AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for November 15, 2026 – Full Text

AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for November 15, 2026 – Full Text

Generated November 15, 2026 07:00 NZDT · Included sources: 3

1. Climate Change Minister heads to COP 31

November 14, 2026

Source: New Zealand Government

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to Antalya, Türkiye today to attend the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP31).

“It is in New Zealand’s national interest that all countries take meaningful climate action. COP31 is an opportunity for New Zealand to engage in international discussions on climate change and represent our national and regional interests,” Mr Watts says.

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Source: New Zealand Government

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to Antalya, Türkiye today to attend the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP31).

“New Zealand will also work alongside our Pacific partners through the COP31 Pacific Partnership to ensure the region’s priorities are reflected in international climate discussions.”

As well as participating in the Summit’s formal agenda, Mr Watts will meet with ministerial counterparts from around the world.

New Zealand is participating at COP31 in line with the relevant caretaker convention provisions.

“Labour Party MP Rachel Brooking will also attend as part of the Ministerial delegation.” Mr Watts says.

Mr Watts departs New Zealand on Saturday 14 November and returns on Friday 20 November.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/11/14/climate-change-minister-heads-to-cop-31/

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2. 11 Boutique Xinjiang Wineries to Debut in Singapore

November 14, 2026

Source: Media Outreach

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The launch programme includes a one-day trade exhibition, Master of Wine masterclass and Michelin-starred pairing dinner, highlighting Xinjiang terroir.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 November 2026 – Eleven boutique wineries from China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will make their collective Singapore debut on Nov. 19 & 20. This campaign, titled “Xinjiang Wine: A World of Chinese Terroir”, will introduce Southeast Asian sommeliers, importers and fine wine collectors to 68 labels spanning four distinct Xinjiang viticultural subregions.

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Source: Media Outreach

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The launch programme includes a one-day trade exhibition, Master of Wine masterclass and Michelin-starred pairing dinner, highlighting Xinjiang terroir.

Organized by the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region alongside campaign lead Up-Chinese Wine (UCW) and strategic partners Vinexpo Asia and Jin Ting Wan Chinese Restaurant, the tripartite initiative aims to establish an international trade platform bridging production with distribution, expand on-trade dining channels and elevate the regional identity of Xinjiang wine across Southeast Asia.

The showcase features 68 core labels—including 60 domestic and international award winners—presented across three invitation-only trade and gastronomic sessions:

Nov. 19 — Gala Pairing Dinner: Hosted at Singapore’s Michelin-starred Jin Ting Wan Chinese Restaurant overlooking Marina Bay, the opening dinner pairs one flagship vintage from each of the 11 participating wineries with bespoke Cantonese fine dining. Jin Ting Wan head sommelier Joe Yang, recipient of the 2026 Michelin Guide Singapore Sommelier Award, will spearhead an ongoing initiative to integrate Xinjiang vintages into the restaurant’s wine program.
Nov. 20 — Regional Masterclass: Master of Wine Xing Wei, who curated the lineup for both the gala dinner and educational programming, will lead an analytical masterclass examining the viticultural evolution, macroclimates, soil compositions and varietal profiles of Xinjiang’s four primary wine-producing subregions.
Nov. 20 — Trade Exhibition and Walk-Around Tasting: Open by invitation to certified sommeliers, wine importers, distributors, high-end restaurateurs, trade media and collectors, the exhibition enables side-by-side comparative tastings across all 68 labels and 60 award winning wines.

Government Backing and Market Expansion The Singapore debut follows seven policy measures issued by the General Office of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to modernize the regional wine sector. The directives focus on upgrading vineyard grape bases, expanding corporate vinification and processing infrastructure, strengthening regional brand equity, advancing wine tourism and industry integration, reinforcing viticultural research and expanding financial guarantees for overseas market entry.

Concurrently, an official delegation from the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will conduct market research in Singapore—evaluating local consumption patterns, import regulations and distribution networks—while meeting with major importers, restaurant groups and trade associations to build long-term commercial partnerships.

