We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Last week, the legal team representing Alex Murdaugh made a notable appearance on The Today Show, following a significant development in his case. The South Carolina Supreme Court had just overturned Murdaugh’s conviction for double murder, a decision that has sparked widespread discussion and interest.
During the interview, Murdaugh’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, sat down with NBC’s Craig Melvin. The conversation centered around their client’s steadfast position regarding the legal proceedings. Both lawyers firmly stated that Murdaugh would not consider accepting any plea deal, demonstrating their confidence in his defense and the ongoing legal strategy.
This latest turn in Murdaugh’s legal saga has captivated audiences nationwide, adding another chapter to a case that continues to unfold with unexpected twists and turns.
NEW YORK (WSAV) – On Thursday, Alex Murdaugh’s legal team appeared on The Today Show after the S.C. Supreme Court overturned his double murder conviction earlier in the week.
Murdaugh’s lawyers, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, talked with NBC’s Craig Melvin and said their client will never take a plea deal.
The landmark overturning of the case came almost 5 years to the day from when Murdaugh’s wife Maggie and son Paul were killed at their Colleton County home.
Harpootlian and Griffin said Murdaugh wants to go to trial again. He was sentenced to 27 years in state prison for the murders. Murdaugh will still serve the 40-year federal prison sentence he received for financial crimes.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Environmental advocates in Illinois are calling on legislators to allocate additional resources to the state’s soil and water conservation districts, highlighting potential risks to agricultural lands if funding remains insufficient.
Officials in the agriculture sector emphasize that the proposed financial support is crucial for enhancing water quality and mitigating flood risks, alongside other conservation initiatives.
Renowned NFL figure Deion Sanders has stepped in to defend his son Shilo following backlash over an inappropriate comment directed at sports journalist Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Browns.
Shilo, who was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a year after joining as an undrafted free agent, reacted strongly to Cabot’s suggestion that Deshaun Watson should start as the Browns’ quarterback instead of Shilo’s brother, Shedeur Sanders.
Currently a free agent, Shilo responded to Cabot’s remarks on social media with the comment, “Go make a sandwich Mary,” sparking widespread criticism.
Deion Sanders, often referred to as Coach Prime, addressed the controversy involving his son and Cabot, dismissing it as a display of familial support.
‘We don’t talk about nobody,’ Deion said on ‘The Barbershop’ with Garrett Bush. ‘We don’t do nothing to nobody. I know Shilo had a little altercation that he spoke up for his brother. You’ve got to understand, man, that’s his brother.
“God bless Mary Kay’s soul, but that’s his brother. She said something, and he responded—media dynamics have changed today. Many might not appreciate the traditional ways, but I do, having grown up in that era without a platform to speak. Shilo defended his brother and faced criticism for it,” he explained.
NFL legend Deion Sanders defended his son Shilo after he posted a disgusting sexist remark
Coach Prime weighed in and brushed the incident off as an instance of family loyalty
At the time, many felt Shilo’s sexist remark went beyond defending family as it sparked backlash among NFL fans.
However, Shilo brushed off the controversy and later doubled down on his criticism of the reporter.
‘If you’re gonna be a reporter, be a reporter and report facts. When your opinion is always hateful to Shedeur, it makes it seem like an agenda,’ he said in a Twitch stream.
‘There’s plenty of women in this field that take this seriously. With you, it’s so much emotion. I don’t want you to make women look bad when it comes to reporting. We don’t care what you think is going to happen.’
Cabot, who has been covering the Browns for the last 30 years, later fired back, responding during an appearance on a Cleveland radio show.
‘I know so many women who have joined the football world especially because of some of the things I’ve been able to do over the years. I’m happy about that,’ she said.
She first drew Shilo’s ire by writing late last month that Watson ’emerged from the Browns’ voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition’.
She also revealed that coach Todd Monken wants to be clear on his starter ‘by the end of Browns minicamp’, which runs from June 9-11. That leaves Shedeur with just six weeks to prove himself.
Shilo hit out at reporter Mary Kay Cabot over a report she wrote on his brother Shedeur (left)
Mary Kay Cabot called for Deshaun Watson to be named Browns starter over Shedeur Sanders
‘I think they should declare him QB1 asap and let the 1st team offense start to cook,’ she wrote. ‘There’s no time to waste.’
Watson’s career has been hampered by a slew of injuries as well as numerous off-field issues stemming from multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and assault.
In the 2023 season, Watson fractured his shoulder and only started six games that campaign.
