PM Edition: Here are the top 10 business articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 12, 2026 – Full Text
1. ECO Expo Asia opens at Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo in late October
October 12, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Debut of ASEAN and Qinghai Pavilions alongside four key themes spanning energy, technology, green cities and waste management
ECO Expo Asia 2026 – Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 October 2026 – Eco Expo Asia 2026, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, co-organised by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), will be held from 26 to 29 October at AsiaWorld-Expo.
HKTDC Associate Executive Director Silas Chu said: “Last month, the Hong Kong SAR Government unveiled the Policy Address and first Five-Year Plan, setting out a vision for building a green and liveable city. Across the region and beyond, China, the European Union and many ASEAN economies are actively pursuing carbon-neutrality or net-zero emission targets, and driving decarbonisation through regulations and industrial policies. Green transformation has shifted from policy aspiration to market rule. As global demand for ESG and green solutions continues to grow, Eco Expo Asia will bring together green technologies, innovative solutions, and global business opportunities to help enterprises capitalise on the new prospects emerging from this transition.”
He added, “This year’s Eco Expo Asia brings together over 340 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, including first-time participants from Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighting the Expo’s growing international reach. Some 200 key officials and representatives of semi-official organisations from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Belt and Road countries, and ASEAN, will attend and tour the Expo, further promoting cross-regional cooperation and exchange.”
Speaking at the press conference, the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government, Dr Vanessa Au, expressed: “The 21st edition of Eco Expo Asia, held under the theme ‘Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future’, dovetails with the HKSAR Government’s First Five-Year Plan, and implements the Policy Address precisely aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. It underscores our commitment to advancing Hong Kong’s green transformation, fostering green innovation, seizing the opportunities presented by the low-carbon economy, creating economic benefits and enhancing citizen well-being. Key highlights of this year’s expo include the HKSAR Government booth, the Environmental Campaign Committee Pavilion, the Hong Kong Pavilion and the newly established comprehensive experience zone for green technology. This year during the expo, the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China will, for the first time, co-host the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference in Hong Kong. In addition, the Environmental Protection Department, in association with the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will jointly organise the second edition of the ‘Green Silk Road’ International Training Programme. This expo brings together stakeholders from all sectors, uniting our efforts to advance global carbon neutrality and sustainable development.”
Businesses show continued strong confidence in Hong Kong as an ESG business hub
The HKTDC has also released the “HKTDC ESG Index 2026”. The latest ESG Index stood at 67.3, up from 64.2 last year and well above the neutral threshold of 50, reflecting the continued strengthening of corporate confidence in Hong Kong’s role as an ESG hub. The survey also showed that 93% of respondents have integrated ESG into their overall business decision-making processes, while the share of businesses sourcing or selling ESG-related products and services rose from 29% in 2025 to 46% in 2026.
Silas said, “The rise in the ESG index reflects the continued strengthening of global businesses’ confidence in Hong Kong’s role as an ESG business hub. Results further demonstrate that ESG is increasingly being built into business decisions on investment, sourcing, and supply chain management, fuelling steady growth in demand for ESG products, services and solutions. ESG has evolved beyond a compliance requirement into a source of competitive advantage for companies.”
With strong demand for ESG solutions, Hong Kong is well positioned to unlock commercial opportunities across banking and finance, professional services, and innovation and technology. In terms of technological innovation, surveyed businesses identified the most impactful Hong Kong digital and ESG platforms for boosting performance as sustainable supply chain platforms (45%), AI analytics (37%), and cloud data reporting (30%). On supply chain management, respondents most valued Hong Kong’s ESG certification services (50%), followed by transparency and traceability tools (41%), and ESG audit and risk analysis solutions (36%).
Pavilion line-up expands with ASEAN and Qinghai Pavilion debuts
Eco Expo Asia brings together green innovations and technologies from around the world, offering the industry a platform to exchange ideas and explore new business opportunities. This year, the number of participating pavilions has risen to 18, covering a wider spread of regions. On the Chinese Mainland front, Qinghai Province makes its first appearance with a pavilion of its own, joined by the nine Chinese Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area, Macao, Guangxi, Hunan, Shanghai, and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.
Among the international group pavilions, the headline addition is a new ASEAN Pavilion, featuring 13 green technology companies from eight member countries, including Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. An ASEAN networking reception on the opening day will further strengthen business ties with the region. In addition, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE), bringing two companies, will showcase their marine environmental technologies and waste gas treatment equipment. The US State of Illinois returns after several years, while Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands maintain their regular presence.
Regarding Hong Kong exhibitors, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation once again leads 11 start-ups to the Expo to showcase local green innovation achievements. The Hong Kong Pavilion, supported by the Environmental Protection Department and coordinated by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, is back with 19 local exhibitors presenting a diverse range of eco-friendly products, technologies and solutions. Rounding off the home-grown line-up, the HKSAR Government booth, featuring 11 bureaux and departments including the Environment and Ecology Bureau, and the Environmental Campaign Committee Pavilion, will highlight the city’s latest work in environmental protection and green development.
