BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – During Donald Trump’s high-profile diplomatic visit to China, a state-level welcome banquet was hosted in Beijing, assembling global industry leaders from the semiconductors, consumer electronics, new energy and intelligent manufacturing sectors. Beyond diplomatic protocol, the banquet’s strategic seating arrangement sparked extensive industry discussion, with a dedicated elite tech table becoming the focal point of global industrial attention. Jia Shaoqian, Chairman of Hisense Group, was invited to the exclusive tech table, seated alongside iconic U.S. tech figures including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Tyson Jacob. The premium seating objectively validates Hisense’s worldwide technological prowess and authoritative industrial discourse power.

The high-end roundtable establishes a premium communication channel bridging Chinese manufacturing and U.S. hard technology. While U.S. representatives cover artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors and new energy vehicles, Hisense represents China’s sophisticated technology manufacturing with a multi-dimensional technological layout. Shattering the long-standing stereotype of a conventional home appliance maker, the company has built inimitable technological barriers in high-end display and smart home sectors, maintaining sustained technological iteration and undisputed global technological advantages in 2026.

Empowered by its end-to-end industrial chain capability, Hisense occupies an apex position in the global display industry. The company’s self-developed RGB-Mini LED technology achieves comprehensive leadership in R&D, mass production and technological iteration. Equipped with the pioneering Linglong 4-Core True Colour Backlight system and independently developed Hi-View AI image processing chip, Hisense’s 2026 latest UX series features 110% BT.2020 ultra-wide colour gamut, 10,000 nits peak brightness and 134-bit high-precision colour control, reproducing over 120 million distinct colours. With these innovations, Hisense now has a one-year technological head start over its competitors, enabling the enterprise to set industrial benchmarks and secure rule-making authority within the global display ecosystem.

Hisense remains an undisputed global pioneer in laser display technology, holding full independent intellectual property rights covering laser light sources, optical modules and terminal devices. Continuous investment in underlying optical research enables superior imaging performance with ultra-high contrast, eye-friendly visual comfort and wide colour gamut. The persistent technological edge reinforces Hisense’s dominant market share in the global laser TV industry, consolidating its status as an indispensable Chinese technological powerhouse in the high-end display landscape.

Beyond display technologies, Hisense expands its technological frontier in premium smart home appliances. The self-developed heat pump washing machine adopts an innovative four-in-one integrated heat pump structure, delivering low-temperature fabric-friendly washing and drying while significantly cutting energy consumption. As an original global energy-saving home appliance solution, it embodies Hisense’s green manufacturing philosophy and diversified R&D strength beyond display technology.

During the banquet, Jia Shaoqian engaged in in-depth dialogues with international tech elites regarding technological innovation, transnational industrial collaboration and eco-friendly intelligent manufacturing. The high-level face-to-face communication enhances mutual trust and cooperation potential between Chinese and U.S. technology enterprises. Adhering to a globalised development strategy, Hisense maintains steady overseas revenue and robust independent brand influence, with its technology-oriented products widely recognised across mainstream international markets.

The prestigious seating arrangement serves as compelling proof of global recognition for China’s high-end manufacturing industry. As a leading Chinese tech enterprise, Hisense has obtained equal diplomatic-level dialogue status within the world’s top technological circle. Moving forward, Hisense will consistently invest in independent R&D, continuously iterate RGB-Mini LED, laser display and heat pump appliance technologies, and actively explore global industrial cooperation. Committed to technological empowerment, Hisense will further strengthen the global influence and industrial voice of Chinese high-end manufacturing.

Visit hisense.sg to learn more about Hisense’s innovative products available now in Singapore.

Disclaimer: This article is an objective industrial observation without exaggerated promotional statements. All technical parameters are sourced from Hisense’s official 2026 product releases.

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A Pristine New Expression of Chef Vicky Cheng’s Culinary Excellence Arrives at the Award-Winning Luxury Resort

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• Military-connected social media accounts target activists with disinformation
• Online slurs precede intimidation and violent attacks against dissidents
• Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube allow harmful content to spread rapidly.

Coordinated disinformation campaigns portraying government critics as “foreign agents” are silencing dissent and fueling intimidation and violence under Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.

‘Building up Imaginary Enemies’ reveals a growing pattern in which Indonesian authorities – including the military – deploy online disinformation to target journalists, activists, academics and protesters in retaliation for their legitimate activism and expression.  Meanwhile, tech giants Meta, TikTok, X and YouTube have allowed harmful disinformation to remain online.

“Authoritarian practices have accelerated in Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto’s government. Amnesty’s research shows that in the 18 months since Prabowo took power, online disinformation has emerged as a key tactic to systematically discredit government critics, shut down public debate and justify repression – all while social media companies sit back and let it happen,” Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said.

“This disinformation is a political weapon, deployed to consolidate the government’s power when public criticism intensifies, while demonizing and weakening those who dare to speak out. By branding protesters, journalists and human rights defenders as ‘foreign agents’, Indonesia’s authorities and their supporters are deliberately shifting attention away from people’s legitimate grievances.”

Intent to deceive

Since President Prabowo took office in October 2024, there have been multiple waves of demonstrations in Indonesia, including against corruption, budget cuts, environmental degradation and expanded powers handed to the military. Prabowo and senior officials have responded by repeatedly and publicly accusing critics of being paid, manipulated and controlled by foreign interests, and framing dissent as orchestrated rather than legitimate.

This has been followed by a proliferation of “foreign agent” slurs against civil society actors online, often based on unsubstantiated claims that they want to “undermine” or “divide” Indonesia due to the fact they receive foreign funding or other support from overseas actors.

Under international law, civil society organizations and media outlets have the right to access international funding, which is often essential for exercising the right to freedom of association.

Amnesty International’s research found that campaigns disseminating false “foreign agent” allegations against civil society have in most instances involved hundreds of accounts acting in sync to post identical videos, graphics or messages in quick succession. This false information is then amplified across Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. Amnesty was able to infer from the coordinated nature of the campaigns that these accounts were spreading falsehoods with the intention to deceive, a key element of disinformation.

The implications for those branded as “foreign agents” are severe, with victims telling Amnesty it undermined their work and credibility, increased their risk of criminalization and exposed them to physical harm.

‘Your head will fall to the ground’

Digital disinformation campaigns have frequently spilled over into physical violence. In March 2026, Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was the victim of an acid attack in Jakarta, suffering severe chemical burns.

MIL OSI

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has successfully concluded its 2nd AI Film Festival (AIFF), held recently at the Shaw Auditorium. As one of the key events celebrating HKUST’s 35th anniversary, the two-day Festival brought together industry leaders, filmmakers, scholars, students, and members of the public to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining cinematic creativity and production.

This year’s AIFF saw an overwhelming global response, with over 1,300 submissions—almost double that of last year—from nearly 80 countries and regions. Following a rigorous evaluation by an international jury, a number of outstanding works were recognized across key award categories*. The Best Film Award was presented to The Afterlife of Aphrodite by Gabriela Cardona WALTHER, a Mexican filmmaker whose work seamlessly blends personal memory and mythology to explore themes of identity, femininity, and transformation. The Best Debut AI Film Award went to NeoNature by Javier Gracia ALCAINE, a Spanish AI content creator who captures the beauty of natural world through cinematic, ultra-realistic wildlife documentaries with immersive storytelling.

In addition to these remarkable overseas works, local talent also shone at this year’s Festival. Hong Kong-based AI filmmaker KA TAM earned the Best Technical Innovation Award for Project J, a sci-fi action piece that demonstrates the pioneering use of AI in crafting a dystopian narrative set in a technologically controlled future. The Best Human AI Collaboration Award was presented to Ash Boat by OUYANG Mengke, a postgraduate student from HKUST’s Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC). Her evocative short film explores the complexities of human grief, memory, and emotion through the story of a teenage girl assigned an AI guardian in a near-future society.

