Category: Russia

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

Source: Media Outreach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Economy – OCR on hold at 2.25% – Reserve Bank

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

8 April 2026 – The Monetary Policy Committee today agreed to hold the OCR at 2.25 percent. Since the February Monetary Policy Statement, events in the Middle East have materially altered the outlook and the balance of risks for inflation and economic growth in New Zealand. In the near term, inflation is expected to increase and the economic recovery to weaken. The Committee is vigilant to any generalised inflationary pressure and stands ready to act to return inflation to its medium-term target.  

The Middle East conflict has disrupted global supply chains, leading to significantly higher prices for oil and refined petroleum products. As a result, near-term inflation is increasing and economic growth is weakening in many countries. Global financial markets have been volatile and market interest rates have increased.

In New Zealand, the extent of the near-term increase in headline inflation will depend on how the conflict in the Middle East evolves and the magnitude and duration of the disruption to global supply chains and energy markets.

Medium-term inflationary pressure will depend on the extent to which higher costs influence price- and wage-setting behaviour by firms and workers in the economy. If medium-term inflation expectations increase, then inflation is likely to become more persistent. However, weak demand and spare productive capacity in the economy should constrain the degree to which higher costs can be passed on.

The current economic situation is different to 2022 when COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted global supply chains and increased energy prices. Back then, demand was growing strongly, adding to inflation pressure.

The Committee’s decision to hold the OCR balances the potential benefits of responding pre-emptively to the risk of higher medium-term inflation against the cost of unnecessarily stifling the economic recovery.

The Monetary Policy Committee is focused on ensuring that inflation returns to the 2-percent target midpoint over the medium term. This requires core inflation and wage growth to remain contained and medium- and long-term inflation expectations to remain around 2 percent. If these conditions are not met, decisive and timely increases in the OCR would be required.

Read the full statement and Record of meeting: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=922ab96a14&e=f3c68946f8

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/economy-ocr-on-hold-at-2-25-reserve-bank/

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Todd Blanche takes over US Justice Department, where there’s no escaping the Epstein files shadow

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Holmes Lybrand, Evan Perez, Katelyn Polantz, Kara Scannell, CNN

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during the 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, on March 26, 2026. Daniel Cole/Reuters via CNN Newsource

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who President Donald Trump tapped to serve as the interim head of the Justice Department, managed the day-to-day operations of the department over the past year, often taking a more public-facing role when Pam Bondi was in hot water with White House officials.

Early in the administration, in fact, the White House told the now-former attorney general she could not appear on Fox News for a time amid fallout over the Justice Department’s handling of making parts of the documents related to Jeffrey Epstein public. Blanche appeared in her absence, helming the administration’s defense over the drawn-out Epstein debacle.

Blanche was Trump’s defense attorney across several criminal cases the then-former president faced following his first term in office, one of several members of Trump’s legal team given key DOJ or judiciary posts.

When Blanche took the deputy attorney general position, his experience as a former prosecutor and as a lawyer at a large law firm in New York was seen by career officials as an encouraging sign that the department’s institutional norms would be protected, something that did not bear out.

Swaths of DOJ and FBI officials who worked on 6 January or Trump-related cases have been removed, attempts have been made to prosecute the president’s political enemies, and the cloud of the Epstein files continues to hang over the department.

As deputy attorney general, and while he has served in parrying attacks related to Epstein and beyond, Blanche faced blistering criticism after his interview last year with Epstein’s co-conspirator and business partner Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role trafficking girls for Epstein, was upgraded to a minimum-security prison camp. In December, Blanche said the Bureau of Prisons made the decision to move Maxwell, adding that “she was suffering numerous and numerous threats against her life.”

Blanche also came under criticism because he hadn’t asked about documents congressional Democrats had subpoenaed from the Epstein estate.

“When I interviewed Maxwell, law enforcement didn’t have the materials Epstein’s estate hid for years and only just provided to Congress,” Blanche said in a post on X, responding to Trump critic George Conway.

Thursday (all times local), Blanche on Fox News said Epstein didn’t have anything to do with Bondi’s removal and also sought to bat down conspiracy theories around Epstein – including the idea that he was a spy – marking his continued desire to move past the issue.

“I think that to the extent that the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it should not be a part of anything going forward,” Blanche said.

“I’m not sure you totally get what people feel about that,” Fox News host Jesse Watters said later on Blanche’s responses to Epstein-related questions.

Fighting Trump’s perceived political enemies

At the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, Blanche boasted about what he saw as one major success of the past year: ousting political enemies from the department.

Every DOJ employee – including FBI agents – who worked on investigations or cases around Trump following his first term had been fired, resigned, or took early retirement, Blanche said, adding that the number amounted to “over 200” people.

“There is not a single man or woman at the Department of Justice who had anything to do with those prosecutions,” Blanche said.

Blanche’s continued work as Trump’s personal attorney also translated into adopting some of the language of the president’s MAGA allies and publicly clashing with Trump critics.

Blanche defended Bondi after she was fired Thursday.

“As President Trump said today, the attorney general made our country safe again,” Blanche said on Fox News, hours after the announcement. “And she is a friend, and she did a great job in the first year of this administration.”

The new head of the Justice Department said he understood the frustration and desire to go after Trump’s political enemies when pressed on the issue and the failure to prosecute those individuals. Blanche noted that he was Trump’s defense attorney in multiple criminal cases following Trump’s first term.

“I had a firsthand accounting of what happened,” Blanche said. “Yes, I understand it. The American people understand it, and I know that the American people expect that it will never happen again, and we take that seriously.”

Blanche in meetings flashes a dry sense of humor but is also known to quickly lash out in anger when his frustrations boil over, associates say. At the Justice Department, he often led meetings, even those that the attorney general was supposed to be in charge of, an indication that he wielded the day-to-day power at the department.

