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Category: Australia

  • MIL-Evening Report: Being kind to people – the new challenge for the public service

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Smith-Merry, Director, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney

    When Labor was re-elected in May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his acceptance speech to describe the type of country he wanted to lead.

    He spoke of how the Australian people had voted for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all:

    For the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need. And Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese election victory speech declaring the Australian people had voted for Australian values.

    Noble sentiments from the prime minister.

    But can this translate into real change in government organisations? How much work do they have to do to live up to Albanese’s mantra of fairness and kindness towards those in need?

    Bureaucracy can be kind

    It is important our public institutions, such as the Australian Public Service, are kind, even when they are deciding who can access limited public resources.

    We conducted a review of academic research on organisational kindness to understand how organisations can be more generous to those they interact with.

    We discovered public service processes often lack kindness, which causes distress and sometimes significant harm. Many people would be familiar with unkind interactions with public services that should be there to serve us, but sometimes make us feel like an enemy.

    Kindness has positive benefits not just for the people being served, but for organisations themselves. Our research has found kindness contributes to profit, productivity, performance and favourable community perceptions.

    A kinder organisation is also a more trusted one, which is essential for any public service – funded by the public – to retain legitimacy.

    Lack of trust

    The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a case in point.

    Other research we have conducted shows individuals find it hard to apply for the NDIS.

    In part this stemmed from previous traumatic experiences with accessing government agencies, which resulted in a lack of trust in other public services.

    A study of NDIS participant experiences has also found complexity, poor communication, and confusing or inconsistent rules causes distress.

    Recent media coverage has focused on National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decision-making processes that participants and families believe to be unkind. This includes surprise plan reviews where people feel unprepared and unsupported.

    Another example is the combative approach by the NDIA to people’s complaints, which makes complaining distressing and adversarial.

    Complaints are a legal, necessary aspect of a any organisation that services the public. But making it tortuous to complain is a lose-lose situation. It is not just unkind to the individual but problematic in effective running of public services.

    What makes public services unkind?

    Organisations may not set out to be unkind, but may become that way because of the way they work and think. They may see themselves in service of the public purse, rather than in service to the public.

    Particularly in times of budget constraint – such as the 8% growth cap to the NDIS – helping people access services may be seen as undermining cost savings goals. This can lead to practices that degrade or even demonise people who deserve help.

    Streamlining ways of working, cutting costs or even making decisions “fairer” by applying the same rules to everyone can be dehumanising.

    Individuals often face a “machinery of government” approach based on automated decision-making that lacks warmth and understanding, even where the decisions can be life-changing.

    This was most clear in the Morrison government’s Robodebt scheme. Assumptions were made about people based upon incomplete information gathered from administrative systems that did not fully reflect the lives of individuals. This had devastating consequences for many people, as outlined in the Royal Commission findings.

    Institutions may also be influenced by political narratives about deserving versus undeserving welfare recipients which prejudice how they are viewed. The “lazy dole bludger” is a classic trope.

    These narratives can result in unkind treatment when people need to access unemployment or disability benefits through Centrelink.

    How can public institutions be kinder?

    Being kind does not mean giving everyone everything they want, or even need.

    While hard decisions are sometimes necessary, they can be made in ways considerate of the people receiving the decision.

    We identified key barriers and enablers to organisational kindness.

    The main hurdles related to organisational culture and entrenched practices which make kindness difficult.

    Enablers for building a more generous approach include entrenching kindness as a core value within how organisational policies, processes and practices are structured.

    Kindness must be built into the organisational fabric not just enabled at the point of contact with individuals accessing the service.

    A kinder community

    The values of public services should reflect community values. However, sometimes communities lack kindness as an implicit value or, as noted in the earlier example about welfare recipients, may lack kindness towards particular groups.

    Broader kindness movements operating internationally include Kindness Singapore and Kindness UK. These movements aim to make kindness a core social value.

    Australian public institutions have received a strong cue from the prime minister that kindness should also be a core business value when serving clients, especially those in need.

    Jennifer Smith-Merry receives funding from the Australian Research Council through an Industry Laureate Fellowship. The National Disability Insurance Agency is a partner on that grant but had no involvement in this article. She is a member of the Grattan Institute Disability Program Reference Group.

    Damian Mellifont, Justin Scanlan, and Nicola Hancock 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. Being kind to people – the new challenge for the public service – https://theconversation.com/being-kind-to-people-the-new-challenge-for-the-public-service-260068

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SJ at business seminar and dinner in Amsterdam, Netherlands (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at a business seminar and dinner organised by the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and Invest Hong Kong on July 7 (Amsterdam time):
     
    His Excellency Mr Tan Jian (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of the Netherlands), dear friends from the Association, and distinguished guests in the Netherlands,
     
    Firstly, I’m really delighted and honoured to be given the chance to speak to these distinguished audience this evening. Perhaps I should begin by telling you a little bit more about myself and the purpose of my present trip. I have used to practice in Hong Kong as a civil and commercial barrister. I’ve been practicing in Hong Kong for almost 30 years and then joined the Government about three years ago. So that’s when I became the Secretary for Justice.
     
    I had considered to come to the Netherlands and this part of the world for a very long time. Unfortunately, for many reasons I was unable to do this until this occasion. So this is in fact my first trip to Europe after I took my office. So I’ve chosen the Netherlands.
     
    For personal reasons, I love travelling in the past. I travelled quite a lot. Amsterdam is very top on my list, I always come to Amsterdam to stay a couple of days, go to museums, restaurants, just to walk around, and then I move on as a stopover, and move on to other destinations. But Amsterdam is always a stop that I could not miss, so I have very good personal reasons to come to Amsterdam once again.
     
    For official reasons, the Netherlands is the second-largest trading partner of Hong Kong within Europe. There are more than 170 companies in Hong Kong. And I was invited to join the National Day Reception in late April. So, I have too many reasons to choose the Netherlands as my best destination.
     
    Returning to today’s seminar, I understand that you have heard from many eminent speakers this afternoon who have shared with you many important information about the latest development in Hong Kong in different areas. I know that you are all very keen supporters of Hong Kong and there must be reasons why you were attracted to Hong Kong. Maybe the probable reason is that you see Hong Kong as a very open society. We offer a very fair, transparent, predictable environment for you to explore business opportunities, either in Hong Kong, in China, or the Asia Pacific region. But I think all these characteristics are highly concerned with the political and legal landscape of Hong Kong. This is an important point in the sense that we are living at a rather difficult time. And Hong Kong has faced a lot of challenges in recent years. You are all keen supporters of Hong Kong. But outside this room, I’m clearly aware of the fact that many people do have a lot of questions about the future of Hong Kong. They may not be as confident as you of the future of Hong Kong. There are a lot of misgivings, misunderstandings, so on and so forth. I do believe that it’s my duty, not simply as a government official, but as a Hong Kong citizen, to bite the bullet, to face the music, to try to convince people why Hong Kong is still the Hong Kong that you are familiar with, why Hong Kong is still the Hong Kong that we all love.
     
    There’s one single message that I wish to convey, and that is “Hong Kong is still Hong Kong”. I wish to perhaps look at the latest development or something that I regard to be of great importance insofar as political landscape and legal landscape are concerned. Let me begin by the political landscapes of Hong Kong. I make it all boiled down to one very important thing. The gist of the matter is the principle of “one country, two system”. It’s because of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong enjoys a number of very unique strengths and characteristics which are unparalleled. For example, we have our own independent legal system based on common law, our own independent financial system, our own currency, free flow of capital, we have trade port, we have no tariffs, no trade barriers, but all these things are because of the fact that we have “one country, two systems”.
     
    So the elephant in the room is this, is the principle of “one country, two systems” to be maintained, or is it going to be changed in whatever way in future? I wish to give you three reasons, why there shouldn’t be any worry or concern that the principle of “one country, two systems” will be altered or changed in future. The first reason is that the principle of “one country, two systems”, notwithstanding the fact that it’s a political concept, but actually it’s constitutional entrenched in the sense that its implementation is guaranteed by a constitutional document which is the Basic Law. I’m sure that many people in this room is familiar with the Basic Law. But what I wish to highlight is that on July 1, we celebrated the 28th anniversary of China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. And for 28 years, and notwithstanding the fact that we had encountered a number of difficulties and challenges, not a single word, not a single clause in our Basic Law had been changed.
     
    Secondly, which is a matter of law, I think lawyers would be interested in what I am saying. In the Basic Law, there’s a provision which allows amendment to be made to the Basic Law, subject to a very important qualification. There’s a very clear, expressed provision, that any amendment cannot contravene, or cannot change the basic policy of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong, and that basic policy is precisely “one country, two systems”. So legally speaking, as a matter of constitutional, our constitutional order, you cannot really change the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems”. So if you feel that I’m not too legalistic, I move on to my second point, my second reason.
     
    The second reason is highly political, but it’s of crucial importance in the present context. That goes to the reassurances given by the top state leaders of the People’s Republic of China. I would mention three very important speeches, two made by President Xi Jinping. And the last speech was given by Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. First, President Xi Jinping said on July 1, 2022, it was the 25th anniversary of China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It was when I assumed my current position as the Secretary for Justice. In his very important speech, he made a very important point. He said that the principal of “one country, two systems” is a good policy that must be adhered to in the long run. I think he was trying to convey a very important message, to dispel any misgivings, any doubts that Beijing had any intention whatsoever to change its basic policy towards Hong Kong. The “one country, two systems” principle also applies to Macau. So more recently, on December 20, 2024, also at the 25th anniversary of China’s resumption of sovereignty over Macau, President Xi Jinping made another very important speech, repeating why the principle of “one country, two systems” is a good system. At the end, he said that the principle of “one country, two systems” actually embodies very important universal values – peace, openness, inclusiveness, and sharing. And he said that these values are valuable, important, not just to China, Macau, or even China as a whole, but to the whole world. So the China’s national strategy is to make use of this principle of “one country, two systems” to assist its modernisation. So as a matter of logic and common sense, it’s unthinkable that either HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or Beijing would shoot ourselves in the foot by damaging or destroying the most valuable asset which makes Hong Kong being in a position to contribute to the success or even survival of Hong Kong.
     
    The last speech was given by Mr Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, when he attended the signing ceremony of a very important international convention. It’s known as the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation. It is an international treaty signed by 33 countries, including China. And most of these countries include countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, and even one in Europe, Serbia. The Swiss foreign minister came to Hong Kong to give a speech. The purpose of the convention is to set up the first inter-governmental international organisation, which is devoted to use mediation as a means to resolve different types of international disputes, including disputes between sovereign states, disputes between states and foreign nationals, say, for example, investor-state disputes, and even international civil and commercial disputes. The important thing is that the state parties, in particular China, supported that the headquarters of this new organisation will be situated in Hong Kong. The question is why. Just imagine for Beijing or even other countries, they have a lot of options. Why not in Beijing, why not in Shanghai, why not in Shenzhen or anywhere? But Hong Kong, why Hong Kong? I think Mr Wang Yi gave the answer in his important speech. He mentioned once again it’s because of “one country, two systems”. Because under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong inherits the common law tradition, but at the same time, the Mainland China practises a civil law system. There’s a synergy between the systems. So we are the best of both worlds, so to speak. And that’s precisely the reason why such an important international organisation, the headquarters of such an organisation will be situated in Hong Kong. This is a very important message. It is a very strong vote of confidence and given by not just China, but other state parties in the future of Hong Kong. So that’s my second reason.
     
    The third reason concerns a piece of law passed last year in Hong Kong. For people familiar with Hong Kong, you would be aware that all lands in Hong Kong are held pursuant to government leases, except for St. John’s Cathedral. For people who have been to Hong Kong, you know that St. John’s Cathedral is a freehold land for historical reasons. But otherwise, all lands in Hong Kong that were held pursuant to government leases, which means that they were for a fixed time, very often for 99 years. And the reality is that many of these government leases, hundreds and thousands, will expire by 2047. That is 50 years after China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. So last year, we passed a legislation, the effect of which is that all these leases, which are going to expire before, or by 2047 will be automatically renewed for 50 years, without any additional premium. That means that these land ownership will be guaranteed, they will continue, they will go beyond 2047. Of course, land ownership is extremely important. It is not simply concerned with the provision of shelter or home for people. It serves as very important security, a very valuable asset for business people, for financial institution. So that’s the way we assure people that our system will not change because I cannot find a more important example showing the distinguished feature of “one country, two systems” by referring to our land ownership system. So I think this is a very compelling piece of evidence. I have three pieces of evidence to convince people that any misgiving would be misplaced. So this is about the political landscape.
     
    What about the legal landscape? I mentioned a moment ago that one of the essential characteristics of “one country, two systems” is the fact that we are still using the common law system. I wish to highlight three very important features of our common law system that will be maintained, enhanced, and of great importance in ensuring Hong Kong’s continued success in the future.
     
    Firstly, the credibility of our common law system. Our people are willing to come to Hong Kong because they believe in Hong Kong’s legal system. And one of the key reasons is that in Hong Kong we have a very reputable and credible independent judiciary. Judicial independence is a very key element of a legal system. How do we show to people that Hong Kong’s judicial system, Hong Kong’s judiciary, will remain independent? The answer is that we are a very open system. We have invited many eminent foreign judges from other common law jurisdictions to sit in our court. I wish to give two very concrete examples. Under the Basic Law, Hong Kong enjoys the power of final adjudication, because before 1997, all the final appeal cases would have to be heard in Privy Council in London. But after 1997, we enjoy the final power of adjudication. So the highest court will be the Court of Final Appeal and that’s a very special arrangement, which I’m sure that some of you would be aware of. We are at liberty, we are permitted to invite judges from other common law jurisdictions to sit as foreign non-permanent judges. At the moment, and I would say that even after 2019 and 2020 when Hong Kong experienced some challenges, even after 2020, or since 2020, we have three foreign judges agreeing to come to Hong Kong. So for the time being, there are altogether six foreign non-permanent judges. Two from England, Lord Hoffmann and Lord Neuberger. For lawyers, they would be very familiar names. And then three judges from Australia, and one from New Zealand. The most recent appointment was Sir William Young, a former judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He was appointed in June, so less than a month ago. So why would these eminent judges agree to come to Hong Kong if they are not confident and do not believe in Hong Kong itself? The other thing is that even at the Court of First Instance level, the judiciary has been inviting judges from other common law jurisdictions to sit as part-time judges. And I can also give a very recent example. I know that very soon, a judge who is a British, a very eminent British lawyer, will come to Hong Kong to sit in commercial cases. So these are the continuous efforts made by Hong Kong to ensure that we will retain the international characteristic to give people confidence.
     
    And of course, I have to mention, it’s something that I hesitate to mention, that the Government still loses cases from time to time, but it’s the most compelling evidence to prove the existence of judicial independence. Of course I would not say that I was very happy with the outcome, but I described it as a very healthy phenomenon. It’s very cogent and conclusive proof of the fact that our legal and judicial system functions properly. So this is my first point, the credibility of a judicial system.
     
    The second characteristic goes to the fact that we have a very user-friendly system – common law system. One thing that may be very often can be overlooked is that Hong Kong is the only bilingual common law system using both English and Chinese.

    Notwithstanding that China has resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong, one would have naturally expected that Chinese would be the only authentic language, but that’s not true. Even in our legislation, in our court judgments, things would be written in both languages, which is of course important to the international community.
     
    The second thing is that we have made tremendous effort to ensure that our law will meet the changing needs of society, not just within Hong Kong but also the international community. I give two examples. The first example is that we have just amended our company ordinance, which came into effect in late May. It provides a scheme to enable companies being operated overseas to re-domicile to Hong Kong, by a very simple mechanism, so that they can enjoy tax advantage, a relatively simple regulatory regime, so on and so forth. I understand that two major insurance companies have indicated that they will re-domicile to Hong Kong probably in November this year. The second example goes to digital assets, the Stablecoins Ordinance. The ordinance will come into effect on August 1. I think it’s an indication of our determination to strike a balance. You have to have some sort of regulation, some sort of licensing, but at the same time, you have to enable this digital thing to be able to develop in a healthy manner. So this is my second point, we have a very user-friendly common law system.
     
    The last point, which is really unique, which is something that cannot be found, is our connection with the Mainland legal system. Under “one country, two systems”, we have our common law system, we do not use the Mainland legal system. It doesn’t mean that there’s no connection or no linkage between the two systems. On the contrary, there are very important connections between the two legal systems, which are of great practical importance to the international business community. And once again, I wish to use some examples. The first example concerns arbitration. Can arbitration awards in Hong Kong be recognised or enforced in Mainland China? The answer is that we have a very special mutual legal assistance arrangement with Mainland China. There are altogether nine, but suffice for me to mention that’s an arrangement which enables an arbitration award in Hong Kong to be easily recognised and enforced in China. It’s modelled on a well-known New York convention. So it’s no different as any other international award. And another special thing which also about arbitration is that Hong Kong and Mainland China has entered into a very special arrangement to enable arbitration to start or commence in Hong Kong. People engaged in this sort of arbitration would be entitled to apply for interim measures like interim injunction to freeze the assets of the opposing party to preserve evidence in Mainland China by making application in the Mainland court. For example, you start an arbitration in Hong Kong, then you can go to the Mainland court to apply to freeze the assets of your opponent to preserve evidence. I can give you the statistics to see how important and how successful this arrangement is. The arrangement came into existence on the October 1, 2019, and up to mid-May this year, there were altogether around 146 applications. And the value of assets which were subject to this interim preservation order would be around US$5 billion. That will be a very important and practical legal tool to use Hong Kong as a legal dispute resolution centre. And the second more recent example, that I wish to introduce to you, concerns the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Greater Bay Area consists of Hong Kong, Macau, and mainly the nine important cities in the Guangdong province. The population is 86 million. I think the size is more like Croatia, but the GDP has exceeded Australia. I think it would be top 10 as it seen as a single entity. So a lot of opportunities. So just on the February 14, we have introduced special measures to enable Hong Kong enterprise, if they set up an office or their own company in GBA cities, they would have the right to choose Hong Kong law to govern their contracts. In the old days, there were very serious restrictions. Even if you’re a foreign company, a Hong Kong company, if you set up your company in Mainland China, you have no option. You have to use Mainland law to govern your contractual relationship. The second thing is that you can also choose Hong Kong as the seat of arbitration to resolve any potential dispute. And once again, in the past, that option would not be open. You have to use the dispute resolution mechanism or arbitration in Mainland China. So these are special measures which were recently introduced to give people more options. We can readily understand that, in particular for people outside Hong Kong, they may feel more familiar with Hong Kong’s legal system, whether it’s used as the governing law or whether it’s used as the place to resolve disputes. The choice belongs to the end users, but you have to give people the choice. So we are offering people this choice.
     
    Another important thing is the definition of Hong Kong enterprise. It doesn’t mean that it has to be a 100 per cent owned Hong Kong company. So long as there’s some Hong Kong interest, say 1 per cent Hong Kong interest. So if you get a business partner who’s willing to invest 1 per cent in a business venture, then you will be qualified to be a Hong Kong enterprise. And if you use this in the name of this Hong Kong enterprise, you go into a GBA area, then you can take advantage of the measures that I have just mentioned. I’m using this example to highlight the very unique connection between the Hong Kong common law system and the Mainland legal system, which offers very important practical advantages to the international business community.
     
    Lastly, you may say that I’m just selecting the good news. What about external views on the state of the rule of law in Hong Kong? I wish to refer to two very recent international surveys to support that what I have been telling you is not some sort of self-serving statement trying to paint a rosy picture. Firstly, the IMD, the Institute for Management Development in Switzerland, published a competitiveness survey in June, so about a month ago. In terms of global competitiveness, Hong Kong is the third. In the last survey, we were the fifth, so we moved two places up. We ranked second in terms of government efficiency and also business efficiency. And most importantly, Hong Kong ranked the first when it comes to business legislation, which means our business law and also our tax policy. This is the external view based on a very credible international survey. The second international survey that I wish to refer to is an international survey concerning international arbitration. It’s a survey done by the Queen Mary University of London, together with the law firm White & Case. It’s a regular survey done once every three or four years. In the very recent survey, Hong Kong is regarded to be the second most preferred seat of arbitration in the world. Hong Kong and Singapore both enjoy the second place. And in fact, Hong Kong is the most preferred place for arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region. So once again, this serves as a very strong piece of objective evidence to demonstrate people’s confidence in our legal system.
     
    We are living at a time of uncertainties and challenges, many of these challenges were caused by reasons or factors beyond our control. Some of them goes to geopolitical situations, things like that. The role of Hong Kong can play from the perspective be considered in a wider context, not just as a matter of bilateral relationship between Hong Kong and the Netherlands. It has to be perhaps considered in the wider context of the overall relationship between Europe and China, or perhaps Europe and Asia-Pacific, as a whole. I think the relationship between Europe and China and Hong Kong has become even more relevant and important at this time of great uncertainties and challenges. But amid all these challenges and difficulties, in sharp contrast to these challenges and difficulties, what Hong Kong can offer would be certainty and opportunities. Certainty that you will have a very secure, very user-friendly, very credible legal system to safeguard interests, to manage risk, but enormous opportunities to be found, not just in Hong Kong, not just in the GBA, but China as a whole.
     
    So I do believe, I speak from the bottom of my heart that there are very good reasons for us to remain very confident and optimistic in the future of Hong Kong. And for this, of course, I’m most grateful to the continued support by our friends in this room. I do ask you to continue your support. Whenever people speak in front of you, express any doubt, I do invite you to speak on our behalf to convince them that there’s no reason whatsoever to feel pessimistic. There’s no reason whatsoever for them to be concerned about the future of Hong Kong, because Hong Kong will still be the Hong Kong that we all love, that we are all familiar with. This is all I wish to say. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Wimbledon: Injured Sinner moves on when Dimitrov retires

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

    Men’s top seed Jannik Sinner advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals under unfortunate circumstances on Monday after Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire due to right pectoral injury while leading their fourth-round clash by two sets.

    Dimitrov was ahead 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 when he fell to the court following an ace. The visibly emotional Bulgarian, unable to lift his right arm, was forced to retire, handing Sinner passage to the next round.

    Sinner will now face American Ben Shelton, who advanced with a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 7-5 win over Lorenzo Sonego.

    “I don’t take this as a win at all, this is just an unfortunate moment for us to witness,” Sinner said following the match.

    “He has struggled in Grand Slams with injuries a lot, so seeing him again with this injury is very tough. We all saw by his reaction how much he cares about the sport and he is one of the hardest working players on tour,” the Italian said.

    “This is not the end we wanted to see and it’s very sad,” he added.

    Novak Djokovic hits a return during the men’s singles fourth round match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Alex de Minaur of Australia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

    Elsewhere, seven-time champion Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to defeat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The Serbian star will meet Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals after Cobolli ousted Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3).

    In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek’s pursuit of a maiden Wimbledon title continued as she eased past Denmark’s Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals for the second time. The Polish eighth seed will next face Liudmila Samsonova.

    Teenager Mirra Andreeva reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win over Emma Navarro. The 18-year-old will play against Belinda Bencic, who advanced with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Progress for affordable housing in Curtin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.

    You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: First it was ‘protein goals’, now TikTok is on about ‘fibre goals’. How can you meet yours?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Head of Course Nutrition, HealthWise Research Group Lead, Appleton Institute,, CQUniversity Australia

    Westend61/Getty Images

    “Protein goals” have long been a thing on TikTok and Instagram. But now social media users are also talking about “fibre goals”. This reflects a positive broader shift toward overall health and wellbeing rather than a narrow focus on weight loss or muscle gain.

    Foods high in fibre are among the healthiest we can eat. Not getting enough can lead to constipation, haemorrhoids and boost the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and bowel cancer.

    So what’s the expert evidence say about “fibre goals” and how to hit them?

    Different types of fibre

    Dietary fibres are indigestible parts of plant foods. Unlike other carbohydrates that break down into sugar, these complex carbs pass through our digestive tract mostly unchanged.

    There are two main types of dietary fibre:

    Soluble fibres dissolve in water to form gel-like substances. You can find these in fruits such as apples and berries, vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots, as well a legumes and oats.

    Soluble fibres can slow down digestion and help us feel fuller for longer. They support heart health, lower blood cholesterol and help regulate blood sugar levels.

    Insoluble fibres don’t dissolve in water, but add bulk to food. You can get this type of fibre from wheat bran, fruits and vegetable skins, nuts and seeds, beans and whole grain foods.

    Insoluble fibres add bulk to the stool and help regulate bowel movements and reduce constipation.

    Resistant starch is also a type of complex carb that isn’t technically a fibre, but behaves like one; it resists digestion and feeds gut bacteria. These are found in legumes, cooked potato, and undercooked pasta.

    Unlike many fibre supplements (which often only offer one type of fibre) most sources of fibre we eat contain both soluble and insoluble forms. For example, oats, apples and avocado have both.

    Both soluble and insoluble fibre benefit our gut and overall health.

    Both can be fermented by good gut bacteria, although soluble dietary fibres (and resistant starches) tend to ferment more readily.

    Our gut bacteria rely on fermenting these fibres as a fuel to help digest foods, fight against pathogenic microbes such as germs and viruses, and improve physical and mental health.

    Avocados are high in fibre.
    Rouzes/Getty Images

    What should my fibre goal should be?

    Sadly, there’s no quick lab test to measure it.

    A simple indicator is how well your digestion works. If you’re rarely constipated, you’re likely getting enough fibre.

    The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends daily fibre intakes vary by age and gender.

    But in general, adult men should have about 30 grams of fibre per day. Women should have about 25 grams.

