The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) welcomes the issuance of two Notices of Intent from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to begin the temporary scheduling of concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related synthetic derivatives, and commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the scientific and medical review that supported the action.

The action, announced July 1, 2026, consists of two Notices of Intent (NOIs) filed with the Federal Register. One NOI addresses the temporary placement of 7-OH above a specified threshold into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The second would place three derivatives that do not occur naturally in kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) into Schedule I:

• Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP) 
• Dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-15) 
• The 9-fluoro derivative of 7-hydroxymitragynine (MGM-16) 

“This action reflects exactly the kind of science-based, targeted approach we have long advocated,” said Thomas Brendler, PhD, Chair of SABER’s Steering Committee. “Federal agencies reviewed the available evidence and drew a careful line between natural kratom and the concentrated and synthetic products that have raised serious public health concerns. Making that distinction is essential to protecting consumers without discarding a botanical with a long history of traditional use.”

Concurrent with the NOI addressing 7-OH, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public comment on the proposed threshold level — specifically, what concentration or quantity of 7-OH in a product constitutes an imminent hazard to public safety. After a 30-day comment period, OASH will forward the submitted comments to the Attorney General, who may then issue a temporary scheduling order placing 7-OH above the threshold in Schedule I for up to two years if such action is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety.

Federal agencies emphasized that the action is not intended to regulate natural kratom leaf that does not contain enhanced levels of 7-OH. Although 7-OH can occasionally be found in post-harvest kratom leaf in trace amounts as an oxidative degradation product of mitragynine, scheduling 7-OH above a defined threshold is not intended to capture leaf products. By contrast, MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16, which also do not occur naturally in the plant, are achieved only by chemical synthesis.

“As policymakers consider how to approach kratom and related products, it is important to recognize that not all products are the same,” said Paula Brown, PhD, a member of SABER’s Scientific Steering Committee. “Highly concentrated and synthetic 7-OH products marketed as kratom extracts are fundamentally different from the traditional botanical and treating them identically serves no one.”

Brown noted that the enforcement actions preceding the scheduling process — including FDA warning letters issued to companies marketing 7-OH products in 2025 and the subsequent seizure of unlawful 7-OH products — reflected mounting concern about concentrated and synthetic material entering the consumer market under the kratom label.

“Clear regulatory distinctions, grounded in science, allow legitimate research and responsible botanical products to move forward while removing the most dangerous material from the market,” she said. “That is a constructive outcome for consumers, clinicians, and public health.”

SABER views the temporary scheduling of concentrated and synthetic 7-OH derivatives as consistent with a broader movement toward evaluating botanical compounds through the same rigorous, evidence-based framework applied to other substances, and commends the DEA, HHS, and FDA for distinguishing these products from the natural botanical. SABER encourages continued investment in research to further clarify the safety profile of kratom and its constituent alkaloids and looks forward to informed public health decisions grounded in sound science.

About Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER)

The Scientific Association for Botanical Education and Research (SABER) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the evidence-based study, science-forward regulation, and safe access to botanical compounds. Led by a Scientific Steering Committee of medical professionals and researchers, SABER utilizes research partnerships, policy advocacy, and public education to ensure that natural products are studied responsibly and regulated appropriately. To learn more, visit www.saberscience.org.

Media Contact

Paloma Lehfeldt
info@saberscience.org

PepScribe, a telehealth practice connecting patients with U.S.-licensed clinicians for personalized peptide and related therapies, today announced its public launch. The company offers clinician-led online assessments and monthly treatment plans for goals including weight management, hormone health, longevity and cellular health, and recovery.

Consumer interest in peptide therapy has surged, but much of the online supply runs through unlicensed "research chemical" sellers that ship unverified compounds with no prescription, no clinician, and no accountability for what is actually in the vial. PepScribe was built as the opposite of that model: every therapy requires a clinical evaluation by a U.S.-licensed clinician, and every dose is compounded in the United States by a licensed 503A pharmacy. No hidden overseas supply chain.

Getting started takes about three minutes. Patients complete a free online assessment, and a licensed clinician reviews it — typically within 24 hours. If the clinician determines a therapy is appropriate, the prescription is filled by a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy and shipped directly to the patient's home. If it isn't the right fit, the clinician says so, and the patient is never charged. Ongoing care includes asynchronous clinician messaging, lab-driven dose adjustments, and scheduled follow-up reviews.

Peptide therapy grew faster than the infrastructure around it, leaving many patients to buy from anonymous online sellers with no way to know where a compound was made or what it contains. PepScribe was built to remove that uncertainty: every prescription is written by a U.S.-licensed clinician, and every compound comes from a licensed 503A pharmacy in the United States.

At launch, PepScribe's catalog includes compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight management, sermorelin for growth-hormone support, and NAD+ for cellular health, alongside treatments spanning hormone health, sexual health, and hair and skin. The intake is universal: clinicians match patients to therapies based on goals, symptoms, and medical history, and remain the prescriber of record throughout care.

PepScribe is LegitScript-certified, an independent third-party verification of clinician licensure and pharmacy compliance that is required to advertise telehealth services on major platforms. Compounded medications are prepared for individual patients under a clinician's prescription and are not FDA-approved. PepScribe is available in eligible states, with additional states rolling out on an ongoing basis. Patients can check availability and begin a free assessment at pepscribe.com.

About PepScribe

PepScribe is a telehealth practice that connects patients with U.S.-licensed clinicians who evaluate each intake and, when clinically appropriate, prescribe personalized peptide and related therapies for goals including weight management, hormone health, longevity and cellular health, and recovery. Its core offering pairs a clinician-led online assessment with monthly treatment plans — including compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide, sermorelin, and NAD+ — with every dose compounded in the United States by licensed 503A pharmacies and shipped directly to patients' homes. No hidden overseas supply chain. Every assessment is reviewed by a licensed clinician, typically within 24 hours, and patients are not charged unless a treatment is prescribed. Ongoing care includes asynchronous clinician messaging, lab-driven dose adjustments, and scheduled follow-up reviews. Beyond peptide therapy, PepScribe's catalog spans hormone health, sexual health, and hair and skin treatments. PepScribe is LegitScript-certified, an independent third-party verification of clinician licensure and pharmacy compliance. Compounded medications are prepared for individual patients under a clinician's prescription and are not FDA-approved. More information and the full treatment catalog are available at pepscribe.com.

Disclaimer

This press release concerns telehealth services and compounded prescription medications. PepScribe does not manufacture pharmaceuticals or guarantee clinical outcomes. Compounded medications are prescribed only after evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider, are prepared by licensed 503A compounding pharmacies for individual patients, and are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PepScribe is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Novo Nordisk (makers of Ozempic® and Wegovy®) or Eli Lilly (makers of Mounjaro® and Zepbound®), and its compounded treatments are not generic equivalents of these branded medications.Availability of services and treatments varies by state and is subject to applicable laws and clinician judgment. Statements regarding potential health, wellness, longevity, weight management, or other therapeutic benefits are provided by the issuer and should not be interpreted as guarantees of efficacy or medical advice. Patients should consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding their individual medical needs.

Media Contact

Media Relations
PepScribe
pepe@pepscribe.com

MD LOCAL GLOBAL LIMITED (MDLG) today officially announced the launch of the Fernie Cultural Universe, a visionary long-term cultural ecosystem that seamlessly bridges Eastern philosophy, animated art, and European heritage. Anchored at the historic Fernie Castle in Scotland, the project integrates original animation intellectual property (IP), an authentic Oriental garden, and immersive digital platforms to create a global sustainable cultural venue.

Guided by the foundational values of civilization, faith, forgiveness, and freedom, the Fernie Cultural Universe transcends the traditional concept of a heritage site. The project is uniquely positioned around three irreplaceable core assets:

• The Historic Anchor: The profound architectural and historical legacy of a 16th-century Scottish tower.
• The Eastern Sanctuary: A meticulously designed Oriental garden nestled within the medieval fortress grounds, creating a striking cross-cultural contrast.
• The Original IP: A bespoke animation universe built upon Eastern myths and philosophical fables tailored for a global audience.

A Vision Built on Three Core Pillars

The ecosystem operationalizes its ambitious vision through three distinct, interconnected pillars designed to engage both physical visitors and digital audiences worldwide:

• Fernie Animation Castle: A physical transformation of the Fernie Castle estate featuring the new Oriental garden, an on-site animation art museum, and immersive visitor trails where ancient stone architecture serves as the canvas for modern animated art.
• Original Animation Development: The creation of refined, cinematic 2D animated shorts. Drawing inspiration from classic Eastern mythology and philosophy, these narratives explore profound themes of truth, illusion, transformation, and identity.
• Digital Animation Art Museum: A borderless online platform curated around philosophical themes, expanding the project's reach to a global digital audience.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations: Kengo Kuma and European Animation Practitioners

To bring this cross-cultural vision to life, MDLG has established collaborations with respected international figures in architecture and film.

The design of the Oriental garden zone has been commissioned to the studio of celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The design philosophy preserves the castle’s original historic character while weaving in the tranquility and contemplative spirit of traditional Eastern courtyards, offering visitors an immersive sanctuary for reflection.

On the creative production front, the project works with a network of experienced European animation directors, screenwriters, visual artists, and international film producers. Heavily inspired by timeless Eastern classics such as "Journey to the West," this creative coalition utilizes delicate 2D animation to deliver visually striking, philosophical fables crafted with universal international aesthetics.

