• Manawatū woman to have stomach reconstruction surgery on Monday after botched overseas operation.
• Helen Watson went to Turkey for gastric sleeve surgery in September as it was cheaper than going private in New Zealand.
• She says she knew straight away the operation went wrong; the Turkish clinic Medicana denies fault.
• Watson’s quest for compensation has stalled; Medicana says there’s no reason for it to pay.

A Manawatū woman is just days away from a full stomach reconstruction five months after a weight-loss operation in Turkey went wrong.

Since returning home and falling unwell Helen Watson endured almost two months in hospital and half-a-dozen smaller operations.

While she hopes Monday’s surgery signals the start of her recovery, her battle for compensation has stalled as the Turkish clinic that performed the operation denies it is to blame.

‘I’m scared’

At her Feilding home, a feeding tube attached to her stomach, Watson is steeling herself for an all-day operation.

“It’s now starting to hit how surreal this whole thing is. I’m scared. I’m not going to lie to you – I’m really scared. I’m really nervous about it.

“I’m just kind of pushing people away because I don’t want them to worry for me. It really sucks that this has happened to me.”

Watson paid about $5500 for the operation at the Medicana clinic in Istanbul because she knew she would not get on the public waiting list in New Zealand as she did not have an illness such as diabetes.

Instead her weight hit 80kg, which in her small frame was classed as obese, after she came off a cocktail of drugs she took for years following a car crash.

A gastric sleeve operation performed privately in New Zealand could cost $40,000, which was out of reach – forcing Watson to look overseas.

But now she does not know what life will look like.

“I don’t know what my body is going to do and how well it’s going to heal or what other complications are going to arise later on. I may not be 100 percent,” she said.

“I’m just sitting on the fence for this and letting my body do what it’s got to do.”

Her New Zealand surgeon previously told RNZ it was hard to know exactly what went wrong, but it could be a problem with a staple.

A statement from Medicana said it categorically denied failures with the surgery.

“As documented in the clinical report, the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in accordance with internationally accepted standards, with no intraoperative complications and no evidence of leakage at discharge,” it said.

“Post-operative follow-up communications indicate the patient initially reported feeling well and did not raise medical concerns until after undergoing procedures at an external facility abroad.”

Watson denied this, saying she realised straight away something was wrong.

But Medicana said when she was discharged there was no clinical evidence of leakage or complications.

“Medicana does not accept that there is evidence demonstrating surgical error. Medicana stands by the integrity of its surgical and post-operative processes.”

Turkish hospital representatives to travel to New Zealand

Medicana said there was no basis for compensation, although it was “open to reviewing any independent medical documentation that may be provided” and to communicating with Watson through “appropriate medical and legal channels to review any new clinical evidence in a professional setting”.

Medicana representatives were travelling to New Zealand next month for routine business reasons, and Watson said she would like to meet with them.

She said Medicana had also made legal threats about her speaking out.

“There’s a lot of things that need to be fixed. I’d like my money back, absolutely. I’d like my flights [paid for],” Watson said.

“I even sent them an email asking them for my money back and my flights. My brother-in-law helped me with that letter. Then they came back and said they wanted to sue me.”

Medicana said it sought legal advice in New Zealand about Watson’s public allegations, but had not initiated legal proceedings.

Watson had thought about engaging a lawyer in Turkey, but that came at a cost.

NZ system picking up the pieces

With medical tourism growing, Auckland surgeon Dr Richard Babor said it had reached the point where there was almost always someone in Middlemore Hospital with post-operation problems from overseas surgery.

“We’ve seen increasing numbers of people show up on our acute workload here at Middlemore Hospital.

“Some of them have relatively minor post-operative issues that are easy to sort out. There is a small proportion of them who have quite serious complications from having had surgery, both in Turkey and in Mexico.”

New Zealand’s system was picking up the pieces when something went wrong, although for most people getting on the public waiting list for weight loss surgery was impossible, he said.

“Here at Middlemore Hospital we do about probably 100 a year, which is a very small number compared to the number of obese people who are in our population, and it’s even quite small compared to the number who are referred to us for surgery.

“We’ve got quite strict criteria that the patients need to satisfy.”

Health NZ previously told RNZ about 500 people a year got bariatric surgery through the public system, where aftercare is included.

Babor said hospitals had been approached by medical tourism organisations to see if they would look after returning patients, but he said this was not possible due to limited resources.

“We can’t run a service that does aftercare for some people who are doing surgery in Turkey or Mexico or Thailand/or India, or wherever it is.

“We would be overwhelmed and we wouldn’t be able to do any surgery on our own patients. We’d just be providing a follow-up service.”

Babor said no official numbers were kept about people affected by overseas surgery going wrong, but it was something bariatric surgeons talked about and would consider.

Medical tourism operator: Do your research

Watson did not use a medical tourism operator, organising her trip to Turkey herself, but growing numbers of people were paying for organised trips.

Vanessa Warren owned Total Transformation Tours, which took clients to Mexico for bariatric surgery. She said after research, and 20 years of experience in bariatrics, she found a clinic and surgeon with a good reputation and thorough after-surgery care.

“Any surgery is going to potentially have complications – whether it’s New Zealand, Mexico, anywhere, there’s potential for complications.

“So, one thing I do like about the surgeon that we use is she does a double leak test so that she makes sure that nothing is leaking during surgery and then the day after.”

Warren encouraged people to research overseas options thoroughly, saying cheaper was not always better.

Her company provides aftercare for 12 months as part of its package and she accompanies clients on the trips and monitors them after their operations, and wouldn’t take a group greater than five people.

“People would definitely prefer to do it in New Zealand, but it’s just a reality any more… I do feel very sorry for people who have had bad experiences overseas.”

Warren said having weight-loss surgery overseas was viewed differently to other operations, such as dental ones.

“It’s a very hot topic and everyone has an opinion about it, and there’s a lot of judgment out there for people.

“I think we need to remove a bit of that stigma. We have to be realistic that people can’t afford healthcare in New Zealand, so they are looking overseas.”

Accident Compensation Corporation said it might cover treatment injuries from overseas operations if an injury met its criteria, and that any cover was decided on a case-by-case basis.

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

There are major injury concerns for both the women’s and men’s Wellington Phoenix sides.

They have lost two New Zealand internationals to serious injuries ahead of their respective round 18 A-League matches.

Football Ferns fullback Lara Wall and All Whites attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh will both be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

The Phoenix women have had more than their fair share of injuries this season.

Wall tore her left calf in the defeat to Central Coast Mariners at Porirua Park on Sunday, while Singh injured the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee in his much-anticipated Phoenix return against Western Sydney last Friday night.

As well as potentially sidelining her for the remainder of the Ninja A-League regular season, the calf injury unfortunately rules Wall out of the Ferns’ upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifiers in the Solomon Islands.

Singh is likely to miss the All Whites matches against Finland and Chile at Eden Park at the end of next month, on top of the Phoenix men’s next five Isuzu UTE A-League matches.

All Whites fullback Tim Payne has also been ruled out of Saturday’s derby against Auckland FC with a hamstring injury.

The second-placed Phoenix women play at Melbourne Victory on Friday night.

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

Supreme Halberg Award winner Hamish Kerr has set himself some lofty goals to achieve over the next few years and it includes a tilt at the world record.

Kerr won the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Award and the Supreme Award for his feats in 2025 which included winning the World Championship title for the first time and claiming the Diamond League title.

“To be honoured for those achievements (at the Halberg Awards) was very special,” Kerr told RNZ.

However, what the Olympic champion has done in the last two years is spurring him on to higher things.

The 29-year-old Cantabrian has always been motivated by jumping higher and has said with that comes results.

“I came into this sport with just this desire to want to jump higher and that is the amazing thing about athletics it is so measurable.

“That goal to see where the limit is, with how high I can jump, has not been achieved yet.”

Kerr is in the middle of a heavy training block and will open his season at the National Championships in Auckland in early March.

He will defend his Diamond League title and Commonwealth Games titles this year and improving his personal best from 2:36m to 2:40m is the aim for 2026.

Only 16 men have jumped 2:40m or higher and the last person did it in 2014.

“It is definitely the target for this year and to achieve that would be an amazing honour, but we also know there is more in the tank.”

He is also inspired by the thought of challenging the world record of 2:45m set by Cuban Javier Sotomayor in 1993.

Kerr realises it would be quite an achievement, but it’s one he has put plenty of thought into.

“With my team we wrote down all the things we think we could optimise and it came out as quite a big list. So that is really gratifying to know that even after all these years there are still a lot of stones that we haven’t turned over yet.

“I think in the next few years if we can start flipping a few of those over there is a decent chance that we’ll be able to get a number of those centimetres.”

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

New Zealand SailGP

4pm Saturday, 14 February

11.30am Sunday, 15 February*

Wynyard Point, Auckland

Live updates on RNZ

*Start time has been change for the weather

Amid considerable fanfare, SailGP has returned to Auckland, building on a wildly successful – not for the home team though – debut in 2025.

The wait for availability of the Wynyard Point site proved well worthwhile, when spectators crammed the giant grandstand on the waterfront to watch Australia claim honours last year – and organisers promise bigger and better this time round.

Here’s what you should know about the professional sailing event.

