ORDOS, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 October 2026 - Recently, 20,000-plus jin, or roughly 10 metric tons, of seed crabs raised in-house at the Yellow River Rice-Fish Eco-Tourism Park in Juungar Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, have been lifted from their rearing ponds and moved into dedicated overwintering ponds, building the reserve that next year's rice-field polyculture will draw from.

In early winter, workers at the park are making the most of the season, hauling up the rearing cages and releasing the lively young crabs into purpose-built overwintering ponds. The 20,000-plus jin of quality seed crabs bred at the park are now in the critical stage of concentrated harvest and transfer, and the stock will carry the rice fields through next year's growing season.

Juungar Banner sits in the heart of the Yellow River's "Ji-shaped bend." The river runs 238 kilometers through the banner, 28 percent of its course in Inner Mongolia. As a major source area of coarse sediment for the Yellow River, the banner long suffered severe soil erosion, with eroded land at one point covering more than 70 percent of its total area.

Around Xiaotanzi Village in Dalu Town, geology has left some 80 percent of the land chronically saline-alkali. "For as far as the eye could see, the land was a stretch of white, and nine crops in ten failed." Traditional corn fields there yielded less than 300 jin per mu, or roughly 2.25 metric tons per hectare. A fragile ecology and poor livelihoods were the twin shackles on this stretch of riverbank.

In 2018, Dalu Town introduced a combined approach of "saline-alkali land improvement and integrated rice-fish farming." Ditches were dug to flush salts from the soil, organic fertilizer was worked into the soil, and salt-tolerant rice was planted on a trial basis. In 2022, the park began large-scale operations with an integrated polyculture of "rice, crab and fish": the rice shaded the aquatic animals, and their waste fertilized the fields, yielding "three harvests from a single field."

This May the park brought in 200 jin of megalopae, the post-larval stage, from Panjin, Liaoning, and released them into the rice paddies to grow out. After a full growing cycle under close, hands-on management, the park produced more than 20,000 jin of quality seed crabs. It is the third year the park has raised its own seed crabs, and the integrated system has come together from megalopa rearing and field management to overwintering and stock retention.

"Buying in megalopae to raise the seed crabs ourselves lowers the cost of stock, gives us a much better handle on quality, and has improved survival rates. It makes the rice-crab business steadier and easier to plan," said Qiao Sheng, who heads agricultural production at the park. Of this year's 20,000-plus jin of seed crabs, 10,000 jin is earmarked for the park's own rice fields and the rest will be sold, bringing returns from both in-house grow-out and external sales.

Overwintering care is critical to the survival of seed crabs. Survival rates have held steady over the past two winters. Those that come through will go back into the paddies next May to be grown to adult size and reach the market in autumn.

From bare saline-alkali waste to "three harvests from one field," Xiaotanzi's turnaround is one facet of Juungar Banner's broader shift from ecological governance to industrial transformation. In 2025, the village's collective income surpassed 500,000 yuan, and per-capita income reached 30,000 yuan.

Across the winter fields of the Yellow River's Ji-shaped bend, 20,000 jin of seed crabs lie quiet in their overwintering ponds, waiting for May and their return to the rice fields, while a deeper transformation, from "black-grey" to "green," keeps unfolding across this land.

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

Raises 2026 revenue guidance to 20% year over year growth

Highlights

Revenue grew 20% year over year to $2.08 billion

Product revenue grew 37% year over year to $765 million

Billings grew 29% year over year to $2.34 billion1

GAAP operating margin of 34%

Non-GAAP operating margin of 38%1

GAAP earnings per share of $0.86

Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.911

Operating cash flow of $946 million

Free cash flow of $865 million1

Share repurchase authorization increased by $1.2 billion; remaining authorization of $2 billion

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT), a global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

"We are very pleased with our excellent third quarter results, which reflect strong execution and broad-based demand across our entire portfolio, allowing us to raise our 2026 billings guidance for the third time this year," said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortinet. "Our strong momentum is driven by our continued leadership in the AI era. As AI introduces entirely new attack surfaces, Network Security remains the critical foundation of AI Security. Powered by our single FortiOS operating system and proprietary FortiASIC technology, our unified platform approach secures critical AI infrastructure while delivering industry-leading performance and a significantly lower total cost of ownership."

Recent Business Highlights

Announced the new FortiGuard Inline AI Security Service, delivering AI-specific inspection and guardrails to FortiGate customers through a cloud-delivered service, enabling organizations to gain deeper visibility into AI activity and stop AI threats and data exposure through the Fortinet solutions they already use.

Announced the FortiLink SASE service, giving organizations a simpler way to secure small branch office, remote facilities, and other distributed locations without requiring a dedicated on-site firewall. By connecting local networks to FortiSASE, organizations can protect and manage wired and wireless devices through a simplified, cloud-delivered service while managing networking and security from a single console.

Selected by NVIDIA as a top OpenShell Reference Architecture Partner to Secure AI.

Oracle and Fortinet announced a collaboration to help enterprises securely accelerate AI adoption, combining OCI Enterprise AI with FortiAIGate to protect and govern AI applications and agents at scale while maintaining visibility and control.

Selected by Microsoft to join its Sovereign Partner Ecosystem based on Fortinet's sovereign solution strength, to together deliver trusted sovereign AI security solutions to highly regulated industries.

Recognized as a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall and positioned highest for Ability to Execute for the second consecutive year.

Guidance

For the fourth quarter of 2026, Fortinet currently expects:

Revenue in the range of $2.155 billion to $2.245 billion

Billings in the range of $2.775 billion to $2.925 billion

Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 78.0% to 80.0%

Non-GAAP operating margin in the range of 35.5% to 37.5%

Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $0.93 to $0.95, assuming a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 18%. This assumes a diluted share count of 741 million to 745 million.

For the fiscal year 2026, Fortinet currently expects:

Revenue in the range of $8.125 billion to $8.215 billion

Service revenue in the range of $5.150 billion to $5.170 billion

Billings in the range of $9.568 billion to $9.718 billion

Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 79.7% to 80.3%

Non-GAAP operating margin in the range of 36.5% to 37.5%

Diluted non-GAAP net income per share in the range of $3.54 to $3.58, assuming a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 18%. This assumes a diluted share count of 741 million to 743 million.

These statements are forward looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Forward-Looking Statements section below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Our guidance with respect to non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, gain on intellectual property matters, a gain from an escrow settlement and a tax adjustment required for an effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis, which differs from the GAAP effective tax rate. We have not reconciled our guidance with respect to non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures because certain items that impact these measures are uncertain or out of our control or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call Details

Fortinet will host a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the earnings results. A live webcast of the conference call and supplemental slides will be accessible from the Investor Relations page of Fortinet's website at https://investor.fortinet.com and a replay will be archived and accessible at https://investor.fortinet.com/events-and-presentations.

Fourth Quarter 2026 Conference Participation Schedule:

BMO Technology and Innovation Leaders Conference

November 12, 2026

UBS Global Technology and AI Conference

December 2, 2026

Barclays Global Technology Conference

December 9, 2026

Members of Fortinet's management team are expected to present at these conferences and discuss the latest company strategies and initiatives. Fortinet's conference presentations are expected to be available via webcast on the company's website. To access the most updated information, pre-register and listen to the webcast of each event, please visit the Investor Presentation & Events page of Fortinet's website at https://investor.fortinet.com/events-and-presentations. The schedule is subject to change.

About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)

Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Over one million lifetime customers trust Fortinet's solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams ("CERTs"), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet's commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet's elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding any indications related to future growth and market share gains, our strategy going forward, and guidance and expectations around future financial results, including guidance and expectations for the fourth quarter and full year 2026, and any statements regarding our market opportunity and market size, and business momentum. Although we attempt to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based such that actual results are materially different from our forward-looking statements in this release. Important factors that could cause results to differ materially from the statements herein include the following: general economic risks, including those caused by economic challenges, a possible economic downturn or recession and the effects of inflation or stagflation, changing interest rates or reduced information technology spending; supply chain challenges; negative impacts from global conflicts and their related macroeconomic effects; competitiveness in the security market; the dynamic nature of the security market and its products and services; specific economic risks worldwide and in different geographies, and among different customer segments; uncertainty regarding demand and increased business and renewals from existing customers; sales execution risks, including risks in connection with the timing and completion of large strategic deals; uncertainties around continued success in sales growth and market share gains; uncertainties in market opportunities and the market size; actual or perceived vulnerabilities in our supply chain, products or services, and any actual or perceived breach of our network or our customers' networks; longer sales cycles, particularly for larger enterprise, service providers, government and other large organization customers; the effectiveness of our salesforce and failure to convert sales pipeline into final sales; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products and other product functionality risks; risks associated with integrating acquisitions and changes in circumstances and plans associated therewith, including, among other risks, changes in plans related to product and services integrations, product and services plans and sales strategies; sales and marketing execution risks; execution risks around new product development and introductions and innovation; litigation and disputes and the potential cost, distraction and damage to sales and reputation caused thereby or by other factors; cybersecurity threats, breaches and other disruptions; market acceptance of new products and services; the ability to attract and retain personnel; changes in strategy; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organizations; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive, including advances in artificial intelligence; risks associated with the adoption of, and demand for, our products and services in general and by specific customer segments, including those caused by competition and pricing pressure; excess product inventory for any reason, including those caused by the effects of inflation and changing interest rates in certain geographies and the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan or conflicts in the Middle East; risks associated with business disruption caused by natural disasters and health emergencies such as earthquakes, fires, power outages, typhoons, floods, health epidemics and viruses, and by manmade events such as civil unrest, labor disruption, international trade disputes, international conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan or conflicts in the Middle East, terrorism, wars, and critical infrastructure attacks; tariffs, trade disputes and other trade barriers, and negative impact on sales based on geo-political dynamics and disputes and protectionist policies, including the impact of any future shutdowns of the U.S. government; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or upon request from our investor relations department. All forward-looking statements herein reflect our opinions only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update forward-looking statements herein in light of new information or future events.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial information provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. For further information regarding why we believe that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to the "Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have provided in this release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial and liquidity measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We use these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing our financial results and believe they are useful to investors, as a supplement to GAAP measures, in evaluating our ongoing operational performance. We believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial results with peer companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures provided in the financial statement tables below.

Billings (non-GAAP). We define billings as revenue recognized in accordance with GAAP plus the change in deferred revenue from the beginning to the end of the period less any deferred revenue balances acquired from business combination(s) during the period. We consider billings to be a useful metric for management and investors because billings drive current and future revenue as well as cash flows. There are a number of limitations related to the use of billings instead of GAAP revenue. First, billings are impacted by the term of security subscription and support agreements and do not provide an indication as to the timing of revenue being recognized from these service contracts. Second, we may calculate billings in a manner that is different from peer companies that report similar financial measures. Management accounts for these limitations by providing specific information regarding GAAP revenue and evaluating billings together with GAAP revenue.

