Category: 3. Business

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PayPal today released its 2025 Holiday Shopping Survey, highlighting how U.S. shoppers are approaching this holiday season and what merchants need to know to capture sales and build loyalty.

“Shoppers are moving fluidly across channels, discovering products through AI, returning to stores, and choosing flexible payment options like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to maximize this holiday season,” said Michelle Gill, General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal. “Merchants that enable seamless experiences and deliver value at every touchpoint will not only thrive this holiday season but build stronger, long-term customer loyalty.”

AI is Reshaping Holiday Shopping: Merchants Should Take Note

This holiday season, shoppers are turning to AI to find inspiration and make purchasing decisions. Merchants that ensure their products are visible and optimized across AI-powered platforms will be best positioned to capture demand and drive sales in this AI-driven shopping season.

• AI is becoming a go-to shopping tool, with 40% of Americans – led by 61% of Gen Z and 57% of Millennials – having used AI to assist with a purchase in the past year, and one in five doing so regularly.
• Adoption is accelerating, as 77% of past or potential AI shoppers plan to use it as a shopping assistant this holiday season, underscoring the need for merchants to appear where consumers are searching.
• Holiday shoppers are turning to AI for value and guidance, with the top ways they plan to use it including finding the best deals (34%), comparing products (30%), and discovering gift ideas or recommendations (26%).

As AI reshapes how consumers shop, flexible payment options like BNPL are transforming how they pay, creating a smoother path from discovery to purchase for both shoppers and merchants.

BNPL Helps Shoppers Manage Cash Flow While Boosting Merchant Conversion

Once considered an alternative payment method, BNPL is now a mainstream expectation at checkout. BNPL has become a vital tool for managing cash flow and helping consumers shop with confidence and flexibility – while empowering merchants to increase conversion and average order value.

• Half of consumers plan to use BNPL as a flexible payment option for holiday shopping this year, citing affordability and budget control as the top reasons.
• BNPL is driving purchasing decisions, with 52% of shoppers saying they’re more likely to make a purchase when BNPL is available as a payment option.
• Gen Z and Millennials lead BNPL adoption as one in four use it regularly, and another third have tried it at least once, making BNPL a core part of how younger generations prefer to pay.

“Merchants can enhance the shopper experience and boost sales by making flexible payment options like BNPL visible throughout the shopping journey,” continued Gill. “When shoppers know they can pay overtime, they’re more likely to complete their purchase. PayPal data shows offering BNPL leads to a 91% higher average order value for enterprises and 62% higher for small businesses, meaning it isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a proven advantage to win.”

Omnichannel Returns as Shoppers Expect Seamless, Rewarding Experiences Everywhere

Shoppers are taking more paths to purchase this holiday season than ever before, signaling the true return of omnichannel retail. Consumers expect seamless experiences, meaningful rewards, and value – and merchants that connect every channel will capture both sales and long-term customer relationships.

• In-store shopping is resurging, as 64% of shoppers plan to shop in-store this holiday season, with 41% planning to shop both online and in-store.
• Online shopping still matters, with 28% planning to shop primarily online, underscoring that no single channel dominates the holiday experience.
• Rewards drive decisions where Americans shop as 74% are more likely to shop with merchants offering cash back or rewards.

Success this holiday season will hinge on connection, not just convenience. Merchants that unify rewards, online and in-store experiences will deepen loyalty and help fuel long-term growth. To help with this, PayPal is expanding Pay Monthly to in-store purchases across the U.S., and shoppers can also earn 5% cash back on all PayPal BNPL purchases, in-store and online, throughout the holiday season.

About the 2025 Holiday Shopping Survey

PayPal commissioned Talker Research to survey 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults online from September 5-9, 2025. Percentages for AI data reflect respondents who have used or considered using AI tools to help with a purchase within the last year. Percentages for BNPL data reflect respondents who have ever used or considered using BNPL to make a purchase.

