HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 July 2026 – The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has climbed 14 places in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2027 to rank 18th globally, entering the global top 20 for the first time. This milestone reflects significant improvements across key indicators, including employer reputation, international research network, and international student ratio, while retaining a full score in international faculty ratio.

CUHK’s Academic Excellence and Global Research Impact

CUHK’s academic rigour is further recognised in the 2026–27 Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, where it ranks 28th globally and 5th in Asia, remaining Hong Kong’s top university for the fourth consecutive year. The University features 15 subjects in the global top 50, including five in the top 10, such as Education and Educational Research (#1), Gastroenterology and Hepatology (#2), Computer Science (#7), and Arts and Humanities and Artificial Intelligence (both ranked #9).

CUHK: Where Bold Ideas Become Impactful Research

CUHK provides an exceptional environment for impactful research, supported by approximately 300 research institutes and centres, alongside four state key laboratories approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Reflecting on the academic environment, Zhamilya Zhirenova, a PhD student in Biomedical Science from Kazakhstan, has deepened her expertise through her involvement with the Centre for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), an InnoHK research centre CUHK established with Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet.

Unlike traditional research pathways, where students are often confined to a single university laboratory, Zhamilya gained extensive experience at Hong Kong Science Park, a dynamic setting that closely resembles industry. “It feels more like an industrial company,” she reflected, “and that experience has been invaluable.” For researchers with ambitions beyond academia, such early exposure to the pace and expectations of the biotech industry provides a distinct advantage.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Scientific Innovators

Many of CUHK’s scholars are globally renowned experts who have made significant breakthroughs in their respective fields. These experts provide valuable mentorship, cultivating an intellectually stimulating environment for innovative research.

At the Centre for Novostics, an InnoHK research centre dedicated to advancing molecular diagnostics, Yasine Malki, a Chemical Pathology PhD student from Hong Kong, highlighted mentorship as a defining aspect of his experience at CUHK. Benefiting from the mentorship of Professor Dennis Lo, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President, and a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, Yasine collaborates with specialists in molecular technologies, bioinformatics, and clinician-scientists, exemplifying CUHK’s dynamic, multidisciplinary approach to medical science.

Through the latest global rankings, CUHK continues to demonstrate the impact of its research and scholarship. The University offers robust financial support to attract top-tier global talent, such as the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for the 2027–28 intake, which provides over HK$1.81 million (approximately US$232,420) in funding. Applications open on 1 September 2026.

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Rated AAA on the China national scale by Lianhe and recently ranked 398th on Forbes Global 2000, up from 1007th in 2022 · Milestone marked by a gong ceremony at the Connect Hall, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on 30 June 2026

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ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – Green SM has officially launched its all-electric ride-hailing service in Kazakhstan, marking the company’s first presence in Central Asia. The launch also represents Green SM’s expansion into its sixth international market, reinforcing its long-term global growth strategy.

The launch ceremony was held in Almaty with the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Le, Appointed Ambassador of Viet Nam to Kazakhstan; Mr. Berikbol Shatabayevich Mandibayev, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Investment of Almaty; along with representatives of the Government of Kazakhstan, the Embassy of Vietnam in Kazakhstan, and strategic partners, businesses and organizations across the transportation, energy, technology, finance, infrastructure and service sectors.

In its initial phase, Green SM will operate in Almaty with a fleet of VinFast VF 6 Eco vehicles, an all-electric SUV designed to meet the needs of everyday urban travel. Combining quiet operation, a comfortable cabin, and modern safety features, the VinFast VF 6 Eco is expected to provide residents and visitors in Almaty with a more convenient, reliable, and enjoyable mobility experience.

Alongside its electric vehicle fleet, Green SM continues to invest in the development of its Green Drivers through comprehensive training programs covering operations, safety, and customer service. This forms part of the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain consistent service standards and deliver safe and dependable transportation experiences for users in Kazakhstan.

To celebrate the launch, Green SM is offering a promotion of 26%, up to KZT 2,626 for customers booking rides through the Green SM application. Users in Kazakhstan can now access Green SM services via the Green SM app, available on both the App Store and Google Play.

In parallel with the service launch, Green SM has established partnerships with five strategic partners across the transportation, tourism, technology, and service sectors through the Green Alliance Frontier initiative. The initiative serves as a platform connecting organizations that share a commitment to sustainable development and creating positive impacts for local communities across multiple markets.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Global Chief Executive Officer of GSM, said: “Kazakhstan is a market with strong potential, dynamic growth, and rising expectations for modern services. We come to Kazakhstan with respect for the market, a long-term commitment to investment, and a desire to work alongside local partners in developing high-quality mobility solutions that meet the everyday needs of the community. At Green SM, we believe sustainable growth must be built on trust and meaningful value for society. That is the foundation we hope to build together with our customers, partners, and the people of Kazakhstan in the years ahead.”

Kazakhstan is experiencing the rapid development of modern urban centers alongside rising expectations for quality of life and better services. Green SM’s presence in Kazakhstan reflects the company’s long-term vision of bringing all-electric mobility solutions closer to users in more regions around the world. Green SM enters Kazakhstan with the aspiration of contributing to better mobility experiences for local communities: quieter journeys along busy city streets, more comfortable travel in everyday life, and greater reliability through service standards that are consistently maintained across every trip.

Founded in Vietnam in 2023, Green SM currently operates a green mobility ecosystem across Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Kazakhstan. With an all-electric fleet, a technology-driven platform, and consistently applied operational standards, Green SM is steadily expanding its green mobility ecosystem across international markets, with the goal of providing modern, safe, and sustainable transportation solutions for communities around the world.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 June 2026 – Led by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, a high-level delegation visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (May 31 – June 5) is already paying dividends, forging fresh opportunities to deepen ties between Central Asia, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

The business delegation comprised over 70 representatives from Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises of various sectors.

During the visit, 96 bilateral memoranda of understanding and agreements were reached, including a total of 15 co-operation documents at the government level between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively.

“The examples of agreements and co-operation are just so abundant that they range from the service sector to heavy industries such as mining and infrastructure development,” Mr Lee said. “I think the sky is the limit.”

The multiple outcomes achieved during the trip demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative, as the city actively plays its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” to promote broader and deeper co-operation between the two places and establish a hub-to-hub co-operation model.

“Kazakhstan is an important commercial and logistics hub connecting China and Europe. It is also the place where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, and is Hong Kong’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. There are broad prospects for further co-operation,” Mr Lee said, adding that a lot of B&R projects are also being pursued in Uzbekistan.

