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

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

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

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

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

About Defiance ETFs

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

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

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades.

Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About TestMu AI

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

For more information, visit www.testmuai.com.

Media Contact

Nikhil Saxena

Press and Media Manager

TestMu AI

nikhils@testmuai.com

+91 9870981968

Nikhil Saxena

Press and Media Manager

TestMu AI

nikhils@testmuai.com

+91 9870981968

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

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

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

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

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

About NorthStar

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

About Viking

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

Media Contacts

NorthStar

Prosek Partners

Pro-NorthStar@Prosek.com

Viking

Gil Ottensoser

Gil.Ottensoser@viking.kingsrock.com

Additional Information and Where to Find It

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

Participants in the Solicitation

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

No Offer or Solicitation

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

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Evaluate Ltd

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

About Norstella

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

About AI Breakthrough

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

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

For media inquiries, please contact:

norstella@diffusionpr.com

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

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

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

Dancing Silver (Satin)

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

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

Lucent Lime (Satin)

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

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

Immersive Purple

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

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

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

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

About FREELANDER

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

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

Vincent CHEN

freelander.international@mychery.com

https://www.cheryinternational.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Volantio

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

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

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

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

Media Contact:

Sarah Mattina

sarah@mattinamediagroup.com

+15138896652

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About VCI Global Limited

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For media queries, please contact:

VCI GLOBAL LIMITED

enquiries@v-capital.co

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

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

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

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

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

ZT20 - LEAGUE OVERVIEW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A NEW SPORTS PROPERTY IN A HIGH-GROWTH REGION

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

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

centralized media rights;

sponsorship sales;

franchise and commercial partnership opportunities;

digital and streaming distribution;

merchandise and licensing programs;

grassroots cricket development;

international and local player acquisition; and

sports-tourism activation around iconic venues.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION

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

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

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

LEADERSHIP COMMENTARY

Givemore Makoni, Managing Director, Zimbabwe Cricket:

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

Anil Mohan, Founder, The IPG Group:

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

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

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

FRANCHISE AND COMMERCIAL PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES

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

STRATEGIC CONTEXT FOR FLASH

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

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

INDUSTRY CONTEXT (THIRD-PARTY DATA)

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

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

DISCLAIMER

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

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

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

About Flash Sports & Media, Inc.

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

About the Zimbabwe T20 League

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

About Zimbabwe Cricket

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

About Twenty20 Cricket

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

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, or intentions relating to the proposed launch, development, and commercialization of the Zimbabwe T20 League; the development and commercialization of sports and media platforms; potential sponsorship, media rights, franchise sales, and other commercial opportunities; anticipated market size and growth; the participation of franchises, players, partners, venues, broadcasters, or sponsors; and the Company's ability to generate revenues from its activities. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "seek," "estimate," "potential," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events, or results, and readers should not place undue reliance on them.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the early-stage nature of ZT20 and the many conditions to its successful launch and operation; the possibility that definitive agreements with Zimbabwe Cricket, venues, franchise owners, sponsors, broadcasters, players, vendors, or other counterparties may not be entered into on acceptable terms, or at all; the possibility that required governmental, regulatory, league, venue, or governing-body approvals may not be obtained; venue completion, availability, permitting, security, logistics, and operational risks; the Company's reliance on third-party partners, including Zimbabwe Cricket, Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC, and other counterparties, to perform under contractual arrangements; uncertainties regarding the participation, availability, or continued involvement of franchise owners, players, ambassadors, or other talent referenced in this press release; the possibility that anticipated franchise sales, sponsorships, media rights arrangements, or other commercial opportunities may not materialize or may be delayed; the extent to which the Company is able to generate revenues, if any, from ZT20; risks relating to the integration of Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC and the Company's ability to realize anticipated synergies; the Company's ability to develop, monetize, and scale its sports, media, and experiential business lines; the timing and success of expansion into new markets; the Company's ability to establish or maintain strategic relationships and commercial arrangements; general economic, market, and industry conditions; competitive dynamics within the sports and media sectors; international, geopolitical, and regulatory risks associated with global sporting events; and the Company's ability to maintain compliance with applicable listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

In addition, certain market, industry, and economic data referenced in this press release are based on third-party sources and estimates that the Company believes to be reliable, but the Company has not independently verified such information and makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. References to prospective franchise ownership, players, partners, venues, and related individuals are based on the Company's current plans or on third-party announcements and media reports that the Company has not independently verified.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov.

