Latest news with #occupation
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
ATO reveals why now is ideal for Aussies to lodge their tax returns, as fresh warning issued to businesses over GST fraud
The Australian Taxation Office has revealed millions of Aussies will now notice their personal information filled out for them when they go to lodge their tax returns, while a new warning is issued to businesses over GST fraud. While taxpayers were able to start sending off their returns on July 1, the tax office advised Aussies against completing their lodgments until their personal data had been pre-filled by the ATO. This was to help individuals avoid making errors during the submission process and needing to lodge an amendment, which can sometimes delay the progress of a tax refund. The ATO has confirmed most taxpayers with "simple affairs" will now notice their information has been filled into their accounts to make completing their tax returns easier. Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson delivered the update to Australians on Thursday, saying they are now "good to go" with lodging their returns. "'Whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or lodge yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will now be available," Mr Thomson said in a statement. Australians have been encouraged to still double check their pre-filled data to make sure there are no mistakes, and no data is missing. "Don't forget that you need to include all sources of income in your tax return," Mr Thomson said. "This includes side-hustles, linked income from providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app. "Remember, the ATO has 40 industry and occupation specific guides to assist you in what you can claim and what records are required to prove it." Taxpayers should also include any deductions they are entitled to claim, the ATO said. Mr Thomson reminded Aussies to remain vigilant to fraudsters and online scammers, adding the ATO's app now has more safety features to help keep personal data protected. "Fraudsters are getting smarter, but so are the protective features in the app. The ATO app will send you real-time messages when changes are made to your ATO record, and you can quickly lock your account to prevent unauthorised access or fraudulent refunds," he said. "These features provide peace of mind knowing your account is protected and you remain in control of your tax affairs anytime, anywhere." Mr Thomson said most tax return refunds are generally completed within two weeks, with the progress of a return able to be monitored through the ATO's app or myGov services. Australians have until October 31 to send off their returns. Meanwhile, a fresh warning has been issued to Australian businesses contemplating committing acts of GST fraud, falsifying invoices or making dishonest claims. Assistant Commissioner Adam O'Grady revealed disingenuous claims involving false invoicing are on the rise, with the fraud currently prevalent within the property and construction industry. However, Mr O'Grady said there are already signs of this type of tax fraud spreading in other industries, particularly "privately owned and wealthy groups". "Despite warnings from the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce late last year, recent observations show dishonest claims involving false invoicing are growing," he said in a statement. Last year, the ATO revealed its Serious Financial Crimes Taskforce had reported a surge in fraudulent claims for large GST refunds across a number of industries. The ATO said the current trend is not related to a GST fraud scheme previously seen driven through social media, but rather concerns "real businesses creating disingenuous invoices" to obtain higher GST refunds. "While the numbers of businesses involved are relatively small, some are attempting to claim tens of millions of dollars in GST refunds they're not entitled to," Mr O'Grady said. Mr O'Grady said while "most businesses do the right thing", others are making "deliberate attempts to cheat the tax system". "We will not tolerate this fraudulent behaviour deliberately undermining the system or providing an unfair advantage over honest businesses," he said. "Those involved will face consequences, including interest charges, penalties, fines, and where appropriate, prosecution, or referral to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution." GST is a tax calculated at a standard rate of 10 per cent on most goods, services and other items sold and consumed in Australia. The tax is paid by the consumer, with the sum then passed on to the government from the business. "GST revenue is vital to Australia's economy, funding essential services delivered by states and territories," Mr O'Grady said, urging businesses and the broader community to help the ATO "stamp out" the illegal behaviour. "Those involved are abusing the system, tarnishing the reputation of the property and construction industry and making it harder for compliant businesses to operate."