Fostering a Global Co-Creation Community

Parallel to the ongoing design and planning phases of its physical venue and upcoming digital platform development, the project is launching an early co-creation community. Rather than acting as passive consumers, community members will serve as active partners in the universe's evolution long before the castle site opens to the public. Members will receive phased access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes assets, including original conceptual artwork, creative production journals, and philosophical essays.

For more information regarding the project, partnership opportunities, or to join the co-creation community, please visit www.fernieculturaluniverse.com.

About MD LOCAL GLOBAL LIMITED (MDLG)

MDLG is a wholly-owned UK subsidiary of MDJM LTD (NASDAQ: UOKA), headquartered at Fernie Castle. The parent company takes the Eastern philosophy of "the unity of knowledge and action" as its core tenet — knowledge and practice are inseparable. MDLG’s mission is to revitalize dormant historic buildings into dynamic hubs brimming with culture and creativity. The Fernie Cultural Universe embodies this philosophy: more than an ancient castle, it houses an Oriental garden and a breeding ground for original animation universes. MDLG in one sentence: We steer clear of noisy commercial development, and only build living cultural vessels with genuine vitality. For more information, visit www.mdlocalglobal.com.

Media Contact

Erica Guo
contact@fernieculturaluniverse.com

The American Kratom Association (AKA) today supported the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) announcement of its intent to temporarily schedule high-potency 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, and its follow-on products under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

The DEA action confirms what the AKA has repeatedly warned state and federal policymakers: chemically manipulated 7-OH opioid products are not natural kratom leaf products. They are high-potency opioid products that have been falsely marketed as “kratom” while exposing consumers to serious and unnecessary risks.

“This DEA action should end the debate,” said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association. “Chemically manipulated 7-OH opioids are not kratom. They are dangerous products that exploited the reputation of natural kratom leaf, misled consumers, and created a public health threat that responsible regulators can no longer ignore.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., echoed that position in an official HHS statement commending the DEA, saying:

“I commend the DEA for taking decisive action to address these addictive and harmful substances. 7-OH, MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 are dangerous opioids that fuel addiction and put American lives at risk. HHS reviewed the science and recommended this action. The Trump Administration will continue using every available authority to stop these deceptive products, hold bad actors accountable, and protect American families.”

These actions are not intended to regulate natural leaf kratom that does not contain enhanced levels of 7-OH. Although 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in the kratom plant, scheduling 7-OH above a certain threshold level does not intend to capture the kratom botanical leaf in the present temporary scheduling recommendation. MP, MGM-15, and MGM-16 do not occur naturally in the plant. MP is a chemical rearrangement product of 7-OH, while MGM-15 and MGM-16 are synthetic derivatives of 7-OH.

DEA’s notice targets 7-OH above a specified threshold and includes related forms such as isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and follow-on products. That distinction is critical. Natural kratom leaf contains only trace or very low levels of 7-OH. The products now flooding the marketplace are different. They are concentrated, isolated, converted, or chemically manipulated products designed to deliver powerful opioid-like effects.

“State officials should be very clear about what happened here,” Haddow said. “The 7-OH industry created this crisis. They manufactured or distributed high-potency opioid products, dressed them up as kratom, and then tried to force natural kratom consumers to pay the price for their recklessness.”

The AKA is calling on governors, attorneys general, state legislatures, health departments, pharmacy boards, and law enforcement officials to take immediate action to remove chemically manipulated 7-OH opioid products and their derivatives from the marketplace.

“Any state official still claiming that 7-OH products are just another form of kratom is ignoring the science, ignoring DEA, and ignoring the growing evidence of harm,” Haddow said. “Natural kratom leaf should be responsibly regulated. 7-OH opioid products should be banned.”

The AKA has consistently supported state and federal policies that preserve access to properly manufactured natural kratom leaf products while banning unsafe synthetic, semi-synthetic, chemically manipulated, adulterated, or mislabeled products. Responsible kratom regulation should include age restrictions, accurate labeling, serving-size disclosures, contaminant testing, good manufacturing practices, and strict limits on 7-OH content.

“What lawmakers should not do is use the 7-OH crisis as an excuse to ban natural kratom leaf,” Haddow said. “That would reward the very bad actors who created this problem. The right answer is to shut down the 7-OH opioid marketplace and protect consumers who rely on safe, natural kratom leaf products.”

The DEA announcement also exposes the failure of policymakers who have accepted misleading claims from 7-OH manufacturers and distributors that their products are “natural” simply because 7-OH can occur in trace amounts in kratom leaf or as a metabolite of mitragynine in the body.

“That argument was always deceptive,” Haddow said. “The fact that trace amounts of 7-OH may occur naturally does not justify selling chemically manipulated, high-dose 7-OH opioid products in gummies, tablets, shots, strips, nasal sprays, and other rapid-delivery forms. That is not natural kratom. That is a dangerous chemical manipulation of kratom alkaloids.”

The AKA also warned that medical examiners, coroners, and public health agencies must stop using broad and misleading “kratom-related death” categories that fail to distinguish between natural kratom leaf, adulterated products, polydrug intoxications, and chemically manipulated 7-OH opioid products.

“DEA’s action makes precision essential,” Haddow said. “When public health officials lump everything together as ‘kratom,’ they mislead lawmakers and the public. That confusion has allowed 7-OH profiteers to hide behind natural kratom consumers while selling products that responsible kratom advocates have opposed from the beginning.”

The AKA is urging states to immediately adopt or amend consumer protection laws to:

1. Ban chemically manipulated 7-OH opioid products and derivatives;
2. Prohibit synthetic, semi-synthetic, converted, or concentrated 7-OH products falsely marketed as kratom;
3. Preserve lawful access to natural kratom leaf and properly manufactured kratom products;
4. Require clear serving-size labeling, age restrictions, contaminant testing, and good manufacturing practices;
5. Enforce against mislabeled, adulterated, and rapid-absorption products designed to evade responsible regulation.

“This is a defining moment for state policymakers,” Haddow said. “They can stand with consumers and science, or they can continue allowing 7-OH profiteers to endanger the public and destroy trust in the kratom marketplace.”

The American Kratom Association stands ready to work with DEA, FDA, HHS, Congress, governors, attorneys general, state legislatures, and responsible industry participants to remove dangerous 7-OH opioid products from the marketplace while preserving access to properly regulated natural kratom leaf.

“The message to every state official should be simple,” Haddow said. “Do not ban kratom because of 7-OH. Ban 7-OH because it is not kratom.”

About American Kratom Association (AKA)

American Kratom Association (AKA) is a consumer-based, nonprofit organization, focused on furthering the latest science as guidance for kratom public policy. AKA works to give a voice to millions of Americans by fighting to protect their rights to access safe and natural kratom. For more information, visit www.americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.

Media Contact

Mac Haddow
Senior Fellow on Public Policy
press@americankratom.org
+1 571-294-5978

The Prelude Network® (Prelude), North America's largest network of fertility clinics, today announced the rebranding of its Houston fertility practices. Effective July 1, Aspire Houston Fertility Institute (Aspire HFI) has officially become Aspire Fertility.

The rebranding is part of a broader initiative to align Aspire Fertility locations under a unified brand, creating greater consistency and recognition across the organization's growing network while preserving the personalized care patients have come to expect. In 2026, Aspire Fertility has been recognized by Castle Connolly as the No. 1 physician practice in Texas with the highest number of Top Doctors in Reproductive Medicine and Women’s Health Care.

Part of The Prelude Network, Aspire Fertility clinics include Aspire Fertility Houston, Aspire Fertility Austin, Aspire Fertility Dallas, and Aspire Fertility San Antonio. Each clinic provides comprehensive reproductive care led by nationally recognized physicians and offers a full spectrum of fertility services for women and men.

"Every clinic within Prelude is committed to providing patients with a streamlined process of care that enhances their experience during one of the most challenging journeys of their lives, including our Aspire practices,” said TJ Farnsworth, founder and CEO of Inception Fertility™, the parent company of Prelude. “This transition reflects our connection to a larger statewide network dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve their dreams of parenthood."

Aspire Fertility was founded by patients for patients, including Farnsworth, who launched the network after he and his wife, Margaret, experienced their own infertility journey.

"As patients ourselves, we experienced firsthand the emotional and physical challenges that often accompany fertility treatment, and we saw opportunities to make the process more supportive, transparent, and patient-centered,” said Farnsworth. “That experience inspired us to create Aspire Fertility — a place where individuals and families feel empowered, cared for, and supported throughout every step of their journey to parenthood."

With 14 locations across the Greater Houston area, Aspire Fertility offers a comprehensive range of fertility services, including diagnostic testing, in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), LGBTQ+ family-building services, and third-party reproduction. The practice is home to some of the region’s most respected reproductive specialists, many of whom have been recognized by their peers as Houston Top Doctors by Houstonia magazine.

Aspire Fertility patients will continue to receive care from the same medical team at the same Houston locations, with no changes to appointments, treatment plans, contact information, or access to medical records.

"Our commitment to patients remains unwavering," added Dr. Jason Yeh, board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, and Medical Director at Aspire Fertility in Houston. "This change is about clarity, connection, and strengthening our ability to serve patients as part of one coordinated network of fertility specialists. Patients can continue to expect the same high level of personalized care and support throughout every step of their fertility journey."

For more information, visit www.aspirefertilityhouston.com.

