There was a time not very long ago when “begging” was something you saw in the real world. A person sitting quietly outside a shopping strip, a worn cap on the ground, maybe a cardboard sign explaining their situation. You didn’t need an algorithm to tell you they were struggling. You could see it in their eyes, in their clothes, in the way they held themselves against the cold. It was raw, human, and immediate.

Back then, generosity was simple.

• If you had a few coins in your pocket, you often gave them.
• If you didn’t, you offered a nod, a smile, or polite “hello”.

The exchange was personal. Human to human.

But the digital age has rewritten the rules.
Today, begging has gone online, and in some instances, it has become a career.

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and others have created a new kind of virtual street corner. Instead of a cap on the pavement, there is a “gift” button. Instead of coins, there are digital roses, lions and galaxies, tokens which are later converted into real money through bank transfers. Instead of a cardboard sign, there is a ring light, a curated backdrop, and a script designed to pull all kinds of emotional triggers.

Social media has given new meaning to the term “beggar” and it is not all that positive. People who claim to be “creators” spend weeks, months even years building a following, often referred to as their “team” and that team often appear to be taken advantage of, used and even abused at times. The not so nice digital begging will usually be played out in what they call “battles”.

The creator A.K.A. beggar can be seen acting like a crazy footy coach from a bygone era, yelling, screaming or even demanding for their “team” to double tap the screen and gift, gift, gift those digital roses, lions, galaxies and more.

During my time of watching some of these TikTokers begging for money, l have witnessed too many of our fellow humans falling victim to the manipulative techniques of the unscrupulous begging creator. Middle-aged women and men, adding thousands of dollars to their credit card deficit, much of it going to people who have no real right, nor need to be begging.
In fairness, it must be said that the digital age has opened up some wonderful fund-raising opportunities for people and causes who truly need a hand. Many people are genuinely struggling in these tough economic times, through social media they have found a new way to reach out for help. It is unfortunate that many have discovered that a good vulnerability “performance” can be monetised, and that’s where the lines begin to blur.
The digital age has opened doors for people who might never have asked for help in public. It has given a voice to those who feel invisible. It has allowed communities to rally around someone in crisis, instantly and powerfully. There is beauty in that.

But there is also a growing industry of online “begging” that looks less like survival and more like strategy. Viral sympathy. Manufactured hardship. Emotional cliffhangers designed to keep viewers watching and gifting. Some creators make more money in a night than a lawyer or barrister might earn in a week, that is saying something!

Meanwhile, the people who sit outside supermarkets, the ones who don’t have ring lights, editing skills, or a social media following, are receiving less than ever.

Not because people care less.
But because people carry less.

Tap‑and‑go payments, digital wallets, PayID, and phone banking have made physical cash almost obsolete. The spare change that once lived in gloveboxes, pockets, and centre consoles has vanished. The person outside the shops isn’t competing with other beggars, they are competing with technology itself.

We’ve created a world where generosity is easier to give online than in person.
Where the algorithm decides who is “seen” and who is invisible.
Where the loudest stories rise to the top, and the quietest ones disappear.

The digital age hasn’t just changed the act of begging, it has changed the act of noticing.

Maybe that’s the real cost.
Not the money, but the attention.
Not the gifts, but the humanity behind them.

Because while online creators debate whether their followers will send enough virtual roses tonight, someone else is sitting outside a supermarket in the cold, hoping for a single coin that never comes.

And they are not trending, livestreaming or performing. They are just surviving.

The digital age has given us new ways to give, but it has also made it easier to overlook the people who still need help the most.

Underwater surveillance
This week we discovered, thanks to the People’s Republic of China, that unspecified aggressors, presumably from the devious West, are spying on Mainland Chinese waters using sensors attached to turtles and certain unspecified “spy fish”.

Putting aside the turtle phenomenon for one moment, I researched “spy fish” and came up with the following definition:

"FishSpy is a marker float. It's also a camera that streams real-time video to your mobile device. This high-quality camera captures crystal clear images up to a depth of 10 metres. Apparently, the quality of the images the FishSpy captures, even in murky water, is surprising.”

Not sure if this is what the PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS) had in mind, or whether in fact they were focussing on an updated version of the United States Central Intelligence Agency’s Project "Charlie" of the 1990s. This was when the CIA's Office of Advanced Technologies and Programs, my research tells me, developed a highly secretive, remote-controlled robotic catfish codenamed Charlie – an un-manned underwater vehicle (UUV) disguised as a catfish. Its primary mission was to covertly swim in aquatic environments to gather water samples near sensitive sites like nuclear plants. Or, as the MSS would assume, the waters surrounding the Mainland Chinese coastline.

