Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The garden is a peaceful space for Canberra families to remember their loved ones.
In Brief:
A new space has been opened in Gungahlin Cemetery.
Sanctuary Creek is a 1.3-acre memorial garden.
It offers memorial options specifically designed for Canberrans.
Gungahlin Cemetery has a new 1.3-acre memorial garden. Sanctuary Creek provides a peaceful space for families to consider as a final resting place for loved ones.
The $1.8 million space offers new and unique options for Canberrans. It includes tranquil water features. The covered rotunda area can hold small memorial services.
The garden has been designed to reflect Canberra, its lifestyle and landscape. It has Canberra specific artwork and plants that have been selected for Canberra’s climate.
The space features the unique memorial options that reflect key Canberra icons, including:
Mount Ainslie
the gang-gang cockatoo
the Bluebell flower
Black Mountain.
Memorial options at Sanctuary Creek include:
Tranquillity Gardens, a traditional garden interment option
Remembrance Beam, a tapered granite beam with a bronze plaque for memorialisation
Eternal Ribbon, a polished stainless-steel ribbon that twists and bends through the gardens
Ainslie Wall, a granite wall made from ‘Indian Red’ granite, designed to reflect the contours and walking trails of Mount Ainslie
Memory Capsule, which securely holds cremated remains, plus any keepsakes or trinkets that the family holds dear
Niche Repose, a raised, yellow granite block garden edging
Sunset Lantern, a lantern-shaped space for cremated remains and trinkets/keepsakes
Canberra Grove, a vertical option inspired by trees, with a crest available in 3 Canberra designs (a gang-gang cockatoo, Black Mountain, or the bluebell).
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force has announced the agenda and panelists for its May 12 roundtable, “Tokenization — Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.”
“Tokenization is a technological development that could substantially change many aspects of our financial markets,” said Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, leader of the Crypto Task Force. “I look forward to hearing ideas from our panelists on how the SEC should approach this area.”
The roundtable, announced in March as part of a series on crypto asset regulation, will be held at the SEC’s headquarters at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. from 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The event will be open to the public and webcast live on the SEC’s website. Doors will open at 12 p.m.
For online attendance, registration is not necessary; a link to watch the event will be available on May 12 on www.sec.gov. Please register for in-person attendance.
In addition, the date for the Crypto Task Force’s roundtable, “DeFi and the American Spirit,” has been changed from June 6 to June 9. All those who previously registered were informed of the change of date, and their registrations have carried forward to the new date. New registrations can continue to be completed.
To learn more about the Crypto Task Force and the roundtable topics, please visit the Crypto Task Force webpage.
* * *
Agenda
1 p.m. –
2 p.m.
Opening/Welcome Remarks from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Richard B. Gabbert, Chief of Staff, Crypto Task Force
Chairman Paul S. Atkins (keynote address)
Commissioner Caroline A. Crenshaw
Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce
2 p.m. –
3:30 p.m.
Evolution of Finance: Capital Markets 2.0
Moderator:
Jeff Dinwoodie, Cravath
Panelists:
Cynthia Lo Bessette, Fidelity
Eun Ah Choi, Nasdaq
Will Geyer, Invesco
Sandy Kaul, Franklin Templeton
Robert Mitchnick, BlackRock
Christine Moy, Apollo Management
Johnny Reinsch, Tokenized Asset Coalition
Christian Sabella, DTCC
Alex Zozos, SuperState
3:30 p.m. –
4 p.m.
Break
4 p.m. –
5:30 p.m.
The Future of Tokenization
Moderator:
Tiffany Smith, WilmerHale
Panelists:
Hilary Allen, American University Washington College of Law
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) announced today the arrest of SAMUEL GONZALEZ, a former teacher at an acting school in New York City. GONZALEZ is charged with distributing and possessing child pornography, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. GONZALEZ will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, Samuel Gonzalez distributed a large volume of child pornography, including images of sexual abuse of children as young as a few months old. The lasting scars from the horrific abuse of children are deeply troubling to all New Yorkers. Together with our partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who victimize children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Samuel Gonzalez allegedly distributed thousands of pornographic images of infants and minors to an undercover federal agent over a brief period. Gonzalez’s alleged actions grossly disregarded the victims’ welfare and repeatedly violated their privacy by sharing this twisted material. The FBI is deeply committed to preventing crimes against children and will continue to apprehend any individual who supplies these explicit images.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
GONZALEZ is an actor, dancer, theater producer, and former teacher at an acting school in New York City. In or about January 2023 and April 2023, GONZALEZ used an online messaging application to send links containing over 1,500 files of child pornography to a federal law enforcement agent acting in an undercover capacity. In addition, in or about June 2023, federal agents executed a judicially-authorized search warrant of GONZALEZ’s apartment. Pursuant to that warrant, federal agents seized and searched GONZALEZ’s phone and laptop, which were found to contain over 80 unique files of child pornography, including videos and images of infants and prepubescent adolescents who had not attained 12 years of age.
* * *
GONZALEZ, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. GONZALEZ is further charged with one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the FBI/New York City Police Department Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Cheng and Diarra M. Guthrie are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Samsung TV Plus, the ultimate destination for K-Content, is teaming up with SM Entertainment to bring K-Pop’s biggest performances to the big screen in celebration of its 30th anniversary. As part of this exclusive, Samsung TV Plus will debut a new, dedicated SMTOWN channel–enhancing its commitment to deliver the best-in-class content to K-fans around the world.
The partnership will kick off its first live event from the Los Angeles Dignity Health Sports Park on May 11th starting at 6 PM PT, with a star studded concert to remember.
The lineup includes:
TVXQ!
SUPER JUNIOR
KEY, MINHO of SHINee
SUHO, CHANYEOL, KAI of EXO
Red Velvet (IRENE, SEULGI, JOY)
NCT127
NCT DREAM
WayV
aespa
RIIZE
NCT WISH
Hearts2Hearts
SMTR25
Now K-Pop fans from around the globe can experience live performances across 18 countries, with concert replays, music videos, and playlists with additional K-Content added to the channel following the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in L.A. concert.
“Our partnership with SM Entertainment reflects our continued commitment to leading the K-Content space through bold investments and exclusive experiences,” said Salek Brodsky, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Samsung TV Plus. “By bringing this milestone event to audiences around the globe, we’re not only celebrating K-Pop’s growing popularity, but further expanding the depth of the Samsung TV Plus K-Content offering, which remains amongst the largest in the world.”
Samsung TV Plus‘ expansion continues to solidify its position as one of the largest providers of K-Content. From premium titles across a variety of genres like K-Dramas, K-Crime, K-Thrillers, K-Romance, and now K-Pop, its expansive offering showcases the unique crossovers and cultural tie-ins that have made K-Content a global phenomenon.
For more information on Samsung TV Plus, please visit samsungtvplus.com.
About Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is a premium global entertainment service and is the most used streaming app on Samsung Smart TVs. As a leader in FAST, Samsung TV Plus offers hundreds of channels and thousands of shows and movies on-demand in the U.S. Globally, the streaming service carries over 3,500 ad-supported linear channels in 30 countries and is accessible on over 630M active devices. Samsung TV Plus is the exclusive home of Conan O’Brien TV, Letterman TV, and hundreds of additional exclusive channels available worldwide. Samsung TV Plus is available on Samsung TVs, Galaxy devices, Samsung Smart Monitor, and Family Hub. To learn more, visit samsungtvplus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
Gilead Admits to Paying Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars to High Prescribers of Gilead’s HIV Drugs to Serve as Speakers at Programs and to Holding Programs at Luxury Restaurants
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”); Christopher M. Silvestro, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General (“DOD-OIG”); and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that the U.S. has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against GILEAD SCIENCES, INC (“GILEAD”), a large pharmaceutical manufacturer, that, among other things, develops, manufactures, and sells drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The settlement resolves claims that GILEAD offered and paid kickbacks in the form of honoraria payments, meals, and travel expenses to healthcare practitioners who spoke at or attended Gilead speaker events to induce them to prescribe Stribild®, Genvoya®, Complera®, Odefsey®, Descovy®, and Biktarvy® (the “Gilead HIV Drugs”) in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) and thereby caused false claims for the Gilead HIV Drugs to be submitted to and paid by federal healthcare programs in violation of the False Claims Act.