The Festival was graced by distinguished guests, including Ms. Edith SHIH, Vice Chairperson of the HKUST Council; Mr. Kevin WANG Xikai, Station Chief of the Hong Kong Reporter Station, National Radio and Television Administration; Prof. QU Huamin, Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) at HKUST; Prof. FU Hongbo, Acting head of AMC at HKUST, as well as other academic and industry representatives. Acclaimed local film director Mr. Stanley TONG also delivered a keynote speech, sharing insights into how AI offers new opportunities for Chinese film development by reducing trial‑and‑error costs and accelerating visual innovation, while underscoring that storytelling, human emotion, and cultural depth remain the irreplaceable core of filmmaking.

Alongside the screenings of shortlisted films, the Festival featured three thematic panels examining key issues in AI filmmaking. The panel titled “Future · AI Film · Production Technology” featuring Prof. RAO Anyi, Assistant Professor of AMC; Mr. Feynman LI, General Manager of the AI Content Creative Department at Tencent Online Video; Ms. Eddy CHEN, Chinese AI artist; as well as other industry representatives, addressed both the opportunities and challenges in areas such as creative control, visual consistency, and production efficiency, while also discussing how AI is accelerating content creation and empowering smaller creative teams.

Building on this discussion, the panel titled “Reshaping Light and Shadow: Film Aesthetics and Authorship in the AI Era,” featuring local film director and HKUST alumnus Mr. KA Sing-Fung; local film producer Ms. TO Chi-Long; Korean film director Prof. Chul HEO; and other academic representatives, explored how AI is reshaping cinematic aesthetics and authorship, highlighting the importance of integrating tools, performance, and storytelling while preserving creative originality. Another panel titled “Cultural Memories and Digital Heritage,” featuring Dr. Vennes CHENG, Lecturer of AMC; Mr. HO Rui-An, Singaporean artist and writer; and other experts, examined how AI can reconstruct and reinterpret historical materials while emphasizing ethical considerations in balancing preservation, interpretation, and authenticity.

Beyond the screenings and discussions, this year’s Festival introduced an exhibition gallery showcasing AI film materials and selected student projects from AMC in an immersive, installation-based format, featuring works such as interactive robotic arms and a facial-capture device. To further enhance real-world impact, AIFF also strengthened its industry engagement through strategic collaborations with leading AI enterprises, including Tencent, Kling, TapNow, and MiniMax, effectively bridging academic innovation with professional AI filmmaking practices.

As part of its commitment to nurturing future talent, HKUST further enriched its educational outreach for this year’s AIFF. A series of workshops and a 36-hour AI film hackathon for secondary school students were introduced in March to deepen their understanding of AI generated content and to empower the next generation of innovators. The winning student work premiered during the Festival’s opening screening, reinforcing the event’s role as a platform where education, industry, and creative practice meaningfully converge.

Prof. Qu Huamin, Dean of AIS at HKUST, said, “The HKUST AIFF is more than a celebration of digital creativity; it also bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world practice, driving the development of art and technology in academia and industry. This flagship initiative demonstrates AIS’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and social impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, while nurturing versatile talent in our rapidly evolving world.”

Prof. Fu Hongbo, Acting Head of AMC at HKUST, expressed his gratitude for the contributions of AMC student teams who were actively involved in planning and organizing the AIFF. “At HKUST, we see AI film as a unique meeting point where creators, researchers, industry partners, and students unite to explore new possibilities in storytelling. This year’s AIFF continues to grow not only in scale but also in ambition. Through these efforts, we hope to foster a sustainable and dynamic ecosystem for AI‑driven creative practice.”

Having established Hong Kong’s first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity in 2024, HKUST continues to demonstrate its dedication to promoting AI integration in the creative industries and advancing art tech education and research through AIFF.

*The full list of awardees, together with their winning works, is available here.

Download photos here: https://hkust.edu.hk/news/hkust-2nd-ai-film-festival-concludes-successfully-showcasing-global-excellence-ai-creativity

Hashtag: #HKUST

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Showcases system‑level AMR innovations with technology partners in Singapore and Bangkok

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Genetron Corp., a provider of test and measurement equipment in Singapore, has introduced Deminars, a regional initiative to help engineers strengthen practical measurement and troubleshooting capabilities. Combining the concepts of “Demonstration” and “Seminar,” these technical training seminars integrate technical education with live equipment demonstrations, helping engineers connect theoretical concepts with real-world testing and validation applications across industries.

Addressing Growing Complexity in Modern Engineering Validation

As industries adopt emerging technologies such as wide bandgap power devices and high-speed digital interfaces, engineering teams are facing increasingly complex validation, debugging, and compliance challenges. Signal integrity, power integrity, and measurement accuracy have also become more critical across modern product development environments, particularly as systems operate at higher speeds and tighter tolerances.

Despite wider access to advanced test equipment, many teams may still rely on legacy measurement approaches or have limited exposure to newer testing methodologies and tools. At the same time, accurately interpreting measurement results and identifying root causes continue to require strong application knowledge and practical measurement experience.

In response to these evolving challenges, Genetron introduced its Deminar programme to provide engineers with a more application-focused learning environment. Unlike conventional training seminars that focus primarily on theory, Genetron’s Deminars integrate technical education with live demonstrations using real equipment and practical application scenarios.

A typical Deminar begins with an overview of the technology trend or validation challenge being discussed, including the industry drivers behind the adoption of newer technologies and the measurement implications that follow. From there, the sessions move into live demonstrations using actual test and measurement equipment within application-based setups.

Expanding Technical Knowledge Across Southeast Asia

Currently, Genetron has conducted Deminars across several countries in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and The Philippines.

Rather than tailoring sessions according to geography alone, Genetron customises each Deminar based on the industries, engineering applications, and technical challenges relevant to participating organisations. This allows the sessions to remain highly application-focused and directly aligned with the practical requirements faced by engineering teams in different sectors.

The programme is developed and led internally by Genetron’s engineering team. While the company works closely with technology principals and equipment manufacturers to incorporate current test and measurement solutions into demonstration setups, the seminar content, workflows, and technical demonstrations are independently developed by Genetron’s engineers to ensure practical relevance and technical accuracy.

As test and measurement requirements continue evolving alongside next-generation electronics and digital systems, Genetron plans to expand the Deminar programme with additional topics covering advanced debugging techniques, compliance testing methodologies, signal integrity analysis, and future power electronics applications.

“At Genetron, we believe that engineering excellence comes from combining the right tools with deep application knowledge,” said Mr Ong. “The Deminar initiative reflects our commitment to supporting the engineering community through practical technical education, application expertise, and real-world measurement experience.”

By helping engineers better understand modern test challenges and methodologies, the company aims to become a trusted technical partner for our customers’ current and future development needs.

Home

Hashtag: #Genetron

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Milestone achievement marks the first time Kenanga Investors and its subsidiary have been recognised by IFN Investor Awards for the Kenanga Islamic Balanced Fund and the Eq8 Dow Jones US Titans 50 ETF.

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New RM99 annual healthcare pass offers Malaysians access to preventive health services worth over RM600, encouraging earlier health monitoring and intervention

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – SUBCON Thailand — ASEAN’s largest industrial sourcing expo — closed its 20th edition with an estimated USD 705.5 million in parts trade (approximately 23 billion baht), as manufacturers worldwide pushed deeper into Southeast Asia to broaden industrial partnerships. The event ran May 13–16 in Bangkok, drawing more than 50,000 participants and generating over 9,600 business matching pairs. It is co-organized by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, and Informa Markets Thailand.

“SUBCON Thailand is not only the largest trade exhibition in ASEAN. It is a mechanism the BOI uses to connect Thai entrepreneurs to global supply chains, at a moment when massive global industrial restructuring is forcing every country to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment. “Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand’s economy in the years ahead. We will develop SUBCON into a platform that elevates their capabilities and plants Thailand more firmly on the global industrial supply chain map — in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation.”

