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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Installation of engineering systems has begun in the building of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    In the building of the educational and scientific center (ESC) Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies NSU, which refers to the objects of the second stage modern campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, work has begun on installing engineering systems, the first of which was the heating system. By February 15, it is planned to complete the installation of stained glass windows in the building of both the educational and scientific center of the IMMT NSU and the scientific research center of NSU. Active work is underway on installing a curtain wall facade at both sites.

    The design for the future building of the NSU Educational and Scientific Center was developed taking into account the university’s plans for the transformation and development of medical education and the launch of new educational programs, such as “Medical Cybernetics” and “Pharmacy”. The building will house 12 practical courses, including biochemistry and molecular biology, histology, microbiology and virology.

    The center will also house the largest simulation center in Siberia for practicing the practical skills of future doctors. There will be laboratories for cell technologies and immunotherapy, molecular virology, metabolomic research, molecular pathology, medical chemistry and other areas. The total capacity of the classroom fund will be 700 students.

    The building will have quite a lot of “clean rooms”, the design of engineering systems for them has certain specifics. In particular, they involve the use of specialized supply and exhaust ventilation systems that operate autonomously and provide the room with sterile air of a given temperature, humidity and cleanliness.

    In the buildings of the educational and scientific center of the NSU IMMT and the scientific research center of NSU, work is also underway to install stained glass windows, which are planned to be completed by mid-February, and a curtain ventilated facade. Facade work on both sites will be completed in April 2025.

    At present, the technical readiness of the educational and scientific center is 21.4%, and of the scientific research center – 18.4%. The general contractor for the construction of the second stage facilities is the company “MONOTEK STROY”.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expects 9.5% rise in daily cross-border passenger flow during Spring Festival holiday

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is anticipating an average of 1.85 million inbound and outbound passenger trips each day during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Friday.
    The figure represents a 9.5 percent increase in daily cross-border passenger throughput compared with last year’s Spring Festival holiday.
    This year’s Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 29, with eight public holiday days from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. The Spring Festival is the most important festival in China and an occasion for family reunions and celebrations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Resealing ahead for SH51 Georges Drive/Ellison Street, Napier

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    A stretch of State Highway 51 Georges Drive/Ellison Street in Napier will be closing for 2 days of resealing next month.

    Crews will be working on SH51 between Marine Parade and Kennedy Road on Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February.

    The work is being done during the day on the weekend to minimise disruption to traffic and residents.

    This stretch of road will close between 6am and 8pm on Saturday and between 6am and 1pm on Sunday. The road is opening earlier on the Sunday to avoid disruption of an event at McLean Park that evening.

    Following that work, the road will be under stop/go traffic management for the following 2 days for line marking and sweeping loose chip.

    The road won’t be closed at night, however a temporary speed restriction will be in place.

    During the work, detours will be available:

    • Detour 1: Kennedy Road to Wellesley Road to Latham Street
    • Detour 2: Marine Parade to Warren Street to Hastings Street to Latham Street

    Please allow for delays, follow detour signs and instructions from our crew onsite. Traffic will be able to cross SH51 Georges Drive at the Latham Street roundabout. Emergency services will be assisted through the site.

    This work is dependent on dry weather conditions. If weather delays this work, the contingency dates are Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks road users for taking the detours and to communities along this stretch of road.

    SH51 Georges Drive closures detour map

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH3 from New Plymouth temporarily closed to south bound traffic

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    A stretch of State Highway 3 south of New Plymouth will be closed to southbound traffic until later tonight.

    Tomo (small hole)

    SH3, between Mangorei and Hydro Road is currently closed after a tomo  (small hole) formed at the Mangorei Stream Bridge, just south of Burgess Hill Road. 

    At this stage the southbound lane will be closed until approximately 8pm while crews work onsite. A detour is in place for southbound traffic.

    The northbound lane remains open as normal.

    Traffic is being diverted via Mangorei Road and we encourage road users to use SH3A/SH45 as an alternative routes south. 

    Crews are currently completing an urgent repair to the site, and expect to have the road open by approximately 8pm. The site may remain under a temporary speed limit over the weekend, but will be open to both lanes of traffic.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Unexplained death in Adelaide parklands

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating the unexplained death of a 53-year-old Aboriginal woman who died in the southwestern parklands in the early hours of Monday 20 January.

    The woman’s name and full image have not been released at the request of her family.

    It is known the woman had been sleeping in parklands and frequenting the western part of the Adelaide Central Business District in the days leading up to her death.

    A map below shows the areas the woman is believed to have been frequenting.

    Police are seeking assistance from the public in an effort to identify the woman’s movements in the days and hours before her death.

    If anyone recognises the woman, knows of her, has recently spoken to her or has any other information that would assist police please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    Callers to Crime Stoppers can choose to remain anonymous.

    Police also encourage anyone who may have dashcam or CCTV footage captured in the western part of the CBD in the days before the woman’s death to review it and advise police if they believe they may have images of her.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOEA Clarifies Media Report by MIT Technology Review on Alleged Assistance to Chinese Companies to Evade U.S. Tariffs

    Source: Republic Of China Taiwan 2

    On January 8, foreign media outlet MIT Technology Review inaccurately reported that the Taiwan government would assist Chinese companies in establishing operations in Taiwan to circumvent US tariffs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) regrets that the report was published without prior verification with the ministry. A formal letter has been sent to the media requesting a correction. The MOEA solemnly clarifies that its long-standing efforts have been directed toward assisting Taiwanese enterprises, not Chinese companies as the report incorrectly claimed. In response to the potential imposition of higher tariffs on Chinese products by the new U.S. administration, Minister Kuo has consistently emphasized the ministry’s support for Taiwanese businesses operating in China to relocate their production lines back to Taiwan or to other regions not affected by tariffs, including the United States.

    The MOEA will continue to provide systematic support and resources based on the needs of businesses to help them diversify their investment strategies and build a resilient supply chain. Through the Taiwan Desk and the Connecting the World to Taiwan Policy, the ministry offers investment services to Taiwanese enterprises in eight New Southbound Policy countries, as well as in Japan and the Czech Republic. Additionally, economic divisions stationed in major countries and Taiwan Trade Centers are available to provide further assistance. In response to US policies and to meet the demands of Taiwanese enterprises’ clients, the government will continue to collaborate with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to invite domestic industry associations and enterprises to participate in the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, strengthening their presence in the US market.

    Furthermore, Taiwanese businesses can take advantage of the Three Major Programs for Investing in Taiwan, which facilitate the relocation of high-end production capacity back to Taiwan. The program has been extended to 2027, with revised eligibility criteria to expand coverage to overseas Taiwanese enterprises and foreign-invested companies. The program focuses on five trusted industries, the service sector, and the healthcare industry, with a mandatory requirement for AI applications to enhance the resilience of the supply chain. These measures are designed to encourage the return of Taiwanese businesses from China.

    Spokesperson: MOEA DOIP Deputy Director, Rio Lu
    Tel: (02) 2389-2111 ext. 812
    E-mail: rio@moea.gov.tw

    Contact: MOEA DOIP Section Chief, Chuang Wen-Chang
    Tel: (02) 2389-2111 ext. 110, 0922-007-093
    E-mail: wcchuang@moea.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Invitation to Q4 2024 results presentation 31 January  

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Invitation to Q4 2024 results presentation 31 January  

    BW Energy will release its fourth quarter and preliminary full-year 2024 results on Friday, 31 January at 07:30 CET.  

