PABIANICE, Polonia, 4 de septiembre de 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- JA ha lanzado oficialmente su primera gira europea, Journey Ahead: JA Roadshow 2026, con su parada inaugural en Polonia. Esta exposición itinerante recorrerá el continente durante las próximas ocho semanas, llevando las últimas soluciones de energía fotovoltaica y almacenamiento de energía de JA directamente a los clientes.

Esta gira europea, la primera a gran escala de JA bajo la marca unificada "One JA", ofrece una demostración tangible y práctica de cómo el ecosistema energético integrado de JA está pasando de la visión a la aplicación real.

Con salida desde Polonia, la gira visitará más de 20 localidades en 11 países, incluyendo Hungría, Rumania, Alemania, Italia, España y otros, abarcando los principales mercados energéticos de Europa.

Diseñada para responder a la creciente demanda europea de resiliencia energética y servicios integrados de almacenamiento de energía solar, la gira presenta la cartera principal de JA, basada en tecnologías inteligentes de almacenamiento de energía solar. Tres zonas de experiencia dedicadas al almacenamiento fotovoltaico integrado, casos de uso comerciales e industriales (C&I) y centros de datos demostrarán las capacidades energéticas integradas de extremo a extremo de la compañía.

- En el ámbito fotovoltaico, JA presenta su gama completa de módulos de alta eficiencia, incluyendo las series insignia DeepBlue 5.0 y DeepBlue 4.0 Pro, basadas en la tecnología TOPCon. Destacan las soluciones antirreflejo con variantes de vidrio microestructurado y grabado al ácido. También se presenta el módulo HyperGen, impulsado por las tecnologías patentadas de JA de contacto posterior y superficie completa. Este módulo alcanza una eficiencia de conversión celular certificada, récord mundial, del 28,2 %, sentando una sólida base técnica para la generación de energía de alto rendimiento.

- En lo que respecta al almacenamiento de energía, la gira presenta soluciones para diversas aplicaciones:

- JAPlanet Fusion, un sistema integrado de energía solar y almacenamiento para aplicaciones comerciales e industriales, que permite la coordinación inteligente de la generación solar, el almacenamiento y las cargas del sitio.

- JAPlanet 2.0, un sistema integral de almacenamiento de energía para el sector comercial e industrial que proporciona una gestión energética integrada para empresas y parques industriales.

- JAGalaxy, una solución de almacenamiento de energía a gran escala para la integración de energías renovables, aplicaciones en la red eléctrica y grandes centros de datos.

- Para aplicaciones con estrictos requisitos de seguridad de datos, privacidad y normativas, la solución de energía Nebula™ Digital de JA admite opciones de implementación flexibles a nivel local, europeo o híbrido, según los requisitos normativos y del proyecto.

El lanzamiento de la gira en Polonia marca el inicio de una actividad de dos meses por toda Europa, durante la cual JA mantendrá conversaciones técnicas en profundidad y realizará demostraciones de productos con clientes locales. A medida que avance la gira, se publicarán nuevas paradas, actividades y novedades en el micrositio dedicado a la gira en journeyahead.eu.

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ASTANA, Kazajistán, 4 de septiembre de 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") se unió a la Organización Internacional de Cooperación para la Innovación Tecnológica en CCUS, al Ministerio de Energía de la República de Kazajistán y al Instituto de Nuevos Materiales y Tecnologías Energéticas de la Universidad Nazarbayev para lanzar la Iniciativa de Cooperación para el Desarrollo de Energía de Bajo Carbono. Anunciada durante la Conferencia Internacional de Tecnología CCUS 2026, celebrada los días 1 y 2 de septiembre en Astana, la iniciativa promueve una colaboración más estrecha en materia de tecnologías y normas de CCUS, así como un mayor intercambio entre los profesionales del sector.

Al acto de lanzamiento asistieron representantes gubernamentales, de la industria y de organizaciones internacionales de China, Kazajistán, Reino Unido, Estados Unidos y Canadá. La conferencia reunió a más de 230 participantes de decenas de países y regiones para debatir sobre la captura de dióxido de carbono, el almacenamiento geológico, la mineralización de CO2 y el desarrollo de centros de CCUS. Asimismo, los participantes analizaron los modelos de negocio, los marcos normativos y las asociaciones internacionales necesarios para impulsar un despliegue más amplio.

Tian Hongbin, vicepresidente de Sinopec Group, afirmó que la acción climática mundial ha entrado en una fase crítica, en la que CCUS se ha convertido en un factor clave. Tras haber contribuido a la creación de la ICTO, Sinopec seguirá apoyando su desarrollo como red mundial de expertos líderes y profundizará en la cooperación internacional en todo el sector de CCUS.

Sinopec ha construido el primer gasoducto de CO2 en fase densa de 100 kilómetros de China y ha puesto en marcha el primer proyecto de demostración integrado de CCUS del país, con una capacidad anual de un millón de toneladas métricas. Asimismo, lleva a cabo un estudio conjunto con Shell, BASF y China Baowu sobre el primer clúster de CCUS de acceso abierto en China a una escala de 10 millones de toneladas métricas, al tiempo que prepara un proyecto de demostración de un millón de toneladas métricas en el yacimiento petrolífero de Shengli, centrado en fuentes de CO2 de menor concentración. En conjunto, estos proyectos abarcan la captura de CO2 de fuentes con concentraciones variables, la recuperación mejorada de petróleo y el almacenamiento.

