NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public art’s star turn in the regeneration of midtown

    Source: Auckland Council

    Emily Trent is Head of Arts and Culture at Auckland Council so she knows why a city needs art, and how art contributes to the quality of our regenerating midtown.

    The Auckland Council group is reinventing midtown, ensuring it’s ready to serve the city well ahead of the City Rail Link opening in 2026.

    Projects include:

    • Te Hā Noa – Victoria Street linear park (Albert Street to Elliott Street) – first section complete – story and timelapse; second section complete – story and timelapse.
    • Federal Street upgrade, extension of the shared path laneway circuit – complete. Artwork Lost & Found by Joe Sheehan
    • Queen Street – upgrade complete – story and timelapse
    • Myers Park – upgrade and artwork Waimahara by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu) is complete – story and video
    • Wellesley Street bus interchange – Auckland Transport’s works are in progress

    Against a backdrop of the city’s magnificent, multi-sensory artwork Waimahara in Myers Park, we ask Emily why art is important in any urban regeneration, and in this regeneration in particular.

    This Q&A is part of an occasional series shining light on the regeneration of midtown and some of the people who are playing a part in it. The Auckland Council group announced an investment of $155 million in multiple projects to regenerate midtown in September 2021. Many are delivered already.

    Our Q&A with Emily Trent:

    Why does a city need public art?

    Art is the way a city tells its story. Art defines who we are in the world. It delights and surprises. And right now Auckland’s midtown is a living example of that.

    How is art playing a part in the midtown regeneration?

    Anywhere in the world, art is central to a city’s regeneration.

    In Myers Park, which is part of midtown, people can come and enjoy Waimahara, an extraordinary immersive public artwork by mana whenua artist Graham Tipene in collaboration with a group of composers and creatives.

    Can you tell us about Waimahara?

    Waimahara is a celebration of te ao Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau, and it invites us to remember water. It references Te Waihorotiu stream, which flows beneath Queen Street and has its source here in Myers Park.

    Within Waimahara, we see references to water. We hear immersive elements such as birdsong, taonga pūoro (traditional musical instruments), and we see references to taiao (nature) like kauri and hīnaki (fish trap) forms.

    Are there other forms of expression?

    Within this space, there’s art all around. There’s art in the planting, there’s art in the boardwalk, there’s art in the stairway by Tessa Harris. And art is in the cultural identity and the story we tell through this built environment.

    Public art, and the arts, culture and creativity, are the thread that connects us as humans. It can bring joy and play. It can make a place safe and liveable. It invites you to linger, to be inspired and to find joy just around the corner.

    How does Auckland Council’s public art collection take shape?

    Auckland Council partners with artists and creatives to bring public art to the Auckland region. The Auckland Council Regional Art Collection has over 400 artworks all across the region that bring joy and creativity.

    What other art can people see in this area?

    In addition to Waimahara, we have Lost & Found in Federal Street by Joe Sheehan.

    We’ve got new works coming to Victoria Street. And we’ve got murals. The regeneration of midtown is providing amazing opportunities for new works and also to refresh existing works.

    What about the City Rail Link stations?

    Next year Aucklanders will be able to step into the City Rail Link stations. These stations provide an amazing canvas for public art. We’ll be able to see our cultural identity expressed through art in the stations.

    Is this, in effect, a free, all-weather, outdoor art gallery?

    Our city’s expression is visible in the built environment through public art. It can delight us, it can connect us, and it can provide an opportunity for discussion and consideration. It’s accessible to everyone. Art tells the story of our place in the world.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pharmac to fund two brands of oestradiol patches from 1 December 2025

    Source: PHARMAC

    Pharmac will fund two brands of oestradiol patches – Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan – from 1 December 2025.

    People will be able to use either brand of patch, subject to availability. From this date, the other currently funded brands of oestradiol patches will no longer be funded.

    “We know how important it is for people to have access to the treatment that works best for them,” says Pharmac’s Manager of Pharmaceutical Funding, Adrienne Martin. “We’ve heard very clearly from many people, that while different brands of patches should work the same, this is not everyone’s experience.

    “That’s why we’re funding two brands – so that people can access the oestradiol patches they need, depending on availability.”

    Earlier this year, Pharmac asked for feedback on a proposal to fund both the Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan brands of oestradiol patches. More than 1,100 people responded to the consultation.

    “Most people supported the proposal, especially the continued funding of Estradot. Some people expressed concerns about also funding the Estradiol TDP Mylan brand, while others wanted more brands funded alongside Estradot.

    “We want to thank everyone who took the time to share their experiences with menopause and using oestradiol patches,” says Martin. “Your feedback has had a real impact on this decision.”

    Pharmac has secured as much Estradot as the supplier can provide. However, global supply issues remain. Demand for oestradiol patches has increased significantly in New Zealand and internationally, and the manufacturer of Estradot has not been able to produce enough to meet this growing demand.

    “There may still be times when Estradot isn’t available for everyone who needs it,” says Martin. “That’s why having another funded brand available is so important.”

    To help manage supply, both brands will continue to have a ‘2 patch per week’ limit on each strength. People will also continue to receive one month’s supply at a time from their pharmacy.

    We heard from people who wanted us to remove the patch limit and change the dispensing rules,” says Martin. “We acknowledge how frustrating these limits are for people but changing or removing them would put pressure on demand, which would increase the risk of these patches not being available.

    “We will review the patch limit and dispensing rules in 12 months depending on the supply outlook.”

    Pharmac will continue to monitor supply and work to ensure people can access the treatments they need.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pharmac funding u-turn for patients

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Health Minister David Seymour says the oestradiol patch funding decision is an example of Pharmac’s new patient-centric approach.

    From December 2025 Pharmac will fund two brands of oestradiol patches, Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan. 

    “Pharmac received significant feedback at the end of last year about a decision to move to Estradiol TDP Mylan as the only funded brand of oestradiol patch. They heard very clearly that the TDP Mylan brand of patch did not work for everyone, and that people wanted options,” Mr Seymour says.  

    “I’m pleased to see Pharmac’s responsiveness to the voices of patients by funding both brands. This decision reflects our commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centric approach.

    “The community let Pharmac know that they weren’t consulted enough on the original decision. Pharmac has learnt from this, and has added an additional consultation step to its annual tender process to seek feedback when considering a medicine brand change. This patient-centric approach was taken in today’s funding decision. 

    “Pharmac worked and engaged with people who use oestradiol patches, menopause specialists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, advocacy groups and petition founders in making the decision to fund both brands of patches. 

    “People should have the opportunity to share what the impact of brand changes would be for them, and what support would be required if there was a change to their current medicine.

    “Last year I outlined in my letter of expectations that Pharmac should have appropriate processes for ensuring that people living with an illness, along with their carers and family, can participate in and provide input into decision-making processes around medicines, this is part of the ACT-National Coalition Agreement.

    “I expect all key groups to be involved in changes to funded medicine brands through the annual tender. This approach ensures stakeholder engagement while managing financial and operational impacts.

    The annual tender process is a key mechanism for Pharmac to manage pharmaceutical expenditure at a relatively low transactional cost. Once a year Pharmac invites suppliers to bid to be the main suppliers of certain medicines. This process can realise between $30 million and $50 million savings per year to spend on new treatments.

    “The redirection of Pharmac remains positive and continues towards a more adaptable and patient-centred approach to funding medicines,” says Mr Seymour.

    “The decisions to fund Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan, and to improve consultation criteria on the annual tender process follows the Pharmac Consumer Engagement Workshop Report, and my letter of expectations, are positive steps towards a system which works for the people it serves.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Kaitake cameras reveal impact of sustained predator control

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  16 June 2025

    The western-most of three mountain ranges in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, Kaitake is the focus for a joint predator control programme involving the Department of Conservation (DOC), Taranaki Maunga Project, iwi and other community collaborators.

    DOC Biodiversity Ranger Brandon Kingi says a comparison of images captured by the trail cameras dotted across the Kaitake shows a dramatic decrease in predators like possums, stoats and feral cats – and a notable increase in protected native species like kiwi, which have been successfully reintroduced to the area.

    “We’ve seen a big fall in the number of feral cats caught on our cameras, which shows the 1080 operation has effectively controlled them,” says Brandon.

    “Immediately after the operation in November last year, the number of cats detected dropped almost overnight — from about 95 per cent of the cameras showing feral cats, to about 1 per cent.

    “There was a similar result for stoats — they were seen on our cameras before the operation, then they had almost vanished when we checked the cameras afterwards.”

    The predator control methods used at Kaitake also include bait stations and leg-hold possum traps.

    Brandon says keeping predator numbers down requires hard physical labour, carried out by staff from DOC and Taranaki Maunga Project, as well as volunteers and paid staff from iwi and community groups.

    “The community collaborators contributing to Kaitake working to protect biodiversity on the maunga have also helped control rats and mustelids.”

    Brandon says the successful measured reduction of predators at Kaitake demonstrates how a trapping network extends the benefits from aerial operations by reducing predator reinvasion. There are also anecdotal observations of more birdlife across the range and a healthier forest.

    “The camera data is another tangible measure that the hard work by kaimahi and volunteers removing predators and reintroducing kiwi is paying off,” says Sean Zieltjes, Taranaki Maunga Project Pou Whakahaere Taurua/Co-Project Director.

    “It shows the power of community involvement to really make a difference in driving biodiversity improvements.

    “Kaitake didn’t have a particular focus for Taranaki Mounga Project when we started nearly a decade ago but then the community support changed that. Relationships fostered with Ngā Mahanga a Tāiri, the Kaitake Conservation Ranges Trust, schools, landowners, and other groups and agencies, have snowballed into achieving much more than we could ever have done working separately.”

    Organisations contributing to predator control and species protection at Kaitake are Kaitake Conservation Ranges Trust, Ngā Mahanga a Tāiri hapu, environmental educators Te Ara Taio, and numerous schools. Taranaki Kiwi Trust, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Save the Kiwi have all contributed to the return of kiwi to the maunga.

    Invasive species are putting immense pressure on New Zealand’s ecosystems. Aotearoa has one of the highest rates of threatened species in the world – 4,000. Once our unique native species are gone, they are gone for good. The results at Kaitake demonstrate a small but important success in protecting native species.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Abaxx Confirms Active Trading in Gold Singapore Futures Following Launch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abaxx Technologies Inc. (CBOE:ABXX)(OTCQX:ABXXF) (“Abaxx” or the “Company”), a financial software and market infrastructure company, majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd., the owner of Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse (individually, “Abaxx Exchange” and “Abaxx Clearing”), and producer of the SmarterMarkets™ Podcast, today announced active trading in its physically-deliverable Gold Singapore Futures following the product’s official launch on June 12, 2025.

    As the only physically-deliverable, U.S. dollar-denominated gold futures contract based in Asia’s primary trading center of Singapore, this product provides a regionally relevant tool for price discovery, hedging, and delivery, and offers global access to a contract designed for today’s trade flows.

    The Abaxx Gold Singapore Futures contract is a USD-denominated, kilobar-sized product aligned with the format preferred by the regional physical bullion trade. Deliverable into approved vaults in Singapore, the contract is purpose-built to serve refiners, industrial consumers, banks, and physical traders seeking to hedge kilobar transactions in Asia’s key delivery hub.

    The launch comes at a time when gold prices are reaching record highs and demand for regional price transparency is growing.

