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  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU students became prize winners at the XV Regional Olympiad in Surgery of the Siberian Federal District

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The Olympiad was held on February 26-28 at the Novosibirsk State Medical University. Talented students from all over the Siberian Federal District came to the event to compete in more than twenty contests, including tying surgical knots, kidney and nerve transplants, and operations on experimental animals.

    The Olympiad lasted three days. Two of them were devoted to performing various operations, and on the last day, participants were tested on their ability to tie knots at speed, and also looked through creative business cards.

    — In the future, I plan to connect my life with neurosurgery, and the Olympiad is a great place to meet colleagues and mentors, as well as further hone my skills, learn weak points in order to work on them. The most difficult thing was not even the operations themselves, since we worked on them for a long time, but in the moment to cope with anxiety, calm my hands so that they do not shake, find a way out if I made a mistake, but the team helps a lot with this, — admits Ekaterina Vasenina, a 4th-year student Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, NSU, which became a prize winner in the nominations “Plastic Surgery” and “Microvascular Anastomosis” as an operator.

    — I decided to take part because I dream of becoming a trauma surgeon, and since childhood, thanks to my father, I have been surrounded by the attributes of surgery in one way or another — surgical instruments were used at home on par with construction ones, medical cases were discussed at the table. When I found out that I had become a prize winner, to be honest, I squealed with joy and hurried to brag to my parents, grandparents. For me, participating in an Olympiad of this format was a debut, so I am very proud of myself and my team! Despite the fact that we gathered for training before the Olympiad, we never performed the entire operation “from start to finish” before the Olympiad, which is why our success was also a surprise. My team — Sergey and Yaroslav — are great, they got together and did what we had never managed to do during training. I am proud of them! We all tried hard, and this was reflected in the result we got – we deserved the prize place, said Sofia Eksharova, a 4th year student. Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, NSU, which became a prize winner in the nomination “Osteometallosynthesis” as an operator.

    Individual results for competitions in which NSU students won prizes:

    — Plastic surgery PSO: operator — E. Vasenina, assistant — D. Akhtyrtseva.

    — Osteometallosynthesis: operator — S. Eksharova, assistant — S. Balasov, nurse — Ya. Rusanov.

    — Microvascular anastomosis: operator — E. Vasenina, assistant — D. Akhtyrtseva.

    — It was both unexpected and joyful. I was an operator at 3 stages, but I was completely satisfied with my work only at one operation, it was with it that I took first place, in the remaining two I understood that there were moments that needed to be worked on, but for one of them I received third place, which, of course, was a pleasant moment, — shared Ekaterina Vasenina.

    For Ekaterina and Sofia, this was the first experience of participating in an Olympiad of such a scale, which gave them a ton of impressions, acquaintances and motivation to develop skills and knowledge.

    Congratulations to the guys on their victories!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Unchanged global climate policies will cost India 19% and world 15% of GDP by 2050 | Interview with The Economic Times

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    The interview was conducted by Deepshikha Sikarwar & Vinay Pandey.
    How do you see US president Donald Trump’s election weighing in on the entire climate debate?
    We are central bankers and supervisors, so we are non-political. We are data-dependent and science-based. We are here together to discuss the impact of climate and nature-related risks on our economies. Talking about climate change in general, there are two major risks: physical risks; meaning increasing numbers of droughts, floods, hurricanes and wildfires. And transition risks, which are the costs and consequences of the transition to net zero.
    If climate policy falls short then, of course, economic and financial risks will increase. That’s what central banks must look at. We analyze the data and see what kind of impact climate change has on the economy. That’s our job. We must deal with these risks, and we will address them, also towards governments.
    What does the withdrawal of the US Federal Reserve mean for NGFS and its agenda? 
    The NGFS was founded at the end of 2017. At that time, we were only eight members. Now we are 144. The Fed, as you just mentioned, left in January. Except for the US, none of the members have exited so far. Instead, thirteen new members have joined since I took over as NGFS Chair at the start of 2024. So, we are still a growing organization.
    And our agenda stays the same, because it has nothing to do with the exit of one member. If we see deregulation, if we see climate being taken off the policy agenda, then we might see increasing physical risk, meaning an acceleration of climate change. And that might mean that we even become more vocal on the risks we see.
    How do you see India’s progress? What more needs to be done?
    It’s not up to me to judge the stance and actions of our colleagues from the Reserve Bank of India. I just mentioned our latest update on the long-term scenarios about GDP being 15 % lower, worldwide, than in a world without climate change. For India, the GDP loss is even bigger. If the world keeps its current policies unchanged, global temperatures are expected to rise by three degrees Celsius (on average). And this could cost India roughly 19 % of GDP by 2050, compared to a world without climate change. So, for India, we show that climate change can have even more serious consequences than elsewhere. And, at the same time, the scenarios show that India is among those countries who would benefit the most from a global transition towards net zero emissions.
    You’ve said your actions are data dependent. What is the data telling us in terms of the economic impact of climate change? Because there is also a pushback.
    We are analytical powerhouses. Our climate scenarios are our flagship product. We have set up different long-term scenarios. For example, a current policy scenario or a fragmented world one, where climate policy is delayed, divergent and/or insufficient across the globe. Or a scenario where policy would bring us to a Paris-aligned world. We look at what those different climate scenarios mean in economic terms, for GDP, inflation, productivity, and so on.
    The fifth vintage of our long-term climate scenarios was published at the start of November last year. It told us that under the current policies scenario, global GDP will be 15 % lower globally in 2050 than it would be without climate change. This is a striking number, and in fact we have reason to believe that it doesn’t even show the full picture, because we do not yet have a full set of data. It does not reflect, for example, future sea level rises, or the kind of climate migration that we might see. When we have more data, we will get more insights, and the results might even change.
    What has the conversation been like at the plenary in the backdrop of the US exit and what is the assessment of the progress made so far?
    We’ve never seen such a strong commitment as we see here in India today. More than 100 people from over 60 countries came from all around the world to be here in person. Another 100 people participated virtually. We’ve never had so many senior level representatives from central banks and financial supervisors. We have more than 25 governors or deputy governors here in India at our annual meeting. 
    What we’ve reflected on today is how political headwinds, deregulation, impact our work. And our work stays the same, because we are non-political animals, and we stick to our mandates. With so many central banks from all over the world in our network, we all have different mandates. In emerging markets or developing countries, the mandates are often not as narrow as they are in, for example, Europe. So, we do have members with broader mandates. That allows them to do different things, such as promoting green finance or other financial sector development.
    Most central banks have initiated some sort of action on tackling climate change and its economic impact. What is your assessment of the progress and what more is needed?
    With 144 members from all over the globe, there are members at completely different stages, depending on when they started and how big their capacities are. Some members are very advanced, like the French, the Dutch, the UK, and there are those who have just started or are so small that they barely have capacity.
    What are the advanced central banks doing? They have started with climate stress testing in the banking sector. For example, in Europe, we have already done a few climate stress tests. In India, Brazil and many countries in Africa, you see that climate change strongly affects food prices. We also see, in some African countries for example, that energy prices are significantly affected by climate change. We cannot rely on past data or experiences; we need a forward-looking perspective. There’s a lot of uncertainty and non-linearity. So, we must work in terms of scenarios.
    When the NGFS was set up in December 2017, there were some central banks who thought, “oh my god, there’s climate change and we do not know at all whether this will affect our work, our mandates”. We thought, “this might be such a big threat that it’s better to collaborate, put together all the resources we have and to see what will come out”. This is why the NGFS was set up. Over the years, we have not only realized that climate change really matters to the economy but also confirmed that it affects our mandates.
    The whole idea of this network is that we share our knowledge amongst our members. This is the benefit of being a member of the NGFS. And we also produce public goods like the scenarios mentioned, which can be used by financial sector players and policymakers beyond the network.
    Different governments have different commitments to climate change and central banks have different mandates. Given that, how effective can this body be?
    Climate policy is not part of our mandate. What governments do is another thing. Of course, our analysis shows that if governments take less action on climate, it will have a huge impact on the economy, often also on inflation.
    You are right, central banks globally have a wide range of different tasks and mandates. But this is also the beauty of our network. 144 different organisations learn from each other. Many members – for example emerging markets – have a lot in common with each other. These countries often form groups among peers so that they can share experience and best practice.
    Any thinking on short-term scenario mapping?
    We will soon publish our short-term scenarios with a time horizon of three to five years, hopefully in the first half of the year. We think it is important to show what will happen within this time horizon.
    Not many care about 2050 and 2100. Not many of us work over this time horizon. If you are a CEO, your contract lasts 3‑5 years. If you’re a politician, you want to be re-elected within 3‑5 years. A scenario which tells you what might happen in 2050, of course, really matters for human beings. But, to tell the story to someone who thinks short term, you need also short-term scenarios.
    © The Times Group. All rigths reserved.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Booming blueberry industry elevates SW China’s Yunnan to global supplier

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    While blueberry bushes in most parts of China are just beginning to bloom, early-ripening varieties in southwestern Yunnan Province are already being harvested.

    Farmers are currently working tirelessly to pick and pack the fresh berries, which swiftly make their way to markets across China and beyond.

    Originally native to North America, blueberries have found a second home in China.

    In 2024, the country’s blueberry cultivation area surpassed 73,000 hectares, yielding around 500,000 tonnes of berries, making China one of the fastest-growing blueberry producers in the world. Yunnan Province, with its ideal climate and extended growing season, has emerged as a leading production hub, contributing about 30 percent of the national output.

    Thanks to its unique geographical conditions, abundant sunlight, significant temperature variations between day and night, Yunnan offers an optimal environment for blueberry cultivation. “Yunnan is a natural habitat for blueberries,” said He Jiawei, head of the Institute of Alpine Economic and Botany, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science.

    The province is home to 46 wild blueberry species — more than half of China’s total, making it one of the best production areas worldwide.

    The city of Mengzi in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture is home to over 2,300 hectares of greenhouse-grown blueberry cultivation space, generating over 3 billion yuan (about 418.48 million U.S. dollars) in revenue and improving incomes and livelihoods for more than 20,000 local farmers.

    Min Hongwei set up a 12-hectare blueberry plantation base in Mile, another city in Honghe, last year. “During peak harvest season, our workforce jumps to over 150 people, most of whom are local villagers. They can earn at least 150 yuan per day, and some make as much as 300 yuan,” he said.

    Yunnan’s blueberry boom has attracted over 100 domestic and international companies to Honghe, creating jobs for more than 100,000 people. According to the province’s agricultural department, Yunnan’s blueberry cultivation area reached 16,660 hectares in 2024, producing 171,000 tonnes with an estimated industry value of 17 billion yuan.

    While Chinese blueberries were initially grown for domestic consumption, they are now making their mark on the international stage.

    Chen Canling, sales manager of Anmei, an agriculture and technology company, said the company had successfully entered the Malaysian market this year.

    “To meet export standards, we’ve implemented precision management throughout the supply chain from harvesting techniques to packaging and international logistics,” Chen said. “Our goal is to export 300 tonnes of blueberries this year.”

    “Every four days, we airfreight two tonnes of blueberries to Dubai,” said Wang Rui, chairman of Fengji, an agricultural development company, adding that customers in Dubai can enjoy fresh blueberries from Yunnan in about 40 hours.

    China’s blueberry exports are rapidly gaining momentum. According to Kunming Customs, in 2024, the customs office in Mengzi supervised the export of 1,425 tonnes of blueberries, accounting for over half of China’s total blueberry exports and making it the country’s top blueberry exporter.

    “Since China first exported homegrown blueberries to Russia in 2020, they have reached more than 10 countries and regions, highlighting the immense market potential of Chinese blueberries,” said Li Yadong, a professor at Jilin Agricultural University. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Final Results for the Year-Ended December 31, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Diversified Achieves Strong Final Year-End 2024 Results, Delivers on Capital Allocation Promises, and Introduces 2025 Combined Company Outlook

    2024 Achievements Position Diversified on a Meaningful Path Forward as a Stronger and Larger Company

    Executed Approximately $2 Billion of Acquisitions in an Advantageous Pricing Environment

    Third year of Consistent Operating Costs Despite Broader Industry and Inflationary Pressures

    Maverick Integration Anticipated to Provide Meaningful Financial and Operational Benefits to Drive Free Cash Flow Acceleration

    Created a PDP Solution for Upstream Peers to Facilitate Operated Acquisitions with an Undeveloped Inventory Focus

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE: DEC; NYSE: DEC) is pleased to announce its operational and final audited results for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    Diversified remains a differentiated key player in acquiring and building a portfolio of assets through value-accretive transactions while simultaneously unlocking hidden value through its unique operational framework, strategic development partnerships, and growing adjacent business segments, including coal mine methane (CMM), energy marketing and well-retirement. By completing over $4.0 billion of acquisitions since its public listing in 2017, Diversified has built a large-scale integration and operating company that remains focused on delivering de-risked, reliable cash flow for its shareholders. With the combination of maturing assets and M&A activity leading to growth-oriented E&P’s recycling capital through divestment, there remains an ample opportunity set for Diversified’s continued growth. Additionally, with most upstream acquisitions today focusing on increasing undeveloped inventory, Diversified provides a creative and actionable solution as the PDP purchasing partner for those E&P’s that only value inventory.

    Only Publicly Traded Champion of the PDP Subsector with Unique Strategic Advantages

    • Large Operational Scale: Multiple geographies in core basins including Western Anadarko (largest producer), Permian, Appalachia, Barnett and Ark-La-Tex with commodity product diversification
    • Vertical Integration: In-house marketing, extensive midstream network, wholly-owned processing infrastructure, and a well retirement business segment
    • Leading Technology Platform: 100% cloud architecture, supporting well level data capture, information for actionable production optimization, and real-time monitoring which mitigates production downtime
    • Beneficial Financing Solution: Demonstrated ability to access numerous capital solutions, including investment grade, low-cost Asset Backed Securities, commercial banking facilities and equity investment partners
    • Flexible Capital Allocation: shareholder returns-focused model prioritizing Free Cash Flow for systematic debt reduction, fixed dividend payments, opportunistic share repurchases, and accretive acquisitions
    • Proven Process to Capture Synergies: established integration playbook and sophisticated corporate infrastructure provides considerable expense savings and unlocks sustainable value

    Delivering Consistent and Reliable Results in 2024        

    • Delivered average net daily production: 791 MMcfepd (132 MBoepd)
      • December exit rate of 864 MMcfepd (144 MBoepd)
    • Year end 2024 reserves of 4.5 Tcfe (747 MMBoe; PV10 of $3.3 billion(b))
    • Total Revenue, inclusive of hedges of $946 million(e), net of $151 million in commodity cash hedge receipts that supplemented Total Revenue of $795 million
    • Operating Cash Flow of $346 million; Net loss of $87 million, inclusive of $141 million tax-effected, non-cash unsettled derivative fair value adjustments
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $472 million(c); Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $211 million(d)
      • 2024 Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 51%(c)
      • 2024 Adjusted Operating Cost per unit of $1.70/Mcfe ($10.22/Boe)

    Achieving Expectations

    • Recommend a final quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share
    • Generated $49 million of cash proceeds through land sales and Coal Mine Methane Revenues
    • Retired over $200 million in debt principal through amortizing debt payments
    • Returned $105 million to shareholders, including $21 million in share buybacks(h)
    • Completed $585 million (gross) in strategic and bolt-on acquisitions during 2024
    • Retired 202 Diversified wells in Appalachia, marking third consecutive year to exceed 200 wells
    • OGMP Gold Standard and MSCI AA Rating for third and second consecutive year, respectively
    • Decreased Scope 1 methane intensity to 0.7 MT CO2e per MMcfe, a 13% reduction from 2023

    Powerful Step Forward

    • Closed transformative $1.3 billion acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources (“Maverick”)
      • Largest Producer in the Western Anadarko Basin (WAB)
      • Entry into the Permian basin
      • Expecting to achieve over $50 million in annual synergies by year-end 2025
    • Closed the accretive bolt-on acquisition of assets from Summit Natural Resources
      • Anticipate over 300% increase in cash flow from CMM environmental credit sales in the next 24 months
    • Developed a unique partnership to create an innovative, reliable, net-zero data center power solution
    • Enhancing free cash flow growth in 2025 by advantageously added natural gas hedges (related to ABS & recent acquisitions) and planning approximately $40 million from the divestiture of undeveloped leasehold during the first half of 2025

    CEO Rusty Hutson, Jr. commented:

    “Our over 1,600 women and men of Diversified remain the driving force behind our strong operational and financial performance in 2024. Whether it’s natural gas to power the technology of the future or the everyday needs of families and businesses across our operating region, Diversified provides the reliable and sustainable energy needed, and we continue to invest in growing our business while expanding our opportunity set of cash flow generation through verticals in a variety of end markets.

    We have built a Company that remains highly focused on long-term value creation through the growth of our platform and our ability to leverage vertical integration and scale to operate a structurally and dependably higher-margin business that delivers de-risked, consistent cash flow. Our focused strategy, disciplined leadership team, sound operating practices, and the strong demand for natural gas provide us with momentum as we begin the year and the confidence to achieve our full-year 2025 expectations while executing against our capital allocation strategy. We are starting the year in a position of strength as a bigger, better business, and there has never been a more exciting time for our Company and the energy industry. We feel privileged to be at the heart of the energy renaissance as the Right Company at the Right Time to help provide essential energy needs.”

    Combined Company 2025 Outlook

    Following the recently completed acquisition of Maverick, Diversified expects to realize significant operational synergies associated with a larger, consolidated position in Oklahoma and the ability to improve the overall cost structure of the Maverick Natural Resources assets while continuing to prioritize returns and Free Cash Flow generation.

    The following outlook incorporates a nine-month contribution from the recently acquired Maverick.

      2025 Guidance
    Total Production (Mmcfe/d) 1,050 to 1,100
    % Liquids ~25%
    % Natural Gas ~75%
    Total Capital Expenditures (millions) $165 to $185
    Adj. EBITDA1 (millions) $825 to $875
    Adj. Free Cash Flow1 (millions) ~$420
    Leverage Target 2.0x to 2.5x
    Combined Company Synergies (millions) >$50
    1 Includes the value of anticipated cash proceeds for 2025 land sales
     

    Posting of 2024 Annual Report and Notice of Annual General Meeting

    Diversified has published to the Company’s website its 2024 Annual Report and Notice of AGM, along with the form of proxy for the AGM. These documents can be viewed or downloaded from Diversified’s website at https://ir.div.energy/financial-info.

    The Company has also provided copies of these documents to the National Storage Mechanism that, in accordance with UK Listing Rule 6.4.1R, will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

    Annual General Meeting Arrangements

    The Company’s AGM will be held on April 9, 2025 at 1:00pm BST (8:00am EDT) at the offices of FTI Consulting, 200 Aldersgate, Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4HD.

    Presentation and Webcast

    DEC will host a conference call today at 12:30 pm GMT (8:30am EDT) to discuss these results. The conference call details are as follows:

    A corporate presentation will be posted to the Company’s website before the conference call. The presentation can be found at https://ir.div.energy/presentations.

