Category: Transport

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How to remove mould from clothing and stop it growing in wardrobes and drawers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Ever plan to wear your favourite jacket, only to pull it out of the wardrobe to discover it’s got a weird smell and is covered in mould?

“People living in warm, humid climates or coastal regions are often impacted heavily [by mouldy clothing] because their indoor humidity remains elevated for long periods,” explains Nisa Salim, associate professor and director of Swinburne-CSIRO National Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing.

“Often wardrobes positioned against cold external walls can also accumulate condensation.”

Seasonal clothing often cops it the most.

ABC

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/17/how-to-remove-mould-from-clothing-and-stop-it-growing-in-wardrobes-and-drawers/

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‘Emergency package’ could help low income families amid financial crisis, economist says

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unsplash / Emil Kalibradov

The war in the Middle East could see inflation in New Zealand hit 3.7 percent in a worst case scenario, Finance Minister Nicola Willis revealed on Tuesday.

Willis said the government was focused on mitigating the impact of the war on critical supply chains and the New Zealand economy.

The cost of filling the petrol tank of an average car had gone up about $23 and about $36 for diesel, she said.

Willis said that the government was aware of the pressure that could put on some households, but warned if there was to be any assistance, it would be very specific.

University of Auckland associate professor of economics Susan St John told Checkpoint New Zealand was already in a “crisis” and low income families were likely most affected.

She said it was about time that “something significant” was done.

“An emergency package could be developed, much like John Key did in 2008 in the global financial crisis,” she said.

“But a package that gets that money directly into the lowest of income families.”

Susan St John. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

One way to do that is to pay them the full amount of working for families that they currently do not get, St John said.

St John said they missed out on about $100 a week.

“It could be temporary, as was John Key’s policy in 2008 for 16 weeks and be extended if more time was needed,” she said.

“But that would be very focused and go to the very lowest families, the ones that miss out on the full package, the ones who are on benefits, all part benefits, including about 250,000 of the poorest children.”

If you gave the full working for families package, it would mean nearly $100 extra a week, she said.

She said there was a lot of flexibility.

“The beauty of it is that it’s so highly targeted, which is what the minister wants and it’s not the only thing that should be done.

“Because those families who are getting the full package, the working low income families also need help.”

St John said the government would have provide payments without expecting to make cuts elsewhere.

“They’ve already cut far too much out of people on low incomes and so it can’t be found by making their lives any more miserable in other ways,” she said.

“There are different ways if you do want to do something really significant for families and make it stick and that might involve creaming a little bit off the top end of New Zealand Super and redistributing that back through the programs that need it in the social security budget.”

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Leaked papers show ‘extreme risk’ around Health NZ decentralisation

Source: Radio New Zealand

Health NZ faces the “extreme risk” of not having enough of the workers it needs to push through the government’s order to decentralise rapidly. Unsplash / RNZ

Papers show that Health New Zealand faces the “extreme risk” of not having enough of the workers it needs to push through the government’s order to decentralise rapidly.

Health Minister Simeon Brown last November ordered the agency to “rapidly devolve decision-making to its four regions and 20 districts” to improve healthcare.

A new devolution committee has been set up and last month was presented a report assessing the “current state” across the board.

RNZ has seen papers from the report.

“People capability is an extreme risk,” it said.

“Workforce has the lowest capability rating identified across regions and their districts with critical resourcing gaps.”

The “most common” gaps were around staff to handle infrastructure, procurement, health and safety, planning, finance and analysis.

Brown had pushed for speed, but the assessment said there was “a feeling that basics need to be in place first”.

“The transition back to a devolved model too quickly may remove the current controls and undermine the effective oversights that have been put in place.”

That included around finances, it said.

Health NZ told RNZ on Monday it was working to address the workforce gaps and capability issues identified.

The papers showed gaps in devolution resources in areas where the centralised agency in the last two years cut jobs and accepted hundreds of voluntary redundancies.

“The highly centralised organisation structure has led to a loss of experience” in making organisational, operational and strategic decisions in districts, the assessment said.

Even at national senior leadership level there were big gaps – “all interim apart from one role”.

Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii

‘As quickly as possible’

The government two years ago castigated Health NZ for loose financial controls, sacked its board and under a reset the new commissioner Lester Levy embarked on a $2 billion savings plan.

The goverment then embarked on rolling back large parts of the centralisation reforms of 2022.

“We want a nationally and regionally planned system, but one that has strong clinical input and buy-in at the hospital level,” said Brown last November.

He gave HNZ a New Year’s Eve deadline to come up with a devolution policy in his letter of expectations.

“This reinforces my expectation that regional accountability, production planning, and local decision-making is embedded as quickly as possible,” his letter said.

“Local districts and regions should be empowered to manage within their allocated budgets, including hiring decisions.”

On Monday a spokesperson for Brown said the government had had to stabilise and turn around a system Labour had restructured during a pandemic “without a plan”.

It “cannot simply be switched off” and must still deliver more care to more patients, faster, and a key to that was moving health decisions closer to communities, they said in a statement.

The report – the second one done on devolution by consultants Deloitte – offered a glimpse of how devolution had been going.

The senior doctors’ union, the ASMS, in principle supported devolution but warned against districts having to take on more responsibility without the resources.

“The chatter that we’re picking up from around our regular set of meetings with the districts is a massive concern that this is just pushing responsibility onto districts without any realistic means of achieving what needs to be done in terms of providing health care,” said executive director Sarah Dalton.

ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton. LANCE LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY / Supplied

‘Carefully managing the transition’

The assessment said some areas like in strategy and finance showed progress.

But it varied alot. What it called ‘People and Culture’ would be hugely impacted by devolution and was rated the worst, with ‘low’ assessments across all six measures; it was especially weak in the South Island and central North Island from Taranaki to Bay of Plenty.

“Regional and district finance and operational capacity remain concentrated at national level and many local teams are under-resourced in financial management,” it said.

The solution? “Build capability across the organisation.” The districts had lost key roles, now they needed them back.

A chart showed 12 categories – such as budgeting, analysis and auditing – and rated nine of them as less than fully effective. Three were only partially effective – the second-to-lowest rating – including HNZ’s savings programme and its internal audit programme.

Among the other gaps was technology. Key devolution changes were predicated on AI that was not yet in place, and so manual “workarounds” persisted.

Health NZ executive national director of strategy performance improvement Jess Smaling said the current state assessment report was to support “carefully managing the transition back to frontline decision making”.

It came only after HNZ had addressed the first priority of fixing the financial crisis and improved performance, she said in a statement.

“We are committed to ensuring our districts are ready, able and most of all supported, to have more autonomy over their clinical decisions and operational budgets.”

‘Not driven by … cost savings’

Health system commentator Ian Powell had long called for devolution but said that required the right capabilities.

“And we’ve lost that through short-sighted restructuring.”

He did not see signs in the assessment that the topdown command culture was being overhauled. “That’s the missing bit.

“Overwhelmingly on the management side of Te Whatau Ora, both regionally and nationally, there’s a high level of job insecurity, and that is a terrible environment to actually to have to work in, and it guarantees a destabilised organisation.”

Health system commentator Ian Powell had long called for devolution but said that required the right capabilities. Supplied

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora subsumed all 20 of the old district health boards – DHBs – almost four years ago. Its establishment cost tens of millions of dollars including large sums in consultant fees.

Brown in his letter of expectations to the board chair late last year said it was “clear to me that Health NZ is too centralised”.

“Too many decisions are made by people who are removed from the problems that frontline clinicians are trying to solve.

“While the final devolved structure may result in a smaller national office than in recent years,

this change is not driven by restructuring or cost savings.”

The driver instead was to embed local clinicians in budgeting and planning services, and set up straight lines of accountability everywhere, Brown said.

But the papers the committee looked at last month indicated that districts might struggle with budgeting.

“Staff churn and the absence of robust costing systems and processes has created knowledge gaps, making it difficult to form an accurate bottom-up budget based on cost of services delivered, paticulary in H&SS [Hospital and Specialist Services].”

It talked about reducing some of the risks by adopting a devolution “timeframe” that allowed regions and districts to get critical activities in place to take on more autonomy.

‘Trade-offs and risks’

It sounded other notes of caution, too.

“While there is a desire to accelerate the devolution process, HNZ recognises that there are trade-offs and risks involved,” said Deloitte’s assessment.

This could lead to “lack of control, poor decision-making, duplication of effort, inconsistent reporting and accountability gaps”.

The solution was good planning.

But this appeared a long way off.

“The desired end state has not yet been clearly defined, including the [transition] from a national to a regional structure,” it said.

The “scope, sequence and pace” of devolution all needed defining.

Dalton said while 2022’s centralisation had caused “chaos” by distancing clinicians from decisionmaking, devolution had to be resourced and the minister would be wise to taihoa.

“I mean, it really does smack of trying to come up with what looks like some quick wins in an election year, and that’s no way to run a health system.”

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One man, two brutal killings two decades apart: How the mental health system ‘failed everybody’

Source: Radio New Zealand

Leslie Parr killed his partner Fiona Maulolo in 1997, then his mother in 2024. Supplied

Leslie Parr was spiralling.

It had been 27 years since he’d killed his ex-partner Fiona Maulolo, stabbing her repeatedly with a chisel before beheading her.

Following his first killing he was made a special patient under the Mental Health Act after a jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

From about 2012 he was back in the community and in 2021 he had his status change to being a patient under the Mental Health Act.

But by early 2024 his mental health was rapidly declining, he was having troubles with his relationship and he was using cannabis. In May 2024 he was admitted to a mental health facility after an altercation with a relative. About a week later he was released back into the community.

Then, five days later he killed “the most important thing to him” – his mother Heather Condon. Once again, he would be found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

The case was shrouded in secrecy until RNZ revealed it last year.

