The dual certification provides independent verification against PFAS-related requirements for food contact applications, supporting customers in addressing evolving regulatory and safety requirements.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NSF, a global human health organisation, today announced Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd ("Shell MDS") as the first manufacturer in the Asia Pacific region to earn dual certification to NSF 537: PFAS-Free Products and NSF 538: MOAH-Free Certification for Nonfood Compounds and Food Equipment Materials. The certification to both guidelines provides independent verification that the products meet requirements related to PFAS in food contact applications.

NSF 537 and 538 were developed to address critical safety concerns across nonfood compounds and food equipment materials, setting new industry standards for consumer protection. As concerns continue to grow about exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) contamination in food products, the guidelines establish rigorous requirements for materials used in food processing environments.

"As demonstrated at this year's Asian Lubricant Exhibition, the industry is progressively moving towards cleaner, more environmentally friendly formulations," said Hanjun Kwon, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at NSF. "Shell MDS's dual certification for PFAS and MOAH-free exemplifies this commitment in the Asia Pacific region and beyond, showcasing best practices in food safety and sustainability."

Shell MDS received a formal certificate from NSF at the ALE Show for the following products:

*    Shell GTL Sarawax SX70 and SX105

*    Shell GTL Sarawax MMP Plus 

*    Shell GTL SaraCare 15 and 25

*    Shell GTL Sarasol 75 and 85

Shell MDS certified PFAS- and MOAH-free products provide manufacturers with a verified choice for compliance with emerging regulations across international markets.  Furthermore, the certifications provide independent verification of key environmental and safety attributes, while establishing a simplified route to supplier verification through the NSF White Book.

About NSF

For more than 80 years, NSF has helped businesses and consumers navigate complexity with confidence through science-driven standards, rigorous testing, certification, research and advisory services across food, water and wellness. Guided by its purpose to protect and advance human health, NSF works to strengthen trust in the products, systems and services people rely on every day. From scientific expertise and standards development to testing and certification, NSF helps organisations raise the bar for quality, safety, transparency and compliance around the world.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. and SHANGHAI, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dark Horse Consulting Group (DHCG) marked the opening of its Shanghai office with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating Dark Horse Consulting China.

The event brought together DHCG leadership, "Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development", "China leading CDMO and CRO companies", and invited guests from across the region's life sciences community. Anthony Davies, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, led the ceremony, joined by John Ng, MBA, General Manager, DHC Asia Pacific, and Kang Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, Head of China.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is jointly performed by Mr. Zhang Hua, Deputy Director at Shanghai Center of Biomedicine Development, Anthony Davies, Founder and CEO at DHCG and John Ng, GM APAC at DHCG.

DHCG announced the formation of Dark Horse Consulting China in August 2026, together with Kang Liu's appointment to lead it. The practice was established to help biotherapeutic developers leverage China's advanced CDMO and CRO infrastructure, its streamlined regulatory pathways to first-in-human (FIH), and its growing role as a hub for globally relevant clinical data. China's life sciences sector is at an inflection point. Its manufacturing and contract research infrastructure now rivals global standards, its regulatory frameworks continue to mature, and the Investigator Initiated Trial (IIT) pathway offers developers a cost-effective route to FIH data.

Those advantages are driving a fundamental shift in the global biopharma landscape. Lower clinical costs and faster timelines have made China IITs a serious consideration for innovative companies, supported by an ecosystem in which leading CDMOs match their global counterparts, intellectual property enforcement is held to international standards, and co-development agreements with western partners have become routine. Under Decree 818, studies are restricted to Grade A tertiary hospitals, a measure that has strengthened data quality, and western regulators are increasingly recognizing the validity of IIT-generated data.

"Standing in Shanghai with our partners makes concrete something we have believed for years: biotech is a truly global industry, and China is a core consideration for western developers rather than an afterthought. Dark Horse Consulting China is how we make that opportunity navigable for our clients," said Anthony Davies, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Dark Horse Consulting Group.

Dark Horse Consulting China guides clients through every stage of the IIT process, from assessing strategic fit and building a regulatory strategy that works across frameworks, to CMC planning, CDMO and CRO selection, hospital and principal investigator selection, supply chain management, and strategy for fundraising and asset licensing.

"Today marks the beginning of the work, not the end of it. The opportunity to generate meaningful clinical data in China and to accelerate programs globally is real, and it is here now. DHCG China exists to make that path clear, strategic, and executable," said Kang Liu, Ph.D., Senior Director, Head of China at Dark Horse Consulting Group.

About Dark Horse Consulting Group

Dark Horse Consulting Group is a worldwide consulting organization with offices in North America, Europe, and APAC. Founded in 2014 to accelerate the development and delivery of cell and gene therapies through specialized expertise, the firm's focus has since expanded dramatically, with consulting team expertise now encompassing strategy, operations, Quality, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, modeling, supply chain, commercial launch, and business optimization across the biopharma landscape. DHCG provides white-glove client service grounded in rigorous scientific and technical expertise, from early discovery through commercial launch.

The organization comprises three business units, DHC, BioTechLogic, and Converge Consulting, with Bruder Consulting & Venture Group forming a specialized Regenerative Medicine department within DHC. DHCG is currently expanding into the APAC region in 2026 through the acquisition of CJP Tokyo and the formation of Dark Horse Consulting China.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

LONDON, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SASE OpsLab Ltd, the software-driven SASE automation and orchestration platform company, today announced the appointment of Franck Burtin as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With over 30 years in IT and cybersecurity, Mr. Burtin joins the London-based venture to scale its global commercial footprint, accelerate adoption of its "OpsKit" catalog, and lead sales strategy across key international markets.

The hiring comes amid strong momentum for SASE OpsLab Ltd, as organizations navigating migrations from on-premise infrastructure to cloud-native Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) models face growing operational complexity. SASE OpsLab addresses this by replacing risky manual configurations with production-grade automation kits.

Mr. Burtin most recently served as Director General (CEO) at SNS Security, where he structured enterprise service offerings, built ecosystem partnerships, and scaled commercial operations. He previously held leadership roles at global distributor Exclusive Networks.

"Deploying and managing a SASE architecture is an immense operational hurdle for enterprises due to multi-vendor environments and fragmented legacy configurations," said Franck Burtin. "SASE OpsLab transforms these obstacles into automated, turnkey solutions. I look forward to expanding our commercial ecosystem to help more partners and enterprises unlock frictionless SASE rollouts."

Under Mr. Burtin's leadership, SASE OpsLab will continue expanding its vendor-agnostic automation framework, which integrates with leading security and networking solutions-including Netskope, Zscaler, Fortinet, Cato Networks, and Cisco. His immediate focus includes expanding the enterprise pipeline and driving regional sales recruitment across EMEA.

"Franck's technical understanding of cyber infrastructure and proven track record scaling high-growth security companies make him the perfect fit," said Nabil Lawrence Souli, CEO of SASE OpsLab Ltd. "His leadership will be instrumental in positioning SASE OpsLab as the standard framework for global SASE orchestration."

About SASE OpsLab Ltd

SASE OpsLab Ltd is an automation marketplace for prepackaged deployment and migration use cases, built to simplify and scale SASE operations. Headquartered in London, the company provides ready-to-use "Ops Kits" enabling customers, resellers, and vendors to accelerate rollouts, streamline migrations, and reduce operational risk. Learn more at sase-opslab.com.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Client-submitted information gathered through Client Requests flows directly into the Excel workpaper through Caseware Verity for Excel

D?SSELDORF, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caseware, the leading AI platform for assurance and financial reporting, today unveiled Caseware Verity for Excel at CwX Germany 2026, bringing engagement-aware AI directly into the Excel workpapers auditors use every day.

In testing to date, Verity for Excel has saved on average nine hours per engagement and 75% per task. Connecting directly with Caseware Verity for Excel, the company also revealed an AI-first evolution of its Client Requests approach, bringing the same engagement intelligence into the audit preparation workflow.

