MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PCB Technologies (TASE: PCBT) a global provider of advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs), PCBA, and microelectronics solutions, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Gorilla Circuits, a leading provider of PCB fabrication and electronic card assembly (PCBA) services based in Silicon Valley. The transaction reflects an enterprise value (EV) of USD 120 million at an EBITDA multiple of 7.6, based on the average results for 2025 and the first half of 2026, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

The acquisition marks a major strategic milestone for PCB Technologies, establishing a robust manufacturing presence in the United States and unlocking significant growth opportunities within the North American technology, aerospace, and defense ecosystems.

Establishing a Strategic Stronghold in Silicon Valley

Gorilla Circuits has operated for over 20 years in San Jose, California, serving as a critical partner in the Silicon Valley PCB fabrication and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) ecosystem. Specializing in high-mix, low-volume production runs, manufacturing products designated for development, and products with short lead times, Gorilla Circuits serves over 700 active customers. Its primary markets include semiconductor testing, technology, and aerospace & defense.

The integration of Gorilla Circuits is expected to deliver immediate strategic benefits:

- Deepened Market Penetration: Substantially expands PCB Technologies' footprint in the US technology, semiconductor and aerospace & defense sectors, which accounted for approximately 35% and 40% of Gorilla Circuits' H1 2026 sales, respectively.

- Synergistic Technological Offerings: PCB Technologies plans to enhance Gorilla Circuits' portfolio by introducing its own advanced PCB substrates, microelectronics, and next-generation Integrated Circuit (IC) packaging capabilities to the US market.

- Local Manufacturing Presence: A physical production base in Silicon Valley allows the combined company to seamlessly bid on substantial US contracts that mandate onshore fabrication and engineering proximity.

Strong Financial Momentum

Gorilla Circuits has demonstrated consistent financial growth, backed by an impressive order pipeline. Key financial highlights include:

- Revenue Growth: Revenue increased from USD 69.4 million in fiscal year 2024 to USD 91.9 million in 2025. For the first half of 2026, revenue reached USD 54.9 million.

- Profitability: Adjusted EBITDA rose sharply from USD 3.0 million in 2024 to USD 13.6 million in 2025, reaching USD 8.9 million in H1 2026 alone (post-IFRS 16 adjustments).

- Accelerating Order Velocity: Customer orders totaled USD 100 million in 2025, with an order run rate of approximately USD 131 million in 2026. Maintaining an order backlog of roughly USD 38 million as of August 31, 2026.

Oved Shapira, CEO of PCB Technologies:

"This transaction is intended to transform the scale of PCB Technologies and the opportunities available to us. We are combining the technologies and manufacturing capabilities we have developed in Israel with a U.S. manufacturing base and hundreds of customers in sectors where we have a technological advantage. Our local presence is expected to open up opportunities that have previously been limited for us and enable us to offer Gorilla's customers a broader range of solutions."

"Gorilla brings rapid growth in sales and orders, manufacturing and assembly capabilities, and a diversified customer base. The combination creates cross-selling opportunities across our operations, and we intend to further expand access to iNPACK solutions for U.S. customers. This will allow us to advance our ALL IN ONE strategy in the U.S. market, offering an integrated solution from development through manufacturing and assembly."

Mario Borjon, President of Gorilla Circuits:

"Joining PCB Technologies represents a significant opportunity for the next stage of Gorilla's growth. Combining our existing capabilities and relationships we have built in the U.S. market with PCB Technologies' manufacturing capacity, expertise with specialized advanced technologies is expected to enable us to expand our range of solutions and support larger, more complex customer programs. Following completion of the transaction, we look forward to jointly pursuing investments in expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity and introducing innovative technologies in thermal management and heat dissipation, RF solutions and miniaturization. The combination will create new opportunities for our team and strengthen our ability to grow alongside our customers, while maintaining the quality, flexibility and personal service that define Gorilla."

Transaction Details and Timeline

Under the terms of the agreement, the transaction will be executed via a wholly owned subsidiary of PCB Technologies and financed through credit facilities extended by two leading Israeli banks.

The completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The transaction is expected to close within the next eight months. No immediate material capital investments are required, as Gorilla Circuits' facilities are fully equipped to support near-term growth.

About PCB Technologies Ltd.

PCB Technologies is a leading All-in-One solutions provider specializing in high-mix multilayer rigid, rigid-flex, and multi-flex PCBs, advanced substrates, IC packaging, complex electronic assemblies, and electro-mechanical sub-systems. The company offers full-process, in-house capabilities that span the entire product lifecycle—from rapid prototyping to cost-effective, high-volume production. Through its exclusive subsidiary, iNPACK, PCB Technologies, delivers specialized expertise in miniaturization and next-generation IC packaging solutions. Established in 1981, the company is a global front-runner in cutting-edge electronics manufacturing, serving mission-critical sectors including Military/Defense, Aerospace, Medical, RF/Microwave, and Robotics/Automation.

For additional information, visit: https://www.pcb-technologies.com/, follow us on X or visit our official Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn Channels

About Gorilla Circuits

Based in San Jose, California, Gorilla Circuits, founded by Hershel Petty, is a vertically integrated manufacturer of high-reliability printed circuit boards and assembly solutions. For over two decades, the company has provided quick-turn fabrication and assembly services tailored to the rigid performance and time-to-market demands of Silicon Valley's leading technology innovators.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined under applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the expected completion of the transaction and the strategic benefits of the acquisition. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or satisfy other closing conditions.

SOURCE PCB Technologies

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ONLYOFFICE 10.0 brings AI tools, modular apps, and stronger security to its open-source office suite

SINGAPORE, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ONLYOFFICE presents the major autumn update 10.0 with context-aware AI tools directly in the editors, new modular Apps, and a significant security upgrade. Around 50 new features and more than 1,000 fixes for the online, desktop, and mobile editors.

AI that understands your documents, in every editor

ONLYOFFICE 10.0 puts context-aware AI inside the document, spreadsheet, presentation, and PDF editors. A dedicated AI tab with built-in chat lets teams draft, summarize, translate, clean and format without leaving the file or copying content into a separate tool.

AI simplifies everyday work: legal teams can summarize contracts, analysts can generate forecasts or Pivot Tables, and managers can turn ideas into structured presentations.

Ready-made prompts, custom AI actions, assistants, and saved prompts help teams streamline workflows and automate routine tasks.

Organizations control how AI is used, choosing models based on quality, speed, and cost. Cloud users can enable ONLYOFFICE AI via OpenRouter, while server deployments can connect any model, including local ones. Sensitive data remains within infrastructure.

New modular apps

The release introduces four free Apps that extend ONLYOFFICE Docs (under AGPL v3). AI Agents automate the workspace, with intelligent search, personalized knowledge base, extended reasoning, powered by MCP servers. Forms streamlines data collection and analyze responses. Files centralizes document storage with access controls. Rooms supports secure collaboration, including Virtual Data Rooms for confidential content. In the cloud, the Apps are on by default. On servers, a single command installs them.

Editor enhancements

The PDF Editor adds metadata removal, customizable annotations, automatic table recognition, and reusable signatures. In the Document Editor, co-authors can follow each other's cursor in real time, new "Keep with next" keeps related content together, and RTL support is more reliable. Spreadsheets run faster, with optimized functions, formula hints and an animated copy marquee. Presentations gain new view modes and extended print settings, GIF or video export for slides.

Users can now work with .ofd files, save spreadsheets as .xls, convert SVGs to editable shapes, add Data Tables to charts. With Antidote, Curly, and a Salesforce new plugins in redesigned Plugin Manager.

Security

ONLYOFFICE 10.0 fixes 35 vulnerabilities, strengthening protection for organizations handling sensitive data as AI-driven threats continue to evolve.

Desktop and mobile

The Desktop Editors get a refreshed homepage, redesigned Templates and Clouds sections, Odoo integration, and visual improvements on Linux. In Desktop Community, AI tools are available as an optional add-on.

The free iOS and Android apps add an AI assistant with new providers, as Grok and DeepSeek, AI AutoFill for forms and voice input for work on the go.

About ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE, an open-source office software project, focuses on advanced and secure office solutions. With over 21 million users worldwide, it is recognized for its innovation in the online office domain.

The ONLYOFFICE ecosystem comprises a comprehensive suite of collaborative applications, including online editors for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and PDFs, as well as modular apps.

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BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the leading international event on cities and urban innovation organized by Fira de Barcelona, will bring together over 600 speakers from November 3-5 at the Gran Via venue under the theme "Urban Solutions, Real Impact." Held jointly with Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress, the new HOWS Barcelona – Housing World Summit, and Tomorrow.Blue Economy, this year's edition welcomes mayors and regional leaders from four continents, raising the gathering to the level of a true international summit of cities.

The political dimension of the 2026 edition is embodied by Anne Hidalgo, former Mayor of Paris and Global Ambassador of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, who led the French capital for more than a decade and became one of the leading municipal voices in the global climate debate. She will be joined by mayors and regional leaders from all over the world, among them Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta; Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens; Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan; Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest; Daryl Barron, Lord Mayor of Dublin; Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, Mayor of Freetown.

Housing, one of the central concerns of this year's edition, gains further institutional weight through HOWS Barcelona, hosted by Barcelona City Council, which will host the Housing Mayors Meeting and Roundtable as a space for political dialogue and cooperation.

The congress keynote will be delivered by Nikolas Badminton, Chief Futurist at Futurist.com, an artificial intelligence expert who helps companies and institutions build strategic foresight capabilities. Additionally, Ayumi Moore Aoki, founder of Women in Tech Global, will also take part in the congress to address diversity and inclusion as drivers of urban innovation.

Industry and international leadership

The corporate and institutional presence rounds off the lineup of speakers with Kees Hertogh, Vice President of Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft, and Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of What Works Cities at Bloomberg Philanthropies, the initiative that helps local governments use data and evidence to improve public services. They will be joined by Nam Guan Ng, General Manager and Head of Global Smart Cities at Dell; Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau; and John Li, General Manager of the Global Government Business Department at Dahua Technology.

SCEWC 2026 expects 27,000 attendees and over 1,100 exhibitors, including Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Dell Technologies and Veolia.

SOURCE Fira de Barcelona

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New integration connects AppWork's on-site inspection data directly to Rely's due diligence and audit platform, replacing manual data pulls with a single source of truth for every unit.

RAMSEY, N.J., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- AppWork, the maintenance management platform trusted by multifamily operators nationwide, today announced a partnership with Rely, the AI-powered due diligence platform for multifamily real estate. The integration connects AppWork's inspection data directly with Rely's audit reports, giving property teams, buyers, and lenders one accurate picture of every asset without piecing it together from thousands of disorganized documents, spreadsheets, site visits, vendor files, and more.

The integration is simple by design. Once a mutual client links AppWork and Rely with a single vendor token, inspection data collected within AppWork by maintenance technicians, such as unit condition, pet fees and pet rent, in-unit washer/dryer status, the collected information flows directly into Rely's data room. Rely then combines it with lease, rent roll, vendor contract, financial, and other property data to build a complete, source-backed audit report in just minutes, instead of weeks.

"One of the biggest things this integration accomplishes is simple: we take the inspection data that is already being collected within AppWork out in the field, and include it in every audit report Rely produces," said George Matelich, Co-Founder and CEO of Rely. "This means our mutual clients get a complete picture of an asset for due diligence and transitions, built on data that's already been verified on-site, not re-keyed from a spreadsheet."

"Technicians using our app complete thousands of inspections every week, and until now that data lived inside AppWork," said Sean Landsberg, Co-Founder and CEO of AppWork. "Connecting it directly to Rely means the work on-site teams are already performing in the field now powers faster, more accurate due diligence for owners, operators, and lenders, It's a natural fit for both platforms."

Built for the full asset lifecycle

The integration supports multifamily teams at every stage of a deal:

- Due diligence and acquisitions: Buyers, operators and lenders get a complete, verified asset picture before closing.

- Transitions: Teams validate unit condition and resident files before handoff, reducing surprises after takeover and assessing opportunities for optimization..

- Dispositions: Sellers organize and audit clean, source-backed deal files before sharing with other parties.

- Ongoing compliance: Operators keep inspection and audit data current between transactions.

The integration is available today at no additional cost to mutual AppWork and Rely clients. Setup requires only a single vendor token to connect the two platforms.

About AppWork:

AppWork is a maintenance management platform built for multifamily operators. AppWork replaces the maintenance module inside property management systems with a connected suite covering work orders, unit turns, inspections, compliance and reporting. AppWork is SOC 2 Type II certified. Learn more at appworkco.com.

About Rely:

Rely is an AI-powered transaction automation platform for the multifamily real estate industry. Rely ingests entire data rooms, including leases, rent rolls, vendor contracts, and financial documents, and converts them into structured, source-linked audit reports in minutes. Learn more at tryrely.ai.

Media Contact

Diana Di Dia

Director of Growth, AppWork

[email protected]

512-552-5798 appworkco.com

SOURCE AppWork

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Biohaven Enters Strategic Licensing Agreement with Ono Pharma for Extracellular IgG Degraders in Japan and Select Asian Regions, Lead Candidate BHV-1300 in Phase 3 for Graves' Disease

Ono will obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize Biohaven's MoDE pan IgG degraders in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and ASEAN member states, led by BHV-1300 and including certain next-generation follow-on IgG degraders. Biohaven will receive up to $100 million in near-term payments,including$80 million upfrontand eligible to receive another $20 million upon a milestone achievement anticipated within a year, and royalties of approximately twenty percent on net sales by Ono in the licensed territory. Biohaven retains all rights outside of the licensed territory, including in the US, Europe, and China.

BHV-1300, the lead MoDE degrader, is an investigational small-molecule extracellular IgG degrader in Phase 3 development for Graves' disease, the lead indication. In a Phase 1b study in patients with Graves' disease, BHV-1300 produced deep reduction in the pathogenic autoantibody to the TSH receptor, rapid normalization of free T3 and free T4, and improvement in patient symptoms, with selective sparing of IgG3 and patient-friendly autoinjector self-administration.

This is the first regional collaboration for an extracellular protein degrader, pairing Biohaven's clinically validated MoDE platform, predicated on groundbreaking chemistry originating at Yale University, with Ono's proven development and commercial capabilities across Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. and OSAKA, Japan, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Biohaven Ltd. together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, ("Biohaven") (NYSE: BHVN) today announced that it has entered into a strategic licensing and collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Ono") (TYO: 4528), under which Ono will obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize Biohaven's MoDE™ pan IgG degrader portfolio, led by BHV-1300 and including next-generation follow-on degraders BHV-1310 and BHV-1320, in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The agreement is our first regional collaboration for an extracellular protein degrader from Biohaven's platform, a technology that originated in research at Yale University and has been advanced into the clinic by Biohaven. BHV-1300 is an investigational small-molecule IgG degrader currently in Phase 3 development for Graves' disease, with potential to treat a broad spectrum of IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases.

