Colliers Global Occupier Services megatrends report outlines five forces reshaping corporate real estate and location strategy

TORONTO, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five powerful forces - from AI driven workforce transformation to intensifying energy constraints - are set to redefine how companies choose, build, and operate locations worldwide, according to a new report from Colliers Global Occupier Services. Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate uncovers rising pressure on established global business hubs, and presents strategies organizations can use to strengthen resilience and long-term competitiveness amid accelerating change.

The report is the first in-depth study of the sweeping technological, demographic and economic shifts poised to reshape global real estate in the decades ahead. Drawing on analysis from Colliers' industry-leading research teams and insights from Colliers leaders across regions, the Outlook evaluates the readiness of companies to respond to these forces and provides strategic pathways to future-proof workplaces and portfolios.

The report identifies five distinct yet intertwined megatrends impacting real estate decisions:

AI-enabled workforces: The rapid integration of automation, analytics and AI into business functions is transforming workforce composition, decision-making and space requirements.

Seismic demographic shifts: Aging populations and skill shortages are accelerating the need for new workforce strategies and geographic talent planning.

Energy scarcity and security: Power-intensive technologies and infrastructure limitations are intensifying competition for reliable, affordable energy, making energy access a critical location factor.

Climate risks: More frequent extreme weather events and rising physical climate risks are necessitating investments in resiliency and reshaping the long-term viability of major hubs.

Shifting global order: The realignment of long-established trade patterns and economic corridors are redistributing growth, prompting companies to re-evaluate location strategies and supply chain dependencies.

"These megatrends will require businesses to fundamentally reassess the ways they plan, invest in and operationalise locations and workplaces," said Andrew Hallissey, Chief Executive Officer, Global Occupier Services, Colliers. "As economies realign and climate and energy pose challenges to infrastructure, we believe it's important to acknowledge the extent of the changes ahead and present a realistic picture of what the future of real estate will look like."

"We've already seen how factors like access to the infrastructure and talent that power AI are changing what our clients look for when choosing locations to invest and grow for the long-term," said Jodie Porier, President, Occupier Services, Americas, Colliers. "These demands will only accelerate as these forces are more firmly embedded in the economy, and should be integrated into planning and decision-making as we design the next generation of workplaces and economic hubs."

The report also introduces a Resilience Radar, a visual tool illustrating the potential impact of each megatrend and how prepared companies are to respond. The Radar reveals that many organizations continue to grapple with constraints around energy and talent, while also adapting to emerging climate, geopolitical, and technology-driven pressures.

Despite these challenges, the research highlights clear opportunities for proactive organizations. Strategies such as flexible leasing structures, expanding remote workforces, investing in nature-based solutions and re-evaluating supply chain routes can help real estate owners and occupiers strengthen resilience and unlock long-term competitive advantages.

"We hope this research serves as a call to action, encouraging both businesses and providers of real estate and infrastructure to adopt policies, practices and technologies that will boost their resilience over the long term," said Mike Davis, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Occupier Services, Colliers. "The changes we're already seeing play out on the ground mean not responding is not an option."

The full findings, including the interactive Resilience Radar, are available on Colliers' Global Megatrends microsite.

For further details or to arrange interviews with the Colliers experts behind the report, please contact:

Media Contact

Andrea Cheung

Senior Manager, Global Integrated Communications

andrea.cheung@colliers.com

(416) 324-6402

About Colliers

Colliers is a global diversified professional services and investment management company operating through three industry-leading businesses: Commercial Real Estate, Engineering, and Investment Management. With greater than a 30-year track record of consistent growth and strong recurring cash flows, we scale complementary, high-value businesses that provide essential services across the full asset lifecycle. Our unique partnership philosophy empowers exceptional leaders, preserves our entrepreneurial culture, and ensures meaningful inside ownership - driving strong alignment and sustained value creation for our shareholders. With $5.7 billion in annual revenues, 24,000 professionals, and $109 billion in assets under management, Colliers is committed to accelerating the success of our clients, investors, and people worldwide. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

ALBANY, N.Y., May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curia Global, Inc. (Curia), a leading global research, development and manufacturing organization, today announced the completion of its upgrade to its two aseptic suites in Valladolid, Spain. The $4 million dollar investment is in accordance with the EU's GMP Annex 1 standards.

The central feature of the upgrade was the transition to a fully closed system, designed to strengthen process and product integrity while minimizing microbiological risk across all stages of production. Enhancements also focused on modernizing core equipment and systems, including the installation of advanced isolators, as well as upgrades to HVAC, pharmaceutical utilities, automation and sterilization-in-place processes.

"This investment at Valladolid reflects Curia's commitment to delivering high-quality sterile manufacturing capabilities that align with the growth plans of our customers," said Philip Macnabb, CEO of Curia. "These facility enhancements position us as a stronger partner when it comes to producing increasingly complex sterile products while maintaining the high standards of quality assurance that regulators and customers expect." 

By advancing its aseptic capabilities, Curia will be able to offer greater flexibility, reliability and speed. With advanced, fully closed processing and enhanced contamination control at its core, the Valladolid facility is positioned to deliver consistent, high-quality supply at scale-reinforcing Curia's role as a partner of choice for critical sterile programs.

About Curia

Curia is a contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience, an integrated network of 20+ global sites and 3,100 employees partnering with biopharmaceutical customers to bring life-changing therapies to market. Our offerings in small molecule, generic APIs and biologics span discovery through commercialization, with integrated regulatory, analytical and sterile fill-finish capabilities. Our scientific and process experts, along with our regulatory-compliant facilities, provide a best-in-class experience across drug substance and drug product manufacturing. From curiosity to cure, we deliver every step to accelerate your research and improve patients' lives. Visit us at curiaglobal.com.

Corporate Contact:

Viana Bhagan

Curia

+1 518 512 2111

corporatecommunications@CuriaGlobal.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*War in the Middle East redraws global risk landscape for companies and insurers.

*Sabotage and civil unrest are also major business concerns with hundreds of incidents globally over the past five years, according to Allianz Research.

*Regional domestic tensions predominate in Asia outside of the Middle East, with limited current impact to the PVT market, though a potential for a larger loss remains should these escalate into full blown war.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 May 2026 - Political risks and violence has climbed to #7 in the annual Allianz Risk Barometer 2026, its highest position ever, highlighting the fact that such perils have joined mainstream business risks in a world of tumult. According to the new Political violence and civil unrest trends 2026 report from Allianz Commercial, war has overtaken civil unrest as the political violence exposure companies fear most (53% of all respondents globally), as conflicts in Europe and the Middle East disrupt global trade flows, strain political alliances, embolden adversarial powers and heighten risks to business assets. Around 60% of respondents from Europe and Asia-Pacific see war as the top risk. Civil unrest ranks at #2 globally (49%), terrorism/sabotage is at #3 (46%).

