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.
A Fall Branch resident found himself in police custody on Tuesday following accusations of breaking into a Gray convenience store and stealing kratom the previous day.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) issued a news release detailing the arrest of 33-year-old Joshua Marcus Blalock. He faces multiple charges, including burglary, theft, vandalism, driving with a revoked license, and violating financial responsibility laws.
Authorities responded to an early morning report of a break-in around 5 a.m. on Monday. The incident occurred at a convenience store located in the Gray community.
“The front door had been shattered,” the release stated. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Blalock making off with several boxes of Kratom before escaping in a vehicle.
Blalock was apprehended while driving along Bristol Highway shortly before 1 p.m. on Tuesday. A traffic stop led to his arrest, and he was subsequently taken to the Washington County Detention Center, where he remains on a $15,100 bond, according to the WCSO.
In London’s upscale Notting Hill neighborhood, residents are turning to private security to manage the influx of social media influencers drawn to the area’s stunning cherry blossoms.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been flooded with videos showing groups of people obstructing streets and sidewalks, striking poses against residential walls, and even scaling walls to capture the perfect shot.
A particularly popular spot is the cherry tree on the corner of Stanley Crescent, known for its beautiful pink blooms, attracting a throng of photo enthusiasts.
Fed up with the constant stream of visitors, local homeowners have taken action by employing a private security guard.
The security officer, clad in black with a bright yellow vest, is stationed under the cherry tree to deter individuals from sitting on the wall or entering the nearby garden.
Noting the nuisance to residents, one Londoner wrote on Threads: ‘Every spring, this cherry blossom house in London goes viral.
‘And the people who live here, whose street was once quiet and peaceful, might not agree that virality is a good thing.’
Cherry blossoms are such a popular backdrop for influencer pictures that one of the world’s most popular hanami (or flower-viewing) attractions in the world more than doubled the price of tickets for foreign visitors.
Residents in affluent Notting Hill hired private security guards to handle the influx of snap-happy influencers flocking to the picturesque cherry blossom tree on Stanley Crescent
A TikToker in a pink dress poses by the blooming cherry blossom tree on Stanley Crescent
Videos posted to social media show prior to the security guard’s introduction show hordes of people milling about the area, posing for photos against the walls of a residential property – and even climbing walls to secure the perfect shot
As of March 1, entry to Himeji Castle in Osaka will cost ¥2,500 (£12) for non-residents, as opposed to ¥1,000 (approximately £5).
But there is no need to travel all the way to Japan with social media starlets eagerly flocking to the ritzy neighbourhoods of west London instead.
Peter Lee, 80, said his home in Notting Hill is visited daily by people using it as a backdrop for their social media pictures.
The former fashion designer, who has lived in his home for 47 years, said he’s seen people doing the splits in front of his steps – and even balancing on his railings.
Mr Lee said: ‘I don’t really mind the crowds. I have cameras so it does amuse me to just watch their antics.
‘One time, a company seemed to be having a whole photoshoot. They had a little outfit change tent and everything.
‘They actually left a bunch of brand new clothes here – tags and all. I put up a sign, saying to knock on my door to collect them.’
But not everyone is so accommodating. Some owners have even started painting their famously colourful homes black in a bid to stop ‘rude’ selfie-taking influencers from posing outside.
Yesterday’s sunshine and warm temperatures saw dozens flocking to Stanley Crescent – where the average value of a property is £1.2million – for that perfect Instagram page snap
Hordes of tourists pose in front of the cherry blossoms in the trendy neighborhood
At nearby Lancaster Road, just metres from Portobello Road Market, homeowners have reported influencers even undergoing multiple outfit changes outside their doors to get the best shots
Cherry blossoms are a popular backdrop for influencer pictures
Homeowners on Lancaster Road – located just metres away from Portobello Road Market in west London – say they are constantly swamped with people taking photos in front of their properties
One video showed a large group of people outside the house in Notting Hill, as the TikTok user @angela_j asked for alternative recommendations to enjoy hanami in London.
‘Came to Notting Hill for the cherry blossoms, so did everyone else,’ the text on the clip read – adding ‘I can’t deal with the crowds’.
Another clip showed tourists snapping pictures of each other and hanging around the house.
