As climate change threatens cacao plantations, chocolate manufacturers are investigating “cacao-free pathways” to meet global demand.
Currently, the best options are chocolatey products either grown in labs or produced from fermented plants, according to new research by New Zealand’s Rabobank. But connoisseurs won’t find their taste an exact match, warns research analyst Paul Joules.
“It can be close. But obviously, those who have very specific taste buds will know exactly what they’re looking for, and it probably won’t be exactly that,” he tells RNZ’s Nine to Noon.
Because it only grows close to the equator, cacao is “a very volatile crop”, says Paul Joules.
Pablo Merchan Montes / Unsplash
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in Lyall Bay on Wednesday to prove it was safe, but by Friday the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website listed much of the south coast as being unsuitable for swimming.RNZ / Mark Papalii
The chair of Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving club says despite the partial lifting of a rahui on Wellington’s South Coast information on offshore conditions remains unavailable.
Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in the water on Wednesday to prove residents could swim again at southern beaches after a major sewage leak at the Moa Point Wastewater Plant earlier this month pumped thousands of litres of raw sewage into the sea, closing the beaches for weeks.
He did however caveat that people should follow advice on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa website before they dive in.
Club chair Matt Flannery said he was delighted that lifesaving teams could resume training in the bay but said ocean swimmers, kayakers and divers were still in the dark.
“The LAWA website, unfortunately, doesn’t include tests beyond the shoreline. That’s probably okay when you’re looking at shoreline discharges from stormwater drains and contaminations but it’s inappropriate when your dealing with an ocean outfall that has the potential to be coming back into the bay,” Flannery said.
“We’ve had to already make some decisions as to the limits that we feel acceptable in the bay but we would truly benefit from the experts stepping up here and giving guidance.”
Flannery said the club’s teams had been training at swim spots within the harbour ahead of the upcoming national championships next month.
He said prior to the spill nearly 70 lifesavers a day were training in the waters off Lyall Bay.
“We’ve shuffled our training around to be using locations such as Scorching Bay, Worser Bay and Evans Bay [and] we’re delighted to have access back on the beach – that’s the most important thing – but we’d just like a bit more information to reflect actually what’s going on in the bay.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair in the sense that they put the risk back on the other users, declare the beach open, without actually giving all the information that’s necessary to make an informed decision,” Flannery said.
Flannery said he raised the point at a local meeting with councillors, experts and Wellington Water staff last week.
Greater Wellington director knowledge and insights David Hipkins said the advice on the LAWA website only reflected public health advice for near shore activities.
“All samples have been taken close to the shore and not near the end of the long outfall pipe. This is why the advice from public health officials is that activities further from the shore are ‘to be conducted at people’s own risk’.”
He said the regional council was talking to the Department of Conservation and other research agencies about any additional monitoring that may be required further out to sea.
The LAWA website also advises people not to collect any kai moana from the area previously under the rahui.
“Testing of kai moana is not being undertaken by Greater Wellington and we are referring the public to advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the agency responsible for the safety of food gathered from the wild,” Hipkins said.
“MPI recommends not gathering shellfish from densely populated urban areas, areas near pipes or culverts, areas near to where wastewater or stormwater is being discharged, and to wait a few days after heavy rain before gathering shellfish.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
It was just a “weekend wānanga” but an artists hui in Te Kaha in 1973 ushered in Ngā Puna Waihanga, the Maori artists and writers collective and drove a revolution that shaped the renaissance of Māori culture.
It makes a fitting starting point for new RNZ podcast Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art, produced by Jamie Tahana and Matariki Williams and funded via the Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ arts and culture podcast co-fund.
“Actually, so many of our revolutions, because it’s in the title there, start in small communities like Te Kaha. It was a bunch of concerned artists and writers who just decided to have a get together,” producer Jamie Tahana told Māpuna host Julian Wilcox.
Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art podcast hosts Matariki Williams and Jamie Tahana.
Taylor Galmiche/RNZ
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker, stands next to his son. He has reportedly infused blood plasma from his then-17-year-old son in an effort to live longer.Bryan Johnson
We’re all getting older – but we’re not all happy to admit it. The longevity trend has taken off, with some people paying six figures for protocols that promise to make them live longer.
The numbers on old age are only going in one direction, fuelling a global longevity industry worth billions of dollars as people search for more and more extreme ways to live longer.
“We are now realising that there are as many people over 85 as there are under 14,” says Dr Ngaire Kerse, GP and University of Auckland’s Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well.
“In the over-65 age group, it’s heading for one in five. So, older people are more prevalent and they’re more obvious and we have a very ageist society. Of course we want to avoid those negative stereotypes of ageing and we want to be the healthy, positive older person.”
But at the extreme end of obsession, people are paying tens of thousands of dollars or more for intense intervention from experts like Dr Peter Attia, a star of longevity medicine who has a best-selling book, a podcast with millions of followers and charges patients six figures.
It’s not just Attia and the Epstein link. There’s been a growing wave of distrust in the messaging of many longevity influencers lately, including the likes of Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker who wants to live forever.
He is reported to have chosen three people from 1500 who applied for his Immortals programme. The three are paying $1 million for access to the “longevity protocols” that he’s been following for the past five years.
Johnson’s pursuit of eternal life has included a plasma exchange between his teenage son, himself and his 70-year-old father.
But even Elon Musk, who declared at Davos that there will be a cure for old age, says there is a limit on our lives.
Kerse agrees and has the statistics to back that up.
