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South Coast AQMD Grants Cal State LA $150,000 for Advanced Battery Competition

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Supporting the Next Generation of Engineers and Clean Energy Leaders

DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On December 6th, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) Governing Board approved a $150,000 sponsorship to California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) in partnership with Cerritos College to support their efforts in the Battery Workforce Challenge (BWC)—a national program to train future electric vehicle (EV) battery engineers and technicians. Both colleges are the only competitors selected from the South Coast Air Basin.

Presented by the U.S. Department of Energy and Stellantis and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, the BWC is a three-year collegiate competition where teams design, build, test, and integrate advanced EV battery pack for a Stellantis Ram ProMaster electric vehicle. Students gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge battery technology, preparing them for careers in the clean energy sector. Teams must also follow industry milestones focused on battery design, simulation, control development, testing, vehicle integration, and demonstration.

“This program is more than a competition, it’s a launchpad for future engineers and innovators,” said Wayne Nastri, South Coast AQMD’s Executive Officer. “This program aligns perfectly with our vision of a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

The design and development of advanced batteries form a key component to electrify the transportation sector. The deployment of EVs within the South Coast region will create a demand for a domestic EV battery workforce. Engineering a battery pack is challenging and takes years and requires variety of skill sets. Students participating in this competition will be educated and trained to become skilled engineers advancing battery technology.

Cal State LA is one of 12 universities from North America selected for the challenge that has assembled the Charging Eagles, a team of 66 engineering students. During the first year, the team designed an 62-kWh battery pack to meet rigorous performance and safety standards. In years two and three, they’ll test and integrate the battery pack into the Ram ProMaster and compete against other schools on key performance measures.

“This generous award from South Coast AQMD is a transformative opportunity for our team, allowing us to hire additional student researchers, purchase critical components for the competition, and cover travel expenses so more students can participate,” said Isabel Builes, Cal State LA Student Project Manager. “With this support, we can dedicate more time to advancing our project and enhancing students’ hands-on experience in sustainable battery technology.”

“We are confident that our mission to train the next generation of vehicle electrification engineers aligns perfectly with the South Coast AQMD’s goal of enabling clean transportation projects with a qualified workforce,” said Dr. David Blekhman, Cal State LA’s Technical Director of the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility and the Charging Eagles team’s co-advisor. “This effort builds on the support previously extended to the EcoCAR3 project from 2014-2018, which was also honored by the South Coast AQMD with the 30th Annual Clean Air Awards.”

South Coast AQMD’s sponsorship will fund critical hardware, software, and travel expenses, helping the team excel in this competition. It also supports Cal State LA’s efforts to develop a diverse, skilled workforce ready to meet the growing demand for clean energy solutions.

South Coast AQMD’s sponsorship establishes a public-private partnership to help support the workforce demand for a domestic electric vehicle battery design and development. The team at Cal State LA has secured over $500,000 in funding from competition sponsors, including the Sikand Center for Sustainable and Intelligent Infrastructure (Sikand SITI Center) and its faculty in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ECST).

South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

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SOURCE South Coast Air Quality Management District

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AndX Global Unveils Manila One, a First-of-Its-Kind Tokenized Land Development With Global Access

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NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AndX Global today unveiled Manila One, a $100 million initiative that is the first to tokenize a large-scale, development-stage land project and open it to investors worldwide from day one.

Originated in the Philippines, structured through a U.S.-based investment framework and built for distribution to eligible investors globally, Manila One represents a new model for cross-border real estate investing. It combines a local asset, institutional structuring, global access and a path to liquidity.

Manila One applies tokenization where the most value is created, in the development of raw land, and opens it to investors around the world from the start.

“Tokenization without liquidity is simply digitized illiquidity,” said Viru Raparthi, CEO of AndX Global. “Manila One changes that model by giving global investors access at the development stage, while building toward real liquidity. This isn’t just about tokenizing real estate. It’s about creating a global market for real-world assets.”

Designed for global investors

Manila One is built to overcome the barriers that have kept private real estate closed to most investors: access, currency, minimums and exit.

