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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New round of activities under “Smart Silver” ICT Outreach Programme for Elders to promote digital inclusion (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​To allow the elderly to experience digital life, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) announced today (June 26) that a new round of activities under the “Smart Silver” Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Programme for Elders (the Outreach Programme) will be launched gradually starting early July. Since its launch in 2014, the Outreach Programme has been well received by the elderly, with the number of participation exceeding 150 000. For the new round of the Outreach Programme, it is estimated that no fewer than 45 000 elderly people will participate in the programme, and at least 400 mobile digital service station activities will be held.
     
    Through an open invitation, the DPO has earlier engaged three non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) – The Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Yan Chai Hospital Social Services Department – to implement the new round of the Outreach Programme. Under the programme, ICT outreach activities focusing on using smartphones, tablet computers and other ICT solutions to help improve elderly people’s quality of daily living and connect them to society will be organised for elderly people receiving day care centre services, the hidden elderly, and elderly people in the community. The activities include teaching elderly people to use applications closely related to daily life and helping them improve their muscle strength and eye-hand co-ordination through digital technology products, such as augmented reality games, smart robots and reaction lights. These allow them to experience the benefits brought about by digital technologies.
     
    The three NPOs will also organise mobile digital service station activities across the territory to proactively promote the series of activities under the “Smart Silver” digital inclusion programme for the elderly led by the DPO, introduce common mobile applications of public services to them, answer their questions on the use of smartphones and provide them with anti-fraud information and security tips. Relevant information about service hours and locations of mobile digital service stations has been uploaded to the Elderly IT Learning Portal (www.it2.gov.hk/tc/about/mobile_booth.php) (Chinese only) for reference.
     
    “We are grateful for the support of the NPOs in the previous round of the Outreach Programme and for their contributions to the promotion of digital inclusion. The DPO hopes that members of the public will actively encourage the elderly around them to participate in the digital inclusion activities of the ‘Smart Silver’ programme and join hands with the Government to promote the use of digital technologies by the elderly, so as to build a digitally inclusive and caring society,” a spokesman for the DPO said.
     
    In order to allow members of society to enjoy the benefits of digital technology, the DPO promotes various digital inclusion measures under the “Smart Silver” programme to help those in need (especially the elderly) understand and use digital technology products and services. These measures include outreach programmes, mobile outreach service stations, regular and fixed-point training on digital technologies and technical support, enriched ICT training and a web-based learning portal, enabling them to use digital technologies effectively and safely and fully integrate into the digital society. Members of the public can visit the DPO website (www.digitalpolicy.gov.hk/en/our_work/digital_government/digital_inclusion/) to learn about the details of various activities under the “Smart Silver” Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH announces timetable for establishing CMPR and roadmap towards phased implementation of “primary evaluation”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Department of Health (DH) announced today (June 26) the timetable for establishing the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) and the roadmap for implementing “primary evaluation”. The CMPR will be established by the end of next year (2026), and the DH will implement “primary evaluation” for new drug registration in phases beginning next year, with full implementation by 2030. These developments mark a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s transformation into an international health and medical innovation hub.

    The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to raising regulatory standards for medical products in Hong Kong. With the establishment of the CMPR, we will consolidate regulatory functions for Western and Chinese medicines, as well as medical devices, and enhance the existing regulatory regime in a holistic manner. The vision of the CMPR is to become a “leading, internationally renowned medical products regulatory authority, driving excellence and innovation”, with the goal of gaining international recognition in the field. The CMPR will promote innovation, and research and development (R&D) of drugs and devices by optimising medical products regulation. This will ensure that the public can benefit from the latest scientific research, and that patients will gain earlier access to innovative, safe and effective medical products. It also fosters growth in the local healthcare and biotechnology industries.”(2) continuously enhance professional capacity, strengthen regulatory efficiency, and implement “primary evaluation” in phases; 
    (3) deepen collaboration with local, Mainland and overseas stakeholders and regulatory authorities, strive for international recognition, and foster an innovation-friendly environment; and
    (4) further optimise the regulation of Chinese medicine based on the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint to be published by the Health Bureau in the fourth quarter of this year, leveraging the HKSAR’s role as a national bridgehead for the internationalisation of Chinese medicine. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 1 of 9]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 25, 2025) U.S. Army Capt. Levi Jackson, left, and Spc. Bryson Joens, both assigned to 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, provide pet ownership and care lessons to the students of the Acts Community School during Pacific Partnership 2025 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.25.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 00:03
    Photo ID: 9132588
    VIRIN: 250625-N-ED646-1456
    Resolution: 7996×5331
    Size: 7.43 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 1 of 9]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 25, 2025) U.S. Army Capt. Levi Jackson, left, and Spc. Bryson Joens, both assigned to 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, provide pet ownership and care lessons to the students of the Acts Community School during Pacific Partnership 2025 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.25.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 00:03
    Photo ID: 9132588
    VIRIN: 250625-N-ED646-1456
    Resolution: 7996×5331
    Size: 7.43 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
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    This work, Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 9 of 9], by PO2 Moises Sandoval, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 8 of 9]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 25, 2025) U.S. Army Capt. Levi Jackson, center, assigned to 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, distributes participation prizes to students of the Acts Community School during a pet ownership and care lecture as part of Pacific Partnership 2025 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.25.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 00:03
    Photo ID: 9132595
    VIRIN: 250625-N-ED646-5990
    Resolution: 7427×4967
    Size: 7.86 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 8 of 9]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (June 25, 2025) U.S. Army Capt. Levi Jackson, center, assigned to 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, distributes participation prizes to students of the Acts Community School during a pet ownership and care lecture as part of Pacific Partnership 2025 in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)

    Date Taken: 06.25.2025
    Date Posted: 06.26.2025 00:03
    Photo ID: 9132595
    VIRIN: 250625-N-ED646-5990
    Resolution: 7427×4967
    Size: 7.86 MB
    Location: NUKU’ALOFA, TO
    Web Views: 0
    Downloads: 0

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    This work, Pacific Partnership 2025 Conducts Mission Stop in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, June 25, 2025 [Image 9 of 9], by PO2 Moises Sandoval, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

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  • MIL-Evening Report: The ARIA charts are about to undergo a big change. It could be a boost for local artists

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University

    The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the organisation responsible for collating and publishing Australia’s music charts, has just announced the biggest overhaul of its methods in more than a decade.

    From September, the ARIA charts will be divided according to the release date of entries. Anything older than two years will be moved into a new “ARIA on replay” chart, with the exception of some music re-entering the charts after more than a decade.

    The stated aim of the reforms is to better connect Australian audiences with new, and particularly Australian, music. They are part of a series of interventions from different groups aimed at solving the nation’s ongoing music “crisis”.

    Why is this happening?

    ARIA is responding to two related trends through implementing this new chart system.

    The first is that the charts are increasingly dominated by old “catalogue” music. Creative Australia reports the ARIA’s Top 100 charts went from having almost 100% new singles (less than two years old) in 2018, to 70% new singles in 2024.

    This is related to a fundamental change in what is being counted.

    In 2014, ARIA expanded its sources from point-of-sale data (such as CD sales and iTunes downloads) to include plays on streaming services (such as Spotify and YouTube), which are now the most popular means of music consumption.

    People will typically buy a physical/iTunes single or album once. But they might listen to a song on Spotify hundreds of times, and each of these listens count as far as the ARIA charts are concerned.

    This explains the resurgence of old releases that find new audiences through media (such as Stranger Things boosting Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill), as well as perennial favourites that never seem to be dislodged (Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album has been in the ARIA Top 50 albums chart for more than 400 weeks).