Under the settlement, which was approved yesterday by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, GILEAD agreed to pay a total sum of $202 million, of which $176,927,889.28 will be paid to the U.S. and the remainder will be paid to various states. As part of the settlement, GILEAD also made extensive factual admissions regarding its conduct.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “For years, Gilead unlawfully sought to increase sales of its HIV drugs, by using its speaker programs to funnel kickbacks to doctors. As alleged, Gilead spent tens of millions of dollars on these programs, including over $20 million in speaking fees and millions more in exorbitant meals, alcohol and travel, all in an effort to induce doctors to prescribe Gilead’s HIV drugs and drive up sales. With this settlement, Gilead has taken responsibility for its conduct and agreed to pay a significant financial penalty. The message is clear, companies that illegally drain taxpayer dollars from federal healthcare programs will be held accountable.”
HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz said: “This impactful settlement is the result of collaborative work by law enforcement partners, revealing Gilead’s unlawful practice of providing kickbacks to physicians under the guise of its HIV educational speaker programs. Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, which in this case involved expensive HIV medications, can inappropriately influence physicians’ decision-making and divert the monies of taxpayer-funded federal healthcare programs.”
DCIS Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Silvestro: “This settlement is the result of the partnership among law enforcement and the Department of Justice to aggressively investigate and hold accountable companies and their employees who value greed over healthcare. Protecting TRICARE, the healthcare system for Service members and their families, and investigating kickback schemes are priorities for DCIS.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “This settlement ensures Gilead is held accountable for their illicit use of perks and kickbacks to entice doctors to prescribe the company’s medicine. These types of schemes are not victimless – illegal kickbacks directly affect taxpayer funded healthcare programs. The FBI will continue to investigate and stop healthcare companies attempting to benefit from deceitful and illegal practices.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
The Gilead HIV Drugs are antiretroviral drugs (i.e., drugs that act against retroviruses such as HIV) used for the treatment of HIV. These drugs are very expensive—Medicare typically paid well in excess of a thousand dollars for a one-month supply of Complera®, and significantly more for many of the other Gilead HIV Drugs.
As part of its marketing efforts and to increase sales, Gilead conducted events known as “HIV Speaker Programs” at which a healthcare provider involved in the treatment of HIV was engaged to present a slide deck (prepared by Gilead) and facilitate discussion about one of the drugs or a topic concerning HIV (an “HIV Disease State Topic”) to other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of HIV (“Attendees”). Gilead’s HIV Speaker Programs were often held in the evening at restaurants (“HIV Dinner Programs”).
From January 2011 to November 2017 (the “Relevant Time Period”), Gilead conducted HIV Speaker Programs in order to promote and increase the sales of the Gilead HIV Drugs. The HIV Speaker Programs were supposed to be educational in nature and the cost of any meals provided was supposed to be modest. But in practice, during the Relevant Time Period, Gilead’s HIV Speaker Programs provided kickbacks to healthcare providers by: holding HIV Dinner Programs at high-end restaurants that were wholly inappropriate for educational events; allowing Attendees to attend HIV Dinner Programs on the exact same topic again and again and, thereby, obtain free lavish meals for events that held minimal educational value for them; and paying for HIV Speakers to travel to speak at desirable destinations—at times at the HIV Speaker’s request. Further, Gilead’s compliance program failed to prevent these improper practices, even though Gilead knew that it had to comply with the AKS and the company’s own data should have put Gilead on notice of many of these abuses.
Many healthcare providers who received these improper kickbacks then prescribed the Gilead HIV Drugs. As a result, federal healthcare programs paid millions of dollars in reimbursements for tainted prescriptions.
As part of the settlement, GILEAD admitted and accepted responsibility for certain conduct alleged by the U.S., including the following:
Gilead paid many high-volume prescribers of HIV drugs tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in honoraria to prepare and present as HIV Speakers. For instance, one HIV Speaker, who received over $300,000 in total honorarium payments, wrote prescriptions for Gilead HIV Drugs that resulted in over $6 million in Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE payments.
On many occasions, Gilead covered the travel costs of HIV Speakers who traveled long distances to speak at HIV Speaker Programs at desirable travel destinations, such as Hawaii, Miami, and New Orleans. This was sometimes in response to an HIV Speaker’s request to be booked for an HIV Speaker Program in that city.
Sales representatives in Gilead’s HIV therapeutic area (“Sales Representatives”) organized HIV Speaker Programs at high-end restaurants across the country. For instance, a significant percentage of the HIV Speaker Programs held in New York City were held at expensive restaurants, such as the James Beard House, Del Posto, Asiate, Palma, Vaucluse, Ilili, and Limani. In particular, Gilead held 157 HIV Speaker Programs at the James Beard House, making it one of Gilead’s most used venues for HIV Speaker Programs. A dinner at the James Beard House typically included approximately six courses with alcoholic beverage pairings.
Sales Representatives repeatedly invited numerous doctors and other healthcare providers to attend the same HIV program over and over. Many repeatedly attended HIV Speaker Programs covering the exact same topic, often within a short period of time.
Over 250 prescribers of the Gilead HIV Drugs attended HIV Dinner Programs on the same topic three times or more within a six-month period. And over 80 of them attended five or more HIV Dinner Programs on the same topic within a six-month period.
Further, many healthcare providers who were paid to be HIV Speakers on a particular topic also attended HIV Dinner Programs on exactly the same topic, often within less than six months after speaking.
In certain instances, the same group of doctors repeatedly attended the same HIV Speaker Programs together at various restaurants. In many instances, they attended a HIV Dinner Program less than two weeks after speaking on the same topic.
During the Relevant Time Period, Gilead’s policies and procedures failed to prevent Sales Representatives and Regional Directors in its HIV therapeutic area from improperly providing honoraria payments, meals, and travel expenses to healthcare providers who spoke at or attended HIV Speaker Programs to induce them to prescribe the Gilead HIV Drugs.
In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.
* * *
Mr. Clayton thanked the New York Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their extensive collaboration in the investigation and resolution of this case, and also praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, HHS-OIG and DCIS.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob M. Bergman, Allison M. Rovner, Rebecca S. Tinio, and Lucas Issacharoff are in charge of the case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Bessemer man has been sentenced for his role in an elder fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Terrance Alonzo Pruitt, 47, to 50 months in prison. In December 2024, Pruitt was convicted by a jury of two counts of wire fraud.
According to evidence presented at trial, in September 2023, Pruitt executed a Power of Attorney over an elderly family member with dementia without the victim’s knowledge or permission. Between September 2023 and December 2023, Pruitt devised a scheme to defraud the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victim’s bank accounts, changing the address on the victim’s bank accounts from the victim’s address to his address, removing two payable on death (POD) beneficiaries from one of the accounts, and adding two POD beneficiaries to another account. Pruitt then transferred $550,000 in funds from the victim’s accounts to his personal bank accounts. Pruitt used some of these funds for his own personal benefit, and he moved $500,000 to a new bank account that did not include the victim as an account holder. When confronted, Pruitt told various, inconsistent stories attempting to excuse his conduct.
Pruitt’s sentencing range was increased because he received an enhancement for obstruction of justice after it was determined that he committed perjury when he testified in his own defense at trial.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan S. Rummage and Brett Janich prosecuted the case.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and attempted fraud is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov. Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael Torres, 37, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to financial institution fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2021 and February 2022, Torres was employed as a Relationship Manager at Financial Institution 1. While in this position, he misused his position to apply for loans through Financial Institution 1 in the names of individuals without their knowledge or authorization. Torres applied for 19 loans for a total of $168,000, which was deposited into bank accounts that he controlled.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
On World Press Freedom Day, France reaffirms its commitment to the freedom to inform and be informed, which is essential to all democratic societies, and condemns the violence committed against journalists and media professionals, information manipulation campaigns, and restrictions on freedom of the press in many countries across the globe.
France reiterates its commitment to freedom of the press and expression and the protection of journalists and media professionals everywhere in the world. It pays tribute to those who are risking their life on a daily basis to convey free, plural and reliable information that is critical to democracy, as well as to those who have lost their lives doing their job. It is with this in mind that the second annual Anna Politkovskaya-Arman Soldin Prize was awarded in November 2024.
