Category: Asia Pacific

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Takapuna golfers may get 12 holes: ‘It just gives us a more meaningful round of golf’

Source: Radio New Zealand

The council is pushing ahead with plans to reduce the Takapuna Gold Course to nine holes. Nick Monro

Hopes of retaining an 18-hole golf course in Takapuna have been sunk – but 12 holes could still be on the cards for the golfers.

Auckland Council is turning half of the existing 18-hole golf course at AF Thomas Park into a floodwater catchment, aimed at mitigating the city’s increasing flood risks.

The Wairau area on Auckland’s North Shore has been hit hard by floods, and the council has said its decision was about “saving lives, protecting homes and businesses, and strengthening the city against flood risk”.

But thousands of people have signed a petition to keep the 18 holes on the course – with supporters including Hall of Fame golfer Dame Lydia Ko.

The council decided last year to push ahead with plans to reduce the course to nine holes.

But Takapuna Golf Course is taking another swing at the proposal, and has come up with a plan to give the council the area it needs for the wetland, while squeezing 12 holes into the remaining space.

Takapuna Golf Course head greens keeper Stephen Dowd told Checkpoint the three extra holes would make a big difference, and followed moves in Europe and the United States towards 12-hole golf.

“It just gives us a more meaningful round of golf. We can play two sixes, which you can associate with playing two nines, and it can be more like a normal round of golf, rather than just playing nine holes, and it lets us operate pretty much as we are now. We can sell an extra tee-off time in the morning for a couple of hours, so people can play the other six.

“It just lets us operate and then we can continue to provide more affordable golf to as many Kiwis as we can, and get more people on the course.”

Head greens keeper Stephen Dowd. Takapuna Golf Club

Dowd said the golf course had not yet seen the council’s full proposal, but they were confident they could make the 12 holes work.

“We just have to come up with our own plan. They’ve seen our plan and we believe some of them actually like it.

“We anticipate the wetland will take up around a third of the course. So we need about 22 hectares of the rest of the course.”

He said they were working with a designer and were trying to accommodate other peoples wishes that they wanted extra recreation on the course.

“If we want more land, it won’t be very much more, only two or three more hectares.”

The local community board will discuss the new proposal at a meeting next week.

While the golfers had fought to keep the 18 holes, Dowd said they had accepted that the course needed to change.

“Obviously, the flooding was a massive issue and that was last year’s fight, we made the decision last year that we needed to start working with the council.

“And we think this is a good plan that accomplishes all their goals, while leaving meaningful golf on Takapuna Golf Course for our 100,00 users we get every year.”

The Takapuna Golf Course. Nick Monro

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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/2026/03/18/takapuna-golfers-may-get-12-holes-it-just-gives-us-a-more-meaningful-round-of-golf/

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Chris Hipkins says he considered his future in politics after ex-wife’s claims

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ / Mark Papalii

New Zealand First’s leader Winston Peters says he’s not interested in weighing in on the personal relationship of Labour’s leader Chris Hipkins.

He’s issued a statement, however, clarifying that Mr Hipkins’ ex-wife Jade Paul does not work for his party or have any affiliation or role with it.

“We are not interested in a politician’s current personal relationship issues and won’t be commenting at all on the matter – apart from the fact that there are lies now being spread including that the person involved works for New Zealand First – this is false.

“This person does not work for New Zealand First nor has any affiliation or role with New Zealand First. They worked for a short period of time in an office then left amicably for another role around a year ago.”

It was understood Paul worked as a ministerial advisor for Cabinet minister Casey Costello.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hipkins said he did consider his future in politics after his ex-wife levelled claims at him on social media, but he remains “absolutely committed” to staying on.

Hipkins appeared on a suite of morning media shows – including Morning Report – where he again flatly denied all the claims, but said he would not be litigating them in public for the sake of his children.

The claims are not criminal and relate to a lack of support for his ex-wife Jade Paul during and after their relationship.

Speaking on Morning Report, Hipkins acknowledged he had considered stepping down, noting the impact on his family.

“It would be untrue to say that those thoughts hadn’t crossed my mind in the last 48 hours, but everybody in their lives at some point goes through rough patches, and you just have to keep getting out of bed every day.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. RNZ / Mark Papalii

“I love my job and and I’m absolutely committed to continuing to do it.”

Later on Wednesday outside Parliament, Hipkins told reporters people should not read “too much” into his comments, insisting he was “not going anywhere”.

“I’m passionate about my job, I’m passionate about New Zealand. I’m passionate about many, many things that I care deeply about. But these things have a big impact on the people who I care a lot about.”

On Morning Report, Hipkins said the public debate was “very unfair” on his children, partner and parents – “you do pause and think about that” – but he had received a lot of support over the past day or two.

“Our marriage broke up. That was a traumatic thing. You know, clearly, there are always going to be lots of regrets in a situation like that.

“Many, many people have contacted me in the last 24 hours to indicate that they’ve been through a relationship break-up that has been difficult. I think people will understand that litigating those things through the public is in no one’s best interest.”

Hipkins confirmed he had sought legal advice about the further publication of his ex-wife’s allegations by others, as well as the addition of other “completely unsubstantiated things”.

“The online world is a bit of a sewer pit, and it seems that no one has any hesitation in adding to that,” he said.

“Social media certainly has emboldened a lot of people, and, you know, we have a virtual vigilante approach on social media that anybody in a public profile role now has to contend with. I don’t think that’s been healthy for democracy.”

Paul’s initial post was published on her private Facebook page on Sunday evening, but screenshots were quickly circulated online.

Paul later removed the post, but told RNZ she stood by the comments.

Since then, false rumours have circulated online that Paul works for New Zealand First. In a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, leader Winston Peters said that claim was not true.

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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/2026/03/18/chris-hipkins-says-he-considered-his-future-in-politics-after-ex-wifes-claims/

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TrendAI™ to Secure Enterprise Adoption of Agentic AI with NVIDIA

Source: Media Outreach

TrendAI to support NVIDIA OpenShell open source runtime to add security for autonomous AI agents

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – TrendAI , the enterprise AI security leader, today announced expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to support NVIDIA OpenShell, a new open source runtime for agentic AI introduced at NVIDIA GTC. The solution enables organizations to deploy autonomous AI agents with built-in governance, continuous risk visibility, and runtime enforcement, addressing key barriers to production adoption of agentic AI.

TrendAI is teaming with NVIDIA to add security for the open source NVIDIA OpenShell runtime as the ecosystem evolves. Learn more: https://resources.trendmicro.com/2026-nvidia-gtc.html

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI : “Agentic AI changes the security equation. When AI systems can plan, take action, and interact with other tools on their own, the risk profile looks very different from traditional AI. Our collaboration with NVIDIA allows us to bring security directly into the architecture so organizations can adopt agentic AI with the visibility and control they expect.”

