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13 Press Releases You Need to See This Week

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Including FOX’s plans to acquire Roku, a ranking of the best universities around the world and the return of Fried Apple Pie at McDonald’s.

NEW YORK, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week’s most newsworthy and popular releases, here’s a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn’t be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

Fox Corporation to Acquire Roku, Inc.
FOX will acquire Roku for $160.00 per share in a combination of cash and FOX Class A common stock, valuing Roku at approximately $22 billion in enterprise value. The transaction combines FOX’s leading sports, news and entertainment content and the Tubi service, with Roku’s leading connected TV platform, The Roku Channel, first-party data and direct relationship with more than 100 million global streaming households.U.S. News Unveils 2026-2027 Best Global Universities Rankings
“Our methodology focuses on a school’s research mission and scholarly impact, helping students identify institutions that are truly at the forefront of global knowledge creation,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News.Urban Outfitters Debuts Second Annual Pride Vinyl Collection, Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Artists and Community Through Music
The exclusive lineup celebrates LGBTQIA+ icons and next-gen voices with 12 limited-edition releases from Reneé Rapp, Kesha, Robyn, Zara Larsson, and more.United Celebrates America with Custom 250th Anniversary Livery and Military Pilot Hiring Program Milestone
United’s new “Stars and Stripes” livery takes to the skies this summer on a U.S.-built Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 737-800 featuring a bold red, white and blue design.SandboxAQ Signs Definitive Agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce for $500 Million CHIPS R&D Award
The award provides funding to develop novel molecules and formulations for semiconductor manufacturing within four programmatic areas: PFAS-free process chemicals, catalysts, rare earth-free magnets, and battery systems. SandboxAQ will then advance the strongest breakthrough results into scaled domestic manufacturing and commercialization.Summer Just Got Sweeter with the Return of McDonald’s Fried Apple Pie
Beginning June 23, the OG Fried Apple Pie is back at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time. The all-day menu item features signature filling made with 100% American-grown apples, wrapped in the same golden crunch and flaky fried crust fans remember – or soon won’t forget.LifeNet Health, NASA, and UNOS Complete First-of-Its-Kind Drone Kidney Transport Study to Help Save More Lives
During the study, the kidneys were biopsied and placed on preservation pumps before and after the flights to assess whether drone transportation affected organ integrity. Temperature, pressure, and altitude were monitored throughout the approximately 15-minute flights. Preliminary findings showed no evidence that the flights negatively affected the organs.Crayola Introduces ‘All Grown Up’ Adult Coloring Line Featuring Markers and Artist-Designed Coloring Books
The new collection invites adults to reawaken the joy of coloring, reconnect with the wonder of making, and remember that creativity is a lifelong journey. Crayola All Grown Up is launching with Alcohol-Based Markers and Acrylic Paint Markers for permanent creativity, and a collection of artist-illustrated Coloring Books for adults with relatable, soul-soothing, and trending themes.4E Therapeutics Acquired by Lilly to Advance Non-Opioid Approach to Chronic Pain
“Seeing this science – years of research into the molecular events that cause pain to become chronic – advance from basic research to clinical development and now to Lilly’s pipeline, provides excitement for the opportunity to accelerate new therapies to patients living with chronic pain,” said Theodore Price, Ph.D., Co-Founder of 4E Therapeutics and Director of the Center for Advanced Pain Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas.Lockheed Martin, GM Defense Collaborate to Strengthen America’s Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base
Lockheed Martin and GM Defense will explore opportunities to accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities and innovation by combining Lockheed Martin’s defense production expertise with General Motors’ advanced industrial capabilities in high-rate commercial manufacturing and engineering.Robert Irwin says the boys deserve better! – The wildlife conservationist is the new face of The Lad Collective
“Robert is so authentic and relatable. We love how genuinely passionate he is and know he is the perfect fit to help us encourage men to upgrade their sleep and bedding habits and do better in the bedroom…when it comes to their sheets,” said The Lad Collective co-founder Ed Ovenden.Southwest Airlines Partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to Accelerate AI Capabilities and Technology Modernization
As part of this partnership, Southwest will transition from a largely on-premises environment to a cloud-based, AI- and agent-enabled architecture on AWS by 2028—laying the foundation to operate with greater speed, flexibility, and reliability to support the business.Life360 and Uber Partner to Help Parents Coordinate Rides From Anywhere
The end of the school year often means more independence for teens and more complicated schedules for parents. As rides to activities and social events increase, families often juggle multiple apps, texts, and check-ins just to keep everyone coordinated and informed. This new integration simplifies that experience while keeping safety and visibility at the center.

Read more of the latest releases from PR Newswire.

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Trending Topics

As press releases related to the World Cup, now in its second week, continued to be sent via PR Newswire, other timely calendar events also saw large numbers of announcements sent across the wire this week: Juneteenth and Father’s Day.

View all the latest trending topics, including news for Pride Month and America’s 250th anniversary.

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they’re signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features:

Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger’s next story.Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles.Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry’s leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 500,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our innovative AI-powered PR Newswire Amplify™ platform, award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive Multichannel Amplification™ catalogue of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For more than 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination worldwide for brands to share their most important news stories.

For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com.

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IBM Unveils Its Most Advanced Quantum Computer in Chicago, Marking a Milestone for Illinois’s Quantum Future

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Hosted by the University of Chicago, IBM Quantum System Two is now operational at Hyde Park Labs and will be a prominent fixture of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) upon the site’s completion.

IBM’s first quantum computer in Illinois extends the company’s industry and academic partnerships across the state, enabling the Illinois ecosystem and beyond to scale quantum algorithms and applications.

CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM), the University of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) today unveiled an IBM Quantum System Two in Chicago, IBM’s first quantum computer in Illinois and the company’s most advanced system available. Initially located at Hyde Park Labs and hosted by the University of Chicago, the system is fueled by IBM Quantum Nighthawk, the most powerful quantum chip IBM has ever built.

Today, organizations across Illinois are already working with IBM to explore how quantum computing can scale to computationally difficult challenges. The new system aims to catalyze the state’s robust ecosystem of scientists, universities, national laboratories, startups, and enterprises, many of whom are collaborating with IBM in Chicago within IQMP’s National Quantum Algorithm Center (NQAC) to develop the next generation of algorithms and applications. As the anchor system of NQAC, which was established in 2024 by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker with IBM as a leading member, the new quantum computer will ultimately be moved to IQMP, a first-of-its-kind campus in Chicago currently being built to develop and scale quantum technology and microelectronics innovation.

“IBM is proud to deploy our first quantum computer of IQMP — an IBM Quantum System Two. Today, it can deliver scientifically useful results to organizations across the state of Illinois and beyond,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM. “As IBM’s first quantum computer in Illinois, the system’s deployment marks a milestone for Illinois’ quantum community and builds on IBM’s partnerships across the state as we expand quantum research across academia and industries.”

“I want the next generation of breakthroughs to happen in Illinois and the jobs and opportunity that come with them to benefit the people of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With the unveiling of IBM’s Quantum System Two in Hyde Park, we are giving researchers and businesses the tool to turn big ideas into real-world solutions. With our growing partnership with IBM, we are building an industry that will give Illinoisans more career opportunities and build a future right here at home.”

“The presence of IBM’s first quantum computer in Illinois, the company’s most advanced system available, is a testament to what’s possible when partners across government, industry and academia work together toward a shared vision,” said Harley Johnson, CEO of the IQMP. “Today reflects the unique strength of Illinois’ quantum ecosystem. We’re thrilled to see IBM Quantum System Two at Hyde Park Labs while the Park is under construction, and we’re more energized than ever to welcome it to the IQMP, where it will anchor the National Quantum Algorithm Center and further establish Illinois as the global destination for quantum innovation.”

“The deployment of IBM’s Quantum System Two represents the culmination of a years-long partnership that brought together academia, government, and private industry to usher in a new generation of discovery. I am delighted that this machine is being unveiled here in Hyde Park, where our neighbors and community will have a view into the future,” said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos.

“IBM Quantum System Two brings another critical capability to Illinois’ growing quantum ecosystem and showcases the collaboration that makes our state such a draw,” said Illinois Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Christy George. “For companies developing quantum technologies and applications, access to advanced computing systems, leading researchers, and industry partners in one place is a powerful advantage. This investment strengthens Illinois’ position as a destination for companies looking to innovate, grow, and help shape the future of quantum computing.”

This new IBM Quantum System Two advances IBM’s mission to bring useful quantum computing to the world and extends the company’s commitment to advancing Illinois as a global epicenter for quantum innovation.

Since NQAC’s founding, IBM has helped grow the center into a hub within Chicago where industry leaders work side-by-side with IBM researchers to build quantum applications that can scale alongside technical progress in the field. This includes NQAC Grand Challenge participants Deloitte and AbbVie, who are working with IBM and Northwestern University to build quantum molecular simulation approaches for researchers engaging in drug discovery.

Other Grand Challenges participants working with IBM include EPRI and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.) to explore how quantum optimization algorithms could lead to more efficient power grids.

Additionally, research institutions and national labs such as Fermilab are working with IBM in Illinois to accelerate high-energy physics research with quantum and advance technologies for distributed quantum computing. 

IBM is also teaming with leading universities such as the University of Chicago and U. of I. to push technological progress in quantum computing. For example, IBM and the University of Chicago recently demonstrated quantum advantage over leading classical methods using an approach with guaranteed correctness.

Now, IBM’s quantum computing technology is being brought physically into Chicago. Through NQAC, the new quantum computer will empower Illinois’ quantum community to develop new algorithms and applications that will translate to real-world impact. And it will serve as a catalyst for developing Illinois’ current and future quantum workforce. Earlier this year, IBM announced it would establish the FutureNow Chicago center at the IQMP in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, to bring 750 jobs to the region across AI, cybersecurity, data science, quantum computing and other technologies. 

With the arrival of IBM Quantum System Two, Chicago and the State of Illinois will be cemented as a leading destination for quantum innovation, industrialization, and workforce development.

Supporting Quotes

“IBM’s continued partnership and the unveiling of IBM Quantum System Two mark an exciting moment for the industry and our state’s quantum ecosystem,” said Brad Henderson, CEO of P33. “Deepening collaboration between industry, our universities, national labs, and state government is what sets us apart and further cements Illinois as a global leader in quantum technology.”

“We are proud to contribute the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s expertise and decades of leadership in supercomputing alongside our higher education and corporate partners,” said Illinois Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. “As a public-serving university, Illinois’ mission is to advance education, research, and economic opportunity across the state, and we’re excited to engage in work that translates the brilliance of Illinois faculty into tangible, real-world impact that affirms the state of Illinois and Chicago as the epicenter of the next generation of technological progress.”

“This is a significant milestone in advancing Illinois’ quantum economy and turning our state’s world-class research capabilities into real-world economic opportunity,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards. “Through the State’s leadership and strategic investments in quantum, we are building an ecosystem for long-term industry growth, new business investment, and high-quality jobs.”

About IBM

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. 

For more information, visit https://research.ibm.com. 

Media contacts: 

Brittany Forgione
IBM
Brittany.forgione@ibm.com

Erin Angelini
IBM
Edlehr@us.ibm.com

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SOURCE IBM

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Parliamentary Secretary Rochefort to participate in a milestone event

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HUNTSVILLE, ON, Nov. 6, 2026 /CNW/ — Pauline Rochefort, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Rural Development, on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, will take part in a forestry milestone event. Media availability will follow.  

Date: Monday, November 9, 2026

Time: 9 a.m. ET

All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration.

Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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IDP Introduces Agent-Native System of Action, Unifying Humans and AI Agents in One Enterprise Workspace

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Powered by proprietary Universal Agent Protocol™ (UAP), IDP unifies AI agent development, reasoning, orchestration, customer intelligence and enterprise execution. Tim Dahle and Red Rock Auto Group report 2X the appointment conversion rate of traditional BDC operations.

CAPE CORAL, Fla., Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IDP (ID Privacy AI), an agentic AI technology company, today introduced its Agent-Native System of Action, a unified enterprise platform that enables human employees and AI agents to share customer intelligence, coordinate workflows and execute business tasks across existing enterprise systems.

Powered by its proprietary Universal Agent Protocol™ (UAP), IDP combines AI agent development, intelligent reasoning, multi-agent orchestration, persistent customer intelligence and enterprise execution in one operating environment. 

Through MyIDP.app, employees and AI agents collaborate within a shared workspace while existing CRM, DMS, scheduling and communication platforms remain in place.

To learn more about IDP, its platform and solutions, visit https://www.tryidp.com. 

The announcement is supported by customer-reported results from Tim Dahle and Red Rock Auto Group, where Josh Worthington, Vice President of Operations, reports a 12% appointment conversion rate compared with approximately 6% through traditional BDC operations, representing twice the reported conversion rate.

“The difference with IDP has been incredible,” said Worthington. That’s double the conversion rate, and we’re accomplishing it with technology designed to actually execute the work.”

Solving Decades of Enterprise Fragmentation

“For decades, automotive software has been fragmented, leaving dealerships with disconnected data and workflows,” says Albert Thompson, Founder and CEO of IDP. “Adding standalone AI agents to this broken infrastructure only compounds the chaos. Instead of more disjointed tools, IDP’s Agent-Native System of Action connects existing investments through a universal execution layer.”

From AI Conversations to Completed Business Outcomes

For automotive retailers, the difference between conversational AI and operational execution is particularly visible in service scheduling.

An AI agent may successfully answer a customer’s call, but completing the request requires access to customer records, dealership policies, scheduling availability and operational systems.

When those systems remain disconnected, employees must manually complete or verify the work.

“Automotive AI providers often fail to connect customer conversations with execution,” Worthington noted. “Our previous platform couldn’t schedule appointments or generate tasks, forcing employees to manually review every interaction. Instead of eliminating work, it just created another system for them to babysit.”

IDP’s approach prioritizes completed business outcomes, including confirmed appointments, coordinated follow-up, exception handling and operational visibility.

Systems of record preserve business information. IDP’s System of Action coordinates the work.

Dealer Leadership Perspective: The Future of Automotive AI

As automotive retailers evaluate AI adoption, dealer leadership is increasingly focused on technologies that connect existing investments, support employees and deliver measurable operational value.

Paul Sansone Jr., Founder, Sansone Jr Auto Group 

“My advice to operators is simple: the train is already moving, and it’s moving fast. I really believe the dealerships that figure out how to combine great people with great technology are going to have a significant competitive advantage over the next several years.”

The Technology Behind IDP’s Agent-Native System of Action

IDP’s platform combines five complementary capabilities designed to support the lifecycle of enterprise AI agents, from development and deployment through reasoning, orchestration, execution and human collaboration.

Agent Studio: AI Agent Development and Management. IDP’s Agent Studio enables businesses to configure, deploy and manage AI agents across voice, SMS, email and web channels. Reusable agent configurations support business-specific workflows, operating policies and escalation requirements.Intelligent Reasoning and Multi-Agent Orchestration. IDP’s reasoning and orchestration capabilities are designed to interpret customer intent, apply shared context, coordinate multi-step workflows and delegate supported actions between agents and employees. Business rules and human oversight help govern execution.Universal Agent Protocol™ (UAP): Enterprise Execution. UAP is IDP’s proprietary business-action abstraction, orchestration and execution framework. It is designed to translate business objectives into authorized actions across supported CRM, DMS, scheduling and enterprise applications. Unlike connectivity protocols that primarily expose tools to AI applications, UAP addresses the additional requirements of coordinating business workflows, applying permissions, managing exceptions and verifying outcomes.Context Graph: Unified Customer Intelligence. IDP’s Context Graph connects available customer identity, vehicle relationships, website signals, communication history and operational events across supported systems. By combining existing records with available real-time signals, it creates a continuously enriched customer context that employees and agents can use throughout sales, service and ownership lifecycle interactions.MyIDP.app: The Human-Agent Enterprise Workspace. MyIDP.app provides a shared working environment where employees and AI agents can review conversations, coordinate tasks, guide agent behavior and manage exceptions. Employees can direct supported agent workflows and customer engagement while maintaining visibility into operational activity, using: Teach to provide guidance to agentsTell to direct supported actionsBlasts for configured customer outreach

“The future isn’t humans versus AI,” Thompson said. “It’s humans and AI working as one team. Employees should be able to teach agents, delegate work, understand what’s happening and step in when their judgment matters.”

Built in Automotive. Designed for Enterprise.

IDP’s technology has supported more than 130,000 booked automotive appointments, providing operating experience across customer engagement, scheduling and dealership workflows.The company has developed its platform within an automotive ecosystem that includes dealership groups, enterprise software integrations and OEM certification programs involving Nissan, INFINITI and Mitsubishi.IDP’s architecture is designed to support both its own AI agents and compatible third-party agent technologies, creating opportunities for enterprises and software partners to use shared intelligence and execution capabilities without replacing existing systems of record.The company is exploring applications beyond automotive, including retail, hospitality and home services, where fragmented software, customer engagement and workforce coordination present similar challenges.

Automotive retail provides a demanding proving ground for agent-native execution, with customer interactions spanning multiple systems, departments and communication channels.

“Automotive is where we’re building and proving this model, but the problem exists in almost every industry,” Thompson said. “The next major shift in enterprise software isn’t another CRM, another dashboard or another AI assistant. It’s a System of Action where humans and AI agents share the intelligence, authority and infrastructure to actually get things done.”

To learn more about IDP and the System of Action, visit https://tryidp.com. You can see the system in action, listen to sample calls, and work with an IDP AI agent to schedule a demo.

About IDP

IDP (ID Privacy AI) is an agentic AI technology company developing an Agent-Native System of Action for automotive retail and enterprise operations.

Its platform combines AI agent development, intelligent reasoning, multi-agent orchestration, proprietary Universal Agent Protocol™ (UAP), persistent customer intelligence through Context Graph, and human-agent collaboration through MyIDP.app.

IDP connects AI-powered voice, SMS, email and web engagement with existing enterprise systems and supported business workflows.

Headquartered in Cape Coral, Florida, IDP is advancing an operating model in which humans and AI agents share intelligence, coordinate actions and complete measurable business work.

Website: https://tryidp.com 

Media Contact:
Albert Thompson
Founder & CEO, IDP
albert@idprivacy.ai
443-370-9143

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SOURCE ID Privacy, Inc.

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