MIL OSI

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – On July 4, 2026, the cultural exchange event Encounter & Insight: Dialogue Between Ningbo, China and Colombo, Sri Lanka took place in Colombo.

Separated by thousands of miles, the two millennia-old port cities reconnected, leveraging their ports as a bond and cultural exchanges as a cohesive force to hold in-depth talks on integrated port-city development and bilateral economic and trade connectivity.

This cross-Indian Ocean dialogue echoes the ancient Maritime Silk Road while charting a brand-new outbound development path. As a pivotal starting port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Ningbo is building a new global trade landscape powered by smart manufacturing.

A thousand years ago, merchant vessels from Mingzhou Port set sail southward loaded with Yue Kiln celadon porcelain, passing through Ceylon to deliver Oriental crafts across the Indian Ocean coasts. Precious gemstones and spices traveled the same sea route back to regions south of the Yangtze River, laying the groundwork for the earliest cultural exchange between the two ports through trade. Today, the cargo carried by giant cargo ships has undergone a dramatic transformation. Beyond traditional daily necessities, intelligent equipment, digital home appliances and industrial robots now dominate shipments.

Official statistics show that Ningbo’s exports of intelligent equipment, including mechanical arms and industrial robots, hit 440 million yuan in 2025, surging more than 40% year-on-year. From January to May this year, Ningbo’s exports of mechanical and electrical products maintained steady growth, reaching 247 billion yuan, a 4.1% year-on-year increase and accounting for 58.0% of the city’s total export volume. The new energy foreign trade sector saw explosive growth, with exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products jumping 138.4% year-on-year, with electric vehicle exports skyrocketing 215.9%. Smart manufactured goods are continuously expanding the scope of Ningbo’s foreign trade.

Complementing the Colombo forum, an exhibition highlights Ningbo’s outstanding going-global enterprises and their products, vividly illustrating the profound shift in Ningbo’s trade structure.

Alongside time-honored Maritime Silk Road staples such as celadon porcelain and silk, Ningbo’s smart manufactured products—including AI translation glasses, intelligent outdoor gear and digital small home appliances—occupy prominent display spaces across the venue. In Sri Lanka, Ningbo smart water meters are widely adopted nationwide, while handheld cooling fans and intelligent kitchen appliances have entered ordinary households.

Leveraging Colombo Port’s transshipment advantages, massive volumes of Ningbo smart manufactured goods are distributed onward to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. What Ningbo exports today is no longer mere commodities, but a complete outbound solution integrating technology, brand value and after-sales services.

Faced with mounting challenges including homogeneous global market competition and rising trade barriers, Ningbo’s manufacturing sector has abandoned the old model of low-cost OEM production, relying on intelligent transformation to consolidate its competitive edge in overseas markets.

Over more than a decade of digital transformation efforts, Ningbo has achieved full digital upgrading of all industrial enterprises above designated size. A large number of local factories have built unmanned black-light workshops and flexible production lines, escaping vicious price competition through continuous technological iteration. Represented by five specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative enterprises dubbed Ningbo’s “Five Little Tigers”—famous for their core proprietary technologies, including highly sophisticated visual inspection equipment, heat-resistant materials, sun-proof coatings, puncture-proof materials and self-drilling fasteners—these niche manufacturers have developed differentiated technical routes and full-spectrum production capacity, cementing irreplaceable competitiveness for Ningbo smart manufacturing on global markets.

Beyond trade expansion, Ningbo has built a supporting cultural communication system to ensure “products go global, accompanied by local culture”.

The launch of Sri Lanka’s first “One-Meter Cultural Space” cultural station during the Colombo event marks a tangible milestone of Ningbo’s go-global initiative. Built on enterprises’ overseas outlets, these miniature cultural exhibition halls integrate intangible cultural heritage crafts, urban stories and smart products, enabling overseas clients to experience cutting-edge manufacturing while gaining insight into Ningbo’s profound cultural heritage.

During the twin-city story-sharing session, Ningbo entrepreneurs based in Sri Lanka and local designers blending Chinese and Sri Lankan aesthetics shared stories of bilateral exchanges. Economic and trade ties have evolved into a bond for people-to-people communication, bridging divides in cross-cultural trade.

From Tang-dynasty celadon porcelain sailing across the Indian Ocean to intelligent equipment shipping to every corner of the globe, Ningbo, the ancient Maritime Silk Road port, has preserved its enduring gene of openness. Where exchanges once relied purely on commodity trade, today smart manufacturing underpins a stable, diversified and high-value-added global trade network.

The Ningbo-Colombo dialogue stands as a vivid microcosm of this transformation: the port still links lands and seas, yet the core of its trade has undergone a full intelligent upgrade.

Rooted in its historical legacy as a key Maritime Silk Road hub, Ningbo has consolidated its industrial foundation through a decade of digital development, expanded global market reach via worldwide port networks, and softened trade cooperation through cultural exchanges. This brand-new outbound shipping route forged by smart manufacturing has not only reshaped the city’s foreign trade landscape, but also delivered a replicable port-city development model for Chinese manufacturing to go global.

Hashtag: #NingboSmartManufacturing #MaritimeSilkRoad #GlobalTrade

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A vibrant new collection of aqua attractions at Grand Resort Deck transforms Galaxy Macau into the city’s largest children’s water wonderland, while Galaxy Promenade adds extra summer excitement with enticing retail redemptions

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – AIA Group Limited (“AIA” or the “Group”) is proud to unveil the winners of the fourth annual AIA Healthiest Schools Competition, a flagship initiative of the AIA Healthiest Schools programme (“AHS”) which empowers students aged five to 16 to turn healthy living into everyday action.

Since its launch in 2022, AHS has continued to scale its impact across the region, expanding to 10 Asia-Pacific markets. The programme supports schools and communities in embedding health and wellbeing into the lives of young people, across four pillars: Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles, Mental Wellbeing and Health & Sustainability.

The 2025/26 competition attracted a record number of entries, reflecting the growing momentum of the programme and the increasing commitment of educators and young people to drive wellbeing initiatives in their communities.

Entries demonstrated how schools are generating breakthrough ideas and turning healthy habits into daily routines that influence behaviour across classrooms, families and communities, with many showing sustained impact over time.

Stuart A. Spencer, AIA Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of the AHS Competition Judging Panel, said, “The AIA Healthiest Schools Competition is one of the leading programmes of its kind in Asia and is helping young people take ownership of their health by turning knowledge into action.

Across the region, we are seeing rising levels of inactivity, poorer nutrition, and increasing mental health pressures among young people and the evidence shows that early intervention can make a lasting difference. Through this programme, students are developing healthier habits and essential life skills such as creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

This programme goes far beyond awareness – it is driving lasting behaviour change and is a powerful manifestation of our Purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

Congratulations to our Regional Winner, SMP IL Kapten Fatubaa from Indonesia and the pillar winners. Your shining examples will inspire countless others across the region, shaping a healthier future for young people all over Asia.”