Together, the two launches mark the broadest expansion yet of Caseware Verity, the AI intelligence and orchestration layer Caseware introduced in May 2026 - and, for the first time, connect the same engagement end-to-end - a shift described in detail below.

David Marquis, chief executive officer at Caseware said, "While other providers bolt AI onto the outside of an audit, at Caseware we have always chosen to innovate inside the system of record that assurance professionals choose every day. We built Caseware Verity for Excel and our new, AI-first Client Requests capability directly into the tools and moments our customers already rely on, with the context, methodology and professional oversight that assurance demands built in from the start.

That's what putting the customer first actually looks like - enabling our customers to spend more time creating value for clients without sacrificing confidence in the audit. As these two capabilities are connected, the benefit compounds: the same information a client sends in response to a request can move straight into the workpaper."

From Chat to Workflow: The Caseware Verity Story So Far

Caseware Verity launched in May 2026 as a governed, frontier AI intelligence and orchestration layer built directly into the assurance and financial reporting workflow. It is the foundation for a suite of workflow-native AI agents designed to automate and accelerate work across the full engagement lifecycle.

That foundation is what makes today's expansion possible. These launches push intelligence into the specific tools and moments where audit teams already spend their time - and, critically, link those moments together so information gathered at the start of an engagement carries all the way through to the workpaper.

Caseware Verity for Excel: Intelligence Inside the Workpaper

Caseware Verity for Excel extends engagement intelligence directly into the workpaper. Rather than reading a workbook in isolation, Verity for Excel reasons across the connected Caseware engagement, bringing together client-submitted information, audit procedures, trial balance data, materiality, samples and supporting documents. Live connections between the engagement and Excel help keep information current, while Verity can use that wider context to orchestrate multi-step agentic workflows directly inside Excel. This spans workpaper generation and audit test automation across tests of controls, substantive analytics and tests of details, through to reporting.

Practitioners remain in control throughout the process. Suggestions can be reviewed and approved before changes are applied, helping teams spend less time searching for and transferring information and more time applying professional judgment.

Caseware Verity for Excel is now generally available. The capability is included automatically for any firm with existing access to Caseware Verity, requiring no additional licensing.

Reimagining Client Requests

Caseware is also introducing a Client Requests capability that enables auditors to collaborate more closely and effectively with clients throughout the engagement workflow.

At its core, this is an agentic-first experience - a contextual intelligence layer embedded within the end-to-end assurance workflow that is smarter, more powerful, and governed AI designed for the unique needs of the assurance profession. The result is a wholly reimagined client experience: clients gain a clear view of what's being requested of them, while auditors gain confidence in the completeness and accuracy of what's returned - the first step in a workflow that carries through to the workpaper itself.

At the center of the new experience is the Caseware Verity Response Validation Agent, an agentic layer that lets auditors validate client submissions while staying firmly in control throughout - the agent's findings inform the review, but the decision to accept a submission always rests with the auditor. This marks the first step toward fully automating the journey from client request through to a populated workpaper.

Caseware is introducing Client Requests through a limited early-access program with a global group of reference customers, ahead of a broader rollout to all customers.

One Connected Agentic Workflow: From Client Request to Workpaper

Individually, Caseware Verity for Excel and the Client Requests each remove hours of manual work from an engagement. Together, they do something the profession has not had before: connect the request-and-response cycle directly to the audit file itself, generating workpapers with full engagement context, rather than leaving audit teams to bridge the two by hand.

When a client submits a document or data file against a request, the Verity Response Validation Agent checks it for completeness, accuracy and usability before it is accepted into the engagement. Once accepted, that same validated information becomes part of the connected engagement data that Verity for Excel already reasons across - meaning trial balance figures, supporting schedules and other client-provided data can be pulled directly into the relevant workpaper, without anyone re-keying or re-uploading what the client has already sent.

That is the shift this expansion is built around: not two isolated agentic modules, but one continuous agentic workflow, running from the moment a request goes out to a client to the moment the corresponding workpaper is populated and ready for review.

Extending AI Across the Engagement

Caseware is developing tailored Verity agents to support work across different phases of the engagement, from planning and risk assessment to evidence gathering and disclosure review. These agents are designed to execute time-intensive tasks directly within the workflow while helping teams improve consistency and focus more professional time on judgment.

Marquis remarked, "Every conversation we have with customers points to the same opportunity: extending that same connected intelligence across every phase of the Prepare, Plan, Evaluate and Report end-to-end assurance workflow, until the whole engagement runs this way, not just one corner of it."

Built on a Sustained Investment in AI

Today's launches are the latest proof point of a multi-year commitment: more than $100 million invested in AI and platform development, shaped through deep collaboration with leading accounting firms. That investment built the Verity ecosystem now powering both announcements and it is the foundation everything still to come will stand on.

About Caseware

Caseware is the leading global AI platform for accounting professionals, serving 23,000+ firms in over 130 countries. Caseware's platform powers audit, financial reporting, and compliance workflows for firms of every size - from regional practices to the world's largest networks. Caseware enables the world of audit and accounting to unlock efficiency, deliver excellence and grow with confidence. Through precision, partnership and innovation, we are powering trust in the global economy. For more information, visit Caseware.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Global Innovation Challenge Invites Youth to Reimagine Education, Financial Well-Being, Health, and Economic Opportunity Through Entrepreneurial Thinking

New York, NY, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) today announced the launch of the 2026-2027 World Series of Innovation (WSI), the free online global innovation challenge and learning experience that empowers young people ages 5-24 to develop creative solutions to real-world problems aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Launching at a pivotal moment in NFTE's history, this year's competition reflects the organization's expanded vision following its merger with BUILD and the growing strength of its family of brands. NFTE and BUILD are helping lead a new era of entrepreneurship and career-connected learning, equipping young people with the mindset, skills, and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through WSI, participants apply entrepreneurial thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills to address pressing challenges in their communities and beyond. Competitors may participate individually or as part of a team, with submissions due by Dec. 13, 2026, at innovation.nfte.com. 

"Young people are inheriting a world defined by rapid technological change, complex global challenges, and unprecedented opportunities," said Dr. J.D. LaRock, president & CEO of NFTE. "The World Series of Innovation gives them the opportunity to see themselves as real problem-solvers. As NFTE and BUILD come together around a shared vision for the future of education, we are doubling down on our commitment to helping young people develop the entrepreneurial mindset needed to shape the future." 

Participants will compete for cash prizes ranging from $300 to $1,500, with remaining teams earning global recognition for their innovative ideas. Competition winners will be announced in spring 2027. 

This Year's Challenges 

WSI Imagination League (Ages 5-12) 

Aflatoun Kidpreneurs Challenge (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)

MetLife Foundation Good Health & Well-Being Challenge (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being)  

WSI Impact League (Ages 13-24) 

EverBank Smart Hustle Challenge (SDG 4: Quality Education) 

MetLife Foundation Good Health & Well-Being Challenge (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being) 

Fifth Third Bank Skills for Success Challenge (SDG 4: Quality Education) 

Intuit Food Truck Innovation Challenge (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth) 

EY Responsible AI Challenge (SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) 

Building the Next Generation of Changemakers 

Each year, the World Series of Innovation engages thousands of young people around the globe through innovation challenges designed in partnership with leading companies and foundations. The program also provides educators, parents, and youth-serving organizations with free challenge-based learning resources that guide participants through the innovation process, helping them identify problems, generate ideas, and develop stronger submissions.  

By tackling real-world problems aligned with the SDGs, participants strengthen essential entrepreneurial and workplace readiness skills including creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptability.  

The competition is open to youth worldwide, and submissions are accepted in English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, and Hindi. Key resources, challenge information, and supporting materials are also available in these languages to help participants navigate the competition and develop their submissions. 

