Global Pulse

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大洋洲

  • FIFA says it hopes to sell $4.2bn stake in its tournaments

    FIFA says it hopes to sell $4.2bn stake in its tournaments

    Global football’s governing body FIFA has ignited a fierce debate across the sport after officially confirming plans to offload a minority stake in the commercial operations of its flagship competitions, including the World Cup, through a newly created semi-private subsidiary. The announcement, made Tuesday, came just hours after details of the confidential proposal were leaked to British newspaper *The Times* by two anonymous sources, forcing FIFA to break its silence on the initiative early.

    Under the plan, FIFA will retain a majority controlling share in the new entity, named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The organization aims to raise $4.2 billion by the end of 2021 by selling non-controlling minority stakes to pre-vetted long-term investors, with an projected initial equity valuation of $20 billion for FFE, per FIFA’s internal estimates. In an effort to build buy-in across its global membership, each of FIFA’s 211 national member associations will be offered the opportunity to purchase a $20 million one-off stake. While that holding amounts to just 0.1% of FFE’s total equity, FIFA notes the sum could represent a transformative financial opportunity for leaders of smaller or lower-income member federations. The governing body added that the proceeds from the stake sale, when combined with existing development programs, would push its total planned global football development funding past $10 billion over the next four years.

    FIFA has moved quickly to address concerns over loss of governance control, emphasizing in its official statement that it will “retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions.”

    The leak published by *The Times* painted a far more controversial picture of the plan, however. The report alleged that FIFA president Gianni Infantino, 56, stands to personally benefit from the scheme after his current expected term ends in 2031, when he could take on a leadership role as FFE commissioner. The newspaper also named early parties that have already held preliminary discussions with FIFA, including Joshua Kushner — brother of Jared Kushner, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law — and an investment division of JPMorgan Chase, the American bank that infamously tried to finance the collapsed 2021 European Super League breakaway. *The Times* quoted one unnamed senior football industry figure calling the FFE plan “potentially much worse than the European Super League,” arguing it would reshape the foundation of football at every level globally. A second anonymous source added that the structure creates “unacceptable” conflicts of interest for both FIFA and Infantino personally.

    UEFA, European football’s governing body and a longstanding critic of Infantino’s leadership, was among the first to issue a sharp rebuke of the plan following the report’s publication. “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously,” the organization said in a statement. “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

    The FFE proposal is not Infantino’s first attempt to bring large-scale private capital into FIFA’s top competitions. In 2019, a FIFA stakeholder committee rejected an Infantino-supported plan to secure $25 billion in private investment for an expanded Club World Cup, with reported backers including Japan’s SoftBank Group and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Despite that rejection, FIFA still moved forward with expanding the Club World Cup from 7 to 32 teams, set to launch in 2025. *The Times* speculates that the creation of FFE could open the door to further expansion of both the World Cup and Club World Cup, as well as pressure to hold the tournaments more frequently than the current four-year cycle.

    FIFA, a not-for-profit organization formally owned by its member associations and holds tax-exempt status in its home base of Switzerland, has a history of past complications with spinning off commercial rights to private partners. In 2001, the collapse of International Sports Licensing (ISL), the firm that negotiated World Cup broadcast rights deals for FIFA, left the governing body with losses estimated between $30 million and $115 million.

    In recent months, FIFA has already signaled soaring expected revenues amid ongoing World Cup expansion: earlier this June, ahead of the 2026 men’s tournament — the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 — Infantino announced that FIFA projected 2026 full-year revenues would surpass a record €7 billion ($8 billion), and confirmed early discussions have already begun about expanding the 2030 World Cup field to 64 teams.

  • Fires in Europe: latest developments

    Fires in Europe: latest developments

    Across southern and western Europe, ongoing wildfire battles have shown small signs of progress in Spain and France this Tuesday, but forecasters and authorities warn that new extreme heat and shifting fire risks threaten to reverse hard-won gains for firefighting teams.

    In Spain, which has faced some of the most severe wildfire seasons in its modern history, the Interior Ministry announced Tuesday that evacuation orders for 13 municipalities in two fire-stricken regions would be lifted starting at 5:00 pm local time (1500 GMT). While officials have not yet confirmed how many residents are affected or when they will be able to re-enter their properties permanently, the announcement marks a clear milestone in the country’s weeks-long fight to contain raging blazes.

