PM Edition: Here are the top 10 business articles on LiveNews.co.nz for August 30, 2026 – Full Text
1. Forest City SFZ Clarifies Incentive Framework for Fintech and AI-Enabled Financial Services Alongside Malaysia Digital Incentives
August 29, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Forest City SFZ sets out who may qualify for its 5% special corporate tax rate, how the separate Malaysia Digital tax incentive works, and which activities and conditions apply to each scheme.
JOHOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2026 – Forest City has, over the past decade, built a recognised track record in green-building and sustainability credentials. Since the Malaysian Government announced the Forest City Special Financial Zone (“SFZ”) incentive package on 20 September 2024, the development has added a financial-services and digital-economy dimension. The Forest City Special Financial Zone (“FC-SFZ”) Tax Incentive offers a 5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment, extendable for a second 10-year period, to eligible companies undertaking qualifying fintech, Financial Global Business Services (“FGBS”) or Foreign Payment System Operator (“FPSO”) activities in Pulau 1, Forest City. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (“MDEC”) is the appointed government agency to process applications, which are assessed by the National Committee on Investment (“NCI”).
Forest City at night, looking across the Strait of Johor towards Singapore. Forest City lies approximately 2 km from Singapore at its nearest point.
The FC-SFZ Tax Incentive is separate from Malaysia Digital (“MD”) Status and the MD Tax Incentive. A company does not need MD Status to qualify for the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive. Under MDEC’s current rules, an FC-SFZ applicant must also not have been granted another tax incentive for the same qualifying activity. Eligible MD Status companies may separately apply for the MD Tax Incentive, subject to the applicable criteria and approval process.
Key Incentives at a Glance
Forest City’s first decade was defined in part by its green-building and sustainability record. Forest City reports nearly 40 international awards and certifications as at August 2026, including LEED for Core and Shell (“LEED-CS”) Gold pre-certification and GreenRE Gold ratings. On 20 September 2024, the Malaysian Government announced the Forest City SFZ incentive package, adding a financial-services and digital-economy dimension to the development.
The current incentive landscape has four main components:
- Forest City SFZ corporate tax rate: Eligible companies undertaking qualifying fintech, FGBS or FPSO activities in Pulau 1 may receive a 5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment, extendable for a second 10-year period, subject to approval and continued compliance. The qualifying activity must use at least one promoted technology enabler specified by MDEC.
- Single Family Office (“SFO”) Scheme: A qualifying Single Family Office Vehicle (“SFOV”) may receive a 0% tax rate on chargeable income from its qualifying holding and investment activities for an initial 10 years, with a possible extension for a further 10 years, subject to the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”) requirements.
- Knowledge workers: Eligible knowledge workers working within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (“JS-SEZ”), which includes Forest City as a designated flagship area, may qualify for a special 15% personal income tax rate for 10 years, subject to the applicable conditions.
- Malaysia Digital tax incentive: This is a separate national incentive administered by MDEC. For New Investment, eligible companies may choose between a reduced tax rate — 0% on qualifying intellectual-property (“IP”) income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and 5% or 10% on qualifying non-IP income for up to 10 years — or an Investment Tax Allowance (“ITA”) of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure for up to five years. Different rates apply to the Expansion Incentive. Applications are open until 31 December 2027.
Taken together, these measures position Forest City SFZ as a potential regional base for qualifying financial-services and technology-enabled businesses assessing Malaysia’s tax framework, proximity to Singapore and access to ASEAN markets. However, the schemes are separate and should not be treated as automatically cumulative.
Forest City Tax Framework for Fintech and Technology-Enabled Financial Services
The FC-SFZ Tax Incentive is not a blanket 100% tax exemption for fintech, AI or technology companies. It is a 5% special corporate tax rate for qualifying activities under the FC-SFZ framework. MDEC is the appointed agency to process applications, while applications are assessed by the NCI.
The 5% rate applies to qualifying fintech activities, FGBS and FPSO activities carried out in Pulau 1, Forest City. The qualifying activity must utilise at least one promoted technology enabler: artificial intelligence (“AI”) or big data analytics (“BDA”); Internet of Things (“IoT”); cybersecurity; cloud; blockchain; creative media technology, including extended reality (“XR”) or mixed reality (“MR”); robotics or automation; or advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology. Eligibility is not automatic based on location alone; companies must also satisfy the applicable corporate, activity, substance, regulatory and compliance conditions.
The “up to 100%” figure sometimes cited in relation to Malaysia Digital refers to the ITA available under the MD New Investment Incentive. It is an allowance on qualifying capital expenditure, not a 100% income tax holiday. The MD Tax Incentive is also separate from the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive and should not be assumed to stack with it for the same qualifying activity.
