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Wego Partners with Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to Transform the Digital Umrah Experience

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Wego continues to advance digital innovation in Umrah services and is among the first platforms to enable electronic Umrah visa issuance, helping simplify the pilgrimage journey for travelers worldwide

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a strategic partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to introduce a fully integrated digital platform designed to enhance and simplify the Umrah journey for pilgrims worldwide.

This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing Saudi Arabia’s vision of delivering a seamless, digitally enabled pilgrimage experience. By bringing together Wego’s leading travel technology and extensive regional reach with the Kingdom’s trusted network of licensed Umrah service providers, the platform offers pilgrims a streamlined, end-to-end booking experience.

Wego continues to play a leading role in digital innovation within pilgrimage services, as among the platforms enabled to facilitate Umrah visa requests digitally, reinforcing its commitment to simplifying the travel experience for pilgrims worldwide.

Through a single, intuitive flow, travelers can access flight bookings, verified hotel bookings, licensed ground services, and facilitated Umrah visa request submissions, ensuring a more transparent, efficient, and reliable journey from planning to arrival. All visa issuance is conducted by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A Seamless, End-to-End Pilgrim Journey

The new platform is designed to redefine how Umrah services are accessed and delivered. Wego will leverage its expertise in travel search, payments, and digital distribution to manage marketing, sales, and customer transactions, while trusted, licensed Umrah service providers focus on delivering high-quality, on-ground services.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plays a key regulatory and supervisory role in overseeing the Umrah ecosystem, ensuring compliance, quality standards, and a consistent experience for pilgrims, while licensed operators are responsible for service delivery and operational execution.

This model enhances operational efficiency while ensuring consistency and accountability across the entire pilgrim experience. All transactions are securely processed in Saudi Riyals at the time of booking, reinforcing transparency and eliminating unexpected on-ground costs.

Commenting on the partnership, Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: “Through our collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, we are enabling a more seamless and transparent Umrah journey powered by technology. By integrating flights, facilitated visa request processes, verified accommodations, and licensed ground services into one unified platform, we are enhancing the overall pilgrim experience while creating new growth opportunities for Umrah service providers across Saudi Arabia.”

Tailored Experiences for Every Pilgrim

The platform introduces three thoughtfully designed service tiers, allowing pilgrims to choose experiences that best match their needs and preferences.

Essential: Core services including airport reception and dedicated on-ground support.Standard: Enhanced convenience with intercity transportation between key locations such as Makkah and Madinah.Premium: A more personalized journey featuring private transfers, curated sightseeing experiences, and round-the-clock support.

Each service tier is carefully curated to meet Wego’s quality benchmarks, ensuring pilgrims receive reliable, high-value options at every step of their journey.

Enhanced Transparency and Traveler Protection

To further strengthen trust and reliability, the platform incorporates clear consumer protection policies, including flexible booking modifications and refund eligibility under defined conditions. These measures are designed to provide peace of mind while maintaining operational efficiency for service providers.

Additionally, multilingual support capabilities and dedicated customer service channels ensure accessibility for pilgrims from diverse global markets, reinforcing Wego’s commitment to inclusivity and service excellence.

Empowering the Umrah Ecosystem

As part of this initiative, Wego is inviting qualified Umrah service providers to participate in the platform, creating a scalable and competitive marketplace that supports the growth of Saudi Arabia’s pilgrimage sector.

The platform www.wego.com/umrah will be ready for launch in June 2026, aligning with the beginning of the Umrah season and enabling pilgrims to plan and book their journeys with greater ease and confidence.

About Wego

Wego is the number one travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Combining a dynamic travel marketplace with on-platform bookings, Wego enables travelers to easily search, compare, and book flights and hotels across hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agencies. Beyond its B2C marketplace, Wego also operates WegoPro, a next-generation business travel platform, and WegoBeds, a MENA-focused bedbank. The company is backed by Tiger Global, Ares Management, Square Peg Capital, MBC Group, and Arqaam Capital, and is dual-headquartered in Singapore and Dubai with offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

For more information, visit www.wego.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wego-partners-with-saudi-ministry-of-hajj-and-umrah-to-transform-the-digital-umrah-experience-302804586.html

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TECO Expands Renewable Energy Footprint in Australia Through Solar and Energy Storage Investments

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SYDNEY, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TECO Australia & New Zealand (TAC), a subsidiary of TECO Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. (TWSE:1504), has invested in the Seaspray Solar + Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Victoria, Australia, and will participate in the upcoming Tranche 2 energy portfolio. The move strengthens TECO’s presence in Australia’s renewable energy and power infrastructure market and reflects its transformation from an industrial equipment manufacturer into a comprehensive energy solutions provider, while bringing international engineering expertise to support Australia’s energy transition.

Stuart Walker, President of TECO Australia and New Zealand, said Australia is accelerating its energy transition, with energy storage playing a key role in improving grid resilience and supporting renewable energy integration. “We are proud to contribute to Australia’s energy infrastructure development. Through our participation in solar and energy storage projects, TECO aims to help create a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy future for local communities,” he said.

The Seaspray project combines a 5.48 MWp solar farm with an 11 MWh battery energy storage system. Through a joint venture and strategic partnership with Billion Watts and Tun Green Power, TECO holds a 45% stake in the project and is expected to secure the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract. For the upcoming Tranche 2 portfolio, totaling 50 MW / 200 MWh, TECO also plans to supply key power infrastructure equipment, including high-efficiency transformers, ring main units (RMUs), and switchgear. The project further strengthens TECO’s role as a long-term partner in Australia’s evolving energy infrastructure landscape.

TECO has operated in Australia for more than 40 years, evolving from a supplier of motors, power systems, and HVAC equipment into a participant in renewable energy and power infrastructure projects. Mr. Walker noted that the Seaspray and Tranche 2 projects demonstrate TECO Australia’s growing capabilities in power equipment supply, energy engineering integration, project delivery, and long-term participation in the region’s clean energy sector. The investments also support TECO’s broader strategy of expanding its renewable energy business across key international markets.

Looking ahead, TECO will continue to leverage its engineering expertise, advanced power technologies, and energy management capabilities to expand its renewable energy presence across Australia and Oceania. Through innovation, local partnerships, and global collaboration, TECO remains committed to supporting the energy transition and contributing to a cleaner, safer, and more resilient energy future.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/teco-expands-renewable-energy-footprint-in-australia-through-solar-and-energy-storage-investments-302806103.html

SOURCE TECO Electric & Machinery Co.

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PayPal Ads Delivers Bottom-Line Growth Advertisers Can Measure

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Campaigns from Adorama, Best Buy, and Etsy demonstrate how PayPal’s cross-
merchant Transaction Graph and Storefront Ads translate into real business growth

CANNES, France, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marketers have spent years optimizing for attention, but impressions aren’t what CFOs look for when they’re deciding where to cut or double down. Brands like Adorama, Best Buy, and Etsy are turning to PayPal Ads because it’s built on what people actually purchase, giving marketers a more direct path to measurable business outcomes.

PayPal’s Transaction Graph aggregates real, cross-merchant purchase signals from more than 25B transactions1 across 400M+ PayPal and Venmo accounts2, spanning how people search, share, and shop. Unlike traditional retail media networks, which are limited to what happens inside a single retailer’s ecosystem, PayPal’s view is cross-merchant, which helps capture purchase behavior across categories and merchants. The result is an audience signal built on what, where, when, and how consumers spend, not what they scroll or browse.

“For years, advertising has been measured by attention. But chief financial officers want outcomes they can see in the numbers. The PayPal Transaction Graph is the CMO’s edge,” said Mark Grether, SVP & GM of PayPal Ads. “Built on what people actually buy, it provides real, cross-merchant purchase behavior across PayPal, Venmo, and PayPal Honey, which is why the brands working with us aren’t measuring success in impressions. They’re measuring campaigns in return, incremental lift, and new customer acquisition. When audiences are built on transactions, the results show where every budget decision is made: the bottom line.”

Reaching Real Buyers, Not Just Browsers
Adorama, a New York photography and electronics retailer, wanted to extend its online storefront directly to high-intent consumers, surfacing relevant products to the right buyers before they went looking at competitors. The goal was to get cameras, lenses, and electronics in front of people already primed to buy. 

By using PayPal Storefront Ads with the PayPal Transaction Graph audiences, Adorama was able to reach four highly engaged, relevant buyer audiences across the web and show them the product catalog directly within the advertising unit. This campaign drove 7.3x incremental return-on-advertising-spend (ROAS) and 14.9% incremental transaction lift. Additionally, the campaign brought in new buyers as 56% of purchasers had not bought from Adorama in the prior 12 months3.

“We needed to reach consumers who were looking for new camera and video equipment but were not shopping at Adorama,” said Yoav Shargil, Chief Marketing Officer, Adorama. “PayPal’s Transaction Graph helped us reach a high-intent audience we weren’t capturing through our existing marketing channels. The ability to target based on real purchase behavior gave us a meaningful lift in both new customers and overall returns.”

