COLOMBO, SRI LANKA- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – On July 4, 2026, the cultural exchange event Encounter & Insight: Dialogue Between Ningbo, China and Colombo, Sri Lanka took place in Colombo.

Separated by thousands of miles, the two millennia-old port cities reconnected, leveraging their ports as a bond and cultural exchanges as a cohesive force to hold in-depth talks on integrated port-city development and bilateral economic and trade connectivity.

This cross-Indian Ocean dialogue echoes the ancient Maritime Silk Road while charting a brand-new outbound development path. As a pivotal starting port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Ningbo is building a new global trade landscape powered by smart manufacturing.

A thousand years ago, merchant vessels from Mingzhou Port set sail southward loaded with Yue Kiln celadon porcelain, passing through Ceylon to deliver Oriental crafts across the Indian Ocean coasts. Precious gemstones and spices traveled the same sea route back to regions south of the Yangtze River, laying the groundwork for the earliest cultural exchange between the two ports through trade. Today, the cargo carried by giant cargo ships has undergone a dramatic transformation. Beyond traditional daily necessities, intelligent equipment, digital home appliances and industrial robots now dominate shipments.

Official statistics show that Ningbo’s exports of intelligent equipment, including mechanical arms and industrial robots, hit 440 million yuan in 2025, surging more than 40% year-on-year. From January to May this year, Ningbo’s exports of mechanical and electrical products maintained steady growth, reaching 247 billion yuan, a 4.1% year-on-year increase and accounting for 58.0% of the city’s total export volume. The new energy foreign trade sector saw explosive growth, with exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products jumping 138.4% year-on-year, with electric vehicle exports skyrocketing 215.9%. Smart manufactured goods are continuously expanding the scope of Ningbo’s foreign trade.

Complementing the Colombo forum, an exhibition highlights Ningbo’s outstanding going-global enterprises and their products, vividly illustrating the profound shift in Ningbo’s trade structure.

Alongside time-honored Maritime Silk Road staples such as celadon porcelain and silk, Ningbo’s smart manufactured products—including AI translation glasses, intelligent outdoor gear and digital small home appliances—occupy prominent display spaces across the venue. In Sri Lanka, Ningbo smart water meters are widely adopted nationwide, while handheld cooling fans and intelligent kitchen appliances have entered ordinary households.

Leveraging Colombo Port’s transshipment advantages, massive volumes of Ningbo smart manufactured goods are distributed onward to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. What Ningbo exports today is no longer mere commodities, but a complete outbound solution integrating technology, brand value and after-sales services.

Faced with mounting challenges including homogeneous global market competition and rising trade barriers, Ningbo’s manufacturing sector has abandoned the old model of low-cost OEM production, relying on intelligent transformation to consolidate its competitive edge in overseas markets.

Over more than a decade of digital transformation efforts, Ningbo has achieved full digital upgrading of all industrial enterprises above designated size. A large number of local factories have built unmanned black-light workshops and flexible production lines, escaping vicious price competition through continuous technological iteration. Represented by five specialized, sophisticated, distinctive and innovative enterprises dubbed Ningbo’s “Five Little Tigers”—famous for their core proprietary technologies, including highly sophisticated visual inspection equipment, heat-resistant materials, sun-proof coatings, puncture-proof materials and self-drilling fasteners—these niche manufacturers have developed differentiated technical routes and full-spectrum production capacity, cementing irreplaceable competitiveness for Ningbo smart manufacturing on global markets.

Beyond trade expansion, Ningbo has built a supporting cultural communication system to ensure “products go global, accompanied by local culture”.

The launch of Sri Lanka’s first “One-Meter Cultural Space” cultural station during the Colombo event marks a tangible milestone of Ningbo’s go-global initiative. Built on enterprises’ overseas outlets, these miniature cultural exhibition halls integrate intangible cultural heritage crafts, urban stories and smart products, enabling overseas clients to experience cutting-edge manufacturing while gaining insight into Ningbo’s profound cultural heritage.

During the twin-city story-sharing session, Ningbo entrepreneurs based in Sri Lanka and local designers blending Chinese and Sri Lankan aesthetics shared stories of bilateral exchanges. Economic and trade ties have evolved into a bond for people-to-people communication, bridging divides in cross-cultural trade.

From Tang-dynasty celadon porcelain sailing across the Indian Ocean to intelligent equipment shipping to every corner of the globe, Ningbo, the ancient Maritime Silk Road port, has preserved its enduring gene of openness. Where exchanges once relied purely on commodity trade, today smart manufacturing underpins a stable, diversified and high-value-added global trade network.

The Ningbo-Colombo dialogue stands as a vivid microcosm of this transformation: the port still links lands and seas, yet the core of its trade has undergone a full intelligent upgrade.

