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KfW: 30% of German SMEs Foresee Falling Export Revenue

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KfW: 30% of German SMEs Foresee Falling Export Revenue

Frankfurt am Main – September 09, 2026 -- Thirty percent of German small and mid-sized companies (Mittelstand) with foreign business expect their cross-border revenues to decline over the next three years, according to a new KfW Research study, with 6 percent forecasting a sharp drop. Roughly 24 percent anticipate growth, while 47 percent expect no change.

The findings stem from a January 2026 survey conducted before the outbreak of the Iran conflict, meaning sentiment may have since deteriorated further.

Shenzhen Launches Media Cooperation Initiative for Asia-Pacific

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Shenzhen Launches Media Cooperation Initiative for Asia-Pacific

Shenzhen – September 09, 2026 -- Shenzhen Media Group has launched a media cooperation initiative titled "Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific" at the opening of the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, inviting media organizations across the region to join three long-term programs.

Initiative targets three areas of media collaboration

The program centers on technology sharing, content co-creation, and talent development among Asia-Pacific media partners. Shenzhen Media Group positioned the city's transformation from a fishing village into an international metropolis over four decades as a case study for regional media outlets seeking to document China's development.

A&S Resources Secures $6B Rail Financing for $2.5T Iron Ore Project

LONDON – September 09, 2026 -- A&S Resources Limited has secured $6 billion in financing from the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) to build a 1,350-km railway linking its mineral assets in the Central African Republic (CAR) to international export markets via Cameroon.

Railway will connect landlocked CAR to Cameroon's Kribi deep-water port

The dual-track, heavy-cargo railway is designed to carry 250,000 tonnes of freight per day, with capacity expandable to 300,000 tonnes. It removes a critical infrastructure bottleneck that has constrained mining development in CAR, a landlocked nation with no direct rail access to seaborne export routes.

Cologne Court Upholds Injunction Against AEKE Over Gym Monster Design

Shenzhen – September 09, 2026 -- The Cologne Regional Court has upheld an interim injunction against Shenzhen Qudong Future Technology Co., Ltd. ("AEKE") for infringing a registered EU design held by Shenzhen Speediance Life Tech Limited ("Speediance") for its Gym Monster smart strength training system, barring AEKE from advertising, offering or selling the disputed equipment in Germany.

Court confirms original injunction remains fully effective
Ruling in Case No. 31 O 132/26, the Landgericht Köln confirmed that its April 17, 2026 order against AEKE stands in its entirety following a June 25, 2026 hearing triggered by AEKE's challenge. The court also ordered the removal of the disputed products and related marketing materials from the German market.

SIAL West Asia Guangzhou Draws 1,500 Exhibitors to Bay Area Trade Hub

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SIAL West Asia Guangzhou Draws 1,500 Exhibitors to Bay Area Trade Hub

Guangzhou – September 09, 2026 -- More than 1,500 food and beverage exhibitors from China and abroad gathered at the 2026 SIAL West Asia International Food Exhibition, which opened September 3 at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo and spans 60,000 square meters.

Exhibition positions Guangzhou as gateway between China and ASEAN markets

Co-organized by Comexposium, Beijing Aibo SIAL Exhibition Co., Ltd., Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Group, and Beijing SIAL Exhibition Co., Ltd., the event is branded the "First Stop for Entering the Bay Area and Going Global." It operates as a flagship event under Guangdong province's "Trade Nationwide" and "Trade Global" initiatives, running through September 5 across 14 specialized zones covering imported foods, snacks, dairy, beverages, seasonings, and fresh products.

Pudu Robotics Debuts D7 Semi-Humanoid Robot at IFA 2026 in Berlin

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Pudu Robotics Debuts D7 Semi-Humanoid Robot at IFA 2026 in Berlin

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- Pudu Robotics unveiled the European debut of its PUDU D7 semi-humanoid robot at IFA 2026, showcasing a portfolio that has already shipped more than 130,000 units across 85 countries and 1,000 cities.

PUDU D7 wins IFA Innovation Award honor in embodied AI category

The next-generation robot, designed to perceive surroundings, interact with people and manipulate objects, was named an IFA Innovation Award Honoree in the IFA NEXT & Emerging Tech category. At the Berlin booth, D7 performs live demonstrations including taking photos with visitors, self-perspective selfies, heart-hand gestures and object pickup on request.

Xcotton Pitches Post-Purchase Protection to Brands at IFA 2026

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Xcotton Pitches Post-Purchase Protection to Brands at IFA 2026

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- While thousands of exhibitors at IFA 2026 promote smarter devices and AI-driven gadgets, U.S.-based Xcotton is using the Berlin trade show to sell brands on a different proposition: what happens to a customer relationship after the checkout button is clicked.

Xcotton offers shipping, product and insurance-backed protection for e-commerce merchants

Xcotton operates as a post-purchase protection platform, enabling online merchants to bundle shipping protection, product protection and insurance-backed coverage into the buying experience. The company positions these tools as a way to offset delivery risk -- lost, delayed, stolen or damaged shipments -- that can trigger refunds, replacement costs and customer-service workload as order volumes scale internationally.

