three new non-official members and the reappointment of 10 serving non-official members to the Green Technology and Finance Development Committee for a period of two years from June 23, 2025, to June 22, 2027.
The membership list in the new term is as follows:
Chairman ——- Financial Secretary
Non-official members (in alphabetical order of surnames) ————————- Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan Dr Vincent Cheng Sai-yau Dr Dai Fan (newly appointed) Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen Professor Gong Peng (newly appointed) Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue Ms Poman Lo Mr Lu Jiahui (newly appointed) Dr Ma Jun Mr Philip Ng Kim-lam Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung Miss Vriko Yu Pik-fan Dr Martin Zhu Yihao
Official members ——————- Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary for Environment and Ecology Secretary for Housing Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics 1 Head of Project Strategy and Governance Office, Development Bureau Chairman, Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority Deputy Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
A Government spokesman said, “Since its establishment in June 2023, the Committee has provided valuable insights across various areas, including fostering the creation of a green technology ecosystem, developing green finance, green transportation and green buildings, as well as promoting and highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths in these areas. We firmly believe that, with the extensive market experience and professional expertise of the Committee members, their invaluable advice will further advance the development of green technology and finance in Hong Kong.
“We express our gratitude to the outgoing members, Mr Wang Hongbo, Dr George Lam, and Mr Jonathan Drew for their contributions to the work of the Committee during their tenure.”
The Committee was established on June 23, 2023, to assist in the formation of an action agenda for promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international green technology and financial centre. Members of the Committee include representatives from relevant policy bureaux, departments and financial regulators, as well as non-official members from the finance, technology, academic, professional services sectors, etc.
Construction of the proposed 7km-long rapid transit line will commence once the scheme – which is in accordance with the Railways Ordinance – is authorised, and the work is expected to be completed by 2033 or earlier.
The system comprises nine stations. Its two termini will be connected to Choi Hung MTR Station and Yau Tong MTR Station respectively, with the line passing through Choi Wan, Shun Lee, Shun On, Sau Mau Ping, Po Tat, Ma Yau Tong and Lam Tin North. It will serve more than over 300,000 residents in Kwun Tong’s uphill areas.
The Government said the system will provide convenient transport feeder services to these areas, improving access to Choi Hung MTR Station and Yau Tong MTR Station and unleashing the development potential of East Kowloon.
The estimated journey time from Po Tat to Yau Tong or Choi Hung under the new scheme will be around ten to 15 minutes, which is about half of the journey time using road-based transport during peak hours.
Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public have the chance to object to the scheme, and can register their objections from today until August 19. Those with compensable interests can claim compensation.
At least 14 people were injured when Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa overnight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, local authorities said on Friday.
Odesa is Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port, key for imports and exports, and has been under constant missile and drone attacks by Russia since the war began.
“Despite the active work of air defence forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a higher education institution, a gas pipeline and private cars,” local governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram messenger.
Kiper released photos of burning houses and charred high-rise buildings.
Local emergencies service said that during the attack there were at least 10 drone strikes on residential buildings, causing massive fires.
Ukraine’s air force said on Friday that Russia had launched 86 drones on Ukraine overnight.
The military noted its air defence units shot down 34 drones while another 36 drones were lost – in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them – or they were drone simulators that did not carry warheads.
However, the military reported that drones hit 8 locations.
Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia reported that Odesa railway station was damaged during the attack, with power wires and rails damaged.
Russian drones also attacked Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine overnight, damaging several private and multi-storey houses, Kharkiv officials said.
20 June 2025 – Fleet utilisation for May 2025 was 60 per cent.
Safe Zephyrus, Safe Eurus and Safe Notos operated at full capacity in May, achieving 99 to 100 per cent commercial uptime.
As announced, Safe Notos has been awarded a four-year contract with Petrobras in Brazil commencing September 2026 in continuation of its existing contract.
Safe Caledonia commenced operations at the Captain Field in the UK on 02 June 2025.
Safe Boreas is currently being transported to Singapore ahead of her upcoming contract in Australia.
Prosafe is a leading owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation vessels. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker code PRS. For more information, please refer to https://www.prosafe.com
For further information, please contact:
Terje Askvig, CEO
Phone: +47 952 03 886
Reese McNeel, CFO
Phone: +47 415 08 186
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21) in Jakarta this morning, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered Opening Remarks and officiated the Launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, alongside other Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States. APASTI envisions “An integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering seamless collaboration, global competitiveness through enhanced innovative performance, sustainability and economic growth for a prosperous future.”
At the same event, AMMSTI also launched the ASEAN-Japan NEXUS Programme, with Japan committed USD 100 million to strengthen STI cooperation, and unveiled the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure Landscape Study, laying the foundation for shared research capacity and regional innovation hubs.
Download the full opening remarks here.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks and launches APASTI at the Opening Ceremony of AMMSTI-21 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21) in Jakarta this morning, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered Opening Remarks and officiated the Launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, alongside other Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States. APASTI envisions “An integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering seamless collaboration, global competitiveness through enhanced innovative performance, sustainability and economic growth for a prosperous future.”
At the same event, AMMSTI also launched the ASEAN-Japan NEXUS Programme, with Japan committed USD 100 million to strengthen STI cooperation, and unveiled the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure Landscape Study, laying the foundation for shared research capacity and regional innovation hubs.