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, including 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 Aspire Fertility

Part of The Prelude Network® (Prelude), the largest network of fertility clinics in North America, Aspire Fertility has been helping individuals and couples build their families for 30 years. With locations throughout the Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio metropolitan areas, the Aspire family of clinics provides five-star fertility care to patients, led by industry experts who are on the leading edge of reproductive medicine. They offer a full spectrum of comprehensive female and male fertility care, including IVF, egg freezing, genetic screening (PGD/PGS), egg donation, surrogacy and LGBTQ+ fertility.   

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 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.   

Media Contact

Mia Humphreys
mhumphreys@kruppagency.com

According to new research from the World Impact Media Organization, Kazakhstan’s economy grew 3.7% in the first five months of 2026, building on 6.5% GDP growth in 2025, according to recent figures. Taken with new international investment data, the numbers suggest growth that is becoming steadier and less dependent on any single commodity.

The figures arrive at an unsettled moment for the global economy, with trade flows shifting, markets volatile, and competition for investment intensifying. Across much of the world, growth is slowing while inflation lingers and financial conditions tighten. Against that backdrop, Kazakhstan has so far held up comparatively well.

What the latest figures show

• GDP grew 6.5% in 2025 and 3.7% in the first five months of 2026, with the real sector up 4% and services up 3.6%.
• Foreign direct investment reached $20.5 billion in 2025, up 14.4% year on year, with flows diversifying beyond extractive industries.
• UNESCAP data show $19 billion in greenfield investment in 2025, a 266% increase and nearly 89% of all greenfield investment into Central Asia.
• Capital investment rose 7% and private investment 17.4% in the first five months of 2026.
• Growth is broad-based: construction up 13.4%, manufacturing up 9%, transport and warehousing up 8.4%, and trade up 5.6%.

“These figures describe a clear shift. Kazakhstan is increasingly growing on investment, manufacturing, and modern services rather than commodities alone, and it is doing so while much of the global economy slows,” said Jasmine Abdul, Chief Editor, World Impact Media Organization.

Broad-based growth across the economy

According to official national statistics, growth is spreading across the economy. Construction was among the fastest-growing industries, rising 13.4% in the first five months of the year compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. Manufacturing increased by 9%, transportation and warehousing grew by 8.4%, trade advanced by 5.6%, and agriculture (3.6%) and telecommunications (3.7%) posted steady growth. Investment appears to be the principal driver, with the strongest gains in energy infrastructure, information and communications technologies, manufacturing, agriculture, and transport.

Investment remains the principal driver of this transformation. In recent years, this process has accelerated and is often described domestically as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s “investment cycle,” a term he introduced in his State of the Nation Address.

Reforms aimed at a predictable investment environment

Publicly stated government targets include doubling the economy to $450 billion by 2029 while attracting at least $150 billion in foreign investment over the same period. Recent reforms include the updated Investment Policy Concept through 2030, the Investment Headquarters mechanism for interagency coordination on investor concerns, and the National Digital Investment Platform, intended to streamline administrative procedures and increase transparency.

Investment projects exceeding a defined threshold in priority sectors may qualify for Investment Agreements that guarantee legislative stability for up to 25 years. Combined with tax incentives, customs preferences, infrastructure support, and project facilitation, these mechanisms are designed to reduce investment risk. Kazakhstan has also expanded its network of bilateral investment protection agreements with key partners, including Qatar, Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia. The country operates 18 Special Economic Zones and 67 industrial zones, with some 586 investment projects already implemented within them. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) operates under English common law and offers independent dispute resolution and access to green finance, Islamic finance, and fintech.

Diversification into industry, agriculture and energy

Over the past several years, this country has implemented a comprehensive package of reforms, promoted by President Tokayev and designed to strengthen its investment ecosystem, as reaffirmed at the 37th plenary session of the Foreign Investors’ Council. Investment in manufacturing expanded by more than 47.4% in 2025, with policy shifting toward higher value-added production, technological modernization, and export-oriented manufacturing. In agriculture, output rose 3.6% over the first five months of 2026, investment in agriculture increased by 36.4%, and investment in food manufacturing rose 2.7 times. On energy, Kazakhstan now operates a growing number of renewable energy facilities, with additional wind, solar, and hydropower projects scheduled for commissioning in 2026 alongside the modernization of conventional power plants.

Taken together, the data point to a growth model increasingly driven by investment, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and modern services rather than commodity exports alone, with institutional reforms supporting a more predictable business environment.

Kazakhstan has also continued expanding its network of international agreements on mutual investment protection through its multilateral foreign policy, aimed, among other things, at strengthening external economic ties. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly highlighted this pattern in recent public remarks, according to The Astana Times — including a Dec. 25, 2025 statement that Kazakhstan had signed more than $70 billion in commercial agreements that year following international negotiations, and a June 2026 announcement of over $12 billion in agreements signed during his visit to Brussels. Bilateral investment protection agreements have been signed with several key partners in recent years, according to UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Hub and Kazakhstani government sources, including Singapore (2018, entered into force 2024), Qatar (2022), China (2025), and Saudi Arabia (2026) — a development that strengthens investor confidence and aligns the national legal system with international practices.

Sources

All figures in this release are drawn from official Kazakhstani statistics and independent publications. Primary sources are listed below.

1. Bureau of National Statistics / Prime Minister of Kazakhstan — GDP growth 6.5% in 2025
2. The Astana Times — Kazakhstan's GDP grows 6.5% in 2025
3. Bureau of National Statistics — National accounts, short-term economic indicators 
4. Bureau of National Statistics — National accounts publications (sectoral growth)
5. Bureau of National Statistics — Investment statistics (Jan–May 2026)
6. State of the Nation Address, President Tokayev (akorda.kz) — $450 billion GDP target by 2029
7. Trend.az (citing President Tokayev) — $450 billion target
8. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan — $150 billion foreign investment target by 2029
9. The Business Year — Investment in Kazakhstan 2025
10. The Astana Times — Recent developments in Kazakhstan's investment landscape
11. Qazinform / QazIndustry — Special economic zones
12. Government of Kazakhstan (gov.kz) — Investment projects in SEZs
13. The Times of Central Asia — Special economic zones as a driver of growth
14. UN ESCAP via The Astana Times — Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in greenfield investment
15. UN ESCAP — Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2025/2026 (repository)
16. National Bank of Kazakhstan — Balance of payments / direct investment statistics
17. The Astana Times — Renewable energy capacity
18. QazaqGreen (citing Ministry of Energy) — Renewable energy facilities
19. U.S. State Department — 2025 Investment Climate Statements: Kazakhstan
20. The Astana Times — Kazakhstan reaffirms its role as reliable and reform-oriented investment destination 
21. The Astana Times — President Tokayev: Kazakhstan secures over $70 billion in commercial agreements in 2025
22. Kazakhstan Today — Agreements worth more than $12 billion signed during Tokayev’s visit to the EU (June 2026)
23. UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub — Kazakhstan–Singapore BIT (2018)
24. UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub — Kazakhstan–Qatar BIT (2022) 
25. UNCTAD Investment Policy Hub — China–Kazakhstan BIT (2025)
26. Kazinform — Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia nearly triple trade turnover (mutual investment protection agreement, 2026)
27. Official website of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Akorda) — State of the Nation Address: “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”

About World Impact Media Organization

World Impact Media Organization is an independent international media and analysis platform covering global markets, industry, and policy developments. The organization provides fact-based reporting and neutral analytical perspectives to support informed decision-making among institutions, investors, and the public. For more information, visit worldimpactmedia.org.

Media Contact

Jasmine Abdul
Chief Editor, World Impact Media Organization
jasmine@worldimpactmedia.org

This summer, global comfort-fashion brand EKOUAER welcomes Hollywood actress and style icon Vanessa Hudgens as its Brand Friend. Rooted in a shared belief that true comfort empowers rather than constrains, the partnership champions confidence, authenticity, and female strength — rejecting fleeting trends in favor of clothing that genuinely supports women in their daily lives.

From Icon to New Mom

For Vanessa, 2026 marks a turning point: from the teenage icon of "High School Musical" to a new mother and working woman, she moves effortlessly between multiple roles while maintaining her signature natural ease. This perfectly mirrors the brand spirit of EKOUAER. The collaboration, themed "My Comfort Era," reflects both her life philosophy and the brand's enduring conviction — that when women stop measuring themselves by external standards, and when the tug-of-war between career and family transforms into a conscious inner order, comfort becomes a choice that is both intentional and powerful.

Vanessa was drawn to EKOUAER’s sincerity, from fabric to fit, every design is built around real women’s lives, with no excess or anxiety, only thoughtful companionship. “Comfort is strength,” she believes, and she joins the brand to spread that message worldwide.

Crafted Design That Defines Comfort as Strength

A fan favorite on Amazon, EKOUAER has earned global loyalty through premium fabrics, ergonomic tailoring, and a deep understanding of modern women's lives. Alongside this announcement, the brand is launching a range of summer essentials — featuring its signature soft, breathable fabrics now upgraded with machine-washable convenience and draped silhouettes that balance beauty with practicality, so everyday dressing never feels like a burden.

A New Chapter with Women Everywhere

This partnership is both a global milestone and a heartfelt resonance with modern women. Vanessa brings vibrant energy to “My Comfort Era,” while EKOUAER offers quiet, crafted support to every woman navigating life’s many stages.

“Comfort is not a compromise — it is the best expression of inner strength,” says Sidney Sun, CMO of EKOUAER. Together with Vanessa, the brand invites every woman to step into her own Era of Comfort — free from anxiety, true to herself, and beautifully authentic. A new chapter begins now. Be real. Be comfortable. Be entirely your own.

