NewzIntel.com

Category: Australia

  • MIL-Evening Report: A 380-million-year-old fossil ‘fish’ from Scotland has been discovered in Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin Charles Young, Departmental Visitor, Materials Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University

    3D printouts of the _Palaeospondylus australis_ holotype, enlarged x20. Carole Burrow

    Queensland is renowned for its fossils of Australia’s largest back-boned animals – dinosaurs, of course, like the Jurassic Rhoetosaurus, the Cretaceous Wintonotitan, and other large sauropods.

    However, our new paper published in the journal National Science Review documents the smallest vertebrate fossil animal described so far from the state.

    It’s a highly enigmatic tiny “fish” from a remote location close to the Northern Territory border. It lived in the shallow margins of a marine environment about 400 million years ago.

    A scattering of its skeletal elements was preserved in a small limestone outcrop at the southern end of the Toomba Range, on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

    Palaeospondylus, a fossil enigma

    Our paper describes a new species of the genus Palaeospondylus, only the second known. Remarkably, for the last 135 years, Palaeospondylus has been represented by a single species that lived in northern Scotland, on the other side of the world from our discovery.

    Unlike nearly all fossil fish of that age, Palaeospondylus was “naked”, lacking external dermal bones and scales. But it did have a mineralised internal skeleton.

    It is the oldest example from the fossil record to show a segmented vertebral column (a sort of backbone), hence its name – Greek for “ancient vertebra”.

    Palaeospondylus gunni specimen from Achanarras Quarry, northern Scotland.
    Carole Burrow

    The type species Palaeospondylus gunni is known from thousands of fairly complete specimens, almost all from a single flagstone quarry.

    When first described in 1890, it attracted a flurry of competing interpretations in Europe and North America. Which group of animals did it belong to?

    Since its discovery, it has been assigned to almost all major jawless and jawed vertebrate groups. All specimens were compressed, making the skeletal elements “melt” together. Imagination has always played a great role in trying to identify its parts.

    Even after the advent of 3D scanning, three recent studies reached different conclusions. According to those, Palaeospondylus was related either to chondrichthyans (sharks), or tetrapods (the land vertebrates). Or maybe it was a stem jawed vertebrate – branching separately from the base of the evolutionary tree for all vertebrates with jaws.

    The Queensland Palaeospondylus

    The story of discovery of our new Queensland species, Palaeospondylus australis, began in 1977.

    In the 1960s, geologist Reg Sprigg had predicted oil and gas beneath the northern Simpson Desert. The Bureau of Mineral Resources was conducting seismic surveys and microfossil sampling across the Georgina Basin, immediately to the north.

    Microfossils are tiny fossils that can only be studied with a microscope, but are crucial to determining the age of the rock. Numerous sedimentary rock samples are collected, preferably limestones, because these can be dissolved in acid. The insoluble microfossils can then be identified and studied in the acid residues.

    In 1977, I collected bits of limestone from an obscure gully in the Cravens Peak Beds, the sandstone forming the main ridge of the Toomba Range. Surprisingly, these produced a rich collection of Devonian fish microfossils. This was the first evidence that an arm of the sea had extended into central Australia during the Early Devonian (about 400 million years ago).

    The 1977 Cravens Peak limestone samples before being processed in acid.
    Carole Burrow

    In the 2000s, palaeontologist Carole Burrow at the Queensland Museum was investigating the internal structure of Devonian fish microfossils to assist in dating the rocks.

    In the Cravens Peak samples, she noticed some distinctively shaped, tiny elements composed of an unusual honeycomb-like tissue. Carole hypothesised this could be a new species of Palaeospondylus, the only record from outside Scotland.

    So, in 2006, we organised another field trip to this remote location.

    The 2006 field trip participants (Tim Senden, Tim Holland, Carole Burrow, John Long, Gavin Young) looking south from the end of the Toomba Range, the last rock outcrop for around 500 km across the Simpson Desert.
    Bruce Burrow

    Returning to the Queensland Museum after our field trip, Carole’s colleague from the Netherlands, palaeontologist Jan den Blaauwen, sent her new images showing similar honeycomb-like structure in the Scottish Palaeospondylus gunni.

    Carole was acid-etching the newly collected samples so she could extract any microfossils. Luckily, she noticed a slightly larger specimen appearing on the rock surface (although still tiny, only about 3.6 millimetres long). It was highly interesting because it seemed bilaterally symmetrical.

    Could this be a braincase (the bony capsule inside the skull that encloses the brain)? She immediately stopped acid etching before it disintegrated into crumbs.

    Palaeospondylus australis holotype, QMF 52826, ventral braincase exposed on the limestone surface by acid etching (left), and trimmed for CT scanning (right).
    Carole Burrow, Gavin Young

    The first uncrushed braincase

    At the Australian National University, our sample was carefully trimmed before CT scanning, revealing the first uncrushed braincase of Palaeospondylus known to science.

    It’s now the holotype – defining type specimen – for our new species. And we have about 400 other elements with the same honeycomb structure which belong to it, too.

    The unique uncrushed preservation of this braincase, revealed by CT scanning and 3D printing techniques, provides the first details of brain structure in this tiny animal from 400 million years ago.

    These include the shape of the cranial cavity and inner ear canals, the position of the pituitary gland and optic nerve openings, and details of the carotid arteries and jugular veins for blood supply to the brain.

    3D scan image, the first view of the upper braincase surface of Palaeospondylus, showing the large opening into the cranial cavity.
    Jing Lu/Insitute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing

    More questions remain

    It is noteworthy that our curiosity-driven research into ancient brain morphology can be traced back to economically driven geological surveys of nearly 50 years ago, conducted to support exploration for oil and gas across central Australia.

    As with any research result, there are now new questions to be investigated. The honeycomb tissue seems unique to Palaeospondylus, but could be a precursor to calcified cartilage of some other groups, including modern sharks.

    Alternatively, it could be an early evolutionary stage for the spongy tissue (endochondral bone) filling the inside of most bones in modern land vertebrates, including humans.

    The unique holotype of our new species clearly shows that previous interpretations of the crushed Scottish material included many structures that were not part of the braincase.

    We’ve also now demonstrated that a recent study in the leading science journal Nature, which proposed that Palaeospondylus was closely related to our tetrapod ancestors, relied on many erroneous interpretations of braincase structure.

    Of one thing we can be sure – Palaeospondylus was not a stem tetrapod.

    Acknowledgements: Carole Burrow from Queensland Museum contributed greatly to this article.

    Gavin Charles Young has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. A 380-million-year-old fossil ‘fish’ from Scotland has been discovered in Australia – https://theconversation.com/a-380-million-year-old-fossil-fish-from-scotland-has-been-discovered-in-australia-250054

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A Chinese own goal? How war games in the Tasman Sea could push NZ closer to AUKUS

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato

    The appearance of three Chinese naval vessels firing live rounds in the Tasman Sea has caused understandable alarm in New Zealand and Australia. But this has more to do with the geopolitical context than the actual event.

    In fact, the Chinese navy is allowed to conduct exercises in the Tasman and has wide freedoms on the high seas in general. So far, China appears to be acting in accordance with both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

    While New Zealand would have preferred more notice of the Chinese navy’s intentions, there was no obligation to provide this.

    Nor is what is occurring in the Tasman similar to the more aggressive sabre-rattling the Chinese military has displayed around the South China Sea, most recently involving both the Australian and Philippine navies.

    And in September last year, just a few days after Australian and New Zealand vessels sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese test-fired a nuclear-capable intercontinental missile into the South Pacific.

    For China, of course, Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea are highly disputed territory. The Tasman Sea is not. But what is disputed is China’s role and influence in the Pacific – and this, rather than a minor naval exercise, is what is causing headaches in Canberra and Wellington.

    The Cook Islands factor

    The surprise agreement signed by the Cook Islands and China under a fortnight ago, aimed at “deepening blue economy cooperation”, is the immediate context for that concern.

    The deal avoids controversial areas such as security and policing. But it moves Chinese influence into infrastructure support for wharves, shipbuilding and repair, and ocean transportation.

    What really challenges New Zealand’s foreign policy is how this opens the South Pacific up to even greater Chinese influence and activity. Foreign Minister Winston Peters has signalled it is time to reset the relationship with the Cooks.

    For its part, China has asserted that its relationship with the Cook Islands “is not directed against any third party and should not be subject to or disrupted by any third party”.

    In other words, China has told New Zealand to butt out of a major development in the historically close diplomatic and political relationship with its Pacific neighbour.

    A Chinese own goal?

    All of this is happening within a rapidly shifting geopolitical sphere. US President Donald Trump is unilaterally attempting to upend the old US-led world order, and other major powers such as Russia and China are adapting.

    New Zealand’s relations with China were already difficult. The Security Intelligence Service and Government Communications Security Bureau have both identified state-sponsored Chinese interference in domestic affairs, breaches of the parliamentary network and other malicious cyber activity.

    The question now is whether China has scored an own goal with its recent actions. Because while it might prefer New Zealand to operate a more independent foreign policy – balancing its relations with east and west – the opposite may now be more likely.

    In times of international stress and uncertainty, New Zealand has always tended to move towards deepening relationships with traditional allies.

    Whether it is the fear of Russian invasion in the 19th century, or Japanese invasion in the 20th century – and whether or not those threats are real or imagined – New Zealand reverts to form.

    It has been this way for nearly 150 years and is likely to occur again. New Zealand is already grappling with how to respond to the Trump administration’s redrawn global system and will be looking for ways to deepen the friendship.

    At the same time, the government now seems committed to joining a new arms race and increasing defence spending as a proportion of GDP. And the supposed benefits of joining the second tier of the AUKUS security pact may now become that much easier to sell politically.

    Alexander Gillespie 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. A Chinese own goal? How war games in the Tasman Sea could push NZ closer to AUKUS – https://theconversation.com/a-chinese-own-goal-how-war-games-in-the-tasman-sea-could-push-nz-closer-to-aukus-250615

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Inspection blitz targets St Kilda rentals

    Source: Government of Victoria 2

    Rental properties in the St Kilda area were visited by our Consumer Affairs renting taskforce at the weekend to check if they meet minimum standards.

    The taskforce targeted properties open for inspection in its first blitz for 2025, following operations in Footscray, Werribee, Fitzroy and Clayton last year. There will be more targeted blitzes throughout 2025.

    The inspections check whether minimum standard laws are understood, with inspectors checking that properties advertised for rent are safe, secure and fit for renters to move into.

    Victoria’s 14 rental minimum standards cover aspects of properties people would reasonably expect in a home, like structural soundness, a functional kitchen and secure windows and doors.

    Letting a new renter move into a property that doesn’t meet the minimum standards is an offence, with maximum penalties of more than $11,000 for individuals and more than $59,000 for companies.

