AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 24, 2026 – Full Text
1. Winston Peters: “Old Parties’ Fiscal Policy Devoid of Economic Strategy”
August 23, 2026
Source: New Zealand First
Today ladies and gentlemen we will discuss what we are going to do, but first let’s discuss what we have to deal with.
We must not forget what we inherited just three short years ago from an economically destructive and morally bereft Labour government, that left this country in an economic and social mess.
We inherited a broken economy, a fractured society, and a country on a road to social disaster.
New Zealand’s debt skyrocketed, there were multiple policies with no allocated funding, racist co-governance and woke ideology had spread into legislation and throughout the public sector, universities, government departments, and schools – and ramraid after ramraid of ordinary shopping centres.
On their own, Labour had simply run roughshod over our country.
Labour left us:
· A crumbling, underfunded, overwhelmed Health System.
An education system that had seen:
- · a record number of children not attending school
- · a record number of children failing basic standards
- · an unmanageable number of schools without adequate classrooms, and
A Defence Force that had lost more than a third of its personnel over Labour’s three years.
An undermanned Police Force:
- · haemorrhaging officers to Australia,
- · massive shortages in recruitment,
- · massive increases in crime, and
- · youth ramraids and violence that was simply out of control.
Gang numbers that ballooned over the three years.
A cost-of-living crisis.
A housing crisis with skyrocketing prices and unprecedented numbers living in emergency hotels. Remember the Labour promise 100,000 new Kiwi-Build houses in ten years?
They left us a rate of child poverty even higher than when in 2021 Jacinda Ardern made herself the ‘Minister of Child Poverty’.
A mental health system that had seen more and more young people suffering with no help.
Crumbling infrastructure around the country with no plan, no funding, and no idea.
An unprecedented, uncontrollable level of immigration – over 133,000 entering in 2023 alone.
And during Covid, Labour left large numbers of people ostracised, demonised, shutdown and shutout, ignored and cancelled – all because those people fought for their right to say ‘no, we disagree.’
And they are hoping we have all forgotten about all of that.
They are now actively banking on working with the wacky Greens and racist mess of the Māori Party. Labour care more about the seats that will give them a road to power, rather than the danger of who it is that will fill those seats.
The Labour Party of just twenty years ago would never entertain working with the likes of those in the current Greens or Māori Party. Those two parties are self-confessed Marxists and separatists, who have unworkable dangerous policies, and care more about globalist woke ideology and geopolitical wars happening ten thousand miles away than understanding the real world here in New Zealand.
A Labour, Greens, Māori Party, Opportunity government would be a total disaster for our country.
The reality is, Labour long ago deserted the traditional blue-collar workers of New Zealand.
The movement of the party to the far left has caused longtime Labour voters to feel abandoned by a party that once stood for the ‘ordinary hard-working kiwi’.
Instead, Labour now cares more about ‘social justice’ issues, socialist economics, and cultural separatism.
That is why we ruled out working with Labour before the last election and why we are again ruling out working with the Labour Party in 2026.
For those voters thinking of changing the government, we suggest they carefully look at the four parties on the left, have a good look at their track record, then view the list of changes they want to make to New Zealand, and then ask this question – are these changes possible without inflicting irreversible harm on New Zealand.
And we mean all four of the parties on the left because they will all be needed to form a government.
It is not just a vote for Labour, or just a vote for the Greens, or just a vote for the Māori Party, or just a vote for the Opportunity Party.
They will all be needed to form a four-headed government combination the type we have never seen in this country’s history.
Because within these four groups are communists, separatists and worse still they are all globalists. Which is a sure fire toxic concoction to turn our country into the Venezuela or Myanmar of the South Pacific.
That is not an exaggeration.
We cannot be more serious in our warning that those parties of the left would destroy the New Zealand we know. Our values, our character, our economy, and our society.
In an interview last week, Ryan Bridge asked the Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi why the Māori Seats are needed when this current government has the highest number of Māori in Cabinet on record – that’s even more Māori in Cabinet than when Labour and the Greens were in power.
Do you know what Rawiri said?
“They may have whakapapa Māori, but they’re not kaupapa Māori based MPs.”
You know what that means don’t you? That Rawiri thinks that you’re the wrong kind of Māori if you don’t agree with what Rawiri thinks.