    The second trend is the decline of Australian music in the charts. Research shows the ARIA’s singles and albums charts have become more homogeneous in recent decades, rather than more diversified.

    Artists from North America and the United Kingdom are dominating Australian charts more than ever. Many of them sit in the charts for extended periods, at the expense of homegrown talent.

    How streaming platforms changed the game

    A major challenge for artists on streaming platforms is discoverability, or visibility.

    Decisions made by platform-employed playlist curators and AI algorithms aren’t well understood, and are hard to influence. Yet they make a huge difference to how many people will encounter a piece of music.

    The inclusion of streaming data in the ARIA charts back in 2014 was presented as a way to more accurately assess what people were listening to.

    This new plan to separate old and new releases has a more interventionist agenda, attempting to “remove barriers for new Australian music”.

    It can be seen as a response to the overarching narrative of a “crisis” plaguing the Australian music industry – one which extends to existential challenges for live music, and the careers of musicians and other industry workers.

    The ARIA’s decision to put their finger on the scales of chart success shows how pressing this crisis narrative has become.

    What difference will it make?

    Even if Australian artists are better represented in future ARIA charts, material challenges will remain.

    Actual sales and streams may remain relatively low. Even with millions of streams, the value returned to artists is often too small to maintain a living.

    For most artists, a sustainable music career requires that visibility be translated into other revenue sources, such as live performances, merchandise sales, and media licensing deals.

    That said, ARIA’s aim of increasing discoverability for local acts seems likely to have some pay-off. Acts with their names in the new charts will enjoy extra visibility and prestige. If even a small number of opportunities arise from this, it could make a big difference to them, the local industries surrounding them, and the local audiences that will discover them.

    ARIA’s intervention is part of a patchwork of responses from industry, government, and communities to Australia’s music woes. Another recent response came from a New South Wales government scheme which will reward overseas headliners (through reduced venue fees) for including an Australian opening act in their show.

    State and federal governments are also investing in local music development and export. The surprising exception to this is previous trailblazer Victoria, which recently cut almost all contemporary music funding.

    ARIA’s new approach is emphasising the message that Australian music should be valued. Tracking how this approach plays out – as well as which Australian artists benefit – will help ensure a healthy music ecosystem in the future.

    Catherine Strong has received funding from the Victorian Music Development Office.

    Ben Green receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australasian Performing Right Association.

    – ref. The ARIA charts are about to undergo a big change. It could be a boost for local artists – https://theconversation.com/the-aria-charts-are-about-to-undergo-a-big-change-it-could-be-a-boost-for-local-artists-259788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Magpies may not be a pesky Australian import – new research finds their ancestors thrived in NZ a long time ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanesa De Pietri, Senior Research Fellow in Palaeontology, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/Russ Jenkins

    For many New Zealanders, the Australian magpie is a familiar, if sometimes vexing, sight. Introduced from Australia in the 1860s, magpies are known for their territorial dive-bombing during nesting season, which has cemented their reputation as an unwelcome import.

    But our new research reveals a fascinating twist in this narrative.

    For more than two decades, we have been unearthing fossils from sites near St Bathans in Central Otago. These sites, once at the bottom of a large prehistoric lake, offer the only significant insight into Aotearoa New Zealand’s land vertebrates from about 16 to 19 million years ago.

    This unique window into the past has recently revealed fossils belonging to an ancient relative of the Australian magpie. This discovery suggests magpies have a much deeper connection to Aotearoa than previously thought, challenging common perceptions about their “Aussie immigrant” status.

    Together with fossils of other songbirds from St Bathans, these discoveries reshape our understanding of what it means for a species to be “native”. They paint a picture of a dynamic, ever-changing land, rather than a static pre-human ecosystem.

    An ancient relative

    We named the species we describe in our research the St Bathans currawong (Miostrepera canora). It lived in New Zealand about 19 to 16 million years ago during the Early Miocene.

    This bird, roughly the same size as today’s Australian magpie, was a cracticine – a group of songbirds that includes modern currawongs, magpies and butcherbirds. Its discovery challenges the very notion of what is “native” or “introduced” on a geological timescale.

    We often regard magpies as an undesirable Australian species that lacks a place in the New Zealand ecosystem. However, its close relatives did live here in the past, and likely did so until a cooling climate limited their habitat near the end of the Miocene, about five million years ago.

    The pied currawong is native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. It is one of three currawong species in the genus Strepera and closely related to butcherbirds and Australian magpies.
    D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA

    The presence of this ancient magpie ancestor strongly suggests an over-water dispersal event from Australia to Zealandia early in the evolution of the magpie-currawong group.

    We propose this colonisation was likely helped by a diverse subtropical or warm-temperate flora then present in New Zealand. This vegetation created a hospitable environment for species arriving from across the Tasman.

    Currawongs eat a wide variety of fruits, insects and small animals. New Zealand’s Miocene flora included many fruit-bearing trees, of which puriri and taraire are two survivors, and offered abundant food.

    New Zealand’s ever-shifting ecosystems

    Our research at the St Bathans fossil sites reveals a past far from a static, unchanging paradise prior to human arrival.

    We know from numerous pollen studies that New Zealand’s forests were changing continuously for millions of years. This continual reworking of the composition and distribution of forests challenges the common conservation aim to return New Zealand to a pre-human ecological state.

    Indeed, during the Miocene, New Zealand’s forests would have been unrecognisable to modern eyes. They boasted numerous eucalypts, laurels and casuarinas – plants more typical of Australian forests in Queensland today. This rich floral diversity supported a broader range of fauna, including the newly described currawong, illustrating how different ancient Aotearoa was.

    Authors Vanesa De Pietri and Trevor Worthy excavating fossils at the St Bathans site in Central Otago.
    Paul Scofield, CC BY-SA

    A symphony of ancient songbirds

    Further research by our team on other fossil songbirds (of the bird order passeriformes) from St Bathans paints an even richer picture of ancient avian life.

    Our analysis of the diversity of tiny leg bones indicates the Early Miocene New Zealand bush had significantly more kinds of songbirds than it did just before human arrival.

    Our studies demonstrate the presence of potentially up to 17 different songbirds in the Early Miocene fauna. This ancient choir included species varying in size from a large honeyeater (of the bird family Meliphagidae), which was bigger than today’s tūī, to a tiny New Zealand wren. Several different families are also represented.

    These findings suggest Zealandia had a far greater diversity of songbirds during the Early Miocene than in the Holocene (past 11,000 years).

    The legacy of Miocene climate cooling

    Why did these diverse ancient songbirds, including the St Bathans currawong, disappear?

    Research points to a dramatic global climate shift. Starting around 13 million years ago, during the later part of the Middle Miocene, New Zealand experienced a period of rapid cooling. This profound climatic change triggered a drastic loss in floral diversity throughout the Middle and Late Miocene.

    Many plants that thrived in warmer climates went extinct. This loss of plant life had devastating cascading effects on birds. The disappearance of numerous fruiting trees meant the decline and eventual local extinction of birds such as currawongs and certain pigeons that relied on these food sources.

    Lower habitat complexity and fewer kinds of food led to a significant decrease in the number of songbird species.

    The story of the St Bathans currawong and the rich songbird diversity of ancient New Zealand serves as a powerful reminder that ecosystems are not static. They are constantly evolving, shaped by climatic shifts, geological events and dispersal across the ocean.

