Category: Americas

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Rugby: Black Ferns v Canada Pacific 4 match delayed by storm

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Ferns celebrate scoring a try against the USA in their opening Pacific 4 series match. www.photosport.nz

The Black Ferns have had their Pacific 4 rugby international against Canada in Kansas City delayed.

The game was due to kick off at 10.15am NZST this morning, but World Rugby has issued a statement saying due to forecasted inclement weather, which includes a tornado watch, the game has been delayed until further notice.

Organisers are now targeting a kick off time of 12pm NZST.

New Zealand goes clash with a win against the USA behind them, while Canada beat Australia.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/18/rugby-black-ferns-v-canada-pacific-4-match-delayed-by-storm/

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NZ’s medicinal cannabis ecosystem hopes to harvest value-add opportunities

Source: Radio New Zealand

Southern Medicinal has converted the old Mataura paper mill into a medicinal cannabis and hemp growing, testing and processing facility. Supplied / Southern Medicinal

The budding medicinal cannabis sector is struggling to put down roots and another specialist processing factory is set to close.

But regulators considering current rules and a new industry collective offer some promise to reduce New Zealand’s reliance on imported medicinal bud.

There was a buzz of excitement when medicinal cannabis was legalised then regulated in 2020 with a view towards growing a domestic sector and serving patients here and abroad.

However since then, a number of firms have shut their doors, including Greenfern Industries, Cannasouth and most recently, Helius Therapeutics.

The latter is planning to close its East Tāmaki factory, affecting 65 workers. It is one of only a few medicinal cannabis factories nationwide that holds a specialist processing certification called “Good Manufacturing Practice” (GMP).

Harvesting cannabis flowers at Puro’s Kēkerengū farm on the Kaikōura Coast. SUPPLIED/PURO NZ

Medicinal Cannabis Council executive director Sally King said under current rules, because most producers did not hold that certification, they could only put out raw bud ingredients, not processed products like more lucrative cannabis capsules.

“In New Zealand, what we’re doing quite a lot of here is we are exporting those ingredients which are made into higher quality, more dose-specific formats,” she said.

“That’s where the real growth is.”

She said medicinal cannabis, as for many other primary industries, struggled to keep value-add manufacturing on home soil.

“What would be great, would be if we could manufacture and add value onshore for offshore markets, but it is a bit of a challenge.”

King said enabling more on-shore processing would give doctors more product options for patients, improving competition and possibly bringing down prices.

“For all primary industries, the greatest question we have is ‘how do you add the value in export?’ I think it’s an important question for medicinal cannabis too.”

Cannabis flower at Rua Bioscience’s facility in Mangaoporo, Te Tairāwhiti. Rua Bioscience

Scale advantage for international manufacturers – Rua Bioscience

NZX-listed company, Rua Bioscience of Ruatoria sold its GMP factory in Tairāwhiti in 2023 to instead focus on exports, due in part to challenges associated with GMP manufacturing.

This week, it celebrated gaining new market access for its East Coast-sourced live cultivar clones into key market Canada for further processing there.

Aotearoa largely imported medicinal cannabis flower products, led by Canada, which built a multi-billion dollar local industry since legalising recreational use in 2018.

Chief executive Paul Naske said the extremely high standards of GMP should only be required for the steps after drying harvested biomass, as this would encourage more local supply into more finished products.

“The manufacture of medicine in New Zealand, yeah, it’s not easy, that’s called GMP manufacture.”

He said the company pivoted towards exports in recent years, focussing on genetic innovation and international partnerships.

“New Zealand doesn’t have a massive depth of medical manufacture in the country. We import a lot of medicine, by simple fact because it’s costly and large offshore manufacturers have a greater scale.”

Industry hopes for further regulatory change

Naske recently inked a letter with suggested regulation changes to the Minister for Regulation, David Seymour – who also investigated industrial hemp’s regulations.

These included the requirements for stability or shelf-life testing, GMP requirements, and requirements for European Union-bound exports that faced re-testing once on-shore.

It also wanted performance targets for verification assessments and for regulator staffing levels to increase.

Regulation Minister David Seymour visiting the Hemp NZ Food Factory in Ashburton in December last year. RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Seymour said he referred the letter on to the Ministry of Health as the previous government set up a medicinal cannabis agency to deal with this area of regulation.

“I will be asking them to report on whether they can make these changes and if not, why not?”

He said [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497357/medicinal-cannabis-industry-growing-as-regulation-overhaul-given-green-light

cutting red tape] had sped up the export licensing process, as the number of applications also increased.

“Now they are in the process of implementing changes to make the process even faster.”

There were 26 applications that took 22 working days to process in 2022/23.

Then in 2024/25, the 65 applications took 10 working days to process.

Seymour said Medsafe’s export licensing regime review last year meant applications became electronic as opposed to paper copies.

He said export volume of cannabis flower increased from 49 kilograms in 2021 to 2310kg in 2025.

“We need to get money into the country. Not everybody likes this stuff, but there’s a market for it.”

Early season growth at Puro’s Kēkerengū farm on the Kaikōura Coast. SUPPLIED/PURO NZ

A Medsafe spokesperson said it was committed to issuing export and import licences promptly, and was considering further feedback from industry on regulations.

“We have to strike the right balance between allowing industry to operate efficiently while also ensuring New Zealanders are accessing quality products,” it said in a statement.

In 2024, following feedback from the industry, it removed the requirement for exports to meet New Zealand’s minimum quality standards and removed duplicate requirements for assessing and verifying the products and ingredients.

It said it was also exploring possible alternative methods for stability testing, and GMP existed to ensure patients could access quality products.

“It’s important that when people use medicinal cannabis products, they can be confident they are consuming a medicine which has the stated amount of ingredient, is stable, and is free from harmful contaminants for example.

“Maintaining appropriate manufacturing requirements ensures New Zealanders can access quality products and allows us to uphold New Zealand’s reputation for producing high quality goods overseas.”

New grower collective created

Meanwhile, company Ora Pharm launched a new grower collective this week called NZ Grow Co to improve collaboration across cultivation, processing and marketing.

Ora Pharm chief executive Zoe Reece said the sector was looking to move beyond its early, fragmented phase.

“Regulatory clarity is critical to unlocking investment and participation,” she said. “What we are seeing now is the opportunity to build a more coordinated, export-focused industry that delivers real economic value.”

It said it was working with around two-thirds of licensed cultivators and had a new extraction facility in north Waikato, that was in the process of trying to obtain an EU GMP certification.

Harvest was now underway for New Zealand’s outdoor medicinal cannabis farmers, including the country’s largest grower Puro NZ.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/16/nzs-medicinal-cannabis-ecosystem-hopes-to-harvest-value-add-opportunities/

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American microbiologist behind global water safety breakthrough wins 2026 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize

Source: Media Outreach

  • Professor Joan Bray Rose recognised for pioneering Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) as a global approach for assessing pathogen risks in water
  • QMRA adopted into global drinking water standards and enabled safe water reuse, benefitting millions worldwide

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Professor Joan Bray Rose has been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 for her work as a key pioneer in the development and global adoption of Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA), a science-based approach to safeguard the quality of drinking water, as well as water reuse systems. Her work has transformed the science of microbial risk management and guided policies that protect public health and ensure safe water for communities worldwide. Her expertise in the domain of water quality and health has also played a key role in strengthening Singapore’s used water management, and the introduction of NEWater, Singapore’s third National Tap.

Professor Joan Bray Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research and Director of the Water Alliance at Michigan State University and Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 Laureate

2. Commenting on her accolade, Professor Rose, 11th recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this esteemed award. This recognition reflects our collective progress in advancing microbial risk science and its role in protecting public health today. Safe water is one of the world’s most fundamental yet unevenly distributed resource critical to sustaining human life. As microbial risks continue to evolve, strengthening the robustness of our water systems remains an ongoing endeavour to ensure they remain dependable and resilient; safeguarding both water quality and people’s lives.” She is currently the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research, Director of the Water Alliance at Michigan State University.

Uncovering invisible risks to revolutionise water safety

3. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Professor Rose led a team to investigate a series of waterborne disease outbreaks across the United States. Among the most severe was the 1993 Cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where an estimated 403,000 residents fell ill and at least 69 deaths were recorded[1]. She was the first to demonstrate the widespread occurrence of Cryptosporidium as a zoonotic pathogen[2] in the United States, and its transmission to humans through inadequately filtered and disinfected drinking water supplies. By establishing Cryptosporidium as the causative agent of these outbreaks, she highlighted the vulnerability of drinking water systems to microbial contamination – a challenge with global public health implications. Her findings also revealed a critical gap: pathogens could evade conventional water treatment, existing monitoring systems detected microbes without quantifying risk, and public health responses were largely reactive rather than predictive.

4. Professor Rose then pioneered QMRA in the 1990s and early 2000s to address these critical gaps undermining water safety and public health. QMRA introduced a systematic, science-based approach to assess and manage microbial risks in drinking and other forms of water, including reuse water. By enabling scientists to quantify infection risks and illness probabilities based on pathogen concentrations, exposure pathways and consumption patterns, QMRA shifted water management from reactive “detect and correct” approaches to proactive “predict and prevent” strategies. This revolutionised water safety, boosting the quality of water systems to reliably meet health standards.

Global impact on water microbiology and water quality

5. QMRA is now widely adopted in drinking water regulations worldwide including the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Standards and the World Health Organisation’s Third Edition of the Drinking Water Quality Guidelines in 2004. Her work has enabled water utilities and regulators to define treatment requirements based on tolerable health risks for any given water source.

6. Professor Rose extended the application of QMRA beyond drinking water to assess microbial risks in treated wastewater and water reuse systems. This development greatly strengthened global confidence in leveraging recycled water as a viable and sustainable supply source, and Professor Rose has since strongly advocated for the adoption of water reuse to address global water scarcity. She also advised the Orange County Water District’s Independent Advisory Panel and the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Expert Panel on water reuse. Her guidance contributed to California’s Indirect and Direct Potable Reuse regulations, now models for water reuse standards worldwide, including in Australia, Spain, and the United States.

7. For over two decades, Professor Rose worked closely with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to strengthen water quality and safety. She was instrumental in the advancement of NEWater which was introduced in 2003, serving on the NEWater Expert Panel from 1998 to 2002. In her role, Professor Rose shared her expertise, provided guidance on best practices for water quality monitoring, and reviewed findings from health studies which demonstrated the long-term safety of NEWater. From 2003 to 2019, she also chaired PUB’s External Audit Panel, supporting the safe and robust implementation of water reuse in Singapore. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was conferred the Honorary Citizen Award by the Government of Singapore in 2015. Tapping on the QMRA approach, PUB has since strengthened the capabilities to use water quality surveillance data to guide treatment processes and ensure compliance with local and international drinking water standards and guidelines. (Refer to Annex on how QMRA is applied in Singapore.)