    As well as regular blitzes, the Renting Taskforce uses intelligence and market analysis to monitor rental campaigns, do targeted inspections and act on breaches they’ve identified.

    The taskforce has issued over 55 fines totalling more than $540,000 for breaches of rental laws, including advertising properties without a fixed price, failing to meet minimum standards and not lodging bonds.

    If you see a rental property advertised that you don’t think meets the minimum standards or doesn’t look like its marketing, you can report it anonymously through our online form.

    Learn more about the renting taskforce.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 48-2025: Scheduled Outage: Friday 28 February 2025 – AAMP

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    24 February 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

    Information

    Due to scheduled system maintenance, AAMP will be unavailable between 20:00 to 23:30 Friday 28 February 2025 (AEDT).

    Action

    Clients are advised to await the completion of this maintenance period before attempting to access this…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public consultation opens to assess share hire e-scooter trial benefits

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    The City of Greater Bendigo is inviting public feedback on the share hire e-scooter trial which began last May in partnership with operator Beam Mobility.

    Beam is responsible for funding and operating the small trial area in urban Bendigo until May 2025.

    The current scheme provides around 200 Saturn-5 e-scooters available for hire between 5am and 11pm, seven days a week.

    Beam developed the trial area in consultation with the City and an external stakeholder group that includes Victoria Police and Bendigo Health, and there has been no cost to the City for participating in this trial.

    From May 2024 to January 2025, there have been 8,994 users and 39,883 trips covering more than 67km, according to Beam data. The average trip distance is 1.6km. Complaints received by the City peaked at the start of the trial last May with 32 complaints lodged. It is now around five complaints per month.

    Since the trial began in urban Bendigo, the Victorian Government has permanently legalised the use of share hire e-scooters to operate across Victoria and introduced new e-scooter rules. These include tougher penalties for misuse, and mandated new technology to improve e-scooter safety.

    Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge said the trial in urban Bendigo was an opportunity to assess the success of share hire e-scooters as an alternative mode of transport for residents and visitors.

    “The City is committed to fostering sustainable transport options that benefit the community and visitors to move around more easily,” Mr Petherbridge said.

    “This trial puts to the test how a micro-transport economy can play in creating a more connected and sustainable network, particularly at transport hubs.

    “We want to know the impact of the trial and if residents and visitors have benefited from having access to share hire e-scooters.

    “I encourage you to complete a brief survey on our online engagement platform Let’s Talk. We would like to hear from Beam riders, businesses, and the broader community.

    “As the trial is earmarked to finish at the end of May, the data from the trial and public feedback will be presented to Council to determine the next steps.”

    The survey closes on Monday March 17 at 5pm.

    To provide feedback, visit:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated robbery – Karama

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Karama on Saturday morning.

    Around 4pm, police received reports that two male youths entered a licenced premises on Kalymnos Drive, one of which was armed with an edged weapon, and allegedly threatened staff with the weapon.  The youths then stole a quantity of alcohol and fled the scene on foot.

    Casuarina General Duties swiftly identified and arrested a 14-year-old male, who was later charged with aggravated robbery. The other male youth remains outstanding.

    Strike Force Trident are continuing investigations and urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P25051813.

    Anonymous reports can be made through You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘It’s disgusting that they can get away with this’: here’s how eviction can affect tenants’ lives

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Morris, Professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney

    For people relying on rental properties to keep a roof over their heads, there are few things more scary than the possibility of being evicted from their home.

    The paucity of official statistics makes it difficult to know exactly how common evictions are. In 2019–20, 13.8% of private renters moved due to their lease being terminated or not renewed.

    Besides a report or two, we know little about what happens when households face the possibility of being evicted, or are actually evicted.

    Our research examines these consequences. Through in-depth interviews with 53 private tenants in New South Wales and Queensland, we found these experiences negatively shaped people’s lives well into the future. Here are four themes we identified.

    1. Poor mental health

    The ease with which landlords can terminate a tenant’s occupation evoked persistent anxiety for most of the interviewees (the interviews were conducted prior to the scrapping of no-grounds eviction in NSW, though such evictions are still allowed in other states and territories).

    This was especially so for low-income tenants.

    When interviewed, Susan* had recently been evicted from her apartment in Sydney. She was reliant on the Disability Support Pension for her income and lived in constant fear of being evicted and rendered homeless. She felt that having a disability and being from a non-English-speaking background made her precarity worse:

    if you are somebody who comes from a non-English-speaking background, or you have a disability, or have no ability to enforce [the legislation], it’s on the tenant to take up the laws and to do something about it. And if you don’t have any of those abilities, you’re just going to be on your way to homelessness very, very soon […]

    Grace lived by herself in Sydney. She had been given a no-grounds termination and was convinced it was linked to her landlord’s realisation that he could raise her rent considerably once she moved out. Her mental health was seriously affected by the eviction:

    It was just like out of nowhere […] so that was horrific […] I’m still trying to settle into this new place with that trauma of being uprooted all of a sudden […] I think it’s probably going to affect me for a while and particularly in terms of just the power that real estates and landlords have to be able to do that.

    2. Financial hardship

    For many of the low-income tenants, the financial implications of being evicted were severe.

    Sarah, her husband and their three children had been renting in Sydney since 2013. She estimated that since 2014, they had had to move at least six times. Most of the moves were not voluntary. She found the financial implications of evictions extremely distressing:

    It’s the finances of it that’s the hardest […] when you get asked to move, you need to have a bond ready to go at the next place before you receive your bond back, which is a killer […]

    She outlined all the expenses that came up each time she moved from one rental to another: professional cleaners, removalists and maintenance deducted from the bond.

    After her rented accommodation was condemned, Brenda, a single mum of two children, had 48 hours to move from her rental property in regional Queensland. The move consumed her savings:

    I had $200 after paying all my bills to move. So once I moved that was it. So I struggled the following week for everything. For food, […] getting my son to school, my daughter. It was just horrible.

    3. Reluctance to complain

    The knowledge that, at some point, the rent could be increased to an untenable level or they could be asked to vacate evoked silent compliance. This created a reluctance to complain or request basic maintenance.

    Alice was convinced she was evicted after complaining about the poor condition of the rental property she, her son and grandson had been renting for eight years in regional NSW. Her grandson’s bedroom was unusable due to excessive mould.

    However, her low income and the threat of eviction meant she held off complaining for an extended period:

    […] it’s just disgusting that they [landlords] can get away with this shit while charging top dollar, and […] that’s why I didn’t complain because I said to everybody, “as soon as I complain he’ll kick us out.” […] If I hadn’t complained, we’d still be there […]

    Sarah described how, despite feeling harassed and stressed by her landlord’s unannounced and constant intrusions, she felt the family had to accept the situation and not protest:

    I was petrified of being kicked out if we fought back and so […] we let him onto the property 16 times in 10 months and said nothing.

    When they couldn’t take it any longer and complained, they were given notice, the landlord claiming he needed to do maintenance that required the property to be vacant.

    4. Ending up in a worse home

    A common consequence of eviction is having to move to unsuitable, lower-quality accommodation.

    Jan and her partner were older renters and reliant on government benefits for their income. The flow-on effects of being evicted from their accommodation in Queensland, where they had been living for ten years, were devastating. Her partner attempted suicide, her relationship with him ended, and she was forced to live in a tent on a piece of land her mother had bought several years prior:

    our rental accommodation was sold out from under us to developers and we had to be out with nowhere to go. We looked around for somewhere else to rent and there was absolutely nowhere we could afford at all.

    It’s clear that eviction, or the threat thereof, can have devastating affects on people’s lives.

    Although there has been some movement around improving the lot of private renters, such as legislation abolishing no-grounds eviction in some jurisdictions, and rent increases being allowed only once a year, a lot more needs to be done to ensure tenants have acceptable security of tenure.

    *All names in this article have been changed to protect participants’ privacy.

    Alan Morris receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Joelle Moore receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Thi Thanh Mai Giang receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

    Yiran Li receives funding from funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. ‘It’s disgusting that they can get away with this’: here’s how eviction can affect tenants’ lives – https://theconversation.com/its-disgusting-that-they-can-get-away-with-this-heres-how-eviction-can-affect-tenants-lives-248221

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – Final Week of Summer ticks all the Summer Boxes – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Monday 24 – Friday 28 February 2025 – Settled weather characterised by light winds, clear skies, warm days, and low amounts of rainfall continues over Aotearoa New Zealand this week due to a persistent area of high pressure lying over the country. The only disturbance in the flow comes in the form of a rainband moving up the western South Island on Tuesday, and MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch for northern Fiordland and the ranges of the Westland District.
     
    The incoming rain band moves onto southern Fiordland Monday evening, with the Heavy Rain Watch covering the 13-hour period from 7am Tuesday. It has been an abnormally dry start to the year for the western South Island, with Milford Sound recording only ~20% of its usual rainfall for this time of the year. The rain weakens notably before it reaches the lower North Island early Wednesday morning, and ahead of the rain, warm northwesterly winds will give daytime temperatures a small bump up on Tuesday, but a closely following southerly wind will drop them back down on Wednesday.
     
    MetService Meteorologist Clare O’Connor advises, “The uneventful weather is good news for anyone attending or performing at Te Matatini Festival in New Plymouth this week. Other than the chance of brief rain on Wednesday evening, dry and mostly sunny conditions are forecast so don’t forget to slip, slop, slap, and wrap while enjoying the day”.
     
    Similar conditions are expected over the whole country for the remainder of the week, before the next rainband approaches the south closer to the weekend.

    While settled weather is the story of the week here in Aotearoa, the tropics have had a burst of activity. Two tropical cyclones were named on Sunday evening: Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the Coral Sea, monitored by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, and Tropical Cyclone Rae which lies north of Fiji and is monitored by the Fiji Meteorological Service. A third area of interest between Vanuatu and Fiji may also develop into a tropical cyclone over the coming days.
     
    While none of these are expected to impact New Zealand, MetService’s tropical cyclone forecasters are always keeping a close eye on the tropics at this time of the year.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tiger Woods and Serena Williams were sporting prodigies but children shouldn’t train like them

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Keogh, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University

    photoyh/Shutterstock

    Most children have now returned from their summer holidays and are perhaps considering what sports to play this year.

    For some, this means sampling a wide range of sports, but others might continue to focus on the same one they’ve been addicted to since they were able to walk and run.

    But when it comes to possible sporting success, is it best to concentrate on one or give many a go?

    Early specialisation

    As the name suggests, early specialisation is typically defined as participation in one task or activity, with the aim to improve subsequent performances.

    The rationale for its purported benefit can be traced to the theory of deliberate practice – or what some readers may have colloquially encountered as the “10,000-hour rule”.

