A&O Shearman advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) in connection with the financing arranged by the joint venture Baltic Storage Platform. This financing supports two battery energy storage projects located in Estonia: Hertz 1, inaugurated in Kiisa on February 2 and now fully operational, and Hertz 2, currently under construction in Aruküla.
This transaction represents the first project financing in the Baltic countries that is exclusively structured around the revenues generated by energy storage assets. This major milestone demonstrates the private sector’s direct investment in strategic energy infrastructure, offering a concrete response to the region’s security-of-supply and energy independence challenges. Both the EBRD and the NIB financings benefit from a first-loss risk cover from the European Union under its InvestEu program.
The commissioning of Hertz 1 marks the first major step in the rollout of the Hertz 1–Hertz 2 complex. Once completed, the two projects—located approximately 25 km from Tallinn—will form one of the largest battery complexes in continental Europe, with a combined capacity of 200 MW of power and 400 MWh of storage. These assets will play a critical role in stabilizing the Baltic power system and in accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.
Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published a new insights paper, Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye, examining the drivers of gender pay disparities in one of Europe’s most important fashion sourcing hubs. Launched during a closed-door industry roundtable at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris, the insights paper explores how structural factors, including occupational segregation, care responsibilities, and limited data visibility, continue to shape pay outcomes for women in Türkiye’s textile and apparel sector, while highlighting opportunities for coordinated action across policy makers, brands, other buyers, and suppliers.
The insights paper draws on a facility-level survey of 43 Turkish textile and apparel manufacturers, interviews with trade unions and worker associations, and input from social sustainability experts including the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), the Fair Labor Association (FLA), and the Anker Research Institute (ARI). The findings offer a nuanced picture of pay equity in a sector that employs nearly one million formally registered workers and contributes approximately 7.8% of Türkiye’s national GDP.
Key Findings:
Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye highlights several key insights into pay equity within the Turkish fashion manufacturing industry:
Türkiye’s gender pay gap is estimated at between 15.6% and 17.4%. The EU average of around 12%. The insights paper cautions, however, that headline pay gap figures alone can mask deeper structural inequalities within the sector.
Gender pay disparities are driven largely by structural factors rather than unequal pay for the same work, including occupational segregation, differences in career progression opportunities, cultural norms, access to training, and the distribution of care responsibilities.
Women remain concentrated in lower-paid production, sewing and quality control roles, while men are more prevalent in higher-paid technical and supervisory positions – a key driver of persistent pay inequalities.
The insights paper finds that limited measurement and disclosure of gender-disaggregated wage data continues to hinder companies’ ability to identify where inequality sits – and therefore to address it effectively.
Ongoing economic pressures, including inflation and rising production costs, have placed sustained strain on the sector. Despite this, many manufacturers are making concerted efforts to maintain formal employment, comply with labour laws and protect jobs, demonstrating resilience in challenging conditions.
Closing gender pay gaps is not only a social imperative but a business one. Improving pay equity can strengthen workforce morale, retention and long-term resilience, while supporting alignment with evolving EU regulatory and buyer expectations. As EU pay transparency and due diligence requirements increasingly affect global supply chains, brands sourcing from Türkiye require greater visibility into wage practices across their supply chains.
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Today’s figures show how the UK economy is performing, using a measure called GDP – Gross Domestic Product.
GDP measures the size and health of a country’s economy by assessing how much is produced, spent and earned over a period of time.
But the measure doesn’t tell the whole story, especially important aspects of people’s living standards or how wealth is shared.
Generally, economists, politicians, and businesses prefer GDP to grow steadily – as it means people are spending more, more jobs are being created, and more tax is being paid.
If GDP shrinks for two quarters in a row, this is known as a recession, which can lead to pay freezes and job losses.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai Ark Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“ArkBio”) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for AK3280, a novel anti-fibrotic therapy for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This clearance enables ArkBio to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept (PoC) clinical trial of AK3280 in the United States.
The Phase 2 study is a multi-center, randomized, partially double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of oral AK3280 in patients with IPF. Authorization to proceed with a U.S. Phase 2 study represents a significant milestone in the global clinical development of AK3280.
IPF is a progressive, irreversible, and ultimately fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by fibrotic remodeling of lung tissue that leads to respiratory failure. The median survival following diagnosis is approximately 2–5 years. Currently approved therapies, including pirfenidone, nintedanib, and nerandomilast, can slow disease progression; however, their clinical benefit remains limited and they are frequently associated with gastrointestinal adverse events such as diarrhea and nausea. These tolerability challenges contribute to poor long-term adherence in a substantial proportion of patients. There remains a significant unmet need for therapies that provide improved efficacy with enhanced safety and tolerability profiles.
