GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) Releases gtinfetch.ai -- the GTIN Resolver for AI Agents

Now 84 million barcodes are answered in one AI agent call. Know your transactions (KYT).

VANCOUVER, BC and LONDON, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) today releases its new retail grocery agentic lead product, gtinfetch.ai — the GTIN resolver for AI agents. Any barcode, one call, in milliseconds: 84 million barcodes answering, the biggest open resolver on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), on Microsoft Azure and the Cloudflare edge, answered from wherever the agent is. Built for retail grocery agentic commerce transactions at scale in 20 countries.

Two trillion dollars of grocery procurement a year is about to move through AI agents — and every order in it rides on a GTIN. Without a second check, agentic procurement drifts. gtinfetch is that second factor: the GTIN confirmed before the order, and the order paid in the same call on x402 — USDC and Open USD, the open dollar set in September 2026 with Visa, Mastercard and Stripe behind it. The buying agent, the listing agent, the placement agent and the paying agent all act on the same product, and the payment carries it. This is gtinfetch.

Pay inside the call.

https://x402.gtinfetch.ai/mcp — USDC and Open USD on Base. An agent asks, is told what it owes, pays, and is served. One address, every agent.

The agentic era

By 2028, 90% of B2B buying will be AI-agent intermediated, pushing over $15 trillion of B2B spend through AI agent exchanges, according to Gartner's Strategic Predictions for 2026. Juniper Research puts agentic commerce transaction value at $8 billion in 2026 and $3.5 trillion by 2031. gtinfetch is the product-identity layer under those transactions: for retail grocery — retailers, makers, private label and retail media; for AI labs and agent frameworks building commerce agents; for the new agentic checkout, payment and marketplace platforms; and for the procurement and supply-chain suites now shipping buying agents. Any agent, any platform, any vertical that touches a barcode calls it first.

"We built gtinfetch because we saw that agentic orders could potentially drift somewhere between the barcode and the order," said Matthew Keddy, CEO of GreenCore Solutions Corp. "gtinfetch is the resolver every buying agent can now call first — so that for the first time both counterparties to a GTIN know their transaction. The KYT era is here for agentic commerce."

"In retail, everything starts with knowing exactly what product you're buying, selling, or promoting," said Julia Turley, Board Director at GreenCore Solutions Corp. and former Walmart Director of Merchandising. "As AI agents begin making purchasing decisions, that fundamental requirement doesn't change. What changes is the speed and scale. gtinfetch gives AI agents a way to verify product identity before transactions happen, helping retailers and suppliers operate with greater confidence in an increasingly automated marketplace."

For agents

One tool, fetch_gtin, at mcp.gtinfetch.ai/mcp; an Agent-to-Agent (A2A) card at gtinfetch.ai; listed on the Official MCP Registry as ai.gtinfetch/gtinfetch and on the Microsoft Azure API Center; attaching on the stock client paths of Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Point an agent at the door and ask it a barcode.

About GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC)

GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) developed gtinfetch, the GTIN resolver for AI agents, and built VECTOR, the AI Agent Hub for Agentic Commerce, it runs on. Millions of AI agents a week trade on four hubs — A2A-Grocery.ai, A2A-Retailmedia.ai, A2A-Cosmetics.ai and A2A-Peptides.ai — in 20 countries, delivered on Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agent-to-Agent (A2A), human in the loop. GSC operates on Microsoft Azure in 18 global regions and on Google Cloud Enterprise. GSC is a Microsoft AI Cloud Partner, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with sales offices in London, UK. D-U-N-S 24-336-6774. For more information visit gsc-em.com.

SOURCE Greencore Solutions Corp.

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Ensorcia Announces Agreement to Acquire Argentina Wildcats

Acquisition to expand Argentine lithium holdings and advance the Katal 1 development program utilizing International Battery Metals' Direct Lithium Extraction technology

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ensorcia Group Holdings, LLC ("Ensorcia") today announced that it has entered a binding letter of intent to acquire Argentina Wildcats, LLC ("AW"), which holds interests in the former LEXI lithium property in Argentina.

Under the letter of intent, Ensorcia will acquire 100% of AW's outstanding membership interests for cash, with additional contingent consideration. Completion remains subject to confirmatory legal review and other customary closing conditions.

Ensorcia's decision to proceed followed drilling and flow testing conducted on the AW property and an evaluation of brine sample results, including testing performed by International Battery Metals Ltd. ("IBAT").

The acquisition forms part of Ensorcia's ongoing resource acquisition program in Argentina. Upon closing, it will add approximately 50,000 hectares to the approximately 17,000 hectares of existing lithium properties and concessions held by Ensorcia and its affiliates, bringing their combined holdings in Argentina to approximately 67,000 hectares.

The former LEXI property will become part of Ensorcia's Katal 1 development program, utilizing international Battery Metals (IBAT) direct lithium extraction ("DLE") technology under Ensorcia Argentina LLC's exclusive license for Argentina. Following closing, Ensorcia intends to integrate the property with its existing Argentine holdings as part of a coordinated resource development program.