    Understanding this deep history allows us to view concepts such as “native” and “introduced” with more nuance. We then appreciate that the biodiversity we have today is but one snapshot in a long, dynamic and ever-unfolding story.

    Change is to be expected and ongoing, as seen in the newest of New Zealand’s native birds – the barn owl and Australian wood duck – which self-introduced in the past decade.

    Vanesa De Pietri receives funding from the the Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund.

    Paul Scofield receives funding from the Royal Society of New Zealand.

    Trevor H. Worthy received funding from the ARC for this project several years ago.

    – ref. Magpies may not be a pesky Australian import – new research finds their ancestors thrived in NZ a long time ago – https://theconversation.com/magpies-may-not-be-a-pesky-australian-import-new-research-finds-their-ancestors-thrived-in-nz-a-long-time-ago-258795

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • India’s Defence Minister rejects coexistence of terror and peace at SCO Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for united and decisive action against terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the possession of non-state actors and terrorist groups during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in China’s Qingdao.

    He underlined that peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terror and highlighted radicalisation, extremism and a growing trust deficit as the foremost challenges facing the region.

    “I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism,” Singh said.

    “Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups,” he said, stressing that only a collective and resolute stand can ensure safety and security for all.

    The Defence Minister said that it is “imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences.” The Defence Minister warned that nations using cross-border terrorism as a tool of state policy must face consequences.

    “Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,” he asserted.

    Reiterating India’s zero tolerance towards terrorism, Singh said, “India’s zero tolerance for terrorism is manifest today through its actions. This includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe, and we will not hesitate to target them.”

    Highlighting the need for global action to prevent the radicalisation of youth, Singh said the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has played a key role in coordinating counter-radicalisation efforts.

    He added that the joint statement issued during India’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State on ‘Countering Radicalisation leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism’ reflects the organisation’s shared commitment.

    Singh urged member states to act against the use of modern technology by terrorists, particularly the use of drones for smuggling weapons and narcotics.

    “In our interconnected world, traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats. Instead, we face an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare,” he said.

    “These threats do not respect national boundaries, and they demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration.”

    Recalling the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed by ‘The Resistance Front’, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based UN-designated terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Rajnath Singh said the pattern of the attack mirrored previous strikes by LeT in India.

    “In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross-border terrorist attacks, India on May 7, 2025, successfully launched Op Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure,” he said.

    Singh called for accountability for those behind terrorist acts.

    “We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally,” he said.

    The Defence Minister underscored the importance of multilateralism, emphasising India’s belief in dialogue and cooperation to prevent conflicts.

    “India believes that reformed multilateralism can help build cooperation to prevent conflict between countries by creating mechanisms for dialogue and collaboration. No country, however large and powerful, can manage alone,” he said, invoking the ancient Indian ethos of ‘Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May all people be happy).

    He reiterated India’s consistent support for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

    “Our immediate priorities in Afghanistan include providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and contributing to Afghanistan’s overall developmental needs. As Afghanistan’s largest regional development partner, India continues to implement capacity-building initiatives for the Afghan people,” Singh said.

    He concluded with a call for greater cooperation among SCO members, stating that India supports “greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. We should collectively aspire to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of our people as well as tackle today’s challenges. We must all be in lockstep in our endeavour to strengthen stability and security in our neighbourhood.” (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Second policy statement on development of digital assets issued to scale Hong Kong to new heights of global digital asset leadership

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Second policy statement on development of digital assets issued to scale Hong Kong to new heights of global digital asset leadership 
         The Policy Statement 2.0 sets out a vision for a trusted and innovative DA ecosystem that prioritises risk management and investor protection, while delivering concrete benefits to the real economy and financial markets. The latest statement introduces the “LEAP” framework, which focuses on:
    The full policy statement can be seen at the Annex.
     
         The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “Digital assets hold great development potential with significance to fintech. Through the adoption of blockchain technology, more efficient financial transactions at a lower cost can be realised to bring in more inclusive financial services. The Policy Statement 2.0 sets out our vision for DA development and showcases the practical use of tokenisation through application, with a view to boosting the diversification of use cases. We strive to build a more flourishing DA ecosystem which will integrate the real economy with social life through a prudent regulatory regime and encouragement to market innovation, such that it will bring benefits to both the economy and society while consolidating Hong Kong’s leading position as an international financial centre.”
     
         The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, “Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to bridge traditional finance with the DA era. The framework set out in the Policy Statement 2.0 helps us “LEAP” towards a trusted, sustainable and deeply integrated DA ecosystem embedded within the real economy. It also keeps Hong Kong at the forefront of digital transformation, offering a clear roadmap for businesses and investors to thrive in a secure and vibrant DA market.”
     
         The FSTB and the SFC will be conducting public consultations on the licensing regimes for DA dealing service providers and DA custodian service providers shortly.
    Issued at HKT 11:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on June 25, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,07,638.82 5.16 0.01-6.55
         I. Call Money 16,775.52 5.29 4.75-5.35
         II. Triparty Repo 4,09,038.35 5.25 5.20-5.28
         III. Market Repo 1,80,038.55 4.94 0.01-5.40
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,786.40 5.49 5.40-6.55
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 41.23 5.12 4.90-5.25
         II. Term Money@@ 381.00 – 5.70-6.20
         III. Triparty Repo 1,758.05 5.47 5.24-5.58
         IV. Market Repo 0.00 – –
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 25/06/2025 1 Thu, 26/06/2025 1,309.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 25/06/2025 1 Thu, 26/06/2025 2,55,293.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,53,984.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       6,433.53  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     6,433.53  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -2,47,550.47  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on June 25, 2025 9,35,907.86  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending June 27, 2025 9,54,173.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ June 25, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 30, 2025 5,84,684.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/592

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Gunmen attack Mexican Street Festival, leaving 12 dead

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least 12 people were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in a brutal overnight attack in the Mexican city of Irapuato, located in the state of Guanajuato, after gunmen opened fire during a festive street celebration honouring St. John the Baptist, local authorities have confirmed.

    The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday (local time) as residents gathered to dance and drink in a community housing complex. A video circulating on social media captured moments of joy– a live band playing, people dancing before panic erupted as gunshots rang out, sending the crowd fleeing in terror.

    Rodolfo Gomez Cervantes, a local official from Irapuato, addressed a press conference on Wednesday, confirming that the death toll had risen to 12 and that about 20 others were receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the attack.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the violence and called for swift justice. “It is very unfortunate what happened. An investigation is underway,” she said in a statement, as federal and state security forces scrambled to piece together what transpired and identify those responsible.

    Guanajuato, a state situated northwest of Mexico City, has become one of Mexico’s most violent regions in recent years. Criminal groups have been waging deadly turf wars for control over drug routes, extortion networks, and other illicit enterprises.

    The state recorded 1,435 homicides in the first five months of 2025 — more than double the number seen in any other Mexican state, according to local media reports.

    This latest massacre comes just a day after five people were killed in separate violent incidents across Guanajuato, according to the state attorney general’s office. It also follows a similar attack last month, when gunmen stormed a Catholic Church event in the town of San Bartolo de Berrios, killing seven attendees.

    Authorities have yet to name suspects or confirm which criminal organisation may be behind the recent violence in Irapuato. Investigations are underway. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Land site allocated for development of new campus of self-financing post-secondary institution

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Education Bureau (EDB) today (June 26) announced the allocation result of the latest round of the Land Grant Scheme. The land site at Man Lai Road, Tai Wai, will be allocated to Saint Francis University (SFU) for the development of a purpose-built campus for the operation of full-time locally accredited self-financing post-secondary programmes.