In Week 7 of the 2024 season, he tore his Achilles tendon – which resulted in him missing the remainder of the 2024 campaign and the entirety of the 2025 season.
As for Sanders, he struggled in his first season – completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions.
The Browns have only made the playoffs twice in the last ten seasons and have gone a combined 8-26 in the last two campaigns.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Tragedy struck on Saturday when a Maldivian military diver lost his life while attempting to recover the bodies of four Italian divers suspected to be trapped within a submerged cave.
The Italian divers were part of a team exploring a cave at approximately 50 meters (160 feet) deep in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, as reported by Italy’s Foreign Ministry. This depth significantly exceeds the Maldives’ recommended recreational diving limit of 30 meters.
Mohammed Hussain Shareef, spokesperson for the Maldivian President, stated that Mohamed Mahudhee, a diver from the Maldivian National Defense Force, succumbed to underwater decompression sickness after being rushed to a hospital in the capital.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the challenging nature of the operation,” Shareef commented.
Previously, Shareef mentioned that the search team had devised a strategy based on their findings from Friday’s cave exploration. Mahudhee was among those who briefed Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu regarding the rescue efforts during his visit to the site on Friday.
Rough weather has repeatedly hampered recovery efforts.
The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home. His ministry stated it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organization, to support recovery operations and the repatriation of the bodies. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.
Benedetti’s body was recovered on Thursday.
Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said in a statement Friday. However, the scuba diving activity during which the deadly accident occurred was not part of the planned research and was “undertaken privately,” it said.
The statement also said the two other victims – student Sommacal and recent graduate Gualtieri – were not involved in the scientific mission.
Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialized training, equipment and strict safety protocols. Risks increase sharply in environments where divers cannot head straight up and at depth, particularly when conditions are poor. Experts say it’s easy to become disoriented or lost inside caves, particularly as sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.
Diving at 50 meters also exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most major established scuba certifying agencies, with depths beyond 40 meters considered technical diving and requiring specialized training and equipment.
Shareef said Benedetti’s body was found near the mouth of the cave and authorities believed the remaining four had entered the cave.
Two Italians, a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert, are expected to join the recovery effort, Shareef said.
Italian officials said that around 20 other Italians on the same expedition aboard the vessel “Duke of York” were safe. Italy’s embassy in Colombo was providing assistance to those onboard and had contacted the Red Crescent, which offered to deploy volunteers to help provide psychological aid.
The Maldives tourism ministry said it has suspended the operating license of the “Duke of York” pending an investigation.
The Italian foreign ministry said the cave is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages. Recovery teams explored two of the three chambers on Friday, but the search was limited due to considerations over oxygen and decompression.
On Saturday, they would explore the third chamber, the ministry added.
Italian officials and the honorary consul are in contact with the victims’ families to provide assistance.
Donald Trump has reaffirmed his stance that he doesn’t prioritize the financial concerns of Americans, yet he assures that inflation-related hardships will only be temporary.
The former president stirred controversy by stating that economic issues do not influence his decisions as he focuses on negotiating an end to the conflict with Iran, emphasizing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is his foremost concern.
“I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing — we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” Trump stated when questioned on Tuesday about his consideration of the economic struggles faced by citizens.
During an interview with Bret Baier aired on Fox News on Friday, Trump faced intense questioning regarding his earlier comments. The host of Special Report inquired about Trump’s response to left-wing critics who had heavily criticized his statements.
“That’s a perfect statement, I’d make it again,” Trump confidently responded.
When Bret Baier pointed out that in the media environment, that’s the only part of the statement that will get played, Trump cut him off.
‘No,’ Trump repeated several times.
He then clarified what he said he believes Americans will face in the coming months as the US looks to finish the Iran excursion.
Donald Trump doubled down on his claim that he ‘doesn’t think about’ Americans’ financial situation but promised that there will only be ‘short-term pain’ on inflation
Trump created a firestorm when he said financial struggles are not a factor in his decision-making as he seeks to negotiate an end to the Iran war, saying that preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is his top priority
‘It’s very simple. When people hear me say it, everybody agrees, short-term pain. It’s gonna be short-term pain. But the pain is much less than people thought… And that question was a fake question, and they didn’t put my full answer. I totally care,’ he said.
Trump’s remarks drew scrutiny from critics who argue the administration should balance geopolitical objectives with the economic impact on Americans, particularly as cost-of-living concerns remain a top issue for voters ahead of the November midterm elections.