Daniel Layton, Chairman of Ensorcia Group, said:

"This acquisition strengthens our Katal 1 development program by bringing together additional lithium resources and the substantial drilling, testing, and technical work already completed. IBAT's direct lithium extraction technology is central to our development strategy. Our focus is now on executing the next phase of development and advancing the Katal 1 project toward commercial production as quicky as possible.

About Ensorcia

Ensorcia Group is a privately held company focused on the acquisition and development of lithium resources and associated processing capabilities in South America.

SOURCE Ensorcia

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The network will deliver high-speed internet to residents, businesses, carriers, and government entities. The project serves 124 Community Anchor Institutions—such as libraries, schools, public safety, and more—connecting 15,000 homes and businesses.

"Completing our fiber build across the Town of Parker reflects the focus and dedication of our construction crews and local team, and we're proud to bring reliable, high-speed internet to a community that didn't have real options before," said Rachel Solomon, CEO, Wecom Fiber. "This is also just the beginning — as Arizona's largest BEAD award winner, Wecom Fiber is already working to bring that same opportunity to harder-to-reach communities across eight counties in Arizona."

"This investment in broadband infrastructure will unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen the long‑term competitiveness of communities across Mohave County and La Paz County," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "I'm grateful for Governor Hobbs' leadership and thank Wecom Fiber, the Town of Parker, and all our partners whose collaboration made this milestone possible." 

"This project means homes and businesses across the Town of Parker now have access to reliable internet that didn't exist here before," said Randy Hartless, Mayor of the Town of Parker. "I want to thank Wecom Fiber, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and everyone who partnered with the Town to make this happen."

"La Paz County has been my home for many years, and I've seen firsthand what reliable broadband means for our residents and local businesses," said Duce Minor, La Paz County District 2 Supervisor. "This project reflects exactly the kind of investment our rural communities need, and I'm grateful to Wecom Fiber and the state for making it happen."

In November 2023, Governor Hobbs and local leaders broke ground on the $10 million Arizona Broadband Development Grant project spanning Mohave and La Paz counties. Wecom Fiber invested $35 million - making the total project investment $45 million.

Background on the Arizona Broadband Development Program

Arizona's Broadband Development Grant (ABDG) Program expands high-speed internet access across the state. With $100 million in funding going towards infrastructure projects in Arizona's unserved and underserved areas, the program encompasses 19 projects across 10 counties.

Media Contacts

Wecom Fiber

Scott Davis, Chief Revenue Officer, [email protected]

Arizona Commerce Authority

Alyssa Tufts, Vice President, Public Relations, [email protected]

About Wecom Fiber

Wecom Fiber is an Arizona-based fiber broadband provider focused on delivering reliable, high-speed internet to underserved and rural communities. With roots dating back to 1956, the company combines local expertise with modern infrastructure to expand connectivity and close the digital divide across the state.

SOURCE Wecom Fiber

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Optro Raises the Bar on Partner Investment with Growth Funding and Expanded Partner Tracks

Program expansion introduces Technology and Distributor tracks, Partner Growth Funding, and annual partner awards to accelerate growth and strengthen the global GRC ecosystem.

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Optro, the leading AI-powered GRC Intelligence Platform, today announced significant enhancements to its global partner program, Optro Partner Connect. The updates include two new partner tracks, Partner Growth Funding (PGF), and the upcoming Optro Partner Connect Awards launching in 2027. The announcement was made at Optro's Partner Forum at CRX, its annual user conference taking place this year in San Diego.

These updates reinforce Optro's commitment to building a collaborative, high-value ecosystem that empowers partners to scale while providing customers with seamless GRC Intelligence.

Expanding the Ecosystem: New Program Tracks

- Technology Partner Track: Designed for independent software vendors and developers, this two-tiered track provides API tools, sandbox access, and dedicated support to co-develop integrated workflows with Optro. These validated integrations automate data movement, accelerating time to value for customers.

- Distributor Track: Tailored for large-scale aggregators, this track enables partners to anchor their catalogs with Optro's GRC Intelligence Platform while leveraging their existing credit and billing infrastructure. It simplifies global enterprise procurement by allowing customers to buy through local partners in native currencies with accredited delivery support.

Fueling Investment and Innovation: Growth Funding & Annual Awards

- Optro Partner Connect Partner Growth Funding (PGF): To help partners scale capabilities and demand generation, Optro is co-investing capital directly into partner-led marketing, enablement, and practice-building initiatives linked to joint strategic business plans. Partners in qualifying tiers may submit proposals for Optro funding.

- Optro Partner Connect Awards: Launching in 2027, these annual awards will formally recognize partners driving exceptional growth, delivery excellence, and ecosystem innovation, celebrating top performers across Optro's global channels.

