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San Jose Police Officer Erin Allen filed a civil lawsuit after she suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen after she and her partner responded to a domestic violence call.

On August 16, 2023, Officer Erin Allen and her partner responded to a domestic violence call at a condo-complex in the City of San Jose. What they did not know was an armed recidivist criminal and convicted felon was lying in wait and would ultimately ambush them. Recidivist criminal and convicted felon Gabriel Mario Carreras shot Officer Allen in the abdomen outside of her bulletproof vest. Her partner dragged her to safety before she was rushed to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where she was hospitalized in critical condition.

Carreras was later found guilty of attempted murder for his actions as well as two counts of shooting in an inhabited dwelling, misdemeanor assault, and several other crimes. His crimes were so severe that he received sentencing enhancements for his use of a gun. Carreras’ wife had called police initially because she said he was attacking her and trying to force her to get an abortion. After police arrived and Carreras opened fire, a four-hour standoff ensued.

Thankfully no one was killed, but Officer Allen’s life would never be the same.

As a result of the gunshot wound, she suffered injuries to her intestine, colon, liver, and gallbladder, as well as a spinal fracture and severed ureter, which had to be repaired with a stent. She spent nine weeks in the hospital, undergoing approximately six major surgeries.

Mark Peacock of Peacock Law Group has filed the lawsuit on behalf of Officer Allen and her husband alleging the owners of the condo complex, Anthony W. Lee, Patricia Reiko Ikeda and the Lee and Ikeda Family Trust were negligent in managing their premises.

“Officer Allen deserved better,” said attorney Mark Peacock. “Officer Erin Allen was ambushed and nearly killed in an act of calculated violence carried out by a convicted criminal — but the blame does not stop with the shooter. The owners of the condominium where this attack took place must be held fully accountable for their failure to act, their failure to secure the property, and their reckless disregard for the safety of others. Their negligence created the conditions that allowed a violent offender to carry out this heinous act. Officer Allen was fulfilling her sworn duty to protect the public — and she was met with a trap. We will not rest until every responsible party is brought to justice. Anything less would be an insult to her sacrifice and to the oath she took to serve.”

“This tragedy was preventable. The property owners created and allowed dangerous conditions that turned these condos into a haven for violence. By ignoring basic safety and security measures, they put every resident — and ultimately Officer Erin Allen — in harm’s way. Landlords have a duty to protect their tenants and the public, and when they fail, they must be held accountable,” said attorney Paul Goyette.

The case is Erin Allen v. Anthony W. Lee, Patricia Reiko Ikeda, the Lee and Ikeda Family Trust, Maricela Vazquez Contreras, Santa Clara Superior Court, Case No. 25CV472076.

About Peacock Law Group, a.p.c.

For more than 20 years, clients have chosen Peacock Law Group, A.P.C. for our trusted reputation, legal expertise and proven record of results. We are dedicated technicians in the tactics of law and negotiation — knowledgeable, strategic and committed to outcomes that serve our clients’ best interests.

Our attorneys represent California public safety employees and injury victims statewide. Whether you are a police officer, firefighter, parole agent or other safety professional, we help pursue maximum compensation when injuries occur in the line of duty and fall outside workers’ compensation coverage. Led by founding attorney Mark Peacock, the firm aggressively pursues personal injury claims against negligent third parties and their insurers.

We serve clients in Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco counties — continuously raising the standard for legal service and results.

For more information, visit peacocklawgroup.com.

Media Contact

Joe Marchelewski
joe@aijcommunications.com

Affidea, a leading pan-European provider of community-based polyclinics, advanced diagnostics, and multi-specialist care, including oncology, has entered a strategic partnership with Skin Analytics, a pioneering AI company in dermatology care. This collaboration supports Affidea’s long-term vision of leveraging digital innovations to improve patient outcomes as part of its integrated skin cancer care pathway.

As part of this partnership, Affidea has implemented Skin Analytics’ DERM, an AI medical device software for the automated analysis of skin lesions. The initial implementation of DERM began in Romania and Lithuania, with Greece to follow in September. These countries were selected based on market analysis, clinical readiness and innovation focus. The aim is to improve patient access to high quality care by introducing clinically validated AI technology into the gold standard skin care pathway already in place. This enables patients’ triage while streamlining workflows. Following this first phase, Affidea plans to roll out the AI solution across additional European markets.

Dr. Charles Niehaus, executive director for Affidea Group, stated: "Integrating cutting-edge digital innovations into clinical practice is essential to delivering the best possible care for our patients. Our partnership with Skin Analytics marks an exciting milestone, enabling us to leverage AI in supporting early detection of skin cancer and to provide even more patients with access to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programs we already offer in our dermatology units. This collaboration is not just about introducing new technology — it’s about creating scalable, sustainable solutions that empower patients and clinical teams, address rising demand and bring timely, high-quality care across Europe."

Neil Daly, founder and CEO of Skin Analytics, stated: “We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Affidea as our first European partner. This collaboration represents a major milestone in our mission to transform access to dermatology care using AI. By combining Affidea’s clinical excellence and pan-European reach with our proven technology, DERM, we have an opportunity to reimagine how skin cancer is identified and managed across the continent. At scale, this partnership will drive earlier diagnoses, improve access to care and support dermatology teams facing rising demand — ultimately marking history for how skin cancer care is delivered and improving outcomes for patients across Europe.”

Skin cancer remains a significant public health challenge across Europe. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, Europe accounts for approximately 10.4 melanoma cases per 100,000 people. Non-melanoma skin cancers were even more prevalent, with over 1.15 million cases in Europe in 2022 [1]. This burden continues to grow — age-standardised incidence rates for melanoma have risen sharply over the past decades, and non-melanoma cases now represent nearly 78% of all skin cancer diagnoses.

Source

[1] Global Cancer Observatory, International Agency for Research on Cancer: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/17-non-melanoma-skin-cancer-fact-sheet.pdf

About Affidea Group

Affidea is a leading pan-European provider of specialist healthcare services, including cancer care, community-based polyclinics and advanced diagnostic imaging. Founded in 1991, the company operates over 410 centres across 15 countries, with more than 14 million patient visits every year. Affidea is majority-owned by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), a leading investment holding company, focused on long-term value-creation with a stable and supportive family shareholder base. For more information, visit www.affidea.com.

For media inquiries regarding Affidea Group, contact oana.dumitroiu@affidea.com.

About Skin Analytics

Skin Analytics was founded in 2012 by Neil Daly to help more people survive cancer. It began providing teledermatology services in 2015 and since 2020 is now deployed in 27 NHS sites across the UK, having seen more than 180,000 NHS patients and detected more than 15,500 cancers. Post-market surveillance has shown that DERM found 97% of cancers (and accurately identified over 75% of benign lesions) with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.6% for all skin cancers. Settings in which DERM has been deployed have been able to reduce the number of face-to-face dermatologist appointments required for the volume of suspected skin cancer referrals by 60 to 95%, and DERM can autonomously discharge up to 40% urgent suspected skin cancer referrals. DERM is the only Class III CE marked AI Dermatology medical device, enabling Skin Analytics to begin actively expanding its lifesaving services to Europe. For more information, visit skin-analytics.com.

For media inquiries regarding Skin Analytics, contact skin@transatlanticent.com.

About DERM

DERM is an AI medical device (AIaMD), operating under a Class III CE mark. DERM is intended for use in the screening, triage and assessment of skin lesions suspicious for skin cancer. DERM will analyse a dermoscopic image of a skin lesion and return a suspected diagnosis and, if applicable, a referral recommendation for the lesion. DERM is indicated for use on dermoscopic images of cutaneous lesions where there is a suspicion of skin cancer in patients aged 18 years or over in any body location except where specific exclusions apply. Deployed across NHS sites in the UK, Skin Analytics pathways have seen more than 180,000 patient cases and supported the identification of over 15,500 cancers. With a negative predictive value rate of 99.9% for ruling out melanomas, the platform has become a proven tool for aiding clinical decision-making while enhancing patient access and efficiency within skin cancer pathways.

Media Contact

Oana Dumitroiu
oana.dumitroiu@affidea.com

The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as "Reef Saudi," has announced the highly successful completion of its pilot trial for small-scale coffee peeling equipment. The program confirmed that these machines will now be made available in local markets, placing them within reach of smallholder farmers as part of ongoing efforts to enhance coffee production and improve product marketing.

