FEATURED NEWS
- September 23, 2026Education
Merge Unveils Web-First Platform to Bring 3D Spatial Learning and Creation to Any Device
SAN ANTONIO, TX — September 21, 2026 — Merge, a leader in augmented reality and spatial learning tools for education, today announced the release of the all-new Merge 3D Platform. Built entirely for the web, the new platform delivers active, embodied learning and creation directly to student desks without app store downloads, MDM deployment delays, or specialized hardware requirements. In recognition of its innovation and impact on daily instruction, Merge 3D was named a Tech & Learning Best of Show Award Winner at ISTE 2026. Selected by a panel of expert educators and editors, the award honors exemplary technology showcased on the ISTE exhibit floor. The award- winning platform eliminates app store hurdles to deliver browser-based 3D objects, simulations, and AR + AI creation tools across K-12 classrooms. Eliminating Friction for Everyday Classrooms By transitioning to a web-first architecture, Merge 3D allows K-12 students to explore complex science simulations, inspect digital artifacts, and create their own 3D models using standard web browsers on Chromebooks, Mac and Windows laptops, PCs, iPads, and smartphones. Key Features of the Merge 3D Launchpad: Centralized Content & Curriculum: Access thousands of interactive 3D simulations, open collections from world-renowned educational partners, and standards-aligned activity plans in one dashboard. AI-Powered Creation Tools: Enables students to generate, animate, and code interactive 3D models using natural language prompts, sketches, and photos. District-Level Administrative Controls: Centralized tools for managing user permissions, content access, and settings across entire districts. Active, Embodied Learning at Every Desk Merge 3D transforms passive screens into interactive 3D learning environments through dynamic interaction modes: Hand Tracking: Uses device cameras to let students manipulate 3D models on screen with natural gestures. Head Tracking: Converts device screens into dynamic 3D viewing windows based on head movement. Merge Cube Mode: Delivers tactile, hands-on interaction in the palm of a student's hand using augmented reality technology. 3D & Anaglyph Mode: Offers accessible, high-impact 3D viewing on standard device screens. "At Merge, our goal is to empower the next generation to explore, learn and create in 3D with technology that fits seamlessly into daily instruction," said Franklin Lyons, Founder of Merge. "By bringing Merge 3D to the web, any student can now hold the universe, visualize abstract structures, and create their own interactive learning experiences in 3D all from their regular, everyday classrooms." Educators and administrators can get a free trial at www.TryMerge.com , and explore the new Merge 3D by visiting Dashboard.Merge 3d.ai . Merge 3D | Explore, learn & create in 3D. Merge 3D Blog About Merge Merge develops spatial learning technology that helps millions of students worldwide understand complex ideas, engage more deeply, and create their own learning experiences through interactive 3D objects, embodied learning, and AI + AR-powered creation tools. Learn more at www.merge3d.ai .
- September 23, 2026Travel & Leisure
QEEQ Car Rental Wins Three World Business Outlook Awards for 2026
QEEQ Car Rental (“QEEQ”) has received three honors in the World Business Outlook Awards 2026 recognizing its global booking platform, customer experience and Price Drop Protector pricing technology. QEEQ was named: Best Global Car Rental Booking Platform 2026 Best Customer Experience in Car Rental Services Global 2026 Most Innovative Travel Pricing Solution Global 2026 (Price Drop Protector) The full 2026 winner list is available on the World Business Outlook Awards website at https://worldbusinessoutlook.com/award-winners-2026/ . The recognition comes as international travelers continue to navigate a car rental process that can differ considerably from one country to another. Vehicle categories, payment requirements, deposits, insurance options, cancellation policies and pickup procedures are not always presented in familiar terms. Language differences can add another layer of difficulty, particularly when a booking changes or an issue arises at the rental counter. Founded in 2017, QEEQ provides a single platform through which travelers can search, compare, book and manage rental cars from international brands and regional suppliers. The company currently reports more than 17 million users, coverage in more than 200 countries and relationships with over 1,000 partners. Its international reach is supported by localized websites serving English, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, Traditional Chinese and Thai-speaking markets. QEEQ also provides round-the-clock multilingual customer support, helping travelers obtain information before, during and after a rental. This assistance is especially valuable when customers need to understand deposits, payment requirements or booking changes in an overseas market. “Receiving three World Business Outlook Awards is meaningful to QEEQ because the recognition covers the full customer proposition we are building: global booking access, localized customer service and technology-led pricing solutions,” says Ben Lee, CEO of QEEQ Car Rental. “International travelers need more than a competitive headline price. They also need clear booking information, a localized experience and access to 24/7 support in a language they understand, especially when renting a car overseas. We will continue developing QEEQ as the car rental expert international travelers can trust.” The award for Best Global Car Rental Booking Platform reflects more than the geographic size of QEEQ’s network. For a traveler preparing to collect a vehicle in another country, the practical value of a global platform depends on whether rental information can be understood, compared and managed with reasonable clarity. QEEQ brings together offers from major providers, including Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise and Europcar, as well as local rental companies operating in individual destinations. The customer experience award also recognizes QEEQ’s efforts across multiple stages of a rental. In addition to localized booking and customer-support services, the platform offers tools for comparing relevant conditions, identifying eligible debit-card-friendly rentals and planning self-drive trips. Its free Road Trip Planner creates customized itineraries, while selected service options provide additional assistance when qualifying pickup or supplier-related problems occur. Customer feedback also provides a broader view of how the platform is used in practice. As of September 2026, QEEQ’s Trustpilot profile carries a TrustScore of 4.5 out of 5 based on more than 21,000 reviews. Customers have commented on the booking process, pricing, repeat use and access to assistance when rental issues arise. These reviews reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee that every customer will receive the same outcome. Price Drop Protector , the subject of the third award, addresses a different concern. Car rental prices can change between the day a reservation is made and the scheduled pickup date. Some travelers may prefer to reserve early to secure availability but remain concerned that a more favorable rate could appear later. For eligible reservations, Price Drop Protector monitors relevant price movements after a booking has been confirmed. Customers may select an email alert or an automatic rebooking option if a qualifying lower price becomes available. Rebooking and any resulting savings or refunds remain subject to eligibility, comparable rental conditions, availability and the published terms. The service