Rooted in its historical legacy as a key Maritime Silk Road hub, Ningbo has consolidated its industrial foundation through a decade of digital development, expanded global market reach via worldwide port networks, and softened trade cooperation through cultural exchanges. This brand-new outbound shipping route forged by smart manufacturing has not only reshaped the city’s foreign trade landscape, but also delivered a replicable port-city development model for Chinese manufacturing to go global.

Hashtag: #NingboSmartManufacturing #MaritimeSilkRoad #GlobalTrade

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

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

At Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026
Unlocking Global Network Synergies to Build a Stable and Efficient Supply Chain

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – At the Shenzhen Port Global Supply Chain High-Quality Development Conference 2026, Midea Group (Midea), the global smart home and technology giant, and Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (Hutchison Ports), the world’s leading port investor, developer, and operator, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Guided by the shared vision of “Benefitting from New APEC Opportunities, Forging a New Future for Port and Shipping Cooperation”, the two parties will deepen their global strategic partnership over the next two years, combining their respective strengths and resources to co-create a highly resilient, efficient, and mutually beneficial global supply chain ecosystem.

In response to the evolving global trade landscape, these two industry leaders are actively collaborating to bring together their strategic assets and global networks. Midea’s expanding manufacturing footprint overseas seamlessly aligns with Hutchison Ports’ extensive network of global port resources, establishing a perfect synergy particularly in key markets such as Thailand, Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam and Mexico. As Midea accelerates its international expansion, its global logistics requirements are experiencing robust growth. This partnership will secure global maritime logistics corridors for Midea, ensuring stable and efficient delivery. Concurrently, Midea’s continuously growing cargo volumes will significantly boost throughput across Hutchison Ports’ terminals, in turn attracting more international shipping routes to call at its facilities.

Lewis Fu, President of Midea International, said “Under our globalisation strategy, securing reliable logistics services is fundamental to Midea’s sustained business growth. We are delighted to deepen our collaboration with Hutchison Ports. Through practical initiatives, such as data integration and priority lanes during peak seasons, we can further enhance supply chain synergy and operational efficiency. This gives us full confidence in steadily achieving our global shipping target of 1.5 million TEUs by 2027.”

Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, said “As a world-leading technology enterprise, Midea Group is an incredibly valued strategic partner for Hutchison Ports. Midea’s massive and rapidly growing export volumes will inject strong momentum into our terminals. By leveraging our high-efficiency operational standards, advanced digital capabilities, and tailored service frameworks, we will provide reliable logistical support for Midea’s global expansion, establishing a new benchmark for industry collaboration.”

Under the MoU, this deepened collaboration will initially be launched using Hutchison Ports’ Yantian International Container Terminals (YANTIAN) as a key strategic anchor point, focusing on the following areas:

• Green Logistics and Digitalization Construction: Both parties will actively explore sustainable transport solutions that comply with local regulations and authorities. By integrating Midea’s business system with YANTIAN’s terminal operating system, they will achieve real-time information sharing and seamless workflow connectivity, significantly enhancing cargo handling and transport efficiency.

• Port Operation Support: Addressing industry choke points such as peak-season logistical delays and capacity constraints, Hutchison Ports will open priority lanes for Midea during peak seasons. This will expedite the pick-up, return, and reloading of Midea’s cargo, ensuring highly efficient dispatch operations and reinforcing the stability of Midea’s supply chain.

• Port Extension Services and Multimodal Transportation: The partners will jointly develop rail freight solutions connecting inland Chinese ports to YANTIAN, alongside comprehensive terminal logistics support including container yards, warehousing, and other value-added services.

Looking ahead, Midea and Hutchison Ports aim to progressively scale up the successful collaboration model established at YANTIAN across Hutchison Ports’ vast global network. Both parties will continue to strengthen their strategic alignment on a global level, jointly exploring innovative green and digital logistics solutions to set a new benchmark for smarter, greener, and more resilient global supply chains.

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

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

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – Ten years after the South China Sea arbitration, CGTN has published an article exploring the story of the Genglubu – a handwritten navigation manual that guided generations of Hainan fishermen long before GPS, shedding light on a chapter of South China Sea history unfamiliar to many outside the region.

Before GPS. Before weather forecasts. Before satellite navigation.

How did generations of Chinese sailors find their way across the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest and most challenging waterways?

A new CGTN documentary, Genglubu: Charting the South China Sea, explores the answer through a little-known ancient navigation manual passed down for generations of fishermen in Tanmen, Hainan Province. The Genglubu recorded routes, compass bearings and sailing distances, helping fishermen navigate reefs, islands and open seas. The documentary follows the fishermen who crossed the sea, the families who preserved their knowledge and a maritime tradition that connected China with Southeast Asia and beyond.