“I don’t actually want to be 150. I almost have seen enough now,” she jokes.
“It’s challenging to me to think that people would want to live forever, you know, [to] 200 years. And there’s several novels written about what that might be like, challenging whether it’s a good thing or not.”
She says there’s a biological end point at 110 years, when “our cells run out of puff”.
“The maintenance and repair mechanisms don’t work any more and so they get clogged up with stuff and you get diseases that are associated with ageing.
“We’re pushing up against being healthy for as long as you can. It’s ideal to live a fulfilled and healthy and contributing life and then drop dead. Wouldn’t that be lovely.”
Kerse is more concerned with finding ways to make lives better for all old people. She has co-led a world-leading longitudinal study, called Life and Living in Advanced Age, which started in 2010 with groups of Māori and non-Māori born between 1920 and 1930.
Hundreds of people in the cohort were interviewed about their lives every year for five years and again at 10 years.
“Now we’re at 15, 16 years follow-up, most of them are gone of course, because they’d be over 100.”
Kerse sets out the study’s findings and the factors behind participants’ long, healthy lives in today’s podcast.
The Detail also talks to 89-year-old Garth Barfoot of the real estate dynasty about his passion for running and what keeps him healthy, happy and alert.
Biosecurity Commissioner Mike Inglis said they had laid 114 additional traps in Papatoetoe since the latest fruit fly discovery, but there had not been further signs of the pest.
“At this stage, it’s just one single male fruit fly in that trap, so these additional traps are very important.
“These traps are very effective for the Oriental fruit fly; they attract the males extremely well.
“We have evidence of that from when we’ve dealt with this before, including about this time last year in Papatoetoe and the North Shore.”
He said biosecurity staff would be collecting fruit from residents for inspection this weekend.
“We’ve already collected some fruit. We’ll also be visiting high-risk businesses and talking to shopkeepers, and our team will be at local night markets providing flyers and information.
“We know from previous years that by getting in early, engaging the community, and putting controls in place, we’ll make sure it doesn’t impact the community too much and that this pest isn’t established.”
Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables affecting roughly 10,000 properties would remain in place while Biosecurity investigated whether any more fruit flies could be hidden.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker, stands next to his son. He has reportedly infused blood plasma from his then-17-year-old son in an effort to live longer.Bryan Johnson
We’re all getting older – but we’re not all happy to admit it. The longevity trend has taken off, with some people paying six figures for protocols that promise to make them live longer.
The numbers on old age are only going in one direction, fuelling a global longevity industry worth billions of dollars as people search for more and more extreme ways to live longer.
“We are now realising that there are as many people over 85 as there are under 14,” says Dr Ngaire Kerse, GP and University of Auckland’s Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well.
“In the over-65 age group, it’s heading for one in five. So, older people are more prevalent and they’re more obvious and we have a very ageist society. Of course we want to avoid those negative stereotypes of ageing and we want to be the healthy, positive older person.”
But at the extreme end of obsession, people are paying tens of thousands of dollars or more for intense intervention from experts like Dr Peter Attia, a star of longevity medicine who has a best-selling book, a podcast with millions of followers and charges patients six figures.
It’s not just Attia and the Epstein link. There’s been a growing wave of distrust in the messaging of many longevity influencers lately, including the likes of Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker who wants to live forever.
He is reported to have chosen three people from 1500 who applied for his Immortals programme. The three are paying $1 million for access to the “longevity protocols” that he’s been following for the past five years.
Johnson’s pursuit of eternal life has included a plasma exchange between his teenage son, himself and his 70-year-old father.
But even Elon Musk, who declared at Davos that there will be a cure for old age, says there is a limit on our lives.
Kerse agrees and has the statistics to back that up.
“I don’t actually want to be 150. I almost have seen enough now,” she jokes.
“It’s challenging to me to think that people would want to live forever, you know, [to] 200 years. And there’s several novels written about what that might be like, challenging whether it’s a good thing or not.”
She says there’s a biological end point at 110 years, when “our cells run out of puff”.
“The maintenance and repair mechanisms don’t work any more and so they get clogged up with stuff and you get diseases that are associated with ageing.
“We’re pushing up against being healthy for as long as you can. It’s ideal to live a fulfilled and healthy and contributing life and then drop dead. Wouldn’t that be lovely.”
Kerse is more concerned with finding ways to make lives better for all old people. She has co-led a world-leading longitudinal study, called Life and Living in Advanced Age, which started in 2010 with groups of Māori and non-Māori born between 1920 and 1930.
Hundreds of people in the cohort were interviewed about their lives every year for five years and again at 10 years.
“Now we’re at 15, 16 years follow-up, most of them are gone of course, because they’d be over 100.”
Kerse sets out the study’s findings and the factors behind participants’ long, healthy lives in today’s podcast.
The Detail also talks to 89-year-old Garth Barfoot of the real estate dynasty about his passion for running and what keeps him healthy, happy and alert.
It was just a “weekend wānanga” but an artists hui in Te Kaha in 1973 ushered in Ngā Puna Waihanga, the Maori artists and writers collective and drove a revolution that shaped the renaissance of Māori culture.
It makes a fitting starting point for new RNZ podcast Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art, produced by Jamie Tahana and Matariki Williams and funded via the Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ arts and culture podcast co-fund.
“Actually, so many of our revolutions, because it’s in the title there, start in small communities like Te Kaha. It was a bunch of concerned artists and writers who just decided to have a get together,” producer Jamie Tahana told Māpuna host Julian Wilcox.
Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art podcast hosts Matariki Williams and Jamie Tahana.
Taylor Galmiche/RNZ
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Biosecurity Commissioner Mike Inglis said they had laid 114 additional traps in Papatoetoe since the latest fruit fly discovery, but there had not been further signs of the pest.
“At this stage, it’s just one single male fruit fly in that trap, so these additional traps are very important.
“These traps are very effective for the Oriental fruit fly; they attract the males extremely well.
“We have evidence of that from when we’ve dealt with this before, including about this time last year in Papatoetoe and the North Shore.”
He said biosecurity staff would be collecting fruit from residents for inspection this weekend.
“We’ve already collected some fruit. We’ll also be visiting high-risk businesses and talking to shopkeepers, and our team will be at local night markets providing flyers and information.
“We know from previous years that by getting in early, engaging the community, and putting controls in place, we’ll make sure it doesn’t impact the community too much and that this pest isn’t established.”
Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables affecting roughly 10,000 properties would remain in place while Biosecurity investigated whether any more fruit flies could be hidden.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in Lyall Bay on Wednesday to prove it was safe, but by Friday the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website listed much of the south coast as being unsuitable for swimming.RNZ / Mark Papalii
The chair of Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving club says despite the partial lifting of a rahui on Wellington’s South Coast information on offshore conditions remains unavailable.
Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in the water on Wednesday to prove residents could swim again at southern beaches after a major sewage leak at the Moa Point Wastewater Plant earlier this month pumped thousands of litres of raw sewage into the sea, closing the beaches for weeks.
He did however caveat that people should follow advice on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa website before they dive in.
Club chair Matt Flannery said he was delighted that lifesaving teams could resume training in the bay but said ocean swimmers, kayakers and divers were still in the dark.
“The LAWA website, unfortunately, doesn’t include tests beyond the shoreline. That’s probably okay when you’re looking at shoreline discharges from stormwater drains and contaminations but it’s inappropriate when your dealing with an ocean outfall that has the potential to be coming back into the bay,” Flannery said.
“We’ve had to already make some decisions as to the limits that we feel acceptable in the bay but we would truly benefit from the experts stepping up here and giving guidance.”
Flannery said the club’s teams had been training at swim spots within the harbour ahead of the upcoming national championships next month.
He said prior to the spill nearly 70 lifesavers a day were training in the waters off Lyall Bay.
“We’ve shuffled our training around to be using locations such as Scorching Bay, Worser Bay and Evans Bay [and] we’re delighted to have access back on the beach – that’s the most important thing – but we’d just like a bit more information to reflect actually what’s going on in the bay.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair in the sense that they put the risk back on the other users, declare the beach open, without actually giving all the information that’s necessary to make an informed decision,” Flannery said.
Flannery said he raised the point at a local meeting with councillors, experts and Wellington Water staff last week.
Greater Wellington director knowledge and insights David Hipkins said the advice on the LAWA website only reflected public health advice for near shore activities.
“All samples have been taken close to the shore and not near the end of the long outfall pipe. This is why the advice from public health officials is that activities further from the shore are ‘to be conducted at people’s own risk’.”
He said the regional council was talking to the Department of Conservation and other research agencies about any additional monitoring that may be required further out to sea.
The LAWA website also advises people not to collect any kai moana from the area previously under the rahui.
“Testing of kai moana is not being undertaken by Greater Wellington and we are referring the public to advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the agency responsible for the safety of food gathered from the wild,” Hipkins said.
“MPI recommends not gathering shellfish from densely populated urban areas, areas near pipes or culverts, areas near to where wastewater or stormwater is being discharged, and to wait a few days after heavy rain before gathering shellfish.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
It was just a “weekend wānanga” but an artists hui in Te Kaha in 1973 ushered in Ngā Puna Waihanga, the Maori artists and writers collective and drove a revolution that shaped the renaissance of Māori culture.
It makes a fitting starting point for new RNZ podcast Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art, produced by Jamie Tahana and Matariki Williams and funded via the Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ arts and culture podcast co-fund.
“Actually, so many of our revolutions, because it’s in the title there, start in small communities like Te Kaha. It was a bunch of concerned artists and writers who just decided to have a get together,” producer Jamie Tahana told Māpuna host Julian Wilcox.
Pūtātara: Revolutions in Māori Art podcast hosts Matariki Williams and Jamie Tahana.
Taylor Galmiche/RNZ
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker, stands next to his son. He has reportedly infused blood plasma from his then-17-year-old son in an effort to live longer.Bryan Johnson
We’re all getting older – but we’re not all happy to admit it. The longevity trend has taken off, with some people paying six figures for protocols that promise to make them live longer.
The numbers on old age are only going in one direction, fuelling a global longevity industry worth billions of dollars as people search for more and more extreme ways to live longer.
“We are now realising that there are as many people over 85 as there are under 14,” says Dr Ngaire Kerse, GP and University of Auckland’s Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well.
“In the over-65 age group, it’s heading for one in five. So, older people are more prevalent and they’re more obvious and we have a very ageist society. Of course we want to avoid those negative stereotypes of ageing and we want to be the healthy, positive older person.”
But at the extreme end of obsession, people are paying tens of thousands of dollars or more for intense intervention from experts like Dr Peter Attia, a star of longevity medicine who has a best-selling book, a podcast with millions of followers and charges patients six figures.
It’s not just Attia and the Epstein link. There’s been a growing wave of distrust in the messaging of many longevity influencers lately, including the likes of Bryan Johnson, the billionaire biohacker who wants to live forever.
