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Weekly Recap: 11 Press Releases You Might Have Missed

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A roundup of the most newsworthy press releases from PR Newswire this week, including the state of America’s well-being, the winter weather forecast and housing market updates.

NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week’s most newsworthy and popular releases, here’s a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn’t be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Sesame Workshop and The Harris Poll Unveil Inaugural Index on the State of America’s Well-Being
When asked what we should prioritize for the future well-being of our country, Americans indicated that economic stability isn’t enough—and is not alone as a top priority—but must be accompanied by investment in mental health and education. Parents are particularly affected – 1 in 3 say their or their family’s well-being is negatively impacted by mental health issues.Chipotle Announces CEO Departure
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. announced that Brian Niccol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has accepted the role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks and will be leaving the Company effective August 31, 2024. Niccol has served as Chipotle’s CEO since 2018 and as Chairman of the Board since 2020.Shop with Google Introduces College Campus Tour
The immersive experience will allow students to learn how to use Lens to discover, shop, and explore top trending products across dorm decor, class supplies, and style essentials from brands including Away, Dyson, Google Chromebook, Pottery Barn Teen, and The North Face. It will also feature interactive games, giveaways, exclusive merch, and more.Meta and Universal Music Group Announce Expanded Global Agreement
The new agreement reflects the two companies’ shared commitment to protecting human creators and artistry, including ensuring that artists and songwriters are compensated fairly. Meta and UMG will continue working together to address, among other things, unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters.Farmers’ Almanac Releases Wet Winter Whirlwind Forecast
The Northeast is in the bullseye for a barrage of storms this winter, with the Farmers’ Almanac calling for above-normal amounts of winter precipitation. On the flip side, the Southwest and South Central States are looking at a drier winter with below-normal precipitation.Lilly opens state-of-the-art research and development center in the Boston Seaport
The Lilly Seaport Innovation Center (LSC) serves as the central hub for Lilly’s genetic medicines efforts and houses the first East Coast Lilly Gateway Labs. The new 346,000 square foot facility will accommodate approximately 500 Lilly scientists and researchers, in addition to 200 people from Lilly Gateway Labs’ companies.A One-of-a-Kind ‘Re-Treat Suite’ by Rice Krispies Treats is Here to Inspire Fans to Take One More Sweet Vacation This Summer
Located in the newly renovated Red Jacket Beach Resort on seaside Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Re-Treat Suite is an immersive takeover of a charming suite inspired by the classic snack and the nostalgia of summertime sleepovers, bringing fans inside the delicious world of Rice Krispies Treats.Pregnant Women Undertested for STIs, Finds Quest Diagnostics Health Trends® Study of Over 4 Million Pregnancies
One in three women who tested positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea while pregnant were not retested before giving birth, despite potential to transmit infections to newborns.KFC® Expands $5 Value Menu to Offer Customers More Options – Choose from Three Taste of KFC Deals
Starting Aug. 12, KFC offers more value options on its Taste of KFC menu with three $5 offers: KFC Chicken Nuggets, Famous Bowl with KFC Chicken Nuggets and Two-Piece Drum & Thigh.bp-NASA agreement to advance US energy production and space exploration
The Space Act Agreement will empower the integrated energy company and space agency to collaborate on a variety of technologies, such as digital models and simulations that allow engineers and scientists to visualize equipment in remote locations more than 7,000 feet underwater or millions of miles away on another planet. Sellers lose their advantage, but lower rates may revive housing market competition
“If this relief from mortgage rates continues, we should see more buyers restarting their hunt for a home,” said Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen. “But although rate lock among homeowners is easing, they probably won’t be as motivated to jump back into the market and sell.”

Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire.

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Can’t-Miss Earnings

In addition to these popular releases, earnings season continued and several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for The Home Depot, Sphere Entertainment and Cisco.

Catch up on all the latest earnings reports here.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they’re signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger’s next story.Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles.Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry’s leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.

For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com.

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Aker Solutions receives letter of award for engineering scope on the Maydan Mahzam project in Qatar

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OSLO, Norway, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —  Aker Solutions has received a letter of award (LOA) from PTSC Mechanical and Construction Limited Company (PTSC M&C) for a sizeable1 contract for detail design work related to the redevelopment of the Maydan Mahzam oil field offshore Qatar.

The work will be executed by Aker Solutions’ engineering teams in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Mumbai, India.

The Maydan Mahzam oil field is located about 100 kilometres (km) northeast of the Qatari coastline and 28 km southeast of Halul Island, in water depths of about 40 metres. The oil field, along with the nearby Bul Hanine field, was discovered in the 1960s and has been in production since 1965. Operator QatarEnergy is now planning a major redevelopment project to upgrade and extend the operational life of the field. PTSC M&C has been selected by QatarEnergy for a key package in the redevelopment program.

Aker Solutions will provide detail design services for several offshore installations under PTSC M&C ‘s project scope, including three major topsides, four jackets and brownfield tie-in.

