Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them. The complaint, which was filed last week in federal court, focuses on a cluster of 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland operated by Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates. It alleges the company polluted the air and water around its facilities with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances , jeopardizing the health of surrounding communities while raking in profits. The lawsuit adds to other claims filed in recent years, including a class action on behalf of Cecil County residents in 2023 demanding Gore foot the bill for water filtration systems, medical bills and other damages associated with decades of harmful pollution in the largely rural community. “PFAS are linked to cancer, weakened immune systems, and can even harm the ability to bear children,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for any company to knowingly contaminate our drinking water with these toxins, putting Marylanders at risk of severe health conditions.” Gore spokesperson Donna Leinwand Leger said the company is “surprised by the Maryland Attorney General’s decision to initiate legal action, particularly in light of our proactive and intensive engagement with state regulators over the past two years.” “We have been working with Maryland, employing the most current, reliable science and technology to assess the potential impact of our operations and guide our ongoing, collaborative efforts to protect the environment,” the company said in a statement, noting a Dec. 18 report that contains nearly two years of groundwater testing results. But attorney Philip Federico, who represents plaintiffs in the class action and other lawsuits against Gore, called the company’s efforts “too little, much too late.” In the meantime, he said, residents are continuing to suffer — one of his clients was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. “It’s typical corporate environmental contamination,” he said. “They’re in no hurry to fix the problem.” The synthetic chemicals are especially harmful because they’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. In addition to cancers and immune system problems, exposure to certain levels of PFAS has been linked to increased cholesterol levels, reproductive health issues and developmental delays in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Gore leaders failed to warn people living near its Maryland facilities about the potential impacts, hoping to protect their corporate image and avoid liability, according to the state’s lawsuit. The result has been “a toxic legacy for generations to come,” the lawsuit alleges. Since the chemicals are already in the local environment, protecting residents now often means installing complex and expensive water filtration systems. People with private wells have found highly elevated levels of dangerous chemicals in their water, according to the class action lawsuit. The Maryland facilities are located in a rural area just across the border from Delaware, where Gore has become a longtime fixture in the community. The company, which today employs more than 13,000 people, was founded in 1958 after Wilbert Gore left the chemical giant DuPont to start his own business. Its profile rose with the development of Gore-Tex , a lightweight waterproof material created by stretching polytetrafluoroethylene, which is better known by the brand name Teflon that’s used to coat nonstick pans. The membrane within Gore-Tex fabric has billions of pores that are smaller than water droplets, making it especially effective for outdoor gear. The state’s complaint traces Gore’s longstanding relationship with DuPont , arguing that information about the chemicals’ dangers was long known within both companies as they sought to keep things quiet and boost profits. It alleges that as early as 1961, DuPont scientists knew the chemical caused adverse liver reactions in rats and dogs. DuPont has faced widespread litigation in recent years. Along with two spinoff companies, it announced a $1.18 billion deal last year to resolve complaints of polluting many U.S. drinking water systems with forever chemicals. The Maryland lawsuit seeks to hold Gore responsible for costs associated with the state’s ongoing investigations and cleanup efforts, among other damages. State oversight has ramped up following litigation from residents alleging their drinking water was contaminated. Until then, the company operated in Cecil County with little scrutiny. Gore announced in 2014 that it had eliminated perfluorooctanoic acid from the raw materials used to create Gore-Tex. But it’s still causing long-term impacts because it persists for so long in the environment, attorneys say. Over the past two years, Gore has hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct testing in the area and provided bottled water and water filtration systems to residents near certain Maryland facilities, according to a webpage describing its efforts. Recent testing of drinking water at residences near certain Gore sites revealed perfluorooctanoic acid levels well above what the EPA considers safe, according to state officials. Attorneys for the state acknowledged Gore’s ongoing efforts to investigate and address the problem but said the company needs to step up and be a better neighbor. “While we appreciate Gore’s limited investigation to ascertain the extent of PFAS contamination around its facilities, much more needs to be done to protect the community and the health of residents,” Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “We must remove these forever chemicals from our natural resources urgently, and we expect responsible parties to pay for this remediation.” Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project ‘We’re buddies now’: William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program 'We're buddies now': William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program New Kent administrator’s capital improvement plan has some big ticket items New Kent administrator's capital improvement plan has some big ticket items RUSSIANS, U.S. FLY SIDE-BY-SIDE RUSSIANS, U.S. FLY SIDE-BY-SIDE Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks Hitman who killed Navy officer in Newport News among 37 death row inmates commuted by Biden Hitman who killed Navy officer in Newport News among 37 death row inmates commuted by Biden Trending Nationally Body found in wheel well of plane from Chicago to Maui How Diddy and Luigi Mangione spent Christmas in Brooklyn jail Massive invasive python is freed into the Palm Beach County wilderness. 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Nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government's files on former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard , Donald Trump's pick to be national intelligence director. The former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said they were "alarmed" by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions "call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus." A spokesperson for Gabbard on the Trump transition team on Thursday denounced the appeal as an "unfounded" and "partisan" attack. Among those who signed the letter were former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, former national security adviser Anthony Lake, and numerous retired ambassadors and high-ranking military officers. They wrote to current Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and incoming Republican Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday to urge the closed briefings as part of the Senate's review of Trump's top appointments. They urged that Senate committees "consider in closed sessions all information available to the U.S. government when considering Ms. Gabbard's qualifications to manage our country's intelligence agencies, and more importantly, the protection of our intelligence sources and methods." The letter singles out Gabbard's 2017 meetings in Syria with President Bashar Assad, who is supported by Russian, Iranian and Iranian-allied forces in a now 13-year war against Syrian opposition forces seeking his overthrow. The U.S., which cut relations with Assad's government and imposed sanctions over his conduct of the war, maintains about 900 troops in opposition-controlled northeast Syria, saying they are needed to block a resurgence of extremist groups. Gabbard, a Democratic member of Congress from Hawaii at the time of her Syria trip, drew heavy criticism for her meetings with a U.S. adversary and brutal leader. As the letter notes, her statements on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have aligned with Russian talking points, diverging from U.S. positions and policy. Gabbard, throughout her political career, has urged the U.S. to limit military engagement abroad other than combatting Islamic extremist groups. She has defended the Syria trip by saying it is necessary to engage with U.S. enemies. In postings on social media earlier this year, she confirmed that the U.S. had for a time placed her "on a secret terror watch list" as a "potential domestic terror threat." She blamed political retaliation. Neither she nor U.S. authorities have publicly detailed the circumstances involved. Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for Gabbard with the Trump team, called the letter sent to the Senate leaders "a perfect example" of why Trump chose Gabbard for this position. "These unfounded attacks are from the same geniuses who have blood on their hands from decades of faulty 'intelligence,'" and use classified government information as a "partisan weapon to smear and imply things about their political enemy," Henning said. A spokesperson for Thune did not immediately respond to questions about the request.
Agbaji and Battle rain down 3s as the Raptors beat the hapless Pelicans 119-93has officially overtaken as my favourite set so far, thanks to a harmony of ingredients working together. Thematically, its “pirates” theme is very tight. The character inclusions are strong. And it’s all tied together by some fantastic artwork and character designs that are the strongest we’ve seen in the game yet. Who doesn’t love Stitch in a little tricorn hat, two swords and two blasters ready, with tiny plush Scrump sitting atop his head? Then, there’s ‘s Jim Hawkins, who also takes the role of a fancy pirate captain, and even Winnie the Pooh, adorned in snazzy pirate gear. The design work on this set is tremendous, and while that only speaks to aesthetics, it’s what makes so compelling. A good TCG is not only about mechanics and gameplay functionality, it’s about how it builds a sense of place and character. You must engage players in a world, make