Asked to elaborate on the president’s comments, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s ‘ultimate responsibility is the safety and security of Americans. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action wasn’t taken, they’d have one, which threatens all Americans.’
Trump is under growing pressure from fellow Republicans who fear economic pain caused by the war could cost their party control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate in November.
Rising energy costs linked to the Iran conflict have pushed up gasoline prices and contributed to inflation.
US consumer inflation in April posted its largest gain in three years, according to data released on Tuesday.
Trump framed his approach as a matter of national and global security, suggesting economic concerns were secondary to preventing nuclear proliferation.
US intelligence assessments, however, indicate that the time Iran would need to build a nuclear weapon has not changed since last summer, when analysts estimated that a US-Israeli attack had increased the timeline to nine months to a year, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour Zhongnanhai Garden
Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran
The assessments of Tehran’s nuclear program remain broadly unchanged even after two months of a war.
Trump’s allies have echoed his argument that the risks posed by a nuclear-armed Iran outweigh short-term economic hardships.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its program is for peaceful purposes, though Western powers suspect it aims to develop the capability to build a bomb.
Trump himself told Fox Friday that the Iran War, not the economy or redistricting, will determine the result of the midterms.
‘I think a bigger difference would be if I win quickly [in Iran], as opposed to after [the elections], but again, I’m not going to let the election determine what’s going to happen with respect to Iran, because they cannot have a nuclear weapon,’ he said.
However, he did admit that getting gas prices down would help.
“A bigger difference would be if that price went down. Look, prices are down, but the energy caused it to go up, and I said to my people, ”I hate to do this to you, but I’m going to screw up your numbers for a little while, because we have to stop the nuclear weapon stuff with Iran.”
On Monday, a prominent figure from 1980s cinema made a rare appearance in Los Angeles, appearing nearly unrecognizable at the age of 62.
She first captured the public’s attention at 18 as Superman’s cousin in the 1984 film “Supergirl.” Despite the years, she still exuded Hollywood glamour during her casual Starbucks coffee run.
Wearing a simple top paired with loose-fitting jeans, she looked a far cry from the rebellious icon she portrayed in the 1985 cult favorite “The Legend of Billie Jean,” where she starred alongside Christian Slater.
Her career saw her showcasing comedic talent alongside Bette Midler in “Ruthless People,” and she later sizzled as Michael J. Fox’s love interest in the 1987 hit “The Secret of My Success.”
Despite her successful career, she eventually decided to step back from Hollywood, choosing instead to pursue a PhD in Mythological Studies with a focus on Depth Psychology.
So… can you guess the mystery star who went from ’80s darling to doctor?
One of the biggest cult icons of ’80s cinema stepped out for a rare outing in Los Angeles on Monday, looking almost unrecognizable at 62
The actress shot to superstardom at just 18 playing Superman’s cousin in 1984’s Supergirl , but still carried plenty of Hollywood glamour as she was spotted on a casual coffee run to Starbucks
Dressed down in a simple top and baggy jeans , the former screen siren looked worlds away from the rebellious bombshell she played in 1985 cult classic The Legend of Billie Jean alongside Christian Slater (no relation)
If you said Helen Slater, you’re spot on!
After her string of hits in the 80s, Slater bounced between movies and TV.
She had a small but memorable role in the summer 1991 hit City Slickers, though the ensemble nature of the film left her somewhat on the sidelines.
Still, she stayed busy, building an impressively diverse resume with standout projects like the mind-bending time-loop thriller 12:01 (1993), the tense home invasion drama A House in the Hills (1993) opposite Michael Madsen, and a family-friendly reimagining of Lassie (1994).
In 1995’s action thriller No Way Back, Slater played a sunny air hostess opposite a gruff Russell Crowe.
As the decade turned, Slater landed another standout role in Nowhere in Sight (2001), playing a blind cellist in a suspenseful thriller inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s classic Wait Until Dark (1967).
Amid her wildly successful film career, Slater turned some of her focus to music.
In 2003, she released her first album, One of These Days, featuring her original songs performed live with her on piano and accompanied by six other musicians.
Helen Slater shot to superstardom at just 18 in 1984’s Supergirl
The Supergirl role cemented her as a poster girl for the era, but a year later she chopped off her signature locks for The Legend of Billie Jean
In The Legend of Billie Jean, Slater played a rebellious Texas teen-turned-outlaw martyr alongside Christian Slater (no relation)
Slater then flexed her comedic chops as Michael J. Fox’s love interest in 1987’s The Secret of My Success
Two years later, she followed up with Crossword, and since then has released four more albums: Shine (2010), The Myth of Ancient Greece (2013) and The Ugly Duckling (2015), both made for children, and Selkie (2019), an eleven-song concept album presented as one continuous musical piece.