In the wake of the house’s social media popularity, some people suggested ‘that living in Notting Hill is a nightmare’, while others advised the homeowners to start ‘charging for pics’.
One comment read: ‘This is why Notting Hill is a nightmare… people are filming or taking photos [while] walking on the road. No road sense whatsoever.’
Another added: ‘I’ve seen “influencers” there shouting at a woman who was trying to get to her own house that she should stand in line if she wants to have a photo.’
A third person wrote: ‘If that was my house, I would start charging for pics.’
Residents also have claimed that brazen tourists will enjoy lunchtime picnics on their doorsteps and often peer through their windows ‘forgetting that people actually live there’.
A cyclist weaving through a group of Instagram addicts was recently spotted shouting: ‘You are all f***ing sheep. These are normal houses.’
Two houses on the road have now ditched their previous bright exterior – in the hopes that black walls are ‘less Instagrammable’ – and will therefore stop people coming there.
Previously, a purple and pink home sat either side of an already-black house but now they have joined forces with their neighbour.
A ‘quiet zone’ sign was also put up – and one property further down the street even strung a rope across their front steps.
Dolores Catania has addressed swirling rumors about a potential cast overhaul on the “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” while sharing insights on the test filming process for new cast members. Meanwhile, Jennifer Aydin has dropped hints about a recent conversation she had with Teresa Giudice concerning the future direction of the show.
Credit: Instagram
Recently, insiders suggested that Bravo is in the early stages of test filming with possible new cast members for the upcoming 15th season. Reports from Reality Blurb indicate that Dolores, Teresa, and Melissa Gorga are the only current cast members who may return, as network executive Andy Cohen has previously hinted at the possibility of a complete cast refresh, similar to the approach taken with “Real Housewives of New York.”
In a recent episode of her “TV Gold” podcast, Aydin prompted Dolores with a question, asking, “You did test film with some potential housewives, yes?” Dolores responded enigmatically, pointing out that test filming is a preliminary step, saying, “Test filming is not – I go, ‘You’re so far from being on camera,’” implying the newcomers still have a long way to go before making it onto the show.
“You did test film with some potential housewives, yes?” Aydin asked Dolores on her TV Gold podcast.
“Test filming is not – I go, ‘You’re so far from being on camera,’” said Dolores cryptically, seemingly addressing the potential newbies who test filmed.
Aydin added, “But even Teresa [told] me, ‘Jen … they [are telling] us nothing,’” said Aydin. “So who knows if they’re going to keep some [castmates] and then add new [ones], or reboot totally.”
Dolores then addressed the potential reboot.
“It didn’t work for New York,” said Dolores.
On February 19, a source told Radar Online that several costars are still being considered for the new season.
“While Jennifer Aydin and Rachel Fuda aren’t in the running, the rest of the cast is,” said the source. “It’s possible they could bring some of them back or all of them back to see how they interact with the potential newbies. … [Producers will] get these new people in front of a camera to see how they perform.”
“[But] don’t forget they did test filming last year, and it went nowhere,” the insider added. “It all depends on the chemistry of the women once they’re in front of cameras and if they see a viable show that could be made from their interactions. If they don’t, it may be back to the drawing board. … [However] this could be a positive sign, because if they like what they see, the show will likely start filming sooner rather than later and finally be back on fans’ screens.”
During an appearance on “Face the Nation,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing threats posed by Iran.
Rutte highlighted the positive development that 22 nations have united to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open and secure. He recalled past successes, such as when President Donald Trump influenced NATO allies to contribute their 5 percent share, thereby bolstering defense capabilities. Rutte expressed strong confidence in their ability to effectively manage the situation with Iran.
The coalition primarily comprises NATO member countries, but also includes Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. “We are now coordinating military and strategic efforts among these 22 nations and the United States,” Rutte stated.
.@SecGenNATO Mark Rutte applauds @POTUS‘ leadership on the world stage, says we’re “coming together to make sure that we can be able to secure the Strait of Hormuz.” pic.twitter.com/AE0ibJMFS6
Most of the 22 are NATO countries. Others involved also included Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. “So we are now planning the military people and others amongst this group of 22 nations and with the U.S.,” Rutte said.