As a member of the HKSAR Government’s GoGlobal Task Force, the HKTDC will set up a GoGlobal Connect Zone, helping Chinese Mainland environmental enterprises tap international markets through Hong Kong’s professional services. A seminar on going global rounds out the programme, sharing practical experiences in expanding overseas.
Four thematic areas spotlight green innovation
Aligned with global trends and policy directions, this year’s Expo centres on four areas: Green Energy in Motion, Frontier Green Tech, Building for a Greener City and From Waste to Worth, showcasing the latest innovative green technologies, products, and solutions.
Under”Green Energy in Motion“, the Expo features green energy solutions spanning the maritime, land transport and aviation sectors. Echoing the call in the Policy Address and Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan to build a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry chain, EcoCeres Ltd. (Booth: 3-F30), a global leading SAF producer, makes its Expo debut with its advanced renewable SAF made from waste materials, alongside Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Pavilion (Booth: 3-E02) will also focus on energy, with start-ups presenting innovations such as EV chargers and modular EV conversion technology.
Under the “Frontier Green Tech” theme, around 30 start-ups and university spin-offs will show how research achievements have been transformed into practical environmental applications. Among them, first-time exhibitor Stellerus Technology Limited (Booth: 6-D27) will display the Multi‑Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO), the world’s first lightweight, high‑resolution, high‑precision synergistic greenhouse gases observatory, which has already been deployed on China’s Tiangong space station. MUSICO monitors greenhouse gas emissions, supporting enterprises in formulating emission-reduction measures and supplying precise data to green finance institutions.
In keeping with the “building a green and liveable city” policy direction under Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan, the “Building for a Greener City” theme gathers a host of innovations now in real-world use. Green Vigor Limited (Booth: 3-E02) will exhibit a modular hydropower system that converts wasted hydraulic resources from water tanks and cooling systems in buildings into electricity, a solution already in use in local shopping malls, commercial buildings and schools. AEC GreenTech Innovations Limited (Booth: 3-C20) brings a robot designed for plastering and paint spraying, which works at least five times faster than manual labour while halving material use, delivering environmental benefits. The technology has been adopted in local construction projects.
The fourth area, “From Waste to Worth“, assembles a number of leading Chinese Mainland enterprises in the waste management sector, including Chongqing Sanfeng Environment Group (Booth: 3-E30), named among Top 50 Environmental Enterprises in China and the Top 10 Influential Enterprises in China’s Solid Waste Industry, as well as listed environmental companies Dynagreen Environmental Protection Group (Booth: 3-B30) and Beijing Enterprises Environment Group (Booth: 3-D30), showcasing their waste management and resource circular solutions. Hong Kong-based Green AI Technology Limited (Booth: 3-E26) will launch REV, its new generation of the unmanned recycling station at the Expo, demonstrating how AI and automation can be applied to recycling.
Over 30 key events to gather experts from government, industry, academia and research
More than 30 forums and seminars will be held during the Expo, bringing together over 80 government officials, industry leaders and business representatives from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Belt and Road countries to share insights on green opportunities, success stories and forward-looking strategies.
The annual flagship event, Eco Asia Conference, will also feature a series of seminars centred on four key themes, with industry and academic experts presenting the latest developments. On 26 October, Professor Su Hui, Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at HKUST, who spearheaded the development of MUSICO, will join Professor Kenneth Leung, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health at CityUHK, to discuss technologies for monitoring extreme weather and explore Hong Kong’s role as a regional green innovation hub. On 27 October, representatives from the Construction Industry Council and China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd will examine green building development from the perspectives of policy, certification and practice.
On 28 October, Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and a member of the High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance for the COP26, 27 and 28 Presidencies, will take to the stage. Drawing on his extensive experience spanning international finance, public policy, and climate finance, he will analyse emerging global trends in the field.
Public Dayinvites everyone to embrace green lifestyles
The final day of the Expo (29 October) will be Public Day, with free admission for the public, aiming to raise awareness of environmental protection and sustainability and to encourage the adoption of green lifestyles. A series of seminars on climate, environmental protection and food waste upcycling will be held that day. Speakers include representatives from the Hong Kong Observatory, Hong Kong meteorologist and former Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory Leung Wing Mo, and guests from Ways Out HK, a local social enterprise that turns food waste into jewellery. Visitors can also take part in interactive workshops, including a recycled paper making workshop, green cleaners making workshop and green mini games, enabling participants to learn hands-on how to put resource recycling and green living into practice.
Register now : https://tinyurl.com/33s7wf64
https://www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en
https://www.instagram.com/hktdclifestyle/
Hashtag: #HKTDC #EcoExpoAsia #ESG #Sustainability
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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2. Mental health workers in South Island stand strong and see off 90-day trials after long community campaign
October 11, 2026
Source: PSA
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3. ‘Fast Tech’ Fuels Growing E-Waste Concern as Millions of Small, Low-Cost Electronics Flood World Markets
October 11, 2026
Source: WEEE Forum
International E-Waste Day survey finds nearly 90% of European consumers own ‘fast tech’, 29% hoard unused devices at home, 27% trash them; Experts urge consumers to recycle every unused electrical and electronic item
Brussels – With annual Black Friday and holiday shopping sprees approaching, International E-Waste Day 2026 aims a spotlight on the booming trade in “fast tech” – USB adapters, mini fans, LED lights, electronic toys and other small, inexpensive gadgets.
