04/06/2026

THURSDAY | JUNE 4, 2026

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KPMG Australia COO steps aside

o Latest fallout from client leak scandal

Taiwan asserts border rights TAIPEI: Taiwan has asked that Japan and the Philippines respect its rights and territory when they hold talks on their maritime border, Taipei’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Japan and the Philippines said last month they would begin formal talks on delimiting the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries “in accordance with international law”. China has condemned the move and this week sent coast guard ships off Taiwan’s east coast in response, drawing an angry reaction from Taipei. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said its representative offices in Japan and the Philippines would seek confirmation that the negotiation process and outcomes of any future agreements “will not affect the sovereign rights Taiwan enjoys under international law”. Taiwan’s sovereignty over its territory and waters, as well as its rights under international law, are “indisputable”, the ministry said. Given that the maritime area where Japan and the Philippines intend to negotiate boundaries overlaps with Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone off its eastern coast, the ministry said it calls on both countries to fully consider Taiwan’s rights and interests and engage in talks. Asked about Taiwan’s concerns, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said if Japan and the Philippines agree on the maritime boundaries it “would not be legally binding on third parties”. The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said China had no right to claim to speak on its behalf. – Reuters whistleblower’s claims differently. “I am 100% committed and will ensure we approach the issues in the right way,” he said. “I want to be open that we should all expect the heightened public scrutiny to continue for some time.” The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has started a preliminary investigation into the conduct of three KPMG registered company auditors. A parliamentary hearing into the whistleblower allegations is also scheduled for June 19. – Reuters

respond to a request for comment. The allegations have brought new scrutiny to Australia’s professional services sector, which was rocked by reports in 2023 that PwC shared confidential government information with prospective clients. That scandal triggered parliamentary hearings and resulted in a spinoff of the firm’s government consulting arm, employee departures and tighter laws to regulate the sector. In the email to staff yesterday, Stavros said it was clear the firm should have handled the

claims, which were also shared with a Labor party senator. In March, Senator Deborah O’Neill told parliament the whistleblower’s allegations included that confidential board papers from real estate company Lendlease were used to support bids for major audit tenders of Westpac and Dexus. “Documents were taken from Lendlease by the lead partners on the account, Eileen Hoggett and Paul Rogers, and were physically secured in Hoggett’s locker,” O’Neill said. Hoggett did not immediately

executive role while investigations are pending, according to an internal email from KPMG Australia interim CEO Stan Stavros that the firm shared with Reuters. Hoggett’s withdrawal from the COO role she took on in 2023 comes days after the resignations of the firm’s CEO and head of audit over the mishandling of an internal investigation into a whistleblower’s allegations the firm misused confidential client information. KPMG said the investigation failed to substantiate the whistleblower’s

SYDNEY: KPMG Australia’s chief operating officer stepped aside from her executive role yesterday, the accounting firm said, in the latest fallout from a growing scandal over allegations it misused client information to win audit contracts. Eileen Hoggett will remain as an audit partner after relinquishing the

Becerra at his election watch party in Los Angeles. – REUTERSPIC

Hilton, Becerra lead race for California governor LOS ANGELES: Republican television commentator Steve Hilton and Democratic former Cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra took the early lead in the open primary race for California governor on Tuesday, seeming to emerge as favourites to advance to the Nov 3 general election. ballot. The two leading candidates advance, regardless of party. million votes, with Becerra about 49,000 votes behind. Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer trailed them with 19.8%, nearly 260,000 votes behind. Of the dozens of other candidates on the ballot, none cracked double digits.

aftermath of the devastating 2025 wildfires. Bass, a Democrat, had 36.5% of the vote, followed by Republican reality television personality Spencer Pratt with 29.5%. Like the governor’s primary, the mayoral contest groups all parties on the same ballot, with the top two finishers going through to November. Bass was challenged within her party by City Council member Nithya Raman, who was running third with 21%. – Reuters

California’s next governor, who will succeed Democrat Gavin Newsom who is limited to two terms, will take charge of a US$4 trillion (RM16 trillion) economy, among the world’s largest, while confronting deep challenges on water, affordability and homelessness. With 76.1% of election night precincts partially reporting, Hilton was ahead with 26.9% of the vote and Becerra had 25.7%, according to official results. Each had more than 1.1

Elsewhere on the ballot, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took the early lead in her re-election bid against a field of more than a dozen challengers amid voter concerns over homelessness, affordability and the

If the results hold, it would set up a classic race of Democrat versus Republican, after each party had hopes of taking the two spots in the “jungle primary”, in which candidates of all parties appear on the same

Delhi hotel fire kills at least 21 NEW DELHI: At least 21 people were killed when a fire ripped through a hotel in New Delhi yesterday, police said, in one of the deadliest blazes in the Indian capital in recent years.

have lost their loved ones,” his office said in a statement on X. Electrical short circuits, often caused by poorly maintained wiring, remain the leading cause of fire incidents in India. In March, a fire at a government run hospital in eastern India killed at least 10 critically ill patients. – AFP

under control with the help of eight fire engines, police said. “All concerned agencies remain deployed at the spot to ensure every possible assistance to those affected,” police said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “tragic”. “My condolences to those who

operations were continuing, with more than 40 people taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Several of those killed were visitors from African countries who had come to the city for medical treatment, the Indian Express and other local media reported. The blaze was eventually brought

The fire broke out in the morning at Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in a congested neighbourhood in the south of the city, Delhi Police said in a statement. “It is with profound sorrow that 21 persons have been declared dead in this tragic incident,” it said. It said rescue and search

Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations.