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Pacsun-GlobalData Study: Gen Z Trust in Influencers Falls Below 11%

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Pacsun-GlobalData Study: Gen Z Trust in Influencers Falls Below 11%

Los Angeles – September 15, 2026 -- Youth financial independence in the United States dropped to 34.9% in 2026 from 41.3% a year earlier, according to the second annual Youth Report released by specialty retailer Pacsun and data and analytics firm GlobalData. The share of young people who say they fully rely on their parents rose to 29.1% from 23.8% over the same period.

The report, based on a June 2026 survey of 6,126 people ages 11 to 24 across the U.S., identifies what Pacsun terms the "Drawbridge Generation" -- Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers who are pulling back from public digital noise toward smaller circles of trusted family and friends.

Influencer trust never exceeds 11% share across any category measured

Family and friends dominate every trust metric tracked, from financial advice to purchase decisions, while influencers top out at an 11% trust share. Only 2% of respondents said they trust AI for fashion advice.

National Real Estate Advisors Names Kevin Verdi CEO, Succeeding Founder Kanne

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National Real Estate Advisors Names Kevin Verdi CEO, Succeeding Founder Kanne

Washington – September 15, 2026 -- National Real Estate Advisors will replace founder and CEO Jeffrey Kanne with Kevin Verdi, its Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, effective January 2027, the institutional investment manager announced.

Kanne exits after more than 25 years building the firm into an institutional real estate platform

Kanne, who founded National in 2000, will retire from the CEO role after more than a quarter-century at the helm, during which the firm grew into an investment manager serving U.S. and international institutional investors. He will remain with National as a Special Advisor following the leadership change.

RTI International Opens $14M Pilot Xcelerator Expansion in N.C.

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RTI International Opens $14M Pilot Xcelerator Expansion in N.C.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – September 15, 2026 -- RTI International has opened a $14 million expansion of its Pilot Xcelerator platform, doubling the independent research institute's commercialization infrastructure for energy and industrial technology startups.

Expansion doubles pilot-scale capacity in North Carolina

The 25,000-square-foot facility on RTI's Research Triangle Park campus gives innovators access to pilot infrastructure, engineering expertise and independent scientific validation to bridge the gap between lab research and commercial deployment. RTI describes the Pilot Xcelerator as the only privately owned industrial pilot laboratory in North Carolina.

E Ink Backs NewCopper to Advance Copper Ink for Printed Electronics

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E Ink Backs NewCopper to Advance Copper Ink for Printed Electronics

Billerica – September 15, 2026 -- E Ink Corporation has made an early-stage investment in NewCopper, a privately held U.S. startup developing conductive copper ink, to accelerate a lower-cost alternative to silver ink used in printed electronics and display materials.

E Ink structures investment through a post-money SAFE agreement

The deal gives E Ink's R&D team the opportunity to evaluate NewCopper's copper ink as a conductive material for future displays and electrode applications, given its compatibility with E Ink's existing roll-to-roll coating capabilities. E Ink will also apply its display manufacturing expertise to support NewCopper's production scale-up and commercialization.

FINTRX Launches Proactive AI Agent Fin for Private Wealth Data

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FINTRX Launches Proactive AI Agent Fin for Private Wealth Data

Boston – September 15, 2026 -- FINTRX, a provider of private wealth intelligence, has launched an AI agent called Fin that pushes data and alerts directly into email, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Outlook and Google Calendar, extending its existing platform AI into the tools investment professionals already use daily.

Fin Monitors 850,000 Financial Firms and Contacts Without Being Asked

Unlike conversational AI tools that require a prompt, Fin continuously scans the private wealth industry and proactively delivers alerts, prospect lists and meeting-prep briefs. The rollout covers intelligence on more than 850,000 financial firms and contacts, including 45,000 registered investment advisor (RIA) and broker-dealer firms, 790,000 registered reps, over 4,600 family offices, and 1,900 banks and trust institutions.

Claroty Public Sector Achieves CJIS Compliance With Fortreum

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Claroty Public Sector Achieves CJIS Compliance With Fortreum

Arlington, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- Claroty Public Sector LLC's xDome for Government platform has achieved compliance with the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy, the company announced in partnership with cybersecurity advisory firm Fortreum.

Compliance targets protection of criminal justice data confidentiality and integrity

The CJIS certification confirms Claroty's cyber-physical systems (CPS) platform meets the FBI's security requirements for handling sensitive criminal justice information. Law enforcement and public safety agencies face mounting pressure to secure a growing base of connected and legacy infrastructure, including weapons platforms, building management systems, operational technology, and IoT devices, while limiting third-party and vendor risk.

Federal Contract Cycles Nearly Double Global Benchmark, Report Finds

Reston, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- Federal acquisition organizations report contract cycle times nearly twice the global benchmark for lower-complexity acquisitions, according to the 2026 US Government Benchmark Report released by the Commerce & Contract Management Institute (CCM Institute).