Comparison table:
| Scheme | What it covers | Headline rate / benefit | Authority & key note |
| Forest City SFZ — fintech / FGBS / FPSO incentive | Qualifying fintech, FGBS and FPSO activities in Pulau 1 using at least one promoted technology enabler | 5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment; extendable for a second 10-year period | MDEC processes applications; NCI assessment. Applications open 1 Sep 2024–31 Dec 2034. |
| Forest City SFZ — Single Family Office | Qualifying SFOV holding and investment activities | 0% tax rate for an initial 10 years; possible extension for a further 10 years | Securities Commission Malaysia; SFO tax rules gazetted on 3 Oct 2025. |
| JS-SEZ — eligible knowledge workers | Eligible knowledge workers working within the JS-SEZ, including qualifying roles in Forest City | 15% personal income tax rate for 10 years | Ministry of Finance / JS-SEZ incentive package; subject to eligibility conditions. |
| Malaysia Digital Tax Incentive — New Investment | Eligible MD Status companies undertaking qualifying Malaysia Digital Activities | 0% on qualifying IP income and 5% or 10% on qualifying non-IP income for up to 10 years; OR 60% or 100% ITA for up to 5 years | MDEC; MD Status required before tax-incentive application. Applications open until 31 Dec 2027. |
| Malaysia Digital Tax Incentive — Expansion | Eligible MD/MSC Malaysia Status companies undertaking qualifying new or expansion activities | 15% reduced tax rate for up to 5 years; OR 30% or 60% ITA for up to 5 years | MDEC; subject to the Expansion Incentive criteria. Applications open until 31 Dec 2027. |
| Malaysia standard corporate rate | Companies not qualifying for a lower or special rate | 24% headline corporate income tax rate | Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN); lower tiered rates may apply to qualifying SMEs. |
For accurate and current policy information, companies should refer directly to official sources, including:
Malaysia Digital Status and Tax Incentive: A Separate National Framework
MD Status is granted nationally by MDEC. An MD Status company may then be eligible to apply separately for the MD Tax Incentive, subject to the relevant criteria. Under MDEC’s current framework, qualifying Malaysia Digital Activities comprise the research, development or commercialisation of solutions, or the provision of services, using promoted technology enablers such as AI or BDA, IoT, cybersecurity, cloud, blockchain, drone technology, creative media technology, integrated-circuit design with embedded software, robotics or automation, and advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
Under the current MD Tax Incentive, the available options differ between New Investment and Expansion:
- New Investment: A 0% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and a 5% or 10% reduced tax rate on qualifying non-IP income, for up to 10 years; or an ITA of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure against up to 100% of statutory income, for up to five years.
- Expansion: A 15% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and non-IP income, for up to five years; or an ITA of 30% or 60% of qualifying capital expenditure against up to 100% of statutory income, for up to five years.
The “100%” figure therefore refers to the ITA rate under the New Investment Incentive. It does not mean that all company income is tax-free.
The MD Tax Incentive is open for applications until 31 December 2027. A company must first obtain MD Status before submitting an application for the MD Tax Incentive.
MD Status also provides access to non-tax benefits under the MD Bill of Guarantees, including the ability to apply for foreign knowledge-worker quotas and passes, subject to the relevant immigration requirements. MDEC’s Expats Service Centre administers the related Foreign Knowledge Worker processes for eligible companies.
Eligibility Summary: Entities, Sectors and Permitted Activities
Forest City SFZ 5% rate
- Activity-based: Qualifying services are limited to fintech-related activities, FGBS and FPSO activities.
- Technology condition: The qualifying activity must utilise at least one promoted technology enabler specified by MDEC, including AI or BDA, IoT, cybersecurity, cloud, blockchain, creative media technology, robotics or automation, or advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
- Location condition: The qualifying activity must be carried out in Pulau 1, Forest City.
- Substance and compliance conditions: Approved companies must meet the conditions set out in their approval letter, including commitments relating to full-time employees, knowledge workers, annual operating expenditure, ESG requirements, relevant regulatory approvals or licences, and annual compliance reporting verified by an independent auditor.
Malaysia Digital (MD) Status and MD Tax Incentive
- Activity-based: MD eligibility is tied to Malaysia Digital Activities that use the promoted technology enablers specified by MDEC. Merely operating an AI, cloud, fintech or digital business does not automatically confer tax-incentive eligibility.
- Status and tax-incentive process: MD Status is granted by MDEC. The MD Tax Incentive is a separate application available to eligible MD or MSC Malaysia Status companies, depending on the relevant incentive category.
- Geographic scope: MD Status is a national programme and does not require a company to be located in Forest City.