“This award reflects the strength of our engineering organization and our long track record of delivering complex offshore projects. Our team in Kuala Lumpur brings extensive offshore oil and gas experience, complemented by the capabilities of our office in Mumbai and the wider Aker Solutions organization. Together, we look forward to supporting the successful execution of the Maydan Mahzam project,” said Guro Rausand, Executive Vice President of New Build at Aker Solutions.

The LOA is subject to the signing of the final contract. Upon signing, Aker Solutions expects to book a sizeable1 order intake in the fourth quarter of 2026 in the Renewables and Field Development segment.

1Aker Solutions defines a sizeable contract as being between NOK 0.5 billion and NOK 1.5 billion. 

CONTACT: 

Preben Ørbeck
investor relations
preben.orbeck@akersolutions.com 
+47 470 10 611

Odd Naustdal
media contact
odd.naustdal@akersolutions.com 
+47 905 76 079

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-solutions-asa/r/aker-solutions-receives-letter-of-award-for-engineering-scope-on-the-maydan-mahzam-project-in-qatar,c4420299

 

 

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SOURCE Aker Solutions ASA

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Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch Wins Bronze Stevie Award, Advancing Digital Lending Innovation in Vietnam

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Building on its award-winning digital innovation, CUBHCM continues to enhance the customer journey with “View Your Offers”

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch (CUBHCM) has been named a Bronze Stevie Award winner in the Financial Services/Banking category at the 23rd Annual International Business Awards, recognizing the success of its innovative digital lending platform, the CUB Vietnam App. The app was also the only Vietnam-based winner in the App Categories of this year’s awards, highlighting CUBHCM’s continued efforts to leverage digital innovation and deliver a more convenient, secure and responsible financial services.

“This award reflects our commitment to developing financial solutions around the everyday needs of our customers,” said Keng Yang Lin, General Manager of Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch. “Since launching the CUB Vietnam App, we have continued to enhance the digital lending experience by making access to credit simpler, more transparent, and more convenient. Building on this progress, we introduced ‘View Your Offers’ in August this year to help customers better understand their potential credit options before formally applying for a loan.”

Launched in 2024, the CUB Vietnam App enables customers to complete the entire lending journey digitally, from identity verification and application to credit assessment, approval, and disbursement. Since its launch, up to October 2026, the platform has attracted more than 1.3 million registered users and surpassed 9.6 million downloads, demonstrating strong demand for convenient digital financial services in Vietnam.

A key feature of the app is its revolving credit model, which allows eligible customers to apply once and access an approved credit line multiple times for up to five years. Customers can obtain credit limits of up to VND 40 million, with the entire process completed online. The platform also integrates eKYC, automated credit assessment, NFC-enabled identity verification, and advanced security technologies to provide a secure and seamless borrowing experience.

Building on its digital lending capabilities, CUBHCM introduced “View Your Offers” in August 2026. The pre-screening feature allows prospective customers to check their estimated credit limit before formally applying for a loan. Without downloading the app or uploading documents at the initial stage, users can provide basic information and receive a preliminary credit offer in approximately two minutes. Those who wish to proceed can seamlessly continue their application through the CUB Vietnam App, providing greater transparency and convenience throughout the borrowing journey.

The Bronze Stevie Award adds to a series of international recognitions for the CUB Vietnam App in 2026. The platform was also named “Best Consumer Lending Technology in Vietnam” at The Asian Banker Financial Technology Innovation Vietnam Awards 2026 and received the “Customer Experience Solution Award – Vietnam” at the Asian Banking & Finance Fintech Awards 2026.Together, these recognitions demonstrate CUBHCM’s continued progress in digital innovation and customer experience.

With 21 years of operations in Vietnam, the country remains a cornerstone of Cathay United Bank’s “Second Home” strategy. Drawing on its deep local market experience and the financial and technological capabilities of Cathay Financial Holdings, CUBHCM will continue to advance digital innovation and financial inclusion, delivering responsible and customer-centric financial solutions that support Vietnam’s long-term economic development.

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SOURCE Cathay United Bank

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Pudu Robotics Unveils “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” Strategy and Showcases Full Portfolio in European First

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Global commercial robotics leader showcased six product lines together for the first time at its 2026 European Partner Summit in Amsterdam.

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial robotics, yesterday set out the next phase of its global strategy in Amsterdam at its first European Partner Summit. At the event, which was themed “AI in Action: Scaling Impact Across Europe—Together,” Pudu unveiled its “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” strategy along with its full product ecosystem spanning six product lines for the very first time.

“The next stage of growth will depend not only on advancing robot capabilities, but also on making robots easier to deploy, more adaptable and commercially viable at scale,” said Felix Zhang, founder and CEO of Pudu Robotics. “With our ‘One Brain, Multiple Embodiments’ strategy, we are building a shared technological foundation across different robot forms—from specialized service robots to semi-humanoid and humanoid robots. By combining reusable AI capabilities with purpose-built hardware, we aim to accelerate innovation, improve development efficiency and bring robotics into more real-world applications.”

Unveiling the Robotics Portfolio Under the “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” Strategy

At the summit, Pudu debuted its full product ecosystem, guided by its “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” strategy and spanning six product lines: service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, general embodied AI, commercial lawn mowing and home lawn care. The home lawn care line includes the PUDU TOMO S Series, the company’s first consumer robotics product, announced on November 3. The debut of Pudu’s full product ecosystem marks the company’s expansion into a broader range of application scenarios, from indoor to outdoor environments and from commercial to home use.

“Under our ‘One Brain, Multiple Embodiments’ strategy, we will continue to invest in foundational technologies, including hardware, operating systems and embodied foundation models,” said Zhang.

At the core of the “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” strategy is a shared technological architecture designed to support different robot forms. Built on Pudu’s proprietary technologies, including PuduFM, an Embodied Foundation Model, and PuduAgent OS, an Embodied AI Agent Platform, the architecture enables reusable AI capabilities, software modules and skills across different robotic platforms, while allowing hardware and motion-control systems to remain optimized for specific tasks. By sharing these underlying technologies across different robot forms, the strategy helps reduce R&D and deployment cycles and costs, bringing robotics into more industries and making adoption more practical for customers.

Strong Presence in Europe: 60% Annual growth, Footprint in 20+ Countries

The Pudu Robotics 2026 European Partner Summit marks the company’s first large-scale strategic brand event in Europe. Pudu chose Amsterdam to unveil its global “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” strategy, reflecting Europe’s importance as a key market for the company’s next phase of strategic growth.

Pudu operates across more than 20 European countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic and Poland. The company serves customers across a range of European industries including retail, food and beverage, hospitality, healthcare and transportation, such as EDEKA, Albert Heijn, Carrefour, Denner, Marriott, Van der Valk, Pizza Hut and Intermarché, as well as Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

This footprint has been accompanied by strong business growth. Over the past two years, Pudu’s revenue in Europe has grown by an average of more than 60% annually, reflecting the strong momentum of its business across the region.

Pudu is also strengthening its local presence to support its continued expansion. On October 30, the company announced the establishment of its European headquarters in Germany. The multifunctional regional hub brings together offices, a showroom, warehousing, training, sales, after-sales support and repair services, strengthening Pudu’s ability to provide localized support, improve service responsiveness and work more closely with distributors and customers across Europe.

Expanding Pudu Robotics Across Every Scenario

Today, Pudu’s technologies serve 16 industries and more than 900 application scenarios, reflecting the breadth of environments in which its robotics solutions are being applied. Pudu’s full product portfolio was showcased at the summit, demonstrating the full-scenario range of Pudu’s innovative use cases. Among the robots on show were:

BellaBot Pro – An upgraded delivery and interactive service robot featuring multimodal interaction, enhanced mobility and Omni-Sense safety. With a 65 cm path clearance, it is designed to navigate tight and complex commercial environments while delivering an engaging service experience.PUDU CC1 Pro – An AI-powered 4-in-1 commercial cleaning robot that integrates sweeping, scrubbing, vacuuming and dust mopping. Its AI capabilities include real-time cleaning performance detection and targeted spot cleaning, helping deliver more precise and efficient cleaning operations.PUDU MP2000 – An AI-native autonomous pallet handling robot with a 2,000 kg payload capacity. Featuring AI load-carrier recognition, adaptive fork alignment and 20-second fork insertion, it is designed to simplify pallet transport across manufacturing, warehousing and logistics environments.PUDU D5, D7 and D9 – Pudu’s general embodied AI portfolio spanning quadruped, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots. Combining embodied mobility, perception and manipulation capabilities, the portfolio reflects Pudu’s approach to advancing embodied intelligence across different robot forms.PUDU GT Series – A three-model lineup of commercial robotic mowers—GT3, GT5 and GT7—designed for professional grounds and turf management. With purpose-built mowing and collection systems, the series addresses the distinct needs of commercial properties, large turf areas and golf courses or professional sports fields.PUDU TOMO S Series – Pudu’s first consumer robotics product, bringing intelligent lawn care into the home. Featuring the proprietary SharpLoop™ Self-Sharpening System, TOMO S is designed to maintain blade sharpness automatically, supporting convenient and consistent lawn maintenance.

Looking Ahead: Innovating to Build Robots for Europe

Whether through its “One Brain, Multiple Embodiments” strategy or its product ecosystem spanning a full range of application scenarios, Pudu’s goal remains the same: to use AI and robotics to improve the productivity and well-being of human society.

“We want Europe to be among the first markets where this strategy is put into practice,” said Bella Sun, Vice President and General Manager for Europe at Pudu Robotics. “This means not only bringing Pudu’s most advanced technologies and best talent to Europe, but also working more closely with our customers, distributors and other partners across the region to translate advances in robotics into practical value for commercial and household scenarios.”

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global commercial robotics leader dedicated to empowering easier work and better lives through AI and robotics, with a vision of building a global intelligent robotics infrastructure serving 10 billion people worldwide.

Pudu develops robotic solutions across commercial and home robotics, with a portfolio spanning service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, general embodied AI, commercial grounds care, and consumer lawn care.

With over 130,000 robots shipped and a presence in more than 85 countries and regions, Pudu serves customers across diverse industries, including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, real estate and property services, education, entertainment and sport, and public services.

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