The US / Iran conflict is currently dominating news cycles, having disrupted the global economy significantly. Businesses impacted by armed conflict face significant challenges, including supply chain disruptions, loss of market access, as well as the risk of cyber-attacks and sabotage, the report notes. Even before the Iran war, it is estimated that business assets had experienced a 20%+ increase in exposure to conflict in the last five years. For the insurance industry, and especially the Political Violence & Terrorism (PVT) business, the war in the Middle East may lead to significant losses in some areas and new risk assessments for selected key industries and regions. Based on current estimates, the financial loss quantum has the potential to result in a costlier event than PVT claims resulting from the war in Ukraine.

"Wars, the threat of future conflicts and other political violence activities are likely to undermine geopolitical and economic stability in 2026 and for years to come. For many companies, there is a visibility gap when it comes to vulnerabilities in their physical and digital supply chains due to such geopolitical risks. Being able to identify these complex exposures is crucial. Risk managers must be relentlessly forward-looking with their resilience strategies, constantly refining them to keep pace with emerging threats as they arise from multiple sources, now and in the future," says Thomas Lillelund, CEO of Allianz Commercial.

Civil unrest and sabotage remain significant concerns for companies

Allianz Research has tracked around 250 reported strikes, riots, and civil commotion (SRCC) events over the last five years with active participation exceeding 1,000 people and lasting for more than one day. Pakistan experienced the most SRCC events with 11, followed by Indonesia. Other countries that experienced a high number of events include the US, Greece, Tunisia, Hungary, Iran, and India. Economic pressures, including cost-of-living issues, are fueling protests and strikes worldwide, with citizens demanding better governance and economic reforms. Most public protests around the world are peaceful, but significant insured losses occurred as a result of major unrest events in 2025. The Indonesian riots in August incurred over $50mn in insured losses, while Nepal's September protests could see insured losses higher than those caused by the catastrophic earthquake of 2015, which were more than $200mn. Depending on the duration of the conflict in the Middle East, a heightened risk of SRCC activity is also to be expected, particularly in countries heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil and gas or fertilizers.

"The political violence landscape across Asia remains volatile, with civil unrest in countries such as Indonesia and Nepal, as well as domestic regional tensions including those between Pakistan and India, and Cambodia and Thailand. While some of these events have resulted in considerable losses, they generally have a limited impact on the overall political violence insurance market in the region due to their localized nature and minimal economic consequences. The real risk lies in the potential for these conflicts to escalate into full-scale wars between the respective nations," says Robert James, Senior Political Violence & Terrorism Underwriter, Allianz Commercial Asia.

At the same time, acts of sabotage, including state-sponsored ones, have increased sharply in the last 18 months. On the global stage, the last four years have seen a surge in targeted and malicious attacks on critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables by Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors. These are usually sponsored by organizations or rogue states including Russia, which is very active in this gray area. Such attacks don't necessarily cause widespread damage, but they can disrupt daily life and business activities, resulting in the allocation of valuable resources to policing and monitoring critical infrastructure.

Adaptation and resilience more important than ever

With geopolitical upheaval, economic pressures, and social media all amplifying the threat of political violence, the potential fallout can lead to substantial economic and insured losses, challenging businesses and their insurers. The pattern of protests and violence in recent years has clearly shown that some industries and occupancies are much more vulnerable to the full spectrum of political violence perils, but any organization can be impacted. One of the most severe PVT risks is the threat of business interruption (BI), which could lead to substantial economic and insured losses, challenging businesses, and their insurers. Adaptation and building resilience are therefore crucial for businesses of all sizes.

The US / Iran conflict is likely to have a significant impact on risk mitigation moving forward. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer, prior to the conflict just over a third (35%) of companies were already exploring nearshoring and evaluating domestic manufacturing options, 32% were looking to improve inventory management, including storing inventory in Free Trade zones, and almost half (49%) were looking at renegotiating and diversifying supply chains, as strategies to adapt to shifting geopolitical risks. Such trends will likely be accelerated by the conflict.

"As we navigate this era of heightened uncertainty, understanding the implications of these risks and mitigating them in our interconnected business ecosystems has never been more critical. Insurance has a key role to play in this regard, and demand for political violence insurance continues to grow. We see an elevated level of interest and more buyers than ever in this space. Clients are broadening their coverage to better fit their risk footprint. This is a marked change from before the war in Ukraine, and which is now amplified by subsequent events," says Srdjan Todorovic, Global Head of Political Violence and Hostile Environment Solutions at Allianz Commercial.

About Allianz Commercial

Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world's largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry as well as family-owned and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions. Powered by the employees, financial strength, and network of the world's #1 insurance brand, we work together to help our customers prepare for what's ahead: They trust us in providing a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services as well as seamless claims handling. Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2025, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated around ?17.3 billion in gross premium globally. https://commercial.allianz.com/

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

Hashtags: #Allianz #AllianzCommercial

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 May 2026 - SUBCON Thailand - ASEAN's largest industrial sourcing expo - closed its 20th edition with an estimated USD 705.5 million in parts trade (approximately 23 billion baht), as manufacturers worldwide pushed deeper into Southeast Asia to broaden industrial partnerships.

The event ran May 13 -16 in Bangkok, drawing more than 50,000 participants and generating over 9,600 business matching pairs. It is co-organized by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, and Informa Markets Thailand.

"SUBCON Thailand is not only the largest trade exhibition in ASEAN. It is a mechanism the BOI uses to connect Thai entrepreneurs to global supply chains, at a moment when massive global industrial restructuring is forcing every country to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers," said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment. "Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand's economy in the years ahead. We will develop SUBCON into a platform that elevates their capabilities and plants Thailand more firmly on the global industrial supply chain map - in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation."

Companies said SUBCON Thailand let them source across electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced electronics, automation and robotics, medical devices, and aerospace - finding buyers, suppliers, and industrial partners across all of them - in a single venue.

"SUBCON Thailand serves as a key platform where automotive and electronics companies connect and explore business opportunities. Through business matching sessions, good potential has been identified to deepen collaboration with Thai entrepreneurs and enhance local industry partnerships," said Mr. Paulino Mendoza, Team Lead Global Processing Manager, BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

"SUBCON Thailand is where Thai manufacturers prove their quality to the world. Business Matching connected us with buyers and partners we would not have found elsewhere. This is how Thai companies build the confidence to compete internationally," said Ms. Waranchalee Suwanpimolkul, Assistant Managing Director, S.K. Polymer Co., Ltd.