About EKOUAER

Founded in 2015, EKOUAER is a loungewear and lifestyle apparel brand committed to redefining comfort for modern women. From pajamas and nightgowns to maternity wear and travel-ready essentials, the brand designs versatile collections that transition seamlessly from home to everyday life. Today, EKOUAER serves customers in more than 180 countries and continues to promote its philosophy of "Comfort. No Compromise." through product innovation, quality craftsmanship, and contemporary design. For more information, visit ekouaer.com.

Media Contact

Dana Li
pr@ekouaer.com

Motorola, one of the world's leading smartphone manufacturers, today announced the launch of Global Connect, its new travel feature powered by Gigs, the global leader in embedded connectivity. For the first time, a major smartphone brand is making travel data a built-in part of the smartphone experience, giving eligible users instant access to connectivity in more than 160 countries directly from their device. For a limited time, every eligible user receives 1 GB of complimentary global data, ready to go from the moment they set up their phone. 

As football fans head to the big games and summer travel hits its peak, Motorola is positioned to meet the millions of fans crossing borders this season.

Powered by Gigs, Global Connect uses a single eSIM that users install once, allowing them to purchase and activate data plans seamlessly wherever they travel. The 1 GB free promotion allows users to connect globally, free of charge. Inside the app, users can browse plans, monitor usage and top up at any time within a fully Motorola-branded experience.

The app launches today in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Chile, with Germany, the United Kingdom and select devices within Europe expected to follow in the coming weeks.

“Motorola is proud to launch Global Connect during one of the biggest moments in football, when millions of our users will be travelling,” said Sudhir Chadaga, VP Partnerships, Motorola. “Staying connected abroad has always been more complicated than it should be. Global Connect gives users smarter technology from the moment they set up their device, making it easier to stay connected wherever they go.” 

For Gigs, this launch is the next milestone in its mission to embed connectivity seamlessly into the devices and apps people love. 

“Motorola is one of the world’s most recognized smartphone brands with tens of millions of users who travel each year,” said Hermann Frank, CEO and co-founder, Gigs. “This partnership puts global connectivity into every Motorola user’s pocket, ensuring they land with maps, banking, rides and all the essentials working instantly, wherever they travel. That’s a radically better experience, and one that Gigs is proud to power.”

About Gigs

Gigs, the operating system for mobile services, empowers tech companies to seamlessly embed connectivity into their offerings in weeks. By bundling phone plans and travel data with their core services, Gigs' customers can increase stickiness and unlock a new recurring revenue stream with digital mobile experiences that create meaningful value for consumers. Gigs' end-to-end platform provides everything brands like Revolut, Klarna, Nubank and OnePay need to launch and operate their own multi-market mobile service: premium connectivity, a hosted checkout, billing, subscription management, analytics, and AI-powered customer service. Backed by Ribbit Capital, Google, Y Combinator, Speedinvest and BoxGroup, Gigs was founded by Hermann Frank and Dennis Bauer in 2020. For more information, visit gigs.com.

Media Contact

Six Eastern
hello@sixeastern.com

Domus Next Inc., a San Francisco-based startup focused on family AI infrastructure for modern households, has officially launched SuperNori, a new family AI Agent designed to proactively help families coordinate schedules, responsibilities, shopping, and connected devices through artificial intelligence.

While much of today's AI industry remains focused on workplace productivity, coding tools, and business automation, Domus Next believes one of AI's most meaningful long-term opportunities may be much closer to home.

According to the company, family life is increasingly shaped by countless small decisions and responsibilities that rarely appear on formal schedules but consume time and mental energy every day. SuperNori was developed to help reduce that burden and support smoother, healthier family dynamics.

The Invisible Work Behind Everyday Family Life 

Most households are held together by far more than the tasks that appear on a calendar. Behind everyday family life is a constant stream of invisible work: remembering doctors' appointments, keeping track of groceries, planning meals, coordinating school activities, and making sure countless small responsibilities don't fall through the cracks. 

Researchers often describe this as "invisible labor" — the mental effort required to anticipate needs and keep a household running smoothly. That responsibility often falls disproportionately on one family member, creating stress and mental overload that can quietly build over time.

“Family life isn't simply a collection of tasks that need to be managed,” said Isaac Long, co-founder of Nori. “At its core, it's about relationships, communication, and shared experiences. Behind every household are hundreds of small responsibilities that often go unnoticed. We believe that SuperNori can act like a senior family butler, quietly and proactively assisting families in managing their lives behind the scenes, allowing them to spend more quality time together.”

When Small Frustrations Become Family Tension

Many household disagreements do not begin with major conflicts. More often, they grow out of small everyday moments — realizing no one bought the milk, forgetting to schedule an appointment, or assuming someone else had already taken care of an important errand. 

Some early beta test users say one of SuperNori's most valuable benefits is reducing the misunderstandings that arise when responsibilities are unclear. One family reported that grocery shopping had become a recurring point of tension because different family members assumed someone else had already updated the shopping list or purchased needed items. After adopting shared shopping lists and AI-generated reminders through SuperNori, responsibilities became easier to track, helping family members stay aligned and reducing the need for constant check-ins.

SuperNori is built around the idea that reducing everyday friction can have a meaningful impact on family relationships. By making responsibilities more visible and easier to coordinate, the platform aims to help families spend less time sorting out logistics and more time focusing on one another.

Beyond Household Management: Bringing Families Closer Together

While reducing invisible labor is one part of the equation, Domus Next believes family AI may also help address another growing challenge within modern households: communication across generations.

Many older adults still find smartphones, shared calendars, and household management apps difficult to navigate. As a result, they can sometimes become disconnected from family planning and coordination systems that increasingly rely on digital tools. By using natural-language interaction, SuperNori allows users to communicate with the system conversationally rather than through complex menus or app workflows.

This creates opportunities for older family members to participate more easily in shared household activities, receive reminders, access information, and stay connected to family plans without needing advanced technical knowledge. For multi-generational households, the ability to simply speak naturally to a system may help reduce digital barriers that often leave some family members excluded from day-to-day coordination.

Under the hood, SuperNori brings together household tasks, schedules, reminders, and connected devices through a unified coordination layer, supported by integrations with the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) permission framework and the Home Assistant ecosystem. Over time, it is designed to learn a family’s routines, preferences, and boundaries, so it can offer more proactive support in everyday home life.

Rethinking AI's Role in Family Life

Nori is already used by more than 200,000 families, with users interacting with its AI features an average of 9.4 times per day. Families use Nori to ask questions, leave voice notes, create reminders, update shopping lists, and keep household members in sync. On average, each family creates 23.2 shared tasks and 14 shopping lists.

These usage patterns suggest that AI is beginning to move beyond individual productivity and into the everyday coordination of family life. For many households, the value is not only in capturing tasks or managing lists, but in helping family members communicate, plan, and share responsibility more effectively.

SuperNori represents the next stage of that evolution. While Nori helps families capture the needs they already recognize, SuperNori is designed to help notice the needs that have not yet been written down or discussed, but are already creating pressure in the background of everyday life.

In that sense, SuperNori extends Nori from reactive support to proactive family AI, reflecting a broader shift in how family AI may support families: not only by responding to explicit requests, but by helping households recognize and address needs before they become sources of stress.

About Domus Next Inc.

Domus Next Inc. is a San Francisco-based technology company focused on building AI infrastructure for family life. Founded in 2025 by former ByteDance and Samsung veterans, the company develops family AI infrastructure that uses artificial intelligence to coordinate household operations, connected devices, and shared family experiences. The company's mission is to help families reduce everyday friction, strengthen collaboration, and create more space for meaningful connection through family AI.

Media Contact

Luna Young
Domus Next Inc.
lunayoung@domusnext.ai

FoundersX Ventures today announced its investment in World Labs, a breakthrough company building foundational physical AI models that deliver true spatial intelligence — the missing link between today’s digital AI and the physical world.

Led by Dr. Fei-Fei Li — the visionary “Godmother of AI” and author of the acclaimed book The Worlds I See — World Labs is redefining what’s possible when AI truly understands and simulates reality. Co-founded with leading experts Justin Johnson, Christoph Lassner, and Ben Mildenhall, the company is creating world models that go far beyond current offerings from Big Tech.

“We backed World Labs because they are solving one of the hardest and most consequential problems in AI: building persistent, physically coherent 3D world models that can reason about space, objects, and causality,” said Helen Liang, PhD, founder and managing partner of FoundersX Ventures. “While Google’s Genie 3 excels at generating interactive video environments and Nvidia’s platforms are powerful for robotics simulation, World Labs’ Marble stands apart with its ability to create high-fidelity, editable, and temporally consistent 3D worlds from minimal inputs. This is the kind of foundational spatial intelligence needed to bridge digital and physical realities at scale.” 

In the rapidly evolving physical AI space, several players are advancing world models and simulation. Google’s Genie series focuses on video-based interactive environments, while Nvidia leverages its Omniverse and robotics platforms for high-fidelity industrial simulation. Other notable efforts include startups like Physical Intelligence (Pi) working on embodied AI. What makes World Labs special is its deep technical rigor combined with a fundamental focus on persistent, editable 3D spatial models that maintain physical laws and long-term consistency. Powered by Dr. Fei-Fei Li’s unparalleled expertise in visual intelligence, World Labs is uniquely positioned to deliver generalizable world models that excel not just in narrow simulations but in open-ended, creative, and real-world applications.

Marble, World Labs’ flagship multimodal world model, represents a major technical leap. It can generate rich, persistent 3D environments from text, images, videos, or panoramas. Users can interactively edit objects, expand scenes, combine worlds, and maintain physical consistency — capabilities that enable rapid iteration and real-world applicability.