About NFTE 

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) brings the power of entrepreneurship education to learners, educators, and decision-makers so all young people can own their futures. A global nonprofit founded by Steve Mariotti in 1987, NFTE leads the movement for equitable access to entrepreneurship education, having reached nearly 2 million learners worldwide through school, community, out-of-school, and digital programming. Learn more at nfte.com. 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The investment, led by Blockchain Capital, doubles the company's valuation from its Series C raise in February

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRM Labs, the AI investigations company helping to fight modern crime, today announced a strategic Series C expansion valuing the company at USD 2 billion. The round, led by Blockchain Capital, comes as TRM's ARR has quadrupled in the past three years, and doubles the company's valuation from its Series C raise in February 2026.

"In February, we led TRM's Series C. Since then, we've had a front row seat to a significant period of growth. This latest investment reflects that growth, and our firm conviction that TRM is the AI investigations platform of the future," said Spencer Bogart, general partner at Blockchain Capital. "TRM is helping to disrupt almost every facet of digital crime and, more critically, is now defining the category of AI investigations - a horizontal AI use case soon to be as widely known and used as coding and customer service."

The investment comes at a critical time as the world adjusts to artificial intelligence, including its potential for both good and harm. To protect against those harms, model companies invest billions in guardrails and security protocols, and governments are assessing the role of policy in determining which forms of AI are safe.

In the hands of criminals, however, AI is powerful enough to break through these protections. In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported USD 16 billion in losses to digital crime. In 2025, the number jumped to USD 21 billion, and in 2026, AI adoption by criminals has surged 40 percent year over year, per TRM's AI-in-Crime Adoption Index. Today, criminals are using AI to bring harm to our society at unprecedented speed and scale.

A new layer of protection is needed ? one that focuses on identifying and disrupting the operations of the criminals themselves.

TRM is building this layer. Its AI-native investigations capabilities help investigators make sense of fragmented information across more than a hundred threat categories in order to create a complete picture of criminal activity. It enables human investigators to turn intelligence into disruption ? alerting potential targets, freezing illicit funds, and blocking criminal networks.

"Today's crimefighters are tasked with finding a needle in a haystack. Only, the haystack is enormous, with petabytes of data that today live in disparate systems," said Esteban Casta?o, CEO and co-founder of TRM Labs. "At TRM, we're building the tools investigators need to operate at AI-scale and fight back against the world's most complex criminal networks, without compromising on evidentiary standards. If you're mission-driven, and are looking to build the future of crimefighting, join us."

Today, more than 600 government agencies and private sector institutions across 75 countries rely on TRM's platform to disrupt criminal networks and counter national security threats, including digital fraud, scams, cybercrime, child exploitation, money laundering, and sanctions evasion.

TRM is actively hiring talented AI researchers, data scientists, engineers, and domain experts to support its mission to build a safer world for all.

About TRM Labs

TRM Labs is the operating system for modern crimefighters, built to detect and disrupt the criminal networks that exploit frontier technologies, including cryptocurrency and AI. Combining proprietary intelligence, AI-native investigations software, and disruption network infrastructure, the platform is built for high-consequence environments where accuracy, auditability, and security are essential. TRM is trusted by 600+ government agencies and financial institutions across 75 countries to counter fraud, scams, cyber crime, child exploitation, money laundering, and sanctions evasion, among other illicit activities.

To learn more, visit www.trmlabs.com.

For media inquiries, please contact press@trmlabs.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Veteran biotech executive to lead company growth as it advances multiple dual-payload ADCs through clinical development for people living with cancer

Piers Ingram, PhD, Co-Founder, transitions to Senior Advisor and continues to serve on the Board of Directors; Jerome Boyd-Kirkup, PhD, founding Chief Scientific Officer, transitions to Senior Scientific Advisor

SAN DIEGO and SEATTLE and SINGAPORE, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Callio Therapeutics ("Callio" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as the next frontier of rationally designed targeted cancer therapy, today announced the appointment of Zachary ("Zach") Hornby as Chief Executive Officer.

Hornby brings significant experience leading innovative biotechnology companies through clinical development, private and public financings, and strategic partnerships.

Hornby has served in executive and director roles across multiple public and private biotechnology companies. He was most recently CEO, President, and a Director at Boundless Bio (Nasdaq: BOLD), a precision oncology company that raised $350 million in private and public capital and advanced three internally discovered molecules into clinical development. Previously, Hornby held Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer roles at Ignyta, where he helped lead the company's IPO, oversaw its development portfolio, was the team leader for cancer drug Rozlytrek, and led the business development process behind its $2 billion acquisition by Roche. He currently serves as a Director at Radionetics Oncology and Telperian, Inc. Hornby holds BS and MS degrees in biology from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

"Resistance is the defining challenge facing ADCs today, and Callio's leading approach in the emerging dual-payload space tackles resistance head-on with rational combination payloads delivered in a tumor-specific manner," said Hornby. "With CLIO-8221 in the clinic and additional programs advancing toward the clinic in the near future, I look forward to building on the strong scientific foundation to deliver meaningful impact for patients and shareholders."

As part of the leadership transition, Piers Ingram, PhD, Callio's founding CEO, will transition to a Senior Advisor role and continue to serve on Callio's Board of Directors, ensuring continuity of the company's foundational scientific and strategic leadership. Jerome Boyd-Kirkup, PhD, Callio's founding Chief Scientific Officer, will transition to a Senior Scientific Advisor role. The leadership transition reflects Callio's corporate evolution as it advances its pipeline, including its lead clinical program, CLIO-8221, and expands the global impact of its leading dual-payload ADC platform. Ingram will continue to lead Hummingbird Bioscience ("Hummingbird"), from which Callio exclusively licensed its multi-payload ADC platform in oncology and associated intellectual property and pipeline assets in 2025, as its CEO, and Boyd-Kirkup will continue to serve Hummingbird as its CSO.

"Callio has entered an exciting stage as we advance CLIO-8221 through a Phase 1 clinical trial and broaden the reach of our dual-payload ADC platform across a growing pipeline," said Ingram. "Zach's track record of leading clinical-stage companies through drug development, global registrations, and capital raising makes him the right person to guide Callio forward in this next chapter and beyond. Through a collaborative development agreement, Hummingbird will continue to provide research and development support to Callio via Hummingbird's expertise and AI-first approach to ADC discovery. I will continue to partner with the Callio team to advance dual-payload ADCs and deliver the next generation of ADC medicines for patients."

About Callio Therapeutics

Callio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing dual-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as the next frontier of targeted cancer therapy to address high incidence tumors where better therapies are needed. Its proprietary platform pairs modular, adaptable linker technology with rationally selected synergistic payload combinations designed to block key resistance mechanisms that enable cancer's escape. The Company's lead clinical program, CLIO-8221, is a HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC with potential to prevent and overcome treatment resistance that limits efficacy of current ADCs. Located in San Diego, Seattle, and Singapore, backed by top life science investors, and led by an experienced team with a track record of ADC development and oncology drug approvals, Callio Therapeutics is built to deliver the next generation of dual-payload ADCs and better outcomes for people living with cancer. For more information, visit www.calliotx.com and follow Callio Therapeutics on LinkedIn.

About CLIO-8221

HER2 is a clinically validated target for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with multiple approved therapies demonstrating clinical benefit across tumor types. However, most patients eventually progress on treatment despite their tumors retaining HER2 expression. Mechanistic resistance to cytotoxic payloads has emerged as a key driver of treatment failure. CLIO-8221 is a novel, first-in-class, dual-payload ADC targeting HER2, designed to overcome emergent resistance.

CLIO-8221 delivers two mechanistically complementary payloads, a topoisomerase 1 (Topo1) inhibitor and an ATR inhibitor, directly to HER2-expressing tumors. While Topo1 inhibitors have shown strong clinical activity, activation of the DNA damage response following Topo1 inhibitor-induced replication stress represents a potential major driver of resistance. By simultaneously inhibiting Topo1 and blocking the DNA damage response through ATR inhibition, CLIO-8221 is engineered to overcome payload insensitivity and further sensitize tumors to Topo1 inhibition. Developed using proprietary linker and ADC platform technologies, CLIO-8221 aims to maximize anti-tumor activity while reducing systemic toxicity, offering the potential for deeper and more durable responses in patients with HER2-expressing tumors.

