Illegal tobacco burns $3.3bn hole in Australia’s tax revenue, crime agency says

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ACIC report says total impact of illicit trade on economy amounted to $4bn in a year amid debate over cigarette excise

The illegal tobacco market has left a $3.3bn hole in the federal government’s finances, with Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency warning organised crime’s dominance of the market is continuing to grow.

The Australian Taxation Office believes the illegal trade now accounts for one in five tobacco sales, which has led to reduced tax revenues despite the government’s excise on legal cigarettes reaching almost $30 for a pack of 20 sticks in September. The excise has increased almost eightfold since 2006, when it was $4.65.

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Ukraine carries out further overnight strikes on Russian energy sector – Euronews.com

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  1. Ukraine carries out further overnight strikes on Russian energy sector  Euronews.com
  2. Ukrainian drones reach deep inside Russia as battle for key city rages on  AP News
  3. Ukraine Says Drones Hit Petrochemical Plant in Russia’s Urals  Bloomberg.com
  4. Ukraine war latest: Special Forces drones hit oil depots, trains, logistic facilities in Russian-occupied Crimea  The Kyiv Independent
  5. Ukraine, Russia Trade Air Strikes Overnight On Key Infrastructure  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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Mexico President Sheinbaum presses charges after public groping incident – Euronews.com

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  1. Mexico President Sheinbaum presses charges after public groping incident  Euronews.com
  2. Mexico’s President Sheinbaum takes legal action after groping incident  CNN
  3. Mexican women outraged by public sexual assault on their president  The Guardian
  4. Mexico president to seek charges after being groped on street  BBC
  5. Sexual Assault of Mexico’s President Exposes Challenges of Her Equality Push  The New York Times
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Japan deploys the military to counter a surge in bear attacks – NPR

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  1. Japan deploys the military to counter a surge in bear attacks  NPR
  2. Japan’s military is on the ground facing a new challenge: bears  CNN
  3. The roar that haunts him: Japanese bear attack survivor calls for ruthless response  Reuters
  4. Japan bear attacks: Troops deployed to Akita after record sightings  NBC News
  5. Japan's Bear Attacks Are So Out of Control, the Country Is Sending In the Army  Backpacker Magazine
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‘I was torn apart, dying’: Rom Braslavski says captors sexually assaulted, tortured him – The Times of Israel

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  1. ‘I was torn apart, dying’: Rom Braslavski says captors sexually assaulted, tortured him  The Times of Israel
  2. Freed Israeli hostage says he faced sexual violence in Gaza captivity, TV reports  Reuters
  3. FBI names 3rd Michigan man charged in Halloween terror attack plot; 2 suspects in NJ also indicted  The Times of Israel
  4. Former Hostage Rom Braslavski Speaks Out About His Sexual Abuse In Hamas Captivity  i24NEWS
  5. Israeli hostage: I was stripped naked and sexually abused  The Telegraph
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Jamaica devastation: Reggae legends call on public for help – BBC

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  1. Jamaica devastation: Reggae legends call on public for help  BBC
  2. ‘The Whole Place Is Blown Apart’: 90% of Jamaican Town’s Homes Destroyed  The New York Times
  3. Cafe organizing donations for Jamaica  BBC
  4. ‘We need help’: devastated Jamaican communities still await aid after Hurricane Melissa  The Guardian
  5. Celebrities step up to offer aid for Jamaica's recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa  FOX Weather
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Sam Groth’s ambition to be premier meant articles on relationship with wife ‘not idle gossip’, News Corp claims

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Court told new privacy laws shouldn’t apply to Herald Sun stories alleging Victorian MP’s wife, Brittany, was underage at start of relationship

News Corp stories alleging Sam Groth began dating his wife, Brittany, while she was underage were far from “idle gossip” given the claims were being “weaponised” by rivals of the Victorian Liberal MP, who aspires to become premier, the publisher has told a court.

The Herald and Weekly Times (HWT), reporter Stephen Drill and Herald Sun editor Sam Weir are being sued in the federal court over a series of articles published in July. Groth is suing for defamation while his wife has launched the first test case of new laws for serious invasions of privacy.

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