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Nutifood has officially announced that its proprietary FDI Formula for digestive and immune support has been granted a patent (U.S. Patent 12,527,342 B2) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The achievement underscores Nutifood’s internationally recognized nutritional science capabilities, while marking a significant milestone for Vietnam’s dairy industry in the global intellectual property arena.

The patent announcement ceremony took place as part of the anniversary celebration of Nutifood GrowPLUS+, a dairy brand developed based on FDI Formula. The event was attended by Mr. Hoang Minh, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade; Ms. Pham Khanh Phong Lan, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety; Mr. Tran Xuan Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Melissa A. Brown, U.S. Consul General; and Mr. Glenn Millar of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), along with Nutifood’s leadership team and strategic partners from Vietnam and abroad.

USPTO Patent: International Recognition for Nutifood FDI Formula

Developed since 2020 by the Nutifood Nutrition Research Institute in Sweden (NNRIS) under Nutifood, FDI Formula (Foundation of Digestion & Immunity) combines advances in European nutritional science with insights into the specific nutritional needs of Vietnamese children. Instead of focusing solely on individual nutrient supplementation, Nutifood adopted a foundational approach centered on two critical systems — digestion and immunity —helping children absorb and metabolize nutrients more effectively during their early developmental years.

The FDI Formula combines 2’-FL HMO and FOS (*), aiming to build a strong “healthy immunity, good digestion” foundation for children. 2’-FL HMO is a natural oligosaccharide found in breast milk that supports immune system development, while FOS and Inulin are plant-based soluble fibers that help balance beneficial gut bacteria.

The effectiveness of the FDI Formula was evaluated by Vietnam’s National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) through a clinical study involving young children in 2021. The study showed that the Nutifood FDI Formula helped improve common digestive issues in children such as loss of appetite, constipation, and diarrhea, while also supporting a reduced risk of respiratory infections.

Over the past five years, the FDI Formula has accompanied millions of Vietnamese families and become the specialized nutritional foundation across the entire Nutifood GrowPLUS+ product portfolio. Building on this foundation, each product is fortified with essential nutrients in optimized formulations tailored to children’s nutritional needs and developmental stages.

In 2026, the USPTO patent further reinforces the scientific credibility of the FDI Formula. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading intellectual property systems, USPTO is known for its rigorous evaluation process and stringent standards for novelty, utility and real-world applicability.

According to the USPTO’s assessment, the FDI Formula is distinguished by its proprietary combination ratio of 2’-FL HMO and FOS, supported by a clinical evaluation system demonstrating simultaneous benefits for both digestive and immune health in young children.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks in the U.S., playing a key role in fostering innovation and global competitiveness. Established in 1790, the USPTO is now one of the world’s most influential intellectual property systems, with more than 12 million patents granted to date. USPTO is currently operated by a team of more than 13,000 technical, legal and examining professionals, serving as a key driver of setting standards and advancing international cooperation in intellectual property protection.

Nutifood Nutritional Science: Advancing from Vietnam into Global Markets

The granting and protection of the FDI Formula by the USPTO further affirms Nutifood’s research capabilities in line with international standards. Founded by a team of doctors and nutrition experts, Nutifood has consistently pursued the development of evidence-based nutritional solutions driven by its mission of “Improving nutritional standards for Vietnamese people."

At the event, Mr. Hoang Minh, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized that in an increasingly competitive global environment, science, technology, and intellectual property are becoming core competitive advantages for businesses. According to him, the USPTO patent granted to Nutifood’s FDI Formula demonstrates that Vietnamese enterprises are fully capable of creating scientifically valuable products that meet international standards and gradually integrate more deeply into the global market through proprietary technologies.

Mr. Tran Bao Minh, Vice Chairman of Nutifood, said: “Nutifood FDI Formula being granted a patent by the USPTO is evidence of Nutifood’s serious commitment to investing in nutritional science research. This achievement further strengthens our confidence in the journey we have steadfastly pursued for many years — from researching age-specific nutritional needs and developing formulas, to conducting clinical studies and applying them in specialized products — with the goal of creating internationally standardized nutritional solutions for Vietnamese children.”

In Vietnam, FDI Formula is regarded as a core nutritional foundation contributing to the success of Nutifood GrowPLUS+, a brand that has maintained a leading position for many years in the ready-to-drink powdered milk segment for children. This investment strategy in nutritional science has also created a foundation for Nutifood to expand its international presence.

At the event, Nutifood also announced the establishment of Nutifood America-Nutrition Science. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with a U.S.-based partner to expand an A2 Organic dairy farm in the United States, while also evaluating investment plans for a spray-drying facility to supply premium and high-purity A2 Organic ingredients to Vietnam for the manufacturing of products under the Nutifood American Nutrition Science brand.

The new brand is built on the proprietary Nutifood FDI Formula patented by the USPTO, integrating advanced U.S. nutritional science and technology, utilizing premium A2 protein sourced from purebred A2 dairy herds and essential nutrients. Nutifood America-Nutrition Science aims to develop premium A2 GrowPLUS+ formula nutrition product lines to meet consumers’ growing nutritional demands.

Ms. Melissa A. Brown, U.S. Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, recognized Nutifood’s efforts to expand cooperation with leading U.S. partners. She noted that scientific initiatives and commercial collaboration between Vietnamese and U.S. enterprises would contribute to fostering innovation while strengthening bilateral economic ties.

Meanwhile, Mr. Glenn Millar, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Global Markets, California Milk Advisory Board, noted that USPTO-patented FDI Formula provides a strong foundation for Nutifood to further develop specialized nutritional solutions aligned with international standards. He added that an approach combining modern nutritional science with research into children’s physical conditions and specific nutritional needs would unlock new opportunities for innovation in the future of children’s nutrition.

About Nutifood

Nutifood was founded by a team of doctors and nutrition experts with the mission of “improving nutritional standards for Vietnamese people.” After more than 25 years of development, Nutifood has continuously expanded its nutritional ecosystem — from sourcing regions and dairy farms to internationally certified manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, Sweden and Australia. Nutifood’s portfolio includes GrowPLUS+ for children, NuVi for ages 3-12, Värna for adults and NutiMilk for families. The company is also strengthening its international cooperation through the Nutifood Nutrition Research Institute in Sweden (NNRIS), the Nutifood Australia Nutrition Research Institute (ANS), and global nutrition partners such as BASF, DuPont and DSM-Firmenich to develop internationally standardized nutritional solutions. In 2025, Nutifood further expanded its international presence through a partnership with ViPlus Dairy, a 130-year-old nutrition company from Gippsland, known as Australia’s “dairy capital” to introduce the premium dairy brand GippsNature.

Media Contact

Tú Nhã Lý
tunha@socialelite.io

Lucra, the leading social competition platform, today announced a partnership with UrbanBall, the global street football competition ecosystem built around live events, creator-led content, and AI-powered match infrastructure. Through Lucra's white-label SDK, UrbanBall will power real-money and free-to-play tournaments, user-generated competitions, and an integrated gaming wallet directly within the UrbanBaller App, launching this June alongside UrbanBall's U.S. activation tour.

UrbanBall connects players through a unified global ranking and competition system that bridges live activations and digital play. The platform is co-founded by Sean Garnier, one of the most recognized names in freestyle football with over 25 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, and is backed by Red Bull across its global events. UrbanBall has built a community of more than 1,000 ambassadors worldwide and generated over 1.8 billion views across its competition content to date. At the core of the platform is UrbanBall's AI-powered match verification system, which uses video analysis to automatically detect goals, fouls, and skill moves — solving the trust gap that has historically prevented decentralized street football from scaling competitively.

The Lucra integration goes live in the UrbanBaller App later this summer, timed to a moment when football culture in the United States is at a historic high. With FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, interest in the sport at every level — from stadium seats to street courts — is accelerating. UrbanBall's U.S. activation tour kicks off in Dallas on June 5, with events across seven cities throughout the month and a New York City finale on June 28 and 29. Players will be able to enter peer-to-peer real-money competitions, join client-hosted and user-generated tournaments, and convert winnings to gift cards — all without leaving the app. Lucra handles payments, compliance, fraud prevention, and settlement automatically.

"UrbanBall has always sat at the intersection of culture and competition — billions of views, 1,000+ ambassadors, Sean Garnier at the center," said Toli Makris, co-founder of UrbanBall. "Partnering with Lucra gives us the tournament infrastructure and compliance framework to scale that across the U.S. market first, with the foundation to expand globally as the partnership grows. Every freestyle match in our ecosystem becomes a real platform moment, not just a one-off activation."

"Street football has a passionate global following and UrbanBall has built a serious platform around it," said Dylan Robbins, CEO of Lucra. "This is our first partnership in the soccer and street sports vertical, and we're going live during a U.S. tour with real events, real players, and real stakes. That's exactly the kind of launch that shows what this technology is actually for."

The partnership also lays the groundwork for international expansion, with UrbanBall's roadmap targeting growth across the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. As the platform scales and its sanctioned tournament network grows, Lucra's competition infrastructure will expand with it.

About Lucra

Lucra is a plug-and-play SDK that integrates into apps or websites, enabling peer-to-peer competitions with real-money or rewards. It handles compliance, payments, fraud prevention, and settlement out of the box, so partners can instantly offer gamified experiences without building or managing complex infrastructure themselves. Top entertainment, hospitality, and consumer brands, including Five Iron Golf, Puttshack, Backyard Sports, ChessKings, TouchTunes, and more, use Lucra's white-label technology to power tournaments and challenges, build loyalty, and drive new revenue. Learn more at lucrasports.com.

About UrbanBall

UrbanBall is a global street football competition ecosystem combining live events, creator-led content, AI-powered match infrastructure, and gaming engagement into one platform built around the next generation of football culture. Co-founded by freestyle football icon Sean Garnier, UrbanBall connects players through a unified global ranking and competition system spanning physical activations and digital play. For more information, visit urbanball.io.

Disclaimer

Real-money competitions are subject to eligibility requirements, geographic restrictions, and applicable laws and regulations. Certain features described in this release may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all users. No purchase is necessary to participate in free-to-play competitions. Skill-based competitions offered through the UrbanBaller App are void where prohibited. Lucra provides competition infrastructure, payments, compliance, fraud prevention, and settlement services and does not operate or sponsor any gambling activities. Gift card redemption options are subject to applicable terms and conditions. Event dates, locations, launch timing, and product features are subject to change.

Media Contact

Lindsay Linhart
Brand Strategist, Lucra
lindsay@lucrasports.com

In the suite of talent admission schemes recently launched by the Hong Kong SAR government, a specific demographic of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) faces unique barriers. Despite running highly profitable businesses and possessing substantial liquid assets, they often fall short of the strict requirements of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) — typically due to the lack of a degree from a global top-100 university or a declared personal annual salary exceeding HK$2.5 million in Hong Kong SAR.

For this group, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), relaunched by the Hong Kong SAR government in 2024, offers a direct alternative. It provides a legal and compliant channel for global asset allocation and family residency planning. As of April 2026, the program has received nearly 3,300 applications, projecting an influx of over HK$95 billion in new investment to Hong Kong SAR.

An investment threshold of HK$30 million is substantial in the current economic cycle. What is the underlying asset logic driving HNWIs to allocate this capital to Hong Kong SAR?

Prioritizing Mobility and Educational Infrastructure

When evaluating residency planning, global mobility is a fundamental metric. According to the latest comprehensive passport and global mobility data released by Passport Ranking, a data platform under Globevisa Group, the Hong Kong SAR ranks 30th globally out of 199 countries and territories.

A closer look at the sub-indices reveals more specific motivations. Hong Kong SAR ranks 47th in "Mobility." For entrepreneurs, this translates to bypassing lengthy visa application processes for frequent international business travel, cross-border meetings, and due diligence, thereby saving valuable time.

Simultaneously, Hong Kong SAR ranks 7th globally in "Education Infrastructure Quality." This explains why a significant proportion of New CIES applicants plan their immigration strategies as a family unit. For many entrepreneurs, a primary motivation for the HK$30 million allocation is to secure direct access to a world-leading education system for their children.

Capital Security and a Global Rank of 16th in Governance

The decision of where to anchor significant capital heavily depends on regional institutional stability.

Data from Passport Ranking indicates that Hong Kong SAR ranks 16th globally in "Governance," a metric encompassing institutional quality and the rule of law. This assessment is corroborated by several leading international indices:

• Fraser Institute's "Economic Freedom of the World: 2025 Annual Report": Hong Kong SAR secured an overall score of 8.55, retaining its position as the world's freest economy, and continues to rank first globally in the "Freedom to Trade Internationally" category.
• World Justice Project (WJP) "Rule of Law Index 2025": Hong Kong SAR ranks 24th globally out of 143 jurisdictions and 6th in the Asia-Pacific region. Its performance in the "Absence of Corruption" factor remains robust, ranking 9th globally.
• IMD "World Competitiveness Ranking 2025": Hong Kong SAR returned to the global top three (ranking 3rd) for the first time since 2019. It ranks 2nd globally in both "Government Efficiency" and "Business Efficiency," and holds the number one spot worldwide in "Tax Policy" and "Business Legislation."

For investors, this means the HK$30 million is not merely a residency threshold. It is a strategic move to position a portion of their assets within a commercial environment characterized by a simple tax regime, an absence of foreign exchange controls, and the strict property rights protection of the common law system.

Regulatory Adjustments and Strict Compliance Realities

Moving into 2025, Hong Kong SAR authorities implemented pragmatic adjustments to the New CIES regulations. Key changes include reducing the net asset review period from two years to six months, allowing jointly owned properties by spouses to be calculated proportionally as net assets, and permitting investments through wholly-owned private companies established in Hong Kong SAR. These modifications enhance capital flexibility and accommodate clients seeking to establish family offices.

However, increased flexibility does not imply a lowered bar. The New CIES imposes a strict operational timeline: once an applicant receives "Approval-in-Principle" from the Immigration Department, they have a narrowsix-month window to deploy the full HK$30 million into government-approved asset classes (such as specific equities, bonds, certificates of deposit, or non-residential real estate capped at HK$15 million).

This requirement elevates a standard capital transfer into a complex undertaking involving financial compliance and portfolio structuring.

The Long Game: Compliance Risks and the Seven-Year Horizon

Based on its operational experience in the sector since the introduction of Hong Kong SAR's first-generation investment immigration program in 2003, Globevisa Group notes that rejection risks often stem from technical details. Common pitfalls include flawed valuation documentation for unlisted corporate equity or the acquisition of financial products that do not strictly align with InvestHK's permissible investment directory. 

Navigating this dual-agency review process requires more than individual experience. Executing a seven-year residency planning cycle successfully necessitates a licensed team with a physical presence in Hong Kong SAR, deeply versed in cross-border legal and tax compliance frameworks.

Ultimately, the HK New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme functions as more than a simple financial filter. For well-capitalized families unable to utilize standard talent admission routes, it represents a highly controllable pathway to accessing top-tier educational resources and integrating into a global standard of corporate governance. Amidst economic uncertainty, this capital allocation reflects a rational, long-term strategic investment.

About Globevisa Group

Globevisa Group is a premier global advisory firm specializing in transnational identity and asset planning. We are committed to integrating the latest macroeconomic data with core client requirements to deliver end-to-end solutions, ranging from compliance screening to legal execution for high-net-worth individuals. To view the complete Global Passport Ranking and methodology, visit www.passportranking.com. For tailored global mobility and second citizenship planning, visit www.globevisa.com.

Media Contact

Manxi Li
mancyli@globevisa.com

Global Digital Needs Agency (g/d/n/a) today announced the official launch of Global Digital Access Collaborative (gD@C), a new nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting communities to the innovation economy. Through its flagship techShift program, gD@C has already launched ten careers, moving individuals from non-technical backgrounds into sustainable technology positions with an 80% employment rate within 90 days of program completion.

Backed by g/d/n/a's cloud-native and AI infrastructure, gD@C operates as a neutral coordination layer that delivers early-stage scaffolding for workforce development, founder enablement, and community-aligned innovation. techShift represents the organization's first program in what will become a growing portfolio addressing systemic barriers to tech career access.

"We're not building another training program," said Will Horn, founder of gD@C and CEO of g/d/n/a. "We're building the connective infrastructure that communities need to turn ambition into outcomes. techShift proves the model works — real people with no technical background are now building cloud infrastructure for enterprise clients."

Proven Model, Real Outcomes

"techShift propelled me from retail to RevOps intern at g/d/n/a," said Brian Rowe, who now serves as techShift Program Lead. "I learned how to turn bold ideas into real-world opportunities for startups by gaining the tools and confidence to drive business impact."

The program's three specialized tracks serve different populations entering the technology workforce:

• openShift provides comprehensive, 6+ month career transformation for individuals with no technical background.
• quickShift offers 30-45 day intensive specialization for experienced developers (2+ years) seeking cloud-native expertise.
• channelShift bridges business acumen with technical fluency for college graduates entering AWS partner ecosystem roles.

The program combines hands-on training in cloud computing, AI, and modern development practices with real-world project experience through gdna.io client engagements and open-source contributions. Participants build professional portfolios while earning AWS certifications and receiving direct employment placement support.

"In the first 50 days, I went from beginner to driving real impact," said Bryce Freshwater, TechOps and Cloud Engineer. "techShift gave me what I wouldn't find in any typical entry-level role."

Daria Schwab, who completed techShift and now leads marketing for g/d/n/a as well as gD@C, added, "I found not just skills, but a community and a future. Now I help others find theirs."

Strategic Partnership with AWS

gD@C's techShift program aligns directly with Amazon Web Services' Skills-to-Jobs initiative, which seeks boots-on-ground partners delivering measurable workforce outcomes. The partnership ensures curriculum relevance, provides participants with access to AWS training resources and certification pathways, and connects graduates to the broader AWS partner ecosystem.

"The journey gD@C participants take is exactly why community matters. What stands out immediately is not just the commitment to learning, but the willingness to lift others as they grow. I've watched gD@C graduates like Brian Rowe build and lead thriving AWS communities in Charleston and Atlanta, creating real pathways for people to connect, learn, and step into new opportunities. His story is a powerful example of what's possible with gD@C when community and access come together," said Demario Bell, Sr. Community Manager, North America, AWS

"gD@C's model creates exactly the kind of transformation stories that inspire entire communities," said Carlie Marvel, Sr. Content Marketing Manager, AWS Marketing Developer Relations. "Programs like techShift don't just train individuals — they produce graduates who become pathway builders themselves. What we're seeing from gD@C is proof of what's possible when talent meets opportunity, and that opportunity is now compounding as graduates create new pathways for others to rise alongside them."

Addressing Workforce Gaps Through Coordination

The technology sector faces significant challenges in developing and retaining qualified talent for cloud engineering, DevOps, and solutions architecture roles. Simultaneously, workers in traditional industries seek pathways into higher-wage, growing careers but face barriers including cost, lack of relevant networks, and unclear entry points.

gD@C addresses this disconnect by coordinating multiple ecosystem players — technology companies, educational institutions, community organizations, and economic development agencies — into aligned partnerships that produce sustained outcomes rather than episodic programming.

The organization's capability backing distinguishes it from traditional training programs. Participants learn on real AWS infrastructure, work on actual client projects through gdna.io, and integrate directly into the g/d/n/a ecosystem and partner network. This practical approach ensures employment outcomes aren't just strong — they're sustainable.

Local Impact, Scalable Model

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, gD@C demonstrates how community-based programs can create measurable economic impact. Beyond individual career transformations, the organization contributes to local talent retention, supports regional economic development goals, and helps establish Charleston as a hub for cloud-native technology talent.

Partnerships with Build Carolina, local economic development organizations, and regional educational institutions create referral pathways and ensure program accessibility for diverse populations including career changers, veterans, and underemployed professionals.

"I am excited to see how the Global Digital Access Collaborative (gD@C) continues to grow. These innovative community-based programs are crucial for establishing Charleston as a hub for artificial intelligence. They also support regional economic development and create learning opportunities for our students at the College of Charleston," said Lancie Affonso, College of Charleston Senior Instructor of Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, and Management, Honors College Faculty Fellow, and Director of the Honors College STEAM-ELLC.

Looking Forward

With their nonprofit status officially established, gD@C is positioned to scale techShift regionally and nationally while expanding its programming portfolio to include founder enablement, data literacy initiatives, and SMB modernization support.

