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Franklin Templeton celebrates 35th anniversary in Singapore

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MIL OSI
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Source: Media Outreach

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 September 2025 – Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest global asset managers, is celebrating 35 years of serving clients in Singapore, highlighting its long-standing commitment to delivering world class investment solutions in the country.

[From left to right] Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments; Tiffany Hong, Chief of Staff to the CEO, Franklin Templeton; and Tariq Ahmad, Head of APAC, Franklin Templeton; pictured together at Franklin Templeton Singapore’s 35th Anniversary Event.

Since establishing its presence in Singapore in 1990 with a dedicated emerging markets research office, Franklin Templeton — through its Singapore entity, Templeton Asset Management Ltd — has grown to become a trusted partner for retail and institutional investors in the Lion City over the years. Franklin Templeton was among the first few foreign fund managers to offer overseas funds to the investing public in Singapore in 1996 with the establishment of Singapore’s first umbrella and feeder fund into the Franklin Templeton Luxembourg funds, along with Singapore’s first emerging markets fund that year. The following year, Franklin Templeton continued to break new ground with the launch of Singapore’s first global equity fund. Franklin Templeton has also played a key role in advancing financial literacy and investor education in Singapore and the broader region through its education platform – the Franklin Templeton Academy.

Singapore today serves as one of the key regional offices for Asia Pacific, anchoring the firm’s investment leadership across public and private markets, while also housing strategic regional functions including distribution, operations, marketing, human resources, compliance, and legal.

Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments and Co-CEO of Templeton Asset Management Ltd said: “Franklin Templeton is proud to celebrate 35 years in Singapore – a journey that has mirrored the remarkable evolution of the nation’s financial landscape. We have had the privilege of contributing to the growth of one of Asia’s most sophisticated capital markets, providing local investors with access to global opportunities and delivering deep, differentiated investment expertise across markets. Today, Singapore is not only the headquarters for Templeton Global Investments, one of our Specialist Investment Managers, but also a strategic hub as part of our firm’s broader global footprint.”

Tariq Ahmad, Head of APAC at Franklin Templeton and Co-CEO of Templeton Asset Management Ltd said, “As Franklin Templeton celebrates 35 years in Singapore – alongside the nation’s 60th year of independence – we reflect on a shared journey of growth and transformation. We are honored to have been a trusted partner to our clients through different market cycles and are proud of the relationships we have built here over the past decades. This year, we have been working on a number of pioneering initiatives from launching the country’s first retail tokenized fund, to expanding access to high-quality secondary private equity for investors. Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving innovation and delivering future-ready investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients in Asia Pacific.”

Franklin Templeton’s commitment to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region is reflected in its strong partnerships with leading institutional clients and financial institutions – both global and local – delivering customized investment solutions to meet the evolving needs of the market. Looking ahead, the firm remains focused on deepening its presence in Asia Pacific by continuing to add to its diversified suite of investment capabilities designed to serve a broad spectrum of investor segments across the region.

DISCLAIMER: This press release is for information only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation and was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it. This document may not be reproduced, distributed or published without prior written permission from Franklin Templeton.

Any research and analysis contained in this document has been procured by Franklin Templeton for its own purposes and may be acted upon in that connection and, as such, is provided to you incidentally. Although information has been obtained from sources that Franklin Templeton believes to be reliable, no guarantee can be given as to its accuracy and such information may be incomplete or condensed and may be subject to change at any time without notice. Any views expressed are the views of the fund manager as of the date of this document and do not constitute investment advice. The underlying assumptions and these views are subject to change based on market and other conditions and may differ from other portfolio managers or of the firm as a whole.

There is no assurance that any prediction, projection or forecast on the economy, stock market, bond market or the economic trends of the markets will be realized. Franklin Templeton accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect consequential loss arising from the use of any information, opinion or estimate herein.

The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount that you invested. Past performance is not necessarily indicative nor a guarantee of future performance.

Copyright© 2025 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

Issued by Templeton Asset Management Ltd, Registration Number (UEN) 199205211E.

Hashtag: #FranklinTempleton

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

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

Northbound lane of State Highway 2 near Upper Hutt closed following crash

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: New Zealand Police

The northbound lane of State Highway 2 near Upper Hutt is closed at the intersection with Totara Park Road following a crash. 