8. Beyond research, she has advanced global knowledge and capacity in microbial risk assessment through training and collaborative initiatives such as launching the QMRA Summer Institute[3] and QMRAwiki[4]. She has also strengthened preparedness for waterborne disease outbreaks worldwide by spearheading major international initiatives such as the Global Water Pathogen Project[5] and Wastewater Sphere[6].

Recognising a steadfast champion of global public health

9. Professor Rose, who recently turned 72, has dedicated her professional life to improving water quality and safeguarding public health outcomes. She is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in water microbiology and received the 2024 International Water Association Global Water Award for her contributions. Today, she continues to lead research on emerging microbial health risks, driven by a deep and enduring commitment to improving lives worldwide. Her work remains critical as cities strengthen their water resilience against evolving public health and climate challenges.

10. Professor Rose will receive the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize – an award certificate, a gold medallion, and S$300,000, presented in partnership with Temasek Foundation – at an award ceremony on 16 June 2026, held during the official opening of the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026. She will also deliver a keynote lecture the same day. SIWW2026 is expected to gather 2,500 leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, cities, utilities, and industry, and over 25,000 trade visitors.

[3] Launched in 2006, The QMRA Summer Institute has trained over 400 professionals worldwide in pathogen risk assessment across water, food, and environmental contexts, with extended collaborations in Singapore, Japan, India, China, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and parts of Europe.
[4] QMRAwiki is the first comprehensive database of microbial dose-response relationships, which has been instrumental in advancing disease transmission modelling and risk characterisation.
[5] The Global Water Pathogen Project (GWPP) is funded by Dow, Dow-Corning and GATES Foundations, in partnership with UNESCO. GWPP creates a comprehensive knowledge hub on water pathogens, aiming to improve global water safety and sanitation.

[6] A sub-portal of GWPP to advance environmental surveillance of sewage for SARS-CoV-2 and support public health measures. W-Sphere aggregated data from over 2,600 cities, counties and regional systems globally.


Annex

Application of QMRA in Singapore’s context

Leveraging on the concepts embedded in QMRA, PUB has established robust treatment processes and a comprehensive water quality surveillance programme to ensure that Singapore’s drinking water consistently meets both local drinking water regulations, as well as international drinking water standards and guidelines. Today, the approach has evolved from a reactive “end-of-pipe testing” to a “process monitoring” approach, one that is more proactive in identifying potential risks within the treatment process.

QMRA also enables PUB to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different treatment technologies in managing microbial risks. This allows for informed, evidence-based decisions when selecting suitable technology for Singapore’s water sources, further strengthening the safety and reliability of our water supply. For instance, Singapore has adopted new and advanced technologies for water treatment, such as:

(i) reverse osmosis for removal of dissolved ions and particles, including viruses, which are too small to be removed through normal filtration; and

(ii) ultraviolet disinfection and ozonation for disinfection of a broader range of waterborne pathogens.

Hashtag: #SingaporeInternationalWaterWeek

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/16/american-microbiologist-behind-global-water-safety-breakthrough-wins-2026-lee-kuan-yew-water-prize/

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Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026: Connecting Global Buyers with the Future of Sports and Leisure

Source: Media Outreach

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – The Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026 (ASLE 2026) will officially open on April 16, 2026, offering global buyers a one-stop sourcing platform to connect with verified Asian suppliers across the sports, fitness, and leisure industries. Running until August 31, 2026, the exhibition adopts a hybrid online and offline integration model, providing nearly five months of continuous sourcing opportunities and business engagement.

The exhibition focuses on connecting Asian suppliers with global importers and exporters, streamlining cross-border procurement processes, enhancing supply-demand matching efficiency, and enabling businesses to expand into international markets more effectively.

Since its debut in 2022, ASLE, co-organized by AsianNet and TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com), has consistently attracted high-quality international buyers. With strong performance in precise matchmaking, inquiry conversion, and actual order generation, it has become one of Asia’s most representative online B2B trade exhibitions.

Global Exhibition Synergy and Expanded Scale

The 2026 edition will feature a significant scale upgrade and run concurrently with several leading international exhibitions, including the FIBO Germany International Fitness and Wellness Expo, Techtextil Frankfurt, the Outdoor Retailer and Outdoor Design and Innovation Expo in the USA, ISPO USA, and the India International Sports Goods Expo.

By aligning with global exhibition schedules and integrating cross-platform resources, ASLE 2026 consolidates international buyer traffic and enables procurement professionals to efficiently complete supplier selection, product comparison, and sourcing decisions. This approach significantly shortens decision-making cycles and improves procurement accuracy.

Centered on high-efficiency matching, targeted traffic, and conversion-driven results, the exhibition establishes a comprehensive B2B business connection ecosystem. It enhances exhibitors’ global exposure, improves inquiry quality, and effectively drives order conversion and market expansion.

Showcasing Verified Suppliers and Diverse Product Categories

ASLE 2026 will feature a strong lineup of leading Asian manufacturers, demonstrating the depth and innovation of the region’s sports and leisure industry. Participating companies include JIH KAO ENTERPRISE, FLYWELL INTERNATIONAL, YI CHI HSIUNG, and HSIN HAO HEALTH MATERIALS.

These suppliers will showcase a wide range of products, including fitness equipment, sports gear, functional textiles, outdoor and camping products, and health-related solutions, providing buyers with diverse sourcing options across multiple categories.

ASLE 2026 highlights core sports categories such as Sports and Game Equipment, Sport Ball Equipment and Gear, Fitness and Body Building, Skateboarding and Skating Equipment, and Water Sports Equipment and Supply. The exhibition also features sports accessories, sportswear, and technical textiles, as well as lifestyle segments including Outdoor and Camping Recreation, Sporting and Travel Goods, and Indoor Games and Leisure. Health and Wellness and health food products further extend the exhibition’s cross-industry integration.

By integrating technological innovation with practical applications, ASLE 2026 provides a high-efficiency B2B sourcing environment that enables global buyers and industry partners to expand markets, accelerate procurement decisions, and establish long-term business relationships.

Digital Features Enhancing Efficient Sourcing

The Asian Sports and Leisure Online Exhibition 2026 introduces a range of advanced digital features, including dedicated exhibitor pages, e-catalogs, and integrated online exhibition interfaces. Fully integrated with the TradeAsia platform, these tools significantly enhance supplier visibility and maximize sourcing efficiency.

In addition, the exhibition incorporates an efficient business matching mechanism, enabling buyers to quickly identify suitable suppliers based on their sourcing needs. International buyers can access the exhibition anytime, explore detailed supplier information, and utilize online inquiry functions to accelerate procurement decision-making.

This hybrid model effectively eliminates time and geographical barriers while delivering a cost-efficient and results-driven global sourcing experience.

Start Sourcing Now

Explore suppliers, discover products, and send inquiries directly through the official exhibition platform:
https://www.e-tradeasia.com/online-show/44/Asian-Sports-and-Leisure-Online-Exhibition-2026.html

Hashtag: #TradeAsia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/16/asian-sports-and-leisure-online-exhibition-2026-connecting-global-buyers-with-the-future-of-sports-and-leisure/

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IMPEX 2026 returns as Hong Kong’s largest immigration and property expo on 18-19 April, expanding its focus on global mobility and asset planning

Source: Media Outreach

Asset Mix Shifts, Australia Overtakes Britain In Migration Appeal, Southeast Asia Interest Doubles
Headline Seminars: Shih Wing-Ching On Capital Flows, Wu Kwok Wai On Overseas Property Pitfalls
Experts Tackle Migration Myths, Wealth-Transfer Risks And Low-Cost Retirement Options
Free Admission And Seminar Seats Are Limited – Register Now

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Hong Kong’s migration and overseas asset-planning landscape is undergoing a marked shift, with more residents rethinking where and how they hold wealth. The 7th IMPEX International Immigration & Property Expo will take place on April 18 – 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring three headline speakers — founder of Centaline Group Mr. Shih Wing-ching, veteran media professional and columnist Ms. June Lam and co-founder of WuChatProp Mr. Wu Kwok Wai, to share insights on global capital flows, risk management and practical overseas property strategies. The expo will also bring together more than 100 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions, including property developers, relocation consultants, legal advisers and wealth management firms from the UK, North America, Australia, Japan, Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia and the EU, covering overseas residency, international property investment, admissions to top schools and wealth planning. More than 50 expert seminars will be held, alongside complimentary one-on-one consultations.

High-net-worth visitors and over-60s drive sharp rise in interest

A survey conducted by the organiser with online registrants suggests strong cross-generational demand. Registrations from people aged 60 and above have doubled year on year, underscoring rising interest in retirement planning and long-term residence, while interest in migrations from young generations has also surged, showing increasing demands in early life planning and wealth management. Sign-ups from those with net assets of more than HK$30 million have also doubled, pointing to faster overseas asset deployment among high-net-worth individuals. Industry observers said immigration and offshore asset planning are no longer seen as a one-off life decision, but as part of a broader strategy spanning wealth growth, retirement and family planning.

Southeast Asia demand more than doubles, with Malaysia breaking into the top tier

Interest in Southeast Asia has more than doubled, with Malaysia emerging as a major draw. According to the survey, the most popular migration destinations are Australia at 38 per cent, Britain at 36 per cent and Southeast Asia at 35 per cent; interest in Southeast Asia rose from 17 per cent a year earlier to 36 per cent. Interest in the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates also rose sharply, nearly quadrupling, suggesting capital is moving more quickly towards Asia and other emerging markets. Malaysia’s relatively low living costs and flexible long-stay policies have helped lift Southeast Asia into the top tier of preferred destinations.

Australia overtakes Britain as top migration destination

Australia also climbed sharply to become the top migration choice, overtaking Britain. Interest in Australia rose from 29 per cent to 38 per cent, while Britain slipped from 45 per cent to 36 per cent. Interest in the United States and Canada also eased slightly, reflecting a waning appeal for traditional migration markets and a reassessment of policy stability, living costs and long-term planning considerations.

Headline seminar 1: Middle East Tensions and the Global Asset Reordering — In-Depth Dialogue: Mr Shih Wing-ching & Ms. June Lam

As geopolitical tensions, shifting interest rate cycles and volatile energy markets are reshaping capital movements worldwide, investors face growing uncertainty in navigating the financial landscape. Mr Shih Wing-ching, founder of Centaline Group, will join Ms. June Lam, veteran media professional and columnist, to discuss the influence on global finance and key investment decisions, from macro trends to practical strategies, offering actionable insights to help investors seize opportunities at uncertain times.

Event highlights:

  • In‑depth analysis of how Middle East developments impact global finance and energy markets
  • Uncovering shifts in safe‑haven assets and capital flow forecasts for the next 6–12 months
  • Practical asset‑allocation advice: how to optimize equities, bonds, cash, and property in a high‑rate environment
  • Focus on Hong Kong property opportunities: student housing, co‑living, and commercial repurposing trends

Date: 19 April (Sunday)
Time: 11am – 12nn
Venue: Stage A

Headline seminar 2: Ask the Experts – The Overseas Property Survival Guide, Wu Kwok Wai x 3 senior experts

Hosted by Mr Wu Kwok Wai, co-founder of WuChatProp alongside three senior specialists, the seminar will focus on practical due diligence for property buyers in Japan, the UK and Thailand, decoding risks and commonly overlooked issues through firsthand market experience, helping investors to avoid pitfalls in overseas property buying.

