Category: Europe

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From Gloriavale to KiwiSaver: human rights abuses in plain sight – Mindful Money

Source: Mindful Money, Barry Coates

KiwiSaver investors increasingly exposed to companies linked to human rights abuses

New analysis shows KiwiSaver investments in companies linked to human rights concerns have surged, despite human rights violations remaining the top ethical priority for New Zealand investors.

KiwiSaver investments in companies identified as contributing to human rights harms have increased sharply. Over the past six months alone, investments in these companies rose 43 percent, reaching more than $3.5 billion. This has been fuelled by both an increase in the number of companies identified as violating human rights, as well as increased investment in those companies.

Yet public surveys conducted over the past six years consistently show that avoiding human rights abuses is the number one concern for KiwiSaver members in New Zealand when deciding where their retirement savings should be invested.

“These findings highlight a growing gap between what New Zealanders want from their investments in terms of human rights, and where their money is actually going,” said Barry Coates, founder of Mindful Money.

“New Zealanders consistently say they do not want their retirement savings linked to labour exploitation, abuses of children, gender discrimination, harm to vulnerable communities or companies contributing to conflict. Yet billions of dollars are still invested in companies connected to these risks.”

There is also increasing public awareness of the human impact of labour exploitation within New Zealand. A new podcast from Mindful Money interviews Pearl Valor, who speaks about her labour experiences growing up in the Gloriavale Christian Community.  Together with Brian Henry, Barrister for Pearl Valor and Founder of Always-Ethical – AE KiwiSaver Plan.

“People need to understand that exploitation can be hidden in plain sight,” says Valor. “When communities or companies operate without accountability, the people inside them can lose their freedom, their wages and their voice.”

Greater awareness is the first step toward protecting human rights. The Modern Slavery Bill introduced to New Zealand Parliament in February 2026 marks significant progress towards more ethical supply chains, and addressing the issues of slave and forced labour in Aotearoa.

Coates says investors have a powerful role to play.

“KiwiSaver providers need stronger policies to screen out companies linked to serious human rights harms. New Zealanders deserve confidence that their retirement savings are not contributing to exploitation or conflict.”

Human rights concerns increasingly relate to harmful corporate practices rather than harmful products themselves. While fund providers screen out issues like tobacco and gambling, few have active screens to avoid investing in harmful behaviour like human rights violations.

“My aspiration is that current members of Gloriavale, now equipped with access to news and the internet, will be empowered to acquire financial literacy and independence, and become aware of beneficial resources such as KiwiSaver.” Says Pearl” says Pearl

“I will always be grateful to Brian for his commitment to justice for those leaving the Gloriavale Community. Through this work, I and many others have been able to step into a freer world that we were never allowed to see. Modern-day slavery is real and it exists in New Zealand today. Brian is helping expose this injustice and is standing up for those who were denied their freedom, their wages, and their voice.” Says Pearl

In recent years, attention has increasingly focused on the activities of major technology companies, particularly around surveillance, social media harms and their use in conflict situations. Companies identified as raising human rights concerns include Meta, Tesla, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Palantir Technologies.

Concerns have also grown over investments in companies linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.

Despite concerns from members of the public, KiwiSaver investments in companies providing weapons, surveillance technology or other support linked to these conflicts increased 14 percent between March and September 2025, reaching $856 million.

Companies receiving increased investment during this period include IBM, Booking Holdings, Palantir Technologies, Motorola Solutions and Caterpillar.

“Where money flows, systems follow. Ethical investment redirects capital away from modern slavery and toward dignity, transparency, and fair work.” says Brian

“These are major global corporations, and New Zealand investors have only a small share of their capital,” Coates said. “It is unlikely that fund managers sending letters or voting a few shares will change their practices. If companies are linked to human rights violations, fund providers should respect the wishes of their clients and avoid investing in them.”

Mindful Money identifies companies associated with human rights concerns on its website, including those linked to Palestinian human rights issues, which are marked with an OPT symbol so KiwiSaver members can see whether their funds are invested in them.

Mindful Money is calling on KiwiSaver providers to strengthen their human rights screening and divest from companies associated with human rights violations.

People power

Members of the public can easily see what their fund is investing in by going to the Mindful Money website www.mindfulmoney.nz. Mindful Money is a charity and provides transparency to KiwiSaver and retail funds investors.

“All investment decisions for the AE KiwiSaver Plan are undertaken in-house, reflecting Brian Henry’s ethical management approach and his ongoing commitment to justice, which is currently demonstrated through his involvement in the Gloriavale case.” says Sandra Clark (CEO)

Members of the public can check what is in their fund using the free Fund Checker.

Notes:

Mindful Money publishes the methodology for companies that have a record of breaching internationally-agreed human rights norms. Methodology here.

https://mindfulmoney.nz/learn/how-does-mindful-money-identify-companies-who-have-breached-human-rights/

Human rights violations are shown in the categories of breaches of labour rights; war and conflict; corruption and breaches of business ethics; public health and safety; and other violations including privacy and indigenous peoples’ rights.

Link to YouTube Gloriavale interview

https://youtu.be/b12McipxAZA?si=7tVIaqY2lBfOaqcL

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/from-gloriavale-to-kiwisaver-human-rights-abuses-in-plain-sight-mindful-money/

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Joint Statement Australia–New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations 2+2

Source: New Zealand Government

17 March 2026

  1. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong hosted New Zealand Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rt Hon Winston Peters MP on 17 March in Canberra for the third Australia-New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (ANZMIN 2+2). Ministers also met separately for a Defence Ministers’ Meeting and Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
  2. Australian Ministers expressed gratitude for the sympathy shown by the people of New Zealand for the families and friends of the 15 people who tragically lost their lives in the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and affirmed their commitment to stamping out antisemitism in all of its forms.
  3. Ministers recognised that the trans-Tasman relationship is more important than ever given the fundamental shifts in the global geostrategic environment and the risks posed to our shared national interests. They reaffirmed Australia and New Zealand were fundamentally aligned and rising to the challenge of permanent strategic contest through closer cooperation and major strategic investments by both countries to strengthen the fabric of peace in our region.
  4. Ministers discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East and Iran’s long record as a destabilising force and a threat to international peace and security, including through its nuclear program, support for proxy groups, and brutal acts of violence against its own people and beyond its borders. Ministers condemned Iran’s reckless and indiscriminate attacks on countries in the region.  Ministers urged the protection of civilian life, resumption of dialogue and diplomacy and adherence to international law.

 Our Alliance 

  1. Ministers reaffirmed that our Alliance is the foundation of our foreign policy and defence partnership, and is built on trust, shared values and collective security. Our Alliance has a critical role in safeguarding both nations’ security, supporting stability in the Pacific, and advancing a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific where sovereignty is respected. Ministers highlighted the centrality of ANZMIN in setting the Alliance’s direction, and our shared commitment to using the full suite of statecraft tools to respond to intensifying global competition and a deteriorating strategic environment, both individually and together. Ministers welcomed the 75th Anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, which underpins our formal commitments for the Australia-New Zealand Alliance.
  2. Ministers welcomed the “Anzac 2035: Operationalising the Alliance” Joint Statement, issued today by Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Minister Collins KC, which sets out the Defence Ministers’ vision for our defence Alliance over the next ten years. It focuses on enhancing interoperability, including through collaborating on defence industry, preparedness and resilience, combined operations and exercises, and force posture, so we are increasingly ready to combine as an integrated Anzac force to deter, counter and respond to shared threats.

 Partnering in the Pacific

  1. Ministers recognised the peace, stability and prosperity of all countries and territories in the Pacific are interconnected. They reaffirmed their commitment to working in partnership with fellow Pacific countries and to supporting Pacific‑led regional architecture, with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) at the heart of Pacific regionalism. Ministers committed to support Palau’s hosting of the PIF Leaders’ Meeting in 2026 and welcomed New Zealand’s hosting in 2027.
  2. As fellow founding members of the PIF, Ministers recognised Australia and New Zealand’s roles in contributing to a stronger Pacific family, upholding common values and norms. They underscored the importance of supporting the PIF Chair and the principle of engaging on issues through talanoa. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Pacific’s priorities set out in Pacific Leaders’ 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its Implementation Plan, as well as to the Blue Pacific being an Ocean of Peace. They called on the international community to engage in the Pacific in ways that respect and strengthen regional norms and institutions, and respond to Pacific-led approaches to peace and security.
  3. Ministers highlighted the Revitalised Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration to accelerate gender equality and social inclusion in the Pacific and noted the growing challenge of maintaining hard‑won gains and sustaining momentum, including in addressing gender-based violence. Ministers agreed that continued, appropriately supported and well‑coordinated efforts on gender equality, social inclusion and human rights will help achieve the vision for a resilient, peaceful, prosperous and stable Pacific Region.
  4. Ministers emphasised that climate change remains the single greatest threat to Pacific countries. COP31 presents an opportunity to deliver genuine progress towards keeping warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. This comes at a critical time in this decisive decade for climate action.  Ministers noted Australia and New Zealand would continue supporting Pacific priorities and amplifying Pacific voices globally, including to enhance access to climate finance, and elevate the ocean-climate nexus. They reaffirmed the Pacific Pre-COP and Special Leaders’ event to be held in Fiji and Tuvalu in October 2026 as cornerstone opportunities to support these priorities. Ministers reiterated support for the Pacific Resilience Facility as a Pacific-led solution with global benefit as a model, to which Australia and New Zealand had pledged significant contributions, and encouraged further pledges at the special climate finance session for small island developing states at COP31.   
  5. Ministers acknowledged the impact of transnational organised crime on Australia, New Zealand and throughout our Pacific neighbourhood, and agreed that combatting transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking to and through the Pacific, is a shared challenge and an urgent priority. Ministers committed to using defence and foreign affairs resources, where appropriate, to support efforts to combat transnational organised crime. Ministers acknowledged the call from PIF Leaders for a coordinated regional response to transnational organised crime and agreed to work with Pacific partners to develop collective approaches, including for consideration at the Transnational Crime Summit to be held in Fiji in May 2026.
  6. Ministers acknowledged the value of our close coordination to maintain shared awareness of our maritime areas of interest and counter the risks posed both by concerning military vessel activity and the shipment of illicit drugs by sea.
  7. Ministers reaffirmed their enduring commitment to cooperating closely to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Pacific and to support Pacific-led responses in that regard. They commended the rapid establishment of the Pacific Response Group (PRG) through the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM), as a regional asset to strengthen Pacific‑led responses to Pacific humanitarian and disaster response events and welcomed New Zealand’s forthcoming leadership as the host of the PRG headquarters after Australia. Ministers welcomed SPDMM’s direction to explore expanding the mandate of the PRG to cover wider Pacific security threats. They noted regional efforts to enhance Pacific-led responses to regional security challenges including through the scoping of a SPDMM Status of Forces Agreement, the Regional Operations Deployment Framework being scoped by the Joint Heads of Pacific Security and efforts to better coordinate regional defence and security architecture.
  8. Ministers welcomed the Political Declaration between New Zealand and Niue of 2025 and acknowledged New Zealand’s special constitutional relationships with the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, which are part of the Realm of New Zealand. They recognised New Zealand’s responsibility for the defence and security of the Realm and the benefits that these relationships bring to New Zealand and to the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
  9. Ministers welcomed the signing of the historic Pukpuk Treaty between Papua New Guinea and Australia and the new Alliance in the region. They welcomed negotiations to finalise the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu and to elevate the Australia–Fiji Vuvale Partnership and the intention to establish the Kaume‘a ‘Ofi Partnership Agreement with Tonga.