The People Who Brought the Genglubu to Life

To outsiders, the Genglubu looks like a secret code. A single line of just fourteen Chinese characters can contain an entire sea route: the departure point, direction, destination, distance and estimated sailing time.

“Generation after generation, Hainan fishermen rode the waves – not to rule the sea, but to make their living from it.”

Xin Lixue, Curator, China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea

The documentary follows veteran fishing boat captains whose lives were inseparable from the sea. Wang Shitao first went to sea at the age of nine. At twelve, his fishing boat was caught in a typhoon. Everyone else on board died. Clinging to a piece of floating timber, he drifted alone for three days. Four years later, another violent storm struck. Once again, he was the only survivor. Yet each time, he returned to the sea. Late in life, reflecting on decades spent sailing the South China Sea, he summed up his feelings:

“I love the South China Sea. I hate it. I miss it.”

Wang Shitao, fishing boat captain

The sea demanded sacrifice even as it provided a livelihood. A storm or mishap could wipe out an entire crew.

“Children and brothers should never sail on the same boat.”

Wang Shubao, fishing boat captain

A Maritime Tradition Connecting Asia

The documentary challenges the common assumption that the Genglubu was only about the South China Sea. Research on the Liang Family Genglubu reveals routes extending to Singapore, Malacca and Indonesia, showing that Hainan fishermen also played a role in regional maritime trade.

“Hainan fishermen also took part in overseas trade.”

Zhao Jueqi, China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea

Not every route was written in words. Some Genglubu manuscripts contain mountain-and-water charts. They combine sketches of coastlines with compass bearings, water depth and sea conditions. These drawings helped sailors identify islands, reefs and coastlines and determine their position at sea.

“The Americans and the British produced their own navigational records, which identify the Chinese as being engaged very heavily in fishing on these islands and other forms of economic activity.”

Anthony Carty, International Law Sholar

Today, satellites, weather stations and lighthouses have transformed navigation across the South China Sea. But the purpose remains the same: helping sailors travel safely and return home. Genglubu: Charting the South China Sea traces a maritime tradition shaped by generations of ordinary people. It is a story of navigation, memory and resilience, one that forms part of the shared maritime heritage of Asia.

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

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

ASB is increasing its variable home loan rates by 25 basis points. Savings on Call and Savings Plus products are also increasing by 15 and 20 basis points, respectively.

ASB’s Executive General Manager Personal Banking Adam Boyd says “Interest rate increases can be difficult for many households. We have also recently reduced some of our long-term fixed home loan terms by up to 30 basis points. We encourage any customers feeling any pressure with their mortgages to get in touch with us early to work through options.

“We also know many customers will be working hard to build their savings, and these increases will help them with their goals.”

ASB’s new variable home loan rates are effective from Tuesday 14th July for new customers, and from Wednesday 15thJuly for existing customers.

*These changes are effective from 15th July
**This change is effective from 3rd August.

ASB has practical information for customers on the current interest rate environment available on its website as well support to help customers take control of their financial wellbeing and achieve their goals at its Financial Wellbeing Hub: https://www.asb.co.nz/banking-with-asb/financial-wellbeing.html

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ProCare has recognised two outstanding Pacific nursing graduates from Unitec Institute of Technology, awarding scholarships as part of its commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s future primary care workforce.

The ProCare Metua Bates-Faasisila Top Pacific Nurse Award recognises final year Bachelor of Nursing students who have achieved excellent academic results and shown a strong commitment to supporting Pacific health. This marks the fifth year of Pacific nursing students being recognised with scholarships from ProCare.

Gabrielle Lord, Nursing Director and General Manager of Clinical and Practice services at ProCare, says the award reflects ProCare’s commitment to supporting and encouraging more Pacific nurses into primary care careers.

“Working in primary care gives clinicians a unique and meaningful opportunity to directly support their communities through preventative and ongoing health care delivered close to home.

“Pacific nurses play an essential leadership role within their communities, helping people navigate the health system and access the care and support they need. We are proud to support emerging nursing leaders who are passionate about improving health outcomes for Pacific peoples.”

The 2026 recipients, Grace McCormick (Tongan/Niuean/Māori) and Michael Kapisi (Niuean), both from Auckland, were recognised at a special awards ceremony at the Pacific Centre in Mt Albert recently by Viv Pole, Head of Pacific Health at ProCare.

Grace, who received her award in absentia due to being overseas, says she has always been passionate about making a meaningful difference for Pacific communities struggling to access care.

“What inspired me to pursue nursing was that there continues to be a significant shortage of Pacific and Māori nurses in our healthcare system. I want to help drive positive change by providing culturally responsive care and advocating for equitable health change.”

Grace looks forward to continuing to build her knowledge and clinical experience, working towards Nurse Practitioner training.

