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Agoda Reveals Growing Travel Interest Ahead of Japan’s Summer 2026 Fireworks Festivals

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― Searches for Nagaoka during the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks up 50x, as interest in “fireworks travel” expands nationwide ―

SINGAPORE, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. (Headquarters: Singapore; CEO: Omri Morgenshtern), which operates the digital travel platform Agoda, revealed growing travel interest during Japan’s fireworks season among domestic and international travelers, based on accommodation search data related to major fireworks festivals taking place across Japan in summer 2026.

According to Agoda’s latest data, accommodation searches saw an increase as fireworks festival dates approached. In particular, Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture, the host location of the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks, recorded a 50x increase compared to searches conducted before the event period, marking it the highest growth among the fireworks festival destinations coming up this summer.

Accommodation searches also grew in other regional destinations hosting fireworks festivals across Japan, including the Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival, Numazu Summer Festival and Kano River Fireworks Festival, Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival, and Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Festival.

Agoda’s findings show that interest is growing among domestic and international travelers to destinations where they can enjoy “fireworks travel” experiences that combine fireworks viewing with local sightseeing, dining, and overnight stays.

The data compares accommodation searches made between 90 and 60 days before each fireworks festival date with accommodation searches for check-ins on the day before and the day of each event.

Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Leads with a 50x Increase in Searches

Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture | Searches up 50x

Known as one of Japan’s three great fireworks festivals, the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks continues to attract domestic and international travelers with its breathtaking scale. Highlights include the “Shosanjakudama,” a massive firework with a diameter of approximately 650 meters, and the “Phoenix Fireworks for Recovery,” which stretch roughly two kilometers across the banks of the Shinano River. In addition to the fireworks, travelers can enjoy Echigo’s rich natural scenery, local sake, and regional cuisine, making Nagaoka a highly popular destination for overnight trips combined with fireworks viewing.

Interest in “Fireworks Travel” Destinations Expands Across Japan

Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture | Searches up 7x

Held over Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, this festival features approximately 10,000 fireworks and attracts many travelers with its magical reflections on the water and scenic lakeside setting. Its convenient access from Kyoto also makes it a popular choice for travelers looking to combine the event with sightseeing in the surrounding area.

Numazu Summer Festival and Kano River Fireworks Festival, Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture | Searches up nearly 3.5x

Held along the Kano River, which runs through the heart of Numazu City, this fireworks festival offers visitors an up-close and powerful viewing experience, with launch sites located near spectator areas. Numazu is also known for its fresh seafood and serves as a popular base for exploring the Izu area.

Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture and Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture | Searches up nearly 3.5x

The Kanmon Straits Fireworks Festival is a rare fireworks event jointly hosted by two cities, with approximately 15,000 fireworks launched from both sides of the Kanmon Straits. Its dynamic location spanning Kyushu and Honshu, combined with local cuisine and charming port-town scenery, makes it an attractive travel destination.

Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Festival, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture | Searches up more than 3x

Known as one of western Japan’s leading fireworks festivals, the Matsue Suigosai Fireworks Festival is celebrated for its water-based fireworks over Lake Shinji and the enchanting reflections that appear on the lake’s surface. With nearby attractions such as Matsue Castle and Tamatsukuri Onsen, the area continues to be popular as an overnight travel destination.

These results suggest that as Japan’s fireworks festivals season approaches, these regional destinations are gaining attention as travelers seek opportunities to experience “fireworks travel” and enjoying local sightseeing, dining, and accommodations.

Tadashi Ikai, Senior Country Director, Agoda International Japan, shared, “Japan’s fireworks festivals are one of the country’s signature summer experiences for both domestic and international travelers. Agoda’s latest search data shows that interest is growing in destinations that offer a ‘fireworks travel’ experience that combines the events with local scenery, cuisine, and sightseeing.

The increase in searches for regional cities such as Nagaoka, Matsue, and Numazu also indicates growing interest for travel experiences that allow visitors to discover the unique appeal of local destinations. With great deals on accommodation, flights, and activities, Agoda will continue to support travelers in enjoying more fulfilling summer journeys.”