About PayPal

PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit https://www.paypal.com, https://about.pypl.com, and https://investor.pypl.com.

Media Contact:

PayPal Media Relations

press@paypal.com

 

SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Houston, TX – October 22, 2025 – The Halliburton Charitable Foundation raised more than $3.8 million through the annual Halliburton Charity Golf Tournament, which takes place at The Clubs of Kingwood. This year, the funds will support the missions of 100 nonprofit organizations that serve the community through educational, workforce development, health and safety, and social services programs. Since 1993, the event has raised $35 million in support of more than 250 charities.

It is remarkable to witness the meaningful impact this tournament has across communities nationwide. What began as a small initiative has expanded to support 100 charities each year. We are grateful to each of our generous sponsors whose contributions make the Halliburton Charity Golf tournament possible.

The following charities attended the event and brought awareness to causes that the Halliburton Charitable Foundation supports. The 2025 onsite charities were:

• All Ears Listening and Language Center
• Be an Angel
• BEAR…BE A Resource
• Brighter Bites
• Buckner International
• Camp Quality USA
• Children’s Assessment Center
• Coastal Prairie Conservancy
• Colorado Youth Outdoors
• Combined Arms
• Dress for Success
• Girls Inc. of Greater Houston
• Gratitude Initiative
• High Sky Children’s Ranch
• Houston Area Women Center
• Houston Police Foundation
• Hunt with Heart Outdoor Adventures
• Inspiration Ranch
• Kids’ Meals
• Medical Bridges
• Oilfield Helping Hands
• Recipe for Success Foundation
• Ronald McDonald House
• Texas Mission of Mercy
• The Council on Recovery
• The Landing
• The Montrose Center
• Trees for Houston
• Undies for Everyone
• YES Prep Public Schools

About the Halliburton Charitable Foundation

The Halliburton Charitable Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that strengthen the communities where Halliburton employees live and work. Through initiatives focused on education, environment, health & safety, and social services, the Foundation provides grants, donations, and volunteer support to make a meaningful impact. Since 1993, its annual Halliburton Charity Golf Tournament has raised over $30 million for more than 250 charities across the U.S., reflecting Halliburton’s deep commitment to corporate citizenship and community engagement.

About Halliburton

Halliburton is one of the world’s leading providers of products and services to the energy industry. Founded in 1919, we create innovative technologies, products, and services that help our customers maximize their value throughout the life cycle of an asset and advance a sustainable energy future. Connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

For Investors:
David Coleman
investors@halliburton.com
281-871-2688

For Media Relations:
Milka Horst
PR@halliburton.com
281-318-9676

The big picture: Paul Dickman, president of the World Council on Isotopes and chair of the ANS External Affairs Committee, moderated the event. After introducing the speakers, he kicked off the discussion by taking a broad look at why isotopes matter and why their supply chain is imperiled.

“Every modern society depends on isotopes, often without really realizing it. [Isotopes] sterilize 40 percent of all single-use medical devices, power diagnostic imaging, initiate nuclear reactor startups, and ensure the integrity of aircraft and turbine components. Yet this critical global system is fragile and growingly dependent on foreign sources,” he said.

In many cases, single facilities, or single nations, represent the majority of global production—leaving the world exposed to cascading shortages. The list of isotopes with vulnerable supply chains includes but is not limited to molybdenum-99, lutetium-177, actinium-225, iodine-131, iridium-192, and yttrium-90.

While each vulnerable isotope presents a unique set of challenges, much of the webinar focused on the supply chains of cobalt-60 and californium-252 as two contrasting case studies shedding light on the industry’s broader issues.

Cobalt-60: Co-60 is used for cancer therapy and sterilizing medical equipment. It is primarily produced in Canada, Russia, and China, with India and Argentina also producing part of the total global supply. Among those five countries, 20 reactors are producing Co-60—all but one of which are power reactors. So, there exists both “a diversity of supply and a highly reliable network in terms of uptime” which puts the Co-60 supply chain in a relatively healthy place, according to Richard Weins, director of business development and strategic supply at Nordion, a major radioisotope supply company.