    Broadly, this theory proposes the attainment of excellence is proportionate to the number of accumulated hours invested into deliberate skill rehearsal.

    So, the earlier someone specialises via deliberate practice, the more likely they’ll expedite the acquisition of expertise – or so the theory suggests.

    While first explored in the musical domain, there are some examples of athletes who specialised early in a sport who went on to highly successful careers.

    These include Simone Biles (who started gymnastics at the age of six), Tiger Woods (who hit a golf ball on the Mike Douglas TV show at the age of two) and Serena Williams (who was profiled hitting tennis balls on CNN at the age of nine).

    There are also a host of athletes who specialised early and achieved outstanding success as a junior but never reached sporting success as an adult for myriad reasons.

    Doesn’t practice make perfect?

    Everyone would have encountered the saying “practice makes perfect”.

    But does it really?

    Of course, practice is an integral component of acquiring, developing and sharpening any skill. But perhaps we should be a little cautious.

    Let us explain by first asking a few key questions that we encourage readers to ask themselves as the article unfolds: how much practice is needed to be perfect? What type of practice is needed to be perfect? And can “perfect” practice actually help us develop skills that are transferable between sports?

    In other words, if practice makes perfect, should we not be advocating for sporting specialisation as early in life as possible?

    It may seem logical, but is this belief – held by many parents, youth sport coaches, and perhaps children themselves – actually supported by evidence?

    A 2022 systematic review suggested most elite, professional and Olympic level athletes engaged in multisport activities during their youth.

    That is, they did not specialise in their chosen sport but actually diversified their sporting experiences up to the age of about 12, with some level of specialisation occurring from the age of 13 onward.

    That was not all they found.

    Youth sport specialisation was actually linked with increased risks of injury in athletes at the highest levels of competition when compared to those who engaged in multisport activities.

    A similar review noted there was no evidence to support specialisation prior to puberty in the attainment of sporting excellence later in life.

    What sport specialisation did increase, however, were risks of injury, psychological stress and sporting drop out.

    A model to follow

    In support of these findings, Jean Côtè (a leading expert in the field of youth psychology) and colleagues proposed a developmental model of sports participation.

    This model is broken into three general stages of participation: the sampling years (between the ages of 6-12), the specialising years (13-15), and the investment years (16 and beyond).

    As the name of each stage suggests, they are defined by unique types of participation.

    For example, the sampling years are characterised by the acquisition of functional motor skills (such as running, throwing and jumping), developed through a wide variety of experiences.

    The specialising years feature a progressive increase in focus on the deliberate practice of one or two sports, while the investment years are characterised by more deliberately increasing the volume of practice around one sport. In Australia, this may be the stage where seasonal sports become year-long through the establishment of pre-season training.

    Since its inception nearly two decades ago, there has been a growing amount of research supporting these suggestions.

    Food for thought

    So what does this all mean for parents, youth coaches and children?

    We suggest not to rush the process even if your child dreams of an elite sporting career: children under the age of 16 should engage in a wide variety of sporting experiences.

    This is not only fun, but the research shows us diversity is likely to reduce the risk of overuse injuries and increase the likelihood of sporting excellence later in life, should that be their ambition.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Tiger Woods and Serena Williams were sporting prodigies but children shouldn’t train like them – https://theconversation.com/tiger-woods-and-serena-williams-were-sporting-prodigies-but-children-shouldnt-train-like-them-248558

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Strengthening economic ties with Southeast Asia

    Source: Minister for Trade

    The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its trade diversification agenda by making it easier for Australian businesses to take up new opportunities in the fast-growing markets of Southeast Asia.

    Australia has ratified the upgraded ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) agreement which will:

    • help micro, small and medium businesses benefit from trade in Southeast Asia;
    • streamline trade and transportation procedures for importers and exporters, saving them time and money;
    • level the playing field for Australian service providers and investors across education, mining and engineering, and finance sectors to compete more fairly;
    • better protect e-commerce confidentiality of information and intellectual property; and
    • improve labour standards, environmental protections and promote women’s economic empowerment.

    The Albanese Government has been firmly focused on helping Australian businesses tap into the huge potential in Southeast Asia.

    Nearly half a million Australian jobs are linked to trade with Southeast Asia, and we expect this number to grow as we continue to implement Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

    The upgrade builds on the tariff free or preferential access we have on 98 per cent of all tariff lines for Australian exports under AANZFTA.

    With the deposit of Australia’s ratification, the upgrade will enter into force in 60 days.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Drug and firearm offences – Katherine

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has charged an 18-year-old male with drug and firearm offences on Friday.

    Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk members conducted a lawful search on a residence in Katherine East on Friday, where police located and seized 1.7 kilograms of Cannabis, drug paraphernalia, fireworks, ammunition and two firearms

    He was arrested without incident and has since been charged with:

    •             Supply Schedule 2 Dangerous Drug – Commercial Quantity

    •             Possess Schedule 2 Dangerous Drug – Commercial Quantity

    •             Possessing Tainted Property

    •             2 x Possess / Use Firearm whilst unlicensed

    •             Possess Ammunition without permit or license

    •             Fail to meet storage requirements

    •             Possess Fireworks outside approved period

    He was remanded to appear in Katherine Local Court today.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Byron May said “The contribution by the community to disrupt this offending is essential to a safer territory.

    “Anyone with information on the supply of alcohol or drugs to our communities can call police on 131 444. You can anonymously report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/“

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor crashes to a 55–45 deficit in Resolve despite interest rate cut

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    A national Resolve poll for Nine newspapers, conducted February 18–23 from a sample of 1,506, gave the Coalition a 55–45 lead by headline respondent preferences, a three-point gain for the Coalition since January. By 2022 election preference flows, the Coalition led by 52–48, a one-point gain for them.

    Primary votes were 39% Coalition (up one), 25% Labor (down two), 13% Greens (steady), 9% One Nation (up two), 9% independents (down one) and 4% others (down two). Labor’s primary vote is their lowest in any poll this term.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval was steady at -22, with 56% giving him a poor rating and just 34% a good one. Peter Dutton’s net approval was down one to +5. Dutton led Albanese by 39–35 as preferred PM (39–34 in January).

    By 37–26, voters thought the Coalition was the best choice for them and their household over Labor. By 34–18, they thought Dutton better able to deal with Donald Trump than Albanese. By 43–22, they thought Albanese weaker than Dutton.

    The Liberals led Labor by 41–24 on economic management (42–23 in January). The Liberals led on keeping the cost of living low by 37–25, down a little from 37–22 in January.

    In both the Resolve and Freshwater polls that were taken after the Reserve Bank cut interest rates, the Coalition has increased its lead. Here is the graph that shows the dramatic widening in the Resolve poll in the Coalition’s favour.

    Dutton’s ratings have been much better than Albanese’s in Resolve, and this is now flowing through to voting intentions. To put Labor back on track, Albanese needs to improve his ratings and Dutton’s need to fall. In this respect, the Freshwater poll below was much better for Labor.

    Resolve’s respondent preference flows are probably a pro-Coalition outlier, but the general trend in the polls has been bleak for Labor.

    Freshwater poll: Coalition leads by 52–48

    A national Freshwater poll, conducted February 20–23 from a sample of 1,038, gave the Coalition a 52–48 lead by respondent preferences, a one-point gain for the Coalition since January. Primary votes were 41% Coalition (up one), 31% Labor (down one), 13% Greens (steady) and 15% for all Others.

    Albanese’s net approval improved seven points to -11, while Dutton’s dropped four points to -8. Albanese led Dutton as preferred PM by 45–43 (a 43–43 tie in January).

    On issues, 70% rated cost of living a top three issue, followed by 39% for housing, 27% for both crime and economic management, 26% for health and just 17% for the environment. The Coalition held double-digit leads over Labor on cost of living, crime and economic management.

    Essential poll: Labor gains for a tie

    A national Essential poll, conducted February 12–16 from a sample of 1,146, had a 48–48 tie by respondent preferences including undecided (49–47 to the Coalition in early February). The Coalition had led in the last four Essential polls by one to two points.

    Primary votes were 35% Coalition (down one), 30% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (steady), 9% One Nation (up one), 1% UAP (steady), 9% for all Others (steady) and 4% undecided (steady). By 2022 preference flows, Labor would lead by about 51–49, a 0.5-point gain for Labor.

    Albanese’s net approval dropped five points to -5 since January, with 48% disapproving and 43% approving, but the January poll had an 11-point jump in his net approval from December. Dutton’s net approval was down three points to -4, his worst net approval in Essential since February 2024.

    Asked about the direction of the country, wrong track led by 51–31, a blowout from 46–38 in January. Wrong track led by the same 51–31 margin in December, and it has consistently had sizeable leads since June 2023.

    On taxes and government services, 26% thought they should be reduced, 11% increased and 63% maintained. By 40–31, respondents opposed the Coalition’s plan to reduce the number of public service workers.

    Asked whether they were aware of various Labor achievements, 77% were aware of the $300 energy bill rebate for all households, 66% were aware of TAFE and HECS debt cuts and 61% were aware of increased renewable energy targets. However, only 46% were aware of consecutive budget surpluses.

    Morgan poll and Palmer’s new party

    A national Morgan poll, conducted February 10–16 from a sample of 1,666, gave the Coalition a 51.5–48.5 lead by headline respondent preferences, unchanged from the February 3–9 poll.

    Primary votes were 39.5% Coalition (down one), 28% Labor (down one), 12.5% Greens (up 1.5), 5.5% One Nation (up 1.5), 10% independents (up 0.5) and 4.5% others (down 1.5). By 2022 election flows, the Coalition led by 51–49, a 0.5-point gain for Labor.

    Clive Palmer had voluntarily deregistered the United Australia Party after the 2022 election. The High Court denied his attempt to re-register this party. He has now taken over the existing party “Trumpet of Patriots”.

    Queensland federal and state DemosAU poll

    A DemosAU poll of Queensland that asked for federal voting intentions, conducted February 10–14 from a sample of 1,004, gave the Liberal National Party a 53–47 lead, representing a 1% swing to Labor since the 2022 federal election result in Queensland.

    Primary votes were 39% LNP, 31% Labor, 12% Greens, 10% One Nation and 8% for all Others. DemosAU is using the One Nation preference flow at the 2024 Queensland state election for its federal polls; this was better for the LNP than at the 2022 federal election.

    State voting intentions were 54–46 to the LNP, unchanged since the 2024 election. Primary votes were 40% LNP, 30% Labor, 12% Greens, 10% One Nation and 8% for all Others.

    Economic data: wage growth and jobs

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that in the December 2024 quarter, wages grew 0.7%, down from 0.9% in the September quarter. This was the slowest quarterly wage growth since March 2022. For the year to December, wages grew 3.2%, down from 4.1% in the year to June 2024.