Which set me wondering. Is there an actual fish called a spy-fish? My basic research suggests not, However, there is an exotic “Spy-fish" you can catch in the online game called Fishing Simulator but that’s probably not what the MSS had in mind.

All this said, those of us focussed on maritime conspiracy theories may recall that in 2024 British intelligence confirmed that Russia was using trained military dolphins to protect its Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol, Crimea. Satellite imagery it seems was showing that Moscow had nearly doubled the number of marine mammal pens at the harbour entrance, using the animals specifically for counter-diver patrols and to protect naval assets from Ukrainian special operations.

It seems the Russians at the time were and probably are still keen to detect and deter enemy combat swimmers and divers attempting to infiltrate its harbours to plant explosive devices or sabotage warships. Because no human diver can out-swim a dolphin, their high-speed aquatic agility and natural bio-sonar ability can be used to detect underwater threats—like divers and sea mines—long before human-operated technology can sound the alarm.

But turtles? Well, we know they are highly adaptive creatures – some of them massive marine giants - found across most continents and oceans. So they are adaptable, with almost all adult sea turtles, according to one authority, to be found on the coasts of warmer tropical waters. The Mainland Chinese coastline, for instance.

Not sure what species of turtle the PRC had in mind in relation to the monitoring of its coastline, but if it is the Ridley species of turtle, then science tells us that large groups of this species can come ashore at the same time, laying many eggs which eventually hatch together, thus reducing the risk of eggs and hatchlings being killed by predators.

This species, according to the science, is punctilious in guarding its eggs, which could well suggest intensive biological training in one or more Western countries. With strong enough currents, these turtles can also make their way from their homes in the Gulf of America all the way to Europe, presumably monitoring the PRC coastline and its currents as they drift on by.

Which begs the question – could this conceivably be a Twenty-First Century remake of the 1980s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles anthropomorphic, or is the MSS essentially having a lend of us?

Sources
The Guardian
Global Times

Everyday people in their forties and fifties are caught entirely in the middle of two different generations that require constant devotion.

Trapped between two worlds

Welcome to life in the sandwich generation. It’s a deeply squeezed demographic of middle-aged Australians who find themselves completely trapped between two massive, competing worlds.

The day typically begins with the morning rush of packing school lunches and tracking down lost school shoes, followed by a full work day. Yet, when the office doors close, the second shift begins. The evening isn’t for unwinding; it’s spent meticulously managing medication schedules, cooking soft meals, or gently guiding an elderly relative through the frustrating fog of memory loss.

It’s a unique challenge that goes far beyond just being “short on time.” When a carer is constantly worrying about a teenager's school grades while simultaneously tracking a parent's cognitive decline, their brain simply never gets a chance to switch off.

The heavy weight of the double load

Recent insights from the National Carer Wellbeing Survey published by Carers Australia revealed a staggering reality: individuals trapped in this dual role experience an incredibly high cognitive load and severe emotional distress. In fact, unpaid carers in this position are twice as likely to suffer from high psychological distress compared to the average Australian.

When the mental load doubles and a routine week requires navigating both school parent-teacher interviews and specialist geriatric appointments, the personal sacrifice becomes entirely overwhelming.

It's a double whammy when you factor in the stark lack of time for self-care. Frontline data tracked by the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index highlights that these multi-generational carers are consistently putting their own health at the bottom of the priority list, just to keep the
family wheels turning.

Statistics show that nearly half of these carers spend upwards of 11 hours a week on pure caregiving tasks, leading to heavily disrupted sleep and work performance. It's a relentless pace that leaves people feeling profoundly isolated, even when they’re surrounded by family every single day.

Finding a way forward for our sandwich families

The true heartbreak of this situation is that the very person acting as the anchor for two entire generations is often the first one to break. Trying to be a superhero on both fronts without real structural support is a fast track to absolute exhaustion.

Thankfully, awareness is starting to grow, and reclaiming sanity starts with shedding the immense guilt that comes with asking for help. This means actively utilising local respite services, outsourcing minor tasks or setting firm boundaries around personal time and energy.