Trump is considering replacing Bondi with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, according to sources, though others may also be on the short list. The former congressman could face harsh probing from senators over his very limited legal experience as well as his defense of Trump during his first impeachment hearings in late 2019.

In the trenches with Trump

Blanche was one of Trump’s lawyers for the New York hush-money case as well as the two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith over Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified material after leaving office.

He is the only administration official who sat beside and guided Trump while his freedom was on the line during the criminal trial involving hush money payments in New York. While Trump was convicted, Blanche’s legal maneuvering resulted in Trump’s sentencing being postponed until after the election, all but ensuring that Trump would avoid serving any prison time.

The Trump defense team also won at the Supreme Court expanded protections from criminal prosecution for the president, in the 6 January case, just before Trump retook the presidency. He and his team also convinced a Trump-appointed judge in Florida to throw out the classified documents charges.

More recently, the Justice Department supported the same judge, Aileen Cannon, burying part of the special counsel’s final report on that investigation into Trump and others.

Beyond Epstein, Blanche has also faced criticism over public comments he made regarding the wrongfully deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, comments that led to Blanche nearly having to testify about his oversight of the case in Tennessee against Abrego Garcia.

During his confirmation hearing last year for deputy attorney general, Blanche declined to say if he would recuse himself from Justice Department efforts to re-examine the prior work of federal prosecutors on the Trump cases – cases in which Blanche represented Trump.

Blanche responded to questions about conflicts of interest by saying he would not violate his ethical obligations.

Previous Justice Departments attempted to maintain distance from political winds and the president’s direct wishes, and recusals were common when a department lawyer had previously been on the defense side of an investigation. That wall was most evident when former Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Russia investigation around Trump’s 2016 political campaign.

Yet Blanche has continued to attack the prosecutions of Trump, now from inside the Department.

“Jack Smith is a proven liar, consistent with these fake accusations from his failed vendetta against the President,” Blanche wrote on social media last week regarding the former Justice Department special counsel who had secured two indictments against Trump in 2023. Both were dismissed before trial.

“There is absolutely zero proof of wrongdoing,” Blanche added, echoing the same position he had taken in court while opposite the Justice Department.

– CNN

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/04/todd-blanche-takes-over-us-justice-department-where-theres-no-escaping-the-epstein-files-shadow/

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Universities – Sámi governance in focus for Indigenous scholar – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Across the Arctic north, reindeer still follow routes that have shaped Sámi life for generations, tying people to land, culture and identity.

Now University of Auckland Law School Professor Claire Charters is heading to Sápmi to study the Indigenous political institutions that have emerged from that history.

Charters (Ngāti Whakaue, Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) has received a $10,000 Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award to examine Sámi governance institutions and what they might offer Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Sámi, who number about 80,000 across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia’s Kola Peninsula, are the only recognised Indigenous people in the European Union. In response to pressure on their land, culture and political rights, representative bodies known as Sámi parliaments were established in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Charters will attend sessions of the parliaments, meet parliamentarians and members of the Sámi Council, and connect with experts in Sámi law and governance at the University of Tromsø, the University of Helsinki, and the University of Oulu.

“The Sámi parliaments in Norway, Finland and Sweden are utterly fascinating as mechanisms to realise Indigenous peoples’ self-determination, even if they only do so imperfectly,” says Charters, who co-directs the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law.

“There are so many lessons we can learn to apply in Aotearoa. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to undertake research on the parliaments in situ.”

Her research will focus on the relevance of Sámi constitutional arrangements to Indigenous governance in Aotearoa, at a time when questions about Māori political authority, self-determination and constitutional transformation remain central.

Charters says her broader work in Indigenous peoples’ rights, in Aotearoa and internationally, is driven by a passion for justice for Māori and other Indigenous peoples in light of the impact of colonisation, together with consequential structural and socio-economic inequities.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/02/universities-sami-governance-in-focus-for-indigenous-scholar-uoa/

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UFC FIGHT NIGHT® Returns to Galaxy Macau in May with A Stellar Line-up Featuring Song Yadong vs Deiveson Figueiredo

Source: Media Outreach

Priority Tickets for “Galaxy Ultimate” WeChat Members on Exclusive Pre-Sale April 14 Public Sale on April 17

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 March 2026 – Galaxy Macau is thrilled to announce the hottest tickets for UFC’s highly anticipated return to Macau – featuring three back-to-back events, UFC FIGHT NIGHT® and the opening rounds of ROAD TO UFC Season 5 – will go on sale to the public on April 17. “Galaxy Ultimate” WeChat members will be eligible for exclusive early priority booking starting April 14. This year, special VIP packages for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®, which include a series of exclusive entitlements, and three-day combo packages for both UFC FIGHT NIGHT® and the opening rounds of ROAD TO UFC Season 5 are available for an all-rounded experience. All three events will take place at Macau’s largest indoor arena – Galaxy Arena – from May 28 to 30, marking the start of the four-year strategic partnership that will bring three UFC FIGHT NIGHT® events to Galaxy Macau through to 2029.

A Stellar Line-up Set for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® at Galaxy Macau

Every UFC FIGHT NIGHT® delivers an electrifying showcase of elite athletes competing in world-class Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action. The main event promises fireworks as China’s No. 5-ranked bantamweight, Song Yadong, collides with Brazil’s No. 7-ranked Deiveson Figueiredo.

The main event promises fireworks as China’s No. 5 ranked bantamweight, Song Yadong, collides with Brazil’s No. 7 ranked Deiveson Figueiredo.

Known as the “Kung Fu Kid”, Song hails from China’s Heilongjiang Province. A dynamic striker with nine knockout victories and a reputation for explosive first-round finishes, he returns to fight in front of a home crowd for the first time since 2018, determined to cement his place in the bantamweight title picture.