CLIO-8221 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1/2, first-in-human, dose-escalation and expansion study in adult patients with metastatic or unresectable HER2-expressing solid tumors, including those who previously received trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd). The first patient was dosed in March 2026, and enrollment is ongoing in Australia and the US, with plans to open the study in China (NCT07300943).

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

FreedomPay's autonomous commerce platform delivers AI-ready reconciliation and analytics

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FreedomPay, the world's leading omnichannel payment orchestrator and autonomous commerce platform, today announced the launch of FreedomPay's listing on Snowflake Marketplace.

The listing enables FreedomPay merchants to access seamless commerce intelligence data directly through Snowflake Marketplace, expanding how merchants access, reconcile, and analyze their payment data across every channel of business.

The new listing on Snowflake Marketplace provides secure, near real-time data availability for deeper analytics and faster action without disrupting existing commerce operations.

FreedomPay merchants generate high-value commerce signals across in-store, online, mobile, kiosk, and emerging touchpoints. In the AI-native era, turning that signal into action requires data that is timely, trusted, and easy to work with across tools and teams. With this Marketplace listing, FreedomPay can deliver payment and transaction intelligence directly into a merchant's data ecosystem, supporting unified reconciliation, improved exception management, and more complete performance views across locations, brands, and channels including closeout, refunds, voids, loyalty, and dispute-related analytics.

Key benefits include:

Near real-time visibility into FreedomPay transaction data to accelerate reconciliation and closeout across all channels.

Simplified data access that minimizes manual exports and batch processing, freeing teams to focus on analysis, not file handling.

Configurable refresh cadence and data delivery options to align with each merchant's reporting, BI, and advanced analytics strategy.

An AI-ready foundation for automation and advanced analytics by making governed transaction data accessible for modeling, forecasting, and intelligent exception handling.

"FreedomPay was built to remove friction from commerce across payments, channels, and the data that powers smarter decisions," said Kevin Carson, SVP, Global Partnerships at FreedomPay. "As merchants embrace AI to move faster and operate with more precision, they need governed, high-fidelity transaction data that's available when and where they work. By extending our platform with Snowflake's Data Cloud, we're accelerating unified reconciliation and enabling a new generation of commerce intelligence ? from intelligent exception handling to deeper, self-service analysis across the enterprise."

FreedomPay will continue to invest in data accessibility and advanced analytics that help merchants operate with greater confidence and speed. Together, FreedomPay and Snowflake bring a best-in-class combination for the AI-native era: FreedomPay's autonomous commerce platform and transaction intelligence, augmented by Snowflake's secure, scalable Data Cloud. The result is a modern foundation for commerce intelligence, connecting transaction detail to operational workflows and enabling more proactive, insight-driven experiences for merchants worldwide.

"FreedomPay is creating a more connected way for merchants to work with their payment data," said Rodrigo Rocha, Vice President, Global ISV & Enterprise Technology Partnerships at Snowflake. "Snowflake is pleased to support this initiative with secure, scalable data sharing that helps customers analyze data faster and operate more efficiently."

To learn more, visit FreedomPay's listing on Snowflake Marketplace.

Snowflake Marketplace helps companies expand what's possible with data and AI through third-party data, apps and AI products. With on-platform purchasing and immediate access to data products, Snowflake Marketplace lowers integration costs and streamlines procurement processes. By delivering data, apps and AI products directly to the customers' data, providers deliver a superior customer experience and see  accelerated revenue growth and increased margins. To learn more about Snowflake Marketplace and how to find, try and buy third-party products to accelerate your analytics, app development and AI initiatives, click here.

About FreedomPay

FreedomPay is the global leader in Next Level Commerce - transforming the way businesses power payments and experiences across the world. More than a payment solution, FreedomPay is a world-class independent payment gateway engineered to simplify complexity, break down the barriers of legacy systems, and revolutionize every point of interaction - whether in-store, online, or mobile. Chosen by the leading brands across retail, hospitality, sports and entertainment, food service, healthcare and higher education, FreedomPay delivers technology strength, integration breadth, and deep expertise in global payments innovation.

As one of the first solutions in North America validated by the PCI Security Standards Council for P2PE, FreedomPay sets the gold standard for payment security, trust, and performance. With a unified technology stack, lightning-fast APIs, and integrated solutions across payments, FreedomPay gives businesses total peace of mind plus the freedom to choose any hardware provider. Move faster, act smarter, and lead markets - not chase them. www.freedompay.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*18,500 km of highways and roads covered by Kapsch system

*System ensures traffic safety across New Zealand

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - EQS Newswire - 10 September 2026 - Kapsch TrafficCom has successfully completed a major upgrade of its traffic management system for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), further strengthening traffic operations across the country.

The Dynac V17 system went live at the Auckland Traffic Operations Centre on June 10, 2026, marking a key milestone in a long-standing partnership.

"This achievement would not have been possible without the outstanding contribution, commitment, and collaboration of multiple teams across regions," said Daniel Vazquez, EVP APAC at Kapsch TrafficCom. "It reflects the strength of our global collaboration and our ability to deliver complex systems at national scale."

The system forms the backbone of traffic management across New Zealand, supporting operations on a nationwide level. It integrates a broad range of infrastructure including 18,500 km of roads and highways, seven tunnels, and Auckland Harbour Bridge with a moveable barrier machine, and connects 150,000 field devices such as cameras, variable message signs, traffic sensors, and other roadside equipment. In addition, dozens of subsystems are integrated into a single platform.

"The Dynac upgrade has been successfully completed and ATOC is now operating on the upgraded platform," said Lucretia McDonald, Sr. Project Manager from NZTA. "The close cooperation between all parties have been key to ensuring a smooth transition and reliable ongoing operations."

This comprehensive setup provides NZTA operators with a real-time overview of the entire network and enables them to respond quickly to changing conditions, including congestion, incidents, and other disruptions. The result is improved situational awareness and stable, reliable traffic operations across the country.

A key innovation of the new version is the ability to perform online imports, allowing updates to be implemented without taking the entire system offline. This enables more frequent and efficient updates, supporting continuous system improvement and minimizing operational disruption.

The deployment is part of a broader rollout across multiple Traffic Operations Centres in New Zealand, with Traffic Operations Centres in Wellington and for Lyttleton Tunnel near Christchurch scheduled to follow. Once the upgrades are completed across all centres, the system will enable coordinated operations between centres and provide additional redundancy across the national network.

The on-going cooperation builds on a long-term partnership between Kapsch TrafficCom and NZTA. As part of the current agreement, Kapsch TrafficCom is responsible for maintaining and securing the system, while NZTA manages day-to-day operations through its own traffic operators.

More information:Press | Kapsch TrafficCom

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kapsch-trafficcom-ag/

Hashtag: #KapschTrafficComAG

About Kapsch TrafficCom AG

Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the areas of tolling and traffic management contribute to a healthier world without congestion.

With one-stop-shop solutions, the company covers the entire customer value chain, from components and design to the implementation and operation of systems.

Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2025/26 financial year, about 2,700 employees generated revenues of EUR 431 million.

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

MUNICH, GERMANY - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 September 2026 - Smart workspace brand Maidesite has officially been awarded a Merit Award at the 2026 Hiiibrand International Brand & Communication Design Awards, marking a key milestone in its European brand expansion.

Founded in 2020 by a team with deep engineering and ergonomic expertise, Maidesite is leveraging this international design recognition to showcase its comprehensive electric standing desk portfolio, engineered to bring reliable, health-oriented workspace solutions to diverse commercial and residential settings.

Scenario-Driven Engineering for Modern Living

Central to Maidesite's product development is a commitment to structural durability, ergonomic support, and scenario-specific aesthetics. The brand's European lineup is anchored by three distinct collections:

Bauhaus Series: Designed for professional studios, designers, and modern office spaces. Built with cold-rolled steel and solid wood, it delivers a minimalist, rational aesthetic that balances professional durability with functional ergonomics.

Nordic Series: Tailored for home offices, studies, and family environments. Featuring natural wood textures and soft, low-saturation color palettes, the series integrates smoothly into residential interiors without an overly industrial look.

