NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 【Global News】Panasonic to Showcase Innovative STEAM Program Developed with MIT Media Lab at SXSW EDU 2025

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: 【Global News】Panasonic to Showcase Innovative STEAM Program Developed with MIT Media Lab at SXSW EDU 2025

    Austin, TX, U.S. – Feb. 25, 2025 – Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD) will be demonstrating its groundbreaking STEAM education service, “Scratch Home School,” developed in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab at SXSW EDU 2025, the world’s largest creative conference focused on education. Visit Booth #614 in the EXPO on site for a hands-on demonstration March 3–5 2025, where Panasonic will also be conducting a Show & Tell Session on March 4 starting at 1:30pm CST.
    Panasonic’s “Scratch Home School,” integrates IoT home appliances into a STEAM education curriculum, transforming everyday activities into creative learning experiences. Originally researched at MIT Media Lab in 2018, this program has been rigorously tested in Japan and is currently in a year-long pilot at St. Agnes School in Massachusetts since late 2024.

    Why STEAM Education Matters

    STEAM education is crucial for fostering creativity and deep learning in children. However, traditional materials often limit engagement. “Scratch Home School” breaks these barriers by using IoT devices like toasters and lighting to make learning interactive and fun, encouraging children to experiment and discover their passions.
    Employment in STEM occupations has grown 79% in the past three decades and is projected to grow an additional 11% from 2020 to 2030 [1]. This growth underscores the importance of preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these fields.

    Experience It at SXSW EDU 2025

    Join Panasonic at SXSW EDU 2025 to experience “Scratch Home School” in action! Attendees can interact with IoT toasters and lighting, powered by (MIT’s) Scratch-based visual programming, and see how these tools are supporting critical curriculums.
    Panasonic HD is committed to exploring new partnerships with educational institutions and companies in the U.S. through this exhibition. Together, Panasonic aims to overcome challenges in STEAM education and create an environment that nurtures children’s diverse talents and interests.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rules to be eased to drive investment in electricity

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Restrictions on electricity lines companies investing in generation will be eased to help strengthen the energy network, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say.

    “This action, which is part of the coalition agreement between New Zealand First and National, will give distribution businesses the confidence they need to invest in generation, helping to increase regional resilience and the national energy supply,” Mr Jones says.

    Distribution businesses are currently prohibited from owning more than 250 MW of generation connected to Transpower’s national grid, and/or more than 50 MW of generation connected to their own networks unless they operate that generation in a separate company or seek an exemption from the Electricity Authority. 

    “The current rules place undue costs on distributors, given that other regulations cover similar ground. The exemption process can also impose costs, as well as cause delay and uncertainty, which we are striving to avoid,” Mr Jones says.

    Safeguards in both the Electricity Authority’s Code and the Commerce Act that provide protections for competition will apply to distribution businesses’ investment in generation.

    Mr Watts says the change will further drive the investment needed in generation while continuing to preserve competition.

    “It is very difficult to grow the economy when energy security is at risk. This change is among a number of measures the Government is taking to ensure businesses and ordinary Kiwis have access to a reliable and secure energy supply.”

    The change will be included in the Energy and Electricity Security Bill which is expected to be introduced in the first half of this year.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Powering communities: Round 2 of ARENA’s community batteries program launched

    Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    Overview

    • Category

      News

    • Date

      26 February 2025

    • Classification

      Battery storage

    The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today announced $46.3 million in funding for Round 2 of the Community Batteries Funding Program.

    Building on the success of Round 1, this program aims to deploy community batteries across Australia to lower energy bills, cut emissions and reduce pressure on the electricity grid.

    ARENA is now seeking applications to deploy community batteries. Projects should improve the economics of community battery projects, build industry capacity, support the integration of distributed energy resources into Australian energy markets, or demonstrate benefits of community batteries.

    To be eligible for ARENA funding, each community battery must be between 50 kW and 5 MW in size and connected to the distribution network.

    Community batteries provide energy storage in the distribution network that can store excess solar energy for later use, enabling higher penetrations of rooftop solar, putting downward pressure on household costs and easing pressure on local electricity grids.

    ARENA CEO Darren Miller said batteries are a critical part of the transition to net zero as the grid transitions to energy generated from renewable sources.

    “Part of increasing our dependency on renewably sourced energy is the need to increase our firming technology to make sure the energy grid is secure and reliable. We can achieve this by storing energy in batteries when renewable energy is plentiful and use this stored energy later in the day and overnight when people most need it,” said Mr Miller.

    “Over recent years, a concerted effort has been made in deploying batteries to support the grid and transition to clean energy. Round 2 will build on the insights, expertise and knowledge developed in Round 1, resulting in further optimisation of distributed energy resources in the electricity grid”.

    As part of the 2022-23 Federal Budget, the Australian Government allocated $200 million for the Household Solar budget measure to deploy 400 community batteries across Australia.

    In total, ARENA was allocated $171 million of this funding to deliver at least 342 community batteries across rounds 1 and 2.

    More information about this program, including the application process, can be found at ARENA’s funding page. Funding applications can be submitted from 17 March 2025 to 30 April 2025.

    ARENA media contact:

    media@arena.gov.au

    Download this media release (PDF 143KB)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Māori housing partnership to deliver 100 affordable rental homes

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A further $36 million Government investment into affordable Māori housing will benefit whānau across Aotearoa New Zealand, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
    The Minister today announced additional funding of $36 million to national iwi collective Ka Uruora that will continue momentum and enable the delivery of 100 affordable rental homes across Auckland, Marlborough / Nelson, Taranaki, Waikato, Thames and Hawke’s Bay.
    “We have a firm focus on enabling economic growth that benefits whānau.” Mr Potaka says.
    “The Government’s partnerships with Māori entities like Ka Uruora for affordable housing is an important tool for creating jobs while making it more equitable for Māori whānau to be able to live in warm, stable and secure affordable homes. A good home can mean a world of difference for stable education and employment.
    “Today’s announcement is in addition to the $200 million in funding we are accelerating for 400 affordable rentals announced at the start of February, and it is in addition to the $82 million in funding announced in November for 12 Māori housing providers for about 198 whare in areas where there is a high demand for affordable housing.
    “The partnership with Ka Uruora will see them contribute $26 million into the delivery of these 100 affordable rentals.” Mr Potaka said.
    “These partnerships will help support the many whānau who struggle to pay a market rental.”
    Founded in Taranaki, Ka Uruora is a growing collective of 20 Iwi and Māori partners across Taranaki, Te Tau Ihu, Central North Island, Waikato, Hauraki and Hawkes Bay.   
    To date, Ka Uruora has delivered 65 affordable rentals with a further 107 affordable rentals in the existing pipeline. This additional funding will enable Ka Uruora to build additional homes across the motu.
    The funding is administered by Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Te Puni Kōkiri under the Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme. It is an extension to the current Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga prototype, which Ka Uruora signed with the Crown in 2022 – a $57.8 million investment to deliver up to 172 affordable rentals.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nose-to-tail mining: how making sand from ore could solve a looming crisis

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Franks, Professor and Director – Global Centre for Mineral Security, The University of Queensland

    Thanagornsoisep/Shutterstock

    Every year, the world consumes around 50 billion tonnes of sand, gravel and crushed stone. The astonishing scale of this demand is hard to comprehend – 12.5 million Olympic sized swimming pools per year – making it the most-used solid material by humans.

    Most of us don’t see the sand and gravel all around us. It’s hidden in concrete footpaths and buildings, the glass in our windows and in the microchips that drive our technology.

    Demand is set to increase further – even as the extraction of sand and gravel from rivers, lakes, beaches and oceans is triggering an environmental crisis.

    Sand does renew naturally, but in many regions, natural sand supplies are being depleted far faster than they can be replenished. Desert sand often has grains too round for use in construction and deserts are usually far from cities, while sand alternatives made by crushing rock are energy- and emissions-intensive.

    But there’s a major opportunity here, as we outline in our new research. Every year, the mining industry crushes and discards billions of tonnes of the same minerals as waste during the process of mining metals. By volume, mining waste is the single largest source of waste we make.

    There’s nothing magical about sand. It’s made up of particles of weathered rock. Gravel is larger particles. Our research has found companies mining metals can get more out of their ores, by processing the ore to produce sand as well.

    This would solve two problems at once: how to avoid mining waste and how to tackle the sand crisis. We dub this “nose-to-tail” mining, following the trend in gastronomy to use every part of an animal.

    Concrete is everywhere – but it requires a great deal of sand and gravel.
    MVolodymyr/Shutterstock

    The failings of tailings

    The metal sulphides, oxides and carbonates which can be turned into iron, copper and other metals are only a small fraction of the huge volumes of ore which have to be processed. Every year, the world produces about 13 billion tonnes of tailings – the ground-up rock left over after valuable metals are extracted – and another 72 billion tonnes of waste rock, which has been blasted but not ground up.

    For decades, scientists have dreamed of using tailings as a substitute for natural sand. Tailings are often rich in silicates, the principal component of sand.

    But to date, the reality has been disappointing. More than 18,000 research papers have been published on the topic in the last 25 years. But only a handful of mines have found ways to repurpose and sell tailings.

    Why? First, tailings rarely meet the strict specifications required for construction materials, such as the size of the particles, the mineral composition and the durability.

    Second, they come with a stigma. Tailings often contain hazardous substances liberated during mining. This makes governments and consumers understandably cautious about using mining waste in homes and our built environment.

    Neither of these problems is insurmountable. In our research, we propose a new solution: manufacture sand directly from ore.

    Converting rock into metal is a complex, multi-step process which differs by type of metal and by type of ore. After crushing, the minerals in the ore are typically separated using flotation, where the metal-containing sulphide minerals attach to tiny bubbles that float up through the slurry of rock and water.

    At this stage, leftover ore is normally separated out to be disposed of as waste. But if we continue to process the ore, such as by spinning it in a cyclone, impurities can be removed and the right particle size and shape can be achieved to meet the specifications for sand.

    We have dubbed this “ore-sand”, to distinguish it from tailings. It’s not made from waste tailings – it’s a deliberate product of the ore.

    Turning ore into metal requires intensive crushing and grinding. These methods could also make sand.
    Aussie Family Living/Shutterstock

    More from ore

    This isn’t just theory. At the iron ore mine Brucutu in Brazil, the mining company Vale is already producing one million tonnes of ore-sand annually. The sand is used in road construction, brickmaking and concrete.

    The move came from tragedy. In 2015 and 2019, the dams constructed to store tailings at two of Vale’s iron ore mines collapsed, triggering deadly mudflows. Hundreds of people died – many of them company employees – and the environmental consequences are ongoing.

    In response, the company funded researchers (such as our group) to find ways to reduce reliance on tailings dams in favour of better alternatives.

    Following our work with Vale we investigated the possibility of making ore-sand from other types of mineral ores, such as copper and gold. We have run successful trials at Newmont’s Cadia copper-gold mine in Australia. Here, using innovative methods we have produced a coarser ore-sand which doesn’t require as much blending with other sand.

    Ore-sand processing makes the most sense for mines located close to cities. This is for two reasons: to avoid the risk of tailings dams to people living nearby, and to reduce the transport costs of moving sand long distances.

    Our earlier research showed almost half the world’s sand consumption happens within 100 kilometres of a mine which could produce ore-sand as well as metals. Since metal mining already requires intensive crushing and grinding, we found ore-sand can be produced with lower energy consumption and carbon emissions than the extraction of conventional sands.

    The challenge of scale

    For any new idea or industry, the hardest part is to go from early trials to widespread adoption. It won’t be easy to make ore-sand a reality.

    Inertia is one reason. Mining companies have well-established processes. It takes time and work to introduce new methods.

    Industry buy-in and collaboration, supportive government policies and market acceptance will be needed. Major sand buyers such as the construction industry need to be able to test and trust the product.

    The upside is real, though. Ore-sand offers us a rare chance to tackle two hard environmental problems at once, by slashing the staggering volume of mining waste and reducing the need for potentially dangerous tailings dams, and offering a better alternative to destructive sand extraction.

    Daniel Franks would like to acknowledge funding and collaboration support from the Queensland Government, Australian Economic Accelerator, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer, Newcrest Mining, Newmont, Vale, The University of Geneva, The University of Exeter, The Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, and The University of Queensland. Daniel Franks is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT240100383) funded by the Australian Government.

    – ref. Nose-to-tail mining: how making sand from ore could solve a looming crisis – https://theconversation.com/nose-to-tail-mining-how-making-sand-from-ore-could-solve-a-looming-crisis-250284

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gerald Roche, Lecturer in Linguistics, La Trobe University

    Three days after he was released from prison in December, a Tibetan village leader named Gonpo Namgyal died. As his body was being prepared for traditional Tibetan funeral rites, marks were found indicating he had been brutally tortured in jail.

    His crime? Gonpo Namgyal had been part of a campaign to protect the Tibetan language in China.

    Gonpo Namgyal is the victim of a slow-moving conflict that has dragged on for nearly 75 years, since China invaded Tibet in the mid-20th century. Language has been central to that conflict.

    Tibetans have worked to protect the Tibetan language and resisted efforts to enforce Mandarin Chinese. Yet, Tibetan children are losing their language through enrolment in state boarding schools where they are being educated nearly exclusively in Mandarin Chinese. Tibetan is typically only taught a few times a week – not enough to sustain the language.

    My research, published in a new book in 2024, provides unique insights into the struggle of other minority languages in Tibet that receive far less attention.

    My research shows that language politics in Tibet are surprisingly complex and driven by subtle violence, perpetuated not only by Chinese authorities but also other Tibetans. I’ve also found that outsiders’ efforts to help are failing the minority languages at the highest risk of extinction.

    Tibetan culture under attack

    I lived in Ziling, the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau, from 2005 to 2013, teaching in a university, studying Tibetan and supporting local non-government organisations.

    Most of my research since then has focused on language politics in the Rebgong valley on the northeast Tibetan Plateau. From 2014 to 2018, I interviewed dozens of people, spoke informally with many others, and conducted hundreds of household surveys about language use.

    I also collected and analysed Tibetan language texts, including government policies, online essays, social media posts and even pop song lyrics.

    When I was in Ziling, Tibetans launched a massive protest movement against Chinese rule just before the Beijing Olympics in 2008. These protests led to harsh government crackdowns, including mass arrests, increased surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of movement and expressions of Tibetan identity. This was largely focused on language and religion.

    Years of unrest ensued, marked by more demonstrations and individual acts of sacrifice. Since 2009, more than 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule.

    Not just Tibetan under threat

    Tibet is a linguistically diverse place. In addition to Tibetan, about 60 other languages are spoken in the region. About 4% of Tibetans (around 250,000 people) speak a minority language.

    Government policy forces all Tibetans to learn and use Mandarin Chinese. Those who speak only Tibetan have a harder time finding work and are faced with discrimination and even violence from the dominant Han ethnic group.

    Meanwhile, support for Tibetan language education has slowly been whittled away: the government even recently banned students from having private Tibetan lessons or tutors on their school holidays.

    Linguistic minorities in Tibet all need to learn and use Mandarin. But many also need to learn Tibetan to communicate with other Tibetans: classmates, teachers, doctors, bureaucrats or bosses.

    In Rebgong, where I did my research, the locals speak a language they call Manegacha. Increasingly, this language is being replaced by Tibetan: about a third of all families that speak Manegacha are now teaching Tibetan to their children (who also must learn Mandarin).

    The government refuses to provide any opportunities to use and learn minority languages like Manegacha. It also tolerates constant discrimination and violence against Manegacha speakers by other Tibetans.

    These assimilationist state policies are causing linguistic diversity across Tibet to collapse. As these minority languages are lost, people’s mental and physical health suffers and their social connections and communal identities are destroyed.

    How do Manegacha communities resist and navigate language oppression?

    Why does this matter?

    Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule dates back to the People’s Liberation Army invasion in the early 1950s.

    When the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, that resistance movement went global. Governments around the world have continued to support Tibetan self-determination and combat Chinese misinformation about Tibet, such as the US Congress passage of the Resolve Tibet Act in 2024.

    Outside efforts to support the Tibetan struggle, however, are failing some of the most vulnerable people: those who speak minority languages.

    Manegacha speakers want to maintain their language. They resist the pressure to assimilate whenever they speak Manegacha to each other, post memes online in Manegacha or push back against the discrimination they face from other Tibetans.

    However, if Tibetans stop speaking Manegacha and other minority languages, this will contribute to the Chinese government’s efforts to erase Tibetan identity and culture.

    Even if the Tibetan language somehow survives in China, the loss of even one of Tibet’s minority languages would be a victory for the Communist Party in the conflict it started 75 years ago.

    Gerald Roche has received funding for this research from the Australian Research Council. He is also affiliated with the Linguistic Justice Foundation.

    – ref. Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction – https://theconversation.com/tibet-is-one-of-the-most-linguistically-diverse-places-in-the-world-this-is-in-danger-of-extinction-246316

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Ocean protection policy “hangover” must be addressed by both parties: Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Wednesday 26 February 2025 – In response to the major political parties indicating election promises to protect Australia’s oceans, Greenpeace Australia Pacific says a crucial protection framework of a ratified Global Ocean Treaty is still missing.

    Georgia Whitaker, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Campaigner, said:

    “We applaud the intention of both major parties to protect the ocean and tackle the disastrous impacts of industrial fishing, but if either is serious, they must ratify the Global Ocean Treaty; it’s a no-brainer.

    “Australia’s oceans are in crisis, facing serious threats of industrial fishing, climate change and plastic pollution. Our beloved and protected coral reefs are cooking in historic bleaching events, and now the Pacific Ocean is facing the threat of an emerging deep sea mining industry – the ocean needs every lifeline and ally it can get.”

    Australia adopted the historic Global Ocean Treaty–also known as the High Seas Treaty–in 2023, but has yet to ink it into law. To date, 110 countries have signed the treaty, and 17 countries have ratified it, including the Pacific nations of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Once ratified by 60 countries, governments will have the power to propose and create marine sanctuaries in the high seas.

    “Australia is perfectly positioned to be an ocean protection leader on the global stage by ratifying the treaty this June at the UN Ocean Conference. We signed the treaty in 2023, but without action, the new government will lead with the hangover of a policy unfulfilled,” Whitaker said.

    “Aussies love the ocean, and many depend on a healthy, thriving ocean for their livelihoods. We want to see serious commitment to protecting not just our domestic waters, but the international waters that flow into them.”

    —ENDS—

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Human remains located in Otira, identified

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A bone located in the Otira area last year has been identified as belonging to a person who is believed to have gone missing in 2020.

    On 18 January 2024, a member of the public contacted Police after finding a bone in the Otira area.

    The bone has since been examined by a Pathologist, Anthropologist, and ESR scientists as we worked to identify the age of the bone and who it belonged to.

    Following the examination by ESR Scientists the bone has now been confirmed as further remains of missing person Marni Sheppeard, who was last heard from in November 2020.

    In 2021, Marni’s partial remains were located in the Rolleston River area following an extensive search involving LandSAR volunteers and Police, two CanyonSar teams, Alpine Cliff Rescue, two police dog units and a LandSAR dog team which were deployed into the area by Precision Helicopters.

    Police have since spoken with Marni’s mother and informed her of the finding.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ARENA invests in cleaner, greener Australian skies

    Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is today supporting cleaner Australian skies, with up to $10.4 million in funding for two projects from its Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Funding Initiative.

    ARENA is providing $8 million in funding to Licella and $2.4 million to Viva Energy for separate studies to develop renewable fuel alternatives for Australia’s airline industry.

    ARENA CEO Darren Miller said these projects represent an important step towards developing a pipeline of projects that could support the reduction of aviation sector emissions.

    “Aviation is a challenging industry from an emissions reduction perspective with domestic flights currently accounting for approximately 2 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Miller said.

    “With Australians being among the most prolific flyers in the world, decarbonising this high emissions industry will be vital for us to achieve our net zero targets.”

    “These two projects are an important step towards developing opportunities to cut emissions from Australian skies and ARENA will be working to ensure the lessons from these projects help inform the broader development of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia.”

    The two projects include:

    • $8 million to Australian technology and project developer Licella for the $26.1 million ‘Project Swift – SAF from Sugarcane Residues Feasibility Study’ to complete Feasibility and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies assessing the viability of establishing a biorefinery facility in Bundaberg, Queensland utilising Licella’s patented Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR™) hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert sugar mill residues to renewable fuels. The proposed facility would be capable of producing approximately 60 ML per annum of low carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs), of which around 40 ML per annum will be SAF.
    • $2.4 million to Viva Energy for the $4.9 million ‘SAF infrastructure Solutions for the Future project’ to recondition an existing tank at its Pinkenba Terminal to enable blended SAF supply into Brisbane Airport for commercial use. Viva will also work with industry partners to develop a book and claim system so that customers can recognise the carbon reduction benefits of the SAF supplied.The Project will conclude with Viva Energy supplying SAF into the Brisbane Joint User Hydrant Installation and demonstrate the storage and use of SAF within the existing airport. Following the project, the system will be able to supply volumes of SAF to meet customer demand.

    Viva Energy Chief Strategy Officer Lachlan Pfeiffer said the funding from ARENA is a crucial milestone in the company’s journey to supply sustainable fuel to Australia’s aviation industry.

    “By enhancing our SAF infrastructure, we are not only supporting the aviation industry’s transition to lower carbon emissions but also positioning Viva Energy as a leader in renewable energy solutions,” he said.

    “Viva Energy is well placed to import and supply SAF. Viva Energy is a trusted partner to many aviation customers and our strength lies in deep relationships and a nationwide supply chain backed by the international capability of Vitol.”

    Licella CEO Alan Nicholl said that ARENA’s funding will support the roll out in Australia of its commercial-ready Cat-HTR™ platform through the development of a SAF-focused biorefinery targeting agricultural residues in regional Queensland.

    “We are delighted to receive ARENA’s support as we move forward with the feasibility studies for our Queensland project”, Mr Nicholl said.

    Licella Executive Chairman Dr Len Humphreys highlighted the opportunity to scale this new SAF pathway.

    “Through our global partnership with Shell, we are advancing an integrated biomass-to-advanced biofuels commercial solution, one which is targeting high volumes of low-cost, low-carbon SAF”.

    ARENA has announced total funding of $33.5 million across five projects under the SAF Funding Initiative launched in 2023 to support the development of domestic SAF production to support aviation decarbonisation, with more investments to be announced beyond the previously allocated $30 million.

    The SAF funding initiative builds on the findings of ARENA’s 2021 Bioenergy Roadmap, which identified SAF produced from biomass as one of the few opportunities to reduce emissions in the aviation sector in the short to medium term. The CSIRO SAF Roadmap identified that Australia has sufficient biomass feedstocks to supply more than half of domestic jet fuel demand, demonstrating the potential impact of supporting these early projects investigating domestic SAF production capability.

    Low Carbon Liquid Fuels has been identified as a priority sector as part of the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia Plan. ARENA has been nominated as the delivery agency for the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund.

     

    ARENA media contact:

    media@arena.gov.au

    Download this media release (PDF 143KB)

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: North American Construction Group Ltd. Announces Regular Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ACHESON, Alberta, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On February 24, 2025, the North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG” or “the Company”) (TSX:NOA.TO/NYSE:NOA) Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend (the “Dividend”) of twelve Canadian cents ($0.12) per common share, payable to common shareholders of record at the close of business on March 13, 2025. The Dividend will be paid on April 9, 2025, and is an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes.

    About the Company

    North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. For 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource and infrastructure construction markets.

    For further information, please contact:
    Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA
    Chief Financial Officer
    North American Construction Group Ltd.
    Phone: (780) 960-7171
    Email: ir@nacg.ca

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fast-tracked mining, cut-rate safety? A miner’s warning – E tū

    Source: Etu Union

    By Mark Anderson, Process Operator at OceaniaGold Waihi, and Convenor of the E tū Engineering, Infrastructure, and Extractives Industry Council

    It’s 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I’m at work, constantly hopping in and out of my front-end loader to pull five-foot-long, waterlogged timber beams out of the ore that the underground crew has brought up overnight. These beams come from the old timber framing used to build the Waihi mine over 100 years ago.

    Pieces of timber like this are absolute showstoppers for us – if they end up on the conveyor belt heading into the mill, they could jam the system or get stuck in the feed chute, shutting us down for hours and leaving a massive mess to clean up. I don’t want to be that guy, so here I am, sweaty and covered in mud at 3 a.m., hauling them out by hand. But I don’t mind. I’ve got a huge smile on my face because I love the job I do.

    I work as a process operator at the gold mine in Waihi. There have been big developments recently, not just at the site but across the town, the country, and in the news. I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on that.

    At the end of January, Hon. Shane Jones brought MBIE and the media pack that follows him to Waihi for his big “Critical Minerals” announcement. Naturally, the protestors followed too, eager to let him know exactly what they thought of his plans.

    I was part of the delegation that hosted the Minister, not just because I work at the mill but because I’m also a union delegate and the Convenor of the Engineering, Infrastructure and Extractives Industry Council for E tū, representing nearly 8,000 members in these industries. One thing I’ve noticed in all the discussions about fast-tracking mining, the use of public land, and economic impacts is that the voices of workers have been completely missing.

    For workers, the first part of this conversation is obvious: it’s great news for the industry. The Government wants to invest in and expand mining, which means more security for those of us in the sector. That kind of stability is rare.

    When I started my job at Waihi in 2007, they told me the “life of the mine” was about 18 months. I didn’t tell my partner that right away – we had just bought a house and had our second child, and we had enough pressure as it was. Mines open and close depending on commodity prices and market shifts. That’s just the way it is. But for the first time, there’s a sense of long-term security for workers and contractors, and that’s a huge win. Most mines in New Zealand are in regional areas, so this also means a boost for those communities and the families who rely on these jobs.

    That said, every silver lining has a dark cloud. In my role as delegate and Convenor, my job is to look at the bigger picture and consider how all this affects workers. Is the Government rushing into this? Have they really thought it through? Are we actually prepared to scale up the industry safely?

    Safety is always the first thing on a worker’s mind in this industry. It’s the first thing we talk about at the start of every shift, and it’s the foundation of most of our training. While Shane Jones is out there making big mining expansion announcements, over in the health and safety sector, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, has quietly been working on a review of the Health and Safety at Work Act – what most people know as the Pike River legislation.

    Last year, she held a roadshow to gather input on the review. Workers and unions did everything they could to attend those meetings, but getting a seat at the table was very difficult. Meanwhile, business and industry representatives seemed to have no trouble getting in.

    Late last year, I was lucky enough to attend a CTU-organised event at Parliament where Brooke van Velden was present. She was asked directly why she hadn’t been engaging with workers about the review, and she responded saying she had. Never mind the experience of the workers and their unions in the audience before her, who have found it impossible to have real engagement with her on this issue and many others.

    After the event, I approached her and invited her to visit Waihi, to come and see firsthand the work we do and the risks we manage to keep people safe. I invited her because I believe we do a very good job with safety, in comparison to other places around the country. A few days later, her office emailed me back with a polite but clear refusal. She had no immediate plans to visit Waihi or the surrounding area. The invite remains open.

    So here we are, with one part of the Government rushing full steam ahead to expand mining while another is quietly working to weaken health and safety laws.

    Expanding mining means an influx of new, inexperienced workers into a high-risk industry. It takes time to train people properly so they can work safely in these hazardous environments. In Waihi, new workers wear green hard hats so they’re easily identifiable – so we can look out for them. But if we get too many “Green Hats” at once, especially in newly established mines, we might have a serious safety issue. Without enough experienced workers to mentor them, the risks multiply.

    The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety hasn’t yet detailed her plans for the Act, but my biggest fear is that, in classic libertarian fashion, the goal will be to deregulate, deregulate, deregulate – then tell companies to sort it out by increasing their insurance premiums.

    Maybe that sounds cynical. I hope I’m wrong. But this Government hasn’t exactly shown much concern for workers’ rights so far, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

    Then there are the other questions. Where are these workers going to come from? Where will they live in the remote areas where these mines are located? No one seems to be asking those questions, and I fear they’ll just be left for “the market” to sort out.

    Back in Waihi, when protestors delayed Shane Jones’ speech, I noticed him sitting alone and decided to take my chance to talk to him. I asked him about worker safety, about where we’d get the people we need, about whether the Government had a plan. For a man who’s usually never short of words, all I got was a raised eyebrow and a nod.

    I don’t think this Government has the answers. This year we will acknowledge the 15th anniversary of the Pike River tragedy. The only way we can honour the lives of those workers is to ensure we never let health and safety standards fall behind again. Without workers at the forefront of this project, and without a Government committed to the highest standards, I find myself fearing the worst.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Too slow, too risky, too impractical: Interim senate report pans nuclear

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, 26 February 2025: Greenpeace Australia Pacific has welcomed findings by an interim senate report that “there is limited utility in pursuing nuclear power at this point”, and called for parties to focus on delivering achievable and affordable, renewable energy solutions instead.

    “The Senate Inquiry heard evidence from thousands of people and reached the logical conclusion that nuclear is unlikely to be developed in Australia until the mid-2040s at the earliest, is deeply unpopular among Australians, and will be more expensive to build than renewable energy,” Susie Byers, Head of Advocacy, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said. 

    “Taking into account the additional significant risks associated with nuclear waste management and accidents, there are dozens of reasons why nuclear just doesn’t make sense for Australia; and not a single proven reason to support it. 

    “This evidence-based report underscores that the Coalition’s nuclear fantasy is nothing more than a dangerous, nonsensical distraction, and a blatant ploy to keep coal and gas in our system until the 2040s, worsening climate change to deadly extremes. 

    “Remarks by Coalition MP Andrew Constance revealing the party’s plans to take the Paris Agreement’s 2035 target “off the table” earlier this week further underscore the Coalition’s absolute disinterest in doing anything to stop the worsening bushfires, floods, and storms that have devastated millions of Australians in recent years. 

    “Nuclear is a waste of Australians’ time, money, and a bet against a safe climate future for all of us. It will also impose potentially catastrophic risks on communities where the reactors and nuclear waste sites will be located. 

    “Choosing nuclear for Australia’s energy future will threaten our economy, air, land and water, and our kids’ futures, while backing in 100% affordable, safe, proven renewable energy, will strengthen our place in a global clean economy and help avoid unsurvivable consequences of climate change. The choice is clear. 

    —ENDS—

    Note to editors: Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s submission to the inquiry is available here.

    For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 or [email protected].

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Council AI initiative to boost customer experience

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council is set to trial AI technology that will help Aucklanders quickly access the council support they need, underpinned by Google Cloud technology.

    ‘Ask Auckland Council’ is a new digital assistant which will help Aucklanders access the information and support they’re looking for across the council’s digital platforms, in a way that suits them.

    The pilot, funded by Google Cloud and delivered in partnership with Deloitte, will be trialled and tested as part of a new phase of innovation the council is leading through its new Group Shared Services division.

    Presented at February’s Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee chaired by Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, the new technology is expected to deliver a greater experience for all Aucklanders.

    “It’s incredibly positive to see Auckland Council leading the way with new technology and innovation that holds great potential to deliver better service for all Aucklanders, at no cost to the ratepayer,” says Cr Simpson. 

    “The scale of this makes it one of the largest applications of this technology in New Zealand and, in future, could be leveraged by other councils too.

    “It holds great potential for our multicultural city to improve their council experience 24/7. The State of the City Report signalled Auckland’s need to continue to invest in technology adoption and this is one example where we are leading innovation that benefits our communities.”

    Digital assistant to help find information

    Auckland Council receives over 1.5 million calls every year and holds region-wide services and information across multiple digital platforms, making it at times difficult for Aucklanders to find the information they are after, quickly and efficiently.

    Ask Auckland Council will enable Aucklanders to go to one place where the digital assistant will find what they are looking for, across all council organisations. This reduces the effort factor significantly.

    “We are thrilled to work alongside Auckland Council and Deloitte to help make information about public services more accessible for Aucklanders,” says Paul Dearlove, head of Google Cloud, New Zealand.

    “By harnessing the power of Google Cloud’s AI platform, we are helping empower Aucklanders to easily find the information they are after, and creating a more seamless and intuitive experience across Auckland Council’s digital platforms.” 

    Trialing to enhance technology

    Auckland Council group shared services director Richard Jarrett said the technology is a prototype that will be tested and carefully trialled so it can be further enhanced, based on customer experience.

    “It’s great to see Google and Deloitte come onboard to help us prototype this initiative and work together to achieve this important milestone. We are very grateful for the support they’ve provided, says Mr Jarrett.

    “Shifting from prototype to testing with Aucklanders is the next planned phase. We think providing a single channel that is user-friendly and navigates our multiple websites will benefit Aucklanders, particularly when looking for information or help. I look forward to seeing this technology progress through into full development.”

    While English will be the first language, the vision is for the tool to be voice and text interactive across a number of languages, rolled out based on prioritising New Zealand’s three official languages.

    “Over time, we will introduce additional languages, so it becomes a multilingual digital assistant that enables our customers to provide us with feedback, access the right information and connect with the right council service,” says Mr Jarrett.

    “The acceleration of technology offers us an opportunity to experiment with what might be possible to help Aucklanders and visitors to our city to navigate the range of services and attractions we offer.”

    Ask Auckland Council is expected to launch later this year.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite’: many children feel silenced by family courts

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgina Dimopoulos, Associate Professor, Law, Southern Cross University

    Bricolage/AAP

    When parental separation ends up in the family courts, serious risks such as family violence, child abuse, drug, alcohol or substance misuse, and mental health issues are often involved.

    But many children feel shut out of family court processes that decide what is in their “best interests”.

    My new paper, co-authored with Southern Cross University researchers Eliza Hew, Meaghan Vosz and Helen Walsh and published in the journal Child and Family Social Work, looked at how children felt about their experiences in the family courts.

    We interviewed 41 children and young people aged ten to 19 from Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. Four key themes emerged.

    1. Children feel silenced

    Some children we spoke with felt they were heard by family law professionals. Many, however, described feeling silenced. Penny (all names in this article changed to protect identies), aged 14, said:

    [It was like] someone was standing there and putting something over my mouth so I couldn’t speak […] I should have been allowed in the courtroom and been allowed to say what I wanted.

    Chelsea, 15, felt:

    squashed and I just had to do what I was told and be quiet and suck it up, even if it wasn’t what I wanted.

    Family court orders required Paige, 17, and her sister to spend time with their father, contrary to their expressed wishes. Paige blamed herself, saying:

    That was always one of my biggest regrets because I’m like, maybe if I had said something differently, or emphasised it more, they would have understood what I was trying to say and actually listened […] it wouldn’t have made such traumatic memories, which happened afterwards, when we were forced to see him.

    The children in our study wanted to be heard directly. As Troy, 14, put it:

    Talk to us, not about us.

    Children also told us that they wanted their words conveyed accurately by family law professionals to the court. Lisa, 10, said:

    It’s like whispering to another person, and then you keep whispering, whispering, and then eventually, something comes out differently. People get it mixed up.

    Other children felt speaking up was futile. Ari, 11, said:

    I had some ideas that I wanted, that I thought would be fair, but it never really changed […] So I just stopped talking.

    Some children felt speaking up was futile.
    fizkes/Shutterstock

    2. Children feel ‘in the dark’

    Most children we interviewed felt “in the dark” about family court processes. Olive, 11, said she had “no clue what was going on”, while Leo, 13, said:

    I didn’t know anything. I was playing the guessing game.

    Some children got information through their own proactive, even covert efforts. Ava, 13, said:

    I was snooping through Mum’s room and I found some papers.

    Ava then Googled the family court judge who decided her parents’ case, because “she, like, ruined my life. Need to know who.”

    Other children got more information than they wanted.

    Eva, 12, said:

    Mum shared with me lots of the law court stuff and I really wish she didn’t, because I should just be a kid. That was the sort of thing that made me feel […] sort of responsible and it sort of made me look at my mum in a bad way.

    3. Some children will vote with their feet

    Some children said they’d refused to comply with family court parenting orders. As Ava, 13, put it:

    If they can’t listen to me, I’m not going to listen to them.

    Chelsea, 15, explained:

    I wasn’t listened to at all […] in the end, I finally put my foot down, and I was like, “I’m not going to Dad’s”.

    Aaron, 16, and his siblings chose to live with their father, contrary to family court orders. He explained:

    When they said that we had to live with Mum, we just lived with Dad anyway […] They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite.

    4. Children feel less able to trust others

    Children stressed the importance of family law professionals creating space to build trust. But several children felt they were betrayed by law professionals who’d shared what the children had said with their parents.

    Troy, 14, said:

    If I knew what I said was going to get back to Dad, I wouldn’t have said it.

    Jessica, 16, wanted:

    More support on knowing that what I said directly wouldn’t get back to my dad in case I was sent back there, because stuff I said could have really, really, really hurt me if I was sent back.

    Gabrielle, 18, said:

    Adults are meant to be the people that you can trust, particularly when they say that they’re there for your best interest. I lost a lot of trust. I couldn’t trust anyone again.

    Protecting children

    Our study didn’t ask children about details of their family court orders, so it’s possible that, as Aaron, 16, observed, “the people that probably want to do this [research] are probably the people that got messed around”.

    But our findings are important because they expose concerning attitudes about children and their rights in the family courts, and the capacity and skills of professionals to support children to participate meaningfully and safely.

    We’re now working with the children and young people we interviewed to co-create a children’s participation toolkit, which will give children information about their right to participate in family law processes.

    Olive, 11, captures it best:

    You gotta listen to the children, ‘cause it’s their lives. But it’s also like, sometimes they’ve got some pretty great ideas too.

    Georgina Dimopoulos’ research upon which this article is based was partially funded by the Children’s Rights Research Fund (University of Maastricht). She is also a member of the Policy Working Group of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce.

    – ref. ‘They’re meant to help and did the complete opposite’: many children feel silenced by family courts – https://theconversation.com/theyre-meant-to-help-and-did-the-complete-opposite-many-children-feel-silenced-by-family-courts-250636

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Steve Feinberg, Trump’s Nominee for Deputy Secretary of Defense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Feinberg—Co-Founder, Co-CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Cerberus Capital Management—served as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board during the first Trump Administration
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today introduced Stephen (Steve) A. Feinberg, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.
    Feinberg previously was co-founder, co-CEO, and chief investment officer of Cerberus Capital Management, a global investment firm. He also chaired President Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board from 2018 to 2021.
    When Senator Hagerty served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan in the first Trump Administration, he worked closely with Feinberg to prevent Hanjin Shipyard—now Agila Subic Shipyard—at Subic Bay in the Philippines from falling into Communist China’s control.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed, thank you for holding this important nominations hearing today.
    It is my privilege to introduce my good friend, Steve Feinberg—President Trump’s nominee to be the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
    During the first Trump Administration, from 2018 to 2021, Steve chaired the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, where he brought a fresh perspective and provided expert advice on a range of challenges to U.S. national security.
    Before his nomination, Steve was co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Cerberus Capital Management—a global investment firm that he co-founded in 1992 and that today manages some $68 billion in assets.
    At Cerberus, Steve spent 34 years investing in, fixing, and operating a variety of businesses, including those related to national defense and the U.S. Intelligence Community.
    Steve is a Patriot with a great heart—one of the many things that sets Steve apart is his strategic vision and his willingness and desire to invest in ways that not only create and grow value for his investors, but also advance U.S. national security interests.
    Here, I want to quickly share a powerful story based on my own personal experience with Steve’s leadership.
    When I served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, I discovered that two Chinese firms were attempting to acquire the bankrupt Hanjin Shipyard at Subic Bay in the Philippines.
    Subic Bay had previously served as a U.S. Naval base with a deep-water shipyard that is strategically located on the South China Sea.
    For various reasons, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and other parts of the U.S. government were not in a position to engage and solve this problem.
    So I engaged with top officials in the Trump Administration, and the governments of Japan and the Philippines, as well as with top actors in the private sector—in specific, with Steve Feinberg and Cerberus.
    Working together, we assembled an ad hoc public-private solution to this problem and thwarted China’s efforts to acquire the port.
    Thanks to leadership from the Trump Administration and Steve Feinberg and his team, we succeeded.
    Today, Hanjin Shipyard is known as Agila Subic Shipyard and is owned by American investors.
    As a result, U.S. and Allied firms have a joint presence there now—for example, HD Hyundai, a South Korean firm, will build and maintain vessels at the shipyard, and SubCom, a U.S.-based undersea cable firm, is advancing projects in the region from there.
    The U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines also have a significant presence there.
    If Steve and his team had not stepped up to solve this problem, the Chinese Communist Party today would likely possess a vital piece of strategic infrastructure in the South China Sea—and the threats to the security of the United States and our partners would be enormous.
    At Cerberus, Steve also worked hard on another issue that I dealt with firsthand as U.S. Ambassador to Japan:  that is, helping the United States and our partners counter China’s threat in 5G telecommunications by investing in commercial alternatives to Huawei and other Chinese telecoms companies.
    Here again, Steve recognized a strategic challenge to the United States and has sought to counter and minimize the influence and access that China could gain from control over spectrum and telecommunications infrastructure.
    On that note, I want to commend the Committee for its strong support for the Defense Department’s efforts to accelerate adoption of 5G and Open RAN technologies in order to provide strategic advantages to the warfighter—including by directing the Pentagon to establish a “Secretary of Defense 5G Cross Functional Team” to accomplish this objective.
    We could not have addressed these problems without Steve Feinberg—an outsider with a fresh perspective who, at the same time, knows how to work on the inside while bringing innovation and ingenuity to the table.
    Steve, if confirmed, will do an outstanding job as the Pentagon’s second highest-ranking civilian official.
    Steve understands the mission.
    He will leverage his leadership, his strategic thinking, his deep knowledge, his decades of experience, his vast professional network, his willingness to listen and learn, and his decisiveness to improve the Defense Department.
    Just as he did at Cerberus for the last 34 years, Steve will work his heart out—every day—at the Defense Department.
    He will ensure that the building, its management, its operations, and its programs run better and more efficiently.
    And he’ll focus on the Department’s goal of providing decisive strategic, operational, and tactical advantages to the warfighter.
    Steve Feinberg is the right man for this job—I look forward to his testimony today and to working with my colleagues to advance his nomination as quickly as possible.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins America’s Newsroom on Fox News to Discuss Trump’s Peace Negotiations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News to discuss President Donald Trump’s peace negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine: “President [Emmanuel] Macron flew here yesterday. You’re going to see [Prime Minister] Keir Starmer from the [United Kingdom] here later this week. [President Volodymyr] Zelensky is trying to get to the United States. I think we’re on the precipice of a deal, and Scott Bessent said yesterday, our Treasury Secretary, that he feels we’re on the one-yard line. So, I think we’re about to get there. President Trump wants to see an end to the carnage; he’s certainly changed the dynamic and the conversation around all of this, from [Former President] Joe Biden’s blank check, ‘as long as it takes’, to bring an end to this now, and I think it’s coming […] I think what President Trump, again, is doing is he is shifting the conversation completely. He’s trying to get to a deal with Russia. He’s not just continuing the Joe Biden process of sticking a stick in Russia’s eye. You see the European leaders that want to just continue down this path. What President Trump wants to do is bring an end to this now, and he’s trying to bring resolution to this. I think what we’re seeing is a shifting [of] sands. Again, you see these European leaders coming to the United States—again, I feel we’re at the precipice of a deal—President Trump is trying to make something happen here, not just go back to talking points that haven’t worked in the past.”
    Hagerty on Trump’s strong negotiating position against Putin: “What I would say is that President [Trump] is actually trying to shift the conversation. President Trump has not lifted any sanctions on Putin. In fact, he’s talking about getting back in the energy business, putting Keystone Pipeline back in. It was Joe Biden that killed the Keystone XL Pipeline and okayed [the] Nord Stream 2 [Pipeline], which funded Russia’s war efforts. So, I think what you’re seeing is still plenty of pressure on Vladimir Putin, but President Trump, again, is shifting the dialogue right now trying to get to a deal.”
    Hagerty on economic opportunities in a deal that could benefit the U.S.: “It’s a situation where I think President Trump is trying to think about this differently. He’s talking about economic development. He’s talking about getting our interests to align more economically. There are critical minerals in Russia, critical minerals in Ukraine. All of this could benefit the United States. China’s licking its chops right now. I think President Trump sees that as well and wants to make certain that the United States taxpayer benefits from what comes out of this, as opposed to the [Chinese Communist Party].”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Trump’s Nominee for Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Michael Kratsios will advance U.S. technological dominance and national security
    WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today appeared before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing to introduce Michael Kratsios, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Today, I am privileged to introduce Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    The OSTP Director advises the President on key “industries of the future,” including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and more. Indeed, Michael and I worked closely together on 5G and our telecommunications infrastructure when I served in my previous role as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
    Now, more than ever, emerging technologies present us with immense opportunities to maintain America’s global dominance. At such a critical time, we cannot afford to make policy errors here in Washington.
    That’s exactly why we need a leader of Michael’s caliber serving in this vital role.
    While AI has rapidly ascended to become one America’s most important policy priorities, Michael had the foresight to see this technology’s potential nearly a decade ago. And he has been working tirelessly on the issue ever since.
    His impressive record of public service in the field of science and technology policy include his past service as Chief Technology Officer of the United States and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In these roles and others, he coordinated public-private partnerships and served as the architect of national strategies on AI and quantum technologies.
    After leaving public service, he served as Managing Director of Scale AI, helping it become one of the most valuable and well respected privately held AI companies in the world.
    Michael’s research outside of the government provided the first quantifiable evidence of how banned Chinese technologies were still procured by state and local governments across the country. He also brought to light the significant risks posed by PRC-manufactured ship-to-shore cranes in American ports.
    America must remain the world leader in scientific and technological innovation. Our national security, our liberty, and our prosperity depend on it. Michael understands this mission, and that’s why I wholeheartedly support his nomination. Thanks to my colleagues here today for giving Michael your careful consideration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Burglar not up to par

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police scored a hole in one following a series of burglaries in Waiuku over recent months.

    The Pukekohe Tactical Crime Unit have been investigating a number of burglaries at a Waiuku golf club since November 2024.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor says the clubrooms had been the target of each burglary.

    “A number of items including tills and alcohol were allegedly taken during the offending,” he says.

    “Since these reports, CCTV footage and forensics enquiries have been carried out in the investigation.”

    It has led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man, who faces three burglary charges.

    The man is expected in the Pukekohe District Court today.

    “Our enquiries are ongoing into these matters and we cannot rule out further charges at this stage,” Detective Senior Sergeant Taylor says.

    “I know these burglaries have been subject of discussion amongst the community, and we will continue to hold those to account where there is sufficient evidence.”

    Any suspicious behaviour should be promptly reported to the Police.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: PNG govt’s latest ID plan unlikely to be achieved, says academic

    RNZ Pacific

    The Papua New Guinea government wants to have everyone on their National Identity (NID) card system by the country’s 50th anniversary on 16 September 2025.

    While the government has been struggling to set up the NID programme for more than 10 years, in January the Prime Minister, James Marape, announced they aimed to have 100 percent of Papua New Guineans signed up by September 16.

    However, an academic with the University of PNG, working in conjunction with the Australian National University, Andrew Anton Mako, said there was no chance the government could achieve this goal.

    Anton Mako spoke with RNZ Pacific senior journalist Don Wiseman:

    ANDREW ANTON MAKO: The NID programme was established in November 2014, so it’s 10 years now. I wouldn’t know the mechanics of the delay, why it has taken this long for the project to not deliver on the outcomes, but I can say a lot of money has been invested into the programme.

    By the end of this year, the national government would have spent about 500 million kina (over NZ$211 million). That’s a lot of money to be spent on a particular project, and then it would have only registered about 30 to 40 percent of the total population. So there’s a serious issue there. The project has failed to deliver.

    DON WISEMAN: Come back to that in a moment. But why does the government think that a national ID card is so important?

    AAM: It’s got some usefulness to achieve. If it was well established and well implemented, it would address a number of issues. For example, on doing business and a form of identity that will help people to do business, to apply for jobs in Papua New Guinea or elsewhere, and all that. I believe it has got merit towards it, but I think just that it has not been implemented properly.

    DW: Does the population like the idea?

    AAM: I think generally when it started, people were on board. But when it got delayed, you see a lot of people venting frustration on the NID Facebook page. I think [it’s] popularity has actually fallen over the years.

    DW: It’s money that could go into a whole lot of other, perhaps, more important things?

    AAM: Exactly, there’s pressing issues for the country, in terms of law and order, health and education. Those important sectors have actually fallen over the years. So that 500 million kina would have been better spent.

    DW: So now the government wants the entire country within this system by September 16, and they’re not going to get anywhere near it. They must have realised they wouldn’t get anywhere near it when the Prime Minister made that statement. Surely?

    AAM: It’s not possible. The numbers do not add up. They’ve spent more than 460 million kina over the last 10 years or so, and they’ve only registered 36 percent of the total — 3.3 million people. And then of the 3.3 million people, they’ve only issued an ID card to about 30 to 40 perCent of them . . .

    DW: 30 to 40 percent of those who have already signed up. So it’s what, 10 percent of the country?

    AAM: That’s right, about 1.2 million people have been issued an ID card, including a duplicate card. It is not possible to register the entire country, the rest of the country, in just six, seven or eight months.

    DW: It’s not the first time that the government has come out with what is effectively like a wish list without fully backing it, financially?

    AAM: That’s right. The ambitions that the government and the Prime Minister, their intentions are good, but there is no effective strategy how to get there.

    The resources that are needed to be allocated. It’s just not possible to realise the the end results. For example, the Prime Minister and his government promised that by this year, we would stop importing rice. That was a promise that was made in 2019, so the thing is that the government has not clearly laid out a plan as to how the country will realise that outcome by this year.

    If you are going to promise something, then you have to deliver on it. You have to deliver on the ambitions. Then you have to set up a proper game plan and proper indicators and things like this.

    I think that’s the issue, that you have promised something [and] you must deliver. But you must chart out a proper pathway to deliver that.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Ukraine’s People Have Endured Three Years of Relentless Death, Destruction, Displacement, Senior Official Tells Security Council ‘It Is High Time for Peace’

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    ‘We Cannot Have the Aggressor Impose a Deal on the Victim,’ Stresses Special Envoy

    “It is high time for peace in Ukraine,” a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as Member States echoed that call and outlined contrasting visions of ending the three-year conflict.

    “For three long years, the people of Ukraine have endured relentless death, destruction and displacement,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, adding that the resolution the Council adopted earlier on 24 February urges a swift end to the conflict.  The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that, since 24 February 2022, at least 12,654 Ukrainian civilians — including 673 children — have been killed and 29,392 — including 1,865 children — have been injured.

    The war has created the largest displacement crisis in Europe since the Second World War, she observed, adding that over 10 million Ukrainians remain uprooted — 3.6 million displaced within Ukraine and 6.9 million seeking refuge abroad.  Furthermore, the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure impacts millions. For three consecutive winters, repeated strikes on the energy grid have left communities without power, heating or other essential services.  At least 790 attacks have damaged or destroyed medical facilities, putting the lives of countless patients at risk.  In 2024 alone, attacks on medical facilities tripled compared to 2023.  The education system has also been decimated, preventing 600,000 children from attending in-person classes.

    Over the past three years, the conflict has expanded into parts of the Russian Federation, she said, pointing to reports of increased civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions due to alleged Ukrainian attacks.  The war’s impact is also felt globally, destabilizing economies, disrupting food security and threatening international peace.  The further internationalization of the conflict is deeply alarming, particularly with the reported deployment of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea into the conflict zone.  Moreover, she cautioned that the risk of a nuclear incident remains “unacceptably high”.

    Detailing the systematic and widespread use of torture — including sexual violence — by Russian Federation authorities against Ukrainian prisoners of war, as documented by OHCHR, she said 95 per cent of them and three quarters of Ukrainian civilian detainees interviewed have suffered torture or ill-treatment in captivity. Additionally, at least 71 Ukrainian prisoners were executed since February 2022, with an alarming spike in executions since August 2024.  Meanwhile, about half of the 469 Russian Federation’s prisoners of war interviewed by OHCHR described torture and ill-treatment, and 26 of those interviewed reported having been subjected to sexual violence.  The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has also verified the execution of 26 Russian Federation prisoners of war.  “These crimes must not go unpunished,” she asserted, underscoring that “accountability is not optional — it is an obligation under international law”.

    “We recognize it will be challenging to get an agreement, but the time for Moscow to make difficult choices and end fighting is now,” stated the representative of the United States, underscoring her country’s commitment to ending the war.  Washington, D.C., has been in close contact with Ukrainian counterparts throughout the conflict and will continue to do so.  It has also opened a direct dialogue with the Russian Federation in the past week. Following discussions in Riyadh, the United States and the Russian Federation have committed to negotiating towards an end of the conflict, which is enduring and acceptable to all engaged parties.  She called on all Member States to push for a durable peace “to bring stability to Europe and deter further aggression”.

    The Russian Federation’s delegate noted significant dissonance in European support for Ukraine, with ministers reading out “cookie-cutter statements”.  Calling the meeting an “open attempt to thwart the positive progress that has been made which will soon help result” in a lasting settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, he emphasized that the “Kyiv regime and its European sponsors are interested not in peace, but in pursuing war until the last Ukrainian”.  Welcoming the new positive policy of the Administration of United States President Donald J. Trump, he pointed to emerging details about what “took place and continues to take place under the [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy regime” despite Moscow’s persistent efforts to prevent this.

    Condemning Ukraine’s “anti-Russian project”, financed from the beginning by the West, he noted that, from 2021 to 2024, the United States Agency for International Development spent $30.6 billion in Ukraine, without which Ukrainian gross domestic product (GDP) “independently did not exist”.  He stated that up to 90 per cent of Ukrainian media outlets were financed by the Agency, with payments for public opinion leaders to appear on social networks, compelling “everybody to believe in the universal popularity of the erstwhile comic”, which “turned out to be a lie”, but was shaping Ukraine’s political landscape.  He noted that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, upon election, immediately abandoned his promises regarding the East and for the defence of the Russian language.

    Meanwhile, Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said the Council resolution just adopted “lacks the qualification” of the war as an aggression of one Member State against another.  Despite the disparity in military strength — with over 600,000 Russian Federation troops deployed on Ukraine’s territory today — Ukraine’s defence forces continue to stand firm.

    “We gave up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in the hope of making the world a safer place,” she said, citing the Budapest Memorandum as “a deal without viable security guarantees”.  Meanwhile, Moscow has significantly expanded Soviet-era stockpiles, and today, it is capable of striking Ukrainian front-line positions and residential areas, with thousands of guided aerial bombs every month.  In 2024 alone, its aviation launched 40,000 such bombs.  Moreover, the Russian Federation engaged Tehran and Pyongyang in its war of aggression.

    Nonetheless, she said the Russian Federation has failed to break Ukraine on the battlefield.  “There is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and there is nothing about Europe without Europe,” she asserted.  And while Ukraine wants peace “more than anyone”, that doesn’t mean just any peace, she emphasized, calling for clear security guarantees.  She added that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union are indispensable elements of regional security, and “Ukraine is eager to be part of them”.

    Many speakers highlighted the devastating and long-lasting consequences of Moscow’s aggression on food security, the environment and nuclear security, calling for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace — not an agreement imposed under duress on the victim.

    “We cannot have the aggressor impose a deal on the victim, an aggressor who continues to intensify its attacks on civilian population and infrastructure,” underscored Erica Schouten, the representative of the Netherlands and Special Envoy for Ukraine.  She called for “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” and for Europe — whose security is directly impacted — to be involved, too.  This war must end, not just for the sake of Ukraine and Europe but for the sake of the world, she stressed.

    In the same vein, France’s delegate stressed that Europe — whose security is at stake — must participate in any negotiations and affirmed that any resolution to the conflict without Ukraine will be a dead letter and “lay the groundwork for future wars”.  He recalled that the Russian Federation alone decided on 24 February 2022 to bring war back to European soil — carrying out deliberate strikes against the Ukrainian civilian population and energy infrastructure, using sexual violence as a weapon of war and forcing deportations of Ukrainian children.

    A war Russian Federation President Vladimir V. Putin said would take three days is now three years on, concurred his counterpart from the United Kingdom.  Ukraine is more than ready for the war to end, but its voice must be at the heart of any talks towards a peace that “shows aggression does not pay, and ends forever Putin’s imperialist ambitions”, she stressed.  By contrast, President Putin “only wants capitulation”.  The strength and courage shown by Ukraine must be underpinned by robust security agreements from the outset, she stated, adding that President Putin has repeatedly demonstrated that he will break a weak deal and has long denied Ukraine’s right to exist as a free State.

    Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, affirmed that his Government’s stance on Ukraine “has been crystal clear from the very beginning of the war, which now enters its fourth year”. All Member States must work towards an end to the suffering and destruction in Ukraine; however, it is incumbent to explicitly refer to international law and the Charter of the United Nations in the resolution.  He stated it was not easy to understand why amendments proposed by European Council members were not upheld — including that the Council would employ a swift end to the conflict, urging a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

    Radosław Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, also speaking for the High Representative of the European Union, urged Moscow to “stop the killing and leave territories it illegally occupies”. Calling on Member States to never forget the crimes committed by Russian Federation troops in Bucha, Mariupol and many other places across Ukraine, he also acknowledged the far-reaching repercussions beyond Ukraine.

    “We will never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk or any other region of Ukraine,” echoed Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, also speaking for Estonia and Lithuania.  Underlining that borders must not be altered by force, she recalled that, three years ago, the International Court of Justice ordered the Russian Federation to stop its military activities in Ukraine.  “Three years on, Ukraine has stopped a nuclear-armed State of 140 million from realizing its imperialist goals,” she added.

    Pasi Rajala, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Finland, also speaking for Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, demanded the immediate return of thousands of children who have been unlawfully deported or transferred by the Russian Federation, which violates the laws of war at every turn.  Hailing the General Assembly’s decision earlier today to support just and fair peace in Ukraine, he affirmed that Ukrainians want peace and love freedom, and the Council must advance these goals.  Any solution for lasting peace will necessitate a strong European involvement as Member States have “a collective interest to prevent a resurgence of violence and destruction”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Warrant to arrest – Michael McRae

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are seeking Michael Kane McRae, 44, who has a warrant for his arrest.

    We believe Mr McRae will be able to assist with our investigation into several arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.

    We also wish to reiterate our appeal issued yesterday for information about a green Ford Festiva, which was seen leaving one of those fires.

    Anyone with information about Michael McRae or sightings of this vehicle is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250222/1673.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Clinical psychology interns boost mental health workforce

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says a record number of health-funded clinical psychology interns show that the Government’s laser focus on improving the mental health workforce pipeline is working. 
    “In the first year of growing mental health and addiction capacity under New Zealand’s first dedicated Mental Health Workforce Plan, I am pleased to announce that we’ve increased the number of clinical psychology students receiving Health New Zealand-funded internships to 59, up from 41 in 2023 before the Government’s work commenced,” Mr Doocey says. 
    “While this represents 55 full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical psychology internships as some interns are part-time, we will continue to be ambitious in growing the mental health and addiction workforce. We have committed to growing the number of funded internships to 70 in 2026 and 80 in 2027.”
    Mr Doocey says the Government is committed to doubling the number of funded clinical psychologist internships, from 40 in 2023 to 80 in 2027.
    “Each year hundreds of university students graduate with Psychology degrees. But because there is such a constrained pathway to working clinically, we are missing out on an opportunity to better meet the needs of one of our biggest skills shortages in the mental health workforce.”
    Mr Doocey met with some of the interns today who are also benefiting from the recently piloted clinical psychology hub in Waikato. The hubs coordinate with a number of different services to help the interns experience different environments in which clinical psychologists work.
    “We are doing what’s needed to ensure that psychology students have placements to further their studies and careers, and to ensure that Kiwis can get the right help and support they need, when they need it.
    “We are also developing an associate psychologist role, so that from the start of next year there are more pathways for psychology students to utilise their skills.
    “New Zealanders deserve timely access to mental health and addiction support and I’m pleased that our initiatives are already helping people, so that they can thrive and be supported to have the quality of life that they deserve.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Multi-million-dollar exotic caulerpa control tool projects underway

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Big strides are being taken in the development of new technology to control the invasive exotic caulerpa seaweed, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.“A $10 million funding injection last year helped drive improvements to technology and getting new tools in the water. Today I’m happy to detail three exciting projects that have been funded.“These new projects focus on methods that showed progress in an earlier phase of work.”Northland Regional Council has been awarded the largest contract, with $6.2 million to progress its large-scale mechanical suction dredging technique.“We know from the first phase of the accelerated programme that this method can remove exotic caulerpa from sandy areas of the seafloor, and now we’re looking to increase its effectiveness. “The project team is developing a new tool called a ‘submersible dredge planer’ which will operate remotely on the seafloor, rather than from a barge, and will remove caulerpa in a single pass. “The new system will include a dredge head, pumping arrangement, GPS positioning system, dredge spoil processing plant, and disposal system.” The second project, receiving $2 million in funding, is to develop an ultra-violet light (UV-C) irradiation tool to kill the pest seaweed.“This contract has been awarded to Advanced Aquarium Tech who aim to create a cost-effective option to treat exotic invasive caulerpa without needing to deploy SCUBA divers. “It will require minimal labour, operate off a small vessel, and be able to be used at any depth of water from intertidal zones to 40m depth.” The third project, with $1.9 million funding, is a special underwater treatment ‘chamber’ with a frame which covers the area of caulerpa being treated and has curtains to contain chlorine within the specific treatment area. “This chlorine treatment chamber, being developed by Commercial Dive Specialists, will be able to hover over the seabed and pass over rocks and other obstacles without getting stuck.” Exotic caulerpa has been found in nine different locations in the upper North Island over the past three years, and since its initial discovery at Aotea Great Barrier Island, a significant work programme has been underway to understand and contain it, while investigating potential management tools. “No other country has come up with a feasible solution to this pest, but we’re determined to explore every option for future control – particularly methods to remove small, localised infestations or help suppress large areas.”  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Charter School Agency announces new application round

    Source: Charter School Agency

    Applications for the next tranche of charter schools open today (26.2), just weeks after the first seven charter schools were established, Charter School Agency Chief Executive Jane Lee announced today.

    “There are two different routes for opening charter schools. Some are new schools addressing specific needs that aren’t being met in our education network. Others are existing state schools that want to operate in a more flexible way,” Ms Lee says.

    “State or state integrated schools interested in converting to charter schools are invited to express their interest ahead of receiving information on what the change will mean for their school. They’ll receive support to help them meet all statutory requirements, including consultation with their school communities, staff and students.”

    State schools that want to convert to charter schools in 2026, have a 11 April deadline to complete their EOI documents. New application dates will be released each term for schools who want to apply to convert to state schools at a later date.

    New school applicants must complete the EOI forms by 24 March 2025.

    “Competition for opening new charter schools is very strong,” Ms Lee says. “We have already seen the opening of seven diverse schools delivering to a range of communities. Our aim is to build a lasting network of schools that will support and improve the state school system.”

    Ms Lee says to expand this network, the Authorisation Board – which approves new charter school sponsors – will consider factors such as community needs, school size, location, and type. It will also welcome applications from charter schools offering distance or online education.

    Information about the application process is on our website: https://www.charterschools.govt.nz/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – $6.2M Northland exotic Caulerpa funding welcomed

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    News the Northland Regional Council will receive more than $6M in government funding for groundbreaking work to tackle invasive exotic Caulerpa seaweed is being welcomed even as news comes it has spread to nearby Urupukapuka, Motukiekie and Moturua Islands.
    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announced yesterday (subs: Tues 25 Feb) the council had been awarded $6.2 million to progress its large-scale mechanical suction dredging technique centred on Omakiwi Cove, Te Rāwhiti in the Bay of Islands, about 3km from Urupukapuka.
    The funding news comes as authorities reveal exotic Caulerpa has been found recently at Paradise Bay, on the western side of Urupukapuka, at Army/Waiwhapuku Bay (off Moturua Island) as well as at the southern end of Motukiekie Island (west of Urupukapuka.)
    Council chair Geoff Crawford says the exotic Caulerpa was discovered after a member of the public reported what they thought was the seaweed on an anchor at Paradise Bay earlier this month.
    Since then, the council had been diving around the island and working hard with Biosecurity New Zealand to try to determine the extent of the seaweed’s spread and ensure the most effective response. (Previous dives of the area – as recently as April last year – had not revealed any exotic Caulerpa.)
    Chair Crawford says it is still not clear how the exotic Caulerpa had spread there, but likely possibilities included hitching a ride with an unsuspecting yachtie or boatie, or natural dispersal from another site.
    “While this latest development is very concerning, our focus is on ensuring we continue to develop the tools that can fight exotic Caulerpa – without these we haven’t any effective response.”
    He says ongoing government investment in new technologies is critical and with that in mind the council is grateful to Government for the funding announced yesterday.
    “It gives us a chance to remove exotic Caulerpa at scale and prevent the further spread – and the devastating effects – of it.”
    The Minister’s announcement details projects that are financed by a $10 million funding injection last year aimed at driving improvements to technology and getting new tools in the water.
    Chair Crawford says the funding will enable the council to continue an existing relationship with Ōpua-based marine contractor Johnson Bros, which has been working with the council and local mana whenua partners Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū to remove exotic Caulerpa in Omakiwi Cove.
    The relationship saw Andrew Johnson last year develop a world-first large-scale suction dredge technology system, essentially vacuuming the seaweed from the sea floor, using a digger on a barge sporting a custom-built dredge head. (That technology was used to treat approximately two hectares of exotic Caulerpa – discovered there in May 2023 – over six months last year.)
    The latest funding will allow development of a new tool called a ‘submersible dredge planer’ (SDP) which will operate remotely on the seafloor and aims to remove exotic Caulerpa in a single pass.
    The new system will include a remotely operated SDP, dredge head, pumping arrangement, GPS position system, dredge spoil processing plant, and disposal system.
    Chair Crawford says the advantage of an SDP over the current barge system is it has the ability to move more quickly, accurately and easily across the sea floor under its own power. Additionally, it is less likely to be affected by poor weather conditions.
    “While work on the concept is still in the development phase, it’s expected that the tool will be operationally tested at Omakiwi from September.”
    Chair Crawford says the council appreciated the ongoing and tireless efforts of Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha hapū who had worked closely with authorities since exotic Caulerpa’s original discovery in Northland.
    “Our mana whenua partners have been informed of the latest discovery, and we look forward to continuing these relationships as we collectively work to deal with the latest find.”
    He says it is too soon to say what management approach will be taken as a result of the find at Urupukapuka Island, which is about 7km from Paihia and a popular destination for yachties and other holidaymakers.
    “The council is liaising with Biosecurity New Zealand on the appropriate measures to take.”
    In the meantime, boaties and fishers are urged to be cautious when using the affected areas as they have a key role in avoiding the spread of this pest.
    Chair Crawford says exotic Caulerpa can get snagged on anchors, chains and dive and fishing gear and be accidentally moved to new locations.
    He says there are a few simple actions people can take to avoid this.
    “When out at sea – before leaving a location, check your vessel’s anchor and anchor chain, and any equipment you’ve used in the water for any tangled seaweed.” “If you have an automatic retrieval system, still look out for any attached pieces of seaweed.”
    He says if any type of seaweed is found, it should be removed, bagged or contained securely so it can’t get back into the water and taken ashore for disposal in a rubbish bin.
    “If you can’t securely contain it so it can’t get back into the water – put it back into the water it came from.”
    If someone finds they’ve picked up seaweed when they arrived back at shore, they should remove it and put it in the rubbish.
    Chair Crawford says suspected sightings of exotic Caulerpa – including any washed up on beaches – should be reported to Biosecurity New Zealand.
    “Take a photo, if possible, and note the location then either call them on freephone (0800) 809 966 or complete the online form at: report.mpi.govt.nz “
    He says full information about exotic Caulerpa and the legal controls is at: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/caulerpa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Presumed extinct, this desert rat-kangaroo may still be alive in hiding. New analysis reveals its delicate diet

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rex Mitchell, Postdoctoral Fellow, Flinders University

    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    When it comes to how hard an animal can bite, size always matters.

    There may be no truer a case of this than the desert rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), known as the ngudlukanta to the traditional custodians of its Country of origin, the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people.

    This small, possibly extinct marsupial from the inhospitable Sturt Stony Desert may have had a solid skull built for hard biting. But not enough to bite through the kinds of foods biologists used to think it ate.

    We discovered the lack of chomping power in the skull of this rat-kangaroo while testing new approaches for analysing skull biomechanics.

    Our results, published today in the Journal of Experimental Biology, may help with ongoing searches for the elusive species.

    Declared extinct 30 years ago, there remains hope the critter might still emerge in some parts of its original home range.

    A difficult desert

    The Sturt Stony Desert in the far north-east of South Australia is one of the world’s most inhospitable places. Few animals can make it their home.

    However, one small marsupial species was known to brave the heat, drought, and scarcity of food: the ngudlukanta.

    The desert rat-kangaroo, known as ngudlukanta to the Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people.
    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    The species was previously thought to be long extinct, until mammal researcher Hedley Herbert Finlayson led the rediscovery of the animal in the 1930s.

    But soon after, it vanished again.

    Sadly, the tiny desert dweller was officially declared extinct in 1994. Weighing just under 1kg, it would have been a perfect snack for introduced predators like foxes and cats. It was further pushed towards extinction by competition with rabbits, overstocking with cattle and sheep, and poor fire management.

    Yet, exciting reports of possible sightings of the ngudlukanta still emerge sporadically. Descriptions of its distinctive compact size, combined with its short face and the hopping gait of a kangaroo, have sparked renewed interest in rediscovering this animal.

    In the quest to find this elusive little battler, information about its diet is key. It can help people to keep a closer eye on areas where its favourite foods would be found.

    From a bite to a diet

    To better understand its diet and feeding behaviour, we turned to the animal’s skull.

    The ngudlukanta had a solidly built skull, with a short and wide face. This led researchers to suggest that it could eat harder desert foods like roots, nuts and seeds.

    But in our latest analysis, we showed that these assessments were probably incorrect. Instead, the animal’s diet was more likely restricted to softer materials, rather than the tougher foods eaten by some of its harder-headed relatives like the burrowing bettong.

    The reason for this? It all comes down to its size.

    Previous interpretations of its biting ability had drawn conclusions from comparisons of skull shape between species, but without considering size differences between them.

    Our results form part of a paper that addresses this issue in the methods that researchers use. We used a method called finite element analysis, which helps to predict how a structure – in this case, a skull – would handle the forces it experiences in the real world.

    But what we did differently to other researchers was to keep information about size differences between the skulls in the models.

    What did we find?

    The skull of the ngudlukanta is definitely efficient at biting, but it is also about one quarter smaller than the skull of the next smallest species in our sample, the northern bettong.

    When we included its smaller size in the analysis, the results suggested its relatively short face and robust jaw were unlikely to help it eat harder foods.

    Instead, its solid skull features mostly compensated for its small size, but would only allow it to support bites about as hard as those of the long-nosed potoroo – a larger species with a much less efficient skull at biting.

