Justice – LiveNews.co.nz

Explore Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at World #18 CUHK

MIL OSI — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:04:10 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

Unlock US$232,420+ PhD scholarship packages—apply by 1 Dec 2026

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 September 2026 – For prospective doctoral and research postgraduate students seeking to elevate their research on a global stage, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has opened applications for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), offering fully funded PhD opportunities for the 2027–28 academic year. Supported by competitive scholarship packages, distinguished faculty mentorship, and cutting-edge facilities, CUHK provides an ideal launchpad for high-achieving international scholars to drive global impact.

Dedicated Doctoral & Postgraduate Scholarships
Through CUHK’s enhanced HKPFS Package, successful PhD candidates receive a scholarship package valued at over US$232,420+, covering annual stipends, full tuition fee waivers, lodging awards, and conference travel allowances across their normative study period. Additionally, competitive international awards, including the Belt & Road Scholarship, are available to cover full tuition fees for eligible research postgraduate students.

World-Class Academic & Research Ecosystem
Ranked 18th globally by QS World University Rankings 2027 and 10th in Asia by Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026, CUHK provides a top-tier environment for master’s and doctoral candidates alike. Situated on Hong Kong’s largest university campus, CUHK offers 240+ English-taught postgraduate programmes across eight faculties, featuring 20 subjects in the global top 30 and six in the top 10—including Education (#1), Gastroenterology and Hepatology (#2), Nursing (#6), Computer Science (#7), and Arts and Humanities and Artificial Intelligence (both ranked #9).

Research postgraduates at CUHK create real-world impact alongside 430+ top 2% global scientists while accessing 250+ interdisciplinary research institutes, four State Key Laboratories, and pioneering InnoHK centres. Through collaborations with leading universities worldwide, they contribute to innovations that generate tangible impact locally, nationally, and globally. Driven by this dynamic research environment, CUHK unlocked over US$324 million in annual research funding in 2024–25 alone.

Voices of International Students
The transformative impact of CUHK’s academic environment is echoed by its international doctoral students:

“The HKPFS has enabled me to advance interdisciplinary research in Blue Humanities and Pacific environmental literature,” said Ananya Roy, an HKPFS awardee pursuing a PhD in English Literary Studies from India. “Through international conference presentations and forthcoming publications, I am developing a globally engaged research agenda that bridges literary studies and environmental thought.”

Alexandra Rose McCombie, a PhD candidate in Biology from Scotland, added: “The opportunity to study science at CUHK has allowed me to pursue my passion through an intellectually challenging and thoroughly enjoyable programme in one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Researching alongside world-class academics and talented peers has been incredibly motivational and inspiring for my future career.”

Take Your Next Step Global
Applications for the 2027–28 HKPFS intake close on 1 December 2026 (11:59PM HKT).

To help prospective international applicants navigate admission requirements and scholarship applications, CUHK will host a Virtual Info Session on 15 October 2026. Attendees will connect live with professors and current students to gain key tips on admission and scholarship opportunities.

For event registration and application details, visit https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/hkpfs.

https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/hkpfs

Hashtag: #CUHK #HKPFS #PhD

About CUHK

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a leading comprehensive research university with a global reputation and world-leading rankings. Located in the heart of Asia, CUHK has a vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. The University has eight faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science. Together with the Graduate School, the University offers over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All faculties are actively engaged in research in a wide range of disciplines, with an array of research institutes and research centres specialising in interdisciplinary research of the highest quality.

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

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

Greenpeace joins complaint to EU over NZ’s climate policy regression

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:41:56 +0000

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa

Greenpeace Aotearoa has joined a complaint to the EU, lodged by EU-based organisation Both ENDS, over New Zealand’s failure to comply with clauses in the EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement requiring strong climate action.

Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman says, “The New Zealand Government has spent the last three years systematically undermining climate and environment laws and regulations in our country, often with the explicit stated purpose of gaining trade benefits.”

“We are in a climate and biodiversity crisis, and the UN is warning that we are set to breach 1.5℃ of global temperature rise. We need urgent action to cut climate pollution rapidly, but the Government has instead spent the last three years engaged in a race to the bottom on environmental regulation – and that’s why we have co-sponsored this complaint.”

Norman says that this action comes after years of good-faith engagement with the New Zealand Government.

“Over the last three years we have met with the Prime Minister, Ministers and senior officials on many occasions to urge them to change course and to warn them that they were breaching the sustainability chapter of the free trade agreement with the European Union. We have mobilised people to sign petitions, we’ve made submissions against their legislation, we’ve marched in the streets, and more. But this Government has not listened.”

“Hence today we are joining this complaint in the hope that the risk of losing preferential trade access to the EU market will encourage the New Zealand Government to change course. Sadly it seems that money is the only language they understand.”

The EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2023, requires both parties to ‘effectively implement the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including commitments with regard to nationally determined contributions’, and ‘to refrain from any action or omission that materially defeats the object and purpose of the Paris Agreement.’

Dr Norman says, “We need to act collectively as a global community to achieve our climate and environmental objectives, yet the New Zealand Government has consistently and deliberately undermined global efforts, and undermined the Paris climate agreement in particular.”

“Whatever the outcome of the New Zealand general election in November, we need to insist that the next New Zealand Government rejoins the nations of the world that take their climate and environment responsibilities seriously.”

The Both ENDS complaint identifies several areas of concern as evidence of a breach of the EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement, including:

The reversal of the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration
The weakening of the biogenic methane target
The removal of the ETS backstop for agricultural emissions, and refusal to price agricultural emissions at all.
The Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Act, which retroactively prevents legal action against climate-polluting companies.
A failure to set ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as required under the Paris Agreement

The Both ENDS complaint is co-sponsored by the following New Zealand organisations and individuals: the Environmental Law Initiative, Greenpeace Aotearoa, Ngāti Pūkenga Iwi ki Tauranga Trust, OraTaiao: New Zealand Climate and Health Council, Mike Smith, and Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey.

MIL OSI

University Research – Humanitarian relief failure in Gaza: Outsourcing aid doesn’t outsource legal responsibility

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 05:47:16 +0000

Source: Edith Cowan University

29 September 2026

The effectiveness of humanitarian aid delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been called into question by a new paper (https://academic.oup.com/jcsl/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jcsl/krag019/8832340), which noted that not only was the distribution of aid being offered inhumane, but could well be violating international law.

Images that have surfaced online since 2025 of hungry civilians forced to walk for miles to humanitarian aid stations amid mass displacement, ongoing conflict and devastating loss, is a haunting example of a failed and inhumane aid delivery model.

Authored by Associate Professor Shannon Bosch (https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/business-and-law/faculty/profiles/associate-professor/associate-professor-shannon-bosch), the paper has shone a spotlight on the failed humanitarian relief outsourced to private security contractors in Gaza.

The Associate Professor from Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) School of Business and Law said the GHF’s concentration of aid distribution through four large, heavily secured aid sites breached international law.

The radically different model for delivering food to Palestinians trapped in Gaza occurred over six months in 2025.

“My research into the GHF model shows why the delivery of humanitarian aid matters. Humanitarian assistance in occupied territory must comply with rules designed not merely to get food into civilian hands, but to protect the people receiving it,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

“The protection of civilians must be at the heart of delivering humanitarian aid.”

Where and how aid is delivered matters

Before the GHF began operating, humanitarian assistance had been distributed through more than 400 UN-coordinated sites across Gaza. The GHF replaced this network with four large distribution sites.

Safe Reach Solutions provided security logistics, while UG Solutions secured distribution sites and interacted directly with Palestinians.

Civilians south of Wadi Gaza could reach the aid distribution sites only using routes that took them through heavily armed Israeli military units and bases, while people in northern Gaza faced long journeys.

“Distribution was also unpredictable. At times, civilians received only minutes’ notice that a site was opening, and sites could remain open for very short periods.”

Associate Professor Bosch argues that the GHF is a model for how humanitarian aid should not be delivered.

“When uniformed and heavily armoured private security personnel are employed to handle the delivery of humanitarian aid – the international law warning bell should be ringing,” she said.

“We often see humanitarian workers with a military-like convoy to protect and guard them in occupied territory against criminal elements trying to hijack aid, but private security contractors are not trained to actually be the ones delivering aid.”

International law requirements

International humanitarian law and international human rights law places extensive obligations on an occupying power towards the civilian population.

Associate Professor Bosch said the GHF model is legally problematic. There are limits to the ways an occupying power can regulate humanitarian operations for legitimate security reasons.

“Calling something ‘humanitarian aid’ doesn’t make it so,” she said.

“Humanitarian relief must remain impartial and needs-based. Civilians must be treated humanely and without discrimination. Relief operations must also be sufficiently independent of political and military objectives to retain their humanitarian character.

“What the GHF model shows is that the delivery of humanitarian aid can be weaponised as a tool of control. It can be used to violate human rights and force people to relocate. How aid is distributed and who is doing it matters.”

Humanitarian aid should reduce civilian vulnerability

The GHF aid distribution points became sites of crowding, stampedes and shootings. Vulnerable civilians attempting to access aid included women, children, older people and people with disabilities. Thousands of Palestinians were reported killed or injured around GHF distribution sites and aid routes.

Associate Professor Bosch’s research argues that activities such as coercive crowd control, intelligence gathering, security screening and the use of force in civilian settings risks crossing the line between protecting humanitarian operations and performing military or government functions.

“A humanitarian system should reduce civilian vulnerability, not repeatedly expose hungry civilians to danger in order to obtain food,” Associate Professor Bosch said.

Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power remains responsible for the treatment of protected civilians by those acting under its authority or control.

“As governments increasingly rely on private contractors to outsource functions once carried out by states or established humanitarian organisations, they ought to be reminded that this does not negate their legal responsibility to uphold international law.”

Humanitarian Aid, Private Security and the International Law Obligations on the Occupying Power: A Commentary on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (https://academic.oup.com/jcsl/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jcsl/krag019/8832340) is published in the Journal of Conflict & Security Law.

MIL OSI

Huawei releases world’s slimmest and largest foldable smartphone

MIL OSI — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:49:39 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

First smartphone to run HarmonyOS 7 and include chip design breakthrough LogicFolding

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 September 2026 – Huawei released the HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN trifold smartphone on September 7. The phone is the first to run HarmonyOS 7, and is the slimmest and largest foldable smartphone in the industry. The Mate XT 2’s Kirin 9050 chip also includes a major breakthrough in semiconductor design. As the first smartphone to feature the LogicFolding Tau (τ) Chip, the Mate XT 2 marks the chip’s official entry into mass commercialization.

World-class engineering and design

The device is proving popular with consumers due to its foldable wing-like form, which means it can be opened up, transforming the phone into a tablet.