    There are many apps and websites to help you calculate your current fibre intake.

    It’s hard to have too much dietary fibre; even eating 50g per day is not considered harmful.

    How do I meet that goal without overthinking it?

    Foods rich in fibre include:

    • fruits
    • vegetables
    • nuts
    • seeds
    • legumes
    • beans
    • wholegrain or wholemeal breads and cereals.

    Aim for variety in your diet, so you don’t get bored of the same foods.

    The federal government’s Australian Dietary Guidelines suggest a daily intake of:

    • two serves of medium-sized fruits
    • five serves of vegetables (one serve is half a cup of cooked veggies or one cup of salad greens)
    • two to three serves of nuts and seeds (where one serve is about 30g or a handful) or two to three serves of legumes/beans (where one serve is a cup of cooked beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas).

    What not to do

    Here are some important things to remember:

    1. avoid drastic changes such as cutting out entire food groups or nutrients (such as carbohydrates) unless advised by your health practitioner. Even low-fibre food groups (such as dairy or lean meats) provide important nutrients. Avoiding them can potentially cause other health problems

    2. avoid focusing on just one type of fibre (soluble or insoluble). Each has different benefits, so incorporating both is best

    3. avoid a sudden increase in fibre. It can cause abdominal pain and increased flatulence. Start by adding just one or two high-fibre foods each day and slowly increase this over a few weeks

    4. fibre needs water to work effectively, so drink plenty of fluids. Aim for at least eight to ten glasses of water per day.

    How do I hit my goal without being a weirdo about it?

    Eating well doesn’t need to be a competition.

    It’s great people are sharing ideas on social media about increasing fibre intake and setting fibre goals, but we can do it without constantly obsessing over food.

    Focus on gradual changes and incorporating fibre-rich foods naturally into your diet. Start by eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, and adding legumes and pulses (such as kidney beans and chickpeas) to meals.

    Simple switches can go a long way. For example, swap refined grain products (such as white rice or white bread) for wholemeal or wholegrain varieties. If you like breakfast cereals, choose one with at least 5g of fibre per serve (read the nutrition panel on the packet).

    Finally, listen to your body. If you experience any digestive discomfort or have certain conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome that requires managing your fibre intake, consult with a health-care professional.

    Saman Khalesi is a committee member for Nutrition Society Australia Queensland Group and Queensland Cardiovascular Research Network.

    Chris Irwin is a committee member for Nutrition Society Australia Queensland Regional Group.

    Seyed Farhang Jafari 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. First it was ‘protein goals’, now TikTok is on about ‘fibre goals’. How can you meet yours? – https://theconversation.com/first-it-was-protein-goals-now-tiktok-is-on-about-fibre-goals-how-can-you-meet-yours-258694

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Liang stunned in WTT US Smash first round

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

    French qualifier Lilian Bardet stunned fourth seed Liang Jingkun of China in a five-game thriller in the men’s singles first round of the World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash in Las Vegas on Sunday.

    World No. 5 Liang twice held the lead but was unable to close out the match, falling 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5 to the 85th-ranked Frenchman.

    Liang’s teammate Chen Yuanyu also exited early, suffering an 11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 12-10 defeat to England’s Liam Pitchford.

    Their losses leave world champion Wang Chuqin as the only Chinese player remaining in the bottom half of the men’s draw.

    Wang, who claimed his first major singles title at the World Championships in Doha this May, defeated Romania’s Iulian Chirita 3-1 and will next face Kao Cheng-jui of Chinese Taipei in the second round.

    “Chirita posed a huge challenge to me, but I managed to make adjustment when trailing in the second game and snatch some crucial points,” said Wang.

    Top names including Felix Lebrun, Darko Jorgic and Qiu Dang also advanced to the round of 32.

    In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Sun Yingsha edged Australia’s Liu Yangzi in a full-distance battle, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-4.

    “In my first match here, I was not quite focused on the game,” admitted Sun. “In the opening stages of the second and fourth games, I could not catch up with the opponent on the scoreline. Finally, I got my concentration back in the deciding game.”

    Facing Sun, Liu said she was like playing against AI as “she can solve everything.”

    Chen Xingtong overcame He Zhuojia in a five-game all-Chinese clash and was joined in the second round by compatriots Chen Yi and Kuai Man.

    Japanese stars Miwa Harimoto and Hina Hayata also progressed to the last 32.

    The WTT United States Smash runs through July 13.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: PRRT augmentation and gross domestic product factor rates

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    For information about the different classes of deductible expenditure and which uplift rates to use for each class of deductible expenditure, refer to PRRT deductible expenditure.

    Table: Petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) augmentation and gross domestic product (GDP) factor rates

    Year

    Long term bond rate (LTBR) expressed as a %

    LTBR + 5%

    LTBR + 15%

    Gross domestic product (GDP) factor rate*

    2024

    4.25

    9.25

    N/A

    1.027

    2023

    3.61

    8.61

    N/A

    1.061

    2022

    2.11

    7.11

    N/A

    1.069

    2021

    1.18

    6.18

    N/A

    1.027

    2020

    1.03

    6.03

    N/A

    1.019

    2019

    2.25

    7.25

    17.25

    1.032

    2018

    2.70

    7.70

    17.70

    1.017

    2017

    2.42

    7.42

    17.42

    1.039

    2016

    2.61

    7.61

    17.61

    0.997

    2015

    3.00

    8.00

    18.00

    0.997

    2014

    3.98

    8.98

    18.98

    1.015

    2013

    3.24

    8.24

    18.24

    0.997

    2012

    4.01

    9.01

    19.01

    1.016

    2011

    5.31

    10.31

    20.31

    1.063

    2010

    5.50

    10.50

    20.50

    1.013

    2009

    4.95

    9.95

    19.95

    1.051

    2008

    6.18

    11.18

    21.18

    1.042

    2007

    5.82

    10.82

    20.82

    1.046

    2006

    5.40

    10.40

    20.40

    1.050

    2005

    5.42

    10.42

    20.42

    1.040

    2004

    5.68

    10.68

    20.68

    1.035

    2003

    5.34

    10.34

    20.34

    1.028

    2002

    5.88

    10.88

    20.88

    1.026

    2001

    5.82

    10.82

    20.82

    1.045

    2000

    6.51

    11.51

    21.51

    1.017

    1999

    5.45

    10.45

    20.45

    1.004

    1998

    5.98

    10.98

    20.98

    1.018

    1997

    7.63

    12.63

    22.63

    1.015

    1996

    8.67

    13.67

    23.67

    1.029

    1995

    9.85

    14.85

    24.85

    1.021

    1994

    7.39

    12.39

    22.39

    1.015

    1993

    8.35

    13.35

    23.35

    1.010

    1992

    9.87

    14.87

    24.87

    1.014

    1991

    12.11

    17.11

    27.11

    1.030

    1990

    13.31

    28.31

    28.31

    1.058

    1989

    12.86

    27.86

    27.86

    1.093

    1988

    12.55

    27.55

    27.55

    1.084

    1987

    13.57

    28.57

    28.57

    1.083

    1986

    13.65

    28.65

    28.65

    1.068

    1985

    13.41

    28.41

    28.41

    1.065

    1984

    12.72

    27.72

    27.72

    1.071

    1983

    14.43

    29.43

    29.43

    1.111

    1982

    15.48

    30.48

    30.48

    1.103

    1981

    12.58

    27.58

    27.58

    1.108

    1980

    10.66

    25.66

    25.66

    1.104

    Note

    * The GDP factor rate is based on the annual change to the gross domestic product (GDP) implicit price deflator index as first published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

    This ABS publication 5206.0 – Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and ProductExternal Link is updated quarterly.

    For additional legislative information on the GDP factor rate calculation methodology and/or augmented bond rate, see the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Act 1987:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Continues Enforcement of Reciprocal Tariffs and Announces New Tariff Rates

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    KEEPING AMERICA IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order determining that certain tariff rates, which were initially set to expire on July 9, will expire on August 1, 2025. President Trump also sent tariff letters to many countries informing them of their new reciprocal tariff rates, which will take effect on August 1.
    President Trump took these actions based on information and recommendations from senior officials, including information on the status of trade negotiations.
    Since President Trump modified the tariff rates roughly 90 days ago, dozens of countries have agreed or offered to lower their tariff rates and eliminate non-tariff barriers to move toward a more balanced trade relationship with the United States.
    Notwithstanding this significant and historic progress, the U.S. trade deficit remains severe.
    While the United States is open to additional trade discussions and deals, President Trump is taking action to establish trade relations going forward.

    President Trump sent letters to many countries explaining that, starting August 1, they will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates designed to make the terms of our bilateral trade relationships more reciprocal over time and to address the national emergency caused by the massive U.S. goods trade deficit.
    In some instances, countries will be subject to a revised reciprocal tariff rate that is lower than the rate initially announced on April 2.
    For others, the reciprocal tariff rate may be higher than the previous rate.

    The President may send more letters in the coming days and weeks. The countries he sent letters to today include:
    Japan (25%)
    Korea (25%)
    South Africa (30%)
    Kazakhstan (25%)
    Laos (40%)
    Malaysia (25%)
    Myanmar (40%)
    Tunisia (25%)
    Bosnia and Herzegovina (30%)
    Indonesia (32%)
    Bangladesh (35%)
    Serbia (35%)
    Cambodia (36%)
    Thailand (36%)

    TAKING BACK OUR ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY: Today’s Order, combined with letters sent to trading partners, underscores President Trump’s commitment to take back America’s economic sovereignty by addressing many nonreciprocal trade relationships that threaten our economic and national security.
    President Trump is the best trade negotiator in history. His strategy has focused on addressing systemic imbalances in our tariff rates that have tilted the playing field in favor of our trading partners for decades. 
    Countries that aren’t serious about addressing the tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that impede American exports and harm American workers, farmers, and businesses are facing the consequences.
    President Trump welcomes the business of our trading partners on American soil: as these countries are aware, there will be no tariff if they decide to build or manufacture products in our country.
    President Trump has committed that the United States will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely to bring back manufacturing jobs for Americans.

    President Trump is using tariffs as the necessary and powerful tool to put America First after many years of unsustainable trade deficits that threaten our economy and national security. 
    LIBERATING AMERICA FROM UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: Since Day One, President Trump challenged the assumption that American workers and businesses must tolerate unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged them for decades and contributed to our historic trade deficit.
    On April 2, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the large and persistent U.S. goods trade deficit caused by a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships, unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers, and U.S. trading partners’ economic policies that suppress domestic wages and consumption.
    President Trump continues to advance the interests of the American people by calling on trading partners to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers and expanding market access for American exporters.
    Today’s announcement, based on reciprocity and fairness, will help usher in a Golden Age for the American People.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Djokovic grinds past De Minaur to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 16th time but it proved a hard day’s work at his Centre Court office as he ground past Australian Alex de Minaur on Monday.

    The 38-year-old started abysmally and lost the opening set in 31 minutes but eventually assumed control of a cagey battle to win 1-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 to keep alive his quest for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title.

    With Roger Federer watching from the front row of the Royal Box, the player whose record eight men’s titles Djokovic is trying to equal, the sixth seed’s usually surgical game malfunctioned early on as he dropped serve three times.

    The hustling and bustling De Minaur continued to cause Djokovic headaches with his shot-placement and movement but the Serb found his range to win the next two sets full of attritional baseline rallies.

    Even then Djokovic looked like getting dragged into a fifth set as De Minaur jumped 4-1 ahead in the fourth and had a point for a 5-1 lead, but he slammed the door shut just in time, winning five games in a row to take his place in the last eight where he will face Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cabolli.

    “I don’t know how I’m feeling to be honest. I’m still trying to process the whole match and what happened on the court. It wasn’t a great start for me, it was a great start for Alex,” a weary Djokovic said on court.

    “He was just managing the play better from the back of the court and I didn’t have many solutions. I was very pleased to hang tough in the right moments and win this one.”

    Djokovic has now won 43 of his last 45 matches at Wimbledon and not since 2017 has he failed to reach the final.

    The two losses were against Carlos Alcaraz in the last two finals, but for half an hour on Monday it looked as though Old Father Time might finally be catching up with him.

    FIRST MEETING

    Djokovic had never met the man nicknamed ‘Demon’ on a grass court after last year’s quarter-final between them never happened when the Australian withdrew with a hip injury.

    He predicted beforehand that the 26-year-old would be a handful on the surface and he was proved right.

    With a relaxed Federer watching in an immaculate blue suit and shades, Djokovic‘s game crumbled into a heap of double-faults, errant forehands and clumsy footwork.

    “Sometimes I wish I had a serve and volley, and a nice touch from the gentleman that’s there. That would help,” Djokovic said of his old rival after sealing his 101st Wimbledon win in a grinding three hours and 19 minutes.

    “It’s probably the first time he sees me and I win. The last two I lost. It’s good to break the curse.”

    De Minaur’s game plan seemed to be to drag Djokovic into cat and mouse rallies and initially it worked.

    But Djokovic rebooted his computer-like brain and chipped away at the Australian who must have believed he could snap his 10-match losing streak against top-10 players.

    Djokovic won a 34-stroke rally early in the second set but with service breaks being traded like a plummeting stock and Federer heading off for afternoon tea he simply could not shake off the tenacious De Minaur.

    Serving at 5-4, Djokovic had to save two break points before levelling the match. He looked more like his dominant best to control the third set and having not lost a two sets to one lead since 2010 it seemed like victory was a formality.

    There was another twist though and it was a mightily relieved Djokovic who closed out the win.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Research – 64% of Kiwi Workers Want Salary Sacrificing: The Mid-Year Game Changer Employers Can’t Afford to Ignore – Robert Walters

    Source: Robert Walters

    • Survey of 2,800+ workers revealed 64% of professionals would consider salary sacrificing if offered 
    • 23% would sacrifice salary for mortgage repayments, 16% for extra Kiwi Saver contributions 
    • 63% of workers are currently job searching after no or disappointing pay rises so far this year.

    As New Zealand faces a mass talent exodus, this could be the best, most cost-effective retention strategy for employers

    With thousands of New Zealand employees heading into mid-year performance and pay reviews, one financial strategy is re-entering the spotlight – not as a perk for senior executives, but as a practical, tax-smart solution for everyday workers: salary sacrificing.

    According to insights from global recruitment agency Robert Walters, a staggering 64% of professionals would consider salary sacrificing if it were offered. 

    “The mid-year review period presents a strategic opportunity for employers to demonstrate progressive thinking. With strong appetite for salary sacrificing, it’s an initiative all employers should be seriously considering,” said Shay Peters, CEO at Robert Walters Australia and New Zealand. 

    Salary sacrificing can be a mutually beneficial arrangement for both employers and employees. Common salary sacrifice options, such as additional Kiwi Saver contributions or novated leases, are generally cost-neutral for employers. In many cases, the benefits provided through these arrangements are either exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) or receive concessional FBT treatment. This includes items primarily used for work (like laptops or phones), and superannuation contributions. 

     
    “As professionals reassess their financial priorities, salary packaging stands out not only as a powerful tool for retention and engagement for employers but also a smart financial choice but for employees.” Peters adds.  

     

     

    What Kiwi Workers Want from Their Pay Packet 

    The Robert Walters research which surveyed over 2,800 people shows: 

    • 23% of professionals would sacrifice part of their salary toward mortgage repayments 

    • 16% would contribute extra to their Kiwi Saver 

    • Others are keen on salary sacrificing for additional annual leave (11%), health and wellbeing (10%) and childcare (3%). 

    “Today’s modern workforce is not just chasing bigger salaries they’re looking for smarter compensation structures,” said Peters. 
    “In a cost-conscious climate, employers that offer flexible, lifestyle-aligned benefits will stand out as true leaders in employee engagement and retention.” 

     

    Employers: Act Now or Risk Losing Talent 

    The threat of attrition is real. Additional Robert Walters data shows that nearly 63% of workers are currently job searching after no or disappointing pay rises so far this year. 

    With New Zealand experiencing a mass talent exodus, its crucial employers think about what else they can offer employees to help with the cost of living.  

    “It’s much cheaper to offer an employee a smarter benefits package than to lose them and start over with recruitment costs, onboarding, and lost productivity,” Peters said. 
    “Salary sacrificing is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact levers a business can pull, and it needs to be part of every HR manager’s playbook this review season.” 

     

    Rethinking Benefits in the New World of Work 

    As Gen Z increasingly enter the workforce, expectations around employee benefits are shifting. These cohorts place high value on transparency, flexibility, and financial wellbeing. In response, organisations are being challenged to modernise how they communicate and deliver total compensation. 

    Previously underutilised or misunderstood offerings, such as salary sacrifice schemes, are becoming more widely adopted. This is largely due to improvements in digital tools and clearer communication from employers. 

    “Managers must go beyond traditional performance reviews and be equipped to educate their teams on the full scope of their remuneration packages,” said Peters. 
    “This includes providing guidance on salary packaging, mental health resources, flexible work options, and long-term career development.” 

     

     

    Call to Action for Employers 

    Robert Walters is urging employers to: 

    • Integrate salary packaging discussions into mid-year reviews 

    • Provide clear, jargon-free resources for employees 

    • Highlight how salary sacrificing can support individual goals (e.g. home ownership, retirement, or education) 

    • Benchmark what competitors in the market are offering 

     

    Call to action for employees  

    • Ask your employer for information on salary sacrificing options. 

    • Think about which benefits align with your lifestyle and financial goals – whether that’s superannuation, a car, a laptop, or additional leave. 

    • Do your research on what salary packaging benefits are commonly available in your industry or role. 

    • Review your current financial situation to assess what you can afford to salary sacrifice without impacting your day-to-day needs. 

    If you’re considering salary sacrificing, it’s a good idea to talk to a financial adviser or tax professional to make sure it works in your favour when evaluating a salary package or new job opportunity. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Future leaders build resilience in 72-hour national design-athon – BRANZ

    Source: BRANZ

    8 July 2025 – Future leaders build resilience in 72-hour national design-athon
    Some of New Zealand’s brightest students have competed in a 72-hour ‘design-athon’ event to create resilient housing that can withstand multiple disasters.
    The BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) event called ArchEngBuild featured 40 final-year students from across the country in architecture, engineering, construction management, landscape architecture, and sustainable engineering.
    The students met for the first time at the University of Auckland and were split into ten teams to compete for the $12,000 cash prize.
    This year’s brief was to design a resilient, sustainable and affordable community building concept that safeguards people from hazards like flooding, earthquakes, fire and high winds. It also needed to be adaptable to different family needs and quickly reinstated if disaster struck.
    The hypothetical site for the development was at the bottom of the Auckland Domain, an area hit hard by the Auckland Anniversary flooding in 2023.
    Flood-resilience was a strong feature of the winning team’s design which included water retention ponds and timber buildings on stilts. However, it was the focus on community that stood out for the judges.
    The winners developed a housing concept called Rauhītia, which means to gather, shelter and care for collectively.
    The largely modular design featured a mixture of townhouses, apartments and standalone homes as well as a community facility and childcare centre to encourage multigenerational living and togetherness.
    The winning students are:
    Enoch Shi, University of Auckland architecture student
    Beatrice Hong, Otago Polytechnic, construction management
    Bella Mercardo – Victoria University of Wellington, sustainable engineering
    Shivam Bansal University of Auckland, structural engineering
    The winners were announced by BRANZ Board Chair Nigel Smith at a prizegiving event at the University of Auckland.
    “This event wasn’t just about meeting a brief-it was about reimagining the future of resilience in our built environment.
    “The competition challenged students to work collaboratively to push the boundaries of what’s possible in designing buildings that don’t just withstand disaster, but adapt and thrive in the face of New Zealand’s unique environmental challenges.
    “This focus is critical-not for some distant future, but for projects that urgently demand fresh thinking today,” said Nigel Smith.
    Architecture student Enoch Shi contributed the winning result to strong teamwork and a clear focus on community at the core of their concept.
    “When we started the project, we asked ourselves – what does resilience mean to us? It can mean different things, but for us it really meant creating communities that protect and serve each other. Research shows the communities that are more bonded together are much more prepared in the face of disaster,” Enoch said.
    The judges were impressed by the strong interdisciplinary collaboration under intense time-pressure pressure.
    “The main theme this year was resilience. It was about building for hazards, but the winning team understood that it is about community at its heart. Their project provided a great base for a diverse population and a healthy community a mixture of housing technologies like medium density and townhouses,” said Ferdinand Oswald, Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology, University of Auckland.
    Overall, the judges were impressed with all of the students’ optimism and creativity in solving some of today’s biggest challenges – including resilience, sustainability and affordability in our buildings.
    These are key focus areas for BRANZ through its independent research and testing to support better buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    “These students are going to change the building industry,” said BRANZ Chief Executive Claire Falck.
    “They are hitting the real world with the right attitude and focus on collaboration and innovation to overcome the significant challenges facing our industry and communities.”
    BRANZ is proud to fund ArchEngBuild, through the Building Research Levy, along with industry sponsorship from:
    Concrete New Zealand,
    Metals New Zealand,
    the Timber Design Society,
    Southbase,
    And, new sponsors this year: The Sustainable Steel Council
    The 2025 judging panel included:
    Ferdinand Oswald – Senior Lecturer of Architectural Technology at The University of Auckland
    Craig Hopkins – CEO of Generation Homes
    Ana Petrovic – Senior Structural Engineer at AECOM
    Anne Carrington – Senior Associate with Warren & Mahoney Architects, and
    Andrew Norriss – Landscape Architect Director – HoneStudio
    BRANZ is committed to a future where all New Zealanders can live in safe, healthy and sustainable homes. Find out more: branz.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Quick Custom Intelligence Unveils One Big Beautiful Bill ‑Optimized Win/Loss Toolkit – A Simple Path Through the 90% Cap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) today announced the release of its trade secret protected BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit, a new package available across QCI Host®, QCI Marketing®, and QCI Player™ that helps casinos and their patrons navigate the upcoming 90% wagering‑loss cap contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” (BBB).

    Built With Gaming‑Tax Experts

    Working hand‑in‑hand with nationally recognized gaming advisors, QCI has engineered a turnkey toolkit that will ensure that more than 99% of players experience zero to minimal tax impact—from penny‑slot enthusiasts to high‑limit table gamers.

    “Our customers asked how to keep their players engaged once the BBB Act takes effect. We worked through the long weekend and delivered a compliance‑ready answer that puts actionable information in both the patron’s and the accountant’s hands—while keeping our intellectual property secure,” said Andrew Cardno, Co‑Founder & CTO of QCI.

    Key Features

    Proprietary Tax‑Optimization Engine – Automatically aggregates each player’s activity using QCI’s confidential methodology, delivering precise win/loss figures compliant with BBB requirements.

    90%‑Cap Readiness Dashboard – Highlights any year‑to‑date gain total that exceeds 90% of losses, flagging potential “phantom‑income” exposure before tax filing day, and suggests remedial actions that are available to the player.

    One‑Click CPA Export – Generates a clean PDF/CSV packet suitable for Form 1040 attachment—eliminating the need for manual spreadsheets.

    Rapid Roll‑Out – Delivered as a standard content pack; no schema changes, no downtime.

    Availability

    The BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit is shipping today to all cloud and on‑prem customers running AGI55 or later. Operators can enable it in hours via routine configuration.

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) builds award‑winning operational, marketing, and player‑development tooling for the global gaming industry.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, a lifetime achievement award and, three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring twelve influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Operators, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quick Custom Intelligence Unveils One Big Beautiful Bill ‑Optimized Win/Loss Toolkit – A Simple Path Through the 90% Cap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) today announced the release of its trade secret protected BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit, a new package available across QCI Host®, QCI Marketing®, and QCI Player™ that helps casinos and their patrons navigate the upcoming 90% wagering‑loss cap contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” (BBB).

    Built With Gaming‑Tax Experts

    Working hand‑in‑hand with nationally recognized gaming advisors, QCI has engineered a turnkey toolkit that will ensure that more than 99% of players experience zero to minimal tax impact—from penny‑slot enthusiasts to high‑limit table gamers.

    “Our customers asked how to keep their players engaged once the BBB Act takes effect. We worked through the long weekend and delivered a compliance‑ready answer that puts actionable information in both the patron’s and the accountant’s hands—while keeping our intellectual property secure,” said Andrew Cardno, Co‑Founder & CTO of QCI.

    Key Features

    Proprietary Tax‑Optimization Engine – Automatically aggregates each player’s activity using QCI’s confidential methodology, delivering precise win/loss figures compliant with BBB requirements.

    90%‑Cap Readiness Dashboard – Highlights any year‑to‑date gain total that exceeds 90% of losses, flagging potential “phantom‑income” exposure before tax filing day, and suggests remedial actions that are available to the player.

    One‑Click CPA Export – Generates a clean PDF/CSV packet suitable for Form 1040 attachment—eliminating the need for manual spreadsheets.

    Rapid Roll‑Out – Delivered as a standard content pack; no schema changes, no downtime.

    Availability

    The BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit is shipping today to all cloud and on‑prem customers running AGI55 or later. Operators can enable it in hours via routine configuration.

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) builds award‑winning operational, marketing, and player‑development tooling for the global gaming industry.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, a lifetime achievement award and, three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring twelve influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Operators, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quick Custom Intelligence Unveils One Big Beautiful Bill ‑Optimized Win/Loss Toolkit – A Simple Path Through the 90% Cap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) today announced the release of its trade secret protected BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit, a new package available across QCI Host®, QCI Marketing®, and QCI Player™ that helps casinos and their patrons navigate the upcoming 90% wagering‑loss cap contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” (BBB).

