NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Australian government has launched a new strategy to boost vaccination rates. Will it work?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Kaufman, Research Fellow, Vaccine Uptake Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

    South_agency/Getty Images

    Last week, the Australian government announced a new National Immunisation Strategy for 2025–30. This strategy sets out the government’s priorities for improving vaccine uptake for children, adolescents and adults over the next five years.

    It comes at an important moment. Childhood vaccination coverage has been declining consistently since 2020.

    So what are the key goals of this new strategy, and will it be able to reverse the drop in vaccination rates among Australian children?

    Declining vaccination coverage since the pandemic

    While overall vaccination coverage remains high by global standards – at 92% for one-year-olds – this is down from a high of nearly 95% in 2020. The reasons for the drop include access challenges and concerns among some parents about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

    Many children are missing out on timely vaccines that prevent diseases such as whooping cough and meningitis. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who also have lower vaccination coverage rates at one and two years old, bear a disproportionate burden of these diseases.

    And it’s not just children missing out. Among adolescents, HPV coverage at age 15 has dropped by 5% in girls (down to 81%) and 7% in boys (down to 78%) since 2020.

    Influenza vaccination coverage has declined year on year since 2022 and remains at very low levels. Coverage in 2024 was 62% for people aged 65 and older, and under 30% for the rest of the population.

    Across six key priority areas, the new immunisation strategy seeks to reduce vaccine hesitancy and improve access to vaccinations, particularly in priority groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A few key points stood out to us.

    The National Immunisation Strategy has six key priority areas.
    CC BY

    1. Emphasis on trust and community engagement

    We need to strengthen trust in vaccines and the people and systems that deliver them because low levels of trust are associated with vaccine scepticism and refusal. Even though Australians’ trust in childhood vaccines is generally high, there have been some bumps in recent years.

    The pandemic left some people with lingering questions and misperceptions about vaccines, supercharged by misinformation and increasing political polarisation of vaccination.

    The strategy rightly emphasises the need to engage with communities and build trust in vaccination and the health system.

    However, relationships with communities can’t be stood up at a moment’s notice – they take time and effort to sustain. State and federal governments invested in these relationships with diverse communities during the COVID vaccine rollout, but many of these initiatives have since been dissolved due to lack of sustained funding and commitment.

    Recently, there have been positive indications some governments are reinvesting in these efforts. Hopefully this strategy will encourage more to do the same.

    2. Addressing equity and access

    Too often government leaders and media headlines blame individual laziness or hesitancy for our uptake problems, failing to acknowledge the very real problems with service convenience and access that are also present.

    The strategy makes clear that the government and immunisation service providers should make vaccination accessible and equitable. As a part of this commitment, it highlights the importance of ensuring all health-care professionals who are able to deliver vaccines are being utilised to their full potential.

    Pharmacists are specifically mentioned, but there is no reference to the largest group of immunisation providers: nurses. They should be better recognised and we need reform to enable nurses to vaccinate more independently.

    3. Recognising the importance of data

    When vaccination rates are low, it’s essential to know why. This comes from both talking with communities and collecting robust data.

    We are part of the National Vaccination Insights project, which carries out yearly monitoring using surveys and interviews with the public to better understand the drivers of vaccine uptake.

    The strategy proposes a live dashboard of vaccine uptake data, which would be valuable, but we also encourage the addition of social and behavioural data. The dashboard should also report rates of vaccination in pregnancy. This information is newly available, thanks to the recent addition of a field to record pregnancy status in the Australian Immunisation Register.

    4. Commitment to consider vaccine injury compensation

    Maintaining trust in vaccination means being able to acknowledge when vaccines can very occasionally cause harm. People tend to be more confident in vaccines when you tell them what to expect, what the common minor side effects are, as well as the rare serious ones.

    When those rare serious side effects become a reality for a handful of people, they may have to take time off work, incur medical expenses, and very occasionally, manage long-term complications. So it’s essential these people are financially compensated by government.

    We had such a compensation scheme during the pandemic for COVID vaccines, but this ended in September 2024. We welcome the government’s plan to explore whether establishing a compensation scheme is feasible for all vaccines on the national program.

    A comprehensive no-fault vaccine injury compensation scheme is overdue and, with thoughtful and consultative planning, would make our already robust vaccination system more trustworthy.

    Where to from here?

    The new national immunisation strategy is comprehensive and informed by evidence. But its impact will ultimately come down to its funding and implementation, which are not described in this document. Finalising these key plans and putting them into action must happen soon to arrest declining vaccination coverage and keep people well protected from serious diseases.

    Jessica Kaufman receives funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, Australian government, Victorian government, and UNICEF. She is a member of the Collaboration on Social Science and Immunisation (COSSI).

    Julie Leask receives funding from NHMRC, WHO, US CDC, NSW Ministry of Health. She received funding from Sanofi for travel to an overseas meeting in 2024.

    – ref. The Australian government has launched a new strategy to boost vaccination rates. Will it work? – https://theconversation.com/the-australian-government-has-launched-a-new-strategy-to-boost-vaccination-rates-will-it-work-258808

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Dr. P. K. Mishra reviews relief and rescue operations following Ahmedabad plane crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, visited Ahmedabad on Sunday to oversee ongoing relief and rescue operations following the tragic plane crash near B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar. His visit followed directives issued by PM Modi, emphasising swift action, a thorough investigation, and support for the victims and their families.

    Dr Mishra conducted an on-site review of the crash location, where he was briefed by senior officials from the state government, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Authorities outlined the timeline of the incident and the immediate response measures undertaken.

    During his visit to Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Dr Mishra met injured passengers and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. He instructed officials to ensure that bereaved families are given full assistance in a seamless manner.

    Later, Dr Mishra visited the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, where he reviewed the DNA sampling process. Stressing the need for both accuracy and urgency, he directed forensic teams to expedite the identification of victims while ensuring scientific rigour.

    Chairing a high-level meeting at Circuit House, Ahmedabad, Dr. Mishra reviewed investigation and relief efforts with senior officials from the centre, the state, AAIB, and AAI. The AAIB has launched a detailed probe into the crash.

    Since the aircraft involved was US-manufactured, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting a parallel investigation under international protocols.

    Dr Mishra reaffirmed Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to ensuring a coordinated and compassionate response, with all necessary resources deployed to support victims and their families. He was accompanied by senior PMO officials, including Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Mangesh Ghildiyal, Deputy Secretary, PMO.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “M” Mark status awarded to Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2025 presented by China Life (Overseas)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “M” Mark status awarded to Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2025 presented by China Life (Overseas) 
    The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Hong Kong 2025 presented by China Life (Overseas), scheduled to take place from June 18 to 22 at Kai Tak Arena.
     
    The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (June 16), “The competition has moved to Kai Tak Arena, which is the first international volleyball event held at Kai Tak Sports Park. The VNL Hong Kong features elite teams from around the world. It not only promotes the development of volleyball in Hong Kong but also attracts overseas visitors to come to Hong Kong and stimulates the development of the hospitality, retail, and catering sectors, thereby further solidifying Hong Kong’s status as a centre for major international sports events.”
     
    The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
     
    For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hkIssued at HKT 14:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (“Falcon”).

    Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    16 June 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 30-day initial production (“IP30”) flow rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated length within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP30 result in the Beetaloo to date.

    Points to note:

    • The normalized flow rate of 13.2 MMcf/d over an extrapolated 10,000-foot horizontal section is in-line with the average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts.
    • The exit rate trajectory continues a steady, low-declining curve at 6.7 MMcf/d (normalized at 12.2 MMcf/d per 10,000-feet) with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~910 psi. The steady state decline curve on SS-2H ST1 is consistent with that achieved from the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”).
    • For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.

    Development activity

    • The Shenandoah South drilling campaign is planned to commence in July 2025, targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells and completed with up to 60 stimulation stages from the SS2 well pad. As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
    • Once completed, the five wells on the SS2 pad are planned to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (“SPCF”) to feed into a 40 MMcf/d take-or-pay Gas Sales Agreement (“GSA”) with the Northern Territory Government. Production remains on track to commence in mid-2026, subject to standard regulatory and stakeholder approvals and favourable weather conditions.
    • The Shenandoah South 4H (“SS-4H”) well is planned to be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025, with the remaining wells drilled in the 2025 campaign to be completed during 1H 2026.
    • Completion of the remaining four wells will incorporate lessons from the SS-1H and SS-2H ST1 wells.
    • The five wells are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d volume under a binding take-or-pay agreement with the Northern Territory Government.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “The IP30 flow rate results announced today of 7.2 MMcf/d, are truly stellar and marks another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. Not only did the results exceed Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres but had similar flow rates and pressures to SS-1H and SS-2H ST1, which all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.