Although Supergirl launched Slater into stardom, the film itself was a box office disappointment, earning just $14.3 million against a $35 million budget.
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, the movie featured a star-studded cast including Peter O’Toole, Faye Dunaway, Mia Farrow, Hart Bochner, and Brenda Vaccaro.
Reflecting on the role during a past interview on the Inside Of You podcast with host Michael Rosenbaum, Slater said, ‘I started crying. Like I just – my whole life changed. Like massive, massively changed.’
She also opened up in a 2023 interview with Bright Lights about life before landing the role.
‘I had just graduated from the Performing Arts High School, the school from the Fame movie and the TV show. I was eighteen,’ she began. ‘I had told my parents that I would like to take a year off to try to find work as an actress, because when I was at Performing Arts High School we weren’t allowed to work. We were really being trained. I
‘I graduated in June and I auditioned for Supergirl that October or November. Before that I had done a few commercials. I was in an ABC Afterschool Special called Amy & the Angel, and I played Amy. The school did let me out for that. But mostly we were not encouraged to be working, and I really wanted to try and get work,’ she continued.
‘I went on a few auditions before Supergirl. When you’re eighteen, weirdly, there are a lot more opportunities, certainly, than when you get older – I think the opportunities get fewer and fewer.
The star looked radiant as she showed off her grey locks and discussed mental wellness in October, all while highlighting her PhD in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology
Slater has been married to Robert Watzke since 1989; (pictured)
‘But I remember auditioning quite a lot before Supergirl; there were a lot of things coming up. It was a pretty busy time.’
Slater, who has been married to Robert Watzke since 1989 and shares a daughter, Hannah Nika Watzke, has continued her connection to the superhero world.
She portrayed Eliza Danvers on the Supergirl TV series (2015–2021), which premiered on CBS before moving to The CW.
She also appeared in Smallville, the show chronicling a young Clark Kent.
Meanwhile, a remake of the 1984 film is currently in the works at Warner Bros., with Milly Alcock cast as the new Supergirl in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
At the time of Alcock’s casting announcement in January, DC Studios CEO James Gunn said, ‘Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I’m incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU.’
It is not yet known whether Slater will have any involvement in the new project.
Forget the usual weight training—try these effective morning exercises instead.
For those who prioritize staying youthful, energetic, and self-sufficient, incorporating daily physical activity is essential. As we age, a natural process called sarcopenia leads to muscle deterioration, potentially starting as early as our 30s. This gradual muscle loss can significantly affect your quality of life. Tasks like walking the dog, dressing, or fetching the mail can become more difficult without robust muscles. Even enjoyable activities such as pickleball, bowling, and gardening might become a struggle.
Once you establish a routine, fitting exercise into your day will become second nature. To simplify this process, we’ve curated four morning exercises that may be more effective than traditional weight training for those over 50 in combating muscle loss.
“What I appreciate about these exercises is their limitless scalability,” notes Jacob Siwicki, founder and head coach of Siwicki Fitness. Siwicki, who holds certifications from NCSF and AFAA, was a globally top-ranked Equinox group fitness instructor in 2019, is a Dartmouth economics graduate and former football player, and a fitness expert featured on FOX 5 DC, was named the top personal trainer in D.C. in 2021. “A beginner can start by sitting and standing from a chair, doing wall pushups or using an elevated surface, performing single-arm rows with a water jug, and executing bodyweight hip thrusts. Six months later, that individual could progress to squatting with dumbbells, performing floor pushups, rowing actual weights, and incorporating a barbell in their hip thrusts. The exercises remain the same—the weight increases. This progression is crucial to combating muscle loss.”
“What I love about this list [of exercises] is it scales infinitely,” explains Jacob Siwicki, founder and head coach of Siwicki Fitness, NCSF and AFAA certified, former top 1% globally ranked Equinox group fitness instructor (2019), Dartmouth economics graduate and former Dartmouth football player, fitness expert on FOX 5 DC, ranked #1 personal trainer in D.C. in 2021. “A true beginner can sit down and stand up from a chair, do pushups against a wall or on an elevated surface, do a single-arm row with a water jug, and do a hip thrust with just bodyweight. Six months later, that same person is squatting with dumbbells, doing pushups on the floor, rowing real weight, and adding a barbell to their hip thrust. The exercises do not change. The load does. And that progression is exactly what fights muscle loss.”