  10.  These partnerships reflect a firm commitment to ensuring that the Pacific is in the driving seat to shape its future and that we are supporting each other in shared interests and challenges. 

Collaborating to address global challenges

  1. Ministers reaffirmed their enduring commitment to multilateralism and international law and to supporting UN and regional institutions. Challenges to the rules-based multilateral system called for strong partnerships in our region and beyond. Ministers agreed on the need for bold and effective reforms to achieve a UN system capable of better delivering on its core mandates. Ministers welcomed the adoption of a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, setting out practical actions for stronger accountability, safer access, and better protection for aid workers everywhere.  They affirmed the need for deeper bilateral engagement and with regional partners to support the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, including promoting women’s full, equal, safe and meaningful participation and leadership across all levels of conflict prevention, and regional peace and security. Ministers announced their support for Australia’s and New Zealand’s respective United Nations Security Council candidacies in 2029-2030 and 2039-2040.
  2. Ministers discussed economic security and the importance of maintaining open and connected supply chains to facilitate the flow of fuels and goods.  Respect for the commitments we and our trading partners have made underpins our prosperity and resilience, and that of our region. Both countries remain committed to working together and with other trade partners to ensure that trade continues to flow unimpeded.
  3. Ministers committed to uphold and promote the Antarctic Treaty System rules and norms that keep this part of our region peaceful and free from conflict, cooperative and protected, and dedicated to scientific research. They agreed officials would strengthen cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue.
  4. Ministers reaffirmed their support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN-led regional architecture, and highlighted ASEAN’s central role in shaping a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. As Comprehensive Strategic Partners of ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to building upon longstanding ties with our region by deepening economic engagement. Ministers welcomed progress implementing Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and New Zealand’s increased focus on Southeast Asia as part of its Foreign Policy Reset.  Ministers committed to continue working together on shared priorities under regional free trade agreements.
  5. Ministers emphasised the need for strategic competition to be managed responsibly and welcomed continued dialogue between the United States and China. They acknowledged our collective agency and shared responsibility for the stability of our region. They reaffirmed the need to promote open channels of communication, transparency and practical measures to reduce the risks of misunderstanding, miscalculation, escalation and conflict.
  6. Ministers reiterated concerns about the intensification of destabilising activities and instances of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour by China in the South China Sea. They reiterated all countries must adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law. They recalled the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is final and binding on the parties. Ministers affirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional stability and security and to working with partners to build capability and strengthen interoperability, including through Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activities. They also reiterated their concern about the situation in the East China Sea and unsafe and unprofessional conduct in the sea and air.  
  7.  Ministers reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral action to change the status quo and encouraging dialogue rather than resorting to coercion or the use of force. They also reiterated their will to continue deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, trade, and cultural fields as well as enhancing development coordination in the Pacific.
  8. Ministers reiterated their grave concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang. They expressed deep concerns about the erosion of religious, cultural, educational and linguistic rights and freedoms in Tibet. They shared deep concern over the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the actions of Hong Kong authorities in targeting pro-democracy activists both within Hong Kong and overseas.
  9. Ministers reiterated continued investment in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The FPDA remained an indispensable anchor for regional security as the only multilateral security arrangement of its kind in Southeast Asia.
  10. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of our relationships with global security partners, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), including through cooperation as Indo-Pacific partners of NATO.  Ministers agreed that the Five Eyes partnership remained vital to our shared security architecture.
  11. Ministers unequivocally condemned Russia’s illegal and unprovoked full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. They condemned the ongoing deployment of troops and transfer of military material from the DPRK to Russia, which supports the continued conflict. As active participants of the Coalition of the Willing discussions, Ministers welcomed the efforts of the United States of America, European countries and others aimed at ending the war, in line with international law. Ministers again urge Russia to end its war of aggression and engage in good faith with Ukraine on a ceasefire and peace deal. Ministers called on all those with influence on Russia, particularly China, to exert it now to end the war.
  12. Ministers urged all parties to uphold the terms of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and agreed Australia and New Zealand, together with our partners, would continue to do what we can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution. Ministers expressed deep concern over Israel’s actions that undermine the path to peace, including the expansion of settlements and control over the West Bank, increasing settler violence against Palestinians, and restrictions on INGOs that impede their humanitarian operations.
  13. Ministers strongly condemned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and its malicious cyber activities used to evade sanctions and fund these programs, and urged compliance with UNSC resolutions. 
  14. Ministers reiterated their grave concerns about the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and the military regime’s airstrikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Ministers noted that recent elections did not meet the conditions of a free, fair and inclusive process. Ministers reiterated their calls for a cessation of violence, the release of those unjustly detained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and inclusive dialogue. Ministers confirmed their countries stand ready to support genuine efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering, improve economic and social conditions and advance a sustainable resolution to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Ministers reaffirmed their full support for ASEAN’s central role in resolving the crisis and called again for the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
  15. New Zealand looks forward to hosting the next ANZMIN 2+2 in 2027.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/joint-statement-australia-new-zealand-foreign-and-defence-ministerial-consultations-22/

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Tourism Authority of Thailand premieres “Healing Journey Thailand” global campaign in London, advancing healing led tourism vision.

Source: Media Outreach

The exclusive event at The Cinema at Selfridges London presented Thailand’s Healing is the New Luxury communication concept through a film premiere featuring Henry Moodie and immersive wellness and cultural experiences.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) premiered the Healing Journey Thailand global campaign at The Cinema at Selfridges, presenting Thailand’s tourism direction under the concept Healing is the New Luxury. The event featured the campaign film starring British singer‑songwriter Henry Moodie, alongside cultural showcases, tourism updates and wellness experiences reflecting Thailand’s approach to meaningful travel.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said: “Healing Journey Thailand reflects Thailand’s tourism development, where travel is defined by quality and balance. Guided by the concept Healing is the New Luxury, the campaign highlights Thailand’s wellness traditions, living culture and contemporary lifestyle experiences, allowing travellers to reconnect with themselves and the country.”

The London showcase, led by Ms. Thapanee and Mr. Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, welcomed media, influencers and guests from the United Kingdom and Europe. Before the cinema programme, guests experienced Thai creativity through cultural workshops and Thai culinary offerings.

The programme opened with the Healing is the New Luxury campaign film, followed by tourism updates outlining Thailand’s direction toward sustainable tourism. The centrepiece was the premiere of Henry’s Hero VDO, documenting Henry Moodie’s journey through Trang and Krabi.

Appearing in a bespoke outfit by Thai luxury fashion brand SIRIVANNAVARI, specially designed for the occasion, Moodie introduced audiences to Thailand through moments of reflection and cultural immersion. The film captures encounters with community traditions and local crafts, alongside the tranquil island landscapes of Ko Muk and Ko Kradan, presenting Thailand as a destination where travellers can reconnect with nature, culture, and themselves.

The screening was followed by a conversation between Henry Moodie and TAT executives, where he reflected on his journey across southern Thailand and noted that the message Healing is the New Luxury resonated with his travel experience.

The event concluded with a sound healing session. Before the London premiere, TAT introduced the Healing Journey Thailand campaign through AXN Asia clips featuring Henry Moodie. The global campaign continues through creator‑led journeys across Thailand, with storytellers capturing experiences and highlighting festivals such as Songkran, Loi Krathong–Yi Peng, Vijit Chao Phraya, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and Tomorrowland 2026.

Hashtag: #TourismAuthorityofThailand #TAT

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/2026/03/16/tourism-authority-of-thailand-premieres-healing-journey-thailand-global-campaign-in-london-advancing-healing-led-tourism-vision/

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2026 Global WLAN Industry Forum Convened in Barcelona, Fostering a New AI-WLAN Industry Ecosystem

Source: Media Outreach

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – On March 2nd, the 2026 WLAN Global Industry Forum, hosted by the World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA), was held in Barcelona, Spain. Centered on the theme of “AI-WLAN: Envisioning a New Premium Intelligent WLAN Ecosystem,” the Forum attracted over a hundred participants from countries and regions worldwide, representing the full industry value chain—including technology experts, network operators, equipment vendors, testing and certification bodies, and research institutes and universities. By bringing together global WLAN resources on one platform, the Forum built a bridge for cross-regional and cross-sector collaboration, accelerating the WLAN industry’s global and intelligent upgrading empowered by AI, and underscoring a shared vision for coordinated development across the global ecosystem.

Panel Discussion on “AI-WLAN Innovative Points on Application and Standardization”

Today, the deep integration of AI and WLAN has become an inevitable trend in the global short-range connectivity industry. As the world’s first international industry and standards organization dedicated to WLAN application experience, WAA has taken the lead in advancing the vision of building a global hub for AI–WLAN technical exchange and standardization. By convening this industry forum, WAA brought together global consensus and international momentum to address shared challenges in the sector, while jointly exploring new pathways and paradigms for the converged evolution of AI and WLAN.

This forum was hosted by Luis Jorge Romero, CSO of the Comentropy Industry and Standards Innovation Service Center. In his opening address, ZHANG Ping, President of WAA, stated that the forum’s theme of AI-WLAN: Envisioning a New Premium Intelligent WLAN Ecosystem not only reflects the shared vision of the industry, but also demonstrates a collective commitment to action, work together toward a better digital future. In his welcome address, Gan Bin, Vice President of Huawei, noted that AI is transforming WLAN from “passive response” to “proactive prediction,” enabling networks to better meet differentiated, scenario-specific needs across industries. He expressed his hope that industry partners will join forces to help the global WLAN sector play an even greater role in the AI era.

