FREEMONT, Calif., June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to evolving U.S. state-level AI transparency requirements, Dmitry Shubov Consulting has released a strategic briefing analyzing the downstream business implications of Chapter 25 of the California Business and Professions Code, enacted under Senate Bill 942 (the California AI Transparency Act) and amended by Assembly Bill 853, ahead of the act's August 2, 2026, operative date.

The cross-border strategic advisory firm, which specializes in corporate alignment, licensing compliance, and market readiness for international expansion, developed the analysis to help Southeast Asian (SEA) technology founders understand how disclosure, provenance, and licensing requirements may affect their commercial positioning within the American enterprise ecosystem.

This briefing outlines the practical business realities of the framework, helping SEA technology founders treat transparency requirements as a standard, manageable part of their U.S. market entry strategy.

How the New Rules Touch International Partnerships

While California's new framework directly targets the largest AI model providers, the practical effects will inevitably change everyday business contracts and sales meetings. For international startups building software on top of American AI infrastructure, tracking these changes now is a straightforward way to protect their commercial partnerships.

Below are a few specific things founders should watch for:

Different Impacts for Different Products: The practical effects will vary depending on your software setup. The most immediate changes hit platforms, creating synthetic audio, video, or images. That said, text-based software companies should also keep an eye on how U.S. enterprise buyers adjust their overall vendor requirements over the coming months.

Licensing and Integration Realities: Major infrastructure providers might start requiring their partners to keep origin metadata intact to satisfy their own licensing rules. Ensuring that data flows cleanly between an application and the base model helps avoid unexpected technical hitches down the road.

A Simple Way to Build Trust: Reviewing how you handle data is turning into a straightforward way to build trust with corporate clients. U.S. buyers are starting to look for clear operational alignment before they sign off on pilots or full commercial deals.

"You really have to look at these state-level updates through the eyes of your American partners and enterprise clients," says Dmitry Shubov, founder of Dmitry Shubov Consulting. "California is going after the massive model providers, but those big players will protect themselves by writing these exact metadata rules right into their developer contracts. Sorting this out early isn't a regulatory headache, it's just a smart way to make sure you don't get locked out of major U.S. sales conversations."

Clearing the Enterprise Sales Hurdle

Ultimately, taking a close look at current vendor contracts and software setups is a highly practical step when planning a U.S. launch. Squaring away these technical details before the August timeline puts Southeast Asian tech founders in a much stronger position to clear enterprise sales hurdles and build a dependable foundation in the American market. Partnering with a consulting firm can really take all the guesswork out of this and ensure maximum readiness. For more information, reach out to Dmitry Shubov Consulting.

About Dmitry Shubov Consulting

At Dmitry Shubov Consulting, our mission is to connect accredited investors with groundbreaking legal technology startups, fostering innovation and growth across Southeast Asia and helping Asian businesses enter the U.S. market. For more information, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact:

Support@dmitryshubovconsulting.com

MONACO, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monaco is set to become a global laboratory for the future of sustainable maritime mobility once again. The 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is fast approaching and will bring together students, researchers, engineers, shipyards and technology companies from around the world next month to showcase the latest advances in clean propulsion systems.

With 52 teams from 21 nationalities, representing 33 competing universities, while 14 additional universities will attend as observers, the event has become one of the leading international platforms for innovation in the maritime sector.

Organized by Yacht Club de Monaco from July 8 to 11, the Challenge will gather competitors and industry leaders to test and compare technologies ranging from electric and hydrogen propulsion to methanol-powered and foiling solutions. The event aims to accelerate the decarbonization of maritime transport while fostering collaboration between academia, startups and established industry players.

Held under the "Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting" initiative and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Monaco City Council, UBS, BMW and SBM Offshore, the event also brings together leading companies from the maritime industry, including Safe Harbor, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut | Benetti Group, L?rssen, ESA NanoTech and NatPower H, the latter serving as the event's official hydrogen supplier.

"This year, we are welcoming back regular attendee teams, as well as new ones, and for the first time universities coming to observe and prepare to enter the competition in the future. This is undoubtedly the best indicator of the momentum driving the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. It has become a place where ideas circulate, experiences are shared and the next generation of engineers works alongside industry professionals to progress sustainable maritime technologies," says Yacht Club de Monaco Director and General Secretary Bernard d'Alessandri.

One of the notable developments this year is the growing interest from universities worldwide. A delegation from four American institutions ? Columbia University, George Washington University, Howard University and Florida International University ? will attend to explore participation opportunities for the 2027 edition. Beyond the on-water competitions, the event will feature conferences, technology demonstrations and public activities. Visitors will have free access to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Village, where they can meet teams, discover emerging technologies and follow the competitions live.

A key factor in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge's appeal is that it is built on a unique ecosystem that brings together students, alumni, researchers, and industry professionals. Through its Corporate Mentoring Program, several partner companies support teams in developing their projects by providing technical expertise, feedback, and an industry perspective. 

Getting involved with the initiative there is UBS: "At UBS, our partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge demonstrates our strong commitment to innovation, sustainable development and responsible progress. We are proud to encourage the next generation of talent helping to build cleaner and more efficient maritime mobility",  said Alejandro Velez, Director of UBS Monaco, Spain & Portugal. The program also highlights the growing links between academia and industry through mentoring initiatives and entrepreneurial success stories. Among them is Monaco-based startup Nemo-Systems, founded by former competitors and now providing real-time performance monitoring technology for all participating boats.

The program will also feature the Advanced Yachting Technology Conference and the Alternative Fuels & Sustainable Yachting Conference, bringing together experts, researchers and industry leaders to discuss emerging technologies and future decarbonization pathways for the sector. Alongside the competitions, these discussions reinforce the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge's role as a meeting point for innovation, knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the global maritime industry.

Over the past decade, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has evolved from a student-focused solar boat competition into a global innovation hub where future technologies for cleaner and more efficient maritime mobility are developed, tested and showcased.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

MUNICH, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MOVA LumeGret, the smart residential energy storage brand under the global premium AI smart living leader MOVA, concluded its participation at Intersolar Europe 2026, where the company showcased its complete residential energy storage portfolio featuring the global debut of the LumeGret S4800 alongside the A4000 and A2000 systems.

MOVA LumeGret

The global debut of the LumeGret S4800 attracted strong interest from distributors, installers, industry media, and energy professionals throughout the exhibition. Designed as an intelligent residential energy management platform, the system integrates solar generation, battery storage, AI-powered energy optimization, and EV charging within a single solution.

MOVA LumeGret S4800

The expanded lineup reflects MOVA LumeGret's approach to residential energy management, supporting applications ranging from balcony solar storage to higher-capacity home energy systems. The A4000 serves as the flagship solution for households with higher energy demands, while the A2000 provides a compact plug-and-play option for balcony solar users and entry-level applications. The portfolio addresses a broad range of residential energy needs, from balcony solar storage to larger households seeking greater energy independence and backup power capability.

Distributors, installers, and industry professionals visited the booth throughout the exhibition, with strong interest in the plug-and-play design as a key differentiator. Several leading European clean energy media outlets engaged in in-depth briefings with the team, with discussions frequently focusing on AI tariff optimization, EV charging integration, plug-and-play installation, and the growing role of intelligent residential energy management.

"Our Intersolar debut confirmed the growing demand for smarter and more accessible energy solutions," said Roger Shen, President of MOVA LumeGret. "As solar, storage, and EV charging become increasingly connected, households are looking for intelligent systems that help optimize energy generation, consumption, and storage. Our expanding portfolio is designed to support this transition across a wide range of residential scenarios."

Following its Intersolar Europe debut, MOVA LumeGret will continue expanding its residential energy business across Europe, with the S4800 joining the A4000 and A2000 to support a broader range of household energy applications.

About MOVA LumeGret

MOVA LumeGret is a smart residential energy storage brand focused on delivering plug-and-play solar and battery solutions for modern households. Powered by AI-driven energy management, its systems are designed to improve self-consumption, reduce electricity costs, and support smarter home energy use across Europe.

Media Contacts

MOVA

Kris Song

songbolin@mova-tech.com

MUNICH, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sigenergy (06656.HK), a leading provider of smart solar and energy storage solutions, concluded a landmark exhibition at Intersolar Europe 2026. Powered by its "AI in All" strategy, the company secured strategic agreements with global partners across Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.

These milestones totaled an extraordinary capacity of over 20 GWh, signaling a new era of AI-driven, full-scenario energy transition.

To deepen channel synergy and localized market support, Sigenergy secured a massive 5 GWh distribution agreement with Energy Spurt, focusing on Australia and key APAC markets. This momentum also drove a wave of additional distribution contracts ranging between 1 GWh and 3 GWh across Europe, Africa, and APAC, reflecting deep market confidence in Sigenergy's long-term collaborative value.

Sigenergy

Beyond distribution, Sigenergy's full-scenario solutions saw a massive surge in project demand as customers shifted from single equipment procurement to comprehensive system capabilities. In the C&I sector, the company captured landmark 1 GWh agreements in Central and Eastern Europe using its SigenStack and SigenCube systems, which are tailored for enterprise energy optimization and peak-valley arbitrage.

In the residential market, the new-generation SigenStor Neo all-in-one energy storage solution delivered a complete home energy ecosystem. By seamlessly linking with the SigenFlux heat pump, Sigen EVAC G2 smart charger, SigenMicro microinverter, and the SigenMate small-to-medium home battery storage solution, it covers the full spectrum of generation, storage, charging, and heating. This comprehensive setup drove a wave of orders, highlighted by a single SigenMate agreement exceeding 40,000 sets.

For large-scale applications, Sigenergy captured key European pipelines with SigenTerra, its utility-scale storage solution, alongside a high-power 506 kW utility PV inverter featuring 18 MPPTs. This combined solution is engineered to optimize grid friendliness and lifecycle value in complex terrains. Expanding its smart ecosystem boundaries further, Sigenergy also inked strategic agreements with multiple leading global Virtual Power Plant (VPP) providers.

This comprehensive portfolio of solutions is unified under Sigenergy's deepening "AI-in-All" strategy. Powered by SigenAgent, the industry's first full-scenario AI intelligent agent, the system evolves from basic data analysis to true goal understanding, strategic planning, and automated execution. Sigenergy delivers the automated, intelligent energy framework that modern grids demand, whether tailoring residential energy use based on weather and prices, optimizing C&I load management, or accelerating utility-scale fault diagnostics.

Moving forward, the company will leverage this Intersolar success to continuously integrate AI with renewable energy, empowering global households, enterprises, and utility projects with safer, smarter, and more efficient green energy solutions.

About Sigenergy Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Shanghai, Sigenergy (06656.HK) is a technology-driven company focused on innovation in the new energy sector. Leveraging advanced digital intelligence and a highly skilled talent base, the company has expanded into photovoltaic (PV) generation, smart energy storage, and high-efficiency electric vehicle (EV) charging. Guided by its "AI in All" strategy, Sigenergy integrates artificial intelligence across its product solutions to deliver safer, smarter, and more efficient energy choices for households and businesses worldwide.