Companies said SUBCON Thailand let them source across electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced electronics, automation and robotics, medical devices, and aerospace — finding buyers, suppliers, and industrial partners across all of them — in a single venue.

“SUBCON Thailand serves as a key platform where automotive and electronics companies connect and explore business opportunities. Through business matching sessions, good potential has been identified to deepen collaboration with Thai entrepreneurs and enhance local industry partnerships,” said Mr. Paulino Mendoza, Team Lead Global Processing Manager, BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

“SUBCON Thailand is where Thai manufacturers prove their quality to the world. Business Matching connected us with buyers and partners we would not have found elsewhere. This is how Thai companies build the confidence to compete internationally,” said Ms. Waranchalee Suwanpimolkul, Assistant Managing Director, S.K. Polymer Co., Ltd.

Many BOI-network companies left with concrete results — procurement agreements, follow-up negotiations, and technology partnerships. Business Matching drew the highest satisfaction scores of any activity at the show, reflecting how central buyer-supplier connectivity is to the event’s appeal. The results point to broader confidence: companies at the show said Thai manufacturers are internationally competitive on quality and ready to integrate into global supply chains.

Looking ahead, the BOI plans to widen SUBCON’s scope — targeting AI, advanced electronics, modern vehicles, and logistics. The BOI will also expand Business Matching to reach a broader set of industries and build closer ties between Thai companies and overseas investors.

“SUBCON Thailand is a mechanism the BOI uses to put Thai entrepreneurs at the center of global supply chains — and to keep them there. The world is going through the biggest industrial shift in a generation. Every country is racing to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers. Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand’s economy, and we intend to make SUBCON the platform that gets them there — in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation,” Mr. Narit said.

USD conversions based on an exchange rate of 32.6 baht per USD.

https://www.boi.go.th

Hashtag: #BOI #thailandboardofinvestment #SUBCONThailand

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – In the rapidly evolving logistics landscape of 2026, precision and speed define the ultimate prerequisites for high-value essentials. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unparalleled “geographical superpower”, the ability to reach half the world’s population within a five-hour flight, Cathay Cargo is reinforcing the aviation gateway for the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the global market through its specialized Cold Chain Logistics by integrating Cathay Fresh and Cathay Pharma solutions.

Cathay Fresh: Seamless Intermodal Connectivity

The Airport Authority Hong Kong’s Air-Land Fresh Lane (ALFL) initiative has enabled Cathay Cargo to create a seamless intermodal cold chain link for premium perishables, such as live seafood and seasonal fruits, into the Greater Bay Area. Under a single air waybill, these shipments travel seamlessly from overseas via HKIA directly to the GBA within a unified cold chain ecosystem.

The ALFL’s strategic brilliance lies in its simplified import process: by utilizing a specialized transshipment certificate, shipments bypass complex re-registration on the Chinese Mainland and access refrigerated Customs facilities in Zhuhai directly. This ecosystem ensures end-to-end integrity: products are protected by “Cool Dollies” on the tarmac before being transferred to GPS-tracked, temperature-controlled trucks. This streamlined process significantly accelerates delivery, ensuring nutrient density and food security for consumers.

Cathay Pharma: Technical Excellence in Life Sciences

As pharmaceutical products demand absolute thermal stability, Cathay Pharma offers a technical vanguard and sets the industry benchmark for life sciences. Operating the largest dedicated Pharma Handling Centre at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Cathay Pharma supports four distinct temperature ranges (FRO, COL, CRT, ERT) and offers Asia’s most extensive selection of cool containers through six strategic partners.

The key to this reliability is Ultra Track, a near-real-time data-logging system that empowers shippers with full visibility into cargo status and enables proactive interventions. With over 70 qualified pharma handling stations globally, Cathay Pharma ensures that life-saving vaccines and biologics maintain their efficacy throughout the journey.

An Integrated Total Cold Chain Vision

Cathay Cargo offers a Total Cold Chain Solution tailored to distinct temperature-sensitive sectors. By applying IATA CEIV Fresh-assured protocols to perishables and utilizing world-class pharmaceutical facilities that meet IATA CEIV Pharma requirements for life sciences. Cathay Cargo ensures that every temperature-sensitive shipment, whether premium seafood or critical medicine, meets the highest global standards for safety and integrity.

Hashtag: #CathayCargo #ColdChainLogistics

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• New research commissioned by Bupa highlights how creative activities like art can help people process and share health experiences, with 85% agreeing creativity can support mental and physical health
• The research coincides with Bupa’s Express Your Health campaign featuring health stories from creators and storytellers worldwide, including Hong Kong artist Sophia Hotung
• Bupa is encouraging people to take 30 minutes to get creative and express a health story. People in Hong Kong can also submit their creations to join a growing global collection on Express Your Health

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – New research commissioned by Bupa (a survey of 4,000 adults in the UK, Spain and Australia) found that while 85% recognised that hobbies like drawing, doodling, painting or crafts can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, 55% of those who don’t make time for creative activities said they can’t remember the last time they did any (and among those who could remember, 35% said it was more than a year ago). The survey points to a broader challenge many people face in making time for creativity as part of overall wellbeing. Almost half (47%) of people don’t spend any time on creative activities, with around a quarter quoting lack of time (24%), lack of inspiration (26%) and tiredness after work (28%) as some of the biggest barriers.

The findings spotlight a strong yet often overlooked connection between creativity and health and coincide with the launch of Express Your Health – Bupa’s new campaign celebrating creativity as a powerful way to share health experiences and encouraging people to open up so they can feel less alone and empowered to seek care.

Contributors include Hong Kong-based digital artist Sophia Hotung, who shares her story of autoimmune relapse and how art gave her a way to express and make sense of her experiences with illness. Other creators include Olympic diver Tom Daley, Paralympian Richard Whitehead and Australian Football League player Cody Weightman. The mural represents stories spanning fertility, sickle cell, diabetes, anxiety, ageing, grief, and more, showing how art can express the physical, mental and emotional sides of health.

Sophia Hotung, who created a piece of artwork for the campaign, said,“For me, art is a way to express and understand my life experiences, which include moments of disability, limitation, and illness. After autoimmune relapses left me bedbound, I taught myself digital art, transforming what was isolation and hopelessness into a creative practice on my own terms. Digital art enables and empowers me to create, even when my body is limited. Entering that flow state of creation allows me both to escape and ground myself through stretches of joy and difficulty. I love that this campaign facilitates authentic creative expression about and through illness and I’m proud to work with Bupa to show others the powerful and positive impact of art on wellness.”

Global studies are increasingly showing that even short bursts of creativity can benefit health. 30–45 minutes of activities like art, regardless of skill, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, with measurable drops in physiological markers of stress including the hormone cortisol.[1] Other research shows art can support mental wellbeing[2] and help people process life experiences and emotions[3].

Fiona Bosman, Group Brand Director, said, “This work highlights something we see globally: when people are given the space to share their health experiences, it can be transformative. Through this campaign, we’re encouraging people to express themselves creatively, because when words are hard to find, creativity can help us process, communicate and connect, and ultimately take greater control of our health.”

Bupa is inviting people around the world to share their health story through creativity and be part of a growing global collection on the campaign site Express Your Health. People in Hong Kong can also take part by submitting their own creative expression to the online collection. Tips and prompts are available to help people get started with a simple 30-minute creative activity.

***

The research was carried out by Opinium. 4,000 people were surveyed online in the UK, Spain and Australia. Quotas were set to ensure respondents were nationally representative of age (18+), gender and region for each country. Fieldwork took place between 13-20 April 2026.

Notes to editors

Partner and contributor background information, supporting research sources and the full list of campaign contributors are available on request.