Download the full opening remarks here.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks and launches APASTI at the Opening Ceremony of AMMSTI-21 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The Australian origins of Santos have made an indelible mark on the company’s very name. The energy giant was first incorporated in 1954 under the acronym for “South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search”. It was publicly listed on the Adelaide Stock Exchange that same year.
Fast forward to today, there are pressing questions about whether Santos could serve Australia’s national interest if it was largely in the hands of a foreign government.
This week, it was announced a consortium led by the investment division of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had made an all-cash takeover bid of almost A$29 billion for Santos. This would value the company at $36.4 billion (including its debt).
Santos’ board has said it will support the deal if there isn’t a better offer on the table. But it will first have to clear a raft of regulatory approvals – not only in Australia but also Papua New Guinea and the United States, where Santos has operations.
The acquisition would be a monumental event in Australia’s corporate history. Key elements of this country’s critical energy infrastructure are at stake.
But it’s set to put a difficult decision before the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. On the FIRB’s advice, Chalmers will have to balance Australia’s stated desire to attract foreign investment with the need to protect national interests.
Who’s trying to buy – and why?
Also in the ADNOC-led consortium of prospective buyers are US private equity firm Carlyle and a sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ). There are a few key reasons for their interest.
First, ADNOC is keenly interested in expanding its footprint in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Acquiring Santos would give it a stake in much of Australia’s gas production and established LNG export facilities. This includes major operations at Gladstone and Darwin.
They would also gain a share in two important Papua New Guinean projects: PNG LNG and the yet-to-be-developed Papua LNG. These assets are particularly attractive because they offer direct access to the growing Asian LNG markets, where future demand is projected to be strong.
Second, the acquisition would allow ADNOC to diversify its portfolio and gain control of export capacity from Australia and PNG to the Asia Pacific region. Santos’s Gladstone LNG plant, for example, has significant export capacity. Much of Santos’ LNG capacity is under medium and long-term contracts.
And third, the timing of this bid is strategic. Santos has recently been in a period of high capital expenditure. A number of major projects are nearing completion. A successful takeover could free up funding for further development.
ADNOC is the state-owned oil company of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Marco Curaba/Shutterstock
Defining national interest
For regulators assessing the move, the potential takeover touches upon many national security, energy supply, and economic concerns for Australia.
One of the primary concerns is the potential loss of control over critical energy infrastructure.
Foreign ownership, especially by a state-linked investor such as ADNOC, raises questions about whose interests will ultimately shape strategic decisions about Australia’s essential gas flows, pricing, or even the integrity of operational technology systems.
There’s also concern that a foreign owner could prioritise LNG exports over domestic supply. That could potentially exacerbate domestic gas shortages and price hikes. In the eastern states of Australia, such issues are already a concern.
This is not the first time the Australian government has faced a tough decision on a foreign takeover bid in the oil and gas sector. In 2018, the Morrison government blocked a $13 billion Chinese bid for gas pipeline operator APA Group. It said a single foreign owner should not control Australia’s largest pipeline business.
And the then-Treasurer Peter Costello blocked Royal Dutch/Shell’s $10 billion blockbuster offer for Woodside Petroleum in 2001, also in the national interest.
The national interest checklist
On the other hand, Australia generally welcomes foreign investment. It brings capital, creates jobs, and supports economic growth.
If this deal proceeds to final stages, the decision could become a “test case” for Australia. Can we still attract global capital while also diligently safeguarding our sovereign interests?
The consortium has made commitments to maintain Santos’s headquarters in South Australia, preserve jobs and invest in growth and decarbonisation initiatives. But this is only part of the picture.
The FIRB and the Treasurer will need to consider how the deal would affect:
national security and critical infrastructure, including ownership and control risk, system integrity and supply chain vulnerability
the economy (such as on jobs and investment, tax revenues)
energy security and domestic gas supply
other Australian government policies, such as climate targets
the character of the investor
the complexity of regulation.
The FIRB and the Treasurer must be acutely aware that few other nations have extended the same generosity to foreign investors as Australia has over recent decades.
This generosity, while attracting capital, has also raised concerns about the nation’s control over its vital assets.
The SA government has already signalled it won’t stand idly by if the deal is “not in the interests of South Australians”.
All of this sits in the context of ongoing questions about how little tax is being paid by some multinationals while exploiting Australia’s natural resources.
It is paramount the Australian government makes a forward-looking, informed decision. This should serve Australia’s best interests, rather than those of foreign entities.
Associate Professor Akhtar has been invited to make several submissions to national Senate inquiries on tax, trade, and investment, and some of the material from those submissions has been drawn upon in writing this article.
The Australian origins of Santos have made an indelible mark on the company’s very name. The energy giant was first incorporated in 1954 under the acronym for “South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search”. It was publicly listed on the Adelaide Stock Exchange that same year.
Fast forward to today, there are pressing questions about whether Santos could serve Australia’s national interest if it was largely in the hands of a foreign government.
This week, it was announced a consortium led by the investment division of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had made an all-cash takeover bid of almost A$29 billion for Santos. This would value the company at $36.4 billion (including its debt).
Santos’ board has said it will support the deal if there isn’t a better offer on the table. But it will first have to clear a raft of regulatory approvals – not only in Australia but also Papua New Guinea and the United States, where Santos has operations.
The acquisition would be a monumental event in Australia’s corporate history. Key elements of this country’s critical energy infrastructure are at stake.
But it’s set to put a difficult decision before the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. On the FIRB’s advice, Chalmers will have to balance Australia’s stated desire to attract foreign investment with the need to protect national interests.
Who’s trying to buy – and why?