Vlad Coric, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven, commented, "Ono will be the ideal partner to bring this innovative immune-modulating technology to patients across Japan and key Asian markets. This is the first regional collaboration for an extracellular protein degrader, and it validates a platform that began with pioneering chemistry from the Spiegel Lab at Yale University and now spans a broad and diverse portfolio of MoDE and TRAP degraders. Few companies in the world can match Ono's innovation in drug development or its demonstrated ability to translate breakthrough science into transformative therapies, as it did in helping to define modern cancer immunotherapy. We are excited for an outstanding collaboration to accelerate new therapeutics to patients."

Under the terms of the agreement, Ono will obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize BHV-1300, BHV-1310, and BHV-1320 in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the ASEAN region. Biohaven will receive up to $100 million in near-term payments, including $80 million upon closing and another $20 million upon a milestone achievement anticipated within a year, and royalties of approximately twenty percent on net sales in the licensed territory. Biohaven retains all rights to the MoDE IgG degrader portfolio outside of the licensed territory, including in the US, Europe, and China.

Toichi Takino, Ph.D., President and COO of Ono, commented, " Biohaven has a strong track record of developing innovative therapeutics leveraging its proprietary drug discovery platforms. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen our late-stage pipeline in the immunology and inflammation field, one of Ono's key focus areas. We look forward to working with Biohaven to advance the development program with the goal of providing a new therapeutic to patients with Graves' disease in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN countries and to maximize the value of this treatment. "

Tova Gardin, M.D., Chief Translational Officer of Biohaven, commented, "Pairing BHV-1300 with Ono's regional development and commercial excellence gives this portfolio its strongest and fastest path to patients in two of the world's most important pharmaceutical markets, while securing meaningful non-dilutive capital and retaining substantial long-term upside for our shareholders."

Summary of the Terms

Upfront and Milestone Payments to Biohaven:

$80 million at execution of the agreement

$20 million milestone payment to Biohaven upon a milestone achievement anticipated within a year after execution of the agreement

Royalties to Biohaven: Approximately 20 percent on net sales of the licensed products by Ono in the territory

Territory: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the ASEAN region

Rights Retained by Biohaven: All rights to the MoDE IgG degrader portfolio outside Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the ASEAN region, including in the United States, Europe, and China

All figures are expressed in US dollars.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor to Biohaven.

About the MoDE IgG Degrader Portfolio: BHV-1300, BHV-1310, and BHV-1320

BHV-1300 is an investigational small molecule and potential first-in-class extracellular IgG degrader, rationally designed to leverage the body's natural hepatic clearance mechanisms to selectively target and remove IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4, a principal driver of many immune-mediated diseases. BHV-1300 spares IgG3 to preserve patient immune protection against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In ongoing Phase 1 studies, subcutaneously administered BHV-1300 produced rapid, deep, and sustained reductions in total IgG of up to 87%, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile observed to date, and demonstrated tunable dosing suitable for both acute and chronic disease management. BHV-1300 is designed for convenient self-administration via a patient-friendly autoinjector and is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 trial in Graves' disease, with additional programs being pursued in other autoimmune conditions.

BHV-1310 and BHV-1320 are next-generation IgG MoDE degraders engineered to enable therapeutic targeting and broader development across IgG-mediated diseases, extending the breadth and durability of Biohaven's MoDE IgG degrader portfolio.

About the MoDE and TRAP Degrader Platforms

Originating from research in the laboratory of Dr. David Spiegel at Yale University, Biohaven's MoDE platform is the first clinically validated technology enabling the targeted degradation of disease-causing proteins in the extracellular space. Each MoDE is a bispecific small molecule that binds a pathogenic target and directs it to the liver through the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) for rapid and deep degradation via the body's own endosomal and lysosomal pathways. This approach offers a differentiated profile relative to FcRn-targeting antibodies, including rapid onset of action, deep and tunable lowering, patient-friendly subcutaneous self-administration, and the potential to be combined with standard-of-care biologic therapies. Biohaven's next-generation TRAP (Targeted Removal of Aberrant Protein) degraders extend the platform with highly selective molecules, each engineered to remove a single specific disease-causing protein. Together, the MoDE and TRAP platforms form the foundation of a broad, diverse, and rapidly expanding pipeline of precision immunology therapeutics with the potential to address a wide range of immune-mediated and other diseases.

About Biohaven

Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of life-changing treatments across immunology, neuroscience, and oncology. Biohaven is advancing an innovative portfolio of therapeutics built on proven drug development experience and multiple proprietary platforms, including Kv7 ion channel modulation for epilepsy; MoDE and TRAP extracellular protein degradation for immunological diseases; next generation ADC platform for oncology; and myostatin inhibition for neuromuscular and metabolic diseases, including obesity. For more information, visit www.biohaven.com.