    Footnotes:

    (a) Corporate decline rate of ~10% calculated as the change in average daily production for the month of December 2023 (775 MMcfepd), adjusted for the impact of acquisitions and divestitures occurring during the 2024 calendar year, to the average daily production for the month of December 2024.
    (b) Based on the Company’s year-end PDP reserves and using 10-year NYMEX strip, as at December 31, 2024.
    (c) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depletion, and amortization, and includes adjustments for items that are not comparable period-over-period; As presented, Adjusted EBITDA includes the impact of the accounting basis for land sales; Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA (excluding the adjustment for the accounting basis on land sales) as a percent of Total Revenue, Inclusive of Settled Hedges; For purposes of comparability, Adjusted EBITDA Margin excludes Other Revenue of $16 million and Lease Operating Expense of $19 million in 2024 associated with Diversified’s wholly owned plugging subsidiary, Next LVL Energy. For more information, please refer to Non-IFRS Measures, below.
    (d) Free Cash Flow represents net cash provided by operating activities less expenditures on natural gas and oil properties and equipment and cash paid for interest; As used herein, Adjusted Free Cash Flow represents Free Cash Flow, plus cash proceeds from undeveloped acreage sales; For more information, please refer to Non-IFRS Measures, below.
    (e) Calculated as total revenue recorded for the period, inclusive of the impact of derivatives settled in cash. For more information, please refer to Non-IFRS Measures, below.
    (f) Calculated as the availability on the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility (“SLL”) and cash on hand (unrestricted)of December 31, 2024; Does not include the impact of Letters of Credit.
    (g) Net Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA, or “Leverage” or “Leverage Ratio,” is measured as Net Debt divided by Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA; Pro forma adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2024 for the annualized impact of acquisitions completed during the year. Net Debt calculated as of December 31, 2024 and includes total debt as recognized on the balance sheet, less cash and restricted cash; Total debt includes the Company’s borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility (“SLL”) and borrowings under or issuances of, as applicable, the Company’s subsidiaries’ securitization facilities. For more information, please refer to Non-IFRS Measures, below.
       

    For Company-specific items, refer also to the Glossary of Terms and/or Alternative Performance Measures found in Diversified’s 2024 Annual Report

    For further information, please contact:  
    Diversified Energy Company PLC +1 973 856 2757
    Doug Kris dkris@dgoc.com
    www.div.energy  
       
    FTI Consulting dec@fticonsulting.com
    U.S. & UK Financial Public Relations  
       

    About Diversified Energy Company PLC

    Diversified is a leading publicly traded energy company focused on natural gas and liquids production, transport, marketing, and well retirement. Through our differentiated strategy, we acquire existing, long-life assets and invest in them to improve environmental and operational performance until retiring those assets in a safe and environmentally secure manner. Recognized by ratings agencies and organizations for our sustainability leadership, this solutions-oriented, stewardship approach makes Diversified the Right Company at the Right Time to responsibly produce energy, deliver reliable free cash flow, and generate shareholder value.

    Important Notices

    This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries (“the Group”) following the Maverick Acquisition. These statements, which contain the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “seek”, “continue”, “aim”, “target”, “projected”, “plan”, “goal”, “achieve”, “outlook” and words of similar meaning, reflect the Company’s beliefs and expectations and are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment the Company and the Group will operate in and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. No representation is made that any of these statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecast results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the Group to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company’s or the Group’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the actions of regulators and other factors such as the Company’s or the Group’s ability to continue to obtain financing to meet its liquidity needs, changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company or the Group operate or in economic or technological trends or conditions, and the Company’s or Group’s ability to realize expected benefits of the Maverick acquisition. Past performance of the Company cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. As a result, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The list above is not exhaustive and there are other factors that may cause the Company’s or the Group’s actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, including the risk factors described in the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and neither the Company, nor the Group nor any of its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or advisers expressly disclaim any obligation to supplement, amend, update or revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, except where it would be required to do so under applicable law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements in this announcement may not occur. No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast or a profit estimate and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that the financial performance of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published for the Company.

    The contents of this announcement are not to be construed as legal, business or tax advice. Each shareholder should consult its own legal adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial or tax advice respectively.

    Percentages in tables have been rounded and accordingly may not add up to 100 per cent. Certain financial data have also been rounded. As a result of this rounding, the totals of data presented in this announcement may vary slightly from the actual arithmetic totals of such data.

    Use of Non-IFRS Measures

    Certain key operating metrics that are not defined under IFRS (alternative performance measures) are included in this announcement. These non-IFRS measures are used by us to monitor the underlying business performance of the Company from period to period and to facilitate comparison with our peers. Since not all companies calculate these or other non-IFRS metrics in the same way, the manner in which we have chosen to calculate the non-IFRS metrics presented herein may not be compatible with similarly defined terms used by other companies. The non-IFRS metrics should not be considered in isolation of, or viewed as substitutes for, the financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Certain of the key operating metrics are based on information derived from our regularly maintained records and accounting and operating systems.

    Non-IFRS Disclosures

    Adjusted EBITDA

    As used herein, EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depletion, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further adjusts for items that are not comparable period-over-period, including accretion of asset retirement obligations, other (income) expense, loss on joint and working interest owners receivable, (gain) loss on bargain purchases, (gain) loss on fair value adjustments of unsettled financial instruments, (gain) loss on natural gas and oil property and equipment, costs associated with acquisitions, other adjusting costs, non-cash equity compensation, (gain) loss on foreign currency hedge, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps and other similar items.

    Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating profit (loss), net income (loss), or cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing, and financing activities. However, we believe this measure is useful to investors in evaluating our financial performance because it (1) is widely used by investors in the natural gas and oil industry as an indicator of underlying business performance; (2) helps investors more meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations from period to period by removing the often-volatile revenue impact of changes in the fair value of derivative instruments prior to settlement; (3) is used in the calculation of a key metric in one of our Credit Facility financial covenants; and (4) is used by us as a performance measure in determining executive compensation. When evaluating this measure, we believe investors also commonly find it useful to assess this metric as a percentage of our total revenue, inclusive of settled hedges, which we refer to as adjusted EBITDA margin.

      Year Ended
      December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2022
    Net income (loss) $ (87,001 ) $ 759,701   $ (620,598 )
    Finance costs   137,643     134,166     100,799  
    Accretion of asset retirement obligations   30,868     26,926     27,569  
    Other (income) expense(a)   (1,257 )   (385 )   (269 )
    Income tax (benefit) expense   (136,951 )   240,643     (178,904 )
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization   256,484     224,546     222,257  
    (Gain) loss on bargain purchases   —     —     (4,447 )
    (Gain) loss on fair value adjustments of unsettled financial instruments   189,030     (905,695 )   861,457  
    (Gain) loss on natural gas and oil properties and equipment(b)   15,308     4,014     93  
    (Gain) loss on sale of equity interest   7,375     (18,440 )   —  
    Unrealized (gain) loss on investment   4,013     (4,610 )   —  
    Impairment of proved properties(c)   —     41,616     —  
    Costs associated with acquisitions   11,573     16,775     15,545  
    Other adjusting costs(d)   22,375     17,794     69,967  
    Loss on early retirement of debt   14,753     —     —  
    Non-cash equity compensation   8,286     6,494     8,051  
    (Gain) loss on foreign currency hedge   —     521     —  
    (Gain) loss on interest rate swap   (190 )   2,722     1,434  
    Total adjustments $ 559,310   $ (212,913 ) $ 1,123,552  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 472,309   $ 546,788   $ 502,954  
    Pro forma adjusted EBITDA(e) $ 548,570   $ 553,252   $ 574,414  
    1. Excludes $1 million in dividend distributions received for our investment in DP Lion Equity Holdco during the year ended December 31, 2024.
    2. Excludes $27 million, $24 million and $2 million in cash proceeds received for leasehold sales during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, less $14 million and $4 million of basis in leasehold sales for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
    3. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Group determined the carrying amounts of certain proved properties within two fields were not recoverable from future cash flows, and therefore, were impaired.
    4. Other adjusting costs for the year ended December 31, 2024, were primarily associated with legal and professional fees related to the U.S. listing, legal fees for certain litigation, and expenses associated with unused firm transportation agreements. For the year ended December 31, 2023, these costs were primarily related to legal and professional fees for the U.S. listing, legal fees for certain litigation, and expenses for unused firm transportation agreements. For the year ended December 31, 2022, these costs mainly included $28 million in contract terminations, which enabled the Group to secure more favorable future pricing, and $31 million in deal breakage and/or sourcing costs for acquisitions.
    5. Includes adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2024 for the Oaktree, Crescent Pass, and East Texas II acquisitions to pro forma their results for the full twelve months of operations. Similar adjustments were made for the year ended December 31, 2023 for the Tanos II Acquisition, as well as for the year ended December 31, 2022 for the East Texas I and ConocoPhillips acquisitions.

    Total Revenue, Inclusive of Hedges and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

    As used herein, total revenue, inclusive of settled hedges, accounts for the impact of derivatives settled in cash. We believe that total revenue, inclusive of settled hedges, is a useful measure because it enables investors to discern our realized revenue after adjusting for the settlement of derivative contracts.

    As used herein, adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as adjusted EBITDA expressed as a percentage of total revenue, inclusive of settled hedges. Adjusted EBITDA margin encompasses the direct operating costs and the portion of general and administrative costs required to produce each Mcfe. This metric includes operating expense, employee costs, administrative costs and professional services, and recurring allowance for credit losses, which cover both fixed and variable costs components. We believe that adjusted EBITDA margin is a useful measure of our profitability and efficiency, as well as our earnings quality, because it evaluates the Group on a more comparable basis period-over-period, especially given our frequent involvement in transactions that are not comparable between periods.

      Year Ended
      December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2022
    Total revenue $ 794,841   $ 868,263   $ 1,919,349  
    Net gain (loss) on commodity derivative instruments(a)   151,289     178,064     (895,802 )
    Total revenue, inclusive of settled hedges $ 946,130   $ 1,046,327   $ 1,023,547  
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 472,309   $ 546,788   $ 502,954  
    Adjusted EBITDA margin   50 %   52 %   49 %
    Adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding Next LVL Energy   51 %   53 %   50 %
    1. Net gain (loss) on commodity derivative settlements represents the cash paid or received on commodity derivative contracts. This excludes settlements on foreign currency and interest rate derivatives, as well as the gain (loss) on fair value adjustments for unsettled financial instruments for each of the periods presented.

    Free Cash Flow

    As used herein, free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities, less expenditures on natural gas and oil properties and equipment, and cash paid for interest. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of our ability to generate cash that is available for activities beyond capital expenditures. The Directors believe that free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt obligations, make strategic acquisitions and investments, and pay dividends.

      Year Ended
      December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2022
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 345,663   $ 410,132   $ 387,764  
    LESS: Expenditures on natural gas and oil properties and equipment   (52,100 )   (74,252 )   (86,079 )
    LESS: Cash paid for interest   (123,141 )   (116,784 )   (83,958 )
    Free cash flow $ 170,422   $ 219,096   $ 217,727  
    Cash generated through divestitures of land $ 40,986   $ 28,160   $ 2,472  
    Adjusted free cash flow $ 211,408   $ 247,256   $ 220,199  


    Net Debt and Net Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (“Leverage”)

    As used herein, net debt represents total debt as recognized on the balance sheet, minus cash and restricted cash. Total debt includes borrowings under our Credit Facility and borrowings under, or issuances of, our subsidiaries’ securitization facilities. We believe net debt is a useful indicator of our leverage and capital structure.

    As used herein, net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA, also referred to as “leverage” or the “leverage ratio,” is calculated by dividing net debt by adjusted EBITDA. We believe this metric is a crucial measure of our financial liquidity and flexibility, and it is also used in the calculation of a key metric in one of our Credit Facility financial covenants.

      As of
      December 31,
    2024    		 December 31,
    2023    		 December 31,
    2022
    Total debt(a) $ 1,693,242   $ 1,276,627   $ 1,440,329  
    LESS: Cash   5,990     3,753     7,329  
    LESS: Restricted cash(b)   46,269     36,252     55,388  
    Net debt $ 1,640,983   $ 1,236,622   $ 1,377,612  
           
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 472,309,000   $ 546,788,000   $ 502,954,000  
    Pro forma adjusted EBITDA(c) $ 548,570   $ 553,252   $ 574,414  
    Net debt-to-pro forma adjusted EBITDA(d) 2.9x
    		   2.2x
    		   2.4x
    		  
    1. Includes adjustments for deferred financing costs and original issue discounts, consistent with presentation on the Statement of Financial Position.
    2. The increase of restricted cash as of December 31, 2024, is due to the addition of $21 million and $3 million in restricted cash for the ABS VIII Notes and ABS IX Notes, respectively, offset by $7 million and $9 million for the retirement of the ABS III Notes and ABS V Notes, respectively.
    3. Includes adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2024 for the Oaktree, Crescent Pass, and East Texas II acquisitions to pro forma their results for the full twelve months of operations. Similar adjustments were made for the year ended December 31, 2023 for the Tanos II Acquisition, as well as for the year ended December 31, 2022 for the East Texas I and ConocoPhillips acquisitions.
    4. Excludes long-term plant financing of $30 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Japanese encephalitis has claimed a second life in NSW and been detected in Brisbane. What is it?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Webb, Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney

    encierro/Shutterstock

    A second man has died from Japanese encephalitis virus in New South Wales on March 6, the state’s health authorities confirmed on Friday. Aged in his 70s, the man was infected while holidaying in the Murrumbidgee region.

    This follows the death of another man in his 70s in Sydney last month, after holidaying in the same region in January.

    Japanese encephalitis virus has also been detected for the first time in mosquitoes collected in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs, Queensland health authorities confirmed on Saturday.

    With mosquito activity expected to increase thanks to flooding rains brought by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, it’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

    What is Japanese encephalitis virus?

    Japanese encephalitis is one of the most serious diseases that spreads via mosquitoes, with around 68,000 cases annually across Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions.

    The virus is thought to be maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and waterbirds. Mosquitoes are infected when they feed from an infected waterbird. They then pass the virus to other waterbirds. Sometimes other animals, and people, can be infected.

    Pigs are also a host, and the virus has spread through commercial piggeries in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. (But it poses no food safety risk.)

    Feral pigs and other animals can also play a role in transmission cycles.

    What are the symptoms?

    Most people infected show no symptoms.

    People with mild cases may have a fever, headache and vomiting.

    In more serious cases – about one in 250 people infected – people may have neck stiffness, disorientation, drowsiness and seizures. Serious illness can have life-long neurological complications and, in some cases, the infection can be life-threatening.

    There’s no specific treatment for the disease.

    When did Japanese encephalitis get to Australia and why is it in Brisbane?

    Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis had occurred in the Torres Strait during the 1990s. The virus was also detected in the Cape York Peninsula in 1998.

    There had been no evidence of activity on the mainland since 2004 but everything changed in the summer of 2021–22. Japanese encephalitis virus was detected in commercial piggeries in southeastern Australia during that summer.

    This prompted the declaration of a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance. At the time, flooding accompanying the La Niña-dominated weather patterns and a resulting boom in mosquito numbers, and waterbird populations, was thought responsible.

    The virus has spread in subsequent years and has been detected in the mosquito and arbovirus surveillance programs as well as detection in feral pigs and commercial piggeries in most states and territories. Only Tasmania has remained free of Japanese encephalitis virus.

    Human cases of infection have also been reported. There were more than 50 cases of disease and seven deaths in 2022.

    Cases of Japanese encephalitis have already been reported from Queensland in 2025.

    Due to concern about Japanese encephalitis virus and other mosquito-borne pathogens, health authorities around Australia have expanded and enhanced their surveillance programs.

    In Queensland, this includes mosquito monitoring at a number of locations, including urban areas of southeast Queensland. Mosquitoes collected in this monitoring program tested positive for Japanese encephalitis virus, promoting the current health warnings.

    Why is its detection in Brisbane important?

    Up to now, scientists have thought the risk of Japanese encephalitis was likely greatest following seasons of above-average rainfall or flooding. This provides ideal conditions for waterbirds and mosquitoes.

    But the activity of Japanese encephalitis virus over the summer of 2024–25 has taken many scientists by surprise. Before Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred arrived, there had been somewhat dry conditions with less waterbird activity and low mosquito numbers in many regions of eastern Australia.

    However there has still been widespread Japanese encephalitis virus activity in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

    To date, Japanese encephalitis virus activity hasn’t extended to the coastal regions of southeast Queensland. The detection of the virus in suburban Brisbane may require authorities to rethink exactly where the virus may turn up next. Authorities are ramping up their surveillance to see just how widespread the virus is in the region.

    Health authorities and scientists are also trying to understand how the virus moved from western areas of the state to the coast and what drives virus transmission in different regions.

    There is currently no evidence the virus is active in coastal regions of northern NSW.

    Mosquitoes collected in Brisbane have tested positive for Japanese encephalitis virus.
    A/Prof Cameron Webb (NSW Health Pathology)

    What can people do to protect themselves?

    Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to reduce the risk of Japanese encephalitis virus.

    Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long pants for a physical barrier against mosquito bites.

    Use topical insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to apply an even coat on all exposed areas of skin for the longest-lasting protection.

    Ensure any insect screens on houses, tents and caravans are in good repair and reduce the amount of standing water in the backyard. The more water there is around your home, the more opportunities for mosquitoes there are.

    A safe and effective vaccine is available against Japanese encephalitis. Each state and territory health authority (for example Queensland, NSW, Victoria) have specific recommendations about access to vaccinations.

    It may take many weeks following vaccination to achieve sufficient protection, so prioritise reducing your exposure to bites in the meantime.

    Cameron Webb and the Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology and University of Sydney, have been engaged by a wide range of insect repellent and insecticide manufacturers to provide testing of products and provide expert advice on medically important arthropods, including mosquitoes. Cameron has also received funding from local, state and federal agencies to undertake research into various aspects of management of various medically important arthropods.

    Andrew van den Hurk has received funding from local, state and federal agencies to study the ecology of mosquito-borne pathogens, and their surveillance and control. He is an employee of the Department of Health, Queensland government.