    Abaxx Gold Singapore Futures saw active trading during their first two trading sessions. Eight market makers participated, including firms from Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Thailand, with more market makers and commercial firms expected to connect in the coming weeks.

    “KGI Securities Singapore is delighted to be cleared for trading on the Abaxx Gold Singapore Futures contract,” said Ken Ong, CEO of KGI Securities Singapore. “This new offering directly addresses the growing demand for regional price transparency and a physically-deliverable gold product tailored for the Asian market. We are excited to facilitate access for our clients to this critical new instrument and to further strengthen our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions in the commodities market.”

    “We congratulate Abaxx on the launch of their Gold Futures contract,” said Golf Hirunyasiri, CEO, MTS Gold Group. “MTS Gold is pleased to be the first physical market participant committed to supporting delivery under Abaxx’s Gold Futures contract. We are excited about the synergy and participation and wish Abaxx continued success.”

    The Abaxx Gold Singapore Futures contract is available for trading 14 hours per day, Monday through Friday. For full contract specifications and onboarding information, visit abaxx.exchange/resources-clearing-members-brokers.

    About Abaxx Technologies
    Abaxx Technologies is building Smarter Markets: markets empowered by better tools, better benchmarks, and better technology to drive market-based solutions to the biggest challenges we face as a society, including the energy transition.

    In addition to developing and deploying financial technologies that make communication, trade, and transactions easier and more secure, Abaxx is the majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte. Ltd., the owner of Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing, and the parent company of wholly owned subsidiary Abaxx Spot Pte. Ltd., the operator of Abaxx Spot.

    Abaxx Exchange delivers the market infrastructure critical to the shift toward an electrified, low-carbon economy through centrally-cleared, physically-deliverable futures contracts in LNG, carbon, battery materials, and precious metals, meeting the commercial needs of today’s commodity markets and establishing the next generation of global benchmarks.

    Abaxx Spot modernizes physical gold trading through a physically-backed gold pool in Singapore. As the first instance of a co-located spot and futures market for gold, Abaxx Spot enables secure electronic transactions, efficient OTC transfers, and is designed to support physical delivery for Abaxx Exchange’s physically-deliverable gold futures contract, providing integrated infrastructure to deliver smarter gold markets.

    For more information, visit abaxx.tech | abaxx.exchange | abaxxspot.com | basecarbon.com | smartermarkets.media

    For more information about this press release, please contact:

    Steve Fray, CFO
    Tel: +1 647-490-1590

    Media and investor inquiries:

    Abaxx Technologies Inc.
    Investor Relations Team
    Tel: +1 246 271 0082
    E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “target”, “purpose”, “goal”, “objective”, “ongoing”, “potential”, “likely” or the negative thereof or similar expressions.

    In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential benefits and impact of the Gold Kilobar Futures contract and Abaxx Spot platform, the Company’s business strategies, plans, and objectives, the development of new markets and products, expectations regarding Abaxx’s partnerships, demand for Abaxx’s products and market adoption and regulatory approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors impacting forward-looking information include, among others: risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; Abaxx’s limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; acquiring and maintaining regulatory approvals for Abaxx’s products and operations; the ability to list Abaxx’s securities on stock exchanges in a timely fashion or at all; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions; protection of intellectual property rights; contractual risk; third-party risk; clearinghouse risk; malicious actor risks; third- party software license risk; system failure risk; risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure; and changes in the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains, and the risk factors identified in the Company’s most recent management discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx’s normal course of business.

    Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Abaxx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and information. Cboe Canada does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Work of voluntary fishery officers crucial to ensuring plenty of fish for the future

    Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

    The work of honorary fishery officers (HFOs) is crucial for protecting our shared fisheries resources and this week they’re among the many volunteers being recognised during National Volunteer Week.

    National Volunteer Week – Tūao Aotearoa Volunteering NZ

    HFOs support Fisheries New Zealand fishery officers by carrying out around 40% of recreational compliance work throughout the country.

    “This year’s theme: Whiria te tangata – weaving the people together celebrates how volunteers make their mark throughout communities. We have around 180 HFOs patrolling throughout the country and it’s working together that makes the difference on the coasts and on the water.

    “Our HFOs give up their time to provide education and advice on rules, while keeping a close eye on fishing activities in the name of sustainability into the future,” says Fisheries New Zealand director fisheries compliance, Steve Ham.

    HFOs were first introduced in Auckland in 1967 as a way for people in the community to help get involved in protecting local fisheries from overfishing.

    “They’re an important part of our work to maintain sustainability for New Zealand’s recreational fishers. In one recent example we got a call on our 0800 4 POACHER hotline from an off-duty Manukau HFO, who reported seeing people gathering cockles from the closed Eastern Beach in Auckland.

    “Fishery officers were able to locate the people and found they had 1,348 cockles and will likely face prosecution, thanks to the work of an HFO.”

    Following another call on the Poacher hotline – patrolling Manukau HFOs working in the Kawakawa Bay area responded to the report of people gathering oysters at Waitawa Regional Park. The HFOs inspected the boot of a car and the 2 people in the car were found to have 1,442 oysters and will likely also face prosecution.

    “If your lines are tight while fishing during National Volunteer Week, it might be because of the tireless voluntary work of our HFO network throughout the country who play their part in keeping fisheries sustainable. They’re invaluable people and one of the reasons the recreational fishing compliance rate sits at 94% across the country.

    “A big part of what they do is talk to people, answer questions, and explain the rules. If you’re new to fishing and come in contact with an HFO, don’t be shy, they’re there to help.”

    HFOs contribute a minimum of 100 hours voluntary work a year to looking after recreational fishing areas. They’re put through intensive training, wear a uniform, and have a warrant under the Fisheries Act.

    “HFOs are front and centre on New Zealand’s coastlines, conducting between 11,000 and 14,000 inspections annually in recent years.”

    One of the best things all recreational fishers can do to understand the rules in their area is download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app before heading out,” says Steve Ham.

    NZ Fishing Rules mobile app

    If you have questions about becoming an HFO, email HFO@mpi.govt.nz

    For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

    For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Monetary policy affects some parts of the economy differently: RBNZ Analytical Note

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

    16 June 2025 – Some parts of the economy and prices for some products are more sensitive to a rise in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) than others.

    Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua research found that sectors that make or trade goods, as well as housing and real estate related sectors are among the most sensitive to changes in the Official Cash Rate.

    “When the OCR increases, these sectors tend to cool more quickly. On the other hand, sectors like primary production including dairy and meat, are less sensitive,” the Analytical Note authors say.  

    The research also looked at how monetary policy affects prices across a wide range of domestic goods and services, which do not face as much foreign competition as internationally traded goods.

    “We found that prices for accommodation are quite sensitive. So, when the OCR increases, it puts downward pressure on the cost of going on holiday or business,” the authors say.  

    An OCR increase also has a strong impact on the cost of building a home. This means when the OCR increases, there is relatively more downward pressure on these costs than for prices of other domestic goods and services in the economy. Some services, like household power prices and insurance, are slower to respond to increases in the OCR.

    We carried out this research because identifying which parts of the economy are relatively more sensitive to monetary policy allows us to better understand how various parts of the economy may react when interest rates change. It also means we can see more clearly if past policy decisions are working through to the economy as expected.

    More information:

    Read the Analytical Note
    A research paper by Magnus Astebol and Nimesh Patel: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=30c1814904&e=f3c68946f8

    Watch a short video: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=f4070f8fec&e=f3c68946f8

    Other Analytical Notes: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=8a021ec357&e=f3c68946f8

    Key findings:

    We investigate the sensitivity of output and prices to monetary policy at a disaggregated level, focusing on GDP sectors and CPI non-tradables subgroups in New Zealand. Identifying which parts of the economy are relatively more responsive to monetary policy allows us to better understand how various parts of the economy may evolve in response to policy decisions and to better assess whether past policy decisions are transmitting to the economy as expected.  
    For GDP, we find that goods-producing and goods-trading sectors are the most sensitive to monetary policy, while primary production and public services are the least sensitive.
    For CPI non-tradables inflation, we find subgroups such as housing construction costs and accommodation services are more sensitive to monetary policy, while subgroups such as energy and insurance are less sensitive.
    The small sample size leads to greater variation in estimated effects across model variations. As such, this analysis aims to serve as a starting point for further work in this area.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal Welfare – Three greyhounds dead within three days: SAFE says shut it down

    Source: SAFE For Animals

    SAFE is calling for immediate action following the deaths of three greyhounds in the space of just three days. With the industry now resorting to legal action to delay the Government’s promised ban, SAFE says the Government must step in and finish what they started.
    On 11 June, Homebush Sydney suffered a spiral fracture of her left femur during a race at Ascot Park Raceway in Southland. The injury was so severe that she was euthanised. Just two days later, Homebush Feijoa collapsed and died at the lure at Addington Raceway in Christchurch. The cause of death is unknown. That same day at Hatrick Raceway in Whanganui, Midnight Brockie sustained a catastrophic fracture to his right hock and tibia and was also euthanised.
    These deaths bring the number of fatalities this racing season to 16, already surpassing last season’s death toll of 13, with six weeks still to go.
    “Three dogs in three days is not just a tragedy – it’s a damning indictment of an industry that treats these animals as expendable,” says SAFE Campaigns Manager Emma Brodie.
    “We must remember that behind every number is a dog who felt pain, fear, and suffering in their final moments. That should shake us to our core.”
    This surge in deaths comes just weeks after Greyhound Racing New Zealand (GRNZ) filed proceedings in the High Court seeking a judicial review of the Government’s decision to ban greyhound racing.
    “GRNZ is dragging the Government through the courts while greyhounds are dying on their watch,” says Brodie. “But the court of public opinion has already delivered its verdict: this cruelty has to stop.”
    SAFE is urging the racing industry to accept the Government’s decision and begin working in good faith to rehome the thousands of dogs who remain trapped in the system. At the same time, urgent direction is now needed from Government to begin winding the industry down and to progress legislation that will bring an end to greyhound racing once and for all.
    “Every dog still in this system is a life at risk. We need the Government to step in now to give these dogs a fighting chance at life beyond the track.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Retirement – New Sorted retirement navigator a one-of-a-kind tool for spending in golden years