    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed cautious optimism during a press briefing Tuesday, noting that firefighting crews are starting to see a turning point in the crisis. “We are indeed turning the tide and we can begin to see light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against these fires, with every precaution, especially during the complex days and hours ahead,” Sanchez told reporters.

    Across the border in France, thousands of residents and visitors have been evacuated as blazes continue to ravage the southwestern Gironde region near Bordeaux. Some displaced residents are starting to return home this week: villagers from Haillan, Merignac and Eysines, three communities near Bordeaux that were forced to flee the massive fire, have been cleared to return, though authorities have stressed that residents must remain ready to evacuate again at short notice if conditions shift.

    Earlier Tuesday, 4,000 people staying at campsites west of Bordeaux were ordered to leave as a precaution ahead of forecast adverse weather conditions. National meteorological service MeteoFrance predicted that inland temperatures would climb to 35 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, with westerly ocean winds capable of spreading existing flames. Even more concerning, forecasts predict temperatures will hit 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, paired with light, dry winds that create ideal conditions for blazes to spread.

    Regional prefect Sophie Brocas told reporters that the main massive fire in Gironde has now “stabilized, meaning it is not advancing.” However, 14 smaller surrounding blazes have reignited in recent days, keeping crews on high alert.

    French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the Bordeaux crisis response center late Monday, warned that the region faces a long road ahead. “The coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out,” Macron said. He added that a second large fire further south in the Landes region, which forced the evacuation of 30,000 people, has been contained but still poses an ongoing risk; 15,000 evacuees from that fire have so far been allowed to return to their homes.

    A new and immediate threat is emerging for both Spain and France: an incoming heatwave. Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET officially declared that a new heatwave would begin across the country on Wednesday, lasting through the end of the week. The agency warned that soaring temperatures and dropping humidity will push wildfire risk to “very high or extreme levels across almost the entire country,” adding that “this situation will persist, or may even worsen, in the following days.” Forecasts also call for rising temperatures across France, where two major blazes are already active along the Atlantic coast.

    The European Union, which has already deployed additional firefighting aircraft to support response efforts in France and Spain, warned Tuesday that fire risk is spreading east across the continent. EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told AFP that existing response resources are already stretched thin, with new extreme conditions forecast for Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Portugal in addition to the already hard-hit Iberian Peninsula and France.

    Portugal already reported multiple new wildfire outbreaks in northern and central regions of the country on Tuesday. Civil protection services confirm that over 1,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the new blazes, backed by roughly 20 aerial firefighting aircraft and helicopters.

  • Dozens feared trapped in quake-hit Japan mall

    Dozens feared trapped in quake-hit Japan mall

    On Tuesday, a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake (measured at 6.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey) jolted southwestern Japan’s Kumamoto region on Kyushu Island, triggering widespread structural damage, multiple fires, and widespread disruption across the area. The tremor, which hit at 4:27 pm local time (0727 GMT), registered a maximum 7 on Japan’s intensity-based Shindo scale, and was followed within an hour by a 6.1-magnitude aftershock, with continued smaller jolts reported in the hours after the main quake.

    Early rescue operations are focused on a collapsed shopping mall in the town of Kashima, where the structure’s second floor caved in during the tremor and sparked a subsequent blaze. Emergency responders initially confirmed that many people were trapped inside the building, with public broadcaster NHK reporting that between 20 and 30 mall employees remain unaccounted for as of Tuesday evening. While private broadcaster TBS has suggested a considerable number of fatalities may be inside the mall, national police have not yet confirmed any deaths at that site. One fatality has been confirmed from a separate residential building collapse elsewhere in the region, per Kyodo News, and more than 100 people have been reported injured across the affected area.

    Additional missing persons have been reported at a factory in Yatsushiro city, where the top of a facility chimney crumbled during the quake. Footage captured by NHK shows widespread destruction across the region: multiple active wildfires, damaged highway bridges, a derailed cargo train, and dozens of residential properties left teetering on the edge of collapse. Unverified social media footage also shows partial damage to the outer walls of Kumamoto Castle, a historic landmark centuries old.