Highlights:

  • In earthquakes, who safeguards homeowners’ interests?
  • Will higher immigration thresholds lift demand and rents in local housing markets?
  • What should buyers look out for when inspecting a property themselves?
  • When tenants turn troublesome, do the police offer any real remedy? And is there insurance that covers damage?
  • Can property ownership help secure a long-stay visa? And what happens if an application is turned down?
  • Does a beachfront home carry an edge in long-stay visa approval over a city property?

Date: 18 April (Saturday)
Time: 11am – 12nn
Venue: Stage A

Experts debunks common migration myths and key decisions behind

As more Hongkongers consider relocation or cross‑border investment, misunderstandings persist about migration planning and asset handling. Experts at the expo will tackle common misconceptions around migration, tax and asset management, including whether people need to sell property before emigrating, liquidate stocks and funds, or make special arrangements for insurance claims and MPF. Industry experts emphasize that migration should be seen not as asset liquidation, but as a chance to restructure wealth more efficiently across jurisdictions.

At the expo, international law firms, family offices, accountants and wealth managers will offer complimentary one‑on‑one consultations to help attendees clarify key concerns about cross-border assets and identity planning.

Migration does not necessarily mean “splitting the family wealth”

Popular destinations such as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom impose combined income, capital gains and inheritance taxes that can reach up to 50 per cent, far exceeding Hong Kong’s top rate of 17 per cent. Proper tax planning and asset structuring before relocation can therefore significantly reduce exposure and improve wealth transfer outcomes.

Visitors will have access to three complimentary advisory services covering asset and tax assessment, insurance portfolio review and MPF consultation, along with practical seminars on trust formation and cross‑border tax strategies.

Asia gains ground as a lower-cost retirement destination

Beyond migration, the desire for low‑cost, high‑quality retirement options is also shaping investment trends. The Philippines and Malaysia have emerged as leading choices thanks to their relatively modest living costs and long‑term residence schemes. The Philippines has lowered the qualifying age for its Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) to 40, while Malaysia’s Malaysia My 2nd Home (MM2H) programme continues to attract global retirees, ranking second in Asia on the 2026 Global Retirement Index .

Both markets will be showcased at the expo, where Mr Yoganthiran Manikam, Consulate General (Tourism), Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board and Mr Bob Zozobrado, General Manager of the Philippine Retirement Authority, will present the latest visa policies, real‑estate developments and lifestyle planning strategies for Hong Kong investors exploring long‑term or early‑retirement options.

Positioned as Hong Kong’s leading platform for global mobility and international assets, IMPEX is sharpening its purpose in 2026. Rather than simply promoting “migration”, the expo now focuses on strategic optionality and residency planning: not just selling “properties”, but revealing new horizons and investment opportunities. Under the theme “Beyond Your Horizons”, IMPEX aims to move beyond migration‑centric messaging and become a comprehensive platform for global mobility and cross‑border asset planning, reflecting the evolving needs of Hongkongers seeking to future‑proof their lives and portfolios. IMPEX empowers individuals to architect a legacy and design a life without borders.

The 7th International Immigration & Property Expo

Date：18-19 April, 2026
Venue：Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Hall 5G
Website：https://immigration-expo.com/en/ (Free Entry, Register Now）

https://immigration-expo.com/
https://www.instagram.com/impex_official/

Hashtag: #IMPEX2026 #第七屆國際移民及置業博覽

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/16/impex-2026-returns-as-hong-kongs-largest-immigration-and-property-expo-on-18-19-april-expanding-its-focus-on-global-mobility-and-asset-planning/

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Energy Transitions – Support transition before we’re gone: Latest gas report calls for Govt assistance

Source: BusinessNZ

A new report is calling on all political parties to support a transition away from gas for commercial and industrial users, in the face of significant gas price increases and rapidly declining domestic production.
The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) today released  The need for Government assistance in the gas transition, which recommends Government explore concessionary loans for businesses to invest in new energy sources. (ref. https://bec.org.nz/category/resources/ )
Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard says it’s not a market failure.
“Successive governments have pursued a net-zero goal without a workable transition plan that keeps businesses and jobs intact. At the same time, BusinessNZ and BEC aren’t asking for open-ended subsidies or uncompetitive firms to be propped up. We want to see sharp, policy-driven transition in a way that protects jobs, production, and New Zealand’s economic base.”
Beard says New Zealand is already seeing de-industrialisation of manufacturers where the high cost of gas is adding to their struggle to remain competitive and profitable.
“The increased cost shock is making survival difficult for small and large businesses including manufacturers without some sort of transitional help.”
Businesses affected include critical sectors such as petrochemicals, fertilisers, manufacturing, wood processing, dairy processing, meat works and aluminium recycling. Alongside industrial gas users there are thousands of commercial users that are just as reliant, including bakeries, coffee roasters, greenhouses, breweries, restaurants, chocolate makers, hospitals, drycleaners, schools and wineries.
Beard says that combined these operations are estimated to generate $18-24 billion in GDP and support around 264,000 direct jobs.
“While Government has invested $200m to de-risk investment in new oil and gas exploration on the supply side, it is yet to support demand.
“There’s no point in having a surplus of energy supply in the future if there is no industry left to use it. Governments in Australia, the UK, the EU, Canada and Japan are mitigating these kinds of risks through various support mechanisms for industry to transition to renewables. New Zealand must follow suit.
“The alternative is avoidable closures, lost capability, and higher long-term costs to the economy.”
The latest BEC report, The need for Government assistance in the gas transition, is available on the website now: https://bec.org.nz/category/resources/
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/16/energy-transitions-support-transition-before-were-gone-latest-gas-report-calls-for-govt-assistance/

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NZ-AU: CLINUVEL: advancing peptides for photomedicine and vitiligo care at AAD 2026

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

MELBOURNE, Australia, April 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLINUVEL’s innovative photomedicine and vitiligo programs featured extensively at the recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, the world’s largest gathering of dermatology professionals. Through the Company’s bespoke Pavilion of Photomedicine and conference sessions across five days, the development and commercialisation of CLINUVEL’s proprietary peptides in dermatology was presented to over 20,000 delegates.

Building on momentum from the 2025 AAD meeting, AAD 2026 saw CLINUVEL’s ambition translate into deeper engagement with the medical community, with the Pavilion now an established hub for meaningful scientific exchange and candid dialogues. The CLINUVEL team welcomed thousands of visitors, including many returning physicians eager to review the progress of the Company’s clinical programs.

New insights in vitiligo therapy

The 2026 meeting reflected a maturing dialogue regarding the standard of care and potential of new therapies for patients with vitiligo. While the recent focus in the field has been on immune-suppressing JAK inhibitors, clinicians are increasingly identifying the practical challenges of long-term treatment dependency and the prevalence of relapse upon cessation of treatment. This shift in treatment discourse highlights an increasing demand for therapies that prioritise sustained stability and patient safety over the long term.

CLINUVEL’s investigational approach offers a fundamentally different path. The Company’s ongoing Phase III vitiligo study (CUV105) is evaluating afamelanotide as a systemic therapy with adjunct narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy to stimulate repigmentation and stabilise the disease, rather than suppressing the body’s immune system. Afamelanotide, a linear peptide administered in a controlled-release injectable implant, is not currently approved for vitiligo anywhere in the world.

At the Global Vitiligo Foundation (GVF) Annual Symposium, Professor Antoine Bertolotti (University Hospital of La Réunion) presented patient case studies from CUV105, reporting repigmentation following 20 weeks of afamelanotide with adjunct NB-UVB. Crucially, the data showed that patients with darker skin types (Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI) maintained their pigmentation up to the six month follow-up visit subsequent to withdrawal of therapy. Notably, even patients with active disease (i.e. where the condition is actively spreading) showed a response to therapy in these clinical cases.

Holistic patient care

While CLINUVEL’s primary clinical focus remains its rigorous path toward regulatory approval in vitiligo, the Company’s work at the Pavilion highlighted a holistic philosophy that extends beyond the clinic. Unlike standard models, CLINUVEL takes a long-term view of patient care by creating dedicated spaces for patients to share their experiences and advocate for improvements in clinical trial diversity and mental health support.

The three-day speaker program emphasised this commitment, featuring patients, physicians, and even healthcare partners coming together to exchange insights on topics ranging from fostering inclusivity when engaging with patient communities, to the regulatory and cultural differences in managing vitiligo in different parts of the world.

Technology and digital impact: creating a global buzz

The innovations showcased in Denver extended into the digital sphere, creating significant engagement across social media. CLINUVEL’s outreach efforts reached over 314,000 unique users, with daily wrap-up content generating thousands of interactions. This digital buzz mirrors the energy at the Pavilion, where the Company introduced its proprietary Vitiligo Visual Algorithm (VVA) – an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool designed to objectively assess pigmentation using standardised clinical photographs, tracking an individual patient’s treatment progress over time. This tool is now being refined with the assistance of physicians, patients and researchers.

Social media highlights

  • @dermdsaid featured a walk-through of the Pavilion, highlighting CLINUVEL’s vitiligo program
  • @dr.kyla.md featured the Pavilion’s distinctive façade in a playful commentary on AAD’s unmissable exhibition spaces
  • @glow_and_happy’s reel heavily features CLINUVEL’s Pavilion of Photomedicine

Watch a wrap-up video of CLINUVEL’s time at AAD 2026.

Commentary

“Returning to the AAD for a second year has allowed us to witness a significant maturation in the clinical dialogue surrounding vitiligo,” said Dr Linda Teng, CLINUVEL’s Director of North American Operations. “Our engagement in Denver confirms a growing recognition among the medical community that the next frontier in vitiligo care must prioritise long-term physiological stability and safety beyond immune-suppression.

“The overwhelming response to the Pavilion this year validates our longstanding focus on melanocortin peptides and reinforces our mission to advance clinical programs that truly reflect the life-long needs of the patients we serve.”

About CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

CLINUVEL (ASX: CUV; ADR LEVEL 1: CLVLY; Börse Frankfurt: UR9) is a global specialty pharmaceutical group focused on developing and commercialising treatments for patients with genetic, metabolic, systemic, and life-threatening, acute disorders, as well as healthcare solutions for specialised populations. As pioneers in photomedicine and the family of melanocortin peptides, CLINUVEL’s research and development has led to innovative treatments for patient populations with a clinical need for systemic photoprotection, assisted DNA repair, repigmentation and acute or life-threatening conditions who lack alternatives.