Michael is also pursuing the Nurse Practitioner pathway, with the goal of working in primary care. When he received the award, he shared his hopes of contributing to a healthcare system that reflects the Pacific community and their culture.

“I would encourage more Pacific students to consider nursing as a career pathway, so that we can continue to see more Pacific faces represented in healthcare,” he says.

Lord says investing in Pacific nursing graduates is an important step towards building a workforce that is equitable, culturally connected, and responsive to community needs.

“Practices in the ProCare Network serve over 70,000 Pacific patients, so naturally, Pacific healthcare is a key priority for us. By supporting and investing in students who are working towards this same goal, we are helping to develop a workforce that has the skills, knowledge and perspective to provide our Pacific communities with the essential care they deserve.”

About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.

As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 640,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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GasNZ says Labour’s solar policy released today undermines its benefits by pulling the subsidy from National’s $200m Gas Security Fund.

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• 92% of Singapore consumers silently disengage when brand believability is lost
• Only 5.9%% would post about a negative brand experience on social media
• Singapore emerges as a high-trust but low-tolerance market where institutional credibility and operational proof matter most

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2026 – Ogilvy released its first 2026 APAC Believability Index: The Power of Proof, a comprehensive study examining how consumers across Asia-Pacific (APAC) determine what and who they believe in an increasingly complex information environment shaped by AI-generated content, misinformation, fragmented media and declining confidence in corporate claims.

The regional and Singapore insights were revealed at an event at the Ogilvy Singapore office attended by more than 60 invited guests including global, regional and local brands, not-for-profit organisations, and government agencies.

Conducted in partnership with YouGov, the research surveyed 7,176 respondents across the markets of Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, and Mainland China, including 1,050 respondents in Singapore.

The report reveals that organisations are dangerously overlooking a reputational blind spot that directly impacts revenue. A staggering 93% of APAC consumers quietly disengage when believability in a brand or organisation is lost, with almost half (48%) stopping their purchases entirely.

In Singapore, the findings reveal a distinct local paradox: Singapore is a high-trust market, but not a high tolerance one. While Singapore consumers place significantly greater belief in Government, institutional and credentialed sources compared with much of the region, they are also deeply pragmatic and unforgiving when brands fail to deliver on their core promises.

The report finds that 92% of Singapore consumers silently disengage when brand believability is lost, while only 5.9% would post about a negative brand experience on social media. This suggests that the most pressing reputation risk for brands in Singapore may not be public outrage, but quiet withdrawal – with customers switching providers, stopping purchases, avoiding brand content, deleting apps or simply never returning.

In response to these findings, Ogilvy has launched its Believability Diagnostic Tool, powered by an enterprise-grade AI agent, built and housed in WPP Open. The Believability Agent is designed to help C-Suite leaders identify the “Say-Do Gap” between what brands promise and what customers experience – enabling organisations to detect potential silent disengagement before it affects business performance.

Richard Brett, President of PR& Influence, Ogilvy Asia Pacific, said: “Believability has evolved from a PR challenge into a commercial imperative. In a world of AI slop and synthetic content, misinformation and growing skepticism, the brands that succeed will be those that can prove what they say. Singapore is a particularly important market because believability here is deeply anchored in institutional credibility and operational delivery. Consumers may not always complain publicly when belief is lost, but they will act – and often, they will act silently.”

Akashah Q, Managing Director for PR & Influence, Social, Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia, added: “The Singapore data shows that silence should not be mistaken for satisfaction. A stable sentiment dashboard or low complaint volume may hide a much bigger commercial risk. Singaporeans are careful when assessing proof – they value official sources, factual correctness and operational competence. For brands, the implication is clear: Believability is built not only by what you say, but by whether your actions, service and evidence consistently back it up. If not, they will politely but brutally break up with you. The reputational crisis of the future may not begin with a hashtag. It may begin with silence.”

Key Singapore Findings from the Ogilvy APAC 2026 Believability Index:

1. Singaporeans do not always cancel brands. They silently leave them.
The most dangerous reputation risk in Singapore may be the one brands cannot see. When Singapore consumers lose belief in a brand, 92% take silent actions (vs 93% across APAC). More than half (54.4%) stop purchasing the brand’s products or services entirely, while 33.5% switch to a more believable competitor. A further 37.3% become wary and suspicious of similar brands, products or services and 19.7% simply avoid the brand’s content without telling anyone.

In contrast, only 5.9% would post a negative brand experience on social media (vs 10% in APAC), and only 9.5% would leave a negative review or public comment.

Implications: The findings indicate that brands relying primarily on public complaints, social listening or visible sentiment may be missing the larger commercial reality: Customers have already left, without leaving a public trace.

2. Competence over purpose
Purpose, values and ESG commitments still matter, but in Singapore, they cannot compensate for operational failure,

The study found that 42.1% of Singapore consumers abandoned a brand in the past year because its product or service did not deliver on what was promised. This significantly outweighs the 23.2% who walked away over poor business ethics and the 14.4% who left due to exaggerated environmental or sustainability claims.