In a significant breakthrough for law enforcement in Southern California, nine individuals have been apprehended in connection with a massive cargo theft operation. The authorities successfully recovered stolen goods valued at around $7 million and seized approximately $1 million in cash, according to official reports.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced that the suspects were detained after detectives executed 13 search warrants across various locations. The operations, conducted from December through February, spanned Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
This large-scale operation is part of an ongoing collaborative investigation targeting organized crime and cargo theft, as detailed in a statement released by the department on social media.
Among the stolen items retrieved were a diverse range of products including televisions, kitchen appliances, printers, soundbars, Ring cameras, air conditioning units, and various tools. The haul also included pool equipment, golf carts, ATVs, plush toys, clothing, shoes, energy drinks, liquor, and cosmetics, underscoring the extensive scope of the thefts.
The recovered cargo included televisions, kitchen appliances, printers, soundbars, Ring cameras, air conditioning units, tools, pool equipment, golf carts, ATVs, plush toys, clothing, shoes, energy drinks, liquor and cosmetics, authorities said.
Detectives seized roughly $7 million of stolen cargo freight and $1 million in cash.(Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
A total of 36 companies were targeted, including JB Hunt, Amazon, Sony, LG, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Costco, Wolff Shoes, Monster Energy and Disney.
The suspects are facing charges including grand theft cargo, money laundering and receiving stolen property, according to authorities.
The suspects are facing charges of grand theft cargo, money laundering and receiving stolen property.(Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Anyone with additional information regarding cargo theft is urged to contact the Organized Retail Crimes Task Force, which was established by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2023.
The sheriff’s department’s post did not identify the suspects.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has long dwelled in obscurity, rarely making public appearances or statements. Despite this low profile, he is connected to an extensive global network of assets valued in the millions.
A ski resort nestled in the Austrian Alps, opulent apartments in London complete with staff, a luxurious golf and spa retreat in Mallorca, and several hotels in Frankfurt are among the international properties associated with Khamenei, according to various media sources.
Although it’s uncertain if Khamenei or the Iranian regime holds any assets in Australia, experts caution that the possibility exists.
Khamenei rose to power earlier this month, stepping into the role of supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint airstrike by the US and Israel, catapulting him into international attention.
While the exact value of the 56-year-old’s wealth remains undisclosed, an asset list compiled by SBS News suggests his fortune could reach several hundred million dollars.
Dara Conduit, a senior lecturer in political science at the University of Melbourne, tells SBS News it has earned him the nickname ‘nepotollah’.
“Which is a play on nepo-baby and ayatollah … because of his widely recognised wealth,” she says.
A ‘bankrupt’ promise
His opaque financial empire also reportedly spans from Persian Gulf shipping to Swiss bank accounts.
“It’s very sensitive politically that the [former] supreme leader and the new supreme leader — and also his father — had garnished so much wealth from the state,” Conduit says.
“So that means that it’s really deeply hidden.
We are talking shell companies and fronts and all sorts of things across the world. It’s very difficult to know exactly how much money he has.
Reports of the Khamenei family’s wealth sit uncomfortably for many Iranians, who have been facing a severe economic crisis in recent years, which the regime blames on US sanctions.
In January, a significant protest movement emerged in the country, initially triggered by economic grievances after shopkeepers closed their shops and went on strike.
Iran’s currency plummeted to a record low at the start of this year, losing nearly 800 per cent of its value since 2020. Inflation reached 42.5 per cent in December.
This economic crisis is the antithesis of the vision sold by the Islamic regime when it came to power after the 1979 revolution.
Conduit says two of the key promises made by the regime were that they would defend the oppressed and redistribute wealth.
“That redistributed promise of the Iranian revolution is long gone,” she says.
Regime-linked media and officials have long tried to paint a picture of the Khamenei family as pious, living a life devoid of the luxury and extravagance that seem to define their real-world investments.
Former supreme leader Ali Khamenei reportedly never took an international trip after he came to power in 1989. His son is known to have left the country, though the circumstances are often shrouded in secrecy.
“The fact that the new supreme leader is so wealthy and this is becoming widely known just shows how bankrupt that promise has become, and how hollow the regime’s promise is these days,” Conduit says.