AK3280 is an optimized, small-molecule, broad-spectrum anti-fibrotic agent. In a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study conducted in China, AK3280 demonstrated encouraging clinical activity, including a statistically significant, dose-dependent absolute increase from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC) at Week 24. Improvements were also observed across additional lung function parameters, suggesting meaningful clinical benefit. Importantly, AK3280 exhibited a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no apparent increase in the gastrointestinal adverse effects commonly associated with currently available IPF therapies.
FDA clearance of the IND marks a pivotal step in the global development of AK3280. The upcoming international Phase 2 PoC trial is expected to generate critical clinical data to support future regulatory submissions and potential commercialization in the United States and other major markets. ArkBio remains committed to advancing AK3280 globally and to delivering more effective and better-tolerated treatment options for patients living with IPF.
About ArkBio
ArkBio is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for respiratory and pediatric diseases. Founded in 2014, the company has established proprietary technology platforms and a differentiated R&D pipeline through internal innovation and strategic collaborations.
Key pipeline assets include: Ziresovir (AK0529), the first direct-acting antiviral for RSV with positive pivotal Phase 3 results; AK3280, a potentially best-in-class anti-fibrotic agent with positive Phase 2 results in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; AK0901, approved in China for the treatment of ADHD and currently commercialized.
ArkBio has established strategic partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions, including Roche, Genentech, The Scripps Research Institute, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as domestic and international biotech companies and venture capital partners.
For more information, please visit: www.arkbiosciences.com Investor Inquiries: [email protected]
Samsung Electronics Australia has reclaimed its title for having best-in-class customer satisfaction across smartphone users, winning the 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Smartphones from Canstar Blue, Australia’s best-known and respected comparison website.
In the lead-up to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco for the Galaxy S series, this latest award builds on a strong history of recognition for providing unmatched customer satisfaction for Samsung’s extensive range of smartphones. An award-winning brand, Samsung recently won Canstar’s 2025 Innovation Excellence Award for its glare-free TV technology, and had previously scooped up back-to-back Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Awards for Smartphones in 2024 and 2023.
The 2026 award followed a nationwide survey of more than 1,100 Australians, which asked consumers who had purchased a brand new smartphone in the last two years to rate their satisfaction in key categories including durability, design, camera quality, battery and charging performance, user friendliness, value for money and overall satisfaction.
Eric Chou, Vice President of Mobile eXperience at Samsung Australia, said, “This latest accolade once again showcases Samsung’s commitment to driving meaningful innovation that’s shaped by real customers’ needs, and we’re proud to be honoured with this customer satisfaction award.”
“Our goal is to redefine what’s possible when it comes to mobile hardware and software, improving convenience and functionality, and making sure our whole range of products moves to match the evolving needs of Australians. In an increasingly competitive smartphone market, we’re thrilled to see that our customers are overwhelmingly happy with their experience when using a Samsung phone.”
Tara Donnelly, Canstar Blue’s Managing Editor, Utilities, added, “Samsung has won over public opinion to secure Canstar’s 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Smartphones.
“Canstar’s research shows the cost of living is influencing purchasing decisions, with price the most important factor when choosing a new phone – shaping both the timing of phone upgrades and the type of device they buy.
“Australians gave Samsung strong ratings across the board, identified for offering value and with standout performance in durability and battery life – alongside its AI features that have transformed how Australians work, create and stay connected. The award gives credit to Samsung’s ability to deliver life-changing innovation while meeting consumers’ expectations for long-term value.”
2025 saw Samsung release an exciting range of new smartphones, leaning on cutting edge hardware and AI evolution with the Galaxy S series, hardware innovation with the launch of the Galaxy Z series, as well as an emphasis on boosted functionality in an accessible package with the Galaxy A series. Across the board, a blend of innovation and delivering value for customers has propelled Samsung’s recent suite of devices and set the groundwork for what is to come in 2026. The exciting next chapter begins with Galaxy Unpacked on February 26.
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Fermi America joined Hyundai E&C’s Large-Scale Nuclear Technology Seminar in Dallas to engage contractors and strengthen U.S. nuclear supply chain and workforce readiness.
Ongoing FEED work advances planning for four AP1000 units supporting Project Matador, Fermi America’s 11GW private energy campus outside Amarillo, Texas.
AMARILLO, Texas, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fermi Inc. (d/b/a Fermi America) (Nasdaq & LSE: FRMI), operating as Fermi America™, today highlighted continued progress in its strategic partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Hyundai E&C) to help restart large-scale nuclear construction in the United States, including ongoing Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) work supporting four AP1000 units planned for Fermi America’s Project Matador, an 11-gigawatt private energy campus outside Amarillo, Texas.