The winners were honoured at a regional awards ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, where a total prize pool of US$100,000 was awarded to support schools’ ongoing health and wellbeing initiatives.

Regional Winner – SMP IL Kapten Fatubaa, Indonesia

In a remote border village where students cross rivers and rugged terrain to reach school, SMP IL Kapten Fatubaa transformed a local waste challenge into a powerful learning opportunity. Through its “Huka Upcycling Project,” students convert banana peel waste into ice cream, compost, and liquid fertiliser – combining science education with entrepreneurship and community impact. The initiative has benefited over 1,000 people, strengthening environmental literacy, supporting local farmers, and fostering cross-border collaboration.

Category Winners

Health & Sustainability Award – Angchum Secondary School, Cambodia

Student-led campaigns and community partnerships promoted plastic reduction, hygiene, and environmental care. The initiative strengthened sustainable habits and improved health practices across both the school and surrounding community.

Mental Wellbeing Award – Chongqing Nan’an District Shanhu Puhui Experimental Primary School, China

The “Emotion Eco-Park” helps students develop emotional awareness and resolve conflicts through structured activities and dedicated learning areas. The initiative has reduced conflicts and created a more positive school environment.

Active Lifestyles Award – Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir, Malaysia

The “Sihat Aktif Manirian” programme uses digital tracking and goal-setting to encourage healthier daily habits. It has improved hydration, fitness awareness, and student ownership of wellbeing.

Healthy Eating Award – Chu Van An Primary School, Vietnam

The “Happy Meal” project promotes healthy eating through nutrition education, organic gardening, and hands-on cooking. It significantly improved student diets and increased the proportion of students at a healthy weight, while rebuilding trust in school meals.

Looking Ahead

The 2026/27 AHS will continue to build on this strong momentum, expanding its reach to include Myanmar and New Zealand, alongside its existing markets of Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR⁽¹⁾, Indonesia, Mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

By broadening its footprint, AIA aims to extend the programme’s positive impact to even more students and communities across Asia-Pacific, further advancing its Purpose of helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.

To learn more about the programme, visit ahs.aia.com.

Notes:

(1) Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

(2) Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Hashtag: #AIA

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• Exclusive Co-Development: The partnership covers the exclusive supply and co-engineering of the IVECO URANIA and IVECO TUTELA ranges – the only fluids officially recommended by IVECO
• Network Support: PLI will strengthen support for IVECO’s European dealer network, driving customer value, reliability, and total cost-of-ownership (TCO) optimisation

TURIN, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – IVECO, one of Europe’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, and PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) have officially renewed their long-standing strategic partnership for an additional five years. The agreement extends the partnership through 2032, reinforcing a collaboration that has driven innovation, performance, and sustainability in the commercial transport sector for more than 50 years.

The renewal ensures the continued supply and joint engineering of a comprehensive range of lubricants designed for commercial vehicles. From advanced engine oils to transmission fluids, brake fluids and coolants, PLI and IVECO will continue to formulate solutions specifically engineered to meet the demanding operational requirements of IVECO’s commercial vehicle portfolio across Europe.

A Legacy of Technical Excellence

This milestone reflects the sustained success of the co-branded IVECO URANIA engine oils and IVECO TUTELA technical fluids, developed through decades of joint R&D and a shared commitment to delivering high-performance, energy-efficient solutions that maximise vehicle uptime and extend component life. The ranges are also the only fluids recommended by IVECO.

The partnership’s rapid pace of innovation was recently highlighted by the launch of Urania Next 0W-16. This breakthrough –the first SAE 0W-16 engine oil developed specifically for heavy-duty applications – delivers exceptional fuel efficiency, reduced CO₂ emissions, and extended oil drain intervals. Furthermore, the formulation is Euro 7 ready, supporting improved efficiency and emissions performance for IVECO’s latest generation of engines.

Domenico Nucera, Chief Quality & Operations Officer, Iveco Group, commented, “The renewal of the agreement with PETRONAS Lubricants International confirms the strength of a long-standing collaboration built on shared technical expertise and a common ambition to continuously improve performance, efficiency, and sustainability across our vehicle and powertrain portfolio. Through the co-engineering of our IVECO URANIA and IVECO TUTELA ranges, we are able to deliver solutions that maximise vehicle uptime, optimise total cost of ownership, and support our customers and dealer network with the highest standards of quality and reliability.”

Driving Dealer and Customer Value

The renewed agreement also places a strategic focus on the IVECO dealer network. Beyond providing cutting-edge products, PLI will implement targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening dealer engagement and reinforcing customer awareness of IVECO’s officially approved lubricants. These initiatives are expected to support dealer business growth across European markets, while helping customers benefit from enhanced vehicle reliability and optimised total cost-of-ownership.

Domenico Ciaglia, Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI), said: “This partnership renewal demonstrates what can be achieved through a long-term forward-thinking collaboration, with consistency, and a shared commitment to excellence. Through continuous product innovation, we have been able to co-develop market-leading solutions such as the Urania Next 0W-16 engine oil formulation, seamlessly integrated into IVECO’s ecosystem. This collaboration enables us to deliver greater value to the industry by combining our expertise and driving innovation together.

Looking ahead, PETRONAS Lubricants International remains fully committed to supporting the IVECO Group with forward integrated reliable, high-performance products and solutions that create lasting value for its network and customers.

This renewed collaboration further reinforces the foundation of PLI’s broader strategic roadmap, demonstrating how technical excellence and trusted partnerships can drive sustainable, long-term value internationally.”

Hashtag: #PETRONASLubricantsInternational #PLI #IVECO #industrial #lubricants #technology

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform,has been recognised in The Payments Power 50 2026, becoming the only company in China’s cross-border payment sector to receive this honour. The annual list is published by the authoritative international organisation, The Power 50, celebrating the companies and industry voices making their mark across the global payments industry.

Now in its second year, The Payments Power 50 recognises 40 companies and 10 industry influencers making a meaningful contribution to one of the most competitive areas of financial services.

The 2026 list comes at an important moment for payments. Merchants are looking to improve approval rates and customer experience, providers are balancing fraud, resilience and regulation, and banks and fintechs are exploring new ways to support open banking, cross-border payments, digital wallets, embedded finance and settlement.

XTransfer has been recognised for its state-of-the-art work in cross-border B2B trade payments, connecting SMEs with top-tier financial institutions to enable secure, compliant collections and payouts across key trading corridors and emerging markets. Serving more than 890,000 registered SMEs globally, XTransfer helps businesses improve payment efficiency and reduce operational friction in international transactions.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “Being recognised in The Payments Power 50 is a meaningful milestone for our team and a validation of our long-term mission: to make cross-border trade payments simpler, safer and more accessible for SMEs worldwide. We will continue to invest in compliance and product innovation, and deepen collaboration with financial institutions to help more businesses trade globally with confidence.”

Jason Williams, CEO of The Power 50, said, “We’re proud to recognise XTransfer as part of this year’s cohort. The Payments Power 50 is designed to celebrate the companies and individuals driving the industry forward, bring the payments community together and give those shaping the sector a platform throughout the year. Congratulations to XTransfer and everyone included in The Payments Power 50 2026.”