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

Investor Relations Contact

Investors@flashsm.com

Company Websites

https://flashsportsandmedia.com

https://www.theipggroup.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WERIDE GENESIS: FOUR-LAYER ARCHITECTURE

WeRide GENESIS is constructed on four integrated capability layers:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About WeRide

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

Media Contacts

WeRide: pr@weride.ai

Safe Harbor Statement

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

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

DUBLIN, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For years, the world's business travel map was largely defined by financial centres and corporate headquarters. Today, professionals are increasingly drawn to destinations that combine economic relevance with lifestyle appeal. New research from Holafly for Business reveals that Spain, Japan and the United States are the destinations attracting the highest number of business travellers this summer, reflecting a broader evolution in how and why people travel for work.

According to Holafly's Summer Travel & eSIM Report 2026, Spain is the leading destination for business travellers this summer, reinforcing its position as one of the few countries capable of attracting both corporate and leisure travel at scale. Japan ranks second, followed by the United States and France, highlighting the continued importance of markets that combine strong business ecosystems with global accessibility.

Japan's position near the top of the ranking reflects its growing importance within the global business landscape, particularly as companies strengthen commercial ties across Asia-Pacific, one of the fastest-growing regions for business travel.

The United States remains one of the world's most important destinations for corporate mobility, supported by its concentration of technology, finance and multinational headquarters. France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany continue to attract strong business travel demand, while the United Arab Emirates stands out as one of the few destinations whose appeal appears driven primarily by business activity. Despite its limited presence in broader leisure rankings, the UAE has continued to strengthen its position as a global hub for finance, technology, trade and international events, particularly through cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"Business travel today is about much more than attending meetings," said Alex Bryzowski, VP of Holafly for Business. "The destinations leading our ranking combine economic relevance with the infrastructure, accessibility and international appeal that modern professionals increasingly expect."

The business travel map is no longer defined solely by where companies operate, but increasingly by where professionals want to spend their time. As work becomes more flexible and travel becomes more integrated into everyday life, solutions such as Holafly for Business are key to remain connected, productive and secure wherever work happens.

Top 10 Business Travel Destinations for Summer 2026

Spain

Japan

United States

France

Italy

United Kingdom

Canada

Germany

United Arab Emirates

Greece

Media contact: press@holafly.com

The transaction marks one of the largest renewable energy project financings in Romania and the wider Central and Eastern European region to date

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its Growth Markets Fund II (GMF II), today announced financial close for the 392 MW Pestera II onshore wind project in Constanța County, Romania.

The project represents one of the largest investments in new renewable energy infrastructure in Romania and one of the largest project finance transactions in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Pestera II project concluded a 15-year contract for difference (CfD) for 245 MW of its capacity in December 2024. The project is expected to reach commercial operations in 2028 and will contribute significantly to enhancing Romania's security of supply while delivering competitively priced renewable power for the long term.

The Pestera II project finance comprises facilities of approximately EUR 510 million provided by a consortium of seven local and international commercial banks: Erste Bank and Banca Comerciala Romana, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale and BRD, Eurobank, and Piraeus Bank. Equity is funded by the project owners: GMF II and two co-investors, the European Investment Bank and a Danish pension fund.

Main construction contracts have been entered into with Nordex, as the turbine supplier for 56 of its N163-6.X 7.0 MW turbines, and Electrogrup, as the balance of plant contractor. Blue Power Partners will provide construction management services.

Commenting on the announcement, Radu Gruescu, Partner at CIP, said: "We are pleased that Pestera II has reached financial close, a critical milestone for the project and important for the renewable energy sector in Romania. The size of the transaction is a clear demonstration that, through bankable regulatory frameworks such as EU-supported contracts for difference, Romania can attract the high-quality institutional capital necessary to deliver the country's objectives of achieving energy security and affordability."

