Latest news with #Adelaide-based
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
WA Government awards Adelaide company nearly $400,000 to combat European Starlings with AI
The WA Government is turning to artificial intelligence to scare off European starlings from fruit crops and livestock feed along the south coast, awarding an Adelaide company a nearly $400,000 tender. The project will hinge on devices capable of sensing the bird, classed as a pest in Australia, from up to 100m away and will aim to deploy 20 portable, automated acoustic surveillance devices throughout high-risk habitats along about 700kms of WA's south coast. The $373,230 tender was awarded to Adelaide-based company Supersensory Technologies earlier this month. About 400kms west of the South Australian border is covered by the project as well as about 300kms between Cape Arid and Hopetoun. The AI-geared devices will be installed as part of a Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development trapping program for the avian pests that has run since the 1970s. DPIRD senior research scientist Dr Susan Campbell said the automated acoustic surveillance devices would help bolster WA's biosecurity defences against European starlings. 'Scaling up our automated field response with these new devices increases our surveillance footprint both spatially and temporally, enabling DPIRD to mount a rapid response to any verified starling incursion,' she said. 'Commencing in the 1970s, a near continuous early detection and rapid response management program has ensured that WA remains free from established starling populations. 'However, because starlings are firmly established throughout eastern Australia, incursions represent an ongoing risk to WA's agriculture, environment and socio-cultural assets.' The project is designed to prevent the encroachment of the birds from eastern Australia, after a breeding pair were located and removed from an Esperance house late last year. It marked the first detection on the south coast in more than a decade, and sparked a rapid biosecurity response. European starlings are a 'highly adaptable' bird, according to Dr Campbell, that can disperse over large distances and rapidly breed under good conditions. Starlings can impact horticulture, grain, and livestock industries — damaging fruit crops, like cherries and grapes, and consuming high volumes of livestock feed. Dr Campbell said the devices would have the ability to constantly capture and process acoustic information through a starling-specific 'machine learning algorithm'. She said the project would help to 'scale up' the department's ongoing surveillance of the pest. 'The devices then remotely communicate plausible starling detections for manual verification in close to 'real-time',' she said.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie couple's viral wedding video shot like Hollywood film
You're supposed to feel like the main character on your wedding day, but one Aussie couple would have felt like A-list movie stars as they watched back precious highlights from the occasion that had been shot in the style of a Hollywood film. But not just any film — a Wes Anderson-inspired short that had aptly captured the filmmaker's unique sense of hilarity, symmetry, and penchant for embracing the ridiculous. Newlyweds Stephanie Nguyen and Jia Truong got hitched in October 2024, and recruited Adelaide wedding photographers and videographers Lifesketch Weddings to capture the affair. Sharing results from the shoot publicly earlier this year, it was the couple's reaction video to seeing the film for the first time that has caught fire online. The short movie has now racked up more than 10 million views on social media. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Unlike typical wedding films where joy is the overarching theme, in true Wes Anderson style, this one sought to capture even the most inconsequential moments as the overlay of piano weaved each scene together. Beginning with a close-up of the pair, the camera proceeded to follow a couple of 'extras' — a city-dwelling pigeon, and an Adelaide Metro bus. Focus quickly returned to the newlyweds enjoying a pot of tea while staring down the lens, and continued to shadow the pair's movements around the South Australian city as they shared awkward moments in the company of friends. The film concluded with the couple approaching the camera, and pausing to lick an ice cream cone at what appeared to be their wedding venue. Ms Nguyen told The Advertiser, 'I really like the (Wes Anderson) aesthetic, the style, the colours and the symmetry is just really pleasing'. She said she had come across a similar video shot in Budapest by the team behind Lifesketch Weddings, and as a fan of Wes Anderson herself, felt the idea to re-create it was 'meant to be'. The Adelaide-based operation was founded by married couple Marie and Christopher Pittman, who have won several Australian wedding-related awards in relation to their work. Their website reads, 'Whether you're planning an adventurous elopement, an intimate ceremony with your nearest and dearest, or a ridiculously epic party with your cray cray famiglia and friends, we will bring all the vibes to capture every single moment for you to relive over and over again'. Their latest edgy concept has drawn overwhelming admiration from viewers for its originality and creativity. 'That is the best wedding film I have seen,' one person commented. 'Wes Anderson would hate this so I love it more 🌹,' another added. Wes Anderson is an American filmmaker behind a host of cult movies, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, and new release The Phoenician Scheme. Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson's THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu / Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focu He is known for the use of confronting camera angles, pastel colours, and largely alternative storytelling techniques. Others fans of the couple's clip felt they had missed an opportunity to take an alternative approach in capturing the special moments from their respective weddings. 'I'm gonna have to marry my husband again now so we can have you as a photographer,' one viewer teased.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Abu Dhabi state oil firm makes USD 18.7 billion bid for Australia's Santos
SYDNEY: Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company is leading an USD 18.7 billion takeover bid for Australian energy group Santos as it seeks to build a global natural gas giant, the two firms said Monday. Santos' board said it planned to unanimously recommend the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's offer to shareholders if it can agree on the takeover terms. Adelaide-based Santos has operations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the United States, and is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas in Australia and Asia. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company offered USD 5.76 a share in a bid for all of Santos' outstanding stock, valuing the entire company at USD 18.7 billion. The price per share is 28 percent higher than Santos' closing level on Friday. It was the "final, non-binding" offer from the Middle East oil company, which had offered two, lower confidential bids in March, Santos said. Santos' stock was more than 11 percent higher in afternoon trade on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Abu Dhabi-based, state-owned energy firm made its bid via a consortium led by its own subsidiary, XRG. Other members of the consortium include Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company and global investment firm Carlyle. In a statement, XRG said it aimed to build on Santos' legacy as a trusted energy producer, "strengthening domestic and international energy security." "The proposed transaction is aligned with XRG's strategy and ambition to build a leading integrated global gas and LNG business," it said. Santos' board said it intended to "unanimously recommend" that shareholders vote in favour of the deal if it can agree on terms and there is no better offer.
Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
XRG consortium makes $18.72 billion bid for Australia's Santos
16 June 2025 09:22 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI) A consortium led by XRG, the international investment arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has made a 'non-binding, indicative' proposal to acquire 100% of Santos, a leading Australian oil and gas a statement issued on Monday, Adelaide-based Santos said it had received the offer on June 13, 2025. The XRG consortium — comprising XRG, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ), and US-based Carlyle — has proposed a cash offer of US$5.76 (A$8.89) per share, valuing the company at approximately US$18.72 offer represents a 28% premium over Santos' last closing share price of A$6.96 on June 13, and premiums of 30%, 34%, 44%, and 39% over the one-week, one-month, three-month, and six-month volume-weighted average prices (VWAP), latest proposal follows two earlier confidential and non-binding offers from the consortium — one on March 21, 2025 at US$5.04 (A$8.00) and another on March 28, 2025 at US$5.42 (A$8.60).The Santos Board has indicated its support for the deal, stating, 'It intends to unanimously recommend that Santos shareholders vote in favour of the transaction, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert concluding that the transaction is fair and reasonable.'However, the proposal remains conditional. It is subject to confirmatory due diligence by the consortium and the negotiation and execution of a binding Scheme Implementation Agreement (SIA) with Santos. Regulatory approvals would also be required from the Sachs and JB North & Co are acting as financial advisers to Santos, with Rothschild & Co serving as the independent board adviser. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is acting as the company's legal was officially launched in November 2024 as ADNOC's global investment platform, with an initial enterprise value of over $80 billion. Its board recently approved a five-year business plan (2025–2030), aiming to transform XRG into one of the world's top five integrated gas and LNG players, with a target of 20–25 million tonnes per annum of LNG capacity by is actively expanding its footprint through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, including recent engagements in the United States (Rio Grande LNG), Mozambique, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and a statement, XRG said the consortium aims to build on Santos' strong and longstanding legacy as a trusted and reliable energy producer, unlocking additional gas supply for Santos' customers and strengthening domestic and international energy security.'The proposed transaction is aligned with XRG's strategy and ambition to build a leading integrated global gas and LNG business,' the statement XRG consortium has engaged J.P. Morgan as its financial adviser and Linklaters and Allens as legal XRG-led consortium intends to maintain Santos' headquarters in Adelaide, as well as its brand and operational footprint in Australia and key international operating hubs. 'We will work closely with the existing management team to accelerate growth and support local employment and the communities where Santos operates,' XRG said. The consortium also aims to invest in Santos' growth and further development of its gas and LNG-focused business, which will provide reliable and affordable energy and low-carbon solutions to customers in Australia, the Asia Pacific, and beyond. Carlyle, a Washington-based investment firm with an office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), is a major player in the private equity space. ADQ is a sovereign wealth fund of the Abu Dhabi government.
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Abu Dhabi state oil firm makes US$18.7 billion bid for Australia's Santos
[SYDNEY] Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company is leading a takeover bid for Australian energy group Santos, valuing it at US$18.7 billion, the two firms said on Monday (Jun 16). Santos' board said it plans to unanimously recommend the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's offer to shareholders if it can agree on the takeover terms. Adelaide-based Santos has operations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the United States, and is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia and Asia. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company offered US$5.76 a share in a bid for all outstanding stock, valuing the entire company at US$18.7 billion. The price per share is 28 per cent higher than Santos' closing level on Friday. It was the 'final, non-binding' offer from the Middle East oil company, which had previously offered two, lower confidential bids in March, Santos said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The firm's stock was trading nearly 12 per cent higher early in afternoon trade on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Abu Dhabi-based, state-owned energy firm made its bid via a consortium led by its own subsidiary, XRG. Other members of the consortium include Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company and global investment firm Carlyle. In a statement, XRG said it aimed to build on Santos' legacy as a trusted energy producer, 'strengthening domestic and international energy security'. 'The proposed transaction is aligned with XRG's strategy and ambition to build a leading integrated global gas and LNG business,' it said. Santos' board said it intended to 'unanimously recommend' that shareholders vote in favour of the deal if it can agree on terms and there is no better offer. Last year, Santos and rival Australian energy firm Woodside Energy abandoned talks to create one of the world's largest natural gas exporters. Santos has been a rumoured takeover target for more than two years, according to a report by E&P Financial Group. The timing now felt 'opportune' for a takeover offer, it said, with the risks weighing in favour of higher energy prices and Santos having completed some major investment projects. E&P Financial said it expected the Santos bid to intensify focus on the value of liquefied natural gas assets, citing media reports that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was also interested in BP's LNG and gas operations. Santos said the 'indicative proposal' by its Abu Dhabi suitor was subject to due diligence, agreement on terms, and approval by regulatory authorities in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the United States. The Middle East-led consortium said its offer would leave Santos' headquarters in Adelaide. It vowed to work with existing Santos management to accelerate growth and support local jobs. The group said it planned to invest in Santos' gas and LNG business to provide 'reliable and affordable low carbon solutions to customers in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and beyond'. XRG said it would ensure Santos makes investments in carbon capture and storage projects, low carbon fuels and 'other decarbonisation initiatives'. AFP