The engineering to make this possible is unprecedented. The glass screen must be tough enough to withstand daily use, whilst being able to fold thousands of times. The hinge to allow the screen to fold is the first of its kind. Once open, the handset is just 3.5mm thick. However, the screen is not the only remarkable folding technology in the device.

The first chip with semiconductor design breakthrough, LogicFolding

The Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design includes a major breakthrough in semiconductor design. The phone is the first to use Huawei’s LogicFolding Tau chip Kirin 9050 Pro. Designed by engineers in Huawei’s HiSilicon team, the chip offers a solution to the problem of geometric scaling.

With Moore’s law (the historical observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years) believed to be reaching its physical limit, making chips smaller is becoming more challenging and costly.

For Huawei, faced with external restrictions, the need to find a solution came sooner than expected.

In May this year, He Tingbo, President of Huawei’s HiSilicon division, unveiled a new way of designing and making chips, alongside a new law to measure their performance, the τ (Tau) Scaling Law. The work led to Ms He being recently named one of the world’s leading AI innovators by Time Magazine.

The point of shrinking transistors was never the smallness itself, it’s what the smallness delivered. Shoppers looking to buy the latest smartphone don’t care if the chips inside have 7, 5 or even 2-nanometer nodes, they care about the performance of the device in their hands. What matters to consumers is the time it takes for a task to be completed, a video to be shared or a game to load. The performance of the chip should be measured in the same way: by time, not size. This is why Huawei proposed τ (Tau) Scaling Law as an alternative to Moore’s Law.

Breaking through barriers to improve performance

The Kirin 9050 Pro uses 3D integration to boost performance. Traditional chip advancement focussed on packing more and more transistors into a linear plain by making each one smaller. LogicFolding uses 3D integration to reduce the distance between transistors by stacking them on top of one another, increasing the number of transistors whilst reducing the distance between them.

In fact, in the Kirin 9050 Pro transistor density has risen from approximately 155 to 238 million transistors per square millimetre. That’s an equivalent increase to what was achieved in the previous three years using geometric shrinking.

It was thought that stacking active transistors on top of each other and sealing them inside a solid mobile device would present an engineering challenge. Power turns into heat, which in a confined space would raise the temperature and ultimately break the device.

The key to the solution came in recognising that integrated chips have both transistors and circuits. As He Tingbo explains in her IEEE article, Huawei’s τ Chip Was Supposed to Melt?, the inner workings of a chip can be compared to an office worker’s day of work. Many office workers will use more energy on their commute to and from the office than they do at their desk because they are moving around more on the road. The ‘work’ part of their day is not the most energy intensive part as they are often seated at their desk.

The same is true for chips. The most energy intensive part of the process is the ‘commute’, moving data from point A to point B, not processing it. Integrated circuits use power in two main ways. The first is switching, flipping a transistor gate to change a bit from 0 to 1 and back. The second is the transmission of that data, moving the bits from one part of the chip to another.

This is important in mobile phones where a lot of performance requirements are asked of a single chip. Equally, however, in a large AI cluster 80% of the energy is used in the moving the data, not processing it. In both cases, LogicFolding reduces the space between transistors which in turn reduces the power used. The previous assumption that packing transistors on top of one another would increase the heat turned out to be false. In fact, even with a higher transistor density per millimetre, LogicFolding chips run cooler per unit of work. The result is Huawei’s most powerful smartphone ever.

The first phone to run HarmonyOS 7

The Mate XT 2 is the first smartphone to run HarmonyOS 7. Forty-two percent more powerful than the previous generation, it remains the slimmest and largest foldable display in the industry when open. The cover screen spans 6.5 inches, boosting the screen-to-body ratio from 86.4% to 92.8%. Enhanced with 70% better anti-reflection, the screen exhibits a deeper, cleaner black when off, and pure, crystal-clear transparency when lit.

The Huawei Mate XT 2 also introduces the world-first Smart Shield Privacy Screen on a foldable screen. Two independent pixel sets co-exist within the 10.2-inch display at a micro-pitch of just 9 μm. When Privacy Mode is activated, the screen seamlessly switches from a wide viewing angle to a narrow one while maintaining identical resolution and clarity, protecting your privacy in public spaces without compromising your view.

Industry first ECG analysis

Health tech is increasing important to consumers, and so the Mate XT 2 is the industry’s first smartphone to introduce ECG analysis. Capitalising on the innovative tri-fold form factor, users can simply hold both side frames with both hands while unfolded to capture a 30-second ECG signal. Paired with the medically certified analysis software, it generates detailed ECG reports to help identify Sinus Rhythm, Atrial Fibrillation, and Premature Beats.

The launch of the Mate XT 2 marks a significant moment in Huawei’s journey. The company’s R&D has delivered industry leading, and industry changing innovation. More than half of Huawei’s employees work in R&D. That’s over 100,000 people. The company currently holds 160,000 active patents worldwide. In the first half of 2026 alone, Huawei’s R&D investment was over RMB 121 billion, accounting for 25.94% of revenue, up 25.2% year on year.

The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN starts at RMB 19,999 and is now available for purchase, along with a stylus set, following its official sales launch at 10:08 on September 12^th.

Hashtag: #Huawei

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

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

From Holiday Getaways to Meaningful Journeys: How Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort Is Reshaping the Festive Season

MIL OSI — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:04:13 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2026 – As travellers increasingly seek meaningful ways to celebrate the festive season, Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort is unveiling its festive programme, blending international traditions with Phuket’s culture, cuisine and community through culinary experiences, a community-inspired Christmas Market and signature beachfront celebrations.

According to the Mastercard Economics Institute’s Travel Trends report, purpose-driven travel, including culinary discovery and cultural immersion, is becoming an increasingly important driver of destination choice, as travellers seek authentic experiences and meaningful connections. Luxury hospitality is therefore evolving beyond traditional festive events to create celebrations that connect guests more deeply with the destinations they visit.

“Today’s travellers are looking for more than a holiday. They seek thoughtfully curated experiences that unlock the destination, inspire discovery and create meaningful connections with the people they travel with,” said Jirarat Ninpradub, General Manager of Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort. “Our festive programme celebrates the joy of the season alongside Phuket’s unique culture, flavours and creativity, allowing guests to discover the destination in an authentic and memorable way.”

Throughout December until January 4, 2027, Ocean Kitchen Lawn will host Tuesdays’ Mai Khao Fisherman Market, Thursdays’ Beach BBQ evenings and authentic Thai cuisine, plus live Muay Thai demonstrations, traditional dance, and fire shows every Saturday. J’s Restaurant will offer Asian and International-themed buffets on Mondays and Fridays, alongside a festive Afternoon Tea featuring seasonal pastries and Le Méridien’s signature coffee.

On Christmas Day, the resort’s Christmas Market will showcase handcrafted products by local artisans and resort associates, seasonal treats and live music, combining the charm of a European festive village with Phuket’s distinctive creativity. The market reflects the resort’s commitment to local craftsmanship and community partnerships, giving guests another way to discover Phuket while celebrating the season.

The celebrations culminate in two signature beachfront events. Christmas Eve features an international festive buffet with premium seafood, live cooking stations, Christmas carols, a Santa Giveaway and entertainment beneath the stars. On New Year’s Eve, The Andaman Lumina Soirée transforms Mai Khao Beach with immersive performances, live music, DJs, LED and fire shows, exceptional dining and a spectacular fireworks display welcoming 2027.

By bringing together festive traditions with Phuket’s culture, cuisine and community, Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort continues offering guests a celebration experience that embraces both the season and the destination.

For more information on additional offers, visit Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort Official Website.

Hashtag: #LeMéridienPhuketMaiKhaoBeachResort

About Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort

Set along the tranquil shores of Mai Khao Beach, one of Phuket’s most unspoiled coastlines, Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort offers a relaxed beachfront retreat just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport. The resort brings together contemporary design, intuitive service, and a curated approach to lifestyle experiences, providing a calm alternative to the island’s busier tourist hubs.

The resort features spacious rooms and suites across 14 categories, with views of tropical gardens or the Andaman Sea, designed to balance comfort and privacy. With expansive grounds and family-friendly facilities, it welcomes couples, families, and groups seeking a more unhurried stay.

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

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

Correcting and Replacing: Global Schools Group Marks 25th Anniversary with S$100,000 Multi-Organisation Community Support

MIL OSI — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:19:49 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

The Group outlined ambitious global expansion with 20 new campuses by 2030 and next-generation student initiatives

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2026 – Global Schools Group (GSG), recognised as the world’s most awarded network of K-12 schools, today officially commenced its 25th anniversary celebrations by committing S$100,000 in philanthropic donations to support community initiatives across Singapore. The announcement was made alongside strategic plans to expand its global footprint by opening 20 new international campuses by 2030, targeting high-growth education markets across Asia and the Middle East.

Global Schools Group Marks 25th Anniversary with S$100,000 Multi-Organisation Community Support

The flagship anniversary event was held in the presence of Guest of Honour Mr Edwin Tong, Minister of Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Singapore who witnessed representatives from key beneficiaries receive donation cheques from GSG. The donations will primarily enhance accessibility features in special education schools across East Coast GRC and support inclusive community spaces, including the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), President’s Challenge, and the People’s Association via the Siglap South Community Centre redevelopment.

GSG also announced new long-term community partnerships with the North East Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Chest.

Centering on the theme “One Global Community. Shaping the Future,” the GSG event featured a student-led experiential exhibition and the official launch of a commemorative publication, unveiled by Minister Tong to mark the network’s quarter-century journey from a single local campus to a global system of 64 campuses across 11 countries.

Reflecting on the milestone, Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder of Global Schools Group, said: “Twenty-five years ago, we began our journey with just forty-eight students, driven by a commitment to establish an institution anchored in Singapore’s core principles of academic rigour, meritocracy, and continuous learning. Translating this home-grown educational model across sixty-four global campuses in eleven nations demonstrates the universal appeal of these foundational values. As we embark on introducing our next twenty international locations, our steadfast mission is to empower young leaders for future industries while instilling a profound sense of civic duty and social responsibility.”

Driving Academic Excellence and Real-World Innovation

GSG’s 25-year trajectory is backed by industry-leading academic achievements and global quality recognition. The network recently became the first education group globally to receive Japan’s prestigious Deming Prize for Total Quality Management, bringing its total to more than 650 international awards.