The organization actively seeks partnerships with employers looking for cloud-native talent, educational institutions interested in curriculum alignment, and funding partners committed to evidence-based workforce development. techShift operates at no cost to participants through a combination of corporate sponsorships, grants, and philanthropic support.

Applications for techShift are now open as of June 15, 2026. Interested participants, partners, and supporters can learn more at joingdac.org.

About Global Digital Needs Agency (g/d/n/a)

Global Digital Needs Agency (g/d/n/a) is a cloud-native execution engine delivering rapid modernization, AI-integrated workflows, and governed systems on AWS infrastructure. GDNA.AI provides the intelligence platform powering agentic workflows and outcome-as-a-service models. Together with gD@C, the three entities form an integrated opportunity engine combining commercial capability, civic coordination, and technical infrastructure. Learn more at gdna.io and gdna.ai.

About Global Digital Access Collaborative (gD@C)

Global Digital Access Collaborative (gD@C) is a nonprofit organization connecting communities to the innovation economy through neutral coordination, digital infrastructure, and capability-backed development programs. Operating from Charleston, South Carolina, gD@C delivers early-stage scaffolding that turns individual ambition and community potential into sustainable economic outcomes. techShift is gD@C's flagship workforce development program, with additional initiatives in founder support, institutional alignment, and community-level AI adoption planned for 2026 and beyond. Learn more at joingdac.org.

Media Contact

Daria Schwab
Global Digital Needs Agency (g/d/n/a)
daria@gdna.io

Meowant introduced Meowant Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box – MW-SC09, an extra-large self-cleaning smart litter box designed to make daily cat care cleaner, safer, and more comfortable for cats of all sizes. Built with a spacious 106L interior, a large open design, and an easy 8-inch entry height, MW-SC09 gives cats more room to move naturally while helping pet parents spend less time scooping, cleaning, and managing odor.

Meowant Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box – MW-SC09 features an extra-large 106L toilet space, a 6.7L waste container, and intelligent cleaning modes designed to give cats more room, and cat parents more peace of mind.

Created in response to feedback from cat parents who wanted a larger, more comfortable self-cleaning litter box for big cats, senior cats, overweight cats, short-legged cats, and multi-cat households, MW-SC09 brings together Meowant’s latest improvements in space, safety, odor control, and connected care. It supports cats from 3.3 to 30 pounds, making it a flexible solution for homes with one cat or several cats sharing the same space.

“Cats need a litter box that feels safe, open, and comfortable; and cat parents need a solution that makes daily care simpler. With Meowant Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box — MW-SC09, we redesigned the experience around real feedback from cat families, creating an extra-large smart litter box that gives cats more space while helping owners keep their homes cleaner, fresher, and easier to manage,”  said a Meowant representative.

An Extra-Large Space Designed for Real Cat Comfort

At the center of MW-SC09 is its extra-large 106L toilet space, designed to help cats turn, step, dig, and move with greater freedom. The open interior gives cats a more natural litter box experience, reducing the cramped feeling that can come with smaller enclosed designs and making the box more inviting for larger cats.

The low 8-inch entry is designed to make access easier for cats that may need additional support, including senior cats, heavier cats, short-legged breeds, and cats that are less comfortable climbing into high-entry boxes. For multi-cat households, the generous interior and large waste capacity help create a more practical everyday solution, reducing the need for multiple manual cleanups throughout the day.

MW-SC09 builds on Meowant’s earlier self-cleaning litter box experience with a larger chamber and a larger waste container, giving families more flexibility and giving cats a more spacious, comfortable place to go.

360° Smart Safety Protection

MW-SC09 is designed to protect cats at every moment. Its integrated rotating structure keeps the opening facing outward, helping prevent cats from being caught between the litter box body and the rotating drum. This design helps create a safer cleaning process while maintaining the convenience of automatic waste separation.

Multiple high-precision sensors work together to detect weight, movement, and abnormal operation, helping the litter box pause or alert when needed. These smart protections are designed to make every cleaning cycle safer, whether the cat has just left the litter box, is near the entry, or returns unexpectedly.

Safety is especially important for automatic litter boxes, and MW-SC09 is built around that principle. From its outward-facing opening to its movement stop and abnormal alarm features, the product is designed to give cat parents more confidence while giving cats a secure, familiar routine.

Advanced Odor Control. Always Fresh.

MW-SC09 helps keep the litter box area fresher with a dual approach to odor control. The enclosed waste container physically separates waste from the open litter area, while the included odor eliminator helps reduce unpleasant smells before they spread through the home.

The 6.7L extra-large waste container can hold waste for up to 14 days, making MW-SC09 ideal for busy owners, short trips, and households that want a cleaner routine with fewer interruptions. After each cleaning cycle, waste is separated into the sealed container, helping maintain a healthier and more pleasant toilet environment for cats and families.

The upgraded liner also improves everyday cleanliness. Designed with a seamless edge for a closer fit, the thickened double-layer silicone pad is waterproof, non-stick, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean. It helps reduce leakage and makes routine maintenance simpler, especially in homes where cats use the litter box frequently.

Smart Cleaning Modes for Every Household

MW-SC09 offers automatic, manual, and timer cleaning modes, giving cat parents flexible control over daily maintenance. In automatic mode, the litter box cleans itself after the cat leaves, separating clumps from clean litter and moving waste into the sealed trash container. Manual mode gives owners direct control when they want to start a cleaning cycle themselves, while timer mode allows cleaning routines to be scheduled around household needs.

With support for clumping cat litter, including bentonite, tofu, and mixed litter, MW-SC09 is designed to work with the litter types many cat families already use. It is compatible with clumping litter under 15mm in length, helping owners upgrade to a smart litter box without needing to completely change their cat’s existing routine.

The product is also designed for simple, practical care. The detachable drum makes cleaning and rinsing easier, while the upgraded design includes drainage holes to help water flow out more quickly during cleaning. The base should not be washed directly and can be wiped clean with a cloth, keeping maintenance straightforward and manageable.

Health Insights Through the AIRPET App

MW-SC09 connects to the AIRPET App through 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, allowing cat parents to monitor litter box activity, view status, adjust cleaning settings, and track usage data remotely. With the upgraded app experience, MW-SC09 can record usage data for more than 30 cats, making it especially useful for multi-cat households.

Through periodic data pushes, owners can track cat weight and activity in real time, helping them notice changes in behavior earlier. For cats, small changes in litter box habits can be meaningful, and MW-SC09 helps turn everyday litter box use into helpful insights that support more attentive care.

The app also makes managing the litter box easier when owners are away from home. Whether checking the status of the device, reviewing recent usage, or adjusting cleaning modes, cat parents can stay connected to their cat’s routine with greater convenience.

Whisper-Quiet Performance for Peaceful Homes

MW-SC09 is built with an ultra-quiet motor designed to keep operation as low as 36dB, helping maintain a peaceful environment for cats and families. The quiet cleaning experience is especially important in apartments, bedrooms, living rooms, and shared spaces where noise can be disruptive.

By combining smart cleaning with quiet performance, MW-SC09 helps pet parents maintain a cleaner litter area without adding stress to the home. Cats can use the box comfortably, and families can enjoy the benefits of automation without the distraction of loud mechanical noise.

Designed for Busy Cat Parents and Multi-Cat Homes

For many cat families, the litter box is one of the most repetitive parts of pet care. MW-SC09 is designed to reduce that daily burden with automatic cleaning, a large waste container, app control, odor management, and a spacious cat-friendly design.

For homes with multiple cats, the larger toilet space and waste capacity make MW-SC09 a more practical everyday solution. For owners of larger cats, the roomy interior provides more comfort. For senior or less mobile cats, the low entry helps make access easier. And for busy pet parents, the sealed 6.7L waste container and multiple cleaning modes help make litter box care less frequent and more manageable.

MW-SC09 reflects Meowant’s focus on practical smart pet care: technology that does not complicate the home, but makes daily routines easier, safer, and cleaner.

About Meowant

Meowant creates smart pet care products designed to make daily life easier for pets and their families. With a focus on intelligent litter box solutions, pet hydration, grooming, and home care, Meowant develops products that combine practical design, connected technology, and everyday comfort. Its products are built to support cleaner homes, healthier routines, and more convenient care for modern pet families. For more information, visit meowant.com.

Media Contact

Tina Wynne
service@meowanthome.com

In a remote work software market often associated with large American technology vendors, TSplus, a French SME competing globally by keeping business IT simple, secure, and affordable, has developed a complete software suite for remote access, remote support, cybersecurity, and server monitoring. It is designed to provide organizations with practical and cost-effective IT management tools without the weight of enterprise complexity.

Making Remote Access More Accessible

As companies rethink how employees connect to business applications, demand is growing for flexible tools that do not require costly infrastructure changes. TSplus positions its remote access software as a straightforward alternative for publishing Windows desktops and applications through secure web access. The aim is not to force businesses into disruptive migration projects, but to help them extend the value of systems they already use.

A French Success Story in a Competitive Market

TSplus represents a broader trend in European technology: smaller, focused companies challenging dominant global players by addressing everyday business pain points. While many remote access platforms are built for large enterprises with large budgets, TSplus has carved out space among small and mid-sized businesses, IT resellers, managed service providers and organizations looking for predictable costs.

The company’s appeal lies in a pragmatic promise. Businesses want employees to work from anywhere, but they also want control, security, and simplicity. TSplus answers that need with tools that can support remote desktops, application delivery, unattended support sessions, server monitoring, and additional protection for exposed remote environments.

The Digital Sovereignty Angle

The TSplus story also arrives at a time when digital sovereignty has become a serious concern for European organizations. Governments, SMEs, and technology buyers are increasingly aware of where their software comes from, who controls it, and whether alternatives exist outside the largest US-based platforms.

For journalists, this creates a compelling angle: TSplus is not only selling remote access tools, it is part of a wider conversation about European software independence. Its growth shows that innovation does not only come from Silicon Valley scale. It can also come from specialist companies that understand local business needs and turn that knowledge into international products.

Competing Through Simplicity, Not Size

The remote work boom created urgency, but it also exposed complexity. Companies had to support hybrid teams, secure remote connections, and assist users across multiple locations. For many SMEs, enterprise-grade platforms were too expensive or too complicated.