New research finds that almost 90% of European consumers from 12 countries own at least one such device and 78% bought one in the past year. But when they become obsolete, broken or simply no longer wanted, many are tossed into household rubbish or hoarded in drawers instead of being recycled.
This rapidly growing and largely overlooked waste stream is dubbed “fast tech” to draw a deliberate parallel with ubiquitous, inexpensive fashion products, often used for relatively short periods and easily replaced.
Commissioned by the WEEE Forum and conducted by Bellegarde Scientific Consulting, a new Fast Tech Consumer survey of 10,245 adults in 12 European countries found that fast tech has become a routine consumer purchase, driven largely by low prices, convenience and modest expectations of how long products need to last.
The findings suggest consumers often knowingly accept the implicit fast-tech bargain: the product is inexpensive, does the job for a while and can easily be replaced.
Indeed, 58% of buyers could recall a fast-tech product they had used for no more than six months, including 39% who recalled one they discarded unused, after a single use or within a month. Yet 61% of fast-tech consumers say they are satisfied overall, and only 8% are dissatisfied.
Separate research by Material Focus found that in the UK alone more than half a billion small fast tech electrical items were purchased, roughly 16 items per second.
And with Black Friday promotions followed almost immediately by the holiday shopping season, the WEEE Forum says the coming weeks will see another surge in fast tech purchases, many sold through online platforms.
“Fast tech is the blind spot of the e-waste world,” says Pascal Leroy, Director General of the WEEE Forum, which leads the International E-Waste Day, a global awareness campaign now in its 9th year conducted with WEEE Forum members worldwide.
“Black Friday and Christmas will bring another enormous wave of earphones, electronic toys, mini gadgets, chargers and other inexpensive electronics into our homes. Their low price doesn’t mean they have no environmental cost. We need them to be collected and recycled when they’re no longer in use.”
Consumers expect short lives, but keep buying
The survey reveals an apparent paradox: consumers value durability, but the convenience and low price of fast tech frequently win out.
The environmental implications of this cycle appear much less obvious to consumers than the durability trade-off. While 46% expect fast tech to have a shorter lifespan than more expensive alternatives, only 21% consider it more environmentally harmful. Just 16% simultaneously associate fast tech with both shorter life and greater environmental harm.
“Consumers understand perfectly well that an inexpensive electronic product may not last forever,” says Dimitri Naczaj, co-founder of Bellegarde Scientific Consulting, based in France. “Much less visible is what happens when those millions of individual purchasing decisions become millions of discarded cables, earbuds, lights, toys and gadgets.”
What happens when fast tech dies?
The study found no single dominant route for unwanted fast tech.
Keeping devices at home was the most common response, reported by 29% of buyers. Just 27% took products to recycling centres or municipal facilities and 19% used in-store collection points.
But incorrect disposal was also widespread: 23% reported putting fast tech in household waste, 21% in plastics recycling and 7% in street bins. Some 27% of buyers reported using only waste-disposal routes for unwanted devices, while 32% reported using only recycling or reuse routes. (Note: some survey questions offered multiple response options)
Perhaps most strikingly, incorrect disposal is not always deliberate. Among people who reported using only waste-disposal routes, 21% also said they did so to protect the environment, suggesting confusion about where small electronics belong. Habit was the most commonly cited reason for electronics end-of-life choices overall, followed by environmental protection and convenience.
By the numbers: Europe’s Fast Tech habit
The new study of 10,245 adults in 12 European countries found:
- 87% own at least one fast-tech product; at least 44% own more than five
- 78% bought fast tech during the previous 12 months
- 93% of 18-to-29-year-olds bought fast tech in the past year, compared with 61% of people aged 65+
- 55% cite low price as a reason for choosing fast tech
- 58% recall at least one fast-tech item they used for six months or less
- 61% are nevertheless satisfied with fast-tech products overall
- 80% would have paid more for a longer-lasting alternative to at least some products
- 59% would still replace a broken fast-tech product with another inexpensive one
- 29% keep unused fast tech at home
- 27% use only waste bin disposal routes for unwanted devices; 32% use only recycling or reuse routes while 16% keep the devices at home
- 21% believe fast tech is more environmentally harmful than more expensive alternatives 15.9% think fast tech is less harmful
- 57% are unaware that online platforms selling electronic devices are legally required to contribute financially to e-waste collection and recycling
- 64% do not intend to reduce their fast-tech purchasing.
The study found particularly strong age differences. 93% of respondents aged 18–29 had purchased fast tech during the previous year, declining steadily to 61% among those 65 and older.
And there is little evidence of social pressure against the trend.
Only 14% expect people important to them to disapprove of buying fast tech, while almost half of respondents believe more people are buying fast tech than before.
Nearly three-quarters of buyers encounter fast tech at least weekly.
