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New ASEAN Study Reveals Businesses Are Rethinking Hiring and Investment as Growth Priorities Shift

New Reeracoen Group x Rakuten Insight survey of 3,630 consumers and business leaders across six ASEAN markets highlights selective hiring as the dominant workforce strategy alongside a sharpened focus on operational efficiency and AI investment.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ASEAN businesses are reshaping how they hire, invest and prepare for growth as they navigate an increasingly complex economic environment, according to a new regional study by Reeracoen Group and Rakuten Insight.

Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group
Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group

The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026, published by Reeracoen Group, a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, in partnership with Rakuten Insight, an online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., surveyed 3,630 consumers and business leaders across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in June 2026.

Capability building through targeted hiring and investment

The report reveals that while businesses continue to hire across the region, they are adopting a more selective approach as organisations focus on strengthening long-term capability rather than expanding headcount. Across the six markets, 32% to 47% of businesses are hiring selectively, while 7% to 16% are actively expanding their workforce. This suggests businesses are increasingly prioritising precision hiring and capability building over broad workforce expansion.

  • Indonesia: 47%
  • Malaysia: 36%
  • The Philippines: 39%
  • Singapore: 32%
  • Thailand: 33%
  • Vietnam: 47%

This approach is also reflected in businesses’ investment priorities. Operational efficiency ranks as the top business growth priority across the markets at 35% to 43%, while AI and technology rank among the top three at 24% to 33%.

Six markets, six stories

The ASEAN Survey also shows that ASEAN’s growth is shaped by distinct market strengths rather than a single regional trend.

  • Singapore: Highest focus on AI and technology investment intent (33%);
  • Indonesia: Leads in business confidence (66%) and career mobility (29%);
  • Malaysia: Strongest domestic market focus (75%);
  • The Philippines: Combines resilient business confidence (65%) with cautious consumer spending (89%);
  • Thailand: Leads in investment growth (28%);
  • Vietnam: Highest consumer optimism (48%) and hiring expansion (16%).

Consumer and workforce behaviour

Beyond hiring and investment, the survey highlights broader shifts in how consumers and workers are responding to economic pressures. Income diversification has become the preferred financial response to strengthen their financial position in several markets. In Indonesia, 71% of consumers are seeking additional income, followed closely by 70% in the Philippines—the top financial action in both markets, ahead of saving or cutting spending.

AI is also beginning to influence career decisions. In Vietnam, 39% of consumers considering a career change cite AI and automation as a primary motivator, ahead of income growth and work-life balance—the only ASEAN market where technology ranks as the leading career-change driver.

Kenji Naito, Group CEO, Reeracoen Group, said:

“In twenty years of building recruitment businesses across Southeast Asia, I have never seen talent strategy matter as much as it does right now. The companies that will win the next cycle are not the ones that wait for certainty — they are the ones investing in their people, their processes, and their readiness today. This report gives leaders the evidence base to make those investments with confidence.”

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight, added:

“Understanding both sides of the equation—what consumers feel and what businesses do—is essential. A consumer sentiment study alone would tell you that ASEAN is worried. A business survey alone would tell you that ASEAN is cautious. Together, they reveal something more important: ASEAN is adapting. That is the story this report exists to tell.”

For the full six-market findings, including country-by-country profiles and a Leadership Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional expansion, download The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026.

Download the report: https://www.reeracoen.sg/en/events/client-the-great-restructuring-ASEAN-consumer-business-pulse-survey-2026?utm_source=apac_pr&utm_medium=cta&utm_id=asean-whitepaper-2026

About Reeracoen Group

Reeracoen is a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, connecting talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep local market expertise with cross-border recruitment capabilities to support sustainable business growth.

Beyond recruitment, Reeracoen provides market intelligence, workforce insights, salary research, and employer advisory services, helping organisations make informed talent and business decisions in an evolving regional economy.

Reeracoen’s commitment to service excellence has been recognised through multiple industry awards, including Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2025, 2026), Client Service Excellence Award (2026), Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2024), and Best Executive Recruitment Agency (2024).

For more information, visit www.reeracoen.sg.

About Rakuten Insight, Inc.

Rakuten Insight, Inc. is a wholly owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo.

Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets and the United States, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions.