    Witnesses described widespread panic as the quake struck. Chiharu Hara, a 35-year-old recruitment agent working in Kumamoto, told Agence France-Presse that the violent side-to-side shaking left her convinced her office would collapse. “Everyone panicked,” she said. A live on-air report from an NHK staffer based in the region half an hour after the main tremor noted that aftershocks continued to rock the area, making it nearly impossible to stand in the newsroom.

    Emergency response efforts have been mobilized rapidly. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed via social platform X that casualties, building collapses, road damage, and fires have all been verified, alongside widespread water and electricity outages. The country’s defense ministry has deployed 3,600 Self-Defense Force personnel to lead search and rescue operations, with 20 aircraft dispatched to conduct aerial damage assessments. A initial tsunami alert issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency was lifted just under two hours after the quake.

    Local health facilities have been overwhelmed by the influx of injured patients. NHK reports that two area hospitals alone have admitted at least 50 injured people each, with patients arriving for treatment for burns, crush injuries, and fractures. Hospital staff told the broadcaster that the facilities themselves have sustained damage, including broken water lines and electrical failures. Around 10 additional injuries were reported at a local elderly nursing home. As of Tuesday evening, approximately 45,000 households and public facilities across Kumamoto remain without power, according to regional utility Kyushu Electric Power.

    Officials have confirmed that there is no abnormal activity at the region’s nuclear power facilities, with three operating reactors continuing to function normally following the quake. Major transportation links were disrupted in the immediate aftermath: all high-speed shinkansen services through the region were suspended, and Kumamoto Airport was closed to air traffic for several hours before reopening Tuesday evening.

    The earthquake hits a region already marked by seismic disaster memory: Kumamoto was the site of two devastating quakes in 2016, a 6.5-magnitude tremor followed two days later by a 7.3-magnitude event that killed 273 people and injured more than 2,800. Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active nations, positioned at the intersection of four major tectonic plates along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.” The country sees roughly 18 percent of the world’s earthquakes annually, with hundreds of minor jolts recorded each year. Major quakes remain a persistent national risk, most notably the 2011 9.0-magnitude undersea quake that triggered a deadly tsunami, killing over 18,500 people and causing the catastrophic meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

  • ‘Only job I wanted’, says new France coach Zidane

    ‘Only job I wanted’, says new France coach Zidane

    In a widely anticipated appointment that has dominated French football headlines for months, the French Football Federation (FFF) officially announced Tuesday that legendary former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane will take the reins as the new head coach of the men’s national team, signing a four-year contract that extends through the 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

    The 54-year-old coaching icon, who has been tipped as the favorite for the role ever since former manager Didier Deschamps stepped down earlier this month following France’s fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, has spent years patiently waiting for an opening to lead Les Bleus. Deschamps, who held the national team post since 2012, leaves behind a formidable legacy: he guided France to a World Cup title in 2018 and a runners-up finish at the 2022 tournament.

    Speaking at his official unveiling in Paris Tuesday, Zidane opened up about the overwhelming emotion of landing the only role he ever wanted in management after stepping away from Real Madrid in 2021. “For me, it’s an immense joy… being able to become the coach of this French team. I don’t have any other words,” he said. “I’m holding myself back because I have so many emotions inside me. I’m ready for the challenge, that’s what drives me today.”

    A decorated winner for France as a player, Zidane scored two iconic goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil to secure France’s first-ever world title, and later lifted the UEFA European Championship trophy with the national side in 2000. He was also a teammate of Deschamps during that 1998 World Cup triumph, and becomes the third former 1998 champion to manage the national team, following Deschamps and Laurent Blanc, who held the role from 2010 to 2012.

    Notably, Zidane turned down every club coaching offer he received over the past four to five years to hold out for the France job. “The France job was the only one I wanted,” he confirmed, after meeting with fans outside FFF headquarters, signing autographs and posing for photos with waiting supporters. “I’ve had offers over these four or five years to take charge of a club and I turned them all down for the French national team.”

    Zidane’s entire club coaching career to date has been spent at Real Madrid, where he cemented his place in Champions League history by leading the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 — a historic achievement that has never been matched in the modern era of the competition. While he acknowledges that leading a national team is a far different challenge than club management, he said the new test does not faze him. “I think it’s a completely different job, that’s for sure. I’ve experienced the club side of it. Now this is something new for me, but it doesn’t scare me,” he explained.

    Staying true to his own approach while building on the success of his predecessors is Zidane’s plan moving forward. “’DD’ (Deschamps) is ‘DD’, Blanc was Blanc and ‘Zizou’ is Zizou,” he said, referencing his well-known nickname. “I will do things the way I know how to do them.” His core priority remains clear: continuing France’s legacy as one of the world’s top international football sides. “I’m going to give everything so that this team keeps on winning. That’s it, the only thing that drives me is being able to work for this France team and making sure it keeps on winning.”

    FFF President Philippe Diallo revealed that talks with Zidane first began back in February 2025, shortly after Deschamps initially announced he would step down following the 2026 World Cup. Diallo said one line from their first conversation ultimately sealed the deal for Zidane’s appointment. “There was one thing that struck me, that perhaps ultimately made the difference. During the conversations we had, he said to me, ‘President, I know how to win.’ When he said that, I saw someone who had both the desire and the self-belief needed to lead France. That is what it takes for our national team to remain successful in the years ahead.”

    Zidane will make his debut on the France sidelines later this year, with his first match in charge an away UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey on September 25. His first home game at the iconic Stade de France will follow a week later on October 2, when France hosts Italy.

  • Firefighters on offensive in France, Spain as new heatwave arrives

    Firefighters on offensive in France, Spain as new heatwave arrives

    As Western Europe braces for a second blistering heatwave this week, firefighters across France and Spain are working around the clock to corral the most destructive wildfires the region has seen in decades, leveraging a narrow window of slightly cooler conditions before soaring temperatures return to fan the flames.

    The fast-spreading infernos have already carved a devastating path through thousands of hectares of forest, reducing hundreds of residential structures to ash and forcing mass evacuations that have displaced tens of thousands of residents. With meteorologists forecasting a return of oven-like heat — starting Tuesday in France and Wednesday in Spain — emergency crews are locked in a race against time to get existing blazes under control before extreme conditions return.

    On France’s Cap Ferret peninsula, where civilian volunteers have helped carve a massive 50-meter-wide, 25-kilometer-long firebreak to contain the blaze near Bordeaux, regional fire commander Eric Pitault said crews were holding the line against the inferno, though he acknowledged that teams were growing exhausted after six straight days of battle. Since the blaze ignited, it has scorched more than 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) of land, forced 220,000 people to flee their homes, and destroyed 240 dwellings. While overnight flare-ups were reported in the northern part of the peninsula, French authorities confirmed these outbreaks have been contained, and the total burned area has not expanded.

    In Spain, the toll is even greater: wildfires burning primarily west of Madrid have already consumed 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres) — an area nearly as large as New York City — and forced 60,000 residents to evacuate. Outside the Madrid-region town of Aldea del Fresno, displaced locals waited in lines of cars at roadblocks on Monday, hoping for permission to return to their homes to check on properties and rescue stranded pets. But Spanish civil security forces blocked re-entry, citing extreme risks from toxic wildfire smoke. Galia Borisova, a 55-year-old domestic worker waiting to reach her animals in nearby Picadas, said authorities had warned even masks could not filter the thick smoke, a risk she could see firsthand from her position at the roadblock.

    The ongoing crisis is the latest manifestation of a broader trend of extreme weather that has gripped Europe throughout 2024, with consecutive back-to-back heatwaves and a widespread continental drought that scientists directly link to human-caused climate change. Years of rising global temperatures have created the ideal conditions for catastrophic wildfires: the preceding wet, mild winter and spring allowed vegetation to grow thick and lush, but months of extreme heat have dried that vegetation out, turning vast swathes of the European countryside into a massive tinderbox ready to ignite at the smallest spark.

    Leaders of both nations have acknowledged the new reality of climate change that is driving these repeated disasters. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the ongoing wildfire crisis as “the most painful expression of a climate emergency,” while French President Emmanuel Macron warned the public that “the coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out.”