About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. delivers innovative medicines for patients worldwide. Upholding its philosophy of "Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain," Ono targets areas with unmet medical needs including oncology, immunology & inflammation, and neurology, and fosters partnerships with academic and biotech organizations to accelerate drug discovery. Through its affiliate, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Ono is accelerating clinical development and commercial operations in the US and Europe to drive global business expansion and further its commitment to patient care. For more information, please visit the company's website at https://www.ono-pharma.com/en.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of certain words, including "continue", "plan", "will", "believe", "may", "expect", "potential first-in-class", "potentially", "groundbreaking" and similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Africa at the Forefront as MAHARISHI Opens Funded Millet Research Training in India

News provided by

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Oct 08, 2026, 04:01 ET

As climate change intensifies drought, heat and rainfall variability across Africa, scientists from across the continent are being invited to India for a funded, three-month advanced training programme on millets and other ancient grains — crops with growing importance for climate resilience, nutrition and food security.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Offered under the Millets And Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI), the programme will be hosted at the Global Centre of Excellence on Millets at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Institute of Millets Research (ICAR–IIMR) in Hyderabad, India, with participation open through an application process.

Selected early- and mid-career researchers will gain hands-on exposure to advanced millet research and technologies, including genomics-led breeding, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, rapid generation advancement, biofortification and the development of climate-resilient, nutritionally enhanced varieties.

The programme will also cover the wider millet and other grains value chain, including agronomy, seed systems, post-harvest management, processing, nutrition, food safety, entrepreneurship, value addition and market development.

Through MAHARISHI, the training aims to strengthen scientific exchange and South–South cooperation, connecting researchers and institutions working to build more resilient and sustainable food systems across Africa and the wider Global South.

Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, DARE, and Director General, ICAR, and one of India's leading voices on agricultural research and innovation, highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that the future of food security in the drylands will depend on how effectively countries connect science, people and institutions across borders, particularly around crops such as millets and other ancient grains that are well suited to a changing climate.

"India has built deep scientific expertise in millets and other ancient grains, and sharing that knowledge across borders can multiply its value and impact."

"Through MAHARISHI, we have an opportunity to bring together experience in breeding, production, nutrition and value addition with the knowledge, diversity and innovation of partner countries across the Global South."

"The challenges of climate change, food insecurity and malnutrition demand cooperation that is ambitious, practical and enduring. Connecting scientists and institutions can help move good research into practice faster and strengthen the role of millets and other ancient grains in building more resilient and nutritious food systems at scale."

"Scientific exchange also creates relationships that endure well beyond a training programme, giving researchers the opportunity to learn from one another, adapt technologies to local realities and build partnerships that continue generating solutions for farmers and communities for years to come."

"I encourage eligible scientists to take up this opportunity, share their own expertise and perspectives, and become part of a growing global community advancing the science of millets and ancient grains for a changing world," said Dr Jat.

Ms Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, applauded ICAR and the Government of India for advancing South–South cooperation through MAHARISHI and for investing in the scientific leadership needed to drive Africa's agricultural transformation.

"AGRA commends ICAR and the Government of India for advancing South–South cooperation through the MAHARISHI initiative and for investing in the scientific leadership needed to help shape the future of Africa's food systems. Initiatives such as this are critical at a time when climate change, land degradation and rising food insecurity are increasing pressure on farmers and food systems across the continent."

"The recently released Impact, Learning and Foresight findings show that achieving farmer prosperity requires Africa to overcome three interlocking traps, the productivity trap, the capability trap and the value trap."

"Initiatives such as MAHARISHI directly address the productivity and capability traps by strengthening scientific expertise, advancing research and building the institutional capacity needed to accelerate innovation."

"The growing importance of millets and other ancient grains also creates an opportunity to address the value trap by expanding market opportunities, increasing the value generated from agricultural production and strengthening the investability of the sector.

Through strengthening collaboration among researchers, scientists and institutions, the MAHARISHI initiative can help accelerate the development and adoption of solutions that improve farmer livelihoods, drive farmer prosperity and build more resilient food systems across Africa," said Ms. Ruhweza.

The programme is tentatively scheduled to run from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027. Selected international participants will receive full financial support under MAHARISHI, subject to approved programme provisions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens of an African country, be engaged in millet-related agricultural research and development, hold a PhD in a relevant life-sciences field, be 45 years of age or below, and be available for the full duration of the programme.

Preference may be given to candidates with strong potential to apply and disseminate the knowledge gained within their institutions and countries.

How to Apply

Application details: https://maharishi.res.in/fellowship_registration

Website: maharishi.res.in

Application deadline: 10 October 2026

The MAHARISHI Mini Secretariat at ICRISAT Nairobi collaborates with the Main Secretariat in India to advance the initiative through partnerships, knowledge exchange, and outreach across the Global South.

