EXTON, Pa., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, today announced its participation in CPHI Worldwide in Milan, Italy, where it will highlight its leadership and expertise in addressing industry challenges.

"For over a century, West has partnered with the world's leading pharmaceutical companies to help address complex drug packaging and delivery challenges," said Shane Campbell, Senior Vice President and Chief Proprietary Segment Officer at West. "At this year's CPHI, we are proud to showcase our SelfDose® patient-controlled injector, powered by the West Synchrony® S1 prefillable syringe system, which demonstrates how West is advancing patient-centered drug delivery through thoughtful design and an integrated delivery experience."

This year, West will share its industry expertise through a technical presentation and panel discussion:

- Strategic CDMO Partnerships in Combination Drug-Device Development: Accelerating Time to Market While Mitigating Risks

- Tuesday, October 6, 2:15-2:40 PM CEST, Packaging and Device Innovation Theater 11A49

- Presented by Richard Kieran, Director, Business Development

- Panel: Large Volume Drug Delivery Trade Off: The Patient Choice Dilemma

- Wednesday, October 7, 4:15-5:00 PM CEST, Packaging and Device Innovation Theater 11A49

- Dan Yates, Senior Director, Self Injection Systems

For more information about West, please visit our website.

For more information about CPHI Worldwide, please visit: CPHI Milan 2026.

Important SelfDose® product and safety information and warnings at: https://www.westpharma.com/products/self-injection-platforms/selfdose.

About West 

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services. As a trusted partner to established and emerging drug developers, West helps ensure the safe, effective containment and delivery of life-saving and life-enhancing medicines for patients. With over 10,000 team members across 50 sites including 26 manufacturing facilities worldwide, West helps support our customers by delivering over 41 billion components and devices each year. Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, West in its fiscal year 2025 generated $3.07 billion in net sales. West is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WST) and is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 index. For more information, visit www.westpharma.com.  

SOURCE West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

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Closing Time for a Generation: Aging Owners Will Free Up 13.9 Million Homes Over the Next Decade, a 74% Jump From the Last 10 Years

Realtor.com® research finds the turnover alone won't eliminate nation's housing gap

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The generational housing handoff is underway. Over the next decade, Baby Boomers and members of the Silent Generation are expected to release 13.9 million homes, 34% more than older households did in the last 10 years, according to new research released today by Realtor.com®. But first-time buyers shouldn't expect a windfall; nearly all of those homes are family-sized or larger, while starter homes make up just a sliver.

Key takeaways

- Just getting started: The pace climbs throughout the decade, and Boomers overtake the Silent Generation as the main source of inventory around 2029, with the peak likely coming after 2036.

- Little help for first-time buyers: Only 0.38 million starter homes are expected to be relinquished by these older cohorts, in part because owners of smaller homes are more likely to have paid off their mortgages and stay put.

- Real relief for trade-up buyers: Family homes make up 9.9 million of the total, or 71.2%. Large homes see the biggest relative jump in supply.

- Softness is real, but gradual: The 13.9 million home handoff is real but will arrive gradually, unfolding over the next decade rather than all at once, so it will take time to meaningfully impact the current 4 million-home gap on its own. This is a 34% increase over what older households relinquished a decade ago or a 74% increase over what Boomers and the Silent Generation gave back a decade ago.

- Relief is coming, but concentrated: Softening will concentrate in family and large homes. Affordability at the entry level will see a smaller improvement over the next decade.

"The scale of this transition is unlike anything we've seen in the past decade, and it's accelerating every year," said Jiayi Xu, Senior Economist at Realtor.com®. "The question for buyers and sellers isn't whether more homes are coming, but which homes, where and how many buyers will be there to meet them."

A Bigger Handoff Than the Last Decade, and a Changing One

This is a milestone year for housing. In 2026, the oldest Baby Boomers are turning 80, and even the youngest members of the Silent Generation are past that mark. That matters because homeownership among older Americans generally holds steady into the mid-70s, begins to slip in the early 80s, and falls off more steeply in the mid-to-late 80s.

Today, Boomers and the Silent Generation live in an estimated 36.7 million homes they own. By 2036, Realtor.com® expects that to drop to 22.8 million, a decline of 13.9 million homes, or about 1.39 million a year. This generational handoff, often called the "silver tsunami," includes homes vacated through death, a move to institutional care, household consolidation or a move to a rental.

That's 5.9 million more than the roughly 8 million homes these generations released over the past decade, and the pace keeps picking up, from about 1.27 million homes in 2027 to 1.52 million in 2036.

Who's handing off is changing, too. Today's handoff is still driven largely by the Silent Generation, but there are fewer of them left each year. Boomers are moving in the other direction, and around 2029 they're expected to overtake the Silent Generation as the biggest source of homes freed up. They're still climbing in 2036, which means the real peak likely comes after this forecast ends.