Recent updates have further strengthened Marble with precise layout control, AI-native editing tools, and exports to Gaussian splats, meshes, and video. These advancements make it uniquely powerful for complex, long-horizon tasks.

The investment in World Labs perfectly complements FoundersX’s AI-Space portfolio, which includes SpaceX, Turion Space, FS2, Charge Robotics, and Mbodi AI. By adding world-class spatial simulation capabilities, FoundersX is building a full-stack ecosystem for the emerging orbital compute and physical AI economy.

World Labs’ technology carries transformative potential across industries:

• Filmmaking and Visual Effects: Rapid generation of photorealistic virtual sets and environments, slashing production timelines and costs while expanding creative freedom.
• Gaming: Faster world-building and more immersive, persistent game environments.
• Robotics Training: High-fidelity simulation that dramatically improves sim-to-real transfer for advanced embodied AI systems like mBodi.
• Architecture, Design, Automotive & Aerospace: Accurate 3D modeling, virtual prototyping, and scenario testing at unprecedented speed and realism.

“Dr. Fei-Fei Li’s lifelong mission has been to help machines truly see and understand the world,” said Liang. “World Labs is turning that vision into reality. We are proud to support this team as they unlock new frontiers where AI doesn’t just generate content — it understands and shapes the physical world around us.”

As the AI industry shifts from language and 2D generation toward embodied and spatial intelligence, World Labs is exceptionally well positioned to lead. For FoundersX, this investment is another strategic step toward the multi-trillion-dollar convergence of AI, space, and physical infrastructure.

About FoundersX Ventures

FoundersX Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm focused on investing in pioneering tech companies building AI infrastructure and disruptive solutions across industries. The firm partners with visionary founders building transformative solutions to shape the future. Beside Silicon Valley, the firm has offices in Boston and New York City. Selected investments: SpaceX, World Labs, Turion Space, Universal Quantum, Charge Robotics, FS2, Salt Security, Jeeves, Kapital, Alinea Invest, and Solve Intelligence. For more information, visit www.foundersx.com.

Media Contact

Tor Parawell
tor.parawell@foundersx.com

SureFlow wins a 2026 Global Recognition Award for advancing artificial intelligence in resource monitoring, marking a clear milestone in the evolution of predictive utility management. The recognition highlights the company’s ability to transform raw consumption data into practical insights that improve efficiency across residential buildings and cities.

The award acknowledges SureFlow’s measurable contributions to innovation and research, particularly through a platform that monitors water, gas, and electricity usage in real time and identifies irregularities before they lead to financial losses or property damage. Developed with a focus on prevention, the system reflects a broader shift in how resource intelligence is designed and applied globally in 2026, as organizations increasingly prioritize sustainability and operational precision.

Platform Built On Prevention, Not Reaction

Founded in the United Kingdom, SureFlow emerged from a practical observation: most resource inefficiencies remain unnoticed until damage has already occurred. Under the leadership of CEO Sebastien Dui, the company adopted a preventative approach to technology design, focusing on early detection and proactive management rather than reactive response. This approach has shaped a platform that enables users to identify inefficiencies in real time and respond with informed decisions.

The company has since expanded its operations across Europe and the United Arab Emirates, where its engineering and artificial intelligence teams operate in an integrated environment. Its systems now support households, commercial properties, and cities. “The future of resource management is not in waiting for problems to reveal themselves but in designing systems that anticipate, prevent, and protect. At SureFlow, we build technology that gives people clarity and control long before damage or waste occurs,” said Dui.

Innovation and Research Driving Measurable Impact

SureFlow’s selection followed evaluation through the Rasch measurement model, a methodology that converts performance indicators into a standardized linear scale. The company achieved high scores across key areas, including application potential, global relevance, market influence, and intellectual property strength. These results reflect consistent technical execution rather than aspirational claims, positioning the platform as a credible solution in a competitive and rapidly evolving sector.

Two core capabilities characterize the platform in 2026, as global demand for intelligent infrastructure continues to grow. The Budget Prediction feature provides forward-looking estimates based on actual usage patterns. Meanwhile, the AI Advisor delivers tailored recommendations aligned with individual consumption behavior. Together, these tools shift user engagement from passive monitoring to active management, aligning with industry forecasts that predict AI-driven utility optimization will grow as sustainability regulations tighten worldwide.

Final Words

“SureFlow has earned this recognition because it has successfully translated advanced innovation into practical solutions that protect resources and reduce inefficiencies at scale,” said Alex Sterling of Global Recognition Awards, highlighting the broader implications of the company’s work in addressing global sustainability challenges.

SureFlow continues to focus on reducing hidden losses, lowering costs, and supporting sustainable infrastructure development. Its platform shows how artificial intelligence can move beyond basic reporting functions to become a consistent element of resource planning. “SureFlow represents a shift from reactive systems to proactive resilience, enabling better protection of assets while supporting long-term environmental goals,” said Sterling, reflecting the company’s direction as it expands its global footprint.

About Global Recognition Awards

Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who have significantly contributed to their industry. For more information, visit globalrecognitionawards.org.

Media Contact

Alex Sterling
alex@globalrecognitionawards.org

Betting brand GGBET is the title sponsor of the Ukrainian national 3x3 basketball championship. Having gone from amateur street games to the professional arena, this sport has become one of the most actively developing urban team disciplines in the world. It received Olympic status in 2017 and successfully debuted at the Games in Tokyo. This discipline is also continuing to strengthen its foothold in Ukraine. The women's team recently took sixth place at the 2026 World Cup in Warsaw, and then went undefeated to qualify for the 2026 EuroLeague.

"3x3 basketball is fast, exciting, and closely interwoven with street culture. For us, it's a perfect example of a grassroots sport that's made its way up from the street court to the Olympic arena and deserves systemic support. As the Ukrainian Championship's title sponsor, we want to bolster the tournament and create captivating content about it that gets noticed in the media and will help to popularize basketball," said Sergii Mishchenko, CEO of GGBET.UA.

The decision to be the title sponsor is part of GGBET's strategy to support sports in Ukraine. GGBET.UA also serves as the title sponsor of the Ukrainian men's and women's national basketball teams and a partner of the Ukrainian football clubs Dynamo Kyiv and Polissya Zhytomyr.

GGBET is constantly improving its own ecosystem and bolstering its status as a sports betting leader in the Ukrainian market. The platform offers comprehensive sports and esports wagering solutions, featuring:

• Deep Market Coverage: Over 300 betting markets available for top-tier international and domestic events.
• Streamlined UI Design: A intuitive interface that makes selecting popular predictions as convenient as possible.
• Advanced Built-In Bet Builder: An orchestration layer allowing users to seamlessly combine multiple predictions within a single match to satisfy complex consumer preferences.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational and sports entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an invitation to gamble. GGBET.UA operates as a licensed sports betting and igaming platform in full compliance with Ukrainian national regulatory frameworks and gambling oversight authorities. References to specific sports betting markets, bet builders, or platform features are intended strictly for contextual business reporting and do not guarantee winnings or predictive accuracy.

Responsible Gaming Disclosure

Participation in online sports betting and gambling activities involves inherent financial risk and can lead to dependency. GGBET.UA is strictly dedicated to promoting safe, responsible wagering environments. Betting services are legally restricted to individuals who meet the mandatory legal age requirements within their respective domestic jurisdictions. If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of gambling-related distress or behavior challenges, please seek confidential guidance and support from certified local problem gambling counseling organizations.

Media Contact

Press Office
pr@ggbet.ua

DK NEJET, a Ukrainian-Latvian defense technology company, took part in Eurosatory 2026, the world's largest land and air-land defense exhibition, held June 15–19 at Paris-Nord Villepinte. Exhibiting at the Latvian national pavilion, the company's team met with partners and delegations from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia over the course of the week.

Throughout the exhibition, discussions focused on the evolving role of autonomous systems in countering low-cost aerial threats and the growing demand for technologies designed to operate in contested environments.

"There was real attention on the Ukrainian stands, where the focus is on simple, scalable solutions that keep costs down — an affordable layer beneath the high-end systems, not a replacement for them," said Aleksandrs Stupans, Business Development Manager at DK NEJET. "The main trend is autonomous interceptors. There's no fully finished solution on the market yet, and the sector as a whole is moving toward full autonomy."

During the event, DK NEJET presented its software-first approach to autonomous drone operations, including its NS interceptor platform and command-and-control software. The company also discussed its integrated development model, which combines software, hardware, and operator training and is informed by operational feedback.

"Effective defense isn't about any single piece of hardware. It comes from hardware, software, and trained operators working as one system," said Vladimirs Rusanovs, CEO of DK Unity, a DK NEJET group company. "We develop the three together, and continuous feedback from operators shapes how that system performs in demanding environments."

DK NEJET's approach to autonomous operations keeps operators responsible for engagement decisions, while autonomous functions support target tracking and mission execution.

About DK NEJET

DK NEJET is a Ukrainian-Latvian defense technology company that develops software-first autonomous operations systems and the platforms that support them, with operations in Ukraine, Latvia, and Norway. Its platforms are NATO-codified and are in service with defense organizations and military units. Learn more at dk-nejet.eu.

Media Contact

DK NEJET Press Office
business@dk-nejet.eu

As Americans prepare for Fourth of July celebrations, OVIOS has launched its Independence Day outdoor living campaign, highlighting a selection of patio furniture collections designed to help families transform their backyards, decks, and patios into comfortable, stylish spaces for holiday entertaining.

