Lyall Bay beach and the rest of Wellington’s south coast has been off limits since the Moa Point treatment plant failed on 4 February.RNZ / Krystal Gibbens
Public health experts are warning the catastrophic failure of Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater treatment plant exposes deep, systemic problems with New Zealand’s infrastructure management.
Early last month a blockage in the plant’s outfall pipe led to a backflow of sewage into the plant, shutting it down and forcing the closure of beaches along the city’s South Coast as up to 70 million litres of untreated sewage was sent into the sea each day.
The University of Otago’s Public Health Communication Centre said the failure was a severe example of problems already affecting systems across Aotearoa.
It said Water New Zealand’s latest performance review recorded more than 3000 sewage overflows nationwide, though the true number was likely higher because reporting had historically been inconsistent.
It also found about 20 percent of the country’s 334 publicly run wastewater treatment plants were operating with expired resource consents, meaning they may not meet current best-practice standards or have robust monitoring in place.
If the inquiry into the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant was too narrow, the risk was only learning lessons about Moa Point and not systems across New Zealand, Marnie Pricket said.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
University of Otago research fellow Marnie Pricket said responsibility for water services was spread across multiple organisations, including the national regulator Taumata Arowai, regional councils, local councils and central government ministers.
Pricket said the complexity of that system made accountability unclear when things went wrong.
“For example, Taumata Arowai has oversight of water services but doesn’t currently have the legislative tools to intervene if regional councils fail to regulate wastewater discharges effectively.”
Poor wastewater management posed risks to both human and environmental health, including exposure to raw sewage, contamination of drinking water sources and polluted shellfish beds, she said.
Ageing infrastructure and climate change were also likely to increase the risk of failures in the future.
The government announced a Crown Review Team would investigate the failure under the Local Government Act 2002. But Prickett said that process appeared to focus largely on the role of Wellington City Council, which could limit its ability to investigate the full range of issues affecting wastewater management across the country.
“The drivers of poor wastewater management are much broader than a single council,” she said. “They include policy and investment decisions, workforce limitations, problems with data quality, governance issues, and unclear roles and accountability across agencies.”
The upcoming Crown inquiry must examine not just the immediate cause of the breakdown, but the wider drivers behind wastewater failures nationwide, Prickett said.
“If the inquiry is too narrow, we risk learning lessons only about Moa Point,” she said.
“But this is a national issue, and the inquiry should help us understand how to improve wastewater management across the country.”
“The value of the Havelock North inquiry was that it looked at the specific outbreak, but it also examined the broader drivers of poor drinking water across the country.
“That meant the lessons could be applied nationally. That’s what we’re hoping for with the Moa Point inquiry.”
Local Government Minister Simon Watts was approached for comment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 March 2026 – BDMS Wellness Clinic, the preventive healthcare center under Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), is spearheading a defining new chapter in Thailand’s national development strategy through strategic partnerships with public and private sectors both locally and internationally — including collaboration with the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the preeminent global research and advisory organization dedicated to advancing the wellness economy, widely recognized for its data-driven industry intelligence, economic impact reports, and policy guidance shaping wellness markets worldwide. Together with global biotechnology pioneers including Illumina, Abbott, Straumann Group, and Gene Solutions, and further strengthened by distinguished GCC partners such as Neem Hospital and the MODAWI Platform, BDMS Wellness Clinic is forging a powerful bridge between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Complemented by leading Thai institutions including National Healthcare Systems (N Health), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), this alliance reflects an unprecedented convergence of science, policy, infrastructure, and international collaboration — reinforcing Thailand’s rise as Asia’s premier Wellness Economy hub.
Tanupol Virunhagarun, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of BDMS Wellness Clinic and BDMS Wellness Resort, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited
A Multi-Sector Coalition at Unprecedented Scale
Led and orchestrated by BDMS Wellness Clinic, this alliance represents one of the most holistic cross-industry coalitions in Thailand’s health and tourism landscape. As the central integrator, BDMS Wellness Clinic unites public agencies, aviation leaders, hospitality icons, financial institutions, and global biotechnology innovators into a single, strategically aligned Wellness Ecosystem. Key national partners include the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd., and the Thai Spa Association, with regional connectivity strengthened by Bangkok Airways. The luxury and lifestyle dimension features Sri panwa Phuket, CELES SAMUI, Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, Dusit Thani Bangkok, King Power Corporation, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., and Lancôme by L’Oréal Thailand.
Healthcare infrastructure and precision diagnostics are reinforced by National Healthcare Systems (N Health), enabling advanced laboratory networks, cross-border clinical data integration, and continuity of care. This capability is further elevated through collaboration with global medical and biotechnology leaders — Straumann Group in advanced dental innovation, Illumina in genomic sequencing, Abbott in precision diagnostics, and Gene Solutions in next-generation molecular testing.
Through this convergence of genomics, biomarker analytics, regenerative technology, and preventive medicine, BDMS Wellness Clinic delivers data-driven health optimization—from early disease detection and biological age assessment to personalized longevity programs. Together, under BDMS Wellness Clinic’s leadership, these partners form a fully integrated, science-powered ecosystem that transforms preventive care into measurable outcomes—firmly positioning Thailand at the forefront of Asia’s Wellness Economy.
From Healthcare Provider to National Orchestrator
BDMS Wellness Clinic has evolved beyond the traditional role of a healthcare provider to become the strategic integrator of Thailand’s Wellness Ecosystem—serving as the “National Orchestrator” uniting public institutions, private enterprises, academia, and global partners under one coordinated vision. Its mission extends far beyond treatment: to optimize healthspan, precise longevity science, and build a sustainable ecosystem where wellness becomes both a national economic engine and a form of diplomatic soft power. By synchronizing infrastructure, policy, aviation, hospitality, finance, and biotechnology, BDMS Wellness Clinic is repositioning Thailand from a destination known primarily for leisure and elective care into a global epicenter of evidence-based preventive medicine and measurable health optimization.
BDMS Wellness Clinic with Wellness Literacy: The Foundation of Sustainable Global Leadership
Sustainable global leadership demands more than world-class facilities—it requires a new generation of visionaries, scientists, and industry leaders equipped to redefine the future of health. BDMS Wellness Clinic has therefore launched a transformative Wellness Literacy strategy designed to cultivate world-class human capital, elevate professional standards, and shape a knowledge-driven ecosystem that positions Thailand at the forefront of preventive medicine and longevity science in Asia and beyond.
Through strategic alliances with leading institutions—including Thammasat University and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) in Thailand, as well as the University of Sharjah (UAE) and Singapore Management University (SMU)—BDMS Wellness Clinic is co-developing advanced curricula in preventive medicine, longevity science, and wellness management. These collaborations are establishing a new Asian benchmark for preventive healthcare education while producing a future-ready workforce for the global wellness economy. Beyond academia, BDMS Wellness Clinic is empowering entrepreneurs and industry operators nationwide, equipping hospitality, spa, and lifestyle businesses with measurable wellness standards—elevating Thailand’s entire value chain to international levels of excellence.
From Thailand to the World: BDMS Wellness Clinic’s Global Wellness Network
Extending its ecosystem beyond national borders, BDMS Wellness Clinic has forged strategic alliances with Neem Hospital—a leading private healthcare institution in the Sultanate of Oman known for its integrated clinical services and patient-centered care—and the MODAWI Platform, a digital health coordination platform that streamlines medical referrals, clinical data exchange, and cross-border care navigation.
Together, these partnerships establish a seamless referral and clinical integration network linking the GCC region with BDMS Wellness Clinic services. By combining hospital-based clinical excellence with digital health infrastructure, the model ensures continuity of care across borders—enabling patients to transition smoothly from initial consultation in the Middle East to advanced diagnostics, genomics, and longevity programs.
The Proof of Concept: “The Journey Within”
The flagship initiative, “The Journey Within,” translates vision into execution—serving as the living blueprint of the Wellness Ecosystem envisioned by BDMS Wellness Clinic. Anchored in three seamlessly integrated pillars—Travel, Stay, and Scientific Wellness—the concept redefines how a nation can deliver holistic, outcome-driven health experiences.
Travel: Luxury aviation partnerships, streamlined entry facilitation, and curated collaborations with lifestyle partners—ensuring effortless arrival and a seamless transition into an elevated wellness journey.
Stay: Curated luxury hospitality designed to immerse guests in restorative comfort and elevated living.
Scientific Wellness: Technological diagnostics, genomics, and precision-driven longevity programs delivering measurable health transformation.
For more information about The Journey Within, click https://bdmswellness.co/40LNk4v
The new Dunedin Hospital build site.RNZ/Tess Brunton
The approved budget for the new Dunedin Hospital (NDH) is just over $2 billion, though the government continues to use a figure $174 million less than that.
The newly revealed budget is $2.05b, while the government as recently as Wednesday said it was $1.88b.
The difference was revealed in a report released by Treasury this week. Treasury then pulled the report to check if it had revealed commercially sensitive information. It had not, and it was republished on Friday.
The report gave the ‘approved budget’ at Dunedin as $1.614b for the inpatients block and $440m for outpatients – $2.054b altogether.
This was based on Health NZ data given to Treasury for the latest quarterly investment report (QIR) covering June-September 2025, that it has released.
The QIR also said fragmented oversight and “limited visibility” threatened to undermine the project.
A spokesperson for Health Minister Simeon Brown said the project had an “approved total budget” of $1.88b.
The higher “approved budget” included a contingency for cost overruns, and an option to fully fit out a floor (that might otherwise be empty) that the lower figure does not, Treasury told RNZ.
Such details were “not routinely published”, it said.
But it did publish them, on Tuesday in the QIR. Realising this, Treasury called RNZ midweek asking it to hold off reporting the $2.054b figure. RNZ agreed.
“It was brought to our attention that commercially sensitive information may have been released as part of the QIR documents,” it said.
“In such cases, Treasury’s practice is to remove the document in question from the website while we investigate and ascertain whether the information is commercially sensitive before re-publishing.”
It was not. Treasury republished the QIR on Friday but told RNZ it expected to blank out three other small parts after it turned out these might be commercially sensitive.
“The government has previously announced a cost of $1.88b that related to the NDH Inpatients and Outpatients Building,” it told RNZ on Thursday evening.
“Health NZ has informed us the additional cost of $174m was not included in the $1.88b announcement as it related to costs for project level contingency and preserving future optionality.”
Asked for comment about the difference on Thursday, Brown said only that “the government is committed to delivering the New Dunedin Hospital” and referred RNZ to Treasury’s statement.
The hospital project was bedevilled early on by bad oversight, official reviews showed. The government cut it back in 2026 to hit the newly imposed $1.88b target, sparking public protests, warning otherwise it might escalate to $3b.
Protesters say the lower South Island will pay for any cuts made to the new Dunedin Hospital.RNZ / Tess Brunton
But by September 2025 the project was still fraught, according to the Treasury QIR based on data from Health NZ.
“New Dunedin Hospital (Inpatient Building) has reported an 18-month delay,” the report said.