The Handoff Helps, But it Won't Eliminate the Housing Gap

While 13.9 million sounds bigger than the nation's 4 million-home shortage, the two aren't directly comparable. Homes released by the aging population ease inventory constraints caused by underbuilding and rate lock-in, but they don't arrive all at once. And the entry-level segment, where the shortage is most acute for first-time buyers, gets the least relief.

"The handoff is a welcome relief, but it is not big enough to solve the housing shortage issue alone," said Xu. "Keeping homeownership within reach for the next generation, and keeping these homes a source of family wealth, will still take more supply, especially homes first-time buyers can afford, particularly in expensive markets."

Number of Homes Released by Aging Population, 2026-2036

*Recent listings refer to homes listed on Realtor.com® between July 2025 and June 2026.

Beyond the Numbers

The table shows how many homes are projected to be released between 2026-2036. What that means differs sharply by home type.

Starter homes: Boomers and the Silent Generation own 1.33 million, or 51.3% of, starter homes, yet only 0.38 million are expected to be released. With only 38,000 starter homes released annually, just 3.2% of current listings, the added supply is unlikely to move the needle on affordability in any noticeable way. Higher retention rates for smaller homes are probably due to the fact that their owners are more likely to have paid off their mortgages. For example, 72.8% of starter-home owners ages 70 to 79 own free and clear, compared with 65.1% of family-home owners and 58.9% of large-home owners. With less financial pressure to sell, they stay put longer.

Family homes: These make up 9.9 million, or 71.2%, of all homes released, nearly 1 million per year. The annual rate represents 24.7% of recent listings. If half of those reach the market, family-home listings would rise 12.3%. Trade-up buyers could benefit from more choice and softer prices, which in turn frees up starter homes for new buyers.

Large homes: These are about a quarter of the total, at 3.6 million, but they see the biggest relative impact. The 360,000 released per year on average equal 67.2% of recent large-home listings, or 33.6% if only half reach the market.

Two forces are pushing in the same direction. Supply is rising and demand is cooling: Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies projects household growth will average 859,000 per year over the coming decade, well below the 1.2 million annual average since 2000, a sign of weakened demand that could add further downward pressure on prices.

But the softening won't be felt evenly or where buyers need them most. The National Association of Home Builders found that homes are being released fastest in the Rust Belt and Midwest, not in expensive coastal markets. As a result, the added supply is expected to ease prices gradually, mostly in family and large homes and in slower-growing markets, not trigger a nationwide drop.

Methodology

The analysis uses American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2014 to 2024. Realtor.com® tracks how many homeowners of a given age remain owners one year later, then applies those single-year retention rates forward to project owner-occupied homes through 2036. Retention rates for ages 60 and 89 are estimated directly using ACS data. Retention rates for ages 90 and above is estimated by combining Social Security Administration life-table survival rates with an extrapolated non-mortality exit factor. The same approach is applied separately to starter, family and large homes. "Release" is defined as the net number of homes vacated by owner-occupant households through death, a move to institutional care, household consolidation or a move to a rental. Listing data include single-family, condo, townhome, row home and co-op properties listed on Realtor.com®; recent-listing comparisons use a July 2025 to June 2026 window.

About Realtor.com®

For over 30 years, Realtor.com® has connected buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 real estate site REALTOR® agents recommend, Realtor.com® delivers consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media Contact: Janice McDill, [email protected]

SOURCE Realtor.com

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TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayfair Gold Corp. ("Mayfair" or the "Company") (TSXV: MFG) (NYSE American: MINE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Janusauskas, P.Eng., as Vice President, Technical Services, effective November 1, 2026. Mr. Janusauskas will lead the Company's technical services function as it advances and de-risks the 100%-owned Fenn-Gib Gold Project ("Fenn-Gib" or the "Project") toward a construction decision.

Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer of Mayfair Gold, stated: "I have worked closely with Daniel previously and know him to be an exceptional engineer with broad experience spanning mining operations, technical studies, and project development. His technical judgement, practical approach, and strength of character make him ideally suited to help lead Fenn-Gib through its next stage of development and toward becoming an operating gold mine. We are very happy to welcome him to Mayfair."

Daniel Janusauskas, P.Eng., is a mining engineer with more than 15 years of experience in technical services, mine planning, project development, and operations. Most recently, he served as Technical Services Manager at Generation Mining, where he helped advance the Marathon Copper-Palladium Project through feasibility updates, lender due diligence and independent engineer reviews, project financing, and the transition into construction.

Previously, Mr. Janusauskas held technical and leadership roles with Baffinland Iron Mines, Detour Gold, and BBA, with experience in operational ramp-up and optimization, life-of-mine planning, NI 43-101 studies, and project evaluation. He holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from McGill University and is a recipient of the CIM-Bedford Canadian Young Mining Leaders Award.

Mr. Janusauskas, P.Eng., incoming Vice President, Technical Services, added: "I am excited to join Mayfair Gold at an important stage in Fenn-Gib's development. Mayfair has assembled an experienced and agile team, and I look forward to bringing my project development and operational experience to help advance Fenn-Gib toward production and build Mayfair into an operating and growing gold company."