characters feel well-rounded, and give combat a sense of meaning or excitement – with just a few lines of text and a portrait to do so. manages incredibly well, with strong visual ties between cards – many artworks make clear that characters are sharing space on a ship – as well as layered mechanics that add to themes of camaraderie and friendship. Cards like Winnie the Pooh, Hunny Pirate and Wendy Darling, Courageous Captain are thoughtful inclusions that lend themselves well to pirate-themed decks. Winnie allows players to pay one less ink for the next pirate played in the turn. Wendy Darling gets additional lore and strength when other Pirates are in play. Elsewhere, you can find cards that buff pirates, improve their lore, and cards that let you save pirates from the discard pile. These mechanics are actually packed into the excellent Amber / Ruby Jim Hawkins and Tigger pirate deck that launched alongside – and it makes the deck incredibly well-themed, and fun to play. In I called it the best starter deck yet: “In the combination of its themes, the excellent artwork on cards, its neat mix of characters, and its synergy, this Amber-Ruby Pirate Starter Deck really is a standout ... As you play characters, you get a cool crew forming, with buffs and boons granted for multiple Pirates in play.” Personally, I’m also delighted to see such strong representation for in this set. Jim Hawkins takes centre stage in the Starter Deck realm, and there’s also a bunch of other cards inspired by the film – John Silver is present, Jim Hawkins has a new “Cabin Boy” card, and Mr. Arrow is also around. It’s equally nice to see new cards for , with Cobra Bubbles getting his own starring role, and his sunglasses being adapted for a separate, very funny card. All that said, there are some weirder inclusions in this set. Beyond pirates, also has a focus on “inventor” characters, which feels a bit odd. Storywise, it’s because the inventors are working to fix the Great Illuminary after a major battle against Ursula, but inventors aren’t nearly as cool as pirates, and so they feel a bit secondary in this set. I’ll also mention a slight disappointment that a “pirates” theme doesn’t utilise any characters from . It’s understandable, of course. is a more adult franchise, compared to the others included in , and the TCG is largely focussed on animated properties. There is also likely still sensitivity about the franchise, given its lead actor Johnny Depp was recently the subject of a very serious court case. At the very least, is strong representation for Disney pirates, and many other characters have been given effective makeovers to ensure they fit the theme, with incredible style to boot. It’s also nice to see some future hints at potential major villains in future – Jafar, Hades, and others appear in this set, working on their own little schemes in the background. With the way the plot is heading, I can imagine next year will kick off with some sort of new villain attack, with one or more new sets revolving around this threat. For now, we’ll have to wait to see what eventuates – but in the meantime, has given keen players plenty to enjoy. Personally, I’ll be biding time until the next release by blazing through matches with my pirate pals. I can see the Jim/Tigger pirate deck being an all-time favourite of mine, thanks to its characters and mechanics – but I could still be persuaded by new, more ambitious ideas. Ravensburger will have a tough time topping this particular set, but I said that about , and the development team has certainly managed to eclipse that set since. Whatever is next will be worth keeping an eye on.Kingfisher Reports Voting Results at Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
How did it come to this? Login or signup to continue reading It was half an hour before the first Newcastle students had planned to walk out of school in 2018 in protest. They were following the example set by revered, and in some circles reviled, climate action protester Greta Thunberg. The adults were killing the planet they lived on. They knew they were doing it; decades of scientific consensus had told them so. They just didn't care. The kids were not OK. And in the absence of an adult to speak for them, they were taking up the fight for themselves. Alexa Stuart, then 15, knew the action was coming. Her mum had asked if she wanted to join them. She said she did not. "I had something on at school that day," she recalls, phrasing the memory half as a question. "But I overheard some of my friends saying that they were going, and I got this really strong urge that I had to be there. I knew I cared about the environment, and I felt that if this was something that I cared about, I had to show up. "I panicked and called my sister, who is older than me and was going, and said, 'You have to come pick me up'." They rode into town together on her sister's bike. They were late. But the moment was profound. "I felt so powerful and inspired and angry and hopeful, marching down the street with hundreds of other kids, chanting at the top of our lungs," she said. "It was a day when I got a taste of what agency can look like for young people who can't vote or have much say on this issue, which will have the biggest impact on us." Stuart would go on to lead the Newcastle school strike movement with a band of friends and classmates. Over the next few years, countless