From Emirate Hills to the Austrian Alps
In attempting to trace Khamenei’s assets, investigators and journalists have repeatedly found that his name is not explicitly listed in official documents. In some cases, assets are owned by shell companies linked to another name that has drawn suspicion: Ali Ansari.
This includes prime real estate in expensive London neighbourhoods, a villa in Dubai’s Emirates Hills (an affluent gated community), two upscale hotels in Frankfurt, the Steigenberger golf and spa resort in Mallorca, a ski and wellness resort in the Austrian Alps and a shopping centre in north-western Germany, according to reports by Bloomberg and the Financial Times.
Transparency International UK has identified more than £200 million ($378 million) worth of property in the United Kingdom bought by figures linked to the Iranian regime.
Khamenei and Ansari have also been linked to a section of a building in Paris, which was offloaded in 2023, and a penthouse in Toronto’s Four Seasons Private Residences, sold for US$7.7 million ($10.94 million) in 2020, according to Bloomberg.
Experts say the regime’s incentive for owning these assets is not just about living a luxurious life — it also represents a contingency plan.
“The economic stakeholders in the Iranian regime can continue to back the regime because they know that they’ve also got a plan B if that’s what they want,” Conduit says.
“Those economic stakeholders who support the regime are a key part of its ruling bargain. As long as they can continue to make money and benefit from the arrangement, then that keeps the regime strong.
“It helps the regime to survive because authoritarian regimes do not exist — cannot exist — without some level of support.”
Who is Ali Ansari?
Ansari is an Iranian banker who was sanctioned by the UK government in October for his alleged “role in financially supporting the activities” of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which Australia considers a sponsor of terrorism.
His assets in the UK have been frozen, and Ansari and his lawyers have denied the allegation.
In a public statement, Ansari said he has “operated as an independent entrepreneur” and “categorically reject[s] all accusations that have been raised”.
Little is known about Mojtaba Khamenei, and he hasn’t been seen publicly since he was selected as Iran’s supreme leader. Source: Getty / Iranian President’s Press Office
Anton Moiseienko is a senior lecturer in law at the Australian National University, whose work focuses on the legal and policy aspects of economic sanctions. He tells SBS News authoritarian regimes will often operate through proxy networks to hide their investments.
“[They have] proxies around the world, trying to ensure that it’s more difficult for investigators and banks to make the connection between assets and the Iranian regime that’s ultimately controlling them,” he says.
“There are two parts to what they’re doing … one is state activities, so making money for the government and, in the case of Iran, financing the various proxies that Iran has been supportive of.
The other aspect is corruption and personal self-enrichment. Property comes into the second part of the equation primarily.
According to reporting by the Financial Times, Ansari owns a St Kitts and Nevis holding company called Smart Global Limited, which owns some regime-linked assets through subsidiary companies in foreign countries.
According to the UK’s sanctions entry, Ansari holds passports from his native Iran, as well as Cyprus and St Kitts and Nevis.
Passport-holders for St Kitts and Nevis, a dual-island nation situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, are entitled to visa-free travel across more than 150 countries and territories.
Other Iranian proxies have been flagged in other countries in recent years, too.
The US-based Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has previously warned that some foreign individuals have abused the nation’s ‘Citizenship by Investment’ program to engage in illegal financial activity.
The Global Organised Crime Index also mentioned in 2023 that “state actors are actively involved in enabling money laundering in the country”.
“A lot of them [proxies] are businesspeople who are motivated, perhaps to some extent ideologically, but also financially,” Moiseienko says.
The other aspect is that for a long time, Iran has had strong business connections with countries in the Middle East where they would incorporate companies, and they would seek to use those jurisdictions in order to set up proxies that would operate around the world.
Ansari is known in Iran as a wealthy businessman, although the scale of his wealth is subject to speculation.
He was previously the principal shareholder of Iran’s Ayandeh Bank, which was dissolved by the country’s central bank due to accumulated losses and regulatory concerns. He also owns the Iran Mall in Tehran, considered one of the world’s largest shopping centres.
Ansari is not sanctioned in Australia, nor has he been sanctioned by the European Union, despite a large bulk of his known assets being held in Europe.