Implications: The findings suggest that Singapore consumers are not asking brands to choose between purpose and performance. They are asking brands to prove purpose through performance.

Operational integrity and factual correctness emerged as among the strongest drivers of believability in Singapore, reinforcing the importance of delivering consistently on the basics before brands can credibly make broader claims.

3. Institutional credibility is Singapore’s believability baseline
Across APAC, people rely on different sources of authority. In some markets, belief is built from the ground up through peers, lived experience and word of mouth. In Singapore, the believability architecture looks a little different – it stands out as one of the region’s clearest institutional-trust markets.

61% of Singaporeans find government sources, politicians and officials highly believable
– more than double the rest of the region overall (Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia) at 26%. In addition, 82.4% say credibility, including official, credentialed or backed-up sources, is the leading factor in believing new information. Social media platforms sit much lower as a source of believability, at 12.7%.

This contrasts with more relational trust markets such as Australia and the Philippines, where people with lived experience and peer recommendations play a more dominant role.

Implications: For organisations, this means that communication strategies which work in one APAC market may not automatically build belief in Singapore. In high-stakes sectors such as finance, health, technology, food safety, sustainability and public infrastructure, brands need stronger institutional anchors: Official statements, named spokespeople, transparent data, third-party validation, academic or technical expertise and clear operational proof.

4. Action over apology
Singapore consumers do not reject apologies, but they do reject them without evidence of action.

The study found that 56.2% of Singaporeans say that brands must actively correct a mistake or fix a problem before they will believe the brand again. This outranks public acknowledgement or apology, cited by 46.8% of respondents.

Encouragingly, lost belief is not necessarily permanent. 78.7% of Singapore consumers believe lost believability can be regained, while only 15.1% believe that once belief is lost, it is gone forever.

Implications: The implication for brands is that the crisis response must be action-first. Consumers want to know what has been fixed, who is accountable, what will change, how recurrence can be prevented and how progress will be proven.

5. Different generations leave and return on different terms
The study also found that believability is lost and rebuilt differently across age groups in Singapore.

Millennials appear to be among the most commercially sensitive audiences, with 68% stopping engagement with a brand due to lack of belief in the past 12 months – the highest of any generation. For this group, belief is often won or lost through customer experience, service recovery and responsiveness.

Baby Boomers show stronger reliance on institutional sources, with 69% finding Government or institutional sources highly believable. However, once trust is broken, they are more likely to make a clean break, with 60% stopping purchases when doubts rise.

Gen Zs are more willing to give brands another chance, with only 8% saying trust is permanently lost once broken. However, they also demand more proof of change, with 64% expecting brands to actively correct mistakes and 44% wanting brands to communicate in more transparent and evidence-based ways.

Implications: The findings point to a new generational reality: Younger consumers may forgive faster, but they also audit harder.

To help leaders navigate this shift and operationalise the findings, Ogilvy’s Believability Diagnostic Tool uses a multi-agent architecture that pairs Ogilvy’s proprietary seven-year Believability dataset with behavioural science cognitive engine to analyse a brand’s “Say-Do Gap” to measure the actual distance between its marketing promises and actual customer experience.

By triangulating corporate messaging against verified customer and employee sentiment, the tool calculates a brand’s Believability Elasticity to see how far a corporate promise can stretch before customers silently disengage – and impact the bottomline.

For Singapore where 92% of consumers say they silently disengage when believability is lost, this elasticity is especially important. Once the threshold is exceeded, the consequence may not be outrage. It may be attrition.

@Ogilvy Singapore on LinkedIn@Ogilvy Singapore on Instagram

The full Ogilvy APAC 2026 Believability Index: The Power of Proof is downloadable here.

Hashtag: #BelievabilityIndex2026 #ThePowerofProof #Ogilvy

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

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

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Auckland, New Zealand – Access Matters Aotearoa (AMA) welcomes the introduction of the Accessibility Standards Bill by New Zealand First, a Member’s Bill in the name of Jenny Marcroft, as an important opportunity to build cross-party support for lasting accessibility reform.

AMA Co-Chair Amy Hogan says disabled people and those with access needs deserve accessibility planned from the outset, rather than relying on goodwill, exceptions and workarounds.

“For more than three decades, disabled people, advocates, families and community organisations have called for stronger accessibility legislation.

Accessibility affects participation in education, employment, housing, healthcare, transport, information and community life. Good accessibility standards benefit everyone.

The Accessibility Standards Bill is an opportunity to advance practical reforms, making accessibility simpler, fairer and more consistent across New Zealand.”

