Newsroom

Official news releases and announcements from organizations worldwide, distributed by EZ Newswire.

September 3, 2026 4:54 PM
EDT
LOS ANGELES, CA

7-HOPE Alliance Applauds 7-OH Comment Extension, Calls on HHS and DEA to Reconsider and Review Emerging Science

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- 7-HOPE Alliance, a consumer protection non-profit dedicated to science and public education on 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and kratom, today applauded the federal government’s 15-day extension of the public comment period while urging the regulators to reconsider altogether the proposed scheduling process, fully evaluate emerging science, scrutinize the underlying adverse-event data, and allow Congress time to consider a responsible regulatory framework before any Schedule I action moves forward.

The call comes as the September 10 deadline approaches for public comments on HHS’ Request for Information regarding the proposed temporary scheduling of 7-OH. HHS recently extended the comment period by 15 days following an extraordinary level of public participation, with more than 30,000 comments submitted to the federal docket and more than 65,000 people signing a Change.org petition in support of continued access to 7-OH.

For 7-HOPE Alliance, the extension was an important victory and evidence that sustained public engagement can make a difference. It also created something even more valuable: additional time for policymakers to hear from consumers, review emerging scientific evidence, and reconsider whether an accelerated Schedule I process is the appropriate response.

7-HOPE Alliance has been clear with federal regulators that claims that 7-OH presents an imminent threat are not consistent with the evidence. The temporary scheduling process is intended for circumstances involving that kind of immediate danger, yet the available data on 7-OH remains limited and does not establish the level of imminent public-health threat that would justify rushing toward Schedule I. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Americans report relying on 7-OH and could face significant consequences if access is abruptly eliminated.

Emerging scientific research, including new data expected to be published in the near future, is beginning to provide a more complete picture of 7-OH’s safety profile and raises important questions about some of the assumptions underlying the proposed action. 7-HOPE Alliance urges HHS to reconsider the emergency scheduling, evaluate both the existing and emerging science, and carefully examine the full picture of any reported adverse events. 

Additionally, 7-HOPE believes that Congress should also have an opportunity to fully engage in this debate and consider whether a responsible regulatory framework can address legitimate public-health concerns while preserving access for adults. A decision with consequences this significant should allow the legislative process to play out and be based on the full scientific record, not an incomplete picture of the risks or a rush to judgment.

“This extension showed that thousands of Americans are paying attention and are deeply concerned about what Schedule I could mean for them and their families,” said Jackie Subeck, Executive Director of 7-HOPE Alliance. “The government now has an opportunity to listen to those voices, look carefully at the emerging science, and ask whether the evidence actually supports an emergency response. We believe the responsible course is to reconsider this rushed action, let the science develop, and allow policymakers to have the broader conversation this issue deserves.”

“We are not arguing against regulation. We have consistently supported responsible standards around manufacturing, testing, labeling, age restrictions, and consumer protection. But regulation and prohibition are not the same thing, and Schedule I should not become a substitute for the harder work of building thoughtful policy,” added Subeck.

7-HOPE Alliance has continued its nationwide advocacy campaign throughout the extended comment period, mobilizing consumers, advocates and stakeholders to submit comments, contact federal officials, and educate members of Congress about the potential consequences of scheduling 7-OH. With the September 10 deadline approaching, the organization is urging supporters to use the remaining days to strengthen the public record and make clear that science-based regulation, rather than prohibition, offers a more responsible path forward.

Advocates can learn how to submit comments, contact federal officials, and participate in the campaign at www.7hopealliance.org/federal.

About 7-HOPE Alliance

7-HOPE Alliance (7-Hydroxy Outreach for Public Education) is a non-profit consumer protection organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to advancing public education, user support, and policy advocacy around 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a naturally occurring alkaloid in the kratom plant. Through a foundation of science, storytelling, and community, 7-HOPE empowers individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with accurate, balanced information on 7-OH and its role in harm reduction, natural wellness, and safe, legal access to alternatives. The organization’s mission centers on four pillars: science, education, advocacy, and user support. By confronting misinformation, promoting responsible use, and providing uplifting real-life testimonials, 7-HOPE aims to ensure 7-OH remains available to the many individuals who find it to be a safe and effective harm reduction tool. For more information or to get involved, visit 7hopealliance.org.

Disclaimer

7-HOPE Alliance is an independent 501(c)(3) advocacy organization. The statements in this press release are intended strictly for educational, informational, and civic advocacy purposes regarding public administrative processes (HHS/DEA dockets). 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and kratom products have not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Nothing in this release should be construed as medical or legal advice, nor as an endorsement or encouragement of illegal substance use. Regulatory frameworks, state laws, and scheduling statuses regarding 7-OH and kratom are subject to rapid legislative and administrative change. Individuals should consult qualified legal and healthcare professionals regarding local laws and medical decisions.

Media Contact

media@7hopealliance.org

September 3, 2026 4:51 PM
EDT
SILVER SPRING, MD

Lawsuit Alleges Montgomery County BOE Failed to Protect Student Despite Years of Complaints About Teacher Daniel J. Picca

SILVER SPRING, MD, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- A former Montgomery County Public Schools student has filed a lawsuit (Case No. C-15-CV-26-003658) alleging that the Montgomery County Board of Education failed to protect him from former elementary school teacher Daniel J. Picca, despite repeated complaints, investigations, reprimands, and warnings concerning Picca’s conduct with male students. 

The lawsuit was filed June 17, 2026, in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County by Andreozzi + Foote on behalf of Nicholas Moon. It names the Montgomery County Board of Education and Picca as defendants.

Moon attended Kemp Mill Elementary School as a child and between approximately April 2007 and June 2008 was entrusted to the supervision of Picca. The lawsuit alleges that Picca cultivated a “special relationship” with Moon, using Moon’s interest in professional wrestling to facilitate private, individualized interactions. According to the complaint, Picca frequently isolated Moon from other students and school personnel for one-on-one interactions that served no legitimate educational purpose.

Picca allegedly directed Moon to remove his shirt and flex his muscles, and engaged him in physical wrestling activities and holds that involved unnecessary and inappropriate physical contact. The complaint further alleges that Picca subjected the child to unwanted physical contact, including massages and touching of his shoulders, back, chest, and torso.

According to the lawsuit, this physical contact served no legitimate educational purpose and exceeded the boundaries of appropriate teacher-student interaction.

Documented 17-Year History of Complaints and Reprimands

Central to the lawsuit is the allegation that the Montgomery County Board of Education had been repeatedly warned about Picca’s pattern of inappropriate conduct with male students long before Moon became his student.

As reflected in the findings of the Maryland State Board of Education in Daniel Picca v. Montgomery County Board of Education (Case No. MSDE-BE-01-11-45289), school administrators had received complaints dating back to at least 1993 that Picca directed male students to remove their shirts, flex their muscles, sit on his lap, participate in wrestling activities, and engage in other inappropriate physical interactions with him.

In its opinion, the State Board described the events chronicled in Picca’s case as “shocking,” emphasizing that the conduct had occurred repeatedly over a period of 17 years. “From the first complaint in October 1993, seventeen years passed with patterns repeated and reprimands issued,” the State Board wrote. “Yet this teacher was transferred to different elementary schools and remained in the classroom. That should never ever have occurred.”

The State Board also noted that Picca’s personnel record was “filled with reprimands and directives” that he did not follow and observed that each reprimand appeared to have been treated in isolation without reference to previous directives. 

Picca had worked for Montgomery County Public Schools since 1985, first as an elementary school teacher at Candlewood Elementary School before transferring to Rachel Carson Elementary School in 1990. According to the Statement of the Case by an Administrative Law Judge, while at Rachel Carson, Picca engaged in misconduct involving male students that included having boys sit on his lap, directing them to remove their shirts, wrestling with them, photographing them, and feeling their muscles.

According to the lawsuit, school administrators, law enforcement authorities, Child Protective Services, Human Resources personnel, and other officials investigated concerns about Picca’s conduct. It further alleges that Picca received multiple written reprimands, directives, memoranda, and disciplinary actions over many years.

Despite those warnings, the lawsuit alleges, the Montgomery County Board of Education continued to employ Picca in positions that gave him direct access to children. The suit alleges that the Board knew or should have known that Picca posed a danger to students, based on earlier reports, and failed to exercise reasonable care to protect Moon.

“How was a teacher allowed to maintain access to children after years of complaints and warnings about his conduct with students?” Nathaniel Foote, partner at Andreozzi + Foote and an attorney for Moon, said. “The Maryland State Board of Education has itself questioned why Picca remained in classrooms for 17 years as patterns repeated and reprimands were issued. Our client deserved to be protected by the school system entrusted with his safety, and this lawsuit seeks accountability for its alleged failure to protect him.”

The lawsuit asserts claims against the Montgomery County Board of Education for negligent, grossly negligent, and reckless hiring, retention, and supervision, general negligence, and gross negligence and recklessness. It brings additional claims against Picca for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuit was filed pursuant to Maryland’s Child Victims Act. Moon seeks damages for emotional distress, psychological injury, pain and suffering, and other damages he alleges resulted from Picca’s conduct and the Board’s alleged failures to protect him. Moon is represented by Nathaniel Foote and Kylie Tejera of Andreozzi + Foote.

About Andreozzi + Foote

Andreozzi + Foote is one of the nation’s leading sexual abuse law firms with a history of representing survivors in cases against large and powerful organizations including Penn State University, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Catholic Church. The trauma-informed sexual abuse lawyers at Andreozzi + Foote are committed to obtaining life-changing results for victims and their families. For more information, visit victimscivilattorneys.com.