    A conference call followed by Q&A will be hosted by CEO Carl K. Arnet, CFO Brice Morlot and COO Lin G. Espey the same day at 15:00 CET. 

    You can follow the presentation via webcast with supporting slides, available on: 

    Viewer Registration Q4 2024  

    https://events.webcast.no/viewer-registration/RLEuPs34/register 

    Call-in information 

    Participants dial in numbers: 

    DK: +45 7876 8490 

    SE: +46 8 1241 0952 
    NO: +47 2195 6342 
    UK: +44 203 769 6819 
    US: +1 646-787-0157 
    Singapore: 65-3-1591097 
    France: 33-1-81221259 

    PIN code: 980877 

    For further information, please contact:

    ir@bwenergy.no  


    About BW Energy:     

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. BW Energy has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. BW Energy’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil and a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy, as well as approximately 6.6% (on an undiluted basis) of the common shares of Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 580 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2024.  

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How we treat catchment water to make it safe to drink

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University

    Andriana Syvanych/Shutterstock

    Most of us are fortunate that, when we turn on the tap, clean, safe and high-quality water comes out.

    But a senate inquiry into the presence of PFAS or “forever chemicals” is putting the safety of our drinking water back in the spotlight.

    Lidia Thorpe, the independent senator leading the inquiry, says Elders in the Aboriginal community of Wreck Bay in New South Wales are “buying bottled water out of their aged care packages” due to concerns about the health impacts of PFAS in their drinking water.

    So, how is water deemed safe to drink in Australia? And why does water quality differ in some areas?

    Here’s what happens between a water catchment and your tap.

    Human intervention in the water cycle

    There is no “new” water on Earth. The water we drink can be up to 4.5 billion years old and is continuously recycled through the hydrological cycle. This transfers water from the ground to the atmosphere through evaporation and back again (for example, through rain).

    Humans interfere with this natural cycle by trapping and redirecting water from various sources to use. A lot happens before it reaches your home.

    The quality of the water when you turn on the tap depends on a range of factors, including the local geology, what kind of activities happen in catchment areas, and the different treatments used to process it.

    Maroondah dam in Healesville, Victoria.
    doublelee/Shutterstock

    How do we decide what’s safe?

    The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines define what is considered safe, good-quality drinking water.

    The guidelines set acceptable water quality values for more than 250 physical, chemical and bacterial contaminants. They take into account any potential health impact of drinking the contaminant over a lifetime as well as aesthetics – the taste and colour of the water.

    The guidelines are not mandatory but provide the basis for determining if the quality of water to be supplied to consumers in all parts of Australia is safe to drink. The guidelines undergo rolling revision to ensure they represent the latest scientific evidence.

    From water catchment to tap

    Australians’ drinking water mainly comes from natural catchments. Sources include surface water, groundwater and seawater (via desalination).

    Public access to these areas is typically limited to preserve optimal water quality.

    Filtration and purification of water occurs naturally in catchments as it passes through soil, sediments, rocks and vegetation.

    But catchment water is subject to further treatment via standard processes that typically focus on:

    • removing particulates (for example, soil and sediment)

    • filtration (to remove particles and their contaminants)

    • disinfection (for example, using chlorine and chloramine to kill bacteria and viruses)

    • adding fluoride to prevent tooth decay

    • adjusting pH to balance the chemistry of the water and to aid filtration.

    This water is delivered to our taps via a reticulated system – a network of underground reservoirs, pipes, pumps and fittings.

    In areas where there is no reticulated system, drinking water can also be sourced from rainwater tanks. This means the quality of drinking water can vary.

    Sources of contamination can come from roof catchments feeding rainwater tanks as well from the tap due to lead in plumbing fittings and materials.

    So, does all water meet these standards?

    Some rural and remote areas, especially First Nations communities, rely on poor-quality surface water and groundwater
    for their drinking water.

    Rural and regional water can exceed recommended guidelines for salt, microbial contaminants and trace elements, such as lead, manganese and arsenic.

    The federal government and other agencies are trying to address this.

    There are many impacts of poor regional water quality. These include its implication in elevated rates of tooth decay in First Nations people. This occurs when access to chilled, sugary drinks is cheaper and easier than access to good quality water.

    What about PFAS?

    There is also renewed concern about the presence of PFAS or “forever” chemicals in drinking water.

    Recent research examining the toxicity of PFAS chemicals along with their presence in some drinking water catchments in Australia and overseas has prompted a recent assessment of water source contamination.

    A review by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) proposed lowering the limits for four PFAS chemicals in drinking water: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFBS.

    The review used publicly available data and found most drinking water supplies are currently below the proposed new guideline values for PFAS.

    However, “hotspots” of PFAS remain where drinking water catchments or other sources (for example, groundwater) have been impacted by activities where PFAS has been used in industrial applications. And some communities have voiced concerns about an association between elevated PFAS levels in their communities and cancer clusters.

    While some PFAS has been identified as carcinogenic, it’s not certain that PFAS causes cancer. The link is still being debated.

    Importantly, assessment of exposure levels from all sources in the population shows PFAS levels are falling meaning any exposure risk has also reduced over time.

    How about removing PFAS from water?

    Most sources of drinking water are not associated with industrial contaminants like PFAS. So water sources are generally not subject to expensive treatment processes, like reverse osmosis, that can remove most waterborne pollutants, including PFAS. These treatments are energy-intensive and expensive and based on recent water quality assessments by the NHMRC will not be needed.

    While contaminants are everywhere, it is the dose that makes the poison. Ultra-low concentrations of chemicals including PFAS, while not desirable, may not be harmful and total removal is not warranted.

    Mark Patrick Taylor is a full-time employee of EPA Victoria, appointed to the statutory role of Chief Environmental Scientist. He is also an Honorary Professor at Macquarie University. EPA Victoria has previously received funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Victorian water authorities to understand the presence of contaminants waste water. He has previously received funding from the Australian Government, ARC and other government agencies for environmental pollution research.

    Antti Mikkonen is a full-time employee of EPA Victoria, in the role of Principal Health Risk Advisor for chemicals. Antti has previously received funding from the Australian Government Department of Education for research to understand PFAS bioaccumulation in livestock and models for risk management.

    Minna Saaristo is a full-time employee of EPA Victoria, appointed to the role of Principal Scientist – Ecological Risk and Emerging contaminants. She is affiliate of the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University. EPA Victoria has previously received funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Victorian water authorities to understand the presence of emerging contaminants in recycled water. She has previously received funding from the Australian Government, ARC and other government agencies for environmental pollution research.

    – ref. How we treat catchment water to make it safe to drink – https://theconversation.com/how-we-treat-catchment-water-to-make-it-safe-to-drink-242206

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Enters Top 10 of Digital Economy Universities Rankings

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    ANO “Digital Economy” with the support of the Association of Computer and Information Technology Enterprises (APKIT) and the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation prepared a rating of universities in the digital economy. In total, more than 300 universities were assessed in the rating and 63 areas of training and specialties related to IT were considered. The final results were presented for two groups: universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg and separately for universities located in the regions. NSU entered the top 10 of the second group.