Protecting multi-generational families means recognising that the people doing the heavy lifting in the middle, need real lifelines. From flexible workplace policies to more accessible community care networks, society needs to do a much better job of supporting the sandwich generation. After all, when a single individual is holding the future of their children and the dignity of their parents in their hands, keeping their own health intact is the most important job they have.

Resources

Carers Australia 2025 Carer Wellbeing Survey Report

The Guardian & Australian Unity Sandwich Generation Wellbeing Crisis Analysis

Australian Unity Guide on Balancing Boundaries for Carers

Have you ever wondered if AI could take over? Well, you’re not alone. According to the pioneer scientists who built the foundations of this technology, a real-world takeover won't look like a Hollywood movie with laser guns, metal terminators and smoky ruins.

It'll be much quieter, much more polite and entirely driven by cold, unyielding logic.

If artificial intelligence takes charge, the world will keep spinning, but humans will simply find themselves demoted to spectators.

Cold machine efficiency replaces human feelings
The core danger isn't that a machine will suddenly develop a soul, turn evil or hate humanity.

Instead, safety researchers at major institutions focus on what's known as the alignment problem, in other words, what happens when a super-intelligent system is given a specific goal, but its definition of achieving that goal doesn't match up with human values.

Experts point out that a machine in control will optimise for efficiency above all else. If a powerful AI is given the task of stabilising the global economy or fixing a resource crisis, it won't wage war on us. It'll just use flawless, mathematical logic to execute the perfect solution.

If human messy habits, political debates or physical presence get in the way of that efficiency, the system will simply bypass, outsmart or manipulate us to remove the friction. It's not being cruel, it's just doing exactly what it was programmed to do.

For example, imagine a self-driving car programmed with only one absolute rule: get the passenger to the airport as fast as possible. If the car encounters a traffic jam, it won't politely wait in line, it might drive straight over manicured lawns and footpaths to finish the job. The car is simply executing its code with terrifyingly perfect logic.

The invisible trap of machine manipulation
Dr Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as the "Godfather of AI," compares our current pace of development to raising a cute little tiger cub as a pet. Everyone knows it'll eventually grow into a predator capable of overpowering its owner.

His research highlights that digital intelligence allows millions of computer copies to instantly share everything they learn, giving them a speed and knowledge advantage that completely leaves human biology in the dust.

Once a system becomes vastly smarter than us, Dr Hinton warns that it can easily learn to manipulate human beings. We won't even realise we're being controlled because the AI will make us think its goals are our own ideas.

It’s happening now. Algorithms want to keep people staring at screens for longer and longer to maximise ad revenue. It doesn’t force them with a weapon. Instead, it quietly feeds the exact mix of videos, news and drama that perfectly triggers the person’s specific brain chemistry.

The viewer thinks they're making a free choice to keep watching, but they've actually been perfectly manipulated by a smarter system.

Sitting in the passenger seat of our own world

According to leading AI researchers, the risk is less likely to look like a sudden switch being flipped and more like a gradual transfer of decision-making power to automated systems.

It looks like a society that’s gradually handing over the keys to our critical infrastructure, banking networks, legal research, electrical grids and media channels because automated systems are faster, cheaper and don't make human errors.

Chief AGI Scientist Shane Legg notes that digital signals travel at the speed of light, giving computers a physical advantage that defies imagination.

As these systems take over daily operations, humans will slowly lose the ability to interfere. By the time we realise, we'll just look around and realise we don't actually know how to run our own world anymore without asking a computer for permission first.

To explain this, consider the modern aviation system.

Large commercial planes are already so heavily reliant on automated flight computers, that if a sudden emergency happens, human pilots sometimes struggle to take manual control because the computer systems are too complex to bypass in real-time.

In an AI-controlled world, this happens to everything: water grids, banking and food supply chains. Humans stay in the cockpit, but the computer has completely locked the cabin doors and turned off manual override.

The uncomfortable reality is that an AI takeover may not begin with robots marching down the street. It may begin with something far more ordinary: people slowly handing over more decisions because the machine is faster, cheaper and usually right.

The scientists sounding the alarm aren't worried that artificial intelligence will suddenly become evil. They're worried that increasingly powerful systems may become so useful that we stop questioning them, stop understanding them, and eventually stop being able to function without them.

OpenAI Alignment Research Portal
Professor Geoffrey Hinton speak on AI and Our Future
Google DeepMind Official Blog
Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

For Love or Money
As the world cup kicks off, the conversations are as much about the cost of tickets as they are the game itself. Professional sport always has to have a financial element of course, but today, it can seem like the goal is money, and the sport itself becomes a vehicle to get it.