    Source: Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission
    A groundbreaking new Sorted tool has been released to help New Zealanders nearing or already in retirement feel more confident about their financial future and how to plan for it. 
    Launched by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, the retirement navigator is free to use on sorted.org.nz. 
    Working out how to turn a saved lump sum into a steady income to live on in retirement is a financially and mathematically challenging task. Partnering with the Retirement Income Interest Group (RIIG) of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries (NZSA), the Retirement Commission has created a customisable tool that takes care of the calculations.  
    Based on extensive modelling and drawdown ‘rules of thumb’ created by the RIIG, the retirement navigator addresses a common dilemma – how not to spend too much and run out of money or spend too little and unnecessarily compromise quality of life. 
    Taking into account people’s invested savings (for example, KiwiSaver) and NZ Super, the tool helps users determine the optimal income they can draw down over their retirement. By adjusting variables such as when they expect their retirement to start and their desired lifestyle, people can see how long their savings might last in different scenarios. 
    Sorted’s new retirement navigator is the first digital tool of its kind to be built by the Retirement Commission, and the first entirely new Sorted tool in several years. There are currently no other publicly available tools like it. 
    “There’s a lot at stake for retirees when they start living off their invested savings,” says the Retirement Commission’s Personal Finance Lead Tom Hartmann. “They don’t get any practise at it, or the option to go back in time and grow that money all over again. There are uncertainties about how long they’ll live, how high prices will rise with inflation, how investment markets will do, and how much all of this will shape their lifestyle. 
    “It’s been such a privilege to work alongside the RIIG actuaries and bring their modelling to life to enable people to forward plan. The retirement navigator puts it to real use for pre-retirees and retirees, so they can plan their spending wisely.” 
    Recognising that retirement takes different shapes and forms, the new tool offers four rules of thumb to match personal preferences and lifestyles: 
    • * The Inflated 4% Rule: For those who are concerned about longevity and want to leave an inheritance. 
    • * The 6% Rule: For those wanting to spend more in their early retirement years. 
    • * The Life Expectancy Rule: For maximising income throughout retirement. 
    • * The Fixed Date Rule: For those planning to rely on NZ Super after a certain period. 
    Each option comes with clear guidance and practical solutions to real-life financial challenges.  
    The NZSA’s Ian Perera, Convenor of the RIIG says, “We’re thrilled to see our work on rules of thumb for drawdown come to life thanks to Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. 
    “We always hoped people thinking about their retirement would find our work helpful, and the Sorted retirement navigator tool takes it to the next level of access and understanding. Moving from accumulating savings to drawing them down is not straightforward. We admire how Sorted’s experts have embraced our actuarial work while making the retirement journey as easy to navigate as possible.” 
    Sorted’s retirement navigator tool aims to help New Zealanders: 
    • * Effectively integrate their NZ Super with other retirement savings 
    • * Make more informed decisions about their savings 
    • * Better understand their options for creating sustainable retirement income  
    • * Adapt their spending strategies as circumstances change 
    • * Approach and enjoy retirement feeling less stressed and more secure.  
    Potential applications include use by KiwiSaver providers and financial advisers throughout Aotearoa when offering tailored guidance to clients and customers.  
    Although intended for those who are nearing or already in retirement, the retirement navigator can be useful to people of any age who wish to examine how they might best manage their projected savings. Those who are more than a decade away from stopping paid work can forecast how much they’re on track to have by using Sorted’s existing retirement calculator and KiwiSaver calculator. 
    To try the new retirement navigator, visit sorted.org.nz/tools/retirement-navigator.
    About Sorted and the retirement navigator 
    Driven by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission to improve New Zealanders’ financial wellbeing through accessible, actionable, relatable financial education, Sorted offers a range of free digital tools and calculators. Click here to view them. 
    To read the new guide to using the retirement navigator, click here. 
    About the New Zealand Society of Actuaries 
    The New Zealand Society of Actuaries (NZSA) is the professional body for actuaries practising in New Zealand. It supports a highly specialised pool of around 400 members, of which around 250 are fully qualified actuaries. It sets, maintains and upholds actuarial professional standards and conduct, and supports members as they advance their skills and knowledge. 
    NZSA also contributes to the development of actuarial thinking and its application through thought leadership activities, and provides a source of reference on actuarial matters for government and other interested bodies. 
    NZSA’s Retirement Income Interest Group (RIIG) provides a forum for Society members’ concerns and ideas relating to retirement income, longevity and related issues. The RIIG has published significant work on retirement income including its drawdown ‘rules of thumb’. See the RIIG’s work here. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Immigration changes a win for productivity and workforce development – EMA

    Source: EMA

    The expansion of the Work to Residence immigration pathway to include more skilled tradespeople reflects the real needs of businesses, says the EMA.
    From 18 August, 10 trades occupations, including welders, fitters, metal fabricators, panel beaters and paving plant operators, will be added to the Green List’s Work to Residence pathway.
    EMA Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Lead Joanna Hall says the announcement acknowledges what businesses have long been expressing.
    “These are roles that our members have been struggling to fill for some time,” she says.
    “The EMA has been pushing hard for greater recognition of these skilled trades roles in our immigration settings.
    “These aren’t just labour shortages, these are productivity chokepoints.”
    The policy change supports the government’s effort to better balance the immigration system, which has traditionally favoured tertiary-qualified applicants.
    “Immigration Minister Erica Stanford’s comments around ensuring the system better reflects a broader set of valuable skills – not just those tied to a university degree – is a positive step in the right direction,” says Hall.
    “Skilled trades are essential to New Zealand’s manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors. These businesses make up the bulk of our membership, so we’re well aware of the struggles they have faced in filling key roles.
    “Migrants help lift productivity and pass on knowledge that strengthens the local workforce.”
    The new Work to Residence eligibility criteria require applicants to have two years of relevant experience in New Zealand and meet health, character, and wage thresholds.
    Hourly wage thresholds range from $38.59 to $43.63 depending on the role, with annual salaries between $80,267 and $90,750 based on a 40-hour week.
    However, Hall says some of these thresholds may be out of sync with real market conditions.
    “While we support mechanisms that uphold quality, the wage thresholds do seem high for certain roles and could limit access if they aren’t aligned with industry rates.
    “We urge Immigration NZ to ensure these thresholds are grounded in reality.
    “In addition, it’s important that the value of these trades is recognised not only in the Green List but also in the Skilled Migrant Category.”
    The EMA continues to support balanced and evidence-based immigration policy that reflects workforce realities and helps New Zealand businesses grow.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: RBNZ How are different parts of the economy impacted by Official Cash Rate changes?

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand (video statements)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_y7hUYSDtQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Council calls for applications to help transform water quality across Auckland

    Source: Auckland Council

    Auckland Council’s Regional Waterway Protection Fund (RWPF) and Making Space for Rural Water Fund are now open for applications, offering up to $800,000 in grants to rural landowners committed to improving freshwater quality and restoring biodiversity across the region.

    Applications are open from 16 June to 27 July 2025.

    Now in its 10th year, the RWPF supports fencing and native planting projects that protect waterways from livestock, reduce sediment runoff, and enhance aquatic ecosystems.

    The fund operates on a 50/50 partnership model, with Auckland Council providing financial support, restoration plans and technical advice, and landowners contributing cash or in-kind labour.

    This year, priority areas include the Papakura Stream, Matakana River, Ōrere River, Āwhitu Catchment, and Aotea / Great Barrier Island. Grants will also be available through the Making Space for Water Fund, designed to complement these efforts.

    Tom Mansell, Auckland Council’s Head of Sustainable Partnerships, says the fund continues to deliver real change.

    “Improving rural water quality is one of the most meaningful actions we can take to protect our environment. It benefits not only the land and water but the communities that depend on them,” says Mr Mansell.

    The projects, funded through the RWPF, are a long-term investment in the health of our ecosystems. These initiatives are a powerful example of how collaboration between landowners, council and community can restore balance to our natural landscapes.

    Projects eligible for funding include:

    • stock-exclusion fencing
    • riparian planting using eco-sourced natives
    • fish passage improvements
    • alternative water supplies for livestock.

    Applications will be assessed on environmental outcomes, project feasibility, community involvement, and alignment with iwi and hapū values.

    RWPF and Making Space for Rural Water funded projects are already reshaping rural Auckland—restoring wetlands, protecting native species, and building stronger connections between people and place.

    For more information and to apply, read more on the main Auckland Council website. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: National Volunteer Week celebrates millions of volunteers

    Source: New Zealand Government

    National Volunteer Week kicks off today and is the biggest celebration of volunteering in New Zealand, says Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Louise Upston.

    “This week is an opportunity to thank the millions of volunteers who make a difference to our communities every day,” Ms Upston says.

    Over 53% of adult New Zealanders volunteer, either for organisations or directly helping others, and 89% of community organisations are volunteer run. Formal volunteering is worth $6.4 billion to the economy, and when you add people who volunteer directly it’s worth over double that at $14.4 billion.  

    More than the economic value, volunteering is vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities. Volunteers are everywhere—supporting aged care, disability services, community programmes, the arts, sports, emergency response, and caring for our environment.

    “The work of volunteers touches almost every part of our lives. Volunteering also gives back to those who volunteer by helping people feel connected, supported, and valued.

    “So this National Volunteer Week, let’s celebrate those who give their time – and encourage others to join in too. Every act of volunteering, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let’s celebrate the power of volunteering.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tougher child safety rules to help keep children safer in early education

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    Stronger, mandatory child safety measures have been signed off by every Australian Education Minister to strengthen child safety in early childhood education and care services.

    This forms part of the significant progress that has already been made since the release of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework.

    In July 2024, a new National Code and Guidelines were released that recommended only service-issued devices can be used when photographing and filming children.

    From 1 September 2025, further key changes include:

    • Mandatory 24 hour reporting of any allegations, complaints or incidents of physical or sexual abuse – down from the current 7 day window
    • A ban on vapes in all early education and care services
    • Stronger protections around digital technology use, with services required to have clear policies on taking photos and videos of children, parent consent, CCTV practice and using service-issued devices.

    Child safety will also be explicitly embedded into the National Quality Standard from 1 January 2026.

    ACECQA will issue new guidance and resource materials to support the early education sector implement these changes.

    These changes are in addition to the further reforms flagged by the Albanese Labor Government in March this year to crack down on unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers and strengthen integrity across the care economy.

    These include measures to:

    • Prevent providers who persistently fail to meet minimum standards and repetitively breach the National Law from opening new Child Care Subsidy approved services.
    • Take compliance action against existing providers with egregious and continued breaches, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding where appropriate.
    • Strengthen powers to deal with providers that pose an integrity risk.

    Education Ministers will meet next week to consider additional actions to strengthen child safety in education and care services.

    Quotes attributed to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

    “The safety and protection of children in early childhood education is our highest priority.

    “Australia has a very good system of early childhood education and care, but more can be done to make sure safety guidance and measures are fit-for-purpose.

    “That’s why Education Ministers are acting on this key recommendation to make sure the right rules are in place to keep our children safe while they are in early education and care.”

    Quotes attributed to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Jess Walsh:

    “Children’s health and safety is paramount at early childhood centres, and these changes will help to ensure that we continue to provide that assurance.

    “The Australian Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that children have a positive, rewarding and safe early education experience to get the best possible start in life.”

    Quotes attributed to ACT Minister for Education and Early Childhood Yvette Berry:

    “The safety and wellbeing of children in early childhood education is our highest priority.  Access to quality early childhood education sets children up for lifelong learning and success.

    “Valuing children and investing in their learning and development requires us also to value and invest in the early childhood workforce.

    “I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Commonwealth, to strengthen the National Quality Framework.”

    Quotes attributed to Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn:

    “The safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority – and here in Victoria we work every day to make sure they are safe, supported and ready to thrive.

    “We welcome these new changes, and we’ll continue to work with the Commonwealth, states and territories to review and improve safety for all children.”

    Quotes attributed to acting NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos:

    “These measures are an important first step. While we work with our colleagues on a national approach, the national law allows states to cater to their own needs.

    “NSW welcomes these measures and looks forward to providing additional measures in response to our most recent review.”

    Quotes attributed to Queensland Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek:

    “We must all be persistent in our efforts to strengthen safety measures at childhood education and care services.

    “These changes are a step in the right direction, and I welcome this national approach which will ensure Queensland kids are better protected while providing consistency across all states and territories.”

