VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- American News Group News Commentary - Tungsten is the hardest working metal almost nobody talks about. It goes into armour, munitions, drill bits and the cutting tools that machine everything else, and there is no practical substitute for most of what it does. The Business Research Company values the global tungsten market at roughly US$6.66 billion in 2026 and projects approximately US$9.62 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of about 9.6%. What makes the number matter now is a date. United States defense procurement rules begin excluding Chinese tungsten in 2027, and the American ground meant to replace it was abandoned decades ago on price rather than geology. Much of it has never been surveyed with anything more precise than coarse regional government data. That is starting to change, and it is starting from the air.

Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2), Almonty Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ALM), MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP), and USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAR).

The repricing already happened. Tungsten rose more than 160% during 2025 on the combination of Chinese export controls and rising defense demand, with prices continuing to climb into 2026. Tungsten now sits near the top of every national critical minerals list, including those of the United States and Canada, on the strength of its properties, its concentration of supply, and the fact that it cannot be swapped out of most of its applications.

What has not happened is the supply response. The United States has no meaningful primary tungsten production. It once did. American tungsten districts in Nevada, California, Idaho and New Mexico operated through the middle of the last century and were shut down not because the metal ran out but because Chinese producers made them uneconomic. The ore bodies were left in the ground, the workings were abandoned, and the exploration data stopped where the technology of the day stopped.

That distinction matters more than it first appears. A district abandoned on geology is a dead end. A district abandoned on price is an inventory of known mineralization that nobody has re-examined with anything modern. Most of the historical American tungsten ground has never been flown with high-resolution geophysics, never had a three-dimensional inversion run over it, and never been drilled with the benefit of either.

So the practical bottleneck between now and 2027 is not appetite, and increasingly it is not capital. Washington has committed billions to domestic critical minerals, including direct equity participation in producers. The bottleneck is that you cannot permit or drill a target you have not defined, and defining targets under cover requires flying the ground first. Everything downstream of that, the drill permits, the resource work, the mine plan, waits on a map.

Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) Mobilises High-Resolution Drone Magnetic Survey at the Eagle Point Tungsten Project, New Mexico

- Property-wide, high-resolution UAV magnetic survey commenced at the 100%-owned Eagle Point project in Hidalgo County, New Mexico.

- Survey flown at 25 to 50 metre line spacing to define the limestone-intrusive contact and the magnetite-bearing tactite bodies that host scheelite mineralization, including beneath cover.

- Designed to extend the eight skarn bodies known from historical workings along strike.

- Same methodology and processing workflow that produced the district-scale three-dimensional inversion at the Company's Rowland and White Star properties in Nevada.

- Data acquisition expected to take approximately three weeks, with processed products and interpretation to follow, feeding target selection ahead of a maiden drill program and the drill-permitting process.

Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) has mobilised a geophysical field crew to its wholly owned Eagle Point tungsten project in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, to complete a high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle magnetic survey across the property.

The technical objective is specific. Scheelite at Eagle Point sits in magnetite-bearing tactite bodies formed where an intrusive body met limestone. Magnetite is magnetic; limestone and granite are not. A magnetic survey flown tightly enough therefore traces the contact itself, and the tactite bodies along it, including where they continue underneath cover that no amount of surface mapping can see through. Eight skarn bodies are already known from historical workings. The survey is designed to follow them along strike and to find the ones nobody dug.

Line spacing of 25 to 50 metres is the detail worth noting. The Company states that the only existing geophysical coverage over the area is coarse-resolution, widely spaced regional government data. Moving from that to a purpose-flown survey at this spacing is the difference between knowing a contact exists somewhere in a valley and knowing where it runs, how it is shaped, and where along it to put a drill.

"Given the promising results obtained from the drone magnetic surveys at Rowland and Whitestar, we are moving forward with this strategy at Eagle Point," said Blake Morgan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Star. "The only existing geophysics covering the area is coarse-resolution, widely spaced regional government data. By utilizing the drone, we expect to map out the prospective limestone-granite contact in much greater detail. With the ongoing Eagle Point exploration program exceeding expectations so far, we wanted to immediately add that next layer before our maiden drill program in 2026. We also expect assays back from our second-phase exploration program at Rowland and Whitestar, alongside an update on the ongoing Eagle Point program."

The method is not experimental for this company. The same survey design and processing workflow delivered a district-scale three-dimensional inversion across its Rowland and White Star properties in Nevada, and Eagle Point is the third property to receive it. Data acquisition is expected to take about three weeks, after which processed products and interpretation follow, and results are to be integrated with planned geological mapping and sampling to prioritise drill targets and support drill permitting.

Western Star is advancing a portfolio of past-producing tungsten assets across Nevada and New Mexico, with additional exploration exposure through its Western Star property in British Columbia. The Company has also flagged two further near-term items: assays from the second-phase exploration program at Rowland and White Star, and an update on the ongoing Eagle Point program. Filings are available on SEDAR+.

There are several risks associated with the Company's plans. Western Star is an exploration-stage company with no mineral resource or mineral reserve defined at Eagle Point, no production and no revenue. A magnetic survey maps physical properties of rock; it does not measure tungsten, and a magnetic anomaly is not mineralization. Historical workings and historical production at the property describe past activity and are not indicative of what may be found or recovered today. There is no assurance that the survey will define drill targets, that drill permits will be obtained, that drilling will occur on the timeline indicated, or that any drilling will result in the discovery or definition of a mineral resource. The maiden drill program referenced is a stated plan rather than a commitment. Exploration is capital intensive and may require financing that has not been secured, which could dilute existing holders. Tungsten prices have risen sharply and commodity prices can fall as quickly as they rise.