Finding High-Intent Shoppers through Efficiency at Scale
Best Buy leveraged PayPal Storefront Ads to more efficiently reach high-intent shoppers at scale. Powered by the PayPal Transaction Graph, these shoppable ad units enabled targeting based on real purchase behavior in consumer electronics and home technology. The campaigns delivered a 6.25x ROAS and dwell time 22% above platform benchmarks—driving both stronger efficiency and deeper consumer engagement.4

“PayPal’s Transaction Graph adds incremental signals based on real shopper behavior across our key categories,” said Amy Adams, Vice President of Media, Best Buy. “When combined with our customer intelligence, it builds on our capabilities to give us a more complete view of the customer—helping us better reach high-intent shoppers and drive more efficient conversion.”

Etsy + Conversion API: Closing the Loop on the PayPal Transaction Graph
As a platform for small business, it’s Etsy’s job to help sellers reach the right buyers.

Etsy ran PayPal Storefront Ads to audiences powered by the PayPal Transaction Graph: the cross-merchant commerce signal that no other media network can replicate. To help complete the picture, Etsy is now testing an integration with PayPal’s Conversion API (CAPI). CAPI sends Etsy’s conversion data back into the Transaction Graph, working to sharpen every audience and every measurement that follows.

Together, it’s a closed loop only PayPal can offer: real commerce signal in, real conversion signal back, every campaign smarter than the last.

“With better data, we can better match Etsy sellers with the shoppers looking for their special items. The PayPal Transaction Graph gave us audiences built on real commerce behavior,” said Gabe Trumbo, Director of Performance Media, Etsy. “We’re excited to be the first to put the full stack to work, testing Conversion API to help close the loop on every campaign and enable our sellers to reach the right shoppers where they are.”

PayPal Ads gives marketers direct access to a transaction graph that no single media network can replicate. Adorama, Best Buy, and Etsy are just some of the brands already seeing the results by using true purchase-based data to inform their advertising campaigns. To learn more about how PayPal Ads can help brands achieve their advertising goals, visit https://www.paypal.com/advertiser or speak with a PayPal Ads representative at the PayPal Patisserie in Cannes, France.

About PayPal
PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com, about.pypl.com, and investor.pypl.com.

Media Contact:
PayPal Media Relations
mediarelations@paypal.com

Source:
1 PayPal Earnings-FY, 2025, based on PayPal internal data. Number of payment transactions is the total number of payments, net of payment reversals, successfully completed on PayPal’s payments platform or enabled by PayPal via a partner payment solution, not including gateway-exclusive transactions.

2 PayPal Earnings-Q2, 2025, based on PayPal internal data. Active accounts are PayPal consumer and merchant accounts that have completed a transaction within the last 12 months.

3 PayPal Internal Data. Adorama campaign dates: 4/1/2026 – 4/30/2026

4 PayPal Internal Data. Best Buy campaign dates: 2/6/2026-3/31/2026

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paypal-ads-delivers-bottom-line-growth-advertisers-can-measure-302805109.html

SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc.

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Envision Energy Expands African Presence with Inauguration of South Africa Office

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, officially inaugurated its South Africa office in Cape Town, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to supporting South Africa’s energy transition ambitions and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy solutions across the African continent.

The opening ceremony brought together government representatives, industry leaders, customers, partners, and stakeholders from across the energy sector. The event featured remarks from Kane Xu, Senior Vice President of Envision Energy, and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity and Energy of South Africa.

The Cape Town office will serve as Envision Energy’s regional hub for Southern Africa, supporting the company’s growing activities in wind power, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and integrated renewable energy solutions.

“The opening of our South Africa office represents an important milestone in Envision Energy’s journey across Africa,” said Kane Xu, Senior Vice President of Envision Energy. “South Africa is a key market in the global energy transition, and we are committed to being a long-term partner in supporting the country’s renewable energy and energy storage ambitions. Through local presence, local partnerships, and world-class technology, we look forward to contributing to a more resilient, sustainable, and affordable energy future.”

The Minister welcomed Envision Energy’s growing presence in South Africa and highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing the country’s energy goals.

“The establishment of Envision Energy’s Cape Town office demonstrates confidence in South Africa’s energy future. We look forward to continued collaboration in strengthening energy security and creating long-term opportunities for sustainable growth,” said Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity and Energy.

The opening comes as Envision Energy continues to expand its footprint across Africa, supporting utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects that contribute to grid stability, energy access, and decarbonization goals. The new Cape Town office further strengthens Envision Energy’s ability to serve customers and partners across South Africa and the wider African continent, while contributing to local talent development, knowledge sharing, and long-term industry growth.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envision-energy-expands-african-presence-with-inauguration-of-south-africa-office-302806059.html

SOURCE Envision Energy

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