Newest and Largest Ship in the Fleet to Set Sail in October 2027 with Four- to Seven-Night Cruises to Veracruz, Key West, Jamaica, Aruba, Curaçao and More

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GALVESTON, Texas, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Margaritaville at Sea cruise line is bringing its newest ship and signature island state of mind to Texas, with Beachcomber setting sail from Galveston beginning in October 2027 on four- to seven-night escapes featuring the most diverse and far-reaching lineup of itineraries in the region. These new itineraries are available to book now, giving travelers the chance to be among the first to experience Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship from the Lone Star State.

From quick getaways to longer adventures deeper into the Caribbean, Beachcomber will take Galveston cruisers farther and offer more places to explore than any other cruise line sailing from the port. Its lineup will include Aruba, Key West, Curaçao, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Belize, Progreso, Roatán, Cozumel, Grand Bahama Island and Bimini, along with Veracruz, Mexico, a distinctive new addition to the Galveston cruise market.

"Texas knows how to have a good time, so bringing Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston feels like a natural fit," said Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea. "With Beachcomber, we're giving guests an incredible ship and more choices for where their vacation can take them, including places they simply can't reach on other cruises from Galveston. It's a chance to see more, go farther and make every getaway a little different, all while experiencing the Margaritaville lifestyle at sea."

The destinations are only part of the getaway. Beachcomber will bring Margaritaville at Sea's most expansive onboard experience yet to Texas, with more than 15 new experiences created exclusively for the ship alongside guest favorites including 5 o'Clock Somewhere, Hemisphere Dancer, Cheeseburger in Paradise, License to Chill and more. Together, they will deliver even more ways to experience carefree escapism and laid-back hospitality at the heart of the Margaritaville lifestyle.

For a state that knows its country music, Beachcomber will bring a little extra star power to the Gulf. Same Boat, the world's first artist-designed live music venue on the water, was created in collaboration with three-time GRAMMY Award winner Zac Brown to capture the energy and atmosphere of a Zac Brown Band show at sea. The artist-curated venue will pair live performances with elevated cocktails in a space inspired by Brown's musical influences and signature style, giving Texas guests a place to grab a drink, catch a show and settle in for a night of great live music. Same Boat will also feature a specially curated roster of top tier talent uniquely selected for the Texas market.

Beachcomber's arrival in Galveston makes the Margaritaville at Sea experience more accessible to millions of travelers across Texas and the Central United States, giving both first-time and repeat cruisers a new way to vacation from one of the country's largest cruise gateways.

Additional details about Beachcomber's Galveston itineraries, fares and bookings are available at www.margaritavilleatsea.com.

About Margaritaville at Sea

Margaritaville at Sea brings Margaritaville's iconic hospitality to the open ocean, delivering one-of-a-kind offshore vacation experiences inspired by the laid-back lifestyle of its namesake. With three distinct ships and an expanding lineup of itineraries, Margaritaville at Sea offers something for every kind of traveler. Beginning in 2027, guests can set sail aboard the all-new Beachcomber, the line's newest flagship vessel, offering 4- to 8-night itineraries from PortMiami to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean before repositioning to Galveston in October 2027 for a diverse lineup of far-reaching itineraries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. The Islander departs from Port Tampa Bay on 4- to 10-night adventures to Mexico and the Western Caribbean, while the Paradise provides quick and easy 3- to 5-night getaways from Palm Beach to The Bahamas and Key West. Onboard, guests can relax in comfort across a range of fully immersive suites and staterooms inspired by the sea, sand, and sun. Each ship features a wide array of inclusive and specialty dining options with chef-crafted, island-inspired cuisine; uniquely themed bars and lounges with non-stop live entertainment; a kids' club and arcade; the Margaritaville Casino; the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon; multiple pools and hot tubs; and plenty of quiet spaces to soak up the Caribbean sun with a world-class crew and unforgettable hospitality. Sail away to an island state of mind at MargaritavilleAtSea.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

[email protected]

SOURCE Margaritaville at Sea

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Alibaba's Accio Cuts AI Costs for E-Commerce Tasks by Over 50% Compared with General-Purpose Agents

Becoming the Most Cost-Competitive E-Commerce AI Tool for SMEs Worldwide

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba.com today announced results from a 107-task benchmark evaluation showing that Accio, its AI agent platform for commerce, completed a range of e-commerce tasks at more than 50% lower estimated cost than OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code, with comparable completion quality. This makes Accio the most cost-competitive e-commerce AI tool available to small and medium-sized businesses. The company also introduced an expanded Accio that brings research, sourcing, and daily e-commerce operations into one AI workspace for small businesses.

The announcements were made at CoCreate, Alibaba.com's annual event for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

"For small businesses, unaffordable AI is useless," said Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com. "Our goal is not simply to make AI more powerful. It is to make commerce AI practical and affordable for even a one-person company."