    Falcon looks forward to the planned completion and testing of SS-4H by the end of 2025 and also to observing the results from the next three wells of the Shenandoah South drilling program and the additional milestones they will establish.

    As further results become available, we look forward to updating the market further”

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    1Subject to the completion of SS–4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

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

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

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

    Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details

    Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP30 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; details on the planned three well drilling campaign including the plan to commence in July 2025 and to continue into 1H 2026; the plan to tie the wells to the SPCF under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government in mid-2026; the plan that SS-4H will be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025; the five wells drilled are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government;

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

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

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

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

    The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (“Falcon”).

    Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    16 June 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 30-day initial production (“IP30”) flow rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated length within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP30 result in the Beetaloo to date.

    Points to note:

    • The normalized flow rate of 13.2 MMcf/d over an extrapolated 10,000-foot horizontal section is in-line with the average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts.
    • The exit rate trajectory continues a steady, low-declining curve at 6.7 MMcf/d (normalized at 12.2 MMcf/d per 10,000-feet) with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~910 psi. The steady state decline curve on SS-2H ST1 is consistent with that achieved from the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”).
    • For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.

    Development activity

    • The Shenandoah South drilling campaign is planned to commence in July 2025, targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells and completed with up to 60 stimulation stages from the SS2 well pad. As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
    • Once completed, the five wells on the SS2 pad are planned to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (“SPCF”) to feed into a 40 MMcf/d take-or-pay Gas Sales Agreement (“GSA”) with the Northern Territory Government. Production remains on track to commence in mid-2026, subject to standard regulatory and stakeholder approvals and favourable weather conditions.
    • The Shenandoah South 4H (“SS-4H”) well is planned to be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025, with the remaining wells drilled in the 2025 campaign to be completed during 1H 2026.
    • Completion of the remaining four wells will incorporate lessons from the SS-1H and SS-2H ST1 wells.
    • The five wells are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d volume under a binding take-or-pay agreement with the Northern Territory Government.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “The IP30 flow rate results announced today of 7.2 MMcf/d, are truly stellar and marks another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. Not only did the results exceed Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres but had similar flow rates and pressures to SS-1H and SS-2H ST1, which all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.

    Falcon looks forward to the planned completion and testing of SS-4H by the end of 2025 and also to observing the results from the next three wells of the Shenandoah South drilling program and the additional milestones they will establish.

    As further results become available, we look forward to updating the market further”

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

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

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    1Subject to the completion of SS–4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

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

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

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

    Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details

    Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP30 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; details on the planned three well drilling campaign including the plan to commence in July 2025 and to continue into 1H 2026; the plan to tie the wells to the SPCF under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government in mid-2026; the plan that SS-4H will be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025; the five wells drilled are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government;

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

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

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

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

    The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • Indian stock market opens in green, defies geopolitical tensions

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian equity indices opened in the green on Monday despite rising tensions in the Middle East, with early trade showing no signs of panic among investors.

    As of 9:21 a.m., the Sensex was up by 265.05 points or 0.33 per cent at 81,396.52, while the Nifty rose by 93.40 points or 0.38 per cent to reach 24,812.

    Buying interest was observed in both the midcap and smallcap segments. The Nifty Midcap 100 index rose by 65.45 points or 0.11 per cent to 58,292.50, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index gained 17.15 points or 0.09 per cent to reach 18,391.95.

    According to analysts, the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has introduced uncertainty and a risk-off sentiment in global markets.

    “The safe-haven demand is keeping gold firm, but the dollar continues to remain weak. Interestingly, there is no panic in equity markets,” said V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    Markets, he noted, will face severe pressure only if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a sharp spike in crude prices. However, he added that this currently appears to be a low-probability scenario.

    On the sectoral front, IT, financial services, pharma, FMCG, metal, energy, infrastructure, and public sector enterprises (PSEs) emerged as major gainers. On the other hand, auto, PSU banks, metal, and realty stocks witnessed some profit-booking.

    Within the Sensex pack, top gainers included Power Grid, UltraTech Cement, L&T, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Infosys, NTPC, and Tech Mahindra. Among the major losers were Tata Motors, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sun Pharma, M&M, SBI, and Maruti Suzuki.

    Given the current environment of heightened volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, market experts are advising traders to adopt a cautious approach, particularly with leveraged positions.

    “Partial profit-booking during rallies and the use of tight trailing stop-losses is recommended,” said Aakash Shah of Choice Broking.

    Asian markets were trading mixed. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Jakarta were in the green, while Bangkok and Hong Kong were trading in the red. On Friday, US markets closed in negative territory.

    From an institutional standpoint, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers on June 13, offloading equities worth ₹1,263 crore. Meanwhile, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net buyers, purchasing equities worth ₹3,041 crore.

    Analysts believe the prevailing trend of steady retail participation and sustained fund inflows into mutual funds will keep valuations elevated over the long term. Consequently, they suggest that long-term investors consider using this risk-off phase to accumulate relatively undervalued stocks, particularly in the financial sector.

    — IANS

  • US police arrest suspect Vance Boelter for Minnesota lawmakers’ shooting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A massive two-day manhunt ended on Sunday with the arrest of Vance Boelter, 57, for allegedly killing a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker and her husband while posing as a police officer, Governor Tim Walz said.

    Boelter allegedly shot dead Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, in their home on Saturday – a crime Governor Tim Walz characterized as a “politically motivated assassination.”

    Authorities said Boelter also allegedly shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette at their home a few miles away.

    “After a two-day manhunt, two sleepless nights, law enforcement have apprehended Vance Boelter,” Walz told a news conference. “One man’s unthinkable actions have altered the state of Minnesota.

    “A moment in this country where we watch violence erupt, this cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences. Now is the time for us to recommit to the core values of this country, and each and every one of us can do it.”

    Walz said Hoffman, who had been hit with nine bullets, came out of his final surgery and was moving towards recovery.

    Boelter has links to evangelical ministries and claimed to be a security expert with experience in the Gaza Strip and Africa, according to online postings and public records reviewed by Reuters.

    Boelter was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder, the criminal complaint showed.

    Three of those charges are punishable with jail terms of up to 40 years, according to the complaint unsealed on Sunday.

    Boelter had been impersonating a police officer while carrying out the shootings, wearing an officer’s uniform and driving a Ford SUV with police-style lights, according to a Hennepin County criminal complaint unsealed on Sunday.

    Boelter fled on foot early on Saturday when officers confronted him at Hortman’s Brooklyn Park home, said authorities who had warned residents to stay indoors for their own safety and unleashed the state’s biggest manhunt.

    When police searched Boelter’s SUV after the shootings they discovered three AK-47 assault rifles, a 9-mm handgun, and a list of other public officials including their addresses, the criminal complaint showed.

    Working on a tip that Boelter was near his home in the city of Green Isle, more than 20 SWAT teams combed the area, aided by surveillance aircraft, officials said. Boelter was armed but surrendered with no shots fired.

    “The suspect crawled to law enforcement teams and was placed under arrest,” Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol told the briefing. “The suspect was taken into custody without any use of force.”

    The operation to capture Boelter, drawing on the work of hundreds of detectives and a wide range of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, was the largest manhunt in state history, Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said.

    “Now begins the hard work of looking at what the motive is,” Bruley said.

    The killing was the latest episode of high-profile U.S. political violence.

    Such incidents range from a 2022 attack on former Democratic U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their home, to an assassination bid on Donald Trump last year, and an arson attack at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house in April.

    (Reuters)

  • Britain appoints first female head of MI6 spy agency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Britain on Sunday named Blaise Metreweli, a career intelligence officer, as the first female head of the Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6.

    Metreweli, 47, who is currently MI6’s head of technology, known as “Q”, joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, and has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe, the government said in a statement.