Agoda offers travelers access to a wide range of travel products, including hotels, private homes, flights, and activities. By booking activities in advance through Agoda, travelers can better plan their itineraries and enjoy a smoother, more fulfilling travel experience in their chosen destinations.

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TransPerfect Legal Recognizes Its 2026 Pro Bono Partners

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Translation and interpretation services for partner firm Fenwick and legal aid organizations.Helps immigrants, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations access the US legal system.Language support remains critical to ensuring equal access to justice.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026
/PRNewswire/ — TransPerfect Legal, the global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services, today announced that in honor of the 2026 National Celebration of Pro Bono, it is recognizing the legal aid organizations and partner firms it has supported this year with translation and interpretation services. These partnerships extend legal access to immigrants, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations who depend on accurate language support to navigate the US legal system.

The National Celebration of Pro Bono, sponsored by the American Bar Association October 25–31, brings attention to the importance of pro bono legal services and honors the lawyers and organizations working to expand access to justice.

This year, TransPerfect provided translation and interpretation services at reduced rates to Fenwick in support of the following pro bono efforts:

Fenwick — Immigration clinics and mattersCommunity Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) — U Visa Project with attorneys (full-scope work); passport and asylum clinicsCo-Counsel NYC — Naturalization clinicsImmigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) — Naturalization clinicsLawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) — Asylum clinicsNew York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) — Asylum, naturalization, and TPS clinicsTahirih Justice Center — Immigration intake and U visa clinics

The need for pro bono legal support remains significant. The Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas states that “members of the legal profession have a responsibility to provide pro bono legal services”—a responsibility the Declaration links to the profession’s broader role in society and its commitment to a fair and equitable legal system.

“Access to justice depends on access to language,” said Eric Elting, Regional Director. “When someone can’t understand the proceeding that will decide their asylum claim or their immigration status, the legal system isn’t actually open to them. That’s the gap our pro bono partners work to close every day, and we’re proud to support that work.”

TransPerfect President and Co-CEO Phil Shawe commented, “Since our humble beginnings in NYC, we are proud to have performed pro bono legal work, including work to eliminate language barriers in legal processes. These efforts continue to this day.”

About TransPerfect Legal
TransPerfect Legal is the global leader in legal technology, AI, and advisory services for Am Law 200 and Global 100 law firms as well as corporate legal departments. With offices in more than 150 cities worldwide, solutions include forensic technology and consulting, eDiscovery and early data assessment, managed review and legal staffing, language services, deposition and trial support, and paper discovery, all offered alongside the Reef Technology ecosystem, TransPerfect Legal’s suite of proprietary applications that address the needs of legal and regulatory practitioners around the world. For more information, please visit www.transperfectlegal.com.

About TransPerfect
TransPerfect is the world’s largest provider of language and AI solutions for global business. From offices in over 150 cities on six continents, TransPerfect offers a full range of services in 200+ languages to clients worldwide. More than 6,000 global organizations employ TransPerfect’s GlobalLink® technology to simplify the management of multilingual content. With an unparalleled commitment to quality and client service, TransPerfect is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. TransPerfect has global headquarters in New York, with regional headquarters in London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit our website at www.transperfect.com.

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Forum Edge AI Announces $94.4 Million Definitive AI Cloud Services Compute Agreement with Fireworks

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PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Forum Markets, Incorporated (“Forum” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: FRMM), an innovator in sourcing and operating cash-generating assets in AI infrastructure, commercial aerospace and AI-powered consumer finance, today announced that Forum Edge AI LLC (“Forum Edge”), the Company’s joint venture with Edge Node Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement with Fireworks, the specialized intelligence platform, for a 36-month reservation of Nvidia B300 GPU capacity at its existing, powered data center facility in Dallas.

The agreement carries a combined total contract value of approximately $94.4 million, reflecting GPU capacity and associated CPU management node fees payable over the 36-month term. Fireworks has provided a substantial prepayment deposit, which will be credited against fees due across the term.

The GPUs are expected to be deployed at Forum Edge’s Dallas data center in late December or early January. The Dallas facility is one of the sites included in Forum’s initial AI infrastructure investment and features existing permits, power access and physical infrastructure.

“This agreement is an important proof point for our AI infrastructure strategy and reflects our focus on bringing revenue generating GPUs to market quickly in a modular manner,” said McAndrew Rudisill, chairman and chief executive officer of Forum Markets, Incorporated. “We have a strong partnership with Fireworks and are excited about our growth trajectory as we scale our AI infrastructure business. This is the first finalized contract Forum Edge is executing against and the first of several exciting partnerships we expect to deploy into our unique footprint.”

Fireworks provides inference, training, and routing that help enterprises deploy and scale generative AI applications in production. The company was most recently valued at approximately $17.5 billion, with backers including Nvidia, Atreides Management, Index Ventures and TCV. Fireworks’ scale and the caliber of its financial backers reflect the type of high-quality counterparty Forum has identified in its off-take partnerships.

Hosted AI, Inc., through its AI commercialization network/mesh and platform, facilitated the relationship between Forum Edge AI and Fireworks.

The agreement represents Forum Edge’s first contracted customer commitment and supports Forum’s broader strategy of deploying disciplined, risk-adjusted capital into cash-generating AI infrastructure assets.

About Forum Markets, Incorporated

Forum Markets, Incorporated (Nasdaq: FRMM) is an innovative company that sources and structures cash-generating assets with attractive risk-adjusted returns in aerospace, AI, and AI-powered consumer finance. The company draws on proprietary origination pipelines and strategic co-investment partnerships to scale its portfolio and generate durable operating income. Forum integrates traditional asset management principles with hands-on operational execution as it builds a new framework for how real-world assets are owned, managed, and monetized. For more information, please visit forum-markets.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the future performance and growth of the Company; the ability of the Company to execute its plans, the assets to be held by the Company, the Company’s current and anticipated yield strategies, and future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and actual results may differ materially. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk that the proposed transactions described herein may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, including the risk that the parties do not execute definitive documentation for the joint venture or any individual project; the risk that anticipated site capacity, power availability, permitting, equipment delivery or customer contracts are delayed or not obtained; the risk that equipment financing is not available on the terms or in the amounts assumed, or at all; risks relating to the Company’s recently completed offering, including dilution to existing stockholders and the risk that the net proceeds are insufficient to fund the initial projects as contemplated or are applied to uses other than those described herein; risks associated with the Company’s guarantee obligations in support of project-level financing; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the stock repurchase program, previously announced private placements, sale of convertible notes, and related transactions, including the Company’s ability to achieve profitable operations; the Company’s ability to repurchase shares of common stock, the timing thereof, purchase price thereof, and the fact that repurchases may not be undertaken under the stock repurchase program; fluctuations in the market price of ETH that will impact the Company’s accounting and financial reporting; government regulation of tokenized securities; risks relating to the treatment of assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; changes in securities laws or regulations; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to the Company’s OTC transaction, including the Company’s ability to repay such facility, covenants associated therewith and security interests associated therewith; risks relating to the Company’s previously announced ATM offering, including potential downward pressure on the Company’s stock price associated therewith; risks relating to the Company’s operations and businesses; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; expectations with respect to future performance, growth and anticipated acquisitions; potential litigation involving the Company; global economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes; access to additional financing, and the potential lack of such financing; and the Company’s ability to raise funding in the future and the terms of such funding, including dilution caused thereby, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as well as the supplemental risk factors and other information the Company has or may file with the SEC, including those disclosed under Item 8.01 of the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Investors should also be aware that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), certain crypto assets must be measured at fair value, with changes recognized in net income for each reporting period. These fair value adjustments may cause significant fluctuations in the Company’s balance sheet and income statement from period-to-period. In addition, for certain crypto assets, including ETH, which the Company holds as collateral against a loan, impairment charges may be required to be reported in net income if the market price of such assets falls below the cost basis at which those assets are carried on the balance sheet. Readers are encouraged to read the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. The Company’s business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

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SOURCE Forum Markets, Incorporated

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Perhaps Agency Expands Network Relationships for Emerging Brands

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Perhaps Agency’s new FuseTwo partnership and AvantLink certification give emerging brands broader access to networks, partnerships and expertise as rising paid-media costs push advertisers toward new acquisition channels.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Perhaps Agency, a full-funnel partner marketing agency specializing in affiliate and influencer marketing, announced the continued expansion of its strategic relationships with networks across the partner marketing industry, including FuseTwo, a recently launched partner marketing platform, and AvantLink, an affiliate marketing platform. These relationships give Perhaps Agency’s clients broader access to networks, technology and partnership opportunities as emerging brands seek growth channels beyond paid media.

“Every network relationship we add gives our clients another route to find the right partners. Our partnerships with FuseTwo and AvantLink build on that, and we’ll keep expanding our list of strategic partners that serve emerging brands.” — Jen Root, Managing Director, Perhaps

Rising costs across paid social and search have pushed many brands to look for acquisition channels they can scale without expanding an internal team or committing to a large retainer. Partner marketing is one route: it brings affiliate, influencer, creator and media partnerships together in one performance-based program. For growing brands, the right network relationships can determine whether an affiliate or influencer program gets off the ground. Perhaps builds and maintains those relationships on its clients’ behalf, while strengthening its ability to identify strategic opportunities and connect brands with the partners that support their growth.

Perhaps Agency’s partnership with FuseTwo, a partner marketing platform built for growing brands, offers Perhaps clients additional opportunities, resources and expertise. These brands gain access to the FuseTwo platform, which brings affiliate, influencer, creator and media partners into a single system with unified attribution. FuseTwo’s cookieless affiliate attribution and tracking, real-time reporting and AI-assisted automation give the Perhaps team faster data across every program the agency manages, supporting publisher recruitment and partner program optimization.

This approach pairs human expertise with accelerated technology. The Perhaps team, with more than two decades of combined partner marketing experience, continues to make the strategic calls, while the FuseTwo platform speeds up the analysis behind them.

As part of the partnership, Perhaps Agency is able to offer certain promotional features through the Perhaps + FuseTwo Growth Launch Offer, available to brands that register with FuseTwo through Perhaps. The features include FuseTwo covering a brand’s first month of Perhaps partner marketing management services, including strategy, recruitment and hands-on support, and Perhaps covering the brand’s FuseTwo platform setup fee. FuseTwo also offers qualifying migrating advertisers 0% transaction fees when they bring a qualifying group of active publishers to the platform. Subsequent management services are subject to the applicable service agreement, and additional terms and eligibility requirements may apply.

Beyond its partnership with FuseTwo, Perhaps is now an AvantLink Certified Agency Partner, demonstrating the company’s expertise and commitment to building network relationships for clients. AvantLink, an affiliate marketing platform, offers an agency certification program for agencies within its ecosystem. The program validates practical expertise in affiliate strategy, partner management, attribution and technology capabilities.

The certification signifies three areas: credibility, capability and visibility. Credibility reflects demonstrated knowledge of affiliate marketing strategy and program management. Capability reflects an understanding of partner relationships, attribution models, reporting and optimization. Visibility reflects opportunities for agency recommendations, preferred partner listings and co-marketing collaboration.

For Perhaps Agency, this status reinforces its expertise in affiliate marketing strategy and publisher partnerships. For growing brands, it means working with an agency that combines experienced program management with access to established affiliate marketing technology, which can help reduce the complexity of launching, managing and scaling a partner program.

About Perhaps: Perhaps Agency is a full-funnel U.S. partner marketing agency, serving as an affiliate marketing agency and influencer marketing agency for emerging and mid-market brands across Apparel, Beauty, Health & Wellness, Home Goods, CPG, DTC and more, including affiliate marketing for Shopify brands, WooCommerce affiliate marketing and affiliate marketing for CPG brands. Perhaps combines affiliate network management, influencer and creator management and Performance PR into a single, integrated partner marketing program. The Perhaps team brings more than two decades of combined affiliate and influencer marketing experience. Learn more at Perhaps.com.

Media Contact

Jen Root, Perhaps, 1 (786) 396-9863, pr@perhaps.com, www.perhaps.com

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SOURCE Perhaps

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