Syndicates of Capital - Four U.S. senators demanded an independent audit of the Epstein files

 Pretty much everyone is aware and has personal experience with men in positions of power being predatory, abusive, and violent—and getting away with it. What is rarer and invokes rage and backlash is when someone tries to hold those men to account. That is what people have a problem with.

 Thiel does Rome.

 Social media restrictions are indeed leading to further surveillance and taking away internet anonymity.

Trump is aiming for dictatorship’. That’s the verdict of the world’s most credible democracy watchdog 

Sweden’s V-Dem Institute warns that the US is no longer a liberal democracy. And autocracy is creeping across Europe 

New study shows global democracy hasn’t been this bad since 1978. Australia should be worried

Balcony solar finally seems to be taking off in the US. “As of Wednesday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers in 28 states and Washington, D.C., have announced their own legislation to make these systems permissible.”

WhatsApp And Signal Accounts Are Under Attack—What You Need To Know

MIT Technology Review: “The Pentagon is discussing plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their models on classified data, MIT Technology Review has learned. AI models like Anthropic’s Claude are already used to answer questions in classified settings; applications include analyzing targets in Iran. 

Four U.S. senators demanded an independent audit of the Epstein files

All Rise News: “In a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) joined Democratic Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, giving the request bipartisan buy-in. “On January 30, 2026, DOJ published over three million pages and files of Epstein-related records, including more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images,” the senators wrote in a three-page letter.

 “Contrary to Congress’s explicit directive to protect victims, these records included email addresses and nude photos in which the names and faces of publicly-identified and non-public victims could be identified. But when it came to information identifying powerful business and political figures who are alleged co-conspirators or material witnesses, DOJ appears to have heavily redacted those records.”

 Although it’s part of the legislative branch, the GAO operates independently. “I can confirm that GAO has received a congressional request regarding the subject you mention,” the agency’s spokeswoman told All Rise News. “GAO has a process it goes through to determine whether we do work and when, which we are working through right now.”

See Also The Epstein Island A Public Research Tool – Explore released court documents with transparency and context. No sensationalism—just the facts, properly sourced. Browse Gallery ;  Search Files

Syndicates of Capital

Jessica Burbank:

A new world order is here. States (countries) are no longer the highest form of power globally. Power has shifted to wealthy individuals who work in groups and operate across borders: syndicates of capital.

Syndicates of capital cannot be categorized as legal or illegal.

 

They exist primarily in the extralegal sphere, where either no regulations apply to their behavior or, where laws do exist, there is no entity powerful enough to enforce them in a manner that asserts control over the syndicates’ behavior.

Yeah. It’s seemed to me for quite awhile now that the most likely form of future world government evolves not from the United Nations but from big multinational corporations controlled by the billionaire class.

See also two recent pieces on the wealthy in America. The Scale of Billionaires’ Campaign Donations is Overwhelming U.S. Politics:

The extraordinary spending in Montana is part of a new era of political power for the rapidly growing number of billionaires minted over the past eight years.

 

The Times analysis found that 300 billionaires and their immediate family members donated more than $3 billion — 19 percent of all contributions — in federal elections in 2024, either directly or through political action committees.

Five presidential elections ago, before the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling that lifted many remaining campaign finance restrictions, the share of billionaire spending was almost zero — 0.3 percent, to be precise.

The billionaire families gave an average total of $10 million each in 2024, an amount roughly equal to what 100,000 typical political donors gave, combined. And that does not count money that billionaires contributed through dark money groups that do not have to disclose their donors.

And How America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account:

One way to look at the rise of Donald Trump is as part of a decades-long backlash among the American leadership class to the idea of accountability. Since Richard Nixon was forced to resign, powerful people in both political parties have worked assiduously to ensure that their leaders would escape the consequences of their actions.

 

Trump has evaded punishment for crimes both low (campaign-finance violations, for which he was convicted, though he will serve no time thanks to his 2024 victory) and high (his attempted overthrow of the federal government in the aftermath of his 2020 election loss, for which he was spared by the Supreme Court’s decision to grant him kingly immunity). This is not just about Trump; his impunity is the product of a society that has worked hard to help the rich and powerful elude punishment for criminal behavior.

Tax Ombudsman kicks off review into OSfA

 

ATO issues warning on emerging identity fraud threats

BUSINESS 

Recent activity has revealed a growing number of attempts by fraudsters to impersonate taxpayers and misuse stolen identity information, according to the Tax Office.