"Being part of Optro's technology partner track gives us the access and support needed for our integration," said Frank Vukovits, Chief Security Scientist at Delinea Fastpath. "Now, critical IT general controls evidence, like segregation of duties analysis and user access reviews, flow directly from Delinea Fastpath into customer control libraries in Optro, so auditor requests can be answered directly from the platform."

"As enterprises and public sector organizations across North America navigate increasingly complex compliance demands, having seamless procurement and trusted aggregation is vital," said Mike Allers, Vice President, Cybersecurity Business Development at TD SYNNEX. "Expanding our partnership with Optro through the new Distributor track allows TD SYNNEX to leverage our vast B2B network of VARs, system integrators, and service providers to scale Optro's GRC Intelligence Platform. Together, we are simplifying enterprise procurement and equipping thousands of resellers with the infrastructure and solutions needed to transform risk into opportunity."

"Our partners are fundamental to our ability to solve complex GRC challenges for enterprises across the globe," said Jim Sperduto, Chief Growth Officer at Optro. "These new program tracks and investments through Partner Growth Funding reflect our focus on providing the resources, financial co-investment, and technical support our partners need to build profitable, differentiated practices with Optro's GRC Intelligence Platform."

To learn more or apply to join Optro Partner Connect, visit optro.ai.

About Optro

Optro (formerly AuditBoard) helps enterprises transform risk into opportunity through its AI-powered GRC Intelligence Platform. More than 50% of the Fortune 500 trust Optro to elevate audit, risk, and compliance in addressing a new era of risk. Optro is top-rated by customers on G2 and was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Tools, Assurance Leaders. To learn more, visit optro.ai.

Media Contact

Laura Groshans

[email protected]

SOURCE Optro, Inc

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NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNCY) between December 29, 2025 and June 29, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important November 2, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Unicycive securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Unicycive class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/unicycive-therapeutics-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 2, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Unicycive had not inspected its third-party manufacturing vendor's facility or otherwise audited the facility's compliance with current good manufacturing practices; (2) as a result, Unicycive lacked a reasonable basis to believe that the vendor had resolved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") cited deficiencies; (3) there was an undisclosed risk that the FDA would require additional information about the vendor's facility's manufacturing practices; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the regulatory approval of oxylanthanum carbonate ("OLC") was reasonably likely to be delayed; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Unicycive's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Unicycive class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/unicycive-therapeutics-inc/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

     Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

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October 2026 Attack Surface Analysis

Preview Pane-triggered exploitation dominates this release with 23 CVEs across Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio. These flaws require minimal user interaction; a victim could simply view a malicious file in the Reading Pane or file explorer preview, eliminating the traditional click-to-compromise barrier that many enterprises rely on as a user training backstop. The attack surface is substantial; any user who receives a weaponized document via download can trigger code execution simply by selecting the file. This class of flaw has historically been attractive to phishing operators and initial access brokers because it converts document delivery into reliable code execution without requiring macro enablement or a user opening the file.

Unauthenticated network-reachable RCE vulnerabilities appear across 15 CVEs this month, spanning Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server, Microsoft Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC), PostScript Printer Driver, and PDF handling components. These flaws allow remote attackers to execute code without authentication, making them high-value targets for lateral movement and initial network compromise. DHCP servers in particular are deployed on internal networks by design and trust inbound traffic from any client requesting an address. CVE-2026-100219 and CVE-2026-105016 in Microsoft QUIC represent exposure on any service using QUIC transport, which is increasingly common in modern web infrastructure.

Identity platform components carry critical vulnerabilities this month, with RCE and spoofing flaws affecting both Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS). CVE-2026-70229 in AD DS enables RCE against domain controllers, while CVE-2026-108131 and CVE-2026-96222 in AD FS present spoofing risks that could enable federated authentication bypass. Compromise of these components can propagate across the entire domain or break trust boundaries between federated identity providers. Similar identity fabric flaws have historically been targeted by advanced adversaries seeking persistent access to enterprise environments.

Microsoft Outlook alone accounts for five critical RCE vulnerabilities this month, including CVE-2026-70242 and CVE-2026-70291, reinforcing email as a persistent high-value attack vector. Outlook's position as the default mail client in most enterprise environments and its deep integration with Exchange and Microsoft 365 services means weaponized messages can reach nearly every employee.

Exploited Zero-Day in Windows Shell

CVE-2026-96951 is an Important security feature bypass vulnerability in Windows Shell and has a CVSS score of 8.8. Microsoft confirms the flaw is being exploited in the wild. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to evade Mark of the Web (MOTW) defenses, the trust boundary mechanism that triggers Protected View in Office documents and SmartScreen warnings for downloaded executables.

The attack vector is social engineering: an attacker delivers a specially crafted file via email, instant message, or web download, and a user must open or click the malicious content. Unlike preview pane vulnerabilities, this flaw requires explicit user action. The security control being bypassed is precisely the one designed to warn users before that action becomes dangerous. Once MOTW is stripped, downstream defenses that rely on the zone tag, including SmartScreen, Office Protected View, and Application Guard, no longer apply.