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OSL Group Powers 2WA's Tokenization of the First USDGO Stablecoin Market-Neutral Strategy Fund

- OSL has tokenized USDGO Plus SP on-chain and provides custody and distribution services for the fund.

- USDGO Plus SP is the first market-neutral fund built on USDGO, a U.S. federally regulated and US dollar-backed enterprise stablecoin.

HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OSL Group (HKEX:863) ("OSL"), a global stablecoin payment and trading infrastructure company, today announced that it has been engaged to power the on-chain tokenization of PrimePlus SPC - USDGO Plus SP ("USDGO Plus SP" or the "Fund"), a digital asset fund launched by 2WA, a digital asset technology development company. USDGO Plus SP is the first market-neutral fund built on USDGO, a U.S. federally regulated and US dollar-backed enterprise stablecoin, offered only to eligible professional investors in Hong Kong.

PrimePlus SPC is a Cayman Islands segregated portfolio company, and being a segregated portfolio of such, USDGO Plus SP is a digital asset investment product launched on the 2WA ecosystem in August 2026. Apart from tokenizing the Fund on-chain, OSL will also serve as the licensed platform providing custody and distribution for the Fund's tokenized units, where USDGO, being the underlying asset of the Fund is also held in custody with OSL. Eligible professional investors may subscribe to, and redeem from, the Fund through the app of OSL HK, OSL's Hong Kong licensed digital asset trading platform.

USDGO Plus SP seeks to generate market-neutral returns by capturing funding-rate spreads in the crypto derivatives market, without relying on directional price movements. As of October 7, the Fund had returned 16.67% since inception, with a 17.05% annualized return over the trailing 30 days (before deducting relevant fees). The Fund allows for daily subscriptions, redemptions and net asset value updates, and will introduce an optional T+0 express redemption feature later this month. OSL, as custodian, holds multiple security certifications and maintains digital asset insurance coverage of over US$1 billion in Hong Kong.

USDGO, the Fund's underlying asset, is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, fully backed by high-quality liquid reserves such as cash and short-term US Treasuries, and is subject to stringent third-party audits. It is issued by Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., the first federally chartered crypto bank in the United States, with OSL serving as its brand operator and distributor.

As investors place growing emphasis on asset security and regulatory safeguards, the collaboration between OSL and 2WA reflects real market demand for secure, trusted and institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure. As the first listed and SFC-licensed digital asset company in Hong Kong, OSL Group holds a network of regulatory licenses across major markets worldwide. 2WA provides the structuring and technological layer that connects regulated assets held with licensed custodians and brokers to on-chain venues, across both public and private markets.

Terence Pu, Senior Vice President and Head of Hong Kong Business at OSL Group, said:

"We are delighted to bring the first tokenized strategy fund built on the USDGO stablecoin to market together with 2WA. This collaboration once again demonstrates OSL's strength in one-stop asset tokenization solutions. More importantly, it reflects the strong market appetite for compliant, secure digital asset infrastructure and for innovative products such as stablecoin strategy funds. As always, OSL will continue to provide clients, partners and investors with secure, efficient digital asset infrastructure and a diverse range of wealth management and asset allocation options."

Eugene Cheung, Founder and CEO of 2WA, said:

"USDGO Plus SP shows how we bring together stablecoin strategy investing and institutional-grade security and compliance. With OSL's proven capabilities in compliant custody, liquidity and distribution, we can make this tokenized strategy available to more eligible professional investors. 2WA is committed to serving as a bridge between traditional finance and the on-chain world, bringing higher-quality, more accessible real-world asset (RWA) solutions to institutional and professional market participants. We look forward to deepening our work with OSL across stablecoins and the broader tokenized asset space, and to building a new on-chain investment ecosystem powered by next-generation financial infrastructure."

About OSL Group

OSL Group (HKEX: 863) is a global stablecoin payment and trading platform that strives to provide compliant and efficient digital financial infrastructure services globally, empowering enterprises, financial institutions and individuals to seamlessly exchange, pay, trade, and settle between fiat and digital currencies. Grounded in the core values of Open, Secure, and Licensed, it is committed to building a more efficient ecosystem that connects global markets and enables instant, seamless and compliant value movement worldwide. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

About 2WA

2WA is a real-world asset (RWA) and digital asset technology development company focused on expanding the utility of regulated assets. We apply blockchain technology, including tokenization, to broaden how regulated assets such as fund units and listed equities are held, used and mobilized. Throughout, the underlying assets remain with licensed custodians. Our objective is to create new use cases for these assets and, in doing so, enhance their overall value for investors and institutions.

USDGO sits at the core of our business. As an active contributor to the USDGO ecosystem, 2WA uses USDGO as the primary settlement and liquidity asset across its RWA products, and works alongside partners to broaden its adoption, deepen its liquidity and support the long-term growth of its ecosystem.