Four Distinct Terroirs of the Tianshan Mountains Fed by glacial snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang’s vineyards span vast geographic distances north and south of the range, producing contrasting mesoclimates and varietal expressions:

Turpan-Hami (Tu-Ha) Basin: Characterized by an arid, high-heat continental climate suited to ripe, concentrated styles.
Yanqi Basin: Naturally moderated by surrounding mountains and nearby lake systems that temper seasonal extremes.
Northern Slopes of the Tianshan Mountains: Home to Xinjiang’s largest wine-producing cluster and a center for modern, large-scale experimental viticulture.
Ili Valley: Uniquely tempered by warm, humid Atlantic airflows that create a markedly distinct growing environment.

Participating Wineries The 11 exhibiting producers representing all four subregions are:

Turpan-Hami Basin

Puchang Vineyard

Yanqi Basin

Château Aroma
Tiansai Vineyards
Bainian Manor
Château Zhong Fei

Northern Foothills of Tianshan Mountains

Château Xianghai
Château Lixuan
Yaochixiye Winery
Tangting Xialu Winery

Ili River Valley

Silk Road Vineyards
Château Crescent

Notes to Editors: Two Millennia of Silk Road Viticulture
Modern Xinjiang producers combine contemporary vineyard management, clonal selection, terroir mapping and international winemaking technology with a viticultural history spanning more than 2,000 years. Historically known as the Western Regions (Xiyu), Xinjiang served as a primary conduit for the east-west exchange of Vitis vinifera and winemaking craft along the overland Silk Road.

Between the third and second centuries B.C., winemaking techniques crossed the Pamir Plateau into oasis kingdoms north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, including Niya, Kucha (Qiuci), Karasahr (Yanqi) and Gaochang. Archaeological discoveries—such as a 2,300-year-old grapevine unearthed at the Yanghai Tombs in Shanshan County, Turpan, and painted pottery bearing grape motifs in Hejing County—date local viticulture prior to imperial envoy Zhang Qian’s 138 B.C. diplomatic expedition, which introduced Vitis vinifera varieties from Dayuan to the Han court. Subsequent artifacts, including Loulan and Astana tomb murals depicting vineyard cultivation and wine pressing, Gaochang tax ledgers recording vineyard acreage and wine levies, and Tang dynasty records of Gaochang tribute wines sent to Chang’an, document an unbroken regional winemaking lineage.

Hashtag: #XinjiangWine

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

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

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3. News Lounge Comes to Türkiye, Fostering Dialogue Across Borders

November 14, 2026

Source: Media Outreach

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ANTALYA, TURKEY – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 November 2026 – News Lounge, the flagship program of China News Service, welcomed its first group of international guests since its overseas debut in Türkiye on Tuesday on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya.

The side event Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice is held at the China Pavilion on Nov.10, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31). (Photo: Wang Qingkai, Xu Junjie)

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Source: Media Outreach

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Themed Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice and held at China Pavilion, the side event was jointly hosted by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and China News Service, with the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and China News Network serving as co-organizers.

At the event, Huang Runqiu, minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, delivered remarks. Li Gao, head of the Chinese Delegation to COP31, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, presided over the speech session. Hu Jun, director general of Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Yu Lan, deputy editor-in-chief of China News Service and president of China News Network, attended the event.

The international guests included Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Chris Bowen, COP31 President of Negotiations, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy; and Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

Drawing on their professional expertise, the international guests shared perspectives on global climate governance and discussed opportunities stemming from China’s green transition.

The scene was marked by dynamic exchanges across borders and disciplines. Participants agreed that global climate governance requires multilateral cooperation, and China’s ongoing ecological and energy transition offers actionable lessons for the world.

China’s contribution to global climate governance

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, spoke highly of China’s practical green transition efforts, saying China’s energy transition achievements are “like nowhere else on Earth.”

Stiell said China has long been a firm friend of multilateralism and consistently engaged across the UN’s broader agenda, notably UN Climate Change work, giving strong impetus to the steady advancement of global climate governance.

He observed that “China’s South-South cooperation has also supported the transition to clean energy and climate resilience in many developing countries.” China’s domestic energy transition has also spurred innovation and driven lower costs across the globe.

He singled out China’s commitment to strive for enhanced outcomes beyond its updated nationally determined contribution (NDC). To him, this shows great wisdom and foresight.