Bodyweight Squats
Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Extend your arms ahead of you or place your hands on your hips.
Bend at the knees and hips as you lower into a squat.
Descend until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Press through your heels to rise back up to standing.
Pushups
Assume a high plank position with your hands under your shoulders and your body straight.
Bend your elbows and lower your chest toward the floor.
Maintain a long, straight body as you lower.
Press back up, straightening your arms.
Single-Arm Rows
Begin by placing your right knee and right hand on a workout bench, maintaining a tall chest and tight core.
Hold a water bottle or jug in your left hand, extending that arm toward the floor.
Pull the weight up toward your ribs, keeping your elbow close to your body.
Hold at the top for a moment before slowly lowering.
Repeat on the other side.
Hip Thrusts
Begin sitting on the ground with feet flat, knees bent, and back positioned against a workout bench.
Press through your heels to lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from head to knees. Your upper back should be pressing into the bench.
Squeeze your buttocks, holding at the top for a moment.
Australians remain largely unaware of the intricate workings of the nation’s million trusts, except for occasional glimpses revealed through contentious family legal battles over substantial wealth.
Even those who stand to benefit from these trusts often find themselves uninformed about their inner workings and may not receive the funds allocated to them ‘on paper.’
The specifics of trusts, especially discretionary ones, are cloaked in secrecy, with the trustee wielding significant control over the assets.
Despite this opacity, the use of trusts in Australia has surged dramatically. Their numbers have doubled in under two decades, escalating from 501,860 in the 2003/04 period to surpassing one million by 2022/23.
Organizations like the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) have long advocated for increased transparency regarding trusts, as these entities have been exploited for laundering money and concealing assets in family court cases.
Australia does not have a public registry that provides details about trusts, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) doesn’t maintain a register of trust deeds with beneficiaries’ details.
ACOSS says trusts have also been “used and abused by well-off taxpayers for many years” for tax minimisation.
“It beggars belief that so many people use these for any other reason than to avoid tax,” ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie says.
Employees who receive a salary or wage generally can’t direct their income into trusts because of rules that prevent them from avoiding tax.
They are generally used only by those who own businesses or have income-producing assets, such as rental properties or share portfolios.
According to data from 2019-20, the wealthiest 10 per cent of households hold more than 90 per cent of private trust wealth.
Around 90 per cent of private trust wealth in Australia is held by the richest households. Source: SBS News
The government is now cracking down on trusts, announcing changes in this year’s budget on how they will be taxed.
The debate has renewed scrutiny on how trusts operate, and why a system controlling vast amounts of wealth remains largely hidden from public view.
Why are trusts so popular?
At their core, a trust consists of one person — the trustee — who holds the legal title to its assets but must manage these for the benefit of others — the beneficiaries.
There are many types of trusts. One common example is a “fixed trust”, which allows people to invest money in a project, and to receive a fixed percentage of income. Before modern corporations became widespread, these trusts were often used as an early form of collective investment structure.
Trusts developed in medieval England and were often used as a way for people to provide for widows and children. Today, they are used for a much broader range of purposes, including estate planning, charitable giving, business succession, and managing assets for minors or vulnerable family members.
Peter Radan, an honorary professor in law at Macquarie University, says trusts were used by wealthy aristocrats in the 19th century to preserve assets within a family and to maintain vast estates that would otherwise be broken up when the head of the family died.
“[When] he dies, who does it go to? You would normally want to benefit all your children and that would necessarily mean breaking up the property,” he tells SBS News.
Radan points to the TV show Downton Abbey as an illustration of the challenges of keeping a large estate intact across generations.
A more modern example would be the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust, which helps preserve the wealth of Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart and her family.
Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, has been at the centre of a long-running trust dispute with her children. Source: SBS News / Richard Wainwright
In recent years, this trust has been the subject of wide-ranging litigation that resulted in Rinehart being removed as trustee after she tried to extend the trust’s operation, and in complaints from her children that they were denied important information.
This trust was a discretionary trust — often called a family trust — and gave Rinehart significant power to decide how the assets passed down from her father, Lang Hancock, were managed and how much income her children received.
How trusts are used to minimise tax
Discretionary trusts have been criticised for their role in allowing people to reduce their tax burden.
Unlike fixed trusts, the trustee of a discretionary trust does not have to allocate income to a set formula. Instead, they can choose how to split money across beneficiaries.