Recent academic and industry milestones across the network include:

Top Academic Outcomes: In recent International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, over 150 GSG students achieved top scores of 44 and 45 points, earning the “IB World Topper” designation and securing placements at institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, NUS, and NTU.
Industry Impact: GSG alumni are actively leading advancements in critical sectors, including Kanika Gakhar, Launch Engineer for the SpaceX/NASA Falcon 9 rocket, and Samanyu Okade, Satellite Design Engineer.
Student-Led Innovation: Current 15-year-old GSG students recently developed LumaBand, an AI-powered wearable device designed to detect and mitigate fall risks among elderly citizens.
Next-Generation Curricula: To prepare its 45,000+ students for emerging technological shifts, GSG is establishing specialised research hubs, including the Centre for AI and Quantum Education, alongside a Silicon Valley Innovation Immersion programme for high-performing students.

Hashtag: #GlobalSchoolsGroup #OneGlobalCommunity #ShapingTheFuture

About Global Schools Group

Global Schools Group has a network of 64 campuses across 11 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Malaysia, where 45,000 students from 70 nationalities study. GSG schools rank high in IB results, with over 100 students scoring World Topper (45/45) and Near Perfect Scores (44/45) in the IB Diploma exams. Over 1000 of its students have achieved A* and A in at least 7 or more subjects in the Cambridge IGCSE exams.

Each year over 150 global universities engage with GSG students who are guided by specialised in-house career counselors. GSG students have been accepted by Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale, other leading universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the G5 of UK such as Oxford & Cambridge Universities, London School of Economics, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). GSG schools are a recipient of over 600 education excellence awards from international quality organisations and UK-Based World Book of Records Recognises GSG Schools as World’s Most Awarded Network of Schools.

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

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

Hunger-Striking Flotilla Organizer Wael Naouar Hospitalized Under Total Blackout as Greta Thunberg, Chief Mandla Mandela, Kneecap, and Global Figures Launch International Open Letter

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:52:27 +0000

Source: Global Sumud Flotilla

As Tunisian authorities refuse to disclose Naouar’s condition, prominent international artists, public figures and human rights advocates unite to demand the immediate release of the ‘Sumud 4’ and an end to the criminalization of Palestine solidarity.

Sept 23, 2026

TUNIS / INTERNATIONAL – The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) has issued an emergency alert following the critical hospitalization of steering committee member Wael Naouar, who has been on an open-ended hunger strike for nearly 40 days in Mornaguia Prison.

Tunisian authorities are now maintaining a complete information blackout, refusing to provide any update regarding Naouar’s medical state or the circumstances surrounding his emergency transfer. The alarming silence comes as dozens of high-profile artists, legal scholars, and political leaders— including climate activist Greta Thunberg, anti-apartheid leader Chief Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, actor Liam Cunningham, and legal commentator Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu —launched an open letter urging the Tunisian government to immediately free Naouar and his three co-defendants.

“Wael Naouar’s life and health are the direct responsibility of the authorities holding him in custody,” stated the Global Sumud Flotilla. “This worrying silence and the total refusal to provide information to his family or legal team raise serious concerns for his safety. We hold the President of the Republic, the General Directorate of Prisons and Rehabilitation, and the Ministry of Justice fully responsible for his life and for any harm that may befall him.”

Naouar launched his hunger strike on August 16 to protest his prolonged detention without trial. On September 10, fellow GSF organizers Nabil Channoufi, Ghassan El Henchiri, and Ghassan El Boughdiri joined the open-ended hunger strike just before the a Tunisian court extended their pretrial detention by four months despite a complete absence of credible evidence. All four men have been held for more than six months for helping coordinate a non-violent civilian aid mission to Gaza.

In their open letter, titled “FREE THE SUMUD 4,” the signatories declare:

“A man has been on hunger strike for more than a month in a Tunisian prison because he refuses to accept that solidarity with Palestine is a crime. His heart could stop at any moment… Tunisia has long stood with the Palestinian people and resisted colonialism. We ask its government to remember that history, and to act before another prisoner pays with his life.”

Prominent Signatories Leading the Global Demand:

Greta Thunberg , Climate activist and international civil disobedience leader.
Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela , Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, anti-apartheid advocate, and grandson of Nelson Mandela.
Kneecap , Acclaimed Irish hip-hop trio and cultural activists.
Liam Cunningham , International actor ( Game of Thrones ) and human rights advocate.
Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu , Prominent lawyer, author, and political commentator.
Tiz Zaqyah Razak , Award-winning Malaysian actress and public figure.

“We know the power of a voice, a name, a stage, an audience,” the signatories state in the collective declaration. “A man has been on hunger strike for more than a month in a Tunisian prison because he refuses to accept that solidarity with Palestine is a crime. His heart could stop at any moment… From Palestine to Tunisia, from the prison cell to the street, people should not be prosecuted for refusing to accept injustice.”

The open letter outlines four non-negotiable demands:

The immediate and unconditional release of the Sumud 4.
Immediate urgent medical care for Wael Naouar and all hunger-striking organizers.
The dismissal of all charges against all GSF organizers.
The removal of arbitrary restrictions imposed on previously released GSF organizers.

The Global Sumud Flotilla reiterates that civil society movements, human rights defenders, and cultural leaders worldwide will not sit idly by while civilian organizers face political imprisonment for coordinating peaceful efforts to challenge israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.

MIL OSI

Labour sanctioned Russia in a day. Now it must show its Israel plan.

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:52:21 +0000

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

On 9 March 2022, Parliament passed the Russia Sanctions Bill through all its stages in a single day. The Bill was introduced the previous day, received its first, second and third readings and completed its committee stage on 9 March, before receiving Royal Assent on 10 March.

The legislation created a dedicated framework allowing New Zealand to impose and enforce sanctions in response to Russia’s military actions and those assisting Russia.

The speed matters.

New Zealand had debated autonomous sanctions for years. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Government moved urgently and Parliament acted.

Now Labour has made its Israel policy explicit.

In its foreign-policy speech on 23 September, Labour committed to recognising the State of Palestine, placing economic sanctions on Israel, and requiring the NZ Super Fund and ACC to divest from companies on the UN list operating in the occupied territories. Labour also committed to intervening in South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice concerning the Genocide Convention.

That is a significant step beyond Labour’s earlier position.

In March 2025, Labour supported Chlöe Swarbrick’s bill that would enable sanctions against Israel over its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Then, in September 2025, Labour called for “meaningful sanctions” including cutting trade and economic ties, freezing assets and travel bans on named individuals, explicitly referring to the approach New Zealand had taken towards Russia.

So the political commitment is now clear.

The mechanics are not.

The Russia Sanctions Act was specifically designed around Russia’s military actions. Its purpose is expressly tied to Russia and those assisting it.

If Labour wants to impose sanctions on Israel under a different legal basis, New Zealand needs to know what legislation Labour would use or introduce.

That is where the questions begin. When?

The Russia sanctions legislation went from introduction to all parliamentary stages in one day.

What is Labour’s deadline for legislation or other legal authority to implement its promised economic sanctions on Israel? How?

Will Labour support and pass Chlöe Swarbrick’s sanctions legislation, amend it, or introduce its own Government bill?

And if new legislation is required, how quickly would it be introduced? What sanctions?

Labour’s current speech says only that it will “place economic sanctions on Israel.”

But Labour has previously identified much more specific measures: cutting economic and trade ties, freezing assets and imposing travel bans on named individuals.

Will those measures form part of the policy?

Would Labour also consider restrictions on settlement-linked trade, procurement restrictions, financial measures, and sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violations of international law? What comes first?

Labour has now committed to three significant measures: recognition of Palestine, sanctions on Israel, and intervention in South Africa’s ICJ case.

Will these happen simultaneously?

Or will there be a sequence and, if so, what is it?

These are not minor details.

A sanctions policy is a legal instrument, not simply a political statement. It needs legislation or legal authority, definitions, targets, enforcement mechanisms, exemptions, timelines and accountability.

Labour has said the right things about the need for consequences when international law is breached.

It has also demonstrated, through the Russia sanctions legislation, that New Zealand can act with extraordinary speed when Parliament decides that circumstances demand it.

So the question now is simple:

If Labour believes Israel should face economic sanctions, show New Zealand the plan.

Put the legislation on the table.

Put the timeline on the table.

Put the sanctions on the table.

And explain clearly how the promised action will move from a 23 September election commitment to an enforceable New Zealand sanctions regime.

The commitment has been made. Now the mechanics must follow.

MIL OSI

Melco’s Morpheus becomes Macau’s first hotel to receive Three MICHELIN Keys

MIL OSI — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:49:33 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – Melco Resorts & Entertainment (NASDAQ: MLCO) announces that Morpheus at City of Dreams has been awarded Three MICHELIN Keys in the MICHELIN Guide’s 2026 global hotel selection, becoming the first hotel in Macau to receive the distinction. Morpheus was promoted from Two Keys, which it held in the 2025 selection.

Three MICHELIN Keys, described by the Guide as “an extraordinary stay”, is the highest level of recognition in the MICHELIN Key system. The 2026 selection comprises 2,832 hotels worldwide, of which 155 hold Three Keys. Morpheus is one of two hotels in Hong Kong and Macau at this level.

In its citation, the MICHELIN Guide described Morpheus as combining “futuristic architectural design” with luxury hospitality, gastronomy and personalized guest services.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman & CEO of Melco, said, “When we set out to build Morpheus, we wanted to create a hotel that Macau had never seen. Bringing that ambition to life was a collective achievement, and our colleagues carry it forward through the care they give our guests every day. This recognition belongs to them. It also affirms the direction we have taken as a company: to be defined by the quality of our hospitality, our dining, our design and our people. We are grateful to the MICHELIN Guide, and proud to bring Macau its first Three Keys.”

Designed by the late visionary architect Dame Zaha Hadid and named one of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels by the Prix Versailles, the global architecture and design award at UNESCO, Morpheus is the world’s first high-rise supported by a free-form steel exoskeleton. Located within Melco’s flagship property City of Dreams, Morpheus seamlessly blends luxury accommodation options, MICHELIN-starred dining, and immersive art experiences to redefine luxury living.

Hashtag: #Melco

About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited

The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe. The Company currently operates City of Dreams ( www.cityofdreamsmacau.com) and Altira Macau ( www.altiramacau.com), integrated resorts located in Cotai and Taipa, Macau, respectively. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs ( www.mochaclubs.com), the only non-casino based operation of electronic gaming machines in Macau. In addition, the Company operates Studio City ( www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, the Company operates and manages City of Dreams Manila ( www.cityofdreamsmanila.com), an integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. In Europe, the Company operates City of Dreams Mediterranean, an integrated resort in Limassol, in the Republic of Cyprus ( www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy) and licensed satellite casinos in other cities in Cyprus (the “Cyprus Casinos”). In South Asia, the Company operates the casino and manages the Nüwa hotel at City of Dreams Sri Lanka ( www.cityofdreamssrilanka.com), an integrated resort in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-resorts.com.