    Richard Moore, the current chief of MI6, will step down in the autumn after a five-year tenure.

    “I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service,” said Metreweli, who takes on one of the most powerful jobs in Western intelligence and will be known by the code name “C”.

    MI6, founded in 1909, joins the other main British spy agencies, the domestic spy service MI5, and the intelligence communications agency GCHQ, in having appointed a female head.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is currently in Canada for the G7 summit, said Metreweli’s appointment comes when Britain is “facing threats on an unprecedented scale”.

    “I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country,” he said.

    Metreweli’s biggest challenges are likely to be dealing with Russia, China and Iran.

    Britain’s spy agencies have accused Russia of waging a campaign of sabotage across Europe to scare other countries off from backing Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion.

    Moore in 2021 said China was the single greatest priority for his spy agency, while MI5 said last year that Iran had been behind 20 plots to kill, kidnap or target dissidents or political opponents in Britain since 2022.

    MI6, depicted by novelists as the employer of some of the most memorable fictional spies, from John le Carré’s George Smiley to Ian Fleming’s James Bond, operates overseas and is tasked with defending Britain and its interests.

    Metreweli previously held a director-level role in MI5, and studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, the government said.

    MI5 has had two female bosses, starting with Stella Rimington in 1992. Eliza Manningham-Buller ran MI5 between 2002 and 2007.

    In 2023, Britain named its first female director of GCHQ.

    Metreweli’s appointment comes three decades after the actress Judi Dench first played a female boss of MI6 in the James Bond film “GoldenEye”.

    (Reuters)

  • IMD predicts heavy rainfall in Guwahati in next 2-3 days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday has predicted cloudy weather over Guwahati for the coming two-three days, with likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall across various parts of the city, an official said.

    The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) quoting the IMD said that the weather authority (IMD) has predicted cloudy weather over Guwahati city for the coming two to three days, with likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall across various parts of the city.

    The statement said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely at the isolated places of the city during the next two to three days, which may aggravate waterlogging, slow vehicular movement, and increase the risk of localised landslides in vulnerable pockets.

    The city authorities are closely monitoring the situation and emergency response systems are being kept on alert, it said.

    In view of the recent incidents of landslides and water blockage due to very heavy rainfall occurring in the city a few days back, the ASDMA requests the people of Guwahati to take all necessary precautions and remain vigilant.

    Daily commuters and long-distance travellers are requested to plan their routines accordingly, avoiding unnecessary movement during periods of intense rainfall, the authority said.

    It said that the residents in low-lying and hillside areas should stay alert for any signs of flooding or landslides.

    Residents in vulnerable areas are further advised to keep adequate stock of essential items such as medicines, candles etc, the statement said.

    It requested the people to reach out ASDMA and DDMA during the necessity. “People living in the identified landslide prone vulnerable areas of the city are advised to shift themselves to the safe shelters (relief camps) or other safer places of their choice for next three days. The public is also urged to stay tuned to official weather updates and follow advisories issued by local authorities to ensure safety during this prolonged spell of rain.”

    The status of the situation would be updated by ASDMA from time to time for general awareness, the statement added. Meanwhile, in the first spell of monsoon in the last week of May and first week of this over 6.79 lakh people were affected in 21 districts.

    As per the ASDMA report, over 14,977 hectares of crop lands were affected in 1,494 villages in 21 districts. The total number of people losing their lives in this year’s flood and landslide officially reported 28 across the state.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Sonia Gandhi admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday was admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital due to stomach-related issues, the hospital confirmed.

    The Rajya Sabha MP has been kept under observation at the hospital’s gastro department, it said.

    Earlier, Gandhi was admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla on June 7.

    The CPP chairperson was brought in for a routine health check-up due to some minor health issues, according to Naresh Chauhan, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

    The doctors examined her health condition and informed that she was in stable condition.

    (ANI)

  • India-Cyprus relations: expanding defence and economic ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) have continued to deepen their bilateral engagement with steady progress in defence and economic cooperation in recent years. Building on shared strategic interests, the two countries have laid down frameworks to expand collaboration in key sectors, while also reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based international order.

    In the area of defence, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation on December 29, 2022, during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Cyprus, marked a significant development. The agreement has since been followed by the signing of a Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (BDCP) for 2025, which took place in Nicosia on January 23, 2025. The programme aims to enhance structured cooperation in defence and military exchanges.

    In a reflection of this growing engagement, a Cypriot defence delegation led by Anna Aristotelous, Permanent Secretary of the Defence Ministry of RoC, participated in Aero India 2025 held in Bengaluru from February 10–14. On the sidelines of the event, Aristotelous held discussions with Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, to explore ways to further deepen defence ties.

    Defence diplomacy between the two nations is also supported by India’s concurrent accreditation of its Defence Attaché to the Republic of Cyprus, based at the Embassy of India in Cairo.

    On the economic front, bilateral trade has shown resilience despite global challenges. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), trade between India and Cyprus in 2023–24 stood at USD 137 million. Key Indian exports to Cyprus include pharmaceuticals, textiles, ceramic products, iron and steel, machinery, and chemicals. Meanwhile, Cyprus exports pharmaceuticals, beverages, and various manufactured goods to India.

    While trade volumes were impacted by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides remain engaged in efforts to revive economic flows and encourage greater investments. Cyprus continues to be an important partner in the Foreign Direct Investment space for India, and several Indian firms view Cyprus as a strategic gateway to the European Union.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung R&D Institute, Noida and IIT Madras Sign MoU to Drive Research on AI for Indian Languages, HealthTech and Generative AI

    Source: Samsung

    The five-year MoU was signed by Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director, SRI-N and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras
     
    Samsung R&D Institute, Noida (SRI-N) has deepened its industry-academia engagement through an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to drive collaborative research, accelerate technology development and nurture future-ready talent. The partnership will focus on pioneering advancements in AI for Indian languages, HealthTech and emerging areas such as Generative AI, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to build a stronger innovation ecosystem aligned with the vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’.
     
    The five-year MoU that was signed by Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director, SRI-N and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, aims to provide a wide range of collaborative activities, including sponsored research projects, consultancy projects, technology licensing, trainings, facility development and sponsorship of student fellowships in future.
     
    “At SRI-N, we are continuously working towards creating technologies that empower people and communities. Our collaboration with IIT Madras marks an important step towards co-creating solutions that are meaningful, inclusive, and future-ready. Together, we aim to enhance the Galaxy AI ecosystem with deeper integration of Indian regional languages and contribute to breaking language barriers across the country. In addition, we are engaging in co-development of emerging technology and enhancement of skill sets,” said Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director, Samsung R&D Institute, Noida.
     
    Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, echoed the excitement surrounding this collaboration. “We are proud to partner with SRI-N and this alliance will sponsor revolutionary research and technological development through effective utilization of AI technology. In the fast-changing tech landscape, the MoU will upskill beneficiaries to develop strong connection between theoretical knowledge and practical industry solutions required to mitigate risks and address uncertainty,” he said.
     
    This strategic partnership between Samsung India and IIT Madras adds to SRI-Noida’s growing network of academic collaborations, having already established long-term strategic MoUs with premier institutes including IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay and IIT Ropar. Samsung and these institutes are charting an expansive roadmap toward a smarter, more connected world. By combining industry-scale resources with academic rigor, these partnerships are cultivating a thriving ecosystem for future breakthroughs.
     
    SRI-Noida will sponsor research and development (R&D) projects, which may be conducted at IIT Madras, the company’s premises or through a collaborative arrangement at both locations.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Launching Samstag’s 2025 Kudlila season

    Source:

    16 June 2025

    Frank Bauer in his studio, 2025, photography by Sia Duff, courtesy of the Samstag Museum of Art.

    Two striking exhibitions, both featuring new works, will be showcased at the University of South Australia’s Samstag Museum of Art in June.

    Open to the public from 20 June to 26 September, the Kudlila season program (Kudlila meaning winter in Kaurna culture) will premiere designer, jeweller, silversmith and artist Frank Bauer’s major exhibition of metal and light works that consider movement, longevity, repetition and change.