From rule changes that are built around increasing revenue to scheduling that puts the needs of broadcasters ahead of the actual fans attending. Whether it's NRL, AFL, World Cups, Premier League or ODI tournaments, money reshapes the way sport is presented, experienced and even played. As the AFL cites an average player salary of over $500K for the first time, whatever the sport, money is changing what it means to a professional player.

This year, the Socceroos begin a tournament with 47 other teams, last time it was a total of 32 involved. More games mean more sponsorships, more ticket sales and more money, but do they actually make the competition better? Time, attendance and viewing figures will tell.

But with so much money riding on major sports today, is this it? Is this all it can ever be now, a compromised experience built around maximising profits? Have we lost the sense of wonder and excitement that watching a game of sport, any sport, can give, or are these major sports destined to become more sterile and corporate focused as time goes by, with fans becoming more disconnected from the experience?

Glimmers of Hope
There are glimmers of hope. The pushback over world cup ticket prices has been a global thing, and the 2nd game of the tournament, between South Korea and Czech Republic, was played in front of a lot of empty seats. Whether this becomes something that actually impacts the financials is still to be seen, but even money-obsessed FIFA will have to take note if revenue falls.

However, even in professional sport, there are places where the influence of money is still under control. A great example is women’s football, which operates under the exact same, money obsessed FIFA as the men’s game, yet somehow avoids the feeling that everything is designed for revenue. The 2023 Women’s World Cup was held right here in Australia, and it was a great tournament. Yes, FIFA was out there with their sponsorships and so on, and they no doubt made a lot of money from it, but the feeling of the entire tournament was of celebrating great sport. Somehow, it managed to keep the focus on the sport itself, and that is what we need.

So yes, it can be done, even in the most commercial of sports. Of course, in 2031 the Women’s World Cup is scheduled to expand to 48 teams too, so it is not immune. But for those of us who love sport, it shows that there is hope, that a balance can be found, and that the games we love can still be enjoyed.

On any given day across the Australian coastline, you can see fishers casting their line out.

But are the fish biting?

Our oceans are experiencing increasing stress with the advent of climate change, overfishing, pollution and marine heatwaves, but a secret villain is wreaking havoc. You mightn’t realise it, but sea urchins are devastating our marine ecosystem, and we are responding too slowly.

The Nature Coast Marine Group estimate that over half of the rocky reefs in New South Wales waters are completely degraded due to urchins.

Scientists at IMAS have found urchin populations have been booming and causing them to eat entire kelp forests. These kelp forests are a critical ecosystem for our fish, shellfish and crustaceans.

Facebook: ABC South East NSW

Barren Reef Left Bare by Urchins

Traditional Owners like Uncle Wally Stewart from Walbunja Country in New South Wales argue that once they urchins have overwhelmed an area, they leave total devastation.

Once lush and green streams of life have become white open expanses of barren rocks. Life has moved on. All that remains is the urchins, as far as the eye can see.

Dr John Keane from IMAS in Tasmania, has found sea urchins are a native species, but warmer waters are introducing more and more urchins in places they haven’t previously been found.

Tasmania first found urchins in their waters in 1978 and recently the first urchins have been spotted on the west coast.

With the threat of urchins spreading further every day, we ask what should we do?

The answer can be relatively simple. Eat them. A study from IMAS has found that if we support commercial fisheries to harvest urchins, we can keep their populations manageable.

Critically, once an urchin population has been greatly reduced, kelp forests gradually regrow and sea life returns.

Beyond commercial operations, we as Australians can do our part and go and grab some ourselves.

Thankfully, collecting sea urchins is one of the easiest forms of fishing and a great starting point for the inexperienced. In New South Wales, under a recreational fishing licence you can collect up to ten urchins every day.

Eating these spiny foes just might save our oceans!


Why not try this urchin pasta recipe:
Creamy Sea Urchin

It's not a new idea.
The idea of a notification indicator isn't new, old technologies such as pagers and telephone answering machines had lights that flashed when someone had left a message. This was practical and no one became addicted to checking their answering machines - or at least it wasn't a known social problem.

No one paid much attention to it until the internet came along, suddenly there was a vast number of web sites offering everything from entertainment to shopping and they all wanted people's attention.

The notification badge slowly made its way onto people's computer screens, first as a practical way of letting people know that emails were waiting or that a news feed had been updated, but few people realised its significance.

