MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Wildberries, a leading digital platform in Eurasia, carried out a study finding that the majority of owners of its marketplace pickup points are women who started their business on their own.
A survey conducted among nearly 700 respondents showed that 59% of pickup points are owned by women aged 36 to 45, who are married and raising multiple children. Meanwhile, 76% of respondents said they opened their pickup points independently, and 74% said their partnership with Wildberries marked their first entry into entrepreneurship.
Wildberries’ marketplace infrastructure relies on a network of more than 87,000 pickup points across eight countries of operation, more than three-fourths of which are run by local entrepreneurs under a franchise model. Pickup points offer customers a convenient alternative to home delivery while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to open their own pickup point as part of the Wildberries network.
Support for women and entrepreneurship lies at the heart of the Wildberries story. The company was founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, who was on maternity leave and wanted to make shopping easier for young mothers. She is now the mother of seven children.
Today Wildberries actively supports the development of SMEs, as well as women’s entrepreneurship and tech education, in the countries where it operates. Of the more than 1 million sellers on Wildberries, 58% are women.
“Digital platforms open new opportunities for women entrepreneurs, boosting their business activity and engagement in the economy,” Tatyana Kim said at the Central Asian International Economic Forum in Tajikistan last month. “This is an important step towards greater gender balance, financial independence and new horizons for the development of women’s entrepreneurship in the region.”
In 2024, Wildberries signed a memorandum with the Association of Women and Girls of Uzbekistan to support women’s entrepreneurship in the country, and in 2025, the company became a partner of the Women in Tech Kyrgyzstan initiative.
Hashtag: #Wildberries
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.
The grant – drawn from the recently established emergency waste funding – will help cover the costs of flood-related waste cleanup, waste and resource recovery infrastructure repairs, and the removal of silt from affected properties.
“The Tasman district was hit multiple times by severe flooding this winter, leaving in its wake vast volumes of waste from households, orchards and farms, the scale of which was beyond the region’s capacity to manage alone,” Ms Simmonds says.
“I understand growers in Riwaka and other settlements along the Motueka River have been among the hardest hit, with many facing devastating crop losses and serious damage to essential infrastructure like sheds, cool stores, packhouses and worker accommodation.
“Silt has also been a major challenge for the region, with thick deposits left across orchards, paddocks and residential areas, making clean-up efforts more complex and costly.
“The impact on livelihoods and the wider community is significant, and this funding will help ease the clean-up costs and support the council and community as they continue to recover.”
Ms Simmonds says the emergency waste funding was set up to help councils with the cost of managing waste following an emergency, giving them timely access to a cash injection when communities most need it.
“The Government is committed to supporting councils and communities in dealing with the aftermath of severe weather.
“Tasman has a long recovery ahead, and this funding will help ease some of the pressure and support the community as it gets back on its feet.”
To further support the council, the Ministry for the Environment is helping it apply for a waiver of the waste disposal levy to further reduce the financial burden of disposing of silt and other flood-related waste.
“We know how hard people have been working to clean up and rebuild, and we’re grateful for the resilience and care they’ve shown for one another.”
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – Despite Malaysia’s year-round sunshine, Vitamin D insufficiency has become a widespread and often overlooked health challenge. A systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022) reported that 64% of Malaysians have suboptimal Vitamin D levels, while more than 20% are deficient. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable, with a study in Nutrients (2022) finding that up to 96% of expectant mothers were deficient by the time of delivery. It can weaken bones, increase the risk of fractures and falls among the elderly, compromise immunity, affect mood and energy, and in pregnancy it is linked to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and impaired bone development in newborns.
(From Left: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab (Project leader and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, UiTM); Prof. Winnie Chee Siew Swee (Professor, Nutrition & Dietetics, IMU University; Director, Institute of Research, Development and Innovation, IRDI); Ms Elsie Low (General Manager of Powerlife Malaysia); Pharmacist Ng Yi Ling (Professional Care & Development Manager, Alpro Pharmacy); Dr. Ng Ming Lee (Medical Director, Alpro Clinic); Dr Nagammai Thiagarajan (Vice President, Malaysian Falls Prevention Network, MyFalls); Mr. Too Jia Leong (Managing Director, Global Science)
To confront this widespread and often overlooked health challenge, Alpro Pharmacy has launched Project 😀 with an RM1.6 million nationwide subsidy, making Vitamin D testing and education accessible to Malaysians. The initiative aims to screen 30,000 people, raise awareness, and provide personalised counselling by pharmacists, doctors, and dietitians.
Project 😀 will begin in September 2025 with 30 pilot outlets, before expanding nationwide in October 2025. Screening is priced at RM1 ONLY for high-risk groups (elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, or individuals with limited sun exposure) and RM15 for the general public (normal price RM35). Each test comes with professional counselling and a tailored health plan.
“Vitamin D deficiency is more than a nutritional issue; it is a public health challenge that affects immunity, mood, energy, and even the risk of falls among our elderly. At Alpro, we believe every Malaysian deserves access to the tools and care they need to live healthier, brighter lives. Project 😀 is our commitment to walk this journey together with the public — towards a healthier and vibrant Malaysia,” said Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Pharmacy.
Supporting this mission, Powerlife, a leading health supplement provider in Malaysia, has stepped forward as the main partner of Project :D. They have contributed 300 advanced Vitamin D analysers to Alpro outlets nationwide. These devices, powered by Global Science’s handheld fluorescence technology, deliver accurate results within minutes and bridge the accessibility gap between costly laboratory tests and less reliable rapid kits.
To strengthen the initiative’s long-term impact, Alpro is also collaborating with two leading academic institutions. The International Medical University (IMU) will conduct research on Vitamin D’s role in maternal and infant health, while Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) will study its impact on elderly care, particularly in preventing falls and fractures.
Our research is not just about data — it is about people. By understanding how Vitamin D shapes the health of mothers, babies, children & adolescents and the elderly, we can turn science into action. Through this collaboration with Alpro, we are taking meaningful steps to improve lives in Malaysia,” said Professor Winnie Chee, Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics at IMU and Director of the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI).
Beyond screenings, Project 😀 will also roll out educational campaigns, community talks, and awareness programmes in partnership with MyFalls, focusing on fall prevention among the elderly and raising awareness of the crucial role Vitamin D plays in everyday wellness.
Malaysians are encouraged to take the first step towards better health by joining Project :D. Visit your nearest Alpro Pharmacy or Alpro Clinic to learn more and locate participating outlets. For updates and expert advice, follow Alpro Pharmacy’s official social media channels.
Hashtag: #AlproPharmacy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2025 – The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Education continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in education, achieving remarkable rankings across international university assessments and pioneering groundbreaking research in educational innovation.
Global Excellence Recognized The Faculty of Education has secured outstanding positions in prestigious global rankings, placing #20 in Education (QS World University Rankings 2025), #11 in Education Studies (Times Higher Education 2025), and an impressive 2nd place globally in Education & Educational Research (U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026). These achievements reflect the Faculty’s commitment to excellence in both research and teaching, as further highlighted by the recognition of 13 faculty members among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2024.
Through its four specialised departments—Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration and Policy, Educational Psychology, and Sports Science and Physical Education—the Faculty offers a comprehensive range of postgraduate programmes including doctoral degrees, master’s degrees, and postgraduate diplomas in Education, nurturing and empowering the next generation of outstanding educators to transform education responsibly to meet the society’s evolving needs.
Pioneering Research and Innovation As a dynamic academic hub, the Faculty pioneers educational research and scholarship in Hong Kong, sharing insights with researchers, scholars, school leaders, and practitioners through conferences and seminars. Through the Centre for University and School Partnership (CUSP), the Faculty maintains strong connections with over 2,000 educational institutions and has successfully completed more than 45 development and research projects, focusing on quality education, positive learning environments, small class teaching, strong curriculum leadership and development in kindergartens, financial literacy for children, and gifted education programmes.
The Faculty’s commitment to innovation is evident in its current research projects, which address crucial contemporary education areas and challenges such as AI in education, curriculum reform, and academic integrity in the age of generative AI. A standout example is the Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI) project, led by Professor Catherine So of the Department of Educational Psychology, which advances autism diagnosis and early intervention through robotics. The project earned international recognition, receiving the Silver Award in the “Access, Diversity, and Inclusion” category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024.
Professor Catherine So’s Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI) project received the Silver Award in the “Access, Diversity, and Inclusion” category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2024. The recognition highlights RABI’s impactful contribution in improving social and behavioral skills among more than 2,500 autistic individuals aged 3 to 18 since its launch in 2020
International Student Success The Faculty’s global impact is reflected in its diverse student body of over 2,600 students. Dr. Ma. Jenina Nalipay, a recent PhD graduate from the Philippines, highlights the Faculty’s strength in nurturing international talent: “CUHK has provided me with numerous opportunities to flourish as a PhD student and prepare for success after graduation. The holistic approach to student development and excellent supervision have been invaluable to my career goals.”
Dr. Ma. Jenina Nalipay (right) valued the holistic education at CUHK, which enriched her academic journey through interdisciplinary research training with local and international scholars.
Looking to the Future As education continues to evolve, the Faculty remains dedicated to its vision of nurturing the next generation of educators and education leaders with global perspectives. Its focus on combining research excellence with practical application ensures graduates are well-equipped to address future educational challenges.
Discover the diverse postgraduate programmes offered by CUHK’s Faculty of Education: https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/programme/education.
Application for the 2026-27 intake starts from 1 September 2025. CUHK provides a wide range of scholarships and financial support for outstanding students to pursue their postgraduate studies at CUHK. Join the upcoming CUHK Postgraduate Virtual Info Week 2025 to learn more: https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/admission-events.
Hashtag: #CUHK
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Auckland City Police are appealing for sightings of a missing woman and hold significant concerns for her wellbeing.
Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving Sky City on 21 August around 5.06am, leaving all her belongings at the hotel.
Today, Police are releasing footage of Te Anihana’s last known movements.
“It’s hoped this footage will jog the memory of anyone who may have seen or come into contact with her,” Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, of Auckland City CIB says.
“Te Anihana checked into the hotel on 18 August and has no known associates in central Auckland.
“She may be acting erratically and it is not known whether she has access to a cell phone.”Te Anihana is of thin build, around 154cm tall, with curly black hair and tattoos.
Extensive enquiries to locate her have been unsuccessful.
Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says Police and whānau are concerned for her welfare and urge anyone who sees Te Anihana to call 111 immediately.
Any other information on her whereabouts should be reported via 105 using reference number 250822/6281.
ENDS
Nicole Bremner/NZ Police
NOTE FOR MEDIA: Video footage is available on the Auckland City Police Facebook page, or by emailing media@police.govt.nz
Tens of thousands are expected to gather for the ‘March for Humanity’ across the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Saturday 13 September, to demand the New Zealand Government sanction Israel for the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The march is organised by Aotearoa for Palestine, a coalition of Palestinians and tangata whenua.
“The genocide in Gaza is undeniable. Forced starvation is being used as a weapon of war, along with mass killing, and the destruction of Gaza’s health system,” said group spokesperson, Nadine Mortaja. “New Zealand has a moral and legal obligation to act, and must sanction Israel now,” Mortaja added.
The planned demonstration follows similar anti-genocide marches over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge in August, each attracting 50-100 thousand protestors.
Last year, tens of thousands crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge for the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti. “The Auckland Harbour Bridge is a site of great significance to the Māori sovereignty movement,” said the group’s Māori spokesperson, Dr Arama Rata. “It has carried generations of Indigenous struggle across the Waitematā Harbour, from The Land March led by Whina Cooper in 1975, to the Foreshore and Seabed Hīkoi in 2004, to last year’s Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti where Palestinians stood with us in unwavering support, recognising the inseparability of our resistance against colonialism.”
In addition to their key demand for NZ to sanction Israel, organisers of the march are calling for an immediate unconditional ceasefire; and an immediate end to the blockade and reinstatement of UNRWA to allow life-saving aid to safely enter Gaza.
“When we cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge, we march not just as Palestinians and our supporters, but as human beings demanding an end to genocide,” Mortaja said. “Our voices will echo the global call for justice in Palestine, and we call on all people of conscience in Aotearoa New Zealand to join us on this peaceful March for Humanity.”
Event Details:
What: March for Humanity
When: 9:30 AM, Saturday, 13 September 2025
Where: Assemble at Stafford Park, march across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, concluding at Victoria Park.
Hāpai Te Hauora is strongly opposing the Government’s announcement to weaken already unacceptable alcohol laws, calling the move a disgrace that hands more power to the alcohol industry at the expense of whānau.
“This move is a disgrace. Communities are already sick of the harm caused by the alcohol industry, and loosening the laws shifts even more power away from them. For decades, alcohol has been given a free ride in Aotearoa – promoted widely, advertised during prime time, and sold on almost every corner, despite the overwhelming evidence of the harm it causes. These measures will only ensure that continues,” says Jason Alexander, Chief Operating Officer of Hāpai Te Hauora.
Hāpai has consistently heard from whānau about the toll of alcohol harm. During Wai July – our first year running this kaupapa encouraging Tāne Māori and their whānau to swap waipiro for wai – more than 600 people registered with Hāpai, and thousands more engaged with the kaupapa online. The overwhelming response showed a clear desire among whānau to turn away from the normalisation of alcohol and reclaim healthier, alcohol-free whānau and communities.
“Just weeks after thousands of whānau followed the Wai July movement the Government’s response is to loosen alcohol laws that already cause irreversible and intergenerational damage to our whānau. It’s more than a slap in the face – it’s a gross injustice. Whānau are showing they want change, and instead of backing them, the Government is backing the industry once again,” says Jessikha Makoare, General Manager of Public Health at Hāpai Te Hauora.
Makoare notes that the Minister herself had previously signalled support for reducing alcohol sale hours, pointing to the link with crime reduction data. “Now she’s changed her mind. This is a clear example of how alcohol lobbying has shifted the dial. Once again, it’s profit over people,” she says.
Recent independent polling commissioned by the Health Coalition Aotearoa shows New Zealanders back stronger action to prevent alcohol harm. Eighty percent support banning alcohol advertising children are exposed to, seventy-one percent believe the alcohol industry should not be involved in government policymaking, and more than eighty percent back restrictions on online alcohol delivery and limiting outlet density in local neighbourhoods.
“The public want stronger protections, not weaker ones. Weakening the law now just shows the Government is listening to the alcohol lobby, not our communities,” says Alexander.
Whānau deserve better. Weakening these laws will only deepen harm and shows, once again, that this Government is ignoring evidence, ignoring the voices of health experts and communities, and choosing to serve the alcohol lobby instead of the people of Aotearoa.
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry has delivered on his pledge to plant a native tree or plant for every resident in the city.
Today Mayor Barry planted the 114,000th tree – a Kōwhai in Riddiford Gardens – to mark the significant milestone for Mouri Tupu Planting for the Future.
“I’m really proud we’ve achieved this city-wide goal before the end of this triennium. None of it would have been possible without the community, who embraced the project and put in the work,” Barry said.
He said schools and kindergartens stood out in particular.
“Seeing our youngest residents take part in planting has been a real highlight.”
Mouri Tupu has been so successful that it will exceed its target through a mix of council projects, community partnerships, and public giveaways.
This will see around 46,000 plants in parks and reserves, nearly 29,000 delivered through major projects like Te Ngaengae Pool + Fitness, Motutawa Avalon Skate Park and Tupua Horo Nuku, a further 31,500 distributed to 14 community groups, and 6,000 gifted to more than 1,100 households during weekend giveaways.
Over 30 schools and kindergartens received around 6,000 plants through the Enviroschools programme, and approximately 1,100 new citizens received plants at recent ceremonies.
Mouri is the life force or energy present in everything, while Tupu refers to the early stages of the plant life cycle.
Barry hoped the campaign would inspire people to continue planting more trees and plants and serve as a reminder of the importance of looking after the environment.
“Trees are our environment’s lungs, and by doing more planting we can mitigate our city emissions and enhance our places and spaces.
“By planting these trees and other plants, we will leave a greener legacy for our tamariki and mokopuna and will help teach the value of protecting and enhancing our environment.”
He acknowledged the efforts of council staff, community groups, mana whenua partners, schools, volunteers and every local who picked up a spade.
Like a scene straight out of a movie, an international scam artist has been caught – this time by New Zealand Police.
A 32-year-old man was sentenced at Christchurch District Court yesterday to one year and three months’ imprisonment.
On Tuesday 17 June, Christchurch Police were notified that a hotel guest had left without paying for his two-week stay.
A staff member of the hotel uncovered more deception when alerting other hotels in the city – they had similar offending dating back to 5 May.
The quick actions of Police staff resulted in locating the man, where he was arrested on a charge of obtaining by deception (over $1,000).
Detective Sergeant Michael Freeman says by the next day Police identified three other hotels where the man had offended, alongside multiple unsuccessful attempts.
“Across the four hotels we know of, he has $15,290.61 of unpaid debts.”
Three further charges were laid for obtaining by deception, as well as one charge of failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.
Detective Sergeant Freeman says it soon became clear that the man’s offending may not be limited to Christchurch.
Hotels in Greece, Thailand, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Cambodia all reported similar offending.
“The man is alleged to have used different names, scamming many victims out of thousands of dollars by posing as a United Nations official procuring aid for charities linked to the war in Ukraine.”
The man is also alleged to have convinced a woman she was being stalked when in fact he was responsible for the acts of intimidation. Another victim, residing in Cambodia, claims he is owed thousands of dollars as an employee who was never paid.
Following the man’s arrest in New Zealand, Police found the man had previously been convicted in the United Kingdom for theft, fraud, and ‘befriending vulnerable people’, the latter in relation to impersonating a paramedic, complete with his own fake ambulance response vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Freeman says he appears to be a scam artist who has been victimising people all over the world, for years.
“A few people have likened him to Frank Abagnale, the real-life inspiration for the film Catch Me If You Can.
“The only key difference is that unlike being arrested by the French Police like Abagnale, the man was arrested by us.
“This movie-like scenario doesn’t happen to Police often, so it is nice to see an offender be held to account for this type of offending.
“Immigration New Zealand and Interpol are now involved, and it is likely more information will surface. “
Job cuts to the Digital Safety team at the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) confirmed yesterday will see more violent extremism and child exploitation online.
A change decision announced yesterday will see a net loss of 60 jobs, with another 66 fixed-term roles to close.
“These cuts mean more child exploitation and violent extremism: it’s that simple. These cuts are dangerous and irresponsible and will do harm,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, says.
“The latest cuts come on top of heavy job losses over the past few years. These teams have been reduced so much that it is impossible to expect the same output of them.
Some of the critical workers affected is the Digital Safety team, who monitor online extremism and work with other agencies to shut down emerging threats.
“The Digital Safety team has been so understaffed that they have not been able to proactively scan for emerging threats and trends in violent extremism for the past 18 months. This scanning is crucial for early threat detection and informing law enforcement. Without it, the team are operating reactively, which increases risks to public safety.
“The loss of this expertise is hugely damaging for New Zealand, these experts are world-renowned.
“Digital Safety work with domestic and international agencies to prevent online harm in relation to child sexual exploitation and violent extremist content. This team needs more investment, not less, as extremists are becoming more sophisticated every day.
“These workers say that the persistent reductions to their team over the years has led not only to increased pressure on them but a degradation of the critical function they carry out.
“We urge the DIA to listen to their own staff and put in place the right resources to protect New Zealanders from predators and bad actors online.”