CONTINUED... Read this and more news for Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) at: https://americannewsgroup.com/pages/western-star/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Almonty Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: ALM) is the clearest picture of what the finished version of this trade looks like. The company describes itself as a leading supplier of conflict-free tungsten, with its flagship Sangdong mine in South Korea, the Panasqueira mine in Portugal, and additional projects in Spain and the United States. Sangdong moved from construction to active mining in December 2025 and was formally commissioned in March 2026.

In a shareholder letter issued January 20, 2026, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lewis Black set out the strategy: a fully integrated Western tungsten platform spanning North America, Europe and Asia intended to supply at least 40% of all non-China tungsten. The letter also noted that the combination of Chinese export controls and rising demand pushed tungsten prices up more than 160% during 2025. First quarter 2026 revenue was CA$25.4 million, an increase of 221% year over year.

Almonty has also relocated its corporate headquarters to Dillon, Montana, closer to United States defense and industrial partners and to its Gentung tungsten project, and raised US$700 million in convertible notes in June 2026. It is a producer with binding offtake arrangements and a balance sheet, which is a different animal from an exploration company. It is included here because it demonstrates that the Western tungsten thesis is being financed rather than merely discussed.

MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) is the reference case for what happens when Washington decides a critical mineral matters. America's only fully integrated rare earth producer, spanning mining and processing at Mountain Pass in California through to magnet manufacturing, MP became the subject of a multibillion-dollar United States Department of Defense investment, an unusually direct form of state participation in a listed producer.

In second quarter 2026 results, the company reported revenue of US$108.

NEW WATER CAPITAL ACQUIRES LIDWORKS, A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF CUSTOM FOODSERVICE LIDS

BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of New Water Capital Partners ("New Water" or "the Firm"), a Boca Raton-based private equity investment firm focused on lower-middle market companies, today announced the acquisition of LidWorks, a family-owned leader in the design and manufacturing of custom food, beverage, and specialty lids.

Since its founding in 1985, LidWorks has built a reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation, offering a comprehensive range of foodservice lids for hot and cold applications. The company serves major quick-serve restaurant and convenience store national brands, as well as the food service industry's leading packaging manufacturers and distributors. LidWorks is differentiated by its flexible production platform, which provides extensive customization options at competitive prices and enables close collaboration with clients to develop products tailored to their specific needs. The Company operates facilities in Plant City, Florida, where it manufactures over two billion lids per year, supporting sustained double digit growth.

Nicholas LaRosa, Vice President at New Water, said, "LidWorks represents exactly the type of business we seek to invest behind; it fits squarely within our long-standing commitment to the food & beverage and packaging sectors. We're proud to partner with Ugo and the LidWorks management team to build on the strong foundation they've established. Looking ahead, we'll continue to drive growth through investments in additional capacity and targeted M&A, with the goal of broadening the company's capabilities and better serving our customers."

Ugo Mazzarolo, President of LidWorks, said, "Now in our 42nd year, we are proud to have worked side-by-side with our customers to develop innovative, customized lid solutions that support their needs. Partnering with New Water provides us with additional resources as we continue to execute on our business plan, including expanding our facilities, products, and team."

Stout served as financial advisor, and Reed Smith served as legal advisor to New Water. PMCF Investment Banking acted as the exclusive financial advisor to LidWorks.

About New Water Capital L.P.

New Water Capital L.P. is a private equity firm focused on lower-middle market B2B manufacturing and distribution companies in the industrials, industrial tech, food & beverage, niche engineered products and packaging industries. New Water Capital's collaborative transaction and operating model is built specifically to support companies in transition, building on their unique cultures and strengths. For more information, please visit www.newwatercap.com.

About LidWorks

Founded in 1985, LidWorks is a family-owned company based in Plant City, Florida. For 42 years, the company has been committed to designing and manufacturing the most reliable and specialized packaging designs in the industry. LidWorks offers a comprehensive line of foodservice lids, including hot and cold beverage lids, food, and specialty product lids, serving leading brands in the quick-serve and fast-casual restaurant sectors, as well as convenience store chains, food service packaging manufacturers and distributors.

Contact

Daniel Yunger / Simone Leung

Kekst CNC

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE New Water Capital

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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chestnut today announced an agreement to deliver Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon credits to RBC, a leading global financial institution.

IFM practices commonly supported through carbon projects, including longer harvest rotations, retention of larger trees, strategic thinning, improved stand structure, and prescribed burns can contribute to healthier forests that are better positioned to withstand wildfire, drought, and other disturbances.

While no single management approach can eliminate wildfire risk, proactive stewardship can improve outcomes by helping landowners prepare their forests for future challenges while maintaining long-term productivity. Healthy forests are more resilient forests.

Chestnut's IFM project portfolio is one of the largest and most inclusive in the United States, providing a diverse network of private forest landowners—representing more than 200,000 acres across 37 states—with access to carbon markets and long-term, generational financial support. Revenue from RBC's carbon credit purchase provides capital that enables participating landowners to maintain and improve forest health while meeting immediate financial needs, creating a viable alternative to development pressures.

"Directing capital to high-quality, third-party verified climate solutions is important to how RBC can support clients in the transition to a low-carbon and resilient economy," said Brian Hong, Director Environmental Markets Solutions Group at RBC. "This project is compelling to us because it makes responsible forest stewardship economically viable for landowners while delivering environmental benefits at scale across the United States."

"We're incredibly proud to be a part of RBC's commitment to impact through high-quality nature-based carbon removal," said Brian DiMarino Chief Commercial and Operating Officer at Chestnut. "Leading financial institutions continue to recognize that nature-based carbon removal is critical in addressing climate change. Lasting conservation happens when economic opportunity is aligned with responsible forest stewardship."

About Chestnut

Chestnut is a land-based natural capital developer focused on forestry, conservation, environmental and carbon markets, land management, and long-term stewardship. Founded in 2022, the company combines expertise in energy, finance, forestry, carbon markets, land acquisition, and ecological restoration to deliver large-scale projects across the United States. For additional information on Chestnut, its strategies and environmental stewardship, please visit https://chestnutcarbon.com/

SOURCE Chestnut Carbon

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VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada News Group News Commentary - Copper is the metal the energy transition cannot proceed without, and the market reflects it. Fortune Business Insights values the global copper market at approximately US$279.29 billion in 2026 and projects roughly US$466.67 billion by 2034, a compound annual growth rate of about 6.63%. The problem for investors is that owning copper usually means owning the cost of digging it up: capital budgets that run into the hundreds of millions, construction schedules measured in years, and a dilution cycle that grinds down early shareholders long before the first concentrate ships.

Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Salazar Resources Limited (OTCQB: SRLZF) (TSXV: SRL) (FSE: CCG), Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE: FNV), Royal Gold, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLD), and Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE: TFPM).

Forecasters differ on the size without differing on the direction. Grand View Research puts the copper market at about US$260.2 billion in 2026 rising to roughly US$388.8 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate of around 5.9%. Both houses point at the same drivers: electrification of transport, grid modernization, renewable generation and data centre buildout, all of which consume copper in quantities that existing mines were not scoped to deliver.

The supply side is where it gets difficult. New copper mines are expensive, slow and concentrated in jurisdictions that require patience. A mid-sized project can absorb a quarter of a billion dollars of initial capital before it produces anything, and the junior company that found the deposit rarely has that money. The usual outcome is that the discoverer sells the asset, or issues so much equity to build it that the original shareholders own a fraction of what they started with.

Which is why the market has spent two decades building alternatives. Royalty and streaming companies exist precisely to separate exposure to a mine from responsibility for funding it, and they have become some of the best-performing businesses in the sector by doing so. The model is simple: put capital in early, take a defined slice of output forever, and never sign a construction contract.

There is a rarer version of the same idea, and it sits at the project level rather than the portfolio level. A carried interest means one partner holds a percentage of a project while another partner funds it through to production. The holder takes ownership economics rather than a royalty percentage, and pays nothing to get there. Very few juniors have one on an asset that is actually being built.

Salazar Resources Limited (OTCQB: SRLZF) (TSXV: SRL) (FSE: CCG) Provides Update on Construction of the Mine at the El Domo Project

- Salazar holds a 25% carried interest in the Curipamba-El Domo polymetallic project in Ecuador; Silvercorp holds the remaining 75% and is the operator.

- Construction is fully funded, with commissioning targeted for July 2027.

- Cumulative capital expenditure reached US$66.2 million through June 30, 2026, including US$12.3 million in the second quarter against US$4.8 million a year earlier.

- On July 31, 2026 the operator received the second of four installments, US$43.9 million, under a US$175.5 million stream financing agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, taking total proceeds to approximately US$87.8 million.

- Proven and probable reserves of 7.13 million tonnes grading 2.55 g/t gold, 47.82 g/t silver, 1.93% copper, 0.26% lead and 2.63% zinc, supporting an after-tax net present value of US$573 million at an 8% discount rate and a 45% internal rate of return.

Salazar Resources Limited (OTCQB: SRLZF) (TSXV: SRL) (FSE: CCG) reported on September 9, 2026 on construction progress at the Curipamba-El Domo polymetallic project in the Bolivar and Los Rios provinces of Ecuador. The detail that separates this from most junior mining news is the ownership structure. Salazar retains a 25% carried interest in the project. Silvercorp holds the other 75%, operates the project, and is funding the build.

The economics attaching to that interest are not speculative. The project carries proven and probable mineral reserves of 7.13 million tonnes grading 2.55 grams per tonne gold, 47.82 grams per tonne silver, 1.93% copper, 0.26% lead and 2.63% zinc, containing 137.7 thousand tonnes of copper, 584 thousand ounces of gold, 187.7 thousand tonnes of zinc, 18.4 thousand tonnes of lead and 11.0 million ounces of silver. Measured and indicated resources stand at 11.4 million tonnes with a further 3.8 million tonnes inferred.

