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Trailblazers and Innovators: Kellanova Women in STEM

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CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on February 11, highlights the vital contributions of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while promoting inclusion in these historically male-dominated fields. Recognized by the United Nations, the day inspires future innovators and underscores the importance of diverse voices in solving global challenges.

At Kellanova, we value the contributions of our thousands of talented people and are proud to have many excelling in STEM fields. Today, we’re highlighting four remarkable women from across our regions who exemplify innovation, creativity, and leadership in recognition of the 10th anniversary of this United Nations Day.

Region:  Latin America / Mexico
Claudia Arboleda Tamayo, Senior Director, Manufacturing

Q. Tell us about your role at Kellanova:

I lead a high-performing team, driving operational strategy, risk management, and budget efficiency. I also standardize work systems across our Mexico plants to enhance operational excellence while fostering team growth.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

I have a minor in International Business, not a STEM field, but 25 years ago I realized problem-solving was my strength, and it ultimately led me to a career in Supply Chain. There’s immense satisfaction in overcoming countless challenges—like COVID—and seeing a product on the shelf, knowing I made that possible.

Q. Was there a specific moment or person that influenced your decision to enter this field?

Two key factors shaped my decision to pursue Supply Chain, which became clear a few years into my career. I’m from Colombia, where my father ran a transportation business. At the time, logistics infrastructure was underdeveloped, with only 30% of roads paved, limited security, and manual processes at ports. As Colombia opened to global markets, I began to wonder, “What if we could help make a difference?”

Q. What advice do you wish someone would have given you when you were starting out, if any?

I wish someone had told me how crucial networking is, on par with technical skills, for both personal and professional growth. Perhaps the most valuable advice would have been to prioritize work-life balance. Be responsible, brave, and proactive in your life just as you are in your career.

Q. What advice would you give to young people interested in STEM?

You can choose to go into STEM at any point in your life, just dream big and go for it!

 Region: Europe

Loretta Franks, VP Global Chief Data & Analytics Officer (CDAO)

Q. Tell us about your role at Kellanova:

I lead a talented data & analytics team specializing in data science, engineering, technology, and governance, helping Kellanova leverage AI and Machine Learning responsibly for added value. As Global IT’s Executive STEM inclusion sponsor, I champion initiatives worldwide to amplify awareness and drive greater inclusion.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

I’ve always loved STEM. In school, I studied Math, Physics, and Economics in the UK before earning a degree in Math and Economics. Numbers, facts, analytics, and logic have always been my preference over art or literature. My career began in Finance in Europe, and through diverse roles and experiences, I now lead a global role delivering data and analytics capabilities for our organization.

Q. Was there a specific moment or person that influenced your decision to enter this field?

Data has become a critical asset across industries, sparking my deep interest in its role in driving business growth and operations. Throughout my time at Kellanova (previously Kellogg Company), I’ve built a broad network and gained insights across various functions, thanks to the guidance of many teams and friends. The moments that stand out most are when I said “yes” to new opportunities and embraced the unknown—those experiences have been the most exciting and transformative.

Q. What advice do you wish someone would have given you when you were starting out, if any?

Back yourself. Take some risks – see the adventure versus the challenge. Things will go wrong, but it’s how you deal with the situation that is important. Keep going!

Q. What advice would you give to young people interested in STEM?

Don’t overthink it, stick with your gut, follow your skills and passion and you will thrive. Find someone who has been there before and paved their way and learn from them.

Region: Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and South Asia
Sara Khafagy, Research & Development (R&D) Director

Q. Tell us about your role at Kellanova:

I lead our regional R&D team, co-creating and driving the business strategy for technology and innovation, and building and developing a high performing team.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

I enjoy being intellectually stimulated and challenged. A career in STEM can be highly rewarding as it involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and continuous learning.

Q. Was there a specific moment or person that influenced your decision to enter this field?

In high school, my Chemistry teacher inspired me by demonstrating how chemistry brings real-world applications to life, leading me to major in it. I’m passionate about using science to make a difference, especially in food science, materials science, and sustainability. The chemistry of cooking—transforming ingredients and enhancing flavor, texture, and nutrition—continues to intrigue me.

Q. What advice do you wish someone had given you when you were starting out in your career? 

I’ve always held myself to high standards and attention to detail, but early on I sought perfection too often. I wish I’d known that while perfection helps set quality benchmarks and build resilience, it can also stifle creativity and create a fear of failure — both essential for innovation in STEM.

Q. What advice would you give to young people interested in STEM?

STEM fields need diverse perspectives, and your unique viewpoint is valuable. Stay curious and humble to learn more about the world surrounding you. Seek mentorship and feedback along your journey. Learn from the experiences and be open to constructive feedback for continuous development.

Region:  North America/ U.S.
Roxanne Myles, Director, Global Premiums and Licensing

Q. Tell us about your role at Kellanova:

I lead policies and programs ensuring the quality and safety of promotional premiums and licensed products, managing a team that supports marketing initiatives and licensing opportunities.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM?

I have always enjoyed math and science and playing with things. As a child, I wanted to deliver babies, and as I got older, I really became interested in learning more about how and where things are made.

Q. Was there a specific moment or person that influenced your decision to enter this field?

I was influenced by my high school chemistry teacher to seek a career in chemistry, which I started when I went to college. There, I was introduced to Food Science and Food Technology. Since I love food and learning about where our food comes from and how it is made, I chose to go in this direction. 

Q. What advice do you wish someone would have given you when you were starting out, if any?

There are so many careers in STEM. Explore STEM careers that interest you and what you have a passion for. There is so much you can do to build your skills, enhance your knowledge and create something that the world has never seen before.

Q. What advice would you give to young people interested in STEM?

Try it, if you don’t like it, try something else. Keep exploring what life in STEM has to offer.

About Kellanova
Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg’s ® Rice Krispies Treats®, RXBAR®, Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®, Special K®, Coco Pops®, and more, Kellanova’s vision is to become the world’s best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our net sales for 2024 were approximately $13 billion.  

At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion. Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at https://www.kellanova.com

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SOURCE Kellanova

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Galaxy Digital Inc. Announces Pricing of $3.507 Billion of Senior Secured Notes

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NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Galaxy Digital Inc. (NASDAQ: GLXY) (“Galaxy” or the “Company”), a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, today announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Galaxy Helios Data Centers II LLC (the “Issuer”), has priced a $3.507 billion private offering (the “Offering”) of 9.875% senior secured notes due 2031 (the “Notes”). The Offering is expected to close on July 28, 2026, subject to market and other conditions.

The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to finance a portion of the development and construction of two buildings containing eight data halls with a combined total of 400 megawatts (“MW”) of utility capacity and 260 MW of critical IT capacity (the “Project”) to be built on an approximately 260-acre property in Dickens County, Texas and to fund debt service reserves.

The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 9.875% per annum payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2027 and will mature on August 1, 2031. The Notes will amortize at a rate of 4.00% per annum of the original principal amount subject to adjustment, with amortization payments payable semi-annually with the first payment date to occur at least ten months after the completion of the Project.

The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Galaxy Helios II LLC, a wholly owned direct subsidiary of the Issuer (the “Guarantor”), and will constitute the senior secured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor. The Notes and related note guarantee will be secured by first-priority liens on (i) substantially all assets of the Issuer and the Guarantor, other than certain excluded property and (ii) all equity interests of the Issuer held by the direct parent company of the Issuer.

The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms the Offering may be completed.

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Galaxy

Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) is a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, delivering solutions that accelerate progress in finance and artificial intelligence. Our digital assets platform offers institutional access to trading, advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, and tokenization technology. In addition, we develop and operate cutting-edge data center infrastructure to power AI and HPC workloads. Our 1.63 GW Helios campus in Texas positions Galaxy among the largest and fastest-growing data center developers in North America. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the completion, size and timing of the Offering, the terms of the Notes and the intended use of proceeds. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions, including market interest rates, the satisfaction of the closing conditions related to the Offering and risks relating to the Company’s business, including those described in periodic reports that the Company files from time to time with the SEC. The Issuer may not consummate the proposed Offering described in this press release and, if the proposed Offering is consummated, cannot provide any assurances regarding the final terms of the Offering or the Notes or its ability to effectively apply the net proceeds as described above. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update the statements included in this press release for subsequent developments, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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SOURCE Galaxy Digital Inc.

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The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an

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BEIJING, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on the Long March, and what it means for China today:

 

Every journey has a destination.

But some destinations become the beginning of something even greater.

This is Yan’an.

Over 90 years ago, an army of soldiers embarked from Yudu, Jiangxi Province, on a journey that would go down in history.

They crossed snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands and raging rivers, eventually arriving in northern Shaanxi.

Across this grueling 12,500-kilometer journey, they wrote a magnificent epic in human history with willpower and courage.

Here, their Long March came to a victorious end. But a new chapter of history was only beginning.

In Yan’an, the Red Army found time to recover and rebuild, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regrouped, gathering strength for the next chapter.

Here, new ideas were debated, new strategies were shaped, and a vision for China’s future gradually took form.

Today, while preserving its revolutionary legacy, Yan’an has grown into a vibrant, modern city — with a greener environment, thriving industries and happier lives for its people.

Nearly 90 years ago, American journalist Edgar Snow came to northern Shaanxi, seeking to uncover a story that few outside China knew. He later chronicled it in his book “Red Star Over China,” which carried the story of the Long March to the world.

Today, people from around the world are once again retracing those steps.

As part of China International Communications Group (CICG)’s “Together on the Long March” international communication project, participants have spent more than a month retracing the route across six key regions.

From Jiangxi to Shaanxi, they followed the Red Army’s journey and witnessed the remarkable changes that have taken place along the way.

I asked them one simple question: What does this journey mean to you?

Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager at the Springfield Urban League, said conversations with local residents and descendants of the Red Army made history feel far more immediate than he had expected.

He said history isn’t as distant as we often think. “We’re only one or two generations from these great sacrifices that led to the development and the greatness that we see from the Communist Party of China and China as a whole.”

David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor at Foreign Languages Press under CICG and a recipient of the 2021 Chinese Government Friendship Award, said the journey deepened his understanding of the Long March.

He said the journey helped him understand not only the historical facts, but also what the Red Army endured. “If you see the Long March merely as a military campaign, it ended in Yan’an. But as a spirit, it has never truly come to an end.”

We came to retrace history. We leave with something more: a deeper understanding of China’s past, a clearer view of its present, and perhaps a greater appreciation for the stories that connect us across cultures.

Edgar Snow called the Long March “an Odyssey unequalled in modern times.” He believed that what sustained it was a flame — consisting of an undimmed ardor, an undying hope and an amazing revolutionary optimism.

Ninety years later, that flame still burns.

Passed down through generations, the spirit of the Long March continues to light China’s path forward.

And as it crosses borders and cultures, it offers the world a glimpse of a nation defined by resilience, perseverance and an enduring drive to move forward.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm 

The Finish Line that Changed China: Retracing the Long March to Yan’an
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2026-07/23/content_118614941.shtml

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SOURCE China.org.cn

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Visa and Lianlian Advance Trusted B2B Agentic Commerce Through LoopXPay’s First Live B2B Agentic Transaction

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First live B2B agentic transaction in Greater China highlights how AI-enabled commerce can help SMBs streamline purchasing and payments, supported by Visa’s Agentic Directory for trusted AI agent interactions

SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, and Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian”), an AI-native global financial infrastructure provider, today announced the first live B2B agentic transaction completed using LoopXPay, Lianlian’s AI agent. 

Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) often lack dedicated procurement teams and spend valuable time sourcing, purchasing and making payments themselves. In the transaction, the LoopXPay agent was used to source a product sample from a supplier and complete the purchase in a single workflow. The agent identified the purchasing requirement, recommended suitable suppliers, compared options, placed the order and securely executed the payment within a single workflow, while operating within pre-defined spending controls and approval parameters.

The milestone highlights how AI-powered commerce experiences can help SMBs simplify purchasing and payment activities while maintaining appropriate controls and oversight. By enabling AI agents to operate within pre-defined spending parameters and approval controls, businesses can reduce manual effort while retaining visibility into commercial decision-making.

As AI agents become more involved in purchasing and payment activities, businesses will require confidence that transactions are being executed by verified participants, within approved parameters and with appropriate oversight. Capabilities aligned with Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol can help provide the identity, transparency and controls needed to support these interactions.

As part of the collaboration, LoopXPay has been registered in Visa’s Agentic Directory, enabling participating businesses and merchants to identify verified AI agents within the ecosystem. Supporting the implementation of Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol, the Agentic Directory helps provide greater transparency into agent-driven interactions and confidence that participating agents have met Visa’s requirements.

“AI-powered commerce experiences can help businesses simplify purchasing and payments while maintaining the controls and oversight they require,” said Darren Parslow, Global Head, Visa Commercial Solutions, Visa. “For SMBs, that means less complexity in managing day-to-day commercial activities and more time focused on growth. As businesses increasingly look to embed intelligence into purchasing and payment experiences, trust will become a critical enabler of adoption. Through our collaboration with Lianlian, we are helping advance the trusted foundations that businesses will need to participate in this next era of commerce with confidence.”

Building on this milestone, Visa and Lianlian are exploring how AI agents can support a broader range of commercial activities, including procurement, digital advertising optimisation and B2B platform payments, helping advance trusted commerce through greater efficiency, transparency and control.

Zhang Zhengyu, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Lianlian DigiTech, said, “AI is reshaping the entire commercial value chain, where a growing number of business activities will be autonomously executed by AI agents, with payments serving as the critical infrastructure connecting them to global commerce. Leveraging its experience in global cross-border payments, compliance, as well as payment network, LianLian is actively building AI-native financial infrastructure, delivering an integrated suite of capabilities for the Agent Economy, spanning identity verification, transaction authorisation, intelligent payment, and global fund settlement. Through this collaboration with Visa, we aim to combine Lianlian’s AI-native capabilities with Visa’s trusted global network and commercial payment expertise to help businesses transact more securely, intelligently and efficiently in an increasingly agent-driven commerce environment.”

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About Lianlian

Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd. (“Lianlian DigiTech” or “Lianlian”) was founded in 2009 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2024 (stock code: 2598.HK). As China’s leading global provider of digital and intelligent payment services, Lianlian adheres to its mission of “Connecting the world, empowering global commerce” and pursues an “AI-Native + Globalization” strategy. The Company is committed to building a trusted global intelligent financial infrastructure, enabling seamless connectivity between Chinese enterprises and global businesses.  As of now, Lianlian has established a global licensing portfolio comprising 68 payment licenses and related qualifications, and holds a VATP license issued by the Hong Kong SFC. It supports services in more than 200 countries and regions and enables transaction settlement in over 140 currencies, connecting over 180 global e-commerce platforms and serving a cumulative total of over 13.3 million customers. Learn more at www.lianlian.com.

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited

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