On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed Parr’s application for leave to appeal a decision declining name suppression, allowing RNZ to reveal the full details of the killing.

RNZ has obtained court documents including statements from those who knew him best that lift the lid on Parr’s life, his mental health battles and his family’s anger with the mental health system.

“How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warning signs are right there for all to see?” his father wrote.

Fiona Maulolo was killed by her partner Leslie Parr in 1997. Supplied

‘Cold and sinister’

Leslie Raymond Parr was born in 1974. He was the youngest of four siblings, and a year after he was born the family moved to Whanganui.

Parr’s father Harold Parr would later tell police the children were “all good kids”.

“My boys and I would do lots of things together like hunting, fishing and I coached their school rugby team.”

Wanting the best for his sons, Harold Parr sent them to St Stephen’s secondary school in Auckland.

After finishing school, Leslie Parr returned home. His parents soon separated and Harold Parr moved to Taupō before going to live in Wellington.

Leslie’s troubles were first expressed in 1995 when he developed insomnia, with a decrease in appetite over several months.

He was admitted to a psychiatric unit under the Mental Health Act in August that year after attempting suicide. On admission he was overheard saying “Satan will kill us all. Here to save you”.

A psychiatrist found he was suffering from a disorder of the mind.

“I can only say, most emphatically, that Mr Parr should remain in a psychiatric hospital as an involuntary patient. He is really very ill and is at risk of suiciding. I fear the type of schizophrenia he has is one that is associated with impulsive and often successful suicide attempts, usually based on concealed delusional thinking.”

Parr was then made the subject of a Compulsory Treatment Order. After responding well to medication he was released.

Harold told police about “episodes” Leslie had while living with him.

“I knew he was suffering from something serious because he was so dark and cold when he had an episode.

“I noticed it mostly in his eyes, they were just cold and sinister looking.”

The house where Fiona Maulolo was found dead in 1997. Supplied

‘I had to kill her’

Leslie met Fiona Maulolo in 1996 and the pair soon moved into a property in the Hutt Valley.

Soon after meeting Maulolo, Leslie stopped taking his antipsychotic medication regularly and had an “episode” which led to him being admitted to Porirua Hospital.

Parr was described as a man who was “depressed and delusional”, thinking that his father was Satan. He was predicting the end of the world in the year 2000, and said he heard voices telling him to kill himself.

When his medication was reintroduced he began to deny psychotic symptoms.

On the day he was due to be discharged from hospital he seriously assaulted a police officer who was visiting the same ward.

Parr told a psychiatrist he didn’t believe he was to blame “because the constable had looked at him”.

Parr was then made a compulsory inpatient for six months under the Mental Health Act.

However, he was released nine days later, on 28 March 1996. He was not seen again by mental health services until 15 April 1997 after he was found semi-conscious in a carport at Maulolo’s property.

He was transported to Hutt Hospital by ambulance and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He later regained consciousness and underwent a psychiatric assessment before he was discharged into his father’s care.

Three days after he was admitted to hospital his father and another person went to collect some clothes for him from Maulolo’s home. On arrival they found Maulolo’s daughters and a relative who had not heard from Maulolo for a week.

They forced their way into the home and found Maulolo’s body in the bath. Police were then called.

Maulolo had been decapitated with her head found in a plastic bag in a clothes dryer. Forensic evidence revealed Parr had driven a chisel multiple times into her heart before decapitating her.

He went on trial for murder in 1998. At trial police said Parr and Maulolo’s relationship was “volatile” with neighbours describing constant verbal arguments and fights between them. There was a suggestion Maulolo was looking to end the relationship.

He told police he killed her because he believed she was Satan.

A jury found Parr not guilty by reason of insanity. A judge ordered he be detained in a special secure unit and not freed without the health minister’s authority.

A coroner later said Parr’s treatment had been seriously deficient.

There had been no ongoing assessment of Parr’s mental health state, or monitoring of his medication needs between when he was discharged and when the murder occurred.

Parr’s hospital file showed that a clinical review of his mental health had been carried out by his responsible clinician, Dr Linda Astor.

She claimed she had examined Parr and “consulted with other health professionals” involved in the treatment and care of him, and that she had taken their views into account when assessing the results of her review of his condition.

She said he was fit to be released from compulsory status, nine days into what was supposed to be six-months as a compulsory patient.

There was, however, no evidence Dr Astor ever saw Parr or consulted with other health professionals involved in his treatment and care.

Astor later fled the country and was unmasked as a bogus psychiatrist.

The Supreme Court dismissed Parr’s application for leave to appeal a decision declining name suppression, allowing RNZ to reveal the full details of the killing. RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

‘He was very loving and caring’

Parr was transferred to Te Awhina, an inpatient acute mental health service, to be closer to his family in 2000. He was put on a different medication and his mental health “improved a lot,” his father said.

In the coming years he started doing day visits accompanied by a nurse and even got a job.

Once he was released eventually released from Te Awhina he started going by the name Zac.

At first he lived with his mother, before finding his own place. Harold said Leslie looked after his mother and grandfather including doing their lawns.

In 2021 the special patient order was removed.

In 2023 Leslie met a woman Rachel (not her real name) via online dating, by September they were in a relationship.

The woman told RNZ Leslie, who told her his name was Zac, seemed “perfectly fine”.

“He was very loving and caring and treated me incredibly well.”

She would later tell police Leslie was “always helping his family”.

“Especially his mum and as far as I knew he was a good person, a kind person.”

Harold told police that Leslie spent several years working at a local freezing works but left after people found out about Maulolo’s death. He went on the benefit for a few years before getting a job at a milk factory cleaning trucks.

In March 2024, the work “dried up,” his father said and Leslie was laid off and went back on the benefit.

Harold said he visited his son days before his birthday in April to help as he was having a party.

“When I arrived, Leslie was there with a friend, and they were bouncing off the walls. It was obvious him and his friend had used drugs.”

The following day Harold told Leslie to get off the drugs or he would call the police.

The pair did not have much contact after the incident as they were “both annoyed at one another”.

It was not until May that Leslie told Rachel he killed his former girlfriend in 1997.

“I laughed and thought he was joking but he had a dead-pan face and I eventually realised he was not joking, and I screamed and told him to leave.”

After he left, she looked him up online and read about what happened to Maulolo.

“At the time I thought it had been years earlier and he wasn’t well at the time and the case had not been handled well, lots of mistakes involved.

“So, I believed it was a one-off thing due to all the circumstances and not likely to happen again.”

Leslie also sat down with her and said he was on the wrong medication at the time and claimed he begged them not to let him go because he knew he wasn’t well.

The admission

In May 2024, following an altercation with a relative he was admitted to a mental health facility.

Rachel said after the admission she became “very scared and very terrified”.

He was released after about a week on 30 May. Following his release, he became preoccupied with the loss of keys to his ute which he could not find.

Harold told police his son did not sleep for four nights, worried about his ute.

“He was so agitated about his keys and seemed really scared and stressed,” he said.

“I could tell how much it was affecting him and he just wouldn’t let it go.”

Leslie visited his father’s home on 3 June. He did not go inside, and just sat on the back doorstep.

“He started to remind me of how he behaved in Wellington when the other incident happened.

“Leslie had those dark eyes and wasn’t present. The biggest thing I notice when he’s like that is you can’t reason with him. He talks so fast and frantic that you don’t even have time to answer.”

Rachel’s concerns were also growing.

“I started to see a side to him I didn’t like.”

He started becoming delusional and irrational which appeared to coincide with his consumption of marijuana increasing a lot higher than she had noticed before.

“He said some weird things to me about his mum not being a human and that she was a Demi-God.”

When she heard he was going to be released from the mental health facility she worried “maybe he’s gonna come for me”.

“But I didn’t want to come tell the police because I thought I needed to try get out of it quietly, because I thought if I piss him off, you know you can get protection orders, you can get that but it’s just a piece of paper they can still kill you.”

A day after he was released Leslie messaged Rachel and said he did not love her anymore and wanted to break up.

The following morning, about 4.30am, Rachel woke up to tapping on her ranch slider. She got up and he was standing outside. He said he had been drinking with his friend all day and night and he had been sick and then drove to her place. He ended up staying the night.

Two days later she was mowing her front lawn when she saw him sitting in his car on the road watching her. Rachel asked him what he was doing, and he replied: “Oh, I love you and I want to be with you.”

She told him he was stalking her and was being “creepy”. He took off, but she then saw him again about an hour later across the road. She told him to go away, and she would see him later on.

The next night he visited her home after repeatedly asking to come over. The couple were arguing back and forth in her bedroom.

Rachel said she told him she did not think the relationship was working and he needed to leave.

He refused to leave and asked her what she was going to do about it. She threatened to call the police and then he left.

A second killing

The following morning, the day of the second killing, Parr called Rachel to say he needed someone to pick him up as he had driven out of town and his car broke down in Bulls. Rachel said she was reluctant to help him but eventually relented.

However, when she got there he was not there. Rachel then called Heather and said she could not find him.

Heather said she wondered if he was testing her.

“I said to her, ‘Yeah, he’s been acting very, very strange’ and she started to get upset and said, ‘Yes, I’m very worried about him and he’s been saying that he can’t trust anybody, that he can’t trust me, he can’t trust his dad and he only trusts you and that he only feels safe with you’.”

Shortly after Leslie called Rachel and said his phone had gone flat and he got a lift with someone else.

Leslie had also been calling his father earlier in the day. Leslie’s sister called Harold shortly before 1pm saying she was concerned about her brother and wanted him to go and stay with her to relax about his ute.

“I told her it was better for him to be in Whanganui near the pysch unit and where there are more cops in case something happened”.

Harold then drove around to Leslie’s home. He was not there, but just as he was leaving Heather arrived.