ToolDance Launches X1 Desktop CNC Mill at IFA 2026 in Berlin

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ToolDance Launches X1 Desktop CNC Mill at IFA 2026 in Berlin

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- ToolDance unveiled its flagship X1 Smart Desktop CNC Mill at IFA 2026 in Berlin, targeting engineers, makers, and small manufacturers with a machine that delivers ±0.01mm positioning repeatability.

X1 spindle reaches 24,000rpm while retaining torque for roughing operations

The X1 is built around a 1,500W permanent magnet synchronous motor spindle that maintains torque at low speeds for heavy material removal and scales up to 24,000rpm for finishing passes. Its three-axis work envelope measures 400 x 265 x 180mm, sized for fixtures, molds, machine plates, and multi-part production runs. The machine accepts tool shanks up to 10mm, widening the range of cutters available for larger jobs, and supports both dry and flood-coolant machining across metals, wood, and engineering plastics.

Inturai Ventures Closes Private Placement, Raises $963,713.70

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Inturai Ventures Closes Private Placement, Raises $963,713.70

Vancouver – September 09, 2026 -- Inturai Ventures Corp. (CSE: URAI) (OTC: URAIF) (FSE: 3QG0) has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement, bringing total gross proceeds from the offering to $963,713.70.

Final tranche adds $22,714.05 to funding round

The company issued 151,427 Units at $0.15 per Unit in the second and final tranche, completing an offering that in aggregate saw 6,424,758 Units sold since inception.

Each unit pairs a share with a two-year warrant priced at $0.25

Every Unit comprises one common share and one warrant, with the warrant exercisable for 24 months at $0.25 per share. The warrants carry an accelerated expiry clause: if Inturai's share price closes at or above $0.35 for five consecutive trading days, the company can trigger a 30-day exercise window before expiry.

Hyundai Steel Breaks Ground on $5.8B Louisiana EAF Mill

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Hyundai Steel Breaks Ground on $5.8B Louisiana EAF Mill

Ascension Parish, Louisiana – September 09, 2026 -- Hyundai Steel Company held a ceremonial launch for a $5.8 billion Electric Arc Furnace-based integrated steel mill in Louisiana, marking the first facility of its kind in North America.

Joint venture targets 2029 commercial output at 2.7 million metric tons

The mill will be operated by HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC (HPLS), a joint venture between Hyundai Steel, POSCO, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation. Commercial production is targeted for 2029 with annual capacity of 2.7 million metric tons of hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheets aimed primarily at automotive applications.

Chery-Backed DELIVAN to Unveil EV Vans at IAA Transportation 2026

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Chery-Backed DELIVAN to Unveil EV Vans at IAA Transportation 2026

Liverpool – September 09, 2026 -- DELIVAN, the European-focused commercial vehicle brand backed by Chery Holding, will unveil its first production models at IAA Transportation 2026, following its global debut at the Birmingham Commercial Vehicle Show in April 2026. DELIVAN operates as a subsidiary of Chery Commercial Vehicle.

DELIVAN to reveal two fully electric production vans in different size classes

The two production vehicles represent distinct segments of DELIVAN's planned European lineup and are designed to address varied professional use cases. Four converted variants will accompany the base models, demonstrating the platform's adaptability for specialized applications.

AtomVie Opens $160M Radiopharma Plant, North America's Largest CDMO Site

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AtomVie Opens $160M Radiopharma Plant, North America's Largest CDMO Site

Hamilton, Ontario – September 09, 2026 -- AtomVie Global Radiopharma has opened a new $160 million manufacturing facility in Hamilton, Ontario, that the company calls the largest single-site radiopharmaceutical CDMO plant in North America.

New 72,300-square-foot plant multiplies manufacturing capacity tenfold

The purpose-built facility at 10 Aeropark Boulevard spans 72,300 square feet and increases AtomVie's manufacturing capacity by more than ten times its previous output. The site is designed to handle low- to high-volume production runs and supports a continuous path from early-stage clinical development through commercial-scale manufacturing.

Rho Adds Credit Card and Google Pay Payments to Invoicing Platform

New York – September 09, 2026 -- Rho now lets Rho Invoicing customers accept credit card, debit card, and Google Pay payments directly on invoices, adding to existing ACH and wire options within the same banking account.

Card payments carry a 2.9% plus $0.30 processing fee paid by the invoicing business

The fee is deducted from the payment before funds deposit into the business's account, while inbound ACH and wire transfers remain free. Payers are not shown a surcharge at checkout. Card payments apply only to USD-denominated invoices and are capped at a default daily limit of $10,000 across a business's invoices, with higher limits available on request.

Amwell Wins Frost & Sullivan 2026 Innovation Award for Virtual Care Platform

San Antonio – September 09, 2026 -- Frost & Sullivan has named Amwell the recipient of its 2026 United States Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition in the Technology-Enabled Care Platforms industry, citing the company's unified platform for connecting patients, health plan members, clinicians and partner networks.