Niels Holst, Partner at CIP and Co-head of the Growth Markets Funds, said: "The financial close achieved on Pestera II, one of the largest non-recourse renewable energy financings in Central and Eastern Europe, represents another successful investment under CIP's Growth Markets Fund II. It combines investment at scale in critical, modern energy infrastructure with attractive returns for our investors. We look forward to building on this successful transaction with further investments in Romania and the broader region."

Legal advice was provided by Clifford Chance (financing), Filip & Company (M&A transaction, CfD and project development) and Accura (construction contracts). Aurora Energy Research acted as commercial adviser, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) acted as technical adviser, EY acted as financial and tax adviser, and Marsh acted as insurance adviser in relation to the financing.

Notes to Editors

Media Contact:

E-mail: media@cip.com

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Founded in 2012, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S (CIP) is a global fund manager and leading investor in energy infrastructure. CIP builds value that matters by developing and constructing critical infrastructure projects that shape the future of energy.

Through its funds, CIP invests in power generation (solar and wind), energy storage, transmission and distribution, advanced bioenergy, low-carbon fuels and carbon capture.

With 15 funds currently under management, CIP is trusted by over 200 of the world's largest and most sophisticated institutions, having raised EUR ~37 billion to date. CIP has projects in more than 30 countries, with presence on the ground through a network of +2,300 professionals.

For more information, visit www.cip.com.  

BEIJING, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's inspection tour in Dezhou, east China's Shandong Province, CGTN published an article exploring how China is turning bumper harvests into lasting prosperity for farmers. The article highlights the country's efforts to strengthen food security, advance rural revitalization and ensure the benefits of development reach local communities.

A few taps on a smartphone, and the wheat is sold.

This summer, Wang Xiugang, a farmer in Xiajin County of Dezhou City, east China's Shandong Province, no longer had to spend hours waiting in line at a grain collection station. Through a mobile app, he could book a delivery time, check the prices, track quality inspection results and complete the entire selling process ? from weighing to payment ? in about 30 minutes.

The shift from queuing in person to selling grain at one's fingertips offers a glimpse into China's steadily advancing agricultural modernization.

For Chinese President Xi Jinping, agriculture, rural areas and farmers have long remained a top priority in governance. During an inspection tour in Dezhou on Wednesday, Xi stressed that agricultural and rural modernization is vital to China's broader modernization drive and called for concrete measures to strengthen the sector.

Securing the nation's rice bowl

"Ensuring a stable supply of grain and other important agricultural products is the top priority of agricultural production," Xi said while visiting farmland in Dezhou.

His remarks carry particular significance in a city often described as one of China's key grain baskets. Although it occupies just over 10,000 square kilometers, Dezhou contributes more than one kilogram out of every 100 kilograms of grain produced nationwide.

In recent years, Dezhou has become a testing ground for boosting agricultural productivity. Launched in 2021 by Dezhou City to advance national food security, the "Dunbanliang" initiative is a high-yield agricultural program that aims to produce over 1.5 metric tonnes of grain per Chinese mu (approximately 0.0667 hectares). Two years later, Dezhou built the country's first one-million-mu "Dunbanliang" demonstration zone.

The gains have been driven by high-standard farmland, upgraded irrigation systems, improved seed varieties and integrated water-and-fertilizer technologies. By 2025, farmland meeting the "Dunbanliang" benchmark had expanded to 1.58 million mu in Dezhou.

The effort is part of a broader national push. More than 90% of China's summer grain harvest has been completed this year, with another bumper harvest largely secured.

Turning harvests into better lives

Yet producing more grain is only part of the story.

For many farmers, challenges begin after the harvest. Limited drying space, storage losses and fluctuating market prices can all eat into earnings.

In Wucheng County, also in Dezhou, local authorities have introduced a "grain bank" model to address these concerns. Farmers can store grain, have it professionally dried and choose when to sell, helping reduce losses and improve returns.

