PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for June 14, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 June 2026 – Volcano Engine has officially entered into an in-depth strategic partnership around “AI+IP” with Bingo Group, a client of Data Hash. Leveraging the video generation capabilities of the Seedance 2.0 large model and Stephen Chow’s classic film and television IP resources, the two sides have launched brand-new AI content creation features and pioneered a new model for compliant IP commercialization in the AI industry. The series of interactive AI features has been progressively launched on major domestic AI content creation platforms starting June 10, 2026.

The relevant AI functions from this collaboration debuted first on two official platforms: Volcano Ark Experience Center and Volcano Engine Kickart. Meanwhile, they have been adapted and rolled out simultaneously on a host of mainstream AI creation tool platforms, including LibTV, Reelgen Engine by Kuaizi.ai, Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare Pixmax, NamiVideo, Kuaijianji, Qingjianji and Qushuiyin_kjj. Follow-up launch plans are also in place, with the features set to land on Douyin, Jimeng, Jianying and Xiaoyunqi in due course, further expanding user access and extending the boundaries of IP commercialization.

Centered on the Volcano Ark Copyright Commercialization Platform and the advanced video generation technology of Seedance 2.0, the partnership grants official authorization for three iconic film IPs of Stephen Chow: The King of Comedy, CJ7 and The God of Cookery. General users can create compliant AI content using officially licensed IP materials. This initiative fundamentally addresses long-standing pain points in the AIGC industry, including ambiguous content copyrights, rampant IP infringement and the inability to monetize derivative creations. It builds a full-chain compliant monetization system for IPs in the AI era, empowering content creators and film and television enterprises, and fully unlocking the commercial value of classic intellectual properties.

While the popularization of AI technology has greatly boosted content creation efficiency, unauthorized AI derivative works, IP theft and unclear ownership have continued to disrupt the order of the industry. The new business model jointly developed by the two parties integrates core resources from technology, IP and distribution channels. It not only fully safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of IP owners, but also provides creators with legal and compliant paths for content creation and commercial monetization. Additionally, it brings fans closer to classic film and television IPs, helping timeless classic works break through audience boundaries and achieve youthful influence and sustainable long-term communication.

Barbie Man, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Data Hash, stated that Data Hash has been supporting Bingo Group with its business transformation since September 2022. After the rise of AI technology, the team further assisted Bingo Group in exploring new business opportunities in the field of AI-generated content (AIGC). We are delighted to see Bingo Group gain a firm foothold in the AI entertainment sector and successfully complete industrial upgrading and innovative layout.

Ignious Yong, Spokesperson of Bingo Group, expressed great honor to forge this in-depth partnership with Volcano Engine, one of the world’s leading technology companies. As an enterprise focusing on the “AI + Content + IP” track, Bingo Group believes this collaboration will build a long-term and sustainable monetization model for premium IPs, celebrities and content creators. The two companies are currently conducting in-depth discussions on further expanding their AI+IP cooperation. They aim to jointly build a larger and more valuable industrial ecosystem to create greater value and monetization opportunities for the entire entertainment industry. With the support of Mr. Stephen Chow and partners, we hold high expectations for the long-term development of this collaboration.

Starting June 10, 2026, users across the country can experience the AI interactive creation functions based on the three classic film IPs of Stephen Chow. Detailed gameplay rules will be released successively by each cooperating platform. Project organizers invite content creators, film and television practitioners and art enthusiasts to explore new opportunities arising from the integration of AI and classic IPs. Users may follow official updates from each platform for the latest information.

Hashtag: #BingoGroup

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

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

Source: Media Outreach

[Market Observation] From the Olympics to the World Cup: Hong Kong Embraces Ultimate “Sports Fever”

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

Source: Media Outreach

In Asia Pacific (APAC), that pressure is even more pronounced as 37% of organizations admit investing aggressively with little evaluation – nearly double the global average, and well ahead of the US (10%) and Europe (13%). The pressure is most acute in Australia (45%) and Vietnam (44%), while in Singapore, more than one in three organizations admit the same.