is therefore intended to reduce post-booking price uncertainty rather than operate as an unconditional lowest-price guarantee. Taken together, the three awards reflect QEEQ’s approach to international car rental as an ongoing service rather than a single booking transaction. The platform combines supplier access, market-specific booking experiences, customer assistance and post-booking price monitoring within the same travel process. Travelers planning domestic or international self-drive journeys can compare available car rental options at www.qeeq.com . Travel creators and publishers can explore creator partnership and commission opportunities through the QEEQ Qreator Program. Travel businesses interested in API integration or distribution partnerships may contact QEEQ at pr@qeeq.com. About QEEQ Car Rental QEEQ Car Rental is a global car rental booking and comparison platform operated by Qompass Voyage Limited. Founded in 2017, the company helps travelers search, compare, book and manage rental vehicles for domestic and international self-drive journeys. QEEQ serves more than 17 million users, covers more than 200 countries and works with over 1,000 car rental partners. Its services include localized booking websites, access to international and regional rental providers, 24/7 multilingual customer support, Price Drop Protector, One-Dollar Freeze, QEEQ Diamond Membership and a free Road Trip Planner. The company introduced the QEEQ brand in 2020 as it expanded its focus beyond its earlier car rental identity. QEEQ was also named Asia’s Best Car Rental Booking Website by the World Travel Tech Awards in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
- September 23, 2026Business
Chery Group Tops UK August Sales, with OMODA & JAECOO Contributing 3 Models in Top-10
Twenty-nine years ago, Chery Group acquired pre-owned engine manufacturing equipment from the UK to kick off its in-house vehicle development. Fast forward to 2026, the brand has made history as the first Chinese marque to claim monthly leadership in the UK new car market. As one of the core brands in Chery Group's deep cultivation of mature European markets, OMODA & JAECOO served as the key growth driver behind this milestone. Per data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Chery Group recorded 8,618 deliveries in August 2026. This is a historic first for any Chinese auto brand to earn UK monthly market leadership. OMODA & JAECOO recorded monthly sales of 6,238 units, capturing a 6.62% share of the UK new car market. The brand also climbed from third place in July to second place in the overall rankings, forming the core support behind Chery Group's growth in the UK market. This breakthrough reflects strength across the product portfolio rather than success of a single model. Among the UK's top 10 best selling models in August, Chinese models took four spots, with Chery Group grabbing three: JAECOO 7 ranked second with 2,022 units sold, JAECOO 5 fourth with 1,670, and OMODA 5 sixth with 1,465. JAECOO 7 has held a steady place in the UK's top 10 best-sellers since September 2025, and even topped the monthly sales chart for a single model in March this year, raising the bar for Chinese car brands in the UK. The picture shows JAECOO 7 SHS-P Chery Group's journey in the UK has been a clear, steady climb. Since OMODA & JAECOO entered the market, cumulative sales have passed 100,000 units in less than two years; from January to August this year, Chery Group delivered 91,542 vehicles in the UK, up 323.92% year on year, ranking second across the entire market. Since March, Chery Group has held the UK monthly sales runner-up spot for five consecutive months, and took the top in August. Today, one in every ten new cars sold in the UK is a Chery Group. Chery Group's success in the UK is not a short-term spike, but the payoff of years of deep investment in Europe and building real operational muscle. After teaming up with Spanish partners to bring the EBRO factory in Barcelona back to life, Chery Group opened its European regional operations hub in Barcelona this April, alongside a new R&D center in Spain. With this move, it aims to weave local R&D, manufacturing, and supply chains together, becoming a true part of Europe's automotive ecosystem. In the first eight months of 2026, Chery Group sold 233,764 vehicles across 24 European countries, advancing 193% year on year; NEVs accounted for 114,306 units, more than triple the prior year figure. As a core brand in Chery Group's deep cultivation of Europe, the European market serves as the key growth engine for OMODA & JAECOO's global expansion, with brand growth ranking among the market leaders. In just two years, the brand has established a presence across 22 European markets, with cumulative sales surpassing 440,000 units as of July 2026. As of the end of August, Chery Group's global cumulative sales surpassed 20,440,000 units, with international deliveries exceeding 7,180,000, making it the first Chinese automaker to surpass 7,000,000 global deliveries, and Ranked No. 1 in global deliveries among Chinese passenger car brands for 23 consecutive years. As a core brand in Chery Group's global strategy, OMODA & JAECOO achieved global cumulative sales of 514,425 units from January to August 2026, with the brand's global cumulative sales surpassing 1.3 million units by the end of August.Today, a Chery built vehicle reaches global customers every 16 seconds. From procuring pre-owned machinery in the UK to forging ahead with independent vehicle development; from delivering the first 10 vehicles to the Middle East in 2001 to sustaining breakthroughs in Europe's strictly regulated market in 2026 and claiming the UK monthly crown. Chery Group’s path to going global perfectly encapsulates the rise of the Chinese auto industry, reflecting its transformation from strength to strength as it strides onto the world stage. With the continuous refinement of localized R&D, production, supply chain, sales, and service networks, Chinese car brands are set to further unleash their momentum in the global market, injecting fresh impetus into the transformation of the world's automotive industry. Looking ahead to the next phase of its global market development, Chery Group will host an International User Summit in October to coordinate its global technology roadmap and industrial ecosystem development. The conference will feature an immersive, real-world interactive experience zone, where Chery Group's embodied intelligence humanoid robot AiMOGA Robotics will showcase cutting-edge human-robot collaboration applications. Together with the AI Intelligent Cockpit and future mobility scenarios, these innovations will present new ecosystem achievements integrating intelligent technology and green energy. Its OMODA & JAECOO brand will also continue to respond to the needs of the new generation through product and technology iteration on October 20, the brand will launch its annual flagship grand event, unveiling cutting edge technology updates including the Super Hybrid System, Intelligent Valet Parking, and the AI Intelligent Cockpit, opening up greater possibilities for the global mobility market. About OMODA & JAECOO As a youthful, personalized global brand, OMODA & JAECOO lives by the vision of “Co-creating a Beautiful Life with Young People.” OMODA is dedicated to embracing pioneering global consumers, striving to build “the World's Leading Crossover Brand.” It delivers fashion-forward vehicles with cutting-edge design and futuristic technology to Gen Z, redefining trendy travel culture with a crossover attitude. JAECOO adheres to the philosophy of “From Classic, Beyond Classic,” and is committed to becoming a “Global Elegant Off-Road Brand.” With exceptional four-wheel drive performance, forward-thinking intelligent technologies, and