Hashtag: #Bupa #ExpressYourHealth

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today released insights from its 2026 Global Construction Insurance and Surety Market Report for Asia Pacific, highlighting that construction activity across the region remains resilient in 2026, supported by sustained investment in infrastructure and accelerating the investment in digital infrastructure.

The report finds that the operating environment is becoming more demanding with insurers placing greater emphasis on natural catastrophe exposure, project governance and delay risks as project scale and complexity increase.

“Asia Pacific continues to be one of the most active construction regions globally,” said Terence Williams, head of Commercial Risk in APAC for Aon. “Hyperscale data centres, battery and semiconductor plants are driving demand for higher-value, more complex builds, often with extended timelines and greater delay exposure. Insurers are taking a closer look at how projects are governed and how data supports risk decisions.”

According to the report, large‑scale infrastructure development, urbanisation and investment in high‑tech manufacturing continue to drive demand for construction insurance across the Asia Pacific region. As project pipelines expand and asset values rise, insurers are focusing more closely on how risks are assessed, governed and mitigated from early in the construction lifecycle.

Across the region, the construction insurance market remains growth-oriented, supported by abundant capacity, insurer growth ambitions and improved reinsurance performance. Capacity remains strong and pricing competitive particularly in markets such as China and India, while Japan is seeing more pressure following regulatory developments, increased pricing and heightened natural catastrophe exposure.

While the regional construction insurance market has softened overall, insurers remain focused on natural catastrophe risks. Well-managed projects continue to attract support, but greater scrutiny is applied to catastrophe modelling, construction quality controls and contractor resilience, particularly in peak hazard zones and for technically complex works such as underground construction and major complexinfrastructure. For large and complex civil projects, international capacity and layered programme structures are often required to secure adequate coverage.

Technology‑led construction is also emerging as a major growth area across the region. Data centres, semiconductor plants and battery manufacturing facilities are increasing in scale, bringing higher power demands and more complex risk profiles that require tailored underwriting approaches.

Vincent Banton, head of construction and infrastructure in Asia for Aon, said, “Asia remains a region of opportunity but with increasingg risk complexity. Insurers are backing projects with well-structured governance frameworks and clear risk ownership. For complex projects, underwriting is now as much about how risks are managed as where they are located. Early engagement with insurers and disciplined risk management matter more than ever.”

The report also highlights steady growth in the Asia Pacific surety market, as infrastructure investment accelerates and regulatory capital requirements position surety as an attractive alternative to traditional bank guarantees. While pricing has remained generally flat across Asia, surety capacity is increasing in several markets, particularly outside Australia.

About the Report
The 2026 Global Construction Insurance and Surety Market Report examines global and regional trends across construction property insurance, professional liability, casualty insurance and surety. The report provides insights into pricing, capacity and insurer appetite to help construction stakeholders in Asia Pacific navigate a complex risk environment. More information about the report can be found here.

Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

Hashtag: #Aon

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Real Asset Management (RAM) has hosted an exclusive Active Investor Plus investor briefing at its Hong Kong office, bringing together distribution partners, investors and representatives from Invest New Zealand, as offshore investor interest in New Zealand’s residency-by-investment pathway continues to strengthen.

The event comes amid renewed momentum for New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa, following changes introduced in April 2025 to simplify the program and attract more international capital into the New Zealand economy. As of 5 May 2026, Immigration New Zealand had received 688 applications under the new settings, representing a potential total minimum investment of $4.015 billion.

The growing demand reflects a broader shift in global wealth movement, as high-net-worth individuals increasingly seek jurisdictions that offer political stability, transparent governance, quality of life and long-term optionality for their families and capital. For many investors, New Zealand’s appeal lies not only in residency access, but also in the opportunity to participate in investments that support business growth, innovation and economic resilience.

Mr Scott Wehl, Founder of RAM Group and Director of RAM New Zealand, said the Hong Kong briefing provided an important forum for partners and investors to better understand the investment and migration opportunities available through the AIP programme.

“New Zealand continues to attract strong interest from global investors seeking stability, transparency and long-term opportunity,” said Mr Wehl.

“Our Hong Kong briefing was designed to help partners and investors better understand the opportunities that the AIP program offers, and how RAM’s income-focused strategies can support both investor objectives and the broader New Zealand economy.”

Supporting New Zealand’s real economy through private credit

A key focus of the briefing was the role private credit can play in supporting New Zealand’s real economy. Private credit can help broaden the country’s business funding ecosystem by providing an additional source of secured, non-bank capital for businesses seeking funding for growth, working capital, expansion or other productive business needs.

The RAM New Zealand Credit Fund is an approved managed fund under the AIP Growth category and may also be included as part of a Balanced category investment portfolio. The Fund is designed to provide investors with consistent income and capital stability through exposure to secured, asset-backed credit investments in New Zealand.

Through this strategy, RAM seeks to direct offshore investor capital into productive domestic investment while maintaining a disciplined focus on risk management, downside protection and portfolio diversification.

“The RAM New Zealand Credit Fund provides an AIP-aligned investment pathway focused on secured, asset-backed New Zealand credit,” said Mr Wehl.

“For investors, the Fund is designed to deliver regular income and capital stability, with liquidity aligned to AIP investment timeframes. For New Zealand, the strategy can support the real economy by directing offshore investor capital into domestic private credit and helping provide secured lending to New Zealand businesses.”

RAM’s credit approach is centred on disciplined credit selection and robust portfolio construction. The firm’s New Zealand credit capability is supported by a highly experienced team with more than 200 years of combined credit market experience, guided by leading credit experts and senior leaders with deep knowledge of New Zealand’s financial markets.

“Our approach is grounded in strong governance, prudent credit assessment and a clear focus on capital preservation, which is particularly important for investors seeking stable, income-focused outcomes across market cycles,” said Mr Wehl.

In addition to the RAM New Zealand Credit Fund, RAM also offers the RAM New Zealand Bond Fund, which may be included as part of a Balanced category investment portfolio. The Fund invests in a portfolio of floating-rate, investment-grade bonds issued by established banks and New Zealand entities, and is designed to prioritise capital stability while generating regular income.

With a long-term commitment to New Zealand, RAM will continue to leverage its international presence, investment capability and experience in income-focused strategies to support global investors and contribute to the continued development and diversification of New Zealand’s capital markets.

Hashtag: #RAM

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Exotica Umami (EX M), the revolutionary multifunctional cooking sauce, has recently been adopted by acclaimed Hong Kong Chinese cuisine master Anthony Lai, a chef with over five decades of culinary experience. Through five distinctively contrasting dishes incorporating EX M from everyday stir-fries to the handling of premium ingredients, Master Lai showcases the sauce’s unique capabilities and identifies four core breakthroughs, drawing significant attention across the industry.

A Legacy of Imperial Culinary Heritage: Five Decades at the Stove

Master Anthony Lai hails from a distinguished culinary lineage. His great-grandfather served as an imperial chef during the Guangxu reign of the Qing dynasty, passing down six precious imperial recipe manuscripts that have been transmitted through three generations to Master Lai today. Entering the trade at the age of 14 and rising to head chef by 23, he has held positions including Senior Instructor at the Chinese Culinary Institute, and Assessor for the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Specialising in Sichuan and classical Cantonese cuisine, Master Lai was recently bestowed with the prestigious “2025 Hong Kong Gastronomic Yearbook Lifetime Achievement Award” and named “2025 Hong Kong Culinary Intangible Heritage Ambassador” — dual honours.

In a video recipe collaboration, Master Lai has incorporated EX M into five dishes: EX M Wok-fried Chicken with Asparagus, EX M Chinese-style Beef Tenderloin, EX M Braised Lamb Brisket, EX M Fish Maw, and Soup Meat dipped with EX M sauce — spanning casual stir-fries, high-heat tender meat preparations, robust braises, and the elevation of premium ingredients with just dipping the sauce. The application demonstrates how this revolutionary sauce performs across the entire spectrum of ingredients, elevating each to new heights.

