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Australia introduces mandatory pay floor and injury coverage for gig workers

ByJustpaste.in

In a major shift for gig economy rights, Australia’s industrial umpire has ordered delivery platforms to pay food and grocery couriers a mandatory minimum rate alongside compulsory personal accident insurance.

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled late on Tuesday that gig delivery workers must earn a minimum rate for active delivery time. The order, set to take effect on 17 August, is expected to benefit roughly 250,000 workers across the country.

Beyond baseline wages, platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash will now be legally required to provide personal accident cover for couriers on duty, though workers will remain responsible for third-party vehicle insurance.

The reform stems from workplace legislation passed by Australia’s Labor government in 2023 and 2024, which empowered the FWC to regulate conditions for independent contractors previously excluded from traditional employment protections.

In a joint statement, the Transport Workers Union (TWU), Uber Eats, and DoorDash welcomed the determination. TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine hailed the order as a landmark moment that establishes new standards for a workforce long left outside national workplace systems.

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    CIA doubted Iran threat behind Trump plane switch

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    WASHINGTON: US intelligence officials had doubts about the credibility of an alleged Iranian threat against President Donald Trump that triggered an extraordinary security operation during his departure from Türkiye last month, according to a Washington Post report. The revelation adds a new twist to the dramatic episode in which Trump was secretly moved from an aircraft at Ankara airport and flown to Britain aboard a smaller military jet while another aircraft was used as a decoy. The Washington Post, citing current and former US officials familiar with the intelligence, reported that CIA analysts did not consider information provided by Israel sufficiently compelling. The analysts reportedly communicated their reservations to officials in the Trump administration. The intelligence was described by one US official as Israeli-derived rather than US-generated and assessed with “low confidence”, according to the report. The CIA has declined to comment publicly. Despite the doubts, the US Secret Service decided that the potential danger justified extraordinary precautions. Trump’s security team has faced several serious incidents during his presidency and officials have stressed that they were unwilling to take unnecessary risks. The unusual operation unfolded after Trump attended the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. According to reports, the president was initially expected to leave Türkiye aboard Air Force One. Instead, he was covertly transferred to a C-32A military aircraft through an airport catering truck. Trump and a small group of close aides then travelled to Britain’s Mildenhall air base, with fighter jets providing protection. Meanwhile, the regular presidential aircraft continued as part of a carefully planned deception. The operation has attracted considerable attention because it involved not only a change of aircraft but also secrecy from journalists and some senior officials travelling with the presidential delegation. The Washington Post reported that close Trump aides Dan Scavino, Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta accompanied him during the covert transfer, while no Cabinet officials did. The White House has defended the decision, saying Trump faces numerous threats, including threats linked to Iran, and that the Secret Service’s primary responsibility is protecting the president. Trump himself said the decision to use another plane was made by the Secret Service and that he followed its instructions. Reuters also reported that US officials considered the threat serious enough to warrant the covert aircraft switch. The intelligence dispute has nevertheless raised broader questions about the information shared between Israel and Washington. Some current and former US intelligence officials reportedly believe Israeli reporting can sometimes be intended not only to warn American leaders but also to influence policy decisions. The episode comes amid heightened tensions between Washington, Israel and Iran, making intelligence assessments particularly sensitive. It also highlights the difficult balance between acting quickly on potential threats and determining how reliable those threats actually are. For the Trump administration, the incident has now become more than a story about an unusual plane switch. It has raised questions about intelligence credibility, presidential security and the influence of foreign-provided information on US decision-making.

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    US and Iran agree to extend 60-day ceasefire

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    ISLAMABAD: The United States and Iran have agreed in principle to extend their 60-day ceasefire, according to a Turkish news agency report citing Pakistani government sources. The report said both Washington and Tehran had informed mediators of their willingness to prolong the truce. The two sides are also exchanging messages to determine the length of the proposed extension, according to the report. The current ceasefire is due to expire on August 17. Mediators have been informed that both countries are prepared to continue the pause in hostilities. According to international media reports, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding on June 17. The agreement established a 60-day period for maintaining the ceasefire and completing negotiations aimed at bringing a permanent end to the conflict. The memorandum also included arrangements for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping during the ceasefire. However, disagreements over the interpretation of several provisions have continued to create tensions between Washington and Tehran. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the terms or spirit of the understanding. The proposed extension could provide additional time for diplomatic efforts and negotiations aimed at addressing the outstanding issues between the two countries. Mediators are expected to remain engaged as Washington and Tehran work to settle the duration and other details of the extended ceasefire.

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    Pakistan cricketers to receive CPL NOCs on August 19

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    Attack on one is an attack on all’: Ishaq Dar ex…

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    Pakistan Idol announces long-awaited finale date

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    Fake Iranian statements allegedly used to push nuc…

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    TEL AVIV: An Israeli journalist has alleged that a fabricated statement attributed to an Iranian official was circulated as part of an effort to portray Tehran as actively seeking to develop nuclear weapons. According to Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, a false statement was allegedly created and attributed to Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The fabricated remarks purportedly claimed that Iran was developing nuclear weapons. Bergman said the alleged fake statement was initially circulated through the social media account of a Hindu extremist in India before being amplified by a number of prominent Israeli and US-linked accounts and figures. He alleged that the material was subsequently shared by accounts associated with Israel’s Mossad, an Israeli television channel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US ambassador to the United Nations. The claims have raised questions about the role of disinformation in the highly sensitive debate surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Israel. The allegation is significant because claims about Iran’s nuclear ambitions have repeatedly featured in political and security debates in the region. Any fabricated statement presented as an authentic admission could potentially influence public opinion and international perceptions. However, the reported allegations concern the authenticity and circulation of the statement rather than independently establishing the broader question of Iran’s nuclear intentions. The development highlights how rapidly unverified material can spread across social media and be amplified by influential accounts, especially during periods of heightened geopolitical tension. The claims attributed to Bergman are likely to fuel further debate over information warfare, source verification and the use of alleged intelligence-related material in the ongoing Iran-Israel confrontation.

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