The initiative underscores a broader vision behind China's drive for agricultural and rural modernization. The goal is not merely to boost agricultural output, but to advance rural revitalization and ensure farmers reap the fruits of modernization.

That goal was evident during Xi's tour.

At the home of villager Yu Xinhu in Xiyujia Village, Xi sat down with the family and asked about their daily lives, their jobs and income, the health of elderly family members, and the children's education. The questions highlighted a key measure of rural development: whether farmers are seeing tangible improvements in their lives.

In Xiyujia Village, those improvements are becoming increasingly visible. Through integrated development of e-commerce, tourism and cultural industries, it has helped more than 3,000 nearby residents share development opportunities. A livestreaming center generates about one million yuan in annual collective village income, while educational tourism programs attract more than 20,000 visitors each year.

As Xi told villagers before leaving, the ultimate goal of modernization is to meet people's aspirations for a better life. The ultimate success of a bumper harvest lies not only in the grain it produces, but in the prosperity and opportunities it brings to those who grow it.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-06-24/How-China-turns-bumper-harvests-into-lasting-prosperity-for-farmers-1Of7MKxNpeM/p.html

CGTN Digital 

cgtn@cgtn.com

HONG KONG, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guest Supply today announced a licensing agreement with RODA to manufacture and distribute RODA-branded skincare and personal care products across Asia Pacific for the hotel sector.

The agreement combines Guest Supply's hospitality manufacturing, distribution and service capabilities with RODA's clinically formulated approach to skin and hair care. Created in Barcelona, RODA develops products with sensitive skin in mind and designs its formulas to be suitable for all skin types.

RODA combines natural active ingredients with advanced research, technology and a sustainability-led approach. Its development model draws on ingredient analysis, scientific literature and product-review insights, supporting exclusive formulas created in-house with pharmacists and dermatological experts.

"RODA brings a distinctive, clinically formulated skincare proposition grounded in innovation, which will resonate with hotels looking to elevate the in-room experience," said Gustaf Lantz, senior vice president, EMEA and APAC regions, Guest Supply. "Through Gilchrist & Soames' manufacturing and quality expertise and Guest Supply's distribution capabilities across Asia Pacific, we can ensure brand integrity, reliable availability and make it easier for hotels to deliver a premium, performance-led amenity program at scale."

Under the agreement, Guest Supply will align RODA collections to hospitality operating requirements while maintaining brand standards. This includes quality assurance, scalable supply and simplified ordering for hotel partners through Guest Supply's established supply chain.

RODA is selectively distributed globally through dermatology clinics, concept stores and select hotels. Through this APAC licensing partnership, Guest Supply will expand access for hospitality customers across the region.

About Guest Supply

With more than 40 years of experience, Guest Supply is a leader in hospitality supplies, serving major hotel chains and independent properties. As part of Sysco Corporation, it provides product development, manufacturing, distribution and service support.

About RODA

RODA is a Barcelona-based dermatological beauty brand inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle and built on a data-driven approach to formulation. The brand combines natural active ingredients with advanced research to deliver effective, vegan and sustainability-minded skincare and haircare.

Media Contact: Ramit Plushnick-Masti, media@sysco.com

[Website: www.guestsupply.com.hk]

SYY-NEWS

Film showcases cultural landmark's impact while highlighting historic theatre's fight for survival

HONOLULU, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The historic Hawaii Theatre Center - lauded as the "Pride of the Pacific" upon its opening over a century ago - has released a new documentary-style video highlighting the history, community impact, and urgent financial challenges facing one of Hawaii's most treasured cultural institutions.

"The Hawaii Theatre is more than a venue - it's a gathering place, an educational resource, and a living piece of Hawaii's history," said Hawaii Theatre President and CEO Gregory Dunn. "This video tells the story of the people who make this institution special and why preserving it matters for future generations."

The eight-minute film features interviews with Dunn, longtime staff members, and community supporters, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the 103-year-old landmark and the role it plays in preserving arts, culture, and education in Hawaii.

The video comes as the nonprofit theatre confronts a perfect storm of financial pressures, including a five-fold increase in property insurance costs following the Lahaina wildfires, declining tourism, and rising maintenance expenses associated with preserving a historic building.