Drawing from these five dishes, Master Lai has identified four core breakthroughs of EX M:

1. Locks in Amino Acids and Replenishes Moisture for Juicy, Tender Meat

According to Chef Lai, loss of amino acids and moisture during cooking is the principal cause of flavour depletion. EX M penetrates meat fibres during marination, sealing in amino acids while replenishing moisture. EX M Braised Lamb Brisket offers the most compelling demonstration of this effect. Using only approximately 10% EX M in the braising liquid, with no need for elaborate spice blends, the brisket emerges enveloped in braised aromatics while retaining its own juices, with meat juices visibly releasing as each piece is lifted. “Traditional Cantonese braising demands a heavy hand with seasonings simply to mask gaminess, leaving diners tasting condiments rather than the lamb itself,” Master Lai explains. “EX M does not overpower; it locks in the natural juices and allows the lamb’s intrinsic sweetness to come through.” The same principle applies to EX M Chinese-style Beef Tenderloin — under high-heat wok-frying, EX M seals in amino acids and moisture, preventing the beef from weeping liquid or turning tough; the cuts remain succulent, harmonising wok hei with the meat’s natural flavour.

2. Naturally Relaxes Muscle Fibres for Tender Texture and Mouthfeel

While preparing EX M Wok-fried Chicken with Asparagus, Master Lai observed that chicken marinated with EX M required minimal chewing, with a texture that remained tender yet retained its bite. This quality distinguishes EX M from baking soda: while the latter can tenderise meat, it often produces a mushy, compromised texture accompanied by an unpleasant alkaline aftertaste. EX M, by contrast, relaxes muscle fibres naturally without compromising the meat’s structural integrity and leaves no off-flavours behind, delivering a combination of benefits that conventional food aids cannot match. The same effect is plainly evident in EX M Chinese-style Beef Tenderloin, where the meat fibres relax without disintegrating, achieving a texture far superior to that produced by baking soda or traditional meat tenderisers.

3. Significantly Amplifies Flavour and Freshness

What sets EX M apart is its ability to magnify an ingredient’s intrinsic character without overshadowing it. Master Lai describes it as a “flavour amplifier” that draws out the deep protein sweetness of meats — echoing the ancient imperial culinary philosophy of “harmony without conflict”. This effect is most thoroughly demonstrated when using EX M to dip the remains of meats used to cook soup. In Hong Kong’s deeply rooted soup-making culture, the simmered meat is too often discarded, or eaten only with soy sauce as a reluctant accompaniment. Master Lai terms this the “flavour gap”: traditional soy sauce renders the meat sour and cloying, all weight without freshness. EX M instantly fills the flavour void left in the meat fibres, drawing forth deep protein sweetness and transforming what was humble leftover soup meat into a delicacy, with a clean savoury finish rising naturally from the palate.

4. Delivers a Lasting, Rich Kokumi Experience

Kokumi represents the highest aspiration of imperial culinary philosophy — a sensation that expands fully within the mouth and lingers long after swallowing. As Master Lai notes, imperial chefs have always pursued purity of taste, harmonious balance, and lasting depth — precisely what is now termed kokumi. Even with centuries of refined imperial technique, achieving this combination of full moisture, natural tenderness, vivid flavour, and longer lasting mouthfeel in everyday cooking has remained a formidable challenge. The effect of EX M is particularly striking when applied to fish maw: rather than added during the rehydration stage, EX M is introduced during the quick braising stage, where it helps to remove the fishy notes while infusing the gelatinous structure with rich, lasting umami.

Reflecting on his experience with EX M, Master Lai summarises: “EX M locks in amino acids and replenishes moisture, keeping meats juicy and tender; it helps to naturally relax muscle fibres for refined texture and mouthfeel; it dramatically amplifies flavour and freshness; and it delivers a lasting, rich kokumi experience. Across these five dishes, these four breakthroughs reveal themselves for most part. For chefs, incorporating EX M into the kitchen saves time while elevating every dish to a higher standard.”

Sun Fook Kee Restaurant Launches the Imperial “EX M Lu Ming Banquet”

Master Lai also serves as culinary consultant to Sun Fook Kee Restaurant Yu Yuan (Causeway Bay), where he will introduce a signature Historical Qing Dynasty themed Imperial Mini-Manchu-Han “Lu Ming Banquet” built around EX M. The menu translates the sauce’s textural and flavour advantages into a series of refined courses, inviting diners to experience first-hand the masterful fusion of imperial culinary heritage and “advanced culinary formula” through EX M.

The banquet comprises ten elegantly named courses, each evoking the refinement of the imperial table theme, with EX M threaded to elevate umami, kokumi, moisture retention, and textural quality in various dishes. The courses are as follows:

• EX M Stuffed Chicken Wings with Asparagus and Yunnan Ham
• EX M Pan-fried Scallops Stuffed with Hairy Gourd, topped with Crab Roe
• EX M Braised Fish Maw in Pumpkin Sauce
• EX M Braised Vegetarian Shark’s Fin Soup
• EX M Steamed Star Garoupa with Chicken Oil and Huadiao Wine
• EX M Bamboo Pith with Seasonal Vegetables
• EX M Tri-coloured Fried Rice
• Osmanthus Cake in Empress Cixi style
• EX M Scallion Oil Noodles
• Snow Fungus and Lotus Seed Sweet Soup

HK$1,088 per person. Reservations open from 1 June 2026 at 2156 1688.

Video Series Launch: “EX M: Unlocking the 6th Sense — Imperial Heritage Taste of Umami and Kokumi”

Starting from 14 May 2026 and continuing over approximately one month, the official YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook channels of Exotica Umami EX M Sauce will progressively release a series of videos featuring recipe demonstrations and professional commentary across the five dishes of the collaboration.

Hashtag: #ExoticaUmami #exmsauce

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

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – Amplexd Therapeutics, Inc. (“Amplexd”), a U.S.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on women’s health and underserved therapeutic areas, today announced authorization from the Hong Kong Department of Health to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its novel EGCg-based investigational therapy for precancerous cervical lesions associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV).

High-risk HPV is the primary driver of cervical cancer, which remains a significant public health burden, particularly across the Asia-Pacific region. High-risk HPV prevalence amongst Chinese women is estimated at 12.8%[1] with China representing 23% of cervical cancer cases globally[2].

The randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study is being conducted at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in collaboration with Prince of Wales Hospital, with recruitment currently underway. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Amplexd’s investigational therapy in women diagnosed with ASC-US and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) alongside confirmed hr-HPV infection. Clinical data are expected in Q1 2027.

Amplexd’s investigational therapy is a proprietary, shelf-stable vaginal suppository formulation containing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a bioactive compound derived from green tea, designed for localized self-administration at the site of disease.

“Currently, there is a significant unmet medical need for localized, non-surgical therapies specifically indicated for low-grade lesions associated with high-risk HPV. The standard of care is largely limited to increased surveillance and ‘watchful waiting,’ which can impose both psychosocial and financial burdens on patients,” said Alia Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Amplexd. “Moreover, in many resource-constrained settings including large swaths of Asia-Pacific, access to surgical intervention and specialized follow-up care is limited. Previously published, peer-reviewed clinical and preclinical studies have explored the use of EGCg-based topical formulations in the treatment of HPV and cervical lesions. Building on this body of research, we developed a shelf-stable formulation designed for self-administration and early therapeutic intervention.”

The Phase 2 trial will evaluate endpoints including lesion regression, viral clearance, and overall safety profile, with the goal of generating data on the potential for early therapeutic intervention in hr-HPV-associated disease.

Additional information about the study can be found at www.drugoffice.gov.hk under trial identifier eCTS-2026-021 and at www.clinicaltrials.gov under trial identifier NCT07572396.