Figueiredo, fighting out of Soure, Pará, Brazil, is a former two-time UFC flyweight champion renowned for his finishing prowess, boasting nine knockouts and nine submissions. Now competing in the bantamweight division, he aims to break into the top five.

In the co-main event, two of the light heavyweight division’s most notable knockout artists will battle it out when China’s No. 15-ranked Zhang Mingyang steps into the Octagon against seasoned American powerhouse Alonzo Menifield.

Zhang, fighting out of China’s Anhui Province, burst onto the scene with a knockout in ROAD TO UFC Season 1 and stunned fans with a spectacular finish of Anthony Smith. With 19 first-round victories, he is eager to defend his ranking with a thrilling fight in Macau.

Menifield, fighting out of Dallas, Texas, USA, is a proven knockout artist with extensive UFC experience. Looking to secure his place among the light heavyweight elite, he aims to tackle Zhang with a powerful finish.

Tickets for UFC’s return to Galaxy Macau – featuring three back-to-back events, UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SONG vs. FIGUEIREDO and ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round – will go on sale to the public on April 17. “Galaxy Ultimate” WeChat members will enjoy priority booking on April 14.

The card also features other thrilling matchups, including a pivotal heavyweight clash between No. 3-ranked Sergei Pavlovich of Moscow, Russia and No. 11-ranked Tallison Teixeira of São Paulo, Brazil; Sumudaerji “The Tibetan Eagle” from China’s Sichuan Province, challenging top-10 bantamweight Alex Perez of California, USA; a women’s strawweight style-versus-style affair between Muay Thai world champion Loma Lookboonmee of Buriram, Thailand and standout grappler Jaqueline Amorim of Manaus, Brazil; a fast-paced flyweight bout between ROAD TO UFC Season 2 winner Rei Tsuruya of Chiba, Japan taking on Jesus Aguilar of Ensenada, Mexico; “Mongolian Murderer” Aoriqileng (China) gets back in the Octagon to face Cody Haddon of Australia in a bantamweight bout.

The Stage for Emerging Fighters: ROAD TO UFC Season 5

Fight Week in May kicks off with the opening rounds of ROAD TO UFC Season 5 on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29. This thrilling “win-and-advance” tournament showcases Asia-Pacific region’s finest MMA prospects, with 32 athletes across four divisions battling for a coveted UFC contract.

In a special main event for ROAD TO UFC on Saturday, May 28, entertaining striker Rongzhu (Sichuan, China) faces heavy-handed Victor Martinez (San Juan, USA) at lightweight.

The opening round of ROAD TO UFC Season 5 on May 28 and 29 will feature Asia-Pacific’s best talent battling for a UFC contract.

In a special main event for ROAD TO UFC on Friday, May 29, Shi Ming (Kunming, China), the ROAD TO UFC Season 3 women’s strawweight tournament winner and viral sensation, returns for her second main event appearance to face India’s first and only female UFC representative, Puja Tomar (Budhana, India).

Upgraded Experiences: Extended Events Elevate the Fight Week Vibes

The fight nights will be complemented by a week-long programme of high-energy fan experiences, including UFC fighter meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and a host of other activities. Designed to amplify the excitement surrounding the headline bouts, the fight week programming aims to maximise event exposure and further expand the sport’s growing fan base.

The fight nights will be complemented by a week-long programme of high-energy fan experiences designed to amplify the excitement.

For more information about Galaxy Macau and the programme of events, please visit https://www.galaxyresorts.com.cn/BRaLNz2IRQ/

【UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SONG vs. FIGUEIREDO】&【ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Rounds】Tickets On Sale

Event Dates & Times： 【ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round Day 1】- 6pm, May 28, 2026

【ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round Day 2】- 6pm, May 29, 2026

【UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SONG vs. FIGUEIREDO】- 4pm (First Bout), 7pm (Main Card), May 30, 2026
Venue： Galaxy Arena
Ticket Price： UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SONG vs. FIGUEIREDO

VIP Experience Package: MOP/HKD from 8,080 to 19,980

Regular tickets: MOP/HKD from 480 to 3,380

ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round Day 1 MOP/HKD from 480 to 1,580

ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round Day 2 MOP/HKD from 380 to 2,280

*Currency settled based on the ticketing platform
Pre-Sale Tickets Dates & Channels: Members of The Galaxy Ultimate Mini Program, UFC Fight Club, UFC newsletter subscribers and UFC social followers, kindly utilise the priority ticket access code associated with the 3-day combo package or single-day event ticket to conduct your priority purchase at Galaxy Ticketing during the designated period.

UFC Fight Week Macau:3-Day Combo Package

  1. Members of The Galaxy Ultimate Mini Program & UFC Fight Club: From April 14 at 11am to April 15 at 9am

UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: SONG vs. FIGUEIREDO on May 30 and ROAD TO UFC on May 28 and 29: Single Event Tickets

  1. Members of The Galaxy Ultimate Mini Program & UFC Fight Club: From April 15 11am, to April 16 at 9am:
  2. UFC newsletter subscribers & UFC social followers: From April 16 at 11am to April 17 at 9am

*Please find more event details via www.galaxyticketing.com.
Travel Packages Inclusive of event tickets and accommodation – sale from 11am, April 16 on Trip.com
Public Sale Date & Channels: April 17 at 11am, available on Galaxy Ticketing, Damai, Maiseat, Maoyan, uutix

Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau #UFC

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/31/ufc-fight-night-returns-to-galaxy-macau-in-may-with-a-stellar-line-up-featuring-song-yadong-vs-deiveson-figueiredo/

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Medallic recognition for NZDF personnel supporting Ukraine

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will award the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Support to Ukraine) to recognise Defence personnel who have deployed in support of Ukraine’s self-defence, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today.

“Nearly 1,000 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have served in Europe and the United Kingdom supporting Ukraine’s self-defence following the Russian invasion in February 2022,” Ms Collins says.

