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Columbia Asia Harnesses Solar Energy for Sustainable Healthcare

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Partnership with Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd Significantly Reduces Carbon Dioxide Emissions Across Nine Hospitals in The Country

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Columbia Asia, one of Malaysia’s largest chain of private hospitals and part of Asia OneHealthcare (A1Health) has officially completed the installation of its solar panel system throughout nine hospitals across Malaysia, underscoring Columbia Asia’s commitment to driving sustainable healthcare and advancing towards a greener environment.

The solar panel system, activated in partnership with Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd (Solarvest), has been generating renewable energy since the installation began in December 2023. Using solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity, this system produces 4.039 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of green energy each year – which is enough to light up 34,300 bulbs each year while significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2,505 tonnes. The system has also lived up to its cost-saving potential, generating a total of RM2.7 million in energy cost savings since the project began.

“At Columbia Asia, we’re always looking for innovative ways to improve our patient care. This solar panel system not only helps us reduce our environmental impact but also allows us to reinvest in upgrading our facilities and services, ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care,” commented Columbia Asia Support Service Vice President Mohd Kamarul Salleh. “This partnership with Solarvest in implementing this solar panel system marks a significant step forward in Columbia Asia’s journey to reduce our environmental carbon footprint and become more energy-conscious. The solar panel system reduces carbon emissions and allows cost savings from solar power generation to be reinvested in upgrading facilities and services to serve our patients better.”

The solar panel construction project was rolled out in two phases, equipping 11 buildings across nine hospitals nationwide. These include the pilot project in Columbia Asia Hospital – Iskandar Puteri followed by other Columbia Asia hospitals in Tebrau, Setapak, Cheras, Petaling Jaya, Bukit Rimau, Klang, Seremban, and Taiping.

“In line with Malaysia’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, we are committed to setting industry benchmarks and inspiring other healthcare organizations to join us on this journey. By adopting environmentally-friendly practices and transitioning to greener energy sources, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint significantly. We believe that collective action across the industry is essential to not only protect our environment but also to ensure a more resilient and cost-effective energy supply for the long term,” Kamarul continued.

Beyond the solar panel system, Columbia Asia hospitals and other facilities under A1Health are actively implementing various initiatives to support environmentally friendly policies aligned with national goals. These include the Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER) introduced in 2021 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) introduced in 2022, both of which promote the adoption of solar power as a renewable energy source. Current and future projects include phasing out the use of desflurane, a potent anaesthetic agent that has higher greenhouse gas emissions than other anaesthetic options, reducing single-use plastics in line with the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021–2023, installing electric vehicle charging stations, and upgrading to LED lighting across all facilities.

To learn more about Columbia Asia, visit www.columbiaasia.com/malaysia.

About Columbia Asia

Columbia Asia Group of hospitals, established in Malaysia in 1996, is an international healthcare company operating medical facilities in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Columbia Asia Hospitals are part of Asia OneHealthcare, majority-owned by Hong Leong Group and the global alternative asset management firm, TPG.  Since its inception, Columbia Asia has been dedicated in providing top-notch healthcare services across Southeast Asia for more than two decades. With 20 advanced medical facilities in Malaysia (14), Indonesia (5), and Vietnam (1) strategically located in densely populated areas, it aims to provide the best care possible closer to home with its tagline “Right Here For You”. 

Columbia Asia’s emphasis is on early detection of diseases by way of advanced technology for precise diagnostics, resulting in more minimally invasive procedures. To fulfil the typical healthcare needs of communities, from disease prevention to treatment, Columbia Asia offers core disciplines such as obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, and general surgery. It also provides tertiary healthcare addressing more complex fields of medicine such as neurosurgery, cardiac disease treatments, and integrated cancer care. As communities grow, Columbia Asia hospitals expand in order to accommodate increased healthcare needs.  

Columbia Asia upholds strict clinical governance and medical ethics, leading to outstanding patient care outcomes. Accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), Columbia Asia hospitals are recognized for excellence in standards and service delivery. Its mission remains to foster healthier communities by making quality healthcare accessible and advocating for preventative measures.  

Columbia Asia. Right Here For You. 

About Asia OneHealthcare 

Asia OneHealthcare (A1Health) is a leading healthcare provider in the region, uniting 32 hospitals across Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia under one brand. Formed by the integration of CAH Medical Centres (formerly Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care), Columbia Asia Hospitals, and five esteemed super-specialty hospitals including ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital, Beacon Hospital, CVSKL, Hospital Picaso, and Northern Heart Hospital Penang, we are setting new standards in medical excellence.

With 23 hospitals in Malaysia, 8 in Indonesia, and 1 in Vietnam, A1Health offers a comprehensive range of secondary to quaternary and super-specialty services. Our facilities, with over 4,000 beds, are dedicated to personalised care.

We leverage the collective expertise and advanced technologies of our network to provide the latest in healthcare, delivered by highly skilled professionals. Our mission is to achieve the best outcomes in the most accessible, effective, efficient, and caring environment. Upholding our tagline, “Right Here For You,” we are committed to offering compassionate, expert care to every patient.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/columbia-asia-harnesses-solar-energy-for-sustainable-healthcare-302279101.html

SOURCE Columbia Asia

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Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and Positioning Company for Expansion in Renewable and Nutritional Energy Markets

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Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) A fully reporting company. Accelerates Growth Across Energy, Hospitality, and Sustainable Ventures, Driving Scalable Opportunities Worldwide.

LAS VEGAS, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL), an emerging diversified energy company focused on renewable energy and nutritional energy initiatives, today announced that the Company is now a fully reporting company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), marking a major turning point in the Company’s long term growth strategy and public market development.

Barrel Energy Inc. Announces Full SEC Reporting Status, Strengthening Marketability and positioning for Expansion.

“Our transition to becoming a fully reporting SEC company represents a significant milestone for Barrel Energy and an important step toward increasing the overall marketability and visibility of our stock,” said Jarmin Kaltsas. “We believe today’s market increasingly rewards transparency and compliance, and becoming fully reporting positions us to engage a wider audience of investors, strategic partners, and acquisition opportunities as we continue executing our long term growth strategy under the BRLL trading symbol.”

Management further stated that the Company plans to aggressively pursue growth initiatives intended to expand revenues, strengthen market presence, and enhance shareholder value through strategic business combinations, operational expansion, and scalable energy focused ventures.

About Barrel Energy Inc.

Barrel Energy Inc. (OTC: BRLL) is a diversified energy company focused on opportunities in renewable energy, and nutritional energy initiatives. The Company seeks to leverage strategic acquisitions, public market growth, and innovative energy solutions to create long term shareholder value.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business and finances in general, including the ability to continue and manage its growth, competition, global economic conditions and other factors discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic filings with the Security and Exchange Commission.

Barrel Energy – 3859 S. Valley View Blvd, STE 2 #107, Las Vegas, NV, 89103 Tel- 888- 397-9114 Email- info@BRLLenergy.com Social Media-@BRLLenergy all platforms.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/barrel-energy-inc-announces-full-sec-reporting-status-strengthening-marketability-and-positioning-company-for-expansion-in-renewable-and-nutritional-energy-markets-302768505.html

SOURCE Barrel Energy, Inc.

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Legacy Launches $1M Study Advancing At-Home Semen Collection for Assisted Reproduction Technology

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NEW YORK, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Legacy, the leading male fertility clinic and at-home sperm testing and cryopreservation platform, today announced the Sperm Study, a clinical research initiative backed by an R&D investment of over $1 million and designed to evaluate and optimize the use of at-home semen collection for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including IVF and IUI.

Prospectively enrolling up to 250 participants across two phases, this study represents one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into how specimen shipment, handling, and cryopreservation impact sperm quality and is expected to set a new benchmark for scientific rigor in the rapidly growing field of at-home fertility testing. This study is being conducted in collaboration with IVF Academy USA.

Raising the bar for clinical evidence in at-home fertility care

To date, validation work in at-home semen collection has been limited in important ways. Studies have largely enrolled normozoospermic men only, relied on courier-transported rather than real-world-shipped specimens, and focused on short-term motility and concentration as primary endpoints.

Critical questions remain unanswered, particularly around how samples with varying quality perform under genuine end-to-end shipping conditions, and how those samples hold up in the contexts that matter most clinically: IVF and IUI. The Sperm Study is designed to close those gaps.

This multi-phase study will evaluate key sperm quality parameters including motility, DNA fragmentation, and post-thaw viability, while also validating the use of computer-aided semen analysis (CASA) as an alternative to basic manual semen analysis in the setting of mail-in semen analysis.

“With the increased utilization of at-home semen testing and cryopreservation, there is a critical need to ensure these specimens will perform adequately when used for assisted reproduction,” said Legacy’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Scott Lundy. “This study is designed to rigorously evaluate how at-home collection and transport impact sperm quality across a broad patient population and to translate those findings into improved protocols and optimized outcomes for both patients and providers.”

Sperm study design and scientific approach

The Sperm Study is a prospectively accruing cross-sectional study in which paired semen samples are analyzed across multiple timepoints and during the shipment process. Importantly, this study enrolls participants across a range of semen quality profiles — not solely normozoospermic men — and evaluates samples under genuine shipping conditions experienced by real specimens.

Key study components include direct comparison of CASA vs. manual analysis at baseline, evaluation of motility decline over time and in relation to shipment conditions, measurement of DNA fragmentation pre- and post-shipment and cryopreservation, assessment of post-thaw sperm viability and yield, and the development of predictive algorithms for IVF/IUI sample sufficiency.

The study will also examine how factors such as transit time, concentration, and storage conditions impact outcomes, with the goal of generating generalizable insights for clinical practice.

Multi-phase rollout

Phase 1 includes 100 participants and approximately 1,500 total assays, with expected completion in 2026. Phase 2, planned for later in 2026 and into 2027, will expand the study with additional participants, bringing the total to up to 250 to enable broader validation across a more diverse patient population.

Impact on clinical practice

Findings from the Sperm Study are expected to directly inform and improve specimen collection protocols for at-home use, shipping and handling standards for semen samples, cryopreservation practices, and clinical decision-making for IVF and IUI readiness.

By generating high-quality, controlled data across a clinically representative patient population, Legacy aims to provide fertility clinics, researchers, and patients with greater confidence in the use of mail-in semen testing and cryopreservation as part of standard reproductive care.

About Legacy

Legacy is the leading male fertility clinic in the United States, offering at-home semen analysis, sperm cryopreservation, and post-vasectomy testing. With a CLIA-certified, high-complexity andrology lab and one of the largest proprietary datasets in male reproductive health, Legacy is advancing access, data, and innovation in fertility care.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/legacy-launches-1m-study-advancing-at-home-semen-collection-for-assisted-reproduction-technology-302768508.html

SOURCE Give Legacy, Inc.

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Elks Award Nearly $5 Million in College Scholarships

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CHICAGO, May 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Elks National Foundation welcomed 900 students to the Elks family, awarding more than $4.9 million in scholarships to high school seniors. An Elks scholarship is more than financial aid; it’s an invitation to a network of service-minded peers and a promise that an Elks Lodge is always there with open arms.

Out of more than 23,000 applicants for the Most Valuable Student scholarship, the Top 20 scholars received $30,000 scholarships and an invitation to Chicago for the Leadership Weekend.

From April 30-May 3, the Leadership Weekend allowed scholars to get acquainted with their new Elks family through programming facilitated by current and former Elks scholars, team-building activities, and a service opportunity.

“Leadership Weekend is one of my greatest memories,” says Emily Cai, sponsored by Toccoa, Ga., Lodge No. 1820. “I had the privilege of meeting inspirational and disciplined individuals who motivated me to become the best version of myself. I am excited to see my future with the Elks family!”

A total of 480 runners-up received $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarships.

Service is a tenet of the Elks, which is why it’s a requirement for recipients of the $6,000 Legacy Awards scholarship, which is exclusively for the children or grandchildren of Elks members. The new class of 400 scholars will serve with an Elks Lodge three times during the four years they receive the scholarship.

“This award means a great deal to me and my family,” says Kelly Butler, sponsored by Haverstraw, N.Y., Lodge No. 877. “Knowing that the Elks have invested in my future motivates me to continue working hard and striving toward my goals.”

To see a full list of the scholarship winners and to learn more about the Elks National Foundation’s scholarships, visit elks.org/scholars, follow the ENF on Instagram @ElksScholars, and like the ENF on Facebook @ElksNationalFoundation.

Contact: Elks National Foundation
Abbey Knupp | Manager, Communications
2750 N. Lakeview Ave. | Chicago, IL 60614-2256
773/755-4864 | AbbeyK@elks.org 

Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities

The Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, helps nearly 800,000 Elks and nearly 1,800 Lodges nationwide build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. To learn more, visit elks.org/enf.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elks-award-nearly-5-million-in-college-scholarships-302768507.html

SOURCE ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC.

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