Fresh from France: Sustainable Apple Delights Mark Great Success in Malaysia

February 25, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – France has over 100 different apple varieties thanks to its unique climate and fertile soil. Recently, climate change has significantly impacted global agriculture, particularly affecting fruit cultivation. Following a challenging harvest in 2023, Europe’s apple production faces its second-lowest level of the century, primarily due to severe frost conditions in Eastern Europe, which results in a total yield of just 10.2 million tons—a decline of 1.3 million tons compared to the previous year. In contrast, France’s total apple production in 2024 remains relatively stable, at 1.4 million tons (figures finalized in November 2024). This reflects a slight decrease from 2023 but represents a stable crop compared to the three-year average, showcasing the resilience of French apple cultivation.

Interfel Malaysia Kombucha Workshop

The outlook for specific apple varieties varies widely. While the yield of some of the major French varieties such as Golden and Gala has increased —by 8% for Golden and 1% for Gala— other varieties, such as Granny Smith and Fuji, have declined by 26-30%. The production of club varieties and local selections has also decreased this year. For instance, Pink Lady, France’s third-largest variety, yielded 154,000 tons, indicating a 10% decline. Meanwhile, the crop of Jazz has decreased by 19%.

For more than 25 years, French apple growers have proactively embraced innovative and adaptive measures. They are implementing sustainable agricultural practices such as precision irrigation, soil management, and environmentally friendly pest control to ensure the healthy growth of the trees and enhance their resilience. These methods not only protect the environment but also secure a sustainable supply of high-quality apples. Each apple not only tastes delicious but also embodies this commitment.

To introduce the authenticity of its produce and its process of responsible farming, INTERFEL hosted a series of annual activities in Malaysia. The series of activities include French Apple Kombucha Workshop for influencers, consumer roadshow, and in-store samplings at major retail stores such as AEON, Lotus, Econsave, and Jaya Gorcer. The activities happened from December 2024 until March 2025 with great success.

With emphasis on sustainability, Interfel aims to expand their initiative by promoting diverse methods of consuming French Apples and supporting sustainability through various activities that offer versatile uses for French Apples, promoting health, and minimizing the environmental footprint—all while celebrating the varied culinary possibilities of this nutritious fruit.

These activities were a resounding success, drawing the participation of 20 local influencers in the French Apple Kombucha Workshop and reaching over thousands of consumers through in-store samplings. Consumers also enjoyed lively roadshow events featuring fun games and exciting prizes, making the experience both memorable and interactive. French apples are still in season and available at major Malaysian supermarkets until March 2025.

Today, almost 1,300 French apple growers are committed to producing high-quality apples that are both environmentally friendly and rich in taste. Want to discover more delicious recipes and updates about French apples? Follow us on social media @FruitVegFromFR for the latest news and event information, letting you get up close and personal with this delightful and healthy offering from France!

https://www.interfel.com/
https://x.com/FruitVegFromFR
https://www.instagram.com/fruitvegfromfr/

Hashtag: #enjoyitsfromeurope #frenchapples #fruitvegfromfrance

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

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

The Mills Fabrica Launches New Service to Support Brands and Organisations Advance Their Sustainability Journey

MIL OSI

February 25, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

Aimed at businesses of any size and at any sustainability stage, the partnership service has already engaged nearly 50 global partners since its soft launch

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, today announces the launch of its partnership service, designed to help brands and organisations — of any size and at any sustainability stage — discover new opportunities for advancing environmental and social impact in their operations.

This initiative builds on The Mills Fabrica’s mission to catalyse industry-wide shifts towards sustainability by bridging the gap between sustainable innovations and leading brands and organisations, effectively creating opportunities for mutual growth. Brands and organisations can choose from a range of bespoke programmes such as Sustainability Discovery Day, Sustainability Workshops, Impact Campaign Experiences, Sustainability Innovation Scouting, and Impact Retail & Pop-Up Experiences to accelerate their sustainability journey and overcome industry-specific challenges. Since its soft launch eight months ago, The Mills Fabrica has already engaged nearly 50 global businesses, demonstrating a strong demand for the new service.

“Over the years, working with dozens of changemakers, one fact stands clear — the future of sustainability depends on a cross-sector collective effort, with entrepreneurs, industry veterans, manufacturers, investors, and consumers uniting behind one shared vision. With our proven track record in driving innovation and a deep understanding of our partners’ needs, it is only natural for The Mills Fabrica to launch this service. Through offering tailored programmes, we hope to unlock the full potential of collaboration by connecting brands and organisations with cutting-edge sustainability-focused innovation, specialist industry knowledge and our unique network of ecosystem partners. Together, we can drive planet-positive outcomes at scale, laying the groundwork for a regenerative future,” said Cintia Nunes, General Manager and Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica.

The unique global innovation connector providing unparalleled access to extensive resources and bespoke programmes

The scale and urgency of the climate crisis underscores a crucial need to empower businesses to confidently navigate the innovation landscape and achieve purposeful, sustainable growth. Today, businesses face mounting pressure to adopt sustainability practices — not only to meet the demands of conscious consumers, but also to comply with new regulatory requirements and unlock operational efficiencies. Yet, significant barriers remain, including challenges in integrating sustainable-thinking, identifying new opportunities for advancing sustainability, sourcing sustainability-focused tech innovations and effectively quantifying impact.

This is where the new partnership service comes in. With a strong belief that the climate crisis demands global collaboration, The Mills Fabrica serves as a unique global innovation connector. In a world where brands and organisations play a critical role in the sustainability ecosystem, it acts as a crucial bridge that pulls together knowledge, resources and strategies to drive large-scale environmental and social impact.

Having partnered with 100+ global brands and 35 startups worldwide, The Mills Fabrica is in an ideal position to offer brands and organisations 360-degree access to an innovation ecosystem, encompassing access to market intelligence, technology integration, and retail data. It takes a highly tailored approach, collaborating closely with each brand and organisation to understand their unique challenges and co-creating bespoke programmes that drive measurable impact. Prominent players in the retail sector such as L’Oréal also engaged with The Mills Fabrica’s partnership service to advance their sustainability journey.

The bridge builders driving tangible, planet-positive outcomes for industry-wide sustainability progress

Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Brands and organisations often struggle not just with implementing sustainability initiatives, but also with measuring and communicating the true environmental and social impact of their efforts in a meaningful way.

Whether integrating impact-thinking into their organisations or sourcing sustainability-focused innovations, businesses can leverage The Mills Fabrica’s measurement approach to quantify and communicate their progress. Utilising the nine planetary boundaries framework outlined by the Stockholm Resilience Center and IRIS+, its measurement approach instils confidence, ensuring sustainability efforts are not just in place but actively demonstrating real change.

One example of its programmes is The Mills Fabrica’s Impact Retail & Pop-Up Experiences, which allow partners to engage directly with consumers through its impact retail store Fabrica X. Here, they can test campaigns, gather vital consumer data and create retail showcases to reach and educate consumers. All campaigns are measured using its industry-recognised framework.

Fidelity International, a leading investment fund committed to sustainable development, partnered with Fabrica X on a biomaterial campaign to highlight the importance of sustainable consumer consumption. Through the impact retail store, it showcased innovative alternative materials to inspire consumers to adopt an eco-conscious lifestyle and showcased the groundbreaking work of material pioneers. The campaign received positive feedback from the public, with over half (66%) of surveyed participants agreeing that they should be more considerate about clothing materials.

Cintia continues, “At The Mills Fabrica, we are bringing together partners and innovators to create powerful collaborations that drive impactful sustainability progress. Recognising the diverse needs of brands and organisations in addressing sustainability challenges, we work with our partners to co-create programmes that are flexible, regardless of their sustainability stage or budget. We invite businesses from all sectors to join us in our mission and leverage this service to accelerate environmental and social impact through innovation.”

For more information on The Mills Fabrica’s new partnership service, please visit here.

Hashtag: #TheMillsFabrica

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

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

Activist News – Mana whenua file interim enforcement proceedings to stop sewage pipe

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: Mana Whenua

“Under the leadership of mana whenua, Protect Rotokākahi Incorporated has filed for interim enforcement orders in the Environment Court to immediately stop Rotorua Lakes Council’s construction of a sewage pipe through wāhi tapu by Lake Rotokākahi,” said spokesperson for court action Te Whatanui Leka Taumalolo Skipwith.

“Last night, over 100 police marched on our whenua and took control over this sacred area.”

“They forcefully and violently removed our protectors on site, and today they have allowed the council to start drilling where our ancestors are buried.”

“Many of our people were killed here by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. This is where our ancestors lie.”

“Our people have been shut out of this whole pipeline approval process, and now we are shut off our whenua while it is desecrated before our eyes. So, we are escalating to urgent legal action to immediately stop the drilling.”

“This builds on the Environment Court applications already filed last week. Rotorua Lakes Council never obtained the required resource consent for conducting earthworks around Lake Rotokākahi. We are asking the Environment Court for an urgent halt to the council’s works while the court considers this.”

“Our people are here to protect what is ours, and what is sacred. We deserve the chance to protect our wāhi tapu in court before it is too late.”

Mana whenua and their supporters are calling on people to join them on the whenua and bear witness as we show resistance throughout this desecration. The Protect Rotokākahi Instagram is urging a call-to-action for its supporters to “Show Up for a Shift” and hold the frontline as an expression of enduring peaceful protection.

“The fight is actually going to be done here on the whenua, at whawhai, at protections like Rotokākahi. Peaceful resistance is the way we are going to be able to have liberation. And the way we are going to be doing that is being able to stand together side by side,”

“And so that’s the reason why we’re here, we’ve always been here, we will never leave.”

MIL OSI

Serious crash, Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, Tararua

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious single-vehicle crash that has blocked the road between Pahiatua and Palmerston North.

Police were called to the scene, on Pahiatua-Mangahao Road, between Ridge Road North and Soldiers Road, about 5pm.

Two people have minor injuries, and one person is in a critical condition and will be airlifted to hospital.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised and the road will likely remain closed for some time.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Investigation Update: Appeal for sightings of vehicle following suspicious church fires in Masterton

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police are following strong lines of enquiry in the investigation into arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.

As part of our enquiries, we are seeking information about a green Ford Festiva which was seen leaving one of those fires.

Police are working to establish the movements of the vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning when the arsons were reported, and the day or days beforehand.

The vehicle was located abandoned on Sunday 23 February on Mikimiki Road, Masterton.

A significant search was deployed into the area, however no occupants of the vehicle were located.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation, including sightings of this vehicle, is urged to contact Police via 105 online or the 105 phone reporting line, referencing file number 250222/1673.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Serious crash, Manners Street, Wellington

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police are at the scene of a serious crash on Manners Street, central Wellington, following a collision between a pedestrian and a bus.

The incident happened about 4.40pm, between Victoria and Cuba streets.

One person is in a critical condition.

Part of Manners Street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

MIL OSI

Advocacy and Support – Rainbow organisations stand together despite hate and violence

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: OutLine Aotearoa

Rainbow organisations stand together to address the recent attempts to shut down our communities’ joy and celebrations. It will not succeed. We have been excited to see the unity of our community, and how our shared spaces have encouraged belonging and safety amidst recent events. We want our rainbow rangatahi and whānau to stay proud, stand firm, and know there are always support services available.

To our incredible rangatahi and community, our existence will outlive any hate. Always. No agenda, no opposition, and no force is stronger than the love we share, the friendships we build, and the courage we embody every day. To those who are out, to those still finding their way, to those reclaiming the words that reflect who you are, to those simply existing-we see you, we celebrate you, we stand with you.

Na RainbowYOUTH.

There is no place for hate and violence in Aotearoa. Our rainbow communities are vibrant, loving and welcoming. We will continue to strive to stand in the gap for our people and to whakamana takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples across the motu. We see you and value you.

OutLine welcomes constructive kōrero from religious leaders across the spectrum to encourage communities to come together and show solidarity against hate and violence in this country. We implore religious leaders to use their platforms to bring their people in and teach love and acceptance because takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and rainbow peoples have always existed and will continue to exist.

It is ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY to keep Aotearoa hate and violence-free.

Na OutLine Aotearoa.

It is time the Government takes serious action to prevent and respond to violence towards rainbow communities. The recent incidents at Auckland Pride are part of an organised ongoing attack on rainbow people’s rights to be themselves and come together. As pride and visibility in our communities grows, loud bigoted voices have tried to drown that pride out, including attempts to embed anti-trans rhetoric from overseas that has no place in Aotearoa. We need to show that we will not overlook hate and a key part of that must be our Government taking leadership.

Na InsideOUT Kōaro.

Our organisations call on the Government to:

1. Remove the charitable status of Destiny Church and associated charities.
2. Ensure no government agencies are making referrals to Destiny Church-led programmes, such as Man Up.
3. Ask NZ Police to urgently instigate a work programme to improve the collection of hate crime data related to rainbow communities and grow public awareness on how to report hate crimes.
4. Government prioritise a response to investing in rainbow mental health support and preventing and countering violent extremism and disinformation, with a focus which targets rainbow communities.
We encourage our rainbow communities and allies to sign the parliament petition to remove Destiny Church’s charitable status and write to Charity Services to make a complaint. We encourage you to seek out support when you need it and stand steadfast in your right to be who you are and celebrate with pride.

If you need support:

1737 (txt anytime)

0800 OutLine

0800 611 116 Healthline

MIL OSI

Evolution Traffic Management collapse highlights NZ’s impending infrastructure crisis

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: First Union

Financial pressures, Government inaction and the changing nature of work have proved insurmountable for Evolution Traffic Management and have ultimately led to the company’s liquidation and the loss of over 100 jobs, FIRST Union said today.

Workers across three Evolution Traffic Management sites in Auckland, Hamilton and Taupo were informed on Friday last week that the business’s liquidation will result in job losses for over 100 employees, marking a difficult and uncertain future ahead.

“The company’s collapse is a direct casualty of the shutdown of rebuilds, the slowdown in roading and infrastructure development, and the sluggish pace of the National Government’s commitment to infrastructure,” said Justin Wallace, FIRST Union organiser.

“Delays in critical projects have forced hundreds of skilled and unskilled infrastructure workers to leave the country, creating a significant risk to New Zealand’s development and growth.”

Mr Wallace said the union is supporting members through the process and pursuing entitlements and redundancy compensation for workers as a first priority for the company ahead of any other creditors and commitments: “There’s a lot of stress and anxiety, and a real fear that workers will walk away with nothing if we don’t prioritise their wellbeing.”

Mr Wallace warned that Evolution Traffic Management will not be the last to fall.

“The slowdown in infrastructure investment is putting entire sectors at risk. The Government has already dropped the ball on manufacturing, and now it seems we’re letting infrastructure slip through our fingers as well,” said Mr Wallace.

“Across the industry, there is a clear and urgent warning: if the Government does not act to give infrastructure companies like Evolution some certainty about future projects and their financial viability, we will continue to lose more workers overseas where their experience and talent are more highly valued and compensated.”

“New Zealand is experiencing an exodus of workers who are seeking better opportunities abroad – a trend exacerbated by the Government’s failure to deliver on its “Back on Track” commitments to working New Zealanders.”

“Instead of putting the country back on track, the current trajectory looks more like an impending derailment.”

“The inability to secure and sustain critical infrastructure jobs is having long-term economic consequences that will take years to recover from if left unaddressed.”

“The loss of skilled workers, the stagnation of infrastructure development, and the ongoing economic instability pose a significant threat to the country’s future. It is time for this Government to get its priorities right to prevent further damage and restore confidence in the sector.”

MIL OSI

Education – New resources address implicit bias in the classroom – The Oranui

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: The Oranui

Researcher and advocate Anton Blank (Ngāti Porou-Ngāti Kahungunu) this week launches new resources for teachers, to address racism in the classroom.The Oranui (www.oranui.co.nz) resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.

“The resources help teachers explore their own implicit biases towards Māori and Pasifika students,” Anton Blank says.

Implicit biases influence human behaviour. They are aversions and preferences that sit below the level of our conscious awareness. Implicit biases are informed by stereotypes and can run counter to our explicit beliefs and values.

“Everyone is influenced by stereotypes that circulate in the social world. We can manage the influence of these stereotypes on our thinking and behaviour by being mindful. This is the focus of the new resources, which explain the dynamics of racism and how to undo it.”