Reef Saudi's official spokesperson, Majid Al-Buraikan, explained that each machine is capable of peeling up to 50 kilograms of coffee beans per hour, which is sufficient to process the yield of an entire village. He emphasized that adopting this technology will be feasible for small-scale farmers, as the machines will be offered at an affordable price not exceeding SAR 4,000.

Al-Buraikan further affirmed that Reef Saudi is committed to developing the coffee sector by offering direct support to small farmers and local producers. The program is also implementing a range of strategic projects and initiatives aimed at bolstering food security and increasing the economic return for those working in the sector.

About Reef Saudi

The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as “Reef Saudi,” is a government initiative launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on January 9, 2019. The program aims to achieve balanced economic and social development by utilizing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s natural, agricultural and renewable water resources in a sustainable and optimal manner. Reef Saudi focuses on supporting and empowering small-scale farmers and rural families by providing financial and technical assistance, thereby improving their income and enhancing their productivity. Reef Saudi is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, contributing to the diversification of the national economy, sustainable development of rural areas, and promotion of social stability and localization.

For more information, visit reef.gov.sa and follow Reef Saudi on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

Media Contact

Ahmed Gari
gari.alhamla@gmail.com

Following the public announcement made on August 11, 2025 by İhlas Holding regarding two major investment agreements signed between Orta Asya Investment Holding and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Orta Asya today issued a strategic update detailing the international relevance and long-term sustainability vision of the landmark hydropower initiative.

The agreements, which encompass the development of six utility-scale hydropower plants across two distinct cascades totaling 2,217 MW in installed capacity, mark one of the most significant private-sector energy investments in the region’s history, with a total capex of approximately $6.3 billion (U.S.).

In a statement released today, Orta Asya Investment Holding emphasized the project's alignment with the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, underlining its eligibility for future green financing mechanisms and international partnerships.

It is emphasized that the investment is viewed not only as the implementation of an infrastructure project but also as a major step toward enabling Central Asia’s clean energy transition in line with global sustainability frameworks. The investment is characterized as a “transformative initiative,” developed in close collaboration with the Kyrgyz government, with a commitment to transparency, international best practices and long-term impact.

Strategic Framework and Green Investment Relevance

Structured under long-term, 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with full sovereign guarantees and backed by comprehensive fiscal incentives, the projects have been officially recognized by the Kyrgyz Republic as “national investment projects,” underscoring their critical role in advancing energy security, climate resilience and inclusive economic growth.

Both hydropower clusters are designed in full alignment with the EU taxonomy, contributing directly to SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action). Once operational, the projects are expected to generate more than 9 billion kWh annually, displacing an estimated 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year compared with coal-based generation alternatives.

In addition to stabilizing regional power grids, the hydropower assets will serve as key enablers of cross-border energy cooperation and support the objectives of the EU-Central Asia Global Gateway strategy, which emphasizes green investment and resilient infrastructure across the region.

Institutional Oversight and Project Management

To ensure disciplined execution, transparency and adherence to international standards from the outset, Orta Asya Investment Holding has appointed Hill International as the independent project management office (PMO) for both hydropower cascades.

This early engagement reflects Orta Asya’s commitment to institutional-grade governance, with clearly defined oversight structures and quality assurance protocols embedded throughout the project life cycle. As a globally recognized infrastructure consultancy, Hill International supports the implementation process through integrated planning, performance monitoring and risk management systems, helping safeguard delivery targets and investor confidence.

Project Breakdown

Kazarman Hydropower Cascade (Jalal-Abad Region) – 912 MW

• Three plants: Alabuga (600 MW), Karabulun-1 (149 MW), Karabulun-2 (163 MW)
• Estimated capex: $3.0 billion (U.S.)
• 20-year PPA with JSC “National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan” (NESK)
• Sovereign guarantees, tax exemptions, and structured IP handover at end of term
• Construction timeline: 6 years post-feasibility

Kokomeren Hydropower Cascade (Chuy & Naryn Regions) – 1,305 MW

• Three plants: Karakol (33 MW), Kokomeren-1 (360 MW), Kokomeren-2 (912 MW)
• Estimated capex: $3.265 billion (U.S.)
• 20-year PPA with NESK; state-backed offtake guarantee
• Investor protection clauses, arbitration under SIAC, legal framework aligned with Kyrgyz law
• Construction timeline: 6 years post-feasibility

Platform for Institutional Partnerships and Climate Finance

Feasibility studies for both project clusters have already begun. As this work progresses, Orta Asya Investment Holding will initiate formal engagement with international financial institutions (IFIs) and development finance institutions (DFIs) to explore strategic financing collaborations.

Parallel outreach to ESG-aligned institutional investors, export credit agencies (ECAs) and Tier-1 EPC contractors and turbine manufacturers is also underway, with the goal of securing partnerships that reflect the project’s long-term vision and sustainability goals.

Key project de-risking elements include:

• 20-year sovereign-backed offtake agreements
• Five-year tax exemptions (corporate income tax, import VAT, customs duties)
• International arbitration provisions (SIAC)
• Commitment to local benefits, including 1% free electricity allocation to communities and targeted social investments

About Orta Asya Investment Holding

Orta Asya Investment Holding is a Central Asia-focused energy and infrastructure platform, developing sustainable, high-impact projects in partnership with host governments, multilateral institutions and private-sector investors. Orta Asya Investment Holding is backed by leading shareholders including İhlas Holding and is committed to delivering climate-resilient, economically viable infrastructure across emerging markets. For more information, visit ortaasyainvest.com.

Media Contact

Abdullah Tugcu
abdullah.tugcu@ihlas.com.tr
+90 212 454 24 22

Wealth Express, a consumer-first financial solutions platform committed to providing transparency and trust in financial services, today announced the launch of its latest solution: Wealth Express Term Life Insurance with Guaranteed Pricing. This new offering was created to restore confidence for families who have experienced deceptive digital pricing practices, such as bait-and-switch life insurance quotes.

Fixing the Trust Gap in Digital Life Insurance

With the rise of algorithm-driven life insurance platforms, many families are lured in by attractively low quotes — only to be approved at rates nearly double the original estimate. This "bait-and-switch" model, often marketed as digital convenience, leaves many feeling misled and unprotected.

Wealth Express's new life insurance solution offers:

• Guaranteed upfront pricing with no post-approval rate increases
• No medical exams required
• Access to real, licensed human advisors — not algorithms
• Fast, 10-minute application process
• Lifetime advisor support for families and beneficiaries

“Families shouldn’t be forced to choose between fair pricing and convenience,” said Rob Graham, co-founder of Wealth Express. “Our life insurance solution removes the guesswork, eliminates surprise price hikes and puts a human advisor back into the equation — because financial protection should build trust, not erode it.”

The solution is specifically designed for working parents aged 35 to 50 who want to protect their families without being taken advantage of by hidden fees, digital bait-and-switch tactics or inflated “convenience” markups.

No More "Convenience Tax"

According to internal research, many digital platforms charge up to 50% more for the same level of life insurance coverage, simply because they bypass traditional exams. Wealth Express offers the same ease — without the hidden premium. Families know exactly what they’ll pay, before they ever commit.

Implementation is available immediately through Wealth Express's online platform and licensed advisor network, who work directly with clients to determine the right level of coverage at a rate that doesn’t change behind the scenes.

About Wealth Express

Wealth Express® connects individuals and families with licensed, independent financial professionals who specialize in transparent, principal-protected financial solutions. Whether securing affordable life insurance, building guaranteed retirement income or preserving generational wealth, Wealth Express helps Americans access the tools, advisors and clarity they need to plan with confidence.

Built for hardworking Americans, Wealth Express believes wealth is more than money — it’s peace of mind, clarity and the assurance that the future is secure. By meeting people where they are and delivering zero-risk, advisor-supported solutions, the company makes real, achievable wealth possible for everyday families.

Through its nationwide network of independent certified financial advisors, Wealth Express offers top products from leading carriers, prioritizing protection over volatility and empowerment over confusion. From life insurance to retirement income planning, Wealth Express is committed to making life’s biggest financial decisions simpler, safer and smarter.

That’s Wealth That Works.™ Learn more at wealthexpress.com.

Media Contact

Richard Lorenzen
rlorenzen@fifthavenuebrands.com

amp, the fitness technology startup, announced the launch of its AI fitness coach, featuring partnerships with celebrity trainers including Chris Heria and Kinga Strogoff. The smart personal trainer combines machine learning with expert coaching to create personalized workout experiences that adapt in real-time based on user performance data.

The AI fitness app represents a significant advancement in home gym technology, with plans for broader deployment throughout 2025. Initial rollout to beta users demonstrates the system's ability to process thousands of performance indicators per session, creating workout plans that evolve based on real-time movement analysis and individual progress patterns.