International cooperation remained a central thread throughout the Forum and emerged as a key focus for participants. Together with international organizations, operators, and leading equipment vendors, WAA jointly released the “International Cooperation Initiatives on AI-WLAN Standardization,” outlining priority areas for collaborative innovation in AI-WLAN technical standards on a global scale. The Initiative lays a solid foundation for reducing standard barriers and advancing coordinated technology development.

During the Forum, WAA signed two Memoranda of Understanding—one with WBBA and another with GIIC—further expanding its international cooperation landscape and joining forces to usher the WLAN industry into a new phase of intelligent and global development. The Forum also featured the launch ceremony of the “Establishment of the WLAN Intelligent Sensing Industry Ecosystem Organization & Release of High-Quality 10 Gbps AI Campus Technical and Standard White Paper Ceremony.” These milestones will continue to deepen industry collaboration, accelerate technological innovation, and optimize application scenarios—working collectively to deliver a higher-quality and more efficient network service experience for users.

In the keynote session, speakers engaged in in-depth discussions aligned with the Forum theme, focusing on core topics such as AI–WLAN technology convergence, standards evolution, scenario-based deployment, and ecosystem co-creation. They shared forward-looking insights and practical achievements, offering ideas and direction to advance coordinated development across the global industry.

In his address titled “WLAN in Era of AI,” ZHANG Ping, President of the WAA, outlined four core directions for the development of AI-WLAN: wireless intelligence, operational intelligence, AI-WLAN security, and WLAN sensing with embodied intelligence, charting the course for the technological path.

Jim Lansford, IEEE Life Fellow, Chair of lEEE 802.11 Wireless Next Generation Standing Committee, stated in his presentation “The Next Generation beyond 802.11bn: the Foundation for AI-Native WLAN” that AI and machine learning can effectively mitigate interference, defend against quantum attacks, optimize physical layer parameters, and drive wireless networks to achieve capabilities for immersive entertainment and high-reliability, low-latency industrial automation, approaching the performance of wired networks.

SHI Chao, Deputy General Manager, Home IoT Product Department, China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd, shared insights in his presentation “From Connectivity to Intelligent Networking: China Mobile’s Leadership in the Intelligent Upgrade of AI-WLAN Home Networks.” He proposed that AI-WLAN serves as the “brain” and “nervous system” of the digital home, enabling autonomous network intelligence to proactively resolve issues before users even notice, thereby achieving proactive service delivery.

XU Fan, Chief Architect of Huawei Optical Access Network Product Line, proposed in his presentation “AI-WLAN Enables Ultimate Home Network Experience” that deterministic low latency (within 20 milliseconds) is a key enabler for cloud-edge collaboration, embodied intelligence, remote robot control, and high-definition live streaming for influencers. AI-WLAN is becoming the core foundation of the digital experience.

Bocar Alpha BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, emphasized that building an industrial ecosystem integrating AI and WLAN is of paramount importance. The deep integration of AI and intelligent wireless networks has become a foundational pillar for cross-industry digital transformation. WLAN has evolved from a supportive technology into a strategic infrastructure underpinning economic development. Promoting cross-regional collaborative efforts in WLAN standardization is fundamentally significant for ensuring the sustainable development and digital resilience of the digital economy.

Marcos Martínez Vázquez, MaxLinear, Rapporteur ITU-T Q3/15, introduced “AI Technologies in ITU-T Q3/SG15,” proposing that AI provides a mechanisms for in-premises communications to achieve cross-layer, cross-device, and system-level optimization that are difficult to accomplish with traditional methods, and that subsequent efforts will be made to strengthen alignment with international organizations such as WAA to avoid duplicate work and create synergies in standards development.

Tiago Rodrigues, Wireless Broadband Alliance President and CEO, noted in “AI/ML For Wi-Fi: Enabling Scaleable, Intelligent Wi-Fi Ecosystems” with operational complexity, AI and machine learning are becoming essential to keep networks reliable, secure and efficient at scale. The industry must align on common data, interfaces and governance, so that intelligent Wi-Fi can work across real-world multi-vendor environments and deliver value for all who use it.

LIU Guangfeng, General Manager of H3C Spain Office, shared insights in his presentation titled “AI-Driven WLAN for Enterprise: From High Speed to True Intelligence” on how manufacturers translate standards into products and services, achieving issue prediction, adaptive policy management, and zero-trust security through cloud-based models.

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 6 Chair Shin-Gak Kang noted in “ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 6 Standardization toward AI-Enhanced Network Control” that AI can significantly enhance WLAN performance and user experiences without changes to PHY/MAC standards, and that future efforts should accelerate standardization of control and management mechanisms for WLAN environments, while recognizing physical capacity limits and leveraging AI technologies.

Ganesh Swaminathan, Vice President and General Manager of the Wireless Infrastructure and Networking at Qualcomm Technologies, introduced in “Enabling Reliable AI-Driven WLAN Experiences with Wi-Fi 8” how the end-to-end full-stack connectivity and computing capabilities based on the latest Dragonwing chip platform, leveraging Wi-Fi 8 and an AI-native architecture, provide high-bandwidth, intelligent access for home, 5G FWA and Fiber Gateway and industry scenarios.

Following the keynote speeches, a roundtable forum was held on the topic “AI-WLAN Innovative Points on Application and Standardization.” Moderated by Li Li, Chief Scientist of Standards at Huawei, the panel brought together Jim Lansford (Chair of IEEE 802.11 Wireless Next Generation Standing Committee), Marcos Martínez Vázquez (MaxLinear, Rapporteur ITU-T Q3/15), Shin-Gak KANG (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 6 Chair), WANG Xuemin (Chair of WAA TCS), DU Peng (Technical Director of Europe, New H3C Technologies Co., Ltd. ), and Chano Gómez (Senior Director of Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.). They engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including AI-WLAN security, performance enhancement, experience optimization, and standards collaboration, building consensus for the practical implementation and healthy development of the technology and industry.

As major industry gathering combining strong professionalism with a global outlook, the 2026 WLAN Global Industry Forum not only provided a core platform for worldwide collaboration and exchange across the WLAN value chain, but also strengthened international consensus on AI–WLAN convergence and reinforced the foundation for global industry cooperation. WAA Secretary-General YANG He stated: “Building on the momentum of this Forum, WAA will continue to deepen the two-way integration of AI and WLAN, further strengthen international collaboration, and continue to serve as a ‘coordinator’ and a ‘catalyst.’ We will keep bridging global industry resources, deepen international technical exchange and standards cooperation, and promote outcomes that enable premium WLAN experiences to benefit users worldwide—together writing the next chapter of the AI–WLAN intelligent network ecosystem.”

Hashtag: #WorldWLANApplicationAlliance

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/2026/03/16/2026-global-wlan-industry-forum-convened-in-barcelona-fostering-a-new-ai-wlan-industry-ecosystem/

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Scenic Group Expands the Singapore based APAC Team to Drive Regional Growth

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – Scenic Group today announced the expansion of the dedicated Asia Pacific (APAC) team based in Singapore, operating as Scenic Tours APAC Pte. Ltd. This significant commitment reinforces the company’s continued global expansion strategy and long-term commitment to growth across the APAC region.

From left to right: Lim Yee Sher, Ally Grueter, Quoc Huy To, Anthony Laver, Dominic Tan, Sophia Lam. Jessie Tan

The Singapore office represents an important part of Scenic Group’s strategy, to capitalize on the increasing demand from high-net-worth individuals and the rapidly growing luxury cruising segments across the key Asia Pacific markets. This will build on the strong foundations form its established businesses in Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, Canada and EMEA.

The APAC team is led by Mr. Anthony Laver, Scenic Group, General Manager Sales & Marketing, APAC (based in Sydney, Australia), alongside the founding members:

  • Mr. Quoc Huy To– Director of Finance Asia (Singapore & Vietnam offices)

E-mail: Quochuy.to@scenic.com.sg

  • Ms. Lim Yee Sher– Marketing & Partner Services Manager APAC (Singapore office)

E-mail: yeesher.lim@scenic.com.sg

  • Ms. Ally Grueter– Senior Sales Manager, Charters & Partnerships APAC (based in Zug, Switzerland)

E-mail: Ally.Grueter@scenic.eu

Further strengthening the team, Mr. Dominic Tan – Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, APAC (E-mail: dominic.tan@scenic.com.sg) joins Scenic Group, coming from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across APAC travel markets, including senior roles within travel agencies and travel technology sectors. Also joining the team are:

Sophia and Jessie are very experienced sales and marketing professionals, bringing strong corporate and MICE expertise, with previous roles at Royal Caribbean Group and luxury travel organizations, including Resorts World Sentosa and Chan Brothers Travel.

Anthony Laver, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, APAC said, “To support the strong demand for Luxury Scenic & Emerald, Ocean and River Cruises, together with the significant growth in joint programs with our valued travel partners, Scenic Group has expanded the Asia Pacific regional team. We are delighted to have created such a highly experienced and professional team of travel experts. They will continue to build our Charters, Groups, MICE and F.I.T business opportunities with Travel Partners and their Clients, in all the key markets across the region.”

Collectively, the team brings more than 60 years of combined industry expertise across luxury travel, including cruise, land journeys and travel partnership development. With a rapidly expanding fleet of luxury ocean yachts and award-winning river cruise ships, plus curated land journeys and extensions, Scenic Group continues to invest in dedicated marketing resources, cruise ship capacity and joint partnerships – demonstrating its commitment to delivering high quality business services and guest experiences.

Hashtag: #sceniccruises #emeraldcuises

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/2026/03/16/scenic-group-expands-the-singapore-based-apac-team-to-drive-regional-growth/

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Key players missing for All White World Cup warmup games

Source: Radio New Zealand

Chris Wood of the New Zealand All Whites. © Bildbyrån Photo Agency 2025 © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz

All Whites coach Darren Bazeley has been unable to call on a number of key players for World Cup warmup games at home against Finland and Chile later this month.

Missing through injury are regulars Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Matt Garbett, Nando Pijnaker, Sarpreet Singh, and captain Chris Wood.

However, all are set to return to play ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June and July.

There is a debut call-up for Newcastle Jets’ Lachlan Bayliss.