Disclaimer

This press release describes allegations made in a civil lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County (Case No. C-15-CV-26-003658). A complaint represents a set of allegations made by a plaintiff, and defendants are presumed not liable until proven otherwise in a court of law. The information contained herein is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of outcome.

Media Contact

Andreozzi + Foote
marias@vca.law
+1 717-807-5808

September 3, 2026 4:41 PM
EDT
ASHLAND, OR

CU 2.0 Announces Founder Kirk Drake’s Contribution Chapter to "The Entrepreneurial Ascent"

ASHLAND, OR, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- CU 2.0 has announced that founder Kirk Drake has contributed a chapter to "The Entrepreneurial Ascent: The Founders, Challenges, and Decisions That Built Remarkable Companies," published on August 21, 2026. The book brings together perspectives from 32 founders on the decisions, setbacks, and experiences involved in building their companies.

Drake’s chapter, “Your Team Cannot Execute a Secret Mission,” addresses how entrepreneurs communicate the purpose behind the work they assign. His contribution examines what can happen when founders provide employees with tasks, deadlines, and performance measures while keeping the larger outcome inside their own heads.

Drake founded CU 2.0, a consultancy that works with credit unions and financial technology companies on technology strategy, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. He is also the founder of Resistance Wine Company. The chapter draws on his experience developing businesses in two industries with different customers, operating models, and expectations.

The contribution begins with a distinction between a job and a mission. Drake characterizes a job as a description of what someone must do, while a mission communicates the result that the work is intended to support. He proposes that employees may struggle to anticipate problems, challenge assumptions, or improve an approach when they have not been told what the founder ultimately hopes to accomplish.

“The problem is usually not the person. It’s that we gave them a job when what we really needed to share was the secret mission behind the job,” Drake explains in the chapter.

That argument forms the central theme of his contribution to The Entrepreneurial Ascent. Drake considers why a founder may be dissatisfied even after an employee has completed an assignment according to the original instructions. In such cases, he suggests, the leader may have expected ownership and judgment without communicating the context those qualities require. 

The chapter also connects that leadership challenge with the changing nature of work. Drake observes that artificial intelligence is altering tools and responsibilities across industries, making it difficult for existing job descriptions to anticipate every future need. He does not offer a fixed prediction of how individual positions will change. Instead, he proposes that teams may respond more effectively when they understand the purpose behind their responsibilities alongside the work itself.

Several sections examine the founder’s role in creating that understanding. Drake discusses the vulnerability involved in explaining why an outcome matters personally, particularly when the leader does not have every answer. He also considers how founders can become decision-making bottlenecks when employees must return to them for every interpretation, adjustment, or correction.

Informal communication receives attention as well. The chapter notes that remote arrangements may work effectively when responsibilities and routines are stable. During periods of rapid growth, uncertainty, or organizational change, however, Drake believes spontaneous conversations can help teams uncover assumptions and connect immediate assignments with wider priorities. He presents this as a question of context rather than a rejection of remote work.

Drake extends the principle beyond employees to relationships with customers, investors, and partners. Within CU 2.0’s work, he identifies the wider purpose of technology adoption as helping credit unions continue serving their members as financial services change. At Resistance Wine Company, he connects the business with the memories people create around wine. These examples illustrate his view that an organization’s mission can give meaning to its operating mechanisms.

The chapter concludes with a direct recommendation for founders seeking greater participation from their teams. “If the work matters, tell people why. If the outcome is bigger than the task, say so. If you need partners rather than box-checkers, give them something real to partner with,” Drake emphasizes.

Media Contact

Kirk Drake
kdrake@cu-2.com

September 3, 2026 3:32 PM
EDT
ISTANBUL, Türkiye

Istanbul Care Unveils All-Inclusive 2026 Hair Transplant Packages Featuring Fixed Pricing and Individualized Clinical Care

ISTANBUL, Türkiye, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Medical tourism provider Istanbul Care today announced its 2026 operational protocol for international hair restoration patients. Designed to replace opaque per-graft pricing models, the clinic’s updated offering integrates all-inclusive flat-rate pricing with standardized, doctor-led clinical assessment and long-term post-operative monitoring.

For 2026, fixed package pricing ranges from $1,990 to $2,490, encompassing surgical procedures, transfers, luxury accommodations, and structured digital follow-up:

  • FUE Sapphire Package ($1,990): Implies microscopic channel opening utilizing bio-compatible sapphire blades to minimize tissue trauma and optimize graft density.
  • Organic DHI Package ($2,290): Direct Hair Implantation utilizing specialized Choi Implanter Pens alongside proprietary scalp preparation to support graft viability.
  • Gold DHI Ultra Package ($2,490): Specialized high-density implantation tailored for advanced hair loss patterns and multi-zone restoration.

Addressing Industry Transparency and Clinical Rigor

As Turkey continues to host hundreds of thousands of hair restoration patients annually, international consumers face challenges distinguishing comprehensive medical care from dynamic per-graft surcharges and hidden post-operative costs. Istanbul Care’s new model separates financial predictability from clinical planning, ensuring treatment methodologies are chosen based on medical suitability rather than cost brackets.

Integrated End-to-End Patient Pathway

The 2026 care pathway establishes a seamless sequence for overseas travel and recovery:

  • Pre-travel Digital Assessment: Remote evaluation of high-resolution donor and recipient imagery, medical history review, and baseline graft estimation.
  • In-Clinic Diagnostic Mapping: In-person trichoscopic scalp analysis, precise hairline design aligned with facial proportions, and final surgical plan sign-off.
  • Procedure and Immediate Aftercare: Minimally invasive extraction and implantation, specialized post-op washing, and initial medication administration.
  • Logistical and Language Support: Dedicated multilingual patient coordinators, private airport-hotel-clinic logistics, and 5-star hotel accommodations.
  • 12-Month Remote Monitoring: Structured digital check-ins at key recovery milestones (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months) to assess growth and graft retention.

About Istanbul Care

Istanbul Care combines cutting-edge healthcare services with professional patient support, making the entire journey smooth from consultation to recovery. Thanks to its internationally accredited facilities, skilled specialists, and strong reputation in medical tourism, Istanbul Care continues to be one of the most trusted destinations worldwide for successful and natural-looking hair restoration solutions. For more information, visit istanbul-care.com.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this press release is for informational and promotional purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual surgical outcomes, graft requirements, and candidate suitability vary based on individual physiology, hair loss severity, and clinical evaluation. Package details, pricing, and services are subject to change based on in-person diagnostic assessments. Readers should consult with a qualified, licensed healthcare professional before making any medical travel or surgical decisions.

Media Contact

Crabs Media
info@crabsmedia.com
+90 530 870 57 90

September 3, 2026 12:07 PM
EDT
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Shape Equity Partners Expands Jersey City Portfolio with Acquisition of Historic 24 Bright Street Property

JERSEY CITY, NJ, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Shape Equity Partners, a boutique real estate development firm behind some of Hudson County’s most distinctive, and recent, residential projects, just announced the acquisition of 24 Bright Street, a historic three-unit property in Jersey City. 

The acquisition adds to Shape Equity’s growing Jersey City presence and underlines the firm’s interest in properties with unmistakable character and clear potential for improvement.

Located in one of Jersey City’s established residential neighborhoods, 24 Bright Street is expected to include restoration of the building’s facade, preservation of its distinctive street presence, and a rear expansion designed to support modern residential use. The property includes three residential units, including a large three-bedroom unit. Construction is anticipated to begin in Q3 2026.

“Jersey City has a limited number of properties that offer both historic character and a clear path for thoughtful improvement,” said Lorenzo Sargenti, founder of Shape Equity Partners. “With 24 Bright Street, our goal is to preserve what gives the building its identity while improving the way it functions for the people who will ultimately live there.”

A Different Approach to Multifamily Development

24 Bright Street joins Shape Equity Partners’ growing portfolio of boutique residential projects across Jersey City and Hoboken, including The Milano at 305 Third Street and The Chester at 46 Coles Street.

Rather than pursuing scale alone, Shape Equity focused on projects where design, construction decisions, and market positioning can directly shape the long-term value of the asset. The firm’s work centers on selective acquisitions, disciplined execution, and residential product quality in high-barrier-to-entry urban markets. 

“Jersey City continues to grow, but growth alone isn’t the full story,” Sargenti added. “The question is what kind of housing gets added to the market. We believe there is a real need for smaller-scale projects that are carefully designed, well-built, and connected to the neighborhoods around them.”

As demand continues across Hudson County for well-located residential products with access to transit, walkability, and neighborhood amenities, Shape Equity Partners plans to continue pursuing projects that add quality housing while respecting the context around them.

About Shape Equity

Shape Equity Partners is a boutique real estate development firm focused on multifamily residential properties in high-demand markets just outside major city centers. The firm combines proprietary market and regulatory research with a development approach informed by European construction standards to identify overlooked opportunities and deliver high-quality residential projects. Shape focuses on markets characterized by structural housing undersupply, favorable demographic trends and complex regulatory environments where local expertise can create a meaningful advantage. For more information, visit shapeequity.com.

Media Contact

Joshua Estes
Partner, Estes Media
joshua@estesmedia.com

September 3, 2026 9:02 AM
EDT
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Launches Campaign Through Weqaa Center to Raise Awareness of Integrated Plant Pest Management

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Saudi Arabia’s National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, Weqaa, has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to promote the adoption of integrated plant pest management practices as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to support sustainable agriculture, improve pest management efficiency, and reduce the unnecessary use of pesticides.

The campaign, titled “The Healthier Choice” focuses on simplifying the concept of integrated plant pest management for farmers and agricultural workers and linking pest control decisions to a process that begins with regular crop monitoring, accurate diagnosis of the problem, and assessment of the level of infestation before selecting the most appropriate action.