Traditional AI security models were built for short-lived interactions between users and models. Agentic AI changes that dynamic by operating continuously and taking action across environments.

NVIDIA OpenShell is an open source runtime for long-lived, self-evolving agents capable of planning, memory, and tool execution. While these capabilities unlock significant productivity gains, they also introduce risks related to unauthorized skills, hidden behaviors, prompt injection, and unintended system access.

Pat Lee, vice president, Strategic Enterprise Partnerships at NVIDIA: “Agentic AI opens the door for a new class of applications that can plan, reason, and take action. By working with TrendAI , we’re helping developers add visibility and controls to make it safer to run autonomous AI.”

TrendAI can transform agentic AI from a high-risk experiment into an enterprise-ready architecture. Organizations gain the ability to define trust boundaries, enforce policy at runtime, and maintain continuous visibility into autonomous AI behavior, all while preserving the flexibility and power that make agentic systems valuable.

TrendAI adds an enterprise-grade security layer that governs how agents behave, what tools they can access, and how risk is detected and enforced, before, during, and after execution.

The collaboration extends across the NVIDIA AI-Q blueprint and the NVIDIA NeMo Agent Toolkit, enabling consistent security, governance, and observability as agentic systems scale across enterprise environments.

TrendAI Vision One ’s layered security architecture for OpenShell provides:

  • Centralized AI governance and compliance enforced directly in the agent runtime
  • Skill and tool risk visibility, including continuous scanning of agent skills and MCP integrations
  • Dynamic behavioral analysis to detect hidden or malicious actions
  • Inline policy enforcement that blocks untrusted skills and actions at runtime
  • AI specific threat protection, including prompt injection and sensitive data exposure detection
  • Continuous monitoring and auditability through agentic telemetry and SIEM integration. These capabilities allow organizations to define trust boundaries, enforce policy, and maintain visibility across autonomous AI agents without limiting innovation.

https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
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Hashtag: #trendai #trendmicro #trendvisionone #trendaivisionone #visionone #cybersecurity #nvidia

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/2026/03/18/trendai-to-secure-enterprise-adoption-of-agentic-ai-with-nvidia/

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XTransfer’s CSO Speaks at Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda

Source: Media Outreach

KIGALI, RWANDA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to have its Chief Strategy Officer, Neil Ni, speak at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda, underscoring the company’s growing expansion across Africa to deliver more inclusive financial services for SMEs engaged in international trade across the continent.

XTransfer’s CSO, Neil Ni (Left), speaks at the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in Rwanda.

Neil joined the panel discussion, “Securing the Global Payments Highway: Cybersecurity for Real-Time Cross-Border Transactions” during the forum to share perspectives on how the industry can strengthen cybersecurity, anti-money laundering (AML) controls, and operational resilience as cross-border payments scale in speed and volume.

Drawing on XTransfer’s experience supporting SMEs in international trade, Neil noted that traditional B2B cross-border payments often pass through multiple correspondent banks, creating complex procedures, settlement delays and high costs that can strain SME cash flow. He shared that transfers can take several days to settle, and fees can materially impact businesses operating on tight margins, sometimes pushing SMEs toward unlicensed channels that raise compliance and transparency risks.

“As the industry scales, the challenge isn’t only transaction volume, it’s speed and trust,” Neil said. “To keep legitimate trade moving safely, risk and compliance must become more intelligent, consistent, and scalable.”

Neil shared that AI is now foundational to XTransfer’s risk and compliance capability. He highlighted TradePilot, XTransfer’s self-developed large language model (LLM) tailored for the global foreign trade financial sector, which helps identify suspicious patterns earlier, prioritise alerts, reduce false positives, and support more consistent decisions across markets, strengthening AML and compliance at speed.

Neil also discussed XTransfer’s accelerating expansion in Africa, noting more than 300% growth in the region in 2025 as SMEs seek faster and lower-cost ways to manage cross-border trade payments. He added that XTransfer is focused on working with ecosystem partners and regulators to support safer, more standardised cross-border information flows, one reason XTransfer is building X-Net, the industry’s first Unified Global B2B Trade Settlement Network and Risk Control Platform, to enhance interoperability and shared security standards across payment rails.

“Building resilience requires collective effort,” Neil added.

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn
https://x.com/xtransferglobal
https://www.facebook.com/XTransferGlobal/
https://www.instagram.com/xtransfer.global

Hashtag: #XTransfer #Africa #IFF2026 #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

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/2026/03/18/xtransfers-cso-speaks-at-inclusive-fintech-forum-2026-in-rwanda/

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Marlborough District Council wants region’s current environment plan preserved

Source: Radio New Zealand

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor. RNZ / Tracy Neal

The Marlborough District Council wants the government to protect the region’s current environment plan, saying new planning and environmental laws threaten to blow up a decade of hard work.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor told the Environment Select Committee the region’s geography and climate were distinct and maintaining its environment plan would provide certainty to its primary producers.

The Select Committee heard submissions on the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill – which would together replace the Resource Management Act – on Wednesday.

“I’m calling on MPs to protect Marlborough’s status as its own planning region and to safeguard our new planning framework – both are critical to the region’s economy and long-term sustainability,” Taylor said.

The Marlborough District Council is a unitary authority, a single local government body that combines the responsibilities of both a regional council and a territorial authority, which means it manages both local services and regional resource management for the entire Marlborough region.

Taylor said the council managed those functions across more than one million hectares of land and one of New Zealand’s most intricate coastlines.

“Our geography, climate and the industries we support are distinct. Parliament has recognised these differences in previous reform processes – I am asking the Select Committee to confirm that Marlborough remains a separate planning region,” she said.

The region’s combined environment plan provided a stable and well-understood framework for the region’s industries – including viticulture, aquaculture, forestry, farming and tourism – should be deemed fully operative until 2033, Taylor said.

She asked for the select committee to include a provision in Schedule 1 of the Planning Bill to deem the Marlborough Environment Plan fully operative for a defined period or, alternatively, to have the ability to apply for a longer transition during which the plan would continue to apply.

“The Marlborough Environment Plan is the product of more than a decade of work with extensive involvement from iwi, industry and the community and an investment of around $10 million,” Taylor said.

“Industry partners have invested millions more. It’s a sophisticated and newly-settled planning framework that gives confidence to businesses and enables long-term investment decisions.”

Nearly 90 percent of New Zealand’s wine exports were produced in Marlborough and the plan’s rules about water use ensured the viticulture industry was viable.

“Our growers and commercial lenders rely on the stability of the current plan. Requiring us to unravel this new framework now would be unnecessarily destabilising,” she said.