Free cash flow (non-GAAP). We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities minus purchases of property and equipment and excluding any significant non-recurring items, such as proceeds from escrow settlements. Free cash flow margin is defined as free cash flow divided by GAAP revenue. We believe free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after capital expenditures, can be used for strategic opportunities, including repurchasing outstanding common stock, investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions and strengthening the balance sheet. A limitation of using free cash flow rather than the GAAP measures of cash provided by or used in operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities is that free cash flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash and cash equivalents balance for the period because it excludes investing activities other than capital expenditures and cash flows from financing activities. Management accounts for this limitation by providing information about our capital expenditures and other investing and financing activities on the face of the cash flow statement and under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources" in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K and by presenting cash flows from investing and financing activities in our reconciliation of free cash flow. In addition, it is important to note that other companies, including companies in our industry, may not use free cash flow, may calculate free cash flow in a different manner than we do or may use other financial measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of free cash flow as a comparative measure.

Adjusted free cash flow (non-GAAP). We define adjusted free cash flow as free cash flow plus cash payments associated with real estate related purchases. Adjusted free cash flow margin is defined as adjusted free cash flow divided by GAAP revenue.

Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin. We define non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit plus stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangible assets. Non-GAAP gross margin is defined as non-GAAP gross profit divided by GAAP revenue.

Non-GAAP operating income and operating margin. We define non-GAAP operating income as operating income plus stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangible assets, and charges in connection with litigation settlements, less gain on intellectual property matters and, when applicable, other significant non-recurring items in a given quarter. Non-GAAP operating margin is defined as non-GAAP operating income divided by GAAP revenue.

We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors because they exclude the items noted above so that our management and investors can compare our recurring core business gross profit, gross margin and operating results over multiple periods. There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP financial measurements instead of the measurements calculated in accordance with GAAP. First, these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the items noted above. Second, the components of the costs and gains that we exclude from our calculation of non-GAAP measures may differ from the components that peer companies exclude when they report their non-GAAP results of operations. Management accounts for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures and evaluating non-GAAP operating income together with these measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP net income and diluted net income per share. We define non-GAAP net income as net income plus the items noted above under non-GAAP operating income and operating margin. In addition, we adjust non-GAAP net income and diluted net income per share for a gain from an escrow settlement and a tax adjustment required for an effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis, which differs from the GAAP effective tax rate. We define non-GAAP diluted net income per share as non-GAAP net income divided by the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors for the same reasons that we use non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin. However, in order to provide a more complete picture of our recurring core business operating results, we include in non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share, the tax adjustment required resulting in an effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis, which often differs from the GAAP tax rate. We believe the non-GAAP effective tax rates we use are reasonable estimates of normalized tax rates for our current and prior fiscal years under our global operating structure. The same limitations described above regarding our use of non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin apply to our use of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share. We account for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share and evaluating non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share together with net income and diluted net income per share calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Copyright 2026 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols and denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet's trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiCNAPP, FortiMail, FortiAP, FortiEDR, FortiNAC, FortiSwitch, FortiWeb, SECURITY FABRIC, Linksys and the Linksys logo. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

FTNT-F

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Hybrid Mesh Firewall, Rajpreet Kaur, Adam Hils, Odie Adesina, 7 September 2026.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEINEKEN and Magnum Photos have released a photoseries documenting the pubs and bars across Europe that bring locals together and where visitors are made to feel at home.

8 local photographers spent the summer capturing venues in 11 countries for the series dubbed Europe's Living Rooms. Whether it's a Greek tavern, a Czech beer hall or a Dutch brown bar, the places may look different but they all share the same shared truth: no matter where you are in the world, you can connect over a beer.

The photography captures a window into bar and pub culture - from crowds spilling onto the streets of Soho outside The Devonshire Arms to grab a beer after work, to different generations grabbing a snack and an ice cold beer next to the Dutch canals.

But the role these venues play extends beyond bringing people together. The launch of the photos comes as new economic data reveals how Europe's pubs and bars are changing how tourists travel and support a tourism economy worth billions.

The European lifestyle attracts tourists from around the world, contributing an estimated ?828billion in tourism spending each year**. At the heart of that appeal are the pubs, bars, caf?s and tavernas that offer a window into local life.

With a longstanding presence across Europe's hospitality and tourism economies, HEINEKEN is shining a light on the important role local venues play in shaping destinations, visitor experiences and local communities. The findings are backed by new economic analysis showing tourism-attributable spending on HEINEKEN's beer portfolio is worth almost ?2.5 billion annually - equating to almost two million beers bought by tourists every day. Most of that spending takes place in pubs and bars, highlighting the important role they play in Europe's tourism economy.

Additional consumer research released today finds that more than a third (35%) have visited a particular neighbourhood or area specifically to visit a venue, while one in five (20%) have stayed longer in a destination because of one.

Sometimes spontaneity is key, as over half (52%) discover local venues by simply wandering. The key things that make these venues memorable are the atmosphere (57%), the local food and drink (54%), and the people that they meet (30%).

For many travellers, this is because getting a real taste of a destination means going where local life happens. Nearly three quarters (73%) of European tourists agree you understand a place better when you've spent time where locals socialise, while more than three quarters (77%) visited a local pub, bar caf? or taverna multiple times on their most recent European holiday.

And at the heart of these spaces is something harder to put a price on: social connection. Nearly three quarters (74%) agree these spaces create opportunities for meaningful face-to-face connection that are hard to replicate elsewhere, while more than half (52%) have struck up a conversation with someone they didn't know in one. Across the photography series, strangers and friends alike are brought together by shared experiences over a beer - from the collective highs and lows of watching the World Cup at Bar Sidi in Madrid to crowds gathering around music at Campo Solar festival in Belgium - these spaces have the unique power to unite people over a glass of cold beer.

Glenn Caton, President of Europe at the HEINEKEN Company, commented: "Tourism is hugely important to Europe, and thriving pubs, bars, caf?s and tavernas are part of what makes its cities and neighbourhoods worth visiting. They bring visitors into local communities, support hospitality business and jobs, and give people a reason to explore beyond the traditional tourist trail.

"But their value isn't only economic. These are places where visitors can experience local life first-hand - meeting people, discovering local culture and becoming part of a community, even if only for an evening. Europe's Living Rooms celebrates that wider role, and the positive contribution that beer and hospitality make to Europe."

Marine Merindol, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Magnum Photos, said: "This project resonated with us so strongly. Magnum photographers immersed themselves at eleven bars across Europe to paint a portrait not just of places, but of the people who make them matter - from the regular who's sat in the same seat for twenty years, to a toast repeated the same way every night, or a football chant that turns a room of strangers into teammates. These are the details that so many miss if they are just passing through. A true understanding of Europe Living Rooms is earned by staying long enough to relate to them, and this is exactly what documentary photography can capture that other mediums can't. It doesn't just illustrate a place; it witnesses it. Through the collaboration with HEINEKEN, these photographs capture something true about how people in Europe live and connect together."

Europe's Living Rooms forms part of HEINEKEN's wider Story of Beer in Europe - championing the social, cultural and economic value of beer and hospitality across Europe.

About the economic data

Sales figures were taken from a study that was conducted by Steward Redqueen and assesses HEINEKEN's economic impact across Europe in 2025. Using multi-regional input-output modelling, it combines HEINEKEN's 2025 financial, procurement, employment and commercial data with official economic statistics to estimate GDP contribution and employment supported across its value chain.

Indirect impacts are described as supported rather than created, as the analysis does not estimate what economic activity would have occurred in the absence of HEINEKEN. The analysis covers 29 European countries, including 21 HEINEKEN operating markets and eight export-only markets.

About the consumer research

The research was conducted in partnership with OnePoll between 21 August and 2 September 2026, polling 11,000 participants of legal drinking age across 11 European markets (UK, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Austria, Italy, Belgium and Czechia).

OnePoll are company partners of the Market Research Society and certified by Communications Management Standards (CMS).

About HEINEKEN

HEINEKEN is the world's pioneering beer company. We are the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken? brand, we have a portfolio of more than 340 international, regional, local, and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKEN's over 87,000 employees, we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution, and focused cost management.

Through "Brew a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We operate breweries, malteries, cider plants, and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on our Company's website, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Magnum Photos

Magnum Photos is a cooperative of acclaimed, independent photographers who share an ongoing commitment to documenting world events, people, places, daily life and culture. Founded in 1947, Magnum Photos has been telling stories of the past, defining the present, and shaping the future through photography for over 79 years, united by its values of uncompromising excellence, truth, respect and independence.

With more than 6.6 million followers across the internet, and a rolling program of museum shows, exhibitions, and events across the globe, Magnum photographers continue to inspire a growing worldwide audience. Find out more at magnumphotos.com.

References

*New consumer research, commissioned by HEINEKEN Company and conducted by OnePoll, August-September 2026. All subsequent consumer research data throughout this release relates to this study.

**Eurostat BoP data on foreign tourist spending for 2024 across HEINEKEN's 21 operating markets in Europe.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

First-to-market Hybrid Mesh SSE secures people, AI agents, and data wherever work happens, with local control and up to 50% lower SSE operating costs

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cloud-only era of enterprise security is over. Work now happens everywhere, AI is transforming both the workforce and the threat landscape, and geopolitical realities are forcing organizations to reclaim control over their data and infrastructure.

This is the Distributed AI Era, and yesterday's security architectures are no longer sufficient. Today, Skyhigh Security, a leader in data-centric security, launched Skyhigh Hybrid Mesh SSE, an adaptive architecture that delivers Zero Trust and advanced data protection wherever work happens-while simultaneously enabling enterprises to reduce Security Service Edge (SSE) operating costs by up to 50%.

The Distributed AI Era Is Changing the Rules of Enterprise Security

Three converging forces are reshaping how organizations operate and what it takes to secure them:

Work is distributed across every location. According to Gallup, 74% of remote-capable employees now work on-site or hybrid. Critical applications and data still span on-premises and cloud environments, and sending in-office traffic out to the cloud and back adds cost, latency, and complexity without adding protection.

AI is the new insider threat. Employees are integrating sanctioned and unsanctioned AI tools into everyday work, often from inside the corporate network. Autonomous AI agents are gaining access to internal applications, systems, and sensitive data, while Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers are creating new connections between AI and private enterprise resources. In Trellix's 2026 Mind of the CISO report, "The New Insider," 95% of organizations said they had experienced an insider incident linked to the actions of an AI or autonomous system in the past 12 months. When people and agents operate inside the enterprise, Zero Trust enforcement cannot stop at the cloud's edge.

Sovereignty demands local control. Tightening regulation and geopolitical uncertainty are pushing data sovereignty, compliance, and resilience onto the board agenda. Gartner predicts that by 2028, over 50% of multinational enterprises will have digital sovereignty strategies1. Enterprises need control over where traffic is decrypted, inspected, and logged, and a way to keep operating when an external cloud path fails.

It's Time for a New Approach

"The way of working and the threat landscape have fundamentally changed. People work and use AI everywhere, while autonomous agents are becoming a new kind of insider threat with access to critical enterprise systems," said Vishal Rao, CEO of Skyhigh Security. "At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty is driving greater demands for data control and resilience. Yet security architectures haven't kept pace. We saw this coming and built ahead of it. The Distributed AI Era demands a new standard for security. Skyhigh is setting it by delivering a future-ready platform that delivers more value, is simpler to operate, and costs less."

