- IBM enables financial institutions to connect to Swift's blockchain-based shared ledger for tokenized deposit transactions with beta

- IBM Digital Asset Haven extends to on-premises beta deployment, giving institutions greater deployment control of their digital asset technology stack

ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced two key capabilities designed to help financial institutions, governments, and other regulated organizations provide digital asset services while prioritizing enterprise-grade security and control. In a beta offering, IBM Digital Asset Haven clients can now connect to permissioned blockchain networks, including Swift's blockchain-based shared ledger. IBM is also extending IBM Digital Asset Haven to an on-premises beta deployment option, enabling clients to manage digital asset operations entirely within their own data centers.

According to J.P. Morgan Payments, 93% of financial institutions are modernizing their payments infrastructure¹ as banks look to move money more efficiently across borders and manage a growing range of digital assets. This shift is increasing demand for infrastructure that can support new forms of digital transactions while meeting banks' security, compliance, and operational requirements.

IBM advances cross-border payments with Swift's ledger

IBM Digital Asset Haven now enables clients to connect to Swift's blockchain-based shared ledger. Swift is the globally inclusive cooperative that connects 12,500 financial institutions across 200+ markets. With the beta release of the IBM Digital Asset Haven ISO 20022 Messaging Adapter feature, institutions can instruct tokenized deposit transactions using standard ISO 20022 messages through the shared ledger infrastructure, allowing them to build on existing payment message formats and operational processes instead of blockchain-specific workflows. Swift's ledger supports bank-issued tokenized deposits and participating IBM clients can move digital assets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ahead of final settlement through existing systems, while continuing to use established Swift standards and banks' own compliance processes.

Announced at Sibos 2025 and designed in collaboration with more than 40 financial institutions worldwide, Swift's ledger moved from concept to activation within nine months and is being put to first use by 17 first-mover institutions piloting tokenized deposit transactions. Financial institutions already participating in the program have successfully tested tokenized deposits on the Swift shared ledger with IBM Digital Asset Haven, demonstrating how banks can use existing standards and compliance processes to explore new models for moving money digitally.

IBM Digital Asset Haven extends to on-premises beta deployment

IBM is also extending Digital Asset Haven, a platform built to help banks, governments, and other regulated organizations manage and secure digital assets, to an on-premises beta deployment for clients. This deployment allows organizations to manage digital assets such as stablecoins and tokenized deposits entirely within their own environments.

Since launching IBM Digital Asset Haven SaaS and hybrid deployment options in October 2025, banking and payment institutions across multiple continents have begun implementing digital asset use cases with IBM Digital Asset Haven.

The new on-premises deployment option is designed to run entirely inside a client's own data center on IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE with no dependency on public cloud infrastructure. Clients can deploy it on compatible IBM infrastructure already in their environment or add new capacity based on their requirements.

IBM Digital Asset Haven on-premises differentiates from existing deployment options by being built to combine client control with increased performance, speed, and scale for digital asset operations, while prioritizing enterprise-grade security. IBM Digital Asset Haven's on-premises key features include:

- Client-Controlled Deployment keeps both the solution layer and the key management layer entirely inside the client's own IBM LinuxONE or IBM Z environment, with configurations achieving industry-leading 99.999999% availability2.

- Hardware-Backed Security protects keys using IBM Crypto Express HSMs embedded in LinuxONE, with confidential computing and secured environment partitioning isolating production, test, and development environments.

- Structured Key Ceremonies and Cold Storage follow formal, auditable processes used to generate root certificate authority keys, producing documentation clients can present to regulators, with support for IBM Offline Signing Orchestrator cold storage operations.

- Consistent Experience Across Deployments carries the same architecture, APIs, and workflows as Haven's SaaS and Hybrid SaaS options, so clients can move between deployment models without rewriting applications.

"The financial services industry is entering a new era where tokenized and traditional assets will need to move side by side," said Tom McPherson, General Manager, IBM Z and LinuxONE. "As institutions modernize payments and prepare for a future of always-on transactions, they need infrastructure that combines innovation with the security, resiliency, and regulatory compliance requirements of regulated banking. By connecting to Swift's shared ledger and extending IBM Digital Asset Haven to on-premises environments, IBM is helping clients participate in emerging digital asset networks while prioritizing control of their most critical financial operations."

For more information about IBM's integration with Swift's shared ledger, visit here. Institutions interested in IBM Digital Asset Haven's on-premises beta can join the waitlist at here.

Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Additional Sources

What's New IBM Digital Asset Haven On-Prem and Swift Blog 

Disclaimers:

1. https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/payments/fx-cross-border/2026-trends-for-financial-institutions 

2. IBM internal data based on measurements and projections was used in calculating the expected value. Necessary components include IBM LinuxONE Rockhopper 5; IBM z/VM V7.3 systems or above collected in a Single System Image, each running RHOCP 4.14 or above; IBM Operations Manager; GDPS 4.6 or above for management of data recovery and virtual machine recovery across metro distance systems and storage, including Metro Multi-site workload and GDPS Global; and IBM DS8000 series storage with IBM HyperSwap. A MongoDB v4.4 workload was used. Necessary resiliency technology must be enabled, including z/VM Single System Image clustering, GDPS xDR Proxy for z/VM, and Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF) 4.14 or above for management of local storage devices. Application-induced outages are not included in the above measurements. Other configurations (hardware or software) may provide different availability characteristics.

Media Contact:

Aishwerya Paul

IBM Infrastructure Communications

[email protected] 

SOURCE IBM

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RTX's Pratt & Whitney marks delivery of first GTF Advantage-powered aircraft to United Airlines

Latest engine standard offers enhanced durability, increased range

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and Pratt & Whitney today marked the delivery of the first aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage™ engines, an Airbus A321XLR, to United. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business.

"The first delivery of a GTF Advantage-powered aircraft to United Airlines signifies a new chapter in our relationship that spans nearly a century," said Rick Deurloo, president, Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney. "United will be the first to benefit from the world-class efficiency, durability and additional thrust capability of the GTF Advantage engine, which is particularly well-suited to the long-range A321XLR."

"We are excited to welcome Pratt & Whitney's newest GTF engine to our fleet. Pratt & Whitney has been a key supplier for United Airlines throughout our long, shared history, powering multiple United aircraft types," said Ankit Gupta, United Airlines Senior Vice President and Chief Air Operations Officer. "GTF-powered aircraft are helping us reduce fuel burn and improve reliability as we add new destinations around the world for our customers."

The GTF Advantage features the most state-of-the-art hot section in the single-aisle market. It will deliver up to twice the time on wing compared to today's GTF engine, along with 4-8% more takeoff thrust, enabling longer range capability. GTF Advantage is fully intermixable and interchangeable with today's GTF engine model, simplifying operations for airlines like United that maintain combined fleets. Pratt & Whitney will transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the Advantage specification by 2028.

Customers operating the current GTF engine model will have the opportunity to realize up to 90-95% of the GTF Advantage's durability benefits with the GTF Hot Section Plus (HS+) upgrade option for the PW1100G-JM engine, which will be available for incorporation during maintenance visits early next year.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. Since 1925, our engineers have pioneered the development of revolutionary aircraft propulsion technologies, and today we support more than 90,000 in-service engines through our global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

About RTX

With more than 180,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE RTX

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With "Space Factories," Outpost offers standardized, modular manufacturing infrastructure as a service; and will manufacture its own StarFiber optical fiber as the first product off the line

LOS ANGELES and PLAYA VISTA, Calif. , Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Outpost Technologies Corporation today introduced Space Factories, a program that lets companies manufacture products in orbit and return them to Earth without building a space program of their own. Instead of developing a bespoke spacecraft, reentry system, and recovery operation for a single mission, companies bring their manufacturing process to Outpost's standardized, reusable platform; turning space manufacturing into standardized infrastructure they can specify rather than design and build.

A growing list of high-value products from specialty optical fibers to pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced crystals can be made better, or only, in microgravity. To date, every attempt to produce them in orbit has been a one-of-a-kind effort, with each company re-solving the same problems of power, thermal control, containment, safety, and return from scratch. Space Factories lets customers focus on what they do best, developing high-value products, while Outpost provides a common industrial platform: standardized modules that reduce bespoke engineering, shorten development timelines, and allow far more rapid deployment.

Just as important is what happens after production. Making a product in orbit is only valuable if it can be brought home frequently, reliably and at scale. Bringing things back from orbit is Outpost's core capability, which makes the company uniquely positioned to close the loop from orbital manufacturing to recovered product on the ground.

"No company should have to become a spacecraft company just to find out whether their product is better when it's made in space," said Amir Blachman, President and co-founder of Outpost. "We're designing and building the hard, expensive infrastructure: the vehicle, the power and thermal systems, standardized manufacturing modules, the reentry and recovery; and we operate it as a service."

Proving it with StarFiber

Outpost is putting the platform to work, manufacturing its own high-value products in orbit. StarFiber, the company's next-generation metal fluoride optical fiber, will be produced in a Space Factory module. Metal fluoride fibers can achieve dramatically lower signal loss than the silica fibers that carry today's data and telecommunications traffic, but they are extremely difficult to manufacture at quality on Earth, where gravity introduces defects during production. Microgravity offers a path to producing them at the quality their performance promises. StarFiber's formulation is also radiation-hardened, making it well suited to satellite, defense, and other demanding environments (and it will demonstrate the full Space Factory model end to end, from orbital production to recovered product on the ground).