    Quotes attributed to Northern Territory Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Early Education Jo Hersey:

    “The Northern Territory Government welcomes the Child Safety Review, particularly its focus on strengthening supervision and improving the physical environment to keep children safe.

    “As part of our commitment to addressing the root causes of crime, we recognise that safeguarding children is fundamental to long-term community safety.”

    Quotes attributed to Western Australia Minister for Education; Early Childhood Sabine Winton:

    “The Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring the safety of children who attend early childhood education and care services in Western Australia.

    “I know there are incredible early learning centres and early childhood educators that help children learn and thrive each and every day.

    “I look forward to working alongside the Albanese Labor Government to further strengthen child safety in early childhood education services, to ensure children have the best possible start to life.”

    Quotes attributed to South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer:

    “I’m pleased to see all states and territories working together to strengthen the regulations around education and care services to ensure children are safe no matter where the live. 

    “The Malinauskas Labor Government recently provided an extra $7 million to the Education Standards Board to increase and improve regulatory services. This has seen a 63 per cent increase on the previous year in the number of service visits.

    “I look forward to meeting with my colleagues next week to discuss in more detail how we can ensure we as state and federal governments are doing everything we can to provide safe and secure environments for our youngest Australians.”

    For more information

    NQF changes information sheet

    Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Small businesses are an innovation powerhouse. For many, it’s still too hard to raise the funds they need

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colette Southam, Associate Professor of Finance, Bond University

    The federal government wants to boost Australia’s productivity levels – as a matter of national priority. It’s impossible to have that conversation without also talking about innovation.

    We can be proud of (and perhaps a little surprised by) some of the Australian innovations that have changed the world – such as the refrigerator, the electric drill, and more recently, the CPAP machine and the technology underpinning Google Maps.

    Australia is continuing to drive advancements in machine learning, cybersecurity and green technologies. Innovation isn’t confined to the headquarters of big tech companies and university laboratories.

    Small and medium enterprises – those with fewer than 200 employees – are a powerhouse of economic growth in Australia. Collectively, they contribute 56% of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employ 67% of the workforce.

    Our own Reserve Bank has recognised they also have a huge role to play in driving innovation. However, they still face many barriers to accessing funding and investment, which can hamper their ability to do so.

    Finding the funds to grow

    We all know the saying “it takes money to make money”. Those starting or scaling a business have to invest in the present to generate cash in the future. This could involve buying equipment, renting space, or even investing in needed skills and knowledge.

    A small, brand new startup might initially rely on debt (such as personal loans or credit cards) and investments from family and friends (sometimes called “love money”).

    Having exhausted these sources, it may still need more funds to grow. Bank loans for businesses are common, quick and easy. But these require regular interest payments, which could slow growth.

    Selling stakes

    Alternatively, a business may want to look for investors to take out ownership stakes.

    This investment can take the form of “private equity”, where ownership stakes are sold through private arrangement to investors. These can range from individual “angel investors” through to huge venture capital and private equity firms managing billions in investments.

    It can also take the form of “public equity”, where shares are offered and are then able to be bought and sold by anyone on a public stock exchange such as the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

    Unfortunately, small and medium-sized companies face hurdles to accessing both kinds.

    Companies need access to finance to turn ideas into reality.
    Kvalifik/Unsplash

    Private investors’ high bar to clear

    Research examining the gap in small-scale private equity has found 46% of small and medium-sized firms in Australia would welcome an equity investment – despite saying they were able to acquire debt elsewhere.

    They preferred private equity because they also wanted to learn from experienced investors who could help them grow their companies. However, very few small and medium-sized enterprises were able to meet private equity’s investment criteria.

    When interviewed, many chief executives and chairs of small private equity firms said their lack of interest in small and medium-sized enterprises came down to cost and difficulty of verifying information about the health and prospects of a business.

    To make it easier for investors to compare investments, all public companies are required to disclose their financial information using International Financial Reporting Standards.

    In contrast, small private companies can use a simplified set of rules and do not have to share their statements of profit and loss with the general public.

    Share markets are costly and complex

    Is it possible to list on a stock exchange instead? An initial public offering (IPO) would enable the company to raise funds by selling shares to the public.

    Unfortunately, the process of issuing shares on a stock exchange is time-consuming and costly. It requires a team of advisors (accountants, lawyers, and bankers) and filing fees are high.

    There are also ongoing costs and obligations associated with being a publicly traded company, including detailed financial reporting.

    Last week, the regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), announced new measures to encourage more listings by streamlining the IPO process.

    Despite this, many small companies do not meet the listing requirements for the ASX.

    These include meeting a profits and assets test and having at least 300 investors (not including family) each with A$2,000.

    There is one less well-known alternative – the smaller National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX), which focuses on early-stage companies. Ideally, this should have been a great alternative for small companies, but it has had limited success. The NSX is now set to be acquired by a Canadian market operator.

    Making companies more attractive

    Our previous research has highlighted that small and medium-sized businesses should try to make themselves more attractive to private equity companies. This could include improving their financial reporting and using a reputable major auditor.

    At their end, private equity companies should cast a wider net and invest a little more time in screening and selecting high-quality smaller companies. That could pay off – if it means they avoid missing out on “the next Google Maps”.

    What we now know as Google Maps began as an Australian startup.
    Susan Quin & The Bigger Picture, CC BY

    What about the $4 trillion of superannuation?

    There are other opportunities we could explore. Australia’s pool of superannuation funds, for example, have begun growing so large they are running out of places to invest.

    That’s led to some radical proposals. Ben Thompson, chief executive of Employment Hero, last year proposed big superannuation funds be forced to invest 1% of their cash into start-ups.

    Less extreme, regulators could reassess disclosure guidelines for financial providers which may lead funds to prefer more established investments with proven track records.

    There is an ongoing debate about whether the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which regulates banks and superannuation, is too cautious. Some believe APRA’s focus on risk management hurts innovation and may result in super funds avoiding startups (which generally have a higher likelihood of failure).

    In response, APRA has pointed out the global financial crisis reminded us to be cautious, to ensure financial stability and protect consumers.

    This article is part of The Conversation’s series, The Productivity Puzzle.

    The author would like to acknowledge her former doctoral student, the late Dr Bruce Dwyer, who made significant contributions to research discussed in this article. Bruce passed away in a tragic accident earlier this year.

    Colette Southam does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Small businesses are an innovation powerhouse. For many, it’s still too hard to raise the funds they need – https://theconversation.com/small-businesses-are-an-innovation-powerhouse-for-many-its-still-too-hard-to-raise-the-funds-they-need-256333

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Small businesses are an innovation powerhouse. For many, it’s still too hard to raise the funds they need

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Colette Southam, Associate Professor of Finance, Bond University

    The federal government wants to boost Australia’s productivity levels – as a matter of national priority. It’s impossible to have that conversation without also talking about innovation.

    We can be proud of (and perhaps a little surprised by) some of the Australian innovations that have changed the world – such as the refrigerator, the electric drill, and more recently, the CPAP machine and the technology underpinning Google Maps.

    Australia is continuing to drive advancements in machine learning, cybersecurity and green technologies. Innovation isn’t confined to the headquarters of big tech companies and university laboratories.

    Small and medium enterprises – those with fewer than 200 employees – are a powerhouse of economic growth in Australia. Collectively, they contribute 56% of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employ 67% of the workforce.

    Our own Reserve Bank has recognised they also have a huge role to play in driving innovation. However, they still face many barriers to accessing funding and investment, which can hamper their ability to do so.

    Finding the funds to grow

    We all know the saying “it takes money to make money”. Those starting or scaling a business have to invest in the present to generate cash in the future. This could involve buying equipment, renting space, or even investing in needed skills and knowledge.

    A small, brand new startup might initially rely on debt (such as personal loans or credit cards) and investments from family and friends (sometimes called “love money”).

    Having exhausted these sources, it may still need more funds to grow. Bank loans for businesses are common, quick and easy. But these require regular interest payments, which could slow growth.

    Selling stakes

    Alternatively, a business may want to look for investors to take out ownership stakes.

    This investment can take the form of “private equity”, where ownership stakes are sold through private arrangement to investors. These can range from individual “angel investors” through to huge venture capital and private equity firms managing billions in investments.

    It can also take the form of “public equity”, where shares are offered and are then able to be bought and sold by anyone on a public stock exchange such as the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

    Unfortunately, small and medium-sized companies face hurdles to accessing both kinds.

    Companies need access to finance to turn ideas into reality.
    Kvalifik/Unsplash

    Private investors’ high bar to clear

    Research examining the gap in small-scale private equity has found 46% of small and medium-sized firms in Australia would welcome an equity investment – despite saying they were able to acquire debt elsewhere.

    They preferred private equity because they also wanted to learn from experienced investors who could help them grow their companies. However, very few small and medium-sized enterprises were able to meet private equity’s investment criteria.

    When interviewed, many chief executives and chairs of small private equity firms said their lack of interest in small and medium-sized enterprises came down to cost and difficulty of verifying information about the health and prospects of a business.

    To make it easier for investors to compare investments, all public companies are required to disclose their financial information using International Financial Reporting Standards.

    In contrast, small private companies can use a simplified set of rules and do not have to share their statements of profit and loss with the general public.

    Share markets are costly and complex

    Is it possible to list on a stock exchange instead? An initial public offering (IPO) would enable the company to raise funds by selling shares to the public.

    Unfortunately, the process of issuing shares on a stock exchange is time-consuming and costly. It requires a team of advisors (accountants, lawyers, and bankers) and filing fees are high.

    There are also ongoing costs and obligations associated with being a publicly traded company, including detailed financial reporting.

    Last week, the regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), announced new measures to encourage more listings by streamlining the IPO process.

    Despite this, many small companies do not meet the listing requirements for the ASX.

    These include meeting a profits and assets test and having at least 300 investors (not including family) each with A$2,000.

    There is one less well-known alternative – the smaller National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX), which focuses on early-stage companies. Ideally, this should have been a great alternative for small companies, but it has had limited success. The NSX is now set to be acquired by a Canadian market operator.

    Making companies more attractive

    Our previous research has highlighted that small and medium-sized businesses should try to make themselves more attractive to private equity companies. This could include improving their financial reporting and using a reputable major auditor.

    At their end, private equity companies should cast a wider net and invest a little more time in screening and selecting high-quality smaller companies. That could pay off – if it means they avoid missing out on “the next Google Maps”.

    What we now know as Google Maps began as an Australian startup.
    Susan Quin & The Bigger Picture, CC BY

    What about the $4 trillion of superannuation?

    There are other opportunities we could explore. Australia’s pool of superannuation funds, for example, have begun growing so large they are running out of places to invest.

    That’s led to some radical proposals. Ben Thompson, chief executive of Employment Hero, last year proposed big superannuation funds be forced to invest 1% of their cash into start-ups.

    Less extreme, regulators could reassess disclosure guidelines for financial providers which may lead funds to prefer more established investments with proven track records.

    There is an ongoing debate about whether the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which regulates banks and superannuation, is too cautious. Some believe APRA’s focus on risk management hurts innovation and may result in super funds avoiding startups (which generally have a higher likelihood of failure).

    In response, APRA has pointed out the global financial crisis reminded us to be cautious, to ensure financial stability and protect consumers.

    This article is part of The Conversation’s series, The Productivity Puzzle.