The pair talked about how their son was behaving, including his worries about his keys and his drug use.

About 20 minutes later he got a call from Heather once she was home to say Leslie was at her home when she got there.

“Heather said they had an argument because he was angry at her for calling [Rachel] and getting her involved.

“She said Leslie told her he needed the car, so she threw him the keys and he took off.”

Harold tried calling Leslie to see where he was but he did not answer.

About 1.45pm Leslie called Harold and they talked about hiring a trailer to pick up his ute.

Harold then picked Leslie up from Heather’s home and headed towards the hire centre.

“When we got there Leslie changed his mind about picking up his car.

“We had a heated discussion about picking up his car and mucking around, but he still didn’t want to go get it, so I dropped him back at his mother’s.”

Harold then went to the supermarket. While there he called Leslie’s sister and spoke about Leslie. She said Leslie had been talking about everyone being out to get him.

“[She] said she could hear in his voice that he didn’t seem well but insisted she could help.

“I told [her] we should call Police and try get him back to the hospital.”

He then called Leslie’s nurse to get and get his doctor’s number.

He claimed the nurse told him Leslie went to get this “shot” around 1pm and was “very cagey”.

“I asked [the nurse] if she drug tested Leslie, but she didn’t because she thought he might think she was picking on him and make him angry.”

The nurse said she would call Leslie’s doctor and tell him how he was behaving and express the family’s concerns.

At 4.53pm Harold received a call from Leslie asking for help. He said he was at his mother’s home and the mob was after him.

“He was puffing and was out of breath like he had been fighting or running.”

At 5.35pm Leslie phoned again and said the same thing about needing help, but he was now at his home.

Court documents reveal that between 4.50pm and 5.39pm there was an incident between Leslie and his mother at her home.

Armed with a knife, Leslie fatally stabbed his mother before leaving the address and arriving at an associate’s home about 6.20pm.

He walked into the address and sat on the doorstep asking his associate “cuz do you know where to get a gun?”

Leslie said he needed the gun because the Mongrel Mob was after him.

He then called his sister and a plan was made to go to Raetihi.

Leslie got into his associate’s car and while they were travelling he said “cuz I’ve killed mum”.

Asked why, Leslie said “Mum’s possessed, Mum’s possessed. I had to do it.”

The associate got out of the car and walked away. Leslie then drove off. The associate eventually drove to the Whanganui Police Station and told them what Leslie had said.

About 5.30pm, Leslie arrived at Rachel’s home. He made himself a chicken sandwich and about 7pm they went to bed.

Meanwhile, Leslie’s family were becoming concerned as they were unable to get hold of him or Heather.

They thought she may have gone to mass, but it was “out of character” for her not to have her phone. Harold drove to her home but there were no cars outside.

He then went and checked the laundry and shops, but could not find her.

At 8.25pm police found Heather dead in the garden beside the porch.

Harold told police that as soon as he was told about Heather’s death he became concerned for Rachel and her daughter.

“I didn’t know any details of what happened to Heather, but I immediately thought Leslie was the only one capable of doing that and given how he had been behaving it was likely.”

About 1am Rachel woke to get some water when she saw lights coming from outside.

“I woke him up and said ‘there’s all these lights and things’ and he just got up and shot out, and then suddenly there’s armed offenders squad and dogs and guns being pointed and stuff like that.”

Rachel went and spoke with the police and asked what was going on.

Leslie was told he was under arrest for murder and he replied:

“Yes, I know.”

The following day, Rachel was told what had happened.

“I was in disbelief, I was sickened and distraught.”

Heather was “the most important thing to him,” she said.

“This is where it is so hard to believe what he’s done to her because he would talk to her every day, if not multiple times a day.

Harold told police Leslie “loved his mother” and did anything for her.

“When he’s well he’s such a caring person.

“Leslie wasn’t well though and he is capable of anything when his mental state is unstable.”

Mental health system ‘failed everybody’

In April last year in the High Court at Whanganui Justice Karen Grau said there was no question Parr was responsible for his mother’s death, but that he was “legally insane” at the time he caused her death.

“I am satisfied, based on the reports of the experts, that it is clear Mr Parr suffered from a disease of the mind, a relapse in his longstanding schizophrenia, at the time he killed his mother.

“It is not the case that he did not understand the nature of his actions, but as the experts have concluded, and with which I agree, he was incapable of understanding his acts were morally wrong, and they were driven by his delusional beliefs.”

He was ordered to be detained as a special patient under the Mental Health Act.

Justice Grau said the case occurred “against a backdrop of apparent significant failures in the mental health system”.

Harold Parr wrote to Justice Grau as part of proceedings, requesting name suppression for both his son and Heather.

He said he had attended “countless appointments” and meetings relating to his son’s mental health over the years.

“I have met his doctors and psychiatrists and have a good understanding of the mental health system, what services are provided and some of its failings.”

He referenced Maulolo’s killing, saying the details of which were “too horrific to repeat”.

He wrote his son’s release by Dr Astor was “unlawful and improper” and said Leslie “should never have been let out”.

“If the proper procedures were followed Fiona would not have been killed in 1997.”

He also referenced the allegations that on the day Leslie killed for a second time he was supposed to be drug tested but wasn’t because he was “acting cagey” and the staffer didn’t want him to feel he was being “picked on”.

“This is a so-called health professional who observed unusual behaviour from a person with severe mental health issues and they didn’t do anything about it. She didn’t test him and basically allowed him to leave. A few hours later Heather was dead.”

Harold wrote the build-up to Heather’s death was “predictable”, adding his son was “on a downward spiral”.

“The health system is not aggressive enough to make decisions. They pussy foot around because they don’t want to hurt people’s feelings or upset them. But the consequence of them being indecisive is the reason that we find ourselves in this predicament now. Heather is dead and it could and should have been prevented,” he said.

“There are more questions than answers. The health system had Leslie in their custody and released him. A health professional saw Leslie on the day he killed Heather, described him as being cagey, did not do the blood test and let him go without anything. How? Who is accountable? How can someone who has previously killed another person be able to remain free when the warnings signs are right there for all to see?”

Speaking to RNZ, Rachel earlier said Leslie should not have been released from the mental health facility five days before the killing.

“I don’t know how they couldn’t have noticed how he was unwell unless he put on a really good show.”

She believed there had been a “massive failure” in the mental health system.

“It failed him, it failed everybody twice.”

Rachel often wondered whether Leslie may have killed her as well. She was in therapy and said she was “a mess”.

“I feel sad. I feel sad for the victims, I feel sad for him. I feel it’s just sad all around really. He was unwell, and he just wasn’t given the care that he should have been given.”

Reviews under way

Health New Zealand (HNZ) national director of mental health & addictions enhancement, Phil Grady, said on Monday the case was an incredibly tragic event.

“Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and communities affected. On behalf of Health New Zealand, I extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone impacted,” Grady said.

“It is completely understandable that people feel let down and are seeking answers. We acknowledge those concerns and want to approach them with openness and respect, while recognising the deep impact this has had on both victim’s loved ones, the wider community, and the staff involved in Mr Parr’s care.”

Grady said HNZ also recognised that questions had been raised about aspects of Parr’s care and the decisions made at the time.

“These were complex clinical decisions based on the information available, and the external review has carefully examined those concerns.

“Where the review has identified areas that could be clearer or stronger, such as expectations around drug screening, information sharing, and clinical oversight, we are acting on those findings to improve consistency and strengthen practice across the service.”

Health NZ reviewed every serious adverse event that occurs within its services, and were committed to learning from them, he said.

“An external review of the care Mr Parr received leading up to this event is currently being finalised, led by senior Health NZ staff from outside the Central Region to ensure independence.

“We are committed to implementing any recommended changes so that we continue to strengthen the quality and safety of the care we provide.

“Events of this nature are incredibly tragic, but when they occur, we take them extremely seriously. The learning from this event is already informing improvements across the service, including strengthening clinical leadership, improving information sharing, clarifying clinical protocols such as drug screening, and enhancing whānau engagement and staff training.”

Mental health care in the community was complex, and risk could never be removed entirely, he said

“Especially in the case of serious mental illness, but these improvements are designed to strengthen safeguards and provide reassurance to the people we care for, their whānau, and the wider community.”

The Ministry of Health also extended its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and communities affected.

Following Parr’s second killing, Health New Zealand commissioned an external review into the care provided to the individual.

“Health New Zealand has already made changes since the incident, and I support their work,” Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw said.

He said the external review was being led by an external expert panel and is near completion.

“Once the external review is available, I will carefully consider whether any further actions are required.”

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said in a statement his thoughts were with the families impacted.

“I have made it very clear to HNZ that patient and public safety must always be paramount, clearly situations like this are not good enough. New Zealanders deserve to have trust that when people are in the care of mental health services, the appropriate care is being taken to ensure patient and public safety is at the forefront of all decisions,” he said.

“As minister, my focus is on ensuring agencies put in place all necessary changes to prevent tragedies like this from occurring again. I have made it very clear to Health New Zealand that they must move quickly to implement the findings of the reviews and make all necessary changes to prevent this from happening again.”

Doocey was awaiting the Director of Mental Health’s decision on whether he was satisfied with the review and whether any further action needs to be taken.

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money said the case was “heartbreaking and preventable”.

When RNZ first revealed the case she called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities.

On Monday she said she stood by those calls.

“Given that unbelievably this is not the only recent case where someone in forensic mental health ‘care’ has gone on to kill twice.

“An inquiry that has mandated recommendations is the only way the system will improve, as opposed to Health NZ continuing to mark their own homework every time a tragedy such as this occurs. These victims and the community deserve infinitely better.”