    Built With Gaming‑Tax Experts

    Working hand‑in‑hand with nationally recognized gaming advisors, QCI has engineered a turnkey toolkit that will ensure that more than 99% of players experience zero to minimal tax impact—from penny‑slot enthusiasts to high‑limit table gamers.

    “Our customers asked how to keep their players engaged once the BBB Act takes effect. We worked through the long weekend and delivered a compliance‑ready answer that puts actionable information in both the patron’s and the accountant’s hands—while keeping our intellectual property secure,” said Andrew Cardno, Co‑Founder & CTO of QCI.

    Key Features

    Proprietary Tax‑Optimization Engine – Automatically aggregates each player’s activity using QCI’s confidential methodology, delivering precise win/loss figures compliant with BBB requirements.

    90%‑Cap Readiness Dashboard – Highlights any year‑to‑date gain total that exceeds 90% of losses, flagging potential “phantom‑income” exposure before tax filing day, and suggests remedial actions that are available to the player.

    One‑Click CPA Export – Generates a clean PDF/CSV packet suitable for Form 1040 attachment—eliminating the need for manual spreadsheets.

    Rapid Roll‑Out – Delivered as a standard content pack; no schema changes, no downtime.

    Availability

    The BBB‑Optimized Win/Loss toolkit is shipping today to all cloud and on‑prem customers running AGI55 or later. Operators can enable it in hours via routine configuration.

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) builds award‑winning operational, marketing, and player‑development tooling for the global gaming industry.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, a lifetime achievement award and, three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring twelve influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Operators, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Morphett Vale

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police are investigating a serious crash at Morphett Vale last night.

    About 10.20pm on Monday 7 July, police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Alexander Avenue and Bains Road after reports of a collision involving a Hyundai sedan and an electric bicycle.

    The rider of the bike, a 28-year-old Morphett Vale woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

    The driver of the sedan, an 18-year-old Christies Beach woman was not injured and is assisting police with their enquiries.

    Major Crash officers attended the scene and roads were closed for several hours but have since reopened.

    Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Driver arrested after crashing stolen car at Athol Park

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A man was arrested after failing to stop for police in a stolen car at Athol Park overnight.

    About 3.15am on Tuesday 8 July, police tried to pull over a vehicle on Athol Street, Athol Park, however, the driver refused to stop.

    In the brief pursuit, the Holden SUV reached speeds of up to 120 km/h in the 50 km/h zone before trying to turn and colliding with a kerb on Glenroy Street, rendering the car undriveable.

    The driver ran a short distance before being caught in Lavinia Street and arrested.

    Police checks confirmed the Holden had been reported stolen from Salisbury Plain yesterday.

    The 35-year-old Salisbury Park man was charged with illegal use, theft, drive dangerously to evade police, exceed speed and drive disqualified.

    He did not apply for bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

    The stolen vehicle was towed from the scene for forensic examination.

    CO TBA

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: WTF Rings Nasdaq Bell, Preparing to Provide Brokerage Services to AIs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waton Financial Limited (NASDAQ: WTF) (“Waton” or the “Company”), a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands and engaged primarily in securities brokerage and fintech services through its Hong Kong subsidiaries, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited, today commemorated its recent initial public offering by ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York.

    Waton’s ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “WTF” on April 1, 2025.

    “This is a defining moment for Waton,” said Mr. Kai Zhou, Chairman of the Board of Waton Financial Limited. “Our Nasdaq listing marks both a recognition of our team’s work and the beginning of a new chapter in our evolution. We remain focused on long-term value creation for our customers, shareholders, and broader society.”

    Launch of a Global AI Strategy

    During the ceremony, Waton Financial Limited introduced its global AI strategy, signaling a long-term vision to transition from a broker-serving model to exploring how it may serve AI-based entities. This strategic initiative aims to evaluate the integration of advanced AI technologies across Waton’s operations, with the goal of evolving how products and services are delivered in an increasingly digitized financial ecosystem.

    “Our aspiration is to become a pioneer in offering brokerage infrastructure that supports AI-driven participants,” said Mr. Kai Zhou, Chairman of the Board of the Company. “We believe AI is emerging as a new category of economic agent, and we are beginning to explore how financial institutions may one day support such entities responsibly, in parallel with human clients.”

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding plans, objectives, strategies, future events, performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events, which may affect the Company’s financial condition, operating results, business strategy, and capital needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “target,” “anticipate,” or similar expressions. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or changes in its expectations. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee these expectations will prove correct and cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from anticipated results, and encourages investors to review the Company’s registration statements and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional factors that could affect its future performance.

    ABOUT WATON FINANCIAL LIMITED (“WATON”)

    Waton Financial Limited is a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands, conducting business primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong. Waton offers comprehensive financial services, including securities brokerage, asset management, and software licensing to retail and institutional investors. Driven by technology and a customer-centric philosophy, Waton is committed to delivering innovative and reliable financial solutions.

    CONTACTS

    Media Inquiries
    pr@waton.com

    Investor Relations
    ir@waton.com
    Waton Financial Limited

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb0da1ed-da9c-4b1e-a58c-db19d2b337ae

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9df492d7-3e3c-4b4b-b0b5-92963328759e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WTF Rings Nasdaq Bell, Preparing to Provide Brokerage Services to AIs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waton Financial Limited (NASDAQ: WTF) (“Waton” or the “Company”), a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands and engaged primarily in securities brokerage and fintech services through its Hong Kong subsidiaries, Waton Securities International Limited and Waton Technology International Limited, today commemorated its recent initial public offering by ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York.

    Waton’s ordinary shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “WTF” on April 1, 2025.

    “This is a defining moment for Waton,” said Mr. Kai Zhou, Chairman of the Board of Waton Financial Limited. “Our Nasdaq listing marks both a recognition of our team’s work and the beginning of a new chapter in our evolution. We remain focused on long-term value creation for our customers, shareholders, and broader society.”

    Launch of a Global AI Strategy

    During the ceremony, Waton Financial Limited introduced its global AI strategy, signaling a long-term vision to transition from a broker-serving model to exploring how it may serve AI-based entities. This strategic initiative aims to evaluate the integration of advanced AI technologies across Waton’s operations, with the goal of evolving how products and services are delivered in an increasingly digitized financial ecosystem.

    “Our aspiration is to become a pioneer in offering brokerage infrastructure that supports AI-driven participants,” said Mr. Kai Zhou, Chairman of the Board of the Company. “We believe AI is emerging as a new category of economic agent, and we are beginning to explore how financial institutions may one day support such entities responsibly, in parallel with human clients.”

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding plans, objectives, strategies, future events, performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events, which may affect the Company’s financial condition, operating results, business strategy, and capital needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “should,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “target,” “anticipate,” or similar expressions. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or changes in its expectations. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee these expectations will prove correct and cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from anticipated results, and encourages investors to review the Company’s registration statements and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional factors that could affect its future performance.

    ABOUT WATON FINANCIAL LIMITED (“WATON”)

    Waton Financial Limited is a holding company registered in the British Virgin Islands, conducting business primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong. Waton offers comprehensive financial services, including securities brokerage, asset management, and software licensing to retail and institutional investors. Driven by technology and a customer-centric philosophy, Waton is committed to delivering innovative and reliable financial solutions.

    CONTACTS

    Media Inquiries
    pr@waton.com

    Investor Relations
    ir@waton.com
    Waton Financial Limited

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb0da1ed-da9c-4b1e-a58c-db19d2b337ae

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9df492d7-3e3c-4b4b-b0b5-92963328759e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP Increases Line of Credit Capacity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) announced today that on June 30, 2025, it entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with five financial institutions for a secured revolving line of credit (the “Acquisition LOC”). The maximum aggregate commitment of the Acquisition LOC is $80 million. Bankers Trust Company is serving as the administrative agent. The Credit Agreement replaces the Partnership’s prior credit agreement with Bankers Trust Company dated August 2021, as amended, that had a maximum commitment of $50 million.

    The Acquisition LOC provides temporary financing for the Partnership’s investment purchases. Advances under the Acquisition LOC are expected to be repaid from the Partnership’s traditional debt financing sources such as Tender Option Bond financing or similar securitization transactions. Outstanding balances on the Acquisition LOC bear interest at Term SOFR plus 2.50%, with an overall floor of 2.60%. The Acquisition LOC has a stated maturity of June 2027, which the Partnership may extend to June 2029 based on customary extension conditions and fees.

    “The $30 million increase in the size of our Acquisition LOC demonstrates our strong relationships with bank lenders and provides the Partnership with additional capacity for effectively managing our capital and liquidity positions,” said Kenneth C. Rogozinski, Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022, taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement 

    Information contained in this press release contains “forward-looking statements,” which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks involving current maturities of our financing arrangements and our ability to renew or refinance such maturities, fluctuations in short-term interest rates, collateral valuations, mortgage revenue bond investment valuations and overall economic and credit market conditions. For a further list and description of such risks, see the reports and other filings made by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. The Partnership disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Karen Marotta
    Greystone
    212-896-9149
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Senior Vice President
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bimini Capital Management to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VERO BEACH, Fla., July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bimini Capital Management, Inc. (OTCQB:BMNM) (“Bimini” or the “Company”), today announced that it will release results for the second quarter of 2025 following the close of trading on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

    Earnings Conference Call Details

    An earnings conference call and live audio webcast will be hosted Friday, August 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET. Participants can register and receive dial-in information at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI93827b97dab34b2f8cabd3a04f5bddd5.A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/jgk2gti4 or via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at https://ir.biminicapital.com. An audio archive of the webcast will be available for 30 days after the call.

    About Bimini Capital Management, Inc.

    Bimini Capital Management, Inc. is an asset manager that invests primarily in residential mortgage-related securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).

    Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC (“Bimini Advisors”), we serve as the external manager of Orchid Island Capital, Inc. (“Orchid”). Orchid is a publicly-traded real estate investment trust (NYSE: ORC). Orchid is managed to earn returns on the spread between the yield on its assets and its costs, including the interest expense on the funds it borrows. As Orchid’s external manager, Bimini Advisors receives management fees and expense reimbursements for managing Orchid’s investment portfolio and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid’s board of directors and has only such functions and authority as are delegated to it.

    We also manage the portfolio of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Palm Capital, LLC (“Royal Palm”). Royal Palm is managed with an investment strategy similar to that of Orchid. Bimini Capital Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida.

    CONTACT:
    Bimini Capital Management, Inc.
    Robert E. Cauley, 772-231-1400
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    https://ir.biminicapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can you keep kids off screens during the winter holidays?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Minson, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Australian Catholic University

    Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Children’s Games, 1560. ©KHM-Museumsverband, CC BY-NC

    The winter school holidays can be a tricky time for families. Parents are often juggling work and chilly conditions make it easy for kids to end up on the couch with multiple devices.

    What other activities can you try? And how can you encourage the kids to move without it seeming like a massive chore or a punishment for everyone?

    Here are some ideas for younger and older primary school children.

    We know kids aren’t active enough

    Many children aren’t as active as they need to be. Australian kids scored a D- on a 2022 report card on physical activity. Less than a quarter of children and young people met the guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.

    Meanwhile, we know excessive screen use is one of the top health concerns Australian parents have about their children.

    What can you do for 5 to 8-year-olds?

    In his 1560 painting Children’s Games, Pieter Bruegel depicts more than 80 of childhood games and play outside. This includes playing with balls, swinging, climbing a tree and imaginary games.

    Many of these ideas still work today. So just like the children in Bruegel’s picture, embrace the outdoors. Remember it’s OK to get a bit wet or a bit muddy (even though, yes, this does mean more washing).

    Think about going on an adventure to the city, cafe, library, or museum or simply finding local puddles to splash in. A change of scenery can do wonders for cabin fever.

    Trips to the park or other nearby nature spots are also important. Research shows playing in green spaces improves children’s mental and emotional wellbeing.

    Need more toys?

    If you feel your toy cupboard is looking overly familiar, try a local Toy Library to borrow puzzles, board games and activities. Alternatively, arrange a toy swap with a trusted neighbour or friend.

    Don’t underestimate the joy and novelty in doing the basic or everyday tasks but with more time, over the holidays. Cooking, baking, sending cards, writing letters and reading a book together are all excellent ways to connect and build memories.

    You could also ask the kids to go and make an art exhibition or practise for a home dance or music concert while you make a cup or tea.

    What about older primary kids?

    Older children love to create, work together and connect with their peers.

    So you could encourage your child or children to channel popular YouTubers and gamers by creating physical challenges at home, for example: a home holiday Olympics, safe Ninja-style circuit or obstacle course.

    Or you could turn everyday chores into “missions” that earn rewards like having their favourite meal or a shopping trip.

    Keep moving

    You could break up sitting time by making TikTok style dances or doing physically challenges (how many star jumps can you do in a minute?) as often as possible.

