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American Kratom Association (AKA) strongly objects to Governor DeWine’s recent recommendation for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to schedule all kratom compounds, including the natural kratom leaf and its naturally occurring alkaloids, as Schedule I drugs. This sweeping action is not based on sound science and would strip thousands of Ohioans of access to a safe, natural product that has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia and safely consumed in the United States for decades.

The real and immediate threat to consumers comes from synthetic, chemically altered kratom compounds — including 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl — which have only recently been introduced into the marketplace without any scientific safety data. These synthetics should be banned. However, to lump natural kratom into the same category as illicit, synthetic opioids is a profound disservice to the truth and to the Ohioans who responsibly consume kratom as part of their wellness routines.

The facts are clear:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the leadership of Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Brett Giroir, rejected the FDA’s 2018 attempt to classify natural kratom as a Schedule I substance, citing “embarrassingly poor evidence and data” and a failure to consider the broader public health implications.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recognizes kratom as a potential harm-reduction tool, particularly for those struggling with opioid use disorder.
• Emerging peer-reviewed research has confirmed that kratom’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine, does not depress respiration – the primary driver of overdose deaths from classical opioids.
• Reports that kratom was a “cause of death” are based on deeply flawed post-mortem procedures that fail to account for polydrug use, adulteration, or improper toxicology methods. Even the FDA has admitted that kratom-associated deaths are “very rare” and when they do occur they are caused by polydrug use or adulterated kratom products.
• The FDA has conducted its own human safety study on kratom that concluded “kratom is well tolerated at all dose levels.”

Governor DeWine’s press release conflates the dangers of synthetically manufactured compounds with the natural kratom leaf. If Ohio acts on this reckless recommendation, it will punish responsible consumers, embolden the black market, and deny Ohio farmers and small businesses the opportunity to participate in a legal and regulated kratom marketplace.

The responsible path forward is clear: Ohio should ban synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom compounds that pose legitimate health risks while enacting a Kratom Consumer Protection Act to regulate the natural kratom marketplace. Such legislation is already law in 13 states and provides robust consumer protections — including age restrictions, product labeling, and prohibitions on adulterated or synthetic products.

American Kratom Association urges the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to reject this dangerous overreach, follow the science, and protect Ohio consumers by distinguishing between natural kratom and dangerous synthetic compounds.

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 americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.

Media Contact

Mac Haddow
press@americankratom.org

The United States office market has reached a grim milestone, with vacancy rates climbing to a new historic high and compounding a deepening crisis for property owners and the lenders who finance them. Persistently high levels of remote work and cautious return-to-office strategies are the primary drivers behind this seismic shift, which is sending severe economic shockwaves through major metropolitan areas. According to recent data from Moody's Analytics, the national office vacancy rate surged to an unprecedented 20.7% in the second quarter, signaling a structural disruption rather than a temporary downturn for the multi-trillion-dollar sector. This glut of empty space is forcing a painful reckoning across the industry, threatening property valuations and straining the balance sheets of regional banks heavily exposed to commercial loans.

A Market Awash in Empty Space

The scale of the vacancy problem is vast, touching nearly every major city and suburban market across the country. While the national average paints a stark picture, a closer look at tech-centric hubs reveals an even more severe situation. In San Francisco, a city once defined by its booming tech-fueled real estate market, the office vacancy rate has soared to a staggering 27.7%, a dramatic increase from its pre-pandemic level of just 8.6% in 2019. Other major business districts are also grappling with an exodus of tenants, with Downtown New York's vacancy rate nearing 23% and Charlotte's reaching 23%, well above the national figure. Even suburban office parks, once seen as a potential beneficiary of decentralization, have seen vacancies climb to record levels. In this challenging environment, a distinct flight to quality has emerged, with a significant share of leasing activity concentrated in premier, modern Class A buildings, as companies prioritize high-quality amenities and prime locations to entice employees back to the office. 

The Economic Ripple Effect

The glut of empty office space creates a cascade of financial consequences extending far beyond building owners. Landlords are caught between falling rental income and the rising costs of servicing their debt, a predicament worsened by a looming debt wall. An estimated $290 billion in loans secured by office properties are set to mature by the end of 2027, creating a high-stakes environment where refinancing is difficult and defaults are increasingly common. This pressure is particularly acute for regional banks holding significant commercial real estate debt.

Furthermore, the crisis is severely impacting municipal finances. As property values decline, so does the property tax base that cities depend on to fund essential public services like schools, transit, and public safety, noted one urban policy expert. This creates a challenging cycle where service cuts could make cities less attractive, further dampening the demand for office space.

An Industry Pivot: From Towers to Warehouses and Apartments

In response to the unprecedented downturn, the commercial real estate industry is undergoing a significant strategic pivot, moving away from traditional office development and toward more resilient asset classes. This reaction involves two key trends: the complex process of converting obsolete office buildings into new uses and a broader capital shift toward sectors with stronger fundamentals. Developers are now forced to rethink the nature of urban commercial space, acknowledging that the pre-pandemic model of speculative office construction is no longer viable. The industry's adaptation is a direct response to fundamental changes in how and where Americans work, a shift that appears to be permanent.

The Conversion Conundrum

The most visible reaction to the office glut is the growing trend of adaptive reuse, particularly converting empty office towers into residential apartments. Across the nation, over 149 million square feet of office space are currently slated for some form of conversion, as developers and city officials seek to simultaneously address the office vacancy and housing shortage crises. Philadelphia offers a promising case study, where the strategic removal of over 1 million square feet of aging office inventory for residential conversion has helped stabilize its Center City vacancy rate at 20.4%. Despite these successes, such projects are fraught with significant challenges that limit their widespread applicability, including:

• Zoning restrictions: Many downtown commercial zones do not permit residential use without lengthy and costly approvals.
• Structural mismatches: Office buildings often have deep floor plates, making it difficult to design apartments with adequate natural light and ventilation.
• Plumbing and utilities: Retrofitting residential plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems into a commercial tower frame is complex and expensive.
• Financial viability: The high cost of conversion can make the final residential units unaffordable for the target market, creating a risk for developers.

Shifting Focus to Resilient Assets

Beyond conversions, a more fundamental shift occurs as developers and investors redirect capital away from the beleaguered office sector. Faced with high construction costs and profound demand uncertainty, many are now avoiding new office projects altogether. Instead, they are pivoting toward asset classes with robust demand drivers. Chief among them are logistics centers and modern industrial facilities, where pre-engineered solutions from companies like Worldwide Steel Buildings enable rapid construction to meet the sustained growth of e-commerce and the need for resilient supply chains.

This strategic reallocation of capital is starkly illustrated by comparing market performance. While the office sector languishes, the industrial market remains relatively healthy; despite its vacancy rate rising to 7.1%, it continues to show strong demand for modern, well-located facilities.

The U.S. office market is not merely navigating a cyclical downturn but is amid a fundamental realignment driven by the post-pandemic evolution of work. The speculative office tower construction era that defined city skylines for decades appears to be over, replaced by a search for more flexible, mixed-use, and cost-effective development models. The industry's future will likely be defined by its ability to adapt to a world where the office is just one of many places where work gets done, marking a permanent departure from the pre-2020 landscape.

About Worldwide Steel Buildings

Worldwide Steel Buildings has been serving the public since 1983, when we opened our truss factory in Peculiar, Missouri. Today, Worldwide Steel Buildings is an independent operating company of Fall River Holdings, LLC. We offer high-quality, cost-effective custom metal building kits to individuals and small businesses across North America and around the world. For more information, visit www.worldwidesteelbuildings.com.

Media Contact

Jeff Snell
jeff@worldwidesteelbuildings.com

The new manufacturing base officially launched by GWM in Iracemápolis, Brazil, is not only another milestone in Chinese automotive brands' "going global" journey, but also regarded as a "China model" in reshaping the global automotive manufacturing ecology.

With factory doors swinging open and machinery humming in synchronized precision, the event brought together GWM executives, Brazilian officials, local partners, and media from across the globe. The message was clear: this plant isn’t just about making cars. It’s about planting roots — technological, economic, and ecological — in Latin American soil.

Through in-depth localization strategies, advanced technology introduction, and regional ecosystem co-construction, the plant demonstrates GWM’s globalization confidence — evolving from "product export" to "technology rooting."

Before official production, GWM Brazil Plant obtained Brazil's ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and passed the audit with zero non-conformities, highlighting its global quality management capabilities.

The first-phase production models include the hybrid SUV GWM HAVAL H6, the mid-size pickup GWM POER 2.4T, and the seven-seat SUV GWM HAVAL H9 — all tailored to local user needs and energy trends, reflecting GWM’s technological leadership in intelligent and sustainable mobility.

“We are not just building a factory in Brazil, but practicing the transition from product export to ecosystem export, empowering the local economy through full industrial chain layout,” said Mu Feng, President of GWM, in his opening speech. “Our Hi4 hybrid platform, intelligent four-wheel-drive technology, and comprehensive energy solutions for green manufacturing and sustainable development (including hydrogen and other technical paths) will help Brazil and even Latin America achieve green transformation.”

For decades, developing nations were positioned mainly as markets or assembly hubs for Western and Japanese automakers. GWM’s model — emphasizing not just localized manufacturing but technological transfer and green innovation — signals a shift in how industrial globalization is being defined, particularly by emerging Chinese multinationals.

The plant has an initial annual capacity of 20,000 units, set to gradually increase to 50,000 units. By 2026, it aims to achieve more than 60% localized production. Meanwhile, GWM is actively cooperating with local suppliers and research institutions to strengthen the localization of the parts supply chain and engineering R&D capabilities, realizing true “technology rooting.”

Guided by the brand mission “Technology to Enjoy Every Journey”, GWM also demonstrates its role as a warm global enterprise through local employment, skill training, and community integration.