The economic analysis supporting those reserves shows an after-tax net present value of US$573 million at an 8% discount rate, or US$705.6 million at 5%. Table 22.2 of the technical report states a 45% internal rate of return and a three-year payback. Initial capital is US$283.7 million, sustaining capital US$72.5 million, and life-of-mine operating costs US$416.3 million, or US$58.39 per tonne milled. Reserves carry an average net smelter return grade of US$312 per tonne against a US$55 per tonne cut-off, which is an unusually wide margin. Mine life is 11.5 years at a nominal 666 thousand tonnes per year, and a refined flowsheet has improved copper recoveries by 5.4% and gold recoveries by 6.2% relative to the 2021 feasibility study.

"We have been following the ongoing construction at El Domo and are very pleased with the progress being made. Senior management of Salazar has just completed a site tour and have seen firsthand how the mine is developing. We look forward to the commissioning of operations targeted for July 2027," said President and Chief Executive Officer Fredy Salazar.

What has actually been built is the more useful measure. Since construction began in January 2025 and through June 30, 2026, cumulative capital expenditure on the mine reached US$66.2 million, including US$12.3 million during the second quarter of 2026 against US$4.8 million in the same period a year earlier, a pace that has roughly tripled. Approximately 604,600 cubic metres of earthworks excavation and fill were completed in the quarter across the non-contact water channel, the processing plant foundation and the initial tailings storage facility dam. The temporary camp is finished and operational, permanent camp earthworks are advancing, and open-pit pre-stripping has commenced against a planned total of approximately 4.1 million cubic metres.

Two details are worth pulling out. The processing plant foundation is complete and the major plant and water treatment equipment has been procured and is shipping to Ecuador, which moves the schedule risk from procurement toward assembly. And the plant construction contract went to the same contractor that built the flotation mill at the Mirador copper-gold mine in Ecuador, which is a meaningful piece of in-country execution history rather than a first attempt.

Funding is not an open question either. Construction is fully funded, and on July 31, 2026 the operator received the second of four installments under a US$175.5 million stream financing agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals, an amount of US$43.9 million that brought total proceeds under the agreement to approximately US$87.8 million. Alongside its carried interest, Salazar holds a wholly owned exploration portfolio in Ecuador comprising the Monja, Santiago, Pijili, El Tigre and Tarqui-Quimi projects. The NI 43-101 technical report underpinning the project figures is available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+.

There are several risks associated with the Company's plans. Salazar does not operate El Domo and does not control the construction schedule, the budget or the commissioning date; those rest with the operator, and the Company is dependent on the operator and on third-party contractors. A carried interest is not the same as a debt-free windfall, and the terms on which the carry is settled affect what ultimately reaches shareholders. The project is in Ecuador and carries regulatory, permitting, community and jurisdictional risk. Commissioning targeted for July 2027 is a target rather than a commitment, and construction projects of this scale routinely slip. Reserve and resource estimates and the economic analysis derive from a technical report prepared for the operator and for Salazar, are estimates rather than facts, and depend on metal price and cost assumptions that may not hold. Salazar itself is pre-revenue from this asset until commissioning, and its wholly owned exploration portfolio is at an early stage with no reserves defined. Copper, gold, zinc, lead and silver prices are volatile and a sustained fall would reduce the value of the interest.

Read this and more news for Salazar Resources Limited (OTCQB: SRLZF) at: https://canadanewsgroup.com

The mining industry is really coming to life since we are past Labour Day, there are many developments and happenings in the market this week including:

Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE: FNV) is the original expression of the idea that you can own mines without building them. The company released its 2026 Asset Handbook on May 6, disclosing 121 cash-flow producing assets, adjusted EBITDA of US$1.66 billion in 2025, no debt, and a nineteen-year unbroken record of dividend increases.

Those three facts together explain why the model attracts capital. A portfolio spread across 121 producing assets absorbs a single mine going wrong. No debt means no refinancing risk in a cyclical industry. And nineteen consecutive years of dividend growth through multiple commodity cycles is the kind of record that operating miners very rarely produce, because operating miners have to fund sustaining capital whether or not the metal price cooperates.

Royal Gold, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLD) has been scaling the same model by acquisition. The company reported record first quarter 2026 revenue of US$469.1 million, up 142.

- Heavy Weight Express enables U.S. businesses to ship freight up to 2,200 lbs per piece / 6,600 lbs per shipment with express-level speed

- Proactive shipment control through dedicated Heavy Weight Priority Desks ensures high reliability and customer service support

- Service addresses rising demand from U.S. manufacturers, tech companies, and life sciences firms managing tighter supply chains and shifting trade policy

PLANTATION, Fla., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DHL Express is giving U.S. businesses faster access to heavyweight air freight with the launch of Heavy Weight Express (HWX), an express air solution for shipments up to 2,200 pounds per piece and 6,600 pounds per shipment. With this service, DHL Express strengthens its role as the leading global integrator capable of moving heavyweight cargo with express speed and reliability across more than 220 countries and territories, supported by a dedicated aviation and ground network that ensures stable uplift, predictable transit times, and globally consistent handling standards.

"U.S. businesses are under more pressure than ever to move fast and move smart, whether that's a manufacturer managing a production deadline, a life sciences company shipping temperature- and time-sensitive freight, or a tech company launching a new product on a fixed date," said Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. "Heavy Weight Express gives U.S. shippers the speed of express with the capacity of freight, backed by a dedicated team watching every shipment in real time. As companies navigate new tariffs, shifting trade rules, and tighter supply chains, this is exactly the kind of reliability our customers are asking us for."