Half the Cost, Across 107 Commerce Tasks

In the 107-task benchmark evaluation, the estimated total cost of completing the full task set was $3.69 with Accio, compared with $9.27 for OpenAI's Codex and $9.51 for Anthropic's Claude Code — more than 50% lower in both cases.

Accio's efficiency comes from optimizing the full system around real commerce work:

- Commerce-specific intelligence. Accio uses commerce-specific data and workflows to post-train lightweight models for clearly defined tasks. This allows smaller models to handle more routine work efficiently, while more capable models remain available when deeper reasoning is required.

- The right resources for each task. Accio does not simply choose the cheapest model or default to the most powerful one. It breaks complex requests into manageable steps and balances quality, speed, cost and data requirements for each step. In economic terms, the system seeks to move each workflow closer to the Pareto frontier — where improving one dimension would require a trade-off in another. For a small business, that means getting the performance the job requires without paying for computing resources it does not need.

- Less unnecessary computation. Cache reuse, context compression and coordinated agent execution reduce repeated processing, unnecessary tool calls and redundant token consumption.

A Single Workspace for Global E-Commerce

Alibaba.com also announced that Accio has evolved into a unified workspace for global e-commerce operations.

Small businesses can use Accio to research markets, identify product opportunities, develop products, evaluate suppliers and manage daily operations. Through connections with Amazon, Shopify, eBay, TikTok Shop and Walmart, sellers can access supported storefront workflows from one place.

Commerce Agent Bench, Now Open Source

Alibaba.com has open-sourced Commerce Agent Bench on GitHub. Rather than relying on synthetic exercises, it draws on real merchant activity — 10 million active SMB users, 1.6 million conversations and 200,000 execution traces — distilled into 107 end-to-end commerce tasks across seven categories and four levels of autonomy. Tasks include reviewing hundreds of unstructured emails, spotting payment fraud, calculating landed costs and booking multi-carrier shipping routes.

No single model led across the board, reinforcing the case for task-level routing — the idea that different tasks are best handled by different AI models rather than relying on one general-purpose model for everything.

About Alibaba.com

Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce that serves buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions around the world. It is engaged in services covering various aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help them reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers and place orders online fast and efficiently. Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.

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PARIS, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EKINOPS (Euronext Paris - FR0011466069 - EKI), a leading European provider of optical networking, connectivity, and SASE cybersecurity solutions for telecommunications operators and enterprises, and PacketFront Software solutions AB today announced a partnership designed to help service providers modernize and automate their networks through a commercially competitive, European-based alternative to traditional incumbent networking stacks.

As service providers, particularly in Europe, are increasingly reshaping vendor strategies in response to delivery constraints, cost pressure and heightened awareness of geopolitical vendor risk, Ekinops and PacketFront are aligning strengths to address the demand for greater dual-vendor resilience, lower operational risk, faster deployment and improved automation maturity.

Objective of the partnership is for Ekinops to provide the physical network edge, while PacketFront BECS adds orchestration, automation and service management. Ekinops platforms are certified by Packetfront Software to work seamlessly with BECS.

"The partnership is positioned around a low-disruption adoption model with clear Return on Investment. This combination can help service providers reduce engineering effort, improve provisioning times, and manage mixed estates more efficiently." Says Frank Dedobbeleer, Chief Revenue Officer EMEA & APAC at Ekinops.

"We are delighted to enter into this partnership. By combining Ekinops extensive product portfolio and deep expertise with PacketFront's cutting-edge BECS OSS platform, we will bring a powerful European offering to the market. Together, we look forward to helping operators and enterprises build more efficient, flexible and future-ready networks." says Timo Kuusela, VP Sales at PacketFront.

The partnership will initially focus on the UK and Northern Europe and was highlighted at the PacketFront Connected Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, this June. It is also showcased at the Connected Britain trade show in London, UK, on 9–10 September.

All press releases are published after Euronext Paris market close.

Ekinops contact

Lionel Chmilewsky, CEO

[email protected]

Investors contact

Mathieu Omnes, Investor relation

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 92

[email protected]

Media contact

Amaury Dugast, Press relation

Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 74

[email protected]

For more information, visit https://www.ekinops.com/

SOURCE Ekinops France SA

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New signature bar concept invites guests behind "the veil between worlds" with a beverage program shaped by the city's fog, Pacific influence, and the residential glamour of Nob Hill.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco today announced the upcoming debut of Bruma, a new distinguished cocktail lounge and modern San Francisco salon opening October 12, 2026, within the hotel's landmark 1909 Neoclassical building in the heart of Nob Hill. Named for the Spanish word for "mist," Bruma takes its spirit from the quiet romance of the city's fog, offering guests an elevated escape that unfolds from refined afternoon traditions through warm, late-night conversation.

Bruma takes its inspiration from Nob Hill's residential character, the fog that regularly settles over the neighborhood, and San Francisco's history as a Pacific port city. Rather than build around a single historical theme, the concept centers on the comfort of a place where guests already feel known, paired with the optimism of arriving at the edge of the Pacific and the sense that something interesting is always just out of view. Bruma was conceived to move through the day in distinct stages instead of holding one mood through the evening, with the room taking on a different character depending on the hour a guest arrives, and the cocktail menu shifting right along with it.

