Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
By : Buddha

• U.K GOV. New Figures Show More Than 13 Million People Living in Relative Poverty in March 202502/04/2026

  Ace News Desk – The number of people living in relative poverty in the UK rose by half a million in the year up to March 2025, new government figures have shown. 

  

  There are now 13.4 million living in relative poverty, including four million children. The number of pensioners living in relative poverty increased from 1.49 million to 1.69 million.

  A person is considered to be in relative poverty if they are living in households with income below 60% of the median average income of the population.

  Announcing the figures, Work and Pensions Minister Diana Johnson said the levels of poverty were “wholly unacceptable” and the government was taking “robust action to change the course”. 

  Although there has been an increase in the number of people in poverty, as a percentage of the overall population it has only risen slightly, from 19% to 20%, between 2023/24 and 2024/25, the report shows.

  Peter Matejic, chief analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “The latest statistics show overall poverty rose slightly and there was little change in child poverty in the first year of the Labour government.”

  He said the foundation expected to see the number of children in poverty fall as a result of the government’s decision to remove the two-child benefit limit from April 2026, but added that: “The bottom line is that far too many families are still in poverty.”

  The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the change in numbers was not “statistically significant”. 

  Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said reducing child poverty by the next election in 2029 was one of his government’s top priorities.

  These are the first figures produced under a new system for estimating poverty levels, which the government says is more accurate.

  In the past, people taking part in the Family Resources Survey have tended to under-report their benefit income.

  Data on the precise amount of benefits people are receiving has now been factored in to figures for each year going back to 2021.

  It means that the number of children officially categorised as being in relative poverty last year was 400,000 lower than previously estimated. 

  The numbers for overall individuals living in poverty has also been revised for the last four years. In 2023/24, the number had been put at 14.25 million but this has now been changed to 12.93 million. 

  The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the change to measuring benefit income “addresses one long-standing weakness in the official data”.

  However, it notes that the Department for Work and Pensions is planning further adjustments to address other data issues, meaning poverty rates could be revised again.

  Ben Gregg, head of welfare at the Centre for Social Justice think tank, said the figures showed the “absurdity of the ‘relative low-income’ measure”.

  “A 2% fall in muddled estimates means nothing for those who actually lack life’s basic necessities,” Gregg said.

  “There are 1.5 million children growing up in workless households today, who are four times more likely to lack the basics of childhood than their peers.

  “Rather than trying to move people from just below to just above an arbitrary line, we must return to a relentless focus on work as the most sustainable route out of poverty.”

  The revision is not expected to have a big impact on government projections that its policies – including lifting the two-child benefit cap – could lift 500,000 children out of relative poverty by 2030.

  Labour promised to lift the cap – which means parents can only claim universal credit or tax credits for their first two children – following pressure from its own backbenchers.

  The move, which will take effect in April, is expected to cost £3bn a year by 2029-30.

  Some opposition parties have criticised the policy, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch arguing that people on benefits “should have to make the same choices on having children as everyone else”.

  Reform UK had initially backed lifting the cap on the grounds that it would encourage people to have children, however it later reversed its position.

  Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended the policy saying the cap “pushes kids into poverty more than any other” and had “made almost no difference to the size of families”.

  The latest figures show 24% of children (3.51 million) are estimated to be living in material deprivation.

  Someone is deemed to be living in material deprivation if the family does not have a certain number of items from a list developed by the Department for Work and Pensions. 

  The items on the list include living in a damp-free home, having the ability to pay bills without cutting back on essentials, having access to a computer and reliable internet and having contents insurance. 

  For children, items include having a place to do homework, getting three meals a day and having age-suitable toys. 

  At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.

• Apple to Roll-Out iOS18 Security Update For Users That Have Not Updated to iOS26 on their devices02/04/2026

  Ace Breaking News – Apple confirms iOS 18 update to patch DarkSword exploit for users who haven’t upgraded to iOS 26

  

  According to Wired, Apple will release an iOS 18 update on Wednesday morning to patch vulnerabilities exploited by the DarkSword hack. Here’s what that means.

  Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen Apple issue multiple updates to older versions of iOS, addressing two exploits known as Coruna (which affects devices running iOS 13 through iOS 17.2.1) and DarkSword (which affects iPhones running iOS 18.4-18.7).

  In a nutshell, both exploits chained multiple vulnerabilities to compromise devices running older OS versions. In most cases, they relied on WebKit exploits as a point of entry and escalated the attack from there.

