PM Edition: Here are the top 10 business articles on LiveNews.co.nz for July 17, 2026 – Full Text
1. Trends Report 2026: AI, subscriptions and digital payments reshape Asia Pacific e-commerce
July 16, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
New DHL eCommerce survey reveals gap between AI usage and trust, rising demand for subscription models, as well as openness towards more digital payment options
New e-commerce trends revealed by DHL eCommerce Trends Report
“As digital lifestyles continue to evolve across Asia Pacific, innovation in e-commerce will accelerate in ways we cannot fully predict today,” said Pablo Ciano, CEO of DHL eCommerce. “What is clear is that shopper expectations will continue to rise. A seamless, intuitive and personalized experience remains fundamental to engaging customers. But the real opportunity lies in bridging any gaps, particularly around trust, convenience and choice for long-term loyalty.”
AI adoption surges but gap remains between usage and trust
Across Asia Pacific, AI adoption is already gaining traction among both shoppers and businesses. Around 40% of shoppers have used AI-powered tools such as chatbots and virtual assistants for customer service or to obtain recommendations as part of their online shopping journey. This number is set to rise with another 37% stating that they would like to use AI tools in the future for these purposes, highlighting a strong appetite for more personalized and intuitive experiences.
Businesses show strong adoption, with 80% indicating that they are currently using AI across their e-commerce platforms. In particular, the top two business use cases of AI are to offer personalized and tailored recommendations to their online customers, and to conduct product reviews or image comparison. In fact, digitally fluent customers and advanced commercial ecosystems are underlying determinants of Asia Pacific businesses’ strong ability to lead the development of agentic commerce.
Looking ahead, companies overwhelmingly expect AI usage to increase further over the next five years, particularly across forecasting of future trends, virtual try-ons, and fraud detection.
However, a clear gap between trust and usage towards AI is emerging. While shoppers are actively using AI tools today, their willingness to let AI make purchasing decisions remains mixed, with concerns around privacy and accuracy cited by 62% and 50% of respondents, respectively. Their concerns are also mirrored among businesses.
Subscription models gain momentum, especially for delivery and returns
Demand for subscription-based shopping experience is growing across Asia Pacific, with a large majority of respondents indicating that they already hold at least one product subscription. Among them, 35% have three or more product subscriptions. Discounted or preferential pricing as well as loyalty rewards are the top two motivators of product subscriptions.
Additionally, intent is rising sharply particularly for logistics-related subscriptions. Across the region, 61% of shoppers in Australia, 32% in China, 52% in India, 47% in Malaysia, and 42% in Thailand say that they subscribe to at least one delivery and returns program. There is also a likelihood that more will be a “logistics-subscription convert” as one in two reported that they would consider subscribing to one over the next five years.
Correspondingly, 71% of Asia Pacific businesses already offer a subscription-based delivery and returns model, and 21% intend to do so within the next five years. Such models are expected to focus on benefits such as discounted pricing, priority service, greater flexibility and loyalty rewards, aligning closely with shopper motivations.
Payments expand to meet demand for speed, choice and convenience
Payment ecosystems across the Asia-Pacific region are evolving rapidly, with strong alignment between consumer preferences and business offerings. Shoppers across the region continue to transact online using credit/debit cards and digital wallets, while adoption of newer options such as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), cryptocurrency and biometric authentication is steadily increasing. This trend is particularly pronounced in markets such as China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand, where mobile-first commerce is driving the growth of digital payment solutions.
Fueled by a mobile-first consumer base, Asia Pacific businesses are already offering a range of payment methods, including digital wallets, BNPL, and biometric checkout, with the aim of reducing checkout friction and improving conversion rates.
About the DHL eCommerce Trends Report 2026
The DHL eCommerce Trends Report 2026 surveyed 29,000 consumers and 5,800 businesses across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. By combining shopper and business perspectives into a single unified view, the report provides practical insights to help e-commerce brands respond to evolving operational demands.
https://group.dhl.com/en.html
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dhlecommerce/posts/?feedView=all
Hashtag: #DHLeCommerce #ecommercetrends #digitalpayments #AI #subscriptions
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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2. Trade ministers from around the world gather in Auckland
July 16, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Ten trade ministers and up to 100 delegates representing 21 countries will gather in Auckland this week for one of the most significant international trade meetings New Zealand has hosted in two decades, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.