    German-born and Adelaide-based Bauer has a career spanning 45 years and his works are held in major museums around the world including London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Berlin’s Bauhaus Archive, the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

    Focussing on the sculptural nature of his practice, the exhibition celebrates Bauer’s continued innovation by premiering new large-scale works in metal and light.

    ‘On the second level of the Samstag gallery, independent curator Jasmin Stephens presents the familiar yet lesser-known aspects of Adelaide’s cultural boulevard, North Terrace, in a thought-provoking group exhibition: North Terrace: worlds in relief.

    Adelaide’s North Terrace – now home to colonial institutions such as the art gallery, museum, library and other state buildings – holds deep significance for the Kaurna people as it represents a location of dispossession and resilience.

    The North Terrace exhibition begins with Narungga poet/activist Natalie Harkin’s poem Cultural Precinct*, a powerful exploration of Aboriginal resistance and colonialism which laments how “red-kangaroo stories” have been “ripped from the ground”.

    Artists from Adelaide, NSW and Singapore cast a critical eye over the boulevard, invoking histories through sculpture, moving image and design. The exhibition also draws on the collection of UniSA’s Architecture Museum.

    The artists featured in North Terrace: worlds in relief include, Andrew Burrell (Sydney), Allison Chorn (Adelaide), Louise Haselton (Adelaide) and the ArtHitects (Bathurst, NSW, and Singapore).

    Andrew Burrell, Miners Journey, 2025, still from video, courtesy of the artist.

    A season launch event will be held on Thursday 19 June, 5pm to 7pm, with opening remarks delivered by renowned architect Karl Fender OAM, Co-founder AFK Studios. Associate Professor Carolyn Barnes from Swinburne University of Technology will be writing a catalogue essay for Frank Bauer’s artwork that will be available online.

    The Samstag Museum of Art is located at UniSA’s City West campus, an easy 15-minute walk from the city centre. Free city trams operate daily. Samstag is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Visit the website for more information.

    Editors note: Read Natalie Harkin’s poem Cultural Precinct (2014) in fineprint, Issue 9, November 2016.

    *After its inclusion in Natalie Harkin’s PhD (Flinders University) in 2014, the poem was also published in Unbound Collective’s 2015 exhibition catalogue Bound and Unbound: Sovereign Acts II; in Cordite Poetry Review in 2016; and in Best Australian Poems in 2016. It also appears in the first of Harkin’s three-part publication Colonial Archive (2019).

    The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Erica Green, Director Samstag Museum of Art M: +438 821 239 E: erica.green@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • Holiday for schools in TN’s Nilgiris, Coimbatore amid adverse weather

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rainfall at isolated locations across parts of Tamil Nadu, including the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and Tiruppur districts on Monday.

    The weather department has also cautioned residents about the possibility of waterlogging and slippery road conditions in the affected regions.

    According to the IMD, light to moderate rain is also likely at one or two places across the southern districts of Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari.

    Officials have advised commuters in these areas to exercise caution, as the wet conditions could disrupt traffic flow and pose minor safety risks. Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has predicted heavy rains in the Nilgiris district.

    In wake of the adverse weather conditions, the Nilgiris district administration has declared a holiday for schools in four taluks – Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Kundah, Gudalur, and Pandalur – on Monday.

    The precautionary measure was announced by Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru to ensure the safety of students and staff amidst the ongoing rain and strong winds in the hilly terrain.

    A similar decision was made in the Coimbatore district, where persistent rainfall in the Valparai taluk prompted the closure of all schools for the day.

    District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar said the measure was taken to avoid any rain-related incidents in the region, which has witnessed consistent downpours over the past few days.

    The IMD’s alert comes amid concerns over increased rainfall activity in Tamil Nadu’s western and southern districts.

    Officials in the affected regions have been instructed to monitor the situation closely and ensure the timely dissemination of alerts and advisories.

    Local authorities have urged residents, particularly those living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel until weather conditions stabilise. Emergency response teams and public works departments have also been put on alert to address any potential disruptions caused by the rainfall.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Kazakhstan and China are building a community with a common destiny through cultural and media cooperation — Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan

    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

    Astana, June 16 /Xinhua/ — Interaction in the field of culture, media communications and protection of historical and cultural heritage is becoming one of the key areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

    According to her, the desire to preserve and popularize national heritage is a strategic priority for any country, and Kazakhstan, following this course, attaches particular importance to the protection of historical and cultural monuments.

    Kazakhstan has approached this issue institutionally. As A. Balayeva said, a special commission on UNESCO affairs, headed by state adviser Erlan Karin, systematically considers the issues of including Kazakhstani sites in the UNESCO list. Among the latest achievements are nominations for inclusion of five underground mosques and ancient steppe cities.

    Recently, a large working group has been operating in Kazakhstan with the participation of regional scientists and experts, whose activities cover three areas: the protection of monuments, intangible cultural heritage and documentary memory. “We have developed a huge plan of activities in these three areas and submitted it to a government meeting,” the minister said.

    She paid special attention to the training of personnel: “It is very important to have specialists. Advanced training, the creation of special departments that train specialists in this field is a very important issue for us.” In this context, A. Balayeva noted significant interaction with China: “Specialists in the field of restoration, in the field of archival work, in the field of popularization of cultural heritage sites are very important. And in this area we have good interaction.”

    According to the Minister, last year she had a meeting with her Chinese colleague, during which an agreement was reached on conducting internships, seminars and trainings for Kazakhstani specialists in China. “This is great, since this is what allows us to improve the qualifications of our employees, which improves the quality of work in the field of preserving historical and cultural heritage,” she noted.

    The Minister emphasized the importance of cultural and humanitarian exchange for bringing peoples closer together. “To get to know the people of Kazakhstan, to feel the character, the soul of the people, it is very important to know the culture, traditions and customs,” said A. Balayeva.

    In her opinion, such initiatives “promote mutual penetration of cultures” and motivate citizens of both countries to study each other’s history more deeply. “This interaction not only enriches, but also helps our teams build human relationships… New projects, new productions, joint events appear, which in turn helps strengthen the relationship between our countries,” the minister added.

    Speaking about the current Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China, the Minister expressed confidence that such initiatives are very positive, as there is “high interest from citizens.” And the visa-free regime between the countries became possible “primarily due to the trusting relationship between the leaders of our countries.”

    Touching on the challenges of the digital age, she stressed the need for “very close work in exchanging experiences in working in social networks,” as well as participation in media forums and conferences.

    “Cooperation in the media sphere allows us to popularize the forum, tourist routes, culture, traditions and ultimately demonstrate the multiplier economic effect,” the minister said.

    She noted that the level of interaction between the countries has reached a qualitatively new level: “If two years ago we talked about eternal friendship, now we are building a community with a common destiny. This shows that we are inextricably linked.”

    The Minister also emphasized the close cooperation between Kazakh and Chinese media: “This is an exchange of media products… This is interaction in the area of improving the qualifications of our journalists… This is technology.” The participation of Chinese media in Central Asian media forums and upcoming events, according to her, opens up new horizons.

    “Only through dialogue can we improve our work, expand areas of interaction… and deepen our cooperation in the field of mass media,” the minister emphasized.

    In conclusion, she expressed confidence that the upcoming second China-Central Asia summit, which will be held with the participation of the leader of the PRC, will give new impetus to the entire spectrum of cooperation.

    “These are new tasks, these are new challenges that we will work on together… All protocol instructions that will be adopted following the results of this summit will be unquestioningly carried out at the highest level,” concluded A. Balaeva. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Both black boxes of Air India plane found – media

    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

    NEW DELHI, June 16 (Xinhua) — Both the black boxes of Air India Flight 171, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, have been recovered, the Indian Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary said in a statement late Sunday.

    According to Hindustan Times early Monday morning, the flight data recorder was first found, followed by the cockpit voice recorder.

    Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the first black box was found on June 13 and the crash investigation report would be released within three months.

    According to The Hindu, it could take four to five days to download and analyse the black boxes. Several international investigation agencies have arrived in Ahmedabad to help India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau probe the crash that killed 274 people. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Learner eligibility – Youth Guarantee

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 8 March 2024
    Last updated 8 March 2024

    Print

    Share

    This page sets out learner eligibility criteria for programmes funded through the Youth Guarantee (YG) Fund.
    This page sets out learner eligibility criteria for programmes funded through the Youth Guarantee (YG) Fund.