    If you have wearable tech, such as smart watches, you can track time spent being active. Set up a friendly competition for steps while playing with pets, cleaning up or dancing around the house.

    A 2022 Australian study suggests the “break up your sitting” approach may result in children being more active than a simple “move more” message.

    Also think about screen time that gets kids moving – such as sports-based games. Research shows the energy expended during active gaming is equivalent to a brisk walk. Not all screen time has to be sedentary.

    Try a whole day ‘unplugged’

    You could try a whole day without devices – this shows children it is possible!

    Consider giving the kids more decision-making powers on these days: they could pick (and hopefully) make their meals, have a friend over, decide what games to play or what art and craft to make.

    The winter holidays are a good time to set new active habits that won’t only help now, but will set the tone for the spring and longer summer breaks ahead.

    Victoria Minson is the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) at Australian Catholic University. The Victorian offering of the course has received funding from the Victorian government and Victorian Department of Education. Victoria also receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Amanda Telford has previously received funding from the ARC and NHMRC.

    – ref. How can you keep kids off screens during the winter holidays? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-you-keep-kids-off-screens-during-the-winter-holidays-260577

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia is set to get more AI data centres. Local communities need to be more involved

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Cumbo, Transdisciplinary social researcher and lecturer, University of Technology Sydney

    A Google data centre in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Richard Newstead/Getty

    Data centres are the engines of the internet. These large, high-security facilities host racks of servers that store and process our digital data, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    There are already more than 250 data centres across Australia. But there are set to be more, as the federal government’s plans for digital infrastructure expansion gains traction. We recently saw tech giant Amazon’s recent pledge to invest an additional A$20 billion in new data centres across Sydney and Melbourne, alongside the development of three solar farms in Victoria and Queensland to help power them.

    The New South Wales government also recently launched a new authority to fast-track approvals for major infrastructure projects.

    These developments will help cater to the surging demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI). They will also boost the national economy and increase Australia’s digital sovereignty – a global shift toward storing and managing data domestically under national laws.

    But the everyday realities of communities living near these data centres aren’t as optimistic. And one key step toward mitigating these impacts is ensuring genuine community participation in shaping how Australia’s data-centre future is developed.

    The sensory experience of data centres

    Data centres are large, warehouse-like facilities. Their footprint typically ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 square metres. They are set on sites with backup generators and thousands of litres of stored diesel and enclosed by high-security fencing. Fluorescent lighting illuminates them every hour of the day.

    A data centre can emanate temperatures of 35°C to 45°C. To prevent the servers from overheating, air conditioners are continuously humming. In water-cooled facilities, water pipes transport gigalitres of cool water through the data centre each day to absorb the heat produced.

    Data centres can place substantial strain on the local energy grid and water supply.

    In some places where many data centres have been built, such as Northern Virginia in the United States and Dublin in Ireland, communities have reported rising energy and water prices. They have also reported water shortages and the degradation of valued natural and historical sites.

    They have also experienced economic impacts. While data centre construction generates high levels of employment, these facilities tend to employ a relatively small number of staff when they are operating.

    These impacts have prompted some communities to push back against new data centre developments. Some communities have even filed lawsuits to halt proposed projects due to concerns about water security, environmental harm and heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

    A unique opportunity

    To date, communities in Australia have been buffered from the impacts of data centres. This is largely because Australia has outsourced most of its digital storage and processing needs (and associated impacts) to data centres overseas.

    But this is now changing. As Australia rapidly expands its digital infrastructure, the question of who gets to shape its future becomes increasingly important.

    To avoid amplifying the social inequities and environmental challenges of data centres, the tech industry and governments across Australia need to include the communities who will live alongside these crucial pieces of digital infrastructure.

    This presents Australia with a unique opportunity to set the standard for creating a sustainable and inclusive digital future.

    A path to authentic community participation

    Current planning protocols for data centres limit community input. But there are three key steps data centre developers and governments can take to ensure individual developments – and the broader data centre industry – reflect the values, priorities and aspirations of local communities.

    1. Developing critical awareness about data centres

    People want a greater understanding of what data centres are, and how they will affect their everyday lives.

    For example, what will data centres look, sound and feel like to live alongside? How will they affect access to drinking water during the next drought? Or water and energy prices during the peak of summer or winter?

    Genuinely engaging with these questions is a crucial step toward empowering communities to take part in informed conversations about data centre developments in their neighbourhoods.

    2. Involving communities early in the planning process

    Data centres are often designed using generic templates, with minimal adaptation to local conditions or concerns. Yet each development site has a unique social and ecological context.

    By involving communities early in the planning process, developers can access invaluable local knowledge about culturally significant sites, biodiversity corridors, water-sensitive areas and existing sustainability strategies that may be overlooked in state-level planning frameworks.

    This kind of local insight can help tailor developments to reduce harm, enhance benefits, and ensure local priorities are not just heard, but built into the infrastructure itself.

    3. Creating more inclusive visions of Australia’s data centre industry

    Communities understand the importance of digital infrastructure and are generally supportive of equitable digital access. But they want to see the data centre industry grow in ways that acknowledges their everyday lives, values and priorities.

    To create a more inclusive future, governments and industry can work with communities to broaden their “clean” visions of digital innovation and economic prosperity to include the “messy” realities, uncertainties and everyday aspirations of those living alongside data centre developments.

    This approach will foster greater community trust and is essential for building more complex, human-centred visions of the tech industry’s future.

    Bronwyn Cumbo 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. Australia is set to get more AI data centres. Local communities need to be more involved – https://theconversation.com/australia-is-set-to-get-more-ai-data-centres-local-communities-need-to-be-more-involved-259799

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • PM Modi gifts symbols of India’s cultural heritage to world leaders on five-nation tour

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted India’s rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship by presenting symbolic, handcrafted gifts to global leaders during his ongoing five-nation tour, reflecting the country’s artistic legacy and spiritual traditions.

    PM Modi gifted a hand-etched silver lion mounted on a Fuchsite stone base to Argentine President Javier Milei. The intricately crafted lion represents courage and leadership, while the green Fuchsite — often called the “Stone of Healing and Resilience” — adds a layer of natural symbolism. The piece highlights Rajasthan’s traditional metalwork and gemstone artistry, using materials sourced from India’s mineral-rich regions.

    To Argentina’s Vice President, Victoria Villarruel, PM Modi presented a traditional Madhubani painting depicting the Sun, crafted in Bihar’s Mithila region. Known for its bold lines, intricate patterns and natural colours, Madhubani art is a centuries-old tradition associated with festivals and rituals. The Sun, surrounded by floral motifs, symbolises life and energy.

    In Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar received two gifts reflecting India’s cultural and spiritual ethos. One was a Kalash containing water from the River Sarayu, considered sacred in Hindu tradition and believed to bring peace and prosperity. The Sarayu flows through Ayodhya, regarded as the birthplace of Lord Ram, and the metal Kalash symbolises sanctity and abundance.

    The other gift was a pure silver replica of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, crafted by artisans in Uttar Pradesh. The miniature model captures the temple’s distinctive architecture and stands as a tribute to India’s temple craftsmanship, signifying devotion and cultural pride.

    These gifts, seen as acts of cultural diplomacy, come as PM Modi seeks to strengthen India’s ties with partner countries during the five-nation visit covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia from July 2 to 9. 

    ANI

  • MIL-Evening Report: A top court has urged nations to clamp down on fossil fuel production. When will Australia finally start listening?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images

    As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen tours the Pacific this week to spruik his government’s commitment to climate action, fossil fuel exporters such as Australia are under unprecedented scrutiny.

    In a landmark ruling on Friday, Latin America’s highest human rights court found countries in that region are legally obliged to protect people from climate harms. The obligation includes tougher government regulations for fossil fuel extraction.

    The finding applies to nations in the Organization of American States. But it adds to a growing number of international rulings clarifying nations’ legal obligations to tackle the climate crisis – especially if they export fossil fuels.

    And it echoes long-held concerns from Australia’s Pacific neighbours: that climate change is an existential threat, and coal and gas exporters have a responsibility to act.

    A legal tide is building

    Australia is a major fossil-fuel exporter. When coal and gas mined in Australia is burned overseas, emissions are three times those of our entire domestic economy.

    Since 2000, Australia has approved more than 700 oil, gas and coal projects. This includes federal approval in May for Woodside’s North West Shelf project – a huge expansion of gas production off Western Australia.

    Emissions from these projects damage Earth’s climate, increasing the risk of harm to people around the world.

    As climate change worsens, the United Nations and others are calling on countries to phase out fossil fuel production. A string of litigation involving human rights and the environment is adding to the pressure.

    In a ruling handed down late last week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights said people have the right to a stable climate and that states should regulate fossil fuel extraction and exploration.

    The ruling was delivered in Spanish. According to an English translation, it said nation-states should require fossil-fuel companies to:

    take effective measures to combat climate change and related human rights impacts, to conduct appropriate due diligence, to adopt transition plans, and to provide accurate information regarding the impacts of their operations on climate change and human rights.

    The ruling was an “advisory opinion”, and not legally binding. But it establishes the law on human rights obligations for the nations involved, and interpretations of international law for other nations.

    Pictured: judges from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
    JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Images

    It comes as the International Court of Justice weighs up a request from the United Nations General Assembly, to clarify countries’ obligations under international law to protect Earth’s climate and environment from greenhouse gas emissions.

    The campaign for the case was launched in 2019 by a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific.

    This ruling will apply directly to Australia. Judges in the case are likely to take into account the findings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights – and Australian policymakers will be watching closely.

    International law is catching up with the science

    Key instruments of international law, such as the UN Human Rights Conventions, were developed in the decades before a scientific consensus on global warming.

    But the science has moved on. And it’s now clear that nations have legal obligations to prevent human rights harms arising from climate change.

    In 2022, the UN Human Rights Committee found Australia was failing to meet its obligations to protect Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders from the adverse impacts of climate change.

    In May this year, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, Elisa Morgera, called on nations to end new fossil fuel projects and begin phasing out of fossil fuel production this decade, to protect human rights.

    Australia has argued only the Paris Agreement – which requires countries to set targets to cut domestic emissions – should apply when it comes to mitigating climate change. It has also argued protecting human rights does not extend to obligations to tackle climate change by cutting emissions.

    Such arguments have now been rejected by international courts and tribunals. Continuing to approve new fossil fuel projects, with no plan to phase out fossil fuel production, puts Australia in violation of international legal obligations.

    Australia’s obligations are also being considered in domestic cases. For instance, the Federal Court is next week due to hand down a decision on the government’s obligations to cut emissions to protect Torres Strait Islanders from climate impacts. If successful, the case may force the federal government to rapidly reduce emissions.

    The law is not on Australia’s side

    On his trip to the Pacific this week, Chris Bowen will emphasise Australia’s commitment to tackling climate change, and progress discussions on the joint Australia–Pacific bid to host the global COP31 climate talks next year. He told the media:

    Australia and the Pacific’s joint bid for COP31 is about ensuring that the region’s voice shapes global climate action for the benefit of the Australian and Pacific people.

    I look forward to deepening our cooperation with Pacific neighbours; not only to build a fairer, cleaner energy future, but to bring COP31 home for our region in 2026.

    People in the Pacific now know international law is on their side. Ultimately, a managed shift away from fossil fuels is inevitable – and the time for Australian policymakers to ignore the industry’s climate harms is ending.

    Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia.

    Gillian Moon 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 top court has urged nations to clamp down on fossil fuel production. When will Australia finally start listening? – https://theconversation.com/a-top-court-has-urged-nations-to-clamp-down-on-fossil-fuel-production-when-will-australia-finally-start-listening-259996

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: If you have a pet as a kid, does this lower your risk of asthma and eczema?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Chan, Immunology and Allergy Lead, Snow Centre for Immune Health, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

    Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images

    As the number of people with allergies grows worldwide, scientists are trying to work out precisely how and why these conditions – such as asthma and eczema – develop.

    One long-standing idea is the “hygiene hypothesis”. This suggests our modern indoor lifestyles are to blame, as they limit our early exposure to germs and allergens which help train the immune system.

    But growing evidence suggests having a pet may counter this effect. As any pet owner knows, our furry friends bring a lot of mess, germs and fur into our homes – along with the cuddles.

    So, does spending time with animals lower children’s risk of allergies? Here’s what we know.

    How allergies develop

    During early childhood, our immune systems learn what to attack and what to ignore to stop us getting sick.

    Evidence suggests early exposure – to family members, food, germs, dust, dirt, pollen and pet dander (skin flakes) – shapes this immune response.

    Allergic conditions develop when the immune system overreacts to harmless substances, such as dust, pollen or certain foods. These reactions can affect the skin, airways and gut.

    Dogs bring both love and mess – which might be just what a developing immune system needs.
    Samantha Chan/Author provided, CC BY-NC-ND

    However, we still don’t fully understand why some people develop allergies while others don’t.