“These personnel have carried out challenging and often emotionally confronting work in the service of New Zealand. As part of Operation Tīeke, they have helped alongside partners to prepare thousands of Ukrainian personnel for the battlefield.”

Under the UK-led Operation Interflex, more than 60,000 Ukrainian personnel have been prepared for immediate combat operations. 

The medal has been approved in principle by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Once the Governor-General has approved the medal Regulations, which detail eligibility criteria, it is proposed to be issued to those with thirty days of qualifying service.

“Operation Tīeke is a major component of New Zealand’s effort to uphold the international rules-based order by directly supporting Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion and supporting the wider security of our European partners,” Ms Collins says.

“I have seen first-hand the value our personnel are providing to the people of Ukraine, and I am extremely proud of their contribution.

“I would like to thank our NZDF personnel and acknowledge the impact deployment has on their families. We appreciate your service and your sacrifice.”

Note to editors:

The New Zealand Special Service Medal (NZSSM) is specifically for service that carries some of the elements of operational service but does not meet the threshold for that recognition. It was instituted in 2002 to recognise service or work for New Zealand in very difficult, adverse, extreme or hazardous circumstances that fall outside the boundaries of what members of the NZDF – and certain other New Zealanders – could normally expect as part of their routine duties or work. 

Special service often involves risk (whether physical, environmental or psychological). The Government has designated the Operation Tīeke deployment as “special service” within the intent of the New Zealand Special Service Medal Royal Warrant, both for its psychological impact on those who are deployed and its contribution to the maintenance of a rules-based international order and international peace and security together.

To date, the NZSSM has been awarded to those who were present at atmospheric nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific in the 1950s and 1973; took part in body recovery and victim identification following the Air New Zealand Mount Erebus disaster in 1979; and participated in rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts after the 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami.  

Service recognised through a NZSSM does not count towards qualification for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/31/medallic-recognition-for-nzdf-personnel-supporting-ukraine/

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Bertelsmann Stiftung BTI Survey 2026: More Autocracies Worldwide – But Democratic Resistance Is Growing

Source: Media Outreach

Democracy is on the defensive. This is shown by the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index 2026 (BTI). The BTI was first surveyed twenty years ago, when democracies were still in the majority. Today, 56 percent of the 137 countries surveyed by the BTI are ruled autocratically. However, this rarely leads to better governance. Autocracies are more susceptible to corruption, less capable of shaping the future, and less consensus-oriented. However, examples such as Poland and Brazil show that social resistance and political competition can pave the way back to democracy.

GÜTERSLOH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 26 March 2026 – A majority of 77 of the 137 states surveyed by the BTI are now ruled autocratically and are taking increasingly repressive action against the opposition, the media and civil society. Of these countries, 52 are hard-line autocracies in which fundamental rights are completely disregarded – more than at any time since the survey began in 2006. But autocratic tendencies are also gaining ground in numerous democracies. “Many elected governments have undermined core democratic institutions in order to stay in power, and this paves the way for autocracy,” says democracy expert Sabine Donner.

In 54 percent of the countries, elections no longer meet minimum standards. In some countries, such as Gabon or Niger, they were suspended after military coups, while in Belarus, Russia and Rwanda they are strictly controlled legitimizating rituals. However, numerous free and fair elections also led to peaceful changes of government. In Madagascar, Tanzania and Venezuela, mass protests following rigged elections were violently suppressed, but strengthened political mobilization beyond the election date.

Examples such as El Salvador, Serbia and Turkey show that the repeatedly touted promise of authoritarian efficiency is rarely fulfilled. Corruption is insufficiently combated in more than 100 countries, two thirds of which are autocracies. “In autocracies, loyalty must be rewarded and positions secured,” says BTI expert Hauke Hartmann. “The supposed efficiency of authoritarian regimes is a myth.”

However, persistent grievances continue to ensure that protests by dissatisfied citizens show no sign of abating. In Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, protests forced a democratic opening, while a democratic turnaround was achieved in Brazil and Poland. “The BTI shows how much pressure democratic institutions are coming under – at the same time, we are seeing remarkably lively resistance to their erosion in many places,” says Daniela Schwarzer, Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann Stiftung. “This ability to mobilize, which comes above all from an active civil society, is a key potential for democratic renewal.”

www.bti-project.org

Additional information:
 Since 2006, the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index has analyzed the quality of democracy, market economy and governance in 137 countries every two years. Currently, 23 OECD countries, such as Germany and the USA, are not part of the study. The study was carried out between February 1, 2023 and January 31, 2025.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/26/bertelsmann-stiftung-bti-survey-2026-more-autocracies-worldwide-but-democratic-resistance-is-growing/

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New Zealand playing its part in global oil response

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand will release oil tickets to fulfil its commitment to the International Energy Agency’s collective action in response to the oil supply issues created by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand’s contribution under the action, announced last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA), is 1.577 million barrels of crude oil or the equivalent. 

“New Zealand holds oil tickets, which are options to purchase different types of oil or refined fuel. We will release some of the tickets we hold to the global market,” Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.

“Under the action, IEA members have agreed to release 400 million barrels of crude oil or equivalent to global markets. This is significantly greater in volume than the collective action taken in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. 

“This will add much-needed supply globally, helping reduce pressure on global refineries which ordinarily access oil from the Middle East. The action should help to calm global markets,” Mr Jones says.

IEA members met at 1am (NZT) today to share their respective plans for responding to the collective action. 

“It’s important to note that the tickets we are releasing are for crude oil or fuel we cannot use in our own domestic system. While this is an important contribution to the global situation, the release has minimal impact on New Zealand’s domestic fuel security position,” Mr Jones says. 

Editors’ note

  • Oil tickets are contracts that give the Government the option to purchase different types of fuel. New Zealand is not releasing physical supply to the market.
  • The purchase options New Zealand will release are for crude oil and a form of fuel incompatible with New Zealand specifications.

