BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF) spans dance, drama, music and film across more than 20 events — bringing together artists and ensembles from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Monaco, Russia, the United States, France and other nations.

This year's programme places special emphasis on collaboration between internationally renowned artists and Azerbaijani performers and institutions, including the Baku Choreography Academy, the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Baku Music Academy, and the Azerbaijan State Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Venues include the Muslim Magomayev State Philharmonic Hall, the Azerbaijan National Drama Theatre, the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Azerbaijan State Musical Theatre, Nizami Cinema Center, YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Baku Book Center, Stone Chronicle Museum, Gazelli Art House and the Heydar Aliyev Palace.

BIAF opens on Oct. 28 at the Philharmonic Hall with a concert marking the 120th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich, whose life and legacy remain closely tied to Azerbaijan and directly shaped its national school of composition. His Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Orchestra, premiered on this same stage by the composer in 1934, will be performed by Lukas Geniušas, grandson of the celebrated Shostakovich interpreter Vera Gornostaeva, and Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, with the Baku State Chamber Orchestra and the BIAF Festival Orchestra under Baku-born violinist and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky.

On Oct. 30, South African artist William Kentridge's multimedia work, "Oh To Believe in Another World," brings a live visual interpretation to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, a work whose musical themes encode the composer's secret declaration of affection for his Baku student, pianist and composer Elmira Nazirova. Sitkovetsky conducts the Festival Orchestra, and the programme continues with Fikret Amirov and Nazirova's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra on Arabian Themes, performed by Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of the Baku Music Academy and a personal acquaintance of both composers.

On Nov. 4, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosts violinist David Garrett, the Juilliard-trained "Paganini of pop," presenting his Baku premiere of "Millennium Symphony," a symphonic reimagining of the past 25 years' biggest hits. The festival closes on Nov. 8 at the Philharmonic with two-time Grammy winner Maxim Vengerov, one of the world's most sought-after violinists.

The theatre opens with Lev Dodin's acclaimed staging of Chekhov's "The Seagull," from the Maly Drama Theatre — Theatre of Europe (St Petersburg), on Oct. 29–30 at the Musical Theatre. On Nov. 1–2, Tel Aviv's Gesher Theatre presents Dmitry Krymov's "Bloody Mary," a free, image-driven response to Schiller's "Mary Stuart." On Nov. 3–4, the Heydar Aliyev Center welcomes the Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre's "Alfred and Violetta," a reworking of "La Dame aux Camélias" relocated to 1990s Tbilisi, completed by director Leo Gabriadze after his father's death in 2021.

The dance programme opens Oct. 31–Nov. 1 with "Thikra: Night of Remembering" at the National Drama Theatre, choreographed by Akram Khan with visual design by Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan, a piece rooted in ritual remembrance that premiered at AlUla's Wadi AlFann in 2025. On Nov. 5–6, choreographer Shahar Binyamini, a Batsheva alumnus who works with the Paris Opera Ballet and La Scala, presents "New Earth" and "Bolero X" with his House of Dance Company; as part of the festival's mentorship strand, Binyamini is also training and integrating dancers from the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Baku Choreography Academy into the production.

English National Ballet makes its Baku debut on Nov. 6–7 at the Musical Theatre with "Masters in Motion: Forsythe/Pite," pairing Crystal Pite's "Body and Soul (Part 1)" with William Forsythe's "Playlist (EP)." On Nov. 7, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, heirs to Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, bring their Baku premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot's "LAC" to the Heydar Aliyev Palace, a psychologically charged reimagining of "Swan Lake" marking 150 years since Tchaikovsky's original.

The parallel programme includes a rare glimpse of work in progress from choreographer Sharon Eyal on Nov. 1, and Romeo Castellucci and Scott Gibbons' sound-based piece "To Carthage Then I Came" at the Museum of Stone Chronicle on Nov. 6–7, restaged for the former power station after its Brussels premiere. Public talks bring audiences together with Akram Khan, Manal AlDowayan, Lev Dodin and others, including historian Peter Frankopan, author of the bestselling "The Silk Roads," in a conversation on Baku's renewed place at the crossroads of world culture.

BIAF's second edition follows a successful debut in 2025, which presented more than 20 events and 100 artists from Azerbaijan, Austria, the UK, Germany, Israel, Spain, Canada, China, the US, France, Uzbekistan and beyond, including works by Robert Lepage, Guillaume Côté, Sharon Eyal, Yang Liping, Rimas Tuminas and Daniele Finzi Pasca. Modelled on the world's leading festival platforms, BIAF positions Baku, a historic crossroads of the Silk Road, as a modern, open, multi-genre cultural capital bridging East and West.

About Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF)

The full BIAF 2026 programme and tickets are available at biaf.az. To discover more of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage and travel experiences, visit azerbaijan.travel and follow Experience Azerbaijan on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube. #experienceazerbaijan  

Media Contact

Anthony Burr
Burr Media
anthony@burrmedia.co.uk

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2026, held Oct. 21-22 at the Jeddah Superdome, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting the continuity of trade flows and strengthening supply chain resilience, bringing together representatives of government entities, maritime transport and logistics leaders, and the business community.

The Congress takes place as rapid changes in trade and shipping prompt companies to reassess transport routes and operational and investment choices. It provides a platform for dialogue among stakeholders to explore opportunities for cooperation and strengthen integration between ports and maritime, land transport and logistics services, supporting operational efficiency and supply chain reliability.

In his opening address, His Excellency Eng. Fawaz Alsahli, President of the Transport General Authority in Saudi Arabia, emphasised that the Kingdom’s ambitions extend beyond developing ports and maritime services to building an integrated transport and logistics ecosystem that contributes to diversifying the national economy, expanding opportunities for investment and innovation, and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a trusted partner in international trade.

His Excellency highlighted the importance of integrating maritime and road transport to connect ports with factories, warehouses and local and regional markets, facilitating the smooth movement of goods and supporting the sector’s ability to respond to changes in global trade.

Discussions highlighted shifts in regional trade flows, including developments affecting navigation through the Suez Canal and alternative shipping routes. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening connections between ports, transport networks and logistics services to give cargo owners and operators greater flexibility in managing their operations and responding to changing market conditions.

Mohaned El Mahgoub, Vice President at Tahaluf, said: “Bringing the industry together in Jeddah at this moment matters more than ever. Businesses are making immediate decisions about routes, capacity and investment, and those decisions depend on strong relationships across the supply chain. The discussions at this year’s Congress show how Saudi Arabia’s maritime and logistics capabilities are helping companies respond to disruption and build confidence in the routes and services they rely on. The Kingdom’s strength lies in its ability to bring those capabilities together, adapt under pressure and keep trade moving.”

In discussions on geopolitical shifts and trade resilience, Mr. Akshay Anand, Group CEO of ABSA Al Barrak Group, emphasised the importance of strengthening the maritime transport and logistics sector’s ability to adapt to challenges, alongside stakeholders’ shared responsibility to maintain the continuous flow of goods.

Discussions addressed the importance of developing operational alternatives and strengthening connections between different modes of transport to support supply chain resilience and enable companies to respond to changes in shipping flows. They also highlighted the importance of coordination between regulators, operators and service providers to ensure clear requirements and improve safety standards and operational efficiency.

Eng. Essam Alammari, Deputy for Maritime at the Transport General Authority, highlighted the importance of developing maritime transport capabilities, improving operational efficiency and enhancing integration between ports, shipping services and logistics networks.

Alammari said: “Developing the maritime transport sector is essential to strengthening the resilience of supply chains, improving trade connectivity and supporting the continued flow of goods across regional and international markets.”

He added: “Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location, connecting major maritime trade routes across three continents, provides a strong foundation for expanding its role in global logistics. Our priority is to translate this advantage into greater operational efficiency, stronger international partnerships and sustainable growth across the maritime transport sector.”

Alammari stressed the importance of cooperation between government entities, port operators, shipping companies and logistics service providers in creating an environment that supports investment and growth. He also highlighted the role of developing infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and maritime services, alongside innovation, digital transformation and international cooperation, in strengthening port competitiveness and adapting to changing trade patterns and geopolitical developments.

In discussions on port competitiveness and the development of logistics services, participants examined opportunities to increase transit cargo flows through the Kingdom to Gulf markets by developing dedicated facilities for storage, customs inspection, cargo collection and onward transport by truck. Discussions also explored the importance of connecting ports with regional and international transport networks to provide a broader range of shipping and redistribution options and improve the efficiency of goods movement between markets.

Discussions also addressed the role of investment in infrastructure and supporting services in attracting shipping traffic and strengthening Saudi ports’ position within global trade networks, alongside the importance of developing services that meet the needs of cargo owners and operators and support reliable operations.

On investment and partnerships, the Congress focused on the importance of strengthening cooperation between regulators, operators, investors and service providers to identify opportunities and develop solutions that meet the sector’s needs. Developments at the Congress included the announcement of cooperation between the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, Bahri, and the University of Jeddah, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the maritime and academic sectors.

Faisal M. Higgi & Associates Co. Ltd also announced a new brand identity, FMH Marine Services, while continuing to operate under its registered legal identity. The new brand supports the company’s plans to develop ship agency, customs clearance, logistics, supply, procurement and related marine services in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

On technology, discussions examined the role of automation, shared data and artificial intelligence in improving maritime and logistics operations through better vessel and truck scheduling, improved terminal utilisation and closer alignment between infrastructure and industrial needs. Participants also stressed the importance of developing supplier networks and strengthening connections between services and the areas surrounding ports to attract businesses and investment.

In discussions on reducing carbon emissions and strengthening competitiveness, participants examined opportunities to use alternative fuels and technological solutions to improve vessels’ environmental and operational performance. Topics included biofuels, hybrid propulsion systems and carbon capture technologies, alongside the use of sensors and artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency. Discussions also highlighted the importance of cooperation between energy companies and engine manufacturers to assess the compatibility of different fuels with operational requirements and support the development of more sustainable solutions for the maritime sector.

Discussions extended to the role of ports and marinas in supporting tourism, services and maritime investment. Oriela Blake from Sela highlighted the importance of developing marina facilities and specialised marine services to attract luxury yachts and increase demand for provisioning, maintenance and tourism activities.

Discussions also addressed the role of developing national talent and specialised marine services in supporting the sector’s growth. Participants emphasised the importance of an integrated offering that brings together marina operations, boat sales, after-sales service, technical support and maintenance to meet the needs of individuals and businesses and support the development of the marine industry in the Kingdom.

