Edmonton – October 14, 2026 -- Aurora Cannabis' board unanimously recommended that shareholders reject Curaleaf Holdings' revised hostile offer, which remains open until December 4, 2026, and said its special committee is actively exploring alternatives, including a deal with one or more third parties.

The recommendation, made on the unanimous advice of a special committee of independent directors, responds to the Notice of Variation, Change and Extension that Curaleaf filed on October 6, 2026. Aurora's financial advisor delivered an updated opinion concluding that the revised consideration is inadequate, from a financial point of view, to Aurora shareholders.

Board says revised offer shifts risk and cost onto Aurora shareholders

Aurora argues that the increase in consideration consists principally of Curaleaf shares at an inflated valuation. Aurora shareholders would therefore stay fully exposed to any decline in the Curaleaf share price.

Albany – October 14, 2026 -- Trenchless drilling can cost more upfront than traditional excavation, but savings often follow from reduced labor, shorter timelines and less restoration work, according to a HelloNation article featuring David Allegretta of JAT Construction in Albany, N.Y.

Open trenches disrupt roads, sidewalks and nearby infrastructure

Traditional excavation relies on open trenches to reach pipes and cables. The article says the method works but can delay active projects and add costs. It remains suitable for simpler jobs or sites with fewer surface constraints, where it can be cost-effective.

DALLAS – October 14, 2026 -- SDG Group, a global data and AI consulting firm, received Everest Group's 2026 "Voice of the Customer Honor – Service Excellence" at the research firm's Elevate conference in Dallas.

The honor recognizes service providers that more than 700 customers rated highly on client management, ease of doing business and proactive engagement. SDG Group presents it as third-party validation of its service delivery.

Everest Group scored providers on three client-facing criteria

According to SDG Group, the criteria translate into three client experiences:

Tianjin -- Taoping Inc. (Nasdaq: TAOP) has until April 12, 2027, to lift its share price back to US$1.00 after Nasdaq notified the company on October 13, 2026, that it fails the minimum bid price requirement under Listing Rule 5550(a)(2).

Nasdaq based the notice on the closing bid price of Taoping's ordinary shares over the 30 consecutive business days from August 31, 2026 through October 12, 2026. Under Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), a deficiency lasting 30 consecutive business days constitutes a failure to meet the requirement. Taoping disclosed the letter under Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure.

Taoping must close at US$1.00 or higher for ten consecutive business days to regain compliance

The company has a 180-calendar-day compliance period. If the closing bid price reaches at least US$1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days within that window, Nasdaq will confirm compliance in writing and close the matter.

College Park – October 14, 2026 -- The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business will launch a 30-credit, one-year Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) in fall 2027, built around generative and agentic AI.

Curriculum pairs marketing fundamentals with AI tools

The program targets early-career professionals. Coursework covers marketing and brand strategy, consumer insights, and account and client management, with an emphasis on AI applications. Students will also work with emerging customer engagement and campaign management platforms.

Two semesters of experiential work anchor the degree

Over two semesters, students will apply classroom learning through consulting projects, executive presentations and cross-functional team assignments.

Paris – October 14, 2026 -- French bee has won Gold in the Overall International Carrier category of the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, while preparing to add two seasonal long-haul routes from Paris-Orly in December 2026.

Magellan Awards rate entries on individual merit, not head-to-head

Travel Weekly has run the Magellan Awards since 2008. They cover design, marketing and service across airlines, airports, hospitality, cruise lines, destinations and travel services. A panel of travel industry professionals selects the winners. Entries are assessed individually rather than against one another, and Gold and Silver honors go to those that meet the award criteria.

Zemourda Aissaoui, Chief Commercial Officer at French bee, said the award reflects the work of the airline's teams and its aim of making international travel more accessible without cutting the quality of the experience.

Emeryville – October 14, 2026 -- Goldman Sachs named UPSIDE Foods CEO Uma Valeti, M.D., one of its Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2026 at the Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. The bank selected Valeti from multiple industries for the honor.

UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million since its 2015 founding

Valeti, a cardiologist who worked on stem-cell heart tissue regeneration during a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, left clinical practice to found what the company calls the world's first cultivated meat company. UPSIDE's Chicken Filet was the first cultivated meat product cleared by both the FDA and the USDA for sale in the U.S.

Investors include Cargill, Softbank, Temasek, Tyson and Whole Foods.

Fresno – – October 14, 2026 -- PrideStaff's annual blood drive exceeded the staffing firm's participation goal, the company said, extending a workplace donation program it launched in 2023.

PrideStaff employees, families and friends turned out under the theme "Don't Let the Blood Supply Fall"

The company did not disclose the donor target or the number of participants. Donations support local patients who depend on blood products.

Program began in 2023 after PrideStaff learned of a premature infant's transfusion needs

PrideStaff dedicated its yearly drive to Jensen Blanks and his family after hearing his story from his father, Jason. Jensen was born extremely premature and relied on blood transfusions in his first days. His tracheostomy was removed in 2024, and he has since started first grade.

Jason Blanks thanked PrideStaff employees for providing his family and others with hope through the donations.

Houston – – October 14, 2026 -- Two Williston Basin wells operated by Chord Energy have run for more than a year without a sand-related pump failure after a single SandBONDTM treatment, extending pump run life 5.5× and 4.7×, TenEx Technologies reported. Both pumps are still running with stable performance, and the wells recorded zero production loss.

Single bullhead treatment replaces rig-based intervention in 10,000-ft laterals

Chord Energy sought to cut pump failures caused by severe proppant production in horizontal wells with laterals of approximately 10,000 ft. TenEx treated two wells with SandBONDTM, a non-resin, atomized aluminum-based sand-control technology.

The treatment is bullheaded directly into the well and followed by a 24-hour soak. It requires no intervention rig, workover, or specialized equipment.

Minneapolis – October 14, 2026 -- GUDEA, an AI-powered narrative intelligence platform, has been named a Top 20 Finalist in the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, selected from more than 2,500 startups that applied worldwide.

GUDEA will compete for a $100,000 equity-free prize on the Disrupt Stage

The company will pitch on the Disrupt Stage in San Francisco for the $100,000 equity-free grand prize and the Disrupt Cup. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 runs October 13-15 at Moscone West.

GUDEA says it is the sole representative of the Narrative Intelligence category among the Top 20 finalists.