Technology Series: Engineered for digital creators and gaming setups. This collection incorporates integrated ambient lighting, accessible device charging, multiple smart height presets, and interactive controls for immersive digital workstations.

European Safety Standards and Proven Market Trust

Engineered to meet rigorous European standards, every Maidesite height-adjustable desk incorporates a quiet dual-motor lifting system, sensitive anti-collision safety sensors, programmable memory controls, and FSC-certified sustainable desktop materials. Backed by full CE safety certification and comprehensive 5- to 10-year warranties, the company emphasizes long-term reliability and straightforward assembly.

To date, Maidesite has served over 250,000 users across the European market, establishing strong consumer trust through responsive local service, consistent structural stability, and competitive value in the premium ergonomic furniture sector.

Availability

Customers and commercial partners can explore Maidesite's complete collection of electric standing desks and ergonomic accessories through its official German and UK online stores, as well as its Amazon Germany and Amazon UK storefronts.

Hashtag: #Maidesite

About Maidesite

Founded in 2020, Maidesite is a smart workspace brand under a wholly owned subsidiary of MAIDESITE GLOBAL PTE. LTD., headquartered in Singapore. Specializing in the research, development, and manufacturing of electric standing desks and ergonomic office products, Maidesite serves over 250,000 customers across Europe and Japan, creating flexible environments where productivity, comfort, and design coexist.

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

The transaction follows the landmark property's March 2026 debut and marks the completion of the joint venture transformation of the Lake Como site into a five-star EDITION hotel

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 September 2026 - Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, and Omnam Group, a Europe-based hospitality real estate developer and investor, recently announced the sale of The Lake Como EDITION to Sansiri Capital, the hospitality trophy asset fund of Sansiri Public Company Limited, a leading Thai real estate developer with more than 40 years of experience.

The transaction marks the culmination of the partners' transformation of the landmark Lake Como property into one of Italy's most significant new luxury hospitality destinations. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next several weeks. Completion remains subject to customary closing conditions and required third-party approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Set on the shores of Cadenabbia, the property occupies a rare waterfront position opposite Bellagio, with access to Milan and Malpensa International Airport in approximately one hour. The landmark 19th-century palazzo was acquired by Bain Capital and Omnam Group in late 2021. An extensive redevelopment began in April 2022, reimagining the historic property as The Lake Como EDITION. The hotel opened in March 2026, just under six months ago, as part of Marriott International's EDITION Hotels portfolio, introducing a new expression of contemporary luxury to one of Italy's most iconic destinations.

At acquisition, Bain Capital and Omnam identified an opportunity to create a new luxury hospitality offering in a market characterized by strong international demand, limited five-star supply and significant barriers to new lakeside development. Acquiring the property with vacant possession enabled the partners to undertake a comprehensive repositioning rather than an incremental refurbishment.

The sale reflects growing international investor interest in distinctive, experience-led European hospitality assets and marks Sansiri's strategic expansion into Europe's luxury hospitality sector through the Sansiri Capital fund, further strengthening its portfolio of trophy assets. For Bain Capital and Omnam Group, the transaction demonstrates the value created by combining real estate investment, development expertise and leading hospitality partners to reposition a complex asset.

The redevelopment substantially reconfigured the property, reducing the former hotel's room count from nearly 300 to 148 larger rooms and suites and creating a new spa and wellness building, alongside an extensive food and beverage and leisure offering. The transformation also incorporated the property's distinctive waterfront amenities, including its floating pool and beach club.

Ali Haroon, a Partner and Head of Europe Real Estate for Bain Capital, said:

"Lake Como is a strong example of how we approach real estate investing in Europe. We focus on sectors supported by long-term structural demand and opportunities where our capital, local relationships and hands-on capabilities can fundamentally transform an asset. Together with Omnam, we have taken a highly underinvested property in an irreplaceable location and created a contemporary luxury destination for the international market. This is exactly the type of complex, execution-led opportunity we seek across our Europe Real Estate strategy."

David Zisser, CEO and Founder of Omnam Group, said:

"The Lake Como EDITION has been an ambitious undertaking from the outset. Our vision was to take a remarkable historic property in one of the world's most iconic destinations and give it new relevance through architecture, design and hospitality, while remaining deeply connected to the character of Lake Como.

Together with Bain Capital and an exceptional group of partners, we have taken that vision from acquisition and development through to the opening of a landmark new hotel. We are immensely proud of what has been created. The completion of this transaction is a significant milestone for Omnam and a testament to the strength of our development approach, while marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for The Lake Como EDITION."

The sale of The Lake Como EDITION marks the latest chapter in Omnam Group's expanding presence across Europe, where an ambitious pipeline of projects is currently underway in Florence, Venice, Puglia and Sicily - each reimagining distinctive properties into internationally relevant lifestyle destinations.

The acquisition also marks a significant international investment for Sansiri Public Company Limited, bringing one of Lake Como's newest luxury hospitality assets into its trophy-asset portfolio through Sansiri Capital, the hospitality trophy-asset investment arm.

Napat Thavisin, President of International Operations, Sansiri Public Company Limited and Managing Director of Sansiri Capital, said:

"The acquisition of The Lake Como EDITION marks a significant milestone in advancing Sansiri's New S-Curve strategy. It strengthens our financial resilience and diversifies risk across our global hospitality portfolio. We remain focused on ultra-luxury trophy assets in gateway cities and high-demand leisure destinations-markets characterised by robust demand and inherently constrained supply. This disciplined capital-allocation approach is designed to maximise long-term shareholder value.

As Thailand's No.1 most trusted luxury real estate developer, with 40 year of experience, Sansiri brings a proven record in global markets from The Manner SoHo, New York to the growth of Standard International prior to its acquisition by Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Leveraging this expertise, we look forward to stewarding this exceptional investment in The Lake Como EDITION under Sansiri Capital's ownership, in collaboration with Marriott International, which will continue to operate the hotel, while further diversifying our revenue streams across major global currencies. Looking ahead, Sansiri will actively pursue trophy-asset investments in premier leisure and gateway destinations worldwide, reinforcing our position as a fully integrated global real estate and lifestyle investment platform."

Hashtag: #Sansiri

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

Industry/Tags: Hospitality Travel & Leisure Lifestyle

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 September 2026 - In 2024, East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) opened its first branch in Hungary, marking a milestone in its journey to take a Vietnamese barbering brand global.

For Chairman Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Europe represents a demanding test of the company's operational capabilities, technical expertise and adaptability.

Europe: A demanding test for a Vietnamese barbering brand

Founded in Vietnam in 2018, East West Barbershop has grown from a local men's barbershop into a global men's grooming brand.

In less than a decade, the chain has expanded across Vietnam and into international markets, becoming one of Asia's prominent men's grooming brands.

While expansion in Vietnam has been driven by growing demand for men's grooming, operating in Europe presents a more complex challenge.

Tax regulations, business requirements, labor laws and working-hour rules are strictly regulated, while costs for premises, personnel and operations are significantly higher.

"Europe is a demanding market, with high service expectations and stringent regulations. To integrate into the market, we did not simply replicate our Vietnamese model in Europe.

I have traveled to Europe several times to study the market, adjust our operating procedures and enhance the customer experience," said Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Chairman of East West Barbershop Vietnam Joint Stock Company.

These efforts are beginning to yield results. Its Hungary branch has built a base of returning customers, demonstrating that a Vietnamese brand can earn trust in a demanding market by respecting local standards while leveraging its own strengths.

East West Barbershop brings Vietnamese and European barbers together to exchange expertise, share experiences and learn from one another, turning its international expansion into a two-way journey of professional growth.

This reflects the spirit behind the name "East West": Connecting professionals from different cultures to grow together.

From a haircut to an East-West cultural exchange

Vietnamese and European barbers differ in their professional cultures. In Vietnam, barbers often build close relationships with customers through everyday conversations, personalized advice and an ability to remember individual preferences.

East West Barbershop preserves these values internationally while adapting to European expectations of professionalism, precision, personalization and service consistency.