Many BOI-network companies left with concrete results - procurement agreements, follow-up negotiations, and technology partnerships. Business Matching drew the highest satisfaction scores of any activity at the show, reflecting how central buyer-supplier connectivity is to the event's appeal. The results point to broader confidence: companies at the show said Thai manufacturers are internationally competitive on quality and ready to integrate into global supply chains.

Looking ahead, the BOI plans to widen SUBCON's scope - targeting AI, advanced electronics, modern vehicles, and logistics. The BOI will also expand Business Matching to reach a broader set of industries and build closer ties between Thai companies and overseas investors.

"SUBCON Thailand is a mechanism the BOI uses to put Thai entrepreneurs at the center of global supply chains - and to keep them there. The world is going through the biggest industrial shift in a generation. Every country is racing to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers. Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand's economy, and we intend to make SUBCON the platform that gets them there - in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation," Mr. Narit said.

USD conversions based on an exchange rate of 32.6 baht per USD.

Thailand Board of Investment

Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has continuously played an essential role for over 60 years in promoting value-adding investment for the country, from both foreign and Thai investors, to enhance national competitiveness and drive towards a new era of sustainable and balanced growth.

Investment Services Center - PR Section, The Office of the Board of Investment (BOI)

555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111, Fax: +66 (0) 2553 8222

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

Hashtags: #BOI #thailandboardofinvestment #SUBCONThailand

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 19 May 2026 - In the rapidly evolving logistics landscape of 2026, precision and speed define the ultimate prerequisites for high-value essentials. Leveraging Hong Kong's unparalleled "geographical superpower", the ability to reach half the world's population within a five-hour flight, Cathay Cargo is reinforcing the aviation gateway for the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the global market through its specialized Cold Chain Logistics by integrating Cathay Fresh and Cathay Pharma solutions.

Cathay Fresh: Seamless Intermodal Connectivity

The Airport Authority Hong Kong's Air-Land Fresh Lane (ALFL) initiative has enabled Cathay Cargo to create a seamless intermodal cold chain link for premium perishables, such as live seafood and seasonal fruits, into the Greater Bay Area. Under a single air waybill, these shipments travel seamlessly from overseas via HKIA directly to the GBA within a unified cold chain ecosystem.

The ALFL's strategic brilliance lies in its simplified import process: by utilizing a specialized transshipment certificate, shipments bypass complex re-registration on the Chinese Mainland and access refrigerated Customs facilities in Zhuhai directly. This ecosystem ensures end-to-end integrity: products are protected by "Cool Dollies" on the tarmac before being transferred to GPS-tracked, temperature-controlled trucks. This streamlined process significantly accelerates delivery, ensuring nutrient density and food security for consumers.

Cathay Pharma: Technical Excellence in Life Sciences

As pharmaceutical products demand absolute thermal stability, Cathay Pharma offers a technical vanguard and sets the industry benchmark for life sciences. Operating the largest dedicated Pharma Handling Centre at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Cathay Pharma supports four distinct temperature ranges (FRO, COL, CRT, ERT) and offers Asia's most extensive selection of cool containers through six strategic partners.

The key to this reliability is Ultra Track, a near-real-time data-logging system that empowers shippers with full visibility into cargo status and enables proactive interventions. With over 70 qualified pharma handling stations globally, Cathay Pharma ensures that life-saving vaccines and biologics maintain their efficacy throughout the journey.

An Integrated Total Cold Chain Vision

Cathay Cargo offers a Total Cold Chain Solution tailored to distinct temperature-sensitive sectors. By applying IATA CEIV Fresh-assured protocols to perishables and utilizing world-class pharmaceutical facilities that meet IATA CEIV Pharma requirements for life sciences. Cathay Cargo ensures that every temperature-sensitive shipment, whether premium seafood or critical medicine, meets the highest global standards for safety and integrity.

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

Hashtags: #CathayCargo #ColdChainLogistics

Arteris FlexNoC network-on-chip (NoC) IP and Magillem software successfully deployed in the Li Auto L9 Livis high-tech flagship SUV via its proprietary autonomous driving systems-on-chip (SoCs)

CAMPBELL, Calif., May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arteris, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIP), a leading provider of semiconductor technology for accelerating innovation in the AI era, today announced that its system IP technology has been deployed by Li Auto Inc., a leader in the China new energy vehicle (NEV) market. Arteris technology is supporting the underlying AI compute data movement and integration automation for Li Auto's current and future smart vehicles, starting with its proprietary SoCs used in the all-new L9 Livis high-tech SUV.

Li Auto is known for its rapid innovation in extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and smart vehicle platforms, integrating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), high-performance compute, and immersive in-vehicle experiences. This includes the successful in-house development of the autonomous driving SoC, which provides the L9 Livis SUV with the computing power of 2,560 trillion operations per second (TOPS) to effectively perform AI computational tasks for autonomous vehicles.

For the development of the SoC, Li Auto used Arteris FlexNoC 5 NoC interconnect IP and Magillem SoC integration automation software to meet the high-performance compute needs, energy efficiency targets, and the highest functional safety requirements. Li Auto engineers leveraged Arteris technology to help ensure efficient AI data movement within the SoC. This was achieved by quickly exploring and implementing optimized interconnect architectures that balance performance, power, and area (PPA), while also accelerating time to production for both this implementation and future derivative designs.

"Li Auto is committed to delivering intelligent vehicles that seamlessly integrate advanced AI, safety, and user experience, and Arteris plays a key role in that strategy," said Luo Min, Head of Computing Unit at Li Auto. "We chose Arteris for our SoC development to help us meet the high functional, performance, and safety requirements for autonomous driving chips and to ensure a great user experience in our smart vehicles. Arteris not only solved our technical challenges, but also, with its expertise and collaborative approach, is supporting our future vision of intelligent systems."

Leveraging the Arteris physical awareness capabilities of FlexNoC 5 silicon IP, Li Auto quickly converged on optimal architecture in the 5 nm process node, while reducing design risk and improving system-level efficiency. The solution supported the integration of diverse processing elements, including CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, sensor interfaces, and functional safety capabilities, helping to ensure predictable performance across increasingly complex workloads.

"Automotive innovation is being driven by a fundamental shift toward centralized compute and AI-defined functionality, and we are pleased to see our technology deployed in this vehicle and next generation of Li Auto vehicles," said K. Charles Janac, president and CEO of Arteris. "Its choice to work with Arteris to ensure optimized compute for their vehicles reflects the growing importance of silicon data movement as a critical factor meeting the performance, power, safety and security requirements of today's physical AI systems. Together, we are enabling the next generation of intelligent vehicle platforms and the L9 Livis SUV is a prime example."