outstanding safety features, it leads a new era of elegant off-road driving. Born Green, OMODA & JAECOO leverages the world-leading SHS super hybrid technology (covering both PHEV and HEV) to offer the best hybrid solution for global users, driven by the core advantages of “Super High Power, Super Low Energy Consumption, and Super Long Combined Range.” At the same time, the brand is accelerating its BEV technology deployment, responding to diverse mobility needs with stronger and more comprehensive technological capabilities. In terms of intelligence, the brand focuses on intelligent driving and intelligent cockpit. Powered by SIVP (Super Intelligent Valet Parking) and AI cockpit technologies as key enablers, it builds a full-scenario smart mobility experience and continues to lead the future of mobility. In addition, in collaboration with AiMOGA, the brand has developed robots that extend smart technology into diverse interactive scenarios, broadening the landscape of smart living. Driven by deep insights into user needs, the brand hit one million in sales in just three years, setting the fastest growth record in the global automotive industry. To date, it has expanded into 77 markets worldwide, covering Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Europe stands out as a particularly strong market – the brand has already entered 22 European countries and become one of the fastest-growing car brands.
- September 22, 2026Education
The 9 SCAMs Affecting Seniors Over 60 and How to Stop Them
People getting close to Social Security and Medicare tend to attract scammers, due to it being a time of transition and confusion. YourCareRep LLC, a Registered Social Security Analyst organization (RSSA®) wants to show you how to stop the top 9 scams of 2026. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), online con-artists have become sophisticated. They can use a snippet from a birthday video on Instagram or Facebook to clone a voice. They can scrape the Internet to find specifics from one’s accounts. They can use apps like T65 Locator, which shows who is turning 65 in a given zip code, along with contact information. All this information is a persona roadmap in the hands of a scammer. Seniors need to know the top 9 scams being deployed today, so they can protect themselves. Education is half the battle; knowing what to do after an attack is the other half. Which is why Eddie Velez of YourCareRep LLC, is conducting a live webinar titled, The Top 9 Scams on Seniors and What to Do . “I was personally scammed. Someone called me with my daughter’s voice cloned, acting very scared and asking Daddy to rescue her. My heart started pounding, I panicked and reason went out the door. They took me for $2,500, which should have been a giveaway, since no one kidnaps for pennies.” Eddie went on to say, “If I knew then what I know now, I would have analyzed the situation and allowed my wife to call my daughter to verify, instead of believing what the scammer threatened would happen if they saw a call coming in on her phone.” Since Eddie works with hundreds of elderly people, conducting town hall workshops, educational seminars and webinars, and helping them through Medicare, Social Security and veteran issues as a member of the Marine Corps League, he sees the damage and hears the stories. This led him and his team to create a series of webinars called, Jazzing with the Seniors Series , applying fabulous music to the webinar to make it informative and fun, to get this information into the hands of those most susceptible. The seminar is structured that each scam has its own song intro (let us see who knows their music of the era) and then delivered in a three-part format per con: The Scam How to Prevent the Scam If Money Already Sent Each section walks you through what to look for, how to prevent becoming a victim, and if you have already been scammed, what to do to prevent it from happening again, and if possible, steps to report the fraud and seek recovery, since recovery is not guaranteed. The next seminars will take place on Tuesday, September 29th, offering two time slots: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 11AM EST Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 7PM EST
- September 22, 2026Medicine & Pharmaceuticals
Delta Clinics Strengthens Patient Safety with a New Clinical Governance Framework
Delta Clinics has announced it has reached another milestone in patient safety, introducing enhanced standards designed to address growing public concern around patient wellbeing. The initiative brings together a structured framework that highlights verified clinical practices, surgeon credentials, and facility standards. Photo Courtesy of Delta Clinics "People travel by car daily and fly regularly without significant concern, yet these activities carry measurable risk," said Mr Hazem Alfie, lead consultant plastic surgeon at Delta Clinics. "When surgical procedures are performed by qualified specialists in proper clinical settings with appropriate patient selection, the risks are well understood and managed." This latest milestone directly addresses that issue by formalising a set of standards grounded in established medical guidelines. The framework places strong emphasis on comprehensive patient assessment, including detailed medical history reviews and evaluation of individual risk factors prior to any procedure. Candidates are assessed not only for physical suitability but also for realistic expectations, reducing the likelihood of complications and dissatisfaction. Surgical protocols at Delta Clinics incorporate evidence-based techniques and advanced anaesthetic methods, including Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA), administered by experienced anaesthetic consultants. These methods are supported by recovery protocols designed to minimise complications and promote consistent post-operative outcomes. Patients are monitored throughout their recovery with structured follow-up care, including guidance on mobility, pain management, and healing progression. This step forward also reflects broader industry standards that define safe surgical practice. Surgeons are expected to hold General Medical Council specialist registration and maintain affiliations with recognised professional organisations such as the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Facilities must meet strict accreditation requirements, with access to emergency equipment and established clinical protocols. Patient selection remains a defining factor in surgical safety. Not all individuals are suitable candidates for every procedure, and responsible practitioners decline cases where risk factors outweigh potential benefits. This principle is embedded within Delta Clinics' operational standards. "Safety in surgery depends on multiple factors working together," Mr Alfie added. "Qualified surgeons, accredited facilities, careful patient selection, and consistent aftercare all contribute to strong outcomes." Delta Clinics operates from locations in Harley Street and Finchley. This latest milestone marks a formal step toward increasing transparency and reinforcing clinical accountability within the sector. The clinic stated that the program is intended to provide patients with clearer benchmarks when evaluating providers. Initiatives that emphasise measurable safety standards are expected to play a central role in shaping public confidence. For more information, visit https://deltaclinics.co.uk/ About Delta Clinics UK Delta Clinics UK is a UK-based provider of regulated surgical care with clinics in Harley Street and Finchley. Consultation, surgery, and recovery care are delivered within facilities the company owns and operates. Delta Clinics UK works to documented standards for patient assessment, surgeon credentials, and post-operative care.