With more homeowners choosing to celebrate closer to home, backyard barbecues, neighborhood gatherings, and family get-togethers continue to define one of America’s favorite summer holidays. This growing focus on indoor-outdoor living has increased demand for patio furniture that combines comfort, durability, flexibility, and modern design.

Founded on the belief that great design should be accessible, OVIOS has become the go-to choice for American homeowners seeking premium-quality, weather-resistant furniture without the luxury-level price tags. From flexible modular sectionals to intimate conversation sets, the brand's collections are meticulously engineered to support the way we gather, relax, and connect.

Top OVIOS Picks for the Ultimate Fourth of July Gathering

For the ultimate host: The OVIOS BBR Modular Outdoor Sectional offers generous seating and flexible configurations for homeowners hosting extended family and neighborhood gatherings this Independence Day. Crafted with premium, all-weather materials, its modular design allows hosts to easily customize configurations based on their patio footprint and guest count — making it perfect for shifting from a smoky afternoon barbecue to front-row seats for evening fireworks.

For elevated, deep-comfort lounging: The GRS High-Back Collection Comfort is non-negotiable for marathon holiday entertaining. The GRS Collection features supportive, ergonomic high-back seating and ultra-thick, fade-resistant cushions that encourage guests to linger long after the grill cools down. Its sophisticated, modern silhouette adds an instantly refined, upscale aesthetic to any patio, deck, or poolside.

For the social neighborhood hub: To maximize hosting versatility, the NTC Outdoor Sectional offers a spacious, open-ended layout that effortlessly adapts to any festive setting. Whether you’re throwing a casual block party or an intimate holiday sundowner, its expansive, conversational design naturally brings people together.

For timeless Americana appeal: The 7-Piece Rattan Conversation Set Classic wicker aesthetics remain an all-time favorite for American backyards thanks to its timeless charm and durable, UV-resistant performance. The OVIOS 7-Piece Conversation Set pairs traditional artisan craftsmanship with rich, modern comfort, creating a warm, welcoming oasis for guests throughout the long holiday weekend.

For cozy post-fireworks wind-downs: As the fireworks fade and lively celebrations transition into quiet, midnight conversations, deep lounge seating becomes essential. The NDS Collection offers extra-deep seating and a relaxed, low-profile aesthetic that beautifully captures the laid-back, sun-drenched spirit of American summer.

Creating Moments That Matter

While Independence Day is celebrated with grand fireworks, it is ultimately defined by the meaningful time spent with the people who matter most. As outdoor living continues to define the modern American lifestyle, OVIOS is dedicated to helping families build spaces that foster community and connection. This summer, the best seat for the fireworks isn’t in a crowded public park — it’s right in the comfort of your own backyard.

For more product information, please visit the official OVIOS website for details.

About OVIOS

OVIOS is a home furnishings brand specializing in modern, modular furniture designed for flexible living spaces. The company develops adaptable seating and lounge systems that emphasize comfort, durability and ease of setup. With a focus on space efficiency and contemporary design, OVIOS creates solutions tailored to compact urban homes, shared spaces and multifunctional environments. Its product portfolio reflects a commitment to accessible design that balances style and practicality for today’s evolving lifestyles. For more information, visit www.ovios-home.com.

Media Contact

OVIOS Media Relations
support@ovios-furniture.com
+1 323-443-1788

Hexaware Technologies announces AgentVerse™, a global enterprise AI agent platform with more than 600 pre-built AI agents. The platform aims to help businesses put AI to work, automate business and technology workflows, orchestrate AI-driven operations, and scale agentic AI across the company.

The launch comes as enterprises continue to explore ways to move AI initiatives beyond pilot programs and into day-to-day operations. AgentVerse provides companies with a centralized platform for deploying, orchestrating, and managing AI agents while integrating with existing business systems, applications, and workflows. As a result, this strategy lets companies leverage AI features within their current infrastructures without altering existing workflows.

The platform is built to handle enterprise scale and is designed to support a broad range of business and technology applications. As AI adoption expands across functions and teams, AgentVerse helps businesses maintain visibility, oversight, and consistency across AI-driven activities. Moreover, the architecture of platform is designed to cater to targeted deployments as well as enterprise-wide AI initiatives.

Supporting the Transition from AI Pilots to Enterprise Deployment 

Businesses in all sectors are still investigating the possibilities of using AI for business operations, digital transformation, and process automation. While many companies have started their own AI pilots and proof-of-concept projects, it is still difficult to execute them across departments and business functions.

Some of the most frequent challenges include disorganized tech landscapes, siloed workflows, a lack of visibility into AI activity, and governance needs that continue to grow as AI scales. As companies look to make AI more actionable, the need for platforms that offer frameworks, management tools, and business integration support is also growing.

To overcome this, AgentVerse has been developed to help enterprises adopt a structured approach to managing intelligent automation across business and technology operations. The platform allows firms to manage their AI-driven activities while remaining connected and in control.

AgentVerse Introduces a Library of Ready-to-Deploy AI Agents 

At the core of AgentVerse is a library of more than 600 ready-to-deploy AI agents designed to support a wide range of enterprise use cases.

Companies can deploy pre-built agents to handle workflow automation, task execution, information retrieval, process management, and other business support functions. These agents can be utilized for customer service, software engineering, application support, finance operations, procurement, HR, knowledge management, and enterprise administration.

Additionally, AgentVerse supports multi-agent orchestration, allowing multiple AI agents to collaborate within coordinated workflows. Agents can share information, carry out more specific initiatives, and even contribute to bigger processes within an organizational framework.

The platform is also compatible with enterprise applications, cloud environments, APIs, databases, and other business applications. As a result, this interoperability enables firms to integrate AI agents into their existing workflows while capitalizing on existing technology investments and operational processes.

This also supports ongoing evaluation and optimization through monitoring and feedback mechanisms that help teams improve performance, consistency, and effectiveness.

Overall, AgentVerse brings deployment, orchestration, workflow automation, and enterprise integration into a single environment for supporting AI across business and technology operations.

Built-In Oversight and Management Controls 

Oversight and accountability continue to be important considerations for large-scale AI deployments. Accordingly, AgentVerse features governance and operational control mechanisms that are developed to aid responsible AI adoption on a large scale.

The platform features role-based access, monitoring, observability, audit, and customizable governance solutions. Together, these features help businesses establish clear boundaries, monitor agent activity, and maintain visibility into AI-driven workflows. The governance framework also supports auditability, policy enforcement, and accountability requirements that organizations often require when deploying AI across regulated and enterprise environments.

In addition, AgentVerse allows enterprise security requirements to be met by providing centralized management features that let organizations set permissions, monitoring, and deployment rules that reflect their internal security standards and compliance needs.

As a result, built-in governance capabilities enable organizations to launch AI agents without sacrificing accountability, transparency, and operational consistency.

These capabilities provide organizations with greater oversight of AI-driven activities across enterprise environments. They also support the implementation of governance practices as AI adoption expands across business and technology functions.

Leadership Commentary 

"Organizations are increasingly looking to move AI beyond experimentation and into day-to-day operations. AgentVerse was developed to provide a structured framework for deploying, orchestrating, and managing AI agents across business environments while maintaining visibility, interoperability, and oversight as adoption scales," said Siddharth Dhar, President and Global Head – Artificial Intelligence, Hexaware.

He added that organizations increasingly require structured frameworks that support governance, interoperability, and operational oversight as AI adoption expands across business and technology functions.

Applications Across Business and Technology Functions 

AgentVerse is engineered to serve a wide variety of enterprise applications in both business and technology, including cloud-based applications and on-premises implementations.

For example, use cases include customer service, IT operations, software engineering, automation of business processes, knowledge management, software support, reporting, and administration. Organizations can deploy agents for specific use cases or coordinate multiple agents to work together within extended and large operational workflow environments.

Furthermore, the modular architecture of the platform allows companies to begin with chosen deployments and expand usage over time as their business requirements evolve and change.

Additionally, AI agents can be integrated into individual departments or shared across multiple functions, depending on organizational goals. This approach allows companies to tie AI deployment plans to current operational and technological structures.

Overall, AgentVerse expands Hexaware's portfolio of AI-driven enterprise solutions and reflects the company's focus on helping organizations operationalize AI through governed deployment, workflow orchestration, enterprise integration, and scalable automation across business and technology functions.

AgentVerse is available globally and supports cloud, hybrid, and customer-specific deployment models.

About Hexaware

Hexaware Technologies is a global digital and technology services company with artificial intelligence (AI) at its core. The company leverages technology to deliver innovative solutions that support customers throughout their digital transformation journeys and ongoing operations. With operations and delivery capabilities across multiple regions, Hexaware serves enterprises worldwide through technology, AI, automation, and digital transformation services. The company embeds AI across its services, platforms, and solutions, enabling organizations to adapt, innovate, and optimize in an increasingly AI-driven business environment. Its portfolio spans cloud modernization, automation, data engineering, enterprise transformation services, and digital operations designed to help organizations improve agility, operational efficiency, and business performance. For more information, visit hexaware.com.

Media Contact

Hexaware Technologies
marketing@hexaware.com

Flourishing Inc., a premier leader in pet health and wellness innovations, proudly announced today that it has successfully passed the comprehensive quality audits required to earn the prestigious National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal for its flagship pet supplement brand, Puainta. This landmark achievement solidifies Flourishing Inc.’s commitment to the highest standards of quality, vigilance, and continuous improvement in the animal supplement industry, perfectly embodying the company's core mission: “The animals you love deserve supplements you trust.”

