Master Franchise Agreement to Bring Minimum of 30 Locations to Mexico; Company Adds Five New Locations Across Australia 

TAIPEI, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — World Gym Corporation (2762.TW) (“World Gym” or the “Company”), the owner of the iconic World Gym brand with over 270 locations worldwide, today announced significant progress in its global growth initiatives, highlighted by a Master Franchise Agreement (MFA) in Mexico and surging growth across Australia. The MFA will bring a minimum of 30 new World Gym facilities to Mexico while the Company has added five new locations in Australia. World Gym also reported record revenue and continued growth as well as five new corporate-owned locations in Taiwan.

John Caraccio, President of World Gym Corporation, said, “As we enter the fourth quarter, I am thrilled to share that we have been experiencing breakneck growth in both our franchised as well as corporate-owned businesses. Our MFA with Mexico establishes a secure footing in Latin America, while we have solid momentum in Australia and continued growth in Taiwan. We are committed to bringing our mission of health, wellness, and community to millions worldwide.”

Strategic Mexico MFA Drives Latin American Expansion

World Gym has signed a pivotal 30-unit Master Franchise Agreement with International Fitness Group LLC, strengthening its presence in Mexico. International Fitness Group, which operates 11 locations in the northern Mexico region, will open its first franchise locations under this agreement by the fourth quarter of 2025. This partnership marks a critical step in World Gym’s strategy to expand its footprint in Latin America and comes on the back of signing a 50-unit Master Franchise Agreement for Brazil in June.

“This agreement marks a transformative milestone for World Gym in Mexico, allowing us to bring our world-class fitness experience to new communities,” said Ivan Galvan, CEO of International Fitness Group LLC. “We are excited to expand our footprint and inspire healthier lifestyles across the region.”

Robust Growth in Australia

World Gym has strengthened its leadership in Australia’s fitness market with the addition of five new franchise locations in Australind, Bentleigh East, Marrickville, Tuggerah, and Waverley Gardens. These openings increase the total number of World Gym locations in Australia to 60, reflecting strong market demand for its innovative fitness offerings and community-focused approach.

Continued Expansion in Taiwan and Strong Financial Performance

In Taiwan, World Gym has expanded its corporate-owned portfolio with five new locations in Chiayi Xingye, Zhubei Huaxing, Hsinchu Xiangshan, Miaoli City, and Neihu Xingyun, increasing its corporate-owned sites to 141. These new facilities reflect World Gym’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality fitness solutions to its home market. The company also reported record-breaking revenue of NT$940 million (US$31 million) for August 2025, a 13.62% year-over-year increase, underscoring the strength of its global operations and brand demand.

About World Gym Corporation

World Gym Corporation is Taiwan’s largest fitness chain, operating over 140 locations. In 2024, it acquired World Gym International, securing the iconic World Gym brand and global operating rights, establishing itself as a global fitness leader. With a franchise network spanning 10 countries and over 270 locations, it serves 900,000 members. The company continues to empower individuals worldwide to achieve their fitness goals and live healthier lives through state-of-the-art facilities, innovative programs, and technology-driven solutions.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With the final long holiday of 2025 approaching, South Koreans are eagerly planning their travels for the 10-day Chuseok celebration. Digital travel platform Agoda reports a rise in travel interest during this period, with searches for both domestic and international destinations climbing by 29% and 19% year-on-year, respectively, as travelers make the most of this extended break.

Based on accommodation searches made by South Korean travelers from May to August for check-ins during the Chuseok holiday, Agoda revealed that South Koreans were most interested in traveling to Japanese destinations during the long break. Tokyo emerged as the top choice, followed by Fukuoka and Osaka. Beyond Japan, Bali (Indonesia) and Da Nang (Vietnam) round out the top five overseas destinations. The findings indicate that South Korean travelers continue to favor short- and mid-haul destinations, which allow quick getaways while still spending quality time with family during the holiday.

For domestic travel, Jeju topped the list, followed by Busan and Seoul. Notably, secondary destinations like Gyeongju and Sokcho round out the top five domestic travel destinations for South Koreans. Gyeongju has seen the highest growth in domestic travel interest, with searches increasing by 91%.

Sokcho has also emerged as a domestic travel hotspot thanks to the city’s efforts to attract visitors with ‘work-cation (work + vacation)’ initiatives and the installation of the ‘Sea of Light’ media art display at Sokcho Beach, where travelers can enjoy night ocean views paired with immersive light art, creating an ideal setting for photos.

Jay Lee, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda, said, “With the Chuseok holiday ahead, South Korean travelers are eager to make the most of their last long holiday of the year by traveling with family, friends and loved ones. Agoda is committed to offering a wide range of affordable flights, accommodations, and activity options, helping travelers create memorable experiences both at home and abroad to make this an unforgettable Chuseok holiday.”

For travelers planning their perfect Chuseok getaway, Agoda offers over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in a single booking. Visit the website at www.Agoda.com or download the mobile app for the best deals.

• Hosted the first OPTECHCON event in Vietnam, inviting local science and engineering talent.
• Pursuing dual production site strategy to internalize product development and manufacturing in both Vietnam and Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea and HAIPHONG, Vietnam, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LG Innotek (CEO Moon Hyuksoo, 011070) announced on October 2 that it had hosted OPTECHCON (Optics Tech Conference) at its subsidiary in Haiphong, Vietnam, aimed at attracting top talent in the optical R&D sector.

First launched in 2023, OPTECHCON is a signature initiative of LG Innotek designed to engage and recruit promising researchers and engineers in the field of optics. The event aims to proactively secure outstanding graduates who can contribute to optical technology advancement and cutting-edge innovation.

This marks the first time OPTECHCON has been hosted by an LG Innotek overseas subsidiary. An LG Innotek official explained, “We organized this event in Vietnam to further strengthen our optical solutions business following the completion of our new Vietnamese plant as well as actively recruit outstanding R&D talent who will contribute to advancing our technological capabilities.” 

A total of 80 people participated in the OPTECHCON event, including students and faculty members from leading universities in central and northern Vietnam, such as Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), University of Danang, and Hue University.

LG Innotek’s leadership team, including CTO S. David Roh(Senior vice president) and CHO Lee Dong-hoon(vice president), visited Vietnam to present to prospective talent the company’s industry-leading optical solutions, vision for innovation, and corporate culture.

Local staff at LG Innotek’s Vietnamese subsidiary shared insights into their projects and R&D experiences, engaging actively with the talented students invited to the event.

The event was also attended by Honorary Professor Park Seung Han, former Executive Vice President for Research Affairs at Yonsei University and the 28th president of the Optical Society of Korea. He delivered a lecture on the current trends in and future prospects of optical technology.

Team leader Đỗ Đình Hùng, who joined the company in 2018, said, “This is a rare opportunity to build a development career at a world-class optical solutions company in Vietnam. While working hard alongside colleagues who share the vision of strengthening LG Innotek’s leadership in the global camera module market, I have grown both professionally and personally.”

Nguyễn Phương Anh, a third-year student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology who attended the event, said, “It was very meaningful to hear about the current trends in technology from various optics experts. The lectures, product exhibitions, and research center tour allowed me to experience LG Innotek’s technology and organizational culture and helped me envision my future career with the company.”

Meanwhile, LG Innotek has completed the capacity expansion at its new V3 plant in Haiphong, Vietnam, covering 150,000m², and has commenced operations there. With the V3 plant now online, the company’s production capacity in Vietnam has more than doubled.

LG Innotek has implemented a dual production site strategy in Korea and Vietnam to internalize the entire process from the development to the production of its optical products. This approach aims to accelerate improvements in cost competitiveness in the optical solutions market.

CHO Lee Dong-hoon stated, “Building on this event in Vietnam, we plan to expand our local talent recruitment efforts to other overseas subsidiaries. Through diverse and innovative hiring initiatives aimed at attracting exceptional personnel who will drive our future growth, LG Innotek will enhance its global competitiveness and continue delivering differentiated value to our customers.”

SYDNEY, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Award-winning UK-based insurance disruptor GoShorty has partnered with Miroma Project Factory (MPF) to design and build a sleek, feature-packed mobile application that redefines how people buy and manage short-term car insurance, from learner drivers to van movers and everything in between.

GoShorty’s website was already a high-performing digital storefront, but with 92% of traffic coming via mobile, there was a clear need for a dedicated application to serve repeat customers better, reduce friction, and drive down acquisition costs. MPF answered with an experience that combines seamless quote recall, lightning-fast repurchase flows, and smart nudges that help users insure smarter, not harder.

“Since launching 5 years ago GoShorty has seen significant growth to the stage that we’re now one of the most recognised brands in our market. Our customers already buy from us again and again via our website, and our new app will help them to get insured and on their way even quicker and easier with all of their details stored and ready to go in an instant. We’re also launching GoShare within the app to help our customers to share cars and vans within their family and friend groups, helping to get people moving whatever their reasons for travel” said Phil Evans, Managing Director at GoShorty.

MPF led a full-stack delivery across product feature research, UX/UI, development and analytics integration anchored by real user insight gathered from interviews and A/B tests. The result is an app that doesn’t just replicate the website – it evolves it.

“At MPF, we don’t just build apps – we build tools that understand user context and move the business forward,” said Kat Robinson, Global CEO of MPF. “GoShorty is a category leader in its space, and this product reflects that ambition: fast, simple, delightful, and ready to scale.”

MPF delivered the platform working shoulder-to-shoulder with GoShorty’s tech and marketing units, creating not only the app but a roadmap for future loyalty, data insights, and referral-driven grow. Following the successful build, MPF continues to provide support, testing, and feature rollout as part of a long-term shared goal of assisting GoShorty to rapidly advance in market expansion.

Built for Speed, Loyalty, and Utility

The GoShorty app was engineered around three pillars: easy re-purchasing, loyalty by design, and smarter decision support. Key features include:

• Retrieval of existing quotes and policies
• Access to purchase history, real-time quote generation, and flexible repeat purchase flows—plus the ability to buy the same cover again in just a few taps.
• In-app loyalty scheme, rewarding users for engagement and frequent purchasing, integrated with GoShorty’s CRM for deeper personalisation.
• “GoShare” functionality that allows users to share a car with friends and co-manage short-term cover within a secure group.
• Animated rewards, push notifications, SMS reminders, and real-time error-handling all wrapped in a mobile-first design optimised for Apple and Android users alike.

About GoShorty

GoShorty is one of the UK’s fastest-growing providers of short-term car, van and learner driver insurance. Established in 2020, GoShorty offers flexible, on-demand cover from 1 hour to 28 days—ideal for learners, borrowers, movers and everyday drivers. With a digital-first model and an obsession with simplicity, GoShorty is transforming how people think about car insurance. Learn more at www.goshorty.co.uk

About Miroma Project Factory (MPF)

MPF is a multi-award-winning digital strategy and product studio that delivers innovative digital solutions across web, platforms, and systems. Specialising in purposeful technology, MPF works at the intersection of strategy, design, and engineering to create impactful digital products for organisations ready to lead. With deep expertise in healthcare, MPF helps clients scale responsibly, communicate clearly, and connect meaningfully with their audiences. For more information, visit www.theprojectfactory.com.

For media enquiries, interviews or partnership opportunities, please contact:
Miroma Project Factory
info@theprojectfactory.com

Graeme Stoker
Director of Marketing
GoShorty
marketing@goshorty.co.uk

Actor Michael Douglas Speech Elevates Hope As Pathway for Global Leadership Dame Jane Goodall and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg Deliver Co-Author Tributes Book Editor Osvald Bjelland, Origination Founder, Offers Hope as A Strategy

Surprise Appearance by Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi Stuns

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Explorers Club hosted a star-studded global book launch event to celebrate the 80^th UN General Assembly and 16^th annual Climate Week gathering of global heads of state, business, cultural, scientific and academic leaders for Hope for Life on Our Planet: Inspiration for Seven Generations. With speaker, overflow rooms, and balconies filled, Explorers Club President Emeritus Ted Janulis and Explorers Club Trustee and Poet Laureate Leonard Levie, Chairman of AIAC, opened the event. Book editor and co-author, Dr. Osvald Bjelland, Founder and Chairman of the Origination Foundation, shared the story of the book’s genesis and the mission of over 60 notable contributing authors across interdisciplinary sectors. Bjelland shared the story of his efforts through former Chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee Berit Reiss-Andersen to secure an opening essay for the book from Iran’s Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi – then under solitary confinement in Iran’s Evin prison. The audience was stunned when Bjelland unveiled a live video link with Mohammadi in Tehran to speak.

Explorers Club New York HOPE Global Book Launch for 80th UNGA & Climate Week with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi, Jane Goodall, Verizon’s Hans Vestberg, Orignation’s Osvald Bjelland & Co-Authors.

Global icon ethologist and conservationist Dame Jane Goodall and Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg delivered co-author tributes on the importance of the book and of hope for our times. A distinguished panel followed with other co-authors Vidar Helgesen, Norway’s former Minister of Environment and Executive Director of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Jonathan Granoff, UN Representative for the Summit of Nobel Laureates, and scholar Dr. Robert Thurman, Columbia University Professor Emeritus of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, moderated by Bloomberg News’ Lyndsay Howard. Actor and UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas‘ speech on leadership and human values closed the event.

“This is an important book because we are going through dark times, and it is more important than ever that we have HOPE. The book, HOPE FOR LIFE ON OUR PLANET could not come at a more important time,” said Dame Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, the global youth movement Roots and Shoots, and UN Messenger of Peace.

“The role of a leader is to be a hopeful person who empowers others to have the same feeling. Hope can energize us to do difficult and valuable work — and to believe we can change the world through hard work – and smart work. Technology plays a key role to power and empower people to connect to each other and prosper around the world. I believe everyone should have the same access to these technologies,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. 

“No wall can imprison hope, and no power can destroy our belief in freedom and justice. In prison, I learned that hope is not only a feeling, it is a force. My message is simple but urgent: the world is still worth believing in. Hope is the strongest weapon we have. Let us build a world worthy of our children,” stated Iran’s Nobel Peace Laureate Narges Mohammadi.

“We see a tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and commitment by a growing number of young people around the world. They do not intend to give up on their own future. We also see global leaders with a relentless focus on technologies, business and financial modelling, and partnerships which will help us restore, regenerate, and drive progress for life on our planet,” said Origination Foundation Chairman and book editor Dr. Osvald Bjelland.

Hope for Life on Our Planet‘s contributing authors include three Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Iran’s Narges Mohammadi, Ukraine’s Oleksandra Matviichuk, and two-time president of Costa Rica Óscar Arias Sánchez; religious leaders such as the late Pope Francis; business leaders with World Bank president Ajaypal Singh “Ajay” Banga, Verizon’s Hans Vestberg, Tata Sons’ Natarajan Chandrasekaran, and Swedish green steel giant Stegra CEO Henrik Henriksson, as well as original essays from science, conservation, and exploration giants such as Dame Jane Goodall and polar explorer Robert Swan, among over sixty voices, many of whom joined the Explorers Club book launch.

Explorers Club Hope Book Event Links:

• Explorers Club Live Stream
• Narges Mohammadi Address
• Dame Jane Goodall & Hans Vestberg Tributes 
• HOPE Book on Amazon 

About the Origination Foundation

About the Explorers Club

Partnership with international football star and family man is part of broader international marketing effort to expand brand presence around the world

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EVEREADY®, a leading brand in batteries and lighting products, announced England men’s soccer captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as its Global Brand Ambassador.

EVEREADY Global Brand Ambassador Harry Kane

EVEREADY is the brand people trust for quality products at an affordable price, as it lights, protects, entertains and cares for families. As a well-known and respected brand in regions worldwide, EVEREADY is thrilled to partner with Harry as the brand accelerates its efforts to make affordable power more widely available across the globe.

Through the multi-year partnership, Harry will appear in EVEREADY international marketing campaigns amplified across multiple touchpoints such as social media, digital channels, eCommerce, outdoor advertising and in-store displays.

“We’re thrilled to build this partnership with a true global footballing icon and welcome Harry Kane as the EVEREADY global brand ambassador,” said Lori Shambro, Chief Marketing Officer of Energizer Holdings. “Our partnership with Harry represents one of many marketing efforts that will help EVEREADY connect and engage with new consumers around the world to showcase how our range of high-quality, affordable products can help families access the power they need to fuel their busy lives and balance their budgets at the same time.”

“I am excited and proud to be working with EVEREADY,” Harry said. “They are a trusted global brand with a reputation for being there when it matters the most – especially when keeping things running smoothly at home. I look forward to working more closely with them!”

Harry Kane is a world-renowned global football superstar, captain of the England men’s national team and striker for Bayern Munich. He’s the all-time top scorer for Tottenham Hotspur and England, winning multiple Premier League Golden Boots, Bundesliga Top Goal Scorer awards, 2018 World Cup Golden Boot, European Golden Shoe and Bundesliga title over his impressive career. Most recently, he became the fastest player in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues to reach a century of goals. A prolific goalscorer and inspiring leader on and off the pitch.

EVEREADY is an Energizer Holdings, Inc. brand. For more information, visit Eveready.com.

For any questions, please contact Energizer Holdings Spokesperson John Leiby at John.Leiby@Energizer.com or reach out to Media@Energizer.com.

About Energizer Holdings
Energizer Holdings, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries and portable lighting products and is anchored by its globally recognized brands Energizer, Eveready, Rayovac and Varta. Energizer Holdings is also a leading designer and marketer of automotive fragrance and appearance products from recognized brands such as A/C Pro, Armor All, Bahama & Co., California Scents, Driven, Eagle One, LEXOL, Nu Finish, Refresh Your Car!, and STP.

As a global branded distributor of consumer products, our mission is to be the leader in our categories by better serving consumers and customers.