“The Treasury and the Investment Panel share concerns that the fragmented governance of the whole NDH programme and limited visibility of the NDH Inpatients project has the potential to undermine effective oversight and implementation of the investment.”
It recommended Brown get it looked into. The report gave a December 2029 end date for the inpatients build, but last September Brown said “practical completion” would be in 2030 and it would actually open to patients in 2031.
Brown’s spokesperson told RNZ he had a review done last August of inpatients by an independent panel appointed by Treasury.
“The review made seven recommendations to strengthen delivery, and those recommendations have been accepted and are being actioned.”
RNZ has asked for a copy of the review.
Brown’s office said the government had appointed a Crown manager to “strengthen governance and ensure clear accountability for delivery” and Health NZ reported back regularly to the minister.
The government was focused on delivering the project whereas Labour only announced it, “without a credible delivery plan”.
Professor Robin Gauld, a close observer of the build who has an honorary role at the University of Otago, said, “It’s an unfortunate of affairs and no surprise that Treasury now has this on their radar, with a number of significant risks and high likelihood of a budget blowout.
“It could be comparatively straightforward if our politicians would understand that the public expects them to work together across administrations on multi-year projects such as this.
“Our lot unfortunately just don’t get it. They would rather see hundreds of millions of dollars wasted while blame-shifting.”
Gauld said the country was missing a long-range hospital planning unit like Singapore had, and also missing a joint oversight framework like in Finland that joined key politicians with project managers and construction companies.
The QIR showed for the September 2025 quarter the inpatients project spent only about a third of what had been forecast it would spend in those three months, and had so far spent just 1 percent in total of its $1.6b budget. The further-advanced outpatients, due to open later this year, spent 62 percent of forecast in the quarter.
Brown’s office said the digital programme for outpatients was “on track” while the digital infrastructure phase for inpatients was being prepared for joint ministerial approval.
Simeon Brown.RNZ / Mark Papalii
The QIR also put the Nelson Hospital redevelopment project two in the category “successful delivery in doubt”.
Last month Health NZ shrugged off ‘red’ warning alerts on the Nelson and Dunedin projects contained in the QIR for the previous April-June 2025 quarter.
In Auckland, the Specialised Rehabilitation Centre at Manukau Health Park was way overdue, the QIR said.
Brown’s spokesperson said this project was progressing, with a tender seeking information input completed and a tender for actual proposals to build it coming up.
“Labour announced this project without a clear plan to deliver it, much like the Middlemore Hospital recladding project which was announced in 2018 but never started.
“This government got that project underway last year and we are taking the same approach to ensuring the Manukau rehabilitation centre is delivered.”
A St John’s paramedic and a LPG delivery driver have been seriously injured in a crash on State Highway 1, north of Levin.
St John’s area operations manager Gareth Collings said a rapid response unit was caught up in the crash which happened at 10.40 am near Poroutawhao, north of Levin.
“The paramedic in the rapid response unit and the driver of the other vehicle were both treated for serious injuries and transported to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this incident and we are offering support to our people who were involved,” Collings said.
St John would be “supporting police” investigating the cause of the crash.
A Genesis Energy LPG delivery vehicle was involved in the crash.RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Genesis Energy’s Ed Hyde confirmed one of its LPG delivery drivers was involved in the crash.
“Genesis has another vehicle on the way to the scene to collect the LPG cylinders and we will work with emergency services to make the site safe,” Hyde said.
Workers on a nearby site told RNZ they saw a St John vehicle travelling north with flashing lights before the crash.
St John has been approached for comment.
A reporter at the scene said workers unloaded household gas canisters from the bed of a smashed-up truck outside Lewis Farms on SH1.
The truck has lost its front wheels and the damaged cab was resting on the ground.
More than 100 vehicles were backed up at a cordon before traffic was allowed through.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
It’s hard to believe that Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, our largest, busiest and most densely populated city in New Zealand hosts one of the most abundant and diverse marine parks in the world.
Our treasured Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, New Zealand’s only national park of the sea, is 1.2 million hectares and includes more than 200 islands and islets, including 47 pest-free islands where numerous endangered species can survive and thrive. On top of this, there is now 19 new protection areas – two marine reserve extensions, 12 new high protection areas, and five new seafloor protection areas in the Gulf.
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland from the harbour. : DOC
Getting out on the water it didn’t take long to realise that lots of people have a strong connection to the marine park. It wasn’t just rec fishers out mid-week enjoying a spot of fishing, I saw boaties sailing and exploring the Gulf as well as plenty of visitors heading out to the islands, connecting with the wildlife that calls the Hauraki Gulf home.
As a new DOC staff member in an office role, and someone who’s lived in Auckland most of my life without even realising the marine park existed, it’s been pretty special getting out to see what Tāmaki Makaurau’s greatest backyards is actually like.
Out there, the city fades away surprisingly quickly. You’re surrounded by islands, seabirds wheeling overhead, and a sense that there’s a whole other world beneath the surface.
That connection to the ocean is exactly what Seaweek celebrates – the idea that people, wildlife and the environment are all linked. And it’s also what the new marine protections for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park aim to support for years to come.
The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi is one of Aotearoa’s most loved marine environments. It’s home to an incredible variety of marine life and habitats – from rocky reefs and kelp forests to seagrass meadows and shellfish beds.
These habitats support the species many people care about when they head out on the water. Fish like snapper, kahawai and trevally are a big part of the Gulf’s fishing culture. Divers and snorkellers get to explore underwater forests of kelp and rocky reefs teeming with life.
But like many places around the world, the Gulf has been under pressure.
Sediment washing into the sea, pollution, habitat loss and fishing pressure over many years have taken a toll on parts of the marine environment. Some shellfish beds have declined, seagrass meadows have shrunk, and in some places kelp forests have been replaced by “kina barrens” where sea urchins dominate and not much else grows.
When habitats struggle, the species that rely on them struggle too.
That’s why there’s been a big push in recent years to revitalise the Gulf.
The new network includes 19 marine protection areas spread across the Gulf. These include marine reserve extensions, high protection areas and seafloor protection areas. Together they represent the biggest increase in marine protection in Aotearoa in more than a decade.
These areas were chosen because they protect important habitats and ecosystems – places that are especially rich in marine life, rare, or particularly important for the health of the wider Gulf.
Some areas protect rocky reefs that support thriving underwater communities. Others protect seafloor habitats like seagrass meadows or shellfish beds that act as nurseries for young fish.
Protecting these places helps rebuild the foundations of the Gulf’s marine ecosystem.
What the new protections mean
The different protection areas each play a role in helping marine life recover.
Marine reserves offer the highest level of protection. No fishing or removal of marine life is allowed, but people can still visit, snorkel, dive or explore the area. These reserves often become incredible underwater hotspots where marine life can thrive.
High protection areas are designed to give ecosystems a chance to bounce back. Fishing and the removal of natural materials are mostly prohibited, though authorised customary fishing by tangata whenua can continue.
Seafloor protection areas focus on protecting sensitive habitats on the seabed. Activities that damage the seafloor, like bottom trawling or dredging, are restricted, while low-impact activities like line fishing, diving and spearfishing can still happen.
Importantly, most of the Hauraki Gulf is still open to recreational fishing. The aim isn’t to shut people out, but to protect key parts of the ecosystem so the Gulf stays healthy into the future.
Why marine protection helps
Marine protection is one of the most effective tools we have to help ocean ecosystems recover.
In protected areas, fish often grow bigger, populations increase and ecosystems become more balanced. Over time, some of those fish move into nearby areas where fishing is allowed – something often called the “spillover effect”.
Healthy habitats also play a huge role in supporting fish populations. Seagrass meadows and shellfish reefs, for example, act like underwater nurseries where young fish can grow before heading out into deeper waters.
Looking after these habitats helps ensure the Gulf continues to support the marine life – and fishing experiences – that people value.
The new protections are just one piece of a much bigger effort to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf.
Restoring the Gulf also means tackling the pressures that come from land, such as sediment runoff and pollution, as well as restoring habitats like mussel reefs and improving fisheries management.
Tangata whenua have played an important role in shaping the protections and continue their role as kaitiaki of the Gulf, bringing generations of knowledge and care for this special place.
DOC rangers will also be working on the water and with local communities to help people understand the new protections and where they apply.
Revitalising the Gulf will take time, but every step helps move things in the right direction.
Staying connected to the ocean
Spending time out on the water really drove home just how important the Hauraki Gulf is to so many people.
For some it’s about fishing with mates or family. For others it’s sailing between islands, exploring a new beach, or diving beneath the surface to see what’s there.
These experiences shape the way we connect with the ocean.
By protecting important parts of the Gulf, we’re helping make sure those experiences are still possible for future generations – so kids growing up in Tāmaki Makaurau and visitors from all over New Zealand and the world can discover the amazing marine life beneath the waves just like people do today.
Seaweek is a great reminder that everything is connected – the land, the sea, wildlife and people.
The new marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf are all about strengthening those connections and helping this incredible ocean backyard thrive for years to come.
Thanks to powerful partnerships with industry leaders, NOTE 60 Ultra represents Infinix’s boldest entry in the flagship tier, debuting in Barcelona during MWC 2026
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Infinix is cementing its status within the premium smartphone segment in a bold new way with NOTE 60 Ultra, its landmark flagship debuting in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress 2026.
Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra Design by Pininfarina
Co-developed with Italian automotive and design legend Pininfarina, NOTE 60 Ultra’s design is driven by an emotion-led aesthetic inspired by super cars. Beneath its bold design lies a fully realized flagship experience, integrating breakthrough in-house innovations with best-in-class partner technologies. A professional-grade 200MP ultra-high-definition imaging system, built-in multi-country satellite communication connectivity, and immersive audio precision-tuned by SOUND BY JBL come together to challenge expectations in the premium segment.
Supercar Design DNA in a Flagship, Shaped by Pininfarina
In the premium segment, the design language is a device’s opening statement. A user’s perception at first glance is shaped by aesthetics, long before a single specification is considered.
Drawing inspiration from the aerodynamic philosophy and pioneering spirit of high-performance sports cars, Infinix, in partnership with Pininfarina, takes a radical departure in sculpting a flagship. What stands out immediately is what’s missing: the camera bump. As premium handsets adopt larger sensors, they often sacrifice form with increasingly protruding camera modules.
True to the sports car heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra introduces a fully integrated, single-body rear: the Aluminum Unibody Design. At the heart of this craftsmanship is the World’s 1st Uni-Chassis Cam Module, formed a single, continuous sheet of CORNING® GORILLA® GLASS VICTUS that virtually conceals the presence of the camera. Much like a supercar sculpted for low-drag, the rear design maintains a smooth, uninterrupted silhouette. This also ensures a natural in-hand feel and unobtrusively slips into any pocket, while reinforcing the phone’s durability and structural integrity.