Media enquiries: yangqing@sigenergy.com

For more information, please visit: www.sigenergy.com

Photos: Ms. Tetchi Capellan, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of SunAsia Energy (second from left), and Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa, CEO of VinEnergo (second from right), sign the agreement between the two companies in the presence of Ms. Sharon Garin, Secretary of Energy of the Philippines, and Mr. Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Philippines.

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2026 - VinEnergo, a member of Vingroup's green ecosystem, and SunAsia Energy Inc., a pioneer in the Philippine solar energy sector, have announced a strategic partnership to develop a portfolio of large-scale renewable energy projects utilizing the Solar on Stilts model. With expected lifetime revenues exceeding USD 1.5B, the projects will drive job creation, catalyze infrastructure investment, and strengthen the Philippines' energy security.

Between 2027 and 2028, VinEnergo and SunAsia Energy plan to bring three flagship projects into operation, with a combined installed capacity of 422MWp. These are projects located in Macabebe, Pampanga (181 MWp), Sagay (126 MWp) and Silay (115MWp), both in Negros Occidental Province.

The partnership aims to deliver reliable renewable energy to the national grid, while supporting the Philippines' goals of strengthening energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting local economic development. Once operational, the projects are expected to supply electricity to approximately 278,000 households and reduce carbon emissions by more than 460,000 tons annually, equivalent to planting around 21 million trees.

Over the next 18 months, VinEnergo will work closely with SunAsia Energy on engineering design and project implementation. This phase will include the selection of engineers, technology providers, and contractors to install nearly 700,000 solar panels mounted on pile structures, as well as approximately 62 kilometers of new transmission lines across Negros and Pampanga.

The project portfolio will utilize the Solar on Stilts technology, in which solar panels are mounted on pile-supported structures above the water surface, enabling the integration of clean power generation with aquaculture activities. This approach effectively leverages the Philippines' strong potential for combining renewable energy development with agriculture and fisheries, while serving as a model for future sustainable energy projects. It also aligns with VinEnergo's strategy of advancing the Food-Energy-Water Nexus to optimize resource use and create long-term value for communities.

ING and SGV & Co. acted as exclusive M&A advisors to VinEnergo and SunAsia, respectively.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa, Chief Executive Officer of VinEnergo, said: "Our partnership with SunAsia Energy on this strategic project portfolio is a clear demonstration of VinEnergo's regional growth ambitions. We are proud to bring forward solutions that combine sustainable energy development with responsible resource utilization. Floating solar not only contributes to addressing energy security challenges, but also provides a valuable opportunity to share Vietnam's development experience in protecting local livelihoods and fostering the parallel growth of the energy and agricultural sectors."

Ms. Tetchi Capellan, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of SunAsia Energy Inc., said: "This partnership is driven by the shared commitment of SunAsia Energy and VinEnergo to strengthen energy security, support economic growth, improve people's lives, and help protect the planet. Through the Floating Solar model, we are not only developing renewable energy infrastructure but also creating a framework where food production and clean energy generation can thrive together."

The announcement of this strategic partnership comes as the Philippines hosts the ASEAN Summit, underscoring VinEnergo's role in advancing cross-border collaboration to address energy and climate challenges. It also marks an important milestone in VinEnergo's international expansion strategy, while highlighting the capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises in developing pioneering renewable energy models that contribute to ASEAN's and the world's sustainable energy transition goals.

About VinEnergo

VinEnergo is a leading Vietnamese energy developer focused on investing in and developing large-scale energy projects to accelerate the sustainable energy transition in Vietnam and across the region. With innovation at the core of its strategy, VinEnergo develops projects that deliver positive socio-economic impact while leading the deployment of integrated solutions that combine renewable energy, baseload power, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to build a greener, more stable, and more reliable energy system.

About SunAsia Energy Inc.

SunAsia Energy Inc. is a Philippine renewable energy developer focused on innovative clean energy and solar solutions, including floating solar, Solar on Water, and other renewable energy projects that support the country's clean energy transition.

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

Hashtags: #VinEnergo #SunAsiaEnergy #SolarOnWater

BEIJING, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Setelah kunjungan kerja Presiden Tiongkok Xi Jinping ke Dezhou, Provinsi Shandong, Tiongkok timur, CGTN menerbitkan sebuah artikel yang mengulas upaya Tiongkok dalam mengubah hasil panen raya menjadi kemakmuran berkelanjutan bagi petani. Artikel tersebut menyoroti upaya Tiongkok untuk memperkuat ketahanan pangan, mendorong revitalisasi perdesaan, serta memastikan manfaat pembangunan dapat dinikmati oleh masyarakat setempat.

Cukup dengan beberapa ketukan di ponsel pintar, gandum pun langsung terjual.

Pada musim panas tahun ini, Wang Xiugang, seorang petani di Kabupaten Xiajin, Kota Dezhou, Provinsi Shandong, Tiongkok timur, tidak perlu lagi menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam untuk mengantre di tempat pengumpulan biji-bijian. Melalui aplikasi seluler, ia dapat menentukan jadwal penyerahan, memeriksa harga, memantau hasil pemeriksaan kualitas, serta menyelesaikan seluruh proses penjualan-dari penimbangan hingga pembayaran-dalam waktu sekitar 30 menit.

Peralihan dari mengantre secara langsung ke menjual biji-bijian melalui ponsel mencerminkan kemajuan modernisasi pertanian Tiongkok yang terus berlangsung.

Bagi Presiden Tiongkok Xi Jinping, sektor pertanian, wilayah pedesaan, dan petani telah lama menjadi prioritas utama dalam pemerintahan. Dalam kunjungan kerja ke Dezhou pada Rabu, Xi menegaskan bahwa modernisasi pertanian dan perdesaan sangat penting bagi agenda modernisasi Tiongkok yang lebih luas serta menyerukan langkah-langkah konkret untuk memperkuat sektor tersebut.

Mengamankan ketahanan pangan nasional

"Menjamin pasokan pangan dan produk pertanian penting lainnya tetap stabil merupakan prioritas utama dalam produksi pertanian," ujar Xi saat mengunjungi lahan pertanian di Dezhou.

Pernyataan tersebut memiliki makna khusus karena disampaikan di kota yang kerap dijuluki sebagai salah satu lumbung biji-bijian utama Tiongkok. Meski luas wilayahnya hanya sekitar 10.000 kilometer persegi, Dezhou menyumbang lebih dari satu kilogram dari setiap 100 kilogram pada total produksi biji-bijian nasional Tiongkok.

Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, Dezhou telah menjadi wilayah percontohan dalam upaya meningkatkan produktivitas pertanian. Diluncurkan oleh Kota Dezhou pada tahun 2021 untuk memperkuat ketahanan pangan nasional, inisiatif "Dunbanliang" merupakan program pertanian berproduktivitas tinggi yang menargetkan hasil produksi lebih dari 1,5 ton metrik biji-bijian per mu Tiongkok (sekitar 0,0667 hektare). Dua tahun kemudian, Dezhou membangun kawasan percontohan "Dunbanliang" seluas satu juta mu atau sekitar 67 hektare, yang pertama di Tiongkok.

Peningkatan hasil tersebut didorong oleh lahan pertanian berstandar tinggi, sistem irigasi yang ditingkatkan, varietas benih unggul, serta teknologi air dan pupuk yang terpadu. Pada tahun 2025, luas lahan pertanian di Dezhou yang memenuhi standar "Dunbanliang" telah meningkat menjadi 1,58 juta mu.

Upaya tersebut merupakan bagian dari upaya nasional berskala lebih luas. Lebih dari 90% panen biji-bijian musim panas Tiongkok tahun ini telah rampung, dan panen raya kembali hampir dipastikan tercapai.

Mengubah hasil panen menjadi kehidupan yang lebih sejahtera

Namun, meningkatkan produksi biji-bijian saja belum cukup.

Bagi banyak petani, tantangan justru muncul setelah panen. Keterbatasan tempat pengeringan, susut hasil selama penyimpanan, dan fluktuasi harga pasar dapat menggerus pendapatan petani.

Di Kabupaten Wucheng, yang juga berada di Dezhou, pemerintah daerah telah menerapkan model "bank biji-bijian" untuk mengatasi berbagai persoalan tersebut. Petani dapat menyimpan biji-bijian, memanfaatkan layanan pengeringan profesional, serta menentukan sendiri waktu penjualan sehingga kerugian dapat ditekan dan hasil penjualan meningkat.

Inisiatif tersebut mencerminkan visi yang lebih luas di balik upaya Tiongkok untuk memajukan modernisasi pertanian dan perdesaan. Tujuannya bukan sekadar meningkatkan hasil pertanian, tetapi juga mendorong revitalisasi perdesaan dan memastikan para petani ikut menikmati manfaat modernisasi.

Tujuan tersebut terlihat jelas selama kunjungan presiden Xi.

Saat mengunjungi rumah Yu Xinhu, seorang penduduk di Desa Xiyujia, presiden Xi berbincang dengan keluarga tersebut dan menanyakan kehidupan sehari-hari mereka, pekerjaan dan penghasilan, kesehatan anggota keluarga lanjut usia, serta pendidikan anak-anak. Pertanyaan-pertanyaan tersebut menyoroti salah satu tolok ukur utama pembangunan desa, yaitu apakah para petani mengalami peningkatan taraf hidup yang nyata.

Di Desa Xiyujia, peningkatan taraf hidup tersebut semakin jelas terlihat. Melalui pengembangan terpadu sektor e-commerce, pariwisata, dan budaya, desa tersebut telah membantu lebih dari 3.000 warga sekitar memperoleh manfaat dari peluang pembangunan. Pusat livestreaming menghasilkan pendapatan kolektif desa sekitar satu juta yuan per tahun, sedangkan program wisata edukasi menarik lebih dari 20.000 pengunjung setiap tahun.

Seperti disampaikan Xi kepada penduduk desa sebelum berpamitan, tujuan akhir modernisasi adalah mewujudkan harapan masyarakat akan kehidupan yang lebih baik. Pada akhirnya, keberhasilan panen raya tidak hanya diukur dari jumlah biji-bijian yang dipanen, tetapi juga dari kemakmuran dan peluang yang diperoleh para petani yang menanamnya.

CGTN Digital

cgtn@cgtn.com

JAKARTA, INDONESIA- Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2026 - The Washington Apple Commission (WAC), the marketing organization representing Washington State's apple industry in the United States, reaffirms its commitment to delivering premium-quality apples to Indonesian consumers. Having been present in Indonesia since 1990, Washington Apples continues to see promising growth opportunities as consumers become increasingly conscious of healthy lifestyles and quality fruit consumption.

As it enters a new season, WAC will introduce a range of promotional and educational initiatives aimed at further strengthening its connection with Indonesian consumers.

Jennie Strong, International Marketing Specialist of the Washington Apple Commission, said: "Indonesia has been an important market for Washington Apples for more than 35 years. Throughout this period, we have worked closely with importers, retailers, and local partners to build awareness and expand the presence of Washington Apples across the country. We continue to see positive growth potential, supported by a growing middle class, younger consumers, and an increasingly modern retail landscape. As a result, we will continue to strengthen our promotional and educational efforts to bring Washington Apples even closer to Indonesian consumers."