         On the recommendation of the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education (CSPE), the Secretary for Education has decided that SFU should be earmarked as the prospective operator for the land site to be granted at a nominal premium.

         An EDB spokesman said, “It has long been the Government’s policy to support the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly funded post-secondary education sectors. In pursuance of the announcement in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, we envisage that the allocation of the site will be conducive to supporting the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of the self-financing sector, thereby enabling the sector to play a more proactive role in Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub.”

         The Government invited applications from eligible institutions for the Scheme from December 2024 to March 2025 and received three applications. The CSPE is responsible for giving advice to the Secretary for Education on the comparative merits of the applications received under the Scheme, having regard to the applicants’ education development and site development proposals following a fair and competitive process.

    Details of the Scheme and previously approved applications are available on the website of the Concourse for Self-financing Post-secondary Education (www.cspe.edu.hk/en/Overview-Measures.html).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers win on not-for-profit tax change

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is welcoming confirmation that controversial tax proposals impacting the not-for-profit sector won’t proceed without political oversight and legislative change.
    “This is a significant win for Federated Farmers, which earlier this week called on the Revenue Minister to act quickly on these proposals,” national board member Richard McIntyre says.
    “We’ve strongly opposed the change – calling it a fundamental shift in tax policy disguised as legal interpretation – and urged Simon Watts to rule it out.
    “It’s a huge concern for the thousands of not-for-profits across New Zealand who rely on membership subscriptions to fund their work.”
    An Inland Revenue draft interpretation of tax law would see not-for-profits taxed on their membership income for the first time.
    But Revenue Minister Simon Watts yesterday told Federated Farmers he has taken the issue out of IRD’s hands and into the political realm, stating:
    “I have heard concerns about how this would impact many not-for-profit organisations.
    “When Inland Revenue revises its interpretation of tax law, the Government will consider the impacts and respond with a law change before any new interpretation comes into force.
    “I have asked for advice on how the primary legislation could be amended to ensure there is a fair and practical outcome in this area.”
    This follows weeks of sustained pressure from Federated Farmers.
    “We were among the first to sound the alarm that the draft interpretation would overturn 20 years of settled tax treatment for mutual associations,” McIntyre says.
    The proposal would have seen Federated Farmers – and around 9000 other not-for-profits, including unions, community groups, and political parties – taxed on membership fees.
    “The Minister’s move to consider legislative change before any new interpretation takes effect provides clarity that changes won’t be forced on the sector without public scrutiny,” McIntyre says.
    Federated Farmers also acknowledges the support of other not-for-profits who helped push this issue up the political agenda.
    “This is a textbook example of effective advocacy – early political pressure and commonsense reasoning ensured the Government took control before serious harm was done.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – A wet and windy run up to the school holidays – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th June – Severe weather will affect much of the country in the coming days.

    • Orange Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for parts of Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, the Buller District and Taranaki Maunga ending by Friday evening. 
    • Orange Strong Winds Warnings are in place for the Marlborough sounds and Wellington today (Thursday). 
    • Heavy Rain Watches also cover the Bay of Plenty, Taupō, Taihape, northern Whanganui, Dunedin and North Otago from Friday afternoon. 
    • A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Northland for Friday morning for possible downpours. 
    • A Heavy Snow Watch is in place for Central Otago and Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River overnight from Friday into Saturday.  

    Today (Thursday) severe weather affects northern parts of the South Island.

    • Rainfall rates as high as 25mm/h have been recorded in the Tasman District. The heavy rain is expected to persist into Friday. 
    • Wind gusts more than 120km/h have been recorded in Wellington. 
    • Heavy rain affected the west coast of the South Island earlier this morning, meanwhile Christchurch woke to a balmy 17.4°C due to the foehn effect, which also melted the Alexandra ice rink. 

    MetService Meteorologist Michael Pawley says, “The Nelson and Tasman Region has had significant rain recently, and we’re expecting a lot more to fall by Friday evening.” Before the end of Friday, northern parts of the South Island will likely see more than a month’s worth of rain. Expect the rivers to be running high and surface flooding present.

    On Friday the heavy rain will affect most of the North Island. Before dawn, squally thunderstorms are expected to arrive in Northland. These bring the risk of heavy downpours and strong wind gusts. As the front moves across the island, the risk of thunderstorms spreads to other regions of the North Island and top of the South.  

    Overnight into Saturday the winds will shift southerly, directing heavy rain at Dunedin and Otago with the possibility of heavy snow above 600 meters inland. This could affect alpine roads.

    Michael adds “Sunday looks like the better day to travel if you’re going away for the school holidays because the severe weather is expected to ease. If you’re going skiing, I’d recommend staying cozy and dry while the fresh snow falls.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ SUPER FUND STAKEHOLDER UPDATE

    Source: New Zealand Super Fund

    Portfolio Update – The value of the NZ Super Fund has mirrored the performance of global risk assets over the past couple of months, dropping to $74 billion following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements on 2 April and subsequently recovering to pass $83 billion.

    Periods of volatility are part and parcel of running a growth-focused portfolio, which we continue to believe is the investment strategy best suited to our mandate and to our purpose, Sustainable Investment Delivering Strong Returns to All New Zealanders.

    As a long-term investor, we are able to ride out, and even take advantage of, short-term market volatility. For example, one of our most successful active strategies over the past few years is Strategic Tilting. This strategy is based on our belief that investments tend to return to fair value over time and that, given our long-term investment horizon, we can improve our risk-adjusted returns by reducing our exposure to assets we believe are over-priced assets in favour of holding assets we believe offer value.

    As we have seen during the GFC and at the outset of the Covid pandemic, this strategy can generate losses over the short to medium term: our operational independence and our clearly defined governance model are essential to the success of this strategy.

    Market Conditions

    Financial markets remain closely attuned to developments in U.S. trade policy and ongoing tariff negotiations under the Trump Administration. These policy uncertainties, combined with concerns over the recently released federal budget – which is projected to significantly widen the U.S. fiscal deficit – have heightened investor caution.

    As a result, long-term U.S. Treasury yields have risen, driven in part by increased investor demand for alternative sovereign debt instruments. Notably, Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) have seen a pickup in yields, offering a relatively attractive option for investors seeking safety and yield diversification. This shift in sentiment has also contributed to a modest depreciation of the U.S. dollar against major currencies.

    Global economic activity expanded at a moderate pace in Q1, but recent indicators suggest a softening in momentum across several economies. Inflation remains broadly in line with central bank targets, helped by subdued energy prices. In response to the cooling outlook, central banks in New Zealand, Australia, and the Eurozone have eased monetary policy, while the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates steady.

    Adding to global uncertainty, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven a sharp increase in commodity prices, particularly in oil markets. These developments are likely to be a key source of market volatility in the near term.

    The NZ Super Fund in the Budget

    The amount of money the government is required to contribute to the Super Fund is determined by a formula set out in Section 43 of our Act (the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001).

    It is a complicated-looking calculation, but the most important inputs are the expected nominal GDP and net cost of superannuation over the following 40 years and the size of the Super Fund.

    If nominal GDP or the size of the Super Fund is higher than expected (or if the net cost of superannuation is lower), the Government is required to contribute a lower amount.

    These forecasts are updated by Treasury every six months at the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) and the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU).

    At the last HYEFU, Treasury forecast that the government would be able to make its first withdrawal from the Super Fund in 2031 ($96 million).