students would follow them. Protests would be staged every few months, drawing masses of children and teens angry at the apathy of the grown-ups, and there were those who hated them for it. They had asked for a world that could sustain life beyond their own , and there were those who threatened to rape them for it. Stuart stopped reading the comments, returned to school, and graduated. A pandemic soon followed. The children's strike movement wound down in the face of that other existential threat, and the former Lambton high student took a gap year to figure some things out. She made art, participated in a few smaller protests, and considered a move to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts. There is a version of this story where she accepted that offer to study, moved out of the Hunter, took a different path, and let her activism dissolve into a quiet liberal adulthood where she hangs art in her home and might have become a teacher. Stuart often volunteers to teach primary school ethics and has an affinity with children. But these are things relegated to the hypothetical. What has been seen cannot then be unseen. In August 2022, a sleeping climate action group called Rising Tide was revived by a former teacher turned full-time climate campaigner with a clear goal rooted in the Hunter. The group had been active in a localised way from around 2005 to 2012, but its resurrection would turn outwards to bigger quarry. The Port of Newcastle exported more coal than anywhere else in the world, and that statistic would make it Rising Tide's white whale. It was a clear and tangible target in the tangled web of a problem with no clear and tangible solutions. If the planet was choking on fossil fuel combustion, Rising Tide demanded it stay in the ground. If they were told that the action they wanted to see was economically unfeasible, they would demand the funds be taxed from the industry pouring coal out of the harbour for profit. The group has often claimed to be the fastest-growing climate action cause in the country, though it has no formalised membership other than a database of those who have registered their participation in its protests. Its leaders say it has a spectrum of involvement, from those who are engaged in its efforts effectively full-time to those who show up to support its actions. It holds weekly meetings in Newcastle that are regularly attended by over 30 people, though that number has ballooned to more than 60 in the lead-up to this week's "protestival". Off-shoot hubs have sprung up around the country. In the past year, the group has stopped coal trains in the Hunter, blockaded the harbour in a flotilla of kayaks for 30 hours, and drawn the ire of the NSW Government as they tried to host a similar event this week. Earlier this month, the NSW Supreme Court ruled for the state's police, declaring the planned harbour blockade an unauthorised assembly, effectively denying the protesters the legal exemptions from move-on orders and the access to the Newcastle shipping channel that they had last year. While not illegal, the protest would be forbidden from undertaking any unlawful activity. The state's transport department was similarly employed in the clamp-down , declaring an exclusion zone across the harbour last weekend, cutting protesters off from the water. The group would launch an 11th-hour challenge to overturn the lockout. They would learn they were successful with less than an hour to spare . The boats launched on Thursday as the encampment in Newcastle's Foreshore Park grew in an action that was expected to draw thousands. Transport for NSW has said t he exclusion zone was declared over concerns for safety . Meanwhile, Port of Newcastle boss Craig Carmody has called the protest, and newly-elected lord mayor Ross Kerridge's support of it, a "direct and intentional disregard" for the decision made by the court and police. Councillor Kerridge's deputy, Callum Pull, has similarly denounced the movement as "nothing but disruptive". Nationals Senator Ross Cadell, who criticised the City's support, said the activists were "maintaining a rage" that should not exist. Both sides of government had committed to addressing climate change by 2050, he said. "Just because they don't like the pace or the way it is going on, they get to whinge and shut down a city that's been built on this? That's wrong." The Port of Newcastle has long held the title of the world's largest single coal export hub, but by 2021, its lead was narrowing. In 2022, wet weather, rail maintenance and labour shortages caused a significant dip in output. By 2023, North Queensland was catching up, and the total local export for that year barely outstretched that of the previous one. While Newcastle remains the larger export port, Queensland exports greater quantities of coal through a network of harbours, while NSW centralises its output through Newcastle and Wollongong. At each turn, Rising Tide has framed the state's response as evidence their action has been effective - that they are pressing where it hurts. Still, as the years drag on, there is a growing weariness in the cause as the promise of direct action dissolves like ink in the tide. At Nobbys beach last weekend, Mina Bui Jones had come to support the response to the state's exclusion zone. The weekend's protest would be her second with Rising Tide after she returned