“With proposed rates capping, councils face real limits on funding new planning processes. Marlborough ratepayers should not be asked to repeat a process they have just completed.”

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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/2026/03/18/marlborough-district-council-wants-regions-current-environment-plan-preserved/

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HealthMutual Group and Hong Kong Data Ltd. Sign Cooperation Agreement to Streamline Cross-Border Healthcare with AI-Driven eTPA Platform

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – HealthMutual Group (HMG) and Hong Kong Data Ltd. (HK Data) (formerly known as CU Datahub) signed a Cooperation Agreement today to integrate and scale a pioneering electronic Third-Party Administrator (eTPA) system. This collaboration marks a definitive shift toward a data-driven insurance ecosystem, integrating advanced AI to bridge the gap in, and thus enhance cross-border healthcare administration.

The partnership centers on HMG adopting HK Data’s proprietary Trusted Cross-border Data Space (TCDS). For HMG, this technology is the engine that will help turn its long-term strategic vision into a functional reality. By leveraging TCDS, HMG will provide its 700,000+ members with a seamless, secure, and legally compliant framework for data transmission, ensuring that high-quality medical care is never hindered by administrative borders.

The new eTPA system streamlines the insurance lifecycle by digitizing the “medical concierge” experience through a secure, automated framework. By connecting Grade 3A hospitals in the Greater Bay Area directly with Hong Kong insurers, the platform provides an end-to-end solution—integrating underwriting, network management, and one-tap mobile claims. This secure data flow reduces operational overhead while ensuring high standards of data integrity and patient privacy.

Beyond individual memberships, the two companies will co-develop specialized eTPA solutions tailored for the Hong Kong Employee Benefits market. This initiative aims to transform how corporate schemes handle cross-border medical activity. By utilizing AI-powered automation, the platform will offer employees a “cashless” experience with zero upfront payments, making healthcare within the Greater Bay Area more accessible and simpler to navigate than ever before.

Mr. KC Chan, Founder of HealthMutual Group, noted the significance of the partnership. He said, “this cooperation is a natural progression of the vision we held when establishing HMG: to ensure that medical insurance remains a sustainable funding source for Hong Kong healthcare. Facilitating smooth cross-border medical activity is essential to achieving that goal. By teaming up with a leader in AI and data security, we are leveraging our deep experience in medical concierge services to better serve the broader insurance industry.”

Mr. Aldous Ng, Founder and CEO of Hong Kong Data Ltd., added: “We are proud to partner with HMG to deploy world-leading technologies for the public good. Our TCDS platform connects key stakeholders—from Grade 3A hospitals to financial institutions—ensuring that patients seeking treatment in the Chinese Mainland can enjoy ‘one-tap access’ with total peace of mind. We provide a trusted space where innovation directly benefits the people of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Hashtag: #HealthMutualGroup #HMG

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/2026/03/18/healthmutual-group-and-hong-kong-data-ltd-sign-cooperation-agreement-to-streamline-cross-border-healthcare-with-ai-driven-etpa-platform/

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China Tower (788.HK) Announces 2025 Annual Results

Source: Media Outreach

– 18 March 2026 – The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider

(“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2025.

In 2025, the Company’s operating revenue maintained stable growth and profitability remained strong. Operating revenue for the year reached RMB100,411 million, an increase of 2.7% year-on-year. EBITDA reached RMB65,814 million, a decrease of 1.1% year-on-year, with an EBITDA margin

of 65.5%. Profit attributable to the owners of the Company reached RMB11,630 million, an increase of 8.4% year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 11.6%.

The Company maintained a strong and stable cash flow. Net cash generated from operating activities for the year amounted to RMB56,116 million, an increase of RMB6,648 million year-on-year. Capital expenditures stood at RMB29,486 million while free cash flow[3] reached RMB26,630 million, up by RMB9,103 million year-on-year.

As at 31 December 2025, our total assets amounted to RMB336,579 million, with interest-bearing liabilities of RMB90,460 million and a gearing ratio[4] of 27.7%, representing a decrease of 3.3 percentage points from the end of 2024. Our financial position remains healthy and stable.

The Company has always attached great importance to shareholder returns. After considering our profitability, cash flow and future development needs, the board of directors of the Company has recommended a final dividend of RMB0.32539 per share (pre-tax) for the year ended 31 December 2025. Together with the interim dividend distributed, the total full-year dividend amounted to RMB0.45789 per share (pre-tax), equivalent to a payout ratio of 77% of our annual distributable net profit.

Refined operations enabled steady progress in TSP business

The Company continued to play a leading role in new 5G infrastructure construction, further deployed the Dual-Gigabit network joint-entry implementation, and made solid progress in supporting special projects such as upgrading signal strength, extending broadband coverage to all border areas, forests and grasslands. Capturing the strategic opportunities arising from the wide-area 5G network coverage expansion and enhancement of in-depth coverage, we focused on enhancing intensive sharing of network resources and fully satisfying customers’ demands for network construction. As a result, our TSP business maintained stable growth in 2025, recording revenue of RMB84,725 million, an increase of 0.7% year-on-year.

Tower business. The Company seized opportunities arising from customers’ ongoing network expansion requirements and leveraged our competitiveness as a service provider by offering efficient delivery, superior maintenance and optimal cost structure, while minimizing management risks. We deepened the embedded service mechanism, precisely captured customers’ network planning needs, and comprehensively secured construction demands in key scenarios and key regions. Leveraging our site resources and base station data, we proactively conducted coverage analysis to enhance network optimization capabilities. We also enhanced our collaborations with TSPs to provide customers with better services. By adhering to a customer-oriented philosophy, we continued to optimize end-to-end business processes and management standards to enhance service capabilities across the board. In 2025, revenue from our Tower business amounted to RMB75,498 million, a decrease of 0.3% year-on-year. As at the end of 2025, the Company managed a total of 2.149 million tower sites, an increase of 55,000 from the end of 2024. We have gained 23,000 new TSP tenants since the end of 2024, bringing the total number of TSP tenants to 3.567 million at the end of 2025. Our TSP tenancy ratio was 1.70.

DAS business. We continued to focus on high-value and livelihood-critical scenarios, systematically enhancing resource coordination and sharing, and collaborative construction capabilities, as well as accelerating 5G network upgrades on high-speed railways. At the same time, we deployed shared repeaters at scale in everyday scenarios such as elevators, underground parking lots, tunnels, and residential communities, helping TSPs achieve efficient and low-cost network coverage extension. We continued to optimize the integrated active and passive DAS sharing solutions and promoted the implementation of innovative solutions such as shared frequency shifting in existing DAS 5G upgrades. By doing so, we enhanced product and service competitiveness to efficiently meet customer needs. In 2025, our DAS business achieved relatively high growth, with revenue reaching RMB9,227 million, an increase of 9.5% year-on-year. By the end of 2025, we had covered buildings with a cumulative area of 15.15 billion square meters, up by 19.5% year-on-year, while the coverage in railway tunnels and subways reached a cumulative length of 33,661 kilometers, an increase of 14.8% year-on-year.