    Last month’s updated numbers, published alongside Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s 2025 Budget, forecast that the first withdrawal would come in 2028 ($32 million). 2036 remains the year where withdrawals are forecast to pass $1 billion for the first time.

    Reductions in forecast government contribution have been a trend for the past few years, driven by higher-than-expected returns from the Super Fund and lower-than-previously-expected future net superannuation costs.    

    The Elevate Fund

    The Budget also contained the news that the Government would divert this year’s capital contribution of $61 million to the Elevate Fund, along with a further $39 million from the government’s capital allowance.

    This $100 million commitment provides some welcome certainty for NZGCP, whom the Guardians appointed to manage Elevate in line with the legislation that established the fund in 2019 (the Venture Capital Fund Act), and matches the approach taken by the previous government when it first set up Elevate.

    We look forward to continuing to work with NZGCP to maintain Elevate’s contribution to increasing the venture capital available to New Zealand entities and developing New Zealand’s venture capital markets to function more effectively. 

    Minister of Finance’s Letter of Expectations

    We have now published our response to the Letter of Expectations 2025/26 that we received earlier this year from Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

    Click here to read the Minister’s letter, and here to read our response. 

    Guardians staffer elected to ILPA board

    Del Hart, our Head of External Investments and Partnerships, was recently elected to the Board of the Institutional Limited Partners Association. With 618 institutional members drawn from 50 countries, the ILPA is an important industry advocate and thought leader.

    Private markets are growing and changing rapidly. Del’s perspective will be of great value as we continue to refine our thinking about investing in this asset class.

    Industry recognises Leadership Team member’s career and contribution

    Paula Steed, recently appointed as Guardians GM Technology (and previously GM Strategy and Shared Services), has been inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Association of Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Fellowships are given for outstanding career achievements or contributions to the profession, as decided by CAANZ members.  

    NZ Super Fund Scholarship winner

    Avondale College alumna Chana Malungahu is the latest recipient of the NZ Super Fund AUT Business Scholarship – Pacific. Chana, who enrolled at AUT in the second semester last year, is currently studying business strategy, international business management, and entrepreneurship and innovation, and working towards a Bachelor of Business degree. 

    AUT Business School announced the award of this scholarship via their LinkedIn page.

    Annual Report voted best in Australasia

    For the fourth time in five years the Guardians’ annual report has been named Report of the Year at this year’s ARA awards. Judges described the report as “designed to engage readers and effectively communicate the organisation’s messages … customer centric and easy to understand.”

    Read our Annual Report for FY24 here.

    The Judges’ comments and a full list of award winners can be found on the ARA website.

    In the news

    Guardians Board member (and former Senior Investment Strategist at the NZ Super Fund) Sue Brake and CalPERS Chief Investment Officer (and former Chief Investment Officer at the NZ Super Fund) Stephen Gilmore talk about the Total Portfolio Approach to investing with Thinking Ahead Institute Associate Director Isabella Martin – the latest in Isabella’s Investing for the Future series of podcasts.

    The Guardians is gearing up to combine a multitude of investment data models across the organisation into a central model-of-models, which should lead to better investment decisions and cost savings. Maaike van Tol, our Director of Portfolio Design, recently sat down with the Investment Innovation Institute’s Director of Content, Wouter Klijn, to talk about how a comprehensive data analytics function can lead to more meaningful conversations, better investment decisions, and lower costs. Read Wouter’s report here.   

    Sustainable Investment Analyst Laumanu Mafi recently featured on RadioNZ’s Pacific Waves programme, where she and host Susana Suisuiki discussed some of the difficulties Pacific women face in accessing the retirement benefits they need. An economist by training, Laumanu spent three years on the investment team at Tonga’s Retirement Fund Board before joining the Guardians two years ago. Go to RNZ Pacific to listen to their conversation.

    Congratulations to former Guardians Board member Mark Tume, winner of the Invest New Zealand – Te Tohu Kahukura Māori Leadership in Finance Award at the recent INFINZ awards. A full list of award winners can be found here.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 1-2 SBCT Transfers Authority to 1-4 SBCT

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP CASEY, South Korea – U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, uncased their colors, and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, cased theirs during a Korea Rotational Force transfer of authority ceremony held June 18, on Camp Casey.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 1-2 SBCT Transfers Authority to 1-4 SBCT

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP CASEY, South Korea – U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, uncased their colors, and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, cased theirs during a Korea Rotational Force transfer of authority ceremony held June 18, on Camp Casey.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 9th China-South Asia Expo closed in Kunming

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    KUNMING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The 9th China-South Asia Expo concluded on Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, attracting over 500,000 visitors to the six-day expo.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New flight connects Chinese Guangzhou with Almaty

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) — China Southern Airlines flight CZ3083 with 145 passengers on board took off from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China’s Guangdong Province on Wednesday for Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking the official opening of a direct air route between the two cities by the Chinese carrier.

    The new route will be operated by Boeing 737-8 aircraft in both directions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the Chinese news agency Zhongxinshe reports.

    With the addition of this route to the schedule, China Southern Airlines’ fleet now operates a total of 26 direct round-trip flights per week, connecting Almaty with airports in Guangzhou, Urumqi (the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China), Xi’an (the capital of Shaanxi Province in Northwest China) and Beijing Daxing Airport.

    Let us recall that 2024 was the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China, and 2025 has been declared the Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan. The opening of the new airline will facilitate business and tourism exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, the report notes.

    In addition, as previously reported, China Southern Airlines will also launch a Guangzhou-Tashkent flight on June 30. The carrier’s network of flights on air routes between China and Central Asia continues to expand. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Decisions confirmed on water model and Porirua City budget

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Porirua City Council today officially adopted the Te Puna Kōrero committee recommendations made earlier this month around the city’s budget and rates, and the preferred water services delivery model.
    The Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year was agreed, with an average rates increase of 6.39 per cent, significantly lower than previously budgeted.
    When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year’s rates increases had hit 15 per cent, due to cost pressures.
    Council acknowledged this wasn’t sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent.
    After public consultation on five options to further lower the increase, Council agreed to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council’s building consent hourly rate.
    They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme.
    With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties will be 6.39 per cent. For most properties, this equates to around $6 or $7 extra per week.
    Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said while nobody wanted to see rates go up, she was confident that the Council had done everything possible to keep increases as low as possible.
    “We know the community is struggling, which is we have done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts, that got us to a lower number than planned. We could have done further cuts, but we listened to your feedback and were guided by that.”
    Water Services preferred delivery model
    Council also agreed to the committee recommendation of 5 June to jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
    Mayor Baker said this was another milestone decision for Porirua as we continue to progress towards implementing the Local Water Done Well Policy.
    “Public consultation undertaken in March and April strongly supported a jointly owned water organisation, and this decision today enables Porirua to continue working with our neighbouring Council towards the stand up of the water company in 2026.”
    Council also agreed today to delegate Mayor Baker and Councillor Ross Leggett, as her alternate, (as the Council’s representative on the Advisory Oversight Group) the power to make decisions on two establishment activities.
    This delegation will enable the next phases of work to continue during the new company’s establishment phase. It will remain in place until later in the year when a new shareholders committee will be set up and will take over the governance level decision making. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Updated alcohol policy and keeping animals bylaw for Porirua