History

Sail Grand Prix was created in 2018 by billionaire Larry Ellison and Kiwi sailing legend Sir Russell Coutts, loosely based on the America’s Cup, where both its founders originated from.

Unlike the ‘Auld Mug’, this format was designed for high-speed racing in identical F50 catamarans around spectator-friendly courses near the shoreline.

Many of the crews are also involved in the America’s Cup, so this event enables them to remain fully professional sailors between four-year cycles, albeit in a different class of boat.

The fleet began with just six teams, but has since doubled in size, with the addition of Brazil and Italy last year, before adding Sweden as the 13th entry for 2026.

Guided by Tom Slingsby, Australia have dominated the league, winning the first three editions and finishing runners-up in the last two. Spain were 2023/24 champions, while Great Britain triumphed in 2024/25.

Another feature of the competition is known as the ‘Impact League’, which rewards teams for promoting sustainability and inclusivity within their organisations. Winning teams receive prizemoney to donate to charities and New Zealand took 2021/22 honours.

Format

Each regatta takes place over a series of tightly contested fleet races (up to seven) across two days, with teams gaining points based on their placings and the top three qualifying for the final at the end of the weekend.

Overall results from each stopover count towards season rankings, with the top three again qualifying for the series final.

Black Foils

New Zealand did not contest the inaugural SailGP series, but joined the fleet in 2020, under the leadership of America’s Cup supremo Peter Burling and sidekick Blair Tuke.

Their distinctive boat Amokura was launched the following year and has suffered several accidents since.

In 2023, its mast was struck by lightning in Singapore, as it was being towed back to base, frying its electrical systems. The NZ crew were already ashore, collecting their winners’ prize, but Danish grinder Martin Kirketerp – who was helping return the boat to port – was taken to hospital with an electric shock.

Later that same season, Amokura’s wing collapsed while racing at Saint-Tropez. No-one was hurt, but the damage was too serious to continue racing and repairs could not be carried out before the next round at Taranto, Italy.

In March 2024, the NZ team announced their ‘Black Foils’ nickname, aligning with other famous Kiwi sporting outfits.

Burling and Tuke have won Olympic and world championship gold, won and defended the America’s Cup and sailed around the world (separately), but SailGP success has eluded them. They finished second in 2022/23 and third the last two years.

Form

The 2026 series has had only one stop so far, at Perth, with the defending champion British team picking up where they left off last year, heading off Australia and France in the event final.

Sweden won two of the seven preliminary races, but finished last in the seventh to place fourth, while Canada also showed their ability with victory in the last race.

New Zealand were off to the worst-possible start to their campaign, damaging their stern in a collision with Switzerland during the opening race and, while the Swiss were able to return to the water on the second day, the Kiwis were shorebound for the rest of the weekend and faced some time pressure to repair their board for the Auckland leg.

They are now at the bottom of the table with no points, alongside Switzerland and Spain, who also suffered malfunctions off Perth.

New Zealand SailGP

New Zealand was originally included on the 2021/22 championship schedule, with Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, as the venue on an alternating arrangement with Auckland’s Wynyard Point.

Covid-19 delayed the NZ stopover until 2023, with Christchurch hosting the very successful event, and it returned there the following year, when the Auckland waterfront site was unavailable.

This time, racing was not possible on the opening day, due to dolphins on the course, and Coutts vowed not to use the venue again.

Instead, Auckland staged the 2025 event, fully justifying the decision to develop Wynyard Point, with a grandstand that is expected to hold more than 10,000 spectators and break the SailGP attendance record, along with unticketed viewing along the shoreline.

Kiwi Phil Robertson skippered Canada to victory at the inaugural 2023 NZ SailGP, Burling steered the Kiwis home in 2024, but the Black Foils struck electrical problems at Auckland, with the Aussies dominating the weekend.

Teams

Australia: Tom Slingsby (driver), Tash Bryant (strategist), Nina Curtis (strategist), Iain Jensen (wing trimmer), Kinley Fowler (flight controller/grinder), Sam Newton (grinder), Jason Waterhouse (flight controller/tactician), Tom Needham (reserve)

Brazil: Martine Grael (driver), Marco Grael (grinder), Mateus Isaac (grinder), Rasmus Kostner (flight controller), Pietro Sibello (wing trimmer), Paul Goodison (strategist), Richard Mason (reserve), Breno Kneipp (grinder)

Canada: Giles Scott (driver), Billy Gooderham (flight controller), Paul Campbell-James (wing trimmer), Annie Haeger (strategist), Georgia Lewin-LaFrance (strategist), Tom Ramshaw (grinder), Tim Hornsby (grinder/technical director), Alex Sinclair (grinder)

Denmark: Nicolai Sehested (driver), Tom Johnson (wing trimmer), Ed Powys (flight controller), Anee-Marie Rindom (strategist), Hans-Christian Rosendahl (grinder), Luke Payne (grinder), Kahena Kunze (strategist)

France: Quentin Delapierre (driver), Manon Audinet (strategist), Leigh McMillan (wing trimmer), Jason Saunders (flight controller), Olivier Herledant (grinder), Bruno Mourniac (grinder), Timothy Lapauw (grinder), Enzo Balanger (reserve), Amelie Riou (reserve)

Germany: Erik Kosegarten-Heil (driver), Kevin Peponnet (wing trimmer), James Wierzbowski (flight controller), Anna Barth (strategist), Will Tiller (grinder), Linov Scheel (grinder)

Great Britain: Dylan Fletcher (driver), Hannah Mills (strategist), Stuart Bithell (wing trimmer), Luke Parkinson (flight controller),, Nick Hutton (trimmer/grinder), Neil Hunter (grinder), Kai Hockley (development), Ben Cornish (reserve), Ellie Aldridge (development)

Italy: Phil Robertson (driver), Ruggero Tita (alternate driver), Kyle Langford (wing trimmer), Andrea Tesei (flight controller), Will Ryan (grinder), Enrico Voltolini (grinder), Jana Germani (strategist), Maelle Frascari (strategist), Jimmy Spithill (reserve driver)

New Zealand: Peter Burling (driver), Blair Tuke (wing trimmer), Leo Takahashi (flight controller), Liv Mackay (strategist), Louis Sinclair (grinder), Marcus Hansen (grinder)

Spain: Diego Botin (driver), Florian Trittel (wing trimmer), Joel Rodriguez (flight controller), Nicolle van der Velden (strategist), Joan Cardona (tactician/grinder), Bernard Freitas (grinder), Matthew Barber (grinder)

Sweden: Nathan Outteridge (driver), Julia Gross (strategist), Chris Draper (wing trimmer), Any Maloney (flight controller), Brad Farrand (wing trimmer), Julius Hallstrom (grinder)

Switzerland: Sebastian Schneiter (driver), Arnaud Psarofaghis (wing trimmer), Bryan Mattraux (flight controller), Stewart Dodson (grinder), Arno de Planta (reserve), Maud Jayet (strategist), Matt Gotrel (grinder)

USA: Taylor Canfield (driver), Michael Menninger (wing trimmer), Hans Henken (flight controller), Andrew Campbell (strategist), Anna Weis (grinder), Peter Kinney (grinder), Mac Agnese (grinder), Harry Melges IV (reserve)

Weather

In a case of imperfect timing, New Zealand’s North Island – including Auckland – is under storm warning this weekend, which has already forced a couple of changes to event scheduling.

Friday practice racing was cancelled, with only New Zealand, Spain and Germany allowed out on the water to test their recent modifications before racing begins in earnest.

In anticipation of worsening conditions on Sunday afternoon, the second day’s racing has been brought forward to 11.30am.

Everyone is talking glowingly of great sailing conditions, but maybe not so great for spectators.

Asked about the expected big winds, Auckland-born Italy driver Phil Robertson replied: “You wet your pants a little and you move on.”

Where to watch

Organisers have increased the size of the already impressive Wynyard Point grandstand by 30 percent to more than 10,000 seats. Boats will whistle past so close, you can almost reach out and touch them.

Other vantage points around the harbour include any of the wharves as far as Bledisloe Wharf on the city side, Westhaven Marina and Stanley Point on the North Shore.

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

The All Whites will play England as a part of their final preparations for this year’s FIFA World Cup.

The two sides will meet in Florida on 6 June, five days out from the start of the tournament.

England, who went through World Cup qualifying with a perfect sevens wins in their European group, are currently ranked four in the world and New Zealand 85.

The game will see the All Whites face their highest-ranked opponent in 17 years and they will clash with England for just the third time in history.

New Zealand last faced England in 1991, losing two friendlies in Auckland and Wellington.

“Our strategy over the last year has been to take on top-ranked sides to ensure we are in the best place to perform at the tournament, and this match gives us a final opportunity to really test ourselves against one of the favourites,” All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said.

“England are a great side with big names all over the pitch, but we want our players to face that type of challenge so we can work collectively to find solutions against top teams.

“This match should be a great occasion but also a critical part of our final preparation before we face Iran in Los Angeles at the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

Prior to departing for the World Cup the All Whites will play two home games in March against Finland and Chile as part of the FIFA Series 2026.

At the World Cup, New Zealand play Iran, Egypt and Belgium in group G, while England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L.

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

SYDNEY, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE / OTCQX: BRELY) (‘BRE’) is pleased to report the results of a metallurgical optimisation program conducted at CDTN, a Brazilian federal research institute with specialist capabilities in metallurgical process development.