The NASC Quality Seal is widely recognized as the gold standard for companion animal supplements globally. It is granted exclusively to a select group of manufacturers and brands that demonstrate rigorous compliance with elevated industry standards, proving a comprehensive dedication to product integrity, safety, and consumer trust.

“Earning the NASC Quality Seal is a major milestone that underscores the core values of Flourishing Inc. and our flagship brand, Puainta,” said CEO Myron Wu of Flourishing Inc. “We launched Puainta with a vision to deliver science-backed, premium nutrition that genuinely enhances the health and longevity of companion animals. Passing NASC’s rigorous independent facility audits gives pet parents and veterinary professionals complete peace of mind, proving that our formulations meet the most stringent safety and quality protocols in the industry.”

According to industry compliance benchmarks, earning the NASC Quality Seal reflects a company's profound dedication to rigorous product quality, responsible manufacturing practices, and an ongoing adherence to elevated industry standards. Flourishing Inc. is recognized for achieving this distinction, demonstrating an admirable commitment to providing dependable wellness solutions for retailers, regulatory bodies, and pet owners alike.

To qualify for the display of the Quality Seal, Flourishing Inc. and the Puainta brand successfully cleared an independent third-party audit and committed to maintaining a strict set of compliance policies, including:

• Stringent quality control standards: Implementing highly standardized operating procedures (SOPs) across all manufacturing phases to guarantee strict batch-to-batch consistency and product integrity in accordance with industry benchmarks.
• Adverse event reporting system: Maintaining a robust and responsive adverse event monitoring infrastructure to continuously track and evaluate real-world product safety.
• Compliant and transparent labeling: Adhering strictly to standard labeling guidelines set forth by the FDA and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), ensuring clear ingredient transparency and accurate benefit claims without misleading assertions.
• Independent laboratory testing: Utilizing accredited third-party laboratories to rigorously verify raw materials and finished goods, confirming exact purity, potency, and compliance with strict safety thresholds against contaminants.

From targeted joint support and premium Omega-3 fish oil formulas to comprehensive immune-boosting multivitamins, Puainta continues to translate leading nutritional science into accessible, premium wellness products for dogs and cats. Securing the NASC Quality Seal further establishes Puainta as one of the world's most trusted and consumer-preferred names in premium pet healthcare.

For more information regarding Flourishing Inc., the newly certified Puainta product portfolio, or retail partnerships, please visit the official company website or contact the media relations department.

About Flourishing Inc.

Flourishing Inc. is an innovative pet health company specializing in advanced nutrition, longevity science, and premium wellness solutions for companion animals. The company's flagship brand, Puainta, is dedicated to delivering highly targeted, science-supported supplements designed to help pets live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Manufactured under strict cGMP guidelines and NASC quality standards, Puainta utilizes only premium-grade ingredients backed by rigorous quality assurance, ensuring optimal care for the irreplaceable bonds shared between pets and their families.

Media Contact

Levent Liang
Media Relations, Flourishing Inc.
service@puainta.com

Ana Fabiano, internationally recognized Rioja authority, business leader and author, today announced the launch of Rioja Holistic Home, a sustainable lifestyle and home brand inspired by the renowned Rioja region of Spain.

The new collection brings together artisan-crafted textiles, ceramics, and botanical body oils sourced from the same region celebrated worldwide for its exceptional wines. Designed for conscious consumers, boutique hospitality properties, wellness spaces, and luxury homes, Rioja Holistic Home combines heritage and craftsmanship with modern sustainable living.

The launch comes amid growing consumer demand for sustainable and transparent products. According to PwC's 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, consumers are willing to pay an average of 9.7% more for sustainably produced goods, reflecting a broader shift toward quality, provenance, and environmental responsibility in purchasing decisions. 

The launch introduces three signature collections:

• Textiles: Crafted from 100% extra-fine Merino wool, OEKO-TEX® certified and designed as heirloom-quality pieces.
• Ceramics: Limited-edition, numbered creations produced by a fourth-generation master ceramicist whose work is featured in Michelin-starred restaurants across Northern Spain.
• Essence: Botanical body oils made from 100% botanical ingredients and essential oils and recognized by leading wellness professionals and early customers for their clean scent, rapid absorption, and absence of synthetic fragrances.

The company operates as a fully sustainable, plastic-free brand built around six guiding principles: authenticity, quality, beauty, health, heritage, and environmental stewardship.

Ana Fabiano's connection to Rioja spans decades of professional work and independent research. Since 2008, she has conducted extensive study of the region's wine, culture, architecture, gastronomy, hospitality, and artisan traditions, culminating in the creation of Rioja Holistic Home.

"After years of travel, research, and work throughout Rioja, creating Rioja Holistic Home was a natural evolution," said Fabiano, founder of Rioja Holistic Home. "The values that define Rioja, heritage, quality, sustainability, and pride of place, extend far beyond wine. We emerge at a time when our values and gorgeous pure selections are very relevant for both health and environmental reasons. We created this brand to encourage people to make more intentional choices about what they bring into their homes and lives." 

The brand's mission, reflected in its tagline "Raising Consciousness," encourages consumers to better understand where products come from, how they are made, and the impact they have on personal well-being and the environment.

Through carefully curated collections with authentic provenance, Rioja Holistic Home seeks to reconnect consumers with slower, healthier, and more intentional living. Each selection is picked for its craftsmanship, beauty, sustainability, and ability to create meaningful rituals within the home.

Media interviews are available in English and Spanish.

For additional information, visit the official Rioja Holistic Home website or explore The RHH Ledger, the company's editorial platform featuring stories from Rioja's artisans, makers, and cultural traditions.

About Rioja Holistic Home

Rioja Holistic Home is a quiet luxury sustainable lifestyle brand inspired by the Rioja region of Spain. The company offers artisan natural fiber textiles, art quality ceramics, and botanical wellness products that celebrate heritage craftsmanship, conscious living, and environmental responsibility. Rioja Holistic Home is a filed trademark in the United States and Canada, a registered trademark in the United Kingdom, and operates under Sana Group LLC. For more information, visit riojaholistichome.com.

About Ana Fabiano

Ana Fabiano is an internationally recognized authority on the Rioja region of Spain. She is the award-winning author of "The Wine Region of Rioja" and has spent decades researching, teaching, and promoting the culture, wines, gastronomy, and heritage of Spain. For more information, connect via the Ana Fabiano LinkedIn Profile.

Media Contact

Ana Fabiano
ana@anafabiano.com

Pirix Media Agency
hey@pirix.co

Global lithium battery brand LiTime announced that it is further strengthening its global responsibility framework through three key initiatives: product safety certifications, vehicle application compliance, and upgraded product liability protection.

Multiple LiTime battery products have obtained Intertek ETL certification, while selected products have also achieved E-Mark compliance for the European market. In addition, LiTime has secured commercial general liability insurance coverage through American International Group (AIG). These initiatives reinforce LiTime’s global compliance capabilities, risk response system, and long-term partnership credibility, offering greater confidence and reliability to users and partners worldwide.

ETL Certification: Strengthening Product Safety Assurance

The ETL mark, issued by Intertek, is a widely recognized symbol of product safety compliance. Intertek is an OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and a global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services.

One of the key standards applied in this certification is UL 1973, which covers energy storage systems and evaluates areas such as electrical safety, structural design, protection mechanisms, and long-term operational reliability. This provides a trusted third-party benchmark for both safety and durability.

By obtaining ETL certification, LiTime further validates the safety design, system stability, and long-term reliability of its products. This not only enhances end-user confidence in applications such as RVs, marine vessels, and off-grid systems, but also supports distributors, retailers, and platform partners in meeting compliance requirements and managing risk.

E-Mark Certification: Advancing Compliance for European Vehicle Applications

E-Mark certification is a key regulatory requirement for automotive components in Europe, confirming compliance with UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) standards. Specifically, ECE R10 addresses electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in vehicle electrical and electronic systems.

Products that meet E-Mark requirements can be integrated into vehicle applications such as RVs, trailers, and auxiliary onboard power systems, while also supporting whole-vehicle type approval and system-level compliance.

LiTime’s E-Mark certified products demonstrate proven compatibility and stability within vehicle electrical environments. This helps reduce concerns related to system interference, driving safety, installation compliance, and insurance-related risks. It also enables vehicle makers, system integrators, and channel partners to more effectively enter the European vehicle market and meet regulatory and integration requirements.

AIG Commercial General Liability Insurance: Enhancing Long-Term Responsibility Protection

LiTime has entered into a commercial general liability insurance agreement with AIG, providing product liability coverage for its products. AIG serves clients in over 200 countries and regions, offering comprehensive solutions in property, casualty, and risk management.

This insurance enhances the efficiency, professionalism, and traceability of response mechanisms in the event of covered liability incidents, further strengthening user confidence in long-term product use.

LiTime has established a multi-layered LiTime support system spanning the entire customer journey, including a 5-year warranty, 30-day free returns, and 24/7 AI-powered customer service with expert support. The addition of global liability insurance further reinforces LiTime’s post-sale responsibility and long-term customer assurance.

Advancing a Trusted Global Energy Ecosystem

Through ETL safety certification, E-Mark vehicle compliance, and AIG product liability insurance, LiTime continues to enhance its global responsibility framework. This framework extends beyond product performance to encompass lifecycle risk management, application compliance, and long-term accountability — providing a strong foundation of trust for users and partners worldwide.

LiTime stated that this upgrade is a key part of its long-term globalization strategy and reflects its commitment to powering outdoor adventures for generations with reliable energy solutions.