The crash, involving two cars, was reported to Police at 12.40pm.

One person is reported to have sustained serious injuries and one person minor injuries.

The road is expected to remain closed for around the next two hours (as at 3pm).

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

MIL OSI

Invasive trees felled as track work continues at Hahei

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  03 September 2025

The conifer removal is part of the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Sustainability Project reinstating walking access to the picturesque Coromandel beach. This long-term initiative is focused on safeguarding the cultural and environmental values of this iconic site and enhancing the visitor experience.

Local arborists have been on site since Monday (1 September), removing the pinus pinaster trees, more commonly known as maritime pine or cluster pine.

Michael Sparrow, DOC’s Mautohe Cathedral Cove Sustainability Project Manager says the exotic trees can spread fast, threatening this stunning landscape and crowding out native vegetation.

“By removing these conifers, we give native plants and trees a better chance to flourish along the Hahei Beach Short Walk and help enhance the mauri of the area.

“The largest of these conifers has a trunk girth of a metre and is about 35m tall. Mature trees release masses of windblown seeds. If not removed, they’ll take hold here and can spread widely, becoming extremely costly to control.”

The conifer removal follows a successful community planting day at nearby Waimata Gemstone Bay. The planting – led by Destination Hauraki Coromandel as part of its Good For Your Soul initiative – saw 300 native trees planted by members of Ngāti Hei, community members, and staff from local public sector agencies.

“This planting ensures Mautohe Cathedral Cove can be enjoyed now and safeguarded for future generations,” says Michael.

“What makes it special is that it’s a collective effort – iwi, residents, businesses, visitors, and tourism operators are all contributing.”

The conifer removal comes during Conservation Week 2025 and the launch of DOC’s Always Be Naturing campaign, which encourages New Zealanders to take action for nature.

“It’s fantastic this community values and takes action to care for and enhance this incredible place,” says Michael.

“There are simple and easy ways we can all do our bit for nature. Visit the Get involved section of the DOC website to see what you can do today.”

An estimated two million hectares of New Zealand is affected by wilding conifers. Uncontrolled infestations spread at 5% per year (approx. 90,000ha/year). Without any control they will form dense forests that have environmental consequences on our native ecosystems, use up scarce water, and alter iconic landscapes.

The arborists’ work is expected to be concluded on Friday (5 September). The wood from the felling will be broken down at site and left to rot down naturally.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

Absen 2,000㎡ LED Displays Illuminate Vietnam’s 80th National Day Celebrations at Ba Dinh Square

By
MIL OSI
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0

Source: Media Outreach

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 September 2025 – On 2 September, commemorations marking the August Revolution and Vietnam’s 80th National Day were held at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, with the Chinese delegation attending by invitation. As a global leader in LED display technology and applications, Absen supplied multiple LED display products and control solutions for the celebrations, comprehensively meeting the stringent requirements for image presentation, stable operation, and service assurance demanded by high-profile international events.

Covering a total area exceeding 2,000 square meters, Absen’s large screens were meticulously deployed across various zones of Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. They delivered a high-definition, stable visual experience for tens of thousands of on-site spectators and global broadcast audiences, featuring refined, fluid image quality and accurate color reproduction. The displays precisely captured every highlight moment, synchronously presenting signals from multiple on-site camera angles and swiftly switching between grand scenes, further amplifying the celebratory atmosphere.

As a national-level Vietnamese celebration, particularly involving large-scale outdoor ceremonies interweaving military parades, mass processions, and cultural performances, the selection of on-site display equipment was subject to exceptionally stringent criteria. It was imperative not only to withstand complex and variable outdoor lighting conditions, ensuring both spectators and media cameras could clearly capture every detail, but also to possess exceptional reliability and stability. This precluded failures such as black screens, freezing, or color distortion, thereby guaranteeing the smooth progression of the celebrations.

Following comprehensive evaluations of product quality and stability, brand reputation, and service guarantees, Absen’s stage rental solutions emerged as the preferred choice, serving as the core display platform for this national celebration.

Confronted with Vietnam’s hot and humid summer climate alongside the stability challenges of extended, high-profile live broadcasts for a national-level event, the stage rental products—including the Absen NT Series, PL V2 Series, and PL lite Series—demonstrated exceptional adaptability and reliability. Throughout both rehearsals and the main event day, the products operated flawlessly without a single fault under prolonged outdoor high temperatures, maintaining consistently vibrant and pristine visuals. This performance reaffirmed Absen’s leading capability in servicing major global events.

Hashtag: #Absen

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

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

Be prepared before heading into the bush this spring

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: New Zealand Police

As New Zealand makes its way out of winter, Police are reminding people to take the right equipment when going tramping and hunting.

“We’re lucky to have great access to the outdoors, across the country,” says Detective Sergeant Alex Simister.

“But we need people to make sure when they’re heading into the bush, they’re doing it safely.

“Take the right gear, let someone know your return time and please take a beacon or communication device.

“Beacons are an essential piece of gear and can be rented for as little as ten dollars.”

Some new smart phones also have the capability to connect with satellites, giving them service in remote locations.

This feature does need to be set up beforehand.

“With the weather improving we’re expecting to see an increase in trampers and hunters – we don’t want anyone’s trip ending in tragedy.

“Even experienced people can end up in situations where they need help.”

If you are going outdoors, no matter if it is hiking, hunting, or climbing, please follow the five simple steps of the Land Safety Code,

  1. Choose the right trip for you. Learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it. It is important to choose a trip that suits everyone in your group. When you are looking at options, make sure to think about everyone’s fitness levels and experience in the outdoors.
  2. Understand the weather. New Zealand weather can change fast. Check the forecast and change your plans if needed. Weather can make or break a trip. It is one of the most important things to consider when going into the outdoors.
  3. Pack warm clothes and extra food. Prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out. Any trip, even if it is short and easy, needs preparation. Packing the right things can make trips safer and more enjoyable.
  4. Share your plans and take ways to get help. Telling a trusted person about your trip details and taking a personal locator beacon can save your life. We all want our trips to go as planned – but sometimes they don’t. If you get hurt or lost on your trip, how would you get help?
  5. Take care of yourself and each other. Eat, drink, and rest, stick with your group and make decisions together. The best way to enjoy your experience in the outdoors and make it home safely is to look out for one another.

Distress beacons can be hired for as little as $10 from many Department of Conservation Visitor Centres, and outdoor tramping and hunting stores.

If you have purchased a beacon, make sure to register it at www.beacons.org.nz.

For more information on outdoor safety, helpful free resources and videos, head to Know Before You Go – AdventureSmart – NZ Search & Rescue Council | AdventureSmart.

More information on trip planning can be found at: Trip Planning — NZMSC.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI

New investment for eating disorder services

By
LiveNews Publisher
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Source: New Zealand Government

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today launched New Zealand’s refreshed strategic approach to eating disorders, bringing a significant funding boost and valuable updates for Kiwis for the first time in over 16 years.

“Today’s announcement increases investment in eating disorder services by over $4 million each year. That’s a 20 percent increase which will bring the total investment in eating disorders services to over $23 million annually,” Mr Doocey says.

“Support for eating disorders is best provided using a full continuum of care for eating disorders across prevention, primary health care, early intervention and community services, along with specialist and inpatient services for people with the highest needs.

“The changes today bring about meaningful changes that will ensure the strategy remains fit for purpose and continues to meet the needs of our communities.”

The new funding package includes ongoing investment to:  

  • Roll out peer support to all regional eating disorders services. 
  • Create community-based support for families and carers. 
  • Increase the capacity of specialist eating disorders services. 
  • Expand prevention and early intervention support.  

“I am pleased to mark New Zealand’s Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week with changes that will support New Zealanders navigating and battling eating disorders. The strategy sets out the actions we will take to support Kiwis, providing a roadmap and a strategic approach.

“Our mental health plan is working. We’re turning the corner on reducing wait times and increasing the mental health workforce. Recent data shows the frontline Health NZ mental health workforce has grown around 10 percent since we came into Government, and over 80 percent of people are being seen within three weeks for specialist services. 

“Whether it’s you, your child, a friend, or a family member, reaching out for support, this Government is committed to ensuring support is there.” 

MIL OSI

Repairs to Tunnel Beach Walk underway

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  03 September 2025

Tunnel Beach Walk has been closed since October 2024 after a storm caused multiple large slips covering the track.

Acting Operations Manager for Coastal Otago Samantha Marsh says repairs will be done in two phases.

“Firstly, we are focussing on getting the track safely reopened for the summer by removing slip material, restoring the track surface, and opening existing drainage which was covered by the slip. Native planting to help stabilise the area will also get underway.”

After the busy summer season, more work to upgrade the water management on and around the track will be done, along with new seating and interpretation. This work will help protect the track into the future. The track may be closed for periods during this work.

“In the October storm, a single weather event caused multiple slips across the track. To keep people safe and ensure repairs last the distance, we needed a comprehensive engineering solution. This is especially important as we adapt to a changing environment where extreme rainfall events are expected to become more common.”

“From its inception the tunnel beach walk upgrade has been a project worked in collaboration with Ōtākou runaka, the Dunedin City Council, Aukaha, and other stakeholders. We’re looking forward to completing the track and fully realising the vision of the project.

“We know people love this walk, which is close to Dunedin and very scenic, and we thank them for their patience and understanding while a well thought through repair is completed.”

The first phase of repairs is expected to be completed in November.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI

Politics – Seymour is rage-baiting on Paris Agreement – Luxon mustn’t bite – Greenpeace

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace agrees with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon that pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement would be the “fastest, quickest” way to “punish farmers” – and is warning him not to weaken New Zealand’s methane target for the very same reason.
“Luxon is right: backing down on climate commitments would hammer New Zealand’s international credibility, our trade relationships, and the future of our farming sector,” says Greenpeace campaigner Amanda Larsson.
“That’s also exactly what will happen if Luxon caves and reduces New Zealand’s methane target. Seymour is rage-baiting the extremist edge of the farming community to grab headlines – Luxon mustn’t bite.”
Luxon today signalled that a decision on the methane target is imminent. The announcement is hotly anticipated after it made global headlines earlier this year. Dozens of leading scientists published  an open letter on the front page of the Financial Times, urging him not to weaken the target but to strengthen it in line with advice from the independent Climate Change Commission.
Methane makes up nearly a third of global warming and is over 80 times more powerful than CO₂ in the short term. Slashing methane, particularly from livestock, is seen by scientists as the fastest way to slow warming in our lifetimes – a vital “emergency brake”.
Larsson added: “Luxon is right to call Seymour out – the majority of farmers, agribusiness leaders and companies know that ditching Paris is a disastrous idea. But Luxon needs to do more than just call out a cynical extremist. The same arguments he’s made in defence of Paris apply to the methane target.
“If the methane target is weakened, Fonterra will struggle to meet the climate commitments their biggest customers – like Nestlé – require. Our exports are already at risk as global markets demand food with lower climate and environmental footprints.”
Weakening methane action would also conflict with international climate law and trade agreements, and could carry legal consequences under the recent International Court of Justice advisory opinion and clauses in New Zealand’s trade deals with the EU and UK.
Greenpeace says a strong methane target is not only vital for climate action but also for driving the innovation needed to open New Zealand up to premium export markets.
Larsson says “Strong regulation must be paired with government support to help farmers transition to ecological practices that restore rivers, clean up drinking water and protect biodiversity – while meeting customer expectations.”
“David Seymour is playing a very cynical and self-serving game. True leadership requires the Government to be the torchbearer for a long-term vision for our primary sector – one that’s good for farmers, the economy, and future generations.”

MIL OSI

Science – NZ waters teeming with undiscovered seaweed species, scientist says

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Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