“For example, Uzbekistan sits in the heart of the corridor of Asia and Europe, so logistical development, railway development, and also how we can complement and supplement each other in cargo handling will be an area for a very wide range of co-operation.”

The Chief Executive also encouraged companies in Central Asia to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle.

“Under this unique principle, Hong Kong has its own economic, social, legal, legislative and judicial systems. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China. We have our own currency, with no capital or foreign exchange controls. We are, as well, a separate customs territory,” Mr Lee said.

Building on the positive outcomes from the delegation’s mission to Central Asia, Mr Lee welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, to Hong Kong (June 10) and they both attended the Alatau City Investment Round Table (June 11).

Speaking at the event, Mr Lee said Hong Kong could contribute to the future success of Kazakhstan’s innovative, high-tech Alatau City in three concrete ways: as a gateway to global capital; a gateway to the Chinese Mainland and the Greater Bay Area; and as a partner in talent and technology.

“We share a development vision with Alatau City and Kazakhstan,” Mr Lee said, “Today, right here, right now, is a golden opportunity to bring our two economies closer together.”

He looked forward to Hong Kong and Kazakhstan achieving complementary advantages and co-ordinated development across different sectors and welcomed enterprises in Kazakhstan to make good use of Hong Kong’s premier financial and innovation and technology platforms, as well as its world-leading professional services, to explore more business opportunities.

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SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 June 2026 – The 2026 China International Financial Exhibition opened in Shanghai on June 16-18. UnionPay, together with 15 global ecosystem partners, showcased its latest achievements in global network development, core technological capabilities, open AI ecosystem, consumption growth solutions, and ecosystem collaboration.

Building a Global Payment Network

Amid a diverse and competitive global payments landscape, UnionPay continues to strengthen its global payment network by advancing three strategic pillars: merchant acceptance, local card issuance, and cross-border QR interoperability.

UnionPay’s acceptance network now spans 183 countries and regions, covering over 100 million merchants outside China’s mainland. UnionPay mobile payment services are available in more than 100 markets, while cards have been rolled out across 84 countries and regions outside the Chinese mainland. As of May 2026, transaction volumes generated by international cards and wallets in China rose by 54% and 62% respectively year-on-year. A real-time transaction dashboard at the exhibition area continuously updated cumulative transaction volumes, highlighting the sustained growth of UnionPay’s global business.

Cross-border QR payment interoperability is a centerpiece of UnionPay’s international section. The company has accelerated partnerships with local payment networks across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Latin America, and Africa to enable QR payment connectivity. On June 11, 2026, the China-Indonesia cross-border QR linkage officially went live, witnessed by central bank governors of both countries. The milestone increased the total number of overseas merchants accepting UnionPay QR codes to more than 46 million.

To showcase services catered to inbound visitors, UnionPay has set up a dedicated booth for Nihao China, demonstrating the one-stop service app jointly developed with China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With over 200,000 registered users, the Nihao China app integrates a wide range of travel-related services, including QR payment, public transit, voice translation, and tax refunds. The user interface has been fully localized to suit international users.

UnionPay has been working with global partners to build a cross-border payment ecosystem featuring unified standards, orderly development, and shared success. Five international partners have joined UnionPay at this year’s exhibition, namely, ASPI from Indonesia, ZeroPay from South Korea, Dialog Finance from Sri Lanka, Halyk Bank from Kazakhstan, and Banco do Brasil.

Expanding the Ecosystem and Advancing Fintech Innovation

As digital transformation accelerates, UnionPay remains committed to strengthening independent and secure fintech capabilities. The company has been investing in computing infrastructure, artificial intelligence, privacy protection, and smart payments. By fostering collaborative innovation among members, universities, technology companies, and government agencies, UnionPay expands the ecosystem and supports the development of new productive forces in the financial industry.

The AI exhibition area highlights the progress of UnionPay’s National AI Application Pilot Base in the financial sector, the only one of its kind in China. UnionPay has established a “1+1+N” large language model architecture consisting of an L0 foundation model, an L1 financial payments model, and multiple L2 models specific to different use cases. The architecture is supported by a computing resource pool with over 1,000 GPUs and a high-quality 2TB open financial dataset. Leveraging a comprehensive payment data infrastructure covering merchants, industry stakeholders, users, and use cases, UnionPay delivers robust data support for model training, consumer insights, and intelligent decision-making. More than 120 AI applications have been deployed across four key verticals: inclusive finance, consumption growth, risk management and compliance, and operational efficiency. To address critical data security challenges in the financial sector, UnionPay has pioneered privacy protection technologies for large language model and introduced an innovative edge-cloud synergy approach, enabling secure AI services without exposing sensitive data. The innovation facilitates broader AI adoption while safeguarding partner data.

UnionPay’s open AI platform brings together the innovative capabilities of ecosystem partners, including banks, payment institutions and technology companies. By providing payment, data, and AI-powered services, the platform empowers industry participants and fosters collaborative innovation. The exhibition area for smart payments features UnionPay’s APOP (Agentic Payment Open Protocol), an open framework for agent-based payments. Built on user consent and robust risk controls, APOP explores new models for intelligent agents to access payment capabilities. To date, UnionPay has partnered with 19 industry players to deploy applications including travel assistants, overseas hotel reservations, in-vehicle payments, and utility payments.

Fudan University, Huawei, Baidu AI Cloud, HYGON, and KUPAS.AI have joined UnionPay as technology partners at the exhibition, demonstrating collaborative achievements in computing power, large language models, and cybersecurity. Together, they have showcased UnionPay’s open innovation ecosystem and its commitment to driving the evolution of the payments industry through technological progress.

Delivering Payment Services that Better Serve Consumers, Businesses, and the Real Economy

Using Shanghai as a case study, live dashboards at the booth present data insights, including foot traffic heat maps of key commercial districts and consumer profiles of domestic and international visitors. Data showed that tourists from outside Shanghai account for 55% of total spending in the Nanjing East Road commercial area, making them a key driver of consumption. Distinct spending patterns were also observed among inbound travelers: visitors from the US favor local street food, South Korean tourists prefer popular lifestyle destinations, and Thai travelers show strong interest in shopping. These insights provide valuable support for commercial district operations and cultural tourism promotion.