This year marked the tenth anniversary of UNSC Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, adopted in May 2015 at the instigation of France and Lithuania. This resolution recalls that journalists must be protected, including in the most dangerous contexts, and attacks on their safety are unacceptable. France condemns the increase in the number of journalists killed or wounded on the job. Journalists are protected by international humanitarian law as are all civilians. France will champion a resolution on the protection of journalists at the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva from 16 June to 11 July 2025.
France is pursuing its efforts to rally support from the international community for a global space of free, democratic and trustworthy information through the Information and Democracy Partnership, which brings together 55 States. France is contributing to media pluralism and economic sustainability of independent media via Canal France International (CFI) and its contribution to the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM). France supports the Journalism Trust Initiative, an international norm developed by Reporters Without Borders to promote reliable information sources and journalism that complies with an ethical framework.
At a time when artificial intelligence is upending the media ecosystem, new risks are emerging including uncontrolled automation of information, manipulation of algorithms, amplification of unauthentic content, and large-scale manipulation of information. France is working to build inclusive and lasting international governance of artificial intelligence, having it serve the general interest and uphold human rights. It supported the adoption of the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law in 2024 at the Council of Europe. This is also the reason for the Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet adopted on 11 February 2025 at the AI Action Summit. Amid the era of artificial intelligence and in light of Resolution 2222, France reaffirms that informing is not a crime, but a common good to be protected.
Not for distribution to U.S. News wire services or dissemination in the U.S.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Keg Royalties Income Fund (the “Fund”) (TSX: KEG.UN) today announced that it has entered into a letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent”) pursuant to which one or more affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (collectively, “Fairfax”) would acquire all of the issued and outstanding units of the Fund (“Units”) other than those Units already owned by Fairfax (including any Units issuable in respect of securities exchangeable into Units (the “Exchangeable Units”)), at a purchase price of $18.60 per Unit (the “Offer Price“), payable in cash (the “Proposed Transaction”).
The Offer Price represents a 30.8% premium to the closing price for the Units on May 2, 2025, and a 34.7% premium to the 20-day volume weighted average trading price as of the end of trading on May 2, 2025. The Proposed Transaction would not be subject to any financing condition.
The Letter of Intent was entered into following negotiations between Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd. (“HWIC”), in its capacity as investment manager on behalf of Fairfax, and the board of trustees of the Fund (the “Trustees”), each of whom is independent. The Trustees determined to enter into the Letter of Intent after carefully evaluating the financial terms of the Proposed Transaction and receiving advice from the Fund’s independent financial and legal advisors.
The largest holder of outstanding Units (without taking into account any Exchangeable Units held by Fairfax), which currently holds 14.6% of the issued and outstanding Units on an undiluted basis (representing 9.9% of the Units on a fully diluted basis, including the Exchangeable Units), has entered into an agreement with HWIC, in its capacity as investment manager on behalf of Fairfax, to support the Proposed Transaction, subject to certain customary conditions.
In connection with their continued review of the Proposed Transaction, the Trustees have retained an independent valuator to prepare a formal valuation of the Units (the “Formal Valuation“) as required under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“) and provide an opinion that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications to be set forth in any written opinion, the consideration to be received by the holders of Units (other than Fairfax) pursuant to the Proposed Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Units (other than Fairfax) (a “Fairness Opinion”).
The Letter of Intent is not a definitive agreement with respect to the Proposed Transaction, and the execution of a definitive agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction, if any, remains subject to, among other things, (i) the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement on terms satisfactory to the Fund and Fairfax, (ii) final approval of the Proposed Transaction by the Trustees, and (iii) receipt of the Formal Valuation and Fairness Opinion satisfactory to the Trustees. The consummation of the Proposed Transaction would be subject to various conditions customary for transactions of this nature, including, among others, (i) receipt of any required regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals, and (ii) the approval of the Proposed Transaction at a special meeting of the holders of Units entitled to vote on the Proposed Transaction, including “minority approval” as defined under MI 61-101.
Unitholders of the Fund do not need to take any action at this time in respect of the proposal from Fairfax pursuant to the Letter of Intent and should await further information from the Trustees in respect of the Proposed Transaction.
While the Trustees have determined to enter into the Letter of Intent with respect to the Proposed Transaction, the Letter of Intent does not bind the Trustees or the Fund to enter into the Proposed Transaction, or any agreement in respect thereof, all of which remains subject to final approval by the Trustees. There can be no assurance that the Fund and Fairfax will enter into a definitive agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction or that the Proposed Transaction will occur as proposed or at all. The Fund does not expect to make further public comment regarding the matters contemplated herein until a definitive agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction is entered into or the Proposed Transaction is abandoned.
Advisors
Capital West Partners and Lawson Lundell LLP are acting as financial advisor and legal advisor, respectively, to the Trustees in respect of the Proposed Transaction. Torys LLP is acting as legal advisor to Fairfax in respect of the Proposed Transaction.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning our objectives, our strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements made with respect to the Trustees’ beliefs, plans, estimates, projections and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will”, “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent the Trustees’ expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Forward-looking information in this news release, which includes, among other things, statements relating to the Proposed Transaction (including statements in respect of the execution of the definitive agreement and the consummation of the Proposed Transaction, including the satisfaction of the conditions precedent thereto, in each case, if at all), is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that the Fund considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made in light of its experience, current conditions and expected future developments, including the assumption that the Proposed Transaction can be completed on acceptable terms and that any conditions precedent can be satisfied.
Risks and uncertainties related to the Proposed Transaction include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the Proposed Transaction will not be completed on the terms and conditions currently contemplated; failure of the Fund and Fairfax to enter into a definitive agreement for the Proposed Transaction on terms satisfactory to the Fund and Fairfax, or at all; failure of the Fund and Fairfax to obtain the required regulatory, court, stock exchange and unitholder approvals for, or satisfy other conditions to effect, the Proposed Transaction; failure by the independent valuator to deliver a Formal Valuation and Fairness Opinion satisfactory to the Trustees at the time the definitive agreement is entered into; the risk that the Proposed Transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the risk of a change in general economic conditions; the risk that, prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the business of KRL (as defined below) may experience significant disruptions; the risk that any legal proceedings may be instituted against the Fund or determined adversely to the interests of the Fund; and other risk factors contained in filings made by the Fund with the Canadian securities regulators, including the Fund’s annual information form dated March 25, 2025 and financial statements and related management discussion and analysis for the financial year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain jurisdictions of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.
Although the Trustees have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to them or that they presently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward- looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Fund’s expectations as of the date of this news release (or as the date they are otherwise stated to be made) and are subject to change after such date. However, the Fund disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.
About The Keg Royalties Income Fund
The Fund is a limited purpose, open-ended trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario that, through The Keg Rights Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of the Fund, owns certain trademarks and other related intellectual property used by Keg Restaurants Ltd. (“KRL”). Vancouver-based KRL is the leading operator and franchisor of steakhouse restaurants in Canada and has a substantial presence in select regional markets in the United States. KRL has been named the number one restaurant company to work for in Canada in the latest edition of Forbes “Canada’s Best Employers 2025” survey.
The head of Fiji’s prison service has been caught on camera involved in a fist fight that appears to have taken place at the popular O’Reilley’s Bar in the capital of Suva.
Sevuloni Naucukidi, the acting Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS), can be seen in the viral video throwing punches at another man as staff at the establishment scramble to contain the situation.
The 30-second clip of the incident, shared online by The Fiji Times today, had been viewed more than half a million times, with more than 8200 reactions and almost 2000 shares by 1pm (NZT).
Naucukidi was appointed to act as the Fiji prison chief at the end of March after the FCS Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa was stood down by the Constitutional Offices Commission following allegations of misbehaviour.
Fiji’s Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga (left) and Correction Service acting Commissioner Sevuloni Naucukidi on 30 March 2025. Image: Fiji Corrections Service/RNZ Pacific
Police spokesperson Wame Boutolu told The Fiji Times that no complaint had been filed with police regarding the incident.