If you sell it, help recycle it
The WEEE Forum underlines a growing structural problem: electronics sold online by companies that may not be registered under national producer-responsibility legislation.
Where sellers fail to comply, required recycling fees may not be paid, take-back responsibilities may go unmet and collection and recycling systems are left to deal with the products at the end of their lives without the corresponding financing.
The new consumer research suggests public awareness of these responsibilities remains low. Only 29% of those surveyed knew that online platforms selling electronics are legally required to contribute financially to e-waste collection and recycling; 14% had heard of the requirement but did not know the details, while 57% were unaware of it.
“The principle should be straightforward: if you make money selling electrical and electronic products into a country, you should contribute to the cost of collecting and recycling those products when consumers are finished with them,” says Leroy.
“Responsible producers already pay into these systems. Online marketplaces should not provide a back door through which electronics can enter a market without anyone taking financial responsibility for what happens to them afterwards.”
The WEEE Forum says this is both an environmental issue and a question of fairness. Companies that comply with extended producer responsibility requirements bear costs that non-compliant competitors can avoid, potentially putting responsible businesses at a disadvantage.
“Consumers shopping online this Black Friday should not have to investigate the environmental compliance of every seller,” Leroy says. “The platforms facilitating those sales are in a powerful position to ensure that sellers comply with the rules and that the recycling costs associated with the products they sell are covered.”
Small devices, big risks
Although 83% of consumers surveyed know these small products contain electronic components, the study suggests many do not necessarily translate that knowledge into appropriate disposal behaviour.
Fast-tech products contain plastics, metals and other materials that can potentially be recovered and returned to productive use. When they are thrown into general waste, those resources are lost.
A growing number also contain lithium-ion batteries, creating an additional hazard.
When discarded with household waste, battery-powered devices can be crushed or punctured inside collection vehicles, sorting plants and waste-treatment facilities, potentially causing fires that endanger workers, damage equipment and disrupt waste services.
According to findings from the WEEE Forum’s Batteries Roundtable, 36% of e-waste operators surveyed reported experiencing a battery-related fire at their facilities during the previous year.
In France, the number of fires at waste-treatment facilities linked to lithium batteries doubled between 2019 and 2023.
Single-use vapes, wireless earbuds, small electronic toys and other battery-powered products are among the items of particular concern.
Concludes Magdalena Charytanowicz of the WEEE Forum and IEWD coordinator: “A tiny battery-powered gadget tossed into a household bin may seem inconsequential. Multiply that by millions of products and it becomes a serious problem, both in lost resources and in fire risks for the people and facilities handling our waste.”
Think before the Black Friday click
International E-Waste Day falls just weeks before one of the world’s biggest periods for consumer electronics sales.
The WEEE Forum is encouraging consumers to consider not only price when buying fast tech during Black Friday and the Christmas season, but also whether they really need a new product, can they get it second hand instead, whether it can be repaired, and how it can eventually be returned for responsible recycling.
For electronics already sitting unused in homes, the message is recognise, return and demand responsibility.
Recognise it : Anything with a plug, cable, circuit board or battery should be treated as electronic waste at the end of its useful life, regardless of how small or inexpensive it is. It should not go into general household waste or bins.
Return it : Unwanted fast-tech products should be taken to official collection points, retailer take-back locations or dedicated e-waste drop-off sites. In the European Union, retailers, including online retailers, have obligations concerning the take-back of discarded electronics. Other circular options include donation, repair and reuse.
Demand responsibility : Regulators, retailers, consumers and online marketplaces can help ensure that companies selling electrical and electronic products meet producer-responsibility requirements and contribute to the systems needed to collect and recycle what they sell.
A worldwide campaign
International E-Waste Day takes place annually on 14 October. Initiated by the WEEE Forum and its members in 2018, it brings together e-waste collection schemes, producers, recyclers, retailers, governments, municipalities, universities, NGOs, schools and consumers to raise awareness and encourage responsible collection and recycling of electrical and electronic products.
Organisations around the world are invited to mark 14 October with collection drives, public events, school activities, social-media campaigns, research releases and other initiatives.
In 2025, more than 140 organisations in 50 countries across six continents participated in International E-Waste Day activities, generating an estimated 1.8 billion potential media impressions across 55 countries.
(Registration for International E-Waste Day 2026 is free and open to organisations worldwide. weee-forum.org/iewd-register)
About the WEEE Forum
The WEEE Forum is an international association representing producer-responsibility organisations that responsibly manage the collection and treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Its members work to improve e-waste collection, recycling, resource recovery and circularity and to promote effective extended producer responsibility for electronics.
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4. More psychology hubs to grow the frontline
October 8, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is growing the frontline psychology workforce by ensuring more psychology students have access to internships, with the number of Psychology Intern Hubs increasing next year, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.
“We know there are students coming through our universities who want to become psychologists, but getting the supervised experience they need can be a real bottleneck.
“That’s why we are removing barriers by growing the number of Psychology Intern Hubs across the country, giving more students access to supported placements and helping more mental health services build the capacity to take on interns.