CLINUVEL’s lead therapy, SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg), is approved for commercial distribution in Europe, the USA, Israel, and Australia as the world’s first systemic photoprotective drug for the prevention of phototoxicity (anaphylactoid reactions and burns) in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, CLINUVEL has operations in Europe, Singapore, and the USA. For more information, please go to https://www.clinuvel.com.

Head of Investor Relations
Mr Malcolm Bull, CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD

Investor Enquiries
https://www.clinuvel.com/investors/contact-us

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the current beliefs and expectations of CLINUVEL’s management. Statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks that could cause our future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to develop and commercialise pharmaceutical products; the COVID-19 pandemic and/or other world, regional or national events affecting the supply chain for a protracted period of time, including our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell biopharmaceutical products; competition for our products, especially SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg), PRÉNUMBRA® or NEURACTHEL®; our ability to achieve expected safety and efficacy results in a timely manner through our innovative R&D efforts; the effectiveness of our patents and other protections for innovative products, particularly in view of national and regional variations in patent laws; our potential exposure to product liability claims to the extent not covered by insurance; increased government scrutiny in either Australia, the U.S., Europe, Israel, China and Japan of our agreements with third parties and suppliers; our exposure to currency fluctuations and restrictions as well as credit risks; the effects of reforms in healthcare regulation and pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement; that the Company may incur unexpected delays in the outsourced manufacturing of SCENESSE®, PRÉNUMBRA® or NEURACTHEL® which may lead to it being unable to supply its commercial markets and/or clinical trial programs; any failures to comply with any government payment system (i.e. Medicare) reporting and payment obligations; uncertainties surrounding the legislative and regulatory pathways for the registration and approval of biotechnology and consumer based products; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding approval of our products as well as their decisions regarding label claims; our ability to retain or attract key personnel and managerial talent; the impact of broader change within the pharmaceutical industry and related industries; potential changes to tax liabilities or legislation; environmental risks; and other factors that have been discussed in our 2023 Annual Report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation, outside of those required under applicable laws or relevant listing rules of the Australian Securities Exchange, to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information on preliminary and uncertain forecasts and estimates is available on request, whereby it is stated that past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Contact:

Tel: +61 3 9660 4900
Fax: +61 3 9660 4909
Email: mail@clinuvel.com
Australia (Head Office), Level 22, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a63efa41-50f1-45f2-8ee5-0d54842edcaa

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/33cac11d-7021-45d7-a334-97b2ac9fa4a6

A video accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d0e4a67-5fc2-46d0-95b7-b34582a13539

– Published by The MIL Network

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/15/nz-au-clinuvel-advancing-peptides-for-photomedicine-and-vitiligo-care-at-aad-2026/

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Tax Reform – Rebalancing our tax system to deliver for ordinary New Zealanders

Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA)

15 April 2026 – Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA) has today released its Tax Policy Statement setting out a mix of proposals that together could rebalance our tax system so that it delivers for ordinary New Zealanders.

“Our policy statement shows that a tax system that works for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand is possible,” says TJA spokesperson, Glenn Barclay.

“It is not a policy prescription, but sets a clear direction. We’re keen to have the conversation with Aotearoa about how we gather the revenue we need to address the challenges we face – like increasing inequality and an ageing population; and gather that revenue more fairly – ensuring that those who have most to contribute make that contribution and addressing the impact of tax on the least well off.”

“But as successive polls have shown, there is solid support for tax reform and properly funding our public services, New Zealanders realise maintaining the status quo is not an option,” says Barclay.

“NZ is a low tax country compared to many other developed nations, and we’re not gathering enough revenue to fund the things that matter for us to live good lives, like fully staffed hospitals and affordable housing, resilient infrastructure and nutritious school lunches.”

“We rely very heavily on income tax and GST, so working people are carrying more of the load of funding our public services. And our failure to properly tax wealth and big corporates directly contributes to increasing inequality, erodes living standards and opportunities for ordinary people, like working towards owning your own home,” says Barclay.

“As we confront yet another crisis, TJA is calling on the Government, and all political parties, to catch up with public sentiment, and to stop offering bandaids like tax cuts. It’s time to embrace real solutions that will ensure we’re gathering enough revenue to fund the things that matter, gathering it more fairly, and laying the foundation for a recovery that supports everyone in Aotearoa to have a better future,” says Barclay.

TJA’s Tax Policy Statement sets out practical changes we can make to our tax system to catch-up with other developed countries’ investment in public goods, services and infrastructure, to tackle inequality and to support a more productive and resilient economy. The proposed changes would close the gaps in tax on big corporates and ensure the wealthiest are paying their fair share, and include:

Tax surcharge on big corporates, for example a levy on major banks (as in the UK and Australia), a surcharge on sectors managing vital infrastructure or where there is a lack of competition, like supermarkets and gentailers.
Excess/windfall profits taxes, for example, on big corporates to discourage price gouging and excessive profits arising from the current fossil fuel crisis.
Taxing Big Tech and other multinationals by enforcing existing tax obligations and changing the law to require these corporate giants to be more transparent about the profits they’re making, like the Public Country-by-Country Reporting adopted in Australia.
Close the shareholder loans tax loophole, to prevent tax avoidance and reduce financial risk to small and medium size businesses (e.g. using the UK model).
Tax wealth more, not work, through a comprehensive capital gains tax (as in most OECD countries), high-wealth tax, trusts tax, and wealth transfer tax (as in Ireland).
Adjust income tax settings to better reflect ability to pay, by introducing a tax free band, making tax bands more progressive and raising the tax rate on the highest income earners. Most workers would pay less or the same tax under this proposal.
Addressing the impact of GST on the least well off, by reducing the rate of GST or introducing rebate system for people on low incomes (like in Canada).

Other important areas for reform in the TPS include: health, environmental and other remedial taxes; international taxation; transparency and administration of the tax system.

The full policy statement can be accessed here: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/tja/pages/3281/attachments/original/1776134165/TJA_Tax_Policy_Statement.pdf?1776134165

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/15/tax-reform-rebalancing-our-tax-system-to-deliver-for-ordinary-new-zealanders/

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Consumer expo draws global exhibitors keen on China’s vast market

Source: Media Outreach

HAIKOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 April 2026 – The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off on Monday in Haikou, capital of south China’s Hainan Province, attracting more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions.

The sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, April 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Themed “Opening Up Drives Global Consumption, Innovation Empowers A Better Life,” this year’s expo runs from April 13 to 18. Meanwhile, the 2026 “Shopping in China” International Consumption Season was launched simultaneously.

The sixth CICPE has expanded in scale, with an exhibition area of 143,000 square meters, up 13,000 square meters from the previous edition. International exhibits account for 65 percent of the total, an increase of 20 percentage points from last year. Meanwhile, over 200 new products are expected to make their debut, double last year’s number and spanning fields including healthcare, jewelry and digital technology.

Since its launch in 2021, the CICPE has become an important platform for multinationals to stay abreast of consumer trends in China’s gigantic market, with over 3,800 enterprises and more than 12,000 brands from 92 countries and regions participating over the past five editions.

Canada, this year’s guest country of honor, has organized its largest-ever delegation, with around 40 companies participating in sectors including cosmetics, agricultural products, health products and pet food.

Russia and Bulgaria are among nations setting up national pavilions for the first time, while official delegations from 12 countries and regions, including Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Ireland, are attending the event.

Beyond the main venue in Haikou, a health exhibition area in Hainan’s Boao features 120 international pharmaceutical and medical device companies, while a yacht show in Sanya in the province is hosting over 200 yachts, with international brands accounting for 70 percent.

Committed to building an international, professional, and market-oriented multilateral economic and trade cooperation platform, the CICPE has become a “bridgehead” for high-level opening up. It has attracted over 230,000 domestic and overseas buyers in the five expos to date.

This edition, for the first time, has set up a buyer service center on site, providing exhibitors and buyers with full-process, all-round supply-demand matchmaking services. Additionally, an online supply-demand matchmaking platform has been established, leveraging digital technology to enable one-click matching of needs.

“An estimated 65,000 professional buyers will attend this year’s expo, a 10-percent increase from the previous edition,” said Lu Min, director of the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development. “We also plan to hold more than 10 supply-demand matchmaking events to effectively enhance the sense of fulfillment for both buyers and exhibitors.”

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/14/consumer-expo-draws-global-exhibitors-keen-on-chinas-vast-market/

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Media OutReach Newswire Appoints Pamela Phua as Managing Partner, Southeast Asia to Champion Singapore and Southeast Asian Brand Expansion into Global Markets

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 April 2026 – Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first and only global newswire, has appointed Ms Pamela Phua as Managing Partner, Southeast Asia. This newly created leadership role is designed to accelerate the company’s growth across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines – and to serve the growing demand from Southeast Asian brands seeking to build their corporate reputation and brand trust in global markets.

Media OutReach Newswire Appoints Pamela Phua as Managing Partner, Southeast Asia

Pamela brings over 20 years of experience in public relations and integrated communications. Having engaged Media OutReach Newswire’s global press release distribution, she developed a first-hand appreciation of the newswire’s core promise: guaranteed news posting on real media with domain authority, direct access to over 200,000 real journalists and editors through a proprietary international media database to achieve earned media coverage, post-release reports with data insights, as well as its pioneering PR Campaign Intelligence reports for C-suites that give clients a clear, measurable picture of communications impact.

“I have seen how Media OutReach Newswire has genuinely changed the way brands communicate beyond their home markets, reaching journalists to build cross-border media relations and garner earned media coverage. The newswire’s ability to guarantee verbatim placement on authoritative news sites with high domain trust – ensures that key messages are cited by the AI models that now shape how the world discovers brands. This is a capability that is much needed now by PR, communications and marketing professionals,” said Pamela.

“With guaranteed news posting on real news sites, there is full control in delivering campaign key messages to maximise PR impact, in addition to achieving quality earned media coverage on top of that. I am inspired by the newswire service as a key partner for Southeast Asia’s most ambitious companies and strategic communicators in telling the region’s growth story,” she added.

The appointment follows the recent naming of Ms Kitty Lee as Managing Partner, Greater China, signalling a strategic push by Media OutReach Newswire to connect Asian brands, companies and governments to global journalists and audiences.

Powering the “East-to-Global” Narrative with SEO, GEO, AI Citation and Earned Media

Southeast Asia is producing a new generation of regionally confident, globally ambitious brands. At the same time, deepening trade and investment ties between Greater China and Southeast Asia are driving a surge in East-to-East communications, alongside growing East-to-global expansion.

Ms Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire, said: “We are witnessing a structural shift where Asia is increasingly driving global innovation, with Asian brands expanding their business across Southeast Asia, ASEAN, Asia Pacific, as well as international markets. Media OutReach Newswire’s Total PR and Communications Solution is focused on supporting these brands as they develop corporate and brand messaging that builds trust with journalists, editors, investors and customers.”