The program independently validated low-temperature sulfuric acid curing at 150°C using standard equipment. Importantly, a 15 kg blended composite scale-up test replicated the very high extractions achieved at laboratory-scale, providing increased confidence in scalability.

Key Highlights

• Very High Extraction Rates: 97% for Total Rare Earth Oxides, 97% for Neodymium + Praseodymium, 83% for Dysprosium, 87% for Terbium and 97% for Uranium
• Low-Temperature Flowsheet: Peak extraction achieved at 150°C using a low-temperature, acid-cure process – removing the need for high temperature (>250°C) rotary kilns
• Low-Cost Processing: The low-temperature acid-cure process delivers high recoveries at materially lower energy intensity – supports potential for lower opex and capex flowsheet using conventional paddle mixers
• Exceptional End-to-End System Yields: When combined with recently announced ore sorting recovery of +95%, estimated total ‘mineral-to-product’ recovery of ~91% TREO and ~89% for Uranium
• Further Optimisation Upsides: Opportunities to shorten wash durations, optimise process acids and intensity, while maintaining or improving high extraction performance

BRE Managing Director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:

“Our metallurgy program validated a low-temperature, acid-cure process which delivers industry-leading recoveries for both rare earth and uranium products.

Importantly, the results support the potential for leading total system yields – from mineral to product – a key driver for efficiency and cost performance. When combined with Monte Alto’s ore sorting yield of +95%, the total system product recovery is 92% for NdPr, up to 82% for the heavy rare earths DyTb and Y, and 89% for uranium.

These results are key to unlocking value from the high-grade mineralisation across our Rocha da Rocha province. This acid-cure process eliminates the need for energy-intensive thermal cracking and supports the engineering simplicity required for scalable deployment at our centralised Camaçari rare earth processing hub.

We are now focused on applying this proven flowsheet to our broader resource base that will allow us to integrate multiple high-grade feedstocks into a flexible ‘hub-and-spoke’ production platform.”

A link to the full release can be found here.

Contacts

Bernardo Da Veiga, Managing Director and CEO

investors@brazilianrareearths.com
www.brazilianrareearths.com

– Published by The MIL Network

A major power cut at a boutique hotel has thrown families and businesses into darkness on Wellington’s Cuba Street.

Residents of The Wellington Apartments are entering their third day without full power, after a failure at neighbouring Naumi Hotel.

The section of Cuba Street, which houses the hotel, apartments, as well as several shops and a restaurant, lost power on Sunday night.

What caused the failure at the Naumi Hotel – a boutique chain with head offices in Singapore – is yet to be identified, but the outage is expected to last until at least Thursday.

The hotel apologised to those caught up in the power cut and said it was working to get things back-up-and-running and was regularly communicating to those affected.

Naumi Hotel group director of marketing Lynn Poh told RNZ on Tuesday afternoon a generator had been installed to restore hot water and maintain emergency lighting and fire safety to the hotel and The Wellington Apartments, which RNZ understood contained a mix of residents and hotel guests across more than 100 units.

“There are no health and safety risks to residents in The Wellington Apartments,” she said.

But a resident – who RNZ agreed not to name – said communication about the power cut had been woeful, with families left literally and figuratively in the dark.

They said the lack of lighting in the hallways and stairwells also presented a health and safety risk, with emergency lighting only on the ground floor, and in the stairwells up to level three of the eight-level complex.

“The rest of the time, you are in darkness. If there’s another emergency on top of what we’re already experiencing – it would be a disaster waiting to happen.”

The resident said the first sign of trouble came with an outage at 8.30am on Sunday.

“[The power] did come back on at 1pm… and then at 8pm that night it went off again. It was restored maybe two hours later, briefly, for a second and then we all heard a big bang.”

They said communication had been piecemeal, with owner-occupiers informing tenants about what was going on during spontaneous gatherings in the lobby near a working power socket.

As of Tuesday – 36 hours without power – they said there had been no written communication dropped at residents’ doors or posted to the complex’s communal notice board.

They had arranged to stay at a friend’s place for the rest of the week, but said many people had no idea when power would be restored and they were concerned about elderly residents and those less able-bodied.

“The major thing is just the lack of communication, the lack of information that will help us make good decisions.

“Some of our vulnerable residents should have just been moved somewhere else. Because you can’t stay in there all day, you do need to come out, to charge up, to eat, to have a hot shower.

“They don’t understand that people’s lives are being impacted and that they have a responsibility to give us some kind of messaging or information.”

Poh said the hotel was in daily communication with apartment owners and would remind them to pass updates onto tenants.

She believed communication such as letter drops or updates on the noticeboard was being arranged, and the team was working hard to keep hotel guests comfortable.

Poh said investigations into the cause of the failure were ongoing, but in the meantime a new circuit breaker had been ordered and shipped to New Zealand.

“We are expecting power to be up by this Friday, and we’re trying to expedite for this Thursday.”

She said additional generators to restore power more widely was not an option due to the fire risk.

Kāinga Ora tenants are among those living in the apartments.

The social housing agency’s Greater Wellington regional director Sarah Willson said it was only made aware of the situation on Tuesday afternoon.

“Since we found out about the issue, we have contacted our seven tenants to see if the power outage has affected them, and what support we can offer as their landlord,” she said.

“We will continue to check in with them regularly until the power is restored.”

By Tuesday afternoon, power had been restored to businesses on the street level, who had scrambled to keep stock cold and money coming in since the outage on Sunday night.

One store told RNZ they suspected the cost to be in the tens of thousands, accounting for lost stock and the inability to process cashless transactions, as well as reputational damage.

Anne, who was in the last two weeks of running textile bookstore Minerva said the loss of power during the closing down sale was hugely disruptive.

“Someone has kindly leant me a mobile EFTPOS… but people have to look at the shelves with their cellphone torches on.”

She said information had not been forthcoming and she had to continually seek updates.

“It’s been very hard to get information at all, there’s been nothing sent out. You just come to work day after day and there’s just no power.”

Restaurateur Steve Logan – co-owner of Liberty and Logan Brown – said power was back on at Liberty around 2pm on Tuesday and staff were scrambling to open for dinner that night.

He said it had been stressful, but with cold storage available at Logan Brown, the main cost was the “to-ing and fro-ing” of produce rather than lost stock – unlike the superette.

“I feel really sorry for our neighbours in the dairy.”

Poh said Naumi Hotel was looking into compensation, and that it was “very sorry” for the outage.

“But we are doing whatever we can as a group to minimise the inconvenience and make sure that we get power up as soon as we can. We are doing our best.”

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

The 2026 Formula 1 season will feature some of the biggest technical changes in the history of the sport, since the inaugural season in 1950.

The cars get an overhaul with the two testing sessions in Bahrain in February critical in preparation for the start of the new championship in early March.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

2026

The new championship will hopefully provide a much needed spark which 2025 lacked until Max Verstappen’s late run for a fifth title.

Lando Norris is the defending champion and McLaren can expect to be among the frontrunners again. His team-mate Oscar Piastri faded in 2025, but will be hoping to be the front-runner this time while Verstappen can never be discounted.

However, new car regulations mean there is some unpredictability as to which teams will be the strongest.

With Andrew Newey in charge at Aston Martin it is hoped that they can be contenders with new engine supplier Honda, while Red Bull will debut their new power units in association with Ford.

Mercedes are expected to have their power unit up to speed at the start of the season.

There is one new driver – Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls, the return of another two – Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, and plenty of experience with Fernando Alonso, 44, and Lewis Hamilton at 40 the two oldest drivers.

Throw in a new track, new team, and 2026 is shaping up to be a good one.

Cars

Formula 1 fans will be hearing a lot about Boost, Overtake, Active Aero and Recharge in 2026.

The changes to the regulations are the first since 2022, when aerodynamic designs were overhauled to promote closer racing.

The aerodynamics get another overall with the Drag Reduction System (DRS) replaced by a manual override engine mode.

At top speeds the hybrid engines will get a boost of electric power. It can only be used when a car is within one second of another.

The engines themselves remain a 1.6-litre V6 turbo but there is a significant increase in electrical energy meaning a 50-50 split between electric power and the energy produced by the internal combustion engine.

The cars will be slightly smaller and weigh about 30kg less, while tyres will also be slightly smaller in width.

Each team will use 100 percent sustainable fuel.

There is a significant increase in the team budget cap in 2026, rising from NZ$230 million to NZ$370m, primarily to cover the research and development costs for the new technical regulations.

Schedule

There is just one new Grand Prix in 2026 with Madrid replacing Imola, however there is a shift in scheduling.

The Madrid race will be held on a hybrid street/permanent circuit in September. The Canadian Grand Prix moves from June to May and will follow the race in Miami.

There are six sprint races in Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore.

The Dutch Grand Prix will be run for the last time in August under its current contract.

Teams

Most notable in 2026 is the arrival of Cadillac with the General Motors brand the first new constructor since Haas in 2016. They will use Ferrari power units initially but the team hopes to be manufacturing their own in 2029.

Cadillac signed experience drivers Valterri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

Sauber becomes Audi this year with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg retained from 2025 with the team using Audi engines instead of Ferrari.

Aston Martin changes to Honda engines, while Red Bull and Racing Bulls are now producing their own engines in association with Ford.