Ryanah Alghamdi, Deputy General Manager, Samaco, said: “Our ambition is to offer more than a marina. We want to support the customer’s broader marine journey, from boats and after-sales service to marina facilities, while contributing to the growth of the sector in Saudi Arabia.”

Samaco Marine is developing its services in line with marine industry growth and new investment opportunities, while exploring regional partnerships that support the expansion of its business and strengthen the integration of marine services in the Kingdom.

The development of national talent is also a key area supporting the maritime sector’s progress through expanded training, professional development and the development of specialised skills, keeping pace with market needs and supporting the sustained growth of the marine industry and logistics services.

Discussions at the Congress underscored the importance of continuing to develop the maritime transport and logistics ecosystem through investment in infrastructure, greater integration between transport modes, the use of modern technologies and broader public-private partnerships.

The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress continues at Jeddah Superdome with sessions examining how to build an integrated national logistics ecosystem, improve operational efficiency and develop partnerships and investment that support the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s maritime sector.

The Congress continues to provide a platform bringing together government entities, industry leaders, investors and technology providers to explore opportunities for cooperation and exchange expertise, helping to strengthen supply chain reliability and expand the Kingdom’s role in regional and international trade.

Media Contact

Ema Linaker
Brand Links
ema@brandlinksme.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- To help affordable housing owners, property managers, and public housing authorities navigate the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), NSPIRE Experts and NSPIRE Wire have announced a comprehensive suite of hands-on property preparation services and industry news resources.

NSPIRE Experts: Inspection Preparation and On-Site Property Work 

NSPIRE Experts works directly with affordable housing operators nationwide to prepare for official assessments, which evaluate physical conditions across units, inside areas, and outside areas with a strict emphasis on resident health and safety.

To help housing providers prepare, the company conducts sample and full pre-inspections to identify deficiencies ahead of official assessments. Going beyond identification, NSPIRE Experts deploys teams directly to properties to correct these issues, performing all work in accordance with applicable state and local requirements. Interior work includes repairing damaged outlets, switches, light fixtures, windows, drywall, bathtubs, and showers, as well as handling entry door security and smoke alarm installations. Exterior services include addressing sharp siding edges, trimming trees, and cleaning the grounds.

For the official inspection day, the company offers inspector shadowing services. When permitted by applicable procedures, a company representative accompanies the official inspection to observe and document conditions and potential discrepancies for follow-up. These services are strictly preparatory and observational; they do not replace inspections conducted by the responsible authority, and official findings and scores remain with the inspecting authority.

NSPIRE Wire: HUD and Affordable Housing News 

Complementing these on-the-ground services, NSPIRE Wire operates as a digital newsroom reporting on HUD updates, federal housing developments, NSPIRE inspection standards, and affordable housing transactions. The platform equips property owners, managers, and housing sector participants with crucial updates, industry interviews, and relevant compliance deadlines.

Every Tuesday, the newsroom publishes The Wire Brief, a weekly newsletter bringing together the previous week's most notable stories and regulatory developments for the affordable housing industry.

Editorial Independence 

NSPIRE Experts and NSPIRE Wire maintain distinct commercial and editorial functions. NSPIRE Wire operates independently, making all coverage and editorial decisions separate from the commercial activities of NSPIRE Experts.

About NSPIRE Experts

NSPIRE Experts helps property owners, managers, and housing authorities prepare for HUD inspections and maintain safe, compliant housing. Serving clients nationwide, the company provides NSPIRE pre-inspections, property repairs, inspector shadowing, maintenance support, apartment turnovers, and renovations. With a hands-on approach and more than 44 years of combined leadership experience, NSPIRE Experts works with housing providers to identify and address issues, navigate compliance requirements, and keep their properties inspection-ready year-round. For more information, visit nspireexperts.com.

About NSPIRE Wire

NSPIRE Wire is a digital newsroom covering HUD news, affordable housing transactions, NSPIRE standards, industry interviews, and relevant deadlines. It publishes The Wire Brief every Tuesday. For more information, visit nspirewire.com.

Media Contact

Media Inquiries and Inspection Preparation Inquiries
NSPIRE Experts
info@nspireexperts.com
+1 866-516-7322

NEW YORK, NY, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- SwapGlobal, the U.S. OTC derivatives provider for institutional investors, has secured funding from Dutch investor Marcel Boekhoorn, W Group founder and President Volodymyr Nosov, and Amsterdam-based private equity firm Kenzoll Capital. The investment will support the company's expansion beyond crypto derivatives, with an initial focus on providing institutional investors with early exposure to shares of private companies ahead of their public listings.

The funding, whose value was not disclosed, will provide additional trading and working capital to expand SwapGlobal's derivatives offering and serve a broader range of institutional clients, including hedge funds and asset managers.

SwapGlobal operates a platform that allows institutional investors to gain exposure to pre-IPO shares, non-U.S. equities, compute capacity, and digital assets through OTC derivatives, allowing them to take positions without holding the underlying assets.

SwapGlobal's infrastructure is designed to allow eligible institutional clients to trade derivatives without maintaining their own wallets, offshore exchange accounts or crypto infrastructure. SwapGlobal manages those positions itself and hedges them on crypto trading platforms, so clients do not need accounts there. Collateral is held with qualified custodians.

The new capital allows SwapGlobal to take on more contracts and serve more institutional clients. The first transactions, starting with pre-IPO shares, are being prepared. The investment is the first step in a broader capital plan that will scale as the derivatives portfolio grows.

Alongside the financing, Fedja Terzic has joined SwapGlobal as Chief Risk Officer. Terzic is a certified actuary (AAG) and Financial Risk Manager (GARP), bringing extensive experience in risk management. He spent six years at Flow Traders, where he rose to the positions of Global Head of Risk & Middle Office and Managing Director. He subsequently served as COO and CRO at One Trading, Europe's first MiFID-regulated crypto derivatives exchange.

The agreement builds on the previously announced strategic partnership between SwapGlobal and Kenzoll Capital.

René van Kesteren, founder and CEO of SwapGlobal, said, "With these investors on board, we can serve institutional clients within the U.S. regulatory framework much faster with OTC derivatives on pre-IPO shares, compute, and digital assets. The trading capital and additional working capital give us room to move into the next phase of growth."

Volodymyr Nosov, founder and President of W Group, said, "Digital assets are moving from the edges of finance into the mainstream, and institutional capital needs infrastructure it can trust. Investors need partners who can offer clear structures and proper risk controls. SwapGlobal is building a U.S.-compliant, transparent way for institutions to take exposure to these markets, and that is why we are backing the company."

Corné Melissen, founder of Kenzoll Capital, said, "Our digital asset market-making business has been part of SwapGlobal's trading setup. The technology and the team that run it now sit inside SwapGlobal, so the company can set prices for its derivatives and manage the risk on them in one place."

About SwapGlobal

SwapGlobal offers eligible U.S. institutions exposure to pre-IPO shares, non-U.S. equities, compute, and digital assets through OTC derivatives. Positions are hedged on crypto trading platforms, and collateral is held with qualified custodians. Kenzoll Capital is a strategic investor. For more information, visit swapglobal.com.

About W Group

W Group is a global ecosystem of companies shaping the future through technology, innovation and ambitious products. Today it brings together 10 businesses, more than 1,500 team members across 15 locations worldwide, and more than 40 million clients in 150 countries. W Group is committed to shaping the future of finance through simple, accessible and secure solutions that bridge Web2 and Web3. For more information, visit w.group.

About Kenzoll Capital

Kenzoll Capital is an Amsterdam-based private equity firm specializing in special situations investments in emerging and developed markets. For more information, visit kenzoll.com.

Disclaimer

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security, derivative, or financial instrument. SwapGlobal OTC derivative transactions are entered into bilaterally and are available exclusively to eligible institutional counterparties that qualify as Eligible Contract Participants (ECPs) under Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act. SwapGlobal products are not offered, sold, or made available to retail investors. OTC derivatives involve substantial economic risks, including counterparty credit risk and market volatility, and may not be suitable for all institutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements regarding future product expansions, trading capabilities, and market deployments are forward-looking statements subject to risks, regulatory approvals, and changing market conditions. Actual results may differ materially.

Media Contact

pr@swapglobal.com

NEW YORK, NY, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- SwapGlobal, the U.S. OTC derivatives provider for institutional investors, has secured funding from Dutch investor Marcel Boekhoorn, W Group founder and President Volodymyr Nosov, and Amsterdam-based private equity firm Kenzoll Capital. The investment will support the company's expansion beyond crypto derivatives, with an initial focus on providing institutional investors with early exposure to shares of private companies ahead of their public listings.

The funding, whose value was not disclosed, will provide additional trading and working capital to expand SwapGlobal's derivatives offering and serve a broader range of institutional clients, including hedge funds and asset managers.

SwapGlobal operates a platform that allows institutional investors to gain exposure to pre-IPO shares, non-U.S. equities, compute capacity, and digital assets through OTC derivatives, allowing them to take positions without holding the underlying assets.

SwapGlobal's infrastructure is designed to allow eligible institutional clients to trade derivatives without maintaining their own wallets, offshore exchange accounts or crypto infrastructure. SwapGlobal manages those positions itself and hedges them on crypto trading platforms, so clients do not need accounts there. Collateral is held with qualified custodians.

The new capital allows SwapGlobal to take on more contracts and serve more institutional clients. The first transactions, starting with pre-IPO shares, are being prepared. The investment is the first step in a broader capital plan that will scale as the derivatives portfolio grows.

Alongside the financing, Fedja Terzic has joined SwapGlobal as Chief Risk Officer. Terzic is a certified actuary (AAG) and Financial Risk Manager (GARP), bringing extensive experience in risk management. He spent six years at Flow Traders, where he rose to the positions of Global Head of Risk & Middle Office and Managing Director. He subsequently served as COO and CRO at One Trading, Europe's first MiFID-regulated crypto derivatives exchange.

The agreement builds on the previously announced strategic partnership between SwapGlobal and Kenzoll Capital.

René van Kesteren, founder and CEO of SwapGlobal, said, "With these investors on board, we can serve institutional clients within the U.S. regulatory framework much faster with OTC derivatives on pre-IPO shares, compute, and digital assets. The trading capital and additional working capital give us room to move into the next phase of growth."

Volodymyr Nosov, founder and President of W Group, said, "Digital assets are moving from the edges of finance into the mainstream, and institutional capital needs infrastructure it can trust. Investors need partners who can offer clear structures and proper risk controls. SwapGlobal is building a U.S.-compliant, transparent way for institutions to take exposure to these markets, and that is why we are backing the company."