Arteris products are used in systems ranging from AI data centers to edge AI devices and physical AI systems, including autonomous vehicles. Learn more about Arteris' automotive solutions at arteris.com/automotive.

Learn more about the Li Auto L9 Livis at: https://www.lixiang.com/L9.

About Arteris

Arteris is a leading provider of semiconductor technology that accelerates the creation of high-performance, power-efficient silicon with built-in safety, reliability, and security. Innovative Arteris products are designed to optimize data movement and help ease complexity in the modern AI era with network-on-chip (NoC) interconnect intellectual property (IP), system-on-chip (SoC) software for integration automation and hardware security assurance. All are used by the world's top technology companies to improve overall performance and engineering productivity, reduce risk, lower costs, and bring cutting-edge designs to market faster. Learn more at arteris.com.

About Li Auto

Li Auto Inc. is a leader in China's new energy vehicle market. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles. Its mission is: Be Proactive, Change the World (主动积极, 改变世界). Through innovations in product, technology, and business model, it provides families with safe, convenient, and comfortable products and services. Li Auto is a pioneer in successfully commercializing extended-range electric vehicles in China. While firmly advancing along this technological route, it builds platforms for battery electric vehicles in parallel. The company leverages technology to create value for users. It concentrates its in-house development efforts on proprietary range extension systems, innovative electric vehicle technologies, and smart vehicle solutions. The company started volume production in November 2019. Its current model lineup includes a high-tech flagship family MPV, four Li L series extended-range electric SUVs, and two Li i series battery electric SUVs. The company will continue to expand its product lineup to target a broader user base. Learn more at www.liauto.com.

? 2004-2026 Arteris, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Arteris, Arteris IP, the Arteris IP logo, and the other Arteris marks found at https://www.arteris.com/trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Arteris, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

Arteris Inc.

Gina Jacobs

+1 408 560 3044

newsroom@arteris.com

This press release was published by a CLEAR Verified individual.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

BALLANTINE'S AND COLORSxSTUDIOS ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER RAW MUSIC MOMENTS BETWEEN ARTISTS AND FANS, DEBUTING WITH CURATED LIVE EXPERIENCES IN MADRID HEADLINED BY CA7RIEL & PACO AMOROSO

DOWNLOAD HIGH RES ASSETS HERE - CREDIT: COLORSxSTUDIOS

LONDON, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recent years, music has become more polished, more produced and, for many fans, more distant. New global research from Ballantine's Scotch Whisky reveals a tipping point, with a staggering 9 in 10 fans saying authenticity is the single most important factor in connecting with an artist today. Not perfection. Not production. But realness.

Across a survey of 9,000 fans in nine countries, a clear tension emerges, between how music is performed, and how fans actually want to experience it. Music fandom today is being reshaped and they are demanding something different:

84 per cent say unexpected, unscripted moments are what make live music unforgettable

1 in 3 say that when artists deliver an authentic, real performance, it inspires them to be themselves

60 per cent say performance is the most powerful way to connect with an artist

In a world of overly-fabricated and manufactured moments, fans are craving something messier, more human, and more honest - but currently, there are barriers:

4 in 10 feel overly scripted shows are getting in the way of connection

And 1 in 3 can't afford to be in the room at all

Perfection isn't inspiring connection anymore. It's creating distance.

Inspired by this cultural shift, Ballantine's and COLORSxSTUDIOS are joining forces for a new global partnership, built around a simple idea: to strip away the barriers between artists and fans and deliver real music experiences and moments of connection.

Igniting the next chapter in Ballantine's established True Music platform, the new long-term partnership aims to deliver spontaneity over scripting, realness over spectacle and connection over perfection. It continues Ballantine's dedication to removing the pretence around both whisky and music, celebrating real people, real moments and true expression. A series of global events and experiences will showcase unfiltered live performances alongside intimate artist access, and fan-first moments.

Ballantine's and COLORSxSTUDIOS will debut with a multi-day experience as part of COLORS' TONES of Madrid, headlined by GRAMMY Award-winning Argentinian disruptors CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso - artists known for uninhibited self-expression and honest performances. They will be supported by Spain's Blanco Palamera, Lua De Santana and Merca Bae, setting the tone for future True Music events, which will hit cities across the world in 2026 and beyond.

Nick Blacknell, VP of Marketing for Ballantine's, commented: "Music fans are telling us they want something real. This partnership is about stripping away the barriers that can stand between artists and fans, from the rising cost of live music to experiences that can feel fabricated or out of reach. Together with COLORSxSTUDIOS, we're creating moments that feel unpolished, intimate and human, giving fans the chance to experience music the way it's meant to be felt - up close, honest and shared."

CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso added: "Some of the best things in music happen when you leave space for spontaneity. Right now, people are connecting to things that feel real and immediate instead of overly polished. That's always been part of what makes COLORSxSTUDIOS special to us - the focus stays on the performance, the energy, and the artist. Partnering with Ballantine's and COLORSxSTUDIOS on this feels natural because it's rooted in that same spirit of openness and creative freedom."

This movement is already taking shape across the globe. From the rise of phone-free shows, to artists like Billie Eilish experimenting with new ways to connect on tour, to Justin Bieber taking fan requests via livestream at Coachella, music is moving away from inch-perfect performances, and back towards performance-as-connection.

TONES of Madrid takes place from 26-28th May 2026, with CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso's headline show on the 27th. Alongside its partnership with COLORSxSTUDIOS, Ballantine's - the official spirits partner of TONES of Madrid - will host a series of listening takeovers designed to spotlight emerging artists. Across three days, DJ collectives will broadcast live from the event, bringing fans even closer to music in its most unfiltered form.      

Fans can sign up for free tickets at https://colorsxstudios.com/live. For more information on True Music and to look out for further unstaged events around the world, head to ballantines.com/en/true-music.

For more information please contact DawBell:

ballantines@dawbell.com

Notes to editor

*Statistics are taken from research conducted by Censuswide in May 2026, among a sample of 9,003 music fans globally across the UK, U.S, India, Spain, Poland, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile - who are of the legal drinking age in their country.

About Ballantine's

Ballantine's is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine's was created as a Whisky for Everyone; and a commitment to inclusivity is part of the brand's DNA as the motto 'a friend to all humankind' has been on the crest of every bottle for over 100 years.

Everything we do at Ballantine's encourages authenticity and staying true to who you are. Stay True brings a positive message of living life unstaged, dropping barriers and owning your own beat. No wrong way to dance, to work, to dress, to love, in fact, there's no wrong way to live your life.