Here is someone leading a party that purports to ‘represent Māori interests’ in our country, yet only received three percent of the vote – out of a claimed seventeen percent population of Māori in New Zealand. That means less than one in eight Māori even voted for the Māori Party, so who do they represent exactly?
What is worse, is the Māori Party are now actively campaigning against people giving their party vote to the Māori Party.
They are wanting to manipulate the Māori vote by telling people to party vote for some other party on the left.
This is after giving everyone a lecture for decades on the importance of an independent Māori vote, and why other Māori MPs are not Māori enough.
All they have done is treat Māori with disdain, turn up to parliament once a month, and do a haka now and again in the House.
And who wants to sit with them at Cabinet with their extremist views? The Labour Party.
Another party the Labour Party wants to work with is the shiny new Opportunity Party.
The Opportunity Party wants homeowners to pay 1.75% of your home’s land value every year, that’s on top of your local rates.
Now you will have to pay an annual rent to the government.
And what did the leader of the Opportunity Party say when questioned about a couple on the pension, who worked hard and saved all their lives, bought a house for their future and their children’s future, who would now, under Opportunity Party, face a $20k land tax bill every year? She said, yes, they will have to downsize their house to afford it.
This is blisteringly ignorant. But it gets worse.
Because, do you know what that money would be used for?
The $20k for an old couple on the pension? Infrastructure? Health? Education? Fuel security? Or food prices? No.
The $20k of land tax taken from the old couple, will be used to give everyone in New Zealand, working or not, a Universal Basic Income of $19,400 a year – for free, for life, even if you’re doing nothing.
Opportunity Party calls this ‘fairness’.
New Zealand First calls it ‘communism’.
The question is, what are you as the voter, going to call it?
The Opportunity Party also wants to raise the youth court age to twenty-five years of age – however, when they were questioned on that, they quickly deleted the 25 year court age from their website and then said they haven’t figured out the new court age yet.
Something Opportunity also changed, only when they were found out, was that their constitution that stated the unelected board could veto caucus decisions. The leader, on television, revealed that she didn’t even know there was such a provision.
Their ‘redistribution of wealth’ and bludging tax policy doesn’t stack up, their ridiculous view on law and order doesn’t stack up, and their policy to intrench Te Tiriti into law along with a Māori Upper House in parliament is worse than the Māori Party’s racist policies.
The mainstream media promoted Opportunity Party campaign is falling apart everyday – just ask the Labour Party leader Helen Clark.
But who wants to sit across from them in Cabinet? The Labour Party.
As for the Green Party, they have proven themselves to be the nutbars they always were.
The Greens want an $88 billion debt increase, and have a new policy bribe to give $2.4 billion to Marae – without any oversight or audit.
If you’re a Māori in this room today, tell us honestly, what does that reflect about what they think of you?
This is inverse racism of the worst sort. They think they can use a bribe to get your vote. Does that reflect respect for you or sheer contempt?
The Greens care more about a geopolitical war happening ten thousand miles away that they know nothing about, than they do about what is happening in their own country.
The are obsessed with race, gender, pronouns, and protests, performative politics, virtue signalling, and woke cancel culture, and they have lost sight of what their party once stood for.
They are no longer worried about the environment like Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons once were – they have turned into a bunch of weirdo globalists who like to sanctimoniously lecture people – while wearing costumes from some other country.
And who wants to sit across the Cabinet table with them? The Labour Party.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the stark truth. The Labour Party that you once knew, perhaps even supported, is no more.
That party is gone. All of these polices and parties they are willing to support are proof of that.
Can you imagine Helen Clark or Michael Cullen, or Bob Tizard or Peter Frazer signing up to this?
These parties on the left are not people who see New Zealand as one people, one country, one flag, one law, or who believe in fundamental kiwi values like hard work, ambition, and personal responsibility.
These are people who believe in a separatist society, and who want to borrow, tax, and spend – but have zero economic credentials, or even vision, to deliver growth.
Chris Hipkins and Labour are willing to work with parties like Opportunity, Greens, and the Māori Party because Labour care more about the number of seats that will give them power, rather than the danger of who it is they will share power with.
Ladies and gentlemen, part of New Zealand First’s mission is to keep these dangerous lefties out of power.
New Zealand Needs Bold Policies
A country that does not control its energy, essential infrastructure, banking competition, or strategic supply chains cannot control the cost of living.
There is only one political party in parliament that understands that and that party is New Zealand First.
That’s why we have announced practical, logical and workable policies to break up the power companies’ monopoly, and drive power prices down.
We have announced practical, logical and workable policies to split the supermarket duopoly, and drive food prices down.
We have announced practical, logical, and workable polices to re-establish a competitive New Zealand owned state bank, to drive banking charges down.
We have announced polices to return mining royalties, created in the regions, back to the regions.
We have announced establishing a proper transparent inquiry into those who were injured by the Covid 19 vaccine – so we can find out exactly what happened, who was responsible, and publicly hold them to account.
And we are going to further inquire into how over 311,000 twelve to seventeen year olds got the second vaccine when the then Prime Minister Ardern, and two Ministers in charge Hipkins and Verrill, were advised not to.
Ladies and gentlemen, the fact that this is not headlining in the mainstream media or in parliament is testimony to how the establishment, media and political, almost completely conformed to the “podium of truth”.
The reason why you aren’t seeing any headlines is that both the media and politicians are exposed to their wanton compliance and obedience in how they mislead the public of New Zealand – this is a conspiracy.
We are going to expose the cover-up on this issue by the other political parties and the establishment who all signed a document not to talk to the protesters.
KiwiSaver and Future Fund
We announced our KiwiSaver policy of making it compulsory with automatic $1000 sign-up at birth. It means the day a baby is born it gets $1000 in its account to start saving.
We have announced our policy is to establish a $100 billion Future Fund that will invest in a thirty-year infrastructure plan for our country. And that’s where we are going to get the money to build the projects that we promise in our country.
Paris Agreement
We have also announced that we will pull out of the failing Paris Agreement that is senselessly hamstringing our economy.
Loose Electoral Laws
New Zealand has one of the loosest electoral laws in the world, and that is why we have announced a policy to ensure that by 2029 only citizens are allowed to vote in our country.
Making NZ Energy Independent
At our Campaign Launch, we announced a policy to invest $1billion to start exploring our gas and oil reserves in our deep-sea basins so we can own and export our own oil and gas – we need to be independent from events like in the Strait of Hormuz.
We have announced the ‘Kiwi Kids Grant’ that will support New Zealand citizens raising their first three children, through the first three years of their lives – $5000 per child for each of the three years.
We have also announced New Zealand First is proposing changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act to incentivise investment in value-added dairy manufacturing in New Zealand.
We are giving certainty for any business willing to manufacture dairy products in New Zealand.
We want industry in New Zealand. If investors want to invest more in higher-value manufacturing, then our economic settings should welcome them.
Build the factories. Build the brands. Take New Zealand dairy products to the world.
Experience Matters Most
New Zealand First started our long campaign in March this year and we have been packing the halls around the country every week delivering the message to thousands of kiwis that we are focussed on two things – bold policies our country needs for a real change, and the fight for ordinary hard working kiwis against the establishment, the elites, and the status quo.
Experience and leadership has never mattered more.
We need leaders of the next government to say the things that people are thinking without fear or favour – even the things that might be unpopular.
New Zealand needs strong leadership who are not afraid to be strong on important issues.
And we don’t need weak leaders who don’t understand New Zealand values.
We can’t go on allowing the two old parties to tinker round the edges of big issues and do nothing but manage the decline of our country.
These two old parties have spent the last forty years arguing over fiscal or spending policy whilst having no economic strategy to grow New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product, to lift your wages and your standard of living.
The old parties’ fiscal policies have been devoid of economic strategy.
Only one party has an understanding of the economic strategy that is required, even to the extent to when we criticised the then National Party’s spending policy and lack of economic strategy, the New Zealand First leader was expelled from the National Party caucus.
Value of Citizenship
New Zealand needs to start viewing our citizenship as most other countries around the world do – as a privilege that comes with special and unique rights.
This does not take away from migrants the ability to move here and help build our country, from showing total commitment and patriotism for New Zealand by becoming a citizen.
We have massively allowed so many of our standards to drop.
Even the most basic of privileges and rights in any country like voting has in our country become more like an expectation for anyone, rather than a unique right for New Zealanders.
Ladies and gentlemen, why do so many ‘apologetic globalists’ act shocked and dismayed that a political party is wanting to ensure that citizenship actually mean something?