    In the December quarter, inflation was up 0.2% and up 2.4% for the year to December. So wage growth exceeded inflation by 0.5% in the December quarter and 0.8% for the year, but it had exceeded inflation by 0.7% in the September quarter.

    The ABS said 44,000 jobs were added in January, but the unemployment rate rose 0.1% from December to 4.1% owing to a 0.2% increase in the participation rate. The employment population ratio (the percentage of eligible Australians that are employed) rose 0.1% to 65.6%, a record high.

    German election

    I am covering Sunday’s German federal election for The Poll Bludger. The election was held seven months early owing to a breakdown in the governing coalition of centre-left SPD, Greens and pro-business FDP.

    Exit polls and pre-election polls have the conservative CDU/CSU leading, with the far-right AfD in second place and the SPD lagging in third. The final outcome should be known by this afternoon AEDT.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Labor crashes to a 55–45 deficit in Resolve despite interest rate cut – https://theconversation.com/labor-crashes-to-a-55-45-deficit-in-resolve-despite-interest-rate-cut-250150

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Human Rights – The medical humanitarian needs in Ukraine remain as urgent as ever

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Kyiv, 24 February 2025 – Three years after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, dramatically escalating an international armed conflict that began in 2014, people continue to bear the burden of the war’s devastation as seen through their lost lives, lost limbs, and lost homes. 

    The resulting medical humanitarian needs are clearer than ever. The strain on Ukraine’s medical services has only increased, exacerbated by frequent attacks on hospitals, ambulances and medical structures.

    Since 2022, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has seen more patients with war-related trauma in need of early rehabilitation, namely post-amputation physiotherapy. There is also an increase in the number of patients requiring treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. In areas close to the frontlines, daily shelling means that some of the most vulnerable, including older people and people with chronic conditions, have extremely limited access to medical care.

    MSF runs an early rehabilitation project with centres in Cherkasy and Odesa, where people receive early post-operative physiotherapy, mental health support and nursing care following incidents of violent trauma. MSF treated 755 patients in 2023 and 2024. From one year to the next, there was a 10 per cent increase in the number of patients requiring post-operative care for leg amputations.

    In 2024, half of all patients in the project were diagnosed with either post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression. The need for mental health support in Ukraine is significant. In addition to the centres in Cherkasy and Odesa, MSF has established a project focused on post-traumatic stress disorder in Vinnytsia.

    “The ferocity of this war has not diminished, and the medical humanitarian needs have only grown more complex. Even if the war were to end tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of people would require years of long-term physiotherapy, or counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder. Ensuring this care requires an ongoing humanitarian commitment.”

    – Thomas Marchese, MSF Head of Programmes in Ukraine

    Today, Ukraine’s healthcare system faces immense pressure, balancing emergency responses with the ongoing needs of patients affected by the war. For three years, drone and missile attacks have been a daily occurrence, in some cases striking cities more than 1,000 kilometres from the frontline. Medical facilities and systems have been forced to adapt to treating patients in bunkers or basements, as well as to frequent power cuts from attacks on energy infrastructure.

    In response to this, MSF operates ambulances, transferring patients from overburdened hospitals near the frontline to medical facilities in central and western Ukraine with greater capacity. Over the past three years, MSF ambulances have transferred more than 25,000 patients, more than half of whom had injuries caused by violent trauma.

    In 2024, MSF mobile clinic and ambulance teams working near the frontlines saw a significant increase in referrals for patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and cancer. In 2023, these cases accounted for 24 per cent of all referrals, rising to 33 per cent in 2024. However, regular shelling and strikes mean that the access of MSF’s teams is not guaranteed. Many of those living with chronic conditions are older, and less mobile, in some areas, people have begun living in their basements or in bunkers, due to the intense shelling.

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ Foreign Affairs – Foreign policy group voices alarm at New Zealand’s role in militarising the Pacific

    Source: Te Kuaka

    24 February 2025 – Amongst an intense reaction to China’s naval exercises in the Tasman sea and recent agreements with Cook Islands, a foreign policy group has criticised the New Zealand government’s signalled increase of defence spending towards 2% of GDP, calling it “loud but not smart” and a “classic case of empty vessels making the most noise”.

    This comes as declassified documents from the latest ANZMIN Australia and New Zealand foreign and defence ministerial meeting describe deterrence as “an increasingly important element of New Zealand’s national security and defence policy settings”, suggesting the increased budget will be spent on warfighting capabilities.

    “China’s intentions in the region are unknown and a maritime presence may be uncomfortable for the government, but it cannot be met militarily”, says Dylan Asafo, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. “If the government was serious about regional security and New Zealand’s influence in the Pacific, they would invest in development and diplomacy. Pacific nations are clear that climate change is the principal security threat, and yet Winston Peters is talking tough and reassessing the aid budget, weakening New Zealand’s relationships in the process.”    

    “Through increasing involvement in military pacts–such as NATO’s Indo-Pacific Four, Operation Olympic Defender, the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR) and potentially AUKUS Pillar Two–our government is taking sides in a superpower rivalry that is militarising the Pacific and exacerbating regional crises,” says Marco de Jong, a lecturer at Auckland University of Technology. “But Trump is showing that the United States is unreliable. An independent foreign policy is more important now than ever.”    

    “This is wasteful spending that will only benefit the military industrial complex and doubles as a threat to our largest trading partner”, says de Jong. “We should be buying ferries not frigates. Our budget priorities must reflect urgent national issues, foremost of which is the cost of living crisis.”

    “New Zealand has an opportunity here to deescalate regional tensions, prioritise our existing relationships in the Pacific, and reestablish multilateral commitments that make small nations safe,” says Asafo. “We must recentre the environment, human rights, and global peace and stability in our foreign policy, rather than fighting other people’s wars.”

    About Te Kuaka

    Te Kuaka NZA is an independent organisation promoting a progressive role for Aotearoa in the world. Te Kuaka NZA was established by a group of New Zealanders with a commitment to an independent, values-driven foreign policy for our South Pacific nation – a New Zealand alternative. The organisation works creatively and inclusively to discuss and shape an active international role for Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, challenges structures of power and inequality and promotes environmental and social justice.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – EPA approves new crop protection tool

    Source: Environmental Protection Authority

    The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a new insecticide to control pests on key crops such as beets for livestock, and brassicas.
    Bayer New Zealand applied to import or manufacture Sivanto Prime, an insecticide containing 200 g/L of flupyradifurone, a chemical new to New Zealand.
    Bayer says Sivanto Prime has a new way of working that targets sucking pests such as aphids, nysius fly and springtails, providing growers with an alternative to older, broad-spectrum insecticides.
    “This decision will help farmers protect crops that are essential to New Zealand’s primary sector,” says Dr Lauren Fleury, EPA Hazardous Substances Applications Manager.
    Insect pests can cause significant damage to feed crops, making them less palatable to stock and reducing yields.
    Bayer says Sivanto Prime may be considered compatible with newer, lighter-touch farming practices because it works in a more targeted way.
    The decision to approve Sivanto Prime was made following a rigorous assessment and consultation process, says Dr Fleury.
    “As this product contains an active ingredient that is new to New Zealand, we assessed the scientific data and evidence, as well as economic and local information, to help enable new chemistry while continuing to protect people’s health and our unique environment.”
    Flupyradifurone is approved for use in other countries, including Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States of America.
    The substance can only be used by professionals in commercial settings, and users must comply with specific controls.
    As an agricultural compound, Sivanto Prime must also receive approval from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) before it can be used in New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Stop Defence civilian job cuts if the Govt is serious about increasing spending – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The PSA is urging the Government to stop planned job cuts to the Defence Force civilian workforce in the wake of promises to increase defence spending.
    “We welcome the u-turn on Defence spending by the Government and urge it to start by stopping any further cuts to the civilian workforce,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, Assistant Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “The civilian workforce plays a vital role in ensuring NZDF can operate – such as maintaining IT systems, providing security at bases, and engineering support for military equipment. Defence can’t operate without a well-resourced civilian workforce.
    “It’s ironic that the backdown on Defence spending comes just a year after it ordered the agency to slash spending by 6.5%.”
    And last December NZDF told staff across its military and civilian workforce that it wants to cut $50m through its Workforce Savings Programme in the 2025/26 financial year as part of plans to tackle a $360m blowout in spending.
    “The civilian workforce is already cut to the bone, and more cuts are planned to be announced next month we understand. Some 200 roles in the civilian workforce of around 3000 have been disestablished last year. This includes 144 voluntary redundancies and other vacant roles not being filled.
    “It’s great that the Government belatedly realising that the unstable geopolitical environment, underlined by the activities of the Chinese navy off the coast of Australia currently, means we need to invest more in defence.
    “We urge the Government to stop with the reckless cuts and spending decisions like stopping flu vaccines to date. It must do the right thing by its critical civilian workforce if it is really serious about the capability of the Defence Force.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 15th National Games athletics (marathon) and handball test events successfully conclude (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games (NG) athletics (marathon) test event and the 15th NG Handball Test Event concluded successfully today (February 23).

         The marathon test event took place in this morning. Setting off from the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, the runners entered Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Port, ran along the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Kong Sham Western Highway Viaduct, then turned back to the Shenzhen Bay Port through the same route, and finally ended at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. A total of 38 athletes participated including 3 male athletes and 3 female athletes from Hong Kong in the races. Zhao Chaochuan, from Yunnan, was crowned the Men’s race championship in a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 17 seconds, while Chen Liqin from Guangdong won the Women’s race championship, finishing at 2 hours, 44 minutes and 44 seconds. All the six Hong Kong athletes completed the races smoothly. Among them, Leanne Szeto Shiu-yan won the third place in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 20 seconds.

         As for the handball test event held this afternoon, the final and the third-place games were staged at the Kai Tak Arena in the Kai Tak Sports Park. The men’s handball team from Jiangsu won the championship, while the handball teams from Hong Kong and Guangdong took the titles of first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

         In concluding the test events, the Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO), Mr Yeung Tak-keung, expressed his gratitude for the joint collaboration of all government departments, sports associations concerned and different organisations in implementing various arrangements planned before the event, marking a successful conclusion to the two test events. The NGCO will hold a meeting with all relevant government departments and organisations to review and enhance the competition arrangements, with a view to ensuring full preparation for the 15th NG to be held in November this year.

         Mr Yeung also thanked the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the Executive Committee for the 15th NG, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games in Shenzhen for joining hands with Hong Kong to organise this cross-boundary marathon test event, so as to spur inter-connectivity in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) via the NG events and further deepen collaboration and exchanges in sports among Hong Kong and other cities in the GBA.