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Ayman Odeh: The Palestinian-Israeli politician taking on the 'fascist' right
Six months ago, Palestinian-Israeli politician Ayman Odeh wrote of his joy that hostages captured by Hamas would be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees, under a ceasefire deal in Gaza. "Happy about the release of the hostages and prisoners. From here, we must free both peoples from the burden of occupation. We were all born free," his post read. Today, he is still paying the price for what was criticised as an attempt to equate Palestinian and Israeli situations. But despite attempts to attack him politically and physically, he continued to defy his critics. This month, the Knesset – Israel's parliament – failed to pass a motion to impeach him. He was then assaulted at an anti-war, anti-government rally in the city of Ness Ziona. In videos seen by The National taken by Mr Odeh's team, but too offensive to publish, extreme-right protesters were seen banging on the car he was in at the time, making obscene hand gestures and even chanting "death to Arabs". A decision was made he would go ahead and speak at the anti-war rally anyway. After he took to the stage, protesters hurled rocks at Mr Odeh, until it was too unsafe for him. Speaking to The National, Mr Odeh described his attempted impeachment as "an important battle with a success against fascists". But he says there are attempts by the extreme far right in Israel to "alter the Palestinian-Israeli identity". "They want us to be Arabs, without being Palestinians who believe in our nationalist cause. And Israelis, without having the same civil liberties as a Jewish citizen," he said. "That's why they were triggered by my post." Mr Odeh believes he is not being targeted but being used as a "means to an end". During the Israeli war with Iran, he said, the main topics being discussed were Iran and efforts to impeach him. "When they asked [a member of the Knesset] why I'm on the list of topics, he said it's because I'm considered the 'eighth war front'. "They want to wage a war on Palestinians." The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah) worked closely with Mr Odeh. Speaking to The National, Adalah public relations specialist Moatasem Zedan said some of the organisation's efforts included sending messages to officials urging them to hold Mr Odeh's suspected attackers accountable. He said in many cases the legal process is not followed where it should be, despite the suspects being known. "This is unusual but not unexpected," he said. "Mr Odeh is the target of an incitement campaign against him." But the case of the Palestinian-Israeli politician is a symptom in a wider problem. "The assault on Ayman Odeh is not a separate issue from what Palestinians in Israel experience," he said. Violence against Palestinians in Israeli communities is being seen on a daily basis in the form of assaults on Palestinian labourers, for example, Mr Zedan said. "We also see policy brutality, including humiliating searches - which is part of a campaign that weaponises law as a tool for vengeance," he said. Ceasefire push With the Knesset now in a summer break for two months, and inter-coalition disputes at bay, the time is ripe for a ceasefire to be reached in Gaza, Mr Odeh said. Additionally, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff en route to the region while talks between Hamas and Israel take place in Doha, hopes for an imminent ceasefire are high. But Mr Odeh does not believe that a permanent end to the war in Gaza will be seen under the current Israeli government. He, along with many members of the opposition in Israel, believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intentionally prolonging the war in Gaza for his own personal political gains, as he battles a court case against him that has been postponed repeatedly for security-related circumstances. "October 7 gave the right, the best excuse to change the geostrategic realities of the Palestinian cause. But when the war is over, there will still be 7.5 million Palestinians between the river and the sea," Mr Odeh said.
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Kirron Kher gets Rs 12 lakh notice over unpaid fee for government house in Chandigarh
The Chandigarh Administration has issued a notice to former BJP MP Kirron Kher over outstanding license fees amounting to nearly Rs 13 lakh for a government house allotted to her in Sector to officials, the Assistant Controller (F&A) Rents sent the notice on June 24, 2025, to Kher's residence at Kothi No. 65, Sector 8-A. The notice directs her to clear the dues at the earliest, warning that a 12% interest will be levied on the total outstanding amount if the payment is delayed administration has demanded a total of Rs 12,76,418 from the BJP leader. The dues pertain to the license fee (rent) and penalties for the government accommodation T-6/23 in Sector 7. Officials said the penalty component includes fines of up to 100% and even 200% on certain unpaid segments. The development has raised questions around the prolonged occupancy and payment default by the former Member of Parliament. As of now, there has been no official response from Kher or her office regarding the to the notice, the licence fee due stood at Rs 5,725 from July 2023 to October 5, 2024, while the "unauthorised" occupation of the residential accommodation from October 6, 2024, to January 5, 2025, attracted a 100 per cent penalty amounting to Rs 3.64 January 6 to April 12 (the official date to vacate the premises), a 200 per cent penalty was imposed, which adds up to Rs 8.20 office of the Assistant Controller (Finance and Controller) Rents also added additional interest and miscellaneous charges, including Rs 26,106 and Rs 59,680 as 12 per cent annual interest till April two-time MP has been asked to pay the amount either via a demand draft or bank transfer.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Punjab