Dr Rebekah Graham, AMA Co-Chair, says today’s announcement is a constructive step towards improving a system that has left too many New Zealanders facing avoidable barriers.

“Too often, disabled people are expected to adapt to systems, environments and services that were never designed to be accessible in the first place.

Stronger accessibility standards help prevent barriers before they even happen and provide government agencies, businesses, service providers, and communities with clearer guidance on what accessibility looks like in everyday situations.”

Through its Kōrero for Change programme, Accessible Futures Summit, policy research, and engagement with lived-experience leaders, AMA has worked alongside hundreds of participants and organisations to identify practical solutions to improve accessibility across New Zealand – many of which are addressed in the first draft of the Accessibility Standards Bill.

Hogan says AMA encourages all political parties to engage as the Accessibility Standards Bill progresses.

“Accessibility reform belongs to all New Zealanders. Lasting change will require broad support across Parliament and across society.

We welcome New Zealand First’s commitment, and encourage all political parties to work together toward a more accessible New Zealand, one that works better for disabled people, people with access needs, older people, families, carers, businesses and the wider community.

As the Bill progresses, we look forward to constructive engagement with disabled people and people with access needs, community organisations, businesses, and government agencies, as we work together towards a more accessible New Zealand.”

About Access Matters Aotearoa

Access Matters Aotearoa is a solutions-driven, non-partisan advocacy trust working to secure strong accessibility legislation so everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can participate fully.

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8 July 2026 – The Monetary Policy Committee today reached consensus to increase the OCR by 25 basis points to 2.50 percent.

Following the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have fallen markedly. Other petrochemical prices have also moved lower. As a result, near-term inflation pressures have eased.

Although energy prices have decreased, the effects of the shock will linger for some time and the outlook for medium-term inflation pressures remains uncertain. The stance of monetary policy is calibrated to bring inflation back to target without causing unnecessary economic instability.

Global growth has been resilient to the effects of tariffs and conflict in the Middle East, largely because of strong AI-related investment and spending on defence and economic security. Headline inflation in New Zealand’s trading partners has increased but is expected to ease to close to 2 percent in 2027. Markets expect global policy rates to increase above pre-conflict levels, as central banks may need to respond to persistent energy-driven inflation pressures.

New Zealand’s economic recovery was underway before the Middle East conflict, but lost momentum in the June quarter as the oil shock weighed on economic activity. Growth is expected to resume in the September quarter as these effects fade and confidence improves. Over the medium term, inflation returning to the 2 percent target mid-point will lift household purchasing power and help support a sustained recovery in growth and employment.

The outlook for medium-term inflation pressures depends on the extent to which recent cost increases feed through into higher prices. Spare capacity in the economy is expected to limit firms’ ability to pass on higher costs, meaning many businesses may need to absorb them in margins. However, some firms may look to rebuild margins as demand recovers. If sustained, a lower exchange rate could also add to medium-term inflation pressures.

With inflation still above target and economic activity expected to strengthen, some further reduction in monetary stimulus is likely to be required to return inflation to the 2 percent target mid-point. Future OCR decisions will depend on how incoming data, price-setting behaviour, and the strength of economic activity affect medium-term inflation pressures.

Read the full statement and Record of meeting: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=9eb7b7605a&e=f3c68946f8

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 July 2026 – For travellers searching for a luxury hotel in Bugis Singapore, Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Singapore offers a refined base for culture, dining and heritage discovery. Set in the vibrant Bugis and Bras Basah district, the hotel places guests close to Arab Street, Kampong Glam and Marina Bay while delivering unparalleled luxury and essential city connections.

Heritage-Inspired Luxury in the Heart of Bugis
Bugis is one of Singapore’s most compelling districts, connecting heritage streets, cultural landmarks, dining destinations and transport links, making it well suited for both leisure and business stays.

Rooms and Suites Rooted in Singapore’s Story
The Frasers House rooms and suites are designed as refined residential retreats. Featuring 406 luxury guest accommodations, guests can choose between the sleek Main Tower or the stunning Heritage Wing, where the beautiful heritage-inspired design draws direct inspiration from traditional Singapore shophouse living.

World-Class Culinary & Destination Experiences
From authentic Italian plates at LUCE to sophisticated afternoon teas at The Lobby Lounge, Frasers House dining offers a masterfully curated culinary portfolio. A major highlight includes Man Fu Yuan, an award-winning Cantonese restaurant celebrated for its culinary craftsmanship. From business lunches to celebratory dinners and leisurely weekends, these diverse venues cater to every occasion.

Beyond dining, guest stays are enhanced by immersive Frasers House experiences. Take part in a Curated Sensory Journey to reveal local hidden gems, or unwind at the 24-hour fitness hub and luxury outdoor swimming pool.