Paying homage to Italian cultural and racing heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra arrives in four striking colorways: Torino Black, Monza Red, Amalfi Blue, and Roma Silver. Each hue draws inspiration from the most iconic scenes and legends of Italy’s motorsport and cultural history, capturing the spirit of speed, lifestyle, and emotional beauty.
Just as a supercar announces its ignition through sound and light, NOTE 60 Ultra mirrors the ritual. A Floating Taillight signature spans the rear, illuminating as the device powers on. And as a final nod to automotive heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra features an Active Matrix Display reminiscent of a supercar dashboard at startup. Concealed within the rear surface, the hidden display lights up to reveal notifications, expressive icons, or a pixel-style virtual companion.
Dual Flagship Cameras for Detail, Zoom, and True-to-Life Imaging
Although discreet at first glance, Infinix makes no concessions on camera performance and earmarks a new era for Infinix’s imaging capability. Delivering performance on par with industry-leading standards, Infinix’s Dual Flagship Imaging Architecture marks several brand-first breakthroughs and improvements across three dimensions, reinforcing its position as a signature offering.
Under the hood, it’s clear that NOTE 60 Ultra refuses to settle for less. Discreetly integrated within the Uni-Chassis Cam Module is a powerful triple-camera array. Anchored by a next-generation 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HPE sensor, NOTE 60 Ultra delivers ultra-high-definition clarity. And ensuring flagship-grade versatility across focal lengths, the phone is complemented by a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 periscope telephoto lens and a 112° ultra-wide lens.
However, hardware alone does not define the full experience. For the first time, Infinix supports the XDR display standard with Ultra HDR Capture. Powered by a proprietary XDR Image Engine, Infinix’s advanced system delivers a superior dynamic range, ideal for true-to-life photos of bright lights at night or breathtaking sunset scenes.
The result is exceptional resolution that sets a higher bar for precise framing in daylight or after dark, while faithfully preserving details often lost in standard photography. Whether exploring daytime cityscapes or distant horizons, NOTE 60 Ultra excels with its advanced optical‑to‑digital zoom performance. Crisp, detailed shots are captured across a versatile zoom range, from a 2× optical crop and native 3.5× optical zoom to a 7× lossless digital zoom, extending up to 100× for extreme distances.
Expansive Satellite Calling and Messaging Coverage
Beyond what meets the eye, NOTE 60 Ultra carries a more subtle capability designed to accompany the user’s ambition, as far as and wherever the road leads. NOTE 60 Ultra is the first¹ to introduce dual-way satellite calling with expansive global coverage across a far greater number of countries¹. Powered by two-way messaging and calling beyond traditional terrestrial networks, NOTE 60 Ultra offers an added peace of mind whether navigating remote terrain beyond cellular coverage or facing large-scale network disruptions. The device bridges regional connectivity gaps to maintain communication and enables emergency location sharing when it matters most.
Ultra-Fast, Enduring Functionalities for an All-Around Flagship Experience
NOTE 60 Ultra combines category-leading performance and enduring power to support multi-sensory entertainment without interruption. Complementing this, its latest user experience delivers forward-looking innovations and AI-driven optimizations, making it more accessible and seamless for everyday use.
Impressively, Infinix debuted the Proprietary Battery Self-Healing Technology. Despite featuring a massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery within a slim, lightweight frame, NOTE 60 Ultra is engineered to restore up to 1%² of battery health every 200 charge cycles. Complementing this breakthrough, NOTE 60 Ultra supports wired 100W All-Around Fast Charge and 50W wireless charging, achieving a full charge from 1% to 100%² in only 48 minutes through a wired connection.
Even with a massive battery, Infinix pulls out all the stops to optimize for both speed and energy management. Featuring a 4nm all-big-core MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate chipset together with Infinix’s self-developed performance engine, NOTE 60 Ultra achieves up to 25%² faster multitasking, accelerated app responsiveness, and sustained smoothness.
NOTE 60 Ultra excels in its class with a captivating, 1.5K Ultra HDR cinematic display. Delivering fluid 144Hz responsiveness and exceptional 4500-nit peak brightness, visuals remain vibrant across most lighting conditions. Even in motion, intelligent predictive stabilization minimizes motion sickness, whether watching a film or playing games from within a car. And just as a high-performance vehicle demands calibrated acoustics, NOTE 60 Ultra doesn’t settle for less. It delivers high-fidelity audio through a stereo system with SOUND BY JBL, completing a truly compelling entertainment experience.
The NOTE 60 Ultra’s optimized performance enables its intelligent AI features to run fluidly and efficiently with minimal battery drain. Its integrated AI ecosystem focuses on practical daily-enhancing functions, including real-time vitals tracking via Advanced Health Monitor, personalized file organization and an adaptive AI-powered knowledge base, all evolving with user preferences. These AI capabilities are seamlessly woven into GlowSpace, a new interface debuting on XOS 16.³ Powered by Android 16, GlowSpace introduces a fully reimagined UI centered on fluid motion and luminous details that animate with every interaction.
Through co-engineering with leading technology and innovation partners, Infinix has aligned NOTE 60 Ultra around a unified vision of excellence. The outcome is a benchmark-setting flagship defined not by spectacle, but by deeply integrated and purposeful engineering, inside-out.
Product availability
NOTE 60 Ultra comes with a promise of 3 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security patches.
NOTE 60 Ultra is available in four colors: Torino Black, Monza Red, Amalfi Blue, and Roma Silver.
It will be available in two variants: 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, with built-in eSIM⁴.
NOTE 60 Ultra comes with a deluxe gift box with automotive-inspired display stand design. A Supercar-Inspired MagCharge Base in Zinc Alloy, a Kevlar-Pattern MagPad, a Custom Kevlar MagCase, and a Track-Edition SIM Ejector Pin are included in the gift box.
Disclaimer
¹As of launch, this device is the first commercially available smartphone to support two‑way satellite calling across multiple countries. Feature availability, supported regions and coverage are subject to local certification, network deployment and market conditions.
²All data comes from Infinix laboratories. The testing data may vary slightly between different test versions and testing environments.
³The specific XOS upgrade plan for each model will be announced separately. Please note that availability of this upgrade may be limited in certain countries.
⁴eSIM availability is carrier and region-dependent; it may not be supported in all countries.
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Organized by the Hong Kong Women Professionals & Entrepreneurs Association (HKWPEA), the latest “Outstanding Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award” (OWA) opens for nomination.
HKWPEA members, 2026 Outstanding Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award Organising Committee members and past awardees
The first OWA dates back to 1999, 3 years after HKWPEA was inaugurated, and has been running at a few years’ interval since. The 2026 OWA is the 9th to be organized to recognize outstanding Hong Kong women professionals and entrepreneurs, to celebrate excellence, spotlight role models and to showcase the continuous contribution made by women in the current age and New Economy.
The press conference was hosted by HKWPEA represented by office bearers including Ms. Julianne Doe, President; Partner of Hui Doe & Sum Law Firm LLP; Ms. Jennifer Tan, Chairperson, Organizing Committee of 2026 OWA; Senior Advisor of Ant Digital Technologies – International Business and Partner of 01F Group; Ms. Marina Wong, JP, Chartered President; Ms. Helen Kan, Immediate Past President, HKWPEA; Ms. Sandra Mak, Director, Ms. Angel Hon, Director, and Ms. Agnes Koon, Director, HKWPEA.
Ms. Jennifer Tan, Chairperson, Organizing Committee of 2026 OWA, said: “Coming out of the challenging pandemic years, we found ourselves faced with global economic uncertainties and severe geopolitical issues calling for strong leadership and audacity to innovate and advance. Against this backdrop, we find it even more meaningful to celebrate outstanding women professionals and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and thank them for their tireless contributions to society. Their accomplishments are leading lights for the younger generation. By highlighting their success, we encourage future leaders to chase their dreams and pursue sustainable initiatives to benefit communities and mankind.”
Nomination for the 2026 OWA recognising achievements in professions and business categories begins today until April 30, 2026. Six awardees will be selected by an eminent judging panel. The nomination form can be downloaded from HKWPEA website: https://www.hkwpea.org/
47 outstanding women have been selected in the past 8 OWA events. A few past OWA awardees were present at the press conference for a brief fire-side chat at the media conference. They are Dr. Eliza Yi Wah HO FOK, Winner, 2021 OWA, Chairman of the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation; Prof. Helen MENG, Winner, 2017 OWA, Patrick Huen Wing Ming Professor of Systems Engineering & Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong andDr. Rebecca LEE, Winner, 1999 OWA, Founder of Polar Museum Foundation. While sharing their key to success, they also encourage women from different fields to come forward and join the award scheme.
Ms. Marina Wong, Founding President of HKWPEA, announced the 2026 OWA Judging Panel composition:
Mr. Benjamin HUNG Pi Cheng, BBS, JP, President, International for Standard Chartered (Head Judge)
Ms. Agnes CHAN Sui Kuen, BBS, Chairman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Teresa KO Yuk Yin, BBS, JP, Former Senior Partner, Hong Kong and China Chairman, Freshfields
Hon. Jeffrey LAM Kin Fung, GBM, GBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council
Professor Charles NG Wang Wai, PhD, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Dr. Rosanna WONG Yick Ming, DBE, JP, Senior Advisor, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Independent Advisor:
Professor Andrew CHAN Chi-fai, SBS, JP, Emeritus Professor, Department of Marketing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School
Since the inception in 1999, the award has achieved recognition in selecting women who provide outstanding examples to business leaders, peers and youth alike, in their high standard of integrity and ethical values. HKWPEA was established in 1996 as a non-profit organization by a group of local women professionals and entrepreneurs. They have come together to develop a strong support network, to create practical and innovative learning and business opportunities for themselves and for others, to promote high professional standards, and to respond to consultations of the HKSAR Government on various policy issues.
HKWPEA website: https://www.hkwpea.org/
Special thanks to Hong Kong Economic Times, our Media Partner
Hashtag: #HKWPEA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
This new addition reflects the company’s dedication to supporting the growing demands for logistics and warehousing services in the country
The warehouse is a part of strategic growth plans to significantly expand its warehousing footprint and service offering in the country
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2026 – Leading global logistics service provider Rhenus Group has officially opened a new warehouse in Philippines’ Paranaque, Metro Manila. This marks the company’s effort to expand its presence as a leading logistics player in the Philippines, with plans to add more warehousing space in the near future.
The warehouse is strategically located in NCR, close to major business districts and offers excellent access to major transport routes via direct access from SLEX Sucat. The brand new 7,320 sqm multi-user warehouse facility features a very high ceiling of around 20m with full insulation. It has the highest level of structural integrity and meets very high safety and security standards. Some of the features include Optical Beam Smoke Detectors, Sprinklers, mechanical cross ventilation system, fully enclosed gated compound, 24×7 security guards, full CCTV coverage with 60 days video retention, intruder alarm system, etc.
With a focus on sustainability, the warehouse utilizes LED lighting, solar panel provision, and a skylight to harness natural light, in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. The warehouse is in the process of obtaining ISO certifications in Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management Systems.