    The universities were assessed based on official statistics on IT personnel training and a survey of 90 respondents conducted by the Digital Economy ANO. Representatives of leading technology companies participated in the survey. The first group of the final ranking of digital economy universities included 24 universities from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Bauman Moscow State Technical University took first place. The leaders also included HSE, MIPT, Lomonosov Moscow State University, ITMO University, MEPhI, St. Petersburg State University, MIREA and other universities. The second group, which included universities located in the regions, included 30 leaders, including UrFU, NSTU, NSU, TPU, KFU and other universities.

    — NSU’s entry into the top 10 of the ranking is a significant result, since this ranking evaluates absolute, not relative indicators. The ranking mainly includes federal universities, which are several times larger than NSU in terms of the number of students. At our university, the IT direction is one of the key ones: for example, if you look at the distribution of budget places based on the results of the 2024 admission campaign, more than 20% are in IT. NSU has a specialized Faculty of Information Technology, while IT is represented in almost all faculties and in all institutes. The Mechanics and Mathematics Faculty has a system programming direction, the Physics Faculty has physical informatics, and the Humanities Institute has fundamental and applied linguistics, — commented NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.

    NSU is implementing a number of projects in cooperation with IT companies. For example, the university has joint educational and scientific laboratories with SHIFT and Sber, master’s programs, etc. NSU is also one of the leading scientific and educational centers in the field of artificial intelligence. For more than a year, the AI Center has been operating at the university, with Sber and Rostelecom as key industrial partners.

    NSU graduates are in demand in the IT market: according to surveys by the NSU Career Development Center, every fourth graduate (26%) works in the field of information technology (IT, programming, technical support).

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road blocked, SH51, Waipatu

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    SH51/Ruahapia Road near Waipatu is blocked following a crash this evening.

    Police were alerted to the single vehicle crash at around 6.45pm.

    There have been no reported injuries.

    The road is blocked between Napier Road and St Georges Road and diversions are in place.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New District Officer for Kowloon City assumes office (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    New District Officer for Kowloon City assumes office (with photo)
    New District Officer for Kowloon City assumes office (with photo)
    *****************************************************************

         ​Mr Ivanhoe Chang will assume the post of District Officer (Kowloon City) tomorrow (January 25), succeeding Miss Alice Choi.      Since joining the Administrative Service in 1995, Mr Chang has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Intellectual Property Department, the Information Services Department, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.      He was the Commissioner for Heritage at the Development Bureau before taking up the new post of District Officer (Kowloon City).

     
    Ends/Friday, January 24, 2025Issued at HKT 15:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 14-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on January 24, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 14-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 1,75,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 1,62,096
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 1,62,096
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.51
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.51
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1993

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and Youth Development Commission jointly launch new round of HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and Youth Development Commission jointly launch new round of HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities
    Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and Youth Development Commission jointly launch new round of HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched a new round of the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Positive Thinking Activities (2025-27) today (January 24). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications.     The Government attaches great importance to youth development. The HYAB and the YDC launched the first round of the Funding Scheme under the Youth Development Fund in late 2022. The Funding Scheme subsidises NGOs to organise projects that are conducive to nurturing young people’s positive thinking, particularly projects which involve cross-sectoral collaboration, or are youth-led that could drive community building. The Funding Scheme aims to promote the awareness of young people’s physical and mental well-being, nurture their positive thinking and cultivate their positive values; and enable them to become a new generation with a sense of responsibility and aspirations, and a willingness to contribute to the development of the country and Hong Kong.     Details of the new round of the Funding Scheme and the application form are available on the YDC website (ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/positive/positive.html). Interested NGOs should submit their applications on or before noon on March 7.

     
    Ends/Friday, January 24, 2025Issued at HKT 15:12

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Labour Department investigates fatal work accident in Fo Tan

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Labour Department investigates fatal work accident in Fo Tan
    Labour Department investigates fatal work accident in Fo Tan
    ************************************************************

         The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that happened in Fo Tan this afternoon (January 24), in which a man died.     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

     
    Ends/Friday, January 24, 2025Issued at HKT 15:12

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Wirraminna

    Source: South Australia Police

    Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on the Stuart Highway in the State’s Far North.

    The single vehicle collision was reported on the Stuart Highway, Wirraminna about 5.30pm on Friday 24 January.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Beetaloo Operational Update – Stimulation Campaign & Remaining Shenandoah South Pilot Project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Beetaloo Operational Update – Stimulation Campaign & Remaining Shenandoah South Pilot Project

    24 January 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce the commencement of stimulation campaign at the Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“S2-2H ST1”) and Shenandoah S2-4H (“S2-4H”) wells in the Beetaloo Sub-Basin, Northern Territory, Australia with Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited’s (“Falcon”) joint venture partner, Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (collectively the “Beetaloo JV partners”).

    Key Highlights of the Stimulation Campaign

    • Stimulation campaign will be completed across:
      • S2-2H ST1’s horizontal section of 1,654 metres (5,427 feet) and;
      • S2-4H’s horizontal section of 2,977 metres (9,766 feet).
    • Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT) who mobilised equipment and sand to location before the end of last year will carry out the stimulation campaign on behalf of the Beetaloo JV partners.

    Shenandoah South Pilot Project (“Pilot”)
    For the next drilling phase of the Pilot, which involves the drilling and stimulation of the remaining four wells, Falcon has elected to reduce its participating interest (“PI”) from 5% to 0%.

    Key Highlights of the Reduced Participating Interest

    • The election by Falcon to reduce its PI to 0% in the remaining four wells of the Pilot will significantly reduce it’s 2025 capital expenditure.
    • Falcon participated in the Shenandoah S-1H well in 2023 at its 22.5% PI which created a Drill Spacing Unit (“DSU”) of 20,480 acres.
    • Falcon participated in the S2-2H ST1 and the S2-4H wells in 2024 at its reduced 5% PI which created two DSU’s totalling 46,080 acres.
    • The Beetaloo JV partners are planning on creating an enlarged area around the Pilot, known as the First Strategic Development Area (“FSDA”), which would amalgamate the acreage and PIs from the DSUs mentioned above and any further DSUs that may be created as part of the Pilot
    • Depending on the ultimate size of the planned FSDA Falcon’s combined participation entitlement in the FSDA post the Pilot could be up to 10%.
    • Falcon also retains a 22.5% PI in the remaining 4.52 million acres in the Beetaloo, net 1 million acres to Falcon.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “We are extremely encouraged about the potential of the current stimulation program based on strong gas shows and other data observed whilst drilling both wells. In addition, we are very confident that the experienced US operator, Liberty Energy, will provide us with the greatest opportunity for the best possible outcome from this stimulation program. We look forward to updating the market on the IP30 flow test results as soon as they become available.

    Reducing our participation in the next four wells has a minimal impact on our overall interest in the Beetaloo which remains at 22.5%. This demonstrates the optionality afforded by the DSUs, which enable Falcon to strategically and efficiently deploy its capital. This reduction in our participation in the next four wells significantly reduces our 2025 capital expenditure whilst at the same time leaving us very well positioned to capture the overall success of the Beetaloo.
                                                 

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.          +353 1 676 8702
    Philip O’Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042
    Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162
     
    Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
    Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771
       

    This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.

    About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Please visit http://www.falconoilandgas.com

    About Beetaloo Joint Venture (EP 76, 98 and 117)

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 22.5%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 77.5%
    Total 100.0%

    Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 5.0%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 95.0%
    Total 100.0%

    1Subject to the completion of the SS2H ST1 and SS4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

    About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
    Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.

    Tamboran Resources Corporation, is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.

    Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the commencement of stimulation activities at S2-2H ST1 and S2-4H and the respective horizontal sections; Liberty Energy conducting the stimulation campaign; Falcon’s election to reduce its PI for the remaining four wells in the Pilot and it significantly reducing 2025 capital expenditure; the planned creation of the FSDA and Falcon’s combined participation entitlement in the FSDA post the Pilot could be up to 10% with the planned amalgamation of the acreage and PIs.

    This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

    Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at http://www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.

    Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Agnico Eagle Announces Successful Take-Up of 94.1% of the Shares of O3 Mining and Mandatory Extension of Offer to February 3, 2025

    Source: Agnico Eagle Mines

    • All-cash offer of $1.67 per share representing a 58% premium to O3 Mining’s closing price on December 11, 2024
    • Agnico Eagle has satisfied the minimum tender condition and has taken-up and acquired 94.1% of the outstanding O3 Mining shares
    • Shareholders who have not already tendered should do so as soon as possible to take advantage of the significant offer as their brokers, banks or other intermediaries likely have tendering cut-off times well in advance of the expiry time of 11:59 p.m. (EST) on February 3, 2025
    • Tender your shares today for prompt payment. Contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group for assistance at 1-877-452-7184 or email assistance@laurelhill.com

    (All amounts expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted)

    TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2025 /CNW/ – Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM, TSX: AEM) (“Agnico Eagle“) and O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV: OIII, OTCQX: OIIIF) (“O3 Mining“) are pleased to jointly announce that Agnico Eagle has taken-up and acquired 110,424,431 common shares of O3 Mining (the “Deposited Shares“), representing approximately 94.1% of the outstanding common shares of O3 Mining (the “Common Shares“) on a basic basis, pursuant to its board-supported take-over bid (the “Offer“) for all of the outstanding Common Shares for $1.67 in cash per Common Share. The aggregate consideration payable for the Deposited Shares is $184,408,800. Agnico Eagle will pay for the Deposited Shares by January 28, 2025. All of the conditions of the Offer have been satisfied or waived.

    Agnico Eagle has extended the expiry time of the Offer by a mandatory period of 10 days to 11:59 p.m. (EST) on February 3, 2025 (the “Expiry Time“) in order to allow the remaining shareholders of O3 Mining to tender their Common Shares to the Offer and receive the all-cash offer price of $1.67 per Common Share.  

    O3 Mining’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. José Vizquerra commented: “We are pleased to achieve this excellent and timely outcome for our shareholders who tendered their Common Shares to the Offer. While providing an opportunity for our shareholders to realize immediate value at a significant premium, the transaction will also enable the efficient advancement of the Marban Alliance project by Agnico Eagle, an experienced operator that has the financial strength, mining expertise and community commitment to take the project to its next stage of development.”

    Full details of the Offer are contained in Agnico Eagle’s take-over bid circular and in O3 Mining’s directors’ circular, which are available under O3 Mining’s profile on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on O3 Mining’s and Agnico Eagle’s respective websites.  Agnico Eagle will file the Notice of Extension extending the Expiry Time to 11:59 p.m. (EST) on February 3, 2025 under O3 Mining’s profile on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on O3 Mining’s and Agnico Eagle’s respective websites and mail the Notice of Extension to shareholders of O3 Mining in accordance with applicable law.  These materials contain important information on how to tender to the Offer.

    Next Steps and How to Tender Your Shares to Receive Prompt Payment

    Following the Expiry Time, Agnico Eagle intends to pursue a second-step transaction to acquire the remaining Common Shares not tendered to the Offer, as described in Agnico Eagle’s take-over bid circular available under O3 Mining’s profile on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on O3 Mining’s and Agnico Eagle’s respective websites. 

    Remaining O3 Mining shareholders are strongly encouraged to tender their Common Shares to the Offer prior to the Expiry Time to ensure that they promptly receive the offer price of $1.67 per Common Share. O3 Mining shareholders whose Common Shares are held through a broker, bank or other intermediary should immediately contact that intermediary for assistance if they wish to accept the Offer – intermediaries have likely established tendering cut-off times that are prior to the Expiry Time.  Shareholders who do not tender prior to the Expiry Time will not receive payment for their Common Shares until the completion of the second-step transaction.

    For information on tendering your Common Shares, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group toll free at 1-877-452-7184 or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

    Shareholder type:

    How do I tender my Common Shares to the Agnico Eagle Offer?

    Beneficial

    Most O3 Mining shareholders are beneficial shareholders. This means your Common Shares are held through a broker, bank or other financial intermediary, and you do not have a share certificate or DRS advice.

    Contact your bank or your broker immediately and instruct them to tender your Common Shares to the Offer.

    Registered

    You are a registered shareholder if you hold your Common Shares directly and have a share certificate or DRS advice.

    Contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group:
    Phone: 1-877-452-7184
    Email: assistance@laurelhill.com

    For additional information regarding the Offer, please visit: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/Offer-for-O3-Mining/default.aspx and https://o3mining.com/agnico-eagle-mines-limited-offer-for-o3-mining-inc/.

    O3 Mining Board Transition

    In connection with the successful take-up of the Deposited Shares under the Offer, the board of directors of O3 Mining was reconstituted to include representatives of Agnico Eagle.  The O3 Mining board of directors is now comprised of continuing directors Amy Satov and Bernardo Alvarez Calderon and Agnico Eagle representatives Peter Netupsky, Carol Plummer, Jean Robitaille and Chris Vollmershausen.  Peter Netupsky is Vice President, Corporate Development of Agnico Eagle; Carol Plummer is Executive Vice President, Sustainability, People & Culture of Agnico Eagle; Jean Robitaille is Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Technology Officer of Agnico Eagle; and Chris Vollmershausen is Executive Vice President, Legal, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Agnico Eagle.

    At Agnico Eagle’s request, José Vizquerra and Elijah Tyshynski will continue in their roles as President and Chief Executive Officer and as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of O3 Mining, respectively, until the completion of the second-step transaction.

    Additional Early Warning Disclosure Regarding O3 Mining

    Immediately prior to the take-up of the Deposited Shares under the Offer, Agnico Eagle beneficially owned, and exercised control and direction over, 1,057,753 Common Shares, representing approximately 0.9% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a basic basis, and 270,000 Common Share purchase warrants (the “Warrants“) exercisable for an aggregate of 270,000 Common Shares at an exercise price of $1.45 per Warrant.  In addition, Agnico Eagle held a convertible senior unsecured debenture in the principal amount of $10,000,000 dated June 19, 2023 (the “Convertible Debenture“).  Assuming the full exercise of all Warrants held by Agnico Eagle and the full conversion of the Convertible Debenture immediately prior to the take-up of Common Shares under the Offer, Agnico Eagle would beneficially own, and exercise control and direction over, 6,205,802 Common Shares, representing approximately 5.1% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis.

    Agnico Eagle acquired 110,424,431 Deposited Shares pursuant to the Offer, representing all of the Common Shares validly deposited and not withdrawn as of 11:59 p.m. (EST) on January 23, 2025, for aggregate consideration of $184,408,800 in cash.  As a result, as of the date hereof, Agnico Eagle beneficially owns, and exercises control and direction over, an aggregate of 111,482,184 Common Shares, representing approximately 95% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a basic basis.  Assuming the full exercise of all Warrants held by Agnico Eagle and the full conversion of the Convertible Debenture, Agnico Eagle would beneficially own, and exercise control and direction over, 116,630,233 Common Shares, representing approximately 95.2% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis.