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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/2026/03/17/one-man-two-brutal-killings-two-decades-apart-how-the-mental-health-system-failed-everybody/

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HKUST Launches 35th Anniversary Celebrations Showcasing a Legacy of Miracles and a Vision for the Future

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today officially launched its 35th Anniversary celebrations with a vibrant ceremony, bringing together distinguished government officials, industry leaders, and members of the university community to reflect on an extraordinary journey of excellence.

The Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government Mr. CHAN Kwok-ki (middle), Deputy Director of LOCPG Mr. LUO Yonggang (third right), Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government Dr. Christine CHOI Yuk-lin (third left) and members of the HKUST leadership team, including Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak (first right), Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM (second right), Court Chairman Dr. the Honorable Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing (first left), and President Prof. Nancy IP (second left) inaugurate a series of commemorative initiatives for the HKUST 35th anniversary.

Themed “Where Miracles Happen,” the milestone event honors the pioneering spirit that has propelled generations of HKUST members to achieve remarkable feats. Officiating at the ceremony were Mr. CHAN Kwok-Ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Mr. LUO Yonggang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (LOCPG); and Dr. CHOI Yuk-Lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government. They were joined by HKUST Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak, Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM, Court Chairman Dr. the Honorable Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing, and President Prof. Nancy IP to inaugurate a year of commemorative activities.

A Journey Forged with Vision and Purpose

In her welcome address, President Ip, who joined HKUST in 1993, offered a personal reflection on the University’s remarkable ascent. She witnessed its evolution into a world-class institution; a success built on academic excellence and a vibrant innovation ecosystem created from the ground up. She credited this profound transformation to the extraordinary foresight of the University’s Founding President, Prof. Chia-Wei Woo.

“From its very inception, HKUST was built on a bold and unprecedented vision: to become Hong Kong’s first research-intensive university,” President Ip shared. “Long before the Greater Bay Area concept existed, our founders, led by Prof. Woo, understood that Hong Kong’s future was inextricably linked with the region. This visionary courage saw them forge vital connections with the Chinese Mainland, laying the groundwork for what would become HKUST (Guangzhou) in 2022. Their courage, dedication, and tenacity built the unshakeable foundation on which we stand today.”

President Ip emphasized that the University’s success is measured not by rankings alone, but by its tangible impact on society. This founding DNA—to anticipate and meet societal needs with excellence—is now driving HKUST’s most ambitious chapter yet: the establishment of a new School of Medicine. “This is a transformative milestone, fulfilling a dream pursued for over three decades,” she stated. “We are deeply grateful to the HKSAR Government for its trust and partnership. Together, we will build a technologically advanced, humanistic medical school that ushers in a new era for healthcare in Hong Kong. Let us honor those who walked before us by carrying their courageous legacy into a new era of excellence.”

A Cornerstone of Hong Kong’s Global Leadership

Mr. Chan Kwok-Ki commended HKUST’s profound impact on Hong Kong’s development. “Over the past 35 years, HKUST has evolved from a bold new institution into a globally respected university, driven by visionary leadership, dedicated faculty, a continuing flow of talented students, and an enduring spirit of innovation. Its strong international rankings, vibrant start-up ecosystem, and diverse global student body demonstrate how research and education can deliver tangible societal impact,” he stated. “As Hong Kong advances its role as an international education hub, HKUST stands as a shining example of how universities can nurture global talent while supporting national development priorities. With strengths spanning artificial intelligence, science, and its planned School of Medicine, HKUST is exceptionally well-positioned to shape the future of innovation and talent development.”

Carrying a Pioneering Spirit into the Next Chapter

Prof. Harry Shum reflected on the University’s unique position. “Thirty-five years is a fascinating milestone. In human terms, it is the age of maturity, the point where youthful energy meets seasoned wisdom. And I see the same spirit alive in this institution. We still possess the curiosity and drive of our early years. But now we have the strength, the reputation, and the alumni network that only decades can build. The world is changing faster than ever before. If we are to serve the next generation as well as we have served the past, we must lead, we must innovate, and we must redefine what education can be. In this regard, HKUST is ready to open a new chapter.

“The HKSAR Government has appointed HKUST with the trust to build the third medical school in Hong Kong. We envision the University’s medical school that will bridge traditional medical curriculum with the latest technology and AI breakthroughs, will gradually revolutionize the entire medical spectrum—from diagnosis to treatment to recovery, prevention and personalized medicine. I am confident that this future-oriented medical school, which will admit its first cohort in 2028, will play an important role in educating and training a new generation of scientists and clinicians in the next 35 years and beyond.”

A Celebration of Innovation and Heritage

Reflecting the theme “Where Miracles Happen,” the ceremony showcased HKUST’s leadership in technology in a truly spectacular fashion. In a breathtaking fusion of tradition and innovation, the university’s Guangzhou campus team presented a robotic lion dance. This remarkable creation brought the classic folk art to life through advanced robotics, embodying the spirit of cultural heritage reimagined through cutting-edge engineering.

For the grand officiating ceremony, HKUST turned into an unexpected source of inspiration: humanity’s best friends. But there were no ordinary dogs. A team of robotic dogs—developed by Direct Drive Technology (an HKUST-nurtured startup), the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute—took center stage. Engineered to navigate complex, uneven terrain and perform dangerous industrial inspections, these four-legged helpers were given a far more meaningful mission for the day: carrying the ceremonial “Miracle Balls” to the officiating guests. As robotic dogs trotted majestically onto stage bearing their precious cargo, they symbolized the University’s commitment to channeling cutting-edge research into real-world applications—and its penchant for making miracles happen.

The ceremony reached its pinnacle with a dramatic display of innovation. In a symbolic gesture of bridging past and future, a drone—generously donated by distinguished alumnus Mr. WANG Tao, Founder of DJI—soared into the venue carrying the commemorative “35th Symbol Key.” As the drone gracefully descended to deliver the key to the officiating party on stage, it signaled the formal inauguration of the anniversary celebrations.

HKUST expressed its deep gratitude to Mr. Wang for his generous donation of two of the latest drone solutions to the university. These state-of-the-art drones will serve as an inspiration for faculty and students to explore and address new challenges in the rapidly evolving low-altitude economy.

The campus itself has been transformed with a “Circle of Time” visual theme, inspired by the iconic Sundial sculpture—a symbol of the University’s enduring legacy and its continuous measurement of progress in education, research, and knowledge transfer.

A Legacy of Excellence and National Trust

Since its founding in 1991, HKUST has risen to rank among the world’s top 50 universities. This commitment to excellence is underscored by the deep trust the nation has placed in the University. Following the reorganization of two existing State Key Laboratories, HKUST has secured approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish a new one, further strengthening its role in advancing cutting-edge research critical to national development.

In a major national space endeavor, HKUST is developing a multi-functional robot for the historic Chang’E-8 lunar mission, designed to operate on the lunar surface and contribute to China’s advancing space exploration capabilities. The University is also leading the development of a high-precision, point-source greenhouse gas detection instrument. This groundbreaking project is set to make history as it will become HKSAR’s first payload to China’s Tiangong Space Station aboard the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft for research and application.

Celebratory Events

A full year of celebratory activities is planned, including co-hosting Asia Universities Summit with Times Higher Education, an AI Film Festival, and joint celebrations with HKUST (Guangzhou).

Global Thought Leadership

Following the symposium held earlier this year, where multiple Nobel laureates and world-leading scholars were invited to engage with HKUST faculty, students and alumni, the University will co-host the THE Asia Universities Summit 2026 with Times Higher Education (THE) this April. The event will draw university presidents and industry leaders from around the world to Hong Kong to explore Asia’s leadership role in driving global change. HKUST will also host the China Association of Higher Education’s flagship “World University Presidents Forum” for the first time in Hong Kong.

AI and Innovation Thematic Events

HKUST will organize a series of events focused on AI, technology governance and creative culture—including an AI Film Festival—to highlight the University’s leadership and societal impact in AI.

Building the HKUST Community

The University will host joint celebrations across its Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses, including a year-long blood donation drive, a marathon, a “Mixed Reality x AI” art exhibition, and more, to foster closer interaction between faculty and students from the two campuses. HKUST will also organize a grand anniversary gala dinner to celebrate with faculty, students, alumni and community leaders, alongside a digital commemorative booklet that recounts the University’s 35 years of outstanding achievements with society.

Hashtag: #HKUST

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/2026/03/17/hkust-launches-35th-anniversary-celebrations-showcasing-a-legacy-of-miracles-and-a-vision-for-the-future/

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DITP Positions Thailand as Asia’s Content Hub at Thai Night Hong Kong 2026, Highlighting Four Strategic Pillars and the Global Rise of Y and GL Series

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, continues to promote Thailand’s content and entertainment industry in international markets. This initiative is carried out through business networking activities at “Thai Night Hong Kong 2026”, alongside Thailand’s participation in the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) 2026, one of Asia’s most prominent marketplaces for film and television content.

FILMART 2026 will take place from 17–20 March 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The event provides an opportunity for Thai content companies to connect with international buyers, investors, and industry partners while showcasing the strengths of Thailand’s entertainment industry on the global stage.

Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), stated that the department places strong emphasis on supporting Thailand’s content and entertainment industry in international markets. DITP aims to help Thai entrepreneurs expand business opportunities and strengthen partnerships with global industry players, while enhancing the competitiveness of Thai companies in the global marketplace.

“Thailand’s participation in FILMART and the organization of Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 provide an important platform to present the capabilities of Thai content companies and to foster new partnerships with international producers, distributors, and investors. These activities will help expand business opportunities and further promote Thai content in global markets,” she said.

At FILMART 2026, Thailand will showcase the strengths of its entertainment industry through four strategic pillars: Talents, Locations, Production, and Post-production. These pillars highlight Thailand’s skilled creative professionals, diverse filming locations, internationally recognized production standards, and advanced post-production capabilities, including visual effects and animation, supported by government measures that help facilitate international investment.