The new warehouse expands the footprint of seven existing facilities across Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, strengthening nationwide coverage and smooth integration with global supply chains.
“Rhenus offers 4 million m² of storage across 180 locations in 21 countries, providing tailored contract logistics solutions. The new warehouse will enhance our logistics network in the APAC region, enabling us to deliver more efficient and sustainable logistics operations for our customers. We are committed to optimizing supply chains and meeting diverse client needs,” said Marcus Fornell, Regional Head of Rhenus APAC Warehousing Solutions.
Rhenus in the Philippines
The freight and logistics market size in the Philippines is estimated at USD 16.20 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach USD 21.60 billion by 2031[1].
“Rhenus Philippines will continue to strengthen our position further in the market. With the opening of this new warehouse, we are moving forward with our plan to continue to invest in modern and state-of-the-art facilities. This allows us to expand our footprint and product portfolio to serve our customers’ requirements with the highest level of efficiency, safety, security, and compliance,” said Deepak Sharma, Managing Director of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Philippines.
Rhenus Philippines has strong expertise in chemical warehousing, consumer goods, machinery and industrial logistics. Together with its freight forwarding entity, it offers a wide range of comprehensive services to customers, including warehousing and distribution solutions, domestic inter-island shipping, customs brokerage, project logistics, as well as air, ocean, and road freight.
More information on Rhenus Philippines is available at:
https://www.rhenus.group/ph/
Details of the new warehouse:
Address: Emilia St., San Isidro, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Contact: +632 8424 8097
Hashtag: #Rhenus
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College)welcomes the Minister’s announcementthat Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) will become the direct employer for General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) Year One registrars from February 2027.
GPEP 1 registrars will continue to be able to choose practice employment alongside this new change.
The College and Health NZ have worked together on this change to provide registrars with a smoother transition into GPEP with pay, terms and conditions aligned with other specialist vocational programmes.
College CE, Toby Beaglehole says that the announcement continues the positive momentum towards investing in the future of primary care and ensuring it remains sustainable.
“This announcement is a very positive step forward in removing barriers for house officers joining our GPEP programme, with the continuation of their employment with Health NZ.”
“Alongside the new Primary Care pathway for PGY2s, this is another step forward that continues to build the attractiveness of being a specialist General Practitioner, which will result in a more sustainable primary care system in New Zealand. We know specialist GPs are vital to the health of our communities in New Zealand and are at the frontline of our health care system.”
The 2022 Malatest report highlighted that leaving the hospital-based system was the most significant barrier for doctors entering GP training.
“It’s great that GPEP registrars can choose to be employed under Health NZ, with the resultant benefits of continuity of employment that come with this and hopefully enabling similar conditions of employment to their hospital colleagues,” says Dr Ella Barclay, Chair of the College’s Registrar Chapter.
The College continues to aim to get 300 registrars into the GPEP training programme each year, with a clear focus on strengthening New Zealand’s primary care workforce by ensuring that we have more GPs and the workforce pipeline remains sustainable.
With Health NZ now becoming the employer of registrars who are not employed by a private practice in their first year of GPEP training, the College will retain its leadership over educational content, training standards, quality assurance, and clinical placements.
The option for registrars to be employed by a private practice will remain a core component of the GPEP training pathway and has not changed under this agreement.
The College and Health NZ will work together to ensure this process is seamless for new registrars applying for GPEP in 2027.
Applications for the 2027 GPEP intake will be open from Monday 9 March – Monday 13 April 2026.Find out more and apply on the College website: Specialise as a general practitioner | RNZCGP
The PSA is calling on Health NZ to conduct an urgent review after a widespread failure in its payroll system left around 4,000 Waikato hospital and health workers without pay yesterday.
The payroll glitch affected roughly half the Waikato health workforce. For workers living pay cheque to pay cheque, the impact was immediate and real. One PSA member was unable to pay their rent.
“Workers turned up and did their jobs, caring for patients, keeping hospitals running, and they deserved to be paid on time. A payroll failure of this scale is not a minor inconvenience, it causes real hardship,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Health NZ has apologised to staff and said the failure was a result of ‘an error in the rostering system used to calculate pays’. Staff would be paid tonight.
“Apologies are not enough; Health NZ must urgently get to the bottom of what happened here and make sure it never happens again. What we do know is the Government’s spending cuts and axing of health workers do not help.
“This is not an isolated incident,” said Fitzsimons. “IT failures have become a recurring feature of our public health system and that is no accident. Just last week a critical medical imaging system was down for two hours across Auckland and Northland hospitals delaying results for clinicians.
“The PSA has repeatedly warned that cuts to Health New Zealand’s Digital Services workforce would make IT failures more likely and harder to fix.
“Health NZ has shed around 23% of its IT workforce, more than 500 staff to meet the Government’s spending cuts. On top of that some 2,800 health workers, including critical clerical and admin workers, have lost their jobs.
“Doing this while the system is already under strain is reckless. Yesterday’s payroll failure is a direct consequence of running a health system without the resources it needs,” said Fitzsimons.
The PSA is calling on Health Minister Simeon Brown and Health NZ to urgently review the state of the health system’s digital infrastructure and to halt further cuts to the Digital Services workforce until a full and independent assessment of IT risk has been completed.
“Workers and patients cannot afford for the Government to keep ignoring the warning signs. It’s time for the Health Minister to act,” said Fitzsimons.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to fund letermovir, which helps prevent serious infection following stem cell transplants.
“Improving access to medicines in New Zealand is important to patients and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government,” Mr Seymour says.
Pharmac is proposing to fund a medicine called letermovir from 1 May 2026.
Under this proposal, letermovir would be funded for the prevention of CMV infection in:
people who have had a stem cell transplant, and
a small number of other people with severe immunosuppression who cannot use other funded antiviral medicines.
“For many people, stem cell transplants are life‑saving, but recovery can be tough,” Mr Seymour says.
“Clinicians involved in stem cell transplants and Pharmac’s clinical advisors told Pharmac that letermovir will help people with very weak immune systems, particularly when it’s used early after a stem cell transplant.
“Stem cell transplants are only carried out in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Many people must travel and stay away from home for long periods while their immune systems recover. Preventing a serious infection following a stem cell treatment could reduce hospital stays, take pressure off the health system, and could return patients who might have otherwise experienced complications home to their families faster.
“This proposal is about supporting the whole needs of the patient. Preventing complications means less disruption, fewer setbacks, and more time where people want to be – at home with their families.
“This Government has committed to increasing our stem cell transplant capacity. Pharmac recognise that as that capacity increases, more people will need this medicine.”
Mr Brown says improving cancer treatment and outcomes for New Zealanders is a key priority for the Government.
“Today’s announcement builds on last year’s funding boost to expand stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, enabling more people to access this critical, life-saving treatment sooner. Too many Kiwis have experienced distressing delays for these procedures, which is why boosting transplant capacity and reducing wait times is so important.
“This $27.1 million investment will strengthen the specialist workforce, increase hospital capacity, and upgrade infrastructure to support more timely stem cell transplants. It means between 27 and 38 per cent more patients will be able to receive allogeneic transplants when they need them, giving more people the best possible chance of recovery.
“This is about keeping people with cancer at the centre of our healthcare system. Alongside investment in new medicines through Pharmac and delivery of our Faster Cancer Treatment target, we’re focused on improving access, reducing delays, and ensuring patients get the care they need, when they need it.”
Pharmac is seeking feedback on this proposal from people who may be affected, including people who have had, or need, a stem cell transplant or who have severe immunosuppression, their families and carers, health professionals, and advocacy groups.
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced the reappointment of Ms Morag McDowell as Health and Disability Commissioner.
“Ms McDowell brings extensive legal expertise and significant experience in the health sector. Her reappointment will support the organisation to continue delivering its work in a fair, timely, and effective manner,” Mr Brown says.
“This Government is committed to keeping patients at the centre of our health system. I look forward to working with the Commissioner to further improve services and ensure all New Zealanders receive safe, high-quality healthcare.”
Ms McDowell has been reappointed for a two-year term commencing 7 March 2026.
More children under 12 are ringing Youthline, with its latest figures showing that age group makes up 10 percent of calls for help.
At the charity’s inaugural youth mental health summit at Parliament on Wednesday, speakers called for cross-party support and a more connected model of care for young New Zealanders who, since Covid-19, are struggling more than ever.
Youthline runs free services including a helpline, face-to-face counselling, mentoring, and programmes in schools.
Its chief executive, Shae Ronald, said the helpline had 28,000 conversations a year but demand had been climbing for more than a decade, particularly since Covid-19.
“We had a big jump last year in January, and we’ve had another big jump over the last three months.”
And the cases were growing in seriousness, too – the number of rangatahi who were considered very high risk, and requiring emergency intervention, was up to four a day. Ronald said she remembered a time when it was one a week.
Youthline’s Shae Ronald.RNZ David Steemson
Today, many young people were battling something she called the “missing middle service gap”.
“Many young people fall into the space where their needs are serious, but do not meet the threshold for urgent or specialist intervention. As a result, they may face long wait lists, limited availability, or uncertainty about where they fit within the system,” she said.
And the callers were getting younger, too.
“As of last year, 10 percent of all people contacting Youthline are under 12,” she said.
Australian psychiatrist Pat McGorry explained the increase of mental health distress among youths was a global trend, and it could be down to any combination of factors – social media, climate anxiety, rising cost of living and buying a house, and notably, Covid-19.
“The younger age groups had a much more precipitous drop in their mental health during the pandemic,” he said.
“We think it’s about 25 percent of the rise over the last 20 years, Covid is responsible for it.”
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey – who himself had spent time as a Youthline counsellor in the 1980s – expressed envy of Australia over the size and scale of their resources to respond to the mental health crisis.
But McGorry said it wasn’t all smooth sailing there, either.
“I assume it’s the same in New Zealand,” he said.
“Life is much more precarious in an economic sense for [young people]. Their futures are clouded in many, many ways. House prices in Australia cost you three times the median income 40 years ago to buy a house. Now it’s 10 times. And rents are proportionally equal.
“And there are students in Western Sydney at the universities who have to choose between buying textbooks and eating. So they have food banks in the universities. Now, how can a society like Australia, one of the richest countries in the world, tolerate that? I mean, it’s just madness.”
Dr Jess Stubbing, a clinical psychologist and researcher now working in Massachusetts, said New Zealand was yet to see the true peak of the wave.
“I’m seeing more and more younger people, who are coming in at a younger age with really significant need, and a lot of that is young people who were in their very formative, early years during Covid, when their families were stressed, the country was stressed, we were all divided, and that affects us, that affects how we grow up.”
She said the New Zealand system was not meeting the current need, and it was definitely not going to meet future need, either.
That left a couple of options, she said – spend money today on an integrated, cohesive mental health system, “or spend ten times that in a decade when those people are adults and need our adult services”.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey.RNZ / Mark Papalii
Doocey said the feedback he frequently received was that the system felt fragmented, with long wait times, unequipped to meet growing demand.