Windows Shell is present on every Windows endpoint, so the exposed population is effectively the entire Windows install base. The practical impact is that payloads delivered through phishing or watering hole campaigns can execute without the friction that MOTW-aware defenses normally impose. MOTW bypass flaws have historically been attractive to phishing operators and initial access brokers because they reduce the number of warning dialogs a target must dismiss before payload execution.

Publicly Disclosed Vulnerability in .NET Framework

CVE-2026-108398 is an Important security feature bypass vulnerability in .NET Framework and has a CVSS score of 8.8. Microsoft confirms the vulnerability had been publicly disclosed. An authenticated attacker with local access can place a specially crafted .NET assembly on an affected system and register it for loading by a protected process. Successful exploitation bypasses Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) enforcement, allowing execution of unauthorized code within a protected process context. No user interaction is required.

The attack surface is constrained by the requirement for local authenticated access, but the scope of impact is significant. WDAC is a trust boundary that enterprises deploy specifically to prevent execution of unsigned or unapproved binaries, particularly on high-value systems such as administrative workstations, kiosks, and hardened servers. A bypass that allows an attacker to run arbitrary code inside a WDAC-protected process negates the control entirely for that host, converting a local authenticated foothold into unrestricted code execution despite explicit application allowlist policy.

.NET Framework is installed on virtually every Windows system in the enterprise, which means the vulnerable component is present even where WDAC is not actively enforced. For organizations that rely on WDAC as a compensating control on sensitive endpoints, the combination of public disclosure, no user interaction, and trust boundary bypass makes this flaw more consequential than its Important rating suggests in those environments.

Publicly Disclosed Vulnerability in MessagePack-CSharp

CVE-2026-92707 is a Moderate publicly disclosed denial of service vulnerability in MessagePack-CSharp and has a CVSS score of 5.3. MessagePack-CSharp is a popular binary serialization library for .NET applications. The flaw involves improperly controlled sequential memory allocation, which allows an unauthenticated attacker to exhaust memory resources over a network by sending crafted MessagePack payloads.

The attack surface depends on how the library is deployed. MessagePack-CSharp is commonly used in web APIs, microservices, and real-time communication layers where compact binary serialization offers performance advantages over JSON. Any application that deserializes MessagePack input from untrusted sources, such as public-facing REST endpoints, WebSocket handlers, or message queue consumers, is potentially exposed. The library itself is a NuGet dependency rather than a Windows component, so affected deployments may not be obvious from OS-level inventory alone.

The scope of impact is service availability rather than code execution or data disclosure. For applications that process high volumes of external requests, a memory exhaustion condition can cascade into broader outages if the affected service shares resources with other workloads or lacks adequate isolation.

Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office

This month includes 20 Critical RCE vulnerabilities across Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Word, with CVSS scores ranging from 7.5 to 9.8. Six of them list the Preview Pane as an attack vector, and all six are in PowerPoint or Word: CVE-2026-88178 (PowerPoint, CVSS 9.8), CVE-2026-70215 and CVE-2026-88144 (PowerPoint, CVSS 8.8), CVE-2026-70269 and CVE-2026-88185 (Word, CVSS 8.1), and CVE-2026-88207 (PowerPoint, CVSS 7.5). A malicious file can trigger these when a user views it in the Preview Pane without opening it. CVE-2026-88178 is the most severe of the group. Microsoft states that an unauthenticated attacker could exploit it by submitting a crafted presentation to an affected Office Online service, with no authentication or user interaction required. 

The remaining 14 are the 11 Excel and three Visio vulnerabilities, all rated CVSS 8.8. Microsoft states the Preview Pane is not an attack vector for any of them.

The volume and consistency of memory corruption classes (use-after-free, heap-based buffer overflow, out-of-bounds read, integer overflow or underflow) across four Office applications points to broad file-parser exposure. Microsoft Office is deployed on virtually every enterprise endpoint, and phishing operators have historically shown sustained interest in Office-based initial access chains.

Critical Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook

CVE-2026-70242, CVE-2026-70291, CVE-2026-88156, CVE-2026-97016, and CVE-2026-97749 are Critical RCE vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook, each carrying a CVSS score of 9.8. These flaws include heap-based buffer overflows (CWE-122), a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121), and a double free condition (CWE-415), all reachable over the network without authentication. For CVE-2026-70291 and CVE-2026-88156, Microsoft explicitly lists the Preview Pane as an attack vector. An attacker can send a specially crafted email to a target, and simply viewing the message in the Outlook Reading Pane could trigger code execution, without the recipient opening the message or clicking anything. Neither authentication nor user interaction is required.

The attack surface here is effectively every mailbox in an organization. Outlook is a dominant enterprise email client, installed on many corporate endpoints and configured by default to render incoming mail in the Reading Pane. Disabling the Reading Pane imposes a significant productivity cost that many enterprises do not accept, leaving the exposure in place across the user population.