“These are two really important games for us as we continue building towards the World Cup, so it is great to name our squad to play in front of our home fans for the last time before the tournament,” Bazeley said.

“I want to congratulate Lachlan Bayliss on his debut All Whites call-up. He has been in great form over the last few months with Newcastle Jets, so I’m pleased to bring him in for the first time at senior level.

“We know the deadline for naming our FIFA World Cup squad is getting closer and closer, so we are pleased to be able to give opportunities to a number of players to state their case, especially with a few regulars unavailable for this window.

“Finland and Chile should be great tests for us, and we look forward to taking them on in front of all of our home fans at Eden Park.”

The FIFA Series games at Eden Park also involve Cape Verde.

85th ranked New Zealand play 75th ranked Finland on 27 March and 55th ranked Chile on 30 March.

All Whites squad:

Kosta Barbarouses (70 caps, 9 goals) Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia

Lachlan Bayliss (debut) Newcastle Jets, Australia

Joe Bell (28/1) Viking FK, Norway

Tyler Bindon (20/3) Sheffield United, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

Max Crocombe (19/0) Millwall, England

Andre De Jong (11/2) Orlando Pirates, South Africa

Francis De Vries (15/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand

Callan Elliot (7/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand

Eli Just (38/8) Motherwell, Scotland

Callum McCowatt (28/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark

James McGarry (3/0) Brisbane Roar, Australia

Ben Old (18/1) AS Saint-Étienne, France

Alex Paulsen (5/0) Lechia Gdańsk, Poland (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)

Tim Payne (48/3) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand

Jesse Randall (5/1) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand

Logan Rogerson (16/2) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand

Alex Rufer (22/0) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand

Marko Stamenic (33/3) Swansea City, Wales

Finn Surman (13/2) Portland Timbers, USA

Ryan Thomas (23/3) PEC Zwolle, Netherlands

Bill Tuiloma (45/4) Wellington Phoenix, Aotearoa New Zealand

Ben Waine (26/8) Port Vale, England

Michael Woud (6/0) Auckland FC, Aotearoa New Zealand

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/key-players-missing-for-all-white-world-cup-warmup-games/

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‘No need to panic’, fuel supplier says as average petrol price surges past $3

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Nick Monro

Drivers are being urged not to panic-buy fuel as motorists worry about rising prices.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nicola Willis stands by her government’s decision to stop the electric car rebate scheme, as she looks at how the government could respond to rising prices.

Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rise.

Petrol price monitoring app Gaspy says the average price of 91 petrol is now above $3 and has risen 20 percent since the start of the month.

Spokesperson Mike Newton said the average national price at the start of March was about $2.50 per litre.

He said it had been rising quickly.

Petrol has tipped over the $3 a litre mark in some areas. RNZ / Dan Cook

The rise in prices was largely due to the conflict in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump is calling for countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed as Iran launches attacks to halt maritime traffic.

The area is critical because around 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption or 20 million barrels a day, usually passes through it.

It’s resulted in several petrol stations running dry over the weekend.

Newton said most of the petrol stations running low on gas seemed to be Gull.

“It’s not a supply problem, they have plenty of fuel in the tanks. It’s just they have to get it into the tankers and get it to the stations. Hopefully we’ll start to see that be alleviated in the next couple of days.”

He said the average price was now just 6c away from the level it reached when the Government cut the fuel excise tax, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“We’re starting to get into that territory and this government has said they’re less interested in doing that… so it’ll be interesting to see when the pressure starts to build.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels.

New Zealand has around 32 days’ worth of fuel in the country and 25 days in ships on the way to the country.

“There is no current issue with the availability of fuel,” Willis said. “Were that to be the case, we would get very good forewarning because we would be aware of fuel companies reporting to us that orders had been disrupted or cancelled. They have not made any reports of that sort to us at this stage.

If we got that warning, Willis said we would have several weeks to plan for it.

“This is why we have these minimum stock holdings in the country, so we don’t get ourselves into a panic situation.”

She said the government hasn’t needed to review its sanctions on Russian-origin oil.

“This is, obviously, an event that is unfolding; if there are changes in that position, we will review them when they occur.”

Demand at Waitomo petrol stations has increased by 15 percent. RNZ/Nikki Mandow

Waitomo CEO Simon Parham said demand at the company’s petrol station has increased by about 15 percent.

“We’ve had the odd run out from here and there, but it’s really been for a maximum of 30 minutes,” he told Morning Report.

“What we are seeing is that increase in demand, coupled with a very stressed driver system, anything from a delay at the terminal to a truck breaking down, it’s just caused that slight delay in he system, so you have a slight run out.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

He expects to see the demand soften.

“We’re still in good shape… There’s no need to panic. Yes, we are suffering from high prices, which is tough on everyone, but there is no need to panic at the moment.”

He said if the cargo orders can’t be placed, that’s when New Zealand may need to look at managing stock.

“If we are staying around that 50-day mark, that’s a rolling 50 days, then we’re fine. If we start to see that drop back, then that’s when we have to manage stock,” Parham said.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold said next month will be very difficult if things don’t improve.

“The refiners in Asia are going to run out of feed stocks to be able to continue to produce at the levels we are used to,” he said.

“I think if we are sitting here in mid-April and things haven’t improved, I think we will be looking at the possibility that everybody is just going to have to rein things in a bit.”

Brent crude has been sitting around US$100 a barrel, but if it reaches US$150 a barrel, Eckhold said that’s when the real damaging impacts on businesses and consumers would be seen.

Finance Minister considering govt response to rising prices

Willis has shut down suggestions of temporarily cutting the fuel excise tax, as the Labour government previously did in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying it was too broad.

She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices has on lower-income working New Zealanders.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the government was carefully monitoring fuel stock levels. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“When the petrol prices go up this much, that has an effect on the cost of living, particularly for working New Zealanders who use their cars to get to work. We are very conscious of that and are considering whether a government response is warranted,” Willis said.

Willis stands by her government’s decision to remove the electric vehicle rebate.

She said the rebate was very untargetted.

“I simply don’t accept the idea that giving subsudies to millionaires in Remuera would help those afflicted by high petrol prices,” Willis said.

She said if the government were to give support, it would be targeted, temporary and timely.

Willis said she has not taken advice to Cabinet yet on these matters.

The owner of a bus company said more people could opt for public transport over private vehicles.

Kiwi Coaches owner Dayton Howie told Morning Report petrol price rises were cutting into margins.

He said the costs were currently being absorbed, but it was unclear how long that could last.

Howie said students could miss out on school trips if fuel prices keep going up.

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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/2026/03/16/no-need-to-panic-fuel-supplier-says-as-average-petrol-price-surges-past-3/

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Government’s climate change plans go to the High Court

Source: Radio New Zealand

Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative are asking the High Court to declare Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ decisions unlawful. RNZ / Mark Papalii

A landmark legal case that argues the government’s plan to tackle climate change is unlawful and risky will go ahead today.

Climate advocates will argue that the government broke the law when it dismantled dozens of climate policies soon after the 2023 election, before it had consulted the public.

They also say the current plan relies too heavily on planting trees to offset greenhouse gas emissions, instead of reducing the amount of emissions the country produces in the first place.

Lawyers for Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) are jointly taking the case against Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.

The organisations are asking the High Court to declare the minister’s decisions unlawful and to throw out the current emissions plan so a new, more ambitious one can be prepared.

An environmental law expert says the case is “hugely significant” and has similarities to challenges in the UK, which resulted in changes to that government’s climate plans.

Under New Zealand’s climate laws, the government must produce five-yearly emissions reductions plans, which set out how the country will meet its domestic climate targets.

At the moment, those targets are to reduce carbon dioxide and other long-lived gas emissions to net zero by 2050, and to reduce methane emissions to 14 to 24 percent below 2017 levels by the same deadline.

The methane target was originally a 24 to 47 percent reduction by 2050, but the government changed this last year in response to lobbying from the agricultural sector, which produces half of New Zealand’s methane emissions.

There are also interim targets for 2030: to halve long-lived gases from their 2005 levels, and a 10 percent reduction of methane emissions from 2017 levels.

Subsidies for electric vehicles, and a fund to help businesses electrify their coal- and gas-fired industrial processes, were among policies that the government chose to scrap in late 2023.

ELI senior legal researcher Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield said climate laws allowed the government to make changes to an emissions reduction plan, but they must consult on any changes that are more than minor or technical.

Instead, the government scrapped large parts of the plan before formally amending it.

“By the time the plan was actually amended, there were over 30 initiatives that were being consulted on where the decisions had already been made,” she said.

“What the government should have done is consulted on any amendments before it locked in those changes.”

‘Phenomenal’ reliance on pine planting

The latest emissions reduction plan, which kicked in at the start of this year, was not really an emissions reduction plan at all, Prestidge-Oldfield said.

“Instead of having arranged policies that might substantively reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, or replace sectors of the economy that currently are reliant on out that equipment with new equipment, they’ve just relied on baseline modeling and trees offsetting carbon emissions.”

The reliance on forestry planting in the plan was “quite phenomenal”.

“The reliance on forestry means that people aren’t going to be doing the other things that they can do, that are technically feasible now and may even have a good payoff, unless they’re cheaper than a forestry credit,” she said.

Relying on mostly pine plantations was “inherently risky”, she said.

“As the climate heats, the risk of them burning down is pretty significant. We’ve already seen issues with extreme weather events, windfall, forestry slash – so these are not a robust solution in and of themselves.”

Lawyers for Climate Action executive director Jessica Palairet said using trees and other types of carbon sequestration was an important part of the climate response, because it would help to remove carbon dioxide already warming the planet.

It could not simply replace reducing emissions at their source, though.

“The government shouldn’t treat reductions and removals as equivalent,” Palairet said.

“They’re different, they needed to be treated differently under the law, and we don’t think the minister even turned his mind to whether this plan of planting our way out of the climate crisis complied with international law.”

The global Paris Agreement did not explicitly state that governments must prioritise reducing emissions over removing them from the atmosphere, Palairet said.

“But there’s numerous parts … that do suggest a preferencing of reductions over forestry removals.”

States were also expected to take a precautionary approach to reducing their emissions, she said.

“So reduce emissions now, rather than keep them at high levels and leave them for future generations to deal with.”

Case is significant – environmental law expert

The hearing in Wellington will add to a growing body of climate law cases being levelled at governments around the world.

An advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice last year found that developed countries like New Zealand were expected to lead the way in making emissions reductions, and that the way was open for countries to sue each other for failing to take action.

