NEW YORK, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just days ahead of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence, Tuiga (1909) and Viola (1908) are putting the final touches to their preparations in New York Harbor.

Under the gaze of the Statue of Liberty, the two century-old yachts offer a striking contrast between the timeless elegance of their lines and the Manhattan skyline. This New York stopover marks the beginning of an exceptional campaign that will take the Yacht Club de Monaco's two ambassadors along the East Coast, as far as Newport, to meet several of the country's most prestigious nautical institutions. 

Sailing on USA waters has a particular significance for Tuiga. Throughout her history, the gaff cutter has seen several great transatlantic sailing figures take the helm, among them Paul Cayard, seven-time world champion and major player in the America's Cup, as well as America's legendary Dennis Conner, four-time winner of the Auld Mug.

More than just an event, this American campaign reflects a long-standing relationship between the United States and the Yacht Club de Monaco and its President HSH Prince Albert II. Founded on a shared passion for competition and nautical innovation, these ties were notably illustrated in 1985 during the Monaco-New York, the first and only transatlantic race between the two cities. Won by Canadian Mike Burch, the race also saw the participation of Biotonus Monaco, a Monegasque crew led by YCM's Director and General Secretary Bernard d'Alessandri, who will also be present in New York for the festivities alongside a delegation of YCM members.

Sail4th 250, 3-8 July: a maritime tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States

For six days, New York and New Jersey Harbor will host what is expected to be the largest maritime gathering in the modern history of the United States. Nearly 50 Tall Ships representing around 20 nations will parade alongside more than 40 allied and American naval vessels, while an aerial display will bring together over 150 aircraft. Among the iconic vessels expected are Amerigo Vespucci from Italy, considered one of the most beautiful training ships in the world, as well as the South American three-masters Libertad from Argentina, Gloria from Colombia and Capit?n Miranda from Uruguay, well known in the Principality having taken part in Monaco's 700th anniversary celebrations in 1997.

The first stage of Tuiga and Viola's US roadshow, the Monaco Challenge CUP saw Viola claim victory in a unique campaign that will take the two Yacht Club de Monaco ambassadors to Newport. Organised by the Manhattan Yacht Club, the friendly regatta brought together several East Coast yacht clubs and a German crew to celebrate the tradition of yachting ahead of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.

Within this international fleet, Tuiga and Viola will have a special role to play. The two gaff cutters will escort La Belle Poule, the renowned topsail schooner of the French Navy built in 1932. Together they will sail in the International Parade of Sail, the major 4th of July nautical parade that will take the fleet from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. Along the way they will sail pass 37 U.S. and allied naval vessels, anchored on the Hudson as part of an International Naval Review, the seventh in U.S. history.

This exceptional spectacle will be visible from more than 15 miles of waterfront open to the public. The International Aerial Review, featuring the Blue Angels, will extend this dialogue between sea and sky, before the 50th anniversary of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and Jersey City fireworks bring the day to a close.

A route through American yachting's heartlands

After New York, the two gaff cutters set sail to visit yacht clubs that have shaped the history of "US" sailing. With each port of call the programme alternates between meeting institutions, and classic yacht gatherings and regattas, giving Viola in particular an opportunity to race against the finest yachts on the American circuit. The itinerary will take them to Manhattan, Larchmont, Indian Harbor, Seawanhaka, Devon and the Montauk Yacht Club.

During the 2026 Race Week organised by the New York Yacht Club the tour continues in Newport, the historic capital of American yachting and setting for some of the greatest moments in international sailing. It will conclude for Tuiga in Nantucket, whose yacht club embodies the nautical elegance of the East Coast, with Viola continuing until early September, participating in New England classic regattas as an ambassador for YCM. From club to club, this route will retrace a unique journey through American maritime heritage from its nautical traditions to top-tier regattas.

In a world where technology is transforming boats and how they operate, Tuiga and Viola are a reminder that performance also depends on the quality of the hull, the precision of its rigging, commitment of the crew and the expertise of all those who maintain these exceptional boats. These values are dear to the YCM which celebrates them every two years at Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe (18th edition: 8-11 September 2027).

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42593c03-c44f-4210-a8ed-f633f66de8cb

Copyright ? 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The 6th Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum Successfully Held in Zhongshan, Guangdong

ZHONGSHAN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 July 2026 - As 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the 6th Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum was held in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province-the hometown of the great pioneer-from June 27 to 29 under the theme "Carrying Forward Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Spirit of Endeavor and Working Together for the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation".

This year's forum was the largest in its history, attracting the broadest participation from Taiwan compatriots and the highest proportion of young participants to date. Around 2,000 representatives from across the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao attended the event. Centered on cultural heritage and driven by economic and trade cooperation, the forum established a multi-level platform for cross-strait exchanges and collaboration while fostering broader consensus on integrated cross-strait development.

At the 6th Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum open ceremony

Distinguished guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended the opening ceremony and noted in their remarks that Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a revered national pioneer shared by compatriots on both sides of the Strait. His vision of rejuvenating China remains a common spiritual legacy, and people across the Strait should carry forward his ideals and work hand in hand toward national rejuvenation. During the opening ceremony, Zhongshan Municipal People's Government and the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland signed the Strategic Framework Agreement on Deepening Zhongshan-Taiwan Economic and Trade Cooperation to Promote Integrated Development, laying a solid institutional foundation for long-term industrial cooperation across the Strait.

A series of cultural exchange activities also took place throughout the forum. Participants enjoyed an evening tour of the century-old Sunwen West Road Arcade Pedestrian Street, immersing themselves in Zhongshan's rich historical heritage and the vibrant cultural and tourism scene of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. They also visited the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, where they studied revolutionary historical archives, bowed before Dr. Sun's bronze statue to pay homage, and gained a deeper appreciation of his enduring ideals of "All Under Heaven Belong to the People" and "Revitalize China". Many participants remarked that these activities provided an excellent platform for sustained exchanges among young people across the Strait and that their shared cultural roots and common heritage form a solid foundation for advancing cross-strait spiritual integration.

To further strengthen cross-strait economic cooperation and advance industrial integration between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, the forum also featured the "Taiwan Businesses Gather in Zhongshan, Industries Glow in the Greater Bay Area" 2026 Guangdong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference and Investment Promotion Event Celebrating the Second Anniversary of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. A total of 19 industrial projects were signed during the event. The first group comprised seven Taiwan-invested projects spanning semiconductor supporting industries, electronic components, smart home products, high-end fitness equipment, and medical devices. The second and third groups included 12 Shenzhen-Zhongshan collaborative projects covering new energy vehicle components, industrial robotics, memory chip packaging, advanced specialty materials, and integrated cultural, tourism, and commercial developments.

During the investment promotion event, Taiwan business representatives spoke highly of Zhongshan's business environment. Zhang Congyuan, Chairman of Huali Industrial Group, which has operated in Zhongshan for more than two decades, praised the city's enterprise service philosophy of "staying out of businesses' way when everything runs smoothly while providing prompt support whenever needed". He noted that this business-friendly environment has helped the company grow into one of the world's leading manufacturers of athletic footwear.

Guo Wenhai, secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee, extended a sincere invitation to Taiwan businesses and entrepreneurs to invest and establish operations in Zhongshan. He emphasized that the city offers not only strong industrial infrastructure but also high-quality government services. Zhongshan will continue to provide proactive, efficient, and dedicated support for businesses while continuously improving both its hard and soft investment environment. Leveraging the opportunities created by the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the city aims to create broader prospects for cooperation and shared growth for enterprises from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Participants and Taiwan business representatives agreed that, taking the 160th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's birth as an important milestone, this year's forum created new channels for both cultural exchanges and industrial cooperation across the Strait. Looking ahead, Zhongshan will continue to organize regular initiatives, including entrepreneurship support programs for young people from Taiwan, youth exchange activities, and Guangdong-Taiwan industrial matchmaking events. By carrying forward Dr. Sun Yat-sen's spirit, embracing the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, and strengthening both economic cooperation and people-to-people ties, the city will continue to contribute to a new chapter of integrated cross-strait development.

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

Hashtags: #CrossStraitSunYatSenForum #Zhongshan #Guangdong

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 July 2026 - An iconic Swiss chocolate brand meets one of the world's most celebrated names in crystal artistry to bring 'Never Square' to life. Creating something unexpected, something beautiful, and something that gives back: Toblerone today announces The Ultimate Gift.

The centrepiece is the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski: an exceptionally rare series of hand-made crystal replicas of the original Toblerone chocolate bar - the gift many associate with travel. Familiar in form. Remarkable in execution. Individually numbered, certified, and utterly one-of-a-kind.

The Ultimate Gift: A Global Auction for Good

From 1st July to 31st July 2026, travellers passing through some of the world's most iconic airports (Athens, Delhi, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York JFK, Singapore and Zurich) will encounter a mesmerising pop-up experience celebrating both brands and, above all, will have the chance to bid in person on the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski.

Each auction is linked to the airport's own established charity partner - organisations already embedded in their local communities and chosen by the airports themselves. 100% of winning bids will be donated to the designated charity at each location.

However, the auction is open to everyone globally. No need to be travelling to take part. Bidding is available online (terms and conditions apply), click here to visit the auction site and here for more information on the charities.

The Story Behind the Crystal Bar

Toblerone was born in Switzerland in 1908. Its triangular shape has made it one of the most recognised silhouettes in the world. For generations of travellers, it has been the gift you bring home: a small but indulgent, reliable piece of Switzerland.

To bring the Toblerone Crystal Bar to life, Toblerone turned to Swarovski. Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality crystals and created stones as well as finished products such as jewelry.

The two share more than Alpine geography. They share a belief that quality is not a detail but it is the point. That the things worth making are worth making properly. And that some of the most enduring objects in the world are the ones that manage to be both beautiful and, somehow, completely unpretentious about it.

The result is the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski: Toblerone's unmistakable triangular form, unapologetically rich on the inside, reimagined as a luxury artefact through Swarovski's crystal craftsmanship.

Iain Livingston, President Toblerone & World Travel Retail, says: "Toblerone has always been more than a chocolate bar. It's a ritual, a symbol of travel, and one of the world's most recognised gifts. Creating the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski feels like a natural expression of who we are: a brand that takes quality seriously but never takes itself too seriously. The Ultimate Gift is exactly that and will raise funds to support brilliant causes that help make the world a better place."

The Craft Behind the Crystal

Each Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski is exclusively designed and developed using Swarovski's rich savoir-faire:

Modelled on the original Toblerone chocolate bar & manufactured in Austria

Each weighs 851g and measures 305mm in length

546 individually cut facets per bar

140 hours of development and 65 hours of production - 100% handmade

Crafted with high-precision cutting technology, characterised by unmatched brilliance

The Ultimate Gift Box: Available to All

For those who prefer to take something home immediately, Toblerone is also launching a limited-edition Ultimate Gift Box adorned with Swarovski crystals, available exclusively in World Travel Retail throughout the campaign period across airports globally.