About USDGO

USDGO is a federally regulated and third-party audited U.S. dollar stablecoin purpose-built for the GENIUS era. It is 1:1 backed by high-quality liquid assets, including U.S. Treasuries. Anchorage Digital Bank is the issuer, while OSL Group is the brand operator and distributor. With enterprise-grade services, USDGO aims to become a compliant liquidity and settlement tool connecting Web 3 industries and traditional finance with on-chain operations. It enables enterprises to orchestrate global capital through compliant payment rails, effective treasury management, and diverse digital assets access, and is dedicated to the long-term empowerment of the real economy. For more information, please visit USDGO's official website: www.usdgo.com.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and shall not be construed as, an offer, solicitation, invitation, recommendation, or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe for, or otherwise deal in any digital assets, securities, or financial products. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, accounting, or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. The views, statements, and information contained herein do not necessarily reflect the official positions or commitments of OSL Group or any of its affiliates. Any descriptions of products, services, promotions, or programmes are for general reference only. Participation in any products, services, or promotions mentioned is subject to applicable terms, conditions, and regulatory requirements. This article may contain forward-looking statements or indicative information. Actual outcomes may differ materially, and none of OSL Group, 2WA, PrimePlus SPC or any of their respective affiliates assumes any obligation to update such information.

USDGO Plus SP has not been authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission under section 104 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571), and its offering documents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. Interests in USDGO Plus SP may only be offered to professional investors in Hong Kong and only on the basis of the fund's offering documents. Investing in digital asset funds involves significant risks, including the possible loss of the entire amount invested. Market-neutral strategies do not eliminate risk, and funding rates may turn negative. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

For the avoidance of doubt, this article is strictly intended for "professional investors" (as defined under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) and its subsidiary legislation) and is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to applicable laws or regulations. This article does not constitute active marketing to the public in Hong Kong. Any person accessing this article is responsible for observing all applicable laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdiction.

The products referenced in this document may constitute "specified stablecoins" under the Stablecoin Ordinance (Cap. 656) ("Stablecoin Ordinance"). However, the issuers of the relevant products and OSL Digital Securities Limited ("OSLDS") are not licensed under the Stablecoin Ordinance to conduct "regulated stablecoin activities" in Hong Kong. OSLDS is a "permitted offeror" under the Stablecoin Ordinance, and OSLDS only offers such products and services in Hong Kong to clients who have been verified and accepted by OSLDS as professional investors.

SOURCE 2WA

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fibocom, a leading global provider of wireless communication modules and AI solutions, is collaborating with India-based IoT ODM Grid-OS to advance smart payment and vehicle tracking applications in India. At IMC 2026, Grid-OS is showcasing a Payment Soundbox powered by Fibocom's LE270 LTE Cat 1 bis module, alongside two 4G Vehicle Trackers based on Fibocom's LE250 series LTE Cat 1 bis modules.

India's IoT market is moving rapidly toward large-scale deployment. NPCI data shows that UPI transactions reached 24.51 billion in August 2026, while growing applications such as vehicle tracking are creating increasingly diverse requirements for reliable connectivity, low power consumption and positioning capabilities.

For the Payment Soundbox, Fibocom LE270 provides stable 4G connectivity for real-time payment information transmission. Optimized for connected-mode and DRX standby power consumption, LE270's low-power design helps the Soundbox achieve approximately 7–8 days of battery life with a 2000mAh battery.

The collaboration also extends to two Grid-OS 4G Vehicle Trackers based on Fibocom LE250. The module provides LTE connectivity and GPS/BeiDou positioning, supporting vehicle location and operational data transmission. LE250 also supports OpenCPU and DFOTA, helping simplify product development and subsequent software maintenance.

"Fibocom's broad wireless communication portfolio gives us the flexibility to select suitable solutions for different IoT product requirements," said Raghav Gautam, Founder of Grid-OS. "Together with our capabilities spanning product development through mass manufacturing, this provides a strong foundation for expanding our collaboration across more applications."

Ronald Chan, Vice President of APAC Sales at Fibocom, said: "India is an important IoT market for Fibocom. Our collaboration with Grid-OS, expanding from payment soundbox to vehicle tracker, demonstrates how our diversified wireless portfolio can support local partners across different device requirements and accelerate commercial deployment at scale."

About Fibocom

Founded in 1999, Fibocom is a leading global provider of wireless communication modules and AI solutions. Its portfolio spans cellular, AI, automotive and GNSS modules, together with AI toolchains, global connectivity and cloud services, empowering connected and intelligent applications worldwide.

SOURCE Fibocom

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- Elfyn Evans of Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team crowned 2026 WRC Drivers' Champion as Toyota secures Manufacturers' title

- Dynapro R213 rally tires deployed across all stages of the season finale

- Hankook completes 2026 WRC season as exclusive rally tire supplier across all classes, building on global motorsport expertise

ALGHERO, Italy, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A leading global tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook), the exclusive tire supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), supported the season finale, Rally Italia Sardegna, which concluded on October 4 around Alghero, Sardinia, Italy.