Auckland University associate professor Vernon Rive said the latest case was “hugely significant”.

“It concerns some quite fundamental planks of the government’s policy and approach on climate mitigation,” he said.

“It tests whether from a legal perspective the policy reliance on the [emissions trading scheme] – almost to the exclusion of everything else – is a legitimate approach.”

The outcome could set a precedent for how emissions reduction plans were set, especially about the level of certainty the government needed to have that a plan could meet an emissions budget.

“I don’t think anyone expects there to be 100 percent certainty, because this involves modelling and predictions of what will happen in the future,” Rive said, “But there is an expectation of a level of certainty and robustness and credibility.”

That included what wiggle-room there was if some policies did not succeed, or something else unexpected happened.

“The government’s plan – by its own recognition – is cutting it very, very fine,” he said. “There’s a very small buffer for achieving it or not achieving it.”

New Zealand’s system of setting greenhouse gas budgets and emissions reduction plans was similar to Ireland and the UK, where governments had also faced legal challenges.

“[There have been] two significant cases in the UK where environmental interests have successfully challenged the UK government’s emissions reduction plans, or their equivalent,” Rive said.

“The court has said look, there are just too many uncertainties here involved in your plan – you need to go back and do it again, and do it properly this time.”

New Zealand’s legal system was similar to the UK’s, so he expected the courts here to take a similar approach to the law.

“Each of these cases will turn on their own facts … but this is a very credible claim.”

The hearing is expected to last three days, with a reserved decision later this year.

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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/2026/03/16/governments-climate-change-plans-go-to-the-high-court/

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Tall Ferns go down to Senegal

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tall Ferns head coach Natalie Hurst, at the the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, March 2026 EDGARDO MEDINA

The struggles have continued for the Tall Ferns at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, going down to African nation, Senegal, in their latest match 61-45.

New Zealand only lead on one occasion, and that was when Bec Pizzey nailed a lay-up to score the opening points of the contest.

And while Senegal couldn’t convert their scoring opportunities in the first two and half minutes, once Victorine Thiaw dropped a step-back three-pointer, Senegal were never headed for the rest of the game.

By the end of the first quarter, Senegal had stretched their lead to four points (14-10), and then to five (29-24) at halftime.

But it was in the third quarter where they really moved clear, outscoring New Zealand 23-9, to head into the final quarter 52-33 ahead.

And while the Tall Ferns managed to win the final quarter by three points, it was still a decisive win for Senegal, who had two players hitting double figures, Yacine Diop (13) and Saokhna Ndiaye (10).

Ella Toefaeono ended top scorer for New Zealand with 10 points, while she also contributed three assists and two blocks.

Pizzey finished with nine points and five rebounds, with Tegan Graham securing the same numbers.

Emme Shearer was the Tall Ferns leading rebounder with seven.

But overall, New Zealand shot the ball at just 27%, while conceding 18 turnovers.

The tournament’s been a tough challenge for the Natalie Hurst coached team, with earlier defeats to Italy, 74-51, and Spain 99-50.

New Zealand plays the USA tomorrow (7am NZT) in their next match, and then the host nation in their final group match on Wednesday.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/15/tall-ferns-go-down-to-senegal/

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The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 Arrives in the UK—Engineered Globally, Tuned Locally

Source: Media Outreach

  • Long range, premium comfort, and five-star safety—the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 delivers a high-tech electric driving experience.
  • Cutting-edge EV technology that brings together global design, engineering, and manufacturing.

BIRMINGHAM, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 March 2026 – Changan UK has launched the all-electric CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, a compact C-SUV blending premium design, intelligent technology, and everyday practicality.

“The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 is designed for people who want an electric SUV that fits effortlessly into everyday life,” Nic Thomas, Managing Director of Changan UK, said, “It delivers reassuring performance, thoughtful comfort, and technology that simply works—all without the premium price tag. “

The CHANGAN DEEPAL S05: Range, Comfort, Safety

Powered by a 68.8kWh LFP battery, the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 delivers WLTP ranges of up to 303 miles (RWD) and 278 miles (AWD). Inside, the aircraft-inspired cockpit features vegan leather heated and ventilated front seats, including a full-recline zero gravity passenger seat. A 15.4-inch rotating touchscreen, AR-HUD, 14-speaker audio system, and wireless smartphone connectivity complete the high-tech cabin.

Safety is central to the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, earning it a five-star Euro NCAP rating. It comes standard with 17 intelligent driver assistance systems, enabling L2 autonomous driving through a network of cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors—including a 540-degree surround-view camera system.

More Than a Model: How the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 Embodies a Global Vision

Changan is now present in 16 European markets, with launches in Italy, Spain, and Poland coming soon. The UK anchors this footprint as a strategic hub for local development. Leading this momentum is the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05, a model built on a truly global foundation. Designed at Changan Design Center Europe in Turin and calibrated at the Changan UK R&D Centre in Birmingham, it has been meticulously tuned for local roads.

For the UK market, the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 is produced at Changan Rayong Factory in Thailand—established in 2023 as a dedicated hub for global right-hand drive markets. With approximately 60% local sourcing, the facility ensures consistent quality, testing, and supply, while its strategic location enables worldwide logistics. More than a new model, the S05 stands as a testament to Changan’s global ambitions—integrating design, engineering, and production across continents to deliver a truly international electric vehicle.

Hashtag: #Changan

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/2026/03/15/the-changan-deepal-s05-arrives-in-the-uk-engineered-globally-tuned-locally/

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Kiwi sprinter Lex Revell-Lewis lowers national 400 metres record at Adelaide

Source: Radio New Zealand

Lex Revell-Lewis has reduced his own national record at Adelaide. Kerry Marshall/Photosport

Auckland sprinter Lex Revell-Lewis has shaved one-hundredth of a second off his own national 400 metres record at the Adelaide Invitational.

Ideally drawn in lane six, with two faster opponents outside him, he was paced around the lap of the track in a time of 45.87s, finishing second behind Australian Luke van Ratingen (45.21s).

Last year, Revell-Lewis became the first Kiwi man to break 46 seconds for 400 metres, when he ran 45.88s in Melbourne.

Last week, he dipped under that barrier again, when he defended his national at Auckland in 45.97s, winning by more than a second. That performance earnt him a ticket to this months world indoor championships in Poland.

Earlier in the Adelaide meet, NZ javelin exponent Tori Moorby won her specialist event in 58.69m. Nick Southgate equalled his season best with 5.35m for second in the pole vault.

Sprinter Tommy Te Puni won the ‘B’ 100 metres final in 10.43s with a slight tailwind, before finishing third over 200 metres in 20.68s.

James Preston clocked 1m 45.07s to finish third over 800 metres and qualify for the world indoors, but New Zealand has already filled its quota of two in that event, with James Harding and Thomas Cowan both competing for US colleges.

Representing University of Oregon, Harding will contest the NCAA championship final this weekend.

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/kiwi-sprinter-lex-revell-lewis-lowers-national-400-metres-record-at-adelaide/

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Winter Paralympics: Kiwi Corey Peters finishes fifth in last event at Milano Cortina

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corey Peters in action at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy. © Photosport 2026 Jeff Crowe / Photosport

New Zealand’s Corey Peters has finished the Winter Paralympic with a fifth placing in the men’s giant slalom sitting, while compatriot Adam Hall has finished 22nd in the giant slalom standing.

Peters’ effort has left him without a medal at the Milano Cortina Games, but with three top-six finishes.

In conditions he described as challenging, after the slushy snow had salt added, Peters produced two clean runs, posting a combined time of 2m 18.12s in an event that saw only 19 of 37 athletes finish.

Peters, 42, had a tidy first run and held the early lead, after another good run in the second, but his time was overtaken by later skiers.

Italian world champion Rene de Silvestro won the event, with Dutchman Niels de Langen second and defending champion Jesper Pedersen of Norway third.

“I’m pretty happy, considering giant slalom isn’t my favoured event, but stoked to get down, and get another finish under my belt and another top five,” Peters said. “It was challenging conditions out there, so just to survive it was special.”

Peters, who won gold in the downhill sitting event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, finished fifth in the downhill sitting and sixth in the Super-G sitting over the past week.

He has four Paralympics medals from past Games.

“For me to come away without a medal [here] is a little disappointing, but that’s sport.

“We can’t change the results now and it is going to take some slightly better skiing next time in order to get on the podium.”

Hall – like Peters, Wānaka-based – was competing in the giant slalom standing for the first time at a Winter Paralympics, since his debut at Torino 2006.

He had two clean runs in the event, which was a forerunner for his favoured slalom standing, scheduled overnight Sunday/Monday NZT.

“Doing this event was never about pushing for a podium, but to gain an insight and intel for what may lie ahead on Sunday in the slalom,” Hall said.

“Today was all about getting my head around the conditions and blowing away the cobwebs, before going all guns blazing in the slalom.”

Frenchman Arthur Bauchet was a dominant winner of Hall’s event.

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Whānau of Māori Battalion soldier hope film will see him receive Victoria Cross

Source: Radio New Zealand

L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM photographed by George Bull in 1943. George Bull

The whānau of a Māori Battalion soldier hope a new film about his exploits in Tunisia during the Second World War will see him finally receive the Victoria Cross.

L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) joined B Company, 28th Māori Battalion shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, he fought in Greece, Crete and North Africa. It was during the North African campaign in Tunisia that he confirmed his attributes as an outstanding leader and soldier.

According to his biography on Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, he was in a platoon from the Māori Battalion that was ordered, in April 1943, to capture and secure the Takrouna feature – a steep, rocky outcrop rising almost a thousand feet above a group of olive groves.

It was occupied by 300 Italian and German troops, who were causing havoc to the advancing Allied army. The assignment was extremely dangerous and difficult due to heavy mortar and small arms fire, and by the morning after the initial attack on 20 April, Manahi’s platoon of around 30 men was reduced in strength to 10. Manahi then led a party of three men up the western side of the pinnacle.

In order to reach their objective they had to climb some 500 feet – the last 20 feet almost sheer. After a brief fight, some 60 enemy surrendered. Manahi and his party were then joined by the rest of the platoon and the pinnacle was secured.

Donna Morrison and Anaru Grant Jr. Supplied

Dr Donna Morrison is a producer of the new film and one of Haane Manahi’s nieces.

“Having the opportunity to travel with a small group to Takrouna in 2007, it really heightens an understanding when you see the citadel that is Takrouna. It has a 360 viewpoint of any approaching enemy. It is a magnificent landscape feature that really humbles you when you look at it because it is such an outstanding feature of the Tunisian landscape,” she told Māpuna.