Inside: a Milk Toblerone bar.

Crystals on the outside. Unapologetically rich on the inside. The answer, as ever, to the question every traveller eventually asks themselves at the airport: "Where is my Toblerone?"

About Toblerone

In 1908, Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann invented a unique chocolate: Toblerone. "Toblerone" is a portmanteau of "Tobler" and "Torrone," the Italian term for honey-almond nougat. Its distinctive triangular shape has been recognised around the world ever since. Today, production remains based in Bern Br?nnen, where employees work with great passion every day - producing up to 4 million Toblerone products daily, with around 90 percent of all Toblerone sold worldwide manufactured right there in Bern.

Toblerone has never been square. Not in shape. Not in spirit. And not in ambition. Never Square is the belief that the best things in life refuse to conform - and that the most interesting gifts are rarely the obvious ones.

About Swarovski

Masters of Light Since 1895.

Swarovski creates beautiful products of impeccable quality and craftsmanship, celebrating joyful extravagance and self-expression.

Founded in 1895 in Austria by Daniel Swarovski, Swarovski creates the world's finest crystals, Swarovski Created Diamonds, Swarovski Crystal Pearls and Swarovski Zirconia, jewelry, and accessories, as well as home d?cor and crystals for the automotive industry.

Swarovski Crystal Business operates in more than 140 countries worldwide, with 2,200 boutiques complemented by a network of selected multibrand partners and employs approximately 18,300 people globally. Together with its sister companies, Swarovski Optik and Tyrolit, it forms the Swarovski Group. Rooted in the company's heritage, Swarovski strives to make a positive impact on people, society, and the planet. Today, sustainability measures are implemented throughout the value chain, with a focus on circular innovation, championing diversity and inclusion, and encouraging self-expression. This includes the philanthropic work of the Swarovski Foundation, which supports charitable organizations bringing positive environmental and social impact.

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

Hashtags: #Toblerone #Neversquare #CrystalBar #UltimateGift #SwarovskiCrystals

nCino bringing intelligent lending to life at Norway's largest financial institution

LONDON, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCNO), the platform for agentic AI banking, today announced that DNB has gone live on the nCino Platform, powering its corporate lending business, with plans to extend to SME lending next year. 

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, DNB serves over 2 million retail customers and more than 200,000 corporate clients across a global network of branches. As the world's leading shipping- and seafood-bank and a major international player in the energy sector, DNB offers a comprehensive range of products and services.

To support its continuous growth ambitions and modernisation journey, DNB recognised the need to modernise core credit systems to create a strong foundation for long term business value.  

"For 200 years, DNB has supported its customers through changes big and small," said Cecilie Kirsebom Foyn-Bruun, Executive Vice President of Lending at DNB. "As we went through our own digital transformation, it made sense to go with a company who could support us through a big change."

DNB selected the nCino Platform to support its ambitions, deploying nCino for Commercial Lending alongside Banking Advisor, nCino's AI-powered conversational interface that embeds intelligence directly into banker workflows. Now live, following an nCino gold standard implementation supported by Deloitte, the Bank plans to continue the nCino rollout across branches in nine countries. 

"With nCino, we get a future proof foundation to work more efficiently and smarter to create value for our Corporate customers across industries and markets," added Foyn-Bruun. "The goal is that our bankers have what they need to do their best work: a single platform, connected data and the intelligence to move faster for our clients."

"DNB is one of Europe's most respected financial institutions, and we're proud to be the platform they've chosen to power its next chapter," added Joaqu?n de Valenzuela, Managing Director of EMEA at nCino. "This partnership speaks to the trust financial institutions across EMEA are placing in nCino, and we're committed to growing alongside them. With the nCino Platform and its agentic capabilities, DNB will have the intelligence to make faster, data-informed decisions with AI that doesn't just inform action but helps drive it."  

About nCino 

nCino (NASDAQ: NCNO) is the platform for agentic AI banking. With over 2,700 customers worldwide - including community banks, credit unions, independent mortgage banks, and the largest financial entities globally - nCino offers a trusted, agentic platform purpose-built for financial services and regulated industries. By deploying AI agents alongside human teams, nCino's dual workforce enables institutions to eliminate inefficiencies, sharpen decision-making and deliver better outcomes for the customers they serve. For more information, visit www.ncino.com.

About DNB

DNB is Norway's largest financial services group and one of the largest in the Nordic region in terms of market capitalisation. The Group offers a full range of financial services, including loans, savings, advisory services, insurance and pension products for retail and corporate customers. For more information, visit www.dnb.no. 

Media Contact 

Riley Keyzer 

press@ncino.com 

 

Terje Andre Kvinlaug

terje-andre.kvinlaug@dnb.no

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

BEIJING, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CGTN telah menerbitkan sebuah artikel yang mengulas nilai-nilai yang terkandung dalam Medali 1 Juli. Melalui kisah para calon penerima yang direkomendasikan tahun ini, artikel tersebut menyoroti bagaimana para anggota Partai Komunis Tiongkok (PKT) dari berbagai generasi tetap berakar kuat di tengah rakyat, mengabdikan diri dalam pelayanan publik, serta meneruskan semangat yang melandasi berdirinya Partai.

Ketika warga Subdistrik Guanyinqiao di Chongqing menghadapi perselisihan antarwarga, banyak dari mereka memberikan jawaban yang sama saat ditanya harus meminta bantuan kepada siapa: "Temui Lao Ma."

"Lao Ma" merupakan panggilan akrab bagi Ma Shanxiang, anggota Partai Komunis Tiongkok (PKT) berusia 69 tahun. Beliau telah mengabdikan lebih dari tiga dekade untuk membantu menyelesaikan berbagai konflik di tengah masyarakat. Kiprahnya telah terdokumentasi dalam lebih dari 280 buku catatan yang secara keseluruhan memuat lebih dari sembilan juta aksara Tionghoa. Catatan-catatan tersebut merekam ribuan kisah tentang kesabaran, saling pengertian, dan upaya mendamaikan berbagai pihak. Selama bertahun-tahun, beliau telah menerima lebih dari 20.000 kunjungan warga dan berhasil membantu menyelesaikan lebih dari 2.500 perselisihan.

Ma termasuk salah satu calon penerima Medali 1 Juli yang direkomendasikan dalam penghargaan tertinggi Partai Komunis Tiongkok (PKT), menjelang acara peringatan 105 tahun berdirinya Partai yang akan digelar pada Rabu (1 Juli). Pada acara tersebut, Xi Jinping, Sekretaris Jenderal Komite Sentral Partai Komunis Tiongkok (PKT), akan menganugerahkan medali itu kepada para anggota Partai yang menjadi teladan serta menyampaikan pidato penting.

Salah satu detail pada medali tersebut mencerminkan nilai-nilai yang diusungnya. Berbeda dengan medali nasional Tiongkok yang dikenakan dengan rantai logam, Medali 1 Juli menggunakan pita kain tenun, sesuai desain yang diusulkan secara langsung oleh Presiden Xi. Dengan tampilannya yang sederhana dan tidak berlebihan, medali tersebut melambangkan bahwa penghargaan tertinggi Partai diberikan kepada mereka yang berasal dari rakyat, tetap berakar kuat di tengah rakyat, serta mengabdikan diri untuk melayani rakyat.

Berakar kuat di tengah rakyat

Presiden Xi menyebut para penerima Medali 1 Juli sebagai "pahlawan sehari-hari" yang "berasal dari rakyat dan berakar kuat di tengah rakyat."

Daftar calon penerima yang direkomendasikan tahun ini mencerminkan gagasan tersebut. Meskipun berasal dari beragam profesi, mereka memiliki satu kesamaan utama: pengabdian yang tulus selama bertahun-tahun, bahkan puluhan tahun, di tempat-tempat yang paling membutuhkan mereka.

Seperti Ma, Wu Yaqin, seorang pemimpin organisasi Partai di lingkungan permukiman, telah menghabiskan selama tiga dekade dalam tata kelola masyarakat akar rumput dan menyelesaikan lebih dari 1.000 perselisihan antarwarga. Seorang dokter desa, Uhas Sulayman, telah menangani lebih dari 100.000 kunjungan pasien, menyelamatkan ribuan pasien dalam kondisi kritis, serta membantu persalinan lebih dari 3.200 bayi. Li Liancheng, Sekretaris Partai Desa Xixinzhuang, berhasil membawa desa tersebut keluar dari kemiskinan hingga dikenal di tingkat nasional sebagai desa percontohan. Wang Yuchang, penerima gelar Pahlawan Berjasa Kelas Satu, terus mengabdikan diri untuk melayani rakyat tanpa banyak sorotan setelah menyelesaikan dinas militernya.

Semangat yang sama juga terlihat dalam inovasi ilmiah. Ahli pengolahan minyak bumi, Chen Junwu, mengabdikan hidupnya untuk memajukan industri pengolahan minyak Tiongkok. Bahkan pada hari-hari terakhir hidupnya, beliau masih meninjau laporan mengenai emisi karbon. Zhong Jue, akademisi berusia 89 tahun, telah mengabdikan hidupnya untuk membantu Tiongkok mengatasi berbagai hambatan teknologi penting dalam industri produksi aluminium. Ahli pertanian, Zhao Yafu, telah mengabdikan lebih dari 60 tahun untuk memajukan pertanian modern di wilayah perbukitan. Upayanya turut membantu meningkatkan pendapatan para petani sebesar lebih dari 30 miliar yuan ($4,2 miliar).

Meneruskan semangat yang melandasi berdirinya Partai

Medali 1 Juli bukan hanya bentuk penghormatan kepada para anggota Partai yang menjadi teladan, tetapi juga menjadi sumber inspirasi bagi orang lain untuk terus menjunjung tinggi semangat yang melandasi berdirinya Partai.

Xi menyerukan kepada para anggota Partai di era baru untuk meneruskan semangat yang melandasi berdirinya Partai, tetap setia pada cita-cita awal dan misi pendirian Partai, serta melaksanakan tanggung jawab dengan penuh pengabdian.

Banyak calon penerima yang direkomendasikan telah mengubah komitmen pribadi mereka menjadi gerakan bersama.

Tim medis sukarela yang dibentuk Uhas terus berkembang dan menjangkau berbagai wilayah perbatasan Tiongkok. Wu telah mendirikan platform pelatihan untuk tata kelola masyarakat di tingkat akar rumput, dengan membimbing hampir 30.000 pekerja masyarakat. Sementara itu, Zhong terus bekerja bersama para peneliti muda untuk mengatasi berbagai tantangan teknologi baru, sekaligus membimbing mahasiswa dan mendukung mereka yang berasal dari keluarga kurang mampu.