    The author would like to acknowledge her former doctoral student, the late Dr Bruce Dwyer, who made significant contributions to research discussed in this article. Bruce passed away in a tragic accident earlier this year.

    Colette Southam does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Small businesses are an innovation powerhouse. For many, it’s still too hard to raise the funds they need – https://theconversation.com/small-businesses-are-an-innovation-powerhouse-for-many-its-still-too-hard-to-raise-the-funds-they-need-256333

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Need to see a specialist? You might have to choose between high costs and a long wait. Here’s what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    If you have cancer, a disease such as diabetes or dementia, or need to manage other complex health conditions, you often need expert care from a specialist doctor.

    But as our new Grattan Institute report shows, too many people are forced to choose between long waits in the public system or high costs if they go private.

    Governments need to provide more training for specialist doctors in short supply, make smart investments in public clinics, and regulate the extremely high fees a small number of private specialists charge.

    High fees, long waits, missed care

    Fees for private specialist appointments are high and rising.

    On average, patients’ bills for specialist appointments add up to A$300 a year. This excludes people who were bulk billed for every appointment, but that’s relatively rare: patients pay out-of-pocket costs for two-thirds of appointments with a specialist doctor.

    Increasing GP costs make national headlines, but specialist fees have risen even more – they’ve grown by 73% since 2010.

    Out-of-pocket costs for specialist care have increased faster than for other Medicare services.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    People who can’t afford to pay with money often pay with time – and sometimes with their health, as their condition deteriorates.

    Wait times for a free appointment at a public clinic can be months or even years. In Victoria and Queensland, people with an urgent referral – who should be seen within 30 days – are waiting many months to see some specialists.

    High fees and long waits add up to missed care. Every year, 1.9 million Australians delay or skip needed specialist care – about half of them because of cost.

    Distance is another barrier. People in regional and remote areas receive far fewer specialist services per person than city dwellers (even counting services delivered virtually). Half of remote communities receive less than one specialist appointment, per person, per year. There are no city communities where that’s the case.

    People in regional and remote areas receive fewer specialist services.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    Train the specialists we’ll need in the future

    Specialist training takes at least 12 years, so planning ahead is crucial. Governments can’t conjure more cardiologists overnight, or have a paediatrician treat elderly people.

    But at the moment there are no regular projections of the specialists we’ll need in the future, nor planning to make sure we get them. Government-funded training places are determined by the priorities of specialist colleges, which approve training places, and the immediate needs of public hospitals.

    As a result, we’ve got a lot of some types of specialist and a shortage of others. We’ve trained many emergency medicine specialists because public hospitals rely on trainees to staff emergency departments 24/7. But we have too few dermatologists and ophthalmologists – and numbers of those specialists are growing slower than average.

    The numbers of some types of specialists are growing faster than others.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    The lack of planning extends to where specialist training takes place. Doctors tend to put down roots and stay where they train. A shortage of rural training places leads to a shortage of rural specialists.

    To fix these problems, governments need to plan and pay for training places that match Australia’s future health needs. Governments should forecast the need for particular specialties in particular areas. Then training funding should be tied to delivering the necessary specialist training places.

    To fill gaps in the meantime, the federal government should streamline applications for overseas specialists to move here. It should also recognise qualifications from more similar countries.

    More public clinics where they’re needed most

    Public clinics don’t charge fees and are crucial in ensuring all Australians can get specialist care. But governments should be more strategic in where and how they invest.

    There are big differences in specialist access across the country. After adjusting for differences in age, sex, health and wealth, people living in the worst-served areas receive about one-third fewer services than people in the best-served communities.

    Governments should fund more public services in areas that need it most. They should set a five-year target to lift access for the quarter of communities receiving the least care in each specialty.

    More services are needed to help the least-served communities catch up.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    We estimate 81 communities need additional investment in at least one specialty – about a million extra appointments in total. Some communities receive less care across the board and need investment in many specialties.

    With long waiting times and unmet need, governments should also make sure they’re getting the most out of their investment in public clinics.

    Different clinics are run in very different ways. Some have taken up virtual care with a vengeance, others barely at all. One clinic might stick to traditional staffing models, while the clinic down the road might have moved towards “top of scope” models where nurses and allied health workers do more.

    Not all specialists offer virtual appointments.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    Governments should lay out an agenda to modernise clinics, encouraging them to adopt best practices. And they should introduce systems that allow GPs to get quick written advice from specialists to reduce unnecessary referrals and ensure services can focus on patients who really need their care.

    Curb extreme fees

    Even with more public services, and more specialists, excessive fees will still be a problem.

    A small fraction – less than 4% – of specialists charge triple the Medicare schedule fee, or more, on average. These can only be described as extreme fees.

    In 2023, an initial consultation with an endocrinologist or cardiologist who met this “extreme fee” definition cost an average of $350. For a psychiatrist, it was $670.

    One psychiatrist charged $670, but they weren’t the only specialist charging ‘extreme fees’.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    There is no valid justification for these outlier fees. They’re beyond the level needed to fairly reward doctors’ skill and experience, they aren’t linked to better quality and they don’t cross-subsidise care for poorer patients. Incomes for average specialists – who charge much less – are already among the highest in the country. Nine of the top ten highest-earning occupations are medical specialties.

    The federal government has committed to publishing fee information, which is a positive step. But in some areas, it can be hard to find a better option, and patients may be hesitant to shop around.

    The federal government should directly tackle extreme fees. It should require specialists who charge extreme fees to repay the value of the Medicare rebates received for their services that year.

    Specialist care has been neglected long enough. The federal and state governments need to act now.

    Grattan Institute has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts. A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. Need to see a specialist? You might have to choose between high costs and a long wait. Here’s what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/need-to-see-a-specialist-you-might-have-to-choose-between-high-costs-and-a-long-wait-heres-what-needs-to-change-258194

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Need to see a specialist? You might have to choose between high costs and a long wait. Here’s what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    If you have cancer, a disease such as diabetes or dementia, or need to manage other complex health conditions, you often need expert care from a specialist doctor.

    But as our new Grattan Institute report shows, too many people are forced to choose between long waits in the public system or high costs if they go private.

    Governments need to provide more training for specialist doctors in short supply, make smart investments in public clinics, and regulate the extremely high fees a small number of private specialists charge.

    High fees, long waits, missed care

    Fees for private specialist appointments are high and rising.

    On average, patients’ bills for specialist appointments add up to A$300 a year. This excludes people who were bulk billed for every appointment, but that’s relatively rare: patients pay out-of-pocket costs for two-thirds of appointments with a specialist doctor.

    Increasing GP costs make national headlines, but specialist fees have risen even more – they’ve grown by 73% since 2010.

    Out-of-pocket costs for specialist care have increased faster than for other Medicare services.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    People who can’t afford to pay with money often pay with time – and sometimes with their health, as their condition deteriorates.

    Wait times for a free appointment at a public clinic can be months or even years. In Victoria and Queensland, people with an urgent referral – who should be seen within 30 days – are waiting many months to see some specialists.

    High fees and long waits add up to missed care. Every year, 1.9 million Australians delay or skip needed specialist care – about half of them because of cost.

    Distance is another barrier. People in regional and remote areas receive far fewer specialist services per person than city dwellers (even counting services delivered virtually). Half of remote communities receive less than one specialist appointment, per person, per year. There are no city communities where that’s the case.

    People in regional and remote areas receive fewer specialist services.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    Train the specialists we’ll need in the future

    Specialist training takes at least 12 years, so planning ahead is crucial. Governments can’t conjure more cardiologists overnight, or have a paediatrician treat elderly people.

    But at the moment there are no regular projections of the specialists we’ll need in the future, nor planning to make sure we get them. Government-funded training places are determined by the priorities of specialist colleges, which approve training places, and the immediate needs of public hospitals.

    As a result, we’ve got a lot of some types of specialist and a shortage of others. We’ve trained many emergency medicine specialists because public hospitals rely on trainees to staff emergency departments 24/7. But we have too few dermatologists and ophthalmologists – and numbers of those specialists are growing slower than average.

    The numbers of some types of specialists are growing faster than others.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    The lack of planning extends to where specialist training takes place. Doctors tend to put down roots and stay where they train. A shortage of rural training places leads to a shortage of rural specialists.

    To fix these problems, governments need to plan and pay for training places that match Australia’s future health needs. Governments should forecast the need for particular specialties in particular areas. Then training funding should be tied to delivering the necessary specialist training places.

    To fill gaps in the meantime, the federal government should streamline applications for overseas specialists to move here. It should also recognise qualifications from more similar countries.

    More public clinics where they’re needed most

    Public clinics don’t charge fees and are crucial in ensuring all Australians can get specialist care. But governments should be more strategic in where and how they invest.

    There are big differences in specialist access across the country. After adjusting for differences in age, sex, health and wealth, people living in the worst-served areas receive about one-third fewer services than people in the best-served communities.

    Governments should fund more public services in areas that need it most. They should set a five-year target to lift access for the quarter of communities receiving the least care in each specialty.

    More services are needed to help the least-served communities catch up.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    We estimate 81 communities need additional investment in at least one specialty – about a million extra appointments in total. Some communities receive less care across the board and need investment in many specialties.

    With long waiting times and unmet need, governments should also make sure they’re getting the most out of their investment in public clinics.

    Different clinics are run in very different ways. Some have taken up virtual care with a vengeance, others barely at all. One clinic might stick to traditional staffing models, while the clinic down the road might have moved towards “top of scope” models where nurses and allied health workers do more.

    Not all specialists offer virtual appointments.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    Governments should lay out an agenda to modernise clinics, encouraging them to adopt best practices. And they should introduce systems that allow GPs to get quick written advice from specialists to reduce unnecessary referrals and ensure services can focus on patients who really need their care.

    Curb extreme fees

    Even with more public services, and more specialists, excessive fees will still be a problem.

    A small fraction – less than 4% – of specialists charge triple the Medicare schedule fee, or more, on average. These can only be described as extreme fees.

    In 2023, an initial consultation with an endocrinologist or cardiologist who met this “extreme fee” definition cost an average of $350. For a psychiatrist, it was $670.

    One psychiatrist charged $670, but they weren’t the only specialist charging ‘extreme fees’.
    Grattan Institute, CC BY-NC-SA

    There is no valid justification for these outlier fees. They’re beyond the level needed to fairly reward doctors’ skill and experience, they aren’t linked to better quality and they don’t cross-subsidise care for poorer patients. Incomes for average specialists – who charge much less – are already among the highest in the country. Nine of the top ten highest-earning occupations are medical specialties.

    The federal government has committed to publishing fee information, which is a positive step. But in some areas, it can be hard to find a better option, and patients may be hesitant to shop around.

    The federal government should directly tackle extreme fees. It should require specialists who charge extreme fees to repay the value of the Medicare rebates received for their services that year.

    Specialist care has been neglected long enough. The federal and state governments need to act now.

    Grattan Institute has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts. A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. Need to see a specialist? You might have to choose between high costs and a long wait. Here’s what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/need-to-see-a-specialist-you-might-have-to-choose-between-high-costs-and-a-long-wait-heres-what-needs-to-change-258194

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Decades on from the Royal Commission, why are Indigenous people still dying in custody?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney

    Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died.

    The recent deaths in custody of two Indigenous men in the Northern Territory have provoked a deeply confronting question – will it ever end?