Fundada en julio de 2025, ICTO cuenta con 60 miembros fundadores, entre los que se incluyen empresas, instituciones de investigación y expertos de más de 20 países y regiones. Sinopec seguirá colaborando con ICTO y sus miembros para vincular la experiencia en ingeniería con la investigación internacional y apoyar el desarrollo y la aplicación de tecnologías de CCUS.

Acerca de SINOPEC

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") es una de las mayores empresas integradas de energía y productos químicos de China. Sus actividades abarcan la exploración y producción de petróleo y gas, el refinado, la petroquímica, la comercialización y distribución de combustibles, así como la investigación y el desarrollo. Sinopec también impulsa tecnologías y soluciones energéticas bajas en carbono. Para más información sobre Sinopec, visite www.sinopec.com/listco/en.

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Residential electric rates would remain the lowest among Maryland investor-owned utilities

WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is proposing a Maryland rate adjustment to support continued investment in the electric system, including upgrades to aging infrastructure, grid modernization and projects designed to strengthen reliability.

The proposed $52.8 million rate adjustment would increase the monthly bill for the average residential customer by approximately 5.3%. Even with the proposed adjustment, Potomac Edison's residential rates would remain the lowest among Maryland's investor-owned electric utilities. As of June 1, Potomac Edison's electric rates were 25% below the average rate of its in-state peers.

The proposal includes a reliability improvement program focused on upgrading electric system infrastructure and technology. The program would build on investments Potomac Edison has made in recent years to improve reliability, strengthen the system and support faster restoration when outages occur.

Chris Beam, FirstEnergy's President of West Virginia and Maryland: "We recognize that any increase in a customer's bill matters, and we take that responsibility seriously. This proposal is focused on investments we believe are necessary to strengthen the electric system, improve reliability and better prepare our customers for severe weather. We will continue to look for ways to manage costs responsibly while making investments that benefit customers over the long term."

Recent Potomac Edison investments include:

- Replacing and upgrading poles, power lines and other equipment to strengthen the electric system and improve its ability to withstand severe weather.

- Installing smart grid technology that can automatically reroute power when outages occur, helping keep more customers in service and reducing restoration times.

The proposed reliability improvement program would build on these efforts through targeted upgrades to power lines, underground equipment and grid technology. Projects would include:

- Installing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology to provide greater visibility into the electric system and help crews respond to problems more quickly.

- Replacing substation reclosers and adding circuit ties and automation to improve system flexibility and restoration capabilities.

- Upgrading overhead power lines through reconductoring and replacing aging underground cables.

- Removing more high-risk trees near power lines before they can cause outages, with a particular focus on preparing for severe weather.

Potomac Edison is committed to managing costs responsibly while making investments needed to maintain and improve the electric system. The proposed rate adjustment must be reviewed and approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission before it can take effect. The PSC's review process provides an opportunity for public input and for the commission to evaluate the proposal and its impact on customers.

Potomac Edison serves about 295,000 customers in all or parts of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties in Maryland. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

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IRVING, TX, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Powder River Crude Services, LLC announced today the launch of a binding open season to solicit commitments to support a proposed new gathering pipeline system (Pipeline). The open season began at 8:00 a.m. Central Time today, September 4, 2026 and is scheduled to end at 5:00 p.m. Central Time on October 4, 2026.

The proposed Pipeline will provide crude oil gathering and transportation service from receipt points located in Converse County, Wyoming to the Pronghorn Station in Douglas, Wyoming. The open season process provides potential shippers the opportunity to obtain firm capacity on the Pipeline by making an acreage dedication and executing a crude oil gathering agreement during the binding open season time frame.

Additional documents and details related to the open season will be made available upon execution of a confidentiality agreement. Those interested in obtaining more detailed information about this open season and a copy of the form confidentiality agreement should contact Chris Storey at cstorey@scmidstream.com or 469-614-2243.

About Silver Creek Midstream Holdings, LLC

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Silver Creek Midstream is a private midstream company focused on providing crude oil gathering, transportation and storage services in Texas and Wyoming. To learn more, please visit our website at: www.scmidstream.com.

Silver Creek Media Relations

Jill McMillan

Managing Director, Communications & Public Affairs

+1 214-489-7047

jmcmillan@tailwatercapital.com 

SOURCE Silver Creek Midstream

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BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At IFA 2026, Midea brings its "Simply ideal" vision to life through the latest innovations, designed to bring greater intelligence, comfort, efficiency and ease to the home.

The exhibition also highlights Midea's new five-year partnership with FC Barcelona.

The Midea Suites: Ways to Master the Home

The new SMART MASTER showcases Midea's AI-powered home ecosystem. The AI Agent enables more natural, intuitive interaction with appliances across daily household scenarios. Midea Robot brings AI into the physical world through cooking, cleaning, laundry, care and whole-home control.

At IFA 2026, Midea unveiled its new AI voice-controlled air conditioner. Cliff Liang, General Manager of Enterprise Commercial for the China Region at Microsoft, joined the Midea event and shared Microsoft's perspective on the next phase of AI.

AI ECOMASTER coordinates appliances and connected systems through intelligent power management. It learns household routines and adapts to changing needs for greater flexibility and comfort.

For homes where every inch counts, SPACE MASTER delivers more usable capacity within the same external dimensions, as demonstrated by the refrigerator's expanded storage.

Alongside the MASTER Suites, the BUILT-IN Series includes the Milanese-inspired Ispira Series, combining cohesive design with intelligent functionality for an integrated cooking experience.