Meetings, Weddings and Social Events in Bugis
For corporate gatherings, private celebrations, and refined social occasions, Frasers House events and weddings provide tailored sophistication. With over 1,000 square metres of flexible, pillarless event space and multiple versatile venues, the property pairs premier hotel services with an unbeatable central Singapore location, making it an exceptionally practical choice for hosts and guests alike.

Plan Your Stay at Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Singapore
Planning a cultural city break, business stay, dining-led weekend or special occasion, Frasers House offers a luxury hotel in Bugis Singapore where heritage, contemporary comfort and destination discovery come together.

• Address: 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966

• Transit: 20 minutes from Changi Airport; steps from Bugis MRT Station

• Event Space: 8 event rooms including the pillarless Grand Ballroom

Advance booking is recommended for preferred room categories, dining reservations and event planning.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sinlb-frasers-house-a-luxury-collection-hotel-singapore/overview/
https://www.facebook.com/FrasersHouse/
https://www.instagram.com/frasershousesingapore

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

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

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Core Grade A Offices Lead Rental Recovery, Hong Kong Island High Streets Outperform Kowloon

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

Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: June 2026 quarter – information release

1 July 2026

The household labour force survey estimated working-age population table shows the population benchmarks used to produce household labour force survey estimates for the upcoming labour market statistics release.

Visit our website to read the full information release:

• Household labour force survey estimated working-age population: June 2026 quarter

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Annual number of home consents up 19 percent – news story

2 July 2026

There were 39,737 new homes consented in New Zealand in the year ended May 2026, up 19 percent compared with the year ended May 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The annual increase in new home consents followed declines in May for the last three years, and consent numbers remain below the record peak reached in 2022,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

There were 18,271 stand-alone houses consented in the year ended May 2026, up 17 percent compared with the previous year.

There were 21,466 multi-unit homes consented, up 20 percent over the same period.

Of the multi-unit homes consented in the year ended May 2026, compared with the year ended May 2025, there were:

• 17,230 townhouses, flats, and units (up 22 percent)
• 2,554 apartments (up 20 percent)
• 1,682 retirement village units (up 3.4 percent).

Visit our website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

• Annual number of home consents up 19 percent
• Building consents issued: May 2026
• CSV files for download

MIL OSI

National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): March 2026 quarter – information release

2 July 2026

We have developed experimental quarterly estimates for institutional sector accounts and balance sheets, to provide more timely data on New Zealand’s economy. We have published these experimental estimates on a quarterly basis since the first release for the March 2021 quarter.

Key facts

Quarterly income and outlay accounts
In the March 2026 quarter, compared with the December 2025 quarter (in seasonally adjusted terms):

• household saving increased $610 million to $2.2 billion
• household net disposable income rose 2.1 percent ($1.4 billion):
  • compensation of employees rose 1.2 percent ($595 million)
  • income tax paid by households fell 2.3 percent ($370 million)
  • income of self-employed businesses (entrepreneurial income) received by households rose 2.8 percent ($337 million)
  • social assistance benefits in cash rose 1.2 percent ($146 million)
  • interest received by households fell 6.8 percent ($197 million)
• household final consumption expenditure rose 1.2 percent ($742 million)
• non-financial business enterprises saving fell $275 million to $6.0 billion
• central government saving fell $717 million to -$2.4 billion
• interest received by financial business enterprises fell 1.3 percent ($124 million)
• interest paid by financial business enterprises fell 3.2 percent ($323 million).

Visit our website to read the full information release and to download CSV files:

• National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): March 2026 quarter
• CSV files for download

MIL OSI

Dwelling and household estimates: June 2026 quarter – information release

7 July 2026

National dwelling and household estimates are used for many purposes including planning, policy formation, business decisions, and as ‘bottom lines’ in the calculation of market coverage rates.

Key facts
At 30 June 2026, the estimated number of:

• private dwellings is 2,124,800
• households is 2,072,000.

Visit our website to read the full information release:

• Dwelling and household estimates: June 2026 quarter

MIL OSI

Agency leader Bryan Phang is the sole COE (Diamond Agency) winner to achieve four consecutive award wins; Prudential’s solid showing underpinned by its strong knowledge sharing and mentorship culture

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

MIL OSI

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – Electric vehicles (EVs) have reached a defining milestone in Singapore. Allianz Insurance Singapore says the national EV conversation is evolving beyond adoption towards a fundamental shift in how drivers think about vehicle ownership, as EVs now account for the majority of new car registrations.

This shift coincides with enhanced national EV charging safety standards that took effect in April 2026, reflecting growing attention on the operational, safety and ownership implications of electric mobility as EV usage scales across the island – from where and how vehicles are charged, to how they are repaired, supported and protected over time.

“As electric vehicles become more popular, the conversation is moving beyond adoption to ownership,” said Hicham Raissi, Chief Executive Officer, Allianz Insurance Singapore.