Important Information

This clinical trial has been authorized by the Hong Kong Department of Health. Participation will be subject to eligibility criteria and informed consent. This investigational therapy has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and its safety and efficacy have not been established.

Hashtag: #AmplexdTherapeutics #hrHPV #HPVtherapy #HPV #cervicaldysplasia #LSIL #ASCUS #Phase2clinicaltrial #womenshealth #EGCg #cervicalcancer #investigationaltherapy #clinicaltrial

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

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

At the close of the nomination period for the 2026 season, the VinFuture Prize, a global science and technology prize recorded 1,819 nominations from around the world, supported by a network of more than 17,000 nominators spanning 117 countries and territories.

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

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Sangfor Technologies successfully hosted the Sangfor Executive Forum 2026 in Bangkok, bringing together CIOs, IT leaders, and cybersecurity decision-makers to explore how organizations can modernise IT infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and reduce reliance on legacy virtualisation environments.

Held under the theme “Run · Build · Protect: Driving the Future with the Power of AI,” the forum showcased how enterprises across Asia Pacific are rethinking traditional infrastructure strategies and adopting integrated cloud platforms designed to simplify operations, strengthen security, and support long-term AI-driven growth.

A major focus throughout the event was the growing market demand for VMware alternatives following industry-wide changes to licensing and infrastructure costs. Sessions explored how organizations are seeking more flexible, cost-efficient virtualization platforms that can support both traditional enterprise workloads and future AI-driven operations. Discussions also highlighted SCMT (Sangfor Cloud Management Tool), designed to support seamless VMware migration to Sangfor Cloud.

During the forum, Sangfor showcased its integrated cloud infrastructure platform, combining compute, storage, networking, organization , and built-in cybersecurity into a unified architecture designed to reduce operational complexity and simplify migration from legacy virtualization environments.

The event also highlighted Sangfor’s AI-ready infrastructure capabilities, including support for virtual machines, containers, AI workloads, and integrated storage management through a single platform.

Keith Lee, Cloud Business Director, Sangfor Technologies, said: “Across the region, organizations are reassessing legacy virtualization strategies and looking for platforms that can provide greater flexibility, operational simplicity, and long-term scalability. Businesses today need infrastructure that combines cloud, security, AI readiness, operational efficiency and friendly licensing policies within a single platform. This is driving growing interest in next-generation VMware alternatives that can support both current enterprise requirements and future AI-driven growth.”

Lee added that Sangfor continues to expand investment across Southeast Asia, with Thailand identified as one of the company’s fastest-growing markets in the region.

The forum also featured discussions around infrastructure resilience, cloud-native applications, Zero Trust security strategies, and AI-powered operations, alongside customer case studies and live demonstrations showcasing enterprise transformation initiatives across both public and private sectors.

Sarayut Siragulthiraphong, Presales Consultant, Sangfor Thailand, added: “Successful AI adoption requires more than just AI applications themselves. Organizations also need infrastructure that is secure, scalable, and capable of supporting evolving workloads.”

Sangfor was joined by partners including Cohesity, Veeam, Sundray, IT Green, VR Comm, VST ECS, and TechHub, highlighting a collaborative ecosystem supporting enterprise transformation across Asia Pacific.

Sangfor will continue the Executive Forum series across key markets in the region, with upcoming events planned:

• 5/6/2026 Turkey (Istanbul)
• 5/7/2026 Thailand
• 5/10/2026 Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
• 5/14/2026 Turkey (Ankara)
• 5/12-15/2026 Middle East & Africa (Shenzhen)
• 5/17/2026 Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)
• 5/21/2026 Malaysia
• 6/3/2026 Philippines
• 6/5/2026 Vietnam
• 6/9/2026 Europe (Italy)
• 6/11/2026 Indonesia
• 6/24/2026 Hong Kong

For more information, please visit https://www.sangfor.com

Hashtag: #SangforTechnologies

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

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

MIL OSI

New medical plan combines cashless inpatient protection across Hong Kong and Mainland China with embedded outpatient and preventive care in Hong Kong

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

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – V-GREEN, the global charging infrastructure development company, has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Provincial Government of Bataan and Clean Fuel, one of the leading independent fuel companies in the Philippines, to expand EV charging and battery swapping infrastructure in high-traffic areas across the provinces of Bataan and Cavite. These initiatives support V-GREEN’s long-term goal of delivering a more convenient ownership experience for both electric car and electric two-wheeler users, helping accelerate EV adoption in the Philippines.

Under the MOU, V-GREEN and the Provincial Government of Bataan will collaborate on the planning, deployment, and operation of a province-wide EV charging network. This network will cover one city and 11 municipalities, positioning Bataan as a leading model for EV adoption in the Philippines.

Specifically, V-GREEN targets the deployment of 600 charging stations and 1,200 battery swapping stations across Bataan. The company will be responsible for the supply, installation, operation, and maintenance of the charging network, while the Provincial Government of Bataan will facilitate permits, endorse strategic locations, and coordinate with local government units.

In parallel, V-GREEN has also signed an MOU with Clean Fuel to explore the development of EV charging stations at high-traffic fuel stations in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

As one of the leading independent fuel companies in the Philippines, with a network of more than 100 stations across Luzon, Clean Fuel also shares V-GREEN’s vision of promoting greener mobility and enhancing the customer experience. The collaboration will focus on identifying suitable locations and the potential integration of EV infrastructure into Clean Fuel’s existing retail network, making charging more convenient by allowing users to charge at familiar stops along their journeys.

The new agreements lay important groundwork for VinFast’s upcoming launch of electric scooters in the Philippines, ensuring battery swapping infrastructure availability from day one. At the same time, the expanded charging network will continue enhancing convenience for existing VinFast electric car users, contributing to a more comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem in the country.

Hon. Jose Enrique S. Garcia III, Governor of Bataan, said: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable mobility in our province. By working with V-GREEN, we are building the foundation for an EV ecosystem that promotes innovation, strengthens environmental responsibility, and prioritizes long-term development.”

Mr. Nguyen Anh Quynh, Global CEO of V-GREEN, said: “Expanding EV infrastructure requires both scale and accessibility. Through our partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders, we are building a charging network that supports real-world usage and makes electric mobility more practical for Filipino drivers.”

V-GREEN was founded by VinFast founder Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong, with the goal of investing in and developing charging infrastructure systems to support VinFast’s global expansion, with the Philippines identified as one of its key markets. By expanding infrastructure at both the national and local levels, V-GREEN continues to reinforce its pioneering role in making EV charging and battery swapping more accessible, widespread, and practical for Filipino consumers.

Hashtag: #V-GREEN

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

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

Food prices were flat in April, and up by less compared to the year earlier than they were in March.

But beneath that headline, there’s been significant variation across food items.

Here’s what’s getting cheaper, what’s dearer, how you might be able to save and where to next for food prices.

What’s cheaper?

Looking at annual averages 10 years ago compared to modern prices, not a lot is cheaper.

Of the 147 detailed prices that Stats NZ tracks, only seven have recorded drops over 10 years.

Avocados were down 22 percent from a decade ago.

Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen said that was largely due to supply. “There’s been much higher supply and much more challenging demand conditions in recent times, where there just hasn’t been as much demand.

“If we were having this conversation as well a decade ago, we probably would have been rejoicing at the fact that surely with low avocado prices, you know, housing must be so much more affordable.

“Anyone saying ‘your avocado on toast is contributing to your inability to buy a house’ was wrong to start with, but it’s even more wrong at the moment when avocado prices have come back.”

Second was onions, down 7 percent from $2.13 a kilogram to $1.99, on average.

A 700g bag of frozen prawns dropped 3 percent over 10 years, and a packaged pasta-and-sauce meal was down 1 percent.

Over just the past year, the biggest drops were in cucumbers, down 23 percent, olive oil, down 21 percent, the packaged pasta meals, down 16 percent, carrots down 14 percent and cauliflower down 11 percent.