    – ref. Japanese encephalitis has claimed a second life in NSW and been detected in Brisbane. What is it? – https://theconversation.com/japanese-encephalitis-has-claimed-a-second-life-in-nsw-and-been-detected-in-brisbane-what-is-it-252373

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai addresses opening of 2025 Yushan Forum

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-03-13
    President Lai attends Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2025 Spring Banquet  
    On the evening of March 13, President Lai Ching-te attended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2025 Spring Banquet for foreign ambassadors and representatives stationed in Taiwan. In remarks, President Lai thanked our diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for continuing to demonstrate their high regard and support for Taiwan at international venues. The president stated that a stronger Taiwan will be able to contribute even more to the world, explaining that is why he established the National Climate Change Committee, the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, and the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee. He added that he hopes to pool our strengths so as to formulate national development strategies and enhance Taiwan’s international collaboration. The president also expressed hope of developing opportunities for cooperation with other countries across many domains to jointly advance democracy, peace, and prosperity throughout the region and around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today is my first time attending the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spring Banquet since becoming president. It is a pleasure to be able to meet and socialize with esteemed guests from other countries and good friends from all sectors of Taiwan. The global landscape has changed rapidly over the past year. Geopolitical volatility, the restructuring of supply chains, technological advancements, and other factors have had a profound impact on nations’ strategic plans. I want to take this opportunity to thank our diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for continuing to demonstrate their high regard and support for Taiwan at international venues. Last month, the leaders of the United States and Japan, the US secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the G7 foreign ministers all issued joint statements emphasizing the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, underscoring Taiwan’s vital role in global progress and prosperity.  I would especially like to thank members of the diplomatic corps for working with us to build even closer partnerships between our countries. I have always believed that a stronger Taiwan will be able to contribute even more to the world. That is why, after taking office, I established the National Climate Change Committee, the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee, and the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee under the Office of the President. These committees continue to address global concerns and seek to solve important issues that impact our own people. I hope to pool our strengths so as to formulate national development strategies and enhance Taiwan’s international collaboration.  Last year, I visited our Pacific allies – the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau. I deeply appreciated our friends’ warm hospitality and came to feel very deeply that we are like a family. Through local visits and mutual exchanges, we deepened our diplomatic alliances and cooperation, creating win-win outcomes. We also showed Taiwan’s determination to work with allies to tackle the many challenges related to climate change, net-zero transition, and digital transformation. At the start of this month, Taiwan hosted the first-ever workshop on whole-of-society defense resilience under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework. Experts and scholars from 30 countries participated in the discussions. I once again thank the diplomatic corps for their support and assistance. In the future, we look forward to developing opportunities for cooperation with other countries across many domains to jointly advance democracy, peace, and prosperity throughout the region and around the world. In the face of authoritarian expansion, Taiwan will continue to bolster its national defense capabilities. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow democracies to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. We will also join hands to build non-red supply chains, strengthen our economic resilience, and promote an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. All of this will ensure steady technological and economic development.  In my New Year’s Day address, I said that in this new year, we have many more brilliant stories of Taiwan to share with the world. Everyone gathered here tonight is a dear friend of Taiwan. And each of you plays an important role in the stories this land has to tell.  I am deeply grateful to you all for the incredible efforts you make in support of Taiwan. In so many ways, you connect Taiwan to the rest of the world and allow the world to see the many different sides of this amazing nation. I believe that through even deeper and more extensive cooperation, we will create many more wonderful stories of Taiwan and build an even brighter future together. I wish you all a pleasant evening. Also in attendance at the event were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman and other members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.

    Details
    2025-03-04
    President Lai meets US Heritage Foundation founder Dr. Edwin Feulner
    On the afternoon of March 4, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by founder of the US-based Heritage Foundation Dr. Edwin Feulner. In remarks President Lai thanked the foundation for publishing the 2025 Index of Economic Freedom, in which Taiwan ranked fourth globally and which recognized Taiwan’s sound legal foundation and ideal investment environment. The president said that Taiwan and the United States are important economic and trade partners and engage closely in industrial exchange. The president also expressed hope to expand investment in and procurement from the US in such areas as high-tech, energy, and agricultural products, and to work with the US and other democratic partners to create more resilient and diverse semiconductor supply chains to address new circumstances. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Feulner back to Taiwan today. I recall meeting with Dr. Feulner and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts here at the Presidential Office at the end of last February. We had a fruitful discussion on Taiwan-US relations and regional affairs. When President Donald Trump was elected for his first term, Dr. Feulner played a crucial role in the administration’s transition team. Today, I look forward to hearing his thoughts on possible ways to further deepen relations between Taiwan and the US. I would like to thank the Heritage Foundation for publishing the 2025 Index of Economic Freedom, in which Taiwan ranked fourth globally. The report also recognized Taiwan’s sound legal foundation and ideal investment environment. Taiwan and the US are important economic and trade partners and engage closely in industrial exchange. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) historic US$65 billion investment in Arizona–negotiated and finalized during President Trump’s first term–is a case in point. And today, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) and President Trump jointly announced that the company would be expanding its investment in the US with new facilities. Looking ahead, we hope to expand investment in and procurement from the US in such areas as high-tech, energy, and agricultural products. We also look forward to working with the US and other democratic partners to create more resilient and diverse semiconductor supply chains to address new circumstances. At present, we continue to face authoritarian expansionism. As a country that deeply loves and staunchly defends freedom, Taiwan will collaborate with the US and other like-minded countries to maintain regional peace and stability. I would like to thank President Trump for his recent joint statement with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, which emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. And last month, the US was also part of a G7 foreign ministers’ statement in which “they strongly opposed any attempts to change unilaterally the status quo using force.” We firmly believe that only peace attained through one’s own strength can truly be called peace. Currently, Taiwan’s defense budget stands at approximately 2.5 percent of GDP. Going forward, the government will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that Taiwan’s defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. Also, we will continue to reform national defense in the conviction that help comes most to those who help themselves. This will allow us to contribute even more to regional peace and stability. In closing, I once again thank Dr. Feulner for visiting and for demonstrating support of Taiwan. I wish you all a smooth and successful trip. Dr. Feulner then delivered remarks, first stating that on behalf of his successor, President Roberts, and all of his colleagues at the Heritage Foundation, it is his pleasure to present President Lai with the first copy of the 2025 Index of Economic Freedom. Pointing out that in the Index the Republic of China (Taiwan) is number four of 176 countries around the world in terms of its economic freedom, Dr. Feulner extended his congratulations to President Lai.  Dr. Feulner said he looks forward to a discussion about the present situation and how we can improve relations between the US and Taiwan. Dr. Feulner expressed his gratitude on hearing the wonderful announcement from TSMC, which was released right before his visit, that it will be expanding its investment in the US. In past trips, he said, he has had the opportunity to visit the TSMC headquarters in Taiwan, and fairly recently he has had the opportunity to view the site in Arizona where the construction continues and where the initial operations are beginning. He stated that they are proud to have TSMC now as an integral part of our responsible bilateral relationship. Dr. Feulner noted that while TSMC is of course very big, he also wants to express appreciation for all of the hundreds and hundreds of Taiwan-based companies that are strong, close partners throughout the US with American companies and with American people in terms of making a close and unified alliance of two freedom-loving countries.

    Details
    2025-03-04
    President Lai attends opening ceremony of GCTF Workshop on Whole-of-Society Resilience Building, Preparation, and Response
    On the morning of March 4, President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) Workshop on Whole-of-Society Resilience Building, Preparation, and Response. In remarks, President Lai stated that global challenges such as extreme weather, pandemics, and energy crises continue to emerge, and growing authoritarianism presents a grave threat to freedom-loving countries. These challenges have no borders, he said, and absolutely no single country can face them alone. The president said that as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is both willing and able to contribute even more to the democracy, peace, and prosperity of the world, and that the GCTF is an important platform where Taiwan can make those contributions by sharing its experiences with the rest of the world. President Lai indicated that Taiwan will join the forces of the central and local governments to enhance social resilience across the board, enhance disaster response capabilities in the community, and leverage its strengths to make contributions to the international community. He said that we are demonstrating to the world our determination to create an even more resilient Taiwan, and expressed hope to advance mutual assistance and exchanges with all the countries involved, so that we can together promote stability and prosperity around the world. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: To begin, I would like to welcome more than 60 distinguished guests from 30 countries, as well as experts from Taiwan. You are all here for this GCTF workshop to discuss whole-of-society resilience building, preparation, and response. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is both willing and able to contribute even more to the democracy, peace, and prosperity of the world. The GCTF is an important platform where Taiwan can make those contributions by sharing its experiences with the rest of the world. I want to thank our full GCTF partners, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada. Over the past several years, we have worked with even more countries through this framework and have expanded our exchanges into even more fields. Together, we have met all kinds of new challenges. I am confident that as our cooperation grows stronger, so will our ability to promote global progress. Each of today’s guests is contributing a vital force in that regard. I extend my sincere thanks to you all. Global challenges such as extreme weather, pandemics, and energy crises continue to emerge. And growing authoritarianism presents a grave threat to freedom-loving countries. These challenges have no borders, and absolutely no single country can face them alone. Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain, and stands at the very frontline of the defense of democracy. With this joint workshop, we are demonstrating to the world our determination to create an even more resilient Taiwan. We are also aiming to advance our mutual assistance and exchanges with all the countries involved, so that we can make our societies more resilient and together promote stability and prosperity around the world. Moving forward, we will continue advancing the following three initiatives: First, we will join the forces of the central and local governments to enhance social resilience across the board. Just last year, I established the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee at the Presidential Office. Civilian force training, strategic material preparation, and critical infrastructure operation and maintenance are all key discussion areas for our committee. These aim to enhance Taiwan’s resilience in national defense, economic livelihoods, disaster prevention, and democracy. They are also items on the agenda for this GCTF workshop. To cover all the bases, Taiwan must unite and cooperate as a team. Last year, our committee held the very first cross-sector tabletop exercise at the Presidential Office which included central and local government officials as well as civilian observers. We aim to test the government’s emergency response capabilities in high-intensity gray-zone operations and near-conflict situations. We will continue to hold exercises to help the central and local governments work together more efficiently, and strengthen Taiwan’s overall disaster response capabilities. Second is to enhance disaster response capabilities in the community. We fully understand that to build whole-of-society resilience, we must help people increase risk awareness, know how to respond to disasters, and develop abilities to help themselves, help one another, and work together. We are grateful to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) for collaborating with the Taiwan Development Association for Disaster Medical Teams to host “Take Action” workshops around the country since 2021. A 2.0 version is already in practice, and continues to train the public in first aid skills. Director of the AIT Taipei Office Raymond Greene and I took part in a Take Action event in New Taipei City last year and personally saw the positive outcomes of the training. In addition to the Take Action workshops, the government is also providing Disaster Relief Volunteer training for ages 11 to 89, and is continuing to expand its target audience. We have also set up Taiwan Community Emergency Response Teams at key facilities nationwide, enhancing the ability of these important facilities to respond independently to disasters. Civilian training will continue to be refined and expanded so that members of the public can serve as important partners in government-led disaster prevention and relief. Third, we will leverage Taiwan’s strengths to make contributions to the international community. The inspiration for our Disaster Relief Volunteer training comes from a similar program run by The Nippon Care-Fit Education Institute in Japan. I am confident that through exchanges like this workshop, Taiwan and other countries can also inspire one another in many areas, and enhance whole-of-society resilience in multiple ways. Taiwan also excels in information and communications and advanced technology. We will set up even more robust cybersecurity systems, expand usage of emerging technologies, and improve the ways we maintain domestic security. We hope that by leveraging our capabilities and sharing our experiences, Taiwan can contribute even more to the international community. I want to welcome all our partners once again, and thank AIT for co-hosting this event. Let’s continue down the path of advancing global security and developing resilience together. Because together, we can travel farther, and we can travel longer. Also in attendance at the event were Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Takaba Yo, Australian Office in Taipei Representative Robert Fergusson, and Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Jim Nickel.

    Details
    2025-02-24
    President Lai meets Japanese House of Representatives Member Tamaki Yuichiro
    On the afternoon of February 24, President Lai Ching-te met with Japanese House of Representatives Member Tamaki Yuichiro. In remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and Japan are important trading partners. The president expressed hope that, in addition to semiconductors, Taiwan and Japan can also bolster cooperation in the fields of hydrogen energy and drones and build non-red supply chains, thus creating economic win-win situations and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I would like to start by warmly welcoming Representative Tamaki on his first trip to Taiwan. Now is a key moment for the cooperative ties between Taiwan and Japan, and the fact that Representative Tamaki has chosen to take time out of his busy schedule to make this trip demonstrates his especially meaningful support for Taiwan. For this I want to express my deepest gratitude. At the beginning of this month, Japan and the United States held a summit meeting. In the post-summit joint leaders’ statement the government of Japan reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion, and expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. I would like to thank the government of Japan for these statements. Taiwan and Japan are both responsible members of the international community. I welcome an even firmer friendship between Japan and the US and hope to see cooperation among Taiwan, Japan, and the US become a solid force in consolidating peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition to complex international conditions, we now also face the threat of China’s red supply chain. More and more countries are becoming increasingly concerned about such issues as economic security and supply chain resilience. As authoritarianism consolidates, democratic nations must also come closer in solidarity. Taiwan and Japan are important trading partners. I hope that, in addition to semiconductors, Taiwan and Japan can also bolster cooperation in the fields of hydrogen energy and drones, and that we can build non-red supply chains, thus creating economic win-win situations and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. Lastly, I would like once again to welcome Representative Tamaki to Taiwan and wish him a successful visit. I hope he departs Taiwan with a deep impression and that he will visit again. Representative Tamaki then delivered remarks, noting that this was his first visit to Taiwan and thanking President Lai and officials of the Taiwan government for their warm welcome. Pointing out that Taiwan-Japan ties are closer than ever thanks to the major efforts made on this front by President Lai since taking office, Representative Tamaki expressed his admiration and gratitude. Representative Tamaki pointed out that in a changing global landscape, Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region all face major changes, but he firmly believes that Taiwan-Japan relations will develop even further. Recalling President Lai’s previous remarks, the representative said that Japan and the US recently held a summit meeting that yielded important results. In the joint leaders’ statement, he noted, the two sides made a clear commitment regarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and firmly opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. Representative Tamaki said that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito did not win a majority in last year’s House of Representatives general elections, while the number of seats held by his own Democratic Party for the People quadrupled. This result, he said, has filled him with a feeling of great responsibility. Moving forward, he intends to continue promoting Taiwan-Japan cooperation and strengthening relations. Also in attendance at the meeting was Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-02-21
    President Lai meets Abe Akie, wife of late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan
    On the morning of February 21, President Lai Ching-te met with Abe Akie, the wife of late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan. In remarks, President Lai thanked Mrs. Abe for carrying on the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe, being a benevolent and determined force for regional peace and prosperity, and calling on all parties to continue to place attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait. The president stated that Taiwan will carry on the legacy and spirit of former President Lee Teng-hui and former Prime Minister Abe, safeguard the values of freedom and democracy, and deepen the Taiwan-Japan friendship. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Last May, Mrs. Abe came to Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, and we reminisced about the past here at the Presidential Office. I would like to warmly welcome her back today. I am also delighted to be meeting with all guests in attendance. Yesterday, Mrs. Abe and I attended the opening of the very first Halifax Taipei forum, for which Mrs. Abe also delivered a keynote speech earlier today. In her speech, she offered valuable input on global security and democratic development. I would like to thank Mrs. Abe for making this special trip to Taiwan to take part, showing her strong support for Taiwan. Former Prime Minister Abe pioneered the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and called on the international community to pay attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific. These have become common strategic goals of democratic countries around the world and will have a far-reaching influence over international developments and Taiwan’s security. They were important contributions that former Prime Minister Abe made in regard to the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. Recently, current Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and United States President Donald Trump held a meeting and jointly reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as opposed unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion. They also expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. This shows that Prime Minister Ishiba is furthering the legacy of former Prime Minister Abe. We are very grateful for the former prime minister’s friendship toward Taiwan, and to Mrs. Abe for carrying on his legacy. Mrs. Abe is a benevolent and determined force for regional peace and prosperity, and has called on all parties at numerous public venues to continue to place attention on peace in the Taiwan Strait. Last December, for instance, she traveled at the invitation of President Trump and his wife to the US, where she addressed cross-strait issues and spoke up for Taiwan. We were deeply moved by this. As authoritarian states continue to expand, Taiwan will keep working alongside like-minded nations such as Japan and the US, as well as the European Union, to jointly contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity. I look forward to continued advancement of regional peace and prosperity with the help of Mrs. Abe’s efforts. Mrs. Abe will also be meeting with daughter of former President Lee and Lee Teng-hui Foundation Chairperson Annie Lee (李安妮) tomorrow. Former President Lee and former Prime Minister Abe were both fully devoted to promoting Taiwan-Japan relations. We will carry on their legacy and spirit, safeguard the values of freedom and democracy, and deepen the Taiwan-Japan friendship. In closing, I wish you all a smooth and successful visit. Mrs. Abe then delivered remarks, first expressing her sincere thanks to President Lai for taking the time to meet. She said that former Prime Minister Abe hailed from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and that accompanying her that day were House of Councillors Member Kitamura Tsuneo, Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Muraoka Tsugumasa, Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly Deputy Speaker Shimata Noriaki, and many other important figures from Yamaguchi. If former Prime Minister Abe’s spirit could look upon this scene, she said, he would certainly be very pleased. Mrs. Abe recalled that when the former prime minister passed away, then-Vice President Lai traveled to their official residence to express his condolences and pay tribute. She said that she will never forget such a gesture of deep friendship, heartfelt condolences, and care. The year before last, she indicated, a memorial photo exhibition for former Prime Minister Abe was held in Taiwan, and many Taiwanese people from all walks of life came to view it. Last year, Mrs. Abe continued, she had the privilege of attending President Lai’s inauguration ceremony, where she met with many friends from Taiwan and personally felt the close and beautiful ties that Taiwan and Japan share. Mrs. Abe stated that she will carry out the wishes of former Prime Minister Abe and do her utmost to help raise Taiwan-Japan relations to new heights, saying that she looks forward to hearing the advice that President Lai and all those present have to offer. The delegation also included Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-03-13
    President Lai holds press conference following high-level national security meeting
    On the afternoon of March 13, President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security meeting, following which he held a press conference. In remarks, President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces: China’s threat to national sovereignty, its threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting Taiwan’s military, its threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan, its threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges, and its threats from using “integrated development” to attract Taiwanese businesspeople and youth. President Lai emphasized that in the face of increasingly severe threats, the government will not stop doing its utmost to ensure that our national sovereignty is not infringed upon, and expressed hope that all citizens unite in solidarity to resist being divided. The president also expressed hope that citizens work together to increase media literacy, organize and participate in civic education activities, promptly expose concerted united front efforts, and refuse to participate in any activities that sacrifice national interests. As long as every citizen plays their part toward our nation’s goals for prosperity and security, he said, and as long as we work together, nothing can defeat us. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: At many venues recently, a number of citizens have expressed similar concerns to me. They have noticed cases in which members of the military, both active-duty and retired, have been bought out by China, sold intelligence, or even organized armed forces with plans to harm their own nation and its citizens. They have noticed cases in which entertainers willingly followed instructions from Beijing to claim that their country is not a country, all for the sake of personal career interests. They have noticed how messaging used by Chinese state media to stir up internal opposition in Taiwan is always quickly spread by specific channels. There have even been individuals making careers out of helping Chinese state media record united front content, spreading a message that democracy is useless and promoting skepticism toward the United States and the military to sow division and opposition. Many people worry that our country, as well as our hard-won freedom and democracy and the prosperity and progress we achieved together, are being washed away bit by bit due to these united front tactics. In an analysis of China’s united front, renowned strategic scholar Kerry K. Gershaneck expressed that China plans to divide and conquer us through subversion, infiltration, and acquisition of media, and by launching media warfare, psychological warfare, and legal warfare. What they are trying to do is to sow seeds of discord in our society, keep us occupied with internal conflicts, and cause us to ignore the real threat from outside. China’s ambition over the past several decades to annex Taiwan and stamp out the Republic of China has not changed for even a day. It continues to pursue political and military intimidation, and its united front infiltration of Taiwan’s society grows ever more serious. In 2005, China promulgated its so-called “Anti-Secession Law,” which makes using military force to annex Taiwan a national undertaking. Last June, China issued a 22-point set of “guidelines for punishing Taiwan independence separatists,” which regards all those who do not accept that “Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China” as targets for punishment, creating excuses to harm the people of Taiwan. China has also recently been distorting United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, showing in all aspects China’s increasingly urgent threat against Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lately, China has been taking advantage of democratic Taiwan’s freedom, diversity, and openness to recruit gangs, the media, commentators, political parties, and even active-duty and retired members of the armed forces and police to carry out actions to divide, destroy, and subvert us from within. A report from the National Security Bureau indicates that 64 persons were charged last year with suspicion of spying for China, which was three times the number of persons charged for the same offense in 2021. Among them, the Unionist Party, Rehabilitation Alliance Party, and Republic of China Taiwan Military Government formed treasonous organizations to deploy armed forces for China. In a democratic and free society, such cases are appalling. But this is something that actually exists within Taiwan’s society today. China also actively plots ways to infiltrate and spy on our military. Last year, 28 active-duty and 15 retired members of the armed forces were charged with suspicion of involvement in spying for China, respectively comprising 43 percent and 23 percent of all of such cases – 66 percent in total. We are also alert to the fact that China has recently used widespread issuance of Chinese passports to entice Taiwanese citizens to apply for the Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents, permanent residency, or the Resident Identity Card, in an attempt to muddle Taiwanese people’s sense of national identity. China also views cross-strait exchanges as a channel for its united front against Taiwan, marking enemies in Taiwan internally, creating internal divisions, and weakening our sense of who the enemy really is. It intends to weaken public authority and create the illusion that China is “governing” Taiwan, thereby expanding its influence within Taiwan. We are also aware that China has continued to expand its strategy of integrated development with Taiwan. It employs various methods to demand and coerce Taiwanese businesses to increase their investments in China, entice Taiwanese youth to develop their careers in China, and unscrupulously seeks to poach Taiwan’s talent and steal key technologies. Such methods impact our economic security and greatly increase the risk of our young people heading to China. By its actions, China already satisfies the definition of a “foreign hostile force” as provided in the Anti-Infiltration Act. We have no choice but to take even more proactive measures, which is my purpose in convening this high-level national security meeting today. It is time we adopt proper preventive measures, enhance our democratic resilience and national security, and protect our cherished free and democratic way of life. Next, I will be giving a detailed account of the five major national security and united front threats Taiwan now faces and the 17 major strategies we have prepared in response. I. Responding to China’s threats to our national sovereignty We have a nation insofar as we have sovereignty, and we have the Republic of China insofar as we have Taiwan. Just as I said during my inaugural address last May, and in my National Day address last October: The moment when Taiwan’s first democratically elected president took the oath of office in 1996 sent a message to the international community, that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent, democratic nation. Among people here and in the international community, some call this land the Republic of China, some call it Taiwan, and some, the Republic of China Taiwan. The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan resists any annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty. The future of the Republic of China Taiwan must be decided by its 23 million people. This is the status quo that we must maintain. The broadest consensus in Taiwanese society is that we must defend our sovereignty, uphold our free and democratic way of life, and resolutely oppose annexation of Taiwan by China. (1) I request that the National Security Council (NSC), the Ministry of National Defense (MND), and the administrative team do their utmost to promote the Four Pillars of Peace action plan to demonstrate the people’s broad consensus and firm resolve, consistent across the entirety of our nation, to oppose annexation of Taiwan by China. (2) I request that the NSC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs draft an action plan that will, through collaboration with our friends and allies, convey to the world our national will and broad social consensus in opposing annexation of Taiwan by China and in countering China’s efforts to erase Taiwan from the international community and downgrade Taiwan’s sovereignty. II. Responding to China’s threats from infiltration and espionage activities targeting our military (1) Comprehensively review and amend our Law of Military Trial to restore the military trial system, allowing military judges to return to the frontline and collaborate with prosecutorial, investigative, and judicial authorities in the handling of criminal cases in which active-duty military personnel are suspected of involvement in such military crimes as sedition, aiding the enemy, leaking confidential information, dereliction of duty, or disobedience. In the future, criminal cases involving active-duty military personnel who are suspected of violating the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces will be tried by a military court. (2) Implement supporting reforms, including the establishment of a personnel management act for military judges and separate organization acts for military courts and military prosecutors’ offices. Once planning and discussion are completed, the MND will fully explain to and communicate with the public to ensure that the restoration of the military trial system gains the trust and full support of society. (3) To deter the various types of controversial rhetoric and behavior exhibited by active-duty as well as retired military personnel that severely damage the morale of our national military, the MND must discuss and propose an addition to the Criminal Code of the Armed Forces on penalties for expressions of loyalty to the enemy as well as revise the regulations for military personnel and their families receiving retirement benefits, so as to uphold military discipline. III. Responding to China’s threats aimed at obscuring the national identity of the people of Taiwan (1) I request that the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), and other relevant agencies, wherever necessary, carry out inspections and management of the documents involving identification that Taiwanese citizens apply for in China, including: passports, ID cards, permanent residence certificates, and residence certificates, especially when the applicants are military personnel, civil servants, or public school educators, who have an obligation of loyalty to Taiwan. This will be done to strictly prevent and deter united front operations, which are performed by China under the guise of “integrated development,” that attempt to distort our people’s national identity. (2) With respect to naturalization and integration of individuals from China, Hong Kong, and Macau into Taiwanese society, more national security considerations must be taken into account while also attending to Taiwan’s social development and individual rights: Chinese nationals applying for permanent residency in Taiwan must, in accordance with the law of Taiwan, relinquish their existing household registration and passport and may not hold dual identity status. As for the systems in place to process individuals from Hong Kong or Macau applying for residency or permanent residency in Taiwan, there will be additional provisions for long-term residency to meet practical needs. IV. Responding to China’s threats from united front infiltration into Taiwanese society through cross-strait exchanges  (1) There are increasing risks involved with travel to China. (From January 1, 2024 to today, the MAC has received reports of 71 Taiwanese nationals who went missing, were detained, interrogated, or imprisoned in China; the number of unreported people who have been subjected to such treatment may be several times that. Of those, three elderly I-Kuan Tao members were detained in China in December of last year and have not yet been released.) In light of this, relevant agencies must raise public awareness of those risks, continue enhancing public communication, and implement various registration systems to reduce the potential for accidents and the risks associated with traveling to China. (2) Implement a disclosure system for exchanges with China involving public officials at all levels of the central and local government. This includes everyone from administrative officials to elected representatives, from legislators to village and neighborhood chiefs, all of whom should make the information related to such exchanges both public and transparent so that they can be accountable to the people. The MOI should also establish a disclosure system for exchanges with China involving public welfare organizations, such as religious groups, in order to prevent China’s interference and united front activities at their outset. (3) Manage the risks associated with individuals from China engaging in exchanges with Taiwan: Review and approval of Chinese individuals coming to Taiwan should be limited to normal cross-strait exchanges and official interactions under the principles of parity and dignity, and relevant factors such as changes in the cross-strait situation should be taken into consideration. Strict restrictions should be placed on Chinese individuals who have histories with the united front coming to Taiwan, and Chinese individuals should be prohibited from coming to Taiwan to conduct activities related in any way to the united front. (4) Political interference from China and the resulting risks to national security should be avoided in cross-strait exchanges. This includes the review and management of religious, cultural, academic, and education exchanges, which should in principle be depoliticized and de-risked so as to simplify people-to-people exchanges and promote healthy and orderly exchanges. (5) To deter the united front tactics of a cultural nature employed by Chinese nationals to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty, the Executive Yuan must formulate a solution to make our local cultural industries more competitive, including enhanced support and incentives for our film, television, and cultural and creative industries to boost their strengths in democratic cultural creation, raise international competitiveness, and encourage research in Taiwan’s own history and culture. (6) Strengthen guidance and management for entertainers developing their careers in China. The competent authorities should provide entertainers with guidelines on conduct while working in China, and make clear the scope of investigation and response to conduct that endangers national dignity. This will help prevent China from pressuring Taiwanese entertainers to make statements or act in ways that endanger national dignity. (7) The relevant authorities must adopt proactive, effective measures to prevent China from engaging in cognitive warfare against Taiwan or endangering cybersecurity through the internet, applications, AI, and other such tools. (8) To implement these measures, each competent authority must run a comprehensive review of the relevant administrative ordinances, measures, and interpretations, and complete the relevant regulations for legal enforcement. Should there be any shortcomings, the legal framework for national security should be strengthened and amendments to the National Security Act, Anti-Infiltration Act, Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong & Macao Affairs, or Cyber Security Management Act should be proposed. Communication with the public should also be increased so that implementation can happen as soon as possible. V. Responding to threats from China using “integrated development” to attract Taiwanese businesspeople and youth (1) I request that the NSC and administrative agencies work together to carry out strategic structural adjustments to the economic and trade relations between Taiwan and China based on the strategies of putting Taiwan first and expanding our global presence while staying rooted in Taiwan. In addition, they should carry out necessary, orderly adjustments to the flow of talent, goods, money, and skills involved in cross-strait economic and trade relations based on the principle of strengthening Taiwan’s foundations to better manage risk. This will help boost economic security and give us more power to respond to China’s economic and trade united front and economic coercion against Taiwan. (2) I request that the Ministry of Education, MAC, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and other relevant agencies work together to comprehensively strengthen young students’ literacy education on China and deepen their understanding of cross-strait exchanges. I also request these agencies to widely publicize mechanisms for employment and entrepreneurship for Taiwan’s youth and provide ample information and assistance so that young students have more confidence in the nation’s future and more actively invest in building up and developing Taiwan. My fellow citizens, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. History tells us that any authoritarian act of aggression or annexation will ultimately end in failure. The only way we can safeguard freedom and prevail against authoritarian aggression is through solidarity. As we face increasingly severe threats, the government will not stop doing its utmost to ensure that our national sovereignty is not infringed upon, and to ensure that the freedom, democracy, and way of life of Taiwan’s 23 million people continues on as normal. But relying solely on the power of the government is not enough. What we need even more is for all citizens to stay vigilant and take action. Every citizen stands on the frontline of the defense of democracy and freedom. Here is what we can do together: First, we can increase our media literacy, and refrain from spreading and passing on united front messaging from the Chinese state. Second, we can organize and participate in civic education activities to increase our knowledge about united front operations and build up whole-of-society defense resilience. Third, we can promptly expose concerted united front efforts so that all malicious attempts are difficult to carry out. Fourth, we must refuse to participate in any activities that sacrifice national interests. The vigilance and action of every citizen forms the strongest line of defense against united front infiltration. Only through solidarity can we resist being divided. As long as every citizen plays their part toward our nation’s goals for prosperity and security, and as long as we work together, nothing can defeat us.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Unregistered builder convicted

    Source: Government of Victoria 2

    Unregistered builder Mark (Najy) Rayes has been convicted and fined for taking more than $100,000 in payments from customers for services he did not provide.

    Rayes, 47, was running an unregistered building and landscaping business when he committed the offences, between 2021 and 2023.

    Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) investigated Rayes after receiving customer complaints. He was convicted and fined $15,000 for offences under the Australian Consumer Law and $1,000 for breaches of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995.

    People are reminded that when hiring someone to do a renovation, extension, repairs or other building work worth more than $10,000, the contractor must be registered as a building practitioner and provide a written contract.

    Registered builders are subject to professional standards, which means consumers are more likely to end up with a job they are happy with.

    Hiring someone who isn’t registered risks hiring someone who isn’t skilled and consequently, consumers may end up with poor quality work, as well as limited recourse if the builder walks away.

    Jobs worth more than $16,000 must also be covered by domestic building insurance, which protects consumers if the builder dies, disappears or is declared insolvent. For this work, builders must provide:

    • a copy of the domestic building insurance policy, and
    • a certificate of currency covering the property.

    CAV Director Nicole Rich is urging people who are renovating or getting building work done to make sure they are covered.

    “For more complex jobs, it’s essential to make sure you only hire practitioners with the right cover and qualifications,” she said.

    “The law is there to protect you. Doing your due diligence can help ensure the build or reno is completed to the standard you want and expect.”

    Find a registered builder on the Victorian Building Authority website.

    For more about planning a renovation or build, including what to do if things go wrong, go to our Building and renovating information.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: TORRAS Launches COOLiFY Air: Stay Cool, Stay Light with Ultimate Personal Cooling

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Caption: Stay cool, stay light with TORRAS COOLiFY Air

    HONG KONG, March 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TORRAS has just dropped the COOLiFY Air, an exciting new addition to its game – changing line of wearable cooling gear. This isn’t just any personal air conditioner; it’s as cool as the breeze on a perfect day and as light as a feather, giving you the freedom to live life to the fullest while staying comfortable.​

    Instant Cooling, Anytime, Anywhere

    COOLiFY Air is all about delivering an instant cool – down, no matter where you are. Boasting a massive 4,749.4mm² cooling plate, it wraps around your neck, ensuring maximum skin contact. Thanks to its state-of-the-art thermoelectric technology with 122 cooling particles, you can say goodbye to the sweltering heat in an instant. And with its dual-airflow system, sending air both up and down, you’ll feel a 360° cooling sensation that’s as refreshing as jumping into a pool on a hot summer day.

    Feather-Light, All-Day Wearability

    Weighing in at a mere 0.87 lbs, COOLiFY Air is designed for all-day wearability. Its ergonomic shape fits every neck size, so you can wear it from dawn to dusk without a hint of discomfort. Whether you’re a busy commuter dashing through the city, an outdoor adventurer exploring the great outdoors, or just someone going about their daily routine, this sleek and portable device is your new best friend.

    Year-Round Comfort, Unmatched Versatility​

    This isn’t just a summer-only gadget. With three modes – Cool, Heat, and Fan, COOLiFY Air has got you covered all year long. Beat the summer heat, warm up on a chilly winter day, or just enjoy a refreshing breeze indoors. It’s the perfect companion for any season, allowing you to create the ideal conditions for a better you – in creativity and beyond.​

    Extended Battery Life for Non-Stop Comfort​

    The 5,000mAh battery in COOLiFY Air is a powerhouse. In Fan mode, it can last up to 24 hours, while in Cool or Heat mode, it provides 6 hours of continuous operation. And with pass-through charging, you can stay cool and connected at the same time.

    TORRAS, true to its mission of redefining personal temperature management, has once again combined innovation, comfort, and portability with the COOLiFY Air.​ COOLiFY Air is now available on Amazon and torraslife.com for just $129. Choose from three stylish colors: Midnight Black, Apricot Dune, and Vivi Pink.

    About TORRAS

    TORRAS is an innovative and award-winning consumer electronics and accessories brand. We strive to constantly shatter the ordinary so consumers can enjoy a high-quality lifestyle. TORRAS aims to assist users in fully engaging in every aspect of life and enabling them to unleash their full potential anytime and anywhere. Since 2012, TORRAS has served over 100 million people in more than 148 regions with its products and services. For more information, please visit www.torraslife.com.

    Media Contact

    TORRAS Marketing: marketing@torraslife.com
    TORRAS PR Manager: ashley@torras-global.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a0128cf-d6c7-4ca8-8f16-61324b01f648

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Student Fest a success at Bowden

    Source: South Australia Police

    Western District Police attended StudyAdelaide Student Fest at Bowden last week to connect with international students.

    On Thursday evening, 12 March, Sergeant Michelle Hollis and Senior Constable Brett Massey, from Western District’s Community Engagement Section, attended Study Adelaide Student Fest at Plant 4 Bowden.

    The event brought together community organisations and over 500 international students, including new and returning international students to Adelaide.

    Student Fest allowed students to connect with each other, forge new friendships and help to create a support network for their new lives in Adelaide.

    South Australia Police (SAPOL) were among the many community stakeholders who set up a display, and interacted with the students, providing them with information on who to contact and what services SAPOL provided.

    The event was a success, with many students attending the SAPOL display and having positive interactions with our police officers, something that is not always afforded to them in their home countries.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Many of history’s deadliest building fires have been in nightclubs. Here’s why they’re so dangerous

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne

    A fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia has killed at least 59 people and injured more than 150. The blaze broke out at the Pulse nightclub in Kočani, where around 500 people were attending a concert.

    Witnesses reported that pyrotechnics used during the performance ignited the ceiling, causing flames to spread rapidly.

    Authorities have arrested 20 people so far, including the club’s manager. Investigations continue. The North Macedonian government has declared a seven-day mourning period.

    While building fires are not limited to nightclubs, many of the most devastating building fires in history have happened in nightclubs around the world. So why are nightclubs such a risky place for deadly fires?

    A long history of nightclub fires

    A look at past nightclub fires shows just how common and deadly they’ve been in the past 100 years. We identified at least 24 nightclub fires where ten or more people died since 1940.

    Collectively, these 24 incidents account for at least 2,800 deaths, with nearly 1,300 in the 21st century alone.

    The Cocoanut Grove fire (Boston, 1942) remains the deadliest on record, killing 492 people. The club’s flammable decorations and locked exits turned what should have been an ordinary night out into one of the worst fire disasters in history.

    In Argentina, the República Cromañón fire killed 194 people in 2004, caused by pyrotechnics igniting flammable materials inside the club.

    The Kiss nightclub fire in Brazil in 2013 was even deadlier, claiming 242 lives.

    More recently, Thailand’s Mountain B nightclub fire killed 23 people in 2022.

    And in 2023, 13 people died in a fire at the Fonda Milagros nightclub in Spain.

    Now, North Macedonia’s Pulse nightclub joins this long list.

    Why are nightclubs so risky for fires?

    A review of past nightclub fires we’ve collated in our database reveals common patterns. Two key factors have contributed to the frequency and severity of these fire disasters.

    1. Pyrotechnics, fireworks and flammable materials

    One of the most common causes of nightclub fires has been the use of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces. Pyrotechnics are controlled chemical reactions designed to produce flames, smoke, or light effects.

    They have been involved in at least six of the deadliest nightclub fires, including the recent Pulse nightclub fire in North Macedonia, as well as The Station (United States, 2003), Kiss (Brazil, 2013), Colectiv (Romania, 2015), Lame Horse (Russia, 2009) and República Cromañón (Argentina, 2004).

    When used indoors, pyrotechnics can easily ignite flammable ceiling materials, acoustic foam, or decorations.

    In some cases, fireworks – which are different from stage pyrotechnics and sometimes illegally used indoors – have played a role. The Lame Horse nightclub fire, which killed 156 people in Russia in 2009, was caused by a spark from fireworks igniting a low ceiling covered in flammable plastic decorations.

    Even when fires don’t start from pyrotechnics or fireworks, the materials used in nightclub interiors can rapidly turn a small fire into a major disaster.

    Foam insulation, wooden panelling, plastic decorations and carpeted walls have all been key factors in past nightclub fires. In Cocoanut Grove (Boston, 1942), artificial palm trees and other flammable decorations accelerated the blaze.

    2. Overcrowding and blocked or insufficient exits

    Evacuation failures have been a factor in nearly every major nightclub fire.

    In some instances, crowds may not immediately recognise the severity of the situation, especially if they mistake alarms for false alarms or special effects (for example, smoke machines, loud music).

    Further, patrons could be intoxicated due alcohol or other drugs. Intoxication combined with potential disorientation due to dim lighting can further reduce judgement during an evacuation.

    Clearly, the best way to protect patrons is to prevent a fire from breaking out in the first place. But in settings where fire risks are inherently high, the ability to evacuate people swiftly is crucial.

    Nightclubs, however, have a poor track record when it comes to evacuation safety measures.

    Nightclubs are among the most crowded indoor spaces. While crowd density is part of a nightclub’s design and atmosphere, overcrowding beyond legal capacity is common.

    A crowd that has gradually gathered over several hours must suddenly evacuate in seconds or minutes to survive a fire. This is made more difficult by narrow hallways and limited exits, which quickly become bottlenecks when hundreds of people attempt to escape at once.

    What’s more, not all exits are always accessible during a fire. In several past nightclub disasters, locked or obstructed emergency exits have significantly worsened the death toll.

    Minimising the risks

    Nightclubs are uniquely vulnerable to fires due to a combination of structural risks, unsafe materials, overcrowding and regulatory failures.

    While human behaviour plays a role in how fires unfold in confined spaces such as nightclubs, people should be able to go for a night out and expect to come home safely.

    Regulatory oversight must ensure strict compliance with fire codes. Venues should have fire suppression systems (such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors) to control or contain fires before they spread, and adequate exits.

    Nightclubs should ban indoor pyrotechnics and fireworks, as history has repeatedly shown their deadly consequences.

    Capacity limits must be enforced, and emergency exits should always be accessible.

    Australia has strict fire safety regulations for nightclubs, with venues required to have fire suppression systems, emergency exits and trained staff to manage fire risks.

    Public awareness is also key. Patrons need to understand the real risk of fires in nightclubs, and be prepared to evacuate swiftly but calmly if danger arises.

    Ruggiero Lovreglio receives funding from Royal Society Te Apārangi (NZ) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA).

    Milad Haghani 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. Many of history’s deadliest building fires have been in nightclubs. Here’s why they’re so dangerous – https://theconversation.com/many-of-historys-deadliest-building-fires-have-been-in-nightclubs-heres-why-theyre-so-dangerous-252372

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Priority News – The Book of Disappearance – Longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025

    Source: Text Publishing (Melbourne, Australia)


    The Book of Disappearance, by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon has been Longlisted for the International Booker Prize, 2025.

    This critically acclaimed Arabic novel invites English readers into the complex lives of Palestinians living in Israel.

    What if all the Palestinians in Israel simply disappeared one day?

    The Book of Disappearance is set in contemporary Tel Aviv. Alaa is a young Palestinian man who is haunted by his grandmother’s memories of being displaced from Jaffa and becoming a refugee in her homeland. His Jewish neighbour and friend, Ariel, is a journalist who believes in Israel’s national myth but is critical of the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. He begins to search for clues about why Alaa and the Palestinians have vanished. Their stories, and the stories of the ordinary people of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, reveal the fissures at the heart of the Palestinian question.

    Ibtisan Azem’s spare and evocative novel is an unforgettable glimpse into contemporary Palestine as it grapples with both the memory of loss and the loss of memory.

    Ibtisam Azem is a Palestinian novelist, short story writer, and journalist, based in New York. She was born and raised in Taybeh, near Jaffa, the city from which her mother and maternal grandparents were internally displaced in the 1948 Nakba. She lived in Jerusalem before moving to Germany and later to the US. Azem has published two novels in Arabic: The Sleep Thief (2011) and The Book of Disappearance (2014). Her first short story collection, City of Strangers, is forthcoming in Arabic in the summer of 2025.
     
    Sinan Antoon is an Iraqi poet, novelist, translator, and scholar. He holds degrees from Baghdad and Harvard and has published two collections of poetry and five novels in Arabic. Antoon’s writings in English have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian and the Nation, among others. Antoon returned to his native Baghdad in 2003 to co-direct About Baghdad, a documentary about the lives of Iraqis in a post-Saddam-occupied Iraq. He is an associate professor of Arabic literature at New York University.
     
    Praise for Ibtisam Azem:

    • ‘Brilliantly conceived and searingly executed.’ Claire Messud 
    • ‘In this immensely readable novel, Ms Azem does not resolve for us the calamity of Palestine’s occupation by Israel. But stylishly and with jeweled virtuosity she makes us understand that acts of great and human imagination will be required, and with this potent book points where and how we must all go.’ Richard Ford
    • ‘Speculative and haunting, this is an exceptional exercise in memory-making and psycho-geography.’ The International Booker Prize 2025 Judges
    • ‘Seductively bold…This rich, potent novel reminds us that there are no easy answers.’ Guardian.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Serwah Attafuah: a powerful and most welcome voice in contemporary Australian art

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic Redfern, Associate Professor, School of Art, RMIT University

    Serwah Attafuah, The Darkness Between The Stars, JOAN. Landscape still. Courtesy of the artist.

    Virtuosic digital artistry is on show in Serwah Attafuah’s installation The Darkness Between the Stars, currently showing at ACMI.

    The work fiercely challenges stereotypes of black femininity and draws upon the history and culture of the Ashanti people of modern-day Ghana, one of the countries most affected by the Atlantic slave trade and the site of remembrance and pilgrimage for many descendants of the people trafficked as slaves.

    Serewah is part of a generation of video artists like Melbourne’s Xanthe Dobbie, British artist Rachel Maclean, and Paris based, French Guianese artist Tabita Rezaire. These artists all channel the moving image culture of gaming and the internet, rather than the cinematic or televisual references of their forebears.

    Each of these artists uses exuberant humour and a tough-minded politic to challenge the reductive construction of female and queer identities.

    As we pass through the arch at the entry to the gallery, we are greeted by a 3D animation of an ocean reflecting a sky that cycles from starlit to slowly emerging dawn. We are told the arch references the entry to the Elmina castle built by the Portuguese: one of two major points from which enslaved African people were cast into the hell of the Atlantic passage and life in bonds.

    African warriors

    Beyond the entrance we are faced by a series of five screens in portrait format. Each shows short loops of African warriors, suggesting the idealised – and, here, heroic – forms of game avatars a la Fortnite.

    Each of the images is framed in gold e-waste. This brings to mind Congolese street art costumes, similarly made of waste which blend cultural traditions and an Afrofuturist resistance that dares to imagine a better future.

    The first portrait is a furred, horn helmeted, and neck ringed warrior woman. Armed with a laser and an automatic pistol, she has further weapons adorning her back ready to be deployed.

    Serwah Attafuah, The Darkness Between The Stars, ANANSI, 2025.
    Still courtesy of the artist

    Behind and around her are malfunctioning computer screens. One scrolls through an online dating text exchange which evokes the idealised and reductive self-curation of the online profile. This chat is between Jenny and Mark, a FIFO worker on an offshore oil rig in Western Australia. This ties to the images of oil rigs found elsewhere in the show, evoking the plundering of African resources: human and otherwise; historical and ongoing.

    The second screen pictures an armoured woman (or cyborg?) atop a rearing tiger. The tiger is an intriguing choice given it is an Asian animal but potentially points to a pan exoticism rooted in the confusion of cultures.

    She wields a curved blade amid a savannah populated with umbrella thorn acacia and what appear to be comfortingly homely (and amusing) ground-hugging waratahs in the foreground.

    Serwah Attafuah, The Darkness Between The Stars, JOAN, 2025.
    Still courtesy of the artist.

    Complicating fetishes

    Moving around the room, floating robots accompany another warrior who props against a sword supported by a fragmented classical column.

    She stands beneath an oversized moon, evoking an off-world setting, a reading compounded by her protective headwear.

    Alongside a writhing snake, we catch sight of her Betty Davis (no, the Black one) super heels: a clear link to the under-remembered pioneer of Afrofuturism.

    Serwah Attafuah, The Darkness Between The Stars, KING, 2025.
    Still courtesy of the artist.

    Continuing this play of sexual provocation and power is the addition of a techno tutu which further accentuates her already thrusting buttocks.

    The problematisation of sexualised imagery is one of the exhibition’s central themes. Attafuah toys with the Western fetishisation and fear of Black women’s sexuality.

    Occasionally borrowing cliches from the gaming and pornographic worlds, Attafuah forcefully complicates such fetishes by arming four of her five warriors to the teeth. They take aim at us, challenging their construction as passive objects for our visual consumption.

    A further figure, singularly unarmed apart from her thorny armbands, appears in the next frame. She runs through a series of coquettish modelling poses in her mesh bodysuit as she stands amid buzzing screens and computer detritus.

    In yet another confusingly (and amusingly) stereotyped African landscape she is pictured among palm trees and sand, in what I took to be an evocation of a North African environment complete with desert fortress, oil rig and passing container ship.

    In the final of the five portraits a young, braided, and fantastically eyelashed woman takes aim at us with a pistol straight from Star Wars (Rebel Alliance issue, naturally).

    Serwah Attafuah, The Darkness Between The Stars, VENUS, 2025.
    Still courtesy of the artist.

    She stands hip deep in a lagoon of water lilies and floating CDs. A futuristic city fills the background with a slowly turning wind turbine that sports yellow and black radiation colouring – yet another paradoxical meeting in an exhibition characterised by mixed messages that contradict easy readings.

    In The Darkness Between the Stars, Attafuah proves herself to be a powerful, uncompromising and most welcome voice in contemporary Australian art. She proves herself capable of generating sophisticated, nuanced and playful reflections on complex problems that we carry from past to present.

    Serwah Attafuah: The Darkness Between the Stars is at ACMI, Melbourne, until June 1.

    Dominic Redfern works at RMIT with, and previously taught, Xanthe Dobbie.

    – ref. Serwah Attafuah: a powerful and most welcome voice in contemporary Australian art – https://theconversation.com/serwah-attafuah-a-powerful-and-most-welcome-voice-in-contemporary-australian-art-250154

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump is surveying Australian academics about gender diversity and China – what does this mean for unis and their research?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Walker-Munro, Senior Lecturer (Law), Southern Cross University

    Shortly after taking office, US President Donald Trump issued executive orders banning federal funding on so-called “woke” research.

    This is part of his broader ban on all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, grants and programs in the US government.

    These orders are massive in scope, impacting studies as varied as stroke recovery, computing and ancient languages.

    The impact in the United States so far has been dramatic. Some universities are already cutting student admissions and looking at ways to shed academic staff and researchers.

    Now the ban has impacted Australian researchers who have links to US government-funded projects. The Trump Administration is asking for information on how their research fits in with US foreign and domestic policy.

    What has happened?

    The US government has sent a 36-point questionnaire to some Australian researchers who are working on joint projects with US colleagues.

    ABC Radio National reports at least eight Australian universities are involved. Their research areas include foreign aid, medicine, vaccines and defence. The New York Times reports a similar document has also been sent to other overseas organisations with US funding links.

    The questions are wide-ranging and cover academics’ links to China as well as their projects’ focus on topics such as diversity, inclusion and gender identity, as well as climate change.

    Some of the specific questions include:

    Can you confirm that your organisation has not received ANY funding from PRC People’s Republic of China, Russia, Cuba or Iran?

    Can you confirm that this is no DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] project or DEI elements of the project? [sic]

    Does this project take appropriate measures to protect women and to defend against gender ideology as defined in the below Executive Order?

    Can you confirm this is not a climate or “environmental justice” project or include such elements?

    The survey also covers issues such as secure borders with Mexico, ending government waste, terrorism, the war on opioids, and “eradicating anti-Christian bias”.

    Concern and anger

    In response, the Group of Eight (which represents Australia’s top research universities) and Australian Academy of Science have separately raised concerns with the Australian government about the survey and its impact on Australian research.

    The Group of Eight says the US has already suspended or terminated research grants with six of its eight member universities.

    The National Tertiary Education Union also labelled the survey “blatant foreign interference”.

    A spokesperson for Education Minister Jason Clare says Australia is
    “engaging with the US government to understand what these measures mean for future funding and collaboration”.

    Are Trump’s orders legal?

    Trump’s executive orders are currently the subject of numerous lawsuits in the US. Plaintiffs say Trump’s orders violate the First and Fifth Amendments – those dealing with protection of free speech, equal protection and “due process of law” when depriving a citizen of property.

    Whether Trump’s orders are legal or not is a tricky question, and will likely come down the judges hearing each case.

    In the meantime, US government agencies are withholding funding anyway. Reports also suggests Trump has instructed his administration to ignore court orders – hardly surprising, given Trump’s history of contempt of US courts.

    What does this mean for Australia?

    US involvement in Australian research is significant. According to the Academy of Science, US government research funding involving Australian research organisations was $A386 million in 2024.

    It is arguable Trump’s orders infringe Australian sovereignty. But the US has always had the capacity to interfere in Australian university research – it just hasn’t actually done it until now.

    Research contracts signed between universities and funding bodies can contain all kinds of requirements, so US law can end up applying to Australian researchers. When the AUKUS deal was announced in 2021, a huge question was how universities would comply with notoriously harsh US export control laws.

    The survey indicates it was issued by the US Office of Management and Budget and appears to be supported by the US CHIPS and Science Act (which authorises certain research investments) and National Science Foundation policies. So, while Australian researchers could potentially ignore these questionnaires, that would legally give a US funding body grounds to cancel the funding contract.

    Our foreign interference laws also weren’t designed for situations like this. Even if they did, Trump is the current head of the US government, and is likely to be immune from prosecution

    Statutory tests for foreign interference – including criteria that such acts are covert, and/or involve threats of harm – simply don’t apply to a US president like Trump.

    So legally, it doesn’t look like there is much Australia can do about Trump’s orders.

    What can Australia do?

    Some newly unemployed researchers are now poised to leave the US, taking their research with them. This poses a potential security risk, with countries such as China and Russia both keen to capitalise on Trump’s decisions.

    But other nations are also aware of the possibilities. The European Union has already offered displaced US scientists a more “sympathetic place to work”. South Korea and Canada are also marketing themselves as attractive options. Australia could follow suit.

    The federal government is currently doing a strategic review of Australia’s research and development system. This could make diversifying our research partners a national priority.

    This could include revisiting a 2023 decision, not to join Horizon Europe – the European Union’s key research fund.

    Either way, given such radical changes in the US, Australia needs to seriously reconsider how it is funding and structuring research.

    Brendan Walker-Munro has consulted for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, and is also an Adjunct Expert Associate of the National Security College. He has received funding from the Social Cyber Institute and Active Cyber Defence Alliance.

    – ref. Trump is surveying Australian academics about gender diversity and China – what does this mean for unis and their research? – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-surveying-australian-academics-about-gender-diversity-and-china-what-does-this-mean-for-unis-and-their-research-252282

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s home prices slightly down in February

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Commercial home prices dipped slightly in most Chinese cities in February amid Spring Festival sales off-season and other factors, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday.

    Prices of new homes in first-tier cities increased from a month ago, according to the data. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: How China is lifting consumer spending to boost its growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Vowing to make domestic demand “the main engine and anchor of economic growth”, China’s policymakers have sent fresh and firm signals on empowering the vast number of consumers to spend, countering skepticism about the country’s shift toward a consumption-driven economy.

    China will “place a stronger economic policy focus on improving living standards and boosting consumer spending”, according to this year’s Government Work Report submitted on March 5 to the National People’s Congress, the national legislature, for deliberation.

    Boosting consumption is hardly a fresh concept in the Chinese policy toolbox, and consumer spending has played an increasingly vital role in China’s economy. In 2024, final consumption contributed 44.5 percent to China’s economic growth, surpassing investment and exports, and drove GDP up by 2.2 percentage points.

    This year, however, the push has been particularly important as China’s economy contends with rising trade protectionism and global headwinds, while the domestic shift from traditional growth drivers, such as real estate, to new and more sustainable ones poses new challenges.

    “Expanding domestic demand through stimulating consumption can effectively counter external uncertainties, and it stabilizes short-term growth while aiding structural shifts over time,” said Yang Decai, a national political advisor and economics professor at Nanjing University, during the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body, known as the two sessions.

    To support this pivotal transition, the Government Work Report unveiled stronger supportive measures, including issuing ultra-long special treasury bonds of 300 billion yuan ($41.3 billion) to back the consumer goods trade-in program, doubling the scale from last year.

    The trade-in program, launched a year ago, has played a vital role in revitalizing consumer markets. In 2024, it led to sales exceeding 1.3 trillion yuan, including over 6.8 million vehicles, 56 million home appliances and 1.38 million e-bikes. More items have been added to the list of subsidized products this year.

    “The trade-in program is more than just an economic policy,” Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao told a news conference on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th NPC on March 6, noting that it has fostered new development engines and improved the quality of life for millions of households.

    Wang pointed out that the primary issue constraining goods consumption is the ability and willingness to spend, while the main challenge for services consumption is the lack of high-quality supply.

    To tackle these weaknesses, the Chinese government, in addition to clinching cheaper deals for consumers, aims to lift consumer confidence by bolstering people’s well-being, with a focus on creating jobs, raising incomes and easing their financial burdens.

    More funds and resources will be used to serve the people and meet their needs, according to the Government Work Report.

    Targeting over 12 million new urban jobs this year, the government will provide stronger support for full and higher-quality employment, according to the report. It also pledged to raise the minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents as well as the basic pension benefits for retirees.

    “Raising farmers’ pension payments may be the most effective way to boost consumption because it will significantly reduce the savings rate and boost consumption for half of China’s population,” said Lu Ting, chief China economist at Nomura, who expects more will be done in this regard in coming years.

    Government spending on education will rise by 6.1 percent this year and that on social security and employment by 5.9 percent, with strong gains also expected in healthcare and housing, Finance Minister Lan Fo’an revealed at the news conference on March 6.

    Chinese policymakers have also tied consumption to lifestyle upgrades, not just spending volume, as the Government Work Report highlighted the need to create new consumption scenarios to accelerate the growth of digital, green, smart, and other new types of consumption.

    It promised to improve the leave system and ensure its implementation to unlock consumption potential in sectors like culture, tourism and sports, which are among the most powerful service consumption engines.

    Meanwhile, new consumption trends, from winter sports boom to silver-haired consumer spending upsurge, are already stoking fresh growth.

    The silver economy, which caters to China’s aging population, could reach 30 trillion yuan by 2035 and create at least 100 million jobs by 2050, according to national political advisor Jin Li, vice-president of Southern University of Science and Technology.

    Sun Guangzhi, head of the provincial culture and tourism department of the ice and snow-rich Jilin province, said the northeastern province sparked over 100 million yuan in direct spending by issuing consumption vouchers in the latest snow season.

    “This demonstrates the combined benefits of policy incentives and local resource strength,” said Sun, a national lawmaker.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Activist News – New Zealanders urge Winston Peters to speak up for Palestine in his meeting with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio – PSNA

    Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

     

    On the eve of Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio New Zealanders are asking Mr Peters to speak up for Palestine.

     

    In the last few days 1606 people have signed an open letter to Mr Peters which we have sent him this afternoon, New Zealand time. 

     

    The letter is below.

     

    John Minto

    Co National Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa 

     

    Open letter requesting government action on the future of Gaza

     

    17 March 2025

     

    Rt Hon Winston Peters

    Minister of Foreign Affairs

     

    Open letter requesting government action on the future of Gaza

     

    Kia ora Mr Peters,

     

    The situation in Occupied Gaza has reached another crisis point.

     

    Last Sunday Israel announced it was ending its January ceasefire agreement with Palestinian groups resisting the occupation and was once more imposing a total ban on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. 

     

    Israel says this is because it wants to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement rather than negotiate phase two which would see the agreed withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The renewed blockade on food, water, fuel and medical supplies has been widely condemned as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and the use of “starvation as a weapon of war” by Palestinian groups, international aid organisations and many governments. The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has called for “humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza immediately”. Israel has refused this request.

     

    Compounding the crisis is US President Donald Trump’s recently declared intention to permanently remove all the Palestinian people of Gaza and send them to other countries such as Egypt and Jordan so Gaza can be rebuilt as a US territory in the Middle East – in his words “the riviera of the Middle East”. 

     

    Israel has accepted this US proposal but Palestinians and the vast majority of governments and civil society groups around the world are appalled at the scheme.

     

    To this point our government has not commented on either Israel’s new blockade of humanitarian supplies into Gaza or the US President’s plan for ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territory. 

     

    Back in December 2023, when the government was commenting, the Prime Minister stated “…Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected…Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained.”

     

    None of this has happened in the more than 14 months since.

    We are asking our government to speak out once more on behalf of the people of New Zealand to, at the very least, condemn Israel’s use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war and to call for international humanitarian and human rights law to be applied.

     

    We believe the way forward for peace and security for everyone who calls the Middle East home is for all parties to follow international law and United Nations resolutions so that a lasting peace can be established based on justice and equal rights for everyone in the region.

     

    New Zealand has an internationally respected voice which can make a strong contribution to this end. We are asking the government to use this voice.

     

    Nga mihi.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Loretta Ryan and Craig Zonca, Brisbane Breakfast, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Loretta Ryan:

    As we clean up after Alfred, we’re only just now realising how hard of a punch this cyclone has packed. Financial forecasts are predicting the impacts will amount to more than $1.2 billion.

    Craig Zonca:

    Yeah, it’s not just fixing the mess it made, it’s the flow on effects that could be felt for some time. The federal Treasurer is Jim Chalmers. Treasurer, good morning to you.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Good morning, Craig. Good morning, Loretta.

    Zonca:

    $1.2 billion, that’s quite the economic hit.

    Chalmers:

    It is a pretty hefty hit. We’ve said all along that our main focus here is obviously the human costs, but there’s going to be a very substantial economic cost as well, and we’ll account for that in the Budget. It’ll be one of the key influences on the Budget.

    The best way to think about the economic impact is that around 5 million people were in harm’s way of this cyclone. Almost 2 million homes. I think we lost something like 12 million work hours out of the economy. What Treasury does as we finalise this Budget is it provides its best initial estimates of the economic fallout. So, a hit to our economy of about $1.2 billion, that’s about a quarter of a percentage point off growth. We’re also assessing which of our food growers were impacted, and what does it mean for building costs – because there is a risk as well that there’ll be some impact on inflation.

    Zonca:

    Well, you stand up next Tuesday, 25th March, with your Budget speech, how does it now change because of Alfred?

    Chalmers:

    I’m going to provision an extra $1.2 billion in the Budget for the recovery. Australians are there for each other when these difficult natural disasters occur, and the government will be there for them as well, so we will put an extra $1.2 billion in the Budget. That means there’ll be about 13 and a half billion dollars all told, when it comes to budgeting for rebuilding communities.

    Remember, it wasn’t that long ago that our friends to the north of here were getting very substantial flooding as well. We’ve had a series of natural disasters. So, there’s about 30 and a half billion in the Budget, but $1.2 billion of that is new money which we’re putting in the Budget to account for the recovery and the rebuild after ex‑tropical Cyclone Alfred.

    Zonca:

    And is that paid by cuts elsewhere or new borrowings?

    Chalmers:

    It’s off the bottom line – and the budget overall will have some savings in it. It will have some responsible measures to get the budget in better nick, but it will have some investments as well, including this one. This brings us to an important point, unfortunately at this time of the morning, a bit of a political point, but you’ll hear our political opponents talk about wasteful spending and they talk about hundreds of billions in wasteful spending.

    When they say that, remember that part of that figure they use is actually funding for natural disaster recovery. What we’ve been able to do is manage the budget very responsibly. Two surplus budgets for the first time in almost 2 decades, we’ve engineered something like a $200 billion improvement in the budget. And because we’ve done that, because we’ve managed the budget responsibly, we can afford to pay for things which are really important, like rebuilding communities after natural disasters.

    Ryan:

    On 612 ABC Breakfast, federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers with us for the families who are listening, Treasurer, and who have been hit hard with this. Will that money go towards recovery payments for them? I know there are payments for people affected. How does that all work?

    Chalmers:

    It is part of it. So, it’s partly rebuilding bridges and footpaths and local infrastructure. I think a lot of people would have seen on the TV the destruction on the Gold Coast, for example, and further out west and in my neck of the woods in Logan and Brisbane and elsewhere. So, part of it is to help the state government and local governments rebuild that local infrastructure. But a significant part of it is these hardship payments as well. Whether it’s the Hardship Assistance Payment or the allowance for people who are put out of work for a substantial period of time, there is a significant cost to that as well.

    I’ll actually be standing up with my terrific colleague, Jenny McAllister, who is the responsible Minister in this area. We’ll be saying a bit more about this later today, because what we’re making sure that we’re doing is making sure that people are eligible for these payments, that they can access them as quickly as possible, and the total cost of that will be included in the Budget.

    Ryan:

    Is this on top of what I think the Prime Minister did announce last week when the storm was happening?

    Chalmers:

    That was part of it. The Prime Minister was talking about these payments for people who are very substantially impacted. And what the government does, via Jenny McAllister, but also working closely with the states, is we determine the eligible areas for those payments. And so, as the natural disaster evolves, more and more local communities get added to the eligibility for those payments that the Prime Minister was talking about. That always evolves in days after a disaster to make sure that we are making everyone eligible who needs to be eligible, so that they can get the payments they need to get back on their feet.

    Zonca:

    Just on those payments, Treasurer, has there been any discussion about increasing those? Because I look at the amounts on offer and we’ve seen costs of everything go up substantially over the past decade. I don’t think those hardship payments, those disaster payments have increased in 10 plus years.

    Chalmers:

    I think we keep them under constant review. If your question is, you know, would people like a little bit more, I think I would understand if they did. We’ve got to be as responsible as we can. But they’re not insignificant amounts of money. In some cases it’s $900 or $1,000 a family, depending on how impacted people are and whether they’re eligible. It is a significant payment for people just to help them get back on their feet. There’s also the income replacement payments for people who are out of work for a substantial period of time.

    We keep these totals under constant review. If we can do more, we’ll do more in the future, but it is a relatively significant payment already.

    Zonca:

    19 past 7 – the federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, with you as you talk about those impacts you mentioned on fruit and veggies and so on. Already we have seen substantial increases every time we go to the grocery store or our local greengrocer. What sort of further increases are likely post Cyclone Alfred?

    Chalmers:

    One of the most encouraging things that’s been happening in our economy is, you know, a couple of years ago when we came to office, inflation was multiples of what it is now, and it was rising quite quickly. What we’ve been able to do together as a country is to make some really encouraging progress on that inflation. And people are still under pressure. I know at the supermarket checkout, people are still feeling the pinch. We don’t pretend otherwise. That’s why our cost‑of‑living help that we’re rolling out is so important. But inflation is coming down.

    If you think about food inflation in particular, that was 5.9 per cent when we came to office and now about half that at 3 per cent. And so that gives you a bit of a sense of the progress that we’re making. We’re not complacent about that because people are still under pressure and that’s why that cost‑of‑living help is so important.

    Zonca:

    Well, you talk up the economic management there, but I think most Australians would probably say they feel like they’re worse off since you started in government, Jim Chalmers?

    Chalmers:

    I think I acknowledged in the answer a moment ago, Craig, that we know that people are still under the pump. You know, we don’t pretend otherwise. But what matters there is, once you acknowledge that, whether you’re prepared to do something about it. We have been prepared to do something about it, and our opponents voted against that cost‑of‑living help.

    We’ve been rolling out tax cuts for every taxpayer, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines, cheaper early childhood education, Fee‑Free TAFE, rent assistance. We’ve been getting wages moving again. And these are all of the ways that we’re not just recognising people are doing it tough, we’re trying to take the edge off these cost‑of‑living pressures where we can in the most responsible way that we can.

    Ryan:

    Treasurer, it looks like Queensland is tipped to lose a lot of the share of the GST pie. So, the Commonwealth Grants Commission proposing a $5 billion cut to GST revenue. So, we’re potentially looking at $2.4 billion next year alone. Surely this is something that you won’t let happen.

    Chalmers:

    I think as you rightly kind of intimated in your question, Loretta, this is an arm’s length process. It’s an independent process managed by the Commonwealth Grants Commission. It’s not a decision of the federal government to carve up the GST. That’s done by the Commission. And every year or every time that these relativities are calculated, some states are happy, and some states are less happy. Queensland’s done quite well over recent years from the Commonwealth Grants Commission. And what this new number recognises is the substantial amount, extra amount that Queensland is getting in coal royalties. And so, this calculation is not done by the government. I know it’s not unusual for state governments to want more money from the federal government. It’s not unusual for states to blame the feds for pressures on their budget. But this is not a process that’s done by politicians in the Commonwealth government. It’s done by this independent organisation.

    Ryan:

    Are you disappointed, though?

    Chalmers:

    I think over time it all works out. You know, for example, the last time this was done, NSW was unhappy. This time it’s Queensland. But over time, if you look at this over a period of time, it generally smooths out. On this occasion, it recognises that Queensland’s doing well or expected to do really well out of coal royalties. On other occasions, Queensland’s done incredibly well. Over a period of time, not just from year to year or update to update, it generally smooths out. From time to time, states are unhappy. Obviously, I care about that. As a Queenslander, I have a respectful working relationship with the Queensland government. I have a respectful relationship with governments of both political persuasions around Australia. It’s not unusual for them to want more and that’s what we’re seeing here.

    Ryan:

    But we need more because of the Olympics, don’t we?

    Chalmers:

    We’re kicking billions of dollars in for the Olympics. I think that’s a really important point. We’re providing $3.5 billion as a Commonwealth government for the Olympics. We haven’t been shy about that. We haven’t been pinching pennies when it comes to our commitment there. We think the Olympics are going to be terrific. We want to work closely with the state government to deliver something that we can be proud of and our $3.5 billion is part of that effort.

    Zonca:

    So, giving us $3.5 billion for Olympic infrastructure but taking $5 billion in GST revenue, that still leaves us $1.5 billion down overall.

    Chalmers:

    No, because there’s a big recovery in coal royalties, as I keep pointing out. Secondly, you need to look at these calculations by the Independent Commission at arm’s length from us over a period of time and not just from update to update. Queensland’s done well over the years. I know that people are not happy about this one. I do genuinely understand that you do genuinely care about that. But you need to look at it over a period of time, not just from one update to the next.

    Zonca:

    I appreciate your time this morning, Treasurer. Thanks so much.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks to both of you. All the best.

    Zonca:

    Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference in Sydney

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    BILAL EL-HAYEK: Well, good morning everyone. I want to welcome you here to the City of Canterbury Bankstown to this important announcement. Well, Bankstown is booming. We have 14,000 new homes coming to Bankstown, brand new metro, a state of the art hospital. So this fantastic announcement comes in at a perfect timing when we are planning for our open space. I actually want to welcome all the ministers as well of course, the Federal Minister, Catherine King, Paul Scully, Rose Jackson, and the candidate for Banks, Zhi Soon.

    I’ll now hand over to the Minister, Catherine King. Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Thank you. Thanks, Mayor. And it’s fantastic to be here today alongside my state counterparts, Paul Scully and Rose Jackson. Both planning and housing are pretty critical to the announcement we’re making today. And of course, Zhi Soon, our fantastic candidate for the federal seat of Banks in the upcoming federal election, whenever that may be.

    Well, today we’re announcing alongside the New South Wales Government that as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s Housing Support Program, we’re providing over $300 million to New South Wales to bring on stream over 60,000 homes, including very quickly, over 100 social homes that are incredibly important across the whole of New South Wales. What this money goes towards is the enabling infrastructure to bring those developments to fruition, so things like the road infrastructure, water, sewerage, other utilities. But also more importantly, we’re also funding community infrastructure. As you can see from the development behind me, it isn’t just about building houses. It’s actually about building green space, good places for people to be able to walk through on their way to work, get that really sense of place, but also be able to bring their kids and make sure that they are cooler places for people to be able to engage in recreation and social activities. So part of that $300 million we’re announcing today is, here in Bankstown, a further community space. Again, it’s not just about having well-located homes around train stations, around Metro. It’s really about also making sure these are great and liveable places.

    The money is being stretched right across the state, so Parramatta, Kellyville, Bella Vista, community spaces there, and as I said also, social housing in Albury. This program is part of over almost $2 billion that the Federal Government is investing in that infrastructure. We’re doing that now. The money is flowing. That infrastructure is being built to bring those 60,000 additional homes on stream here in New South Wales. It forms part of our $32 billion commitment to really build over 1.2 million homes across the whole of the country, and my part of it is building the infrastructure.

    I might hand over to Minister Scully to say a few words and then Minister Jackson.

    PAUL SCULLY: Thank you, Minister King. And thank you, Mayor Bilal, for inviting us here today to Bankstown.

    As you can see, there’s a lot of activity going on in Bankstown. As the Mayor just said, Bankstown is booming. As part of the New South Wales Government’s work to build more housing, our focus is building better communities. When we did the master planning and rezoned areas around the Transport Oriented Development’s accelerated precincts, we made it very, very clear that we were not just building housing, we were building communities. That means vibrant communities with access to jobs, access to transport, and access to good public spaces. This financial support, the $228.2 million from the Commonwealth Government to go towards accelerating the delivery of those new public spaces, will be an important contribution to that work that the New South Wales Government is undertaking.

    Together, in the first tranche, Bankstown’s accelerated precinct, along with the accelerated precincts in Kellyville and Bella Vista, have been identified for those priority public spaces. We’ll continue to work with the council here in Canterbury Bankstown, through the Parks for People program, to deliver those public spaces to make sure that alongside the homes, alongside the jobs, alongside the transport activity that’s going here, is going to be the public spaces that people need, green spaces for people to meet, to recreate, to engage with other parts of the community. It’s really vital that we look at those areas not just from an environmental perspective, but the social benefit they bring.

    I’ll leave some further comments on the social housing part to Minister Jackson, but I’d just like to acknowledge the hard work of the Mayor and the council here at Canterbury Bankstown. They have been in lockstep with the New South Wales Government right the way through this process, identifying and recognising that Bankstown and Canterbury are great places to live and will continue to be, but there are even better places, courtesy of this contribution from the Albanese Government, to make sure that we can get those green spaces underway, get those recreational spaces underway as we deliver new homes and as we complete the work on the metro here. Minister Jackson.

    ROSE JACKSON: We know that New South Wales is in a housing crisis. The number one issue that’s raised with us when we’re talking to the community is cost of living. That is the thing that the community is absolutely determined that governments understand is hitting them hard, and we know that part of addressing cost of living is to delivering more affordable housing. It’s simply too expensive to find a place to buy and rent. What the State Government and the Federal Government are determined to do is put our money where our mouth is when it comes to addressing that crisis. So the State’s put $5.1 billion into building more social housing, and we are incredibly thrilled to have a federal partner that is willing to come to the table and contribute as well. This announcement alone is another $70 million to build social housing. We know that we need growth. We know we need more homes. But it’s not just any old growth, it’s good growth. It’s growth that delivers better, more diverse communities. And yes, that’s infrastructure, that’s green space, that’s community amenity, that’s transport. But it’s also diverse types of homes, and social and affordable housing is part of that mix.

    With this $70 million, we’re going to be able to bring hundreds of new social housing properties online. We’ve already started that work from east to west, from Randwick to Campbelltown. We’re looking at acquiring homes in places like Lismore and Tweed as well – areas recently hit by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. So this is exactly the kind of working together between state and federal governments that are going to be necessary to confront the housing crisis.

    It’s also really important to call out our local government partners, local councils, we’ve always been up front, have been a little bit of a mixed bag when it’s come to supporting housing. Not Canterbury-Bankstown – this is a council that is deeply invested in building a great community here, and it’s fantastic to have Mayor Bilal El-Hayek here alongside us to demonstrate all three levels of government working together. This is yet more money to build the homes that people need, that security of a roof over your head. We need a federal government that is willing to stick to the course when it comes to supporting housing, and the State Government is ready to stand right alongside it, using the funding to deliver homes that we know are desperately needed in this state.

    CATHERINE KING: Happy to take any questions.

    JOURNALIST: Well, may I ask about the allegations yesterday [indistinct] …

    CATHERINE KING: [Interrupts] Sure – have you’ve got any questions on this- the announcement today yet? Nope, okay. Happy to take further- other questions, sure.

    JOURNALIST: … allegations last night on 60 Minutes and Nine papers about more corrupt and [indistinct], specifically in Victoria. I note one area of Victoria on the North East Link Road where federal taxpayers have already committed $3 billion to this project. How can federal taxpayers know that there won’t be any sort of- or, you know, if that money’s being overinflated, or if there’s any sort of corruption or wrongdoing in that process?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah, so we have zero tolerance for criminal activities on any work site, and especially on our building work sites. We have already taken strong action against the CFMEU by placing it in administration, and the administrator continues to do his work. When this broke some time ago, in terms of the CFMEU, I was in the process of negotiating new federated funding agreements with every state and territory. In those agreements, we have inserted new clauses that require states and territories to ensure they are- that we are receiving value for money on every single project where the Commonwealth is investing, that we are prioritising businesses that engage in ethical business practices. And I also wrote to every state and territory minister asking their assurance that proper checks are being put in place to ensure that- again, that value for Australian taxpayer dollars, and if there is any criminal activity seen on any of the sites where the Commonwealth is investing that that immediately be reported both to the administrator, to the police and also to my department. And we’ll continue to work with every state and territory in relation to that.

    But I want to make it very clear: this is hard fought money. Taxpayers don’t want to see their money going to criminals, and that is incredibly important that every state and territory ensures that it’s got the assurance processes in place to make sure that we are getting value for money for every taxpayer dollar.