- September 22, 2026Land & Property
928 New Homes Are Coming to the Lake Havasu Area: Kristina and Scott Horton Explain What DL Ranch Could Mean for Buyers, Sellers and Home Values
One of the largest new residential developments in the Lake Havasu area is taking shape in Havasu Heights, where DL Ranch plans to bring 928 new homes to the region. Developed by APX West in partnership with Century Complete, part of national homebuilder Century Communities, DL Ranch is designed to expand new-construction housing opportunities in the Lake Havasu area. Plans call for single-story homes ranging from approximately 1,290 to 1,815 square feet , with multiple floor plans, modern features and expected starting prices in the low $300,000s . For longtime Lake Havasu City REALTORS® Kristina and Scott Horton , the development is significant not only because of its size, but because of what nearly 1,000 additional homes could mean for buyers, existing homeowners and the future of the local real estate market. Kristina and Scott lead The Horton Team at Keller Williams Arizona Living Realty , a husband-and-wife real estate team with more than 10 years of experience serving Lake Havasu City and communities throughout Western Arizona. With $75 million+ in career real estate sales, 250+ families helped and an average of 30+ homes sold annually , they consistently rank among the top 1–5% of REALTORS® locally . “Nearly 1,000 new homes is meaningful for a market our size,” said Kristina Horton. “It creates opportunities for buyers, but it also changes the conversation for existing homeowners. The impact is going to depend on where a home is located, its price point, what features it offers and how quickly new inventory is introduced.” What Is DL Ranch in Havasu Heights? DL Ranch is a planned 928-home residential community in Havasu Heights being developed by APX West in partnership with Century Complete. According to information released by the development team, the community is centered on expanding attainable homeownership and providing additional housing options for first-time buyers, families, local workforce professionals and people looking to establish roots in the Lake Havasu area. Plans include a collection of single-story homes ranging from approximately 1,290 to 1,815 square feet, with multiple designs, contemporary finishes and energy-efficient construction. Homes are expected to start in the low $300,000s. Home sales are now underway through Century Complete, with additional opportunities expected as the community continues to develop. Infrastructure and site development are also progressing, including roadway improvements as the project moves from planning to an active residential community. For Lake Havasu, the scale of the project is what makes it particularly noteworthy. Could 928 New Homes Affect Lake Havasu City Home Prices? The impact on home values is not simply a matter of adding 928 homes. DL Ranch will increase housing supply over time, but new construction may not directly compete with every existing property. Buyers may compare modern, energy efficient homes with resale properties offering pools, RV or boat garages, larger lots, views, upgrades or proximity to the water. The eventual market impact will depend on construction pace, buyer demand, mortgage rates, resale inventory and broader economic conditions. Why DL Ranch's Starting Price Could Matter One of the most significant aspects of DL Ranch may be its expected pricing. With homes anticipated to start in the low $300,000s, the community could establish an additional new-construction option for buyers who may have struggled to find the right combination of price, condition and features in existing inventory. That could be especially relevant for first-time homebuyers, workforce professionals, local families, retirees and relocation buyers . It could also establish a new comparison point for sellers. A resale home within a similar price range may now be evaluated against a brand-new property. But Kristina and Scott say sellers shouldn't assume that means competing solely on price. “If you're selling an existing home, the question isn't just whether you're competing with new construction,” said Scott Horton. “It's what your home offers that a buyer can't easily get somewhere else. In Lake Havasu, garage space, pools, views, lot size, outdoor living and location can completely change that comparison.” What DL Ranch Could Mean for Lake Havasu Homebuyers For buyers, one of the clearest potential benefits is more choice . An additional 928 planned homes could give buyers more opportunities to compare new construction with resale properties and evaluate different price points, locations, floor plans and lifestyles. But the advertised starting price should not be the only consideration. Buyers comparing DL Ranch with an existing Lake Havasu home should consider the entire cost and lifestyle associated with each property. Lot characteristics, upgrades, landscaping, garage and boat storage, pools, HOA costs where applicable, future development, commute patterns and proximity to the lake can all influence the decision. A new home may be the right choice for one buyer, while an established property with a pool and RV garage may provide significantly more value for another. What DL Ranch Could Mean for Lake Havasu Home Sellers Increased inventory may make pricing and positioning more important for sellers. Buyers will have more options, including new construction, but existing homes can remain competitive through features such as pools, RV garages, boat storage, views, larger lots and established landscaping. Kristina and Scott recommend evaluating conditions within each neighborhood, price range and property type as additional phases of DL Ranch enter the market. Growth Could Affect Traffic, Infrastructure and Daily Life With nearly 1,000 additional households planned, DL Ranch could affect traffic, infrastructure, utilities, businesses and community services as the development progresses. Roadway improvements and site development are already underway. “Growth can be positive, but how we grow matters,” said Kristina Horton. “Developments of this size can influence much more than home inventory.” Lake Havasu's Communities Offer Buyers Very Different Lifestyles The Horton Team serves buyers and sellers throughout Lake Havasu City , Havasu Riviera , Foothills Estates , The Refuge , Kingman , Bullhead City , Parker, Fort Mohave, Golden Valley, Yucca and surrounding communities. Buyer priorities vary by location, from affordability and new construction to waterfront access, larger lots, RV garages, pools and views. As a result, DL Ranch's impact may differ across the broader Western Arizona housing market. Kristina and Scott Horton: A Trusted Resource for Lake Havasu City Real Estate Kristina and Scott Horton lead The Horton Team at Keller Williams Arizona Living Realty, a husband-and-wife REALTOR® team with 10+ years of experience serving Lake Havasu City and Western Arizona. With $75 million+ in career sales, 250+ families helped and 30+ homes sold annually, they rank among the top 1–5% of local REALTORS® and have earned Top Producer and President's Club recognition, along with 50+ five-star Google reviews. Their experience includes first-time buyers, relocations, retirees, luxury and waterfront properties, investments and home sales. “Real estate here is incredibly local,” said Kristina Horton. “A headline about Lake Havasu doesn't tell you what's happening with your home or neighborhood. That's where local market experience matters.” DL Ranch Press Release June 29th, 2026: https://apxwest.com/announcing-dl-ranch-a-928-home-community/ Visit The Horton Team and Google Maps . Follow on Facebook , LinkedIn , Zillow , Yelp , Realtor.com , Instagram , FastExpert and YouTube . The business can be reached at kristinasellshavasu@gmail.com .