"Most fitness apps treat every workout the same, but your body's capabilities change daily based on sleep, stress, and recovery," said a spokesperson from amp’s product team. "Our AI fitness coach recognizes these fluctuations as essential data points rather than obstacles. By combining celebrity trainer expertise with machine learning that understands your exact strength levels and movement patterns, we're delivering truly personalized training that adapts to how people are performing each day."

amp's AI Avatar technology applies coaching philosophy to individual user capabilities and limitations. The system processes biomechanical principles behind expert coaching decisions and delivers personalized guidance based on real-time performance analysis.

The smart personal trainer will process data streams through computer vision technology currently in development and electromagnetic sensors. When form quality changes or movement velocity shifts in future updates, the AI coach will be able to adjust resistance, suggest technique modifications, or recommend rest periods.

amp's home gym system features electromagnetic resistance that can be modified in real-time during exercises, enabling three distinct smart modes: band mode creates progressive tension, eccentric mode adds resistance during lowering phases, and fixed mode delivers consistent challenge throughout the full range of motion.

The device requires approximately the space of a yoga mat when in use and includes five accessories — handle, dual handle, rope, T-bar, and ankle straps — that provide access to over 450 exercises targeting every muscle group. The system's compact design makes strength training accessible in various home environments.

The AI fitness app features additional celebrity trainers, including Chris Heria and Kinga Strogoff, with plans to expand the coaching roster. The platform's machine learning capabilities process data from user populations and training patterns.

"We’re solving the fundamental challenge of making elite fitness expertise truly accessible," added a spokesperson for amp’s product team. "Traditional strength training requires constant mental calculation about weight selection, rest periods, and form adjustments. amp’s AI handles these decisions automatically, letting users focus purely on execution while receiving guidance that's fine-tuned to their specific capabilities and goals."

The company offers the device at $1,795 with a monthly subscription of $23, which supports up to 15 household members. The subscription includes access to targeted exercises, expert-led workout programs, and gamified features including Tempo, drop sets, Tabata, and vertical jumps.

About amp

amp is a fitness technology company that combines AI, hardware design, and trainer partnerships to create hyper-personalized workout experiences. Founded by tech and fitness industry veterans, amp focuses on making strength training accessible through intelligent technology that adapts to real life. For more information, visit ampfit.com.

Media Contact

Katerina Kugel
katerinak@ampfit.com

A childhood survivor of grooming on Roblox is now facing corporate retaliation after his viral predator-catching videos led to multiple arrests and exposed systematic failures in the platform's child protection systems.

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC (SGGH) and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC have been retained to defend YouTuber Michael "Schlep" — a 22-year-old Texas content creator who was banned from Roblox and served with cease-and-desist letters after his investigative work resulted in six confirmed arrests of alleged child predators operating on the gaming platform.

The legal action against Schlep comes as his removal has sparked the viral #FreeSchlep movement, garnering millions of views and prompting a major Roblox influencer to quit the company’s creator program in protest. Crime journalist Chris Hansen has contacted Schlep about participating in an upcoming documentary investigating Roblox's handling of child safety issues.

A Survivor’s Mission Becomes Legal Target

Schlep's anti-predator work stems from his own traumatic experience as a Roblox user. Between ages 12 and 15, he was groomed by a prominent Roblox developer who had official company merchandise distributed nationwide and contracted directly with Roblox for platform events. The developer sent Schlep graphic violent content, pornography, and engaged in inappropriate sexual conversations.

"When my client attempted suicide and was hospitalized, his mother contacted Roblox seeking help," said Martin D. Gould, Founding Partner at SGGH. "Roblox was unresponsive until she threatened legal action. Only then did they engage — and only to claim the abuse happened 'on another platform,' despite the predator being a contracted Roblox developer who the company promoted at events."

The developer who groomed Schlep was eventually banned from Roblox — but only years later, after another female developer reported sexual abuse. Roblox had continued paying and promoting the predator throughout Schlep's ordeal.

Proven Results Trigger Corporate Backlash

Working with established predator-catching organizations including Predator Poachers (300+ convictions) and EDP Watch, Schlep's team achieved a remarkable success rate: six arrests from seven real-life confrontations with suspected predators initially contacted through Roblox.

Rather than addressing the safety vulnerabilities Schlep exposed, Roblox updated its Terms of Service to specifically target "vigilante groups" and banned him from the platform. The company then escalated with legal threats under the Computer Fraud Act — the same statute used in Roblox's shameful lawsuit against another prominent critic, Ruben Sim, who has also recently retained the SGGH and Milberg law firms.

"Instead of thanking someone who was protecting children and working with law enforcement, Roblox is trying to silence him with the same legal intimidation tactics they've used before," said SGGH Partner Steven Vanderporten. "This pattern suggests a company more concerned with suppressing criticism than addressing the predator problem on their platform."

Growing Accountability Movement

The #FreeSchlep campaign has exposed broader frustrations with Roblox's child safety record, with supporters noting the irony of the company punishing someone for doing the protective work they claim to prioritize.

"Michael is doing exactly what Roblox should be doing — identifying and stopping predators who target children," said Milberg Co-Counsel Gary Klinger and Melinda Maxson. "Instead of partnering with him, they're trying to destroy him. That tells you everything about their real priorities."

National Media Attention Mounting

The case has attracted attention from major media outlets and child safety advocates, with several national interviews scheduled this week. The controversy has also prompted at least one major Roblox content creator to publicly quit the company's influencer program in solidarity with Schlep.

Roblox Corporation declined to comment on the specific allegations or explain why the company chose legal action over addressing the safety concerns raised by Schlep's investigations.

SGGH specializes in high-profile litigation against major corporations, while Milberg is a leading class action and whistleblower protection firm with extensive experience in cases involving corporate accountability and consumer protection.

Roblox whistleblowers Schlep and Sim are represented by Martin D. Gould, Michael R. Grieco, and Steven L. Vanderporten of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, Gary Klinger, Melissa Nafash, and Melinda Maxson of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC.

For media inquiries, contact Lynn Smith at lynn@lynnsmithtv.com or Zoe Chipalla at zchipalla@sgghlaw.com.

About Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley (SGGH) is a boutique national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. We pride ourselves on being Innovators of Law and Providers of Justice. Our attorneys have litigated and won cases nationwide, representing thousands of individuals, including thousands of survivors of rape, sexual assault, and childhood sexual abuse in many of the highest profile abuse cases across the country. These cases include claims against private and public institutions such as University of Michigan (Dr. Robert Anderson), Michigan State University (Dr. Larry Nasser), Endeavor Health (Dr. Fabio Ortega), professional sports teams, private and public schools, elite private boarding schools, orphanages, foster care programs, hospitals, mental health facilities, Fortune 500 companies, wealthy individuals (Jeffrey Epstein), and numerous religious institutions and related entities.

Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion, with over $400 million recovered on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in the past 18 months. In addition to securing record recoveries, SGGH attorneys have also worked with clients to fought for and secure policy changes, helping protect future generations of children and adults from abuse and exploitation. For example, as part of a recent $21.3 million settlement in the hotel abuse case last year (one of the largest settlements in the country for an individual survivor), the firm also successfully secured policy and training changes for thousands of hotels improving hotel pre-employment screening and safety for hotel guests and employees nationwide.

For more information, visit sgghlaw.com.

About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC

For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing.

Milberg is currently involved in some of the largest and most complex class action cases pending in the country and is particularly active in the field of Information Technology litigation. Over the past three years, Milberg has settled on a class-wide basis more than 50 class actions involving privacy violations in state and federal courts across the country as lead or co-lead counsel; no other plaintiffs’ class action firm in the country has settled and won court approval of more data breach and data privacy class actions during this period. 

The firm has successfully brought forth cybersecurity-related claims against major corporations including Meta Platforms, Snap Inc. (Snapchat), Walmart, Bose, CVS, Facebook, Gannett Co., Advocate Aurora Health, Inc., Novant Health, Inc. and more — resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements. 

Milberg is equally committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and exploitation seek justice. Milberg attorneys handle complex sexual abuse cases involving schools, juvenile detention facilities, religious institutions, healthcare providers, employers, and other entities that allowed abuse to occur. 

Milberg is actively representing sexual abuse victims in cases against Expedia Group Inc. and Securitas Security Services USA Inc., real estate moguls Tal and Oren Alexander, and the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. 