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn

Hashtag: #XTransfer

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At Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026
Partnering on Green, Low-Carbon and Digital Transformations to Explore Sustainable Shipping, Logistics, and Global Supply Chains

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – At the Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026, TCL Industries, a global leader in consumer electronics, and Hutchison Ports Holdings Limited (Hutchison Ports), the world’s leading port investor, developer, and operator, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Guided by the shared vision of “Benefitting from New APEC Opportunities, Forging a New Future for Port and Shipping Cooperation”, the two parties will establish a closer strategic partnership. Focusing on carbon reduction and digital transformation, TCL Industries and Hutchison Ports will leverage their respective strengths in smart technology, new energy, and global port networks to jointly drive green and sustainable development across the global shipping and logistics sectors.

At a time when global supply chains face the dual demands of environmental challenges and efficiency upgrades, this cross-sector collaboration serves as a significant benchmark for the industry. Under the MoU, the parties plan to engage in deep exchange, cooperation, and knowledge-sharing across three core areas:

• Exploring Emission Reduction Opportunities: Jointly researching carbon reduction solutions across the logistics supply chain to collaboratively address the challenges of global climate change.

• Planning and Developing Green Port Infrastructure: Integrating cutting-edge clean energy and energy-saving technologies to co-develop next-generation green ports, thereby reducing the overall environmental footprint of port operations.

• Accelerating Comprehensive Digital Transformation: Leveraging big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimise the synergistic efficiency of the port and logistics ecosystem, empowering green initiatives through digital technology.

Weiguo Shi, Vice President of TCL Industries, said “This powerful partnership with Hutchison Ports represents a major milestone in our mission to empower the global shipping and logistics ecosystem through intelligent technology and new energy solutions. We will fully leverage our deep expertise in digital transformation and clean energy to work alongside Hutchison Ports, driving the entire industry towards a higher-quality, more sustainable new era.”

Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, said “We are delighted to enter into this forward-looking strategic partnership with TCL Industries. Hutchison Ports is committed to leading the green transition of the port industry. By joining forces with TCL Industries, we look forward to accelerating the integration of green infrastructure and digital technologies, ultimately providing more sustainable and intelligent solutions for our customers and global supply chains.”

The signing of this MoU marks a solid step forward for TCL Industries and Hutchison Ports in addressing the sustainability challenges of global supply chains. Moving forward, both parties will establish regular communication mechanisms to steadily advance and implement their shared objectives, contributing to the development of a zero-carbon, smart global logistics ecosystem.

Hashtag: #TCL #HutchisonPorts

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HAIKOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – The IWUF 4th Taolu World Cup successfully wrapped up in Haikou, Hainan, China, on July 8, 2026. The competition featured 11 men’s and 11 women’s events, covering four major categories, including fist routines, long weapons, short weapons, and duilian. Over two days, a total of 22 gold medals were contested.

The Taolu World Cup is one of the six flagship official events of the IWUF (International Wushu Federation) and stands as the highest-level and most influential elite professional competition in the global taolu discipline. This November, wushu will make its historic debut as an official medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, marking the first time this traditional Chinese martial art has been incorporated into the Olympic sports program.

This event marked the first high-level international wushu single-discipline competition hosted by Hainan since the inception of the Hainan Free Trade Port. It attracted 206 athletes, team leaders, and coaches from 29 countries and regions worldwide, including 117 elite competitors. Ultimately, athletes from 18 countries and regions secured medals with their outstanding competitive performances.

Leveraging the unique geographical and policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port, combined with visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries and the 240-hour transit visa-exemption policy, overseas participants, technical officials, and media personnel have enjoyed fast-track customs clearance. Meanwhile, specialized competition equipment has benefited from zero-tariff treatment and simplified cross-border customs clearance procedures.

Hainan boasts a rich and distinctive wushu culture. Through centuries of inheritance and development, it has integrated the essence of various martial arts schools and blended them with local island folklore and regional characteristics to form a unique “Qiong-style” wushu system. Two counties and one city in Hainan, namely Tunchang, Qiongzhong, and Wanning, have been designated as “National Wushu Hometowns,” reflecting a deep-rooted local tradition of martial arts appreciation. Indigenous fighting styles such as the Li ethnic group’s Li Family Fist, Tunchang Pochen Five-Form Stakes, and Wanning Mazai Kung Fu have been passed down through generations, standing as treasured gems of Hainan’s folk culture.

During the event, Hainan concurrently hosted the inaugural Hainan International Wushu Culture Month event, featuring multiple “wushu + tourism” travel routes. These activities allowed domestic and international guests to enjoy Hainan’s island scenery and duty-free shopping benefits while taking in high-level wushu competitions.

Looking ahead, Hainan will continue to deeply integrate wushu elements into its sports-tourism product system, developing a range of wushu-themed tourist destinations, study and research bases, and signature events. This will make “spectator travel” a new model for Hainan’s cultural tourism. At the same time, Hainan will continue to promote the hosting of various international wushu competitions, training camps, professional development programs, and cultural exchange activities, attracting wushu enthusiasts and professional teams from around the world to compete, train, and study in Hainan, with the goal of establishing the island as a global hub for wushu development and cultural exchange.

Separately, the 43rd Executive Committee Meeting of the IWUF has decided that Haikou City in Hainan Province will host the 12th Sanda World Cup.

Hashtag: #IWUF

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At Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026
Unlocking Global Network Synergies to Build a Stable and Efficient Supply Chain

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – At the Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026, Midea Group (Midea), the global smart home and technology giant, and Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (Hutchison Ports), the world’s leading port investor, developer, and operator, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Guided by the shared vision of “Benefitting from New APEC Opportunities, Forging a New Future for Port and Shipping Cooperation”, the two parties will deepen their global strategic partnership over the next two years, combining their respective strengths and resources to co-create a highly resilient, efficient, and mutually beneficial global supply chain ecosystem.

In response to the evolving global trade landscape, these two industry leaders are actively collaborating to bring together their strategic assets and global networks. Midea’s expanding manufacturing footprint overseas seamlessly aligns with Hutchison Ports’ extensive network of global port resources, establishing a perfect synergy particularly in key markets such as Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam and Mexico. As Midea accelerates its international expansion, its global logistics requirements are experiencing robust growth. This partnership will secure global maritime logistics corridors for Midea, ensuring stable and efficient delivery. Concurrently, Midea’s continuously growing cargo volumes will significantly boost throughput across Hutchison Ports’ terminals, in turn attracting more international shipping routes to call at its facilities.

Lewis Fu, President of Midea International, said “Under our globalisation strategy, securing reliable logistics services is fundamental to Midea’s sustained business growth. We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with Hutchison Ports. Through practical initiatives, such as data integration and priority lanes during peak seasons, we can further enhance supply chain synergy and operational efficiency. This gives us full confidence in steadily achieving our global shipping target of 1.5 million TEUs by 2027.”

Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, said “As a world-leading technology enterprise, Midea Group is an incredibly valued strategic partner for Hutchison Ports. Midea’s massive and rapidly growing export volumes will inject strong momentum into our terminals. By leveraging our high-efficiency operational standards, advanced digital capabilities, and tailored service frameworks, we will provide reliable logistical support for Midea’s global expansion, establishing a new benchmark for industry collaboration.”

Under the MoU, this deepened collaboration will initially be launched using Hutchison Ports’ Yantian International Container Terminals (YANTIAN) as a key strategic anchor point, focusing on the following areas:

• Green Logistics and Digitalization Construction: Both parties will actively explore sustainable transport solutions that comply with local regulations and authorities. By integrating Midea’s business system with YANTIAN’s terminal operating system, they will achieve real-time information sharing and seamless workflow connectivity, significantly enhancing cargo handling and transport efficiency.

• Port Operation Support: Addressing industry choke points such as peak-season logistical delays and capacity constraints, Hutchison Ports will open priority lanes for Midea during peak seasons. This will expedite the pick-up, return, and reloading of Midea’s cargo, ensuring highly efficient dispatch operations and reinforcing the stability of Midea’s supply chain.

• Port Extension Services and Multimodal Transportation: The partners will jointly develop rail freight solutions connecting inland Chinese ports to YANTIAN, alongside comprehensive terminal logistics support including container yards, warehousing, and other value-added services.

Looking ahead, Midea and Hutchison Ports aim to progressively scale up the successful collaboration model established at YANTIAN across Hutchison Ports’ vast global network. Both parties will continue to strengthen their strategic alignment on a global level, jointly exploring innovative green and digital logistics solutions to set a new benchmark for smarter, greener, and more resilient global supply chains.

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

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – Ten years after the South China Sea arbitration, CGTN has published an article exploring the story of the Genglubu – a handwritten navigation manual that guided generations of Hainan fishermen long before GPS, shedding light on a chapter of South China Sea history unfamiliar to many outside the region.

Before GPS. Before weather forecasts. Before satellite navigation.

How did generations of Chinese sailors find their way across the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest and most challenging waterways?

A new CGTN documentary, Genglubu: Charting the South China Sea, explores the answer through a little-known ancient navigation manual passed down for generations of fishermen in Tanmen, Hainan Province. The Genglubu recorded routes, compass bearings and sailing distances, helping fishermen navigate reefs, islands and open seas. The documentary follows the fishermen who crossed the sea, the families who preserved their knowledge and a maritime tradition that connected China with Southeast Asia and beyond.

The People Who Brought the Genglubu to Life

To outsiders, the Genglubu looks like a secret code. A single line of just fourteen Chinese characters can contain an entire sea route: the departure point, direction, destination, distance and estimated sailing time.

“Generation after generation, Hainan fishermen rode the waves – not to rule the sea, but to make their living from it.”

Xin Lixue, Curator, China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea

The documentary follows veteran fishing boat captains whose lives were inseparable from the sea. Wang Shitao first went to sea at the age of nine. At twelve, his fishing boat was caught in a typhoon. Everyone else on board died. Clinging to a piece of floating timber, he drifted alone for three days. Four years later, another violent storm struck. Once again, he was the only survivor. Yet each time, he returned to the sea. Late in life, reflecting on decades spent sailing the South China Sea, he summed up his feelings:

“I love the South China Sea. I hate it. I miss it.”

Wang Shitao, fishing boat captain

The sea demanded sacrifice even as it provided a livelihood. A storm or mishap could wipe out an entire crew.

“Children and brothers should never sail on the same boat.”

Wang Shubao, fishing boat captain

A Maritime Tradition Connecting Asia

The documentary challenges the common assumption that the Genglubu was only about the South China Sea. Research on the Liang Family Genglubu reveals routes extending to Singapore, Malacca and Indonesia, showing that Hainan fishermen also played a role in regional maritime trade.

“Hainan fishermen also took part in overseas trade.”

Zhao Jueqi, China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea

Not every route was written in words. Some Genglubu manuscripts contain mountain-and-water charts. They combine sketches of coastlines with compass bearings, water depth and sea conditions. These drawings helped sailors identify islands, reefs and coastlines and determine their position at sea.

“The Americans and the British produced their own navigational records, which identify the Chinese as being engaged very heavily in fishing on these islands and other forms of economic activity.”

Anthony Carty, International Law Sholar

Today, satellites, weather stations and lighthouses have transformed navigation across the South China Sea. But the purpose remains the same: helping sailors travel safely and return home. Genglubu: Charting the South China Sea traces a maritime tradition shaped by generations of ordinary people. It is a story of navigation, memory and resilience, one that forms part of the shared maritime heritage of Asia.

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

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – Op-ed by Paul Murray, CEO Life & Health Reinsurance, Swiss Re.

Ten years.

That is roughly how long we have before many societies reach one of the most defining demographic tipping points of our era: the point at which the “new” silver economy (over 65’s) outnumber people aged 30-59 who have traditionally been the bedrock of the life and pensions system.

The significance of this shift goes far beyond demographics.

It represents a symbolic moment that forces us to rethink the intergenerational contract: how we provide care and financial security for people as they move into later life – and how we finance a new set of needs.

The demographic evidence is already visible across major economies. In the US, adults aged 65 and over already outnumber children in 11 states. Singapore’s over-65 population has nearly doubled in a decade to 21%. Japan is approaching 30%. The UK, France and Germany are not far behind

These numbers are well-known. But their meaning is not yet fully reflected in our industry’s existing product strategy.

The tipping point is also more than a statistical curiosity. We will experience it through the decisions we make coming into retirement and to secure the future of the generation coming after us. We will need to make new choices on how we fund care. We will need to make new assumptions about when to retire. And we will face a new reality around how much of the financial burden falls on the state, families or the individual.

Families have always carried the weight of old age, even as pensions, healthcare systems and social care programmes have broadened that responsibility across society.

But the arithmetic underpinning the system is breaking. Globally, the ratio of working-age people financially supporting each person over 65 is projected to fall from around five-to-one in 2021 to three-to-one by 2050. Across developed markets, debates about pension reform, healthcare funding and retirement ages reflect the same underlying question: how do we maintain security and dignity later in life when there are fewer hands to carry the weight?

It’s not a crisis of demographics. It’s a crisis of design – our systems were built for shorter lives and larger workforces, and they haven’t been rebuilt for the world we are actually entering.

That insight matters because it challenges how we think about insurance’s role. I believe we have less than a decade to develop the products that the older consumers who make up the Silver Economy – and their families – will need.

There will be no silver bullet. We cannot return to a single solution based around family care versus public provision. The individual retiree will be the focus, but our thinking will need to be based on a more collaborative model in which families, governments, communities and the private sector work together.

Recent Swiss Re consumer research in France and Germany revealed something striking. People don’t think about later life in terms of pensions or insurance policies. They think about practical outcomes: staying independent, being resilient when health shocks hit, not becoming a burden to their children.