Vertical advancement supported strong growth in Two Wings business

In the Two Wings business, we seized market opportunities while continuing to strengthen product competitiveness and drive rapid growth of the business. In 2025, revenue of the Two Wings business reached RMB14,985 million and accounted for 14.9% of our overall operating revenue, an increase of 1.2 percentage points over the same period last year.

Smart Tower business. Focusing on spatial digital intelligence governance and leveraging ourrich resources and capabilities, we continued to enhance our Smart Tower business, achievingrevenue in excess of RMB10 billion. We continued to deepen our presence in key industries andscenarios, steadily increasing market share in key areas such as straw burning prohibition, farmlandprotection, and disaster alert. We advanced our nationwide distributed platform, optimizingalgorithm service capabilities for mid-to-high point scenarios, with further improvements inplatform response speed, algorithm accuracy, and application availability. We maintained our focuson implementing the “AI+” special project, promoting the application of large models for spatialdigital intelligence governance, which were included in the first batch of strategic high-value AIscenarios for central state-owned enterprises. Customers are always at the center of everything wedo. Therefore, we strengthened the development of product iterations, construction delivery,and operation and maintenance support, as well as expanding our integrated technical support teams,with an aim to respond actively and promptly to customers’ needs. In 2025, our Smart Tower business generated revenue of RMB10,172 million, up by 14.2% year-on-year, among which, revenue from our Tower Monitoring business reached RMB6,327 million, accounting for 62.2% of the Smart Tower business revenue.

Energy business. We focused on key business segments such as battery exchange and powerbackup. By improving refined operations and strengthening core capabilities and competitiveadvantages in products, services, and platforms, we continued to develop our specialty in theEnergy business. For the battery exchange business, we continued to expand our share in the fooddelivery mass market while accelerating the expansion of our corporate customer base, resulting instable user growth. As at 31 December 2025, we had approximately 1.477 million battery exchangeusers, an increase of 173,000 since the end of 2024, further solidifying our leading position inthe low-speed electric vehicle battery exchange market. We accelerated the construction of acommunity-based low-speed electric vehicle charging facility network while optimizing operationalefficiency, resulting in expanded service coverage and user scale. For the power backup business,we continued to focus on pivotal industries and our premium customer base, creating the ChinaTower “energy butler” integrated industry solutions and enhancing the value of our “energy butler”brand. In 2025, our Energy business achieved revenue of RMB4,813 million, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, of which the battery exchange business accounted for RMB3,029 million, an increase of21.2% year-on-year, and with its contribution to the Energy business reaching 62.9%.

Innovation strategy resulted in remarkable technology empowerment

We made concrete progress in developing the “four lists” working mechanism of competencies and capabilities, task and project planning, resource allocation, and the commercialization of research outcomes. Focusing on the “One Core and Two Wings” businesses, we continued to intensify our efforts to address the challenges in key and core technologies, and accelerated the transformation of technological achievements to inject new momentum into high-quality business development. In 2025, our R&D investment and the number of R&D personnel increased by 82% and 22% respectively, compared to 2024. The number of patent applications and the cumulative number of patent authorizations increased by 77% and 54%, respectively, compared to the year before. We participated in the formulation of multiple international standards. A range of innovative products were commercialized and deployed at scale such as shared micro repeaters, monitoring platforms, and “one code for all”. Our technological innovation system continued to strengthen, as shown in the high-quality construction and development of six regional technological innovation centers, the expansion and quality improvement of joint innovation platforms, and the steady enhancement of innovation efficiency and performance.

Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Chairman of China Tower said, “In 2025, we remained focused on high-quality development, promoting stability through progress while improving quality and efficiency. As a result, throughout the year our business maintained healthy, steady growth and demonstrated a positive outlook. Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold the philosophy of resource sharing and adhere to the “One Core and Two Wings” strategy to further enhance our core competitiveness, promote high-quality development, and create value for shareholders, customers, and society.”

[1] EBITDA is calculated by operating profit plus depreciation and amortization.

[2] EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by operating revenue, and multiplying the resulting value by 100%.

[3] Free cash flow is the net cash generated from operating activities minus the capital expenditures.

[4] Gearing ratio is calculated as net debts divided by the sum of total equity and net debt, then multiplying the result by 100%. Net debt is calculated as the amount of interest-bearing liabilities minus the amount of cash and cash equivalents.

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/2026/03/18/china-tower-788-hk-announces-2025-annual-results/

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New Zealand & Ireland collaborate on farm emissions

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand’s Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Ireland’s Minister of State Noel Grealish have signed a joint ministerial statement for advancing their partnership on agricultural climate research in Wellington today.

“New Zealand and Ireland will continue to advance vital research to support the development of tools to give farmers options to tackle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without reducing production,” Minister McClay says.

It follows a successful Joint Research Initiative (JRI) pilot launched in 2022 with $34.5 million jointly invested to boost climate change research and science capability.

Minister of State Noel Grealish visited several of the 11 projects underway during his time in New Zealand and says they have helped accelerate understanding of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

“Agriculture is at the heart of the Irish and New Zealand economies, and we share the common goal of lowering emissions in pasture-based farming, while supporting farmers to produce more.

“During my visit to New Zealand, I was delighted to meet with Minister Todd McClay and agree to the second phase of the JRI that will drive meaningful reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.”

New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will now identify further projects to progress.

Separately, Ministers also launched the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

It has four priorities: advance scientific research, strengthen capacity and knowledge sharing, build effective collaboration and partnerships, and leverage financial and other resources.  

Note to editors:

The GRA aims to deepen and broaden research efforts in cropping, livestock, and paddy rice. It brings together researchers from around the globe to collaborate on science and breakthrough solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/new-zealand-ireland-collaborate-on-farm-emissions/

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McClay to lead cross-party delegation to WTO negotiation

Source: New Zealand Government

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay travels to Cameroon this weekend for the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), where he will again serve as a Vice Chair of the negotiations.

“As a small, export driven economy, New Zealand depends on predictable and rules based global trade. The WTO is an important part of this system,” Mr McClay says.

“Faced with growing global economic and geo-political disruption, rising protectionism, and concerns about global supply chain resilience, there’s recognition among WTO members of the need for a modern, effective organisation that’s geared to support trade in today’s world.”

As Vice Chair of the conference, Mr McClay has a key role in facilitating those discussions.