    The crisis is already stretching European emergency resources thin, and EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib warned that the danger is not limited to France and Spain. Extreme fire risk is also building across central and eastern Europe, with conditions expected to worsen in Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Portugal in the coming days. “Extreme conditions are looming for Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, in addition to France, the Iberian Peninsula… where the situation is expected to worsen, including in Portugal starting today,” Lahbib said.

    Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET has confirmed the new heatwave will last through at least the end of this week, with forecasts calling for temperatures as high as 42°C (107.6°F) in the country’s northeast and 39°C (102.2°F) in central regions. For its part, MeteoFrance is forecasting high temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F) across the country starting Tuesday, paired with dry, gusty winds that will only increase fire risk. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlanka said Sunday that the next 48 hours would be “absolutely decisive” for containing the large wildfires burning outside Madrid before the new heatwave hits.

  • Reserve Bank governor’s words lift ASX 200 after early market losses

    Reserve Bank governor’s words lift ASX 200 after early market losses

    Australia’s benchmark share index staged a remarkable afternoon comeback on Tuesday, erasing early losses to close firmly in positive territory, driven by a carefully watched speech from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock and a fresh drop in global oil prices. By the closing bell, the ASX 200 had climbed 53.80 points, or 0.60%, to settle at 8947.80, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 48.20 points, or 0.53%, to reach 9112.00. Alongside the market uptick, the Australian dollar weakened slightly to 69.70 U.S. cents.

    Nine out of the 11 tracked industry sectors closed the session in positive territory, with consumer discretionary stocks leading the charge. Retail heavyweight Wesfarmers saw its shares rise 2.08% to $89.22, electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi gained 2.20% to hit $78.15, and travel agency Flight Centre jumped 5.07% to $12.64. The healthcare sector also posted robust gains: biotech firm CSL rose 2.69% to $119.52, medical device maker ResMed climbed 3.39% to $28.95, and pathology provider Sonic Healthcare gained 2.85% to $22.01.

    The only major headwind to the market’s rally came from the mining sector, where large-cap resources stocks pulled back on the day. BHP Group fell 1.21% to $59.37, Rio Tinto dropped 2.48% to $159.53, and Fortescue Metals edged 0.53% lower to $18.70, offsetting a portion of the gains across other sectors.

    The primary catalyst for the market’s turnaround was Bullock’s speech, in which she outlined that domestic demand growth is slowing faster than the central bank previously projected, alongside a weakening labour market and a greater-than-expected slowdown in the housing sector. Tony Sycamore, senior market analyst at IG, noted that the remarks calmed investor fears of aggressive near-term interest rate hikes, even as the RBA retained its official hawkish bias. The RBA board has repeatedly stated it stands ready to raise the cash rate further if required to hit its inflation mandate.

    “While the RBA’s hawkish bias remains — ‘The Board is prepared to act as required to achieve its mandate, including by increasing the cash rate further if needed’ — the governor noted that demand growth is moderating broadly as expected and that the housing market has softened by more than the Bank had anticipated in May,” Sycamore explained. Combined with the latest drop in oil prices, markets are now only pricing in a 5 basis point rate hike at the RBA’s August policy meeting, with a full 25 basis point increase not fully priced in until March 2027. That said, Sycamore emphasized that Wednesday’s release of June quarter inflation data will be a critical data point for future rate expectations.

    A second supporting factor for the market uptick was a further 0.9% fall in Brent Crude prices, which dropped to $US87.56 per barrel. The decline followed comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who revealed that peace talks between Washington and Tehran have resumed, easing geopolitical risks that have put upward pressure on energy prices in recent weeks.

    In individual company news, online travel firm Web Travel was the day’s top performer, with shares surging 17.08% to $3.29 after the company announced a $90 million share buyback program and upgraded its first half EBITDA forecast to a range of $80 million to $86 million. Electronics retailer Harvey Norman also gained 2.33% to $4.83, even after a court ordered the company to pay $35 million in penalties over a deceptive advertising campaign. On the downside, defence technology firm Droneshield dropped 13.22% to $1.80 after the company reported first half revenue of $125.8 million but confirmed that profit margins had shrunk from 65% a year earlier to 60% amid ongoing industry headwinds.