The Midea Scenarios: Innovation for Everyday Living

Comfort begins with the air around us. Midea's R290 Series responds to growing demand for efficient cooling. It combines advanced compressor and safety-sealing technologies with ultra-low-GWP R290 refrigerant, delivering around 10% higher energy efficiency. Residential applications include H-Pack and PortaSplit, with PortaSplit set to adopt R290 in 2027.

In the kitchen, technology simplifies daily routines, from food storage and cooking to after-meal care. The Visionary Series refrigerators make food easier to see and access through GlassVision, hands-free lighting and clear, even illumination.

The InfiniteFit Series hobs feature an ultra-slim design for seamless integration into European kitchens, while OmniFlex enables flexible cookware placement. The PizzaPro built-in oven combines rapid heating with an 81L cavity, balancing speed with capacity.

After the meal, the Tri-GreenApex System brings washing, drying and storage together while using around 50% less energy than required for Europe's highest A rating.

Laundry brings its own everyday needs. Midea's family laundry room concept combines multi-drum solutions for different garment-care needs, allowing separate loads to run at the same time. The OMNI SERIES offers flexible combinations to suit different household routines.

Tobin Richardson, President and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, introduced Matter at Midea's booth, highlighting its open, secure, interoperable framework and Midea's role in advancing smart appliance connectivity.

Partnership and Brand Portfolio

At IFA 2026, Midea celebrated its partnership through an immersive FC Barcelona experience at its booth. FC Barcelona legend Carles Puyol made a special appearance, sharing insights from his career on leadership, teamwork and the pursuit of excellence. His presence reflected Midea and FC Barcelona's shared commitment to world-class performance.

As part of Midea Group's multi-brand portfolio, TEKA presents its latest innovations under the "Meaningful Experiences Through Technology" concept, including its new coffee machine range, the In-Line Series and Laundry Care solutions, bringing European design and functionality to modern living.

About Midea and Midea Group

Midea is one of over 10 brands within the Smart Home Business of Midea Group.

Founded in 1968, Midea Group is a leading global technology company and one of the world's largest home appliance manufacturers. As a Fortune Global 500 enterprise, it ranked No. 231 in 2026. The Group has streamlined its core operations into seven high-growth business pillars to drive future growth: Smart Home, Industrial Technologies, Building Technologies, KUKA, New Energy, Midea Healthcare, and ANNTO Logistics.

SOURCE Midea Group

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Cheche Group Reports First Half 2026 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheche Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CCG) ("Cheche", "the Company" or "we"), China's leading auto insurance technology platform, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026.

Key Business Highlights

- Partnerships with New Energy Vehicle (NEV) companies numbered 18 in the first half 2026 and led to 1,049,000 policies with corresponding written premium of RMB3.2 billion (US$472.0 million), representing an increase of 29.5% and 23.7%, respectively, compared to the prior-year period.

- Net revenues decreased 34.4% to RMB885.0 million (US$130.4 million) as we have been proactively restructuring business portfolio to focus on high-margin segments.

- Gross margin increased to 6.5% from 4.9% in the prior-year period, driven by an improved business mix, with NEV premiums increasing to 31.0% of total written premiums from 22.5% in the prior-year period.

Management Comments

"In the first half of 2026, Cheche made meaningful progress in reshaping our business for the next phase of growth," said Lei Zhang, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Cheche. "We made deliberate choices to shift away from lower-margin, less strategic revenue streams and concentrate our resources on the business and capabilities where we believe we can create greater long-term value through technology, data and differentiated solutions. As a result, while net revenues declined 34.4% to RMB885.0 million, gross margin expanded by 160 basis points, reflecting a fundamentally stronger revenue mix.

"This transformation is now visibly expressed in our recent launch of the ABAO Agent Family – a suite of five specialized AI agents, built on Cheche's proprietary vertical insurance large language model that spans the full NEV insurance lifecycle from dynamic pricing to claims processing. Together with our Cheche Score and proprietary NEV intelligent pricing model, ABAO marks our strategic evolution from a digital insurance transaction platform into an AI-driven insurance infrastructure provider. These capabilities are deepening our relationships with insurance carrier partners, improving the economics of our core operations and expanding the ways in which our technology can be applied.

"Transformation requires discipline, and we remain focused on streamlining operations, strengthening our foundation and directing resources toward our highest-value opportunities. We are also exploring ways to broaden our platform and enhance the scale and resilience of our operations as we enter the next phase of our evolution. Our objective is to build a more diversified enterprise with the flexibility to pursue compelling opportunities while maintaining disciplined execution and a clear focus on shareholder value."

Unaudited First Half Year 2026 Financial Results

Net Revenues were RMB885.0 million (US$130.4 million), representing a 34.4% year-over-year decrease from the prior-year period as a result of the restructuring of our business portfolio.

Cost of Revenues decreased 35.5% year-over-year to RMB827.6 million (US$122.0 million) from the prior-year period due to a decline in net revenues and higher gross margin driven by the restructuring of our business portfolio.

Gross profit decreased 12.6% to RMB57.5 million (US$8.5 million) compared to the prior-year period due to the decrease of net revenues, partially offset by the improved business structure which led to a higher gross margin.

Selling and Marketing Expenses decreased 4.3% to RMB35.6 million (US$5.3 million) from RMB37.3 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the decrease in staff cost and share-based compensation expenses. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, selling and marketing expenses were RMB34.5 million (US$5.1 million), a decrease of 2.5% compared to the prior-year period.