Australian assets ‘very possible’
The Iranian regime’s circumvention of sanctions through proxies has been a concern for Australia in recent years.
In October 2025, the Australian Federal Police charged a western Sydney man for allegedly remitting money to Iranian banks in contravention of federal sanctions.
The man was a director of an Auburn-registered remittance company that allegedly processed 543 international currency transfers totalling $649,308 to sanctioned banks in Iran over a 12-month period.
The Iranian Australian diaspora has also long raised concerns about the possibility of the regime holding assets in Australia.
Rana Dadpour, a spokesperson for the Australian United Solidarity for Iran community group, says these concerns are now resurfacing with the appointment of Khamenei.
“There are many rumours turning around our community members, talking about IRGC members or their family members or people who are affiliated with IRGC or work with them, having assets, properties, and even businesses here in Australia,” Dadpour tells SBS News.
“It is not something that is completely out of mind, and it is very possible that [Khamenei], himself or people who work for him or are supporters of him, have assets or properties here.”
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson tells SBS News that sanctions law is designed to prevent designated individuals or entities, such as the IRGC, from acquiring or benefiting from Australian-based assets.
“Further, Australian individuals and entities that hold an asset believed to be owned or controlled by a designated person or entity are obligated to freeze those assets and report them to the Australian Federal Police,” the spokesperson says.
“In accordance with longstanding practice, we do not speculate on potential sanctions measures.”
DFAT has imposed financial sanctions against 318 Iran-linked individuals and entities, in addition to sanctioning the IRGC.
Its status as a state sponsor of terrorism also makes it unlawful for Australian individuals or entities to engage with its members, accept funds from or offer any form of support to the group.
SBS News asked Transparency International Australia — the Australian chapter of a global anti-corruption non-profit — whether it had any knowledge of Iranian regime assets on Australian soil.
CEO Clancy Moore says the organisation doesn’t know for certain “if there’s any assets being parked in Australia, but there is a risk”.
“There’s always a risk of dirty money coming into our real estate sector,” Moore says.
There’s lots of evidence of other autocratic and kleptocratic regimes investing money into Australia.
“There’s some serious weaknesses and gaps in our current safeguards against money laundering.”
Arash Jafari is an Iranian Australian real estate agent in Sydney and the founder of Genesis Development Club, a propery development club. He agrees with Moore.
He says when customers buy a property under a trust, “due to privacy reasons”, certain information about the property, including “who owns it, who’s the beneficiary and who controls the asset” is not publicly available.
“There are so many ways to hide it if they are trying to do so … it’s not public knowledge that you can go to a website, search it, and you can see who owns it.”
Jafari adds that while he cannot confirm regime-affiliated people own any properties in the country, “Australia technically is a place to hide your assets … for the people that have that intent”.
“These people are everywhere. These people live between us in this community. And if you dig into their work situation, most of them just say, ‘I’m self-employed. I’m a business owner.’ What business? What exactly do you do?”
From July, Australia is expanding its money laundering laws, which require professions such as real estate agents, lawyers, accountants, conveyancers and high-value dealers to conduct customer due diligence and report suspicious interactions, in an effort to stamp out nefarious activity.
Brendan Thomas is the CEO of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Australia’s financial crime watchdog.
He explains that current safeguards “require banks and other regulated businesses to apply enhanced due diligence to higher risk customers and report suspicions of criminal activity to AUSTRAC”.
“Higher risk customers include Iranian corporations and customers physically present in Iran,” he says.
But the proposed changes will increase scrutiny of property transactions and help to bar sanctioned individuals or entities from investing in Australian assets, Thomas says.
“Real estate has been recognised as a key money laundering channel because it has sat outside [Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act] regime, limiting visibility of who is behind property transactions.
“Bringing real estate agents into the regime closes a key gap and strengthens safeguards against illicit and high‑risk investment in Australian assets.”
‘The original gangster’
Experts warn that there are other tools the Iranian regime may be using to evade sanctions, including cryptocurrency.
Earlier this month, Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm, reported that “IRGC-linked addresses accounted for over half of all value received by Iranian entities” in 2025, noting that more than US$3 billion ($4.2 billion) in cryptocurrency had been transferred “to support regional militia networks, facilitate oil sales, and procure dual-use equipment”.