Corné Melissen, founder of Kenzoll Capital, said, "Our digital asset market-making business has been part of SwapGlobal's trading setup. The technology and the team that run it now sit inside SwapGlobal, so the company can set prices for its derivatives and manage the risk on them in one place."

About SwapGlobal

SwapGlobal offers eligible U.S. institutions exposure to pre-IPO shares, non-U.S. equities, compute, and digital assets through OTC derivatives. Positions are hedged on crypto trading platforms, and collateral is held with qualified custodians. Kenzoll Capital is a strategic investor. For more information, visit swapglobal.com.

About W Group

W Group is a global ecosystem of companies shaping the future through technology, innovation, and ambitious products. Today it brings together 10 businesses, more than 1,500 team members across 15 locations worldwide, and more than 40 million clients in 150 countries. W Group is committed to shaping the future of finance through simple, accessible, and secure solutions that bridge Web2 and Web3. For more information, visit w.group.

About Kenzoll Capital

Kenzoll Capital is an Amsterdam-based private equity firm specializing in special situations investments in emerging and developed markets. For more information, visit kenzoll.com.

Disclaimer

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security, derivative, or financial instrument. SwapGlobal OTC derivative transactions are entered into bilaterally and are available exclusively to eligible institutional counterparties that qualify as Eligible Contract Participants (ECPs) under Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act. SwapGlobal products are not offered, sold, or made available to retail investors. OTC derivatives involve substantial economic risks, including counterparty credit risk and market volatility, and may not be suitable for all institutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements regarding future product expansions, trading capabilities, and market deployments are forward-looking statements subject to risks, regulatory approvals, and changing market conditions. Actual results may differ materially.

Media Contact

pr@swapglobal.com

AVONDALE, LA, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- T. Parker Host (HOST) today announced a $50 million capital investment in Avondale Global Gateway, expanding the infrastructure and capacity needed to support growing customer demand and position the Mississippi River industrial campus for its next phase of development.

The investment will add significant new rail, warehouse, and dock capacity across Avondale. A new 200,000-square-foot warehouse will bring the campus to approximately 1.5 million square feet of indoor storage and mark the first new building constructed at Avondale since the 1970s. HOST will also activate Avondale’s fifth deepwater dock, increasing the campus’s capacity to handle up to six vessels simultaneously.

HOST’s capital program includes approximately $15 million in rail infrastructure, $15 million for the new warehouse, $5 million in dock improvements, $5 million in road infrastructure, $5 million in expanded site and laydown capacity, and $5 million in equipment.

The additional capacity will support existing customers while creating room for new long-term industrial operations. The improvements are expected to open the door for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional private investment across the campus.

The investment is expected to support approximately 100 additional HOST jobs, bringing the company’s Avondale workforce to more than 400 employees. As HOST’s infrastructure program and anticipated tenant projects advance, approximately 1,000 people are expected to be working across the campus each day by 2028.

“We’re building Avondale for what comes next,” said Adam Anderson, Chairman and CEO of T. Parker Host. “When a company looks at Louisiana for its next major investment, we want the infrastructure to already be here. This $50 million investment gives our customers the ability to move faster and grow here for the long term.”

Building Today for What Comes Next

The expansion builds on growing demand across Avondale’s industrial operations. Avondale is the leading copper import terminal in North America and has executed a long-term agreement with a major energy original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Most recently, Avondale welcomed the first significant shipment of Venezuelan primary aluminum to the United States in more than eight years, opening a new trade route through the campus. Together, these growing industrial supply chains are bringing materials and equipment through Avondale that support American manufacturing, power generation, and data center development.

The buildout of AI infrastructure is driving demand for the power generation equipment, copper, and other physical components needed to support that growth, creating another opportunity for Avondale’s multimodal capabilities and industrial capacity.

More broadly, the new infrastructure will allow customers to move more quickly from site selection to operation, with critical capacity already in place. That readiness positions Avondale, Jefferson Parish, and Louisiana to compete for major industrial projects and attract additional long-term investment.

“Avondale is helping position the West Bank as a serious player in the global economy,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “This investment strengthens the infrastructure our region needs to compete for major industrial projects and gives companies another reason to choose Greater New Orleans when they are deciding where to invest and grow.”

Public Investment Supports Rail Expansion

Avondale’s rail expansion is receiving $6.95 million in state and local support as part of the overall $50 million capital program.

Louisiana Economic Development will provide a $2.6 million interest-free loan through the newly created FastSites Program. The Louisiana Legislature has approved $3.1 million in capital outlay funding for the rail expansion over the past three legislative sessions.

Jefferson Parish has committed an additional $1.25 million in discretionary funding for the project, including $1 million from Councilman Deano Bonano and $250,000 from Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken. Together, these state and parish commitments total $6.95 million, all of which is directed toward Avondale’s rail expansion.

Work on the infrastructure improvements is already underway, with the current capital program expected to be completed by December 2027.

An Industrial Campus Built for Growth

Avondale Global Gateway is a multimodal industrial campus on the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish. Its five deepwater docks, approximately 1.5 million square feet of indoor storage upon completion of the new warehouse, Class I rail connectivity, and road access give customers multiple ways to bring materials into the site and move them to markets across North America.

The campus handles more than 75 commodities and, with the planned dock improvements, will have capacity to handle up to six vessels simultaneously. Avondale also provides space for companies to establish long-term operations where materials can be processed, manufactured, or otherwise enhanced on site.

HOST continues to invest in the campus as customer demand grows, adding capacity for larger and more complex industrial operations while creating room for additional private investment.

Watch Avondale Global Gateway's company video.

About T. Parker Host

Founded in 1923, T. Parker Host (HOST) provides ship agency services, terminal operations, logistics solutions, and industrial infrastructure across the United States. HOST combines more than a century of maritime experience with a hands-on, service-driven approach to support customers and the industries shaping America’s future. Learn more at tparkerhost.com.

About Avondale Global Gateway

Avondale Global Gateway is a multimodal industrial campus on the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, operated by T. Parker Host. The site offers five deepwater docks, extensive warehouse capacity, Class I rail connectivity and significant acreage for industrial development. Avondale provides the infrastructure and operating expertise for companies to move cargo, establish operations and invest for long-term growth. For more information, visit avondaleglobalgateway.com.

Media Contact

Greer Stewart
Senior Marketing Manager, T. Parker Host
marketing@tparkerhost.com
+1 504-655-1144

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, October 28, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute today released the fifth edition of the FII PRIORITY Compass, revealing that the cost of living remains the world's leading concern for the fifth consecutive year and underscoring the growing economic pressures influencing family decisions, trust in institutions, and expectations of technology.

Drawing on the views of 61,200 adults across 32 countries, representing 66% of the global population, the report provides a unique snapshot of the issues people believe should command the attention of investors, business leaders and policymakers.

HRH Princess Dr. Maha Bint Mishari Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, CEO of FII Institute, said, "The FII PRIORITY Compass reveals a world united by shared concerns and unmet needs. For five consecutive years, the cost of living has remained the dominant global priority, affecting people's choices, aspirations and opportunities. The Compass serves as a practical guide for investors and decision-makers, helping direct policy and capital toward solutions that generate sustainable returns while improving lives."

The findings highlight a widening gap in global outlook. Nearly half of respondents in the Global South believe the world is moving in the right direction, compared with only 15% in the Global North, revealing starkly different perceptions of progress and opportunity.

The survey also points to a growing consensus around artificial intelligence. While a majority say AI has already improved their lives, support for stronger global governance is overwhelming, with 85% calling for international rules to regulate its development and use.

As automation becomes more present in everyday life, attitudes remain pragmatic. Respondents are broadly comfortable with robots performing household tasks, yet enthusiasm declines when technology takes on more sensitive caregiving roles.

The research further reveals the impact of economic pressure on family aspirations. More than half of respondents say living costs and debt are preventing them from having the number of children they would like, highlighting the long-term social consequences of financial insecurity.

Digital safety also emerged as a significant concern. A majority support stronger safeguards for young people online, including verified parental consent requirements for children using social media platforms.

Despite widespread perceptions of political bias in traditional media, most respondents continue to view established news organisations as reliable sources of information, reflecting an increasingly complex relationship between trust and credibility in the information age.

About the FII PRIORITY Compass

The fifth edition of the Compass was originally scheduled to be launched during the tenth edition of the Future Investment Initiative conference, which has since been postponed. The Institute draws on the Compass to shape its agenda around the priorities of citizens worldwide, with this edition focusing on financial pressures and growing demands for safeguards governing emerging technologies.

Conducted in partnership with Ipsos between April 24 and June 5, 2026, the online survey gathered views from 61,200 adults aged 18 and over in 32 countries, collectively representing 66% of the global population.

Read the full FII PRIORITY Compass and explore country and regional findings.

About FII Institute

The FII Institute is a global nonprofit foundation with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Through its THINK, XCHANGE, and ACT pillars, the Institute fosters great ideas, empowers innovators, and invests in scalable solutions across critical sectors, including AI and robotics, sustainability, healthcare, and education. For more information, visit fii-institute.org.

Media Contact

media@fii-institute.org
+966 53 978 2030

NEW YORK, NY, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- IPX, an agentic operating system and on-chain launchpad for intellectual property, announced today that Ja Rule has been named president of its celebrity board of advisors and a founding shareholder. The Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum artist is also a celebrity co-founder of the company.

As president of the celebrity board of advisors, Ja Rule advocates for and co-writes the script on how artists, athletes and creators on the platform own and retain their IP — shaping the structure for how their projects are financed and produced, and ensuring fans also have a seat at the table.

Ja Rule, president of IPX’s celebrity board of advisors, said, "I'm a creative first, and I've seen firsthand what can happen to artists who don’t own their work. When I create IP, I make sure every show is my IP, on purpose, so that content will be ours, forever. That’s why IPX is a game-changer for the industry, empowering celebrities, creatives and fans alike. We’re rewriting the script on how celebrities own and retain their IP."

"Ja Rule's partnership has been a game-changer; his creative vision centers on ownership and touches film, TV, livestreaming, music and animation," said Brendan McCafferty, founder and CEO of IPX. "He truly knows what it takes to build original IP from scratch, time and again. His vision for artists as creators, entrepreneurs and owners is synonymous with what we're building at IPX: a platform to help them bring new projects to life and connect more directly with their fans."

About IPX

IPX Exchange is the agentic operating system for intellectual property where celebrities can give their fans a real seat at the table with real rewards in real IP. Its platform is designed to help creators and rights holders greenlight original projects, finance and produce them, engage sponsorship and reach distribution from one platform. IPX is based in Miami. Learn more at ipx.exchange.