There is a difference in this election. Kiwis are looking at what parties are offering as their values and principles in these uncertain times.
NZFirst Party of Conservatism, Patriotism, Nationalism
We signed a coalition agreement to govern with stability and experience three years ago – and we have kept our word.
New Zealand First brings what is too often missing in politics – experience and common sense.
New Zealand First brings a commitment to New Zealand industry, to manufacturing, to jobs right here for our own people.
Immigration Policy
New Zealand First brings commonsense to immigration policy – where we allow in people that we need, not people who need us.
We believe in infrastructure before imported population growth, not afterwards, and infrastructure focused on fixing what’s broken, not flash upgrades and vanity projects.
And we believe in policies that despite immigration preserve the pre-eminence of our culture – and not the threat that we are seeing overseas of imported cultures taking over New Zealand.
New Zealand First fights for traditional kiwi conservative values – where hard work should be rewarded, where job security and home ownership underpins a stable family life.
We want a country where young people aren’t worried about their family’s future, or where they see better opportunities overseas.
We in 2023 inherited an economic nightmare. But too few government members understood that.
We knew the economic crisis would take years to fix. Our coalition colleagues said they could fix it in three years – and hence the public’s confusion as to what is happening now.
This pivotal election voters want to hear a clear and unified message.
First, to turn the economy around and that we are going to win, and take New Zealand back to being a leading economy again.
Challenging the Status Quo
The greatest threat to this blind ideology, to social elitism, and to the status quo, is New Zealand First.
And the country we are defending is called New Zealand – it’s in our party’s name.
We are asking you to make a choice with our future generations in mind.
Take back control from the Wellington bubble.
Take back control from those who choose to be CV politicians, where they are here one day, “no more gas in the tank”, and are gone the next – taking with them a rolodex of international jobs, speaking circuits, or book tours, looking back over their shoulder at New Zealand’s decline – which they caused.
New Zealand First, from our launch thirty-three years ago, has been battling that elitist status quo. No one can deny that. On issue after issue that needed public exposure, the rest remain silent. When others wouldn’t raise a finger, we have raised the roof.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, we are all here because we love our country, and we are proud of it.
True democracy is a rare flower in the history of humanity.
Down thousands of years living in democracy with freedom is not common.
We have inherited a free country that our forebears fought and died for, and it’s our job to preserve it.
But only if we are proud of what we have inherited can we come together and move forward to shape the vision of our country’s future.
We live in a country that, at its core, traditional New Zealand values once saw us amongst the world’s leaders – hard work, fair pay, valuing our citizenship, building a sense of community, and knowing who we are as kiwis.
We must remember, New Zealand is the beneficiary of Western values, democracy, and the rule of law. And the advancement and enhancement of those principles have only occurred in those societies that have united together as one people – and who celebrate their nationhood instead of perpetuating division.
There is a lot of uncertainty around the world and at home, but we must keep hope alive that, with hard work and perseverance, tomorrow will be better.
New Zealand First is nationalist, patriotic, and socially conservative values that we fight for.
It hasn’t been easy – but things in life worth doing never are.
We must never forget that challenge.
We must never stop believing in New Zealand.
That is our vision and that is our mission.
To protect, to save, and to restore New Zealand’s place at the top of the world.
By putting New Zealand and New Zealanders first.
We are asking you to join us – and Party Vote New Zealand First.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/23/winston-peters-old-parties-fiscal-policy-devoid-of-economic-strategy/
Back to index · Read original article
2. 40 Teams Gather in Hong Kong to Compete in the “AI x Cybersecurity Challenge”
August 23, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Autonomous AI Attack-and-Defence Demonstrates Next-Generation Cybersecurity Talent and Advance Regional Digital Security Talent Development
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2026 – The AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, and China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, and co-organised by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Venustech Group Inc., and Hong Kong Cloud Peak Technology Co., Limited, held the Finals today.
Following a 12-hour online qualifying round, a total of 40 teams advanced to the Final Competition, including 20 teams from the Chinese Mainland, 18 from Hong Kong, and two from overseas regions. The Challenge adopts an innovative AI-Driven Dual (AID) competition format, in which artificial intelligence (AI) executes the competition and enables autonomous defence by AI agents. Teams of up to three members showcase their capabilities in leveraging AI technologies for automated vulnerability discovery and exploitation, competing for total prize money of HK$180,000.