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Updated rules on keeping animals and the sale and supply of alcohol in Porirua will be coming into force.
    The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025 and Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) 2025 have been recently officially ratified by Mayor Anita Baker and Porirua City councillors, following on from consultation (December 2024 to this March) and deliberations and hearings in May.
    The updated LAP aims to reduce alcohol-related harm in our city, particularly in some of Porirua’s most vulnerable communities, while balancing growth in the city and the hospitality industry’s needs. After input from the public, health officials, licensing inspectors and police, the policy will manage where and when alcohol can be sold and promotes responsible drinking. New LAP rules include:
    • off-licence premises like bottle stores, grocery stores and supermarkets can only sell alcohol between 9am-9pm
    • no new off-licences are allowed in vulnerable areas without very good reason (Porirua East, Titahi Bay, Elsdon, Takapūwāhia, Kenepuru and the city’s CBD)
    • all licences within 100 metres of a sensitive site, such as schools and drug/alcohol treatment centres, will need to do an impact assessment for a new licence or an application to renew.
    The LAP comes into effect on 18 July, except changes to the off-licence hours, which will take effect on 5 January, 2026.
    The Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2025, meanwhile, has updated rules to help prevent mess, noise and nuisance by domestic animals in Porirua.
    It includes new rules for cats (requiring owners to desex, microchip and register their feline), stock, and poultry, as well as new rules for beekeepers.
    Dogs are already governed by the Dog Control Bylaw.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Disabilities and Poverty – New research shows poverty hitting intellectually disabled New Zealanders the hardest – IHC

    Source: IHC

    A new IHC report reveals that New Zealanders with an intellectual disability are twice as likely to live in hardship or severe hardship compared to the rest of the population.

    IHC Advocate Shara Turner says the report, The Cost of Exclusion: Hardship and People with Intellectual Disability in New Zealand, shows this is a deep, systemic issue.

    “The cost of disability is real and it’s falling entirely on individuals and families who are often excluded from work, transport and even food.

    “It is not acceptable that people with intellectual disabilities can’t afford a healthy diet.

    “It’s also unacceptable that this is not part of national conversations on poverty.

    “We need to include intellectual disability in all poverty tracking and public reporting. We need to adjust income support to reflect the true cost of disability and to build joined-up systems that recognise the long-term, cross-sector disadvantage disabled people experience.”

    The report shows that people with intellectual disability face significantly higher rates of hardship at every stage of life:

    Hardship is twice as likely for people with an intellectual disability under 40 and almost three times as likely for those aged 40-64 compared to others
    Severe hardship rates triple in middle age, even as they decline for the rest of the population
    Nearly 50% of people with intellectual disability cannot pay an unavoidable bill within a month without borrowing (vs. 18% of others)
     They are over four times more likely to go without a meal with meat (or vegetarian protein equivalent) every second day
     They are almost three times more likely to cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables due to cost
    Nearly 30% of children with intellectual disability can’t have fri

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Oil shocks in the 1970s drove rapid changes in transport. It could happen again if Middle East tensions continue

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology

    The Image Bank/Getty

    As the world watches the US–Iran situation with concern, the ripple effect from these events are reaching global oil supply chains – and exposing their fragility.

    If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz as it is considering, it would restrict the global oil trade and trigger energy chaos.

    Petrol in some Australian cities could hit A$2.50 a litre according to some economists. As global instability worsens, other experts warn price spikes are increasingly likely.

    What would happen next? There is a precedent: the oil shocks of the 1970s, when oil prices quadrupled. The shock drove rapid change, from more efficient cars to sudden interest in alternative energy sources. This time, motorists would likely switch to electric vehicles.

    If this crisis continues or if another one flares up, it could mark a turning point in Australia’s long dependence on foreign oil.

    What would an oil shock mean?

    Australia currently imports 80% of its liquid fuels, the highest level on record. If the flow of oil stopped, we would have about 50 days worth in storage before we ran out.

    Our cars, buses, trucks and planes run overwhelmingly on petrol and diesel. Almost three-quarters (74%) of these liquid fuels are used in transport, with road transport accounting for more than half (54%) of all liquid fuels. Australia is highly exposed to global supply shocks.

    The best available option to reduce dependence on oil imports is to electrify transport.

    How does Australia compare on EVs?

    EV uptake in Australia continues to lag behind global leaders. In 2024, EVs accounted for 9.65% of new car sales in Australia, up from 8.45% in 2023.

    In the first quarter of 2025, EVs were 6.3% of new car sales, a decline from 7.4% in the final quarter of 2024.

    Norway remains the global leader, with battery-electric passenger cars making up 88.9% of sales in 2024. The United Kingdom also saw significant growth – EVs hit almost 20% of new car registrations in 2024.

    In China, EVs made up 40.9% of new car sales in 2024. The 12.87 million cars sold represent three-quarters of total EV sales worldwide.

    One reason for Australia’s sluggishness is a lack of reliable public chargers. While charging infrastructure is expanding, large parts of regional Australia still lack reliable access to EV charging.

    Until recently, Australia’s fuel efficiency standards were among the weakest in the OECD. Earlier this year, the government’s new standards came into force. These are expected to boost EV uptake.

    Could global tensions trigger faster action?

    If history is any guide, oil shocks lead to long-term change.

    The 1970s oil shocks triggered waves of energy reform.

    When global oil prices quadrupled in 1973–74, many nations were forced to reconsider where they got their energy. A few years later, the 1979 Iranian Revolution caused another major supply disruption, sending oil prices soaring and pushing much of the world into recession.

    Huge increases in oil prices drove people to look for alternatives during the 1970s oil shocks.
    Everett Collection/Shutterstock

    These shocks drove the formation of the International Energy Agency in 1974, spurred alternative energy investment and led to advances in fuel-efficiency standards.

    Much more recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed the European Union to face up to its reliance on Russian gas and find alternatives by importing gas from different countries and accelerating the clean energy shift.

    Clearly, energy shocks can be catalysts for long-term structural change in how we produce and consume energy.

    The new crisis could do the same, but only if policy catches up.

    If fuel prices shot up and stayed there, consumer behaviour would begin to shift. People would drive less and seek alternate forms of transport. Over time, more would look for better ways to get around.

    But without stronger support such as incentives, infrastructure and fuel security planning, shifting consumer preferences could be too slow to matter.

    A clean-energy future is more secure

    Cutting oil dependency through electrification isn’t just good for the climate. It’s also a hedge against future price shocks and supply disruptions.

    Transport is now Australia’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Now that emissions are falling in the electricity sector, transport will be the highest emitting sector emissions source as soon as 2030.

    Building a cleaner transport system also means building a more resilient one. Charging EVs on locally produced renewable power cuts our exposure to global oil markets. So do biofuels, better public transport and smarter urban planning.

    Improving domestic energy resilience isn’t just about climate targets. It’s about economic stability and national security. Clean local energy sources reduce vulnerability to events beyond our control.

    What can we learn from China?

    China offers a compelling case study. The nation of 1.4 billion faces real oil security challenges. In response, Beijing has spent the past decade building a domestic clean energy ecosystem to reduce oil dependency and cut emissions.

    This is now bearing fruit. Last year, China’s oil imports had the first sustained fall in nearly two decades. Crude oil imports fell 1.5%, while oil refinery activity also fell due to lower demand.

    China’s rapid uptake of EVs has clear energy security benefits.
    pim pic/Shutterstock

    China’s green energy transition was driven by coordinated policy, industrial investment and public support for clean transport.

    China’s rapid shift to EVs and clean energy shows how long-term planning and targeted investment can pay off on climate and energy security.

    What we do next matters

    The rolling crises of 2025 present Australian policymakers a rare alignment of interests. What’s good for the climate, for consumers and for national security may now be the same thing.