At the same time, DITP continues to capitalize on the growing global popularity of Y and GL series, one of the fastest-growing segments of Thailand’s entertainment industry, with valued at more than THB 4.9 billion in 2025. These genres have gained strong international fan bases and present significant opportunities for Thai content to reach global audiences.

Thailand is also encouraging the development of new content formats such as short-form dramas, which are increasingly popular on digital platforms and streaming services. These formats allow Thai creators to expand their presence across global distribution channels and reach wider international audiences.

With the remarkable growth and international recognition of Thailand’s entertainment industry in recent years—driven by talented filmmakers, diverse filming locations, and high production standards—Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 aims to move beyond showcasing industry capabilities toward fostering concrete international business collaboration.

A key highlight of the event will be the creation of a strategic platform for partnership discussions between Thai entrepreneurs and international industry partners. The event is expected to welcome more than 500 global investors, producers, directors, and media representatives, providing opportunities to expand business partnerships and further strengthen Thailand’s presence in the global entertainment industry.

For more information and updates about Thai Night Hong Kong 2026 and Thailand’s participation in FILMART 2026, please visit:
www.ditp.go.th
www.facebook.com/thailandfilms

Hashtag: #DITP

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/2026/03/17/ditp-positions-thailand-as-asias-content-hub-at-thai-night-hong-kong-2026-highlighting-four-strategic-pillars-and-the-global-rise-of-y-and-gl-series/

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

Source: Media Outreach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hashtag: #WorldWLANApplicationAlliance

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/2026-global-wlan-industry-forum-convened-in-barcelona-fostering-a-new-ai-wlan-industry-ecosystem/

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Apartment block evacuated after fire in central Wellington

Source: Radio New Zealand

Supplied

An apartment block in central Wellington has been evacuated after a fire on Monday evening.

Two people were in the apartment at the time of the fire.

Police say one person was seriously hurt and taken to hospital.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) was alerted to a small third-floor apartment fire at 5.45pm.

Five fire trucks, two aerial appliances, a command unit and a breathing apparatus tender responded.

Response crews came from Wellington, Thorndon, Brooklyn, Kilbirnie and Karori fire stations, FENZ said.

The apartment block was evacuated and the fire quickly extinguished.

Fire investigators were on the scene, as well as police and ambulance.

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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/apartment-block-evacuated-after-fire-in-central-wellington/

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#AyamBersamaMu: Berbuka Puasa Bersama Ayam Brand™ 2026

Source: Media Outreach

The initiative brings together children and caretakers of Rumah Penyayang Darul Ilmi Gombak in a meaningful iftar gathering.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – In the spirit of Ramadan, Ayam Brand hosted #AyamBersamaMu: Berbuka Puasa Bersama Ayam Brand 2026, a simple yet meaningful berbuka puasa session with the children and caretakers of Rumah Penyayang Darul Ilmi Gombak.

Organised with support from NGO Dignity for Children Foundation under the #AyamBersamaMu initiative, the gathering brought together approximately 55 children and 12 caretakers for an evening centred on sharing a meal, strengthening bonds, and embracing the values of compassion and generosity that define the holy month.

As the call to prayer marked the time to break fast, everyone came together over a specially prepared meal enjoyed side by side, a reminder that the month is not only about nourishment, but also about community and gratitude. The evening was kept intentionally simple yet heartfelt, focusing on the joy of eating together and creating a warm, welcoming space for the children.

Supporting underserved communities has always been close to Ayam Brand ’s heart. Through #AyamBersamaMu, the brand continues its commitment to making nutritious food more accessible, working alongside community partners to contribute where it can and support those in need.

In anticipation of Hari Raya, the children also received Raya packets, adding a festive touch to the occasion. Ayam Brand also contributed food products to support the orphanage’s ongoing needs.

“At Ayam Brand , we believe Ramadan is a time to pause and reflect on how we can give back in meaningful ways. Sharing iftar together is a small gesture, but we hope it brings warmth and a sense of belonging to the children,” said Teoh Wei Ling, Marketing Director at Ayam Brand .

While Ayam Brand ’s Ramadan and Raya campaign, “Makan Ceria, Kongsi Bersama”, celebrates the joy of sharing meals with loved ones, this CSR initiative extends that spirit into the wider community, ensuring the warmth of iftar is experienced by children in care.

Through #AyamBersamaMu, Ayam Brand continues to support underserved communities by combining compassion, nourishment, and meaningful partnerships to uplift underserved communities nationwide.

http://www.ayambrand.com.my/
https://www.facebook.com/ayambrandmalaysia
https://www.instagram.com/ayambrandmy
https://www.tiktok.com/@ayambrandmyofficial

Hashtag: #AyamBrand #AyamBersamaMu

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/ayambersamamu-berbuka-puasa-bersama-ayam-brand-2026/

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Parents left stranded as Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities closes

Source: Radio New Zealand

Melanna House has been closed since September. Supplied

Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities has closed, leaving parents who booked their children in for school holiday programmes and overnight stays in the lurch.

Spectrum Care said the service at Melanna House was running at a loss and they made the difficult decision to close it last September.

So far no other provider has filled the gap.

Sixteen-year-old Gen has very high, complex needs and requires round-the-clock care. She has been a regular at Melanna House’s school holiday programme for children with disabilities.

Her mum Christabel Tomlinson said its closure six months ago has had a big impact on the family.

“It made me really consider my ability to continue a full time job. I decided that it wasn’t the best move to continue employment and look after my daughter, in fact that would have been impossible.”

She finished her job at the end of last year to take on the full time care of her daughter because finding carers on the island isn’t easy.

By the end of the summer school holidays, Tomlinson had burned out.

“I realised just how burnt out I was looking after her, it’s relentless and you just feel exhausted and tired and I’ve used more than a month to get back to full health and full energy.”

Andrew Sexton’s son James also needs round-the-clock care. He has complex needs.

He said James has been a regularly at Melanna House for almost a decade and the out-of-home care provided them a much-needed break.

“It’s huge it just gives you some space that you desperately need to rest your mind. James he’s a clapper so he claps all the time and he’s got a very loud clap. Just some quiet time makes you feel a lot better.”

Melanna House has provided parents respite since the early 1990s, under various providers.

“It’s quite an essential service to have one house on the island that should be utilised for the community.”

The house is owned by Kainga Ora and its director of supported homes Lucy Ashby said it was one of 1455 homes it leased nationally to housing and support services providers.

She said the Waiheke house was leased at market rent to the service provider, who must also hold an eligible government funding contract to deliver residential care.

“We are continuing discussions with potential providers to assess whether they can take over this service as these homes can only be leased to providers who hold an eligible government funding contract to deliver residential care,” Ashby said.

“If we are unable to identify an eligible provider, we will need to consider next steps, including the potential sale of the property. No decisions have been made at this stage, and we are working through the options.”

She said Kainga Ora remained committed to keeping families updated as this process continued.

Melanna House was Waiheke Island’s only respite care house for kids with disabilities. Supplied

Spectrum Care general manager of communications Justin Walsh said after six years running Melanna House, it was a difficult decision to close, but the high costs of operating and the small number of people accessing the support means they’re running at a loss.

He said four families were regularly using the respite house and it operated for four days a week – its only funding were the payments it would get from families booking in their children, via their individualised funding.

“We made sustained efforts to ensure these services could be delivered in a way that was both high-quality and financially sustainable,” Walsh said.

“Despite these efforts, the combination of a very small number of people accessing support and the high costs associated with delivering safe, quality services on the island meant we were unable to achieve a sustainable model.”

Walsh said Spectrum Care worked closely with Disability Support Services, Kainga Ora, Kaikaranga, local partners, and affected people and whānau; reviewing service models and staffing arrangements; and exploring a range of funding and delivery options.

“Following an extensive review and careful consideration, Spectrum Care made the difficult decision to cease respite support services on Waiheke Island,” he said.

“This decision was not made lightly. We recognise the impact it has on people and whānau, and endeavoured to manage the transition with care, respect and ongoing engagement with those affected.”

Ministry of Social Development general manager of commissioning and funding Catherine Poutasi said Disability Support Services (DSS) contracted Spectrum Care to deliver respite services on Waiheke Island for disabled people.

She said DSS were advised in July last year that Spectrum would close Melanna House at the end of September.

“We understand that Spectrum Care offered service options in Auckland for those impacted by the closure on Waiheke,” she said.

Carers NZ chief executive Laurie Hilsgen said more needs to be done to keep the service going for the island community.

“I think that’s a tragic, unacceptable loss. Not that a service might close because that is a reality, sometimes services do come and go but you have to replace it with something or there has to be another plan.”

She said families caring for disabled children need to have respite care options.

“Those parents, those families, they’re not robots. At the end of the day we all go home from our jobs and we rest. For these people that will be placing extra pressure because they are unable to get a wellbeing break.”

A local trust that provides residential rehabilitation, Waiheke Island Supported Homes Trust, is looking at whether it could run the service.

General manager Andrew Walters said they would need to be assured the right funding is available.

Tomlinson said Melanna House is crucial for Waiheke – and everything should be done to keep it going, including lowering the rent on the state house.

“To keep those services going on the island I think is super important because we will always be an island and cut off from mainland services and we will always have disabled and special needs people in amongst our community here on Waiheke.”

She said they would also like to hear from any philanthropists interested in helping to keep the service going on the island.

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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/parents-left-stranded-as-waiheke-islands-only-respite-care-house-for-kids-with-disabilities-closes/

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Government’s failure to provide any relief for fuel crisis

Source: Green Party

Finance Minister Nicola Willis today announced no new support for families hit by the fuel crisis.

“Nicola Willis pulled together a press conference to announce that there is no new support on the way for families, despite it costing $23 more than normal to fill an average petrol car and $36 more to fill a diesel vehicle,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“Governments across the world are taking steps to support their citizens while our government has no answers on providing relief to everyday New Zealanders.