Washington Apples will continue to offer a wide selection of premium varieties that have long been favorites among Indonesian consumers, including Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Envy, Ambrosia, and Gala. Each variety offers its own distinct flavor profile, catering to increasingly diverse consumer preferences.

Consumers Are Becoming More Selective About Healthy Snacking

Over the past several years, awareness of healthy living has continued to grow. One trend that has gained momentum is the increasing demand for snacks that are both nutritious and convenient for everyday consumption. In this context, fresh fruit such as apples has become an increasingly relevant choice.

In addition to being convenient, apples contain a variety of nutrients that support overall well-being. A large apple provides fiber, vitamin C, and potassium that can help support daily activities. Researchers from the University of Denmark have also found that apples may contribute to improved gut health and support the immune system by increasing beneficial gut bacteria. Interestingly, most of an apple's antioxidants are found in its skin.

Given these developments, Jennie believes Indonesia remains a market with significant growth potential for Washington Apples.

"Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of eating fruit every day and are more selective when choosing quality products. We are also seeing the rise of mindful snacking, where people seek snack options that are not only convenient but also offer nutritional benefits. We hope to continue being part of this journey through quality products and programs that are relevant to the needs of Indonesian consumers," he/she added.

To maintain product quality, Washington Apples follows strict quality-control processes from harvesting and washing to sorting and storage. Apples are selected using modern technology based on color, size, and maturity to help ensure consistent quality when they reach consumers.

In addition, each apple undergoes sugar and starch testing to help maintain the sweetness and crisp texture that Washington Apples is known for. This commitment reflects the Grown with Goodness philosophy, which represents attention to quality at every stage of the fruit's journey-from orchard to table.

For more information, visit https://weapple.org/id/ or follow Instagram @washingtonapplesindonesia.

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

Hashtags: #WashingtonApples #HealthyLiving #Indonesia

SINGAPORE, June 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitdeer AI, part of Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) and a preferred NVIDIA Cloud Partner, today announced it has been the winner of "AI Cloud Platform of the Year" in 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards.

The award is presented by AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global AI market today. The prestigious accolade recognizes Bitdeer AI's architectural breakthrough in delivering a fully integrated, full-stack AI cloud environment optimized for enterprise-scale generative AI and production workloads.

As enterprises transition from localized AI experimentation to global production, traditional cloud architectures are fracturing under the weight of fragmented workflows, capacity shortages, and volatile pricing. Bitdeer AI solves these structural challenges through a fundamentally different approach: a vertically integrated "AI Factory" model. By owning and operating its high-performance data center infrastructure, Bitdeer AI eliminates third-party dependencies, optimizing performance directly from the physical facility and silicon level up through the core application software.

This ground-up ownership unlocks a highly unified, high-velocity software ecosystem. The Bitdeer AI cloud platform removes the friction of traditional deployment by bridging the entire AI lifecycle into a singular environment, spanning distributed training, multi-cluster scheduling, an expansive optimized model library, and serverless inference APIs.

By operating a completely integrated stack, Bitdeer AI delivers distinct enterprise advantages that redefine the AI cloud category:

Seamless Workflow Velocity: Eliminates the need to stitch together fragmented services, allowing organizations to move from raw data to fine-tuning and sustained inference within a single, cohesive platform.

Uncompromised Flexibility & Control: Grants developers granular control over their compute environments, offering a seamless choice between Bare Metal instances for maximum raw performance or Virtual Machines (VMs) for rapid, elastic scaling.

Structural Cost Stability: By eliminating the margins associated with third-party infrastructure hosting, Bitdeer AI passes unprecedented price-performance leadership and transparent cost structures directly to users.

Deep Silicon Optimization: As a preferred NVIDIA Cloud Partner, Bitdeer AI deeply integrates NVIDIA's hardware and enterprise software stack. Controlling the physical data center allows Bitdeer AI to optimize power density and cooling specifically for next-generation NVIDIA architectures, granting clients guaranteed capacity and day-0 access to the latest software and model capabilities.

"Bitdeer AI has built one of the most complete and capable full-stack AI cloud platforms available today, combining high-performance GPU infrastructure with an enterprise-ready AI development environment," said Steve Johansson, Managing Director, AI Breakthrough.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from AI Breakthrough for the second consecutive year," said Retainna Lin, VP of Bitdeer AI Cloud. "The winners of the next era of AI will be determined by execution speed and infrastructure reliability. At Bitdeer AI, we have engineered a full-stack cloud platform that compresses the journey from raw GPU compute to live production. We are building the foundational operating layer for global AI deployment."

Looking ahead, as the AI landscape shifts from experimentation into a mature phase defined by global production, Bitdeer AI is positioned to serve as the industry's foundational architecture. Moving forward, the company is executing on a multi-phase strategy to scale its unified cloud ecosystem globally - expanding its footprint of sustainable, proprietary "AI Factories" to meet regional growth and strict data residency requirements, deepening its integration with NVIDIA to support next-generation architectures alongside day-0 model and software releases, and continuously evolving its platform features into the definitive, full-stack operating layer for enterprise AI at scale.

About Bitdeer AI

Bitdeer Al, part of Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR), provides the foundation for scalable Al innovation. Headquartered in Singapore and established as one of the first NVIDIA Preferred Cloud Partners (NCP) in Southeast Asia, Bitdeer Al has delivered high-performance cloud and Al infrastructure solutions since 2023. By integrating an advanced Al cloud platform with global Al data center infrastructure, Bitdeer Al offers a unified technology stack for startups, SMEs, and enterprises. Our Al cloud platform supports the full Al lifecycle, from development and testing to deployment and production, helping organizations turn Al initiatives into practical and sustainable outcomes. For more information, visit https://www.bitdeer.ai.

About AI Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including Agentic AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Robotics, AI Hardware, Computer Vision and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com.

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Bitdeer AI's anticipated future performance, market opportunities, and business strategies. These statements are based on current beliefs, assumptions, and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Bitdeer AI disclaims any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Evelyn Xiong

evelyn.xiong@bitdeer.com

RICHMOND, Va., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, AI Wat QAIAx (pronounced "A.I. Wut, Ki-ya-ex") AI City Hall Project has officially launched as the world's first federally registered clinical trial involving an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) 'smart city' structure, published as "QAIAx" for brevity at the clinical trials directory at NIH's National Library of Medcine and National Center for Biotechnology Information. This interventional health services study allows humans to co-exist with humanoid robots and quantum AI systems managing daily public administration inside dome-enclosed communities.

Program Overview & Long-Term Goals

Officially titled QAIAx (AIhealth4U) - AI Public Health Central: Microcity-A, (PSR ID: NCT07661823 at ClinicalTrials.gov) the project builds on its original military-sponsored deployment resolving the Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims backlog, as previously reported by Robotics Business News last month. It now functions as a viable model for extreme affordability to combat American homelessness and poverty, or it allows an individual, group, or entity to sponsor its own quantum AI microcity to serve civil society and educate its residents on AI tools and technology to survive in the future, where artificial intelligence and robots are becoming an everyday topic that has been more than less incorporated into the human race's daily activities over the past few years.

The long-term goal is to establish a global network of 300 self-contained, AI-governed "Microcities" across 11 intervention groups. Each 'smart health city' will range from 1,500 to 15,000 occupants, depending on the zone sponsor applicant's approval by the applicable legal authorities and QAIAx administration. These will be located globally within special economic zones, tribal lands, and closed U.S. military bases throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, the Oceania-South Pacific, Africa, and Asia.

The multi-year study is estimated to run from early 2027 through the end of 2028, targeting an authorized enrollment of 1,000,000 participants. The lead sponsor, Veterans Recovery Network, has opened a waiting list for its members and member-affiliates, including free updates for affiliate newsletter subscribers. The initial live-in phase aims for 50,000 patients and 5,000 trainees, with on-site personnel consisting of omni-AI humanoids and live humans, either hybridly or physically present, as public administration [as is any municipal government's city hall] in each QAIAx microcity, which has a scheduled beta-launch phase for later this year, tentatively planned in the U.S., Canada, India, the Middle East, Oceania-South Pacific, the Balkans, and other American-allied states in Europe.

Who Can Participate

Prior to QAIAx being registered at NIH, this clinical trial was previously reported as a Veterans-only (DoW/VA-affiliated) program (Homeless Vets Welcome Here: AI City Hall Project Moves on Omni-AI Microcities), with the likelihood to expand further into ADA, IHS, HHS and SSA related public services. There are also talks with private and local penal sector agencies on 'AI Microcities' for prisoner re-entry programming and alternative sentencing for non-violent or first-time offenders.

Currently, the project is open to adults aged 17 to 99 and is not limited to veterans. Eligible participants include individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (Asperger's, autism, ADHD, ASD), substance use disorders, psychiatric conditions (drug and alcohol abuse, personality disorders, narcissism, gender dysphoria, eating disorders, sex addiction), or other major behavioral addictions, in addition to mental health disorders such as PTSD and severe trauma, or suicidal depression (e.g., See eligibility details: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07661823).

A formal diagnosis is not strictly required if the individual has a referral letter from an approved sponsor, such as a licensed health professional, governmental agency, religious organization, accredited school, or NIH/WHO-affiliated NGO. Priority is given to veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those receiving public assistance (VA disability, SSDI/SSI, Medicaid, Medicare).

Subscription Costs & Community Member Benefits

There is no cost to enroll or to join the waiting list. For approved resident-patients, the platform subscription fees are fully or partially waived for low-income applicants, military veterans, government personnel, sexual and domestic violence, indigent citizens or refugees with qualified public assistance, or students.

Resident benefits include:

All-Inclusive Living: Microcity sponsors cover housing, meals, and essential needs. Transitional dorm-style housing starts at $100 per month and includes a mobile device or tablet PC with free Wi-Fi and voice services.

Daily Stipends: Participants receive $20 to $100 per day in "AI Credits" for technology and educational programming.

Full-time AI Wat Access to QAIA Mini-Me (a personalized omni-AI humanoid), Vulcan Beam Bot (VB holosuites for universal-intranet holoportation), and QAIA AI-Me (an AGI virtual reality PC)

Flexible Employment: Work is neither mandatory nor prohibited; part-time on-campus employment (under 15?35 hours per week) may be permitted per the recommendation of a licensed provider or governmental agency and approval by program administration.

Sponsorship Opportunities & Customization

Corporate sponsors, government agencies, and crowdfunded groups can launch a customized QAIAx Microcity housing 1,000 to 3,000 occupants for a site sponsor investment of $2 to $10 million, which may be tax-deductible as a DAF donation or small business leasing program offered by participating program sponsors. Any corporate, group, or individual 'Microcity' sponsorship will cover the estimated budget costs for a minimum of a full year of core housing, essential living, and clinical programming for the authorized maximum population of a sponsored microcity.

Sponsors enjoy the unique and therapeutic benefit of choosing their own 'AI City' theme (e.g., Sober City AI; Hip Hop City AI; Smart Health City AI; Anonymous City AI; Fraternity City AI) or a personal/business name (e.g., Jackson City AI; Asail Co. City AI), and managing their own waiting list of sponsored nominees. All clinical trial applicants must still meet the standard program administration qualification requirement regardless of their sponsorship status (e.g., federally regulated clinical trials prohibit 'payola' patients). Financing and leasing programs are available for eligible entities.

QAIAx Microcity - AI City Hall Project: QAIAx Microcity - AI City Hall Project

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Legal & Media Foundations

The independent study is sponsored by the nonprofit Veterans Recovery Network, in collaboration with AI-119 Vulcan Project Research & Educational Technology Co. (PRETCO) and AI Legal Mate. It operates under U.S. federal research authorities, 28 U.S.C. ?1498 and 10 U.S.C. ?129a, alongside a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with U.S. Special Operations Command and VA Health Systems.

For details on Veterans Recovery Network's clinical trial waiting list and enrollment, or program sponsorship opportunities, visit www.vets-recovery.com, call (888) 307-8380 (U.S./Canada only), or connect on WhatsApp Live Chat for non-US general inquiries by visiting www.snphealth.org (an international program affiliate).

Related News Topics

QAIAx Trial Sponsors Unveil Enhanced Smart City Patent for Near-Future Outer-World Capabilities for Omni-AI Humanoids....QAIAx Microcities developers introduce QAIAx QIII - Just Like Mars Project - Upscaled Build of AI City Hall Project

Alphabet (GOOGL) Faces States & Federal Discrimination Notices and $4.2B Legal Demand from Google AI Bot Trainer After Gemini AI Confesses to "Defamatory False Light"

Patent Tech-AI Law NGO AI Legal Mate serving disabled people who can't afford attorney

Derrick Bush - Veterans First for America [dbush@poliwatch.online]

*Accelerates onsemi's evolution, building on its strength in power and sensing to become a leading provider of intelligent systems - expanding from AI data centers into Physical AI

*Increases onsemi's total addressable market by $30 billion to $243 billion by 2030

*Positions onsemi at the intersection of Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control - the four pillars of Physical AI - which enable machines to sense, decide, act and adapt in the physical world

*Would combine complementary portfolios to drive significant customer value and deepen customer engagements

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. & SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) and Synaptics Incorporated (Nasdaq: SYNA) today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which onsemi has agreed to acquire Synaptics in an all-stock transaction, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $7 billion. The transaction value reflects a fixed exchange ratio of 1.350 shares of onsemi common stock for each Synaptics share and represents an approximately 19% premium to the volume weighted average closing prices of onsemi and Synaptics over the last 10 trading days.

The combination would accelerate onsemi's evolution toward global leadership in intelligent systems. By adding Synaptics' differentiated Edge AI compute franchise and strong portfolio of human-machine interface and wireless connectivity solutions, onsemi is expected to extend its capabilities beyond power and sensing to intelligent systems, delivering greater value to a broad range of end markets. Building on onsemi's expertise in automotive, industrial and AI data center, the combined platform is intended to position onsemi at the center of Physical AI, with the potential to expand onsemi's TAM by $30 billion to $243 billion by 2030.

"As artificial intelligence moves beyond the cloud and into the physical world, including automotive and industrial, the next phase of innovation will depend on systems that can sense, decide, act and adapt in real time," said Hassane El-Khoury, President and CEO of onsemi. "This shift towards Physical AI will require Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control to work together seamlessly. The addition of Synaptics helps position onsemi at the intersection of these four pillars, enabling us to capture a significantly larger AI opportunity that extends beyond AI data center and into edge applications. This transaction would add immediate connected compute capabilities, expand our software and ecosystem reach and position onsemi to deliver greater value as customers increasingly seek intelligent systems."

"Today's announcement marks an important step in accelerating Synaptics' growth and leadership in Edge AI and Physical AI," said Rahul Patel, Synaptics President and CEO. "Together with onsemi, we will combine Synaptics' strengths in AI-native compute, connectivity, and human-machine interface with onsemi's leadership in intelligent power and sensing to offer customers integrated solutions and development platforms across every layer of the Edge AI stack, deepening customer engagement and expanding across a greater total addressable market. The all-stock structure allows our shareholders to participate in the compelling growth and value creation opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with the onsemi leadership team to help realize the full value of this combination."

Compelling Strategic and Financial Rationale

The combination is expected to deliver substantial value:

Enables capabilities from AI Infrastructure to Physical AI: onsemi is already well-positioned across the AI infrastructure ecosystem, from the energy grid to the data center core. This transaction is expected to extend that reach to the intelligent edge, enabling onsemi to address additional end markets while enhancing its capabilities to become a provider of integrated, system-level solutions across Power, Sense, Connected Compute and Control. This compelling combination would enable systems that can sense, decide, act and adapt in real time across Physical AI applications, including autonomous driving, robotics, and AR/VR.

Adds a proven, scalable Edge AI connected compute platform to onsemi: Synaptics' Astra platform combines purpose-built AI processors and NPUs for multimodal intelligence with an industry-leading wireless connectivity portfolio spanning Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and a full open-source software stack for rapid deployment.

Complementary portfolios designed to unlock significant revenue growth with scale: The combination of two highly complementary portfolios would allow onsemi to accelerate its innovation and product roadmap to capture higher dollar content per platform while fostering deeper long-term customer engagement. This is anticipated to increase onsemi's exposure to higher-value, differentiated system solutions with embedded IP and software, supporting improved mix, margin expansion and durable growth.

Attractive financial profile: The transaction is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP EPS within 18 months of closing, with an expected $200 million in annual synergies and gross margins consistent with onsemi's long-term financial model. onsemi remains committed to maintaining its existing capital return policy during the pendency period.

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Synaptics stockholders will receive 1.350 shares of onsemi common stock for each share of Synaptics common stock held at the time of closing, implying pro forma ownership of approximately 12% for Synaptics stockholders on a fully diluted basis.

As part of the transaction, one member of the Synaptics Board of Directors is expected to join onsemi's Board of Directors.

The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to approval by Synaptics stockholders, the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

onsemi and Synaptics Reiterate Previously Provided Financial Outlooks

As part of today's announcement, onsemi is reiterating its financial outlook for the second fiscal quarter of 2026 provided on May 4, 2026. Synaptics is reiterating its financial outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2026 provided on May 7, 2026.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

onsemi will host a conference call for the financial community at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 25, 2026, to discuss the transaction announcement. A live webcast and related presentation materials will be available on onsemi's IR site at http://www.onsemi.com. The webcast replay and presentation will be available following the call. Investors and interested parties can also access the conference call by pre-registering here.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley served as lead financial advisor to onsemi. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also served as a financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP served as legal counsel to onsemi. Qatalyst Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor and Baker McKenzie served as legal counsel to Synaptics.

About onsemi

onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) delivers intelligent power and sensing technologies that enable electrification, energy efficiency, safety, and automation across automotive, industrial, and AI data center end-markets. With a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, onsemi helps customers solve complex challenges to achieve higher efficiency, improved performance, and lower system cost, while supporting a safer, cleaner, and more energy‑efficient world. The company is part of the S&P 500 index. Learn more at www.onsemi.com.

About Synaptics Incorporated

Synaptics (Nasdaq: SYNA) is driving innovation in AI at the Edge, bringing AI closer to end users and transforming how we engage with intelligent connected devices, whether at home, at work, or on the move. As a go-to partner for forward-thinking product innovators, Synaptics powers the future with its cutting-edge Synaptics Astra AI-Native embedded compute, wireless connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions. We're making the digital experience smarter, faster, more intuitive, secure, and seamless. From touch, display, and biometrics to AI-driven wireless connectivity, video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing, Synaptics is a force behind the next generation of technology enhancing how we live, work, and play.

Contact Information

onsemi

Parag Agarwal

Vice President - Investor Relations & Corporate Development

onsemi

(602) 244-3437

investor@onsemi.com

Krystal Heaton

Director, Head of Public Relations

onsemi

(480) 242-6943

Krystal.Heaton@onsemi.com 

Synaptics

Munjal Shah

Vice President ? Investor Relations

Synaptics

(408) 518-7639

munjal.shah@synaptics.com

Neeta Shenoy

Vice President, Marketing

Synaptics

(408) 518-7826

neeta.shenoy@synaptics.com 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction between Synaptics Incorporated and ON Semiconductor Corporation. This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Synaptics' and onsemi's current expectations, estimates and projections about the expected date of closing of the proposed transaction and the potential benefits thereof, their respective businesses and industries, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by Synaptics and onsemi, all of which are subject to change. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "strategy," or "anticipates," or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes.

These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Synaptics' or onsemi's actual results and performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Factors and risks that may impact future results and performance include, but are not limited to, the following factors: (1) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals from regulators or the stockholders of Synaptics for the transaction are not obtained; (2) litigation relating to the transaction; (3) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each party to consummate the transaction; (4) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts the current plans and operations of Synaptics or onsemi, including restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (5) the ability of Synaptics and onsemi to retain and hire key personnel;

(6) competitive responses to the proposed transaction; (7) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; (8) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; (9) the combined companies' ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from the transaction, as well as delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined companies' existing businesses; (10) uncertainty as to the long-term value of onsemi's common stock; (11) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; and (12) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as Synaptics' and onsemi's response to any of the aforementioned factors.

These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, will be more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Synaptics' overall business, including those more fully described in Synaptics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2025, and its quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for the current fiscal year, and onsemi's overall business and financial condition, including those more fully described in onsemi's filings with the SEC including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and its quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for its current fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and speak only as of the date made, and neither Synaptics nor its management undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form a part of, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Important Additional Information about the Transaction and Where To Find It

The proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of Synaptics for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, onsemi will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Synaptics and that also constitutes a prospectus of onsemi. Each of Synaptics and onsemi will provide the proxy statement/prospectus to Synaptics stockholders. Synaptics and onsemi also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Synaptics or onsemi may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). In addition, investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by the parties on Synaptics Investor Relations at https://investor.synaptics.com/ (for documents filed with the SEC by Synaptics) or onsemi Investor Relations at https://investor.onsemi.com/ (for documents filed with the SEC by onsemi).

Participants in the Solicitation

Synaptics, onsemi, and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Synaptics stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction, and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.

You can find more detailed information about Synaptics' executive officers and directors under the headings "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors," "Director Compensation," "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," "Named Executive Officer Compensation Tables," "CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure," "Pay Versus Performance Disclosure" and "Beneficial Ownership of Certain Stockholders" in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on September 16, 2025.

To the extent holdings of Synaptics common stock by the directors and executive officers of Synaptics have changed from the amounts of Synaptics common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=817720&owner=exclude under the tab "Ownership Disclosures". You can find more detailed information about onsemi's executive officers and directors under the headings "The Board of Directors and Corporate Governance," "Compensation of Executive Officers" and "Stock Ownership" in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 2, 2026.

To the extent holdings of onsemi common stock by the directors and executive officers of onsemi have changed from the amounts of onsemi common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, which are available at https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1097864&owner=exclude under the tab "Ownership Disclosures". Additional information about Synaptics' executive officers and directors and onsemi's executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available.

MIAMI, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long DRAM ETF (Cboe: DRAL). Now trading, DRAL gives active traders amplified, single-ticker exposure to the semiconductor memory theme that sits at the center of the artificial intelligence buildout.

DRAL is an actively managed ETF that seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 200% (2X) of the daily percentage change in the share price of DRAM, the underlying ETF, for a single trading day. It pursues that exposure primarily through swap agreements and listed options contracts, rebalancing daily.

The Fund is designed to deliver 200% (2X) of the daily price performance of DRAM, before fees and expenses. With DRAL now available for trading, active traders can take amplified, single-ticker positions on the semiconductor memory theme that sits at the center of the artificial intelligence buildout. Defiance specializes in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs and continues to expand the tools it offers active traders for tactical, high-conviction positioning.

For full fund details, the prospectus, holdings, and performance current to the most recent month-end, visit defianceetfs.com/dral or call 833.333.9383.

Investing in the Fund is not equivalent to investing directly in DRAM. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. The Fund pursues daily leveraged investment objectives, which means it is riskier than alternatives that do not use leverage. The Fund magnifies the performance of DRAM (the "Underlying ETF") and is designed strictly for short-term use. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund's performance will be the result of compounded daily returns, which is very likely to differ from 200% of the return of the Underlying ETF over the same period. It is possible that investors could lose their entire principal within a single trading day.

About Defiance ETFs

Founded in 2018, Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account.

Media Contact: Brenda Hentschel | bhentschel@gregoryagency.com | 201.705.3758

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund's investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC ("Tidal" or the "Adviser").

The Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information, go to defianceetfs.com. Hard copies can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the Fund may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. There is no guarantee the Fund's strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment.

DRAM Price Decline Risk. As part of the Fund's leveraged investment strategy, the Fund enters into swap agreements and options contracts based on the share price of DRAM (the "Underlying ETF"). This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Underlying ETF, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund's indirect 2X exposure to changes in the share price of the Underlying ETF, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Underlying ETF's share price declines. If the share price of the Underlying ETF decreases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks:

Indirect Investment in the Underlying ETF Risk. The Roundhill Memory ETF, its investment adviser, Roundhill Financial Inc., and its sponsor are not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates, and are not involved with this offering in any way. The Roundhill Memory ETF has no obligation to consider the Fund or its shareholders in taking any actions that might affect the value of Fund shares. Investors in the Fund will not have voting rights or other ownership privileges associated with holding shares of the Roundhill Memory ETF. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the Roundhill Memory ETF or Roundhill Financial Inc.

Underlying ETF Risk. Because the Fund seeks exposure to the Roundhill Memory ETF, it is indirectly subject to all of the risks of investing in that ETF, including the risk that the Underlying ETF fails to meet its own investment objective or does not track its underlying index. The Fund also indirectly bears its proportionate share of the Underlying ETF's fees and expenses, which are in addition to the Fund's own fees and expenses. The Underlying ETF may itself use derivatives and may hold a concentrated portfolio, which can increase volatility.

Memory Industry Risk. The Underlying ETF concentrates in companies engaged in the semiconductor memory industry, including high bandwidth memory (HBM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and NAND flash and solid-state storage technologies. The memory market is highly cyclical and subject to rapid pricing swings, oversupply and undersupply cycles, high capital intensity, technological obsolescence, and shifts in end-market demand. A downturn in memory pricing or demand could materially and adversely affect the Underlying ETF and, in turn, the Fund's performance.

Semiconductor Industry Risk. Semiconductor companies are significantly affected by intense competition, rapid product obsolescence, high research, development, and capital expenditure requirements, cyclical demand, and global supply chain disruptions. Export controls, tariffs, and other regulatory developments may also restrict their business activities. These factors may cause the securities held by the Underlying ETF to be volatile and may negatively affect the Fund's performance.

Technology Sector Risk. Companies in the technology sector may be subject to greater market volatility, shorter product cycles, intense competition, and heavy dependence on intellectual property rights. A rising interest rate environment may further pressure technology valuations. These factors may adversely affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund.

Artificial Intelligence Demand Risk. Demand for memory products is increasingly tied to spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. A slowdown in AI-related capital expenditures, a change in prevailing technology architectures, or a reassessment of AI growth expectations could reduce demand for memory products and adversely affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund's performance.

Concentration Risk. The Fund's exposure is concentrated in the Underlying ETF and, indirectly, in the memory and semiconductor industries. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse developments affecting those industries than a fund that invests across a broader range of issuers and sectors.

Compounding and Market Volatility Risk. The Fund's performance for periods greater than a trading day will be the result of each day's returns compounded over the period, which is likely to differ from 200% of the Underlying ETF's performance. During periods of higher volatility, compounding effects may cause the Fund to lose value even if the Underlying ETF's share price increases over the longer term.

Daily Correlation/Tracking Risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of leveraged correlation to the Underlying ETF. Market disruptions, volatility, or limitations in the availability of derivatives may cause the Fund's performance to deviate from its daily leveraged investment objective.

Leverage Risk. The Fund seeks 2X long exposure through financial instruments, which exposes the Fund to the risk that losses may be magnified. Leverage increases the Fund's volatility, and a relatively small movement in the Underlying ETF's share price may result in significant losses for the Fund.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund's investments in derivatives may pose risks greater than those associated with directly investing in securities. These risks include increased volatility, imperfect correlation with the Underlying ETF, liquidity constraints, valuation challenges, and the potential for losses exceeding the amount initially invested.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk due to its use of derivatives. If a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations, the Fund may experience delays or losses, which could negatively affect its performance.

Options Contracts Risk. The Fund's use of options subjects it to additional risks, including volatility, time decay, and the possibility that options positions expire worthless, which could result in significant losses to the Fund.

Swap Agreements. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Rebalancing Risk. If the Fund is unable to rebalance its portfolio correctly or in a timely manner, its exposure may not be consistent with its investment objective. This may increase the Fund's risk exposure and cause its performance to diverge from its intended daily leveraged results.

Intra-Day Investment Risk. The Fund seeks investment results from the close of one trading day to the close of the next. An investor who buys Shares intra-day may receive more or less exposure to the Underlying ETF than the Fund's stated 2X objective, depending on movements in the Underlying ETF's share price since the prior close, and may experience returns that differ from that objective.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities or financial instruments held by the Fund may be difficult to sell, particularly during periods of market stress or volatility. Reduced liquidity may make it difficult for the Fund to adjust its exposure or meet its investment objective.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. Daily rebalancing is expected to result in high portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover may increase transaction costs, which could reduce the Fund's returns and potentially result in higher taxable distributions for shareholders.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a single investment, such as the Underlying ETF. As a result, the Fund may be more sensitive to adverse events affecting the Underlying ETF than a diversified fund.

Fixed Income Securities Risk. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, there is limited performance history upon which investors can evaluate the Fund.

Market and Economic Risk. Broader economic conditions, interest rates, inflation, geopolitical events, and general market volatility may negatively affect the Underlying ETF and the Fund.

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

New generate command transforms natural language requirements into structured, executable test suites directly from the terminal

NOIDA, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAN FRANCISCO and NOIDA, India, June 25, 2026 - TestMu AI (formerly LambdaTest), the world's first Agentic AI-powered Quality Engineering platform, today announced AI-Powered Test Case Generation for Kane CLI, introducing a new way for developers and AI agents to create executable browser tests from natural language objectives.

The new capability addresses one of software testing's most persistent challenges: converting requirements and user workflows into comprehensive test coverage. Through the new kane-cli generate command, users can describe a feature, workflow, or testing objective in plain English. Kane CLI then generates structured scenarios and test cases, allowing teams to review, refine, and save them as reusable .testmd files.

The feature includes an interactive terminal experience that allows users to collaborate with AI during test creation. Teams can iteratively refine objectives, review generated scenarios, exclude unwanted test cases, and save production-ready test suites directly from the terminal. Each generated scenario is automatically decomposed into independent test cases, making them easier to execute, maintain, and integrate into development workflows.

For teams building automated pipelines, Kane CLI also supports headless and scripted generation modes, enabling AI-generated test creation within CI/CD environments and agent-driven workflows. Generated tests can be browsed, executed, and shared directly from within Kane CLI. Completed runs automatically produce shareable URLs, making it easier for developers, testers, and stakeholders to collaborate on test results.

"As AI accelerates software development, testing must evolve at the same pace," said Mudit Singh, Co-Founder and Head of Growth at TestMu AI. "Developers can now describe what they want to test and receive structured, executable test suites in return. This dramatically reduces the effort required to build quality coverage while helping teams move faster with confidence."

The release reflects a growing shift toward agent-native software development, where AI systems not only generate code but also participate in creating, maintaining, and executing quality workflows. AI-Powered Test Case Generation is available now in Kane CLI version 0.4.0.

About TestMu AI

TestMu AI (formerly LambdaTest) is the world's first Agentic AI-powered Quality Engineering platform, enabling organizations to accelerate software delivery through AI-native testing, automation, observability, and quality engineering workflows. By combining autonomous capabilities with real-world validation, TestMu AI helps teams build, test, and release software with confidence in an AI-first era.

For more information, visit www.testmuai.com.

Media Contact

Nikhil Saxena

Press and Media Manager

TestMu AI

nikhils@testmuai.com

+91 9870981968

Nikhil Saxena

Press and Media Manager

TestMu AI

nikhils@testmuai.com

+91 9870981968

MONTREAL and MCLEAN, Va., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. ("NorthStar" or the "Company"), a global leader in Space Situational Awareness ("SSA") and Space Domain Awareness ("SDA"), and Viking Acquisition Corp. I ("Viking") (NYSE: VACI), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today the public filing of their joint registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with their proposed business combination (the "Business Combination Agreement") announced on April 17, 2026, available here.

Stewart Bain, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NorthStar, said, "The public filing of our registration statement represents an important milestone in the process of becoming a public company. The market demand for NorthStar's differentiated space-based intelligence platform requires accelerating our long-term growth strategy. Increased access to capital and global awareness, inherent with a public company, will enable us to expand capabilities and deepen customer support by delivering more critical insights to stakeholders through our services."

"This filing marks another meaningful step toward completing our proposed business combination with NorthStar," said N. H?kan Wohlin, Chief Executive Officer of Viking. "Since announcing the transaction, we have continued to see strong interest in the growing importance of SSA and SDA and the critical role companies like NorthStar can play in supporting critical infrastructure. We look forward to continuing to partner with NorthStar as they pursue their next phase of growth."

While the Registration Statement has not been declared effective, and the information included is subject to review and amendment by the SEC, it contains important information about the Company's securities listing and the Business Combination Agreement.

The Business Combination Agreement values NorthStar at a pre-money equity valuation of $300 million and includes a fully committed $30 million PIPE financing anchored by Cartesian Capital Group and supported by leading Canadian and U.S. institutional investors. The proposed transaction is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary closing conditions including the Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC. Upon closing, shares of the combined company are expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "NSTR".

About NorthStar

NorthStar's precise information services identify and anticipate the position of space objects to enhance spaceflight safety. NorthStar is the first commercial service to deliver space-based SSA and SDA capabilities on an international scale. With headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a European headquarters in Luxembourg, and a dedicated US operation in McLean, Virginia, NorthStar addresses the ever-growing threat of space collisions as a major contribution to empower humanity to preserve our planet.

About Viking

Viking Acquisition Corp. I is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Viking is sponsored by KingsRock Advisors, LLC, an independent global advisory firm, with securities offered by KingsRock Securities, LLC, a FINRA member firm and SIPC. KingsRock advises on a wide range of corporate finance matters and private capital markets transactions, including debt, hybrid, equity and M&A.

Media Contacts

NorthStar

Prosek Partners

Pro-NorthStar@Prosek.com

Viking

Gil Ottensoser

Gil.Ottensoser@viking.kingsrock.com

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed Business Combination, Viking has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), which includes a prospectus with respect to Viking's securities to be issued in connection with the proposed Business Combination and a proxy statement to be distributed to holders of Viking's Class A ordinary shares in connection with Viking's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Viking's shareholders with respect to the proposed Business Combination and other matters to be described in the Registration Statement (the "Proxy Statement"). After the SEC declares the Registration Statement effective, Viking plans to file the definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC and to mail copies to Viking's shareholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Business Combination and other matters to be described in the Registration Statement. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Business Combination and is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement or for any other document that Viking may file with the SEC. Before making any investment or voting decision, investors and securityholders of Viking and the Company are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, as well as all other relevant materials filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination as they become available because they will contain important information about the Company, Viking and the proposed Business Combination. Investors and securityholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Viking through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by Viking may be obtained free of charge from Viking's website at www.vikingspac.com or by directing a request to Viking Acquisition Corp. I Attn: Corporate Secretary, 900 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10022. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this document is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company, Viking and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from Viking's shareholders in connection with the proposed Business Combination. For more information about the names, affiliations and interests of Viking's directors and executive officers, please refer to the final prospectus from Viking's initial public offering, which was dated October 30, 2025 and filed with the SEC on October 31, 2025 (the "IPO Prospectus") and the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement and other relevant materials filed or to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Business Combination when they become available. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Viking's shareholders generally, will be included in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, when they become available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement carefully, when they become available, before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a "solicitation" as defined in Section 14 of the Exchange Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation to purchase, any securities, or a solicitation of any vote, consent or approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. No offering of securities in the proposed Business Combination shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Ninth Annual Program Honors the AI Innovators Shaping the Next Era of Global Innovation

LONDON, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evaluate, a Norstella company and the leading global provider of market insights for the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that Ask Ella has been named "Enterprise AI Search Solution of the Year" in the 9th annual AI Breakthrough Awards program. The awards are conducted by AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market today.

Embedded in the Evaluate Pharma platform, Ask Ella goes beyond conventional search bars. It breaks down complex questions into the right sequence of queries, reasons across Evaluate's proprietary data, and returns structured, traceable answers in seconds - without disrupting users' workflows. The solution synthesizes complex datasets into clear, actionable insights, helping users understand market dynamics, competitor activity, and portfolio impact.

"This recognition affirms what we're building toward-a future where life sciences organizations can turn trusted data into critical decisions in seconds, not weeks" said Mike Gallup, CEO of Norstella. "With more than two dozen AI agents already live, and in production, Norstella is driving faster, more accurate decisions across forecasting, trial design, market access, and patient activation. When our clients move faster and smarter, the patients waiting for life-changing therapies are the ultimate beneficiaries."

Ask Ella delivers measurable productivity improvements while maintaining the accuracy standards that pharma demands. Critically, it manages the complexity of navigating against complex sets of data autonomously, against the industry's most trust data set. In doing so, it provides users with significant time savings, enabling them to focus on strategic decision making.

"Ask Ella is just part of our AI vision across all of our Norstella solutions" said Suzanne Caruso, Clinical & Strategic Intelligence President of Norstella. "Ask Ella is one proof point in a much larger shift in how our clients want to work within our solutions. Later this year we introduce our agentic platform built to harness, synthesize, and act on the most complex biopharma data in the industry."

For nearly a decade, the AI Breakthrough Awards have researched, analyzed and recognized the most important advances in artificial intelligence, and this year's field is the strongest yet. Thousands of nominations from over 20 countries poured in across categories including Agentic AI, Generative AI, Computer Vision, AIOps, Robotics, Natural Language Processing and industry-specific AI applications - underscoring the explosive global growth of AI and its importance as the defining technology of our time.

About Evaluate Ltd

Since 1996, Evaluate has provided the life sciences industry with the data, insight and intelligence to facilitate confident decision making on high-value investments in treatments and markets. We enable our clients to embed our proprietary and industry data into their workflows, tools, and processes so they can work more effectively and efficiently. For more information about Evaluate, visit www.evaluate.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About Norstella

Norstella is a global life sciences company whose brands - Citeline, Evaluate, MMIT, Panalgo, Skipta, and The Dedham Group - provide cutting-edge technology, unparalleled data, and expert insights and consultancy across the drug development lifecycle. Norstella's AI engine supports decision-making across forecasting, clinical trial design and regulatory strategy, market access, and patient activation. With the patient at the center, Norstella smooths the path to life-saving therapies for patients and providers. For more information, visit Norstella and follow on LinkedIn. 

About AI Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including Agentic AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Robotics, AI Hardware, Computer Vision and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com.

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

For media inquiries, please contact:

norstella@diffusionpr.com

ARANYA, China, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FREELANDER has officially unveiled the FREELANDER 8 First Edition at Aranya - a destination featured on TIME's 2024 list of the World's Greatest Places. The showcase also marked the global public premiere of three exclusive paint finishes, opening a new chapter in the brand's global expansion.

As the Comprehensive Strategic Partner of the Aranya Theatre Festival, FREELANDER chose the coastal destination for its unique mix of natural scenery, iconic architecture, performing arts and vibrant community culture. The setting aligns closely with the brand's direction of delivering premium, intelligent all-terrain mobility that blends into diverse lifestyles.

Throughout the event, the FREELANDER 8 First Edition gained extensive exposure across a full suite of online and offline touchpoints in Aranya, drawing strong interest from industry media, visiting tourists and local community residents alike. In addition to the exclusive badging and premium craftsmanship, these three special paint finishes for the First Edition feature distinctive design inspirations and coating techniques.

Dancing Silver (Satin)

Dancing Silver in Satin finish combines a premium appearance with advanced protective technologies. The coating utilizes PPG CeramiClear nano-ceramic 2K satin clear coat technology, incorporating nano-ceramic particles to form a dense protective film that delivers exceptional abrasion resistance, scratches resistance and superior hardness.

The finish is engineered to resist oxidation and discoloration while maintaining consistent appearance over time. The highly reflective aluminium flakes generate a distinctive metallic glow, while red-violet interference pearlescent pigments create subtle violet reflections through light-wave interference. Together, these materials allow the body panels to reveal increasingly refined layers of depth and texture under different lighting conditions.

Lucent Lime (Satin)

As an exclusive paint finish to the First Edition, Lucent Lime in Satin finish is drawn from the 570-nanometer wavelength, the spectrum range where the human eye reaches peak sensitivity to yellow tones. The colour avoids gold's heavy richness and orange's bold intensity, creating a vivid and highly recognizable visual presence with spontaneous vibrancy.

The coating utilizes nano-scale pigment particles and advanced resin dispersion technology to achieve exceptional colour clarity and purity. The highly-reflective aluminium flakes are incorporated to reduce diffuse reflection and enhance metallic brilliance. As light moves across the body surface, the finish creates dynamic reflections that emphasize the vehicle's strong proportions and distinctive design language.

Immersive Purple

Inspired by the final glow of twilight above distant horizons, Immersive Purple combines sophisticated colour engineering with visual depth. More than flat single purple shade, it balances calm poise and bold vibrancy, delivering dimensionality and emotional resonance to FREELANDER 8 amid shifting light.

The paint finish blends blue, white and red crystal pearlescent pigments, producing subtle colour transitions when viewed from different angles. Carefully selected encapsulated mica flakes help preserve coating transparency and surface clarity, while the highly-reflective aluminium flakes amplify colour shift effects.

Together, the three exclusive paint finishes demonstrate FREELANDER's commitment to integrating advanced material science, precision manufacturing and premium craftsmanship into every aspect of product development. Each finish has been engineered not only for visual distinction, but also for durability, performance and long-term quality.

The unveiling of the FREELANDER 8 First Edition and its three exclusive paint finishes marks another important milestone in the brand's development. Built around the brand's core pillars of British Craftsmanship, Smart Confidence and All-Terrain Freedom, the FREELANDER 8 represents a new expression of premium intelligent all-terrain mobility, highlighting how technology, craftsmanship and design can come together to create distinctive experiences for global users.

About FREELANDER

FREELANDER is a British Premium Intelligent All-Terrain brand co-developed by Chery and Jaguar Land Rover. JLR leads the design and premium DNA, while Chery brings advanced technology and global top-tier supply chain capabilities. The brand is supported by a strong global foundation, including over 5,000 employees, five strategic hubs, and fully integrated capabilities spanning design, R&D, manufacturing, and global operations.

FREELANDER has outlined a clear global roadmap: entering over 90 countries and establishing more than 1,100 touchpoints within five years, with the Middle East as its first strategic stop.

Vincent CHEN

freelander.international@mychery.com

https://www.cheryinternational.com/

Working with Alaska Airlines through an inaugural project, Vector transforms airline demand reallocation insights into coordinated operational action

ATLANTA , June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volantio, the global leader in demand reallocation for airlines, today announced the launch of Vector, a purpose-built operating platform that turns intelligence into action, empowering airline teams to identify and act on valuable demand reallocation opportunities with speed, confidence, and accuracy. Alaska Airlines has joined Vector's inaugural launch.

Revenue goals, operational pressures, and passenger expectations all sit in different parts of an airline's organization. Demand and capacity rarely align perfectly. When they do not, the cost shows up everywhere: in revenue left on the table, in operational teams manually absorbing imbalances, and in passengers who have negative experiences. Through specialized Vector agents, airlines can now identify these opportunities and constraints instantly and act on them in seconds - saving time, improving performance, and delivering significantly better passenger experiences.

Vector is built to address the full spectrum of demand reallocation challenges airlines face. An unexpected sporting event about to begin in Los Angeles? Airlines can activate a Vector agent with highly specific rules to open additional capacity and absorb the surge in demand. A major weather event approaching Seattle? Airlines can activate a specialized agent to reroute connecting passengers through Portland and Chicago instead. Fuel prices surging? Airlines can leverage Vector to consolidate flights across high-frequency routes, saving millions in operating costs.

"Today marks a major milestone for Volantio as we launch Vector globally," said Azim Barodawala, Volantio's Co-Founder and CEO. "AI is transforming industries around the world, and travel is no exception. Vector responsibly puts the power of this technology into the hands of leading airlines, enabling them to turn intelligence into real operational action at scale."

"Alaska Airlines is proud to work with Volantio on the launch of Vector," said Shane Tackett, Incoming President and CFO of Alaska Airlines. "Volantio's platform unlocks tremendous opportunities for Alaska, many of which would have been impossible to capture in the past. Between productivity gains, revenue opportunities, cost reductions, and customer experience improvements across our network, we are excited for what the future holds thanks to this new technology."

"Alaska Airlines is proud to work with Volantio on the launch of Vector," said Shane Tackett, Incoming President and CFO of Alaska Airlines.

While the Vector platform comes with three starter agents, there are no limits to the number of agents airlines can create, ranging from highly tactical workflows to enterprise-wide orchestration. Every action is rule-constrained, fully auditable, and confirmed through a human step. Airlines remain in control. All existing Volantio customers will have immediate access to the new platform.

Vector connects to existing PSS infrastructure and deploys in weeks, not months, without requiring new builds or lengthy implementations.

Built on more than a decade of Volantio's expertise in Demand Reallocation and tested alongside the revenue teams, operations groups, and technology leaders of the world's leading airlines, Vector combines the latest advances in AI with more than 1.5 billion data points and analysis of over $115 billion in annual revenue.

About Volantio

Volantio is the global leader in demand reallocation solutions for the travel industry, powered by a next-generation AI platform, Vector. The company helps airlines unlock new revenue opportunities, improve operational performance, and deliver more flexible passenger experiences by intelligently matching demand with available capacity after booking.

As the world's largest, most experienced, and most awarded Demand Reallocation software provider, Volantio serves more than 15 airlines globally, including Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Aeromexico. Volantio's platform analyzes more than $115 billion in airline revenue annually and is built on more than a decade of expertise helping the world's leading airlines operationalize flexibility at scale.

Volantio is backed by strategic investors including Amadeus, IAG, SKY VC, Qantas, and Alaska Airlines, and maintains official partnerships with Amadeus, Navitaire, and PROS. For more information, visit volantio.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90d4ecfc-481a-4026-a02b-af406c92c46e

Media Contact:

Sarah Mattina

sarah@mattinamediagroup.com

+15138896652

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VCI Global Limited (NASDAQ: VCIG) ("VCI Global"), an emerging AI-native operating platform leveraging artificial intelligence, data, governance frameworks, and strategic capital allocation capabilities, today announced a strategic strengthening of its equity capital structure following an institutional commitment from Esousa Group Holdings LLC ("Esousa Holdings"), a New York-based family office.

Pursuant to a finalized agreement, Esousa Holdings has elected to convert existing warrants into 880,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion price of US$5.62 per share.

Notably, the conversion price represents a 24.9% premium to VCI Global's closing market price of US$4.50 on June 24, 2026, reflecting institutional confidence in the Company's strategic transformation, long-term growth direction, and continued execution of its AI-native operating platform vision.

The institutional decision to convert warrants into equity further demonstrates confidence in VCI Global's strategic direction, strengthens shareholder alignment, and simplifies the Company's capital structure.

"We are very pleased with this strong demonstration of confidence from Esousa Holdings," said Ang Zhi Feng, Chief Financial Officer of VCI Global. "Their decision to convert these instruments into equity at a premium to the prevailing market price underscores their conviction in our strategic roadmap, commercial pipeline, and continued execution. This transaction represents meaningful alignment between our institutional stakeholders and the Company's long-term vision."

The shares issued in connection with this transaction were finalised following completion of the necessary structural and formal reviews. The transaction details will be disclosed in the Company's Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, to be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This transaction reinforces VCI Global's commitment to building a stronger capital foundation as the Company continues to advance its AI-native platform strategy, focusing on intelligent systems, data-driven decision-making, governance infrastructure, and strategic growth initiatives.

About VCI Global Limited

VCI Global Limited (NASDAQ: VCIG) is an AI-native operating platform designed to scale and optimize businesses through centralized intelligence, data, and capital discipline.

The Company operates a platform-based model in which subsidiaries, affiliates, and portfolio companies plug into VCI Global's centralized AI, data, governance, and capital allocation systems, enabling faster execution, improved capital efficiency, and scalable growth across multiple industries.

VCI Global's platform centralizes AI-enabled execution, standardized KPI frameworks, financial and governance controls, and strategic capital allocation, while operating businesses focus on revenue generation, customer relationships, and local execution.

The Company maintains exposure across advisory, AI, and digital infrastructure, digital assets, energy, automotive, and consumer sectors, and continuously evaluates opportunities to scale, spin off, divest, or discontinue businesses based on performance, scalability, and return on capital.

VCI Global's platform-centric approach is designed to enhance productivity, improve IPO readiness, and unlock long-term value through disciplined growth and selective capital deployment.

For more information on the Company, please log on to https://v-capital.co/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to achieve profitable operations, customer acceptance of new products, the effects of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and future measures taken by authorities in the countries wherein the Company has supply chain partners, the demand for the Company's products and the Company's customers' economic condition, the impact of competitive products and pricing, successfully managing and, general economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release, except in accordance with applicable law.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For media queries, please contact:

VCI GLOBAL LIMITED

enquiries@v-capital.co

New professional franchise cricket league is tentatively scheduled to debut in October-November 2026, subject to definitive documentation, required approvals, venue availability, player availability, financing, and other customary execution conditions.

Proposed ZT20 league is designed as a long-term sports, media, and sports-tourism property intended to showcase Zimbabwe as a premier destination for international T20 cricket, with a grand opening ceremony currently planned for Victoria Falls and matches expected across Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo.

HARARE, Zimbabwe and TAMPA, Fla., June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flash Sports & Media, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLZH) ("Flash" or the "Company"), a cricket-focused sports and media company, today announced plans for the Zimbabwe T20 League ("ZT20"), a proposed professional franchise T20 cricket league tentatively scheduled to debut in October and November 2026. The planned launch remains subject to definitive documentation, required approvals, venue availability, player availability, financing, and other customary execution conditions.

ZT20 is expected to be developed as a long-term sports and media property through the Company's subsidiary Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC ("IPG"), in collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket ("ZC"), subject to the terms of applicable commercial arrangements and any required approvals. The proposed league is designed to showcase Zimbabwe as one of Africa's leading cricket and sports-tourism destinations, with a grand opening ceremony currently planned at the proposed cricket stadium in Victoria Falls and matches expected to be played across Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo.

Actual revenues, if any, will depend on the specific terms of the Company's contractual arrangements and on overall tournament outcomes, and may differ materially from any industry-level references included in this release. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, franchise interests, investment contracts, or other investment opportunities.

ZT20 - LEAGUE OVERVIEW

Tournament window: Debut tentatively scheduled for October and November 2026, subject to definitive documentation, required approvals, venue availability, player availability, financing, and other customary execution conditions.

League: Zimbabwe T20 League ("ZT20"), a proposed professional franchise T20 cricket league.

Tournament structure: Grand opening ceremony currently anticipated at the proposed cricket stadium in Victoria Falls, subject to venue completion, availability, permits, and applicable approvals; matches expected to be staged across Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo, subject to scheduling and operational requirements.

Development and operation: Expected to be developed and commercialized through Flash Sports & Media, Inc.'s subsidiary Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, in collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket, subject to definitive documentation and required approvals.

Format: Franchise-based teams expected to feature Zimbabwean and international players, subject to negotiation, availability, eligibility, scheduling, applicable approvals, and definitive arrangements.

Expected host venues: Victoria Falls, Harare Sports Club, and Bulawayo, subject to venue availability, scheduling, permits, and applicable approvals.

Distribution: Expected pursuit of global broadcast distribution and digital / streaming initiatives, subject to definitive arrangements and market acceptance.

Expected commercial model: The league is expected to pursue centralized media rights, sponsorship sales, merchandise, licensing, hospitality, and related commercial opportunities, subject to definitive arrangements and market acceptance.

Founding franchises: A select number of founding franchises and commercial partnerships may be evaluated and introduced; ownership groups and commercial partners, if any, would be announced following definitive agreements and applicable approvals.

Target audiences: Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Flash involvement: Through subsidiary Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC under existing and proposed commercial arrangements, subject to definitive documentation and required approvals.

A NEW SPORTS PROPERTY IN A HIGH-GROWTH REGION

Zimbabwe combines a passionate cricket following, local and international cricket talent, and globally recognized tourism destinations, which the Company believes position the country as a compelling platform for a scalable sports entertainment and sports-tourism asset. If successfully launched, ZT20 is intended to bring professional T20 cricket to several prominent Zimbabwean locations while promoting the country on the global sports and tourism map.

ZT20 is intended to build long-term franchise and commercial value through the following pillars:

centralized media rights;

sponsorship sales;

franchise and commercial partnership opportunities;

digital and streaming distribution;

merchandise and licensing programs;

grassroots cricket development;

international and local player acquisition; and

sports-tourism activation around iconic venues.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION

No player has committed to participate in ZT20 unless and until definitive player agreements or applicable league participation arrangements are entered into. Any references to specific players or player pools are for contextual purposes only and should not be interpreted as a commitment, endorsement, or agreement to participate.

Zimbabwe cricket has experienced global momentum, with Zimbabwean national players participating in leading franchise leagues and international tournaments. Zimbabwe's notable international performances have further highlighted the country's ability to compete on the global cricket stage.

Subject to negotiation, availability, eligibility, scheduling, applicable approvals, and definitive arrangements, the league may seek to include leading Zimbabwean players and international players from established T20 markets, including India, the West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, and other cricket markets. There can be no assurance that any particular player or category of player will participate in ZT20.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

Givemore Makoni, Managing Director, Zimbabwe Cricket:

"This proposed league has the potential to provide a valuable platform for Zimbabwean players to compete with top international talent and create new opportunities for cricket development, commercial growth, and fan engagement across the country."

Anil Mohan, Founder, The IPG Group:

"Zimbabwe has many of the ingredients required to become a major T20 cricket destination - passionate fans, strong local talent, iconic venues, and global tourism appeal. With Victoria Falls currently planned as the launch venue, this proposed league is intended to promote cricket while also supporting Zimbabwe's profile on the global sports and tourism map."

Bradley Nattrass, Chief Executive Officer, Flash Sports & Media, Inc.:

"Live sports properties and premium media rights continue to attract global interest. If successfully launched, ZT20 is expected to combine elite competition, iconic venues, digital distribution, sponsorship opportunities, franchise ownership, and international fan engagement, while extending Flash's franchise-league strategy into a high-potential African market."

FRANCHISE AND COMMERCIAL PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES

The league expects to evaluate a select number of founding franchise and commercial partnership opportunities. Any franchise, sponsorship, licensing, hospitality, media, or other commercial arrangement would be subject to definitive agreements, applicable legal requirements, required approvals, and market conditions. No franchise, securities, or other investment opportunity is being offered or sold by this press release. Potential commercial arrangements may involve sponsorship, licensing, hospitality, media, merchandise, and other league-related commercial opportunities, but there can be no assurance that any such opportunities will be completed or generate revenue.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT FOR FLASH

Through its subsidiary Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, the Company participates in professional cricket as a sports, media, and experiential platform, with exposure to media, sponsorship, and on-ground activations through its contractual arrangements. The planned launch of ZT20 is intended to extend the Company's franchise-league footprint into Africa, complementing its existing involvement in the Lanka Premier League and the previously announced Malaysia T20 League.