Heavy Weight Express is designed to meet the needs of industries where shipment reliability and timing are critical business drivers. The service integrates fast, time definite delivery with full end to end control, proactive monitoring, and transparent all-in pricing that eliminates the rate volatility and cost uncertainties associated with other areas of freight. Customers benefit from guaranteed express transit times, comprehensive shipment visibility at every stage, and DHL's uncompromising operational standards, including stringent handling procedures for shock sensitive, high value, or regulated goods.

The introduction of HWX is supported by the introduction of dedicated Heavy Weight Priority Desks around the world. These specialized teams are responsible for proactive tracking, early exception detection, real time intervention, and direct communication with customers to ensure uninterrupted shipment flow. Each heavyweight shipment receives dedicated case ownership, giving customers predictability and personal attention often associated with smaller or specialist logistics providers, but with the additional advantage of DHL's global integrator infrastructure, standardized processes, and 24/7 operational control.

The solution directly addresses six critical heavyweight use cases observed across global industries: avoiding production downtime, managing program and product launches with immovable timelines, optimizing working capital by reducing inventory buffers, supporting procurement driven large scale shipping environments, complying with stringent special handling requirements, and stabilizing complex multi-site supply chains. These use cases are especially prominent in the technology sector, automotive manufacturing, engineering and machinery, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and the oil and gas and energy sectors-industries where even small delays can result in severe financial impacts.

Reducing shippers' dependence on fluctuating airline capacity and removing the cost variability of add on fees and handling surcharges, HWX offers customers the stability of a single carrier from pickup to delivery. DHL Express manages its own aircraft fleet, hubs, gateways, customs operations, and last mile delivery-providing customers with predictability even during periods of global disruption or limited air capacity.

DHL Express U.S. Communications

Robert Mintz

Phone: +1 (425) 984-4249

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE DHL

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Plus, a very special guest steps back into the hot seat to celebrate the Knorr x Hot Ones collab.

The delicious details:

- The Products: Knorr and Hot Ones are bringing the heat back to mealtime with two new products: Knorr Mexican Rice inspired by the zesty brightness of Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde, kicked up to a perfect medium heat, and the boldly smoky Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta inspired by a kick of The Last Dab, dialed up to HOT!

- The Hot Seat: To prove these drops are the real deal, a special guest is putting their heat tolerance to the test in a brand-new "Hot Ones" episode airing September 14.

- The Drop: Starting September 9, both limited-edition meal essentials will be available nationwide on Amazon.com in multipacks found here and here for an MSRP of $8.99 for a three-pack, giving spice lovers an easy way to level up weeknight dinners in minutes.

HOBOKEN, N.J., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Knorr is infusing its rich, slow-cooked flavor with the iconic Hot Ones heat to drop one heavy-hitting collaboration:

- Knorr Mexican Rice: We reimagined our classic Mexican Rice and kicked it up to a perfect medium heat. Inspired by the tangy, zesty brightness of Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde, this savory rice delivers a vibrant burst of flavor that instantly rescues you from the boring dinner routine.

- Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta: We've taken our cheesy and delicious pasta and dialed up the heat in a big way. Crafted in the spirit of the legendary fire of Hot Ones' The Last Dab, it's a rich and intensely satisfying dish that proves comfort food can have an attitude. Go on, we dare you.

Knorr believes that every meal should be as easy to make as it is delicious, so we're serving a simple way to make crowd-pleasing, flavor-packed dishes. Whether used in your one pan dishes like the now viral "dump and bake" recipes taking over TikTok, to accompany your weeknight protein or simply on their own, fans can expect to enjoy maximum flavor with minimum effort.

With a massive 93% of Americans claiming hot sauce fan status (and over half reaching for it weekly1), we knew playing it safe wasn't an option. And while this isn't our first time dabbling in Hot Ones' spice, this year we're taking things to the next level. We've gone from simple sauce-and-side pairings to drop new products inspired by the Hot Ones flavors built to majorly heat up your mealtime game. We're bringing serious flavor to the table to satisfy those hot sauce cravings any night of the week.

"Hot Ones has built an incredible platform around the idea that great food and a little heat can spark memorable conversations. That's something we completely agree on at Knorr, too," said Melanie Cappella, Knorr's Chief Growth Officer. "Delicious food brings people together, and with this collaboration we're bringing the rich flavor people expect from Knorr and the iconic heat Hot Ones fans love, making it easy to bring more excitement to the table."

A Special Guest Games the Flame

To prove these dishes are the real deal, we're bringing them straight to the hot seat. Watch a brand-new "Hot Ones" episode on September 14, where a very special guest will put their heat tolerance to the ultimate test.

"Our fans trust us to deliver authentic heat, and Knorr is known for bringing incredible flavor to every dish," added Melanie Baker, Director of Marketing for Hot Ones. "We're excited for fans to experience that same legendary 'Hot Ones' thrill (and Knorr's unbeatable flavor!) right from their own kitchen table."

Ready to officially claim your spot in the hot seat? The Knorr Mexican Rice inspired by Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde and Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta inspired by The Last Dab will be available starting September 9 in multipacks for an MSRP of:

- $8.99 for a three-pack of either the Knorr Mexican Rice inspired by Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde or the Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta inspired by Hot Ones' The Last Dab

- $9.99 for a four pack of two pasta and two rice flavors

- $14.99 for an eight-pack of an individual flavor of either the Knorr Mexican Rice inspired by Hot Ones' Los Calientes Verde or the Knorr Cheesy Cheddar Pasta inspired by Hot Ones' The Last Dab

Get them on Amazon before they cool off. Trust us...flavor this hot doesn't wait around.