At this year’s China International Financial Exhibition, UnionPay showcases its extensive global network, solid business foundation, and leading technological capabilities through a wide array of immersive exhibits. Moving forward, UnionPay will continue to grow its global payment network, develop self-reliant digital and intelligent infrastructure, and deliver value to consumers.

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Partnership with the Countries’ Largest Tech Parks to Propel “Hub-to-Hub” Collaborations Supporting HK and Chinese Mainland Enterprises to Tap Central Asian Markets

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 June 2026 – A large high-level business delegation led by John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), today (June 5) wrapped up its five-day visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively, achieving fruitful results of strengthening bilateral relations and deepening ties with Central Asia.

The delegation of over 70 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland is the largest and most diverse overseas mission led by the current term of the HKSAR Government so far.

Speaking to the media in Uzbekistan yesterday (June 4), Mr Lee set out the three main objectives of the visit: further explore emerging markets and lay the foundation for long-term economic and trade development; strengthen government-to-government (G2G) relationships and promote closer bilateral co-operation; and build a “hub-to-hub” model of co-operation.

He said the visit had been successful, yielding achievements in eight areas, including:

• Establishing high-level contacts and ties between the HKSAR Government and the Governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and reaching consensus on co-operation in multiple areas;
• A total of 96 co-operation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were reached during the visit (61 with Kazakhstan, 35 with Uzbekistan), involving specific amounts exceeding US$1.65 billion in total;
• The governments agreed to commence bilateral discussions on agreements in various areas;
• Deepening project matching and research collaboration between Hong Kong and Central Asian region in areas including finance, innovation and technology (I&T), and aviation;
• Demonstrating Hong Kong’s effective role as a platform for going global and achieving substantial results, with Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises joining forces in tapping new markets and bringing synergistic advantages into full play;
• Facilitating more convenient people-to-people exchanges by promoting direct flights, aviation and transport co-operation, and extensions to the mutual visa-free period;
• Promoting exchanges in education, talent and culture to further deepen people-to-people bonds; and
• Advancing a hub-to-hub co-operation model to open up broader room for co-operation between Hong Kong and the Central Asian region.

While in Tashkent (June 3-5), Mr Lee met with local leaders, government officials and business representatives to deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Uzbekistan in areas including trade, investment, finance, I&T, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr Lee held meetings with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, his Advisor on Strategic Development, Sardor Umurzakov, the Prime Minister, Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister, Jamshid Khodjayev, to exchange views on furthering mutual co-operation.

Mr Lee highlighted that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. He said that Hong Kong would continue to play its roles as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder” to further deepen co-operation and exchanges with Uzbekistan on various fronts in line with Uzbekistan’s goal of achieving high-quality development.

Earlier (June 3), Mr Lee met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, after which they jointly witnessed an exchange of notes between the two places on a mutual visa-free arrangement, which would allow a visa-free period of 30 days for visitors from both sides.

“Moreover, we are glad to have initialed the Air Services Agreement with Uzbekistan, and look forward to launching direct passenger flights between the two places soon,” Mr Lee said, during a high-level business dinner (June 4). The Chief Executive pointed out that Hong Kong and Uzbekistan are important trade and investment gateways to their respective regions – the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia.

“It helps that we are all believers in the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative, a modern expression of the ancient Silk Road spirit,” Mr Lee said. “Today, China is Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner, and the two countries work closely on major infrastructure and connectivity projects that are revitalising the Silk Road. Hong Kong is a pivotal player in the B&R Initiative, thanks to our world-class professional and financial services expertise.”

The delegation also toured the IT Park Uzbekistan and the Center for Islamic Civilization before concluding its visit in Tashkent.

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From high-altitude mountain roads to the heat of the Middle East, the VinFast VF 8 has been tested far beyond the showroom, proving not only its capability as an SUV but also the strength of the ownership experience behind it.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 June 2026 – A large delegation, led by John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), is visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (June 1-6) to forge closer ties with Central Asia.

Comprising over 70 business and professional representatives from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the delegation has already yielded significant results at its first stop in Kazakhstan.

Speaking at a business luncheon in Astana yesterday (June 2), Mr Lee highlighted that 43 memoranda of understanding (MOU) and agreements have been concluded by the visiting delegation with companies and organisations from Kazakhstan, with more agreements to come.

“They span aviation, finance and trade, innovation and technology, the digital economy, green development, and more,” Mr Lee said, adding that a Hong Kong airline plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027.

“I believe that Kazakhstan can serve as a hub for Hong Kong to connect with the Central Asian market. In turn, Hong Kong can be Central Asia’s hub in the east and southeast Asian region,” Mr Lee said.

“By strengthening co-operation between our two hubs, we can construct a hub-to-hub co-operation model.”

On his first day of visit in Astana (June 1), Mr Lee met with top government officials including the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.

Mr Lee noted that Kazakhstan has been actively promoting reforms on various fronts to bring about rapid economic growth.

“As one of the world’s three major financial centres, and the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre and offshore Renminbi business hub, Hong Kong can provide diversified and flexible support including capital and asset allocation for Kazakhstan’s economic reforms and infrastructure development,” Mr Lee said.

The Chief Executive also encouraged companies in Kazakhstan to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle.

“Under this unique principle, Hong Kong has its own economic, social, legal, legislative and judicial systems. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China. We have our own currency, with no capital or foreign exchange controls. We are, as well, a separate customs territory,” Mr Lee said.

“The ‘one country, two systems’ principle ensures Hong Kong’s unparalleled access to the markets of the Chinese Mainland. Capitalising on our global connectivity and world-class professional services, Hong Kong is your ideal, two-way springboard for business expansion.”

Mr Lee also visited the Astana International Financial Centre and the Astana Hub, a local technology and innovation park, to respectively learn about Kazakhstan’s experience in promoting the development of the non-bank financial sector and the latest developments of the country in the field of AI.

Before leaving Kazakhstan today (June 3), Mr Lee visited Nazarbayev University, underscoring the historic significance of the trip.

“It was here, at Astana’s Nazarbayev University in 2013, that President Xi Jinping first raised the visionary initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt – today’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” Mr Lee said.

Last year, at the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, the university signed a MOU with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing higher education co-operation under the BRI. It further reached MOUs with Hong Kong’s Education University and Polytechnic University today.

“These agreements will deepen academic and research collaboration.

“Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five of the top 100 universities. This talent environment is reinforced by our global standing: last year, Hong Kong ranked first in Asia, and fourth globally, in the World Talent Ranking,” he added.

Mr Lee will continue to lead the delegation to Uzbekistan for the second leg of the mission to Central Asia.