TSplus has responded by focusing on usability and affordability. Its message is clear: remote access and IT administration should be powerful enough for professionals, but simple enough for lean teams to deploy and manage.

A Story Worth Watching

As global demand for secure remote work continues, TSplus offers journalists a distinctive business story: a French SME taking on larger competitors by choosing focus over scale. In a crowded software market, its European identity, practical product strategy, and international reach make it a challenger brand with a timely message.

About TSplus

TSplus is a global software company specializing in remote access, application delivery, cybersecurity, and IT support solutions for businesses of all sizes. Its product suite enables organizations to securely access Windows applications and desktops from anywhere while simplifying remote work infrastructure and reducing IT costs. Trusted by more than 500,000 companies worldwide, TSplus is recognized as a cost-effective alternative to traditional remote desktop and virtualization platforms such as Citrix and Microsoft RDS. Through its focus on security, scalability, and ease of deployment, TSplus helps businesses modernize remote connectivity and support distributed teams across a wide range of industries. For more information, visit tsplus.net.

Media Contact

Amanda Lauener
amanda@ascendagency.com

Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC has announced a firm-wide enhancement of its approach to evaluating and recovering economic damages in personal injury cases, reflecting a broader strategic investment in financial analysis, expert collaboration, and long-term case valuation.

The North Carolina- and South Carolina-based firm, which represents clients in serious injury matters, said the initiative is designed to ensure that compensation claims more accurately reflect both immediate and future financial losses resulting from accidents and negligence.

Broader Focus on Lifetime Financial Impact

According to the firm, the updated methodology places greater emphasis on projecting the long-term economic consequences of an injury, rather than limiting claims to easily quantifiable past expenses. This includes expanded use of financial forecasting models to estimate lifetime medical costs, ongoing care requirements, and income disruption.

Firm representatives noted that many injury claims are historically undervalued due to insufficient consideration of future losses. By adopting a more comprehensive financial framework, the firm aims to address this gap and align case valuations with the full scope of a client’s circumstances.

Increased Use of Expert Analysis

As part of the update, Farmer & Morris has formalized partnerships with medical economists, vocational experts, and life care planners. These specialists are engaged earlier in the litigation process to support detailed projections of future medical treatment, rehabilitation needs, and diminished earning capacity.

The firm stated that early integration of expert testimony strengthens both settlement negotiations and trial readiness by grounding claims in data-driven analysis and professional opinion.

Enhanced Documentation of Economic Damages

The firm also reported improvements in how economic losses are documented and presented. In addition to traditional records such as medical bills and employment history, case teams now systematically track out-of-pocket expenses and indirect financial impacts tied to an injury.

These may include costs related to transportation for treatment, home modifications, or the need for third-party assistance with daily activities. The firm indicated that capturing these categories consistently can materially affect overall recovery outcomes.

Strategic Objective: Maximizing Client Recovery

Farmer & Morris said the initiative reflects its broader objective of maximizing client recovery in an increasingly complex insurance and litigation environment. Insurance carriers often rely on experienced adjusters and legal teams to limit payouts, making detailed financial substantiation a critical component of successful claims.

By strengthening its internal capabilities and expanding its use of expert resources, the firm aims to provide a more rigorous and comprehensive representation model for injury victims.

Regional Presence and Client Services

Farmer & Morris operates multiple offices across North Carolina and South Carolina, including locations in Rutherfordton, Shelby, Morganton, Spartanburg, and Hendersonville. The firm offers free case evaluations and operates on a contingency fee basis.

Representatives added that the firm remains available to clients on a 24/7 basis, reflecting the urgent and often unpredictable nature of serious injury cases.

About Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC

Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC is a North Carolina and South Carolina law firm providing legal representation in personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, family law, bankruptcy, wills and estates, and related practice areas. With six attorneys, five offices, and more than 10,000 clients served, the firm is committed to delivering compassionate, client-focused legal guidance at every stage of the legal process. Farmer & Morris Law has secured more than $100 million for clients in injury and disability cases and has been voted Best of Rutherford County since 2011. Learn more at www.farmermorris.com.

Kenneth P. O'Hanlon Sr., founder and chief executive officer of Ask Jeeves LLC, announced the launch of Ask Jeeves’ geo-privacy and emergency platform. Ask Jeeves’ Geo is a stand-alone geolocation privacy and emergency response platform designed to exceed new 2026 privacy laws emerging across several U.S. states.

Ask Jeeves Geo also places significant emphasis on security, and the platform operates on a secure infrastructure designed to handle sensitive geospatial and telecommunications data while maintaining strict access controls. Encrypted authentication layers limit system entry to verified users, while backend servers process and store data within controlled environments. The platform also incorporates network monitoring and geospatial analytics capabilities, allowing it to analyze telecommunications signals and location data streams while maintaining secure transmission between systems.

The release comes as Illinois, Kentucky, and California advance updated privacy protections governing mobile tracking and user consent. Ask Jeeves’ Geo was engineered to comply with those statutes while also aligning with European Union (EU) standards that restrict unauthorized tracking on mobile devices.

A Privacy System Built on Consent

Ask Jeeves Geo introduces patented opt-in and opt-out geolocation patterns that give users direct control over when their location data is active. The system allows individuals to disable tracking entirely and reactivate it at their discretion.

Mr. O'Hanlon has argued that many consumer applications track users without meaningful permission. This leads to targeted marketing based on proximity data. His platform separates location services from passive commercial tracking. As a result, it returns control to the user.

The Geo system was originally designed for the Ask-Jeeves.ai and Ask-Genevieve.ai platforms. The technology was later separated into its own product line, creating a fifth pillar within the broader Ask Jeeves ecosystem.

Emergency Activation Through Voice Trigger

A key component of Ask Jeeves Geo is its integrated emergency response feature. If a user is in danger and cannot safely place a phone call, a predetermined verbal keyword activates the system. Once triggered, the platform automatically turns on GPS tracking, voice recording and video capture.

The information can then be transmitted directly to emergency services, including 911, without requiring the user to engage in a visible phone call. The function is intended for scenarios in which a victim may be under duress and unable to speak freely. Mr. O'Hanlon said the design anticipates real-world safety situations in public and private spaces. 

Expansion Into the European Union

In tandem with the U.S. launch, Mr. O'Hanlon is establishing a European company to introduce the same system across the European Union. The platform complies with EU privacy requirements and, in several respects, exceeds baseline legal thresholds. The expansion builds on his earlier work in geolocation-based opt-in and opt-out services, handset recognition systems and mobile tracking patents that predate the smartphone era.

Legacy in Mobile Marketing and AI

Born in London, Mr. O'Hanlon founded his first technology company in 2003 after serving 22 years in the Royal Marines. His early patents included photo and video transmission over analog networks and interactive voice response systems.

Mr. O'Hanlon later received the Denver Business Journal Technology Award in June 2008. He has also been recognized as a Pinnacle Professional Member of The Inner Circle of Excellence, an honor that acknowledges his contributions to marketing technology and digital systems.

Ask Jeeves LLC recently acquired the original Ask-Jeeves.com domain and launched a suite of generative AI platforms. These include Ask-Jeeves.ai, Ask-Genevieve.ai and Ask-Jeeves-IP.ai. Within that structure, Ask-Jeeves-IP.ai operates as what Mr. O’Hanlon calls a “Truth Supervisor,” by applying mathematical verification protocols intended to reduce AI hallucinations.

Mr. O'Hanlon attributes his technical progress to visual problem-solving, perseverance and overcoming dyslexia. He has said that artificial intelligence tools now enable him to translate a conceptual design into formal documentation more efficiently than he did earlier in his career.

Outside of technology, he is active in community and athletic organizations, including the Freemasons, the Knights of the Temple and the Shriners. A former Royal Navy Judo champion and wrestling gold medalist, he also helped establish youth rugby programs in Colorado.

With the launch of Ask Jeeves Geo, Mr. O'Hanlon positions the company at the center of the 2026 mobile privacy debate. The business focuses on user sovereignty, direct consent and rapid-response safety systems.

About Ask Jeeves Geo

Ask Jeeves Geo is a geolocation privacy and emergency response platform developed by Ask Jeeves LLC to give users greater control over how their location data is collected, shared, and protected. Founded by Kenneth P. O’Hanlon Sr., the platform combines patented opt-in and opt-out geolocation technology with secure infrastructure designed to comply with emerging U.S. privacy laws and evolving European Union data protection standards.  Built to separate essential location services from passive commercial tracking, Ask Jeeves Geo positions itself as a next-generation platform focused on user consent, security, and real-world personal safety.

About Ask Jeeves LLC

Founded under the leadership of Kenneth P. O'Hanlon Sr., Ask Jeeves LLC develops AI-driven platforms focused on search, research, intellectual property protection and geolocation privacy. Operating through divisions that include Ask-Jeeves.ai and Ask- Genevieve.ai, the company integrates patented mobile marketing systems with generative artificial intelligence to deliver privacy-focused digital tools.

About Marquis Who's Who

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

Clayton State University, a public university in Morrow, Georgia, today announced that it has been recognized by Newsweek as a top college for women in the nation in the publisher’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026. Clayton State was also ranked No. 6 among colleges and universities in Georgia included on the list.

The recognition highlights Clayton State University’s commitment to student success, opportunity, and social mobility. As a national leader in social mobility, Clayton State is dedicated to helping students from diverse backgrounds achieve economic mobility, career advancement, and long-term success through access to higher education and workforce pathways.

The university’s student-centered approach provides strong academic programs, personalized support, and real-world learning opportunities that empower students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Clayton State continues to cultivate an inclusive campus culture where women are encouraged to lead, succeed, and pursue meaningful careers in Georgia and beyond.

“We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Colleges for Women,” said Dr. Georj Lewis, President of Clayton State University. “This recognition reflects the strength of our dynamic faculty and staff, our commitment to student success, and the remarkable women graduates who continue to lead and make an impact in their communities and professions. At Clayton State, we remain focused on creating opportunities that empower students to achieve their goals and transform their futures.”

America’s Best Colleges for Women is a ranking developed by Newsweek in partnership with Gender Fair to highlight institutions that support gender equality and empower women. The methodology is rooted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles and evaluates colleges across four key areas: leadership, pay and policies, safety, and opportunity.