“From next year there will be eight hubs around the country, an increase of two, with the hubs supporting up to 40 interns each year.
“These hubs will provide more opportunities for psychology interns to gain supervised experience in mental health and addiction services, while strengthening the pathway from university training into the frontline workforce.
“They provide dedicated supervision for psychology interns, including peer support, while giving them exposure to a range of mental health and addiction services and setting them up well for a career as a psychologist.
“The hubs will be based across specialist, primary and community services, including in Waikato, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and now for the first time Northland and Dunedin too.
“This is part of our wider plan to grow the psychology workforce and create more pathways into the frontline.
“We are on track to double clinical psychology internships, increasing from 40 to 80. In 2027, Health New Zealand will fund 85 internships, up from 75 so far this year.
“We have also established the new Psychology Assistant role, creating another pathway for psychology graduates who miss out on a postgraduate place and keep them working in mental health.
“Psychology Assistants will work alongside registered psychologists, providing practical support and helping people access support faster, while allowing psychologists to focus more of their time on people with the most complex needs.
“We are building the future workforce and fixing the basics by growing the pipeline of frontline workers. We came into Government with a clear plan to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response, and it’s paying off.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/08/more-psychology-hubs-to-grow-the-frontline/
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5. Home support workers can’t afford to do their jobs as petrol prices hit record high
October 8, 2026
Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
As petrol prices hit an all-time high this week, 23,000 home support workers are struggling to make ends meet while the Government is silent on a review of their mileage rate.
“These workers travel between clients all day caring for elderly and disabled New Zealanders in their own homes and they have to fund and maintain their own car to do it, on wages at or near the minimum wage,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Workers campaigned hard earlier this year to win a mileage rate increase. That was a real win. But the new rate of 82.5 cents per kilometre is still falls below what the IRD says it actually costs to run a car for work, and it is temporary.
“The Government promised a review of the rate by 1 July. It is now October and these workers have heard nothing.
“On top of having their pay equity claim ripped away, this is a kick in the teeth for these workers.
“This low-paid predominantly female workforce hold our health system together. “
Becks, a home support worker in rural Waimate was shocked to see the petrol price reach $3.88 this week. She said, “I have clients who are only 15-minute visits but by the time I factor in the distances between them and what it costs to run my car, I’m effectively paying to do those jobs.”
Sonia, a home support worker in Greymouth said, “I’m on a low wage and I live alone. I can’t afford this. I do this work because I love it but it’s just getting so hard to get by. It’s not OK.”
Fitzsimons said, “With petrol prices hitting $3.88 per litre in areas like Waimate, home support workers urgently need a mileage rate increase that covers their actual costs, and they deserve a response from the Minister.”
The PSA has written to Health Minister Simeon Brown this week calling for a rate increase and asking for the outcome of the 2026 review of rates, which was due on 1 July. The letter is attached.
The PSA and Etū have an ongoing Employment Relations Authority claim against Health New Zealand arguing that requiring workers to fund and maintain their own vehicles as a condition of employment breaches the Employment Relations Act.
Home support workers are available for interview.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (https://www.psa.org.nz/) 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.
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6. Malaysia Secures 20 Recognitions, Including Eight Category Wins, At ASEAN Energy Awards 2026
October 8, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
This represents an improvement over Malaysia’s performance in 2025, when the country received 16 recognitions, including six category wins. The stronger performance in 2026 demonstrates the growing capabilities of Malaysian organisations in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions.
The recognitions were conferred under the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation Best Practices Awards and the ASEAN Renewable Energy Project Awards. The Malaysian recipients were recognised for projects involving energy-efficient and green buildings, biogas, solar and micro-hydro, as well as emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, waste-to-energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Prior to stepping onto the regional stage at AEA 2026, these organisations were first recognised for their achievement at the national level through National Energy Awards.
The National Energy Awards (NEA) serves as Malaysia’s platform for identifying and recognising organisations with the potential to compete at the ASEAN level. Selected NEA 2026 winners represented Malaysia at AEA 2026 and presented the country’s sustainable energy achievements and best practices to the region.
PETRA regards this regional recognition as evidence of the ability of Malaysian industries, businesses and institutions to translate the country’s energy transition objectives into practical solutions. It also demonstrates the value of cooperation among the Government, industry and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening Malaysia’s energy ecosystem.
The ASEAN Energy Awards 2026 were presented in Manila, the Philippines, in conjunction with the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF).
Malaysia’s performance at AEA 2026 supports the objectives of the National Energy Policy 2022–2040 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) to develop a secure, sustainable and inclusive energy system while enhancing the country’s long-term economic competitiveness.
These objectives will also be advanced through the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2.0 (NEEAP 2.0) for 2026–2035. The plan targets cumulative energy savings of 815,000 terajoule (TJ) over its 10-year implementation period and is expected to generate approximately RM85 billion in energy savings, attract RM36 billion in private investment and create around 29,000 employment opportunities.
Together with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2024, NETR and NEEAP 2.0 provide the policy and regulatory foundation to accelerate energy efficiency, encourage investment and innovation, and enhance Malaysia’s energy security and economic competitiveness.
