The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of deceased financier and alleged sexual abuser Epstein, is underway this week. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to eight counts related sex trafficking, among other charges including perjury. Content Warning: This article details allegations of sexual abuse. 18 months after she was arrested, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is…
Victoria Police undertaking a search for the remains of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay have made a discovery. Police found human remains in a region of bushland close to Dargo, a town 348 kilometres east of Melbourne. The pair went missing in the Wonangatta Valley region during a camping trip in March 2020.…
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has launched legal action against Westpac regarding allegations of “poor systems, poor processes and poor governance”. The filings also address claims that Westpac charged over 11,000 deceased customers for advice fees. ASIC has filed six court cases against Westpac for alleged maladministration impacting customers. Westpac has since admitted…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that the Omicron coronavirus variant presents a “very high” risk to global health due to potentially increased rates of transmission. The Omicron variant presents a high likelihood of wider transmission, says WHO in a technical brief published this past weekend. Much is unknown about the variant, although a significant…
An investigation into NSW’s debt collection agency found that it had abused its automated system to collect outstanding debts from vulnerable people. The state Ombudsman found that Revenue NSW’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning was unlawful. NSW Ombudsman Paul Miller calls for “greater transparency” and accountability for agencies relying on AI and…
The Australian Government will make changes to regulations to allow telecommunications companies to block scam text messages. The changes come after a surge in scam messages received across the nation in 2021. Scam text messages have run rampant across Australia this year. An increase in fraudulent text messages from senders claiming to represent government agencies…
The Indian Government has told Elon Musk and SpaceX to stop offering their Starlink internet service in India until they have a license. The government body also advised the public not to subscribe to the service. Starlink Internet Services, a satellite internet constellation launched in 2018, is one of the many technological exploits taken on…
The Morrison Government will introduce “anti-trolling” legislation that would appoint new obligations to social media platforms in the event of online harassment or defamation. Under the legislation, social media companies would be compelled to reveal the personal information of users being sued for defamation. On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash came…
The Indian Government has submitted a bill calling for the ban of most private cryptocurrencies to be introduced in their Parliament’s winter session. The proposed bill comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comprehensive review of cryptocurrencies earlier this month. Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 has been added to the list of…
It’s good news for worried parents as emergency services report a positive trend across Schoolies 2021. According to ABC News, authorities report a 50 per cent decrease in medical incidents among celebrating school-leavers. As the first week of Schoolies wraps up, police say the festivities have been “generally pleasing” compared to previous years. After 2020…