Ma meyakini bahwa kiprahnya masih jauh dari kata selesai. Setelah pensiun, beliau kembali diberdayakan untuk memimpin "Studio Lao Ma," sebuah lembaga mediasi masalah antarwarga di tingkat akar rumput, guna membina lebih dari 80.000 mediator sukarela yang akrab dijuluki "Para Lao Ma Muda."

Meski usianya mendekati 70 tahun, beliau mengatakan bahwa upayanya dalam mediasi masyarakat baru saja dimulai. Meminjam perumpamaan presiden Xi tentang lomba estafet, beliau memandang perannya saat ini bukan hanya menyelesaikan etapenya dengan baik, tetapi juga mempersiapkan "Para Lao Ma Muda" untuk membawa tongkat estafet itu ke masa depan.

Saat Medali 1 Juli dianugerahkan pada Rabu, sorotan akan tertuju pada sekelompok "pahlawan sehari-hari." Kisah mereka mungkin berawal dari desa, lingkungan permukiman, atau laboratorium, tetapi semuanya berujung pada nilai abadi yang sama: tetap dekat dengan rakyat dan meneruskan semangat tersebut kepada generasi berikutnya.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-06-29/From-the-people-for-the-people-What-the-July-1-Medal-honors-1OnonFmsDdu/p.html

CGTN Digital

cgtn@cgtn.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Kolaborasi selama tiga tahun untuk memperluas akses ke riset ekonomi melalui seri webinar What Economists Really Do

LONDON, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) telah memperpanjang kemitraan strategisnya dengan Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford untuk tiga tahun berikutnya guna melanjutkan kolaborasi yang membantu memperluas akses masyarakat global ke berbagai hasil riset ekonomi.

Sebagai bagian dari perpanjangan kemitraan ini, EBC akan mensponsori satu edisi setiap tahun dari seri webinar What Economists Really Do yang diselenggarakan oleh Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford. Langkah ini akan membantu menyebarluaskan hasil riset dan wawasan ekonomi kepada mahasiswa, peneliti, alumni, serta masyarakat umum. Untuk memperluas jangkauan webinar tersebut, sejumlah wawasan dan pokok pembahasan terpilih juga akan dikemas dalam bentuk video pendek untuk media sosial. Konten ini akan menyajikan ringkasan gagasan utama yang mudah diakses audiens online yang lebih luas.

Sejak kemitraan ini dimulai, berbagai edisi What Economists Really Do yang disponsori EBC telah membahas beragam isu global yang mendesak, termasuk penggelapan pajak, perubahan iklim, dan literasi keuangan. Setiap webinar biasanya dihadiri oleh sekitar 200 peserta secara langsung. Secara keseluruhan, rekaman webinar tersebut telah meraih lebih dari 3.600 penayangan dengan total waktu tonton lebih dari 270 jam. Angka ini menunjukkan bahwa keterlibatan audiens tetap berlanjut, bahkan setelah sesi langsung berakhir.

Kemitraan ini mencerminkan komitmen bersama untuk memperluas akses ke pengetahuan ekonomi serta mendorong keterlibatan publik yang lebih berwawasan dalam memahami berbagai isu ekonomi. Kolaborasi ini juga mendukung terciptanya diskusi yang berbasis informasi mengenai berbagai topik, mulai dari kebijakan makroekonomi dan pasar keuangan hingga regulasi serta pembangunan ekonomi global.

Kemitraan ini juga mendukung komitmen Departemen Ekonomi dalam memperluas keterlibatan publik dengan menjadikan hasil riset akademik lebih mudah diakses oleh masyarakat di luar lingkungan universitas.

Inisiatif ini merupakan bagian dari komitmen EBC yang lebih luas terhadap tanggung jawab sosial perusahaan, dengan fokus pada upaya menghilangkan berbagai hambatan dalam edukasi serta mendorong terciptanya dampak sosial jangka panjang. Dengan menghubungkan keunggulan akademik dan penerapannya di dunia nyata, EBC terus mendukung perluasan akses terhadap edukasi ekonomi serta keterlibatan publik.

"Di tengah perkembangan pesat perekonomian global saat ini, akses ke pengetahuan keuangan yang kredibel menjadi semakin penting. Kemitraan berkelanjutan kami dengan Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford mencerminkan komitmen EBC untuk membekali masyarakat dengan wawasan dan alat yang dibutuhkan agar dapat mengambil keputusan yang matang. Pada saat yang sama, kami turut mendukung pengembangan talenta masa depan yang akan membentuk sistem keuangan di masa mendatang," ujar Christopher Stiegeler, Direktur Eksekutif, EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited.

Stiegeler menambahkan, "Selain kemitraan dengan Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford, EBC juga terus mendorong edukasi keuangan bagi generasi mendatang melalui berbagai inisiatif di lingkungan kampus, kolaborasi akademik, serta nota kesepahaman dengan institusi di seluruh dunia. Kolaborasi tersebut melibatkan National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), International University of Ulaanbaatar (IUU), Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Tecnol?gico de Monterrey), Escuela Bancaria y Comercial di Meksiko, serta Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB). Tim kami juga secara aktif menjajaki peluang kemitraan serupa dengan berbagai perguruan tinggi lainnya di seluruh dunia."

Profesor Johannes Abeler, Kepala Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford, berkomentar: "Keterlibatan publik dan edukasi merupakan bagian penting dari misi Departemen Ekonomi. Melalui inisiatif seperti What Economists Really Do, kami berupaya menunjukkan bagaimana ilmu ekonomi dapat berkontribusi terhadap perumusan kebijakan yang lebih baik serta pemahaman yang lebih mendalam mengenai berbagai isu yang membentuk dunia kita. Kami senang dapat melanjutkan kemitraan dengan EBC Financial Group. Dukungan EBC membantu kami meningkatkan akses ke pengetahuan ekonomi sekaligus menjangkau audiens baru di seluruh dunia melalui berbagai kegiatan edukasi."

Dalam tiga tahun ke depan, kemitraan ini akan terus memperkenalkan hasil riset akademik kepada masyarakat yang lebih luas, sekaligus memastikan bahwa wawasan ekonomi tetap mudah diakses, relevan, dan berdampak di tengah lingkungan global yang semakin kompleks.

Pernyataan Risiko

Trading Valuta Asing (Valas) dan Kontrak untuk Selisih (Contracts for Differences/CFD) dengan margin memiliki tingkat risiko yang tinggi dan mungkin tidak sesuai untuk semua investor. Kerugian dapat melebihi nilai deposit. Performa investasi pada masa lalu tidak menjamin hasil pada masa mendatang. Harap mempertimbangkan tujuan investasi dan toleransi risiko Anda dengan cermat sebelum melakukan trading.

Universitas Oxford dan Departemen Ekonominya tidak mendukung maupun merekomendasikan produk atau layanan komersial apa pun yang ditawarkan oleh EBC Financial Group. Kemitraan ini semata-mata berfokus pada inisiatif edukasi dan penyuluhan kepada masyarakat.

Tentang EBC Financial Group

EBC Financial Group (EBC), yang didirikan di London, merupakan merek global yang terkenal akan keahliannya di bidang broker keuangan dan manajemen aset. Melalui entitas teregulasinya yang beroperasi di berbagai yurisdiksi keuangan utama?termasuk Inggris Raya, Australia, Kepulauan Cayman, Mauritius, dan lainnya-EBC memungkinkan investor ritel, profesional, dan institusional untuk mengakses berbagai peluang trading dan pasar global, termasuk mata uang, komoditas, CFD, dan banyak lagi.

Dipercaya oleh para investor di lebih dari 100 negara, EBC telah memperoleh berbagai penghargaan industri, termasuk Best Trading Platform dan Most Trusted Broker, serta sejumlah penghargaan dari World Finance. Dengan rekam jejak kepatuhan regulasi yang kuat dan komitmen terhadap transparansi, EBC dipercaya oleh investor ritel, profesional, dan institusional di seluruh dunia dalam menyediakan solusi trading yang aman dan berfokus pada kebutuhan klien.

Semua anak perusahaan EBC berlisensi dan diregulasi dalam yurisdiksi mereka masing-masing. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited diregulasi oleh Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Inggris Raya; EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited diregualsi oleh Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, dan EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd diregulasi oleh Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd diotorisasi dan diregulasi oleh Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC).

Bagian terpenting di EBC adalah tim veteran industri yang memiliki pengalaman lebih dari 40 tahun dalam lembaga keuangan besar. Kami telah mengarungi berbagai siklus ekonomi penting, dari Perjanjian Plaza dan krisis franc Swiss pada tahun 2015 hingga pergolakan pasar akibat pandemi COVID-19. Kami memupuk budaya yang mengutamakan integritas, rasa hormat, dan keamanan aset klien, dengan memastikan setiap hubungan investor benar-benar diperlakukan sebagaimana mestinya.

EBC dengan bangga menjadi mitra valuta asing resmi FC Barcelona dan terus mendorong kemitraan yang berdampak besar untuk memberdayakan masyarakat?khususnya melalui inisiatif United to Beat Malaria Yayasan PBB, Departemen Ekonomi Universitas Oxford, dan beragam mitra untuk memperjuangkan berbagai inisiatif dalam kesehatan global, ekonomi, pendidikan, dan keberlanjutan.

https://www.ebc.com/

Kontak Media:

Aldric Tinker Toyad

Kepala Humas Global

aldric.tinker@ebc.com

Faiz Alavi Sulaiman

Eksekutif Humas Senior

faiz.sulaiman@ebc.com

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 1 July 2026 - SUNeVision Holdings Ltd. ("SUNeVision" or the "Company"; SEHK: 1686), the largest data centre provider in Hong Kong and the technology arm of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited ("SHKP"), held its Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") on 30 June, where all ordinary resolutions relating to the Company's continuing connected transactions were duly passed by independent shareholders.

During the Q&A session of the EGM, management also provided an update on a major new customer commitment and the accelerated development timeline of its flagship MEGA IDC facility.

Significant Occupancy Uplift at MEGA IDC Phase One - Addressing shareholder inquiries during the meeting, the Company highlighted robust and sustained demand for its premium data centre capacity, anchored by a substantial new order secured from a major single customer at MEGA IDC Phase One. Customer move-in is scheduled to commence toward the end of this year. Upon full implementation, this commitment is projected to significantly lift the occupancy rate of MEGA IDC Phase One from its current 30% to approximately 70%.

Concurrently, SUNeVision continues to experience strong interest from a diverse pipeline of prospective customers for the remaining two floors of MEGA IDC Phase One. This commercial momentum is heavily underpinned by the rapid adoption of AI applications and the continuous expansion of cloud computing infrastructure across the region.