Mr McClay will be joined by Labour Party Trade and Export Growth spokesperson Damien O’Connor as part of New Zealand’s delegation.

“New Zealand will push for outcomes that maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the WTO which continues to have a critical oversight role for the vast majority of global trade,” Mr McClay says.

Trade ministers and representatives from the 166 WTO member economies attend the Ministerial Conference, the WTO’s highest decision-making body, which meets every two years.

They will also address e-commerce, agriculture reform, and harmful fisheries subsidies during the conference which runs from 26-29 March.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/mcclay-to-lead-cross-party-delegation-to-wto-negotiation/

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Ara hub celebrates 10 years of airport jobs

Source: New Zealand Government

Minister of Social Development and Employment Louise Upston is marking 10 years of the Ara Jobs and Skills Hub, which trains and connects people to jobs across the Auckland Airport precinct.

In the past decade:

  • Over 1,440 people have been supported into jobs
  • More than 1,700 young people supported through training pathways
  • 3,600 learners gained skills and training opportunities

The Ministry of Social Development has partnered with Ara Jobs Skills Hub for the whole 10 years, helping co-ordinate recruitment and training needs for the 800 businesses employing 25,000 people within the Auckland Airport precinct.
Louise Upston says it is a worthy milestone to celebrate. 

“The Ara Jobs and Skills Hub facilitates workforce planning, recruitment, and training for this nationally-significant group of businesses spanning aviation, construction, logistics and other service sectors like tourism, retail, accommodation and hospitality. 

“The scale of these workforce needs demand a unique platform for long-term planning and coordination.

“It makes sense that the Ministry of Social Development is a key partner given it has the biggest talent pool of people to draw from and MSD’s longstanding relationship with Ara has provided a seamless pathway for job seekers into airport-based jobs.”

Louise Upston says it’s great to see positive signals for renewed infrastructure developments at the Auckland Airport precinct and MSD will continue to support training and recruiting for workforce needs.

“Getting people into jobs is a key focus of our government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future. Work will always be the best way for New Zealanders to support their families and get ahead in life. That is why I am committed to reaching our target of 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support by 2030.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/ara-hub-celebrates-10-years-of-airport-jobs/

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Tell the coppers about copper crime

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Constable Craig Colyer, Southern District Field Intelligence Officer:

Southern District Police investigating multiple cases of copper thefts are asking the public for information to track down those responsible.

Over the past month, the value of scrap copper has increased, and so have the reports of copper theft.

These have included copper cylinders being targeted, copper wire being burnt off and stripped, and copper being taken from buildings and power companies.

Police are asking anyone with information about copper crimes, or of scrap copper that may come from suspicious origins, to contact Police immediately.

Police remind you that it is a crime to receive stolen goods.

You can provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are also asking residents to be vigilant around their properties and to secure any items that may include copper.

If you are the victim of a burglary, please report the matter to Police.

You may not be the only victim in your area and every little bit of information you have may assist in the arrests of those responsible.

To report burglaries and thefts, contact Police. If it’s happening now, call 111, for any non-urgent incidents, call 105 or make a report online by clicking ‘Make a report’.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/tell-the-coppers-about-copper-crime/

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AEON Bank Champions Community Impact Financial Inclusion and Rewarding Raya Campaign Anchored on “Niat di Hati, Budi Terpateri”

Source: Media Outreach

As part of its Shared Value Creation (SVC) commitment, AEON Bank continues to drive its flagship community impact initiative, Salam Prihatin.

Targeted Support and Value Added Impact This year, Salam Prihatin 4.0 engaged 100 households, amounting to more than 400 beneficiaries from the community Perumahan Pantai Permai, Kuala Lumpur. The engagement was held on 3 March 2026, in collaboration with AEON BiG Wangsa Maju and a local NGO, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Masyarakat Penyayang Lembah Pantai (PERKEMP) Lembah Pantai.

Fostering Financial Inclusion and Enabling Budget Savvy Autonomy Among the Beneficiaries

Fostering financial inclusion among the community, the beneficiary families were guided by AEON Bank team to plan for purposeful purchase of grocery and essential items, giving them the autonomy to optimise their budget, based on the needs of their respective families – be it multigenerational households, or families with small children or those caring for persons with disabilities (PWD).

Each beneficiary family received a RM300 grocery budget, which rounded up AEON Bank’s contribution this year to RM30,000 in total. In order to assist the families with their grocery shopping on the event day, more than 50 of AEON Bank employees, including the Bank’s senior leadership, were paired up with the families during the engagement. To date, AEON Bank has engaged almost 2,000 beneficiaries throughout 4 years, under its Salam Prihatin community impact initiative.

Now in its fourth year, AEON Bank has engaged almost 2,000 beneficiaries throughout 4 years, under its Salam Prihatin community impact initiative.

NIAT TO BE MORE RINGGIT SAVVY : SMART SAVINGS AND VALUE ADDED REWARDS

In the effort to help Malaysians manage the rising cost of living, AEON Bank has introduced several financial tools in its digital banking app and meaningful rewards for its customers, including :

(i) Neko Sensei : AEON Bank’s very own in-app financial coach designed to empower customers to track and manage their finances wisely.

(ii) RM30 Raya Cashback : Customers can earn RM30 cashback when paying with their AEON Bank Debit Card-i at stores participating in the MyDebit campaign, valid from 1 February to 15 April 2026.

(iii) Competitive Rate for Savings Pot : Enjoy a high 3.00% p.a. profit rate for the Savings Pot to help keep your financial goals on track, valid until 31 May 2026.

(iv) Personal Financing-i (PF-i) : Financing options from RM1,000 to RM100,000 with a profit rate starting at 3.88% p.a. and flexible tenures from 3 to 84 months. PF-i application process fully takes place online via the app, available to Malaysians with a minimum monthly gross income of RM2,500 including salaried employees, self-employed individuals, freelancers and gig economy workers.

(v) Neko Missions : A gamified digital banking experience that offers RM5 cashback for DuitNow QR transactions via AEON Bank app, valid until 15 May 2026.

(vi) JomPay : Customers can also make their JomPay transactions, including telco and utility bills via the AEON Bank app. providing a centralised platform for all essential online payments.

(vii) Inclusivity and Flexibility : Effective 17 March 2026, AEON Bank has removed the minimum balance requirement, ensuring Shariah-compliant digital banking is more inclusive and accessible for Malaysians.

NIAT TO FULFILL RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS : SAH AND SEAMLESS ZAKAT PAYMENT VIA AEON BANK APP Starting from the month of Ramadan this year, Zakat payment feature has been made available on the AEON Bank app. With just a few easy steps, customers can fulfill the contribution for 11 types of Zakat with a sah Aqad, including Zakat Fitrah, Zakat Pendapatan (Income), Zakat Perniagaan (Business), Zakat Emas (Gold) and more.