Scientists believe they’re only seeing a snapshot of what could be living in our subantarctic islands and deep waters.
This comes after Earth Sciences New Zealand researcher, Dr Roberta D’Archino, discovered a dozen new native red seaweed in just one family of red algae, and described four new genera – the level above species.
“Aotearoa is extremely diverse, stretching from the subtropical waters of the Rangitāhua/Kermadec Islands to the colder waters of the subantarctic islands. Lots of these locations, particularly the subantarctic islands, are only rarely and opportunistically explored, meaning we don’t have many samples of the seaweed and invertebrates that live in the coastal water there,” said Dr D’Archino.
Seaweed provides essential habitat for fisheries and plays a vital role in carbon capture – assisting the oceans to produce about 50% of the Earth’s oxygen.
Dr D’Archino has been studying New Zealand seaweed for 20 years, collecting and identifying specimens to fill knowledge gaps and document the native flora.
So far, she has described 27 new species and 13 new genera.
“The process of describing new species of macroalgae takes significant work to ensure the specimen hasn’t already been named elsewhere. This includes comparing morphology with other known species, which relies on having fertile samples, extensive knowledge, and undertaking DNA analysis,” said Dr D’Archino.
This is made even more difficult when there are so few samples with reproductive structures needed to formally describe new genera.
One of the new seaweeds that Dr D’Archino described, came from just a single collection made by European explorers in the 19th century at the Auckland Islands and identified as Callophyllis ornata.
It puzzled her for years.
“A box full of specimens in the herbarium Te Papa included red foliose algae collected in the subantarctic islands tentatively identified as C. ornata, but were morphologically different one to another, suggesting it included more species unknown to science.
“There was a lot of detective work to link recent collections with the specimen collected in 1842; I had to borrow a little fragment of the holotype stored in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (France), and compare it to specimens collected recently. It took years, but I eventually I concluded that it belongs to an endemic new genus, Motumaha and I was able to describe other two genera, Alseida and Thetisia, from the mystery box,” said Dr D’Archino.
Dr D’Archino believes there could be still hundreds of species of native seaweed alone that are yet to be described, especially from remote places as the subantarctic islands and the mesophotic zone, a habitat still poorly known. Some of the taxa discovered were collected at about 100 m depth.
“The fact that we discover new species from a few opportunistic collections hints that we’ve only scratched the surface of finding out what’s living in our oceans. It would be amazing to do a targeted expedition to these places to find what else out there – there’s still so much to be discovered.
“If we don’t know what there is, how do we know what to protect from environmental degradation, climate change, and biosecurity threats? And given how important these organisms are, it seems like these are knowledge gaps we should be filling,” said Dr D’Archino. 

MIL OSI

DCANZ welcomes streamlined export regulations

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LiveNews Publisher
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Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) says the New Zealand economy will benefit from today’s announced streamlining of regulatory approaches for dairy exports.
The Government announced the removal of a requirement that dairy exporters must obtain gazetted exemptions for their products from domestic compositional standards when selling to countries with different standards.
It is estimated that exporters could have missed out on millions of dollars in export earnings over recent years because of the requirement.
Chairman Guy Roper says the change will make it easier for companies to export new, high-value, and innovative dairy products.
“This is great news for the New Zealand economy at a time when every export dollar from every market matters.
“DCANZ is not aware of any other country requiring its dairy exporters to obtain gazetted exemptions from domestic compositional standards when they are not appropriate for the export market. These applications have often taken months to process, slowing the time to market for new products.
“The requirement to apply for compositional exemptions has put our exporters at a disadvantage to their overseas competitors when responding to international customer requirements.
“The changes will remove a long-standing and self-inflicted barrier to growing the value of New Zealand’s dairy exports at a time when our economy needs every export dollar it can get”
Every country’s food regulators determine the appropriate product standards for food sold in their market and they do that by taking into account the needs of their domestic populations and factors such as geographically differing nutrient availability across all food sources.
“A good example of this is that Europe has set higher ranges for vitamin D in formulated foods than New Zealand does, reflecting that our northern hemisphere counterparts receive less vitamin D from other sources, such as sunlight.
“Meanwhile, New Zealand’s requirements for selenium levels in formulated foods are higher than other countries, reflecting the low levels we have in our soils and therefore in our other food sources.”
The requirement for compositional exemptions has been in place since 2005 despite there being a legal requirement under the Animal Products Act (1999) for dairy exporters to ensure their products are safe and conform to the requirements of their intended market.
“Dairy exporters have been seeking this change for some years. In 2020 we identified it as a regulatory change that would support export value growth, and the need for the requirement has been consistently questioned since its introduction.
“We are pleased the Government has removed this unnecessary and costly second-guessing of other countries’ regulatory competence,” Mr Roper says.
Having a streamlined and less duplicative regulatory approach around this is exactly the type of red-tape reduction needed to support export growth.”
Dairy exports account for one in every four dollars New Zealand earns from all goods and services trade.

MIL OSI

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