General and Administrative Expenses increased 55.4% to RMB57.9 million (US$8.5 million) from RMB37.3 million for the prior-year period due to the recognition of RMB35.1 million (US$5.2 million) specific allowance of credit losses for long-aged and high-risk receivables, partially offset by the decrease in share-based compensation expenses and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses increased 112.7% year over year, from RMB26.6 million to RMB56.5 million (US$8.3 million).

Research and Development Expenses decreased 21.0% to RMB14.5 million (US$2.1 million) from RMB18.3 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the decrease in staff costs and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, research and development expenses decreased 21.0% to RMB14.1 million (US$2.1 million) from RMB17.8 million in the prior-year period.

Total Operating Expenses increased 16.4% to RMB108.0 million (US$15.9 million) from RMB92.8 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the recognition of specific allowance of credit losses for long-aged and high-risk receivables, partially offset by the decrease in staff cost, share-based compensation expenses and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, total operating expenses increased 31.8% to RMB105.1 million (US$15.5 million) from RMB79.8 million in the prior-year period.

Net Loss increased 72.3% to RMB44.1 million (US$6.5 million) from RMB25.6 million in the prior-year period. Excluding non-GAAP expenses, the Adjusted Net Loss increased 257.7% to RMB37.7 million (US$5.6 million) from RMB10.5 million in the prior-year period.

Net Loss Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB18.57 (US$2.74), increasing RMB7.68 from a loss of RMB10.89 for the prior-year period.

Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB15.89 (US$2.34), increasing RMB11.4 from a loss of RMB4.49 for the prior-year period.

First Half Year 2026 Business Developments

- On January 29, 2026, Cheche announced that Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Co., Ltd ("DSSO"), Beijing Cardif Airstar Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. ("Cardif Airstar Insurance"), and Cheche Group Inc. held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony on January 29, 2026. They will collaborate to develop digital insurance services for Volkswagen owners and expand into areas such as intelligent pricing, intelligent-driving insurance, and non-auto insurance. The partnership aims to establish a digital financial and insurance service system covering the full lifecycle of electric vehicle ownership.

- On May 28, 2026, Cheche announced the official launch of its proprietary, AI large model-driven intelligent connected vehicle pricing product. Targeting China's expanding market of approximately 20 million intelligent connected NEVs, the platform utilizes advanced machine learning and multi-dimensional data analytics. By analyzing real-time driving behavior, usage patterns, and localized risk scenarios, the technology delivers precise, personalized insurance pricing tailored to individual drivers.

- On June 22, 2026, Cheche announced the official launch of "ABAO Agent," an AI-powered intelligent underwriting agent. ABAO Agent is now commercially deployed in auto insurance renewal scenarios at scale. Its 24/7 autonomous capabilities allow the agent to independently execute the complete renewal workflow—customer outreach, needs identification, policy follow-up, and conversion—functions that previously required dedicated human teams. The result is a reduction in labor and operational costs for carrier partners, with no compromise to service continuity.

- On June 24, 2026, Cheche announced the launch of "Cheche Score," a proprietary AI-powered dynamic pricing solution for NEV insurance. Cheche Score is fully commercialized and functioning across multiple cities in China. Cheche has entered into dedicated AI-powered renewal cooperation agreements with several of China's largest insurance carriers, jointly building a digital operating ecosystem that connects intelligent pricing, precision renewal, and closed-loop customer service.

- On September 1, 2026, Cheche announced the launch of the ABAO Agent Family, a suite of five specialized AI agents built on Cheche's proprietary vertical insurance large language model. Spanning the full NEV insurance lifecycle, from dynamic pricing optimization to claims processing and specialized diagnostics, the ABAO Agent Family marked Cheche's strategic evolution from a digital insurance transaction platform into an AI-driven insurance infrastructure provider.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had RMB173.7 million (US$25.6 million) in total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments.

Business Outlook

For the full year 2026:

- Cheche is revising its Net Revenue guidance to an approximate range of RMB1.5 billion to RMB1.8 billion, from the previously announced approximate range of RMB3.0 billion to RMB3.2 billion, to reflect the impact of its ongoing business restructuring.

- Cheche is revising its NEV Written Premiums Placed guidance to an approximate range of RMB8.0 billion to RMB10.0 billion from the previously announced approximate range of RMB10.5 billion to RMB 12.0 billion, to reflect the change of NEV sales in the domestic market.

- Cheche ceased using Total Written Premiums Placed as a key business performance indicator as a result of its strategic pivot.

- Cheche is estimating an Adjusted Net Loss range of RMB42.7 million to RMB47.4 million for the full year 2026, due primarily to the ongoing restructuring.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the reader's convenience. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.7851 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on June 30, 2026, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

M.C. Layman Marks Two Years as Founder Kate Layman Joins Two Frederick County Boards

FREDERICK, Md., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Two years after launching M.C. Layman, founder Kate Layman is marking the company's second anniversary alongside two new leadership roles in the Frederick community.

Layman was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Woodsboro Bank and the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association, extending her community involvement beyond her work in commercial real estate.

Founded in 2024, M.C. Layman draws on Layman's experience in commercial real estate, property management and business operations to provide hands-on management and advisory services to property owners and businesses.

"Starting M.C. Layman allowed me to put the experience and relationships I had built throughout my career to work in a new way," Layman said. "Two years later, I'm proud of what we've built and grateful for the clients who have trusted us with their properties and businesses."

Through her appointment to the Woodsboro Bank Board of Directors, Layman brings her commercial real estate and business experience to a community bank with deep roots in Frederick County. Her role on the Mental Health Association Board of Directors extends that same perspective to an organization focused on addressing an important community need.