    Early Warning Disclosure Regarding Cartier Resources

    Immediately prior to the take-up of the Deposited Shares under the Offer, (i) Agnico Eagle beneficially owned, and exercised control and direction over, 50,749,679 common shares (the “Cartier Shares“) of Cartier Resources Inc. (“Cartier“) and 7,000,000 Cartier Share purchase warrants (the “Cartier Warrants“), representing approximately 15.6% of the issued and outstanding Cartier Shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming the full exercise of the Cartier Warrants held by Agnico Eagle, and (ii) O3 Mining beneficially owned, and exercised control and direction over, 46,273,265 Cartier Shares, representing approximately 12.7% of the issued and outstanding Cartier Shares on a basic basis.

    As a result of Agnico Eagle’s acquisition of control of O3 Mining pursuant to the Offer, as of the date hereof, Agnico Eagle is deemed to beneficially own, and exercise control and direction over, an aggregate of 97,022,944 Cartier Shares, representing approximately 26.7% of the issued and outstanding Cartier Shares on a basic basis.  Assuming the full exercise of all Cartier Warrants held by Agnico Eagle, Agnico Eagle would be deemed to beneficially own, and exercise control and direction over, 104,022,944 Cartier Shares, representing approximately 28.0% of the issued and outstanding Cartier Shares on a partially-diluted basis.

    Agnico Eagle holds its Cartier Shares and Cartier Warrants for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional Cartier Shares, Cartier Warrants or other securities of Cartier or dispose of some or all of its Cartier Shares, Cartier Warrants or other securities of Cartier that it owns at such time.

    Early Warning Disclosure Regarding STLLR Gold Inc.

    Immediately prior to the take-up of the Deposited Shares under the Offer, O3 Mining beneficially owned, and exercised control and direction over, 12,458,939 common shares (the “STLLR Shares“) of STLLR Gold Inc. (“STLLR“), representing approximately 10.1% of the issued and outstanding STLLR Shares on a basic basis.  Agnico Eagle did not beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, any STLLR Shares.

    As a result of Agnico Eagle’s acquisition of control of O3 Mining pursuant to the Offer, as of the date hereof, Agnico Eagle is deemed to beneficially own, and exercise control and direction over, 12,458,939 STLLR Shares, representing approximately 10.1% of the issued and outstanding STLLR Shares on a basic basis. 

    Agnico Eagle holds its STLLR Shares for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional STLLR Shares or other securities of STLLR or dispose of some or all of its STLLR Shares or other securities of STLLR that it owns at such time.

    Early warning reports in respect of the foregoing will be filed by Agnico Eagle in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of each early warning report, please contact:

    Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
    c/o Investor Relations
    145 King Street East, Suite 400
    Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7
    Telephone: 416-947-1212
    Email: investor.relations@agnicoeagle.com

    Agnico Eagle’s head office is located at 145 King Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7. O3 Mining’s head office is located at 155 University Avenue, Suite 1440, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3B7. Cartier’s head office is located at 1740, chemin Sullivan, bureau 1000, Val d’Or, Québec J9P 7H1. STLLR’s head office is located at 181 Bay Street, Suite 4260, Toronto Ontario M5J 2V1.

    Advisors

    Edgehill Advisory Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Agnico Eagle. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is acting as legal advisor to Agnico Eagle.

    Maxit Capital is acting as financial advisor to O3 Mining. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal advisor to O3 Mining. Fort Capital is acting as financial advisor to the Special Committee of independent directors of O3 Mining. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to the Special Committee.

    The Depositary and Information Agent for the Offer is Laurel Hill Advisory Group. If you have any questions or require assistance with tendering to the Offer, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, by phone at 1-877-452-7187 or by e-mail at assistance@laurelhill.com.

    About O3 Mining Inc.

    O3 Mining Inc. is a gold explorer and mine developer in Québec, Canada, adjacent to Agnico Eagle’s Canadian Malartic mine. O3 Mining owns a 100% interest in all its properties (128,680 hectares) in Québec. Its principal asset is the Marban Alliance project in Québec, which O3 Mining has advanced over the last five years to the cusp of its next stage of development, with the expectation that the project will deliver long-term benefits to stakeholders.

    About Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

    Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading environmental, social and governance practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on current expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations about future events as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information and statements are based on estimates of management by O3 Mining and Agnico Eagle, at the time they were made, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Offer, including the anticipated timing of expiration, mechanics, funding, completion, settlement, payment, results and effects of the Offer and the other benefits of the transaction; the advancement of the Marban Alliance project; any second-step transaction, including the timing for any such transaction and Agnico Eagle’s intentions with respect to any such transaction; and Agnico Eagle’s acquisition or disposition of securities of Cartier and/or STLLR in the future. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in formulating the forward-looking information contained herein include, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining that any second-step transaction will be successful and the ability to achieve goals, including the integration of the Marban Alliance property to the Canadian Malartic land package and the ability to realize synergies arising therefrom. Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining caution that the foregoing list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what Agnico Eagle and O3 Mining believe, or believed at the time, to be reasonable expectations and assumptions, there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither O3 Mining, nor Agnico Eagle nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. O3 Mining and Agnico Eagle do not undertake, and assume no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Agnico Eagle or any of its affiliates or O3 Mining.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

    View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnico-eagle-announces-successful-take-up-of-94-1-of-the-shares-of-o3-mining-and-mandatory-extension-of-offer-to-february-3–2025–302359489.html

    SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.18 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.18 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, January 24, 2025)

    In order to keep liquidity adequate before the Spring Festival, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB284 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on January 24, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Volume

    Rate

    14 days

    RMB284 billion

    1.65%

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年01月24日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: AUGUSTA HIGHWAY, COLLINSFIELD (Grass Fire)

    Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia

    Issued on
    24 Jan 2025 18:01

    Issued for
    COLLINSFIELD near 5kms south of Redhill in the Midnorth. .

    Warning level
    Advice – Avoid Smoke

    Action
    Smoke from COLLINSFIELD is in the Midnorth  area.

    Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.

    Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.

    If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.