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
The boy who bled to death as an Israeli soldier ‘celebrated his shot'
Sebastia, occupied West Bank – When Israeli military vehicles approach, news of the latest incursion begins cascading through Sebastia from one person to another, and the young people run home as fast as possible. They try to get back before invading soldiers reach their street, knowing all too well the potentially grave consequences if they don't. The warning cries often originate from those walking near the vantage point of Sebastia archaeological park's scenic summit. From here, people can spot army vehicles on the roads below before they reach the town and its ancient ruins, giving people a chance to hide their young. Soon after, walking prevention warnings are often circulated on social media, and the residents of Sebastia – once a religious pilgrimage site and a tourism hotspot – have the choice of hunkering down at home or facing soldiers who no longer show any restraint. 'He celebrated killing my son' In January this year, an Israeli soldier shot dead 14-year-old Ahmed Jazar and then raised his rifle in the air triumphantly after hitting the unarmed boy in the chest, piercing his heart. Witnesses saw the soldier 'celebrating' as Ahmed slowly bled to death on the ground, his father, Rashid, aged 57, told Al Jazeera. Ahmed was mature beyond his years, his parents say, and made caring for his poverty-stricken family his vocation. He was also a talented painter and wanted to train as a decorator. He aspired to open a shop so he could make enough money to buy his family a permanent home – something better than the overcrowded rental apartment they lived in. 'They shot Ahmed and killed all his dreams, right there and then,' his mother, Wafaa, said. 'The army treats us like we're in a state of war – but we've done nothing. 'Soldiers are here every day, and no one feels their children are safe unless they are at home.' Ahmed woke up in the early afternoon on the Sunday he was killed, Wafaa and Rashid say, having stayed up late playing with his friends in the neighbourhood the night before. He liked to play football in the schoolyard, cycle near the archaeological park, and eat at the town's once-busy cafes. He came back after seeing his friends and spent some time with his family, unaware that they would be sharing their final moments. Then, as the dinner hour neared, his parents sent Ahmed out to buy bread. 'It was always a habit of his to come and go in this way,' Rashid said. 'He was very sociable … everyone loved him. 'But this time, he left and never came back.' Wafaa holds a photo of her with her murdered son. To her right are her husband Rashid Jazar and Ahmed's aunt Etizaz Azim [Al Jazeera] The Israeli soldiers' frequent raids on occupied West Bank towns prompt some children and young people into acts of defiance, like throwing stones towards the heavily armed soldiers or their armoured vehicles, or shining laser pointers at them. According to some neighbours, Ahmed and his friends did shine laser pens on the fatal January day, hiding behind a wall near a nursery as some soldiers walked towards them. His family denies Ahmed's part in this. Rashid and Wafaa said they were awaiting his return from the shops so they could eat dinner together. 'He was just a child,' Rashid said. 'The Israeli soldier knew he was a young boy – and that he was no threat to the army in any way. 'He was hundreds of metres away from them when they shot him!' The bullet-dented door and facade of the nursery, established by charity Save The Children, still stand as a reminder of what happened when Ahmed was shot dead. Speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz in March, a military spokesperson said: 'In the wake of the incident, an investigation was launched by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division. Naturally, we cannot elaborate on an ongoing investigation.' Palestinians, including residents of Sebastia, say they are used to what they call 'sham' investigations that usually have no result, and almost certainly no punishment for perpetrators. Rashid was contacted by the military to provide information for the investigation into Ahmed's killing, but he refused. 'They killed my son and then call me to talk about justice?' he said. Al Jazeera sent written inquiries to Israeli authorities, asking for comment on the investigation into Ahmed's shooting but no response had been received by time of publication. The Israeli army often raids cities and towns in the West Bank, but few are targeted like Sebastia, where it has stepped up attacks since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu established his far-right ultranationalist government in late 2022. Since then, the military killed Fawzi Makhalfeh, aged 19, in July 2023, and Ahmed on January 19 this year. There have been at least 25 gunshot injuries in Sebastia since Netanyahu's coalition government came to power, a handful of which involved children. A 22-year-old man from the nearby town of Attil was shot in the chest while driving through Sebastia earlier this month. Violent settlers also wreak havoc on Palestinian landowners around the town, which is dependent on agriculture and tourism, and yet more settlements, official and unofficial, are set to be built around Sebastia. Soldiers attack anyone who fights back and circulate threatening messages using residents' mobile phones. One recording, heard by Al Jazeera, by