Also in the ADNOC-led consortium of prospective buyers are US private equity firm Carlyle and a sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ). There are a few key reasons for their interest.
First, ADNOC is keenly interested in expanding its footprint in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Acquiring Santos would give it a stake in much of Australia’s gas production and established LNG export facilities. This includes major operations at Gladstone and Darwin.
They would also gain a share in two important Papua New Guinean projects: PNG LNG and the yet-to-be-developed Papua LNG. These assets are particularly attractive because they offer direct access to the growing Asian LNG markets, where future demand is projected to be strong.
Second, the acquisition would allow ADNOC to diversify its portfolio and gain control of export capacity from Australia and PNG to the Asia Pacific region. Santos’s Gladstone LNG plant, for example, has significant export capacity. Much of Santos’ LNG capacity is under medium and long-term contracts.
And third, the timing of this bid is strategic. Santos has recently been in a period of high capital expenditure. A number of major projects are nearing completion. A successful takeover could free up funding for further development.
ADNOC is the state-owned oil company of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Marco Curaba/Shutterstock
Defining national interest
For regulators assessing the move, the potential takeover touches upon many national security, energy supply, and economic concerns for Australia.
One of the primary concerns is the potential loss of control over critical energy infrastructure.
Foreign ownership, especially by a state-linked investor such as ADNOC, raises questions about whose interests will ultimately shape strategic decisions about Australia’s essential gas flows, pricing, or even the integrity of operational technology systems.
There’s also concern that a foreign owner could prioritise LNG exports over domestic supply. That could potentially exacerbate domestic gas shortages and price hikes. In the eastern states of Australia, such issues are already a concern.
This is not the first time the Australian government has faced a tough decision on a foreign takeover bid in the oil and gas sector. In 2018, the Morrison government blocked a $13 billion Chinese bid for gas pipeline operator APA Group. It said a single foreign owner should not control Australia’s largest pipeline business.
And the then-Treasurer Peter Costello blocked Royal Dutch/Shell’s $10 billion blockbuster offer for Woodside Petroleum in 2001, also in the national interest.
The national interest checklist
On the other hand, Australia generally welcomes foreign investment. It brings capital, creates jobs, and supports economic growth.
If this deal proceeds to final stages, the decision could become a “test case” for Australia. Can we still attract global capital while also diligently safeguarding our sovereign interests?
The consortium has made commitments to maintain Santos’s headquarters in South Australia, preserve jobs and invest in growth and decarbonisation initiatives. But this is only part of the picture.
The FIRB and the Treasurer will need to consider how the deal would affect:
national security and critical infrastructure, including ownership and control risk, system integrity and supply chain vulnerability
the economy (such as on jobs and investment, tax revenues)
energy security and domestic gas supply
other Australian government policies, such as climate targets
the character of the investor
the complexity of regulation.
The FIRB and the Treasurer must be acutely aware that few other nations have extended the same generosity to foreign investors as Australia has over recent decades.
This generosity, while attracting capital, has also raised concerns about the nation’s control over its vital assets.
The SA government has already signalled it won’t stand idly by if the deal is “not in the interests of South Australians”.
All of this sits in the context of ongoing questions about how little tax is being paid by some multinationals while exploiting Australia’s natural resources.
It is paramount the Australian government makes a forward-looking, informed decision. This should serve Australia’s best interests, rather than those of foreign entities.
Associate Professor Akhtar has been invited to make several submissions to national Senate inquiries on tax, trade, and investment, and some of the material from those submissions has been drawn upon in writing this article.
These include volunteers with metropolitan and rural fire services and other rescue organisations.
As natural disasters grow more frequent and severe with climate change we rely on these volunteers now more than ever. Yet volunteer numbers are shrinking.
Our new research reveals an important but often hidden toll from natural disasters – the mental health of emergency service volunteers, who risk physical and emotional burnout.
In our study, we interviewed 32 Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers. They told us they’re often not getting adequate support.
Exposure to death
Death is something commonly hidden behind clinical curtains. But for emergency service volunteers, exposure to dying and death is just part of the job. Death on jobs arrives unpredictably – on roads, in burned homes, after storms, floods and suicides.
Given their work often takes place in the local community, victims are frequently known to the volunteer, which can further complicate grief. As one participant told us:
You’re bound to come across someone you know, or someone you love at some point […] in a bad situation.
Another recounted a colleague’s experience:
It wasn’t until the next day that she found out that she actually knew the deceased person, but didn’t recognise them.
Volunteers described often being first on scene to assist but not fully prepared for what they find. They recounted experiences including retrieving children who had drowned, watching people dying on the roadside, and finding burnt and maimed human remains.
These encounters provoke intense emotional responses, from shock and sadness to feeling powerless and vulnerable. For many, feelings of helplessness and grief reverberate into everyday life. As one volunteer told us:
I was in a semi-breaking-down sort of place […] having flashbacks […] struggling to hold emotions and do my day job.
A lack of formal support
We identified over-reliance on informal team support and individual resilience to cope with difficult emotions.
Structured debriefs depended on leadership and team dynamics. Leaders with “tough it out” mindsets unintentionally perpetuated stigma around seeking help. One participant explained:
People generally will just sit there and not talk about how they feel […] They’re feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
The mindset of some teams seems to be that those who can’t manage the demands of the job should leave. One volunteer said:
It’s mostly very hard and tough. But if you’re going to survive in the game, you gotta be hard.