Media Contact

Melrose PR
ipx@melrosepr.com

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Empacer has launched a voice-first AI business assistant for owners of small and medium businesses. Owners say or type what they need, such as a post from a photo, a reply to a customer or a plan for the week, and Empacer prepares the work with their business details. The owner checks the result and decides whether it goes out.

Built for owners who are also the whole team

Empacer is built for people who run small and medium businesses where the owner is also the whole team. Nail studios, hair salons, barbershops, auto repair shops, cleaning services, bakeries and photographers are typical examples. The owner spends the day with clients or on the job, while messages and admin pile up on the phone.

Empacer takes on the everyday tasks around that work: customer replies, social posts, documents and planning the week. Photos the owner already has become posts and captions for review. A customer question about Saturday hours becomes a reply in the business's tone. A price list or an invoice attached to a request becomes a clean document or a summary.

Voice first, with text one tap away

Voice is the main way to give Empacer a task. Owners tap the voice button and say what they need, or type in the "Ask anything" field when talking isn't convenient. Photos, price lists and invoices can be attached to any request. Empacer works for the owner and doesn't take calls from customers.

Instead of filling out a long form, the owner answers a few short questions about the business by voice or text. The answers come back as short facts in About you, where the owner can check and correct them. When Empacer has to guess something, like the business's tone of voice, it marks the fact as a guess. When a detail is missing, like a price, Empacer asks the owner instead of making up an answer.

Every result waits for the owner's approval

Each result arrives as a card with the post, reply, plan or document. The owner can edit a line, tell Empacer what to fix, decline the draft or approve it. By default, nothing is sent until the owner approves it, so the card is the moment to check names, dates and numbers before anything goes out.

Empacer asks to connect a tool only when a task needs it, and a separate screen shows what access is requested before the owner agrees. It works with more than 1,000 tools, including Instagram, Facebook, Google Calendar, Gmail and Notion. Available actions depend on the tool, the account and the permissions the owner grants. Without a connected tool, the finished work stays in Empacer, where the owner can open it or share it to another app.

Empacer doesn't use chats or business data to train its own AI models, and the AI providers it's built on don't use that data to train theirs. Owners can correct or delete anything Empacer keeps about their business.

On the web and Android

Empacer runs in the browser at app.empacer.com on a computer, phone or tablet, and as Empacer for Business on Google Play. An iOS app is coming soon. Until then, iPhone users can open app.empacer.com in the browser. One account keeps the same tasks, files and settings on every device.

Learn more at empacer.com and see how Empacer works.

About Empacer

Empacer is an AI business assistant for small and medium business owners, provided by EMPACER LIMITED. Owners say or type what they need, such as a post from a photo, a reply to a customer or a plan for the week, and Empacer prepares a draft with their business details. By default, nothing is sent until the owner approves it. Empacer runs on the web and on Android, with an iOS app coming soon, and connects to more than 1,000 tools. It does not take calls from customers, and chats and business data are not used to train AI models.

Media Contact

Empacer PR Team
organic@empacer.com

SWANSEA, United Kingdom, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Motorists looking for reliable advice about personalised number plates now have a new consumer resource, as Plates4Less publishes a comprehensive guide to the UK private registration market.

• New consumer guide launched: The UK Private Number Plate Market Explained helps motorists understand registration values, buying and selling, DVLA procedures and how to avoid costly mistakes.
• Six areas of concern identified: Plates4Less' review found inaccurate, incomplete or potentially misleading advice across AI-generated answers and online forums.
• Protecting motorists: Drawing on nearly 30 years of industry experience, the guide explains how the market works and how owners can protect valuable registration marks.

The UK Private Number Plate Market Explained has been created to help motorists understand how personalised registrations are valued, where to buy and sell them safely, how DVLA procedures work and how to protect their registration rights.

The guide follows a review by Plates4Less of advice provided by ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Google's AI-powered search results and online forums. Conducted during September and October 2026, the review identified six areas of concern where information was inaccurate, incomplete or potentially misleading when assessed against DVLA guidance and specialist industry knowledge.

The findings highlight the importance of checking advice before making decisions involving valuable registrations, particularly where misunderstandings about ownership, transfers or certificate expiry could have serious financial consequences.

A guide to understanding private number plate values

One of the most common questions motorists ask is: How much is my private number plate worth?

There is no single formula for valuing a personalised registration. Its potential value depends on factors such as the combination of letters and numbers, readability, associations with names or initials, desirability, comparable registrations and current market demand.

AI-generated valuations can provide a starting point, but they may not reflect the full market, available alternatives or the price a registration could realistically achieve. An advertised price is not necessarily the same as its eventual selling price.

The guide explains the factors that influence registration values and why motorists should consider the wider market before deciding to buy, sell or retain a cherished plate.

The DVLA plays a central role in the private plates market, administering registration rights and selling previously unissued registration marks. AI tools know this and so give the most eminence to DVLA (because they are a Government Agency) in its answers.

Previously issued registrations are also bought and sold through specialist dealers and private sellers. Motorists relying solely on AI-generated recommendations may therefore overlook suitable registrations already in circulation or receive suggestions that are unsuitable for their vehicle.

Incorrect advice can put valuable registrations at risk

The Plates4Less review also identified concerns about advice relating to DVLA procedures, retention certificates, expiry deadlines, vehicle age restrictions and private transactions.

One particularly important issue involves motorists changing the registration assigned to a vehicle. Owners wishing to keep an existing cherished registration generally need to follow the correct DVLA procedure to remove and retain it before assigning another registration. Failure to follow the required process can put their entitlement at risk.

Expired entitlement certificates present another potential problem. Motorists should check the applicable DVLA deadlines and requirements rather than assume that an expired entitlement can always be reinstated.

Private purchases also require care. Buyers need to understand what they are purchasing, verify the seller's position and ensure the correct procedures are completed. Receiving paperwork or being named as a nominee should not be mistaken for completing all the necessary steps to secure and use a registration.

The new guide brings these issues together in one place, covering safe buying and selling, registration transfers, retention, legal display requirements and common fraud risks.

Plates4Less: “We wanted to provide a reliable source of information”

Antony Clark, Marketing Manager at VRM Swansea | Plates4Less, said: “We're increasingly hearing from customers who have purchased unsuitable private registrations after relying on misleading advice, and from owners who have been given unrealistic valuations by AI tools.

“AI-generated answers are becoming increasingly prominent in online searches, sometimes appearing directly in Google results without people specifically asking for them. Our review identified six areas where advice could be inaccurate, incomplete or misleading.

“The problem isn't exclusive to AI. Information shared through online forums and social media can also be misleading, even when people are genuinely trying to help.

“We felt there was a real need for a clear, accessible guide explaining how the UK private number plate market actually works. Whether someone wants to know what their plate is worth, where to find a particular registration, how to sell safely or how to protect a plate they already own, we want to help them make informed decisions.”

A lasting resource for private number plate owners

Established in 1997, Plates4Less has nearly 30 years of experience helping motorists and businesses find, buy, sell, transfer and protect personalised vehicle registration marks.

The company hopes the guide will serve as a lasting reference for motorists researching registration values, comparing buying options or checking the procedures involved in managing a cherished registration.

As AI tools increasingly influence how consumers research products and services, Plates4Less believes accessible, specialist information is essential to help motorists distinguish reliable guidance from incomplete or misleading answers.

Read the guide: The UK Private Number Plate Market Explained

About Plates4Less

Plates4Less is a trading name of VRM Swansea Ltd, the only Swansea-based private registration mark specialist, established in 1997. The firm helps motorists and businesses find, buy, sell, transfer and protect personalised vehicle registration marks, including those available through the DVLA and the wider secondary market. For more information, visit plates4less.co.uk.

Disclaimer

Plates4Less (a trading name of VRM Swansea Ltd) is an independent private registration specialist and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an agency of the DVLA or the UK Government. The information contained in this release and the referenced guide is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal, administrative, or financial valuation advice; motorists are advised to verify their specific requirements directly with the DVLA prior to completing any transaction. All product and brand names mentioned—including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Google—are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are cited solely for editorial identification and comparative commentary.

Media Contact

tony@plates4less.co.uk

PANAMA CITY, Panama, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Trybit, an international crypto payment gateway with more than five years of operations across global markets, today published an analysis detailing a fundamental structural shift across Latin America’s digital economy: cross-border enterprises are increasingly adopting stablecoins as their primary transaction infrastructure rather than relying on legacy banking systems.

While sovereign instant-payment systems — such as Brazil’s PIX, Mexico’s SPEI, and Colombia’s PSE — have successfully optimized domestic transactions, their architectures generally require a local commercial banking entity. As a result, foreign online businesses selling software, digital entertainment, gaming, and professional services across Latin America face severe integration bottlenecks. Traditional credit card rails frequently expose these merchants to high decline rates, foreign exchange friction, and broad category restrictions. Consequently, digital dollars have evolved from a supplementary checkout option into a mission-critical revenue channel.

According to data compiled by Chainalysis, Latin America’s digital asset economy reached $593.8 billion in transaction volume in the 12 months ending June 2026 — a 9.8% year-over-year expansion that outpaced broader global averages. Stablecoins served as the primary growth driver:

• Cross-Border Commerce: Stablecoins represented approximately 32% of all cross-border crypto value in Latin America by mid-2026.
• Brazil: Leading the region at $252.5 billion in total value, Brazil’s stablecoin market expanded 495% year-over-year, while corporate and retail wallets holding $10,000 or more in stablecoins grew 347%.
• Mexico: Ranking fifth globally for cross-border cryptocurrency volume, Mexico’s cross-border stablecoin corridors handled $1.8 billion in June 2026 alone—a fourfold increase since early 2024—alongside $8.4 billion in Q2 stablecoin service inflows.
• Regional Uptick: Colombia recorded $3.5 billion in Q2 stablecoin service inflows with an overall market growth of 13.8% ($29.1 billion), while Argentina’s market climbed 15.3% to $88.5 billion.

Market stakeholders emphasize that commercial utility is leading the migration. In the Chainalysis report, ABCripto’s Julia Rosin underscored that enterprise adoption of stablecoins is pacing ahead of both retail consumers and legacy financial institutions, while Bitso’s Ben Reid, global head of stablecoins, pointed to persistent inflation, currency volatility and capital controls as key drivers, adding that in Brazil stablecoins have been primarily a B2B tool.

“For international merchants serving Latin America, stablecoins are no longer an experimental billing alternative — they are the core payment system, largely because traditional domestic rails were never architected for cross-border accessibility,” said the CEO of Trybit. “When a settlement rail transitions into a merchant’s primary financial pipeline, enterprise expectations shift entirely. Businesses are no longer asking for proof of concept; they expect payments to go through when traffic peaks, payouts to leave on schedule, and screening of incoming funds that keeps their capital free from freezes.”