         In addition to the marathon test event and handball test event, the NGCO will be holding test events of various sports for the 15th NG gradually. The triathlon test event will take place at the Central Harbourfront and Victoria Harbour on March 1 and 2.

         For information on the games in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.html), as well the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk).               

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Taiwan: Amnesty calls for robust protection of human rights in the digital age at RightsCon2025

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Taiwan must address human rights concerns about the digitalization of government data and other aspects of the country’s Internet governance, Amnesty International Taiwan and its partners will say in a joint statement to be presented to President Lai Ching-Te on 25 February.

    The statement signed by seven organizations will be presented during the 13th edition of RightsCon, a global conference on promoting and safeguarding digital rights, which is taking place for the first time in East Asia, in Taipei, Taiwan, from 24 to 27 February.

    “The Taiwanese government must ensure its approach to digital governance will allow human rights and the rule of law to continue to thrive in the country, 

    Eeling Chiu, Amnesty International Taiwan Director.

    “When this government came to power, it promised to uphold and respect digital rights. It must live up to it. A crucial step would be to improve regulations on personal data protection by adopting and following sound privacy protection principles that give individuals consent over how their personal data is used and the right to retain control over it.”

    The joint statement calls for action on a Digital Bill of Rights drafted and put forward by civil society actors; improvement in the handling and respect of personal data; establishment of a mechanism for accountability and remedy in the event of personal data breaches in public offices; and prevention of the use and abuse of executive powers to restrict internet access.

    RightsCon is expected to tackle a broad spectrum of issues, including regulating social media platforms to prevent them from becoming conduits for online hate, the global proliferation of spyware, as well as the emergence of Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and increasing repression online.

    “RightsCon provides us with a critical platform for a global dialogue on emerging human rights issues in the digital space. As technology and online interactions rapidly evolve this discussion has become increasingly urgent,” said Eeling Chiu, Amnesty International Taiwan Director.

    Amnesty International Taiwan will be participating in the conference throughout its duration with spokespeople available for media interviews regarding Amnesty’s calls for governments to:

    • enact and enforce robust data protection laws to help promote human rights, ban surveillance advertising that relies on invasive tracking and the profiling of users for profit.
    • establish legally binding measures that require technology companies to conduct human rights due diligence to identify and address human rights impacts related to their global operations, including risks and abuses linked to their algorithmic systems and business models.
    • for Big Tech companies to end their surveillance-based business models; and for social media companies to increase investment in local-language content moderation throughout the world, particularly in non-English speaking, Global Majority countries.

    Background

    Every two years, RightsCon convenes business leaders, policy makers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology. More than 550 discussion sessions would be held in Taipei and online, bringing together activists, journalists, government representatives and business leaders from around the world to address pressing issues related to human rights in the digital age. Notable speakers at this year’s event include Australian Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tech official Rashad Abelson, and Tanzanian Parliamentarian Neema Lugangira.

    For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

    In Taipei – Jingjie Chen, Senior Media Coordinator at AI Taiwan on [email protected]

    In London – Stanley Kwenda, Strategic Communications Advisor at Amnesty Tech on [email protected] or Amnesty International’s press office via [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry

    Source: University of South Australia

    24 February 2025

    UniSA researchers are encouraging airlines to explore sustainable fuel options.

    Unplanned oil supply outages caused by geopolitical instability, military conflicts, natural disasters and technical issues are throwing airline stock markets into chaos and making it more expensive to fly.

    That’s the conclusion from Australian aviation experts in a new paper published in Energy Economics examining the links between unforeseen oil supply disruptions and airline stock prices.

    University of South Australia researchers argue that because fuel accounts for 30% of an airline’s total expenses, the industry is especially sensitive to any sudden fluctuations in the crude oil market, particularly from non-OPEC countries that are more volatile.

    Major airlines such as United Airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines are the most affected.

    UniSA aviation lecturer Dr Yifei Cai, who led the study, says the unpredictability of oil supply shocks provides compelling evidence why alternative energy sources are needed, including biofuels and hydrogen.

    “Global airline operations rely heavily on stable fuel supplies, and unexpected oil supply outages make it very difficult for them to predict their costs,” Dr Cai says.

    Co-author, UniSA Aviation Professor Shane Zhang, says that unplanned oil supply outages have a significant impact on oil prices as they can disrupt the balance between oil supply and demand, creating shortages and driving up prices.

    “Our findings suggest that airlines may need to rethink their risk management strategies and fuel hedging practices to mitigate potential financial turbulence caused by such outages,” Prof Zhang says.

    The oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia in March 2020, for example, triggered a significant shift in oil prices and was recognised as a pivotal factor in the stock market crash of 2020.

    The study highlights the potential impact on investment strategies, stock market stability and long-term financial planning in the aviation sector.

    The researchers claim that diversifying fuel supply sources would reduce reliance on a single region or supplier.

    Investing in fuel-efficient aircraft and sustainable initiatives such as biofuels and hydrogen would also lessen dependence on traditional jet fuels and their price fluctuations.

    Prof Zhang says that more than 90% of Australian oil is imported from overseas markets, for example, and it would “make sense” to grow the domestic sustainable aviation fuel industry to reduce the reliance on the overseas supply for traditional jet fuels in the long term.

    Future research will investigate the impacts of unplanned oil supply outages at country levels.

    Notes for editors

    “Accessing the influence of unplanned oil supply outages on airline stock connectedness” is authored by researchers from Wuchang University of Technology and the University of South Australia.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2024.108145

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

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
    Researcher contact: Prof Shane Zhang E: shane.zhang@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Lend a hand this Clean Up Australia Day

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    Greater Bendigo residents can lend a helping hand at six local sites in White Hills, Kangaroo Flat, Long Gully, Huntly, Epsom and Ascot on the Clean Up Australia Day weekend, Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2, 2025.

    Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said Clean Up Australia Day is the nation’s largest community based environmental event.

    “Clean Up Australia Day has been an important community event in Greater Bendigo for many years with loads of rubbish removed from our local landscapes,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “It’s a simple and powerful way to contribute to our local community and environment, so why not roll up your sleeves and get involved at a local site on the day.

    “It’s easy to participate and all you need to do is attend one of the five sites, wear suitable clothing, bring along a pair of gloves, hat and a drink bottle and register with the site coordinator when you arrive.  

    “Some collection bags will be available but it would be great if participants could also bring along their own bag to collect rubbish in.”

    Children 15 years of age and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

    Further information is available by phoning the City’s Resource Recovery and Education team on 1300 002 642 or from the Clean Up Australia Day website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: More police set to start work as recruitment initiatives take effect

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism

    More than 1,000 newly graduated police officers will start work across metro, regional and rural NSW this year – the largest number of recruits in two years to attest the Goulburn Police Academy and a major boost to frontline policing and community safety.

    This follows December’s notable attestation with more than 300 officers – the largest class in a decade – attesting and starting work at their new home stations across the state.

    Applications to join the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) have increased by more than 60 per cent since the Minns Labor Government announced paid study in October 2023 – with 3,360 people applying to join the NSWPF.

    Last year, the NSW Government introduced the ‘Be A Cop in Your Hometown’ initiative, allowing recruits from rural areas to serve in or near their hometowns after graduating from the Goulburn Police Academy. The next class to graduate will be the first to benefit from this new scheme.

    Today, we are pleased to report that 47 individuals have applied to return to regional locations under the program, and all will be deployed to these areas upon graduating from the Goulburn Police Academy.

    In the next class to graduate, nine recruits—seven men and two women—will be eligible to return to regional locations they have nominated, followed by another 23 in the class after that.

    Among them, one recruit is a mother of five who will be returning to her hometown of Coffs Harbour, and another is a father and daughter training together from Inverell.

    Under 12 years of the former Liberal Government, they had no plan for police recruitment, no plan for police retention and sent wages backwards for more than a decade.

    In fact, police officer turnover, more than doubled in the last term of the Liberal National Government, from 513 per year to more than 1286 per year.

    While we still have more work to do, this application and graduate data shows that the Minns Labor Government has been able to begin to arrest the slide in recruitment for New South Wales police.

    These initiatives are part of the Government’s broader, long-term plan to address the crisis in recruitment and retention of frontline workers, especially in law enforcement, and ensure the safety of our communities.

    This includes important initiatives including:

    • Abolishing the wages cap, ensuring fair and competitive salaries for police officers;
    • Delivering a historic wage increase, overwhelmingly backed by NSW Police officers with 96 per cent voting in favour;
    • Establishing a groundbreaking scheme to pay students while they study to become officers, resulting in a 67 per cent surge in applications over the past year; and
    • Launching two new targeted programs to attract both experienced officers and regional recruits.

    NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

    “When we entered Government, we committed to rebuilding frontline services, and I’m proud to say we’re making real progress in restoring our police force.

    “It’s a big job, it’s a very tough job, and we know how important police officers are, often risking their lives to keep us safe.

    “There’s still more work to do, but we’ve shown we’re prepared to take strong steps to back in our police force.”

    Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

    “These results show that the strategies we’ve put in place are working and that we are making real progress in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges that have long plagued the NSW Police Force.

    “While there’s more work to be done, we are confident that the tide is changing. We are attracting new recruits, retaining experienced officers, and making policing a more rewarding and attractive career.

    “This is just the beginning, and we will continue to build on this momentum to ensure that our police force is equipped and supported to keep our communities safe.”

    NSW Police Commissioner, Karen Webb said:

    “I am enormously proud of these numbers, they are a turning point as we plan for the next generation of police in NSW.

    “Police in NSW have never had better pay and conditions – now is the perfect time to become a police officer.

    “We will strategically fill critical positions where they are needed most, some of that focus will be on police numbers in regional towns as we face an escalating issue around youth crime.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Recreational Fishing Trust Advisory Council to oversee expenditure on recreational fishing funds

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional NSW

    The Minns Labor Government has delivered on its election commitment to improve oversight of how NSW fishing licence fees are spent, with new regulation now in place to establish a Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council to oversee the spending of the funds.

    The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be responsible for providing advice to the NSW Minister for Agriculture on all expenditure from the Recreational Fishing Freshwater and Saltwater Trusts.

    Revenue raised from recreational fishing license fees, around $16 million annually, is placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing experiences, opportunities and habitats in NSW.

    Since 2001, the Recreational Fishing Trusts have supported funding for more than 3,300 large and small projects, with almost 3,000 projects completed.

    By providing advice directly to the Minister, the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will increase the confidence of recreational fishers in the way trust funds are spent, by improving the decision-making transparency.

    In addition to members with expertise in recreational fishing, the new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will look to have members with expertise in other important areas, including fisheries science and infrastructure construction, to assist with the review of the many diverse types of funding applications that are received each year.  