From a manufacturing base to an ecological hub, GWM is redefining the meaning of Chinese automotive brands’ globalization — not merely trade, but co-construction.

About GWM

GWM is a global intelligent technology company, whose business includes automobile and parts design, R&D, production, sales and service. Our brands include HAVAL, WEY, ORA, TANK and GWM Pickup. To learn more, visit www.gwm-global.com.

Media Contact

Carol Wang
globalmarketing@gwm.cn

This fall, The Moth — the acclaimed global nonprofit dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling — presents a season devoted to the theme of Daring. Not the adrenaline-fueled variety, but the deeply human kind: the poignant power of telling the truth, the impactful moment of baring one’s heart, and the story that lingers long after it’s told.

Starting this September, from New York to Nairobi, 18 Mainstage events will be united under a single theme — marking the first time in the organization’s 25-plus-year history that an entire season has shared one focus. Each evening will spotlight five powerful storytellers sharing moments of honesty, vulnerability, and transformation — yet the tales and voices will be unique to that night. The result is a one-of-a-kind experience every time, woven with humor, surprise, and the kind of connection that only happens when true, personal stories are told.

At the heart of The Moth’s Fall 2025 Mainstage season are accounts of emotional revelation, courage of conviction, and the unshakable strength of the human spirit. Whether presented in a landmark New York theater or museum, under the lights of London’s Union Chapel, or in an iconic space close to the shores of Honolulu, each and every event promises an unforgettable evening — one night, one stage, incredible “best-of” emcees, and stories sure to leave a lasting impression.

“This season offers audiences a rare chance to witness courage in its many forms,” said Sarah Haberman, CEO of The Moth. “By uniting every Mainstage under the theme of daring, we’re not just presenting stories but sparking a collective conversation across perspectives. Each evening adds a new layer, and together they create a powerful portrait of bravery and vulnerability.”

The Moth Mainstage Multi-City Fall 2025 Season

• Sept. 18 – Season opener: Symphony Space, New York, N.Y.
• Sept. 18 – International season opener: Koerner Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Sept. 18 – Herbst Theatre, San Francisco, Calif.
• Sept. 25 – College Street Music Hall, New Haven, Conn.
• Sept. 26 – Union Chapel, London, U.K.
• Oct. 3 – Hawaii Theatre Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Oct. 17 – Folly Theater, Kansas City, Mo.
• Oct. 17 – State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick, N.J.
• Oct. 24 – El Museo del Barrio, New York, N.Y. (Spanish-language program)
• Oct. 29 – The Wilbur, Boston, Mass.
• Nov. 1 – Catholic University, Nairobi, Kenya
• Nov. 7 – Miller Theater, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Nov. 19 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, Okla.
• Nov. 20 – Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Ill.
• Dec. 4 – Center Stage Theater, Atlanta, Ga.
• Dec. 5 – St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Dec. 9 – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Ore.
• Dec. 10 – Paramount Theater, Austin, Texas

Images, interviews or tickets to any of the shows are available by request.

About The Moth

The Moth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since its founding in 1997, The Moth has presented more than 60,000 stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only audiences worldwide.

The Moth runs eight ongoing programs:

• The Moth Mainstage, which tours internationally and has featured storytellers including Elizabeth Gilbert, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kathleen Turner, Malcolm Gladwell, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, John Turturro, Molly Ringwald, Boots Riley, Krista Tippett, Damon Young, Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Danyel Smith and Tig Notaro, as well as an astronaut, a pickpocket and a hot dog eating champion.
• The Moth StorySLAM, an open-mic competition held in 28 cities, including 26 in the United States as well as Melbourne, Australia, and London.
• The Moth Community Engagement Program, which offers workshops and performance opportunities to adults often overlooked by mainstream media.
• The Moth Education Program, which brings personal storytelling to high schools, colleges and educators worldwide.
• The Moth Global Community Program, which elevates personal stories from individuals across the global south.
• “The Moth Podcast,” a 2020 Webby People’s Voice Award winner for Best Podcast Series, downloaded tens of millions of times each year.
• MothWorks, which applies storytelling as a tool for empathetic communication.
• “The Moth Radio Hour,” a Peabody Award-winning program produced by Jay Allison at Atlantic Public Media and presented by PRX, which airs weekly on more than 560 public radio stations nationwide.

The Moth has also released A Game of Storytelling (Clarkson Potter), its first card deck; launched its second podcast, “Grown,” a Webby Award winner; and published five books: the New York Times bestseller “The Moth: 50 True Stories” (2013); “All These Wonders: True Stories About Facing the Unknown” (2017); the New York Times bestseller “Occasional Magic: True Stories of Defying the Impossible” (2019); “How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth” (2022); and its most recent release, “A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go” (2024).

Learn more at themoth.org.

Media Contact

Meryl Cooper
meryl@thecooperationinc.com

FanCode, India's premier digital sports destination, has partnered with Visionular to transform how millions of sports fans experience video-on-demand (VOD) content.

Key Highlights

• 30% reduction in data usage while delivering better picture quality
• Fans now watch 1080p content using the same bandwidth previously required for 720p
• AI-powered encoding optimized specifically for fast-motion sports content
• Longer watch times for viewers on limited data plans across India

The collaboration leverages Visionular's AI-powered video encoding technology to deliver significantly better picture quality while reducing data consumption by up to 30–40%, a game-changer for India's mobile-first sports consumption.

Addressing India's Unique Streaming Challenges

FanCode serves over 160 million sports enthusiasts across India, where network conditions vary dramatically and data costs remain a primary concern for viewers. The platform is home to multiple sports, including Formula 1, cricket, football, golf, requiring crystal-clear video quality for fast-motion sports content while accommodating users on limited data plans.

"Traditional encoding simply wasn't cutting it for our audience," explains FanCode. "Indian sports fans are passionate, but they're also practical about data usage. We needed a solution that could deliver broadcast-quality video without burning through their monthly data allowance."

The Technology Behind Better Sports Streaming

Visionular's AI-driven encoding platform analyzes each frame of sports content in real-time, applying intelligent compression that preserves critical visual details: the spin of a cricket ball, the precise moment of a goal, the intensity of a Formula 1 overtake. This content-aware approach has enabled FanCode to achieve remarkable results: audiences who previously watched in 720p can now enjoy 1080p quality on the same bandwidth.

The impact extends beyond just picture quality. With 30–40% bitrate reduction, viewers with limited data plans can watch significantly longer, leading to increased engagement and, ultimately, more advertising revenue opportunities for FanCode.

Real Impact for Sports Fans

The partnership addresses a fundamental challenge in sports streaming: delivering the visual clarity that fast-action content demands while respecting the data and network constraints of everyday users. Whether it's the precise camera work during a cricket boundary or the high-speed action of motorsports, fans now get the full experience without compromise.

"We've seen our viewers' watch times increase substantially since implementing Visionular's technology. Fans are getting the quality they expect from premium sports content, but they're not worrying about their data plans anymore. That's exactly what we wanted to achieve," said Amit Mirchandani, CTO of FanCode.

"Sports content is some of the most challenging to compress effectively, you can't afford to lose detail in those crucial moments that fans live for. Our AI understands what matters in each frame of sports content, preserving the excitement while dramatically reducing file sizes. FanCode's results prove this approach works at scale," said Zoe Liu, CEO of Visionular.

Setting New Standards for Sports Streaming

This partnership represents more than a technology upgrade, it's a blueprint for how sports platforms can serve diverse audiences without sacrificing quality or accessibility. As FanCode continues expanding its sports portfolio and reaching new markets across India, Visionular's encoding platform provides the foundation for delivering exceptional viewing experiences regardless of network conditions or device capabilities.

Together, FanCode and Visionular are redefining what's possible in sports streaming, proving that cutting-edge technology and fan-first thinking can create solutions that work for everyone, from the cricket-obsessed viewer in Mumbai on a high-speed WiFi to the Formula 1 fan in Chennai on 4G.

About Visionular

Visionular is a Silicon Valley-based video technology company specializing in advanced, AI-powered video compression and streaming solutions. Visionular's cloud-native encoding platform enables media and sports companies worldwide to deliver broadcast-quality experiences at scale with significant bandwidth savings. For more information, visit visionular.ai.

About FanCode

FanCode is India’s premier digital sports destination, dedicated to delivering a best-in-class experience for fans across live and non-live sports. Launched in March 2019 by industry veterans Yannick Colaco and Prasana Krishnan, FanCode has reached over 160 million users. The platform features a wide array of global and domestic sporting leagues, in partnership with leading sports associations. FanCode offers interactive live streaming through industry-first subscription models, including Match, Bundle, and Tour Passes, as well as monthly and annual plans at accessible price points. Some of the marquee properties include La Liga, Formula 1, MotoGP, cricket leagues from around the globe including CPL, Super Smash amongst others. FanCode’s parent company is Dream Sports, India’s leading sports technology firm, whose portfolio includes Dream11 and DreamSetGo. To learn more, visit www.fancode.com.

Media Contact

David Lea
david@visionular.com

For many patients suffering from severe bone loss, the prospect of fixed teeth often ends when conventional dental implants are ruled out. However, with the advancement of zygomatic implants, long-term functional and aesthetic solutions are now possible even in the most challenging cases. Omer Istanbul Dental Center is offering this highly specialized treatment to patients from Turkey and abroad, providing renewed hope through its expertise and use of modern technologies.

What Are Zygomatic Implants?

Zygomatic implants take their name from the “zygoma,” or cheekbone. In traditional dental implantology, the density and volume of the jawbone are critical. When the bone is too weak or resorbed to support an implant, conventional methods fail. At this point, zygomatic implants offer an alternative. Instead of anchoring into the jawbone, these special implants are fixed to the lower base of the cheekbone, creating a stable foundation for permanent prosthetics. This allows patients with advanced bone loss to regain fixed and natural-looking teeth.