What’s got dearer?

Everything else.

Over 10 years, the biggest increases in prices were for eggs, butter, sultanas, canned pink salmon, kiwifruit, bread, corned beef, cabbage, grapes, and fish and chips.

Eggs were up 151 percent over 10 years.

“That’s because we’ve changed how we produce eggs in New Zealand, we’ve got rid of battery and caged options and moved towards more free-range options, which has increased the cost of operating,” Olsen said.

Butter was up 143 percent.

ANZ economist Matt Dilly said butter prices had fallen in the past few months but were still high.

“Global supplies were very tight from mid-2024 to late 2025, thanks to strong demand and poor weather in every dairy exporting country except New Zealand. We are starting to see butter prices come down as butter production has increased in New Zealand, Europe, and the US.

“But you’ll also notice a step change in pricing between 2006-2016 and 2016-present. This reflects shifting consumer preferences away from vegetable oils and toward butter for health reasons.”

Sultanas lifted in price by 116 percent. Dilly said most came from Turkey and Australia.

“Turkey is the largest producer and exporter, and they’ve been hit with bad weather last year. This has pushed production down and prices up. Hopefully prices will fall over the next few months.”

Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon said there had been significant rain and frost damage to Turkish crops. “Poor harvest have also been an issue fro things like coffee and chocolate prices in recent times.”

Salmon was up 101 percent, kiwifruit 93 percent, bread 90 percent, corned beef 87 percent and cabbage 78 percent.

Olsen said kiwifruit was driven by strong demand and challenging harvest conditions.

Dilly said kiwifruit was highly seasonal.

“Right now we are transitioning from imported Northern Hemisphere fruit to domestic fruit. That’s still ongoing, so retail prices will continue to drop as the harvest continues. Red and Gold are mostly picked, but Green is still underway. However, prices are going up year over year, if you just look at the lowest prices of each season. Some of that will be due to an increase in orchard gate prices in recent years, especially for green kiwifruit.”

Corned beef was likely to be because fewer cattle had been available for processing, Olsen said. He said other meat had also increased in price, but corned beef was cheaper to being with so the proportional increase was higher.

A serve of fish and chips increased from $6.09 on average in the year ending April 2016 to $10.77 this year.

Olsen said there was pressure on fish generally and fish fillets were them most expensive single item on a per unit basis.

“Over time as well, you’ve seen increases in potato costs and the cost of your cooking oil and everything else… energy cost increases, you’ve seen packaging cost increases, and probably most importantly, increases to the minimum wage over time, which generally affects those in hospitality a whole lot more.”

In the past year, the biggest price increases have been in dried apricots, up 56 percent, courgettes up 42 percent, avocado up 36 percent, sliced white bread up 35 percent, beans up 26 percent and roasting lamb up 21 percent.

How can we save money?

Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub calculated people could save money on things like school lunches by making swaps.

By switching from ham to peanut butter for sandwiches, school policy permitting, and muesli bars to muesli, they could save $5.10 a week on school lunches, he said.

A Sunday roast for four people would cost $22.24 per person using beef sirloin but only $8.17 for roast chicken.

Where to from here?

HIgher fuel prices are expected to push up food prices, but that has not shown through in the data yet.

Olsen said that was what he expected. “The fact that diesel costs have increased by basically double in the last two months – most people’s pricing structures don’t adjust that quickly themselves. We do expect they’re coming. We just think here’s a bit of a delay or a lag as those cost changes come through the supply chain.”

DIlly agreed it was too soon to seen an impact.

He said would take three to six months for price changes to go from the point of origin to retail, depending on the product.

“Some costs will be passed on more quickly than others, and some costs will be absorbed in the supply chain before it reaches the consumer. We are keeping an eye on it, but wouldn’t expect to see a noticeable change for another few months.”

Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod said the impact might not show up until the latter part of the year.

“Higher costs for fuels and fertilizers will push up production costs here and abroad. The usual delay with growing cycles and shipping means those higher costs take several months to pass through to food prices, and that’s compounded by shipping times for items we import.

“So, while the April food price figures were a little on the soft side of expectations, we’re likely to see more pronounced upward pressure on food prices over the coming months.”

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/18/sultanas-up-avocados-down-heres-how-food-prices-are-really-moving/

A Coroner says the deaths of two fishermen in Northland highlight the importance of wearing lifejackets while rock fishing – as well as the need for warning signs and flotation aids in dangerous areas.

Sarath Kumar Sasidharan-Nair, 37, and Ferzil Babu, 34, drowned when they were swept off rocks at The Gap, a fishing spot at Taiharuru, east of Whangārei, two years ago.

Sasidharan-Nair’s body was found in the water two days later, while Babu’s remains were only found late last year when they washed up on Coppermine Island in Bream Bay.

According to a report released on Monday by Coroner Janet Anderson, the friends travelled together to Taiharuru on the afternoon of 1 May 2024.

Other friends arrived at the same fishing spot later that afternoon but did not recognise Sasidharan-Nair’s vehicle. They assumed the pair had decided not to go fishing because the water was so rough and went home.

The men’s wives raised the alarm when they failed to return and did not answer their phones.

Police found some of the men’s property on the beach that evening and started a large scale search the next day.

Coroner Anderson ruled that both men had died by accidental drowning and noted that neither owned a lifejacket.

According to evidence provided by Surf Lifesaving New Zealand (SLNZ), 16 people – all men – had died while fishing from land in Northland between 2011 and 2024.

SLNZ said rock fishing could be “rewarding and exhilarating” but required careful preparation and a strong focus on safety.

The chief risks were large waves overtopping rocky platforms, knocking fishers off their feet and sweeping them into the water; and slippery rocks near the water’s edge, where fishers could easily fall while retrieving a catch or a snagged line.

Coroner Anderson said the men’s tragic deaths again illustrated the need to war life jackets and have access to flotation devices while rock fishing.

In November 2025 she called on the Whangārei District Council to install warning signs and flotation aids at The Gap.

The council told her it had done so, working with hapū to get the right wording, but the sign had since been removed by an unknown person.

Coroner Anderson urged the council to urgently reinstate signage so people would be aware of the danger.

Responding to the report, Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Glen Scanlon said a lifejacket could be the difference between life and death while rock fishing.

“The very harsh reality shown by so many drownings is that we need to help each other make decisions which help us enjoy the water and get home safe. Rock fishers need to wear lifejackets and never underestimate the conditions.”

Scanlon said 237 people had drowned while fishing from land in New Zealand since 1980. Of those, 150 occurred while fishing from rocks.

A spokeswoman for the Whangārei District Council said the missing sign was being reinstated, and contractors would monitor it to make sure it remained in place.

The council was working with Surf Lifesaving New Zealand on installing floatation devices and additional safety signs at the site, she said.

Sasidharan-Nair was a registered nurse who had just started a new job in the emergency department at Whangārei Hospital.

Babu’s wife also worked at the hospital while he was seeking work and looking after their young son.

Coroner Anderson included SLNZ’s “five ways to survive” tips for rock fishing in her report. They are:

• Know how to float: Only go fishing from rocks if you know how to float well. Always wear a lifejacket and take a flotation device, like a life ring or a bucket, with you. Lifejackets will increase your chance of survival if you fall in.
• Find the safest place: Check conditions: tide, swell, weather, and local hazards. Always face the ocean and be alert for large waves which can knock you off the rocks.
• If in doubt, stay out: If the weather or conditions look dangerous don’t go fishing – wait for another day.
• Take care of yourself and others: Always fish together. If something happens, the other person can help. Wear light, warm clothing, a lifejacket and shoes with grip (not gumboots).
• Know how to get help: Always take a mobile phone; in an emergency call 111 and ask for police.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/18/two-men-who-drowned-rock-fishing-werent-wearing-life-jackets-coroner-says/

An Australian with a calling and an Auckland radio host running on pure determination are the newly crowned national champions of stone skimming.