The ranking identifies colleges that have established the structural elements necessary to foster education and employment for women by drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education — including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Campus Safety and Security Database — as well as additional desk research. Only institutions meeting specific criteria for size and academic roles are included, ensuring the results reflect meaningful progress toward gender equity in higher education.

“Choosing a college is a defining moment for many young women, and it’s about more than academics alone,” said Jennifer H. Cunningham, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. “America’s Best Colleges for Women highlights institutions that are making measurable progress in leadership, equity, safety, and opportunity, helping students identify environments where women are supported and positioned to succeed.”

About Clayton State University

Founded in 1969, Clayton State University, a member of the University System of Georgia, is a student-centered institution committed to expanding access, advancing social mobility, and preparing graduates for meaningful, career-connected success. Through a range of undergraduate, and graduate degree programs. Clayton State provides clear pathways for students from all backgrounds. Located in Morrow, Georgia on 214 acres with six lakes, the University serves as a vital engine for workforce development and community impact. Clayton State competes in NCAA Division II athletics and is home to Spivey Hall, a premier performance venue in the Atlanta metropolitan area. For more information, visit www.clayton.edu.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 93-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. For more information, visit www.newsweek.com.

Media Contact

Joseph Clark
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Clayton State University
JosephClark@Clayton.edu
+1 470-476-5627

Discovery Cove®, Orlando’s premier all-inclusive day resort, has been named Newsweek’s No. 1 Best Theme Park in the Summer Travel category of the publication’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, placing the Orlando destination among the country’s top summer travel experiences as voted by Newsweek readers nationwide.

Discovery Cove offers a unique, limited-capacity experience centered on relaxation, personalized service, and immersive animal encounters. Guests can swim with bottlenose dolphins, snorkel among thousands of tropical fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds, and unwind amid white-sand beaches, winding waterways, and lush tropical landscapes, while enjoying freshly prepared meals, beverages, snorkeling gear, wetsuits, and parking — all included with admission.

“Being named Newsweek’s No. 1 Best Theme Park is an incredible honor because Discovery Cove was intentionally designed to offer something fundamentally different,” said Brad Gilmour, Park President of Discovery Cove. “Guests come here to slow down, connect with nature, and share meaningful experiences together. These awards are a reflection of the passion our ambassadors bring to creating those moments every day.”

The recognition comes as Discovery Cove continues expanding its guest experience with the recent launch of Paradise Nights, a new, separately-ticketed summer evening dinner show featuring beachside cocktails, Caribbean-inspired cuisine, animal ambassador appearances, and a live entertainment production with aerialists and fire performers after the park closes for the day.

Additional recent enhancements and premium add-on experiences include:

• Flamingo Point, featuring up-close flamingo encounters
• Shark Interaction and snorkel, an immersive guided shark experience
• Ultimate Animal Experience, an exclusive behind-the-scenes half-day adventure 
• Animal Trek, a guided rainforest exploration featuring birds and small mammals
• SeaVenture, an underwater walking experience among tropical marine life 

As Florida’s only all-inclusive day resort, Discovery Cove continues to distinguish itself through its combination of personalized service, intimate animal experiences, and resort-style atmosphere.

The Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards recognize standout businesses, brands, and experiences across a wide range of consumer categories. Winners are determined through a public voting process in which readers select the companies and organizations they believe deliver exceptional quality, value, and customer experience.

The 2026 program highlights leading companies and destinations across numerous industries, including the Summer Travel category, Best Theme Park, where Discovery Cove was awarded first place.

“Each year, the Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate the best of the best, as chosen by the people who matter most — our readers,” said Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer H. Cunningham “We’re proud to recognize those organizations that continue to raise the bar for quality, innovation, and customer experience.”

About Discovery Cove

Recently named a 2026 Good Housekeeping Travel Award winner for the third consecutive year, the “Best Theme Park” by Newsweek and ranked “Best Lazy River” in the U.S. by USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Discovery Cove® provides guests with a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive tropical getaway. From pristine white-sand beaches and winding rivers to vibrant coral reefs, visitors can relax and connect with nature while enjoying unlimited food, drinks, and swim gear throughout the day. For more information, visit DiscoveryCove.com.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 93-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. For more information, visit www.newsweek.com.

Media Contact

Hayworth PR
discoverycove@hayworthpr.com
+1 386-677-7000

The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) today released the following statement from Jeff Smith, Executive Director, in response to President Trump's statement from the Oval Office (32:36) on May 11, 2026, referring to efforts to get natural 7-OH FDA approved:

“President Trump said his administration is trying to keep 'natural 7-OH' available. That distinction matters, and it is the same distinction lawmakers and regulators should be moving forward. Policymakers should focus on stopping bad actors, mislabeled products, unsafe marketing practices, and inconsistent manufacturing standards, not criminalizing naturally derived products that millions of Americans already use. A blanket ban on natural 7-OH is now directly at odds with the President’s stated goal. The FDA should support the direction set by the President and work toward a regulatory framework that protects consumers without eliminating lawful access to natural products.” 

HART continues to advocate for a commonsense regulatory framework for kratom and its naturally occurring compounds, including 7-OH, focused on:

• Age restrictions
• Clear labeling and dosing standards
• Third-party testing and manufacturing controls
• Consumer transparency

About Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART)

The Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART) is a nonprofit policy organization dedicated to advancing safe, evidence-based access to natural alternatives for recovery and wellness. HART advocates for scientific transparency, consumer safety, and regulatory accountability in emerging health and wellness industries. Learn more at hartsupporter.com.

Disclaimer

HART supports a science-based regulatory pathway that preserves access to naturally derived 7-OH products. While the FDA and state health departments have issued safety alerts citing 7-OH as a potential public health threat, HART contends that these risks are primarily associated with mislabeled, adulterated, or highly manipulated products, not naturally occurring alkaloids found in the kratom leaf itself. 7-OH products marketed by HART members comply with FDA’s adulteration standard for dietary supplements; further, 7-OH is not lab-made nor fully synthetic, it is naturally-derived from kratom, the same plant that all other kratom products come from, and undergoes a simple, one-step oxidation process, similar to how vitamin C is stabilized for supplements. Consumers are urged to consult with a healthcare professional before using any dietary supplements.

Media Contact

HART Media
media@hartsupporter.com

NUVA, the institutional-grade RWA marketplace co-created by Animoca Brands and Nuva Labs, today announced it has launched on the Ethereum Mainnet. NUVA is a new non-custodial platform that unlocks access to institutional-grade real-world assets (RWAs) leveraging ERC-20 standards, enabling composability and deployment across DeFi. Access the NUVA marketplace today at NUVA.finance.

NUVA was co-created by Animoca Brands, a global AI and digital assets leader, and Nuva Labs, a RWA infrastructure pioneer. NUVA provides an institutional distribution layer bridging DeFi and TradFi, bringing the more than US$23 billion RWA total value locked (TVL) of the Provenance Blockchain to multiple other blockchain ecosystems. NUVA’s launch on the Ethereum Mainnet today advances its vision to become the universal multichain distribution layer for RWAs. 

Coinciding with the launch, NUVA has entered into a strategic partnership with Hastra, a protocol backed by Figure Technologies Solutions ("Figure," Nasdaq: FIGR). Under this agreement, NUVA becomes a primary distribution partner of Hastra’s PRIME on the Ethereum blockchain. 

NUVA’s initial flagship assets include:

• nvYLDS: a vault containing YLDS, a U.S. SEC-registered instrument backed by short-dated treasuries and bank deposits.
• nvPRIME: a vault backed by native PRIME tokens that provides exposure to Figure’s US$17.4 billion pool of natively on-chain prime home equity line of credit (HELOCs). Holders of static PRIME tokens can obtain nvPRIME at app.nuva.finance to unlock instant composability across the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem.

All vault participants receive NUVA Points, aligning the incentives of early adopters with the long-term growth of the marketplace. The products described may not be available in all jurisdictions. 

Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “The launch of NUVA and its partnership with Figure are vital steps toward making global finance more efficient, transparent, and accessible. The on-chain financial system already provides the infrastructure for openness, and now NUVA will help broaden the spectrum of capital available within the decentralized economy.” 

“NUVA’s focus on liquid, composable tokens backed by real-world assets is exactly what the industry needs to bridge TradFi and DeFi at scale,” said Mike Cagney, NUVA Labs board member. “I'm excited to see NUVA leverage the proven infrastructure of Provenance Blockchain to bring these assets to a global audience.”

“nvYLDS and nvPRIME are the differentiated real-world assets the DeFi community has been waiting for,” said Anthony Moro, chief executive officer of Nuva Labs. “As the NUVA platform expands, look for a wide range of assets to be available to everyone in an easy to use, self-directed and self custodial manner, eliminating Wall Street’s limited access, time lag and high fees.” 

Additional blockchain integrations and asset classes are scheduled for release in the coming weeks. NUVA updates will be posted on NUVA.Finance, X, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Discord. 

About NUVA

NUVA is transforming global capital markets by connecting issuers and users in a curated institutional-grade DeFi marketplace with high-quality real-world assets that are yielding, liquid, composable, transparent, and accessible. NUVA is supported by the NUVA Foundation, which oversees ecosystem growth and leverages operational support from Nuva Digital, a collaboration of Animoca Brands and Nuva Labs. For more information, visit nuva.finance or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (ACN: 122 921 813) is a global digital assets leader building and investing in impactful technologies and ecosystems to reimagine future economies through AI and the agentic web. It has received broad industry and market recognition including Fortune Crypto 40, Top 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2025, Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific, and Deloitte Tech Fast. Animoca Brands is recognized for building digital asset platforms such as the Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess, and The Sandbox, as well as institutional-grade platforms; providing digital asset services to help Web3 companies launch and grow; and investing in frontier Web3 technology, with a portfolio of over 600 companies and digital assets. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

About Nuva Labs

NUVA Labs (formerly Provenance Blockchain Labs) powers digital asset issuers with a full lifecycle of blockchain infrastructure that enables the tokenization, management, and distributions of real-world assets at scale. From structuring advice and mission-critical APIs and SaaS services, to supporting broad, multi-chain Web3 distribution through Vault marketplaces such as NUVA. NUVA Labs is the leading developer and integration partner on Provenance Blockchain, a leading public Layer 1 blockchain network with over $23 billion in real-world assets total value locked (TVL). Learn more at: NuvaLabs.com, and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Disclaimer

This announcement does not constitute any offer or solicitation to offer or recommendation of any investment product. It is intended for general purposes only and does not take into account any individual needs, investment objectives and specific financial circumstances. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as being financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Target APYs are indicative only and not guaranteed. Actual returns may vary and past returns do not guarantee future performance. Investment carries risk. For more information, visit nuva.finance/terms-policies/terms-of-service.