Weqaa said the campaign seeks to turn integrated plant pest management from a technical concept into a clear and practical process on the farm, based on monitoring, diagnosis, prevention, and selecting the appropriate intervention, helping farmers make more accurate decisions when dealing with pests.

The Center added that the campaign reflects the Kingdom’s direction towards strengthening plant health and promoting the responsible use of agricultural inputs, in line with international efforts supporting food security, sustainable agriculture, and the protection of natural resources.

Integrated plant pest management is defined as an approach that combines appropriate preventive, agricultural, biological, physical, and chemical methods, based on continuous monitoring and assessment, with the aim of growing healthy crops while reducing risks to people and the environment.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), integrated plant pest management is based on examining available pest control methods and combining them appropriately to help manage pest populations, reduce pesticide use and the risks associated with it, and promote sustainable pest management.

The objectives of “The Healthier Choice” campaign are aligned with international approaches to plant health and sustainable agriculture, including the International Plant Protection Convention Strategic Framework for 2020-2030, which links stronger plant health capacities with supporting food security, agricultural productivity, safe trade, and progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Integrated plant pest management practices are particularly linked to Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on ending hunger, promoting food security and sustainable agriculture, and Sustainable Development Goal 12, which addresses sustainable consumption and production patterns and the sound management of chemicals and natural resources.

Weqaa said the campaign focuses on ensuring that decisions to use pesticides are made responsibly and based on actual need, the type of pest, the condition of the crop, and the level of infestation, while complying with the approved pesticide label and instructions for use and safety.

The campaign includes digital and educational awareness materials, as well as workshops, activities, and field days targeting farmers, agricultural workers, agricultural extension specialists, partners, and relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

The initiative comes as Saudi Arabia continues to develop its agricultural sector and strengthen its ability to support food security as part of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 related to resource sustainability, improving production efficiency, and developing more resilient agricultural and food systems.

According to data from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Kingdom’s total production of agricultural and food commodities exceeded 16 million tonnes in 2024, while the agricultural sector contributed about $31.5 billion to gross domestic product.

Efforts to protect plant health are gaining increasing importance globally, with FAO estimates indicating that plant pests and diseases cause losses of up to 40% of global crop production each year, while associated economic losses exceed $220 billion.

The Center said raising awareness of integrated plant pest management is part of broader efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s plant health system and support farmers in making decisions based on monitoring and technical knowledge, helping protect crops and sustain agricultural production.

About Weqaa Center

The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants Pests and Animal Diseases, “Weqaa,” is an administratively and financially independent center operating under a board of directors chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The Center is dedicated to protecting plant and animal wealth from pests and diseases, ensuring the safety of plant and animal production, and safeguarding public health from the risks of zoonotic diseases, in order to enhance food security and support sustainable agricultural development in the Kingdom. For more information, visit weqaa.gov.sa/en.

Media Contact

Weqaa Center
prmedia@weqaa.gov.sa

September 3, 2026 4:24 AM
EDT
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

Omniconn Advances Regional AI Governance with Platform 4.0 and Landmark UL 3115 Certification

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, September 3, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Across the world, a revolution is underway. Nations are accelerating investment in artificial intelligence, and a new generation of technology companies is emerging to solve one of the industry’s biggest challenges: connecting fragmented physical infrastructure to intelligent systems.

The region’s AI ambitions have been a decade in the making, not as a sci-fi pipe dream, but as an economic foundation for digitally enabled societies. This transition is already well underway. In 2017, the UAE was the first country globally to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and, more recently, announced plans to deploy AI across 50% of the country’s government services within just two years.

In recent years, global conversation around AI has largely centred on hyperscalers, cloud capabilities, and data security, but attention is now shifting toward the infrastructure needed to power intelligent systems safely, securely, and at scale.

Enter Omniconn, a UAE-based critical infrastructure intelligence platform that provides the operational layer connecting physical infrastructure with AI-driven decision-making across smart buildings, cities, and critical environments.

Each day, modern cities continue to require increasing volumes of operational data generated by critical systems such as fire safety infrastructure, HVAC networks, and surveillance platforms. As a result, data fragmentation remains a significant challenge across technologies and legacy platforms, limiting how effectively organizations can automate operations, improve efficiency, and respond to incidents.

This is the exact obstacle Ibrahim Lari, Chairman of Omniconn, says the company was designed to address.

“AI cannot function effectively without access to structured, real-time data. Omniconn acts as an intelligence layer between physical infrastructure and AI-driven decision-making. What makes Omniconn particularly unique is its ability to bridge traditionally isolated systems such as fire alarms, BMS, IoT sensors, and CCTV into a single operational ecosystem, unlocking immediate operational ROI without the capital-intensive requirement of replacing legacy physical assets.”

With real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automated response capabilities, Omniconn’s platform offers an advantage in markets where commercial and government property portfolios contain decades-old technology installations. Today, Omniconn’s technology supports more than 2,500 buildings across the GCC, spanning government, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, education, energy, and critical infrastructure. Every day, the platform connects thousands of operational assets, transforming fragmented building systems into a unified intelligence layer for AI-driven operations.

However, with new technology comes new risk.

Public discourse continues to echo concerns about AI governance, risk, and regulation, and with global enterprises facing tightening scrutiny over AI governance and operational resilience, advanced cybersecurity, and robust governance is driving demand for trustworthy AI systems that can safely manage complex operations.

At the same time, regulatory standards are being updated to align with national initiatives focused on infrastructure, energy, smart cities, and public service environments, ensuring that intelligence systems are deployed ethically and transparently.

In this arena, Omniconn is already ahead of the curve. In April 2026, the company became the first in the GCC to achieve UL 3115 certification, the world’s first AI safety standard established by UL Solutions that evaluates the secure, and ethical deployment of AI-enabled products operating in real-world environments. The certification was awarded to Omniconn following an assessment of the company’s Platform 4.0 solution, which found it to demonstrate strong transparency, security, and human oversight.

“Our Platform 4.0 demonstrates our commitment to developing trusted, secure, and future-ready AI infrastructure platforms,” Ibrahim says. “Using the region's rapid digital acceleration as a launchpad, this infrastructure demonstrates how modern economies can deploy verified, secure AI at an enterprise level.”

As the UAE positions itself at the forefront of the digital economy, its success is becoming less dependent on proving its digital capabilities and more on developing unified data systems that communicate, respond, and operate harmoniously.

Ibrahim explains that for the country to achieve its long-term ambitions, it requires digital infrastructure capable of continuously adapting while maintaining operational continuity across essential services.

“The future of AI will not only be digital, but physical, with AI managing how buildings operate, how cities consume energy, and how infrastructure responds to incidents. Without AI and intelligence integration, this data remains fragmented and reactive."

The role of intelligent infrastructure in reshaping the UAE’s broader digital economy is already evident, with autonomous systems embedded in critical industries and public services such as healthcare and finance.

“We are directly supporting the UAE’s digital future by strengthening the resilience, safety, and reliability of its AI-driven infrastructure, which serves as an intelligent operational backbone to advance the country’s ambitions on a regional and global scale,” Ibrahim says.

Despite attention mostly focusing on the country’s public-facing innovation it appears that actions behind the scenes are driving more promising developments than attention-grabbing headlines.

Therefore, as AI becomes increasingly embedded into the physical world, the competitive advantage will not belong to those with the biggest models, but to those capable of connecting, governing, and operationalising real-world infrastructure at scale.

That is the challenge Omniconn was built to solve.

About Omniconn

Omniconn is an infrastructure intelligence platform that incorporates a Building Operating System to centralize control, intelligence, and compliance across fire, energy, and critical infrastructure. Made in the UAE for the world, it connects directly to existing systems to create a secure, scalable command layer across portfolios and cities.Our platform delivers real-time control, AI-driven insight, and automated optimization at enterprise scale. For more information, visit omniconn.ai.

Media Contact

Yehia Issa
SVP, FleishmanHillard
yehia.issa@omc.com
+971 55 267 0405

September 2, 2026 3:58 PM
EDT
MIAMI, FL

Flamingo Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Round Led by Vertex Ventures

MIAMI, FL, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Flamingo, a Miami Beach-based company building open infrastructure for IT and security operations, raised $4.5 million in seed funding in a round led by Vertex Ventures, bringing its total funding to $6.7 million less than a year after its founding round.

The round lands on measurable demand: 400 IT managed service providers, or MSPs, are running the company's beta across 10,000 endpoints, with another 2,500 providers on the waitlist.

Flamingo is targeting a cost structure the software industry has left untouched. Gartner estimates put global IT and security tooling at roughly $175 billion a year ($121.2 billion security software and $51.7 billion IT operations management software), while the labor that operates those tools is a $1.73 trillion market, nearly ten times larger, with much of that time going to repetitive work.

Rather than joining the wave of AI assistants being layered onto existing IT products, the company rebuilt the layer underneath them. OpenFrame, its platform, pairs a consolidated tooling stack built on open-source foundations with AI agents that execute work across it directly.

“Instead of adding another AI assistant to an existing stack, we're rebuilding the infrastructure layer and putting agents directly into it, so they can actually close tickets,” Michael Assraf, Flamingo's founder and chief executive, said. “Mingo can even hunt down and fix issues before a ticket exists.”

Agents That Work Before the Ticket Exists

The platform has two layers. OpenFrame Core consolidates 19 IT and security product categories, including remote monitoring and management, mobile device management, patch management, remote access, automation, security monitoring and ticketing, into a single API and data layer. The first generation is already live.