He is reported to have chosen three people from 1500 who applied for his Immortals programme. The three are paying $1 million for access to the “longevity protocols” that he’s been following for the past five years.
Johnson’s pursuit of eternal life has included a plasma exchange between his teenage son, himself and his 70-year-old father.
But even Elon Musk, who declared at Davos that there will be a cure for old age, says there is a limit on our lives.
Kerse agrees and has the statistics to back that up.
“I don’t actually want to be 150. I almost have seen enough now,” she jokes.
“It’s challenging to me to think that people would want to live forever, you know, [to] 200 years. And there’s several novels written about what that might be like, challenging whether it’s a good thing or not.”
She says there’s a biological end point at 110 years, when “our cells run out of puff”.
“The maintenance and repair mechanisms don’t work any more and so they get clogged up with stuff and you get diseases that are associated with ageing.
“We’re pushing up against being healthy for as long as you can. It’s ideal to live a fulfilled and healthy and contributing life and then drop dead. Wouldn’t that be lovely.”
Kerse is more concerned with finding ways to make lives better for all old people. She has co-led a world-leading longitudinal study, called Life and Living in Advanced Age, which started in 2010 with groups of Māori and non-Māori born between 1920 and 1930.
Hundreds of people in the cohort were interviewed about their lives every year for five years and again at 10 years.
“Now we’re at 15, 16 years follow-up, most of them are gone of course, because they’d be over 100.”
Kerse sets out the study’s findings and the factors behind participants’ long, healthy lives in today’s podcast.
The Detail also talks to 89-year-old Garth Barfoot of the real estate dynasty about his passion for running and what keeps him healthy, happy and alert.
Biosecurity Commissioner Mike Inglis said they had laid 114 additional traps in Papatoetoe since the latest fruit fly discovery, but there had not been further signs of the pest.
“At this stage, it’s just one single male fruit fly in that trap, so these additional traps are very important.
“These traps are very effective for the Oriental fruit fly; they attract the males extremely well.
“We have evidence of that from when we’ve dealt with this before, including about this time last year in Papatoetoe and the North Shore.”
He said biosecurity staff would be collecting fruit from residents for inspection this weekend.
“We’ve already collected some fruit. We’ll also be visiting high-risk businesses and talking to shopkeepers, and our team will be at local night markets providing flyers and information.
“We know from previous years that by getting in early, engaging the community, and putting controls in place, we’ll make sure it doesn’t impact the community too much and that this pest isn’t established.”
Legal controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables affecting roughly 10,000 properties would remain in place while Biosecurity investigated whether any more fruit flies could be hidden.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in Lyall Bay on Wednesday to prove it was safe, but by Friday the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website listed much of the south coast as being unsuitable for swimming.RNZ / Mark Papalii
The chair of Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving club says despite the partial lifting of a rahui on Wellington’s South Coast information on offshore conditions remains unavailable.
Mayor Andrew Little took a dip in the water on Wednesday to prove residents could swim again at southern beaches after a major sewage leak at the Moa Point Wastewater Plant earlier this month pumped thousands of litres of raw sewage into the sea, closing the beaches for weeks.
He did however caveat that people should follow advice on the Land, Air, Water Aotearoa website before they dive in.
Club chair Matt Flannery said he was delighted that lifesaving teams could resume training in the bay but said ocean swimmers, kayakers and divers were still in the dark.
“The LAWA website, unfortunately, doesn’t include tests beyond the shoreline. That’s probably okay when you’re looking at shoreline discharges from stormwater drains and contaminations but it’s inappropriate when your dealing with an ocean outfall that has the potential to be coming back into the bay,” Flannery said.
“We’ve had to already make some decisions as to the limits that we feel acceptable in the bay but we would truly benefit from the experts stepping up here and giving guidance.”
Flannery said the club’s teams had been training at swim spots within the harbour ahead of the upcoming national championships next month.
He said prior to the spill nearly 70 lifesavers a day were training in the waters off Lyall Bay.
“We’ve shuffled our training around to be using locations such as Scorching Bay, Worser Bay and Evans Bay [and] we’re delighted to have access back on the beach – that’s the most important thing – but we’d just like a bit more information to reflect actually what’s going on in the bay.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair in the sense that they put the risk back on the other users, declare the beach open, without actually giving all the information that’s necessary to make an informed decision,” Flannery said.
Flannery said he raised the point at a local meeting with councillors, experts and Wellington Water staff last week.
Greater Wellington director knowledge and insights David Hipkins said the advice on the LAWA website only reflected public health advice for near shore activities.
“All samples have been taken close to the shore and not near the end of the long outfall pipe. This is why the advice from public health officials is that activities further from the shore are ‘to be conducted at people’s own risk’.”
He said the regional council was talking to the Department of Conservation and other research agencies about any additional monitoring that may be required further out to sea.
The LAWA website also advises people not to collect any kai moana from the area previously under the rahui.
“Testing of kai moana is not being undertaken by Greater Wellington and we are referring the public to advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the agency responsible for the safety of food gathered from the wild,” Hipkins said.
“MPI recommends not gathering shellfish from densely populated urban areas, areas near pipes or culverts, areas near to where wastewater or stormwater is being discharged, and to wait a few days after heavy rain before gathering shellfish.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
DENPASAR, BALI – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 February 2026 – Green SM has launched its operations in Bali through a strategic partnership with Taksi Komotra, introducing an all-electric taxi service to support the island’s sustainable tourism and urban mobility agenda. To celebrate the 238th anniversary of Denpasar City, Green SM is offering a limited-time 25 percent fare promotion, with discounts of up to IDR 238,000 per trip.