“They instead ask you to tighten your belts even more.

“People are facing huge price increases, and the Finance Minister has said ‘I have not taken recommendations to Cabinet and I have not considered specific responses.’

“Many people are already struggling with the daily cost of living. Instead of coming with a plan to alleviate hardship, the Finance Minister has nothing on the table to give the support that is needed.

“New Zealanders are looking for a plan. They want to understand what will happen and when as the fuel crisis intensifies. Willis has nothing to give them. 

“This crisis has also exposed a deeper failure in the Government’s long-term planning.

“They cancelled the Clean Car Discount, weakened the Clean Car Standard, hiked public transport fares and are locking in further exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices with their LNG terminal.”

“We need real actions that help regular people hurting from these price increases, and a serious plan to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels so the next crisis does not hit families just as hard,” says Davidson.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/governments-failure-to-provide-any-relief-for-fuel-crisis/

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New ABB report shows energy efficiency investments rising in Malaysia – execution now defines industrial advantage

Source: Media Outreach

  • 63 percent of industrial leaders in Malaysia have already invested in energy efficiency and a further 33 percent plan to within 12 months – yet results remain fragmented and uneven
  • Energy consumes 25 percent of operating costs in Malaysia, and 61 percent say rising costs threaten profitability – but barriers have shifted since 2022, from cost to data, skills and organizational silos
  • Digital readiness in Malaysia reaches 84 percent, and 85 percent agree total cost of ownership should guide investment in energy efficiency – however, only 42 percent consistently apply this approach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – Energy efficiency has become a board‑level margin and risk issue, but many industrial organizations in Malaysia are struggling to turn intent into sustained results, according to a new report from ABB.

Based on a survey of 2,700 senior decision‑makers across 15 countries and 15 industries, the study, developed in partnership with Sapio Research, finds that 63 percent of respondents in Malaysia have already invested in energy efficiency and a further 33 percent plan to within the next 12 months. Yet, progress is increasingly constrained by execution gaps.

Energy accounts for 25 percent of operating costs on average in Malaysia, and 61 percent of companies say rising energy costs continue to threaten profitability. For executives, the challenge has shifted from reacting to price spikes to managing persistent price volatility and structural exposure.

Compared to the global average, Malaysia shows an average energy cost burden (25% vs 25% globally), above-average profitability threat perception (61% vs 59% globally), and the highest level globally of digital readiness (84% vs 67% globally).

“Energy efficiency has become a foundation for business continuity, compliance, and long-term value creation. It’s a condition for market access,” explains S Kanavati, Vice President, Motion Services, ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd. “Today, leaders care about optimizing energy use. What they struggle with is deployment, at scale, and over time.”

Execution, not intent, is now the differentiator

The study shows that digital readiness in Malaysia has reached 84 percent, with respondents already using or ready to deploy digital energy‑management tools. However, readiness alone does not guarantee results. Only 42 percent of Malaysia companies consistently apply total cost of ownership (TCO) when making investment decisions – despite 85 percent agreeing it should guide purchasing.

At the same time, responsibility for energy efficiency remains fragmented across executive management, operations, sustainability, maintenance and finance, with no single function clearly accountable.

“The barriers to energy efficiency have fundamentally changed,” adds Pearl Ong, Regional Service Manager, Asia, Motion Services, ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd. ” Cost is no longer the main blocker for many organizations globally – it has fallen from 50 percent to 43 percent since 2022. What’s holding companies back now are organizational silos, skills gaps and a lack of usable data. That’s a critical inflection point. It tells us the challenge is helping businesses turn intent into repeatable execution.”

In Malaysia, the most significant barriers to energy efficiency are the costs (54%), the potential for downtime and disruption (44%), and a lack of specialist resource (36%).

Renewables alone are not enough

The research also points to a growing risk of ‘post‑renewables complacency’. Among organizations in Malaysia that have switched to renewable energy sources (43% of respondents), 37 percent report a reduced focus on energy efficiency.

While renewables lower the carbon intensity of energy, they do not reduce the volume consumed – meaning significant efficiency gains remain untapped, even for companies that have already secured green power. As a result, opportunities to strengthen resilience, control long‑term costs and reduce exposure to volatility are being left on the table.

When asked about their primary reasons for investing in energy efficiency, respondents in Malaysia said reducing energy costs (63%), complying with regulations (53%), and improving their resilience and competitiveness (49%).

The next phase of the industrial energy transition will be defined by delivery capability. While activity levels are high across businesses in Malaysia and globally, efforts remain shallow, lacking coordination and long‑term structure.

“To close the execution gap, ABB combines diagnostics with targeted modernization of motor‑driven systems, software‑based optimization tools, outcome‑based financing and lifecycle services,” concludes Pearl Ong. “End-to-end energy intelligence is another way we help industries outrun, leaner and cleaner – turning isolated initiatives into sustained performance gains.”

For the full report, visit this page.

Hashtag: #ABB

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/new-abb-report-shows-energy-efficiency-investments-rising-in-malaysia-execution-now-defines-industrial-advantage/

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Youths abscond from Oranga Tamariki care facility in Lower Hutt

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ

Oranga Tamariki is investigating after two youths absconded from a Lower Hutt care facility.

Residential services care and protection manager Karen Gillies said police were called when the pair fled the Epuni Care and Protection Facility on Sunday night.

They were found and returned in the early hours of Monday morning, she said.

“We are looking into the incident to determine how it occurred and consider any lessons we can take forward.”

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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/youths-abscond-from-oranga-tamariki-care-facility-in-lower-hutt/

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True Chiropractic Aligns Care With Changing Health Needs

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – True Chiropractic has announced the expansion of its care model to include a series of specialised chiropractic programmes, designed to address the evolving musculoskeletal health needs of patients in Singapore.

Chiropractor guiding a patient through assessment, movement therapy and chiropractic care at True Chiropractic’s clinic.

The expanded framework introduces dedicated chiropractic care pathways tailored for specific patient groups. It includes scoliosis care through the SPINEHEALTH Centre of Care, Sports Chiropractic & Performance Care, Pregnancy Chiropractic Care, and Geriatric Chiropractic Care.

Responding to Changing Health Behaviours and Care Expectations

In Singapore, there is a broader shift in how people manage their physical health. Longer desk hours, increased participation in fitness and recreational sports, an ageing population and higher overall stress levels have changed how people experience and manage physical strain.

Traditional chiropractic care has often focused on spinal alignment and pain. However, many individuals seek care not only for pain relief, but also for guidance on posture, movement habits, recovery strategies, and long-term physical resilience. Fragmented care or short-term symptom relief alone often leads to recurring issues.

“We observed a growing shift in patient conversations,” said DC Justin, Clinical Director at True Chiropractic. “People want to understand how to maintain progress, prevent recurrence, and function better in daily life, not just feel better temporarily. The expanded care model formalises how we guide patients beyond immediate symptom relief and towards long-term musculoskeletal health.”

A More Comprehensive Care Framework

Under the expanded model, chiropractic clinical leadership remains the focus of care. Each patient begins with a comprehensive chiropractic assessment that evaluates spinal health, movement patterns, posture, nervous system function, and lifestyle factors.

From there, structured care pathways may incorporate rehabilitation support, movement-based therapies, and technology-assisted treatments based on patients’ health needs.

Beyond Symptom Relief: Supporting Functional Health

The clinic has also expanded beyond traditional chiropractic adjustments by unveiling rehabilitation therapies and advanced treatment technologies. The updated care model now enables clinicians to provide more comprehensive support for musculoskeletal conditions.

This approach reflects a broader shift toward preventive, functional, and movement-based healthcare. By combining spinal care with movement guidance and rehabilitation, True Chiropractic focuses on how posture, habits, work demands, and physical load influence long-term musculoskeletal health.

“Our role is not only to address what hurts today but to help patients understand how their bodies adapt to stress, movement, and daily life,” added Lisa, Group Lead of True Chiropractic. “So they can make informed decisions that support sustained function and mobility.”

Care Across Different Life Stages

The expansion of specialised chiropractic programmes reflects growing recognition that musculoskeletal health needs vary across different life stages. Through pregnancy chiropractic care, sports chiropractic and performance care, geriatric chiropractic care, and scoliosis-focused support, the clinic aims to offer more tailored care pathways for patients with different physical demands.

The chiropractor in Singapore states that this update does not change its core approach to care. While the framework has evolved, True Chiropractic remains grounded in its core principles: non-invasive, drug-free, evidence-informed chiropractic care. Rehabilitation and movement education are included to help patients better understand and manage their physical health needs.

Looking Ahead: Sustainable & Active Wellness

True Chiropractic views this evolution as part of a broader commitment to active ageing, preventive spine care, and functional longevity.