Morrison said only two weeks prior to Manahi’s deeds of valour fellow Māori Battalion soldier Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, determination and outstanding leadership.

Following the battle at Takrouna, Manahi was recommended for a Victoria Cross, but was instead awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

“Most pivotal and critical in this is that on the final night, Uncle Haane himself personally oversaw the bringing down of the wounded and the dead. It just tells me so much about Uncle Haane, the man. And that in itself is deserved of VC consideration,” she said.

Growing up Morrison never knew of that aspect of “Uncle Haane,” she remembers instead staying at his batch at Maketu and as her swimming coach a “hard taskmaster.”

During his lifetime Manahi did not want the VC reinstated, but once he passed in 1986 Sir Charles Bennett worked towards it on behalf of all of Te Arawa, she said.

“[Uncle Haane] didn’t want to fuss and bother. He thought everyone who went away deserved the VC. That was the man that he was.”

Although official policy did not allow for review of Second World War honours, in October 2006 Buckingham Palace agreed to present a personal letter from Queen Elizabeth II recognising his gallantry, a ceremonial sword and an altar cloth for St Faith’s Church, Ōhinemutu.

Morrison believes there is still merit in His Majesty King Charles restoring the VC to Manahi.

“The goal, albeit audacious, is something that I believe that King Charles may want to at least review.

“Perhaps the film will help to speed that process up. But I believe it is achievable with the right people, the right resources, at the right time.”

The film Sgt. Haane releases nationwide in theatres on April 23. Morrison encouraged whānau of soldiers to bring photographs of their own to the theatre as a joint commemorative opportunity.

Sgt. Haane is directed by Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E: The Story of Our Song, Mt. Zion) with Alex Tarrant (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, DMV) as Haane Manahi.

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ACE ROBOTICS Open-Sources Real-Time Generative World Model Kairos 3.0-4B

Source: Media Outreach

  • A native world model built from the ground up for embodied intelligence, Kairos 3.0-4B delivers exceptional physics-consistent deep understanding and cross-embodiment generalization, enabling a single “brain” to drive robots of multiple form factors.
  • Kairos 3.0-4B leverages a unified “multi-modal understanding-generation-prediction” architecture for physical-level deep understanding, long-horizon dynamic interaction, precise action control, and long-horizon interaction — 7-minute coherent interaction videos set a new industry benchmark.
  • As a lightweight 4B-parameter model, Kairos 3.0-4B outperforms mainstream embodied world models while delivering industry-leading inference efficiency. It achieves real-time edge generation on the THOR platform with a1:1.5 ratio of generation time to video duration, leading performance across both cloud and edge environments.
  • Kairos 3.0-4B achieves top-ranking accuracy across multiple authoritative benchmarks. Furthermore, leveraging model capabilities and inference tooling, its inference speed is 72 times faster than Cosmos 2.5, setting a new global performance record for embodied world models.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – ACE ROBOTICS announced the open-source release of Kairos 3.0-4B, the industry’s first native world model for embodied intelligence to realize unified “multi-modal understanding-generation-prediction” within a single architecture. As the technical cornerstone of the company’s “Human-Centric” ACE Embodied Intelligence R&D Paradigm, Kairos 3.0-4B is designed from the ground up for real-world robotic operation — integrating physical laws, human behavior, and real robot actions to deliver physics-consistent deep understanding of the real world.

The prevailing approach to embodied world models has largely involved retrofitting general-purpose large language or vision models with motion interfaces. Kairos 3.0-4B takes a fundamentally different path. Rather than appending motion capabilities onto existing model architectures, it is built from the architectural level around the fundamental physical and causal laws that govern real-world environments, constructing a unified world-understanding framework capable of cross-embodiment generalization. By embedding causal reasoning chains directly into its decision-making process, the model transcends behavioral imitation and achieves what ACE ROBOTICS defines as physical-level deep understanding — enabling robots to not only know what to do, but to understand why. Its core breakthrough lies in the deep integration of three categories of data: real robot interaction data, structured human behavioral data, and chain-of-thought reasoning data, effectively breaking down multi-source data barriers and significantly improving the reuse efficiency of real-world data.

A landmark achievement of this release is Kairos 3.0-4B’s real-time edge deployment capability. Deployed on the NVIDIA Jetson Thor T5000 platform at 517 TFLOPs, it is the world’s first embodied world model to achieve real-time generation on edge hardware — achieving a 1.5x faster-than-real-time generation speed on the THOR platform — and the first capable of directly driving physical robot bodies for real-world task execution through native edge deployment. The model issues full-body control commands spanning upper limbs, fingers, and lower limbs without intermediate control layers, enabling robots to move from “capable of performing” to genuinely “capable of working.”

Kairos 3.0-4B also delivers a breakthrough in long-horizon interaction. By combining its unified architecture with Agent-based hierarchical planning and a self-reflective iterative optimization mechanism, the model generates coherent future-state predictions up to 7 minutes in length while maintaining full scene coherence and physical fidelity throughout — setting a new industry benchmark for long-horizon embodied interaction and opening new pathways for embodied intelligence training and deployment.

On the A800 GPU benchmark, Kairos 3.0-4B’s inference speed surpasses NVIDIA Cosmos 2.5 by 72 times, setting a new global performance record for embodied world models. This performance is delivered with a lightweight footprint of just 4B parameters and 23.5GB of VRAM — a fraction of Cosmos 2.5’s 70.2GB requirement — demonstrating that efficiency and capability need not be in tension and fundamentally challenging the assumption that larger parameters are a prerequisite for superior performance. The model has also achieved top rankings across three authoritative global benchmarks: PAI-Bench-robot, co-developed by Georgia Tech and CMU; WorldModelBench-robot TI2V, introduced at CVPR 2025; and NVIDIA GEAR Lab’s DreamGen Bench, outperforming all evaluated models on physical consistency and instruction-following metrics.

In A800 GPU benchmarks, Kairos 3.0-4B achieves order-of-magnitude breakthroughs in compute efficiency and inference speed

Supporting seamless cross-embodiment deployment across single-arm, dual-arm, and dexterous hand configurations with no additional per-embodiment training required, Kairos 3.0-4B is compatible with major hardware platforms including Agilex PIPER, Unitree G1, and Galaxy G1. Kairos 3.0-4B is now available on Github (https://github.com/kairos-agi/kairos-sensenova) and Hugging Face (https://huggingface.co/kairos-agi/kairos-sensenova-common).

https://www.linkedin.com/company/acerobotics/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true｜
https://x.com/ace_robotics

Hashtag: #ACEROBOTICS

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/2026/03/14/ace-robotics-open-sources-real-time-generative-world-model-kairos-3-0-4b/

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International travel: January 2026 – Stats NZ information release

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/14/international-travel-january-2026-stats-nz-information-release/

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WOLF Strengthens Expansion Plans into APAC

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – WOLF, the heritage luxury brand renowned for its precision watch winding technology and expertly handcrafted watch and jewellery boxes and travel cases, announces a significant strengthening of its presence across the Asian market. This expansion marks a pivotal moment in the brand’s history, reinforcing a commitment to bringing its legacy of craftsmanship and innovation to a discerning clientele throughout the region.

Brogue 8 Piece Watch Winder; Brogue 8 Piece Watch Winder, Axis 12 Piece Watch Winder Cabinet, Athos 12 Piece Watch Winder Safe, Zoe Large Jewellery Box, Bella Large Jewellery Box, WOLF x Liberty All Over Ianthe Large Jewellery Box

Central to this initiative is the appointment and development of a dedicated local team based in Hong Kong, and dedicated local agents appointed throughout the region. By establishing a robust on-the-ground presence, WOLF ensures that its operations across the region are guided by deep regional expertise and an intimate understanding of the local luxury market landscape. This move signifies not merely an acceleration in the market, but a long-term investment in building lasting relationships with partners and collectors who value superior quality.

“As a fifth-generation family business, growth for WOLF has always been about more than geography, it’s all about relationships. Expanding our footprint in Asia reflects both the strength of the region and our belief in its future. With a dedicated team on the ground, we are not simply entering markets; we are embedding ourselves within them, ensuring that our craftsmanship, innovation, and family values resonate locally while remaining true to our global heritage.” Simon Wolf, CEO.

The brand will further demonstrate its commitment to the region through a series of appearances at key industry trade shows in the coming months. These events will serve as the premier stage for showcasing WOLF’s celebrated heritage, alongside the unveiling of significant new product launches. These upcoming collections exemplify the brand’s dedication to combining innovative technology with timeless design, offering sophisticated solutions for the protection and preservation of the world’s finest timepieces and jewellery.

Join WOLF at:

  • Design Shanghai from 19th to 22nd March 2026 at Shanghai Exhibition Centre, China.
  • Time to Watches from 14th to 19th April 2026 at Villa Sarasin, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Tokyo Design Lifestyle Week from 24th to 26th June 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan.
  • Singapore Internal Jewelry Expo from 9th to 12th July at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore.
  • Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair from 1st to 5th September at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong.

As WOLF accelerates its growth in this dynamic market, the brand invites media and industry partners to explore the vision behind this expansion. Exclusive interview opportunities are available with Simon Wolf, offering a unique perspective on the company’s over 190-year-old heritage, its strategic direction in Asia, and the meticulous craftsmanship that defines every piece.

To request an interview: marketing@wolf1834.com.

Meet WOLF:
WOLF’s global sales teams will be available to introduce customers to the story of WOLF, the over 190-year-old fifth-generation family-owned brand, to show WOLF’s latest collections and discuss a recommended product assortment for their store.

To make an appointment contact: sales@wolf1834.com.

PRESS & MARKETING:
Meet with marketing to discover WOLF’s essential retailer asset packs, which contain an invaluable mix of marketing materials for retailers to promote WOLF to their customers.

For marketing or press appointments: marketing@wolf1834.com.

PRESS ASSETS:
For e-commerce, lifestyle images and editorial copy, please contact marketing for further content: marketing@wolf1834.com.