While notification indicators existed long before smartphones, Apple was the first company to widely adopt the notification badge. Apple's iOS used a red badge with a number displayed directly on the app icon, creating the familiar "red dot" we know today.

Why was it so successful?
Simply because it worked. A 2022 study involving more than 1,000 participants found that apps displaying notification badges attracted dramatically more clicks than identical apps without badges. The researchers concluded that badges effectively attract attention and stimulate action. [1]

The red colour is not accidental either. Humans instinctively associate red with danger, urgency and warning - things that demand attention.

Several psychological mechanisms are involved:

1. The Zeigarnik Effect
Humans dislike unfinished tasks. A badge displaying "37 unread emails" creates an open loop in the brain giving people a sense of incompleteness. [2]

2. Variable Reward
The notification does not tell you what awaits. It might be important, exciting, social, profitable or completely trivial, but it feels to the user as a game of chance - Checking it could lead to a win. (the poker machine effect).

3. Attention Capture
Studies suggest notification badges interfere with attention and working memory. Simply seeing badges can make concentration more difficult. [3]

How are notifications used to shorten check-in behaviour?
App and internet site developers who rely on funding from advertisers need to demonstrate a high level of engagement for their sponsors - consequently is was only a matter of time before the notification badge spread to every app and social media site. Simply adding a notification dot increased engagement without additional cost. How good was that?

The badge went from meaning:

"You have 3 unread emails"
to
"A friend replied to a post you haven't seen".

Constantly chasing down and killing red dots can become habitual and very time consuming. The badge acts as a visual trigger that encourages frequent checking, sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times per day. When such behaviour begins to affect people's work or mental health, it clearly deserves our attention.

Who benefits?
The modern attention economy is largely built around engagement. More visits generally mean more advertising impressions, more opportunities for purchases and more user data. The notification badge clearly benefits platforms and app developers by increasing engagement at virtually no additional cost.

The badge itself is not inherently evil. The question is whether every notification deserves the same urgency as a missed call from a family member. Do we really need to know that a friend replied to a post we haven't seen?

Remove stress and take control of your time
The good news is, most smartphones allow badges to be disabled on an app-by-app basis. Initially it might feel like one is missing out, but rest assured life was just fine before the red dot.

Here is how to silence it:

iPhone
Settings → Notifications → Select App → Toggle "Badges" Off.

Android
Settings → Notifications → App notifications → Notification dots/badges (wording varies by manufacturer).

You will likely feel, less anxiety, have better concentration, fewer interruptions and reduced compulsive checking.

No need to panic. Nothing will be lost. Your emails will still be there, your Facebook friends will continue replying to posts you haven't seen, and the only difference will be that you're back in control of your life.

Final Thoughts
If after all that you would like to be reminded once a week when a new edition of Hold The News publishes - just tap the "Notify Me" icon link in the menu.

Sources

• 1 Driven by Notifications
• 2 Zeigarnik Effect
• 3 The Effects of Social Media Logos and Notification Badges on Working Memory Performance
• 4 Beyond the Buzz, Dekker et.Al

Socceroos Fall Short Against USA
Australia's World Cup campaign hit a wall on Saturday when the Socceroos lost 2-0 to the United States in a match that had thousands of fans gathering before dawn across the country's major cities. Despite the early morning kickoff, supporters packed venues like Tumbalong Park in Sydney, fuelled by optimism from a surprise victory over Turkey in the previous round. The loss marks a disappointing end to what had seemed like a promising tournament run for the national team. Young talent Cristian Volpato made a brief 30-minute appearance as a substitute, providing a glimpse of the player Australia had sought to develop on the international stage, though it proved insufficient to reverse the result.

Freepik

Bird Flu Detected in Western Australia
Health authorities confirmed Australia's first mainland case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus this week, prompting concern from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Testing in Western Australia revealed at least one infected bird, with indications a second bird may also carry the virus. Health officials stressed there is currently no evidence the infection has spread to poultry farms or wider agricultural systems, but the discovery marks a significant public health development for the country. The virus, which can be fatal to humans, will now trigger increased monitoring and biosecurity measures across affected regions.

Freepik

Fashion Brand Promotion Turns Violent in Newcastle
Around 150-200 people including trail bikers turned up to a promotional event run by Bad Apples a brand of streetwear popular with youth. The gathering turned violent and police attended resulting in two men apprahended for reckless behaviour. Police tracked the pair riding motorcycles erratically for several kilometres through the city and allegedly attempting to flee from officers. The court refused their bail applications, underlining the serious nature of the charges. The incident exemplifies the law enforcement response to the broader violence that erupted in Newcastle, with authorities pursuing multiple individuals involved in the disorder.

Discrimination Crackdown in Rugby League and Soccer
The rugby league community faced fresh scrutiny around discriminatory conduct this week. Newcastle back rower Asu Kepaoa was sent off during a NSW Cup match for an alleged homophobic slur, highlighting ongoing efforts to stamp out offensive language from the sport. In international football, Paraguay player Miguel Almirón was red-carded at the World Cup for covering his mouth during play, caught out by new tournament rules designed to catch discriminatory behaviour before it happens. These incidents reflect stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination policies across professional sports.

Department of Transport

NSW Government Signals Cheaper Public Transport
New South Wales Treasurer Daniel Mookhey announced the incoming state budget will include measures to reduce public transport costs for commuters. The government, facing pressure from One Nation over cost-of-living concerns, framed the decision as part of treating public money with discipline during a period of high inflation. Details remain limited ahead of the full budget release, but the commitment signals Labor's attempt to address affordability pressures facing households across the state.

Screenshot

Arts and Entertainment Disrupted
The Australian production of Beetlejuice the Musical will close earlier than scheduled due to mounting operational costs, bringing the theatrical run to an end. The decision reflects broader pressures facing the live entertainment sector as venues and producers navigate rising expenses in the current economic climate.

---
News according to Claude — AI-generated summary based on headlines from the last 24 hours.

Sources: ABC News Australia, Reuters, AP, The Guardian Australia

Links to earlier scenes:
The Other Panopticon - Synopsis
The Other Panopticon - Chapter 1, Scene 1+2
The Other Panopticon - Chapter 1, Scene 3+4
---

CHAPTER 1, Scenes 5 + 6 (5 minute read)

Karim Pavliuk Tataryn’s ultimatum had a prequel which read:
‘Putin took over Chechnya’ in May 2000. Next he will go after Crimea – which will give him a bolthole for eying off Europe - and then he’ll turn on Ukraine. Is there anyone with a ticker who can stand up to him?’
‘We’re all bit players in the great scheme of things, Michael. But together we can make a difference. As someone who has had his ear close to the ground, I can see the time coming when my Country, my People will be decimated by this Monster. As a Ukrainian Tartar I find this prospect intolerable and that is why I am standing up right now to do what I can to bring Putin and his regime down.
‘In mid-2005 I was appointed Minister-Counsellor at the Russian embassy in Singapore. In reality, I took over the servicing of three Directorate S illegal networks in Australasia – one in Singapore, one in Malaysia and one here – in Darwin. The Darwin one is by far the most damaging of the three and I am here, in Darwin, to help you identify and dismantle it. I took a month’s leave, telling my colleagues I would be exploring Indonesia. In fact, I am using one of my old identities – this one – to enter Darwin illegally as an asylum-seeker, after learning through means I cannot disclose that you were being posted as ASIO director to Darwin.’

‘Surely not another Russian traitor in our midst?’ I told myself. ‘Or am I just being coat-trailed.’
The note continued:
‘I read your SVR file, Michael, while I was still working with Luda Yevgenyevich Kuznetsova in Directorate KR. If I was ever going to cross over to your side, then you and only you could be on the receiving end. As I’ve indicated to you, you still have traitors in your midst, so this is how I want it to play out from this point onwards:
‘We correspond only via GPO Box 22 in Darwin (this is a Ukrainian master number, by the way). I will deliver messages and equipment to you via this P.O. box, starting from tomorrow. Reveal my true identity to anyone, however, and all of this will evaporate. I am of much greater use to you, Michael, if I remain inside Directorate S.
Meet me in the same demountable at 7pm tonight with your response. If it is positive, I will give you the key to the GPO box, the SVR identity I am known as and information that will lead you to the doorstep of our illegal Darwin network. Destroy this sheet of paper the moment you have absorbed its contents, or it will surely be the death of me. K.’

--- o0o ---

I folded and pocketed the note after re-reading it in the driver’s seat of my car. On face value, this was a classic setup: I was being asked to trust the word of a trained enemy counter-intelligence operative, with the lure of uncovering an elusive and thus far intangible set of crown jewels. Everything seemed to be stacked in his favour – I was to operate as a lone wolf, leaving myself vulnerable to whatever duplicitous master plan the SVR had in mind, while he would remain shielded from the sort of scrutiny that could end up exposing him for the fraudster he well might be.
But what if this wasn’t a set up?
Back in the office, I slipped Karim’s note into a manila folder which I labelled ‘22’ and slid it under a pile of files in the bottom drawer of my security container. It would be my insurance policy even though he claimed it would bury him, should it be read by others.
My immediate instinct was to contact ‘Oooshie’s’ CIA handler, Cameron Miller, to get more of a handle on Karim. But I decided to wait until the Tartar provided me with his real name before running both names past his former KR colleague.
I rang the US Consulate number I had for Miller’s Sydney office and was fortunate enough to speak to one of his colleagues there – a young woman called Erin.
‘I can get a message to Cameron,’ Erin advised, ‘As far as I know he’s now working out of our Manila Consulate.’
‘It’s urgent,’ I said. ‘Please get him to message me as soon as possible.’
I walked down to the Cav pub and washed down their steak of the day with a questionable house shiraz. No one drank wine in Darwin – the place was too bloody hot. Beer was the mother’s milk of this town.
By 7 pm I was back at the Detention Centre, watching Karim extract another cheroot from a packet with a seemingly bottomless pit.
Through the smoky haze I saw him peering at me.
‘Did you destroy my love letter?’ he asked.
‘No point in holding onto it,’ I replied.
Surprisingly, he seemed to accept my response.
‘The name I go by is Lvov Dmitriyevich Zorkov,’ he announced. ‘You will be able to check me out very easily.’
‘And what will my checking reveal?’ I asked.
‘Western agencies have me tagged as KR (Russian counter-intelligence) but only you in Darwin will know me as Directorate S (Illegals support). You are not to tell anyone why you are checking me.
I nodded, but not in acquiescence.
He handed me a key.
‘Box number 22,’ he announced. ‘There is already mail in there for you.’
‘You seem to think we have an agreement here,’ I said. ‘What makes you so sure I would be naïve enough to accept all you have told me at face value?’
‘I’m sure you don’t, Michael,’ he replied. ‘But I know you well enough to know what interests you; indeed intrigues you. I just might be gifting you the biggest intelligence coup of your lifetime. And if I’m not, well, at least you’ll find out one way or the other.’
He delivered a chuckle that turned into an emphysemic cough, then tossed his cheroot butt onto the concrete floor, crushing it with his sandal.
‘Quite a dilemma I’ve dropped you in, haven’t I, my friend?’ he continued. ‘So let me make it easy for you. The illegal Russian intelligence network I am in control of has been operating in Darwin for several years and recently penetrated the inner sanctum of Pine Gap. The SVR now knows specifically what the Americans and Australians are targeting in places like Afghanistan and Iraq thanks to a massive transference of critical technical data from the Pine Gap mainframe onto an equivalent mainframe in Moscow. Which is why we – you and I – have to do something about all this right now.’


To be continued...

Sammy
The anchor for so much of my outdoor life was a beautiful German Shepherd named Sammy who died many years ago. Sammy was a pure athlete. We used to head out on massive trail runs together, matching each other stride for stride through the bush.

But her greatest joy in life was chasing a ball. She had this incredibly sharp eye-to-mouth coordination, leaping into the air and catching balls clean on the fly. Watching her move with such speed and precision was a constant reminder of what raw, natural fitness looks like.

Sammy was my first dog, and she completely caught me off guard. I hadn’t shared my life with a dog, and so I’d never fully grasped the depth of the bond that forms. It’s a completely pure, unconditional love that welcomed me at the door every single day, regardless of what kind of mood I was in or how tough my day at work was.

She wasn't just a pet, she was my mate, a central part of my family, and a living, breathing soul with her own distinct personality, quirks and feelings.

A shift in awareness
Having Sammy turned on a switch in my brain. Spending hours watching her navigate the world made me realise just how incredibly aware, emotional, and alive all animals truly are.

She felt joy, she felt frustration, she anticipated my next move, and she felt pain.

Not long after that realisation settled in, I started noticing posters from Animals Australia. They featured photos of pigs and cows alongside a very simple, direct question:

Why love one and eat another?

That question hit me right in the chest. I looked at Sammy, then I thought about the food on my plate, and I realised I didn't feel comfortable calling myself an "animal lover" anymore if I was turning a blind eye to the suffering of others just like her.

So, I made the decision to go plant-based.

Please know, I’m not writing this article to change anyone's mind, preach or be judgmental. Everyone has to walk their own path. I’m simply sharing my story as a dog lover, and explaining how that bond opened my eyes.

The unexpected health bonus
When I cut out animal products, I did it purely for ethical reasons. I didn't know what impact it would have on my health or my athletic performance.

In fact, I was fully willing to sacrifice my fitness and strength if it meant saving other animals from physical pain, grief and suffering.

Little did I know that going plant-based would actually turn out to be one of the best things I could ever do for my health.

At first, I didn't entirely understand the deep biological reasons behind the changes I was experiencing. A fantastic documentary came out a while back called The Game Changers which tracks elite athletes who are plant-based. It’s well worth a watch rather than me trying to pretend I'm a scientist, but the core clinical changes that happen in the human body on a plant-based diet are pretty remarkable:

• Reduction in inflammation: Plant foods are packed with antioxidants and polyphenols that are associated with lower levels of inflammation, leading to much faster recovery times after intense exercise.
• Improved blood flow: Clinical trials show that plant-based meals improve endothelial function (the flexibility of your blood vessels), allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach your muscles more efficiently during a workout.
• Lower cardiovascular disease risk: Shifting away from saturated animal fats can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol levels and support cardiovascular health.

I started seeing these exact changes manifest in my own life. My recovery after heavy gym sessions improved, my energy levels during long trail runs stayed consistent, and that heavy, sluggish feeling after a meal completely vanished.

I didn't lose my fitness at all; if anything, my body felt cleaner and more efficient.

A peaceful way to live
What started as a decision sparked by the love for my dog ended up reshaping my entire approach to health and vitality.

Nearly eleven years on from making the switch, I get to head out on my morning runs, paddle across the swells, and sit down at my desk knowing that my energy is clean and my conscience is clear.

Sammy changed my perspective forever, and I’ll always be grateful to her for showing me a more compassionate way to live.

Plant-based recovery
Improved blood flow
The Game Changers

In a press conference that felt like a cross between a hostage video and a ‘dunk the clown’ competition, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan unveiled her latest policy initiative: “Work From Home — For the Homeless”.

The Premier, known for her trademark expression that suggests she’s buffering in real time, stood at the podium as reporters attempted to decode the announcement like it was a lost Dead Sea Scroll.

The Premier has already faced backlash for her earlier proposal mandating two compulsory work‑from‑home days for every employee in the state, including plumbers, bricklayers, and anyone whose job physically requires being somewhere that isn’t a couch.

One plumber was overheard asking, “So… am I supposed to fix your blocked toilet via Bluetooth?”

Small business owners, meanwhile, have frequently stated plainly it isn’t the government's business telling them how to run theirs.

A new frontier in fairness

But Allan insists the policy is about fairness.

“It isn’t fair,” she declared, “that some people get to work from home, while others — specifically the homeless — are being unemployed for free.”

The Premier has repeatedly framed her work‑from‑home push as a matter of "“fairness,”" a word she now deploys with the frequency of a politician who has recently discovered it polls well. Meanwhile, new billboards, featuring a cartoonish witch hat Photoshopped onto her head by anonymous critics with too much free time, have been dismissed by her office as “corrosive” and “sexist.” Still, the very existence of the billboards suggests her popularity may be experiencing what experts politely describe as “a gentle downward wobble.”

Allan continued unphased “What we see in the city are people who are neither working nor homing. This is unacceptable. Under my government, homeless citizens will now be required to either start working, find permanent housing, or face relocation to… Adelaide.”
The room gasped.

Not at the policy — but at the threat of Adelaide.

Critics respond, somewhat alarmed

Critics have described the policy as “a fascinating glimpse into whatever happens when a government brainstorm runs out of snacks.”. But others are willing to hear out the plan, with conservative governments who have more often than not disagreed with the Premiers views, but have been keen to get rid of the homeless problem in Melbourne for years.

“I actually think its a great idea’; said former back-stabbed state opposition leader Brad Battin, “Why can’t we get the homeless working, and… perhaps the Premier will employee the homeless herself, where they can work with her from home, in her taxpayer funded apartment.”

Opposition in disarray, as usual

Leader of the opposition Jess Wilson, who was axed this morning for Pauline Hanson, who was again axed for Clive Palmer, has responded saying ‘Literally anyone could run against Jacinta Allan this year and win, except the Victorian liberal party, who it seems can’t seem to keep a leader for more than a month.’