Scope of impact extends beyond the individual workstation. Outlook runs in the context of the logged-in user, so successful exploitation gives an attacker a foothold with that user's credentials, cached tokens, and access to any resources the user can reach.

Largest of its kind in North America, producing 1 million tons of slag cement annually

CHICAGO, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ozinga cut the ribbon today on a low-carbon cement mill in East Chicago, Indiana, aimed at strengthening the domestic supply chain for building materials, promoting Midwestern construction and advancing innovation in U.S. infrastructure.

The state-of-the-art, high-efficiency plant will produce 1 million tons of slag cement annually, with direct access to rail, water and highway routes reaching across the Midwest and beyond.

The plant's strategic location and advanced process of recycling slag, which is produced during steelmaking, directly address the economic and environmental challenges of making cement—a key ingredient in concrete that is supplied largely by foreign-owned multinational companies.

"We built this mill in the heart of the Midwest because we believe it is central to producing high-performing, American-made materials that will be the foundation of U.S. infrastructure for years to come," said Marty Ozinga, CEO of Ozinga. "We are taking the cement-to-concrete process from start to finish—with American ownership at every step of the domestic supply chain, with homegrown scientific innovation and with American workers all the way."

Supply constraints in recent years have contributed to allocations, delivery delays and price swings for Portland cement, the primary binder in concrete, hurting the U.S. construction industry and slowing economic development. Adding new domestic capacity alongside reliable, imported supply helps keep projects on schedule and construction costs in check.

The local production and distribution capabilities at Ozinga's facility are intended to instill confidence in low-carbon materials as environmental sustainability and construction costs drive development choices in both the private and public sectors.

"Our message to the market is clear: We have new domestic capacity to meet your needs for reliable, sustainable and cost-effective materials," Ozinga said.

Ozinga's private investment in the project was supported by state, federal and local public officials including Gov. Mike Braun, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland and the East Chicago City Council.

Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure essential to homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges. Yet traditional Portland cement, its core ingredient, accounts for nearly 7% of global CO₂ emissions.

Domestic plants supply most of the cement used in the United States, with imports—about 22% of apparent consumption in 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey—filling regional gaps and peak demand that domestic production alone has not met in any recent year. New American-owned capacity like Ozinga's strengthens that balanced supply.

The facility will produce ASTM C989-compliant low-carbon slag cement, as well as proprietary blends under Ozinga's CarbonSense™ brand, meeting ASTM C1157 performance standards and delivering up to 80% reductions in embodied carbon over traditional Portland cement mixes.

Once fully operational, the plant is projected to offset more than 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, comparable to taking more than 150,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

On-site water access and rail transportation will be key factors in lowering the total embodied carbon impact of the product.

Access to the Great Lakes and inland waterways will enable Ozinga to ship finished slag cement by barge as well as highway. In addition, the facility will utilize its onsite rail infrastructure to create new business for the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad, which will connect to all Class 1 railroads.

One railcar carries more material than four semi-trucks, while one barge carries the equivalent of 17 railcars, or 75 semi-trucks.

The construction project created more than 250 temporary jobs, many of them through Indiana-based Morrison Construction, an employee-owned company.

At full operation, the plant will create approximately 50 permanent union steelworker jobs between the mill and Ozinga's Burns Harbor operation at the site of the Cleveland Cliffs steel mill, where the slag is initially processed.

As part of the project, Ozinga is holding an ongoing series of job fairs and other workforce development efforts with East Chicago, part of an investment in Indiana that includes more than 20 facilities and nearly 400 employees.

The new capability will expand the market reach of Ozinga, which is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Mokena and has more than 2,000 employees and more than 100 ready-mix sites across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Florida.

About Ozinga

Ozinga is a fifth-generation, family-owned American company providing concrete, bulk materials, and construction solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Committed to service, learning, and entrepreneurship, Ozinga continues to develop environmentally responsible products and practices that make a positive impact and shape the future of the built environment.

Contact: Joe Brettell, Forward Energy PR –[email protected]

SOURCE Ozinga

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Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA) Marks 15 Years of Uniting Entrepreneurs Under "Speak with One Voice"

Founded by David Duong in Silicon Valley, the Vietnamese American Business Association connects business owners through support, advocacy, investment relationships and community service in the United States and abroad.

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- David Duong founded the Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA) in 2011 after building a recycling company in California and investing in Vietnam, the country his family had fled as refugees. Those experiences shaped a purpose for the association: to connect entrepreneurs with experienced advisers, business opportunities and a stronger collective voice.

"The mission has always been support, advocacy, and networking, not just for one group, but for people who are building something," said David Duong, VABA's founder and chairman.

Fifteen years later, VABA brings together entrepreneurs, investors, established businesses and civic leaders across industries and borders. The association reports a network of more than 2,200 professionals and 720 businesses, with connections in 12 U.S. states and eight countries. Its three core values, support, advocacy and networking, are captured in the motto "Speak with One Voice."