Hashtag: #WOLF

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/2026/03/13/wolf-strengthens-expansion-plans-into-apac/

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APAS Debuts at The Battery Show Asia Showcasing Eight Innovative Battery Technology Solutions

Source: Media Outreach

Hosting New Energy Summit to Connect Global Experts Insights on New Energy Landscape

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – Centre of Advanced Power and Autonomous Systems (APAS), under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC),made its debut at The Battery Show Asia held from 10 to 12 March. During the exhibition, APAS set up a dedicated showcase area to present eight innovative battery technology solutions featuring high safety standards and intelligent capabilities for the first time. In parallel, APAS hosted the second edition of the New Energy Summit during the exhibition. The summit brought together five industry experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India and Switzerland to deliver speeches on various topics related to new energy and energy storage. Speakers shared the latest industry developments and application trends, fostering international technology exchange and collaboration.

During the exhibition, APAS hosted the second New Energy Summit, inviting industry experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India and Switzerland to speak and share the latest technological developments and application trends in the fields of new energy and advanced materials.

Mr Yonghai DU, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC and General Manager of APAS, said, “In line with the strategic priorities set out in the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for emerging and future industries such as new energy, advanced energy storage and hydrogen energy, energy technologies are entering an unprecedented period of growth. The outline also emphasise the pursuit of smart, green, and integrated development of industry, injecting long-term momentum for the new energy development. For many years, HKPC has been committed to market-led technology R&D. APAS focuses on areas including new energy technologies, green transportation, smart mobility, intelligent systems and emerging applications, actively translating research outcomes into market-ready solutions to help industries enhance technological capabilities and industrial value.”

He added, “Through this international platform, we hope to strengthen our collaboration with enterprises and research institutions from around the world. Hong Kong can play a more proactive role as a connector between Chinese Mainland and the global market in the development of innovation, international standards and the practical application of new energy technologies, thereby enhancing the city’s global competitiveness in the new energy industry. Looking ahead, APAS will continue to focus on research and practical applications in new energy and intelligent systems, while advancing technological innovation and cross-regional collaboration to support both the nation and Hong Kong in fostering emerging industries and future industries.”

First Participation in The Battery Show Asia, Highlighting Battery Technology Achievements

The Battery Show Asia brings together more than 20,000 industry representatives from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Europe and the United States, including policymakers, technology innovators, engineers, manufacturers and industry experts. Covering battery manufacturing, energy storage solutions and new energy transportation industries, the exhibition serves as an international platform integrating technology showcase, industry exchange and business collaboration.

In its first participation in the exhibition, APAS showcased its research strengths in new energy technologies and emerging applications by presenting a range of innovative battery technology solutions. The showcase aims to contribute to the development of the battery industry while providing an important platform for Hong Kong to connect with global technologies and markets, facilitating cross-regional exchange and collaboration.

APAS set up a dedicated exhibition area to present several research outcomes developed in collaboration with industry partners, including:

  • Battery Cell Technologies:
    • High-performance Sodium-ion Battery: Using stable poly-anionic phosphate cathode, the battery enables rapid storage and release of sodium-ions while offering high safety and cost efficiency. It is suitable for applications such as low-speed electric vehicles, power batteries and large-scale energy storage. Looking ahead, APAS will collaborate with industry partners to establish large-scale production capabilities for high-performance sodium-ion battery, further optimising its performance and cost-effectiveness while exploring deployment in low-speed electric vehicles and utility-scale energy storage systems.
  • Battery Systems and Solutions:
    • Explosion-Proof High-Energy Battery Systems:This solution features proprietary safety technology that prevents thermal runaway, delivering reliable power in the most challenging environments, engineered for demanding marine and portable power applications. APAS will assist partners in optimising battery module design and thermal management systems to enhance product performance and align R&D processes with industry standards. This will support partners in establishing manufacturing facilities in Hong Kong and expanding into overseas markets.
    • Yacht Battery System: The system integrates advanced solid-state battery technology with an intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) to eliminate risks associated with traditional liquid electrolytes, including leakage, corrosion and thermal runaway. It is specifically designed to withstand the high-humidity, high-vibration and salt-spray conditions inherent to open-water yacht operations. APAS is currently supporting partners in obtaining international battery standard certifications to facilitate entry into the global market.

These solutions feature high safety standards, intelligent capabilities, and flexible applications. They support a wide range of sectors, including electric transportation and smart mobility, marine and industrial applications, specialised equipment, aerospace and high-end manufacturing, medical devices, consumer electronics, home assistive equipment and portable energy storage for travel.

Hosting New Energy Summit to Jointly Build a Sustainable Future

During the exhibition, APAS also hosted the second New Energy Summit, which brought together industry leaders and academic experts from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India and Switzerland. The summit focused on key topics related to new energy development and applications, providing a platform for speakers to share insights and engage in discussions with industry professionals in attendance.

The summit focused on two key themes — new energy and advanced materials — bringing together global experts to explore technological development and industrial applications. In the new energy sector, a representative from The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited introduced innovative hydrogen energy technologies and their potential applications in promoting clean energy development in Hong Kong. Representatives from energy technology companies and alliances in Switzerland, India and Thailand shared the latest trends and practical applications in energy storage technologies, as well as the integration of renewable energy with smart infrastructure. In the field of advanced materials, a scholar from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the National University of Singapore highlighted the critical role of nanotechnology in energy and sustainable development, offering insights into the future landscape of sustainable new energy.

Through this cross-regional and cross-industry platform, APAS aims to promote international technology exchange and collaboration, accelerate the application of new energy technologies and drive industry transformation, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future energy ecosystem.

Advancing Technologies onto the Global Stage, Reinforcing Hong Kong’s Connectivity Advantages

HKPC actively participates in various international exhibitions and industry exchange activities to showcase innovative solutions co-developed with industry partners. Leveraging Hong Kong as a platform, HKPC supports enterprises in expanding into international markets and advancing cutting-edge technologies and standards worldwide.

Through international exhibitions and collaboration initiatives, HKPC further strengthens Hong Kong’s role as an important connector between Chinese Mainland and the world. In line with the Government’s 2026-27 Budget to attract large-scale international exhibitions to Hong Kong and promote the city’s exhibition brand globally, HKPC will continue to participate in international exhibitions and foster industry exchanges to drive innovation showcase and collaboration.

Hashtag: #APAS

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/2026/03/13/apas-debuts-at-the-battery-show-asia-showcasing-eight-innovative-battery-technology-solutions/

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Alibaba Cloud Accelerates Worldwide AI Innovation and Adoption Across Industries

Source: Media Outreach

AI+Cloud strategy continues to empower businesses towards greater efficiency and new growth opportunities

HANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 March 2026 – Alibaba Cloud, the digital and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, presents a series of customer success stories from 2025, showcasing how its full-stack AI and Cloud capabilities are powering innovation for enterprises worldwide.

Alibaba Cloud’s comprehensive AI offering – spanning infrastructure, its Qwen and Wan model families and development platforms – met significantly growing demand as enterprises scale their AI applications across industries. These AI deployments have in turn fueled higher usage of core cloud services, contributing to sustained growth and underscoring the company’s role as a trusted digital partner for enterprises worldwide.​

Dr. Feifei Li, President of International Businessfor Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, said: “In 2025, we witnessed enterprises deepening and broadening their use of AI. Businesses around the world are utilizing our AI capabilities, built on a secure, scalable cloud foundation, to reimagine their industries, from AI-driven sustainable mobility to intelligent healthcare and generative content creation. Alibaba Cloud remains committed to delivering full-stack AI solutions, open-source initiatives and AI-optimized cloud infrastructure that empower customers to innovate at pace.”

Accelerating EV innovation in Malaysia

In Malaysia, Alibaba Cloud has been supporting mobility technology company PRO-NET from its inception, enabling the company to adopt a cloud first and data driven approach through a fully integrated end to end data pipeline. This foundation has played a key role as PRO-NET drives the development of Malaysia’s new energy ecosystem and accelerates the nation’s transition towards intelligent, sustainable mobility.

Building on this foundation, PRO-NET is advancing its AI capabilities using Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio to develop its internal chatbot, which will later expand to customer-facing applications and vehicle infotainment systems. This collaboration strengthens PRO-NET’s capabilities in intelligent mobility, predictive analytics, and customer experience, supporting Malaysia’s broader EV transformation.

“Alibaba Cloud has been a key partner to PRO-NET, and their support in building our cloud-first and data-driven foundation has been instrumental as we advance Malaysia’s new energy mobility ecosystem. As we move into the next phase with AI, this impactful collaboration will empower us to unlock deeper insights, elevate customer experiences, and accelerate our vision of shaping a smarter, more connected future of mobility for Malaysia,” said Zhang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of PRO-NET.

Powering multilingual AI in Singapore

In Singapore, Alibaba Cloud supports the release of Qwen-SEA-LION-v4, the latest version of a large language model developed by AI Singapore (AISG), to address the linguistic, cultural, and commercial needs of Southeast Asia. Built on Alibaba’s Qwen3-32B foundation model, the launch represents a significant step in AISG’s efforts to deliver increasingly capable and accessible AI solutions for the region.

Qwen-SEA-LION-v4 delivers significant improvement in multilingual accuracy and cultural contextual understanding while being efficient enough to run on a consumer-grade laptop with 32GB of RAM. It currently ranks first on the leaderboard for Southeast Asian Holistic Evaluation of Language Models (SEA-HELM) among open-source models under 200B parameters, thanks to its advanced reasoning, multilingual support, and long-context understanding tailored for Southeast Asian languages.

The base Qwen3-32B model has been further trained on over 100 billion Southeast Asian language tokens to enhance its ability to interpret local expressions, conversational nuances and regional knowledge domains.

“Our collaboration with Alibaba on Qwen-SEA-LION-v4 is an important milestone in advancing AI inclusivity and to make it more representative of Southeast Asia,” said Dr Leslie Teo, Senior Director of AI Products, AI Singapore. “It embodies our shared vision of accelerating AI innovation across the region and ensuring that developers, enterprises, and public institutions have access to AI that is open, affordable, and locally relevant, and is designed to truly understand the languages, cultures, and communities of this region.”

Modernizing healthcare with AI in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong,Leading Hong Kong-based Chinese medicine company PuraPharm Corporation Limited (PuraPharm) and clinical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intelligence software solutions company HerbMiners Informatics Limited (HerbMiners) have used Alibaba’s Qwen3 model to enhance the pioneering Traditional Chinese Medicine Advisor (TCMA) platform, a clinical management platform designed to modernize and globalize TCM practices. Powered by Qwen3 model, the platform now uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning capabilities to help analyze unstructured clinical data, such as doctors’ notes and herbal prescriptions, supporting personalized treatment decisions and enhancing AI-driven patient engagement, clinical operations, security and compliance.