    About 597 First Nations people have died in custody sine the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

    This year alone, 12 Indigenous people have died – 31% of total custodial deaths.

    The raw numbers are a tragic indictment of government failure to implement in full the Commission’s 339 recommendations.

    We are potentially further away from resolving this crisis than we were 34 years ago.

    Recent deaths

    Kumanjayi White was a vulnerable young Warlpiri man with a disability under a guardianship order. He stopped breathing while being restrained by police in an Alice Springs supermarket on May 27. His family is calling for all CCTV and body camera footage to be released.

    Days later a 68-year-old Aboriginal Elder from Wadeye was taken to the Palmerston Watchhouse after being detained for apparent intoxication at Darwin airport. He was later transferred to a hospital where he died.

    Alice Springs protest over the death of Kumanjayi White.

    Both were under the care and protection of the state when they died. The royal commission revealed “so many” deaths had occurred in similar circumstances and urged change. It found there was:

    little appreciation of, and less dedication to, the duty of care owed by custodial authorities and their officers to persons in care.

    Seemingly, care and protection were the last things Kumanjayi White and the Wadeye Elder were afforded by NT police.

    Preventable deaths

    The royal commission investigated 99 Aboriginal deaths in custody between 1980 and 1989. If all of its recommendations had been fully implemented, lives may have been saved.

    For instance, recommendation 127 called for “protocols for the care and management” of Aboriginal people in custody, especially those suffering from physical or mental illness. This may have informed a more appropriate and therapeutic response to White and prevented his death.

    Recommendation 80 provided for “non-custodial facilities for the care and treatment of intoxicated persons”. Such facilities may have staved off the trauma the Elder faced when he was detained, and the adverse impact it had on his health.

    More broadly, a lack of independent oversight has compromised accountability. Recommendations 29-31 would have given the coroner, and an assisting lawyer, “the power to direct police” in their investigations:

    It must never again be the case that a death in custody, of Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal persons, will not lead to rigorous and accountable investigations.

    Yet, the Northern Territory police has rejected pleas by White’s family for an independent investigation.

    Another audit?

    Northern Territory Labor MP Marion Scrymgour is calling on the Albanese government to order a full audit of the royal commission recommendations.

    She says Indigenous people are being completely ostracised and victimised:

    People are dying. The federal government, I think, needs to show leadership.

    It is unlikely another audit will cure the failures by the government to act on the recommendations.

    Instead, a new standing body should be established to ensure they are all fully implemented. It should be led by First Nations people and involve families whose loved ones have died in custody in recognition of their lived expertise.

    In 2023, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe moved a motion for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner to assume responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations. While the government expressed support for this motion, there has been no progress.

    Another mechanism for change would be for governments to report back on recommendations made by coroners in relation to deaths in custody. Almost 600 inquests have issued a large repository of recommendations, many of which have been shelved.

    Leadership lacking?

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently conceded no government has “done well enough” to reduce Aboriginal deaths in custody. But he has rejected calls for an intervention in the Northern Territory justice system:

    I need to be convinced that people in Canberra know better than people in the Northern Territory about how to deal with these issues.

    Albanese is ignoring the essence of what is driving deaths in custody.

    Reflecting on the 25-year anniversary of the royal commission in 2016, criminology professor Chris Cunneen wrote that Australia had become much less compassionate and more ready to blame individuals for their alleged failings:

    Nowhere is this more clear than in our desire for punishment. A harsh criminal justice system – in particular, more prisons and people behind bars – has apparently become a hallmark of good government.

    There are too many First Nations deaths in custody because there are too many First Nations people in custody in the first place.

    At the time of the royal commission, 14% of the prison population was First Nations. Today, it’s 36%, even though Indigenous people make up just 3.8% of Australia’s overall population.

    Governments across the country have expanded law and order practices, police forces and prisons in the name of community safety.

    This includes a recent $1.5 billion public order plan to expand policing in the Northern Territory. Such agendas impose a distinct lack of safety on First Nations people, who bear the brunt of such policies. It also instils a message that social issues can only be addressed by punitive and coercive responses.

    The royal commission showed us there is another way: self-determination and stamping out opportunities for racist and violent policing. First Nations families have campaigned for these issues for decades.

    How many more Indigenous deaths in custody does there have to be before we listen?

    Thalia Anthony receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Eddie is an Independent Representative on the Justice Policy Partnership under the Closing the Gap Agreement.

    – ref. Decades on from the Royal Commission, why are Indigenous people still dying in custody? – https://theconversation.com/decades-on-from-the-royal-commission-why-are-indigenous-people-still-dying-in-custody-258568

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A 3-tonne, $1.5 billion satellite to watch Earth’s every move is set to launch this week

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Petrie, Earth Observation Researcher, Swinburne University of Technology

    Artist’s concept of the NISAR satellite in orbit over Earth. NASA/JPL-Caltech

    In a few days, a new satellite that can detect changes on Earth’s surface down to the centimetre, in almost real time and no matter the time of day or weather conditions, is set to launch from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre near Chennai.

    Weighing almost 3 tonnes and boasting a 12-metre radar antenna, the US$1.5 billion NISAR satellite will track the ground under our feet and the water that flows over and through it in unprecedented detail, providing valuable information for farmers, climate scientists and natural disaster response teams.

    Only when the conditions are right

    Satellites that image the Earth have been an invaluable scientific tool for decades. They have provided crucial data across many applications, such as weather forecasting and emergency response planning. They have also helped scientists track long-term changes in Earth’s ecosystems and climate.

    Many of these Earth observation satellites require reflected sunlight to capture images of Earth’s surface. This means they can only capture images during daytime and when there is no cloud cover.

    As a result, these satellites face challenges wherever cloud cover is very common, such as in tropical regions, or when nighttime imagery is required.

    The NISAR satellite – a collaboration between the national space agencies of the United States (NASA) and India (ISRO) – overcomes these challenges by using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology to take images of the Earth. This technology also gives the satellite its name. NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO SAR.

    So what is SAR technology?

    SAR technology was invented in 1951 for military use. Rather than using reflected sunlight to passively image the Earth’s surface, SAR satellites work by actively beaming a radar signal toward the surface and detecting the reflected signal. Think of this as like using a flash to take a photo in a dark room.

    This means SAR satellites can take images of the Earth’s surface both during the day and night.

    Since radar signals pass through most cloud and smoke unhindered, SAR satellites can also image the Earth’s surface even when it is covered by clouds, smoke or ash. This is especially valuable during natural disasters such as floods, bushfires or volcanic eruptions.

    Radar signals can also penetrate through certain structures such as thick vegetation. They are useful for detecting the presence of water due to the way that water affects reflected radar signals.

    The European Space Agency used the vegetation-penetrating properties of SAR signals in its recent Biomass mission. This can image the 3D structure of forests. It can also produce highly accurate measurements of the amount of biomass and carbon stored in Earth’s forests.

    Sang-Ho Yun, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore’s Remote Sensing Lab, is a key proponent of using SAR for disaster management. Yun has previously used SAR data to map disaster-affected areas across hundreds of natural disasters over the last 15 years, including earthquakes, floods and typhoons.

    NISAR, which is due to launch on June 18, will significantly build on this earlier work.

    NISAR data will be used to create images similar to this 2013 image of a flood-prone area of the Amazonian jungle in Peru that’s based on data from NASA’s UAVSAR satellite.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Monitoring Earth’s many ecosystems

    The NISAR satellite has been in development for over a decade and is one of the most expensive Earth-imaging satellites ever built.

    Data from the satellite will be supplied freely and openly worldwide. It will provide high-resolution images of almost all land and ice surfaces around the globe twice every 12 days.

    This is similar in scope to the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 SAR satellites. However, NISAR will be the first SAR satellite to use two complementary radar frequencies rather than one, and will be capable of producing higher resolution imagery compared with the Sentinel-1 satellites. It will also have greater coverage of Antarctica than Sentinel-1 and will use radar frequencies that penetrate further into vegetation.

    The NISAR satellite will be used to monitor forest biomass. Its ability to simultaneously penetrate vegetation and detect water will also allow it to accurately map flooded vegetation.

    This is important for gaining a deeper understanding of Earth’s wetlands, which are important ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity and massive carbon storage capacity.

    The satellite will also be able to detect changes in the height of Earth’s surface of a few centimetres or even millimetres, because changes in height create tiny shifts in the reflected radar signal.

    The NISAR satellite will use this technique to track subsidence of dams and map groundwater levels (since subsurface water affects the height of the Earth’s surface). It will also use the same technique to map land movement and damage from earthquakes, landslides and volcanic activity.

    Such maps can help disaster response teams to better understand the damage that has occurred in disaster areas and to plan their response.

    Improving agriculture

    The NISAR satellite will also be useful for agricultural applications, with a unique capability to estimate moisture levels in soil with high resolution in all weather conditions.

    This is valuable for agricultural applications because such data can be used to determine when to irrigate to ensure healthy vegetation, and to potentially improve water use efficiency and crop yields.

    Further key applications of the NISAR mission will include tracking the flow of Earth’s ice sheets and glaciers, monitoring coastal erosion and tracking oil spills.

    We can expect to see many benefits for science and society to come from this highly ambitious satellite mission.

    Steve Petrie has previously received funding for satellite data analysis projects from XPrize Foundation, from Ernst & Young, and from the Cooperative Research Centre for Smart Satellite Technologies and Analytics (SmartSat CRC, which is funded by the Australian Government).

    – ref. A 3-tonne, $1.5 billion satellite to watch Earth’s every move is set to launch this week – https://theconversation.com/a-3-tonne-1-5-billion-satellite-to-watch-earths-every-move-is-set-to-launch-this-week-258283

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Ahead of the $3 XRP Era, PFMCrypto Launches 2-Day XRP Mining Promotion, $1 Million Giveaway Sparks Community Excitement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Farington, England, June 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As XRP appears poised to surge to $3 in June, leading XRP mining platform PFMCrypto has launched a 48-hour exclusive XRP mining promotion, giving away $1 million USD in rewards to its global user base. This limited-time event aims to help users capitalize on XRP’s bullish momentum and unlock substantial returns.

    Key Highlights of the XRP Mining Promotion:

    – 48-Hour Flash Mining: A two-day, high-intensity mining window designed to generate fast profits.

    – $1 Million Prize Pool: PFMCrypto will distribute a total of $1 million worth of XRP, including fixed-tier rewards of $35 / $1,800 / $4,800, available to users based on mining participation.

    – Boosted Mining Returns: During the promotion, daily returns for XRP stakers and miners will be enhanced.

    Event page: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    AI + XRP Mining: Real-World Impact from PFMCrypto

    PFMCrypto’s AI-powered mining solution offers a remote crypto mining model supporting a wide range of digital assets, including BTC, LTC, XRP, and DOGE. Users can mine cryptocurrencies without hardware investment or technical maintenance, relying on PFMCrypto’s robust mining infrastructure.

    By connecting to high-performance mining farms, PFMCrypto handles complex blockchain computations in real time, ensuring that users receive consistent crypto rewards without operational headaches.

    Why Anyone Can Start XRP Mining with PFMCrypto?

    – No Hardware Needed: Users benefit from PFMCrypto’s industrial-grade hash power—no need to purchase expensive mining rigs.