Cyberscope, the Web3 Security Arm of TAC InfoSec Limited (NSE: TAC), today announced the launch of Cyberscan AI, an AI-powered smart contract security platform designed to make Web3 audits faster, more accessible, and free for developers at the earliest stage of building.

The launch marks a strategic push by Cyberscope into one of the most critical layers of digital-asset infrastructure: real-time vulnerability validation before a project reaches formal audits, exchange listings, investor diligence, or large-scale user adoption.

For years, Web3 security has suffered from a widening gap. Developers have had access to more scanners, more tools, and more alerts, but not necessarily more certainty. The result has been a costly and time-consuming cycle of false positives, delayed audits, repeated fixes, and unresolved risk before launch.

Cyberscan AI is Built to Change That Equation.

The platform introduces a validation-led model for smart contract security, using artificial intelligence to help developers identify which risks are real, which are theoretical, and which require immediate action. By making AI-powered smart contract scanning available to developers for free, Cyberscope is positioning Cyberscan AI as an early security layer for the broader Web3 ecosystem.

Cyberscan AI combines structural code intelligence with a vulnerability dataset of more than 150,000 real-world vulnerabilities, alongside an AI-driven validation engine that assesses whether a vulnerability actually exists in the contract being reviewed. The aim is to reduce false positives, improve signal quality, and help teams move from detection to decision-making faster.

The platform integrates:

• AST-level code understanding
• Vector-based similarity mapping across historical exploits
• AI-driven validation and contextual reasoning
• Developer-friendly smart contract scanning
• High-confidence risk prioritization before formal audits

The company said Cyberscan AI is designed to sit before the traditional audit process, helping projects clean up major risks earlier and reduce back-and-forth audit cycles. For developers, that could mean faster deployment. For exchanges and institutions, it could create a stronger layer of pre-listing and pre-adoption due diligence.

The commercial implications are significant. By lowering the barrier to smart contract security, Cyberscan AI could help early-stage Web3 projects access security intelligence that was previously expensive, delayed, or limited to later stages of growth.

The platform is expected to support:

• Free and accessible smart contract security checks for Web3 developers
• Faster pre-audit vulnerability discovery
• Lower audit iteration costs
• Shorter deployment and listing timelines
• Stronger readiness for exchanges, investors, and institutional partners
• Improved confidence in digital-asset infrastructure

Saransh Rawat, President of Cyberscope and CTO at TAC Security, said the launch reflects a larger shift in how Web3 security will be consumed as the sector moves toward institutional adoption.

“Web3 security is entering a new phase where speed alone is not enough. Developers, exchanges, and institutions need confidence that the vulnerabilities being flagged are real, material, and actionable,” said Rawat. “Cyberscan AI is our answer to that shift. By making AI-powered smart contract scanning free and accessible, we are helping developers validate risk earlier, reduce audit friction, and move from code to market with greater confidence.”

Saransh added that the platform is designed to move security closer to the developer lifecycle.

“The future of smart contract security will not be defined only by final-stage audits,” Saransh said. “It will be defined by continuous validation before audits, before listings, and before scale. Cyberscan AI gives Web3 teams an early intelligence layer that helps them build security into their foundation from day one.”

The launch positions Cyberscope not only as a smart contract audit provider, but as a validation layer for the next generation of digital-asset infrastructure.

The move comes as Web3 projects face growing pressure from exchanges, investors, regulators, and institutional participants to prove security readiness before entering the market. In that environment, pre-audit intelligence is becoming more than a developer tool. It is becoming a trust requirement.

Cyberscope has been expanding its presence across high-trust blockchain ecosystems. The company is active within the TON ecosystem, a Layer 1 blockchain network, and has previously announced a collaboration with Circle, the issuer of USDC, focused on supporting secure and compliant digital-asset infrastructure.

The launch also builds on TAC Security’s recent milestone of crossing 10,000 clients across more than 100 countries, reinforcing its position as a rapidly scaling global cybersecurity company — among the top five Vulnerability Management and AppSec Companies globally. Through Cyberscope, TAC Security is now extending that momentum into high-growth Web3 markets, including exchange ecosystems, DeFi platforms, token projects, and institutional blockchain adoption.

As Web3 matures from experimental finance into institutional-grade infrastructure, platforms such as Cyberscan AI are expected to play a larger role in how projects prove security, reduce risk, and accelerate market entry.

For Cyberscope, the message is clear: the next era of smart contract security will not be defined only by audits. It will be defined by accessible, AI-powered validation before the audit even begins.

Watch the launch live at 4:30 AM (EST) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=id8HnYUTvts, and explore Cyberscan AI at www.cyberscope.io/cyberscan-ai.

About Cyberscope

Cyberscope, a TAC Security Company, is a leading provider of Web3 Security, smart contract auditing, and compliance solutions, serving a global client base across the decentralized finance, blockchain, and digital asset sectors. Founded in 2023, the company has completed over 2,700 smart contract audits and 500+ KYC verifications, securing more than $2 billion in digital assets for over 3,000 clients. Cyberscope's proprietary tools combine automated and manual analysis to deliver rapid, high-quality security assessments recognized by major industry platforms such as CoinMarketCap, PinkSale, and DxSale. With a reputation for quality, speed, and trust, and backed by the resources and global reach of TAC Security, Cyberscope is positioned to set new standards for security, transparency, and compliance in the rapidly evolving Web3 ecosystem. 

About TAC Security

TAC Security (TAC InfoSec Limited, NSE: TAC) is a publicly listed global cybersecurity company specializing in vulnerability management. Serving 10,000+ clients across 100+ countries, the company is among the world’s largest vulnerability management providers by client count. Its flagship platform, ESOF (Enterprise Security in One Framework), enables cyber risk quantification, vulnerability assessment, and AI-driven security analysis. TAC Security holds certifications including CREST, and ISO standards, and partners with global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta.

Alternative asset management firm BlockBooster has officially announced its membership in the Canton Foundation, marking a key step in its strategic path to expand institutional-grade on-chain asset management and deepen collaboration with leading global financial infrastructure. The Canton Foundation is the independent governance body responsible for overseeing the operational mechanisms, technical standards, and validator framework of Canton Network.

The Canton Foundation is co-chaired by DTCC (The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation) and Euroclear, with current members including BNP Paribas, HSBC, Broadridge, Tradeweb, BNY, SBI Digital Asset Holdings, Moody's, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Digital Asset, and other leading global financial institutions. Canton Network currently supports more than $6 trillion in tokenized real-world assets across over 600 institutions, with strategic backers including Goldman Sachs, BNY, Nasdaq, and S&P Global. Core applications already deployed on the network include DTCC's U.S. Treasury tokenization project, Goldman Sachs' GS DAP digital bond platform, HSBC's Tokenised Deposit Service, and Broadridge's Distributed Ledger Repo platform.

As a Foundation member, BlockBooster will focus on advancing three core directions:

1. Foundation Governance — participating in governance decisions, committee work, and standards-setting processes;
2. Ecosystem Development — contributing to Canton Network's institutional reach, developer ecosystem, and cross-institutional collaboration;
3. On-Chain Asset Management — continuing to expand its business footprint on Canton Network across private credit, tokenized funds, and other real-world asset categories, serving institutional investors globally.

Samuel Gu, founder and CEO of BlockBooster, said: "RWA tokenization has moved from the experimental phase into the infrastructure phase, and institutional capital is converging on a handful of core platforms — Canton is one of them. We chose to join the Canton Foundation because it represents the on-chain financial infrastructure closest to institutional-grade standards today: a clear governance structure, a credible membership base, and real business volume."

On future plans, Samuel added: "Building on Canton Network's infrastructure capabilities, BlockBooster will continue to develop its product suite across private credit, tokenized funds, and other real-world asset categories. Our goal is to become a trusted asset management bridge between traditional capital and the on-chain world, bringing compliant, professional alternative asset strategies to institutional investors globally."

About BlockBooster

BlockBooster is an on-chain alternative asset management firm operating on a dual-engine business model: co-investing and incubating projects alongside leading public blockchain networks, while providing institutional-grade on-chain asset management services spanning yield strategies, private equity, private credit, and RWA tokenization. As a value co-builder, we are committed to unlocking the long-term potential of these assets and delivering exceptional value to our partners and investors in the digital economy. For more information, visit www.blockbooster.io.

About Canton Foundation

The Canton Foundation is an independent non-profit organization responsible for the overall governance of Canton Network. Through transparent governance mechanisms and deep collaboration with its members, the Foundation works to establish Canton Network as a reliable, fair, and trustworthy infrastructure layer for institutional-grade digital assets and capital markets. For more index information, visit canton.foundation.

Media Contact

Samuel Gu
media@blockbooster.io

VillageReach, an international non-profit organization rooted in Mozambique since 2000 and focused on improving access to quality healthcare for hard-to-reach communities, and Qure.ai, a global AI company innovating solutions in healthcare for early detection and care management, have partnered with Mozambique’s Ministry of Health to strengthen national pandemic preparedness.

Through a Gates Foundation grant focused on strengthening pandemic preparedness and resilient health systems, VillageReach will work with Mozambique’s Ministry of Health to enhance national early warning and emergency response mechanisms. Central to this initiative is the integration of Qure.ai’s Aira, an AI-powered healthcare co-pilot that assists health systems to digitize and interpret health information from primary health centers (PHCs) and communities for faster emergency response planning.

Embedded within health information sources like AlôVida, Aira will help health authorities and emergency coordination mechanisms, including Mozambique’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), to better detect emerging community concerns, understand patterns of misinformation and respond to potential public health risks earlier.

Through platforms like AlôVida and Mozambique Health Information System for Monitoring and Evaluation (SIS-MA), the PHEOC receives thousands of health queries from citizens across the country. These queries range from new symptom reporting and care-seeking questions to new disease concerns and other public health enquiries, including vaccine information. Historically, AlôVida has served primarily as a hotline, connecting communities to trusted health information and services.

“By integrating AI into trusted platforms like AlôVida, we are creating a more responsive system that listens to people in real time and translates their concerns into meaningful insights for decision-makers,” saidRotafina Donco, Mozambique Country Director, VillageReach. “This partnership represents an important step toward strengthening community-centered health, ensuring that even the most remote voices help shape faster, more effective public health responses.”

By embedding AI directly into existing health platforms, these interactions can now also contribute to continuous population-level health monitoring. Aira will analyse the interactions at scale to identify emerging symptom patterns, detect unusual health trends and issue early warning signals that may otherwise remain fragmented across individual reports. This initiative will be a game-changer in identifying geographic clustering of symptoms, monitoring potential infectious disease risks, and prioritizing timely investigation and response efforts.

“Our experience working with public health systems globally has shown that meaningful AI must adapt to how health systems already function,” said Divya Gupta, Chief Business Officer for Global Health, Qure.ai. “We have partnered with health programs across diverse settings, including Mozambique, to help move from reactive response toward proactive preparedness. With Aira embedded within Mozambique’s healthcare system, this collaboration supports earlier understanding of risks and more informed public health decision making.”

Mozambique continues to face recurrent public health emergencies, including cyclones and cholera outbreaks, which place significant strain on health systems, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach regions. These recurring emergencies have disrupted healthcare services and highlighted the challenges of maintaining timely outbreak detection and response at a community level.

While existing surveillance systems largely depend on data reported through healthcare facilities, many early warning signals first emerge within communities through symptoms, concerns and information requests. In several instances, misinformation and limited access to trusted health information have affected care-seeking behaviour and vaccination uptake, underscoring the need for stronger channels connecting communities and health authorities. By strengthening the ability to capture and learn from these signals, this partnership aims to support faster, more coordinated decision-making during health emergencies and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.

About Qure.ai

Qure.ai is a global AI company innovating solutions in healthcare for early detection and care management. Qure's solutions power early detection of lung nodules, neurocritical findings and infectious diseases to support clinicians and propel developments in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The company empowers healthcare workers and health systems by helping to identify pathology quickly, prioritize treatment planning, and ultimately improve quality of patient lives. Qure.ai has deployments in over 107 countries, with regional offices in New York, London and Mumbai. It is a TIME100 Most Influential Company 2025. For more information, visit www.qure.ai/aira.

About VillageReach

VillageReach works with governments, the private sector, partners and communities to build responsive primary healthcare systems that deliver health products and services to the most under-reached. As a locally driven and globally connected organization working across Africa, VillageReach’s primary goal is to reduce inequities in access to quality primary healthcare in health systems reaching 350 million people by 2030. For more information, visit www.villagereach.org.

Media Contact

Amrutha Joseph
amrutha.joseph@qure.ai

One great irony of the AI boom is the more people rely on it, the more they are beginning to distrust it. 

According to a survey of over 2,000 consumers in five countries for its new report, "The AI-Powered Consumer," growth firm Prophet found that global consumer use of generative AI has increased more than 50% in the past two years, from 45% in early 2024 to 73% in 2026."

Yet, roughly two-thirds of AI users are concerned about the effects: specifically, that AI inaccuracies could influence world events while eroding logical skills and human connection. That raises the bar for business leaders.

Embracing autonomous agents

Many users have moved well beyond “prompting” towards more sophisticated and personalized AI use cases. More than a quarter of users (27%) report using AI to simulate future versions of themselves and testing how different purchase decisions might play out over time. Another 13% say they are sharing personal medical information with AI systems in exchange for tailored health guidance.

Furthermore, 66% of people say they want systems that can interpret intent and context without requiring carefully written prompts. As they experience more fluid interactions elsewhere, writing instructions, refining inputs, and managing outputs starts to feel like work. They want platforms that anticipate needs, recognize patterns, and respond with minimal friction. The direction mirrors changes already underway in enterprise environments, where more adaptive systems are replacing rigid input structures.

Top 5 agentic capabilities users want

1. Discount monitoring and automatic purchasing: Monitor favorite brands and automate purchases when they're on discount (60%)
2. Proactive customer service prevention: Proactively manage products and services to prevent issues or breakdowns (54%)
3. Experience coordination: Coordinates experiences across multiple brands used (54%)
   (e.g., automatically rerouting a dinner reservation as a result of a flight delay)
4. Needs-based purchasing: Automate purchases based on personal preferences (53%)
5. Offer negotiation: Negotiates pricing and terms on the consumer's behalf (49%)

“Users are signaling AI should meet them where they are, without requiring them to adapt their behavior to a tool,” said Chan Suh, Chief Digital Officer at Prophet. “As generative AI becomes more embedded in everyday decision-making, the next phase will be defined less by access and more by experience, including how naturally these systems fit into people’s lives, and how much trust they can earn along the way.”

Ironically, trust is getting harder to maintain as adoption rises.

AI users are now weighing convenience against control, and speed against trust. Overall excitement about GenAI has dropped approximately 7% since Prophet’s 2024 study. More significantly, 30% fewer users believe that they will come to rely on GenAI for most of their daily decisions. That signals a meaningful shift in consumer psychology.

• 71% of consumers worry that inaccurate AI outputs could influence decisions in the real world.
• 63% are concerned that relying too heavily on AI may erode human skills.
• 61% say they fear a loss of human connection as AI becomes more embedded in daily life.

“As consumers continue to increase their reliance on AI to support their lives, businesses will need to redirect AI investments from efficiency to innovation that provides emotional benefits, not just utility,” said Chiaki Nishino, President at Prophet. “The next wave will be defined by systems that don’t just complete tasks, but create meaning, delivering experiences that feel intuitive, human, and emotionally resonant. That’s where real differentiation happens.”

Methodology

For its new "The AI-Powered Consumer" report, Prophet surveyed more than 2,000 consumers in China, Germany, Singapore, U.K. and the U.S. in January and February of this year. All respondents were 18 years of age or older and had used at least one AI tool for personal reasons during the prior six months.

About Prophet

Prophet is the Uncommon Growth Company — accelerating impact for business and marketing leaders through consulting, experience, and creative services. With 15 global offices and 500+ strategists, analysts, creatives, marketers, digital experts and change agents, Prophet has worked with the world’s most successful companies, including CVS Health, Home Depot, Salesforce, Google, Marriott, Netflix, Amazon, T-Mobile and UBS, partnering with them from strategy to in-market execution. Our teams are committed to partnering with clients to develop solutions that drive lasting impact and help move society forward. For more information, visit prophet.com.

Media Contact

Belle Lenz
belle@tonileepr.com

On May 10, COOFANDY joined NASCAR’s race weekend at Watkins Glen as the sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 car driven by Christopher Bell. With COOFANDY branding present across the race car and fire suit, the partnership brought to life the brand’s "Dress the Journey, Dress the Win" spirit on one of racing’s most competitive tracks.

Ahead of the race, COOFANDY invited creators, media guests, and fans to experience the weekend alongside the JGR team. Creators, including RawGator, Brett Maverick, Jamaal Lewis, and Josh Taubes, joined the event, along with media guests such as Fox 8’s Chris Weaver, On3’s Brian Jones, and Brobible’s Clay Sauertieg and Douglas Sheckler.

For COOFANDY, bringing together creators, media, and fans in this setting was about more than access — it was about allowing different audiences to experience the culture, energy, and human side behind motorsports.

During the driver meet-and-greet, guests spent time with the JGR team and experienced a tour of the team’s hauler, gaining a closer look at NASCAR operations behind the scenes.

As engines fired and the crowd rose for driver introductions and the national anthem, Watkins Glen shifted into race mode. Bell was strong the early portion of the race finishing Stage 1 in the seventh position.

The style of racing on a road course such as Watkins Glen often creates tense moments with competitors making contact creating frustrating moments. Bell would have to navigate several of those situations throughout the day before finishing in the 21st position.

COOFANDY CMO Sidney Sun noted, "The brand’s philosophy of 'Dress the Journey' and 'Dress the Win' speaks to how men navigate pressure and setbacks along the way — maintaining composure, confidence, and the right mindset through every stage of the journey."

Race Weekend Style Picks

From trackside viewing to post-race gatherings, COOFANDY also offers effortless style inspiration for the race weekend:

• Short-Sleeve Textured Shirt – Breathable and comfortable, perfect for daytime track viewing.
• Solid-Color Hoodie – Minimalist and versatile, blending casual ease with athletic energy for multi-scenario wear.

As COOFANDY continues exploring the connection between motorsports and modern menswear, Watkins Glen became more than a race weekend — it became a reminder that composure, confidence, and resilience are part of the journey too.

For more information, please visit the COOFANDY official website and the COOFANDY Men's Fashion Amazon Storefront, or connect with COOFANDY on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclaimer

This press release contains information regarding a commercial sponsorship between COOFANDY and Joe Gibbs Racing. Mention of media guests and creators does not necessarily imply their personal endorsement of COOFANDY products beyond their participation in the event. Race results and statistics cited are based on official NASCAR data from the Watkins Glen event held on May 10, 2026.

The growing campaign by sellers and advocates of dangerous high-potency 7-hydroxymitragynine (“7-OH”) products to portray all 7-OH as “natural” and “non-synthetic” is dangerously misleading and threatens to undermine legitimate public health protections designed to prevent consumer harm.

FDA Commissioner Makary made the distinction between trace amounts of 7-OH that occur naturally in kratom raw materials that pose no safety concern and chemically manipulated 7-OH products that are highly concentrated into compounds that pose the same threat to consumers as traditional opioids. Legislators and public health officials are encouraged to review the FDA’s “Hiding in Plain Sight: 7-OH Products” resource webpage and watch the Department of Health and Human Services' “Press Conference on Opioid 7-OH Public Safety Measure.”

State legislators, regulators, and public health officials are increasingly hearing testimony in legislative hearings and regulatory proceedings form 7-OH manufacturers claiming that because trace amounts of 7-OH can naturally occur in kratom leaves through oxidation — and because tiny amounts may be formed in the human body through metabolism of mitragynine — then all commercial 7-OH products must therefore be “natural.” That argument is scientifically flawed, intentionally deceptive, and ignores the critical distinction between naturally occurring trace compounds and chemically manipulated products engineered to make 7-OH the dominant alkaloid.

Natural kratom leaf products contain mitragynine as the overwhelmingly dominant alkaloid, with only trace levels of naturally occurring 7-OH. These naturally occurring trace levels do not remotely approach the concentrations now being sold in highly concentrated tablets, chewable products, gummies, tinctures, and sublingual products marketed as “7-OH.”

The issue confronting policymakers is not the existence of minute naturally occurring trace amounts of 7-OH in kratom. The issue is the deliberate chemical manipulation of kratom alkaloids to convert mitragynine into a concentrated 7-OH dominant compound that bears no resemblance to traditional kratom leaf products consumed by millions of Americans.

That conversion process fundamentally changes the alkaloid profile and pharmacological properties of the product. Once mitragynine is chemically manipulated so that 7-OH becomes the dominant compound, the resulting product acts more like a synthetic opioid than a traditional kratom product.

The argument that these products are “natural” simply because trace 7-OH exists in nature is scientifically indefensible. By that logic, virtually any chemically manipulated substance could be labeled “natural” if a trace precursor existed somewhere in nature.

The FDA’s own materials explain the exact distinction that many industry witnesses are now attempting to obscure before state legislatures:

• naturally occurring trace levels of 7-OH in kratom leaf are not the same as concentrated chemically manipulated 7-OH products;
• and the deliberate enhancement and concentration of 7-OH creates substantially vastly different safety and abuse risks.

Legislators should clearly reject false and misleading testimony claiming that “all 7-OH is natural” or that “7-OH is not synthetic.” These statements intentionally blur the line between trace naturally occurring alkaloid levels found in traditional kratom leaf; and chemically manipulated high-potency 7-OH dominant products engineered for amplified psychoactive effect.

This distinction is central to responsible public health policy.

The current generation of high-potency 7-OH products did not emerge from traditional kratom use. They emerged from chemical manipulation designed to create a far more potent product profile while continuing to exploit the public recognition and goodwill associated with natural kratom.

Increasingly, state lawmakers are recognizing that these products are fundamentally different from traditional kratom products and require separate regulatory treatment — including scheduling consideration, age restrictions, warning labels, potency limits, and prohibitions on deceptive marketing practices that falsely portray synthetic or chemically manipulated products as “natural kratom.”

Public health officials and legislators should rely on the growing body of FDA documentation, toxicological evidence, and pharmacological data — not misleading semantic arguments designed to conceal the true nature of these chemically manipulated products.

Consumers deserve transparency. Legislators deserve accurate science. And policymakers should reject efforts to deliberately confuse the distinction between natural kratom and concentrated chemically manipulated 7-OH products.

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.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or regulatory advice. The American Kratom Association (AKA) provides this information as part of its mission to advocate for consumer safety and scientific transparency. While the information provided is based on current pharmacological data and official statements from the FDA and HHS, readers are encouraged to consult with public health officials or legal counsel regarding specific state regulations and scheduling. Reference to third-party government resources does not imply an endorsement of the AKA by the FDA or HHS.

Media Contact

Mac Haddow
Senior Fellow on Public Policy
press@americankratom.org

Andrew Pagsisihan will serve on the 2026 Los Angeles County EMS Disaster Exercise Evaluation Committee, following his participation at the 2025 conference. Building on that involvement, he will contribute his expertise to strengthen disaster preparedness and response. During the 2025 evaluation conference, Pagsisihan focused on cross-sector collaboration and identifying operational gaps.

Pagsisihan represented AllCare Provider at the conference held at the City of Hope's Cooper Auditorium. The partnership represented a continued effort to build a more resilient emergency response program to protect the most vulnerable communities. 

Service at AllCare Provider

Pagsisihan began his career as an operations manager at AllCare Provider in 1998. He remained there until 2003, during which time he pursued an education. He completed a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at California State Polytechnic University in 2005, followed by an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in 2019.

From 2004 to 2007, Pagsisihan worked as a research and design engineer at Belkin International Inc., and from 2005 to 2008, he returned to AllCare Provider as director of data management. He has remained with the organization since, promoted from data infrastructure engineer to chief data officer, chief technology and information officer, and, most recently, chief operating officer.

Additionally, Pagsisihan has served as a health care coalition representative for the Home Health & Hospice at the L.A. County EMS Support within the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services since 2010.

Core Responsibilities in At-Home Health Care

With more than two decades of professional experience in health care, health care technology and operations management, Pagsisihan is responsible for integrating technology to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. At the same time, he works to ensure that the quality of patient care is uncompromised, reviewing logistics and focusing on partnerships with insurance providers and hospital systems.

Much of Pagsisihan’s work focuses on delivering quality home health care services, using technology to connect with and support patients. He believes this focus enables him to create tangible, human-focused impact, closing the gap between digital innovation and direct, in-home health care.

Outside of his professional and conference involvement, Pagsisihan also occupies various leadership roles within membership organizations. These include the National Alliance for Care, the Los Angeles County Healthcare Coalition, the Los Angeles County Emergency Management Council and the California Association for Health Services at Home.

Guiding an Industry’s Trajectory

Equipped with unique technical and leadership expertise in health care, Pagsisihan stands out as a quality fit for the 2026 committee for the L.A. County EMS Disaster Evaluation Conference. His strategic vision centers on reducing expenditures, streamlining health benefits and enhancing health literacy, each of which is valuable to the traditional and at-home health care industries.

As a direct observer of the number of newcomers to the industry, Pagsisihan aims to impart his experience in the same way his colleagues did for him. He believes that this kind of collaborative learning has given his industry an edge and a clear direction for the future.

Moving forward, Pagsisihan envisions himself at the forefront of a shift in health care that places the patient’s home at the center of care delivery. He aims to expand access to comprehensive medical services, delivering on innovative at-home care models and medical home initiatives. By focusing on patient satisfaction outside of the hospital, Pagsisihan hopes to positively impact thousands.

About Andrew Pagsisihan

About Marquis Who's Who

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

Media Contact

Marquis Who's Who
info@marquiswhoswho.com

InvGate, a provider of IT service and asset management software, today announced the general availability of its AI Hub for InvGate Asset Management. The release packages three distinct capabilities — Atlas, Smart Recommendations, and Automatic CMDB Mapping — into a single update that activates automatically for all cloud-based customers with no setup required and no additional cost.

The launch addresses a persistent gap in IT asset management: the manual effort required to track hardware lifecycle status, identify inventory problems, and maintain accurate configuration maps. IT teams at enterprises, hospitals, universities, and public-sector organizations have historically relied on spreadsheet exports, vendor website lookups, and quarterly manual reviews to surface the information InvGate's AI Hub now delivers continuously and automatically.

Atlas: End-of-Life and End-of-Support Data, Automatically Enriched

Atlas is InvGate's proprietary IT lifecycle database that pulls end-of-life (EoL) and end-of-support (EoS) information directly into asset profiles. When a technician opens any computer, switch, router, or database record in InvGate Asset Management, the lifecycle dates are already populated — sourced automatically from manufacturer data.

On launch day, Atlas covers hardware computers and databases, with approximately 80% of computer assets across existing InvGate instances expected to have data populated immediately. Lenovo coverage reaches approximately 99.8%, with other major brands — including Dell, HP, and others — included at varying levels depending on manufacturer data availability. Coverage for remaining models will expand through Q2 2026.

Operating system EoL and EoS coverage and software lifecycle data are planned for later in 2026. Atlas is available on all InvGate Asset Management plans and is cloud-only at launch.

Smart Recommendations: A Continuously Updated Inventory Action List

Smart Recommendations scans the contents of each customer's instance and surfaces assets that require attention — without requiring users to build reports or know what to look for. Each recommendation displays which assets are affected, why the condition matters, and a direct link to take action.

Approximately 20 recommendation types are available at launch, covering hardware categories including computers, laptops, servers, switches, routers, and databases. Conditions detected include:

• Assets with no owner, no location, or no recorded purchase cost
• Antivirus, firewall, or encryption disabled
• Devices that have not reported in more than seven days
• Expired warranties, with dedicated coverage for Dell and Lenovo devices
• Sustained CPU usage above 80% or RAM above 85% over a seven-day period
• Critical battery degradation, pending restarts, and energy waste metrics
• Lifecycle accounting automation triggers

Recommendations are scoped to each user's permissions, so individuals see only what they are authorized to act on. The feature requires no configuration and activated automatically for all customer instances on launch day. Printer ink-level recommendations and lifecycle-based recommendations tied to Atlas data are planned for a subsequent release.

Automatic CMDB Mapping: Infrastructure Dependencies Built from Real Data

The third capability in the AI Hub release makes CMDB dependency suggestions visible directly inside Business Application diagrams. Users select a configuration item (CI), activate suggestion mode, and see related CIs detected by InvGate's Agent, discovery scans, and asset properties. Each suggestion can be accepted or skipped individually.

The update is designed as the first step toward one-click Business Application creation, where the system generates a full infrastructure map from automatically detected patterns. Automatic CMDB Mapping is available on Pro and Enterprise plans and ships as early access beginning with version 3.14.

“For years, IT teams have been running the same quarterly manual process: exporting from their tools, filtering in spreadsheets, and trying to identify which assets need attention before something breaks.”

“The AI Hub is InvGate’s answer to that. Atlas, Smart Recommendations, and Automatic CMDB Mapping ship together today because the problem isn’t one feature — it’s the entire workflow,” said Ariel Gesto, CEO, InvGate.

Availability and Pricing

All three capabilities are included in InvGate Asset Management at no additional cost. Atlas and Smart Recommendations are available on all plans beginning with version 3.13. Automatic CMDB Mapping is available in early access on Pro and Enterprise plans beginning with version 3.14. Atlas and Smart Recommendations are cloud-only at launch; on-premises support is planned for a future release.

About InvGate

InvGate provides IT service management and IT asset management software to enterprises, public-sector organizations, and managed service providers worldwide. Its products include InvGate Service Management and InvGate Asset Management. For more information, visit invgate.com.

Media Contact

Support Team
info@invgate.com