Weins added that the positive change for Co-60 in the past two years contrasts a five-year period of relative difficulty. According to him, a reduction in Russian supply combined with an unexpected increase in demand led to increasing supply chain fragility.

These rapid changes, to Weins, reflect one of the key issues in bolstering supply chains: predictability. Development becomes more difficult to justify when investors don’t know if demand will grow by 1 percent or 10 percent in the near future—especially considering the long lead time and capital intensity that development projects require.

Californium-252: Ca-252 is a neutron emitter vital for reactor startups, neutron radiography, and oil exploration. In sharp contrast to Co-60, Ca-252 is produced in only two reactors in the world, both of which are research reactors. According to Samantha Schrell, a program manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, those reactors are the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at ORNL and Russia’s SM-3.

That small number of facilities is only one of many challenges that the Ca-252 supply chain faces. Schrell explained that Ca-252 needs a heavy feedstock, such as curium, which is itself a precious radioisotope with a limited supply. Demand is also increasing, thanks in part to the proliferation of new reactor startups, programs, and projects.

Schrell added that the already precarious supply chain for Ca-252 was put under further stress by the Russia-Ukraine war, an event that has introduced issues to the supply chains of many radioisotopes.

Go deeper: To learn more about the current state of the isotope supply chain and the path forward, watch the full webinar, which features further commentary from Steven Biegalski of Georgia Tech and Anikitos Garofalakis of OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) announced today that new data from the ongoing REZOLVE-AD Phase 2b study of rezpegaldesleukin, an IL-2 pathway agonist and regulatory T-cell (Treg) proliferator, in atopic dermatitis has been accepted for a late-breaking oral abstract presentation at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting. The meeting will be held in Orlando, USA, from November 6 to 10, 2025.

Details of the presentation at ACAAI are as follows:

• Abstract ID: 7005
• Oral Presentation: “Rezpegaldesleukin Novel Treg-Inducing Therapy Demonstrates Efficacy in Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma in Phase 2b Trial”
• Presenter: Jonathan Corren, MD
• Session Title: Distinguished Industry & Late-breaking Oral Abstracts – Session 2
• Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM ET
• Location: Room W231

The presentation will be available on Nektar’s website at http://www.nektar.com under Scientific Publications, following the formal presentation.

About REZOLVE-AD Phase 2b Study

The ongoing global Phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study (NCT06136741) enrolled 393 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who had not previously received treatment with biologic or JAK inhibitor therapies. Patients were randomized across three different dose regimens of subcutaneous rezpegaldesleukin or placebo for a 16-week induction treatment period. Following this period, rezpegaldesleukin-treated patients who achieved EASI percent score reductions of >50 (EASI-50) were re-randomized (1:1) to continue at the same dose level on a q4w or q12w regimen through study week 52 in a blinded maintenance period.

The primary endpoint of the Phase 2b study is mean improvement in EASI score at the end of the 16-week induction treatment period. Secondary endpoints include the proportion of patients achieving Validated Investigator Global Assessment (vIGA-AD) of 0 or 1, those achieving EASI-75, and those achieving a greater than or equal to a 4-point improvement in Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Preplanned exploratory endpoints include a full range of translational biomarker measurements and a change in asthma control questionnaire – 5 (ACQ-5) scores for patients with comorbidity of asthma.

This trial was initiated in October 2023 and enrolled patients across approximately 110 sites globally with: 68% enrolled and treated in Europe, including Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Croatia and Hungary; 16% enrolled and treated in the United States; 11% enrolled and treated in Canada; and 5% enrolled and treated in Australia. Patient randomization was stratified based on baseline disease severity measured by vIGA-AD and geographic region. Key enrollment criteria in the study included a minimum EASI score of 16.0, a minimum Body Surface Area (BSA) of 10% and a minimum vIGA-AD of 3. 