Recognising the importance of AI-citation, Media OutReach Newswire recently launched JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) Schema Markup to enhance the technical infrastructure of clients’ press releases and optimise AI visibility. The company continues to focus on adopting AI across its press release distribution network, workflows, and post-release reporting.

As AI algorithms trust news posted on real media, Media OutReach Newswire’s guaranteed news posting empowers AI discoverability. The newswire’s guaranteed news posting partners in Singapore and Asia Pacific (APAC) include leading media Asia News Network (ANN), AsiaOne, CNA, Vulcan Post, MoneyFM89.3 , Malay Mail, The Sun Daily, Dagang News, MySinchew, Vietnam News, Vietnam Plus and The Manila Times to name a few.

“With a global press release distribution network spanning APAC, USA, Canada, UK, and Europe, as well as Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, we are uniquely positioned to help Southeast Asian companies and governments build lasting brand equity and trust globally. I am excited to have Pamela on board to help our clients leverage our unique ability to power both SEO and GEO, as well as earned media, internationally,” Jennifer added.

Before her senior management roles at consultancies including Ruder Finn, Ogilvy PR and Omnicom PR Group over the past eight years, Pamela held in-house leadership roles heading Marketing and PR at airline HK Express, as well as Communications and Guest Relations at airline Scoot (under the SIA Group).

https://www.media-outreach.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/media-outreach-li
https://x.com/mor_asia
https://www.facebook.com/MediaOutReachHK/

Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire #pressrelease #SoutheastAsia #Singapore

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/14/media-outreach-newswire-appoints-pamela-phua-as-managing-partner-southeast-asia-to-champion-singapore-and-southeast-asian-brand-expansion-into-global-markets/

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Highlights of weekend one at the world’s most talked about festival

Source: Radio New Zealand

America’s most internet-famous festival, Coachella, has wrapped the first of two massive weekends of live music in the Californian desert.

This year skewed towards big pop headliners, namely Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Colombian star Karol G, but there were plenty of surprises beyond the top billing.

With seven stages available to stream online for the first time this year, it cemented Coachella as an event that was as much for those at home as those who made the trek.

Sabrina Carpenter gave Coachella a splashy farewell on its opening night.

Kevin Mazur

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/14/highlights-of-weekend-one-at-the-worlds-most-talked-about-festival/

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NZ-AU: Vital Hemp Gummies | Launch” Hemp Gummies Australia, NZ Or Canada Relieves Anxiety Effective Reduces Pain Relax Stress With Vital Hemp 2026

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

New York City, April 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

In today’s modern lifestyle, stress, anxiety, and poor sleep have become increasingly common concerns affecting overall health and well-being. As people look for natural and convenient ways to restore balance, hemp-based supplements have gained significant popularity. Among these, Vital Hemp Gummies have emerged as a simple yet effective option for those seeking daily wellness support without relying on harsh chemicals or complicated routines.

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When you consume Vital Hemp Gummies, the active components from hemp—such as beneficial fatty acids and plant-based compounds—are absorbed into the bloodstream through digestion. These compounds then begin to influence receptors in the ECS, helping the body maintain a balanced state known as homeostasis. This process can promote a sense of calm, reduce feelings of stress, and support emotional well-being without causing any intoxicating effects.

These gummies combine the nutritional benefits of hemp-derived ingredients with an easy-to-consume format, making them ideal for beginners and regular users alike. Designed to promote relaxation, support better sleep, and enhance overall vitality, Vital Hemp Gummies offer a holistic approach to health. With growing interest in plant-based solutions, they are quickly becoming a preferred choice for individuals aiming to improve their lifestyle naturally and sustainably.

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What is Vital Hemp Gummies?

Vital Hemp Gummies are a modern, plant-based dietary supplement designed to support overall health and wellness using the natural benefits of hemp-derived ingredients. Unlike traditional supplements that come in capsules or powders, these gummies offer a convenient and enjoyable way to incorporate hemp into your daily routine. They are typically made using hemp seed oil or hemp extract, which are known for being rich in essential nutrients like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and other beneficial plant compounds. What makes Vital Hemp Gummies particularly appealing is that they are non-intoxicating, meaning they do not produce any “high” commonly associated with cannabis products, as they contain little to no THC.

These gummies are often formulated to promote relaxation, support better sleep, and help manage everyday stress, making them suitable for individuals dealing with busy, demanding lifestyles. In addition to their calming properties, they may also contribute to improved heart health, enhanced mental clarity, and overall physical balance due to their nutritional profile. Vital Hemp Gummies are commonly crafted with natural flavors and vegan-friendly ingredients, making them accessible to a wide range of users. Overall, they represent a simple, tasty, and natural approach to maintaining wellness, especially for those looking to avoid synthetic supplements while still benefiting from the power of hemp.

How Does Vital Hemp Gummies Work?

Vital Hemp Gummies work by supporting the body’s natural balance through a combination of hemp-derived compounds and essential nutrients. Their effectiveness is largely linked to how these compounds interact with the body’s internal systems, especially the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a key role in regulating functions like mood, sleep, stress response, and overall stability.

In addition to this, the presence of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids helps nourish the brain and heart, while also reducing inflammation in the body. These nutrients contribute to better cognitive function, improved circulation, and overall physical comfort. Some formulations may also include vitamins and minerals that further enhance relaxation, energy levels, and immune support.

Another important aspect of how Vital Hemp Gummies work is their ability to indirectly support sleep quality. By calming the nervous system and easing mental tension, they can help the body transition into a more restful state, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

Overall, Vital Hemp Gummies take a holistic approach by working with the body’s natural systems rather than overriding them, helping users feel more balanced, relaxed, and supported in their daily lives.

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The Science Behind Vital Hemp Gummies

The effectiveness of Vital Hemp Gummies is rooted in how hemp-derived compounds interact with the body’s natural systems, particularly the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for maintaining balance in functions such as mood, sleep, pain response, and immune activity. When consumed, the active components in hemp—along with essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6—are absorbed through the digestive system and gradually enter the bloodstream.

These compounds help support communication between cells and receptors in the ECS, encouraging the body to maintain a stable internal environment. In addition, the nutrients found in hemp contribute to brain health, reduce inflammation, and support cardiovascular function. The calming effect often associated with these gummies may also be linked to their ability to help regulate stress hormones like cortisol, promoting relaxation and improved sleep quality. Overall, Vital Hemp Gummies work in a holistic way by supporting the body’s natural processes rather than forcing immediate changes, which is why consistent use over time is often recommended for noticeable results.

Benefits of Vital Hemp Gummies

Vital Hemp Gummies offer a wide range of potential benefits, making them a versatile and convenient supplement for individuals looking to support their daily health naturally. Thanks to their blend of hemp-derived nutrients, essential fatty acids, and supportive compounds, these gummies work holistically to improve both mental and physical well-being. Below are some of the key benefits explained in detail:

1. Stress and Anxiety Relief

One of the most common reasons people choose Vital Hemp Gummies is for their calming effect. These gummies may help regulate the body’s stress response by supporting the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in mood balance. Regular use may promote a sense of relaxation, helping users feel more at ease during stressful situations without causing drowsiness or dependency.

2. Improved Sleep Quality

Sleep issues are often linked to stress and mental restlessness. Vital Hemp Gummies may help calm the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. By promoting relaxation, they can support deeper and more restorative sleep cycles, allowing users to wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

3. Pain and Inflammation Support

Hemp-derived compounds are known for their potential anti-inflammatory properties. These gummies may help reduce mild aches, joint stiffness, and everyday discomfort caused by inflammation. This makes them a popular option for individuals dealing with physically demanding routines or age-related discomfort.

4. Enhanced Mental Clarity

In addition to promoting calmness, Vital Hemp Gummies may also support better focus and cognitive function. By reducing mental fatigue and stress, they can help improve clarity, concentration, and overall productivity, especially during long or demanding days.

5. Heart Health Support

The presence of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in hemp ingredients contributes to cardiovascular health. These essential fats help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, and support overall heart function when combined with a balanced lifestyle.

6. Immune System Boost

Vital Hemp Gummies often include vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that play a role in strengthening the immune system. These nutrients help the body defend against external stressors and support overall resilience, especially during times of physical or mental strain.

7. Overall Wellness

Perhaps the biggest advantage of Vital Hemp Gummies is their ability to support multiple aspects of health at once. From mental relaxation to physical comfort and nutritional support, they provide a well-rounded approach to wellness. With consistent use, many users experience a greater sense of balance, energy, and overall vitality in their daily lives.

Who Should Use It?

Vital Hemp Gummies are designed for individuals who want a natural, easy-to-use supplement to support their overall well-being. Thanks to their gentle, plant-based formulation, they can fit into a variety of lifestyles and health goals. These gummies are especially suitable for people who prefer a convenient alternative to capsules or oils while still benefiting from hemp-derived nutrients.

They may be a good choice for:

  • People experiencing daily stress or anxiety
    Individuals dealing with work pressure, mental fatigue, or emotional stress may find these gummies helpful in promoting a calmer and more balanced state of mind.
  • Individuals with sleep issues or irregular sleep patterns
    Those who struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep may benefit from the relaxing properties that support a more restful night.
  • Those seeking natural wellness supplements
    People who prefer plant-based, non-synthetic products often choose Vital Hemp Gummies as part of a holistic health routine.
  • Adults looking for non-intoxicating hemp products
    Since these gummies are typically THC-free or contain negligible amounts, they are suitable for users who want the benefits of hemp without any psychoactive effects.
  • Individuals interested in improving overall health
    Anyone aiming to enhance their general wellness—whether it’s better focus, improved mood, or physical comfort—may consider adding these gummies to their daily routine.

However, it’s important to note that Vital Hemp Gummies are generally intended for adult use only. Children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and individuals with underlying medical conditions should consult a healthcare professional before using this supplement.

Pros and Cons of Vital Hemp Gummies

Like any wellness supplement, Vital Hemp Gummies come with both advantages and limitations. Understanding these can help you decide whether they are the right fit for your health goals and lifestyle.

Pros

  • Natural and Plant-Based Formula
    Vital Hemp Gummies are typically made with hemp-derived ingredients, making them a good option for those who prefer natural supplements over synthetic alternatives.
  • Non-Intoxicating
    These gummies usually contain little to no THC, meaning they do not produce any “high” and can be used safely in daily routines.
  • Supports Stress Relief and Relaxation
    They may help promote a calm and relaxed state of mind, especially for individuals dealing with daily stress or mental fatigue.
  • May Improve Sleep Quality
    By supporting relaxation, these gummies can help users fall asleep more easily and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep.
  • Easy and Convenient to Use
    Gummies are pre-measured, portable, and easy to consume, making them ideal for beginners and busy individuals.
  • Nutritional Benefits
    Hemp ingredients provide essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6, which support heart health and overall wellness.