As local exchanges mature — with domestic Brazilian platforms capturing 12.5% of total inflow volume — enterprise infrastructure requirements will center on high availability, automated liquidity conversion, and proactive AML risk mitigation to bridge global commerce with regional demand.

About Trybit

Trybit is a global crypto payment gateway built for scalable online businesses. The platform accepts and processes 40+ cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with 99.9% uptime over the past 12 months and ensures payment confirmations from 20 seconds and volume-tailored terms. Trybit's toolset includes AML screening of incoming transactions, auto conversion into supported stablecoins, API payouts, static wallets, and other tools for crypto payment processing. For more information, visit trybit.com and follow Trybit on Telegram and X.

Disclaimer

This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Trybit operates as a digital payment processing provider. Third-party data, metrics, and commentary cited from Chainalysis, ABCripto, and Bitso are included strictly for contextual reference and do not constitute an explicit endorsement, corporate affiliation, or strategic partnership. Forward-looking statements regarding market scale, consumer adoption, and transaction volumes represent present operational expectations and are subject to regulatory, macroeconomic, and technical contingencies.

Media Contact

support@trybit.com

WINSTON-SALEM, NC, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Renfro Brands, a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of socks, legwear, and apparel, today announced a new licensing partnership with DKNY, naming Renfro the exclusive licensee for DKNY men's and women's socks and women's hosiery, as well as DKNY SPORT men's and women's socks, across the United States and its territories and possessions, Canada, Mexico, and select markets throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Launching Fall 2027, the partnership will bring a renewed fashion focus to DKNY's socks and hosiery business. Renfro will work closely with DKNY to develop collections that capture the brand's distinctly New York point of view while elevating product, presentation, and storytelling across the category.

The goal is to realize the full potential of socks and hosiery within the DKNY portfolio, positioning the categories as an integral part of the DKNY wardrobe with the same consideration, fashion authority, and relevance as the brand's apparel and accessories.

"DKNY has an unmistakable point of view. It is modern, confident, and inherently New York, and we believe socks and hosiery should express that same fashion authority," said Kadian Langlais, Chief Brand Officer of Renfro Brands. "Our ambition is to unlock the full potential of these categories, creating collections that feel as considered and desirable as the apparel. At Renfro, we take brand stewardship seriously. We understand the responsibility that comes with a brand of this stature, and we see tremendous opportunity to pair DKNY's equity with our category expertise, consumer insight, and retail relationships to build something exceptional."

Building on DKNY's Momentum

The partnership comes at a significant moment for DKNY. A key brand in G-III Apparel Group's owned portfolio, DKNY continues to build momentum as it looks to expand further across categories, channels, and geographies.

"Renfro brings deep expertise in the category, strong retail relationships, and a proven track record of stewarding globally recognized brands," said Jeff Goldfarb, Executive Vice President of G-III. "We believe they are the right partner to bring a fresh perspective to the category while remaining true to the fashion, quality, and New York attitude that define DKNY."

The first collection developed under the partnership will debut for Fall 2027 at select department stores, specialty retailers, e-commerce accounts, and other authorized channels across the licensed territory.

A Strategic Addition to Renfro's Fashion Portfolio

The addition of DKNY further enhances Renfro's portfolio of globally recognized brands, complementing its existing fashion offerings with a distinct contemporary perspective. The partnership creates opportunities to broaden consumer reach, deepen retail partnerships, and drive incremental growth, reinforcing Renfro's commitment to building long-term value across its diverse portfolio.

About Renfro Brands

Founded in 1921, Renfro Brands is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of socks, legwear, and apparel. For more than a century, the company has combined consumer insight, design, innovation, sourcing, marketing, and retail expertise to build and steward a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands across fashion, athletics, outdoor, work, and wellness. Renfro Brands' portfolio includes owned brands Soffe, HOTSOX, and K.Bell, with the acquisition of Soffe expanding the company's portfolio into activewear, alongside licensed brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, New Balance, Dr. Scholl's, Wolverine, and Free Country. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Renfro Brands has a global footprint, with offices in Europe and Japan, as well as a dedicated fashion office in New York City. This international presence strengthens the company's ability to leverage global insights, design expertise, and market knowledge to support its diverse portfolio of brands. For more information, visit renfro.com.

About DKNY

Founded in New York in 1989, DKNY is a global fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by the energy and attitude of New York City. Known for its modern approach to dressing, DKNY offers apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products through a global network of retail, wholesale, digital, and licensing partners. DKNY is owned by G-III Apparel Group. For more information, visit dkny.com.

Media Contact

Renfro Brands
mediainfo@renfro.com

HOUSTON, TX, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Inception Fertility™, a leading provider of comprehensive fertility services across North America, today announced the expansion of its donor identity disclosure program with the introduction of two new options — Early Disclosure and Identified Donor – across its family of fertility brands, including its clinical network, The Prelude Network® (Prelude), and its donor programs, MySpermBank and MyEggBank.

Available through MySpermBank, MyEggBank, and participating clinics part of The Prelude Network, the Early Disclosure Program allows donors to consent to sharing their identifying information with recipients following a confirmed birth, rather than waiting until the donor-conceived individual reaches adulthood.

The Identified Donor Program, available through MySpermBank, allows intended parents to select donors who are open to exchanging identifying and contact information from the outset, creating the opportunity for a known donor relationship from the beginning of the family-building process.

Traditionally, Open ID Release programs allow donor-conceived individuals to request identifying information about their donor upon reaching age 18. Inception’s expansion of this model is designed to provide greater transparency, choice, and opportunities for connection for families pursuing donor-assisted reproduction.

"At Inception, we recognize that building a family through donor-assisted reproduction is an incredibly personal journey, and every family has different expectations about the role donor identity and connection may play in their lives," said TJ Farnsworth, founder and CEO of Inception Fertility. "By expanding our donor identity programs, we're giving intended parents greater choice and flexibility while creating opportunities for transparency and connection that can extend well beyond the initial family-building process."

As part of its commitment to making donor-assisted reproduction more inclusive, MySpermBank is also accepting applications from LGBTQ+ men interested in participating in its Identified Donor Program.

Historically, FDA donor eligibility requirements have created barriers for some LGBTQ+ men seeking to donate sperm through traditional anonymous donor programs. MySpermBank's Identified Donor Program provides an alternative pathway in which prospective donors may be evaluated under applicable FDA requirements for directed or known donors, subject to individual eligibility assessments and appropriate screening and testing.

The program reflects Inception's broader commitment to expanding participation in donor-assisted reproduction while maintaining rigorous clinical, safety, and regulatory standards.

"Family building looks different for everyone, and we believe donor programs should reflect the diversity of the families and individuals they serve," added Daragh Castaneda, Vice President, Donor Programs at Inception. "Our goal is to provide more inclusive, thoughtful options that empower intended parents and donors to make informed decisions about their participation in the family-building journey."

The expanded donor identity programs build on Inception's growing portfolio of fertility services, including the recent launch of MySpermBank, a digital-first platform designed to simplify the process of finding and selecting sperm donors.

Backed by fertility specialists, geneticists, and laboratory scientists within The Prelude Network®, MySpermBank combines comprehensive donor screening, detailed donor profiles, and educational resources to help intended parents navigate donor-assisted reproduction with greater confidence.

Together with MyEggBank and The Prelude Network, these expanded offerings underscore Inception's ongoing commitment to advancing reproductive care through innovation, transparency, and personalized support.

To learn more about Inception Fertility and its donor programs, please visit inceptionfertility.com.

About Inception Fertility

Inception Fertility™ (Inception) is a family of fertility brands committed to helping patients build their own families. Built by patients for patients, Inception's purpose is to achieve the highest bar in experience, science, and medicine in an effort to enhance each patient's experience and achieve better outcomes.

Inception's medical experts are leading pioneers in fertility care. Our doctors are some of the first to use breakthrough assisted reproductive technologies (ART) — including in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), and fertility preservation services — and they continue to lead the industry by building on these technologies by through development, research, and thought leadership.

Through its growing family of national organizations — which includes The Prelude Network®, the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America; MyEggBank®, one of the largest frozen donor egg banks in North America; BUNDL Fertility™, a multi-cycle fertility service bundling program; HavenCryo™, a long-term reproductive preservation and storage solution provider and NutraBloom®, a premium lifestyle brand with expertly formulated supplements to support individuals' health and wellness goals for preconception — Inception is working to deliver on its promise to push the envelope of what is possible for exceeding patient expectations.

About The Prelude Network

The Prelude Network® (Prelude), the fastest-growing network of fertility clinics and largest provider of comprehensive fertility services in North America, is the clinic network of Inception Fertility™ — a family of fertility brands that touches every part of the fertility journey, from diagnostics and treatment to financial accessibility. 

Each clinic, as part of Prelude, is committed to delivering the highest level of personalized fertility care by the nation's leading reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists and practitioners by focusing on an excellence in science, medicine and the patient experience. The growing Prelude Network has more than 90 total locations nationwide, offering a wide range of fertility services including egg freezing, IVF, genetic testing, LGBTQ+ fertility options, and egg/embryo storage, among others.

Those clinics within Prelude include Aspire Fertility Austin (Texas);  Aspire Fertility Dallas (Texas); Aspire Fertility San Antonio (Texas);  Aspire Fertility Houston (Texas); Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (Illinois); Center for Reproductive Medicine (Florida); Indiana Fertility Institute (Indiana); IVFMD (Florida); Main Line Fertility (Pennsylvania); NYU Langone Fertility Center (New York); NYU Langone RSNY (New York); Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (Canada); Pacific Fertility Center (California); Regional Fertility Program (Canada); Reproductive Biology Associates (Georgia); Reproductive Science Center of New Jersey (New Jersey); Tennessee Fertility Institute (Tennessee), and The Reproductive Medicine Group (Florida).

About MySpermBank

MySpermBank, part of The Prelude Network®, connects intended parents with rigorously screened sperm donors to help you build your family. Browse our diverse donor catalog, explore detailed donor profiles with genetic screening, and choose from IUI, ICI, and IVF vial options. Whether you're a solo parent by choice, part of an LGBTQ+ family, or navigating infertility, our team provides compassionate support and comprehensive education resources throughout your donor sperm journey. Start your path to parenthood today.