from living abroad last year, saw a poster for the blockade and felt compelled to get involved. "My whole life, I've been signing petitions, composting, recycling, writing letters, marching on World Environment Day," she said. "I'm 50, and I remember hearing about the greenhouse effect in high school. My kids have now grown up and become adults, and in that time, it has only got worse. "So many of us have been so earnest and so good. We worry about whether we drive our cars. I've ridden a bicycle where I can, I've been a vegetarian. So many of my friends and family - everyone - have been trying to do the right thing. Meanwhile, you have coal companies that really could make a difference. I'm washing out my compost bucket and doing weed control with my Landcare group, I'm only buying second-hand clothes, and I think, 'Come on, guys'. "We're all making an effort at an individual level, but it is a systemic problem. It needs systemic action." The renewed Rising Tide group marked the second anniversary of its first protest action earlier this month . Stuart said they are in a building phase, in which they are working towards a critical mass of supporters to stage sustained pressure to force the action they are demanding. Still, though the exact point at which that critical mass is achieved was unclear (she estimates the group could reach it in 2026), she maintains that her protest is a means to an end, not an end in itself. "We have a really clear strategy," she said. "And I think that is something that some social movements don't have. Looking back, that is one of my reflections on the school strike movement. We found this great tactic, and we went on strike, and then we went on strike again, and our strikes were getting bigger. That was awesome, but we had less of a clear strategy of how to create the change we wanted. "History has shown that things can change really quickly. It may not seem like it now, but movements can explode, and governments can change their position when public sentiment changes. I think that is what COVID showed - that if there is political will, things can change incredibly quickly. When we start treating this like a crisis, we can create massive changes. But, if there is not the visible demonstration of people, if there's not the visible public demonstration of people's concern about the issue, then our politicians have no reason to act in that way." There have been 12 blockades in the Newcastle Harbour since 2006, with the intent to block the shipping channel, but Rising Tide mounted the longest in that time over the weekend of November 25, 2023. The Port of Newcastle had come to a standstill for the weekend, effectively waiting out the demonstration, and started up again almost immediately after it ended. When the deadline expired, a group of protesters remained in the channel, and supporters on the beach began to chant: "Floods, fires, famine, we are terrified. We shall overcome like a rising tide." Police boats approached and arrested more than 100 people. One was Stuart's 97-year-old grandfather, Alan Stuart, a retired Uniting Church minister. He said that while climate disaster would not happen in his lifetime, his concern for future generations compelled him to participate in the struggle. "What happens to me doesn't matter, but what is happening to the climate and the impact on future generations does matter," he said. "They are just going to suffer; it will ruin their lives. I want them to have as good a life as I have had." Both Stuart's grandparents were ministers of the Uniting Church. Her parents did not practice in faith, and Stuart said she is not religious. "You need to have faith in humanity," she said. "Otherwise, you fall into despair. I think that is what keeps me going: looking at the good and believing that we can change. If you don't believe that, I think it is very depressing. "I genuinely don't read the comments. I know that people won't like what we have to say, but I can live with that. That is a reality of social movements; people who we now look back on with immense respect and admiration were hated when they were alive. "When I grow old, I want to know that I have done everything that I could, and if I have children or grandchildren, I want to be able to look them in the eye and say that I tried." When I suggest, over coffee at Bank Corner on a sunny day earlier this month, that it was small comfort to think that being right could make her a martyr, she laughed softly. "I guess so," she said. "I don't know." But then again, she never reads the comments. Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au Simon McCarthy is a journalist with the Newcastle Herald and its sister publications in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW). He has contributed stories, photography, video and other multimedia to the pages of the Herald and its Saturday magazine, Weekender, since 2017. In 2020, he co-created the Toohey's News podcast, which he produced for four years with sports writer Barry Toohey until the show's indefinite hiatus. Since early 2023, he has served as the paper's Topics columnist and, more recently, returned to reporting with an interest in deep-dive stories that illustrate the issues shaping daily life in Newcastle and the region.McCarthy has reported for Australian Community Media (ACM) since 2013, first as a general news and sports writer for