Anton Blank argues that all stereotypes are harmful, because they promulgate generalisations about social groups that aren’t necessarily true.

“Around the world, people of colour are more likely to be negatively stereotyped when it comes to issues like intelligence, work ethic and violence.”

Recent data shows that more than 70 percent of Māori and Pasifika are failing NCEA numeracy standards, which equates to every third student in secondary schools overall.[1]

“I find these numbers absolutely terrifying. Forty-one percent of New Zealand’s under 18-year-olds are now Māori and Pasifika. These populations are youthful — bottom-heavy compared to the ageing Pākehā cohort — so they will continue to grow and fill our schools.

“The most important influence within this data is, I believe, the quality of teacher engagement. Decades of research shows that of all groups of students, teachers have lowest expectations of Māori and Pasifika.”

The Pygmalion Effect describes how teachers’ expectations determine, to a large part, students’ educational outcomes.[2] If Māori children are to achieve, teachers must lift their expectations of students and treat all students as having the same potential for achievement.

Research from the US also shows that the quality of teacher engagement is very important in underprivileged areas, and upgrading teachers’ skills has the most effect on achievement in those schools. In Aotearoa, 40% of Māori students live in the two most deprived deciles in the country.[3]

The Oranui resources for teachers include a 20 minute video module, and a short book REWIRE: understanding racism and how to undo it.

“The resources encourage teachers to explore their own attitudes towards Māori and Pasifika students. Teachers tend to expect these students to disengage from the learning. As a result, teachers make less effort with them.

“These students internalise these beliefs and by secondary school, they group themselves together at the back of the classroom, where they attract less attention from teachers than Pākehā and Asian students.

“Māori students do succeed in Māori educational settings, however, where they feel seen in the classroom, and their potential is nurtured by their teachers.

“For almost ten years, I have worked with teachers across the motu. All of them say they want to see Māori students succeed.

“It is not correct to say that they are deliberately excluding Māori and Pasifika students from learning in the classroom. Rather, teachers are working under pressure, which is when their behaviour is triggered by the automatic and implicit biases described here.”

MIL OSI

Back out there: Custody Unit reopens on the North Shore

LiveNews Publisher

February 25, 2025

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police is re-opening a state-of-the-art custody unit, ready to support frontline policing operations across the North Shore and Rodney.

Crucially, it will reduce the time frontline staff in the area spend transporting people in custody.

The Waitematā East District Custody Unit, based at the North Shore Policing Centre, officially began accepting detainees this morning.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, Minister of Police Mark Mitchell and Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan were in attendance at this morning’s opening.

The North Shore facility has undergone improvement works in recent months and will support Waitematā District’s existing unit based in Henderson.

Commissioner Chambers says the population across North Shore and Rodney communities continues to grow.

“Waitematā is a vast district geographically and it’s important my staff aren’t unnecessarily taken of the road for lengthy periods of time,” he says.

“The new District Custody Unit will mean reduced travel times for staff working as far north as Wellsford, down to Devonport.”

Advanced facilities will also mean reduced processing times for arresting officers.

“The facility is technologically advanced and future-focused for our custody staff,” Commissioner Chambers says.

“At the end of the day we’ll have frontline staff back out there faster working to keep the community safe.”

Around the country, Police manage more than 120,000 people in custody each year.

“Our Custody Units are an important part of managing people in our care and custody safely.

“In many instances those people in custody require intensive monitoring, and features such as high-quality CCTV and intercom systems will help custody staff.”

Commissioner Chambers acknowledges the team involved in re-commissioning the unit.

“It’s great to see the use of technology to make savings and efficiencies, such as the high-quality audio-visual link suite installed,” he says.

“In many instances for those detainees appearing in court remotely this will remove some costs and complexities associate in transporting them.”

Superintendent Hassan says the North Shore facility is a welcome addition to the district.

“We are continuing to find ways to adapt to the growing demand and population across communities in Waitemata,” she says.

“This facility will be supported by sworn Police staff, alongside additional Authorised Officers recruited into the roles.”

The facility has been re-opened after being decommissioned in 2013.

It has been utilised by Police periodically, as required, including periods to support police operations during the pandemic response.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI

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