Our industry has spent decades optimising for wealth accumulation and income protection during working years. Ageing societies demand we apply the same rigour to what happens after.

That does not mean the intergenerational contract has failed. It means it is evolving.

We are already seeing what that evolution looks like in practice.

• Senior health products in Asia are closing a real gap —The median age of cancer diagnosis is 67, yet many critical illness policies expire before retirement even begins. The result is high out-of-pocket expenses, stressed public healthcare, and increased burden on families. With dedicated products to cover later life illnesses, such as senior cancer products we are effectively closing a protection gap.
• Long term care in France has had some success with private solutions alongside public provision. With over 1.4 million people covered by private long term care insurance, France has built a strong risk pool that directly addresses one of the strongest concerns expressed by consumers: not becoming a burden on the next generation.
• Deferred annuities offer a third path beyond the binary “draw-down versus annuity” thinking. By combining flexibility today with guaranteed income later, they help transform longevity from an individual financial risk into one that can be shared more broadly.

At first glance these solutions appear very different. In reality, they are pieces of the same puzzle. Each expands the circle of support around the individual. They help families carry less of the burden alone, and they complement the work of state safety nets.

That is what the next evolution of the intergenerational contract looks like in practice.

Ageing societies are one of humanity’s great achievements. But if our products and institutions stay built for a demographic reality that no longer exists, achievement curdles into liability.

We have a decade to close that gap. Let’s treat it as a product-development window, not a deadline.

Disclaimer
Certain statements and illustrations contained herein are forward-looking and are made for informational purposes only. These statements (including as to plans, objectives, targets, and trends) and illustrations provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Swiss Re undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Further information on forward looking statements and the use of information contained in this publication can be found in the Legal Notice section on Swiss Re’s website.

https://www.swissre.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/swiss-re/

Hashtag: #SwissRe #lifeinsurance #reinsurance

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

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

Vienna, 7 July 2026 – Tonga has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), becoming the 179th State to do so and completing universalisation of the Treaty across the Pacific region. For a part of the world deeply impacted by nuclear testing, it is a milestone long in the making.

The ratification was formalised on 7 July 2026 at a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York, attended by David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section at the UN Office of Legal Affairs, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, Ambassador Viliami Va’inga Tōnē, and CTBTO Senior Liaison Officer, Charles Abechi Oko.

Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), welcomed the ratification.

Tonga’s ratification is a proud moment for the Pacific and a meaningful contribution to the global effort to ban nuclear test explosions for good. The Kingdom has long stood on the right side of this issue: as a party to the Treaty of Rarotonga, as a consistent voice for non-proliferation and disarmament, and as a country that understands how nuclear testing has impacted this region. I am deeply grateful to the many Tongan officials and regional partners who worked to bring this moment about.
Robert Floyd, CTBTO Executive Secretary

Ambassador Va’inga Tōnē reflected on the significance of the step.

For Tonga, this is not simply a legal formality. It is a statement of who we are and what we stand for. The Pacific has felt the pain of nuclear testing. Ratifying the CTBT is our contribution to ensuring that no one, anywhere, has to go through that again.
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, Ambassador Viliami Va’inga Tōnē

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, also underscored the Treaty’s importance.

The CTBT is an integral part of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. It embodies a simple but vital truth: nuclear tests must never be allowed – not even one.
Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

Tonga’s ratification is the result of sustained engagement between States Signatories, regional partners, the CTBTO and Tongan leadership over many years.

This step reflects the strong commitment of His Royal Highness Tupouto’a Ulukalala, Prince Regent of the Kingdom of Tonga, to international peace and security, and to the leadership it requires. Over the years, Floyd has met regularly with senior officials and members of the Tongan Government, including a mission to the country in May 2025, when Secretary for Foreign Affairs Viliami Malolo reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the CTBT and its engagement with the Treaty. Ambassador Tone, who delivered the instrument of ratification in New York, has also been a steadfast champion of non-proliferation and disarmament.

At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, the CTBTO head met with then-Prime Minister ʻAisake Valu Eke. Earlier this year in April, the Executive Secretary met with Ambassador Va’inga Tōnē on the sidelines of the NPT Review Conference in New York, shortly before Tonga confirmed its ratification.

Tonga is a party to the Treaty of Rarotonga, which established the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone in 1985, the second such zone in a populated area of the world, prohibiting the manufacture, stationing, and testing of nuclear explosive devices in member territories. Tonga is also a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

With Tonga’s signature and ratification, the CTBT now counts 188 States Signatories and 179 ratifying States. Within the Organization’s broader SEAPFE grouping, which covers South-East Asia, the Pacific and the Far East, just two countries have yet to ratify.

Background:
The  Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions everywhere, by everyone, and for all time. Adherence to the Treaty is nearly universal, with 188 signatories and 179 ratifying States. To enter into force, the Treaty must be ratified by all 44 States listed in its Annex 2, for which nine ratifications are still required.

The CTBTO has established an International Monitoring System (IMS) to ensure that no nuclear test explosion goes undetected. Currently, 307 certified facilities – of a total of 337 when complete – are operating around the world, using four main technologies: seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide.

The data collected by the IMS has also been used for disaster mitigation such as earthquake monitoring and tsunami warning, as well as research into fields as diverse as whale migration, climate change and the prediction of monsoon rains. 

You can learn more about the Treaty and the Organization at www.ctbto.org

MIL OSI

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – HealthMutual Group (HMG), a leading healthcare management group in the Asia-Pacific region, and OncoCare , a subsidiary of the internationally renowned integrated oncology-focused group Tamarind Health, officially signed a Pan-Asian Strategic Cooperation Agreement today. This agreement represents a significant milestone, building upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties last November. It expands the service scope from its initial focus on local medical services in Hong Kong to fully enabling HMG’s clients to access OncoCare’s top-tier oncology teams and professional nursing services across the Pan-Asian region. This premium healthcare offering spans a comprehensive, full-cycle, one-stop quality medical care model—including early screening, multidisciplinary team (MDT) diagnoses, and cross-border referrals.

HMG is a premier leader in healthcare management in the Asia-Pacific sector, having established an extensive and mature multinational medical network across the region. The group has long been dedicated to optimizing medical administration and claims processes through digital transformation and cutting-edge technology. Serving over 700,000 clients of its insurance partners, HMG provides comprehensive, transparent, and high-quality healthcare solutions. In 2025 alone, the total medical expenses processed through HMG exceeded HKD 150 million.

OncoCare is a leading private oncology institution that firmly believes in and practises “patient centric” care. Its aim is to add years and quality of life to all patients through highly efficient, knowledge-based integrated cancer diagnosis and personalised treatment. OncoCare brings together a team of clinical oncologists, and in combination with the robust specialist network of Tamarind Specialists, a member of the same group in Hong Kong, provides patients with medical services across fields such as colorectal surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, breast surgery, respiratory medicine, and family medicine. Patients have access to cross-disciplinary medical assessments, precision cancer treatment plans and personalised cancer care, ensuring they and their families receive the most reassuring support during challenging times.