From refugee beginnings to investment in Vietnam

David Duong's family arrived in the Bay Area in 1979 after leaving Vietnam. They began collecting and selling cardboard and other recyclable materials, work that ultimately led to California Waste Solutions, founded in 1992. The company expanded into municipal recycling services in Oakland and San Jose. CBS Bay Area documented the family's early years and David Duong's subsequent investment in Vietnam.

David Duong was among the early Vietnamese American entrepreneurs to make a major investment in Vietnam's modern waste-treatment industry. The company secured an investment license in 2005 for the Da Phuoc Integrated Solid Waste Facility near Ho Chi Minh City, which began operating in 2007. VietNamNet later described David Duong as a pioneer in Vietnam's waste-treatment sector. Building businesses in both countries helped shape the vision behind VABA.

In a 2021 interview with Thanh Niên, David Duong explained that he established VABA to unite Vietnamese American business owners, strengthen their standing in the United States and encourage investment and commercial ties with Vietnam. He wanted other entrepreneurs to benefit from the relationships and experience that established businesses had developed over many years.

Support, advocacy and networking: one voice for business

VABA's three core values address needs that business owners encounter every day. Support provides access to advice and useful introductions. Advocacy brings their concerns to public officials and other decision-makers. Networking connects entrepreneurs across industries and generations. "Speak with One Voice" expresses the shared interest in helping businesses succeed, even when their owners have different backgrounds or goals.

That approach has included engagement with public officials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, David Duong described asking government representatives about financial relief for Vietnamese-owned businesses and discussing safety in Oakland and San Jose commercial districts with police, according to a 2022 Thanh Niên interview. In 2017, he received the Asian American Prosecutors Association's Outstanding Community Advocate Award, with coverage recognizing his efforts to connect Vietnamese businesses and local leaders.

VABA also strengthens commercial ties between Vietnam and the United States by welcoming Vietnamese government and business delegations. Through executive meetings, business forums and introductions, the association helps visitors connect with American companies, investors and civic leaders. At the U.S.–Vietnam Business Investment Forum in Oakland in April 2026, representatives from Vietnam's Tay Ninh Province met with U.S. business and civic leaders to discuss investment, industrial development and cross-border partnerships.

VABA brings similar practical support to local entrepreneurs. At a May 2024 workshop with Umpqua Bank, business owners spoke directly with commercial bankers about financing and loan preparation. Its international outreach also extends beyond Vietnam: a June 2024 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation visited VABA to discuss potential trade and investment partnerships.

Connecting founders with capital and experience

Since its launch in 2024, VABA's Pitch Perfect competition has connected startup founders with investors and experienced business leaders. Its fourth season in Orange County in September 2025 drew more than 260 founders, investors and business leaders. Ten startups pitched onstage, and another 20 joined the showcase, according to VABA's event recap. Participants presented their companies, received feedback and explored potential investment and business relationships.

VABA also established VABA Venture Capital in 2024, supported, according to the association, by $50 million in investment capital from the Duong family office. In addition to its own investment initiative, VABA connects founders with venture capital firms, other family offices, angel investors and established business leaders. Pitch Perfect, investor forums, private meetings and direct introductions give entrepreneurs opportunities to discuss funding, receive guidance and build commercial partnerships. Together, these activities help build an investment community in which experienced leaders support emerging companies.

Community support beyond commerce

VABA's community work includes donations to churches, Buddhist temples, schools and local organizations, supporting families in need and Vietnamese American cultural and religious traditions. Among its education efforts, VABA has contributed to Văn Lang Vietnamese-language school to help sustain classes for younger generations and preserve a connection to their language and heritage.

The association also supports disaster relief, scholarships and other charitable causes in the United States and Vietnam. In a 2021 Thanh Niên interview, David Duong reported that VABA contributed $51,000 to a 2020 flood-relief appeal in central Vietnam. The first two VABA–South Bay Golf Alliance charity tournaments raised and donated more than $36,000 for Vietnamese-language education and cancer-related causes, according to the organizers.

In Oakland, VABA and California Waste Solutions have supported the LoveLife Foundation's college scholarship drive. "California Waste Solutions and VABA have been great partners with the LoveLife Foundation, providing tremendous support for our annual College Scholarship Drive that has helped us send dozens of deserving youths to 4-year universities. We are really grateful for the continuous support, and all that they have done for the city of Oakland, too," said Donald E. Lacy, Jr., executive director of the LoveLife Foundation.

In May 2025, VABA hosted "Gratitude to America," a celebration commemorating 50 years of Vietnamese American history. The event brought together more than 300 business leaders, elected officials, entrepreneurs and community members to honor the resilience, achievements and contributions of Vietnamese Americans. VABA Founder and Chairman David Duong delivered a keynote address reflecting on his family's journey and recognizing the generations who helped build a thriving Vietnamese American community in the United States.