In pristine conditions, hundreds flocked to a remote corner of Lake Hāwea on Saturday to watch or toss a rock at the inaugural national competition.

Abbey McDonald, an Australian living in Queenstown, described her decision to enter the event as a feeling of destiny.

She quickly stole the show with a skim of 72 metres – the furthest of the day – then clinched the women’s final and a ticket to the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland in September. Her throw in the final was 42 metres.

“I’ve been waiting to find my career. I’ve been saying ‘should I go to uni? Should I not?’ And travelling around. And then this popped up and I just knew it was for me,” she said.

Stepping up to the platform, McDonald said she felt a sense of belonging.

“I had my support crew there, they had their hats on… and I just felt right at home.”

Auckland-based The Rock host Jay Reeve said his 51 metre winning throw in the men’s final using “a real dog” of a stone with a chunk of quartz in it was as much of a shock to him as anyone.

“Not even in my wildest dreams. Look at me, I’m not an athlete. I’m held together by duct tape, and pure determination and will, pretty much,” he said.

Reeve, originally from Tauranga, said he had not skimmed a stone in quite some time.

“That showed early, and then I managed to get one across the line in the final.”

They were among more than 130 competitors chasing glory – some competing under their real names while others opted for aliases such as Hans Skimmer, Splash Bandicoot and Skim Shadbolt.

Each had three attempts to send a stone dancing across the lake as far as possible down a designated lane.

Throws had to bounce at least twice and competitors had to keep both feet planted, while any that strayed too far to the side were instantly disqualified.

Competitor Sam Lockwood, from Arrowtown, said the perfect skim began with finding the perfect stone, which could not be wider than three inches (7.61cm).

“It’s got to be quite thick. I think the main problem for today is everyone’s been picking really thin stones. So it’s been catching at the end and it curls….I’ve got big hands luckily and I can handle a big wide stone,” he said.

Event organiser Richie Laming said Lake Hāwea offered smooth waters and near-perfect skimming conditions throughout the day.

“We’ve got an incredible high pressure system exactly over Lake Hāwea at the moment – sublime, calm conditions. If there was a day that New Zealand records were to be set, it is today,” he said.

Queenstown resident Ben Davies, better known as Skim Shady, said he made a last-minute call to enter after a few too many drinks one night.

He quickly found himself near the top of the leaderboard.

“I’ve been living down in Otago for years so there’s lakes everywhere, and as I’ve been walking my dogs and hanging out down by lakes, I just throw rocks now and again, and been doing pretty well at it,” he said.

“Here we are – top of the table, living the dream. It feels pretty good.”

For Wānaka competitor Don Elder, the real prize was simply a good day out.

“I’ve been training for months. It’s been a lot of hard work, sacrifices, and it all comes down to the day – and it wasn’t going to be me. But that’s okay. I had a huge amount of fun. It’s been one of the best days I’ve had here for a long time,” he said.

The championship was organised as a fundraiser for Melanoma New Zealand and to help raise awareness that the country has one of the leading melanoma diagnosis rates in the world, Laming said.

It would be the first of many, he said.

“We’ll definitely be having it as an annual, but we’re just discussing the biannual option or even having regionals or inter-provincials… the lake’s the limit,” he said.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/18/first-ever-stone-skimming-champions-crowned-in-lake-hawea/

First Person – You could feel something special building for days, even before the NZ Warriors took the field.

On Air New Zealand planes to Brisbane, the cabins were filled with blue and green jerseys. Pilots and cabin crews dispensed “Up the Wahs”. In this city, Warriors jerseys were omnipresent.

On Friday, a line snaked down the shopping precinct on Queen Street as fans lined up to buy merch from the Warriors pop-up store – and meet former halfback Shaun Johnson.

New Zealanders like Brisbane; there are more of us there than in Dunedin, but this was high visibility Kiwidom. It felt like every local train had someone wearing a Warriors cap with its distinctive Tiki; every cafe had someone in a Warriors jersey, every sports bar a knot of Warriors fans.

On the opening night of the NRL Magic Round, it felt as if there were more Warriors supporters in the stands than fans of any of the other teams playing.

One estimate put the Kiwi contingent at more than 8000 in a stadium whose capacity is a little over 50,000, one of the biggest and certainly the most visible of the travelling groups of fans of the 16 teams playing.

An hour and a half before Sunday’s kick-off, Caxton Street leading down to Suncorp Stadium was packed. Police had already closed the roads with barricades.

Word had gone out that Warriors fans would meet at the Lord Alfred hotel, a watering hole both legendary and apparently historically significant for its Victorian pub architecture, to march – or hikoi as the fan organisers said – to the ground en masse. By 2.45pm, there were so many people outside the Lord Alfred, it took time for the leaders and drummer to get to the front and set everyone off. Slowly.

Then with flags flying, drums beating, the crowd of green and blue set off, chanting, to the stadium, past the gawking pubs and bars, past the watching police and security staff, the merch tents, and sponsors’ sideshows, into the ground.

There we congregated mostly in the northern stand, Kiwi territory, it was a mass of voluble partisan fans, The facing southern stand was more disputed, a stalemate of barrages from Warriors and Broncos fans.

Magic Round-goers are a festive bunch. The fans of 15 out of 16 teams travelled from around Australia for a good weekend; Warriors fans travelled from overseas and were there to make the most of every second.

The noise level on Sunday was staggering. It was enough to trigger warnings on iPhones. We were a long way from the image of New Zealanders as reserved, the “passionless people” of 1970s thinking.

This was the loudest game of Magic Round by a long way; when it was over and the Panthers played the Dragons in one last, ultimately dreary encounter, it sounded like a poorly attended Super rugby match at Eden Park – near silent. But for this game, fans sang, chanted, cheered ever Warrior move, jeering their opponents with gusto, toasting plays, bantering with neighbours, riding every tackle, every shift in the match.

“Ooh, aah, up the Wahs”, the stands chanted.

This was a crowd, working together and determined to tell their players they were there. A wall of noise for the Broncos, a wall of electricity for the Warriors. The body language of players suggested they were aware.

In defence, the Warriors were ferocious. In attack, they were unforgiving.

The Broncos were simply swept away.

This was no longer their Suncorp, their Lang Park.

At half-time the stadium played Poi E. Then the Warriors crowd sang Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi.

There may have been a few moments in the second half when the Broncos struck back, and their own partisan supporters matched the Warriors’ supporters for intensity, but it didn’t last. The Warriors were disciplined, the crowd vociferous.

Ten minutes from the final whistle, the crowd were lifting the roof off the stand as time ran out for the Broncos.

“Oh, oh, we’re halfway there”; they sang.

“Oh oh, living on a prayer…”

With four minutes left, the crowd were on their feet.

“Hey, hey ya baby, Ooh, aah, I want to know, will you be my girl?”

When it was all over, the Warriors team remained on the field. They hadn’t won at Suncorp against the Broncos since 2018. Now they had claimed it and it was theirs by right.

As a final act, they came together and stood before the northern stand to acknowledge their crowd. The crowd surged forward like waves of the sea. Then it was the turn of hip hop artist Savage to perform for the fans, his Warrior Nation.

“Get up and shout, say it till the end, we are the Warriors 100%.”

The crowd of green and blue exulted.

Double try-scorer Dallin Watene-Zelezniak thanked the crowd: “There were so many fans here, it felt like Auckland”.

Tomorrow, there will be questions. There will be the routine worries of injuries and suspensions and next games to play, all the ongoing huff and puff of sport. There’ll also be time for the nagging question that always dogs the Warriors – can they actually win this thing?

But at that moment, in that place, there was only a wild swirling outpouring of energy and noise and purpose. A cacophony of joy and a shout of resolve.

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/05/18/warriors-fans-in-brisbane-a-wild-swirling-outpouring-of-energy-for-nrl-magic-round/