    More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with DOT Secretary Nominee Sean Duffy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Sean Duffy, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT):
    “I’m glad I could meet with Mr. Duffy today and discuss my priorities when it comes to our nation’s transportation system and transit infrastructure. Washington state has benefitted in a major way from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the vast array of federal infrastructure programs I help fund each year through the regular appropriations process.  I will be keeping a close eye to make sure Mr. Duffy faithfully executes the law and delivers the resources communities across Washington state are counting on for everything from building bridges to expanding our public transit.  
    “There are massive infrastructure investments in my state with huge economic benefits that depend on DOT meeting its legal obligations, including the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project that is a huge deal for folks in Southwest Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest economy.
    “It is critical that we have a Secretary of Transportation who will follow the law and work productively with senators on both sides of the aisle on the transportation needs and challenges our states are facing.
    “We also spoke about aviation safety and working together to make sure FAA has the resources and staffing it needs to conduct proper oversight—including overseeing the continued implementation of Boeing’s comprehensive action plan to ensure that horrifying safety lapses, like the door plug incident we saw last January, never happen again.”
    Senator Murray played a key role in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as Assistant Majority Leader, and as a longtime member—and now Vice Chair—of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and former chair of the Transportation appropriations subcommittee, Senator Murray has fought successfully over the years to boost investment in a wide range of transportation and infrastructure grant programs that benefit Washington state. Last Congress, as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray wrote and passed the transportation appropriations bill for fiscal year 2024, which was signed into law last March. The annual legislation funds the Department of Transportation and critical grant programs that benefit Washington state enormously, including RAISE—which Senator Murray established in 2009. Senator Murray is now working to negotiate government funding bills, including the transportation funding bill, for fiscal year 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Senate Democrats Demand Trump Exempt All VA Employees From Hiring Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Senators to Trump: Exempt entire VA immediately
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) joined SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 23 other Democratic senators calling on President Trump to put veterans first and immediately exempt all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees from the hiring freeze he issued on Monday. In their letter to Trump, the senators stressed concerns about the negative impact the hiring freeze will have on the delivery of veterans’ health care and benefits nationwide – if not quickly reversed.
    “As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need,” the senators wrote. “It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.”
    The group of Democratic senators also underscored that despite assurances of exemptions, they have heard from employees on the ground that the hiring freeze will extend to certain positions promised to be exempt: “In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act.”
    The senators pressed Trump for scaling back on VA employees, rather than continuing efforts to address chronic workforce shortages Congress has implemented over the last few years: “Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.”
    In addition to Murray and Blumenthal, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    In addition to the Senate Democrats’ letter to Trump, a group of House Democrats led by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) are sending a letter today calling on Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter to also exempt all VA employees from the hiring freeze.
    The full text of the senators’ letter is available here and below.
    Dear President Trump,
    We write with urgent concerns about the Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20, 2025, which instituted an immediate hiring freeze, with few exceptions, across the federal civil service. Veterans have earned and deserve the best quality health care and benefits possible. Delivering on that sacred promise starts with ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has the appropriate personnel in place to serve them. As written, this Memorandum could dramatically impair the ability of veterans across the country to get the care and benefits they desperately need. It could also delay or deny various other services across VA – from burial services to job training to assistance for homeless veterans to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. That is why it is imperative for you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to this hiring freeze for VA so it can continue to deliver on its sacred mission for veterans.
    In your Memorandum, little detail is provided to understand the scope of its exemptions. And despite assurances that VA benefits would be exempt, we have become aware the hiring freeze will extend to the Veterans Benefits Administration – a decision that will dramatically impact the processing of disability claims, growing the backlog and making it more difficult for veterans to access their earned benefits, including those promised in the PACT Act. Additionally, there is no explicit exemption for employees serving the more than 9.2 million veterans enrolled in VA health care.
    Veterans deserve the best care possible from the best medical professionals in the country. To deliver on that obligation, VA continues to utilize various hiring authorities and incentives provided by Congress to address chronic medical workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas. Instead of building upon those efforts, one of your first actions was to stop them entirely, and to issue new directives to VA personnel across the country to not only leave vacancies unaddressed, but to revoke job offers that have already been made. That is a betrayal of trust to veterans on day one of your Administration, and it is a betrayal of trust to prospective VA employees intent on serving veterans – an action that will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on VA’s ability to effectively recruit and retain the physicians, nurses, and other critical positions that make VA the preferred option for care for veterans.
    Mr. President, to prevent the delay or denial of life-saving services and benefits for our nation’s heroes, we urge you to provide an immediate, clear, and full exemption to VA personnel from your hiring freeze. Thanks largely to the PACT Act and the leadership of the Biden Administration, VA is providing more care and more benefits to more veterans than at any time in its history. We are hopeful to work with you to build upon our nation’s promise to these men and women, but we also vow to fight every effort that dishonors their service and reneges upon that sacred promise.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with Energy Secretary Nominee Chris Wright

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Chris Wright, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE):
    “From the Hanford site to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Department of Energy has a huge footprint in Washington state—I expect to work productively with any Secretary of Energy, so I was glad to meet with Mr. Wright today to discuss my priorities and the crucial role DOE plays in my home state.
    “I fight every year, with every administration, to make sure the Hanford cleanup stays on track—and in our meeting today I made clear that supporting the tank waste mission at Hanford will require significant funding increases, which I’m committed to securing through the appropriations process. I spoke with Mr. Wright about the importance of upholding the holistic agreement and working with me to ensure that Hanford gets the funding it needs to stay on track with its essential cleanup mission.
    “I pressed Mr. Wright on whether he would commit to upholding the law and ensuring that all funding passed by Congress is used in line with Congressional intent—including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which are absolutely essential to ensuring the United States can stay ahead of our adversaries when it comes to energy production and manufacturing. These laws are already contributing in a major way to Washington state’s economy and clean energy future—it is absolutely critical that awarded, committed, and obligated funding is released in a timely manner for these projects in Washington state and across the country.  
    “While we disagree on plenty, if Mr. Wright is confirmed, I hope and expect that we will work together and keep open lines of communication to ensure that we continue to make progress at Hanford, invest in the future of American energy, and stay ahead of our adversaries.”
    As a longtime appropriator and now the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has long worked to boost funding for the Department of Energy’s critical mission, including negotiating and getting signed into law a strong, bipartisan energy funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 that strengthened investments in cutting-edge scientific research and grid security, and protected critical funding to propel renewable energy research and climate projects.
    Senator Murray has worked tirelessly to support Hanford workers and ensure the federal government lives up to its cleanup obligations at Hanford throughout her time in Congress—beating back efforts by multiple administrations to underfund Hanford cleanup. As Appropriations Chair in the last Congress, Murray secured a record $3.035 billion for the Hanford cleanup—$191.4 million above the fiscal year 2023 funding level—in the fiscal year 2024 government funding package she negotiated and passed, which was signed into law last March. With significant input from Senator Murray, the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 requested $3.108 billion for Hanford cleanup—a $72.2 million increase above the record funding level enacted in the FY24 package. In December 2023, Murray’s Beryllium Testing Fairness Act, to help Hanford workers suffering from toxic beryllium exposure, was signed into law by President Biden.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Clevely Line, Palmerston North

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a two-vehicle crash in Palmerston North this evening.

    At around 8.35pm, Police were called to the Clevely Line and Railway Road intersection.

    Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.

    The intersection is closed, and diversions are in place.

    Motorists are advised to take an alternative route and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development opens

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
    The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a shared community space were officially opened.
    “The Government is deeply committed to supporting accessibility to good safe housing across New Zealand,” Mr Potaka says.
    “The whānau who will move into these homes, most of whom come from the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register, will now experience the security, safety and comfort of a stable home.
    “The benefits of proper housing can make a world of difference for people’s health and wellbeing as well as for stable education and employment.”
    The homes were developed by Soho Group and built by Isles Construction over an eighteen-month period. A team of over 50 mostly local contractors have been on site to get the work done.  Kāinga Ora and Y Central have entered a partnership for the shared community space at the development, which will be used by customers and the wider community. Y Central will coordinate the community space, manage bookings and facilitate activities and services.“This partnership will help connect the local community, providing a space where people can come together,” says Minister Potaka.People and families are expected to start moving into the new North Street homes in the next few weeks. Kāinga Ora has assigned a team of Housing Support Managers to support them as they settle into their new home and community.  
    Additional figures for editors:
    With 540 people on the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register, the new homes will help meet the demand for more social housing in Palmerston North.As at 30 November 2024, Kāinga Ora owned 1,543 state homes in Palmerston North providing a home to 3,594 customers.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Adam Steer, Darwin Breakfast, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Adam Steer:

    The next federal election is due by May. You can expect a lot of pitches, promises over the next 18 weeks. And the battle ground, one of them at least, looks to be drawn around the cost of living. As we were chatting today, the Labor government is vowing to crack down on unfair card surcharges following the RBA’s review of the merchant card payment cost. Stephen Jones is the federal Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister. Minister, happy new year. Welcome back to the program.