“Drivers are no longer just choosing EVs for their technology, but are increasingly focused on what it takes to protect, maintain and support them over time.”

Electric vehicles differ fundamentally from conventional petrol cars. They rely on high-voltage battery systems, electric drivetrains, electronic control units and increasingly software‑enabled driving features, all of which represent a significant proportion of vehicle value. These differences introduce ownership considerations that are distinct from internal combustion vehicles, particularly as EVs become the default choice for many drivers.

In response to these evolving ownership realities, Allianz Insurance Singapore became one of the first general insurers in the market to introduce an insurance solution specifically designed for electric vehicles, with the launch of Allianz Electric Motor Protect in 2021. The coverage is built around how EVs are used and supported in practice, including considerations for electric and electronic components such as high-voltage systems and batteries, protection linked to private home charging setups, and risks associated with increasingly connected vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. It also reflects real-world usage scenarios such as charging-related incidents and portable charging equipment, alongside the need for consistent repair quality over time.

“As EV adoption transitions into everyday ownership, insurance plays a foundational role in supporting this shift in mindset,” added Raissi.

“Our focus is on ensuring protection frameworks evolve alongside mobility, so drivers can navigate electric vehicle ownership with clarity and confidence.”

Allianz Electric Motor Protect is currently available to electric vehicle owners in Singapore. Coverage terms and conditions apply. To find out more about Allianz Electric Motor Protect, visit: https://www.allianz.sg/individual-solutions/allianz-electric-motor-protect.html

Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.

https://www.allianz.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/allianzinsuressg/
https://www.facebook.com/allianzsg
https://www.instagram.com/allianz.sg/

Hashtag: #AllianzInsuranceSingapore

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

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

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

AEON Bank (M) Berhad is Malaysia’s first digital Islamic bank, licensed and regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance. Officially launched on 26 May 2024, we currently offer a suite of Shariah-compliant products and services for the Personal Banking and Business Banking (AEON Bank Biz) customers.

Our Personal Banking offerings are 100% accessible online via the AEON Bank app, where customers can activate and access the deposit Savings Account-i, AEON Bank x Visa Debit Card-i, Personal Financing-i, Term Deposit-i, Savings Pot, DuitNow QR, Zakat, Takaful, JomPay, utility bill payments, as well as a range of digital payment services with strategic partners and merchants. Moreover, AEON Bank has developed the Neko Missions, Malaysia’s first gamified digital banking interactive rewards programme and ‘Neko Sensei’, the AI-powered personal financial coach.

On 8 August 2025, AEON Bank (M) Berhad officially introduced AEON Bank Biz with the integrated cash management capabilities anchored by the Business Current Account-i, alongside Biz Term Deposit-i, Biz QR, Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i. AEON Bank Biz focuses on streamlined processes for account onboarding, credit assessments and financial services, utilising AI-driven fintech solutions to enable simplified procedures, faster approvals, and an enhanced digital banking experience for businesses in Malaysia.

For eligible deposit-based products under AEON Bank and AEON Bank Biz, such as the Savings Account-i, Savings Pot, Term Deposit-i, Business Current Account-i and Biz Term Deposit-i, the deposits are protected up to RM250,000 per depositor. AEON Bank is a member of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) and the deposit protection is automatic and free.

Being part of the AEON Group conglomerate, AEON Bank (M) Berhad is equally held by AEON Financial Service Co. Ltd. (AFS Japan) and AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad (ACSM). AFS Japan is responsible for the AEON Group’s financial services businesses, with strong roots in the retail sector which operates in Japan and 10 countries across Asia. AEON Group is Japan’s largest retail group and it is a pure holding company that comprises eight core businesses.

AEON Group Malaysia consists of several entities, namely, AEON Co. (M) Bhd, AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad, AEON Bank (M) Berhad, AEON BiG (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Fantasy (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Delight (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Global Supply Chain Sdn Bhd and Malaysian AEON Foundation (MAF). AEON Group has been a recognisable household brand with more than 200 years of history and evolution in Japan since the Edo era, along with 4 decades of growth in Malaysia, providing consumers with daily financial solutions and diversified retail convenience.

Our cloud native agility and AI optimisation, combined with the strength of our Shariah finance DNA, Malaysian tenacity and Japanese roots are our distinguishing factors, while the integration across the AEON ecosystem gives us a competitive advantage of being the only bank in Malaysia with its own nationwide retail network. On top of that, AEON Points loyalty programme offers customers value-added benefits and meaningful rewards for their online shopping and in-store purchases.

AEON Bank (M) Berhad is committed to empowering the community in pursuing their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence, while cultivating a more inclusive financial future for all. We will continue to contribute towards positioning Malaysia as the Islamic banking hub in the region and fostering the growth of the nation’s digital economy.

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