Skyhigh Hybrid Mesh SSE challenges two long-held assumptions about how enterprise security must be delivered:

1.Achieving Zero Trust requires routing everything through the cloud. Skyhigh Security takes a different approach, intelligently applying one common policy for inspection and enforcement as close to users, applications, and data as possible-locally when they are local and through the cloud when they are not.

2.Stronger security inevitably costs more. Skyhigh rejects that trade-off. Its SSE platform ranked #1 among eight evaluated vendors in the Advanced SSE use case in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge2. Hybrid Mesh SSE builds on those capabilities with an adaptive architecture and flexible pricing that can deliver up to 50% lower SSE operating costs compared with cloud-only alternatives.

"A modern security architecture for Financial Services must protect a complex environment comprising remote and on-site teams, critical systems across cloud and on-premises data centers, be resilient against a wide range of first- and third-party failure scenarios and adhere to stringent regulations," said David Boda, Chief Security and Resilience Officer, Nationwide Building Society. "Security solutions should adapt to our business, not the other way around."

Work Is Hybrid. Security Should Be Too.

Rather than forcing the enterprise into a single delivery model, Skyhigh Hybrid Mesh SSE delivers an adaptive security architecture with five differentiated outcomes:

Zero Trust for people and AI, everywhere.

Data-centric protection against emerging AI threats.

Resilient by design. Sovereign by choice.

Unified policy and administration.

Up to 50% lower SSE operating costs.

"First-generation SSE platforms succeeded by shifting network and web security to the cloud, but the market has changed," said Christopher Steffen, VP of Research, Information Security, Risk and Compliance Management, at Enterprise Management Associates. "Skyhigh Security is redefining what modern SSE must look like. Their Hybrid Mesh approach brings a much-needed structural shift to the industry, empowering enterprise security teams to align enforcement with their true operational realities while dramatically improving the economics of Zero Trust."

Hybrid Mesh SSE is the company's third major innovation of 2026, following Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and the patent-pending Secure Browser Controls. It builds on Skyhigh's established SSE strengths in data loss prevention, secure web access, SaaS security, private application access, Zero Trust, and AI protection-unifying these capabilities across local and cloud environments under one consistent policy framework.

Skyhigh Hybrid Mesh SSE is now globally available. Learn more on the Skyhigh Security website and in the launch blog.

1Gartner, Operating Model Change Imperative: Sustain Digital Sovereignty by Aligning Risk, Value, and Cost by Remi Gulzar, Peter Skyttegaard, Brandon Germer, Chet Geschickter, Jaime Capella, Jamie Heyes, and Tomas Nielsen (May 25, 2026)

2Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Security Service Edge, Thomas Lintemuth, Theo de Feligonde, John Watts, Jonathan Forest, 3 August 2026

Gartner is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Skyhigh Security

Skyhigh Security is dedicated to securing the world's data with data-centric security solutions that empower organizations to collaborate freely without compromising on security. Its market-leading Security Service Edge (SSE) portfolio focuses on protecting data use, enabling innovation and compliance across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. For more information, visit https://www.skyhighsecurity.com/.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Donna Karan New York has always been defined by two enduring muses: the woman and the city. One shapes the other. Together, they embody a spirit that is powerful yet effortless, timeless, and unmistakably modern.

Building on the story introduced in Fall 2026, Donna Karan New York unveils its latest campaign starring Irina Shayk, who returns to the brand embodying the confidence and modern femininity of the Donna Karan woman.

Photographed by Mert Alas, the campaign captures Irina in the warmth of golden hour-a woman in motion, moving effortlessly between day and night. Illuminated by reflective light, she brings a distinctly New York attitude to a series of dark sophisticated looks designed to transition seamlessly from day to evening.

Shayk embodies the collection's effortless approach to dressing with ease. A belted leather trench is worn open over bare legs; a strapless leather sheath follows the body; a V-neck cocktail dress is punctuated with sculptural gold hardware; and a full-length sequin gown is layered beneath a long wool coat. Each look balances structure with femininity and ease with glamour.

With the black leather Bridgehampton Tote or Cashmere Clutch in hand, Shayk brings her unmistakable confidence to the silhouettes. Sculptural gold hardware illuminates the season's rich black palette, continuing a signature of Fall 2026 and bringing a more glamorous, evening sensibility to the story.

At its heart, the campaign reflects what has always defined Donna Karan New York: clothes designed around a woman's life-how she moves, how she feels and how she wants to present herself to the world.

The Donna Karan New York winter campaign launches October 28th, across all owned social channels featuring Irina Shayk. The collection is available at DonnaKaran.com and select retailers globally.

Creative Direction by Trey Laird

Photography by Mert Alas

Styled by Jessica Diehl

Hair by Chris McMillan

Makeup by Jamal Scott

BTS by Adrian Martin and Natalie Paul

Still Life by Natalie Paul

ABOUT DONNA KARAN NEW YORK

Donna Karan New York revolutionized women's fashion in 1984 with Seven Easy Pieces, a groundbreaking system that made dressing effortless, sophisticated, and empowering. Now under the ownership of G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. since 2016, the brand enters a new chapter with its 2024 relaunch.

While staying true to its original vision, the iconic Donna Karan New York has evolved to meet the needs of the modern woman, offering designs that inspire confidence with timeless, versatile pieces that seamlessly integrate into daily life. With expanded distribution, Donna Karan New York continues to bring its signature style to a broader audience, resonating with women globally.

ABOUT G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD.

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a global fashion leader with expertise in design, sourcing, distribution, and marketing. The Company owns and licenses a portfolio of more than 11 preeminent brands, each differentiated by unique brand propositions, product categories, and consumer touchpoints.

G-III owns ten iconic brands, including Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Donna Karan New York, Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, and Vilebrequin, and licenses over 20 of the most sought-after names in global fashion, including Levi's, Halston, Champion, Converse, Cole Haan, BCBG, French Connection, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Starter, as well as major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, among others.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*Space42 and Viasat, co-founders of Equatys, and Terrestar Solutions sign a memorandum of understanding to develop an open, standards-based interoperability framework between Equatys and Terrestar's CaStar constellation 

*Each infrastructure operator would retain ownership and control of its own space and ground assets and customers, with CaStar operating as a sovereign Canadian system while interworking with Equatys globally

*The shared infrastructure framework combines nationally controlled assets with global shared satellite infrastructure, unlocking greater scale and economic benefits and enabling next-generation direct-to-device and advanced mobile satellite services for nations, enterprises, and consumers worldwide

OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite and secure communications, and Terrestar Solutions Inc., Canada's only sovereign mobile-satellite services operator, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing an open, standards-based interoperability framework between Terrestar's planned Canadian low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, CaStar, and Equatys, a planned global shared infrastructure platform for direct-to-device (D2D) services and other advanced Mobile-Satellite Services (MSS).

The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the official visit of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Canada, where His Highness attended talks with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada.

The framework is intended to allow the two systems, together with their respective ground segments, to interwork as a coordinated multi-system non-terrestrial network (NTN) infrastructure, while each operator retains full ownership and control of its own assets. This approach is designed to enable global scale while preserving national sovereignty over critical communications infrastructure.

The MoU advances a partnership model that would combine Terrestar's position as a Canadian-controlled and Canadian-operated MSS provider with Equatys' role as a shared, multi-tenant, interoperable global infrastructure enabling D2D and advanced MSS services in a 5G network environment. The collaboration between Equatys's founders and Terrestar is the first example of Equatys's "sovereign shell" approach that combines a global commercial system with constellations optimized for specific countries or regions, each with their dedicated ground segment and run by a trusted local operator, built to common standards that keep them fully interoperable.

Rather than relying on proprietary, point-to-point integration, the parties intend to define a common, open, and standards-based interoperability layer. This approach is expected to foster collaboration, drive adoption, reduce capital and operational expenditures, and enable better coordination of power, beams, capacity, and ground gateway access among participating systems.

Today's announcement comes after Space42 and Viasat signed a binding agreement in September 2026 to co-found Equatys, backed by up to USD 1 billion in combined equity commitments.

Speaking on the occasion, Karim Michel Sabbagh, Managing Director of Space42, said: "This MoU demonstrates how sovereign satellite systems and shared global infrastructure can work together to deliver D2D services globally. Terrestar maintains its position as Canada's independent MSS operator while exploring how to participate in a broader ecosystem. We are introducing a model where national capabilities and international collaboration reinforce rather than compete with one another."

Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat, said: "By advancing a global, standards-based open architecture with an interoperability framework via a shared infrastructure model, we are continuing to expand an ecosystem that will be uniquely positioned to drive mass adoption within the significant D2D and next-generation MSS market. This collaboration with Terrestar underscores Equatys' innovative approach to offer a foundation for choice and interoperability and provide compelling economic benefits from geographic and spectral efficiencies to participating global, regional, and national space operators. Equatys is committed to working across the global space industry, as well as with the broader ecosystem including MNOs, OEMs, chipset vendors, regulators and standards bodies."

Jacques Leduc, President and CEO of Terrestar Solutions, said: "The future of mobile satellite connectivity won't be built by countries or constellations acting alone. It will be built through open standards-based networks that combine national sovereignty with global reach, positioning us to compete at scale. While working hand-in-hand with the Canadian space ecosystem, CaStar is Canada's contribution to that future: Canadian-controlled, globally connected, and built to work with other mid-power countries like Canada. We look forward to helping build a truly global network together with our partners at Space42 and Viasat. Terrestar's ambition is to seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial mobile networks, bringing connectivity to everyday devices. Our goal is to make mobile satellite connectivity a reality for every Canadian, wherever they live, work, or travel around the world. This MoU is just the beginning."

His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, said: "The UAE's deepening trade and investment links with Canada, embodied in the newly signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, are laying the foundations for long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations in critical sectors. The memorandum of understanding between Space42, Viasat and Terrestar Solutions is a clear example, bringing together companies from the UAE, the United States and Canada to develop shared, standards-based infrastructure for the next generation of satellite connectivity. Collaboration of this kind reflects the UAE's vision of deeper economic integration, where partnership drives innovation that can cross borders, scale quickly and attract long-term capital."

Partnership Framework

The MoU reflects a shift away from closed, single-operator satellite systems toward an open standards-based model, in which independent constellations can interwork as a coordinated multi-system NTN infrastructure. Under the proposed framework, the parties would define a common standardized interoperability layer linking their respective space and ground segments. This layer would rely on published, vendor-neutral interfaces aligned with 3GPP NTN specifications, GSMA roaming and interconnection frameworks, and other recognized industry standards, avoiding proprietary lock-in.

Each participating operator would retain control of its own space and ground assets, authorizations and customer relationships, interacting with other systems only through agreed interfaces. Within that boundary, each system would make defined resources and capabilities, such as power, beams and gateway access, available to the others, supported by common mechanisms for resource requests, allocation, monitoring, usage accounting and settlement.

The framework is also designed to respect national sovereignty and security. System infrastructure serving a given jurisdiction could be located and operated to meet local regulatory, security and lawful access requirements. In Canada, for example, the CaStar constellation would operate as a sovereign national system, with Canadian gateways and ground network keeping domestic data within Canadian jurisdiction, while interworking with Equatys at a global scale.