The event brings together representatives from Government, industry, academia and research organisations to witness the latest developments in AI-powered cybersecurity innovation. Officiating guests at the Opening Ceremony included Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr LI Shuguang, Director-General of the General Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr WANG Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, Mr Daniel CHEUNG, JP, Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr WANG Minwei, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province, Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, and Ms SHI Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that AI is reshaping every aspect of people’s life at a breathtaking speed. He noted that although innovation may at times bring new threats, these same technologies can also spur defensive capabilities. As such, the Government champions an “AI versus AI” strategy, leveraging AI to forge the strongest shields to effectively manage risks associated with the use of AI.
Professor Sun added that the Government is continuously strengthening related policies, guidelines and ethical frameworks, as well as conducting regular cyber-attack-and-defence drills to better prepare for cybersecurity readiness. Through multi-pronged efforts, the Government hopes to guide society to apply AI responsibly, foster a healthy ecosystem, and strengthen city-wide resilience in face of cyber attacks.
Addressing AI-Era Cybersecurity Challenges Through Talent Development
The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping the global cybersecurity landscape. AI has evolved from a supporting tool for security analysis and threat monitoring into a technology capable of autonomously constructing attack chains and bypassing existing defence mechanisms. This has significantly lowered the technical barriers to cyberattacks, making sophisticated attack techniques more automated and accessible. Threat actors can leverage AI for intelligent vulnerability discovery, automated penetration testing, and even the creation of highly convincing deepfake content, enabling stealthier and more persistent cyberattacks.
As emerging threats such as model security risks, data poisoning, model theft, phishing attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities and automated exploitation continue to evolve, the demand for interdisciplinary talent with expertise in both AI and cybersecurity is becoming increasingly urgent. In response, the organisers aim to promote the practical application of AI technologies through this hands-on competition while cultivating a new generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped with cross-disciplinary expertise.
AI-Driven Attack-and-Defence Competition Platform
Unlike traditional Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, this year’s Challenge adopts an innovative AI-Driven (AID) competition format. Participating teams leverage AI-powered automated systems to analyse the competition environment provided by the organisers, identify vulnerabilities and exploit them. The automated capabilities of the AI agents include information gathering, vulnerability discovery and flag submission. The competition environment incorporates both vulnerabilities found in real-world scenarios and simulated zero-day vulnerabilities that may exist in software systems.
The challenge design draws on concepts from international cybersecurity competitions and incorporates practical operating scenarios as well as simulated zero-day attack-and-defence environments, testing participants’ ability to apply AI technologies to real-world cybersecurity challenges. The Challenge aims to enhance participants’ practical attack-and-defence experience and innovation capabilities, promote the research and application of AI security technologies, and nurture a new generation of cybersecurity talent equipped with both strategic vision and practical expertise. Through these efforts, the competition seeks to strengthen capabilities in addressing AI-driven cyber threats.
Government, Industry, Academia and Research Communities Join Forces to Advance AI Security
This year’s Challenge brings together stakeholders from government, industry and research institutions to drive innovation in AI security technologies, strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and cultivate future talent.
Mr Wang Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, said, “AI technologies are reshaping the global cyber attack-and-defence landscape. While they lower the barriers to cyberattacks, they also drive the evolution of security protection from reactive response to proactive and intelligent defence. In this technological contest, using technology to counter technology has become an inevitable trend. By focusing on practical AI attack-and-defence capabilities, this competition aims to identify emerging talent and contribute to building a more trustworthy and intelligent cyberspace.”
Ms Shi Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, said, “As one of the organisers of this competition, China Mobile Hong Kong has devoted substantial resources to building an innovative AI attack-and-defence competition platform. Through continuous technology investment and ecosystem development, we actively fulfil our corporate social responsibility while showcasing Hong Kong’s innovation and leadership in AI cybersecurity to the world.”
Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, concluded, “AI-driven cyberattacks and agentic AI-related risks have emerged as some of the most significant cybersecurity threats today. Against this backdrop, cultivating interdisciplinary talent with expertise in AI system design, development and practical attack-and-defence capabilities has become an important pillar in strengthening Hong Kong’s overall cyber resilience.”
The Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held in late September 2026 during the China Cybersecurity Week to recognise teams that have demonstrated outstanding performance in the competition. The organisers encourage enterprises and organisations to continuously strengthen their cybersecurity governance, regularly review information system risks, enhance data protection measures and improve cyber incident response capabilities. Young talents are also encouraged to pursue opportunities in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, developing their expertise through training, professional certifications and hands-on competitions. Members of the public and organisations may also make use of the cybersecurity information, training programmes and support services provided by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and other relevant organisations, helping to foster a safer, more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.
Please download the high-res photos HERE.
Photo Captions:
| 1. The Finals of the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge. |
| 2. Officiating guests, including Dr Rocky CHENG, JP, President of the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association,Mr Daniel CHEUNG, JP, Acting Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr LI Shuguang, Director-General of the General Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Wang Jiang, Director-General of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, Mr WANG Minwei, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province and Ms Shi Xiaoping, Director and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (from left to right) preside over the launch ceremony of the AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, marking the official commencement of the competition. |
| 3. Officiating guests and representatives of the organisers and co-organisers, including Hong Kong Productivity Council, pose for a group photo at the Opening Ceremony, demonstrating their shared commitment to advancing innovation in AI and cybersecurity and nurturing regional AI security talent. |
| 4. Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivers a speech at the Opening Ceremony, pointing out that AI is reshaping every aspect of people’s life at a breathtaking speed. He noted that although innovation may at times bring new threats, these same technologies can also spur defensive capabilities. As such, the Government champions an “AI versus AI” strategy, leveraging AI to forge the strongest shields to effectively manage risks associated with the use of AI. |
| 5. The 40 finalist teams showcase innovative AI-driven cybersecurity technologies by independently designing and deploying autonomous AI agents to compete in a simulated attack-and-defence environment. |
About the Hong Kong Productivity Council
HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.
To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.
HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.
For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org/en.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Back to index · Read original article
3. PSA – Labour urged to commit to rolling back public service cuts
August 23, 2026
Source: PSA
Back to index · Read original article
4. MSF Statement on Israeli Military’s decision to deny a criminal investigation into MSF killings and injuries
August 21, 2026
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
21 August
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) strongly condemns the decision by the Israeli Military Advocate General (MAG) to close, without opening a criminal investigation, the cases MSF itself submitted for review: the multiple attacks on an MSF convoy in Gaza City in November 2023 that killed two, and the February 2024 strike on an MSF shelter in Khan Younis that killed two and injured six.
Unfortunately, this does not come as a surprise. These responses come nearly two years after MSF’s request was submitted, which was followed by a submission to the Israeli High Court of Justice challenging the MAG’s failure to provide any answer to our formal requests.
This is not justice. Two years of silence, followed by closures that raise more questions than they answer, is unacceptable. However, it is the predictable output of a military apparatus investigating itself: a system which has demonstrated itself unwilling to respond to the extent of violations that may amount to war crimes emerging from Gaza.
MSF staff and their family members are dead. Their names are known. Their locations were shared. Their vehicles were identified. We have always maintained that all elements point to a clear responsibility of the Israeli army for the deadly attacks. And yet, those responsible for their deaths have declined to pursue any criminal investigation.
With this decision, the MAG has made clear that there is no prospect of accountability within the Israeli legal system for the killing of our staff, just as there has been no accountability for Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians.
A total of 15 MSF staff members have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since October 2023. This is just a fraction of the 1,700 healthcare workers who have been killed in that time. Israeli forces continue to kill civilians with impunity, something these decisions by the MAG, make clear.
The decision to ‘close’ these incidents must be understood in their proper context: in Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Healthcare facilities have been destroyed. Humanitarian convoys have been struck. Journalists, medical personnel, UN personnel, and aid workers have been killed in numbers unprecedented in any recent conflict.
MSF reaffirms what it has stated since the beginning of this violence: there is no military objective that justifies the wholesale sacrifice of civilians. And there is no internal military review that can substitute for genuine, independent, and impartial accountability.
We demand that the cases involving our colleagues be reviewed by an impartial investigative body.
To our colleagues we have lost, and to the countless civilians and humanitarian workers who have perished in Gaza: we will not let your deaths be filed away as procedural inevitabilities. You deserved protection. You deserve justice.
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender.
Back to index · Read original article
5. Health (Offensive Trades Removal) Order 2026
August 20, 2026