- September 22, 2026Business
TradeMagellan Opens 30 Billion Customs Shipment Records to Small Exporters From $59 a Month
The TradeMagellan trade intelligence platform draws on customs records from 15 countries and mirror trade data covering more than 220 markets, sold on monthly subscriptions instead of the five-figure annual contracts that have kept smaller exporters out of the category. TradeMagellan, a global trade intelligence and customs data platform, is making shipment-level trade records that were long sold only to large corporations available to small and mid-sized exporters on a monthly subscription. The TradeMagellan platform holds more than 30 billion shipment records, tracks over 50 million companies and covers more than 220 countries and territories, with data current through September 2026. TradeMagellan, a global trade intelligence platform, gives exporters and importers access to more than 30 billion customs shipment records across 220+ markets. (Image: TradeMagellan) For most exporters, finding a buyer abroad still means trade shows, directories and cold outreach. Customs clearance records answer the question directly — who imported a given product, from which supplier, in what volume and how often — but the vendors that sell those records have typically priced them above $5,000 a year on locked annual contracts. TradeMagellan was built to remove that barrier, pricing the same class of data monthly and allowing subscribers to cancel at any time. “Data plays the role of a compass in international trade. Five hundred years after Magellan’s circumnavigation, the instinct to explore, verify and connect is still what separates a company that guesses at its next market from one that knows it,” a TradeMagellan spokesperson said. “What we built TradeMagellan to do is hand that compass to a 20-person exporter, not only to a multinational with a budget line for data.” Data Sourced From Customs Authorities TradeMagellan trade data is sourced directly from each country’s customs bureau. Primary customs records cover 15 markets: the United States, India, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Rwanda. Mirror trade data — the matching records reported by trading partners — extends TradeMagellan coverage to more than 200 further countries and territories, giving users a consistent view of flows into and out of markets where bill-of-lading detail is not published locally. Records are refreshed on daily and monthly cycles. What the Platform Does Find trusted partners, faster. Search verified importers and suppliers by product, HS code, country or company name, drawn from real customs clearance records rather than self-reported listings. All-in-one trade insights. Shipment histories, trade flow maps, top-product charts and country-level import and export analysis sit in a single workspace. Know your competitors. Watchlists in TradeMagellan track named companies and surface who they buy from, what they ship and how their volumes move. Repeat customer monitoring. Recurring shipment patterns flag which buyers are re-ordering, and when a competitor’s account is in play. Market trend analysis. HS code search down to eight or more digits exposes demand shifts, emerging sourcing corridors and in-demand products. A Typical Search A search usually starts with an HS code or a product description. TradeMagellan returns the importers that have cleared that product through customs in a chosen market, the suppliers already serving them, and the shipment histories behind those relationships. From there a user can add a buyer to a watchlist, export the record set and monitor the account for the next re-order. Run in reverse, the same search identifies qualified suppliers for an importer looking to verify or diversify its sourcing base. Monthly Pricing Instead of Annual Contracts TradeMagellan sells three tiers. Pro is $59 for the first month and $99 a month thereafter, with 200 company queries, 200 detail views and 200 exports a day, plus six-digit HS code search. Pro Plus is $129 for the first month and $149 thereafter, raising those allowances to 500 a day and adding eight-digit HS code search and unlimited local market analysis. Pro Max is $199 for the first month and $229 thereafter, with unlimited company queries, views, exports and bill-of-lading searches. Every TradeMagellan plan can be cancelled at any time, and a free account can be opened in about 15 seconds. Reported Results TradeMagellan subscribers report outcomes including sales volume increases of up to 230% and conversion improvements of up to six times after replacing cold outreach with customs-verified buyer targeting. Those figures are self-reported by customers and vary by industry, product category and sales process. “The question an exporter actually has is never ‘what is the market size.’ It is ‘who is buying this, from whom, at what volume, and are they due to re-order,’” the spokesperson added. “TradeMagellan is organized around that question, and that is why customs data, not survey data, sits underneath everything we publish.” Who It Is For TradeMagellan is used by exporters and manufacturers looking for qualified buyers, by importers verifying and diversifying their supplier base, and by supply chain and sourcing teams mapping where goods actually move. The platform’s positioning is set out in its tagline, “Empower Your Trade with Flexible Data Intelligence,” and in a company story that takes its name from Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation — a reference the company uses to describe its own focus on exploration, verification and connection. Availability The TradeMagellan platform is available now at www.trademagellan.com . A free account unlocks exploratory search across the TradeMagellan database; paid tiers add daily query, detail-view and export allowances, deeper HS code search and unlimited market analysis. About TradeMagellan TradeMagellan is a global trade intelligence platform that turns customs clearance data into buyer and supplier discovery for international trade professionals. Named for Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation, TradeMagellan aggregates more than 30 billion shipment records, tracks over 50 million companies and covers more than 220 countries and territories, combining customs data collected directly from 15 national customs authorities with mirror trade data from more than 200 further markets. Exporters, manufacturers, importers and supply chain teams use TradeMagellan to find verified trading partners, monitor competitors and repeat customers, and track demand by HS code and market, on flexible monthly subscriptions that can be cancelled at any time. Learn more at www.trademagellan.com. Company: TradeMagellan Website: https://www.trademagellan.com Media and general inquiries: Jessica Nelson, Jessica@trademagellan.com Sales inquiries: Travis Tan, Travis.t@trademagellan.com Account support: Timothy Stephens, Timothy.s@trademagellan.com Response time: Messages are reviewed and answered within 1-2 working days. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/103981439 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560012062805 Instagram: instagram.com/trademagellan_official X: x.com/JessicaNel2342 Source: TradeMagellan © 2026 TradeMagellan.com. All Rights Reserved.