Mr McClay will chair the second Future of Investment and Trade (FITP) Partnership Ministerial Meeting on 17 July, bringing together economies from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific.
“This is a global gathering, hosted by New Zealand, at a time when the world trading system is under real pressure. Ministers are coming to Auckland to focus on reducing barriers and boosting trade,” Mr McClay says.
The 16 FITP member countries are small and medium sized economies that rely on trade. New Zealand has invited Korea, Peru, Thailand, Fiji and Samoa to attend this year’s meeting as observers.
“Visiting ministers will have an opportunity to engage with the New Zealand business community and make decisions that mean trade rules are consistent, less costly and easier to navigate.
“We are agreeing practical ways to reduce barriers and make it easier for everybody to trade outside of a free trade agreement. We have to do this because trade rules are becoming contested, relationships more complex, and disruptions more frequent.
“The FIT Partnership is one way to address the unnecessary red tape, complex processes and regulations that directly affect our Kiwi exporters. Non-tariff barriers are a clear example. They affect $9 billion of New Zealand trade and hit the primary sector hardest. As Chair, I will be working with FIT partners to tackle them as a priority.
“The meeting also deepens our ties with the initiative’s other founding partners, Singapore, Switzerland and the UAE, while opening doors in emerging markets and regions where our trade links are less developed,” Mr McClay says.
“Hosting ministers from four continents puts New Zealand at the forefront of global trade once again, and shows the world just what we have to offer.”
New Zealand is a founding member of the FIT Partnership, which includes Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Morocco, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.
Ministers will also discuss promoting paperless and digital trade, which reduces business costs and lifts productivity, confronting subsidies that distort trade, and reinforcing the rules that secure a level playing field.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/16/trade-ministers-from-around-the-world-gather-in-auckland/
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3. Cocaine Tightens Grip on NZ Workplaces, positive tests up nearly 70%
July 16, 2026
Imperans Q2 Report, State of Workplace Drug Use from TDDA
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 16 July 2026 – Cocaine use is on the rise across New Zealand workplaces. That’s a key finding of the latest Imperans Report, a quarterly analysis of drug use in the workplace prepared by The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider.
The Imperans report empowers New Zealand employers to engage in proactive workplace risk management, it provides them with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining results from across the country.
Growing cocaine use is not the only workplace concern. Among all positive results across New Zealand, compared with year-on-year (YoY) substance detections are as follows.
· ATS (including methamphetamine): 32.7% of positive tests, up 5.2% YoY
· Cannabis: 64.4% of positive tests, up 1.7% YoY
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that opioid use (including oxycodone) is down. Opioids were present in 18.2% of positive tests, in Q2, down 14.0% YoY.
This quarter, 2.8% of all screens conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs, showing a slight downward trend compared with 3.0% in Q1. Of positive test rates, there is a backdrop of cocaine and ATS rebounding strongly against the same quarter a year ago.
Cocaine accounted for 2.8% of positive tests in Q2 2026, up 68.5% YoY, and setting aside the seasonal Q4 peak, its highest level in a year.
“TDDA data is showing that cocaine retreated from Q4 levels, which peaked over Christmas and New Year, but is roaring back in Q2. It is becoming increasingly likely that cocaine, buoyed by cartels and other South Pacific drug trade activity, is something employers even in white collar industries need to worry about. The substance is becoming highly available due to supply networks – rather than just a one-off spike,” says Glenn Dobson, chief executive of TDDA.
ATS, including methamphetamine, accounted for 32.7% of positive tests, up 5.2% YoY, after easing since Q3 2025. Businesses in the South Island should take note, as the region is seeing the largest spike in positive rates.
“Cocaine and ATS interfere with the way the brain judges risk, producing misplaced confidence and slower decisions at exactly the wrong moment. On safety-critical sites, where a small margin or a split second can be the difference, that combination can turn deadly fast. When judgement slips on a construction site or behind the wheel of a truck, the consequences reach past the workers and colleagues, and into families waiting at home.”
Regional trends
TDDA tracks regional fluctuations in substance use to help employers better manage workplace safety risks through targeted testing, education, and early intervention.