    JOURNALIST: Did the Federal Government conduct its own audit of the $3 billion in this project?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, again, what we have asked quite specifically is that every state and territory give us those assurances. I saw the program on 60 Minutes last night. If there is more that needs to be done, I’ll have a look at that. But what we have asked is every state and territory to assure us that they have the processes in place to make sure that this activity is not being undertaken. Thanks everyone.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s SF Airlines expands fleet to 90 freighters

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    SF Airlines, China’s largest air-cargo carrier in terms of fleet size, has increased its fleet to 90 freighters, notable progress for the company in strengthening its service capacity in the global market, the cargo carrier announced on Sunday.

    The 90th member of the SF Airlines fleet, a B767-300BCF widebody freighter, arrived at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on Sunday to join the fleet, the cargo carrier said.

    The company disclosed that currently more than 30 percent of its freighter fleet consists of widebody jets — which are key players on its air route networks, reaching destinations both domestically and globally.

    The expansion of the scale and improved structure of its transport capacity will support SF Airlines in its endeavors to broaden its air-cargo transport route network, which reaches over 100 destinations at home and globally. It also enhances the airline’s services for logistics supply chains and customers, the cargo carrier added.

    Headquartered in Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province, SF Airlines received its first freighter and launched its first cargo route back in 2009.

    In 2024, SF Airlines transported more than 1.17 million tonnes of air cargo — exceeding one million tonnes of annual cargo volume for the first time in its history, the company said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai sees record single-day arrival of foreign tourists via cruise ships

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal welcomed a record number of foreign tourists on Sunday, as two large international cruise ships docked at the port.

    The ships, AIDAstella of AIDA Cruises and Spectrum of the Seas belonging to Royal Caribbean International, brought nearly 4,800 foreign tourists to the east China metropolis, marking the highest single-day arrival of international visitors since this Shanghai terminal opened in 2011.

    AIDAstella made its maiden call at the terminal on Sunday. Operated by AIDA Cruises, which primarily serves European markets, the ship is carrying approximately 2,200 foreign tourists, mainly from Germany and Poland, on a 14-day voyage that starts from Bangkok and stops at Vietnam, Japan, and China’s Hong Kong, Taiwan and Shanghai.

    Elizabeth, a tourist from Poland, said: “This is my first time in China, and I’m traveling with my family. I’m looking forward to this trip.” She added that she plans to go to the Great Wall in Beijing on her next trip.

    During their stay, tourists will visit Shanghai’s landmarks, including the Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Oriental Pearl Tower. They will also take trips to nearby cities like Suzhou in east China’s Jiangsu Province.

    Spectrum of the Seas, which operates from Wusongkou as its home port, is carrying about 2,600 foreign tourists on this cruise. Angela Stephen, senior vice president of Royal Caribbean’s international business, praised the terminal’s excellent facilities and beautiful surroundings, emphasizing the company’s confidence in the Chinese cruise market.

    Notably, the growing popularity of “China Travel” has fueled a surge in Shanghai’s cruise tourism market. Upcoming cruise ship visits include Mein Schiff 6 of TUI Cruises both this month and in April, while Costa Serena of Costa Cruises will return to the Chinese market in June.

    Shanghai is leveraging its cruise tourism potential by developing diverse travel products, aiming to establish itself as the premier destination for inbound cruise tourism in China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Getting a better deal for Australian artists globally

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Australian artists can expect more money in their pockets when their works are resold overseas, with international reciprocity being extended to a further nine countries under the Albanese Labor Government’s Resale Royalty Scheme.

    The nine countries are: Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Uruguay. This takes the list of total participating countries to 26.

    Under the Scheme, visual artists are entitled to a five per cent share on eligible resales of their original works valued at $1,000 or more in Australia, and the ability to access local schemes in participating countries when their works are resold there.

    The extension delivers on the Government’s commitment outlined in the National Cultural Policy, Revive, to enhance the scheme to provide royalty payments to artists, including First Nations artists, under international arrangements.

    The changes come into effect on 31 March 2025. 

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the expanded list would give artists the remuneration they deserve. 

    “We’re ensuring Australian artists are properly compensated for their work when they first sell it and on future sales. Just like when you purchase a book or an album, the artist gets a cut each time.

    “So far more than $16 million in royalties have been generated, which artists would have otherwise missed out on.

    “Our Government is committed to creating a fairer playing field and supporting our home-grown talent both locally and abroad.”

    The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artist Act 2009 provides visual artists with royalty rights similar to other creators such as songwriters or authors.

    Under the act, auction houses and galleries are required to report resales to Copyright Agency, which determines eligibility, collects royalties and pays them to artists. 

    To learn more about the resale royalty scheme including additional countries visit | Resale Royalty Scheme | Office for the Arts 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: Governor Hochul is a Guest on “PoliticsNation”

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation” with Reverend Al Sharpton.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Just two months into Trump’s second term, the administration’s unprecedented policy moves on trade, immigration and civil rights put the President on a political collision course with the state he was born in and the city he once called home. Joining me now to talk about it in the studio is New York’s Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul. Governor, first, thank you for being with us and thank you for your moving message at the funeral of NAACP Hazel Dukes. We were all so moved by what you had to say.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you. Your words were profound as well, Reverend Al.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Thank you. Governor, you met with President Trump at the White House on Friday. What can you share with us about that meeting in terms of the tone and the substance of your conversation?

    Governor Hochul: Well, I reached out to the President again because there is so much I need to deliver for New York and New York City in particular. I need to get Penn Station done and make sure we have money for the Second Avenue subway, which is so important.

    I want to make sure that we have an understanding on immigration that says, “We’ll help you when you have serious, violent criminals you need to get off the streets.” I’ve always said that. We’ve done that under the Biden Administration. But we’re not going to be there to allow you to just take people off the streets and split up families.

    And so, we had a conversation also about tariffs. I want to talk about the impact of tariffs on New York. It is devastating. Absolutely devastating for our farmers in upstate New York, for our factory workers who aren’t sure if they’re going to be able to do phase two of a major project that was in Buffalo, my hometown, right on the border with Canada. So, I needed to be able to continue the conversation with him on some of our energy policies. I talked about how important offshore wind was, talked about opportunities for small modular reactors so we could power the innovation economy in New York. I need to keep that dialogue going.

    But, they also understand this about me: My willingness to talk about areas where we could have a common interest in, does not take away from my responsibility as a leader of this state to fight back, and fight back hard, when the line is crossed and you’ve hurt New Yorkers or attacked our values.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Now, President Trump wants to get rid of the congestion pricing program you put in place. However, he also wants a natural gas pipeline built in New York State. And you mentioned — you just mentioned — he may be interested in a Penn Station redesign. Did you get the sense in your meeting with the President that he’s open to making deals on these issues?

    Governor Hochul: You know, I don’t want to get into private conversations, but I spent an enormous amount of my time in there talking about how congestion pricing is working. It really is working.

    I think a lot of people who are naysayers who said, “This is going to crush the City. Nobody’s going to come in,” they were wrong and I wanted him to see the data that I had — more recent numbers. Broadway is up, you know, retail sales are up $900 million, we have more people on the streets, walking around going into stores, and a 10 percent increase in riders on the subway.

    So all the fears that were out there are absolutely unfounded, and people are getting to the City so much faster. So I needed to help walk him through what I thought were the real reasons why we need to keep this and not have it shut down, which is what he said the administration would do beginning this Friday.

    But as I’ve said — and I was very aggressive in this — we are not turning off the cameras. This is our program, we put this in place, we have the proper approvals, and we feel, if necessary, we’ll be successful in court. But I was hoping it wouldn’t have to get that far, but time will tell.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Alright. New York was one of three northern states hit with surcharges on Canadian electricity this month after Trump imposed tariffs. What’s your message to the President on trade wars, and what can you do to protect the State economically?

    Governor Hochul: Our states, our residents, the people you promised to lower the cost of everything on day one — they’re the collateral damage in this war. And there may be some long term gain that the President sees, but why are we making people suffer right now? They’ve been through enough: Inflation, the pandemic — our people are hurting. They just want people to give them money back in their pockets.

    So that’s at odds with what I’m trying to do in New York, which is find a way to get over up to $5,000 in families’ pockets with child tax credits and the largest middle class tax rate cut in 70 years, and to put money from the inflation rebate. We collected so much money in sales tax because of inflation, and I want to put it back in people’s pockets.

    So, contrary to what is happening in Washington where they don’t seem to care about the people they promised lower prices, because tariffs will drive up prices. We are doing the exact opposite here in New York.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Now, two of your fellow New Yorkers, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, disagreed last week on whether to go along with Trump and the Republican spending bill. You’ve talked about leading the resistance against Trump, but you are also trying to work with him. What are your thoughts about the debate that’s going on within the Democratic Party about how to respond to the President?

    Governor Hochul: We need to get back on the same page because anytime we’re not like this, it benefits the Republicans. We need to realize that. And so, yes, families can disagree on an approach. I get that. But let us not forget who brought us here, who brought us to this place. We should not have had a continuing resolution that could hurt people, and the Republicans in the House who are voting for programs that could be devastating — we have to stop that and be smart about knowing who we’re attacking and who we have to go up against, and it’s not each other.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Now, let’s get to some local issues. You and I have worked together on combating crime in the streets and on the subways, and we’ve joined with Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, on the issue of discovery law reforms to make sure victims of crime get their day in court. I’m concerned about domestic violence and some of the records that they brought out to me about that — DA Bragg. Where are we with that?

    Governor Hochul: I have introduced legislation in my Budget — and we’re negotiating it right now, I’ll be back in Albany tomorrow and I’ll be negotiating on this — but what I want to do is talk about the reforms.

    Back in 2019, important reforms were put in place because the system was skewed against offenders. It really was. Prosecutors were withholding too much information, the law had to change, and I support that. But it has now gone the other way. The pendulum has swung so far that defense lawyers are scamming the system, withholding information to the last minute, or that they’re saying that if even a tiny bit of information that you already have a duplicate bit of information that confirms it — that’s a reason to throw out a case altogether.

    And you’re absolutely right. It is the victims of domestic violence and rape. Think about the women who had to go through the horrible, horrible process of exposing their lives, being willing to prosecute someone and go stand up against someone who harmed them. And then to have a judge and prosecutors say, “We can’t bring it forward because the information was too late.” I mean, I’m talking about minor technicalities. If there’s something significant, yes, of course you should not have the case dismissed. But I’m talking about just fixing the system, because before the reforms were put in place, 42 percent of cases brought in New York City were dismissed. Now it’s 62 percent. That’s a lot of people based on technicalities. And I want the Legislature to understand that. And your voice is so important, and I appreciate you standing up for these victims.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: I’m concerned about when I saw the data on domestic abuse.

    Finally, Governor, a lot has happened since we last spoke in the race. A lot has happened in the race for New York City Mayor. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced he’s running. What are your thoughts about the kind of leaders New Yorkers should be looking toward at this moment?

    Governor Hochul: They should be looking for somebody who will work with the Governor. Now, that has not always been the practice, as you’ve seen historically.

    I worked with Bill de Blasio in the end of his term. I worked with Eric Adams. We don’t need the conflict that has historically defined the relationship, because you know who gets hurt when the Governor and the Mayor are fighting? The people of New York. I represent 8.3 million New York City residents as well.

    And that’s why I focused on public safety, paying for overtime on the overnight subway trains so people feel safer. Also, $1 billion to build more housing. I want to keep doing this, but I need someone who’s not looking to be at war with the Governor, who will actually be a partner. So that’s all I’m looking for, and I’ll work with anybody, as long as they want to focus on the agenda that I have put forth that is for New York City residents.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Does that mean late in the primary you may make an endorsement?

    Governor Hochul: I am not endorsing in this. I do not vote in this great city, although I live here three, four days a week, and I will not be making an endorsement.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: But you want someone that will work with the Governor?

    Governor Hochul: Someone who’s smart enough to know to work with me, because otherwise, it won’t be fun.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: And we’ll have to figure out who we think you might best work with.

    Governor Hochul: Get me a real partner.

    Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC: Thank you for being with us, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils plan on special initiatives to boost consumption

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Consumers learn about relevant policies during a consumer goods trade-in event in Qingdao City, east China’s Shandong Province, May 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China on Sunday made public a plan on special initiatives to increase consumption, as the world’s second-largest economy moves to make domestic demand the main engine and anchor of economic growth.

    The plan, issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, aims to vigorously boost consumption, stimulate domestic demand across the board, and increase spending power by raising earnings and reducing financial burdens.

    It also aims to generate effective demand through high-quality supply, improve the consumption environment to strengthen consumer willingness to spend, and address prominent constraints on consumption.

    The plan, organized into eight major sections, adopts a holistic approach by simultaneously addressing factors such as income growth, service consumption quality enhancement, big-ticket consumption upgrading, and consumption environment improvement.

    The plan aims to promote reasonable wage growth by strengthening employment support in response to economic conditions and improving the minimum wage adjustment mechanisms. China will expand property income channels through measures to stabilize the stock market and develop more bond products suitable for individual investors.

    The plan calls for exploring ways to unlock the values of houses legally owned by farmers through rental arrangements, equity participation and cooperative models.

    Notably, the plan emphasizes both traditional consumption sectors like housing and automobiles, alongside emerging categories such as artificial intelligence-powered products, low-altitude economy and silver tourism.

    China will accelerate the development and application of new technologies and products including autonomous driving, smart wearables, ultra-high-definition video, brain-computer interfaces, robotics and additive manufacturing, more commonly known as 3D printing, to create new high-growth consumption sectors.

    These measures reveal a geographically nuanced approach, with targeted policies for rural areas, regions rich in ice and snow resources, and urban centers — allowing local authorities flexibility via implementation based on regional conditions.

    Support will be given to ice and snow resource-rich regions to help them develop into globally recognized winter tourism destinations. The plan also emphasizes developing inbound consumption by systematically expanding unilateral visa-free arrangements and optimizing regional visa-free entry policies.

    By connecting consumer spending to broader social goals like elderly care improvement, childcare support and work-life balance, the plan embeds consumption growth within China’s wider development objectives, signaling that consumption is being positioned not just as an economic target but as a means to enhance quality of life.

    Accordingly, China will consider establishing a childcare subsidy system. It will guide eligible regions to include individuals in flexible employment, rural migrant workers, and those in new forms of employment who are covered by the basic medical insurance for employees, in the country’s childbirth insurance program.

    Regarding elderly care, the country will in 2025 increase the fiscal subsidies for basic old-age benefits and basic medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents. Additionally, basic pension benefits for retirees will be appropriately raised.

    The country will work to strictly implement the paid annual leave system — ensuring that workers’ rights to rest and vacation are legally protected. It will also prohibit the unlawful extension of working hours.

    Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase the issuance of personal consumption loans, provided risks are controllable. They should reasonably set loan limits, terms and interest rates, according to the plan.

    Zou Yunhan, a researcher with the State Information Center, said consumption is playing an increasingly important role in boosting economic growth, but that some challenges still remain in the quest to further unlock consumer potential.

    Looking ahead, Zou called for collective efforts from all sectors to fully implement the action plan and ensure its effectiveness. “Driven by innovation and supportive policy initiatives, China’s consumer market is poised for steady growth this year. New opportunities are emerging, which will provide a strong impetus for the country’s high-quality economic development.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US airstrikes target Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. warplanes launched extensive airstrikes across northern Yemen on Saturday night, targeting multiple Houthi-controlled locations in a large-scale operation. According to Houthi estimates on Sunday, the bombardment resulted in at least 31 deaths and 101 injuries.

    Widespread military campaign

    American fighter jets carried out approximately 40 airstrikes targeting multiple locations across six Houthi-controlled governorates in northern Yemen. The coordinated assault struck sites in the capital Sanaa as well as Dhamar, Al-Bayda, Marib, Hajjah, and Saada provinces, according to the Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah TV.

    In Sanaa, the strikes focused on strategic military installations including the Jabal Attan area housing missile brigade headquarters, the Jarban area in Sanhan district east of the capital, and Al-Jarraf residential neighborhood in the north, which reportedly contains significant Houthi political offices.

    The bombing campaign extended to critical civil infrastructure in Saada province, the Houthi main stronghold in Yemen’s far north, where the U.S. warplanes targeted a key power plant in Dahyan area.

    Additional targets included sites in Marib’s oil-rich Majzar district, areas in central Al-Bayda province, positions in the outskirts of Dhamar province and military sites in Hajjah province.

    The U.S. Central Command publicly announced the large-scale operation against “Iranian-backed Houthi targets” via social media, stating the mission aims to “defend American interests, deter enemies, and restore freedom of navigation.”

    This is the first military operation conducted by the U.S. military against the Houthi sites since U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office in January and redesignated the group as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

    Trump posted on social media Truth Social that the aerial attacks on the “terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses were to protect American shipping, air and naval assets, and to restore navigational freedom.”

    He also warned the Houthis that if they do not stop their attacks “starting today … hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before.”

    Civilian impact & casualties

    The strikes on residential areas, particularly in Sanaa’s Al-Jarraf neighborhood, caused widespread panic among civilians. One resident, speaking under the pseudonym Ahmed Hayani, described the terrifying experience to Xinhua: “I was at home with my children when suddenly we heard a huge explosion and the glass of the house’s windows fell on us, as if an earthquake had struck.”

    He recounted four massive explosions that followed within minutes as missiles struck a building in the neighborhood. Security forces quickly cordoned off streets leading to the targeted structure while ambulances rushed to retrieve victims. The resident noted significant damage to nearby homes and the traumatic night experienced by all neighborhood inhabitants.

    Following Saturday’s night bombardment, witnesses reported that huge explosions continued on early Sunday in Faj Attan, generating powerful shockwaves that affected scores of businesses in neighboring areas and shattering storefront windows. Ambulances were seen rushing to the targeted neighborhoods following the attacks.

    The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health in Sanaa reported this morning that most casualties were women and children, describing the attacks as “a full-fledged war crime.”

    Houthi response & regional implications

    In response to the U.S. strikes, the Houthi Supreme Political Council — the group’s highest governing authority — vowed a “painful” retaliation, framing the American attacks as support for Israel and warning they would “drag the situation to a more severe and painful level.”

    In a statement, the council said “the aggressors against Yemen will be punished in a professional and painful manner,” while calling on the international community to address what it termed “U.S.-Israeli recklessness.”

    The Houthi leadership also confirmed that its naval operations would continue until the blockade on Gaza is lifted, and humanitarian aid is permitted entry.

    Fatima Asrar, research director at the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies, told Xinhua that the Houthis are unlikely to be deterred by these strikes.

    “The Houthis have a known pattern of escalation, and they will not yield to deterrence,” she explained, predicting the group may target Israel directly “to justify their position of weakness and frame it as support for the Palestinians so that they can garner sympathy.”

    The renewed conflict comes after Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, coinciding with the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

    On Tuesday, the Houthi group announced that it would resume launching attacks against any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the crossings of Gaza Strip are reopened and aid allowed in.

    From November 2023 to Jan. 19, the Houthi group launched dozens of drone and rocket attacks against Israel-linked ships and Israeli cities to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The attacks later expanded to include U.S. and British ships after the U.S.-British navy coalition started to intervene, launching air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group.

    The Houthis stopped their attacks on Jan. 19, when the Gaza ceasefire deal took effect.