Green SM’s professional drivers are ready to provide high-quality, safe, and eco-friendly service.
Under the partnership structure, Green SM provides the technology platform, all-electric vehicle fleet, operational standards, and driver development system, while Taksi Komotra contributes its established local expertise and network across Bali. The collaboration integrates electric mobility technology with on-the-ground operational capabilities to deliver a scalable, governance-driven transportation model.
Operations in Bali are implemented under Green SM’s “5 Green Promises” service commitment framework. Established as a foundational operating standard since the company’s inception, the framework ensures that each ride delivers an excellent customer experience, professional drivers, high-quality and safe vehicles, fairand transparent pricing, and a meaningful contribution to environmental sustainability.
The service operates an all-electric fleet that produces no exhaust emissions or fuel combustion. All vehicles are maintained under strict technical and safety protocols to ensure consistent service performance while contributing to cleaner air and quieter urban environments.
A central pillar of the launch is the Green SM Driver ecosystem. Drivers are positioned as professional green mobility ambassadors guided by five core values: Respect, Professionalism, Dedication, Discipline, and Competitive Income with Stable Career Pathways. Structured training, transparent earnings mechanisms, and disciplined service governance aim to elevate driving into a respected profession while maintaining safety and reliability as foundational standards. This framework aligns income stability with environmental responsibility, reinforcing the role of drivers in supporting Bali’s sustainable tourism trajectory.
The launch comes amid rising mobility demand driven by tourism growth and daily transportation needs across the island. The Indonesia Tourism Outlook 2025 report notes a sustained shift toward environmentally responsible travel, underscoring the relevance of electric mobility in long-term development planning. According to projections from Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), green employment nationwide is expected to reach 4.8-5.3 million by 2029, reflecting the broader economic potential of sustainable industries.
Mr. Deny Tjia – Green SM Indonesia Managing Director (third from left), Mr H. Hasbi – Chairman of Komotra Taxi Bali (second from left), along with representatives from government agencies at the launch ceremony.
Mr. Deny Tjia, Managing Director of Green SM Indonesia, said: “The partnership with Taksi Komotra reflects our long-term commitment to building a high-quality, well-governed mobility ecosystem in Indonesia. By combining electric vehicles with professional driver development and clear operational standards, we aim to support Bali’s sustainable tourism ambitions while delivering safe, reliable, and comfortable rides for the community.”
H. Hasbi, Chairman of Koperasi Komotra, said: “We are proud to partner with Green SM to introduce electric taxis in Bali. Electric mobility will become part of the new standard for tourism and daily transportation on the island, and this collaboration helps us better serve local residents and visitors while preparing for the future of sustainable transport.”
The Bali launch marks another strategic milestone in Green SM’s expansion in Indonesia, following earlier operations in key markets including Jakarta, Makassar, Bekasi, and Surabaya. In these cities, the service has been positively received by local residents and international visitors alike, who value its clean electric fleet, professional drivers, and structured safety standards that enhance travel confidence.
With its growing presence across the country, Green SM continues to build a scalable electric mobility ecosystem that balances environmental responsibility, service excellence, and inclusive economic growth.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
NANJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 February 2026 – Since 1980, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened “Ming Xuan” modeled after Dianchun Yi of Suzhou’s Master of the Nets Garden, Suzhou gardens have taken root in more than 30 countries and regions. As the Chinese New Year arrives, these gardens have launched Spring Festival celebrations, sharing festive joy and cultural traditions with visitors from around the world.
Kunqu Performing Art in the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney
On Feb. 6, the China Cultural Center in Budapest hosted the “Galloping into the Spring Festival in the Garden” event. Audiences marveled at Kung Fu tea performances, where tea masters skillfully poured water from long-spouted copper kettles in graceful arcs. Artisans demonstrated traditional sugar painting and dough figurine crafting, drawing crowds of curious children, while opera performers in elaborate costumes captivated visitors with refined singing and elegant movements.
Beginning Feb. 17, the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland launched a series of celebrations, including a ceremony to welcome the God of Wealth, a zodiac handover ceremony, lantern fairs, and dragon and lion dance performances. The garden was adorned with red lanterns and Spring Festival decorations, while Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints, silk scarves, and other cultural creative products were displayed throughout the venue. Interactive experiences such as lantern-making, Year of the Horse paper-cutting, and themed stamp-collecting sites invited visitors to take home New Year blessings.
In Vancouver, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — North America’s first full-scale classical Suzhou-style garden — marked its upcoming 40th anniversary in 2026 with festive events on Feb. 21 and 22. Gifts from its sister garden, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, added to the celebratory atmosphere. Activities included calligraphy workshops, sugar painting demonstrations, rice cake tastings, and lion dance performances, drawing local families and visitors alike.
Tourists experience the Kunqu Performing Art in the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney
On Feb. 23, the Spring Festival event was also held at the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney, which maintains close cooperation with the Humble Administrator’s Garden in garden conservation and cultural exchange. Kunqu opera artist Wang Yueli performed an excerpt from The Peony Pavilion and guided audience members in learning basic movements and gestures. Visitors also viewed documentaries highlighting Suzhou’s intangible cultural heritage and classical gardens, further appreciating the refined elegance of Jiangnan culture.