From popular styles such as fades, undercuts and hair tattoos to services including shampooing, facial shaving, ear cleaning and massage, the brand aims to create a personalized grooming experience.

Its stores also feature greenery, bookshelves and relaxation areas, turning a haircut into a genuine moment of leisure.

Today, East West Barbershop operates more than 130 branches globally, with over 1,000 employees.

Behind these figures remains a simple ambition: To take Vietnamese barbering further through the skill and dedication of its barbers.

East West Barbershop's European journey is more than opening another store. It demonstrates that a Vietnamese brand can enter international markets through craftsmanship, professionalism and a distinctive identity.

Hashtag: #EastWestBarbershop

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

Industry/Tags: Lifestyle Business Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Beauty

Issuer: Democracy News Alliance

LOS ANGELES, US - Newsaktuell - 9 September 2026 - Although Europe's place among the world's democracies remains at the top of the heap, the latest research from governance experts warns that the continent is slipping from its lofty perch as the runaway global leader.

According to the report - based on the European Berggruen Governance Index (EBGI), which analyses states' governance performance according to the quality of democracy, government, and lives of citizens - European states' years-long dominance is stagnating. Over time, this could undermine democratic accountability and raise questions about the region's long-term stability.

The findings of the report, titled "Sustaining and Expanding Europe's High Governance Performance", show that complacency, what researchers refer to as the "silent killer of governance", is a cause for concern that must be addressed by a renewed focus on bolstering democracy and engaging citizens.

The report was produced by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the Los Angeles-based Berggruen Institute, and Berlin's Hertie School.

Europe still leads the way

At first glance, Europe remains the envy of democracies around the world. Overall, Europe dominates the global index's category of "Consolidated Democratic States" with 15 European countries ranked among the top 20. When it comes to the quality of government, the European average is a whopping 56 percent higher than the non-European average, while quality of democracy enjoys a 40 percent lead.

With such high scores, Europe appears well placed for the future. In fact, the 39 European countries surveyed scored almost 78 per cent in the overall assessment of governance, whilst the non-European countries lagged behind at 54 per cent. Though a closer look at Europe from 2000 to 2023 tells a more nuanced story, one that researchers say needs greater attention.

A tale of three factors

Around the world, quality of life has improved almost everywhere, with the provision of public goods increasing in all 39 European states. However, those gains were not matched by Europe's institutions, which have seen state capacity stall and democratic accountability decline since 2010, according to the report.

Although the report shows that this trend of better lives and worsening democratic structures is a global issue, in Europe the problem is more pronounced.

The report found that democratic accountability, or quality of democracy, has come to a global standstill, with many countries, including those in Europe, on the decline. At the same time, even as the quality of government has held steady throughout the world, the fortunes of citizens have improved. In Europe, the increased quality of life mirrors that of non-European countries, but the quality of governance has stalled.

Europe's shifting landscape

To gain a better understanding of Europe's governance fortunes, the report sorted countries into three clusters, or "worlds". The first cluster identified those with strong institutions and high governance performance. The second cluster groups post-communist EU members, along with aspiring and candidate states. The third cluster is composed of Europe's weakest performers of democratic accountability.

Through examining the "worlds" between 2000 and 2023, researchers found what they refer to as a "convergence from below", an upward shift that saw 12 countries move into a higher governance cluster, a discernible improvement. These countries are Albania, Armenia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Malta, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia. But the move was largely the result of better public services, not a stronger democracy, which the report says does not bode well for the future.

The clusters were ranked according to economic, social, technological, and climate factors. Research shows that the top cluster is best placed to deal with future challenges in the decades to come. While the findings show that quality of life alone cannot ensure the democratic accountability and state capacity provided by robust institutions, the report details how the allure of EU membership does result in reforms among accession countries that help fuel governance progress.

Estonia as an example of a success story

Among the success stories, the report highlights Estonia, which was able to combine EU accession, fiscal discipline, low corruption, and extensive digital government, all key governance indicators, to move into the top cluster of countries.

By comparison, Greece was an example of what the report called a "distinctly European pathway of decline", whose weakened state capacity and democratic accountability have been undermined by economic crisis and external conditionality brought on by loans, austerity measures, and forced reforms.

The report also outlines how the increase in the provision of public goods is not always domestically driven. Countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans have partially relied on funding from Brussels, while other parts of Europe have amassed debt to improve quality of life, which can lead to limited growth among poorer countries.

Strengthening the weakest links

The authors make it clear that while Europe has succeeded at boosting the quality of life through better provision of public goods, it has struggled to maintain democratic accountability and sustain a high level of state capacity needed to navigate the decades ahead.

To begin addressing the governance gap that exists between Europe's core and peripheral countries, in addition to administrative reform and democratic renewal, the report recommends that building a stronger democracy depends on social accountability, an area largely beyond EU influence.

Specifically, researchers point to attacks on freedom of the press and a shrinking civil society as greater threats to democratic accountability than "rigged elections or captured courts". In their view, media pluralism and civic space need to be treated as "governance infrastructure" to not only help "reinvigorate democracy and make citizens feel that they are represented", but also to prevent the "silent killer" of complacency from taking hold.

The full report, "European Berggruen Governance Index - Sustaining and Expanding Europe's High Governance Performance" can be viewed and downloaded from the website of the UCLA's Luskin School.

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This text and the accompanying material (photos and graphics) are an offer from the Democracy News Alliance, a close co-operation between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK). All recipients can use this material without the need for a separate subscription agreement with one or more of the participating agencies. This includes the recipient's right to publish the material in own products.

The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies' main news services. Nevertheless, the editorial standards of the agencies and their assurance of completely independent, impartial and unbiased reporting also apply here.

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

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 September 2026 - Singapore consumer technology brand Stryv launched in 2023 with a single hair-styling product designed for Asian consumers. Today, it develops and launches up to 40 products each year across three markets, and is expanding across Asia as it works towards becoming a go-to consumer brand across the region.

Stryv made Shopee a key part of its growth strategy within its first year of operations. Shopee's buyer protection, vouchers, and seamless checkout experience gave shoppers greater confidence, value, and convenience when trying products from a young brand. The platform now accounts for more than half of Stryv's online transactions, with the brand recording close to S$2.5 million in sales on the platform so far this year.

Breaking Through Against Global Brands

Stryv's growth on Shopee was not built on a single breakout campaign. It came from a year-round e-commerce strategy that included payday and double-digit campaigns, giving the brand repeated opportunities to introduce more shoppers to products designed for Asian consumers at accessible prices.

In a Beauty and Personal Care category crowded with familiar global names, these moments helped the young brand stand out and win consumers' consideration.

Stryv complemented its campaign presence with Shopee Live, using livestreams to launch products, address different consumer needs, and engage shoppers in real time. The brand also works with Shopee affiliates on content collaborations, extending its reach through their social media channels and directing interested shoppers to Shopee to complete their purchases.

As consumer preferences evolved, Stryv broadened its assortment with more portable styling tools, products serving different hair-styling functions and more colourways across selected products. This gave affiliates a wider range of products and selling points to feature, helping them match their content to different consumer needs, occasions and personal tastes. Sales through affiliate marketing doubled year-on-year to close to S$650,000 in 2026, with the MiniStyler 1.0, Colour+ 2.0 Mini Hair Dryer, MiniStyler 2.0 and AirSleek among the top sellers.

"Being a Singapore brand doesn't mean thinking small. In fact, we have always believed that if we understand our consumers deeply and build the right products for them, we can compete alongside much more established brands. Shopee gives us a platform to turn that ambition into growth by helping more consumers discover us, build confidence in our brand and ultimately choose our products," said Roy Ang, CEO and co-founder, Stryv.

"As a homegrown e-commerce platform, Shopee has always been committed to helping local businesses grow and succeed in the digital economy," said Chua Kel Jin, Director, Shopee Singapore. "We are proud to support innovative Singapore companies such as Stryv by providing tools and marketing solutions that help them showcase their products, engage more shoppers, and expand across the region."