- No automatic stacking: MDEC states that an FC-SFZ Tax Incentive applicant must not already have been granted a tax incentive for the same qualifying activity. MDEC also confirms that MD Status is not required to apply for the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive.
Accordingly, companies should assess the FC-SFZ and MD frameworks separately. Any proposed structure involving different activities, income streams or incentive programmes should be verified with MDEC and qualified tax advisers before any combined tax outcome is assumed.
Strategic Rationale: Proximity, Talent Incentives and Regional Access
Forest City’s location proposition is based on three interlocking factors: proximity to Singapore, targeted talent incentives and early investor interest.
- Proximity as operational leverage: Forest City lies approximately 2 km from Singapore at its nearest point, placing qualifying operations close to one of Asia’s major financial and technology hubs. The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in central Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. MRT Corp has stated that service is targeted to commence on 31 December 2026. The RTS Link does not serve Forest City directly, so onward road transport between Forest City and central Johor Bahru will still be required.
- Talent as a bundled enabler: Eligible knowledge workers in the JS-SEZ may qualify for a special 15% personal income tax rate for 10 years, while eligible MD Status companies may apply for foreign knowledge-worker quotas and passes through MDEC’s expatriate facilitation framework. These are separate benefits with their own eligibility and approval requirements.
By June 2026, Invest Johor reported that the Forest City SFZ had recorded 260 cumulative investor enquiries through the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor, against an RM2 billion investment target. Separately, the SC reported in October 2025 that six families had received conditional approval under the SFO Incentive Scheme, with indicative assets under management close to RM400 million.
This incentive framework sits alongside Johor’s rapid emergence as a major Malaysian data-centre market. JLL has highlighted strong data-centre expansion in Johor and the wider JS-SEZ, supported by major hyperscale investments and infrastructure development. This broader digital-economy momentum strengthens the regional technology narrative, but it should not be presented as a direct operating benefit or guaranteed outcome for individual Forest City SFZ companies.
Decision Framework: Two Pathways and a Diligence Caveat
The incentive structure is best assessed through two distinct pathways, with a separate due-diligence lens for investors and advisers.
- Pathway A – FC-SFZ presence on Pulau 1: This is relevant to eligible fintech companies, FGBS providers and FPSO businesses that can satisfy the physical-location, activity, substance and compliance requirements. The 5% special corporate tax rate is available for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for a second 10-year period, subject to continued compliance and approval.
This route may suit businesses that value proximity to Singapore while maintaining qualifying operations in Pulau 1. The RTS Link is expected to improve connectivity between central Johor Bahru and Singapore, but it does not remove the requirement for companies to maintain the approved substance and qualifying activities in Forest City.
- Pathway B – MD Status and MD Tax Incentive nationwide: This pathway may be relevant to eligible digital companies operating elsewhere in Malaysia. MD Status is granted nationally by MDEC, and eligible companies may subsequently apply for the MD Tax Incentive. The applicable reduced tax rate or ITA depends on whether the company applies under the New Investment or Expansion category and on the conditions it meets.
Investors and advisers should note that headline rates are not the same as effective tax rates. The outcome for any entity depends on qualifying activities and income, approved commitments, substance conditions and the specific incentive secured. Groups with annual consolidated revenue of EUR750 million or more may also be subject to Malaysia’s domestic top-up tax rules where the relevant effective tax rate falls below 15%. Tax outcomes should therefore be modelled only after verification against current primary sources and professional advice.
The Verdict
Forest City’s proposition to fintech and technology-enabled financial-services companies is specific and condition-based: a 5% special corporate tax rate for qualifying fintech, FGBS and FPSO activities carried out in Pulau 1 using promoted technology enablers. The incentive runs for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for a second 10-year period, subject to compliance and approval. It is neither a blanket 5% rate for all AI or technology companies nor a 100% income tax exemption.
Alongside this are the separate SFO Incentive Scheme, which may provide a 0% tax rate for up to 20 years subject to SC requirements; the JS-SEZ’s special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers for 10 years; and the national MD Tax Incentive, which offers different reduced tax rates or ITA options depending on whether an applicant qualifies under the New Investment or Expansion category. Applications for the MD Tax Incentive are open until 31 December 2027.
Reported traction includes 260 cumulative investor enquiries recorded by Invest Johor by June 2026 and six families granted conditional approval under the SFO Incentive Scheme, with indicative assets under management close to RM400 million as reported by the SC in October 2025. Forest City also benefits from proximity to Singapore, while the RTS Link is targeted to commence service on 31 December 2026 between central Johor Bahru and Woodlands North.