    Stephen Jones:

    Good to be back with you, and happy new year to you and your listeners.

    Steer:

    Let’s start with the credit card surcharges. They exist, but they’re quite minimal. Why is this a government priority above everything else?

    Jones:

    We’re doing a range of things to stop the rip‑offs that are putting billions of dollars worth of costs on consumers. Surcharges are costing consumers around about a billion dollars a year. The things that the – the other areas we’re focused on, in the unfair trading areas, subscription traps where it’s easy to sign up to a service and impossible to get out of. You know, online dynamic pricing where the price of a product increases over the course of the – while you’re online transacting and making a purchase. And drip pricing, which is when you go online to buy a hotel or a booking or an airline ticket and you get all these add‑on charges, junk charges that are added to the price of the transaction. There’s a range of things that we are looking at and as well, you know, pricing practices in supermarkets to stop the rip‑offs to ensure that Australians are getting a better deal.

    We’ve been working on it for about a year. Some of these things are more advanced than others. In the area of surcharging, between 0.5 and 1.5 per cent on average people are being charged regularly to use their own money, which is access to their debit cards. It’s in our focus. We’ve got the Reserve Bank doing a deep dive at it at the moment. We want to find out what the actual cost of providing these services are. And we want to ensure that when we do ban it doesn’t just pass the cost on to small businesses.

    Steer:

    It seems – I remember the royal commission into banking was very critical of the fees that the banks were charging, and the government moved to stop them doing it. How have they managed to creep back in, those charges? How has that happened?

    Jones:

    No, these are – the royal commission was looking at charges and commissions that were being paid for fees for no service in a range of different services, whether it was banking or whether it was superannuation or insurance. And this is different. These are transaction fees which the cards and the service providers say are the cost of providing the service. We know that it’s much more than that. We know that there are additional charges that are being put in place there and we want to drill down, ensure that Australians aren’t being whacked with these unfair prices and unfair charges. We’ll do it properly, because we’re adamant we’re not going to do it in – when we’ve raised this in the past small business have quite rightly raised concerns saying, ‘Well, if you ban this surcharge, us charging a surcharge, we’ll just have to absorb that cost.’ So we want to do it in a way that doesn’t whack small businesses but protects the interests of consumers as well.

    Steer:

    So just to clarify there are you suggesting scrapping the surcharge from banks to business or businesses to the consumer? Because if it’s business to consumer and you do nothing about the banks charging the business, then, you know, that’s going to create a lot of issues?

    Jones:

    Great point. There’s a complex web of services that are being provided. I don’t want to dive too deeply into the weeds, but there’s the people who provide the little terminal. There’s the people who provide the connection between the terminal and the banking services. There’s the people who provide the service between the banking services and the credit card providers. There’s a whole range of businesses and services that are invisible to the consumer but take a little bit along the way.

    Steer:

    But you can understand that small businesses today might hear, Assistant Treasurer, that they fear they’ll be slugged with the fee they can’t pass on to the consumers. Can you say with confidence they won’t be punished and it will be the banks who are faced with dealing with those fees?

    Jones:

    And that’s why we’re taking the time to get to the bottom of where all the costs and charges are so that we will be able to say with hand on heart, yes, the consumers will be protected, but so will small businesses. And here’s why we know there’s sharp business going on – if you go to a big supermarket like a Coles or a Woolworths, they are paying a small fraction of what the coffee shop or your small corner store is paying for their transaction fees. So we know – we know – that they’re having a lend here, and that’s what we’re getting to the bottom of.

    Steer:

    You’re on ABC Radio Darwin, Adam Steer with you. Stephen Jones is the federal Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister. It is 22 to 9. On some other issues, the Australian Venue Co has been in the news for not advertising Australia as Australia Day but, rather, the January long weekend. Is there an expectation for our venues to celebrate calendar‑gazetted public holidays?

    Jones:

    Look, this is not a totalitarian regime and country. We don’t tell, you know, private companies what they do or don’t celebrate. I’ll be out there on Australia Day down in my electorate having breakfast by the beach and I’ll be doing about 3 or 4 Australia Day events there. And I think there’ll be hundreds of thousands of Australians that do it. It’s up to private businesses about what they do or don’t do. And I think their customers will make their own mind up about whether they support or don’t support that.

    Steer:

    The Prime Minister at the National Press Club today is expected to announce a new scheme offering payments to apprentices who work in residential construction in a bid to help address the nation’s housing shortage. Ten thousand dollars will be offered to electrical, plumbing and carpentry apprentices. The Master Builders Australia says improving apprenticeship completion rates is vital if Australia is to meet its housing targets. What can you tell me about this announcement today?

    Jones:

    Really important – it builds on our fee‑free TAFE initiative. We want to ensure that all the obstacles to young people getting into one of those traditional trades are removed. We’ve got a shortage of tradies. We need more of them. It’s a great line of work to get into. And we want to attract more people, particularly into the building trades, because lack of tradies means higher costs for building a home and it all adds into the housing shortage that we have at the moment. So we’re attacking this from every angle. We need more workers in the building and construction and in the housing industry, and that’s what this is all about – getting more people into the traditional trades via these apprenticeship bonuses.

    Steer:

    Well, the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told Channel Nine the government – you’ve been too late to act on the worker shortages, even though he says –

    Jones:

    He had 9 years. Nine years. We’ve been in government 2 years. He had 9 years, and they sat on this problem and made it worse. And because we haven’t fixed his 9 years’ worth of mistakes and inaction in 2 years we’re the problem? I think Peter Dutton needs to have a good, hard look at himself because Australians are sick of this sort of negativity. You’ve got the government having a crack at fixing a problem that we inherited and you’ve got the bloke who created the problem running around criticising us for doing it. Australians are rightly jack of that sort of mindless negativity.

    Steer:

    Well, over 14,000 electrician apprenticeships were commenced in 2023. That’s compared to just 8,000 in 2017. What’s the number you’re aiming for? What would you like to see here?

    Jones:

    We want to see more young people taking up a trade and more people sticking with that trade.

    Steer:

    Okay.

    Jones:

    I think that the Housing Industry Association are right – it’s not just the number of people who are starting; it’s the number of people who complete the trade, and these bonuses are around – are about ensuring people hit those completion rates.

    Steer:

    Okay. But doesn’t the Opposition have a point here? The Master Builders Association forecasts a shortage of 130,000 workers across the building and construction industry alone this year. Why didn’t you act sooner on the shortages? Is this not because it’s an election year you’re announcing this?

    Jones:

    We did. We did. Within the first 3 months we held a skills summit. We got all of the major players around the table in Canberra and we said we have got a crisis here, we need everyone playing a Team Australia moment on here. We need to get states and territories governments playing a part in this, because they run the TAFE system. We injected more money into the TAFE system to ensure that that was well supported. We instituted fee‑free TAFE. This is the third part of it, which is about ensuring that we make it more affordable for tradies to – for young apprentices to not only take up trade but to stick at the trade. So far from us doing it in the last few months; it was something we started in the first 3 months of being in government. It takes more than 2 years to turn around 10 years’ worth of inaction. So this is what I get a bit frustrated about. This other mob created the problem; we’re fixing it and they’re saying we’re not going fast enough when they did nothing for 9 years.