The core highlight of this Pan-Asian Strategic Cooperation Agreement lies in the deep integration of HMG’s pan-Asian service network with OncoCare’s Asia-leading oncology expertise. Together, they will build Asia’s premier “Pan-Asian Closed-Loop Medical Ecosystem.” With Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia serving as the core hub locations, the key highlights include:

• Integrated Closed-Loop Service: From initial medical record review and cross-border “green channels” to clinical treatment and financial settlement, patients will experience seamless services within the joint management system of HMG and OncoCare. Coupled with transparent medical billing, this ensures the highest standard of medical quality control.
• Cross-Border Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Diagnosis: Using OncoCare’s Singapore headquarters, its Hong Kong flagship centers in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, and its Malaysia branch as central hubs, the ecosystem brings together experienced specialists from all three regions to provide international-grade second medical opinions for cancer patients in need.
• Seamless Network Integration & Financial Transparency: HMG’s 700,000+ clients can instantly connect with OncoCare’s healthcare teams. Furthermore, both parties have introduced personalised treatment plans for common cancers, offering clear financial predictability and budget protection.

Mr. Chan Kin-chung, Founder of HMG, stated: “We are deeply honored to partner with OncoCare. Through the Pan-Asian Closed-Loop Medical Ecosystem, we have successfully aligned top-tier resources across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Clients can enjoy treatment plans jointly formulated by regional experts within a single secure and transparent system, fulfilling our highest cross-border commitment to ‘patient centric’ healthcare.”

Mr Lim Eng Seng, Group CEO of Tamarind Health, the parent company of OncoCare, added, “As a patient centric oncology-focused group, we recognise the challenges cancer patients face in navigating increasingly complex private and cross-border healthcare systems. Through this integrated ecosystem, we will leverage the collective strengths of our multidisciplinary teams and directly managed centres across Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia to deliver seamless, high-quality cancer care. Looking ahead, we remain committed to making expert oncology services accessible anytime, anywhere, while elevating patient experience and improving treatment outcomes.”

Looking ahead, the Pan-Asian Closed-Loop Medical Ecosystem plans to further introduce green channels for the latest overseas medications, personalised genetic testing, and cross-border post-operative rehabilitation management, continuously pioneering a more comprehensive and forward-looking landscape for private cancer care for patients in Asia.

Riau Complex Sets a New Standard for Employee Living, Supporting Asia Pacific Rayon’s Workforce and Families

Media Inquiries, please contact:
HMG
Tracy Ng
Email: tracy_ng@hmg.com.hk

OncoCare
Marketing & Communications
Karen Ng
Email: karen.ng@oncocare.hk

Hashtag: #HealthMutualGroup #OncoCare #PanAsianStrategicCooperationAgreement #PanAsianClosedLoopMedicalEcosystem #CrossBorderCancerPatients #OneStopFullCycleCare #CrossBorderReferrals #MultidisciplinaryTeamMDT #PersonalisedTreatment #PrecisionCancerCare

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

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

• New agentic AI layer significantly accelerates secure SAP transformations, supporting customers and partners throughout the entire SAP data transformation lifecycle
• The innovative AI delivers insights in real time, speeds up decision-making, and reduces manual efforts
• Kyano® Lorna makes decades of transformation experience available globally in any language, enabling faster and more efficient projects while maintaining full auditability

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – SNP SE is a leading provider of software for AI-enabled digital transformation, automated data migration, and data management in the SAP environment. The company today unveiled a major innovation for its Kyano platform at its flagship event, Transformation World, held at the SNP dome in Heidelberg: the new agentic AI layer Kyano Lorna. The powerful AI solution accelerates secure SAP transformations, supporting customers and partners throughout complex projects, leveraging SNP’s decades of experience and best practices so that data migration projects can be compressed significantly.

In a typical SAP migration project, the actual data transformation run accounts for only a fraction of the overall project while requiring the highest levels of precision and auditability. SNP’s proven Kyano CrystalBridge® solution already automates the core data migration to a high degree. The greatest opportunity to further accelerate project execution lies in the activities required around the core of the data migration itself. This is where Kyano Lorna comes in.

The AI solution reduces manual effort, speeds up decision-making, and provides project-specific recommendations and insights in real time. Users intuitively interact with Kyano Lorna using natural language to tap into over 30 years of SNP’s practical data migration and transformation expertise. When connected to SAP systems, Kyano Lorna configures, runs, and interacts with SNP’s transformation solutions to expedite project preparation and execution, assisting users e.g. with closed-loop troubleshooting during test migrations. Available 24/7 and able to communicate in any language, the agentic AI layer brings proven transformation expertise into every project. With Kyano Lorna, SAP migrations remain fully auditable and can be delivered faster, more efficiently, and with reduced risk.

Unlike AI chatbots, Kyano Lorna is embedded directly within an active transformation project. The solution combines a database populated with the unique knowledge from thousands of successful projects with the ability to reach into customers’ SAP landscapes to fully support project teams. The agentic AI solution scans system data, identifies potential risks early, generates transformation rules, accelerates root cause analysis, and supports active issue resolution and data verification.

“With Kyano Lorna, we are taking AI-powered SAP transformations to the next level,” said Jens Amail, CEO of SNP. “We are making our decades of transformation expertise available where it creates the greatest value – directly within the project. This enables customers and partners to deliver transformations radically faster, while maintaining the highest degree of accuracy, reliability and compliance.”

Following its introduction at Transformation World, SNP will roll out Kyano Lorna in phases. Customers and partners will gradually gain access to new AI-powered capabilities designed to further accelerate and simplify secure and auditable SAP transformations.

Hashtag: #SNP

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

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

The Government is providing $50,000 to the Farmers Adverse Events Trust to support flood-affected Kaikōura farmers, with Federated Farmers to match the funding through fundraising, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.

“Kaikōura received double its average July rainfall in just two days, triggering flooding and slips that have damaged farms, livestock feed, and vital infrastructure such as roads and fences,” Mr McClay says.

“The immediate priority is animal welfare. Ministry for Primary Industries staff are on the ground working with farmers, sector groups, and the Rural Support Trust to move an estimated 4,000 animals off flood-affected land and onto safe grazing.

“Farmers and growers elsewhere, including in Otago and the Wairarapa, are still feeling the effects of recent severe weather, and we’re continuing to assess whether further support is needed as the full extent of the damage becomes clear.

“In the meantime, I’d encourage farmers to stay across MetService forecasts and take precautions, including moving livestock to safe ground.”

Farmers and growers needing assistance can contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254. Those with animal welfare concerns can phone MPI on 0800 00 83 33.
 

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/09/government-support-for-flood-hit-kaikoura-farmers/

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/09/kaikoura-flood-response-farm-and-rural-recovery/

ASB is increasing its variable home loan rates by 25 basis points. Savings on Call and Savings Plus products are also increasing by 15 and 20 basis points, respectively.

ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says “Interest rate increases can be difficult for many households. We have also recently reduced some of our long-term fixed home loan terms by up to 30 basis points. We encourage any customers feeling any pressure with their mortgages to get in touch with us early to work through options.