"StarFiber is how we prove the platform on ourselves before we ask anyone else to fly on it," said Ryan Reel, VP of Commercial Partnerships and Product Strategy at Outpost. "It's the same infrastructure, the same modules, and the same return path we're offering to every customer. Any company developing a product that benefits from microgravity can plug into a platform we've already flown and get to orbit far faster and for less cost than they could on their own."

One platform, not a bespoke factory for every customer

Space Factories is built on a modular architecture that keeps the expensive, complex systems common and reusable, while confining customization to the smallest possible layer. Outpost's reusable free-flying spacecraft, CarryAll, provides the standardized foundation: orbital transport, power, communications, and the systems for Earth return and recovery. A separable CarryAll Space Factory container houses the customer's payload, manages production, pressurization, thermal, data, and safety interfaces. Only the innermost manufacturing module is tailored to a customer's specific process.

By using a common spacecraft, recovery infrastructure, software, and much of the manufacturing components across every mission, customers avoid the cost, risk, and delay of engineering a full system for a single flight. Proven modules can be replicated across missions or scaled in capacity as demand grows. Recovered equipment can be inspected, refurbished, and reflown: forming the foundation of commercial-scale production.

An open invitation

Space Factories is designed as a shared platform, and Outpost is opening it to industry. Companies developing products that benefit from manufacturing in space in optical materials, pharmaceuticals and biotech, semiconductors, crystal growth, and beyond can build and fly with Outpost. To learn more or discuss a manufacturing module, contact [email protected].

About Outpost Technologies Corporation

Outpost is building reusable Earth-return vehicles that close one of the most important gaps in the space economy: the ability to move meaningful quantities of cargo back from orbit with precision, speed, and repeatability.

Launch capacity has advanced rapidly, but Earth-return capacity remains limited. Outpost is building the southbound logistics layer required to support national security, in-space manufacturing, orbital warehousing, scientific research, and critical logistics. The CarryAll vehicle family is intended to scale from early payload-return missions to large-mass cargo operations, with precision delivery and large-mass capacity serving as the company's defining differentiation. For more information visit: www.outpost.space

SOURCE Outpost Technologies Corp

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Realtor.com®: Down Payments Hit Lowest Q2 Level Since 2021

Homebuyers put more down this spring compared to winter, but higher rates pushed monthly payments up 74% over five years

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Homebuyers put more down this spring than in the winter, but the typical down payment still fell to $27,100, the lowest second quarter level since 2021, according to the Realtor.com® second-quarter Down Payment Report. Down payments fell 9.2% year over year in dollar terms and 0.6 percentage points as a share of purchase price. Increased inventory gave buyers more room to negotiate, while higher mortgage rates kept rate-sensitive households on the sidelines.

"Down payments rose sharply from the winter into spring, as they typically do seasonally, yet the rebound still left them below year-ago levels. Buyers have gained some negotiating room, while higher mortgage rates remain the biggest factor shaping monthly affordability," said Hannah Jones, Senior Economist at Realtor.com®. "In expensive markets, buyers with more equity are using larger down payments to reduce monthly costs; in softer markets, smaller down payments are adding to the cost of higher rates. For many households, the monthly payment, rather than just the cash needed upfront, will determine how much home they can afford."

Down Payments Rise Seasonally, Remain Below Previous Years

The typical down payment rose to $27,100, or 13.7%, in the second quarter, from $25,000, or 12.9%, in the first quarter of 2026. Although the second quarter is typically the seasonal peak, this year's increase was particularly strong. Still, the median down payment remained below the $29,900 and 14.3% recorded a year earlier.

Primary Residence Down Payments

The rebound continued into the third quarter, with the typical down payment reaching an annual high of $28,800, or 14.0%, in July. That was still 7.5% below year-ago levels in dollar terms and 0.5 percentage points lower as a share of the purchase price.

The easing in down payments is consistent with broader housing market conditions. According to Realtor.com® August housing data, active listings rose 3.6% year over year, while median list prices fell 1.3%, easing for the 10th consecutive month. Those conditions are giving buyers more time and negotiating room, reducing the pressure to lead with an outsized down payment.

Higher Rates Are Driving the Monthly Payment Burden

Down payments tell only part of the affordability story: the mortgage rate applied to the remaining loan has a larger effect on monthly costs. Even though the typical down payment share was 1.4 percentage points higher than in August 2021, the estimated monthly principal-and-interest payment rose 74% over five years, to $2,376.