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Jointly Building an AI Ecosystem Embedded with “Computing Power + Talent + Scenario” in Central Asia

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HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 May 2026 – As part of the VinFast Global Business Conference held from May 4 to May 10, 2026, VinFast announced the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with 29 aftersales partners at the 2026 Global Business Conference. Organized by VinFast, the event marked the first time more than 200 investors and partners who have accompanied and will accompany VinFast across North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kazakhstan have gathered together, representing another milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its global service network.

Under the MOUs, international partners are expected to establish EV service workshops that meet VinFast’s global standards in their respective markets. VinFast will ensure uniform, high-quality service through globally-standardized technician training and certification programs, consistent operating procedures and quality control systems, as well as a parts supply network targeting delivery of common spare parts within 24 hours in key markets.

The new agreements are part of VinFast’s long-term strategy to develop a comprehensive EV ecosystem aligned with its international standards, covering aftersales services, charging infrastructure, and customer support. This expansion is expected to further accelerate the transition to electric mobility while ensuring VinFast customers receive support throughout the entire product lifecycle.

VinFast’s international strategy is built on the operational foundation and aftersales capabilities it has already proven in Vietnam. By the end of 2025, VinFast had developed nearly 400 service workshops nationwide, bringing its total global network to nearly 800 facilities.

Building on this foundation, VinFast aims to expand to more than 1,100 service workshops globally in 2026, spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The network will be deployed through multiple models, including dealerships serving retail customers, fleet and transportation business clients, and third-party local service workshop partners.

At the same time, VinFast is implementing a range of customer support policies, including repair time commitments in Vietnam, replacement vehicle support in international markets, as well as battery inspection, software updates, and technical support throughout the ownership experience.

As part of the conference, international partners also visited VinFast’s manufacturing complex and the broader Vingroup ecosystem to gain deeper insights into VinFast’s production capabilities, operational scale, and global growth strategy.

Mr. Bui Viet Hung, Deputy CEO of Global Aftersales of VinFast, said: “Our goal is not simply to expand the network, but to build a customer-centric aftersales ecosystem that delivers an outstanding experience on a global scale. Through partnerships with experienced local operators and the application of VinFast’s global standards, we aim to provide aftersales services that are exceptional, responsive, and reliable. We also aspire to bring Vietnam’s five-star service culture and spirit of dedication to the world, creating a unique experience for international customers. That is VinFast’s long-term commitment to the transition to electric mobility.“

In addition to expanding its aftersales operations, VinFast continues to develop an integrated EV ecosystem that includes products, services, and charging infrastructure through partnerships with strategic partners such as V-Green and local charging infrastructure operators. Through this partner network, VinFast aims to develop a system of more than 1.5 million charging ports globally, helping expand access to charging infrastructure and deliver a seamless, convenient EV ownership experience for customers in international markets.

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A Wanaka-based adventure consultant says she agrees that anyone wanting to climb Mount Everest should have previously summited a 7000 metre high mountain at least once.

Nepal’s government is considering the new rule that would require climbers to have previously summited a 7000m high mountain in Nepal before attempting Everest which is 8848m high.

New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people known to reach Everest’s summit in 1953.

But recently the mountain has been been in the spotlight over increasing pollution with discarded climbing gear, tents, oxygen canisters and human waste.

And the traffic jams with climbers literally nose to tail at dangerous pinch points as more people attempt Everest.

Wanaka-based Adventure Consultants takes climbers up Everest and its general manager Caroline Ogle said they had strict rules around who they took to Everest but there was a real mix of people on the mountain.

She said there were some operators, such as hers, which had been on the mountain for many years and ran well-resourced expeditions ensuring that only experienced climbers came onto Everest.

“Unfortunately there are a lot of teams that are a) quite large in size and b) their climbers don’t have necessary experience before heading onto the mountain and those factors combined can mean that people do get into trouble and that’s what you end up seeing in the headlines.”

Adventure Consultants advised anyone who wanted to climb Everest to follow a programme which started with a mountaineering course and to ensure they had a lot of climbing experience either in New Zealand, the European mountains or in the United States, she said.

“So building up experience on multiple 6000 to 7000m peaks and ideally another 8000m peak before going on to Everest.”

But often the climbers do not want to put in the preparation, she said.

“And we often see them turning up on other climbing teams who are just happy to accept their money for a place on their expeditions.”

A lot of people including influencers have been documenting their Everest trips on social media in the last few years with some willing to put in the work and some less so, she said.

Ogle said she agreed that climbers wanting to take on Everest should have climbed a 7000 metre peak at least once.

“But the key caveat here is the proposed regulations require climbers to have climbed that 7000m peak in Nepal, where as lots of climbers who are already on their Everest pathways, they may have climbed a 7000m peak in South America or Kyrgyzstan or even 7000m peaks in Tibet or Pakistan – but under these proposed regulations those would not be applicable.”

That requirement could set back climbers who were wanting to take on Everest and had already climbed a 7000m peak, but just not in Nepal, she said.

“Summiting Everest (is) definitely not a walk in the park, it’s an extremely serious and dangerous mountain and you need to have experience before doing that.”

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HAIKOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 January 2026 – One month into the island-wide special customs operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China has maintained smooth and orderly functioning, with initial achievements in logistics efficiency, passenger convenience, and economic aggregation, highlighting the country’s commitment to high-level opening up.

Hainan Heren Pearl Co., Ltd., which mainly imports pearls from overseas, has emerged as a direct beneficiary of Hainan FTP policies.

Under the value-added processing policy, the company can sell its high-value products to the mainland duty-free, cutting its overall tax burden from about 52 percent to roughly 26 percent and redirecting the savings into research and development, said Zhang Shizhong, the company’s chairman.

“The FTP holds great promise, with more policy dividends set to be released in the future,” Zhang said.

One notable special customs policy is offering “freer access at the first line,” referring to freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China’s customs borders, and “regulated access at the second line,” which involves applying standard customs controls for goods moving from Hainan to the mainland.

According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to the early hours of Jan. 18, 2026, the value of “first line” imported zero-tariff goods was 753 million yuan (about 107 million U.S. dollars); the value of processed and value-added goods sold domestically through the “second line” was about 85.9 million yuan.

In Wanning City, production lines at Chia Tai (Hainan) Xinglong Coffee Industry Development Co., Ltd. are running at full capacity. The company imports green coffee beans from Colombia and processes them in Hainan before shipping the finished products to the mainland, enjoying an 8 percent tariff reduction under the FTP policies.