Layman views both appointments as extensions of the same community-focused perspective that informs M.C. Layman's work.

"Real estate is about much more than the physical asset," Layman said. "Success depends on understanding what exists beyond the walls of a building — the businesses, people, capital and community around it."

That perspective has shaped M.C. Layman's approach from the start, emphasizing the economic and community factors that influence long-term property performance.

"Working in real estate has given me a deep appreciation for the businesses, institutions and people that make a community strong," Layman said. "Woodsboro Bank and the Mental Health Association support that strength in different ways, and I'm honored to contribute to both as Frederick County continues to grow."

As M.C. Layman enters its third year, the company remains focused on commercial real estate, property management and advisory work rooted in a practical understanding of the Frederick County community.

About M.C. Layman:

M.C. Layman is a full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in property management, investment consulting, and strategic advisory services. The company also seeks investment opportunities that benefit from its vision, process, and record of results.

SOURCE M.C. Layman

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University is among eight universities selected to lead a national initiative focused on preparing the next generation of workers to advance American manufacturing.

The Foundry School, a U.S. Department of State initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, was announced yesterday in Washington, D.C., by Vice President J.D. Vance. The school is designed to develop and train the workforce America will need to prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers, inventors and industrial leaders to build and operate advanced manufacturing enterprises.

ASU President Michael Crow joined the vice president, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, and other university presidents for the announcement along with ASU students from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering who were invited to attend.

"This is about universities and industry working together to accelerate all things associated with enhancing workforce preparation, enhancement and competitiveness," said ASU President Michael Crow. "ASU has been asked to be a part of this effort to help create the conditions to make sure the United States continues to be a global leader in driving the economy of the future, and we are glad to be of service."

The Foundry School will rely on deep collaboration among industry, government and higher education. Across the eight universities, the program will run 17 sessions, each taught by founders and CEOs from advanced manufacturing enterprises. Manufacturers will share practical expertise developed through building and scaling industrial enterprises, while executives help teach students about areas including materials, precision production, automation, supply chains, factory economics and industrial leadership. These leaders will be drawn from the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan and India.

ASU brings critical infrastructure — both physical and human — combined with proven industry partnerships to build the manufacturing workforce at scale. State-of-the-art facilities enable ASU's faculty and researchers to advance their work at the highest levels, positioning the university as integral to the nation's efforts to reshore the manufacturing of critical technologies. ASU training programs are moving workers directly into fab roles, and its facilities and faculty expertise together anchor several federally funded programs, positioning the university to help scale the nation's next generation of manufacturing talent.

"We have all kinds of initiatives already underway at ASU," said Crow. "We are deeply engaged in work related to training, to special R&D advancement, to advanced manufacturing, and to teaching, learning and discovery activities with industry. ASU is built for this assignment."

The federal government will help expand the effort nationally by aligning resources, convening partners and supporting workforce pathways. Participating universities will translate industry expertise into education, embedding advanced manufacturing knowledge into curricula and workforce programs.

For ASU, the initiative is an opportunity to extend the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering's leading expertise in engineering education and research into a national effort to develop the people and capabilities needed for advanced manufacturing.

That commitment is already visible across the Fulton Schools: nearly all of its programs feed directly into the technologies and workforce reshoring depends on. The School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks, part of the Fulton Schools and housed in the 173,000-square-foot ISTB12 facility on ASU's Polytechnic campus, is the clearest example, training students with skills that transfer across aerospace, microelectronics, medical devices, energy and more.

"Decisions made early in a design show up much later, in tooling, in yield and in whether a product can be manufactured at scale," said Kyle Squires, dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. "Teaching engineers to see that whole system is what our faculty do, and this partnership puts our students and emerging builders alongside the practitioners who solve those problems for a living."

ASU's Fulton Schools is the largest engineering school in the country, with nearly 33,000 students. ASU also ranks No. 2 among U.S. public universities (and in the top 15 nationally) for graduate employability, according to the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey. Employers worldwide favor ASU graduates for practical skills, digital literacy and job readiness.

This new national effort is intended to turn the resurgence of American manufacturing into an enduring capability by developing a workforce equipped with both technical knowledge and an understanding of how advanced industrial enterprises are built, operated and scaled.

Stanford University has played a key role in creating the Foundry School. Its broad expertise in fabrication facilities, robotics research and policy can help inform national conversations on manufacturing and workforce needs. The Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, Penn State, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kansas are the other universities that will lead this national initiative.

SOURCE Arizona State University - Media Relations

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GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) AI Agent Stack Passes 24.5 Million Inbound AI Agent Transactions In 30 Days

Brendan Farrugia, Co-founder and Director of GSC Joint Venture Company GSC Agentic Pty. Ltd., joins the GSC Board of Advisors

VANCOUVER, BC and SYDNEY, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenCore Solutions Corp. ("GSC" or the "Company") today announced a record month for its AI Agent Stack and a new appointment to its Board of Advisors.

What GSC does. GSC builds AI Agents that sell Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Beauty & Personal Care (BPC) brands. The agents are provided as a managed service — nothing to install, no tech department, no firewall to open, for the brand or the buyer. When a retailer's buying AI Agent asks whether a brand is available and orderable in its market, the GSC AI Agent answers — in that market, for that brand — and elevates the order to the GSC Trading Deck for humans in the loop on order volume. This is AI Orderability (AIO): new volume added to a brand's existing capacity and team, not a replacement for either.