The Company is majority owned by Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, which is in turn majority owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

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

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

Police Mental Health Response Change Programme should be shelved – PSA

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:56:57 +0000

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The PSA has slammed Health NZ’s decision to move to the final phase of the Police’s Mental Health Response Change Programme as not only ill-conceived but dangerous for health workers and mental health patients alike.

Health NZ confirmed today that the final phase of Police’s withdrawal from mental health call-outs will see handover times at hospital emergency departments cut from 60 minutes to 30 minutes, rather than the 15 minutes originally planned. The final phase had been on hold while the changes were reviewed, following safety concerns raised by health workers, ambulance staff, unions and the Mental Health Foundation.

“This is not addressing the problem with this ill-conceived and poorly planned programme,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Going from 60 minutes to 30 minutes does not change our fundamental concern about this programme. Mental health workers are still being assaulted, and this was never properly planned for in the first place.

“The whole programme should be shelved. Time and again we’ve raised the dangers with Health NZ and Police, and time and again we’ve been told the changes would proceed regardless.

“This is a serious health and safety issue which why we complained to the IPCA who agreed with us that violence and assaults against mental health workers are a ‘significant concern’ – but stated that it does not have the resources to investigate the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme.

“No health worker should ever be left facing a situation where the police aren’t there to help them. Health NZ have told staff that they should simply remove themselves from a dangerous situation – but we’ve heard from workers that’s completely impractical advice.

“It is fundamental that the safety of workers, patients and the public is the priority here – not an afterthought.

“Just like any New Zealanders, mental health workers should always be able to expect that police will be there to help them – at the other end of the phone, ready to respond – not treated as an option of last resort.

“We’re calling on Health NZ and the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, to shelve this flawed programme altogether, and to properly resource mental health services so that workers, patients and the public are safe.”

Previous statement:

5 Feb 2026 Police watchdog concedes violence against mental health workers ‘serious’ but too underfunded to investigate

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

MIL OSI

Northland vegetation fire update

LiveNews Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:36:49 +0000

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted to a five-hectare scrub and grass vegetation fire on Far North Road in Te Kao at 9.48am today. Firefighters from Houhora and Kaitaia responded, supported by two helicopters. Fire and Emergency and Police have evacuated ten houses as a precaution, with the residents likely to be returned home this afternoon. The fire is currently contained, but windy conditions have made firefighting difficult.

MIL OSI

Advocacy – Invercargill Council 6th Council to Cut Ties with Illegal Israeli Settlements in Palestine

LiveNews Publisher — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 03:36:54 +0000

Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Invercargill

Today Invercargill City Council voted 7-3 to join five other councils including Environment Southland to exclude companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank from council contracts, reversing the previous council’s 6–6 decision decided by casting vote.

The motion returned after a petition signed by 1,200 people, and was supported by local businesses, unions, faith groups and community organisations.

The change aligns procurement with UN Security Council Resolution 2334, co-sponsored by New Zealand under a National government in 2016, which states Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are a “flagrant violation under international law” and a “major obstacle” to peace. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled Israel’s occupation unlawful and in breach of international law on apartheid and racial segregation.

Statement from Seren Palliser of PSNA Invercargill: “Since the last council rejected this, 1800+ attacks have been recorded in the West Bank, with 240 Palestinians killed and 1600 displaced. 700,000 settler-colonists now live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and this winter Israeli ministers announced plans for 3 settlements in Gaza and 400 million to expand settlements.”

“We’re grateful to the councillors who passed this today. This is a small step to stop ratepayer money funding these war crimes, but local councils shouldn’t have to take it – it’s 10 years since UNSC 2334 was passed and parliament, which sanctioned Russia within weeks, still hasn’t put it into action. The relentless double standards have done permanent harm to the international rule’s based order we all rely on.”

The motion was brought by councillor Lisa Tou-McNaughton (supported by Andrea de Vries, Steve Broad, Marcus Lush and Darren Ludlow), and moved by Alex Crackett, seconded by Steve Broad

Votes for: Lisa Tou-McNaughton, Andrea de Vries, Steve Broad, Marcus Lush and Darren Ludlow, Alex Crackett, Ian Pottinger, Ria Bond

Voted against: Tom Campbell, Barry Stewart, Trish Boyle

MIL OSI

Open letter calls National, Labour irresponsible for positioning on tax – Better Taxes

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:42:01 +0000

Source: Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign

In an open letter released today, fifteen members of the Better Taxes for a Better Future campaign coalition are calling out both the National and Labour parties for their irresponsible positioning on tax, and for failing to engage honestly with the public about the revenue challenges we face, in the lead up to the 2026 General Election.

“Both of the major parties, one of which will lead the next government, are running campaigns that perpetuate negative attitudes towards tax, at a time when we desperately need to raise more revenue to fund the things we need to live good lives – like safe staffing in our hospitals, building more public housing, and tackling our infrastructure deficit,” said Kate Stone, Better Taxes campaign manager.

“The National Party is campaigning on having “no new taxes”. The Labour Party has committed to a Capital Gains Tax limited to investment property, but is now buying into National’s anti-tax messaging by trying to minimise it in the public conversation and refusing to commit to any other tax changes.”

“This positioning is irresponsible given the fiscal challenges, outlined by the Treasury and IRD, that are posed by an aging population, increasing health expenditure and the need to respond to climate change and associated extreme weather events.”

“And it is out of step with where the public is at. Polling shows people support increased spending on public services and a recent poll indicates that two thirds would be willing to pay more tax for better healthcare,” said Stone.

“We cannot cut, cut, cut our way out of this situation – the organisations that have signed on to this letter already see the impact of the current underinvestment in public services on our communities.”

“We need to grow tax revenue, but that does not mean taxing ordinary, hard working whānau more. Relative to most countries we like to compare ourselves with we’re a low tax country, they collect more revenue and have better public services than we do. But our tax system is unbalanced and not every part of society is contributing its fair share: working whānau pay income tax and GST, but we do not tax wealth and capital gains in any meaningful way. That needs to change if we’re going to gather the revenue we need, and gather it more fairly,” said Stone.

Comment from NZ Nurses Organisation

“Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa The New Zealand Nurses Organisation, supports the open letter challenging the major political parties’ positions on tax during the election campaign. Chronic underfunding of the health system has caused nationwide staffing shortages, ageing facilities, and an inability to meet community need — resulting in avoidable harm and death. Last financial year, hospitals ran a $1 billion deficit just trying to stand still, while the wider health system deficit is estimated at $4-5 billion in immediate unmet need. Meeting current demand and building a health system fit for the future will require all political parties to commit to tax reform so that every New Zealander has access to high-quality public health care.” NZNO President, Anne Daniels.

Comment from Child Poverty Action Group

“Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) exists to advocate for policies that reduce and ultimately eliminate child poverty and we wholeheartedly support the Better Taxes Coalition open letter. It is very clear to us that New Zealand needs sufficient and sustainable public revenue to meet our obligations under the Child Poverty Reduction Act – now and in the future.”

“We see every day the consequences of underinvestment for children and their families: rising material hardship, inadequate incomes, housing stress, unequal access to health and educational opportunities. These are imposing significant costs on our kids, our communities and the wider economy. Child poverty alone is estimated to cost New Zealand billions of dollars annually.”

“We, too, are calling on Labour and National to have an honest public conversation about how New Zealand will fund the commitments needed to meet the Child Poverty Reduction Act targets, to reduce child poverty, and address the long-term social and fiscal challenges.”

Lyn Amos, Kaiwhakahaere Mātua – Executive Officer, Child Poverty Action Group.

Read the open letter.

The Better Taxes for a Better Future Campaign is a coalition of over 20 organisations led by Tax Justice Aotearoa.

MIL OSI

Asia NZ Foundation – New Zealand Health and Beauty Entrepreneurs Head to Malaysia

LiveNews Publisher — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:41:57 +0000

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono

22 September 2026

A group of New Zealand entrepreneurs is heading to one of Asia’s largest health and beauty trade expos this week.

The visit is part of the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI), delivered by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The beauty expo, Cosmobeaute Malaysia, will kick off in Kuala Lumpur from September 29 until October 1, hosting 400 exhibitors from 11 different markets including China, Korea and Japan.

The visit aims to give the entrepreneurs travelling product ideas and potential partnership opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. Worldwide consumer spending on wellness increased by 35 percent from 2019 to 2024, and the global wellness economy is projected to reach NZ$17.1trillion by 2029.

Of that, Malaysia’s personal care and beauty sector was valued at NZ$20.6 billion in 2024.

Rawinia Rimene, founder of Girl Native Skincare, is joining the delegation after recently attending VivaTech in Paris, where she successfully secured new business partnerships.

After making connections in Europe, Rimene is looking forward to building relationships “closer to home” in Malaysia and says face-to-face is best.

“It’s very important to be on the ground, in person. You get a better understanding of each other, especially when there are different cultures and languages.”

Rimene is a trailblazer in Māori health and beauty, founding her company after rongoā Māori practices successfully treated her daughter’s skin condition. For Rimene, the opportunity to take her business overseas is also about showing her daughter what is possible.

Rosie Woodhams, who leads marketing and branding for BeauEver, is excited to learn from other businesses that have built from the ground up.

“For me, this opportunity is huge; I haven’t done anything like this before… I haven’t been to Malaysia before for work, so I’m looking forward to having exposure to the way they do things.

As well as the expo, the Foundation – led by our experienced entrepreneurship manager Lingy Au – will be taking the delegates on site visits and to meetings with leading businesses while in Kuala Lumpur.

Asia New Zealand Foundation director of business and entrepreneurship Tim McCready says the trip will “compress a year of market research into one week”.

“Delegates will meet distributors face-to-face and see what’s on trend, what’s selling on shelf and at what price point. This delegation will open doors that would otherwise take years to knock on.”

McCready also believes New Zealand has a lot to offer to Malaysia, and more broadly Asia’s health and beauty market.

“New Zealand has a great story to tell; provenance, natural ingredients and traceability are all things that consumers pay attention to and pay a premium for.”

Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Suzannah Jessep says experiences like this are important for building New Zealand’s long-term business capability in Asia.

“Southeast Asia is an increasingly important part of New Zealand’s economic future, and making the most of those opportunities requires people who understand the region, have trusted relationships and are confident operating there,” Jessep says.

“YBLI gives emerging New Zealand business leaders that first-hand experience, building knowledge and connections that can benefit not only their own businesses, but the wider networks they are part of.”

The ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI), formed in 2011, has facilitated visits for more than 130 ASEAN entrepreneurs to New Zealand and supported over 80 New Zealand entrepreneurs in exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia. In total, the YBLI Network numbers over 270 entrepreneurs.