"Bruma is a natural evolution of what makes The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco such a special address on Nob Hill. We wanted to create a space that feels like an extension of the neighborhood itself — elegant, a little mysterious, and unmistakably San Francisco," said Nicholas McDermott, General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. "From the first sip of afternoon tea to the last cocktail of the night, Bruma invites guests and locals alike to slow down and discover something new."

A Beverage Program Inspired by San Francisco's Emotional Geography

Bruma's cocktail menu moves guests through four distinct passages inspired by the city's atmosphere, geography, and social imagination: World's Edge, bright and citrus-forward cocktails inspired by arrival and anticipation; Open Water, layered and globally influenced drinks shaped by the pull of the Pacific; Golden City, fruit-driven cocktails rooted in California seasonality; and High Ground, composed, spirit-forward Martinis and stirred classics that reflect Nob Hill's quiet confidence. The program is punctuated by signature traditions— a tableside Martini service chilled with liquid nitrogen and a reimagined Nob Hill Pisco Punch finished with a pineapple brûlée — each bringing a sense of intention, craftsmanship, and connection to the table.

Modern California Fare, Reimagined

The food program follows the same logic as the bar: refined, craveable, and built for sharing. Modern California lounge fare pulls from Bay Area ingredients and coastal influence, elevating beloved favorites — Dungeness Crab Roll, Wagyu Smash Burger, California Poke Bowl, and warm Japanese Milk Bread with cultured seaweed butter — with sharp culinary detail. A curated list of top-end rare spirits, alongside a full menu of spirit-free, low-ABV, and wellness-minded pours, ensures there's a thoughtfully crafted beverage offering for every guest to enjoy. The food and beverage program was developed in partnership with Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality (LTH), bringing deep hospitality expertise to shape Bruma's approach to both its beverage program and culinary offering.

"At The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, our culinary program has always been guided by a commitment to creativity and genuine hospitality. With Bruma, we are proud to bring that same spirit to a new kind of experience, one where Modern California fare meets the warmth and craftsmanship our guests have come to expect from us," said George Vanyi, Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.

A Design Language Built Around Mystery and Traditions

Bruma's design was led by world-renowned interior architecture and design firm, Fettle, whose vision draws on the opulent parlors of Nob Hill's historic mansions, with reverence for grand residences like the Leland Stanford Mansion, layered into the "veil between worlds" concept that defines the space. Classical architecture meets playful, distinctly San Franciscan detail throughout: an expansive custom mural wraps the room in a story of the neighborhood, both historic and slightly fantastical, a hand-etched églomisé back-bar mirror anchors the bar, and the hotel's original fireplace grounds the space as a natural gathering point, reinforcing Bruma's feel as a grand residential parlor rather than a conventional hotel bar. A palette of aged brass, deep ocean navy, espresso brown, soft blush, and warm antique parchment carries that same mood throughout, while a custom typographic system, pairing a dramatic display serif with a flowing calligraphic script for Bruma's tagline, gives the space the feel of something discovered rather than announced.

Recurring Traditions and Programming

Bruma's programming is built to become part of guests' routines, with recurring moments including

Golden Hour Aperitivo (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4–6 p.m.), Friday Night Live Jazz (Fridays, 7-10 p.m.), and Latin Fusion Band Saturdays (Saturdays, 7-10 p.m.) alongside annual signature events such as Bruma Season, and a Dungeness crab celebration.

Availability

Bruma is located within The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco at 600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94108. The lounge seats 80 guests, including seating at the bar. Hours and reservation details will be announced closer to opening. For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/sanfrancisco, contact your travel professional, or call 800-542-8680.

ABOUT BRUMA

Bruma is the signature cocktail lounge and modern San Francisco salon at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, set within the hotel's landmark 1909 Neoclassical building atop Nob Hill. Inspired by the mystery of the city's fog, the residential elegance of Nob Hill, and San Francisco's layered social culture, Bruma unfolds progressively throughout the day — from refined afternoon tea and golden-hour aperitivo to an elevated evening cocktail salon and warm late-night conversation. The beverage program moves guests through four emotional passages of the city — World's Edge, Open Water, Golden City, and High Ground — brought to life through signature ceremonies including a tableside liquid nitrogen Martini service and a reimagined Nob Hill Pisco Punch. Paired with modern California lounge fare, curated list of top-end rare spirits, and an equally considered spirit-free menu, Bruma offers guests a quiet, polished escape above the city. For more information, please visit ritzcarlton.com/sanfrancisco.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON, SAN FRANCISCO

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco sets a standard of excellence renowned throughout the City by the Bay, drawing inspiration from the alluring designs of couture and the city's iconic architecture. Located within a 1909 Neoclassical landmark building in the prestigious Nob Hill neighborhood, the hotel offers convenient access to many of San Francisco's most visited attractions including the historic cable cars right outside the front doors. The 336-room hotel is also home to new signature cocktail lounge, Bruma; breakfast concept, Parallel 37; as well as more than 24,000 sq. ft. of versatile event spaces. It has received many awards and accolades over the years, including No. 1 city hotel in San Francisco by Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2025, recognition in Forbes Travel Guide's Star Bars of 2025, and is one of the only hotels in the city with a AAA Five Diamond designation. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco provides the ultimate in personalized Ritz-Carlton service, comfort, and luxury.