Amwell platform now supports 90 million covered lives and 38.7 million virtual visits

Frost & Sullivan's benchmarking evaluated Amwell across strategy effectiveness and strategy execution, awarding top marks in both categories. The firm pointed to the platform's clinically integrated workflows and scalability as differentiators for organizations seeking to consolidate fragmented point solutions into a single operating layer spanning virtual primary care, urgent care, behavioral health and chronic condition management.

Sinopec Launches Low-Carbon Energy Initiative With Kazakhstan at CCUS Summit

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Sinopec Launches Low-Carbon Energy Initiative With Kazakhstan at CCUS Summit

Astana – September 09, 2026 -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") joined Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy, the International Cooperation Organization for Technological Innovation in CCUS (ICTO), and the Institute of New Materials and Energy Technologies at Nazarbayev University to launch a Low-Carbon Energy Development Cooperation Initiative at the 2026 International CCUS Technology Conference in Astana on September 1-2.

Initiative targets closer coordination on CCUS technology and standards
The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies and standards, alongside expanded professional exchange across the sector. Government, industry and international-organization representatives from China, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada attended the launch.

Potomac Edison Seeks $52.8M Maryland Rate Hike for Grid Upgrades

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Potomac Edison Seeks $52.8M Maryland Rate Hike for Grid Upgrades

Williamsport, Md. – September 09, 2026 -- Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, has filed a $52.8 million rate adjustment proposal with the Maryland Public Service Commission that would raise the average residential customer's monthly bill by approximately 5.3%.

Even after the increase, Potomac Edison's residential rates would remain the lowest among Maryland's investor-owned electric utilities. As of June 1, the utility's rates stood 25% below the average of its in-state peers.

Cheche Group Net Revenue Falls 34.4% as It Pivots to AI Insurance Tech

Beijing – September 09, 2026 -- Cheche Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CCG) reported a 34.4% year-over-year decline in net revenues to RMB885.0 million (US$130.4 million) for the first half of 2026, as the Chinese auto insurance technology platform deliberately exits lower-margin business lines to focus on new energy vehicle (NEV) insurance and AI-driven services.

Net loss widens 72.3% despite margin gains

Net loss increased to RMB44.1 million (US$6.5 million) from RMB25.6 million in the prior-year period, driven largely by a RMB35.1 million (US$5.2 million) specific allowance for credit losses on long-aged, high-risk receivables. Adjusted net loss rose 257.7% to RMB37.7 million (US$5.6 million). Gross margin nonetheless expanded to 6.5% from 4.9%, as NEV premiums climbed to 31.0% of total written premiums from 22.5% a year earlier.

Kate Layman Joins Woodsboro Bank, Mental Health Association Boards

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Kate Layman Joins Woodsboro Bank, Mental Health Association Boards

Frederick, Md. – September 09, 2026 -- Kate Layman, founder of commercial real estate firm M.C. Layman, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Woodsboro Bank and the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association, marking the company's two-year anniversary with an expanded community presence in Frederick County, Maryland.

Layman brings commercial real estate expertise to a local community bank

The Woodsboro Bank appointment places Layman's background in commercial real estate, property management and business operations on the board of a community bank with longstanding roots in Frederick County.

Second board seat extends Layman's focus to mental health services

Layman's appointment to the Mental Health Association Board of Directors applies the same community-oriented perspective from her real estate work to an organization addressing regional mental health needs.

ASU Joins 8 Universities in New US Manufacturing Workforce Initiative

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ASU Joins 8 Universities in New US Manufacturing Workforce Initiative

Washington – September 09, 2026 -- Arizona State University has been named one of eight universities to lead the Foundry School, a U.S. Department of State initiative run in partnership with the Department of Labor to train the next generation of American manufacturing workers.

Vice President Vance unveils national manufacturing education program

The Foundry School was announced by Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington, D.C., alongside Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and university presidents, including ASU President Michael Crow. Students from ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering were invited to the announcement.

"This is about universities and industry working together to accelerate all things associated with enhancing workforce preparation, enhancement and competitiveness," said Crow.

GSC AI Agent Stack Tops 24.5 Million Transactions in August

Vancouver, BC and Sydney – – September 09, 2026 -- GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) said its AI Agent Stack processed more than 24.5 million inbound AI agent transactions in August, roughly nine every second, up from a steady 9.5 million per month in May, June and July. Cumulative transactions since May now exceed 50 million.

GSC's AI Agent Stack Jumps to 24.5 Million Monthly Transactions From 9.5 Million

The August total marks a more than twofold increase over the prior three-month run rate. GSC positioned the milestone against Amazon.com's early growth curve, noting it took the e-commerce giant four years to reach its first 10 million customers in 1999. GSC's agents operate as a managed service that answers retail buying AI agents on brand availability and orderability, routing confirmed orders to the GSC Trading Deck for human sign-off — a model the company calls AI Orderability.