    For the full learner eligibility requirements, see the Youth Guarantee funding conditions for the relevant year. Learners must not be simultaneously enrolled in school and a YG funded programme.
    Learners must not be enrolled in a YG funded programme and another TEC-funded programme at the same time, eg, Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ILN), Delivery at Levels 1 and 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (DQ1-2), New Zealand Apprenticeship or Gateway.
    A learner who is eligible for ILN-funded programmes is not considered to have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to be successful in a YG programme.
    Limit on prior qualification achievement
    The prior qualification achievement limit is to ensure that government funding is targeted to learners with no or low prior qualification achievement, and to enable learners to progress to higher-level qualifications.
    In practice this means:

    a new enrolment is the first time that learner has been enrolled in YG at that tertiary education organisation (TEO), and
    the TEO must verify individual learners’ prior achievement before accepting them into the programme.

    Level 1 and 2 programmes
    TEOs must ensure that learners who already hold a qualification at Level 1 or 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) comprise no more than 10% of new enrolments in a YG programme leading to award of a qualification at that level.

    Learner holds a qualification at …

    And enrols in a qualification at …

    Learner will be included in the 10% prior achievement calculation in each year of delivery

    Level 1

    Level 1

    Yes

    Level 2

    Level 2

    Yes

    Level 1

    Level 2

    No

    A learner enrolment in a subsequent YG qualification at the same TEO at any level is not considered a “new enrolment”.
    Level 3 programmes
    To meet the learner eligibility requirements the TEO must:

    not enrol a learner in a YG programme if the learner has already achieved a qualification at Level 3 or above on the NZQCF, and
    prioritise enrolments in YG programmes that lead to award of a Level 3 qualification on the NZQCF for:

    learners who enrolled in YG with low prior achievement (no qualification or a Level 1 qualification), and
    learners who have completed a Level 1 or 2 qualification funded through YG.

    Age limit for learners
    Learners may be re-enrolled in YG, as long as they continue to meet the learner eligibility conditions, including enrolling in no more than 1.5 EFTS provision per calendar year.
    Some learners may turn 25 years old during a programme they are enrolled in. These learners remain eligible for YG for the courses required to complete their programme.
    YG funding is not available for learners who have already turned 25 to re-enrol in courses they did not successfully complete. Keep this in mind when you enrol a learner who is close to turning 25, as any re-enrolments in programmes or courses will need to be self-funded by the learner or from DQ1-2/Delivery at Levels 3-7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Funds funding. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Heavy rain forecast for Maharashtra today, red alert issued in Raigad

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As the monsoon has become active, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the intensity of rains will increase throughout the day on Monday and issued alerts for various regions of Maharashtra.

    IMD has issued a red alert in Raigad district, orange alert in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune ghat section, Satara ghat section, Kolhapur ghat section and yellow alert in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Nashik ghat section, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli.

    The weather bureau has predicted thunderstorms with lightning likely in Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Washim, Yavatmal, Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.

    The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on X, “The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rains in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (Mumbai city and suburbs) for next three hours. For help in an emergency or for official, contact the BMC’s main control room helpline number 1916.”

    Due to the rain, the Central, Western and Harbour Railways in Mumbai are running late by 5 to 10 minutes. Heavy rainfall has been continuing in the Vasai-Virar area since Sunday evening, and many low-lying areas of the city have been submerged. As a result, traffic and normal life have been disrupted.

    Mumbai and Pune cities have been receiving continuous rain since the night. Heavy rain has been recorded in the Pune area since night, 113 mm of rain has been recorded in the Varandha Ghat Shirgaon area, while there has been a drizzle in the Mutha Ghat leading to Lavasa.

    The weather bureau has predicted that the intensity of rain will decrease in Mumbai and Thane on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the cities will witness moderate rain.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • GRAP’s Stage 1 withdrawn from Delhi-NCR as AQI improves to ‘moderate’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Delhiites breathed cleaner air after showers on early Sunday prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to revoke actions under Stage-I.

    “Today, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) of the day clocked 140 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),” said Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

    While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters in the region and other aspects, the Sub-Committee said, “AQI of Delhi has shown consistent improvement due to favourable meteorological conditions and the AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 140 for June 15 (in ‘Moderate’ category). Further, the forecast by IMD/IITM also predicts AQI to mainly remain in ‘Moderate’ category in coming days.”

    “Therefore, keeping in view this trend of improvement in the AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM predicting the average air quality of Delhi to stay in ‘Moderate’ category in the coming days (for which forecast is available), the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP unanimously decided to revoke Stage-I of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,” the statement said.

    It was also stressed that all the agencies of the state governments/GNCTD in the NCR, need to ensure that all statutory directions, advisories and orders issued by the Commission are followed and implemented in right earnest to prevent the air quality from slipping to the ‘Poor’ category.

    The sub-committee said that all the agencies concerned are also required to take note of various actions and the targeted timelines as envisaged in the comprehensive policy issued by the Commission to curb air pollution in the NCR and take appropriate actions accordingly in the field, particularly the dust mitigation measures, the statement said.

    “The Sub-Committee, shall be keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decision depending upon the air quality in Delhi and forecast made available by IMD/ IITM,” it said.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank acts as global coordinator and mandated lead arranger for $1.6bn facility for Suriname’s Staatsolie


    Download logo

    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has acted as global coordinator and joint mandated lead arranger for a senior secured term loan facility amounting to US$1.6 billion, in favour of Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. (Staatsolie), Suriname’s state-owned energy company, in a major boost to the country’s GranMorgu upstream offshore oil project.

    Afreximbank, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex), along with another major international bank and Staatsolie signed the agreement on the 14th of May 2025. Perella Weinberg acted as an advisor to Staatsolie on the transaction.

    According to the terms of the agreement, the proceeds of the facility will support Staatsolie in partially refinancing existing debt and funding its 20 per cent working interest in the GranMorgu upstream offshore oil project.

    The transaction, the first syndicated loan for which Afreximbank has been mandated on in the Caribbean region, also represents the largest project financing transaction in Suriname’s history and paves the way for the country’s initial offshore oil production by mid-2028.

    Capital investments in the project are expected to exceed US$12 billion, with Staatsolie contributing 20 per cent, or US$2.4 billion. The expected revenue generation, depending on oil price, is projected at over US$26 billion for Staatsolie and the Government of Suriname over the operational life, significantly boosting economic development.

    The project, which stands out for its low-carbon design, featuring a fully electric floating production, storage, and offloading unit with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, will more than double Staatsolie´s production, providing Suriname with royalties and dividends.

    Commenting on the transaction, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said that it will significantly transform the Surinamese economy. “Afreximbank is most pleased to have played a pivotal role in arranging this financing for Suriname’s Staatsolie. It marks a significant milestone in the Bank’s interventions in the Caribbean and a firm statement of intent by the Bank to support investments in strategic programmes/projects that are consequential to the transformation of the Surinamese economy. Beyond this investment, the Bank is supporting initiatives that will catalyse local participation in the country’s oil and gas sector with the aim of ensuring maximum benefits from the natural resource accrue to the indigenes of Suriname and the larger Caribbean.”

    Staatsolie is engaged in exploration, production, refining, retail fuel distribution and power generation. Staatsolie also has a working interest in two gold projects in Suriname. It seeks to develop energy resources to maximise the long-term value for Staatsolie and Suriname, energizing a bright future for Suriname

    Annand Jagesar, Managing Director of Staatsolie said: “We have built a solid foundation for Staatsolie to participate in GranMorgu and possible future projects and are embarking on a new phase of transformational growth for the company and the country.”

    BLADEX, a multinational bank founded in 1979, provides financial solutions to companies and investors doing business in Latin America. It is headquartered in Panama City and has five offices in Latin America and the United States.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact:
    Vincent Musumba
    Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
    Email: press@afreximbank.com

    Follow us on:
    X: https://apo-opa.co/441Xsr4
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3FNAlsp
    LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3SSv85C
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3HK0oBf

    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • High-level visits cement strategic partnership between India and Cyprus

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) have sustained and deepened their bilateral relations through a series of high-level political engagements, Ministerial meetings, and institutional consultations in recent years. A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both countries have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas including trade, innovation, defence, maritime, legal exchange, and digital transformation.