By strengthening education, coordinated care, and long-term planning, the clinic aims to help individuals and families make informed decisions that support mobility, resilience, and quality of life over time.

https://www.truechiropractic.com.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/true-chiropractic-grp
https://www.facebook.com/TrueChiropracticGroup
https://www.instagram.com/true.chiropractic?igsh=MXVkeWZldWtyM2swMQ==

Hashtag: #TrueChiropractic

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/true-chiropractic-aligns-care-with-changing-health-needs/

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PSA – Help us now – 23,000 home support workers hit by petrol price hikes urge Govt. to act

Source: PSA

The PSA is urging Finance Minister Nicola Willis to walk the talk and deliver support for a key group of hard working New Zealanders struggling with rising fuel costs from the Iran war – 23,000 home support workers.
The Finance Minister today said the Government was considering targeted, timely and temporary options for low income New Zealanders facing increased fuel costs triggered by the Iran war.
“There are 23,000 home support workers on low wages who look after our most vulnerable people – the elderly, disabled and injured – every single day who need help urgently, right now. They deserve better than being left to foot the bill,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
Workers like Pam McLaren from Blenheim are feeling the squeeze on her budget as petrol prices rise. “I’ve done the calculations, it’s going to cost me $75.66 more per week to run my vehicle. I don’t know where that money’s meant to come from. It’s ending up costing a lot to go to work, and it’s not like I can ride a bike between clients, the distance is too far.”
Fleur Fitzsimons: “If the Government is serious about relieving cost of living pressures in a targeted way, then it must follow through on today’s promise and make it a priority to compensate them for rising fuel bills. It’s the right thing to do.”
Home support workers drive their own cars between clients, caring for the elderly, disabled and injured every day, but are being reimbursed at just 63.5 cents per kilometre, well below the IRD rate, and less than half of the travel costs they face.
“These workers were already being undercompensated before the fuel crisis. They are also disadvantaged by the Government’s scrapping of a pay equity pay rise last year. They cannot afford to subsidise the cost of delivering essential government-funded services.”
Travel costs for home support workers are governed by the In Between Travel Settlement Act, introduced under a National-led Government in 2015. There have been only two increases to the mileage rate in a decade, the last one was four years ago.
“It’s well past time for an urgent review,” said Fleur Fitzsimons.
“Funding for home support already flows through MSD and the Ministry of Health. An increase to the mileage rate can be delivered quickly and efficiently through existing channels. There is no excuse for delay.”
The PSA will be raising this issue urgently with the Government.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/psa-help-us-now-23000-home-support-workers-hit-by-petrol-price-hikes-urge-govt-to-act/

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Conflict – Children cling to pets, favourite toys, as they flee homes in Lebanon – Save the Children

Source: Save the Children

Children are clutching beloved pets and toys as they flee their homes in Lebanon due to the escalating conflict with the violence also cutting access to vital medical care, including for children and pregnant women, Save the Children said.
Over 831,000 people, including over 290,000 children, have been forcibly displaced in Lebanon in just two weeks, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Social Affairs – the equivalent to over 2,000 people every hour since the escalation started.[1]
Save the Children staff have reported that families have fled with only basic necessities, often without time to pack vital documents, clothing or medication. But some children are refusing to leave behind their most treasured items including their pets and favourite toys.
At the same time, access to critical healthcare has been disrupted. Save the Children staff said many people are now unable to reach regular dialysis treatment or ongoing cancer care. In one case, a woman was forced to give birth in her car as heavy traffic gridlocked the streets of Beirut during the rush to safety.
More than 130,000 people are now sheltering in overcrowded schools repurposed as collective shelters and sports stadiums in Beirut in difficult conditions, with over 50 people reported to be sharing one toilet, minimal access to cooking facilities and shelters lacking carpets, heaters and blankets in the cold weather. Families describe sleeping on floors with little privacy.
Approximately 118,590 people have entered Syria from Lebanon since March 2nd, with Save the Children staff reporting parents being forced to leave behind their families alongside people being stuck between checkpoints at the Syrian and Lebanese border. [2]
According to the UN up to 3.2 million people have been displaced across Iran and about 1,700 Afghans are returning from Iran into Afghanistan every day since the start of hostilities.[3]
Save the Children is distributing essential items in Lebanon and on the border with Syria such as blankets, mattresses, pillows, baby supplies, hygiene kits, water and psychological first aid.
Many people in Lebanon are now experiencing displacement for the second or third time in their lives, including families returning to the same shelters they fled to in 2024. About 20 Save the Children staff are among those who have fled their homes and others now have homes crowded with displaced relatives and friends.
Nora Ingdal, Country Director, Save the Children Lebanon, said:
“Many families were forced to flee in the middle of the night with nothing, and children miss their homes, their villages, their friends and their schools. I met a child who told me, ‘I’m not able to play here and I just want to go back to my village as soon as possible.’ One child I met clutched his blue toy car, as it was the only thing he had managed to bring from home.
“Others have brought their pets with them, unable to be parted. One family I met had their pet bird with them in its cage, knowing their 7-year-old son was very distressed without his bird and won’t sleep without him. Another family fled with their cat which keeps their son calm.
“I met one father in a shelter who bought his daughter a second-hand scooter just so she could have a distraction from the horror that is unfolding outside. To see a child playing is rare in these shelters as they attempt to grapple with their lives being flipped upside down.
“Another young man told me he did not have time to pack his university documents so now fears for his entire future.
“Each person has their own story to share, one of anxiety and heartbreak. Children feel trapped in collective shelters with limited access to basic toilet facilities, education or the space to play. Hostilities must end and children must be protected at all costs. We know children are always the most impacted in any conflict, and the psychological impacts last long after any conflict ends.” Sara, 30-, a mother who has been displaced to Syria due to the escalations in Lebanon, was forced to leave her daughter with her husband in Lebanon as she had to return to Syria to care for her sick mother. She said: “My daughter is still in Lebanon, and I could not get her a passport because the cost is far beyond what I can afford.”
Save the Children is urgently calling for a cessation of hostilities and for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law to protect children from further harm. So far 850 people have been killed in Lebanon including 103 children, according to the Ministry of Health.
Save the Children is responding across the region, with programmes in Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In oPt, we are maintaining emergency cash assistance where markets allow and keeping mother-baby areas open to support infant and maternal nutrition. In Syria, we are scaling-up delivery of food, cash assistance, child protection, mental health support, education, water and sanitation programmes and health/nutrition services for people arriving from Lebanon.

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/conflict-children-cling-to-pets-favourite-toys-as-they-flee-homes-in-lebanon-save-the-children/

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Foresight in volatility: APAC executives’ early pivot to regional trade provides critical buffer against global shocks

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – Months before the current geopolitical crisis hit global markets, Asia Pacific (APAC) executives had begun shielding their businesses by shortening supply chains and focusing on regional trade. Forvis Mazars’ C-suite barometer 2026: Adapting in uncertainty shows this proactive approach, alongside with efficiency-driving AI investments, is now key to navigating today’s global challenges.

While the number of APAC leaders expecting revenue growth had dropped to 67% (down from 80% in 2025) ahead of this year, underlying business confidence had notably strengthened to 41% (up from 30% in 2025). This contrast, lower growth expectations yet stronger confidence, highlights a resilience paradox: leaders are separating financial outlook from global turmoil, actively reinventing their operations to endure anticipated shocks rather than waiting for conditions to improve.

Key findings for APAC:

  • Measured confidence amidst geopolitical volatility: Amidst ongoing geopolitical volatility, APAC leaders remain acutely aware of the shifting landscape. Notably, 29% cite geopolitical instability and social unrest as a top trend impacting their organisation over the next 12 months, outpacing the global average of 26% and tying with regulatory pressures. Consequently, growth expectations are tempered: while 83% still anticipate positive growth in 2026, this trails the global average of 92% and marks a decline from 84% in 2025.
  • Expansion turns inward: Driven by geopolitical and tariff risks, expansion plans have shifted to regional neighbours, with China (36%), Australia (29%) and Hong Kong (29%) as the top destinations.
  • AI is a net job creator: Defying global displacement fears, 43% of APAC leaders say AI has created new roles in their organisation, significantly outpacing the 28% who say it replaced them.
  • The sustainability gap: While 91% are confident in meeting reporting compliance, only 73% feel prepared to manage the actual physical impacts of climate change.

The APAC resilience paradox: Building structural resilience despite lower revenue expectations

The anticipated dip in revenue expectations was primarily driven by converging pressures that have only intensified: economic uncertainty, political instability and intensifying competition. Yet, this foresight did not dampen investment. In a clear sign that businesses are fortifying their foundations, investment in human capital remains strong across the region, with 63% of APAC respondents plan to increase spending on acquiring new talent and 68% intend to upskill their workforce.

APAC’s underlying optimism is supported by a high level of operational readiness. Even as geopolitical instability remains a top concern, 76% of executives express confidence in their organisation’s preparedness to manage it. This sentiment extends to navigating supply chain challenges (85%) and new regulatory requirements (91%), showing that leaders are turning global disruptors into manageable areas of control.

Rick Chan, Managing Partner Singapore, Head of Audit & Assurance APAC and Member of Group Governing Board, Forvis Mazars, observed, “Asia Pacific has always had to move fast. The region’s businesses are built on agility – on reading the market, adjusting quickly and staying close to customers. That DNA is proving invaluable right now. The data shows leaders are transitioning from short-term firefighting to building lasting resilience. By investing in localised supply chains and AI, they are taking highly practical steps to insulate their operations against escalating geopolitical risks and secure long-term growth.”

The strategic pivot: strengthening intra-regional trade

The barometer reveals a fundamental change in how APAC firms plan to grow. Rather than facing global trade barriers head-on, executives are pivoting to markets closer to home. The top three expansion destinationsareChina (36%), Australia (29%) and Hong Kong (29%).

This inward shift is a direct, data-driven response to rising global tensions. A striking 67% of APAC leaders who revised their expansion plans this year cited geopolitical instability as the primary driver, making it the top catalyst for changing global strategies. Furthermore, 42% cite costs and operational issues due to tariffs as their biggest challenge when entering new markets. Facing these dual threats, APAC businesses have pragmatically shortened their supply chains to secure growth in neighbouring markets where geopolitical and tariff risks are more manageable.

The growth engine: AI as a workforce catalyst

In an environment where operational margins are under pressure, AI has become a critical tool for efficiency. Notably, the data indicate that AI is a net job creator in the region. 43% of APAC C-suite leaders report that AI has already prompted the creation of new roles, compared to 28% who report job replacements.