For companies and investors, the key question is not simply whether these incentives exist, but whether their exact activities, income streams, location, substance commitments and corporate structure satisfy the conditions required to access them in practice. Current official guidance and qualified tax advice should be obtained before any investment or structuring
Hashtag: #ForestCity
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. Tiaki Wai spending to be independently scrutinised
August 29, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Wellingtonians will get independent scrutiny of how Tiaki Wai spends their money, with the Government imposing tougher regulation on the region’s water services provider, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer say.
The Government has accepted a Commerce Commission recommendation to impose performance requirement regulation on Tiaki Wai for the next 10 years – the first time this tool has been used on a water services provider in New Zealand.
“Wellingtonians are being asked to pay a great deal, and they are entitled to know exactly what they are getting for it,” Mr Watts says.
“Decades of local underinvestment have left this region with water networks that are not up to standard, and the cost of fixing them is now landing directly on households. Given the scale of investment required, strong accountability is essential.
“The Government will be watching Tiaki Wai very closely. I have a low threshold for considering further intervention if we do not see clear and sustained performance improvements,” Mr Watts says.
“This is about restoring confidence that the money being collected is delivering the infrastructure and services people have been promised.”
“Under Local Water Done Well, water charges are ring-fenced. For years the cost of water services was buried inside rates while networks were left to deteriorate – which is partly why Wellington ended up here,” Mr Brewer says.
“Transparency on its own is not enough. The Commission – which is the sector’s independent regulator – needs to be able to do more than publish information, and that’s why we are giving it the power to set binding requirements on Tiaki Wai’s performance.
“That means the Commission can specify what Tiaki Wai must deliver and by when, giving greater assurance that major investments are prioritised appropriately, delivered effectively, and are achieving the outcomes Wellingtonians are paying for.”
“The Commission has signalled its initial focus will be the critical, high-risk projects Tiaki Wai has already committed to,” Mr Brewer says.
“Tiaki Wai faces an estimated $25 billion of investment over the next 30 years. That is an enormous amount of other people’s money, and Wellingtonians are entitled to expect it goes into pipes and treatment plants.
“This is hard accountability, enforced by an independent regulator with real teeth. It is part of this Government’s plan to fix the basics and build the future, so the money Kiwis hand over buys them the services they were promised,” Mr Brewer says.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/29/tiaki-wai-spending-to-be-independently-scrutinised/
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3. BATIC 2026: Global Digital Leaders Unite to Build APAC’s Connectivity, Cloud, and AI Future
August 29, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
BATIC 2026 delegates gather in Bali, Indonesia.
- Telin and PEACE – LoI of PEACE Expansion
- Telin and TM Forum – Open API & Open Digital Architecture Manifesto
- Telin and SM+ – Strategic Partnership MoU
- Telin and GTI – MoU on BSC Fiber Pair Project Capacity and Connectivity
- Telin and Mitratel – MoU on Telin’s Asset Transaction Exploration in Timor-Leste
This solidarity became part of the conference’s lasting story. BATIC 2026 was not simply an event that continued through a difficult moment, but a global community that came together and stood for one another when it mattered most.
Hashtag: #BATIC2026 #BATIC #Telin #TelkomIndonesia #DigitalTransformation #DigitalEcosystem #Connectivity #Cloud #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DigitalInfrastructure #APAC #AsiaPacific #SubseaConnectivity #FutureOfConnectivity #DigitalEconomy #StrategicPartnership #Collaboration #Bali #Indonesia
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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4. Privacy Commissioner sets expectations about smart glasses
August 28, 2026
Source: Privacy Commissioner
28 Aug 2026, 14:29
Smart glasses are one of the latest technological developments exciting consumers, but they have significant privacy considerations. The Privacy Commissioner has outlined his expectations of their use to ensure New Zealanders are acting within the law and not creating harm through their use of the glasses.
Smart glasses add digital technology into ordinary-looking eyewear, including to record photos or video. Using Bluetooth and working with an AI app, they can recognise and describe images, scenes, and environments. Like many technological developments, they’re becoming cheaper and more available and sales are increasing globally.
Core privacy concerns
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster has several concerns about smart glasses.
“Because they look like ordinary glasses or sunglasses, it’s very easy for people to be filmed covertly, which makes it harder for people being filmed to object to it.
“Those concerns would increase for me if, in future, smart glasses are integrated with facial recognition technology,” he said.
There have been reports of smart glasses being used by men for non-consensual filming and livestreaming of interactions with women in public places.
“I also have concerns about what might happen to the data collected by smart glasses”, said Mr Webster.
Privacy Commissioner’s expectations for personal use of smart glasses
People using smart glasses to photograph or record people (in their personal capacity) need to respect the privacy of others. If you’re planning to film particular people, it’s good practice to ask those people if they consent before you start filming.