In the past 12 months, an extra 35,000 accessed support compared with the year before, which Doocey said was largely due to a reduction in workforce vacancies.
But that same growth wasn’t seen among young people.
A prevalence survey – the first of its kind for mental health and addiction among young people – was set to begin in the coming months, Doocey said.
And while that would take years to start producing data, it was a step in the right direction for a system where the need grew year on year.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Thanks to powerful partnerships with industry leaders, NOTE 60 Ultra represents Infinix’s boldest entry in the flagship tier, debuting in Barcelona during MWC 2026
BARCELONA, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Infinix is cementing its status within the premium smartphone segment in a bold new way with NOTE 60 Ultra, its landmark flagship debuting in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress 2026.
Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra Design by Pininfarina
Co-developed with Italian automotive and design legend Pininfarina, NOTE 60 Ultra’s design is driven by an emotion-led aesthetic inspired by super cars. Beneath its bold design lies a fully realized flagship experience, integrating breakthrough in-house innovations with best-in-class partner technologies. A professional-grade 200MP ultra-high-definition imaging system, built-in multi-country satellite communication connectivity, and immersive audio precision-tuned by SOUND BY JBL come together to challenge expectations in the premium segment.
Infinix NOTE 60 Ultra family
Supercar Design DNA in a Flagship, Shaped by Pininfarina
In the premium segment, the design language is a device’s opening statement. A user’s perception at first glance is shaped by aesthetics, long before a single specification is considered.
Drawing inspiration from the aerodynamic philosophy and pioneering spirit of high-performance sports cars, Infinix, in partnership with Pininfarina, takes a radical departure in sculpting a flagship. What stands out immediately is what’s missing: the camera bump. As premium handsets adopt larger sensors, they often sacrifice form with increasingly protruding camera modules.
True to the sports car heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra introduces a fully integrated, single-body rear: the Aluminum Unibody Design. At the heart of this craftsmanship is the World’s 1st Uni-Chassis Cam Module, formed a single, continuous sheet of CORNING® GORILLA® GLASS VICTUS that virtually conceals the presence of the camera. Much like a supercar sculpted for low-drag, the rear design maintains a smooth, uninterrupted silhouette. This also ensures a natural in-hand feel and unobtrusively slips into any pocket, while reinforcing the phone’s durability and structural integrity.
Paying homage to Italian cultural and racing heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra arrives in four striking colorways: Torino Black, Monza Red, Amalfi Blue, and Roma Silver. Each hue draws inspiration from the most iconic scenes and legends of Italy’s motorsport and cultural history, capturing the spirit of speed, lifestyle, and emotional beauty.
Just as a supercar announces its ignition through sound and light, NOTE 60 Ultra mirrors the ritual. A Floating Taillight signature spans the rear, illuminating as the device powers on. And as a final nod to automotive heritage, NOTE 60 Ultra features an Active Matrix Display reminiscent of a supercar dashboard at startup. Concealed within the rear surface, the hidden display lights up to reveal notifications, expressive icons, or a pixel-style virtual companion.
Dual Flagship Cameras for Detail, Zoom, and True-to-Life Imaging
Although discreet at first glance, Infinix makes no concessions on camera performance and earmarks a new era for Infinix’s imaging capability. Delivering performance on par with industry-leading standards, Infinix’s Dual Flagship Imaging Architecture marks several brand-first breakthroughs and improvements across three dimensions, reinforcing its position as a signature offering.
Under the hood, it’s clear that NOTE 60 Ultra refuses to settle for less. Discreetly integrated within the Uni-Chassis Cam Module is a powerful triple-camera array. Anchored by a next-generation 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HPE sensor, NOTE 60 Ultra delivers ultra-high-definition clarity. And ensuring flagship-grade versatility across focal lengths, the phone is complemented by a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 periscope telephoto lens and a 112° ultra-wide lens.
However, hardware alone does not define the full experience. For the first time, Infinix supports the XDR display standard with Ultra HDR Capture. Powered by a proprietary XDR Image Engine, Infinix’s advanced system delivers a superior dynamic range, ideal for true-to-life photos of bright lights at night or breathtaking sunset scenes.
The result is exceptional resolution that sets a higher bar for precise framing in daylight or after dark, while faithfully preserving details often lost in standard photography. Whether exploring daytime cityscapes or distant horizons, NOTE 60 Ultra excels with its advanced optical‑to‑digital zoom performance. Crisp, detailed shots are captured across a versatile zoom range, from a 2× optical crop and native 3.5× optical zoom to a 7× lossless digital zoom, extending up to 100× for extreme distances.
Expansive Satellite Calling and Messaging Coverage
Beyond what meets the eye, NOTE 60 Ultra carries a more subtle capability designed to accompany the user’s ambition, as far as and wherever the road leads. NOTE 60 Ultra is the first¹ to introduce dual-way satellite calling with expansive global coverage across a far greater number of countries¹. Powered by two-way messaging and calling beyond traditional terrestrial networks, NOTE 60 Ultra offers an added peace of mind whether navigating remote terrain beyond cellular coverage or facing large-scale network disruptions. The device bridges regional connectivity gaps to maintain communication and enables emergency location sharing when it matters most.
Ultra-Fast, Enduring Functionalities for an All-Around Flagship Experience
NOTE 60 Ultra combines category-leading performance and enduring power to support multi-sensory entertainment without interruption. Complementing this, its latest user experience delivers forward-looking innovations and AI-driven optimizations, making it more accessible and seamless for everyday use.
Impressively, Infinix debuted the Proprietary Battery Self-Healing Technology. Despite featuring a massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery within a slim, lightweight frame, NOTE 60 Ultra is engineered to restore up to 1%² of battery health every 200 charge cycles. Complementing this breakthrough, NOTE 60 Ultra supports wired 100W All-Around Fast Charge and 50W wireless charging, achieving a full charge from 1% to 100%² in only 48 minutes through a wired connection.
Even with a massive battery, Infinix pulls out all the stops to optimize for both speed and energy management. Featuring a 4nm all-big-core MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate chipset together with Infinix’s self-developed performance engine, NOTE 60 Ultra achieves up to 25%² faster multitasking, accelerated app responsiveness, and sustained smoothness.
NOTE 60 Ultra excels in its class with a captivating, 1.5K Ultra HDR cinematic display. Delivering fluid 144Hz responsiveness and exceptional 4500-nit peak brightness, visuals remain vibrant across most lighting conditions. Even in motion, intelligent predictive stabilization minimizes motion sickness, whether watching a film or playing games from within a car. And just as a high-performance vehicle demands calibrated acoustics, NOTE 60 Ultra doesn’t settle for less. It delivers high-fidelity audio through a stereo system with SOUND BY JBL, completing a truly compelling entertainment experience.
The NOTE 60 Ultra’s optimized performance enables its intelligent AI features to run fluidly and efficiently with minimal battery drain. Its integrated AI ecosystem focuses on practical daily-enhancing functions, including real-time vitals tracking via Advanced Health Monitor, personalized file organization and an adaptive AI-powered knowledge base, all evolving with user preferences. These AI capabilities are seamlessly woven into GlowSpace, a new interface debuting on XOS 16.³ Powered by Android 16, GlowSpace introduces a fully reimagined UI centered on fluid motion and luminous details that animate with every interaction.
Through co-engineering with leading technology and innovation partners, Infinix has aligned NOTE 60 Ultra around a unified vision of excellence. The outcome is a benchmark-setting flagship defined not by spectacle, but by deeply integrated and purposeful engineering, inside-out.
Product availability
NOTE 60 Ultra comes with a promise of 3 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security patches.
NOTE 60 Ultra is available in four colors: Torino Black, Monza Red, Amalfi Blue, and Roma Silver.
It will be available in a single variant with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and built-in eSIM⁴.
NOTE 60 Ultra comes with a deluxe gift box with automotive-inspired display stand design. A Supercar-Inspired MagCharge Base in Zinc Alloy, a Kevlar-Pattern MagPad, a Custom Kevlar MagCase, and a Track-Edition SIM Ejector Pin are included in the gift box.
Disclaimer
¹As of launch, this device is the first commercially available smartphone to support two‑way satellite calling across multiple countries. Feature availability, supported regions and coverage are subject to local certification, network deployment and market conditions.
²All data comes from Infinix laboratories. The testing data may vary slightly between different test versions and testing environments.
³The specific XOS upgrade plan for each model will be announced separately. Please note that availability of this upgrade may be limited in certain countries.
⁴eSIM availability is carrier and region-dependent; it may not be supported in all countries.
Hashtag: #Infinix
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
New Board Appointments and Strategic Partnerships Drive Fresh Momentum Accelerating Expansion into Chinese Medicine and Physiotherapy
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Trinity Medical Group (“Trinity Medical” or the “Group”), a leading provider of patient-centred healthcare premium diagnostic imaging and screening services, today marks a significant milestone with its 10th anniversary. The Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Wu Ting-yuk, Anthony, GBS, JP, Member of the Standing Committee of the 12th and 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Dr. the Honourable Lam Ching-choi, GBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council, to its Board Members. In addition, the Group has entered into strategic partnerships with FWD, Prudential Hong Kong Limited, YF Life Insurance International Limited and United Imaging (in alphabetical order of company names), enhancing cross-sector synergies between premium healthcare services and insurance solutions to deliver comprehensive and high-quality care for clients.
Trinity Medical Group hosts its 10th anniversary celebration, which brings together distinguished leaders from the government, business, and medical sectors. The event is a remarkable success and sees an exceptional turnout.
The Group celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday (3 March), bringing together distinguished guests, Professor Lo Chung-mau, BBS, JP, Secretary for Health; Mr. Fan Hung-ling, Henry, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hospital Authority; Mr. Tong Ka-shing, Carlson, GBS, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; and Professor Ma Si-hang, Frederick, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, to commemorate this major chapter in its journey.
Mr. Lau Kevin Chung-hang, MH, Founder of Trinity Medical Group, remarked in the welcome speech, “With the steadfast support of our insurance partners, corporate clients, and medical professionals, as well as the commitment and trust of our professional team, our Group is proud to reach this significant 10th anniversary milestone. Looking ahead, we will remain dedicated to the principles of preventive medicine and will proactively expand our service portfolio. This year, we plan to introduce Traditional Chinese Medicine and physiotherapy services, further diversifying our offerings and providing the community with more comprehensive care as we drive the Group’s ongoing development.”
Mr. Lau Kevin Chung-hang, MH, Founder of Trinity Medical Group, delivered the welcome address. Mrs. Christine Ma-Lau, Director of Trinity Medical Group, delivered the thank-you speech.
Trinity Medical welcomes Professor Wu Ting-yuk, Anthony, GBS, JP, Member of the 12th and 13th Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC, as Non-Executive Chairman, and Dr. the Honourable Lam Ching-choi, GBS, JP, Member of the Executive Council, as Independent Non-Executive Director.Mr. Lau Kevin Chung-hang, MH remarked in his speech, “Professor Wu brings more than networks; he brings international governance DNA; Dr. Lam connects our boardroom strategy to bedside community care.” With the addition of these highly respected industry leaders, the Group is confident that their expertise and strategic insight will significantly strengthen the Group’s vision, clinical capabilities and overall growth trajectory, injecting new momentum into the Group’s future development.