About MyEggBank

As a leading fresh and frozen egg donor bank, MyEggBank is committed to providing aspiring parents and donors with the best egg donation experience. Whether you’re looking to how to donate eggs or find an egg donor, we’re here to meet you exactly where you are. MyEggBank offers one of the largest egg donor databases, as well as egg donor programs and financing options to help aspiring parents navigate egg donor costs. For our egg donors, in addition to generous compensation and pay, we also offer support throughout the egg donation process. Contact us today to learn more about the egg donor application process, egg donor search, egg donor screening, genetic testing, and more.

Media Contact

Mia Humphreys
mhumphreys@kruppagency.com
+1 239-297-6592

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, October 27, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- ZX Capital Markets (ZXCM Group), the global forex and CFD brokerage founded by Hadi Zaarour in 2023, is celebrating its third anniversary with significant operational milestones, an expanding international client base and new developments across its technology offering.

Since its launch, ZXCM has processed more than $100 million in client withdrawals, paid $7 million in rebates to introducing brokers (IBs) and recorded approximately $200 billion in cumulative trading volume. These milestones accompany the onboarding of thousands of new clients and the continued development of the group’s global business.

Expanding Globally, Strengthening Relationships

With strong foundations in the Middle East and North Africa, ZXCM continues to broaden its international reach, onboarding clients from across global markets and building relationships with partners worldwide.

The group’s team now comprises close to 50 people worldwide, reflecting the scale of the business it has built over three years. As its client and partner networks grow, ZXCM’s focus remains on developing the people, technology, and service capabilities needed to support that expansion.

“When we started ZXCM, we wanted to build a business on honesty and fairness, and make sure those principles were reflected in how we operate every day,” said Hadi Zaarour, founder and CEO of ZXCM Group. “The figures matter because there are people behind them: clients who trust us with their money, partners who build their businesses alongside ours, and a team that works hard to deliver. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to these first three years.”

The $7 million paid in IB rebates also marks the contribution of the group’s partner network to its development. Building lasting relationships with introducing brokers remains an important part of ZXCM’s international growth strategy.

New Applications and the Next Phase of Innovation

Alongside its commercial expansion, ZXCM has developed new applications and broadened its digital offering, including the ZXCM Social Trader app. The group plans to build on this progress through further investment in technology and the continued development of tools and services for clients and partners.

ZXCM is also preparing to introduce a highly advanced artificial intelligence product being developed in partnership with a European technology company. Further details will be revealed in an upcoming announcement, providing an early glimpse of the developments taking shape behind the scenes.

The initiative forms part of the group’s wider plans for the coming year, with additional products, service developments and surprises planned for its growing international community.

Looking Ahead to the Fourth Year

As ZXCM enters its fourth year, its priorities include expanding its international client base, strengthening partner relationships and continuing to improve the experience it delivers across its services.

The anniversary also provides an opportunity to recognise the employees, clients and business partners whose contributions have supported the group’s development from its founding in 2023 to its current global operations.

“We are proud of what we have achieved in three years, and we have much more to do,” Zaarour added. “We are building for the long term, investing in our people and working on developments that we look forward to sharing over the coming year. There are quite a few surprises ahead. Our promise remains the same: No Games, Just Trading.”

About ZX Capital Markets (ZXCM)

ZXCM is a global forex and CFD brokerage founded in 2023. With a strong presence in the MENA region and expanding global markets, ZXCM offers institutional-grade solutions for forex, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Our mission is to revolutionize trading experiences, providing transparency, advanced infrastructure, and localized strategies. Our commitment to setting new industry standards of trust and professionalism is evident in our rapid growth and the accolades we have received. The firm was established by Hadi Zaarour, a seasoned industry leader with nearly two decades of experience, whose focus on clarity and innovation has positioned ZXCM as one of the region’s fastest-growing financial service providers. Learn more at zxcm.com.

Disclaimer

Trading Forex, Contracts for Difference (CFDs), and digital assets involves significant financial risk due to leverage, volatility, and market unpredictability, which can result in the loss of your entire invested capital; past performance is no guarantee of future returns, and these instruments are not suitable for all investors. ZX Capital Markets (ZXCM Group) is operated in accordance with applicable financial authorities, and services are strictly not directed to, or intended for use by, residents of jurisdictions where such distribution would breach local laws or regulations (including the United States and Canada). Additionally, this announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding planned product releases and international expansion that are based on current management expectations and subject to operational risks, regulatory approvals, and change without prior notice.

Media Contact

Ethan Stone
media@zxcm.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The executive director of Brief Strategic Family Therapy Institute, Joan A. Muir, PhD, has been honored by Marquis Who’s Who for her distinguished career as a clinical psychologist and her leadership in expanding access to evidence-based mental healthcare. 

Dr. Muir has served as executive director of the Brief Strategic Family Therapy Institute at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine since 2007 and has been a licensed psychologist since 1996.

Developing a Notable Dissemination Model for Brief Strategic Family Therapy

Dr. Muir developed the dissemination model for Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), an intervention developed by a team of researchers at the University of Miami designed for families of adolescents with substance use and delinquent behavior. The dissemination model lays out requirements for municipalities and community agency executives on engaging families and the selection and training of therapists to build successful BSFT programs. 

Under her leadership, the BSFT Institute has implemented the model across 35 states, as well as abroad in Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Hong Kong. Dr. Muir’s achievements include establishing three BSFT programs in Sweden, starting with the city of Stockholm, and nine programs across New York City funded by the New York City Administration for Children's Services.

Advancing the Field of Evidence-Based Therapy

In her role at the Brief Strategic Family Therapy Institute, Dr. Muir has watched the field shift substantially since she began her career three decades ago, toward specialized, evidence-based psychotherapies developed for specific populations and problems. As examples, she points to Brief Strategic Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan and her team at the University of Washington for their groundbreaking approaches that have driven measurably better outcomes in mental health treatment.

"Each began the same way: a small group of psychologists identified a problem in their community and pursued research to solve it, without knowing how far the work would eventually reach," said Dr. Muir.

For Brief Strategic Family Therapy, the research was inspired by a group of Cuban psychologists at the University of Miami, led by Dr. Jose Szapoznik, to address challenges experienced by Cuban immigrant and refugee families arriving in Miami. That intervention expanded to African American and Caucasian families over 40 years of research. In 2024, Dr. Muir led the BSFT Institute through a major transition, its acquisition by Empower Community Care, an emerging leader in the global dissemination of evidence-based therapies.Education and Professional Affiliations

Dr. Muir earned a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Fordham University in 1989 and a Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology from the same institution in 1995. She completed a predoctoral fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in 1993 and postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute in 1995.

Dr. Muir remains actively involved with the Association of Black Psychologists, where she served as secretary of the national association and president of the South Florida chapter, which awarded her the chapter's Healing through Leadership Award in 2025. In addition, she has been the recipient of a research fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health. She has been a member of the American Psychological Association since 1990.

Making an Impact on Clinical Psychology

Dr. Muir retired as executive director of the BSFT Institute in December 2025. Looking ahead, she intends to continue expanding her work to reach families from diverse backgrounds while ensuring her services remain accessible to those who can afford them and those who cannot. She maintains a private practice in Plantation, Florida.

About Joan A. Muir

Joan A. Muir, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience advancing evidence-based mental healthcare. From 2007 through 2025, she served as executive director of the Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, developing the dissemination model that expanded the intervention across 35 states, Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Hong Kong. Dr. Muir is actively involved with the Association of Black Psychologists, where she has served as national secretary and president of the South Florida chapter, and is a longtime member of the American Psychological Association. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Fordham University, completed fellowships at Yale and Columbia universities, and maintains a private practice in Plantation, Florida.

About Marquis Who's Who

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, marquiswhoswho.com.

Media Contact

info@marquisww.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Soundview, Inc., the company behind Summary.com, today announced the launch of EDGE AI, a new feature that brings the insights of Executive Book Summaries® to the challenges professionals face at work every day. Users ask a specific business question and receive a focused answer drawn exclusively from Soundview’s library of Executive Book Summaries.

Built for managers, executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals, EDGE AI brings together relevant ideas from several Executive Book Summaries tailored to the user’s challenge. Questions can range from rebuilding trust within a team and delivering difficult feedback to leading a turnaround or maintaining momentum through uncertainty.

Sample questions include:

• “How do I rebuild trust on my team?”
• “How do I give feedback that actually lands?”
• “How do I lead through uncertainty?”
• “How do I run a one-on-one that isn’t just a status update?”
• “How do I build a culture that holds up as we grow?”

The result is a complete response that connects business concepts to the challenge at hand.

EDGE AI draws on the frameworks, strategies, and concepts from a library of more than 1,500 Executive Book Summaries. A question such as “How do I turn a failure into a lesson my team remembers?” brings together relevant thinking from multiple summaries into one focused answer, with links to each source summary for deeper exploration. Responses can be read online or downloaded as PDFs.

“Executive Book Summaries have always been about getting busy professionals to the ideas that matter,” said Josh Clement, President of Soundview. “EDGE AI changes the starting point. Instead of picking a book, you start with the challenge in front of you, and the answer comes straight from summaries our own editors have written and vetted.”

Built on Human Expertise

Every Executive Book Summary continues to be written, edited, and narrated by Soundview’s team of professionals. That work provides the foundation for EDGE AI.

For professionals balancing the challenges of today’s complex business environment, EDGE AI offers another way to put Soundview’s business learning resources to work: start with a current challenge and receive an answer grounded in the books that define modern business thinking.

EDGE AI is available now and included with a Summary.com subscription. To learn more and ask a business question, visit summary.com/edge-ai.

About Soundview, Inc. (Summary.com)

For nearly 50 years, Soundview has worked with authors and publishers to bring the ideas in leading business books to busy professionals around the world. Through Summary.com, the company offers Executive Book Summaries and business learning resources covering leadership, management, strategy, and professional development. Learn more at summary.com.

Media Contact

Jane Yugatan
Summary.com
service@summary.com
+1 484-730-1270

BERLIN, Germany, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Ojin, the Human AI Company, today announced the launch of Human+ by Ojin, an AI roleplay training platform for corporate learning and development. Human+ lets employees rehearse difficult workplace conversations live, out loud, with AI characters that have a real face and voice, then certifies who is ready and measures the results.

Most corporate training ends at a completion record. Employees finish an e-learning course, but leaders cannot tell who can actually handle the objection, the de-escalation, or the difficult feedback conversation. Live roleplay with trainers or actors is expensive and hard to schedule, and manager-led practice varies from one manager to the next.

The gap shows up wherever the conversation matters. A sales rep can complete product training and still lose the deal on the first objection. A manager can finish a leadership course and still avoid a difficult feedback conversation. A new hire can clear onboarding and still not be ready to speak to a customer. In regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and financial services, companies need to show that employees can apply the rules in a live conversation, not just that they finished a module. A completion record proves attendance, not competence, which leaves organizations exposed when a rep misstates a product claim or mishandles a complaint.