Most smart glasses have a light that flashes when the glasses are taking a photo or filming. But it’s not enough to expect people to look out for this light – you should still tell them that you’re recording.
“Individuals using smart glasses to collect other people’s information in a personal capacity will generally not be in breach of the Privacy Act.
“That’s because there’s an exception in the Privacy Act that allows individuals to collect and use personal information for personal or domestic purposes, such as taking photos of other people to share with family and friends,” says the Privacy Commissioner.
“However, the exception doesn’t apply if the information is collected, used or shared in a way that would be ‘highly offensive’, says Mr Webster.
What counts as ‘highly offensive’?
Factors that are relevant in thinking about what is highly offensive include how the information is filmed, how sensitive the information is and how vulnerable the person being filmed is. For example, information about people’s health or mental state is likely to be particularly sensitive, and particular care should be taken before filming children without the consent of them or their caregivers.
Efforts to hide the filming, such as disabling the warning light, could also increase the offensiveness.
“A good question to ask yourself is, ‘Would someone else watching me do this be likely to think it’s creepy for me to record in this situation?” said Mr Webster.
He also cautioned that, “In some cases recording people, even in public, could be a criminal offence, and footage that is uploaded or livestreamed online could be covered by the Harmful Digital Communications Act.”
What happens if you’re filmed with smart glasses?
If someone is using smart glasses to film you without your consent, you can ask them to stop. But it will probably not be illegal for them to record you.
If they post images of you online and use them in a harmful way, such as for abuse or harassment, you can report this to Netsafe. Making an intimate visual recording without consent is also a crime, and should be reported to the Police.
“I would ask New Zealanders not to automatically tag all users of smart glasses with the ‘creepy’ label’ said Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster.
“There are legitimate uses of smart glasses, for example using them to provide descriptions of surroundings for people who are blind or have low vision.
“That use makes it easier for them to negotiate public spaces,” said Mr Webster.
What about using smart glasses in a work context?
“An organisation that provides smart glasses to its employees for work use will need to comply with the Privacy Act, says the Privacy Commissioner.
“For example, agencies (business and organisations) whose staff are using smart glasses in their work will need to make sure that the glasses are used to collect personal information only if it’s necessary to collect the information for a lawful purpose that relates to the organisation’s business.”
If employees of an organisation use smart glasses to collect personal information for their work then the organisation is responsible under the Privacy Act.
“I would expect the organisation to have policies in place about use of its smart glasses, to prevent inappropriate use,” said Michael Webster.
“In particular, agencies should be aware that they are required to be transparent when they are collecting information (privacy principle 3), and cannot collect information in a manner that is unreasonably intrusive or unfair (privacy principle 4),” he says.
If an employee brings their own smart glasses into the workplace and uses them for their own purposes, the employee is responsible. But the employer should control their use through policies about appropriate behaviour in the workplace.
Regulating the use of smart glasses
As at August 2026, regulators around the world have expressed concern about the privacy implications of smart glasses and whether the law is adequate to protect against harms from the use of the glasses.
“I have been discussing the increasing use of wearable technology, like smart glasses, with privacy regulators in other countries. I know that in Australia the government has asked the Australian Privacy Commissioner to give priority to the issue”, said Mr Webster.
In New Zealand commentators have asked whether changes to the Privacy Act are needed to respond to smart glasses. In particular, should the exception for individuals collecting information for personal use be modified to provide better protection against misuse of the glasses? And are the right rules in place to make sure that manufacturers and technology vendors are building technology that takes a privacy by design approach?
The Privacy Commissioner agrees that the legal framework covering smart glasses and other similar devices in New Zealand should be looked at.
“Care will need to be taken to ensure that any potential regulatory change achieves the right balance between harmless uses and protecting people against harms.
“Using smart glasses for hands-free recording of family events is one thing, but given the potential for harm, questions need to be asked about where the boundary and accountabilities lie.
“Involving the public in answering these questions will be important,” says the Commissioner.
His Office will be monitoring and doing further work on the issue, and engaging with other regulators and with policy-makers.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/28/privacy-commissioner-sets-expectations-about-smart-glasses/
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5. Aolani launches the Aolani Token Factory to bring Pay-Per-Token AI to Asia
August 28, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
- AI agents for high-volume inference and workflow automation
- Enterprise AI applications including internal copilots, knowledge assistants, and document intelligence
- Coding agents for code generation, completion, testing, and review
Sea Xu, Applied AI Research Lead at Aolani said: “The Aolani Token Factory is built on a high-performance inference stack that supports the most in-demand open-source model families. We designed the platform for fast model adaptation and deployment, so our customers can get access quickly as new models emerge. As Southeast Asia’s AI ecosystem evolves and grows rapidly, it is our goal to ensure that the infrastructure serving it keeps pace.”