    Steer:

    New figures from ABS show Australia is 15,000 homes behind your national housing accord target. The territory is right at the back of the pack – 78.6 per cent fewer homes than we should have built last quarter. How does the $10,000 for apprenticeships turn that around?

    Jones:

    We’ve got to be doing everything in this. We’ve got to get more land released and we’ve got to speed up the development applications so that whole planning process has got to be accelerated. We’ve got to have more skilled workers in this. So that’s what the apprenticeship system is about – ensuring that over the long term we’ve got more people entering the industry, so more skilled tradies working in the industry in those traditional trades. So it’s not a – there’s no one silver bullet. We need workforce, we need land supply, we need planning, we need investment, we need the lot of it, and we need it all working together and every tier of government working in on this together with the private sector. No one silver bullet; we need all of it working together.

    Steer:

    Australia Day this weekend, it is a long weekend. There’ll be a few people, particularly in the Top End, I imagine, having some cold lemonades. The federal government’s biannual increase in alcohol excise on February 3 will see the price of a schooner rise as much by $1. Isn’t this going to hurt publicans and licensed venues by forcing people to stay in to entertain rather than spending money over the counter and at restaurants?

    Jones:

    Look, the excise, this has been a feature of the taxation system for several decades now. It’s been designed – it wasn’t designed by our government; it was designed by a previous Coalition government, if my memory serves me correctly. And it’s designed to ensure that the real value of that excise is maintained as prices increase over time –

    Steer:

    It is designed so that it is increased over time because of the perceived health risks of both alcohol and tobacco. When is enough enough on those alcohol excises? Because it’s a growing tax – 2 per cent on 2 per cent on 2 per cent.

    Jones:

    No plans to make any changes in this area at the moment.

    Steer:

    Stephen Jones, federal Assistant Treasurer, Financial Services Minister, one more question I reckon we’ve got time for. Let’s touch on the supermarkets. Long experience for Top Enders is the high cost we have for our supermarkets here. That seems to have spread now right across the country. What is your government’s plan to try and rein in what could appear from some sections as price gouging by the major supermarkets?

    Jones:

    Yes, so we’ve funded the ACCC to have an ongoing price monitoring and beefing up their legal enforcement of the supermarkets, which is why we’ve got them in court at the moment over deceptive pricing practices. It’s where they jack the prices up, say, 20 per cent and then drop them by 10 per cent and pretend that they’ve got a special going on. So there’s deliberate action going on, we’ve got going on, by the ACCC, the competition regulator at the moment. We’re also legislating a new code of practice around supermarkets to ensure that not only are they treating their consumers fairly, their customers fairly, but also their suppliers, because we want to crack down on both of those areas, so there will be a new mandatory code legally enforceable with millions of dollars worth of fines against these companies for doing the wrong thing.

    Steer:

    Minister, appreciate your time. Come into the studio next time you’re up here, please.

    Jones:

    Looking forward to it.

    Steer:

    Thank you, Stephen Jones, federal Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Visits to Lin Ma Hang made easier

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    With effect from today, the Government opened a section of road within the frontier closed area near Lin Ma Hang Village in Sha Tau Kok by exempting it from the requirement that passengers travelling on it by green minibus must apply for a closed area permit.

    The move is intended to make it easier for members of the public visit to Lin Ma Hang Village and Robin’s Nest Country Park, the Security Bureau explained. It outlined that residents and tourists can go to Robin’s Nest Country Park and areas nearby for sightseeing purposes and to experience Hong Kong’s rich heritage and geological features.

    From now on, people can take green minibus No. 59K from Sheung Shui MTR Station to reach Lin Ma Hang Village via the newly exempted section of road within the frontier closed area. 

    On alighting, they can visit the MacIntosh Forts and Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine by taking the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail. They can also head in the direction of Sha Tau Kok via the Robin’s Nest Country Trail in order to enjoy the scenery around Yan Chau Tong and Shenzhen Wutong Mountain.

    The bureau emphasised that the exemption is only applicable to people travelling by green minibus, and does not apply to private vehicles, taxis or other vehicles without a valid closed road permit, or to individuals using other means of travel such as walking or cycling.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on “Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
          
         The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat today (January 24) released a Policy Pulse on “Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre”. This issue provides a concise overview of the developments and achievements of Hong Kong’s financial services in recent years, the latest measures, and LegCo’s relevant work along with policy recommendations from Members.

         As an international financial centre, Hong Kong ranks highly in various international rankings. The Policy Pulse highlighted several of these rankings, including being the world’s freest economy, ranking first globally for investment environment, and being the world’s largest Renminbi (RMB) offshore business centre. It also outlined policies and measures implemented by the Government and relevant financial institutions in areas such as asset and wealth management, fundraising platform, mutual capital market access between the Mainland and Hong Kong, international risk management, developing fintech, and green and sustainable finance.

         LegCo has been closely attentive to the development of financial services in Hong Kong, offering advice to the Government on how to fully leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder”. The Policy Pulse summarised the LegCo’s relevant work, including the passage of two tax-related Bills in 2023 and 2024 to promote family office business and enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s real estate investment trusts. LegCo also passed legislative amendments to lower the rate of stamp duty on stock transfers to 0.1 per cent to reinforce the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s stock market.

         Moreover, the LegCo’s Bills Committees are studying the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 and the Stablecoins Bill, which aim to introduce a mechanism to facilitate the re-domiciliation of companies incorporated overseas to Hong Kong and to implement a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers, respectively. In terms of developing fintech, the House Committee of LegCo has set up a subcommittee to review the application and development of Web3 and virtual asset technologies in Hong Kong and to make recommendations on the implementation of relevant legislation and policies.

         Members put forward a number of proposals to develop Hong Kong into a deeper and broader fundraising platform. These include providing incentives to encourage listed companies to issue RMB-denominated stocks and striving for further relaxation of the southbound trading of Stock Connect; implementing a tiered stamp duty system for stock trading to increase the liquidity of the securities market; and encouraging companies worldwide to list in Hong Kong regarding the hottest investment themes in the market. Members also expressed concern about the development of the RMB offshore business and urged the Administration to issue more offshore RMB bonds, equity and risk management products.

         The detailed content of “Consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre” is available on the LegCo Website. Policy Pulse, published by the LegCo Secretariat, covers specific topics and offers a comprehensive overview of related policy developments and summarised discussions in LegCo.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Renewing the Promise of Democracy

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    While 2024 could be seen as a high point in the history of elections as a record number of people went to the polls, worrying trends are emerging with 64% of voters in advanced economies reporting dissatisfaction with the way democracy works in their country.

    What actions are needed to restore trust in institutions and strengthen the world’s democracies?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IigM8osTH9E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Free Science at Risk?

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    In today’s polarized geopolitical landscape, balancing security concerns with the need for collaborative innovation is growing more complex, while the lack of policies that protect intellectual property and international security is increasingly clear.

    How can businesses, governments and institutions foster safe yet open research environments essential for scientific advancement?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kmq4J1jego

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Rewriting Development

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Some 6 billion people live in middle-income countries yet growth in many of these economies is stagnating or slowing due to global disruptions.

    How can leaders challenge the status quo to overcome a premature slowdown in development?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcongG2sRZc

    MIL OSI Video –