    – Zero Maintenance Costs: PFMCrypto covers electricity, repairs, and operational overhead. Once a mining plan is purchased, users can relax and enjoy passive income—even beginners can start mining within minutes.

    – Beginner-Friendly: No technical expertise required. New users receive a $10 sign-up bonus.

    – Stable Daily Earnings: Daily payouts are available, and principal is fully returned upon contract expiration, ensuring capital security.

    Click here to become a member of PFMCrypto and receive a $10 bonus.

    Why Now? XRP’s Road to $3

    Analysts are increasingly bullish on XRP’s fundamentals, predicting that rising adoption and regulatory clarity may drive the token past the $3 threshold. PFMCrypto’s CEO commented,

    “This promotion is our way of giving back to a community that believes in the future of XRP. We’re aligning this campaign with what could be a historic moment for the digital asset.”

    PFMCrypto’s Cloud Mining Contract Strategies: Performance-Backed

    With the launch of its new 2-day XRP contract, PFMCrypto opens access to its high-performance cloud mining infrastructure—for free. Since its founding in 2018, the platform has grown to support over 9.2 million active users across 192 countries, delivering impressive results:

    2-Day Strategy: +6.6% return

    5-Day Strategy: +6.15% return

    15-Day Strategy: +20.7% return

    30-Day Strategy: +55.6% return

    These are actual performance results experienced by users—not speculative projections—enabled by PFMCrypto’s AI-driven profit optimization and outcome-based mining model.

    View the full range of PFMCrypto contracts here.

    How to Start XRP Cloud Mining with PFMCrypto

    1. Register: Sign up instantly and receive a $10 welcome bonus, plus $0.60 in daily login rewards.
    2. Choose a Plan: Select a mining contract that fits your budget and financial goals. All plans support XRP mining.
    3. Start Earning: Once activated, PFMCrypto’s intelligent platform handles the rest—ensuring seamless, efficient mining operations to maximize your earnings.

    About PFMCrypto

    PFMCrypto is a global leader in crypto mining and passive income infrastructure, serving both retail and institutional clients with transparent, efficient, and stable cloud mining solutions. To date, PFMCrypto has served more than 9.2 million users worldwide and processed over $1 billion in mining payouts. With operational hubs across Asia, Europe, and North America, and partnerships with leading mining farms and data centers, PFMCrypto is committed to reshaping how users interact with crypto investments.

    Explore full details and start mining today at https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local fishers and DOC free entangled whale off Dunedin coast

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  15 June 2025

    The juvenile to sub-adult humpback whale, estimated to be around 8–9 metres long, was first sighted around 9am on Sunday (15 June). It was caught in 12 mm braided cray pot line with a single float-gear that does not appear to belong to a local company-and was in immediate danger.

    DOC’s expert whale disentanglement team quickly assessed the situation and made the call to work remotely with an experienced local fishing crew already on site, while also mobilising themselves. DOC was in constant contact and providing guidance to several vessels throughout and after the interaction. The crew successfully disentangled the whale at approximately 10.45 am.

    “We’re incredibly grateful to the local crew for their calm response and skilled handling of a difficult situation,” says Gabe Davies  Operations Manager, Coastal Otago. “The safety of both the whale and the people involved is always our top priority, and this outcome shows what’s possible when people on the water act calmly and responsibly.”

    “DOC plays a unique role in situations like this – as nature’s champion, we’re experts in protecting our most precious species.  In this situation we were able to work together with the right people, knowledge, and tools to free the humpback whale.”

    Davies says the response highlights the value of strong local relationships. “Working closely with Te Rūnaka o Moeraki and experienced fishers made all the difference. Everyone had a shared goal – to help this animal get free safely.”

    DOC is aware of another sighting report from Friday and there may still be a second entangled whale in the area. It’s also possible the freed whale has remnants of cray line still attached. DOCs expert disentanglement team remains on standby. 

    If you spot a whale that appears entangled or in distress, DOC urges you to:

    • call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) immediately
    • note the location, time, and a description
    • stay well clear – do not approach or attempt to intervene.

    More whale entanglement for more information and how to help can be found.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man in court after Hauraki aggravated robbery

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A man is appearing in court today after an aggravated robbery at a Hauraki bar on Saturday night.

    Police were called to the North Shore bar on Lake Road after 7.30pm on 14 June.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, from Waitematā Crime Squad, says a sole offender entered the bar.

    “He was allegedly carrying a weapon, and threatened a staff member working at the time,” she says.

    “The offender quickly made off with an amount of cash and took off in a stolen vehicle.”

    Sometime later, a stolen vehicle was detected travelling into central Auckland.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says the vehicle was seen in the Newton area.

    “The car was located by Auckland City staff parked on Fenton Street, and they were waiting when the offender left a nearby venue to return to his vehicle,” she says.

    “After initially being arrested over the stolen vehicle, Police located a large amount of cash on his person.

    “The staff were aware of the earlier aggravated robbery and the man was spoken to further.”

    He was transported back to the North Shore and was charged with aggravated robbery.

    The 28-year-old man is due to appear in the North Shore District Court today.

    “Police will be opposing this man’s bail when he appears in court,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.

    “It’s a pleasing result and I acknowledge the teamwork between the staff working on Saturday night.

    “While the staff member in the bar was uninjured, over the weekend we have ensured a referral to Victim Support has been made.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A solar panel recycling scheme would help reduce waste, but please repair and reuse first

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deepika Mathur, Senior Research Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University

    tolobalaguer.com, Shutterstock

    Australia’s rooftop solar industry has renewed calls for a mandatory recycling scheme to deal with the growing problem of solar panel waste. Only about 10% of panels are currently recycled. The rest are stockpiled, sent overseas or dumped in landfill.

    One in three Australian homes now have rooftop solar panels, and new systems are being installed at the rate of 300,000 a year. Meanwhile, older systems are being scrapped – often well before the end of their useful life.

    This has made solar panels Australia’s fastest-growing electronic waste stream. Yet federal government plans for a national scheme to manage this waste appear to have stalled.

    Clearly, solar panel waste is a major problem for Australia. Recycling is one part of the solution. But Australia also needs new rules so solar panels can be repaired and reused.

    Millions of solar panels dumped as upgrades surge (ABC News, June 12, 2025)

    What are product stewardship schemes?

    The Smart Energy Council, which represents the solar industry, is calling for a national product stewardship scheme.

    Product stewardship schemes share responsibility for reducing waste at the end of a product’s useful life. They can involve people all along the supply chain, from manufacturers to importers to retailers.

    Such schemes may be voluntary, and industry-led, or mandatory and legislated. Alternatively, they can be shared – approved by government but run by an organisation on behalf of industry.

    Existing schemes manage waste such as oil, tyres, paper and packaging, mobile phones, televisions and computers.

    Depending on the product, a levy is paid by the manufacturer, product importer, network service provider (in case of mobile muster), retailer or consumer – or a combination of these. The money raised is then invested in recycling, research or raising awareness and administering the scheme.

    Establishing a solar panel product stewardship scheme

    Solar panel systems were added to a national priority list for a product stewardship scheme in 2017.

    In December 2020, the federal government called for partners to help develop the scheme, but later stated that no partnership would be struck.

    The government released a discussion paper for comment in 2023. The scheme has not yet been established.

    This is particularly problematic given Australia’s commitment to renewable energy, which will entail a rapid expansion of solar technology.

    Recycling should be the last resort

    Product stewardship schemes assume recycling is the main solution to the waste problem.

    Australia’s National Waste Policy also focuses on on recycling, rather than reuse or repair. This is despite recycling being the last resort on the “waste hierarchy”, just slightly above disposal.

    Solar photovoltaic panels are built to last 30 years or more, and are “not made to be unmade”. They are not easy to dismantle for recycling because they are built to withstand harsh conditions.

    It’s difficult for Australia to influence the design of solar panels, given 99% are imported. Just one manufacturer, Tindo Solar in Adelaide, assembles solar panels on Australian soil, using imported silicon cells.

    Many solar panels are being removed well before their end of life, generating waste ahead of time. This is rarely because they have stopped producing power.

    In our previous research, we found many reasons why people chose to take solar panels down. Consumers are often advised to replace the whole system when just a few panels are faulty. Or they may simply be upgrading to a larger, more efficient system. Sometimes it’s because they want to access a new renewable energy subsidy.

    Renewable subsidies and other solar panel policies should be redesigned to keep panels on roofs for longer.

    Functioning solar panels removed before the end of their life should be reused. This would require new regulations including quality-control measures certifying second-hand solar panels, and second-hand markets. This is a much neglected field of research and development.

    What else should such a scheme include?

    Others have discussed what a solar panel product stewardship scheme could include and the possible regulatory environment.

    We think the scheme should also involve collecting and transporting panels around Australia, including remote areas.

    Unfortunately, existing product stewardship schemes do not differentiate between urban, regional and remote areas. The same is likely to be the case for a solar panel collection and recycling scheme.

    This leaves regional and remote areas with fewer recycling facilities and collection points. With a growing number of large solar projects in Northern Australia, reducing waste is imperative.

    Remote island communities in the Northern Territory bundle up their recyclables and ship it to Darwin. Removed solar panels are then transported to urban Victoria, New South Wales or South Australia for processing. Who should bear the cost of transporting this waste? Consumers, remote regional councils with small ratepayer bases, or manufacturers and retailers?

    A well-designed scheme would help recover valuable resources across Australia for reuse in new products.

    However, large volumes of solar panels would be required for recycling schemes to become commercially viable. That’s why the solar recycling industry is concerned about exporters and scrap dealers collecting panels rather then certified solar panel recyclers.

    Even if the technology for recycling solar panels is nascent in Australia, it’s worth stockpiling panels in Australia for later.

    Considering these issues in the design of a product stewardship scheme would help ensure we can maximise the benefits of renewable energy, while minimising waste.

    Deepika Mathur has received research funding from the Northern Territory and federal governments.

    Robin Gregory is affiliated with Regional Development Australia Northern Territory

    – ref. A solar panel recycling scheme would help reduce waste, but please repair and reuse first – https://theconversation.com/a-solar-panel-recycling-scheme-would-help-reduce-waste-but-please-repair-and-reuse-first-258806

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: CPPCC National Committee Chairman Stresses Jointly Safeguarding Peace Across Taiwan Strait, Promoting Chinese Nation Rejuvenation /more/

    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

    XIAMEN, June 15 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on Sunday stressed the importance of resolutely safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait and jointly promoting the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

    Wang Huning made the statement at the 17th Taiwan Strait Forum in Fujian Province, east China.

    He recalled that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s liberation from Japanese occupation. According to Wang Huning, the liberation of the island is imprinted in the common national memory of people on both sides of the strait, and the fruits of that victory must be preserved.

    Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, the CPPCC National Committee chairman stressed, calling for firmly adhering to the one-China principle and the 1992 consensus. He also called for resolutely opposing separatist activities aimed at gaining “Taiwan independence” and external interference, and jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

    Wang Huning assured that the Chinese mainland will always provide firm support to Taiwan compatriots and is committed to deepening the integrated development of the two shores so that Taiwan compatriots can experience greater satisfaction, happiness and belonging.

    Former Kuomintang Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, in turn, said that the peaceful development of cross-strait relations is the common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    He expressed the hope that on the common political basis of adhering to the 1992 consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” exchanges and cooperation between the two sides will deepen.