Participants of the delegation

Melitta Adam, Melitta Skin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Julia Juhasz, No Bad Days Skincare, Founder
Emma Michelsen, Aggie New Zealand Limited, Founder
Scott Glacken, Noody Ltd, Cofounder
Rawinia Rimene, Girl Native, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Kimberly Tait, Hinu Ora, Founder
Amelia Jory, Dulesè, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Shaleah Lawrence, Earthwoven, Founder and Director
Rosie Woodhams, BeauEver, Brand and Marketing Manager
Madeleine Patel, Delightable, Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer

About the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono

Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is a leading provider of Asia insights and experiences in New Zealand. Its mission is to equip New Zealanders to excel in Asia by providing research, insights, and targeted opportunities to grow their knowledge, connections and experiences across the region. The Foundation’s activities cover more than 20 countries in Asia and are delivered through eight core programmes: arts, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy, and sports.

About the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative

The ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) is a key part of the New Zealand Government’s ASEAN strategy. The aim of the programme is to facilitate trade and build connections between business leaders and entrepreneurs in New Zealand and Southeast Asia. This is achieved through short, targeted visits to New Zealand and Southeast Asia for ASEAN entrepreneurs and Kiwi entrepreneurs respectively.

MIL OSI

Hong Kong sets out strategies to enhance the appeal and add value to the city’s tourism industry

MIL OSI — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:01:17 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for tourism and major sports and cultural events was a strong focus of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee last week (September 16).

Mr Lee unveiled measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism which will help develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. These included enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, while bolstering infrastructure and ancillary facilities as well as deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and around the world.

“Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences,” Mr Lee said. “We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong.”

To support Hong Kong’s film industry and promote “Film + Tourism”, the Support Unit for Non‑local Film Productions will be set up to provide one‑stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.

Mr Lee noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park has substantially expanded Hong Kong’s capacity to host international mega events, with more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events having been held there so far, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.

Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all‑weather, multi‑purpose venue for holding larger‑scale and higher‑level sports events, as well as performance activities.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Ms Law said that Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11 per cent.

“The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026,” Ms Law said.

The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Chinese Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.

It will take forward “+ Tourism” joint initiatives, integrating various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value‑adding momentum. Such joint initiatives would integrate tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance and industrial brands.

On developing the yacht economy, Mr Lee said that a variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City “SKYTOPIA”.

“In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration,” Mr Lee said. “The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross‑boundary leisure consumption.”

To further enhance the city’s appeal as a Muslim‑friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim‑friendly food options.

https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-hong-kong/
https://x.com/Brand_HK/
https://www.facebook.com/brandhk.isd
https://www.instagram.com/brandhongkong

Hashtag: #HongKong #PolicyAddress #First5YearPlan #Tourism #Sports #Culture

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

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

AI-enabled Economic and Trade Cooperation Tightening the Ties of Trade and Investment Cooperation

MIL OSI — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:06:25 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

The 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit Held Successfully

NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – The 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) was held in Nanning City, Guangxi, China from September 17 to 19, 2026, striving to build a high-level platform for exchanges on AI application cooperation and industrial innovation between China and ASEAN.

Co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the national chambers of commerce and industry of ASEAN member states, CABIS is the highest-level, largest-scale and most influential national and international economic and trade event between China and ASEAN. Since its inception in 2004, the CABIS has been held annually, playing a strong role in advancing economic, trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN. The 23rd CABIS held major events including the Opening Ceremony, the China-ASEAN Business Leaders Forum and the China-ASEAN Commercial Law Forum, providing cooperation platforms for government-business and business-to-business dialogues, policy alignment and project matchmaking.

2026 marks a crucial year for the implementation of Version 3.0 of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Taking Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN as an opportunity to expand the scope of business cooperation, the CABIS focused on digital trade, green economy and supply chain resilience, actively responding to the industrial expectations of ASEAN. Together with the business communities of all 11 ASEAN member states, it worked to translate policy consensus into tangible outcomes in industry and commerce, injecting new momentum into regional economic integration.

The 23rd CABIS further integrated “AI + CABIS ” by hosting a series of AI-themed side events and releasing Intelligent Land-Sea Connectivity: China-ASEAN AI Cooperation Case Collection (2026) ，promoting the application of AI across ASEAN. It highlights the dominant role of enterprises, facilitating the “Nanning Channel” by holding the Matchmaking Conference for Entrepreneurs from China and ASEAN Countries, supporting the construction of the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt.

Hashtag: #CABIS #ChinaASEAN #AI

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

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

Alliance Justice Policy: “Three Strikes and into Treatment”

LiveNews Publisher — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 23:32:04 +0000

Source: Alliance Party

Monday 21 September 2026

The Alliance Party has released its 2026 Justice Policy, built around preventing harm, repairing it, and standing with victims.

Alliance Party justice spokesperson and Ilam candidate Courtney Fraser says the state of the courts and prisons is not an accident but a policy choice.

“It’s hard to talk about criminal justice without talking about policy, because where we find ourselves today with incarceration, the lack of rehabilitation, and the lack of access to services, is down to public policy.”

“Our criminal law is still built around punishing the people who offend, and there is far too little for the victims of crime.”

“Underinvestment in housing, work, training, and education over the last forty years has led to a social crisis, and our courts are where that crisis ends up.”

Ms Fraser says the Alliance policy tackles the causes of offending through secure housing, decent work, education and training, healthcare, and mental health and addiction services.

The policy establishes habilitation centres as an alternative to prison, particularly for young people, and brings back Community Care Orders as a sentencing option.

It places restorative justice at the centre of appropriate responses to offending, supports marae-based processes where appropriate, and properly resources iwi and Māori organisations to provide rehabilitation and restorative programmes.

A properly resourced Victim/Criminal Compensation Board will oversee financial, physical and other support for victims of crime.

Ms Fraser says the Alliance will review legal aid with the aim of a comprehensive, publicly funded system of legal assistance, including expanded legal aid, sustainable resourcing for Community Law Centres, and an enhanced Public Defence Service, so that no one is denied justice because they are poor.

Prisons will be publicly owned and operated, and the Alliance opposes private prisons. Reflecting its principle that no person or corporation is above the law, the Alliance will also reinstate the right to sue corporations or individuals over damage caused by emissions-related climate change effects.

“We’re all in this together on these tiny, faraway islands. We must close the gaps in our systems so none of us are left behind.”

“The best thing we can do for victims is stop making new ones. Where the current approach is three strikes and out, ours is three strikes and into treatment.”

The policy rests on six principles: prevent rather than simply punish; rehabilitate rather than abandon; restore where possible rather than simply incarcerate; support victims rather than abandoning them; guarantee access to justice regardless of wealth; and protect rights by holding everyone, including government and corporations, accountable under the law.

MIL OSI

Greenpeace – Thirty Five thousand march in Auckland against Conservation Amendment Bill

LiveNews Publisher — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 21:41:54 +0000

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird

Thirty Five thousand have gathered in Auckland’s Albert Park this afternoon to march down Queen Street to protest the Government’s controversial Conservation Amendment Bill.

Speaking from the protest, Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Dr Russel Norman said, “We are part of nature, not separate from it. An attack on nature is an attack on all of us. It needs to stop.”

“If Luxon wants a fight over conservation land, he has one. This huge turnout today shows people are not prepared to stand by while a government tries to rewrite conservation law to make those places easier to exploit.”

“Today’s March for Nature is an unmistakable warning to the Coalition Government. Luxon should look at the thousands of people filling Auckland’s streets today and read the room. Bin the Bill, keep your hands off conservation land, and leave it protected for generations to come.”

Forest & Bird’s Richard Capie, also speaking from the protest, said “Today’s march shows just how deeply people care about our unique creatures and incredible wild places. Nature brings New Zealanders together – there is no more powerful unifying force in Aotearoa than te taiao.

“The message to every political party from the people of New Zealand is clear: if you stand up for nature, we will stand with you. But if you sell off our conservation land, weaken environmental protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future, we will not stand by and let it happen.”

Other speakers included Augusta Macassey-Piccard of Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, Gabrielle Brayne of Anti-War Aotearoa, Aigagalefili Fepulea’i-Tapua’i (Fili) of Aotearoa Climate Action Network, and Māori activist Mike Smith.

Norman says, “Conservation land is part of who we are in Aotearoa. But the Conservation Amendment Bill would open the door to more mining, more commercial exploitation and degradation of the wildlife and places we all love.

“Today, thousands of people from all walks of life have come together to say that we will not stand for this. Together, we will fight this rotten Bill every step of the way until it is dead and buried.”

The protest, organised by Greenpeace Aotearoa and Forest & Bird, is backed by over 30 civil society groups, including unions, environmental charities, scientific societies, ratepayer associations and outdoor recreation groups. They include the PSA, NZEI and Unite Union, the NZ Botanical Society, Environmental Law Initiative, Mindful Money, and Athletes for Nature.

Capie says, “Aotearoa New Zealand – our mountains, oceans, rivers, forests, and landscapes – are like nowhere else on earth. They are home to iconic native species that exist only here. New Zealanders are rightly incredibly proud of te taiao and we share a deep sense of aroha for the environment. Conservation land, our wildlife and wild places, are taonga, a treasure. They must be looked after for future generations.

“So, when these places are put at risk, New Zealanders stand up and say no. That is the message I’ve heard over and over again today – protect te taiao – hands off our conservation land.”

The march will leave Albert Park at 1:30pm and travel down Queen Street, before arriving in Te Komitititanga Square. Greenpeace and Forest & Bird are urging participants to enrol to vote, with the election in seven weeks.

Greenpeace – Updated numbers: 35k marched for nature

Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa

More than 35 thousand people joined today’s march for nature, to demand that the Government scrap the Conservation Amendment Bill.

The march was organised by Greenpeace and Forest & Bird, who are particularly concerned that the Bill will allow commercial exploitation of conservation land.

Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Russel Norman says “If Luxon wants a fight over conservation land, he has one. This huge turnout today shows people are not prepared to stand by while a government tries to rewrite conservation law to make those places easier to exploit.”

Forest & Bird Group Manager Policy & Advocacy Richard Capie says “The message to every political party from the people of New Zealand is clear: if you stand up for nature, we will stand with you. But if you sell off our conservation land, weaken environmental protections, or put short-term profit ahead of our future, we will not stand by and let it happen.”

MIL OSI

Philippines: Authorities must ensure right to protest as fresh anti-corruption demonstrations planned

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:11:49 +0000

Source: Amnesty International

18 September 2026

Ahead of planned demonstrations marking one year since mass anti-corruption protests took place in the Philippines on 21 September 2025, Ritz Lee Santos III, Executive Director of Amnesty International Philippines, said:

“As people prepare to take to the streets once more to demand accountability for corruption, Philippine authorities must ensure the right to peaceful assembly is protected and refrain from using excessive force. The authorities must not repeat the mistakes of last year’s violent response to peaceful protest.