Cocaine
Cocaine is spreading nationally, reaching its highest level in a year across several regions below.
· Canterbury: 3.1% of positive tests, up 375.8% YoY
· Otago: 4.5% of positive tests, up 146.2% YoY
· Hawke’s Bay: 5.3% of positive tests, up 81.3% YoY
· Manawatū-Whanganui recorded cocaine detections of 5.1% of positive tests in Q2 2026, up from zero detections in the same quarter last year
ATS
The YoY rise in ATS runs strongest through the South Island.
· Southland: 44.0% of positive tests, up 200.8% YoY
· Otago: 25.4% of positive tests, up 153.7% YoY
· Bay of Plenty: 34.4% of positive tests, up 84.4% YoY
The quarterly ATS picture suggests employers should watch further north too. Auckland East, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Taranaki and Tasman have all turned sharply upward in recent quarters.
Opioids
Opioids are settling nationally, though some regions keep climbing.
· Gisborne: 26.3% of positive tests, up 216.0% YoY
· Taranaki: 14.3% of positive tests, up 62.0% YoY
· Wellington: 18.6% of positive tests, up 56.6% YoY
· Otago: 41.8% of positive tests, up 27.7% YoY, the highest detection rate in the country.
What this means for employers
“When cocaine and ATS move region by region like this, a drug and alcohol testing programme set once and left alone quietly falls behind the risk. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 puts the obligation on employers to manage foreseeable risks, and substance use in safety-critical roles is exactly that. The starting point is a drug and alcohol policy that covers illicit, synthetic and prescription drugs alongside alcohol. It also gives managers and supervisors who sense something is off, yet don’t really know how to act, a clear path to follow,” says Dobson.
Stimulants can clear the body faster than depressants like opioids, so a single test at one point in time often misses them, and when and how a business tests employees shapes what is discovered.
“Pre-employment testing catches drug use at the door and shows on day one that the policy is more than words on paper. To keep catching fast-clearing substances like stimulants after that, random testing works well alongside it.
“In Q1 we warned that opioids were spreading quietly, and this quarter the more visible stimulants are returning alongside them. In the end, this isn’t just about compliance, because every person who turns up on site each day deserves to finish the day and get home safe. That is what TDDA protects.”
Methodology: Tests from 27 sterile clinic locations and over 60 mobile clinics throughout New Zealand were used. All tests were taken between 1 April and 30 June 2026. Data from pre-employment, post incident, regular and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into, anonymised, and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting. It represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australasian workplaces and industries.
Total figures on testing volumes or testing results by industry and region are commercially sensitive.
TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines; benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; Cannabis; and synthetic drugs.
About the Imperans Report
The Imperans report addresses an information gap for business. Government organisations like ACC and WorkSafe publish incident reports, but they do not quantify when substances are a factor. Reports build businesses’ understanding of substance use patterns regionally and temporally so that they can anticipate and reduce workplace risks. TDDA provides over 250,000 tests every year.
About The Drug Detection Agency
The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide New Zealand and Australian businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. As members of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and the California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA), TDDA closely follows and acts on global drug trends.
Learn more about TDDA at https://tdda.com/, and read about the thinking behind TDDA’s work at https://tdda.com/protecting-the-girl-on-the-bike/.
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4. Johnson Electric reports Business and Unaudited Financial Information for the First Quarter of Financial Year 26/27
July 16, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 July 2026 – This news release is made by Johnson Electric Holdings Limited (“Johnson Electric” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) for the business operations and selected unaudited financial information of the Group for the three months ended 30 June 2026.
The Group’s sales for the three months ended 30 June 2026 were US$936 million compared to US$915 million for the same period in the previous financial year, an increase of approximately US$21 million or 2%. Exchange rate movements had a favourable impact of US$14 million on the Group’s sales during the period.
Sales of Automotive Products Group (“APG”)
APG’s sales for the three months ended 30 June 2026 were US$778 million, an increase of US$13 million or 2% compared to the same period in financial year 25/26. Excluding currency effects, APG’s sales were broadly flat.