    The foundation of this longstanding relationship has been reinforced through key high-level visits. President Nicos Anastasiades of RoC paid a State visit to India from 24–29 April 2017, while the then President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, visited Cyprus from 2–4 September 2018. In subsequent years, bilateral ties have continued to progress through meetings between top leadership and diplomatic representatives.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Anastasiades during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 26 September 2019 and earlier during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on 20 April 2018.

    External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has had multiple engagements with his Cypriot counterparts in recent years. In a virtual meeting with then Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides on 16 February 2021, both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to maintain momentum across high-level exchanges, economic partnership, and people-to-people ties. EAM Jaishankar held further discussions with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on the sidelines of CHOGM 2022 in Kigali and again at the 77th UNGA in New York in September 2022.

    EAM Dr. Jaishankar visited Cyprus from 29–31 December 2022. During the visit, he held meetings with Acting President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou, and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. Two key agreements were signed: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence and Military Cooperation and a Declaration of Intent on a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA). Additionally, RoC joined the International Solar Alliance during this visit. EAM and his counterpart also addressed an Economic and Business Forum in Limassol on 30 December 2022.

    Engagements between the two countries have continued at multilateral fora. EAM met with RoC Foreign Minister Dr. Constantinos Kombos on the sidelines of the EU-Indo Pacific Forum in Stockholm on 13 May 2023, and again during the 78th UNGA in New York on 23 September 2023, followed by another meeting during the 79th UNGA on 25 September 2024, and later during the Doha Forum on 7 December 2024.

    Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur visited Cyprus from 8–11 October 2023 to attend the “Cyprus Maritime 2023 Conference” in Limassol. The event, inaugurated by President Nikos Christodoulides, served as a platform to discuss maritime cooperation and future shipping partnerships. On the sidelines, MoS held a bilateral meeting with the Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and also engaged with the Indian shipping community and professionals based in Cyprus.

    Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of RoC, led a delegation to New Delhi from 5–6 September 2024 to participate in the “CII India Mediterranean Business Conclave.” He joined Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EAM Jaishankar during a ministerial session on trade and investment.

    Judicial and legal cooperation also received a boost when a high-level delegation from India, led by Justice Surya Kant and Attorney General R. Venkataramani, visited RoC to attend the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) International Conference held at UCLan Cyprus from 7–8 October 2024.

    To institutionalize the strategic dialogue, the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held on 26 November 2024 in Nicosia.

  • High-level visits cement strategic partnership between India and Cyprus

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) have sustained and deepened their bilateral relations through a series of high-level political engagements, Ministerial meetings, and institutional consultations in recent years. A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both countries have consistently reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas including trade, innovation, defence, maritime, legal exchange, and digital transformation.

    The foundation of this longstanding relationship has been reinforced through key high-level visits. President Nicos Anastasiades of RoC paid a State visit to India from 24–29 April 2017, while the then President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, visited Cyprus from 2–4 September 2018. In subsequent years, bilateral ties have continued to progress through meetings between top leadership and diplomatic representatives.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Anastasiades during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 26 September 2019 and earlier during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on 20 April 2018.

    External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has had multiple engagements with his Cypriot counterparts in recent years. In a virtual meeting with then Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides on 16 February 2021, both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to maintain momentum across high-level exchanges, economic partnership, and people-to-people ties. EAM Jaishankar held further discussions with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on the sidelines of CHOGM 2022 in Kigali and again at the 77th UNGA in New York in September 2022.

    EAM Dr. Jaishankar visited Cyprus from 29–31 December 2022. During the visit, he held meetings with Acting President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou, and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. Two key agreements were signed: a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence and Military Cooperation and a Declaration of Intent on a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA). Additionally, RoC joined the International Solar Alliance during this visit. EAM and his counterpart also addressed an Economic and Business Forum in Limassol on 30 December 2022.

    Engagements between the two countries have continued at multilateral fora. EAM met with RoC Foreign Minister Dr. Constantinos Kombos on the sidelines of the EU-Indo Pacific Forum in Stockholm on 13 May 2023, and again during the 78th UNGA in New York on 23 September 2023, followed by another meeting during the 79th UNGA on 25 September 2024, and later during the Doha Forum on 7 December 2024.

    Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur visited Cyprus from 8–11 October 2023 to attend the “Cyprus Maritime 2023 Conference” in Limassol. The event, inaugurated by President Nikos Christodoulides, served as a platform to discuss maritime cooperation and future shipping partnerships. On the sidelines, MoS held a bilateral meeting with the Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and also engaged with the Indian shipping community and professionals based in Cyprus.

    Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of RoC, led a delegation to New Delhi from 5–6 September 2024 to participate in the “CII India Mediterranean Business Conclave.” He joined Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EAM Jaishankar during a ministerial session on trade and investment.

    Judicial and legal cooperation also received a boost when a high-level delegation from India, led by Justice Surya Kant and Attorney General R. Venkataramani, visited RoC to attend the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) International Conference held at UCLan Cyprus from 7–8 October 2024.

    To institutionalize the strategic dialogue, the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held on 26 November 2024 in Nicosia.

  • Rugby Premier League kicks off in Mumbai with glitzy opening ceremony

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The inaugural season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) got underway on Sunday with a grand opening ceremony at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), Mumbai, marking a significant moment for the sport in India.

    The event saw attendance from a mix of sports officials, Bollywood celebrities, and business leaders. Abhishek Bachchan, who serves as the Sports Ambassador and Friend of Rugby, joined GBS Raju, Business Chairman – Airports, GMR Group, and Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, in unveiling the tournament’s trophy.

    The 22-inch tall trophy, as described by the organisers, features a black nickel-plated hand holding a gold-plated rugby ball, symbolising teamwork, strength, and collective effort — the core tenets of the sport. The use of fused metals was said to represent India’s blend of tradition and modernity.

    The opening evening also included a musical performance by composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan, who presented the official Rugby Anthem, energising the crowd. The event drew several film personalities including Shabana Azmi, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vidya Balan, Aparshakti Khurana, and Ishwak Singh.

    The league will feature six franchises competing over 34 matches across two weeks. Thirty Indian players, selected from a pool of 71 during the league’s player auction, will play alongside international names, offering a global flavour to the contest.

    The final is slated for June 29, concluding what promises to be a fortnight of high-intensity action and a major push for rugby’s popularity in India.

    The Season 1 finale is set for June 29, capping two weeks of high-octane rugby as teams battle for the coveted title.

  • Rugby Premier League kicks off in Mumbai with glitzy opening ceremony

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The inaugural season of the Rugby Premier League (RPL) got underway on Sunday with a grand opening ceremony at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), Mumbai, marking a significant moment for the sport in India.

    The event saw attendance from a mix of sports officials, Bollywood celebrities, and business leaders. Abhishek Bachchan, who serves as the Sports Ambassador and Friend of Rugby, joined GBS Raju, Business Chairman – Airports, GMR Group, and Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, in unveiling the tournament’s trophy.

    The 22-inch tall trophy, as described by the organisers, features a black nickel-plated hand holding a gold-plated rugby ball, symbolising teamwork, strength, and collective effort — the core tenets of the sport. The use of fused metals was said to represent India’s blend of tradition and modernity.

    The opening evening also included a musical performance by composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan, who presented the official Rugby Anthem, energising the crowd. The event drew several film personalities including Shabana Azmi, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vidya Balan, Aparshakti Khurana, and Ishwak Singh.

    The league will feature six franchises competing over 34 matches across two weeks. Thirty Indian players, selected from a pool of 71 during the league’s player auction, will play alongside international names, offering a global flavour to the contest.

    The final is slated for June 29, concluding what promises to be a fortnight of high-intensity action and a major push for rugby’s popularity in India.

    The Season 1 finale is set for June 29, capping two weeks of high-octane rugby as teams battle for the coveted title.

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Black ice, fog risk prompts warning to motorists

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    A combination of freezing temperatures, fog, hoar frosts and black ice means challenging conditions for travel on State Highways 8 and 80 over the next few days, with the biggest concern being drivers not adapting to the conditions.