About Rezpegaldesleukin

Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases cause the immune system to mistakenly attack and damage healthy cells in a person’s body. A failure of the body’s self-tolerance mechanisms enables the formation of the pathogenic T lymphocytes that conduct this attack. Rezpegaldesleukin is a potential first-in-class resolution therapeutic that may address this underlying immune system imbalance in people with many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. It targets the interleukin-2 receptor complex in the body to stimulate proliferation of immune-modulating cells known as regulatory T cells. By activating these cells, rezpegaldesleukin may act to bring the immune system back into balance.

In February 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation for rezpegaldesleukin for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. In July 2025, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for rezpegaldesleukin for the treatment of severe alopecia areata (AA) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg.

Rezpegaldesleukin is being developed as a self-administered injection for a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It is wholly owned by Nektar Therapeutics.

About Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, affecting approximately 30 million people in the United States.¹ AD is characterized by a defect in the skin barrier, which allows allergens and other irritants to enter the skin, leading to an immune reaction and inflammation.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments that address the underlying immunological dysfunction in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Nektar’s lead product candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG, or NKTR-358), is a novel, first-in-class regulatory T cell stimulator being evaluated in three Phase 2b clinical trials, one in atopic dermatitis, one in alopecia areata, and one in Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nektar’s pipeline also includes a preclinical bivalent tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2) antibody and bispecific programs, NKTR-0165 and NKTR-0166, and a modified hematopoietic colony stimulating factor (CSF) protein, NKTR-422. Nektar, together with various partners, is also evaluating NKTR-255, an investigational IL-15 receptor agonist designed to boost the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, in several ongoing clinical trials.

Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For further information, visit www.nektar.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: “will,” “develop,” “potential,” “target,” “address,” “may” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for, rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166, NKTR-422, and NKTR-255. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166, NKTR-422 and NKTR-255 are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as research and development continue; (ii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166, NKTR-422 and NKTR-255 are investigational agents and continued research and development for these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including negative safety and efficacy findings in future clinical studies (notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and clinical studies); (iii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166, NKTR-422 and NKTR-255 are in clinical development and the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval; (iv) data reported from ongoing clinical trials are necessarily interim data only and the final results will change based on continuing observations; (v) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical trials and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, competitive factors, or delay or failure in ultimately obtaining regulatory approval in one or more important markets; (vi) a Fast Track designation does not increase the likelihood that rezpegaldesleukin will receive marketing approval in the United States; (vii) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (viii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2025. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contacts:

For Investors:

Vivian Wu
[email protected]

Corey Davis, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
[email protected] 
212-915-2577

Ahu Demir, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
[email protected] 
212-915-3820

For Media:

Jonathan Pappas
LifeSci Communications
857-205-4403
[email protected] 

1. Eczema stats. National Eczema Association (2022, September 27). https://nationaleczema.org/research/eczema-facts/

SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has entered into a strategic collaboration with DYNAMARINe to deliver an independent auditing scheme for ship-to-ship (STS) service providers. 

Under the agreement, LR’s auditors will assess STS service providers against the quality and safety standards established by OCIMF Guidelines and risk data and records of DYNAMARINe. The resulting audit reports will be reviewed and evaluated by DYNAMARINe, which will then issue a final assessment and performance score to each participating provider. This collaborative approach aims to create a consistent and trusted framework for verifying the competence and reliability of STS operators worldwide. 

This initiative directly supports the objectives of the recently updated OCIMF STS Guide, which calls for independent verification of service providers’ self-assessments. It also represents a significant step towards reducing the duplication of audits across the energy sector, paving the way for a standardised assurance model similar to SIRE, specifically tailored for STS service providers. 