Federal workers report higher resilience despite structural delays

The study, based on responses from more than 500 federal acquisition professionals and industry suppliers, found federal respondents scoring 5.0 on workforce resilience and 4.6 on adaptability, outperforming global benchmarks of 4.8 and 4.2 respectively. Yet 66 percent of respondents cited ongoing uncertainty and 64 percent cited operational workload as major barriers to organizational agility.

Simplicity Group Acquires Whitney and Associates, Altitude Capital

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Simplicity Group Acquires Whitney and Associates, Altitude Capital

Summit, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Simplicity Group has acquired Whitney and Associates, LLC, a Des Moines, Iowa-based independent marketing organization, along with its affiliated Altitude Capital Management RIA, an integrated wealth and investment management platform.

Simplicity adds two new partners through the deal

Mitchell Whitney and Charles Johnson join Simplicity Group as Partners as part of the transaction. Both previously led Whitney and Associates, a wholesale IMO specializing in annuity, life insurance and wealth management solutions for independent advisors.

Central Park Bangkok Hits 25M Visits, Launches Global Expansion Push

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Central Park Bangkok Hits 25M Visits, Launches Global Expansion Push

Bangkok – September 15, 2026 -- Central Pattana's Central Park Shopping Centre logged more than 25 million visits in its first year of operation, including over 10 million from international tourists, ranking the property among the top-tier performers in the developer's retail portfolio.

Central Park Bangkok marks first anniversary with new global brand strategy

To mark the milestone, Central Pattana unveiled "Bangkok's World Stage,

Spotnana, Marriott Launch Direct Integration Across 10,000 Hotels

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Spotnana, Marriott Launch Direct Integration Across 10,000 Hotels

New York – September 15, 2026 -- Spotnana has activated a direct integration with Marriott International's central reservation system, giving corporate travel buyers real-time pricing and inventory access across 10,000 Marriott properties worldwide.

Spotnana becomes first corporate booking platform to offer verified Marriott Bonvoy loyalty linking

Travelers can now securely connect their Marriott Bonvoy account to their Spotnana profile through Authenticated Account Linking. The feature recognizes Bonvoy status and credit card holder tiers and displays current points balances directly within the corporate booking platform.

BenQ Launches PV50 4K Monitors for Color Grading at $1,599.99

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BenQ Launches PV50 4K Monitors for Color Grading at $1,599.99

Costa Mesa, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- BenQ has released its first Creative Pro monitors built specifically for color grading, the PV3250U and PV2750U, priced at $1,599.99 and $1,099.99 respectively.

BenQ targets post-production professionals with 16-bit hardware calibration

The 32-inch PV3250U and 27-inch PV2750U are 120Hz 4K displays aimed at video editors and post-production teams working on advertisements, short-form films, branded content and social media campaigns. Both models deliver 99% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and 100% Rec.709 coverage, paired with an IPS Black panel offering a 3000:1 contrast ratio for shadow-detail accuracy.

Aircom Names Khurram Chaudhry General Manager & CTO

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Aircom Names Khurram Chaudhry General Manager & CTO

Fairfax, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- Aircom has promoted Khurram Chaudhry from Vice President of Product & Engineering to General Manager & CTO, giving him full operational control of the RAN planning and optimization firm as it accelerates AI-driven network automation.

Chaudhry gains authority over Aircom's technology, customers and growth strategy

The move expands Chaudhry's mandate beyond product and engineering to encompass overall business direction and performance at Aircom, a wholly owned subsidiary of TEOCO serving more than 100 customers across 100-plus countries.

Equinix Names DD Dasgupta Chief Marketing Officer Amid AI Push

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Equinix Names DD Dasgupta Chief Marketing Officer Amid AI Push

Redwood City, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) has appointed DD Dasgupta as Chief Marketing Officer, elevating a 25-year infrastructure veteran to steer marketing strategy as enterprises shift from AI pilots to full-scale deployment.

Dasgupta moves up from product marketing role he held since 2024

Dasgupta joined Equinix in 2024 as Vice President, Product and Solution Marketing, where he built out the company's customer-focused solutions portfolio. In his new role, he will report to Equinix Chief Customer and Revenue Officer Shane Paladin.

HarbourView Hires Patrick Morin as MD of Business Development

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HarbourView Hires Patrick Morin as MD of Business Development

Newark, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- HarbourView Equity Partners, a music and entertainment-focused investment firm managing approximately $3.88 billion in regulatory assets, has appointed Patrick Morin as Managing Director of Business Development, tasking him with leading capital formation and investor partnerships.

Morin brings 25 years of institutional investment experience to the role

Morin previously served as Managing Director at Cambridge Associates, where he oversaw Healthcare and Regional Endowments & Foundations Client Solutions. He held prior roles in investment banking, wealth advisory, and alternative investments at Citi, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley.