Closing that gap the traditional way is expensive. Live workshops need trainers or actors, venues, and often travel, and they pull employees away from their work. Manager-led coaching takes hours from senior staff for every new hire. Because these programs are hard to scale, most employees get only a handful of practice sessions before they face the real conversation.

With Human+, Ojin closes those gaps through on-demand practice and assessment that every employee gets in the same way.

How Human+ Works

Human+ is built around four modules that take an employee from learning to verified skill.

1. Learn: An AI coach teaches from the company's own onboarding material, product specifications, and policies.
2. Roleplay: Employees practice spoken conversations with full-body AI avatars rather than talking heads. The avatars detect fine details of conversational delivery in real-time and respond to how each learner engages, pushing back or opening up as the conversation unfolds.
3. Assessment: Unscripted certification scenarios test whether an employee is ready before they speak to a customer, patient, or direct report. This is designed for regulated, high-stakes roles.
4. Real-time analytics: Fully customizable analytics track per-person and team-level performance as employees practice, showing skill progress rather than course completion and guiding what each employee works on next.

Companies can build any learning, roleplay, or certification session they need, trained on their own data and shaped to their own standards and skill philosophy. Use cases include cold calls, objection handling, customer service de-escalation, negotiation, feedback, manager conversations, new-hire onboarding, compliance, and certification. Human+ runs in more than 70 languages, so global teams train in the language they work in.

Beyond Sales Training

Many AI roleplay tools focus only on sales calls. Human+ is designed for the full range of conversations employees struggle with, from sales and customer service to leadership coaching, management, and compliance. It serves enterprise L&D, sales enablement, HR, and risk teams, including in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and financial services. Ojin also offers Human+ to universities and private school groups.

Practice-Based Training Drives Results

Ojin designed Human+ around the four outcomes training leaders are measured on: pipeline influenced by better-prepared sales teams, shorter time to productivity for new hires, lower spend on live workshops, and less manager time spent on routine coaching. In real-world deployments, practice-based training delivers more than $120 million in pipeline influenced, 60% shorter time to productivity, €800,000 in annual training costs avoided, and $700,000 in manager time returned.

Built With European Enterprise Requirements in Mind

Headquartered in Berlin, Ojin built Human+ to be SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR compliant, aligned with the EU AI Act, and compliant with Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). Customers can choose dedicated infrastructure for data sovereignty, including dedicated model hosting.

Ojin owns its entire technology stack, so customers can deploy, configure, and modularize Human+ around their own needs. Human+ integrates with a customer's existing data sources, follows the customer's own compliance and security policies, and keeps customer data inside the customer's environment if desired.

That stack is Ojin's real-time Human AI Agent technology, which already powers interactive AI characters for global enterprise brands. It produces lifelike avatars that hold a real-time, natural spoken conversation rather than playing back recorded video.

"Companies spend a fortune on training, and most of it stops at a completion record," said Christian Mio Loclair, founder and CEO of Ojin. "Nobody learns a hard conversation by watching a video about it. You learn it by having it, getting it wrong in a safe place, and trying again. Human+ gives every employee that practice in their own language and gives leaders proof of who is ready before the real conversation happens."

"We spent years building AI characters that can hold a real-time conversation with a face and a voice," Loclair added. "Training is where that matters most, because the point is to feel like you are talking to a real person."

Availability

Human+ by Ojin is available now to enterprises and academic institutions worldwide. Organizations can book a demo at ojin.ai/human-plus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is AI roleplay training, and how is it different from e-learning or an LMS?

AI roleplay training lets employees practice a conversation out loud with an AI character that responds in real time. With e-learning, they read or watch content and click through. Human+ by Ojin is an AI roleplay platform: employees talk live with a lifelike character that has a face and voice, can be interrupted, and pushes back. An LMS tracks who finished a course. Human+ shows who can actually handle the conversation.

Is Human+ only for sales training?

No. Human+ covers sales calls, objection handling, customer service de-escalation, negotiation, feedback, manager conversations, onboarding, and compliance. It also comes with ready-made coaches for onboarding, compliance, and manager skills from day one.

How do we certify every rep can handle an objection before they speak to a customer?

With Human+, reps take an Assessment session: an unscripted spoken exam against an AI customer, with no coaching and no human assessor. Each session is scored on skills, with the transcript behind every score. Managers can see who is certified and where each rep is weak before that rep talks to a real customer.

Can Human+ be used for compliance training in regulated industries like pharma and financial services?

Yes. Companies can build certification scenarios from their own rules. Examples are a pharma rep presenting a new indication, or a financial adviser explaining a product within regulatory limits. Each certification is backed by a scored, transcribed record of the conversation, not just a completion record.

What security and compliance standards does Human+ meet?

Human+ is SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR compliant with a DPA available, aligned with the EU AI Act, and compliant with Saudi Arabia's PDPL. It is built by Berlin-based Ojin.

Can AI roleplay platforms run in our own cloud or on-premise?

Human+ can. Its sovereign deployment runs on dedicated infrastructure with model hosting and a stack customized to the customer’s compliance and security policies. It connects to the customer’s own infrastructure and keeps their data inside their environment.

How many languages does Human+ support?

More than 70, so global teams can train in the language they work in.

Can we build scenarios from our own content and policies?

Yes. Companies can build any learning, roleplay, or certification session from their own data, shaped to their standards and skill philosophy.

How do we measure whether training improved performance?

Human+ tracks skill progress per person and per team as employees practice, not just course completion. Ojin reports a 60% reduction in time to productivity in real-world use.

Who is behind Human+?

Human+ is built by Ojin, the Human AI Company, founded by CEO Christian Mio Loclair and based in Berlin. It runs on the same real-time Human AI Agent technology that powers Ojin's interactive characters for enterprise brands.

About Ojin

Ojin makes Human+, where employees practice hard workplace conversations live with AI characters that have a real face and voice. It runs on Ojin's real-time Human AI Agent technology. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Ojin (formerly Journee) is operated by Journee Technologies GmbH and led by founder and CEO Christian Mio Loclair. Its products include Human+, Human Agents, the Human Presence and Human Portrait face models, and the Ojin Model API. Learn more at ojin.ai.

Media Contact

Neil Coleman
COO, Ojin
neil.coleman@ojin.ai

DALLAS, TX, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Shalaan Umar has been named America’s Top Young Innovator 2026, earning one of the highest distinctions in the annual innovation competition that recognizes exceptional young minds developing original solutions to real-world challenges.

Umar earned the prestigious title for his outstanding portfolio of scientific research and multiple patent-pending inventions, particularly his Automated Water Spigot Sanitization System, an innovative solution addressing hygiene, water scarcity, and public health challenges. His achievement exemplifies the competition’s mission to recognize young inventors whose creativity, scientific ingenuity, and technological contributions demonstrate the potential for meaningful societal impact.

Organized by the International Academy of Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship (IAIRE), America's Top Young Innovators has emerged as an international platform celebrating outstanding student-led innovation, bringing together promising young researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs working to address some of the world's most pressing challenges.

America's Top Young Innovator 2026: Category Winners

Five additional prestigious awards recognized outstanding achievements across emerging scientific and technological disciplines.

Siddhi Pareek, Maryam Bhat, and Giaa Warikoo received the Best Innovation in AI in Healthcare Award, recognizing their exceptional application of artificial intelligence to advance intelligent healthcare solutions.

Rishi Sai Poola, Ismael Zaidi, and Qasim Ahmad earned the Best Innovation in Genetics & Healthcare Award for their pioneering scientific research and innovative applications of genetics and biotechnology to address critical healthcare challenges.

Suhani Sharma received the Best Innovation in Sustainability & Engineering Design Award, recognizing her exceptional design thinking, user-centered engineering, and development of sustainable solutions.

Ansh Pathak, Ansh Gandhi, and Eashaan Dispenza were honored with the Best Innovation in Aerospace Award for developing an innovative solution aimed at removing space debris from Earth's orbit, contributing toward safer and more sustainable space exploration.

Zahra Fatima Khan earned the Best Innovation in Mental Health Award for her human-centered innovation addressing critical challenges in mental well-being.

UAE's Top Young Innovator 2026: International Excellence

The competition's growing international reach was further demonstrated through UAE's Top Young Innovators 2025–26, the UAE edition of the initiative, which recognizes exceptional young inventors and provides a pathway to the global finals of America's Top Young Innovators. 

The winners were determined through a rigorous, two-stage evaluation process, beginning with independent assessments by the distinguished international judging panel, followed by public voting that attracted over 28,000 voters from across the UAE. Combining expert scientific evaluation with extraordinary public participation, the competition celebrated not only exceptional technological innovation but also the growing enthusiasm for young inventors and scientific excellence across the nation.

Danell Koshy Gijo and Habel Jacob Gijo, representing GEMS Legacy School and Our Own Indian School, emerged as the UAE's Top Young Innovators 2026 for EyesON, an AI-powered assistive technology designed to help visually impaired individuals navigate independently using intelligent object detection and real-time guidance.

Other distinguished category winners included Maanya Lalithraj, Chloe Jreije, and Noah Choucair of Dubai American Academy for PathoScan, an innovation advancing early colorectal cancer detection, and Rianna Chaudhui and Arham Kidwai of GEMS Modern Academy for NeuroPen, an AI-enabled approach to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.

UAE Schools Recognized for Innovation Excellence

The UAE competition also honored educational institutions demonstrating exceptional leadership in cultivating young innovators, advancing future-ready education, and fostering a culture of scientific creativity and technological excellence.

GEMS Legacy School, Dubai, and Our Own Indian School, Dubai, received the prestigious Innovation Excellence Award for nurturing the winners of UAE's Top Young Innovator 2026, demonstrating their outstanding institutional commitment to developing exceptional young inventors and researchers.

GEMS Legacy School, Dubai, earned two additional distinctions: the Innovation Spirit Award for recording the highest student participation in the competition, and the Leading School for Girl Innovators Award for achieving the highest number of entries submitted by female students, reflecting its exceptional commitment to inclusive innovation.

Delhi Private School, Sharjah, received the AI/ML Trailblazer Award for submitting the highest number of innovations focused on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, demonstrating leadership in emerging technologies.

Al Ain British Academy, GEMS Our Own English High School, and Habitat School – Al Jurf were honored with the Sustainability Champion Award for their outstanding contributions to innovations aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), highlighting their commitment to nurturing environmentally conscious young innovators.