This message is brought to life via Ballantine's True Music platform which has been active in music culture for 10+ years, supporting over 800 artists, celebrating over 70 communities, in over 30 countries.

About COLORSxSTUDIOS:

Berlin founded, COLORSxSTUDIOS, is a stage for non-ordinary expression, driving discovery for emerging artists and reflecting global music culture.

Their "A COLORS SHOW" became an aspirational recognition for talents to grow beyond borders with over 3bn views across artists such as Billie Eilish, Jorja Smith, Mahalia, Oxlade, Yam?, and Shaboozey. COLORS operates studios in Berlin and New York, and has successfully branched out into live experiences with TONES.

www.colorsxstudios.com @colorsxstudios 

About CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso:

The partnership launches with CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, the GRAMMY Award-winning and 5x Latin GRAMMY-winning duo currently riding a global breakout fuelled by their new album Free Spirits and an expansive world tour that has further cemented them as one of the most internationally successful Argentine acts of their generation.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

New learning pathways help professionals strengthen AI readiness, data fluency, and strategic decision-making.

MONTVALE, N.J., May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) announces the availability of its micro-credential offerings, a series of specialized programs designed to help finance teams and professionals build practical, career-ready skills for a rapidly changing business environment.

As geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility, and rapid technological acceleration reshape the business environment, finance professionals are being asked to do more than report on what already happened. They are increasingly expected to deliver sharper analysis, stronger insights, and strategic judgment that organizations need to navigate uncertainty. IMA's micro-credentials respond to that need with focused learning pathways that help professionals build high-demand skills they can apply in real time. They also give employers a scalable way to strengthen talent across their organizations and support more consistent capability development across teams.

"Finance professionals are being measured against a new standard-one that requires them to turn data into insight, and insight into action," said Michael DePrisco, the President and CEO of IMA. "Our research continues to show that AI-readiness in finance isn't just about technology. It's about judgment, process, and human competencies that drive better decisions. These micro-credentials are designed to help professionals build those skills in ways they can apply immediately in their work."

IMA's micro-credential portfolio is designed to complement broader professional development and certification pathways by offering targeted instruction in areas including AI readiness, data literacy, AI use cases in forecasting, FP&A, audit, financial modeling and visualization, ethical considerations, and business decision support.

IMA's AI in Finance Micro-credential, for instance, is a self-paced online program that helps accounting and finance teams understand and apply AI in real-world finance functions. The program consists of 15-20 hours of training and a final assessment, earning learners up to 20 NASBA credits and seven digital badges that indicate the holder's proficiency in skills. While the programs are geared toward finance teams, their value extends across industries where stronger data fluency, AI literacy, and decision-making skills are becoming essential.

"I knew that because it was specific to finance, I was going to get real value out of it," said Craig Heller, the Cost Accounting Manager at Janus International. "The use cases were especially helpful once I built that foundation. After completing the credential, I've been able to automate data-cleanup workflows that used to take me 15 to 20 minutes per report and cut that down to about five minutes. More importantly, I now feel much more confident evaluating AI outputs and applying these tools to forecasting, variance analysis, and other day-to-day finance work."

Building on its AI in Finance pathway, IMA will expand its portfolio in early June with its Advanced Data Analytics for Financial Decision-Making Micro-credential - recognizing that effective AI adoption depends on strong data foundations, analytical rigor, and the ability to turn insights into action. Badges will include Data Storytelling and Visualization Foundations, Visualization and Design with Automation, Enterprise Business Intelligence and Data Modeling, Predictive Analytics and Forecasting, Turning Analytics Into Business Recommendations, and Advanced Financial Modeling.

IMA plans to further expand its micro-credential portfolio later this year with new pathways focused on Strategic Planning, Performance, and Leadership, as well as Cybersecurity, Controls, and Risk Management, reflecting the evolving competencies finance professionals need to lead in increasingly complex business environments.

Together, these offerings reflect IMA's broader commitment to helping finance professionals move beyond traditional reporting and transactional work into more strategic, analytical, and advisory roles-equipping them with the skills needed to remain relevant, create value, and lead what comes next.

For more information about IMA's micro-credential offerings, visit https://www.imaglobal.org/pages/ai-micro.

About IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)

IMA is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA (Certified Management Accountant), CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis), and FMAA (Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate) certification programs, continuing education, networking, and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. Twice named Professional Body of the Year by The Accountant/International Accounting Bulletin, IMA has a global network of about 120,000 members in 150 countries and 200+ professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its six global regions: The Americas, China, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, India, and Asia Pacific. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.

Contact: 

IMA News Bureau

news@imanet.org

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SHANGHAI, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Risen Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company focusing on the development and commercialization of high-need, patient-accessible therapeutics, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical study in China of RP902, an oral small-molecule drug developed to address significant unmet medical needs in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The Phase 2 clinical trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RP902 in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's Disease. The primary endpoint is the change from baseline in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score.

The study is co-led by Professor Yi Tang from Xuanwu Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, and Professor Yongjun Wang from Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting cognition and daily functioning. In China, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease among people aged 65 and above has reached 6.0%, with approximately 1 in every 17 individuals affected1, highlighting a significant unmet need for therapies with improved efficacy, safety, and patient adherence.

About RP902

RP902 is an oral small-molecule drug for AD, targeting patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease who are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) carriers, with the potential to become a first-in-class disease-modifying therapy. ApoE ε4 carriers typically experience earlier disease onset and faster progression, with limited treatment options currently available.

Preclinical studies of RP902 have demonstrated it significantly inhibits neurotoxic Aβ oligomers and improves cognitive function. RP902 has completed Phase 1 clinical trials with favorable safety and tolerability and has initiated Phase 2 clinical studies (NCT07579884).

Compared with existing therapies, RP902 has the potential to delay disease progression, with a favorable safety profile and the convenience of oral administration, offering a differentiated treatment option for Alzheimer's disease patients carrying the ApoE ε4 allele.

About Risen (Shanghai) Pharma Tech Co., Ltd.

Risen Pharma is an internationally competitive clinical-stage biotech company focusing on developing and commercializing highly-needed, patient-accessible therapeutics. The company's integrated capabilities cover all stages of drug development, including lead identification and optimization, preclinical evaluation, clinical development, and commercialization. Risen specializes in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, leveraging small molecules, PROTACs, and siRNA technologies to develop a comprehensive therapeutic platform encompassing prevention through treatment. Based on strong in-house R&D capabilities, the company has advanced over 20 innovative drug candidates and built a differentiated pipeline in degenerative and metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases.

Media Contact

Company Name: Risen (Shanghai) Pharma Tech Co., Ltd.