About Mayfair Gold

Mayfair Gold is a Canadian development-stage gold company focused on advancing the 100%-owned Fenn-Gib Project in the Timmins region of Northern Ontario. Fenn-Gib hosts a 4.3-million-ounce indicated mineral resource of gold (181.3Mt at an average grade of 0.74g/t) and the expected strategy outlined in the 2026 Pre-Feasibility Study (the "PFS")1 is to develop the Project under the provincial permitting process, targeting the higher-grade 1-million-ounce probable mineral reserve (25.1Mt at an average grade of 1.29g/t) sitting near-surface, highlighting the optionality and scalability provided by the deposit. The PFS also outlines the potential to develop Fenn-Gib into a new Canadian gold producer, with initial development capital of C$450 million, a base-case payback period of 2.7 years, and cumulative free cash flow2 of US$896 million over the first six years of production based on a US$3,100/oz gold price. The Company is advancing permitting activities, detailed engineering, and stakeholder engagement with the goal of starting construction in 2028 with initial production in 2030. The Company also remains focused on exploration around the broader land package with the goal of enhancing mineral resource scale and growth opportunities.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). The use of the words "will" and "expected" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the expected strategy to develop the project under the provincial permitting process, targeting the higher-grade 1-million-ounce mineral reserve, building and operating the Fenn-Gib Project, any anticipated permitting timelines, and all disclosure related to the PFS, including expected commencement of construction and production. Although Mayfair Gold believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information is reasonable, readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking information. The Company has based the forward-looking information on the Company's current expectations and assumptions about future events. This information also involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information, including the risks, uncertainties, and other factors identified in the annual information form and Form 40-F of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025, available under the Company's profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov, respectively. Furthermore, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is as at the date of this news release, and Mayfair does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of this forward-looking information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE Mayfair Gold Corp.

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NORWALK, Conn., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heartwood Partners is pleased to announce that Norlee Group has acquired IEM Electric, Inc., an established industrial electrical contractor based in Hickory, North Carolina. The transaction, finalized on September 30, 2026, marks the eighth add-on acquisition since Heartwood's investment and extends Norlee Group's presence into North Carolina while reinforcing its ongoing strategy to expand capabilities and services across the broader Southeast region.

Founded in 1993 by Paul Brooks Jr., IEM Electric has built a strong reputation for quality workmanship, technical expertise, and customer-focused service. The company has become a trusted industrial electrical contractor providing controls, automation, and maintenance capabilities to customers across food processing, chemical, automotive, steel, cable, material handling, and pharmaceutical industries throughout the region.

"IEM Electric brings deep industrial expertise and a proven track record we look for when expanding Norlee Group," said Wally Budgell, CEO of Norlee Group. "Their focus on controls, automation, and maintenance aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. We're excited to add their capabilities and experienced team to Norlee and establish a strong foundation in North Carolina."

"This acquisition adds important industrial electrical and automation capabilities to Norlee Group's platform," said Demetrios Dounis, Managing Partner, Heartwood Partners. "IEM Electric's strong reputation and experienced leadership position us well to serve industrial clients across the Southeast. We are pleased to support Norlee as it continues to build a comprehensive services platform."

About Heartwood Partners

Heartwood Partners, a middle market private equity firm, is differentiated by a unique lower-leverage, current cash yield approach designed to create partnership with continuing management. Our approach combines a conservative capital structure with strategic execution to support long-term growth, including organic and acquisition-driven expansion into new products, services, and end markets. In addition, we support each management team with our in-house Value Creation team who provide deep, subject-matter experience in strategic areas such as eCommerce and digital marketing, human capital and organizational design, IT improvement, and acquisition integration. We manage over $1.4 billion (as of 12/31/25) in investments and commitments, and our principals have invested in more than 100 platform and add-on acquisitions. Heartwood is currently investing from Heartwood Partners IV, LP, and is focused on founder, family and management-held businesses serving the building products, commercial and industrial services, distribution, environmental services, niche manufacturing, packaging, specialty chemicals/materials, and food/agriculture/nutrition markets. For additional information about Heartwood, please visit www.heartwoodpartners.com.

SOURCE Heartwood Partners

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Solidion Technology (NASDAQ: STI) Remains Firm on Flux Power (NASDAQ: FLUX) Below Market Offer in Response to Flux Board Rejection

Sees no Basis to Increase Its Offer as Flux Power Continues to Face Highly Dilutive Financing Requirements, Regulatory Issues, and Default Risk

DALLAS, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Solidion Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: STI) ("Solidion Technology" or "the Company"), an advanced battery technology solutions provider, today responded to the decision of the Board of Directors of Flux Power Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLUX) ("Flux Power" or "Flux") to reject Solidion's previously announced acquisition proposal. Solidion considers its bid to be best and final.

"Solidion strongly disagrees with the Flux Power Board's assertion that its proposal 'significantly undervalues' the company," said Jaymes Winters, Chairman and CEO of Solidion Technology. "This offer takes into account the capital and execution required to stabilize the business, and Solidion has no intention of increasing its offer at this time."