- September 22, 2026Apps & Software
Praxy Launches Free AI Career Coach on WhatsApp With Voice Interview Practice and a Job Search Across 3 Million Listings
Praxel Ventures Private Limited has launched Praxy, an AI career coach that works entirely inside WhatsApp. Users start by sending "hi", then share a résumé, a LinkedIn profile or a link to a job posting. From there they can message Praxy or take a voice call to practise interviews, get résumé feedback, compare roles, prepare for a salary negotiation, or plan a next career move. There is no separate app to install. Praxy keeps the context of earlier conversations, so a user preparing for several interviews does not have to explain their background each time. In a voice mock interview, Praxy plays the interviewer, asks follow-up questions, and then gives a short debrief on which answers worked and where the user rushed or stayed vague. The company has also launched Praxy Jobs, a job search that went live on 20 August 2026. It covers more than three million listings gathered from 100,000 companies, with new roles added through the day. Listings link directly to the original source rather than routing applicants through an intermediary page, and users can browse by role, country, company or remote status. Job matches are delivered daily inside the same WhatsApp conversation. "Most career advice is either expensive or generic, and most people already spend their day in WhatsApp," said Pushpak Teja, co-founder of Praxy. "We wanted coaching that starts from your actual résumé and the actual job you are looking at, and that you can talk to out loud the night before an interview." "A job search is mostly small decisions made alone: which roles to apply for, what to say in the room, what number to ask for," said Ashwin Prasad, co-founder of Praxy. "Praxy is built to be there for those moments, and it is free to use." Praxy is free. There is no plan to choose and no card required, and everyday use carries fair limits that a normal job search fits inside. The company says it expects to offer a paid tier later for people who need far more usage, and that the core will stay free. Praxy is available now at praxy.me . The job search is at praxy.me/jobs and details of what is included are at praxy.me/features . About Praxy Praxy is an AI career coach delivered over WhatsApp messages and voice calls, paired with a job search across more than three million listings. It is built by Praxel Ventures Private Limited, based in Bengaluru, India, and was co-founded by Ashwin Prasad and Pushpak Teja.
- September 22, 2026Technology
Toronto Professor Builds Multilingual AI Companion to Help Isolated Seniors Stay Connected and Independent
Presentria, a Toronto based technology company founded by Seneca Polytechnic professor Dr. Ken Wong, is developing a multilingual AI companion designed to help older adults maintain regular social connection through a familiar technology: the telephone. The platform is designed for seniors who may face barriers associated with smartphones, applications, passwords, and screen based technology. The Presentria AI Companion for Elders can place scheduled daily calls, receive calls from seniors, and support conversations in multiple languages. The company says the system currently supports 10 languages, with an Inuktitut companion in development as an 11th language. A Telephone Based Approach to Senior Connection The idea for Presentria’s elder companion emerged after Dr. Wong experienced a period of recovery at Shouldice Hernia Hospital. During that time, he reflected on how easily an older adult could experience isolation without someone available to check in regularly. That experience led to a practical question: whether an AI voice companion could provide a consistent point of contact through a technology older adults already know. Presentria was subsequently developed around scheduled telephone conversations. Seniors do not need to download an application or learn a new digital interface. An AI companion can call at a scheduled time, while seniors can also initiate a conversation when they want to talk. The platform is intended to provide companionship rather than replace family members, friends, caregivers, or professional services. Presentria says its system is not designed to provide medical, legal, or financial advice. The company is also developing caregiver features. With the appropriate designation, caregivers can receive SMS or email alerts when a conversation raises a potential concern. A Weekly Family Digest is designed to provide loved ones with a summary of selected interactions. Multilingual Companions Designed for Familiar Communication Language is a central part of Presentria’s approach. The company has developed individual AI companions associated with different languages and given each one a distinct name. The current companions include Margaret for English, François for French, Carmen for Spanish, Maria for Italian, Ling for Cantonese, Yulan for Mandarin, Soon-ja for Korean, Kazuko for Japanese, Saathi for Punjabi, and Raha for Farsi. Isuma, the Inuktitut companion, is currently in development. Presentria says the multilingual approach is intended to make conversations more familiar for older adults who may prefer to communicate in a language other than English or French. For seniors who have spent decades using a particular language with family and community, language can remain closely connected to identity, memories, and everyday communication. The platform's voice first design also removes several common technology requirements. Seniors can interact through a telephone rather than relying on a smartphone screen, application menus, passwords, or other digital interfaces. From a Professor’s Dining Room to a Working Prototype Dr. Wong developed the Presentria project alongside his academic career. He is a marketing professor at Seneca Polytechnic with more than two decades of teaching experience in Canadian higher education. His professional work includes marketing, artificial intelligence, digital learning, and Industry 5.0. He has also taught graduate level subjects related to artificial intelligence and has written about human centered innovation and applications of emerging technology. Presentria was not initially developed inside a large corporate technology laboratory. Dr. Wong, a first generation immigrant from Hong Kong, designed and coded the working prototype himself while continuing his academic responsibilities. In 2020, he received the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence for his work supporting students during the COVID 19 pandemic. His academic background has influenced the development of Presentria, particularly its emphasis on human centered technology. Rather than requiring older adults to adapt to increasingly complex digital tools, the platform is being designed around a communication method already familiar to them. Developing AI Around Defined Boundaries Presentria is also being developed with defined boundaries around how the AI companion interacts with seniors. The company says its system is intended to encourage appropriate conversations and avoid presenting itself as a substitute for professional or personal care. The platform is designed to remember information from previous conversations, allowing subsequent calls to maintain continuity. Presentria says this conversational memory can help create a more consistent experience for seniors who speak with the same companion regularly. The caregiver features are intended to provide another layer of awareness for families. Rather than requiring a family member to be present for every interaction, the system can provide designated caregivers with