Made possible through the strategic partnership with Tulus Digital, the Zakat payment feature currently facilitates payments to Lembaga Zakat Selangor and PPZ-MAIWP, with more states and Zakat authority to be added in the near future.

NIAT TO BRING DIGITAL BANKING TO THE MASSES : O2O WONDERS

Beyond the digital screens, throughout four weeks of Ramadan, AEON Bank brought the O2O (online to offline) wonders to the crowd at the Bazaar Ramadan Seksyen 2 and 23, Shah Alam, in partnership with Persatuan Penjaja & Peniaga Kecil Melayu Negeri Selangor (PPPKMNS). On 16 March 2026, from 4.00 pm onwards, come on over to the Bazaar Ramadan Seksyen 23 and stand a chance to win AEON Bank merchandise and surprise goodies.

Better Banking – The Digital Way, Better Banking – The Shariah Way

As a cloud-native AI-powered digital bank, AEON Bank remains dedicated in its commitment to provide accessible financial solutions for Malaysians, while empowering communities to pursue their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence. Striving to foster a more inclusive financial future for all, AEON Bank will continue to offer a better banking experience for the larger demographic and contribute towards the development of Islamic banking in the region and the nation’s digital economy.

Click HERE to visit AEON Bank’s website and download the AEON Bank app. Don’t forget to view AEON Bank’s Ramadan Aidilfitri 2026 video, available on the Bank’s official YouTube channel.

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/2026/03/18/aeon-bank-champions-community-impact-financial-inclusion-and-rewarding-raya-campaign-anchored-on-niat-di-hati-budi-terpateri/

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This World Water Day: Clean Water Is More Than Survival — It’s a Pathway to Women’s Empowerment – World Vision

Source: World Vision

  • A quarter of the world’s population don’t have access to safe drinking water
  • Women and girls are especially impacted, with some walking up to 15 kilometres for water 
  • World Vision aims to reach 30 million people with clean water by 2030. 

This World Water Day, World Vision New Zealand is putting the spotlight on the global water crisis as a quarter of the world’s population still cannot access safe drinking water.  

More than 2 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water, with women and girls bearing the greatest burden. In some communities, women walk up to 15 kilometres a day to collect water — a task that can consume hours and limit their opportunities for education, work and participation in community life.

World Vision New Zealand International Partnerships Director Stephen Court says it is unacceptable that so many people are still denied access to such a basic human right.

“It’s unacceptable that in 2026 a quarter of the world’s population still doesn’t have access to safe drinking water. Clean water is a basic human right, yet millions of families are forced to live without it.

Without safe water, disease spreads, children miss school, and women are prevented from participating fully in work and community life. It traps families in a cycle of poverty that should no longer exist.”

New World Vision research in Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, finds that combining water access with behaviour change and economic empowerment activities can create lasting impact.  

This family-centred approach integrates water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services with financial literacy training, savings groups, livelihood support, and engagement around social norms.

Court says when this approach is adopted women report higher personal income and household savings, greater participation in financial decisions, increased confidence, and stronger leadership within their communities.  

He highlights the changes seen in Rumate, Kenya, where women once walked up to four hours a day to collect water, often returning with only a fraction of what their families needed.  

After a borehole was installed in the community, women no longer had to spend hours collecting water and instead had time to pursue income-generating activities. Many formed savings groups, which enabled them to start small businesses and invest in their families.

“Access to safe water didn’t just meet a basic need — it unlocked opportunity,” says Court.

“When safe water is close to home, women gain something incredibly valuable: time. That time can be used to earn an income, participate in community life and invest in their families’ futures.”

The impact extends far beyond individual households.

“In many communities, the time women and girls spend collecting water goes unseen and undervalued. When safe water is accessible, women gain time, income opportunities and a stronger voice in their households and communities.

World Vision reaches one new person with clean water every 10 seconds, and we are aiming to reach 30 million people with clean water between 2023 and 2030.”

Court says this World Water Day, the message is clear:  “Safe water is about far more than survival. It is the foundation for dignity, equality, and opportunity. When women gain access to clean water, they gain time, income, and influence — and entire communities thrive.”

 

New Zealanders who want to help ensure children have access to safe drinking water can support World Vision through its Gift Catalogue, which includes the option to provide clean water for a child: https://www.worldvision.org.nz/give-now/smiles-gift/#/product/smiles-clean-water-for-a-child

 

Notes

Key stats and findings can be found in the Beyond Access research. 

 

Video from Rumate, Kenya:  
How women transformed their village - here  

 

About World Vision   
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/this-world-water-day-clean-water-is-more-than-survival-its-a-pathway-to-womens-empowerment-world-vision/

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Government introduces legislation to reaffirm Police tools to prevent, disrupt, and address crime

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Policing Act 2008, reaffirming Police’s ability to record images and sounds in public places, and some private places, as well as expanding temporary area closure powers.

Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the Tamiefuna case, Police’s ability to record images and sounds in public places, and collect personal information for lawful purposes, including intelligence was constrained.

“This created uncertainty and made the collection of evidence, and therefore the prosecution of criminals, much harder” says Police Minister Mark Mitchell.

“The government has introduced a bill to reaffirm the prior common law position, making it clear that Police can collect and use images in public places, and some private places, for lawful policing purposes. This includes intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and other policing functions.

“These changes will enable that and strengthen Police’s ability to detect and prevent crime, and hold offenders accountable for their offending. Ultimately it will help Police keep Kiwis safe.”  

The Government is also expanding Police’s existing temporary road closure powers to cover a broader range of areas, such as parks, reserves, beaches, and carparks.

The changes will give Police new tools to manage non-compliance with temporary closures, including the ability to direct people to leave a closed area, stop vehicles, obtain identifying particulars for the purpose of issuing infringements, and arrest without warrant those who fail to comply.

The new powers will also leverage existing powers that are being progressed through the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill, led by Minister Chris Bishop.

