| | AUGUST 20268JD Sports Appoints Peter Agnefjäll as Chair of the BoardAST SpaceMobile Boosts Europe Expansion via Strategic Telecom AllianceEU Pledges 1.4 Billion to Ukraine as Russia Intensifies AttacksJD Sports Fashion plc (JD), a global omni-channel retailer of outdoor, fashion, and sports brands, has appointed Peter Agnefjäll as Chair of the Board, effective September 1, 2026. The appointment follows an extensive search led by Senior Independent Director Kath Smith and the Board, supported by an external executive search firm.Peter will succeed Darren Shapland, who has served as Interim Chair since the Annual General Meeting on July 21, 2026. Darren will remain on the Board as an Independent Director. Agnefjäll is an experienced retail executive with Chair and non-executive director experience. During nearly two decades at IKEA Group, he rose to President and CEO, serving from 2013 to 2017 and overseeing significant growth, market development, and digital transformation. AST SpaceMobile, which is developing a space-based cellular broadband network accessible through regular smartphones, is expanding its European efforts through partnerships with major mobile network operators. Network integration testing is underway across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and Ukraine, involving Vodafone, Orange, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom, and Vodafone Ukraine, subject to regulatory approvals.The testing marks a step toward AST SpaceMobile's commercial launch in Europe. The company is leveraging carrier-neutral gateway infrastructure established by Satellite European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine as "horrible atroci-ties" and announced a 1.4 billion sup-port package funded through proceeds from immobilised Russian assets. The announce-ment followed Russia's overnight ballistic missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, which killed at least 17 people and targeted civilian areas. The attacks come amid a broader escalation as Russia intensifies its offensive against Ukraine.Following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the European Union froze Russian Central Bank assets within its jurisdiction. While the assets remain untouched, profits generated from them, totaling approximately 8 billion, have been redirected to support Ukraine. The move highlights the EU's continued financial and political backing for Ukraine amid debates over frozen Russian assets. BizWireConnect Europe, a Luxembourg-based joint venture between AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone. The venture provides European ground infrastructure and direct-to-device connectivity, offering open access to mobile network providers across Europe. The initiative aims to strengthen space-based cellular broadband connectivity across Europe. Retail & FashionTelecom & Space Technology Geopolitics
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