  Apple’s answer was to release:

  • iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7: iPhone 6s (all models), iPhone 7 (all models), iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini (4th generation), and iPod touch (7th generation).
  • iOS 16.7.15 and iPadOS 16.7.15: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation.
  • iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad 7th generation.

  As you probably noticed, Apple did patch iOS 18, but only for devices that can’t run iOS 26.

  In practice, this means that devices compatible with iOS 26, but which haven’t been updated, for whatever reason, remain vulnerable.

  For that reason, Apple has confirmed to Wired that it will release an updated version of iOS 18 with the same protections against the DarkSword exploit that are already available in iOS 26:

  Apple now appears to be changing its position in an effort to protect those holdouts. “Tomorrow we are enabling the availability of an iOS 18 update for more devices so users with auto-update enabled can automatically receive important security protections,” an Apple spokesperson wrote in a statement to WIRED. “We encourage all users with supported devices to update to iOS 26 to receive our most advanced protections.”

  Users with auto-update turned off will “have the option to update to either the latest, patched version of iOS 18 or to iOS 26,” according to Wired.

  This is a welcome move by Apple, especially after DarkSword was posted to GitHub last week, making the exploit more accessible.

  So if you or someone you know is still running iOS 18, be sure to update the device as soon as the backported patch comes out.

  We will keep an eye out for the update and will report on it as soon as it becomes available.

  At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.

• Five Simple & Easy Seafood Dinners For Busy Weeknights02/04/2026

  Ace Food Desk says here’s some simple seafood dinners to enjoy with Kindness & Love xx A&M

  

  Five easy seafood dinners for busy weeknights

  Looking for tasty, hassle-free seafood meals to add to your menu?  

  Here are some of our favourites, from prawn pasta and tuna mornay to baked salmon and tuna cakes.

  Spaghetti with prawns, garlic, lemon and chilli

  

  A little goes a long way in this recipe from Julia Busuttil Nishimura, which gives you a taste of prawns in every bite without breaking the bank.

  Pasta is the hero of this dish, and the prawns are there to complement it, which makes it an economical way to cook seafood.

  Best of all, it only takes a few minutes to prep and less than 20 minutes to make, with the sauce coming together while the spaghetti cooks.

  Easy baked tuna cakes with frozen peas puree

  

  Most of the ingredients in Ismat Iwan’s tuna cakes are pantry and freezer staples, which makes this recipe an appealing choice.

  They work equally well as an easy weeknight dinner or lunch on the go and pair well with a pea puree or simple salad.

  They are also packed with 13 grams of protein per patty.

  Baked salmon with a pistachio crumb and roast vegetables

  

  This baked salmon dish might sound daunting but it’s a one-tray wonder that’s ready in less than an hour. 

  The salmon is encased in a crunchy pistachio crust and baked with a variety of veggies, and the honey, Dijon mustard and aromatic spices, give the dish a perfect balance of sweet and savoury notes.

  It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that is sure to impress at your next gathering.

  Tuna mornay

  

  Tuna mornay might seem like a blast from the past, but there’s a reason this dish has remained a staple for decades.

  This version is packed with pasta, corn, herbs and — of course — tuna, cooked in white sauce and topped with breadcrumbs and cheese, making it a hearty comfort meal that won’t stretch the budget.  

  Easy air-fryer salmon with watermelon salsa

  

  This salmon dish takes next to no time thanks to the air fryer, and is perfect for a laid-back weekend lunch or quick weeknight dinner.

  It’s elevated by the watermelon salsa, which is packed with jalapenos, cucumber, red onion, lime, coriander, pine nuts and pomegranate molasses, and the whole dish is ready in less than 30 minutes.

  At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.

• Australias National migrant worker scheme uncovers ‘shocking’ exploitation in first year of operation02/04/2026

  Ace Business Desk – In short:A national program protecting the rights of migrant workers has uncovered millions in unpaid wages, threats of visa cancellation and modern slavery. In NSW, $1.35 million in potential unpaid wage claims have been identified, while in Victoria, $236,000 has been recovered for migrant workers.

  

  What’s next?

  

  Unions NSW said the program set up by Home Affairs is at risk of being cut in the federal budget.

  Migrant worker Viviana thought she had no choice but to work for a woman who refused to pay her, until a Facebook post helped her realise she was being exploited.