Contact Person: Wenbing Yu

Email: wenbing.yu@risen-group.com

Website: http://www.risen-pharma.com/

References

LI, Y. F., & JI, Y. (2026). Consensus on diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Neurology & Neurosurgery, 26(2).

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SINGAPORE, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jenfi, a Southeast Asia-focused SME credit platform, today announced that it has surpassed US$100 million in cumulative financing originations across the region, marking a significant milestone in the company's continued expansion across Singapore and Vietnam.

Operating across two of Southeast Asia's largest SME markets, Jenfi provides growth financing and working capital solutions to underserved businesses through a combination of proprietary underwriting infrastructure, alternative data, and institutional capital partnerships.

Since inception, Jenfi has evaluated more than 30,000 SME financing inquiries across Southeast Asia while continuing to expand its underwriting and portfolio monitoring infrastructure to support scalable credit deployment and faster financing turnaround times.

Over time, Jenfi has evolved beyond its initial revenue-based financing roots into a broader SME credit platform supporting multiple financing structures across growth, working capital, and supply-chain financing use cases.

Jenfi continues to invest in AI-assisted underwriting automation and operational infrastructure designed to improve capital efficiency and credit decisioning capabilities. The platform is currently able to provide same-day underwriting decisions for qualified applicants and maintains a portfolio generating gross IRRs above 40%.

The company has completed more than 2,400 financings across Southeast Asia and has historically experienced strong repeat utilization behavior among eligible borrowers, reflecting ongoing demand for flexible financing solutions across its core markets.

"Southeast Asia continues to face a significant SME credit gap, particularly for businesses underserved by traditional collateral-based lending," said Jeffrey Liu, Founder and CEO of Jenfi.

"Crossing the US$100 million milestone reflects the underwriting infrastructure, operational discipline, and institutional partnerships we have built over time. We believe there is a substantial opportunity to continue building more scalable underwriting and financing infrastructure for underserved SMEs across Southeast Asia."

Looking ahead, Jenfi plans to continue expanding its institutional funding relationships, embedded financing capabilities, and underwriting infrastructure as it continues building a broader SME credit platform for Southeast Asia.

About Jenfi

Jenfi is a Southeast Asia-focused SME credit platform building underwriting and financing infrastructure for underserved businesses across the region. Operating across Singapore and Vietnam, the company combines proprietary credit models, alternative data, and institutional capital partnerships to deliver scalable growth and working capital solutions to emerging SMEs.

Media Contact

Jenfi

press@jenfi.com

https://www.jenfi.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

SINGAPORE, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ Ticker: HBNB) ("Hotel101 Global," "Hotel101," "HBNB" or the "Company") today announced that its 680-room Hotel101-Madrid has significantly outperformed management's original estimates, achieving a company record of more than ?100,000 in room revenues in a single day on May 19, 2026, at 100% occupancy.

Management believes this record performance underscores the accelerating momentum and exceptionally strong demand for the 680-room Hotel101-Madrid, the first Hotel101-branded property to operate outside the Philippines, which officially opened in March 2026. This record single-day performance at 100% occupancy provides support for demonstrable, strong demand for the property and illustrates the property's potential to generate substantial recurring revenues This milestone revenue achieved today of more than ?100,000 Euros for a single day is expected to translate to a highly sizable recurring hotel revenues annually, further validating the success of the Company's asset-light, prop-tech hospitality model and its focus on long-term recurring revenue generation from the Hotel101 global portfolio.

Hotel101-Madrid has been designated as an "Official Hotel" partner for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 through an exclusive agreement with MATCH Hospitality AG. Hotel101-Madrid is one of the top five largest hotels in Madrid by room count. Located on a 6,593-square-meter site in Valdebebas, Madrid, it is strategically positioned, adjacent to the new Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix circuit, overlooking the iconic semicircular Turn 12 titled "La Monumental". The property offers convenient accessibility, located approximately a three-minute walk to Valdebebas Train Station, four minutes to the IFEMA convention complex, five minutes to the Real Madrid Sports Complex and seven minutes to the Adolfo Su?rez Madrid-Barajas International Airport.

The hotel features modern amenities, including an all-day dining restaurant, HBNB Kitchen by award-winning La Sucursal, two swimming pools, a fitness center, a children's playground, 24/7 reception, a business center, function rooms and a proprietary Hotel101 app that supports seamless guest services, including digital check-in and digital key access.

Hotel101 Madrid serves as the global prototype for Hotel101 Global and functions as the primary operating springboard for the company's international expansion, which management expects to enable the successful replication of its innovative business model. This prototype supports Hotel101 Global's vision of developing one million standardized rooms across 100 countries, with the ultimate goal of becoming the world's largest single-brand hotel chain.

About Hotel101 Global

Listed on Nasdaq (Ticker: HBNB) with a market capitalization of approx. US$1.5 billion as of May 19, 2026. Hotel101 is an asset-light, prop-tech hospitality platform pioneering a global standardized "condotel" business model. Hotel101 aims to disrupt the global hotel and hospitality sector through its unique tech-enabled business model that positions it to generate revenues twice: first from the advance sale of individual hotel units during the construction phase; and second, from long-term recurring revenue derived from day-to-day hotel operations. The expansion of Hotel101 towards its long-term goal and vision to operate 1 million rooms in 100 countries globally is expected to be driven mainly by joint ventures and license agreements with local developers in various countries worldwide.

HappyRoom

Hotel101's signature 21 sqm HappyRoom equipped with a practical kitchenette featuring microwave, refrigerator and kettle, luggage rack, 55" TV, free high-speed internet, work desk, modern bidet toilet, strong water pressure, and premium Emma Sleep mattresses.

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws of certain jurisdictions, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this document, including statements regarding the future financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations of Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. ("HBNB") and its subsidiaries (the "HBNB Group"), are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "set," "expect," "slated," "scheduled," "predict," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, HBNB's expectations concerning anticipated revenues, the location, expected number of rooms and expected project completion dates of projects of HBNB and projects of its associate, Hotel of Asia, Inc., HBNB's goals and vision, the outlook for the HBNB Group's business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments, operational performance, future market conditions or economic performance and developments in the capital and credit markets and expected future financial performance, as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the HBNB Group. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of HBNB. Although HBNB believes that such plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, HBNB cannot assure you that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved or realized. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the HBNB Group's ability manage, execute and implement its growth or expansion strategies; disagreements or disputes with the HBNB Group's joint venture partners, including owners of pre-sold condotel units in Hotel101 hospitality projects, or the failure of such joint venture partners to perform their obligations; the HBNB Group's exposure to risks associated with offering deferred payment schemes, including the risk of customer default; competition for the acquisition of land for new projects and risks relating to the management of its land bank; the HBNB Group's ability to effectively compete in the highly competitive hospitality industry; decline or disruption in the travel and hospitality industries or economic downturn; liquidity risk; project cost and completion risks, and reputational risk and damage to the Hotel101 brand if projects or hotels do not meet customers' requirements; risk relating to rights and titles over land; insurance; laws and regulations relating to real estate development and marketing activities and hotel operation and management activities; regulatory inquiries, investigations, litigation, and other disputes, including potential construction defects and other building-related claims; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in HBNB's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025 on Form 20-F (File No.: 001-42727) and under the heading "Risk Factors" in HBNB's registration statement on Form F-4 (File No.: 333-287130) and other documents to be filed by HBNB from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of HBNB's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that are not presently known to HBNB or that HBNB currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. HBNB cautions you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this document. HBNB does not undertake any obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that HBNB will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters or any other forward-looking statements.

