News

Tencent Music Closes $1 Billion Notes Offering to Refinance Debt, Fund Buybacks

Shenzhen – September 16, 2026 -- Tencent Music Entertainment Group has closed a US$1,000 million senior unsecured notes offering, netting approximately US$991.9 million after underwriting discounts and expenses.

TME splits offering into two tranches maturing 2031 and 2036

The offering consists of US$500 million in 5.050% notes due 2031 and US$500 million in 5.650% notes due 2036. The notes are registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and are set to list on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on September 11, 2026.

Proceeds earmarked for offshore debt refinancing and share repurchases

TME plans to direct the net proceeds toward general corporate purposes, including refinancing existing offshore indebtedness and funding share buybacks. The company, dual-listed as NYSE: TME and HKEX: 1698, operates China's QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music, WeSing and Ximalaya platforms.

KB Home Sales Rep Sues Over Alleged Harassment, Retaliation

Las Vegas – September 16, 2026 -- Stephanie Cherney, a Lead Area Sales Representative for KB Home in Las Vegas, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging years of sexual harassment, coercion and retaliation by the homebuilder, according to a complaint lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

Top-performing sales rep alleges coerced relationship led to retaliation

Cherney, named one of KB Home's top 10 sales counselors companywide in FY2024, remains employed by the company while pursuing the claim. The lawsuit, filed July 22, 2026, asserts violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Nevada Fair Employment Practices Act and the Equal Pay Act.

CSL Seqirus Publishes Phase 3 Data on Triple-Technology Flu Vaccine in Lancet

Maidenhead, United Kingdom – September 16, 2026 -- CSL Seqirus has published pivotal Phase 3 results for its MF59-adjuvanted, cell-based, higher-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIVc) in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reporting superiority over an adjuvanted egg-based comparator across all four influenza strains and age groups tested in a 7,699-participant trial.

Trial enrolled nearly 7,700 adults aged 50 and older across eight countries

The randomised, observer-blind study recruited participants in Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States, comparing aQIVc against an MF59-adjuvanted egg-based quadrivalent vaccine and a recombinant quadrivalent vaccine. The vaccine met its primary objectives, showing non-inferiority versus the recombinant comparator for three of four strains in the 50-plus group and four of four strains in those aged 65 and above.

Experts Issue First Global Consensus on Type 1 Diabetes Screening

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Experts Issue First Global Consensus on Type 1 Diabetes Screening

New York – September 16, 2026 -- A consensus paper published in Diabetologia establishes the first international framework for population-wide screening of type 1 diabetes (T1D), setting concrete age thresholds and testing protocols for clinical adoption.

Nearly 30 global experts define screening ages and intervals

The guidance, convened by Breakthrough T1D and developed by close to 30 international experts, recommends initial autoantibody screening for children aged 2-4 years. Children who test negative should be rescreened at ages 6-8 and again at 10-15, timed to align with routine preventative healthcare visits. Initial positive results require confirmation with a second test before diagnosis is made.

Carbliss Partners With Dale Carnegie for Twice-Yearly Leadership Training

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Carbliss Partners With Dale Carnegie for Twice-Yearly Leadership Training

Plymouth, Wis. – September 16, 2026 -- Carbliss, the ready-to-drink cocktail maker that has sold more than 300 million cans since 2019, has signed a partnership with Dale Carnegie of Eastern Wisconsin to deliver twice-yearly leadership and communication training to its entire national team starting next year.

Carbliss formalizes a longstanding coaching relationship into a company-wide program

The initiative, led by Corrina Molinaro, Director of Human Resources at Carbliss, builds on a personal relationship between Dale Carnegie of Eastern Wisconsin owners Steve Bobowski and Renee Martin and Carbliss co-founders Adam and Amanda Kroener. That coaching has already influenced parts of the Carbliss organization before the partnership was made official.