There is just one new driver to the F1 grid in 2026 with Arvid Lindblad promoted from F2 to join New Zealand’s Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.

World champion Lando Norris has taken over number 1 for his car in 2026, while former champion Max Verstappen is switching to number 3.

Teams (engine, drivers and numbers)

Alpine – Mercedes, Pierre Gasly (10), Franco Colapinto (43)

Aston Martin – Honda, Fernando Alonso (14), Lance Stroll (18)

Audi – Audi, Gabriel Bortoleto (5), Nico Hulkenberg (27)

Cadillac – Ferrari, Sergio Perez (11), Valtteri Bottas (77)

Ferrari – Ferrari, Charles Leclerc (16), Lewis Hamilton (44)

Haas – Ferrari, Oliver Bearman (87), Esteban Ocon (31)

McLaren – Mercedes, Oscar Piastri (81), Lando Norris (1)

Mercedes – Mercedes, George Russell (63), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12)

Red Bull – Red Bull-Ford, Max Verstappen (3), Isack Hadjar (6)

Racing Bulls – Red Bull-Ford, Liam Lawson (30), Arvid Lindblad (41)

Williams – Mercedes, Alex Albon (23), Carlos Sainz (55)

Qualifying

Battery power is set to make an impact in qualifying with fastest laps likely to be determined by preparation laps where drivers will endeavour to charge their batteries as much as possible.

Extra speed will be determined by the battery power so drivers will not want to use that any more than necessary as they build up to their quick lap, but that could be affected by traffic.

The driver controls the car’s battery, not the software.

Drivers use and charge battery energy as they accelerate and brake so they will have to manage their way around a lap knowing when to push and when to conserve so they can keep enough in the battery.

Liam Lawson

After making his debut in 2023, Lawson has now raced in 35 Grand Prix.

He had a torrid 2025 after starting the year in Red Bull before being demoted to Racing Bulls after two rounds. Lawson finished 15th in the driver standings with seven top 10 finishes, his best was fifth in Azerbaijan.

However, he also had five DNF’s and will need to be more consistent this year.

With Isack Hadjar now promoted to Red Bull, Lawson is the senior driver at Racing Bulls, who have promoted Arvid Lindblad from F2.

Lawson believes he will be better.

Calendar

1/ March 6-8 Australian Grand Prix

2/ March 13-15 Chinese Grand Prix

3/ March 27-29 Japanese Grand Prix

4/ April 10-12 Bahrain Grand Prix

5/ April 17-19 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

6/ May 1-3 Miami Grand Prix

7/ May 22-24 Canadian Grand Prix

8/ June 5-7 Monaco Grand Prix

9/ June 12-14 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

10/ June 26-28 Austrian Grand Prix

11/ July 3-5 British Grand Prix

12/ July 17-19 Belgian Grand Prix

13/ July 24-26 Hungarian Grand Prix

14/ Aug 21-23 Dutch Grand Prix

15/ Sept 4-6 Italian Grand Prix

16/ Sept 11-13 Spanish Grand Prix

17/ Sept 25-27 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

18/ Oct 9-11 Singapore Grand Prix

19/ Oct 23-25 United States Grand Prix

20/ Oct 30-Nov 1 Mexican Grand Prix

21/ Nov 6-8 Brazilian Grand Prix

22/ Nov 19-21 Las Vegas Grand Prix

23/ Nov 27-29 Qatar Grand Prix

24/ Dec 4-6 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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

Police are working with Australian counterparts on an investigation into a satanic child sex abuse material ring with alleged links to New Zealand.

New South Wales police announced last week that detectives from their Sex Crimes Squad had charged a sixth man and were referring a further 145 suspects to international law enforcement agencies following an investigation into a satanic child sex abuse material ring as part of an operation called Strike Force Constantine.

Police said investigators had identified offenders from New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, and South East Asia.

Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

RNZ asked New South Wales police for information on the New Zealand-based suspects and how many there were.

A spokesperson said any questions needed to be directed to New Zealand police.

RNZ asked police what work was being done by New Zealand officers in relation to the investigation, what co-operation there had been with overseas authorities and how many suspects were based in this country.

Detective Inspector Stuart Mills said New Zealand Police were “working with the New South Wales Police on this matter and will support them as requested”.

“We are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

New South Wales police said last week that Strike Force Constantine was established by State Crime Command’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit to investigate the online distribution of child sexual abuse involving ritualistic or satanic themes.

“During the investigation, detectives uncovered a Sydney-based paedophile network actively involved in possessing, distributing, and facilitating this material through a website administered internationally.”

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

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

All Blacks Leroy Carter and Simon Parker have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs until after next year’s World Cup.

The winger and loose forward, who play for Bay of Plenty and Northland respectively, have re-committed to the end of 2028.

Carter, 26, is a Tauranga Boys’ College product who debuted for the Steamers in 2019 and was a standout player for the All Blacks Sevens for three years.

He was nominated for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2023 after being part of New Zealand’s World Series winning squad.

He committed fulltime to XVs last year and scored nine tries for the Chiefs. He was named the Chiefs Rookie of the Year for 2025.

He made his All Blacks debut last year against South Africa in Wellington, scoring a try in his first test.

Carter finished the year with six test caps.

Rated one of the fastest outside backs in the game, Carter said he never considered moving from the Chiefs.

“I don’t want to play for another club, so it was a pretty easy decision. It’s a club I grew up wanting to play for, and it’s a dream come true, so I’m excited to put pen to paper pretty early-doors, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Staying with the Chiefs was an easy call for Northland’s Parker too, who also enjoyed a strong Super Rugby Pacific season last year that resulted in his All Blacks call-up.

“I guess this is the sort of stage you start thinking about what’s next,” Parker said.

“You don’t want to leave it too late, obviously. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me and my family, we’ve got our family roots planted where we are, so it’s quite nice to have some security that’s where you’re going to be for the next couple of seasons.”

Born in Mangawhai, Parker, 25, went to secondary school at St Peter’s School in Cambridge where he boarded with fellow All Black Cam Roigard.

Playing for New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2017 and the New Zealand Under-20 team in 2019, he debuted for Waikato in 2019 before returning to his home province, Northland, in 2024.

He debuted for the Chiefs in 2020 and made his test debut against Argentina last year.

He has played eight tests.

Chiefs head coach Jono Gibbes is delighted the pair will be with the team for three more years.

“It’s great to see these two recommit to the Chiefs. They are outstanding team members who bring that special X-factor to what they do on the field,” Gibbes said.

“They’re a big part of the Chiefs’ future on the field and off it.”

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

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

SYDNEY, Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brazilian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: BRE / OTCQX: BRELY) (‘BRE’) is pleased to report exceptional results from sensor-based ore sorting test work program that confirms its suitability for Monte Alto’s beneficiation process flowsheet. 

Key Highlights

• Exceptional grade enrichment (+100%): Achieved grade upgrade factors of >2x, increasing feed grades from 12.4% TREO to ~27% TREO, using multi-sensor ore sorting
• High-grade product in single-pass: Produced a +27% TREO ultra-high grade product with single-pass processing
• World-class recoveries (95%): Cascade ore sorting produced a +20% TREO rare earth product, with exceptional cumulative recoveries of ~96–99% and upgrade factors of 1.3x-1.7x
• Efficient waste rejection: Successfully rejected ~25% of feed mass as waste with negligible rare earth loss (
• Simple, dry beneficiation: Results validate ore sorting for Monte Alto mineralisation – delivering a high-grade product at yields of +95%, highlighting the potential for downstream direct rare earth extraction
• Lower costs: Lower capex and operating costs, with enhanced economics

BRE Managing Director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, commented:

“These exceptional ore sorting results from run-of-mine Monte Alto feedstock have exceeded all our expectations. They demonstrate that sensor-based concentration can significantly enhance project economics with +95% yields at lower capital and operating costs, whilst simultaneously reducing environmental footprint through lower energy, minimal water and no reagents.

Our metallurgical programs are designed to maximise the value of Monte Alto’s ultra-high grade rare earth, uranium, scandium, niobium, and tantalum mineralisation. These ore sorting results build on our previous metallurgical programs with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and provide a pathway for world-leading mineral-to-product yields.

Last year’s metallurgical program with ANSTO successfully demonstrated direct hydrometallurgical processing of high-grade Monte Alto mineralisation, including impurity removal, uranium recovery and the production of high-purity mixed rare earth carbonate.

Importantly, the multi-sensor ore sorter enriched run-of-mine Monte Alto feedstock by over two times in a single pass, producing a concentrate of +27% TREO. Subsequent cumulative ore sorter runs produced a +20% TREO concentrate at very high total recoveries of 96-99%.

Rare earth projects are typically characterised by low head grades and complex, high-cost processing flowsheets. Monte Alto’s ultra-high grades can deliver a beneficiated product at grades that are suitable for direct hydrometallurgical processing. BRE will now progress flowsheet design, targeting a multi-sensor system capable of processing 100% of Monte Alto’s run-of-mine material at +95% yields.”

A link to the full release can be found here.

Contacts

Bernardo Da Veiga, Managing Director and CEO

investors@brazilianrareearths.com
https://brazilianrareearths.com/

– Published by The MIL Network

YAKESHI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 February 2026 – Changan Automobile held a release event themed “Changan SDA Intelligence Update & Global Launch of Sodium-Ion Battery Strategy” in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia. During the event, Changan formally unveiled its global sodium-ion battery strategy and announced the commencement of its 2026 Global Testing Season.

Changan is accelerating the advancement of sodium-ion battery technology as part of its global battery strategy. Tan Benhong, Chief Brand Officer of China Changan Automobile Group, noted that Changan will continue to roll out new sodium-ion battery–equipped vehicles across multiple brands in the near future.

“From extreme conditions to everyday driving — every pursuit of limits at Changan ultimately serves to protect each of our users’ everyday journeys.” stated Mr. Tan.

Under extreme low temperatures, sodium-ion battery systems demonstrated stable discharge capability, with validation extending beyond minus 40 degrees Celsius. To verify intrinsic safety, Changan and CATL conducted extreme abuse tests exceeding national standards, including compression, nail penetration, drilling, and full cutting under full charge, all without fire, explosion, smoke, or thermal runaway.

SDA Intelligence: Validation in Extreme Conditions

The launch also showcased SDA Intelligence, which moves beyond passive safety into proactive, AI-driven vehicle stabilization. During live extreme-cold testing in Yakeshi, vehicles from AVATR and Changan brands—including the CS Series, CHANGAN DEEPAL, and CHANGAN NEVO—were subjected to real-world scenarios under severe low-temperature conditions.

The AVATR 12 completed an ice-surface emergency lane-change following a tire blowout at 80 km/h. CHANGAN NEVO Q05 identified obstacles on low-friction ice during an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) challenge and achieved a controlled emergency halt. CHANGAN DEEPAL L06 demonstrated rapid posture adjustments during a high-speed circular drift challenge on snow.

User-facing safety at Changan is built on a validation-first approach supported by a robust verification system and globally advanced laboratory infrastructure, including the Western Automotive Proving Ground and the CHANGAN SDA Lab, enabling comprehensive, all-scenario validation across the full vehicle lifecycle.

Yakeshi is only the starting point. The 2026 Global Testing Season will include Southeast Asia for high-humidity durability and the European Alps for high-altitude chassis tuning. In Eurasia, Changan will conduct winter testing centered on confidence in ice and snow, with AVATR 12 as the test vehicle. In Latin America, Changan will carry out a Mexico cross-country drive from Cancun to Merida, focusing on long-distance reliability.

Hashtag: #Changan

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

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

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

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 February 2026 – 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It also coincides with the Year of the Horse in Chinese Spring Festival. On February 5, the “Steeds Herald Spring, Blessings Fill ASEAN”—Spring Festival @ ASEAN Headquarters 2026 was successfully held at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The event, supported by the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat, was hosted by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, and jointly organized by Guangxi Daily (Guangxi International Communication Center), Guangxi Radio and Television, Guangxi Tourism Development Group, and Guangxi Cultural Industry Group. More than 250 guests attended the event, including envoys from the 11 ASEAN countries and external partners such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil, senior officials from the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from mainstream ASEAN media, local university faculty and students, and representatives from Chinese-funded enterprises.

I. A Gathering of Distinguished Guests, Sharing a Common Vision

This marks the first time that Chinese Spring Festival cultural activities have been held at the ASEAN Headquarters. With the deepening of globalization, the traditional festival of Spring Festival is not only a time for family reunions for the Chinese people, but also a new bond for dialogue between different civilizations. The Chinese Spring Festival embodies the philosophy of “harmony and coexistence”, which aligns perfectly with the ASEAN countries’ pursuit of “unity and cooperation”. Furthermore, the sustainable development concept of “rejuvenating the old and welcoming the new” resonates strongly with the ASEAN region’s vision of “common prosperity”.

Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, stated in his video address that over time, the Spring Festival has evolved into a global celebration. Its inscription on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024 underscores the rich significance of this precious human heritage. Within ASEAN, many member states celebrate the Spring Festival, reminding people of the deep emotional bonds that transcend national borders. ASEAN will continue its commitment to fostering a community proud of its identity, actively undertaking the responsibility of protecting, preserving, and creating culture, arts, and traditions, and promoting the development of the cultural and creative industries. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we hope everyone will embrace the elegance, vitality, and forward momentum that the horse represents, and embark on the new year together with hope, resilience, and unity.

Wang Qing, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, stated in his address that the Spring Festival symbolizes reunion, joy, and harmony. Celebrating the holiday together exemplifies the close bonds between the people of China and ASEAN, the integration of our civilizations, and our harmonious coexistence. The China-ASEAN community with a shared future is growing ever closer, demonstrating powerful vitality and setting an exemplary model for building a community with a shared future for mankind. He specifically noted that Guangxi serves as a vital “connection point” and “intersection point” for China-ASEAN friendship, exchanges, and cooperation, functioning as both a “gateway and engine” within the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the new year, he extended heartfelt wishes for China-ASEAN friendship and cooperation to surge forward like galloping horses, unstoppable in its momentum.

Ambassador Sarah, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to ASEAN, noted in the address that as the Country Coordinator for China-ASEAN Relations, Malaysia has been privileged to witness and foster the flourishing development of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Cultural celebrations like today’s Spring Festival event vividly demonstrate that our partnership extends far beyond trade agreements and diplomatic protocols. ASEAN and China share a deep, mature, and resilient relationship that will continue to grow and strengthen on the solid foundation of mutual respect, shared interests, and a common vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Li Pan, Director of the Information Office of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, stated in his address that Guangxi is honored to host this event at the ASEAN Headquarters. As the permanent host city of the China-ASEAN Expo, Guangxi serves as an important platform for China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges. Guangxi is working with ASEAN countries to build an artificial intelligence development path of “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou + Integration in Guangxi + Application in ASEAN”, and actively creating a new trade chain of “Production in ASEAN + Distribution in Guangxi + Sales in China”. In 2026, Guangxi will work hand in hand with all sectors of ASEAN to forge ahead and strengthen the neighborly bond between China and ASEAN over time.

II. Celebrating the Spring Festival and Savoring the Festive Flavors

The event invited guests from around the world to gather together, celebrating the Spring Festival for the Year of the Horse, savoring the flavors of the Chinese Spring Festival, and appreciating the beauty of the arts. The opening performance, “The Beauty of China: Guangxi’s Zhuang Ethnic Charm”, featured a symbolic dance and connected it with a classic excerpt from the Caidiao Opera “Liu Sanjie”, including the “Antiphonal Song”, creating an artistic masterpiece that blends Eastern poetry with innovative ingenuity. The Chinese instrumental performance, “Chinese Chic Performance for Celebrating the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse”, featured erhu and suona as the main instruments, playing classic melodies such as the theme song from “Journey to the West” and “Black Myth: Wukong”, converging into a “National Trend IP Music Festival”. When Guangxi ethnic instruments, the maguhu (horse-bone fiddle) and the bolie, met Indonesian gamelan, Chinese and Indonesian musicians jointly performed classics like “Jasmine Flower” and “Folk Songs Like Spring River Water”making the phrase “high mountains and flowing water meet a kindred spirit” more concrete and creating a lasting artistic resonance.

During the event, Guangxi Daily (Guangxi International Communication Center), Guangxi Radio and Television, together with ASEAN media such as TVRI, El John TV, and Harian Inhua, jointly launched the China-ASEAN Spring Festival Short Video Exhibition Week. Using short videos as a link, the event showcased the joyous scenes of China and ASEAN countries celebrating the Spring Festival together from multiple dimensions, inviting netizens around the world to jointly celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival as a global festival through the Internet.

III. Savoring the Cultural Gathering, Welcoming the Prosperous Spring Festival

On the same day, the “Spring Blessings for Success at the Year of the Horse” Chinese Spring Festival Cultural Exhibition and the “Instant Joy Market” Spring Festival Cultural Market were held simultaneously at the ASEAN Headquarters. Guests from various countries experienced the hospitality of “Tea Harmonies the World” through immersive experiences that included playing, appreciating, and tasting, creating “Ancient Charm and Blessings” calligraphy and painting rubbings, admiring the exquisite paper-cutting art, and enjoying a feast of Spring Festival delicacies from all directions.

The most surprising experience for the guests was exploring the smart future using Guangxi’s cutting-edge AI technology. Guests from various countries experienced intelligent translation devices and wore AR glasses, immersing themselves in barrier-free communication and exploring the thousand-year-old legend of the Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. Hardy Chung, a reporter from Harian Inhua, remarked that China’s AI technology not only accurately depicted the beautiful scenery of the Spring Festival but also vividly expressed the touching story of ASEAN and China being connected by mountains and seas and sharing good neighborly friendship, presenting a beautiful picture of cooperation towards the future.

On February 4th, two “Instant Blessings” Pop-Up Events were held at the Halim Station of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Mall Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia, creating a festive atmosphere for the Chinese Spring Festival. Performers from Guangxi presented a variety of acts including song, dance, opera, and puppetry, attracting many locals to participate in interactive activities, join in the “Guangxi Kemusan Dance”, and share the joy of the Spring Festival. Yi Yan, a social media blogger traveling and living in Indonesia, exclaimed, “This year’s Spring Festival atmosphere in Jakarta is different!”

This event attracted more than 20 media outlets, including People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, China News Service, TVRI, METRO TV, bolong.id, and Vietnam News Agency to report on the event and widely spread the concepts of peace, amity, and harmony in the Spring Festival to people at home and abroad.

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

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

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 February 2026 – The roar of the RC213V engines is about to get a lot louder for fans in Southeast Asia as GOD55 Sports officially enters the elite motorsports world of MotoGP.

In a landmark move for regional sports media, GOD55 Sports has locked in a strategic three-year partnership with the legendary Honda LCR Team. This isn’t just a logo on a bike; it is a full-throttle effort to bring the paddock closer to fans from 2026 through 2028.

Key Highlights: What to Expect

• Three-Year Term: A solid commitment covering the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons.
• Elite Lineup: Backing veteran star Johann Zarco and the 2025 Moto2 World Champion, Diogo Moreira.
• Strategic Collaboration: Integrated Honda LCR brand activations at select MotoGP events, amplifying engagement, awareness, and global fan support.
• Fan-First Focus: A dedicated push to bring premium motorsport insights and support to Southeast Asian audiences.

The Powerhouse Behind the Machine: About Honda LCR

Team Overview

Founded by legendary racer Lucio Cecchinello in 1996, LCR (Lucio Cecchinello Racing) has evolved from a grassroots team into one of MotoGP’s most respected independent outfits. Based in the heart of Monaco, the team has maintained a rock-solid technical alliance with Honda since 2006, serving as the primary satellite partner for the HRC racing program.

Riders Featured

After a challenging 2025 season, LCR approaches 2026 with renewed optimism. Johann Zarco, fresh off his sensational victory in the French GP at Le Mans, brings veteran expertise and technical mastery to help refine the RC213V. Joining him is rising star and Moto2 World Champion Diogo Moreira, making his highly anticipated MotoGP debut. The first-ever Brazilian GP champion, Moreira gained his initial MotoGP experience at the Valencia test last November, returning to the track for the Sepang Shakedown (29–31 January), where he shaved 1.6 seconds off his best lap between the second and third days.

Why This Partnership Reshapes the Grid

By aligning with Honda LCR, GOD55 Sports isn’t just reporting on the news; they are becoming part of the story. MotoGP has seen a surge of interest in Southeast Asia markets such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. This alliance ensures that fans in these regions aren’t just spectators; they are insiders with exclusive insights, engaging content, and unique fan experiences.

GOD55 Sports will support the Honda LCR Team across the 2026, 2027, and 2028 MotoGP seasons. The GOD55 Sports logo will be featured prominently on the Honda RC213V machines ridden by Johann Zarco and 2025 Moto2 World Champion Diogo Moreira, as well as across team official apparel, helmets, and assets.

Activation Plans with GOD55 Sports

Marking Honda LCR’s first official MotoGP launch, the event creates a unique platform to spotlight the Honda LCR and GOD55 Sports strategic partnership while building momentum ahead of the races. This 2026 MotoGP season will feature integrated brand activations in collaboration with Honda LCR across selected MotoGP events, designed to drive social media engagement, boost brand awareness, and rally support from the global fanbase.

Following the recent Sepang Test, riders Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira showcased the team’s pace and competitiveness ahead of the 2026 season. Through this collaboration, GOD55 Sports will deliver exclusive behind-the-scenes content, rider insights, and interactive fan experiences, connecting Malaysian audiences to the excitement of MotoGP both on and off the track!

Leadership Perspective: Words from the Top
This partnership is built on a shared philosophy of precision and high-speed excellence. Richard Green, CEO of GOD55 Sports, expressed his pride in joining the MotoGP grid:

“We are truly honoured to partner with Honda LCR Team, a team that embodies the spirit of daring, precision, and excellence in MotoGP. This team perfectly exemplifies our philosophy at GOD55 Sports: be bold, dare to win, and push the limits with trust and teamwork. We look forward to supporting Honda LCR with our belief in one simple approach for this fresh new season: make it fast, keep it safe, and win it big!”

On the other side of the garage, Honda LCR Team Principal Lucio Cecchinello — who recently took on the prestigious role of Chairman of the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) — welcomed the regional expansion:

“We are very excited about this new partnership that will allow us to get closer and closer to the South-Asian motorsport enthusiasts. This is already a greatly passionate audience, and we can’t wait to work alongside GOD55 Sports in order to create content and dedicated events for them. We would like to thank the Company for their support, and we’ll do our best to represent their colours in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship and beyond.”

Built to connect Southeast Asian fans with the international sporting stage, GOD55 Sports covers MotoGP, football, Formula 1, badminton, and basketball. Beyond breaking news and in-depth analysis, the platform focuses on telling the stories behind the sport, offering trusted, timely, and locally relevant content with a global perspective.

MotoGP Season Launch 2026 in Kuala Lumpur

Honda LCR together with GOD55 Sports are bringing the excitement of MotoGP to Kuala Lumpur with the 2026 Season Launch at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), running until February 7. This launch features Pit Box-style bike displays, rider showcases and experiences, interactive activities, and a chance to win exclusive merchandise. This is a unique opportunity to get up close to the world of MotoGP and enjoy the energy of this exciting collaboration.

Throughout the season, GOD55 Sports will deliver exclusive content rollouts and interactive fan experiences, from behind-the-scenes showcases to extensive news coverage, giving fans across Southeast Asia unprecedented access to the action both on and off the track.

Want the inside scoop on your favourite sports? Get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, player interviews, and the latest MotoGP news with GOD55 Sports.

https://www.god55sports.com/
https://www.facebook.com/god55sports
https://www.instagram.com/god55sports/

Hashtag: #god55sports #hondalcr #motogp #racing #honda #johannzarco #diogomoreira #kualalumpur #KL #KLCC

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

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

BONN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 3 February 2026 – The Seed Grant Finalists and Growth Grant and Seeding the Future Grand Prize Semifinalists of the 5th annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge (GFSC) have been announced, marking a key milestone in the USD 1 million global Challenge supporting impactful and innovative solutions to transform food systems.

Created and funded by Seeding The Future Foundation and, for the first time, hosted by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), the Challenge attracted a record 1,600+ applications from innovator teams in 112 countries, underscoring growing global momentum for food systems transformation.

Following a multi-stage, rigorous international review process, 36 teams have advanced across three award levels. These include 16 Seed Grant Finalists (competing for 8 awards of USD 25,000), 12 Growth Grant Semifinalists (competing for 3 awards of USD 100,000), and 8 Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semifinalists (competing for 2 awards of USD 250,000).

“Hosting the GFSC reflects Welthungerhilfe’s commitment to accelerating bold, scalable innovations where they are needed most. This year’s diversity of solutions underscores the complexity of food system challenges and the creativity of innovators worldwide.” said Jan Kever, Head of Innovation at Welthungerhilfe

The submitted innovations span diverse themes and approaches, including climate-smart production, nutrient-dense foods, food loss reduction, and inclusive market models, reflecting the complexity and interconnected nature of today’s food systems challenges.

“The Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge exists to catalyze impactful, bold, and scalable innovations that advance food systems transformation. We are excited to work alongside Welthungerhilfe as a trusted partner and host of the Challenge and are encouraged by the quality and diversity of innovations emerging from this first year of collaboration.” said Bernhard van Lengerich, Founder and CEO of Seeding The Future Foundation

While the number of awards is limited, all semifinalists and finalist applicants plus all applicants with any prior recognition of other innovation competitions can join the STF Global Food System Innovation Database and Network—currently in beta testing with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations—vastly expanding their visibility and reach across a global audience.

List of 2025 GFSC Seed Grant Finalists, Growth Grant and Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semifinalists

Find details here: welthungerhilfe.org/gfsc-finalists

Seeding The Future Grand Prize Semi-Finalists

Growth Grant Semi-Finalists

• Baobaby, Togo
• Safi International Technologies Inc., Canada
• Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico
• Farmlab Yeranda Agrisolution Producer Company Limited, India
• Banco de Alimentos Santa Fe (BASFE), Argentina
• Chartered Consilorum (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
• American University of Beirut, Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU at AUB), Lebanon
• The Source Plus, Kenya
• Iviani Farm Limited, Kenya
• Rwandese Endogenous Development Association, Rwanda
• NatureLEAD, Madagascar
• Ndaloh Heritage Organisation, Kenya

Seed Grant Finalists

• Inua Damsite CBO, Kenya
• World Neighbors, United States
• Keloks Technologies Ltd, Nigeria
• REBUS Albania, Albania
• Tanzania Conservation and Community Empowerment Initiative (TACCEI), Tanzania
• Intrasect, Switzerland
• VKS AGRITECH, India
• Murmushi People’s Development Foundation, Nigeria
• Levo International, Inc., United States
• Effective Altruism Research Services Ltd, Uganda
• Taita Taveta University, Kenya
• CultivaHub, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Resource Hub for Development (RHD), Kenya
• FUTURALGA S.COOP.AND, Spain
• West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana, Ghana
• Sustainable Solutions Kenya, Kenya

Hashtag: #TheFutureGlobalFoodSystemChallenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most pulsating, unpredictable and primal sport on the planet is set to deliver more chaos, drama, and stunning feats of violence in 2026.

Vicious knockouts, ingenious submissions, blood feuds, and iconic mic moments

Jonty Dine looks at the year ahead in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation.

History at the White House

In news that feels more like a deleted scene from Idiocracy, the house in which the Emancipation Proclamation was drafted, the New Deal was conceived, and the Cuban Missile Crisis was avoided, is set to play host to cage fighting. Historically the fighting at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave has been of the verbal variety, but in 2026 the decorum will be dropped as President Donald Trump invites the UFC to his backyard.

Heavyweight score settled

The sport’s most prestigious title has been held hostage for the better part of two years as Jon Jones refused to defend his tile before finally vacating. However, continuing the curse, the long awaited unification bout between Tom Aspinall and Cyril Gane ended in a brutal eye poke, rendering Aspinall unable to continue. With the rematch all but locked in, here’s praying the fight gods finally allow for an undisputed baddest man on the planet.

Black Jag ready to pounce

New Zealand’s most promising title prospect heading into 2026 has all but guaranteed his shot at gold this year. Ulberg has been on a tear since his sole loss inside the octagon in 2021, blitzing his way through the division with a stunning nine-fight winning streak. The City Kick Boxing star can no longer be denied and a fight with champion Alex Pereira will bring together two of the most powerful strikers in the sport.

Women’s renaissance

With the Lioness back to claim her throne and a superstar arrival in Kayla Harrison, the women’s division is set for a much needed injection of excitement. Amanda Nunes relinquished her title in 2023 after conquering the MMA world, but she is back to prove the cage is only big enough for one queen of the jungle.

A Notorious return

Once the face of the sport, rewriting the book and ascending to mainstream superstardom, it’s been a depressing downfall for Conor McGregor. Since snapping his leg in a round two TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, the Irishman has not stepped back into the cage, indulging in the party lifestyle he once described as ‘weakness for the soul.’ It’s been a disastrous few years for the former double champ, and with his stock at an all time low, a return to the octagon remains his only hope of redemption.

Poatan’s treble

Without a doubt the most exciting man in the sport today, Alex Pereira’s rise came in devastating fashion as he left a trail of destruction in his wake. Having surged through both middleweight and light heavyweight, Poatan could yet pull off the greatest feat in mixed martial arts history and become a three division champion in the worlds biggest combat sports organisation with a move to heavyweight.

Kiwi comeback

Titles are likely out of reach now for three of the greatest kiwis to enter the cage in Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France. However, the trio still have plenty of fight in the tank and all popular with the fan base. Adesanya is set to make his comeback in March against Joe Pyfer following his brutal KO loss at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov. In the twilight of his fight career, Adesanya will want to go out on his feet.

Hooker BMF

Few fighters embody the BMF life quite like New Zealand’s Dan Hooker. The Hangman has stood toe to toe with the best lightweights in the world and has engaged in some of the bloodiest battles in UFC history, most notably, his war with Dustin Poirier. Hooker vs Max Holloway for the BMF title would be a savage exhibition of violence, exactly what the belt was born to represent.

The Prates problem

Current pound for pound king Islam Makachev made an underwhelming welterweight debut despite stealing the strap from Jack Della Maddalena through a suffocating grappling performance, fans will be desperate for some fireworks during his title reign and Brazilian boogeyman Carlos Prates, who has won all his UFC fights by way of knockout, could be just the spark.

Talbot’s time

Bantamweight looked set for a long reigning champion in Merab Dvalishvili who had three effortless defences in the bank and was nearing GOAT status. However, Russia’s Petr Yan put an emphatic end to Dvalishvili’s dominance with a stunning upset in December, taking back the title he loss via disqualification in 2022. Fresh off his win over another former champ in Henry ‘Triple C’ Cejudo, fan favourite Payton Talbot presents a thrilling challenge to the new division king.

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An award-winning New Zealand photographer, who has an asteroid named after him for his work in space sustainability, describes the honour as a “tremendous thrill”.

Papakura-raised, but UK-based Max Alexander is quick to point out his namesake ‘6548 Maxalexander’, discovered in 1988 by Belgian astronomer Henri Debehogne, is no threat to Earth, despite being 12km wide.

“It’s in the asteroid belt, so there’s no need to worry about it,” he said. “It’s the same size as the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, but you don’t need to wear a hard hat to work tomorrow – it’s all fine.”

The former New Plymouth Boys’ High School student describes himself as a science communication specialist, who uses visual storytelling to get messages across.

He said the timing of the International Astronomical Union honour – which followed a nomination from a former professor of his at the University Collage of London – was interesting, as his current work involved illustrating “planetary defence”.

“Deflecting asteroids is the only natural disaster you can do something about,” he said. “You can’t do anything about an earthquake or a volcano here in Taranaki, or a tsunami or whatever, but an asteroid, you can deflect it.”

Alexander explained NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission a few years ago had successfully changed the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos.

“I’m involved with the Hera mission – the European Space Agency’s follow up mission – that will go and characterise the impact crater from the American DART mission, which fired a 600kg mass at the asteroid and managed to deflect it very successfully.”

Alexander said the work was important work, because one day an asteroid would need to be deflected from its orbit, as it had a chance of hitting the Earth.

“Importantly, there’s an asteroid called 2024 YR4 and, in 2032, it has a 4 percent chance of hitting the moon. That probability is likely too high for NASA, so they may be deflecting that asteroid.”

The photographer, who trained at the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design, would take pictures of efforts to protect the Earth from asteroids, so-called “planetary defence”.

The work included photographing the people and facilities at the forefront of this important project, and also impact craters around the world over the next two years.

It would culminate in an exhibition, also featuring still and video images taken from the RAMSES spacecraft, which will accompany Apophis, a 375m asteroid, as it safely passes close to Earth in 2029.

Alexander said he was working as a freelance commercial/editorial photographer in Britain, when a trip to shoot the Northern Lights awakened an interest in astronomy and astrophysics, which he subsequently studied at University College London.

“I sort of changed career paths from then, and so now I specialise in the astronomy sector for international and inter-governmental organisations, and also the space industry, the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency.

“I’m a commissioned photographer for them, but also run my own projects as well, mainly about environmentalism for space, how we’re now starting to pollute space and what are we doing about the problem space sustainability.”

Alexander said much of his work was artistic in nature and the exhibition ‘Our Fragile Space’, put together over three years, was shown at the UN General Assembly and the Lloyds Building, and would soon be exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts Courtyard in London.

It had been credited with influencing European space policy and contributing to the UK government’s creation of ISAM (In-orbit, Servicing, Assembly and Manufacture), which Alexander described as a policy of moving towards a circular-economy in space.

“There are studies showing that, in 10 years’ time, there will likely be 10 times the number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit from 10,000 to 100,000, which is the trajectory we’re currently on.

“This is the trend. You could end up affecting the delicate balance of the upper atmosphere.”

Essentially, satellites breaking up while re-entering Earth’s atmosphere released particles that could impact atmospheric chemistry and potentially slowing the repair of the ozone layer, for example.

Alexander, whose work also showcased the benefits of the space programme, said he favoured “an everything in moderation” approach.

“We need to become good stewards of the near-space environment, to be more sustainable in space. One tangible example would be to refuel satellites.

“Satellites, as soon as they run out of fuel, that’s the end of them and they’re not just floating around. They’re travelling at tremendous velocities – you’ve essentially created space debris.

“To address the problem today, you could refuel them, you could extend the life of these missions. You could try and recycle the materials.”

As part of the ‘Our Fragile Space’ exhibition, Alexander took long-exposure photographs of the sky to illustrate the number of satellites in space and used his access in the sector to secure images of examples of material sent into orbit, creating a visual representation illustrating the potential amount of space debris already existing.

His work on the project – in collaboration with Steve Kelly and Stuart Clark – was recognised with the Sir Arthur Clarke Space Achievement Team Media Award (2025), presented by the British Interplanetary Society.

Alexander also had the unique experience of teaching British astronaut Tim Peake how to take photographs while he was aboard the International Space Station.

“I photographed him during his training at different times and he was very interested in my cameras, because the same Nikon cameras were on the International Space Station.

“After some informal training, he invited me to go on his email list and to give him training when he was on the space station. I waited about a month, just so he’d got settled in, sent him an email, and then we then went through the process and the technical requirements of shooting from space.”

Alexander said they discussed good photography practice, both technical and aesthetics, and applying that to working in zero and microgravity.

“The European Space Agency ended up publishing all those emails and notes, and they asked me to choose my favourite 20 pictures that he took. He got very well known for his photography.

“I don’t want to take the credit – he very quickly took to being a photographer in space.”

Alexander said he would turn his camera towards New Zealand skies for his latest project, while travelling here over the summer, but would also bask in the honour of having an asteroid named after him – at the same time as Polynesian navigator Tupaia, who sailed on the Endeavour with James Cook, no less.

“I’m extremely proud of it, absolutely,” he said. “It’s very motivating for my work to have that asteroid named after me.

“My family is going to make me an asteroid-themed cake down in Christchurch, I’ve been told, to mark the event, with sparklers and all sorts.”

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

Nearly a year after they secured qualification for the Football World Cup with a victory on Eden Park, the All Whites will return to the stadium to farewell fans ahead of the global tournament.

The All Whites have confirmed their final home games ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, taking on Chile and Finland at Eden Park in Auckland this March as part of the first FIFA Series held in Aotearoa.