"Coming out of Covid, where we were essentially shut down for 22 months, we have not fully financially recovered from that," Dunn explains in the video. "For a non-profit that's operating on a very thin line, this is not sustainable."

The Hawaii Theatre's most dire financial need relates to property insurance premiums, which recently exploded from $90,000 per year to $450,000, compounding the financial difficulties associated with maintaining and repairing a century-old building that was hit hard by recent natural disasters.

The Hawaii Theatre receives no city or state subsidies, which is why local philanthropists Nicole and Clark Swalm stepped in to help. The Swalms provided a $150,000 lead grant, which the theatre is leveraging to raise the remaining $300,000 from supporters in the Honolulu community and beyond.

"Really, it's going to come down to the community members making choices about what they want to see in their community," Dunn says. "We have to make the choice now because once it's gone, it's gone."

The video is available now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDxutf_WuMc.

For more information or to support the Hawaii Theatre Center, visit www.HawaiiTheatre.com/support.

A video accompanying this release is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5478d734-937c-4698-b411-6afeab8163b1

Contact:

Ron McDaniel

Director of Communications and Marketing

ronmcdaniel@hawaiitheatre.com

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has introduced major upgrades to its CFD Copy Trading system, giving followers greater control over risk management through new position sizing models, independent take-profit and stop-loss settings, and advanced exposure controls.

Copy trading has become one of the most popular ways for users to participate in financial markets, allowing traders to replicate the strategies of experienced market participants. However, as adoption has grown, many users have encountered challenges associated with traditional copy trading models, particularly when differences in risk tolerance and trading style create unintended exposure.

To address these concerns, Bitget's latest upgrade introduces two new position sizing models. Under Fixed Ratio mode, position sizes are automatically adjusted according to the relative account equity of the follower and the trader being copied, reducing the risks associated with capital mismatches. Fixed Lot mode allows followers to define a predetermined position size for every copied trade, giving users more direct control over their exposure regardless of the trader's order size.

The update also introduces independent take-profit and stop-loss settings for followers, allowing users to establish personal risk thresholds separate from those of the trader they follow. Once a predefined profit or loss level is reached, positions can be automatically closed based on the follower's individual settings. Additional controls, including maximum copy lot limits and custom lot multipliers, provide further flexibility for both new and experienced users.

"Copy trading does mean giving up control of your account," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "As users become more sophisticated, they want the ability to benefit from experienced traders while managing risk according to their own objectives. This upgrade shifts copy trading from simple strategy replication toward a more personalized and controlled trading experience."

The enhancements were developed in response to user feedback and reflect a broader industry shift toward more flexible risk management tools. As traders increasingly participate across crypto and traditional financial markets, demand continues to grow for products that balance accessibility with greater control over capital allocation and risk exposure.

The launch follows Bitget's continued expansion of its CFD offering within the Universal Exchange ecosystem, which brings together crypto, stocks, commodities, foreign exchange products, and derivatives through a unified trading environment. Earlier this month, Bitget was recognized as the "Best Global Multi-Asset Trading Platform" at the Online Trading Expo, marking the company's first award in the CFD sector and reflecting growing industry recognition of its multi-asset trading strategy. By strengthening risk management capabilities within copy trading, Bitget continues enhancing the tools and infrastructure available to traders participating across global markets.

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, 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.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | 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.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched the VIP Miracle Badge Program, a new initiative designed to recognize active traders across crypto, stocks, and CFD markets while expanding access to premium services and exclusive rewards. The program introduces a series of achievement badges tied to trading activity across multiple asset classes and forms part of Bitget's broader effort to build a comprehensive VIP ecosystem for multi-asset traders.

As trading increasingly moves beyond a single asset class, users are building strategies across crypto, equities, commodities, foreign exchange products, and derivatives. The VIP Miracle Badge Program was created to recognize that evolution, rewarding traders who actively participate across the broader Universal Exchange ecosystem rather than within a single market segment.