“We also know many customers will be working hard to build their savings, and these increases will help them with their goals.”

ASB’s new variable home loan rates are effective from Tuesday 14th July for new customers, and from Wednesday 15thJuly for existing customers.

*These changes are effective from 15th July
**This change is effective from 3rd August.

ASB has practical information for customers on the current interest rate environment available on its website as well support to help customers take control of their financial wellbeing and achieve their goals at its Financial Wellbeing Hub: https://www.asb.co.nz/banking-with-asb/financial-wellbeing.html

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

Forty years after the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum will open its archives for an evening of storytelling, taonga, music and performance reflecting on a crucial moment in Aotearoa New Zealand’s fight for equal rights.

LATE at the Museum | 1986: A Look Back at Homosexual Law Reform will take place on Wednesday 29 July, bringing together key figures involved in the campaign for reform, from Tāmaki Makaurau to the heart of Parliament. See: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/whats-on/evenings/1986-a-look-back-at-homosexual-law-reform

On 9 July 1986, after 16 divisive months of nationwide protest and debate, the Homosexual Law Reform Act passed in Parliament, decriminalising consensual sexual activity between men. The Bill passed by a narrow margin, with 49 votes in support and 44 against.

Auckland Museum Manuscripts Curator Nina Finigan says the event will bring a significant moment in Aotearoa’s recent history into the room through archives, collection items and the voices of people who lived it.

“Museums are not only places for looking back; they are places where history that is still within living memory can be held, shared and understood through the people who experienced it,” says Finigan.

“Homosexual Law Reform is part of Aotearoa’s recent history, but it is also deeply personal history for many people. By bringing together archival material, collection objects and the voices of those who were there, this event allows us to reflect on what was won, what it took to get there, and the work that continued beyond 1986.”

Hosted by former MP and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Louisa Wall, the evening will feature storytellers including Dame Fran Wilde, who introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill into Parliament in 1985, alongside Edward Cowley, Bruce Kilmister, Welby Ings and Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku, who were each part of the wider movement for change. The programme will also include live performances from GALS choir and drag artist Adena Delights to mark this significant anniversary.

Louisa Wall says the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act marks a defining moment in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history.  

“It was more than a change to the law; it affirmed the dignity, humanity and equal worth of people who had lived under the burden of criminalisation. This anniversary is an opportunity to recognise the courage and determination of everyone who campaigned for reform and to remember those whose lives were profoundly affected by the law.”

“As we commemorate this milestone, we celebrate the progress that has been made while recognising that the pursuit of equality and inclusion continues. By sharing these stories and preserving this history, we pay tribute to those who came before us and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui people can live with dignity, safety and belonging,” says Wall.

Stories will include critical fundraising hijinks that countered the deep pockets of the opposition, the nurturing of drag as a form of advocacy at the inner-city nightclub Staircase, and the battles that would continue to be fought in the years to come.

The evening will also feature mini-talks from Auckland Museum curators Nina Finigan and Jane Groufsky, who will share rarely seen collection items and archival material from the period connected to queer life and creative expression in Tāmaki Makaurau.

LATE at the Museum | 1986: A Look Back at Homosexual Law Reform
Wednesday 29 July
Doors open 6.30pm, Event starts 7.30pm
Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum
Adults $59
Concession $25 – Concession tickets are available for students, seniors, unwaged people and Community Services Card holders.
Bookings are essential.

About the speakers:

Edward Cowley, renowned drag artiste performing as Buckwheat, is a public health advocate and former member of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. He worked at the legendary Staircase nightclub in the 1980s.

Welby Ings is a Professor of Narrative Design, educational reformer, author, designer, filmmaker and “disobedient thinker”. He was arrested several times during the 1980s Homosexual Law Reform protest movement.

Bruce Kilmister was a founding member of Auckland’s Gay Task Force chapter, Founding Trustee of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (now Burnett Foundation Aotearoa) and CEO of Body Positive for more than 20 years. Bruce played a key role in the organisation and fundraising effort for the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform movement here in Tāmaki.

Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku (Te Arawa, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Waikato) has fought for Māori, LGBTQI+ and women’s rights for five decades. In March 1972 she was refused a scholarship visa to the US as a ‘known sexual deviant’. That same week, the first gay activist group got together in Auckland. She describes herself as a Kuia/Queer.

Dame Fran Wilde introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill into Parliament in 1985 and worked tirelessly to see it through. Since then, she has been a Cabinet Minister, CEO and company director and is now Mayor of South Wairarapa.

Louisa Wall (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Waikato, Ngāti Hineuru) is Chair of the Tūwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board, a former New Zealand MP, and Patron of Toitū Takatāpui. Her human rights leadership includes Marriage Equality, Safe Areas around abortion facilities, and reforms addressing image-based sexual abuse.

Nina Finigan is Manuscripts Curator, Documentary Heritage at Auckland Museum, and will speak on material from the Museum’s ephemera archive folder titled “Gay Liberation.”

Jane Groufsky is Auckland Museum’s Social History Curator, Human History, and will speak on the shoes and life of Doug George, as well as Garth Maxwell and Peter Wells’ filmic ode Naughty Little Peeptoe.

MIL OSI

ProCare has recognised two outstanding Pacific nursing graduates from Unitec Institute of Technology, awarding scholarships as part of its commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s future primary care workforce.

The ProCare Metua Bates-Faasisila Top Pacific Nurse Award recognises final year Bachelor of Nursing students who have achieved excellent academic results and shown a strong commitment to supporting Pacific health. This marks the fifth year of Pacific nursing students being recognised with scholarships from ProCare.

Gabrielle Lord, Nursing Director and General Manager of Clinical and Practice services at ProCare, says the award reflects ProCare’s commitment to supporting and encouraging more Pacific nurses into primary care careers.

“Working in primary care gives clinicians a unique and meaningful opportunity to directly support their communities through preventative and ongoing health care delivered close to home.

“Pacific nurses play an essential leadership role within their communities, helping people navigate the health system and access the care and support they need. We are proud to support emerging nursing leaders who are passionate about improving health outcomes for Pacific peoples.”

The 2026 recipients, Grace McCormick (Tongan/Niuean/Māori) and Michael Kapisi (Niuean), both from Auckland, were recognised at a special awards ceremony at the Pacific Centre in Mt Albert recently by Viv Pole, Head of Pacific Health at ProCare.

Grace, who received her award in absentia due to being overseas, says she has always been passionate about making a meaningful difference for Pacific communities struggling to access care.

“What inspired me to pursue nursing was that there continues to be a significant shortage of Pacific and Māori nurses in our healthcare system. I want to help drive positive change by providing culturally responsive care and advocating for equitable health change.”

Grace looks forward to continuing to build her knowledge and clinical experience, working towards Nurse Practitioner training.

Michael is also pursuing the Nurse Practitioner pathway, with the goal of working in primary care. When he received the award, he shared his hopes of contributing to a healthcare system that reflects the Pacific community and their culture.