Ehud Bar-Lev, Business Development Manager, LR, said: “This partnership with DYNAMARINe marks an important step in our continued work to strengthen safety and sustainability in shipboard operations. By combining LR’s auditing expertise with DYNAMARINe’s recognised technical leadership, we are helping both energy companies and service providers operate with greater confidence, accountability and shared commitment to excellence.” 

Dr Alexandros Glykas, Managing Director of DYNAMARINe, said: “Our collaboration with Lloyd’s Register reflects a shared vision to elevate safety and environmental responsibility in STS transfers. By working together, we can provide STS assurance to tanker operators and energy companies, while recognising the efforts of providers who continuously strive to improve their standards.” 

This agreement marks the first time an IACS member has been directly involved in auditing STS service providers, reinforcing LR’s position at the forefront of maritime safety and assurance. It also reflects LR’s strategic focus on expanding its advisory and risk management services into new operational areas that demand independent verification and trust.

Jonas Bengtsson, Vice President and General Counsel at Vattenfall, is the company’s new Chief Diversity Officer. Since 2015, the two-year assignment rotates between Vattenfall’s Executive Group Members.

Jonas Bengtsson has been part of Vattenfall’s Executive Group Management since 2024 and is excited to take on this new responsibility:

“For me, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is not an additional programme outside of everyday business. It is fundamental in our organisation and for our business success that everyone be treated fairly and given equal opportunity. As one of Europe´s largest energy companies and an employer of over 20,000 people, we take our responsibility to have a positive impact on the communities where we live and work seriously.”

“We are more than the sum of our parts. Our 94 nationalities of diverse thinkers, doers and makers are our strength. It is critical for us as a business to collaborate across cultures, borders and business areas for impact, delivering on our ambition of a fossil free future,” says Jonas Bengtsson.

The Chief Diversity Officer role at Vattenfall was created in 2015. Vattenfall aims to reflect the communities it operates in, fostering close connections with customers and stakeholders. Inclusion is integral to the business.

“At Vattenfall, we believe in the power of our people. Having an open, positive, and inclusive work experience gives us all energy and catalyses collaboration, which is critical for innovation, competitiveness, and growth. With Jonas Bengtsson joining as Chief Diversity Officer, we reaffirm our commitment to DEI being at the heart of our culture and what we stand up for. We’ve already made strong progress, and we’ll continue to build a more inclusive workplace where everyone feels they can contribute and belong,” says Stephanie Hinton-James, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Vattenfall was named in 2025 a Leader in Diversity by the Financial Times and Statista’s European Diversity Leaders Ranking, highlighting its commitment to staying the course and ensuring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is embedded throughout the organisation.

For more information, please contact:
Vattenfall’s Press Office, +46 8 739 50 10, press@vattenfall.com

As of August 2025, the most affected items putting upward pressure on inflation are Butter, milk, beef & veal, chocolate, and coffee. Prices for these climate-impacted foods rose by an average of +15.6% compared with August 2024. For other food and non-alcoholic drink items, the average rise was just +2.8%.

This indicates that increases in commodity prices are having a major impact on current food price inflation, which cannot be explained by domestic policies such as a higher minimum wage.

Although not the only factor driving an increase in these commodity prices, extreme weather made more likely by climate change is having a distinct impact on prices for these products.

These five product categories make up only 11% of the basket of food and drink used by the ONS to measure inflation. Yet they accounted for 0.21 percentage points of the 3.8% August CPI inflation rate.

By contrast, the remaining 89% of food and drink items contributed 0.36 points. This means that, on a weighted basis, these foods are driving inflation at more than four times the rate of other items.

These foods account for 1.9 percentage points of the 5.1% rate seen across the average consumer food basket. The remaining nine tenths of the basket account for 3.2 points. •

This suggests upward pressures on the prices of these products, including extreme weather made worse by climate change, are having a bigger impact on current food price inflation than domestic policy changes, a finding counter to a lot of recent reporting.