“These new powers will provide clarity and consistency for frontline Police, ensuring they have the necessary tools to support the Governments Law and Order agenda,” Mr Mitchell says. “They will be useful tools to help Police respond to incidents like street racing and dirt bike riding in public parks.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/government-introduces-legislation-to-reaffirm-police-tools-to-prevent-disrupt-and-address-crime/

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Greenpeace – Thousands call on Christopher Luxon to condemn the illegal attacks on Iran by Trump and Israel

Source: Greenpeace

Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding Christopher Luxon stand up and condemn the illegal attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. Greenpeace delivered the petition to opposition leader Chris Hipkins in Wellington today.
Standing on the steps of parliament, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman said, “This war is plainly illegal – it is not an act of self-defence nor is it sanctioned by the UN Security Council.
“While we have come to expect that the US Government approach to international law is more honoured in the breach than the observance, nonetheless international law is critical for the security of everyone on the planet but especially for a small nation like New Zealand.
“We expect Christopher Luxon to advocate in favour of international law and hence condemn this reckless illegal war.
“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and thousands of New Zealanders agree that Luxon should be standing up to bullies like Trump, who is attempting to destroy any possibility of a rules-based international order.”
Greenpeace delivered the petition to the Parliament Opposition who have been open about their condemnation of Trump’s illegal war.
Greenpeace also made the link from this illegal war to the escalating price of fossil fuels.
“This illegal war has disrupted oil, gas and fertiliser supplies, exposing Luxon’s Trump-like obsession with outdated fossil fuels, leaving New Zealanders paying the price,” continued Dr Norman.
“Luxon has collapsed the EV market by killing the clean car discount, making it cheaper to import gas guzzling cars. He’s ended public transport subsidies for young people, blocked funding for cycleways, but wants to spend billions of dollars to build new roads.
“Now Luxon wants to expose us even further to the volatile global fossil fuel market by charging New Zealanders a gas tax to build a LNG import terminal.
“The Luxon government should be investing in renewable energy and the electrification of transport to insulate New Zealanders from energy supply shocks and rising energy prices, as well as cutting climate pollution,” says Dr Norman.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/greenpeace-thousands-call-on-christopher-luxon-to-condemn-the-illegal-attacks-on-iran-by-trump-and-israel/

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Universities – Traffic silently killing Aucklanders – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Pollution from cars in Auckland is killing around 700 people a year and hospitalising 4,000 more, with health researchers calling for policy changes.

More than 700 Aucklanders die every year from air pollution from traffic, similar to the number who die from smoking cigarettes, with almost 4,000 more ending up in hospital, according to a new report.

Almost all Aucklanders, 90 percent, are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution higher than international standards.

Nationally, 2,000 people die per year from traffic pollution.

“Because the particles are so small, they are not easy to see, so we often don’t even think about them being there,” says Dr Jamie Hosking, a public health researcher at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

“Sometimes, when we’re close to traffic, we can smell the exhaust, and that’s when we really notice it. But even when we can’t smell it, it’s still there, putting our health at great risk.”

Petrol and diesel burn to produce noxious gases, chiefly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and minute particles of soot, smoke, dust and chemicals (PM2.5).

“Because they’re so small, these particles can get right into our lungs and then cross into the bloodstream. They cause health effects through their impact on the lungs, but also on our cardiovascular system – the heart – and can contribute to strokes,” Hosking says.

A report, Our Air, has just been published on Auckland’s air pollution by Healthy Auckland Together a collective of public health researchers and agencies working in the area. (ref. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/687d6be85b66bd72af52a027/t/69b9b755bab9e5730d58c9b8/1773778792896/Healthy+Auckland+Together+-+Our+Air.pdf )

Hosking and fellow public health researcher at the University of Auckland Professor Alistair Woodward will present the report to Auckland Council’s Transport Committee and call for urgent action on Auckland’s air pollution.

Auckland’s air pollution comes partly from household heating but pollution from traffic is by far the biggest cause of illness.

It is estimated traffic pollution causes 6,100 cases and 424 hospitalisations for childhood asthma every year in Auckland.

People in cheaper housing near motorways and busy roads are at extra risk, so there are equity issues.

“It’s often people on lower incomes who end up being more exposed to this dirty air and then having the health impacts as a result,” Hosking says.

What Auckland Council needs to do

The report outlines solutions. The 20 agencies comprising Healthy Auckland Together would like to see Auckland Council:

  • Invest in affordable, clean and frequent public transport services 
  • Introduce equitable congestion charges 
  • Build and maintain attractive footpaths and pedestrian crossings, and protected cycle lanes
  • Improve air quality monitoring 
  • Provide more parks and street trees 

What central government needs to do
Nationally, the government needs to:

  • Raise vehicle emission standards to ensure cleaner vehicles enter the country
  • Update New Zealand’s air quality standards to reflect the latest health evidence
  • Set transport charges – such as fuel excise, road user charges and registration fees – so they properly reflect the health and social costs caused by vehicle emissions.

Air pollution in Auckland results in a significant number of deaths and serious illnesses with unacceptable healthcare and social costs – urgent action is needed.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/universities-traffic-silently-killing-aucklanders-uoa/

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Etiqa Insurance Singapore Returns to NATAS Travel Fair 2026

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore, a leading general and life insurer, returns to the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) Travel Fair 2026 as the Official Travel Insurer for the fifth consecutive year. Themed “Be A NATAS World Traveller”, Singapore’s largest premier travel fair will be held at the Singapore Expo Hall from 27 to 29 March 2026, offering exciting promotions for travellers.

Customers can enjoy special promotions exclusively available at the NATAS Fair. With up to 45 per cent off Etiqa Travel Infinite and a special $100 shopping voucher given to every 200th customer, Etiqa continues to make travel insurance more rewarding to all valued customers.

In addition, every customer will receive a complimentary gift with every purchase. From must-have travel essentials such as a versatile sports duffel bag, to a portable cooling fan to keep you cool on holiday, every traveller can enhance their journey with added convenience.

Celebrating Life’s Journeys with the Launch of Travel Takaful

In the same celebratory month, Etiqa is simultaneously extending its “With You” brand promise to the wider community. Beyond the excitement at NATAS Travel Fair, Etiqa is proud to announce the launch of Travel Takaful, a Shariah-compliant travel protection plan designed to support world travellers across different life stages — whether travelling for leisure, family commitments, or Umrah journeys.

“At Etiqa Insurance Singapore, we are committed to being With You, at every stage of life and on every journey. Our continued partnership with NATAS reflects our commitment to helping travellers explore the world with confidence, while the launch of Travel Takaful extends inclusive, Shariah-compliant protection to customers seeking values-based coverage. Whether travelling for leisure, business, or faith-based journeys, we want Singaporeans to travel with complete peace of mind,” said Claudia Soh, Acting CEO and CFO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore.

Guided by Takaful principles of shared responsibility and mutual care, Travel Takaful provides comprehensive coverage for overseas medical needs and unexpected travel disruptions:

  • Comprehensive Medical Support: Coverage for overseas medical expenses ranging from S$200,000 to S$2.5 million, supported by Etiqa’s 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance.
  • Trip Cancellation Coverage: Trip cancellation coverage of up to S$20,000 to mitigate unexpected changes in travel plans.
  • Tailored for All Stages: Optional add-ons for pre-existing medical conditions and senior protection, offering flexibility for multi-generational travel.