Built in Singapore for Asia

Building on this momentum, Stryv is looking to expand into more Asian markets. Its next market is Taiwan, where it plans to establish a presence on Shopee.

"Our advantage is being close enough to Asian consumers to understand what they need, while having access to the capabilities to turn those insights into products. We want to build from Singapore for a much bigger market, creating products that resonate with consumers across Asia rather than simply following what has worked elsewhere," said Ang.

Supporting that expansion is a product-development model built around the needs and preferences of Asian consumers. Stryv tracks global trends but grounds its product decisions in direct feedback, including working with hairstylists to understand how products are used and where they can be improved. By combining these insights with its design and engineering capabilities, Stryv develops products intended to remain relevant across Asian markets.

Hashtag: #Shopee

About Shopee

Shopee is the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and is a leading e-commerce platform in Brazil. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the digital economy, with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a global technology company. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena, and Monee.

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

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 September 2026 - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released its Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 on September 8, revealing that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou metropolitan cluster, located in Southern China, has once again secured the top position among the world's 100 leading innovation clusters.

This marks another triumph for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), solidifying its status as a global powerhouse for scientific advancement and technological entrepreneurship.

The annual GII ranking evaluates innovation activity through three core metrics: international patent filings via WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), scientific publications and the number of venture capital deals. For this year's ranking, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster filed 2,259 PCT applications, published 4,060 scientific articles and had 138 venture capital deals, all per 1 million inhabitants over the past five years.

Welcoming the announcement, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said the ranking reaffirms the outstanding innovative capacity and the innovation and technology (I&T)-supporting financing ecosystem of the GBA.

"Expediting I&T development has been a policy priority of this Government," the spokesman added, highlighting the HKSAR Government's continuous development of the original grant patent system and introduction of the patent box regime, which offers tax concessions for intellectual property income to promote innovation.

The HKSAR Government's strategic investments are already yielding tangible results. The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has surged from over 1,500 in 2015 to more than 5,200 in 2025. The city's two I&T flagships-Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport-have collectively nurtured around 20 unicorns to date.

A landmark development in this trajectory is the official opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Loop Hong Kong Park) in December 2025. Over 100 technology enterprises and institutions have already signed leases and begun moving in. The Loop Hong Kong Park is poised to serve as an important platform for basic scientific research, commercialisation, pilot production, and international I&T collaboration within the GBA.

Furthermore, the establishment of the San Tin Technopole Company Limited in June 2026 is set to develop 210 hectares of I&T land in the San Tin Technopole, which is located in Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis development. It will create a vital node for integrated upstream, midstream and downstream industrial development, alongside the Loop Hong Kong Park.

Hong Kong's financial machinery remains a cornerstone of its innovation success. The city boasts a vibrant private equity market with assets under management nearing US$250 billion, ranking second in Asia after the Chinese Mainland.

Looking ahead, Hong Kong will proactively align its strategy with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to fortify its position as an international I&T centre. The city will also further deepen collaboration with GBA sister cities, and contribute to the nation's efforts in building a modern industrial system and achieving high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength.

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

Hashtags: #HongKong #Shenzhen #Guangzhou #InnovationCluster #Top #GBA #I&T

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BERLIN, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PetSuper, a smart pet technology brand focused on developing intelligent products that enhance everyday pet care, made its debut at IFA 2026. Showcasing its connected smart pet portfolio and its evolving vision for an AI-powered smart pet ecosystem, the brand demonstrated how smart hardware, IoT connectivity, everyday care data and PetSuperAi can work together to support more connected and informed pet care.

Across the five-day exhibition, PetSuper engaged with retailers, distributors, and technology professionals from Europe markets. Demonstrations of PetSuper Ai, LitterGo, ViGo, DryGo, FeedView and HydriGo drew interest, prompting discussions around market development, business opportunities, industry insights, product innovation, and brand positioning.

As modern pet owners balance busy lifestyles with dedicated care, managing daily routines - from feeding and hydration to grooming and waste maintenance-presents ongoing challenges. PetSuper addresses these needs not through isolated gadgets, but through an integrated technology ecosystem. By uniting smart hardware, connected experiences, and the PetSuperAi platform, the brand weaves routine care into a cohesive digital framework.

"IFA 2026 provided an extraordinary stage to share our vision with the world," said Brian Hu, CEO and Co-founder of PetSuper. "PetSuper is moving beyond standalone devices toward a more connected approach to everyday pet care. By bringing together information from feeding, hydration, litter care, grooming and behavior, we aim to help owners better understand their pets' routines and make daily care more informed and attentive."

At the booth, visitors experienced how LitterGo, DryGo, FeedView, HydriGo and ViGo support litter maintenance, grooming, feeding, hydration and behavioral observation. PetSuperAi reflected the brand's longer-term direction of connecting information from different care scenarios to help owners better understand everyday routines and make pet care more informed.

Feedback gathered around automated litter care, consistent feeding, flexible hydration and AI-supported routine observation will inform PetSuper's continued product development and international expansion. Following IFA, the brand plans to continue discussions with potential retail, distribution and channel partners across Europe and other priority markets.

About PetSuper

PetSuper is a smart pet technology brand focused on developing intelligent products that enhance pet care. Through connected devices and PetSuperAi, the brand is exploring how everyday data and AI-powered insights can help owners understand routines, monitor patterns and identify changes in pet wellbeing.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Memamerkan Masa Depan Perawatan Hewan Peliharaan di IFA 2026

BERLIN, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PetSuper, merek teknologi hewan peliharaan pintar yang berfokus pada pengembangan produk cerdas yang meningkatkan perawatan hewan peliharaan sehari-hari, melakukan debutnya di IFA 2026.

Dengan memamerkan portofolio hewan peliharaan pintar terhubungnya dan visinya yang terus berkembang untuk ekosistem hewan peliharaan pintar berbasis AI, merek ini menunjukkan bagaimana perangkat keras pintar, konektivitas IoT, data perawatan sehari-hari, dan PetSuperAi dapat bekerja bersama-sama untuk mendukung perawatan hewan peliharaan yang lebih terhubung dan informatif.

Dalam pameran yang berlangsung selama lima hari itu, PetSuper berinteraksi dengan para pengecer, distributor, dan profesional teknologi dari pasar Eropa. Demonstrasi PetSuper Ai, LitterGo, ViGo, DryGo, FeedView, dan HydriGo menarik perhatian, memicu diskusi seputar pengembangan pasar, peluang bisnis, wawasan industri, inovasi produk, dan pemosisian merek.

Seiring pemilik hewan peliharaan modern menyeimbangkan gaya hidup sibuk mereka dengan perawatan khusus, pengelolaan rutinitas harian - mulai dari pemberian pakan dan hidrasi hingga perawatan bulu dan pembuangan kotoran ? menghadirkan tantangan berkelanjutan. PetSuper menjawab kebutuhan ini bukan melalui perangkat terpisah, tetapi melalui ekosistem teknologi terintegrasi. Dengan menyatukan perangkat keras pintar, pengalaman terhubung, dan platform PetSuperAi, merek ini mengintegrasikan perawatan rutin ke dalam kerangka kerja digital kohesif.

"IFA 2026 memberikan panggung luar biasa untuk membagikan visi kami kepada dunia," ungkap Brian Hu, CEO dan Pendiri Bersama PetSuper. "PetSuper beralih dari perangkat yang berdiri sendiri menuju pendekatan perawatan hewan peliharaan sehari-hari yang lebih terhubung. Dengan menggabungkan informasi tentang pemberian pakan, hidrasi, perawatan kotak pasir, perawatan bulu, dan perilaku, kami bertujuan untuk membantu pemilik lebih memahami rutinitas hewan peliharaan mereka dan membuat perawatan harian lebih informatif dan penuh perhatian."