Accelerated Expansion to Capture Structural Growth ? To proactively meet this accelerating market demand and support its growing customer pipeline, management shared that SUNeVision is fast-tracking the development of MEGA IDC Phases Two and Three, with operations aiming to commence by 2028.

SUNeVision remains highly confident in the long-term outlook for premium data centre services in Hong Kong. With its advanced infrastructure, highly scalable capacity, and dense connectivity ecosystem, the Company is uniquely positioned to capture high-growth opportunities and deliver sustainable value for shareholders.

About SUNeVision

SUNeVision (SEHK: 1686), the technology arm of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SEHK: 0016), is the largest data centre provider in Hong Kong. We provide industry-leading carrier and cloud-neutral data centre services with Asia's number one connectivity. We connect providers of telecommunications, cloud, ISP, CDN, OTT from local, mainland China and global with enterprises of different businesses on our Asia leading data centre ecosystem.

SUNeVision forms MEGA Campus by extending the connectivity edge from highly connected MEGAi to other high-tier data centres, including MEGA Gateway, MEGA IDC, MEGA Plus and MEGA Two. Facilities on MEGA Campus are interconnected through a dedicated dark fibre network and around 15,000 cross-connects. Together with City PoPs of major submarine cables in our facilities, we enable our customers for direct connections to multi-cloud platforms and multi-cloud exchanges with the best connectivity in town. The addition of cable landing stations HKIS-1 and HKIS-2 to our data centre portfolio will provide a one-stop-solution to cable owners and users, strengthening our position as the leading connectivity hub in Asia. We are committed to supporting Hong Kong as a regional information hub and a strategic gateway to mainland China.

For more information, please visit SUNeVision's website, LinkedIn or WeChat.

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

Hashtags: #SUNeVision

Setelah lima tahun dikembangkan, Autheo meluncurkan sistem operasi terdesentralisasinya di Mainnet - menyusul adopsi testnet publik yang telah melampaui 1,8 juta dompet digital, hampir 1 juta kontrak pintar, serta 8,8 juta transaksi

SHERIDAN, Wyoming, July 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autheo hari ini meluncurkan Mainnet untuk sistem operasi terdesentralisasinya?sebuah lapisan koordinasi yang memungkinkan Web, Web3, agen AI, dan aplikasi kripto saling beroperasi secara langsung dengan keamanan pascakuantum guna melindungi identitas digital, token, kontrak pintar, dan AI agentik.

LAPISAN KOORDINASI YANG SELAMA INI TAK PERNAH DIMILIKI INTERNET

Lanskap blockchain saat ini masih terfragmentasi - Web2, Web3, agen AI, dan aplikasi kripto belum dapat saling beroperasi secara langsung, sedangkan jembatan lintas blockchain beroperasi di lapisan penghubung. Autheo menghadirkan lapisan koordinasi dan eksekusi yang memungkinkan layanan Web, jaringan blockchain, dan agen AI berkoordinasi secara langsung dalam satu platform terpadu untuk identitas, pengiriman pesan, dan eksekusi. Sistem ini menggunakan lapisan kepercayaan dan identitas on-chain yang tahan terhadap ancaman komputasi kuantum untuk mendukung AI agentik.

  "Kami tidak memulai untuk sekadar membangun satu jaringan lagi," ujar Scott Bayless, Managing Director sekaligus salah satu pendiri Autheo. "Kami berupaya menemukan cara yang tepat agar jaringan-jaringan yang sudah ada dapat saling terhubung. Tubuh memiliki banyak bagian. Sebuah kota hidup dari beragam profesi. Internet saat ini terdiri atas banyak sistem - masing-masing menjalankan fungsinya, tetapi belum bergerak sebagai satu kesatuan. Dengan Mainnet yang kini telah aktif, Autheo menjadi lapisan yang pada akhirnya memungkinkan Web, jaringan blockchain, dan agen AI dapat bekerja bersama secara terpadu."

   

DIBENTUK OLEH PARA MITRA YANG TELAH LAMA BERKOLABORASI

Dibentuk pada bulan Juli 2021 oleh Todd Mortenson dan Scott Bayless, Autheo dibangun di atas empat fondasi arsitektur utama: TheoID (DID yang sesuai dengan standar W3C untuk pengguna, layanan, dan agen AI); PQCNet (kerangka keamanan pascakuantum berbasis standar NIST: ML-KEM, ML-DSA, dan SLH-DSA); Cosmos SDK Layer 0 yang berdaulat dengan interoperabilitas IBC bawaan; serta lingkungan eksekusi Layer 1 yang terintegrasi dan kompatibel dengan EVM. Jaringan ini menggunakan mekanisme Bukti Taruhan dengan staking yang didelegasikan dan validator berlisensi, serta diamankan dengan finalitas blok melalui konsensus CometBFT ("Proof of Autheo"). Pengembangan teknisnya dipimpin oleh CEngO Kenneth Harper, dengan dukungan kontributor yang berasal dari MIT, Harvard, Stanford, dan Caltech. Audit: Halborn (testnet) dan CertiK (Mainnet). Para mitra mencakup Zeeve, InfStones, Hydrex, Halborn, CertiK, TrustSwap, Team.Finance, dan Utila.

ADOPSI TESTNET MENINGKAT BERLIPAT GANDA

Testnet publik Autheo diluncurkan pada tahun 2025 dan dalam dua belas bulan pertama telah digunakan oleh 350.000 dompet digital serta 60.000 kontrak pintar. Sejak diumumkannya Mainnet Fase 1 pada tanggal 12 Mei 2026, adopsi Autheo meningkat pesat. Dalam 45 hari sejak saat itu, jumlah alamat dompet digital tumbuh lebih dari 5x, sedangkan jumlah kontrak pintar melonjak lebih dari 15x. Total kumulatif:

1.812.088 alamat dompet digital

968.502 kontrak pintar

(Angka-angka tersebut berdasarkan data jaringan Autheo per 24 Juni 2026. Dapat diverifikasi secara independen melalui penjelajah testnet publik: testnet-explorer.autheo.com ? verified contracts.)

  "Mainnet kini telah aktif," ujar Todd Mortenson, Managing Director sekaligus salah satu pendiri Autheo. "Industri akan berlomba-lomba menambahkan keamanan pascakuantum ke sistem yang sudah ada sebelum jadwal yang ditetapkan NIST. Sementara itu, pengembang kami tidak perlu melakukannya. Kami membangun PQC sejak awal. Satu antarmuka terpadu untuk layanan Web, protokol on-chain, dan agen AI. Satu juta pengembang manusia akan terhubung secara on-chain dalam tiga tahun. Lantas, bagaimana dengan agen AI yang turut membangun bersama mereka? Jumlahnya akan berkali-kali lipat lebih besar. Lapisan koordinasi untuk mewujudkan masa depan tersebut kini telah aktif."

   

LANGKAH SELANJUTNYA

Akses developer (Mainnet, aktif mulai hari ini):

Dokumentasi: docs.autheo.com

Penjelajah blok Mainnet: evm-explorer.autheo.com

ID Chain: 2127 (0x84f)

Endpoint RPC publik: rpc1.autheo.com ? rpc2.autheo.com ? rpc3.autheo.com

Penjelajah testnet (dengan kode sumber kontrak yang telah diverifikasi): testnet-explorer.autheo.com

Token THEO diperkirakan akan resmi terdaftar di Hydrex.fi pada awal Juli 2026. Program Core Node, Prime Node, dan Sovereign Validator (399 berlisensi melalui NFT, dan 275 dipesan melalui sistem langganan) di commerce.autheo.com.

Siaran pers lengkap beserta penjelasan teknis yang mendalam tersedia di autheo.com/press.

TENTANG AUTHEO

Autheo sedang membangun sistem operasi Internet, yaitu lapisan koordinasi terdesentralisasi untuk Web, blockchain, dan agen AI, yang ditopang oleh PQCNet (kriptografi pascakuantum berstandar NIST) dan W3C DID. Memenuhi kebutuhan yang muncul dari konvergensi AI, blockchain, dan kripto-dengan mendukung AI agentik, tokenomik, blockchain perusahaan, serta kedaulatan digital on-chain dalam menghadapi ancaman komputasi kuantum. autheo.com ? @Autheo_Network.

KONTAK MEDIA

Ryan Teigen, Director of Product Marketing

Email: ryan@autheo.com ? press@autheo.com ? Telepon: 608-713-1028

autheo.com ? X: @Autheo_Network

Pernyataan berwawasan ke depan: Pernyataan tertentu dalam siaran pers ini, termasuk pernyataan mengenai proyeksi pertumbuhan jaringan, kemitraan, dan rencana, merupakan pernyataan berwawasan ke depan yang mengandung berbagai risiko dan ketidakpastian. Hasil aktual dapat berbeda. Autheo tidak berkewajiban memperbarui pernyataan tersebut, kecuali sebagaimana diwajibkan oleh hukum.

Video yang disertakan pada pengumuman ini tersedia di:: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99a95dde-f8e8-42d6-8e59-72d34724b7f9

Rated AAA on the China national scale by Lianhe and recently ranked 398th on Forbes Global 2000, up from 1007th in 2022 ? Milestone marked by a gong ceremony at the Connect Hall, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on 30 June 2026

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY and HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 June 2026 - OTP Bank Plc. ("OTP Bank" or "OTP"), the leading banking group in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), today marked the establishment of its EUR 7 billion Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) programme on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange" or "HKEX") with a commemorative gong ceremony at the Connect Hall, Hong Kong Stock Exchange. OTP is the first European Union financial institution to open an EMTN programme on the exchange.

The EUR 7 billion programme was established on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 28 May 2026, following approval of its base prospectus by Luxembourg's Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) on 27 May 2026, allowing the issuer to raise debt in multiple tranches, currencies, structures and maturities over time. For OTP - which holds an AAA issuer rating on the China national scale from Lianhe Ratings, the highest available - it establishes a permanent platform for trading with certain OTP bonds, and later for raising capital from Asian institutional investors.

On 16 June 2026, OTP priced the programme's inaugural issuance: a EUR 1 billion Tier 2 note, listed in Hong Kong and Luxembourg. It is OTP's largest-ever bond transaction and, as at the issue date, the largest euro-denominated Tier 2 note issued by a bank in the CEE and wider CEMEA region. The offering drew a peak order book of EUR 4.1 billion - the largest in OTP's history - and priced at a coupon of 4.625%.

The listing builds on OTP's growing presence in Asian capital markets. In 2025 OTP issued its first Dim Sum green bond, raising CNH 900 million and becoming the first Hungarian institution to issue a public offshore renminbi green bond, following a CNY 300 million bond in 2024. The Bank has operated a representative office in Beijing since 2017, became a full member of the Asian Financial Cooperation Association (AFCA) in 2024, and maintains a strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

S?ndor Pataki, Director of Investor Relations and Capital Markets Operations of OTP Bank, said: "Listing our EMTN programme in Hong Kong is a clear demonstration of OTP Bank's long-term vision and strategic commitment to international capital markets. Hong Kong excels itself as one of the world's leading international financial centres, serving as a vital bridge between East and West. For OTP Bank, this is not only an opportunity to access liquidity, but also to deepen relationships and build lasting trust with investors in this dynamic region. The demand we have seen for OTP's credit, including the record order book for our inaugural issue off the programme, reflects the growing interest in high-quality European issuers."

As Asian investors increasingly look to Europe to diversify their portfolios, Central and Eastern Europe offers a distinctive proposition: emerging-market growth rates combined with the low-risk profile of the European Union. The region's attractiveness is reinforced by its convergence towards the eurozone. Three of the five countries in which OTP is the market leader sit at the heart of Europe's euro-convergence story - Bulgaria, which adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, Slovenia, which adopted the euro years ago, and Hungary, OTP's flagship market, where the recently elected government aims to create the conditions for euro adoption around 2030.

OTP combines what rarely comes together in European banking: high growth, strong profitability and an ultraconservative balance sheet built for resilience. OTP Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing banking groups in the region, recently ranked 398th on the Forbes Global 2000 list, up from 1007th place in 2022. It pairs an annual organic loan growth of around 15% with a disciplined acquisition record and high profitability - a 2025 return on equity of 21.6% - and with an ultraconservative balance sheet: a leverage ratio well above its European peers, strong capital and liquidity, and one of the most resilient outcomes in the European Banking Authority's latest stress test. In 2023, OTP became the first European bank to enter Uzbekistan, bringing the total population across OTP's markets to 110 million.

S?ndor Pataki, Director of Investor Relations and Capital Markets Operations of OTP Bank, added: "We believe the combination of growth, profitability and stability is what makes OTP an attractive name for fixed-income investors. This is also reflected in our recent ranking among the world's top 500 companies by Forbes.These achievements are the result of a consistent strategy: prudent growth, diversified funding sources, and a strong focus on long-term partnerships. Over the decades, OTP Bank has built a solid track record in international debt capital markets, and today's milestones further strengthen that foundation. Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities to deepen our engagement with Asian investors and institutions. We are confident that this listing will serve as a cornerstone for long-term cooperation, mutual growth, and shared success."

Hashtag: #OTPBank  #Banking  #Finance  #HongKong  #Hungary 

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

World Cup Fever Returns: Learning Emotional Management on the Pitch

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 June 2026 - The four-yearly World Cup is in full swing, and the football fever once again sweeps the globe. The pitch has long been known as a "proving ground" for heroes; even for world-class players with years of experience, the joy of scoring a goal is often balanced by the sight of others in tears, frustrated by a defeat. The prowess of these players will be etched into the hearts of countless children, inspiring a lifelong love for the sport.

In the Play to Thrive programme, winning or losing isn't what matters; what's more important is building children's resilience.

Save the Children Hong Kong firmly believes that the football pitch is more than just a venue for competition-it is an ideal classroom for Social-emotional Learning. For eight-year-old Kai-long, the setbacks and failures experienced on the pitch have proven far more vital to his personal growth than mastering technical skills or perfecting "step-overs".

The Play to Thrive programme empowers children to master emotional management and communication skills while staying active in sports. Compared to a "Zidane turn", these are the skills that will truly serve them for a lifetime.

On the training ground, eight-year-old Kai-long's skills are clearly "a cut above the rest". From the way he carries the ball to the power of his strikes, he already carries himself like a mini professional. During internal matches, he frequently finds the back of the net, scoring multiple goals for his side.

However, the moments that truly bring a smile of approval to the coaches and teachers are not Kai-long's technical displays, but his small yet heart-warming gestures. For instance, he is seen helping teammates by steadying the inflatable goalposts during shooting drills. Even when knocked down during a match, if the coach does not blow for a foul, Kai-long doesn't complain; he simply brushes it off with a smile and gets straight back to chasing the ball.

When Excellence Becomes a Burden: Children Trapped by the Need to Win

"He has a personality that tends to be quite fixated on winning and losing. Because of his own performance, or because his classmates' performance didn't meet his expectations, he would sometimes experience emotional ups and downs," explains Mr. Lui, the PE teacher. He admits that while Kai-long's football skills are outstanding, his stubborn nature previously caused friction with teammates and classmates. Mr. Lui noted that since Kai-long was already a member of the school's reserve team, he recommended him for the Play to Thrive programme not to "learn football", but in the hope that he would learn how to get along with others.

Consequently, what moved Mr. Lui the most was not Kai-long's "goal-scoring show", but his reaction during a match when other students deliberately moved the inflatable goalposts. Instead of complaining or losing his temper as he might have done in the past, Kai-long continued to play with a smile on his face. "Previously, he might have called it unfair or had an emotional outburst, but today he didn't complain; he even found it quite funny. He is no longer fixated on winning or losing."

In the eyes of his father, Chung, Kai-long has been a child with extremely high expectations of himself and a drive for perfection since he was young. "Whether it is schoolwork or his behaviour, he hopes to be a good role model and be very well-behaved." However, Chung also mentioned that this perfectionist streak serves as a source of pressure for Kai-long.

Interpersonal Skills Are More Important Than Footballing Ability

Chung admits that Kai-long used to be very fixated on winning and losing: "In the past, if he lost a game of football against his elder brother, he would be resentful; when he was younger, he even tried to hit him." While it is natural to crave goals and seek victory on the pitch, Chung also believes that how one treats others and interacts with peers is a vital part of growing up, which is why he enrolled Kai-long in Play to Thrive.

"Football is a natural educational tool," says Ms. Wong Shek Hung, Director of Hong Kong Programmes at Save the Children Hong Kong. She explains that experiencing victory, defeat, and frustration is inevitable in sports, providing the perfect opportunity for children to learn emotional management. She adds that Play to Thrive originated from a community football programme developed by Save the Children UK for children in Jordan and Indonesia.

The core of the programme lies in integrating Social-emotional Learning into football training to help children build five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Furthermore, the programme is open to all children regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background, allowing them to master self-awareness, emotional regulation, and team communication skills within a diverse and inclusive environment.

No Ordinary Football Training

As this is unlike conventional football training, every coach is required to undergo professional training covering "Child Safeguarding" and emotional support knowledge. Ms. Wong Shek Hung notes that during the "debriefing" session at the end of each practice, coaches guide the children to reflect on their experiences on the pitch, attempting to translate these moments into emotional literacy. The ultimate goal is "to let children learn how to become 'masters of their own emotions'."

Demonstrating Personal Growth and Cultivating Leadership Skills

Mr. Lui noticed that after joining the programme, Kai-long not only showed progress in his personal emotional management but also learned how to consider things from others' perspectives. During PE lessons, Kai-long has become more willing to take the initiative to help his classmates and has learned to accept teammates with different abilities, even proactively coaching others. "He gets along with his classmates much more harmoniously now; the barriers that existed before have disappeared," Mr. Lui remarked. He further revealed that Kai-long's form teacher, having observed this growth, officially appointed him as a class monitor for the second term.

His father, Chung, observed that since joining the programme, Kai-long has demonstrated a level of resilience rarely seen before. He recalled a match where Kai-long served as both captain and goalkeeper; even when facing conceded goals and falling behind, "his first instinct wasn't to feel discouraged, but rather to keep encouraging his teammates from the back to keep running and keep attacking."

Ms. Wong Shek Hung reaffirmed that this is precisely the philosophy of Play to Thrive: "We emphasise 'Football Second, Growth First', ensuring that even if children lose a match, they learn to handle their emotions, communicate, and cooperate throughout the process."

Building Resilience: Transforming Lives Through Football

Ms. Kalina Tsang, CEO of Save the Children Hong Kong, stated that she has always believed football is a powerful tool for building resilience in children: "We have always been concerned about children's physical and mental well-being. Football is more than just a sport; beyond honing technical skills, it can be used to build a child's resilience. By combining football training with Social-emotional Learning, and under the guidance of professionally trained coaches, Play to Thrive ensures that the sweat shed by children on the pitch is transformed into self-awareness and emotional management skills." Ms. Tsang also noted that Kai-long's growth perfectly embodies the programme's success. She said, "We are deeply gratified to see Kai-long progress from initial emotional fluctuations to confidently cooperating with teammates and facing victory or defeat positively-improving both on a personal level and in his interactions with peers."

As for Kai-long himself, it is difficult for an eight-year-old to describe his transformation in detail. But when asked what was different about him, he said with an innocent smile, "I used to blame my teammates for not passing the ball, but now I've learned not to. I tell them: 'It's okay, pass it again next time. We'll win the ball back together.'"

Launched in Hong Kong in 2023, the Play to Thrive programme is a service that integrates Social-emotional Learning with football training. It aims to create a safe and supportive space for schoolchildren, promoting their physical, social, and mental health through sport. The programme currently operates across various districts in Hong Kong, including community teams in areas such as Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai. The school-based project collaborates with over 30 primary schools across the territory, integrating football training into school life to help students recognise and manage their emotions, build healthy interpersonal relationships, and enhance their confidence and resilience. In response to the current situation where up to 39% of primary and secondary students in Hong Kong face mental health challenges, the programme places special emphasis on SEL to help children master effective communication and emotional management both on and off the pitch.

In 2025 alone, the community and school projects of Play to Thrive held a total of 744 training sessions, with total service hours exceeding 1,000 hours. The programme reached 1,120 children and their families across Hong Kong, establishing close partnerships with 32 schools and 4 non-profit organisations. In terms of impact assessment, participant satisfaction was high, with satisfaction rates for the community and school projects reaching 80% and 75%, respectively.

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

FLORENCE, ITALY - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 June 2026 - At the Greenworks European Dealer Conference, Greenworks announced the rollout of its 24V PowerAll power tool range across Europe, marking the completion of its rollout across the United States, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

It marks a new phase in its strategy, with power tools becoming a core pillar alongside its established garden tool business. According to Grand View Research, Europe accounted for 23.5% of global power tool revenue in 2025. A German dealer noted that the shift to integrated battery systems has changed customer purchasing behaviour, reflecting broader industry evolution.

"Europe is one of the world's core markets for power tools and a key pillar of Greenworks' globalisation strategy. We will continue to improve our local operating system, deepen collaboration with partners and, through the Greenworks Power ecosystem" said Chen Yin, CEO of Greenworks.

The 24V PowerAll platform is built around a unified battery ecosystem designed for both DIY and professional users. It includes a Home DIY product line for everyday household tasks and a Pro line for high-intensity professional applications, serving users from homeowners to electricians, builders and maintenance professionals. The platform covers more than 200 compatible products, enabling one battery to power drills, saws, lawn mowers, pressure washers and vacuum cleaners across multiple categories. It also enables cross-category energy sharing, strengthening long-term user retention and brand engagement.

Based on 24V lithium-ion technology and brushless motor systems, the platform delivers stronger power, longer runtime and higher efficiency. A shared battery architecture also reduces user costs while increasing convenience and cross-category usability. Greenworks has also introduced USB-C fast charging with advanced GaN technology, improving charging efficiency for tools and portable devices.

In Europe, Greenworks is strengthening localisation across channels, supply chain, product portfolio and brand operations. The company continues to expand its European presence while enhancing its Greenworks Commercial offering for professional landscaping and urban maintenance. The European Operations Center in Florence, Italy, plays a key role in improving logistics efficiency and supporting faster response times across regional dealer networks.

Greenworks will continue investing in lithium-ion battery innovation and brushless motor technologies to support sustainable electrification across global markets.

Hashtag: #Greenworks 

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

Copyright ? 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

New collaboration delivers streamlined integration from drug substance to drug product, including sterile fill-finish and device assembly for clinical programs.

U.S. Fill-Finish Partnership Announced for AGC Biologics

Drug developers have a new, optimized option for U.S.-based manufacturing, as AGC Biologics enters a strategic partnership with Pyramid Pharma Services.

SEATTLE, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drug developers have a new, optimized option for U.S.-based manufacturing, as AGC Biologics enters a strategic partnership with Pyramid Pharma Services. The collaboration combines AGC Biologics' expertise in drug substance development and manufacturing with Pyramid's sterile fill-finish capabilities, creating a differentiated U.S.-based offering and providing developers with a fully integrated supply chain solution.

Through this partnership, clients gain access to comprehensive sterile fill-finish capabilities in the United States, including vials (liquid and lyophilized), pre-filled syringes, and cartridges. The integrated offering also includes device assembly, labeling, and secondary packaging services for clinical programs.

By combining AGC Biologics' expertise in drug substance development and manufacturing with Pyramid's experience in sterile drug product manufacturing, the partnership creates a seamless, efficient pathway from early development to commercial supply. Clients benefit from integrated project management, reduced complexity, and fewer handoffs, enabling faster delivery of therapies to patients.

"We are always listening to our customers' needs and responding with solutions that help them meet their goals. With this U.S.-based fill-finish option, our Seattle site is well-positioned for developers that desire or even require end-to-end production in the U.S.," said Christoph Winterhalter, Chief Business Officer at AGC Biologics. "By combining our experience in mammalian and microbial manufacturing with a partner that has a demonstrated commitment to reliable sterile dose delivery, we offer an ideal pathway for developers to bring their products to patients through a streamlined, integrated supply chain via a single contract with AGC Biologics."

This new offering complements AGC Biologics' existing European fill-finish capabilities, providing clients with geographic flexibility and a robust U.S.-based option to help navigate tariff exposure and enhance supply chain security.

Pyramid Pharma Services brings nearly four decades of experience in sterile injectable drug product development, including 26 years in GMP manufacturing and over a decade of commercial supply, with a strong track record of quality, reliability, and regulatory excellence. The company offers deep technical expertise in complex formulations, lyophilization, and scalable technology transfer, supporting efficient progression from development through commercialization. Its capabilities span formulation and process development, clinical and commercial fill-finish, device assembly, labeling, packaging, and comprehensive analytical services.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward in delivering truly integrated solutions to our clients," said Dirk Lange, CEO of Pyramid Pharma Services. "By combining strengths, we simplify development pathways, reduce risk, and accelerate timelines-helping our customers bring critical therapies to market more efficiently."

Key Partnership Highlights

* U.S.-Based End-to-End Integration: Streamlined services from drug substance to drug product, including fill/finish, device assembly, and packaging.

* Geographic Flexibility: Along with its European partnership, AGC Biologics now offers clients fill-finish options in both the U.S. and Europe.

* Accelerated Timelines: Integrated project management designed to reduce complexity, fewer handoffs, and help accelerate timelines.

* Technical Expertise: Extensive experience in sterile injectables, lyophilization, and complex drug product development.

* Clinical to Commercial Scale: Fully scalable solutions supporting all stages of development.

About AGC Biologics

AGC Biologics is a leading global biopharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with a strong commitment to delivering the highest standard of service as we work side-by-side with our clients and partners, to provide friendly and expert services. We provide world-class development and manufacturing of mammalian and microbial-based therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA (pDNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells. Our global network spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, with locations in Seattle, Washington; Copenhagen, Denmark; Heidelberg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Chiba and Yokohama, Japan. AGC Biologics is a part of AGC Inc.'s Life Science Business. The Life Science Business runs eight facilities focused on biopharmaceuticals, advanced therapies, small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, and agrochemicals. To learn more, visit www.agcbio.com.

About Pyramid Pharma Services

Pyramid Pharma Services is a U.S.-based CDMO specializing in sterile injectable drug product development and manufacturing. The company provides comprehensive services from formulation and process development through clinical and commercial fill/finish, supported by strong regulatory expertise and a commitment to quality and flexibility.

AGC Inc. corporate contact: info-pr@agc.com

AGC Biologics media contact: kati.sills@agc.com

Pyramid Pharma Services media contact: hana.robinson@pyramidlabs.com

Top International Teams Converge on Victoria Harbour to Race as Shoreline Programmes Enhance the Festive Atmosphere

HONG KONG, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The highlight of the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival - The Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), co-organised by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA) and proudly title-sponsored by Sun Life - was staged on Victoria Harbour on 27-28 June.

Top dragon boat athletes from around the world gathered to paddle to the beat of drums, sending sprays of water flying as they raced intensity and excitement. The Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade was packed with locals and visitors cheering on their dragon boat teams. Beyond the exciting races, the Festival also features a vibrant array of harbourside entertainment, including a Dragon Boat Food Lane, a Beer Garden, Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshops, and a series of photo spots, immersing spectators in a rich festive atmosphere.

Elite Athletes from Around the World Paddle for Glory on Victoria Harbour

This year's Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races feature 21 races, drawing more than 220 teams and over 4,500 paddlers from 16 countries and regions. The first day of competition brought together top teams from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and around the world for a series of thrilling races, attracting a huge crowd of cheering spectators.

Diverse Festive Activities Keep the Harbourfront Alive Day and Night

Prior to the races, the Dragon Boat Food Lane, Beer Garden, Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshops, and a series of photo spots opened along the waterfront, filling the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade with a strong festive atmosphere that attracted both locals and visitors. As the race weekend got underway, crowds gathered at the Race Broadcast Viewing Zones to experience the thrill of the dragon boat finals.

50th Anniversary Fishermen Invitational Cup Features Wooden Dragon Boats

Top Teams Battle for "Ultimate Dragon Boat Champion" Title in Event Climax

This year, the "50th Anniversary Fishermen Invitational Cup" was introduced, featuring six teams of local fishermen from areas including Aberdeen and Chai Wan. Racing in traditional wooden dragon boats, they reflected the culture and spirit of Hong Kong's fishing communities. In addition, the new "Huatai International IDBR 50th Anniversary Championship" brought together top teams from nine major race categories to compete for the title of "Ultimate Dragon Boat Champion," providing a thrilling climax to the weekend's races.

Members of the media can download the press release and the photos from the following links:    

Press Release: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/hktb/newsroom/press-releases.html  

Photos: https://assetlibrary.hktb.com/assetbank-hktb/action/browseItems?categoryId=2443&categoryTypeId=2&cachedCriteria=1 

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Mr Cameron Tong Tel: 2807 6367                      Email: cameron.tong@hktb.com

Ms Elisa Luk Tel: 2807 6236                              Email: elisa.luk@hktb.com

   

Funding brings total capital raised to $10 million as the company scales next-generation carbon-infused metals for electric motors, thermal systems, data centers, and power infrastructure

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcturus, an advanced materials company that infuses carbon nanomaterials into metals to unlock step-change improvements in electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance, today emerged from stealth with an $8 million seed round led by Initialized Capital, with participation from 1517, Breakthrough Energy Discovery, Toyota Ventures, and Wireframe Ventures. 

Arcturus is developing a proprietary process to infuse carbon nanomaterials into metals, creating a new class of high-performance materials designed to improve electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance. The company is building these materials as a drop-in solution for critical components across electrical systems, with target applications including motor windings, bus bars, heat sinks, and, over time, transmission lines and broader grid infrastructure.

The core problem Arcturus is solving is one hiding in plain sight: copper and aluminum are being pushed to their limits as today's systems demand more power, more efficiency, and better thermal performance than legacy metals can deliver. As AI infrastructure scales, electrification accelerates, and grid modernization becomes more urgent, the limitations of conventional metals are driving higher heat losses, lower efficiency, added cooling complexity, and rising system costs.

"The industry has gotten used to treating heat, efficiency loss, and power density as system design problems," said Amir Mashal, Founder and CEO of Arcturus. "To me, they're materials problems first. Arcturus exists to attack the bottleneck at its source by creating a new class of metals infused with carbon nanomaterials that can move more power, waste less energy, and open the door to the next generation of electrical systems"

Mashal founded Arcturus after working at the intersection of electrical engineering, materials science, and carbon nanomaterials, first at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later at Hughes Research Laboratory. In aerospace and automotive R&D, he saw firsthand how often the answer was to engineer around the thermal and electrical limitations of legacy metals instead of solving the underlying materials problem.

"Every industry pushing the limits of performance is running into the same wall: the metals carrying their power and heat haven't fundamentally changed in over a century. As demand has grown, we've layered more copper and more cooling on top of materials engineered for a much simpler era," said Zoe Perret, Partner at Initialized Capital. "Amir has cracked something the largest labs in the world haven't: a new class of carbon-infused metals that let motors run hotter, components carry more, and systems waste far less. Arcturus is building the materials platform the next generation of high-performance industries will be built on."

That platform approach is resonating across sectors where power density, heat, and efficiency are becoming increasingly difficult to solve through system design alone. 

"Arcturus is innovating at the fundamental material level for the future of power delivery," said Ethan Sohn, Climate Fund Principal at Toyota Ventures. "From next-generation mobility to thermal management and high-power electrical infrastructure, there's a clear and growing need for better-performing materials across increasingly demanding applications. Arcturus is developing for those real-world requirements." 