From Budapest to Portland, from Vancouver to Sydney, Spring Festival celebrations in Chinese gardens worldwide have integrated “gardens to be seen” “opera to be heard” and “cultural creations to be taken home.” Together, they present a vivid portrait of Suzhou culture, attracting tens of thousands of local residents and tourists to celebrate a Chinese New Year filled with Eastern charm.
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VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 February 2026 – A high-level cultural delegation from Wuxi, China’s renowned “Home of Erhu,” has completed a landmark two-week musical tour across Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Featuring an over 80-member ensemble from the Wuxi Cultural Exchange Group, the tour represents the city’s most significant international outreach since it was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Music in 2025.
Caption: A standing ovation for the Wuxi Cultural Exchange Group at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
Launched on February 14, the “Chinese Folk Music Odyssey” featured seven major concerts alongside a series of academic and grassroots cultural exchanges. The tour served as a high-level dialogue between the traditional heritage of China’s Jiangnan region and the classical musical heartlands of Europe.
The tour opened at the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, where a capacity crowd of 2,000 experienced the vibrant Spring Festival Overture. The ensemble presented a “Chinese Music Feast,” using traditional instruments to paint an auditory “Jiangnan Scroll” of southern Chinese life. In a poignant finale, Chinese fiddles joined forces with local keyed violins to perform the classic Horse Racing. The fusion of Eastern and Western strings brought tears to the eyes of the Chinese diaspora and earned standing ovations from local attendees.
“The melodies possess both natural charm and profound cultural heritage,” noted Belgian music critic Philippe, following six curtain calls. “It is a truly borderless musical exchange.”
Beyond the concert halls, the group engaged with European pop culture in the heart of Brussels’ Comic Strip district. A “flash mob” titled Tintin’s Encounter with Jiangnan Music saw musicians performing alongside iconic murals of Tintin, engaging local youth and residents through social media-friendly cultural interaction.
Caption: Local residents experienced traditional Chinese instruments at the street event.
The journey continued through Germany’s elite venues, including Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, showcasing the technical precision of Chinese folk orchestration. In the Austrian Tyrol, the tour took an improvisational turn as Wuxi musicians performed alongside local artists against the backdrop of the Alps, a live demonstration of the “beauty without borders”.
The tour concluded on February 26 in Vienna, where the ensemble hosted the “Dreamy Jiangnan” cultural salon at the Wiener Konzerthaus. The event paired musical performances with an interactive exhibition of Wuxi’s intangible cultural heritage, featuring traditional embroidery and clay figurines. The delegation also visited the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna for the “Jiangnan Charm, Harmonious Resonance” China-Austria Music Exchange event. Through a series of academic dialogues with faculty and students, both sides engaged in a meaningful cultural encounter. These interactions went beyond simple performances, significantly deepening mutual understanding and strengthening the musical ties between East and West.
By integrating the “Voice of China” into the “World Symphony,” the Wuxi Cultural Exchange Group has opened a new chapter in Wuxi’s enduring musical engagement with the world.
Hashtag: #WuxiInformationOffice
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The Commonwealth Bank reportedly suspects around A$1 billion in home loans were obtained fraudulently, including through AI-generated documents. The Australian Financial Review says the bank has reported itself to police and the corporate watchdog to investigate.
According to sources quoted in the newspaper, Australia’s largest bank discovered the suspected fraud last year, partly thanks to two whistleblowers. After rival bank NAB was allegedly defrauded of around $150 million, the Commonwealth Bank also reportedly began investigating its own loans. Its Australian home loans alone are worth around $634 billion.
While the bank is yet to make any detailed comment on the case, a Commonwealth Bank spokesman said the industry faced “sustained and increasing levels of attempted fraud, driven by criminals who actively evolve their methods”.
This is an industry-wide challenge, with fraud being attempted through mortgage broking and referral channels.
Even though I’ve been warning about the need to make AI companies do more to stop facilitating crime, the sheer scale of this suspected fraud still surprised me.
We should assume criminals won’t only have been targeting the Commonwealth Bank and NAB, but that they’re trying all the banks.
This case has implications for all of us: from individuals to business owners wanting to avoid being fooled by fake AI invoices, to the banks, our government regulators and the AI companies themselves.
Don’t panic – but expect tighter security
First of all, given the Commonwealth Bank has 17 million customers, let’s be clear: this won’t be a $1 billion loss for the bank.
From what we’ve heard so far, the bank should be able to recover a significant amount of this money. These loans are reportedly being paid off, and there are bricks-and-mortar properties involved to sell if needed too.
But even for a bank as big as the Commonwealth, $1 billion is no loose change. After suspected fraud on this scale, I suspect we are going to see all banks ramp up their security.
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As customers, we should expect to be asked to do more to secure our accounts and secure our transactions. We’re also increasingly likely to need to use biometric authentication (such as facial recognition), as well as two-factor authentication.
I also think it’s likely to mean that, in future, we’ll need go into the bank to show ourselves along with our original documents – to a real person. That will be a lot less convenient than just providing certified copies to a mortgage broker. However, it’s also a lot more secure.
That way, the bank can see the real, physical passport, with its holograms and stamps, which are hard to reproduce.
Faking financial or identification documents with AI is now free and easy. For example, only last year we heard how ChatGPT could be used to forge passports.
Given the Commonwealth Bank is reportedly investigating the role of mortgage brokers and others in this suspected fraud, it’s likely we’ll see banks make mortgage brokers go through more hoops too.
And the Commonwealth isn’t the only bank offering loans. So people should be asking questions of their own bank: have you uncovered fraud like this in your own loan book? And what are you doing about it?