For latest on New Zealand’s fuel security situation following the events in the Middle East, please visit the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment website: Middle East conflict and New Zealand’s fuel stocks | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/19/new-zealand-playing-its-part-in-global-oil-response/

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Wildberries Sees Surging Consumer Demand for African Products

Source: Media Outreach

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 March 2026 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, reports a significant increase in demand among marketplace customers in Russia and neighboring countries for products originating from Africa.

Sales of coffee from Ethiopia increased 2.3 times in 2025 and continues to grow at a similar pace in 2026. Another fast-growing Ethiopian product is amulets—bracelets, keychains, and brooches made from natural opal. Sales in this category increased eightyfold in 2025.

In 2025, sales of black seed oil from Egypt grew 2.7 times. This plant-based oil is valued for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is also used in cooking. Apparel sales from Egypt rose 2.4 times in 2025 and surged elevenfold in January–February 2026.

Sales of tea from South Africa doubled year-on-year in 2025 and tripled in January–February 2026 compared to the same period last year. Sales of cosmetic creams from South Africa increased sixfold in 2025 and continued to grow in early 2026.

Sales of seeds from Morocco rose 2.4 times, driven by demand for rosemary, an aromatic plant used in cosmetics production and as a culinary spice. Moroccan boots are also popular on Wildberries, reflecting the country’s longstanding traditions in leather footwear craftsmanship.

Sales of fish products from Tunisia, such as anchovies, increased 2.7 times in January–February 2026, while olive oil sales from the country grew 6.6 times in the same period. Tunisia ranks among the leading exporters of these product categories.

Sales of Zambian jewelry and Senegalese kanekalon – an artificial fiber used for braiding hair in the African style – both doubled in 2025. From Tanzania, coffee is in demand, along with postage stamps, which recorded a sixfold sales growth in 2025. The stamps, depicting the country’s unique natural heritage – including Mount Kilimanjaro, savannas, wildlife, and the everyday life of local Maasai tribes – enjoy well-deserved popularity among stamp collectors.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/18/wildberries-sees-surging-consumer-demand-for-african-products/

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

Source: New Zealand Government

17 March 2026

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

 Our Alliance 

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

 Partnering in the Pacific

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

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

Collaborating to address global challenges

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

MIL OSI

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

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Nick Monro

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

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

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

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

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

He said it had been rising quickly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

He expects to see the demand soften.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finance Minister considering govt response to rising prices

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

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

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

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

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

She said the rebate was very untargetted.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/no-need-to-panic-fuel-supplier-says-as-average-petrol-price-surges-past-3/

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Geopolitical instability and interconnected risks raise fears of Black Swan scenarios

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 March 2026 – Despite seeming predictable in hindsight, Black Swans are unexpected or unforeseen events that are highly disruptive and economically damaging. Examples include the 9/11 attacks of 2001 in the US, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Allianz Research estimates cumulative global GDP losses from the pandemic between 2020 and 2023 to be in the region of US$12trn.In addition to the huge financial and business costs, such events typically have long-lasting implications, resulting in geopolitical and societal shifts that continue many years after the initial event. According to new Allianz Risk Barometer analysis, more than half of the 3,000+ respondents (51%) identify a global supply chain paralysis due to a geopolitical conflict as the most plausible Black Swan scenario globally which could impact their company in the next five years. Fear of a global internet outage ranks second (47%) which reflects the increasing awareness of cyber and artificial intelligence (AI) risks among business leaders.

Respondents in Asia Pacific also identified a global supply chain paralysis and global internet outrage as the two most plausible Black Swan scenarios; the former is ranked first in China and Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, while the latter is ranked first in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Allianz Commercial CEO Thomas Lillelund comments: “Although Black Swan events are not seen to be immediately likely, these rare, high-impact scenarios are perceived as increasingly plausible and should be considered by executive boards given their potential consequences. Growing interconnectivity across both physical and digital supply chains means disruptions now cascade much faster and can turn into major losses. In today’s fragmented geopolitical environment, companies must double down on resilience and integrated risk management to ride out the next perfect storm.”

Geopolitics is a key driver for Black Swans
Given the current geopolitical environment, it is no surprise that supply chain paralysis resulting from a geopolitical conflict is regarded as the most plausible Black Swan scenario. The threats of tariffs, trade wars and protectionism, as well as disruption to supply chains and shipping caused by regional conflicts in the Middle East and Russia / Ukraine are at the top of every board agenda. Allianz Research estimates that cumulative GDP losses over a two-year horizon triggered by a global supply chain disruption on the scale of the war in Ukraine could total US$1.5trn. In fact, political-related risks stand out as a leading potential trigger for Black Swan events, according to respondents. Mass social unrest and political instability is regarded as the fourth most plausible scenario globally (29%) and is a top three risk in the Americas (31%) and Africa and the Middle East (41%) regions, as well as in France (42%), for example. A sudden collapse of a major financial institution or a sovereign debt crisis, leading to a global liquidity crisis and severe market volatility ranks third (30%).

Interconnectivity and interdependency of both physical and digital supply chains are potentially increasing vulnerability at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, rapid advances in technology, and climate change. Businesses and global supply chains are also more vulnerable to Black Swan events due to growing concentrations of economic activity reliant on a limited number of critical suppliers and products in areas like AI and digital services, semiconductors, rare earth processors and transition technologies.