ABOUT LOWDER-TASCARELLA HOSPITALITY (LTH)

Lowder-Tascarella Hospitality partners with world-class restaurant, bar, and hotel brands to achieve excellence at scale, combining award-winning operational expertise, creative development, and forward-thinking strategy. Founded and led by global industry veterans Jeffrey Tascarella and Christopher Lowder, LTH creates memorable destinations and elevates guest experiences across a broad range of hospitality environments. From its offices in New York and Bangkok, LTH delivers best-in-class concepts and solutions throughout the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

ABOUT FETTLE

Fettle is an interior architecture and design firm specializing in hospitality design founded by Tom Parker and Andy Goodwin. Fettle works with a variety of clients, from one-off operators and start-ups to large commercial brands. With offices in London and Los Angeles, Fettle provides a full spectrum of services, from space planning and project feasibility studies to bespoke lighting and furniture design to create beautiful, functional spaces which portray their history, their location and their ethos. Fettle's studios in London and Los Angeles work collaboratively across all projects which include Cicchetti, Isola by San Carlo, Mortimer House Roof Bar and Chucs in London, The Elder and The Jib Door in Bath, The Stoneleigh in Dallas, The Georgian Santa Monica, and the Hoxton Hotel, Rome.

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SOURCE The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

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This year, ACE's donation provided support for Vogel's Bridge to Hope program, which is a two-year initiative that works with parents to build stability plans, help secure housing, and provide early childhood education for their children. Every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and imagine a brighter future. For children experiencing homelessness, daily instability can interfere with healthy development long before they enter a classroom.

"Vogel is deeply grateful to Populus Financial Group for investing in the children and families we serve," said Karen Hughes, President and CEO, Vogel. "Their generosity helps create a bridge to hope for families experiencing homelessness and poverty, providing children with the support, stability, and opportunities they need to thrive. Partnerships like this remind us that when our community comes together, we can create meaningful and lasting change for North Texas families."

ACE employees also brought extra excitement to Vogel's Main Campus by hosting a splash day filled with water play, laughter, and memorable moments for the children.

"ACE is proud to support Vogel's Bridge to Hope program and its mission to help children and families experiencing homelessness build a more stable future," said Sally Aiello, Vice President of Government Relations at Populus. "Through the generosity of our employees and customers, we are honored to contribute to resources that provide care, education, and hope for families in the Dallas community."

Nationally, the 2026 Give A Little Campaign raised more than $160,000 for charities across the country, including AdoptAClassroom.org, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Autism Speaks, and Vogel. This fundraiser is part of the ACE Community Fund, ACE's charitable-giving program, which has donated more than $21 million since its inception in 2004 to organizations in communities where ACE operates.

About Populus Financial Group, Inc.

Populus Financial Group® provides financial services through its family of brands, including ACE Cash Express®, ACE Elite® Visa Prepaid Debit Card, Flare Account®, and Porte®. Populus Financial Group delivers a broad range of financial products and services, including short-term consumer loans, card services, check cashing, money transfers, bill payments, and money orders. Visit PopulusFinancial.com for more information.

About Vogel

Vogel's vision is to ensure every child in our community has a home, a self-sufficient family, and a foundation for success in school and life. With generous community support, Vogel has served more than 17,000 children and their families since 1987. Visit Vogel for more information.

SOURCE Populus Financial Group, Inc.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Action to End Smoking is pleased to announce an innovative grant to The University of Chicago that aims to increase the number of viable living kidney donors by offering comprehensive smoking cessation support, including tobacco harm reduction, for donors who smoke.

According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 109,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant, and of those roughly 95,000 need a kidney transplant. The need for kidney transplants greatly outweighs the supply: In 2023, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations found that nearly 4,000 individuals in the U.S. passed away while waiting for a kidney donation.

Unlike many other organs, kidney donations can come from living or deceased individuals. Willing individuals may donate a kidney to those in need if they meet certain criteria. For example, donation centers typically require donors to abstain from smoking for a sufficient amount of time, as smoking increases the risk of surgical complications to both the donor and the recipient.

With Global Action's grant, The University of Chicago will expand smoking cessation assistance for donors who smoke with the goal of increasing the number of kidney transplants.

"By offering resources to adults who smoke, this grant work will potentially extend the lives of two major groups: those who can finally receive a kidney donation, and those who are empowered to successfully quit smoking," said Pamela Parizek, Board Chair of Global Action to End Smoking.