This allows them to allocate income in the most advantageous way each year, often by directing distributions to family members on lower marginal tax rates.
Dale Boccabella, associate professor of taxation law at the University of NSW, says the ideal beneficiary is generally an adult who doesn’t earn much (such as someone studying at university).
This is because trust income has historically been allocated to individuals and taxed at normal rates.
If the person has no other income, they benefit from the tax-free threshold of $18,200 and can receive up to $22,575 tax-free due to the low-income offset. The top tax rate of 45 cents only kicks in once income reaches $190,001.
Someone on a high income can therefore reduce the amount of tax they pay if they set up a trust and then spread this income around to lower-earning family members in a practice known as income-splitting.
Any tax that does need to be paid at a higher rate can also be limited by setting up what is known as a “bucket company”. Income allocated to the company is subject to a corporate tax rate of around 30 per cent, rather than the top individual tax rate of 45 per cent. Additional tax may still apply later if profits are paid out to individuals as dividends.
Experts say there are legitimate reasons to use trusts, such as for succession planning and asset protection, but critics argue most of these aims can be achieved using alternative structures such as creating a company which can also minimise the risk that personal assets will be seized to pay off business debts.
The number of trusts in Australia has doubled over 20 years. Source: SBS News
Last year the ATO clarified that trusts should not be used by someone earning personal services income — such as a tradesperson or doctor running their own businesses — and warned they could be at risk of contravening tax avoidance laws.
If one person is being paid for their services but splits the income with a spouse who is not involved in the business, for example, this could be seen as a contravention, according to new practical compliance guidelines.
Families being ‘used’ to reduce tax bills
Boccabella says a trust that generates around $100,000 in income can avoid paying tax if it allocates money to five beneficiaries (such as a couple and three non-working adult children). Other family members, such as aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews, can also be used for this purpose.
“The game they’re playing is that you’re identifying a person among the beneficiaries that have a good tax profile [which] normally means they don’t have much other income,” he says.
He says the trustee has some obligations to let people know if they are beneficiaries of a trust, but this is not always done and they sometimes don’t even get the money.
“The reality is that beneficiaries are being used as mere convenience,” he says.
If the child’s not actually getting that money it becomes [even] more of a joke.
A spokesperson for the ATO tells SBS News that generally trust income does not have to be physically paid to the beneficiary for it to be effective for tax purposes.
But if those amounts are not paid, the beneficiary remains entitled to receive the income and may call upon the trustee to make payment at a later date.
Trusts are not readily available to ordinary workers
Groups such as the Family First Party say families need the tax relief gained through income splitting, which reduces the amount households pay and allows parents the flexibility to stay home and care for young children.
But in its budget papers, the government notes that trust arrangements are not available to most workers.
It says that structures like discretionary trusts enable higher-income earners and wealthy individuals to achieve lower tax rates than ordinary workers.
The tax concessions offered through trusts, alongside the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing, are primarily available to people who have substantial assets, the budget papers note.
On Tuesday, the government announced it will introduce a 30 per cent minimum tax on the income of discretionary trusts from 1 July 2028.
It expects to collect $4.5 billion over five years due to the change.
The government says the reforms will “more closely align tax rates on income from discretionary trusts with rates paid by workers and families who earn a living from wages”.
Professional accounting organisation CPA Australia says trusts are a long-standing structure used by small businesses, farmers, tradies, professionals and investors.
CPA’s tax lead Jenny Wong says some people could face significant transaction costs when restructuring out of discretionary trusts because of the changes.
While the budget includes relief to help people move out of trusts, Wong says its effectiveness will depend on whether state and territory governments also provide stamp-duty relief.
Changes ‘level the playing field’
David Richardson, a senior research fellow at the Australia Institute, says the changes appear to be a good attempt to address the abuses involving trusts.
“It is a shame it will not generate revenue until 2029-30. But otherwise, we look forward to seeing the detail in the legislation that is introduced into parliament.”
ACOSS has also welcomed the changes, saying they will introduce an element of fairness into the tax treatment of private trusts.
Boccabella says the policy has a lot going for it and the 30 per cent tax would keep the system as simple as possible.
“Is it perfect? No, it’s very hard to achieve a perfect outcome here … but it levels the playing field a little bit.”
However, he notes that testamentary trusts already in existence are not subject to the 30 per cent minimum tax.
Trusts can remain in place for 80 years or longer
Testamentary trusts, which are created when someone dies, provide even more favourable tax rates due to exceptions around income for children.