More information about Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC can be found at milberg.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Smith
lynn@lynnsmithtv.com

Remitsy, a dedicated euro remittance service, has reinforced its focus on providing faster and more affordable euro money transfers from Australia and New Zealand to Europe. Built for personal and business users who regularly send funds to Europe, the platform now offers an even more streamlined experience, with support teams based in local time zones, transparent pricing, and competitive exchange rates.

The company’s service caters to a growing demand in the region, where people often send money to Europe to support family, pay tuition, manage property, or settle cross-border business transactions. Unlike global platforms that operate across dozens of currency routes, Remitsy focuses exclusively on one. This allows it to optimise speed, reliability, and cost for users who need to send money from Australia to Europe regularly.

“Remitsy exists because many Australians and New Zealanders are sending money to the same destination: Europe, in euros,” said Marc Alexander Schepis, CEO of Remitsy. “Rather than offering a long list of global destinations, we focus on doing one thing better. This allows us to provide a more efficient and transparent experience.”

Transfers typically settle within one business day. Users receive a complete quote before confirming a transaction, including the amount to be received, the exchange rate, and all associated costs. The service operates in compliance with Australian financial regulations, including know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, and uses encrypted data handling to protect user information.

Remitsy’s customers include individuals and businesses, such as parents supporting children abroad, students paying tuition, and companies working with European suppliers. The platform is fully digital and offers customer support during Australian and New Zealand business hours.

About Remitsy

Remitsy (Pulsepoint Pty Ltd) is a money transfer platform focused exclusively on euro transfers from Australia and New Zealand to Europe. The service provides low fees, strong exchange rates, and reliable settlement times under full compliance with Australian financial law. Remitsy serves both personal and business users and is positioned as a cost-effective, simpler alternative to global multi-currency platforms. To learn more, visit www.remitsy.com.

Media Contact

Marc Alexander Schepis
support@remitsy.com

SKYX Platforms Corp. (NASDAQ:SKYX) (“SKYX” or the “Company”), a leading platform technology company with a mission to make homes and buildings safe and smart as the new standard, announced record financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2025, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of revenue growth.

SKYX reported Q2 2025 revenues of $23.1 million, a 15% increase from $20.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, as the Company continues to expand market penetration across retail and professional segments in the U.S. and Canada.

Q2 2025 Financial and Operational Highlights

• Revenue Growth: $23.1 million in Q2, marking six straight quarters of growth from $19 million in Q1 2024.
• Cash Reserves: $15.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, up from $12.3 million at March 31, 2025, aided by a working capital model similar to the “Dell Working Capital Model.”
• Gross Profit & Margin: Gross profit increased 23% sequentially to $7.0 million; gross margin improved 7% to 30.3%.
• Cash Flow: Net cash used in operating activities decreased 54% sequentially to $2.0 million, compared to $4.3 million in Q1 2025.
• Profitability Metrics: Adjusted EBITDA loss per share improved to $0.02 from $0.04 in Q1 2025.

Strategic Projects and Partnerships

During the quarter, SKYX secured a major collaboration with a $3 billion mixed-use smart city project in Miami’s Little River District, backed by U.S. and global manufacturers. The Company will supply over 500,000 units of its advanced plug & play smart home technologies for 5,700 residential units, 350,000 square feet of retail/commercial space, and a $35 million Tri-Rail station.

The Company also announced growing demand ahead of the launch of its patented all-in-one smart turbo heater and ceiling fan and entered a sales and marketing partnership with Parrot Uncle, a global ceiling fan and home décor manufacturer.

Additional partnerships include collaborations with Home Depot, Wayfair, top lighting brands Kichler, Quoizel, and EGLO, Cavco Homes for premium prefabricated homes, multiple Florida luxury developments, and a strategic distribution deal with JIT Electrical Supply.

Innovation and Safety Leadership

In Q2, SKYX was granted eight new patents, bringing its total to more than 100 issued and pending worldwide. The Company’s safety code standardization team — led by industry veterans Mark Earley and Eric Jacobson — achieved significant progress, including ANSI/NEMA product specification approval and inclusion in 10 NEC Code Book segments.

Management believes SKYX’s technology could save insurers billions annually by reducing fire hazards, ladder falls, and electrocutions. To support its standardization and licensing goals, the Company signed a five-year global licensing agreement with GE.

Management Commentary

"We are encouraged by our path to the builder/commercial segments, large online and brick-and-mortar retail partners as well as our future potential to realize incremental licensing, subscription, and AI/data aggregation revenues," management stated. "Furthermore, our e-commerce website platform with 60 websites enhances the acceleration of marketing, distribution channels, collaborations, licensing, and sales to both professional and retail segments. Our websites include banners, videos, and educational materials regarding the simplicity, cost savings, timesaving, and lifesaving aspects of the Company’s patented technologies."

Management added, "We believe we have accelerated our pace of sales with a robust gross margin profile, notably managing the cash burn of SKYX. Our e-commerce platform with over 60 websites is expected to continue providing additional cash flow to the Company."

About SKYX Platforms Corp.

As electricity is a standard in every home and building, our mission is to make homes and buildings become safe-advanced and smart as the new standard. SKYX has a series of highly disruptive advanced-safe-smart platform technologies, with over 100 U.S. and global patents and patent pending applications. Additionally, the Company owns over 60 lighting and home decor websites for both retail and commercial segments. Our technologies place an emphasis on high quality and ease of use, while significantly enhancing both safety and lifestyle in homes and buildings. We believe that our products are a necessity in every room in both homes and other buildings in the U.S. and globally. For more information, please visit our website at www.skyplug.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “evaluate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target” “view,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements reflect the Company’s reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which have outcomes difficult to predict and may be outside our control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include statements relating to the Company’s ability to successfully launch, commercialize, develop additional features and achieve market acceptance of its products and technologies and integrate its products and technologies with First-party platforms or technologies; the Company’s efforts and ability to drive the adoption of its products and technologies as a standard feature, including their use in homes, hotels, offices and cruise ships; the Company’s ability to capture market share; the Company’s estimates of its potential addressable market and demand for its products and technologies; the Company’s ability to raise additional capital to support its operations as needed, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s ability to execute on any sales and licensing or other strategic opportunities; the possibility that any of the Company’s products will become National Electrical Code (NEC)-code or otherwise code mandatory in any jurisdiction, or that any of the Company’s current or future products or technologies will be adopted by any state, country, or municipality, within any specific timeframe or at all; risks arising from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other collaborations; the Company’s ability to attract and retain key executives and qualified personnel; guidance provided by management, which may differ from the Company’s actual operating results; the potential impact of unstable market and economic conditions, including recent measures adopted by the federal government, on the Company’s business, financial condition, and stock price; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. There can be no assurance as to any of the foregoing matters. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management considers earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, as adjusted, an important indicator in evaluating the Company’s business on a consistent basis across various periods. Due to the significance of non-recurring items, EBITDA, as adjusted, enables management to monitor and evaluate the business on a consistent basis. The Company uses EBITDA, as adjusted, as a primary measure, among others, to analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operating investments and potential acquisitions. The Company believes that EBITDA, as adjusted, eliminates items that are not part of the Company’s core operations, such as interest expense and amortization expense associated with intangible assets, or items that do not involve a cash outlay, such as share-based payments and non-recurring items, such as transaction costs. EBITDA, as adjusted, should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, pre-tax income (loss), net income (loss) and cash flows used in operating activities. This non-GAAP financial measure excludes significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company’s financial statements and is subject to inherent limitations. Investors should review the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors should not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the Company’s business.

Media Contact

Jeff Ramson
jramson@pcgadvisory.com

Despite inflation easing only slowly, consumers today have more opportunities than ever to cut their fixed costs with just a few clicks. Comparison, advisory, and e-commerce platforms offer transparency, bundle reward programs, and negotiate special deals that directly benefit users’ wallets. Four examples show just how much can be saved in 2025.

Kreditkarte24.de – “Cashback and Sign-Up Bonuses in Your Pocket”

The meta-portal Kreditkarte24.de currently lists more than 70 credit card products, with many offering cashback rates of 1 to 5 percent. On top of that, providers often offer welcome bonuses—up to €120 for standard and premium cards.

Example: “Commuter Felix” chooses a free 1% cashback card with a €75 sign-up bonus. With a monthly spend of €500 (€6,000 per year), he earns €60 in cashback plus the €75 bonus—€135 saved, with no annual fee.

Stromvergleich.de – “Up to €850 in Electricity Savings with One Click”

The tariff calculator at Stromvergleich.de shows that a household in postal code 69412 using 2,800 kWh annually can reduce electricity costs from €1,780 to €919 in the first year by switching from the default provider to the cheapest alternative—a difference of around €860.