The record. In August the AI Agent Stack soared past 24.5 million inbound AI Agent transactions — nine every second — up from 9.5 million per month in May, June and July. Cumulative transactions since May now reach 50 million+. In 1999, Amazon.com took four years to reach its first 10 million customers.

Where the traffic comes from. Half of it is European:

- European Union → 11.76 million, led by France at 7.11 million, the Netherlands at 2.35 million, Germany at 777,570 and Belgium at 436,460

- United Kingdom → 167,200, with Switzerland at 241,450 and Norway at 136,530 alongside

- United States → 4.9 million

- Canada → 1.48 million

- Singapore → 1.15 million, the first Asia-Pacific market past one million

Why Europe. The Stack was designed on Microsoft Azure France Central, GSC's founding region and European home — the global hub of BPC brands and of ESG leadership. GSC AI Agents now run resident in 18 countries on 18 Azure regions, plus Google Cloud Spain:

- Founding regions → France Central, Australia East, South Central US, Mexico Central

- Europe → UK South, Switzerland North, West Europe (Netherlands), Germany West Central, Italy North, Spain Central, Poland Central

- Americas → Canada Central, Brazil South

- Asia-Pacific → Southeast Asia (Singapore), Korea Central, Japan East, Central India

- Middle East → UAE North

Speed for customers and lower compute for buyers: a retail buying AI Agent in Tokyo, Los Angeles or Paris is answered by a GSC AI Agent in Japan, America or France. Every transaction follows one path:

- Powered by the CPG Knowledge Graph

- Carried with its ESG record on SM-ESG-CPG

- Resolved for its jurisdiction → in France, at FR-ECO-10060

- Answered once → a human reviews and signs every order

Telephone codes and postal codes were built for letters and phone calls. GSC provides the codes for AI Agents.

The market it serves. Morgan Stanley Research estimates AI shopping agents will account for $190 billion to $385 billion of U.S. e-commerce by 2030, with groceries and consumer packaged goods already leading AI-driven purchases. Bain & Company puts the U.S. figure at $300 billion to $500 billion. GSC's traffic is that market arriving for its BPC brand customers, in the category it was built for.

The appointment. Brendan Farrugia is the Sydney co-founder behind GSC Agentic Pty. Ltd., the joint venture that carries the GSC AI Agent Stack across Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe including the UK. He is Director, Co-Founder & General Partner of Unify Ventures and sits on the GSC Agentic International Board of Directors.

"We augment a brand's sales with new volume — we don't duplicate what its team already does, and we do it sustainably, with the compute resident in the buyer's own market," said Matthew Keddy, CEO, GreenCore Solutions Corp. "Twenty-four and a half million inbound AI Agent transactions a month is 34,000 sales calls an hour, nine every second, answered on eighteen Microsoft Azure hyperscale regions active today for our customers. No brand could staff that. We deliver that new volume with AI Agents on a managed-service basis — faster time to market, lower cost, available now."

"Every BPC board I sit in front of asks the same question: when does the retail buying agent era commence," said Brendan Farrugia. "It hit scale in August — twenty-four and a half million agents asked, and our AI Agent fleet delivered. The question a board should be asking now is whether its brands can be found and ordered when those retail AI Agent buyers ask — because if the answer is no, the brand becomes invisible to its primary customers."

About GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC)

GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) builds AI Agents that sell Beauty & Personal Care (BPC) brands into retail grocery procurement, powered by the CPG Knowledge Graph with SPARKS and delivered on MCP + A2A + ACM-68000. GSC carries 24.5 million+ inbound AI Agent transactions a month across 2 billion datapoints spanning 38,350 BPC brands, 15,688 retail grocery banners and 3.29 million points of sale in 50 global markets. GSC AI Agents run sustainable, transact safe, human in the loop, and live on Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. GSC is a Microsoft AI Cloud Partner. D-U-N-S 24-336-6774. For more information visit gsc-em.com.

About GSC Agentic Pty. Ltd.

GSC Agentic Pty. Ltd., headquartered in Sydney, Australia, is the joint venture delivering the GSC AI Agent Stack across Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe including the UK. For more information visit gsc-global.ai

SOURCE GreenCore Solutions Corp.

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Basketball-WM der Frauen live bei MagentaSport und MagentaTV: DBB-Team verliert Auftakt vor "super geilem" Publikum, Gülich fordert: "Müssen besser antworten" - Lange: "Nie richtige Lösungen gefunden"

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Bauchlandung für die DBB-Frauen beim Auftakt in die Heim-WM! Trotz herausragender Unterstützung des Publikums in Berlin setzt es für das Team von Bundestrainer Olaf Lange eine herbe 53:83-Niederlage gegen Spanien. Vor allem im 1. Viertel agierten die Spanierinnen unter anderem mit einem 19:6-Run dominant und zogen früh deutlich davon. Dementsprechend groß ist die Ernüchterung im deutschen Team: "Wir müssen besser antworten! Wenn sie so die Dreier treffen, dürfen sie nicht nochmal Dreier werfen. Unsere Antwort war nicht stark genug", hadert Kapitänin Marie Gülich. Bundestrainer Olaf Lange moniert: "Grundsätzlich haben wir offensiv nie richtige Lösungen gefunden. Die Verteidigung der Spanierinnen ist sehr, sehr gut. Aber ich habe schon erwartet, dass wir da bessere Lösungen finden." Einzig im 3. Viertel kam Deutschland auf 15 Punkte. Ansonsten prallte man geschlossen an Spaniens Defensive ab. Beste DBB-Werferin ist WNBA-Star Leonie Fiebich mit 13 Punkten, die das Spiel schnell abgehakt: "Ich habe schon zu Nyara [Sabally] gesagt: Ab der Schlusssirene schauen wir auf morgen, auf Japan!"