The newspaper reported that it was not clear whether the incident took place before or after Naucukidi’s appointment as FCS acting commissioner.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
The Fiji Times reported later that Justice Minister Siromi Turaga had said that a “certain level of decorum is expected at all times — particularly when in uniform, whether that be Bula Friday wear or your official work attire”.
He made the comments in relation to the controversial video.
Turaga said preliminary investigations indicated that the footage was from an earlier date.
“We have contacted the owners of the establishment, who have confirmed that the video likely dates back to early March 2025,” he said.
Police are asking for information from the public after a series of incidents in Invercargill overnight, including two aggravated robberies.
Officers were called to a Dee Street premises about 2.30am on Monday 5 May, after a report of two people entering the store and assaulting the worker, demanding cash. They then fled the scene in a vehicle.
The worker was not seriously injured, however they were very shaken by what occurred.
An attempted burglary and two burglaries were subsequently reported at three further premises, on Windsor Street, Elles Road and Yarrow Street.
Then, about 4.20am, Police received a report that two people had entered a Tay Street premises and demanded cash and items. Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident.
Police are making enquiries into each incident, and at this stage our information suggests they are linked.
Two vehicles were seen in the vicinity of some of the incidents. One of them, a red Toyota Vitz, has been involved in the offending. Police have recovered this vehicle, which was stolen the previous day.
The other vehicle is described as a dark-coloured car.
We would like to speak to anyone who saw vehicles fitting these descriptions between 1am and 5am.
Anyone with information about these vehicles or those involved is asked to contact Police via 105. Please use the reference number 250505/9732.
You can also share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Act 2024 and Capital Works (Build To Rent Misuse Tax) Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 10 December 2024. A legislative instrument covering initial standards for the BTR measure was made on 18 December 2024 and further legislative instruments will be made in 2025. The measure commenced from 1 January 2025.
There are some aspects of the law that may not be clear and may require administrative or interpretive guidance for those adopting the BTR laws. The ATO is aware of certain areas where stakeholders may require interpretive assistance. We are consulting to understand what guidance stakeholders require to correctly apply the laws, so we can support their participation and compliance.
We anticipate public advice and guidance will reduce the number of enquiries raised with the ATO on the BTR measure. These enquiries could range from general administrative enquiries through to private binding rulings.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), wrote a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi opposing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to terminate federal grants awarded through the agency’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and urging the Administration to restore funding for critical programs supporting law enforcement and violence prevention.
OJP is the largest grant-making arm of the DOJ. The grants funded by the office have been instrumental in supporting a wide range of law enforcement and community-based initiatives across the country, including local law enforcement, prosecution, judges, forensic science, reentry, hospitals, faith-based organizations, victim services and youth groups.
In her letter to Attorney General Bondi, Ranking Member Meng wrote, “These programs are not “wasteful” spending, as you have claimed. They play a critical role in leading violence prevention and intervention efforts; serving at-risk youth and victims of crimes, coordinating responses to rising hate crimes; and assisting individuals struggling with substance use disorders. These programs save lives.”
The grants terminated by the DOJ support at-risk youth, victims of crime, lead violence prevention efforts, coordinate responses to increases in hate crimes, and help people struggling with substance abuse. This includes the Community-Based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes grant program, originally authored by Meng following the passage of her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2021.
Meng continued, “You stated the priority of your department is “law and order in America.” But law and order cannot exist if victims of crime are unable to recover, or if law enforcement does not have the resources to more effectively fight crime and restore relationships with the community members they serve, or if non-violent offenders cannot find a pathway to reentry into society.”
Meng serves as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), which has jurisdiction over federal funding appropriated to the DOJ.
Police have arrested a man following a series of reports about his behaviour from the Mt Wellington community.
Late last week, Police received reports about a man acting suspiciously around the morning school drop off times.
Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says the reports centred around the Mt Wellington Highway.
“Police attended on Wednesday and Friday after it was reported the man had been acting suspiciously around people near Harris Road.
“While he had not committed offences, Police were concerned about this man’s behaviour.
“Our frontline staff have been looking out for this man in recent days.”
This morning, Police received a 111 call reporting similar behaviour in the area.
Inspector Dolheguy says Police once again responded to the area, and arrested a man.
“The member of the public who contacted us was able to provide a clear description, which was able to assist the Police responding to the report.
“Our frontline team located this man outside shops near Harris Road.”
The 45-year-old Papakura man was arrested on four counts of breaching his bail and was taken into custody.
“It’s a pleasing result for us to remove this man from the area, and highlights a good partnership between community and Police,” Inspector Dolheguy says.
“This is a good reminder to continue reporting these incidents as they occur with as much detail as possible.”
West Hants RCMP Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 43-year-old Lyndsay Moorhouse, from Three Mile Plains. She was last seen on May 4 in Three Mile Plains.
Moorhouse is described as 5-foot-2 and approximately 200 pounds. She has medium-length blond hair, blue eyes, and glasses. She is believed to be wearing jeans and a black hoodie.
Moorhouse is known to frequent the Halifax area.
Investigators believe that she may be driving a blue 2019 Hyundai Elantra, Nova Scotia licence plate GEB 779. The image included is a stock photo of the vehicle.
When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lyndsay Moorhouse is asked to contact the West Hants RCMP Detachment at 902-798-2207, or 911 in an emergency. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China is poised for a significant enhancement in its green efforts as a draft of the country’s first-ever environmental code was unveiled on Sunday.
The draft, submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) for a first reading, comprises 1,188 articles in five chapters including the general provisions, pollution prevention and control, ecological protection, green and low-carbon development, legal liability and supplementary provisions.
Once adopted, it will become China’s second formal statutory code, after the Civil Code, which was adopted in 2020. The compilation of the environmental code was initiated in 2023.
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 5, 2024 shows a view of Yuehu Park and city skyline of Ningbo City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
China formulated its first environmental protection law in 1979. Ever since, the country has rapidly advanced its legislation on environmental protection. Today, China boasts over 30 laws, more than 100 administrative regulations and numerous other legal documents in this field, forming a relatively comprehensive legal framework.
The compilation of the code facilitates the systematic integration of legislation, fills gaps in the legal framework, elevates the status and authority of eco-environmental laws, and makes their enforcement and compliance more convenient, said Wang Canfa, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law.
China has long been a champion of green development. After decades of sustained efforts, the country has emerged as a global leader in improving air quality and expanding forest resources.
An aerial drone photo taken on May 14, 2023 shows people walking at the Changxing forest farm in Dongxing Town of Rongxian County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
In 2024, China saw significant improvements in its air quality. The average concentration of PM2.5 in cities at or above the prefecture level was 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter, a year-on-year decrease of 2.7 percent. The country is also home to the world’s largest total human-made forest area. In 2024 alone, China planted 4.45 million hectares of trees and improved 3.22 million hectares of grassland.
However, the country’s drive to strengthen ecological conservation remains at a critical stage, facing considerable challenges, and the mission to build a Beautiful China and advance modernization in harmony with nature still requires significant and sustained efforts, Shen Chunyao, director of the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, said on Sunday during an ongoing session of the top legislature when explaining the necessity of the draft code to lawmakers.
During the session, scheduled from April 27 to 30, the lawmakers will review the draft environmental code, and other legislative bills.
The draft outlines China’s overall requirements for green and low-carbon development. It establishes principles and guiding provisions on issues related to climate change and carbon peaking and neutrality goals, giving full consideration to both international and domestic situations and the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
China will also engage in international cooperation on climate change, participate in, contribute to, and lead global climate governance efforts, according to the draft.
An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 1, 2024 shows the scenery of Mount Chomolhari in Yadong County of Xigaze City, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
“Addressing climate change is a global challenge,” said Zhang Zhongmin, a professor at the law school of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. He added that the draft balances both international and domestic efforts, emphasizes mitigation and adaptation, and includes provisions for international cooperation, which will help enhance its international influence.
The draft also includes provisions for preventing and controlling pollution in various fields, specifically addressing air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, as well as issues related to solid waste, noise, radioactive pollution sources, chemical substances, electromagnetic radiation, and light pollution.
