Latest news with #ChristineChen
Japan Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Australian antisemitism report proposes university funding cuts, deportations
By Christine Chen An Australian report on combating antisemitism has recommended cutting funding for universities that fail to protect Jewish students and screening visa applicants and non-citizens for extremist views. The plan, led by Australia's special envoy on antisemitism Jillian Segal, responds to a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia since the beginning of Israel's war in Gaza in late 2023. The report proposes a sweeping set of reforms across education, public institutions, online spaces, media and immigration to 'push (antisemitism) to the margins of society'. 'The plan is an overarching one covering many areas where urgent action is needed,' Segal said in a news conference on Thursday. 'We have seen cars being torched, synagogues being torched, individual Jews harassed and attacked. That is completely unacceptable.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government welcomed the plan and would consider Segal's recommendations. 'There's a number of things that can be implemented quickly,' he said. 'There are a number of things that will require work over a period of time. This is something that government needs to work with civil society on at all levels.' Segal was appointed as Australia's special envoy in July 2024 to develop strategies to combat antisemitism and her report comes days after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The report singled out universities as a central focus of reform, warning antisemitism had become 'ingrained and normalised' within academia, university courses and campuses. It recommended universities face a 'report card' system that assessed whether their campuses were safe for Jewish students and staff. It said universities that failed to act on antisemitism should have funding withheld, and public grants to researchers or academics should also be terminated if they engaged in antisemitic conduct or hate speech. Universities Australia, which represents the 39 universities in the country, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In February, its members agreed to adopt a new definition of antisemitism after consultation with Segal. The report also said funding for cultural bodies and festivals should be cut 'where the institution or festival promotes, facilitates or does not deal effectively with hate or antisemitism'. It also called for visa applicants to be screened for antisemitic affiliations. 'Non-citizens involved in antisemitism should face visa cancellation and removal from Australia,' it said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Japan Today
01-07-2025
- Japan Today
Australian health authorities call for infectious disease tests of 1,200 children after man charged with sex offenses
By Christine Chen Australian health authorities are urging around 1,200 children in the state of Victoria to be tested for infectious diseases after police charged a childcare worker with dozens of sexual abuse offenses. Police said on Tuesday that Joshua Brown, a 26-year-old Melbourne man, had been arrested and charged in May with more than 70 offenses relating to eight alleged victims. The alleged victims were aged between five months and two years of age and attended Creative Garden Early Learning Centre between April 2022 and January 2023. Police said they had launched a significant investigation since Brown's arrest. Sex crime squad detectives concluded Brown had worked at 20 Melbourne childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, and were also investigating allegations of offending at a second childcare centre in Melbourne's north. Victoria's chief health officer, Christian McGrath, said 2,600 families had been contacted by authorities, with 1,200 children recommended to undergo testing for infectious diseases. 'This is another distressing element to the situation, and we're taking this approach as a precaution,' McGrath told a news conference. 'We do believe it's a low risk, but we want to offer this to provide assurance to the parents about the health and wellbeing of their children.' Police said the investigation was triggered by the discovery of child abuse material, not by a complaint made by a victim. Acting Police Commander Janet Stevenson said Brown was not previously known to police and held a valid permit to work with children, which has since been cancelled. Brown, who remains in police custody, will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 15. Stevenson said a suppression order on Brown's identity was lifted in order to notify parents with children in childcare. "We felt that it was really important. This is unique. It's very important to ensure that every parent out there that has a child in childcare, knows who he is and where he worked," she said. "It was an unusual decision but it is before the courts and so it is actually public knowledge." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Australia sues China-linked rare earths investors
By Christine Chen Australia sues China-linked rare earths investors SYDNEY, - Australia is suing a Chinese-linked company and a former associate over a breach of foreign investment laws linked with rare earths miner Northern Minerals, the national treasurer said on Thursday, adding it was the first case of its kind. Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company was one of five foreign investors with ties to China subject to an order by Treasurer Jim Chalmers to divest shares on national interest grounds in June last year. Chalmers said in a statement he had lodged a legal action in the Federal Court and was seeking penalties, declarations and costs. 'Foreign investors in Australia are required to follow Australian law,' Chalmers said. 'We are doing what is necessary to protect the national interest and the integrity of our foreign investment framework.' The statement, which said the case was the first to be brought by a Treasurer before the Federal Court for an alleged breach of foreign investment laws, did not give details of the current stake holdings. It named Indian Ocean, but did not name the former associate. Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company could not immediately be contacted for comment. Australia has sought to build a rare earths supply chain to decrease China's dominance over the elements used in products from smartphones to wind turbines and missiles and radar systems. Northern Minerals, a supplier of rare earths to a refinery being built by Iluka Resources in Western Australia, became a flashpoint for the contest after Australia blocked Singapore-based Yuxiao Fund from doubling its stake in the company to almost 20% in 2023. Yuxiao, controlled by Chinese businessman Wu Tao, along with four other entities, including Black Stone Resources of the British Virgin Islands and Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company based in the United Arab Emirates, were ordered in 2024 to sell shares worth 10.37% of Northern Minerals' share capital within three months to unconnected associates. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia regulator trials faster IPO process as listings hit decade low
By Christine Chen and Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's securities regulator said on Tuesday it would trial changes to speed up initial public offerings that are at a decade low by implementing recommendations from earlier reviews and allowing faster access for retail investors. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the changes could shave as much as one week off the typical 20-week IPO process and reduce deal execution risk. The trial will begin on Tuesday and last for two years, the regulator said. "Creating a more streamlined IPO process underscores our commitment to ensuring our public markets remain attractive to companies and investors," ASIC Chairman Joe Longo said in a statement. Longo said the funds raised through IPOs were at the lowest level in more than a decade, with only A$4.2 billion ($2.74 billion) raised last year compared to A$22.9 billion in 2014. ASIC's new measures come just days after Virgin Australia launched a closely watched A$685 million IPO that attracted strong investor demand. ASIC said the changes applied to companies seeking to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through "fast-track" status, with a projected market capitalisation above A$100 million and no ASX-imposed escrow. Most Australian IPOs are carried out through a front-end book-building process, which means the price is set and investor bids are taken ahead of the prospectus being reviewed and approved by Australian regulators. ASIC and the ASX have been under pressure to speed up the IPO vetting process, to reduce the time investors are exposed to market fluctuations while a prospectus is under review. Under the planned changes, companies would be able to submit a confidential prospectus or product disclosure statement at least 14 days before formal lodgement for ASIC review. ASIC said it would also adopt a "no action" position allowing eligible companies to begin accepting retail investor applications during the standard seven-day exposure period. Typically, retail investor orders are taken after the prospectus becomes public following the regulator's reviews. The trial was also a part of a broader review of regulatory settings around IPOs, ASIC said. "While we do not see regulatory settings as the silver bullet, we have received lots of ideas and are considering further regulatory adjustments to support a strong and well-functioning market," Longo said. ($1 = 1.5354 Australian dollars)
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia regulator trials faster IPO process as listings hit decade low
By Christine Chen and Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's securities regulator said on Tuesday it would trial changes to speed up initial public offerings that are at a decade low by implementing recommendations from earlier reviews and allowing faster access for retail investors. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the changes could shave as much as one week off the typical 20-week IPO process and reduce deal execution risk. The trial will begin on Tuesday and last for two years, the regulator said. "Creating a more streamlined IPO process underscores our commitment to ensuring our public markets remain attractive to companies and investors," ASIC Chairman Joe Longo said in a statement. Longo said the funds raised through IPOs were at the lowest level in more than a decade, with only A$4.2 billion ($2.74 billion) raised last year compared to A$22.9 billion in 2014. ASIC's new measures come just days after Virgin Australia launched a closely watched A$685 million IPO that attracted strong investor demand. ASIC said the changes applied to companies seeking to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through "fast-track" status, with a projected market capitalisation above A$100 million and no ASX-imposed escrow. Most Australian IPOs are carried out through a front-end book-building process, which means the price is set and investor bids are taken ahead of the prospectus being reviewed and approved by Australian regulators. ASIC and the ASX have been under pressure to speed up the IPO vetting process, to reduce the time investors are exposed to market fluctuations while a prospectus is under review. Under the planned changes, companies would be able to submit a confidential prospectus or product disclosure statement at least 14 days before formal lodgement for ASIC review. ASIC said it would also adopt a "no action" position allowing eligible companies to begin accepting retail investor applications during the standard seven-day exposure period. Typically, retail investor orders are taken after the prospectus becomes public following the regulator's reviews. The trial was also a part of a broader review of regulatory settings around IPOs, ASIC said. "While we do not see regulatory settings as the silver bullet, we have received lots of ideas and are considering further regulatory adjustments to support a strong and well-functioning market," Longo said. ($1 = 1.5354 Australian dollars) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