    Real change will require more than sustained high petrol prices. It demands political will, targeted investment and a long-term vision for clean, resilient transport.

    Doing nothing has a real cost – not just in what we pay at the service station, but in how vulnerable we remain to events a long way away.

    Hussein Dia receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre, Transport for New South Wales, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

    – ref. Oil shocks in the 1970s drove rapid changes in transport. It could happen again if Middle East tensions continue – https://theconversation.com/oil-shocks-in-the-1970s-drove-rapid-changes-in-transport-it-could-happen-again-if-middle-east-tensions-continue-259670

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – SMEs resilient in the face of rising costs – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    With around 90 per cent of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) having experienced an increase in costs in the past year, keeping up with utilities, supplier and marketing costs is proving ever more challenging.

    Key findings:

    • New research commissioned by CommBank shows 89 per cent of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have experienced an increase in business costs in the past 12 months.
    • Utility bills, including phone, internet and electricity bills, are by far the greatest contributor to the increased costs (66 per cent), while nearly half (47 per cent) have seen supplier costs soar.
    • These increases are followed by marketing (29 per cent), staff (26 per cent), and accounting software costs (25 per cent).
    • On average, business costs have increased by 10 per cent, however 40 per cent of SMEs who have experienced a rise report increases of more than 10 per cent.

    Justine Dalrymple, owner of Front Room Hair in Sydney’s lower North Shore suburb of Crows Nest, prides herself on not only the high standard of service her salon offers to local customers, but the community she’s been able to build around her business.

    “What I love the most about being a small business owner is the opportunity to bring the community together. We are so blessed that we get to make fri

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Mitigate Foreign Influence on U.S. Policymaking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    Legislation Would Ban Former Government Employees from Lobbying for Countries of Concern

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions (CLEAR) Path Act, which would mitigate foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern:
    “Foreign adversaries with ill intentions should not wield influence on American policymaking, nor should they exploit our own citizens to intercede on their behalf,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This commonsense legislation would root out attempts of malign foreign interference and permanently ban former U.S. government employees from lobbying for countries of concern like Russia and China.”
    “Public trust in our democratic institutions has been eroding,” said Sen. Welch. “It’s vital we set higher standards against potential conflicts of interest for former government employees, particularly when it involves foreign adversaries that might be working to influence U.S. policy.”
    “It isn’t right for senior government officials to turn their public service experience into a payout from malign foreign governments,” said Sen. Risch. “This bill will help prevent corruption at the highest levels of our government, protect our national security, and ensure that our public servants do not abuse their power for the good of America’s adversaries.”
    “America is engaged in a clash of civilizations against kleptocrats, international criminals, and corrupt foreign nations that provide them safe harbor,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “Our adversaries exploit both secret and overt channels of influence to put their thumb on the scale of American policy.  I’m glad to join this bipartisan effort to prevent senior U.S. government officials from selling their expertise, access, and influence to shadowy foreign interests after they leave their jobs.”
    Background:
    With recent attempts by foreign actors to manipulate the U.S. political and governing processes in recent years, the Clear Path Act would seek to mitigate foreign malign influence in our political system by:
    Permanently banning agency heads, deputies, and Senate-confirmed employees from lobbying the executive and legislative branches on behalf of countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba;
    And including a mechanism to add or remove countries of concern via a Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Judiciary Committee joint resolution and with the concurrence of the U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Attorney General.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: No significant issues from gang-related funeral

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Acting Superintendent Lincoln Sycamore, Eastern District Commander:

    Police are pleased to report no significant issues following a gang-related funeral in the Hawke’s Bay yesterday.

    An operation to monitor the behaviour and movements of those involved were carried out across Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.

    One person was arrested on Tuesday evening for displaying gang insignia.

    We would like to thank the members of the public for their patience during this time.

    Police also encourage the public to report any instances of unlawful activity on the roads, so we can take appropriate action where necessary.

    Please contact 111 if it is happening now, or via 105 if it is after the fact.

    Information can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional property markets continue momentum amid national growth

    Source: Premier of Victoria

    Author – Denton Pugh, NAB Executive for Home Lending. Originally published on News.com.au.

    We might be deep into the winter months, but there’s definite signs of warmth returning to Australia’s property market.

    Home values across the country have nudged higher again, rising 0.5% in May and lifting the national index 1.7% over the first five months of the year. And every capital city recorded growth. A sign that confidence in the market is continuing to grow.

    NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh

    We’re seeing this confidence play out in people like Emily Chalk, a 32-year-old first-home buyer who recently bought a home just outside of Rockhampton, in regional Queensland. She’d spent six months looking for a place to call home.

    A conversation with her banker helped her understand how the Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme could help get her into her first home sooner than she thought. Within weeks she’d bought a home in the town she grew up in.

    Stories like Emily’s are becoming increasingly more common.

    It’s not just upgraders or investors sitting on equity returning to the market. Many first-home buyers have been waiting for banks to reduce home lending rates so they can not only borrow more but also have that confidence to take the leap into homeownership.

    New NAB home lending data shows lending to first home buyers is up 16% since February, and up 32% to home buyers more broadly.

    While interest rates are still relatively high, recent rate cuts are helping. With these cuts combined with initiatives like the Home Guarantee Scheme, we’re starting to see more people take that first step into homeownership.

    Of course, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. While monthly growth is returning, the annual pace of property price increases has slowed. Not great news for investors but good news for those trying to break into the market.

    We’re also seeing strong momentum in regional markets; a trend that’s been building since the pandemic years and is not going away.

    In fact, Queensland regional hotspots dominated our list of the five hottest regional markets so far in 2025*. Toowoomba, Burnett, Springfield-Redbank, and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland all ranked high for home loan activity. Geelong in Victoria was the only non-Queensland regional hotspot to break into the top five.

    1. Toowoomba – QLD
    2. Burnett – QLD
    3. Springfield – Redbank – QLD
    4. Geelong – VIC
    5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland – QLD
    6. Mandurah – WA
    7. Loganlea – QLD
    8. Ballarat – VIC
    9. Maryborough – QLD
    10. Mackay – QLD

    It may be the weather, or the lifestyle, but regional markets offer more than just charm and appealing work life balance. They offer affordability and the potential for long-term growth. For buyers like Emily, the appeal of staying close to family, and finding space for a young family was strong.

    “I already know most of my neighbours, I definitely didn’t have that when I was living in Brisbane,” first-home buyer, Emily Chalk.

    This continued momentum is promising, but it also highlights one of the biggest challenges still facing the market – we need more homes.

    Lower rates are helping on the demand side, but affordability and supply remain big hurdles. Addressing those issues will take time, commitment, and smart policy. Particularly when it comes to getting new housing built in the places people want to live.

    The winter months are usually quieter for the housing market, however, with most economists expecting further interest rate cuts this year, winter activity is expected to be a little higher than usual, continuing to build for the busier spring period.

    More information:

    • *NAB proprietary home lending data between January – April 2025 vs the year prior.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Celebrates Passage of Bill to Protect Against Influence of Foreign Adversaries

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Celebrates Passage of Bill to Protect Against Influence of Foreign Adversaries

     

    LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen celebrated passage of LB644, brought on his behalf by Senator Eliot Bostar. During the news conference, the Governor signed ceremonial copies of the bill. He officially signed the legislation into law on June 4.

    LB644 creates two new acts: the Foreign Adversary and Terrorist Agent Registration Act and the Crush Transnational Repression in Nebraska Act. Together, the acts are aimed at knowing who represents foreign adversaries within the state, curbing the information and/or data they may access or distribute, as well as providing protection against tactics that could be utilized by such organizations to cause undue influence or harm. Reporting requirements and penalties for violations are outlined within each Act.