The IDC InfoBrief, based on a survey of 800 technology leaders across APAC, Europe, and the US, found that AI has become one of the most prioritized technology investments globally, with 51% of organizations planning to prioritize AI or machine learning investment over the next 12 months – rising to 61% across APAC. However, returns are failing to keep pace with the hype. Just 19% of global organizations surveyed say their AI implementations have exceeded expectations, and only 5% report they have significantly exceeded them¹.

Across APAC, 40% say implementations have exceeded or significantly exceeded expectations – ahead of the global average but still leaving the majority falling short. Globally, the most-cited reasons for underperformance are inadequate or poor-quality training data (51%), higher-than-expected costs or ROI not achieved (47%), and AI not performing as well as expected (46%). For APAC specifically, the picture is broadly similar – though costs bite harder: 49% cite poor-quality training data, 54% cite cost overruns or ROI not achieved (rising to 80% in Malaysia), and 46% say AI has simply not performed as expected.

Ben Elms, CEO, Expereo, says: “Every enterprise we speak to is investing in AI, yet the data shows a clear gap opening up between AI ambition and AI outcomes. More often than not, that gap comes down to the network underneath. AI only delivers on its promise when the infrastructure carrying it is built to support it.

Without resilient, scalable, cloud-optimized networks, even the most well-funded AI programs will struggle to deliver ROI. Getting the network right is no longer an IT decision; it is one of the most important conversations happening in the boardroom today to help fulfill AI ambition.”

APAC is also leading on adoption, with 35% of organizations reporting extensive AI use across the business, against a global average of 25%³. Yet adoption alone is not enough without the right foundations beneath it.

Eric Wong, President, APAC, Expereo, says: “Asia Pacific is moving aggressively on AI adoption, but many organizations are discovering that scaling AI successfully requires more than just investment in applications and models. The underlying network, cloud connectivity, and operational readiness matter just as much. Across the region, we are seeing enterprises reassess whether their infrastructure is truly ready to support AI at scale, particularly around performance, resilience, governance, and visibility. Organizations that address those foundations early are generally seeing stronger outcomes and faster operational impact from their AI initiatives.”

Boardrooms are also waking up to the longer-term risks of unchecked AI investment. According to the survey, 54% of global tech leaders cite the creation of new security risks as a significant potential future threat for their organization’s use of AI, while 39% globally are concerned about losing track of AI-related costs and ROI once the technology is embedded across the business⁴. In APAC, that concern is sharper still as 41% of technology leaders in the region are worried about losing oversight of AI-related costs and ROI as adoption deepens – a figure that rises to 54% in Malaysia. Digital sovereignty is also moving up the strategic agenda, with 38% of APAC organizations rating it a high or top priority as they look to retain control over data and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Hashtag: #Expereo, #Network, #ArtificialIntelligence, #AI, #Technology, #AIInvestment

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

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

Source: New Zealand Government

New data out today shows tourism is continuing its positive trajectory, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.

Stats NZ data out today shows 288,500 international visitors came to New Zealand in April 2026 – up 8 per cent on the same period last year, and 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

It also reported a record number of visitors from the United States (25,800, up 14 per cent on the same time last year), Australia (138,000, up 4 per cent) and India (8,000, up 17 per cent).

Visitor numbers from China also reached 32,500, up 52 per cent compared to the same time last year.

The continued growth in the sector – New Zealand’s second-largest export earner – shows the Government’s work to back tourism is working, Louise Upston says.

“Tourism is a cornerstone of the Government’s push for economic growth. This sustained growth is great news for Kiwis – it represents business investment, jobs and incomes for New Zealanders, all while showing off our beautiful country that we are so proud of.

“It is particularly encouraging seeing such strong momentum from China, which is a really important market for New Zealand.

“This significant lift from China reflects growing demand and highlights the value of our targeted efforts to attract more international travellers including the visa-waiver trial for Chinese and Pacific travellers coming via Australia. We’re fixing the basics so the resilient, hard-working and ambitious tourism sector can build its future, delivering more economic growth to New Zealand in the process.

“This continued growth is encouraging, especially as it comes amidst the conflict in the Middle East and associated fuel supply pressures.