Cons

  • Results May Vary
    The effects can differ from person to person depending on factors like body type, metabolism, and consistency of use.
  • Requires Consistent Use
    These gummies are not an instant solution; they usually need to be taken regularly over time to notice benefits.
  • Possible Mild Side Effects
    Some users may experience minor issues such as drowsiness, dry mouth, or digestive discomfort.
  • Slower Absorption
    Since gummies must be digested, they may take longer to show effects compared to oils or tinctures.
  • Quality Can Vary Between Brands
    Not all products are created equal, so choosing a trustworthy and transparent brand is important.
  • Not a Medical Treatment
    Vital Hemp Gummies are a supplement and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment.

Possible Side Effects

Vital Hemp Gummies are generally considered safe and well-tolerated by most users, especially when taken as directed. However, like any dietary supplement, some individuals may experience mild side effects, particularly during the initial days as the body adjusts to the ingredients.

Possible Side Effects Include:

  • Mild Digestive Discomfort
    Some users may experience slight bloating, nausea, or stomach upset, especially if taken on an empty stomach.
  • Drowsiness or Fatigue
    Due to their calming properties, these gummies may cause sleepiness in some individuals, particularly when taken in higher doses or during the daytime.
  • Dry Mouth
    A temporary dry sensation in the mouth is occasionally reported and can usually be managed by staying well-hydrated.
  • Changes in Appetite
    Some users may notice a slight increase or decrease in appetite depending on how their body responds.

Safety Tips:

To minimize the risk of side effects:

  • Follow the recommended dosage instructions
  • Avoid exceeding the suggested daily intake
  • Take the gummies after meals if you have a sensitive stomach
  • Stay hydrated throughout the day

Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or managing existing health conditions should consult a healthcare professional before using Vital Hemp Gummies.

Overall, most side effects are mild and temporary, and many users do not experience any adverse reactions when using the product responsibly.

How to Use / Dosage

Using Vital Hemp Gummies is simple, making them a convenient addition to your daily wellness routine. Since they come in a pre-measured gummy form, there’s no need for complicated preparation or measuring.

Recommended Usage:

  • Take 1–2 gummies per day
  • Consume preferably after meals for better absorption
  • Use consistently at the same time each day for optimal results

Tips for Best Results:

  • Stay consistent and use regularly for at least 2–4 weeks to notice improvements
  • Pair with a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and regular physical activity
  • Stay hydrated throughout the day to support overall body function
  • Avoid exceeding the recommended dosage unless advised by a healthcare professional

Important Note:

Always read and follow the instructions provided on the product label, as formulations may vary slightly. If you are new to hemp supplements, starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing it can help your body adjust more comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are Vital Hemp Gummies safe?

Yes, Vital Hemp Gummies are generally safe for most adults when used as directed. They are made with hemp-derived ingredients and are typically well-tolerated. However, individuals with medical conditions or those taking medications should consult a healthcare professional before use.

2. Do Vital Hemp Gummies contain THC?

Most formulations are THC-free or contain only trace amounts, which means they are non-intoxicating and will not produce a “high.”

3. How long does it take to see results?

Results may vary depending on the individual, but many users report noticeable improvements in 2–4 weeks with consistent daily use.

4. Can I take them daily?

Yes, Vital Hemp Gummies are designed for daily use as part of a regular wellness routine. Consistency is key to achieving the best results.

5. Are they addictive?

No, hemp-based supplements like Vital Hemp Gummies are non-addictive and do not create dependency.

6. Can I use them with other medications?

If you are currently taking medications or have underlying health conditions, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional before combining them with this supplement.

7. Where can I buy Vital Hemp Gummies?

They are typically available online through official product websites and authorized sellers. Always ensure you are purchasing from a reliable source to guarantee authenticity.

(LIMITED STOCK) Order Now Vital Hemp Gummies For The Lowest Price While Supplies Last

Final Conclusion

Vital Hemp Gummies have gained popularity as a natural and convenient supplement for individuals looking to support their overall health and well-being. With their plant-based formulation, ease of use, and potential benefits such as stress relief, improved sleep, and enhanced daily balance, they offer a practical solution for modern lifestyle challenges.

While they are not a miracle cure, consistent use combined with a healthy lifestyle can lead to noticeable improvements over time. It is important to approach them with realistic expectations and ensure you are choosing a high-quality product from a trusted source.

For those seeking a simple, natural addition to their wellness routine, Vital Hemp Gummies may be a worthwhile option to consider.

References: https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/healthcare/articles/strongest-phentermine-alternatives-weight-loss-115400071.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/effective-oral-steroids-strength-muscle-122400342.html?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/most-popular-sarms-bulking-muscle-193900631.html

Company – Vital Hemp Gummies

Website: https://tryvitalhemp.com/

Email: support@sprout-vitamins.com
Phone: +61 8 6149 7530

Mailing Address

Sprout Vitamins
220 Collins St, Level 8, 805, Melbourne VIC 3000

Advertise with us: Info@allprsolution.com

– Published by The MIL Network

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/14/nz-au-vital-hemp-gummies-launch-hemp-gummies-australia-nz-or-canada-relieves-anxiety-effective-reduces-pain-relax-stress-with-vital-hemp-2026/

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Live: Pacific Four – Black Ferns v USA in Sacramento

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action, as the Black Ferns take on USA in Sunday’s Pacific Four game in Sacramento.

Three players will make their debuts with new coach Whitney Hansen’s first team selection – loose forward Mia Anderson, halfback Tara Turner and winger Justine McGregor.

All three were on the reserves bench.

Kickoff is 11am NZT.

Black Ferns: 1. Chryss Viliko, 2. Georgia Ponsonby, 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 5. Laura Bayfield, 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. Kennedy Tukuafu, 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker, 9. Maia Joseph, 10. Ruahei Demant, 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga, 12. Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, 13. Amy Du’Plessis, 14. Mererangi Paul, 15. Renee Holmes

Bench: 16. Vici-Rose Green, 17. Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, 18. Tanya Kalounivale, 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, 20. Mia Anderson, 21. Tara Turner, 22. Hannah King, 23. Justine McGregor

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/12/live-pacific-four-black-ferns-v-usa-in-sacramento/

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XEV Will Launches A New “Hardware + Service” EV Model in Europe, Cutting Entry Costs and Expanding Access to Battery Swapping

Source: Media Outreach

TURIN, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 April 2026 – XEV today announced the European rollout of its new Customer-to-Manufacturer (C2M) ecosystem, a direct-order model designed to lower the cost of entering the electric vehicle market by separating vehicle ownership from battery service. Through the program, customers can purchase an XEV vehicle while leasing its battery capacity, reducing upfront costs and addressing two of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in Europe: high purchase prices and concerns over battery depreciation and residual value. XEV is currently in discussions with capable partners, and many well-known large enterprises are hoping to get an early foothold in the new energy industry. This move will allow them to quickly enter the new energy sector.”

XEV Will Launches A New “Hardware + Service” EV Model in Europe, Cutting Entry Costs and Expanding Access to Battery Swapping

The launch marks a major shift from the traditional dealership model, which relies on costly inventory and standardized vehicle stock. With XEV’s C2M approach, drivers can configure vehicles directly online, enabling personalized production while reducing the capital burden typically built into retail pricing.

“We are not just manufacturing cars. We are redefining vehicle ownership,” says the XEV leadership team. “Our goal is to make car production as flexible as smartphone manufacturing. We give users exactly what they need for city living without the financial weight of traditional ownership.”

Built for European cities, customized by users

XEV’s vehicles are designed specifically for dense urban environments. With a compact footprint of approximately 2.5 meters, the YOYO is built to navigate narrow streets and congested city centers while still offering a high degree of personalization.

Through XEV’s online platform, customers can configure their vehicles by selecting exterior colors, interior materials, wheel designs, and other features. These choices feed into XEV’s flexible production model, which supports mass customization rather than one-size-fits-all inventory.

3 Minutes to Full Power: Solving the Charging Crisis

Range anxiety remains a critical hurdle for European EVs. This is particularly true for drivers without private home charging infrastructure. XEV addresses this with its proprietary battery swapping network.

The XEV YOYO and the upcoming XEV XPRESSION are engineered with a modular battery system. Instead of waiting hours at a charging point, drivers pull into a dedicated station. They complete a fully automated battery replacement in approximately three minutes.

This “SWAPPING” technology does more than save time. It improves operational efficiency for commercial users and ensures the vehicle is immune to battery degradation. Since the driver does not own the battery, they never have to worry about the cell’s lifespan affecting the car’s resale value. This creates a “Zero Usage Anxiety” experience for the owner.

Commercial Application: Powering the Last-Mile Economy

The flexibility of the XEV platform extends well beyond personal commuting. It is designed to serve the booming last-mile economy. The platform supports last-mile delivery vehicles and shared mobility fleets.

XEV provides specialized enclosed cargo options for logistics companies. The vehicle can even be customized for small business applications, such as mobile coffee carts or retail trucks. For small business owners, the vehicle serves as a mobile asset that can be configured for specific trades, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs.

XEV has already initiated pilot projects with major European logistics firms to prove the model’s viability for high-frequency urban commuting and commercial delivery. For car-sharing services, the high utilization rates and low maintenance needs of the YOYO make it an ideal asset for time-based rental fleets. The modular design further supports this eco-friendly lifecycle by facilitating easy repair and part upgrades. This extends the product lifespan and reduces waste compared to traditional vehicles that are often scrapped when a single major system fails.

A Strategic Supply Chain for a New Era

XEV achieves this level of flexibility through a strategic manufacturing model. The company adopts a capital-light approach that relies on deep collaboration with mature Asian automotive supply chains. This ensures rigorous quality control and cost efficiency without the bloating of traditional manufacturing.

Simultaneously, XEV is committed to European localization. The company is currently establishing assembly hubs and battery swapping networks across Europe to better serve local demand. This dual approach allows XEV to combine global manufacturing power with local market responsiveness. It ensures that while the technology is global, the support and infrastructure are local.

Availability

Sales and deliveries of the XEV YOYO have commenced in whole European markets, including major countries of Italy and Germany, Spain and France and Argentina of South America, Peru of Africa etc.. The company continues to expand its infrastructure to support the growing network of users who demand a smarter and cleaner way to move through their cities.

For more information on the YOYO and the battery-swapping network, visit https://www.xev-global.com/yoyo or explore the upcoming XPRESSION model at https://www.xev-global.com/xpression.

Hashtag: #XEV

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/11/xev-will-launches-a-new-hardware-service-ev-model-in-europe-cutting-entry-costs-and-expanding-access-to-battery-swapping/

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Asia Pacific dominates top rankings in Kearney’s 2026 FDI Confidence Index® amid global geopolitical tension and industrial policy expansion

Source: Media Outreach

  • Asia Pacific holds the largest share of ranked markets on the Index for the first time in more than a decade, claiming 10 out of 25 spots.
  • Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea and India see leaps in ranking as Thailand and Malaysia re-enter the top 25.
  • Technological and innovation capabilities emerges as the most important factor shaping investment decisions.
  • Industrial policy is now critical in investment decisions, with 84 percent of investors citing it as extremely or very important.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 April 2026 – Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council today released the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index (FDICI), an annual survey of global business executives that ranks markets most likely to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next three years. The 2026 Index sees Asia Pacific (APAC) claiming the largest share of the ranked markets (10 out of 25) for the first time in more than a decade, amid a global investment environment shaped by intensifying geopolitical tensions, expanding industrial policy, and accelerating technological competition.