The division’s sales changes by region, excluding currency effects, were as follows:
| Three months ended 30 June 2026 |
||
| Asia-Pacific | 4% | Increase |
| Europe, the Middle East and Africa | 6% | Decrease |
| Americas | 2% | Increase |
| Total | Flat | |
In the Asia-Pacific region, sales increased by 4%, mainly driven by program ramp-ups and market share gains with Chinese domestic OEMs and their suppliers, benefiting from the increasing strength of Chinese automotive brands. Sales of products for thermal management, braking and interior applications increased, partially offset by lower sales of products for closure, electric driveline as well as engine and fuel management applications.
In the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) region, sales decreased by 6%, due primarily to subdued customer demand and price adjustments implemented by the Group in response to market conditions. Lower sales of products for steering, transmission and closure applications were partially mitigated by higher sales of products for engine and fuel management applications.
In the Americas region, sales increased by 2%. Higher sales of powder metal components and products for interior applications were largely offset by lower sales of products for engine and fuel management, braking and transmission applications.
Sales of Industry Products Group (“IPG”)
IPG’s sales for the three months ended 30 June 2026 were US$158 million, an increase of US$8 million or 6% compared to the same period in the previous financial year. Excluding currency effects, IPG’s sales increased by US$7 million or 5%.
The division’s sales changes by region, excluding currency effects, were as follows:
| Three months ended 30 June 2026 |
||
| Asia-Pacific | 32% | Increase |
| Europe, the Middle East and Africa | 7% | Decrease |
| Americas | 5% | Decrease |
| Total | 5% | Increase |
The overall performance reflects a mixed regional picture, shaped by changing market and customer dynamics.
In the Asia-Pacific region, sales increased by 32%. Sales of products for medical devices, food and beverage, liquid cooling and handheld gimbal applications increased mainly due to new business wins and program ramp-ups in China.
In the EMEA region, sales decreased by 7%. Sales of products for lawn, heating and personal care applications declined, mainly due to softer market demand. This was partially offset by higher sales of products for ventilation applications and piezo motors for high precision equipment semiconductor manufacturing applications.
In the Americas region, sales decreased by 5%. Sales of products for white goods and window applications were negatively affected by subdued market conditions. Sales of products for surgical applications declined due to lower demand from certain customers. This was partially offset by stronger sales of products for lawn and ventilation applications.
Chairman’s Comments on Sales Performance and Outlook
Commenting on the Group’s sales performance and near-term outlook, Dr. Patrick Shui-Chung Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “The Group’s sales in the first quarter showed modest growth on a reported basis, supported by favourable exchange-rate movements.
Looking ahead, visibility remains limited as customers continue to exercise caution in their purchasing and investment decisions amid an uncertain macroeconomic, geopolitical and trade tariff environment. Nevertheless, the Group is currently targeting mid-single-digit growth for the full year, supported by its pipeline of new product launches across a broad range of automotive, consumer and industrial applications, as well as anticipated market share gains with certain key customers.
Over the medium to long term, the Group remains confident in its growth trajectory, supported by continued investment in innovation and an expanding portfolio of growth platforms. These include components and subsystems for distributed power generation systems, advanced thermal management, liquid cooling and humanoid robotics applications. The Group continues to develop new business opportunities across a number of these growth areas and is investing in technology and operational capabilities to support future customer requirements. While these areas present attractive long-term opportunities, their development and commercial adoption remain subject to customer program schedules and market conditions.”
Cautionary Statement
Shareholders and potential investors in the Company are reminded that the information provided in this news release, including information related to the expected outlook for the full year, is based on the Group’s unaudited internal records and management accounts. This information has not been reviewed or audited by the Company’s auditors.
Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing or investing in the shares of the Company.
https://www.johnsonelectric.com
Hashtag: #JohnsonElectric #Q1Results #MotionSystems
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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5. Rhenus to Further Strengthen Warehousing Solutions in the Philippines
July 16, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
- Rhenus Philippines aims to develop modern warehouse infrastructure and improve in-country operational efficiency, elevating the quality of warehousing services through enhanced processes, technology-enabled fulfillment, and streamlined logistics.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 July 2026 – In a market shaped by growing consumer demand and evolving logistics requirements, Rhenus is providing warehousing services to leading technology companies such as Bosch Philippines.
Rhenus provides sustainable warehousing services, including storage, handling, fulfillment and value-added services that support local operations. The service for customers also includes the use of a fully electric Material Handling Equipment (MHE) fleet, as well as established warehouse processes designed to minimize waste.