  • Made by AI? EU tells firms to stick a label on it from Sunday

    Made by AI? EU tells firms to stick a label on it from Sunday

    Starting this Sunday, August 2, new mandatory transparency requirements for artificial intelligence-generated content will come into force across the European Union, as the bloc rolls out the first phase of its landmark comprehensive AI regulation. The core mandate of the new rules is simple but transformative: any AI system, from large language model-powered chatbots to AI-generated text, images, audio or video, must clearly disclose its artificial origin to end users, so that Europeans can immediately distinguish between authentic human-created content and synthetic AI output.

    Policymakers specifically highlight deepfakes—AI-generated or manipulated text, images, video and audio designed to mimic real content—as a key area of concern. Officials note that generative AI has enabled bad actors to create and spread disinformation at an unprecedented scale, with content tailored to target specific audiences and disseminated in near real time, eroding the public’s ability to tell fact from synthetic content. The new rules are designed to preserve consumer trust in the content they encounter online, by ensuring clear disclosure of AI creation.

    Under the framework, companies can meet the requirement through a range of methods, including embedded watermarks and other detectable digital markers that flag AI origin. Non-compliance carries the threat of substantial fines, though the EU has clarified that the rules only apply to professionally generated AI content; individuals using AI tools for personal, non-professional purposes are entirely exempt from the mandate. AI-generated text intended to inform the public on matters of general interest that lacks human editorial oversight is also required to carry an AI label, while work categorized as artistic, creative, satirical or fictional receives a full exemption. All existing AI systems operating in the bloc have until December 2 this year to bring their operations into full compliance with the new requirements.

    The policy has drawn its share of criticism, with critics arguing that the rules place overly burdensome compliance demands on businesses, and note that rapid, widespread adoption of AI across all sectors could eventually lead to near-universal labelling requirements. But Ashley Casovan, a representative of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, downplayed these concerns, telling AFP that similar predictions of unmanageable compliance burdens have accompanied past new regulatory requirements, and that businesses will adapt over time.

    Many of the world’s largest technology companies have already begun implementing their own AI labelling systems in anticipation of the new rules. TikTok has required creators to label AI-generated images, audio and video for several years, and the platform reports that over three billion pieces of content already carry AI labels thanks to built-in detection and labelling tools. Meta has rolled out its own “AI Info” label for AI-powered posts on Instagram and Facebook, while Google has signed the EU’s voluntary AI transparency code of conduct and is collaborating with major industry players including Nvidia, OpenAI and Apple to develop standardized digital tagging tools.

    Even as companies prepare for compliance, some industry leaders warn that overlapping regulatory requirements could create unintended confusion for end users. Karen Massin, a policy lead at Google, warned that excessive regulatory complexity could prove counterproductive to the rules’ core goal, noting that if online platforms become flooded with overlapping AI labels and legal disclosures, it will become harder rather than easier for users to access the clear context they need to evaluate content.

  • ‘Nowhere to hide’: Tax office issued brutal warning as ex-public servant charged over alleged $1.3m GST fraud scheme

    ‘Nowhere to hide’: Tax office issued brutal warning as ex-public servant charged over alleged $1.3m GST fraud scheme

    In a high-profile joint law enforcement operation targeting serious financial crime, a 33-year-old former public servant from Broken Hill, New South Wales, has been formally charged with attempting to defraud the Australian Commonwealth out of more than $1.3 million via fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund claims. The alleged scheme unfolded over a two-year period between 2020 and 2022, and authorities have used the arrest to issue a stark warning that tax fraud will not be tolerated anywhere in the country.

    The suspect was taken into custody at his Broken Hill residence on June 30, following a lengthy investigation led jointly by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), carried out under the umbrella of the Serious Financial Crime Task Force (SFCT). Body-worn and on-scene footage released by NSW Police shows uniformed officers escorting the man from his home into a waiting police vehicle following the arrest. A subsequent search of the property uncovered multiple electronic devices, which were seized as evidence for the ongoing case.

    According to law enforcement briefings, the former public servant first came onto the ATO’s radar through Operation Protego, the agency’s dedicated integrity task force focused on rooting out fraudulent activity. Investigators allege the suspect submitted falsified business activity statements using a fake Australian business entity to improperly claim the large GST refunds. He faces a single count of obtaining financial advantage through deception, one of the most serious financial crime charges under Australian Commonwealth law.