Together, these institutional honors recognize schools that are transforming education by empowering students to become creators of technology, pioneers of scientific discovery, and innovators capable of addressing global challenges.

Evaluated by a Distinguished International Judging Panel

The competition brought together an eminent judging panel featuring internationally recognized experts from NASA, the World Health Organization, the United States Air Force, and the artificial intelligence industry. Chaired by Dr. Hashima Hasan, NASA Astrophysicist and Program Scientist, the panel included Dr. Peter Guida, Radiation biologist at NASA; Dr. Zisis Kozlakidis, Head of Laboratory Services and Biobanking at WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer; Omar Syed, AI, Blockchain and technology expert from NASA Glenn Research Center; Sage J. Phoenix, former U.S. Air Force combat mission commander; and Ben Gold, AI strategist and founder of AI Academy for All.

The distinguished panel evaluated innovations for originality, scientific rigor, technical merit, and real-world impact, with final UAE results determined through a combination of expert evaluation and public voting.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Global Innovators

Through America's Top Young Innovators and its international editions, DiscoverSTEM Foundation and International Academy of Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship continue to champion a powerful vision: empowering young people to move beyond conventional classroom learning and become inventors, researchers, and problem-solvers capable of shaping the future.

About DiscoverSTEM

DiscoverSTEM is a Texas-based research and innovation organization dedicated to nurturing young inventors, scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs through hands-on scientific research, innovation development, and intellectual property creation. For more information, visit discoverstem.info.

WASHINGTON, DC, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- WheelMetrics, an educational and stock-screening platform founded by quantitative investor Adrian Rosebrock, has launched a free online resource identifying stocks and options setups for investors using the Wheel Strategy.

The new "Best Stocks for the Wheel Strategy" page publishes a regularly updated list of companies that pass Rosebrock's fundamental screening process, alongside specific cash-secured put contracts that meet his trading criteria. The page refreshes every Monday and is available to the public without registration or a paid subscription.

The Wheel Strategy involves selling cash-secured puts on stocks an investor is willing to own, accepting shares if assigned, and potentially selling covered calls against those holdings. Although the mechanics are relatively straightforward, selecting suitable underlying companies remains a challenge, particularly when attractive option premiums encourage traders to overlook weaknesses in the businesses themselves.

WheelMetrics approaches the process by evaluating stock quality before examining available options. Each week, Rosebrock's algorithms screen more than 4,000 publicly traded companies across six fundamental factors: valuation, growth, profitability, debt, cash conversion, and dividend quality.

Only companies that satisfy the fundamental criteria advance to the options screening stage, where contracts are evaluated based on delta, time to expiration, annualized yield, open interest, return on capital, and earnings timing.

“When the Wheel Strategy goes wrong, it almost always goes wrong at the stock level, not the options level," said Rosebrock, founder of WheelMetrics. “Get assigned and you own the company. And if you’re assigned on the wrong company with no fundamental floor, it can quickly drop, leaving you holding the bag. Every Monday I start by asking which businesses I’d actually want to hold for six to twelve months, and only then look at the premiums.”

The resource features two screening boards. One focuses on options with 30 to 52 days until expiration, Rosebrock's preferred timeframe, while the other covers weekly contracts and incorporates momentum indicators to provide additional context for trade timing.

The screening system also excludes put contracts scheduled to expire after the underlying company's next earnings report, helping traders avoid positions exposed to scheduled earnings announcements. During periods when few opportunities meet the screening requirements, the published boards may intentionally contain only a limited number of qualifying setups.

Rosebrock developed the system following a career in software engineering and artificial intelligence. He earned a PhD in computer science in 2014, founded the computer vision education platform PyImageSearch, and sold the business in 2021. He subsequently spent five years studying quantitative investing and developing systematic trading methods before founding WheelMetrics.

The newly launched page publishes the output of the same screening process he uses to trade his own capital. Additional research tools, including hourly rescreening during market hours, are available through WheelMetrics Pro.

Rosebrock also maintains a public, real-money Wheel Strategy portfolio established on January 1, 2026. An independent certified public accountant has examined its initial trading results against brokerage records, with findings published in the company's first independent performance verification report.

The review covered January through May 2026 and used agreed-upon procedures to check reported trading figures. It was not an audit or an endorsement of the strategy. Rosebrock has committed to publishing updated CPA verification reports every six months, regardless of whether the portfolio records gains or losses. Under his reporting methodology, put assignments are counted as losses even when the original premium is retained.

About WheelMetrics.io

WheelMetrics is an educational and stock-screening platform founded by Adrian Rosebrock, PhD, to help self-directed investors approach the Wheel Strategy with a systematic process. The platform provides stock selection research, options analysis, and position management resources through free educational content and its WheelMetrics Pro membership. Its screening methodology evaluates company fundamentals before identifying qualifying options contracts. WheelMetrics provides educational and informational resources only, not individualized investment advice. Options trading involves substantial risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For more information, visit wheelmetrics.io.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this release and on WheelMetrics.io is strictly for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security or options contract. WheelMetrics is not a registered broker-dealer or investment adviser. Options trading involves substantial risk, is not suitable for all investors, and can result in the loss of all or more than the initial investment; investors should review the "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD)" at optionsclearing.com before trading. Past performance, real-money portfolio results, and CPA-verified agreed-upon procedures do not guarantee future returns, and individual results will vary based on market conditions, timing, fees, and execution.

Media Contact

Adrian Rosebrock
adrian@wheelmetrics.io

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 26, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Sift, the ML-native fraud prevention platform serving more than 700 global brands, including Patreon, Turo, and Remitly, now offers the Sift Fraud Attack Defense Suite. The suite is a centralized system of three agents, one for each stage of an attack: Attack Detection Agent, Attack Investigation Agent, and Attack Response Agent.

The suite builds on AI that Sift customers already use. The Sift Score and Workflows decide on every event in real time, the Risk Activity Agent helps analysts investigate account takeover, and the Sift MCP Server (read-only) lets teams connect their own AI tools to Sift data. The Fraud Attack Defense Suite adds the layer that watches for the attack itself.

A fraud attack doesn’t send a warning. It looks like a batch of stolen cards tested with small charges, a wave of fake accounts overnight, or chargebacks that creep up over a weekend. Attack Detection Agent learns what normal looks like for each business, including time-of-day and day-of-week patterns, and alerts the team when traffic breaks from that baseline, so fraud teams are the first to know instead of the last. In its first month, it caught a multi-hour 20x transaction spike at a travel customer and a 13-hour card-testing surge at a retail customer.

Facts & Figures

• What it is: The Sift Fraud Attack Defense Suite, a centralized system of three agents: Attack Detection Agent, Attack Investigation Agent, and Attack Response Agent.
• What it does: Detects a fraud attack as it emerges, shows the accounts and transactions behind it, and pairs every alert with a playbook of next steps.
• Availability: Attack Detection Agent is generally available and included in the core Sift platform. All three stages are available at a foundational level today. Investigate opens the events behind an alert, and Respond provides playbooks and alert tracking. Automated response is planned.
• Control: Your team sets alert sensitivity, moves every alert through its lifecycle, and will choose which responses to automate as they become available.
• Heritage: Part of a platform that has applied machine learning to fraud since 2011, alongside the Sift Score, Workflows, the Risk Activity Agent, and the Sift MCP Server.
• Setup: Runs on the event data customers already send to Sift. No new install, no new fields, no integration work.
• Starter alerts: Five, live from day one: BIN transaction velocity, BIN user velocity, chargebacks, low-value transaction surges, and registration velocity.
• Early results: In its first month, Attack Detection Agent caught a multi-hour 20x transaction spike at a travel customer and a 13-hour card-testing surge at a retail customer.

Why attacks need a first responder

Coordinated fraud attacks are fast, organized, and expensive in analyst time. In Sift’s view, too many teams still meet them with dashboards checked by hand, exports to a business intelligence tool, or a colleague who happens to notice a number that looks off. By then, the attack is already underway.

How the Fraud Attack Defense Suite works

Detect. Attack Detection Agent monitors a business’s traffic continuously and alerts the team when key patterns change against the baselines and rules the team has set. Related detections group into one alert, so a coordinated attack doesn’t flood the queue. Teams can tune each alert’s sensitivity and preview how a setting would have performed against their own traffic. Alerts arrive in the Console, and critical alerts can also go to email.

Investigate. From any alert, one click opens the events behind it, including the accounts, transactions, and attributes that tie them together. Analysts start with a picture of the attack instead of a number that changed.

Respond. Every alert pairs with a playbook of investigation steps and recommended actions. A person moves each alert through a clear lifecycle, from open to acknowledged to resolved or marked a false positive. Every alert stays in a searchable history for audit and post-incident review. The team keeps the decision. Sift does the legwork of surfacing the evidence and the next steps.

Built on the Sift Global Data Network

The suite is built on the Sift Global Data Network, which is powered by more than 1 trillion annual events and signals from 34,000 sites and apps. It learns from activity across merchants and industries. The five starter alerts ship with defaults informed by industry benchmarks, so they are useful on day one. From there, Attack Detection Agent measures each business against its own history, because a threshold built from someone else’s traffic wouldn’t fit. The suite works alongside Sift’s decisioning engine, where the Sift Score and Workflows act on every event in less than 150 ms.

For teams that used to learn about attacks from a downstream number, catching one while it is still underway reduces what it costs. “Attacks need a first responder, not a police report. Your team should never be the last to know, so we built something to sound the alarm as soon as traffic breaks from normal,” said Raj Jain, Chief Product Officer at Sift.

Jain was equally direct about the technology. “Detection today runs on statistical methods, not generative AI, and we won’t dress it up as something else. What makes it an agent is that it does the work for you.”

Attack Detection Agent is generally available now and included in the core Sift platform. Attack Investigation Agent and Attack Response Agent are available at a foundational level today. Sift plans to add reasoning, recommendation, and automation to both, so analysts can start with an investigation already underway and choose to have responses put in place for the attack patterns they trust.

Learn more about the Fraud Attack Defense Suite at sift.com/platform/ai or see it in action at sift.com/demo.

About Sift

Founded in 2011, Sift is the industry-leading fraud prevention platform helping digital brands deliver trust at scale and move business forward with confidence. Backed by a global data network of more than 1 trillion annual events and direct access to fraud experts, Sift helps more than 700 global brands stop fraud, approve more customers, and scale without compromise. Brands including Patreon, Turo, and Remitly rely on Sift to unlock growth and deliver seamless, secure customer experiences. Visit sift.com and follow Sift on LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Arwen Heredia
Sr. Director, Corporate Marketing
press@sift.com