"Arcturus sits between a materials breakthrough and a very large market need," said Lily, Partner at Wireframe Ventures. "When scaled, the company's technology will save nearly $300B in wasted energy and cut over 500M tonnes of CO2 emissions, every single year."

Mashal was selected as both a 2025 Breakthrough Energy Discovery's Fellow and a 2024 1517 Flux Capacitor Fellow, recognition that validated both the urgency of the problem and the scale of the opportunity Arcturus is pursuing.

"Most companies engineer around the constraints of copper and aluminum, Arcturus is actually redefining those limits," said Ashley Grosh, Head of Breakthrough Energy Discovery. "By producing a new class of materials entirely, they can improve thermal performance, mechanical strength, and conductivity in a way that can scale. The potential impact extends across energy, compute, and industry. That is the type of breakthrough, system-level innovation we look for at the BE Fellows program."

That early conviction started when Arcturus was still at the earliest stage of company formation. 

"From the beginning, we saw the oak tree present in the acorn with Amir; he possesses that rare mix of technical depth and the ultra-hardcore resolve required to face an unforgiving environment," said Michael Gibson, General Partner and Co-Founder at 1517. "The Flux Capacitor Fellowship exists to back missionaries, not mercenaries, at the earliest stage. While most would have walked away, Amir's obsessiveness took over, he couldn't unsee the problem. He shows the imaginative daring and sustaining commitment needed to build a company that doesn't just solve a problem, but makes history."

The funding will be used to expand the team, accelerate manufacturing scale-up, and advance commercialization across electric motors, thermal management systems, data center infrastructure, and grid applications. The company is actively hiring across nanomaterials, process engineering, materials science, additive manufacturing, and manufacturing scale-up.

For more information: https://arcturus.io/ Media contact: amir@arcturus.io

About Arcturus

Arcturus is an advanced materials company that infuses carbon nanomaterials into metals for the next generation of electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance. Founded in Los Angeles by Amir Mashal, Arcturus is developing a scalable materials platform for applications spanning electric motors, thermal management, data center infrastructure, and power transmission. The company is building toward a future where the world's most critical systems are no longer constrained by yesterday's metals.

*Advanced analytical methods integrating clinical trial and real-world data address key evidence gaps in rare, difficult-to-treat blood cancers 

*Across both studies, mogamulizumab was associated with improved survival outcomes compared to standard of care

PRINCETON, N.J., June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Researchers at the World Congress of Cutaneous Lymphoma 2026 presented two indirect treatment comparison (ITC) analyses examining the impact of mogamulizumab on long-term outcomes, including overall survival (OS), in patients with relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sezary syndrome (SS), two subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

These findings, which drew on clinical trial and real-world data, expand the growing body of evidence supporting mogamulizumab use and address critical information gaps where comparative survival data have been limited. The research was funded by Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd (TSE: 4151).

"Indirect treatment comparisons help to bridge critical evidence gaps in MF and SS, giving clinicians a clearer picture of long-term outcomes in real-world practice," said Professor H. Miles Prince, Principal Investigator, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia. "This deeper understanding enables us to make informed treatment decisions and ultimately provide more personalized, effective care for our patients."

MF and SS are rare, progressive forms of CTCL associated with substantial morbidity in advanced stages and often require multiple lines of treatment. In the phase 3 MAVORIC trial, mogamulizumab improved progression-free survival versus vorinostat in adult patients with relapsed or refractory MF or SS, but a high rate of treatment crossover limited direct assessment of overall survival.

To address this limitation, two independent studies used MAVORIC and real-world data to estimate comparative OS using ITC methods while accounting for patient differences across treatment groups and data sources. These findings aim to help address evidence gaps that limit access in some countries and support informed treatment decision-making.

"In rare diseases like CTCL, clinical trials are often not designed to evaluate long-term treatment outcomes like overall survival," said Dr. Angela Williams, PhD, Global Head Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Kyowa Kirin. "By applying advanced analytical approaches, we can integrate clinical trial and real-world data to better assess the long-term impact of a treatment like mogamulizumab on overall survival and other outcomes. This approach reflects our continued commitment to advancing research that informs treatment decisions in rare, hard-to-treat hematologic malignancies like CTCL, helping to improve the lives of patients and their care partners."

ITC Methodology and Results

In two separate ITC studies, researchers analyzed survival outcomes in cohorts of patients with relapsed or refractory MF or SS by comparing patient-level data from the mogamulizumab arm of the MAVORIC trial (n=186) with real-world registry data from Australia and Denmark. Vorinostat, the active comparator in MAVORIC, is part of the standard of care in Australia but unavailable in Denmark. Key limitations of these analyses include the retrospective nature of the studies and potential differences in advances and standards of care over time.

Australia (Campbell BA, et al): Real-world data from the Australian Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Cutaneous Lymphoma database included 67 patients treated with vorinostat between January 2005 and November 2024. After adjusting for baseline differences:

Median OS was not reached for patients receiving mogamulizumab, compared with 31.0 months for patients receiving vorinostat.

Mogamulizumab was associated with a significantly lower risk of death compared with vorinostat (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.48 [0.30, 0.76]; p=0.002).

Median time to next treatment (TTNT) was numerically longer with mogamulizumab versus vorinostat (9.13 months vs. 5.82 months; hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.76 [0.52, 1.11]; p=0.20), though this difference was not statistically significant.

Denmark (Morgante N, et al): Real-world data from Danish national registries included 209 patients receiving standard of care treatment between January 1996 and April 2024. After statistical weighting: 

Patients receiving mogamulizumab did not reach median OS, compared with 17.0 months for patients receiving standard of care.

Mogamulizumab was associated with a significantly lower risk of death versus standard of care (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.38 [0.25, 0.59]; p<0.001).

U.S. POTELIGEO (mogamulizumab-kpkc) Indication

POTELIGEO injection for intravenous infusion is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) or S?zary syndrome (SS) after at least one prior systemic therapy.

Important Safety Information

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Dermatologic toxicity: Monitor patients for rash throughout the course of treatment. For patients who experienced dermatologic toxicity in Trial 1, the median time to onset was 15 weeks, with 25% of cases occurring after 31 weeks. Interrupt POTELIGEO for moderate or severe rash (Grades 2 or 3). Permanently discontinue POTELIGEO for life-threatening (Grade 4) rash or for any Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Infusion reactions: Most infusion reactions occur during or shortly after the first infusion. Infusion reactions can also occur with subsequent infusions. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of infusion reactions and interrupt the infusion for any grade reaction and treat promptly. Permanently discontinue POTELIGEO for any life-threatening (Grade 4) infusion reaction.

Infections: Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection and treat promptly.

Autoimmune complications: Interrupt or permanently discontinue POTELIGEO as appropriate for suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions. Consider the benefit/risk of POTELIGEO in patients with a history of autoimmune disease.

Complications of allogeneic HSCT after POTELIGEO: Increased risks of transplant complications have been reported in patients who received allogeneic HSCT after POTELIGEO. Follow patients closely for early evidence of transplant-related complications.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (reported in ≥10% of patients) with POTELIGEO in the clinical trial were rash, including drug eruption (35%), infusion reaction (33%), fatigue (31%), diarrhea (28%), drug eruption (24%), upper respiratory tract infection (22%), musculoskeletal pain (22%), skin infection (19%), pyrexia (17%), edema (16%), nausea (16%), headache (14%), thrombocytopenia (14%), constipation (13%), anemia (12%), mucositis (12%), cough (11%), and hypertension (10%).

You are encouraged to report suspected adverse reactions to Kyowa Kirin, Inc. at 1-844-768-3544 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see additional Important Safety Information in full Prescribing Information as well as Patient Information.

About Kyowa Kirin

Kyowa Kirin aims to discover and deliver novel medicines and treatments with life-changing value. As a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company, we have invested in drug discovery and biotechnology innovation for more than 70 years and are currently working to engineer the next generation of antibodies and cell and gene therapies with the potential to help patients with high unmet medical needs, such as bone & mineral, intractable hematological diseases/hemato-oncology, and rare diseases. A shared commitment to our values, to sustainable growth, and to making people smile unites us across the globe.  You can learn more about the business of Kyowa Kirin at www.kyowakirin.com.

COR-US-POT-0016 June 2026

CONTACT:

Susan Thiele

Head of Therapeutic Communications, North America

susan.thiele.38@kyowakirin.com

Purchase Price to Be Paid Entirely in Series A Preferred Stock, Requiring No Cash and No Immediate Issuance of Common Stock at Closing; Acquisition Would Bring Player and Team Hosting In-House Across Flash's Cricket Leagues

Transaction would give Flash a 51% controlling interest in a Dubai-based hospitality group, vertically integrating accommodation for players, officials and production crews across the LPL and the planned MT20, SG20 and ZT20 leagues.

Consideration of $51 million would be paid entirely in newly created Flash Series A Preferred Stock, requiring no cash and no immediate issuance of common stock at closing; the Series A is expected to carry voting rights and would become convertible beginning 365 days after closing. The proposed transaction is non-binding and remains subject to due diligence, definitive agreements, financing and customary approvals

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flash Sports & Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLZH) ("Flash" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into a confidential, non-binding Letter of Intent, dated June 27, 2026, to acquire a 51% controlling interest in the assets of Nooa Holdings Ltd ("Nooa"), a Dubai-based hospitality group whose hotel operations and other verticals generate approximately $35 million in annual revenue. The Company intends to complete the proposed acquisition through Nooa Corp Inc. ("NOAC"), a newly incorporated subsidiary. The LOI is non-binding with respect to the proposed transaction terms, and there can be no assurance that definitive agreements will be executed or that the transaction will be completed.

The proposed acquisition is designed to bring player, official and production-crew hosting in-house across Flash's cricket properties. As the Company builds out the Lanka Premier League and prepares to launch new leagues in Malaysia (MT20), Singapore (SG20) and Zimbabwe (ZT20), team accommodation, hospitality and event logistics represent a recurring and significant operating cost. Owning a controlling interest in an established hospitality platform would allow Flash to control the cost and quality of that experience, reduce reliance on third-party providers, and add a hospitality revenue line that operates year-round, beyond the cricket calendar.

Under the terms outlined in the Letter of Intent, Flash would pay a purchase price of $51 million for the 51% interest, payable entirely in shares of newly created Flash Series A Preferred Stock. Using preferred stock as consideration means the transaction would require no cash outlay and would not result in the immediate issuance of any common stock at closing. The Series A Preferred Stock would carry voting rights and, beginning 365 days after closing or upon a contemplated spin-out, would become convertible into shares of Flash common stock.  Any issuance or conversion of preferred stock would be subject to applicable Nasdaq listing rules, including stockholder approval to the extent required. The parties intend to evaluate potential tax-efficient structures, subject to legal and tax advice. The Letter of Intent also contemplates a potential future spin-out and separate listing of NOAC, subject to market conditions, financing and regulatory approval. The parties have agreed to use best efforts to complete the proposed transaction within 60 days of signing; however, the timing of any definitive agreement or closing remains subject to diligence, financing, approvals, and other conditions.