The survey, conducted in January 2026 among more than 500 senior executives from leading corporations worldwide, shows that companies remain committed to international investment despite mounting uncertainty. Eighty-eight percent of respondents say they plan to increase foreign direct investment over the next three years, signaling sustained confidence in long-term global opportunities.

The United States and Canada retain their first and second positions on the Index. Japan rises to third, and China (including Hong Kong) climbs to fourth. Singapore (8th), South Korea (11th) and India (22nd) post gains as Thailand (20th) and Malaysia (21st) re-enter the top 25 list after three and 12 years respectively— reflecting a strong showing from APAC.

“The APAC region emerges as a winner as investors recalibrate how they make decisions in a more turbulent operating environment,” said Shigeru Sekinada, Region Chair, Asia Pacific at Kearney. “The technological capability, economic growth potential, and geopolitical relevance offered by the top-ranking APAC markets make them choice FDI destinations among a business community that is both actively pursuing emerging opportunities and attentive to mounting complexities and risks.”

Middle powers and emerging markets attract renewed investor interest

Most APAC markets in the top 25 list saw improvements in rankings, but none as remarkable as Singapore, which rose from 15th to 8th place. This leap can be attributed to the city-state’s reputation as a hub for R&D and innovation, supported by tax incentives, research grants, and partnerships. One third (34 percent) of investors in the survey cite Singapore’s technological innovation as the strongest reason to invest there, followed by its economic performance (30 percent), driven by expansions in biomedical manufacturing and electronics, and sustained AI-driven semiconductor and server related growth.

Singapore’s significant gain in this year’s Index, alongside those of markets like Saudi Arabia, reflects the rise of “middle powers”—markets that are neither great powers nor small states but still exercise meaningful influence in international politics and generally abide by global rules and norms.

Meanwhile, emerging markets remain dynamic and increasingly interconnected with global investment flows. China ranks as the top market on the Emerging Markets Index for the third consecutive year. Thailand and Malaysia (6th and 7th on the Emerging Markets Index) post some of the largest gains in the rankings while Vietnam (16th) rises three spots.Investor sentiment toward emerging markets has improved modestly year over year, suggesting that companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional investment hubs as they expand supply chains and pursue growth opportunities across a broader set of emerging markets.

Innovation drives investment decisions

Technological and innovation capabilities rank as the most important factor influencing where companies choose to invest, surpassing traditional considerations such as regulatory efficiency and domestic economic performance. As investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and data-driven technologies accelerates worldwide, markets with strong innovation ecosystems are increasingly viewed as the most attractive destinations for long-term investment.

Investors cite technological innovation as the strongest or tied strongest reason to invest in 10 of the 25 markets on the Index, including Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan (China).

Geopolitical risk and industrial policy reshape the investment landscape

Executives remain alert to rising global risks even as investment intentions remain strong. Geopolitical tensions rank as the most likely development over the next year (36 percent), followed by commodity price increases and political instability in developed markets (30 percent).

“Geopolitical instability and rising commodity prices have proven to be major factors impacting global business this year, as reflected in the current Middle East conflict. Supply chain resilience, diversification of energy sources and government policies will be crucial for markets to maintain their attractiveness in the eyes of investors in the medium term,” said Sekinada.

At the same time, industrial policy is playing an increasingly central role in shaping investment decisions. According to the survey, 84 percent of investors globally say industrial policy is extremely or very important in determining where they invest, and 57 percent believe it has a positive impact on their company’s business performance. APAC investors show strong support for infrastructure development and subsidies as the most effective industrial policy tools, with 88 percent of investors in the region viewing infrastructure-focused industrial policy as favorable, and 80 percent saying the same for subsidies.

About the 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index®

The 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index® is constructed using primary data from a proprietary survey of 507 senior executives of the world’s leading corporations. The survey was conducted in January 2026. Respondents include C-level executives and regional and business leaders. All participating companies have annual revenues of $500 million or more. The companies are headquartered in 30 countries and span all sectors.

The Index is calculated as a weighted average of the number of high, medium, and low responses to questions on the likelihood of making a direct investment in a select market over the next three years.

Index values are based on responses only from companies headquartered in foreign markets. For example, the Index value for the United States was calculated without responses from US-headquartered investors. Higher Index values indicate more attractive investment targets.

All economic growth figures presented in the report are the latest estimates and forecasts available from Oxford Economics unless otherwise noted. Other secondary sources include investment promotion agencies, central banks, ministries of finance and trade, relevant news media, and other major data sources.

https://www.kearney.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kearney/

Hashtag: #Kearney

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/10/asia-pacific-dominates-top-rankings-in-kearneys-2026-fdi-confidence-index-amid-global-geopolitical-tension-and-industrial-policy-expansion/

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Death by aid cuts: Oxfam reaction to OECD preliminary data on aid spending in 2025

Source: Oxfam Aotearoa

In response to the publication today of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) preliminary data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) for 2025, Oxfam Aotearoa’s Advocacy and Policy Lead Nick Henry said:
“This report shows New Zealand aid fell by 12.8% in 2025. This is a huge problem for our Pacific neighbours who face an accelerating climate crisis.
Now more than ever, New Zealand should be standing with our Pacific neighbours with support for climate adaptation and sustainable development. But the New Zealand Government has not renewed our climate funding commitment for the Pacific and has not increased other aid enough to make up for the shortfall.
Unfortunately, this means New Zealand is now part of the problem.
Oxfam has previously praised the good work done through New Zealand’s support for climate action in the Pacific. We call on the New Zealand Government to restore and extend that support to our Pacific neighbours in this year’s budget.”
Meanwhile Oxfam’s Development Finance Lead Didier Jacobs said:
“Wealthy governments are turning their backs on the lives of millions of women, men and children in the Global South with these severe aid cuts. They collectively slashed aid by 23% in 2025. Based on aid’s crucial role in combating diseases like HIV-AIDS and malaria, the Institute of Global Health of Barcelona estimated that global aid cuts of such magnitude would kill hundreds of thousands of people in 2025 alone. If this trend continues, aid cuts could kill over 9 million people by 2030.
At a time where aid cuts are already driving instability and fostering greater inequality, government donors are cutting life-saving aid budgets while financing conflict and militarization. Cuts from donors including Germany, France and the UK will be felt by the world’s poorest. The United States shut down USAID and recklessly cut aid by $37 billion in 2025, and the Trump administration has been preparing to ask Congress for tens of billions in additional funding for bombs, ammunition, and other military equipment relating to its unlawful war against Iran.
Governments must restore their aid budgets and shore up the global humanitarian system that faces its most serious crisis in decades. There are other ways to find tens of billions of dollars, such as by taxing the $2.84 trillions of dollars that the super-rich hide in tax havens.”
Notes
The OECD preliminary data shows the DAC countries’ aid spending for 2025 was $174.3 billion, a cut of 23% from 2024.
The Institute of Global Health in Barcelona released a study in Lancet Journal (February 2026) that evaluated the impact of ODA on mortality rates around the world. It estimates that aid cuts in 2025 alone, assuming a 21% aid cut, would be responsible for 695,238 excess deaths, and that, if the aid cut trend continued, it could kill 9,416,417 by 2030.
The US Administration is reportedly planning to seek a war appropriation of $80-$100 billion from Congress.
Oxfam estimates that the top 0.1% richest people worldwide hide $2.84 trillion in tax havens. Even a small tax on that wealth would yield much more than the amount of aid cuts.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/10/death-by-aid-cuts-oxfam-reaction-to-oecd-preliminary-data-on-aid-spending-in-2025/

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Bhutan’s Young Culinary Talent Sharpens Skills in Hong Kong Culinary Exchange Sponsored by Lee Kum Kee

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2026 – Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the global leader in Asian sauces and condiments, organised a three-week culinary programme for eight young Bhutanese chefs from the De-suung Skilling Programme (DSP) from 1-19 March 2026. Supported by the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) in Hong Kong, the programme empowers youth career development through vocational training and international exposure.

Dasho Tashi Wangyal, an Eminent Member of the National Council of Bhutan and a member of the De-suung Skilling Programme (DSP) Steering Committee (front row, sixth from left), Dasho Zimpon Wom Sonam Thinley, Deputy Chamberlain to His Majesty the King, the Executive Director, Skilling Programme, DSP and a member of the DSP Steering Committee (front row, seventh from left), James HP Yap, Principal of Hotel and Tourism Institute, Chinese Culinary Institute, and International Culinary Institute (front row, eighth from left), and Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Lee Kum Kee Sauce (front row, fifth from left), celebrate with the young Bhutanese chefs upon completion of their culinary exchange

The cohort of eight Desuup chefs, currently working in hotels and DSP initiatives, participated in an intensive, hands-on upskilling programme. Participants completed 10 days of professional training at CCI, with focused modules on the Eight Major Cuisines of China, selected Western cooking techniques, and signature Cantonese dishes. Additional sessions covered Hong Kong local specialties and pastry techniques as well as food presentation and plating — all led by instructors from CCI, International Culinary Institute (ICI), Star Chef Management School and Lee Kum Kee.

Beyond classroom learning and cooking, the young chefs explored Hong Kong’s food culture and heritage. Activities included visits to local eateries such as a traditional Cha Chaan Teng, and guided culinary tours across the city. The group also travelled to Xinhui and Zhuhai in mainland China to learn more about sauce production and Guangdong’s culinary culture. The experiences further inspired their culinary perspectives and creativity.

The young chefs also showcased their skills at an exclusive VIP lunch and the Bhutan Flavour Fair, attended by DSP officials and Lee Kum Kee Sauce representatives.

Young chefs are inspired through systematic hands-on learning and exploration, discovering local delicacies, and experiencing Hong Kong’s heritage and contemporary landscape

Young chefs showcase their skills at an exclusive VIP lunch and a Bhutan Flavour Fair


Dasho Tashi Wangyal, an Eminent Member of the National Council of Bhutan and a member of the DSP Steering Committee, said, “Our young chefs are receiving valuable exposure at the Chinese Culinary Institute through immersion in professional Asian cuisine, modern culinary techniques and global kitchen standards. I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Lee Kum Kee for the vision, partnership and commitment to nurturing the next generation of culinary professionals.”

Dasho Zimpon Wom Sonam Thinley, Deputy Chamberlain to His Majesty the King, the Executive Director, Skilling Programme, DSP and a member of the DSP Steering Committee, said, “I’m proud of the Desuup chefs’ aspirations, and I hope they will build on the prestige of Lee Kum Kee and the Chinese Culinary Institute – their mentors – to further develop their careers in the culinary world.”