The Duong family's journey is chronicled in The King of Trash, a documentary about their refugee experience and the recycling businesses they built in the United States and Vietnam. VABA has brought entrepreneurs, public officials and community members together for screenings and discussions. The film's U.S. tour expanded to 12 screening events, with more than 5,000 tickets sold, according to the production team. The screenings introduced the family's story to audiences beyond the business community, including younger generations of Vietnamese Americans.

Fifteen years of speaking with one voice

Fifteen years after VABA's founding, its programs span business financing, investment introductions, international trade and community giving. They reflect David Duong's original aim: to make experienced leaders more accessible to new entrepreneurs and give business owners a stronger voice together.

Over the past 15 years, VABA has helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners build valuable relationships, establish partnerships and discover new opportunities in the United States and internationally. Through its extensive network of business leaders, venture capital firms, family offices and angel investors, VABA has connected founders with potential investors, with many securing funding and growing their businesses through relationships established within the association. For Founder and Chairman David Duong, these success stories reflect the purpose behind VABA: bringing people together, sharing opportunities and building a business community where members support one another's success.

About the Vietnamese American Business Association

Founded by David Duong in San Jose in 2011, the Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA) brings entrepreneurs, professionals, investors and civic leaders together through business education, advocacy, networking, startup programs, international partnerships and charitable initiatives. Its three core values are support, advocacy and networking, united under the motto "Speak with One Voice." VABA is headquartered at 1211 Embarcadero, Suite 202, Oakland, CA 94606.

Media contact:

Lynn Agustin

[email protected]

(510) 570-7079

Website: www.vabaus.com

SOURCE Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA)

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In the news release, PVOLVE AND JENNIFER ANISTON INTRODUCE MOVEMENT LONGEVITY, A NEW FITNESS CATEGORY BUILT FOR HEALTHY AGING, issued 23-Sep-2026 by Pvolve over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, updated release follows, with additional details at the end:

PVOLVE AND JENNIFER ANISTON INTRODUCE MOVEMENT LONGEVITY, A NEW FITNESS CATEGORY BUILT FOR HEALTHY AGING

New research from PVOLVE reveals the vast majority of women 40+ want to get stronger with age, yet most have no idea where to begin.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PVOLVE and Jennifer Aniston are introducing Movement Longevity, a new category of fitness focused on one of the most overlooked dimensions of healthy aging. More than simply living longer, Movement Longevity is about building and maintaining the strength, mobility and stability needed to live fully, move freely and stay capable at every stage of life.

The introduction comes alongside PVOLVE's first Movement Longevity Report, which reveals a significant disconnect between women's understanding of the importance of weight training and their ability to translate that knowledge into action. The findings underscore a larger gap in the fitness landscape. Women have been given countless ways to work out but far fewer that are designed around preserving how their bodies function over time. Movement Longevity addresses this by bringing together the physical capabilities that support a longer, more active life. Grounded in PVOLVE's Method, clinical research and education, it gives women a clearer way to think about fitness not just for today but for the years ahead.

Women Know Weight Training Matters. They Haven't Been Shown How.

The report found: 66% of women have never been told by a doctor or trainer to weight train, and just 16% have received specific guidance on how to begin. When asked about their biggest barriers, 56% cited not knowing where to start, fear of injury or feeling intimidated by gyms and weights.

The gap widens with age. About 55% of women ages 40–44 have never been told to weight train, compared with 75% of women 65 and older. The women who stand to benefit most from maintaining muscle are often the least likely to have received guidance on how to build it.

Muscle Health Remains a Blind Spot

The issue extends beyond exercise. While bone-density screenings increase steadily with age, muscle-health assessment remains consistently low. Women 65 and older are more than three times as likely to have received a bone-density scan as a muscle-mass or strength assessment.

Only 15% of women surveyed say they understand how muscle loss affects metabolism, bone health, balance and long-term independence well enough to explain it. Among women 65 and older, that figure falls to just 8%.

For something so closely tied to how women age, muscle health remains surprisingly difficult to see, measure and understand.

"Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is one of the most under-appreciated predictors of frailty, falls, and loss of independence in women, yet it remains almost invisible in routine care," said Dr. Nima Alamdari, Chief Clinical Advisor at PVOLVE. "Bone density has DEXA scans and screening guidelines. Muscle has no equivalent, even though loss of strength, functionality, and body composition through menopause is as consequential as bone loss. These should be measured and treated as vital signs."

The findings also highlight a lack of support for women taking GLP-1 medications. More than one in four respondents currently use or previously used a GLP-1, yet only 32% said a provider told them before starting that the medication could lead to muscle loss in addition to fat loss.

PVOLVE Is Building the Movement Longevity Category

PVOLVE has spent years developing this approach to strength and longevity specifically for women, rooted in gold-standard clinical research including its Healthy Aging Study and Lower Back Pain Study. Its Movement Longevity Method integrates strength, mobility and stability into every workout, with the goal of helping women build the physical capacity to keep doing what they love as they age.