Professor Wu Ting-yuk, Anthony, GBS, JP, Non-Executive Chairman of Trinity Medical Group (Left); Dr. the Honourable Lam Ching-choi, GBS, JP, Independent Non-Executive Director of Trinity Medical Group (Right).
Forging Cross-Industry Alliances to Pioneer New Frontiers in Chinese Medicine Consultations and Physiotherapy
At the anniversary celebration, Trinity Medical announced the strategic cooperation agreements with FWD, Prudential Hong Kong Limited, YF Life Insurance International Limited, and United Imaging. Through these partnerships, the Group aims to deliver international-standard diagnostic services and diverse insurance solutions, creating a seamless, one-stop integrated healthcare experience for clients.
Trinity Medical Group enters into a strategic partnership agreement with FWD and is honoured to have Mr. Ken Lau, Managing Director of Greater China and Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer, FWD, to attained the event and join the commemorative photo.
Trinity Medical Group enters into a strategic partnership agreement with Prudential Hong Kong Limited and is honoured to have Ms. Candy Au Yeung, Chief Customer Operation and Health Officer, Prudential Hong Kong Limited to attend the event and join the commemorative photo.
Trinity Medical Group enters into a strategic partnership agreement with YF Life Insurance Limited and is honoured to have Ms. Jasmine Hui, Chief Proposition Officer and Senior Vice President, YF Life Insurance Limited, to attend the event and join the commemorative photo.
Trinity Medical Group enters into a strategic partnership agreement with United Imaging, and expresses gratitude for United Imaging’s significant support in advancing medical technology.
Looking ahead, Trinity Medical will further diversify its service portfolio, including the introduction of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consultations and physiotherapy services this year. These initiatives will continue to advance holistic recovery and preventive care initiatives. These efforts are designed to address the growing demand for premium healthcare and to reinforce the Group’s leadership within the sector.
Since its establishment in 2016, Trinity Medical has been committed to providing high-quality diagnostic imaging and health screening services. The Group continues to expand its clinical and check-up offerings, underscoring its drive for diversified development and excellence. To date, the Group has formed partnerships with over 10 insurance companies and earned the trust of over 300 corporate clients.
The professional team now exeeds 200 members, collectively having served more than 1.8 million individual clients. Its online health platform has recorded over 5.5 million visits, underscoring the Group’s industry leadership and strong market reputation.
In addition, Trinity Medical has also actively contributed to the community, including:
Supporting government primary healthcare policies: Over the past decade, the Group has provided influenza, COVID-19, and HPV vaccinations to more than 10,000 schoolchildren, helping to build herd immunity.
COVID-19 response: Throughout the pandemic, all Trinity Medical centres across the city offered COVID-19 vaccinations and PCR testing, providing accessible services throughout Hong Kong.
Supporting the “eHealth” initiative: By participating in the Hospital Authority’s referral network and the Electronic Health Record Sharing System, the Group has helped relieve the burden for tens of thousands of public hospital patients.
Appointed as a “SafeCity Ambassador 2025”: Trinity Medical has partnered with the Hong Kong Police Force to jointly promote crime prevention, cyber security, and mental health awareness.
Championing youth development: Through participation in the “Strive and Rise Programme,” the Group helps secondary school students learn about the medical profession and supports their personal growth.
Recognised for corporate social responsibility: The Group has been awarded the “Caring Company” and “Good Employer” accolades for consecutive years, reflecting our dedication to social welfare, employee development, and environmental protection.
(Starting from the left) Mrs. Christine Ma-Lau, Director of Trinity Medical Group; Dr. the Honourable Lam Ching-choi, GBS, JP, Independent Non-Executive Director of the Group; Professor Wu Ting-yuk, Anthony, GBS, JP, Non-Executive Chairman of the Group; and Mr. Lau Kevin Chung-hang, MH, Founder of the Group, officiate at the toasting ceremony.
Trinity Medical Group’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is attended and supported by prominent leaders from the government and business sectors.
Click here to download more event photos.
Hashtag: #TrinityMedical
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Tēnā koutou katoa, and warm Pacific greetings to you all. Thank you for the opportunity to gather for this important fono.
I want to begin by thanking Reverend Hiuenifor opening today’s fono and bringing us together in prayer this morning.
Thank you also to MC Fuimaono for your welcome and introduction.
I also acknowledge Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche.
I also want to greet former parliamentary colleagues Dame Winnie Laban,Aupito William Sio and the Honourable Alfred Ngaro. Thank you for your longstanding commitment to Pacific peoples in New Zealand.
To our Pacific leaders and public sector leaders, thank you for attending this second Stakeholder Fono and for the valuable insights you shared at the first gathering in November.
Scene setting
At the first fono, you heard from senior officials who provided important context about the global, geopolitical and domestic pressures shaping our environment. These forces are changing the face of how we work, how community needs are changing, and how the public sector must respond.
New Zealand is of the Pacific, and our country is enriched by the strength, culture, and contribution of Pacific peoples. Your success is New Zealand’s success.Pacific communities are among the youngest and fastest-growing in the country. That growth represents enormous potential; for families, for communities, and for the future workforce and economy.
That is why the Government is focused on delivering practical improvements in the areas that matter most: safer communities, better education, stronger health outcomes, secure housing, and real economic opportunity.
Delivering for Pacific Communities Strategy
Not long after the first fono, the Ministry published its Delivering for Pacific Communities Strategy, a practical three-year plan to ensure Pacific peoples benefit directly from government policies and programmes.
The Strategy focuses on the priorities Pacific communities told us matter most: economic opportunity, health, housing, education, and law and order, the fundamentals that support strong families and thriving communities.
Across these areas, the Government is committed to delivering real results, not just intentions.
I will briefly precis these areas of law and order, education, housing, health and economic opportunity.
Law and order
Good societies are safe societies. In the 2025 Global Peace Index, New Zealand ranked third highest. Safety is foundational. Pacific peoples are disproportionately affected by crime, and we need to continue to address the drivers and the remedies.
We have taken strong steps to restore law and order. There were 49,000 fewer victims of violent crime in the year to October 2025 than there were in October 2023. Ram raids are down by 85 per cent and there has also been a 22% drop in serious repeat youth offending compared to when we took office – well ahead of our target of a 15% reduction by 2030.
Alongside this, we are supporting community-led pacific initiatives that make a difference on the ground. For example, the Government is investing $1 million over four years in the Auckland Pacific Wardens Trust, recognising the vital role Pacific Wardens play in keeping people safe and strengthening community wellbeing.
Safer communities allow families, businesses, and young people to flourish.
Education
Education is the pathway to social mobility and improved quality of life. Social investment insights tell us the huge impact education has on our life’s trajectory.
Pacific learners, on average, face lower achievement across several indicators. To address this, we are seeing the highest shakeup in education in years. We have mandated one hour each of reading, writing, and maths every day, supported by structured literacy and phonics checks to improve reading outcomes.
We are already seeing progress. The proportion of new entrants meeting expected phonics levels has risen from 36 per cent to 58 per cent.
At the same time, programmes such as Tupu Aotearoa are creating pathways into employment, education, and training. We have already exceeded our target, placing more than 1,000 Pacific people into new opportunities.
I am also encouraged by the huge increase in Pacific People enrolling in tertiary education.
Investment in STEM is also important to participate in jobs and the workforce of the future. The Toloa Scholarships programme is seeing hundreds of Pacific students supported to carry out study in fields vital to New Zealand’s future.
Here is where we are cutting new ground with the Ministry. I have ministerial responsibility for the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) and in June I also safely uploaded the largest amount of data ever into the IDI. As part of this I also recently uploaded Toloa Scholarship data into the IDI. The first grant-related data set to ever go into the IDI. This will provide two sets of insights: a look back at the attributes of the recipients, and a look forward to data insights of attributes of success.
Education is not just for youth but for adult learners also, and programmes such as MSD’s Alo Vaka are helping Pacific adults build skills and economic security, supporting over 300 people into better employment or business opportunities, and helping participating households increase incomes by around $9,000 to $12,000 on average.
I am also exploring converting the certificates of completion that people receive from the Centre for Pacific Languages into micro-credentials that then sit on their CV for future stacking. This will add immense value.
Health is closely linked to housing, both of which are key priorities for this Government.
We have made significant investment into Pacific housing initiatives, totalling $150 million.
We are cutting some never-trod ground in Pacific health. Healthy Homes is an HNZ initiative directed at improving young people’s health outcomes against ED attendance, and against off-work and off-study impacts.
Do healthy homes also benefit older people? In 2024, I landed the Pacific Healthy Homes Initiative which for the first time in any agency includes older people in the eligibility criteria. More specifically, Pacific people over 45 years with an ASH condition. We commissioned Otago University for before and after assessments. Initial data concludes older Pacific people benefit from warmer homes.
The programme is achieving real results, including delivering more than 5,200 interventions to date, such as insulation, heating and minor repairs in Pacific households.
We are investing $35.9 million to deliver 41 homes through the Pacific Building Affordable Homes Fund, and it has been a privilege to personally open Penina homes in South Auckland, and the Pacific Trust in the Waikato, and providers in New Brighton, Christchurch.
The Our Whare Our Fale programme in Eastern Porirua, shows the power of partnership between iwi, community organisations, and government to improve economic and health outcomes for families.
Supported by a substantial $114 million Government investment over three years, it will deliver up to 300 affordable homes by 2034. On assuming the portfolio three years ago, this was still requiring sign off, but for me the vision was impactful and the implementation deliverable.
I signed it off, and the first stage has already delivered 18 warm, energy-efficient homes and a communal fale, and I was glad to be there with Minister Potaka and Sir Bill English to mark its completion.
This project will support families into stable homes designed for multigenerational living, with families expected to begin moving in by the end of the year.
Homes are kept affordable through shared-equity support, perpetual land leases from Ngāti Toa that remove land costs, and construction at cost rather than market rates.
I want to acknowledge Central Pacific Collective, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for their collaboration on Our Whare Our Fale.
It is an initiative that is delivering real results, with a further 32 homes expected by late 2026 and ongoing employment throughout construction.
Strong financial capability supports long-term economic resilience and home ownership, which is why the Ministry funds 12 providers to deliver the Financial Capability Programme across New Zealand.
Since July 2025, 674 individuals completed financial literacy training and 266 were supported with tailored home ownership plans.
Together, these initiatives enable Pacific families to step into home ownership while also creating Pacific-led construction and employment opportunities.
The progress in Pacific-led affordable housing reflects the Government’s broader focus on fixing the housing system and enabling long-term supply.
Alongside this work, the Government is focused on unlocking land for housing, supporting infrastructure, and reducing the barriers and costs that slow down building.