Finally, the framework is intended to be extensible, to accommodate additional satellite systems, mobile network operators and service providers over time, and evolve with successive releases of industry standards.

About Equatys

Equatys will be an independent, neutral shared space and ground infrastructure platform for direct-to-device and advanced mobile satellite services licensees, co-founded by Space42 and Viasat under a binding agreement backed by up to USD 1 billion in combined equity commitments. Operating on a Tower Company model, it is designed to deliver compelling economic and performance benefits to global, regional and national operators holding appropriate MSS and/or SCS licenses, and to enable choice, interoperability and economically attractive NTN access for ecosystem participants. As the user base expands through access to globally coordinated spectrum, Equatys seeks to deliver compounding growth and sustainable shareholder value. It is being built on 3GPP NTN standards.

About SPACE42

Space42 (ADX: SPACE42) is a UAE-based, AI-powered SpaceTech company that integrates satellite communications and geospatial intelligence to enlighten the Earth from space. It operates through two business units. Space Services runs a fleet of geostationary satellites, including the Thuraya mobile network, delivering secure connectivity across land, sea, and air in more than 120 countries. Smart Solutions operates a synthetic aperture radar constellation in low Earth orbit, covering 90% of the world's population, and uses AI to turn that imagery into actionable insight. Space42 serves governments and enterprises across defense and security, energy, environmental conservation, and autonomous mobility. Major shareholders include G42, Mubadala and International Holding Company (IHC).

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect.

Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are-on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube.

About Terrestar Solutions

Terrestar Solutions Inc. is the only Canadian-controlled mobile satellite operator engaged in the race to bring direct-to-device satellite services to smartphones and IoT devices and make anywhere-in-Canada communication a reality. Terrestar is committed to nurturing the ever-evolving, standards-based and open network ecosystem, enabling Mobile Network Operators to deliver ubiquitous communication services.

Thanks to the Echostar T1 satellite,  its ground network infrastructure and 40 MHz of S-band mobile-satellite spectrum, Terrestar connects Canadians from almost anywhere in the country, even in Canada's most remote regions, through its Strigo Mobile Satellite Service (MSS). The Strigo service also supports non-profit and First Nations organizations, a testament to the Company's powerful sense of responsibility toward the welfare and progress of the communities it serves. Its upcoming CaStar low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation will support the evolution of satellite services toward a cellular-like experience across Canada's entire landmass. For more information, visit terrestarsolutions.ca or follow them on LinkedIn.

Legal Notice and Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This announcement contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions about future events that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements-identified by terms such as "expect," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "designed," "target" or similar-are subject to risks and uncertainties and may prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the formation of Equatys; the timing and amount of the parties' respective equity contributions; the enabling of global D2D and advanced mobile satellite services, including the timing of commercial rollout; the procurement, design, manufacture, launch and deployment of Equatys' first-generation constellation and related ground network; the design, business model, features, performance and benefits of the Equatys platform; the investment framework, including expected benefits, risks and returns; the closing of definitive agreements, including the satisfaction of regulatory and other closing conditions; and plans, objectives and strategies for future operations. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks and uncertainties related to the formation of Equatys and the closing of definitive agreements, including the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals; the failure to satisfy the closing conditions on a timely basis or at all; the parties' ability to fund their respective equity commitments; risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, launch, operational or deployment failure or degradation in satellite performance; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers, suppliers or ecosystem partners; the ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; increasing levels of competition in target markets; the ability for Equatys to successfully implement its business plan on the anticipated timeline or at all; regulatory risks; and other risks affecting the communications and D2D industries generally.

In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The parties undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Jamaica marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Melissa, a new landmark has risen on Montego Bay's Jimmy Cliff Boulevard. Together We Rise, a 62-foot monument created by acclaimed Jamaican artist Scheed Cole and commissioned by Jamaican entrepreneur and hospitality executive Christopher Issa of S Hotels Jamaica, stands as a tribute to resilience, gratitude and the enduring spirit of humanity.

Located at St. James Place on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, the monument is Jamaica's tallest monument to date and the country's largest monument dedicated to the helping hands of humanity. Completed just ahead of the anniversary of Hurricane Melissa, the landmark transforms a story of destruction into one of hope, recovery and unity.

The monument was inspired by the unprecedented challenges and remarkable acts of generosity that followed Hurricane Melissa, which impacted western Jamaica with sustained winds of 192 mph on land and gusts recorded as high as 252 mph. As communities rebuilt, support flowed from across Jamaica and around the world, reinforcing the idea that recovery is strongest when people come together.

Constructed from recycled materials, Together We Rise incorporates debris recovered from Hurricane Melissa, including a damaged light pole, transforming remnants of the storm into a lasting symbol of renewal. Its 62-foot height was intentionally chosen to commemorate Jamaica's Independence in 1962, linking the nation's history of perseverance with its continued spirit of resilience today.

"This monument is about gratitude as much as resilience," said Scheed Cole. "As Jamaica marks one year since Hurricane Melissa, Together We Rise honors the people and communities who stepped forward to help others. It is a reminder that in times of need, humanity is at its best when we stand together."      

The project represents one of the most ambitious public art installations ever undertaken in Jamaica. Over a period of more than seven months, a team of 35 Jamaican specialists, including welders, fabricators, ironwork designers, concrete artisans and painters, worked to bring Cole's vision to life.

"This statue was already in motion before Hurricane Melissa, but the storm impacted us all," said Cole. "We had to change course and create something more inspirational on both a national and international level."

Cole ultimately named the monument Together We Rise and dedicated it to all those who extend a helping hand during moments of hardship and recovery.

"We wanted to show the world our resilience and say thank you to everyone who helped us, and not just us, but all those around the world who help people in times of need," added Cole.

Janet Silvera, chairman of the Hip Strip Stakeholders Group, welcomed the monument as a new addition to the boulevard's offerings, noting its potential to enhance the area's appeal to residents and visitors while celebrating Jamaica's artistic talent and resilient spirit.

Visible to thousands of residents and visitors each day, the monument is expected to become one of Montego Bay's most photographed landmarks and a significant addition to Jamaica's growing public art landscape. Alongside the iconic Doctor Bird sculpture and other cultural initiatives along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, Together We Rise further strengthens Montego Bay's reputation as a destination where art, culture and community converge.

As Jamaica marks the anniversary of Hurricane Melissa, the monument stands as both a symbol of national resilience and a message to the world: "Together We Rise, hand in hand."

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has released a joint research report with Reality and Keyring exploring how tokenised equities can support trading strategies beyond traditional stock investing.

The study examines how tokenised equities, perpetual derivatives and decentralised lending can work together, with historical simulations examining the potential returns, financing costs and risks associated with these strategies.

The research highlights how tokenised equities could expand beyond direct stock exposure into lending, collateral management and systematic investment strategies. Using Reality's rTokens, the model combines tokenised equity holdings with offsetting short positions in corresponding equity perpetual contracts. When funding rates are positive, these positions can generate funding payments while seeking to reduce exposure to movements in the underlying stock price. Keyring structures the associated lending markets, with IPOR Fusion providing onchain vault infrastructure and 1Token supporting portfolio monitoring and risk management.

Based on simulations covering December 15, 2025, to October 19, 2026, the rules-based index generated annualised net returns of approximately 7% during the in-sample period and 4% during the out-of-sample period. The research also identified a gross funding premium of approximately 11%-14%, with financing costs, execution expenses and liquidity constraints affecting net performance. The findings demonstrate the importance of managing these costs when developing equity-basis strategies across decentralised markets.

"Tokenised stocks are opening up opportunities beyond buying and selling shares. Investors can use them as collateral, combine with derivatives, and integrated strategies that previously required separate financial platforms," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "This research shows how those pieces can work together, while highlighting the importance of execution costs, liquidity and risk management. That is an important part of what we're building with Bitget's Universal Exchange."

The report also examines the risks of executing these strategies across decentralised markets, including negative funding rates, collateral valuation differences, liquidation exposure and settlement delays. It emphasises that reliable pricing, sufficient liquidity and coordinated margin management remain essential to making these strategies viable.

Alex McFarlane, Founder of Keyring, said: "Bringing the equity basis trade fully on-chain makes a strategy traditionally run by asset managers more transparent, programmable and accessible to a broader set of investors. More importantly, the index creates a benchmark and set of building blocks that investment banks, fund managers and CTAs can use to develop their own strategies. Bitget's focus on expanding rToken into DeFi is a significant step in that direction."

The research forms part of Bitget's broader efforts to expand the use of tokenised assets within its Universal Exchange ecosystem. Selected products informed by the research are planned to launch through Bitget Earn, subject to product review, regulatory requirements, user eligibility and availability. All performance figures are based on historical simulations and do not represent realised returns or guarantee future performance.

To read the full report, visit here.

About Bitget

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

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

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

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

About Reality

Reality is a regulated real-world asset issuance platform built for global markets, and is proudly part of the Bitget ecosystem. Working with licensed brokers across major exchanges, including Nasdaq and the NYSE, we purchase and hold the underlying assets in custody, then issue the corresponding rights on-chain. This connects traditional capital markets with on-chain infrastructure, opening institutional-grade access to real-world assets for users worldwide.

About Keyring

Keyring is the trust layer for on-chain markets.

Keyring Connect verifies participant eligibility while protecting personal data.

Keyring Structuring builds permissioned credit markets backed by tokenised assets and index strategies.

Keyring Unwind enables investors to open and close leveraged positions in tokenised assets at scale, coordinating redemption and debt repayment through smart contracts.

Important Disclaimer

Keyring.Network (Cayman) Limited ("Keyring") operates as a permissioned access gateway to decentralised protocols and other decentralised finance ("DeFi") applications. Keyring provides zero-knowledge verification services that allow verified users to interact with smart contracts while maintaining privacy.

Keyring is NOT a:

Financial intermediary, broker-dealer, or investment adviser;

Custodian of user funds or digital assets;

Party to any transactions between users and DeFi protocols; or

Guarantor of protocol performance or investment outcomes.

Interacting with DeFi protocols through Keyring involves substantial risk, including smart-contract exploits, market volatility, and the possible total loss of digital assets. Participants engage with these protocols directly and bear full responsibility for all outcomes. Access may be restricted where local laws or sanctions prohibit use. Users worldwide must ensure compliance with all applicable laws in their own jurisdictions. By using Keyring's services, participants acknowledge these risks, accept sole responsibility for their actions, and agree that Keyring's liability, if any, is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

About 1ndex by 1Token

1Token is a global technology provider for digital-asset investment managers, with operations across APAC, Europe and North America. The company supports more than US$20 billion in assets across over 100 institutional clients and holds SOC 2 Type I and Type II certifications.

Its award-winning Crypto Asset Management (CAM) system connects with CeFi and DeFi venues through APIs, bringing portfolio management, trading, risk control, fund operations and reporting into a single environment. The platform supports front-office teams with live positions, exposures and performance analytics; middle-office teams with portfolio operations, risk monitoring, shadow NAV and investor activity; and back-office teams with trade reconciliation, valuation and P&L reporting.