Sources:

1 https://www.circana.com/post/hot-sauce-market-trends 

About Knorr

Knorr believes there's a cook inside everyone. That's why we're on a journey to ensure all home cooks know they are the real MVPs and there's no greater joy than the one that comes from making, doing, and creating something that the people in your life will rave about. From our variety of delicious products to our simple but impactful chef-developed recipes, Knorr remains committed to its long history of bringing authentic flavors to every meal.

The business was formed in 1838, when founder Carl Heinrich Knorr pioneered to make delicious, home-cooked meals easier for everyone. Since then, Knorr® has become an international brand offering a wide range of bouillons, soups, seasonings, sauces and ready-made meals.

About Unilever in North America 

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. We have 128,000 employees and generated sales of €60.8 billion in 2024.

Our leading brands in North America include Dove, Hellmann's, Vaseline, Degree, Axe, TRESemmé, Knorr, Nutrafol, Liquid I.V., Paula's Choice, and Dermalogica.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

About Hot Ones™

Hosted by Sean Evans and created by Chris Schonberger, Hot Ones is the internet's hottest celebrity interview show. Hot Ones has welcomed a range of stars from Hollywood's biggest actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Idris Elba, and Viola Davis, to comedians like Kevin Hart, John Mulaney, and Conan O'Brien, to top athletes such as Stephen Curry and Shaquille O'Neal. With 30 complete seasons and over 400 episodes, Hot Ones has been recognized across the internet as a trailblazing interview style show with hot questions and even hotter wings. Launched in 2015, Hot Ones has received two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show and Host, and is now eligible for Primetime Emmy consideration.

ABOUT FIRST WE FEAST

Founded in 2012 by Chris Schonberger, First We Feast has redefined food as the new pop culture, and created some of the internet's most beloved and award-winning IP of the past decade. First We Feast's YouTube channel is home to flagship series, Hot Ones, as well as spinoffs like Hot Ones: Versus, Truth or Dab, and Heat Eaters. It has also launched popular series like Burger Bucket List, Tacos Con Todo, Pizza Wars, and Food Grails, building a community of 15 million highly-engaged subscribers and over 3 billion views to date. With a thriving commerce business that allows fans to "eat the show," First We Feast launched hot sauces, Truth or Dab The Game, collaborations with brands like Shake Shack and Pringles, and much more. First We Feast's slate of original programming has garnered numerous awards and nominations, including two daytime Emmy nominations for "Hot Ones"; multiple Shorty Awards; the 2019, 2020, and 2024 Webby Award for Food & Drink; and the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Food Blog.

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Motive Companies Launches Motiveone.com, Completing its Brand Refresh to Motive

New website and updated logo bring Motive's energy and connectivity capabilities together as one seamless solution.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Motive Companies, LLC has launched motiveone.com, a digital destination that completes the consolidation of brands across the Motive organization and emphasizes the company's position as one singular partner for commercial and industrial customers.

The new site synthesizes the solutions previously spread across motivecompanies.com, motiveenergy.com, motiveis.com, and motivems.com. The launch continues the developments that began with the Motive Energy rebrand introduced in 2024 and the company's acquisition of GXC private cellular that same year, both of which marked the beginning of a broader refresh across Motive to establish itself as one singular energy and connectivity partner.

"Customers do not think about their operations in silos, so they don't need separate vendors moving in separate directions." said Bob Istwan, CEO of Motive. "Motiveone.com reflects how Motive works today: one partner with the capabilities to support complex customer environments."

Motiveone.com gives customers a clearer and simpler way to navigate the company's full scope of work, telling the full Motive story while also allowing them to explore solutions based on industry, product, service, and operating need. The structure helps customers understand not only what Motive provides, but how those capabilities work together across real operating environments to create more comprehensive solutions.

Motive's legal structure, ownership, contracts, purchase orders, invoicing, affiliates, and account teams will remain unchanged.

About Motive

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, Motive Companies, LLC provides integrated energy and connectivity solutions for commercial and industrial customers. Its portfolio includes sustainable energy solutions, industrial and automotive batteries, chargers, EVSE, solar and storage, energy management, private wireless, managed IT, cybersecurity, monitoring, field services, maintenance, and support. Through self-performing teams and operational expertise, Motive helps customers plan, deploy, maintain, and manage the systems that keep critical operations running. Visit motiveone.com to learn more.

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HOUSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sallyport, a Houston-based investment firm, today announced the launch of Truss Infrastructure Services ("Truss"), a new platform focused on acquiring and strengthening essential service businesses by connecting domain expertise, purpose-built technology and commercial reach.

Infrastructure operators are facing rising compliance and risk-management demands. At the same time, they are under growing pressure to use technology to operate more efficiently. Truss is assembling specialized service businesses that solve critical operational and asset management challenges, with a focus on embedding purpose-built technology directly into how those services are delivered.

"Truss represents an exciting opportunity to create a great business in a market Sallyport knows well and has successfully invested in before," said Kyle Bethancourt, Managing Partner of Sallyport. "Aging infrastructure, increasing compliance requirements and the need to safely modernize critical assets are creating greater demand for specialized service providers with deep industry expertise."