The FIFA Series brings together four competing nations to play quality international fixtures against other top sides.

The four-nation FIFA Series also includes Cape Verde, which qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2026.

World number 52 Chile and 75th-ranked Finland did not qualify for the World Cup kicking off in June, but for the All Whites (ranked 87) and Cape Verde (67) the FIFA Series will be part of an extended warm-up for the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Finland will become the first men’s UEFA nation to play in New Zealand in over 30 years.

Hosting a UEFA nation has been almost unheard of in NZF’s history, with only England (1991) and Hungary (1982) making the trip, while a strong Soviet Union XI toured in 1986.

Finland is not a European heavyweight, but will be strong opposition regardless, given the depth of the UEFA Confederation. In 2024, they faced the likes of England and Portugal, and their opponents last year included the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley is excited about the prospect of taking on two high-quality teams at home ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“These games are perfect for us as they will give us a real test and aid our preparation for the FIFA World Cup, while also being at home and giving fans the opportunity to support the team before we head to Canada, Mexico and the USA.

“Both Chile and Finland will be challenging opponents, so we expect some really competitive matches, which is exciting for everyone.

“2026 is going to be a massive year for football, so it’s great to announce these fixtures and kick it off in the best way possible,” Bazeley said.

All matches will be played at Eden Park, with double-header match days on Friday 27 and Monday 30 March 2026, kicking off at 4pm and 7pm.

The first match day will see Chile take on Cape Verde, before the All Whites face Finland.

The second match day will see Cape Verde versus Finland, followed by the All Whites hosting Chile.

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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says “tariffs are not the way forward”, as the United States and the European Union go head to head over Greenland.

“We don’t want to see a downward spiral of tariffs and tit-for-tat tariffs, it’s just not acceptable” Luxon told media, after his State of the Nation speech on Monday.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump threatened eight European allies with a 10 percent additional tariff for opposing his plans to buy or annex Greenland.

The EU was reportedly considering retaliatory tariffs worth about 93 billion euros, the equivalent of about NZ$187 billion.

Luxon said it was in New Zealand’s interest to see a “healthy trans-Atlantic relationship in place”, through discussion, debate and dialogue.

“If the US has genuine concerns around Arctic security, we’ll have those conversations.”

He wouldn’t say whether it was appropriate for the EU to retaliate with tariffs.

“That’s a decision for them to make.”

His comments were the first time Luxon had spoken publicly about international events, following the summer break.

He said events in Iran were “incredibly concerning” and “worrying”.

“When you actually see a government using its own forces to kill its own citizens – utterly unacceptable.”

Luxon was also asked about the strike conducted by the United States on Venezuela, in which President Nicolas Maduro was captured.

He said he didn’t have “a lot of time for Nicolas Maduro” and the New Zealand government hadn’t recognised his government – “We saw it as illegitimate” – but he expected every country to be “compliant with international law”.

Ultimately, he said, it was “up to the US to demonstrate that they were compliant with international law”.

“That’s up to them to demonstrate that, as it is for every individual country, to say that they’re operating with an international law.”

Asked why he didn’t speak about the issue earlier, he said Foreign Minister Winston Peters summarised the situation “superbly well” in his statement.

“I didn’t need to add anything more to it.”

On Monday, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the government could have been “more visible and more principled” on all those issues.

“Standing up for international laws [and] international rules is something New Zealand has taken very principled positions on in the past, and we should continue to do so.”

Labour condemned the US attack on Venezuela as a “breach of international law”.

Hipkins said he had “no time” for the previous government of Venezuela, “but going and effectively taking over a country with no international law behind you is a very, very big step for the United States to take”.

“For New Zealand to say nothing about that, I think, has been an abrogation of what has previously been a very principled foreign policy position by New Zealand.”

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 January 2026 – On January 17th, amidst Beijing’s first snow of the year, the fashion industry promotion event “Kung Fu Comes From Yongchun” warmly commenced at the Fujian Mansion. Centered around Yongchun’s intangible cultural heritage, with its iconic incense as the soul and the “One County, One Table of Dishes” Kui Xing Banquet as its medium, the event was jointly hosted by the Fujian Provincial Government Office in Beijing, the CPC Yongchun County Committee, and the People’s Government of Yongchun County. It masterfully presented the capital’s guests with the craftsmanship and cultural richness of this millennia-old county.

Distinguished guests attending the event included: Zhang Tong, Senior Consultant of the China International Cultural Communication Foundation and former Member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Audit Office; Chen Zhiming, former President of the Air Force News; Yang Xiaoyang, Chairman of the China National Society for the Promotion of Arts and Culture; Shi Yuhui, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Fujian Provincial Government Office in Beijing; Xiao Hanhui, Chairman of the CPPCC Quanzhou Municipal Committee; and Pan Zhigang, Chief Economist of the China International Cultural Communication Foundation and Director-General of the Taihu World Cultural Forum (China Government Foreign Affairs Forum). Ambassadors from Albania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Argentina, and Turkey also attended the event.

Elegant swirls of Yongchun incense opened the event, setting the stage for the stunning debut of the “Yongchun Incense Aesthetics Fashion Show,” which ingeniously blended traditional craftsmanship with modern fashion, injecting a rich cultural atmosphere and fashionable vitality into the scene.

Industrial cooperation and concrete project deals formed the core of this promotion. A series of agreements were signed on-site, including a “Cultural Export of Yongchun’s Intangible Heritage” project between the China International Cultural Communication Center and the Yongchun County Government, designed to systematically promote Yongchun’s culture globally. A package of deals under the “China Fragrance Capital · Fashion Yongchun” initiative was also concluded, providing impetus for the traditional incense industry’s shift towards branding and fashion. The distinctive “Yongchun Incense Aesthetics Fashion Show” vividly demonstrated the potential of heritage crafts in modern life by pairing traditional incense-derived accessories with contemporary apparel.

A range of supporting activities accompanied the main event, including the food promotion event “Kui Xing Banquet”, intangible cultural heritage flash mobs, and related special exhibitions, allowing citizens of the capital to experience the cultural charm of Yongchun up close. In the future, Yongchun will further integrate culture with tourism, accelerate the global outreach of its high-quality products and cultural resources, and build itself into a model for Maritime Silk Road cultural exchange where tradition and modernity resonate, and industry and humanities flourish together.

Hashtag: #Yongchun

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https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6387923407112

The Reserve Bank governor Anna Breman shouldn’t have signed a letter of support for US counterpart Jerome Powell without first consulting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Finance Minister says.

Nicola Willis made the comment to media after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about Foreign Minister Winston Peter’s stinging remark that the governor should “stay in her New Zealand lane”.

Breman was one of a number of international central bankers who signed the letter supporting the US Federal Reserve head last week.

Powell has been pushing back to maintain the Federal Reserve’s independence after being served criminal charges by the US Justice Department.

Willis said she spoke to Breman the day after she signed the letter and asked why the governor had not informed her earlier.

“She put to me that she had been reluctant to contact me at 3am in the morning. I said to her ‘Look I’m available any time’ and that’s what New Zealanders expect of me.”

Willis said she made it clear to Breman that if she’d contacted her boss it would have given the governor an opportunity to get a range of perspectives before signing the letter.

“How that would have borne on her final decision I don’t know. I wouldn’t speculate.”

Asked if Breman made the wrong decision in supporting Powell, Willis said she wouldn’t speculate but “it would have been appropriate as the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said, for her take advice from across government”.

Willis said Breman should have let her know that she intended to sign the letter and had she done that, Willis would have advised her to take advice from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and speak with the Treasury Secretary about.

“She’s new in the job. I think she was being overly respectful of my private time.”

Asked if she agreed with the support, Willis deferred to Peters.

“…it’s appropriate that on issues of foreign affairs that she get advice from the officials who are experts in that area.”

Luxon, who was addressing media with Willis after his State of the Nation speech in Auckland on Monday, said they would only be speculating as to what decision Breman might have ended up taking had she sought that advice.

“What’s very important here is, as a government we don’t comment on the internal domestic affairs of other countries. That’s entirely appropriate. We don’t appreciate it when others do it to our own country.

“But as an independent Reserve Bank governor, we respect the independence of our Reserve Bank. It plays a critical role being independent on monetary policy in our own democracy. And we’ve got to respect her independence.”

Asked if Breman had apologised, Willis confirmed she didn’t.

“I didn’t think an apology was necessary. What is important is that in future she takes that learning of making sure she seeks advice and lets people know ahead of any international statements.”

In a statement to RNZ last week the Reserve Bank said Breman had signed the statement because she and the RBNZ believed strongly in the independence of central banks.

“Dr Breman’s signature on the statement indicates the support of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which is statutorily independent from the New Zealand Government.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he had no problem with the letter.

“I think it reflects the position that the New Zealand Government should be taking. The indepdendence of the (US) Federal Reserve and the threats against it are very concerning.”

Hipkins told media Peters was correct to say the Reserve Bank’s independence did not extend to foreign policy.

“Having said that, I think the Reserve Bank governor is entitled to express her view on international developments.”

He said the government could have been more visible on international developments such as the US attack on Venezuela, and its threats to take Greenland.

“I think the New Zealand government could have been more visible and more principled on all of those issues. Standing up for international laws, international rules, is something New Zealand has taken very principled positions on in the past and we should continue to do so.”

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