the Glen Innes Examiner and later as a group journalist and producer for the publisher's New England regional titles. He joined the Newcastle Herald newsroom as a digital producer in 2017 before returning to reporting in early 2023.He had previously worked for the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth.McCarthy was born in the New England region of NSW, where he grew up, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University in 2012. He covers general news, culture and community issues, with a focus on the Herald Weekender.He is a member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and adheres to its codes of ethics for journalists.Contact: simon.mccarthy@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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Shenzhen, China, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jiuzi Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN; the "Company" or “JZXN”), recently announced the amicable termination of acquisition negotiations with Shenzhen Maigesong Electric Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shenzhen Maigesong"). Although the proposed collaboration will not proceed, the experience has been a valuable step in JZXN’s exploration of opportunities in the renewable energy sector, providing fresh insights and momentum for the Company’s future development. JZXN had previously planned to fully acquire Shenzhen Maigesong to support the development of its lithium battery production line and expand its market reach. However, after multiple rounds of discussions, the parties were unable to reach a consensus on critical issues, including the cooperation model, resource integration approach, and strategic objectives. Guided by its commitment to aligning major decisions with its long-term development strategy, JZXN decided to terminate the discussions. The Company stated that, despite the conclusion of the talks, the process provided invaluable lessons. It strengthened JZXN’s understanding of industry trends, optimized its approach to resource allocation, and enhanced its ability to evaluate the feasibility of high-potential projects. This experience underscores JZXN’s dedication to professional, strategic decision-making and high-quality growth. Looking ahead, JZXN remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the renewable energy sector. The Company plans to deepen its focus on core competencies, drive innovation, and accelerate global expansion efforts. By continuously seeking strategic partnerships aligned with its long-term vision, JZXN aims to enhance its competitive edge and deliver greater value to shareholders, partners, and customers. This decision reflects JZXN’s forward-thinking strategy and ability to adapt to evolving market dynamics. The Company remains optimistic about future opportunities and is open to exploring potential collaborations that can contribute to sustainable development. JZXN will continue to leverage its experience and insights to strengthen its position in the renewable energy industry, demonstrating resilience and focus in its pursuit of long-term success. About Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. Jiuzi Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Hangzhou, China, and established in 2017, franchises and operates retail stores under the brand name "Jiuzi" to sell New Energy Vehicles ("NEVs") in third and fourth-tier cities in China. The Company mainly sells battery-operated electric vehicles and sources NEVs through more than twenty NEV manufacturers. It has 51 operating franchise stores and one company-owned store. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.zjjzxny.cn/ . Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. They are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include statements related to the following matters of the Company: Ability to implement its business plan; Changes in the Company's product and service market; and Expansion plans and opportunities. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release and our management's current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the terms of the LOI not hereafter being memorialized in a definitive agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been, or will be, instituted against the Company or other parties to the LOI following announcement of the LOI and transactions contemplated therein; the ability of the Company to meet NASDAQ listing standards in connection with the consummation of the transaction contemplated therein; the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the LOI due to the failure to meet certain closing conditions; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the announcement of the LOI and consummation of the transaction described therein; costs related to the proposed acquisition; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of the combined company to meet its financial and strategic goals, due to, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitability, maintain relationships with customers and retain its key employees; the possibility that the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in deciding whether to invest in our securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Contact information: +86 13873361680 Email address: jackywen@jzxn.com , SOURCE Jiuzi New Energy Holding Group Co., Ltd.