    The existing advisory council on recreational fishing will continue to provide a key role with its focus on advising the Minister on recreational fishing issues, while the new council will focus on how expenditure is allocated to projects and ensuring they benefit recreational fishers.

    Appointment to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will be made following an open and transparent recruitment process that can now get underway following the change to the regulation.

    Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

    “In 2023-24, over 400,000 NSW recreational fishing licences were issued, and the NSW Government is committed to ensuring that recreational fishers fishing fees are used transparently and deliver the greatest benefit to saltwater and freshwater fishers.

    “Projects funded through the Recreational Fishing Trusts—ranging from improvements to fishing access and facilities, to the annual stocking of millions of fish into waterways—play a crucial role in enhancing fishing opportunities for both current and future fishers in NSW.

    “The new Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council will bring specific expertise to decision making processes and ensure that recreational fishers can have confidence in the way funds from the Recreational Fishing Trusts are used and invested.

    “I look forward to welcoming applications and appointing members to the Recreational Fishing Trusts Advisory Council following an open and transparent recruitment process this year.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $4.9 Million Animal Studies Training Centre Opens at TAFE NSW Wyong

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for the Central Coast, Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

    The future of animal care just got brighter on the Central Coast, with Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan, and Minister for the Central Coast and local Member, David Harris today officially opening the new $4.9 million Animal Studies Training Centre at TAFE NSW Wyong.

    This state-of-the-art facility is set to become the go-to-hub for more than 480 Central Coast students enrolled in animal care and veterinary nursing courses this semester.

    These students will have access to a simulated veterinary-style clinic, theatre and radiology rooms, as well as grooming and hydrotherapy facilities, and specialist animal habitats.

    By equipping students with real-world skills in animal care services, veterinary nursing, and even wildlife and exhibited animals, the new centre is unlocking exciting career pathways into the booming animal care industry.

    With the number of veterinary nurses in Australia expected to grow by 5.9% from 2023 to 2028, and an ongoing shortage of animal care and veterinary nursing professionals, this new facility will help address workforce demand across the Central Coast region.

    Animal studies courses now being delivered at TAFE NSW Wyong include:

    • Certificate II in Animal Care 
    • Certificate III in Animal Care Services 
    • Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animals 
    • Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing 
    • Certificate II in Animal Care (TVET)

    This investment is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to rebuilding TAFE NSW. In addition to the new Animal Studies Centre, TAFE NSW Wyong is set to receive more than $2.6 million to upgrade campus facilities ensuring students have access to top-tier education and training. 

    Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

    “The Minns Labor Government is committed to rebuilding TAFE NSW to provide education and training focused on priority industries and the critical skills our communities need.

    “The new Animal Studies Training Centre at TAFE NSW Wyong is proof of our unwavering commitment to restoring TAFE NSW as a leading provider of vocational education and training aligned to local industry and community needs.

    “This state-of-the-art facility is a game-changer for the Central Coast, giving students access to cutting-edge equipment and specialised training that mirrors real-world industry standards. We’re setting them up for success with job-ready skills that will open doors to rewarding careers in the growing animal care industry.”

    Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris said:

    “Like many regional communities, Wyong and the Central Coast rely heavily on TAFE NSW to deliver education and training to support local business and industry.

    “Wildlife attractions, animal hospitals, and pet-loving residents contribute to the demand for skilled animal care workers and veterinary nurses.  

    “After touring the facility late last year it’s exciting to see that the doors are finally opening to bolster tertiary education on the Central Coast.

    “The NSW Government’s investment in the new animal services training centre at TAFE NSW Wyong will ensures Coasties have access to top quality educational facilities on the doorstep.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Major work to start on Sturt Highway upgrade at Wagga Wagga

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Minns Labor Government is building a better Sturt Highway in Wagga Wagga by starting work on a $13.9 million upgrade to the road east of the city.

    Work is due to begin on Tuesday March 4 to upgrade a 1.8 kilometre section of the Sturt Highway (also known as Hammond Avenue) on the eastern approach to Wagga Wagga’s CBD.

    Work will include completely reconstructing the road with a new surface and new kerb on the northern and southern sides, lane widening and configuration changes to provide dedicated turning lanes. The changes will provide a smoother surface that is less prone to road damage and potholes and provide a safer and more comfortable journey for all road users.

    Shoulders will be provided for cyclists on the northern and southern sides of the highway.

    The first stage of this project – between Tasman Road and Blaxland Road – will start Tuesday 4 March and is expected to take 11 weeks to complete.

    The second stage – from east of Blaxland Road to Stuart Road – will be delivered in the 2025-26 financial year.

    This location is a high traffic area and Transport will plan to carry out work with as few impacts as possible. All work will be carried out under traffic control with lane closures and reduced speed limits in place. Detours around the work area will be in place at various stages of the project. Most of the work will take place between 7am and 6pm, with some night work also planned.

    Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the direction of traffic control and signage.

    Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

    “The Sturt Highway provides a strategic freight and access link from Sydney via the Hume Highway to Mildura in Victoria and on to Adelaide in South Australia.

    “It also serves as a local and regional access corridor to and from regional centres along the route, especially Wagga Wagga, to enable customers to access goods, services and employment.

    “The Minns Labor Government is pleased to be investing in building a better section of highway in Wagga Wagga and we want to thank the community in advance for its patience and understanding while this work is carried out for the long-term benefit of all who live, work and visit the area.”

    Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said:

    “These works, coupled with the work now underway to redevelop the Marshalls Creek Bridge, are welcome improvements that will deliver a safer, smoother Sturt Highway for thousands of users every day.

    “I acknowledge Transport for NSW’s efforts to liaise with businesses in the area and urge them to maintain that focus on reducing construction impacts, especially in Lawson Street during the closure period.

    “The works will cause some disruption so I appreciate the patience of residents and motorists during a construction process that will cause inconvenience but will also deliver improvements that have been identified as important to the community.

    “A renewed east/west link means better travel for local business and residents, and moving forward, I’ll also be advocating for major north/south improvements, including a second river crossing which will be critical to Wagga Wagga’s future.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minns Government sets high expectations for schools with new system-wide targets

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 24 February 2025

    Released by: Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning

    The Minns Labor Government is continuing its work to improve education outcomes for all students as ambitious academic, HSC attainment and school attendance targets are introduced to public schools to lift outcomes for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

    New system-wide measures will provide clear guidance for school leaders, and are designed to lift outcomes for all students, including at comprehensive primary and high schools, selective schools, regional and rural schools, and Schools for Specific Purposes.

    Our long-term plan to improve outcomes for students is in sharp contrast with the former Government’s failed approach, which was criticised in an OECD report for its “top-down” approach, which focused solely on lifting the outcomes of those already achieving the top results.

    Schools will be required to strive for ambitious new goals, including:

    • Increasing the average NAPLAN reading and numeracy scores in 2027 by:
      • 10.2 points for Year 5 Reading
      • 5.8 points for Year 9 Reading
      • 11.5 points for Year 5 Numeracy
      • 5.7 points for Year 9 Numeracy
    • Increasing the proportion of NSW students attaining Year 12 from 70.5 per cent in 2022 to 74 per cent in 2027.
    • Growing the number of students taking up university, training or work for school leavers from 88.1 per cent to 92 per cent in 2027
    • Increasing the average student attendance rate from 87.8 per cent in 2023 to 88.8 per cent in 2027

    These new system-wide targets reflect specific improvement targets required of schools in the areas of reading, numeracy and completions. With NAPLAN tests scheduled two academic years apart, data is now available to measure year group improvement after the Commonwealth introduced new NAPLAN baselines in 2023.

    Correcting the course of our education system is vital for our state’s future, after 12 years of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals led to a stagnation in academic results, and a fall in our international rankings in Reading, Science and Mathematics. Under the former Government, disadvantage gaps also continued to widen, particularly in rural, regional, and remote areas.

    The Minns Labor Government is committed to reversing this decline and setting high expectations for academic results and educational outcomes like attendance and school completion for every child and every public school. This ongoing work includes:

    • Bringing teacher vacancies to a four-year-low, or a 40 per cent reduction since when we came to Government in 2023, ensuring all students have a teacher in front of them
    • Making Small Group Tuition permanent in all NSW public schools to support all students with critical foundational literacy and numeracy skills
    • Trialling a Number Screening Check for Year 1 school children
    • Valuing the workforce by delivering the largest pay rise in a generation to NSW’s 95,000 teachers
    • Giving teachers job security by making 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contacts permanent
    • Implementing the new knowledge-rich NSW Curriculum, underpinned by evidenced-based explicit teaching

    Alongside new academic targets, the Department has introduced a suite of system-focused measures to support teachers, schools and school-support staff wellbeing and retention, as well as prioritising key school infrastructure projects.

    These measures include reducing teacher administrative time, cutting teacher vacancy rates, and attracting and retaining teachers, as part of our recognition that a strong teaching workforce is critical to improving student learning. The complete set of 16 measures is available on the Department’s website.

    Progress made to date during 2024 can be found here.

    Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

    “We were elected with a commitment to rebuild public education in NSW by fixing a broken system and lifting outcomes. That is exactly what we are doing.

    “We cannot undo 12 years of neglect overnight, but we are working hard to ensure that no matter your postcode, parents know their children are receiving a world-class education.

    “This is about setting high expectations of our public education system and every one of our students.

    “No longer will targets be focused simply on the top-achieving students – these ambitious measures will help lift outcomes for all students across the state.”

    Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

    “We have high expectations for achievement for our public education system, with ambitious reading and numeracy improvement measures being put in place by every school during term 1 this year.

    “All public schools aim to ensure all students show growth in their literacy and numeracy skills. We recognise that this is the cornerstone for a successful schooling experience for every student.”

    “Our new measures will account for the achievements of all students, not just those in the highest bands.

    “The pathways improvement measure will capture the transitions of all students into meaningful post-school pathways, whether that is tertiary education, technical and further education or paid employment.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Proposed Combination of Saipem and Subsea7

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Milan, Luxembourg, 23 February 2025 – Saipem and Subsea7 announce that today they have reached an agreement in principle on the key terms of a possible merger of the two companies1 (the “Proposed Combination”) through the execution of a memorandum of understanding (the “MoU”). The Proposed Combination is expected to create a global leader in energy services.