When Are They Used?

• Patients with advanced jawbone resorption
• Cases lacking sufficient bone density for conventional implants
• Patients unsuitable for bone grafting or sinus lift procedures
• Individuals who have been without teeth for years and are dissatisfied with removable dentures”

This treatment must be performed exclusively by experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeons. At Omer Istanbul Dental Center, a team of specialized surgeons with expertise in zygomatic implantology provides this advanced care.

Expertise at Omer Istanbul Dental Center

Under the leadership of Dr. Omer Karaaslan, Omer Istanbul Dental Center has established itself as a leading provider of advanced implantology, including zygomatic implants, serving an international patient base.

• 3D imaging systems: Provide detailed evaluation of bone structure.
• Imetric 4D technology: Ensures high precision in implant placement and prosthetic design.
• CAD/CAM systems: Allow rapid fabrication of customized prosthetics.
• Titanium bar-supported hybrid prostheses: Enhance durability and deliver long-lasting, natural results.

Commenting on the procedure, Dr. Karaaslan said: “Zygomatic implants are one of the most reliable solutions we offer in cases where conventional implants are not an option. With this treatment, we have transformed the lives of many patients who had long lost hope of fixed teeth. Thanks to modern technologies, we can enhance safety while also shortening treatment timelines.”

Patient Comfort and Treatment Workflow

Although zygomatic implant surgery is considered an advanced procedure, the use of digital planning tools and modern imaging systems makes it both predictable and safe. At Omer Istanbul Dental Center, each case begins with comprehensive clinical and radiological evaluation, followed by a personalized surgical plan. In many cases, temporary fixed prostheses can be placed shortly after surgery, allowing patients to return to daily life without extended periods of living without teeth. (The exact timeline depends on the individual’s health status and case complexity.)  

Compared with traditional approaches that often require bone grafting or sinus lift procedures, zygomatic implants can reduce the number of treatment stages and shorten the overall rehabilitation process.

Tailored Services for International Patients

Omer Istanbul Dental Center treats not only patients from Türkiye but also many from Europe, the United States, and other regions worldwide. The clinic holds an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate and offers tailored services to international patients, including accommodation, VIP transfers, and multilingual support, ensuring a seamless and comfortable treatment experience.

Conclusion

For patients who believed fixed teeth were no longer possible due to advanced bone loss, zygomatic implants represent a proven, life-changing alternative. With its team of expert surgeons and advanced technological infrastructure, Omer Istanbul Dental Center continues to deliver reliable and aesthetic solutions in complex cases where conventional implants fail.

About Omer Istanbul Dental Center

Omer Istanbul Dental Center, founded under the leadership of Dr. Omer Karaaslan, is an internationally recognized clinic in Istanbul specializing in cosmetic dentistry and implantology. The clinic, named “International Cosmetic Dental Clinic of the Year,” has treated thousands of patients from more than 50 countries with safe and affordable care.

Its services include smile design, full-mouth restorations, zirconia crowns, E-max veneers, dental implants and advanced surgical procedures such as zygomatic implants. Using 3D imaging, CAD/CAM systems and 4D Imetric photogrammetry-based technology, the center provides precision and predictability in digital dentistry. Certified by Türkiye’s Ministry of Health for international health tourism, Omer Istanbul Dental Center is noted for its standards, multilingual support and comprehensive care, making it a destination for patients worldwide.

For more information, visit www.omeristanbul.com.

Media Contact

Omer Istanbul Dental Center
info@omeristanbul.com
+90 552 840 34 34

"IGNITE," a powerful group art exhibition from contemporary artist and curator Connie Rigdon, will open at Noble Studios on November 14, bringing together a diverse group of artists whose works explore freedom, women’s rights, human rights, and resistance to oppression.

The exhibition highlights the transformative role of art in sparking dialogue, raising awareness, and fueling collective resilience. Through painting, sculpture, installation, and mixed media, "IGNITE" embodies the strength of individual voices coming together in solidarity.

“The show is about resistance, but also about hope,” says Rigdon. “We wanted to create a space where viewers feel both the urgency of our time and the possibility of change.”

Featured artists include a collective of emerging and established artists, whose works range from deeply personal reflections to bold political statements. Together, their art forms a chorus that challenges silence and champions the right to expression.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, November 14 from 6 to 9 p.m., with an opportunity to meet the artists and engage in conversation about art as activism. The exhibition runs through Saturday, November 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

About Connie Rigdon

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, and raised between Hawaiʻi, Southern California and summers in Taipei, contemporary abstract artist Connie Rigdon now lives and works in Charleston, South Carolina. Trained as an architect, Rigdon brings the structure, precision and problem-solving of architectural practice into her paintings. Drawing inspiration from both natural and built environments, her abstractions aim to bring order and harmony to an increasingly chaotic world.

Rigdon’s award-winning work has been recognized in national juried competitions, including second place at the Bold Brush Awards in May 2020 for “Dreamland,” Bold Brush Top 10 in August 2020 for “Strawberry Fields,” the American Contemporary Artist Award and one-year contract in November 2021 for “Bonzai Beach,” and second place in the American Contemporary Artist competition in May 2022 for “Homage.” She has exhibited at the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Exhibition in March 2023 with “Quilted Pastures,” earned a merit award at the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition in May 2023 and won second place at the SOBA Juried Exhibition in March 2024 for “You Get What You Give.”

Rigdon is represented by the Charleston Artist Collective in Charleston, South Carolina; Presson Art Gallery in Monroe, North Carolina; and Hagan Fine Art in Charleston, South Carolina (consigned). Her work is also available globally through Saatchi Art’s online gallery.

To learn more, visit www.connierigdon.com.

Media Contact

Connie Rigdon
connie.rigdon@gmail.com

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ:FFAI) (“Faraday Future”, “FF” or “Company”), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, announced that it has officially launched its transformative “EAI + Crypto” Dual-Flywheel & Dual-Bridge Ecosystem Strategy — marking the beginning of a new chapter in AI mobility and Web3 integration.

This bold strategic initiative, which was revealed on Aug. 16 at an event in Pebble Beach, integrates Embodied AI (EAI) with the explosive growth of the crypto asset economy to create a two-way, independently operating circular growth engine between Web2 and Web3, positioning FF at the forefront of the next era in global industrial and financial evolution.

EAI + Crypto Dual Flywheel: A New Growth Paradigm

Faraday Future believes that AI represents the next great leap in productivity, while crypto and Web3 signify a revolution in the relations of production. Together, these forces offer a potential once-in-decades opportunity for transformation — a meta-chemistry that FF aims to drive through its newly launched strategy.

“The next decade could be a super long bull cycle for the crypto market,” said Ian Calderon, FF's co-creation officer and founding board member of the California Blockchain Working Group. “FF is building a dual-engine circular growth system — combining the long-cycle, high-value EAI EV ecosystem with the short-cycle, high-velocity crypto ecosystem. These two flywheels will empower each other, redefining what’s possible in mobility and financial innovation.”

Building the Bridge Between Web2 and Web3

FF’s Dual-Bridge Strategy positions the Company as one of the first U.S.-listed public companies directly connecting real-world business operations with on-chain assets. Plans are underway to launch the EAI Vehicle Chain, enabling tokenized vehicle sales, crypto-based deposits, and Web3-native user engagement — while leveraging blockchain technology to create a decentralized and transparent mobility economy.

“The Dual-Flywheel & Dual-Bridge Strategy reflects our deep insights into the future of the global economy,” said YT Jia, founder and co-CEO of Faraday Future. “FF is not just transitioning into a Web3 era — we are architecting it. This is how we deliver value creation for our stockholders.”

Introducing the C10 Index and C10 Treasury: A New Crypto Infrastructure for Capital Markets

FF also announced the C10 Index, a market-cap-weighted basket of the top 10 global crypto assets, excluding stablecoins. The index launched at midnight Pacific time on Aug. 16, 2025, with a base value of 1,000, and will be tracked in real time on FF.com and the FF app.

Alongside the index, FF is launching the FFAI C10 Treasury, targeting $500 million to $1 billion in initial crypto asset purchases, subject to funding, with an initial $30 million investment. Assets will be allocated using an 80% passive and 20% active strategy. The treasury is designed to generate sustainable returns, with staking yields estimated at 3% to 5%, which could support product innovation, potential stock buybacks, and further asset growth.

FF is also exploring creating an ETF product based on the C10 Index.

Crypto Flywheel to Reshape Faraday Future’s Financial Structure

The Crypto Flywheel strategy, which the Company plans to operate through a wholly owned and independently managed subsidiary, FFAI Crypto Treasury and Bridging Holdings Inc., is designed to enhance FF’s income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow. With on-chain assets serving as both reserves and flexible capital, the strategy enables FF to generate stable staking yields, potentially reducing reliance on high-cost financing, and improving net asset value and structure.

Structure Ensures Risk Isolation and Transparency

FF’s crypto and EV businesses are planned to be operated under separate legal and financial structures to promote risk isolation, operational independence, and asset transparency. Digital assets will be held by third-party custodians and will be fully verifiable on-chain. The structure is designed to allow strategic synergies without direct cross-subsidization — while reinforcing each other.

With this launch, Faraday Future offers investors access to potential dual benefits from the AI mobility and crypto asset markets. This revolutionary move supports the Company’s long-standing commitment to maximize stockholder value in a future-forward and sustainable manner.

About Faraday Future

Faraday Future is a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company. Founded in 2014, FF's mission is to disrupt the automotive industry by creating a user-centric, technology-first, and smart driving experience. Faraday Future’s flagship model, the FF 91, exemplifies its vision for luxury, innovation, and performance. The FX strategy aims to introduce mass production models equipped with state-of-the-art luxury technology similar to the FF 91, targeting a broader market with middle-to-low price range offerings. FF is committed to redefining mobility through AI innovation. Join us in shaping the future of intelligent transportation. For more information, visit www.ff.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties, including those related to market conditions, regulatory developments, and the execution of strategic initiatives. Actual results may differ materially. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or digital assets.

Media Contact

Press Info
press@ff.com

Despite sharp fluctuations in cryptocurrency markets, cloud mining has emerged as a preferred option for investors seeking stability and accessibility. With its transparent operations, efficient technology, and strong security protocols, ETHRANSACTION is attracting a growing global user base and delivering consistent returns even during volatile market conditions.

Cloud Mining in Focus

While Bitcoin and other major tokens continue to see dramatic price swings, cloud mining offers an alternative with lower barriers to entry and steady income models. ETHRANSACTION operates advanced hardware 24/7, integrating artificial intelligence to maximize efficiency and reduce costs, making it a trusted choice for new and experienced miners alike.

Commitment to Compliance and Innovation

As digital assets expand worldwide, investors are increasingly focused on compliance, security, and performance. ETHRANSACTION adheres to regulatory standards across multiple regions and distinguishes itself in 2025 by combining AI-driven optimization with renewable energy sources to enhance sustainability and reliability.

Key Features

• $19 Welcome Bonus: New users receive a $19 bonus upon registration.
• AI-Optimized Mining: Real-time algorithmic adjustments increase returns while reducing energy use.
• Global Compliance: Operations meet regulatory requirements across major markets.
• User-Friendly Platform: Available on iOS, Android, and PC, suitable for beginners and experts.
• Green Energy Commitment: Powered by wind, hydro, and solar energy to support ESG goals.
• Multi-Currency Support: Settlement options include BTC, ETH, DOGE, LTC, USDC, USDT, BNB, BCH, and XRP.
• 24/7 Customer Support: Multilingual service with personalized guidance for investors.

Flexible Investment Plans

ETHRANSACTION offers both short- and long-term contract plans, each fully transparent and accessible for independent review. Investors can select strategies based on their personal goals — whether seeking daily passive income or sustainable long-term growth.

Getting started is simple:

1. Register at the ETHRANSACTION website.
2. Select a mining plan tailored to your objectives.
3. Sign the contract and track real-time earnings via desktop or mobile.
4. Receive daily settlements and withdraw funds when the contract ends.

Why Investors Choose ETHRANSACTION

ETHRANSACTION provides a secure, scalable, and sustainable path to crypto asset growth. All user data is safeguarded with SSL encryption, and investor protection is reinforced through long-term contract policies with L&G Insurance Company.

Conclusion

In 2025, ETHRANSACTION is at the forefront of the cloud mining revolution, lowering entry barriers and delivering efficient, reliable returns. As the global digital asset market grows, the platform continues to empower ordinary investors to participate in mining with confidence.

Join today to take part in the next wave of digital asset growth.

About ETHRANSACTION

Founded in 2017 in the UK, ETHRANSACTION is a global cloud mining platform making crypto mining simple, secure, and profitable. With AI-driven infrastructure, 100% clean energy, and flexible contract plans, users can start mining top coins like BTC, ETH, and XRP with just one click — no hardware or expertise needed. Backed by financial-grade security and trusted by millions worldwide, ETHRANSACTION empowers investors to earn stable, transparent returns anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit ethransaction.vip.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

Media Contact

Renee Long
info@ethransaction.vip

Seven Yachts, the luxury yacht charter company founded by entrepreneur Steve Laidlaw, has announced plans to expand into Europe after achieving a record year of growth in Dubai throughout 2025.

Established as one of Dubai’s leading providers of luxury yacht experiences, Seven Yachts has built a reputation for bespoke service, curated experiences, and a fleet ranging from elegant 60ft vessels to 200ft superyachts. With international demand on the rise — particularly from Europe and the UK — the brand is now preparing to bring its offering to some of the world’s most iconic coastlines, including Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes, San Remo, St. Tropez, and Palma de Mallorca.

“2025 proved to us that the appetite for luxury yacht experiences extends well beyond Dubai,” said Laidlaw, founder of Seven Yachts. “Our expansion into Europe isn’t just about new waters. It’s about bringing the Seven Yachts philosophy of detail, service, and unforgettable moments to clients across the Mediterranean. We see this as a natural evolution of everything we’ve built in Dubai.”

The move will focus on premium charter destinations across Europe, introducing Seven Yachts’ hallmark services including tailored events, private parties, and high-performance water sports such as designer-branded jet ski packages.

Clare Laidlaw, managing director at Seven Yachts, added: “Clients want experiences that are seamless, personal, and exceptional. Europe gives us an incredible canvas to continue creating those world-class memories.”

Seven Yachts’ expansion underscores Dubai’s role as a global hub for luxury tourism while marking a new chapter of international growth for the brand.

For more information about Seven Yachts or its upcoming European operations, visit sevenyachts.ae or follow @SevenYachts.ae on Instagram.

About Seven Yachts

Seven Yachts is a leading luxury yacht charter, sales, and management company headquartered in Dubai. Founded by entrepreneur Steve Laidlaw and managed day-to-day by Clare Laidlaw, the company has built a reputation for delivering world-class yacht experiences along Dubai’s coastline and beyond. With a fleet ranging from 60ft Sunseekers to 200ft superyachts, Seven Yachts specialises in creating bespoke charters, private events, and luxury lifestyle experiences tailored to international clients. In 2025, following record growth, Seven Yachts announced its expansion into Europe, bringing its hallmark blend of luxury, precision, and personalised service to iconic destinations such as Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes, San Remo, St Tropez, and Palma de Mallorca.

For more information, visit sevenyachts.ae or follow @SevenYachts.ae on Instagram.

Media Contact

Clare Laidlaw
clare@sevenyachts.ae

American Kratom Association (AKA) said recent claims from manufacturers that the FDA has failed to meet the standard for scheduling 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) as a Schedule I substance completely ignore the real scandal: these products never had a lawful basis for market entry in the first place.

From the moment 7-OH products hit the market in 2023, their manufacturers violated federal law by failing to meet the mandatory requirement that every product have a "reasonable basis for safety under the conditions of use" as stated on its label. That failure means every 7-OH product was unlawfully marketed from day one.

It is absurd for 7-OH manufacturers and their allies to now attack the FDA, HHS, and DEA by claiming insufficient science. The burden was never on federal regulators to prove safety before scheduling; they only evaluate risks to public health from the use of these products. The burden was on manufacturers to prove safety before marketing — and they flagrantly ignored that obligation.

Kratom’s History of Safe Use vs. Reckless 7-OH Products

Kratom itself has been safely used for thousands of years in Southeast Asia, and more than 45 years here in the United States. By contrast, synthetic 7-OH products have been on the market for only two years — and when they were introduced in 2023, not a single piece of safety data on their synthetic products existed to support their lawful entry into commerce. That distinction matters: kratom has a long, well-documented record of safe use, while synthetic 7-OH was pushed onto the market recklessly, with zero scientific foundation, and in direct violation of federal law.

The Facts About 7-OH

• 7-OH is chemically unstable and creates serious complications for identifying synthetic 7-OH substances in any post-mortem toxicology analysis.
• The claim that 7-OH is simply a “natural metabolite” of kratom is only true when describing the trace levels naturally present in the plant or the less than 2% fraction in natural extract products — not the concentrated, synthetically altered versions now being sold.
• Shaman Botanicals founder Stephen “Vince” Sanders II, publicly admitted that his process for creating 7-OH involves the chemicals used to “shock” backyard swimming pools. That is not natural. That is chemical synthesis.

Sanders leans heavily on the reputations of Dr. Smith and Dr. Boyer in his press release. The American Kratom Association calls on them to answer a simple and direct question: Do you agree that synthetically produced 7-OH — manufactured using “pool shock” chemicals — is in any way equivalent, in concentration or proportional mitragynine content, to the trace amounts of 7-OH found naturally in kratom plants?

The public deserves an honest answer.

This is not about regulatory overreach. This is about manufacturers who knowingly violated the law, skipped the safety requirements designed to protect consumers, and then tried to launder their synthetic compound into the legitimate kratom marketplace.

The American Kratom Association will continue to fight to protect consumers from dangerous and unlawful products that undermine confidence in the kratom market and put lives at risk.

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 americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.

Media Contact

Mac Haddow
press@americankratom.org

Hexaware Technologies (NSE:HEXT), a global technology and business process services company, today shared insights on how legacy systems can be transformed with generative AI.

Retained for operational continuity, legacy systems frequently inhibit modernization initiatives due to outdated architectures and limited interoperability; however, their outdated architecture often becomes a barrier to the digital transformation process. Developed on outdated technology stacks, these applications often incur excessive maintenance costs, suffer from limited scalability and face significant challenges integrating with modern cloud-native environments. As a result, integration issues arise, which slow down automation, increase delivery timelines and reduce overall system agility.

Furthermore, the inherent strong interdependencies and lack of service decomposition in monolithic architectures impede the migration toward modular, microservices-based frameworks, resulting in increased complexity and higher resource requirements for modernization initiatives. This rigidity leads to slow business response and reduces operational efficiency and customer experience over time. In regulated industries, the compliance risk is further amplified the lack of transparency and auditability in a legacy environment.

Given these constraints, the transformation of legacy systems has become a strategic imperative rather than a technical upgrade. The following sections explore how generative AI facilitates intelligent, accelerated modernization—and how specialized platforms are now enabling enterprises to implement this shift at scale.

1. Generative AI: A New Paradigm in Modernization

As legacy systems reach the limits of conventional modernization methods, generative AI offers a transformative solution—a new way to understand and change complex application landscapes for today and tomorrow. For a deeper dive into how generative AI is reshaping modernization at its core, continue reading below.

• What Sets Generative AI Apart: Generative AI extends traditional automation by moving beyond rigid scripts and rule-based refactoring. By integrating AI into software development, it learns to deal with evolving codebases, determines functional intent and automatically generates equivalent code in a modern style with reduced human dependency, enabling scalability.

• Foundational Capabilities: Driven by transformer models and deep learning, generative AI adds context to legacy code. It converts intricate logic, respects dependencies and uses domain-trained models to generate accurate, production-grade output through layers of the application.

• Why It’s Strategic for Modernization: Generative AI’s ability to reason through embedded business logic makes it a core enabler of intelligent modernization. It automates code transformation, ensures architectural continuity and accelerates delivery with reduced risk.

2. Intelligent Automation Across the Modernization Lifecycle

Modernization projects increasingly require speed, precision and reduced human intervention—requirements which generative AI is specifically designed to address. Outlined below are ways in which automation facilitated by AI facilitates crucial steps in the modernization process, rendering both strategic advantage and operational value.

• Code Translation and Re-Engineering: Generative AI facilitates refactoring monolithic legacy applications into modular, scalable codebases that contemporary platforms can support. With visibility into business rules and app architecture, AI-driven tools simplify the automation of the refactoring process, making it possible to break it down into microservices or APIs with reduced maintenance and scaling requirements. This simplifies manual coding and speeds up cloud-native migration.

• Smart Documentation and Knowledge Extraction: Automating the extraction of technical knowledge from legacy systems, generative AI generates comprehensive architecture diagrams, process flowcharts and detailed documentation directly from existing code. This alleviates reliance on manual documentation, ensuring accuracy and facilitating knowledge transfer critical for modernization projects.

• Data Mapping and Migration Simplified: Generative AI can infer complex data schemas from legacy databases, enabling efficient mapping and accelerating ETL processes required to migrate data to cloud-based systems. This reduces errors and improves consistency in data transformation, a key enabler of seamless legacy-to-cloud migration.

3. Platform-Led Acceleration: The Case for Integrated Modernization Engines

Enterprises facing complex legacy environments are increasingly turning to platform-led strategies to drive efficient, scalable modernization. Read further to explore how platform-led strategies are transforming enterprise modernization.

• Pre-Built Accelerators and Templates: Integrated modernization platforms like Hexaware’s RapidX leverage AI-infused, pre-built accelerators and templates to streamline critical tasks such as API generation, UI modernization, and service decomposition. These reusable components significantly reduce development effort by providing standardized, ready-to-deploy modules that align with best practices and enterprise requirements.

• Industrialized Delivery Models: RapidX exemplifies pipeline-based modernization, embedding generative AI tools directly into CI/CD and DevOps workflows. This integration enables automated, continuous transformation and testing, promoting consistency, rapid feedback and seamless deployment of modernized applications.

• Scalability and Reusability: A platform approach mitigates siloed modernization efforts by enabling cross-system modernization through reusable AI components. This architectural design ensures scalability, allowing enterprises to accelerate modernization across diverse legacy systems while maximizing reuse and reducing duplication of effort.

4. Benefits Beyond the Obvious: Strategic Payoffs

Modernization efforts today are not just technical upgrades—they’re catalysts for broader business transformation. Keep reading to see how generative AI delivers value well beyond initial expectations.

• Reduced Time-to-Modernization: Generative AI-driven modernization compresses development and deployment timelines by automating complex tasks such as code refactoring, documentation and data migration. This accelerated cadence enables enterprises to rapidly realize business value from legacy modernization initiatives.

• Smarter Resource Allocation: By automating repetitive and error-prone migration activities, generative AI frees engineering talent to focus on higher-value innovation and strategic development. This optimization of human resources drives enhanced productivity and improved project outcomes.

• Improved Risk Management: AI-powered impact analysis and automated regression testing reduce failure rates by identifying potential issues early in the modernization lifecycle. This proactive risk mitigation enhances overall project stability and ensures more predictable delivery outcomes.

5. Critical Considerations Before You Deploy

Before deploying generative AI-driven modernization solutions, it is crucial to address key factors that ensure compliance, accuracy and effective collaboration between human expertise and AI capabilities.

• Governance and Data Lineage: Ensuring auditability and explainability in AI-generated code and transformation decisions is paramount. Robust governance frameworks must be established to track data lineage and maintain compliance throughout the modernization process, safeguarding enterprise standards and regulatory requirements.

• Human-AI Collaboration: While generative AI significantly augments modernization efforts, human oversight remains essential. Architectural decision-making, validation of AI outputs and strategic direction require expert intervention to balance automation with business context and ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

• Model Accuracy and Domain Training: The effectiveness of generative AI depends on training models with domain-specific codebases and data. Tailored model training enhances accuracy, contextual understanding and relevance of generated outputs, thereby optimizing modernization quality and reducing rework.

Conclusion

Generative AI marks a pivotal shift in addressing the longstanding challenges of legacy systems by enabling intelligent, end-to-end modernization. Through advanced capabilities such as code transformation, automated documentation and data migration, it drives efficiency and precision across the entire lifecycle. 

When integrated into platform-led delivery models, generative AI ensures consistency, scalability and speed—turning isolated modernization efforts into cohesive, enterprise-wide initiatives. Reusable AI components and CI/CD integration further compress timelines, optimize resource deployment and reduce transformation risks. This strategic alignment transforms legacy environments into future-ready architectures, positioning enterprises to lead with agility, innovation and sustained digital resilience.

About Hexaware Technologies

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at hexaware.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking, which involve numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases globally, our ability to attract and retain highly-skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Hexaware has made strategic investments, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry.

Media Contact

Hexaware Technologies
marketing@hexaware.com

Merifund Capital Management views the current wave of initial public offerings as a turning point for global markets, with activity strengthening through the summer months and investor discipline sharpening around issuers with sustainable economics. August alone records twelve listings worth about $3.2 billion, almost twice the August average of the past decade, while July brought twenty-nine transactions raising nearly $5.8 billion. Equity indices reinforce the backdrop, with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 both reaching new highs this month.

Large investment banks confirm the trend. Equity underwriting revenue at one leading Wall Street house rises 42% from the previous quarter to $558.2 million, while another reports investment banking fees of $2.3 billion, up 24% over the same period, with equity underwriting within that total growing by 98%. Developed markets count thirty-six technology IPOs by the end of June, raising more than $7.1 billion, already above the $6.9 billion total across all of 2024.

“Investor allocations this year concentrate on issuers with recurring revenues, strong unit economics and governance frameworks that withstand scrutiny,” notes Anthony Saunders, Director of Private Equity at Merifund Capital Management. “Our analysis of the year to date shows selectivity is now decisive, with software, fintech and digital assets leading order books where operational scale and cash conversion are demonstrable.”

High-profile debuts illustrate the scale of demand. In July 2025, Figma records a 250% first-day gain, opening at $36.84 and closing at $128.95, implying a fully diluted value of $53.5 billion. Its annual revenues of $836.2 million are up 48% over the preceding 12-month period, with a quarterly profit of $50.3 million further supporting investor appetite. Circle’s June offering follows a similar trajectory, closing 168% higher on day one and sustaining gains of about 400% above its IPO reference, underpinned by quarterly revenue growth of 53% to $734.61 million and USDC circulation rising 90% year-on-year. Bullish, the cryptocurrency exchange backed by Peter Thiel, prices at $41.31, peaks above $131.74 on its first day and settles near $103.38, equating to a valuation close to $14.7 billion against its $6.0 billion IPO reference, after handling $279.1 billion of trading volume during 2024.

Saunders interprets such moves less as anomalies than as signals that pricing dynamics are normalising. “Order books in the third quarter are clearing at narrower discounts, with quality growth securing sponsorship while cash-burning models encounter resistance,” he comments. “Where gross margins, governance and customer retention meet higher thresholds, we expect participation to remain broad through the second half, provided volatility continues to ease.”

Pipeline data support the constructive stance. As of late August 2025, there are about 168 active U.S. filings, with potential aggregate raises approaching $7 billion. Thirteen larger candidates target at least $111.6 million each. High-profile issuers include Klarna, exploring valuations near $22.3 billion following prior swings between $51.4 billion and $7.8 billion, and Databricks, tracked at $69.2 billion following an $11.2 billion December funding round.

Policy contours remain important. The Securities and Exchange Commission under acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda is emphasising disclosure proportionality and lighter burdens for growth issuers. Exchanges are in dialogue with regulators over listing frictions that have discouraged companies in the past. Saunders cautions, however, that “regulatory adjustments may encourage activity, but issuers must still prove that business models deliver durable returns across cycles.”

Investor participation continues to split between retail and institutional dynamics. Retail enthusiasm is capable of inflating day-one valuations, while institutions increasingly target issuers with free cash flow visibility, revenue above $250 million and gross margins above 70%. “Dispersion is widening,” Saunders observes. “Our research shows institutional sponsorship focuses on profitability, not simply growth at all costs.”

For investors, the message is clear: opportunities are real but uneven. Merifund Capital Management’s analysis highlights that developed markets have already exceeded last year’s total technology IPO proceeds by June, and the outlook suggests momentum continues into the autumn window. Companies with proven scalability and resilient fundamentals are commanding sustained attention, while those with weaker models struggle to secure meaningful sponsorship.

About Merifund Capital Management

Based in Singapore since 2010, Merifund Capital Management Pte. Ltd. is a specialist hedge fund manager with a global perspective on investment opportunities. The firm manages a diversified set of strategies spanning traditional long-only portfolios, long/short equity, global macro, event-driven and systematic trading. Derivatives are deployed selectively to optimise exposure while ensuring capital preservation, liquidity and rigorous risk controls remain at the core. Environmental, social and governance principles are embedded into its processes in line with international standards. Merifund serves accredited investors, family offices, foundations and endowments, and is progressing towards making certain offerings available to retail investors.

For general information, visit merifund.com. Additional insights can be found at merifund.com/insights.

Media Contact

Tao Yang
media@merifund.com

The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today praised Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for swiftly updating its emergency rule on concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products, reducing the allowable concentration from 1% by total weight to 0.04% by dried weight (or 400 parts per million). The adjustment follows concerns that the original “by total weight” threshold created a loophole enabling manufacturers to produce large-format products and evade restrictions. Directly after the announcement, concentrated 7-OH opioid producers moved to exploit the new rule, creating ‘Florida Compliant’ concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products.

“Florida has taken another important step to protect consumers from dangerous concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products,” said Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition. “We strongly support this move, which preserves access to safe, natural kratom while closing a loophole that allows concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products to enter the market.”

The original 1% by weight allowance permitted products like 10 mg 7-OH tablets to be manufactured at 1 gram each. With the new 0.04% limit, such tablets are effectively removed from the market. Natural kratom leaf products contain natural 7-OH, at between 0.0021% and 0.0079% by dried weight, well below the 0.04% threshold set in Florida. Natural kratom leaf products remain fully unaffected.

“This update highlights Florida’s leadership in distinguishing between synthetic 7-OH concentrated opioid products and natural kratom leaf,” Lowe continued. “As shown by manufacturers coming out with a ‘Florida Compliant’ product within hours of the announcement, bad actors move quickly to take advantage of any areas that they can find to continue to reap profits over public safety.”

The Global Kratom Coalition remains committed to ensuring responsible regulation of kratom, protecting consumers from synthetic, concentrated 7-OH opioid products, and preserving safe access to natural kratom leaf products for millions of Americans.

For background, see this video of U.S. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

About Global Kratom Coalition

The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting access to kratom while advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations to protect consumers. For more information, visit globalkratomcoalition.org.

Media Contact

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

Shaman Botanicals has issued a formal response to the FDA’s recent warning letter on its 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products, backed by reports from leading researchers at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, UCLA, and other institutions. The company argues that current scientific evidence supports the safety of 7-OH, directly countering FDA’s claims. Experts consulted — including those previously cited by FDA — stress that 7-OH should not be considered a public health crisis and that available data shows no evidence of overdose deaths, respiratory depression, or widespread dependence.

The experts also emphasize that 7-OH is a naturally occurring kratom-derived compound, not synthetic, and that preclinical studies commissioned by Shaman found no serious toxicity. Collectively, the findings point toward a favorable safety profile and call for continued study rather than scheduling. Shaman Botanicals maintains its commitment to scientific transparency and consumer safety, urging FDA to follow the science.

Key Points

• Experts previously cited by the FDA now disagree with its recommendation to schedule 7-OH. They argue the agency’s position is not supported by the latest scientific evidence.
• No deaths or confirmed cases of respiratory depression have been linked to 7-OH. Researchers clam this is significant given millions of adults are estimated to have tried it.
• Researchers say that 7-OH has “no unreasonable risk of overdose deaths” based on reviews of nationwide databases. Poison control and toxicology centers across the U.S. confirm no evidence of widespread harm.
• Scientists confirm that 7-OH is a natural metabolite of kratom, not a synthetic substance. It is produced both by the plant itself and through metabolism in the human body.

See the full Shaman Botanicals, LLC response below:

Shaman Botanicals, LLC Responds to FDA Warning Letter with Scientific Reports by Renowned Experts

Shaman Botanicals, LLC, a leading innovator in botanical wellness, has formally responded to a recent warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. In support of its mission and to defend its products, attorneys for Shaman Botanicals have assembled an interdisciplinary team of renowned researchers, scientists, and clinicians to prepare reports that directly address the FDA’s claims concerning 7-OH.

"The FDA asserts that there is insufficient information about the safety of our 7-OH products. However, the scientists consulted by our legal team have found that the evidence to date supports the safety of our products,” stated Stephen “Vince” Sanders, II, founder of Shaman Botanicals.

Scientists Cited by the FDA Express Concerns About the Scheduling of 7-OH

Scientific reviews were provided by Dr. Kirsten Smith, PhD, widely regarded as the leading clinical researcher on kratom in the United States and an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Edward Boyer, MD, PhD, a Harvard-educated medical toxicologist with extensive experience in kratom research.

The support for further study and regulation of 7-OH products by Drs. Smith and Boyer reflects a growing and dynamic shift in the scientific community’s perspective on 7-OH. Work by Drs. Smith and Boyer was cited by the FDA in their recent report recommending the scheduling of 7-OH. Both Drs. Smith and Boyer are currently leading projects to better understand 7-OH use patterns in the United States. But, having looked at the latest data, they do not agree with FDA’s position.

Other scientists cited in Shaman’s response to the FDA include Dr. Michael Levine, MD, a medical toxicologist educated at Chicago Medical School and an associate professor at the University of California-Los Angeles, recognized for his research in botanical toxicology, and Dr. Jackob Moskovitz, D.Sc., a Technion-Israel Institute of Technology-trained biochemist and internationally recognized expert in molecular biology. Drs. Levine and Moskovitz were provided with three preclinical studies commissioned by Shaman and asked to comment on them. Shaman’s response also cited Dr. Glenn Prestwich, PhD, a Stanford-educated chemist and internationally recognized authority on natural products chemistry and chemical biology, and Dr. Andrew Monte, MD, PhD, the Associate Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Center in Denver, Colorado, and an expert in nationwide monitoring for adverse events from opioids.

7-OH Should Not Be Considered a Public Health Crisis 

Dr. Smith strongly disagrees with the FDA’s recent recommendation to schedule 7-OH. According to Dr. Smith, the use of 7-OH does not constitute a public health crisis. Furthermore, Dr. Smith asserts that, much like kratom, 7-OH currently offers a net benefit to its users.

According to Dr. Smith, who estimates that at least 4 million adults have tried 7-OH, there are no confirmed human cases of respiratory depression caused by 7-OH. Additionally, reports of physical dependence or substance use disorder related to 7-OH are even rarer than those associated with kratom.

7-OH Is Not Causing Widespread Illness or Injury

Dr. Boyer reviewed nationwide toxicology databases, including poison center data, and found limited evidence of acute overdose risk from 7-hydroxymitragynine. No deaths have been attributed to 7-hydroxymitragynine, a finding confirmed by America’s Poison Center in their August 12, 2025 report.

As Dr. Boyer stated, “A signal arising from overdose death from 7-hydroxymitragynine is absent. Based upon data available at this time, given the degree of population exposure, the lack of findings suggests that 7-hydroxymitragynine carries no unreasonable risk of overdose death.”

Dr. Monte arrived at the same conclusion as Dr. Boyer, that there is currently no evidence of a safety signal regarding 7-OH as reported by independent poison control and toxicology centers across the United States.

Dr. Boyer also disagreed with the FDA’s report regarding the putative safety or danger of 7-OH. According to Dr. Boyer, the FDA assessment relies on animal studies receiving intravenous 7-hydroxymitragynine (a route of administration never used in humans) and overlooks existing data indicating low bioavailability, rapid clearance, and poor brain penetration characteristic of oral 7-hydroxymitragynine.

7-OH is a Natural Product; Not Synthetic

Opponents of 7-OH often mistakenly label these kratom-derived products as “synthetic.” According to Dr. Prestwich, “7-OH is not manufactured synthetically.” Instead, 7-OH is a naturally occurring selective oxidation product of mitragynine, already present among the indole alkaloids in kratom plant extract. These products contain 7-OH that is chemically identical to the natural metabolite of mitragynine produced by the kratom plant and through metabolism in the human body. Thus, 7-OH is a natural product.

Pre-Clinical Data Conducted by Shaman Botanicals Supports the Favorable Safety Profile of 7-OH

Drs. Levine and Moskovitz each reviewed three preclinical studies commissioned by Shaman: (1) “Acute Toxicity Assessment of 7-Hydroxymitragynine in Rodents,” (2) “Pilot Safety Study of Escalating Doses of 7-Hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl Administered Daily for 7-day Intervals to Mature Dogs,” and (3) “An In-Vitro Pre-Clinical Safety Comparison of Mitragynine and its Oxidative Metabolites: 7-Hydroxymitragynine and Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl.” In the two animal studies, no serious clinical toxicity or adverse events were observed.

Dr. Levine stated these studies support initial safety and warrant further evaluation. Dr. Moskovitz concluded, “Based on all the obtained data (i.e., in vitro studies, mice and dogs’ models), it seems that the therapeutic potency and safety profile of 7HMG are either the same or better compared to mitragynine.”

Current Science Supports a Reasonable Basis of Safety and Recommends Continued Study, Not Scheduling

Full copies of each expert report have been provided to the FDA. “The FDA pledged to follow the science. The aforementioned experts, some of the top scientists in the world, maintain the science supports a reasonable basis of safety in our 7-OH products,” said Sanders.

Commitment to Transparency and Consumer Safety

Shaman Botanicals remains deeply committed to transparency, scientific rigor, and consumer welfare. The company welcomes continued dialogue.

About Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART)

Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a national nonprofit organization advocating for science-based policy, regulatory transparency, and access to safe, plant-based alternatives to opioids and other pharmaceuticals. 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a metabolite of mitragynine, the most abundant alkaloid found in kratom, is a new tool being used to combat opioid misuse and improve public health. HART strongly supports robust regulation to mandate that all 7-OH products are manufactured safely, are marketed transparently, and are kept out of the hands of children. Learn more at hartsupporter.com.

Media Contact

HART Media
media@hartsupporter.com

Assembled, the all-in-one platform trusted by the world's most discerning customer support teams, today unveiled its support orchestration suite, combining AI agents with intelligent workforce management. This is the industry's first comprehensive solution for turning AI automation into measurable cost savings by intelligently connecting AI performance to workforce optimization and staffing decisions.

"Great customer support needs AI and humans in perfect balance," said Ryan Wang, CEO of Assembled. "Support orchestration isn't just about deploying AI — it's about intelligently connecting your automation strategy to real workforce decisions. We're solving the fundamental challenge of how to capture ROI by helping teams identify where AI can take work off their plate, then automatically adjusting staffing to realize those savings."

As support teams increasingly deploy AI agents alongside human staff, Assembled's breakthrough solution addresses the critical challenge of maximizing automation impact while optimizing workforce allocation for superior customer experiences.

The announcement comes as support organizations worldwide struggle to realize the promised ROI from AI initiatives. While AI agent adoption has surged, most teams lack the operational framework to effectively balance automation with human resources, leaving significant efficiency gains unrealized. A recent KPMG report shared that only 31% of leaders anticipate being able to evaluate ROI of generative AI initiatives within six months, and none report achieving positive ROI yet, while 85% of leaders cite data quality as their most significant challenge in AI strategies for 2025. Support teams are facing challenges, including unclear ROI on AI investments, difficulty balancing human and AI resources, and limited visibility into AI performance impact.

"The complexity of modern support operations requires a fundamentally new approach to workforce management," added Olivia Teich, Chief Product Officer at Assembled. "Our unique position managing in-house teams, BPOs, and AI agents gives us unprecedented insight into how to optimize these blended workforces. Workforce management and AI support orchestration delivers the actionable intelligence layer that makes automation actually work for both your business and your customers."

A three-pillar approach to support orchestration

The support orchestration suite introduces three integrated capabilities that transform how support teams approach AI deployment and workforce optimization:

Increase AI adoption: Assembled guides customer experience teams through their automation journey by identifying where AI can take work off their team's plate, flagging knowledge gaps to increase automation, and analyzing open cases to boost automation through workflows and integrations. The platform provides data-driven recommendations based on actual case history, helping teams pursue automation based on specific case topics and queues.

Optimize staffing: Teams can make staffing adjustments to take advantage of automation by redistributing agents across multiple skills, queues, and channels. The platform shows where teams are over- and understaffed, incorporates AI coverage into staffing plans, and can automatically adjust staffing plans based on actual AI performance. Advanced forecasting capabilities help teams model different scenarios and evaluate automation targets based on potential ROI.

Delight customers: Support orchestration ensures the best possible customer experience by adjusting handoffs based on real-time agent capacity. When occupancy rates are high, AI agents focus on containment; when in-house teams have more capacity, AI agents can hand off cases more quickly. The platform guarantees quality with complete visibility and audit trails, ensuring seamless handoffs between AI, in-house, and BPO agents.

Jake Alster, Sr. Manager Product Support at Patreon, and his team rely on this approach daily:

“What makes support orchestration work is that it treats AI and workforce management as one challenge, not two. We’re solving real problems like, ‘How do we use AI when queues are running hot?’ and ‘How do we rebalance when AI’s volume impact shifts day to day?’ Having a platform that can answer those questions with live data has changed how we staff, how we prioritize, and ultimately how we deliver for creators and fans.”

Proven results from a unified platform

Assembled's comprehensive platform already helps leading companies optimize their blended workforces. Flexcar, the Boston-based car-leasing company, uses Assembled AI Agents to resolve over 85% of their chat and email inquiries without human intervention. As Lesley Ong, Director of Infrastructure and Strategic Planning at Flexcar, noted: "Having workforce management and AI support under one roof was a major differentiator. It's not just about having agents handle contacts quicker — it's about orchestrating the entire operation."

Amazon aggregator Thrasio achieved $1.8 million in savings and a 10% boost in CSAT scores through smarter orchestration and increased automation. Gershwin Exter, Chief Experience Officer at Thrasio said: “Assembled is the only company that blends these functions in a single platform. I can make a business decision — do I want to temporarily hire an extra 50 people for the 8-day Prime Day spike? Having Assembled workforce management and AI agents gives me so much more agility and means I don’t have to go through that headache.”

The support orchestration suite is generally available today, with added features to come in the second half of 2025.

About Assembled

Assembled is the modern, unified platform for managing in-house teams, BPOs, and AI agents. The company's comprehensive solution includes AI agents for chat, voice, email, and SMS; an AI copilot to assist human agents; and workforce management tools to forecast, schedule, and monitor blended workforces. Founded in 2018 by machine learning engineers from Stripe, Assembled serves hundreds of leading companies, including Stripe, Robinhood, Canva, and Intercom. The company has raised $71 million from NEA, Emergence Capital, and top angels, with more than 130 employees across San Francisco, New York, London, and remote locations. Learn more at assembled.com.

Media Contact

Katy Goldstein
katy@katygoldsteincomms.com

Ribeye Media, a provider of programmatic advertising solutions designed specifically for local media companies, has appointed Philip Inghelbrecht, CEO and co-founder of Tatari, a leading technology company modernizing TV advertising, to its board of directors.

Amid growing industry buzz, Ribeye is entering a new phase of accelerated growth fueled by record-breaking revenue, new product releases, rapid expansion into new market segments and a strategic investment from Tatari — driven by the widespread adoption of its end-to-end advertising platform for local advertisers, delivering a unified alternative to fragmented point solutions.

Inghelbrecht is widely known as a co-founder of Shazam, one of the world’s most iconic music discovery apps. His background spans high-growth startups and major tech platforms, including leadership roles at TrueCar, Google/YouTube and Boomerang. Since founding Tatari in 2016, Inghelbrecht has led Tatari to become one of the leading ad platforms for buying and measuring TV ad campaigns, attracting over 400 brand partners and securing platform licensing agreements with more than 60 agencies.

“Philip has built companies that redefine entire industries,” said Joe Marino, CEO and co-founder of Ribeye Media. “We’re honored to have his strategic insight and entrepreneurial firepower on our board. This investment from Tatari is a testament to Ribeye's momentum and will significantly help us accelerate our business even further, enabling us to ensure local media companies and agencies are able to compete and thrive in today’s advertising ecosystem.”

"The impact of CTV is even more pronounced in local TV advertising," said Inghelbrecht. "Ribeye is building the kind of infrastructure that unlocks real power for local media sellers and agencies — bringing clarity, automation and scale. Our investment in Ribeye underlines our commitment to modernizing the infrastructure for TV advertising at all levels. I’m honored to work with Joe to help shape local TV for the future.”

About Ribeye Media

In contrast to the point solutions that dominate the industry, Ribeye unites premium programmatic inventory, transparent pricing and white-glove support with intuitive technology that streamlines every step — from planning and activation to measurement and attribution. The result: local sellers and agencies can compete — and win — in digital advertising under their own trusted brands, with the efficiency, scale and sophistication of enterprise-grade platforms. For more information, visit www.ribeye.media.

About Tatari TV

Tatari is building the infrastructure to modernize TV advertising for brands, agencies and publishers. Our clients include Calm, Tecovas and Chime. Tatari has been recognized by Business Insider as one of the hottest ad tech companies, by AdExchanger as the most innovative TV ad tech and by Digiday as the best CTV ad platform. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. For more information, visit www.tatari.tv.

Media Contact

Jennifer Scilabro
jenn@ribeye.media

While not a substitute for conventional chairs, bean bags (sometimes known as bean bag chairs) offer their brand of seating comfort. Millions of plastic beads stand in place of a rigid frame, displacing as the user shifts their posture. Hours of sitting through an event suddenly become more bearable, if not enjoyable, thanks to these bags.

Brands have taken notice, preferring bean bags over chairs for seating in corporate events and other functions. Slap on the business logo on these bags and watch brand awareness do its magic amid the crowd. As a result, recent analysis projects a rise in demand for bean bags throughout the decade, with one estimate reaching $5 billion (U.S.) by 2030. [1]

Here are reasons businesses are choosing promo bean bags, be it for the office or events.

Weather and Terrain Resilience

Naturally, bean bags need to be made from the right materials to be usable rain or shine. They also must be able to withstand the harshness of outdoor terrain, having to settle for hours on grass, sand, or snow.

One such material for outdoor bean bags is polyester outdoor fabric, specifically 1680 denier (1680D). The denier refers to the density of fibers for every 9,000 meters of a specific commercial-grade fabric. Silk is used as a point of reference; a silk fiber 9,000 meters long weighs a gram and has a denier of 1—or 1D, in this case.

The 1680D polyester in custom promotional bean bags is designed to withstand practically anything Mother Nature throws at it. The fabric comes with water and dirt repellent polyurethane coating and reinforced stitching. As a result, outdoor bean bags can maintain their appearance despite long hours under the elements and keep the printed brand visible.

Good for One’s Back

Contrary to popular belief, sitting straight—as in right-angle straight—is bad health advice. This is because the spine curves slightly in four areas: cervical (neck), thoracic (upper and middle back), lumbar (lower back), and sacral (tailbone). The slight ‘S’ shape it forms helps support the body by distributing the load from various activities. [2]

While some chairs can be designed with the spine’s natural curves in mind, they might not be cost-effective for seating at events. That said, providing uncomfortable seats during the event wouldn’t look great for public relations. Additionally, there aren’t that many available options for outdoor ergonomic seating.

Designer bean bag chairs are ideal for supporting backs of varying conditions, as they’re filled with loose filling material. Two of the most widely used fillers are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP). A quick summary is below. [3]

• EPS Filling: Designed for cushioning cargo, virgin EPS beads are also typically used as bean bag fillers. They’re known to hold their shape in hot and humid environments and are the less expensive of the two due to their abundant supply. However, they lose their original shape faster than EPP ones.
• EPP Filling: EPP beads are more effective at retaining their shape while being longer-lasting than EPS ones. However, these beads are more expensive because they aren’t used as much in the U.S. Also, exposure to heat and oxygen can cause them to degrade, making them less suitable for outdoor use.

The beads displace easily with the user’s weight, which helps them get comfortable. Their spine doesn’t have to be restricted to a fixed backrest. However, it’s important to get the filler amount right, which is doable using online calculators like this one.

Eco-Friendly (with the Right Materials)

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a buzzword among businesses in recent years. As entities with the abilities and resources to inspire positive change, they’re under pressure from the general public to lead by example.

Although price and quality continue to be the primary factors in a customer’s purchase, a growing number of buyers have bought eco-friendly products and will continue to do so. An Accenture study confirms this, with 89% and 84% of respondents still focused on price and quality, respectively, but 72% also said they’ve bought such products. [4]

However, CSR isn’t limited to providing eco-friendly goods and services. Its practices also need to conform to ethical and environmental standards. As U.N. Global Compact CEO Sanda Ojiambo writes following the Seville Commitment, the private sector can no longer be a bystander. Businesses have to embrace sustainability.

Contrary to popular belief, something as minor as choosing eco-friendly materials for branded corporate bean bags can go a long way. For instance, a growing number of bean bags in the market feature plant-based fillers and fabric made from recycled plastics. One substitute made with Miriti leaves is known to be 30 times stronger than synthetic foam. [5]

Conclusion

Bean bags provide a unique means of relaxation while serving as cost-effective branding solutions and, with eco-friendly materials, improving corporate image. With the demand for these soft furnishings for commercial uses rising, expect them to be a more common sight in corporate events and other functions in the following years.

References

1. Bean Bag Chairs Market Size | Industry Report, 2019-2025 [Internet]. www.grandviewresearch.com. Available from: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bean-bag-chairs-market
2. Spinal curves: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image [Internet]. medlineplus.gov. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19463.htm
3. Gheorghe S. Types Of Bean Bag Filling and How To Choose. Homedit.com. 2021 [cited 2025 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.homedit.com/bean-bag-refill/
4. Martins A. Most Consumers Want Sustainable Products and Packaging [Internet]. Business News Daily. 2024. Available from: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15087-consumers-want-sustainable-products.html
5. Balboni BM, Moreira TA de S, Batista AS, Garcia JN, Ribeiro ML, Wessels CB, et al. Mechanical properties and applications of a fiber reinforced biofoam from Amazonian palm leaves. Next Sustainability [Internet]. 2024 Jul 19;4:100063. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949823624000400

About Bean Bags R Us

Bean Bags R Us is a trusted Australian brand specialising in high-quality bean bags for homes, resorts, events, and businesses worldwide. With over a decade of experience, the company has built a reputation for durability, comfort, and style, supplying products to leading hotels, event organizers, and five-star resorts. Known for custom branding, outdoor-ready fabrics, and a wide variety of designs, Bean Bags R Us combines modern lifestyle needs with exceptional customer service, shipping globally to meet the demands of both residential and commercial clients. For more information, visit www.beanbagsrus.com.au.

Media Contact

Geoff Brand
geoff@beanbagsrus.com.au

Axium Wealth, a leading provider of advanced wealth management and tax mitigation strategies, launched a nationwide financial education initiative led by its founder and CEO, Charlie Dombek. The program is designed to help investors, entrepreneurs, and high-income professionals grow their wealth more rapidly through a combination of tax-smart strategies and by improving investment performance through reallocation of market based capital into off market alternative and real estate investments that have the potential to generate returns and yields 3 to 4 times that of traditional financial products.

With more than 25 years of experience as a CPA and wealth architect, Dombek is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on both domestic and international tax planning. Through this initiative, he will host a series of educational events, webinars, and workshops that focus on practical, results-driven strategies for recovering dollars unnecessarily paid in state and federal income taxes, diversifying investments into off market opportunities, and navigating complex financial markets.

“Far too many successful individuals lose significant portions of their wealth to taxes and inefficient planning,” said Dombek. “Our mission is to arm investors with the same tools, strategies, and insights that the ultra-wealthy and institutional investors have long used to protect and grow their capital.”

Dombek’s diverse track record includes raising more than $300 million in equity for real estate acquisitions totaling nearly $700 million in value, sponsoring alternative lending and real estate-backed platforms, and managing capital in foreign exchange and entertainment-related investments. His clients include family offices, professional athletes, entertainers, and healthcare professionals across the U.S.

In addition to his work with Axium Wealth, Dombek is the founding partner of The Optimal Financial Group and Dentistry Wealth. He is also a syndicated radio host and frequent guest on national programs, including “The Trish Regan Show,” “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” and “The Larry Elder Show.”

About Axium Wealth

Axium Wealth provides advanced wealth management and tax mitigation strategies to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and business owners nationwide. Founded by Charlie Dombek, CPA, MBA, Axium integrates tax planning, real estate, and alternative investments to deliver comprehensive solutions for preserving and growing wealth. Learn more at axiumwealth.com.

Media Contact

Richard Lorenzen
rlorenzen@fifthavenuebrands.com

A comprehensive new analysis of congressional district bias reveals that 28 states have maps that disproportionately favor one party over another, yet these advantages largely cancel each other out nationally, creating a slim one-seat difference in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The study by Purple Values Foundation, released Tuesday, examined all 50 states and found what researchers call a "worst-case scenario" for American democracy: eroding voter trust and representation with minimal partisan gain for either side.

"We're destroying democracy's foundation, voters' trust in government, for essentially nothing," said Mike Saletta, President of Purple Values Foundation. "You've got all this district manipulation happening, alienating voters, and at the end of the day it produces a result that could've happened by random chance."

Study Challenges Abbott and Newsom to End Redistricting Arms Race

The report directly challenges Texas Governor Greg Abbott and California Governor Gavin Newsom to break the cycle of escalating redistricting warfare by simultaneously committing to proportional representation in their states.

Texas currently holds 4 more Republican seats than proportional representation would predict, while California gives Democrats 11 seats beyond what they proportionally deserve, the study notes. Under the proposed arrangement, Texas would move to roughly 21 Republican and 17 Democratic seats, while California would shift to approximately 20 Republican and 32 Democratic seats.

Both governors are on record as being willing to escalate redistricting battles, but the report questions whether they're willing to take steps toward healing the country.

California's Independent Commission Produces Most Disproportional Map

The study's most surprising finding concerns California's celebrated independent redistricting commission. Despite operating transparently with seemingly neutral criteria, the commission has produced the most disproportionate map in America, giving Democrats 11 more seats than their vote share warrants.

Democrats win about 60% of California's votes but hold 83% of House seats—an outcome the study calculates has less than a 1% chance of occurring randomly. California's bias score of 3.14 tops the nation, higher than any state accused of traditional gerrymandering.

Intended or not, California's redistricting system has created the most disproportional congressional map in the country. California’s rule that prioritizes keeping districts as compact as possible, preserves large urban Democratic blocs while disenfranchising millions of Republican voters.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The two states at the center of the gerrymandering feud, Texas and California, rank number 9 and number 1, respectively. If Texas succeeds in implementing its redistricting plan, its Bias Rank would move from ninth to second and its Bias Score from 1.31 to 2.94.

Additionally, the study identified 12 states with a two seat or greater advantage beyond what proportional representation would predict.

Democratic advantages:

• California: +11 seats
• Illinois: +4 seats
• New York: +4 seats
• Massachusetts: +3 seats
• Connecticut: +2 seats
• Washington: +2 seats
• New Jersey: +2 seats

Republican advantages:

• Florida: +4 seats
• Texas: +4 seats
• South Carolina: +2 seats
• Tennessee: +2 seats
• North Carolina: +2 seats

An additional 16 states show a bias of one-seat, of those 13 favor Republicans and three favor Democrats. The net effect of all the bias is one additional House seat for Republicans and millions of dissatisfied voters.

Massachusetts, Oklahoma Exemplify the Problem

The study highlights stark examples of disproportionate representation: In Massachusetts, one-third of voters support Republican candidates, yet Republicans hold zero of the state's nine congressional seats. In Oklahoma, Democrats receive over a third of the vote but hold none of its five seats.

Established research shows that 78% of House races are predetermined before Election Day due to safe seat arrangements. The race is essentially decided in the primary election.

Statistical Analysis Confirms Bias

Researchers analyzed voting patterns using data from the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections alongside the Cook Political Report’s Partisan Voting Index. Their findings show a clear trend: in 28 states, political bias favored the majority party, while only 3 states showed bias toward the minority. Statistically, it’s very unlikely this happened by chance.

Even after accounting for the typical advantages that majority parties tend to have, the odds of this pattern happening randomly were about 1 in 42. Under more realistic models, those odds dropped to less than 1 in 5,000.

Three States Break the Pattern

Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota present anomalies as Democratic-leaning states that give Republicans extra representation. Researchers attribute this "reverse bias" to court interventions or independent commission decisions that prioritized factors other than partisan balance.

Methodology and Data Sources

The analysis combined multiple data sources to create a robust assessment of partisan preference for each state. Those sources include:

• 2020 and 2024 presidential election results
• Cook Partisan Voting Index ratings
• Current House membership data as of August 2025

Researchers calculated expected proportional seat allocations for each state and compared them to actual representation using standardized statistical measures.

About Purple Values Foundation

Purple Values Foundation is dedicated to reducing political extremism and polarization by educating voters in the areas of fiscal responsibility, social compassion, and constitutional adherence. To learn more, visit purplevalues.org.

Media Contact

Purple Values Foundation
pvmedia@purplevalues.org