The ecological protection chapter of the draft emphasizes the importance of safeguarding ecosystems, specifying that the country will enhance conservation efforts for forests, grasslands, wetlands, seas and marine islands, rivers, lakes, deserts, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and croplands. It also calls for the advancement of major projects focused on protecting and restoring key ecosystems.
An aerial drone photo taken on July 6, 2024 shows short-finned pilot whales swimming in the waters east of Hainan Island, south China. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
“The promulgation and implementation of the code will promote the integrated protection of air, water, soil, and biodiversity, as well as the coordinated management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and deserts,” Wang said.
China’s environmental law codification seeks to strike a balance between economic and social development and environmental protection, in contrast to some countries that focus primarily on either environmental preservation or economic gains, Wang said.
Speaking to the media, Lyu Zhongmei, vice chairperson of the NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee, said that China’s environmental code should be rooted in the country’s national conditions, while also drawing on best practices and learning from the experiences of the codification efforts of other nations.
“Having a separate chapter on green and low-carbon development is something that has never been done in other countries, and it is a significant feature of China’s ecological environmental code,” said Lyu. “This highlights the important value of our efforts in compiling this code, which is to implement the new development philosophy.”
Highlighting the code’s global significance, Lyu said that, based on the fundamental concept of sustainable development, the code will become a landmark achievement in global ecological progress, offering a legislative model for other countries to follow and leading the way in the development of ecological law worldwide.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Sarah Proudfoot has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the ACCC following an extensive external recruitment process.
Ms Proudfoot started with the ACCC/AER in 2005 when she joined the agency’s Infocentre.
She has since held a range of senior roles in the agency, including executive general manager of the ACCC Infrastructure Division between 2020 and 2024 with oversight of the ACCC’s work across telecommunications, rail, ports, airports, electricity and gas as well as the 2023 Childcare Inquiry.
Ms Proudfoot was appointed executive general manager of the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre in August 2024 and has been acting chief executive since February 2025.
“During her career Sarah has consistently demonstrated her ability as an outstanding strategic leader with personal drive, credibility and integrity, and a strong commitment to public service,” ACCC Chair Gina-Cass Gottlieb said.
“I am confident that with Sarah’s contribution as CEO leading our capable people, our agency will continue to deliver important outcomes for the Australian economy and community.”
Ms Proudfoot said: “One of the many things I’ve loved in my time at the ACCC is the fact our work makes a difference to people’s lives every day. It is a significant responsibility and privilege to take on the role of CEO and to work with Commissioners and our talented, dedicated team in the interests of consumers and protecting competition across our economy.”
Ms Proudfoot holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
May 02, 2025
Lawmakers urge DHS to “focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), condemned the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) indiscriminate immigration enforcement raids in Pomona, California as part of President Trump’s cruel mass deportation agenda that are terrorizing California communities and harming the economy. The lawmakers demanded answers on recent egregious DHS enforcement actions — without notice or coordination — including the arrest of at least 10 day laborers outside of a Home Depot, the detainment of a small business owner at gunpoint outside of his barbershop, and an enforcement raid at a Pomona auto body shop conducted with the Riverside County Sherriff’s department.
Padilla, Schiff, and Torres underscored the deep distrust and economic chaos these enforcement raids foster, hurting entire communities and national supply chains and keeping consumers at home out of fear.
“We write with deep concern regarding recent immigration enforcement actions conducted in Pomona, California, that have caused widespread fear, disrupted local businesses, and harmed community trust in law enforcement,” wrote the lawmakers.
“Enforcement actions that indiscriminately disrupt immigrant communities – particularly without transparency or local coordination – threaten not only individual rights but also the economic stability and public safety of entire cities like Pomona,” continued the lawmakers. “Pomona’s small businesses are already feeling the impact. Customers are afraid to shop. Workers are afraid to show up for work.”
The lawmakers highlighted that California’s economy — now the fourth largest in the world — relies on the contributions of immigrant labor, as immigrants and their children make up the majority (55 percent) of California’s workforce, with immigrants alone comprising 34 percent of the state’s population. Last year, undocumented immigrants contributed $87 billion in household income, $66 billion in spending power, $50 billion to Social Security, and $14 billion to Medicare. They emphasized that immigrant workers make up a significant portion of California’s leading agriculture, health care, and construction sectors. Immigrant construction workers comprise over 40 percent of California’s construction workforce, and are already doing essential work to help Los Angeles County rebuild from the devastating wildfires earlier this year.
The lawmakers stressed that rather than indiscriminately targeting long-term residents with no criminal records, DHS should work with Congress to help provide these immigrants with a pathway to citizenship. Senator Padilla previously introduced the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for immigrant essential workers, including Dreamers, as his first bill in Congress.
“While no one disagrees with targeting violent criminals for deportation, the enforcement actions in Pomona demonstrate that the Department is indiscriminately targeting all noncitizens for removal — including those who have no criminal records and who have been living in and contributing to our communities for decades,” added the lawmakers.“These actions do not make us safer and are contrary to the ideals that we all stand for. We urge you to instead focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success.”
The lawmakers concluded their letter by demanding information on the raids, including why local officials were not notified and what steps DHS is taking to rebuild trust with immigrant communities.
“We urge your Department to review these operations carefully and to recommit to an immigration enforcement strategy that prioritizes public safety, upholds civil rights, and reflects the economic realities and moral values of our nation,” concluded the lawmakers.
Senator Padilla blasted the Pomona immigration raids last week, emphasizing that indiscriminate immigrant enforcement hurts our communities and economy.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Noem,
We write with deep concern regarding recent immigration enforcement actions conducted in Pomona, California, that have caused widespread fear, disrupted local businesses, and harmed community trust in law enforcement.
According to press reports, the City of Pomona in our home state of California has been at the epicenter of recent immigration enforcement activity, much of which has been conducted without giving notice to local officials:
On Tuesday, April 22, Martin Majin-Leon, a long-time resident and small business owner, was detained at gunpoint in front of his barbershop, terrorizing his family and community. He was released after 30 hours, but the trauma persists. Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval expressed frustration, commenting to federal officials that they were “terrorizing our community.” Reports suggest DMV records may have played a role in his targeting, raising concerns about data-sharing between state agencies and federal immigration authorities.
Meanwhile, that same day, federal immigration enforcement agents detained as many as 20 day laborers outside a Home Depot in Pomona, where witnesses saw agents arrive in marked and unmarked vehicles around 8 a.m. The Pomona Police Department had no prior knowledge of the operation, and conflicting reports have persisted regarding whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or other federal law enforcement entities were responsible for the detentions.
Later that week, on Friday, April 25, another major enforcement action occurred at Moon Auto Collision in Pomona, executed jointly by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and Homeland Security Special Response Teams under the auspices of a narcotics warrant. Pomona city officials, including Mayor Tim Sandoval, were given no prior notice. Mayor Sandoval, upon visiting the scene, underscored the devastating impact these operations have had on community trust and the economic health of local businesses.
Enforcement actions that indiscriminately disrupt immigrant communities – particularly without transparency or local coordination – threaten not only individual rights but also the economic stability and public safety of entire cities like Pomona. Pomona’s small businesses are already feeling the impact. Customers are afraid to shop. Workers are afraid to show up for work. One local business owner told reporters, “Customers are scared. They are not coming to buy anything. They are not coming to get repairs done.”
While no one disagrees with targeting violent criminals for deportation, the enforcement actions in Pomona demonstrate that the Department is indiscriminately targeting all noncitizens for removal — including those who have no criminal records and who have been living in and contributing to our communities for decades. These actions do not make us safer and are contrary to the ideals that we all stand for. We urge you to instead focus enforcement against those who pose a legitimate risk to public safety and to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are essential to our economic success.
California’s economy – now the fourth largest in the world – demonstrates the strength and contributions of immigrant labor. Immigrants and their children comprise 55 percent of California’s workforce. Immigrants alone account for 34 percent of the state’s population and paid $168 billion in taxes last year, while generating over $400 billion in spending power. Undocumented immigrants contributed $87 billion in household income and $66 billion in spending power, alongside $50 billion to Social Security and $14 billion to Medicare.
Additionally, in the wake of the destructive wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County earlier this year, immigrant construction workers—who make up more than 40 percent of the workforce in California—are essential to the community’s ability to rebuild and recover. Put simply, in critical sectors such as agriculture, construction, and health care, immigrant workers are indispensable to our community.
