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UNITY FOR CHANGE – أفق INITIATIVE: TRANSFORMING UAE RETAIL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS

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DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Unity for Change – أفق, an alliance led by Chalhoub Group, LVMH, Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), Majid Al Futtaim, and Aldar Properties, has unveiled its finalized sustainability goals. This groundbreaking framework focuses on reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste to landfill, and promoting eco-design across UAE retail operations.

Launched at COP28 in 2023, the initiative brings together industry leaders to advance measurable environmental impact through collaboration and shared expertise. The defined objectives span three core pillars:

1. Energy Efficiency

Achieve 5% annual energy savings or carbon emissions reduction for all shopping malls starting 2024.KPIs include reducing energy consumption to:
– 300 kWh/m² for beauty stores by 2030.
– 300 kWh/m² for non-beauty stores by 2026.

2. Eco-Design

Implement a 12-criteria checklist for sustainable retail renovations and new projects, including:
– 50% energy-efficient lighting systems.
– VOC-free materials for paints and interiors.
– FSC-certified wood for at least 50% of installations.Guidelines will be distributed by early 2025 alongside compliance training programs.

3. Waste Management

Achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030 for LVMH and Chalhoub Group, with a 50% diversion goal for Aldar Properties, Emaar Malls, and Majid Al Futtaim.Implement digitized waste management systems by 2026 and unified policies with stakeholder training by April 2025.

Next Steps

The alliance will maintain momentum through actionable steps:

Detailed Implementation Guidelines: Manuals for energy efficiency, eco-design, and waste management will be shared in early 2025.Progress Dashboards: A digital system will track and share progress with stakeholders.Training Programs: Unified training content will roll out by December 2025 to drive compliance.

“This announcement marks a bold step forward in our collective mission to reduce carbon emissions and waste across the UAE’s retail landscape,” said Florence Bulte, Chief sustainability officer, Chalhoub Group. “One year on from the creation of Unity for Change, this partnership reflects our communal dedication to sustainability. By aligning our goals and pooling resources with LVMH, Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), Majid Al Futtaim, and Aldar Properties, we are redefining sustainability for the Middle East’s retail sector and leading ESG goals across the region’s prominent luxury market.”

Saoud Khoory, Chief Retail Officer, Aldar Investment said: “we are pleased to be part of this important sustainability collaboration, which brings together some of the largest retail players operating in the UAE. At Aldar, sustainability is at the core of everything we do, and our commitment to a net-zero future aligns with leading global real estate industry benchmarks. We recognize that impactful climate action requires collaboration, and we look forward to implementing the new sustainability framework across our retail assets. By adopting a whole value chain approach and working closely with our partners, we aim to create climate resilient places that deliver long-term social and economic value in the UAE and beyond.”

Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Executive Director, Emaar Properties, said: “At Emaar Malls Management (L.L.C.), sustainability is not just a goal; it is a responsibility we embrace wholeheartedly. Through Unity for Change, we proudly join industry leaders to redefine environmental stewardship in the retail sector. This marks a pivotal step in our commitment to eco-friendly innovation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.”

Commenting on the progress made on Unity for Change, Ahmed El Shamy, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “It’s been truly inspiring to see how the Unity for Change initiative has evolved since its announcement at COP28 last year. At Majid Al Futtaim, we are proud to stand alongside other industry leaders in this transformational partnership that reflects the urgency of tackling climate change. By uniting expertise and resources, we have outlined actionable goals to address critical challenges in waste management, energy efficiency, and eco-design, setting a scalable model for sustainability in the retail sector.”

“One year after the launch of Unity for Change, we are proud to see this pioneering collaboration in the UAE deliver a robust sustainability framework for the retail sector. By addressing key areas such as energy efficiency, eco-design, and waste management, this initiative reflects our collective ambition to redefine retail practices in harmony with environmental priorities. This milestone, presented during the LIFE 360 in Stores Awards, embodies the spirit of ‘Joining Forces’ to drive meaningful transformation and underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing climate challenges,” said Hélène Valade, LVMH Environmental Development Director. 

The findings and finalized objectives of this initiative were officially presented on December 12th in Paris, France, during the LVMH “LIFE 360 in Stores Awards” ceremony.

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Baidu to Report First Quarter 2026 Financial Results on May 18, 2026

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BEIJING, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the First Quarter 2026 ended March 31, 2026, before the U.S. market opens on May 18, 2026. Baidu’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM on May 18, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM on May 18, 2026, Beijing Time).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Baidu Inc. Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registering, you will then be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you as a calendar invite.

For pre-registration, please click:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10054331-iu876y.html

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), the passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.baidu.com.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until May 25, 2026:
US: 1 855 883 1031
Reply PIN: 10054331

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and the HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-to-report-first-quarter-2026-financial-results-on-may-18-2026-302751204.html

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

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Phase 1 of 139th Canton Fair Introduces New Dedicated Product Zones as Emerging Technologies Take Center Stage

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GUANGZHOU, China, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has further optimized its exhibition landscape with nine new dedicated product zones, reflecting ongoing structural shifts in global trade and the continued upgrading of China’s export portfolio.

Among the most closely watched additions in Phase 1 are the consumer and agricultural drone zones, both making their debut at the Canton Fair and offering a focused showcase of applications in the low‑altitude economy. The consumer drone zone showcases progress in flight control, AI‑based obstacle avoidance and energy efficiency across imaging, tourism, emergency response and patrol. The agricultural drone zone highlights precision farming, with spraying, seeding and field‑management demonstrations showing terrain‑following, intelligent route planning, and precise payload control.

