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The Star
27-05-2025
- The Star
Australian man held over smuggling cocaine to Bali
Under scrutiny: The suspect being escorted to a news conference at the police headquarters in Bali. — AP Athorities arrested an Australian man for allegedly smuggling cocaine on the tourist island of Bali, a charge that could carry the death penalty, officials said. The South-East Asian country has extremely strict drug laws. Convicted smugglers are sometimes executed by firing squad. Lamar Aaron Ahchee, 43, from Cairns in north Queensland, was arrested last week, after police raided his rented house near Kuta beach, a popular tourist spot, and seized 1.7kg of cocaine in 206 clip plastic bags, along with a digital scale and cellular phone, said Bali police chief Daniel Adityajaya. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by Bali police anti-drug surveillance teams who reported the man had received two suspicious packages sent by mail from England, Adityajaya said on Monday. 'He is suspected of importing or distributing class 1 narcotics,' Adityajaya told a news conference in the provincial capital, Denpasar. 'He may face the death penalty or life imprisonment.' Adityajaya said a preliminary investigation showed that the Australian had ordered a motorcycle taxi driver through the Grab online service on May 21 to pick up two packages at a post office in Denpasar. The driver was told to hand the two packages to a motorcycle taxi driver from another online service, who was ordered to deliver them to Ahchee's rented house, Adityajaya said. Adityajaya said the suspect told authorities during a police interrogation that he was asked by someone he referred to as 'Boss,' to take the package and distribute it in Bali. He was promised 50 million rupiah (RM12,960) for handling the cocaine. Police on Monday presented the accused at the news conference. He was wearing an orange detainee jumpsuit and a buff mask, with his hands handcuffed. The man did not make a statement. One of his lawyers, Edward Pangkahila, said his team would accompany his client during the police questioning 'to see the progress of the investigation'. 'He is not the owner of the cocaine. He is just a dealer,' Pangkahila said. 'The police must be able to chase and arrest the person who is acting as his boss to reveal this case fairly.' — AP
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra's sugar output plummets by 29L tonnes in 2024-25
Kolhapur: Shorter cane crushing season in 2024-25 has marked a significant drop of 29 lakh tonnes in Maharashtra's sugar production compared to the past year. According to the sugar commissionerate office in Pune, the season, which commenced on Nov 15, saw 200 sugar mills in operation. These mills collectively produced 81 lakh tonnes of sugar — a substantial decrease of around 29 lakh tonnes from the 110 lakh tonnes produced in the 2023-24 season when as many as 208 mills were functional. The total sugar cane crushed by these mills in 2024-25 amounted to 850 lakh tonnes, down from the 1,070 lakh tonnes crushed in the previous season. Furthermore, the average sugar recovery rate also declined, from 10.27% to 9.5%. The duration of the crushing season was notably shorter this year, with mills operating for a maximum of 90 days, significantly lower than the average of 130-150 days seen in previous years. The conclusion of crushing activities was staggered across the months: 11 mills finished in Jan, 95 in Feb, 89 in March, 4 in April and one in May. The official declaration of the season's end was on May 14. Vijay Autade, a sugar industry expert from Kolhapur, highlighted the financial implications of this shorter season and reduced recovery. "The decline in average crushing days, being one of the lowest recorded, poses a risk to the financial stability of sugar mills. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Idosa cai no banheiro em Ibitinga e filha adota medida para proteger ela Tudo é Notícia Undo The drop in crushing resulted in an estimated loss of Rs10,700 crore for the mills as compared to the previous year, while the lower sugar recovery rate contributed to an additional loss of Rs2,960 crore. The reduced profitability has left very few mills in a position to pay farmers the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for their sugar cane," he said. He added, "Rainfall was abrupt last year. When the rains were needed, especially at the maturation stage, the weather remained dry. This impacted the growth of sugar cane. The cane matured early, leading to a dip in the per acre tonnage of the crop and thereby the sugar production." Experts and millers are now demanding that the sugar's minimum support price should be increased to Rs 42 per kg, with an equivalent increase in the ethanol procurement rates. Recently, the Centre once again increased the FRP, while it has not changed the MSP for the last five years. "The mill owners will also seek restructuring of the loans and additional funds to keep up with the maintenance cost of the machinery," said Autade.