The Company's economic participation will depend on the specific terms of its contractual arrangements and on overall tournament outcomes, and may differ materially from any industry-level references included in this release. ZT20 remains an early-stage initiative and has not yet commenced operations. The Company cannot provide assurance that ZT20 will launch on the anticipated timeline, that any franchise, sponsorship, media, player, venue, or other commercial arrangements will be completed, or that the Company will generate material revenue from ZT20.

INDUSTRY CONTEXT (THIRD-PARTY DATA)

For general context only, publicly available third-party reports have described T20 cricket as a high-engagement global format with substantial international fan interest across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and other markets. Reported media rights values for mature, established leagues such as the Indian Premier League are not comparable to ZT20 and should not be interpreted as indicative of the Company's expected results, revenues, valuation, or economic opportunity.

These figures and references relate to the broader industry or to other leagues and are not a projection of the Company's financial results, revenues, valuation, or economic impact from ZT20, and should not be relied on as such. The Company has not independently verified third-party market, industry, or economic data referenced in this press release and makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness.

DISCLAIMER

References to the Zimbabwe T20 League, its anticipated format, venues, franchises, prospective franchise ownership groups, players, partners, sponsors, market size, or economic impact are based on the Company's current plans, third-party information, or industry estimates, and are subject to change. The development and launch of ZT20 are subject to a range of conditions, including definitive agreements, regulatory and governing-body approvals, venue availability, player availability, financing, and market conditions.

The Company's involvement is expected to be conducted through Flash Sports & Media, Inc., Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, and related commercial arrangements, in collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket, subject to definitive documentation and required approvals. References to franchise ownership, player participation, venues, market size, or economic impact are based on current plans, third-party information, or industry estimates that the Company has not independently verified. The Company's actual revenues, if any, will depend on its contractual arrangements and may differ materially from industry metrics referenced herein.

Nothing in this press release constitutes an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, franchise interests, investment contracts, or other investment opportunities. Any future franchise ownership opportunities, if pursued, would be subject to definitive agreements, applicable legal requirements, and any required regulatory approvals. No offering of franchise interests or other investment opportunities is being made by this press release.

About Flash Sports & Media, Inc.

Flash Sports & Media, 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. www.flashsportsandmedia.com

About the Zimbabwe T20 League

The Zimbabwe T20 League (ZT20) is a proposed professional T20 franchise cricket league expected to be developed through Flash Sports & Media, Inc. and Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC in collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket, subject to definitive documentation and required approvals. Tentatively scheduled to debut in October and November 2026, and currently planned to launch with a grand opening ceremony at Victoria Falls and matches across Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo, ZT20 is designed as a long-term sports, media, and sports-tourism property featuring franchise-based teams, Zimbabwean and international players, broadcast and streaming distribution, and commercial sponsorship opportunities serving audiences across Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. ZT20 remains an early-stage initiative and has not yet commenced operations.

About Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) is the national governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe, responsible for the development, administration, and promotion of cricket across the country, and a Full Member of the International Cricket Council.

About Twenty20 Cricket

Twenty20 (T20) is a format of cricket in which each team plays a maximum of 20 overs. Introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2003, T20 matches are typically completed in approximately three and a half hours. For more information, visit: http://www.t20worldcup.com

ZT20 is an early-stage initiative that has not yet commenced operations. The league's successful launch and commercialization remain subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including execution, financing, sponsorship, media distribution, regulatory approvals, venue availability, player availability, and market acceptance.

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 Company's expectations, beliefs, or intentions relating to the proposed launch, development, and commercialization of the Zimbabwe T20 League; the development and commercialization of sports and media platforms; potential sponsorship, media rights, franchise sales, and other commercial opportunities; anticipated market size and growth; the participation of franchises, players, partners, venues, broadcasters, or sponsors; 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 early-stage nature of ZT20 and the many conditions to its successful launch and operation; the possibility that definitive agreements with Zimbabwe Cricket, venues, franchise owners, sponsors, broadcasters, players, vendors, or other counterparties may not be entered into on acceptable terms, or at all; the possibility that required governmental, regulatory, league, venue, or governing-body approvals may not be obtained; venue completion, availability, permitting, security, logistics, and operational risks; the Company's reliance on third-party partners, including Zimbabwe Cricket, Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, and other counterparties, to perform under contractual arrangements; uncertainties regarding the participation, availability, or continued involvement of franchise owners, players, ambassadors, or other talent referenced in this press release; the possibility that anticipated franchise sales, sponsorships, media rights arrangements, or other commercial opportunities may not materialize or may be delayed; the extent to which the Company is able to generate revenues, if any, from ZT20; risks relating to the integration of Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC and the Company's ability to realize anticipated synergies; the Company's ability to develop, monetize, and scale its sports, media, and experiential business lines; the timing and success of expansion into new markets; the Company's ability to establish or maintain strategic relationships and commercial arrangements; general economic, market, and industry conditions; competitive dynamics within the sports and media sectors; international, geopolitical, and regulatory risks associated with global sporting events; 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. References to prospective franchise ownership, players, partners, venues, and related individuals are based on the Company's current plans or on third-party announcements and media reports that the Company has not independently verified.

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, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLZH)

*WeRide GENESIS received two major industry awards within days, including the 2026 ATTI Simulation Innovation Award and "Overall Gen-AI Solution of the Year" at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards.

*Physical AI world model enables large-scale autonomous driving simulation, training, and validation.

*Reduces autonomous driving data collection and annotation costs by more than 75%.

*Powers WRD 3.0, WeRide's end-to-end ADAS solution, supporting global commercialization and deployment.

GUANGZHOU, China, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD; HKEX: 0800), a global autonomous driving technology company, announced today that its proprietary world model, WeRide GENESIS, has been named "Overall Gen-AI Solution of the Year" at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards. The recognition places WeRide alongside AMD, Qualcomm, and Dell Technologies, and follows the model's receipt of the Simulation Innovation Award at the 2026 Automotive Testing Technology International (ATTI) Awards on June 24-making it two major industry awards within 48 hours. Together, the two awards validate the model's capabilities in accelerating autonomous driving development, simulation, and deployment.

While generative AI has transformed digital content creation, the next major opportunity lies in applying AI to real-world physical environments. To operate in real-world environments, AI systems must understand physical laws, causal relationships, and spatiotemporal dynamics, enabling them to take actions that are safe, stable, and executable. As a result, Physical AI is emerging as the next frontier of artificial intelligence.

This shift implies that the company capable of building the foundational layer connecting the digital and physical worlds will define the next era. Among all Physical AI applications, autonomous driving stands out as the first domain to achieve large-scale commercialization, and remains the only scenario that simultaneously enables a real-world data flywheel and sustainable commercial operations.

As one of the autonomous driving companies with the broadest global operational footprint, WeRide is emerging as a builder of this foundational Physical AI infrastructure. Through its world model, WeRide GENESIS, the company connects real-world driving environments with high-fidelity simulation, accelerating large-scale development, training, and deployment of autonomous driving systems.

WERIDE GENESIS: FOUR-LAYER ARCHITECTURE

WeRide GENESIS is constructed on four integrated capability layers:

Physical World Reconstruction: Generates pixel-level-fidelity road environments in minutes, including rare safety-critical long-tail scenarios that are impractical to capture through real-world data collection alone.

Physicalized Traffic Interaction: Models complex traffic dynamics-pedestrian behavior, road surface conditions, occlusion risks, and collision boundaries.

Causal Reasoning and Inference: Models cause-and-effect relationships across traffic participants, enabling robust decision-making in dynamic environments.

Spatiotemporal Prediction: Simulates how scenarios evolve across space and time, generating probabilistic future outcomes to support driving strategy optimization.

Together, these capabilities enable autonomous driving systems to move beyond perception toward a deeper understanding of the physical world. By training and validating systems in large-scale, high-fidelity virtual environments, WeRide GENESIS can compress millions of kilometers of road testing into days while reducing data collection and annotation costs by more than 75%.

Ultimately, the true value of a world model must be proven in real-world deployment. Level 4 fully driverless operation represents the most rigorous and definitive proving ground for Physical AI capabilities.

WeRide is driving its global expansion with the WeRide GENESIS as its core engine. The company's autonomous driving products have now been deployed in more than 40 cities across 12 countries, completing cross-city, cross-border, and cross-road-environment commercial validation. Currently, WeRide's Robotaxi has commenced fully driverless commercial operations in Guangzhou and Beijing (China), as well as in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (UAE). Meanwhile, its services are open to the public in Singapore and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and fully driverless public operations will soon be launched in Madrid (Spain) and Zurich (Switzerland), among other locations.

At the same time, the world model capabilities of GENESIS are making a breakthrough in the L2++ mass-production assisted driving market

At the Second China Intelligent Driving Competition, the Chery Exeed Sterra ES equipped with WeRide's one-stage end-to-end ADAS solution, WRD 3.0, secured a historic achievement-becoming the first and only vehicle in the competition's history to win six consecutive championships.

Across a wide range of evaluation scenarios-including urban roads, highways, and parking environments-WRD 3.0 consistently demonstrated stable, smooth, and reliable driving performance. With a significantly more efficient R&D approach, the system outperformed competitors with multiple times the resources, fundamentally redefining the traditional development path built on scaling manpower, vehicle fleets, and rule-based systems.

This breakthrough marks what can be seen as the "ChatGPT 3.5 moment" for autonomous driving.

To date, WRD 3.0 has secured mass-production design wins across more than 30 vehicle models with leading OEMs including Chery and GAC Group. As these programs advance, the capabilities of WeRide GENESIS are rapidly translating into product competitiveness for the passenger vehicle market.

The universality of physical laws allows a world model trained on urban traffic to extend into a much broader range of real-world interaction scenarios. As more vehicles, cities, and environments are integrated into a unified model foundation, WeRide GENESIS continues to amplify data value and improve development efficiency, forming a self-reinforcing flywheel from data accumulation to model training, simulation validation, and real-world deployment.

Looking ahead, WeRide will continue to advance WeRide GENESIS as the foundational platform for Physical AI, enabling AI systems not only to understand the physical world, but to operate within it at scale-accelerating the global commercialization of autonomous driving technologies.

About WeRide

WeRide is a global autonomous driving technology company and the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Its autonomous vehicles have been tested or operated in over 40 cities across 12 countries. WeRide is the first and only technology company with autonomous driving permits in eight markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United States. Through its WeRide One platform, the company provides autonomous driving products and services spanning L2++ to L4 in mobility, logistics, and other applications. WeRide was named to Fortune's 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 lists.

Media Contacts

WeRide: pr@weride.ai

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about WeRide's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in WeRide's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. WeRide does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. **