With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight
Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight

Nearmap analysis finds most vulnerable properties face 3.6x greater risk of severe bushfire damage

Analysis of more than 36,000 buildings affected by the January Victorian bushfires shows why broad hazard assessments alone cannot reveal the vulnerability of individual properties

SYDNEY, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New Nearmap analysis found that properties assessed as highly vulnerable to bushfire were 3.6 times more likely to be destroyed or badly damaged during the January 2026 Victorian bushfires than properties rated least vulnerable.

Among properties close to the fire front, 6.6% of those in the most vulnerable group were destroyed or badly damaged, compared with 1.8% of those rated least vulnerable. The findings highlight a critical distinction for insurers: broad hazard assessments can identify where bushfire risk is elevated, but they do not necessarily show which individual properties within an exposed area are most vulnerable.

The analysis comes as an active El Niño and seasonal outlooks indicate heightened bushfire risk across parts of Australia into spring and summer.

“El Niño and seasonal outlooks tell insurers where elevated bushfire risk may exist, but property intelligence helps show which properties within those areas may be most vulnerable,” said Andy Watt, Nearmap CEO.

“The challenge is not simply understanding that a postcode or corridor is exposed to bushfire. It’s understanding how that risk varies from one property to the next. When insurers can see property condition, vegetation and defensible space at scale, they can move from a broad view of hazard to a much more precise understanding of where vulnerability is concentrated.”

Same fire, different property outcomes

Nearmap examined the January 2026 Victorian bushfires using imagery captured before and after the events, creating a consistent view of individual properties and how they were affected. The analysis examined 36,012 buildings located within 500 metres of a building classified as destroyed or badly damaged. This included 2,980 buildings classified as destroyed or badly damaged.

For properties with usable pre-event imagery, Nearmap compared its Bushfire Vulnerability Score with post-event outcomes, finding a pronounced concentration of losses among the most vulnerable properties.

The analysis also found a consistent relationship between defensible space and outcomes. Among homes that survived, properties located within 100 metres of a destroyed building had more cleared ground across every zone assessed.

The findings demonstrate that proximity to a fire front alone does not determine the outcome. Even within the same exposed area, individual property characteristics can materially affect vulnerability.

Moving beyond postcode-level assessments

The findings highlight a key limitation of postcode-level risk assessments. While they identify where exposure exists, they don’t show which properties are most vulnerable. Property-level intelligence helps insurers make more informed decisions before and after a bushfire event. Property condition, roof characteristics, vegetation and defensible space can also provide additional evidence for loss-control programmes and prevention efforts.

“The forecast and hazard outlook are important signals, but they are not the whole picture,” said Watt. “The insurers that can see their properties clearly before an event, and assess what has changed when an event occurs, are better positioned to make informed decisions across underwriting, prevention and claims. Property intelligence gives insurers that visibility at the level where risk actually exists; the property.”

During an event, recent pre-event imagery establishes a baseline for what existed before the fire. Post-event imagery can then help determine what changed, allowing insurers to move more quickly from understanding where a fire travelled to understanding which individual properties were affected.

About Nearmap

Nearmap is a global property intelligence company redefining how organizations understand and act on the built environment. By owning the entire intelligence value chain—from high-recency geospatial capture powered by patented camera technology to accurate AI-derived analytics and guaranteed building materials data—Nearmap delivers a single, trusted source of truth for property decisions. Insurers, government agencies, and AECO organizations rely on Nearmap to transform property uncertainty into evidence, helping organizations move beyond fragmented data and manual processes with verified, frequently updated insight. These proprietary insights enable faster, more confident decisions across underwriting and claims, assessment and response, and planning and construction so teams can see truth, assess risk, and act with certainty. Founded in Australia in 2007, Nearmap stands as the definitive source of truth that shapes the livable world.

For more information, visit www.nearmap.com.

Media Contact

Taylor Cenicola

Taylor.cenicola@nearmap.com

World’s First Robot Sports League Launched in Riyadh, Plans to Hit 8 Cities Worldwide

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CyberHero, the world’s first global humanoid robot sports league, launched in Riyadh on September 9, with host Hero Esports announcing plans for an inaugural season spanning eight cities worldwide.


The inaugural Riyadh event marked the first in the new CyberHero series, offering a preview of the competition format, personalities, and broader vision for a new global robot sports property.

Hero Esports plans for the global circuit to span across four regions: the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Two of the eight stops will be located in the Middle East. The wider vision is to take physical AI out of the laboratory and onto a global competitive stage, using sport to explore how humans, AI and robots can increasingly work together.

CyberHero x Riyadh also marked the Middle East’s first humanoid robot combat event, featuring EngineAI T800 humanoid robots competing inside a purpose-built arena. Standing approximately 1.73 metres tall and weighing between 75 and 85 kilograms, the T800 features 29 articulated joints and is capable of walking, running, punching, kicking, turning, recovering after falls, and the occasional dance.

“CyberHero was born from a bold idea about the future of competition: that robots can be pushed to test their limits, break new boundaries and improve through data generated in competition,” said Danny Tang, Co-founder and CEO of Hero Esports. 

She added, “That is one of the lessons we have learned from esports, and it is also a responsibility we see for Hero Esports over the next decade — to use competition to drive innovation and progress. We are now establishing a global technology lab at our Shanghai headquarters to bring together technical expertise and talent from around the world.”

As the circuit takes shape, Hero Esports is seeking host cities and venues, robotics and technology suppliers, universities to provide teams and research, and commercial partners across tourism, sport, entertainment and music.

While CyberHero x Riyadh was staged as an invite-only launch event, the competition brought together some of the region’s biggest digital personalities, with MENA creator AboFlah and Saudi sports creator Bashar Arabi going head-to-head as managers of the two competing teams.

HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, commented: “I warmly welcome the choice of Riyadh by Hero Esports for the first CyberHero event. This is testament to the passion of our fans and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to esports as a thriving sector and entertainment choice. The energy at CyberHero x Riyadh created new boundaries for audience experience and competition.”

Other creators and personalities taking part in the show included Bilal Fadili, Ta7o, Ahmad AlKhateb and Micky of Team Falcons. Electronic music producer and DJ Tokyo Machine also performed during the event, bringing his video-game-inspired sound into a show designed to combine sport, technology, gaming culture and live entertainment.

At the heart of CyberHero is a team-based competition model bringing together three roles: builders, who design and engineer the robots; coders, who develop and train the intelligence behind them; and drivers, who make live decisions and put the team’s capabilities to the test in the physical arena.

The league will also expand into additional disciplines as humanoid robot capabilities develop, with the long-term goal of building a global competitive platform that grows alongside advances in physical AI.

About Hero Esports

Hero Esports is Asia’s largest esports company, organizing more than 7,000 esports competitions annually and reaching hundreds of millions of fans worldwide.

Backed by Savvy Games Group and Tencent, the company operates and produces major esports leagues and tournaments across titles including Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, League of Legends and VALORANT, and serves as a China partner of the Esports World Cup.

Beyond esports, Hero Esports has expanded into a broader range of live entertainment and cultural experiences spanning gaming, technology, music and pop culture. CyberHero represents the company’s latest move into new forms of technology-driven competition and entertainment.

For more information, visit cyber.hero.com or follow @CyberHero.Global on Instagram, TikTok and X.

Media Enquiries
Zoe Han — Public Relations Manager 
hanjingru@heroesports.com

Partnership Enquiries
welcome@heroesports.com

Vortex and Brimstone Continue to Expand With Higher Grades

Vortex returns 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 6.1 meters at 21.12 g/t gold
Brimstone extends north with 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver

WINNEMUCCA, Nev., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: HYMC) (“Hycroft” or “the Company”) announces additional drill results from the 2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program (the “Drill Program”) at the Hycroft Mine, located in Nevada, USA, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction.

Figure 1. Vortex High-Grade System
Figure 1. Vortex High-Grade System

Vortex Drill Highlights:

  • H26D-6090: 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 0.49 g/t gold
    • Including 11.2 meters at 1,664.80 g/t silver and 0.85 g/t gold
    • Also including 5.5 meters at 2,249.39 g/t silver and 1.01 g/t gold
  • H26D-6166: 20.0 meters at 460.82 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold 
    • Including 6.1 meters at 952.37 g/t silver and 0.54 g/t gold
    • Also including 1.6 meters at 2,650.00 g/t silver and 0.91 g/t gold
  • H26D-6172: 6.1 meters at 28.65 g/t silver and 21.12 g/t gold
    • Including 1.5 meters at 49.40 g/t silver and 43.00 g/t gold

Brimstone Drill Highlights:

  • H26D-6167A: 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver and 0.56 g/t gold
    • Including 1.8 meters at 4,074.00 g/t silver and 1.43 g/t gold

Diane Garrett, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: “These are some of the strongest results we’ve seen from the Drill Program. We’re not just confirming the high-grade silver system, we’re extending it and are consistently intersecting thick, continuous, high-grade mineralization. We have also intersected a high-grade gold interval higher in the known system that we intend to follow up on as we are seeing an increasing number of higher-grade gold intercepts in this area of Vortex. These results continue to confirm our exploration strategy and underpin the potential for a high-grade underground mine. With the system open in all directions and at depth, we see a clear opportunity for continued expansion and growth of these high-grade mineralized systems.”

Drill results can be viewed in 3D using VRIFY at the following link:

https://vrify.com/meetings/recordings/9b47dc5c-bbbe-4db2-a4d5-9040ce5763bc

VRIFY note: Drill results reflect only those reported in this press release dated September 9, 2026, along with selected historical drill results relevant to the current targets discussed in the press release. The results presented do not represent all historical drilling completed at Hycroft.

Table 1. Drill Intercept Highlights

Hole ID

FROM

TO

INTERVAL

GRADE

(meters)

(meters)

(meters)

Ag (g/t)

Au (g/t) 

AgEQ(g/t)

AuEQ
(g/t)

Vortex High-Grade System

 H26D-6166

481.7

501.7

20.0

460.82

0.32

484.82

6.46

Including

485.0

489.4

4.4

597.03

0.21

612.78

8.17

Including

495.6

501.7

6.1

952.37

0.54

992.87

13.24

  Also Including

498.9

500.5

1.6

2,650.00

0.91

2,718.25

36.24

H26D-6090

390.1

396.3

6.2

11.17

2.08

167.17

2.23

414.2

427.3

13.1

110.24

0.25

128.99

1.72

Including

417.4

419.8

2.4

392.61

0.42

424.11

5.65

435.4

465.9

30.5

780.53

0.49

817.28

10.90

Including

453.5

464.7

11.2

1,664.80

0.85

1,728.55

23.05

  Also Including

453.5

459.0

5.5

2,249.39

1.01

2,325.14

31.00

H26D-6172

293.2

299.3

6.1

28.65

21.12

1,612.65

21.50

Including

296.3

297.8

1.5

49.40

43.00

3,274.40

43.66

335.7

358.7

23.0

137.23

0.69

188.98

2.52

369.1

381.4

12.3

112.91

0.25

131.66

1.76

414.8

436.5

21.7

121.94

0.89

188.69

2.52

Including

421.4

424.0

2.6

515.98

0.35

542.23

7.23

446.6

457.7

11.1

177.97

0.62

224.47

2.99

H26D-6173

370.9

377.0

6.1

33.99

2.63

231.24

3.08

389.3

396.7

7.4

134.13

0.29

155.88

2.08

Including

394.0

396.7

2.7

284.05

0.38

312.55

4.17

Brimstone High-Grade System

H26D-6167A

309.9

315.4

5.5

1,345.27

0.56

1,387.27

18.50

Including

313.6

315.4

1.8

4,074.00

1.43

4,181.25

55.75

Note: $3,600/oz gold and $48/oz silver are used for gold equivalent (AuEQ) and silver equivalent (AgEQ) numbers

Vortex Results

Hole H26D-6090 and H26D-6166 returned 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 20.0 meters at 460.82 g/t silver, respectively. Both were drilled offsetting H25D-6070 and H25D-6072 and connect that 2025 step-out drilling to the main Vortex trend. Mineralization remains open to the west, down dip along the Central and Albert faults, currently interpreted as two of the more productive feeder structures at Vortex, and to the north and south.

Holes H26D-6172 tested the northern flank of Vortex and hit four separate silver intervals down hole in the footwall of the Break fault: 23.0 meters at 137.23 g/t silver and 0.69 g/t gold, 12.3 meters at 112.91 g/t silver and 0.25 g/t gold, 21.7 meters at 121.94 g/t silver and 0.89 g/t gold, and 11.1 meters at 177.97 g/t silver and 0.62 g/t gold, demonstrating the vertical continuity and extent of Vortex in this area.

H26D-6173, drilled down dip to the west of H26D-6172, returned 7.4 meters at 134.13 g/t silver, including 2.7 meters at 284.05 g/t silver, and 6.1 meters at 33.99 g/t silver and 2.63 g/t gold. These results further extend the high-grade continuity along the northern flank of the system.

Hole H26D-6172 also returned a high-grade gold interval higher in the hole, 6.1 meters at 21.12 g/t gold, including 1.5 meters at 43.00 g/t gold. This intercept lies higher in the Vortex high-grade silver system. With an increasing number of higher-grade gold intercepts in this area, the Company is planning follow-up drilling to determine the orientation and extent of this mineralization and whether it represents a separate high-grade gold system.

Brimstone Results

At Brimstone, the strategy is to develop the high-grade stockwork vein zone, test the controls on mineralization to the north, south and down dip, and identify and develop high-grade opportunities. Hole H26D-6167A was designed to test and extend high-grade mineralization to the north. The hole encountered a 30-meter silicified breccia that hosted high-grade silver, intersecting 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver, including an impressive 1.8 meters at 4,074.00 g/t silver. This intercept opens up additional target opportunities and follow-up drilling is being planned.

Qualified Person

The Company’s Qualified Person for exploration is Alex Davidson, Vice President, Exploration, who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation

Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation is a US-based gold and silver company exploring and developing the Hycroft Mine, among the world’s largest precious metals deposits, located in Nevada, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction. With a long history of heap leach operations, Hycroft is advancing to the next phase of operations for processing sulfide mineralization. In addition, Hycroft is engaged in a robust exploration drill program (2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program) to expand and advance the two new high-grade silver systems Brimstone and Vortex. These discoveries represent a significant value driver for the Hycroft Mine. 

For Further Information

Investor Relations:
E: info@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564

Media:
E: media@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564

www.hycroftmining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release and in public statements by our officers or representatives that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business strategy, plans and goals, competitive strengths, the advancement and development of the Hycroft Mine, the results and implications of metallurgical analysis and test work, and the expansion and growth of our business.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by future or conditional words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “target,” “budget,” “may,” “can,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” “scheduled to” and similar words or expressions but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. The risks include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to changes in our operations at the Hycroft Mine, including risks associated with the cessation of mining operations at the Hycroft Mine; uncertainties concerning estimates of mineral resources; risks related to the lack of a completed feasibility study; risks related to metallurgical test work and process development; and risks related to our ability to re-establish commercially feasible mining and processing operations; and (ii) industry-related risks, including fluctuations in the price of gold and silver; the commercial success of, and risks related to, our exploration and development activities; uncertainties and risks related to our reliance on contractors and consultants; and the availability and cost of equipment, supplies, energy or reagents.

Any exploration target described in this press release does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) of an exploration target are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration of the relevant property or properties to estimate a mineral resource; and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource.

These and other risks may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and the occurrence of one or more of these events or circumstances, alone or in combination with others, may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Please see the “Risk Factors” outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in other reports filed with the SEC, for more information about these and other risks.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Although these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

Figure 2. Brimstone High-Grade system
Figure 2. Brimstone High-Grade system

YYForce Appoints Andrew Davison as Chief Strategic Officer to Accelerate Corporate Growth and Operational Scaling

Former Lancia Consult and Morgan Stanley executive joins to scale international operations and platform capabilities

SINGAPORE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — YYForce Inc. (NASDAQ: YFOR) (“YYForce” or the “Company”), an AI-enabled workforce management platform and integrated facility management (IFM) provider operating across Asia and beyond, announced the appointment of Andrew Davison as Chief Strategic Officer (CSO), effective September 14, 2026. In his new role, Mr. Davison will spearhead YYForce’s corporate strategy, direct portfolio governance, and oversee operational scaling initiatives to support the company’s next phase of market expansion across international markets.

Mr. Davison brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience spanning the APAC, EMEA, UK, and US markets, specializing in commercial strategy, scaling high-performing teams, financial management, margin and risk control, and complex cross-functional delivery.

Andrew Davison, Chief Strategic Officer of YYForce Inc.
Andrew Davison, Chief Strategic Officer of YYForce Inc.

Prior to joining YYForce, Mr. Davison served as Director and Head of Transformational Delivery (APAC) at Lancia Consult in Singapore, where he directed regional delivery performance, portfolio health, and capability building to scale the business across multiple markets. During his tenure, he established the firm’s Jakarta presence, designed regional delivery operating models, and provided executive-level operational due diligence and investment evaluation for private equity and corporate clients.

His extensive professional background also includes senior advisory and consulting roles as a Senior Principal Consultant at Slalom Consulting in London, where he led enterprise digital enablement and multi-market change strategies, and as a Principal Financial Services Transformation Consultant at BCS Consulting, where he managed large-scale regulatory remediation, risk management programs, and operational transformations for global financial institutions such as HSBC, Credit Suisse, and Morgan Stanley. He began his career managing institutional client relationships and trading operations at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Davison holds a BCom (Hons) in Business Studies and Economics from the University of Edinburgh and has completed executive training in Strategic Leadership with AI & ML at Singapore Management University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to the executive leadership team at YYForce,” said Mike Fu, CEO of YYForce. “Andrew’s exceptional track record in scaling organizations, driving rigorous commercial discipline, and executing complex operational transformations makes him the ideal leader to guide our strategic initiatives as we continue to scale our operations and maximize stakeholder value.”

“I am excited to join YYForce at such a pivotal stage of growth,” said Andrew Davison, Chief Strategic Officer of YYForce. “The company has demonstrated remarkable agility and innovation in its markets. I look forward to partnering with the leadership team to sharpen our strategic roadmap, optimize operational execution, and drive sustainable, long-term value for our clients, partners, and shareholders.”

About YYForce Inc.

YYForce Inc. (Nasdaq: YFOR) is an AI-enabled workforce management platform and IFM provider, headquartered in Singapore and operating across Asia and beyond. The Company’s intelligent workforce solutions platform, YY Circle, helps clients across hospitality, food and beverage, retail, and other service sectors predict, plan, and optimize workforce deployment. In YYForce’s IFM business, its 24IFM software platform and comprehensive IFM subsidiary portfolio support clients across hospitality, transportation, banking, retail, and mixed-use facilities.

As both business lines scale, the Company is systematically embedding AI and automation capabilities – progressing from intelligent decision support toward increasingly autonomous workforce management – to improve service quality, reduce deployment costs, and drive long-term margin expansion. Listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, YYForce is committed to infrastructure innovation, measurable client outcomes, and long-term value creation.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its expectations and projections about future events, which the Company derives from the information currently available to it. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about the Company and a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations, including the introduction of new products and services, expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs and expenditures, anticipated customer growth, and demand for and market acceptance of the Company’s products and services; and industry, market and regulatory conditions, including competition, government policies and regulations affecting the Company’s industry, and other factors that may affect the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. For a more detailed discussion of risk factors, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F, as amended.

Investor Contact
Jason Zhi Yong Phua, Chief Financial Officer
YYForce
enquiries@yyforce.ai

Media Contact
Amber Smoke
The Piacente Group, Inc.
amber@thepiacentegroup.com

Kapsch TrafficCom strengthens nationwide traffic management in New Zealand

  • 18,500 km of highways and roads covered by Kapsch system
  • System ensures traffic safety across New Zealand

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – EQS Newswire – 10 September 2026 – Kapsch TrafficCom has successfully completed a major upgrade of its traffic management system for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), further strengthening traffic operations across the country.

Auckland Light Path Bicycle Lane Highway Traffic New Zealand (KTC7784)
Auckland Light Path Bicycle Lane Highway Traffic New Zealand (KTC7784)

The Dynac V17 system went live at the Auckland Traffic Operations Centre on June 10, 2026, marking a key milestone in a long-standing partnership.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the outstanding contribution, commitment, and collaboration of multiple teams across regions,” said Daniel Vazquez, EVP APAC at Kapsch TrafficCom. “It reflects the strength of our global collaboration and our ability to deliver complex systems at national scale.”

The system forms the backbone of traffic management across New Zealand, supporting operations on a nationwide level. It integrates a broad range of infrastructure including 18,500 km of roads and highways, seven tunnels, and Auckland Harbour Bridge with a moveable barrier machine, and connects 150,000 field devices such as cameras, variable message signs, traffic sensors, and other roadside equipment. In addition, dozens of subsystems are integrated into a single platform.

“The Dynac upgrade has been successfully completed and ATOC is now operating on the upgraded platform,” said Lucretia McDonald, Sr. Project Manager from NZTA. “The close cooperation between all parties have been key to ensuring a smooth transition and reliable ongoing operations.”

This comprehensive setup provides NZTA operators with a real-time overview of the entire network and enables them to respond quickly to changing conditions, including congestion, incidents, and other disruptions. The result is improved situational awareness and stable, reliable traffic operations across the country.

A key innovation of the new version is the ability to perform online imports, allowing updates to be implemented without taking the entire system offline. This enables more frequent and efficient updates, supporting continuous system improvement and minimizing operational disruption.

The deployment is part of a broader rollout across multiple Traffic Operations Centres in New Zealand, with Traffic Operations Centres in Wellington and for Lyttleton Tunnel near Christchurch scheduled to follow. Once the upgrades are completed across all centres, the system will enable coordinated operations between centres and provide additional redundancy across the national network.

The on-going cooperation builds on a long-term partnership between Kapsch TrafficCom and NZTA. As part of the current agreement, Kapsch TrafficCom is responsible for maintaining and securing the system, while NZTA manages day-to-day operations through its own traffic operators.

More information:Press | Kapsch TrafficCom

Hashtag: #KapschTrafficComAG

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Kapsch TrafficCom AG

Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the areas of tolling and traffic management contribute to a healthier world without congestion.

With one-stop-shop solutions, the company covers the entire customer value chain, from components and design to the implementation and operation of systems.

Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2025/26 financial year, about 2,700 employees generated revenues of EUR 431 million.

Surge Announces Agreement for Long-Term Land Access and Withdrawal of Water Application Protest at Nevada North

West Vancouver, British Columbia – Newsfile Corp. – September 9, 2026 – Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the “Company” or “Surge“) is pleased to announce that Nevada North Lithium, LLC (“NNL“), the joint venture formed by Surge and Evolution Mining Limited has executed an arm’s length definitive Access and Mitigation Agreement, dated September 8th, 2026, (the “Agreement“) with the Salmon River Cattlemens Association, Incorporated (“SRCA“) securing surface and water access for the Nevada North Lithium Project (the “Project“).

SRCA is a Nevada ranching corporation that owns approximately 880 acres of private land lying within NNL’s mining claims, and that holds Bureau of Land Management (“BLM“) grazing permits and water rights in the Project area. Under the Agreement, SRCA grants NNL a non-exclusive right of access over those lands to explore, develop, mine, process, and to construct and operate roads, utilities, water infrastructure and related facilities. The grant runs for a single continuous term covering exploration and permitting, construction, production, closure and reclamation.

The Agreement also resolves the parties’ outstanding differences before the Nevada Division of Water Resources. SRCA has agreed to withdraw the protests it filed against NNL’s applications to appropriate water in support of the Project.

In exchange, NNL has committed to a monitoring, mitigation and management framework designed to protect SRCA’s existing water rights and maintain stockwater availability for its cattle operations. The framework includes an independent pre-mining baseline study of water quantity and quality, forage condition and grazing capacity; a joint coordination committee with equal representation from each party; a monitoring protocol with defined mitigation triggers; and an obligation on NNL to replace or restore any water supply that Project activities are determined to have materially impaired, at quantity and quality at least equal to baseline conditions. NNL will also post a performance bond securing its mitigation and infrastructure obligations, in addition to any bonding required by regulators.

Mr. Greg Reimer, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company, commented, “Long-term surface access and a clear path through water permitting are foundational to any project, and this agreement delivers both. I would like to thank the SRCA Board of Directors for all their time and effort in coming to this agreement. We have committed to measure conditions before we develop the Project, to monitor them together, and to fix what we affect. That is the standard we intend to hold ourselves to for the life of this Project.”

Surge is advancing the Project toward a prefeasibility study targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, supported by the 2026 drill program that NNL submitted to the BLM in August 2026. The development plan for the Project currently contemplates an open-pit lithium operation with an estimated mine life of approximately 42 years.

A copy of the Agreement will be filed under the Company’s profile on Sedar+ at www.sedarplus.ca This news release is qualified entirely by the full text of the Agreement.

The company is also granting a total of 2 million stock options, exercisable for a period of five years, at an exercise price of $1.02 cents a share to certain directors, officers and consultants.

Qualified Person:
Alan J. Morris, MSc, CPG of Spring Creek, Nevada, Geological Advisor to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.
Surge Battery Metals Inc., a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The Project focuses on development of high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering battery electric storage and electric vehicles. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and a listing on the OTCQX Market in the USA, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration.

About Evolution Mining Limited

Evolution Mining is a leading, globally relevant gold miner. Evolution operates six mines, comprising five wholly-owned mines – Cowal in New South Wales, Ernest Henry and Mt Rawdon in Queensland, Mungari in Western Australia, and Red Lake in Ontario, Canada, and an 80% share in Northparkes in New South Wales.

About Nevada North Lithium, LLC
Nevada North Lithium, LLC, jointly owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc (67.5%) and Evolution Mining Limited (32.5%), owns the Nevada North Lithium Project southeast of Jackpot, Nevada about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Elko County. The first four rounds of drilling at the Project identified a strongly mineralized zone of lithium bearing clays occupying a strike length of more than 4,700 meters and a known width of greater than 2,000 meters. The Project’s updated Mineral Resource Estimate, filed June 30, 2026, reports a pit-constrained Measured & Indicated Resource containing an estimated 10.51 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 3,007 ppm Li at a 1,250-ppm cutoff. As disclosed in the Company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment dated May 19, 2025 (PEA), which is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Resources considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, the Nevada North Lithium Project reported an after-tax NPV8% US $9.17 Billion and after-tax IRR of 22.8% at $24,000/t LCE and an OPEX of US $5,243/t LCE (see the Company’s news release dated July 24, 2025 for further information regarding the PEA).

On behalf of the Board of Directors
“Greg Reimer”
Greg Reimer,
President & CEO

Contact Information
Email : info@surgebatterymetals.com
Phone : 604-662-8184
Website: surgebatterymetals.com

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Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This document may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan” or “planned”, “possible”, “potential”, “forecast”, “intend”, “may”, “schedule” and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the posting of a performance bond, advancing the Project toward a prefeasibility study (and the timing thereof), mine life and the filing of the Agreement. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental (including endangered species, habitat preservation and water-related risks) and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

PCCW Global and Druid Technology sign MoU

Expanding satellite and hybrid IoT connectivity services across the Belt and Road Regions


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 September 2026 – HKT (SEHK: 6823) – PCCW Global, the international telecommunications service provider under HKT, and Druid Technology Co., Ltd. (Druid Technology), a Chinese mainland provider of intelligent IoT solutions, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong. Under the MoU, the two companies plan to jointly deliver one-stop IoT solutions that combine satellite and hybrid connectivity in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Belt and Road regions.

Frederick Chui, CEO, PCCW Global (left) and Li Guozheng, Founder and CEO, Druid Technology (right) signed an MoU at the Belt and Road Summit.
Frederick Chui, CEO, PCCW Global (left) and Li Guozheng, Founder and CEO, Druid Technology (right) signed an MoU at the Belt and Road Summit.

As a provider of intelligent IoT terminals and solutions, Druid Technology will leverage its expertise in device design, multi-network adaptation, data processing and platform integration, together with PCCW Global’s worldwide network services including roaming and cellular IoT to deliver one-stop, ready-to-deploy IoT solutions based on satellite and hybrid (satellite and cellular) connectivity. These solutions will support IoT applications such as remote tracking and monitoring for sectors including transportation, logistics, livestock farming and environmental management in remote locations and areas beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial networks.

Frederick Chui, CEO of PCCW Global, said: “PCCW Global is committed to delivering reliable connectivity and technology solutions through our extensive global network infrastructure. We are delighted to collaborate with Druid Technology and combine its expertise in intelligent IoT solutions with our own capabilities to strengthen our offering of one-stop IoT solutions for enterprise customers in both public and private sectors. Through this collaboration, we look forward to advancing the adoption of satellite and hybrid IoT solutions across Belt and Road markets, helping to meet the growing demand for reliable IoT connectivity and end-to-end solutions in remote and cross-border environments.”

Li Guozheng, Founder and CEO of Druid Technology, said: “We are pleased to become an integrated solutions provider for PCCW Global. By combining Druid Technology’s full-stack capabilities in intelligent IoT terminals, multi-system integration and physical world AI with PCCW Global’s leading global network infrastructure, we will provide customers with more comprehensive one-stop IoT solutions. We believe this collaboration will enable customers to deploy intelligent IoT applications more quickly and reliably, even in remote locations and other challenging environments.”

The solutions will cover terminal devices, network connectivity, data management and technical support. Leveraging its extensive global operational experience, PCCW Global will help accelerate the deployment of the solution across Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, the Belt and Road regions and global markets.

Hashtag: #HKT #PCCWGlobal

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About PCCW Global

PCCW Global is a leading digital infrastructure provider, empowering businesses with agile, scalable and secure connectivity solutions. By combining a best-in-class network with our award-winning on-demand platform Console Connect, we help businesses navigate the network complexities of the digital world with ease. With extensive reach across international markets, we make it simple to connect and move data between clouds, apps, data centres and devices. At the core of our business is a belief that automated, high-performance network infrastructure has the power to elevate business and society. For more information, visit www.pccwglobal.com.