What regulators and governments need to do
As well as being used for fraud, AI is also being used by the banks to try to detect and catch scammers.
AI can be very helpful in looking for strange patterns – for instance, why a mortgage broker is suddenly submitting three times as many home loan applications?
But fraud on this scale, affecting Australia’s biggest bank, does show the federal government needs to stop saying we don’t need any new AI regulation. We just don’t have adequate safeguards in place.
Rethinking how we pay bills and do business
Whether you’re a business owner or an individual, if someone sends you a large invoice to pay, don’t pay it until you’re sure it’s real.
It’s just so easy to “spoof” (mimic) someone’s web address, email or invoice, especially the first time you’re paying someone.
We’ve seen too many cases of “middle men” attacks, where criminals get between a person and the company they’re trying to pay, then change the bank details.
There are some terrible stories about how people have transferred their deposit to buy a house to what they thought was the solicitor’s account. But it was changed – and they lost their whole deposit.
My rule of thumb is that any time it’s a first-time payment, or sum of money large enough to really hurt you, call whoever you’re paying over the phone and confirm their bank details are correct.
MADRID, SPAIN – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 February 2026 – Huawei unveiled its latest innovations at the “Now is Your Run” global product launch event in Madrid, Spain on February 26. The tech giant marked its return to professional running watches after a five-year hiatus with the debut of the all-new HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2. The event also showcased the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2, HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, HUAWEI MatePad Mini, HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5, and HUAWEI Band 11 Series. Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge was introduced as the global ambassador for HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner. “Running means much more than running fast,” said Kipchoge. “I believe that running is the most beautiful activity on every level. Together with Huawei, we can reach millions of runners around the world and hopefully impact their lives in a beautiful and positive way.”
HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2: Five Years of Accumulation, Redefining Professional Running Watches
HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 is equipped with a new 3D floating antenna architecture, engineered to deliver unparalleled positioning precision. Equipped for the first time with an intelligent positioning algorithm, it continues to calculate the runner’s trajectory and distance even during signal interruptions, ensuring uninterrupted positioning. The new intelligent marathon mode offers one-stop race management, acting as a personal coach on your wrist throughout the journey. Not only does the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 help professional athletes boost their performance, but it also brings a smart and professional running experience to amateur runners. Eliud Kipchoge shared his experience of co-creating products with Huawei at the event, stating, “I am passionate to share my opinions and perspectives to improve the smartwatch experience not just for elite athletes but for runners all around the world.”
HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 and HUAWEI Band 11 Series: Next-Level Fitness
At this event, Huawei unveiled a range of new wearable devices designed to deliver more professional and personalized fitness experiences for users. The HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate 2 debuted in a striking “Green” color, maintaining its top-tier capabilities for diving and outdoor adventures while introducing enhanced features specifically tailored for golf driving range and on-course play. This offers a more precise and intelligent high-end sports experience. Meanwhile, the HUAWEI Band 11 Series combines sleek design with practical functionality, featuring a larger and clearer display that ensures excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. Integrating health monitoring, activity tracking, and convenient features into one compact device, it serves as a reliable companion for users’ daily fitness needs.
HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro: Cutting-edge Flagship Setting New Benchmark in Mobile Experience
Huawei makes a grand return to the global market with its Mate Series, showcasing the company’s technological prowess. The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro, representing Huawei’s cutting-edge innovation, features an upgraded True-to-Color Camera that ensures consistent color accuracy across various lighting conditions and mixed color temperatures. Its new Dual Space Ring Design, which blends classic elegance with modern aesthetics, earned widespread acclaim from attendees. With enhanced performance, 2nd Gen Kunlun Glass, and advanced AI capabilities, Huawei continues to deliver state-of-the-art technology and experiences, pushing smartphone experience to new heights.
Trendsetting Technology Unveiled for Ultimate Intelligence
Huawei unveils its first-ever Mini tablet, the HUAWEI MatePad Mini. Featuring a compact 8.8-inch body that’s slimmer and lighter than traditional tablets, it easily fits into pockets or handbags. Whether for reading documents, watching your favorite shows, or on-the-go creative work during business trips, this device is ready whenever you need it. It serves as an ideal digital companion for business professionals, avid readers, office workers, and academic researchers alike. The company also introduced the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 earbuds, the industry’s first wireless earbuds with dual-engine AI noise cancellation. Paired with a dual-drive acoustic system, they deliver exceptional noise reduction while preserving vocal and instrumental details, offering users an immersive live-listening experience.
Last year, Huawei introduced its brand proposition “Now is Yours”, aiming to establish genuine and close connections with global consumers through a more inclusive and youthful communication approach. At this “Now is Your Run” launch event, Huawei partnered with Eliud Kipchoge to promote running as a sport and advocate for a healthy lifestyle. Moving forward, Huawei will continue to promote fitness and health through technological innovation, using warm products and sincere communication to enable more people to enjoy a healthier and more vibrant life through technology.
Hashtag: #Huawei
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The Highlanders have suffered another heartbreaking loss, after the Reds bounced back in style.
The Reds defeated the Highlanders by 17 points at Suncorp Stadium after leading by 12 at the break. It was a statement performance in front of a lively Brisbane crowd, the home side running in five tries to two and playing with far more clarity than they showed in Round 1.