On day one, a Shandong‑based drone manufacturer welcomed buyers from 30+ countries, with over 50 strong leads. One buyer, after seeing load and wind‑resistance demonstrations, immediately confirmed three sample units and even proposed becoming a regional distributor.

Display technology is another focal point of Phase 1, highlighting advances in color accuracy, energy efficiency, and overall visual performance. Developments in fine‑grained control, expanded color gamut, and reduced power consumption point to a clear trend toward immersive viewing experiences combined with sustainability gains.

The smart wearables zone underscores how intelligent devices are becoming key interfaces for human‑machine interaction. From real‑time language translation and adaptive noise cancellation to long‑term health monitoring and AI‑enabled eyewear, wearables are evolving from standalone products into integrated systems that support communication, well‑being, and productivity across daily and professional settings.

The service robots zone further illustrates how artificial intelligence is moving from conceptual exploration to large‑scale deployment. Advanced robots showcased across industrial, commercial, medical, and public‑service scenarios demonstrate growing autonomy, multi‑sensory perception, and closer human-robot collaboration.

By bringing emerging technologies into clearer focus through dedicated zones, the 139th Canton Fair is reinforcing its function as a platform where trade trends take shape, innovation meets application, and global buyers gain early insights into cutting-edge technologies.

For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

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OZMOSI Announces Strategic Partnership with Planview to Advance AI-Driven Planning in Pharmaceutical R&D

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By combining structured clinical intelligence with AI-driven portfolio planning, the partnership gives pharmaceutical teams a faster, clearer way to make high-stakes R&D decisions

SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, N.J., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OZMOSI, a leading provider of structured pharmaceutical development intelligence, today announced a strategic partnership with Planview, the leading AI-powered end-to-end platform for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and Digital Product Delivery (DPD).

By integrating OZMOSI’s machine-readable clinical datasets directly into Planview’s AI-driven portfolio planning platform, external scientific data is now connected to internal R&D planning in one system,  helping pharmaceutical organizations better predict market shifts, prioritize R&D investments, and make faster, more confident decisions.

This integration brings external clinical reality into internal R&D decision-making, so teams can plan based on what’s actually happening, not just on what they hope will happen.

The two organizations combine deep expertise in complementary areas, united by a shared focus on improving the quality and usability of data for strategic decision-making. OZMOSI provides structured, machine-readable intelligence across clinical trials, drug development programs, regulatory activity, and scientific literature, built on a consistent taxonomy that standardizes how data is connected and understood. Planview’s platform enables organizations to model complex investment scenarios, align initiatives with corporate strategy, and optimize resource allocation.

Together, these capabilities give teams a clearer, more complete view of the R&D landscape, grounded in clean, standardized data and strengthened by AI-driven analysis.

“AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it,” said Beau Bush, President and Founder of OZMOSI. “Pharmaceutical organizations have no shortage of data, but too often it’s fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to operationalize. By bringing OZMOSI’s structured data foundation together with Planview’s AI-driven planning capabilities, we’re enabling teams to move beyond disconnected analysis and toward truly integrated, forward-looking decision-making.”

“Strategic planning in pharmaceutical R&D is becoming increasingly dependent on advanced analytics and AI,” said  Louise Allen, Chief Product Officer at Planview. “Integrating OZMOSI’s clinical intelligence into Planview’s platform enables pharmaceutical leaders to make better decisions by combining trusted external data with AI-driven planning

OZMOSI’s dataset spans more than 800,000 clinical trials, over 35,000 drugs, and 4,000 diseases and conditions. It brings together insights from clinical trial registries, regulatory filings, scientific literature, company disclosures, and industry announcements into a unified, structured dataset.

When integrated into Planview’s platform, this intelligence enables pharmaceutical and biotech organizations to evaluate competitive landscapes, identify emerging clinical trends, and simulate portfolio outcomes with unprecedented precision.

Together, OZMOSI and Planview are redefining how pharmaceutical organizations approach R&D strategy, ensuring that investment decisions are guided by accurate, standardized, and AI-ready data. By combining internal portfolio visibility with a continuously updated external view of the market, the partnership helps leaders not only understand what they have, but what to do next.

About OZMOSI

Founded in 2013, OZMOSI specializes in transforming complex pharmaceutical R&D intelligence into structured, machine-readable data. The company provides the foundation needed for accurate competitive analysis, product forecasting, and portfolio strategy. Through its proprietary taxonomy and semantic layer, OZMOSI connects fragmented data across the pharmaceutical ecosystem, enabling faster, more confident decision-making for global pharma, biotech, and investment teams.

Based in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, OZMOSI is focused on making pharmaceutical intelligence clear, usable, and ready for the future of AI-driven strategy. Learn more at www.ozmosi.com.

About Planview

Planview is the leading end-to-end platform for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and Digital Product Delivery (DPD), powered by advanced AI capabilities that give business and technology leaders the strategic foresight to prioritize investments and initiatives, make plans real within constraints, and pivot with certainty when things change. Our AI-driven connected platform of solutions underpins the business and digital transformations of more than 3,000 customers and 3.1 million users globally. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Planview has over 1,500 employees worldwide. Learn more at www.planview.com.

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SOURCE Ozmosi Company

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