PETRA, together with the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia and other relevant stakeholders, will continue to work with industry to increase the adoption of energy-efficient practices, expand renewable energy deployment, and facilitate innovation and investment in support of Malaysia’s energy transition objectives.
PETRA once again congratulates all Malaysian recipients for their achievements and for representing the country with distinction at AEA 2026. Their success reflects the progress of Malaysia’s energy sector and reinforces the country’s contribution to a secure, resilient and sustainable energy future for Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.
ASEAN Energy Awards Winner List 2026
| SUB-CATEGORY | NAME OF PROJECT | RANK | |
| ASEAN Energy Efficiency & Conservation Best Practices Awards | |||
| GREEN BUILDING AWARDS Category | |||
| 1 | Retrofitted Building | Susten Sdn. Bhd. – Gurney Paragon & Hunza Tower | 1st Runner Up |
| 2 | IEN Consultants Sdn. Bhd. – Menara Great Eastern & Great Eastern Mall | 2nd Runner Up | |
| 3 | Tropical Building | Gamuda Land – Wetlands Arboretum Centre | Winner |
| 4 | New & Existing Building | Edgenta Mediserve Sdn. Bhd. – Hospital Cyberjaya | 1st Runner Up |
| 5 | Small Green Building | Conevo Green Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. – Hwa Hin Office | 2nd Runner Up |
| 6 | Large Green Building | Edgenta Mediserve Sdn. Bhd. – Hospital Cyberjaya | 1st Runner Up |
| 7 | Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn. Bhd. – One Shell Square Miri | 2nd Runner Up | |
| 8 | Green Residential | TKCA Architects Sdn. Bhd. – The Spectrum House | Winner |
| 9 | BGreen Associates Sdn. Bhd. – 42 Danau Villa | 1st Runner Up | |
| 10 | Zero Energy Building | Conevo Green Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. – Hwa Hin Office | 2nd Runner Up |
| ASEAN Renewable Energy Project Awards | |||
| 11 | Off-Grid Power | TNB GSparx Sdn.Bhd. – Lighting Lives Beyond the Grid: Stand Alone Solar PV-Battery Electrification Empowering Indigenous Community Resilience | 2nd Runner Up |
| 12 | Off-Grid Thermal | SD Guthrie Renewable Energy Sdn. Bhd. – SDG’s Pioneering Co-Firing Biogas Plant Utilising Palm Oil Mill Effluent from Lavang Oil Mill to Improve Boiler Efficiency, Deliver Sustainable Thermal Energy and Enhance Biomass Fuel Usage | 1st Runner Up |
| 13 | On-Grid Utility Scale | Cenergi FJP – Malaysia’s Biggest POME-Based Biogas Plant Integrating Sustainable Practices with Engineering Impact | Winner |
| 14 | On-Grid Small Scale | TONIBUNG – Walou Micro: Hydro Solar Hybrid Small Scale, Community Based Renewable Energy Project | Winner |
| 15 | On-Grid Self Consumption | IOI Bio-Energy Sdn. Bhd. – Maximising Green Energy Generation | 1st Runner Up |
| 16 | Biofuel | Johor Plantation Group Berhad – Palm to Pipeline: Biomethane – Empowering the Nation with Green Gas | 1st Runner Up |
| 17 | Special Submission – Waste to Energy | Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd. – Waste to Energy Integration at Langat RSTP: Advancing Carbon Reduction through Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Recovery | Winner |
| 18 | Special Submission – Green Hydrogen | Sarawak Energy Berhad – PowerCube Solar Hydrogen System – Containerised Solar Hydrogen Project, Rumah Bangau, Song | Winner |
| 19 | Special Submission – RE Enabler Technology | N.U.R. Power Sdn. Bhd. – Accelerating the Net-Zero Transition: Advancing Renewable Penetration in Industrial Parks Through Smart Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Microgrid Integration at NUR Power’s West Substation in Kulim Hi-Tech Park | Winner |
| 20 | National Strategic Excellence | GLT BP Power Sdn. Bhd. – GLT BP Power Centralised Biogas Hub – Malaysia’s First Integrated Multi-Mill POME-to Power Facility | Winner |
Hashtag: #PETRA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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7. Tatauranga umanga Māori – Statistics on Māori businesses: June 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release
October 9, 2026
Source: Statistics New Zealand
Tatauranga umanga Māori – Statistics on Māori businesses: June 2026 quarter – information release
9 October 2026
Tatauranga umanga Māori – Statistics on Māori businesses: June 2026 quarter presents information on one subset of Māori businesses that contribute to our country’s economy. This release
includes data on Māori authorities and related businesses. It does not cover all Māori businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Māori authorities are defined as businesses that receive, manage, and/or administer assets held in common ownership by iwi and Māori. Māori authorities are largely identified through their tax codes as registered with Inland Revenue. Any
business within a Māori authority ownership group is also included for the purposes of Tatauranga umanga Māori.
Key facts
In the June 2026 quarter, around 1,450 Māori authorities and related businesses were in the Tatauranga umanga Māori population.