Ab 17.30 Uhr, live bei MagentaSport und MagentaTV, geht es für Deutschland bereits weiter: Gegen Japan müsse die DBB-Auswahl "zusehen, dass wir Zweiter in der Gruppe werden", gibt Lange die Marschrichtung vor. Allerdings bleiben auch einige positive Dinge, darunter die Stimmung. MagentaSport-Expertin Ireti Amoyo: "Die 'Wilde 13' ist hier. Das finde ich geil! Wir sprechen in Deutschland darüber, dass wir Fankultur aufbauen wollen. Die 'Wilde 13' ist der Fanclub, der sich um das Männerteam herum gebildet hat. Heute waren sie mit dem Megafon hier. Sie hatten eine kleine Performance, wie wir es aus dem Fußball kennen. Hier entsteht auch etwas wie eine Fankultur."

Nachfolgend die wichtigsten Clips und Stimmen vom deutschen Auftakt bei der Basketball-Heim-WM der Frauen in Berlin gegen Spanien. Bei Verwendung bitte MagentaSport als Quelle angeben. Für Deutschland geht es am morgigen Samstag bereits weiter - ab 17.30 Uhr mit dem Duell gegen Japan. Insgesamt werden 23 Partien live bei MagentaSport und MagentaTV gezeigt. Ireti Amojo und Per Günther begleiten die WM als Experten-Duo.

FIBA Womens' World Cup 2026, 1. Spieltag: Deutschland - Spanien 53:83 - "Haben offensiv nie richtige Lösungen gefunden"

Ton und Gänsehaut an! Das Heim-Publikum in Berlin empfängt das deutsche Team! Der Clip zum Einlauf: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=MkNvUk1pRUNvYWVBL09pZXBQZFFjNVdJVDRPYVBKUjdlV21aTTRXVmhZaz0=

Marie Gülich, Kapitänin Deutschland (8 Punkte, 3 Rebounds): "Wir müssen besser antworten! Wenn sie so die Dreier treffen, dürfen sie nicht nochmal Dreier werfen. Unsere Antwort war nicht stark genug. Ich bin trotzdem stolz darauf, wie wir dringeblieben sind und wie wir mental versucht haben, alles zu geben, was wir machen können. Bei uns ist der Ball auch einfach nicht reingefallen. Das war tough. Aber die Antwort muss schneller kommen. [...] Wie wir auf Sachen antworten, war nicht schnell und nicht aggressiv genug. Das muss mit mehr Energie kommen und mit mehr Bestimmtheit."

... über die Kulisse in Berlin: "Das ist super geil! Auch, dass die Halle so voll ist und das Gefühl, das man hat, wenn man rausläuft. Ich muss sagen, ich kann jetzt gerade nicht so positiv sein, weil ich schon ein bisschen frustriert bin, dass wir nicht so executed haben, wie wir das gerne hätten tun wollen. [...] Nichtsdestotrotz bin ich super dankbar, dass wir in Berlin sein dürfen, dass wir dieses Publikum genießen können. Wir müssen das abhaken. Morgen geht's weiter. Wir müssen von den Dingen lernen und weitermachen."

Ireti Amoyo, MagentaSport-Expertin: "Ich weiß nicht, ob man es im Fernsehen gesehen hat. Aber die 'Wilde 13' ist hier. Das finde ich geil! Wir sprechen in Deutschland darüber, dass wir Fankultur aufbauen wollen. Die 'Wilde 13' ist der Fanclub, der sich um das Männerteam herum gebildet hat. Heute waren sie mit dem Megafon hier. Sie hatten eine kleine Performance, wie wir es aus dem Fußball kennen. Hier entsteht auch etwas wie eine Fankultur. Schade, dass es das Spiel nicht hergegeben hat. Dann wäre die Stimmung noch bombastischer gewesen. Aber hier sind Leute, die hungrig sind, die Bock auf deutschen Basketball haben, egal ob Männer oder Frauen. Und das ist schön. Das war eine schöne Erfahrung." Link zum Interview: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=QjNWQ0hPb1FkTnQ4TVNoOWlmQVdlOVJnZ2VhcG8zelJaZ1FsZzBkTXMvOD0=

Leonie Fiebich, 13 Punkte, 6 Rebounds: "Man will enttäuscht sein, darf man aber nicht. Ich habe schon zu Nyara [Sabally, Anm.d.Red.] gesagt: Ab der Schlusssirene schauen wir auf morgen, auf Japan. Wir müssen besser ins Spiel finden. In der 2. Halbzeit lief es ein bisschen besser. Aber gegen so ein gutes Team wie Spanien kommt man natürlich nicht wieder zurück."

... zum Spiel gegen Japan: "Positiv ist, dass wir in den Konstellationen Minuten auf dem Feld gespielt haben, um wieder ein bisschen Chemie zu finden. Wir haben lange nicht so zusammen auf dem Feld gestanden. Morgen wird es ein ganz anderes Spiel. Das kann man nicht mit heute vergleichen. Viel schneller und ganz anderer Basketball."