    “On SH8 in particular, there are many sheltered areas where build-up of ice is a major concern,” says NZTA System Manager Mark Pinner.  

    “Bridge surfaces can cool quickly, and re-freezing can even occur in the late morning.”

    “We‘ve already had reports of people driving too fast for the conditions and truck and trailer units fishtailing. We also know it’s going to get busier later in the week as we get closer to the long holiday weekend for Matariki. Reducing speed is the biggest thing drivers can do to keep themselves safe and to help keep the highways open.”

    “One of the measures we are employing to slow traffic down are Temporary Speed Limits which can be employed on parts of the highway network that are most at risk.”

    The Temporary Speed Limit of 50km/h has been put into effect on State Highway 8 at sites such as either side of Lake Tekapo township, and near the Tekapo Military Camp, the Tekapo Flyover (over the Tekapo Canal) and Simons Pass.

    “This is not our usual approach, but the nature of the conditions forecast for this week means we need to use every tool we can to keep people safe on the roads,” Mr Pinner says.

    “Our typical de-icing agents are at the extreme range of where they aren’t as effective, and whilst we are gritting the roads, driving to conditions is a key part of keeping road access safe also.”

    “If the conditions warrant it, we will close the highway, most likely overnight and through the high-risk early morning period. People need to plan ahead if they are travelling in the area – keep an eye on our Journey Planner site.”

    Journey Planner

    Winter driving advice

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Priority One: Twelve months in, 2100 children housed

    Source: New Zealand Government

    In the first twelve months of the Government’s flagship Priority One policy, nearly 1000 families with more than 2,124 children have been moved from dank emergency housing motel rooms to secure, stable homes.

    “The largescale use of emergency housing was one of the biggest public policy failures in New Zealand history. Under the previous government’s watch, thousands of children were consigned to grow up in cramped, dingy motel rooms at a cost to taxpayers of $1 million every day at its peak,” Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

    “The cost to taxpayers was a scandal, but the social cost for families trying to raise their kids from a motel room for months or even years on end was an absolute tragedy.

    “We campaigned on introducing a Priority One category to help these kids and their families move into social homes, and getting it up and running was a key priority for us as an incoming Government.

    “Priority One, which has now been in place for a year, bumps families with dependent children to the very top of the social housing waitlist if they have been in emergency housing for 12 weeks or more.

    “Thanks to Priority One and the hard work of many frontline staff across multiple government agencies, thousands of children now live in a warm, dry social home instead of a crowded motel room.”

    Minister Potaka said the Government had already achieved its target of reducing the number of households in Emergency Housing by 75 per cent by 2030 and now needed to maintain progress. Since November 2023 to April 2025, households in emergency housing have dropped from 3,342 to 516– that’s a drop of 84.5 percent.

    “And importantly, there are now significantly fewer children in emergency housing. In April 2024, there were 3,339 children in emergency housing, and a year later we’re down to 519.

    “The focus on supporting whānau with tamariki into better stable homes could mean a world of difference for their health, school attendance, and regular employment.

    “One of the whānau we’re talking about today is a family of six whose eldest child has serious health concerns needing specialist care, but who had been struggling while stuck living in emergency accommodation for six months.

    “Our Priority One focus helped get this whānau into a stable Kāinga Ora home and helped enable them to get the wider support they needed.

    “We will continue to improve the housing system because there are thousands of deserving people out there just like this whānau, many of them on the social housing list just waiting to take proper care and enjoy a better home.

    “MSD has also improved how it tracks emergency housing outcomes. We now know where around 85 percent of those leaving emergency housing go – be it social housing, transitional housing, or a private rental. 

    “Of the households that exited emergency housing (excluding contracted emergency housing) during December 2024: 

    • 37 percent left emergency housing to go into social housing (4 percent through CHPs, 33 percent through Kāinga Ora)
    • 29 percent had moved into transitional housing
    • 19 percent were receiving the accommodation supplement for a private rental
    • 14 percent did not access any of this housing-related assistance.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Policy – Cancellation of Health Charter a giant step backwards for health and community support workers – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Hard on the heels of the cancellation of pay equity claims for thousands of hospital, health and community support workers, the Government’s announcement today that they’re dropping the Te Mauri o Rongo Health Charter is another callous twist of the knife, the PSA says.
    Minister Simeon Brown’s suite of changes to the Pae Ora Act will see, among other things, a repeal of the Te Mauri o Rongo Health Charter.
    “The Health Charter set out shared values and principles to shape behaviours for how Te Whatu Ora will support and promote a safe working culture across health, including the funded community sector. Now it’s gone, with seemingly nothing to replace it,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
    “Hospital, health, and community support workers are already under immense strain. They’re constantly asked to do more with less. And the high frequency of assaults by patients – particularly for mental health workers – is increasingly, frighteningly normalised.”
    The PSA played a critical role in developing the charter, standing up a working group of health and community support workers shortly after Te Whatu Ora was established. It was developed by the health workforce for the health sector, and is a positive framework to lead and support the health system to develop relationships to achieve pae ora (healthy futures).
    “A functioning health system must commit to supporting their workforce and empowering them to speak out when their safety is compromised. Otherwise we’ll just do what New Zealand has done for years, and drive out our highly trained health workforce to sunnier pastures overseas.
    “The commitment to a well-trained workforce with access to appropriate resources to develop their skills, as well as workers to provide person and whānau-centred services, are a challenge to this Government.
    “The coalition continues to show us who and what they value. It’s very clear that they’re continuing to completely under-value the workers, and especially the women workers, who prop up the system to serve New Zealand whānau when they need it most.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arts and Education – US directors bring touch of Broadway to NASDA show

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    When Kiss Me Kate hits the stage at Papa Hou Theatre in the heart of Christchurch next week, audiences will experience a show polished by an internationally acclaimed director-choreographer duo.
    Ara Institute of Canterbury’s National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA) has brought in US-based stage superstars Diane Laurenson and Bob Richard to work with ākonga (students) for the much-loved musical production.
    The pair’s combined careers span Broadway, the West End and beyond with international tours, television and film credits to their names. While they bring a wealth of expertise to NASDA, they’re also in their element as devoted educators.
    “We’ve worked with professionals for almost 40 years but it’s a dream to be among new talent who are growing as actors and to help build a foundation for the world they’re going into,” Laurenson said.
    “It’s kind of like being a rock in the stream,” Richard added. “As professional directors we can help them steer a course and identify what they want to focus on as emerging artists.”
    Laurenson is a celebrated Fosse veteran, working directly with Broadway leg

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public transport just got a salary sacrifice, tax-free upgrade

    Source: Extraordinary

    New benefit means cheaper commutes, cleaner cities, and more money in workers’ pockets, says Extraordinary  

    Kiwi fintech maverick, Extraordinary, has seized a rare opportunity to align the stars — combining a recent Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) change with a first-of-its-kind salary sacrifice solution. As a result, Kiwi commuters now have a powerful reason to leave the car at home. Public transport can finally be paid for using pre-tax income, made possible by Extraordinary’s Card and platform.

    New research by Extraordinary shows strong appetite for the change:

    • 21% of Kiwis who currently commute by car say they would consider switching to public transport if their employer offered a tax-free travel benefit – rising to 40% among younger workers aged 18–34. 
    • 19% of remote workers say they’d commute into the office more often if they received a public transport allowance.

    With younger employees especially responsive to incentives, the new option gives employers a powerful tool to support greener, more vibrant cities – while helping workers keep more of their pay.

    These findings come at the perfect time: employers can now provide public transport allowances without incurring Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) – saving both employers and employees money, and making cleaner, more affordable commuting a reality.

    To mark the milestone, Extraordinary CEO Steven Zinsli joined Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown for a media moment on Auckland’s Britomart, one of the city’s busiest business and transport hubs.

    “This is a game-changer for how people travel to work,” said Steven Zinsli. “It’s now easier and cheaper for employers to support public transport, and workers can keep more of what they earn.”

    Until now, FBT rules meant employer-subsidised transport came with tax penalties, limiting uptake. That’s now changed – with Extraordinary’s innovative solution, employees will have the ability to top up existing transport cards using pre-tax income, reducing travel costs and encouraging more sustainable transport options.