By expanding its portfolio with this new offering, Etiqa reinforces its commitment to serving Singapore’s diverse community with inclusive and meaningful protection solutions, that aligns with values-driven financial planning.

Enjoy journeys with Etiqa Insurance Singapore this March:

  • Visit the NATAS Fair (Booth 4H49 at Singapore Expo Hall 4 and 5): For exclusive Travel Infinite discounts, complimentary travel gifts, and the chance to win special shopping vouchers.
  • Explore the full suite of travel insurance products online: To learn more about the newly launched Travel Takaful and secure Shariah-compliant protection for your next journey, visit us at etiqa.com.sg.

*Terms and Conditions
This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K), a member of Maybank Group. This content is for reference only and is not a contract of insurance. Full details of the policy terms and conditions can be found in the policy contract. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.

Hashtag: #EtiqaSingapore #EtiqaSG

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/2026/03/18/etiqa-insurance-singapore-returns-to-natas-travel-fair-2026/

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Waikato Steel Manufacturing Project Fast-tracked

Source: New Zealand Government

A structural steel manufacturing plant that will help build the future of New Zealand’s infrastructure has been approved through Fast-track.

National Green Steel Limited lodged its application in July 2025 to build a structural steel manufacturing plant in Hampton Downs in Waikato.

“Approval has taken around five months following the commencement of the expert panel,” says Mr Bishop.

“New Zealand has a major infrastructure deficit. We need to deliver infrastructure faster, and we need the supply chains to back that up. A project like Green Steel can do both, building local manufacturing capacity and help provide material for a range of developments.

“The new plant will process about 200,000 tonnes of recycled steel annually. The project will reduce structural steel imports and reduce the amount of scrap steel being exported. Green Steel already has collections yards in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Putāruru and Christchurch. These yards recover metal resources from end-of-life vehicles, sheet metal, and beams.”

“The project is expected to create about 200 skilled jobs in the region. New Zealand does not currently re-use steel – most of our scrap metal is exported. This new plant will mean we can recycle and manufacture structural steel right here in New Zealand, using material sourced from across the country,” Mr Jones says.

“The project will use electric arc furnace technology to produce high-quality structural steel with a lower carbon footprint compared to current steel production methods used in New Zealand,” Mr Watts says. 

“This proposal shows the sector are willing to make the investments needed to electrify. It’s a positive sign that industry is ready to move at pace to build the infrastructure we need.”

“This is the 13th project to be approved under the Fast-track process, and the first infrastructure project to feature steel manufacturing,” says Mr Bishop. 

Notes to editors:

For more information about the project:  National Green Steel Ltd  

Fast-track by the numbers:

•    13 projects approved by expert panels. 
•    21 projects with expert panels appointed (on 12 March 2026).
•    149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
•    49 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
•    33 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure (on 12 March 2026).
•    On average, it has taken 129 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope. 

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

•    Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
•    Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
•    Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
•    Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
•    Arataki [Housing/Land]
•    Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
•    Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
•    Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
•    Green Steel [Infrastructure]
•    Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
•    Sunfield Masterplanned Community [Housing/Land]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

•    Ashbourne
•    Ayrburn Screen Hub
•    Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
•    Delmore
•    Haldon Solar Farm
•    Hananui Aquaculture Project
•    Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
•    Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
•    Mahinerangi Wind Farm
•    Pound Road Industrial Development
•    Ryans Road Industrial Development
•    Southland Wind Farm Project
•    State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus)
•    Stella Passage Development (Port of Tauranga)
•    Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
•    The Downtown Carpark Site Development
•    The Point Mission Bay
•    The Point Solar Farm
•    Waitaha Hydro 
•    Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
•    Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/waikato-steel-manufacturing-project-fast-tracked/

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Police seek information on Wellington aggravated assault

Source: New Zealand Police

Police investigating an aggravated robbery in Aro Valley are asking the public for information to help identify the offenders.

The victim was walking on Ohiro Road around 5.40pm last night, when they were seriously assaulted by two unknown men.

The victim’s phone was stolen, and they sustained multiple injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Police are asking anyone that witnessed the incident, have CCTV in the area or saw two men on Ohiro Road between 5pm-6pm to get in touch with Police.

Please use reference file number 260317/0947.

Please call 105 or use the service online by clicking ‘Make a report’.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/police-seek-information-on-wellington-aggravated-assault/

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Genomic trial brings testing home for Kiwis with cancer and rare disorders

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealanders with cancer and rare disorders will benefit from faster, locally delivered genomic testing through a new clinical pilot being launched by Health New Zealand, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

Faster results for cancer and rare disease patients
First step in building a national genomics service
Building secure systems to manage genomic data in New Zealand

“Today is a significant day for people needing genomic sequencing for certain cancers and rare disorders,” Mr Brown says.

“Too many Kiwis are left waiting for answers because their genomic tests are sent overseas – delays that can affect treatment decisions or prolong years of uncertainty.

“This two-year pilot will bring testing home, reducing wait times at one of the most stressful points in a patient’s life and supporting our health targets so cancer patients can receive treatment sooner and people spend less time waiting for specialist care.

“It will also strengthen local expertise in genomic medicine and improve diagnostic capability, helping clinicians deliver the right care at the right time.”

Health New Zealand is partnering with global genomics company Illumina to deliver the pilot, allowing advanced testing technologies to be evaluated while building capability within New Zealand’s health system.

The programme will trial two complementary approaches: Whole Genome Sequencing to support the diagnosis of rare and inherited disorders, and Comprehensive Genomic Profiling to help guide cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions.

“New Zealand currently spends more than $4 million each year sending over 4000 genomic tests overseas. This pilot will process more than 6000 samples over two years, including establishing new tests and consolidating existing workflows. By the end of the pilot, around half of tests currently sent offshore are expected to be completed in New Zealand.

“If adopted nationally, modelling suggests this approach could generate around $5 million in operational savings over five years, while ensuring sensitive genomic data is managed safely.”

The pilot will include testing for rare disorders across a range of groups, including metabolic, connective tissue, eye, hearing, and renal conditions, with work ongoing to determine the specific focus for cancer testing.

Alongside clinical outcomes, the pilot will assess workforce readiness, operational efficiency, and the systems needed to support genomic data management and governance, helping inform the development of a coordinated national genomics service.

“Today’s announcement comes during Rare Disorders Month, which highlights the importance of timely diagnosis for the thousands of New Zealanders living with rare conditions. I want to acknowledge everyone living with, and supporting those affected by, a rare disorder.

“Our Government is focused on putting patients at the centre of the health system. This pilot is about getting Kiwis answers faster and building a genomics testing service New Zealand can be proud of,” Mr Brown says.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/genomic-trial-brings-testing-home-for-kiwis-with-cancer-and-rare-disorders/