Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

September 30 2025 – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's keynote speech at the Labour Party conference today is being watched by investors, businesses and global bond markets with acute attention, warns financial advisory giant deVere Group's CEO Nigel Green.

He says: “This is not just another party conference address. It's a make-or-break moment for credibility.

“Bond markets, already charging the UK a premium to borrow, will immediately reprice if they sense a repeat of the policy missteps of recent years, specifically the Truss-era. This would raise costs for the government, for companies, and for households.”

The pressure comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a £25 billion payroll tax increase in her first Budget, contributing to falling vacancies, higher unemployment and mounting unease across corporate Britain.

“Multinationals in pharmaceuticals and energy have already delayed UK investments, while the abolition of non-dom status has accelerated capital flight that's now leaving a visible hole in public finances.”

He continues: “Businesses need certainty, not surprises, The repeated tax raids, from windfall levies on energy to higher capital gains for entrepreneurs, have sent a chill through the economy.

“What markets and corporate Britain want to hear today is that there'll be no further shocks.”

The banking industry is particularly sensitive to speculation of further levies, including cuts to the interest it receives on deposits held at the Bank of England.

Pension savers and asset managers are also waiting for clear assurances that the tax regime supporting long-term retirement saving will remain intact.

“Investors will punish ambiguity. Any hint of fiscal looseness or new burdens on enterprise will echo immediately in gilt yields.

“Starmer must instead demonstrate discipline and a long-term vision for growth. This is the only way to win back market trust and release investment into the real economy,” says the deVere CEO.

As of this week, the yield on the UK 10-year gilt is hovering around 4.73%, a level that underscores how much premium capital currently demands to lend to the government. Longer-dated borrowing is even more strained — the 30-year gilt recently jumped above 5.74%, approaching levels not seen since the late 1990s. These rates already reflect anxiety over fiscal direction; any suggestion of policy looseness risks shifting them higher again overnight.

Markets remember the turmoil triggered by the Truss government's mini-budget in 2022, when poorly costed plans crashed sterling, spiked borrowing costs and forced emergency Bank of England intervention.

“This cautionary tale remains fresh,” notes Nigel Green. “No leader should ever underestimate again how swiftly global capital will turn away if it senses risk.”

Yet the opportunity is equally clear. The UK has the chance to restore its reputation as a reliable destination for investment. Lower borrowing costs, renewed foreign direct investment and revived business confidence are all on offer “if the Prime Minister can deliver credible commitments today.”

Nigel Green concludes: “This speech must send a clear signal to bondholders and businesses that Britain is stable, serious, and open for growth.

“Success would likely deliver benefits of cheaper financing, stronger investor appetite, and momentum for an economy that urgently needs it.

“The world's financial decision-makers will be hanging on his words.”

Chișinău, September 30, 2025 – In Cimișlia district, the village of Sagaidac is set to host a high-impact investment initiative led by Roses Kingdom Company. Developed as a partnership between the Netherlands, Belgium and the Republic of Moldova, the project aims to cultivate premium-quality roses.

The first stage involves an investment of €1.2 million, which includes the installation of modern greenhouses, advanced irrigation and climate-control systems, and packaging facilities. This initial phase is expected to generate at least 20 full-time jobs for the local community. Development plans foresee the project's expansion to €10 million and a workforce of around 100 employees, with the ambition of transforming the region into a hub for floriculture, wellness, and professional training.

Economic ties between the Republic of Moldova and the Netherlands have strengthened steadily in recent years, and this investment stands as a compelling example of trilateral cooperation. The Netherlands plays a pivotal role as a gateway for European and global investments in the region, ranking fourth among Moldova's foreign direct investors, with an FDI stock of about USD 488.8 million and an annual growth rate of 18.4 percent. Many international investments reach Moldova through Dutch financial and logistics hubs, reinforcing the strategic value of this partnership for the country's economic development.

“This investment represents an important step toward diversifying the economy of the Republic of Moldova and harnessing its agricultural potential in a high value-added sector. It is not a traditional investment, but one that combines two of the country's key assets – fertile soil and openness to diverse investments – contributing to regional development and strengthening the Republic of Moldova's position as a safe and attractive destination for international investors,”
— Natalia Bejan, Director of Invest Moldova Agency

The initiative seeks to drive knowledge transfer, raise production standards, and support exports to EMEA markets (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), further enhancing the Republic of Moldova's reputation as a supplier of high-quality floricultural products.

“The Republic of Moldova offers us proximity in accessing foreign markets and a favorable climate for growing roses and other flowers, essential factors that allowed us to launch this project with confidence, and the support provided by the Invest Moldova Agency was important in the process of starting the investment project. At the same time, we want to thank the Embassies of Belgium and the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova, as well as the Romanian-Belgian-Luxembourg-Moldova Chamber of Commerce for organizing the BeNeLux forum and for the partnership formed as a result of it – an important step in the development of the entire flower growing sector and the positioning of the Republic of Moldova internationally in this field.”
— M. Bashar Almajzoub, Founder, Roses Kingdom

This initiative illustrates how foreign direct investments can transform local communities, bringing not only capital and employment but also international expertise and opportunities for professional training. With a planned expansion to €10 million, the project lays the foundation for a competitive Moldovan presence in the international flower market.

Invest Moldova remains a key partner in attracting and facilitating strategic investments, connecting international investors with local opportunities and reaffirming its commitment to turning Moldova's potential into success stories with regional and global impact.

Key facts:

• NSW government scraps Business Connect programme during Small Business Month, despite previous studies showing $1.50 return on every $1 spent
• Service NSW Business Bureau remains available for NSW businesses, while other states offer various support programmes including Victoria's Small Business Bus and Queensland's Mentoring for Growth
• Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania all maintain free business advisory and support services for SMEs
• Business support remains crucial amid high insolvency rates, rising costs and ATO debt recovery efforts
• Government support services play vital role in supporting Australia's 2.5 million SMEs, which are the nation's largest employers.

With NSW Small Business Month running throughout October, it’s quite ironic that it coincides with the state government’s scrapping of the Business Connect program – an initiative which supported tens of thousands of small businesses right across NSW.

Put bluntly, it is particularly bad timing.

While the NSW state government’s decision to can Business Connect has been criticised as narrow minded and short sighted, there are at least resources still available to small business owners looking for advice or mentoring right across the nation, according to James Beeson, CEO of the nation’s leading invoice financing specialists, Earlypay.

“It’s a terrible shame the NSW government is closing a service which was providing a positive return on its investment through supporting the success of SMEs. The timing of the shutdown is really unfortunate given soft economic demand, stubbornly high business costs and an ATO that is determined to recover its outstanding tax debts. This is all contributing to stress for many SMEs, which is visible through the high levels of insolvencies.” Beeson says.

“Back in 2021, NSW Treasury commissioned an independent review into the Business Connect program and found for every $1 spent, it brought in $1.50 in benefits. Be that as it may, it’s now closed down which is a loss for the state economy that won’t be felt for a couple of years especially if the number of insolvencies continue to rise.”

Beeson points out all is not completely lost in NSW as SMEs can still access the Service NSW Business Bureau for free expert support.

He states that further afield there are wide-ranging options in other states.

“Beyond NSW the other states are doing their bit for SMEs. Business Victoria for example operates the Small Business Bus which visits metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria as an 'office on wheels'.” Mr Beeson says.

Business Queensland’s Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program also offers eligible businesses free access to volunteer business experts who provide insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities SMEs might be experiencing in their business.

Western Australia’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) also offers a free of charge Business Advisory Service that connects SMEs with experienced advisers that have run, or are currently running, their own business.

According to the SBDC, their confidential advice includes offering practical solutions for SME owners whether they’re starting, growing or exiting their business.

The Northern Territory Government’s Business Growth Program offers eligible SMEs funding up to $10,000 for professional advice, services and systems. This is available to reimburse 50 per cent of the costs of eligible services provided by an approved service provider.

In South Australia, the state government’s Small Business Support Officers provide free one-on-one support for SMEs across the state. They can help with a range of services including navigating government support programmes, connecting with resources within your local area, talking through available grants and funding as well as uncovering tools and resources.

While in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Business Advice Service provides up to five hours free and independent advice for established Tasmanian businesses to help them run and grow their business.

Beeson says most of these programs are just one of a suite of resources state government offer SMEs “as well as an array of services offered by the federal government”.

Beeson’s advice to small business owners is to do their research on what programmes they might be eligible for and to realise they’re not alone if they need assistance in making their business work.

“Australia’s SMEs are the nation’s largest employers and play a major role in driving the economy forward and this is mostly well-recognised by state governments as well as the federal government,” Beeson says.

“While a lot more can be done when it comes to reducing the regulatory and taxation burden on the nation’s SMEs, governments do offer a range of good business support services that can assist in navigating some of the challenges SMEs must confront.”

Beeson explains Earlypay have been assisting the nation’s small businesses overcome their cash flow challenges for nearly 25 years, and he firmly believes government plays a key role in ensuring the nation’s 2.5 million SMEs are healthy because “if they’re doing well, then the economy will follow”.

Earlypay is a leading provider of working capital finance to Australian SMEs with its invoice finance and equipment finance products.

Earlypay’s invoice finance helps SMEs bridge the cash flow gap between issuing invoices and receiving payment from customers by providing early payment of unpaid invoices. Earlypay also provides equipment finance to SMEs to assist with capital expenditure.

 Earlypay has been supporting Australian SMEs since 2001 and has built a trusted legacy of delivering reliable, flexible and innovative working capital finance.

The Marovo Constituency Office (MCO) has finally commenced the implementation of its 2024 CDF program, with project materials making headway to the constituency on the Charted MV Fair King for delivery to communities, Wednesday this week.

This support delivery was funded under the Marovo Constituency Office CDF allocation for 2024.  

Project materials and equipment were delivered under various categories, including the essential sector, social sector, and productive sector, in compliance with the CDF Act 2023. Projects include:  

• 200 aluminum water tanks, each with a capacity of 700 gallons, exclusively for Wards 23 and 24, with Wards 21 and 22 also set to benefit and receive their tanks soon.
• 1,000 solar batteries to be delivered to constituents or families for replacing faulty batteries from previous projects. This initiative will serve all wards—21, 22, 23, and 24.
• Ongoing projects that also form part of the delivery include roofing iron materials and Outboard Motor Engines (OBMs) for fishing projects under the productive sector.

Constituency Development Officer (CDO) John Pikacha said this assistance is part of the ongoing efforts and commitments by the Marovo Constituency Office under the leadership of the Member of Parliament, Honourable Chachabule Rebi Amoi, towards improving rural communities’ livelihoods through CDF, in alignment with the constituency’s development plan.  

He said the support through these projects is part of the Constituency’s Development Program (CDP), which aims to boost people’s livelihoods and community development.  

“The constituency office also remains committed to supporting our churches. We are assisting churches by transporting their materials, such as gravel and roofing irons for Niniveh Church, as well as roofing irons and a water tank for the church pastor’s house at Telina Island.”  

“These projects reflect our dedication to fostering sustainable development, improving living standards, and supporting community development within the constituency,” CDO Pikacha said.  

He added that the water tanks, which fall under the 2024 Water & Sanitation Project, will significantly help families access clean and safe water, while the solar batteries are part of the effort to enhance renewable energy access for households.  

“Roofing materials are part of the constituency’s ongoing support to help constituents improve their homes, with OBMs supporting local fishermen under the productive sector, providing economic opportunities,” Mr. Pikacha highlighted.  

Mr. Pikacha thanked the Marovo constituents for their patience and understanding throughout the projects' preparation and also called for continued support and cooperation with the constituency delivery team on the ground.  

He also acknowledged the leadership of Hon. Chachabule and his ongoing support for development initiatives that will bring lasting impacts on the lives of Marovo constituents.  

CDF is a national program of the Solomon Islands Government (SIG), administered by MRD, and implemented through the 50 constituencies across the country, aiming to improve the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders.  

The Ministry of Rural Development’s vision is to ensure all Solomon Islanders are empowered for self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods, and sustainable development.

YOKOHAMA/ MANILA, 30 September 2025 – As population ageing accelerates across much of Asia and the Pacific, pushing higher the incidence and impact of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Government of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan and the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office have formalized plans to address these megatrends and help inform health policy regionally.

At a ceremony in Yokohama before the International Day of Older Persons, Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa and WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala signed a memorandum of understanding on the partnership, which has three themes:

·       Identifying priority knowledge gaps on healthy ageing and NCDs, particularly in the context of demographic transition and evolving health system needs in the WHO Western Pacific Region.  

·       Generating new multidisciplinary research and synthesizing knowledge to address gaps, drawing on a range of public health expertise; and

·       Translating evidence into actionable policy options by fostering knowledge-sharing; implementing pilot programmes; and contributing to the development of national strategies, operational guidance and scalable interventions.

“This isn’t about viewing population ageing as a crisis. Longevity is actually a triumph of development,” noted Dr Piukala. “What we must tackle, however, is the increase in the already high burden of noncommunicable diseases and mental health challenges linked to ageing, along with the resulting sharp rise in health-care expenditure.

“Japan, as the world’s first hyper-aged society, and with the largest number of centenarians anywhere, has implemented policies and programmes that are a template for others to follow,” he explained. “Kanagawa Prefecture, with its enlightened leadership, is creating a healthier society by shifting focus from treating sickness to promoting well-being and preventing disease progression. Our collaboration capitalizes on this innovative approach.”

Governor Kuroiwa explained that Kanagawa Prefecture’s Healthcare New Frontier policy package uses an approach known as ME-BYO which has its roots in traditional Chinese health approaches. The ME-BYO approach does not categorize people as healthy or sick, but rather views their physical and mental state as continuously transitioning between health and illness.

The approach “goes beyond treating a patient’s symptoms of illness by emphasizing a holistic view of the body’s condition. This continuum between health and illness requires a focus on the early detection of risks and undertaking lifestyle improvements before the onset of disease,” he said. “We are gratified that WHO sees merit in this approach, allowing us to share our experience and benefit countries beyond Japan.”

The partnership between WHO and Kanagawa Prefecture will also be carried out with the cooperation of the General Incorporated Association Global Strategy Center for ME-BYO established by the Prefecture in 2025. This partnership will contribute to offering solutions to global health issues, such as extending healthy lifespans and promoting universal health coverage.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the bold proposals and commitments that are emerging from this partnership,” said Dr Piukala. “Together, we are linking two of the most pressing megatrends of our time – population ageing and the rising burden of NCDs – and transforming them into opportunities for innovation and impact, allowing us to reap the benefits of a ‘silver dividend’.

“At WHO, our mission is rooted in the promise of SDG 3: that every person, regardless of age, deserves the highest attainable standard of health.”

NOTES:

·       Almost 30% of Japan's population of 124 million people, totalling over 36 million people, is 65 years or older, the highest ageing rate globally.

·       Japan’s population of those 75 and over has surpassed the 65-74 age group. Further, projections show that in Japan by 2070, roughly one in 2.6 people will be 65 and older.

·       About 503 million people aged 65 or over — roughly 60% of the world’s older people — currently live in the Asia-Pacific Region overall. By 2050, that number will almost double to around one billion.

·       In the WHO Western Pacific Region specifically, covering 38 countries and areas, there are about 265 million people over 65 years of age – about one-third of the world’s older people.

·       Every country in the Western Pacific Region is experiencing a surge of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

In September, the KOF Economic Barometer increases. After a decrease in the previous month, it moves upwards but remains below its medium-term average. The outlook for the Swiss economy continues to be subdued.

The KOF Economic Barometer increases in September by 1.8 points to a level of 98.0 (after revised 96.2 in the previous month). Within the production-side indicator bundles included in the Barometer, the indicators for manufacturing and for financial and insurance services point to an improved outlook in particular. However, nn the demand-side the indicators for foreign demand weaken while the prospects for private consumption remain unaltered.

Among the sub-indicators for the different aspects of business activity within the producing industry (manufacturing and construction), the indicators for exports and for the general business situation show particularly positive developments. The indicators for stocks of finished products as well as for production activity are, however, slightly under pressure.

Within manufacturing, positive developments are particularly exhibited by the sub-indicators for the wood, glass, stone and earth segment, for paper and printing products, and for the electrical industry. However, the sub-indicators for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry as well as for machinery and equipment manufacturing experience a setback.

Note:
Due to the publication of the revised national accounts at the end of September, the yearly update of the KOF Economic Barometer will be done in October. In previous years, KOF has published the yearly update in September.

September 30 2025 – The US is once again staring down the barrel of a government shutdown, and the implications for investors in America and abroad are significant, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

Congress has failed to pass the necessary funding bills, with the deadline expiring tomorrow. Unless lawmakers strike a last-minute deal, large parts of the federal government will grind to a halt.

The standoff comes against the backdrop of soaring deficits, an economy already showing cracks, and political divisions that are as wide as they have been in decades.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, comments: “Gold prices have already surged to record highs as investors move into safe-haven assets. Treasury yields are oscillating, with history pointing to declines during shutdowns, but the political rancour and concerns over debt could push them higher this time. The US dollar, which remains the global reserve currency, is vulnerable to shifts in confidence.”

He continues” “Shutdowns are not the same as defaults, but they send a damaging signal about political dysfunction in the world's largest economy.

“Investors everywhere are forced to reassess risk, and that has ripple effects across asset classes and geographies.

“Shutdowns in the past have tended to be short and economically manageable, yet this one is being viewed with more trepidation.”

Since 1950, there have been 21 such episodes, most lasting only a few days. The longest, in 2018–2019, stretched on for 35 days and cost the economy an estimated $3 billion in permanently lost output. During that episode, the S&P 500 saw a correction, yields fell, and confidence took a hit.

What makes the looming shutdown more concerning is the context: slowing global growth, geopolitical shocks, and tighter monetary conditions.

“This is happening at a time when investors are already grappling with an unpredictable environment,” says Nigel Green.

“It magnifies volatility and could accelerate the flight of international capital away from US markets.

“We've already seen allocations to the US shrinking in recent times, and another political standoff could reinforce that trend.”

One of the overlooked but important consequences of a shutdown is the disruption to data collection.

Government agencies could halt the release of critical economic statistics, including jobs numbers and inflation reports.

Markets rely heavily on these indicators to set expectations for corporate earnings, interest rates, and currency valuations.

“Without them, speculation fills the void, raising the risk of mispricing and abrupt swings,” notes the deVere CEO.

“Investors base decisions on reliable information. If reports on employment or consumer prices are delayed, it doesn't just inconvenience economists, it destabilizes markets and complicates central bank policy. The absence of data at a critical time can cause lasting damage to sentiment.”

Equity markets are especially exposed. Short shutdowns are often brushed aside by investors, but prolonged ones dent confidence and trigger sell-offs.

Companies dependent on government contracts or regulatory approvals can face delays that hit revenues. Consumer confidence also tends to slip, which can feed into spending and earnings.

The symbolism matters as much as the substance for international investors. The US is still the largest and most liquid market, but recurring shutdown threats highlight political fragility. All this undermines the dollar's allure as a safe-haven asset and strengthens the case for diversification.

“Investors should not be paralysed by political drama in Washington, but they should be pragmatic,” says Nigel Green.

“Holding quality companies with strong fundamentals remains essential. Diversification across geographies and asset classes is more critical than ever. Alternative assets, including gold, are once again proving their worth as part of a balanced portfolio.”

The political calculus in Washington is unlikely to improve quickly. Even if a temporary patch is found, longer-term agreements remain elusive.

The growing polarization means the threat of future shutdowns will remain, keeping a degree of permanent uncertainty embedded in US assets.

Nigel Green concludes: “Markets can live with economic cycles, even with inflationary pressures and shifting monetary policy.

“What undermines confidence most is dysfunction at the top. Every shutdown erodes the credibility of the US as a dependable steward of the global economy.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

November is National Asbestos Awareness Month – Friday 28 Nov is Asbestos Awareness Day 2025

With around 4,000 Australians dying from an asbestos-related disease annually, (more than twice the national road toll), and the death toll continuing to rise, National Asbestos Awareness Month (November) aims to save lives by alerting Australians to the dangers of asbestos that lurks in 1-in-3 Aussie homes.

Conducted by the Asbestos Education Committee, the annual national campaign educates Australians about the ongoing dangers of legacy asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that can remain in any home built before 1990 by providing free tools and resources at asbestosawareness.com.au.

If sealed and in good, stable condition ACMs don’t pose a health risk. However, if disturbed during demolition, renovation or maintenance; and asbestos fibres are released and can be inhaled, those exposed can develop deadly diseases including malignant mesothelioma (there is no cure), lung cancer and asbestosis.

With evidence suggesting asbestos exposure is also linked to ovarian and laryngeal (voice box) cancers and increased risk of breast, stomach and colon cancers; only through increased awareness and providing free practical education tools to help identify and manage asbestos safely, will we prevent asbestos-related deaths.

Cherie Barber, Australia’s Renovation Queen™ and an Asbestos Awareness Ambassador for 12 years said, “Homeowners, renovators and tradies who fail to manage ACMs safely, not only risk exposing themselves to the deadly microscopic fibres, but can expose family members, children and neighbours.

“There is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, but there are tools and rules homeowners and tradies should follow to ensure ACMs are managed safely to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“They should start by visiting asbestosawareness.com.au to find out what they need to know and if a home was built before 1990, have it inspected by a licenced asbestos assessor or occupational hygienist to identify potential hazards and they should only use licenced asbestos removalists because it’s not worth the risk!”

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Safe Work Australia’s Mesothelioma in Australia 2024 report (29 August 2025), over the past 40 years the number of cases of mesothelioma has continued to steadily increase so awareness of the risks of exposure is essential to saving lives.

The report comprising cases of mesothelioma (reported up until 1 May 2025), noted that more than 9 in 10 people who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma and completed an Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR) exposure assessment, were assessed as having a history of possible or probable exposure to asbestos.

The AMR noted that while men have historically been more likely than women to be diagnosed with mesothelioma due to occupational exposure in trades, 94% (1,323 of 1,409) of respondents who completed the questionnaire reported non-occupational exposure.