    The shift arrives at a crucial moment, as cities like Auckland seek ways to reduce congestion and emissions, while also reviving CBD activity. Recent research shows that office occupancy remains below 70% in some major centres, well below pre-pandemic levels.

    Mayor Wayne Brown said: “One of my key priorities when I was elected as Mayor was to get Auckland moving, and initiatives like this will make it easier for people to get to work by bus or train and help reduce congestion on our roads. This is good for the environment, good for our cities and good for our economy.”

    Why this matters:

    • More money in workers’ pockets: public transport benefits are now tax-free 
    • No extra cost to employers: avoid FBT while supporting sustainability 
    • Convenience: Top up existing transport cards using pre-tax income 
    • Cleaner cities: fewer cars = reduced emissions and congestion 
    • City revival: supports return-to-office and urban vibrancy.

    Extraordinary is already partnering with major employers across New Zealand and expects demand to accelerate as more businesses take advantage of the updated FBT rules.

    To read more, visit www.extraordinarypay.com/our-solutions/public-transport.

    About Extraordinary  

    Extraordinary is a New Zealand-based fintech platform revolutionising how employers manage non-payroll benefits. Its smart employee card supports Gifting, Public Transport, Rewards, and other allowances – replacing reimbursements and manual admin with real-time, flexible payments. Founded in 2021 and based in Auckland, Extraordinary is trusted by forward-thinking companies to boost retention, compliance, and employee satisfaction.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: At Rising, a dance program delves into dark places – and then finally oozes with joy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Angela Conquet, PhD Candidate, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne

    The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave. Lucy Parakhina/Rising

    I first came across the work of Argentinian underground enfant terrible Marina Otero in 2022, seeing her work Fuck Me in Paris. Fuck Me starts with shaky videos of Otero speaking from a hospital bed while awaiting spinal surgery, explaining her initial absence from the stage.

    When she did appear, she was frail and could barely move. Six strapping naked dancers helped her demonstrate what the dance would have been, now that she could no longer dance. Propping and carrying her, her petite body seemed even more fragile in their hands.

    We were all commiserating over her misfortune as she was telling us, in random order, about her injury, her loneliness, her sexless life, her grandfather and the military dictatorship in Argentina.

    At the end, when she came to bow, she moved so precariously that a gust of wind would have blown her away. And then, as we were getting ready to leave, she stormed back onto the stage and started running in circles, faster and faster, going and going, finally stopping when the last person left the theatre.

    I was told it went on for almost an hour.

    Never have I felt more emotionally manipulated as an audience member. I appreciated the astuteness of the trickery but was furious at my naivety. For a long time, I thought it was all fiction.

    Later, I learnt it was all true; it was indeed Otero’s life, living with pain, joyless and desireless. This is what pain does.

    At this year’s Rising festival, Otero’s Kill Me – the last in the trilogy which started with Fuck Me – is also about her life. She gives us the story of a painful breakup with a narcissistic man, the resulting revengeful desire to become an invincible Sarah Connor and Otero’s subsequent diagnosis with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

    Kill Me is a dance work about living with borderline personality disorder.
    Mariano Barrientos/Rising

    The rest of the cast have been chosen by Otero because they all live with this condition. Five naked women wear little else than knee-pads, black gloves, white boots and orange wigs, and carry revolvers. They enter the stage majestically and promise to be credible Sarah Connors.

    Instead, they turn out to be self-declared Marilyns and Lady Dis, as they each tell us about their life with mental illness.

    The piece becomes a catalogue of vignettes and vivid illustrations. Their stories are messy and painful to hear. Yet the unsettling always veers into the hilarious, peppered with flamboyant songs and cheesy Lacan quotes.

    And then, there is the great male ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, reborn, performed by the only male dancer, as stoutly robust as Nijinsky was flowingly tall. He is the clown, the cheerful unballetic partner to attempted pirouettes with improbable endings.

    The lone male dancer is the clown, the cheerful unballetic partner.
    Mariano Barrientos/Rising

    As Otero’s final monologue arrives, an account of the plight of living with BPD, and of her intention to end the piece with a gun to her head, I remember Nijinsky’s diary entry:

    The audience came to be amused. They thought that I was dancing to amuse them. I danced frightening things.

    Otero and her dancers dance frightening things, from the artist’s necessity to create to keep sane, to self harming to feel one has a self, to exhibiting one’s life to feel alive.

    This is the story of those too unstable for the “ordered” world, of the many “misfits”, the “insane” and the “hysteric” – all those who need to take a pill to fit into the world, as she says.

    This time, Otero’s staged life is not a manipulation of our emotions, rather a diffraction of our own. These sexy avengers and reborn Nijinskys are us, and their fears, ours: fears of being unloved, abandoned, forgotten. Some of us manage to make it “fit” better. Others take it to the stage as both salvation and redemption.

    The depression of BLKDOG

    BLKDOG, from British choreographer Botis Seva, is also about mental health, suggested by the title, referencing Winston Churchill’s metaphor of the black dogpopularised in referring to depression.

    This is a dark piece, contrasting heavily with Kill Me. Seven hooded, genderless bodies emerge from obscurity, move and morph together, a tenuous presence at first, and then more threatening, as the group gangs up on one of them, suddenly, somehow isolated.

    It does not become any lighter. The dancers don hoodies for a more urban apparel and, later, dragon onesies.

    BLKDOG is a dark and unsettling work.
    Tom Visser/Rising

    This unsettling closing in remains a pattern. A lonely body breaks out from the group, to simulate suicide, or self-harm, or murder. The others approaching to attack, rape, beat or kill. The unnerving dancing reveals the dancers’ skills, all impeccably trained in street dance, as the choreography relies heavily on the virtuosic vocabulary of popping and krumping.

    Everything is dark and rough in this joyless piece. The lighting that plunges the stage into oppressive mists or aggressively isolates bodies with cutting brightness, the relentless pounding of Torben Lars’ soundtrack, the dancers’ faces always in the dark.

    The choreography is a suite of vignettes of simulated violence, but they are so theatricalised it dilutes them into caricature. When tenderness arrives, unexpectedly, with one body consoling another, a gentle movement here and there, a pause softened by children’s voices, it makes us see the depth of the turmoil, the thoughts thumping trapped in one’s head.

    It is inescapable and we are glad when the piece is over.
    Tom Visser/Rising

    It is inescapable and we are glad when the piece is over. Seva created this piece in 2018 after the birth of his first child. He doesn’t want to perform it anymore as it takes him to dark places. Like Otero, he says he had to make the piece. Unlike Otero, he no longer wants his life to be the work.

    Oozing with joy

    In The Butterfly that Flew into the Rave, from New Zealand Aotearoa choreographer Oli Mathiesen, Mathiesen and his two acolytes, Celia Hext and Tayla Gartner, dance non-stop for nearly two hours on the Buxton Contemporary concrete floor.

    There is nothing here of the dancing-till-you-forget-yourself typical of raves; always the same saccadic movements, always the slight sadness, of those who want to keep going in sweaty clubbing rooms when lights go up or, in the early dusty mornings of an ending festival.

    Their joy is infectious as they dance together in sync.
    Mark Gambino/Rising

    There is joy oozing out of this trio’s dancing, facing us, smiling at us, as they swim from one routine into the other, not the tedious spasmodic rave clubbing vocabulary but the more joyful aerobic-whacking-contemporary jazz sort of thing one can learn from YouTube tutorials.

    Their joy is infectious as they dance together in sync. When they are not synced, it is in jest. They smile at us as they dance for us. The joy infects the audience: those standing and pulsing to the beat of the music, those who resist it but not for long, those so taken with the dancers that they forget to breathe because they are so attuned.

    We are implicated as witnesses to their generous joy, palpable and pulsing like a beating heart. We remember we have one: one that can give in to joy.

    In all three works, their protagonists throw their bodies into the fight. They dance with depth and urgency, because they have to, and while the fight may seem different, it may be the same, that of finding (and keeping) the joy.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    As a dance professional, Angela Conquet has received funding from Creative Australia. She is the co-chair of the Green Room Awards Dance panel.

    – ref. At Rising, a dance program delves into dark places – and then finally oozes with joy – https://theconversation.com/at-rising-a-dance-program-delves-into-dark-places-and-then-finally-oozes-with-joy-257319

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –