13th China Film Festival opens in New Zealand

The 13th China Film Festival opened in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday evening with a screening of Chinese crime drama "Traces of Justice", followed by a live panel featuring the movie's producers.

"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," "Dear You," "Pegasus 3," "All Wishes Come True" and "Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert," are the Chinese films set to feature during the festival, showing at cinemas simultaneously in Auckland and the New Zealand capital Wellington.

Since it was launched, the China Film Festival, whose location alternates between China and New Zealand for every edition, has provided a strong platform for cooperation between the Chinese and New Zealand film industries.

"I think it is another strand of connection between our two countries. We have connections with people, now into that world comes the world of film. So exchange of filming and films and the film community is a positive step," said Sir Anand Satyanand, Former Governor-General of New Zealand.

"It's a very good chance for us to get to know the advanced technology, the advanced capability. So the more we cooperate, the better the movie, and the more people get together to advance the movie industry, I see it as a win-win for New Zealand and for China," said David Carter, former speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

"China is an important market and it's a great movie-producing nation and we love the Chinese talent, we love the Chinese film makers. So, of course we're excited. We would like to engage with Chinese film makers, Chinese culture," said Matt Horrocks, manager of Screen Auckland, New Zealand's largest movie production company.

The 13th China Film Festival, which runs until Nov 8, is organized jointly by the China Film Administration, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand and the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland.

13th China Film Festival opens in New Zealand

Britain's services sector expanded at its fastest pace since February in October, as stronger demand and rising new orders boosted business activity, according to data released by S and P Global on Wednesday.

The seasonally adjusted S and P Global UK Services PMI Business Activity Index rose to 52.8 in October, from 52.1 in September, marking its highest reading since February. However, the latest figure remained below the long-run average of 54.2, the survey showed.

Service providers largely attributed the increase in business activity to improving customer demand and growing order books. Some reported stronger sales driven by investment in artificial intelligence, while others pointed to easing risk aversion among clients and more favourable economic conditions.

Total new business increased for a fourth consecutive month in October, reaching its fastest pace since January, largely on the back of stronger domestic demand. Employment also grew for the first time in just over two years, although job creation remained marginal as companies sought to contain costs and improve operational efficiency, according to S&P Global.

October data highlighted a combination of faster output growth and stronger price pressures across the UK services economy, mirroring the trends in the manufacturing sector, said Tim Moore, economics director at S and P Global Market Intelligence.

These signals underscore the near-certainty of a Bank of England (BoE) rate hike in November and collectively raise the likelihood of further BoE policy tightening into 2027, he added.

Britain's October services PMI up to 8-month high