The first half set the tone. Fraser McReight opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a stunning passage that started with Harry Wilson flicking a miracle ball through his legs to ignite the break, before a clever series of kicks ended with the flanker diving over beside the posts. Matt Faessler added another off a well-timed peel from a driving maul, and although the Highlanders hit back through Adam Lennox after spotting space around the ruck, the Reds struck again before the break. Slick hands left put Tim Ryan over in the corner, giving Queensland a deserved lead at half-time. It was high tempo, physical stuff, with the Reds well on top and the visitors guilty of too many costly errors.
The Highlanders showed some fight early in the second half. Lucas Casey powered through three tackles to score under the sticks in the 52nd minute and cut the margin, briefly shifting momentum. But just as quickly, the Reds responded. McReight pilfered possession at the breakdown, territory followed, and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto crashed over from close range to extend the lead. Moments later, a grubber forced panic at the back and Vaiuta Latu was on hand to dive on the loose ball for another Reds five-pointer.
From there, Queensland comfortably controlled the contest. The forwards went at it relentlessly, the backs continued to find space out wide, and the bench added real punch, with Filipo Daugunu especially lively. The Highlanders had patches of pressure but they lacked polish, their attack clunky at times and undermined by unforced errors. Jamie Joseph will be disappointed and know there were plenty of opportunities left out there.
Ryan brought real spark on the edge, Salakaia-Loto laid a strong platform, and McReight was a menace all night at the breakdown. For the Highlanders, Timoci Tavatavanawai impressed with his physicality and TK Howden worked tirelessly, but they lacked support at key moments.
This win lifts the Reds to 1-1 and restores confidence ahead of a trip to Canberra to face the Brumbies, while the Highlanders slip to 1-2 and return home to Dunedin to host the Force in Round 4, searching for a response.
See how the game unfolded in our blog:
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot. 2. Jack Taylor. 3. Rohan Wingham. 4. Will Stodart. 5. Mitch Dunshea. 6. Te Kamaka Howden. 7. Sean Withy (cc) 8. Lucas Casey. 9. Adam Lennox. 10. Cameron Millar. 11. Jona Nareki. 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc) 13. Jonah Lowe. 14. Caleb Tangitau. 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
YUNA Joins Forces with Infinix to Launch the NOTE 60 SERIES, Marking the Brand’s Bold Step into a New Era of Innovation and Style.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 February 2026 – In a historic first, Infinix today announced K-pop girl group ITZY’s member, YUNA, as its first-ever Global Brand Ambassador, bringing her confidence, energy, and bold self-expression to global audiences.
The partnership reflects Infinix’s “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy, reinforcing its commitment to empowering a new generation of users through creativity, individuality, and innovation. Coinciding with the global debut of Infinix’s annual flagship launch, the new NOTE 60 SERIES, the collaboration also signals a strategic step forward as the brand elevates its smartphone experiences for broader international users.
“I am so excited to reach out to my fans in a new way as Infinix’s Global Brand Ambassador. I’ve always believed that life should be filled with joy and the courage to show the world who you truly are. It’s been amazing to see how Infinix shares that same energy. I’m looking forward to this journey and can’t wait to show everyone the special stories we create together!” — YUNA, Global Brand Ambassador for Infinix.
Infinix Celebrates a Milestone with YUNA
As a young global K-pop icon, YUNA has risen to the top through discipline, self‑discovery, and fearless ambition. As the youngest member of ITZY, her vibrant confidence is her signature. Driven by an energetic passion, she inspires fans worldwide with her boundary-breaking spirit and continuous reinvention across music, acting, and beyond. These qualities align perfectly with Infinix’s commitment to flagship performance, refined aesthetics, and relentless innovation.
This partnership marks a strategic evolution for Infinix, elevating its appeal to the premium market. Together, Infinix and YUNA create a unified narrative that transcends hardware, positioning technology as a catalyst for joy and a powerful tool for self-expression. By integrating YUNA’s infectious energy with the NOTE 60 SERIES, Infinix is redefining its brand identity and empowering users worldwide, driving desirability among tech-savvy youth who demand both flagship-level sophistication and a platform for bold, joyful self-expression.
“Partnering with YUNA accelerates our mission to deliver a fun, cutting-edge mobile experience to young fans globally,” said TT Liu, CMO of Infinix Mobility. “Guided by the philosophy of Joy Tech, Infinix moves beyond talking about how advanced a phone is, to telling stories about how technology creates joy—when brands, users, and YUNA come together to illuminate every unique way of shining.”
Expanding into Global Premium Markets
This collaboration is strategically timed, launching alongside Infinix’s entry into the premium market and the global debut of its flagship NOTE 60 SERIES. This evolution is powered by a world-class ecosystem of industry leaders: Infinix’s first NOTE powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Italian automotive and design legend Pininfarina for elegant aesthetics, and immersive SOUND BY JBL experience.
Together with YUNA, this partnership signals a transformative new chapter for Infinix—leveraging the NOTE 60 SERIES to inspire the generation of self-defined youth who prefer to express in their own unique way, and spread their voices to the world.
Amplifying Youthful Expression Through Joy Tech
With YUNA as Infinix’s global brand ambassador, Infinix NOTE 60 SERIES creates a deeper resonance with the youth by championing their pursuit of vibrant self-expression. This partnership transcends traditional technology, inviting a new generation to explore the boundless excitement of the “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy.
Looking ahead, Infinix remains committed to advancing innovations that enable richer, more immersive experiences, while YUNA continues to inspire global audiences to embrace the joy, creativity, and limitless potential made possible through these breakthroughs.
Hashtag: #Infinix
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