Accordingly, we respectfully request answers to the following:
1. Why weren’t local officials in Pomona notified about recent enforcement actions?
2. Which federal law enforcement entities were involved in or aware of these enforcement actions?
3. Has DHS responded to local law enforcement’s request for answers?
4. What protocols exist to coordinate with local law enforcement and elected officials before conducting large-scale enforcement actions?
5. How does DHS plan to comply with the April 29, 2025 court order from the Eastern District of California barring Border Patrol agents from detaining or arresting individuals without reasonable suspicion of illegal presence, as required by the Fourth Amendment?
6. Was California Department of Motor Vehicles data accessed in the case of Martin Majin-Leon?
7. What safeguards exist to prevent improper use of state data for immigration enforcement purposes?
8. What steps is DHS taking to rebuild trust with immigrant communities that have been traumatized by these events?
We urge your Department to review these operations carefully and to recommit to an immigration enforcement strategy that prioritizes public safety, upholds civil rights, and reflects the economic realities and moral values of our nation.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The decisive victory of Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party in Saturday’s elections gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a strong mandate in his first electoral test, extending the party’s 66-year rule in the city-state.
The PAP secured 65.57 percent of share of the popular votes and won 87 of 97 parliamentary seats. Analysts said the landslide victory ensures that it has “outright political legitimacy” at a time when Singapore’s trade-dependent economy is being challenged by geopolitical tensions.
Wong thanked the voters for a “clear signal of trust, stability and confidence”.
“Singaporeans too can draw strength from this and look ahead to our future with confidence. The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world,” Wong said on Sunday.
Tan Ern Ser, an adjunct principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies in Singapore, said the PAP “has a strong mandate and competence to help Singapore steer through the treacherous waters ahead”.
David Black, founder and CEO of polling firm Blackbox Research in Singapore, said Wong has delivered a “decisive victory” for the PAP, giving the party an “outright political legitimacy in their own right”.
According to a preelection survey conducted by Blackbox Research, the rising cost of living and soaring home prices were top concerns for voters.
Champa Ha, a 34-year-old researcher, said her salary can barely catch up with the rising cost of living. “I’m worried that someday I might be priced out of a life in Singapore.”
A 30-year-old marketing executive expressed satisfaction with the PAP’s performance in the past five years but voiced frustration over the government’s decision to raise the goods and services tax. She said she hopes more can be done to help Singaporeans cope with rising living expenses.
James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said Singaporeans are largely worried about living costs and the threat to their rice bowl.
“With Singaporeans thinking that the state of the economy is in trouble because of what (United States President Donald) Trump is doing in the international arena, they believe it’s better to go to the PAP,” Chin said.
The main opposition Workers’ Party held on to the 10 seats it won in 2020. However, the WP polled consistently above 40 percent in the wards they lost, and introduced new candidates with strong credentials.
Voters did not reject the WP outright, said Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University. “They signaled that they recognized the WP’s role, but (they) want it to measure up first.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Her Kitchen Table received $30,000 in matched funding from the ACT Government’s Social Enterprise Grant Program
In brief
Applications are closing soon for the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program.
The program provides up to $30,000 in matched funding for businesses with social, cultural or environmental impact.
Her Kitchen Table received funding to help expand their training offering.
Applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program are now open.
The program supports new social enterprises to start. It also helps existing social enterprises to take the next step in their business journey.
Like Nazia Ahmed, who is no stranger to starting businesses with a social impact.
She’s the founder of The Social Outcomes Lab. It’s a dedicated consultancy providing advice to government, non-government organisations and the corporate world on how to build socially responsible programs and businesses.
Her latest venture, Her Kitchen Table, got $30,000 in matched funding from the ACT Government’s Social Enterprise Grant Program.
Her Kitchen Table
Her Kitchen Table is a unique catering business in Canberra. Migrant, refugee and women of multicultural backgrounds cater with food and recipes from their home country.
“I’m so excited about the grant, it will be a game changer for us,” Nazia said.
“We’re using the funding to develop something called empowerment training.
“The women already get business and culinary training so their food can be sold at a commercial level. But we found if they could improve their self-belief and self-worth, it would make them much better foodpreneurs (or entrepreneurs), and the new training will help address this.”
Nazia said Her Kitchen Table is helping these women find their place in Australia.
“Not only are they finding a path to employment and professional networks, but they’re also creating friends and finding their own space in Australia as new Australians.
“That’s the beauty of food,” she said. “It helps break boundaries.”
What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses with a social, cultural or environmental purpose. They are aligned with public or community benefit.
In the ACT there are approximately 180 social enterprises. They support over 3,000 jobs and contribute $318.5 million annually to the local economy.
What does the program involve?
The Mill House Ventures, a Canberra social enterprise advisory, delivers the grant program on behalf of the ACT Government.
The grants offer between $10,000 and $30,000 in matched funding for a range of activities. This includes:
product development
business planning
training programs
marketing activities
resources
website development or upgrades.
How can I apply?
Applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grants Program close 7 February 2025.
Nauru’s ambition to commercially mine the seabed is likely at risk following President Donald Trump’s executive order last month aimed at fast-tracking ocean mining, anti-deep sea mining advocates warn.
The order also increases instability in the Pacific region because it effectively circumvents long-standing international sea laws and processes by providing an alternative path to mine the seabed, advocates say.
Titled Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, the order was signed by Trump on April 25. It directs the US science and environmental agency to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in US and international waters.
It has been condemned by legal and environmental experts around the world, particularly after Canadian mining group The Metals Company announced last Tuesday it had applied to commercially mine in international waters through the US process.
The Metals Company has so far been unsuccessful in gaining a commercial mining licence through the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
Currently, the largest area in international waters being explored for commercial deep sea mining is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located in the central Pacific Ocean. The vast area sits between Hawai’i, Kiribati and Mexico, and spans 4.5 million sq km.
The area is of high commercial interest because it has an abundance of polymetallic nodules that contain valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper, which are used to make products such as smartphones and electric batteries. The minerals are also used in weapons manufacturing.
Benefits ‘for humankind as a whole’ Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Clarion-Clipperton Zone falls under the jurisdiction of the ISA, which was established in 1994. That legislation states that any benefits from minerals extracted in its jurisdiction must be for “humankind as a whole”.
Nauru — alongside Tonga, Kiribati and the Cook Islands — has interests in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone after being allocated blocks of the area through UNCLOS. They are known as sponsor states.
In total, there are 19 sponsor states in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Nauru is leading the charge for deep sea mining in international waters. Image: RNZ Pacific/Caleb Fotheringham
Nauru and The Metals Company Since 2011, Nauru has partnered with The Metals Company to explore and assess its block in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone for commercial mining activity.
It has done this through an ISA exploration licence.
At the same time, the ISA, which counts all Pacific nations among its 169-strong membership, has also been developing a commercial mining code. That process began in 2014 and is ongoing.
The process has been criticised by The Metals Company as effectively blocking it and Nauru’s commercial mining interests.
Both have sought to advance their respective interests in different ways.
In 2021, Nauru took the unprecedented step of utilising a “two-year” notification period to initiate an exploitation licencing process under the ISA, even though a commercial seabed mining code was still being developed.
An ISA commercial mining code, once finalised, is expected to provide the legal and technical regulations for exploitation of the seabed.
In the absence of a code However, according to international law, in the absence of a code, should a plan for exploitation be submitted to the ISA, the body is required to provisionally accept it within two years of its submission.
While Nauru ultimately delayed enforcing the two-year rule, it remains the only state to ever invoke it under the ISA. It has also stated that it is “comfortable with being a leader on these issues”.
To date, the ISA has not issued a licence for exploitation of the seabed.
Meanwhile, The Metals Company has emphasised the economic potential of deep sea mining and its readiness to begin commercial activities. It has also highlighted the potential value of minerals sitting on the seabed in Nauru’s block in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
“[The block represents] 22 percent of The Metals Company’s estimated resource in the [Clarion-Clipperton Zone and] . . . is ranked as having the largest underdeveloped nickel deposit in the world,” the company states on its website.