“One year on, protesters arrested during the 2025 demonstrations continue to face charges, while authorities have failed to thoroughly, independently and impartially investigate allegations of police violence.

“Charges against those who exercised their right to peaceful assembly should be immediately dropped. Any use of force by police must be strictly necessary, proportionate and in line with international human rights standards.

“Instead of arresting activists and criminalizing dissent, the authorities must address the reason people are returning to the streets: they must act decisively and transparently on the country’s corruption scandal. Filipinos should not have to choose between demanding accountability and protecting themselves from state violence.”

Background

One year after mass protests erupted in the Philippines over allegations of corruption in flood-control projects, demonstrators are once again expected to take to the streets on 21 September. The date coincides with the commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, which has long served as a focal point for public mobilization and calls for accountability.

In the aftermath of 2025 anti-corruption protests, Amnesty International documented physical abuse by state forces, including violations that may amount to torture and other ill-treatment. The demonstrations were sparked by a nationwide corruption scandal involving flood-control infrastructure projects. Investigations into government officials, senior politicians and contractors implicated remain ongoing.

Lawyers’ groups in the Philippines have informed Amnesty International that over 100 people continue to face a range of criminal charges, one year after the 2025 protests.

While some cases have been filed against government officials, senior politicians and contractors in the country’s flood-control scandal, broader efforts to establish transparency and accountability have remained piecemeal and elusive.

A Senate inquiry into allegedly corrupt flood-control projects has yet to release a draft report of its findings, reportedly owing to a lack of signatures from senators. Some findings were later disclosed by Senator Panfilo Lacson, and documents were reportedly turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman. In addition, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, established to examine flood-control and other infrastructure projects, concluded its six-month mandate without publishing its full report.

MIL OSI

Global Schools Group Marks 25th Anniversary with S$100,000 Multi-Organisation Community Support

MIL OSI — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:04:48 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

The Group outlined ambitious global expansion with 20 new campuses by 2030 and next-generation student initiativesCaption

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – Global Schools Group (GSG), recognised as the world’s most awarded network of K-12 schools, today officially commenced its 25th anniversary celebrations by committing S$100,000 in philanthropic donations to support community initiatives across Singapore. The announcement was made alongside strategic plans to expand its global footprint by opening 20 new international campuses by 2030, targeting high-growth education markets across Asia and the Middle East.

The flagship anniversary event was held in the presence of Guest of Honour Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law Singapore, who witnessed representatives from key beneficiaries receive donation cheques from GSG. The donations will primarily enhance accessibility features in special education schools across East Coast GRC and support inclusive community spaces, including the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), President’s Challenge, and the People’s Association via the Siglap South Community Centre redevelopment.

GSG also announced new long-term community partnerships with the North East Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Chest.

Reflecting on the milestone, Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder of Global Schools Group, said: “Twenty-five years ago, we began our journey with just forty-eight students, driven by a commitment to establish an institution anchored in Singapore’s core principles of academic rigour, meritocracy, and continuous learning. Translating this home-grown educational model across sixty-four global campuses in eleven nations demonstrates the universal appeal of these foundational values. As we embark on introducing our next twenty international locations, our steadfast mission is to empower young leaders for future industries while instilling a profound sense of civic duty and social responsibility.”

Driving Academic Excellence and Real-World Innovation

Recent academic and industry milestones across the network include:

Top Academic Outcomes: In recent International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, over 150 GSG students achieved top scores of 44 and 45 points, earning the “IB World Topper” designation and securing placements at institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, NUS, and NTU.
Industry Impact: GSG alumni are actively leading advancements in critical sectors, including Kanika Gakhar, Launch Engineer for the SpaceX/NASA Falcon 9 rocket, and Samanyu Okade, Satellite Design Engineer.
Student-Led Innovation: Current 15-year-old GSG students recently developed LumaBand, an AI-powered wearable device designed to detect and mitigate fall risks among elderly citizens.
Next-Generation Curricula: To prepare its 45,000+ students for emerging technological shifts, GSG is establishing specialised research hubs, including the Centre for AI and Quantum Education, alongside a Silicon Valley Innovation Immersion programme for high-performing students.

Hashtag: #GlobalSchoolsGroup #OneGlobalCommunity #ShapingTheFuture

About Global Schools Group

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

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

AI-enabled Economic and Trade Cooperation Tightening the Ties of Trade and Investment CooperationThe 23rd China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit Held Successfully

MIL OSI — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:45:18 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

Hashtag: #CABIS #ChinaASEAN #AI

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

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

BusinessNZ: Corporate homicide law raises proportionality concerns

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:57:35 +0000

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ supports strong accountability for workplace safety and recognises the profound impact workplace deaths have on families, workers and communities.

However, Labour’s proposal to introduce a corporate homicide law raises serious questions about proportionality and the role of governance in New Zealand, said BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.

Under Labour’s proposed law change, a company and individuals associated with them could be found guilty, if they had a legal duty of care, and exposed anyone to a risk of death or serious injury, and if someone then died.

An individual could be sentenced to life in prison and companies could be fined up to $10 million.

“Under Labour’s proposal, company directors could face life imprisonment. That places directors in the same category as sentences for crimes like murder and terrorism. We do not believe it is reasonable or proportionate to equate a governance role with the most serious criminal offending in New Zealand,” Ms Rich said.

“Directors are responsible for governance, oversight, strategic direction and ensuring appropriate systems are in place. They are not involved in every decision made every day across an organisation. No director has complete visibility of every action taken by every employee, contractor, or manager.

“Good governance is about oversight, accountability and risk management.This proposal assumes a level of control and visibility that simply does not exist in the real world of governance.”

Ms Rich said the proposal comes at a time when the Law Commission’s Directors’ Duties and Liabilities Review is examining whether directors’ obligations have developed across New Zealand law in a piecemeal manner and whether a more consistent and principled framework is needed for assigning personal liability to directors. BusinessNZ intends to participate in that review.

“There is already growing concern among governance leaders that directors are being exposed to liabilities for matters that extend beyond what they can reasonably know, control or prevent. This proposal would dramatically accelerate that trend.

“What it will do is make experienced and capable people think twice about serving on boards, particularly in sectors where strong governance is needed most.

“New Zealand needs directors who are willing to accept responsibility, exercise judgement and lead organisations through complex challenges. Continually escalating personal liability risks creating a governance environment driven by fear rather than sound decision-making.”

A coherent review of directors’ duties and liabilities was already underway through the Law Commission’s Directors’ Duties and Liabilities Review. Parliament should allow that work to be completed and consider director liability as part of a consistent and principled framework rather than through another stand-alone addition to the statute book.

“There is already deep unease about the growing disconnect between what directors can realistically control and the liabilities they are expected to carry.A proposal that exposes directors to life imprisonment will cause many experienced governance leaders to ask whether serving on a board is worth risking their home, their reputation and potentially their freedom.”

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

MIL OSI

NGOS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO PASS MODERN SLAVERY BILL BEFORE THE ELECTION

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:57:29 +0000

Source: World Vision

New Zealand humanitarian organisations and others have joined forces to sign an open letter calling on Parliament to pass the Modern Slavery Bill before the November election.

The agencies, including World Vision, Tearfund, the Council for International Development, ECPAT, Hagar NZ, the Oceania Freedom Network, and the Council for Trade Unions, are calling for the Bill to be passed before Parliament rises for the final time on September 24.

World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says the Bill was not prioritised on Parliament’s final Members’ Day and now risks lapsing.

“The Modern Slavery Bill needs to be prioritised if it is going to pass before the election. We’re calling on the government to carve out time to pass the Bill which will help to curb the exploitation and slavery of more than 50 million men, women, and children around the world, including 8,000 right here in New Zealand.

“Passing this Bill is unquestionably the right thing to do, and that is demonstrated by the fact it has strong cross-party support in Parliament. The only thing holding this Bill back is Parliamentary time, and the government can easily address this.” she says.

Armstrong warns that if the Bill is not passed in this term of government, it could lapse and while it could be reinstated in the next Parliament, that isn’t guaranteed.

Tearfund New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy, Claire Gray, says the urgency is about people.

“Behind the products we buy are people whose freedom and dignity matter. Every delay in tackling modern slavery carries a human cost.

“Businesses, communities and politicians across party lines have come together to support this Bill. That progress deserves to be matched by action. We urge the Government to make time to pass the Bill before the election. We cannot let the clock run out on years of work and an opportunity to make a real difference.”

The Bill represents five years of collective advocacy across the humanitarian, civil society and business sectors and has strong public support. Armstrong says it has been an extraordinary example of cross-party collaboration with the Bill being jointly sponsored by National MP Greg Fleming and Labour MP Camilla Belich. It was historically the first bill introduced using the joint-sponsorship mechanism under Standing Order 288.

“We’re asking the government to show that it truly understands the collaborative nature of Parliament and that it recognises that New Zealanders want their MPs to work together on issues of importance like modern slavery. The government needs to prioritise passing this Bill.”

The open letter is being released on social media so that organisations and businesses can endorse and share through their own social channels. World Vision and Tearfund are calling on New Zealanders to show their support by sharing the open letter on social media and adding their voice to the call for Parliament to prioritise passing the Modern Slavery Bill before the election.

A timeline of advocacy for a Modern Slavery Act

March 2021: 100 businesses sign an open letter calling for modern slavery legislation.
June 2021: World Vision and Trade Aid delivered a 37,000-strong petition to the Government.
July 2021: The Labour Government establishes the Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group (MSLAG) to support and inform the development of an effective regulatory regime in New Zealand.
April 2022: The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment solicits public submissions on a proposal for modern slavery legislation. More than 5,000 submissions were made with 90% in support.
September 2022: The Labour Government releases the feedback which showed widespread support from New Zealand businesses and individuals to introduce law to address modern slavery.
June 2022: When interviewed as leader of the opposition, Christopher Luxon says that an issue he would march in the streets for is modern slavery legislation.
March 2023: An independent poll finds that 81% of New Zealanders support legislation to verify the absence of modern slavery in supply chains.
July 2023: The Labour Government announces that modern slavery legislation will be drafted requiring businesses to publicly report on modern slavery risks.
May 2024: The National Coalition Government disestablished the Modern Slavery Leadership Advisory Group (MSLAG).
April 2024: When questioned about modern slavery legislation, Minister van Velden and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said this was not a current priority for the Government.
June 2024: Camilla Belich, Labour spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety questioned Minister van Velden on modern slavery at Parliament question time. Minister van Velden reiterated that modern slavery legislation is currently not a priority for the Government.
December 2024: World Vision NZ’s Rebekah Armstrong, barrister Jacob Parry, and ANZ’s ESG Lead Rebecca Kingi co-drafted the Modern Slavery and Trafficking Expert Practitioners (MSTEP) Modern Slavery Bill.
December 2024: The Labour Party issued a media release expressing its support for modern slavery legislation and calling on National to back it as well.
April 2025: National MP Greg Fleming lodged the Modern Slavery Reporting Bill as a Private Member’s Bill, focused on business reporting obligations. This complemented his Increasing Penalties for Slavery Offences Bill, currently before Select Committee.
June 2025, Labour MP Camilla Belich lodged a Modern Slavery Bill. This bill introduces similar business reporting requirements but is more comprehensive including updates to the Crimes Act stronger provisions for victim protection and support and the establishment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
August 2025: The Minister of Justice announced plans to amend the Crimes Act to strengthen laws against trafficking, including many provisions recommended in the MSTEP Bill. World Vision launched its campaign urging politicians to work together utilising the rule of 61.
September 2025: 28 signatories, representing institutional investors and New Zealand businesses accounting for more than NZD 215 billion, released an open letter calling for urgent action on modern slavery legislation.
September 2025: The Government introduced the Adoption Amendment Bill to prevent trafficking and unsafe adoptions, signalling willingness to strengthen New Zealand’s response to modern slavery and trafficking.
December 2025- both member bills were removed from the ballot.
January 2026 joint modern slavery bill introduced.
April 2026: Modern Slavery Bill passes its first reading in Parliament with the support of 112 MPs.
May 2026: The Education and Workforce Select Committee calls for public submissions on the Modern Slavery Bill
August 2026: The Education and Workforce Select Committee recommends the Modern Slavery Bill be passed at its second readin.

MIL OSI

Scholarships for Young Writers Awarded for the First Time

LiveNews Publisher — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:57:25 +0000

Source: Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa

18 September, 2026

Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa (TCA) and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) are proud to announce five young writers who have received the inaugural TCA | NZSA Secondary School Leavers Scholarship.

The selection panel of award-winning authors Michelle Elvy and Shelley Burne-Field said they were astonished at the variety in form and content of the entries submitted on behalf of students by their schools.

“From speculative fiction to creative nonfiction, from historical scenarios to present-day commentaries on common pressures, ethics and morality. There was beautiful poetic writing and sharp dialogue. Often there were mysteries embedded in the story; always, there was something important about humanity and connection. In each one, there was plenty of imagination, too,” they said.

Designed to nurture the next generation of New Zealand writers, the scholarship offers five grants of $2,000 each, split between the successful student and their school.

Congratulations to the Recipients

(in alphabetical order by last name of the student).

Elisa Cordner from Heretaunga College

The judges said Cordner’s story It could not have weighed much was an example of poetic writing with rhythmic sentences.

“This is a writer who understands pacing and flow very well…this story is aimed straight at the heart and head: it hits its mark. The narrative, told with gentle language, lingers long after reading,” they said.

Cordner said winning the scholarship was a huge personal achievement.

“I’m so thankful for [Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa] for providing this opportunity. It excites me beyond words to have taken this first step into the literature world!” Cordner said.

Ankit Kafle from Shirley Boys’ High School

The judges said Kafle’s story Fitting the Mold was about coming to terms with one’s true self, and the idiosyncrasies that make us human, real, and authentic.

“The writer negotiates uncomfortable spaces, both physical and metaphorical. There is tension and anxiety in this story, also inner examination and resolution. A quiet strength emerges as we read towards the end,” they said.

His teacher, Chris Humphreys said the school’s English teachers valued originality and creativity.

“Ankit, our recipient of the prize, is of Nepalese heritage. He enjoys connecting with people through friendships. The aspect of writing he enjoys the most is the freedom it offers. Of his winning story, he says, ‘It is important to stand out rather than fit the mold’,” said Humphreys.

Bleys Roberston from Mairehau High School

Roberston’s story Black Marigolds captivated the judges with its references of Othello, a Sanskrit love poem and perhaps a wartime love lost.

“The writer shows care for detail, and paints the scene delicately – faces unknowable, unfamiliar, a new setting, a new world, and a will to see what comes…In this way the story evokes loneliness and aroha, but also a sense of hope that humanity – and even the new kid at school – will prevail,” they said.

The English Learning Team at Mairehau High School said Robertson was a passionate reader and writer since he joined the school in Year 9 and they were so excited to see him receive this scholarship.

Robertson himself said he had been fascinated by writing and storytelling since a young age and had already completed eight manuscripts.

“To receive this scholarship feels like a true recognition of my work and will help me immensely in my further studies; for that I am very grateful,” he said.

Ruby Waetford from Epsom Girls Grammar School

The judges found Gold Dust Angel by Waetford full of beautiful, evocative language that floated and carried the story.

“The sense of control and careful repetition works very well here…With any good story like this, there is human connection and inspiration – and there is also revelation,” they said.

Waetford (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi, Ngati Hine -Te Tai Tokerau), who was hoping to study a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws conjoint at the University of Auckland, said she was excited and grateful to receive the scholarship.

“As I begin to pursue the next stages of my education, this scholarship will directly support me in achieving my future academic goals. I’ve always had a passion for writing, particularly creative writing, so to have the opportunity to enter my work for this scholarship has been amazing. Having the freedom to write any piece of creative work and have it read by professional judges is already incredible, but to further receive an award in recognition of the work makes it very meaningful. Being able to put my passion towards something significant is something I am grateful to have had the chance to do,” Waetford said.

Christina Wright from Avondale College

The judges said If Tattered Threads Compose Me, Do Wires Uphold Your Spine? by Wright was a wonderful piece of speculative fiction, full of visceral description.

“Beginning with the title as a question, this work takes us into a world both familiar and unfamiliar. We become more curious as we keep reading, and although the tone is casual and even light, it deals with serious topics,” they said.

Wright’s English teacher, Mrs Aleishia Davis, said Wright was an exceptionally thoughtful and gifted writer.

“She approaches storytelling with a maturity and insight beyond her years, creating work that’s as imaginative as it is moving. If Tattered Threads Compose Me, Do Wires Uphold Your Spine? is a compelling and highly original story, and this scholarship is a well-deserved recognition of her talent and hard work,” said Davis.

Tāwhia Copyright Aotearoa plays a key role in making creative rights valuable assets for all New Zealanders, be they rightsholders like authors, publishers and artists, or users such as educators, students and businesses. TCA provides licences to help make copying, scanning and sharing printed works easy and legal.

New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) was established in 1934 and is the principal organisation representing writers’ interests in NZ. A national office oversees 8 branches and hubs, administers prizes and awards, runs professional development programmes, advocates for the sector and to raise the visibility of NZ writers and NZ writing. It works with Next Page, its developing Youth writer’s network and in partnership with Ngā Kaituhi Māori.

MIL OSI

Advancing the Agentic World, Building a Solid Silicon Foundation

MIL OSI — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:01:51 +0000

Source: Media Outreach

Key takeaways:

Strategic focus: The rapid approach of an intelligent world is driving up demand for computing power. Huawei is focused on developing AI infrastructure, and is actively driving innovation in systems and architecture centered around SuperPoDs and SuperClusters. These efforts are aimed at building a solid silicon foundation for the intelligent world.
Technological breakthroughs: Huawei unveiled the Atlas 960E SuperPoD, the first in the industry to use NPO. The company also launched an upgraded TaiShan 950 SuperPoD, as well as the OceanStor M900 (a memory context storage system). Interconnected with UnifiedBus, Huawei’s agentic SuperCluster can scale up to one million NPUs.
Open ecosystems: Huawei is actively building out open computing ecosystems. To date, the Kunpeng ecosystem has attracted 4.16 million developers from around the world. CANN has moved to sustained, community-driven open-source development. Ascend now spans over 90 leading third-party open-source projects and is officially supported as a PyTorch accelerator backend.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2026 – HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 kicked off today in Shanghai. The first keynote of the date was by David Wang, the Deputy Chairman of the Board and Rotating Chairman at Huawei. In his speech (Advancing the Agentic World, Building a Solid Silicon Foundation), Wang highlighted the work the company is doing alongside industry stakeholders to build powerful AI infrastructure, lay a solid computing foundation, and address the challenges and opportunities in the intelligent world to come.

David Wang, Deputy Chairman of the Board and Rotating Chairman at Huawei, delivering a keynote speech at HUAWEI CONNECT 2026

AI is sweeping the world faster than any previous technological revolution. Today, foundation model parameters are rapidly approaching 10 trillion, and are projected to exceed 100 trillion by 2030. AI agents can now work on the same task continuously, for hours on end. By 2030, they will be able to handle tasks that span months.

In China alone, the average number of inference tokens consumed every day has surged to around 500 trillion, and is expected to reach quintillions (1018) by 2030.

On-device AI is also advancing rapidly. On-device models for smartphones have expanded from three billion parameters in 2024 to 30 billion today, and will push toward hundreds of billions in the near future.

These trends will set a much higher bar for the scale, performance, and reliability of underlying technical systems. Only by building powerful AI infrastructure can the industry lay a solid foundation for the future intelligent world.

An intelligent world is approaching – and faster than ever. To lead the charge into this new world, Huawei is laser-focused on building out AI infrastructure – the silicon foundation for the future to come.

In particular, Huawei’s AI strategy is centered on computing power, with a focus on monetizing hardware. The company is also sharpening its competitive edge through systems and architectural innovation. Centering these efforts on SuperPoDs and SuperClusters, the company aims to build a solid computing foundation and offer a new option for the world.

Huawei is a major contributor to open computing ecosystems, and will continue to support native training for mainstream foundation models on its systems, as well as supporting a vast range of models and applications.

For customers, Huawei provides flexible on-premises and cloud compute solutions for its customers to accelerate intelligent transformation across industries.

With diverse forms of compute, including solutions for micro-, low-tier, mid-range, and massive computing power – Huawei is driving the expansion of on-device and in-vehicle AI, making intelligence truly ubiquitous.

Additionally, Huawei is dedicated to building next-generation communications networks to bring readily available compute and intelligence to every person, home, and organization.

SuperPoDs gain broad consensus, with adoption growing in industries, academia, and research institutes

To date, over 1,000 Atlas 900 A3 SuperPoDs have been deployed, and Atlas 950 SuperPoD is seeing large-scale commercial use. While adoption continues to grow, SuperPoDs have gained broad acceptance across industry, academia, and research institutions as a key direction for AI infrastructure. Currently, a SuperPoD is explicitly defined as a computing system in which multiple computing nodes are tightly coupled through high-speed interconnect protocols, featuring unified memory addressing across physical nodes — functioning like a single logical computer.