    “Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba and the Maduro regime in Venezuela are all designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Government,” said Gov. Pillen. “They do not have our best interests at heart and as a result, we need to take appropriate steps to make sure that as a state, we are protected.”

    LB644 represents the latest of several executive and legislative actions that Gov. Pillen has authorized since taking office – all aimed at making sure state assets including infrastructure, land, technology and people are protected.

    “In today’s world, the means of getting access, of getting information, and crippling our most critical systems is easier than ever, which is why we are highly focused on addressing these issues,” continued Gov. Pillen.

    Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who serves as the state’s director of homeland security, called attention to several of the executive orders and bills signed by Gov. Pillen over the two previous legislative sessions — including LB683 and LB1301 — both brought Sen. Bostar. Those bills, respectively, address the protection of communications equipment and prohibit companies from adversarial countries bidding on state and local procurement contracts.

    “This year, primarily, the legislation is focused on guarding against foreign adversarial influence operations,” said Bostar. “We have some existing transparency requirements for those who would seek to influence policy in the state of Nebraska, but not enough. It doesn’t prohibit the circumvention of full transparency over interests that would be adversarial to the interests of Nebraskans.”

    Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, pointed to Nebraska’s leadership among other states when it comes to addressing national security issues.

    “Resilience is the key topic for states to address — being ready for potential conflict, being ready to counter political warfare — this is a part of resilience,” noted Lucci.

    State Armor works alongside states to identify solutions to global security issues and was founded following the introduction of LB683 in 2023.

    “One of the first things when our organization was founded was to tell states, ‘do what Nebraska did.’  And we have not stopped conveying that message.”  

    Lucci commended Nebraska lawmakers on taking a bipartisan approach to legislation aimed at protecting the state and signaled it was the approach President Trump and other federal officials want to see.  

    Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard and director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) remarked that in his dual role, homeland security was top of mind.

    “Our adversaries can reach out at us through many different methods, and not just through the traditional, conventional munitions, but by way of cyber-attack, satellite imagery and other vectors that we have to be aware of, such as drones,” said MG Strong. “This bill clearly helps us maintain the level of awareness and readiness that are important elements of our state emergency response plans, particularly as it relates to Nebraska’s homeland defense.

     Also attending today’s news conference and ceremonial bill signing were senators Beau Ballard, Barry DeKay and Brian Hardin.

     Links to executive orders, legislation and letters signed by Gov. Pillen to protect the state against foreign adversaries can be found below.

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-joins-letter-calling-halt-foreign-land-grabs

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/governor-pillen-senators-push-back-against-foreign-adversaries

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-senators-and-dept-ag-present-laws-protect-nebraska-foreign-adversaries-during-news

    https://governor.nebraska.gov/gov-pillen-signs-executive-order-banning-more-ccp-tech

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 26, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 26, 2025.

    ‘Do not eat’: what’s in those little desiccant sachets and how do they work?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kamil Zuber, Senior Industry Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia towfiqu ahamed/Getty Images When you buy a new electronic appliance, shoes, medicines or even some food items, you often find a small paper sachet with the warning: “silica gel, do not eat”. What exactly

    ‘I’m dreading birthing in such a system’: what Indigenous women globally think of birth care and what they’d like to see instead
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nina Sivertsen, Associate Professor, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University Pregnancy and having a baby can be a special time. And families want to feel safe and trust their maternity care. But when we reviewed the evidence, we found many Indigenous families globally face unfair

    Iran accuses US over ‘torpedoed diplomacy’ – passes bill to halt UN nuclear watchdog cooperation
    BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied Bethlehem Kia ora koutou, I’m a Kiwi journo in occupied Bethlehem, here’s a brief summary of today’s events across the Palestinian and Israeli territories from on the ground. At least 79 killed and 391 injured by Israeli forces in Gaza over the last 24 hours, including 33 killed

    Parenthood or podium? It’s time Australian athletes had the support to choose both
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jasmine Titova, PhD Candidate, CQUniversity Australia When tennis legend Serena Williams retired in 2022, she stated: If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Many

    Papua New Guinea police blame overrun system for prison breakouts
    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Police in Papua New Guinea say the country’s overrun courts and prisons are behind mass breakouts from police custody. Chief Superintendent Clement Dala made the comment after 13 detainees escaped on Tuesday in Simbu Province, including eight who were facing murder charges. Dala said an auxiliary policeman who

    Stable public housing in the first year of life boosts children’s wellbeing years down the track – new research
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimie Monk, Research Fellow, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Phil Walter/Getty Images New Zealand’s unaffordable housing market means low-income families face big constraints on their accommodation options. This involves often accepting housing that is insecure, cold, damp or in unsuitable neighbourhoods. But little is known about

    From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to

    Yes, Victoria’s efforts to wean households off gas have been dialled back. But it’s still real progress
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor in Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University MirageC/Getty On the question of gas, Victoria’s government faces pressure from many directions. The Bass Strait wells supplying Australia’s most gas-dependent state are running dry. Gas prices shot up in 2020 and have stayed high.

    From HAL 9000 to ME3AN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to

    Remote cave discovery shows ancient voyagers brought rice across 2,300km of Pacific Ocean
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hsiao-chun Hung, Senior Research Fellow, School of Culture, History & Language, Australian National University Ritidian beach, Guam. Hsiao-chun Hung In a new study published today in Science Advances, my colleagues and I have uncovered the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific Islands – at an ancient

    500,000 Australians live with mental illness but don’t qualify for the NDIS. A damning new report says they need more support
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney stellalevi/Getty Half a million Australians are living with moderate to severe mental illness, but they don’t qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cannot access the support

    ‘I’m not going to give up’: how to help more disadvantaged young people go to uni and TAFE
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucas Walsh, Professor and Director of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, Monash University Oliver Rossi/ Getty Images On Wednesday, Education Minister Jason Clare hailed an increase in the numbers of Australians starting a university degree. In 2024, there was a 3.7% increase in Australian

    New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Baird, Senior Lecturer , University of Tasmania PaeGAG/Shutterstock A new financial year starts on July 1. For Australia’s large companies, that means new rules on climate-related disclosures come into force. These requirements are the culmination of years of planning to ensure companies disclose climate-related risks and

    Whose story is being told — and why? 4 questions museum visitors should ask themselves this school holidays
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato The winter school holidays will mean families across Aotearoa New Zealand will be looking for indoor activities to entertain children. With millions of visitors each year, museums focused on the country’s history will inevitably play host to

    Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends? I am the director

    Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has sent a formal invitation to “all New Caledonia stakeholders” for talks in Paris on the French Pacific territory’s political and economic future to be held on July 2. The confirmation came on Thursday in the form of a letter sent individually

    Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition

    Election flows reveal nearly 90% of Greens preferenced Labor ahead of Coalition
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Minor party preference flows for the federal election have been released, with Labor winning Greens preferences by 88.2–11.8, while the Coalition won One Nation preferences by 74.5–24.5.

    Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kit Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pollination Ecology, University of Southern Queensland Kit Prendergast (@bee.babette_performer) After a devastating bushfire, efforts to help nature recover typically focus on vertebrates and plants. Yet extreme fires can threaten insects, too. After the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, I embarked on world-first research

    Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra It looks, at least for now, as though tensions in the Middle East are easing somewhat. It appears much less likely Iran will try to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows about a fifth of

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –