This milestone marks a significant step in the company's continued expansion and commitment to advancing Africa's data centre infrastructure

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - EQS Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Master Power Technologies (MPT) (https://kva.co.za/), a leading pan-African provider of turnkey data centre and critical power solutions, has unveiled its hi-tech Customer Experience Centre, also home to its new regional headquarters in Midrand.

This milestone marks a significant step in the company's continued expansion and commitment to advancing Africa's data centre infrastructure.

Founded in 1999 by electrical engineer Menno Parsons, MPT has grown from its origins as a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) provider into a diversified engineering firm that delivers end-to-end solutions for data centres across Africa and the Middle East. Today, MPT designs, manufactures, and assembles a wide range of products under its flagship brands, SURE and AIVA, tailored to withstand Africa's demanding operational environments.

The new Midrand facility spans 6 000m2 and will serve as MPT's African headquarters, housing approximately 200 employees. Strategically located between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the site is positioned close to major data centre hubs, ensuring accessibility for clients and partners.

Hands-on environment

At the heart of the launch is the Customer Experience Centre, a R50 million investment designed to showcase MPT's engineering capabilities and provide a hands-on environment for customers, partners, and trainees. The centre features advanced test facilities, including a 2 MVA UPS test platform and a 400kW cooling systems test centre, which is the most comprehensive of its kind on the continent.

These facilities enable performance testing to European certification standards, offering clients confidence in the reliability and efficiency of MPT's solutions, with the company having become the first African business to be officially certified as an Endorser of the European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres in 2025.

"The Experience Centre represents a new chapter for Master Power Technologies. It's about creating a space where customers can engage with our technology, see it in action, and understand the depth of our capabilities," says MD and Founder of MPT Menno Parsons.

"This centre will be the most impressive UPS and cooling training facility in Africa, allowing our clients to touch, feel, and work with real systems in a way that has never been possible before."

Commitment to local

The Experience Centre also highlights MPT's commitment to local engineering and manufacturing. MPT assembles and engineers complete modular data centre and energy centre solutions within Africa. This approach reduces logistical risks, supports local industry, and ensures solutions are tailored to regional requirements.

Beyond technical demonstrations, the centre will serve as a hub for training and collaboration, equipping engineers and clients with practical knowledge to optimise data centre performance.

It also integrates MPT's proprietary Advanced Infrastructure Visual Analytics (AIVA) monitoring platform, which manages and records metrics across more than 200 data centres in Africa, offering advanced analytics and operational insights.

"Our business has always been about more than just selling equipment. We engineer solutions for Africa, by Africa. This Experience Centre is a testament to that philosophy, which strengthens our ability to train, innovate and deliver world-class infrastructure while remaining rooted in local expertise," says Parsons.

The launch of the Midrand offices and Experience Centre underscores MPT's role as a trusted partner in Africa's rapidly growing data centre sector. With demand for resilient, efficient, and scalable infrastructure on the rise, MPT's investment positions the company to meet the evolving needs of clients across the continent and beyond.

Hashtag: #MasterPowerTechnologies 

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

Milestone reflects Malaysians' growing demand for quality grab-and-go food and coffee, with KLIA CAFe bringing greater convenience to millions of travellers

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - As Malaysians increasingly embrace grab-and-go lifestyles and quality coffee on the move, 7-Eleven Malaysia today marked a major milestone with the opening of its 1,000th CAFe by 7-Eleven outlet at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, reinforcing its commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers are.

Located at Level 5, next to the Domestic Departure Gate at KLIA Terminal 1, the milestone CAFe places freshly brewed coffee, hot meals and ready-to-eat favourites within easy reach of one of Malaysia's busiest transport hubs. KLIA Terminal 1 serves approximately 28 to 30 million passengers annually, with around 13,000 to 14,000 departing and arriving travellers each day. During peak operating hours, the terminal can accommodate nearly 6,800 passengers per hour, while festive travel periods see passenger volumes surge significantly.

More than just another store opening, the milestone reflects how CAFe by 7-Eleven has evolved into an integral part of Malaysians' daily routines, serving everyone from busy professionals grabbing their morning coffee to students on the go, families travelling home, and holidaymakers beginning their next adventure.

With more Malaysians seeking convenient, quality food and coffee throughout the day, CAFe by 7-Eleven has steadily expanded to meet evolving consumer lifestyles. The opening of its 1,000th outlet at KLIA marks another milestone in bringing that convenience to one of Malaysia's busiest travel gateways.

The choice of KLIA for this milestone reflects 7-Eleven Malaysia's strategy of expanding into high-traffic locations where convenience matters most. As consumer lifestyles become increasingly mobile, transport hubs have become key destinations for quick, quality food and beverage solutions, allowing CAFe by 7-Eleven to better serve travellers at every stage of their journey.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEO of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said the opening of the company's 1,000th CAFe by 7-Eleven represents more than a numerical milestone. It reflects how consumer expectations and lifestyles have evolved over the years.

"Today's customers expect quality coffee, fresh meals and convenience wherever they are, whether they're heading to work, commuting across town or catching a flight. Over the years, we've transformed CAFe by 7-Eleven into a destination that fits naturally into those everyday moments. Convenience today is no longer just about being nearby. It's about being exactly where customers need us most, whether that's in neighbourhoods, commercial districts or one of the country's busiest airports."

"There is no better place to celebrate this milestone than KLIA, one of Malaysia's busiest travel gateways. Millions of passengers pass through the airport every year, making it the ideal location for us to demonstrate how convenience retail can better serve today's increasingly mobile consumers. Whether they're catching an early morning flight, returning home or travelling for business, we want CAFe by 7-Eleven to be part of that journey."

As one of Malaysia's largest convenience retailers, 7-Eleven continues to evolve beyond traditional retail by expanding CAFe by 7-Eleven across neighbourhoods, commercial districts, hospitals, transport hubs and major travel gateways. Offering an expanding range of food, beverages and ready-to-enjoy meal options, the growing network reflects the company's commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers need them.

The KLIA outlet represents another step in that strategy, enhancing the travel experience by ensuring customers can conveniently enjoy fresh food and beverages before departure without compromising on quality or speed.

Today, with more than 2,700 stores nationwide and 1,000 CAFe by 7-Eleven outlets, the company continues to strengthen its position as Malaysia's leading convenience retailer by adapting to evolving consumer expectations through innovation, accessibility and everyday convenience.

As Malaysians continue to embrace increasingly mobile lifestyles and seek greater convenience in their daily routines, 7-Eleven Malaysia remains committed to expanding CAFe by 7-Eleven into locations where quality food and beverages are needed most. Guided by its promise of "Always There For You", the company will continue bringing greater convenience to customers wherever life takes them.

Hashtag: #7eleven 

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

FREMONT, Calif., July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For Southeast Asian tech startups expanding to the U.S., locking in predictable subscription revenue is everything. However, many international growth teams are falling into a compliance trap by using clunky user interfaces to slow down customer churn.

To address this risk, Dmitry Shubov Consulting has issued a cross-border strategic advisory detailing why federal appeals courts blocking the national "Click-to-Cancel" mandate hasn't actually stopped the regulatory pressure. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is still actively using its core anti-deception powers to police hidden subscription loops while building a new regulatory record from scratch, a pattern highlighted in a recent Crowell & Moring legal advisory on the FTC's revised framework. This newly released briefing warns that confusing unsubscribe setups leave expanding startups exposed to a dangerous mix of localized government penalties and private merchant account freezes from angry customer chargebacks.

The Loophole Misconception

The confusion is understandable. Founders read the headlines about federal courts pushing back on the national mandate and reasonably concluded the heat was off. It wasn't - it just moved. What used to be a single federal rule to track has splintered into a patchwork: the FTC is still enforcing hard under Section 5 and ROSCA, and states and cities have started writing their own rules, several of them tougher than the federal version ever was.

Connecticut changed its auto-renewal law on July 1, 2026. A violation now counts as a breach of the state's Unfair Trade Practices Act, so consumers can sue over it themselves. They don't need a regulator to bring the case first. New York City is close behind, with its own municipal ban on subscription traps taking effect on October 1, 2026, carrying civil penalties that start at $525 per violation. For a startup entering the U.S. on a clumsy, multi-screen cancellation flow, that adds up to pressure from two directions at once - government penalties on one side, and on the other, a payment processor that can freeze the account over a chargeback spike well before any regulator gets involved.

"When you're fighting for early traction in a new market, it's tempting to lean on clever UX patterns to keep your user numbers up for investors," said Dmitry Shubov, founder of Dmitry Shubov Consulting. "But there's a fine line between a smart retention funnel and a platform trap. If it takes one click for an American customer to buy your service but four separate screens and a support chat to leave, you aren't optimizing growth-you're just manufacturing immediate consumer backlash that invites state regulators to investigate your business and payment processors to flag your account."

Tactical UI Adjustments for Cross-Border Platforms

To protect cross-border operations from active automatic-renewal litigation and payment friction, tech platforms should align with three straightforward UI fixes:

Match the sign-up ease on the way out. If someone signs up inside your app with one tap, they shouldn't have to jump through hoops to leave. Forcing a user to email a support inbox or make a phone call just to close an online account is an instant red flag for regulators.

Don't hide the exit door behind a safe offer. You can absolutely try to retain a departing customer with a discount or a temporary account pause. Just don't let that offer get in the way of the actual unsubscribe button or slow down the process.

Put the real pricing details upfront. Skip the tiny print hidden under a checkout button. The actual monthly price, how often the card gets hit, and the exact date a free trial ends need to be completely obvious right where they type in their payment details.

Clean Valuation Over Artificial Metrics

Clean subscription metrics and authentic retention are ultimately far more valuable to long-term venture valuation than numbers propped up by a confusing user experience. Relying on product value rather than customer confusion is the only sustainable way to build a brand in the competitive American market.

Dmitry Shubov Consulting will continue monitoring these fast-evolving digital commerce guidelines to ensure Southeast Asian tech leaders can scale into the United States with total legal and operational clarity. 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

DUBLIN, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For years, Khaby Lame has built a global audience around a clear principle: why make something complicated when it can be easy?

Without saying a word, the world's most-followed TikTok creator became one of the internet's most recognisable personalities by exposing unnecessarily complicated solutions and replacing them with simpler, more obvious ones. Today, that philosophy forms the foundation of a new partnership with Holafly, the global leader in travel eSIMs, where Khaby joins as the company's Global Brand Ambassador.

The partnership brings together two brands that have built their success around making everyday experiences easier. While Khaby became a global phenomenon by dismantling unnecessary complexity, Holafly has spent years helping travelers stay connected abroad without the traditional frustrations associated with roaming charges.

Despite the digital transformation of travel, staying connected abroad remains one of the last unresolved challenges of international travel, with millions of people still arriving in new countries searching for local SIM cards, relying on public Wi-Fi or worrying about roaming costs.

Holafly was built to change that. By allowing travelers to activate mobile data before departure and connect within minutes of arriving at their destination, the company has simplified a process that was long accepted as an unavoidable inconvenience.

The partnership comes at a time when convenience has become one of the main expectations of modern travel. Travelers can book flights, accommodation, transportation and experiences from their smartphones in seconds, yet crossing a border can still result in losing access to the services, information and communication tools they rely on every day.

The partnership builds on an existing connection with the brand, as Khaby has used Holafly while travelling internationally. As someone whose work regularly takes him across countries and continents, and who has built a global audience by promoting simplicity, staying connected easily makes the collaboration a natural fit.

"Khaby became a global phenomenon by reminding people that the simplest solution is often the best one," said Daniela Prado, Brand Director at Holafly. "When we examined what makes his content resonate with hundreds of millions of people around the world, we recognised that it reflects exactly what travelers expect today. Whether they are booking a flight, navigating a new city or staying in touch with family and colleagues, people value experiences that feel seamless, intuitive and dependable."

With more than 25 million eSIMs sold worldwide and coverage across more than 200 destinations, Holafly stands as one of the most recognised brands in the travel technology sector. The partnership with a creator whose audience spans virtually every major travel market reflects the company's growing global ambitions. Watch the campaign video here.

With more than 160 million followers on TikTok, Khaby's appeal transcends languages, cultures and borders, positioning him as a natural fit for a company that helps millions of people navigate the world with greater confidence. Together, the partnership is anchored in a belief shared by both brands: travel is complicated enough already.

Media contact: press@holafly.com

 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

The newswire guarantees online postings on USA Today and increases its guaranteed distribution on high-domain-rating local US news sites to empower AI visibility

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Media OutReach Newswire, the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific, has expanded its USA distribution network with additional guaranteed news postings.

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility.

By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

"By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists' inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market," said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

"We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire's partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients' news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States," added Jennifer.

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients' press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire's global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific's first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire's focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

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

Hashtags: #MediaOutReachNewswire #pressrelease #USA

Shared Platform Backed by The National Bank of Georgia Will Deliver Trusted Global Infrastructure to Support Growth of the Banking Sector

TBILISI, Georgia and NEW YORK, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced a landmark partnership with the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) to modernize the treasury and financial markets infrastructure across Georgia's banking sector. Five of the country's largest commercial banks - Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank, Liberty Bank, Terabank and Basisbank - will adopt the Nasdaq Calypso platform under a shared, common infrastructure model spanning the full front-to-back trade lifecycle. The initiative, operating under the Georgian Market Advancement Program (GMAP) and coordinated in collaboration with the Georgian Financial Markets Treasuries' Association (GFMTA), represents a significant milestone in the development of Georgia's capital markets.

Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, said: "Modernising Georgia's treasury infrastructure is a strategic priority for the National Bank of Georgia and a critical step in the continued development of our financial system. By bringing the country's five largest commercial banks onto a common, internationally recognized platform, we are raising the standard of risk management, regulatory oversight, and operational resilience across the sector. This initiative reflects our commitment to building a financial market that is robust, transparent, aligned with international best practice, and equipped to support Georgia's continued economic growth."

Why Georgia's Banks Need a New Treasury Infrastructure Model

Georgia's commercial banking sector has experienced double-digit growth over the past five years, with total assets approaching USD 38 billion - reflecting the depth and dynamism of the country's financial system. As the sector has grown, so too has demand for more sophisticated treasury infrastructure capable of supporting complex securities and derivatives markets, enterprise-grade risk management, and increasingly rigorous regulatory standards. At the same time, the investment required to deploy and maintain such infrastructure at the individual institutional level represents a significant undertaking for any single bank. A shared, coordinated approach - pooling resources and expertise across the sector - provides the most efficient path to achieving that ambition at scale.

Magnus Haglind, Head of Capital Markets Technology at Nasdaq, said: "Georgia presents a compelling example of how the shared infrastructure model can unlock real value for individual institutions and the financial system as a whole. By drawing on Nasdaq's experience navigating modernization programs at scale, firms gain access to deep institutional knowledge and the ability to evolve without bearing the full cost, risk, or operational complexity of doing it alone. GMAP reflects exactly the kind of structured, country-level framework that enables this type of transformation to succeed. We welcome the opportunity to support the National Bank of Georgia in this initiative, and to help Georgia's banking sector build the infrastructure it needs for its next phase of growth."

How Nasdaq Calypso Solves the Shared Infrastructure Challenge for Georgian Banks

The Nasdaq Calypso platform will be deployed as a shared infrastructure model, installed at a centralized location with each of the five participating banks represented as a separate entity within the same instance, with their data fully segregated. Each institution will benefit from a configuration adapted to its individual business requirements, risk profile, and operational context, while operating within a common framework that enables standardized reporting and workflows, shared market data, and collective governance, oversight, and audit capabilities.

The platform will span the complete trade lifecycle from front-office deal capture and pricing, through middle-office risk management and compliance, to back-office settlement, accounting, and financial reporting. This end-to-end architecture eliminates the need for multiple point solutions, reduces reconciliation overhead, and delivers a single source of truth for treasury operations across the sector.

Standardization also delivers systemic benefits beyond any single institution. With harmonized data and reporting across all five banks, the National Bank of Georgia gains materially enhanced visibility into treasury exposures, liquidity positions, and systemic risk, supporting more effective macroprudential supervision. Consistent audit trails and common reporting frameworks reduce the burden on both banks and regulators and provide a robust foundation for Georgia's continued integration with international financial standards, including ISO 20022, the global messaging standard for financial data exchange.

Lasha Jugeli, Executive Secretary of the Georgian Financial Markets Treasuries' Association, said: "The Georgian Market Advancement Program (GMAP) is the result of years of deliberate coordination across Georgia's banking sector, and it marks a pivotal moment for our Association and the institutions we represent. By aligning on a shared infrastructure backed by Nasdaq's global expertise and the National Bank of Georgia's institutional support, and project management funding provided by Japan through the Japan?EBRD Cooperation Fund, our member banks are not only modernising their own operations - they are collectively raising the standard for treasury management across the sector. We are proud to have played a central role in bringing this initiative to fruition, and we look forward to the tangible benefits it will deliver for our members and for Georgia's financial markets as a whole."

The five participating banks collectively represent the majority of Georgia's commercial banking sector assets, and their adoption of a common, internationally recognised platform marks a defining step in Georgia's emergence as a modern, well-governed financial market.

Media contacts

Nasdaq: Andrew Hughes; +44 (0)7443 100896; Andrew.Hughes@nasdaq.com

The National Bank of Georgia: info@nbg.ge

-NDAQG-

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

CHENGDU, Tiongkok, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atas undangan Dewan Investasi (BOI) Thailand, Changan Automobile menghadiri Forum Investasi dan Ekonomi Thailand-Tiongkok (Sichuan) 2026 dan upacara pembukaan Kantor BOI Thailand di Chengdu sebagai satu-satunya merek otomotif Tiongkok yang beroperasi di Thailand yang diundang untuk menghadiri acara tersebut. Tn. Zhu Huarong, Ketua Changan Automobile, menghadiri forum dan upacara pembukaan tersebut serta mengadakan pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri Thailand, Tn. Anutin Charnvirakul, Wakil Perdana Menteri sekaligus Menteri Keuangan, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Menteri Perindustrian, Tn. Varawut Silpa-archa, Sekretaris Jenderal BOI, Tn. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, dan Duta Besar Luar Biasa dan Berkuasa Penuh Republik Rakyat Tiongkok untuk Kerajaan Thailand, Tn. Zhang Jianwei.

Tn. Zhu Huarong mengungkapkan pencapaian Changan Automobile di Thailand kepada Perdana Menteri, dengan menyatakan bahwa: "Sejak memasuki pasar Thailand pada tahun 2023, Changan telah mencatatkan penjualan kumulatif lebih dari 41.000 unit, memberikan kontribusi pajak lebih dari 1,6 miliar baht, menciptakan lebih dari 1.900 lapangan kerja lokal, mencapai tingkat penyerapan tenaga kerja lokal hampir 90 persen, dan meluncurkan 13 model kendaraan energi baru (NEV), termasuk AVATR 07, CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 dan CHANGAN NEVO Q05. Pabrik Rayong-basis produksi NEV pertama Changan di luar negeri, yang dibangun dengan investasi sekitar 9 miliar baht-kini memproduksi CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 dan CHANGAN NEVO Q05 secara lokal. Ekspornya telah menjangkau 18 negara, termasuk Indonesia, Singapura, dan Australia. Thailand akan menjadi pusat manufaktur regional Changan untuk kawasan Asia Tenggara. Perusahaan menargetkan penjualan tahunan lebih dari 70.000 unit di Thailand pada 2030. Dengan demikian, Changan menargetkan posisi ke-2 di antara merek Tiongkok dan ke-4 di pasar secara keseluruhan."

Perdana Menteri Thailand, Tn. Anutin Charnvirakul, memuji pencapaian dan kontribusi Changan Automobile di Thailand serta menilai perusahaan tersebut sebagai mitra penting dalam memajukan industri NEV di negara itu.

Dalam forum tersebut, Wu Xiaokang, Wakil General Manager Unit Usaha Asia Tenggara, membagikan pengalaman Changan dalam berinvestasi dan menjalankan operasional, dengan menegaskan bahwa: "Thailand memiliki klaster industri otomotif ASEAN yang unggul, rantai pasok suku cadang yang telah berkembang dengan baik, serta keunggulan geografis yang signifikan. Hal ini menjadikan Thailand sebagai pintu gerbang yang menjanjikan menuju pasar kendaraan setir kanan global. Ke depannya, Changan akan terus menjunjung komitmen 'Di Thailand, untuk Thailand', dengan memperkuat operasional kantor pusat regionalnya serta berupaya menjadi salah satu investor asing yang menjadi acuan di negara ini."

Pada April 2026, Changan Group mengungkapkan kerangka strategis "1445" dalam acara Peluncuran Strategi Global dan Konferensi Mitra Global. Kerangka tersebut memperkuat Vast Ocean Plan 2.0 dengan ambisi yang jelas: masuk dalam jajaran 10 besar grup otomotif dunia pada tahun 2030. Rencana ini menandai pergeseran strategi Changan dari sekadar "berekspansi secara global" menuju "berakar kuat di pasar lokal". Melalui strategi tersebut, Changan beralih dari model perdagangan yang bertumpu pada ekspor menuju operasional global yang lebih terintegrasi, mencakup manufaktur, perdagangan, investasi, layanan dan keberlanjutan. Dalam strategi global Changan, Asia Tenggara menjadi salah satu kawasan prioritas utama, dengan Thailand sebagai pusatnya.

Dalam rangka memperingati 51 tahun hubungan diplomatik Tiongkok?Thailand, Changan Automobile menegaskan kembali komitmennya untuk memperkuat kehadirannya di Thailand. Melalui komitmen "Di Thailand, untuk Thailand", Changan akan menghadirkan teknologi maju dan keahlian manajemen guna mendukung pembangunan lokal di negara tersebut.

Informasi kontak:

Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd.

Email: global@changan.com.cn

Concurrent Food Expo features "Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine" exhibition

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - The 25th International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, will be held from 13 to 15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), offering industry professionals the latest insights into Chinese medicine.

This year's conference is funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is dedicated to strengthening the ties between Hong Kong's Chinese medicine industry and the international market, while promoting Hong Kong's leading role in the global field of Chinese medicine.

Register for the conference to stay updated with the latest industry information on Chinese medicine: https://tinyurl.com/tmvryr38

Aligning with the strategic Blueprint with a focus on "Bringing In and Going Global"

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong (the Blueprint) released in 2025 positions Hong Kong as a bridgehead for the global internationalisation of Chinese medicine and a key highland within the national framework for Chinese medicine development. To actively support the strategic direction of the Blueprint, this year's conference adopts the theme Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine, focusing on two core elements: bringing in and going global. It introduces Hong Kong's Chinese medicine regulations and resource support to participants from Chinese Mainland and overseas, while inviting overseas regulatory authorities to share their local traditional medicine regulations. This year, some 30 experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas have been invited to comprehensively explore the latest research and development trends, regulatory interpretations, and success cases in Chinese medicine.

The three-day conference is divided into five major thematic sessions, covering policy blueprints, international regulations, clinical research, success case sharing, and talent cultivation:

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong, development trends, and government support for the industry

To help enterprises from Chinese Mainland and abroad understand Hong Kong's Chinese medicine regulation and support, Dr. Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development, Chinese Medicine Unit, Health Bureau, will elaborate on the Blueprint, while Law Kwok-wai, Robert, Chief Pharmacist (Chinese Medicine), Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Department of Health, Dr. Yeung Kin Wai, Senior Chemist, Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Department of Health, and Prof. Bian Zhaoxiang, Hospital Chief Executive, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) , will share in-depth insights into the latest progress in Chinese medicine regulation, quality standards testing, and clinical practice and research at the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Furthermore, Arnold Lau, Associate Director-General, Invest Hong Kong, Dr. William Cheung, Deputy Chief Manager (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Angela Yu, Deputy Head of Health Tech and TCM, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Wing Chu, Deputy Director of Research, HKTDC, will participate in a panel discussion to analyse the Hong Kong government's resource support for the development of Chinese medicine.

International regulations and standards for Chinese medicine and traditional medicine

To provide attendees with a comprehensive analysis of market trends, Prof. Zheng Linyun, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of International Standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will share reflections and prospects on the transformation of ISO/TC249. Furthermore, Prof. Taruna Ikrar, Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia, Nurul Anisah Binti Shahri from National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health, Malaysia and Thawatchai Nakkaratniyom, Senior Professional Level Pharmacist, Head of Pre-marketing Control Group, Herbal Products Division at Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand will jointly analyse the regulations and standards of the Southeast Asian market.

Traditional medicine and Chinese medicine development and clinical research

Scientific and clinical experts will share the latest progress in the scientific research and clinical application of Chinese medicine, as well as experiences regarding the R&D application and clinical efficacy of hospital-made Chinese medicine preparations. Prof. Zhang Zhongde, Deputy President of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine & President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine will share Chinese Mainland's practices in the research and development of Chinese medicine. Prof. Lee Sanghoon, Dean, International Education Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University will discuss the development of new natural product drugs in Korea. Prof. Pei Xiaohua, Dean of Changping Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Surgery will discuss clinical needs in developing new Chinese herbal medicines for TCM-advantageous breast diseases. Locally, Prof. Zhang Ge from Hong Kong Baptist University will present innovative achievements in utilising traditional Chinese medicine to drive target discovery for triple-negative breast cancer, while Prof. Xian Yanfang Lisa, Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong will share pre-clinical and clinical studies of novel Chinese medicine formula for treating gout.

Sharing of success cases and experience in international Chinese medicine practitioner training

Focusing on successful industry practices, ICMCM provides an interactive platform for the industry, helping to ensure the continuous development and growth of the traditional Chinese medicine sector. Yan Han, Chairman, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited will share the cultural heritage and internationalised development of Chinese medicine, and Dr. Celine Cheng, Chief Compliance & Technology Officer of Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited will share GMP applications in the industry. Several professors from Chinese Mainland, Australia, Canada, Macao, and Singapore-including Prof. Li Min, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. Xu Hongxi, Chairman, Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Medicine, Honorary Dean & Distinguished Professor, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Prof. Zhu Xiaoshu, Co-Director, Australia-China Chinese Medicine Centre, Western Sydney University, Australia; and Prof. Linda Zhong, Director, Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore - will explore training models for Chinese medicine talent at home and abroad, alongside market demands for Chinese medicine products in potential markets.

Talent cultivation: The 22nd International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine

The Symposium will be held on the morning of 15 August. This year, it is jointly organized by eight institutions, including four Hong Kong universities-The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology-alongside Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Macau, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.

The Symposium will kick off with Vincent & Lily Woo Fellowship in Memory of Dr Albert Wong endowed by Vincent & Lily Woo Foundation Award Presentation Ceremony, hosted by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Foundation. This year's Symposium will feature nearly 100 research presentations, including oral research presentations by 10 postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and Serbia, and nearly 90 poster displays.

The judging panel will select 10 winners for the Tianjiang Cup Li Shizhen Youth Outstanding Thesis Award. The Symposium not only provides a platform for postgraduate students in Chinese medicine to share their research progress and achievements but also promotes student collaboration and exchange, laying an important cornerstone for cultivating a new generation of scientific research professionals and driving the development of Chinese medicine.

This year's conference continues to operate under the hybrid model, with simultaneous interpretation in both English and Putonghua offered to enable wider industry participation.

Concurrent Food Expo features "Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine" exhibition and ICMCM Public Forum to promote public education

In addition to the professional conference tailored for industry practitioners, ICMCM is committed to promoting the popularisation and implementation of Chinese medicine in the community through a public education display area titled "Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine" at the concurrent Food Expo. In response to the directives of the Blueprint, this interactive and educational display aims to significantly enhance the public's correct understanding of and confidence in Chinese medicine.

The design of the exhibition is closely aligned with the development direction set out in the Blueprint, providing a comprehensive overview of the new chapter in Hong Kong's Chinese medicine sector. It covers four main themes including the latest development trends of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the service features of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority's Chinese medicine outpatient services, Chinese medicine regulation framework and Chinese medicine practitioner registration system, alongside knowledge on Chinese medicine wellness practices.

A half-day ICMCM Public Forum will be held on Saturday, 15, August 2026, to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services, interesting Chinese medicine wellness tips and preventive healthcare. By running industry conferences alongside public exhibitions and forums in parallel, the event aims, on the one hand, to foster academic and industrial innovation exchanges among global Chinese medicine experts, and on the other, to embed Chinese medicine culture deeply into the daily lives of the public, thereby jointly promoting Hong Kong's development as an international centre for Chinese medicine.

Conference programme: icmcm.hktdc.com/pdf/2026/programme.pdf

Website: hktdc.com/icmcm

Concurrent Exhibitions:

HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com

HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com

HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com

HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com

HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com

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

Hashtags: #HKTDC #ICMCM

CHENGDU, China, July 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the invitation of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Changan Automobile attended the Thailand-China (Sichuan) Investment and Economic Forum 2026 and the opening ceremony of the Thailand BOI Chengdu Office as the only invited Chinese automotive brand operating in Thailand.

Mr. Zhu Huarong, Chairman, Changan Automobile, attended both the forum and the opening ceremony and had a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Minister of Industry Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Secretary General of BOI Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand Mr. Zhang Jianwei.

Mr. Zhu Huarong presented Changan Automobile's achievements in Thailand to the Prime Minister, stating that: "Since entering the Thai market in 2023, Changan has recorded cumulative sales of over 41,000 units, contributed more than 1.6 billion baht in taxes, created over 1,900 local jobs, achieved a talent localization rate of nearly 90 percent, and launched 13 NEV models, including the AVATR 07, CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 and CHANGAN NEVO Q05.

The Rayong Plant - Changan's first overseas NEV production base, built with an investment of approximately 9 billion baht - is now manufacturing the CHANGAN DEEPAL S05 and CHANGAN NEVO Q05 locally, with exports reaching 18 countries including Indonesia, Singapore and Australia. Thailand will serve as Changan's regional manufacturing headquarters for Southeast Asia. The company targets annual sales of over 70,000 units in Thailand by 2030 - ranking No. 2 among Chinese brands and No. 4 in the overall market."

Thai Prime Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul spoke highly of Changan Automobile's achievements and contributions in Thailand, regarded the company as a key partner in advancing the country's NEV industry.

At the forum, Wu Xiaokang, Deputy General Manager of the Southeast Asia Business Unit, shared Changan's investment and operating experience, emphasizing: "Thailand boasts an outstanding ASEAN automotive industry cluster, a well-established parts supply chain, and notable geographical advantages, making it a promising gateway to global right-hand drive markets. Going forward, Changan will stay true to its 'In Thailand, For Thailand' commitment, strengthening its regional headquarters operations and striving to become a benchmark overseas investor in the country."

In April 2026, Changan Group unveiled its "1445" strategic framework at the Global Strategy Launch and Global Partner Conference. The framework reinforces its Vast Ocean Plan 2.0 with a clear ambition: to rank among the top ten global automotive groups by 2030. Marking a strategic shift from "going global" to "putting down roots locally", the plan moves Changan beyond export-led trade toward more systematic global operations spanning manufacturing, trade, investment, services and sustainability. Within Changan's global strategy, Southeast Asia stands as a key priority, with Thailand at its core.

On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of China -Thailand diplomatic relations, Changan Automobile reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its presence in Thailand, bringing advanced technologies and management expertise to support the country's local development under the "In Thailand, For Thailand" commitment.

Contact information:

Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd.

E-mail: global@changan.com.cn

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Begins trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "GFUZ"

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Fusion Group Ltd. ("General Fusion" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GFUZ), a leader in the global race to commercialize fusion energy, today began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "GFUZ," following the completion of its previously announced business combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. III ("Spring Valley").

General Fusion is entering the public markets with approximately US$150 million in cash, inclusive of net transaction proceeds from the private placement and trust capital, to advance its practical fusion energy technology. This capital is expected to fund General Fusion's Lawson program through several key technical milestones, which the Company aims to complete in 2028, with the goal of demonstrating and de-risking its Magnetized Target Fusion ("MTF") technology in a commercially relevant way.

"At General Fusion, we are dedicated to our vision of bringing practical, clean, and abundant fusion energy to the world," said Greg Twinney, Chief Executive Officer of General Fusion. "We bring more than 20 years of real-world testing, demonstration, and results to the development of commercial fusion energy. We are excited about this next chapter and grateful to Spring Valley and our shareholders for joining us in our commitment to this mission."

General Fusion is advancing on multiple fronts, combining real technical progress with growing global recognition, experienced governance, and strategic collaboration:

Real machines, real results: Over the past two decades, General Fusion has built and operated dozens of testbeds, prototypes, and demonstrations, completing more than 200,000 plasma experiments. This work has culminated in Lawson Machine 26 ("LM26"), the Company's MTF demonstration machine operating at a commercially relevant scale at its Vancouver facility. General Fusion recently announced significant progress toward its next major technical milestone with LM26, 1 keV electron temperature. The results show meaningful plasma heating to electron temperatures of approximately 8.4 million degrees Celsius, or 0.72 keV, driven by the compression of a plasma with a lithium liner. This is a key indicator of success for the Company's practical approach to fusion energy.

Global recognition: General Fusion was recently ranked first on TIME's prestigious list of the World's Top GreenTech Companies of 2026 for its leadership in fusion energy.

Experienced Board of Directors: Building on General Fusion's seasoned leadership, the Company announced key appointments to strengthen its Board of Directors. Wendy Kei, Board Chair of Ontario Power Generation, serves as Audit Committee Chair. Thomas Boehlert, former CFO of US Strategic Metals, brings more than three decades of experience across the industrial, natural resources, agribusiness, power generation, and energy transition sectors and serves as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Chris Sorrells, Chairman and CEO of Spring Valley and a former partner at NGP Energy Technology Partners, also joined the Board, bringing more than three decades of experience in the energy and decarbonization sectors.

Collaboration for fusion deployment: General Fusion and Renexia S.p.A., a Toto Group company specializing in renewable energy, announced a milestone-based framework agreement to collaborate on the potential commercial deployment of the Company's fusion energy technology in Italy.

Quick Facts:

General Fusion's MTF is designed to solve significant barriers to commercializing fusion energy at a time when electricity demand is surging and nations around the world are racing to commercialize fusion power.

As a technology, MTF aims to achieve fusion in a practical and economical way, avoiding superconducting magnets and high-powered lasers while enabling the use of existing materials for durable machines.

In early 2025, General Fusion announced that it had designed, built, and begun operating its LM26 fusion demonstration machine in under two years. LM26 is the first MTF demonstration machine to be built at a commercially relevant scale. It mechanically compresses plasma with a lithium liner at 50% commercial-scale diameter, based on current design parameters.

LM26 aims to achieve key fusion technical milestones: plasma heating to 1 keV (10 million degrees Celsius), then 10 keV (100 million degrees Celsius), and ultimately the Lawson criterion, the combination of fusion parameters that can produce net fusion energy in the plasma.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing a practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company was established in 2002 and has been funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

You can contact General Fusion's Investor Relations team by email at: investors@generalfusion.com.

If you are based in North America, you may also leave a toll-free voicemail at +1 (833) 717-1519. Callers outside North America can reach us at +1 (236) 253-6968.

Media Relations Contact:

media@generalfusion.com

1-866-904-0995

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Imperial Harvest, an Imperial Feng Shui consultancy in Singapore, has unveiled a one-of-one bespoke mahjong set valued at US$1.888 million (approximately S$2.4 million) - placing it among the world's most valuable mahjong sets ever created - with all proceeds from its sale pledged to DIPG Foundation Singapore, funding research into one of the deadliest childhood brain cancers.

For generations, mahjong has been far more than a pastime. Rich in symbolism, strategy and tradition, the centuries-old game has long brought families and friends together around a table, and today it is enjoying a global resurgence, winning new audiences across the United States and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the one-of-one creation brings together exceptional materials, artisanal craftsmanship and Imperial Feng Shui principles into a collector's piece that channels cultural heritage into meaningful change.

Turning Prosperity Into Hope for Children

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a rare and aggressive brain tumour that primarily affects children between the ages of five and 11, and has long been considered incurable. In 2024, doctors reported the world's first case of a child effectively cured of DIPG, renewing global momentum in the field - yet research into the disease remains critically underfunded.

All proceeds from the sale of the mahjong set will be donated to DIPG Foundation Singapore, Singapore's first foundation dedicated to advancing research into DIPG and other paediatric brain cancers. Founded by families who each experienced the loss of a child to the disease, the foundation supports research, advocates for greater access to innovative therapies and clinical trials, and provides resources for affected children and their families.

For Grand Master David Goh, founder of Imperial Harvest, donating the proceeds reflects a belief that prosperity carries its greatest meaning when it can be shared. The mahjong set celebrates abundance through symbolism and craftsmanship while channelling that value into research that brings hope to affected children and their families.

A Fading Craft, Reimagined

The set arrives at a time when the traditional art of mahjong tile carving is fading worldwide, lending its craftsmanship a significance beyond luxury alone. At the heart of the set are 156 playing tiles, including Animal, Fei and Joker tiles, individually crafted in untreated Burmese Grade A Black Jadeite. Revered for its rarity and cultural significance, the stone has long been associated with protection, resilience and prosperity, with every tile retaining its natural individuality.

The tiles are housed in a bespoke trunk wrapped in exceptionally rare Himalayan Niloticus crocodile leather, prized for its naturally occurring gradient reminiscent of snow-capped mountain peaks and sourced from a tannery that supplies some of the world's most prestigious luxury maisons. Inside, aerospace-grade Alcantara - the same premium material found in the interiors of Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars - creates a soft, durable lining that protects every tile.

Where Feng Shui Meets Design

Guided by third-generation feng shui master Grand Master David Goh, every detail has been considered not only for its visual appeal but also for its symbolic significance, resulting in a collector's piece that seeks to harmonise Heaven, Earth and humanity.

The conventional Singapore animal tiles have been replaced by the Four Celestial Guardians - the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Phoenix, White Tiger and Black Tortoise - mythical creatures deeply rooted in Chinese cosmology that traditionally represent protection, balance and harmony. Likewise, the flower tiles have been redesigned to depict four auspicious creatures: the bat, deer, crane and magpie, collectively symbolising fortune, prosperity, longevity and happiness.

Even one of mahjong's most recognisable tiles, the Seven Dots, has been reimagined. Instead of following its conventional arrangement, the seven circles are positioned according to the "Seven Star Lighting" formation, an Imperial Feng Shui configuration believed to represent stability, clarity and strategic balance. The Character suit, meanwhile, features English transliterations such as "Yi Wan", "Er Wan" and "San Wan", making the set accessible to an international audience while preserving its cultural identity.

As Grand Master David Goh describes it, the set is "far beyond a Mahjong set. Every detail has been calibrated to harmonise Heaven, Earth and Man, ensuring that its owner engages not just in a game, but in a field of aligned opportunity, protection and infinite prosperity."

A New Definition of Luxury

Whether viewed as a collector's piece, a work of design or cultural heritage, the Imperial Feng Shui Mahjong Set occupies a category of its own ? a reminder that the greatest luxury may ultimately be the opportunity to create meaningful change. It is a philosophy that Imperial Harvest carries through its bespoke Feng Shui consultation services in Singapore, where prosperity is understood as something to be built, and shared.

About Imperial Harvest

Imperial Harvest is a Singapore-based luxury Imperial Feng Shui maison dedicated to empowering individuals with clarity, breakthroughs, and prosperity. Founded by Grand Master David Goh, Imperial Harvest upholds the royal Feng Shui traditions once reserved for Chinese emperors, making them accessible to modern professionals, business leaders, and families worldwide.

At the heart of Imperial Harvest is a unique blend of time-honoured metaphysics and contemporary craftsmanship. Every treasure - from fine jadeite and rare agarwood to bespoke jewellery collections - is carefully matched to each client's Bazi chart and personally blessed by Grand Master David to activate favourable elements for wealth, benefactors, and opportunities.

With a proven track record of guiding thousands of clients to achieve career milestones, business growth, and lasting harmony, Imperial Harvest continues to set the benchmark for authentic, results-driven Imperial Feng Shui. The maison is committed to building lifelong partnerships grounded in trust, expertise, and transformational success.

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

Hashtags: #ImperialHarvest #GrandMasterDavidGoh #ImperialHarvestMahjongSet #ImperialFengShui

Vietnam's leading international F&B exhibition - 30 years of partnering with businesses to create sustainable value

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 is an annual international exhibition integrating two major sectors: Food & Beverage and Processing Equipment & Technology, Packaging - held continuously in Vietnam since 1996.

The exhibition will take place over three days, from August 6-8, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), organised by VINEXAD in cooperation with the Ho Chi Minh City Food & Foodstuff Association (FFA) and the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA), continuing to affirm its role as one of the leading and most trusted trade promotion events for Vietnam's Food and Beverage (F&B) industry.

Beyond bringing together advanced products, technologies and solutions, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 continues to serve as an important trade promotion platform, helping connect businesses, expand supply chains and drive sustainable growth for Vietnam's food and beverage industry during this period of deep international integration.

F&B industry undergoing a strong transformation amid new trends

The food and beverage industry is entering a new phase of development as consumer demand moves beyond product quality alone toward more comprehensive values such as nutrition, health, sustainability and brand experience.

Alongside the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, e-commerce and ESG standards, F&B businesses are ramping up investment in modern production technology, automated production lines, eco-friendly packaging, traceability and supply chain optimisation to strengthen their competitiveness in the international market.

In addition, new-generation free trade agreements continue to open up export opportunities for Vietnam's food industry, while also attracting international brands seeking to expand into a market of nearly 100 million people with growing purchasing power.

Against this backdrop, the need for trade connections, technology updates and strategic partnerships is becoming increasingly urgent, making specialised exhibitions one of the most effective trade promotion channels for businesses.

Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026: a comprehensive networking platform for the F&B industry

Building on the success of previous editions, Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 continues to affirm its position as one of Vietnam's largest international exhibitions for the Food & Beverage, Food Processing Technology and Packaging industries, and is also the first exhibition in this industry in Vietnam to be certified under the standards of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) - a guarantee of the event's quality, scale and international standing.

Notably, 2026 marks the 30th edition of the exhibition held in Ho Chi Minh City, affirming its journey of sustainable development and its pioneering role over three decades of connecting the domestic and international F&B business community. This year's exhibition reaches an impressive scale with more than 1,400 booths from over 1,000 companies across 20+ countries and territories, and is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors, further confirming the event's outstanding appeal and influence within the industry.

Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 brings together every link in the food and beverage value chain, from raw materials, production and processing to packaging, logistics, and distribution and retail systems. Within the exhibition space, thousands of products, technologies, and advanced solutions will be showcased, covering the entire F&B ecosystem - from processed foods, premium foods, beverages, coffee and tea, confectionery, seafood and meat products, to food ingredients and additives, as well as processing machinery and equipment, packaging technology and modern technology solutions. This is an opportunity for businesses to find partners, keep up with market trends, access new technology and expand their domestic and international business networks.

More than a venue for launching new products, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam also serves as a forum for businesses to grasp consumer trends, find partners, expand distribution systems and access solutions that enhance competitiveness in an ever-changing market.

For international businesses, the exhibition is an effective gateway into the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian markets. Meanwhile, domestic businesses have the opportunity to access new technology, find suppliers, expand exports, and participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Adding value - bringing together thousands of domestic and international businesses

Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 brings together thousands of domestic and international brands from more than 20 countries and territories, including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Vietnam.

At the event, the Diamond Sponsor - Masan Group Corporation ('Masan Group, HOSE: MSN') ? will showcase its portfolio of leading brands, including CHIN-SU, Omachi, Vinacaf?, Nam Ngư and WinEco, reaffirming its leadership in Vietnam's branded food and beverage industry as well as high-tech agriculture. Guided by a consumer-centric strategy, Masan is committed to creating products that enrich the everyday lives of Vietnamese consumers while advancing the company's vision to 'Make Vietnamese Foods Global Foods'. At this year's event, Vinacaf? will introduce its premium Fine Robusta collection, crafted from specialty Robusta beans cultivated at altitudes above 1,000 metres. Naturally fermented and slow-dried for up to 720 hours, Fine Robusta delivers a refined coffee experience with rich, multi-layered flavour profiles and versatile brewing options.

The Beverage Pavilion continues to bring together leading brands in the industry, showcasing a diverse range of beverage products and emerging consumer trends. Supporting this dedicated exhibition area are Saigon Beer as the Gold Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion, Hanoi Beer as the Silver Advertising Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion, and Carlsberg Vietnam as the Bronze Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion. Their participation contributes to promoting outstanding beverage brands while creating valuable networking opportunities between exhibitors, buyers, distributors and business partners.

The exhibition also continues to welcome the participation of many reputable domestic and international brands in the food and beverage industry, including Golden Farm, Tan Nhat Huong, Fancy Foods, Dan On, Vedan, Bibica, Huu Nghi, TH true FOOD, Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest, Vietcoco, Rita, Miocen, Wonderful and Nam Viet, alongside international companies such as Allanasons, Al-Nasir, APK TRADING, Agroeco, Amos Food, Al-ammar Frozen Foods, Rustam Foods, Wellstand, Want Want, Learth, Kingmao and Cobi.

In the field of processing technology and packaging, the exhibition brings together companies offering advanced solutions such as Eulsung Auto Pack, Eastern Dragon, EIP, Han Viet Star, MMP Corporation, Shininghwa, QCM, Mutto Vietnam, Hao Tuan, Song Hiep Loi, Tan Phuong Vinh and Hoa Binh, showcasing modern technologies in automation, smart packaging, and production optimisation.

In addition to featuring leading domestic and international brands, Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 also reflects diverse participation from businesses across key markets around the world, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and Vietnam. The presence of these countries not only reflects the exhibition's increasing level of internationalisation but also presents a comprehensive overview of the global F&B supply chain - from raw materials and processed products to manufacturing technologies and modern packaging solutions.

Further affirming its international appeal, the exhibition welcomes national and territorial pavilions with participation from businesses in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Vietnam. These pavilions are organized on a large, cohesive scale, showcasing each country's signature products, export strengths, and advanced technology solutions, thereby creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to directly access quality supply sources, expand trade cooperation, and strengthen connections across the global Food & Beverage value chain.

One of the standout highlights of Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 is the continued participation of international trade promotion programs, affirming the exhibition's appeal and credibility among foreign organizations and businesses. A prime example is The Taste Europe!, a program promoting high-quality European food products. This marks the fifth consecutive year the project has chosen the exhibition as its destination for brand promotion and trade connections in the Vietnamese market, introducing visitors to pork, beef, and processed products made from these two meats, as well as promoting apples and apple-based products.

In addition, The Drop of Excellence continues its participation in the exhibition for the second year of a promotional program spanning at least three years in the Asian market. The program focuses on introducing high-quality European dairy products, including many products from Poland, helping to expand trade cooperation opportunities and bring European agricultural products closer to Vietnamese consumers and businesses.

Notably, a delegation of Polish businesses continues to attend Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam with support from Poland's National Support Centre for Agriculture, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland. The consistent presence of Polish business delegations over the years reflects the growing interest of European businesses in the Vietnamese market and further affirms the exhibition's role as an effective trade promotion bridge between Vietnamese businesses and international partners.

For many consecutive years, the Russian Trade Promotion Centre in Vietnam has supported Russian businesses in participating in Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam, viewing the exhibition as one of the most effective trade promotion channels for showcasing products, finding partners, and expanding into the Vietnamese market. This continues to affirm the exhibition's credibility and standing as an important destination for international trade promotion programs in the food and beverage sector.

A series of specialised activities: connecting businesses - driving innovation - expanding cooperation

Beyond serving as an exhibition and trade space, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 continues to affirm its role as a forum connecting the F&B community through a series of seminars, workshops, business-matching programs and engaging experiential activities.

The activity series opens with the international seminar 'Building Premium Value in F&B: From Brand Identity to Distribution Channels and Packaging' (on August 6, 2026), co-organised by VINEXAD, Italian Atelier, and CJC Marketing Agency. The seminar focuses on brand-building strategy, distribution channel development, and packaging design for F&B businesses to enhance product value and competitiveness.

Next, the specialized seminar "Green Transformation, Digital Technology, and Sustainable Nutrition" (on August 7, 2026), co-organized by VINEXAD and the Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFOST), will provide updates on key trends in digital transformation, AI applications, sustainable product development, and supply chain optimization.

Also in the afternoon of August 7, 2026, the seminar 'Food Packaging Compliance Management in the New Context' organised by VINEXAD and the Vietnam Packaging Association (VINPAS), will provide new information on regulations, packaging standards, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and solutions to help businesses meet domestic and international market requirements.

At the same time, the Young Chefs Challenge: Culinary Arena, a cooking competition for young talent now in its second edition, organized in cooperation with the A Au Vocational Training Academy and the Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics and Tourism (CET), will give young chefs a platform to showcase their skills and creativity in food preparation while connecting with businesses and experts in the food and culinary service industry.

In addition, the F&B Spotlight - Business Presentations segment will allow companies to introduce their own products, technologies, and new solutions, helping them promote their brands and connect directly with customers and partners.

Notably, the VIP Buyer Program remains a key highlight, featuring scheduled B2B trade-matching activities that help improve trade promotion efficiency between businesses and domestic and international buyers, as well as major corporations (Big Corps) in the industry, opening up numerous opportunities for cooperation and business growth.

Alongside this, a check-in gift and lucky draw program, together with various interactive activities at the exhibition, will offer an engaging experience and help create a lively atmosphere throughout the three-day event.

Affirming its position as Vietnam's leading F&B exhibition

The convergence of numerous domestic and international brands together with a high-quality series of specialised activities has established Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 as one of the most important trade promotion events in the F&B industry, helping to drive supply-demand connections, innovation, and expanded cooperation opportunities across the region.

Beyond bringing together advanced products, technologies, and solutions, the exhibition also serves as a bridge between businesses, buyers, associations, and domestic and international organizations, helping to drive innovation, technology transfer, market expansion and the enhanced competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses within the global value chain.

As the food and beverage industry moves toward a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 is expected to continue driving cooperation, investment, and development, accompanying businesses on their journey to elevate Vietnamese brands and conquer new markets.

Contact Information:

VINEXAD - No. 09 Dinh Le Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Ms. Dao Thu Ha - Project Director

Mobile: (+84) 912 000 406 - Email: daoha@vinexad.com.vn

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

Hashtags: #Vinexad

OSLO, Norwegia, July 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) menganugerahkan penghargaan tertingginya atas pencapaian karier, yaitu 2026 Career Achievement Award, kepada Profesor Uwe Siebert, MPH, MSc, ScD dari UMIT TIROL dan Harvard University. Penghargaan ini mengakui kontribusi transformatifnya selama puluhan tahun dalam bidang pengambilan keputusan medis melalui penelitian inovatif, kepemimpinan internasional, pendidikan, dan pengabdian.

Penghargaan tersebut diserahkan dalam Sesi Penghargaan Kepemimpinan pada Pertemuan Tahunan SMDM ke-48 di Oslo, Norwegia, oleh Profesor Mark Bounthavong, PharmD, PhD, Ketua Komite Penghargaan SMDM sekaligus Profesor Farmasi Klinis di Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego.

SMDM Career Achievement Award mengapresiasi peneliti senior terkemuka atas kontribusi berkelanjutan yang telah secara signifikan memajukan ilmu pengetahuan dan praktik pengambilan keputusan medis. Penerima penghargaan dipilih melalui proses nominasi yang kompetitif, setelah nominasi dibuka untuk umum, dan selanjutnya dinilai oleh Ketua Komite Penghargaan SMDM.

"Saya merasa sangat terhormat dapat menyerahkan 2026 Career Achievement Award dari Society for Medical Decision Making kepada Profesor Uwe Siebert," ujar Profesor Bounthavong. "Sepanjang kariernya, Profesor Siebert telah menunjukkan kualitas yang menjadi dasar penghargaan ini, yaitu keunggulan ilmiah, inovasi metodologis, kepemimpinan visioner, serta komitmen yang teguh untuk meningkatkan pengambilan keputusan di bidang pelayanan kesehatan melalui bukti yang kuat. "Karyanya telah memengaruhi para peneliti, klinisi, pembuat kebijakan, serta berbagai generasi peserta didik di seluruh dunia, yang menjadikannya sangat layak menerima penghargaan ini."

Profesor Siebert menjabat sebagai Profesor Kesehatan Masyarakat, Pengambilan Keputusan Medis, dan Penilaian Teknologi Kesehatan, serta Kepala Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment di UMIT TIROL ? Universitas Ilmu Kesehatan dan Teknologi Kesehatan, Austria. Beliau juga menjabat sebagai Profesor Tidak Tetap Kebijakan dan Manajemen Kesehatan serta Epidemiologi di Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dan sebagai peneliti afiliasi di Center for Health Technology Assessment, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School.

Berlatar belakang sebagai dokter, Profesor Siebert mengawali kariernya dalam berbagai proyek kesehatan masyarakat internasional di Afrika Barat, Brasil, dan Jerman, sebelum mendalami kesehatan masyarakat, epidemiologi, dan ilmu pengambilan keputusan. Beliau meraih gelar Magister Kesehatan Masyarakat dari Munich School of Public Health and Epidemiology, serta gelar Magister Sains di bidang Epidemiologi dan Doktor Sains di bidang Kebijakan dan Manajemen Kesehatan dari Harvard School of Public Health.