Its announcement on Tuesday revealed it had filed three applications for mining activity in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone under the US pathway. One application is for a commercial mining permit. Two are for exploration permits.
The announcement added further fuel to warnings from anti-deep sea mining advocates that The Metals Company is pivoting away from Nauru and arrangements under the ISA.
Last year, the company stated it intended to submit a plan for commercial mining to the ISA on June 27 so it could begin exploitation operations by 2026.
This date appears to have been usurped by developments under Trump, with the company saying on Tuesday that its US permit application “advances [the company’s] timeline ahead” of that date.
The Trump factor Trump’s recent executive order is critical to this because it specifically directs relevant US government agencies to reactivate the country’s own deep sea mining licence process that had largely been unused over the past 40 years.
President Donald Trump signs a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House last month expanding fishing rights in the Pacific Islands to an area he described as three times the size of California. Image: RNZ screenshot APR
That legislation, the Deep Sea Hard Mineral Resources Act, states the US can grant mining permits in international waters. It was implemented in 1980 as a temporary framework while the US worked towards ratifying the UNCLOS Treaty. Since then, only four exploration licences have been issued under the legislation.
To date, the US is yet to ratify UNCLOS.
At face value, the Deep Sea Hard Mineral Resources Act offers an alternative licensing route to commercial seabed activity in the high seas to the ISA. However, any cross-over between jurisdictions and authorities remains untested.
Now, The Metals Company appears to be operating under both in the same area of international waters — the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition’s Pacific regional coordinator Phil McCabe said it was unclear what would happen to Nauru.
“This announcement really appears to put Nauru as a partner of the company out in the cold,” McCabe said.
No Pacific benefit mechanism “If The Metals Company moves through the US process, it appears that there is no mechanism or no need for any benefit to go to the Pacific Island sponsoring states because they sponsor through the ISA, not the US,” he said.
McCabe, who is based in Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighted extensive investment The Metals Company had poured into the Nauru block over more than 10 years.
He said it was in the company’s financial interests to begin commercial mining as soon as possible.
“If The Metals Company was going to submit an application through the US law, it would have to have a good measure of environmental data on the area that it wants to mine, and the only area that it has that data [for] is the Nauru block,” McCabe said.
He also pointed out that the size of the Nauru block The Metals Company had worked on in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone was the same as a block it wanted to commercially mine through US legislation.
Both are exactly 25,160 sq km, McCabe said.
RNZ Pacific asked The Metals Company to clarify whether its US application applied to Nauru and Tonga’s blocks. The company said it would “be able to confirm details of the blocks in the coming weeks”.
It also said it intended to retain its exploration contracts through the ISA that were sponsored by Nauru and Tonga, respectively.
Cook Islands nodule field – photo taken within Cook Islands EEZ. Image: Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Pacific Ocean a ‘new frontier’ Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) associate Maureen Penjueli had similar observations to McCabe regarding the potential impacts of Trump’s executive order.
Trump’s order, and The Metals Company ongoing insistence to commercially mine the ocean, was directly related to escalating geopolitical competition, she told RNZ Pacific.
“There are a handful of minerals that are quite critical for all kinds of weapons development, from tankers to armour like nuclear weapons, submarines, aircraft,” she said.
Currently, the supply and processing of minerals in that market, which includes iron, lithium, copper, cobalt and graphite, is dominated by China.
Between 40 and 90 percent of the world’s rare earth minerals are processed by China, Penjueli said. The variation is due to differences between individual minerals.
As a result, both Europe and the US are heavily dependent on China for these minerals, which according to Penjueli, has massive implications.
“On land, you will see the US Department of Defense really trying to seek alternative [mineral] sources,” Penjueli said.
“Now, it’s extended to minerals in the seabed, both within [a country’s exclusive economic zone], but also in areas beyond national jurisdictions, such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, which is here in the Pacific. That is around the geopolitical [competition] . . . and the US versus China positioning.”
Notably, Trump’s executive order on the US seabed mining licence process highlights the country’s reliance on overseas mineral supply, particularly regarding security and defence implications.
He said the US wanted to advance its leadership in seabed mineral development by “strengthening partnerships with allies and industry to counter China’s growing influence over seabed mineral resources”.
The Metals Company and the US She believed The Metals Company had become increasingly focused on security and defence needs.
Initially, the company had framed commercial deep sea mining as essential for the world’s transition to green energies, she said. It had used that language when referring to its relationships with Pacific states like Nauru, Penjueli said.
However, the company had also begun pitching US policy makers under the Biden administration over the need to acquire critical minerals from the seabed to meet US security and defence needs, she said.
Since Trump’s re-election, it had also made a series of public announcements praising US government decisions that prioritised deep sea mining development for defence and security purposes.
In a press release on Trump’s executive order, The Metals Company chief executive Gerard Barron said the company had enough knowledge to manage the environmental risks of deep sea mining.
“Over the last decade, we’ve invested over half a billion dollars to understand and responsibly develop the nodule resource in our contract areas,” Barron said.
“We built the world’s largest environmental dataset on the [Clarion-Clipperton Zone], carefully designed and tested an off-shore collection system that minimises the environmental impacts and followed every step required by the International Seabed Authority.
“What we need is a regulator with a robust regulatory regime, and who is willing to give our application a fair hearing. That’s why we’ve formally initiated the process of applying for licenses and permits under the existing US seabed mining code,” Barron said.
ISA influenced by opposition faction The Metals Company directed RNZ Pacific to a statement on its website in response to an interview request.
The statement, signed by Barron, said the ISA was being influenced by a faction of states aligned with environmental NGOs that opposed the deep sea mining industry.
Barron also disputed any contraventions of international law under the US regime, and said the country has had “a fully developed regulatory regime” for commercial seabed mining since 1989.
“The ISA has neither the mining code nor the willingness to engage with their commercial contractors,” Barron said. “In full compliance with international law, we are committed to delivering benefits to our developing state partners.”
President Trump’s executive order marks America’s return to “leadership in this exciting industry”, claims The Metals Company. Note the name “Gulf of America” on this map was introduced by President Trump in a controversial move, but the rest of the world regards it as the Gulf of Mexico, as recognised by officially recognised by the International Hydrographic Organisation. Image: Facebook/The Metals Company
‘It’s an America-first move’ Despite Barron’s observations, Penjueli and McCabe believed The Metals Company and the US were side-stepping international law, placing Pacific nations at risk.
McCabe said Pacific nations benefitted from UNCLOS, which gives rights over vast oceanic territories.
“It’s an America-first move,” said McCabe who believes the actions of The Minerals Company and the US are also a contravention of international law.
There are also significant concerns that Trump’s executive order has effectively triggered a race to mine the Pacific seabed for minerals that will be destined for military purposes like weapons systems manufacturing, Penjueli said.
Unlike UNCLOS, the US deep sea mining legislation does not stipulate that minerals from international waters must be used for peaceful purposes.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition’s Duncan Currie believes this is another tricky legal point for Nauru and other sponsor states in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Potentially contravene international law For example, should Nauru enter a commercial mining arrangement with The Metals Company and the US under US mining legislation, any royalties that may eventuate could potentially contravene international law, Currie said.
First, the process would be outside the ISA framework, he said.
Second, UNCLOS states that any benefits from seabed mining in international waters must benefit all of “humankind”.
Therefore, Currie said, royalties earned in a process that cannot be scrutinised by the ISA likely did not meet that stipulation.
Third, he said, if the extracted minerals were used for military purposes — which was a focus of Trump’s executive order — then it likely violates the principle that the seabed should only be exploited for peaceful purposes.
“There really are a host of very difficult legal issues that arise,” he added.
The Metals Company says ISA is being influenced by a faction of states aligned with environmental NGOs that oppose the deep sea mining industry. Image: Facebook/The Metals Company/RNZ
The road ahead Now more than ever, anti-deep sea mining advocates believe a moratorium on the practice is necessary.
Penjueli, echoing Currie’s concerns, said there was too much uncertainty with two potential avenues to commercial mining.
“The moratorium call is quite urgent at this point,” she said.
“We simply don’t know what [these developments] mean right now. What are the implications if The Metals Company decides to dump its Pacific state sponsored partners? What does it mean for the legal tenements that they hold in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone?”