The engagement reflects the continued commitment which Rhenus has to supporting customers in the Philippines through modern warehousing capabilities and reliable logistics operations.
Marcus Fornell, Regional Head of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions in APAC, said, “Strategic collaborations are a key part of our regional strategy to actively expand our footprint and product portfolio. With logistics needs in the Philippines continuing to evolve, we look forward to pursuing active growth and setting new standards for logistics solutions in the markets that we are in.”
As part of its continued investment in the country, Rhenus recently opened a new warehouse facility in Parañaque and established a new head office in Pasay.
“Rhenus is committed to continually investing in the Philippines as we strengthen our local logistics capabilities. This marks another step in supporting the market’s evolving needs through reliable operations, modern facilities, and solutions tailored to customers in the country,” added Deepak Sharma, Managing Director of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Philippines.
Rhenus is recognized by the Bosch Group as a “Preferred Supplier” for overland services. Bosch confers this status on companies and service providers that have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance over an extended period within their respective fields.
Ricardo Almeida, Global Strategic Account Manager at Rhenus said, “Our longstanding business relationship with Bosch reflects our shared focus on operational excellence and reliable logistics support. As supply chains continue to evolve globally, and as markets such as the Philippines become increasingly important in regional growth, we remain focused on delivering reliable and efficient logistics solutions tailored to local business needs.”
Hashtag: #Rhenus
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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6. Latest figures continue year-on-year increase in jobseekers finding work
July 16, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
New figures reveal further year-on-year improvements in the number of New Zealanders moving off benefit and into work.
Minister of Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says the numbers are encouraging.
“In the year ending June 2026, there were 86,544 exits from a main benefit into work – an increase of 5772 from the year ending June 2025,” Louise Upston says.
“Today’s figures are similar to previous statistics released in March this year, which showed 5580 more people leaving a main benefit for work during the year ending March 2026 compared to the same period the year before.
“Year-on-year quarterly results are also showing a similar trend, with 21,261 exits from a main benefit into work – 1665 more than the June 2025 quarter.”
Today’s figures reflect the typical seasonal patterns for this time of year, with a small (1 per cent) increase in the number of people receiving a working age main benefit and fewer exits compared to the last quarter.
“We generally see a small bounce back from the March quarter, which normally has higher exits into work with the beginning of the school year and work picking up post holidays, so year-on-year comparisons are often a more reliable indicator of job market trends,” Louise Upston says.
“Economic conditions are challenging, but today’s figures are promising for the job market and job seekers.
“Our Traffic Light System continues to help jobseekers stay on track with their job search responsibilities and seize every opportunity available.
“MSD’s Kōrero Mahi seminars are helping thousands of jobseekers take practical steps toward sustainable employment through targeted employment support – including advice about finding the right job, CV support, or being referred to job vacancies, training, or case management.
“Throughout the quarter ending June 2026 more than 16,000 people attended MSD’s Kōrero Mahi – Let’s Talk Work seminars, which are targeted towards people who are new to benefit and have full-time work obligations,” Louise Upston says.
“ChamberWorks – a partnership between New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and MSD – helps connect businesses with pre-screened candidates and recruitment support, delivering a pipeline of talent and jobs for those on benefit.
“MSD partners directly with businesses also.
“An example of that is Ventia, which has worked with the Northern Jobs and Skills Hub to support school leavers and job seekers into seasonal and full-time employment pathways, developing local talent, strengthening workforce retention and reducing reliance on temporary labour. In 2025, more than 100 people were placed in jobs with Ventia, up from 36 in 2024.
“Other examples include the Ara Jobs and Skills Hub, which trains and connects people to jobs across the Auckland Airport precinct. MSD has also worked closely with SkyCity to help people gain employment opportunities upon the recent opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
“By helping businesses to thrive, driving income growth, and providing practical support to help get jobseekers into work, this government is committed to supporting New Zealanders towards independence.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/16/latest-figures-continue-year-on-year-increase-in-jobseekers-finding-work/
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7. CyCraft Named a Sample Provider in the Gartner® Latest AI Reasoning Models Report—The Only Taiwan-Based Cybersecurity Provider Listed
July 16, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 July 2026 – CyCraft (Stock Code: 7823) has been recognized by the global business and technology insights organization Gartner in its latest report, “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Reasoning Models Reshape Providers’ Approaches to AI Pricing.” In this report focusing on AI Reasoning Models, CyCraft is named as a Sample Provider, making it the only Taiwan-based cybersecurity company included in the full list.
CyCraft’s XCockpit platform integrates comprehensive, quantified metrics for external exposure, internal attack surface management, and endpoint protection within a single unified interface.
Dr. Benson Wu, CEO and Co-Founder of CyCraft, stated: “We believe, being listed as a Sample Providerin the Gartner report demonstrates that the global market now views AI security as the next battlefield for AI commercialization. From day one, CyCraft has developed proprietary models, simultaneously deploying AI reasoning capabilities across three core pillars: cybersecurity defense, AI governance, and unmanned vehicle reconnaissance. Technical leadership is our starting point, not the destination. Our goal is to translate this leadership into rapid growth driven by strategic deployment and disciplined execution. Launched this year, our AI Red Teaming and AI Guardrail solutions have already been productized and commercially shipped, seeing active deployment in sectors like semiconductors and sovereign AI.”
AI Reasoning Models Drive Up Operating Costs, Restructuring Profit Logic
As AI transitions from “training models” to “reasoning models,” the industry officially moves from the research and development phase into commercial application. Reasoning models possess logical deduction, self-reflection, and complex problem-solving capabilities. However, these advanced capabilities have caused AI operational costs to skyrocket, forcing the tech industry to redefine its expectations of AI as a tool for massive cost reduction and profit maximization.
CyCraft’s XCockpit Threat Exposure Management Platform features built-in AI reasoning models that triage thousands of alerts in real time, automatically providing mitigation recommendations and effectively eliminating alert fatigue. From overall security posture scoring to specific actionable tickets for individual alerts, XCockpit transforms defensive benefits—which were historically difficult to define—into concrete, quantifiable technical metrics. This embodies CyCraft’s pragmatic philosophy: the value of defense must be visible, and it must be measurable.
Standing at the Frontier of AI Security, CyCraft Advances Commercial Implementation with Profound R&D Momentum
Deeply integrating AI with cybersecurity, CyCraft has launched XecGuard and XecART—two major AI security products deployable across both cloud and on-premises environments, both featured on the CyCraft believes that as AI moves from R&D to commercial deployment, the barrier for enterprises is no longer “whether they can use AI,” but “whether they can use AI responsibly.” Once Agentic AI enters financial transactions, government services, or critical infrastructure, every autonomous decision must leave a traceable path, accept auditing, and allow for real-time human intervention when necessary. This is true AI governance. It is not a compliance document, but a complete control chain stretching from pre-launch to runtime, and onto post-incident traceability.
CyCraft deconstructs this control chain into three actionable phases: XecART stress-tests model risks before deployment; XecGuard safeguards inputs and outputs during runtime; XCockpit quantifies the overall risk posture into traceable metrics. Interlocking these three components ensures that every step AI takes is visible, manageable, and auditable. CyCraft’s objective is clear: make AI behavior measurable before its value can be priced. Ultimate technical leadership must be converted into commercial resilience that is governable, auditable, and open to investor scrutiny.
The technological revolution of AI Reasoning Models and Agentic AI is an undeniable reality. The ultimate challenge lies in whether enterprises can implement “controllable, auditable, and highly transparent” AI governance within real-world commercial environments. From being recognized in international research reports to taking the stage at top-tier academic conferences, CyCraft continues to prove that from visionary R&D to product commercialization, Taiwan’s AI cybersecurity prowess helps herald the future of a secure, trusted, and prosperous AI era.
Reports
Gartner, Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Reasoning Models Reshape Providers’ Approaches to AI Pricing, 5 June 2026.
Disclaimer
Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and its affiliates.
Hashtag: #CyCraftTechnology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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8. NZCTU welcomes Bill to make union membership the default for new workers
July 16, 2026
Source: NZCTU
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU) is welcoming the Green Party’s Employment Relations (Automatic Union Membership) Amendment Bill, announced this morning at E Tū’s 2026 Biennial Conference. The Bill would make union membership the default setting for new employees in workplaces covered by a collective agreement.