Winters continues, "Solidion is and always will be an opportunistic acquirer of companies it believes will complement and amplify its existing technology. In doing so, we will be resolute custodians of our shareholder value and not seek opportunities that are overpriced, beyond repair or not related to Solidion's growth strategy. We will continue to pursue other prospects in parallel with FLUX."

In Solidion's opinion:

- Flux Power still faces an immediate need for capital, resulting in highly discounted equity issuance: Private placements, equity lines of credit or other highly dilutive capital facilities used in this distressed manner (which may have been utilized on 10/02/2026) will only accelerate the loss of shareholder value. If the Board believes that its strategy offers greater shareholder value, Solidion believes that shareholders deserve to know how much additional capital will be required, where it will come from, and what it could cost existing shareholders.

- In order to meet their stated objectives, Flux Power requires, at minimum, $10 million in fresh capital: In order to achieve this without substantial shareholder dilution, the only alternative financing path is an acquisition of Flux by a stronger company.

- Flux Power continues to face NASDAQ listing pressure: On July 24, 2026, Flux Power received notice from NASDAQ that its common stock had closed below the $1.00 minimum bid price for 30 consecutive business days, providing an initial 180-day period to regain compliance. Additionally, in the event that a reverse stock split becomes necessary, the post-stock split decay risk has historically resulted in a 20-40% decline in the price per share.

- Changing macroeconomic winds remain a significant risk: Flux Power's expectations for easing headwinds overlook continued uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment, particularly with regard to the significant tariff exposure facing its supply chain. In order to overcome these challenges, a company with a strong balance sheet is far better suited to weather macroeconomic uncertainties.

Solidion believes that Flux Power shareholders should be given the transparency and information necessary to make an informed assessment of the condition of Flux's ability to continue as a going concern, and deserve a clear choice between an acquisition that provides a large degree of certainty or continuing to fund a turnaround whose ultimate cost, dilution, and outcome remain critically uncertain.

About Solidion Technology, Inc.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas with pilot production facilities in Dayton, Ohio, Solidion's (NASDAQ: STI) core business includes manufacturing of battery materials and components, as well as development and production of next-generation batteries for energy storage systems, including UPS systems serving the artificial intelligence (AI) data center market and electric vehicles for ground, aerospace, and sea transportation. Solidion holds a portfolio of over 385 patents, covering innovations such as high-capacity, silane gas free and graphene-enabled silicon anodes, biomass-based graphite, advanced lithium-sulfur and lithium-metal technologies.

For more information, please visit www.solidiontech.com or contact Investor Relations.

Important Information Regarding the Proposed Transaction

Solidion has expressed its interest in pursuing a potential acquisition of Flux Power Holdings, Inc. No assurance can be given that a definitive agreement will be entered into or that any transaction will ultimately be commenced or consummated. This is not a legally binding obligation, offer, or commitment by either party. No past, present, or future expression of intent, proposal, discussion, or course of conduct shall give rise to any legally binding contract or obligation to proceed with or close the proposed transaction unless and until a definitive written acquisition agreement has been fully executed. Any proposed transaction would be subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, the completion of due diligence, financing considerations, required approvals and other customary conditions.

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. Additionally, this communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. This communication relates to a proposal which Solidion has made for a business combination transaction with Flux. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, tender offer statement, prospectus or other document the parties may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. If and when a transaction is commenced, Solidion expects to file applicable materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read such materials carefully and in their entirety when and if they become available because they will contain important information.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Solidion Technology Inc., (NASDAQ: STI) (the "Company," "Solidion," "we," "our" or "us") desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "forecasts" "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Please follow us on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solidion-tech

X: https://x.com/solidiontech?lang=en

SOURCE Solidion Technology, Inc.

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Renowned AI researcher Paul Christiano announced as 2026 lecturer for The Hinton Lectures

The Hinton Lectures return for a third year as artificial intelligence research and advancements accelerate globally.

TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hinton Lectures™, co-founded by Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, return to Toronto on November 9-11, 2026. The Hinton Lectures are a transformative lecture series charting the future of Artificial Intelligence, by demystifying AI for the public and providing a platform for open, accessible discussion on its future.

This year's distinguished lecturer, Paul Christiano, was an early researcher at OpenAI, where he developed reinforcement learning from human feedback.

Christiano is the founder and executive director of the Alignment Research Center, a non-profit developing methods to better understand how decisions are happening inside machine learning systems. Christiano is also Senior Technical Advisor at NIST's Center for AI Standards and Innovation, Board Member of the OpenAI Foundation and Member of the OpenAI Safety and Security Committee.

The distinguished Nominating Committee for the lecture series is comprised of Prof. Hinton; Beth Barnes, Founder & CEO of METR; Roger Grosse, Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society; and, Shane Legg, co-founder and Chief AGI Scientist at Google DeepMind.

Hinton, Christiano, Barnes and Legg have all been recognized at least once on TIME100's most influential in AI.