Louis Krannich will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Truss, bringing experience both as an operator of major energy infrastructure and as a leader of service businesses supporting those operators. He began his career with El Paso Corporation and PG&E before becoming Chief Executive Officer of Sallyport-backed Remote Operations Center ("ROC"), which he scaled into the largest third-party control center in the U.S. Following EverLine's acquisition of ROC in 2019, Krannich helped scale the combined business through acquisitions, new market entry and technology deployment. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Summit Midstream.

"Having spent my career on both sides of this industry, I believe there is a compelling opportunity to build a different kind of infrastructure services company," said Krannich. "We're focused on essential services where judgment and execution remain critical, and where technology can meaningfully improve how the work gets done and how customers are served."

"We've had the opportunity to partner with Louis before, and we're excited to do it again," said Ryan Howard, Managing Partner of Sallyport. "He brings a unique perspective to the market and shares our long-term approach to creating value. Partnering with him again was an easy decision."

Submar, a leading provider of erosion remediation and maintenance services, became the first company to join Truss earlier this summer. The Louisiana-based business protects critical pipeline infrastructure with engineered erosion control systems delivered through a turnkey approach spanning site assessment, engineering, design, permitting and installation.

"Since partnering with Sallyport and Truss, we've been impressed by their approach to working with our team," said Joseph Fournet, President of Submar. "They took the time to understand our business, our people and our customers, and have been thoughtful about where they can help us grow. That gives us a lot of confidence about what we can accomplish together."

The name Truss reflects the power of connection. A truss brings individual components together to create a stronger whole. Truss seeks to connect specialized businesses in ways that benefit each company and the broader portfolio. Each business builds on its distinct strengths while gaining access to broader capabilities, knowledge and resources.

"We're building Truss for the long term," said Krannich. "The goal is not to make every company look the same. It's to give each business capabilities and insight that can be difficult to develop on its own, while building on the strengths that earned the trust of its customers."

About Sallyport

Founded in 2023 and based in Houston, Texas, Sallyport is an investment firm dedicated to providing capital and leadership to growing companies across various industries. As a value-add partner, Sallyport collaborates closely with management teams to grow and build thriving businesses. Its mission is to create enduring value for investors, companies and communities. For more information, visit www.sallyportinvestments.com.

About Truss

Founded in 2026 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Truss Infrastructure Services builds and strengthens essential service businesses supporting critical infrastructure operators. Truss creates value by connecting domain expertise, commercial reach and purpose-built technology across a growing network of specialized companies. For more information, visit www.trussinfrastructure.com.

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Companies building on Crossmint can now offer Tala-underwritten credit to their users, while Tala embeds Crossmint smart wallets starting with 1M+ customers in Mexico.

MIAMI and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Crossmint, the all-in-one stablecoin and wallet infrastructure, and Tala, the AI-native credit infrastructure connecting global capital to the global majority, today announced a partnership that pairs stablecoin wallet and payment infrastructure with on-chain credit infrastructure.

The initial launch consists of two integrations. Tala's on-chain Credit-as-a-Service is now available to companies using Crossmint, enabling them to offer credit underwritten by Tala to their users. Tala has embedded Crossmint smart wallets infrastructure in its app, launching the experience first in Mexico.

The partnership expands access to stable digital assets, payment rails, and credit in a single stack to more of the global majority.

Bridging the global credit gap

The majority of adults worldwide don't have financial products that meet their needs. According to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025, 44% of adults in low- and middle-income economies could not reliably access extra money in an emergency. Many more contend with volatile currency, no credit history, and traditional payment infrastructure that does not reach them.

Tala has spent more than a decade solving the credit access problem for thin-file customers across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, with proprietary AI to underwrite users using behavioral and alternative signals.

Crossmint has been solving the money access problem globally. Stablecoins offer easier access to stable digital assets and payment rails. Crossmint builds the infrastructure that makes stablecoins usable at scale, with embedded wallets, on/offramps, and stablecoin orchestration behind one API.

Each solves a critical problem, but together they compound into something greater: access to digital assets that hold their value, rails that reach people without a bank, and AI-native credit infrastructure powered by a decade of proprietary lending data.

"Tala has spent a decade learning how to underwrite people the credit system never looked at," said Rodri Fernández Touza, Co-Founder of Crossmint. "Our non-custodial wallet and stablecoin infrastructure gives those customers somewhere to hold that money in a currency that keeps its value, and be able to move it in seconds."

Self custody wallets and rewards for 1M+ users in Mexico

Tala is launching a new wallet experience within its app initially for 1M+ active customers in Mexico, built on Crossmint smart wallet and stablecoin payment infrastructure. Customers hold a balance in a digital asset pegged to the Mexican peso on Solana, and earn rewards for repaying their loans on time. Rewards land in seconds rather than days, and are theirs to hold, spend, or convert to withdraw as cash.

From this initial launch, Tala plans to explore more digital asset financial services into the embedded wallet, including balance-based benefits and inbound cross-border transfers, all accessible through the Tala experience, and extend these capabilities to more of the markets it serves.