The comparison below shows how higher mortgage rates drove that increase.

*Estimated monthly payments use each August's median listing price, typical down payment share and prevailing 30-year fixed mortgage rate.

The larger down payment provided only about $39 in monthly relief compared with 2021 down-payment habits. The estimated payment was $80, or 3.5%, higher than in 2025, and would rise another $58, to $2,434, if rates reached 7%.

Shifting Down Payments Either Cushion or Amplify Rising Mortgage Rates

The national increase in down payment share since 2021 masks a sharp local divide. In high-cost, competitive metros, larger down payments are helping cushion the monthly payment burden.

In softer markets, the pattern reverses. Down payments have fallen as prices cooled and competition eased, adding to the monthly cost of higher rates.

The contrast is sharp. Higher down payments reduce monthly costs by $205 to $269 in competitive metros, while lower down payments add $37 to $82 per month in softer markets. Austin offers the clearest example. Its typical listing price is down 18% over five years, yet the estimated monthly payment is still up 33% because higher rates have more than offset the price relief and smaller down payments have added to monthly costs.

Northeast Leads on Down Payments as All Regions See Year-Over-Year Declines

The Northeast remained the highest-down-payment region in the second quarter of 2026, with buyers putting down an average 18.1% of the purchase price, followed by the West at 15.2%, the Midwest at 14.2% and the South at 11.9%. All four regions saw year-over-year declines in down payment share.

The Northeast also posted the highest median down payment, reflecting higher home prices and persistent competition. Compared with the second quarter of 2019, the region's median down payment was up 238.7%, significantly more than the next-largest increase, 141.0% in the Midwest.

The South and West have seen more substantial inventory recovery and softer prices, giving buyers more negotiating room. The regional split is consistent with the Realtor.com Market Clock, which found that 70% of the nation's largest markets either favored buyers or were moving in a buyer-friendly direction in the second quarter of 2026.

"Mortgage rates will remain the biggest swing factor for buyers. If rates continue to rise, down payments and estimated monthly payments are likely to remain elevated as more marginal buyers stay on the sidelines. A sustained decline would do more to improve affordability and bring buyers back into the market, helping keep homeownership within reach for more households," Jones said.

Methodology

Down payment trends were analyzed at the national level using Optimal Blue data through August 2026. Down payment as a share of purchase price is calculated as an average across the data. Down payment as a dollar amount is calculated by taking the median across the data. Estimated monthly payments assume a 30-year fixed-rate loan on the average purchase price less the median down payment, amortized at Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey average 30-year fixed rate for the period shown. Comparisons are for Q2, unless otherwise stated; payment comparisons use August data. Estimated payments represent principal and interest only and exclude taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA fees and other costs of homeownership.

About Realtor.com®

For over 30 years, Realtor.com® has connected buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 real estate site REALTOR® agents recommend, Realtor.com® delivers consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media Contact: Janice McDill, [email protected]

SOURCE Realtor.com

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Remember Me Thursday® Unites Animal-Lovers, Celebrities and Rescue Organizations Across the Globe to #ShineALight for Pets Waiting for Forever Homes…

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a worldwide wave of compassion is shining a light on orphan pets. Animal lovers everywhere have joined the 14th annual Remember Me Thursday® (RMT) global movement to create an unstoppable voice for pets still waiting for forever homes. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in September, RMT brings together pet-lovers, celebrities and animal welfare organizations across the globe through social media postings, candle-lighting ceremonies, proclamations, flag raisings and more. By posting using @RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight, participants are sending one powerful message around the world: orphan pets deserve to be seen, remembered and given the chance to find a home. Helen Woodward Animal Center hopes the public will join the movement TODAY – Remember Me Thursday®, September 24th – and #ShineALight on the life-changing importance of pet adoption.

RMT was established in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the staggering statistics that over a million homeless pets lose their lives each year in the U.S., Arms put out a call to rescue organizations in an attempt to create a social media global awareness campaign.

Now in its 14th year, Remember Me Thursday® has grown into a worldwide movement powered by hundreds of thousands of passionate animal lovers and more than 1,000 animal welfare organizations in over 180 countries. The campaign gives everyone a way to shine a light on the pets still waiting for homes—from sharing the story of a rescue pet on social media to joining special ceremonies that honor the lives, resilience and second chances of orphan animals. Together, these voices create a powerful global reminder that every pet deserves to be remembered—and every rescue pet deserves a forever home. The enormous swell of celebrity support has resulted in the topic trending each year on both Facebook and Twitter.