His background includes managing alternative investments for high-net-worth and family office clients, overseeing commission-based sales and trading operations, and leading investor relations at firms focused on credit, merger arbitrage, and event-driven strategies.

IBM, NASA Open-Source Lunar AI Model Beating Rivals by 23%

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IBM, NASA Open-Source Lunar AI Model Beating Rivals by 23%

Yorktown Heights, N.Y. – September 15, 2026 -- IBM and NASA released the open-source NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model, one of the first publicly available foundation models built for scientific exploration of the Moon, outperforming widely used detection methods by up to 23% in identifying craters, ice deposits and volcanic formations.

Model cuts ice-detection error by up to 22% versus baseline

The model reduced root-mean-square error in identifying areas with high potential for lunar ice by up to 22% compared with the SwinV2-B (ImageNet) benchmark, according to a technical paper authored by IBM and NASA researchers. Permanently shadowed lunar regions -- among the hardest environments to observe -- may hold subsurface ice, a resource NASA considers essential for a future Moon base and for producing rocket fuel for Mars missions.

FirstService Residential Regains Management Contract for Philadelphia's Grandview Condominium

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FirstService Residential Regains Management Contract for Philadelphia's Grandview Condominium

Philadelphia – September 15, 2026 -- FirstService Residential has been reappointed to provide full-service property management for The Grandview Condominium Unit Owners Association, a 16-story Art Deco landmark in Philadelphia's Chinatown neighborhood originally completed in 1935.

Board ends self-management model after seeking expertise for complex construction oversight

The Grandview's board of directors moved away from a self-management structure, citing the need for a partner capable of overseeing large-scale, complex construction projects within the condominium community. Edmund Aristone, President of The Grandview Board of Directors, said the board is confident that under the leadership of FirstService Residential's Bob Bender, the community will be positioned to meet its long-term goals while enhancing residents' quality of life.

Saudi Arabia Nominates Dr Hanan Balkhy for WHO Director-General

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Saudi Arabia Nominates Dr Hanan Balkhy for WHO Director-General

Riyadh – September 15, 2026 -- Dr Hanan H. Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, has launched her candidacy for WHO Director-General after being nominated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, pledging to build "a WHO the world can count on."

Saudi Arabia backs a 30-year public health veteran for WHO's top post

Dr Balkhy, trained in Saudi Arabia and the United States, has spent more than three decades in clinical medicine, academic research and international public health leadership. She currently oversees WHO operations across 22 Member States and more than 750 million people as Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and previously served as WHO's first Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance and as a member of the Organization's Global Policy Group.

CytoSorbents Execs to Present at H.C. Wainwright Investor Conference

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CytoSorbents Execs to Present at H.C. Wainwright Investor Conference

Princeton, N.J. – – September 15, 2026 -- CytoSorbents Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSO) will present at the H.C. Wainwright 28th Annual Global Investment Conference in New York City from September 14–16, 2026, as the blood-purification device maker seeks to update investors on its regulatory pipeline and path to profitability.

CEO and CFO to join fireside chat on September 14

Dr. Phillip Chan, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Mariani, Chief Financial Officer, will join Sean Lee, Vice President of Equity Research at H.C. Wainwright, for a fireside chat at 11:30 a.m. EDT at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. The two executives will also hold scheduled one-on-one meetings with investors during the three-day event. A webcast replay will remain archived for up to 90 days on the company's investor relations site.

QTS Pledges $1 Billion for Water Stewardship, Targets 2035 Water-Positive Goal

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QTS Pledges $1 Billion for Water Stewardship, Targets 2035 Water-Positive Goal

Ashburn, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- QTS Data Centers has committed $1 billion to a global water stewardship initiative aimed at making the company water positive by 2035, restoring more water than it withdraws across its operations.

QTS commits $250 million to Texas water infrastructure over the next decade

The company's first major deployment under the pledge targets Texas, where it will fund water infrastructure and conservation projects, including replacement of the aging water tower in Turkey, Texas. QTS is also allocating $15 million over 10 years to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for leak detection, habitat restoration and irrigation-efficiency projects across the state.

Talogy's Caliper Data Anchors New ABA Book on Lawyer Resilience

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Talogy's Caliper Data Anchors New ABA Book on Lawyer Resilience

Pittsburgh – September 15, 2026 -- Lawyers score just 30% on resilience compared with 50% for the general public, a gap that has held steady since 1994, according to 30 years of data from Talogy's Caliper Profile assessment cited in a new American Bar Association book.

New ABA book credits 4.5 million Caliper assessments for resilience findings

Thin-Skinned: Why Lawyers Are So Low in Resilience and the New Science That Can Help, authored by legal psychology experts Dr. Larry Richard and Dr. D'Arcy Lyness, draws on a database of 4.5 million Caliper Profile assessments compiled by talent management firm Talogy. The book finds that nine out of 10 lawyers score in the bottom half of the resilience scale.