Selama lebih dari tiga dekade, Profesor Siebert telah dikenal sebagai salah satu tokoh paling berpengaruh di dunia dalam bidang pengambilan keputusan medis. Karya inovatifnya dalam analisis keputusan medis, penilaian manfaat dan risiko, evaluasi ekonomi kesehatan, pemodelan analitis keputusan, penilaian teknologi kesehatan, epidemiologi, dan inferensi kausal telah memajukan ilmu pelayanan kesehatan berbasis bukti. Hasil penelitiannya juga secara langsung menjadi dasar penyusunan pedoman klinis, program skrining kanker, penilaian teknologi kesehatan, keputusan penggantian biaya, serta kebijakan kesehatan nasional di seluruh dunia.

Pengaruhnya tidak hanya terbatas pada bidang penelitian. Profesor Siebert merupakan Mantan Presiden SMDM dan merupakan Mantan Presiden ISPOR ? The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research yang paling baru. Sepanjang kariernya, beliau telah menjadi penasihat bagi berbagai pemerintah, lembaga penilaian teknologi kesehatan, perhimpunan profesi, dan organisasi internasional dalam perumusan kebijakan berbasis bukti serta pengambilan keputusan di bidang layanan kesehatan. Beliau telah menulis lebih dari 500 publikasi, termasuk artikel ilmiah, bab buku teks, ringkasan kebijakan, dan laporan penilaian teknologi kesehatan. Beliau juga menjabat beberapa posisi pemimpin editorial untuk sejumlah jurnal ilmiah yang diakui di tingkat internasional.

Profesor Siebert juga merupakan seorang pendidik yang berdedikasi, yang mengajar mata kuliah penilaian teknologi kesehatan, ilmu pengambilan keputusan, serta inferensi kausal berbasis data dunia nyata dalam Program HTADS di UMIT TIROL. Beliau juga mengajar Analisis Keputusan dalam Penelitian Klinis pada program musim panas di Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Saat menerima penghargaan tersebut, Profesor Siebert mengenang peran para mentor, kolega, mahasiswa, dan mitra kolaborasi yang turut membentuk perjalanan kariernya. Beliau menekankan bahwa kemajuan ilmiah tidak hanya lahir dari gagasan, tetapi juga dari orang-orang yang saling menginspirasi, menantang, dan mendukung.

"Saya merasa sangat terhormat menerima penghargaan ini dan sangat berterima kasih atas pengakuan istimewa ini," ujar Profesor Siebert. "Penghargaan ini tidak hanya mencerminkan karya saya, tetapi juga dedikasi dan keahlian seluruh anggota tim saya. Penghargaan ini juga mencerminkan dukungan, semangat, dan inspirasi yang saya terima sepanjang karier dari para mahasiswa, rekan peneliti, kolega, mentor, sahabat, dan keluarga saya. SMDM telah menjadi rumah intelektual yang luar biasa bagi saya. Saya berterima kasih kepada komunitas ini atas berbagai peluang yang diberikan kepada saya untuk belajar, berkolaborasi, dan berkembang."

Salah satu momen paling menyentuh dalam sambutan Profesor Siebert adalah ketika beliau mengenang besarnya pengaruh mentor yang telah lama membimbingnya, Milton Weinstein, PhD. Mata kuliah yang diajarkannya di Harvard menjadi awal perkenalan Profesor Siebert dengan analisis keputusan yang pada akhirnya menentukan arah perjalanan kariernya. Profesor Weinstein menerima Career Achievement Award dari SMDM pada tahun 1996. Penghargaan yang diterima Profesor Siebert pun terasa semakin istimewa karena dianugerahkan tepat 30 tahun setelah mentornya memperoleh penghargaan tertinggi dari Society.

"Karier tidak hanya lahir dari gagasan," ujar Profesor Siebert dalam sambutan penerimaannya, "tetapi juga oleh orang-orang yang menginspirasi, percaya pada kita, dan memberikan peluang."

Sepanjang sambutannya, Profesor Siebert menekankan pentingnya kolaborasi lintas disiplin serta kerja sama langsung dengan para pengambil keputusan di bidang layanan kesehatan agar hasil penelitian dapat diwujudkan menjadi peningkatan kualitas pelayanan pasien. Dengan merujuk pada pengalaman kariernya, beliau menjelaskan bagaimana pemodelan keputusan yang dikembangkan melalui kolaborasi turut menjadi dasar dalam penyusunan strategi vaksinasi COVID-19 nasional dan kebijakan skrining kanker. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa ilmu pengambilan keputusan yang diterapkan secara ketat dapat memberikan dampak jangka panjang terhadap sistem layanan kesehatan dan kesehatan masyarakat.

Beliau menutup sambutannya dengan mendorong generasi peneliti berikutnya untuk menjalin kolaborasi lintas wilayah dan disiplin, serta selalu mengingat bahwa salah satu keterampilan paling berharga dalam sains adalah kemampuan untuk mendengarkan kolega, pasien, pengambil keputusan, dan satu sama lain.

Profesor Siebert kini menjadi bagian dari jajaran penerima Career Achievement Award terkemuka yang karya-karyanya telah membentuk arah dan mendorong kemajuan bidang pengambilan keputusan medis selama tiga dekade terakhir. Penerima penghargaan sebelumnya termasuk Anne Stiggelbout, John B. Wong, Dawn Stacey, Michael Kattan, Doug Coyle, Karen Kuntz, Murray Krahn, M.G. Myriam Hunink, Valerie Reyna, Ivar Kristiansen, Alvin Mushlin, Mark Roberts, Donald Redelmeier, Annette O'Connor, Howard Raiffa, J. Sanford (Sandy) Schwartz, Alan Garber, Barbara J. McNeil, Peter Wakker, David J. Spiegelhalter, Allan Detsky, Joseph Pliskin, Jerome P. Kassirer, Daniel Kahneman, George Torrance, John Eisenberg, Dennis Fryback, Harold Sox, Arthur Elstein, Milton Weinstein, dan Stephen Pauker.

Tentang Society for Medical Decision Making

Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM), yang didirikan pada tahun 1979, merupakan organisasi profesi internasional yang berdedikasi untuk meningkatkan hasil kesehatan melalui pengambilan keputusan yang lebih baik. SMDM menghimpun para peneliti, klinisi, pendidik, pembuat kebijakan, pasien, dan pemimpin industri untuk memajukan sains dan penerapan pengambilan keputusan medis melalui penelitian, pendidikan, kolaborasi, serta penyebarluasan metode berbasis bukti.

Kontak Media

Wendy Weber

Direktur Komunikasi & Keanggotaan

Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM)

info@smdm.org

Foto: Beate Jahn, PhD, Presiden SMDM (2025?2026); Profesor Uwe Siebert, MPH, MSc, ScD, penerima SMDM Career Achievement Award 2026; Mark Bounthavong, PharmD, PhD, Ketua Komite Penghargaan SMDM; dan Milton Weinstein, PhD, penerima SMDM Career Achievement Award 1996 dan mentor yang telah lama membimbing Profesor Siebert, setelah penyerahan penghargaan tertinggi SMDM atas pencapaian karier dalam Pertemuan Tahunan SMDM ke-48 di Oslo, Norwegia, pada 30 Juni 2026.

Yacht Club de Monaco launches its Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Series

A new global pathway for sustainable maritime innovation is formed.

MONACO, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Yacht Club de Monaco is expanding the global reach of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge with the launch of a new international qualification programme: the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Series. "We started the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge more than 10 years ago and, with the growing success of the event and the increasing number of participating teams, we are now expanding our reach.

That's why we want to introduce a qualification system, similar to what exists in other sports. The first preliminary qualifying events will take place in Australia and Italy, before bringing the selected teams together for the final here in Monaco," said Bernard d'Alessandri General Secretary and Managing Director of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Designed to support the development of the Energy Class while accommodating the growing number of university teams seeking to participate, the initiative aims to preserve the sporting and technical standards of the final competition in Monaco.

Created in 2014 as a platform bringing together universities, industry and leading maritime companies, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has become a reference point for sustainable marine innovation, showcasing breakthrough technologies in clean propulsion. A major milestone came in 2018 with the introduction of the Energy Class, dedicated to experimental boats powered by alternative energy solutions, including hydrogen, kinetic energy storage and advanced battery systems. Since then, participation has grown from a single team to more than 20 teams representing over 20 countries.

To support this expansion, the Yacht Club de Monaco has created the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Series, establishing regional qualifying events that will strengthen local innovation ecosystems while creating a pathway to the final in Monaco.