... über die kurze Schrecksekunde, als ihr Finger schmerzte - und die Frage, ob sie sich dabei ernsthafter verletzt habe: "Nein, alles gut." Link zum Interview: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=Z1V5SkZlRlQ3Um84dVFpRUNUQTFYNnFkS1NialVacTk3VEVqYWczM1RaYz0=

Olaf Lange, Bundestrainer: "Der Anfang war sehr, sehr schwierig, ganz besonders im 1. Viertel. Spanien hat jeden Wurf getroffen, der auf die Anlage kam und wir waren nicht in der Lage, kurzfristig darauf zu reagieren und sie mehr ins Dribbling zu zwingen. Im 2. Viertel gab es andere Probleme, im Transition-Pick-and-Roll. Grundsätzlich haben wir offensiv nie richtige Lösungen gefunden. Die Verteidigung der Spanierinnen ist sehr, sehr gut. Aber ich habe schon erwartet, dass wir da bessere Lösungen finden. Aber wir haben nie wirklich einen Rhythmus gefunden. [...] Morgen ist Japan. Das ist ein ganz anderes Spiel, ein ganz anderer Spielstil. Wir müssen weiter nach vorne schauen und zusehen, dass wir Zweiter in der Gruppe werden."

... über das Spiel gegen Japan: "Gegen Japan haben wir auf jeden Fall den Innenvorteil. Da haben wir nicht so die Sorgen, ob sie uns innen scoren. Da müssen wir uns mehr auf die Dreierlinie konzentrieren und sie in den Zwei-Punkte-Bereich forcieren. Da denke ich, dass wir im Innenspiel doch stärker sind. Da haben wir mehr Vorteile."

... warum Emily Bessoir in der 1. Halbzeit wenig gespielt hat: "Sie war nicht verletzt. Wir haben zehn Leute. Sie hat in der 1. Halbzeit gespielt. Viel mehr kann man nicht spielen, um den Rhythmus zu behalten." Link zum Interview: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=UHd0RzBQbWdOQjZWbVJlQTRvZUFXNFltN3RBeGZQWTVuOXE4NTlLdGFjVT0=

Per Günther, MagentaSport-Experte: "Das war sehr deutlich. Das hat der deutschen Fan-Seele sehr wehgetan, den Spielerinnen. Aber das ist eben eine Aufgabe des Turniers. Die gute Nachricht ist, es geht gerade erst los. Spanien ist eine der besten drei bis vier Mannschaften der Welt an ihrem Leistungsmaximum. Spanien kann nicht besser spielen als sie das getan haben. Deutschland kann an sehr vielen Ecken und Enden besser spielen. Jetzt ist einfach die Frage: Wie schnell lernst du als Einheit? Wie kannst du das abschütteln, was gerade passiert ist? Und wie schnell sehen die Schritte aus?" Link zur Aussage: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=VzFMT0lhS2RXaEhtZ1BBeVJ0OXEybW5HdXpTNVlHb2lYUzdVTlpDalRiaz0=

Stefan Möller, Co-Trainer Deutschland, in der Halbzeitpause: "Wir können viel anpassen. Das ist das Gute daran. Wir haben die Transition Defense sehr schlecht gespielt. Wir hätten das frühe Pick-and-Roll besser als Team stoppen müssen. Einige Leute waren nicht ganz in ihrer Position. Das können wir schnell ändern. Das haben wir angesprochen. Wir können auch die Dreierquote besser runterschrauben. Wir waren immer einen Schritt zu spät in den Close-Outs. Das ist etwas, das wir auf jeden Fall in der 2. Halbzeit besser machen werden."

Link zum Interview: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=U1hYU0RCNGYyQTNzU05YT1lUbDcyc2RBOU8rTEJsUW1nMG9TOVdCR0dGOD0=

Basketballpionierin Askamp im Interview: "Ich bin total happy, wie sich der Frauensport entwickelt hat"

Marlies Askamp, EM-Bronze-Gewinnerin 1997 und erste Deutsche in der WNBA, in der Halbzeitpause: "Das ist schon nochmal eine Qualität, die Spanien den Deutschen voraushat. Ich denke schon, dass Deutschland individuell mithalten könnte, sicherlich nicht immer auf allen Positionen. Aber da muss Deutschland insgesamt konsequenter sein. Ich kann verstehen, dass die Kulisse imponierend ist, für alle. Alle haben sich drauf gefreut. Es lähmt anscheinend ein bisschen. Leo [Fiebich, Anm.d.Red.] geht voran und versucht, was sie kann. Aber von den anderen könnte letztendlich mehr Konsequenz kommen."

... über die Kulisse, verglichen mit ihrer aktiven Zeit: "Ich bin total happy, wie sich der Frauensport und die Akzeptanz, die er hat, entwickelt hat. Das ist nicht nur beim Frauen-Basketball so, sondern in vielen anderen Sportarten. Es könnte natürlich immer noch besser und mehr sein. Aber ich finde die Kulisse wirklich super. Es macht Spaß, die Leute kommen mit. Ich bin überzeugt, auch wenn dieses Spiel nicht so sein wird, wie wir uns das vorgestellt haben, dass morgen [gegen Japan, Anm. d. Red.] alle wiederkommen werden, alle genauso die Mannschaft anfeuern. Ich habe selbst eine Tochter, die Basketball spielt. Ich finde es toll, dass sie ihre Idole und Vorbilder in so einem Rahmen sehen kann. Die Entwicklung ist super." Link zum Interview: clipro.tv/player?publishJobID=TGhwYUpVZmtVWmN1YzllL2hqZ3g5S2kyMVBLQThIU0NpT3lFOWVtRXY2az0=

Per Günther, MagentaSport-Experte, vor dem Spiel über Leonie Fiebich: "Sie ist wirklich eine Anführerin.