89% of mesothelioma patients (1,176) reported ‘possible or probable asbestos exposure’ in non-occupational settings. Of these, 51% were exposed during major home renovations involving asbestos, 38% from living in a house while renovations were underway, 13% from residing in a fibro home built between 1947 and 1987, and 21% from living with someone occupationally exposed who brought asbestos dust into the home.

Clare Collins, Chair of the Asbestos Education Committee and campaign director since 2011 said, “Because Australia was one of the highest consumers of ACMs, twenty-two years after the national ban on asbestos came into force (Dec 2003), Australia continues to record one of the highest incidences of mesothelioma in the world.    

“Tragic cases of relatively young people being diagnosed with mesothelioma continue to be recorded because of exposure to fibres as children when their parents built homes using ACMs unaware of the risks,” she said.

“With the Australian Government’s First Home Guarantee Scheme expanding from 1 October 2025, considering property price caps, if young first homebuyers who are oblivious to asbestos risks purchase an older home requiring renovation, it’s vital they learn about asbestos risks and how to manage ACMs safely,” she said.

Ms Barber said, “Asbestos wasn’t just used in sheeting in the construction of fibro homes. Asbestos was used extensively in the manufacture of more than 3000 building and decorator products that can still be found in any brick, fibro, weatherboard, clad home or apartment built before 1990.

“Asbestos can lurk under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even dog kennels. It was used everywhere!”

“Although in some states homeowners are permitted to remove up to ten square metres of bonded non-friable ACMs, people should avoid unnecessary asbestos risks and only use licenced asbestos professionals because the cost to homeowners, tradies and their families could be far greater if they’re exposed to the deadly fibres.”

“The message we want homeowners and tradies to hear is what NOT to do with asbestos! Don’t cut it! Don’t drill it! Don’t drop it! Don’t sand it! Don’t saw it! Don’t scrape it! Don’t scrub it! Don’t dismantle it! Don’t tip it! Don’t waterblast it! Don’t demolish it! Don’t dump it! And whatever they do…they should NEVER remove it themselves!” Ms Barber said.

Since 2011, Australia’s multi award-winning Asbestos Awareness campaign has been dedicated to saving lives by alerting renovators, property investors, managers and tradies to the asbestos risks and providing effective tools and information resources to ensure potentially hazardous asbestos materials are managed safely.

asbestosawareness.com.au is the world’s most comprehensive website for user-friendly information on identifying and managing ACMs with dedicated resources for renovators, investors and tradies including Asbestos in Homes: A Guide to Identification, Testing and Removal video; Asbestos 101 for Residential Property Owners, Managers and Tradies; Asbestos in Your Home – The Ultimate Renovators Guide video, Asbestos Awareness Residential Property Checklist – A Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying Asbestos-Containing Materials; Factsheets for homeowners and tradies, Trade-specific guides; Asbestos Products Database; Asbestos in Commercial Properties and Naturally Occurring Asbestos guidelines.

To help save lives, in 2025 the Asbestos Education Committee continues the National Asbestos Awareness Month campaign and its long-standing leadership role of providing world-first, user-friendly and freely accessible education resources at asbestosawareness.com.au for anyone who might risk disturbing ACMs including homeowners, renovators, landlords, tradies, commercial property and regional property owners and managers.

To access asbestos information and resources, images and graphics of asbestos-containing materials or Asbestos Awareness Ambassador Cherie Barber, Australia’s Renovation Queen™, please refer to the Media Centre at asbestosawareness.com.au

With just under seven days until the Micronesia Music Festival and Miss Micronesia pageant, more music acts have been revealed for the event running from 6-9 October in Nauru.

Festival director Livingstone Hiram said excitement was building in anticipation of a “hugely talented” festival lineup, which will showcase the best of Micronesian music and culture.

“Music is in our veins and the festival will help to showcase this throughout the region,” he said.

Event organisers have also announced that Kiribati's Broadcasting and Publications Authority would be a broadcast partner for the event, “to give the festival the widest possible audience.”

Mr Hiram said this will ensure the event is livestreamed to Kiribati, while Nauru Media would also be livestreaming.

“Those who can’t attend in person will still be able to participate and enjoy some truly memorable performances in an event that’s all about culture, community, and celebration.”

The music festival features artists from Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap and the Northern Mariana Islands.

These include Garden Rootz from Kiribati, Barab Harris and Sugahspooks from Marshall Islands, and Zerobecoolin from FSM.

The theme for the event is “We are Micronesia! Navigating our legacy; Charting our future.”

Coinciding with the music festival, Nauru is also hosting the 2025 Miss Micronesia Pageant in a celebration of Micronesian nations.

Mr Hiram said the pageant would be colourful and exciting, and the contestants are looking forward to another opportunity to showcase their talents in a wider regional competition.