To register interest in the Aolani Token Factory, please visit: https://www.aolanicloud.com/services/token-factory.
Media Contact
H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani
https://www.aolanicloud.com/
https://linkedin.com/company/aolani-cloud
Hashtag: #Aolani #AIInfrastructure #TokenFactory #Neocloud
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. TrendAI™ Ranks First on CyberGym Agentic AI Security Benchmark
August 28, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
The 97% success rate places TrendAI
ahead of all other entrants on the AI security benchmark
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – The TrendAI agentic exploit-remediation engine, codename AESIR, achieved the top position on CyberGym, an independent evaluation benchmark for AI-driven security tooling.
The 97% success rate from TrendAI surpassed all other entrants currently on the leaderboard and is nearly 4 percentage points higher than the former leader, who posted a 93.2% score on Aug. 8, 2026.
CyberGym, a University of California, Berkeley benchmark, evaluates AI security tooling against 1,507 confirmed vulnerabilities drawn from 188 large open-source software projects that run in every enterprise.
Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI: “CyberGym’s validation changes what’s possible for enterprises adopting AI. The race isn’t to find first. It’s to close the exposure window. Cybersecurity has been defined by the scramble from discovery to exploitation; our job is to make that gap meaningless by compressing exposure time towards zero. Our advantage is turning validated vulnerability intelligence into effective risk reduction faster.”
TrendAI leverages seven AI models across four providers (Anthropic, DeepSeek, Google, and OpenAI) to maximize detection and remediation accuracy, and it powers a system built around one objective: close the exposure window faster than attackers can exploit it. It begins with discovery, powered by AI-scale identification of weak spots that static approaches miss. Each finding is then validated and turned into a working proof of concept, so teams understand exploitability and true business risk before the noise drowns out the signal. Only then does TrendAI rapidly reduce the risk, translating validated vulnerability intelligence into detection and virtual patches without waiting for the normal patching cycle.
That last step is what makes our approach and usage of agentic security different. This capability is built on more than 20 years of vulnerability research and exploit intelligence from TrendAI ZDI, giving the system a deep foundation of real-world knowledge about how vulnerabilities are discovered, validated and exploited. AI is compressing the time from discovery to exploitation, so risk reduction must move faster than the patch cycle, not wait on it. By converting validated intelligence into virtual patching, TrendAI shrinks the exposure window from weeks to as close to zero as possible, turning vulnerability management from reactive patching into proactive defense.
The TrendAI agentic exploit-remediation engine also powers dynamic discovery of threat actors actively exploiting vulnerabilities in the wild, giving security teams visibility into live exploitation in real time. Our real-world threat-intelligence layer supports the same goal: reduce exposure before attackers can exploit it.
TrendAI has published a technical blog post on the CyberGym methodology. For more information, please visit: https://www.trendaisecurity.com/en-us/resources-insights/trendai-security-blog/trendai-first-on-cybergym-top-exploit-benchmark
https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/
Hashtag: #trendai #trendaivisionone #visionone #trendmicro #cybergym
About TrendAI
TrendAI, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. Trusted by the largest enterprises and governments across 185 countries, TrendAI secures the entire organization, from identities, to infrastructure, to data. Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI to cut risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by world-leading threat and attack intelligence. AI Fearlessly.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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7. International Entertainment Corporation’s FY2025/26 Interim Revenue Increases by 50.6% to HK$852.5 Million
August 29, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Driving Growth through Facility Upgrades Strategic Expansion into Online Gaming
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – International Entertainment Corporation (the “Company“, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“; HKEX stock code: 1009), is pleased to announce that its revenue grew by approximately 50.6% period-on-period to approximately HK$852.5 million for the twelve months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Period“), demonstrating resilience and adaptability in a dynamic market environment.
The Group’s revenue from the gaming operation for the Period increased by approximately 60.7% to approximately HK$819.4 million. However, due to the temporary closure of certain hotel rooms for renovation during the Period, the Group’s hotel operation revenue was down to approximately HK$33.1 million, as compared with HK$56.2 million for the twelve months ended 30 June 2025 (the “Previous Period“).
Meanwhile, the Group’s gross profit recorded a notable growth of approximately 66.4% to approximately HK$454.6 million. The increase was driven by higher gaming revenue arising from both land-based casino operation and provision of gaming platform to other authorised gaming operators. Gross profit margin for the Period was approximately 53.3%, up 5.0 percentage points from approximately 48.3% for the Previous Period.
The Group narrowed its loss for the period attributable to owners of the Company by approximately 78.2% as compared with that for the Previous Period, if excluding the non-cash loss arising from the change in fair value in connection with the issue of convertible notes.
Loss for the period attributable to owners of the Company was approximately HK$486.4 million (Previous Period: approximately HK$282.1 million).
Future Outlook
Underpinned by the Philippines’ strategic position in Southeast Asia, supportive government policies for its gaming and tourism sectors, and its rising status as a premier travel destination, the Group is optimistic about its long-term prospects, though short-term momentum in the Philippine gaming sector may soften due to geopolitical tensions and muted consumer spending.
The Group marked a pivotal milestone in its strategic expansion into online gaming through a cooperation agreement signed on 9 June 2026 between its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, New Coast Leisure Inc., and Total Gamezone Xtreme Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s convertible note holder DigiPlus Interactive Corp (“DigiPlus”). Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate on the integration, aggregation, provision, technical support, and operation of approved online games and related gaming content through or in connection with the online gaming platform and operations of the Group’s casino “LaVie Resort & Casino Manila”, subject to regulatory approvals. Participation in this segment is expected to broaden the Group’s revenue base, improve operational scalability, and create new growth drivers.
Additionally, the completion of renovation works on the Casino’s ground floor in January 2026 successfully expanded the gaming space, enabling the accommodation of more gaming tables as well as additional slot machines. Further to the phase 1 and phase 2 construction works initiated last year, the Group entered into a new construction contract for the Hotel in May 2026 at the contract price of approximately HK$72.17 million, which will continue to improve the appearance and condition of hotel facilities, modernise outdated amenities, enhance the overall quality of the Hotel and elevate customers’ experiences. These improvements are expected to improve the future revenue of the Casino and the Hotel.
Separately, the Group issued the first convertible notes on 3 March 2026 and second convertible notes on 2 June 2026 to DigiPlus, each with a principal amount of HK$800 million. This completion follows the subscription agreement signed between the two parties on 17 November 2025 for the issuance of up to HK$1.6 billion convertible notes with a maturity of five years and an interest rate of 3% per annum. The issuance is expected to significantly bolster the Group’s liquidity and long-term financial position. Furthermore, the potential conversion of these convertible notes into shares would serve to broaden the Group’s Shareholders and capital base.
Looking ahead, the Group is strategically positioned to capture the next phase of growth in the Philippine gaming and tourism sectors. The convergence of the Group’s Hotel and Casino upgrades and a strategic partnership to tap into the expanding online gaming market marks a transformative period for the Group. Supported by a strengthened capital structure and strong regulatory tailwinds, the Group remains confident in its ability to drive sustainable revenue growth and deliver long-term value to its Shareholders.
Hashtag: #InternationalEntertainmentCorporation
About International Entertainment Corporation (HKEX: 1009)
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. Final AML/CFT Bill targets criminals, cuts red tape for Kiwis
August 28, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The fourth and final bill in the Government’s overhaul of New Zealand’s anti-money laundering laws will soon be introduced to Parliament, says Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee.
“The AML/CFT (Omnibus) Amendment Bill represents the most substantial reform of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act since it was passed in 2009,” says Mrs McKee.
“For too long, our AML rules have treated ordinary New Zealanders as though they are potential criminals first and customers second. That has meant unnecessary paperwork, delays and frustration for people doing perfectly normal things like establishing a family trust, opening a bank account for their child, or buying and selling property.
“The Government has pushed for a system that targets actual risk rather than burying every New Zealander and every business under the same compliance burden.
“This Bill delivers that by giving businesses greater flexibility to simplify customer verification where the risk of money laundering or terrorist financing is low. Resources can then be focused where the risks are real.
“The Bill also strengthens the tools available to deal with genuinely suspicious activity, including allowing an issuing officer, such as a judge or Justice of the Peace, to approve the temporary freezing of high-risk transactions and accounts.
“It will also create powers to regulate cash payments involving remittance services and virtual assets, such as cryptocurrencies and tokens, where there is evidence that restrictions are necessary to address criminal misuse.
“Before any regulations are made, the Ministry of Justice will consult affected users and providers so the Government understands the real-world consequences for legitimate customers and businesses.
“Our aim is to reduce criminal misuse and harm while allowing lawful transactions to continue.
“This Bill completes a reform programme that is already delivering practical improvements. Changes passed in 2025 and 2026 removed the requirement to verify address information for standard customer due diligence, and removed the mandatory requirement for costly source of wealth verification simply because a customer was using a family trust.
“Earlier reforms also established the Department of Internal Affairs as the single AML/CFT regulator, replacing a fragmented system with one regulator responsible for providing clearer and more consistent guidance.