Support programs exist, but often focus on major disasters rather than the more everyday jobs. Referral depends on leaders flagging those seen as at-risk or individual volunteers asking for support. One participant explained:
We do a debrief with peer support, but some people put on a brave face […] There needs to be more follow up.
What’s more, support is sometimes difficult to access. One participant, a team leader, explained what happened when a volunteer in their team wasn’t coping:
I called the mechanisms that [we] were told that we need to access. I’ve got somebody here that’s suicidal, nobody escalated it. I still hadn’t heard back six hours later.
Importantly, our findings also highlighted that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. For some, peer support is a lifeline for processing experiences and building resilience, but not for others.
Five women killed. And the peer support was all over us. You know, we got to the stage where it was ridiculous. We’ve had enough, we don’t want this. It re-traumatises people who want to move on.
Talking to emergency service volunteers from only two organisations in one jurisdiction may limit the extent to which we can generalise our findings to other regions, countries or cultures.
However, Victoria does have the second largest number of emergency service volunteers in Australia (behind New South Wales).
Emergency service volunteers are extremely proud and passionate about serving their community and show up with care, calm and strength. But our findings show this comes at a personal cost, especially without the right supports.
Volunteer exposure to death and dying must be recognised as a serious occupational health and safety issue, not just an emotional side effect of the job. We need proactive, not reactive reform if we want to recruit, retain and protect the people we count on in a crisis.
Legislators and organisations should work collaboratively with emergency service volunteers to develop and implement responsive and consistent support services, culture and leadership.
Without targeted, systemic and consistent support, we risk the future of our community-based emergency response. It’s time to protect those who protect us.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A recently announced Pentagon review of the AUKUS pact has sparked a renewed bout of debate in Australia. Led by the “AUKUS-agnostic” US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, the review raises serious questions over whether Australia will receive its US-made Virginia-class submarines on schedule from 2032.
AUKUS supporters suggest the review is not overly concerning – they point out governments typically review major programs after taking office. As they note, the UK Labour government did the same when it commissioned Sir Stephen Lovegrove to review AUKUS in 2024. Moreover, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee is currently reviewing AUKUS.
Crucially, however, not all reviews are created equal. Given the US assessment is, according to US officials, being conducted to ensure alignment with the imperatives of “America first”, there is a risk the US will not supply Australia with the Virgina-class submarines it feels it requires to deter China. The UK reviews, on the other hand, did not and do not carry such risks.
The findings of the Lovegrove review remain confidential, but have been shared with Canberra and were incorporated into the UK government’s recent Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The Defence Select Committee is yet to report, but being public, its findings are likely to generate further debate in Australia.
Why are the UK reviews different?
The Defence Select Committee review, launched independently of the government, is an accountability mechanism that scrutinises progress but lacks the power to set policy.
Meanwhile, the Lovegrove review was never intended to question AUKUS, as its terms of reference made clear. Instead, its focus was more on what progress has been made so far and any barriers that might inhibit future success.
There was never any real chance the Lovegrove review would end or amend the UK’s participation in AUKUS, because it has widespread support across mainstream British politics. In foreign and security policy terms, cross-party consensus is the norm in the UK.
However, in the case of AUKUS, two specific factors stand out.
First, AUKUS provides a welcome means to share the burden on a project the UK was already pursuing. Even before AUKUS was announced, the UK had initiated plans for its next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, awarding initial design contracts to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce worth £85 million (A$170 million).
Second, AUKUS has been a crucial component of the UK’s post-Brexit re-emergence. Coming after a period in which Brexit negotiations consumed the British government, it provided important substance to “Global Britain” and its Indo-Pacific tilt.
AUKUS’s cross-party appeal might initially seem strange, given its close association with Boris Johnson’s Brexiteer government. After all, with its “Britain Reconnected” plan, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has been keen to demonstrate how it differs from its Conservative predecessors. This most recent example comes with the SDR’s NATO-first approach, which some interpreted as a sharp break.
However, this is a difference in style rather than substance. Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government had announced Britain had delivered the tilt and would focus on consolidating its position.
In other words, it was making no new commitments. The SDR does not amend this position. It makes clear that “NATO first does not mean NATO only”. This means continuing support for agreements such as AUKUS, which, according to the review, are crucial to shaping the global security environment.
Whether Britain has the capability to shape the global security environment is a question the SDR addresses, if implicitly, by acknowledging the “hollowing out” of the UK’s armed forces. Reconstituting Britain’s armed forces is consequently a key focus of Starmer’s government, which sees rearmament as a route to reindustrialisation.
Militarisation as central to ‘rebirth’
In this rebirth, the government is focusing heavily on the arms industry as a means to bring well-paid, high-skilled jobs to post-industrial parts of the country. There is debate about whether this is the best way to create jobs and growth, but the Starmer government has gone all-in on the strategy.
Indeed, one of the most notable outcomes of the SDR is that the UK plans to invest substantial sums in its fleet of attack submarines, as it plans to go from seven Astute-class boats to 12 AUKUS-class ones.
This ambition may provide some comfort to Australian observers as it indicates the scale of the UK’s commitment to AUKUS. Still, achieving the goal will require a significant increase in industrial capacity, as Britain will need to produce a new submarine every 18 months. The record of the UK government on major capital projects suggests this is a heroic ambition.
For example, the last three Astute-class boats to be commissioned took between 130 and 132 months to build. The sixth and seventh boats of the nearly 25-year-old program are yet to enter service. Moreover, even the active Astute boats are beset by problems; in the first half of 2024, none of the five in-service boats completed an operational deployment due to maintenance issues.