“After the launch of island-wide special customs operations, Hainan will gradually become a value-added processing center and trade hub with global resource allocation capabilities,” said Ye Jian, the company’s general manager. “Enterprises will not only pass through Hainan, but also be able to put down roots here and create higher value.”

Drawn by the policy incentives, a growing number of companies are choosing to do business in Hainan. The General Administration of Customs said a total of 5,132 new foreign trade enterprises completed registration in Hainan over the past month, an increase in a month roughly equivalent to the total registrations in an entire quarter of 2024.

The total number of registered foreign trade market entities in Hainan has surpassed 100,000, according to official data.

As the policy came into force, major ports across Hainan saw a surge in activity.

Days after Hainan began island-wide special customs operations, a flight from Prague carrying 115 European passengers touched down in the tourist city of Sanya, marking a breakthrough in the high-level opening up of the aviation sector at the Hainan FTP.

The arrival marked the launch of China’s first official passenger route operated under the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two foreign countries without having to land in their home country.

The route is operated by Kazakhstan’s Scat Airlines, with one round-trip scheduled each week.

At Yangpu Port, the largest cargo port in the Hainan FTP, mega-ships berthing in quick succession, gantry cranes operating around the clock, and container trucks moving in tightly coordinated flows have become a routine sight.

“Yangpu will shoulder the role of the main logistics gateway of the Hainan FTP,” said Yang Xiaobin, deputy head of the Transportation, Port and Waterway Bureau of Yangpu Economic Development Zone. “The port aims to build a smart and green international shipping hub and logistics center.”

Container throughput at Yangpu reached 3.31 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up more than 65 percent from a year earlier.

“It is particularly noteworthy that the Hainan FTP launched island-wide special customs operations at a time of intensifying deglobalization and rising global uncertainty,” said Cui Weijie, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank with the Ministry of Commerce.

“It not only demonstrates China’s unwavering commitment to high-standard opening up, but also injects greater certainty and positive momentum into the global economy and international trade cooperation,” Cui said.

Hashtag: #HainanFreeTradePort #HainanFTP #CustomsReform #FreeTradePort #DutyFreeTrade

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

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

New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate won’t defend his four Commonwealth Games titles this year, but the 35-year-old is hoping to tick off a first in 2026.

Four years ago, Gate made history by becoming the first New Zealander to win four gold medals at a Commonwealth Games.

He won three on the track (team pursuit, individual pursuit and points race) along with the road race.

Gate has just completed his first full season with a World Tour road team, XDS Astana, and impressed so much that the Kazakhstan-registered outfit has signed him on for another two years.

He admitted a lot would have to change before he would consider competing in Glasgow this year.

“It would have been nice to go back and do another Commonwealth Games but you have to pick your battles sometimes,” Gate told RNZ.

“The team (XDS Astana) has been very supportive of me so far so I’m going to give them my unwavering support for the season and just focusing on the road and doing that job.”

Gate hasn’t competed on the track in over a year but felt that the (track) team New Zealand was preparing was very strong.

Besides, he jokingly admitted that it would have been hard to trump what he achieved in Birmingham in 2022.

“I guess in some ways it is good to quit while you’re ahead and I may be getting a bit old for the next Commonwealth Games (in four years time), but you never know.”

What he did have his sights set on was the greatest race in cycling – the Tour de France.

Having only joined a World Tour team for the first time in 2025, the opportunity to ride the Tour de France had never come up before, but his team earmarked him for the race in July.

Gate watched it often and spoken to many people about it.

“It is one of the craziest experiences you can do as an athlete with all eyes on everything at all time.

“Having been to the Olympics (2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024) on the track it is a similar high pressure environment where you need to perform at that moment and there is a lot riding on it .

“The Tour de France is like that but the difference is there are 180 guys in the bunch and so it is going to be very stressful and at times not enjoyable but it’s the achievement of doing the job well.”

For now, Gate will compete in the Tour Down Under and Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race this month before heading to Europe to prepare for the northern season in February.

Gate finished second in the Cadel Evans race in 2025.

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

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 December 2025 – Vingroup announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan to promote cooperation and implement multi-sector projects in Uzbekistan. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term cooperation plan between the two sides across multiple key sectors, while opening large-scale investment opportunities for the Vietnamese corporation in Central Asia, contributing to the strengthening of economic and investment ties between Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

Under the MOU, the two parties agreed to jointly study and develop strategic cooperation opportunities in areas such as urban development, sustainable transportation, tourism and leisure infrastructure, as well as other investment projects aligned with Uzbekistan’s development orientation, affirming the scale and capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises on the global economic map.

Specifically, in the area of urban development, Uzbekistan is ready to allocate approximately 1,000 hectares of land in a prime location of the capital Tashkent for Vingroup to study, propose, and invest in the development of a large-scale, integrated urban complex. The project would include residential areas, living infrastructure, commercial and cultural facilities, and public infrastructure facilities. The development is envisioned to form a “Vietnam Town”, creating a modern and sustainable urban landmark while enhancing cultural exchange and economic cooperation between the two countries.

In the field of sustainable transportation, Vingroup has proposed studying the deployment of electric taxi and urban mobility services using VinFast electric vehicles in Uzbekistan, together with a charging infrastructure system and support services. The project is expected to contribute to the green transition, reduce emissions, and improve the quality of urban transportation services in major Uzbek cities.

In tourism and leisure infrastructure, the two sides will explore the potential development of integrated tourism and recreational center, including entertainment facilities, hotels, golf courses and related tourism infrastructure, aiming to unlock tourism potential and enhance Uzbekistan’s attractiveness to international visitors.

In addition, this strategic cooperation also establishes a framework for the two parties to identify, assess, and select other potential investment projects that align with the development strategies and long-term priorities of each side.

On the Uzbek government’s side, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade committed to supporting Vingroup by providing information on the investment environment, legal framework, and incentive policies, as well as coordinating with relevant authorities and local governments in project preparation, including land allocation, licensing, and access to investment support mechanisms in accordance with legislation.

On Vingroup’s side, the Group will propose conceptual proposals, technical expertise and investment plans, participate in feasibility studies and project structuring, and mobilize member companies within the Vingroup ecosystem to implement suitable projects in Uzbekistan.

Mr. Kasimov Ilzat Ablaxatovich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, stated: “We welcome Vingroup’s interest and commitment to cooperation in Uzbekistan. With its experience in urban development, sustainable transportation, and infrastructure projects, Vingroup is considered a strategic partner to jointly explore and implement investment initiatives aligned with Uzbekistan’s socio-economic development priorities in the coming period.”

Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and CEO of Vingroup, shared: “Uzbekistan is a market with strong potential, supported by a clear development direction and an improving investment environment. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, Vingroup aims to gradually explore suitable cooperation opportunities and work alongside the Government of Uzbekistan in developing urban areas, sustainable transportation, and sectors that bring positive contributions to local communities.”

Uzbekistan holds a strategic position in Central Asia, with a growing economy and strong potential in urban development, infrastructure, tourism, and services. The Government of Uzbekistan is actively promoting reforms and attracting foreign investment to drive sustainable economic growth and international integration.

Vingroup is Vietnam’s leading private multi-sector corporation, operating across six core pillars: Industrials & Technology, Real Estate & Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture, and Social Enterprises, with the vision “To create a better life for people”. With its proven reputation, scale and capabilities, Vingroup is steadily expanding globally, contributing to elevate the global standing of Vietnamese enterprises.

Hashtag: #Vingroup

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

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

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 December 2025 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, has rolled out its WB Taxi mobile app in Uzbekistan, expanding its ride-hailing services to the local market.

The app has become available for download on Google Play and the App Store in Uzbekistan. Users can start using the service via a personal invitation link or by joining a waiting list after installing the app.

Connected users will receive 50% cashback on each ride, credited in “watermelons,” the platform’s proprietary virtual currency. The cashback applies to cashless payments. Upon installing the app, every new user will receive a welcome bonus of 20,000 “watermelons,” which can be used to pay for future trips.

WB Taxi offers four service tiers: Standard, Comfort, Comfort Plus and Multi. The Multi option enables faster vehicle assignment by simultaneously searching for available cars across multiple tariffs.

Rides are currently available within the administrative boundaries of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The service is supported by a 24/7 voice assistant and an in-app chat, enabling users to ask questions and provide feedback at any time.

In July 2025, Wildberries announced the beta launch of WB Taxi in Belarus and its plans to expand the taxi service to other countries in the future. In August, the united company Wildberries & Russ appointed Anatoly Smorgonsky – former CEO of the ride-hailing service Gett in Russia – to lead the taxi division.

With more than 20 years of experience in e-commerce, Wildberries has gained substantial expertise in transport logistics. The company owns its own fleet of over 1,700 vehicles in addition to partnering with logistics firms and private carriers.

Uzbekistan’s official taxi market is estimated at the equivalent of $500 million per year and is growing rapidly, with cashless payments showing significant potential for growth. Last year, 320 million rides were taken inside the country, less than a quarter of which were paid for by bank card.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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

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

2026 FIFA World Cup draw

Washington DC

Saturday 6 December, 6am NZT

Live blog coverage on RNZ

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be made in Washington DC on Saturday. So who could the All Whites be grouped with? Here’s everything you need to know.

The 23rd edition of the World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and will be hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. It kicks off on 11 June with the opening two games in Mexico, and finishes on 19 July with the final in New York.

A new rule in the draw aims to maintain competitive balance in the expanded 48-team format. It means the top-ranked team (Spain) and number two (world champions Argentina) are in opposite halves of the bracket, with the same applying to number three (France) and number four (England).

If the top four seeds win their groups, those countries won’t be able to meet until the semi-finals for the first time in the tournament’s history.

The World Cup draw takes place on Saturday morning (6am NZT) in Washington DC, with the updated match schedule, including stadiums and kick-off times, to be released on Sunday morning.

Teams qualified

Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States

Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde*, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan*, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan*

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Oceania: New Zealand

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

North and Central America and the Caribbean: Curacao*, Panama, Haiti

*attending World Cup finals for the first time.

Play-offs

The UEFA play-offs feature 16 teams (four places available) – the 12 group runners-up and four UEFA Nations League group winners: Italy, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Denmark, Wales, Albania, Sweden, Turkey, Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

There will be six teams in the two inter-confederation paths (Two places available). Iraq and DR Congo will go direct to one of the finals. Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname will be drawn into semi-finals.

Pots for draw

Hosts Canada, Mexico and the US are in Pot 1, which includes Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Pot 2 has Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.

Pot 3 will include Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Pot 4 will be Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, and the winners from the European play-off A, B, C and D, and the FIFA Play-Off tournament 1 and 2.

Confederation constraints will apply, with no group having more than one team from the same region except UEFA, which has 16 representatives and can place up to two teams in a group.

The 12 groups at the World Cup will include one team from each of the four pots.

Fifa will start by drawing the teams from pot one.

Once a team is drawn they will go into the first available group.

Who could the All Whites face?

With 48 teams in the draw (50 percent more than the 2022 Qatar World Cup), New Zealand have 36 possible opponents from every FIFA confederation apart from Oceania.

They could face any of the Pot 1 teams of Canada, Mexico, the US, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Canada or the US would likely be the All Whites favoured opponent from the seeded pot, but they would both still be very hard to beat.

New Zealand Football boss Andrew Pragnell and All Whites coach Darren Bazeley will be in Washington DC as part of a New Zealand delegation of seven people who will be stateside for the draw.

While the duo will be “ball watching” during the draw to find out which teams the All Whites will be grouped with for New Zealand’s third appearance at a World Cup, that is a passive part of what they are up to.

They have no influence over how the draw plays out, but they can work the room and get themselves and their football wishes in front of some influential people.

New Zealand history at the FIFA World Cup

New Zealand first attempted to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1970, but didn’t achieve their goal until 1982.

In the buildup to that tournament the All Whites went through a gruelling qualification process that involved 15 games, and they had to beat China in a sudden-death play-off in Singapore.

That squad contained many of the greats of New Zealand football, including Wynton Rufer, Steve Sumner, Duncan Cole and Ricki Herbert.

In Spain in 1982 the All Whites lost all three group games – 2-5 to Scotland, 0-3 to Soviet Union and 0-4 to Brazil.

As Oceania champions New Zealand qualified for the 2010 finals by beating Bahrain in a two-legged intercontinental play-off with Rory Fallon scoring the decisive goal in Wellington

The All Whites were the only team to go unbeaten in the 2010 tournament in South Africa although they still failed to get out of their group.

They drew 1-1 with Slovakia, 1-1 with Italy and 0-0 with Paraguay.

Host cities

USA: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.