On top of it, two AI agents divide the workload the way a service desk would. Fae, the end-user agent, fields requests such as password resets, slow machines and software installs. Mingo operates at the technician and fleet level, handling backups, policy configuration, routine scripts and incident response - and, as Assraf noted, moves on issues before they turn into tickets. When a task calls for a human, it is flagged with a “Tech Required” status and handed to a technician with the agent's context attached.

The economics are the sharpest part of the pitch. Flamingo prices the entire stack at a flat $1 per device per month with 10 million AI tokens included, or $0.80 per device with 25 million tokens on annual billing, in a market where incumbent platforms have typically been licensed per technician or per module.

Why Service Providers First

Flamingo aimed its launch at MSPs, the firms that run IT and security for businesses without in-house teams and the segment that sits closest to the industry's cost squeeze. The math is a multiplier: each provider serves multiple client businesses, so one deployment reaches many organizations at once. In-house IT and security teams can run the platform as well.

The company also holds an unusual asset for a seed-stage vendor: OpenMSP, its open community for service providers built around open-source tooling, where much of OpenFrame's direction has been shaped by the people who use it.

The Task Becomes the Product

For Vertex Ventures, the round is a bet on a structural change in how IT gets bought and delivered.

“As IT becomes a key enabler of AI adoption, the stack itself has to evolve,” Tami Bronner, General Partner at Vertex Ventures, said. “We believe the market is moving from fragmented software tools to a model where the service and the task become the product. By combining open infrastructure that reduces software costs with agents that take on the operating work, Flamingo can fundamentally change the economics of IT.”

“The traction Flamingo is already seeing, together with the enthusiasm from the people running IT day to day, is strong validation that the market is ready for this shift,” Bronner added. “Michael and the team combine a bold vision for where IT is going with a deep understanding of how it actually operates.”

Flamingo was founded by Assraf, a veteran of the cybersecurity and MSP industries, and raised a $2.2 million pre-seed round in October 2025. The new capital will go toward moving waitlisted providers onto the platform and extending OpenFrame Core's coverage across all 19 product categories.

About Flamingo

Flamingo brings autonomous, agentic workflows to the unified IT and security infrastructure layer. By replacing fragmented, closed software with open-source tooling, Flamingo lets IT teams and providers deploy agents that execute work directly, rather than just surfacing ticket recommendations. Founded by Michael Assraf, a veteran of the cybersecurity and MSP industries, with offices in Miami Beach, Flamingo's mission is to help businesses take back their margins and their sanity. For more information, visit flamingo.run.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Flamingo’s product roadmap, beta usage, market opportunity, and future capabilities of its OpenFrame platform and AI agents. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections, and involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Customer counts, endpoint coverage, and waitlist metrics are internally generated company data as of September 2026. Flamingo undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of new information or future events.

Media Contact

Kristina Shkriabina
Marketing, Flamingo
kristina@flamingo.cx

September 2, 2026 11:42 AM
EDT
WASHINGTON, DC

American Kratom Association Files Federal Lawsuit to Resolve DOJ/DEA MGPI Enforcement Discretion Gap

WASHINGTON, DC, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The American Kratom Association (AKA) today announced that it has filed federal litigation against the U.S. Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole to resolve a critical uncertainty created by DEA's temporary scheduling order for mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (also known as MGPI or MP), MGM-15, and MGM-16. The lawsuit, American Kratom Association v. United States Drug Enforcement Administration, et al. (Case No. 1:26-cv-02997), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The AKA's lawsuit does not seek, in the first instance, to invalidate DEA's emergency action against dangerous chemically manipulated opioid products. Instead, the lawsuit asks the court to confirm that the temporary scheduling order does not apply to traditional botanical kratom products merely because modern testing may detect incidental, naturally occurring, or naturally formed trace amounts of MGPI. The complaint expressly states that AKA is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to resolve urgent uncertainty created by DEA's order.

“This lawsuit is about making sure DOJ and DEA's stated intent is reflected in the enforceable law,” said Mac Haddow, Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association. “DOJ publicly recognized that incidental trace MGPI in otherwise botanical kratom should be treated differently. But unless that policy is incorporated into the actual scheduling order or clarified by the court, consumers and responsible companies remain at risk.”

The DOJ press release announcing the emergency scheduling action stated that the action is directed at “deliberately manufactured and concentrated opioid products, not traditional botanical kratom.” DOJ also stated that it “will exercise enforcement discretion when only incidental trace amounts of MGPI are confirmed in a product otherwise consistent with botanical kratom.”

The problem, AKA explained, is that federal enforcement discretion announced in a press release does not bind state and local law enforcement agencies, county prosecutors, regulatory inspectors, or every official who may read the Schedule I listing literally. The DEA order itself lists MGPI without a corresponding botanical trace threshold, creating the risk that traditional kratom products could be mischaracterized as Schedule I controlled substances solely because highly sensitive testing detects incidental trace MGPI.

“Enforcement discretion is not enough,” Haddow said. “A press release cannot protect a consumer from a local arrest, a retailer from seizure of inventory, a laboratory from compliance uncertainty, or a responsible manufacturer from felony-level allegations that DOJ and DEA clearly did not intend.”

The AKA supports the emergency scheduling of dangerous products containing manufactured, concentrated, fortified, intentionally added, or chemically manipulated MGPI, MGM-15, and MGM-16. The lawsuit makes clear that AKA does not seek protection for those products and does not challenge federal control of intentionally synthesized, isolated, enriched, fortified, or concentrated pseudoindoxyl products.

The complaint explains that mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and pseudoindoxyl are chemically related, and that trace pseudoindoxyl may arise through the plant's inherent chemistry, ordinary post-harvest handling, storage, or analytical conditions. AKA argues that trace detection is not proof of chemical manipulation, fortification, or synthetic manufacturing.

The solution, AKA said, is straightforward: DOJ and DEA should either amend the temporary scheduling order or accept a court declaration confirming that traditional botanical kratom is not controlled merely because incidental trace MGPI is detected. DEA has already proposed a threshold-based approach for 7-OH products, recognizing the need to distinguish naturally occurring trace levels in botanical kratom from dangerous enhanced and chemically manipulated products. AKA is asking for the same scientifically defensible approach for MGPI.

“This litigation is necessary because ambiguity in controlled-substance law has real consequences,” Haddow said. “Manufacturers can lose inventory. Retailers can be shut down. Consumers can be threatened with criminal penalties. Laboratories can be discouraged from using the most accurate testing methods. That is not consumer protection — it is regulatory confusion.”

“The American Kratom Association will continue to support strong action against MGPI, MGM-15, MGM-16, and enhanced 7-OH products that put consumers at risk,” Haddow said. “But we will also fight to make sure natural kratom leaf consumers are not swept into a Schedule I regime that DOJ and DEA never intended for them.”

About American Kratom Association (AKA)

The American Kratom Association is a consumer advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the rights of Americans to safely use natural kratom products. The AKA supports federal and state enforcement actions targeting chemically manipulated 7-OH products and advocates for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act — including product testing, labeling standards, and age restrictions — in states across the country. For more information, visit americankratom.org and learn more at kratomanswers.org.

Disclaimer

The American Kratom Association (AKA) is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. This press release is provided for informational and public policy purposes only. Information contained herein reflects the policy analysis of the issuing party regarding federal administrative actions and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Statements made regarding natural kratom have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Readers should consult qualified medical professionals before using any botanical products.

Media Contact

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

September 2, 2026 11:38 AM
EDT
HANGZHOU, China

Geely E2 (EX2) Becomes Geely’s First Model to Earn Five-Star Safety Ratings from 2026 Euro NCAP and 2026 ANCAP

HANGZHOU, China, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Geely Auto today announced that the Geely E2 (EX2), the world’s No. 1-selling car across the A&B-segments in 2025, has earned five-star safety ratings under the new 2026 Euro NCAP and 2026 ANCAP protocols. The achievement makes the Geely E2 (EX2) one of the world’s first A&B-segments models, and Geely’s first model, to earn the highest rating from two of the world’s most stringent independent vehicle safety assessment programs. Already available in more than 30 countries with global sales exceeding 800,000 units, the achievement further demonstrates Geely Auto’s strong safety DNA and commitment to bringing high safety standards in new energy vehicles to customers worldwide.

Euro NCAP and ANCAP have introduced their advanced 2026 vehicle safety assessment protocols, marking the most comprehensive overhaul of their testing and rating systems in years. The new framework takes a holistic approach to vehicle safety, covering the entire safety journey — from Safe Driving and Crash Avoidance to Crash Protection and Post-Crash Safety. Going beyond traditional crash testing, the new protocols place greater emphasis on real-world driving scenarios and set significantly more demanding requirements, raising the bar for vehicle safety performance.

The Geely E2 (EX2) delivers strong performance across the four assessment stages of 2026 Euro NCAP and ANCAP, with particularly strong results in Safe Driving and Post-Crash Safety. Its Safe Driving performance is underpinned by an integrated suite of Occupant Monitoring System, Driver Monitoring System and intelligent assistance technologies designed to help prevent accidents and protect occupants. Under the 2026 Euro NCAP and ANCAP protocols, the Geely E2 (EX2) introduces an alert system that detects incorrect seatbelt use, while its Driver Monitoring System identifies distraction, fatigue, drowsiness, and driver impairment. The Child Presence Detection system alerts the driver in the vehicle and on their smartphone if a child is accidentally left behind.

The Geely E2 (EX2) also demonstrated strong performance in assisted driving scenarios. Its ACC system performed strongly across a wide range of driving situations, including challenging cut-in and cut-out scenarios that require rapid responses to changing traffic conditions. The ICC lane-keeping system achieved a full score in this assessment, helping keep the vehicle consistently centered in its lane, including at high speeds and through sharp curves.