So, while in the context of the US review, Britain’s commitment is likely welcomed, any comfort must be tempered by the expectation that problems will also likely emanate from Britain.
Tom Howe is a Young Professionals Member of the AIIA.
India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) held a virtual dialogue on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen engagement across key sectors. The meeting was co-chaired by Rajesh Vaishnaw, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, and Alejandro Solano, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Costa Rica, which currently holds the Pro-Tempore Presidency of SICA.
Senior officials from the SICA Secretariat, including the Director of International Cooperation, Carmen Marroquín, and representatives from SICA member countries also participated in the discussions.
Highlighting the shared values of democracy, sustainable development, and South-South cooperation, the Indian side reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the region through its development partnership initiatives. These include the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and a dedicated SME grant programme.
Vaishnaw emphasized India’s readiness to collaborate with SICA in areas such as digital transformation, affordable healthcare, disaster resilience, and renewable energy, underscoring India’s success in these fields.
SICA member countries appreciated India’s proactive and consistent support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in critical sectors including food and nutritional security, health, connectivity, agriculture, digital infrastructure, energy, and trade and investment.
The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment to sustained political engagement and regional cooperation, with Panama set to assume the SICA presidency later this year.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued two new notifications aimed at regulating the import of certain precious metal alloys and chemical compounds.
As per the notification issued on 17 June, the government has restricted the import of alloys of palladium, rhodium and iridium containing more than 1 % gold by weight. This expands the earlier restriction on platinum imports (issued on 5 March 2025) to cover the entire Customs Tariff Heading (CTH) 7110 at the 4-digit level, ensuring a uniform import policy across precious metals and their alloys.
However, the import of alloys containing less than 1 % gold remains unrestricted, thereby safeguarding the interests of key industrial sectors such as electronics, automotive components, and specialised chemical manufacturing. This calibrated policy aims to strike a balance between trade facilitation and regulatory oversight.
In a related move, DGFT has also issued another notification restricting the import of colloidal metals and certain compounds under CTH 2843. The restriction is intended to curb the misuse of chemical imports for bringing gold into the country in disguised forms.
To support genuine industrial needs, imports under CTH 2843 will be permitted against an import authorisation, specifically for sectors such as electronics, electrical, and chemical manufacturing.
Detailed notifications are available on the DGFT website at https://dgft.gov.in.
Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Ben Evans, Wellington District CIB
Wellington Police are investigating an assault on a female in Porirua on Wednesday 18 June.
The incident occurred around halfway up the stairs of the Rangituhi/Colonial Knob walking track at around 3:30pm.
Rangithui/Colonial Knob is a popular walking area, and we understand this incident may cause some concern. Police will be conducting reassurance patrols in the area in the coming days.
This is a deeply concerning incident, and Police are offering support to the victim, who is understandably shaken.
Police are following positive lines of enquiry, but are seeking the public’s assistance to help locate the alleged offender.
The man was wearing a dark-coloured long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap.
If you were in the area at the time or have any footage of a person matching the above description, please contact Police.
You can report information to Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250618/1395.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
We’d also like to remind people to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to Police, by calling 111 if it is happening now, or 105 if it is after the fact.
Indian equity markets opened on a positive note on Friday, supported by firm cues from Asian peers. Gains in PSU bank, IT, and auto stocks contributed to the early momentum.
At 9:25 a.m., the BSE Sensex was up 228.15 points, or 0.28%, at 81,590.02. The NSE Nifty also advanced, rising 55.10 points, or 0.22%, to 24,848.35.
In sectoral indices, the Nifty Bank rose by 102.35 points (0.18%) to trade at 55,679.80. However, broader markets showed mixed trends. The Nifty Midcap 100 declined marginally by 16.85 points (0.03%) to 57,143.10, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 62.50 points (0.35%) to 17,950.60.
Analysts noted that the Nifty has been consolidating within a range of 24,500 to 25,000 over the past month. This trend, they said, is likely to persist unless there is a decisive geopolitical development.
“There is uncertainty surrounding the Israel-Iran conflict. A resolution or sudden end to the war could trigger a breakout on the upside. However, if the war drags on and crude prices rise above $85 per barrel, we may see pressure on the lower end of the range,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
Among the top gainers on the Sensex were Bajaj Finserv, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, SBI, Axis Bank, and Sun Pharma. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Power Grid Corporation were among the major laggards.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying streak for the third consecutive session on June 19, with net purchases worth ₹934.62 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also remained net buyers, purchasing equities worth ₹605.97 crore on the same day.
Across Asia, markets in Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Shanghai were trading in the green. Jakarta was the only major market in the region trading in the red.
Meanwhile, US markets remained closed on Thursday in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. In the previous session on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 44.14 points (0.10%) to close at 42,171.66. The S&P 500 ended 1.85 points lower (0.03%) at 5,980.87, while the Nasdaq gained 25.18 points (0.13%) to settle at 19,546.27.
Call for sponsorship in relation to Fashion and Luxury Trade Mission to Japan
The British Embassy in Tokyo is calling for sponsors to support an exclusive showcase and reception, welcoming UK delegates from the Fashion and Luxury sector.
The British Embassy in Tokyo is delighted to present an opportunity for partners and sponsors to support an exclusive showcase and reception, welcoming UK delegates from the Fashion and Luxury sector.
This exclusive event will also host key figures from Japan’s Fashion and Luxury industries, creating a valuable platform for networking and collaboration. The shared objective is to strengthen commercial ties and boost UK exports to the Japanese market.