All figures are actual values and are not adjusted for seasonal effects.
In the June 2026 quarter, compared with the June 2025 quarter:
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- the total value of sales by Māori authorities was $1,013 million, down $70 million (6.5 percent)
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- the total value of purchases by Māori authorities was $690 million, down $56 million (7.5 percent)
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- the total number of filled jobs for Māori authorities was 10,960, down 990 jobs (8.3 percent)
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- the total value of earnings by employees of Māori authorities was $217 million, down $10 million (4.5 percent)
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- Māori authorities exported $185 million worth of goods, down $35 million (16 percent).
Visit Stats NZ website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:
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8. Documentary 2026: Towards the Hainan Free Trade Port Premieres in Kuala Lumpur, Encouraging ASEAN Businesses to Establish a Presence in Hainan
October 10, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
The 30-minute documentary was filmed by a Bernama reporting team in mid-July 2026 across multiple cities and counties in Hainan, including Haikou, Sanya and Danzhou. Focusing on the preferential policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port, it offers an in-depth look at the market opportunities for ASEAN businesses seeking to enter the Chinese mainland market through Hainan. The documentary also highlights the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, showing how manufacturers can benefit from zero-tariff treatment for products with no less than 30% value added through processing under the “freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line” customs supervision model.
ASEAN has been Hainan’s largest trading partner for six consecutive years, with Hainan exporting to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines and other ASEAN countries. Yangpu Port has also opened multiple direct shipping routes to Malaysia’s Port Klang and Pasir Gudang Port. The documentary further introduces Hainan’s preferential tax policies — including a 15% corporate income tax rate for eligible enterprises and an individual income tax exemption for the portion of tax burden exceeding 15% for qualifying talent — duty-free imports of production equipment and raw materials, as well as efforts by the Sanya International Yacht Center to explore cross-border routes with Malaysia.
Hashtag: #Hainan
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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9. “AI Is Shifting From Understanding to Getting Things Done”: China Telecom’s TeleAgent Hits 1.5 Million Users
October 10, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
“TeleAgent marks the shift of AI from understanding what is said to getting things done,” said Liu Guiqing. China Telecom sees the 1.5 million-user milestone as evidence that autonomous AI agents capable of end-to-end task execution are transitioning from conceptual showcases into large-scale enterprise adoption.
TeleAgent is built by China Telecom AI Technology Co. (TeleAI) as a native AI application for the workplace, serving individual professionals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large state-owned conglomerates. An enterprise SaaS edition supports multi-device collaboration and scenario customisation, while a private-deployment edition released in mid-August keeps models and data entirely within customers’ local, sovereign environments.
Its skill marketplace has expanded from roughly 40,000 to more than 50,000 skills—99% of which were built directly by end users solving real-world productivity challenges, reflecting a highly active user-generated ecosystem.
TeleAgent runs natively on Windows, macOS and leading Chinese enterprise operating systems including Kylin OS and UnionTech OS (UOS), requiring no complex server setup for individual users. Users can simply drag and drop files into the workspace and let the agent handle end-to-end execution.
Early users are seeing tangible business impact. In an in-depth survey of key enterprise pilot and power users, 90% reported that the agent has become integral to their daily routines, with document drafting, industry research and automated data analysis accounting for more than half of all usage. Seventy-nine percent cited significant productivity gains, and 35% noted the tool exceeded expectations. TeleAgent scored a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 62.9. Among the 74% of surveyed respondents who had previously utilized rival platforms, 89% rated TeleAgent on par with market leaders, while 16% rated it superior.
Real-world deployments demonstrate dramatic workflow compression. A consulting analyst noted that a recurring quarterly task—previously requiring exports of over 20 reports from five disparate systems and half a day of manual data cleaning and charting—now takes five minutes: users upload raw data, state objectives, and receive finalized reports with interactive charts.
Within China Telecom, a regional sales and channel operations unit leveraged the agent during a major commercial campaign to cut daily cross-system consolidation from hours to minutes, automating report distribution entirely.
China Telecom frames TeleAgent’s competitive edge around three core pillars: Security, Efficiency, and Results.
* Security: Built from the ground up with carrier-grade protection, TeleAgent implements a four-layer defence loop covering perception, reasoning, execution and memory. A lightweight security sandbox strictly isolates file access. The product has achieved certifications by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and cleared 99.7% of the 336 threat evaluation scenarios conducted by QiAnXin and other leading security vendors.
* Efficiency & Token Economics: TeleAgent leverages China Telecom’s own Xingchen multimodal foundation model and its integrated “five-in-one” intelligent cloud. This end-to-end control enables China Telecom to pioneer new “Token-based operations”—employing an intelligent model router to direct requests to the most cost-effective foundation models while utilizing context compression to minimize latency and inference costs.
* Results: Tuned specifically for Chinese-language workplace workflows—especially complex spreadsheets, briefings, and presentations—TeleAgent incorporates persistent long-term memory that adapts to user habits over time. In IDC’s technical evaluation of Chinese enterprise-grade general-purpose agent products, TeleAgent scored 6.85 and ranked in the top three nationwide, with cost efficiency, security and task performance well above industry benchmarks.