People aged under 18 face high tax rates in Australia unless they are earning money through a job, their own business or certain other exempt categories. These measures were introduced to prevent parents from avoiding tax through income splitting.
If children get money from investment income, they are taxed 45c in the dollar over $1,307.
But money distributed through a testamentary trust is exempt and can instead be taxed at normal adult rates with an effective tax-free threshold of $22,575.
Boccabella says testamentary trusts allow income to be allocated to grandchildren — even if they are just a few days old — who can then claim the tax-free threshold.
“This concession can apply across potentially three or four generations because trusts can go on generally for 80 years,” he says.
“So you can give a baby … a [tax] concession because their great, great grandparent died.
The baby wouldn’t have even known the person. This is [why] it’s in the laughable category.
The assets of a trust generally must vest after 80 years (unless an earlier date is set), meaning ownership of the assets is transferred to specific people, and any capital gains tax or other duties are paid.
However, trusts in Queensland are allowed to continue for 125 years, while those in South Australia can remain in place indefinitely.
Testamentary trusts already in existence won’t be impacted by the Albanese government’s tax changes, but Boccabella says ensuring future funds pay a fair share of tax is important given the historic intergenerational wealth transfer taking place in Australia.
“It’s not uncommon for people [to have] three, four, five million dollars [in property].
The New School, a university that has positioned itself as inclusive and supportive of its Jewish students, has recently come under scrutiny following its decision to hire a controversial professor. Corinna Mullin, a well-known political science professor with a focus on anticolonialism and criticism of Western culture, has joined the faculty amidst controversy surrounding her past activities.
Mullin was a prominent figure in a protest held in April 2024 at City College of New York’s Harlem campus. The demonstration, which she helped lead, ended in chaos with a fire that engulfed the science building, causing damages amounting to $3 million, according to school officials. Her involvement in the protest led to her arrest.
She gained notoriety as one of the “fired four”—a group of adjunct professors at CUNY who claimed they were dismissed in the summer of 2025 due to their vocal support for Palestine. This occurred in the context of an upcoming congressional hearing by the Trump administration addressing antisemitism on college campuses.
While Mullin and two others were reportedly reinstated in January, according to Higher Ed Labor United, her teaching status at CUNY for the recent spring semester remains ambiguous, as her name is absent from the faculty listings.
In the interim, Mullin has taken a position at The New School, which itself has faced controversy. The university’s student senate recently voted to sanction its Hillel chapter, a decision that school officials stated was beyond the student senate’s authority.
Mullin began teaching a course called “Middle East in the World” in Fall 2025 and is scheduled to teach “Decolonizing International Law” in September.
Mullin has called Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel “high treason” — and has worked with the Samidoun network, a sham charity that acts as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist organization, according to the State Department. She didn’t reply to a request for comment.
The university didn’t answer The Post’s questions about Mullin’s hiring, but it continued to insist every student, regardless of background, was “welcome, valued and respected” at New School and that the move to sanction Hillel was “unacceptable.”
“We are looking carefully at how this situation unfolded, what further actions the university needs to take,” a spokesperson told The Post.
The student senate voted May 1 to end funding for Hillel, claiming its participation in trips that sent students to volunteer on military bases in Israel tied it to “grave violations of international law.”
Hillel said targeting its apolitical organization amounted to attacking Jewish identity on campus, and that the Israel trips were funded by private donations, not through student fees.
“The idea that student money is somehow funding foreign military operations is simply incorrect,” said Michael Valdes, a graduating MFA student and Hillel member, who served on the student senate last year.
“People are entitled to their opinion about Israel, the war and international politics. But political disagreement cannot become the justification for excluding a student club from campus life.”
Only a small source of Hillel’s funding came from the student fees distributed by the student senate, and the organization has not had to cancel any events.
“We will continue to be at this campus,” said Valdes in an address to the student senate Friday.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has come under fire for sharing a post that labeled a black Democratic lawmaker as “ghetto” following her arrest during a sit-in protest at the state capitol.
State Representative Angie Nixon spent several hours at the capitol in Tallahassee on Friday, hoping to discuss with Governor DeSantis the state’s newly enacted and contentious redistricting map. This map, signed into law by DeSantis in a special session back in April, has stirred significant debate.
The new redistricting plan in Florida reshapes 21 of the state’s 28 districts and introduces four additional seats that favor Republicans, potentially boosting their prospects in the upcoming November midterm elections.
Nixon, who has been vocal in her opposition to DeSantis’ redistricting efforts, staged her protest by sitting on the floor outside the governor’s office. She expressed to reporters her desire to engage in dialogue with DeSantis about the issue at hand.