The three-night lecture series hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, John W. H. Bassett Theatre and broadcast online, kicks off the inaugural AI Safety Week.

The Hinton Lectures is proudly supported by Presenting Partner Manulife and by Founding Partner Global Risk Institute (GRI), whose combined support underscores the growing importance of industry leadership in the safe and ethical development of AI. TELUS rounds out this year's roster, as an evening sponsor.

"Canada helped build the foundations of modern AI," says Ankesh Chandaria, CEO of AISF. "The pressing question now isn't what these systems can do, but what they should do and who gets to decide. Canada is a natural place to convene this vital global conversation, and we're honoured to host Paul Christiano and leading AI safety researchers to explore how increasingly capable AI can be developed and governed safely."

"Our support for The Hinton Lectures reflects Manulife's commitment to advancing the responsible use of AI," says Jodie Wallis, Global Chief AI Officer at Manulife. "As AI continues to evolve, fostering informed dialogue around its opportunities, risks and societal impact is more important than ever. The Hinton Lectures bring together leading voices from academia, industry and public policy to explore these issues thoughtfully, and we're proud to support those conversations as this year's presenting partner."

"AI is advancing rapidly, with significant implications for financial services and the safeguards needed to manage its risks. GRI recognized early the need for broader discussion of these issues," says Sonia Baxendale, President and CEO, GRI. "Through our founding partnership in the Hinton Lectures, we are helping bring leading perspectives, including Paul Christiano's, to that conversation."

"Open discussion about AI's rewards and risks is essential to building technology that is trustworthy and benefits everyone," says Pam Snively, Chief Data & Trust Officer at TELUS. "TELUS is proud to support The Hinton Lectures – a world-leading forum bringing researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and the public together to ensure AI is developed and deployed responsibly, and with accountability, grounded in a human-first approach."

The 2024 lecturer was Jacob Steinhardt, Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley & Founder of Transluce and the 2025 lecturer was Owain Evans, Director of Truthful AI (TIME100 in AI 2026).

The 2026 lectures will be moderated by Canadian futurist, writer and podcaster Sínead Bovell. Bovell is also the founder of WAYE, a tech education initiative that prepares the next generation of leaders for a future shaped by advanced technologies.

The lectures are open to the public, with access available both in-person and via livestream. Tickets are available now at hintonlectures.com.

For media inquiries or media accreditation contact Diane Begin at [email protected].

The Hinton Lectures | Media Assets

About AI Safety Foundation

The AI Safety Foundation (AISF) increases awareness and scientific understanding of the catastrophic risks of AI, by advancing education and research, to ensure a safer future for humanity. AISF is proud to present an annual lecture series, the Hinton Lectures™, delivered by world-leading AI safety experts. aisfoundation.ai

About Global Risk Institute

The Global Risk Institute in Financial Services (GRI) is Canada's premier organization for risk management thought leadership and actionable insights. Bringing together leaders from industry, government and academia, GRI transforms global risk intelligence into practical strategies that strengthens the resilience of Canada's financial sector. globalriskinstitute.org

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under '945' on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. manulife.com

Manulife's official newswire announcement, as Presenting Partner, will be live later today.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a leading Canadian communications technology company operating in more than 45 countries and generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 17 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. telus.com

SOURCE AI Safety Foundation

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Energenesis Biomedical and Yoo Young Pharm Sign MOU for ENERGI-F703DFU Development and Commercialization in Korea

TAIPEI, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Energenesis Biomedical Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6657) today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Yoo Young Pharm. Co., Ltd. ("YYP"), a South Korea-based pharmaceutical company, to explore a collaboration for the development, registration, and commercialization of ENERGI-F703DFU in Korea.

Under the MOU, the parties intend to work toward a definitive agreement under which YYP would receive rights to develop, register, and commercialize ENERGI-F703DFU in Korea, drawing on Energenesis' data package — including Phase III clinical trial data — together with YYP's commercial and clinical network in the region. The MOU establishes the framework for continued discussions; terms of any definitive agreement remain subject to further negotiation between the parties.

About ENERGI-F703DFU

ENERGI-F703DFU is an investigational topical small-molecule gel designed to promote healing of diabetic foot ulcers by modulating cellular energy pathways. The drug candidate is intended to increase intracellular ATP levels at the wound site, support epithelial cell migration and activate intrinsic repair mechanisms.

In a post-hoc analysis of the Phase II study (NCT02672436), patients meeting the current Phase III eligibility criteria achieved complete wound closure rates of 36.7% with ENERGI-F703DFU versus 9.1% with vehicle control over a 12-week treatment period (P0.05).

About Energenesis Biomedical

Energenesis Biomedical Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6657) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics that restore cellular energy and activate intrinsic repair mechanisms. The Company combines proprietary small-molecule innovation with AI-driven drug repurposing to address significant unmet medical needs across multiple therapeutic areas, including chronic wounds, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare disorders.

About Yoo Young Pharm. Co., Ltd.

Established in 1981, Yoo Young Pharm. Co., Ltd. is a fully integrated South Korean pharmaceutical company with comprehensive capabilities spanning in-house R&D, global cGMP-compliant manufacturing (PIC/S, PMDA), and commercialization. The Company leverages established leadership in musculoskeletal care, metabolic diseases, and tissue regeneration to advance innovative therapeutics and deliver high-quality healthcare solutions across domestic and global markets. For more information, please visit www.yypharm.co.kr.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the potential collaboration between Energenesis Biomedical and Yoo Young Pharm, including statements about ongoing clinical development and future licensing discussions. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Energenesis Biomedical undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required by law. For more information, please visit www.energenesis-biomedical.com.

Media & Business Development Contact

Business Development Team

Energenesis Biomedical Co., Ltd.

Email: [email protected] 

SOURCE Energenesis Biomedical Co., Ltd.

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New members bring expertise in networking silicon, infrastructure and high-speed Ethernet as the SONiC community gathers at the OCP Global Summit 2026

- The SONiC Foundation welcomes Lenovo, NADDOD and Zhanwang (NEXAI) as new General Members, expanding industry participation across AI, high-performance computing, cloud and data center networking.

- The new members bring complementary expertise across high-performance networking, with Lenovo bringing experience in enterprise technology and infrastructure, and NADDOD and NEXAI planning upstream technical contributions.

- The new members join the SONiC community ahead of the OCP Global Summit 2026, where the SONiC Foundation will participate in a series of events and technical sessions encouraging community discussions and collaboration.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Software for Open Networking in the Cloud (SONiC) Foundation, an open source network operating system (NOS) hosted under the Linux Foundation, today announced that Lenovo, NADDOD and Zhanwang (NEXAI) have joined as General Members. The additions demonstrate continued industry investment in SONiC as AI, high-performance computing (HPC), cloud and data center environments place new demands on network performance, scalability and interoperability.

AI and HPC infrastructure are driving greater requirements for network bandwidth, latency, reliability and observability, while operators increasingly need the flexibility to build infrastructure across a broad ecosystem of networking technologies. The new members bring expertise spanning networking silicon, hardware platforms, high-speed interconnects, enterprise technology and large-scale infrastructure deployments, strengthening the SONiC community.

"AI infrastructure is raising the bar for networking, and the additions of Lenovo, NADDOD and NEXAI bring valuable knowledge from across the networking stack into the SONiC community," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager of networking, edge and IoT at the Linux Foundation. "Their participation will help advance an open, collaborative networking ecosystem that can evolve alongside the rapidly changing requirements of AI, cloud and data center infrastructure."

Lenovo is building SONiC-based automation and AI-driven operations capabilities, with a focus on components including Redis, SAI, telemetry, BGP EVPN and RoCE, and plans to contribute deployment experience and platform enhancements back to the community as its capabilities mature. NADDOD uses SONiC across its AI data center switch portfolio and plans to contribute platform and SAI enhancements, interoperability testing, reference architectures and insights from real-world deployments. NEXAI is actively porting SONiC to its networking products and plans upstream contributions spanning RDMA and RoCE, Priority Flow Control, SRv6, telemetry and AI network observability. Their contributions will help advance SONiC to meet the needs of large-scale data center environments.

SONiC at OCP Global Summit 2026

New members will join the SONiC community ahead of the 2026 OCP Global Summit, taking place Oct. 12-15 in San Jose, where the community will come together for a series of Foundation-led activities, including:

- A SONiC Foundation booth with live demonstrations throughout the summit

- A co-located SONiC Workshop on Oct. 14

- An extended offsite SONiC Workshop on Oct. 16, hosted by SONiC Premier Member Nokia at its Sunnyvale office. Register for the Extended Offsite SONiC Workshop.

Learn more about SONiC activities during OCP Global Summit 2026 and view the SONiC agenda.

Supporting Quotes

"Positioned at the forefront of the AI era, we are pioneering AI networking innovations anchored by SONiC to build Lenovo China's "Token Factory": AI-powered AI empowers AI. Guided by our vision of "Smarter AI for All," Lenovo China is partnering with the SONiC community to foster open innovation. By driving the deep convergence of AI compute, storage, and networking, we are building a next-generation Token-Driven Network to power future Token Factories."

– Billy Chen, ISG, VP, China Geo, Lenovo

"Advancing open networking for AI requires innovation across network software, switching and interconnects. NADDOD brings these together through our expertise in SONiC-based platforms and high-speed interconnects. We contribute an engineering perspective that connects hardware enablement, interoperability validation and RoCE optimization with the demands of today's AI infrastructure, supporting collective progress across the open AI networking ecosystem."

– Chang Liu, CTO, NADDOD

"Joining SONiC is a key milestone for NEXAI. We believe open-source networking is foundational for next-gen AI data center infrastructure. We look forward to contributing our expertise in high-performance switch silicon and working hand-in-hand with the SONiC community to advance cloud networking innovation."

– Jeff Zhang, Senior Director of Technical Marketing, NEXAI

About the SONiC Foundation

The SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) Foundation, hosted by the Linux Foundation, supports the development and adoption of SONiC, an open source network operating system originally developed for hyperscale cloud environments. Today, SONiC powers production networks across cloud providers, enterprises, telecommunications providers, and AI infrastructure worldwide. Built on an open, vendor-neutral architecture, SONiC enables organizations to deploy and manage network infrastructure across multiple hardware platforms while avoiding vendor lock-in. Its growing ecosystem of contributors and member organizations continuously advances features, reliability, and scalability through open collaboration. To learn more about the SONiC Foundation and how to get involved, please visit https://sonicfoundation.dev.

Media Contact

The Linux Foundation

[email protected] 

SOURCE SONiC

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- Target's expert-curated holiday toy list, more than half exclusive to Target, starts at $4.99

- Target's most expansive digital Holiday Kids Catalog yet — features nearly 500 toys, interactive content and new ways for families to discover gifts for everyone on their list

- A special-edition Gigglescape St. Jude bear gives families a way to spread holiday joy while supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today unveiled Bullseye's Top Toys List, a curated collection of 50 must-have toys at an incredible value, starting at just $4.99. The 2026 list features the year's biggest trends and sought-after brands like LEGO, Barbie, Disney and Nintendo.

Developed by Target merchants who track the brands, trends and play patterns kids love, Bullseye's Top Toys List helps families discover the season's hottest toys across ages and interests at affordable prices. From collectibles and fandom favorites to STEM, sensory play and family games, the list takes the guesswork out of holiday gifting. More than half of Bullseye's Top Toys — and more than one-fifth of Target's overall toy assortment — are exclusive to Target.

"Guests tell us they count on Target to make holiday shopping fun, easy and full of discovery, especially when it comes to finding the toys kids can't wait to unwrap," said Cassandra Jones, senior vice president, Fun101, Target. "Bullseye's Top Toys List brings together our expert edit of the season's most exciting toys together in one place, and our new digital experience gives families a fun new way to discover favorites, share wish-list ideas and shop for everyone on their list."

Target's toy assortment brings together sought-after national brands, Target owned brands and only-at-Target finds all at affordable prices, including more than 1,000 toys under $10, making it easy for guests to find the gifts they can't wait to give.

Bullseye's Top Toys Trends

Target's merchants discovered the season's hottest toys and put them at the heart of holiday. Explore the trends that make up this year's Bullseye's Top Toys:

- A world of make-believe: Immersive playsets and beloved dolls inspire imaginative storytelling, nurturing care and endless adventures.

- Squish, stretch and surprise: Sensory-filled toys combine tactile play, unboxing excitement and collectible fun.

- Make, build and discover: From hands-on crafts and imaginative builds to engineering-inspired challenges, these toys spark creativity, problem-solving and endless exploration.

- Turn up the play: From music and storytelling to immersive gaming experiences, these toys put kids at the center of the action and entertainment.

- Characters come to life: Featuring beloved characters, interactive features and lifelike reactions, these toys bring fan-favorite worlds into everyday play.

- Little chefs, big imaginations: These foodie favorites inspire aspiring cooks to serve up creativity, confidence and pretend play fun.

- Glam it up: From vanity sets to makeover moments, these toys encourage self-expression, creativity and imaginative play.

- Play the Target way: Inspired by Target's iconic shopping experience, these toys let kids take the lead as they browse, stock and check out just like the grown-ups.

- Ready for action: Packed with vehicles, adventures and larger-than-life playsets, these toys keep the excitement moving at full speed.

- Hugs that help: These cuddly companions offer comfort and connection while supporting a meaningful cause.

A toy that gives back

Among the toys featured on Bullseye's Top Toys List is the special-edition Gigglescape St. Jude bear, which gives guests a meaningful way to spread holiday joy while supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Target will donate $3 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for every Gigglescape St. Jude bear purchased in stores or online from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027.

Bringing holiday toy discovery to life

Target is delivering easy discovery for guests with its most expansive digital Holiday Kids Catalog yet. Available on Target.com and the Target app, the immersive experience features nearly 500 items, including Bullseye's Top Toys, plus interactive content, video reviews and toy demonstrations.

Bullseye's Top Toys List and the digital Holiday Kids Catalog are available now at Target.com and through the Target app. Throughout the holiday season, Bullseye's Top Toys will be featured prominently online and in stores, alongside curated displays organized by age, interest and play style.

For more details, see these articles about the Holiday Kids Catalog and the Gigglescape St. Jude bear.

Bullseye's Top Toys List of 2026

A world of make-believe

- Barbie DreamHouse

- Disney Princess Shops SD Playset - Exclusive - coming soon

- Fisher-Price Little People Ultimate Mountain Playset

- Gigglescape 14" Blonde Hair/Blue Eyes Toddler Doll + Mini Baby Doll - Exclusive

- Gigglescape 14" Brown Hair/Brown Eyes Toddler Doll + Mini Baby Doll - Exclusive

- FAO Schwarz Ava Doll - Exclusive - coming soon

- BABY Born Real Baby Doll - coming soon

- Our Generation Special Event Doll - Christmas Reindeer - Exclusive - coming soon

Squish, stretch and surprise

- Mini Brands Mini Vinyls Playset Series 1

- Mini Brands Mini Vinyls Capsule Series 1

- Toy Slime Ice Cream Cone Dynamic Assortment - Exclusive - coming soon

- Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul

- PeachyBbies Slime - only in stores - Exclusive

- Young + Wild and Friedman Grab and Go Slime/Sand - only in stores - Exclusive

- Hatchimals Hello Kitty Bloomables - Exclusive

- RMS USA Mystery Squishy Dumpling – Confetti - coming soon

- Squeezy Assorted Ducks - coming soon

- MrBeast Lab Mega-Tech Mystery Pack - Exclusive

Make, build and discover

- Gigglescape Magnetic Building Tiles Set (46 pieces) - Exclusive

- Mondo Llama Color-Your-Own-Bakery Fort DIY Kit - Exclusive - coming soon

- LEGO Star Wars Up-Scaled Darth Vader Minifigure - Exclusive

- LEGO Christmas Stocking - Exclusive

- CrunchLabs Egg Drop Challenge

- Melissa & Doug Stamp and Sort Mailbox Playset

Turn up the play

- tonies Bluey Toniebox 2 Starter Set

- tonies Pokemon Toniebox 2 Starter Set

- Kidi Star Rock Star Guitar

- Nintendo Switch 2

Characters come to life

Little chefs, big imaginations

- Gigglescape Ice Cream Play Food Set - Exclusive

- Gigglescape Play Kitchen 21 Pieces - Exclusive

- Gigglescape Food Role Play Airfryer - Exclusive

Glam it up

- FAO Schwarz Ultimate Makeup Kit 25-Piece Set - Exclusive

- FAO Schwarz Stunning Style Makeup Vanity - Exclusive

Play the Target way

- Target XL Shopping Cart - Exclusive - coming soon

- Target Toy Shopping Basket - Red - Exclusive

- Target Toy Checklane - Exclusive

Ready for action

Hugs that help

- Gigglescape St. Jude bear- Tan - Exclusive - coming soon

- Gigglescape St. Jude bear – Pink - Exclusive - coming soon

About Target

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.

SOURCE Target Corporation

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Inside information: European Commission has restated its serious concerns about planned graphic paper Joint Venture; UPM and Sappi continue to address these concerns

UPM-Kymmene Corporation Stock Exchange Release (Inside information) October 5, 2026 at 11:30 EEST

HELSINKI, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UPM and Sappi have received a Letter of Facts from the European Commission stating that it continues to have serious concerns about the proposed graphic paper Joint Venture. The parties are in the process of analyzing and responding to the Letter of Facts.

UPM disagrees with the Commission's preliminary assessment and will continue to engage with the review process. UPM continues to believe that the proposed Joint Venture would support the long-term competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of the European graphic paper industry. To address the Commission's concerns, the parties are planning to submit proposals for specific remedies, but given the rationale of the transaction, not divestments.

The proposed Joint Venture is being assessed at a time when the European Commission is updating its approach to competition policy to better reflect Europe's changing economic and strategic environment in a more fragmented world. The Commission leadership has rightly called for merger assessment which – besides safeguarding effective competition – would give appropriate weight to resilience, innovation and investment as well as longer-term market dynamics. That direction is now reflected in the Commission's draft revised Merger Guidelines published on April 30, 2026.

A dynamic, forward-looking approach in merger control review is particularly critical in structurally declining markets. Due to digitalization, the demand for graphic paper in Europe has more than halved over the past two decades and is projected to decline further in the coming years. The proposed Joint Venture represents a rational response to these market realities and would enable a more orderly adjustment of industry capacity while maintaining reliable customer supply and generating significant efficiencies.

Without the Joint Venture, the outlook for the European graphic paper industry is likely to become increasingly challenging: European producers would be under increasing pressure, accelerating further capacity closures in a manner which would make customers dependent on imports already in the short term due to drastically narrowed paper grade portfolios. Continued market decline and overcapacity would make it increasingly difficult to maintain a competitive and reliable European supply base.

UPM and Sappi announced the planned Joint Venture in 2025 and signed the definitive agreement on the transaction in May 2026. The transaction requires among other conditions merger control approvals, and most jurisdictions, including China, South Africa and the U.S., have already approved the transaction. The European Commission's final decision is expected by year-end or shortly thereafter. The Joint Venture would become operational upon closing.

UPM, Media relations

Mon-Fri 9:00–16:00 EEST

tel. +358 40 588 3284

[email protected]

UPM

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. Our performance in sustainability has been recognized by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. We operate globally and employ approximately 15,100 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately €9.7 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.

UPM – we renew the everyday

Read more: upm.com

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