Moiseienko says the reliance on cryptocurrency is twofold.
“What seems to be happening there is both an effort to try and convert some of the money generated through selling oil into cryptocurrency to basically hide it from any attempts to freeze that property and potentially take it away,” he says.
But also, cryptocurrency is used in order to finance the operations of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other allies that Iran has been cultivating.
“I think that that’s something that the Iranian regime seems to have discovered and really taken heart to over the past couple of years, and one might therefore expect the use of cryptocurrency to continue.”
The Chainalysis report also shows that in February, when the US and Israel first launched joint strikes on Iran, crypto markets responded “with visible on-chain asset movements in near real time”.
Selling oil through what’s known as the ‘shadow fleet’ is another traditionally opaque money laundering tactic that experts say the Iranian regime is using to circumvent sanctions.
The shadow fleet is a group of often older, uninsured oil tankers that deceptively ferry oil from sanctioned countries such as Iran and Russia to refineries that sell it on to third countries.
“A significant part of what the Iranian government has been engaged in is trying to sell oil in order to finance its operations,” Moiseienko says.
“We often talk about the Russian shadow fleet, but the original gangster shadow fleet is actually the Iranian one that has been in operation for many years, trying to, again, operate through shell companies, operate through shipping lines that are happy to do business with the Iranian regime, often trying to find that cover of plausible deniability.”
For more, watch SBS World News tonight at 6.30pm AEDT on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Hundreds of e-bike riders have been fined or cautioned and five have been charged with criminal offences in a major crackdown on the controversial ride-ons in Sydney‘s south.
Authorities recently apprehended numerous riders, some as young as 14, operating altered and non-compliant bicycles. These included bikes lacking pedals and others legally categorized as motorbikes.
During a two-day crackdown across Sutherland Shire, South Sydney, and the eastern beaches, law enforcement engaged with 215 e-bike and e-scooter users. This resulted in the issuance of 170 fines and 99 warnings.
E-bike riders as young as 14 were stopped by police for riding modified or otherwise non-compliant bikes. (NSW Police)A number of the bikes were confiscated by police. (NSW Police)
Throughout this recent police initiative, over 250 individuals underwent breath testing, while 26 were subjected to drug tests, with five individuals returning positive results for drug use.
Additionally, five individuals faced criminal charges, and another 21 received traffic-related penalties.
One notable incident involved a 25-year-old man who was intercepted while riding an e-bike on the Denman Avenue footpath in Woolooware last Wednesday at 3:45 PM.
As his bike was deemed a vehicle under NSW legislation, the man was fined for riding an unregistered and uninsured bike and for riding without a motorbike helmet.
He was also issued a court attendance notice for riding while disqualified and had his bike confiscated.
Police spoke to 215 e-bike riders over two days. (NSW Police)Five people were charged with drug driving. (NSW Police)
He also allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test.
In NSW, petrol-powered e-bikes or those exceeding 500 watts are not allowed on public roads, footpaths or cycleways and may be deemed vehicles requiring licencing and registration.
Under the legislation, e-bikes must be primarily powered by the user and all assistance cut out once a speed of 25km/h is reached.
Police have warned that more blitzs on e-bikes are planned in the Sutherland Shire and at other locations across Sydney.
“While e-bikes are a great mode of transport when ridden safely and most people do comply with the rules, police have seen an increase in illegal or anti-social e-bike rider behaviour,” Traffic and Highway Patrol Operations Commander, Superintendent Anthony Boyd, said.
“We urge riders to learn and comply with the law.”
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A former co-host of The View is poised to make a highly anticipated comeback after previously describing the show as having a “toxic environment.”
Abby Huntsman, aged 39, was known for her role as one of the conservative viewpoints on the panel between 2018 and 2020. The View announced via social media on Sunday that Huntsman will return to the spotlight this week, stepping in as a guest host.
Huntsman is set to join a roster of temporary hosts filling in for Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official, who is currently on maternity leave.
Initially, Huntsman stated that her 2020 exit was to support her father, Jon Huntsman, during his run for governor of Utah.
However, a year later, Huntsman disclosed on her podcast, I Wish Somebody Told Me, which she co-hosts with friend and comedy writer Lauren Leeds, that there were additional factors influencing her departure.