“This Bill is a practical, common-sense step that would make it easier for working people to access the benefits of union membership and collective bargaining,” says Rachel Mackintosh, Acting President of the NZCTU.
“Too many workers currently miss out on union membership not because they don’t want it, but because of practical barriers when they start a new job. Automatic enrolment, with the right to opt out at any time, removes those barriers while fully protecting individual choice.”
The Bill closely reflects the NZCTU’s own A New Deal for Workers policy, released as part of Reimagining Aotearoa Together. This also follows the recent release of the OECD’s Employment Outlook 2026 which called for more collective bargaining in New Zealand to help combat real wages falling faster here than anywhere else in the OECD. In real-terms, New Zealand’s working people are earning 6.4 percent less than they were in 2021.
“Collective bargaining lifts wages, narrows gender and ethnic pay gaps, makes workplaces safer, and supports productivity. Countries with higher collective bargaining coverage than New Zealand consistently achieve higher labour productivity and higher wages – our low coverage is holding our economy back.”
Mackintosh says that there is strong public support for this change, with polling showing that 65 percent of employees would remain union members if automatically enrolled.
“Union membership was the norm in New Zealand before the Employment Contracts Act 1991 stripped away workers’ rights. Thirty-five years on, working people are still living with the consequences – suppressed wages, rising inequality, and industries locked into low-wage.”
The NZCTU also welcomes the Green Party’s commitment to take automatic union membership to the 2026 election.
“We strongly support the Green Party taking this policy into any post-election coalition talks,” says Mackintosh.
“Rebuilding an employment relations framework that genuinely supports collective bargaining is essential to a fairer and more productive Aotearoa. We encourage all political parties to get behind this Bill and to commit to the wider reforms we’ve set out in A New Deal for Workers: restoring Fair Pay Agreements, improving access to unions when starting work, and ending the misclassification of employees as contractors,” says Mackintosh.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/16/nzctu-welcomes-bill-to-make-union-membership-the-default-for-new-workers/
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9. New Zealand renews partnership with Fiji
July 16, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Foreign Ministers of Fiji and New Zealand have signed a refreshed Duavata Partnership, outlining the relationship’s priorities for the next five years.
“The signing of our refreshed Duavata Partnership demonstrates New Zealand’s continued commitment to our strong friendship with Fiji and its people, and to deepening cooperation in areas of mutual benefit,” Mr Peters says.
“New Zealand and Fiji are natural partners, with decades-long ties spanning culture, sport, business, tourism, education, and people-to-people links.”
During their meeting, the two Ministers spoke about New Zealand’s interest in exploratory discussions with Fiji and Australia over the Ocean of Peace Alliance and the shared goal of boosting two-way trade to NZ$2 billion by 2030.
While in Auckland, Mr Ditoka will also attend the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership Ministerial Meeting hosted by Trade Minister, Hon Todd McClay, as a guest of New Zealand.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/16/new-zealand-renews-partnership-with-fiji/
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10. New Zealand hosts Pacific leaders
July 16, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will meet Pacific counterparts from Niue, Fiji and Samoa in Auckland today.
“In these uncertain geostrategic times in our region, it is more important than ever that we connect with fellow Pacific leaders,” Mr Peters says.
Mr Peters will hold talks with Niue’s Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Fiji’s Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka and Samoa’s Commerce, Industry and Labour Minister Afioga Fata Ryan Schuster.
This is Mr Peters’ first in-person meeting with Niuean Prime Minister Tagelagi since his re-election in May.
“New Zealand and Niue’s constitutional relationship remains strong, underpinned by shared values, close people-to-people ties, and a commitment to working together for our mutual benefit, as demonstrated by the Political Declaration signed last year,” Mr Peters says.
Mr Peters will also meet Fijian Minister Ditoka and Samoan Minister Fata, who are attending the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, being hosted by Trade Minister Hon Todd McClay, as guests of New Zealand.
“Minister Ditoka’s first visit to New Zealand as Foreign Minister will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss the strengthening of our bilateral relationship across a number of areas,” Mr Peters says.
“We are also pleased to host Minister Fata in New Zealand so soon after our visit to Samoa for its Independence Day celebrations in June,” Mr Peters said.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/07/16/new-zealand-hosts-pacific-leaders/
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