“Taken together, these reforms move New Zealand away from rigid box-ticking and towards regulation based on actual risk.
“New Zealand needs effective safeguards against money laundering and terrorist financing, and we will continue to meet our international obligations. But good regulation should be proportionate, targeted and workable. That is what these reforms are designed to deliver.”
Notes to editors:
- Given the proximity of the General Election, the Ministry of Justice intends to consult on any proposals for regulations to restrict cash payments for remittance services and virtual assets in early 2027, allowing meaningful engagement with affected users and providers.
- A copy of the Bill is attached.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/28/final-aml-cft-bill-targets-criminals-cuts-red-tape-for-kiwis/
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9. RBNZ Advisory: Upcoming speaking engagements for September 2026
August 28, 2026
Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua
28 August 2026
Please find details below of upcoming Reserve Bank of New Zealand speaking engagements.
KangaNews New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit 2026
9 September 2026
Assistant Governor Money Karen Silk will deliver a keynote address at the KangaNews New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit in Auckland. The speech will explore the growing role of the repo market in supporting liquidity, monetary policy implementation, and resilient capital markets.
The speech will be published on our website at 11.40am on 9 September 2026.
For more information about the event, see: 2026 New Zealand Debt Capital Market Summit
International Operational Risk Working Group (IORWG) Conference
17 September 2026
Chief Risk Officer Greg Nesbitt will speak on a panel about strategic risk and operational risk interdependency at the 20th Annual International Operational Risk Working Group (IORWG) Conference.
The panel will discuss how strategic risk is defined within their central banks and how it is integrated into their frameworks, how operational risks can become strategic threats, how risk functions can support better strategic decisions with strong governance, and how strategic decisions need to consider operational risk implications.
No speaking notes will be published.
For more information about IORWG, see: International Operational Risk Working Group
Institute of Financial Professionals New Zealand – The Future of Banking
17 September 2026
Angus McGregor, Assistant Governor Financial Stability, will deliver an evening speech on insights and observations from the Future of Banking study carried out by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
This will include trends and forces shaping the future of banking, and a range of plausible scenarios for how the sector could develop and what it might look like over the coming decade. The speech will explore the opportunities, challenges and risks these changes may create for the sector, consumers, policymakers, and the wider financial system.
The full study and a summary will be published on our website at 12pm on 17 September 2026. The speech will be published on our website at 8am on 18 September 2026.
For more details about the event, see: All Our Events | Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc (INFINZ)
Speaking engagements recap
- A list of RBNZ speaking engagements undertaken in August 2026 is available through the Reserve Bank’s speaking and engagement programme.
More information
- This list of speaking engagements may be updated. For an up-to-date list, please refer to: Reserve Bank speaking and engagement programme
- A list of September 2026 post-MPS media and speaking engagements will be published separately on our website on 31 August 2026.
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10. Cross-government plan to deliver stronger data
August 27, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Information collected by government agencies through their ordinary day-to-day interactions is to be made more useful, Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says.
This week the Government commenced the Admin Data Improvement Plan to help ensure information collected by agencies can better guide decisions in areas like education, health services, housing and infrastructure.
Administrative data – or admin data – is information collected by government agencies as part of their day-to-day interactions with people and businesses. This can include information provided when people access government services or apply for a licence or benefit.
“The Plan means agencies like the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport can work with Stats NZ to ensure the information they collect can be used to improve the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of official statistics,” Mr Simpson says.
“More reliable data means better decision making. Government, councils businesses and communities can plan services and invest with greater confidence.”
The implementation of the Plan is underway, with agencies working alongside Stats NZ to deliver agreed improvements over the next three years.
Admin data is already used extensively to produce official data and statistics, from population estimates to measuring the economy and the cross-government plan will ensure that existing framework continues.
The Plan will ensure the improved completeness, accuracy and timeliness of information to give better insights in to such things as where people live, their occupation and ethnicity.
“This plan will greatly support Stats NZ to produce useful and meaningful official statistics,” Mr Simpson says.
Notes to editors:
- Read the Admin Data Improvement Plan
- Stats NZ has worked closely with other government agencies and crown entities to understand existing gaps, opportunities for improvement, as well as practical actions that would strengthen the collection of admin data. This work has informed the Admin Data Improvement Plan.
- The Plan sets out a coordinated effort across government agencies to improve the collection, quality, and supply of key admin data over the next three years.
- Quality data helps government and the private sector to make informed decisions, target investment, and align services with the needs of communities throughout New Zealand.
- The Plan is an important step towards a stronger, more connected government data system, by driving a collective uplift in the quality of admin data across government.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/27/cross-government-plan-to-deliver-stronger-data/
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