“Our culture, people, natural attractions and more will be on display in Nauru during this celebration as we come together in unity.”

Source: Amnesty International

Rohingya communities in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State are facing forced labour, food and health crises, severe restrictions on movement and escalating armed conflict, Amnesty International said today as it warned against dangerously premature decisions to repatriate refugees from Bangladesh.

Tomorrow the UN General Assembly will convene a High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar. The conference aims to formulate a planunder which the more than one million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh can return home to Myanmar after the majority were violently driven from the country by the military in 2016 and 2017.

Amnesty International conducted interviews with 15 Rohingya refugees who arrived in Bangladesh within the past year, as recently as July 2025. The refugees came from both Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships, which were both captured from the Myanmar military by the Arakan Army in 2024. The organization also spoke with UN agency staff, diplomats, researchers and international humanitarian organizations.

In addition, Amnesty International met with representatives from the political and humanitarian wings of the Arakan Army: the United League of Arakan (ULA) and the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO).

“Existing conditions in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State are nowhere near ready for Rohingya to return safely,” Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher Joe Freeman said. “The Arakan Army has, to many Rohingya, replaced the Myanmar military as their oppressor. The military are using Rohingya civilians as cannon fodder to fight against the Arakan Army, and Rohingya armed groups are launching new attacks into the territory. The dramatic reduction of US aid has further contributed to a humanitarian crisis in which supplies are scarce and prices are skyrocketing.

“While it is vitally important to put an international spotlight on the Rohingya crisis with this conference, any attempt to push ahead with repatriation without addressing the acute dangers facing all communities – Rohingya, Rakhine and other ethnic minorities in Bangladesh and in Myanmar – could be catastrophic.”

‘This is not your country’

The northern part of Myanmar’s Rakhine State, which borders Bangladesh, is now under the control of the Arakan Army, while the Myanmar military still controls the state capital Sittwe, a key entry point for aid and transportation.

In November 2023, the Arakan Army, which is also loosely aligned with myriad opposition armed groups fighting against the Myanmar military since a coup in 2021, began an offensive that drove the military out of much of the northern part of the state. It now has effective control of Myanmar’s entire border with Bangladesh.

Long-standing tensions between the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist population of Rakhine State and the Rohingya Muslim population have been exploited by the Myanmar military, which worked with Rohingya armed groups and forcibly recruited Rohingya civilians to fight against the mostly Buddhist Arakan Army.

Due to the armed conflict, Rohingya and Rakhine civilians have been caught between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, which has blocked the delivery of humanitarian aid via the state capital Sittwe, and carried out deadly indiscriminate air strikes. Earlier this month, in one such attack, a military air strike reportedly killed at least 19 Rakhine students while they slept. 

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya are internally displaced, and more than 150,000 Rohingya men, women and children have fled across the border to the Bangladesh camps in the last 20 months, according to the UN refugee agency, bringing the total number of refugees to an estimated 1.2 million.

Amnesty International and other groups have documented violations of international humanitarian law and mounting abuses against civilians by the Arakan Army, including indiscriminate attacks and arbitrary detention.

For Rohingya civilians, life under Arakan Army rule in Rakhine State feels painfully similar to life under the Myanmar military. Many allege it is worse, as they are constantly under suspicion of being tied to Rohingya militant groups. A report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 2 September said that “restrictions on the rights and freedoms of Rohingya imposed by previous Governments remained in place,” and that similar to the Myanmar military, the Arakan Army denied Rohingya identity by referring to them only as Bengalis or Muslims.

Arakan Army representatives argue the group is the victim of a propaganda campaign fuelled by Rohingya activists and armed groups.

According to testimony gathered by Amnesty International, Rohingya communities in northern Rakhine state face severe restrictions on movement by the Arakan Army, discriminatory bans on fishing or other livelihood options, forced labour and inadequate access to healthcare, education and humanitarian aid. They also continue to die or be seriously injured in the ongoing conflict.

One man in his 20s said that while Arakan Army soldiers were leading him and members of his family to a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), he saw at least four people lose limbs from stepping on landmines.

A 60-year-old man who fled Myanmar with his family in July 2025 described life in an IDP camp in Buthidaung Township, where he was moved after the Arakan Army took Buthidaung from the Myanmar military in May 2024. He said the Arakan Army were searching for members of Rohingya armed groups at the camp and that they “randomly took people from the crowd and disappeared them”.

People living in the camp were also forced to work, including in frontline conflict areas.