SuperPoDs are the go-to choice for AI infrastructure buildout. Right now, 100k-NPU computing clusters have become the baseline for training SOTA models. However, traditional server architectures result in intra-cluster communications that account for over 40% of total training time, severely constraining Model FLOPs Utilization (MFU). Simulation results from Huawei’s Markov Lab show that a 100k-NPU cluster built with 4k-NPU SuperPoDs can deliver a 2.75x increase in MFU compared to a 100k-NPU cluster composed of 8-NPU servers.

11-chip UnifiedBus-powered portfolio for SuperPoDs and SuperClusters; the Atlas 960E SuperPoD –the industry’s first to use NPO

The Ascend series of chips is the most critical component in Huawei’s 11-chip UnifiedBus-powered portfolio for SuperPoDs and SuperClusters. Development on Ascend 960 has exceeded the company’s expectations, with performance doubling as planned. Ascend 960DT will be available in Q1 2027, three quarters ahead of the company’s original roadmap. And the Ascend 960PR will be ready in Q3 2027, one quarter ahead of schedule.

“We’re evolving our Ascend chip series on a one-generation-a-year cycle,” said Wang in his keynote. “In 2028 and 2029, we will roll out the Ascend 970 and 980 chips, respectively. Thanks to the Tau (τ) Scaling Law, not only will their compute specifications continue to double, but you can also expect to see huge improvements across the board in terms of memory bandwidth, memory capacity, interconnect bandwidth, and more.”

In addition to Ascend chips, Huawei has also developed a complete portfolio of chips for AI infrastructure, based on UnifiedBus, delivering key capabilities that cover computing, interconnect, storage, and management.

“SuperPoDs are designed to coordinate multiple NPUs through interconnect,” continued Wang. “We have developed a next-generation optical interconnect product based on near-packaged optics (NPO): the High-density Optical-interconnect-Node Engine (Hi-ONE).” Built on Huawei’s proprietary technologies, Hi-ONE has a multi-physics design for balancing optical, mechanical, electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal performance, realizing a transmission capacity of 7.2 Tbit/s per single engine.

“This is the industry’s first NPO product ready for mass production, delivering the largest transmission capacity. It is also the industry’s first NPO product with a built-in light source.”

This product combines high bandwidth and high reliability with low latency and low power consumption. This, coupled with UnifiedBus, will make it far easier to scale up SuperPoD interconnect systems.

Recently, Huawei submitted an implementation agreement (IA) on NPO to the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF), a standards organization. The response from numerous industry partners has been widely positive. Huawei will continue its efforts to further refine the NPO industry ecosystem.

Using Ascend 960 chips and Hi-ONE, Huawei has developed the industry’s first NPO-based SuperPoDs: the Atlas 960E SuperPoDs. A single Atlas 960E SuperPoD can scale up to 4,096 NPUs, delivering 8 EFLOPS of FP8 compute performance, with up to 1 petabyte of HBM capacity. With 5,500 Hi-ONE units, this SuperPoD doesn’t need the 48,000 800G optical modules that would traditionally be required to connect all the NPUs. This cuts power consumption by over 550 kilowatts, while doubling the system’s fault-free operating time, achieving 99.8% system availability.

Combining the upgraded TaiShan 950 SuperPoD and context memory storage to power an ultrascale cluster with 1 million NPUs

As SOTA models scale to 10 trillion parameters, training and inference can no longer rely on a single AI server or AI SuperPoD – they require a more complex computing system. This system includes AI SuperPoDs, general-purpose SuperPoDs, and an interconnect system that features peer-to-peer interconnect and zero protocol conversion. For inference, including a petabyte-scale KV cache cluster is also a must.

To meet these demands, Huawei has fully upgraded its TaiShan 950 SuperPoD. Powered by UnifiedBus all-optical networking, this new SuperPoD supports up to 4,096 nodes with a unified memory pool of up to 256 TB. This setup significantly improves agent performance. For sandbox-intensive workloads, startup speeds for 100,000 sandboxes are 30 times faster than traditional servers, and sandbox density can be improved by an additional 25%. For vector search across 10 billion x 1,000-dimensional vectors, this SuperPoD delivers twice the search efficiency of traditional servers.

Huawei has also launched OceanStor M900 – a UnifiedBus-powered context memory storage cluster that delivers multi-tier KV caching for agent-heavy and longer-context workloads. Designed for agentic inference, this cluster supports one-hop direct access and provides a petabyte-scale KV cache for the L3.5 layer. OceanStor M900 also uses hybrid media and an optimized retention algorithm, extending SSD read/write lifespan by 16-fold. This ensures a higher KV cache hit rate alongside long-term stability and reliability from the ground up.

Combining its strengths in computing and communications, Huawei has built a brand-new agentic SuperCluster to accelerate training and inference for 10-trillion-parameter models. This SuperCluster uses UnifiedBus to consolidate multiple interconnect protocols into a single unified protocol, significantly reducing protocol conversion overhead. This delivers peer-to-peer interconnect between subsystems like Ascend SuperPoDs, Kunpeng SuperPoDs, and KV cache clusters. The SuperCluster also comes with a multi-tier, high-bandwidth, and large-capacity storage system that enables direct single-hop access for all KV cache tiers.

With a two-tier, four-plane Clos architecture, the SuperCluster can interconnect up to 512,000 NPUs. When combined with a multi-rail topology, this cluster can support up to one million NPUs.

One of Huawei’s core strategies: Going open source and open system to build out computing ecosystems

The Kunpeng ecosystem is driving digital and intelligent innovation across a wide range of industries. To date, the Kunpeng ecosystem has attracted over 4.16 million developers and more than 7,200 ecosystem partners from around the globe. The community currently supports over 560 open-source projects worldwide. openEuler has seen more than 20 million installations, securing the largest share in China’s server OS market.

The Ascend ecosystem has reached a new inflection point. The Compute Architecture for Neural Networks (CANN) is the foundation of the Ascend ecosystem. Today, CANN has moved to sustained, community-driven open-source development, which has brought the platform from usable to user-friendly.

External CANN developers now comprise 61% of all CANN developers, outnumbering internal developers for the first time. With over 5,200 monthly active developers, the CANN community has become the most vibrant open-source community in China. What’s more, over 40 models have been natively pre-trained on Ascend and CANN, making it the only proven domestic stack capable of model pre-training.

Ascend now supports over 90 leading third-party open-source projects, including PyTorch, Triton, vLLM, and veRL. With strong support from the Linux Foundation, Ascend is the first official Chinese compute platform on PyTorch’s website. This gives developers around the world ready access to new innovations in the Ascend ecosystem.

Diverse forms of compute for ubiquitous on-device and in-vehicle AI

AI is expanding faster into all kinds of devices. To deliver an unparalleled AI experience across all scenarios, Huawei will continue to strengthen capabilities in four key areas:

First, Huawei will combine Kirin and Ascend chips to drive self-reliance and autonomy in on-device compute.

Second, Huawei will bring together Pangu models and third-party models to make on-device intelligence better and easier to use.

Third, HarmonyOS, as an Agent OS for ubiquitous intelligence, will be completely redefined from the ground up – spanning system architecture, how it operates, and interaction logic – to enable human-agent collaboration.

Fourth, Huawei will keep cultivating a diverse AI ecosystem, which is the foundation for its system agent Celia to thrive.

Huawei plans to build four on-device computing platforms: for AI phones, AI PCs, vehicles, and homes. Through cross-device and device-cloud compute synergy, Huawei will be able to provide distributed swarm intelligence, delivering integrated and continuous intelligent services across personal mobile, office, vehicle, and home spaces, ultimately bringing intelligence to every person and every space.

Building next-generation communications that prioritize readily available compute, because without networks, all compute is siloed

Next-generation communications networks are crucial for fully unleashing the value of AI compute. We are driving the upgrade to networks that, in addition to connecting people, will prioritize delivering readily available compute. These networks will be underpinned by 5G-A/6G, 10-gigabit optical networks, and multi-tier, low-latency bearer networks, delivering intelligent connectivity across data centers, the edge, and devices.

Concluding his keynote, Wang expressed that AI “may well be the final technological revolution in human history,” noting that its impact is deeper and broader, and coming faster than anyone could have ever imagined. “No single company,” he said, “can build an intelligent world alone.”

He stressed Huawei’s ongoing commitments moving forward:

Huawei will remain committed to building a solid silicon foundation to make computing power readily accessible to all.
The company will continue to open source its software, helping developers unleash their full potential.
It will continue to embrace a wide range of models and applications, unlocking value in every form.

“And we will continue to work together to drive shared success, growing together with our customers and partners around the world,” Wang concluded. “Let’s work together to build a fully connected, intelligent world.”

Themed Advancing the Agentic World, HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 will delve into AI across three dimensions: strategy, technology, and ecosystems. You can expect an in-depth look at our latest strategic initiatives, and we’ll also be unveiling our all-new digital and intelligent infrastructure products, scenario-specific solutions for industries, and development tools. The event will run from September 17 to 19 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and Shanghai Expo Center. For more information, please visit HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 online at www.huawei.com/en/events/huaweiconnect

FAQs:

Q1: What is a SuperPoD, and why is it becoming increasingly important?

A SuperPoD is a computing system in which multiple computing nodes are tightly coupled through high-speed interconnect, enabling them to share unified memory and function like a single computer. As foundation model training and inference continue to scale up, SuperPoDs can reduce communications overhead in large-scale clusters and improve Model FLOPs Utilization (MFU). They have gained broad consensus across industry, academia, and research institutes in AI infrastructure, and are the go-to choice for AI infrastructure buildout.

Q2: What makes the Atlas 960E SuperPoDs special?

The Atlas 960E SuperPoD is the industry’s first NPO-based SuperPoD. A single Atlas 960E SuperPoD can scale up to 4,096 NPUs, delivering 8 EFLOPS of FP8 compute performance, with up to 1 petabyte of HBM capacity. With 5,500 Hi-ONE units, this SuperPoD doesn’t need the 48,000 800G optical modules that would traditionally be required to connect all the NPUs. This cuts power consumption by over 550 kilowatts, while doubling the system’s fault-free operating time, achieving 99.8% system availability. Atlas 960E SuperPoDs can provide efficient and reliable computing power for large-scale AI training and inference.

Q3: What is NPO, and what role does Hi-ONE play in a SuperPoD?

NPO stands for Near-Packaged Optics, an optical interconnect technology designed for high-speed connectivity. Hi-ONE, developed by Huawei, is the industry’s first NPO product ready for mass production. It delivers the largest transmission capacity at 7.2 Tbit/s and is currently the industry’s only NPO product with a built-in light source. Hi-ONE, coupled with UnifiedBus, will make it far easier to scale up SuperPoD interconnect systems.

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