While 47% of executives rank AI as their top technology priority, their approach is disciplined. APAC leaders are prioritising high-impact applications such as forecasting (65%), knowledge acquisition, banking and retrieval (61%), client services, recommendations, relationships (61%), and operational efficiency, including automation (60%). Interestingly, they are achieving these gains with leaner investment; 41% (versus 35% globally) allocate less than 10% of their budget to AI, suggesting a focus on cost-effective, high-return AI adoption.

The blind spot: the sustainability gap – compliance versus operational resilience

While the report highlights strategic maturity in technology and trade, it reveals a critical disconnect in sustainability. Although 91% of APAC executives express confidence in meeting sustainability reporting compliance, only 73% feel prepared to manage the actual physical and operational impacts of climate change. This disparity indicates that while they are confident in meeting regulatory expectations, the priority now is to bridge the gap between compliance and reality, specifically by strengthening supply chains and building physical resilience against tangible climate risks.

Chester Liew, Partner, Head of Risk Consulting & Sustainability, Forvis Mazars in Singapore, said, “High confidence in reporting compliance is an encouraging baseline, but paperwork does not protect operations. The foresight APAC leaders are demonstrating in navigating geopolitical risks must now be urgently applied to climate risks. With regulatory timelines providing some breathing room, the prudent next step is to pivot resources from disclosure to physical defence – ensuring that supply chains and physical assets can actually withstand extreme weather and emerging environmental shocks.”

Forvis Mazars’ 2026 C-suite barometer survey captures insights from 3,012 senior executives worldwide prior to the US-Israeli war with Iran in February 2026. This independent research was conducted in October and November 2025 and captures the views of C-suite leaders at for-profit organisations with annual revenues of over US$1 million across 40 countries, including 260 respondents from seven markets in the Asia-Pacific region: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Findings reflect executive sentiments at the time of fieldwork.

http://www.forvismazars.com/sg
https://www.linkedin.com/company/forvis-mazars-singapore
https://www.facebook.com/ForvisMazarsSingapore/
https://www.instagram.com/forvismazarssingapore/?hl=en

Hashtag: #ForvisMazars #ForvisMazarsSingapore #APACBusiness #BusinessOutlook2026 #ExecutiveInsights #LeadershipTrends #AIAdoption #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #ClimateResilience

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/foresight-in-volatility-apac-executives-early-pivot-to-regional-trade-provides-critical-buffer-against-global-shocks/

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SIM Global Education Highlights Holistic Student Life Experience Beyond the Classroom

Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 March 2026 – The university experience today extends beyond academic programmes and classroom learning. Increasingly, students and parents are paying closer attention to the broader environment that supports a student’s development, including well-being resources, opportunities to build community and access to career preparation. Higher education institutions in Singapore are responding by placing greater emphasis on holistic student development alongside academic rigour. Student life, encompassing campus activities, personal support services and career development initiatives, play an important role in shaping students’ overall university journey.

Over at Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), student life is designed to complement academic learning through a holistic ecosystem known as Life @ SIM. The initiative brings together co-curricular activities, wellness and counselling support, and career development resources to support students throughout their academic journey. Community engagement forms a key pillar of student experience. SIM GE offers more than 80 student clubs and societies across sports, performing arts, cultural groups, entrepreneurship and community service. These student-led activities provide opportunities for students to pursue personal interests, develop leadership and teamwork skills while building connections with peers, across programmes, partner universities and an international cohort of students.

Wellbeing support is another important aspect of campus life. Recognising that university life can present academic and personal pressures, SIM GE provides wellness programmes and counselling services aimed at supporting students’ mental and emotional wellbeing. Workshops and resources are designed to help students manage stress, build resilience and develop essential soft skills that support both academic and personal growth.

Career readiness is also integrated into the student journey. Through SIM Career Connect, students have access to career advisory services, skills workshops and networking opportunities with industry partners. These initiatives aim to help students strengthen their employability while still in university and align their academic pathways with long-term career goals.

Campus facilities and shared spaces further support student interaction and collaboration outside formal academic settings. Study areas, collaborative spaces and venues for student activities provide environments where students can exchange ideas, grow their cultural quotient and build a sense of community.

As higher education expectations continue to evolve, institutions are increasingly expected to support students not only academically but also personally and professionally. By integrating community engagement, wellbeing support and career development into the student journey, SIM GE aims to provide an environment that prepares students for both their future careers and the broader challenges of a highly inter-connected but ever-changing world.

References:

  1. Singapore Institute of Management. – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/overview
  2. Singapore Institute of Management. Co-Curricular Activities and Student Clubs –
    https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
  3. Singapore Institute of Management. Career Connect / Career Services –
    https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/career-services
  4. SIM Global Education. Student Life and Campus Experience –
    https://project1095.simge.edu.sg

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 March 2026 –

https://www.sim.edu.sg/

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

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

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

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/sim-global-education-highlights-holistic-student-life-experience-beyond-the-classroom/

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Outdoor Activities – Map reveals hundreds of DOC public access easements

Source: Herenga ā Nuku – the Outdoor Access Commission

Hundreds of public access easements held in the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) internal property records are now visible to the public for the first time, marking a significant step forward for public access transparency.
The milestone follows an ongoing collaboration, working together to translate historic legal records into mapped digital data that can be viewed by the public.
The Outdoor Access Commission has published 858 land parcels -representing 175 confirmed DOC public access easements – on its mapping system (WAMS). Until now, these easements have been recorded in DOC’s National Property and Land Information System (NaPALIS). Many existed in legal documentation rather than mapped spatial layers, meaning they had not previously appeared on any public-facing map.
Outdoor Access Commission geospatial manager Matt Grose says DOC converting the information into accurate mapping data gives a free, accessible and public way to view the data.
“Many of these easements were contained in legal instruments rather than digital map files,” Matt says. “We have turned that historic property information into accurate spatial data that can be confidently shared with the public.”
Many of the newly displayed easements show legal public access links between the ends of formed roads and public conservation land. In many cases, access has existed in law for years, but people have not been able to easily see those routes when planning trips.
DOC’s spokesperson, Manu King, Geospatial Services Manager, says the release reflects both teamwork between agencies and the increasing value of public data.
It demonstrates what can be achieved when technical teams work together with a common purpose. By combining property expertise, GIS capability and the commission’s mapping platforms, we’ve been able to unlock information that benefits all New Zealanders.”
The commission is displaying the easements on WAMS and its Pocket Maps app, making the information readily accessible to people naturing; walkers, hunters, trampers and others who recreate on public conservation land.
“Map users will now be able to see how public access actually reaches DOC land,” Matt says. “Instead of an isolated block of conservation land, people can see the legal access that connects them to it.”
The initial release will soon be followed by a second tranche of around 300 additional easements currently undergoing verification. Many of these are older records that require manual review and confirmation before they can be confidently mapped and published.
Outdoor Access Commission chief executive Dan Wildy says the publication of public access easements is another step to deliver transparent and accessible information related to public access.
“Through our GIS team, helped by our partners at DOC, we are delivering greater public access information than at any other time in our country’s history.”
Together, this mahi reflects a shared commitment to making public access clearer, more visible and easier to understand – now and into the future.
Three examples of these easements

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/outdoor-activities-map-reveals-hundreds-of-doc-public-access-easements/

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Universities – Video helps parents of fussy eaters – UoA

Source: University of Auckland – UoA

Parents are better equipped to teach picky eaters how to eat healthily, thanks to a video developed by University of Auckland researchers.

A short evidence-based video helps parents of fussy eaters steer their kids towards healthy eating, new research shows.

The video, which includes a story, the acronym HEART and an analogy, was developed by Dr Sam Marsh, a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See the video:

“We tried to align with parents’ value of wanting to raise healthy children and offer some simple tools,” Marsh says. “We know it’s hard having young children, so we didn’t want to make parents feel guilty.”

The video uses a story that helps parents put themselves in their child’s shoes at mealtimes, as well as an analogy and a mnemonic.

“We got parents to imagine coming home from a hard day at work, sitting down at the table, and then somebody throwing all these questions at them about what foods they want, and then dumping a massive plate of food in front of them, foods they are not familiar with, and demanding they eat it.

“Then we painted another picture where you come home, your partner takes care of everything. They put a nice plate, with not too much food, in front of you, and you have a pleasant conversation during the meal. How much more relaxed will you feel?”

The acronym, HEART, reminds parents of the strategies they can use.

– H is for ‘helping’, getting children to help prepare food: they are much more likely to eat food if they are engaged in putting it together.

– E is for ‘environment’, for example, eating as a family at the table with no screens or other distractions.

– A is for leading with your ‘ace’ by starting with healthy foods, creatively prepared.

– R is for ‘rules’, such as at least 90 minutes between a snack and a meal. Rules for parents include never using food as a reward or punishment. “If you do not eat your broccoli, you won’t get dessert,” reinforces the value of dessert and that there’s something wrong with broccoli.

– T is for ‘trust’: “We know children need to feel emotionally safe and relaxed to eat and try new foods. So, connecting with your child before dinner, even in a small way can be very helpful.”

The analogy was teaching a teenager to drive a car, making the point that children need to learn how to eat and it is a process.

“They are in control of driving the car, just like children are in control of what they eat,” says Marsh.

“You can’t force a child to chew their food and swallow, but the things we can control are when they eat, where they eat, and what they eat. That is our job as parents.”

In written feedback, parents were overwhelmingly positive about the video resource.

Comments included, ‘Practical tips, handled a sensitive topic well, wasn’t judgmental.’

Results from the pilot trial, involving almost 100 parents and their children aged three to six years, show those who used the video made positive changes and enjoyed the process. See Appetite (March 2026).

“Research shows that positive parental feeding behaviours are associated with better appetite self-regulation in kids,” says Marsh.

“A child who knows when they are hungry and stops eating when they are full will tend to have a healthier bodyweight and a better relationship with food when they get older.”

MIL OSI

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/03/16/universities-video-helps-parents-of-fussy-eaters-uoa/