1ndex complements this infrastructure as 1Token's research and data platform for tracking, analysing and evaluating digital-asset investment strategies.

1ndex: https://1ndex.1token.tech/

1Token: https://1token.tech/

About IPOR Fusion

Developed by IPOR Labs AG (Zug, Switzerland), IPOR Fusion is the onchain vault infrastructure built for institutional-grade on-chain yield strategies. Its modular architecture provides deterministic risk enforcement, per-client vault isolation, embedded compliance, and flexible configuration through composable modules called Fuses, integrated with leading on-chain protocols.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Technology Co-creation, Sustainable Development, and Cross-Industry Ecosystem Integration - Exploring a New Mobility Landscape in the Intelligent Age

WUHU, China, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2026 Chery International User Summit was held in Wuhu, Anhui, from October 18 to 24. Under the theme "High Tech for Our Future Life," the Summit brought together users, partners, and media from around the world around three key topics - technology co-creation, sustainable development, and cross-industry ecosystem integration - to explore the evolution of the global mobility industry in the intelligent age and showcase Chery Group's forward-looking strategic thinking and achievements.

Technology Co-creation: Answering the Future of Mobility Through Open Innovation

For the intelligent age, Chery Group continues to deepen its expertise in key areas including intelligent cockpits, advanced intelligent driving assistance, chassis architecture, vehicle safety, and new energy powertrains, building systematic technology capabilities from hardware computing power and environmental perception to full-vehicle control. Backed by its 1+7+N global R&D network and localized operational strengths, Chery co-creates mobility technologies with global R&D forces, partners, and users.

As a key step in the Group's push into the luxury segment, the new intelligent luxury brand LUXEED applies its three core values - Extreme Driving Pleasure, Beyond-Class Enjoyment, and Ultimate Intelligence - throughout vehicle development, translating its technological vision into tangible product experiences.

Sustainable Development: Driving Toward a Lower-Carbon Mobility Landscape

The Summit highlighted sustainable development as a key topic. Chery Group is accelerating its new energy transition, with new energy vehicle sales reaching 859,000 units in the first nine months of 2026, up 46.1% year on year. The Summit also featured low-carbon activities such as the Green Charity Ride, engaging global users in exploring lower-carbon, smarter mobility for the future and weaving sustainability into a complete industrial ecosystem.

Cross-Industry Ecosystem Integration: Co-building a Future-Ready Mobility Ecosystem

Mobility in the intelligent age is no longer the concern of a single industry. Through diverse sessions including the Global Innovation Day, the Global User Carnival, and the Global User Ecosystem Thematic Conference, the Summit promoted collaboration across automotive, technology, energy, and service sectors, building a more complete intelligent mobility experience for global users and integrating technological innovation, brand advancement, and globalization into an open, win-win industrial ecosystem.

Through technology, green progress, and ecosystem symbiosis, Chery Group responds to the questions of the intelligent age with its three key topics. LUXEED, too, will illuminate a new chapter for its global brand - redefining luxury with intelligence.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

TOKYO, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacifica Hotels G.K. today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Marriott International to debut Courtyard by Marriott in the historical destination of Takayama, Gifu.

The new property will be located in the beautiful city of Takayama, famous for Edo period architecture and the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed destination of Shigakawa-go Village, along with numerous traditions included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

"Takayama is one of my personal favorite tourist destinations in Japan," says Seth Sulkin, CEO of Pacifica Hotels G.K. "It has the best collection of Edo period structures anywhere I have seen in Japan, wonderful food and is a great base for numerous day trips such as Shirakawa-go and Kamikochi."

Courtyard by Marriott Hida Takayama is slated to open in fall 2028. Located just a short walk from Takayama Station, it is also within close proximity to the city's main street, near various historical attractions and numerous restaurants. Anticipated to feature 207 guest rooms and suites designed with the modern business and leisure traveler in mind, the hotel blends contemporary comfort with thoughtful functionality.

It is also expected to feature flexible spaces for guests to work, relax and recharge while exploring the destination, fostering connection and productivity. Plans for dining experience include an all-day dining restaurant with semi-open kitchens serving Japanese and international cuisine.

About Pacifica Hotels G.K.: Japan's leading third-party operator of international branded hotels, Pacifica operates numerous brands under franchise agreements with Marriott International and IHG. Pacifica's track record includes operation of hotels under the brands: Moxy, Fairfield by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, City Express by Marriott, Garner by IHG and Holiday Inn & Suites. Pacifica will open Courtyard by Marriott Hiroshima in fall 2027 and Westin Hokkaido Furano Resort in spring 2029.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Akio Nakamura, Executive Director, Pacifica Hotels G.K. nakamura@pacifica-cap.com

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Perioperative toripalimab plus chemotherapy demonstrated significant and durable improvements in event-free survival and overall survival in patients with resectable stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer.

SHANGHAI, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd ("Junshi Biosciences," HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced that the final analysis results from the Phase 3 NEOTORCH study (NCT04158440) were presented during an oral session at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress (Abstract No. LBA64) and simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology.

Professor Shun LU and Professor Ziming LI from Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine served as the corresponding author and first author of the publication, respectively.

NEOTORCH (NCT04158440) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating perioperative toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy in patients with resectable stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 501 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive toripalimab (240 mg, Q3W) or placebo, each in combination with chemotherapy for three cycles before surgery and one cycle after surgery, followed by up to 13 cycles of toripalimab or placebo maintenance therapy.

With a median follow-up of 48.2 months, perioperative toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated significant and durable improvements in event-free survival (EFS), major pathological response (MPR), and overall survival (OS) compared with placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with resectable stage II-III NSCLC. The safety profile was manageable, with no new safety signals identified.

Key Results

At the prespecified final analysis, with a median follow-up of 48.2 months:

EFS: Toripalimab plus chemotherapy significantly prolonged EFS compared with placebo plus chemotherapy (HR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.39-0.68; P<0.0001), representing a 48% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence, progression, or death. Median investigator-assessed EFS was not reached in the toripalimab arm versus 20.2 months in the placebo arm. The EFS benefit was generally consistent across key patient subgroups, including disease stage, PD-L1 expression, histology, and age.

Pathological response: The blinded independent pathologic review (BIPR)-assessed MPR rate was 47% versus 9% in the toripalimab and placebo arms, respectively, and the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate was 26% versus 1% (both P<0.0001).

OS: Toripalimab plus chemotherapy significantly improved OS versus placebo plus chemotherapy (HR=0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.89; P=0.0072), corresponding to a 34% reduction in the risk of death. Median OS was not reached in either treatment arm.

Safety: The safety profile remained manageable and consistent with prior analyses, with no new safety signals identified.

The prespecified interim analysis of NEOTORCH in patients with resectable stage III NSCLC previously demonstrated statistically significant improvements in EFS and MPR. The results were presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and published in JAMA in January 2024.

Based on these interim results, in December 2023, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved toripalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the perioperative treatment of patients with resectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC. In July 2026, the NMPA accepted a supplemental application to expand the indication to patients with resectable stage II-III NSCLC, based on the final analysis of the overall study population.

About Toripalimab

Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and to induce PD-1 receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune system's ability to attack and kill tumor cells.

More than forty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types, including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney, and skin.

In the Chinese mainland, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI). Currently, there are twelve approved indications for toripalimab in the Chinese mainland:

unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy;

recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy;

locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy;

in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC;

in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin in first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced/recurrent or distant metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC);

in combination with pemetrexed and platinum as the first-line treatment in EGFR mutation-negative and ALK mutation-negative, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC);

in combination with chemotherapy as perioperative treatment and subsequently with monotherapy as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of adult patients with resectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC;

in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with medium to high risk unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC);

in combination with etoposide plus platinum for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC);

in combination with paclitaxel for injection (albumin-bound) for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC);

in combination with bevacizumab for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients;

first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic melanoma;

in combination with disitamab vedotin for the first-line treatment of HER2-expressing UC.

The first 12 indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2025 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for the treatment of melanoma, RCC and TNBC. Toripalimab for the treatment of advanced NPC and ESCC was approved in Hong Kong SAR, China.

Internationally, toripalimab has been approved for marketing in over 50 countries and regions including the United States, the European Union, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa, and is also under review for marketing in various countries and regions worldwide.

About Junshi Biosciences

Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. With our outstanding capacity for innovative drug discovery, strong biotechnology R&D capability, and large-scale production capacity, we have successfully developed a drug candidate portfolio with global competitiveness and a well-structured research pipeline, which covers therapeutic areas including cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, and infectious diseases. Our innovative field spans cutting-edge therapeutic modalities, including mAbs, small-molecule drugs, ADCs, bsAb/msAb, fusion proteins, nucleic acid drugs and vaccines. Five of the company's products have received marketing authorizations in China and international markets, one of which is toripalimab, China's domestically developed anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Toripalimab has been approved in over 50 countries and regions including China, the US, and Europe.

With a mission of "providing patients with world-class, trustworthy, affordable, and innovative drugs," Junshi Biosciences is "In China, For Global." The company currently employs more than 3,000 people worldwide. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, it has a business presence in multiple countries and regions around the world. For more information, please visit: http://www.junshipharma.com.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Global Users and Partners Gathered in Wuhu to Co-build the Mobility Ecosystem of the Intelligent Age

WUHU, China, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2026 Chery International User Summit was held in Wuhu, Anhui, from October 18 to 24. Under the theme "High Tech for Our Future Life," the Summit brought together users, partners, and media from around the world to discuss and co-build a global user ecosystem for the future of mobility in the intelligent age.

An Eco-Gathering of Global Users

As intelligent mobility accelerates, users are evolving from product consumers into co-creators of the mobility ecosystem. Centered on users, this year's Summit created an open platform that connects brands, industries, and global users. Participants from around the world gathered in Wuhu to shape-through real experiences and in-depth dialogue-a new vision of mobility in the intelligent age.

User-Centered: Co-building the Mobility Ecosystem

Throughout the Summit, user co-creation ran through every session. As a participating brand, LUXEED has always placed the needs of global users first, treating the authentic voices of users from different markets and cultures as the starting point for brand evolution and ecosystem co-building. Users are not bystanders but co-creators of the future of mobility.

Intelligent Luxury Within Reach for Global Users

For pioneers with power around the world, LUXEED conveys its value proposition, "I DRIVE, YOU ENJOY," reshaping the luxury mobility experience through its three core values-Extreme Driving Pleasure, Beyond-Class Enjoyment, and Ultimate Intelligence. From the product definition stage, the brand has accounted for regulatory standards, climates, and mobility habits across global markets, balancing localized adaptation with a unified global quality benchmark. This approach ensures intelligent luxury experiences take root naturally in different markets and become accessible choices for more users.

Building Consensus, Embarking on the Future

During the Summit, the Global User Ecosystem Thematic Conference was held in parallel, where users and partners from different markets engaged in in-depth exchanges on mobility consensus in the intelligent age. On October 21, the LUXEED Global Brand Launch Event, themed "INTELLIGENCE, ENLIGHTENED," marked the global debut of LUXEED's dual flagship models, presenting its answer to a new generation of intelligent luxury mobility to users worldwide.