Tala's Embedded Credit-as-a-Service, available globally

Crossmint is also integrating Tala's Credit-as-a-Service into its platform. A neobank, remittance provider, or payroll company using Crossmint Wallets can now add credit to its product without building a lending stack, hiring a risk team, or putting its own balance sheet behind loans. Tala provides the capital and the AI-native underwriting. Crossmint provides the wallet the money lands in and the rails the repayment travels back through.

"Integrating Tala's credit engine into Crossmint's wallet infrastructure means companies building on Crossmint have a direct path to Tala's lending stack wired in," said Shivani Siroya, Founder and CEO of Tala. "With Tala, they can turn on unsecured credit and provide instant liquidity for their users within days. This is the latest milestone in our mission to deliver frictionless, accessible financial services to the global majority."

"Credit access is a natural extension of our goal to give fintechs the ability to build better financial products for more users around the world," says Rodri Fernandez. "Now any developer using Crossmint infrastructure can offer Tala-underwritten credit to their users."

Developers can learn more about how to add credit in the Crossmint documentation.

About Crossmint

Crossmint is the leading all-in-one stablecoin and wallet infrastructure platform. Trusted by global brands and Fortune 500 financial institutions, Crossmint provides embedded smart contract wallets, frictionless on/offramps, and multi-chain stablecoin orchestration through one API. Crossmint abstracts blockchain complexity, handling compliance, asset delivery, and fraud protection globally. Backed by Ribbit Capital, Franklin Templeton, and other top investors. Learn more at crossmint.com.

About Tala

Tala is the AI-native credit infrastructure that connects global capital to the global majority. We combine proprietary risk intelligence with an expanding network of capital and distribution partners to power credit access at scale. Backed by more than $500 million in funding, Tala has distributed more than $9 billion in capital to more than 14 million customers across Africa, Latin America, and Asia—building the definitive contextual dataset on thin-file borrowers in emerging markets.

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Keynotes from industry leaders will show organizations how to move beyond AI pilots

and turn AI capabilities into measurable business value

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Scaled Agile, Inc. (SAI), provider of SAFe®, the world's most trusted system for business agility and AI-Native enterprise training solutions, announced the SAFe & AI Summit San Diego, which will take place September 14-18 at the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center. The event will bring together business leaders, transformation practitioners, and Agile professionals to explore how AI is reshaping the way organizations deliver business outcomes.

AI is changing how work gets done, and to meet the needs of organizations working to become AI-Native, Scaled Agile has developed AI-Native SAFe to help guide and accelerate their journey. The need is great. Despite unprecedented investment in AI, a survey from the Return on AI Institute of 1,000 C-suite executives found that only 9% report realizing significant value from generative AI. The barrier to achieving ROI is not technical, but rather a lack of an operating model that helps organizations govern AI, transform how work gets done, and consistently turn AI capabilities into business value.

The summit's main keynote, AI-Native SAFe, The Operating Model for the Age of AI, will be delivered by Andrew Sales, SAFe's chief methodologist and Scaled Agile's chief product officer. Andrew will explain how the bottleneck has shifted from building faster to validating value responsibly and how Lean-Agile principles provide the foundation for scaling AI with confidence. The session will show how AI-Native SAFe reimagines teams, Agile Release Trains, leadership and governance to help organizations become faster, more adaptive and fundamentally AI-native.

Additional main-stage keynotes will feature Lindsay Wirthlin of the Red Cross, Kate O'Neill, author of Tech Humanist, and Mik Kersten, author of Project to Product, who will preview ideas from his upcoming book Output to Outcome. Their sessions will examine how funding, leadership, and team structures must evolve as AI systems generate far more output than traditional organizations are built to absorb, and why Fortune 500 operating models need to be rewired to optimize for outcomes rather than output.

The two-day summit will combine customer-led case studies, partner showcases, and hands-on labs so attendees will not just learn about AI-Native practices but also apply them. Participants will build an AI-enabled workflow, create a 90-day AI roadmap and practice new ways of working with AI inside SAFe. Additionally, on Sept. 14, Scaled Agile will host a partner day, a SAFe Practice Consultant Trainer (SPCT) master class and immersive preconference training. Sept. 17-18, Scaled Agile will conduct post-conference training to further equip leaders with real, prioritized plans and applications to drive change upon their return.

Speakers and sessions at the summit will draw on organizations already applying SAFe and AI-Native SAFe in practice, including AWS, Collins Aerospace, Barclays, Benco Dental, Navy Federal Credit Union, Panasonic, the VA Office of Clinical Informatics, and VW Credit.

"Large organizations know they need to become AI-native, but seeing real ROI from AI requires changing the way work happens, and that's a difficult task to do all on your own," said Andrew Sales, chief methodologist at Scaled Agile. "AI-Native SAFe provides a framework for AI transformation built on proven Agile principals, and the SAFe & AI Summit provides hands-on experience, practical application, and content focused on achieving business outcomes from AI such as increased speed, improved quality, and significant ROI."

To register for the SAFe AI Summit in San Diego, visit the registration site.

About Scaled Agile, Inc.

Scaled Agile, Inc. is the provider of SAFe®, the world's most trusted system for business agility, and the creator of AI-Native, a transformation system that helps organizations scale AI from proof-of-concept to enterprise-wide impact. With more than 2 million professionals trained across 60-plus countries and more than 20,000 enterprises and government agencies in its global network, Scaled Agile brings over 15 years of enterprise transformation experience to today's AI-driven world. Learn more at scaledagile.com.

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