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Critical Minerals Standards: ANSI Launches Initiative to Strengthen U.S. Supply Chains and Request for Information

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6 months ago

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New initiative maps the standards landscape, convenes stakeholders, and builds toward a national strategy

NEW YORK, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is launching a multi-phase initiative to strengthen U.S. coordination on critical minerals standards — the shared rules and benchmarks that help ensure minerals are sourced responsibly, supply chains remain secure, and American industry stays competitive globally. This initiative moves forward thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Mining and Mineral Production Technologies Office, whose partnership made it possible to act on one of the nation’s most pressing industrial priorities. It directly responds to U.S. government priorities to secure domestic supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals. 

This effort brings together U.S. stakeholders to coordinate national standards priorities, positioning American industry and government to contribute meaningfully to the success of the G7 Critical Minerals Standards Roadmap while harnessing the momentum of the current administration’s focus on supply chain resilience and domestic competitiveness.

The initiative includes a standards landscape assessment, a webinar series, a two-day hybrid workshop, and a summary report with recommended next steps. A call for webinar speakers and a request for information for the standards landscape is open.

Why This Matters

Critical minerals are foundational to national defense, clean energy, advanced electronics, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Yet as global demand rises, the U.S. faces real risks: fragmented efforts at home, supply chain vulnerabilities, and growing urgency to align on the international rules that govern how these materials are sourced, processed, and traded.

Standards bring order to that complexity. They promote transparency and traceability across supply chains, help U.S. companies access global markets, and give the public and private sectors a common framework for investment. Without a coordinated approach, the U.S. risks ceding influence to competitors who are already moving.

What the Initiative Includes

ANSI connects the organizations that develop standards with the industries that rely on them. To accelerate U.S. leadership on critical minerals, ANSI will deliver:

A standards landscape assessment that maps the current state of play: which standards exist, which organizations develop them, where work is underway, and where gaps remain. The assessment will cover the full supply chain — from extraction through processing, manufacturing, and recovery — and consolidate prior mapping efforts into a single, accessible resource. A Request for Information (RFI) is open.A webinar series to raise awareness of existing standards and regulatory activities related to critical minerals, including a dedicated session for U.S. government stakeholders. Briefings will feature standards developers working across the supply chain. Speakers invited and registration is open.A two-day hybrid workshop convening federal agencies, standards organizations, and industry to identify high-priority needs, explore challenges, and inform the development of a U.S. critical minerals standards strategy this September in the Washington, DC area. A summary report will capture key findings, gaps, and recommended next steps.

Ongoing Coordination

ANSI also convenes a quarterly U.S. ISO Critical Minerals Standards Coordination Group for members of U.S. delegations to ISO Technical Committees. The group serves as a forum to share information, coordinate engagement, and align international standards activities. The next meeting is April 24 — registration is now open.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.

The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org and access the latest news and content on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

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SOURCE American National Standards Institute

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MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0 Introduces Cloud Sync for Google Drive and OneDrive

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58 minutes ago

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October 23, 2026

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VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MiniTool® Software Limited has announced the release of MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0, the latest version of its Windows backup and file sync software. The update introduces a new Cloud Sync feature for Google Drive and OneDrive, along with enhancements to the registration and purchase experience, interface refinements, and compatibility fixes.

New Features and Improvements in MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0

1. Cloud Sync to Google Drive and OneDrive

MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0 introduces Cloud Sync, allowing users to synchronize files and folders from a Windows computer to Google Drive or OneDrive. Users can choose the files and folders they want to sync and select their preferred cloud storage service as the destination.

The new feature supports one-way synchronization from a local Windows PC to cloud storage, providing an additional way to save copies of important files outside of your computer. Together with MiniTool ShadowMaker’s existing local file sync function, Cloud Sync expands the available destinations for file sync.

2. Streamlined License & Plan Management

The latest update introduces an enhanced register interface that remains easily accessible even after activation. Registered users can now effortlessly review their current plan, explore upgrade options, or update their license key anytime for a smoother user experience.

These refinements are intended to improve usability when users manage their software registration and licensing.

3. Interface Refinements and Compatibility Fixes

MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0 includes interface improvements and fixes for certain display issues. One notable fix addresses a blurry display issue that could occur on some systems equipped with AMD GPUs.

These changes focus on resolving specific issues and improving the user experience on affected systems.

4. Additional Improvements

Beyond Cloud Sync and the changes outlined above, MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0 includes additional interface and functionality refinements. Together, these updates further improve the software’s usability while expanding its file synchronization options.

With support for Google Drive and OneDrive, MiniTool ShadowMaker 5.0 provides Windows users with another approach to manage file copies across local and cloud storage. Users who want to synchronize files to cloud storage can download the Free Edition and explore the new capabilities.

About MiniTool ShadowMaker

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a Windows backup and file sync solution designed to help users protect their operating systems and important data. It supports backing up Windows systems, disks, partitions, files, and folders to local drives, external hard drives, shared folders, and other supported locations. Users can select specific items to back up according to their needs.

For users who need to migrate data to another drive, MiniTool ShadowMaker offers a disk cloning feature. The software also supports restoring backed-up data and creating bootable media for system recovery.

By combining backup, file synchronization, disk cloning, and restore capabilities, MiniTool ShadowMaker offers Windows users a set of tools for data protection and system recovery.

About MiniTool® Software Limited

MiniTool Software Limited is a professional software company that develops computer applications. It provides software for partition management, data recovery, data backup and sync, video editing, multimedia conversion, and screen recording for home and business users. The company is committed to developing innovative, reliable, and easy-to-use software that simplifies everyday digital tasks.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/minitool-shadowmaker-5-0-introduces-cloud-sync-for-google-drive-and-onedrive-302916663.html

SOURCE MiniTool® Software Limited

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Rocket Companies to Announce Third Quarter 2026 Results on October 29, 2026

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2 hours ago

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October 22, 2026

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DETROIT, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE: RKT) (“Rocket Companies” or “the Company”), the Detroit-based homeownership platform, today announced that the Company will issue its third quarter 2026 earnings on October 29, 2026. Leadership will host a conference call to discuss results at 4:30 p.m. ET on that date. A press release detailing the Company’s results will be issued prior to the call.

A live webcast of the event will be available on the “Events & Presentations” section of the Company’s Investor Relations website at ir.rocketcompanies.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations website following the event.

About Rocket Companies

Founded in 1985, Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) is a Detroit-based homeownership platform including mortgage, real estate and personal finance businesses: Rocket Mortgage, Redfin, Rocket Close, Rocket Money and Rocket Loans.

With insights from more than 160 million calls with clients each year, more than 30 petabytes of data and a mission to Help Everyone Home, Rocket Companies is well positioned to be the destination for AI-fueled homeownership.

For more information, please visit the Company’s Corporate website or Investor Relations website.

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SOURCE Rocket Companies, Inc.

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Lunai Bioworks Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Determination and Intention to Voluntarily Delist and Deregister

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2 hours ago

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October 22, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lunai Bioworks Inc. (Nasdaq: LNAI) (the “Company”) announced that on October 21, 2026, it received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that the Company no longer complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires minimum stockholders’ equity of $2,500,000. The Company reported a stockholders’ deficit of $(9,024,946) in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, and does not meet the alternative market value of listed securities or net income standards. Because the Company is subject to a mandatory Hearings Panel Monitor under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(B), Nasdaq staff determined to delist the Company’s securities. Trading in the Company’s common stock on Nasdaq is expected to be suspended at the opening of business on October 30, 2026.

The Company will not request a hearing. Rather than contest the staff determination, the Company’s Board of Directors approved on October 22, 2026 the voluntary withdrawal of the Company’s common stock from listing on Nasdaq under Rule 12d2-2(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Board took this action because of the staff determination and the Company’s financial condition, and concluded that the cost of continued listing and SEC reporting is not justified.

The Company notified Nasdaq of its intention on October 22, 2026. The Company intends to file a Form 25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on or about November 2, 2026, and expects the delisting to become effective on or about November 12, 2026. The Company then intends to file a Form 15 to suspend its SEC reporting obligations, to the extent it is eligible to do so. The Company’s SEC reporting obligations will continue unless and until they are terminated or suspended in accordance with the SEC’s rules.

The Company does not intend to arrange for quotation of its common stock on any over-the-counter market and cannot assure that any trading market for its common stock will exist after trading on Nasdaq is suspended.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected suspension of trading, the expected timing of the Form 25 and Form 15 filings, and the expected timing of delisting and deregistration. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties, including Nasdaq and SEC procedures and the Company’s financial condition. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lunai-bioworks-announces-receipt-of-nasdaq-determination-and-intention-to-voluntarily-delist-and-deregister-302917510.html

SOURCE Lunai Bioworks Inc.

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