“They would make us carry stones and bricks to their checkpoints and stack them there while we were hungry. Since I was old, they did not make me do all of that work, but my children had to do it more than 10 times…if we refused to work, [members of the Arakan Army] would beat us severely, forcing us to lie face down while they beat us.”

People who lived in IDP camps in Myanmar before fleeing to Bangladesh said they ate infrequently, relying on rice and water from a muddy well, and that children died after getting diarrhea.

“They [the Arakan Army] did not provide anything; instead, they seemed happy when anyone died,” the 60-year-old man said. “They would say, ‘This is not your country. This is our country, our land, our water, our air – nothing here belongs to you. Get out of our country.’”

People were told by the Arakan Army that if they did not follow their rules or refused to work, they would be kicked out of Myanmar.

‘No school, no medicine and no aid’

A 25-year-old who spent eight months displaced from his home in Buthidaung Township before arriving in Bangladesh in January of this year said conditions in the IDP camp where he lived were “terrible”.

“We had no school, no medicine, no food and no aid. Occasionally, we secretly brought back some rice from unburnt villages. We used water from a single pond and needed Arakan Army permission to go anywhere.”

He said his brother was shot and injured by the Arakan Army when soldiers were trying to forcibly relocate large groups of people and they were not moving fast enough. On another occasion, the man said the Arakan Army suspected him of being part of a Rohingya armed group and began beating him for information. When the man’s pregnant wife asked them to stop, he said they hit her as well, which the couple believe caused developmental problems with their baby after the birth.

“The Arakan Army treated us worse than the Myanmar military. Whenever fighting occurred between the two forces, they forced us to clean the aftermath, picking up bodies and debris, then dumping them in the river. I was forced to do this over 10 times without pay. Every family was required to send someone aged 15 to 70 for forced labour. If anyone refused, they were beaten,” he said.

A 35-year-old woman, who also arrived in Bangladesh in January 2025 after walking for five days across mountainous terrain with her children, said farmers had to pay tax in rice to the Arakan Army, and Rohingya had to make paid applications to seek permission to travel.

“Under Arakan Army control, every household was forced to provide night guards, boys from as young as 10 years old up to men in their 70s, and to send family members for forced labour at least five times per month,” she said, adding that young men were also forcibly recruited to fight. “If anyone refused, we were told to leave this country or face punishment.”

The descriptions of restrictions on movement imposed by the Arakan Army match details of travel documents obtained by Amnesty International that show the permissions needed to move from place to place. One interviewee said mandatory travel documents had to be paid for, and some were only good for two days. Another said that the Arakan Army would allow only a limited number of people to leave their homes for basic errands and only for one hour.

Under international law, forced labour is defined as any work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty, and for which the person has not offered himself voluntarily.

Responding to these allegations, Arakan Army representatives told Amnesty International that it did not practise forced labour against civilians, but that detainees such as convicted criminals or prisoners of war would sometimes be put to work, or given tasks as “exercise”. They said that any clean-up activities following the conflict were voluntary community work, and that while there were fees for travel authorization documents, they were around 2,000 to 3,000 Myanmar kyats, equivalent to $1 to $1.50 USD.

‘We were not allowed to fish’

The World Food Programme said in August that “a deadly combination of conflict, blockades, and funding cuts is driving a dramatic rise in hunger and malnutrition”. It added that in central Rakhine State, the number of families unable to meet basic food needs was up to 57 percent, compared to 33 percent in December 2024. It said the situation in northern Rakhine state, where international organizations are not active, was likely “much worse”.

A 45-year-old man who arrived in Bangladesh in July 2025 said that ethnic Rakhine people in Buthidaung Township were allowed to fish and move around freely, while Rohingya were not.

“We were not allowed to fish or go to the river. We could not work or buy food. The Arakan Army began demanding money from us, used us as forced labour without pay and banned movement between villages. Anyone who refused was punished harshly,” he said, adding that this included being detained and denied food.

“One day, I tried to go fishing for survival. The Arakan Army caught me, beat me with a rifle…and took away the fish I had caught.”

Arakan Army representatives told Amnesty International that movement and livelihood restrictions were not discriminatory and applied to Rakhine communities too. They said due to the armed conflict the restrictions were necessary for the security of the community. They also added that the Rohingya – whom they referred to as Muslims – were given jobs and that their rights and freedoms would be fulfilled and protected, pointing to the recent opening of a long-closed mosque in Maungdaw.

“We welcome any steps by the Arakan Army to provide the Rohingya communities with long-denied rights, and we hope that their public commitments to inclusivity, justice and accountability match the situation on the ground. They must avoid presenting one face to the international community and another to the Rohingya,” Freeman said.