Example: “Single Jana” switches providers right after moving and ends up with €859 more in her household budget.

Kredit.de – “Tailored Mortgage Refinancing Cuts Interest Costs”

As an independent broker, Kredit.de compares real-time offers from over 500 banks. In a sample refinancing case involving €175,000 in remaining debt, the effective interest rate drops from 4.9% to 3.9%.

Example: “The Schulte Family” lowers their monthly payment by about €90 through refinancing and saves over €16,000 in interest over a 15-year fixed-rate term.

Solago.de – “Balcony Solar: Generate Your Own Electricity with Zero Down”

Solago sells plug-and-play solar systems including battery storage. Best-selling sets with four 500-watt panels can save up to €750 annually on electricity bills.

Example: “Mia & Tom” install a 2-kW balcony solar system for €1,549, covering about a third of their annual usage. The system pays for itself in just over two years—after that, the savings go straight into their leisure budget.

Bottom Line: Big Savings, Minimal Effort

By combining credit card bonuses, energy switching, mortgage optimization, and self-generated electricity, households can cut their annual expenses by well over €1,500—no sacrifices needed, just smart use of digital platforms.

Media Contact

Rainer Brosy
rb@sunset-digital.com

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today praised Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s announcement to follow the lead of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and issue an emergency scheduling of concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products. The move follows growing concern from federal and state health officials about the addictive nature and public health risks of synthetic 7-OH, a novel opioid that is masquerading as a dietary supplement.

Natural leaf kratom was not included or under scrutiny in today’s announcement. 

“Florida’s leadership in taking swift action against dangerous synthetic 7-OH opioid products is a landmark moment in protecting public health,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “We strongly support enforcement against synthetic 7-OH opioid products, which pose real risks of abuse, dependence, and overdose. Importantly, similar to the FDA’s recommendation, this action draws a clear line between natural kratom leaf products and novel lab-produced potent derivatives like 7, by clearly ensuring that natural kratom leaf is not affected by the emergency scheduling."

This announcement comes after FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary stated on July 29 that the federal government is “targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid,” underscoring the urgency of state-level action. Despite this clarity, confusion persists among consumers, policymakers, and the media about the fundamental differences between synthetic 7-OH and traditional, plant-based kratom.

“Natural leaf kratom has been used safely for over 50 years by millions of Americans,” Lowe said. “The danger lies in synthetic manipulation by bad actors to create a product that is 13 times more potent than morphine and is in no way similar to natural kratom. Florida has sent a strong message: there’s no place for these dangerous, concentrated opioids in our communities.”

GKC emphasized that the Florida emergency scheduling, which takes immediate effect, aligns with the coalition’s mission to ensure kratom remains available in its natural form while keeping harmful synthetic derivatives off the market. The group urged other states to follow Florida’s lead and act before synthetic concentrated 7-OH opioid products become more widespread.

“We commend Attorney General Uthmeier and Commissioner Makary for prioritizing consumer safety,” Lowe added. “This is exactly the kind of targeted enforcement that protects the public without denying consumer access to natural kratom. We stand ready to work with Florida lawmakers, like the Kratom Consumer Protection Act sponsors Senator Collins and Representative Owen, when the legislature convenes in January to codify this scheduling into law.”

For more information, the Global Kratom Coalition has prepared a one-page fact sheet and a video clip of Dr. Makary’s July 29 remarks to help clarify the differences between natural kratom and synthetic 7-OH products.

About Global Kratom Coalition

Media Contact

Patrick George
info@globalkratomcoalition.org
+1 916-202-1982

The Stop Gas Station Heroin coalition today praised Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, accompanied by FDA Director Dr. Marty Makary and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, for taking emergency action to prohibit synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as synthetic 7-OH.

This action marks a critical step toward curbing the spread of Gas Station Heroin — a category of often imported, lab-made substances that include semi-synthetic and synthetic alkaloid products, tianeptine, nitrous oxide, and intoxicating hemp derivatives.

While 7-OH occurs naturally in only trace amounts in the kratom leaf, the products now appearing in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores nationwide bear little resemblance to the plant. Instead, illicit manufacturers are mass producing high-concentration, ultra-potent 7-OH isolates — sold in tablets, capsules, powders, and gummies — that can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine. 

“Florida’s leaders are sending a clear message that these chemically manipulated products have no place on store shelves,” said David Bregger, executive director of Stop Gas Station Heroin. “These chemically manipulated products are deceptively dangerous and addictive. Marketed as ‘natural’ supplements, they behave like prescription opioids — carrying serious risks of respiratory depression, dependence, and fatal overdose.”

Florida’s actions follow last month’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation to schedule concentrated 7-OH opioid products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Both the FDA and the Attorney General’s office have made clear that these measures do not target the kratom leaf, which has been used safely for centuries.

“This represents a major step forward in the fight to protect American consumers from serial bad actors profiting off their addiction,” said Bregger. “Florida — and the FDA — are leading the fight to stomp out the dangerous and deceptive practices fueling the Gas Station Heroin epidemic and robbing our children of their health.

Stop Gas Station Heroin applauds these leaders for using their enforcement authority to hold illicit companies accountable and urges other states to follow Florida’s lead and use their enforcement authority to keep illicit synthetic drugs off the market.

To learn more about Stop Gas Station Heroin and its mission, navigate to stopgasstationheroin.com.

About Stop Gas Station Heroin

Stop Gas Station Heroin is a national coalition that aims to educate consumers about harmful synthetic drugs and advocate for smart regulation that distinguishes between legitimate, natural botanicals and dangerous, synthetic drugs, combined with enforcement of current federal laws around unapproved drugs. To learn more, navigate to stopgasstationheroin.com.

Media Contact

Media Contact
info@stopgasstationheroin.com

Burghley Capital positions the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision within the broader context of monetary policy recalibration, noting the complex trade-off between inflation control and growth stability. The Monetary Policy Committee votes by a narrow 5–4 margin to reduce the Bank Rate from 4.25% to 4.00%, a move requiring a second ballot not used since 1997. Sterling appreciates to $1.35 per £1, while short-dated gilt yields edge higher and equity markets close lower, reflecting a rebalancing of expectations for the remainder of the year.

Division within the committee highlights differing assessments of the economic outlook

Four members support holding rates at 4.25% due to concerns over slowing disinflation and the risk of inflation expectations embedding into wage dynamics. Four others favour a 0.25 percentage point cut, citing evidence of sustained underlying disinflation, while one member initially calls for a 0.50 percentage point cut before aligning with the quarter-point reduction in the final vote. The outcome underscores what Burghley Capital describes as a deliberate, step-by-step policy stance that avoids premature easing.

Household impacts are uneven

For borrowers on tracker mortgages, a typical outstanding balance of £140,000 (approximately $189,000) translates into monthly repayments falling by about £28.97 (around $39.11). However, 7.1 million of the UK’s 8.4 million residential mortgages are fixed-rate, meaning most borrowers will not see immediate payment relief. Burghley Capital’s analysis notes that the near-term boost to household spending is therefore likely to be modest.

Inflation remains the key constraint on further easing

Consumer price inflation reaches 3.6% year-on-year in June 2025, up from 3.4% in May. Food prices rise 4.5% year-on-year, the highest since February 2024, while services inflation stays elevated at 4.7%, reflecting persistent domestic cost pressures. Labour market conditions show early signs of cooling, with unemployment at 4.7% for the three months to May 2025 and the vacancy-to-unemployment ratio slipping below its equilibrium level.

Markets respond with a measured repricing of assets

The pound strengthens 0.4% against the U.S. dollar to $1.35 and 0.6% against the euro. Two-year gilt yields increase by 6 basis points to 3.887%, reflecting reduced expectations for rapid easing. The FTSE 100 ends lower. According to Burghley Capital’s analysis, these moves indicate that while investors see the Bank’s decision as measured, they remain cautious about the prospect of further cuts in 2025.

Current market consensus anticipates no further adjustments until early 2026

Burghley Capital projects the Bank Rate settling at approximately 3.75% in the first quarter of next year, conditional on continued disinflation and stable employment data. The firm’s analysis also highlights a growing divergence between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, which has enacted eight rate cuts since June 2024, reducing deposit rates by around 50% from their peak. This divergence has potential currency and asset allocation implications for institutional investors.