18 March 2026 • By  Miranda Brownlee 

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Tax professionals have been told to remain vigilant and apply strong due diligence practices with criminals using increasingly sophisticated attempts at impersonate taxpayers and engage in fraudulent activities.

"Recent activity shows a growing number of attempts by fraudsters to impersonate taxpayers, misuse stolen identity information, and pressure tax professionals into acting on fraudulent instructions," the Tax Office said.

"In some cases, these attempts are designed to appear routine or urgent, increasing the risk of agents being unknowingly drawn into fraudulent activity. These approaches are increasingly sophisticated and often appear legitimate."

The ATO said that tax professionals are on the frontline of this threat and play a critical role in protecting client information and maintaining the integrity of the tax system.

"Strong verification, professional scepticism, and adherence to established safeguards are essential to disrupting these fraud attempts," it said.

The ATO said tax professionals should ensure they follow the client verification procedures set out on the ATO and TPB websites every time they link or act for a client in the ATO record.

"Tax professionals should also work directly with clients and refuse to accept instructions from third parties and question any requests or behaviours that seem unusual, inconsistent or illogical," the Tax Office said.

Tax professionals should also take extra care and obtain additional proof of identity when new clients interact with them only online or provide contact details or bank information that differs from their ATO records.

"[You should also] thoroughly check supporting documents to confirm they are authentic, review bank statements to confirm ATO refunds are being deposited into accounts held in the client’s own name and report any suspicious activity to us via the tip-off form on the ATO website."

"Maintaining these safeguards to help protect your clients, your practice, and the broader community is a critical defence against increasingly sophisticated tax and identity fraud."

Tax ombud launches digital probe

Tax agents will have several ways to let ombud Ruth Owen know what weaknesses exist in the ATO’s online services by the April 10 deadline.

TOM RAVLIC

MAR 19, 20262 MIN READ

Tax ombud Ruth Owen. 

The Australian Taxation Office is the target of yet another review by the sector’s ombud into its service provision to tax agents, following recent criticisms of its phone services.

Ombud Ruth Owen announced a fresh review after tax agents expressed concern about the reliability of the ATO’s online platforms during previous consultations on the tax office phone line.

“Online Services for Agents (OSfA) is a secure system provided by the ATO for registered tax and BAS agents,” said Owen.

Tax Ombudsman kicks off review into OSfA

REGULATION 

The review will explore improvements to Online Services for Agents and Practice Mail following significant concerns raised by registered agents.

16 March 2026 • By  Miranda Brownlee  

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Tax Ombudsman Ruth Owen has officially launched her review into Online Services for Agents (OFsA), building on her previous review into the ATO's registered agent phone line last year.

The review into the ATO's registered agent phone line found that many of the issues raised by agents were linked to perceived gaps, limitations or inefficiencies in the ATO's digital service offerings.

Feedback from agents indicated that OSfA fell short in some key areas of functionality, resulting in inefficiencies, delays and increased reliance on phone-based support.

Practice Mail, the only secure messaging channel available to agents, was also described as slow and unreliable in the review.

The Tax Ombudsman said that when systems do not function as intended or required, registered agents have no choice but to revert to less efficient channels such as phone calls or paper-based correspondence.

The new review into OSfA will examine whether OSfA and Practice Mail are effective tools for the ATO and agents to interact, provide appropriate functionality, and effectively support agents in assisting their clients. It will be shaped by feedback from the agent community, with a focus on their key concerns.

"The review will identify and articulate the current priority improvement areas for OSfA and Practice Mail and support greater transparency about how improvement priorities are set and progressed," said Owen. 

In addition to reviewing submissions and system documentation, the Tax Ombudsman will also observe how agents interact with OSfA and Practice mail in real time to better understand what is working and where the pain points lie.

The Ombudsman will also engage with the ATO to host system walkthroughs and technical sessions to explore what can feasibly be implemented given system constraints, resourcing and broader cost-benefit considerations.

"Our aim is to make recommendations in line with the ATO’s digital strategy and architecture so that they can be adopted into the future roadmap," said Owen.

The scope of the review will focus on identifying the top-priority improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of OSfA and Practice Mail, in supporting taxpayers in complying with their tax obligations through their registered agents, and, where appropriate, reducing demand for phone and postal contracts.

It will also explore whether the ATO has an established process for identifying, prioritising and implementing improvements to OSfA and Practice Mail, including capturing and considering feedback from the agent community and ensuring that system changes appropriately consider user experience and user support.

The Ombudsman also noted that online access to taxpayers' information by professionals other than registered tax or BAS agents is not within the scope of the review.

The Tax Ombudsman is encouraging tax and BAS agents who use the ATO's Online Services for tax agents to provide feedback on the system in terms of what's working, what's not and any suggested improvements.

“I’m looking for feedback on the top 5 improvements agents would like to see made to OSfA and Practice Mail,” said Owen.

Owen noted that tax agents relied heavily on ATO online services to help millions of taxpayers to meet their tax and super obligations each year, and it was important that online services were effective. 

“In undertaking our Review of the Registered Agent Phone Line last year, we received a lot of feedback from agents about ATO online services not meeting their needs,” she said.

“Agents reported transactions not available online and inefficiencies; calling for improvements to OSfA and Practice Mail to help them better support clients without needing to call the ATO.” 

Consultation for the review is open until 10 April. Registered agents can participate by registering for a webinar on 27 March or 2 April, completing a short survey, or making a submission.

The review report is expected to be delivered by August 2026.

John Hatton’s Tribute to Stephen Hill

John Hatton, the Australian National Living Treasure, observed during the wake that Stephen’s personal mission was to create a sustainable humanitarian and unified world by helping himself and others transform. 

He fulfilled this mission and his mission continues…

Emeritus Professor Stephen Hill  AM

My closest friend.

He had significant health issues. With 14 stents in him, I joked You are the best example of an existentialist I've ever met.

We met when I retired, leaving the dark tunnels and corruption of NSW state politics.

Much to my amazement and not of academia I was made a fellow of the University of Wollongong.

Stephen Hill the mind of a scientist, the heart of a sociologist and above all a humanitarian.

His reach was multicultural, universal and cosmic.

Driven by Community Humanity and Spirituality

In UN headquarters he challenged the silos of a bureaucracy. The mission was funding meaningful connection, within culture and inclusive, locally initiated grass roots programmes.

In education alone, programmes initially within villages spread to embrace neighbourhoods, towns cities across regions.

With respect for culture, inclusive of their initiatives, the opportunity, desire, and commitment changed the lives of 40 million children.

On Sunday, 24 December 2004 a Tsunami killed 273 000 people across the Indian Ocean region.

Ambassador Stephen Hill, flew over Aceh.

He marshalled his team of first responders to a scene of utter destruction, an unimaginable challenge: the dead, the traumatised, the injured, homeless survivors lost and bewildered.

Emergency services first aid, water, food, shelter, hospitals and trauma of homelessness and endless wreckage.

I focus on one amazing achievement.

Hundreds of traumatised orphans across many cultures.

To engage and heal them who else but Stephen Hill would conceive that music, drumming, singing, performance in a world of cultures which underpinned their life experience.

Cultural programmes involving imported and local cultural icons. Inclusive, identity, meaningful love of belonging and not alone healed and helped and helped hundreds of children to climb the steep staircase of hope.

Stephen and I travelled the outbreak, Broken Hill Tilpa and beyond.

Camping at the 4 mile in Moree unwittingly discovering we were drinking dead pelican tea.

We camped at one of my favourite camping and painting sites a puzzled dingo, in the creek bed suffering and mystified by my clarinet playing.

Overnight in the Pub at Little Tilba 80km north of Broken Hill.

Meeting interstate truckies, beer, wine yarns, big steaks, and a table of sauce bottles and cans of fly spray. A tin shed out the back and iron bed steads

Our trip to Innaminka was stopped by rain the return journey interrupted by heavy snow and overnight in Crookwell.

Another Aussie pub mixture of snowed in travellers Stephen in his element, stories and good humour.

Together The 2011 University of Wollongong Summer school our project which attracted distinguished people. Lectures discussions an audience of several hundred. Its potential was lost by the University of Wollongong administration at that time.

So many stories

—

The embassy in Jakarta had to be abandoned. A youth repaid an earlier kindness. The streets were ablaze. Riots which led to the downfall of President Suharto. Senseless murder and mayhem.

The young lad guided them to his humble home a safe haven.

Stephen is revered in Japan, a privilege to be with him in Kyoto. I attended two of six conferences over as many years.

Todashi Yagi an economist centre stage in the Doshisha University. Conferences to create a manifesto for Global Economics underpinned by a 'platform of community humanity and spirituality

Stomo Yamash'ta, and wife Mio, took us to hidden treasures, poetry, scenery, cuisine. Stomo is a national living treasure in Japan.

A successful rock star, who became a Buddhist. Famous for the magic of music played on a sanikite (the miracle stone) a glassy black stone a type of lava formed almost 13m 500,000 years ago.

An astonishing frequency range, deeply spiritual.

His message

"My dear soulful friend Stephen san,

We are very sorry to hear of your departure from this planet.

It was a great honour to share so many missions with you.

Such a wonderful moment to spend joyful time at Bali and Kyoto.

We strongly believe that we will meet again in the new world.

All thanks! Arigatou!

All our love,

Mio & Stomu Yamash'ta"

A depth of love and faith.

—

Pigs do fly. Stephen flew pigs into remote tribal highland of Western New Guinea to feed and negotiate.

He took tribal people by plane to meet leading figures in Jakarta.

When asked what to wear. Stephen responded it's your decision.

Cameras clicked, people goggle eyed. The tribal chiefs stepped off the plane naked except for penis sheaths and tribal decoration.

Although Stephen was not a Buddhist late in life he enjoyed a close relationship with Nan Tien. 

In Buddhist temples of meditation Koans are a vain attempt to take the understanding of 'the other, 'to places where words cannot go.

Two koans:

Death. gardens blossom

Looking for your ox? You're riding it.

We live within a hologram of limited perception of a quantum world, we are a field of energy indivisible from that of universes. That is where our earthly journey began and to universes we return.

'The TAO of Physics' 'The Field' fascinating books fuelled our discussion and understanding.

Embracing Heisenberg et al and leaving Des Cartes and Newton behind.

Quantum 100 years old in The West and thousands of years old in The East in Ancient Egypt and intuitively in many tribal societies.

Spirit mind and imagination are without boundaries.

Should you come across a tired, completely knackered ox with a cheeky twinkle in his eye and a smile of satisfaction you will know that ox belonged to Emeritus Professor Stephen Craig Hill AM

This image reminds us of those weekend evenings when we listened to great Jazz music 🎶 and Kim’s enthusiastic band and voice that helped us to relax and laugh and sip red vino as well as share stories about all the strange challenges of life on Mother Earth 🌏 

Stephen Hill helped start UOW - then became a UN diplomat who actually made pigs fly

By Ben Langford

Updated Illawarra Mercury March 18 2026 - 5:16pm, first published5:15pm

 Wollongong's Professor Stephen Hill has been remembered as a polymath - a person whose work across multiple diverse fields made him not just a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of them.

And, as mourners at his funeral heard on Wednesday morning, he had even made pigs fly.

One of the University of Wollongong's founding academics, later a United Nations ambassador, Professor Hill's funeral was held in the University Hall and streamed online.

Professor Hill died on March 7, aged 82, after using his time to make the world a better place for people both at home and abroad. 

Reverend Gordon Bradbery conducted the service for his good friend, and finished with how Professor Hill had been ceremonially inducted as an honorary chief by the Dani tribe in West Papua, such was his standing with the people he worked with there.

"Stephen was our tribal chief," Rev Bradbery said.

"He was one who certainly led the way, inspired us and guided us and contributed much to our happiness and the wellbeing of our world."

A foundation professor of sociology for 17 years following the University of Wollongong's establishment, Professor Hill spent many years with the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Jakarta.

He was the author of a staggering 42 books across eight disciplines and translated into six languages. 

His books included Captives for Freedom, which details his negotiations for the release of two of his UNESCO staff members who had been taken hostage by rebels in West Papua.

He was also, at varying times, a rock musician, a keen traveller in Outback Australia and a Buddhist.

Professor Hill's daughter Vanessa said her dad was "a man of stories - so incredible that sometimes they seemed liked fiction".

"Flying pigs, scuba diving to sign international documents under water, a tsunami, a musician who supported Cold Chisel and had a bikie following, a man who took a group of tribal warriors to the city who had never encountered civilization before, and more," she said.

"But to others, these were real narratives that were life changing.

"His kindness, compassion, and deep thinking impacted lives in so many ways and are reflected in the many messages that have been shared with us, particularly in this past week."

But she said he was also a man of simple pleasures, such as his "religious" attendance at his grandchildren's weekend sport.

The Nan Tien Institute's Venerable Dr Juwei gave a moving tribute to Professor Hill, who worked with the institute for many years, including as an adviser to the Humanistic Buddhism 

John Hatton speaks at his good friend's memorial service on Wednesday.