Mesut Uzman, Chief Nuclear Construction Officer of Fermi America, Addresses Hyundai E&C Conference in Dallas
Fermi America is building this partnership as part of its long-term strategy to bring proven nuclear success and global delivery capability back to America and accelerate the deployment of the reliable, large-scale baseload power needed to meet rapidly rising demand for power in America.
As part of the partnership, Fermi America participated in Hyundai E&C’s Large-Scale Nuclear Technology Seminar on Feb. 10 at The Westin Dallas Downtown. The event brought together leaders from across the U.S. construction and nuclear sectors for practical, discipline-specific sessions on what it takes to build large-scale nuclear projects in today’s market. It also provided an opportunity to engage Texas and national contractors, strengthen supply chain readiness, and align industry partners around the execution demands of next-generation nuclear development.
The seminar covered key construction disciplines and execution topics including nuclear construction standards, modular construction concepts and procedures, major mechanical installation disciplines, specialized nuclear construction works, heavy lifting, nuclear plant building systems, and workforce development and training for skilled nuclear personnel. The event drew strong participation from Texas-based construction companies and major stakeholders across the U.S. nuclear and construction sectors.
With large-scale nuclear construction in the United States largely stalled for decades, Fermi America believes Project Matador represents a critical opportunity to restart American nuclear build capability at scale.
“It’s a very short line of companies eager to do nuclear here in America,” said Toby Neugebauer, CEO and Co-Founder of Fermi America. “The list is even shorter when you consider the projects with a COL accepted for review, active NRC engagement, and a highly characterized site that are ready to break ground this year.
As in only one.
Fermi is proud to partner with Hyundai, the only global company to have successfully built 24 nuclear reactors, ten of them simultaneously, on time and on budget. Their expertise, talent, and financial commitment, together with Westinghouse AP1000s means that with DOE and DOC support, the American nuclear renaissance can restart July 4th.”
Fermi America and Hyundai E&C are currently advancing FEED activities including site layout planning, cooling system evaluations, and cost and schedule development. These efforts are intended to strengthen project readiness and support progress toward a potential engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) pathway.
Mesut Uzman, Chief Nuclear Construction Officer of Fermi America and CEO of Fermi Nuclear LLC, delivered remarks emphasizing the urgency of accelerating major energy infrastructure deployment.
“AI-driven load growth is accelerating faster than most people realize,” said Uzman. “The next decade will be defined by those who can build power infrastructure fast enough to support AI and industrial growth. Hyundai brings the industrial scale and execution discipline needed to deliver significant energy projects like Fermi America’s Project Matador. We see this partnership with Hyundai E&C as a critical step toward rebuilding U.S. energy capacity.”
Through its partnership with Hyundai E&C, Fermi America is working to mobilize contractors, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and rebuild the nuclear supply chain required to deliver new large-scale nuclear power plants in Texas and across the United States.
Project Matador is being developed to deliver reliable baseload power at scale to support America’s fastest-growing electricity demand, including AI infrastructure, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other critical industries.
For media inquiries: Lexi Swearingen [email protected]
Fermi America™ official business information Legal Entity: Fermi Inc. (d/b/a Fermi America) (Nasdaq & LSE: FRMI) Brand Name: Fermi America™ Address: 620 S Taylor St #301 Amarillo, TX 79101-2436 Website: https://fermiamerica.com/
About Fermi America™:
Fermi America™ (Nasdaq & LSE: FRMI) develops next-generation private electric grids that deliver highly redundant power at gigawatt scale to support next-generation intelligence and AI compute. Co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and Co-Founder and former Co-Managing Partner of Quantum Energy, Toby Neugebauer, Fermi America™ combines cutting-edge technology with a deep bench of proven world-class multi-disciplinary leaders with a combined 25 GW of experience, to create the world’s largest, 11 GW next-gen private grid, helping ensure America’s energy and AI dominance. The behind-the-meter Project Matador campus is expected to integrate the nation’s biggest combined-cycle natural gas project, one of the largest clean, new nuclear power complexes in America, utility grid power, solar power, and battery energy storage, to support hyperscale AI and advanced computing.
About the Texas Tech University System Established in 1996, the Texas Tech University System is one of the top public university systems in the nation, consisting of five universities – Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University.
Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the TTU System is a more than $3 billion enterprise focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach with approximately 21,000 employees and 64,000 students, more than 400,000 alums, a statewide economic impact of $19.2 billion and an endowment valued at $3 billion. In its short history, the TTU System has grown tremendously and is nationally acclaimed, operating at 20 academic locations in 16 cities (15 in Texas, 1 international).
In addition, the TTU System is one of only nine in the nation to offer programs for undergraduate, medical, law, nursing, pharmacy, dental and veterinary education among other academic areas.
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