    Following the arrest and charging, ATO Deputy Commissioner Nicholas Shizas emphasized the critical importance of integrity in both public service and the national tax system. “Integrity is fundamental to public service – if you are not committed to this standard, the public service is not the right place for you,” Shizas said. He added that tax crime has “nowhere to hide” in Australia, pointing to the agency’s sophisticated detection systems and the proven collaborative capabilities of the SFCT and Operation Protego Integrity Taskforce. “This joint effort reflects the ongoing work of the SFCT to disrupt financial crime and respond to criminal behaviour, holding offenders accountable and protecting the integrity of the system,” he noted.

    AFP Acting Commander Tim Underhill echoed Shizas’ remarks, highlighting the collective commitment of partner agencies to safeguarding public funds. “These types of investigations are resource intensive and time-consuming, but the AFP and its partners are committed to preventing fraud and protecting taxpayers’ money,” Underhill said. He stressed that the alleged offending undermines the foundation of Australia’s tax framework, pulling critical funding away from vital community services that rely on consistent tax revenue. “There is no location in Australia where individuals can seek to lay low in the hope of avoiding law enforcement, we will locate you and bring you before the courts,” he added.

    After being granted strict bail conditions, the accused made a brief first appearance at the Broken Hill Local Court earlier this week. The case is scheduled for further progression through the Australian court system in coming months, as investigators continue to build their case against the former public servant.

  • NRL teams: Panthers make bombshell call to axe Blaize Talagi as the Tigers bring Adam Doueihi straight back in after week from hell

    NRL teams: Panthers make bombshell call to axe Blaize Talagi as the Tigers bring Adam Doueihi straight back in after week from hell

    With just six regular-season matches remaining before the 2024 NRL finals kick off, premiership favourites Penrith Panthers have delivered one of the most shocking selection moves of the year, dropping young five-eighth Blaize Talagi to NSW Cup just seven weeks out from the title decider.

    The move comes after opposition teams have increasingly targeted Penrith’s left defensive edge, a strategy that paid major dividends for the Parramatta Eels in their match against the Panthers last round. Talagi, who missed seven tackles in the Eels clash, became the casualty of ongoing defensive struggles on that side of the field, with Cleary choosing veteran Jack Cogger to step into the starting role to partner playmaker Nathan Cleary for this weekend’s match against the Canberra Raiders.

    Speaking after last week’s loss to the Eels, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary acknowledged the left edge has become a persistent problem for his squad, even as the club retains its status as the best defensive outfit in the NRL. “If they’ve been targeted for two years, we still remain the best defensive team. There were definitely some worries tonight, but on the balance, they can do better than that,” Cleary told reporters. While the call to drop a young player so close to the finals is a high-stakes gamble for the premiership hopefuls, it also gives Cleary enough time to test whether the reshuffled starting 13 is the combination that can carry the club to another premiership title.

    In other selection news across the league, Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has made the surprising call to reinstate star halfback Adam Doueihi straight back into the starting side just one week after the playmaker was dropped from the squad amid internal club unrest. Despite growing calls from fans and pundits to send Doueihi to reserve grade, the halfback will partner former Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai in the halves for the upcoming round, with rookie Javon Andrews named on the reserves. His return is a much-needed boost for a Tigers side that has suffered a dramatic form slump in recent months, with young forward Heamasi Makasini also returning to the starting line-up in the centres.

    The Sydney Roosters have been hit with a double injury blow, with winger Billy Smith joining star outside back Daniel Tupou on the injury sidelines. The club has named Tommy Talau to step into the starting side, forming an all-new left edge combination for the upcoming round.

    For the Dolphins, young playmaker Isaiya Katoa has been named on the extended bench as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury, though the club has confirmed there is no guarantee he will make an early return to the field this weekend.

    There is major positive injury news for the Newcastle Knights, with star fullback Kalyn Ponga named to return this week just after the club confirmed playmaker Dylan Brown will miss the remainder of the season. Ponga’s return comes at a critical time for the Knights, who are also without back Dylan Brown for the rest of the campaign. The club has named a new halves combination of Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith for their road trip to Brisbane, with Deine Mariner shifting into the centres to replace the injured Gehamat Shibasaki.