    Scientists have identified genes linked to allergic conditions. But most have subtle effects on the immune system and act as “risk factors” – they increase the chance of disease but don’t cause it outright.

    Recent research suggests exposure to bacteria in our environment could be another major factor.

    From birth, our bodies are colonised by bacteria, especially in the gut. This community of microorganisms is known as the microbiome.

    Ongoing “crosstalk” between the microbiome and immune system is crucial for healthy immune function. When this balance is disturbed, it can contribute to inflammation and disease.

    The effect of our early environment

    In the last few decades, studies of children raised on farms gave us some of the first clues that early environments can affect allergy risk.

    Compared to children raised in cities, children on farms are less likely to have allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma. This is especially true of those in close contact with animals.

    Notably, farm-raised children tend to develop a more diverse microbiome than children raised in urban environments. This may help make their immune system more tolerant to foreign substances (such as bacteria and dirt) and less likely to develop allergies.

    However, across the world children are increasingly living in urban areas.

    This means a pet may be the closest contact they have with animals. So, does this still lower their risk of developing allergies?

    Children raised on farms, especially those in close contact with animals, seem to have a lower risk of allergic diseases.
    Peter van Haastrecht / 500px/Getty Images

    What the studies show in eczema

    Some studies indicate children with pets may be less likely to have allergies.

    However this evidence hasn’t always been easy to interpret.

    It can be difficult to tell whether lower allergy rates are due to the pets themselves or other factors, such as location, lifestyle or a family history of allergies.

    A review of results from 23 studies found children exposed to dogs early in life were significantly less likely to develop eczema.

    Another 2025 study analysed genetic data from more than 270,000 people. It found a gene linked to eczema only increased risk of eczema in children who hadn’t been exposed to dogs.

    This suggests early dog exposure may help protect children who are genetically more likely to develop eczema.

    What about asthma?

    When it comes to asthma, the story gets trickier.

    One 2001 study followed more than 1,000 children in the United States from birth to age 13. It found those living with dogs indoors were less likely to develop frequent wheezing – a common asthma symptom – but only if they didn’t have a family history of asthma.

    A Korean study from 2021 found those who had dogs during childhood were less likely to develop allergies. But they had a slightly higher risk of non-allergic wheeze — a type of breathing difficulty usually caused by airway irritation or infections (not allergens).

    This suggests while growing up with a dog may protect against allergic conditions, such as asthma, it may increase the chance of certain non-allergic respiratory symptoms.

    What about cats?

    It’s challenging to tease apart the specific effects of cats versus dogs, since many early studies grouped all furry pets together.

    But in studies that have looked at them separately, living with cats didn’t seem to reduce allergy risk.

    One potential reason is cats and dogs carry very different microbes, which may influence how they shape the household environment.

    Cats and dogs carry very different microbes, which may influence how they shape the household environment.
    Photo by Mochamad Reza Aditya on Unsplash

    So, should you get a pet?

    If you’re already thinking about getting a dog, there’s decent evidence early exposure could reduce your child’s risk of eczema, and possibly other allergic conditions too.

    It’s not a guarantee, but a potential bonus – alongside companionship, joy and never having to worry about what to do with leftovers.

    And if a dog’s not on the cards, don’t worry. Spending time outdoors, encouraging messy play, and avoiding overuse of disinfectants can all help build a more resilient immune response.

    Samantha Chan has served on advisory boards for CSL Behring. She is in receipt of funding from the Allergy and Immunology Foundation Australia and Walter & Eliza Hall Institute. She is affiliated with the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. She is a physician for the Snow Centre for Immune Health, funded by the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

    In the past five years, Jo Douglass has served on advisory boards, provided advice or undertaken presentations on behalf of Astra-Zeneca P/L, GSK, CSL, Stallergenes, Immunosis P/L , Novartis and Sanofi. She is in receipt of funding from the Medical Research Future Fund for studies in allergic asthma. She is a clinical co-director of the Snow Centre for Immune Health, funded by the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

    – ref. If you have a pet as a kid, does this lower your risk of asthma and eczema? – https://theconversation.com/if-you-have-a-pet-as-a-kid-does-this-lower-your-risk-of-asthma-and-eczema-258581

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Quitting the quit-aid: people trying to stop vaping nicotine need more support – here are some strategies to help

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joya Kemper, Associate Professor in Marketing, University of Canterbury

    Getty Images

    New Zealand is among a number of countries that encourage vaping (the use of e-cigarettes) as a tool to help people stop smoking tobacco. But what happens when people want to quit vaping?

    Nicotine vapes can be addictive. While they have helped many New Zealanders quit smoking cigarettes, others – including people who never smoked – now find themselves wanting to quit vaping.

    To better understand how and why people try to quit, we surveyed more than 1,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand who have used nicotine vapes.

    The findings from our study point to a need for support that treats vaping cessation like quitting smoking because for many, the challenges are similar.

    We focused on New Zealanders aged 16 and over who had vaped nicotine. Of the 1,119 respondents, 401 currently vaped and 718 had quit vaping. Around one in eight had never smoked tobacco at all.

    We found using vapes for more than two years and with nicotine concentrations above 3% was linked to higher dependence on vaping. Most current or past vapers wanted to stop, and more than three-quarters of participants had made up to three serious attempts to quit vaping.

    How people try to stop vaping

    Some people wanted to quit vaping because what began as a tool to support quitting smoking has become a new source of frustration or worry.

    The most common reasons to stop vaping were concerns about current or future health, disliking the feeling of being dependent, and the cost of vaping products. These motivations echo the reasons many people cite for quitting smoking, suggesting that people who vape (like most people who smoke) do not want to remain hooked on nicotine, even if it helped them quit cigarettes.

    Participants used a variety of strategies to quit, including abrupt cessation (“cold turkey”), switching to other forms of reduced-harm nicotine (such as nicotine patches, gums, lozenges, mouth sprays), and tapering down nicotine levels. Many also relied on support from whānau (family) and friends.

    These strategies mirror those used in smoking cessation.

    Our participants reiterate the importance of personal strategies, building on previous work on interventions that target vaping cessation.

    Some people did quit vaping and had no problem quitting. However, others struggled. Triggers that cause a relapse to vaping are similar to those many people who smoke experience, including stress and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

    Being around others who vape is also a trigger for relapse. These factors highlight the social and psychological effects of vaping, just as they have long been recognised in tobacco addiction research.

    Importantly, these triggers appeared consistent across different groups regardless of age, gender, cultural background or smoking history. Whether someone vaped to stop smoking or whether vaping was the first nicotine product they tried, quitting came with similar challenges.

    Better support for vaping cessation

    Our study suggests many New Zealanders are now trying to quit nicotine vapes, and some face real barriers to doing so.

    We think existing smoking-cessation support and medications could play a useful role. These tools include behavioural support, such as building self-belief in the ability to quit, identifying key triggers (and strategies to avoid them), stress management strategies, and access to tapering schedules (cutting down the frequency of vaping over time or gradually reducing nicotine concentration).

    As previous work shows, the type of support needed may differ between older tobacco smokers and the growing population of teens taking up vaping.

    Vaping as an exit from tobacco smoking should still be offered to people who smoke. Once vaping is taken up, it should be promoted as a medium-term, step-down tactic (3–12 months), while ensuring that relapse to smoking is avoided. Such a strategy aligns with vaping-cessation guidance provided in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.

    But it’s clear the landscape has shifted. Vaping is no longer just used to quit smoking; vapes are used by people who have never smoked.

    For some, vaping becomes a habit they want to quit in its own right, but it may not always be easy given the addictive nature of nicotine. We need dedicated support for vaping cessation to address this growing concern.

    Findings from our survey have been key to the development of a New Zealand vaping-cessation clinical trial currently underway. People who are interested in quitting vaping can find out more and register their interest.

    This study was supported by a grant from the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Research and Development Fund.

    Amanda Palmer has received funding from the US National Institutes of Health and Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

    Bodo Lang has received funding from the Health Research Council of NZ.

    Chris Bullen receives funding from the Health Research Council of NZ, Ministry of Health and US NIH for research projects on smoking and vaping and personal funding from Kenvue Asia for cochairing ASEAN smoking-cessation leadership meetings. He co-chairs the smokefree expert advisory group for Health Coalition Aotearoa.

    George Laking has received funding from the Health Research Council of NZ.

    Jamie Brown has received (most recently in 2018) unrestricted funding to study smoking cessation from Pfizer and J&J, which manufacture medically licensed smoking cessation medications.

    Lion Shahab received personal fees from a grant funded by the US National Cancer Institute as part of his role as a member of an external scientific advisory committee outside of the submitted work. He also acted as a paid reviewer for grant awarding bodies and as a paid consultant for health-care companies and, in the past, has received honoraria for talks, an unrestricted research grant, and travel expenses to attend meetings and workshops by producers of smoking cessation medication (Pfizer/Johnson&Johnson).

    Natalie Walker has received personal fees from a grant funded by the US National Cancer Institute as part of her role as a member of the external scientific advisory committee. She is involved in a grant (in-kind) supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She also received grants from the Health Research Council of NZ and funds from the US National Institute for Health and the Food and Drug Administration tobacco regulatory science grant. She has acted as a paid reviewer for grant awarding bodies. She has no financial links with tobacco companies, e-cigarette manufacturers, or their representatives.

    Vili Nosa has received funding from the Health Research Council of NZ.

    – ref. Quitting the quit-aid: people trying to stop vaping nicotine need more support – here are some strategies to help – https://theconversation.com/quitting-the-quit-aid-people-trying-to-stop-vaping-nicotine-need-more-support-here-are-some-strategies-to-help-259899

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aviemore among dozens of Scottish locations to see more people on bikes

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued in partnership with Cycle Scotland

    • B9152 road between Aviemore and Carrbridge, saw 53% growth in the number of people cycling over the first three months of 2025 vs the same period in 2024
    • Peaks in cycling around morning and evening commuting times, indicating people are travelling by bike for everyday journeys –

    Aviemore resident Sally Devlin riding her bike

    National cycle counter data has revealed growth in the number of people travelling by bike in Aviemore. It’s among 34 locations across Scotland seeing increases of over 30% in the number of cycle journeys in winter 2024-25 compared with the previous year.

    The B9152 road in the north of Aviemore saw 1,469 cycle journeys in January, February and March 2025, compared to 963 cycle journeys in the same period in 2024 – a 53% increase. Future improvements are planned for this location, with a 9km dedicated off-road route for walking, wheeling and cycling to be built during A9 dualling works. This will provide a safer, more direct link between Aviemore and Carrbridge, linking up with existing routes in the area.

    In addition to the growth in cycling, peaks at morning and evening commuting times indicate that people in and around Aviemore are predominantly travelling by bike for everyday journeys, like commuting to and from work.

    Significant year-on-year increases in cycling were observed at urban and rural locations in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, Inverclyde, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, South Lanarkshire and Stirling.

    Data was captured through the nationwide network of more than 800 automatic cycle counters managed by local authorities and partner organisations, and analysed by Cycling Scotland, Scotland’s national cycling charity.

    Convener of The Highland Council and Badenoch & Strathspey Councillor, Bill Lobban said: “We are encouraged by the growing levels of cycling in Aviemore, which reflect both local enthusiasm and a wider shift towards healthier and more sustainable travel choices. Aviemore’s unique location within the Cairngorms National Park makes it an ideal setting for active travel, and it’s clear from the statistics that residents and visitors alike are embracing cycling for both recreation and everyday journeys.

    “The Council remains committed to supporting this momentum through investment in safe, accessible infrastructure and we will continue working alongside our partners the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Transport Scotland and local communities to deliver infrastructure that makes cycling safer, easier, and more attractive for everyone.”

    Sally Devlin who lives in Aviemore and cycles to work each day, said: “It can often be, if not always, quicker to travel around Aviemore by bike. We have a good network of smooth off-road trails and quiet roads off the main street which means you get to your destination quicker, enjoy nature and stay away from traffic when getting from A to B. I no longer drive to work, and even though it’s just a five-minute cycle you feel so much better for getting outside, and a happy team means happy customers.”

    “Recently the speed limit through Aviemore was reduced to 20mph, and I find this makes riding on the road a much easier and more pleasant experience. I’ve also seen an increase in local businesses supporting cycling in terms of secure bike storage and encouragement of making journeys by bike. I hope the more people that see people like me and my colleagues making utility journeys by bike, the more who will give it a go.”

    Nick Montgomery, Monitoring and Development Manager at Cycling Scotland, said: “To see significant winter to winter increases in cycling is very promising, especially as the growth is close to locations that have seen improvements for cycling in recent years. The peaks in cycling recorded during morning and evening rush hours also show that people are using these routes to get around by bike for everyday journeys, such as travelling to and from work.”

    “What we see from the data is that where local authorities are investing in protected cycle lanes and improved networks of cycling routes, there are big increases in people travelling by bike. Future improvements would support even more people to benefit from cycling as a healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly way of getting around.”