In Post-Crash Safety, the Geely E2 (EX2) combines advanced emergency response capabilities with enhanced high-voltage protection. Its Advanced eCall automatically initiates an emergency call following a collision, transmitting key vehicle and occupants information to emergency responders to support a faster, more informed response. The Geely E2 (EX2) also provides post-crash electrical isolation of the high-voltage battery, helping mitigate potential risks from the high-voltage system following a collision.

The Geely E2 (EX2) is engineered around a comprehensive approach to safety with protection spanning the battery system, vehicle structure, and occupants. Equipped with liquid-cooled batteries, the Geely E2 (EX2) is designed to enhance battery stability and thermal management under demanding conditions. In the event of a collision, its cage body helps distribute and channel crash forces across the vehicle, reducing concentrated loads and limiting deformation of the passenger compartment. This structural protection is complemented by seven airbags, including a dual-chamber far-side airbag and an integrated side-curtain airbag with a 33.7-liter volume and the widest coverage area in its class, increasing rear-passenger protection coverage by 30%. Adaptive load-limiting seat belts work in tandem with the airbag system to tailor occupant protection to different occupant sizes and seating positions.

The 5-radar, 5-camera (5R5V) sensing system, supported by advanced software calibration, delivers robust detection and response performance across challenging daytime and nighttime scenarios, including Car-to-Pedestrian Nearside Child Obstructed (CPNCO). With 36 intelligent safety features — the most in its class — the Geely E2 (EX2) provides a comprehensive layer of active safety support, helping drivers identify potential hazards, respond to changing road conditions, and mitigate collision risks in everyday driving.

The Geely E2 (EX2)’s global journey is now gathering pace. Following its recent launch in Australia, UK, France and other markets, the model will continue its expansion into additional markets in the second half of the year, taking one of Geely’s global best-sellers to an ever-wider audience.

About Geely Auto Group

Geely Auto Group is a leading global automotive company headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Part of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Auto Group develops and manufactures passenger vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands. With a strong focus on technology innovation, electrification, and sustainable mobility, Geely Auto Group operates world-class R&D centers and manufacturing facilities across China, Europe, and key international markets. The Group is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and intelligent vehicles enabled by advanced technologies such as hybrid powertrains, full-electric architectures, smart connectivity, and autonomous driving systems. As a global company, Geely Auto Group continues to expand its international presence through strategic partnerships, localized operations, and industry-leading platforms. Geely strives to create mobility solutions that are greener, smarter, and more accessible, driving forward the future of sustainable transportation. For more information, visit global.geely.com.

Media Contact

Janet Chen
media@geely.com

September 2, 2026 11:33 AM
EDT
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Nominations Open for 2028 King Faisal Prize

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- The General Secretariat of the King Faisal Prize announced September 1, 2026, that it welcomes nominations to the 2028 King Faisal Prize across its five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

Secretary General of King Faisal Prize Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail noted that the opening of nominations marks a major milestone in the prize’s 50-year history of recognizing and honoring prominent individuals and entities whose contributions have enriched humanity.

Dr. Alsebail announced the specific topics for the 2028 award categories as follows:

  • Islamic Studies: "The Islamic Heritage in al-Andalus"
  • Arabic Language and Literature: "Arabic Literature from the Perspective of Comparative Studies"
  • Medicine: "RNA-Based Therapeutics"
  • Science: “Biology”

The Service to Islam category remains an honorary award presented to individuals or organizations whose exceptional efforts have served Islam, Muslims, and humanity as a whole.

Nominations will remain open for seven months, from September 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Submissions are accepted from academic and scientific institutions, as well as research centers, and can be submitted via postal mail, email at nominations@kingfaisalprize.org, or through the official portal at kingfaisalprize.org/nominations.

Additional details regarding the King Faisal Prize and its governing statutes are available at kingfaisalprize.org.

Media Contact

info@kingfaisalprize.org

September 2, 2026 11:00 AM
EDT
TALLINN, Estonia

UseResume AI Reaches 49,000 Job Seekers by Moving AI Inside the Resume Builder Instead of Beside It

TALLINN, Estonia, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- UseResume AI has built its AI assistant directly inside its document editor, rather than leaving job seekers to move between a chat tool and a template. Users import an existing resume or start from scratch, choose a template, then rewrite, restructure and get career guidance without leaving the page they are working on. A built-in job board sits alongside it, so a role found on the platform can be turned into a tailored resume and cover letter and applied to in the same session.

The distinction matters because most job seekers assemble applications across three disconnected places: a general AI chat tool for wording, an editor for layout, and a job board for the search itself. Every handoff costs formatting, context and time, and formatting is exactly what automated screening systems penalize. Building an ATS-friendly resume becomes a copy-paste exercise instead of one continuous task.

"Most tools give you words and leave the rest to you" said Vladislav Z., the Founder "We wanted the opposite. The assistant sits where the work happens, so a suggestion becomes an edit in one click instead of a round trip through another tab. That is the difference between writing about a job and being ready to apply for it."

Job seekers rate the platform 4.58 out of 5 across 275 published reviews. Every document runs through more than 30 quality checks against automated screening criteria before download, and the editor supports both US resume and European CV conventions across seven languages.

Next, the company is pairing its job-optimization tools with a built-in job board, letting users discover roles, generate documents matched to a specific posting and apply without leaving the platform. The wider goal is to compress the job application from a multi-tool routine into a single session inside one AI resume builder.

About UseResume AI

UseResume AI is a resume and cover letter platform for job seekers. It combines an AI assistant, ATS-friendly templates, job-description tailoring and document scoring in a single editor, and is used by job seekers across seven languages worldwide. For more information, visit useresume.ai.

Media Contact

Vladislav Z.
app@useresume.ai

September 2, 2026 10:49 AM
EDT
HANGZHOU, China

Geely Auto Group Reports 270,194 Sales in August as Monthly Exports Exceed 100,000 for Third Consecutive Month

HANGZHOU, China, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (0175.HK) reported total sales of 270,194 vehicles in August, marking its sixth consecutive month of both year-on-year and month-on-month growth. Sales increased by 8% both year on year and month on month. New energy vehicle sales reached 175,877 units, up 19% year on year and accounting for 65% of total sales during the month.

Zeekr delivered 36,981 vehicles during the month, up 110% year on year, as the brand continued to strengthen its position in the global premium electric vehicle market.

Lynk & Co recorded sales of 17,027 vehicles, while sales of its new energy models reached 15504 units, up 10%.

The Geely brand sold 216,186 vehicles in August, increasing 10% month on month, providing a stable foundation for the brand’s overall sales growth.

Geely Auto Group also continued to build momentum in international markets. Sales outside of China reached 110,094 vehicles in August, rising 205% year on year. This marked the eighth consecutive month of both year-on-year and month-on-month growth and the third consecutive month in which overseas sales exceeded 100,000 vehicles.

New energy vehicles continued to represent more than half of Geely Auto’s overseas sales, with August exports reaching 70,629 units, an increase of 446% from a year earlier and accounting for 64% of total overseas sales.

Zeekr ranked first among premium battery electric vehicle brands in Australia for the January-July period and also remained the leading premium BEV brand in Thailand over the same period. Lynk & Co ranked first among premium plug-in hybrid brands in Tunisia in July. The Geely brand was among the top-selling brands in Panama both for the January-July period and in July alone, while ranking among the top three battery electric vehicle brands in Ecuador in July.

Key models also continued to gain traction. During the first seven months of the year, the Zeekr 7X led Australia’s midsize premium SUV segment and remained the best-selling premium battery electric vehicle in Malaysia. The Zeekr 009 ranked first in the battery electric MPV segment in both Thailand and Malaysia and led the premium battery electric MPV segment in Singapore.

In July, the Lynk & Co 08 became the best-selling premium PHEV in Tunisia, while the Lynk & Co 900 ranked first in Egypt’s premium new energy vehicle market.

The Geely EX2 also continued to perform strongly across multiple markets, ranking first among electric vehicles in Thailand and battery electric vehicles in Jordan in July, while placing second in overall battery electric vehicle sales in Mexico. The Geely EX5 EM-i led the C-segment PHEV market in Poland, ranked first among C-segment SUVs and second among PHEVs in Spain, and topped the PHEV SUV segment in Mexico.

Reflecting its confidence in continued international growth, Geely Auto Group has raised its 2026 overseas sales target from 640,000 vehicles to 920,000 vehicles and will target annual overseas sales of one million units.

About Geely Auto Group

Geely Auto Group is a leading global automotive company headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Part of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Auto Group develops and manufactures passenger vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co, and Zeekr brands. With a strong focus on technology innovation, electrification, and sustainable mobility, Geely Auto Group operates world-class R&D centers and manufacturing facilities across China, Europe, and key international markets. The Group is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and intelligent vehicles enabled by advanced technologies such as hybrid powertrains, full-electric architectures, smart connectivity, and autonomous driving systems. As a global company, Geely Auto Group continues to expand its international presence through strategic partnerships, localized operations, and industry-leading platforms. Geely strives to create mobility solutions that are greener, smarter, and more accessible, driving forward the future of sustainable transportation. For more information, visit global.geely.com.

Media Contact

Janet Chen
media@geely.com

September 2, 2026 10:00 AM
EDT
BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's 1,850-Hectare Sea Breeze Gets a Digital Twin for Pre-Construction Marketing

BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Sea Breeze, the 1,850-hectare city resort on Azerbaijan's Caspian coast, and pre-construction marketing agency Fortes Vision have built a real-time digital twin of the entire development — the largest ever created for a single real estate project. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the model brings together more than 100 buildings and over 11,000 residential units into a single, fully navigable environment. The digital twin was first presented publicly at MIPIM 2026 in Cannes.