Economic growth indicators present a mixed picture

UK GDP is forecast to expand by 1.25% in 2025, up from earlier 1% projections, but quarterly momentum slows sharply from 0.7% in Q1 to 0.1% in Q2. Corporate insolvencies rise 13% between the first and second quarters, while small business confidence remains in negative territory. Burghley Capital’s analysis suggests that such conditions favour quality balance sheets, resilient cash flows, and prudent leverage strategies in both public and private markets.

Conclusion

Burghley Capital concludes that the Bank’s cautious, data-dependent approach will remain the dominant feature of UK monetary policy into 2026. The firm notes that rate-sensitive assets, selective credit opportunities, and currency-aware strategies could benefit from this environment, provided investors maintain flexibility and a disciplined approach to capital allocation.

About Burghley Capital

Founded in 2017, Burghley Capital Pte. Ltd. (UEN: 201731389D) is a Singapore-based global investment management firm specialising in long-only asset management strategies. The firm delivers institutional-grade research, tailored portfolio design, and advisory services to both institutional and private investors. By combining rigorous analytical methods with disciplined investment practices, Burghley Capital seeks to deliver consistent returns and long-term portfolio resilience.

For more information, visit burghleycapital.com or our resources page at burghleycapital.com/resources.

Media Contact

Martin Wei
m.wei@burghleycapital.com

Kite Hill, a leading integrated communications agency, today announced a strategic expansion of its service offerings, designed to equip businesses with the strategies needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI search and digital communication.

This growth reflects the agency's forward-thinking approach and its commitment to empowering clients with relevant and effective solutions.

"In today's dynamic market, businesses require agile and impactful communication strategies," said Tiffany Guarnaccia, founder and CEO of Kite Hill. "Our expanded services are a direct response to this need, particularly as AI search becomes increasingly prevalent. While it is still the early days of AEO, recent studies have confirmed that the lion’s share of AI citations is from earned media, so now is the time to continue to invest in PR. We're dedicated to helping our clients navigate this new environment, ensuring their brands are visible where it matters."

To address these evolving demands, Kite Hill is introducing new services and flexible engagement models:

• AI Visibility: Kite Hill now offers a complimentary audit to help businesses understand their brand's perception in AI. For clients seeking deeper insights, Kite Hill also provides an in-depth analysis that includes a review of your existing presence across LLMs, Reddit, review sites, and other online platforms; the structure and content of a client's website; the website's technical optimization for LLM crawler accessibility; and competitor strategies for AI search success.
• Consulting Services: Designed for companies with specific, urgent needs such as crisis communications or targeted messaging projects. Seasoned team members are available to provide  expert advice, strategic guidance, and help navigating difficult and nuanced situations. These services are now available outside of the agency’s standard retainer packages. 

“Many clients need a comprehensive, ongoing agency partnership,” Guarnaccia continued. “But some clients just need a hired gun and support on a specific and complex communications problem. That’s where our new consulting package comes in and serves as a complement to the standard full-service PR retainer programs that we provide.” 

These expanded services and leadership recognition are a testament to Kite Hill’s commitment to supporting clients during times of disruption and maintaining its position at the forefront of the communications industry. 

For more information on how Kite Hill can support your business objectives, visit kitehillpr.com.

About Kite Hill

Kite Hill is an award-winning integrated communications agency partnering with B2B and tech businesses to engage audiences, build brand reputation, and drive growth. We collaborate with innovative brands, from startups and scaleups to Fortune 500 companies, delivering effective messaging through brand strategy, meaningful content, media relations, events, and digital experiences. Our services include digital experiences, personal branding, strategic paid media, and specialized B2B influencer support. Kite Hill has been recognized as one of the "Top Tech Specialist PR Agencies,” “Most Powerful PR Firms,” and a “Top 50 PR Firm in America” by the Observer and one of "America's Best PR Agencies" by Forbes. For more information, visit kitehillpr.com.

Media Contact

Lauryn Russell
PR@kitehillpr.com

As interest rates decline, Australians nearing or in retirement are reconsidering their investment strategies. Many are shifting from growth-focused portfolios toward options that offer income, stability, and reduced exposure to market swings. In response, Capital Guard, an ASIC-authorised financial services provider, has released five principles to guide Australians in building resilient, income-focused, and long-term fixed income investment portfolios.

Fixed-income investments such as banking bonds, corporate bonds, and investment-grade bonds are drawing renewed attention. These options provide defined returns and can help investors plan with greater certainty. In periods of changing rates, structured income strategies often become more relevant to those seeking lower volatility and reliable cash flow.

“We often hear, ‘Where can I get 5.5% interest without locking away my savings?’ or ‘How do bond yields compare to term deposit rates?’,” said a spokesperson for the Capital Guard. “Most investors aren’t chasing high returns. They want security, access, and predictability. These principles provide a framework to meet those goals.”

Five Key Principles for Income-Focused Investors

Income investing is not about chasing the highest yield. It involves measured decisions aligned with long term investing goals, income needs, and access requirements. These principles reflect what experienced investors consider when building structured portfolios in a lower-rate environment.

1. Prioritise protecting your principal

Preserving capital forms the foundation of a conservative investment strategy. Low-volatility products like secure fixed income bonds, investment bonds, and term deposits can protect principal while generating income. Investors often overlook that predictability in returns can have a greater long-term impact than short-term gains, particularly in retirement when recovery time is limited. Portfolios can be structured to provide both income and access to funds at different intervals.

2. Focus on long-term income, not short-term rates

Temporary fluctuations in interest rates can lead to reactive decisions. For those planning retirement income over 10 to 20 years, stability and consistency often matter more than opportunistic rates. Fixed-income strategies such as laddered term deposits or staggered bonds help manage reinvestment risk and provide regular, forecastable income. This approach allows retirees to avoid being forced to reinvest at lower rates if the market shifts.

3. Look past the headline rate

A product offering 6% may appear attractive at first glance, but that figure rarely tells the whole story. Terms such as minimum lock-in periods, penalties for early withdrawal, compounding frequency, and the credit quality of the issuer all affect the actual value of a product. Evaluating these factors is essential when comparing fixed-term deposit rates and bond yields. Aligning choices with liquidity needs, risk tolerance, and cash flow planning will often yield better outcomes than pursuing yield alone.

4. Diversify across providers and terms

Concentration risk is often underestimated. Relying too heavily on one bank, product type, or maturity date increases exposure to rate shifts or unforeseen changes. Diversifying across different banks, institutions, and maturity horizons can help mitigate this. For example, combining short-term deposits with medium-duration bonds provides flexibility, liquidity, and protection against falling rates. This layered approach also helps investors avoid reinvesting large amounts during unfavourable periods.

5. Consider bonds as a strategic alternative to term deposits

Bond investments can offer stable income, capital protection, and greater flexibility than traditional deposits. In a rising rate environment, bonds may deliver higher yields and compare favourably against typical bank term deposit rates, especially for those seeking predictable returns. Capital Guard AU offers a range of Australian fixed-income solutions, including secure fixed-income bonds and tailored portfolios designed to help investors access the best Australian bond rates available.

A Cautious Shift Toward Fixed Income

Capital Guard has observed a growing preference among Australians for steady, income-generating assets over market-linked growth. This shift reflects both economic conditions and a demographic trend, as more individuals seek to convert accumulated savings into predictable income streams. The firm notes that interest in term deposits, investment in Australia, and other fixed-income investments has increased over the past 18 months.

While interest rates keep declining, the opportunity to lock in secure returns is strong. But investors need to weigh access, taxation, product structure, and timing. A diversified, well-planned fixed-income portfolio can help maintain lifestyle goals without taking on unnecessary risk.

To explore how to invest in fixed-income visit Capital Guard’s website.

About Capital Guard

Capital Guard AU Pty Ltd is an ASIC-authorised financial services provider (AFSL 498434, ACN 168 216 742, ABN 48 168 216 742), headquartered at Level 36, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000. The firm offers services in fixed-income and equity investments, retirement planning, and general financial advice. For more information, visit capitalguard.com.au and follow Capital Guard on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Legal Disclaimer

This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Investments in fixed-income products, including bonds and term deposits, carry risks such as credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and inflation risk. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance. This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Investors should seek independent advice tailored to their specific circumstances before making investment decisions.

Investors are encouraged to review our Financial Services Guide and Risk Disclosure Statement and to consult a licensed adviser before making investment decisions.

Media Contact

Capital Guard
info@capitalguard.com.au
+61 2 8551 2719

White Leaf Provisions, a local Mount Pleasant, women-led brand committed to crafting organic, regeneratively sourced, clean-label, glyphosate-free products for children and families, has been recognized on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, posting an impressive 220% three-year growth rate. This achievement highlights not only the company’s national impact but also its role as a proud Charleston County business, contributing to the region’s entrepreneurial and economic vitality.