    South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Brandon Moore has been named to start at hooker despite managing ongoing calf issues, while young forward Tallis Duncan is in line for an earlier-than-expected return from injury in Sunday’s clash against the Cronulla Sharks. The New Zealand Warriors have brought Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into the starting side to replace the injured Taine Tuaupiki, who is sidelined with a foot injury, while the Gold Coast Titans have welcomed back playmaker AJ Brimson and forward Kurtis Morrin from injury layoffs.

    Melbourne Storm have named young utility Trent Toelau to replace injured captain and hooker Harry Grant at dummy-half this round, with rookie Hayden Watson set to make his NRL debut after being named on the bench. Young centre Jack Howarth will miss the clash against the Canterbury Bulldogs, with Manaia Waitere recalled to the starting side in his place.

  • ‘Hasn’t gone as expected’: Melbourne Storm faces 16-year first unless they can produce a miracle run

    ‘Hasn’t gone as expected’: Melbourne Storm faces 16-year first unless they can produce a miracle run

    For nearly two decades, the Melbourne Storm have been a constant presence in the NRL finals, not missing a post-season berth since 2008. But that 16-year unbroken run is on the brink of collapse, as the club grapples with the most devastating injury crisis veteran head coach Craig Bellamy has ever faced during his decades-long tenure at the club.

    Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu, who has emerged as one of the team’s standout performers in recent weeks despite the squad’s struggles, has openly acknowledged the odds are stacked against his side – but remains defiant that a miracle run to the finals is still on the cards.

    Last week’s gut-wrenching narrow loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs left Melbourne six points adrift of the top eight on the NRL ladder, with just six rounds remaining in the regular season, including one bye. To even have a shot at sneaking into the finals, the Storm are required to win all five of their remaining fixtures, which would see them finish the regular season on 32 points. Even that clean sweep may not be enough, however, as the club will also need other results around the competition to go their way to claim a spot in the top eight.

    The road ahead is far from easy, too. This week, Melbourne faces the ninth-placed Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a critical clash that will set the tone for their final stretch. Later in the season, they are also scheduled to take on ladder leaders the Penrith Panthers, as well as a red-hot Cronulla Sharks side – with the Sharks clash doubling as a 10-year anniversary commemorating the pair’s iconic 2016 grand final showdown.

    The biggest obstacle to the Storm’s finals push is the unprecedented injury toll that has ripped through the club’s starting lineup. Key playmaker Cameron Munster is currently sidelined with a knee injury, while captain and hooker Harry Grant is also out of action with a hamstring strain. Four more established first-team stars – Eli Katoa, Xavier Coates, Will Warbrick and Tui Kamikamica – have already been ruled out for the remainder of the season with long-term injuries.

    Against all odds, Utoikamanu says the squad has maintained the veteran club’s famous “next man up” mentality, embracing the unexpected opportunity that has opened up for young emerging players to step into first-grade roles. “There are a lot of new boys, but there are also a lot of new opportunities for boys to push for the team this year and next year. I’m pretty excited to go into this game and try to get a win,” the forward said.

    The club’s overall record this season could have been far kinder, Utoikamanu pointed out: four of the Storm’s losses this year have come by four points or fewer, meaning fine margins have been all that has stood between Bellamy’s side and a much higher ladder position. “Our whole season has been pretty crazy with the boys that have gone down,” Utoikamanu said after his best performance of the season against South Sydney last week. “We’ve just got to move on. (We have a) next-man-up mentality and we just focus on who we have here and how we can get the win.

    “It is tough for everyone, but I think it’s probably tougher for the boys who are actually out. This year probably hasn’t gone as expected. We’ve lost a fair couple of games when we had that seven-game losing streak. But in saying that, there were a lot of games with not much in it where we lost by a couple of points, so that’s a positive in itself. There are a lot of good teams coming through, and a lot of the good teams we’ve played, we haven’t lost by much. We can take a lot of confidence out of a lot of games.”

    Bellamy has emphasized the same message to his makeshift squad all season, Utoikamanu added, encouraging every player to lean into their individual strengths to contribute to the team, rather than trying to replace the absent stars. With everything on the line over the coming weeks, the Storm will look to pull off one of the most unlikely finals qualifications in recent NRL history.