Users can move freely across districts, walk through streets and public spaces, and enter individual buildings and apartments to explore layouts, views, and spatial relationships in real time — effectively experiencing the completed resort as a future resident would, years ahead of delivery.

The scale of the digital twin reflects the scale of Sea Breeze itself. The development currently has 7 kilometers of waterfront promenade, planned to expand to 22 kilometers, while 300 hectares are dedicated to green spaces featuring 11 million trees and plants. In 2025 alone, 5,300 residential units were sold across the development.

"At a certain scale, you can no longer explain a project through separate images — you need an environment people can actually move through. That's where the digital twin becomes essential," said Oleh Bushanskyi, co-founder of Fortes Vision. 

"For a project of this size, trust is built through transparency. The digital twin gives our buyers and investors complete visibility into what they're purchasing — long before delivery," said Rafail Nuriyev, Marketing Director of the Commercial Department at Sea Breeze.

The digital twin includes detailed modeling of residential buildings, waterfront areas, hospitality clusters, and green spaces, unified through real-time lighting and accurate scale, and is being used as a sales and investment tool for prospective buyers, available on-site at Sea Breeze's sales office.

About Fortes Vision

Fortes Vision is an off-plan real estate marketing agency specializing in premium architectural visualization and real-time digital twin platforms built on Unreal Engine 5. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New York, the agency delivers photorealistic 3D renderings, animations, 3D tours, and integrated marketing solutions for architects and real estate developers selling pre-construction worldwide. For more information, visit fortes.vision.

About About Sea Breeze

Sea Breeze is a master-planned city resort located on the Caspian coast of Azerbaijan. Founded in 2006 by Emin Agalarov, the project spans 1,850 hectares, with the first development phase covering 750 hectares, integrating residential, hospitality, entertainment, and marine infrastructure within a unified long-term vision. For more information, visit seabreeze.az.

Media Contact

PR Manager, Fortes Vision
viktoriya@fortesvision.com

September 2, 2026 9:00 AM
EDT
NEW YORK, NY

Smartling Named an OpenAI Select Partner and Launches Plugin for ChatGPT

NEW YORK, NY, September 2, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Smartling, the AI-powered translation company, today announced that it has been named an OpenAI Select Partner within the OpenAI Partner Network.

The OpenAI Partner Network is a global program for partners to build, sell, and deliver AI solutions with OpenAI. It brings together partners with deep industry expertise, delivery capabilities, and customer relationships while equipping them with resources, enablement, and support to help enterprises adopt OpenAI frontier models and products and turn them into measurable impact.

As an OpenAI Select Partner, Smartling will continue working with OpenAI to help organizations build, deploy, and scale AI solutions responsibly and effectively. This work will help organizations get more useful work from every token and stronger performance per dollar with GPT‑5.6, while using ChatGPT Work to turn ambitious goals into finished work. Smartling brings deep expertise in enterprise localization across all industries, translating billions of words a year into more than 450 languages and locales.

Alongside the partnership, Smartling has also launched a plugin for ChatGPT, available through OpenAI’s plugin directory, giving customers the complete power of Smartling, including its governance, quality controls, and linguistic infrastructure, directly within ChatGPT. Through the plugin, customers can translate text instantly with Smartling, applying their own glossary, style guide, and terminology; search and manage translation jobs; raise and resolve quality issues between reviewers and linguists; and pull word count and workflow reports, all without leaving the conversation.

“The most successful enterprises in the world today are focused on outcomes delivered by AI solutions," said Bryan Murphy, CEO of Smartling. "This partnership brings together OpenAI's frontier AI and Smartling's expertise — transforming enterprises' ability to deliver quality global experiences at AI speed. Now, you can get the full power of Smartling right inside ChatGPT: get an on brand translation, check a job's status, and resolve a quality flag, no tab switching required. The opportunity isn't simply faster translation. It's about helping companies dramatically accelerate how they enter markets, reach customers, and grow around the world.”

Smartling supports organizations across every major industry with AI-powered translation, human linguist review, and workflow automation for the full range of content teams manage, from websites and apps to support content and marketing. Its work includes taking Marriott International's training content from 7 languages to 38 while trimming translation costs by 40% and helping Pinterest reach 100 million people in 31 languages, cutting its time-to-market by 83%.

Through the partnership, Smartling will continue expanding the use of OpenAI models across its LanguageAI platform, applying advances to translation quality, automation, and multilingual workflows. The goal: make it possible for enterprises to operate globally with the speed of AI without sacrificing the quality, brand integrity, governance, and control global businesses require.

Learn more about the OpenAI Partner Network at openai.com/business/partners.

About Smartling

Smartling is transforming how global enterprises create, manage, and scale multilingual content in the AI era. Its LanguageAI™ platform combines AI translation, workflow automation, and quality assurance infrastructure to help organizations automate multilingual content operations at enterprise scale. Trusted by leading global brands, Smartling enables companies to move faster globally while maintaining the quality, trust, and oversight required for enterprise AI translation. For more information, visit smartling.com.

Media Contact

Smartling
brianna@sixeastern.com

September 1, 2026 12:34 PM
EDT
SHENZHEN, China

MIRAVA Raises $5M in Angel Funding to Accelerate Smart Boat Development and International Expansion

SHENZHEN, China, September 1, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- MIRAVA, a marine technology company developing a new generation of intelligent recreational boats, has raised $5 million in angel funding to support further product development, small-batch production, and customer deliveries.

The company has spent three years developing and refining its first smart boat, combining intelligent navigation, modular design, electric and petrol propulsion options, and software-driven experiences into a single recreational platform.

MIRAVA will showcase the product at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 and subsequently at boot Düsseldorf 2027 as it expands its presence in the European market.

Rethinking the Recreational Boating Experience

Recreational boating remains a highly established industry, with many products still organised around traditional use cases such as cruising, fishing, water sports, and entertaining.

MIRAVA believes there is an opportunity to approach the category differently by developing a boat around the way people actually want to spend time on the water. Rather than designing a vessel around a single activity, the company has developed a flexible platform intended to support multiple experiences, from cruising and family leisure to water sports, fishing, and socialising.

The company's philosophy is reflected in its brand slogan, “Where Freedom Follows.” The idea is to give owners greater freedom to decide how they use the boat, rather than requiring them to choose a specific boat category based on one predefined activity.

Designed for Flexibility

MIRAVA's approach is reflected most visibly in its modular stern. The aft section can transform the rear of the boat into different configurations depending on how it is being used. The expanded platform can create additional space for water sports, fishing, relaxation, and social activities, while the detachable section can operate independently as a smaller watercraft or tender. This modular architecture allows one platform to support different experiences without requiring owners to switch between specialised boats.

MIRAVA sees this as part of a broader opportunity to develop a new category of smart recreational boats — products that combine the flexibility of a multi-purpose platform with intelligent technology.

Italian Design Meets Marine Technology

The product has been developed with designers Arman Fissette and Emanuele Bomboi, combining experience from yacht design, automotive design, and high-end mobility.

Fissette has previously worked on projects involving companies including Feadship, Oceanco, Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, and Wajer. Bomboi previously served as a senior design director in the Italian automotive industry, including work with FCA Group and Maggiora-Viotti. Their design philosophy focuses on keeping the exterior clean and restrained while integrating complex technology and functionality beneath the surface.

For MIRAVA, the objective is not to add technology simply to demonstrate technical capability, but to make advanced systems feel natural within the overall boating experience.

Intelligent Technology Designed Around the User

Intelligent navigation is another central part of MIRAVA's product strategy.

The boat integrates capabilities including autonomous docking, autonomous departure and arrival, Dynamic Positioning, and intelligent following. A smart band allows users to interact with the boat and can enable it to follow them while swimming, paddle boarding, or diving. This means the boat can remain nearby while the user is in the water, reducing the need to return to the helm between activities.

MIRAVA's intelligent navigation technology is supported by accumulated real-world operational experience, with more than 50,000 nautical miles of operational data and technology installed across more than 1,500 boats.

The company believes the value of its intelligent technology is ultimately measured by how much it improves the user's experience, rather than by how many features can be added to a vessel.

A Platform With Two Propulsion Options

MIRAVA is initially offering its platform with both electric and petrol propulsion options. The fully electric version uses a 100 kWh battery, with a maximum power output of 150 hp and a top speed of 20 knots. The petrol version provides up to 250 hp, with a maximum speed of 30 knots and a 380-litre fuel tank.

Both versions share the same core platform, measuring approximately 7.9 metres in length and 2.44 metres in beam, with capacity for up to eight people. The dual-power strategy allows MIRAVA to address different customer requirements and market conditions while maintaining the same modular product philosophy.

From Product Development to Small-Batch Production

The $5 million angel funding will support MIRAVA's next stage of development, including continued product and technology development, small-batch production, and customer deliveries. The company has spent three years refining its first product and its underlying technology, and is now preparing to bring the platform to a wider international market.

The next phase will also allow MIRAVA to continue developing the product through real-world customer use and feedback. For the company, moving towards small-batch production is an important step in translating its technology and design philosophy into a commercially available product.

Bringing a New Approach to Europe

Europe represents an important market for MIRAVA, given its established boating culture and strong ecosystem of yacht manufacturers, designers, technology companies, and marine consumers.

MIRAVA will make its European debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, where it will present its smart boat to international media, industry professionals, potential partners, and customers. The company will subsequently showcase the product at boot Düsseldorf 2027, continuing its European market development.

Rather than presenting the product simply as another new boat model, MIRAVA aims to demonstrate how intelligent systems, modular design, and multi-purpose functionality can change the way people experience recreational boating.

Building a New Category of Smart Boats

MIRAVA's ambition extends beyond adding autonomous technology or electric propulsion to an existing boat category. The company is bringing together intelligent navigation, modular design, connected interaction and multi-purpose leisure in a single platform.

Traditional recreational boats are often defined by their primary use — whether fishing, water sports, cruising, or entertainment.

MIRAVA is taking the opposite approach: developing a boat that can adapt to different activities and different moments without being defined by any one of them. Its vision is to create a new category of smart boat designed around freedom, flexibility, and intelligent assistance.

With three years of product development behind it and $5 million in angel funding supporting its next stage, MIRAVA is focused on further developing its technology, moving towards small-batch production and bringing its smart boat platform to international customers.

About MIRAVA

MIRAVA is a marine technology company developing a new generation of smart boats. Combining intelligent navigation, modular design, electric and petrol propulsion options, and software-driven experiences, MIRAVA aims to create a more flexible approach to recreational boating. The company has spent three years developing and refining its first product and is progressing towards small-batch production and international market expansion. MIRAVA will showcase its smart boat at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 and boot Düsseldorf 2027. For more information, visit miravaboats.com.

Media Contact

chivas.liang@miravaboats.com

September 1, 2026 12:04 PM
EDT
IRVINGTON, NY

Mt. Joy, Dasha, Chelsea Cutler, Matt Quinn and Corey Harper Join Future Friends Campus Series, Supporting Mental Wellness Events at Universities Nationwide

IRVINGTON, NY, September 1, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Two Bridge, a healthcare platform confronting the global crisis of loneliness and youth mental wellness, today announced the artist lineup for the fall 2026 Future Friends Campus Series, a nationwide expansion of its campus-based mental wellness programming. Indie rock band Mt. Joy will headline the season opener at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on September 30 and October 1; country artist Dasha and Mt. Joy frontman Matt Quinn will headline at the University of Michigan on October 5 and 6, where Dasha will also host a line dancing activation; and singer-songwriter Chelsea Cutler will headline at Indiana University Bloomington on October 28 and 29, with folk singer-songwriter Corey Harper opening. Spring 2027 dates, including participating universities and artists, will be announced at a later date.    

College students today are navigating unprecedented mental overload leading to stress, anxiety and serious mental wellness issues; nearly three in four college students report moderate to severe psychological distress. In addition to loneliness and a lack of belonging due to digital overload — adults who spend more than two hours a day on social media are roughly twice as likely to report increased social isolation as those who spend less than 30 minutes a day — students are dealing with financial pressures, with nearly 80% saying financial stress negatively impacts their mental health. Most of this distress never reaches a clinical threshold, but it steadily erodes connection, belonging, and well-being. Over the past 20 years, young adults have seen their daily in-person time with friends drop from 150 minutes to just 40 minutes. All of these factors have contributed to making the 15-24 year old age group the loneliest demographic globally, with 1 in 5 adolescents worldwide stating they experience loneliness, which can often lead to students unenrolling from their program.

Two Bridge's solution to solving the loneliness epidemic isn’t an app or screen. Drawing on 35 years of healthcare experience, 15 years focused specifically on mental wellness, and the last 5 years analyzing dozens of mental wellness founders and startups, Two Bridge concluded that shared culture, community, and accessible support are among the most effective responses available to address the epidemic — and built Future Friends to prove it.

"Students don’t need another app or lecture telling them to take care of their mental health. They need more reasons to put their phones down, look up, and connect with the people around them. Future Friends creates those opportunities,” says Harris Schwartzberg, founder of Two Bridge and co-founder of Future Friends Campus Series. “Study after study shows that human connection is essential to a happy, healthy life. Through shared experiences, authentic conversation, campus resources and music, we create moments where students feel less alone and more connected. Mental wellness is woven throughout, but it’s never forced, it’s simply part of the experience. That authenticity extends to the artists we work with. Mt. Joy, Chelsea Cutler, Dasha, Matt Quinn and Corey Harper genuinely care about mental wellness and the power of connection. We’re thrilled to have them helping us build community on campus.”

Built around lived experience rather than apps or technology, Future Friends meets students where they already are, creating space for reflection, belonging, and community care. Over each campus visit, Future Friends programming highlights include:

  • Common Denominator Screening: Two Bridge's original docuseries hosted by Maurice Dubois, featuring artist Peter Tunney, Noah Kahan and the late Gavin Creel, focused on how music, art, and candid conversation help us explore identity and connection
  • Life Saving Power of Human Connection with Kevin Hines: Acclaimed mental health activist, speaker and bestselling author shares his inspiring story of survival, resilience and how human connection saved his life
  • Movement & Meditation: A guided yoga and mindfulness workshop open to newbies and yogis alike
  • Boots & Besties: A high-energy line dancing experience led by professional instructors and special guests, and featuring music from DJ duo Country Night, Boots & Besties pairs movement with real conversation about mental wellness. Country star Dasha will host Boots & Besties at University of Michigan, in addition to headlining a musical performance
  • Future Fund$: A lighthearted financial literacy competition covering budgeting, credit, and saving for long-term confidence
  • Social Club Phone-Free Social, with Kanso: A phone-free hangout built around music, games, and prompt-card conversation, presented with digital wellness experience brand Kanso
  • Marquee Live Musical Performance: An unforgettable night of music,creating direct connection between students and the artists they love

2026–2027 Future Friends Campus Series Schedule

  • Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, 2026: University of Wisconsin–Madison, featuring Mt. Joy
  • Oct. 5–6, 2026: University of Michigan, featuring Dasha and Mt. Joy frontman Matt Quinn
  • Oct. 28–29, 2026: Indiana University Bloomington, featuring Chelsea Cutler and Corey Harper

61% of young adults ages 18–25 report experiencing profound loneliness, and 65% say it significantly impacts their mental health. That erosion in face-to-face connection tracks directly with the rise in student mental overload, and it's exactly the gap Future Friends is built to close. By using music and culture as an entry point rather than clinical language, integrating trusted mental health resources directly into the experience, and scaling through repeatable, in-person activations, Future Friends is built to address mental overload before it becomes crisis-level; campus by campus, weekend by weekend.

The early concept for Future Friends Campus Series first launched in 2017 in at University of Michigan, when Two Bridge hosted “Who Can Relate,” a four-day mental wellness stigma reduction event with Grammy nominated artist Logic and Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Glenn Close. The response was overwhelming with a sold-out audience of 4,500 student, faculty and mental health professionals in attendance. Future Friends Campus Series officially launched during the fall 2025 school year, with North Carolina State University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, featuring performances from 2025 VMA's New Artist of the Year, Alex Warren, speakers Kevin Hines and Zac Clark, alongside the program's full mental wellness activations. The results were undeniable: students showed up hungry for in-person, community-driven experiences, validating the program's core premise that connection — not more technology — is what students are missing. To further Future Friends' impact, Two Bridge has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to integrate their mental health resources, crisis services, and local peer support into campus life.

Future Friends Campus Series’ mental wellness programming is free to attend for all currently enrolled students at participating universities. A nominal donation to an aligned mental wellness non-profit organization will be required for students to attend the live music performance. For information on Future Friends Campus Series, including specific campus schedules, RSVP details, donation/ticketing details, campus resources and more, please visit FutureFriends.org.

About Future Friends Campus Series

Future Friends Campus Series is a free, two-day mental wellness experience created by Two Bridge to combat the crisis facing today's college students. Presented in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Future Friends meets students exactly where they are, using music, movement, and shared culture to create the authentic, in-person connection that college students crave most. Each stop brings live performances, wellness activations, and trusted mental health resources directly to campus, giving students real tools and real community to support their well-being long after the weekend ends. Future Friends, co-founded by Two Bridge founder Harris Schwartzberg, Sabrina Schwartzberg and music industry veteran Corey McGuire, first launched in fall 2025 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and expands to additional universities nationwide for the 2026–2027 school year. For more information, visit FutureFriends.org.

About Two Bridge

Two Bridge is a healthcare platform building community and human connection through music, storytelling, and shared experience. Harris Schwartzberg launched Two Bridge in honor of his late brother, Steven, and has spent nearly two decades advancing mental wellness through philanthropy, education, and programs for high school and college students. That commitment lives through Two Bridge’s core programming; Future Friends Campus Series, Common Denominator, and Two Bridge Support, with ancillary Two Bridge events that utilize music, storytelling, and shared experience to strengthen communities and address the epidemic of loneliness and youth mental health. Two Bridge’s work is supported by Two Bridge Foundation, a dedicated 501c3. For more information visit two-bridge.com.

Media Contact

Kirby Allison
kirby@kirbyallisonpr.com

September 1, 2026 10:03 AM
EDT
WASHINGTON, DC

#ThankYouPACE Highlights Impact of 200 Programs Serving 100,000 Older Americans During National PACE Month

WASHINGTON, DC, September 1, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- In celebration of National PACE Month this September (#NationalPACEMonth), the National PACE Association (NPA) today launched the #ThankYouPACE campaign, recognizing the life-changing impact of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Now spanning more than 200 programs nationwide and serving over 100,000 older Americans, PACE helps seniors live safely, independently, and with dignity in their communities.

PACE is a proven, community-based model that integrates medical care, social services, and daily support. Interdisciplinary care teams — including primary care providers, nurses, social workers, therapists, home care coordinators, and transportation staff — work together to deliver comprehensive, person-centered care.

Through services such as prescription coverage, medical care, meals, and transportation, PACE significantly improves quality of life for participants and their caregivers. Notably, 94% of PACE participants continue living in their communities, rather than in institutional settings.

The importance of programs like PACE continues to grow as the United States approaches a major demographic milestone. By 2030, all baby boomers will be age 65 or older, and by 2034, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. This shift presents challenges for older adults and their families, from access to affordable housing and caregiver support to workforce shortages, long-term care financing, and the need for technology that enables safety and independence. PACE provides unique solutions to address each of these challenges.

Throughout September, PACE organizations across the country will host events celebrating their communities and the people they serve. As part of the #ThankYouPACE campaign, individuals are invited to share stories and messages of appreciation.

Throughout the month, PACE centers will hold special events celebrating the work they do in their communities. To participate in #ThankYouPACE, visit www.npaonline.org, and follow us across our social media channels where you can watch stories of participants, caregivers, and staff about how PACE has impacted their lives. To find a PACE program near you, please visit www.npaonline.org/find-a-pace-program.

About National PACE Association

The National PACE Association (NPA) works to advance the efforts of PACE programs, which coordinate and provide preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older individuals can continue living in the community. The PACE model of care is centered on the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. For more information, visit www.NPAonline.org and follow @TweetNPA on X.

Media Contact

Mia Humphreys
mia@creopr.com
+1 239-297-6592

September 1, 2026 9:07 AM
EDT
LONG BEACH, CA

Charts+Darts Named to Adweek's Fastest-Growing Agencies List

LONG BEACH, CA, September 1, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Charts+Darts has been named to Adweek's Fastest-Growing Agencies list after achieving 20% year-over-year growth, driven by new business and expanded client partnerships. The agency’s growth comes as brands rethink what they need from agency partners. Charts+Darts business model is built around connecting creative, media, strategy and performance so that the work can be tested, measured and improved in market rather than treated as a series of disconnected deliverables.

The agency's latest new business win is in the consumer packaged goods category, where Soules Kitchen selected Charts+Darts as its creative agency of record in June 2026. The 50-year-old family-owned company is launching a national rebrand, and Charts+Darts is leading brand positioning, developing a full-funnel creative strategy and managing ongoing campaigns throughout 2027.

Charts+Darts' approach is built around a closed-loop model. Creative informs media, media generates data, and those results inform the next round of creative. The goal is to create a faster feedback cycle between what a brand puts into market and what it learns from the response. This approach is driving growth across automotive, technology, enterprise and consumer brands, including Honda and Acura, AMD, ServiceNow, and Yokohama Tire.

“We've found that the best way to build a client relationship is to prove the work,” says Brian Lerche, Partner and Head of AI at Charts+Darts. “We start with a real business challenge, put the work into market, learn from what happens and use those results to determine what comes next. That creates a much more productive relationship than trying to predict everything a client will need on day one.”

For CMOs, the proposition is straightforward: Charts+Darts connects brand thinking to activation, activation to measurement, and measurement back to creative. The outcome is an agency relationship designed to get smarter as the work moves forward.

“Being independent gives us the freedom to build the agency around what clients need today,” says Charts+Darts Partner Matt Smith. “We think the future isn't about choosing between a big agency's capabilities and an independent agency's agility. You should be able to get both.”

About Charts+Darts

Charts+Darts is an independent, fully integrated creative agency built for the speed and complexity of modern brand building. Its senior-led model brings strategy, creative, media, production, and technology together in a closed loop where creative informs media, data informs creative, and every campaign makes the next one smarter. Charts+Darts clients include Honda, Acura, AMD, ServiceNow, Yokohama Tire, and Soules Kitchen. For more information, visit chartsanddarts.com.

Media Contact

Lexie Chaudhuri
LAC Public Relations
lexie@lacpublicrelations.com

September 1, 2026 8:40 AM
EDT
NEW YORK, NY

7MAGIC Introduces SonicPod Go, a Cordless 48 kHz Ultrasonic Cleaner for Everyday Oral-Appliance Care

NEW YORK, NY, September 1, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- 7MAGIC has introduced SonicPod Go, a cordless 48 kHz ultrasonic cleaner developed for everyday care of retainers, clear aligners, dentures, night guards, mouth guards and selected dental tools. Designed around a compact 200 mL stainless-steel tank, the device combines four one-touch cleaning modes, USB-C rechargeable cordless operation and a digital countdown interface intended to make oral-appliance care easier to integrate into daily routines.

These appliances require regular care, yet their shapes make cleaning more difficult than rinsing a flat surface. Tight contours, molded edges and narrow recesses may be inconvenient to reach with a toothbrush alone.

Why removable oral appliances can be difficult to clean

A retainer or aligner is shaped closely around the teeth. That close fit is what makes the appliance useful, but it also creates grooves in which moisture and residue can remain.

Manual brushing may help with visible surfaces, but users need to choose an appropriate brush and avoid excessive force. Soaking can be convenient, but formulas vary and may not be suitable for every material. Hot water can distort certain appliances. Abrasive toothpaste may scratch some clear plastics.

The correct routine should therefore start with the care guidance from the dentist, orthodontist or appliance manufacturer.

What an ultrasonic cleaner does

An ultrasonic cleaner for retainers uses high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic bubbles in water. As those bubbles form and collapse, they move liquid around the appliance and help loosen residue from grooves and edges.

This physical cleaning action reduces the need to manually scrub every small area. It does not mean that all stains, odors or deposits will disappear in a single cycle, and it does not make the device suitable for every material without checking the relevant care instructions.

For many users, the main benefit is consistency: the appliance can remain in the tank while a defined cycle runs.

How 7MAGIC SonicPod Go structures the routine

The 7MAGIC SonicPod Go uses a 48 kHz ultrasonic system and provides four modes:

  • Quick Clean: Five minutes of ultrasonic cleaning plus UV-C
  • Deep Clean: Ten minutes of ultrasonic cleaning plus UV-C
  • Clean Only: Ten minutes of ultrasonic cleaning
  • UV Only: Ten minutes of UV-C

The separate modes matter because not every routine needs the same process. A user may choose a short combined cycle for everyday cleaning, a longer cycle when more time is available or ultrasonic cleaning without UV-C when following a more conservative material-care approach.

A practical step-by-step routine

Using SonicPod Go is designed to be straightforward: add clean water to the tank, place a compatible oral appliance inside, and select the appropriate five- or ten-minute cleaning mode. Users should continue to follow the care instructions provided for their specific appliance.

Do users need a cleaning tablet every time?

No. SonicPod Go can perform ultrasonic cleaning with water alone, which may be appropriate for a routine refresh.

Cleaning tablets can be useful when users want additional support for visible cloudiness or residue. However, formulas differ. Before using any tablet repeatedly, users should check that it is compatible with the appliance material and follow the correct concentration and soaking time.

This is one reason the founder of 7MAGIC began developing the product. After orthodontic treatment, she found that existing machines and tablets did not give her the balanced routine she wanted. Her concern was not that every tablet was unsafe, but that the cleaning method should not require users to rely on an unknown formula every day.

Understanding the UV-C feature

SonicPod Go includes four 254 nm UV-C lights in the lid. The system is designed to switch off automatically when the lid is opened.

Any public claim about sterilization performance must match the exact conditions of the underlying test report. A percentage without context can be misleading because results depend on the organism tested, exposure time, positioning and other laboratory conditions.

Users should view UV-C as one component of the device rather than a substitute for ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing, drying and professional care guidance.

Which items are shown as compatible?

7MAGIC product materials show use with retainers, aligners, dentures, night guards, mouth guards and selected dental tools. The 200 mL tank has an inner diameter of approximately 3.1 inches.

Users should avoid placing items in the cleaner simply because they fit. Appliances containing delicate coatings, electronics, loose stones, damaged components or material combinations may require different care.

Who is most likely to benefit?

  • People who wear a retainer after orthodontic treatment
  • Clear-aligner users who need a repeated daily routine
  • Night-guard and mouth-guard users
  • Denture users following compatible care instructions
  • Travelers who prefer a cordless device
  • People who find manual brushing inconsistent or inconvenient

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the cleaner replace brushing entirely?

Not necessarily. The correct routine depends on the appliance and the guidance supplied with it. Ultrasonic cleaning can reduce the need to reach every groove manually, but some appliances may still require rinsing, occasional brushing or other steps.

How often should the tank be cleaned?

The tank should be emptied and wiped after use. Regular maintenance prevents residue from accumulating inside the cleaner itself.

The value of a routine people can repeat

The strongest cleaning system is not useful if it remains unplugged, packed away or too complicated to operate. SonicPod Go’s one-button interface, cordless battery and five- or ten-minute cycles are designed to reduce that friction.

For users who have invested significant time and money in orthodontic treatment, a more consistent retainer-care routine may be one of the simplest ways to support the long-term use of the appliance.

About 7MAGIC

7MAGIC is an innovative beauty brand focused on hair styling and personal care, combining technology, thoughtful design, and real consumer needs to make everyday styling faster, easier, and more personalized.Our key product categories include high-speed hair dryers, air stylers, automatic curling tools, and personal care products. By integrating technologies such as high-speed airflow, intelligent temperature control, ionic care, and innovative structural design, 7MAGIC aims to deliver effective styling performance while reducing unnecessary heat exposure and helping users create their own looks with greater freedom. At 7MAGIC, we believe beauty should never be defined by a single standard. Through continuous product innovation, we aim to serve people with different hair types, styling needs, and lifestyles, empowering everyone to express beauty in their own way. For more information, visit 7magicclub.com.

Media Contact

Dylan Luo
dylan@7magicclub.com