Global Action's grant will increase the reach of Project Donor, a pilot program created by The University of Chicago. Previously, Project Donor has supported over 2,000 individuals in making lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, to become a living donor, resulting in 240 successful living donations.

"We are excited to work with Global Action to support more prospective living donors on their path to stop smoking," said Josie Maier, the Director of Project Donor. "By quitting smoking, prospective donors can become eligible for organ donation and save the life of someone they care about."

With Global Action's support, Project Donor will help more potential donors quit smoking and become eligible to donate. The grant work includes creating donor-specific case management training, providing access to additional counseling, distributing free nicotine replacement therapies or other tobacco harm reduction tools where appropriate, and embedding automated referrals to increase the program's reach. Project Donor also will partner with up to 160 U.S. transplant centers to ensure that any potential donors disqualified for smoking are connected to cessation and harm reduction resources as appropriate.

"Collectively, public health has made many strides in ending combustible tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death," said Parizek. "Our grant work with The University of Chicago and Project Donor demonstrates the creative approach we're taking to assist all adults who smoke to quit."

Is smoking still a public health problem?

Smoking rates have declined over the last 40 years, but progress has stagnated. Roughly 20% of adults across the globe continue to smoke. In the U.S., the smoking rate remains just under 10%. However, smoking rates are disproportionately high in certain populations, including those who live with mental health conditions, substance use disorders or chronic disease; identify as people of color or indigenous people; live in poverty; and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Why is smoking so dangerous?

Smoking a cigarette burns tobacco, which releases thousands of chemicals into the lungs. Many of these chemicals are known to cause long-term health problems, including cancer, heart disease, reproductive challenges, and more.

Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant found in tobacco. Though it is not as dangerous as many of the other chemicals found in cigarettes, it is what makes smoking extremely difficult to quit.

Traditional smoking cessation tools include nicotine replacement therapies like gum, patches, or lozenges. Counseling and medications can also help a person who would like to quit. However, if a person can't or won't quit smoking with these approaches, less harmful products containing nicotine may be appropriate tools to help adults who smoke to quit.

What is tobacco harm reduction?

Tobacco harm reduction is a specific form of harm reduction applied to people who smoke combustible cigarettes.

Harm reduction is a concept in public health that acknowledges that certain activities have high risks, and that there are ways to modify these activities to reduce these risks. It is a term that first became common in public health in the 1980s. Examples of harm reduction include providing clean needles for those who use IV drugs, condoms for those who engage in sexual activity, or seatbelts for those riding in a car.

Tobacco harm reduction is the concept that for those adults who cannot or will not quit smoking using traditional cessation tools, switching entirely to reduced-risk nicotine options can lower their long-term health risks and help them live longer, healthier lives. These products include e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, or heated tobacco products.

These products aren't entirely safe, but they don't contain as many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. Many health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the UK's National Health Service, recognize the potential benefit of these tools for adults who smoke. The U.S. FDA has authorized certain reduced-risk nicotine products as less harmful alternative for adults who smoke and switch completely. The UK's NHS states that e-cigarettes can help people who smoke quit and are significantly less risky than cigarettes.

What is Global Action to End Smoking?

Global Action to End Smoking is a 501(c)(3) charitable grantmaking organization. Our mission is to end combustible tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death globally.

We are accelerating comprehensive, science-based global efforts to end the smoking epidemic. We support all adults who smoke on their unique journeys to quit—no matter where they live or what identities they carry. We want all adults who smoke to feel respected. We understand each person's quit journey is as unique as they are, and their trust must be earned through empathy.

Media Contact:

Katherine Ellen Foley, Senior Director, Communications

202-215-9971

[email protected]

SOURCE Global Action to End Smoking

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Aqua gives wealth managers and fund sponsors an integrated system for building, managing, and scaling alternatives programs

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aqua, a next-generation alternatives infrastructure solution, today announced the launch of the industry's first turnkey alternative investments platform(TAIP), along with $18.8 million in total funding.

The company raised a $3.8 million seed round backed by Google's AI Fund, Y Combinator, and others, followed by a $15 million Series A led by Arthur Ventures with participation from Alumni Ventures. Aqua plans to use the funding to accelerate business and platform development, expand its engineering and partnership teams, and deepen integrations across custodians and fund sponsors.

Designed to help wealth managers, RIAs, banks, trust companies, and fund sponsors build, manage, and scale institutional-quality alternatives programs, Aqua replaces the disconnected marketplaces, manual workflows, and spreadsheets most firms rely on today.

Aqua brings fund creation, operational workflows, investment lifecycle management, marketplace access, document intelligence, and investor servicing into one unified environment, enabling firms to build their own alternatives strategy and scale it on their terms.

"Demand for alternatives has grown fast, but most firms are still trying to meet client needs with spreadsheets, fragmented processes and manual solutions," said Rohan Marwaha, Co-Founder and CEO at Aqua. "Firms have already transformed the way they manage traditional investments through technology. As access to alternatives becomes increasingly democratized, they need similar infrastructure to build repeatable, scalable alternatives strategies. We built Aqua around the way today's advisors operate, so they can develop customized alternatives programs without having to manage the systems behind them."

The platform reflects a shift underway across the industry. The first phase of growth in alternatives centered on expanding access. The next phase focuses on delivering the scalable infrastructure firms need to manage alternatives successfully. Aqua is the bridge between the two.

"Many firms still think a marketplace is the same thing as an alternatives strategy. It isn't," said David Coyle, Head of Growth at Aqua. "Advisors need more than access to alternatives; they need a repeatable way to educate clients, manage operations, and deliver alternatives with confidence as part of a broader wealth strategy. Aqua is the enablement engine ushering in the next generation of alternative investing."

Aqua's leadership team brings together decades of experience in wealth management and fintech. Before founding Aqua, Rohan Marwaha built solutions across technology and alternative investments for major alternative asset managers, while David Coyle has driven tech adoption at advisory firms for over 25 years. Head of Growth Partnerships Joe Ujobai spent more than 35 years in financial services and technology, with leadership roles in private banking and international expansion. The combined track record shapes how Aqua approaches the alternatives infrastructure problem: not as outsiders building for the industry, but as operators solving challenges from the inside.

Demand is already accelerating for access to Aqua's integrated alternatives solution, with additional partnerships with major firms to be announced in the coming weeks.

To learn more about how Aqua is redefining alternatives infrastructure for wealth management, register to join the upcoming live webinar on September 23rd.

About Aqua

Aqua is an alternatives infrastructure platform built to simplify how alternative investments are built, managed, and scaled, enabling wealth managers, RIAs, banks, trust companies, family offices, and asset managers to run the full alternatives lifecycle through a unified operating platform. By bringing together fund creation, investment lifecycle management, marketplace capabilities, document intelligence, and operational workflows, Aqua helps firms move beyond fragmented point solutions and build alternatives programs they own outright.

CONTACT: Joe Steuter [email protected]

SOURCE Aqua

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Welcomes largest incoming first-year class since 2019 and sets new graduate enrollment record

GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UNC Greensboro (UNCG) has surpassed 19,000 students this fall, reaching its highest total enrollment since 2020.

More than 2,700 first-time college students enrolled at UNCG this fall, the University's largest incoming first-year class since 2019. Graduate enrollment has grown more than 8% in two years and is now the highest in the University's history. UNCG also posted its highest first-time, full-time first-year retention rate on record, underscoring the University's focus on supporting students once they arrive.

UNCG remains deeply rooted in North Carolina – with representation from 99 of the state's 100 counties – while drawing from across the nation and around the world: 47 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and more than 70 countries.

"UNCG's enrollment growth reflects the confidence students and families have in the value of a UNCG education," said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. "Our responsibility extends beyond providing access to higher education. We must equip students with the academic experiences, support and opportunities they need to earn a degree and build a strong future. More students choosing UNCG and succeeding once they arrive is a powerful measure of that commitment."

University leaders credit the continued growth to strong recruitment, expanded partnerships with community colleges and K-12 school systems, connections with Triad employers and a sustained focus on student support and belonging once students arrive.

"Our enrollment and retention growth reflect both the wide welcome we offer students from all walks of life and the culture of care they experience once they're here," said Joel Lee, vice chancellor for enrollment management. "Students have a great experience at UNCG, and that word spreads through their communities, high schools and extended families. We have also leaned into partnerships with community colleges, Triad employers, K-12 systems and others to build natural bridges to higher education."

Those partnerships are part of UNCG's broader effort to create accessible pathways to higher education for students at different stages of their lives, while strengthening ties between academic programs and the workforce. That culture of care extends to military-affiliated students and their families, who represent more than 10% of UNCG's student body. UNCG ranks among the Top 10 schools nationally for military friendliness and No. 1 in North Carolina.

About UNCG

UNCG is a diverse, learner-centered public research university with over 19,000 students enrolled in more than 150 undergraduate and 200 graduate programs. Recognized nationally for academic excellence, access and affordability, UNCG is ranked No. 1 in North Carolina for affordability by The New York Times, as well as No. 1 in North Carolina and No. 13 nationally for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, UNCG advances research, creative activity and community engagement that expands opportunity, drives economic impact and strengthens workforce partnerships across North Carolina. For more information, visit uncg.edu.

SOURCE University of North Carolina Greensboro

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Aeson Power präsentiert fortschrittliche Natrium-Ionen-Hilfsbatterielösungen auf der Automechanika Frankfurt 2026

FRANKFURT, Deutschland (ots)

Aeson Power, eine führende australische Marke im Bereich der Natrium-Ionen-Batterietechnologie, präsentiert sein Portfolio an Fahrzeugbatterien auf der Automechanika Frankfurt 2026. Neben seinen Natrium-Ionen-Starter- und Start-Stopp-Batterielösungen, die im Aftermarket weit verbreitet sind, stellt Aeson Power gemeinsam mit Partnern Natrium-Ionen-Zusatzbatterielösungen für Elektrofahrzeuge und Nutzfahrzeuge vor

Auf der Messe tauscht sich Aeson Power mit Automobilherstellern, Zulieferern, Händlern und Aftermarket-Partnern aus, wobei der Schwerpunkt der Gespräche auf Natrium-Ionen-Lösungen für Starter-, Start-Stopp- und Zusatzstromversorgungsanwendungen über verschiedene Fahrzeugplattformen hinweg liegt.

Natrium-Ionen-Technologie für Automobilanwendungen

Die Natrium-Ionen-Starter- und Start-Stopp-Batterien von Aeson Power sind darauf ausgelegt, sofortige Startleistung, schnelles Laden und eine starke Kaltstartleistung bei geringem Gewicht zu liefern. Mit einem breiten Temperaturbereich und einer Lebensdauer, die in Start-Stopp-Anwendungen mehr als dreimal so lang ist wie die herkömmlicher Blei-Säure-Batterien, sind diese Batterien darauf ausgelegt, Startzuverlässigkeit, schnelle Energierückgewinnung und langfristige Haltbarkeit zu gewährleisten. Diese Produktreihe hat im Aftermarket bereits eine umfangreiche Verbreitung erreicht: Mit über 100.000 Einheiten im Einsatz und Verkäufen in mehr als 30 Ländern hat sie sich als idealer Ersatz für Blei-Säure-Batterien etabliert.

Das Unternehmen präsentiert außerdem Natrium-Ionen-Lösungen für Hilfsbatterien in Elektrofahrzeugen und Nutzfahrzeugen, die während des Parkens und in anderen Phasen, in denen der Hauptmotor nicht läuft, Niederspannungs-Hilfs- und Notstrom für Fahrzeugsysteme bereitstellen.

„Die Natrium-Ionen-Technologie bietet über herkömmliche Starterbatterien hinaus ein breiteres Potenzial für Automobilanwendungen", sagte Shirley Zhang, Geschäftsführerin von Aeson Power. „Aufgrund ihrer Eigenschaften eignet sie sich hervorragend für Hilfs- und Notstromanwendungen. Angesichts ihrer potenziellen Vorteile in Bezug auf Kosten, Leistung und Nachhaltigkeit sind wir davon überzeugt, dass die Natrium-Ionen-Technologie eine wichtige Rolle in den Niederspannungssystemen der nächsten Automobilgeneration spielen kann."

OEM-Partnerschaften und Marktexpansion

Aufbauend auf seiner Erfolgsbilanz im Aftermarket-Bereich expandiert Aeson Power gemeinsam mit der Xupai Group in den OEM-Markt für Erstausrüstung und nutzt dabei mehr als 30 Jahre Erfahrung in der Batterieindustrie. Die Zusammenarbeit vereint Fachwissen in den Bereichen Batterieforschung und -entwicklung, BMS, Prüfung und Systemintegration, um serienreife Lösungen für Hilfsstromversorgungen in Elektrofahrzeugen sowie für Start-Stopp-Systeme in Fahrzeugen mit Verbrennungsmotor zu entwickeln. Das große Interesse auf der Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 beschleunigt diese Dynamik zusätzlich.

Informationen zu Aeson Power

Aeson Power ist ein australischer Pionier im Bereich der Batterietechnologie der nächsten Generation und beliefert globale Automobilmärkte mit fortschrittlichen Natrium-Ionen-Lösungen. Aeson Power entwirft, entwickelt und vermarktet hochzuverlässige Batterien für die Automobilindustrie, die Energiespeicherung und weitere Anwendungsbereiche.

Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.aesonpower.com

KONTAKT:

Ivy Li, contact@aesonpower.com, 15757237852

Original-Content von: Aeson Power, übermittelt durch news aktuell

Catawiki Live wächst um weitere Kategorien - jedes dritte Objekt geht an Live-Zuschauer:innen

Berlin (ots)

- Seit dem Start im Mai dieses Jahres hat Catawiki Live Hunderte Livestreams veranstaltet und tausende Objekte verkauft - jedes dritte Objekt in Live-Auktionen ging an Teilnehmer:innen des Livestreams

- Nach dem erfolgreichen Start erweitert sich das Format um Mode (Taschen, Sneaker und Modeaccessoires), Mineralien, Münzen, Spielzeug, Schallplatten, Hi-Fi & Radio sowie Comics & Bücher

- Die Livestreams in den neuen Kategorien zeigen Objekte von Pre-Loved-Luxus- und Designerstücken aus Mode über seltene Münzen, Mineralien und Sammlerstücke bis hin zu Büchern und Vintage-Audioequipment.

Catawiki, führender Online-Marktplatz für besondere Objekte, kündigt die Erweiterung von Catawiki Live um neue Kategorien an: Mode (Taschen, Sneaker und Modeaccessoires), Mineralien, Münzen, Spielzeug, Schallplatten, Hi-Fi & Radio sowie Comics & Bücher.

Seit der Einführung im Mai auf der Plattform verwandelt Catawiki Live die letzten 90 Minuten ausgewählter Auktionen in einen Livestream, persönlich moderiert von den jeweiligen Verkäufer:innen. Bieter:innen sehen die Objekte in Echtzeit, können Fragen stellen und sich mit Verkäufer:innen sowie anderen Sammler:innen austauschen, während die Auktion läuft - wer nicht zuschaut, kann wie gewohnt über die Objektseite mitbieten. Seit dem Start hat Catawiki Live hunderte Livestreams veranstaltet, die von zehntausenden Nutzer:innen über tausende Stunden verfolgt wurden. Tausende Objekte wurden im Rahmen der Livestreams verkauft, und jedes dritte in Catawiki-Live-Auktionen verkaufte Objekt ging bislang an eine Person, die live dabei war. Auktionen mit Catawiki Live verzeichnen zudem einen zweistelligen Anstieg bei der Zahl der Bieter:innen pro Objekt und der Zahl der abgegebenen Gebote im Vergleich zu regulären Catawiki-Auktionen.

Zu den bislang wertvollsten über Catawiki Live verkauften Objekten zählen:

- eine PSA-10-bewertete Pokémon-Sammelkarte - Latios & Latias GX Team Up #170 für 17.250 Euro

- eine PSA 10 Poncho-Pikachu-Charizard-Pokémonkarte für 14.251 Euro

- ein natürlich entstandener Goldnugget mit einem Gewicht von knapp 50 g, für 10.450 Euro

- eine Christian Dior Lady Dior Umhängetasche für 3.000 Euro.

Das bislang intensivste Bietergefecht - mit 71 Geboten von 25 Bieter:innen - entzündete sich an einer seltenen japanischen Pokémon-WEB-Karpador-Karte aus der Erstauflage von 2001 mit PSA-10-Bewertung - eine von nur rund 200 Karten mit dieser Bestnote.

Von Pre-Loved-Luxus bis Vintage-Audio: Catawiki Live wächst weiter

Die Livestreams in diesen neuen Kategorien bieten Sammler:innen und Liebhaber:innen eine breite Auswahl begehrter Objekte - von Designerhandtaschen und Modeaccessoires über seltene Münzen, Mineralien und Sammlerspielzeug bis hin zu Schallplatten, Comics, Büchern und Vintage-Audioequipment.

Zu den kommenden Highlights gehören mehrere Livestreams rund um Fashion. Dazu zählt eine Auktion mit einer kuratierten Auswahl an Pre-Loved-Luxusobjekten, darunter eine schwarze Chanel Single Flap Vintage Tasche mit einem geschätzten Wert von 2.500 bis 3.000 Euro. Der dazugehörige Livestream findet am 9. September 2026 statt. Am 10. September 2026 folgt eine weitere Auktion mit Signature Pieces, bei der Designerhandtaschen und Accessoires im Mittelpunkt stehen, darunter eine Bottega Veneta-Veneta Shoulder Bag.

Sammler:innen von Vintage-Audioequipment können beispielsweise die "Audio Star Live Auction - Hi-Fi & Radio Auction" verfolgen; der dazugehörige Livestream findet am 10. September 2026 statt. Auch ausgewählte Comics- und Bücherauktionen werden Teil des Catawiki-Live-Angebots.

"Sammeln bedeutete schon immer mehr als reinen Besitz. Es geht um Entdeckung, Expertise, Gemeinschaft und den Nervenkitzel, um etwas wirklich Besonderes zu bieten", sagt Ravi Vora, CEO von Catawiki. "Catawiki Live bringt all das in einem Erlebnis zusammen und macht aus den letzten Momenten einer Auktion etwas Unmittelbares, Gemeinschaftliches und Mitreißendes. Es verschafft Käufer:innen die Atmosphäre eines Auktionssaals, egal wo sie sich befinden, und die Möglichkeit, die Spannung mit Gleichgesinnten zu teilen. Die Resonanz war bisher stark, und mit der Erweiterung von Live auf neue Kategorien bringen wir dieses Erlebnis noch mehr Nutzer:innen weltweit näher."

Diese Erweiterung markiert die nächste Phase von Catawiki Live und unterstreicht seine Rolle in der langfristigen Wachstumsstrategie des Unternehmens. Live ermöglicht eine tiefere Nutzer:innenbindung, bietet Verkäufer:innen eine bessere Möglichkeit, ihre Objekte zu präsentieren, und treibt das Wachstum in einem breiteren Kategorienspektrum voran.

Alle anstehenden Catawiki-Live-Auktionen können hier eingesehen werden.

Pressekontakt:

Lena-Marie Kern | lena-marie.kern@tonka-pr.com

Bjarne Gedig | bjarne.gedig@tonka-pr.com

Original-Content von: Catawiki, übermittelt durch news aktuell