In that instance, Nauru, which has spearheaded the push for commercial seabed mining alongside The Metals Company, may be particularly exposed.
Currently, more than 30 countries have declared support for a moratorium on deep sea mining. Among them are Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu.
On the other hand, Nauru, Kiribati, Tonga, and the Cook Islands all support deep sea mining.
Australia has not explicitly called for a moratorium on the practice, but it has also refrained from supporting it.
New Zealand supported a moratorium on deep sea mining under the previous Labour government. The current government is reportedly reconsidering this stance.
RNZ Pacific contacted the Nauru government for comment but did not receive a response.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
A 30-year-old Kingston man has been charged with drug trafficking and driving offences after being intercepted by Southern Road Policing officers on Friday night. Police will allege the man was intercepted in Huonville, when officers located a large quantity of drugs, including MDMA, cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine in his vehicle. He was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and driving whilst disqualified and will appear in court on 23 July. Our road policing officers operate across the district to reduce serious and fatal crashes, and target those drivers believed to be involved in drug trafficking and other serious offences.
Tax reform advocacy group Tax Justice Aotearoa is calling on the Government and opposition parties to remedy the failures in our taxation system illustrated by a new report from the Centre of International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, which looks at transparency and corporate tax issues in the heavily public-funded aged care sector.
“Instead of talking about the possibility of reducing our corporate tax rate of 28 per cent, the Government should be finding ways to increase financial transparency, and ensuring that multinational corporates pay their fair share of current corporate tax by reviewing the thin capitalisation rules,” says Glenn Barclay, Chairperson of Tax Justice Aotearoa.
“This is particularly urgent where public funds are paid to multinational corporations delivering services on behalf of the government.”
The report focuses on the transparency of public funding in the aged residential care sector, and shows how our tax system allows multi-national providers to avoid paying the taxes that the public would expect them to pay, demonstrating this through the example of UK-owned BUPA.
BUPA had an average effective corporate tax rate over the past decade of only 4 per cent, much lower than the headline rate of 28 per cent, driven largely by tax-free capital gains.
In addition, the company appears to have used inter-company interest payments on a substantial loan to an Australian-incorporated BUPA company, which may have reduced taxable income by around $151m over the decade, trimming tax revenue by as much as $27 million over that period.
“This ability of multi-nationals to set up loans between subsidiary companies in different countries and then claim tax deductibility on the interest from those loans is a major issue,” says Glenn Barclay.
“While entirely legal, this ‘thin capitalisation’ is an approach that most members of the public would find questionable. It also gives multi-national players an advantage over wholly New Zealand-owned companies in competitive markets.”
“New Zealand does have thin capitalisation rules that are supposed to prevent this kind of activity, but this example shows that they are simply not strong enough,” says Glenn Barclay.
“We note that Australia and the UK have introduced a ‘fixed ratio’ test for interest payments on related party debt which limits allowable interest deductions in any one year to 30 per cent of gross earnings and this is the kind of measure that we should also seriously consider.”
“On a related matter, we note that IRD is looking at relaxing the existing thin capitalisation rules for infrastructure projects as part of its work programme agreement with the Minister of Revenue.
This could well be in the Budget and would be a big step in the wrong direction,” says Glenn Barclay. “We urge the Government not to go down this route, but instead look at tightening this provision across the economy.”
The report questions the tax exemptions in the sector for capital gains arising from revaluations of assets, which is significant given the amount of real estate that companies in the sector own.
“It seems that aged residential care providers are intentionally using the capital gains they make from selling both rights to occupy properties to new residents, and sometimes the properties themselves, as part of their income streams,” says Glenn Barclay.
“If this is true, then the current law, which says that capital gains on sales made intentionally for that purpose are taxable, should be enforced. If, for some reason, it is not enforceable, then the law should be clarified. A comprehensive tax on capital gains would resolve these issues in a much clearer way.”
The report also raises questions about the level of funding for the aged care sector and the extent to which unaccountable multi-national and other private providers should be involved in service delivery.
“The report indirectly supports the need for more funding for aged care generally as the population ages and this is yet another example of a demand for services that only a more progressive tax system that properly taxes wealth can address,” says Glenn Barclay.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 05/05/2025
The ACT Government is inviting feedback on potential reforms to the Bail Act 1992.
Today ACT Attorney-General Tara Cheyne MLA will be releasing a discussion paper Review of decision-making criteria in the Bail Act 1992. The discussion paper’s purpose is to assist with the development of legislation to modernise the ACT’s bail laws. The most recent significant reforms to the Bail Act were in 2004.
Minister Cheyne said that bail is one of the most challenging and complex elements of the criminal justice system because it contemplates what limitations are put on someone’s liberty when they have not been convicted of an offence.
“The step we are taking today is not a reflection that our bail laws are flawed, but it is recognition that the legislation is complex, difficult to follow, and will benefit from a review against the latest evidence and observations about how it is operating,” Minister Cheyne said.
Whether bail is granted or not is based on an assessment that a decision-maker has made about the level of risk a person poses, and whether that risk can be managed if the person is in the community.
The Bail Act is the framework for that risk assessment. It provides detail about what must be considered—and what may be considered—in undertaking the risk assessment and in making the decision.
“Ultimately, we want the decision-maker to have regard for all of the relevant information available to them so that their risk assessment is the most informed it can be. The discussion paper is seeking feedback on what information the decision-maker should be taking into account,” Minister Cheyne said.
The discussion paper sets out a potential decision-making framework for a risk assessment to be undertaken through the lenses of the interests of the victim, the interests of the accused, and the interests of community safety and justice integrity.
“The better informed the decision, the greater likelihood there is for persons who present the greatest risk to be managed appropriately, for detention to be limited where it is unnecessary, and for any conditions applied to someone released on bail to be appropriate for the circumstances and level of risk.
“Importantly, we want the broader community to have an understanding of and confidence in what is being taken into account when a decision is made about whether bail is granted, and, where it is granted, how that information is informing any conditions that are placed on a person to manage that risk,” Minister Cheyne said.
Community and stakeholder feedback is sought on the discussion paper until Friday, 13 June. The discussion paper will be available online later today at www.yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/bail-reform.
Five youths charged by Hobart police after stealing from bottle shop
Monday, 5 May 2025 – 9:44 am.
Four youths will appear in the Hobart Youth Justice Court in July, whilst another will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act 1997 after being charged over stealing from a Hobart bottle shop last night. A 14-year-old boy was charged with robbery and possess a controlled plant.A 13-year-old boy was charged with robbery and bail offences.A 13-year-old girl was charged with robbery and stealing.A 14-year-old boy was charged with robbery and bail offences.An 11-year-old girl will be dealt with by way of youth diversion under the Youth Justice Act 1997. Tasmania Police is committed to protecting the community and local businesses, and detecting and preventing anti-social and criminal behaviour to make our public spaces safer for everyone. Our community deserves to feel safe at home, out in public and in their workplaces. We will continue to target anti-social and criminal behaviour and where appropriate, necessary and authorised by law, we will be charging those who offend, and putting them before a magistrate. Anyone who witnesses illegal or anti-social behaviour should report it to police on 131 444, or triple-zero (000) in an emergency. Information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au. You can stay anonymous.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has congratulated Anthony Albanese on winning the Australian Federal Election, and Lawrence Wong on winning the Singaporean election. “I have been in touch with both Mr Albanese and Mr Wong to offer my congratulations on retaining office,” Mr Luxon says. “When we spoke, Mr Albanese and I affirmed our strong working relationship. New Zealand has no better friend and no greater ally than Australia. Working together is even more important now as we both face the most challenging global environment in decades. We are stronger on the world stage together. “I look forward to continuing to work with Mr Albanese on a range of issues including our shared security, partnering in the Pacific, and making the trans-Tasman business environment ever more seamless.” Mr Luxon has also congratulated Lawrence Wong on his recent election victory in Singapore. “Singapore is a key partner for New Zealand in Southeast Asia, and I am eager to continue to strengthen our bilateral relations and collaborate on regional and global challenges. “Both Australia and Singapore are indispensable partners for New Zealand. I am committed to enhancing our cooperation with both countries as we navigate the complexities of the current global landscape.”