"Most traders today rarely stay within one market," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "As users diversify their portfolios and move across markets, expectations around service, execution, and access continue to evolve. The VIP Miracle Badge Program builds on our VIP offering by recognizing trading achievements while giving users access to services and experiences designed for a multi-asset environment."

The VIP Miracle Badge Program introduces four achievement categories based on trading participation and performance across different markets. The UEX Trading Master badge recognizes users active across multiple asset classes. The Futures Trading Master badge is designed for derivatives traders, while the Stock Trading Master and CFD Trading Master badges recognize participation across tokenized equities, commodities, foreign exchange products, and global indices.

The launch follows a series of initiatives aimed at expanding access to Bitget's VIP services. Recent programs include the VIP Fast Track Program, which allows eligible traders to access VIP benefits more efficiently, and the VIP Airdrop Season, which provides exclusive opportunities across products and asset categories. Together, these initiatives support Bitget's Universal Exchange strategy by creating a more connected experience for users participating across crypto and traditional financial markets.

As Bitget continues to expand access to tokenized stocks, commodities, foreign exchange products, and digital assets through a single platform, the VIP Miracle Badge Program adds a new layer of recognition and rewards for traders operating across global markets. The initiative reflects the growing role of multi-asset participation within the Universal Exchange ecosystem and the increasing demand for services built around the needs of active traders.

For more information, visit: https://www.bitget.com/activity/vip-medal

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 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.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | 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.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8d9ffa59-32f5-4166-b351-f243ec0be350

Live-Fluence League showcases how creators are becoming entrepreneurs, partnering with brands to drive sales and build long-term brand equity, reflecting Ogilvy's Creator Commerce proposition and principle: Sales Overnight. Brand Over Time

Pitch Notes:

*Dear Editor,

*Three in four APAC consumers now actively skip polished, traditional advertising, while 90% say they rely on authentic creator-led content before making a purchase. The era of passive scrolling is officially over-and the era of Creator Commerce has arrived.

*To champion this massive retail shift, Ogilvy Singapore, in partnership with TikTok Shop, has launched the Live-Fluence League-a first-of-its-kind, real-time live commerce competition.

*Eight of Singapore's top social sellers went head-to-head in a high-octane live-stream battle, proving how creators are evolving from simple content producers into highly skilled retail entrepreneurs. The event wasn't just a competition; it was a live masterclass in Ogilvy's core belief: Sales Overnight. Brand Over Time.

*The energy was electrifying, and items selling out was proof it worked.

*Please find appended the release and event photos available here.

*Why this matters?

*The Trillion-Dollar Wave: By 2030, the creator ecosystem is projected to contribute a staggering US$1.2 trillion to the APAC economy.

*Beyond the 'Influencer': Creators are the new retailers, combining persuasive storytelling, product positioning, and real-time data analysis to drive direct business conversion.

*The Death of Theory: This event brought the rapid evolution of social commerce out of slide decks and into the real world, showing immediate, trackable ROI on a live leaderboard.

*Let's also not pretend - there are challenges when it comes to employment across the world - and people are hungry for alternative ways to make money and pursue careers. There is a win-win opportunity to be tapped into.

*Please let us know on any questions or interview requests, and we look forward to connecting with you on any future stories you're working on relating to brand, marketing, communications, social media and, of course, influence.

*Kindly email akashah.q@ogilvy.com / ada.tong@ogilvy.com.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 June 2026 - Ogilvy, in partnership with TikTok Shop, today launched the Live-Fluence League, a first-of-its-kind live commerce competition in Singapore which brought together eight of leading social sellers to compete in real time, driving measurable sales for featured brands through a live, trackable leaderboard. The atmosphere was electric and the energy unrivalled. Singapore became the first market across the Ogilvy Asia Pacific network to introduce the League this evening.

More than a competition, the Live-Fluence League marked a milestone moment for Singapore's rapidly evolving creator economy. For the first time, brands, marketers, media and creators witnessed the power of live commerce unfold in real time, with TikTok Shop experts providing live commentary and analysis of the strategies, techniques and commercial decisions that drive successful social selling.