    Highlights

    • The combination of Saipem and Subsea7 (the “Combined Company”) will be renamed Saipem7, and will have a combined backlog of €43 billion2, Revenue of approx. €20 billion3 and EBITDA in excess of €2 billion4
    • A global organisation of over 45,000 people, including more than 9,000 engineers and project managers
    • Highly complementary geographical footprints, competencies and capabilities, vessel fleets and technologies that will benefit the Combined Company’s global client base
    • Saipem and Subsea7 shareholders will own 50% each of the share capital of the Combined Company
    • Subsea7 shareholders will receive 6.688 Saipem shares for each Subsea7 share held. Subsea7 will distribute an extraordinary dividend for an amount equal to €450 million immediately prior to completion
    • Transaction expected to deliver material value creation for the shareholders of both Saipem and Subsea7. Annual synergies of approximately €300 million are expected to be achieved in the third year after completion, with one-off costs to achieve such synergies of approximately €270 million
    • The Combined Company will be listed on both the Milan and Oslo stock exchange
    • Siem Industries, reference shareholder of Subsea7, as well as Eni and CDP Equity, reference shareholders of Saipem, have expressed their strong support and intend to vote in favour of the transaction
    • Completion anticipated to occur in the second half of 2026

    The management of both Saipem and Subsea7 share the conviction that there is compelling logic in creating a global leader in energy services, particularly considering the growing size of clients’ projects. Saipem and Subsea7 are highly complementary in terms of market offerings and geographies. The combination would enhance value for shareholders, and all stakeholders, both in the current market and in the long term.

    CDP Equity, Eni and Siem Industries have entered into a separate Memorandum of Understanding, undertaking to support the Proposed Combination and agreeing on the terms of a Shareholders Agreement, to be effective from completion of the Proposed Combination. As part of this, it is intended that the Combined Company’s Chairman will be designated by Siem Industries and that the Combined Company’s CEO will be designated by CDP Equity and Eni. In addition, it is currently envisaged that Mr Alessandro Puliti will be appointed as CEO of the Combined Company5 while it is currently envisaged that Mr John Evans will be the CEO of the entity that will manage the Offshore business of the Combined Company. Such Offshore business will comprise all of Subsea7 and Saipem’s Offshore Engineering & Construction activities.

    The by-laws of the Combined Company are expected to provide for loyalty shares (double votes).

    Strategic Rationale of the Proposed Combination

    The Proposed Combination would be beneficial to the clients of both Saipem and Subsea7, bringing together the respective strengths of both companies:

    • Comprehensive Solutions for Clients: a full spectrum of offshore and onshore services, from drilling, engineering and construction to life-of-field services and decommissioning, with an increased ability to optimise project schedules for clients in oil, gas, carbon capture and renewable energy
    • World-class Expertise and Experience: a talented, global workforce of over 45,000 people, including more than 9,000 engineers and project managers, in more than 60 countries, contributing to deliver solutions unlocking value for clients
    • Global Reach and Diversified Fleet: an expanded and diversified fleet of more than 60 construction vessels enhancing the Combined Company’s ability to undertake a wide range of projects, from shallow water to ultra-deepwater operations, utilising a full portfolio of heavy lift, high-end J-lay, S-lay and reel-lay rigid pipeline solutions, flexible pipe and umbilical lay services and market-leading wind turbine, foundation and cable lay installation capabilities
    • Innovation and Technology: combined expertise to foster innovation in offshore technologies, ensuring cutting-edge solutions for complex projects

    The transaction would create significant shareholder value through:

    • Synergies: expected annual synergies of approximately €300 million in the third year after completion, driven by fleet optimisation, procurement, sales and marketing, and process efficiencies
    • A More Efficient Capital Investment Programme: optimised allocation of capital across a broader, complementary vessel fleet
    • An Attractive Shareholder Remuneration Policy: post-completion, Saipem7 is expected to pay a dividend of at least 40% of Free Cash Flow6 after repayment of lease liabilities
    • Enhanced Capital Structure: a solid balance sheet that is expected to support an investment grade credit rating
    • Greater Scale in Both Equity and Debt Capital Markets: access to a wider investor base and to more diversified sources of capital

    Transaction Structure and Ownership

    • The Combined Company would be created by way of an EU cross-border statutory merger carried out by way of incorporation of Subsea 7 into Saipem, with the latter to be renamed “Saipem7”. The Combined Company would be headquartered in Milan and have its shares listed on both the Milan and the Oslo stock exchanges
    • Siem Industries (being the largest shareholder of Subsea7) would then own approximately 11.9% of the Combined Company’s capital, while Eni and CDP Equity (being the largest shareholders of Saipem) would own approximately 10.6% and approximately 6.4%, respectively

    Transaction Terms

    • Subsea7 shareholders would receive 6.688 new Saipem7 shares for each Subsea7 share held
    • Assuming all Subsea7 shareholders participate in the merger, the share capital of the Combined Company will be held 50-50% by the current shareholders of Saipem and Subsea7
    • Immediately prior to completion of the Proposed Combination, Subsea7 shareholders would receive an extraordinary cash dividend of €450 million7

    Organisational Structure of the Combined Company

    • The Combined Company will be structured in four businesses: Offshore Engineering & Construction, Onshore Engineering & Construction, Sustainable Infrastructures and Offshore Drilling
    • The Offshore Engineering & Construction business will be incorporated in an operationally autonomous company, named Subsea7 and branded as “Subsea7 – a Saipem7 Company”, and it is currently envisaged that it will be led by Mr John Evans. It will comprise all of Subsea7’s business and the Asset Based Services business of Saipem, representing approximately 83% of the combined group’s EBITDA of the last 12 months as of 30 September 2024. The company will be headquartered in London
    • In line with Saipem’s previous strategy, the Onshore Engineering & Construction will be run with a focus on reducing overall risk and maximising profitability. The Sustainable Infrastructures business will aim to consolidate its presence in the Italian market with potential expansion overseas. The Offshore Drilling division will seek to continue to maximise its EBITDA and cash flow

    Shareholder Remuneration

    • The MoU allows Saipem and Subsea7 to make shareholder distributions of up to $350 million each in 2025, in the form of dividends8,9
    • In 2026, if the Proposed Combination is not completed before the approval of the full year 2025 results of Saipem and Subsea7, the two companies could each distribute by way of dividends10,11 at least $300 million
    • Following completion of the Proposed Combination, the Combined Company is expected to distribute to shareholders at least 40% of Free Cash Flow12 after repayment of lease liabilities

    Shareholders Agreement

    The Memorandum of Understanding amongst Siem Industries, CDP Equity and Eni provides for, inter alia, a three-year shareholder lock-up and standstill obligation and the submission of a common slate for the appointment of the majority of the members of the board of directors of the Combined Company.

    Timing, Conditions Precedent and Approvals

    The entering into and signing of binding definitive documents in respect of the Proposed Combination is conditional, inter alia, on the successful completion of confirmatory due diligence by the parties, the execution of a mutually satisfactory merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) and the approval of the final terms of the Proposed Combination by the Board of Directors of Saipem and Subsea7. The parties will also engage with the relevant works council consultations required by the applicable laws.

    Saipem and Subsea7 have undertaken mutual exclusivity obligations in connection with the negotiations of the Proposed Combination.

    Moreover, completion of the Proposed Combination will be subject to customary conditions precedent for a transaction of this nature, including, inter alia, approval by the shareholders’ meetings of both Saipem and Subsea7, the former to be also passed with the so-called whitewash majorities for the purposes of the mandatory takeover bid exemption13, and obtaining the required Italian government approval and customary regulatory clearances.

    Until such conditions precedent are satisfied, there can be no certainty that the Proposed Combination will occur.

    The MoU also provides for termination rights for each of Saipem and Subsea7 in connection with material findings in the context of the confirmatory due diligence, or upon payment of a break-up fee, should any of the companies wish to terminate the negotiations at its discretion before entering into the Merger Agreement.

    The parties currently envisage to submit the final terms of the Proposed Combination to their respective Board of Directors for approval and to enter into the Merger Agreement around mid-2025. Completion is currently anticipated to occur in the second half of 2026.

    Conference Call

    On Monday 24 February 2025, at 10:00 CET, the top management of Saipem and Subsea7 will present the transaction in a dedicated conference call, which can be followed by connecting to the below URL:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/az2o9ou7/

    The document that will be presented by Saipem and Subsea7 top management will be available on the two respective websites (www.saipem.com and www.Subsea7.com). A replay of the call will be available on the two companies’ websites.

    Advisers

    Goldman Sachs International is acting as lead financial advisor to Saipem, and Deutsche Bank AG, Milan Branch as financial advisor to Saipem. Clifford Chance LLP is serving as global legal counsel to Saipem in particular as to matters of Italian, English, US and Luxembourg law, while Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is serving as legal counsel to Saipem as to matters of Norwegian law.

    Kirk Lovegrove & Company Limited is acting as lead financial advisor and Deloitte LLP is acting as financial advisor to Subsea7. Freshfields LLP is serving as global legal counsel to Subsea7 (including as to matters of Italian, US and English Law), while Elvinger Hoss Prussen S.A. and Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS are serving as legal counsels as to matters of Luxembourg and Norwegian law, respectively.

    Enquiries

    Saipem is a global leader in the engineering and construction of major projects for the energy and infrastructure sectors, both offshore and onshore. Saipem is “One Company” organized into business lines: Asset Based Services, Drilling, Energy Carriers, Offshore Wind, Sustainable Infrastructures, Robotics & Industrialised Solutions. The company has 6 fabrication yards and an offshore fleet of 21 construction vessels (of which 17 owned and 4 owned by third parties and managed by Saipem) and 15 drilling rigs, of which 9 owned. Always oriented towards technological innovation, the company’s purpose is “Engineering for a sustainable future”. As such Saipem is committed to supporting its clients on the energy transition pathway towards Net Zero, with increasingly digital means, technologies and processes geared for environmental sustainability. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, it is present in more than 50 countries around the world and employs about 30,000 people of over 120 nationalities.

    Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the energy industry. Subsea7 makes offshore energy transition possible through the continuous evolution of lower-carbon oil and gas and by enabling the growth of renewables and emerging energies.

    +++

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This communication and the information contained in it are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to be and shall not constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval, or an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, or an invitation or recommendation to subscribe for, acquire or buy securities of Saipem, Subsea 7 or the combined company following the proposed merger of Saipem and Subsea 7 (the “Proposed Business Combination Transaction“) or any other financial products or securities, in any place or jurisdiction, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements.

    Forward-looking Statements

    This communication contains forward-looking information and statements about Saipem and Subsea7 and their combined business after completion of the Proposed Business Combination Transaction. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar expressions. Although the managements of Saipem and Subsea7 believe that the respective expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Saipem and Subsea7 shares are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Saipem and Subsea7, respectively, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Except as required by applicable law, neither Saipem nor Subsea7 undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements.

    Important Additional Information about the Proposed Business Combination Transaction

    This communication is not a substitute for a registration statement or for any other document that Saipem or Subsea7 may file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the Proposed Business Combination Transaction. In connection with the Proposed Business Combination Transaction, Saipem and Subsea7 are filing relevant materials with the SEC, which, to the extent Saipem’s shares will be required to be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, may include a registration statement on Form F-4 that contains a prospectus. If an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available, the shares issued in connection with the Proposed Business Combination Transaction will be made available within the United States pursuant to such exemption and not pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form F-4.