what is ostensibly an Israeli soldier, accuses townspeople of being 'involved in terrorism', and warns they will 'pay the price'. The Save The Children nursery sign, riddled with bullets [Al Jazeera] Justice Wafaa and her husband sat on either side of a memorial to their slain son in the humble living room of the rented home they can barely afford. Ahmed left behind four brothers and three sisters aged between seven and 20. Rashid used to work as a painter in Israel, but, like thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, he has been unable to go to work across the border since October 7, contributing to the family's perilous financial situation. The eldest son, Rushdi, 19, works as a carpenter intermittently, and, other than Rashid, is the only family member in employment. Ahmed had dropped out of school, they said, to help his father by doing odd jobs such as painting and olive picking to generate money for the family. Wafaa, who used to make dresses, is also unable to find work and still has five young children dependent on her care. Two of Ahmed's remaining siblings, Amir, aged six, and Adam, 11, clung on to their mother as she spoke. 'I sit by Ahmed's grave and cry for hours,' Wafaa told Al Jazeera, weeks after her son's killing. 'I cry there as much as I can, so that my children don't see me – I have to be strong for them.' Israeli soldiers stand next to a military vehicle during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 4, 2025 [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters] The 40-year-old was incapable of keeping eye contact, as if tears would overcome her at any moment. She held up Ahmed's blood-stained clothes, torn by bullets. After the soldiers left that day, Rashid recalled rushing to the scene and pushing his way through a crowd, only to find Ahmed collapsed in a pool of blood, metres away from where he was shot. Rashid then drove with Ahmed to An-Najah Hospital in Nablus, but his son did not survive the journey. He was pronounced dead on arrival. His mother fell unconscious after hearing of Ahmed's killing, and says she awoke feeling 'defeated', as if her life was over. She says Israel wants Sebastia residents to feel this way, so they resist no longer and leave. Rashid, with a vacant expression, said his son's killing had terrorised his family into staying indoors – and when invasions take place, they lock their doors, hide in a back room, and turn off the lights. He says similar precautions are taken by many in Sebastia, who are 'living in fear' after his son's killing sent out a chilling message to those who call the ancient town home. 'The army comes here daily – and now we fear to go out,' Wafaa added. 'Soldiers are prepared to shoot children now. 'I let my son go to the shops, but I got him back [covered] in blood.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will Israel ever get blowback for bombing its neighbours?
In the last two years, as well as its war on Gaza and increasingly violent occupation of the West Bank, Israel has launched attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The most recent attacks on Syria were launched this week, going so far as to hit the country's Ministry of Defence. Of course, the Israelis point to their justifications for the attacks on Syria – principally, in Israel's telling, to defend the Syrian Druze minority. A US-brokered ceasefire has taken effect, but whether it holds remains to be seen. In Lebanon, Israel claimed it wanted to stop the threat posed by Hezbollah. The attacks on Iran, it said, were to end that country's attempt to build a nuclear bomb. And in Yemen, Israel's bombing was a response to attacks from the country's Houthi rebels. Explanations aside, the question becomes whether the Israelis can continue to act in a manner that has many around the world, and particularly in the Middle East, seeing them as the aggressor. Impunity over relationship-building The Israeli argument is that all these conflicts – and the more than 58,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza – are necessary because Israel faces an existential battle that it has no choice but to win. The Israeli government, in its current far-right makeup, at least, does not seem to care if its neighbours do not like it. Rather, it seems to care that they fear it. And as the most powerful military force in the region, with the backing of the most powerful military force in the world, the Israelis feel that they can largely do what they is taking advantage of a weakening international order and a moment of flux in the way the world is run, particularly with the United States under President Donald Trump openly moving towards a more transactional foreign policy. Western countries had previously attempted to maintain the idea of a liberal international order, where institutions such as the United Nations ensure that international law is followed. But Israel's actions, over decades, have made it increasingly hard to maintain the pretence. The world has been unable to stop Israel from continuing its occupation of Palestinian land, even though it is illegal under international law. Settlements continue to be built and expanded in the West Bank, and settlers continue to kill unarmed Palestinians. Human rights organisations and international bodies have found that Israel has repeatedly violated the rules of war in its conduct in Gaza, and have accused the country of committing genocide, but can do little more. Taking advantage No other power wants, or feels strong enough, to take on the mantle the US is arguably vacating. And until the rules get rewritten, it increasingly feels like might equals right. Israel, the only nuclear power in the region, is taking advantage. Supporters of Israel's actions in the past two years would also argue that those predicting negative consequences for its attacks have been proven wrong. The main perceived threat to Israel was the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance, and the argument was that these countries and groups would strike Israel severely if the latter went too far in its did escalate, and the reaction from Iran and its allies was, in many cases, to choose to stand down rather than risk the total devastation of their countries or organisations. Iran did attack Israel in a way that the country had not experienced before, with Tel Aviv being directly hit on numerous occasions. But some of the worst-case scenario predictions did not take place, and ultimately, the direct conflict between Israel and Iran lasted 12 days, without the outbreak of a wider regional war. In Lebanon, Israel can be even happier with the result. After an intensified bombing campaign and invasion last year, Hezbollah lost its iconic leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and much of its military capacity, as well as some of its power in Lebanon. It is now, at least in the short term, no longer much of a threat to Israel. Israeli hubris? Israel seems to believe weak neighbours are good for it. Much as in the case of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, the perception is that there is no real need to provide an endgame or next-day scenario. Instead, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demonstrated, Israel can maintain chaos as far away as possible from its borders, as long as it maintains security the current situation in Syria is an interesting example of what can go wrong, and when Israeli hubris may go too far. Netanyahu has maintained that Syria south of Damascus must remain demilitarised. His first argument was that this would ensure the safety of the Druze minority, thousands of whom also live in Israel and demanded that Israel protect their brethren following violence involving Bedouin fighters and government forces. The second argument was that the new authorities in Syria cannot be trusted because of the new leadership's past ties to groups such as al-Qaeda. After Israel's bombing and some US prodding, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed to withdraw government security forces from the Druze-majority province of Suwayda on Thursday, warning that while Israel 'may be capable of starting a war', it would 'not be easy to control its consequences'. By Friday, it had become clear that thousands of Bedouin – and other tribal forces – were headed to support the Bedouins in Suwayda after reports of massacres against them. Al-Sharaa, presumably with the acquiescence of Israel, announced that Syrian government forces would deploy in Suwayda to end the ongoing clashes there, and a new ceasefire was declared on it happens, the presence of a strong state with control over its territory may be more effective than allowing anarchy to reign. Blowback If anything, Israel's actions in Syria will increase its regional isolation and raise eyebrows among countries that could have been seen as potential allies. Saudi Arabia has emphasised its support for the new Syrian government, and Israel's behaviour will add to Riyadh's feeling, post-Gaza, that any 'Abraham Accords' normalising ties cannot happen in the short term. For many countries in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf, Israeli hegemony, especially with the rise of messianic far-right forces in its government, leads to war, expansionism, chaos, and security risks. And Israel's short-term military gains run the risk of blowback elsewhere. Iran's military capabilities may have been heavily damaged in its war with Israel, but Tehran will likely seek to shift tactics to undermine Israel in other ways in the years to come, while improving its defences and potentially focusing on achieving a nuclear weapon. As mentioned, the opinions of regional countries may not be the highest priority to the current crop of Israeli leaders, as long as they continue to have US support. But that does not mean that – in the long term – Israel will not increasingly face blowback for its actions, both diplomatically and in terms of its constant wars, even if beyond Israel's borders, do not provide a sense of long-term security for any populace. The percentage of military reservists answering call-ups has already reportedly been decreasing. In a country where the majority of the military personnel are reservists who have jobs, businesses and families to take care of, it is difficult to maintain a permanent military footing indefinitely. That has contributed to an increasing divide in Israel between a dominant ultranationalist camp that wants to fight first and ask questions later, annex Palestinian land, and force regional acceptance through brute force, and a more centrist camp that – while perhaps not prioritising alleviating Palestinian suffering – is more sensitive to international isolation and sanctions, while attempting to hold on to a 'liberal Zionist' image of Israel. Should current trends continue, and the ultranationalist camp retain its dominance, Israel can continue to use its military power and US backing to yield short-term successes. But by sowing chaos around its borders and flouting international norms, it is breeding resentment among its neighbours and losing support among its traditional allies – even in the US, where public support is slipping. A more isolated Israel can do what it wants today, but without a long-term strategy for peace, stability and mutual respect with its neighbours – including the Palestinians – it may not be able to escape the consequences tomorrow.