“I would encourage more Pacific students to consider nursing as a career pathway, so that we can continue to see more Pacific faces represented in healthcare,” he says.

Lord says investing in Pacific nursing graduates is an important step towards building a workforce that is equitable, culturally connected, and responsive to community needs.

“Practices in the ProCare Network serve over 70,000 Pacific patients, so naturally, Pacific healthcare is a key priority for us. By supporting and investing in students who are working towards this same goal, we are helping to develop a workforce that has the skills, knowledge and perspective to provide our Pacific communities with the essential care they deserve.”

About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.

As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 640,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

MIL OSI

Designed for today’s experience-driven travellers, the locally inspired hotel brand will bring its distinctive blend of thoughtful design, meaningful connections, and neighbourhood experiences to two of Southern Thailand’s most dynamic destinations

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

SAN DIEGO, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – Sapu Nano (US) LLC, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the proprietary Deciparticle nanomedicine platform, today announced that the independent Safety Review Committee (SRC) has completed its review of the initial safety cohort in the Company’s ongoing SP-03-B101 Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating Sapu003, an investigational intravenous formulation of everolimus.

Following completion of the protocol-defined 28-day dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) evaluation period for the initial three-patient cohort, the SRC concluded that no dose-limiting toxicities were observed and recommended advancing the study to the next planned dose level. Enrollment into the second dose cohort has commenced.

SP-03-B101 is an open-label, multicenter, Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) dose-escalation study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of weekly intravenous Sapu003 in patients with advanced mTOR-sensitive solid tumors. The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT07369505).

Following successful completion of the initial safety cohort, the Company has initiated expansion of the SP-03-B101 clinical program into Europe, broadening patient access and supporting the global clinical development strategy for Sapu003.

“The independent Safety Review Committee’s recommendation to advance to the next dose level provides important clinical validation of the Sapu003 program,” said Dr. Vuong Trieu, Chief Executive Officer of Sapu Nano. “Combined with the expansion of SP-03-B101 into Europe, these milestones position Sapu003 for accelerated clinical development while broadening access for patients with advanced mTOR-sensitive solid tumors.”

Peer-Reviewed Publication Supports Clinical Development

The clinical milestone follows the Company’s recent peer-reviewed publication describing the scientific foundation of Sapu003 and the Deciparticle platform:

Min SH, Forero K, Putnam W, Anderson J, Hoff R, Lopp J, Trieu V, Ho K, Lee C. Intravenous Everolimus Formulation (Sapu003) for Clinical Trials. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026;27(13):5775. doi: 10.3390/ijms27135775.

The publication provides the first comprehensive description of the Deciparticle platform and describes a stable intravenous everolimus nanoparticle formulation with a mean particle size below 20 nanometers, identification of mPEG-Chol as the optimal carrier, a scalable cGMP manufacturing process suitable for clinical production, and potent preclinical antitumor activity.

Clinical Trial Information

Study Title: SP-03-B101: A Phase 1b Study of Sapu003 (Intravenous Everolimus) in Patients with Advanced mTOR-Sensitive Solid Tumors

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07369505

About Sapu003

Sapu003 is an investigational intravenous formulation of everolimus developed using Sapu Nano’s proprietary Deciparticle nanoparticle platform. Sapu003 is designed to overcome the formulation limitations associated with oral everolimus by enabling intravenous administration with a scalable cGMP manufacturing process. The program is currently being evaluated in the Phase 1b SP-03-B101 clinical trial in patients with advanced mTOR-sensitive solid tumors.

About Sapu Nano’s Deciparticle

Sapu Nano’s Deciparticle is a proprietary nanomedicine platform designed to formulate highly water-insoluble therapeutics into ultra-small nanoparticles for intravenous administration. The platform utilizes amphiphilic polymer architectures intended to improve aqueous compatibility, stability, manufacturability, and translational flexibility across multiple therapeutic classes.

Hashtag: #SapuNano

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

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

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) approved on 8 July a USD 688 million (23 billion baht) investment by Nestlé (Thai) Co., Ltd. to construct a smart factory and distribution center. The greenfield project will deploy artificial intelligence and advanced automation, positioning Thailand as the multinational’s strategic production and logistics hub for Southeast Asia.

The approval highlights Thailand’s accelerating momentum in attracting high-tech, high-value food and beverage manufacturing as global corporations seek resilient, technology-driven supply chains in Southeast Asia.

“This greenfield investment will support growing domestic and regional market demand while linking directly with our domestic supply chain,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment. “By using local raw materials, helping our farmers and entrepreneurs, and sharing knowledge, this project will boost the potential of the Thai coffee industry and strengthen Thailand’s position as a key food and beverage hub in the region.”

The new automated facility, located in the Araya Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan province, is scheduled to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2028 with an annual capacity of 170,000 metric tons of NESCAFÉ soluble coffee, coffee mixes, and ready-to-drink beverages. The project is expected to create over 520 jobs for Thai engineers and technical specialists.

By integrating AI-driven systems and robotic automation, the facility aims to maximize operational efficiency and minimize its environmental footprint. This directly supports Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic agenda.

Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, counts Thailand among its longest-serving markets. Its NESCAFÉ brand has led the Thai coffee market for more than 50 years, with more than half the market share.

“Thailand has been an important market for Nestlé for more than 130 years,” said Mr. Nikhil Chand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Indochina. “This investment reflects our confidence in the country and our commitment to contributing positively to Thai society, the economy, local communities, and the environment. The new facility will use a wide range of locally sourced ingredients including coffee beans, sugar, and fresh milk, further supporting local agriculture and economic development.”

A key factor in the BOI’s approval is the project’s deep integration into the domestic economy. Nestlé will source USD 130 million (4.3 billion baht) worth of local agricultural inputs and raw materials each year.

In tandem with the manufacturing expansion, Nestlé will drive upstream agricultural development by researching climate-resilient coffee varieties, distributing high-quality saplings, and training local farmers in sustainable, high-yield cultivation practices.

“Nestlé’s choice to invest in coffee production here reflects the confidence global investors place in Thailand. It advances our strategy to become a world-leading food and beverage production base,” Mr. Narit said. “This investment strengthens the entire coffee value chain, from farming and processing to logistics and export. And it builds a stronger, more resource-efficient foundation for Thailand’s food and beverage industry.”

Note: Currency conversions are based on the Bank of Thailand’s average selling rate of approximately 1 USD = 33.3 THB.

Hashtag: #Thailandboardofinvestment #BOI #FDI #Investment

https://www.boi.go.th/en/index/

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

About Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)

Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has continuously played an essential role for over 60 years in promoting value-adding investment for the country, from both foreign and Thai investors, to enhance national competitiveness and drive towards a new era of sustainable and balanced growth.

Investment Services Center — PR Section, The Office of the Board of Investment (BOI)

555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Chatuchak Bangkok 10900 Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111, Fax: +66 (0) 2553 8222

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

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/09/staveley-camp-native-forest-restoration-boosts-biodiversity/

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/09/flood-risk-is-real-and-its-growing/