Company size influences risk perception
Global supply chain paralysis due to a geopolitical conflict halting the movement of goods and raw materials ranks top for both large (>US$500mn annual revenue, 55% of responses) and mid-sized companies (US$100mn+ to US$500mn, 52%). In contrast, smaller companies (

“Awareness of Black Swans and the need to build resilience has increased in recent years, but businesses can never fully prepare for rare high impact events such as a global outage or an unforeseen climate-related catastrophe. Building organizational agility, fostering a risk-aware culture and developing scalable response plans for a range of scenarios remain the most practical steps to best prepare for Black Swan events. Insurers can play a critical role in helping businesses strengthen their resilience in areas such as cyber risk and support more informed decisions when assessing and selecting critical suppliers,” says Michael Bruch, Global Head of Risk Consulting Advisory Services, Allianz Commercial.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/geopolitical-instability-and-interconnected-risks-raise-fears-of-black-swan-scenarios/

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Education – Whitireia and WelTec welcome ākonga with powerful Pōwhiri, Mihi Whakatau and vibrant orientation events

Source: Whitireia and WelTec

Whitireia and WelTec has launched the 2026 teaching year with a series of uplifting Pōwhiri, Mihi Whakatau and orientation events across their campuses, marking an exciting beginning for both new and returning ākonga (students). The events brought together ākonga and their whānau, kaimahi (staff), and community in a spirit of unity and anticipation for the year ahead.
Delivered in partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa, the Pōwhiri and Mihi Whakatau remain a cornerstone of the Whitireia and WelTec experience. These ceremonies formally welcome ākonga into the Whitireia and WelTec whānau, honouring te ao Māori and reinforcing the values of connection, culture, belonging and manaakitanga from day one.
International students were also welcomed as part of the 2026 intake, with dedicated orientation activities designed to help them settle confidently into life and study in Aotearoa New Zealand. This year’s cohort represents a vibrant mix of countries including Germany, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Ireland, Vietnam, Ukraine, Poland, Bangladesh, Denmark, South Africa, Nepal, and Malaysia, reflecting the growing global reach of the institute.
Across campuses, student expos are underway offering ākonga the chance to meet support teams, explore student services and discover the wellbeing, learning and pastoral resources available to them. Local businesses, community groups and student associations have joined the celebrations, contributing to a welcoming, festival-like atmosphere that showcases the strength and diversity of the local communities.
“At Whitireia and WelTec, ākonga success is about more than the classroom,” says Dr Leanne Ivil, Operations Lead. “Our wraparound support model ensures every ākonga feels connected, supported and confident throughout their learning journey. Starting the year with such powerful iwi-led ceremonies sets ākonga up with a sense of belonging that will carry them forward.”
With energy high and campuses buzzing, Whitireia and WelTec is excited to support ākonga as they take their first steps into a year of learning and opportunity.
See events and enrolment information: www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/04/education-whitireia-and-weltec-welcome-akonga-with-powerful-powhiri-mihi-whakatau-and-vibrant-orientation-events/

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Conflict in Iran shows ‘risk’ of government’s plan to import LNG as back-up to Taranaki facility

Source: Radio New Zealand

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. SAHAR AL ATTAR / AFP

A spike in the price of LNG because of conflict in Iran shows how risky the government’s plan to import the fuel as a back-up is, experts say.

The government said last month it would proceed with plans to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki, with the cost spread across all electricity users through a levy.

Energy Minister Simon Watts said that it would result in overall savings to households, because it would help to lower electricity premiums during dry years.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with open ocean – has ground to a halt since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Alan Brent, chair of sustainable energy systems at Victoria University, said the strait was a “key choke-point” for the global energy market and its closure had prompted price spikes for many different fuels.

“LNG has been slower to respond than crude oil but it is up more than one percent already, just in the last few hours,” he said.

“The commentary that’s coming through is that they’re expecting this to be quite significant, especially for LNG.”

More than 100 billion cubic litres of LNG moved through the strait every year – roughly 20 percent of the global LNG trade, Brent said.

Energy Minister Simon Watts. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Goldman Sachs forecast price rises of 130 percent – more than double – if the disruption continued throughout March.

Both a Cabinet paper and a report commissioned by the four electricity gentailers warned that exposure to price shocks was a risk of proceeding with LNG imports.

“LNG-dependent markets saw extreme spikes in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine … illustrating the volatility imported into domestic bills,” the gentailer report said.

The government’s plan has been widely criticised, with even a report it commissioned last year finding that LNG should only be used as a last resort.

Energy advocates have pushed for the government to pursue alternatives, saying even burning a stockpile of coal at Huntly would be preferable.

Independent climate policy analyst Christina Hood said New Zealand already experienced the effect of petrol price shocks during periods of geopolitical turbulence.

“It’s a huge risk for the New Zealand economy to be exposing even more of our energy system to volatile international prices,” she said.

“That really worries me, and that risk analysis does deserve a re-think and we should be pivoting towards more stable, domestic energy sources.”

The government’s own analysis had found that using biomass pellets at Huntly was cheaper and had benefits for the local economy, she said.

That option was ruled out because, according to that analysis, it would take the longest to deliver.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said that “very quickly, the risks outlined around LNG access have come true”.

Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

“Current events make it harder to immediately buy into why this LNG facility is likely the best option, because it has potentially fallen over at the first hurdle.”

It was true that high prices might not persist, he said.

“But if the whole idea of the LNG facility was to provide that short-term relief, well, if New Zealand hit a dry-year time and something’s happening in the Starit of Hormuz, then you’ve got a very expensive white elephant that might be sitting there.”

There was still time for the government to pivot to a different solution.

“From what I understand we haven’t signed commitments,” Olsen said.

“If there’s some real feeling of need around emergency supply in dry years, I do wonder if water take around the hydro lakes is a much more readily accessible option.”

There were environmental concerns to factor into that alternative, he said.

“But if you want to get stuff done quickly, then using the water in the lakes that’s already there … is going to be a lot easier.”

The government should also be telling those gentailers in which it held a majority stake to not return such a large dividend to the Crown, and instead invest it into renewables and other options to provide security of supply, he said.