TeleAgent serves as the enterprise flagship for China Telecom’s unified group-wide agent architecture. At its core is the “Xing Xiaochen” agent hub, which drives multimodal intent recognition, task planning, and tool orchestration under a “build once, reuse across the network” framework.
To date, China Telecom has integrated ecosystem capabilities across navigation (AutoNavi/AMap), corporate travel (Umetrip), lifestyle, and weather, with 60 agent applications from 44 external partners currently undergoing technical integration.
From individual productivity to complex corporate workflows, professionals across marketing, engineering, legal, and consulting are delegating routine paperwork, ledger consolidation, and contract risk reviews to TeleAgent.
Looking forward, China Telecom aims to extend these agentic capabilities across broader enterprise ecosystems, partnering through China Telecom Global to empower multinational organizations with secure, localized, and intelligent digital transformation.
Hashtag: #ChinaTelecom
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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10. KPLASS Singapore Officially Launches Its Far-Infrared Patches in Vietnam
October 9, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Combining far-infrared (FIR) technology with traditional medicine acupoint principles, KPLASS introduces convenient, drug-free and non-invasive wellness solutions for Vietnamese families.
(left to right) Far-Infrared Cough Relief Patch (Adult), Far-Infrared Cough Relief Patch (Child), Far-Infrared Pain Relief Patch (Neck and Shoulder) and Far-Infrared Pain Relief Patch (Joint and Muscles).
Far-infrared technology meets acupoint therapy: A wellness solution from Singapore
KPLASS distinguishes itself through its combination of far-infrared (FIR) technology and the principles of acupoint stimulation in traditional medicine. By applying FIR technology at selected acupoints, KPLASS products are designed to help alleviate common discomforts, including cough symptoms, neck and shoulder pain, and muscle and joint aches.
Unlike conventional heat pads that provide surface warmth, Far Infrared rays penetrate deeper layers of the skin and help in blood circulation and other bodily functions. When applied to acupoints, the patch is activated to emit gentle heat through the acupoints that could improve blood flow, reduce inflammation and provide relief from through a non-invasive method.
Compact, easy to use, drug-free and non-invasive, KPLASS patches offer a flexible approach to everyday wellness that complements modern lifestyles.
Four KPLASS product lines make their debut in Vietnam
At its Vietnam launch, KPLASS is introducing four far-infrared patch product lines developed to address the wellness needs of different family members:
- Far-Infrared Cough Relief Patch (Adult)
- Far-Infrared Cough Relief Patch (Child)
- Far-Infrared Pain Relief Patch (Neck and Shoulder)
- Far-Infrared Pain Relief Patch (Joint and Muscles)
Beyond the four product lines making their debut in Vietnam, KPLASS plans to further expand its portfolio with additional products featuring advanced infrared technology. The company aims to address a broader range of wellness needs and deliver practical, convenient solutions for Vietnamese families.
A Singapore brand backed by 25 years of research and development
Building on its parent company’s 25 years of experience in research, development and manufacturing, KPLASS has achieved several notable milestones in international markets. These include recognition as the Best-Selling Cough Patch at Watsons Singapore in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026, as well as the Best Seller Award from Guardian Singapore and Unity in 2026.
At Osaka World Expo 2025, KPLASS received further three honours: the Special Honour Product and Innovative Product Award, Distinguished Manufacturer Award and Outstanding Contribution Award. These accolades mark important milestones in the brand’s development and reflect its continued commitment to innovation and technology-driven wellness solutions.
Michael Hu, Founder and CEO of KPLASS Singapore, said:
“Our recognition at Osaka World Expo reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation in health and wellness. By combining far-infrared technology with acupoint therapy, we aim to provide safe and effective patches for a wide range of users. We remain focused on expanding access to our products across the Asia-Pacific region.”
SAV appointed exclusive distributor of KPLASS in Vietnam
Through its partnership with SAV Trading Joint Stock Company, KPLASS is progressively building its authorised distribution network in Vietnam. Its far-infrared patch products will reach consumers through pharmacies, mother-and-baby stores, e-commerce platforms and other retail channels.
KPLASS’s entry into Vietnam broadens the range of technology-enabled wellness products available to consumers, helping meet the evolving needs of Vietnamese families.
For more information about KPLASS and its products, visit www.kplass.sg.
http://www.kplass.sg
Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1veLGRK3K1Z7x2FzKAsmbXsLBPKPCD6M7?usp=sharing
Hashtag: #KPLASS #FarInfrared #Technology #Health
About KPLASS
KPLASS is a Singapore brand using leading edge of technology and healthcare innovation to alleviate daily body discomforts. It uses the Far Infrared technology, which is natural, safe and effective that helps to relieve the cough symptoms and various body pains. Backed by 25 years of R&D and manufacturing competency of its parent company, the marketing and offering are differentiated by combined Infrared technology and TCM Acupoints in everyday health care solutions that is drug free, non-invasive and thus convenient and user-friendly. Bring home the Infrared treatment at your comfort and convenience.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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