“I am here today to represent the everyday hardworking Floridians who are essentially being denied a functional government,” Nixon told local reporter Douglas Soule.
‘Of a government that is actually trying to strip them of their voices by rigging, and drawing, [and] gerrymandering unconstitutional and illegal maps of a dysfunctional government that is making sure they are not meeting the needs of hardworking Floridians.’
After hours of sitting in protest, Nixon was arrested by Capitol Police, she said in a statement.
DeSantis then appeared to celebrate her arrest by re-sharing a post that labeled her a ‘ghetto Rep.’
State Rep. Angie Nixon sat inside the state capitol building in Tallahassee for hours on Friday waiting to speak with the Republican about the state’s new and controversial redistricting map. She was later arrested by Capitol Police
DeSantis then appeared to celebrate by sharing a post made by conservative commentator Eric Daugherty that labeled her a ‘ghetto Rep’
Eric Daugherty, a digital media intern for the local publication Florida’s Voice, posted about her arrest on Friday evening, giving her the contentious title.
‘NOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis just had ghetto Rep. Angie Nixon (D) ARRESTED after she did an illegal “SIT-IN” at his office because of the 2026 Florida House map that adds +4 GOP seats,’ the conservative commentator posted.
‘She melted down, and FAFO’d! LMAO!! Florida is the best.’
DeSantis then reposted what the reporter said about Nixon, adding ‘FAFO,’ which means F*** Around and Find Out.
He also posted a follow-up about her arrest, sharing a post by his chief of staff, Jason Weida, that stated that Nixon had been ‘reprimanded and now arrested.’
‘Deservedly so. Our office isn’t a platform for this performative nonsense,’ the governor shared.
The redistricting map initiative, which is part of a larger effort brought forward by President Donald Trump to maintain a Republican majority in the US House, has enraged Democrats as they are likely to have four of their seats snatched away.
Nixon, 42, previously took to the house floor in late April, donning a bright pink outfit and a matching bullhorn in hand as she protested the effort while the vote was taken.
The Sunshine State’s map, pushed forward by DeSantis (pictured in March), alters 21 of Florida’s 28 districts, adding four additional GOP-leaning seats that could improve the party’s chance of winning during November’s midterm elections
DeSantis made another post, stating that she was ‘deservedly’ arrested on Friday
She screamed into the megaphone: ‘This is assault on our democracy! This is a violation of the constitution! It is! It’s a violation of the constitution!’
As she did so, the house moved on with the vote which passed with 83 yeas and 28 nays.
Several representatives clapped as the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives announced that the bill had passed.
Meanwhile, others recorded Nixon and supported her efforts.
Following her arrest, Nixon issued a statement detailing how she does not plan to back down.
‘My commitment has always been to the people of my district and to the Constitution I swore to uphold, not to any political party or agenda. I will continue to honor that commitment by fighting against injustice, defending our democracy, and demanding action on the issues that matter most to the people we serve,’ she said.
Nixon, who represents District 13 and has been a state rep since 2020, then addressed her and other protestors being arrested on Friday.
‘I will not allow our rights and representation to be taken away in silence. At a time when people need their leadership to step up and govern, Gov. DeSantis and the Republican-controlled legislature in Florida are playing politics with people’s lives.
‘I was arrested today along with outraged constituents demanding action instead of doing the job taxpayers send them to Tallahassee for. I am calling for the release of all the peaceful protesters arrested today and for this legislature to revisit the Constitution they claim to uphold so that we can have representative maps.’
Nixon, 42, previously took to the house floor in late April, donning a bright pink outfit as she protested the effort while the vote was taken
Nixon represents District 13 and has been a state rep since 2020
The Florida Democratic Party also released a statement following the sit-in and Nixon’s arrest.
‘Arrests and intimidation from Governor DeSantis will not change the truth. The maps passed last week by Florida Republicans are illegal, discriminatory, and anti-democratic.
‘Floridians have the right to peacefully protest when their communities are under attack and elected officials have a responsibility to stand with them.
‘We’re deeply concerned by reports that journalists covering the protests were removed from the Capitol. Freedom of the press is a fundamental part of democracy and any threat or limitation to that freedom weakens our country, state, and communities. Only wannabe dictators arrest their political opponents in the shadows.
‘Florida Democrats will keep fighting to protect every voter’s voice.’
The Daily Mail contacted Nixon and DeSantis for comment.