Health
Unfortunately, we know that Pacific peoples continue to experience poorer health outcomes, which is why improving frontline health services is a priority.
Recent results show encouraging progress on the targets that matter most for families:
Childhood immunisation rates at age two have risen to 82.6 per cent, the largest improvement across all targets
Faster cancer treatment, supported by $604 million funding for new medicines
Shorter emergency department stays despite higher demand
Reduced waiting times for specialist appointments and elective procedures
Our Elective Boost has delivered thousands of additional surgeries that make a real difference to people’s lives – hip and knee replacements, cataract surgeries, and other procedures – helping people return to work, family life, and the activities that give them purpose.
Economic Opportunity
Economic growth is central to long-term wellbeing.
Pacific communities are a powerful driver of New Zealand’s economy, and strengthening Pacific businesses creates jobs and prosperity that benefit everyone.
Unfortunately, we know Pacific unemployment is unacceptably high. The cost-of-living crisis, an economic downturn and high inflation hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest.
That is why we have prioritised practical initiatives to support Pacific communities into sustainable employment and economic opportunity.
Alo Vaka has provided targeted support to over 1,200 individuals and supported more than 300 individuals into better employment.
We are investing in programmes such as the Pacific Business Trust, which has created hundreds of new jobs.
Our Toloa Scholarships Programme will see hundreds of secondary students supported through strong education to employment pathways in high growth industries, enabling skills that are critical for the future economy.
Pacific people already play a vital role across essential industries. Strengthening skills, entrepreneurship and leadership will lift productivity and competitiveness across the country.
At the same time, this Government is focused on getting the broader economic settings right. Inflation has already more than halved from its peak, easing pressure on families and businesses, and we have lifted the incomes of working households experiencing hardship through tax relief and more affordable childcare. While it is encouraging to see inflation trending downward and pressure beginning to ease, we know there is still more work to do.
Our young people are our greatest asset and backing them to succeed is essential to building a stronger future for New Zealand.
Pacific youth are one of the youngest and fastest-growing population groups in New Zealand, and their wellbeing will shape our collective future.
They carry Pacific languages, cultures, and identities forward. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but innovators and change-makers of today.
I warmly acknowledge our Youth Panel – Lyonah, Tyler, Lupe, and Kaiata. Your perspectives ensure policies remain grounded in lived experience and focused on real opportunities.
When young people are equipped to thrive, our communities and our economy thrive with them.
Thriving Pacific communities
Across all these areas, safety, education, health, housing, and economic opportunity, the goal is the same: strengthening the fundamentals so Pacific families can thrive.
When communities are safer, children are learning, people can access timely healthcare, families have stable homes, and businesses are growing, the benefits extend far beyond any one group. Strong Pacific communities contribute to a stronger New Zealand.
Progress takes sustained effort, partnership, and trust. Government can’t do this alone, and we value the leadership and expertise within Pacific communities.
Lastly, as the previous Ministers here will agree, it’s a great privilege to be the Minister for Pacific Peoples and to be able to engage and support the Pacific community in New Zealand. In this task, I am ably supported by the staff here at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
I know there has been some discussion in the previous months regarding the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and where it sits within the structure of government. I want to be clear with everyone here that I believe it is important that there is strong voice for Pacific peoples within government, both at a ministerial level and within the public service. I am also very proud of the Ministry being in the top agencies or better across a range of public service performance measures reported over the recent months.
The Prime Minister has said there will be no structural change regarding the ministry in this term of Government.
That’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvement. This government believes that the entire public service needs to do better to ensure they are truly delivering for the communities they serve. That includes things like improved efficiencies, through use of AI and streamlining back-office services. Others will speak more on this.
Conclusion
In closing, thank you for coming here today and prioritising this fono.
Amid rapid expansion of regional hostilities across the Middle East following the ongoing joint United States-Israel attacks on Iran and the subsequent wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region, Amnesty International is issuing an urgent call on all parties to protect civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law, in particular by ending unlawful attacks, such as deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilians infrastructures.
Military operations have spread across the region and now involve more than 10 countries. They have already resulted in significant loss of civilian life and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel has escalated its attacks on Lebanon in the past 24 hours in response to Hezbollah’s attacks. The US has said that “the hardest hits are yet to come”. Iran has warned of further intensification and insecurity across the whole region following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader and commander-in-chief Ali Khamenei.
“Civilians should not pay the price for the unlawful and reckless acts by parties to the conflict, ravaging the principles of humanity and distinction at the heart of international humanitarian law and threatening the very foundations of international peace and security. The stakes could not be higher. Across the region, civilians have already endured successive cycles of conflict and mass violations and crimes under international law. Their protection should now be the top priority. Instead, they are facing more senseless killings and repression,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“Parties to the conflict must immediately refrain from and cease unlawful attacks, whether direct attacks on civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, or the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas. They must take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm.
“As the threat of a protracted international conflict grows, compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is more urgent than ever. Any failure to uphold these obligations will intensify an already devastating human toll and push the region even further towards another humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.”
Attacks on Iran and Iran’s response
On 3 March the Iranian Red Crescent Society, reported that 787 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks began. On 28 February 2026, according to the Iranian authorities around 150 school children were among 165 people killed when a school in the southern city of Minab, Hormozgan province, was struck. The UN has described the bombing of this school as a ‘grave violation of humanitarian law’, with UNESCO warning that attacks on educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the protections guaranteed under international humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Office has called for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the “horrific” incident.
Amnesty International verified six videos from the aftermath of the strike that impacted the school, which show black smoke rising from the partially collapsed building and rescuers and excavators searching through the rubble for victims. Footage filmed from the school entrance shows walls marking the parameter of the school yard and building, with smoke visible in the background from the direction of a nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guards Compound.
According to the head of the Medical Council of Iran, 10 medical centres have been damaged by the Israeli and US attacks. Hospitals in Iran have already been subjected to militarized raids by Iran’s security forces who committed widespread human rights violations against injured protesters and medical workers during and in the aftermath of the protest massacres in January 2026.
The Iranian authorities shut down access to the internet again on 28 February, preventing millions of people from accessing essential information about armed hostilities and communicating with loved ones inside and outside the country, and suppressing the flow of information about violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The armed conflict has intensified concerns about the fate and safety of prisoners across Iran, including the thousands of protesters and dissidents arrested in connection with the January 2026 uprising. These concerns stem from reports by human rights defenders of explosions near prisons and other facilities where prisoners are held as well as Israel’s previous attack on Tehran’s Evin prison during the 12-day war.
Human rights defenders are also expressing fears that the Iranian authorities have often used armed conflict as pretext to subject dissidents to intensified patterns of torture and other ill-treatment as well as summary, arbitrary or extrajudicial executions. Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and take effective measures to secure the safety of all other prisoners, including through temporary release on humanitarian grounds. Concerns for the rights of people in Iran are compounded by the Iranian authorities’ well-documented record to repeated crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations, including during successive lethal crackdowns to eradicate dissent. On 8-9 January, Iranian authorities carried out unprecedented massacres of thousands of protesters and bystanders during anti-establishment protests calling for an end to the Islamic Republic.
Iranian authorities responded to US and Israeli attacks with missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attack in Israel and across the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Media reports and official government statements indicate that some of the attacks, including as a result of falling debris from intercepted missiles or drones, led to some deaths, injuries or damage to civilian infrastructure. According to the authorities in Abu Dhabi, an Iranian drone targeting Zayed International Airport (AUH) was intercepted, leading to “falling debris” killing one person and injuring seven. On 2 March, both the Qatari and Saudi authorities claimed their oil facilities were targeted by the Iranians, and a Gulf Cooperation Council statement condemned “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks.”
In Israel, according to media and rescue agencies, at least 10 people have been killed and tens injured as a result of Iranian attacks. This includes nine people killed and more than 20 injured in Beit Shemesh after an Iranian ballistic missile strike, as well as the death of a woman in the Tel Aviv area from falling shrapnel. Iranian strikes also damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, according to local authorities.
Israel has escalated severe restrictions on movement across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), effectively blocking movement between villages and towns in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem. The authorities have also closed all external crossings into and out of the OPT including Kerem Shalom/ Karem Abu Salem and Rafah crossings blocking lifesaving aid and effectively placing the entire Gaza Strip under siege. Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem was reopened on 3 March.
These arbitrary measures are gravely exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians living under Israel’s unlawful occupation and apartheid and are further compounding the multi-layered humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are still living through Israel’s ongoing genocide.
In Iraq,a faction [Saraya Awliya Al-Dam] of the Iran-aligned militia groups, calling itself the Islamic Resistance, has claimed responsibility for multiple drone attacks on Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and later in the capital Baghdad, primarily targeting US military facilities. According to Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, drone strikes have targeted their positions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Escalation between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon
Following Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, which the group said was retaliation for Khamenei’s killing, the Israeli military significantly escalated its attacks on Lebanon, including the suburbs of Beirut, overnight on 2 March. Israeli air strikes in Lebanon had killed at least 40 people and injured 246, according to the Lebanese authorities, by 3 March. Before the recent escalation and since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israel had been carrying out near daily attacks in the south of Lebanon,killing more than 380 people, including 127 civilians.
A new, mass “evacuation” warning, issued by the Israeli authorities after midnight on 2 March, has again displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon. The vague and broad warning covered more than 50 villages across the country’s south and east, and led to panic, clogged roads and another round of displacement for many. Additional broad mass evacuation warnings were issued early on 3 March ordering people in dozens of additional villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes and expanding the area under threat.
On 2 March, the Israeli military said it would strike Hezbollah-affiliated financial institutions in multiple locations across Lebanon, then did. Israel previously targeted branches of the Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution in October 2024, which Amnesty Internationaldescribedas a likely violation of international humanitarian law, calling for such attacks to be investigated as a war crime.
International humanitarian law strictly prohibits direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate strikes that fail to distinguish between civilians and civilian object and combatants and military objectives, and disproportionate attacks. Aerial attacks impacting schools, medical facilities or residential buildings, as well as the firing of ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide area effects into densely populated areas, raise grave concerns of possible violations of international humanitarian law.
Amnesty International is closely monitoring the situation and call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. In instances of civilian death, injury and infrastructure harm, parties should initiate immediate investigations and hold anyone responsible for violations of international law to account.
“The escalating crisis in the Middle East poses a grave threat to multilateralism and to the integrity of the international legal order. Unlawful acts by parties to the conflict, particularly those committed by influential states, not only endanger civilians across multiple countries, but also accelerate the erosion of the global norms that are essential for the protection of human rights and global peace and security,” said Agnès Callamard.
“It is imperative that all parties take urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, residential buildings, schools and prisons. They must also ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected areas and enable independent international monitoring.
“We call on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent further military escalation to avert additional civilian harm, and halt any further crimes under international law against populations who have already endured decades of repression. In line with international law, states must exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from any conduct that could fuel further violations, and remember that they have clear obligations not to aid or assist internationally wrongful acts, as well as a duty to cooperate to bring such breaches to an end.”
“Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful things a person can do to improve their long-term health and wellbeing. In terms of increasing life expectancy, it sits second only to not smoking.”
“There are many examples globally where insurers contribute towards the cost of people being active because healthier members ultimately mean lower long-term healthcare costs. It’s a genuine win-win.”
“If we are serious about preventative health in New Zealand, supporting more people to be physically active needs to be part of the solution.”
Exercise New Zealand has criticised the decision by Southern Cross Health Society to remove its physical activity reimbursement from member policies, saying the move removes one of the few incentives within private health insurance that encourages people to invest in their own health preventatively.
Exercise New Zealand CEO Richard Beddie says while the benefit itself was relatively small, its removal sends the wrong signal at a time when improving physical activity levels should be a national priority.
“Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful things a person can do to improve their long-term health and wellbeing. In terms of increasing life expectancy, it sits second only to not smoking.”
The World Health Organization reports that people who are insufficiently active have a 20–30% higher risk of death compared with those who meet recommended activity levels. Recent research published in The Lancet also estimates that 7–9% of deaths globally are attributable to physical inactivity, making it one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide.
Exercise New Zealand notes that many insurers internationally actively support physical activity among their members, often contributing towards gym memberships, exercise programmes, or other activity incentives, because healthier populations reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Beddie says the organisation would welcome the opportunity to work with Southern Cross to explore how insurers can better support preventative health through physical activity.
“There are many examples globally where insurers contribute towards the cost of people being active because healthier members ultimately mean lower long-term healthcare costs. It’s a genuine win-win.”
Exercise New Zealand says stronger collaboration between insurers and the exercise sector could play an important role in improving physical activity levels across Aotearoa and strengthening preventative health outcomes.
“If we are serious about preventative health in New Zealand, supporting more people to be physically active needs to be part of the solution.”
Amid rapid expansion of regional hostilities across the Middle East following the ongoing joint United States-Israel attacks on Iran and the subsequent wave of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the region, Amnesty International is issuing an urgent call on all parties to protect civilians, adhere to international humanitarian law, in particular by ending unlawful attacks, such as deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilians infrastructures.
Military operations have spread across the region and now involve more than 10 countries. They have already resulted in significant loss of civilian life and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israel has escalated its attacks on Lebanon in the past 24 hours in response to Hezbollah’s attacks. The US has said that “the hardest hits are yet to come”. Iran has warned of further intensification and insecurity across the whole region following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader and commander-in-chief Ali Khamenei.
“Civilians should not pay the price for the unlawful and reckless acts by parties to the conflict, ravaging the principles of humanity and distinction at the heart of international humanitarian law and threatening the very foundations of international peace and security. The stakes could not be higher. Across the region, civilians have already endured successive cycles of conflict and mass violations and crimes under international law. Their protection should now be the top priority. Instead, they are facing more senseless killings and repression,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“Parties to the conflict must immediately refrain from and cease unlawful attacks, whether direct attacks on civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, or the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas. They must take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian harm.
“As the threat of a protracted international conflict grows, compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law is more urgent than ever. Any failure to uphold these obligations will intensify an already devastating human toll and push the region even further towards another humanitarian and human rights catastrophe.”
Attacks on Iran and Iran’s response
On 3 March the Iranian Red Crescent Society, reported that 787 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks began. On 28 February 2026, according to the Iranian authorities around 150 school children were among 165 people killed when a school in the southern city of Minab, Hormozgan province, was struck. The UN has described the bombing of this school as a ‘grave violation of humanitarian law’, with UNESCO warning that attacks on educational institutions endanger students and teachers and undermine the protections guaranteed under international humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Office has called for a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation into the “horrific” incident.
Amnesty International verified six videos from the aftermath of the strike that impacted the school, which show black smoke rising from the partially collapsed building and rescuers and excavators searching through the rubble for victims. Footage filmed from the school entrance shows walls marking the parameter of the school yard and building, with smoke visible in the background from the direction of a nearby Iranian Revolutionary Guards Compound.
According to the head of the Medical Council of Iran, 10 medical centres have been damaged by the Israeli and US attacks. Hospitals in Iran have already been subjected to militarized raids by Iran’s security forces who committed widespread human rights violations against injured protesters and medical workers during and in the aftermath of the protest massacres in January 2026.
The Iranian authorities shut down access to the internet again on 28 February, preventing millions of people from accessing essential information about armed hostilities and communicating with loved ones inside and outside the country, and suppressing the flow of information about violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The armed conflict has intensified concerns about the fate and safety of prisoners across Iran, including the thousands of protesters and dissidents arrested in connection with the January 2026 uprising. These concerns stem from reports by human rights defenders of explosions near prisons and other facilities where prisoners are held as well as Israel’s previous attack on Tehran’s Evin prison during the 12-day war.
Human rights defenders are also expressing fears that the Iranian authorities have often used armed conflict as pretext to subject dissidents to intensified patterns of torture and other ill-treatment as well as summary, arbitrary or extrajudicial executions. Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained and take effective measures to secure the safety of all other prisoners, including through temporary release on humanitarian grounds. Concerns for the rights of people in Iran are compounded by the Iranian authorities’ well-documented record to repeated crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations, including during successive lethal crackdowns to eradicate dissent. On 8-9 January, Iranian authorities carried out unprecedented massacres of thousands of protesters and bystanders during anti-establishment protests calling for an end to the Islamic Republic.
Iranian authorities responded to US and Israeli attacks with missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attack in Israel and across the Gulf region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Media reports and official government statements indicate that some of the attacks, including as a result of falling debris from intercepted missiles or drones, led to some deaths, injuries or damage to civilian infrastructure. According to the authorities in Abu Dhabi, an Iranian drone targeting Zayed International Airport (AUH) was intercepted, leading to “falling debris” killing one person and injuring seven. On 2 March, both the Qatari and Saudi authorities claimed their oil facilities were targeted by the Iranians, and a Gulf Cooperation Council statement condemned “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks.”
In Israel, according to media and rescue agencies, at least 10 people have been killed and tens injured as a result of Iranian attacks. This includes nine people killed and more than 20 injured in Beit Shemesh after an Iranian ballistic missile strike, as well as the death of a woman in the Tel Aviv area from falling shrapnel. Iranian strikes also damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, according to local authorities.
Israel has escalated severe restrictions on movement across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), effectively blocking movement between villages and towns in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem. The authorities have also closed all external crossings into and out of the OPT including Kerem Shalom/ Karem Abu Salem and Rafah crossings blocking lifesaving aid and effectively placing the entire Gaza Strip under siege. Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem was reopened on 3 March.
These arbitrary measures are gravely exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians living under Israel’s unlawful occupation and apartheid and are further compounding the multi-layered humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are still living through Israel’s ongoing genocide.
In Iraq,a faction [Saraya Awliya Al-Dam] of the Iran-aligned militia groups, calling itself the Islamic Resistance, has claimed responsibility for multiple drone attacks on Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and later in the capital Baghdad, primarily targeting US military facilities. According to Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, drone strikes have targeted their positions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Escalation between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon
Following Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel, which the group said was retaliation for Khamenei’s killing, the Israeli military significantly escalated its attacks on Lebanon, including the suburbs of Beirut, overnight on 2 March. Israeli air strikes in Lebanon had killed at least 40 people and injured 246, according to the Lebanese authorities, by 3 March. Before the recent escalation and since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israel had been carrying out near daily attacks in the south of Lebanon,killing more than 380 people, including 127 civilians.
A new, mass “evacuation” warning, issued by the Israeli authorities after midnight on 2 March, has again displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians across Lebanon. The vague and broad warning covered more than 50 villages across the country’s south and east, and led to panic, clogged roads and another round of displacement for many. Additional broad mass evacuation warnings were issued early on 3 March ordering people in dozens of additional villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes and expanding the area under threat.
On 2 March, the Israeli military said it would strike Hezbollah-affiliated financial institutions in multiple locations across Lebanon, then did. Israel previously targeted branches of the Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution in October 2024, which Amnesty Internationaldescribedas a likely violation of international humanitarian law, calling for such attacks to be investigated as a war crime.
International humanitarian law strictly prohibits direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate strikes that fail to distinguish between civilians and civilian object and combatants and military objectives, and disproportionate attacks. Aerial attacks impacting schools, medical facilities or residential buildings, as well as the firing of ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide area effects into densely populated areas, raise grave concerns of possible violations of international humanitarian law.
Amnesty International is closely monitoring the situation and call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law. In instances of civilian death, injury and infrastructure harm, parties should initiate immediate investigations and hold anyone responsible for violations of international law to account.
“The escalating crisis in the Middle East poses a grave threat to multilateralism and to the integrity of the international legal order. Unlawful acts by parties to the conflict, particularly those committed by influential states, not only endanger civilians across multiple countries, but also accelerate the erosion of the global norms that are essential for the protection of human rights and global peace and security,” said Agnès Callamard.
“It is imperative that all parties take urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, residential buildings, schools and prisons. They must also ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected areas and enable independent international monitoring.
“We call on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent further military escalation to avert additional civilian harm, and halt any further crimes under international law against populations who have already endured decades of repression. In line with international law, states must exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from any conduct that could fuel further violations, and remember that they have clear obligations not to aid or assist internationally wrongful acts, as well as a duty to cooperate to bring such breaches to an end.”
Nurses, midwives and health care assistants throughout Aotearoa New Zealand will wear purple on Friday to show their support for Pay Equity – and urge all New Zealanders to join them.
The Go Purple day is in recognition of International Women’s Day on Sunday. The NZNO members will be joined by members from other frontline public service unions.
NZNO delegate and Hospice nurse Anna Garton says she’ll be wearing purple after her and her colleagues’ Pay Equity claim was dumped overnight last May when the Coalition Government gutted the previous scheme.
“It was devastating for the workforces that had already put claims forward.
“The work Hospice nurses do is an important part of a caring society and we deserve to have it valued and paid fairly.
“NZNO Hospice workers have now lodged a new claim under the new system, but conditions have already deteriorated since the law change last year. Donations already fund 33% of Hospice nurses wages. Hospices can’t afford to close the gender pay gap without a Pay Equity settlement.
“I urge all New Zealanders to wear something purple to work on Friday to show their support for Pay Equity,” Anna Garton says.
NZNO delegate and Waikato-based hospital nurse Tracy Chisholm will also be wearing purple on Friday, within her local hospital uniform rules.
“Hospital members received their Pay Equity claim in 2023 and under the previous scheme, were entitled to a review last year to ensure our wages keep up with similarly skilled male dominated sectors.
“Under the new scheme, we are not entitled to a review for 10 years. Over this time our wages will once again fall behind.
“So women health workers and their whānau continue to lose out and pay the price for historical gender discrimination,” Tracy Chisholm says.
Notes:
Pay equity in New Zealand requires that women and men receive the same pay for doing different work that is of equal value.