Canada: Toronto and Vancouver.

Television coverage

TVNZ will cover the tournament, with all of the All Whites games and some others to be broadcast free-to-air.

A World Cup pass to watch all of the games will be able to be purchased.

Although kick-off times have not been confirmed it is likely that games will be played in the late afternoon and evening because of the heat. That means games are likely to start between 8am and 3pm in New Zealand.

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

New Zealand Football boss Andrew Pragnell and All Whites coach Darren Bazeley are on an important mission in North America this week.

They are part of a New Zealand delegation of seven people who will be heading stateside for the 2026 Football World Cup draw.

While the duo will be “ball watching” during the draw in Washington DC to find out which teams the All Whites will be grouped with for New Zealand’s third appearance at a World Cup, that is a passive part of what they are up to.

They have no influence over how the draw plays out, but they can work the room and get themselves and their football wishes in front of some influential people.

Outside of the draw, which will be held on Saturday morning New Zealand time, Pragnell outlines the broader mission.

“All of the major football associations of the world will be represented there, there’s political representatives from most countries there, our [US] ambassador will be there and we will certainly be making the most of that,” he said.

“There are match agents and match promoters and so planning for our fixtures in June becomes really important as well.”

The delegation would also be attending days of workshops around World Cup-related topics like facilities, marketing and ticketing to get the lowdown on what to expect next June.

Won’t hide the emotion

“The draw is a huge event and the whole world stops to watch it,” the New Zealand Football chief executive said.

He would be among the football dignitaries, politicians and celebrities who would get to experience the “spectacle” of the FIFA event in person.

Pragnell attended the draw for the last FIFA Men’s World Cup, even though the All Whites failed to qualify, and was of course present in Auckland at the Aotea Centre in October 2022 when the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was made.

Bazeley had been to draws for under-17 and under-20 World Cups in his previous role as a New Zealand age-group coach, but this would be his first senior draw.

Both agreed that the draw being hosted in the United States would amp up the show element of the event.

“What we expect of this World Cup is the entertainment country of the world meets the sport event of the world,” Pragnell said.

Going by what has happened at previous draws, Pragnell wore his heart on his sleeve in these moments when New Zealand’s pathway is revealed.

“I’ve struggled to keep the neutral face usually in these situations if I’m brutally honest, I struggle to hide that emotion, I’ll be doing my best to look calm but I’ll be feeling pretty tense as it all happens.”

Like football fans, Bazeley said the New Zealand players would also be tuning in live to the draw regardless of where in the world they are based.

The process

The All Whites will be the lowest ranked team at the World Cup, a position Bazeley did not truly reflect where the team should be.

On paper not too many countries would be worried about getting the world number 86 New Zealand in their group.

The 48 teams that will compete in the tournament are split into four pots of 12 for the draw:

• Hosts Canada, Mexico and the US are in Pot 1 which includes Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
• Pot 2 has Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.
• Pot 3 will include Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
• Pot 4 will be Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, and the winners from the European play-off A, B, C and D, and the FIFA Play-Off tournament 1 and 2.

Once FIFA had released the pots and the process for the draw he had run a few possible opponents through his mind, Bazeley said.

“We’ve all been on the simulator simulating the draw and if I’m honest it changes every time so there is no way of really working out who we’re going to get.

“We know there is going to be a UEFA team in every group, so you’re going to get a European team, and we also know we’re going to get a team from Pot 1, Pot 2 and Pot 3 but the scenarios are so unlimited.

“But as soon as the balls come out and we know who is in our group I know my analyst here Logan he’ll be straight on to getting all of the games from the last two years of all these teams so he can start looking at them and doing some work.”

While on Saturday the All Whites would find out who they would be playing, the final sign off for when and where would not come until the following day.

“FIFA have reserved the right to have 24 hours to work out which venue each game will be in, so we will know we are playing that team in the first game and that team in the second game but we won’t quite know straight away where that game will be played because I think they are looking at which game potentially would get the biggest crowd and they can move that to the biggest venue of the two choices.”

While the New Zealand delegation were in North America they would also be scouting the potential base camps – of hotels and training grounds – for the All Whites throughout the tournament.

Bazeley said they wanted to find “the best position” to be based for what could be a wide-spread schedule.

“We could be looking at playing across three different cities and possibly two different countries.”

A couple of the travelling staff would move quickly to visit the potential base camps to decide which ones they would nominate as the preferred options to FIFA, Pragnell said.

A home send off

New Zealand-based football fans could get a chance to wish the All Whites well on their World Cup journey in the penultimate FIFA window before the global tournament.

“We’re contemplating bringing them home in March, that’s the last window before the June window which inevitably will be in North America, so we’re in some pretty exciting discussions,” Pragnell said.

The “really competitive matches” would be against another national team, Pragnell said.

“We’re hoping to announce something in the next couple of weeks, there is still a lot of T’s to be crossed and I’s to be dotted so watch this space.”

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

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 November 2025 – UnionPay International (UPI) announced its first-ever partnership with Kaspi, the second-largest bank in Kazakhstan, enabling all ATMs and contactless POS terminals of Kaspi to accept UnionPay cards with multiple payment methods including card insertion and QuickPass tapping. This collaboration elevates UnionPay’s acceptance rate to nearly 100% for POS terminals and 90% for ATMs across Kazakhstan, with breakthroughs achieved among small and medium-sized merchants in border areas and small-to-medium towns. It marks a qualitative leap in UnionPay’s local acceptance network and provides solid support for China-Kazakhstan cross-border payments and people-to-people exchanges.

The partnership spans high-frequency consumption scenarios across Kazakhstan, including premium and everyday supermarkets, gas stations, beauty stores, and fast-food restaurants. It significantly enhances the payment experience for UnionPay cardholders locally. This development aligns well with the growing personnel exchanges since the China-Kazakhstan mutual visa exemption agreement to effect: in the first half of 2025, Chinese tourists’ arrivals in Almaty reached 54,100, a year-on-year increase of 33.4%. UnionPay’s expanding network now delivers more efficient, convenient payment support for cross-border travel and business.

This collaboration represents a key milestone in UnionPay’s nearly two-decade dedication to Kazakhstan. UnionPay cardholders can flexibly use diverse payment methods such as swiping, tapping, and mobile Pay at popular attractions like Shymbulak Ski Resort and Kok Tobe, as well as in mobility scenarios including Yandex Go rides, urban public transport, and Air Astana services.

To date, millions of UnionPay cards have been issued in Kazakhstan, with their transaction volumes in China surging nearly threefold year-on-year in H1 2025. The partnership with Kaspi not only solidifies the foundation of UnionPay’s local payment network but also reinforces its role as a key financial link between China and Kazakhstan, facilitating the connection of financial infrastructure and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

Hashtag: #UnionPay

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

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

New Zealand has been labelled “most deteriorated” in an international study assessing the interference of the tobacco industry.

The country has plummeted from second in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.

The report, produced by the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control, has been released every two years since 2019 and now ranks 100 countries.

The main factors damaging New Zealand’s standing are the repeal of the smokefree generation laws, the tax break benefiting tobacco giant Philip Morris and the movement of staff between politics and the lobbying industry.

Vape-Free Kids, an advocacy group, said the “staggering drop” of 51 places in two years was the most dramatic fall of any country in the history of the report and an “international disgrace” for the government.

“New Zealand has become an international embarrassment and an example of how quickly a government can be corrupted by the tobacco industry,” Vape-Free Kids co-founder Charyl Robinson said.

But Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has labelled the index “ridiculous” saying what matters is rates of smoking not the “strange view, that what really matters is how much you criticise the tobacco industry”.

Costello said New Zealand’s smoking rate had more than halved since 2015 and was now 6.9 percent – one of the lowest in the world.

“I haven’t seen this year’s index, but the last one had Brunei at No.1 and France at No.3. Brunei’s smoking rate is around 17 percent – well over double NZ’s rate. In May, France’s smoking rate was 23 percent – more than three times NZ’s rate,” she said. “That illustrates how ridiculous this index is.”

In 2024 the government scrapped laws which would have slashed tobacco retailers from 6000 to 600, removed 95 percent of the nicotine from cigarettes and banned sales of cigarettes to anyone born after 2009.

Costello also cut the excise tax on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) by 50 percent, despite health officials saying there was no strong evidence they worked to stop smoking or were significantly safer than cigarettes.

The report lists New Zealand and Kazakhstan as two countries which cut taxes for HTPs and says Ecuador, Georgia, Madagascar, Türkiye and Uganda also offered tax breaks to the tobacco industry.

“Tax increases are among the most effective tobacco control measures, yet more than 60 countries, often due to industry influence, did not raise taxes, delayed implementation of tax increases (or) lowered tax rates.”

Costello cut tax on HTPs to encourage smokers to switch to a safer alternative.

Treasury officials, however, told her the tax break would largely benefit Philip Morris, as they held a monopoly on the product in New Zealand.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins told the RNZ interview show 30 with Guyon Espiner that Labour would repeal the tobacco tax cuts.

“That was a tax break to the tobacco companies on the basis of some very, very questionable advice that isn’t going to be better for New Zealand’s health as a country,” he said. “It’s one tobacco company that, by and large, has got the vast bulk of the benefit from that, and that is going to change.”

The Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index report is also critical of New Zealand’s unregulated lobbying industry and links between the tobacco industry and decision makers.

“In New Zealand, there is no requirement for the TI (tobacco industry) and affiliated entities to register with the government, and it is unclear how the relationship between the TI and the government is moderated.”

Two corporate communication staff at Philip Morris previously held senior roles with NZ First.

RNZ has also reported on a leaked document from tobacco giant Philip Morris which said the company should target political parties, including NZ First and the Māori Party, to win favourable regulation for HTPs.

Uruguay, Maldives and Palau were the most improved countries in the index and New Zealand the most deteriorated.

“New Zealand recorded the most deterioration in industry interference. Besides repealing strong tobacco control policies, citing industry arguments as rationale, the current government implemented several TI-friendly policies,” the report says.

The section of the report focusing on New Zealand was written by the New Zealand Cancer Society and looked at policy making between March 2023 and March 2025.

Cancer Society head of advocacy and public affairs Rachael Neumann said “a number of revolving-door connections” between the government and the industry contributed to New Zealand’s decline.

“This report has found that New Zealand’s score has significantly dropped since the 2023 report, and that there has been an increase in tobacco industry interference in New Zealand during this time.”

Neumann said there was a “high level of industry participation” in New Zealand’s tobacco policy development and “a whole range of unnecessary interactions” between the government and the tobacco industry.

“Every year, even now, 5000 people die from tobacco and tobacco related diseases,” she said. “We really know that tobacco industry interference and repeal of these laws leads to more smoking, more addiction, and we’re deeply concerned because this leads to more cancer.”

But Costello said protections against tobacco industry interference had not weakened in the past two years and New Zealand continued to be guided by international protocols on how officials engaged with the industry.

She said the tobacco industry had no involvement in the government’s smokefree and health policies.

“I would have thought that the Cancer Society would actually care about reducing smoking and reducing cancer,” she said. “Instead, they’ve brought into a very strange view, that what really matters is how much you criticise the tobacco industry.”

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

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 November 2025 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, has begun testing drone delivery of orders placed on its online marketplace. The first unmanned deliveries were successfully carried out from a Wildberries logistics center to one of its pickup points in St. Petersburg.

The advanced technology was tested with the support of the St. Petersburg Transport Committee, using a certified domestic unmanned aircraft system. The trials included a complex route featuring multiple landing points.

“We are continuously working to make the delivery process as fast and convenient as possible for our customers,” said Maxim Kim, Head of Wildberries’s Pickup Point Development Department. “Drone-assisted delivery is one of the innovations we are testing and believe in, particularly for hard-to-reach regions.”

Wildberries processes more than 20 million orders daily through its online marketplace. To enhance the speed and efficiency of order delivery, the company is actively expanding its logistics infrastructure across Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other markets, while also piloting cutting-edge technologies.

Currently, more than 90% of Wildberries’s orders are delivered to pickup points, where customers can collect their purchases and return items on the spot. The company operates over 90,000 pickup points across eight countries, most of which are operated by local entrepreneurs under a franchise model. Some are located in remote areas – for instance, Wildberries recently opened a pickup point in a mountainous region of Tajikistan at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters.

At its major warehouses, Wildberries employs automated ground vehicles (AGVs) to move storage racks and robotic systems equipped with suction-cup grippers to handle and sort products. These technologies accelerate order processing and free employees from physically demanding or repetitive tasks.

Wildberries also integrates artificial intelligence (AI) across its marketplace operations. AI systems assist customers in searching for products using images or voice queries, while sellers can leverage AI tools to quickly create product listings and incorporate AI-generated virtual models into their catalogs.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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