Energy Minister Simon Watts’ office has been approached for comment.

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/03/conflict-in-iran-shows-risk-of-governments-plan-to-import-lng-as-back-up-to-taranaki-facility/

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Health Policy – ‘Hospitals and health workers should never be targets’ – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The right of health care workers to provide care during international conflicts must be protected, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says hospitals and health care workers are increasingly being targeted in war torn nations.
“Hospitals and health workers should never be targets. Health care workers must have the right and freedom to provide care in conflict zones,” she says.
International media have reported an Israeli air strike hit a hospital in Tehran’s north, badly damaging the facilities and forcing patients to be evacuated. The air strikes were part of the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran.
“Sadly, attacks on hospitals and health care workers are not a new development,” Kerri Nuku says.
“The World Health Organization last week said attacks on Ukraine’s health care facilities had increased by 20% last year and hit a staggering total of 2881 since the war with Russia began four years ago.
“In Myanmar, at least 34 people were killed and dozens more injured late last year after air strikes from Myanmar’s military hit a hospital in the country’s west.
“ NZNO is supporting Myanmar health care workers providing care on the Thai border. We have heard firsthand the struggles of providing health care in a conflict,” Kerri Nuku says. 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/02/health-policy-hospitals-and-health-workers-should-never-be-targets-nzno/

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Advocacy – Peace Vigil – No NZ support for US/Israeli war on Iran

Source: Peace Action Wellington

Date: Sunday 1 March 2026 – Peace Action Wellington is calling a peace vigil on Monday, 2 March at 5:30pm meeting at the Cenotaph on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street. All people who oppose war are welcome.

Peace Action Wellington condemns the illegal war launched by the US and Israel. There is no justification for so-called “pre-emptive” war. This is an aggressive war: there was no threat to the US or Israel. There is no material difference between this and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The crimes of the Iranian government against its own people are enormous, including the slaughter of thousands of its young people, but that provides no basis for war. Moreover, this is not even the justification the US and Israel have given for their war and will simply result in the killing of more ordinary Iranian people.

That the US and Israel started the war when discussions and negotiations were ongoing shows there is no good faith on their part – just a determination to install a regime that is friendly to their interests.

It is imperative that the New Zealand government is clear that it does not support this war. No NZDF or intelligence assistance should be given to the US or Israel. It is likely that the NZ Navy frigate Te Kaha is in the region, along with troops deployed to missions around the Middle East. All of these forces should be withdrawn, along with all GCSB intelligence analysts based with US forces.

Already hundreds of people have been murdered from US bombs inside Iran including a school full of children. Regime change by the US will cause untold suffering to the Iranian people and has every likelihood of escalating to a world war, pulling in the Russians and Chinese on the side of the Iranian government.

Peace Action Wellington strongly supports the right of the people inside Iran to free themselves from their own government. We do not support foreign interference in the politics of Iran or any state. The US and UK have a long history of intervention in Iran – and this war must be viewed within the context of that existing history.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/01/advocacy-peace-vigil-no-nz-support-for-us-israeli-war-on-iran/

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Ukrainian children endure four years of war – longer than World War II – ChildFund NZ

Source: ChildFund New Zealand
Tomorrow will mark four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“That’s longer than the duration of their war against the Nazis,” says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund New Zealand.
“Charities like ChildFund have remained working in the country and the region since the start, through our local partners. We could not support the children we do, without the generosity of Kiwis who have kept supporting us since the war started.”
The latest statistics are shocking:
  • 4.6 million children entering their fourth consecutive year of disrupted schooling
  • 10% of school and educational facilities damaged (1,700 facilities)
  • 2,859,000 children displaced; one third of Ukraine’s child population
  • 62.89% of these displaced children are now refugees
  • Bombs have killed or injured more than 3,200 children since February 2022.
  • 2025 saw a 10% increase over the year prior for child casualties
  • Nearly 200 medical facilities have been destroyed or damaged in 2025 alone.
Through its partner, We World, ChildFund New Zealand has also helped support 7,334 people (adults and children) across Ukraine with mental and psychosocial health sessions. Safe centres for children have been set up in protected and underground spaces, offering educational, psychosocial and recreational activities.
This winter, temperatures have already dropped to -20 degrees Celsius. The renewed attacks on energy infrastructure mean widespread blackouts, and no reliable access to heating and water.
“Ukrainian children and their families need us more than ever.” 

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/ukrainian-children-endure-four-years-of-war-longer-than-world-war-ii-childfund-nz/

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New Zealand announces more support for Ukraine, sanctions on Russia

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand will provide $8 million in new assistance for Ukraine and implement additional sanctions targeting Russia’s war machine, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.

 “Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion, now entering its fifth year, has devastated Ukraine, destabilised Europe and impacted the security of our own region,” Mr Peters says. 

 “Russia’s relentless bombardment of civilian infrastructure this winter has hit Ukraine’s people hard, and this assistance demonstrates New Zealand’s continued solidarity. 

 “These contributions will help address urgent needs as a result of Russia’s brutal winter attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.”

New Zealand will provide $5 million in humanitarian assistance to international aid partners supporting Ukrainian civilians badly affected by the war. 

 This brings New Zealand’s total humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to $45 million over the past four years. 

 A further $3 million will go to the World Bank-administered Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund, which supports energy resilience and reconstruction. 

New Zealand is also implementing its 34th round of sanctions against Russia.

New measures include lowering the price cap on Russian crude oil and sanctioning 100 shadow fleet vessels.

“These are calculated steps to curtail crucial oil revenues fuelling Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Mr Peters says.

New Zealand has also sanctioned actors from Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, alongside alternative payment providers, malicious cyber actors, and those supporting Russia’s military‑industrial complex. 