At the 2026 Chery International User Summit, consensus on the future of mobility in the intelligent age took shape. LUXEED will journey alongside global users-redefining luxury with intelligence.

LUXEED International

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

*WeRide establishes a global insurance partnership program, with Allianz Insurance Singapore and Ping An P&C Insurance as inaugural partners

*The program will support the responsible deployment of tens of thousands of WeRide autonomous vehicles worldwide

*Partners will jointly develop tailored coverage for driverless operations and streamline insurance protocols as deployments scale.

*This program further expands WeRide's global partnership ecosystem across OEMs, mobility platforms, fleet operators, infrastructure and insurance providers.

GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced the launch of its global insurance partnership program to support the expansion of autonomous driving services worldwide, spanning existing deployments in China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as well as upcoming launches in broader Europe.

WeRide has established its global insurance partnership program with Allianz Insurance Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("Allianz") and Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An P&C Insurance") as inaugural partners. The program brings together leading insurance expertise across international and Chinese markets with WeRide's advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience. A critical foundation for real-world autonomous vehicle deployment, the global insurance program is designed to support WeRide's global expansion across diverse regulatory and operating environments.

Under this strategic initiative, WeRide and its partners will co-develop tailored insurance solutions covering the full lifecycle of L4 vehicle operations, including motor liability, commercial general and product liability, and privacy and cybersecurity risks, in accordance with local requirements. Over time, long-term partnerships, centralized insurance programs and greater fleet scale are expected to improve insurance efficiency and support stronger unit economics.

Real-world operations and insurance risk-management practices demonstrate the strong safety performance of WeRide's Robotaxis. Its technological strengths in risk detection, driving decisions and safety control continue to advance, offering a promising approach to addressing the uncertainties of human driving and improving road safety.

Beyond providing risk protection, insurance plays an important role in enabling autonomous driving to scale safely and commercially. WeRide's operational experience and track record across diverse markets provide a strong foundation for collaboration with insurance partners as the company expands its driverless services.

Allianz Insurance Singapore is the third-largest motor insurer in Singapore by gross written premiums as of Q2 2026 and a major insurance partner for WeRide's autonomous vehicle operations in Singapore. Allianz was the first insurer in Singapore to insure a fully driverless autonomous vehicle through WeRide's Robobus service at Sentosa. Allianz subsequently expanded coverage to WeRide Robotaxis deployed with Grab as part of the Ai.R autonomous shuttle service in Punggol. As of October 2026, the Ai.R autonomous shuttle service had served more than 13,000 unique riders and accumulated over 135,000 kilometers of autonomous mileage.

WeRide and Ping An P&C Insurance, one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in China, have developed locally compliant insurance solutions supporting Robotaxi operations in China and the Middle East. These include four of WeRide's flagship driverless commercial markets globally, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, where WeRide has achieved scaled driverless operations. The partnership supports WeRide's Robotaxi deployments in China and the Middle East, including services provided through WeRide Go and third-party mobility platforms such as Uber and TXAI.

Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, said: "Our partnerships with leading insurers reflect the strength of WeRide's technology. Insurance is a critical part of the infrastructure needed to bring autonomous driving to scale globally, and this program strengthens that foundation as we expand into more markets."

Ong Bi Ying, Chief Executive Officer at Allianz Insurance Singapore, said: "As the first insurer in Singapore to cover a fully driverless autonomous vehicle, Allianz has been at the forefront of understanding and managing the unique risks that come with this transformative technology. Our partnership with WeRide reflects our commitment to enabling innovation responsibly. By co-developing insurance solutions tailored to autonomous vehicle operations, we are helping to build the trust and safety infrastructure that Singapore's smart mobility future demands. We look forward to deepening this collaboration as autonomous driving scales across the region."

Hequn Shi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Ping An P&C Insurance, stated: "As China's autonomous driving industry goes global, there is an urgent need for matching globalized insurance coverage. This collaboration represents an important practice for Ping An P&C Insurance to support the outbound expansion of China's autonomous driving industry through its 'technology + insurance' services. We aim to leverage insurance's role in risk identification, loss compensation, and risk mitigation, helping China's autonomous driving technology achieve safe and steady commercial operations in global markets."

WeRide currently operates one of the world's largest autonomous driving fleets, with approximately 3,600 autonomous vehicles globally, including more than 1,800 Robotaxis, across 13 countries and over 60 cities.

Looking ahead, WeRide plans to expand the program to more markets and insurance partners, while exploring tailored approaches to insurance protocols, pricing and coverage models for autonomous vehicles.

About WeRide

WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Our autonomous vehicles have been deployed in over 60 cities across 13 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in nine markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named to Fortune's Change the World lists in 2023, 2025, and 2026, and to the Fortune Future 50 list in 2025.

About Ping An P&C Insurance

Ping An P&C Insurance was founded in 1988 in Shekou, Shenzhen, and has 44 branches and over 3,000 service outlets nationwide, making it the second largest property and casualty insurance company in China by gross written premiums. To date, Ping An P&C Insurance has developed over 1,000 main insurance products, covering auto insurance, accident and health insurance, liability insurance, agricultural insurance, and cargo insurance. In 2025, Ping An P&C recorded total claim payouts exceeding RMB200 billion, providing comprehensive insurance protection services to over 100 million individual and group customers, and has received the industry's highest rating for consumer rights protection.

About Allianz Insurance Singapore

At Allianz Insurance Singapore, we aim to secure the future and create a positive impact on society and the environment by leveraging our expertise in risk management. As we work toward strengthening our position as one of Singapore's leading risk solutions providers, we deliver innovative and customer‑focused protection solutions for individuals, SMEs, and mid‑corporate clients ? spanning Motor, Home Content, Travel, Personal Accident, Cancer, Hospital Income, and a comprehensive suite of commercial insurance offerings.

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.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Global Intelligent Luxury Mobility Set Sail from Here

WUHU, China, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From October 18 to 24, the 2026 Chery International User Summit kicked off in Wuhu, Anhui.

Under the theme "High Tech for Our Future Life," the summit brought together users, partners, and media representatives from numerous countries and regions worldwide, presenting Chery Group's future-oriented strategic vision and tangible achievements centered on the evolution of mobility in the intelligent era. As a pivotal chapter of the summit, a series of events for LUXEED, the all-new intelligent luxury brand, commenced simultaneously.

Brand Foundation: Redefining Luxury Through Intelligence

LUXEED is an intelligent luxury brand grounded in a global perspective. Anchored by its core pillars of "Extreme Driving Pleasure, Beyond-Class Enjoyment, and Ultimate Intelligence," and conveying the brand proposition of "I" DRIVE, YOU ENJOY to global pioneers with power, LUXEED is reshaping the luxury mobility experience through intelligent technology.

Dual-Flagship Debut: Illuminating a New Brand Chapter

The LUXEED Global Brand Launch took place on October 21 at Shenshan Intelligent Valley, Wuhu. Centered on the narrative of "New Luxury in the Intelligent Era" and driven by the creative concept of "Enlightenment," the event unfolded across three key chapters: "Enlightening Resonance, Enlightening Value, and Enlightening the World"?spanning era insights and brand origin, dual-flagship value presentation, to global illumination. Under the theme "INTELLIGENCE, ENLIGHTENED," the strategic flagship MPV LLounge and performance flagship SUV Stormax made their combined debut on the same stage, alongside the official disclosure of the brand's global development blueprint.

Exclusive Brand Experiences: Multi-Dimensional Showcase

In addition to the brand launch, LUXEED curated a series of exclusive brand experiences for the summit: on October 20, the media test drive, high-speed track testing at Guangde Proving Ground, and Super Intelligent Valet Parking (SIVP) demonstrations took place consecutively; from October 22 to 23, dynamic test drives, vehicle research sessions at Longshan Proving Ground, and factory tour followed. From real-world road conditions and professional proving grounds to intelligent manufacturing, the brand's core values of intelligence, luxury, and driving pleasure were presented in multiple dimensions.

Ecological Vision: Synergistic Progress

Throughout the summit, events such as Chery Global Innovation Conference, 2026 AiMOGA Robotics Global New Product Launch Event, Ride Green Life, 2026 Chery International User Carnival unfolded sequentially, outlining Chery Group's future-oriented industrial ecosystem.

A gathering of the ecosystem; a new journey for the brand. LUXEED will join hands with global users to witness the arrival of a new generation of intelligent luxury mobility.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Ada berapa banyak cara sebuah acara malam merek otomotif dapat berlangsung?

Sebuah model baru yang berani. Perayaan berbagai tren lintas budaya dan komunitas. Serta momen yang menempatkan para pengguna dari seluruh dunia sebagai sorotan.

WUHU, Tiongkok, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pada 20 Oktober, OMODA X Night, salah satu acara penting dalam rangkaian OMODA & JAECOO International User Summit, resmi digelar. Mulai dari debut global OMODA X hingga perpaduan yang semarak antara kehadiran para perwakilan Miss World, wawasan tentang budaya anak muda dan musik kontemporer, acara malam tersebut menyatukan dunia otomotif, mode, budaya, dan kehidupan nyata.

Dalam acara tersebut, Tn. Shawn Xu, CEO OMODA & JAECOO International, memaparkan berbagai pencapaian merek tersebut dalam pengembangannya di pasar global. Hanya dalam waktu tiga setengah tahun, OMODA & JAECOO telah membukukan penjualan kumulatif lebih dari 1,4 juta kendaraan di seluruh dunia. Pencapaian ini menunjukkan daya saingnya yang semakin kuat di pasar global.

Kedekatan dengan budaya anak muda tersebut terlihat jelas dalam acara OMODA X Night. Kantar, perusahaan terkemuka di dunia yang bergerak di bidang data, analisis, dan konsultasi, memaparkan pengamatan terbarunya mengenai budaya anak muda. Para perwakilan Miss World dari berbagai negara tampil di panggung, menghadirkan perpaduan mode internasional dan keberagaman budaya.

OMODA X yang sepenuhnya baru melakukan debut globalnya dalam acara OMODA X Night. Mengusung filosofi CROSSVOLUTION yang menjadi ciri khas merek tersebut, OMODA X memadukan konsep CYBER MECHA dengan estetika geometris. Perpaduan ini menghadirkan karakter liar yang khas pada desain crossover sporty-nya sekaligus membuka berbagai kemungkinan baru dalam pengembangan desain crossover OMODA.

MORE OMODA THAN EVER. (LEBIH OMODA DARI SEBELUMNYA)

Tiga pemilik OMODA menampilkan keunikan tersebut di atas panggung melalui kisah modifikasi mobil mereka masing-masing. Mulai dari selera estetika dan minat pribadi hingga ide kreatif dan pengerjaan langsung, setiap pendekatan terhadap kustomisasi mencerminkan pandangan hidup yang berbeda.

Meski debut global OMODA X menawarkan pandangan baru tentang mobil masa depan, sorotan pada momen terakhir acara malam tersebut justru tertuju kepada pengguna dari seluruh dunia.