selected updates and alerts. Presentria is currently exploring pilot initiatives and partnerships with organizations involved in senior care, community health, aging services, telecommunications, and related fields. The company says real world feedback will help inform further development across languages and communities. Expanding Access Through Familiar Technology For Dr. Wong, Presentria represents a broader approach to innovation for older adults. The project is based on the idea that useful technology does not always require another screen or application. “This is my last major project before retirement,” Dr. Wong says. “I am not building Presentria to scale and exit. I am building it because it matters.” The company is developing the platform primarily for potential use with long term care homes, community health centres, municipal aging services, telecommunications providers, and pharmacy networks. A family tier is also planned to allow individuals to enroll a loved one directly. As development continues, Presentria is seeking pilot partners, researchers, grant opportunities, and early stage investment to gather feedback and evaluate the platform across different languages and senior communities. About Presentria Presentria is a Toronto, Ontario, Canada based technology company developing applications of artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Its work includes technology designed to support education, communication, and human centered applications of emerging technology. Presentria’s current AI Companion for Elders project focuses on multilingual voice based conversations delivered through familiar telephone technology. The company is developing the platform for potential use by older adults, families, caregivers, and organizations serving aging communities. For more information, visit presentria.ai . Presentria can also be found on LinkedIn and Facebook , or contacted by email at ken.wong@presentria.ca .
- September 22, 2026Sports
Igor Makarov to Sponsor Mayflower Gran Prix Cyprus 2026
Igor Makarov, entrepreneur, former professional cyclist, and longtime supporter of the sport, will sponsor the Mayflower Gran Prix Cyprus 2026, taking place in Limassol on October 31 and November 1, 2026. Photo courtesy of INEX Club Organized by INEX Club, the two-day event will bring together cyclists from Cyprus and abroad, from amateur riders and newcomers to experienced competitors. Now in its third edition, the Gran Prix combines competitive racing with a broader programme designed to bring the cycling community together and showcase Cyprus as a destination for cycling and active lifestyles. For Igor Makarov , the sponsorship marks another chapter in a relationship with cycling that spans nearly five decades, from competing internationally as an athlete to supporting professional cycling, contributing to the sport's international governance, and, more recently, becoming involved in initiatives that encourage cycling participation in Cyprus. Two Days of Racing in Limassol The first day of competition, October 31, will feature a 70-kilometre road race from Limassol through Agios Theodoros and Zygi to Monte Caputo. The route combines varied terrain with the coastal landscapes of southern Cyprus. On November 1, the competition will move to the New Port area of Limassol for a 30-kilometre circuit race, followed by the awards ceremony and event celebration. The Gran Prix will feature 12 age categories—six for men and six for women—allowing riders of different ages and experience levels to compete. A Finish Line Village will complement the sporting programme, welcoming participants, families, and supporters and extending the event beyond the races themselves. A Five-Decade Connection with Cycling Igor Makarov's journey in cycling began as an athlete. From 1979 to 1986, he represented the USSR national cycling team at international competitions. A multiple national and international champion, he was awarded the title of International Master of Sports. After concluding his competitive career, Makarov remained deeply involved in the sport. He founded and sponsored the Swiss-registered professional cycling team KATUSHA, which competed on the UCI WorldTour from 2009 to 2019 and became one of the leading teams in international professional cycling. Makarov also served on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Management Committee from 2011 to 2025, contributing to the governance and international development of cycling. His contribution to international cycling was recognized in 2016, when he received the UCI Merit Award in Doha, Qatar. In recent years, his attention has increasingly turned to the development of cycling in Cyprus, where he resides. In 2025, the Cyprus Cycling Federation presented him with the Aristides Konstantinidis Award, named after Cyprus' first Olympic champion. The award recognized his longstanding contribution to the growth of cycling in the country. These two distinctions reflect different stages of Makarov's involvement in the sport, from his contribution to international cycling to his more recent efforts to encourage its development in Cyprus. Supporting the Cycling Community in Cyprus Igor Makarov's involvement in Cyprus extends beyond major competitive events. He has supported a range of cycling initiatives aimed at encouraging wider participation, supporting young riders, and bringing cyclists of different backgrounds and experience levels together. Among these initiatives were charity cycling events that brought together cyclists from Cyprus and abroad and raised funds to provide bicycles, helmets, protective equipment and training gear for aspiring young riders. He has also supported previous Gran Prix events in Limassol, contributing to the development of an international cycling event that combines competition with community participation. The sponsorship of the Mayflower Gran Prix Cyprus 2026 builds on these efforts while contributing to the broader development of Cyprus as a cycling destination. The island's climate, varied terrain, coastal routes, and growing cycling community provide a strong foundation for both recreational and competitive cycling. “Cycling has been part of my life for nearly five decades, and I am pleased to continue supporting its development here in Cyprus,” Igor Makarov shares. “I have seen the sport from many perspectives—as an athlete, a team founder and sponsor, and through international cycling governance. Today, it is especially rewarding to help create opportunities for people in Cyprus to discover cycling, compete and become part of its community. Events such as the Mayflower Gran Prix can help inspire the next generation while also showing international riders what Cyprus has to offer.” For more information and registration details for the Mayflower Gran Prix Cyprus 2026, please visit the official event website: https://inex.club/granprix2026 About Igor Makarov Igor Makarov is a Cyprus-based entrepreneur, philanthropist and former professional cyclist. He is the founder of ARETI International Group, an international group registered in Cyprus. The group has diversified business interests across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, with a focus on strategic investments, innovation, sports development, and charitable engagement. A former member of the USSR national cycling team, Makarov has maintained a close connection with cycling throughout his professional life and continues to support initiatives that promote cycling and active lifestyles, particularly in Cyprus. Beyond sport, Makarov and his companies have supported humanitarian, educational, cultural, and community initiatives internationally for more than three decades.