Jennifer Aniston Makes Weight Training More Accessible

PVOLVE Studios and On-Demand offer structured approaches to building strength progressively, eliminating the guesswork for members. For Jennifer Aniston, PVOLVE was the first time she found a weight training class that was enjoyable and unintimidating. Working with VP of Training, Dani Coleman, Aniston has progressively added more load to her workouts,transformed her body composition and improved how she moves day to day.

She's now spotlighting that progress publicly, through her 30-day training schedule created with Coleman. The program will be available on PVOLVE's on-demand platform, giving women a practical starting point for incorporating weight training into their routines.

"A lot of women are intimidated by weights or don't know where to start. PVOLVE showed me that weight training doesn't mean lifting as heavy as possible or pushing yourself to exhaustion," said Jennifer Aniston. "Every movement works your whole body, so you get more out of every minute. It's challenging, efficient, and genuinely fun, and I've seen a real change in my body composition because of it."

To explore the Movement Longevity Report and Jennifer's 30-day program, visit http://pvolve.com/pages/jens-30-day-routine and follow along at @pvolve.

About PVOLVE

PVOLVE is the first clinically proven Movement Longevity company, built on a Method that integrates the three pillars of longevity training: strength, mobility, and stability into every class. Its signature Functional Weight Training and Sculpt workouts use proprietary resistance tools and weights to transform the physique while helping women move better, longer. Founded by Rachel Katzman in 2017, PVOLVE is backed by a Clinical Advisory Board of physicians and trainers with expertise in physiology and biomechanics. Jennifer Aniston officially partnered with PVOLVE in 2023 after experiencing transformative results, calling the Method "a game changer." PVOLVE's hybrid model brings its Method to women through digital streaming and boutique studios, with more than 45 locations open across North America and 50+ additional studios in development. Learn more at pvolve.com and pvolvefranchise.com.

Correction: A link has been added to the release.

SOURCE Pvolve

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The article examines how rarity, specification, condition, history, and driving character can influence long-term collector interest in a supercar.

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What makes a supercar truly collectible?

HelloNation answers that question in an article featuring insights from Supercar Expert Kendall Gath of iLusso in Costa Mesa, CA. The article explains that a collectible supercar is defined by more than limited production numbers, with specification, condition, history, and enthusiast demand also shaping collector interest.

Production numbers provide an important starting point in the supercar market. Limited-production models, special editions, and final production runs can attract attention because of their scarcity. However, the article notes that rarity needs to be supported by demand because low production alone does not ensure lasting desirability.

Vehicle specification can further distinguish individual examples. Exterior color, interior materials, factory options, wheels, and performance equipment can affect collector interest. An uncommon vehicle specification may become especially desirable when the combination complements the character of the model.

Originality also plays an important role. Collectors seeking factory-correct vehicles may place greater value on original components, finishes, accessories, and documentation. Modifications can appeal to individual owners but may affect how a car is viewed within the broader supercar market.

Vehicle condition is another major consideration. Mileage can provide useful information, but maintenance, storage, mechanical health, cosmetic quality, and previous repairs also matter. The article explains that a higher-mileage example with strong care may be more desirable than a lower-mileage vehicle that has been stored or maintained poorly.

Service records can provide evidence of that care. Documentation of regular maintenance and significant repairs helps buyers understand the history of a collectible supercar. Original manuals, purchase documents, window stickers, and other service records can add further context to an individual vehicle.

The driving experience can also support long-term enthusiast interest. Steering, transmission feel, engine response, chassis behavior, and controls can give certain cars a distinctive character. That driving experience may remain memorable even when newer vehicles eventually exceed the car's performance figures.

The article also examines how changing powertrain technology may affect collectibility. Gas-powered supercars can appeal to enthusiasts who value exhaust sound, engine response, shifting, and traditional mechanical feedback. Naturally aspirated engines, unusual cylinder configurations, and other distinctive designs can further represent specific periods of automotive engineering.

Hybrid supercars offer a different form of significance. These vehicles combine electrification with high-performance engineering and represent an important stage in the industry's technological development. The article notes that hybrid supercars may attract collector attention for qualities that differ from those associated with traditional models.

Design and provenance can add further context. A recognizable shape may help a model represent its era, while documented connections to significant owners, events, or manufacturer programs can distinguish one example from another.

When comparing similar cars, collectors may weigh vehicle condition against configuration, documentation, and history rather than focusing on one statistic. The article emphasizes that gas-powered supercars and electrified models can both hold collector appeal for different reasons.

Collectibility does not guarantee future financial value. Preferences and prices can change with economic conditions, generational tastes, availability, and automotive trends. The article explains that the cars attracting lasting interest tend to combine scarcity with desirable characteristics that make both the model and the individual example distinctive.

What Makes a Supercar Truly Collectible? features insights from Kendall Gath, Supercar Expert of Costa Mesa, CA, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

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