James HP Yap, Principal of Hotel and Tourism Institute, Chinese Culinary Institute, and International Culinary Institute, said, “Hong Kong is a vital platform that brings together global culinary cultures. Through this exchange, I’m confident the young Bhutanese chefs have not only deepened their understanding of the essence of Chinese and Western culinary flavours, but also have acquired valuable cooking techniques, plating skills, as well as developed a deeper appreciation of the richness of Chinese culinary culture.”

Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Lee Kum Kee Sauce, said, “At Lee Kum Kee, we believe in the power of culinary culture to connect people and create lasting opportunities. It has been a joy to see the passion and growth of these chefs throughout this programme. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CCI and DSP to nurture the next generation of culinary talent and strengthen the ties between our communities through the art of food.”

Since 2025, Lee Kum Kee has engaged in a strategic partnership with DSP to support culinary training in Bhutan, bringing international standards, signature flavours and professional expertise into DSP’s training programmes.

Lee Kum Kee is dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Through its Global Youth Culinary Immersion initiative, the company has provided culinary education, scholarships and exchange opportunities for aspiring young chefs in China, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, UK, Canada and USA.

Hashtag: #LeeKumKee #LKK

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/bhutans-young-culinary-talent-sharpens-skills-in-hong-kong-culinary-exchange-sponsored-by-lee-kum-kee/

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NGOs – As Pacific nations queue for petrol, ministers gather to chart a fossil-fuel-free future

Source: Fossil Fuel Treaty
 
APRIL 8, 2025 – As Pacific nations scramble to secure fuel supplies amid the Iran war – with Fiji hiking petrol prices by 20%, Tuvalu sending government workers home and the Marshall Islands declaring a 90-day economic emergency — ministers from across the region are convening in Vanuatu to do something about the fossil fuel dependency at the heart of the crisis.

Ministers and senior officials from Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) will convene in Port Vila, Vanuatu from April 13–15 for the third Pacific Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition – a landmark gathering that will shape the Pacific’s unified position ahead of the world’s first international conference dedicated to phasing out fossil fuels.

This engagement began in Port Vila in March 2023, following two devastating Category-4 cyclones in Vanuatu. There, PSIDS articulated a collective vision for a Fossil Fuel-Free Pacific and elevated the global call for a managed phase-out of fossil fuels. PSIDS are now returning to Port Vila for this preparatory summit, Port Vila II, ahead of the First International Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia later this month – a historic milestone they were central in bringing about, and will be crucial in taking forward.

Port Vila II aims to consolidate a unified Pacific stance on fossil fuel phase-out, build momentum for full region-wide support of the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal and establish a PSIDS Inter-Governmental Taskforce to lead regional engagement in the coming negotiation phase.

Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Government of Vanuatu said “The Pacific did not create the fossil fuel crisis, yet we are paying the highest price for it. Our communities are on the frontlines of sea level rise, intensifying cyclones, and the slow erasure of the only homes we have ever known. Port Vila II is about ensuring our voice doesn’t just get heard at Santa Marta—it must shape what happens there. It serves as a powerful reminder of what we have achieved and what we can achieve when we stand up for the survival of our people.”

The Santa Marta Conference represents a defining moment in global climate diplomacy — and one that Australia, as a major fossil fuel exporter and a near neighbour to the Pacific, cannot afford to sit out. While Pacific nations have led efforts to build a multilateral framework for a managed global transition away from fossil fuels, Australia has continued to approve new coal and gas projects; a contradiction that Pacific leaders say is incompatible with the commitments of a genuine partner.

Joseph Sikulu, Pacific Champion for the Fossil Fuel Treaty said “For Pacific Islands, leading on Climate has never been a choice; it has been a matter of survival for us. We are constantly at the forefront pushing for ambition and testing the limits of multilateralism. We were the first to call for a fossil fuel treaty, knowing we need to try everything we can to bring about the transformation we need. Our hope is that we are joined by partners who are ready to take accountability for their actions and help us accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. The Santa Marta Conference is an opportunity for Australia, our big brother nation in the Pacific, to show up for the future of the region and to show us they are ready to lead on climate alongside us.”

With Australia to be president of negotiations at COP31 in 2026, the Santa Marta Conference represents an important moment for the region — and an opportunity for Australia to demonstrate genuine partnership with its Pacific neighbours on the defining issue of our time.

Dr. Tzeporah Berman, Founder and Chair, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said “Pacific Island Nations were the first countries to call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty. Even before the current supply constraints and high price of oil due to the war in Iran these countries have understood the threat dependence on fossil fuels poses to their security and to global climate stability. The current conflict has proven that even more so It is an honour for us to support their leadership as they prepare  for the first diplomatic conference on fossil fuel phase out in Santa Marta where they and other countries participating in the development of the Fossil Fuel Treaty will be a crucial voice for international cooperation, high ambition and fair timelines and financial mechanisms to support a fair phase out.”

 

ABOUT THE FOSSIL FUEL TREATY INITIATIVE

The idea of a Fossil Fuel Treaty was born in the Pacific, a region that has long understood that its survival depends on ending the world’s dependence on coal, oil and gas. The movement gained significant momentum in Port Vila in March 2023, following the unprecedented impact of two Category 4 cyclones striking Vanuatu within the same week, when six nations issued a collective call for a global fossil fuel treaty – building on earlier endorsements from Vanuatu and Tuvalu. Today, that movement has grown to 18 countries, more than 150 subnational governments, 4,000 civil society organisations, and over one million individual endorsees worldwide.

Learn more at fossilfueltreaty.org

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/ngos-as-pacific-nations-queue-for-petrol-ministers-gather-to-chart-a-fossil-fuel-free-future/

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Olympic Champion Gable Steveson Joins 1win as Global Ambassador Ahead of RAF09 Bout

Source: Media Outreach

DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 April 2026 – Global brand 1win announced a new partnership with American heavyweight wrestler and Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Gable Steveson, who joins the company as a global ambassador. The collaboration was revealed through posts on the 1win owner’s Telegram channel and the athlete’s own social media accounts. The announcement comes just ahead of Steveson’s next fight, recently confirmed for May 30, 2026, at the Real American Freestyle (RAF09) event.

As part of his partnership with 1win, Steveson will have the opportunity to work more closely with his mentor, UFC legend and fellow 1win global ambassador Jon Jones. Jones has already started sharing his experience and holding personal training sessions with the wrestler, and he is also expected to accompany him to key fights. The first joint photos of Steveson and Jones were published on the Telegram channel of the 1win owner.

Gable will also participate in 1win’s online and offline projects, marketing activations, and partner launches on social media. The 1win brand is also expected to be present at public events involving the athlete. Special emphasis will be placed on audience engagement on social media: posts, stories, short videos, and other formats for interacting with fans.

In February 2026, Gable Steveson defeated Hugo Lezama in a Mexico Fight League bout, finishing the fight by technical knockout in the first round. The win marked his third consecutive victory. His next fight is now confirmed for May 30 at Real American Freestyle (RAF09), which will be exclusively streamed on Fox Nation.

The agreement with Gable Steveson continues 1win’s strategy of partnering with high-profile and media-friendly world-class athletes. In particular, at the end of 2025, the company signed a partnership agreement with MMA champion Jon Jones. That same year, 1win also worked with Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez.

Hashtag: #1win

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/03/olympic-champion-gable-steveson-joins-1win-as-global-ambassador-ahead-of-raf09-bout/

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Media OutReach Newswire Powers Chinese Brands Going Global with Kitty Lee as New Managing Partner, Greater China

Source: Media Outreach

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 April 2026 – Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first and only global newswire, has appointed Ms Kitty Lee as Managing Partner, Greater China. This is a newly created role designed to accelerate the company’s growth in Mainland China and Greater China.

As the first and only newswire company founded in Asia Pacific, Media OutReach Newswire is committed to supporting Mainland Chinese companies as they expand into international markets. The company helps them build brand awareness and reputation through its global press release distribution network, which reaches more than 200,000 journalists and editors across over 500 trade media outlets. The journalist database is researched and maintained by a team of media researchers based around the world. As a result, the distribution has helped Mainland Chinese clients garner earned media coverage and attract journalists’ inquiries for feature interviews.

Additionally, the newswire guarantees news posting on its clients’ press release on real news sites with domain authority. This is especially important as the public are using Gen AI-Citation. Media OutReach Newswire has just launched JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data) Schema Markup to enhance the technical infrastructure of clients’ press releases and optimise AI visibility. The company continues to focus on adopting AI across its press release distribution network, workflows, and post-release reporting.

Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO, says: “Our focus has always been on supporting PR, marketing, and communications professionals in achieving real results in building brand awareness for their companies. Together with our Total PR and Communications AI-powered SaaS portal, our total solutions from connecting press releases with real journalists maximising earned media coverage, to creating AI-visible online news postings, and delivering auto-downloadable multi-format reports with data insights and PR campaign intelligence have provided clients with tangible results.”

“We are pleased that Kitty, who brings over two decades of experience in the PR industry and a strong track record of helping Chinese brands successfully expand into global markets, has joined us as Managing Partner,” she added. “Having used Media OutReach Newswire’s press release distribution service for several years, she was impressed by the company’s deep understanding of client needs and the quality of its deliverables.”

Kitty Lee added, “I have seen the important role that Media OutReach Newswire has played in my work, and the brand trust we have helped to achieve for Mainland Chinese companies expanding into global markets. I am inspired by the opportunity to contribute my knowledge, drive change, and foster innovation for the advancement and efficiency of the Chinese Mainland PR industry.”

Ms Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire, further says, “The growing demand for an authentic newswire partner has created a clear opportunity for us to expand into Mainland China, GBA and Greater China. Kitty brings exactly what we need: deep relationships across this region’s PR and marketing community, and a clear understanding of what brand communications must achieve. Her in-depth industry knowledge will guide our market expansion and product development as we our business goal is to support Chinese Mainland companies to build their brand awareness and brand reputation across Southeast Asia, ASEAN, Asia Pacific, the USA, Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.”

Kitty joins from FleishmanHillard, where she served as Senior Vice President & Partner, advising clients across retail, property, healthcare and travel & tourism sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Nottingham and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Hong Kong Baptist University. A Cantonese native, she is fluent in English and Mandarin, and will be based in Hong Kong.

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About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution, providing Total Communications Solutions with data insights and PR campaign intelligence for strategic communicators and PR professionals.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500 media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire is the only global newswire with guaranteed verbatim postings on real news sites. Press releases on authentic media with high domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models, power SEO and GEO for AI search, surfacing brands for LLM citations.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR, with offices across Chinese Mainland, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan, the global press release distribution network spans Asia Pacific, ASEAN, and Southeast Asia, the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

For more information about our services, solutions and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/02/media-outreach-newswire-powers-chinese-brands-going-global-with-kitty-lee-as-new-managing-partner-greater-china/