As the first international partner to join the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Series, Darwin, Australia, will host a qualifying event dedicated to universities and teams from the Asia-Pacific region. Scheduled to begin in 2027, it will serve as the qualifying stage for the 2028 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Final. "Darwin is honored to become one of the first destinations outside of Monaco to partner with Monaco and work alongside the Yacht Club to promote sustainability in marine innovation and technology," said Michael Canaris, Director of Big Blue Ventures APAC, a company specialized in developing and delivering innovation-led initiatives that connect industry, technology and investment opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us. Initially, we're going to focus on working with the Yacht Club and our partners to make sure we can create the same level of professionalism and international standard for the event in Darwin. Our main focus now is to attract university teams from Australia and across our region, making sure we have a strong number of teams competing in Darwin. At the same time, we're focusing on the logistics of hosting the event locally, ensuring it meets the same standards as the Monaco edition, while building partnerships with local stakeholders, industry and companies," he added.

When applications exceed the available places for the Monaco final, the competition will determine which teams qualify, with a maximum of two teams per country advancing to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Final, scheduled from 29 June to 3 July 2027.

"The new structure is designed to make the Challenge more accessible to universities worldwide while encouraging the development of regional centres of excellence in sustainable maritime technology. Rather than concentrating participation in a single annual event, the World Series will help foster year-round collaboration between universities, industry and local stakeholders," said Szilard Czibere, Innovation Manager for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge at the Yacht Club de Monaco.

The long-term ambition is to establish the event as a true world final, where the best teams emerging from regional qualifying events organised across different continents compete to showcase the next generation of clean marine propulsion technologies.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

Bell-ringing ceremony to celebrate the start of trading as the first publicly listed fusion energy company

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Fusion Group Ltd. ("General Fusion" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: GFUZ), a leader in the global race to commercialize fusion energy, today announced that the Company will ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell on July 17, 2026, to celebrate the start of trading as the first publicly listed fusion energy company earlier this week.

"We are honored to ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell and mark this milestone for General Fusion, and to celebrate becoming the first publicly listed fusion company," said Greg Twinney, Chief Executive Officer of General Fusion. "For more than 20 years, our team has worked towards bringing fusion energy, the power of the sun and stars, to Earth. Our move to the public markets puts us in a strong position to bring our uniquely practical technology to the world. I am grateful to our employees for their unwavering commitment to bringing our vision to life, and to our new and longstanding shareholders who have supported us throughout this journey."

The Opening Bell ceremony will be livestreamed on Nasdaq's official channels on Friday, July 17, at 9:30 a.m. EDT at the link: https://www.nasdaq.com/marketsite/bell-ringing-ceremony.

Quick Facts:

General Fusion's MTF is designed to solve significant barriers to commercializing fusion energy at a time when electricity demand is surging and nations around the world are racing to commercialize fusion power. 

As a technology, MTF aims to achieve fusion in a practical and economical way, avoiding superconducting magnets and high-powered lasers while enabling the use of existing materials for durable machines.

In early 2025, General Fusion announced that it had designed, built, and begun operating its LM26 fusion demonstration machine in under two years. LM26 is the first MTF demonstration machine to be built at a commercially relevant scale. It mechanically compresses plasma with a lithium liner at 50% commercial-scale diameter, based on current design parameters.

LM26 aims to achieve key fusion technical milestones: plasma heating to 1 keV (10 million degrees Celsius), then 10 keV (100 million degrees Celsius), and ultimately the Lawson criterion, the combination of fusion parameters that can produce net fusion energy in the plasma. 

About General Fusion

General Fusion (NASDAQ: GFUZ) is pursuing a practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company was established in 2002 and has been funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this document are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this news release are forward-looking statements.

Any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are also forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "target," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "preliminary," or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the outlook for the business of General Fusion, including the potential benefits of a public listing and its ability to commercialize MTF or any other fusion technology on its expected timeline or at all; statements regarding the current and expected results the LM26 program; and any information concerning the possible or assumed future results of operations or financial position of the Company.

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied upon as, a guarantee, assurance, prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk that the Company is unable to maintain the listing of its securities on Nasdaq; the risk that the price of the Company's securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors outside of the Company's control; the risk that the Company never generates revenue; the risk that the Company fails to commercialize MTF on a cost-effective basis, on the expected timeline, or at all; the risk that the Company fails to achieve the objectives of the LM26 program; the risk that additional capital needed by the Company may not be raised on favorable terms, or at all, including as a result of the restrictions agreed to in connection with the private placement the Company closed on July 10, 2026; the risk that fusion energy does not gain public acceptance; the risk that the scientific and technical assumptions upon which MTF technology is based do not prove to be correct; the risk that our competitors develop viable fusion technology sooner than we do; the risk of supply chain disruptions; the risk that key technical material and service inputs may not be available when required, on reasonable terms or at all; the risk that we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel with highly technical expertise; the risk that we are subject to negative publicity; the risk that our assessment of the total addressable market for fusion energy is incorrect; the risk of changes in the laws and regulations governing the Company's research and development activities and in the regulation of fusion energy; the risk of fluctuations in currency markets; the risk that the Company is unable to complete and successfully integrate any future acquisitions; the risk of increased competition in the fusion industry; the risk of accidents, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters; the risk that our information technology fails; the risk that our operating expenses are materially higher than forecast; the risk that we are unable to remediate material weaknesses in our internal controls or identify additional material weaknesses in the future; the risk that we are unable to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights; the risk of third-party claims that we are infringing or violating another person's intellectual property rights; the risk that our intellectual property applications are not granted; the risk of a cyber event or privacy breach resulting in an interruption in operations or financial loss; the risk that government reduces or delays funding of government programs in which we participate; the risk that future sales by existing shareholders could cause our stock price to decline; and the risk that we are unable to establish and maintain effective internal controls to produce accurate and timely public disclosure.

These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including that none of the risks identified above materialize, that there are no unforeseen changes to economic and market conditions, and that no significant events occur outside the ordinary course of business.

The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional risks that the Company does not know or currently believes are immaterial. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors, any other factors discussed herein, and in the other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors." The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Investor Relations Contact:

You can contact General Fusion's Investor Relations team by email at: investors@generalfusion.com.

If you are based in North America, you may also leave a toll-free voicemail at +1 (833) 717-1519. Callers outside North America can reach us at +1 (236) 253-6968.

Media Relations Contact:

media@generalfusion.com

1-866-904-0995

VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the industry's first Cross-Asset Unified Account (UTA), bringing more than 370 eligible assets-including 100 US stock tokens (rTokens)-into a single margin pool. The launch extends unified margin beyond crypto, allowing tokenized equities to function alongside digital assets within one account.

As crypto and traditional financial markets become increasingly connected, users expect assets to do more than represent ownership. The next stage of tokenization focuses on utility, allowing assets to support multiple financial activities from a single account. Bitget's Cross-Asset Unified Account advances that shift by integrating tokenized US equities into the same capital framework used for crypto trading.

The Cross-Asset Unified Account represents the third evolution of exchanges' trading account architecture, with each stage focused on improving capital efficiency. The first generation isolated margin by asset and position, leaving capital fragmented across multiple accounts. The second unified multiple cryptocurrencies into a single margin pool, allowing one pool of collateral to support multiple crypto positions. The latest generation extends that framework beyond cryptocurrencies, bringing tokenized US stocks and other real-world assets into the same unified margin system. By giving RWAs the same status and utility as crypto, the Cross-Asset Unified Account allows eligible assets across different markets to work together within a single capital framework.

"Bringing stocks onchain is the first step but the real breakthrough comes when those assets can work with the same flexibility as crypto," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "Capital efficiency is one of the principles behind UEX, and the Cross-Asset UTA puts that idea into practice. A stock position should be able to hold value, support another trade, or unlock liquidity instead of sitting in isolation."

Eligible rTokens can now serve several purposes simultaneously. Users can maintain exposure to the underlying US equities, receive cash dividend distributions where applicable, use rTokens as margin for futures and margin trading, or pledge them as collateral to borrow stablecoins. The same asset can support multiple portfolio strategies without requiring users to exit their positions.

The initial rollout supports 100 tokenized US equities spanning leading US-listed companies, including rAAPL, rAMZN, rMETA, rTSLA, rGOOGL, rNVDA, rMSFT, rQQQ, rSPY, rJPM, rWMT, rV, and rMSTR, among others. Eligible collateral receives discount rates of up to 95%, subject to asset-specific tiers and holding size. Borrowing rates remain market-based and update hourly according to supply and demand.

The Cross-Asset Unified Account builds on the rapid expansion of Bitget's tokenized equities ecosystem. Since the launch of the licensed RWA protocol Reality, rToken, the RWA asset issued by Reality, has surpassed $100 million in assets under management within its first month, while generating more than $671 million in cumulative trading volume. By bringing tokenized equities into the same capital framework as crypto assets, Bitget is extending their role beyond market access to capital deployment, allowing users to trade, borrow, and manage global assets more efficiently through a single account.

Bitget plans to continue expanding the range of assets supported within the Cross-Asset Unified Account as the Universal Exchange evolves to connect crypto and traditional financial markets through a single trading experience.

For more information, visit here.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 500+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships such as MotoGP. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.