More information about sanctions, travel bans, and export controls against Russia, as well as diplomatic, military and economic support to Ukraine, can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website here.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/24/new-zealand-announces-more-support-for-ukraine-sanctions-on-russia/

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Documentary series ‘My China Story’ shines spotlight on US martial artist Jake Pinnick

Source: Media Outreach

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 February 2026 – The People’s Daily has launched two seasons of the documentary My China Story, featuring 10 foreigners who have pursued their careers in China. Season one features tech entrepreneur Nikk Mitchell, US zoologist Kevin Messenger, US ceramist Matt Watterson and Argentinian motorcycle designer Rodrigo Álvarez. The newly released season two of the series puts the spotlight on Neil Schmid, a US expert on Buddhist studies and Dunhuang; US martial arts lover and Taoist Jake Pinnick; French spelunker Jean Bottazzi and Russian vlogger Anton Butov, all of whom have shared their distinctive life paths in China.

My China Story gives the world a window into foreign residents who have lived across different regions with a wide range of career choices. This documentary series has gained a significant number of overseas viewers on a variety of social media platforms, including Youtube, Tiktok and X. Among all the episodes, the viewers have shown the most interest in Pinnick, who was born in the 1990s in the US, and came to China following an obsession with Chinese martial arts and Taoism studies. This contrasting background has made viewers more eager to learn why and how he lived in China ‘s Wudang Mountains for over a decade.

2025 marked a remarkable year for Pinnick. In April, he received China’s Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card — the “Five-Star Card” — and in May, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Shiyan City at an inaugural ceremony. These honors stand as powerful testaments to his decade-and-a-half journey of cultural immersion.

Pinnick’s story began in 2010 when, inspired by kung fu movies, the then-20-year-old arrived at the foot of the Wudang Mountains with zero martial arts experience and no knowledge of the Chinese language. He carried only a dictionary and a handwritten note that read, “I want to go to the Wudang Mountains.” Emerging from the morning mist, he found his purpose the moment he saw a master leading disciples in practice.

The path from novice to master has been paved with rigorous discipline. Pinnick mastered Tai Chi and various weapon techniques. Beyond the physical movements, he delved into the spiritual heart of China, studying the Tao Te Ching and learned to play Taoist music. During his toughest moments of exhaustion and homesickness, it was his “kung fu family” that gave him the strength to persevere.

Over the past 16 years, Pinnick has not only transformed personally but also witnessed China’s rapid development. He vividly remembers that reaching Wudang once required a slow train to Yibin; today, the journey is defined by high-speed rail and an expanding airport now welcoming international travelers.

Today, Pinnick serves as a vital cultural bridge. Through social media and live performances, he shares the wisdom of Wudang with a global audience. “I originally came for martial arts,” Pinnick reflects, “but I stayed for the culture and history.” Guided by his master’s philosophy that “Kung fu knows no borders,” Pinnick continues to demonstrate that martial arts is not about conflict, but about inclusivity and connecting a diverse world.

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/15/documentary-series-my-china-story-shines-spotlight-on-us-martial-artist-jake-pinnick/?doing_wp_cron=1771139142.4675970077514648437500

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AsiaBC Introduces Award-Winning Incorporation & Asia Market Entry Expertise to UAE’s Global Founders

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR/DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2026 – Asia Business Centre (AsiaBC), a Hong Kong-based leader in corporate services and cross-border startup consultancy, has been named “Outstanding Company Formation Services of the Year“ at the HKCT Business Awards 2025.

Presented by the Hong Kong Commercial Times (HKCT), the award recognises AsiaBC’s excellence in helping global founders establish, scale, and succeed in business hubs across Asia and the Middle East. With deep expertise in regulatory frameworks and banking ecosystems, AsiaBC helps entrepreneurs overcome market-entry challenges faced by SMEs and new ventures.

AsiaBC plays a key role in simplifying and accelerating incorporation, bank account setup, and international compliance in Hong Kong, Singapore, and offshore centres.

AsiaBC’s Expertise Solves Hong Kong Setup Challenges

Since 2009, AsiaBC has turned entrepreneurial vision into operational businesses through end-to-end support. Beyond company registration, the team guides clients through structuring, documentation, bank onboarding, tax planning, and accounting, ensuring that each step fits the business model.

AsiaBC demystifies cross-border operations by leveraging market insight and ties with over 100 banks and FinTech providers. The firm delivers reduced setup time, guaranteed bank account results under its “No Win, No Fee” programme, and proven legal readiness. One recent case saw a client complete company formation and bank account opening in Hong Kong on the same day, just before flying home. Another client, a tech startup, secured banking approval within 48 hours, enabling rapid launch into the APAC market.

AI-Powered Compliance & UAE Hub to Serve Global Founders

To better serve international entrepreneurs, AsiaBC is broadening its presence and technology.

In 2026, AsiaBC will open its first advisory hub in Dubai to support UAE entrepreneurs entering Asia. Services will include offshore company planning, tax coordination, risk assessment, and compliance across jurisdictions.

AsiaBC is also launching AI-enabled tools to make bank onboarding more predictable. A smart matching engine will analyse each client’s profile – including business model and risk category – and map it to onboarding preferences across AsiaBC’s banking network. Drawing on 6,000+ cases, this tool aims to shorten approval time and improve success rates, especially for founders under scrutiny.

“For 16 years, we’ve followed one principle: ‘Professionalism is the foundation, but solving problems is the core,’” said Raymond Wong, Managing Director. “This award affirms our commitment to outcome-driven solutions that help clients expand smoothly and sustainably.”

Championing the Entrepreneurial Spirit
 AsiaBC’s client-first strategy includes:

  • Tailored support from incorporation to compliance
  • Guaranteed banking results
  • Strong ecosystem relationships
  • Multilingual support in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Mandarin

Hashtag: #AsiaBC

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/02/14/asiabc-introduces-award-winning-incorporation-asia-market-entry-expertise-to-uaes-global-founders/