Alicia Silverstone is the latest high-profile celebrity to step into the role of Featured RMT Luminary, following a roster of notable advocates including Kristin Chenoweth, Kaley Cuoco and Wynonna Judd. Silverstone is best known for her iconic role as Cher Horowitz in Clueless and will reprise the role in an upcoming six-episode series for Paramount+. Other well-known work includes appearances in Batman & Robin, Blast from the Past, Excess Baggage, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Bugonia and television's Miss Match, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Beyond acting and producing, Silverstone has become one of Hollywood's most visible voices for animal rights, environmental awareness, and plant-based living. A passionate vegan for decades, she founded the wellness platform The Kind Life, which promotes compassionate living, sustainability, and holistic wellness and authored several books, including the bestselling The Kind Diet and The Kind Mama, encouraging readers to explore plant-based nutrition and mindful living. Now, she headlines a movement that has grown from one organization's call to action into a worldwide phenomenon.

"Remember Me Thursday is such an important reminder that these animals are here, they are worthy, and they are waiting for someone to choose them," said Silverstone.

Silverstone joins an impressive list of celebrity supporters also aligning themselves with RMT. Since its launch, Remember Me Thursday® has united an inspiring roster of actors, athletes, musicians, animal behaviorists and social media personalities who have used their voices to help shine a light on the thousands of orphan pets still waiting for homes. Among those lending their star power are Andie MacDowell (2023 Official Spokesperson), Katherine Heigl, (Rainey Qualley (2023 Official Spokesperson), Bo Derek, and new 2026 supporters Bob Odenkirk, Morgan Fairchild, Alan Tudyk, Scoot McNairy, and Los Angeles Chargers players Daiyan Henley, Omarion Hampton and Teair Tart, among many others. To see the full roster of 2026 RMT luminaries, visit www.RememberMeThursday.org.

Today, Thursday, September 24th, the public is invited to join the movement by tweeting, tagging, posting and sharing a story of the beauty, and life-saving significance, an adopted pet has made, alongside @RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight.

For more information on Remember Me Thursday® and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.remembermethursday.org.

About Remember Me Thursday®

Animal lovers and organizations across the globe unite on the fourth Thursday in September to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of homeless pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and to shine a light via social media on the millions of orphan pets still waiting for their forever homes. The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and successful Home 4 the Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed over 22 million pets in homes since 1999. For more information, please visit www.remembermethursday.org. 

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center

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The new advisory board brings together leading dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist to expand access to credible, expert-led skin health education

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prequel, the dermatologist-founded skincare brand dedicated to advancing skin health through effective, accessible products and education, today announced the launch of the Prequel Skin Health Advisory Board, a collective of leading dermatologists and skin health experts who will help shape the brand's educational initiatives and bring trusted skin health information to a broader audience.

Founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis, Prequel has built its approach around a core belief: expert skin health information shouldn't be gatekept. The new advisory board brings together a group of experts who will help inform Prequel's approach to skincare and contribute to the broader conversation around skin health.

The board includes board-certified dermatologists Dr. Brittany Oliver, Dr. Kiyanna Williams, Dr. Andrew Park, Dr. Cory Kosche, Dr. Lina Kennedy, Dr. Cheri Frey, Dr. Divya Shokeen, and cosmetic chemist Iris Lee, with collective expertise spanning medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, skin of color, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer, clinical research, and cosmetic chemistry.

"When I founded Prequel, I wanted to take so much of the knowledge we share with patients every day and make it accessible to more people," said Dr. Samantha Ellis, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Prequel. "I've personally admired and learned from each of the experts joining this board, and I'm incredibly excited to bring their different perspectives into Prequel. There is so much noise around skincare today, and our goal is to help people better understand what works, what matters and why, so they can make more informed decisions about their skin health."

As skincare information becomes more abundant—and often more conflicting—Prequel sees an increasing need to connect consumers with credible expertise that helps them better understand their skin and the products they use. At the heart of the Skin Health Advisory Board is Prequel's goal to bring more of the education and perspective found inside the dermatologist's office into everyday skincare conversations.

Board members will serve as an ongoing resource across Prequel's education, product and community initiatives, participating in expert roundtables, contributing to educational content and media conversations, providing perspectives on skin health topics and trends, and exchanging insights around the evolving needs of consumers and patients.

"Education has been central to Prequel from the beginning, and the Skin Health Advisory Board allows us to deepen that commitment as we grow. By bringing together experts with different specialties, experiences and perspectives, we can continue building Prequel as a trusted resource that not only creates effective products, but helps people feel more informed and confident in the choices they make for their skin," said Prequel CEO Nathalie Kristo.