Contact information:

ir@hotel101global.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Canada's fastest-growing AI event sells out a month in advance, cementing Edmonton as a global anchor for AI innovation and literacy

EDMONTON, Alberta, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) today officially opens the fifth annual Upper Bound, the premier AI conference that has surpassed all projections to become a cornerstone of the global AI calendar. Welcoming 11,000 researchers, business leaders, and policymakers representing 22 countries, the event has seen a staggering 53% year-over-year surge in scale.

This momentum is fueled by sold-out event passes, a growing roster of community-led sessions, and K-9 school takeovers. This growing demand solidifies Amii's role as a central pillar in Canada's AI ecosystem. By connecting world-leading AI research with business leaders, policy-makers, founders, students and educators, Amii is moving beyond theory to transform an optimistic vision for AI into a tangible economic and social reality.

A Convergence of Global Leadership

Upper Bound 2026 features a high-level intersection of government and industry, including:

Federal & Provincial Leadership:

The Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence & Digital Innovation and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario, Government of Canada

The Hon. Eleanor Olszeweski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Government of Canada

The Hon. Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta

The Hon. Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education, Government of Alberta

Industry Titans: On-stage insights and representation from global leaders at Google, Anthropic, Meta, Sony AI, Electronic Arts and Mozilla.

Scaling Canada's AI Talent Pipeline

The event also serves as a unique immersive training experience for Amii's massive national training initiatives. This year, Upper Bound welcomes participants from:

AI Workforce Readiness (AIWR) initiative: A $5M initiative supported by Google.org equipping 125,000 post-secondary students across 57 post-secondary institutions with AI skills.

AI Pathways: A $10.4M Government of Canada investment empowering 6,000 energy workers with tailored AI training for the low-carbon economy.

Quotes:

"Upper Bound has grown in tandem with the unprecedented acceleration of AI, from advancing world-class research to driving global business adoption and literacy. We are immensely proud to have built a premier platform where a unique cross-section of attendees can connect, ensuring that diverse perspectives shape the next five years of AI innovation. This is where an optimistic AI future is both imagined and realized." - Cam Linke, Amii CEO

"Canada's leadership in artificial intelligence is grounded in world-class research and a commitment to translating innovation into real economic impact. The overwhelming demand for Upper Bound reflects the appetite to engage with Canada's AI ecosystem and the momentum we are building to position our country at the forefront of AI." - The Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Government of Canada.

Event attendees will dive deep into themes critical to the field's future, including AI for Health, Generative AI for Business Productivity, Ethical Governance, AI Literacy & Education, Energy & the Environment, Blue Sky Research, and more. The program also features an exclusive CEO Circle curated by Cam Linke, designed to spotlight pivotal AI trends and strategic opportunities for today's executive leaders.

Upper Bound takes place May 19-22 in Edmonton. Full schedule and early access for Upper Bound 2027 available at: www.upperbound.a

About Amii:

Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute) is one of Canada's three National AI Institutes. Based in Alberta, Amii supports world-leading research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) and translates scientific advancement into industry adoption. Amii is dedicated to advancing leading-edge research, delivering exceptional educational offerings, and providing business advice?all to bring AI out of the lab and into the world. www.amii.ca 

Media Contact:

Lynda Vang, Media & Communications Manager, Amii

lynda.vang@amii.ca

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the UEX Jumpstart Program, a multi-product onboarding initiative featuring a total prize pool of 430,000 USDT across crypto futures, precious metals, stocks and CFDs.

Running from May through June, the program is designed to introduce new users to Bitget's expanding multi-asset ecosystem by bringing together activities across four major product lines under a unified framework. Rather than focusing on a single asset category, the initiative allows users to explore different markets while becoming familiar with how trading behavior is increasingly moving across asset classes.

The launch comes as global trading activity continues to diversify. Earlier this year, Bitget reported that non-crypto assets accounted for as much as 40% of total trading volume during Q1 2026, driven largely by commodities and traditional market products. More recently, the platform's CFD business surpassed $8 billion in daily trading volume, with gold accounting for 95% of incremental growth, highlighting increasing user participation beyond crypto markets.

"Everyone is into diversification these days," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "Someone looking at Bitcoin today may also be watching gold, stocks, or macro events tomorrow. UEX Jumpstart is really about helping users explore those opportunities in a multi-asset trading ecosystem."

The UEX Jumpstart Program is structured around four market entry points, introducing users progressively to different segments of the Bitget ecosystem.

Users entering through Stock Weekly Jackpot can explore Bitget's stock perpetual products with a 100,000 USDT reward pool, featuring incentives ranging from lifetime zero-fee trading cards to rewards linked to global equities such as Tesla and NVIDIA. The campaign is designed to introduce users to equity-linked trading products within the UEX environment.

For users interested in macro-driven opportunities, the CFD May Carnival opens access to contracts linked to broader financial markets through a 100,000 USDT prize pool. Participants completing onboarding activities receive guaranteed rewards while progressing through additional tasks unlocks larger incentives.

The program also introduces users to commodity trading through the Metals & Commodities Futures Promotion, backed by a 60,000 USDT reward pool centered around gold and commodity-linked products, including prizes denominated in XAUT (Tether Gold).

Completing the experience is Futures Rush, the program's largest track with a 170,000 USDT monthly reward pool. Structured as a progressive challenge system, the campaign guides users through increasingly advanced futures trading activities with rewards including BTC, ETH, XAUT, and other digital assets.

Together, the four campaigns create a guided onboarding pathway across crypto, equities, commodities, and derivatives, reflecting how Bitget's Universal Exchange model brings traditionally separate markets into one trading environment. As Bitget continues expanding into stocks, commodities, AI-powered trading, and tokenized assets, initiatives such as UEX Jumpstart reflect a broader shift toward exchanges designed around opportunity discovery rather than market silos.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ 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 with LALIGA and 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.