UK brands will be showcased in the elegant setting of the historic Ambassador’s Residence, these invitation-only events will bring together an elite audience of Japanese fashion buyers, luxury media, stylists, cultural tastemakers and business leaders for a showcase of modern British excellence.
Companies interested in partnering or sponsoring this exciting initiative at the British Embassy Tokyo are invited to express their interest by contacting the Embassy no later than July 27th 2025.
This event is being delivered as part of the UK at EXPO program and so some restrictions may apply.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) — A freight train loaded with 100 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) departed from Hefei in east China’s Anhui Province for Tashkent on Thursday morning, bringing the total number of China-Europe/Central Asia trains that have passed through the province in the past 11 years to 5,000, Dawan Xinwen Port News reported.
The aforementioned train will cross the Chinese state border at the Khorgos checkpoint, which is on the border with Kazakhstan, and will deliver consumer electronics, auto parts and tires worth a total of $2 million to Central Asia.
International railway transportation on China-Central Asia routes has been carried out in Hefei since 2014. Currently, China-Europe/Central Asia routes connect the administrative center of Anhui Province with 170 railway stations in 20 countries.
According to statistics, 5,190 standard containers of cargo have been shipped from Hefei to Central Asia by rail since the beginning of this year. The increase in the indicator compared to the same period last year was 24.88 percent.
The development of rail links between China and Europe/Central Asia is stimulating growth in exports of locally produced goods. To date, more than 1,500 freight trains have been sent from Hefei specifically to transport products from leading local companies, including automakers Chery, Jianghuai and consumer electronics maker Changhong Meiling. -0-
The Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025, which provides for a regulatory framework in relation to basketball betting, was published in the Government Gazette today.
The amendments to the existing ordinance include granting power to the Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs to issue a licence for basketball betting and to impose licensing conditions; provisions for the calculation and collection of betting duties; and an expansion of the functions of the Betting & Lotteries Commission to cover matters relating to the regulation of basketball betting.
The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau emphasised that the Government does not encourage gambling as a matter of policy. On the regulation of gambling activities through legislation, it said the policy objective of providing authorised gambling outlets is to address public demand for certain gambling activities whilst preventing people from turning to illegal operators.
If the bill is enacted, the Government – with reference to the current regime for betting on horse racing and football – will issue a licence to the Hong Kong Jockey Club to operate basketball betting, and impose licensing conditions so as to minimise the negative impact of gambling on the public, especially on young people.
As with football betting, the duty for basketball betting will be charged at 50% of the net stake receipts.
In addition, the Government will continue to collaborate closely with the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee to strengthen publicity and counselling for young people.
In addition to four existing funded counselling centres, the Government will allocate additional resources to establish a new centre dedicated to providing counselling and support services for youth.
Public education efforts will also be strengthened to emphasise to young people that participating in illegal gambling or placing bets with an illegal bookmaker is a criminal offence.
The bill will be introduced for first reading in the Legislative Council on July 2.
South Australia Police (SAPOL) is transforming firearms services with the introduction of the South Australia Firearms Register (SAFR).
The new system will enhance efficiency, security and accessibility, improving the experience for firearm owners, businesses and law enforcement.
Officer in Charge of Firearms Branch, Superintendent Lauren Leverington said the system is anticipated to be operational mid-2026.
“As we develop the new digital system, SAPOL is asking firearm licensees to provide us with feedback on their current user experience,” Superintendent Leverington said.
Licensees who have registered their email address with SAPOL’s Firearms Branch will receive an email invitation to complete a survey. For those who haven’t registered, a participation link is available on the SAFR page on SAPOL’s website or is available here.
“We encourage all licensees to participate and share their insights to help us improve our services,” Superintendent Leverington said.
Plans for SAFR include offering 24-hour online access for 15 digitised firearm services for dealers and licence holders. This will expediate application processing and reduce wait times. Users will also benefit from improved visibility and tracking of their applications.
“SAPOL recognises the community’s frustration with the current application processing times,” Superintendent Leverington said.
“To address this in the short term, additional staff have been employed to manage the workload more efficiently.”
Key benefits of SAFR include:
Faster processing – digital applications will be reviewed and processed more quickly, reducing wait times for both applicants and administrators.
Secure online payments – offering a more convenient way to pay.
Secure and centralised storage of all digital submissions and enhanced reporting and workload tracking for Firearms Branch
Built in validation to reduce errors through the use of mandatory fields to prevent incomplete or incorrect submissions.
Environmentally friendly through minimised use of paper, supporting sustainability goals.
The SAFR initiative also forms part of the broader National Firearms Register (NFR) program. SAPOL is partnering with the Commonwealth and other states and territories to deliver unified and efficient firearms information in near real time across Australia.
“SAFR is shaping the future of firearms services in South Australia by delivering a new system. Together with our Commonwealth partners, SAPOL aims to elevate safety standards and improve service across the firearms community,” Superintendent Leverington added.
South Australian café owner sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for GST fraud Ben.PetersJones
South Australia
Between March 2014 and January 2016, Shaun Both (the offender) was a sole trader of Metro Express Café at Mawson Lakes in South Australia. In that time, he lodged 9 quarterly Business Activity Statements (BAS) with the ATO. As a result of false statements in the BAS, in circumstances where the café had ceased trading, the offender dishonestly obtained $1,001,004 in Goods and Services Tax (GST). In January 2016, the offender used some of the last GST refund to purchase a $530,000 residential property outright.