    Finite element models simulating the stress of each skull during biting with the front teeth. The stress in the desert rat-kangaroo is more similar to the hard food-eating burrowing bettong when not including its small size in the models. But its stress levels are more like the long-nosed potoroo when including its small size.
    Authors

    Early investigations of stomach contents from the 1930s tell us the ngudlukanta fed mostly on leaves and small amounts of insects. But little further detail exists. A more restricted range of softer, fresher plant materials, as suggested by our analysis, would narrow its range of preferred foods in the deserts it lived in.

    Our results therefore paint a picture of a species occupying a delicate position within the desert ecosystem.

    An unsolved mystery in a vast desert

    In recent years, one of us (Karl Vernes) has mounted several expeditions into the ngudlukanta‘s habitat, hoping to find evidence of its continued existence.

    However, finding this tiny marsupial in a vast desert is a challenge – not just because it was probably always rare and elusive, but also because we still know precious little about its ecology.

    Eyewitness accounts, remote camera traps, analysis of predator scat (poo) for mammal remains, genetic testing of scats, and the expert ecological knowledge of Traditional Owners have all been used to investigate the possibility of the survival of the ngudlukanta. No definitive evidence has yet emerged.

    Whether the ngudlukanta is extinct or not, therefore, remains an unsolved mystery.

    But history is replete with examples of rediscovered species believed to be extinct, known as “Lazarus species”. The desert’s vast, inhospitable terrain means it is plausible for a small nocturnal species to be evading detection.

    The distinctive short face of the ngudlukanta, alongside its small size and hopping gait, have led eyewitnesses to argue for its persistence.
    Hedley Herbert Finlayson, The Red Centre, 1935

    In fact, the desert rat-kangaroo was already a Lazarus species after its rediscovery in the 1930s. The story of the ngudlukanta therefore serves as a reminder that extinction declarations are not always the end of the story.

    If the species is still roaming the most inhospitable regions of the continent, the new knowledge gained from our analysis could help pinpoint areas where the ngudlukanta might persist.

    Who knows? The next chapter in the story of this desert-dweller may yet surprise us.

    Rex Mitchell has received funding from the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH).

    Karl Vernes has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Experiment.com, the Hermon Slade Foundation and Parks Australia. He is a member of the Australian Mammal Society.

    Vera Weisbecker receives funding from The Australian Research Council. She is affiliated with The Australian Mammal Society and member of the Australian Greens Party.

    – ref. Presumed extinct, this desert rat-kangaroo may still be alive in hiding. New analysis reveals its delicate diet – https://theconversation.com/presumed-extinct-this-desert-rat-kangaroo-may-still-be-alive-in-hiding-new-analysis-reveals-its-delicate-diet-250283

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information in relation to historical sexual offending

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons, Canterbury Metro Police:

    Police acknowledge the lifting of name suppression for Rowan Maxwell Donoghue, 68-years-old, who is due to appear in Christchurch District Court on 10 March charged with historical sexual offending against young people during the years 1996 – 2000.

    Police encourage any person to come forward that has information about Mr Donoghue that could be relevant to the investigation. Mr Donoghue held a number of positions of responsibility involving young people for many years, including prior to the years in which the alleged offending took place.

    We understand incidents of this kind are traumatic and can be difficult to discuss with anyone, including Police. We wish to offer reassurance that you will be treated with dignity and respect, we have detectives dedicated to this case and we will ensure you have a safe space to report offending in confidence.

    You can make a report at your local Police station or contact Police on 105 online referencing file number: 230122/3143.

    Additionally, we want to ensure that anyone who has suffered and is not in a position to speak with us to know there is help and support available.

    We encourage seeking help through the Rape Crisis Line, 0800 883 300, or the National Sexual Harm Helpline, 0800 044 334.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Trailblazing UniSA programs take out national awards

    Source: University of South Australia

    26 February 2025

    From left: UniSA’s Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd, Professor Lan Snell, Associate Professor Stewart Von Itzstein, Dino Rossi and Ryan McClenaghan at the awards event

    The University of South Australia’s two nominations in the 2024 national Shaping Australia Awards have taken out both of the prizes in their category.

    Professor Tom Raimondo, Dr Jo Zucco and Associate Professor Stewart Von Itzstein won the Future Builder Award, as the team behind Australia’s first higher degree apprenticeship program, UniSA’s Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours).

    Professor Lan Snell, Professor Andrew Beer, Peter Stevens, Stan Astachnowicz, Sam Stengert, Leanne Steele, Ling Ly and Jodie Walsh, the team behind UniSA’s trailblazing Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA), took out the People’s Choice Award in the same category.

    The Future Builder category honours initiatives that go above and beyond to deliver out-of-the-box teaching and industry engagement that bridges critical knowledge gaps. UniSA’s 2024 award wins reflect the University’s strengths in innovation and enterprise, and build on similar success in the inaugural awards last year. 

    The Shaping Australia Awards are an initiative of Universities Australia, which share the valuable contributions universities make to society.

    Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)

    UniSA’s Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) enables students to work full time at leading companies like BAE Systems, while studying. This hands-on experience, combined with academic rigor, ensures they graduate as work-ready, experienced software engineers.

    Created in partnership with industry partners including BAE and the AI Group, the success of the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) has prompted the Department of State Development to issue a call for expressions of interest to establish additional degree apprenticeships in SA.

    Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA)

    UniSA’s Global Executive MBA in Defence and Space (GEMBA) is a unique18-month program delivered across three countries, reflecting the trilateral nature of the AUKUS alliance. The program equips leaders with advanced skills in areas like cyber security, space systems and defence procurement, and combines immersive residentials in Australia, the UK and the US with high-quality online learning.

    Through partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Exeter and leading industry players, GEMBA empowers future leaders to navigate complex global security challenges and drive Australia’s defence and space industries forward.

    Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy congratulated all the winners and finalists.

    “These projects are changing lives, driving economic growth and securing Australia’s future. The overwhelming public response reflects the incredible contributions our universities make to help us all,” Sheehy said.

    The awards were judged by a panel of eminent Australians comprising:

    • Lisa Paul AO PSM, University of Canberra Chancellor and former Secretary of the Department of Education
    • Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd), former Governor-General of Australia
    • Ms Charlene Davison, CEO of the Go Foundation.
    • Ms Michelle Gunn, editor-in-chief of The Australian
    • Mr Nicholas Moore AO, special envoy for Southeast Asia
    • Professor Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS, former Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University and Nobel laureate.
    • Ms Annabelle Williams OAM, Paralympic Gold Medallist, business owner and lawyer  

    A full list of the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards winners is available at shapingaustraliaawards.com.au.

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: On the road again – rebuilding a section of SH1 at Topuni

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Contractors will begin work to rebuild a section of State Highway 1 at Topuni, north of Old North Road, tomorrow (Thursday 27 February).

    Work is expected to be completed by Thursday 17 April. The first five weeks (until approx. Wednesday 2 April) will be day works, between 6.30am and 5.30pm, while the final two weeks will be undertaken at night, between 5.30pm and 6.30am.

    During work hours, the road will be down to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. Outside work hours, the road will reopen to two lanes with a temporary speed limit in place.

    Travel delays during these works are expected to be approximately 5 mins and people are asked to plan ahead.

    Please be patient and treat our crews with kindness and respect. Reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs.

    Rebuilding the road, which often involves replacing all or most of the structural road layers, improves the longevity of the network, the resilience and ultimately the safety and efficiency for all road users.

    This summer maintenance period (September 2024 to May 2025), we’re investing in the largest road rebuild programme ever for the region, with Northland one of three regions across Aotearoa with the most significant road rebuild programmes over the next three years. 

    This work is weather dependent and there may be changes to the planned works in the case of unsuitable weather. Please visit the NZTA Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on these works, including any changes due to weather:

    For more information about the overall maintenance programme and planned works, visit the Northland State Highway Maintenance Programme website:

    You can now sign up to receive email updates on upcoming road maintenance:

    NZTA thanks everyone for their understanding and support while we carry out this essential maintenance to improve the safety and efficiency of Northland’s state highway network.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Helping First Nations women and children leave violent relationships in Broome

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    Joint with:

    The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
    Minister for Social Services 
    Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    Member for Kingston

    Senator Glenn Sterle
    Senator for Western Australia

    The Albanese Labor Government is supporting First Nations women and children living in Broome, Western Australia to leave violent intimate partner relationships.

    Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service has received $7 million in funding to deliver the West Kimberley Leaving Violence Network, significantly expanding the immediate supports available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors.

    This is one of three regional place-based trials commencing from 1 July – complementing the next stage of the $925 million Leaving Violence Program.

    The Government is investing $22.35 million in trials in Broome, Dubbo in NSW and Darwin in the Northern Territory, to provide tailored, trauma-informed support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

    Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service will also provide victim-survivors with an option to access the Leaving Violence Program through their service as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Organisation.

    Under the Leaving Violence Program, eligible victim-survivors receive financial support of up to $5,000, including up to $1,500 in cash and the remainder in goods and services. Supports include safety planning, risk assessment and referrals to other essential services for up to 12 weeks. The program is expected to support over 36,000 victim-survivors a year.

    Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said the regional trials will provide eligible victim-survivors with greater access to practical and financial support to leave family violence.

    “By providing culturally safe, trauma-informed support, we can empower victim-survivors within our Indigenous communities to regain safety, stability, and control over their lives and wellbeing,” Minister Rishworth said.

    “No person in our country should be forced to live in an environment that compromises their safety or their agency, and this expansion of the program will allow hundreds of vulnerable Australians to take that first step into a brighter future.”

    Senator for Western Australia, Glenn Sterle, said the Government understands no two victim-survivors’ experiences are the same, and neither is the support they need.

    “It is imperative that victim-survivors seeking help are given a range of supports so they can get the help they need depending on their individual situations,” Senator Sterle said.

    “If there are any barriers to an individual looking after their own wellbeing and safety, we must do what we can to remove those barriers before things get any worse.”

    Intimate partner violence is a problem of epidemic proportions in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced it in their lifetime.

    The Leaving Violence Program helps support the aims of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32 to end violence in one generation, and forms part of the Albanese Government’s $4 billion investment in women’s safety since 2022.

    It also makes permanent the Escaping Violence Program trial. More than 78,000 victim-survivors have accessed the EVP payment since 2021. Over 70 per cent of those accessing the support were self-referrals meaning without this program they may have fallen through the cracks of the support system.

    More information on the Leaving Violence Program is available on the Department of Social Services website.

    If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732.

    If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit  http://www.ntv.org.au

    Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    MIL OSI News –