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.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47a136e7-4281-4768-8847-1975850e5ef3

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Mitsuyuku Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation, said: "This year, Ocean Census has shown what is possible when scientific ambition is matched by global collaboration at scale. Through expeditions reaching polar depths to tropical seas, and the science to turn samples into discoveries, this team is revealing the extraordinary richness of ocean life."

Powering Ocean Discovery: New Open Access Platform NOVA

Historically, the average time between a species' initial discovery and its formal 'description' in scientific literature is 13.5 years - meaning species are at risk of extinction before they are even catalogued. To address this, Ocean Census and collaborators are recognising 'discovered' as a formal scientific status that can be immediately recorded in NOVA, a new digital platform for marine species data.

Ocean Census NOVA makes collected data available within weeks, or even days, through a systematic, transparent and open access approach. Driving NOVA and Ocean Census is a science network of over 1,400 contributing taxonomists and scientists from 660 institutions in 85 countries.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Global Action

These 1,121 new marine species represent the outputs from a coordinated global alliance committed to transforming the speed at which we can discover marine life. High-quality data of this kind is the foundation for international action, providing the vital science required for the High Seas 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction' Treaty and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As the Ocean Census scales, its global network and open-access platform, NOVA, will help ensure that this critical data is available to inform global decision-making.

Ocean Census has spent three years building the systems, networks, and infrastructure required to discover ocean life at speed and scale. The method is proven - now it must be applied at the pace the challenge demands. Ocean Census co-founder, Nekton, is seeking $100M in catalytic capital to unlock $75M+ already pledged by partners, driving progress toward the ambition of discovering 100,000 new marine species.

Oliver Steeds, Director of Ocean Census, said: "We spend billions searching for life on Mars or going to the dark side of the moon. Discovering the majority of life on our own planet - in our own ocean - costs a fraction of that. The question is not whether we can afford to do this. It is whether we can afford not to." ***

Pada bulan Maret 2013, Rusia menjadi negara pertama yang dikunjungi Xi setelah menjabat sebagai Presiden Tiongkok. Pada tahun 2019, kedua negara tersebut meningkatkan hubungan bilateral menjadi kemitraan strategis komprehensif yang berupa koordinasi untuk era baru serta menandai level tertinggi dalam sejarah hubungan bilateral Tiongkok-Rusia.

Pada tahun 2025, Putin mengunjungi Tiongkok untuk menghadiri KTT SCO serta rangkaian acara peringatan 80 tahun kemenangan dalam Perang Perlawanan Rakyat Tiongkok melawan Agresi Jepang dan Perang Anti-Fasis Dunia. Pada tanggal 4 Februari tahun ini, Xi dan Putin mengadakan rapat melalui video untuk membahas perkembangan hubungan bilateral ke depannya serta koordinasi kedua negara di platform internasional.

Di bawah arahan kedua kepala negara, Tiongkok dan Rusia terus meningkatkan rasa saling percaya di bidang politik serta secara tegas mendukung satu sama lain dalam isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan kepentingan utama kedua negara tersebut, termasuk kedaulatan, keamanan, dan pembangunan. Kedua negara juga memperkuat koordinasi di berbagai platform internasional utama, seperti PBB, SCO, BRICS, APEC, dan G20. Melalui kerja sama tersebut, keduanya bersama-sama menentang unilateralisme serta berkontribusi terhadap terbentuknya tatanan dunia multipolar.

Xi sebelumnya menyatakan bahwa Tiongkok dan Rusia telah mengeksplorasi jalan baru bagi negara-negara besar yang bertetangga dalam menjalin hubungan satu sama lain. Hubungan tersebut ditandai dengan prinsip non-aliansi, non-konfrontasi, dan tidak menargetkan pihak ketiga, sekaligus menjadi contoh jenis hubungan antarnegara besar yang baru.

Kerja sama praktis mencapai level baru

Didukung oleh semakin kuatnya rasa saling percaya di bidang politik, Tiongkok dan Rusia telah meraih hasil yang signifikan melalui kerja sama praktis yang luas di berbagai bidang, seperti perdagangan, energi, dan budaya.

Meski menghadapi tantangan global, kerja sama ekonomi dan perdagangan antara kedua negara terus berkembang. Kedua negara juga aktif mendorong penyelarasan antara Inisiatif Sabuk dan Jalur Sutra (BRI) dengan Uni Ekonomi Eurasia. Lebih dari 70 persen kereta kargo Tiongkok-Eropa dalam kerangka BRI melintasi Rusia menuju Eropa, dengan jumlah perjalanan yang terus mencapai rekor baru.

Tiongkok tetap menjadi mitra dagang terbesar Rusia selama 16 tahun berturut-turut. Menurut data terbaru dari Kementerian Perdagangan Tiongkok, nilai perdagangan bilateral mencapai $227,9 miliar pada tahun 2025, yang menembus angka $200 miliar selama tiga tahun berturut-turut. Pada kuartal pertama tahun ini, nilai perdagangan bilateral mencapai $61,2 miliar, naik 14,7 persen dibandingkan periode yang sama tahun sebelumnya.

Pertukaran antarmasyarakat juga terus meningkat. Selama bertahun-tahun, kedua negara telah bersama-sama menggelar berbagai program pertukaran, termasuk tahun bahasa, tahun pariwisata, tahun pertukaran pemuda, dan tahun kebudayaan.

Selama Tahun Kebudayaan Tiongkok-Rusia 2024-2025, kedua negara tersebut menyelenggarakan serangkaian kegiatan pertukaran budaya. Drama tari orisinal asal Tiongkok, Wing Chun, dipentaskan di Teater Bolshoi di Moskow. Sementara itu, pertunjukan Orkestra Teater Mariinsky dan Balet Bolshoi Rusia di Tiongkok juga mendapat sambutan yang meriah. Pada tahun 2025, Tiongkok dan Rusia juga memberlakukan kebijakan bebas visa timbal balik, yang mendorong lonjakan kunjungan wisatawan antara kedua negara.

Mulai dari penguatan rasa saling percaya di bidang politik, perluasan kerja sama praktis, hingga peningkatan pertukaran antarmasyarakat, Tiongkok dan Rusia terus memperkuat persahabatan bilateral kedua negara.

Di tengah meningkatnya ketidakpastian global, pertemuan mendatang antara kedua kepala negara diharapkan dapat semakin mendorong perkembangan hubungan bilateral, membawa manfaat yang lebih besar bagi rakyat kedua negara, serta menghadirkan stabilitas dan momentum positif yang lebih kuat bagi dunia yang terus berubah.***