Global access: open to eligible investors in more than 190 countries, subject to applicable lawUSD-denominated: priced and reported in U.S. dollarsLow minimum: tokens priced to ensure maximum participationDigital ownership: each token represents an economic interest in the development-stage project, with digital custody and blockchain-based recordkeepingBuilt for liquidity: designed for secondary trading on regulated AndX exchanges globally, so eligible holders can buy and sell their interests rather than stay locked into a multi-year private investment

Behind the offering is an end-to-end model that AndX intends to apply to other asset classes. It runs from origination through U.S. structuring, digital issuance, global distribution and custody to secondary trading. AndX Global provides the technology, tokenization, exchange, custody, payments and distribution infrastructure.

“The next generation of capital markets won’t be defined by geography,” Raparthi said. “It will be defined by access.”

The asset: 54 hectares, 5 km from Bonifacio Global City

The project centers on about 54 hectares of waterfront land roughly 5 kilometers from Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Metro Manila’s leading business district. Proceeds will fund horizontal development, including roads, utilities, drainage and other core infrastructure, to prepare the site for future residential, commercial and mixed-use construction. A later phase is planned to include affordable housing.

Manila One is sponsored by Jack Rodriguez, a Filipino entrepreneur and President of ARC Pacific Development, Inc., whose family story spans generations and two countries. His ancestry traces to passengers associated with the Mayflower and America’s earliest Pilgrim settlers, while his own roots remain deeply connected to the Philippines. Rodriguez sees the project as a bridge between the United States and the Philippines.

“Major development opportunities in the Philippines have mostly been available to a small circle of institutions, developers and wealthy families,” said Rodriguez. “Manila One opens that up, starting with Filipinos around the world and extending to investors everywhere who want a stake in transforming a major Philippine asset.”

The project is advised by Romel C. Cañete, widely regarded as one of the early visionaries behind Manhattan’s Hudson Yards transformation. Cañete evaluated developer bids for more than 40 million square feet of mixed-use development over the West Side rail yards — work that helped shape what became one of the most successful and consequential urban redevelopment projects in modern New York City.

“On Hudson Yards, the first question was whether the infrastructure could carry the vision,” said Cañete. “Manila One starts in the same place. What’s different is who gets in on the ground floor. It’s not just a handful of institutions anymore, but investors around the world.”

Offering at a glance

Offering size: $100 millionUnderlying asset: about 54 hectares of waterfront land near BGC, Metro ManilaIndicated land value: more than $200 million, per Cuervo Valuers & Advisory, Inc. (appraisal dated February 3, 2026)Term: three yearsPreferred return: 8% per year, simple and non-compounding (24% over the three-year term)Additional upside: 100% return on investment tied to appreciation of the underlying land, subject to offering termsEligible investors: retail and institutional, in more than 190 countriesOffering documents and eligibility: andx.ai/m1

About Manila One

Manila One is a tokenized real estate offering tied to the horizontal development of about 54 hectares of waterfront land near Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. ARC Pacific Development, Inc. is the sponsor, and AndX Global provides the tokenization and distribution infrastructure. Learn more at andx.ai/m1. 

About AndX Global

AndX Global is a financial technology company expanding global access to financial markets and real-world assets. Its infrastructure spans licensed digital-asset trading, payments, tokenization, custody and liquidity. Its mission is to let investors trade any asset, anywhere, anytime. Learn more at andx.ai. 

Important disclosure

This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or investment product. Any offering will be made only under applicable securities laws and through definitive offering documents containing material information about the investment, its risks and its terms. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The preferred return is not guaranteed. Statements about liquidity, secondary trading, returns, appreciation or future value are forward-looking and not guaranteed. Secondary trading, if available, will be subject to securities laws, regulatory approvals, transfer restrictions and the availability of an appropriate venue. Securities-related activities in the United States, where applicable, will be conducted through appropriately registered entities.

Media contacts

United States

Roxanne Rittberg

roxanne@andx.ai

+1 (561) 544-7172

Philippines

Mikel Cañete

mikel@andx.ai 

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SOURCE Andx Global

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Veridian Credit Union adds Allstate Identity Protection to free credit monitoring tool

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New benefit gives members access to professional identity restoration support and monitoring tools

WATERLOO, Iowa, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Veridian Credit Union members now have complimentary access to Allstate Identity Protection through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking.

The added support comes as identity theft is making a growing financial impact on U.S. consumers. Identity theft losses reached an all-time high of $27.3 billion in 2025, according to the 2026 Identity Fraud Study from Javelin Strategy & Research.

Veridian members who are enrolled in Credit Central and believe they are experiencing identity theft can now use identity fraud finder tools and work with a professional restoration specialist on monitoring high-risk transactions, dark web exposure and more. Monitoring for additional fraud continues for at least three months after a restoration case is resolved.

“Providing identity restoration support through a tool members already have access to is another way we can help them protect their financial lives and move forward with confidence,” said Mallory Paeper, Veridian’s manager of fraud and disputes. “Your financial well-being includes more than knowing your credit score. It also means having support when your personal information is compromised.”

The identity protection benefit expands the resources already available to Veridian members through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking. Credit Central gives members access to their credit score and credit report, credit monitoring alerts and personalized tools designed to help them better understand and manage their credit. Credit Central is available to Veridian members within online banking at no cost, giving members easier access to credit information and identity protection as part of their everyday banking experience.

About Veridian Credit Union
Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by the people who use its products and services – its members. Nationally recognized among the top credit unions in the U.S. for returning value, Veridian offers a full range of business and consumer financial services with 32 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. For details, visit veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.

About Allstate Identity Protection
Allstate has been protecting what matters most for 90 years. Allstate Identity Protection provides identity restoration services and related support for users who experience identity fraud.

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SOURCE Veridian Credit Union

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SAJ Electric Honoured with EUPD Top Innovation Award at All-Energy

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The EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series were recognised in the Storage category

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SAJ Electric has received the EUPD Research Top Innovation Australia 2026 award in the Storage category for its EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series all-in-one home energy storage systems. The award was presented on SAJ Electric’s stand at All-Energy Australia 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

EUPD Research recognises products for technology advancement, innovation uniqueness, environmental impact, market disruption and practical applicability.

The EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 combine a hybrid inverter, LFP battery storage and backup in one modular system. Blind-mate connectors and a wireless meter cut installation cabling, and three-step app commissioning speeds setup. A built-in 63A bypass delivers whole-home backup without a separate backup box, switching in 10 ms or less. An independent DC/DC battery optimiser supports flexible expansion, and the elekeeper 5.0 platform coordinates solar, storage, EV charging and household loads. Both are available in single-phase and three-phase.

The award headlined two busy days for SAJ Electric across Stand M143 and a dedicated Strongman booth at E01. SAJ Electric ran live product demonstrations, partner sessions with its three national distributors, and a public strength challenge against Bradman Houston, Australia’s Open-weight Strongest Man of 2026. Bradman’s lifts include a 380 kg deadlift, 340 kg squat and 180 kg overhead press.

Highlights

CEC certification: DEKRA and CCS presented Clean Energy Council certificates for the EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 on stand, making them the first products approved under Australia’s new SA TS 5398 battery safety standard.CEO roundtable: SAJ Electric Chairman and CEO Samil Ouyang and Smart Energy Council CEO David McElrea discussed the direction of Australia’s home battery market and how manufacturers can better support installers.Beat the Strongest Man: Booth E01 drew some of the biggest crowds of the show as visitors stepped up to the high striker against Bradman. Anyone who out-hit him took home a pair of Shokz headphones.Nine live demos: SAJ Electric’s technical team ran scheduled sessions across both days on residential storage, the elekeeper energy management platform, and commercial and industrial solutions.Distributors on board: One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone showcased SAJ Electric products on their own stands, with SAJ Electric technical staff at each throughout.Media on stand: SAJ Electric hosted briefings, interviews and content capture with RenewEconomy, pv magazine, EcoGeneration, SunWiz, Solar Cutters, OpenSolar, Your Energy Media, Techmanpat and the Smart Energy Council, plus a booth tour and interview with Glenn Morris, founder of Smart Energy Lab, who recently installed and tested the EK70 HS5 on his YouTube channel.

The Strongman activation built on SAJ Electric’s ongoing work with Bradman, who earlier this year fronted an SAJ Electric video series with the Sydney Solar & Electrical crew on stretching, lifting technique and health tips for installers who move heavy batteries and panels every day.

SAJ Electric thanks every installer, partner and visitor who came by Stand M143 and the Strongman booth.

About SAJ Electric

Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd. (SAJ Electric) is a global manufacturer of solar inverters, energy storage systems and smart energy management solutions. In Australia, SAJ Electric products are available through One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone. Learn more at au.saj-electric.com.

Media contact

Bella He
APAC & MENA Regional Head of Marketing
Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd.
No.9 Lizhishan Road, Guangzhou Science City, Guangdong, P.R. China 510663
Mobile: +86 188 2508 2693
www.saj-electric.com

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SOURCE SAJ

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