"By bringing together creators, brands and platforms, Ogilvy's Live-Fluence League demonstrated how creator commerce can serve as both a growth engine for businesses and a career opportunity for the next generation of entrepreneurs. This is part of Ogilvy's long-term commitment of spearheading and advocating for a more sustainable and dynamic creator economy - one that equips creators with the opportunities, education and industry connections needed to thrive," said James Baldwin, Head of Influence, Ogilvy Asia Pacific.

Unlike traditional industry events that discuss commerce in theory, guests experienced it first-hand, watching creators transform content into actual sales and influence with clear returns on investments for businesses.

This is especially relevant at a time where many are seeking alternative streams of income amid concerns about employment

Ogilvy is actively working hand-in-hand with brands to unlock new growth channels within the rapidly growing creator commerce economy, to turn everyday influence into a powerful driver of sales, strategic investment and measurable revenue.

Shirley Tay, Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy Group Singapore shared, "As the commerce landscape rapidly evolves, we are focused on partnering with brands to unlock new, scalable avenues for growth through the creator-led economy. This isn't just about content; it is about conversion. By integrating social, live-stream, and affiliate commerce directly into the brand ecosystem, we turn engagement into measurable revenue, building a frictionless commerce presence for our clients that meets consumers exactly where they are. As industry leaders, Ogilvy Singapore is proud to be pioneering this tech-enabled, creator-driven frontier for our clients because, as David Ogilvy famously said, 'We sell, or else'".

Ogilvy's Creator Commerce proposition is built around a simple principle: Sales Overnight. Brand Over Time.

Of course, creator commerce presents enormous commercial potential, but rather than taking a short-term, tactical approach with creators done on ad hoc basis, Ogilvy believes sustainable success requires a strategic approach. This takes into consideration brand alignment, creator fit and the long-term equity being built-or eroded-with every engagement.

The sales overnight, brand over time approach combines the immediate revenue-driving potential of creator commerce with brand-building strategies that ensure creators, content and commerce work cohesively alongside wider marketing communication efforts.

Creator Commerce: The Next Frontier of Growth

By 2030, the ecosystem is projected to contribute US$1.2 trillion to Asia Pacific's (APAC) economy, fuelled by a staggering 1,267% year-on-year increase in monetised creators across the region.[1] At the same time, retail is experiencing a growing authenticity crisis. Three in four APAC consumers now actively skip overly polished advertising, while 90% say they rely on authentic creator-led content before making a purchase decision.[2]

These shifts are fundamentally reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate and buy products. Social commerce is no longer an emerging trend-it is now one of the fastest-growing retail channels globally, contributing an estimated US$1.6 trillion to the US$5 trillion e-commerce industry.[3]

Yet despite the explosive growth of TikTok Shop and other social commerce platforms across the region, many brands remain on the sidelines and are not yet tapping into the strength of creator commerce to grow their business. As competition intensifies, the opportunity for brand early movers is becoming increasingly limited.

From Content Creators to Commercial Entrepreneurs

The Live-Fluence League was designed to spotlight a significant transformation taking place within the creator economy: creators are no longer simply content producers, they are becoming entrepreneurs, retailers, and business owners.

The competition showcased the sophisticated skill set required to succeed in this new economy-from persuasive storytelling and audience engagement to salesmanship, product positioning, data analysis and commercial strategy.

Beyond the competition itself, the event served as a platform for thought leadership and industry learning. Guests heard from platform leaders, commerce experts and successful creators on the future of social selling, changing consumer behaviour and the evolving role of creators in the digital economy. They were also given direct access to participating livestream sellers, providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the individuals redefining modern retail through creator-led commerce.

In a marketplace where anyone can sell, the brands that will win are the ones that sell with purpose.