The milestone comes on the heels of White Leaf Provisions’ successful national retail launch of its second product line with Regenerative Organic Applesauce, delivering on its promise to expand clean, safe, and delicious options for families. The applesauce debut has been met with strong early sell-through and aligns with the company’s mission to provide the highest quality snack products without compromise.

Record Performance in 2025

In the first half of 2025, White Leaf Provisions reported:

• 25% year-over-year revenue growth 
• 8-point gross margin expansion 
• Contribution margin nearly doubling, by 14 points, despite new product launches
• Net losses reduced by 60% year-over-year through operational efficiencies and disciplined trade spend, cost controls, logistics optimization, and vendor renegotiations fueled these gains, while strategic marketing and strong Amazon/DTC sales propelled record June performance

Positioned for Growth

With a targeted equity raise now underway, White Leaf Provisions is engaging with strategic partners to make the next phase of expansion possible. The company plans to direct new capital toward high-performing SKUs, retail velocity, and full-funnel marketing initiatives. This disciplined approach to growth ensures that expansion into new categories and channels will be sustainable and mission-aligned.

"This recognition from Inc. is a reflection of our team’s passion, our loyal customers, and our unwavering commitment to creating the cleanest, most nourishing foods possible, while still maintaining the convenience that busy parents rely on," said Meghan Rowe, co-founder and CEO of White Leaf Provisions. "Our applesauce launch is just the beginning, we’re building a portfolio that parents can trust and children will love, all from right here in Charleston County."

About White Leaf Provisions

White Leaf Provisions is a women-led, family-run brand creating organic, regeneratively sourced, clean-label, glyphosate-free products designed for children and families. Founded on the principles of nutrition, safety, and taste, White Leaf Provisions is redefining standards in packaged food while supporting soil health and farming communities. Based in Charleston County, SC, the company is proud to be part of the region’s growing community of purpose-driven businesses despite being in national distribution. For more information, visit www.whiteleafprovision.com.

Media Contact

Meghan Rowe
mrowe@whiteleafprovisions.com

A lawsuit filed today alleges Roblox Corporation, the popular online gaming platform, enabled the grooming, sextortion, and sexual assault of a 11-year-old child through its online gaming platform in around 2007.

The Plaintiff, now an adult and former United States Marine, is sharing his story for the first time — alleging Roblox’s failure to implement safety measures allowed an adult predator to target and abuse him in what attorneys call an “egregious case of public importance.”

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC filed the complaint in The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in the Dallas Division. It alleges the perpetrator, posing as another child on Roblox, gained Plaintiff’s trust through in-game messaging and exchanges of Robux, the platform’s digital currency, which online predators frequently use to groom young users.

Eventually, the perpetrator coerced Plaintiff into sharing explicit photos of himself in exchange for Robux. The user began threatening to publicly release the images unless Plaintiff paid him a sum of money or agreed to meet in-person. When Plaintiff arrived at the designated location nearby in Ennis, Texas, he discovered the individual was not a peer, but an adult man in his 30s. What followed was horrific molestation and sexual abuse of a child at the hands of the perpetrator — the effects of which Plaintiff continues to endure.

The lawsuit alleges Roblox has refused to adopt reasonable safety features that could have prevented this abuse and others like it. These include age-gating, stricter content moderation, better identity verification, and stronger parental controls.

“There are simple, well-known steps Roblox could have taken to protect kids — but it chose not to,” said Martin D. Gould, Founding Partner of SGGH. “This wasn’t an accident. It was a business decision. And children like our client have paid the price.”

Internal accounts from former employees reveal Roblox knowingly deprioritized child safety in favor of user growth. One former staffer described the company's approach succinctly:

“You can keep your players safe, but then there would be less of them on the platform. Or you just let them do what they want to do. And then the numbers all look good and investors will be happy.”

“When your own employees are acknowledging safety gets sacrificed for user growth, that’s not just negligence — it’s a systemic failure,” said Steven L. Vanderporten, Partner at SGGH. “Our client’s life was forever changed because of that failure, and Roblox must be held accountable.”

Despite this knowledge, Roblox launched extensive marketing campaigns claiming their platform was safe. Roblox claimed "safety is in our DNA" and promised "cutting-edge technologies" to protect users, and assured parents of "zero-tolerance" for endangering children all while claiming safety was "at the core of everything we do." The complaint alleges this follows a well-documented pattern the company was aware of but failed to prevent, despite having the technological means to do so.

“When a company tells parents ‘safety is in our DNA,’ yet knowingly fails to prevent harm it has the power to stop, that’s not just negligence — it’s a betrayal of trust,” said SGGH Founding Partner, Mike Grieco.

“This lawsuit exposes a pattern of deception: public promises of protection while internally ignoring clear dangers,” said Gary Klinger, Partner at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC. “Roblox had the tools to prevent this kind of abuse and chose not to use them.”

The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages through ten counts including fraudulent misrepresentation, negligence, and strict liability claims. The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms' child safety practices and recent investigations revealing widespread exploitation on Roblox, including the discovery of hundreds of Roblox games themed around convicted criminals.

The Plaintiff is represented by Martin D. Gould, Michael R. Grieco, and Steven L. Vanderporten of Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC, Gary Klinger, Melissa Nafash, Melinda Maxson, and Alexander Wolf of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC.

For media inquiries, contact Lynn Smith at lynn@lynnsmithtv.com or Zoe Chipalla at zchipalla@sgghlaw.com.

About Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, PLLC

Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley (SGGH) is a boutique national personal injury firm dedicated to advocating for victims of abuse and catastrophic injuries in high-stakes litigation. We pride ourselves on being Innovators of Law and Providers of Justice. Our attorneys have litigated and won cases nationwide, representing thousands of individuals, including thousands of survivors of rape, sexual assault, and childhood sexual abuse in many of the highest profile abuse cases across the country. These cases include claims against private and public institutions such as University of Michigan (Dr. Robert Anderson), Michigan State University (Dr. Larry Nasser), Endeavor Health (Dr. Fabio Ortega), professional sports teams, private and public schools, elite private boarding schools, orphanages, foster care programs, hospitals, mental health facilities, Fortune 500 companies, wealthy individuals (Jeffrey Epstein), and numerous religious institutions and related entities.

Recent successes include participating in global settlements valued at nearly $3 billion, with over $400 million recovered on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation in the past 18 months. In addition to securing record recoveries, SGGH attorneys have also worked with clients to fought for and secure policy changes, helping protect future generations of children and adults from abuse and exploitation. For example, as part of a recent $21.3 million settlement in the hotel abuse case last year (one of the largest settlements in the country for an individual survivor), the firm also successfully secured policy and training changes for thousands of hotels improving hotel pre-employment screening and safety for hotel guests and employees nationwide.

For more information, visit sgghlaw.com.

About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC

For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing. 

Milberg is currently involved in some of the largest and most complex class action cases pending in the country and is particularly active in the field of Information Technology litigation. Over the past three years, Milberg has settled on a class-wide basis more than 50 class actions involving privacy violations in state and federal courts across the country as lead or co-lead counsel; no other plaintiffs’ class action firm in the country has settled and won court approval of more data breach and data privacy class actions during this period. 

The firm has successfully brought forth cybersecurity-related claims against major corporations including Meta Platforms, Snap Inc. (Snapchat), Walmart, Bose, CVS, Facebook, Gannett Co., Advocate Aurora Health, Inc., Novant Health, Inc. and more — resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements. 

Milberg is equally committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and exploitation seek justice. Milberg attorneys handle complex sexual abuse cases involving schools, juvenile detention facilities, religious institutions, healthcare providers, employers, and other entities that allowed abuse to occur. 

Milberg is actively representing sexual abuse victims in cases against Expedia Group Inc. and Securitas Security Services USA Inc., real estate moguls Tal and Oren Alexander, and the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. 

More information about Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC can be found at milberg.com.

Media Contact

Lynn Smith
lynn@lynnsmithtv.com

HostingAdvice, the leading authority on web hosting reviews, in-depth guides, and industry news, today announced the launch of its inaugural Web Developer Choice Awards. This new awards program is designed to honor the best web hosting providers as chosen by the developers who rely on their services daily. 

Unlike traditional awards based on algorithms or expert opinions, the Web Developer Choice Awards prioritize authentic performance and real satisfaction directly from the web developer community. The awards reflect the true sentiment and professional standards of the individuals building and maintaining their infrastructure and presence online.