“A truly trusted energy brand must deliver not only high-performance products, but also uphold safety, compliance, and responsibility throughout the entire product lifecycle,” said Shaffe Zhang, Head of Corporate Communications at LiTime. “This is why we continue to build and strengthen our responsibility system—so that users and partners can rely on LiTime with confidence across every energy application scenario.”

About LiTime

LiTime is a global LiFePO₄ power solutions expert, providing high-quality batteries and integrated power systems for RV, marine, golf cart, solar, and off-grid applications. Backed by real-world validation from 3.5 million-plus global users, 16 years of lithium battery R&D experience from its core team, and 380+ certifications, LiTime makes lithium power smarter, safer, more flexible, and more cost-effective. Guided by its philosophy, "Powering Outdoor Adventures for Generations," LiTime delivers reliable LiFePO₄ power for memorable journeys, shared outdoor moments, and a spirit of exploration that endures across generations. For more information, visit www.litime.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Media Contact

Jelly Xie
marketpr@litime.com

With more adults engaged in manual labor, long-distance driving, and chronic back pain, FEATOL's supportive lower back brace has been unveiled. Rather than a temporary recovery tool, this latest back brace aligns with the latest medical research on staying active to support proper health.

The difference between this back brace for women and men with lower back pain is that it doesn’t restrict movement. Adults can still move throughout their workday or get in and out of a vehicle when completing daily errands. Considering how many people are actively trying to manage conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, muscle strain, and chronic lower back fatigue, practical support that includes mobility is a major win.

“We wanted to promote better health by targeting the needs of workers, active adults, and rehabilitation professionals,” says a FEATOL spokesperson. “Our FEATOL lower back brace is a solution to alleviate pain while supporting movement instead of restricting it.”

Why Lower Back Pain Impacts So Many Adults

While the conveniences of modern living certainly would make heads spin from a couple of hundred years ago, those same conveniences can put pressure on the lumbar region. The average office worker spends 6 to 8 hours sitting at a desk. The average worker will have to lift between 23 and 70 pounds, depending on the job. Both these scenarios compress the lower back, leading to repetitive lifting, twisting, and carrying movements that stress the back’s structure.

Active adults also have issues. Being able to calmly improve a home garden without pain or move about a backyard chicken coop is important, even with a sore lower back. Roughly 39% of adults report back pain that requires the aid of a lower back brace. The problem is that most traditional lumbar support belts and work back braces are restrictive, bulky, or uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.

With FEATOL, the goal is to offer a lower back brace that balances stability to reduce pain with increased comfort, while also ensuring the wearer can go about their day.

Support That Moves with the User

The FEATOL lumbar support belt brace was designed with a reinforced system comprising three memory aluminum stays and two additional support plates. When working together, these elements ensure 360-degree stabilization around the lower back. Pressure is then distributed evenly, supporting the lumbar region as adults drive, work, and play.

In addition to that unique design, the FEATOL lower back brace is made from soft, breathable materials. It is snug as a bug, with adjustable straps, to ensure the back brace for lifting hugs the lower back like a second skin, comfortable, stable, and easy to wear all day long.

With FEATOL, the back brace provides targeted compression to support the body at home, work, or when moving about completing daily tasks. It is ideal for men and women, with an elastic support system that keeps the lumbar support in place on even the most demanding days. That makes the back brace optimal for:

• Office workers dealing with long sitting sessions and those using hybrid sit/stand desks for mobility.
• Manual laborers and tradespeople performing repetitive movements and lifting that strain back muscles.
• Drivers, ride-share professionals, delivery teams, and movers who spend long hours behind the wheel and on the road.
• Adults recovering from back strain, injury, or recent medical treatment and surgery (under the guidance of medical professionals).
• Fitness enthusiasts who want a little extra lower back support while climbing, playing sports, or getting outdoors.

All men and women who want to better manage chronic lower back discomfort can benefit from added support. As the brace uses both stability and flexible strapping, it functions as both a back brace for men's lower back support needs and a back brace for women desiring extra comfort.

FEATOL Builds for Real-World Demands

FEATOL was founded on a simple belief that protection should never come at the cost of comfort or style. That is why the lower back brace is designed not to restrict ordinary activities. Wearers should feel the support while standing in line at a store or carrying the family’s laundry upstairs.

The reinforced structure and elastic support system ensure comfortable, secure movement. There is no need to constantly readjust the brace during the day, making it a simplified yet adjustable solution whether working as a mechanic, physician, teacher, delivery driver, or at-home graphic designer.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for primary and emergency care consultations. Around $200 billion is spent every year on managing that back pain. With FEATOL, adults get a solution that helps alleviate that pain through a simplified, reliable structure without the traditional brace restrictions.

A Practical Back Brace for Long-Term Mobility

Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of self-care to manage lower back pain and discomfort. It is a combination of movement, proper mechanics, and recovery that helps reduce stress on the body. With FEATOL's lower back brace, the support ensures proper mobility throughout the day and a snug fit that doesn’t get in the way of life.

Available now in sizes ranging from small (25.6-28.5”) to 5XL (57.5-65”), the lower back brace for work helps those dealing with recurring lumbar fatigue, workplace strain, or physically demanding lifestyles. The right support system from FEATOL helps make the day a little easier to manage while still promoting long-term comfort.

About FEATOL

At FEATOL (HONG KONG DUNHE TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED), we believe comfort and strength belong in everyday life. That’s why we design orthopedic supports that fit naturally into your routine at work, at home, or on the go. Whether you’re facing desk fatigue, heavy lifting, or long-term discomfort, FEATOL is here to help ease pain and support better movement every single day. FEATOL products are developed by pain-care experts and trusted by families worldwide. From back braces to therapy mats, each item blends smart technology with day-to-day comfort. Designed for real-life recovery, our supports help you move more freely, feel stronger, and live with less pain, so you can stay active and focused on what matters most. Learn more by visiting featol.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Individual results may vary. Consumers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any orthopedic support device, particularly if they have a pre-existing medical condition, are recovering from surgery, or are experiencing persistent or severe back pain. References to medical conditions are provided for general informational purposes and should not be interpreted as claims that the product diagnoses, treats, cures, or prevents any disease or medical condition.

Media Contact

Lora Li
info@featol.com

Sends has announced the expansion of its digital wallet ecosystem by integrating with Samsung Pay to work toward a more adaptable payments system for consumers and businesses globally. The main goal of the company is to provide a mobile-first checkout experience to users across various devices and also expand its current support for key wallet providers like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Digital payments are increasingly moving toward faster, device-led interactions, where users expect transactions to be completed with minimal friction. Across global markets, biometric authentication and token-based security have become standard expectations, gradually replacing manual card entry in everyday purchases.

With Samsung Pay now added to the ecosystem, Sends is aiming to widen access for Samsung device users while also improving payment success rates and checkout efficiency for merchants operating across multiple regions.

“Payments today are less about individual methods and more about how everything works together in the background,” said Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends. “Our goal is to make that experience feel simple for merchants, regardless of how many payment options are involved.”

Moving Toward a More Unified Payments Layer

Sends is gradually shaping its infrastructure around a more unified model designed to reduce the fragmentation that often exists between different wallet systems.

Instead of requiring separate technical setups for each provider, the platform is moving toward a structure where multiple wallet networks can be accessed through a single integration layer. This approach is intended to simplify operations for merchants while keeping checkout performance consistent across markets and devices.

Important priorities in this direction include:

• Greater compatibility with top mobile wallet ecosystems
• Integration made easier with a single infrastructure layer
• Improved regional consistency in checkout performance
• Decreased complexity of operations for retailers
• Increased dependability in international payment flows

Strategic Direction and Leadership Focus

Under Alona Shevtsova's direction, Sends continues to align itself with the trend toward wallet-driven commerce and embedded financial infrastructure, which is reflected in the expansion.

Sends has shifted its focus from single feature releases to enhancing the interoperability and orchestration-based infrastructure models of various payment systems.

Market Background and Infrastructure Development

As mobile-first payment options gradually replace traditional card-based checkout experiences in many areas, the upgrade coincides with the ongoing global expansion in the popularity of digital wallets.

Sends’ infrastructure strategy also builds on its integration with Corefy, which helps merchants streamline routing and settlement through a unified connection layer.

The company expects demand for connected payment infrastructure to continue rising as businesses expand into increasingly fragmented global payment environments.

About Sends

Sends is a global payments and financial infrastructure platform offering multi-currency accounts, digital wallet support, and cross-border payment solutions for businesses and individuals. The company concentrates on developing scalable infrastructure that uses contemporary financial instruments and unified integration to streamline international transactions. For more information, visit sends.co.

Disclaimer

This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Sends (operating as a trade name of Smartflow Payments Limited) is an authorized Electronic Money Institution (EMI) regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Corporate integration features, payment orchestration capabilities, and third-party infrastructure partnerships—including those involving Corefy, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay—are described strictly for general informational purposes and do not guarantee specific transactional performance, regional merchant acceptance rates, or processing outcomes.

While information contained herein is derived from sources believed to be reliable, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Readers are encouraged to conduct independent due diligence and consult qualified financial professionals before making corporate operational or infrastructure decisions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the future availability of connected payment infrastructure, expected global demand for multi-wallet payment architectures, and intended technical developments under the leadership of Alona Shevtsova. These statements are based on current management expectations and are subject to inherent risks, shifting regulatory frameworks, and market uncertainties. Sends undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Media Contact

Press Office
press@sends.co