She confessed that The View ‘did not reflect my values’ and was ‘rewarding people for bad behavior.’
Huntsman said that the executives were ‘all about money and the tabloids…You would see people act in ways that were not okay, that was very much part of the toxic environment of The View, and here we were going on the air criticizing others for toxic culture.’
She went on to reveal that a producer on the show had requested she read a statement on air denying reports of a toxic workplace, which she refused.
Abby Huntsman, pictured above in 2019, is set to return to The View as a temporary co-host this week, following her sensational departure in 2020
Huntsman left television after she departed from The View. Rumors swirled at the time of a feud between her and fellow conservative co-host, Meghan McCain. She’s pictured above (second from the left) with Joy Behar, guest Jamie Lee Curtis, Sunny Hostin and McCain in 2019
Huntsman, pictured above in a social media post in January, was on MSNBC and Fox News before her tenure on The View from 2018 to 2020
Huntsman launched a podcast in 2021 with her friend Lauren Leeds. The cover of the show is pictured above
Huntsman claimed that when she said she would not read the statement, the producer later texted her, ‘That was a mistake.’
She reflected on her last day on set and said that before taping had even concluded, her sister emailed her a news article citing a source inside the show who claimed that producers were planning to fire her before she resigned.
‘When I was walking out of the building that day, I was living again,’ Huntsman said on her podcast.
‘I could breathe and feel myself breathing. I was present and I hadn’t been present for the almost two years I was there.’
Prior to her departure, reports surfaced of tension between Huntsman and her fellow conservative panelist, Meghan McCain.
A CNN Business article at the time cited multiple sources who described a toxic work environment on set and a ‘soured relationship’ between the two conservative women.
McCain and Huntsman had a longtime friendship, having both come from well-known Republican families.
However, sources said that their relationship was frayed when Huntsman began discussing her children on-air following McCain’s miscarriage.
Huntsman told her friend Lauren Leeds, pictured above, on her podcast that the environment on The View was ‘toxic’
Reports surfaced before Huntsman’s departure that she had a feud with longtime friend Meghan McCain. The two are pictured above on The View in 2019
A slew of panelists, including Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Savannah Chrisley, are also filling in for Alyssa Farah Griffin
‘Abby was sick of being berated by Meghan for perceived slights,’ one of the sources told CNN. ‘She ultimately decided she didn’t need this job and it wasn’t worth it.’
An ABC spokesperson denied the report at the time, telling CNN in a statement: ‘There has always been a fascination with the behind-the-scenes at the show since the show began, but they do a tough job by going out there every day to share their opinions and beliefs on live TV.’
Huntsman struck a different tone in her goodbye message, telling viewers how difficult it was to leave The View and calling it the ‘most iconic show on television’ with the ‘smartest women.’
Prior to her tenure on the show, Huntsman was a host on MSNBC and Fox News. During her time as a panelist, Huntsman hosted alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain.
Farah Griffin took over McCain’s seat on the show in 2022, following multiple public clashes between McCain and the other panelists.
Other conservative commentators filling in for Farah Griffin include reality star Savannah Chrisley and former host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who sat on the panel from 2003 to 2013.
Hasslebeck has also offered harsh words for The View’s current lineup, telling Fox News in 2025 that the show ‘refused to put anyone there who has a lick of sense on most days.’
Francesca Xuereb has taken on a captivating role in “Landman,” the gripping Paramount+ series that delves into the intense world of the oil industry and those who thrive within it. Starring alongside Ali Larter and Billy Bob Thornton, who portray the feuding divorcees Tommy and Angela Norris, Xuereb joins the ensemble in Season 2 as Cheyenne. Her character, a former stripper turned physical therapist, is tasked with alleviating the bodily pains of Tommy’s father, T.L., played by Sam Elliott.
Much like her fellow cast members Jacob Lofland and Kayla Wallace, who have both undergone remarkable character developments, Xuereb’s portrayal of Cheyenne highlights a significant professional transformation. Despite this evolution, her wardrobe still echoes her past, featuring bikinis and revealing outfits. For those catching up, a standout image of her in a pink tank top and corseted shorts perfectly encapsulates Cheyenne’s distinctive on-screen style.
Like her “Landman co-stars, Jacob Lofland and Kayla Wallace, who’ve undergone stunning transformations, Xuereb’s Cheyenne is in the middle of a professional evolution. However, her fashion, which includes bikinis and scantily clad dresses, definitely reflects her previous profession. In case you haven’t caught up, the photo on the below left, featuring her pink tank top and corseted shorts, perfectly captures Cheyenne’s on-screen style.
Unsurprisingly, Xuereb looks very different in real life. While Cheyenne is very much a free spirit who enjoys flaunting her body, Xuereb’s personal fashion veers a little more toward the conservative side, as seen by the red carpet pic on the right. But not by much! The actor’s Instagram is full of her wearing trendy fashion; it just leaves things to the imagination. Also, while Cheyenne has perfected the art of bed hair, Xuereb seemingly prefers to wear her hair straight or in simple, polished styles.
When Xuereb steps in front of the camera, her character’s look is likely influenced by the show’s costume designer, Janie Bryant. Speaking to Vogue in the fall of 2025, Bryant shared insights into the western-inspired wardrobe choices. “Leather, denim, and boots go beyond mere clothing; they serve as armor, symbolizing the characters’ resilience and identity,” she explained. “The narrative unfolds in the Texas dust, where two worlds collide, and their attire breathes life into the story.”
Who styles Francesca Xuereb on ‘Landman?’
Though Bryant provided a detailed breakdown of various characters’ fashion influences prior to Xuereb’s debut episode, it is safe to assume that Cheyenne’s wardrobe was crafted with similar thoughtfulness. Bryant emphasized, “Each crease and scuff narrates a tale of survival and pride rooted in their heritage,” suggesting that Cheyenne’s costumes were carefully chosen to reflect her journey and background.
As for when she’s on camera? Well, her looks have likely been shaped by the show’s costume designer, Janie Bryant. “Leather, denim, and boots aren’t just wardrobe pieces; they’re the characters’ armor — symbols of endurance and identity,” Bryant told Vogueabout the show’s western influences in fall 2025. “It’s the story of two worlds colliding in the same Texas dust. Their clothes breathe real life,” she explained.
Bryant also broke down several of the characters’ fashion inspirations, but Xuereb’s first episode hadn’t yet aired when that article came out. However, we can assume that Bryant was also thinking about Cheyenne when discussing how she picks certain items for the cast. “Every crease and scuff tells the story of survival and pride in their heritage,” she said.
Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the esteemed founder of Salvation Ministries, recently stirred public discourse by claiming he could easily afford a private jet, using this assertion to underline his teachings on generosity.
During a sermon delivered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ibiyeomie highlighted the connection between generosity and financial prosperity, as reported by PM News. He took the opportunity to debunk the notion that giving leads to financial decline, suggesting instead that reluctance to give is often the root cause of financial woes.
Giving and Financial Growth
“Please don’t tie down your destiny with stinginess. Giving does not make people poor, never. If giving makes people poor, then I would have been poor but I can’t be poor,” he proclaimed, emphasizing his point.
Pastor Ibiyeomie went on to clarify that his habit of giving is not contingent upon having an abundance of wealth but rather stems from a deep-seated commitment to his faith. He remarked that although some members of the congregation might possess greater financial resources, they often exhibit less generosity.
He further explained that his giving is not based on having excess wealth but on his commitment to God. He added that some church members may have more cash but give less.
“We don’t give because we have more than others, we give because we love God. There are people who have physical cash in this church more than me, but they don’t give what I give,” he stated.
Preference for Church Projects
Ibiyeomie also spoke about his financial capacity, saying he could easily acquire luxury items but has chosen to focus on church development instead.
“If I want to buy a jet today in this church, I can buy a jet. All I need to do is to stop the Cathedral and I will buy jets. That Cathedral can buy jets, not a jet. I can buy jets of any kind, but I said no because the kingdom of God is the first,” he said.
He concluded by stressing his vision for a grand place of worship. He said the church should reflect excellence and even surpass what is seen in other institutions.
“Of recent I saw a traditional ruler with gold in his palace. I said nothing will make the church not to do it with gold. In this Cathedral, everywhere you turn will be gold,” he added.