Di stan itu, pengunjung dapat menyaksikan bagaimana LitterGo, DryGo, FeedView, HydriGo, dan ViGo mendukung pemeliharaan kotak pasir, perawatan bulu, pemberian pakan, hidrasi, dan pengamatan perilaku. PetSuperAi mencerminkan arah jangka panjang merek ini dalam menghubungkan informasi dari berbagai skenario perawatan untuk membantu pemilik lebih memahami rutinitas sehari-hari dan membuat perawatan hewan peliharaan lebih informatif.

Umpan balik yang dikumpulkan seputar perawatan kotak pasir otomatis, pemberian pakan konsisten, hidrasi fleksibel, dan pengamatan rutin yang didukung AI akan menjadi dasar informasi ekspansi internasional dan pengembangan berkelanjutan produk PetSuper. Setelah IFA, merek ini berencana untuk melanjutkan diskusi dengan calon mitra ritel, distribusi, dan saluran di seluruh Eropa dan pasar prioritas lainnya.

Tentang PetSuper

PetSuper adalah merek teknologi hewan peliharaan pintar yang berfokus pada pengembangan produk cerdas yang meningkatkan perawatan hewan peliharaan. Melalui perangkat terhubung dan PetSuperAi, merek ini mengeksplorasi bagaimana data sehari-hari dan wawasan berbasis AI dapat membantu pemilik memahami rutinitas, memantau pola, dan mengidentifikasi perubahan dalam kesejahteraan hewan peliharaan mereka.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Hands-on trials of the Q3 Air Pro highlighted TORRAS's push to expand phone cases beyond protection into viewing, navigation and filming

BERLIN, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visitors at TORRAS' stand at IFA 2026 rotated built-in phone stands to frame shots, mounted devices on compatible metal surfaces to check routes and record video, and shared photos and videos under the booth's "Free Your Hands to Create" theme. TORRAS estimated that around 1,500 people visited the stand during the five-day event.

Visitors adjusted viewing angles and tested filming setups for travel and outdoor use, making the case part of how the phone was positioned rather than simply what covered it. The event marked the Q3 Air Pro's first major international exhibition showcase. Media interest included Tom's Guide, Inside Digital, CHIP and NotebookCheck.

Phones now serve as cameras, navigation tools and screens, often while people are travelling, exercising or commuting. In response, case makers are adding hands-free viewing, magnetic mounting and flexible positioning. The design task now extends beyond surviving a fall to how a phone is held, placed and viewed.

TORRAS demonstrated this approach with the Q3 Air Pro. The company said its sealed Air Duet system uses two layers to absorb and disperse impact. Its 360-degree hidden stand incorporates an 18N magnetic hold for placement on compatible metal surfaces. Under the Ostand Shot concept, visitors explored hands-free viewing, navigation and filming, taking calls and setting up shots without a separate stand.

The case's matte finish and textured sides were presented for steadier handling during active or outdoor use. TORRAS also showed the single-layer Q3 Air as a lighter option and the entry-level Q3 Rugged for routine daily use.

For case makers, the challenge is to add utility without weakening protection or adding bulk. At IFA, visitors tested that balance through navigation, filming, and hands-free viewing. Drop protection remains the baseline; The next question is whether a case makes the phone easier to use while freeing your hands.

About TORRAS

Founded in 2012, TORRAS is an innovative consumer electronics brand dedicated to creating high-quality products and tech-driven lifestyle experiences. Its product portfolio spans mobile accessories, charging solutions, and smart lifestyle products designed to bring greater freedom and creativity to everyday life.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

BERLIN, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At IFA 2026, KAXFREE showcased a smart home coffee portfolio shaped by KALERM Group's 16 years of commercial coffee-machine experience. At Hall 8.1, Booth 224, demonstrations and tastings highlighted its adaptation for home use.

The commercially available SF1 Max was a central highlight, demonstrating how KAXFREE uses smart technology to make personalized coffee easier to prepare and repeat as part of everyday household routines. Its 6.86-inch touchscreen provides access to 28 beverages, while Smart Mode streamlines preparation and Master Mode gives users greater freedom to personalize recipes and key brewing parameters.

A key differentiator is KAXFREE's patented Hot & Cold 2-in-1 Milk Tank, which supports both hot and cold milk frothing in one integrated system. This allows households to prepare hot milk-based coffees and cold milk drinks without changing containers, making the machine easier to share across different preferences and occasions. Through the app, users can manage recipes, remotely control the machine and schedule drinks in advance, making it easier to fit coffee preparation into their daily routines.

Visitors tasted coffee during live demonstrations. While taste is subjective, many attendees responded positively, reflecting KAXFREE's focus on smart functionality and coffee quality.

The Red Dot Award-winning SP1 Max was presented as an upcoming semi-automatic machine for coffee enthusiasts. Its 7-inch touchscreen provides a clear interface, with pressure and flow-rate displays helping users better judge the extraction process. A dual-scale design reduces repetitive weighing, while segmented parameter presets and real-time pressure adjustment give users greater control over flavor extraction.

The upcoming SE1 Elite features 6?C CryoExtract Technology, delivering cold brew directly at 6?C in under five minutes while reducing the need for ice. KAXFREE also presented the SF2, which received an IFA Honoree distinction and is expected to launch in late 2027.

"IFA 2026 gave us the opportunity to show how smart technology can make home coffee more flexible and approachable, while keeping the quality of the final cup at the center," said Lewis, CEO of KAXFREE. "The conversations and reactions at the show will continue to inform how we develop coffee experiences for global households."

About KAXFREE

KAXFREE is a smart coffee-machine brand developed by KALERM, backed by 16 years of commercial coffee-machine expertise, 311 patents and more than 1 million units sold across over 100 countries.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

LONDON, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX) today announced that City Index, one of UK's most established trading brands, is relaunching as StoneX Trading.

The move to bring the self-directed business under the StoneX brand will provide retail traders with invaluable access to insights and market intelligence previously only available to institutional investors. The relaunch will also connect clients with the strength, scale and global expertise of the Fortune 50 financial services company, which has more than 80 offices worldwide.

The new StoneX Trading website is now live with the updated branding and experience introduced across digital channels, mobile applications and client communications.

Clients can continue trading as normal throughout the transition, with no changes to their platforms, accounts or support services. As City Index and StoneX Trading come together, clients will continue to enjoy the trusted trading experience they are already familiar with. The City Index UK brand will retire on 12 September, with all new account openings moving to StoneX Trading.

The move further aligns the retail business with StoneX's broader global financial services franchise, which serves commercial, institutional, payments and self-directed clients.

Giles Watts, Regional Business Director, EMEA - Self Directed, StoneX, said:

"For decades, City Index has earned the trust of traders by delivering reliable platforms, broad market access and high-quality client services. Moving to StoneX Trading marks an exciting new chapter that builds on that legacy while bringing our retail offering under a brand recognised globally for its strength in financial markets."

"For our clients, the transition is deliberately straightforward. They will continue using the same platforms and be serviced by the same support teams they know and trust today. The real change is in the brand behind the experience that reflects the additional scale, expertise and global capabilities of StoneX, which positions us to continue investing in the products, technology and services our clients value most."

Alastair Hine, Global Head of Self Directed, StoneX, added:

"StoneX Trading represents our ambition for the future of self-directed trading. By bringing City Index's trusted legacy together with the strength and global capabilities of StoneX, we are creating a much stronger platform for innovation and continued investment in the products, technology and overall experience offered to our clients."

For further information, please visit the new StoneX Trading website at www.stonex.com/en-gb/individuals

About StoneX Group Inc.

StoneX Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates a global financial services network that connects companies, organisations, traders, and investors to the global market ecosystem through a unique blend of digital platforms, end-to-end clearing and execution services, high-touch service, and deep expertise. The company strives to be its clients' trusted partner, providing its network, products, and services to help them pursue business opportunities, manage market risks, make informed investment decisions, and improve their business performance. 

A Fortune 50 company headquartered in New York City and listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ: SNEX), StoneX Group Inc. and its more than 5,400+ employees serve over 80,000+ commercial, institutional, and payments clients, as well as more than 260,000 retail accounts, across more than 80 offices on six continents. Further information is available at www.stonex.com/en-gb/ 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.