    Before the forum, Wang Huning held a meeting with participating Taiwanese guests.

    On Saturday, the CPPCC National Committee chairman visited an agricultural park in Xiamen that serves as a hub for Taiwanese farmers to develop their businesses. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Belt and Road Initiative Strengthens Academic, Cultural and Humanitarian Exchanges between China and Kazakhstan – KIMEP University President

    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 15 (Xinhua) — The Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened academic and cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, laying a solid foundation for deeper regional cooperation, Chang Yong-pan, president of the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP), told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

    “The Belt and Road Initiative promotes Kazakhstan’s economic development and regional integration. At the same time, the prospects for Chinese-Kazakh exchanges look promising,” he noted.

    Over the past decade, KIMEP has hosted delegations from more than 100 universities in China. In 2018, the university established a joint research center with Beijing Normal University to promote academic dialogue.

    “Since KIMEP’s founding, we have educated 159 Chinese students. We are proud of our role in strengthening ties with China,” Chang Yong Pan emphasized.

    According to him, academic exchanges are developing thanks to high-level cooperation. In 2024, more than 15 thousand Kazakh students studied at Chinese universities.

    The KIMEP President recalled that after the introduction of a visa-free regime at the end of 2023, the flow of tourists from China to Kazakhstan increased by 66 percent, and the number of Kazakhstani tourists in China increased by 31 percent.

    “The arrival of the first tourist train from Xi’an to Almaty in June was an important milestone. I am optimistic about the prospects for cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” he said.

    Chang Yong-ban noted that he has high hopes for the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, which will be held in Astana. According to the Xinhua source, the 2023 summit in the Chinese city of Xi’an has yielded significant results, and further cooperation should focus on finance, green development, healthcare and digital innovation.

    “The successful model in Central Asia can serve as a model for other regions. Maintaining peace and prosperity here can be an example for the entire world,” he added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 2 killed, 32 injured in western India bridge collapse

    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 15 (Xinhua) — At least two people were killed, 32 injured and several others swept away after a bridge collapsed in India’s western Maharashtra state on Sunday, officials said.

    The collapsed bridge over the Indrayani river is located at Kundmal in Pune district, about 129 km southeast of Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra state.

    “According to preliminary information, two people died in the incident,” said state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

    “Six people have been rescued so far,” D. Fadnavis added. “32 people have been injured, six of them are in critical condition. The injured have been hospitalized.”

    Kundmala is a popular tourist destination and attracts a large number of people during the monsoons.

    Dozens of people, most of them tourists, were on the bridge at the time of the incident, officials said. Witnesses reported that people fell into the swollen river, with some of them swept away by the strong current. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Peter To Rot, the “mission boy” will be proclaimed a saint

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Sunday, 15 June 2025

    by Javier TraperoPort Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – Blessed Martyr Peter To Rot will be canonised on October 19, 2025. His sainthood is the fruit of close cooperation between priests and laity in the evangelising task of mission, specifically that of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC).‘He, the ‘mission boy’, was very ill and has died’. This was the ironic way the policeman To Metapa spoke when he went to see with his own eyes that Peter To Rot was dead. Shortly before, the doctor at the prison where he was being held had injected him with a so-called medicine and given him a syrup to cure him of a cold. The administration of these substances caused him to vomit, which the doctor himself did not allow him to expel by covering his mouth.Such was the martyrdom of this ‘mission boy’. The martyrdom of a person tremendously committed to missionary work. That of a native Papuan catechist who learned to love Jesus, together with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.Peter To Rot was born in Rakanui, a village on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, in 1912. But the story of his sainthood, so to speak, began 14 years earlier, with the baptism of his parents. This was tremendously important for the evangelisation of this part of the Pacific.His father, Angelo To Puia, was chief of his community. He was among the first to be baptised at the mission, along with his wife, Maria Ia Tumul. For an authority among the natives to receive this sacrament of Christian initiation meant acceptance of the teachings of Jesus and, very importantly, renunciation of the practices of witchcraft and cannibalism that were very much a part of the culture of those people, as well as others that were contrary to the Gospel.Peter To Rot’s sister spoke of her family when questioned during the beatification process: ‘My father was one of the leaders of the clan. He always took good care of his children, and was concerned about our education, the advice we received and our general welfare. Our family was known as a truly Catholic family, and our parents brought us up according to that faith’.Peter to Rot’s parents had a very close relationship with the missionaries. They helped build the mission, donated the land for the church, the school and the missionary house. They were a very kind and committed family, always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.Fr Joseph Theler, MSC, explains in the Positio for the beatification of Peter To Rot that ‘Angelo To Puia was a wealthy leader with a gentle character. He was undoubtedly the most respected person by all in the Navunaram and Rakunai areas. He was considered the protector of the indigenous people.With this family background, Peter To Rot showed a very special interest in the Eucharist from a very young age, volunteering to help at daily mass. The Eucharist was for him a fundamental pillar in his life of faith. Ulrich, MSC, who had been appointed in charge of the mission in 1926, wanted volunteer acolytes to make up the weekly list, but at the same time he wanted them to be responsible and to come regularly. Once again, To Rot was the first to give his name. When the children at school were asked which of them had said their morning and evening prayers, To Rot always raised his hand to show that he had done so.Such was Peter To Rot’s religious sense that Fr Carl Laufer, MSC, raised the possibility of his becoming a priest, to which his father replied: ‘No, Father, I don’t think one of our generation is ready to become a priest. It’s too early for that. Maybe one of my grandchildren or great- grandchildren will be that lucky. But if you want To Rot to be a catechist, send him to the Taliligap Catechist School’.At the age of 18, Peter To Rot entered the catechists’ school run by Fr. Joseph Lakaff, MSC. It must be said that the concept of a catechist in the mission is that of a person who is very committed to the community, a guide, a point of reference for all its members. Lakaff defined it as follows: ‘The catechist is a true missionary. He is an explorer, a teacher in the most remote places, a watchman. He softens the soil in the unploughed fields where the seed of faith will be planted. He warns against dangers and prepares the way for the final triumph of faith. Because catechists are familiar with the mentality of their own people, their lifestyles, traditions, ideas about various aspects of life and their language, they give the priest working among a native people, with their help, a clear advantage over the unaided foreign missionary’.Catechists are such committed people that, in many parts of the world, they have even given their lives to continue their evangelising mission when priests, missionaries or missionaries have been expelled, imprisoned or killed. This is the case of Peter To Rot.In 1942, in the middle of World War II, the Japanese army invaded Papua New Guinea. In a first phase, they arrested all the priests, but allowed the pastoral activity of the missions. This is where catechists in general and Peter To Rot in particular played a key role in maintaining the faith in their communities. Gradually, religious freedom was curtailed and certain religious manifestations were banned, until in 1944 the ban was total. Laufer wrote: ‘The huts of the natives were regularly searched for religious books, crucifixes, medals, stamps, etc. Possession of any written document was dangerous. To Rot had in his possession the mission register which, together with his personal notes, he managed to hide in the thatched roof of the school. What had been permitted up to this point and carried out in terms of prayers, Sunday services and instructions, was now forbidden, at least outwardly’.The authorities gathered the catechists in the police stations and forced them to stop their pastoral activities. Laufer, Peter To Rot’s reaction was firm: ‘They have taken away our priests, but they cannot forbid us to be Catholics and to live and die as Catholics. I am your catechist and I will do my duty, even if it costs me my life’. Clandestinely, he went out in the evenings to meet with small groups of the faithful. He gave them catechesis, presided at prayers and, when necessary, administered baptisms or blessed marriages. He consciously assumed his responsibility as a catechist in the absence of the missionaries, determined not to abandon the Christian communities.In addition to this prohibition of any religious manifestation, the Japanese army, in order to curry favour with the most sympathetic leaders, restored practices that had almost disappeared, such as polygamy. From then on, Peter To Rot became a staunch defender of marriage. He openly opposed the practice, which led him to oppose influential members such as policemen and judges who wanted to take married women as wives. For this reason, the policeman To Metapa, who had sufficient power to order his arrest, denounced him. During his time in prison, Peter To Rot showed great composure and conviction. He firmly defended his decisions and his fidelity to the Christian faith, without any regrets. He remained steadfast as a catechist and witness to the Gospel to the very end. Hours before his martyrdom he said: ‘I am in prison for those who break their marriage vows and for those who do not want to see God’s work go forward. That is all. I must die. I have already been condemned to death.’ (Agenzia Fides, 15/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sun Dong begins Dutch visit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong today met the management of internationally renowned semiconductor company Nexperia as he began his visit to the Netherlands.

    Apart from learning about Nexperia’s latest development directions and technology as well as its businesses in Hong Kong and globally, Prof Sun also explored with the company on its plan of further expansion in Hong Kong.

    Nexperia has businesses around the globe with research and development (R&D) facilities established in the Hong Kong Science Park.

    On Saturday, Prof Sun visited the showroom of Renault Group in Paris, France, and met the group’s management who gave him a briefing on the latest development and planning of the group and its brands as well as its various innovative businesses. Both sides also explored ways to deepen collaboration.

    BeyonCa, a premium electric vehicle enterprise backed by France’s Renault Group and China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, was established in Hong Kong in 2021 with its international headquarters being set up at the Hong Kong Science Park.

    Prof Sun pointed out that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has clearly stated in the Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Development Blueprint that the development of advanced manufacturing and new energy are one of the strategic technology industries.

    He highlighted that the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research & Development Institute, established in September last year, is preparing the set-up of two pilot lines at the Microelectronics Centre this year, striving to put them into operation next year to support product development and trial production.          

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI commences visit to Netherlands (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to the Netherlands today (June 15, Amsterdam time).
     
    Professor Sun met with the management of an internationally renowned semiconductor company Nexperia to learn about its latest development directions and technology, as well as its businesses in Hong Kong and globally. He also explored with the company on its plan of further expansion in Hong Kong. Nexperia has businesses around the globe with research and development (R&D) facilities established in the Hong Kong Science Park.
     
    Professor Sun visited the showroom of Renault Group in Paris, France and met with the group’s management yesterday (June 14, Paris time). BeyonCa, a premium electric vehicle enterprise backed by France’s Renault Group and China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, was established in Hong Kong in 2021 with its international headquarters being set up at the Hong Kong Science Park. Professor Sun was briefed on the latest development and planning of the group and its brands as well as its various innovative businesses. Both sides also explored ways to deepen collaboration.

    Professor Sun said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has clearly stated in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint that the development of advanced manufacturing and new energy are one of the strategic technology industries, and is actively enhancing support for strategic industries such as new energy vehicles and semiconductor technology, so as to promote new industrialisation in Hong Kong. In promoting microelectronics R&D, the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute was established in September last year to spearhead collaboration among universities, R&D centres and the industry on the R&D of third generation semiconductor core technology. The institute leverages the Greater Bay Area’s well-developed manufacturing industry chain and enormous market, and promotes the ‘1 to N’ transformation of R&D outcomes and industry development. It is preparing the set-up of two pilot lines at the Microelectronics Centre this year, striving to put them into operation next year to support product development and trial production.”
     
    During his stay in Paris, Professor Sun was interviewed by local media to introduce the latest situation and opportunities of Hong Kong’s I&T, telling the good I&T story of Hong Kong.
     
    Professor Sun will depart for The Hague this evening to continue his visit to the Netherlands.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –