Whole-of-Government initiative empowers women exporters to secure international trade leads at the inaugural WiEX @ MIHAS 2026.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 October 2026 – Demonstrating the global demand for Malaysian innovation, women-led enterprises achieved RM229 million in potential export sales during the pre-arranged business matching sessions and the 4-days exhibition held at the Women in Export (WiEX) Pavilion @ MIHAS 2026.

The targeted 215 B2B meetings connected local women entrepreneurs with international buyers and distributors from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar. Women-owned companies from Selangor, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Penang topped the sales with a combined value totaling RM129.84 million for confectionary, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa and sportswear products.

The WiEX platform held in conjunction with MIHAS 2026 underscores a strategic Whole-of-Government (WoG) approach to scaling women-led businesses into high-value global supply chains. Led by MATRADE with the support of Pertubuhan Hal Ehwal Wanita dan Keluarga Malaysia (HAWA Malaysia), the initiative brought together key government Ministries and developmental Agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), SME Corp, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), Wanita Berdaya Selangor (WBS) and UDA Holdings Bhd. This inter-agency ecosystem ensures the inclusiveness of women entrepreneurs’ transition seamlessly from domestic capacity-building to international market placement.

Speaking at the WiEX Forum, MATRADE Chairman, Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican highlighted that:

“The contribution of women entrepreneurs is not a side story in our economy; it is central to it. DOSM’s Economic Census 2023 shows women own 20.1% of Malaysian businesses, generating RM136.9 billion in output and employing nearly a million people. Yet, there remains room to improve export readiness. That is why MATRADE continues the WiEX initiative alongside HAWA Malaysia, chaired by Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. I am delighted that WiEX is now incorporated as a key component under MIHAS 2026, delivering a complete ecosystem of capacity building, market access, and recognition under one roof to help women entrepreneurs seize global opportunities.”

“In the era of Industry 5.0, success is no longer defined by high-tech alone, but also by high touch. Businesses must go beyond profit and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of their employees, communities and society. As women leaders and entrepreneurs, we must ensure that technological progress is balanced with values that are inclusive, ethical and anchored in integrity”, said Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, President of HAWA Malaysia during her opening speech.

Complementing the commercial outcomes at the WiEX Pavilion is the WiEX Forum 2026 brought together over 300 participants for actionable knowledge-sharing under the theme “Thriving through Uncertainty: Adapt, Compete, and Grow.”

The forum featured an array of industry leaders and founders sharing practical international expansion models:

• Ms. Low Ngai Yuen, Managing Director of AEON 360, detailed retail procurement standards and supply chain integration strategies for domestic and regional growth.
• Datin Eryca Baiduri (Madammu), Founder of NOIR, delivered a fireside chat on evolving a home-based digital business into a scalable global beauty and health brand.
• Founder-led Panel: Moderated by TV personality Ms. Azaria Tagaya, a dynamic panel consisting of Ms. Amnah Shari (Founder/CEO, Serunai Commerce), Tengku Norhanim Tengku Othman (Founder/CEO, NIMS Adeliciousz), Ms. Jesmine Tan (Co-Founder/COO, Applecrumby), and Ms. Amy Blair (Founder/CEO, Batik Boutique) provided tactical lessons on maintaining quality, navigating regulatory compliance, and managing supply chains across export markets.

Through the combined impact of trade facilitation, strategic cross-agency backing and industry mentorship, MATRADE will continue working alongside HAWA Malaysia, KKDW, MARA, SME Corp and NCER and international trade partners to elevate the ‘Made by Malaysia’ brand globally.

Hashtag: #MIHAS

MATRADE

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency. Established in March 1993, its primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia’s commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation’s trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

Founded in 2022, Skyro has already established a strong presence in the Philippines, where it uses an AI-powered credit-scoring model designed to serve customers who may be underserved by traditional banks. Since its founding, the company has disbursed more than USD 600 million in loans, expanded its user base to more than 7 million and reached operating break-even in the first half of 2026.

Skyro plans to adapt the business model that has proven successful in the Philippines to the Malaysian market. The company enters Malaysia as the country’s consumer credit sector is undergoing significant regulatory reform, following the introduction of the Consumer Credit Act 2025 and the establishment of the Consumer Credit Commission.

Arsen Liametov, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Skyro, said:

“We use advanced AI-based scoring tools to provide convenient and intuitive credit products to people underserved by traditional banks. Our success in the Philippines gives us confidence in this approach, which we plan to adapt for other markets across Southeast Asia and beyond.”

With a population of around 35 million, Malaysia represents an important market for the expansion of digital financial services. While most of the population has access to bank accounts, consumers with limited credit histories or without verified income may find it difficult to obtain traditional bank loans. In the Philippines, Skyro uses AI and alternative data to assess creditworthiness, and it intends to apply a similar approach in Malaysia that has been adapted to local conditions and regulatory requirements.

Nasim Aliev, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Skyro, said:

“Ambitions shouldn’t have to wait. Across Southeast Asia, we see the same pattern: hardworking people are held back not by a lack of effort but by a temporary cash gap standing between them and a real opportunity. In Malaysia, we plan to develop credit products that give people a solution to this challenge while ensuring full control and transparency over their spending.”

Skyro plans to enter the Malaysian market with cash loans and intends to introduce further credit products in Malaysia over time. Skyro has also announced plans to expand into other markets, including Saudi Arabia, and to build an ecosystem of financial products.

Hashtag: #Skyro

About Skyro

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

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

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

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

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

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

Driving Academic Excellence and Real-World Innovation

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

Recent academic and industry milestones across the network include:

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

Hashtag: #GlobalSchoolsGroup #OneGlobalCommunity #ShapingTheFuture

About Global Schools Group

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

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

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

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

Hashtag: #Melco

About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited

Empowering global enterprises across software, electronics, logistics, gaming, IT and entertainment to enhance efficiency and accelerate innovation through full-stack cloud and AI solutions.

HANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – Alibaba Cloud, a leading global provider of AI infrastructure and the intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced its latest global infrastructure expansion plan at the 2026 Apsara Conference, alongside a series of new AI capabilities designed to help enterprises build, deploy and scale AI applications more efficiently. The technology company has also announced its comprehensive collaboration with global enterprises including Panasonic Digital, Unity China, Lion Parcel, Loomi Entertainment Group and SHAKE to accelerate enterprise innovation via its advanced AI and cloud technologies.

Over the next 12 months, Alibaba Cloud will establish its first cloud regions in Türkiye, Finland and the Netherlands, while expanding its data center footprint in Malaysia, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, France and Hong Kong. The expansion will further increase Alibaba Cloud’s global computing capacity and strengthen its ability to provide localized cloud and AI services to customers across key markets. The cloud leader currently operates 107 availability zones in 31 regions around the world.

“As Alibaba Cloud has advanced from AI-native infrastructure to an Agent-Native Cloud architecture, AI is also moving rapidly from experimentation to real-world deployment, creating demand for both scalable infrastructure and more accessible AI capabilities,” said Dr. Feifei Li, Chief Technology Officer and President of International Business of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. “We are expanding our global cloud footprint to bring computing resources closer to customers and partners, while continuing to evolve our AI technologies to help enterprises deploy models, optimize multi-model workloads and create new AI-powered applications. At the same time, our growing ecosystem of customers and partners demonstrates how these capabilities can translate into tangible business value across industries and markets. We are committed to working closely with our global ecosystem to make AI more scalable, practical and accessible for businesses.”

At the conference, Alibaba Cloud launched three new AI solutions to help international businesses build and scale production-grade applications. Smart Studio, an out-of-the-box product designed to help businesses build dedicated Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms in minutes. It provides everything needed to package, price, meter, and bill model APIs under their own brand. Its advanced inference architecture delivers up to 505% higher throughput than standard open-source frameworks on the same hardware.

Smart Fusion serves as an intelligent engine that helps users and businesses achieve state-of-the-art model performance at low cost through a unified standard model API. The engine supports multi-model collaboration within one task, selecting the best-suited available models to work together by analyzing real-time dimensions. By abstracting multi-model deployment into a single endpoint, it can help reduce token spending by around 50%.

Smart Video is an AI video agent designed for short-drama studios and advertisers to automatically create videos up to one hour long. With a single prompt, creators can turn an idea into a finished cut, while continuously refining it through natural language. The platform supports multiple video models, including Wan, and offers seamless support for more than 20 languages.

Turning AI Innovation into Real-World Impact

Alibaba’s cloud and AI technologies are helping customers and partners across industries address diverse business needs, from digital transformation and enterprise applications to logistics, gaming and AI-powered content creation. Through collaborations with enterprises including Panasonic Digital, Unity China, Lion Parcel, Loomi Entertainment Group and SHAKE, Alibaba Cloud is enabling businesses to enhance efficiency, accelerate innovation and explore new opportunities with cloud and AI.

Panasonic Digital (Shanghai) has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to accelerate its comprehensive digital and AI transformation. Leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s Bailian (Model Studio) to securely access the Qwen models, alongside advanced data management tools like DataWorks, MaxCompute, and Hologres, Panasonic has built a custom capability hub that powers specialized AI agents across manufacturing, supply chain, and corporate functions.
This collaboration has delivered significant operational benefits. It has achieved an 80% reduction in documentation time through automated meeting minutes, a 10-fold increase in contract review efficiency using the “Smart Compare” agent, and enhanced data-driven decision-making by empowering non-technical staff to perform complex inventory analyses using natural language—all while ensuring strict data security and compliance through Alibaba Cloud’s robust governance features.

“We are very grateful for our strategic collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, which has been instrumental in accelerating Panasonic Digital’s enterprise-wide AI transformation. By seamlessly integrating their world-class AI models and robust data infrastructure into our operations, we have successfully moved beyond isolated IT optimizations to build a highly scalable, secure, and unified intelligence platform,” said Yueming Li, Head of GenAI Innovation & Workforce, Panasonic Digital (Shanghai).

Unity China, a leading game engine and real-time 3D development platform that operates the Tuanjie Engine, has leveraged Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio to deploy Qwen and third-party foundation models for Tuanjie AI-Codely, its AI-native engineering platform. Unity is a leading game engine and real-time 3D development platform. The platform streamlines production-scale game development by automating mission-critical workflows, including code comprehension, real-time editing, and debugging, while supporting cross-team collaboration.
“Game development is becoming increasingly complex, and our goal with Tuanjie AI is to remove technical friction so creators can focus on innovation and gameplay,” said Junbo Zhang, CEO of Unity China. “Alibaba Cloud’s Model Studio and the Qwen model family provide the performance, flexibility, and low latency our developers require. By integrating these advanced AI capabilities directly into the development pipeline, we are enabling studios to debug, iterate, and bring ambitious game projects to life faster than ever before.”

Lion Parcel, a leading Indonesian logistics and delivery provider, has leveraged Alibaba’s Qwen model to improve its finance and document processing workflows. To eliminate time-consuming and error-prone manual data transcription, Lion Parcel deployed the Qwen-VL-Plus model through Alibaba’s Model Studio platform to automate routine workflows. Supported by Alibaba Cloud’s fully managed platform and predictable pay-per-token pricing, Lion Parcel has significantly accelerated processing efficiency, maximized data accuracy, and established a centralized digital repository that boosts overall business scalability.
“Alibaba Cloud’s OCR solution powered by Qwen helped us accelerate Document Order processing in Finance. It’s improving accuracy while saving both time and operational costs,” said Probosetyo Krishna, Head of IT, Lion Parcel.

Loomi Entertainment Group (LEG), a Malaysia-based entertainment company, has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to accelerate the adoption of AI-generated content (AIGC) among creators and businesses in Malaysia and the wider region. LEG has integrated Alibaba ‘s visual generation models, including Wan and HappyHorse through Model Studio, into Imaginary, its proprietary cinematic AI engine. The integration enables high-quality video and visual generation, streamlines content production workflows, and helps reduce production costs. Additionally, the two companies have hosted two AIGC hackathons and trained more than 100 local content creators through online and offline workshops, providing creators with practical exposure to the latest generative AI tools and applications. Alibaba Cloud and LEG are also exploring the use of Wan in Loomi’s micro-drama production pipeline, alongside joint go-to-market initiatives and talent development programmes.
“Alibaba Cloud’s advanced AI models give creators new ways to turn ideas into engaging content more efficiently. Through this partnership, we look forward to bringing AIGC capabilities to more creators in Malaysia and the wider region, while exploring new possibilities for AI-powered content production,” said Ivan Tan, CTO of Loomi Entertainment Group.

SHAKE, a pioneer in agentic resource planning (ARP) for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), is leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s powerful compute resources and Qwen models to expand its services across APAC markets. Through this partnership, SHAKE is building a proprietary AI model based on Qwen to deliver highly optimized ARP solutions. Additionally, SHAKE’s ARP services will be featured on the Alibaba Cloud Marketplace, supporting SMBs across industries to seamlessly transition into and thrive in the agentic era.
“By fusing SHAKE’s pioneer expertise in Agentic Resource Planning with Alibaba Cloud’s world-class compute infrastructure and cutting-edge Qwen models, we are unlocking unprecedented value for our customers. This collaboration serves as a powerful catalyst for our regional growth across APAC and marks a monumental milestone in our journey. Together, we are accelerating our vision to empower SMBs with the intelligent tools they need to thrive and scale in the agentic era,” said Sean Hinton, CEO of SHAKE.

AnyMind Group, a BPaaS company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation, has today announced a strategic agreement with Alibaba Cloud to integrate Qwen, a family of large language and multimodal AI models developed by Alibaba, into AnyLive, AnyMind Group’s AI-powered live commerce platform. The integration is designed to improve how AnyLive understands customer questions and delivers accurate, contextually relevant responses in real time. Qwen will be added as one of the models within AnyLive’s multi-model AI architecture, utilized and delivered through lifelike AI avatars. Its language understanding capabilities will help AnyLive better interpret customer intent, including conversational or ambiguous questions, and generate more natural and relevant responses across Asian languages.
Akinori Kubo, Managing Director, Global E-Commerce, AnyMind Group, said: “The quality of a live commerce experience depends on how well brands understand customers and respond to their needs in the moment. Adding Qwen to AnyLive’s multi-model stack will strengthen intent analysis and response accuracy across Asian languages, helping brands create live rooms where customers feel understood and can make more informed purchase decisions.”

Hashtag: #AlibabaCloud

Source: Whole Earth Farming

18 September 2026

At full maturity, regenerative “whole earth farming” practices could also offset CO2 emissions equal to the entire airline industry’s

NEW YORK – Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers could play an outsized role in feeding humanity’s growing population while restoring nature, but a new book underlines that they are the least supported producers in global agriculture.

Whole Earth Farming: Smallholders and the Great Regenerative Transformation says there are roughly 475 million smallholder farms in the Global South, typically operating on less than two hectares (five acres). Together, these farmers already produce about 30% of the world’s food, despite severely limited access to finance, markets, technical and practical education support.

In his book, development expert Hugh Locke says helping just half of the smallholders farmers worldwide – about 240 million farming families – to adopt regenerative agriculture and agroforestry could yield all the additional food required by population growth through 2050 while improving rather than degrading nature.

And those farms would occupy only about 12% of the world’s arable land.

“The world’s smallholder farmers are too often treated as beneficiaries of development assistance when they should be recognized as architects of the next agricultural transformation,” says Locke, co-founder of the Smallholder Farmers Alliance in Haiti.

The world population is expected to increase by roughly 1.5 billion by 2050, he notes, with that growth concentrated in developing countries. Locke’s central proposition is that meeting that additional food does not have to come at the cost of further soil degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

Instead, he argues, the same investment needed to increase smallholder productivity could help turn agriculture into a regenerative force.

Haiti: a working laboratory

Many of the insights in Whole Earth Farming are based on Locke’s experience with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA), which he co-founded with Haitian agronomist Timote Georges in 2010.

The organization now works with roughly 10,000 member farmers in Haiti.

When participating smallholders receive basic agricultural support based on sustainable practices, their yields increase by an average of about 40%, he notes, while household incomes rise between 50 – 100%, depending on local conditions.

SFA members also plant an average of approximately 1 million trees a year.

With SFA’s leadership and help, Haiti’s farmers began transitioning production to a regenerative approach that combines agroforestry with what the SFA calls “tree currency”: farmers plant and care for trees in exchange for agricultural services, training, seeds and other inputs. The model connects increased farm productivity directly with environmental restoration.

The Haiti experience helped shape one of the book’s central conclusions: hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers are producing below their potential because agricultural policies, research, financing and extension systems have disproportionately supported large-scale agriculture for decades.

“This is not about nostalgia or returning agriculture to the past,” Locke says. “It is about recognizing where one of the greatest opportunities for the future now exists.”

Farming that restores instead of extracting from nature

Rather than simply reduce the damage farming causes, regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to improve the natural systems on which agriculture depends.

It draws on three streams of knowledge: Indigenous and ancestral farming traditions; decades of experience with organic farming, agroecology, permaculture and other sustainable approaches; and contemporary science, including advances in soil biology, ecosystem science and impact measurement.

Depending on local conditions, regenerative farmers can employ techniques including crop rotation, cover crops, intercropping and diverse cropping systems, composting and other methods of building soil organic matter, reduced tillage, agroforestry and integration of livestock.

The objective is not adherence to a universal checklist. It is measurable improvement in outcomes such as soil health, biodiversity, water quality and availability, carbon storage, food production, farmer livelihoods and community resilience.

Locke describes this as regenerative agriculture’s “dual revolution”: a farming methodology and a framework for determining whether farming is actually producing regenerative results.

This distinction is important because practices appropriate to a smallholder in Haiti, India or Kenya may be very different from those suitable for a farm in Canada or the United States.

“The question is not simply, ‘Are you using regenerative practices?’” says Locke. “The more important question is, ‘Is the land, the ecosystem and the farming community measurably better as a result?’”

The approach represents a shift, he says, from shifting agricultural practices to “do less harm” to practices designed to produce net positive outcomes.

Climate dividend

The book also examines how such a transformation could affect climate change.

Healthy soils and growing plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in soil and biomass. Regenerative systems can also reduce emissions associated with the manufacture and transportation of synthetic fertilizers.

Drawing on peer-reviewed research, Locke says approximately 240 million smallholder farms making the transition to regenerative agriculture across an estimated 480 million hectares could eventually remove every year up to 0.72 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually during the period in which soil carbon is actively accumulating.

Furthermore, reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizer could provide an additional climate benefit of roughly 0.1 gigaton of CO2 equivalent annually, bringing the estimated combined benefit to approximately 0.6 to 0.85 gigatons per year at mature adoption.

That is roughly comparable in scale to the annual CO2 emissions of global aviation.

Locke stresses that soils cannot absorb carbon indefinitely. Soil carbon generally accumulates over one to three decades before approaching a new equilibrium, and outcomes vary substantially with soils, climate, farming practices and farmers’ starting conditions.

“Regenerative agriculture is not a license to keep emitting carbon elsewhere,” says Locke. “Its climate potential is important precisely because it comes alongside other benefits we urgently need anyway: healthier soil, greater biodiversity, more resilient farms, increased food production and stronger rural communities.”

Measuring what “regenerative” actually means

The book arrives as regenerative agriculture is moving rapidly into the mainstream but still lacks a universally agreed definition.

Locke argues that this makes credible measurement especially important.

Rather than allowing a farm or company to be considered regenerative because it has adopted one favoured technique, Whole Earth Farming advocates assessing a broad range of environmental and social outcomes.

The book highlights the emerging “Regen10 Outcomes Framework,” developed through more than two years of global consultation, as an important step toward establishing a common reference for assessing regenerative agriculture while allowing farmers to choose methods appropriate to local circumstances.

The framework encompasses ecological health, farmer livelihoods, food quality, community resilience and other outcomes.

The distinction also guards against reducing regenerative agriculture to carbon alone.

A farming system that sequesters carbon while degrading biodiversity, water resources or farmer livelihoods, Locke argues, cannot meaningfully be called regenerative.

A great regenerative transformation

Locke calls the opportunity a “Great Regenerative Transformation,” comparable in ambition to the Green Revolution that dramatically increased agricultural production during the second half of the 20th century.

But there is a fundamental difference. Where the Green Revolution relied heavily on improved crop varieties, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and increasing standardization, Locke envisions a transformation that combines traditional agricultural knowledge with ecological science, locally adapted practices and modern systems for measuring outcomes.

The goal is not simply more food per hectare. Success would instead be measured by what agriculture produces and what it leaves behind: healthier soils, restored ecosystems, greater biodiversity, improved water systems, climate resilience and viable farming communities.

Locke argues that smallholders are particularly well positioned to lead such a transformation because many retain traditional agricultural knowledge, operate diversified farms and have not adopted industrial farming systems as extensively as producers in wealthier countries.

The challenge is giving them access to the training, finance, research, markets, data and extension services needed to make that potential real.

Alongside its practical exploration of smallholder farming and regenerative agriculture, Whole Earth Farming makes a less expected case: that the Bahá’í Faith offers principles relevant to agriculture’s future; its teachings connect farming with humanity’s spiritual, social and economic development.

Locke focuses particularly on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who from 1901 to 1921 directed the farming community of ‘Adasíyyih in the Jordan Valley. He argues that practices used there anticipated many now associated with regenerative agriculture, including crop rotation, agroforestry, integrated livestock and soil-building, while applying broader principles of equality, consultation and justice.

Locke extends these ideas globally, arguing that the faith’s principle that “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens” provides a framework for treating farmers, governments, companies and international institutions as parts of an interdependent agricultural system. He stresses that the principles require no religious belief, describing them as “open-source foundational truths” that could help regenerative agriculture scale across cultures, continents and generations without fragmenting into competing definitions.

“Not a measure of the problem, but a measure of the possibility”

The book carries a foreword by Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President, Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, who describes the world’s 475 million smallholder farming households as “not a measure of the problem, but as a measure of the possibility.”

Steiner writes that regenerative transformation cannot be reduced to carbon or measured by crop yield alone, and that it cannot succeed without farmers themselves being active agents of change.

The book has also drawn endorsements from leaders spanning agriculture, humanitarian action, conservation, development and public policy.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton says Locke shares lessons from his work with smallholders “with both rigorous evidence and genuine humanity.”

Chef and humanitarian José Andrés writes that farmers have the power not only to produce food but to strengthen local economies and nourish the future, concluding: “Read this book. Then do something.”

Other contributions and endorsements have been provided by

• Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former UN Environment Programme Executive Director and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario;
• Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank President;
• Rainn Wilson, actor and environmental advocate, who wrote the introduction;
• Paula Caldwell St-Onge, former Canadian Ambassador to Haiti;
• Tara Shyam, Executive Director of Regen10; and
• Leaders from organizations working in agriculture, food security, reforestation and international development.

The book includes 21 stories from 18 countries illustrating regenerative agriculture through the experiences of farmers and farming communities rather than presenting it solely as an abstract global model.

Its examples range from Colombia and Thailand to Canada, the Netherlands and farming communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Launched during Climate Week NYC, Whole Earth Farming offers a deceptively simple proposition: The world need not choose between feeding more people and restoring the planet. It’s possible to do both if hundreds of millions of farmers who have long operated at the margins of agricultural policy are finally given the means.

By the numbers

• 570 million – Approximate number of farms worldwide.
• 475 million – Smallholder farms in the Global South with less than two hectares (five acres).
• ~2 billion – People living and working on those smallholder farms, approximately one-quarter of humanity.
• 30% – Approximate share of the world’s food already produced by smallholders.
• 1.5 billion – Approximate increase in world population expected by 2050, concentrated in developing countries.
• 240 million – Smallholder farming families the book proposes supporting in a global regenerative transition.
• 12% – Approximate share of global arable land those farms would cultivate.
• 0.48–0.72 gigatons CO2/year – Estimated potential annual soil carbon removal at mature adoption during the active accumulation period.
• 0.6–0.85 gigatons CO2e/year – Estimated combined mature annual climate benefit when avoided emissions associated with reduced synthetic fertilizer use are included.
• 10,000 – Approximate number of Smallholder Farmers Alliance members in Haiti.
• 1 million – Approximate number of trees planted annually by SFA members.
• 21 stories / 18 countries – Farmer and regenerative agriculture stories featured in Whole Earth Farming .

About the author

Hugh Locke has spent his career working at the intersection of environmental conservation, international development, humanitarian service and interfaith collaboration. Since co-founding the Smallholder Farmers Alliance in Haiti in 2010, he has focused much of his work on smallholder agriculture and regenerative farming. He is President of the Impact Farming Foundation and serves on the board of the global reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted.

Whole Earth Farming: Smallholders and the Great Regenerative Transformation

September 2026

George Ronald Publisher

ISBN 978-0-85398-688-1

Official release

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

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

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

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

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

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

Driving Academic Excellence and Real-World Innovation

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

Recent academic and industry milestones across the network include:

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

Hashtag: #GlobalSchoolsGroup #OneGlobalCommunity #ShapingTheFuture

About Global Schools Group

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

Palestine Forum of New Zealand (PFNZ) is calling on the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU) to follow the lead of the UK trade union movement and take meaningful action in support of Palestinian rights.

The call follows a significant decision by the UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing more than 5.3 million workers, which has unanimously backed a motion supporting the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The motion calls for action to oppose what it describes as the catastrophic destruction of Gaza and Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. It includes calls for an end to military cooperation and arms deals with Israel, wide-ranging sanctions, divestment from companies complicit in violations of international law, and support for trade union-led workplace action.

PFNZ believes the New Zealand trade union movement should now have the same conversation.

“New Zealand workers and trade unions have a long history of standing up for justice, human rights and workers’ rights internationally,” said Maher Nazzal, Founder and Spokesperson of Palestine Forum of New Zealand.

“The UK trade union movement has taken a clear position that solidarity with Palestinian workers cannot stop at statements. It is calling for collective action against complicity.

“We are asking NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi to consider what meaningful action New Zealand’s trade union movement can take.

“This is not about asking one organisation to speak for everyone. It is about opening a serious conversation within the New Zealand labour movement about what solidarity with Palestinian workers and the Palestinian people should look like in practice.”

PFNZ is calling on NZCTU to:

• publicly consider and support Palestinian-led BDS initiatives;
• review trade union investments, procurement and relationships to identify links with companies involved in or benefiting from violations of Palestinian rights;
• support measures to end military and economic complicity with violations of international law;
• strengthen solidarity with Palestinian trade unions and workers;
• support workplace and union-led initiatives for Palestinian rights; and
• raise these issues with the New Zealand Government, including the need for stronger action concerning the occupation, settlements and settler violence.

New Zealand has already joined international partners in sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in financing and enabling settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

PFNZ says the question now is whether New Zealand’s civil society and trade union movements are prepared to build on that position.

“Workers’ solidarity has always crossed borders,” Nazzal said.

“Palestinian workers and trade unionists are part of the global labour movement. When workers elsewhere face injustice, trade unions have historically understood that solidarity means more than words.

“We encourage NZCTU to engage with its affiliated unions, Palestinian representatives and civil society organisations and consider following the example now being set by the UK trade union movement.

The UK has shown that trade unions can act collectively. We are asking New Zealand’s trade union movement to consider doing the same.”

As Hong Kong’s healthcare needs continue to evolve amid an ageing population and increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, there is an important opportunity to further strengthen prevention, early intervention and primary healthcare. Enabling people to stay healthy and improve their quality of life not only supports better health outcomes, but also contributes to a more resilient and sustainable healthcare system for the future.

At Bupa Hong Kong, we believe healthcare should go beyond treating illness to empowering people throughout their health journey, actively supporting individuals to manage and improve their health at every stage of life. By bringing together health insurance, integrated Western and Chinese healthcare services and digital health solutions, we enable people to take greater control of their health while receiving comprehensive medical and preventive care support.

We also recognise that strong public-private collaboration and leveraging GBA healthcare resources will be essential to meeting Hong Kong’s evolving health needs, improving hospital services and alleviating pressure on the public healthcare system. By harnessing the collective strengths of government, healthcare providers and the private sector, Hong Kong can further strengthen primary healthcare, support the adoption of digital health solutions and promote healthy ageing. Together, we can help make healthcare more accessible and seamless, while supporting better health outcomes across the community.

Bupa Hong Kong looks forward to continuing to work alongside the Government and partners across the healthcare ecosystem to support Hong Kong’s long-term development, helping people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

For more information about Bupa Hong Kong, please visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.

Hashtag: #Bupa #BupaHongKong #FirstFiveYearPlan #2026PolicyAddress #Healthcare

Bupa – A health insurance specialist

Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand calls on the Government to support an UN-led international criminal justice mechanism as survivors continue to seek accountability

As the fourth anniversary of the Woman Life Freedom uprising is marked around the world, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is urging the New Zealand Government to support international justice efforts for crimes against humanity committed by Iranian authorities against protesters.