    The Houthi group has maintained control of Sanaa and most of northern Yemen for more than a decade with strong ties to Iran.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: SUNDAY SHOWS: American Strength Is Back Under President Trump

    Source: The White House

    This morning, the Trump Administration took to the TV networks to make clear to the country and world that American strength is back – and no longer will terrorist attacks on U.S. troops and vital international commerce be tolerated.

    Here’s what you missed:

    President Trump on Full Measure

    • On securing the border: “You just needed a new president … I said, ‘close the border’ — and they closed the border.”
    • On tariffs: “We have companies moving into the United States at levels that has never been seen before.”

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Face the Nation

    • On Houthi terrorist attacks in the Red Sea: “In the last 18 months, the Houthis have struck or attacked … the U.S. Navy 174 times, and 145 times, they’ve attacked commercial shipping. So, we basically have a band of pirates with guided precision anti-ship weaponry exacting a toll system in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. That’s just not sustainable.”
    • On revoking visas for terrorist sympathizers: “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest … If you tell us when you apply for a visa, ‘I’m coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,’ that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States … If you had told us you were going to do that, we never would have given you the visa.”
    • On tariffs: “I understand why these countries don’t like it — because the status quo of trade is good for them. It benefits them … We are going to set a new status quo … We have de-industrialized the United States of America. There are things we can no longer make.”

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Sunday Morning Futures

    • On U.S. strikes against Houthi terrorists: “An era of peace through strength is back … This campaign is about freedom of navigation and restoring deterrence … The minute the Houthis say ‘we’ll stop shooting at your ships, we’ll stop shooting at your drones,’ this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting.”
    • On President Trump’s agenda: “Shipbuilding, long-range munitions, hypersonics, long-range drones, a Golden Dome, southern border – the president has laid out very clearly his agenda to rebuild the U.S. military … We have revived the warrior ethos.”

    National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on This Week

    • On U.S. strikes against Houthi terrorists: “These were not pinprick, back and forth, what ultimately proved to be feckless attacks. This was an overwhelming response that actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out.”

    National Security Advisor Mike Waltz on Fox News Sunday

    • On negotiations for peace in Ukraine: “As both President Putin and Zelensky said on our first call just a few weeks ago, only President Trump could drive this to an end … We know who we’re dealing with on all sides.”

    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent on Meet the Press

    • On President Trump’s economic agenda: “One week does not the market make… It would have been very easy for us to come in, run these reckless policies that have been happening before. We’ve got these large government deficits… We are bringing those down in a responsible way.”
    • On tariffs: “Chinese manufacturers will eat the price … I believe that the currency adjusts … If we’re de-regulating, if we’re getting energy prices down, then if we look across the spectrum, Americans will realize lower prices and better affordability.”

    Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on State of the Union

    • On negotiations to end the war in Ukraine: “Before this visit, there was another visit, and before that visit, the two sides were miles apart … The two sides are, today, a lot closer … We’ve narrowed the differences.”
    • On when a deal to end the war could be possible: “The president uses the timeframe weeks — and I don’t disagree with him. I am really hopeful that we’re going to see some real progress here.”
    • On dealing with Hamas: “What happened with the Houthis yesterday, what happened with our strike, ought to inform as to where we stand with the regard to terrorism and our tolerance level for terrorist actions — and I would encourage Hamas to get much more sensible.”

    Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Sunday Morning Futures

    • On securing our homeland: “The president signed a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act against Tren de Aragua members who have invaded our country … The president invoked this authority to deport nearly 300 of them who are now in El Salvador, where they will be behind bars where they belong.”
    • On activist legal challenges: “President Trump is not shy of resistance … Clearly, there are left-wing activists who sit behind a bench in a courthouse who don’t like this president and his policies, but the fact is everything President Trump is doing is within his executive authority.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Barrio Brings the Taste of Home to Filipinos in New Zealand

    Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Barrio Brings the Taste of Home to Filipinos in New Zealand

    Barrio, a new Filipino online grocery store, has officially launched in New Zealand. Founded by the team behind Bini Beauty, Barrio offers a wide selection of authentic Filipino products, including Mama Sita’s meal mixes, shrimp paste, chili garlic oil, Burong Hipon (fermented shrimp), sauces, childhood snacks, and Filipino coffee. With free shipping on orders over $100, Barrio aims to bring the comfort and flavours of home to Filipinos living in New Zealand. The store offers an easy online shopping experience, making it simple to enjoy beloved Filipino flavours no matter the distance.

    The post Barrio Brings the Taste of Home to Filipinos in New Zealand first appeared on PR.co.nz.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Safety switch: Date set for Average Speed Camera trial

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 16 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Minister for Roads

    Average speed cameras will be switched on to warning mode for light vehicles in two key regional locations from 1 May.

    The trial, a recommendation from the 2024 NSW Road Safety Forum, will see the NSW Government flick the switch on cameras which measure a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes and cameras on the Hume Highway which measure a 16km stretch between Coolac and Gundagai to capture speeding light vehicles.

    These two stretches have been chosen based on several factors, including known crash history. There were a combined total of six fatalities and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 at these locations.

    In NSW average speed cameras only enforce speeding offences for heavy vehicles, however data shows that in the past five years (2018-2022) almost 80% of all fatalities and serious injuries across all existing 31 average speed camera lengths in NSW did not involve a heavy vehicle.

    NSW is unique in that it’s the only place known to use these cameras for just a subset of vehicles. Most other Australian jurisdictions either use Average Speed Cameras for all vehicles or plan to do so in the future. Studies from around the world have shown that average speed enforcement for all vehicles leads to significant reductions in crash-related injuries and fatalities.

    The trial will have a two-month warning letter period for light vehicle drivers caught speeding on both lengths of road before it is switched to full enforcement mode. From 1 July, those detected speeding will face fines and demerit point penalties. Existing enforcement of heavy vehicle offences at these sites will be unaffected by the trial.

    A comprehensive communications campaign will begin to roll out before the warning letter period to help alert motorists to the trial.

    Road signs will notify all drivers that their speed is being monitored by the cameras on the trial stretches, giving them the opportunity to adjust their speed as needed.

    The average speed camera trial builds on other road safety initiatives introduced by the Minns Labor Government, including:

    • seatbelt enforcement by the existing mobile phone camera detection network
    • removing a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six months
    • the demerit return trial that rewarded more than 1 million drivers for maintaining a demerit-offence-free driving record during the second year of the trial
    • doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with the addition of 2,700 new locations where a camera can be deployed. Enforcement hours will remain the same
    • hosting the state’s first Road Safety Forum with international and local experts
    • signed National Road Safety Data Agreement with the Commonwealth

    Minister for Roads, John Graham said:

    “We know that speed remains our biggest killer on the road, contributing to 41 per cent of all fatalities over the past decade.

    “Studies from around the world show that using average speed enforcement cameras for all vehicles reduces the road toll, and road trauma.

    “We know the trial will be a change for motorists in New South Wales, so it will be supported by community and stakeholder communications. All average speed camera locations have warning signs installed.

    Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

    “Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen.

    “With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users.

    “I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing.

    “We will have a communications strategy in place including the use of print, radio and social media as well as variable messaging signs and mobile billboards to help communicate the trial details to drivers and riders.

    “We will also have clear warning signs installed before the enforcement sites, but most importantly we will have a 60 day warning period in place so that people have an opportunity to adjust their driving behaviour before they receive a penalty.”

    Background

    • Enforcement of average speed is generally considered a fair form of enforcement as drivers demonstrate intentional and consistent speeding behaviour over a long length of road and/or time, not only at a single point.
    • Research conducted in New South Wales in 2024 found that 68 per cent of respondents thought that average speed cameras were important in making New South Wales roads safer.
    • A 2015 study in Norway found that average speed cameras cut deaths and serious injuries by 49%. Similarly, a 2016 study in the United Kingdom showed a 36% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes with the use of average speed cameras.
    • Average speed cameras in NSW have cut fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involving heavy vehicles. There was a reduction on fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involving heavy vehicles at average speed camera locations of about 50%, when data from the five years before they were installed is compared to the five years after installation.
    • The Road Transport Act 2013 (the Act) was amended in October 2024 so that average speed cameras can enforce speeding by all vehicle types.
    • The trial will run for 14 months in total. (2 months in warning mode, 12 months in enforcement)
    • Warning mode will begin on 1 May, enforcement mode will begin on 1 July.
    • The NSW Government will report back to Parliament on the outcomes of the trial in 2026, consistent with legislative changes made in late 2024.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sydney man fined more than $470,000 for unlicensed and uninsured building work

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 16 March 2025

    Released by: Minister for Building

    A Sydney man has been hit with a $473,000 fine after being found guilty of more than 40 breaches involving unlicensed and uninsured residential building work for four consumers in 2022.

    Anthony Abi-Merhi, a sole trader business operating under the name “Triscapes” quoted one consumer $99,500 for a job which ended up costing the consumer $142,000.

    During the investigation, Building Commission NSW identified offences including unlicensed work, excessive deposits, and work undertaken without Home Building Compensation Fund insurance.

    He was also found guilty of 27 charges of demanding or receiving payment for building without insurance, while carrying out landscaping work in south-western Sydney.

    In NSW, a licence or certificate is required to do any residential building work, including general building work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials.

    This includes construction, repairs, renovating or decorating a property. 

    For contracts valued at more than $5,000 the maximum deposit to cover labour and materials is 10 per cent. 

    Home Building Compensation Fund Insurance is required for projects valued at more than $20,000 and contractors must obtain this cover before starting any work or accepting any payments including deposits.

    This insurance provides a safety net for consumers facing incomplete or defective work in certain circumstances.

    The defendant has 28 days to exercise a right to appeal in respect of the sentence.

    For more information on choosing the right tradesperson for the job visit the Step by step guide to choosing the right tradesperson or builder webpage.

    To check a contractor’s name or licence number visit the Verify Licence website.

    To access the Contract checklist visit the Fair Trading website.

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:

    “This serious $470,000 fine for unlicensed building work sends a clear message to builders – the Minns Government is serious about eradicating cowboys and shonks from the NSW home construction industry. 

    “Building Commission NSW inspectors are now out in force and will come down hard on those caught doing the wrong thing.

    “Consumers should only engage a contractor once they have researched their credentials including by looking them up on the Verify Licence website, to make sure their licence is valid and whether the licence has any conditions or regulatory issues attached to it.

    “You can also check user ratings online from other consumers who have used the trader, and make sure you use the handy Contract Checklist page on the Fair Trading website before signing a contract and paying any money.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: About the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    The Register’s role

    Foreign investment is essential to Australia’s prosperity. It helps to build our economy and enhance the wellbeing of Australians by supporting financial growth.

    The Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian AssetsExternal Link was introduced to provide transparency and extract information which we use to report on who is investing in Australian assets.

    The Register commenced operating on 1 July 2023. This Register replaced all other registers.

    Register functions

    The Register:

    • replaces existing foreign investment registers we manage (relating to agricultural and residential land, and water interests)
    • expands on assets to be registered
    • provides a streamlined experience for foreign persons to manage their investment affairs
    • supports compliance with Australia’s foreign investment framework
    • increases the government’s visibility of foreign investments made in Australia.

    Information the Register holds

    The Register holds details about foreign ownership of Australian assets, including:

    For information on registering assets other than residential property, see Steps to invest in Australian non-residential assets.

    Who is responsible for administering the Register

    The role of the Commissioner of Taxation as Registrar

    The Commissioner of Taxation is the Registrar responsible for administering the Register, under the Commonwealth Registers (Appointment of Registers) Instrument 2021.

    The Commissioner was appointed as the Registrar of the Register by the Assistant Treasurer, commencing 29 November 2022.

    The Registrar’s role in administering the Register includes:

    • maintaining accurate records of interests and changes that need to be registered for the purposes of administration of the foreign investment laws, such as case management and compliance
    • accurate reporting to government of foreign ownership in Australia.

    The visibility of interests held by foreign persons in specified assets in Australia will also inform future policy development by government.

    How the information on the Register is used

    The Registrar will take steps to protect personal information they hold about individuals against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure and other misuse.

    Information on the Register can be used, recorded or disclosed for any purpose that protected information can be used under Division 3 of Part 7 of the FATA. Secrecy provisions apply to the information disclosed or obtained under or for the purposes of the FATA.

    It is an offence under section 128 of the FATA for a person to disclose protected information. That is unless the disclosure is permitted either under section 130V of the FATA or under one of the exceptions in Division 3 of Part 7 to the FATA.

    There are safeguards to protect an individual’s right to privacy and this applies to the information collected by the Registrar. In particular, the Registrar complies with obligations under the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 and records authorities issued by the National Archives of Australia.

    Supporting legislation and reforms

    For more information, see:

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Gains for Labor as they lead in three of last five polls

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

    A national Freshwater poll for The Financial Review, conducted March 13–15 from a sample of 1,051, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead by respondent preferences, a one-point gain for Labor since the late February Freshwater poll.

    Primary votes were 39% Coalition (down two), 31% Labor (steady), 14% Greens (up one) and 16% for all Others (up one). By 2022 election preference flows, this would be about a 50–50 tie.

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval improved one point to -10, while Peter Dutton’s slid four points to -12. In the last two months, Albanese is up eight and Dutton down eight. It’s the first time since May 2024 that Albanese has had a better net approval than Dutton in this poll.

    Albanese led Dutton by 45.9–42.5 as preferred PM, his best lead in this poll since last September. By 42–40, respondents thought Dutton better suited to negotiate with US President Donald Trump than Albanese (47–36 in November).

    The Coalition leads on important issues, but Labor has gained seven points on economic management and three points on cost of living since February.

    There has been improvement for Labor across a range of polls in the last few weeks, and the graph below has Labor leads in three of the last five national polls (two YouGovs and a Morgan), with the Coalition still ahead in Newspoll and Freshwater.

    In analyst Kevin Bonham’s aggregate, Labor now leads by 50.5–49.5 using 2022 election flows, while it’s a 50–50 tie adjusting for a likely pro-Coalition shift in One Nation preferences.

    Last Wednesday Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US, including on Australia. I believe this will assist Labor as the tariff imposition will appear unjustified to most Australians, and the Coalition is the more pro-Trump party. If the stock market continues to fall, this will undermine support for Trump’s economic agenda.

    Trump has been threatening Canada with tariffs for much longer than Australia, and the centre-left governing Liberals have surged back in the polls to a near-tie with the Conservatives from over 20 points behind, and have taken the lead since Mark Carney’s March 9 election as Liberal leader.

    Labor retains lead in YouGov

    A national YouGov poll, conducted March 7–13 from a sample of 1,526, gave Labor a 51–49 lead, unchanged from the February 28 to March 6 YouGov poll. YouGov is conducting weekly polls, and the previous poll was the first Labor lead in YouGov since July 2024.

    Primary votes were 36% Coalition (steady), 31% Labor (steady), 13.5% Greens (up 0.5), 7.5% One Nation (up 0.5), 1% Trumpet of Patriots (steady), 9% independents (down one) and 2% others (steady). YouGov is using weaker preference flows for Labor than occurred in 2022, and by 2022 flows Labor would have a lead above 52–48.

    Albanese’s net approval improved three points to -6, with 49% dissatisfied and 43% satisfied, while Dutton’s net approval slid two points to -6. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by an unchanged 45–39.

    Since the first weekly YouGov poll in late February, Albanese has gained six points on net approval while Dutton has slid four points. This is the first time Dutton has not had a better net approval than Albanese in YouGov since March 2024.

    On the ongoing conflict caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 69% of Australians thought we should stand with Ukraine President Zelensky, while 31% wanted us to stand with Trump.

    Labor regains lead in Morgan poll

    A national Morgan poll, conducted March 3–9 from a sample of 1,719, gave Labor a 51.5–48.5 lead by headline respondent preferences, a two-point gain for Labor since the February 24 to March 2 poll. This is Labor’s second lead in the last three Morgan polls, after they had trailed in this poll since November.

    Primary votes were 37% Coalition (down three), 30% Labor (up 1.5), 13.5% Greens (steady), 5% One Nation (up one), 10.5% independents (steady) and 4% others (up 0.5). By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 52–48, a two-point gain for Labor.

    By 51.5–33, respondents said the country was going in the wrong direction (52–31.5 previously). Morgan’s consumer confidence index was down 0.8 points to 86.9.

    Poll of teal-held seats has the teals struggling

    Freshwater took a poll for the News Corporation tabloids of six seats held by teal independents. These are Curtin in WA, Goldstein and Kooyong in Victoria and Mackellar, Warringah and Wentworth in NSW. The poll was conducted March 5–7 from an overall sample of 830.

    Across the six seats polled, the Liberals had a 51–49 lead, representing a 5% swing to the Liberals since the 2022 election. On these figures, the Liberals would gain four of these teal seats (Curtin, Goldstein, Kooyong and Mackellar).

    Primary votes were 41% Liberals (up two since 2022), 33% teals (steady), 7% Labor (down six), 7% Greens (down two) and 12% others (up six). Albanese and Dutton were tied at 39–39 on better PM. By 47–42, respondents opposed their local MP backing an Albanese Labor minority government.

    The YouGov MRP poll that was conducted between late January and mid-February from a sample of over 40,000 had all the teals holding their seats. At the March 8 Western Australian election, swings to the Liberals were lowest in affluent Perth seats.

    WA election late counting

    With 70% of enrolled voters counted for the WA election, the ABC is calling 43 of the 59 lower house seats for Labor, six for the Liberals, four for the Nationals and six seats remain undecided. The Poll Bludger has Labor ahead in 47 seats, with the Liberals and Nationals ahead in six seats each.

    On election night, it had appeared likely that an independent would win Labor-held Fremantle. However, the independent has performed badly on absent and postal votes, and Labor will retain.

    In the upper house, all 37 seats are elected by statewide proportional representation with preferences, and a quota for election is just 2.63%. With 63% of enrolled counted, Labor has 15.8 quotas, the Liberals 10.5, the Greens 4.1, the Nationals 2.1, One Nation 1.35, Legalise Cannabis and the Australian Christians 1.0 each, an independent group 0.48 and Animal Justice 0.43.

    On current figures, Labor will win 16 seats, the Liberals ten, the Greens four, the Nationals two, One Nation, Legalise Cannabis and the Christians one each and two seats are unclear (Liberals, independent group and Animal Justice contesting). Counting of absents in the lower house has hurt the Liberals, so their vote is likely to drop further. Labor and the Greens will have a combined upper house majority.

    Liberals hold Port Macquarie at NSW byelection

    A byelection occurred on Saturday in the New South Wales Liberal-held state seat of Port Macquarie. Labor did not contest after finishing third behind the Nationals and Liberals at the 2023 NSW election with 19.2%.

    With 59% of enrolled counted, The Poll Bludger is projecting that the Liberals will defeat the Nationals by 52.8–47.2, a 7.9% swing to the Nationals since 2023. Current primary votes are 34.2% Liberals (down 4.1%), 31.2% Nationals (up 5.5%), 12.8% for an independent (new), 10.7% Greens (up 3.7%) and 7.9% Legalise Cannabis (up 3.4%).

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

    – ref. Gains for Labor as they lead in three of last five polls – https://theconversation.com/gains-for-labor-as-they-lead-in-three-of-last-five-polls-252016

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –