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Boats Group Data: 5% Listing Score Gain Drives 494% More Page Views

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Boats Group Data: 5% Listing Score Gain Drives 494% More Page Views

Miami – September 11, 2026 -- Boats Group customer data shows a Mid-Atlantic brokerage generated 494% more boat detail page views after raising its average listing score by just 5%, as the marketplace operator pushes brokers and dealers to optimize inventory ahead of fall boat show season.

The company reports marketplace traffic climbs approximately 30% in the weeks surrounding major boat shows, as buyers research brands and compare models before and after visiting docks. Boats Group says listing quality during that window directly determines which sellers capture buyer attention.

GAC Exports Surge 177% in August, Africa Sales Jump 881%

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GAC Exports Surge 177% in August, Africa Sales Jump 881%

Guangzhou, China – September 11, 2026 -- GAC Group shipped 26,978 vehicles under its own brands in international markets in August, an increase of 177% year-on-year, extending a run of overseas expansion that has pushed cumulative exports close to 600,000 units.

Exports for the January-August period totaled 172,008 units, up 136% from the same period last year, according to figures released by the Guangzhou-based automaker.

Africa posts steepest growth as retail sales climb 881%

Africa emerged as GAC's fastest-growing overseas market in August, with retail sales rising 881% year-on-year. The company finalized a local production agreement in Egypt with Jameel Motors and formally entered the Ghanaian market, launching a lineup that includes the S7, GS8 and AION V models.

Utemuratov Foundation Commits $1M to Almaty Gasification Drive

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Utemuratov Foundation Commits $1M to Almaty Gasification Drive

Almaty – September 11, 2026 -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has allocated 460 million tenge (approximately $1 million) to fund natural gas connections for private homes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, under an agreement signed with the city's Akimat (mayor's office).

Foundation funding targets private homes still burning solid fuel for heat

The initiative supports the transition of private residences from coal to natural gas heating, addressing a major source of seasonal air pollution in Almaty during the winter heating period.

Akimat to handle site assessments while contractors execute connection works

Under the signed agreement, the Almaty Akimat will inspect eligible private homes, advise residents on connection procedures, and guide them through the transition process. Qualified contractors will then carry out the required construction and installation work to link properties to the municipal gas network.

Church Mutual Names Ben Parisi VP of Finance Operations, FP&A

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Church Mutual Names Ben Parisi VP of Finance Operations, FP&A

Merrill, Wis. – September 11, 2026 -- Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. has appointed Ben Parisi to a newly created role as vice president, head of finance operations and financial planning and analysis, the insurer announced.

Parisi will oversee core finance functions across the organization

Parisi's mandate covers finance operations, expense management, procurement, payroll, financial planning and analysis, and management reporting. He will report directly to Daniel Kim, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Church Mutual.

HK Jockey Club Tops $774M Annual Giving, Marks PBC Forum's 10th Year

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HK Jockey Club Tops $774M Annual Giving, Marks PBC Forum's 10th Year

Hong Kong – September 11, 2026 -- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust approved an average of US$774 million in donations annually between 2020 and 2024, ranking it as Asia's largest corporate donor and eighth largest globally, according to a Bridgespan Group study released at the close of the Club's PBC forum on September 8, 2026.

Bridgespan data confirms Jockey Club's position as Asia's top corporate donor

The corporate giving research, unveiled during PBC 2026, benchmarked the Trust's donation volume against global peers and placed it at the top of the regional ranking. A separate Bridgespan report, backed by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation, examined how Asia's wealthiest families structure philanthropic giving alongside business interests.

LumApps Names Sébastien Cano CEO, Founder Ricard Becomes Chairman

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LumApps Names Sébastien Cano CEO, Founder Ricard Becomes Chairman

Austin -- LumApps has appointed Sébastien Cano as Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2026, succeeding founder Sébastien Ricard, who moves into the newly created role of Executive Chairman.

Cano joins from a two-decade enterprise software career at Thales and Gemalto

Cano previously held senior executive posts at Thales and Gemalto, where he led international operations and business expansion. At LumApps he will take over day-to-day operations, focusing on executing the company's Workhub product vision and expanding customer value across global markets.

TOSOT Expands Light Commercial HVAC Line With Three New Configurations

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TOSOT Expands Light Commercial HVAC Line With Three New Configurations

Las Vegas – September 11, 2026 -- TOSOT has expanded its light commercial HVAC lineup with three new indoor unit configurations -- Floor/Ceiling, Concealed Ducted, and Ceiling Cassette -- under the Aoraki Light Commercial Series, giving contractors added installation flexibility across retail, restaurant, and office projects.

New systems target different installation constraints across commercial spaces

The Aoraki lineup is ENERGY STAR certified and rated for cooling up to 140°F and heating down to -40°F. All three configurations use R32 refrigerant and share low-voltage startup, anti-freeze protection, and intelligent defrost features. Select models reach efficiency ratings up to 24 SEER2.

Surfshark Buys Majority Stake in US Data Removal Firm Optery

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Surfshark Buys Majority Stake in US Data Removal Firm Optery

Vilnius – September 11, 2026 -- Surfshark has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Optery, a US-based data removal company, marking the cybersecurity group's second strategic acquisition after Ironwall in 2024.

Surfshark adds Optery's US data broker coverage to its privacy portfolio

Optery specializes in deleting personal information from search engine results, data brokers, and people-search sites, using scanning technology and screenshot-based reporting to track removals. The deal brings Optery's US market expertise into Surfshark's existing ecosystem, which includes Incogni, Ironwall, and HeyPolo.

Optery will operate as a standalone unit, retaining its own team and clients

Surfshark confirmed that Optery will keep separate teams, client bases, and technical architectures from its other brands, following the same autonomous structure used for Ironwall since its 2024 acquisition.

BackBox Launches Kilter AI, Keeps Humans in Control of Network Security

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BackBox Launches Kilter AI, Keeps Humans in Control of Network Security

Dallas – September 11, 2026 -- BackBox unveiled Kilter AI, a new intelligence layer for its network cyber resilience platform, built on a human-in-the-loop model rather than full autonomy. The company rebranded its platform as Kilter and positioned the AI layer as a decision-support tool for network operations and security (NetSecOps) teams, not a replacement for them.

Vulnerability data spiked 20% in 2025, raising pressure on security teams

More than 48,000 new CVEs were published in 2025, a 20% increase year-over-year, and roughly 60% of breach victims trace incidents to a known, unpatched vulnerability, according to BackBox. The company said attackers can now exploit weaknesses within days rather than months or years, intensifying pressure on understaffed NetSecOps teams managing tools across fragmented environments.

Greenville Tech Posts 94% Placement Rate as Upstate Employers Seek Skilled Talent

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Greenville Tech Posts 94% Placement Rate as Upstate Employers Seek Skilled Talent

Greenville, S.C. – September 11, 2026 -- Greenville Technical College reports a 94% graduate placement rate as Upstate, South Carolina employers in health care, advanced manufacturing, aviation and technology compete for skilled workers during national Workforce Development Month.

Graduates feed talent pipelines at BMW, Michelin and Lockheed Martin

Greenville Tech graduates are employed across the region's largest employers, including BMW, Michelin, Lockheed Martin, Bon Secours Mercy Health and Prisma Health. Dr. Candice Lewis, chief academic officer, said the college's academic programs, workforce certificates and customized training are designed to align directly with employer needs, producing students who are either employed in-field or continuing their education upon graduation.