Avignonesi Named Sole Italian Nominee for Wine Enthusiast Winery Award

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Avignonesi Named Sole Italian Nominee for Wine Enthusiast Winery Award

Montepulciano, Italy – September 16, 2026 -- Avignonesi, Italy's largest fully biodynamically certified wine estate, has been nominated for European Winery of the Year in Wine Enthusiast's 2026 Wine Star Awards, marking the estate as the sole Italian producer selected in the category.

Avignonesi stands as the only Italian nominee among European contenders

The nomination recognizes the historic Vino Nobile di Montepulciano D.O.C.G. producer for its scale of responsible viticulture and long-term land stewardship. Winners for the 27th annual Wine Star Awards will be announced at a black-tie gala in January 2027.

SIQA Launches AI Music Verification Registry, Sets LA Awards Show

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SIQA Launches AI Music Verification Registry, Sets LA Awards Show

Los Angeles – September 16, 2026 -- The Sonic Intelligence Academy Inc. (SIQA) has launched the SIQA Verified Registry, a system that lets artists verify the provenance of AI-generated tracks before release rather than face flagging after distribution.

Registry classifies tracks under three categories to fight platform confusion

The SIQA Verified Registry sorts music under the SIQA Classification Framework into three tiers: Fully AI-Generated, AI-Assisted, or Human + AI Hybrid, the latter covering techniques such as vocal cloning. The system moves beyond the generic 'AI-Generated' label now used across streaming platforms including Spotify and Deezer, where AI-made tracks have proliferated faster than the industry can track, according to reporting from Billboard and Music Business Worldwide. SIQA's stated approach is 'Verified, Not Flagged,' positioning verification as a credential artists can carry rather than a dispute they must fight.

Chicago Faucets Joins BACnet International, Launches CF Connect PLUS

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Chicago Faucets Joins BACnet International, Launches CF Connect PLUS

Des Plaines, Ill. – September 16, 2026 -- Chicago Faucets has joined BACnet International and launched CF Connect PLUS, a system that links electronic faucets directly to building automation systems (BAS) via native BACnet/IP integration.

CF Connect PLUS captures water temperature at the point of use, not just at centralized equipment

Unlike traditional BAS inputs that monitor centralized plumbing equipment, CF Connect PLUS uses retrofit temperature sensors installed at faucet angle stops to measure water temperature directly where it reaches occupants. That data is relayed to a CF Connect PLUS Gateway, which communicates with the BAS using the BACnet/IP protocol.

SF International School Completes 177,000 Sq Ft Campus Overhaul

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SF International School Completes 177,000 Sq Ft Campus Overhaul

San Francisco – September 16, 2026 -- The International School of San Francisco has completed a full renovation of its 177,000-square-foot Hayes Valley campus, marking the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 9. The 64-year-old institution, the largest secular independent school in the city, converted a former Caltrans structure built in 1948 into a modernized educational facility spanning an entire city block.

Over 300 windows replaced to boost energy efficiency and natural light

The renovation included the replacement of more than 300 windows, installation of a modernized HVAC system, and redesigned lower and middle school classrooms. Faculty and staff workspaces were also reconfigured as part of the overhaul.

First Horizon Bank Names Jennifer Feske Senior Portfolio Manager in New Orleans

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First Horizon Bank Names Jennifer Feske Senior Portfolio Manager in New Orleans

New Orleans – – September 16, 2026 -- First Horizon Bank has appointed Jennifer Feske as Senior Commercial Portfolio Manager for its New Orleans market, tasking her with managing the bank's Northshore commercial portfolios.

Feske brings 15 years of banking experience to St. Tammany Parish accounts

Feske's background spans commercial banking and portfolio management, and she will now oversee client relationships across the Northshore region of the New Orleans market.

Jimmy Dunn cites market expertise as key to regional growth

Jimmy Dunn, New Orleans Market President for First Horizon Bank, said Feske's banking experience and market knowledge would benefit clients as the bank expands relationships throughout St. Tammany Parish.