Following an investigation by the ATO, the offender was charged with the following offences:
nine counts of obtain financial advantage by deception, contrary to section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Counts 1-9); and
one count of knowingly dealing with money that is proceeds of crime ($100,000 or more), contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Count 10).
He first appeared in the Magistrates Court of South Australia in 2019 but then absconded to Western Australia after failing to appear in court in April 2020 when he was subject to home detention bail. In December 2023, the offender was arrested on the outstanding warrant in remote Western Australia and extradited back to South Australia where he was remanded in custody. The offender pleaded guilty to all counts at a committal hearing.
Sentencing
On 5 August 2024, the offender was sentenced by his Honour Judge Muscat in the District Court of South Australia to a total effective sentence of six years and six months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months.
In sentencing the offender, his Honour Judge Muscat noted:
The BAS lodgments “represented a sustained course of conduct which escalated in terms of the amounts dishonestly obtained over an almost two-year period”.
Although the offender suffered from poor mental health, alcohol abuse and gambling habits and they were relevant to the background of his offending, they did not significantly reduce his moral capability or the need for personal and general deterrence.
The offender had a prior history of dishonesty offending. He had previously received the benefit of suspended sentences and court-ordered medical treatment for his alcohol and mental health issues.
It was clear that the offender “wanted to live a certain lifestyle and he certainly did that”. The offender gambled extensively, spent money at shopping centres and online, and “on things he did not really need other than to live the life he wanted”.
The loss to the Commonwealth was significant, with only about $350,000 recovered by the ATO by way of garnishee and bankruptcy proceedings, with no realistic prospect of recovering further amounts.
His Honour gave the offence a 20 per cent discount for his guilty pleas. He noted that the case against the offender was “overwhelming” but he did save the time and expense of a trial.
His Honour directed (and the CDPP conceded it was appropriate) that the sentence for Count 10 be served concurrently on the sentence imposed for Counts 1-9 as the offence concerned expenditure of the final BAS refund.
Relevant links
ATO media release published 6 August 2024 Café owner’s bold brew in $1 million GST fraud
BEARING WITNESS:By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem
Kia ora koutou,
I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground.
At least 16 killed by Israeli airstrike on al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza. 92 killed across Gaza in total, a significant number while seeking aid. 15 months after the shocking “flour massacre”, Israeli forces are now committing daily massacres against Gazan residents desperately seeking food due to Israel’s policy of forced starvation. These ongoing war crimes have been met with indifference, justification, and ongoing impunity from global leaders.
*
Jerusalem’s Old City markets remain closed for the seventh consecutive day after restrictions were imposed under the pretext of “wartime emergency”. Meanwhile, across the besieged West Bank the occupation forces continue demolishing homes in Tulkarm and Jenin refugee camps, where more than 40,000 residents have been displaced by Israel’s months-long “military operation”.
Israeli soldiers occupying houses south of Jenin as military barracks, embedding themselves among Palestinian civilians as they have for several days in Al Khalil/Hebron.
Around two-dozen young men detained in Asakra village south-east of Bethlehem, and several more in Laban village, south of Nablus. A young man, Moataz, 22, was executed by Israeli forces in his home village of Wolja west of Bethlehem. Movement of ambulances has been affected by gasoline shortages in Bethlehem. Forces invaded Plata camp in East Nablus for the second day in a row.
*
Israel bombed the outskirts of Shabaa town, in southern Lebanon, yet another violation of ceasefire agreements.
*
An Iranian missile hit Beersheba’s Soroka hospital in southern Israel last night, with no resulting casualties — Iran claiming it targeted a nearby military site. Outrage at the war crime has highlighted widespread double-standards across Israeli society and globally. Israeli forces have destroyed, bombed, or damaged 38 hospitals in Gaza over their 20-month genocidal war on the enclave, with the World Health Organisation recording around 700 attacks on Gazan healthcare facilities in that same period. Israeli residents have erected tents, transforming an underground parking lot into a bomb shelter.
*
Several more retaliatory volleys of Iranian missiles targeted the Israeli territories throughout the day, as heavy Israeli assaults continued on Iranian territories. Israel’s reported death toll has risen to 24, with Iran’s rising to 639.
Cole Martin is an independent New Zealand photojournalist based in the Middle East and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
A U.S. appeals court let Donald Trump on Thursday retain control over California’s National Guard while the state’s Democratic governor proceeds with a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Republican president’s use of the troops to quell protests and unrest in Los Angeles.
A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended a pause it placed on U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s June 12 ruling that Trump had called the National Guard into federal service unlawfully.
Breyer’s ruling was issued in a lawsuit against Trump’s action brought by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Breyer ruled that Trump violated the U.S. law governing a president’s ability to take control of a state’s National Guard by failing to coordinate with the governor, and also found that the conditions set out under the statute to allow this move, such as a rebellion against federal authority, did not exist.
Breyer ordered Trump to return control of California’s National Guard to Newsom. Hours after Breyer acted, the 9th Circuit panel put the judge’s move on hold temporarily.
Amid protests and turmoil in Los Angeles over Trump’s immigration raids, the president on June 7 took control of California’s National Guard and deployed 4,000 troops against the wishes of Newsom. Trump also ordered 700 U.S. Marines to the city after sending in the National Guard. Breyer has not yet ruled on the legality of the Marine Corps mobilization.
At a court hearing on Tuesday on whether to extend the pause on Breyer’s decision, members of the 9th Circuit panel questioned lawyers for California and the Trump administration on what role, if any, courts should have in reviewing Trump’s authority to deploy the troops.