The call comes alongside a new Amnesty International investigation, Architects of Atrocities: State Machinery Orchestrating Crimes Against Humanity in Iran’s 2022 Woman Life Freedom Uprising, which documents how Iranian authorities allegedly committed crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, enforced disappearance, imprisonment, rape and persecution, during the nationwide protests that followed the death in custody of Jina (Zhina) Mahsa Amini in September 2022. The report identifies 87 officials who Amnesty International says should be criminally investigated.

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand has launched a public petition calling on Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters to join other UN member states in supporting the creation of an international criminal justice mechanism for crimes against humanity committed in Iran.

Lisa Woods, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand Movement Building & Advocacy Director, said: “The scale and gravity of human rights abuses in Iran demand a response of equal scale and seriousness from New Zealand and governments around the world. New Zealand must do more, using every avenue available – to stand with the people of Iran, to end the cycle of impunity and hold perpetrators to account.”

According to Amnesty International’s findings, impunity for the violent suppression of protests in 2022 has emboldened further repression, including the mass killing of protesters during nationwide unrest in January 2026. Amnesty argues that without meaningful accountability, the cycle of violence against those demanding human rights and political freedoms will continue.

The new report draws on years of research, including interviews with 270 people and analysis of more than 2,000 videos and extensive documentary evidence. It concludes that Iranian authorities implemented a state policy of lethal force to crush protests and systematically shielded perpetrators from accountability.

New Zealand solidarity events

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is partnering with Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand to commemorate Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman Life Freedom movement through events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The programme includes screenings of Nasrin, the documentary about prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and women’s rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh, alongside community speakers and performances.

Screenings occur in:

• Christchurch – September 17
• Dunedin – September 18
• Wellington – September 20
• Auckland – September 20

An Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand spokesperson said: “On the fourth anniversary of Jina Mahsa Amini’s killing, we remember how Woman, Life, Freedom became a unifying movement that brought together Iranians across political views, generations and ethnicities, united by a shared demand for freedom, equality and dignity. Its powerful and universal message resonated around the world because these are rights that belong to all of us.

“The regime responded with brutal repression in an attempt to crush the movement, but the people of Iran did not give up. They rose again in January 2026, facing an even harsher crackdown.

“Amnesty International’s new report brilliantly documents the atrocities committed during Woman, Life, Freedom, and we echo its call for those responsible to be held accountable on the international stage.

“This is why Iranian Solidarity Group New Zealand is proud to partner with Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand on events in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, commemorating Jina and the Woman Life Freedom uprising, highlighting Amnesty’s report, and screening Nasrin, the story of prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and women’s rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh, alongside a programme of speakers and performances.”

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is encouraging New Zealanders to sign its petition and call on the Government to support international accountability efforts through the United Nations.

“The international community cannot continue to allow survivors and victims’ families to be denied justice while those responsible remain beyond accountability,” said Woods.

Notes

Amnesty International’s report, Architects of Atrocities: State Machinery Orchestrating Crimes Against Humanity in Iran’s 2022 Woman Life Freedom Uprising, documents alleged crimes against humanity committed during the 2022 protests and identifies 87 officials for potential criminal investigation.

Amnesty International is calling for the UN General Assembly to establish an international criminal justice mechanism to investigate and advance accountability for crimes against humanity committed in Iran.

Public petition: Demand International Justice for Crimes Against Humanity in Iran

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom awards its Freedom Prize 2026 to the courageous people of Iran who are fighting for freedom, civil rights and democracy.

POTSDAM, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 15 September 2026 -The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom honors the Iranian people with its Freedom Prize 2026 on 7 November 2026 at St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt. Reza Pahlavi will accept the award in a fiduciary capacity. Bijan Djir-Sarai, foreign policy spokesperson the Free Democratic Party (FDP), will deliver the laudatory address.

Since 2006, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has awarded the Freedom Prize every two years in recognition of outstanding commitment to the development of a liberal civil society, thereby contributing to strengthening values and goals of freedom around the world.

Steffen Saebisch, Chairman of the Board of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, comments: “The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is deliberately awarding the Freedom Prize to the Iranian people rather than to an individual. We seek to honor the desire for freedom of the many hundreds of thousands of people who have risked their lives to overthrow the criminal mullah regime. We are pleased that Reza Pahlavi is accepting to receive the award in trust on behalf of the Iranian people until the day the prize can be presented to the freely elected representatives of Iran.”

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has asked Reza Pahlavi to receive the award in trust on behalf of the Iranian people, as he is the best-known personality of the Iranian opposition and is committed to the return to freedom and democracy in Iran. According to his own statements, he does not advocate one form of government over another, as long as it is democratic. He repeatedly emphasizes that the future political order of Iran must be decided by the Iranian people. According to many, he is currently also the most important political figure of identification for many Iranians (probably the majority) in Iran. In addition, Reza Pahlavi is committed to an end to Iranian-fueled conflicts in the Middle East, the normalization of Iran’s relations with its neighboring countries and, in particular, reconciliation with Israel.

The award goes to all those who stand up for their rights, for their own freedom and for a free and democratic society. It is dedicated in particular to those who lost their lives in the fight against a murderous regime and to those who were or are currently persecuted and imprisoned because of their commitment to freedom and democracy.

The award honors the courage of countless people who resist in their everyday lives: women who stand up for their right to self-determination; students who demand freedom of thought and learning; journalists who, despite intimidation and threats, stand up for press freedom; workers who fight for fair conditions and dignity; families who resist paternalism and the denial of individual choices in their conduct of life. Their strength lies not in individual actions, but in the perseverance of a society that refuses to be silenced.

For decades, the theocratic regime has ruled brutally and with great contempt for basic human rights. That is why it is all the more admirable that so many people in Iran are speaking out in various ways against the regime and in support of their freedom and fundamental rights, taking to the streets to make their voices heard. These extraordinarily courageous people deserve the full support of everyone for whom freedom, self-determination and democracy are the highest ideals.

By conferring the Freedom Prize on the Iranian people, the Foundation is deliberately drawing attention to the many unnamed people whose civic courage often remains unseen, but who form the basis of any peaceful change. The Freedom Prize is an expression of respect and solidarity – and at the same time an appeal to the international community to consistently protect the rights of all Iranians and to support their demands for freedom effectively.

The Iranian people stand for the hope that an open society can also emerge where freedom is suppressed. Their commitment reminds us: freedom is indivisible – and it begins with people who have the courage to stand up.

That is why our Foundation is committed to honoring freedom-loving people in Iran. By conferring the Freedom Prize on the Iranian people, the Foundation is sending a clear message to the public: The struggle for freedom and democracy has the full support of all liberals.

The fintech is evolving from a consumer loans provider in the Philippines into an international multi-product financial ecosystem

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – Skyro, a fast-growing digital finance platform, today began rolling out its refreshed visual identity, launching first with a redesigned app in the Philippines ahead of a wider rollout across all markets, advertising and partner touchpoints in the coming weeks. The rebrand marks Skyro’s shift from a consumer loans provider into an international multi-product financial ecosystem.

Launched in the Philippines in 2022, Skyro has grown to more than 7 million users, built a current credit portfolio of more than $200 million, and reached operating break-even in the first half of 2026. The company now aims to scale this success by entering new markets and expanding into new financial products. In August, Skyro announced plans to expand into Saudi Arabia. The Philippines, Skyro’s most mature market, will be the first to introduce the new brand identity. The Skyro Philippines app will launch in its new design on September 15, followed by a wider rollout across markets and partners. The rebrand reflects the company’s aspiration to be a part of customers’ lives, following their natural rhythms and helping them grow consistently.

Arsen Liametov, Skyro Сo-founder and Co-CEO said:

“The rebrand reflects the strategy and ambition behind Skyro’s next chapter. We want to move beyond one-off lending and become an everyday financial partner, offering a broader set of products that support people and small businesses through different moments in their lives. Our ambition is for Skyro to fit more naturally into those moments, building lasting relationships with customers as their needs evolve. The new identity reflects that direction and gives us a platform to build on what we have proven in the Philippines as we enter new markets.”

As a financial ecosystem, Skyro aspires to be a part of customers’ lives, following their natural rhythms and helping them grow consistently. The new design system, along with new brand tagline, “Naturally, yours,” embody the idea that finance should be built around people’s lives: seasons, local holidays and other recurring cycles structure how people live and spend. The central mark of visual identity draws on the analemma, the figure-eight path traced by celestial bodies across the sky over the course of a year. Echoing the “Sky” in Skyro’s name, the shape represents continuity and flexibility, reflecting the company’s ambition to become part of customers’ everyday financial lives rather than serve individual transactions.

Nasim Aliev, Skyro Сo-founder and Co-CEO said:

“Skyro started with a simple idea: use AI and alternative data to make credit faster and more accessible for people who are often underserved by traditional lending. That model has proven itself, and the business has now grown beyond its original focus. With SkyroCredit already launched, and more B2C and B2B products in development, the business has started to outgrow the old branding.

This rebrand gives that evolution a clear identity and a platform for what we are building next. Whether that’s making a purchase, upgrading something at home, getting something you’ve been wanting, or simply making your next move possible, Skyro becomes the enabler that helps people take action”.

Skyro’s proprietary AI-driven credit decisioning model uses alternative data and advanced analytics to assess applications, helping the company make fast, responsible credit decisions and serve customers who may be underserved by conventional lenders. Skyro now works with more than 10,000 partner stores and over 3,000 merchants, with SMEs driving over 60% of volume. SkyroCredit, a reusable credit line that works via QR Ph, allows customers to use and repay their available credit repeatedly without reapplying each time. Its launch marked a shift from financing one-off purchases toward building an ongoing financial relationship with customers, giving them more ways to turn to Skyro as their financial needs and priorities evolve over time.

Skyro is seeking to apply the experience developed in the Philippines to new markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Hashtag: #Skyro

About Skyro