    SAIPEM AND SUBSEA7 URGE INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS TO READ ANY SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SAIPEM AND SUBSEA7, THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

    Investors and shareholders can obtain free copies of the prospectus and other documents filed by Saipem and Subsea7 with the SEC (when they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Shareholders of Subsea7 are urged to read the prospectus, if and when available, and the other relevant materials when they become available, as well as any supplements and amendments thereto, before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the Proposed Business Combination Transaction and will receive information at an appropriate time on how to obtain these transaction-related documents for free from the parties involved or a duly appointed agent.

    Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

    This announcement includes certain non-IFRS financial measures with respect to Saipem and Subsea7, including EBITDA and Net debt. These unaudited non-IFRS financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of Saipem’s and Subsea7’s financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. In addition, these measures may be defined differently than similar terms used by other companies.

    Presentation of Financial Information

    This communication includes financial data regarding Saipem and Subsea7 and the combination of Saipem and Subsea7. The presentation of information in any registration statement that Saipem may file with the SEC may be different than the financial data included herein as the financial data included in any registration statement will be required to comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Further, any financial data contained herein representing the combination of Saipem and Subsea7 has not been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the pro forma requirements of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, pro forma financial data contained in any registration statement filed with respect to the Proposed Business Combination Transaction may differ from the pro forma financial data contained herein, and such differences may be material. Any combined company financial data presented herein is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the actual consolidated results of operations or financial position that would have been reported had the Proposed Business Combination Transaction been completed as of October 1st, 2024, and should not be taken as representative of the companies’ future consolidated results of operations or financial position had the Proposed Business Combination Transaction occurred as of such date. These estimates are based on financial information available at the time of the preparation of this communication.

    1 Merger by way of incorporation of Subsea7 into Saipem
    2 Combined backlog for Saipem and Subsea7 as of 30 September 2024
    3 Combined Revenue for Saipem and Subsea7 as per last 12 months as of 30 September 2024
    4 Combined EBITDA for Saipem and Subsea7 as per last 12 months as of 30 September 2024
    5 Subject to approval by the Shareholders’ Meeting and the Board of Directors of the Combined Company
    6 Free Cash Flow is defined as Cash Flow from Operations less Capital Expenditure plus Divestments
    7 Subject to approval by the Shareholders’ Meeting
    8 Subject to approval by the Shareholders’ Meeting and the Board of Directors
    9 The dividend paid by Saipem will be qualified as ordinary in nature
    10 Subject to approval by the Shareholders’ Meeting and the Board of Directors
    11 The dividend paid by Saipem will be qualified as ordinary in nature
    12 Free Cash Flow is defined as Cash Flow from Operations less Capital Expenditure plus Divestments
    13 Pursuant to Art. 49, paragraph 1, letter g) of Consob Regulation 11971/99

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ashlynne McGhee, Digital Storytelling Editor

    Scam Factories is a special multimedia and podcast series by The Conversation that explores the inner workings of Southeast Asia’s brutal scam compounds.

    The Conversation’s digital storytelling and podcast teams collaborated with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne; Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; and Mark Bo, an independent researcher.

    The researchers have spent the past few years interviewing nearly 100 survivors of these compounds and documenting the rise of the industry in Southeast Asia for a forthcoming book.

    Scam Factories will unfold across three multimedia articles and three podcast episodes this week. We’ll update this page as more is published.

    Part 1

    Our first article explores how people are lured into the industry and what life is like inside the compounds, where scammers are forced to work long hours and are often subjected to violence.

    And in our first podcast episode, No skills required, our researchers travel to a village in Cambodia called Chrey Thom to see what these compounds look like. And we hear from two survivors, a Ugandan man we’re calling George and a Malaysian woman we’re calling Lee, about how they were recruited into compounds in Laos and Myanmar.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this series for a comment, except Jinshui, which we couldn’t contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    Credits

    The podcast series was written and produced by Gemma Ware with production assistance from Katie Flood and Mend Mariwany. Sound design by Michelle Macklem. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Photos by Roun Ry, KDA, Halima Athumani and Ivan Franceschini.

    Justin Bergman at The Conversation in Australia edited the articles in the series and Matt Garrow worked on the graphical elements of the stories. Series oversight and editing help from Ashlynne McGhee.

    – ref. Scam Factories: the inside story of Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds – https://theconversation.com/scam-factories-the-inside-story-of-southeast-asias-brutal-fraud-compounds-250448

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 1

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    Scam Factories is a podcast series from The Conversation Weekly taking you inside Southeast Asia’s brutal fraud compounds. It accompanies a series of articles on The Conversation.

    Hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to work in these scam compounds. Many were trafficked there and then forced into criminality by defrauding people around the world via email, phone and social media.

    The Conversation collaborated for this series with three researchers: Ivan Franceschini, a lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne, Ling Li, a PhD candidate at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Mark Bo, an independent researcher. They’ve spent the past few years researching the expansion of scam compounds in the region for a forthcoming book. They’ve interviewed nearly 100 survivors of these compounds, analysed maps and financial documents related to the scam industry, and tracked scammers online to find out how these operations work.

    In this first episode of the podcast series, No Skills Required, we find out how people are recruited and trafficked into the compounds – with many believing they’re going there to do a legitimate job.

    Our researchers travel to a village in Cambodia, Chrey Thom, to see what these compounds look like. And we hear from two survivors, a Ugandan man we’re calling George and a Malaysian woman we’re calling Lee to protect their real identities, about how they were tricked into travelling to compounds in Laos and Myanmar.

    Read an article by Ivan Franceschini and Ling Li which accompanies this episode.

    The Conversation contacted all the companies mentioned in this series for a comment, except Jinshui, which we could not contact. We did not receive a response from any of them.

    This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware, with assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Leila Goldstein was our producer in Cambodia and Halima Athumani recorded for us in Uganda. Hui Lin helped us with Chinese translation. Sound design by Michelle Macklem and editing help from Ashlynee McGhee and Justin Bergman.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Mark Bo, an independent researcher who works with Ivan Franeschini and Ling Li, is also interviewed in this podcast series. Ivan, Ling, Mark, and others have co-founded EOS Collective, a non-profit organisation dedicated to investigating the criminal networks behind the online scam industry and supporting survivors.

    – ref. ‘It seemed like a good job at first’: how people are trafficked, trapped and forced to scam in Southeast Asia – Scam Factories podcast, Ep 1 – https://theconversation.com/it-seemed-like-a-good-job-at-first-how-people-are-trafficked-trapped-and-forced-to-scam-in-southeast-asia-scam-factories-podcast-ep-1-250444

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: One in all in at Warracknabeal to fight fires

    Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

    Geoff Ward (left)

    Warracknabeal Fire Brigade volunteers were among many on the Western Victoria fireground over recent weeks, with some younger members experiencing their first strike team deployment.

    With up to six strike teams sent across the Little Desert National Park and the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park fires throughout December to February, Captain Cam Whelan said helping hands extended beyond them too.

    “I want to acknowledge the efforts of those in the background organising crews, the partners and children waiting bravely at home, the ones who stayed behind for coverage and the people that walked away from their businesses to get on the truck,” Cam said.

    The brigade’s presence was also felt significantly at the Horsham Incident Control Centre (ICC) and at local callouts, where members were exposed to a new world of logistics, from delivering vehicles and food, to gathering resources and distributing them to different staging areas.

    On the edge of the fire, Cam said although there was a lot of land to track out in the landscape, they were prepared and ready for when it came out of the scrub.

    “Due to the sheer scale of the fire, most of our tasks included working along the containment lines to extinguish it when it arrived, and asset protection and observation,” Cam said.

    “One of the best things to come out of this fire situation was the community focused approach and the knowledge that was coming through to manage the fires from brigade members and local landholders.”

    Brigade member and disability support worker Geoff Ward was quick to jump on strike teams to the Grampians fire prior to Christmas, before Little Desert and Glenisla in the new year.

    “At Little Desert our role was to stop the spread of fire as soon as it spotted out of the park into private land. We were sent to do asset protection at the duck farm and we put out lots of spot fires in the stubble from the ember attacks,” Geoff said.

    With a strong Championship running team and with Cam being a school teacher, Warracknabeal have had an influx of younger members who have stood up to be firefighters.

    “I was so proud of how well our new senior firefighters responded, they’re only just over 18 and have now gone out on multiple strike teams. They’ve really helped the backlog of older members who still have to run a business or go to work,” Cam said.

    Geoff said Cam has been the main driver for the program and that it has already been a huge asset to the brigade, with many members coming through junior ranks.

    “We had lots of younger members out on the trucks, and the experience for them out there would have been invaluable. It’s pretty overwhelming the first time you see a big firestorm,” Geoff said.

    “There’s quite a bit of training to do for people, and often, people have got kids, or they’re married, and they don’t see that they have time, but these young ones seem to be ready to undertake it, and they’ll absorb everything they’re told. It’s great.”

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Three years on, Australia stands with Ukraine

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Today marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine./p>

    For three years, Ukraine has bravely resisted Russia’s illegal and immoral war of aggression.

    Australia mourns the loss of life of Ukraine’s citizens and defenders, and the generational toll of Russia’s brutality.

    Australia continues to stand with Ukraine.

    We have committed over $1.5 billion to help Ukraine defend itself, including more than $1.3 billion in military support through vital equipment for the battlefield and the training of Ukrainian forces.

    Australia has been clear since day one that Russia, and those enabling its illegal invasion, will face consequences.

    The Australian Government has today imposed further targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 70 persons, and targeted financial sanctions on 79 entities.

    This constitutes Australia’s largest sanctions package since February 2022.

    The new sanctions target individuals propping up Russia’s illegal administrations in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, including so-called “ministers”, judges and prosecutors, and individuals responsible for conflict-related sexual violence and the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

    The sanctions also target persons and entities involved in deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the deployment of North Korean troops to the battlefield.

    Deepening Russia-North Korea military cooperation is a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security.

    Targets in Russia’s defence, transport and finance sectors, and those spreading disinformation to undermine Ukraine and governments around the world, have also been sanctioned.

    Australia has now imposed a total of more than 1,400 sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    The Government has taken decisive action to ensure Australians are not inadvertently fuelling Russia’s war economy.

    Today we have further tightened trade bans on Russia by prohibiting the supply of commercial drones and components, including the provision of related services.

    Guidance on the operation of these bans can be found on the sanctions guidance webpage.

    Once again, Australia calls on Russia to immediately end its war and adhere fully to its obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians and treatment of prisoners of war.

    Working with Ukraine and our partners, Australia supports a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

    MIL OSI News –