TRANSCRIPT
- Julian Assange 'too unwell' to attend last-ditch hearing to fight US extradition
- Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci to step down
- British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe buys a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has missed the first day of his appeal against extradition due to illness.
Assange's lawyers launched the appeal against his extradition to the United States despite his absence, where he could face up to 175 years in prison on espionage charges.
Last week, Australia's House of Representatives passed a motion urging the U-S and U-K governments to allow Julian Assange to return to Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told the ABC he would like to see the case resolved.
"We what we want to see is resolution. Obviously, we respect the independence of the both the UK and the US judicial systems and we are very respectful of that. But in respect of an Australian citizen, who is incarcerated overseas, we are very simply saying that, that this has been a long time now, and this is a circumstance which needs to be resolved."
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Woolworths Group managing director and chief executive Brad Banducci will step down in September and be replaced by Amanda Bardwell, the managing director of the supermarket group's ecommerce arm.
Mr Banducci is leaving after 13 years with the group, eight and a half as its CEO.
His resignation comes amid mounting pressure on Australia's two largest supermarket chains over increasing food prices.
The government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to review prices and competition in the sector.
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New South Wales Police say a man will be charged with three counts of murder after a mother, her son and another man believe to be the woman's estranged husband were found allegedly stabbed to death.
A man was arrested about 24 hours after arriving at Sydney's Westmead Hospital bloodied and suffering knife wounds to his chest, arms and stomach.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty says police are still investigating the motive behind the attacks.
"It set off a chain of events that are not only tragic in circumstances, but the consequences were cataclysmic. We have just lost three people from one family who have had their lives taken away in what we allege was a murder."
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18,000 Australians have signed up to the Federal Government's BetStop scheme in the first six months.
BetStop prohibits gambling companies accepting bets from people who have self-nominated to be part of the program.
The majority of registrants are under 40 years old, with one third choosing to be excluded for life.
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An international operation led by the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency and the F-B-I has arrested and indicted members of the Lockbit ransomware gang, one of the world's most notorious cyber gangs.
The United States has charged two Russian citizens with deploying Lockbit ransomware against companies and groups around the world.
The gang targeted more than 2000 victims worldwide and received more than $A183 million (($US120 million)) in ransom payments.
Philip Sellinger, United States Attorney for District of New Jersey, says the arrests send a strong message.
"No matter how secure you feel behind your imagined online anonymity. We will identify you, and hold you accountable. There is always the digital trail, and we will find it. We will put the spotlight on you, and you will no longer hide in the shadows from Russia and behind a string of aliases."
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British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United.
The deal had already been approved by the English Football Association, while the Premier League has also cleared Ratcliffe to take up a minority share.
The 71-year-old Ratcliffe paid $A2 billion for up to 25 per cent of the club.