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Airport arrest show tougher stance on student debt
By Susan Edmunds of RNZ The arrest of a person arriving at the border last month over unpaid student loan debt is an example of Inland Revenue "making up for lost time", one tax expert says. Inland Revenue said at the end of April there were 113,733 people with student loans believed to be based overseas. More than 70 percent were in default on their loans, owing $2.3 billion, of which more than $1b is penalties and interest. For about 24,000 of these overseas-based borrowers, the debt is more than 15 years old. IR has been taking a tougher line, including arrests at the border as a "measure of last resort". "New Zealand Customs informs us of any border crossings into New Zealand by overseas-based borrowers and airlines provide the travel information to us. We apply to the district court and the police make the actual arrest," IR spokesperson Jane Elley said. "Once arrested and taken before the courts, a judge can order the defaulter to make reasonable efforts to arrange repayment to Inland Revenue." Since 1 July last year, 89 people had been told they could be arrested at the border. Eleven had taken action by either making acceptable payments, entering repayment plans or applying for hardship provisions. "One person was arrested at the border last month and they have since paid off their debt. "There are just over 150 overseas-based borrowers, with a combined default of $15m, who we actively look out for in case they return to New Zealand." Elley said Inland Revenue had collected more than $207 million in repayments since July last year from student loan borrowers living overseas - a 43 percent increase on the same period the previous year Inland Revenue had an increase in student loan compliance funding in last year's budget. "We've contacted more than 12,000 borrowers, 1320 have entered repayment plans, and 960 people have fully repaid their overdue amounts. They have collectively repaid $9 million," Elley said. She said the department was also looking at borrowers who owned property in New Zealand. There were just over 300, she said. "During the first six months of our increased compliance work they paid up $1.7 million. For defaulters within this group who have refused to engage and resolve their default, further legal enforcement action will be taken which may include NZ-based bankruptcy or charging orders over their properties. "There were also 151 [borrowers] with NZ-based investments, and between July and December last year we received payments totalling $84,000 from some of them. Again, there could be legal action ahead including taking deductions from their investments or bank accounts receiving interest income." Robyn Walker, a tax partner at Deloitte, said it was another example of where IR had been dormant for a while and was now making up for lost time. "In the past there has seemingly been very little effort applied to contacting overseas-based student loan defaulters, and for many of them, they probably were blissfully unaware of mounting repayment liabilities, penalties and interest if Inland Revenue had difficulty contacting them. "We've periodically heard the stories of borrowers being arrested at the border, and its actions like that which can really spur people on to get on top of their obligations. "No one wants to not be able to come back to New Zealand for a special event or family emergency because they're concerned that their student loan will catchup with them."
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Lightning strikes as YesPlay player scoops R577,620 from R180 bet
Experience the thrill of online gaming as a YesPlay player strikes it rich, winning R577,620 from a mere R180 bet on Pragmatic Play's Gates of Olympus slot. Zeus, the mighty Greek god of thunder, has bestowed his divine favour upon one incredibly fortunate YesPlay player, delivering a staggering R577,620 payout from a R180 stake on Pragmatic Play's electrifying slot, Gates of Olympus. The astronomical win unfolded during the game's coveted Free Spins feature, where lightning quite literally struck not once, not twice, but four times in a single tumble. On just the fourth spin of fifteen awarded free spins, the heavens opened as Zeus unleashed his legendary multiplier power with consecutive strikes of 4x, 6x, and then an incredible 250x appearing three times in rapid succession. This divine intervention created a monumental 760x combined multiplier that transformed what would have been an ordinary tumble into an eye-watering R471,960 win in one breathtaking moment. "We're absolutely thrilled for our player," said Peter G. Head of CRM, at YesPlay. "This is exactly the kind of life-changing moment that makes online gaming so exciting. Zeus certainly showed his generous side in this extraordinary session." The celestial drama didn't end there. Throughout the remaining free spins, Zeus continued to tease with another 500x multiplier appearing during various non-winning tumbles, building anticipation for what might come next. By the conclusion of the fifteenth spin, the player had amassed a monumental R577,620 total win—all from an initial R180 wager. This represents one of the most phenomenal multiplier wins on YesPlay's platform this year, with the 3,209x return showcasing the phenomenal potential of Pragmatic Play's mythological masterpiece. YesPlay continues to cement its reputation as South Africa's premier destination for online gaming thrills, with this win following a series of significant payouts across their diverse portfolio of world-class games. About YesPlay YesPlay is a premier online gaming platform offering a wide range of casino games and sports betting options. Licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, YesPlay is committed to providing a safe, fair, and enjoyable gaming experience for players across South Africa. For more information about YesPlay and its exciting game offerings, visit Note: YesPlay promotes responsible gaming. Please play responsibly.
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Rivian and Lucid flag increasing costs as Trump tariffs bite
US President Donald Trump's administration introduced 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and car parts. Last week, Trump signed two orders to soften the blow, with a mix of credits and relief from other levies on materials. In the face of uncertainty, several carmakers, including Tesla, have also said they were reassessing their full-year targets. Rivian on Monday said it would invest $120m (R2,182,770) to bring its key parts suppliers near its plant in Illinois as it prepares to produce its smaller, more affordable R2 SUVs next year. Lucid is also gearing up to launch a midsize vehicle with a target price of about $50,000 (R909,487) next year. However, Winterhoff said Lucid might start production of the vehicle in Saudi Arabia, a major market for and an investor in the EV maker, instead of the US, given tariff costs, though that plan was not final. A successful rollout of affordable vehicles is seen as critical for the two EV makers. Lucid and Rivian reported smaller-than-expected losses on an earnings-per-share basis in the first quarter as they doubled down on slashing costs. Rivian, which is also benefiting from a $5.8bn (R105,509,256,960) software joint venture with Volkswagen, reported a gross profit of $206m (R3,747,356,155) and stuck to its target of modest gross profit this year. The company, however, increased its forecast for capital expenditures for the year to between $1.8bn (R32,763,777,480) and $1.9bn (R34,583,990,000), as tariffs hurt its plant expansion costs, from between $1.6bn (R29,138,640,000) and $1.7bn (R30,966,604,320) predicted earlier.