Stewart Maginnis, deputy director-general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, shared his views on China’s efforts to build an ecological civilization. From his observations, what truly impressed him about China’s ecological civilization is not merely a green agenda, but a strategic choice and a fundamental asset of coexistence.

“People can prosper without undermining the ecosystems that sustain them,” Maginnis said, adding that environmental protection and economic development need not compete in China.

Maginnis also praised China’s efforts in carrying out pioneering ecological work. China’s ecological restoration work covers not only forests, but also rivers and wetlands. It goes beyond tree planting to removing pressures that prevent ecosystems from effectively functioning, he said.

Economic opportunities in green and low-carbon development

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) took notice of the trend of electrification and said it is expanding to more areas in the world. He spoke highly of China’s pioneering efforts in energy transition, noting that China has achieved remarkable progress in electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery storage, and boasts competitive industrial chains covering hydropower, solar, wind power, energy storage and clean fuels.

During his visit to China in September 2026, he held discussions with relevant Chinese authorities and visited Tsinghua University. He was deeply impressed by China’s vibrant innovation momentum.

“The world is entering the electric age,” Birol stated, adding that advancing electrification brings multiple benefits: it boosts economic growth and safeguards energy security, while helping tackle climate change and improve air quality. China’s role in clean energy is indisputable and it has shown the way for the world. He called on all countries to build consensus and jointly set targets for electrification.

Beneath the electrification wave, the scale and cost of renewable energy supply remain a key market focus.

Chris Bowen, president of negotiations for COP31, highly recognized China’s key role in the global renewable energy transition. He also agreed that accelerating the renewable energy transition and electrification is the way forward in the face of increasing living costs driven up by the energy crisis, fossil fuel reliance and rising power demand from artificial intelligence.

Citing the IEA’s Renewables 2025 report, he said global renewable energy capacity will expand by 4,600 gigawatts between 2025 and 2030, with China standing pivotal thanks to its scale and influence. Bowen stated that China’s sustained investment in renewables and efforts to bring down solar and battery costs “support its own deep decarbonization while delivering benefits across the globe.”

Laura Clarke, chief executive officer of ClientEarth said that China in recent years has witnessed a remarkable green transition, becoming a global leader in green technology. Meanwhile, she also pointed out that China’s ambitions for ecological civilization and Beautiful China also have major global implications.

“China is also showing the major economic opportunities in green and low-carbon sectors,” commended Clarke. Additionally, Clarke noticed that the country is increasing partnerships with other countries, which will help advance the global green transition.

A people-centered just transition

As green technologies gain industrial momentum, their impacts on people’s daily lives and human health also merit attention.

Barbara Vrede, global head of Social Impact and Sustainability Strategy, Novartis, said human health and planetary health are closely linked. China is a key country where Novartis translates its global sustainability ambitions into local action.

Vrede highlighted Novartis’ Sichuan Forestry Carbon Sink, Community and Biodiversity Project, launched in 2010. The project has established nearly 4,000 hectares of forest and planted approximately 21 million trees, benefiting more than 4,200 households and over 18,000 residents while generating approximately 40 million yuan in labor income for local communities. “This experience has shown us that environmental action can create ecological, social and economic value,” Vrede said.

She expressed Novartis’ willingness to deepen cooperation with partners in China on ecological restoration, biodiversity protection and sustainable community development, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for people and the planet.

Yamide Dagnet, senior vice president, international, at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), described COP31 as an “implementation and transition COP,” emphasizing the need to translate climate commitments into concrete action. She stressed that climate action must put people at the center, improve lives, create opportunities and bring local communities along in the green transition.

Dagnet said the concept of a just transition aligns with the essence of China’s ecological civilization. Renewable energy can not only support the energy transition but also drive economic growth and shared prosperity.

She expressed hope that China’s green transition experience could offer useful insights to other countries through South-South cooperation, South-North cooperation and international exchanges, helping turn transition challenges into opportunities for shared prosperity and sustainable development.

Centered on climate issues, the dialogue leveraged international guests’ on-the-ground observations and first-hand accounts, translating China’s ecological progress into resonant narratives for a global audience.

Leveraging this event, News Lounge extended its reach to a major multilateral platform, marking a meaningful breakthrough in its international outreach.

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Hashtag: #NewsLounge

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

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

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