[1] TikTok White Paper 2026"The Art and Science of Authenticity,", https://newsroom.tiktok.com/us12-trillion-by-2030-tiktoks-art-and-science-of-authenticity-study-on-creator-driven-growth-in-apac?lang=en-SG and Marketing Interactive 2025, https://www.marketing-interactive.com/apac-creator-economy-tipped-to-hit-trillion-by-2030

[2] TikTok White Paper 2026"The Art and Science of Authenticity,", https://newsroom.tiktok.com/us12-trillion-by-2030-tiktoks-art-and-science-of-authenticity-study-on-creator-driven-growth-in-apac?lang=en-SG and Marketing Interactive 2025, https://www.marketing-interactive.com/apac-creator-economy-tipped-to-hit-trillion-by-2030

[3] McKinsey Report, 2021

About Ogilvy

Ogilvy has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy in 1948. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity ? innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across more than 120 offices spanning 90 countries.

Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook'

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

Hashtags: #Ogilvy

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 June 2026 - SCG, ASEAN's leading low-carbon cement manufacturer, co-hosted Cemtech ASIA 2026, a world-class conference and exhibition for the global cement sector held from June 14 to 17, 2026.

Driven by a shared commitment to accelerating low-carbon transition and achieving Net Zero goals, industry executives and experts from across the world gathered to explore breakthrough innovations, expand business networks amidst global challenges, and navigate sustainable business transformations in response to tightening environmental regulations and resource conservation demands.

At Cemtech Asia 2026, SCG demonstrated its commitment to advancing the cement industry through tangible low-carbon cement innovations. Mr. Surachai Nimlaor, President of SCG Cement and Green Solutions, stated:

"As the region's leader in the low-carbon cement industry, SCG is dedicated to developing breakthrough innovations that minimize resource consumption and maximize eco-friendliness. By steadily reducing carbon dioxide emissions, we directly address the evolving demands and adaptation challenges of the construction industry across ASEAN and global markets."

Alongside showcasing its cutting-edge LC3 low-carbon cement prototype at the exhibition, SCG hosted an exclusive site visit to its Ta Luang Cement Plant in Saraburi Province for global delegates. Key highlights of the showcase and tour included:

*SCG LC3 Structural Cement: Developed from limestone, calcined clay, and specialized additives, this next-generation low-carbon cement reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30-40%. Its production process incorporates up to 40% biomass alternative fuels (such as rice husks and straw) and over 35% renewable energy. This is achieved without compromising any product performance or structural integrity, with its environmental performance independently verified through an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

*Rondo Heat Battery: SCG has pioneered ASEAN's first installation of the Rondo Heat Battery at the Ta Luang Cement Plant. Developed in collaboration with Rondo Energy, this breakthrough thermal energy storage solution converts intermittent renewable power into high-temperature thermal energy, storing it at up to 1,500?C in thermal media. With an exceptional energy recovery efficiency of up to 97% and a lifespan exceeding 40 years, the system provides a continuous 24/7 supply of clean heat, supporting the decarbonization of industrial manufacturing processes.

*Refractory Solutions by The Siam Refractory Industry Co., Ltd. (SRIC): As a leading global refractory solutions provider, SRIC showcased its advanced technologies and innovative solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, including:

1. Anti-Hydration Brick: The world's first Anti-Hydration brick, extending shelf life from 6 to 24 months. This breakthrough innovation helps minimize material degradation, reduce production downtime, and improve overall operational efficiency.

2. Thermal Media for Heat Battery: Co-developed with Rondo Energy, these high-performance heat storage blocks deliver up to 97% thermal efficiency, enabling reliable 24-hour energy availability and supporting the transition toward cleaner industrial energy solutions.

 a. Solar Floating: Installed at the Ta Luang Cement Plant, this floating solar array generates 16.6 million kWh of clean electricity annually, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over 8,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. By repurposing the plant's industrial reservoirs, the system optimizes resource efficiency and highlights SCG's integration of green energy into heavy industry.

As co-host of Cemtech ASIA 2026, SCG reaffirmed its role as a trusted industry leader on the global stage. The event served as a major catalyst for expanding business networks and facilitating high-level technology and knowledge exchanges with world-class industry players. Moving forward, SCG is dedicated to cultivating global alliances to propel Thailand's cement industry toward a Net Zero pathway, solidifying its position as ASEAN's cement leader.

Watch the video:

CEMTECH ASIA 2026 | SCG Driving ASEAN's Cement Industry Towards Net Zero

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

Hashtags: #SCG