“We remain focused on strengthening performance across all our key markets. Growth doesn’t happen by accident – it’s down to ensuring settings are in place to help the sector fly.

“These latest figures show we are moving in the right direction.”

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/12/international-visitor-numbers-continue-to-climb/

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-NZ-AU)

PERTH, WA, June 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PERTH, WA – June 10, 2026 – –

Dr Sparky Electrical has marked 15 years of operation in Perth as electric vehicle charger installations become one of the fastest-growing service categories for licensed electricians across Western Australia.

Perth households are plugging in at a pace Nigel Johnson did not anticipate when he founded Dr Sparky Electrical in Osborne Park in 2011. Fifteen years on, EV charger installation has become one of the fastest-growing service categories for the company, with enquiries from homeowners and businesses outpacing most other electrical work. Dr Sparky Electrical, a licensed Electrician Perth contractor, has extended its EV charger installation services across the full Perth metropolitan area, offering assessments and upfront fixed pricing to homeowners and businesses city-wide.

The state has put serious money behind that shift. Synergy and Horizon Power wrapped up the WA EV Network in January 2025, a $43.5 million project delivering Australia’s longest connected EV charging network, 49 stations spread across 7,000 kilometres of WA roads, placed roughly 200 kilometres apart.

Perth has since become one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities for installing home EV chargers, particularly among households that already have rooftop solar and want to round out their energy setup. Australian law requires a licensed electrician for every EV charger installation, and that rule has produced consistent demand for qualified contractors across the metro area.

For more information, visit https://drsparkyelectrical.com.au/

Dr Sparky Electrical was founded in Osborne Park in 2011 by Nigel Johnson, who built the business after seeing repeated instances of substandard electrical work left by under-qualified operators. That kind of work created real safety risks for the homeowners who inherited it.

In 15 years of operation, the company has grown from a single-van Perth operation to a full metropolitan service covering residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work across Perth. It holds an Electrical Contractors licence (EC11024), Australian Refrigeration Council accreditation (AU40416), and Clean Energy Council solar accreditation (A8690427).

“Fifteen years ago, nobody was calling us about EV chargers. Now it’s one of the most common enquiries we get from Perth homeowners,” said Nigel Johnson, Founder of Dr Sparky Electrical.

Johnson noted that many clients who purchased electric vehicles found their existing switchboards required upgrading before a Level 2 charger could safely be installed.

“Buying the car is the easy part. Getting the electrical infrastructure right is where people get stuck, and that’s where we come in.”

A licensed Electrician Perth is required for EV charger installations and they must hold an active Electrical Worker Licence issued by EnergySafety Western Australia, the state body responsible for electrical safety compliance. Installing a home EV charger without a licensed electrician is prohibited under WA law and can void the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty as well as the home’s insurance cover. Dr Sparky Electrical holds A$20 million in public liability insurance and puts only police-checked, licensed electricians on every residential and commercial project.

Australia’s electrical services industry reached an estimated $36.2 billion in revenue in 2026, according to IBISWorld, with residential and commercial work the primary revenue drivers across all states. For Perth operators, rising EV adoption sits alongside continued rooftop solar uptake and WA government rebates for heat pump hot water systems, which Dr Sparky Electrical helps clients access alongside installation. Perth homeowners trying to bring solar, battery storage, EV charging, and switchboard compliance under one contractor have started seeking out operators who can handle the complete scope.

If any aspect of completed work does not meet the client’s stated expectations, the team returns to address it at no additional charge. Callout fees are disclosed before work begins, and fixed-price quotes on most standard jobs are provided within two hours of enquiry. Interest-free payment plans are available on work over $500 through Zip, Humm, and Afterpay. For urgent faults, the team is on call around the clock. Most callouts across the Perth metropolitan area are attended within 60 minutes.

About Dr Sparky Electrical

Dr Sparky Electrical is a licensed electrical contractor founded in 2011 and based in Osborne Park, Perth, Western Australia. The company provides residential, commercial, and industrial electrical services including EV charger installation, solar, air conditioning, heat pump systems, and 24/7 emergency response across the Perth metropolitan area.

###

For more information about Dr Sparky Electrical, contact the company here:

Dr Sparky Electrical
Nigel Johnson
1800 377 727
info@drsparkyelectrical.com.au
Osborne Park, Perth, Western Australia

– Published by The MIL Network

Source: Media Outreach

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MediaOutReach Newswire – 12 June 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, marked a milestone in its growing European presence at Money20/20 Europe 2026 in Amsterdam. Building on strong engagement throughout the event, the company announced two strategic collaborations with international financial institutions BBVA and Societe Generale, reinforcing its commitment to partnering with top-tier banks to modernise cross-border payment infrastructure for SMEs worldwide.

XTransfer processed more than US$60 billion in total payment volume (TPV) in 2025 and, as of 31 March 2026, has served approximately 897,000 registered clients, with payment services covering more than 200 countries and regions. The platform is scaling as a critical infrastructure layer, connecting SMEs to secure and compliant cross-border payment capabilities traditionally reserved for larger corporates.

The new collaborations support XTransfer‘s long-term strategy to deepen X-Net, its unified B2B cross-border settlement network and risk management platform. X-Net links financial institutions and import-export enterprises through end-to-end, cross-bank payment connections and centralised risk controls. By combining bank-grade resilience and regulatory expertise with platform-enabled digital connectivity, XTransfer aims to deliver faster, more predictable, and easier-to-automate cross-border payment experiences across major trade corridors.

The initiatives also align with XTransfer‘s focus on addressing persistent pain points that constrain trade and cash flow for SMEs, particularly those operating in and with emerging markets. Businesses often face fragmented local collection options, limited transparency over fees and FX, lengthy and unpredictable settlement cycles, and complex onboarding and compliance processes. By expanding local-currency collection, improving FX conversion reliability, and strengthening regulated settlement connectivity, XTransfer aims to reduce friction for SMEs trading into and out of fast-growing markets, supporting a shift from informal channels to secure, compliant payment rails.

At Money20/20 Europe 2026, XTransfer brought the momentum of its partnership announcements to the official Money20/20 stage and hosted a fireside chat featuring Violas Xiao, Singapore & Latin America CEO of XTransfer, titled “Across Borders & Beyond Boundaries: Women Shaping the Next Era of Global Payments,” with speakers from BBVA, HSBC, Visa and BNP Paribas.

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

Hashtag: #XTransfer #Money2020EU2026 #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs #Partnerships

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

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

Source: NZCTU

A new Convention on decent work in the platform economy has been adopted at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva — the first binding global labour standard for platform work.

Crucially, it says employment status must be decided mainly on the facts of the working relationship, not whatever label a company puts on it. It also strengthens rights around pay, deactivation, algorithmic management, social protection and health and safety.

“This convention is a huge milestone for platform workers around the world” says NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary, Melissa Ansell-Bridges, who was a member of the workers’ group and sat on the drafting committee. “It affirms that all workers, including digital platform workers, are entitled to fundamental rights like collective bargaining. This is undoubtedly a turning point in the fight to improve conditions for these workers.”

“It is absolutely shameful, however, that the New Zealand Government was one of only two governments to vote against the convention,” says Ansell-Bridges. The other government to vote against was the United States. “That leaves this Government isolated from the clear international consensus that platform workers need stronger rights and protections.”

At a time when the rest of the world is trying to increase protections, Brooke Van Veldon has taken them away with the “gateway test” that became law earlier this year, effectively stripping these workers from the ability to challenge employment status.

The message from Geneva is clear: lift standards for platform workers, don’t undermine them. The New Zealand Government should reverse course, drop its out-of-step gateway test, and bring domestic law into line with this new global standard.

What the Convention does

• Applies fundamental rights at work to the platform economy, including freedom of association and collective bargaining.
• Requires employment status to be decided mainly on the facts of the relationship.
• Strengthens protections on deactivation and algorithmic management.
• Supports fair pay, social protection and health and safety.
• Protects workers’ personal data and helps guard against violence and harassment.

Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/13/new-zealand-woefully-out-of-step-with-new-global-standard-for-digital-platform-workers/

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