The launch marks the next evolution of Prequel's education-first approach to skincare, expanding the brand's network of expert voices and creating new ways for consumers to learn directly from the people who diagnose, treat, research, and formulate for skin every day.

ABOUT PREQUEL

Founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis, Prequel is a dermatologist-developed skincare brand focused on supporting skin health through effective, accessible, and thoughtfully formulated products. Rooted in clinical expertise and an education-first approach, Prequel creates solutions for the skin concerns people experience every day while helping consumers better understand and care for their skin.

SOURCE Prequel

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Next-Generation AI platform combines photorealistic visualization, product intelligence, homeowner engagement and data

CALGARY, AB, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Renoworks Software Inc. (TSXV: RW) (OTC: ROWKF) ("Renoworks" or the "Company"), an industry leader in AI-powered visualization, design and lead-generation technology for the building products industry, today announced the launch of Renoworks.ai, the Company's next-generation AI native platform designed to transform how building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors engage and monetize homeowners throughout the remodeling journey.

Renoworks.ai represents a significant evolution of the Company's technology platform, combining next-generation generative AI with Renoworks' extensive building product data, visualization expertise, homeowner engagement tools, analytics and lead-generation capabilities. These new capabilities provide greater design realism, stronger product accuracy and more effective homeowner engagement, all of which improves engagement with customers and increases close rates. Renoworks has been working with all stakeholders and these new features are what customers and partners have been asking for.

The new platform produces highly photorealistic remodeling designs while maintaining an important distinction from general-purpose generative AI tools: designs are connected to actual building products, colors and product configurations offered by Renoworks customers. Rather than simply generating an inspirational image, Renoworks.ai is designed to connect homeowner inspiration with real products and ultimately with the companies that manufacture, distribute and install them. For a brief demo of the new platform click here.

Renoworks currently serves more than 200 enterprise customers in the North American building products industry across numerous building product categories, and facilitates millions of annual product interactions between homeowners and building product brands. Existing Renoworks customers can migrate their product libraries to Renoworks.ai while maintaining their current integrations and continuing to operate Renoworks Classic during the transition. The Company expects customer migrations to occur progressively rather than through a single platform-wide conversion.

Renoworks has spent more than two decades digitizing building products and working with leading manufacturers across the remodeling industry. Renoworks.ai builds upon that foundation by evolving traditional product libraries into a Product Intelligence Platform designed to create a structured, continuously manageable source of product information for AI-powered applications. Product Intelligence also creates the potential to expand Renoworks' relationship with customers beyond individual visualization applications. By establishing a centralized product intelligence layer that can support multiple digital experiences, Renoworks believes it can become more deeply integrated into how building product manufacturers manage and activate their product information across the remodeling ecosystem.

"Renoworks.ai represents the largest step-change in our platform since the Company entered the visualization market," said Doug Vickerson, Chief Executive Officer of Renoworks. "Generative AI has fundamentally changed what is possible in-home design. We believe the larger opportunity, however, is not simply creating a better image. It is connecting that experience to real products, homeowner intent, data and ultimately the transaction, resulting in greater value across the entire home design experience. In addition, we expect this new product to drive higher homeowner engagement, resulting in continuous improvement in our domain knowledge of homeowner purchase behavior and intent, which will further improve our value to building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors by driving higher close rates."

Renoworks.ai is being introduced progressively to existing and new enterprise customers. The Company will continue expanding the platform's capabilities as part of its broader strategy to provide an integrated AI-powered technology platform for the remodeling and building products industry. The Company believes Renoworks.ai creates additional opportunities to expand recurring revenue by increasing platform adoption, enabling customers to deploy Renoworks technology more broadly across brands and product categories, and introducing additional AI-powered capabilities over time.

About Renoworks

Renoworks Software Inc. develops and sells AI-powered visualization, design, data and lead-generation solutions for the remodeling and new home construction industry. The Company serves building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors, helping connect homeowner inspiration and product selection with real-world building products and remodeling projects.

Renoworks generates revenue primarily through its Enterprise and PRO solutions. Renoworks Enterprise provides manufacturers, distributors and retailers with digital visualization, product intelligence, homeowner engagement, analytics and lead-generation capabilities, while Renoworks PRO provides contractors and remodelers with digital design and sales tools to help engage homeowners and convert remodeling opportunities.

About Renoworks.ai

From visualization to an ai-powered remodeling platform. Renoworks.ai has been rebuilt around a modern AI architecture and user experience designed to make remodeling visualization faster, more realistic and easier for homeowners to use.

Key capabilities of the new platform include:

- AI Photorealistic Design – Next-generation AI generates realistic representations of remodeled homes incorporating natural lighting, shadows, depth and architectural details.

- Real Manufacturer Products – Designs are connected to actual products, colors and configurations from participating manufacturers rather than AI-generated approximations.

- Modern AI User Experience – A redesigned interface allows homeowners to explore products and design alternatives through an intuitive, interactive experience.

- Product Intelligence Platform – Renoworks.ai moves beyond traditional product library management toward a structured product intelligence layer that connects manufacturer product data, imagery, colors, attributes and configurations to AI-powered applications. This provides manufacturers with a centralized foundation for maintaining accurate digital product information while enabling that information to power visualization, homeowner engagement and other applications across the remodeling journey.

- Lead Generation and Analytics – Increased Homeowner engagement and activity can be captured and transformed into actionable data, providing customers with greater insight into product interest and purchase intent.

- Enterprise Integration – Existing integrations, product libraries and enterprise workflows can transition to Renoworks.ai while customers continue operating their existing Renoworks environments.

- Enterprise Management Tools – Customers can manage users, permissions and access while gaining greater visibility into homeowner and contractor activity across their organizations.

For more information, visit Renoworks.com.

SOURCE RenoWorks Software Inc.

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The 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo will take place from 18–21 October in Washington, D.C., USA, and virtually.

NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has announced its planned keynote speakers for its largest event of the year, the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo. The conference will take place from 18–21 October in Washington, D.C., USA, and virtually.

Confirmed featured sessions and keynote speakers include:

- "The Lonza Engine: Manufacturing the Medicines of Tomorrow," presented by Wolfgang Wienand, PhD, CEO, Lonza

- "Lilly: Embracing Technology to Reach Patients," presented by Kevin Trivett, Senior Vice President, Device and Packaging Operations Manufacturing, Eli Lilly and Company

- "Whose Loop Is It Anyway? Command AI. Unleash the Human," presented by Marla Phillips, PhD, CEO and President, Pathway for Patient Health LLC

- "An Extraordinary Life," presented by Jamie Valvano, Cancer Survivor and Research Advocate

The Global Regulatory Town Hall, "From Snapshots to Surveillance: How Data, Maturity and AI are Re-shaping Quality and Compliance," will take place on Wednesday, 21 October. Industry and regulatory leaders will explore how technology and engagement can potentially accelerate safe, sustainable delivery of therapies to patients.

The 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo agenda will feature five tracks focused on advancing innovative therapies; digital transformation and data integrity; regulatory and quality leadership; resilient, sustainable operations; and workforce and capability development. Through case studies, expert perspectives, and real-world applications, experts will address key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"The tracks work together as one connected story about how we get innovation all the way to the patient," said Connie Langer, 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo International Program Committee Chair and Regulatory Intelligence Lead – Pharma Quality, Safety, and Environmental Operations of Pfizer.

Langer and Jose Caraballo-Oramas, 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo International Program Committee Executive Chair and JCO Global Advisory LLC Executive Chair, Founder, and Principal, recently discussed the conference on the ISPE Podcast: Shaping the Future of Pharma.

Interactive Workshops taking place on Sunday, 18 October, include:

- Annex 1 in Action: Designing Facilities That Reduce Risk

- Accelerating Innovation in Sustainable Sourcing and Ops

- Digital Validation in Practice

- From Single Sites to Standardized Manufacturing Network

- The Future of Pharma: Agility, Growth, and Continuous Improvement Strategies

A variety of ancillary events and activities are taking place before, during, and after the conference as well, including the 2026 ISPE International Emerging Leader Hackathon taking place Saturday through Sunday, 17–18 October, and a recently announced facility tour to the AstraZeneca Commercial Cell Therapy Facility on Thursday, 22 October. This year, a pickleball zone will also be available to attendees on Monday, 19 October, and Tuesday, 20 October, in the Expo Hall.

To learn more and register for the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo, visit ISPE.org/AM26.

About ISPE

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is a global nonprofit association serving its members through leading scientific, technical, and regulatory advancement across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. The 25,000+ members of ISPE provide solutions to complex pharmaceutical industry challenges through innovation, member and workforce development, and technical, regulatory, and compliance collaborations in more than 120 countries worldwide. Founded in 1980, ISPE has its worldwide headquarters and training center in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and its operations center in Tampa, Florida, USA. For more information, visit ISPE.org.

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2026 Global Carbon Neutrality Report examines the drivers and constraints shaping global carbon neutrality at Tsinghua University forum

BEIJING, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global experts and policymakers gathered at Tsinghua University on September 22 for a high-level seminar on global carbon neutrality to launch the 2026 Global Carbon Neutrality Annual Progress Report, which examines the factors accelerating or constraining the transition across 198 countries and regions.

The event was part of a series marking the fifth anniversary of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality (ICON) at Tsinghua University and the sixth anniversary of China's "dual carbon" goals. It also coincided with the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period.

The seminar brought together perspectives from government, academia and international organizations on the global transition. Speakers included Li Gao, Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment; Zhang Laibin, Chair of the Academic Committee of China University of Petroleum (Beijing); Zeng Rong, Executive Vice President of Tsinghua University; and Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, who delivered remarks via video. The seminar was chaired by He Kebin, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality.

Wang Can, professor at Tsinghua University presented the 2026 report, which draws on more than 200 indicators to assess progress toward carbon neutrality across 198 countries and regions, tracking progress and identifying the underlying drivers and constraints of the global transition.

The report identifies several trends:

- A new phase of the low-carbon transition is emerging, increasingly driven by technological progress but shaped by broader system conditions.

- Mature technologies are accelerating, with wind and solar power, energy storage, and electric vehicles continuing to expand rapidly.

- System-level bottlenecks remain significant, including limited grid integration capacity, high financing costs, gaps in market mechanisms, and barriers to international technology diffusion.

- Emerging technologies face additional commercialization challenges. Clean hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) continue to encounter constraints related to demand, infrastructure, and viable business models.

- Developing economies face particularly strong barriers, including high financing costs, trade barriers, and insufficient system capacity to absorb and deploy green technologies.

The findings suggest that while technological costs are declining and deployment is accelerating, the pace and scale of the global transition increasingly depend on whether financing, infrastructure, markets, and international cooperation can develop alongside technological progress.

The full report is available through Tsinghua University's Global Carbon Neutrality Progress Tracker at www.cntracker.tsinghua.edu.cn.

SOURCE Tsinghua University

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MUTSAMUDU, Comoros, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, recorded the deepest combined BTC and ETH futures order book depth within the 0.03% band, and the lowest median slippage for a $300,000 silver futures sell order among all surveyed exchanges, according to TokenInsight's Crypto Exchange Liquidity Report for September 2026. The report provides a systematic assessment of liquidity performance across nine major global crypto exchanges based on order book depth, trading slippage, and bid-ask spread, covering BTC and ETH across spot and futures markets, as well as XAU (gold) and XAG (silver) futures.

Top-Tier BTC and ETH Spot Liquidity

At the 0.01% price band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH spot order book depth reached approximately $1.35 million, tied with another exchange for the deepest spot liquidity in the report. At the wider 0.03% band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH spot order book depth stood at $3.58 million, ranking second in the report. For a $500,000 BTC spot sell order, MEXC recorded the lowest median slippage in the report at 0.005%.

Near-Touch Futures Depth Leads at $21.03M

Within the 0.03% price band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH futures depth reached $21.03 million, the deepest among the nine exchanges surveyed. This highlights MEXC's strength in concentrating executable liquidity close to the mid-market price.

Consistent ETH Futures Execution Across Order Sizes

MEXC delivered strong ETH futures execution across both tested order sizes, recording median/P90 slippage of 0.003%/0.007% for a $500,000 sell order and 0.008%/0.013% for a $1 million sell order, among the best-performing results in the report.

Lowest Silver Futures Slippage at 0.002%

In XAG futures, MEXC recorded a median slippage of 0.002% for a $300,000 sell order, the lowest among all surveyed exchanges. MEXC also recorded a combined XAU and XAG futures depth of $2.39 million within the 0.01% band, and led the market in XAG-specific order book depth.

The report highlights MEXC's strong liquidity and execution performance across both crypto and precious-metals markets, particularly in near-touch order book depth and trade execution. These capabilities provide a foundation for a more efficient trading experience as users access opportunities across global markets. MEXC will continue to strengthen its liquidity infrastructure and trading capabilities to provide users with broader and more efficient market access.

Full report: TokenInsight Crypto Exchange Liquidity Report, September 2026

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is a leading global multi-asset trading platform built as your 0-fee gateway to infinite opportunities. Serving users across 170+ markets, MEXC provides simple and efficient access to crypto, stocks, tokenized assets, derivatives, and a growing range of TradFi-linked opportunities through one account and one gateway.

With 0 trading fees, deep liquidity, broad asset coverage, and a high-performance trading experience, MEXC is designed for retail users who want to discover earlier, act faster, and trade with fewer barriers. As crypto and traditional finance continue to converge, MEXC is committed to making global opportunities more accessible, helping users trade freely and MEXCmize every opportunity.

MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

Risk Disclaimer:

This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the volatility of financial markets, including digital assets, tokenized assets, and traditional financial products, investors should carefully assess market conditions, underlying asset fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any investment or trading decisions.

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