Saat lagu tema merek tersebut untuk pertama kalinya diperkenalkan kepada dunia, para pemilik OMODA & JAECOO dari berbagai negara tampil bersama di atas panggung. Beragam bahasa, budaya, dan kisah hidup berpadu dalam satu melodi.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

Fluke Takes Decades of Engineering Excellence to New Heights in Near-Space Challenge

Everett, Washington, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For nearly 80 years, Fluke has helped shape the safety and reliability standards that guide the global test and measurement industry, while setting even more demanding requirements for its own products. This approach reflects a deeply embedded engineering culture built on a simple belief: earning customer trust means going beyond what is required.

Fluke put that commitment to the ultimate test, sending its 87V MAX digital multimeter 20 miles (32,000 metres) above Earth, where it encountered temperatures near -76F (-60C) and atmospheric pressure of just 0.87 kPa, less than 1% of that at sea level. After returning from conditions far beyond its specified operating environment, the instrument was taken to Fluke's calibration facility in Norwich, United Kingdom, for a comprehensive assessment of its performance and condition.

From voltage, current and resistance measurements to instrument repeatability, the 87V MAX passed every performance verification test, followed by a detailed internal inspection for potential damage or degradation.

Parker Burke, President of Fluke Corporation, said: "Every manufacturer claims their tools are tough. What matters is the engineering behind that claim. For generations, Fluke engineers have taken pride in exceeding expectations, often in ways customers never see. The near-space challenge brings that commitment into the spotlight, demonstrating the lengths we go to in testing the tools our customers depend on. We've always believed in giving customers a little more than they paid for, not just in performance, but in the confidence that comes with it. That's how trust is earned. And how we will continue to earn it."

For the professionals who rely on Fluke tools, safety is more than a Standard. It can mean the difference between life and death.  Jeff Gust, Chief Metrologist at Fluke Corporation, said: "One customer described Fluke as their 'insurance policy'. That responsibility drives Fluke to go beyond industry standards, subjecting its products to more demanding tests because the ultimate measure of trust is the confidence customers have to do their jobs safely and return home at the end of each day."

That responsibility is reflected in the standards Fluke sets for itself. Its engineers help develop international safety requirements, including IEC 61010, but don't consider meeting them the finish line. Where an applicable standard requires an 8,000-volt electrical impulse test, Fluke tests CAT-rated equipment to 12,000 volts. And as professionals increasingly work at higher elevations, Fluke has raised its internal altitude requirements from 6,500 feet to 10,000 feet (2,000 to 3,000 metres).

Behind each decision is the same conviction: customers should be able to rely on their instruments wherever their work takes them, and Fluke's engineering must continue to meet those evolving demands.

Gust concluded, "In addition to being safe, Fluke builds products that customers can rely on to perform from the heights of near space to the harshest environments on earth.  Whether they're working on an offshore platform, at extreme heights or in remote locations, equipment failure is not an option. It's a responsibility we take enormous pride in. Before a product carries the Fluke name, we go beyond the required tests to understand its limits and give customers greater confidence in its performance. The near-space challenge makes that commitment visible, but it's something our engineers put into practice every day."

The Ultimate Test, By the Numbers

20 miles (32,000 metres) : More than three and a half times the height of Mount Everest.

−60?C (−76?F): Temperatures comparable to an average winter day at the South Pole.

0.87 kPa: Atmospheric pressure less than 1% of that at sea level, approaching conditions found on the surface of Mars.

49 minutes: A controlled descent back towards Earth, reaching speeds above 110 km/h (70 mph).

100% pass rate: Every post-flight performance verification test passed, including voltage, current, resistance and instrument repeatability checks.

To watch the 87V MAX's ascent to20 miles (32,000 metres) and return to Earth, and to learn more about Fluke's commitment to reliability, safety and product quality, please visit Fluke | The Ultimate Test: 87V MAX in Near Space.

About Fluke

Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools and software for measurement and condition monitoring. Fluke customers include technicians, engineers, electricians, maintenance managers and metrologists who install, troubleshoot and maintain industrial, electrical and electronic equipment and calibration processes.

###

FLUKE is a registered trademark of Fluke Corporation. For more information, visit www.fluke.com.

Q: Why did Fluke send a multimeter 20 miles (32,000 metres) above Earth?

A: The challenge was designed to demonstrate the culture of reliability that exists throughout Fluke. For decades, Fluke has tested products beyond requirements, engineered for demanding environments and focused on earning customer trust through proven performance. The space flight made that commitment visible in a dramatic and memorable way.

Q: What does this challenge say about Fluke as a company?

A: Reliability is part of Fluke's identity. Long before a product reaches a customer, it undergoes extensive testing and validation designed to build confidence in its long-term performance. The challenge reflects a broader company culture that focuses on exceeding expectations rather than simply meeting minimum requirements.

Q: How does this relate to Fluke customers' everyday work?

A: Most customers will never work near the edge of Earth's atmosphere, but many work in environments where dependable tools are essential. Whether on an offshore platform, in a manufacturing plant, on utility infrastructure or at a remote jobsite, professionals rely on tools that perform when failure is not an option. The challenge demonstrates the durability and reliability those customers expect from Fluke products.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 October 2026 - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), alongside 24 GreenTech park companies, has taken part in Eco Expo Asia 2026.

Among them, 11 park companies are showcasing their latest green tech solutions at the HKSTP Pavilion, showcasing innovative solutions spanning energy generation, storage and application, the initiative aims to demonstrate to the industry and the public how local green research moves from laboratories into everyday life, reinforcing Hong Kong's robust strength as an international Greentech hub.

HKSTP Brings Together Over 250 Greentech Companies: "World-Leading" R&D Steps into Daily Life and Industrial Applications

Among the participating companies in HKSTP Pavilion, nine are making their debut at Eco Expo Asia, bringing technologies in fields such as new energy, battery materials, energy storage, EV charging and retrofitting, and waste-to-energy conversion.

In full alignment with the Nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan, and the Policy Address, HKSTP is dedicated to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub. Strategically positioning greentech as one of its four focus areas, HKSTP has built a vibrant green technology ecosystem and gathering over 250 greentech companies. Using the expo as a platform, HKSTP helps participating companies connect with government departments, corporate clients, investors, and partners to explore market expansion opportunities.

HKSTP Pavilion at Eco Expo Asia 2026

HKSTP Booth: 3-E02

Highlighted innovations:

World's Thinnest and Fastest EV "Ultra Charging" Tech Targets Heavy Transport Electrification

Addressing Hong Kong's scarce land availability and the high charging demands of heavy EVs, TriTerra Technology developed the world's thinnest wall-mounted DC ultra-fast charging system. At just 16 cm thick with a single-gun-output of 350 kW, it has already debuted at a Tung Chung hotel project. TriTerra also showcased the world's fastest liquid-cooled supercharger. Delivering up to 3000 kW through a single connector continuously, this megawatt-level "Ultra Charging" system is engineered for heavy vehicles like container trucks and is certified by national testing entity (CVC Testing Technology Co., Ltd.).

Giving Classic Vintage Cars an Electric "Heart": Exploring New Directions in Automotive Reuse

To reduce scrapped vehicle emissions and preserve classic car models, Refined Motor has developed a road-legal modular electric vehicle conversion technology-the world's only modular system holding EU R100 battery safety certification and electromagnetic compatibility certification. Converted vehicles can be legally registered and driven in over 50 countries and regions worldwide. Refined Motor is showcasing a successfully converted 1990 classic Rover Mini at the pavilion (alongside other success cases like the 1994 Bentley Turbo, 1989 BMW E30, and 2007 Land Rover Defender). Retaining the classic appearance while incorporating air conditioning and power steering, it features a pioneering dedicated mobile app that allows owners to remotely control door locks, windows, pre-cool the air conditioning, and monitor charging status just like driving a modern smart EV. This solution is also suitable for commercial fleet upgrades and garage partnerships, exploring sustainable transportation models that extend existing vehicle lifespans and minimize resource waste.

AI-Powered Smart Energy Storage System

Leyden Power International Limited (Leyden Power) specializes in intelligent battery energy storage systems and integrated energy solutions, combining storage hardware & software, AI-powered energy solutions, and project delivery services. Its core Navy Series mobile storage products serve commercial and industrial users, data centers, construction sites, and temporary power applications through diesel generator replacement or hybrid operation, load management, and multi-source energy coordination. The company has expertise in liquid-cooled system integration and remote operations and maintenance, and participates in Hong Kong collaborations involving solar power, energy storage, charging, and virtual power plants.

Industry-First High-Speed Sodium-Battery Electric Bike and Automotive Start-Stop Battery: Exploring Energy Storage Choices Beyond Lithium

Facing the challenges of lithium resource shortages and high costs, CNAE China Company Limited utilizes abundant, lower-cost, eco-friendly, and non-toxic sodium resources to showcase the industry's first high-speed sodium-battery electric bike, alongside the CNAE Power S95 sodium-ion automotive start-stop battery series (12V/30Ah/630CCA) designed for frequent vehicle start-stop conditions. Featuring superior temperature adaptability, the battery technology maintains high capacity and stable power output even in extreme heat and -20?C freezing conditions. The battery also supports ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% charge in just 10 minutes, demonstrating the application potential of novel batteries in daily transportation.

Rethinking Wind Energy: 100% Recyclable Aluminium Turbines

Yuan Da He Fa Energy Technology Group Limited showcased its new aluminium wind turbine, engineered to address two major pain points of traditional fibreglass blades. The aluminium blades are fully recyclable, resolving the end-of-life recycling challenge, while the split-type blade structure enables transport in standard 40-foot containers, overcoming the bottleneck of oversized blade logistics. Paired with the company's self-developed self-climbing crane technology, the design also supports the construction of ultra-high towers to capture high-quality wind resources at altitude.

Appendix: 11 Participating Park Companies at HKSTP Pavilion, Eco Expo Asia 2026

Solution Category: New Energy

AEL (International Holdings) Limited

Green Vigor Limited

Orbit Biotechnology Limited

Sunlight Eco-Tech Limited

Yuan Da He Fa Energy Technology Group Limited

Energy Storage Systems & Innovative Applications

CNAE China Company Limited

Gotion High-Tech (HK) Limited

GreenSeed Power Limited

Leyden Power International Limited

Refined Motor Company Limited

TriTerra Technology Limited

Additional GreenTech park companies exhibiting at Eco Expo Asia 2026

Achelous Pure Metal Company Limited

afterNATURE Limited

AirDefender International Company Limited

ChinaTec

Dunwell Engineering

Green AI Technology Limited

Lihe Technology

Locolla Limited

Logistics and Supply Chain Multitech R&D Centre Limited

Luquos

NerOcean Limited

Open Ocean Engineering Limited

Stellerus Technology Limited

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 and has built a proven foundation as Hong Kong's leading innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Established for 25 years, HKSTP is supporting 14 unicorns, has nurtured more than 17,000 research professionals and built a community of over 2,500 technology companies from 26 countries and regions across four strategic technology clusters: Life and Health Technology, AI and Data Science, Microelectronics and Advanced Manufacturing, and GreenTech and New Energy.