The law sets out three conditions under which a president can federalize state National Guard forces, including an invasion, a “rebellion or danger of a rebellion” against the government or a situation in which the U.S. government is unable with regular forces to execute the country’s laws.
The Justice Department has said that once the president determines that an emergency that warrants the use of the National Guard exists, no court or state governor can review that decision.
Trump’s decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tensions in the second most-populous U.S. city.
The protests in Los Angeles lasted for more than a week, but subsequently ebbed, leading Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to lift a curfew she had imposed.
California argued in its June 9 lawsuit that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and the Marines violated the state’s sovereignty and U.S. laws that forbid federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement.
The lawsuit stated the situation in Los Angeles was nothing like a “rebellion.” The protests involved sporadic acts of violence that state and local law enforcement were capable of handling without military involvement, according to the lawsuit.
The Trump administration has denied that troops are engaging in law enforcement, saying that they are instead protecting federal buildings and personnel, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The 9th Circuit panel is comprised of two judges appointed by Trump during his first term and one appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden.
A U.S. appeals court let Donald Trump on Thursday retain control over California’s National Guard while the state’s Democratic governor proceeds with a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Republican president’s use of the troops to quell protests and unrest in Los Angeles.
A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended a pause it placed on U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s June 12 ruling that Trump had called the National Guard into federal service unlawfully.
Breyer’s ruling was issued in a lawsuit against Trump’s action brought by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Breyer ruled that Trump violated the U.S. law governing a president’s ability to take control of a state’s National Guard by failing to coordinate with the governor, and also found that the conditions set out under the statute to allow this move, such as a rebellion against federal authority, did not exist.
Breyer ordered Trump to return control of California’s National Guard to Newsom. Hours after Breyer acted, the 9th Circuit panel put the judge’s move on hold temporarily.
Amid protests and turmoil in Los Angeles over Trump’s immigration raids, the president on June 7 took control of California’s National Guard and deployed 4,000 troops against the wishes of Newsom. Trump also ordered 700 U.S. Marines to the city after sending in the National Guard. Breyer has not yet ruled on the legality of the Marine Corps mobilization.
At a court hearing on Tuesday on whether to extend the pause on Breyer’s decision, members of the 9th Circuit panel questioned lawyers for California and the Trump administration on what role, if any, courts should have in reviewing Trump’s authority to deploy the troops.
The law sets out three conditions under which a president can federalize state National Guard forces, including an invasion, a “rebellion or danger of a rebellion” against the government or a situation in which the U.S. government is unable with regular forces to execute the country’s laws.
The Justice Department has said that once the president determines that an emergency that warrants the use of the National Guard exists, no court or state governor can review that decision.
Trump’s decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tensions in the second most-populous U.S. city.
The protests in Los Angeles lasted for more than a week, but subsequently ebbed, leading Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to lift a curfew she had imposed.
California argued in its June 9 lawsuit that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and the Marines violated the state’s sovereignty and U.S. laws that forbid federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement.
The lawsuit stated the situation in Los Angeles was nothing like a “rebellion.” The protests involved sporadic acts of violence that state and local law enforcement were capable of handling without military involvement, according to the lawsuit.
The Trump administration has denied that troops are engaging in law enforcement, saying that they are instead protecting federal buildings and personnel, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The 9th Circuit panel is comprised of two judges appointed by Trump during his first term and one appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden.
SpaceX’s massive Starship spacecraft exploded into a dramatic fireball during testing in Texas late on Wednesday, the latest in a series of setbacks for billionaire Elon Musk’s Mars rocket program.
The explosion occurred around 11 p.m. local time while Starship was on a test stand at its Brownsville, Texas Starbase while preparing for the tenth test flight, SpaceX said in a post on Musk’s social-media platform X.
The company attributed it to a “major anomaly” and said all personnel were safe. Its engineering teams were investigating the incident, and it was coordinating with local, state and federal agencies regarding environmental and safety impacts, the company said.
“Preliminary data suggests that a nitrogen COPV in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure,” Musk said in a post on X, in a reference to a nitrogen gas storage unit known as a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel. “If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design,” he continued.
The Starship rocket appeared to experience at least two explosions in quick succession, lighting up the night sky and sending debris flying, according to video capturing the moment it exploded.
The 400-foot (122-meter) tall Starship rocket system is at the core of Musk’s goal of sending humans to Mars. But it has been beset by a string of failures this year.
In late May, SpaceX’s Starship rocket spun out of control about halfway through a flight without achieving some of its most important testing goals. The Starship lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase, Texas, launch site, flying beyond the point of two previous explosive attempts earlier this year that sent debris streaking over Caribbean islands and forced dozens of airliners to divert course.
Two months earlier, the spacecraft exploded in space minutes after lifting off from Texas, prompting the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to halt air traffic in parts of Florida.
Videos on social media showed fiery debris streaking through the dusk skies near South Florida and the Bahamas after Starship broke up in space shortly after it began to spin uncontrollably with its engines cut off, a SpaceX live stream of the mission showed. Musk called that explosion “a minor setback.”
The FAA said earlier this month that it had closed an agency-required investigation into the mishap, citing the probable cause as a hardware failure in one of the engines. SpaceX identified eight corrective actions to prevent a recurrence and the FAA said it verified SpaceX implemented those prior to the late May Starship mission.
In January, a Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas, raining debris over Caribbean islands and causing minor damage to a car in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