    A map of all 34 locations in Scotland to see increases of over 30% in the number of cycle journeys in winter 2024-25 compared with the previous year is hosted online on data visualisation platform, Flourish.

    Further data on cycle rates in Scotland can be found on the Cycling Open Data Portal

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New boost for Regional Resilience Fund rollout, financing affordable housing, urban development and sustainable tourism

    Source: European Investment Bank

    ©VicaPhoto/ Shutterstock

    • The EIB has announced the signature of agreements with Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure totalling €410 million.
    • The agreements will channel new funding to urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.
    • The funds come from the Regional Resilience Fund financed by NextGenerationEU and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise with EIB support.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with Buenavista Infrastructure and Arcano Partners to channel a total of €410 million to new urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.

    The agreements were made possible by a contribution from the Regional Resilience Fund, part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed by NextGenerationEU. More specifically, this was facilitated by the launch of a new EIB-managed instrument to channel financing via financial intermediaries to back urban development and sustainable tourism.

    The intermediaries selected by the EIB will assess investment opportunities across the country to promote urban development in areas such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, social and cultural infrastructure, sustainable mobility, waste and water management, energy efficiency and sustainable tourism. The investment period runs until December 2030.

    The first two intermediaries selected for the distribution of these funds were Arcano Partners (with a €210 million signature) and Buenavista Infrastructure (€200 million).

    The first two intermediaries selected for the deployment of these funds were Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure. Arcano Partners has been allocated €210 million by the EIB, which it will channel through “Spanish Urban Development SICC” fund. Buenavista Infrastructure was allocated €200 million to be channelled through “Buenavista NextGen Urban SICC” fund. Both are regulated vehicles set up specifically for this action. Funding can happen in the form of both equity investment and debt, or a combination of both. The maximum allocation per project is 22 million while maximum recovery periods are 15 years for equity investments and 20 years for debt.

    “These agreements are a further step forward in the rollout of the EIB Group-managed Regional Resilience Fund and will drive new investment to promote urban development and sustainable tourism. The resources can also go to affordable housing projects, which is one of the EIB Group’s strategic priorities,” said EIB Director General of Financing and Advisory Operations within the European Union Jean-Christophe Laloux. “Close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise made it possible to launch this new line of action for the Regional Resilience Fund, promoting key investments in Spain’s regions.”

    “Thanks to the signature of these agreements, the implementation of the intermediated instrument for urban development and sustainable tourism materialised. This instrument is one of the pillars of the Regional Resilience Fund. It will channel funds to relatively small projects that aim to invest in social and affordable housing and urban regeneration, as well as sustainable tourism activities. Furthermore, funds from the Regional Resilience Fund continue to be a crucial tool for the green transition in Spain, supporting projects that promote sustainability in key areas such as housing and tourism in various regions of the country,” said Inés Carpio, Director General of International Finance at the Treasury.

    Partner in Asset Management at Arcano Partners Eduardo Fernández-Cuesta added: “We are very proud to be once again have the confidence of the European Investment Bank to channel vital financing to bolster our national infrastructure, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. This combined debt and equity strategy will enable Arcano Partners to continue to diversify our capabilities and deliver the excellence we guarantee to our private investors and the public sector institutions that rely on us to manage investments.”

    Managing Partner at Buenavista Infrastructure Victoriano López-Pinto said: “We are very grateful for the vote of confidence in our judgment and expertise in facilitating the use of EU funds. With this new allocation, we have become one of the leading European fund managers by volume of European funds under management. Our team is one of the most experienced in managing public funds and we are excited to be able to contribute to this project promoting local connections, sustainable urban development and the renovation of our national tourism infrastructure to make it more sustainable.”

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    Regional Resilience Fund

    The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.

    The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.

    The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:

    • a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
    • an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
    • two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

    Arcano Partners

    Arcano Partners, founded in 2003, is an independent global firm with more than 20 years of experience in international financial advisory and private markets’ asset management. Arcano currently has four business areas:

    • Asset Management, with more than €12.5 billion managed and advised since the start of its activity in 2006, and with six asset classes: Private Equity, Credit Strategies, Real Estate, Sus-tainable Infrastructure, Venture Capital and Aviation Finance; Arcano has a strong focus on sustainability and responsible investment, being one of the benchmark asset managers in ESG.
    • Investment Banking provides advisory services in M&A, refinancing, restructuring and capi-tal markets transactions to companies in various sectors; Arcano has specialized teams by sector, and additionally offers a transversal technology/digital approach.
    • Research & Consulting provides economic, real estate and differential market analysis, as well as geopolitical and technological analysis of both local and global trends. This analysis is extremely useful for optimizing business decisions, especially in environments of extreme uncertainty where the impacts of making mistakes are profound and can be mitigated by in-vesting in quality analysis.
    • Asset Finance, an area that allows investors to participate in the creation of solutions for the financing of real or intangible assets in Spain.

    Arcano Partners has a team of more than 260 professionals of more than 20 nationalities across 7 offices in Europe and the United States and has become one of the independent firms of reference in the European private markets industry.

    Buenavista Partners (www.buenavistaequity.com)

    Buenavista Equity Partners is an independent asset manager founded in 1996 that operates in the middle-market segment. It currently manages more than €1 billion through different Private Equity, Infrastructure and Venture Capital vehicles.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New boost for Regional Resilience Fund rollout, financing affordable housing, urban development and sustainable tourism

    Source: European Investment Bank

    ©VicaPhoto/ Shutterstock

    • The EIB has announced the signature of agreements with Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure totalling €410 million.
    • The agreements will channel new funding to urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.
    • The funds come from the Regional Resilience Fund financed by NextGenerationEU and implemented by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise with EIB support.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed agreements with Buenavista Infrastructure and Arcano Partners to channel a total of €410 million to new urban development projects (including those promoting affordable housing) and others related to sustainable tourism.

    The agreements were made possible by a contribution from the Regional Resilience Fund, part of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed by NextGenerationEU. More specifically, this was facilitated by the launch of a new EIB-managed instrument to channel financing via financial intermediaries to back urban development and sustainable tourism.

    The intermediaries selected by the EIB will assess investment opportunities across the country to promote urban development in areas such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, social and cultural infrastructure, sustainable mobility, waste and water management, energy efficiency and sustainable tourism. The investment period runs until December 2030.

    The first two intermediaries selected for the distribution of these funds were Arcano Partners (with a €210 million signature) and Buenavista Infrastructure (€200 million).

    The first two intermediaries selected for the deployment of these funds were Arcano Partners and Buenavista Infrastructure. Arcano Partners has been allocated €210 million by the EIB, which it will channel through “Spanish Urban Development SICC” fund. Buenavista Infrastructure was allocated €200 million to be channelled through “Buenavista NextGen Urban SICC” fund. Both are regulated vehicles set up specifically for this action. Funding can happen in the form of both equity investment and debt, or a combination of both. The maximum allocation per project is 22 million while maximum recovery periods are 15 years for equity investments and 20 years for debt.

    “These agreements are a further step forward in the rollout of the EIB Group-managed Regional Resilience Fund and will drive new investment to promote urban development and sustainable tourism. The resources can also go to affordable housing projects, which is one of the EIB Group’s strategic priorities,” said EIB Director General of Financing and Advisory Operations within the European Union Jean-Christophe Laloux. “Close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise made it possible to launch this new line of action for the Regional Resilience Fund, promoting key investments in Spain’s regions.”

    “Thanks to the signature of these agreements, the implementation of the intermediated instrument for urban development and sustainable tourism materialised. This instrument is one of the pillars of the Regional Resilience Fund. It will channel funds to relatively small projects that aim to invest in social and affordable housing and urban regeneration, as well as sustainable tourism activities. Furthermore, funds from the Regional Resilience Fund continue to be a crucial tool for the green transition in Spain, supporting projects that promote sustainability in key areas such as housing and tourism in various regions of the country,” said Inés Carpio, Director General of International Finance at the Treasury.

    Partner in Asset Management at Arcano Partners Eduardo Fernández-Cuesta added: “We are very proud to be once again have the confidence of the European Investment Bank to channel vital financing to bolster our national infrastructure, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. This combined debt and equity strategy will enable Arcano Partners to continue to diversify our capabilities and deliver the excellence we guarantee to our private investors and the public sector institutions that rely on us to manage investments.”

    Managing Partner at Buenavista Infrastructure Victoriano López-Pinto said: “We are very grateful for the vote of confidence in our judgment and expertise in facilitating the use of EU funds. With this new allocation, we have become one of the leading European fund managers by volume of European funds under management. Our team is one of the most experienced in managing public funds and we are excited to be able to contribute to this project promoting local connections, sustainable urban development and the renovation of our national tourism infrastructure to make it more sustainable.”

    Background information

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

    In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

    Regional Resilience Fund

    The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.

    The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.

    The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:

    • a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
    • an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
    • two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

    Arcano Partners

    Arcano Partners, founded in 2003, is an independent global firm with more than 20 years of experience in international financial advisory and private markets’ asset management. Arcano currently has four business areas:

    • Asset Management, with more than €12.5 billion managed and advised since the start of its activity in 2006, and with six asset classes: Private Equity, Credit Strategies, Real Estate, Sus-tainable Infrastructure, Venture Capital and Aviation Finance; Arcano has a strong focus on sustainability and responsible investment, being one of the benchmark asset managers in ESG.
    • Investment Banking provides advisory services in M&A, refinancing, restructuring and capi-tal markets transactions to companies in various sectors; Arcano has specialized teams by sector, and additionally offers a transversal technology/digital approach.
    • Research & Consulting provides economic, real estate and differential market analysis, as well as geopolitical and technological analysis of both local and global trends. This analysis is extremely useful for optimizing business decisions, especially in environments of extreme uncertainty where the impacts of making mistakes are profound and can be mitigated by in-vesting in quality analysis.
    • Asset Finance, an area that allows investors to participate in the creation of solutions for the financing of real or intangible assets in Spain.

    Arcano Partners has a team of more than 260 professionals of more than 20 nationalities across 7 offices in Europe and the United States and has become one of the independent firms of reference in the European private markets industry.

    Buenavista Partners (www.buenavistaequity.com)

    Buenavista Equity Partners is an independent asset manager founded in 1996 that operates in the middle-market segment. It currently manages more than €1 billion through different Private Equity, Infrastructure and Venture Capital vehicles.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Secure all food, bait and rubbish on K’gari

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 2 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    This dingo has removed the lid from a jar of peanut butter found in rubbish.

    Open larger image

    Dingoes will tear open tents and containers to access food and rubbish.

    Photos of damaged tents show the incredible sense of smell dingoes have, and their capacity for opportunistic feeding in the camping areas on K’gari.

    Taken by rangers from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), the photos show the results of food and rubbish being incorrectly stored by campers.

    Dr Linda Behrendorff said dingoes recently gorged themselves on accessible food and rubbish after breaking into a tent and then began hanging around the camping area.

    “Dingoes are opportunistic by nature and have torn open tents, can chew eskies open and knock over bins before ripping rubbish bags apart,” Dr Behrendorff said.

    “Wildlife scavenging around camping areas is a common occurrence, and the problem with leaving food or rubbish where dingoes or other wildlife can get it makes them less fearful of humans.

    “Dingoes don’t differentiate between food and rubbish, and they can start approaching people for food which puts dingoes and people at risk.

    “Even in fenced areas, campers must ensure that all food and rubbish is stored in strong, secure containers and kept in an inaccessible place, such as a vehicle cabin or an enclosed ute tray.

    “A tent or annexe is not a secure place, and dingoes have also taken people’s belongings such as clothing, toiletries or shoes that carry the smell of food.

    “Fishers should bury fish frames and unused bait at least 50cm deep in the sand to prevent dingoes digging it up.

    “During the school holidays, we’re asking everyone to secure your camping area, secure your food and shoo dingoes away if they’re lingering nearby.”

    Bins are provided on K’gari, and people are encouraged to use bins properly and never leave bags of rubbish beside bins.

    Reasons to prevent dingoes getting access to food and rubbish:

    • Opportunistic feeders: They will eat a wide variety of foods, including rubbish.
    • Habituation: Feeding dingoes or leaving food unattended can lead to them losing their natural fear of humans and becoming familiar and habituated to human-provided food, making them more likely to scavenge.
    • Food availability: There is plenty of natural food for dingoes on K’gari. They are opportunistic predators, and if food is readily available in the form of rubbish, they will likely scavenge for it, especially if it is easier to obtain than hunting.
    • Never feed dingoes: It is illegal and can have serious consequences for both people and dingoes.
    • If dingoes don’t find food at your camping area, they are more likely to hunt or scavenge for natural food.

    It is an offence to deliberately or inadvertently feed dingoes. On the spot fines include $2,580 for deliberately feeding a dingo and $464 for food availability. The maximum court-imposed penalty for feeding dingoes is $26,614.

    MIL OSI News –