  The Colombian national and qualified clinical psychologist came to Australia for what she thought would be better work opportunities as a support worker with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

  But for months, Viviana, who requested her full name be withheld for privacy reasons, was harassed with phone calls in the middle of the night by her employer, sometimes at 1 or 2am.

  “If I didn’t answer, she was very rude, very aggressive,” she said.

  When she raised her treatment with her employer, Viviana said the woman threatened her with visa cancellation.

  

  She eventually asked for a single Sunday off work, and said she was let go, with her outstanding wages unpaid.

  “[My employer] said, ‘You are just an immigrant, you don’t have rights here’,” Viviana said.

  “I didn’t have support, I didn’t know my rights and I didn’t have money.”

  The 27-year-old was close to leaving Australia when she spotted a Unions NSW Facebook post about workers’ rights, written in her native language of Spanish.

  She has since been granted $40,000 in unpaid wages by the Local Court of NSW, which she is yet to receive.

  Millions in unpaid wages, exploitation

  Viviana is one of hundreds of migrant workers who have been picked up through an outreach program run by the federal government, which unions say is at risk of being cut in the May budget.

  The Protecting Migrant Workers — Information and Education program has been operating nationally for 12 months, with unions across the country receiving the funding as grants to provide education and legal advice sessions in dozens of languages.

  More than 16,400 visa holders have taken part in sessions in the last 12 months.

  In Victoria, $236,000 has been recovered for migrant workers through individual case support.

  More than 16,400 visa holders have taken part in sessions in the past year. (ABC: Melinda Hayter)normal

  In Queensland, the program discovered 70 African migrants employed on a farm in Gatton, in south-east Queensland, who were not paid superannuation for years.

  When the farm owners realised how much they owed, they “phoenixed” the company to avoid paying, Unions NSW said.

  The first year of the $13.5 million scheme, run by the Home Affairs department, has uncovered millions in stolen wages, threats of visa cancellation and cases of “modern slavery” by Australian employers.

  It has identified $1.35 million in potential unpaid wage claims in NSW alone, as well as cases of exploitation and workplace injury where employers have breached the law.

  In NSW, the program identified $1.35 million in potential unpaid wage claims. (ABC: Melinda Hayter)normal

  In one of the most alarming cases, the union discovered a woman who had been trapped in “domestic servitude” to a prominent Sydney business owner for nearly seven years, without receiving paid leave or superannuation.

  She was made to cook, clean and provide personal care seven days a week, and only able to leave the house with her employer’s permission, the union said.

  The woman was estimated to have been deprived of $500,000, which the union is now assisting her to recover.

  But Unions NSW said its staff had been told to expect a “difficult budget cycle”, with the program’s funding and 40 dedicated staff at risk of being cut in a federal budget savings blitz.

  Mark Morey says most Australians would be shocked by the level of exploitation taking place. (ABC News)normal

  Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said cases of mistreatment uncovered by the program would go unnoticed if funding was cut.

  “It’s a program that’s actually on the ground, meeting with workers who are being exploited and then getting them out of those situations,” he said.

  “A level of exploitation, I think, most Australians would be really shocked is going on in this country.”

  Pacific workers lose wages, workers compensation

  On a Wednesday morning in Wagga Wagga, in the NSW Riverina region, about 20 migrant workers brought to Australia under the Pacific Island Labor Mobility (PALM) scheme gathered in a community hall to learn more about their rights at work.

  The group is mostly women, many with young babies, who have been brought to Australia by the federal government to work physical labour jobs in agriculture or food manufacturing.

  Sylvia, who does not want to be identified for fear of jeopardising her legal case, said she was injured during work for the PALM scheme in 2023, but was refused workers’ compensation.

  “They just left me like that,” she said.

  “They didn’t look after me, when I was injured from them.”

  Sylvia was injured during work for the PALM scheme in 2023.

  She said her employer waited until the day before her visa was about to expire to issue her a new one, so she could stay in the care of a doctor, which caused her immense distress.

  In another case involving the PALM scheme in South Australia, the union said migrant worker Abilio was having wages stolen and his work records altered by his employer, who was also his landlord.

  Wagga Wagga-based program ambassador Loata Toia said many of the workers speak little or no English, and have stories of mistreatment and injury at work.

  Loata Toia says that no one wants to take responsibility for migrant workers. (ABC: Melinda Hayter)normal

  “There’s workplace injuries where they are not provided with workplace compensation entitlements, there’s unfair dismissal that happens, they’re exploited and they’re underpaid,” she said.