Dr. Wilfred W.K. Lin, Co-founder and Chief Data Analytics Director, HerbMiners Informatics Limited, said, “Our pioneering TCMA platform sheds lights on how modern tools can unleash the value of traditional wisdom, creating smarter, more responsive, and globally scalable healthcare systems. The platform is poised to redefine the future of TCM, not only in Hong Kong, but on a global scale.”

Enabling smarter, greener cities

Alibaba Cloud also supported global industry leaders to utilize Qwen to transform their operations, from accelerating product innovation to building smarter, more sustainable cities.

Signify, the world leader in lighting headquartered in the Netherlands, has launched the industry’s first GenAI agent in China powered by Alibaba’s self-developed large language model Qwen. By harnessing Qwen’s advanced capability to effectively handle complex tasks, the GenAI agent has been integrated into Signify’s connected street lighting system Interact City Flex that monitors, controls and manages street lighting, to further reduce energy consumption while boosting maintenance efficiency. Powered by Qwen, the upgraded system simplifies operation by allowing users to generate and deploy AI-driven dimming strategies through natural language commends. It also flags anomalies and provides solutions to improve efficiency on facility management and maintenance.

“Digital transformation in urban environments relies on intelligent systems that make city management smarter and more sustainable,” said Hans Nikol, Head of Open Innovation of Signify. “By making use of Alibaba’s Qwen model in our GenAI Agent, we’re empowering cities to proactively reduce energy consumption and lower operational costs. This collaboration marks an important step in intelligent city management and underlines our commitment to innovation and our vision for greener, brighter cities.”

Reinventing digital content creation in Japan

In Japan, Alibaba Cloud has established a strategic partnership with Tokyo-based digital manga developer and factory to drive AI adoption and innovation within Japan’s manga industry. Under the partnership, and factory becomes Alibaba Cloud’s official “Manga Partner,” contributing industry expertise and experience in digital manga platform development. Alibaba Cloud will provide advanced cloud infrastructure and AI technologies to support this digital transformation.

Together, the companies will co-develop AI-powered tools designed to boost efficiency and creativity in manag production, such as automated background illustration, intelligent storyboard creation, auto-coloring, animation conversion, and automatic translation. These solutions will empower creators, publishers, and distributors, expanding manga’s global reach.

With an expanding ecosystem of partners and customers, Alibaba Cloud remains focused on delivering secure, high-performance and accessible AI capabilities that help businesses of all sizes unlock new value and accelerate digital transformation in 2026 and beyond.

Hashtag: #AlibabaCloud

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/2026/03/13/alibaba-cloud-accelerates-worldwide-ai-innovation-and-adoption-across-industries/

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Vietnam Airlines Steps Up Market Promotion Efforts in Europe

Source: Media Outreach

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 March 2026 – Vietnam Airlines officially marked its entry into the Dutch market today with a high-profile promotion event at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, announcing the much-anticipated launch of nonstop flights between Hanoi and Amsterdam.

Beginning June 16, 2026, Vietnam Airlines will operate three weekly round-trip flights using the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft.

The event, joined by the Ambassador of Vietnam to the Netherlands, Mr. Ngo Huong Nam, served as a strategic platform to introduce the new route to key European travel partners. The gathering highlighted Vietnam’s growing appeal as a top-tier destination and reinforced the airline’s mission to bridge Vietnam with Europe’s most vital economic hubs.

Beginning June 16, 2026, Vietnam Airlines will operate three weekly round-trip flights using the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. As the first-ever direct link between the two nations, this service will drastically reduce travel time and position Amsterdam as a primary gateway for passengers traveling from Europe to Southeast Asia.

The flight schedule is optimized for maximum convenience, offering seamless onward connections from Hanoi to Vietnam’s most iconic destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc, as well as broader regional networks across Northeast Asia and Australia.

“Europe remains a cornerstone of our international growth strategy,” stated Nguyen Quang Trung, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines. “The launch of the Hanoi–Amsterdam route is a testament to our dedication to the European market. By strengthening our ties with regional travel and tourism partners, we are creating a vital corridor for trade, cultural exchange, and tourism between Vietnam and the Netherlands.”

With the addition of Amsterdam, Vietnam Airlines now operates 12 nonstop services to eight major European cities, including Paris, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, and Moscow. This expansion solidifies the national flag carrier’s role in connecting Vietnam with global economic centers while showcasing the nation’s culture and hospitality to the world.

Hashtag: #VietnamAirlines

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/2026/03/13/vietnam-airlines-steps-up-market-promotion-efforts-in-europe/

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Seoul Restaurant San Named One To Watch By Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026

Source: Media Outreach

The new French-influenced, modern Korean fine-dining spot in Gangnam demonstrates exceptional culinary talent and potential for future glory

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 March 2026 – Restaurant San, Seoul’s most outstanding new fine-dining restaurant, has been named the winner of the One To Watch Award 2026 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The award singles out a restaurant which has recently started making a big impact and has the potential to secure a spot in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in the coming years.

San’s nomination comes just over a year since opening in 2024 to widespread admiration in the South Korean capital. Located in the fashionable Gangnam district, San is acclaimed for its refined, French-influenced, modern Korean tasting menu conceived by chef Jo Seung-Hyun.

Chef Jo brings exceptional credentials to the venture, having honed his culinary skills at three distinguished restaurants – starting under the tutelage of Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Napa Valley and La Maison Troisgros in France, before going on to helm the kitchen at Korean-American celebrity chef Corey Lee’s fine-dining restaurant Benu in San Francisco. After eight years as chef de cuisine at Benu, he finally returned home to Seoul to realise his dream of opening San. The sophisticated tasting menu explores a vibrant range of seasonal dishes presenting his creative interpretation of classical French cuisine with a Korean twist.

A spokesperson for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants says: “San has quickly become one of the most talked-about fine-dining restaurants in Seoul. With richly deserved recognition as the winner of One To Watch Award, the team is raising the bar for culinary excellence, complexity and respect for national tradition – following an inspiring trend of innovative restaurants to emerge from the capital in recent years.”

On winning the One To Watch Award 2026, Chef Jo says, “I’m incredibly grateful and honoured for San to receive the One To Watch Award. San is still a young restaurant and to be recognised in this way so soon after opening means a great deal to us. Thank you to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for this encouragement.”

Showcasing Korean flavours through refined technique, Chef Jo’s cuisine focuses on familiar dishes reimagined with depth and precision. Signature creations include a prawn dish paired with a shrimp-gochujang crafted from a deeply concentrated broth extracted from shrimp heads, delivering intense umami, and a reinterpretation of ojingeo sukhoe, a classic Korean poached squid, using delicately prepared spear squid accompanied by squid-ink chojang. Drawing from his childhood memories growing up in Busan, Chef Jo also presents a refined interpretation of dwaeji-gukbap, traditionally enjoyed with salted shrimp but finished with caviar, offering a sense of familiarity while introducing an unexpected modern expression of Korean cuisine.

Beyond these innovations, signature dishes paying homage to iconic tradition include chamoe dongchimi, a water kimchi twist on Korea’s national dish. The wine pairing, led by Ju Jaemin, meanwhile enhances the dining experience at San. Guests can choose between a five or eight-glass pairing, with each wine meticulously selected to complement the multi-layered dishes.

San is the first restaurant from Seoul to win the award since 2017. Recent winners include Farmlore in Bengaluru (2025), a celebration of hyper‑local Indian ingredients; Lamdre in Beijing (2024), a sustainability focused restaurant inspired by Tibetan philosophy; and August in Jakarta (2023), which reinterprets Indonesian flavours through modern fine‑dining techniques.

The One To Watch Award is the final of three pre-announced awards ahead of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards ceremony, which will announce the region’s premier restaurants. The ceremony is being held for the first time in Hong Kong at the Kerry Hotel on 25 March 2026. The awards ceremony will also be streamed live on the 50 Best YouTube channel via the link here, beginning at 20:00 Hong Kong time.

50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026. See more details on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants voting process here.

How the voting works

The list is compiled by votes from the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of more than 350 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene. The Academy is divided into seven regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia – South; South-East Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; Mainland China; Korea; and Japan. Each voter casts ten votes based on their best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months, with at least four of these from outside their home country/SAR. Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by professional services consultancy Deloitte.

About the host destination partner: Hong Kong Tourism Board

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked with maximizing the contribution of tourism to Hong Kong’s economy and upholding Hong Kong as a world-class travel destination. The HKTB works in partnership with relevant government departments and organisations, the travel-related sectors, and other entities related to tourism, to market and promote Hong Kong worldwide, while enhancing visitors’ experiences through providing diverse and high-quality tourism products and services. The HKTB has a worldwide network of 15 offices and has representatives in seven different markets.

About the main partner: S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the main sponsors of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are the leading natural mineral waters in the fine dining world. Together they interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of excellence, pleasure and well-being.

Our Partners:

  • Hong Kong Tourism Board – Official Host Destination Partner
  • S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna – Main Partner & Official Water Partner; sponsor of The Best Restaurant in Asia
  • Inedit Damm – Official Beer Partner; sponsor of the Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award
  • SevenRooms – Official Booking Platform Partner; sponsor of the SevenRooms Icon Award
  • Doordash – Official Delivery Partner
  • Aspire Lifestyles – Official Concierge Partner
  • Lee Kum Kee – Official Sauces & Condiments Partner; sponsor of Highest Climber Award
  • Valrhona – Official Chocolate Partner; sponsor of Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award
  • Vik – Official Wine Partner; sponsor of Asia’s Best Sommelier Award
  • Nongshim Shinramyun – Official Partner; sponsor of The Best Restaurant in South Korea
  • Maison Kaviari – Official Caviar Partner
  • Dassai – Official Sake Partner
  • Langjiu – Official Baijiu Partner
  • Woodford Reserve – Official American Whiskey Partner
  • Cinco Jotas – Official Iberico Ham Partner
  • Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong – Official Hotel Venue Partner
  • The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel – Official Hotel Venue Partner
  • Grand Hyatt Hong Kong – Official Hotel Venue Partner
  • The Peninsula Hong Kong – Official Hotel Venue Partner
  • Pier 1929 – Official Venue Partner

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https://www.instagram.com/theworlds50best/?hl=en
https://bit.ly/50BestYouTubePR

Hashtag: #Asia’s50BestRestaurants

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LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/12/seoul-restaurant-san-named-one-to-watch-by-asias-50-best-restaurants-2026/