"Hospitality is one of the largest fixed costs in running a professional cricket league, and it sits right at the center of the player and partner experience," said Brad Nattrass, CEO of Flash Sports & Media Holdings, Inc. "The proposed transaction, if completed, would allow us to bring hosting in-house across our leagues, we can control quality, capture margin that today flows to outside vendors, and build a revenue stream that works year-round. Nooa gives us an established platform to do exactly that, and we look forward to completing our diligence and working toward definitive agreements."

Nooa Holdings Ltd is chaired by Amit Kumar Basnet and is headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Its hotel operations would form the foundation of Flash's hospitality and player-hosting platform following completion of the proposed transaction.

The Letter of Intent is non-binding with respect to the proposed transaction terms, other than customary provisions relating to confidentiality, exclusivity and the procedures for negotiating definitive agreements. Completion of the transaction is subject to satisfactory due diligence, the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, Flash securing adequate financing, and the receipt of all required board, shareholder, regulatory and third-party approvals, including any applicable approvals from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. There can be no assurance that the parties will enter into definitive agreements or that the proposed transaction will be completed on the terms described, or at all.

About Flash Sports & Media Holdings, Inc.

Flash Sports & Media Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLZH) is a cricket-focused sports and media company seeking to develop and commercialize cricket media, league-management, sponsorship, and related sports-entertainment opportunities. Through its relationship with Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, Flash is focused on professional cricket properties, media and broadcast opportunities, sponsorships, league operations, and related commercial initiatives. The Company's business plans remain subject to execution risks, market conditions, definitive agreements, third-party approvals, and the Company's ability to finance, develop, and commercialize its sports and media initiatives. https://flashsportsandmedia.com 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed acquisition of a controlling interest in Nooa Holdings Ltd and its hospitality operations; the anticipated benefits of bringing player, team and production hosting in-house; the expected purchase price and form of consideration; the intended structure of the transaction, including through Nooa Corp Inc. and any potential future spin-out or separate listing; the anticipated timing of any definitive agreements or closing; the development and commercialization of Flash's cricket and sports-media platforms, including the Lanka Premier League and the planned MT20, SG20 and ZT20 leagues; and the Company's ability to generate revenues from its activities. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "seek," "estimate," "potential," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events, or results, and readers should not place undue reliance on them.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the non-binding nature of the Letter of Intent and the possibility that definitive agreements may not be entered into on acceptable terms, or at all; the results of due diligence; the Company's ability to secure the debt and equity financing necessary to complete and capitalize the transaction; the possibility that required board, shareholder, regulatory, governmental, league, or third-party approvals, including approvals of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, may not be obtained; risks relating to the integration of the acquired hospitality operations and the Company's ability to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies or revenues; the accuracy of the revenue and financial information of Nooa Holdings Ltd relied upon by the Company; the Company's reliance on third-party partners and counterparties to perform under contractual arrangements; the timing and success of the Company's expansion into new leagues and markets; general economic, market, and industry conditions; international, geopolitical, and regulatory risks associated with operations in multiple jurisdictions; and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

In addition, certain market, industry, and economic data referenced in this press release are based on third-party sources and estimates that the Company believes to be reliable, but the Company has not independently verified such information and makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

Investors@flashsm.com 

Company Websites

https://flashsportsandmedia.com 

https://www.theipggroup.com 

Source: Flash Sports & Media Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLZH)

HANGZHOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 June 2026 - The inaugural AI+OPC Innovation and Development Conference was held from June 29 to 30 in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province. Centered on one-person company (OPC), a new form of smart economy in the AI era, the conference program comprised one opening ceremony and two parallel breakout sessions.

It gathered around 400 delegates from government departments, industry associations, financial institutions, AI enterprises and OPC startup operators across the country. Participants exchanged insights on AI innovation pathways and cross-industry integration strategies, injecting strong impetus into Hangzhou's ambition to develop a national benchmark hub for AI+OPC entrepreneurship.

A series of key launches and milestone ceremonies took place during the opening segment. Official releases included the 2026 national OPC development observation report, Hangzhou's 2026?2028 action plan and supporting policies to build a national AI+OPC entrepreneurship hub, and a catalog of actionable AI+OPC application scenarios. Attendees also received an in-depth interpretation of the specifications for AI-enabled OPC community services and evaluation.

The ceremony featured multiple landmark initiatives: plaque awarding for Hangzhou's priority AI+OPC incubation communities and dedicated observation sites, the official launch of the AI+OPC Community Alliance initiative, and a kickoff marking the official construction of the national AI+OPC entrepreneurship hub.

The open forum session featured keynote speeches from distinguished industry and academic leaders. Speakers included Pan Yunhe, former executive vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Zhejiang University; Liang Gui, former executive vice governor of Jiangxi Province and ex-director of the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and Zou Ling, head of Hong Hub, Shangcheng District's single-member unicorn startup acceleration community, who shared cutting-edge insights from varied perspectives.

A panel dialogue followed, bringing together representatives from Moshu OPC Community (Beijing E-Town), the School of Future Science and Engineering at Soochow University, Qingju Hub ? Future Digital Intelligence Port (Shangcheng District), and Puhua Capital for in-depth industry exchanges.

Complementary concurrent events held throughout the conference included an OPC capital-industry matchmaking salon, a symposium on industry-education integration for AI-powered OPC sectors, and a national exchange forum for AI+OPC community practitioners.

OPC has emerged as a vibrant new engine driving economic vitality and underpinning high-quality development. Against the backdrop of a new development era, the inaugural Hangzhou AI+OPC Innovation and Development Conference unites OPC innovators nationwide.

Drawing on the creative energy of millions of independent super-individual operators, the event delivers sustained digital momentum to fuel Hangzhou's super-individual economy, while rolling out replicable local practices and actionable Hangzhou solutions to advance high-quality growth of smart economies nationwide.

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

At a glance

*Passengers up. 5 billion globally in 2025, from 4.8 billion in 2024.

*Mishandling down. Rate fell 23% to 4.9 per 1,000 passengers; total volumes fell 19% to 24 million bags. Both are now below pre-pandemic levels.

*Cost to the industry. $6.3 billion in 2025, equal to about 15% of total airline industry profit.

*New cost benchmark. $260 per mishandled bag on average, replacing the long-cited and outdated $150 figure.

GENEVA, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2025, the industry made its strongest progress outside the pandemic, even as passenger numbers rise. Mishandled baggage rates dropped 23%, a sign that digital transformation efforts are taking hold, according to the 2026 SITA Baggage IT Insights Report, the 20th annual edition of the industry benchmark.

But the bigger story is not just improvement. It's the gap that remains. Mishandling still costs the industry $6.3 billion annually. Each bag carries an average cost of $260. With net profit averaging just $8 per passenger, one mishandled bag wipes out the profit from more than 30 seats sold, and five erase the profit of an entire flight.

Passenger volumes are rising faster than the infrastructure designed to handle them. In 2025 alone, 5 billion passengers traveled globally, yet 24 million bags were still mishandled. Across the longer term, mishandling has fallen by close to three-quarters since 2007.

What changed in 2025 was not one technology, but a shift in how systems connect: real-time data sharing, AI routing, biometric bag drop, and connected passenger devices.

"Baggage is shifting from a logistical problem to a digital service," said Nicole Hogg, Portfolio Director Baggage, SITA. "Passengers expect to know where their bag is at every moment, and they're increasingly willing to help us track it. The next phase is about bringing the technology we already have to every transfer, every handler and every airport offering greater visibility and connecting every step of the journey. That's how the industry earns the trust passengers now expect."

Real-world results show the formula at work. Apple's Find My integration with SITA WorldTracer cut permanently lost luggage by 90% in its first year and shortened delayed-bag recovery by 26%. SITA also recently integrated Google's Find Hub share item location feature into WorldTracer. Thai Airways, using SITA's Auto Reflight, compressed a three-minute task to a single second per bag across nine airports.

David Lavorel, CEO at SITA, said: "Airports are operating closer to their physical limits every year, and the answer isn't always more concrete. Data, AI and predictive operations let us get more out of the airport we already have, at check-in, security, the gate, on the apron and in baggage halls. Baggage shows the formula works. Solutions such as Total Airport Management take the same approach across the whole lifecycle, so airports can absorb growth without expanding their footprint."

The report pinpoints where the next gains can come from. Delayed bags account for around 70% of the total cost, most of it operational, in recovery, rerouting and delivery. For lost or damaged bags, up to 70% of the cost is compensation. Transfers remain the core mishandling driver at 39% of cases in 2025, down from 41% the year before.

The trajectory is clear. Three in four airlines plan to invest in AI over the next two years. Half plan to give passengers real-time baggage updates. Industry-wide baggage tracking under IATA Resolution 753 has now passed the 50% mark, with full compliance targeted for 2027. The next horizon is already on the runway: tagging bags at home, leaving bags in the car, and bags that don't need to fly on the same aircraft as the passenger.

Read the report. The SITA 2026 Baggage IT Insights Report is available at https://www.sita.aero/resources/surveys-reports/sita-baggage-it-insights/

About SITA

SITA is the air transport industry's tech engine, making travel safer, easier, and more sustainable for everyone. From the earliest days of commercial aviation to today's digital frontiers, SITA has been there, connecting the industry and helping it evolve through every leap forward.

With around 2,500 customers, SITA technology supports over 1,000 airports and more than 19,600 aircraft worldwide. It also helps over 70 governments strike the balance between secure borders and seamless journeys. Behind the scenes, SITA bridges 45?50% of the industry's data exchange, enabling a highly complex global network to operate smoothly and reliably, every step of the way.

SITA is transforming fast. From advanced self-service and operations control to airport design and digital borders, it is shaping the next generation of travel through key acquisitions like Materna IPS, ASISTIM, and CCM. It is also expanding beyond aviation with initiatives such as SmartSea, bringing its trusted technologies to cruise, rail, and urban air mobility.

This transformation is about more than new products. SITA is investing in the right skills, tools, and partnerships to help the industry move with greater intelligence and agility, bringing together smart systems, seamless data, and sustainable innovation. Because as global travel surges, flow is everything.

As part of our bold climate strategy, SITA is cutting emissions by 4.2% each year and targeting net zero by 2050. SITA's science-based targets are validated by the SBTi, and its growing portfolio is helping customers reduce their own carbon footprints too.

Owned by the industry and driven by its needs, SITA operates in more than 200 countries and territories.

Find out more at www.sita.aero

Contact: media.relations@sita.aero