  “No one wants to take responsibility, whether it’s the employer, whether it’s the Australian government, whether it’s their home government.

  “These workers have left their homes, wanting to provide for their families and contribute to this country, and now we have a program that helps them … feel safe and earn a living.”

  Unions running the program in each state and territory are asking for guaranteed funding for three years.

  The Home Affairs department has declined the ABC’s request for comment.

  At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.

• Australian Court Sentence NSW Forestry Corp For Illegally Logging in 2020 & Yurruungga Aboriginal Corp will Receive $450,00002/04/2026

  Ace Business Desk – In short:  NSW Forestry Corporation has been sentenced after illegally logging nine trees at Wild Cattle Creek State Forest in 2020.

  

  Court makes landmark decision after illegal logging in NSW state forest

  Instead of receiving a fine, Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation will receive $450,000 through a restorative justice process.

  

  What’s next?

  The Environmental Defenders Office said the case could be referenced by First Nations groups across the country. 

  A landmark decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court could revolutionise how traditional owners across the country are compensated after cultural harm.

  NSW Forestry Corporation was sentenced in March for illegally logging centuries-old giant trees in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest, north of Dorrigo on the state’s mid north coast.

  Instead of receiving a fine, the logging company has entered into a restorative justice process with a local Aboriginal corporation aimed at preventing future offending.

  It is the first time Forestry Corporation has entered into the process.

  

  NSW Forestry Corp will pay $450,000 to Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation under the sentence.

  The funds will go towards projects including a healing ceremony, the development of a biological repair plan and cultural mapping of the area to prevent future harm.

  “It feels both just and deeply bittersweet,” Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Dean Kelly said in a statement.

  “On one hand, it is a recognition of the harm done to our country and our people. On the other, it cannot undo the damage that has already occurred.”

  ‘Significant and rare’ decision

  The sentence handed down on March 13 comes after six years of legal action in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

  In her written judgment, Justice Nicola Pain wrote that the crime had occurred in 2020 after NSW Forestry Corp employees used the incorrect methodology to identify giant and hollow bearing trees, which are protected by law.

  NSW Environmental Protection Authority CEO Tony Chappel said the regulator took legal action after discovering six giant trees had been felled as a result.

  Justice Pain’s judgement found that in November 2019, an EPA officer had attended a NSW Forestry Corporation training session for logging contractors that contained “incorrect guidance as to the measurement of giant trees”.

  Mr Chappel said that the illegal logging at Wild Cattle Creek State Forest “may well have” been prevented if the EPA officer had alerted Forestry Corporation to the mistake.

  “We all have to learn from it and continue to improve so we can do the right thing for the community and the environment,” he said.

  Centuries-old giant trees were illegally felled at Wild Cattle Creek State Forest. (Supplied: Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation)normal

  Mr Chappel said the trees had significant cultural value.

  “These trees were many centuries old and had deep spiritual and cultural significance to the Gumbaynggirr people in this region and their ancestors,” Mr Chappel said.

  Director of First Nations with the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), Jonathon Captain-Webb, said the decision to apply the restorative justice process was “significant and rare”.

  “This is one of the first times that we’ve seen restorative justice applied in an environmental context,” Mr Captain-Webb said.

  “It acknowledges that a fine is not the most appropriate way to deliver justice.

  “These funds are being directed to an Aboriginal organisation to support the healing and the remediation of that country, instead of money simply going into government revenue.”

  Mr Captain-Web said the process would be accessed by First Nations groups across the country, now that the judgment had been entered into common law.

  Precedent for healing

  Mr Kelly said senior Gumbaynggirr elders, including his uncle Richard Kelly, had long advocated for a compensation scheme to replace fines in cases of cultural damage.

  “In the past, these penalties rarely returned to country, and rarely returned to the people who bear the burden of loss,” Mr Kelly said in a statement.

  “[This judgement] opens the door for future repatriation of penalties to First Nations‑led organisations, so that when harm comes to country, Aboriginal people can be at the centre of healing and restoration.”

  Dean Kelly (left) with Gumbaynggirr elder Alison Buchanan.  (Supplied: Dean Kelly)normal

  In a statement, NSW Forestry Corporation CEO Anshul Chaudhary apologised for illegally removing the trees.

  At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we prioritise transparency and accountability in all our operations. We wish to clarify that we are not responsible for any external content, hyperlinks, or costs associated with our services. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering outstanding services and greatly value your continued support. Thank you for your trust in us.