Rally Italia Sardegna comprised 17 Special Stages (SS) covering a total competitive distance of 307.02 kilometers. Held in October for only the fourth time in its history, unpredictable weather emerged as a key variable throughout the event. Narrow, winding roads bordered by dense vegetation, combined with blind crests that restricted visibility, left little room for error and contributed to closely fought competition.

The route also featured Micky's Jump, one of the most iconic sections in WRC history, along with deep ruts formed by repeated runs and exposed sharp rocks. These challenging surface conditions placed significant demands on both cars and tires throughout the event.

Hankook supplied its all-terrain rally tire, the Dynapro R213, to meet the demands of the challenging gravel stages. The tire is developed specifically for gravel competition, with compound options selected according to surface and weather conditions at each round.

Following a closely fought contest, Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team's Oliver Solberg claimed victory, securing his second consecutive win after Rally Chile Biobío and his third of the season. Teammates Sébastien Ogier and Sami Pajari finished second and third, respectively.

With Toyota having already secured the Manufacturers' Championship title at Rally Chile Biobío, Elfyn Evans of the same team went on to claim the 2026 WRC Drivers' Championship at the season finale. Evans finished fifth at Rally Italia Sardegna and ended the season with 243 points, five ahead of Oliver Solberg, to earn his first career WRC Drivers' Championship title.

From the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo to the finale at Rally Italia Sardegna, Hankook served as the exclusive rally tire supplier across all WRC classes throughout the 2026 season. Across diverse conditions ranging from snow and ice to tarmac and rugged gravel, Hankook supported top-level competition with tires developed for the specific demands of each surface.

Moving forward, Hankook plans to leverage driving data accumulated across this season's extreme rally environments in its research and development (R&D) to further enhance high-performance tire technology. The company will continue validating its products across global motorsport stages while strengthening its competitiveness as a global top-tier brand.

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Markel International launches new chemical, oil & gas related energy property offering for small to midsize US-domiciled businesses

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), has announced the launch of its Chemical, Oil & Gas related Energy Property (CORE) offering, and the appointment of Candice Walker to Head of First-Party Energy and Michael McClain as Senior Underwriter – Energy.

The launch strengthens Markel's US First-Party Energy proposition, providing a dedicated property solution for small to midsize US-domiciled businesses across the chemical, oil, gas and broader energy sectors, including industrial organic chemicals, petrochemicals, natural gas transmission and storage, terminals, gas processing, and midstream and downstream operations.

Designed for a diverse range of onshore energy and energy-adjacent engineered risks, the new offering provides tailored cover for property damage, business interruption and, on selected risks, equipment breakdown. Clients will also benefit from protection against natural catastrophe exposures, including flood, windstorm and earthquake, with limits of up to US$50 million on both a primary and excess-of-loss basis.

Walker will lead the development of the new offering, working closely with MarkelInternational's existing Midstream and Downstream underwriting teams to deliver a dedicated solution for US-domiciled risks. Her team will assess, price and underwrite a broad range of businesses, from smaller operations to complex US onshore businesses, while maintaining strong underwriting discipline and service levels.

Walker has more than 20 years of experience in the property insurance sector and has been with Markel since 2015. She joined the organisation's US Environmental & Casualty team as a Senior Underwriter before progressing to Director, Property & Marine and later, Senior Director, First Party – West Region. During that time, she partnered with product leaders and underwriting teams to develop tailored insurance solutions and implement technical underwriting strategies for clients across the United States.

Walker commented: "Energy businesses are navigating a complex risk landscape, driven by increasing natural catastrophe events, operational disruptions and a challenging economic environment. Our new product offering provides US-based brokers and clients with a tailored solution, designed around their evolving risk exposures, while offering greater access to Markel's specialist underwriting, claims and engineering expertise through a long-term, committed partner."

Based in Texas, McClain will report to Walker as Senior Underwriter – Energy. In his new position, he will support the continued development and evolution of the CORE offering. Guiding the direction of Markel's Midstream and Downstream US portfolios, McClain will help strengthen broker and client relationships within the businesses' First-Party Energy portfolio.

Most recently, McClain served as Manager of Technical Operations at Tomorrow RNG, a subsidiary gas group of EnbridgeInc, where he led the organisation's Technical Operations team and worked within the Senior Leadership team to establish and implement corporate standards and processes. Prior to this, McClain held various senior roles at Aethon Energy, LLC, a privately held gas producer and midstream group, across facilities, construction and production. In these positions, he executed multimillion-dollar oil and gas infrastructure projects and was responsible for asset planning and development in Aethon's largest East Texas premises.

On McClain's appointment, Walker said: "We're delighted to welcome Michael to our First-Party Energy team here in the US. With his impressive engineering background, operations experience and strong track record in managing multimillion energy infrastructure projects, he'll bring valuable technical insight to our underwriting."

She added: "I look forward to working closely with Michael so that we can continue providing an unrivalled service for our brokers, clients and trading partners, while we position ourselves for long-term profitable growth."

About Markel Insurance

We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide. 

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