"We are incredibly proud and excited to introduce the Web Developer Choice Awards," said Ryan Frankel, president and chief technology officer of HostingAdvice. "There are a lot of hosting awards that are doled out by industry experts, and that’s great, they’re experts for a reason. But we wanted to hear from the people who use these services professionally over the course of their career and won’t hold back on their opinions. When your livelihood depends on hosting infrastructure that doesn’t buckle under pressure, you remember who delivers and who doesn’t. This recognition is of real-world performance.”

HostingAdvice.com is proud to announce the first group of winners in the inaugural 2025 Web Developer Choice Awards:

• Best Dedicated Hosting: InMotion Hosting
• Best VPS Hosting: Hosting.com
• Best DDoS Protection: Liquid Web
• Best Performance: DreamHost

These awards are a testament to the providers who truly empower the developer community. The awards employ a rigorous methodology to ensure fairness, legitimacy and industry relevance:

• Expert-Led Shortlisting: HostingAdvice’s editorial and technical team, boasting more than 60 years of combined experience, meticulously reviewed hundreds of providers across various categories. This evaluation focused on real-world performance, reliability, customer support and overall value, resulting in a shortlist of the top five candidates in each category.
• Developer-Driven Voting: A panel of 1,000 verified U.S.-based web developers was invited to vote on the shortlisted nominees. Participants voted based on their personal experience and professional standards, with the option to abstain if they lacked knowledge of a particular area or provider.
• Rigorous Data Integrity Protocols: To guarantee the authenticity of results, the study implemented multi-layered data quality checks, including digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, speeding detection and manual review by a dedicated quality assurance team. Only responses that passed all checks were included in the final analysis.

There are an additional 19 medals across 5 categories to be awarded over the next few months. Stay tuned to the Web Developer Choice Awards homepage for all future unveilings.

About HostingAdvice

HostingAdvice is a web hosting reviews company, complete with educational resources for IT professionals, small business owners and anyone interested in building their online presence. HostingAdvice publishes daily news stories for the hosting, IT and developer communities. For more information, visit www.hostingadvice.com or follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.

Media Contact

Adam Blacker
adam.blacker@hostingadvice.com

CHEQ today announced the launch of Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage, the industry's first tag manager-native solution to give enterprises complete control over third-party tools and data flows based on traffic quality. This breakthrough capability goes beyond preventing undesirable traffic from infiltrating site tools; it filters and enriches quality traffic with context for analytics, personalization, consent, and customer engagement platforms, delivering cleaner signals, better decisions, and stronger protection for every downstream application.

The launch addresses a critical blind spot in enterprise digital operations: while most companies focus on filtering invalid traffic in advertising platforms, up to 30% of website traffic—including bots, scrapers, and geo-masked sessions—still reaches digital properties where it quietly triggers pixels, fires tags, and feeds corrupted data into the MarTech stack. This results in inaccurate analytics, polluted retargeting audiences, compromised testing, and exposes enterprises to privacy, compliance, and security risks.

Edge-Layer Architecture Delivers Data Protection and Control Without Performance Penalty

Unlike conventional container-based solutions that operate client-side and risk performance degradation, Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage leverages a novel edge-layer approach that evaluates and acts on traffic quality before any third-party tools run. This structural advantage eliminates latency and data loss issues while ensuring critical marketing, analytics, and privacy tools only fire when engagement meets session quality conditions.

With Traffic Intelligence natively embedded in tag management, enterprises can set distinct traffic quality conditions for each technology, automatically suppressing specific tools from firing for suspicious sessions while allowing others to execute, and enriching traffic data with quality context for all downstream systems.

Powered by CHEQ’s Award-Winning Intelligence Engine

Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage leverages CHEQ's advanced detection engine, which analyzes over 6 trillion go-to-market signals from more than 1 million domains daily, and has an unrivaled network effect and industry-leading <0.009% false positive rate. The solution combines multiple detection methods, including TCP/IP fingerprinting, behavioral analysis, bot detection, and device spoofing detection, to accurately identify threats invisible to surface-level filters.

"We're witnessing a fundamental shift in how enterprises must protect their digital operations," said Guy Tytunovich, co-founder and CEO of CHEQ. "Invalid traffic has evolved beyond ad fraud to become a systemic threat to the entire MarTech stack, corrupting data, degrading performance, and introducing vulnerabilities. Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage is the first native solution to give companies complete control over what runs on their sites, based on highly accurate traffic quality signals. This isn't just about blocking bad bots; it's about ensuring every tool in your stack runs at optimal performance and on trusted data."

Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage directly addresses growing concerns across multiple enterprise functions. Data governance teams gain complete control over data quality at the source, ensuring cleaner collection that provides teams with higher-integrity datasets and actionable insights. Marketing teams gain more accurate attribution, more effective testing and personalization, and a clearer view of real performance. Privacy and security teams benefit from reduced unauthorized tracking events, strengthened data privacy and compliance, and real-time audit trails. Analytics teams and business leaders have cleaner insights that reflect genuine user behavior rather than automated noise.

"Enterprise clients consistently tell us one of their biggest challenges is maintaining strong data quality and integrity across their MarTech stack, and that starts at the source," said CHEQ's Field CTO Jason Patel. "Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage solves this by establishing a verified traffic quality layer at the time of collection, ensuring suspicious sessions and users never make their way downstream where they can corrupt CDPs, analytics, and compromise the privacy rights of genuine users by distorting consent signals. This launch transforms how companies approach data integrity from the ground up."

Today’s announcement follows a wave of momentum for CHEQ, including its acquisition of identity intelligence leader Deduce, its debut of the industry’s first triple-layer detection engine, and recognition on the prestigious 2025 Cyber 66 list of the hottest privately held cybersecurity companies. The introduction of Traffic Intelligence in CHEQ Manage builds on the company's 2022 acquisition of client-side data governance and security leader Ensighten, combining advanced traffic intelligence with proven enterprise data privacy and protection.

Traffic Intelligence is available immediately for all CHEQ Manage customers. For more information or to request a demonstration, visit cheq.ai/manage.

About CHEQ

CHEQ is trusted by more than 15,000 companies—ranging from the Fortune 50 to emerging disruptors—to enable and protect each critical touchpoint in the rapidly evolving human-AI customer journey. Powered by the industry's only triple-layer Traffic, Threat, and Identity Intelligence Engine, CHEQ decodes the digital truth behind every interaction—human or not—and the entity driving it, seamlessly integrating the rich, real-time insight businesses need to assess risk and prioritize opportunity across marketing, security, and business applications. CHEQ's industry-leading <0.009% false positive rate, combined with its unrivaled network effect, which analyzes over 6 trillion go-to-market signals from more than 1 million domains daily, empowers brands to confidently engage, transact, and thrive in this new era of digital transformation. Founded in 2016, CHEQ is a global organization with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, and Tel Aviv. For more information, visit cheq.ai.

Media Contact

Amy Holtzman
press@cheq.ai

King & Society Real Estate & Construction is proud to announce the sale of a newly constructed, deep-water estate in the prestigious Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Listed and sold by Misti Cox for $9,400,000, this Carl McCants–designed masterpiece showcases the seamless fusion of modern elegance and coastal charm, while also representing another signature build by King & Society’s construction division.

Located on Morgan’s Creek just off the Intracoastal Waterway, the 6,808 square foot home offers an extraordinary waterfront lifestyle, complete with a 120-foot private deep-water dock for boating and an infinity edge pool overlooking serene waterway views.

“This home truly embodies the best of coastal living, thoughtful design, elevated finishes, and a deep connection to the water,” said Misti Cox from King & Society Real Estate & Construction. “We’re honored to have both built and sold a property of this caliber, and to see it become a dream home for its new owners.”

As one of Charleston’s leading luxury real estate and construction firms, King & Society specializes in delivering exceptional properties that combine quality craftmanship with the Lowcountry lifestyle.

For inquiries, please contact King & Society Real Estate & Construction at 843-388-4674.

About King & Society Real Estate & Construction

At King & Society, we combine expert real estate services with exceptional construction capabilities—all under one roof. Our team is made up of seasoned agents, experienced builders, and trusted advisors who are passionate about delivering quality, whether you're buying, selling, leasing, building, or renovating. With a five-star client satisfaction rating, we take pride in making each experience seamless, meaningful, and built to last. For more information, visit kingandsocietyrealestate.com.

Media Contact

Kennedy Jordan
kjordan@kingandsociety.com