As an ecosystem orchestrator, HKSTP provides end-to-end support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate commercialisation and help technology ventures scale. Its innovation infrastructure spans over 240 hectares covering Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long, advancing Hong Kong's vision for new industrialisation and smart manufacturing.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, strengthens cross-border collaboration by connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and global innovation networks and propels Chinese innovators onto the world stage, while also delivering comprehensive GBA landing support to accelerate cross-border success for local and international ventures.

As HKSTP enters its next chapter with strong foundations, it continues to deepen impact, elevate quality and create value for innovators. As an ecosystem built to lead change, HKSTP is empowering Hong Kong to define what comes next in innovation, growth and opportunity.

More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

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

Hashtags: #HKSTP

HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) today (27 October) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CoinDesk, a media, events, indices and data platform for the global digital asset economy, officially establishing a strategic partnership.

Under the MoU, Consensus - CoinDesk's global AI (Artificial intelligence), blockchain, and digital assets industry conference - will be held in Hong Kong as its Asian flagship event, Consensus Hong Kong, for three consecutive years from 2027 to 2029.

The move further strengthens Hong Kong's leading position as the World's Meeting Place, a global financial center and an international innovation and technology centre, while attracting more high value-added MICE visitors to the city, driving visitor spending and fostering business collaboration opportunities for Hong Kong.

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said, "Consensus Hong Kong is far more than a major international industry event. It is an important platform for exchange, collaboration and new business opportunities. We are delighted to establish a long-term strategic partnership with CoinDesk, making Hong Kong the continued home of Consensus' Asian flagship event. This is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong from the global industry and underscores the city's pivotal role as a 'super-connector' and 'super value-adder' between the country and the world.

Bringing key stakeholders from the global fintech, Web3 and digital asset ecosystems to Hong Kong will help further sharpen the city's competitive edge as an international innovation and technology centre, an international financial centre and the World's Meeting Place. This partnership will draw more high value-added business visitors to Hong Kong, boosting our tourism, hotel, dining, retail and professional services sectors, among others, and further amplifying the economic benefits of the event."

Consensus Hong Kong Chairman Mr Michael Lau said, "Since its debut in 2025, Consensus Hong Kong has received an enthusiastic response from the industry. With its international business environment, comprehensive infrastructure and connectivity to both Chinese Mainland and global markets, Hong Kong is a natural home for the event. As digital assets and AI increasingly converge, we are expanding next year's programme to make AI a core theme alongside digital assets. Together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, we look forward to welcoming more participants from around the world over the next three editions, fostering collaboration across both sectors and further strengthening Hong Kong's position as a leading hub for innovation and technology in Asia."

HKTB and CoinDesk held the signing ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) today. HKTB Executive Director Mr Anthony Lau and Consensus Hong Kong Chairman Mr Michael Lau signed the MoU on behalf of the two parties. The signing was witnessed by HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam and Mr Sean Whipkey, Institutional Sales Director of Bullish Group, CoinDesk's parent company. Representatives from the tourism, MICE, fintech, and innovation and technology sectors also attended the ceremony in support of the partnership.

Three-year Strategic Partnership Establishes Hong Kong as Home of Consensus' Asian Flagship Event

As one of the world's most influential and longest-running blockchain and Web3 events, Consensus brings together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, innovation and technology enterprises, start-ups and industry leaders from around the world to explore the latest developments and business opportunities in fintech, digital assets, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Following its Hong Kong debut in 2025 and its return in 2026, Consensus has now officially established Hong Kong as the host city of its Asian flagship event, with the signing of a three-year strategic partnership agreement between HKTB and CoinDesk. Under the agreement, the two parties will work together to stage the event in Hong Kong from 2027 to 2029, starting with Consensus Hong Kong 2027 at the HKCEC from 1 to 3 February next year.

Leveraging the Mega Event Effect to Drive MICE Tourism and Cross-sector Business Opportunities

Beyond the conference itself, Consensus Hong Kong has generated more than 350 side events at venues across the city in each edition, including forums, networking receptions, corporate launches, investor meet-ups and start-up activities. These have fostered an atmosphere for innovation, technology and business exchange across the city, further extending the event's economic benefits to tourism, MICE and related industries.

HKTB believes that this strategic partnership will further elevate Hong Kong's international standing in the global fintech, Web3 and digital asset ecosystems. It will also attract more industry leaders, enterprises, investors and professionals to the city to take part in the event and explore exchanges and collaboration, drive the continued development of Hong Kong's MICE tourism in Hong Kong, and strengthen its role as an international platform for innovation and business exchange.

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

RIYADH, Arab Saudi, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH) menjadi salah satu dari hanya 15 rumah sakit di dunia yang meraih rating tertinggi kematangan digital, yaitu lima pita (five-ribbon), sekaligus memperoleh penghargaan baru Pemimpin dalam Inovasi AI dalam pemeringkatan Rumah Sakit Pintar Teratas di Dunia versi Newsweek.

Pencapaian ini menempatkan KFSH dalam jajaran kurang dari 4% dari total 410 rumah sakit terkemuka di 33 negara yang dinilai Newsweek, sekaligus menjadikannya bagian dari kelompok kecil rumah sakit dunia yang menjadi pelopor dalam layanan kesehatan berbasis teknologi digital dan AI.

Sebanyak 21 rumah sakit meraih peringkat lima pita, yaitu tingkat tertinggi dalam skala penilaian kematangan digital yang telah direvisi. Sementara itu, sebanyak 39 rumah sakit menerima penghargaan Pemimpin dalam Inovasi AI yang baru diperkenalkan tahun ini. Hanya 15 rumah sakit di dunia yang meraih kedua penghargaan tersebut, yang tersebar di lima negara, termasuk Arab Saudi. Dalam daftar tersebut, rumah sakit KFSH di Riyadh menempati peringkat ke-123 secara keseluruhan.

Performa KFSH bertumpu pada pendekatan terpadu yang menggabungkan keunggulan layanan klinis, penelitian pelopor, dan kemampuan teknologi digital yang canggih. Mulai dari kecerdasan buatan dan analisis prediktif hingga pengelolaan alur pasien secara cerdas, rumah sakit ini menerapkan teknologi untuk menghasilkan peningkatan nyata dalam pengambilan keputusan klinis, efisiensi operasional, dan pengalaman pasien.

Pemeringkatan yang dikembangkan oleh Newsweek dan Statista ini memadukan rekomendasi dari sesama profesional di bidang kesehatan dari berbagai negara dengan hasil Survei Kematangan Digital Rumah Sakit Pintar Statista. Survei tersebut mewajibkan penyertaan bukti pendukung dan validasi oleh manajemen senior. Untuk meraih penghargaan di bidang AI tersebut, sebuah rumah sakit harus mencapai skor pada persentil ke-70 atau lebih tinggi dalam dua aspek, yaitu pengakuan dari sesama profesional di bidang AI dan tingkat kematangan AI.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre menempati peringkat pertama di Timur Tengah dan Afrika serta peringkat ke-12 secara global dalam daftar 250 pusat layanan medis akademik terbaik dunia tahun 2026. Rumah sakit ini juga diakui sebagai merek layanan kesehatan paling bernilai di Kerajaan Arab Saudi dan Timur Tengah untuk tahun 2026 oleh Brand Finance. Selain itu, Newsweek memasukkan KFSH dalam daftar Rumah Sakit Terbaik Dunia, Rumah Sakit Pintar Terbaik Dunia, dan Rumah Sakit Spesialis Terbaik Dunia untuk tahun 2026.

Untuk informasi selengkapnya, kunjungi Media Coverage di KFSH: mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.sa

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.

New capabilities expand visibility across AI, video, and visual content, help teams manage reputational risk, and bring intelligence into daily workflows

San Francisco, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meltwater, the global leader in actionable intelligence for PR, Communications, and Marketing teams, today announced its 2026 Year-End Product Release designed to make media and social intelligence more accessible, easy to understand and decision-ready.

Today's online narratives move across news, social media, creators, and AI answers in minutes, shaping public perception and reputation. In this information landscape, monitoring isn't enough. Teams must understand and influence these narratives - but the data needed to understand what is happening is often buried in complex tools or waiting for an analyst's review. By the time the insight arrives, the moment to respond is gone.

Meltwater is accelerating the shift from media and social monitoring to accessible, decision-ready intelligence. Its 2026 Year-End Release helps teams see what is shaping perception, understand its potential impact, and determine where to focus.

"Online conversations don't wait for a report to be finished. They move quickly between channels, often spreading within minutes. The teams responsible for managing them need to keep pace," said Chris Hackney, Chief Product Officer at Meltwater. "They need real-time intelligence to determine what deserves attention and where the opportunities lie. This release makes that intelligence accessible in and out of the platform, bringing it into workflows teams already use so that they can make confident decisions at the moment it matters."

Meltwater helps teams see more of what shapes perception

As visual media, creators, and AI-generated answers increasingly influence public perception, Meltwater has expanded the content and signals teams can analyze with new features including:

GenAI Lens Accuracy Checker: Catch wrong, outdated, or contradictory claims about your brand in AI answers and correct the record before they shape perception.

Top Influencers and Prompt Volumes: Gain insight into what people are asking AI tools about your brand, and which creators and publishers influence the answers.

Speech-to-Text and Visual Context Intelligence: Search and measure what's said and shown in videos and images, so mentions outside text no longer slip past your monitoring.

Meltwater enables teams to move from monitoring reputation to managing it

Introducing Reputation Intelligence, a new add-on module that identifies risks as they surface and explains the context behind them, so teams can understand, prioritize, and respond faster. 

Reputation Taxonomy: Get a structured view of the specific risks affecting your organization, instead of sifting through a noisy stream of coverage and conversation.

Reputation Risk Score: Understand how serious an issue is and where it's heading, based on tone, credibility, reach, and speed of spread, without manually interpreting scattered signals.

Reputation Dashboard: Track which risks need attention, what's driving them, where they're spreading, and who's amplifying them, all in one place.

Meltwater brings its intelligence into AI assistants and everyday workflows

Meltwater is bringing its media, social, creator, and audience intelligence into familiar workflows so teams can get answers and complete tasks without moving between multiple tools.

Mira and Meltwater Agents: Ask a question about your brand in plain language and get a polished, executive-ready summary, report, or recommendation. 

Klear and Media Relations Agents: Hand off repetitive work such as vetting creators, building campaign reports, and following up on media outreach, so your team can focus on strategy and relationship-building.

Meltwater MCP:  Get Meltwater's data and intelligence in the LLMs and AI assistants your team already uses, so you get answers without switching tools.

"We are extending Meltwater's intelligence beyond the platform and into the workflows where our customers already work," said Aditya Jami, Chief Technology Officer at Meltwater. "By connecting our rich structured data, AI models, agents, and product capabilities, we're making advanced analysis easier to access while giving teams the sources, context, and control that make it easy to act on. This is the next step in AI transformation we've been driving for years, and we're just getting started." 

About Meltwater

Meltwater is the global leader in actionable intelligence for PR, Communications, and Marketing teams. By analyzing 1.3 billion pieces of content daily, Meltwater transforms media, social, and AI signals into intelligence that leaders rely on to make faster, more confident decisions. With 27,000 customers worldwide, Meltwater is the intelligence platform global brands trust to stay ahead. 

Copyright 2026 GlobeNewswire, Inc.