- September 22, 2026Technology
Zocket Wins Accenture Tech Next Challenge 2026 With AI That Finally Understands the Brand
Zocket has been named the winner of the Accenture Tech Next Challenge 2026 in the Song category, a track focused on Autonomous Growth Agents and how enterprises can reimagine the way they acquire, serve and grow customers. For marketing teams, that transition is particularly relevant. CMOs today are navigating fragmented technology stacks, growing volumes of customer and performance data, rising acquisition costs and increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable returns from marketing investments. At the same time, adopting AI at scale requires systems that understand the context of a brand. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in San Francisco, Zocket is an AI-native marketing operating system for enterprise consumer brands. The company is trusted by more than 100 brands across 25+ countries, with more than 1 billion consumer and category data points ingested to date, alongside performance data from more than $250 million in advertising spend across 40+ industries. Giving AI the Context of the Brand At the center of Zocket's marketing operating system is Brand Brain, a shared context foundation designed to give workflows, campaigns and content a consistent understanding of the brand. Structured as a knowledge graph, Brand Brain brings together information from company sources such as websites, product catalogs, style guides, CRM systems and advertising accounts, along with external signals including reviews, search trends and competitor activity. It continuously incorporates updates so specialized AI agents can work from current brand information rather than starting from disconnected data. General-purpose AI models can reason at scale, but they don't know your enterprise. Brand guidelines, product data, customer conversations, and performance signals live scattered across disconnected systems. Brand Brain closes that gap. It structures signals from every connected source and feeds brand context directly into the agents built on top of it, so agents never start from scratch. Skills scope instructions to a single agent, so creative guidance never bleeds into customer responses. Teams work from one intelligent input. Zocket routes every request to the agent built to handle it. Four specialized agents already run core marketing workflows today. AI Designer produces on-brand creative at volume with approvals built in. Across 26 specialist apps in four groups (creation, copy, adaptation, competitive and commerce), it takes a single master and resizes and localizes it into every platform aspect ratio in one click, spanning image, video, UGC, carousel and marketplace listings. Purpose-built apps such as Image Ad Creator, UGC Video Creator and Localization Studio handle the specific job, while the Compliance Checker audits every asset against the brand rules, flags by severity and auto-fixes where it can, and Approvals routes each one for human sign-off before distribution. In practice that is a festive campaign in multiple languages overnight, listing images at SKU scale, and agency-grade volume without the retainer. Brand Moderator brings every comment, DM and review into one review queue across all your social platforms, each with an AI-drafted reply and the rule it applied. The Rules Engine turns a client's escalation matrix into enforced routing, and reviews of 2 stars and below auto-escalate. Responses are auto-posted by default. Human review is triggered only when AI confidence is low, or when a user threatens, blackmails, or repeatedly escalates to senior leadership. Action history keeps a full audit trail of what was drafted, approved, edited or rejected.Together with Brand Guardian, it functions as an always-on ORM layer — no agency required, holds a 30-minute median response SLA, and catches spikes into the queue, with AI Researcher available for on-demand crisis or competitor deep-dives across 30+ sources. Consumer Insights listens to your brand against the whole category, tracking share of voice, sentiment, topics, channels and estimated reach. A Sub-Brands view surfaces a sub-line quietly underperforming while the master brand still looks healthy, and you can drill from any chart into the raw Mentions stream, the evidence behind the number, including platforms where you hold no official account. That powers category benchmarking, sub-brand NPS and perception, and pinpointing what is actually driving a sentiment shift, with on-demand deep research across 30+ sources. AI Paid Media answers "is my ad money working" in plain English.It diagnoses performance across all your ad platforms, marketing channels, and analytical and attribution tools. then ranks a Signals feed of what changed and what to do. Goals read On-track, At-risk or Breached at account, platform or campaign level across CPA, ROAS, CTR, CPC, CPP and purchase volume. It surfaces ad waste, audience saturation and creative fatigue, and drafts changes for review, with the marketer approving and executing inside the ad platform. Alongside these agents, Reporting provides shared reporting infrastructure across the platform, including prompt-built dashboards, saved analyses, scheduled alerts and diagnostic playbooks, reducing the manual work involved in rebuilding recurring marketing reports. Human-in-the-Loop, Compounding Intelligence Zocket separates automating marketing work from removing human control. Agents generate creative, draft responses, diagnose performance, and analyze consumer data, while brand, publishing, and spending decisions stay behind approval gates. Any suggestion can become a tracked, owned, dated task, so it turns into work someone owns, not a notification that scrolls past. Every agent action feeds a single, shared knowledge graph, and nothing stays siloed: learnings from one workflow generalize across all others. The same goes for human feedback. Approve or correct an output in one narrow context, and that signal gets aggregated and generalized at the graph level, making every agent smarter, not just the one being corrected. Most tools treat feedback as a local fix. Zocket treats it as a permanent addition to a shared brand intelligence layer, and that's the core differentiator. "This recognition validates our belief that the next phase of enterprise marketing will be driven by AI that truly understands the brand. With Brand OS and Brand Brain, our goal is to help marketing teams move from fragmented tools to intelligent systems that learn, act and improve continuously, with human approval where it matters." said Mukund Srivathsan, Co-Founder & CTO, Zocket The Accenture Tech Next Challenge brings together startups developing technology-led solutions for enterprise transformation. For Zocket, winning the Song category provides further validation for its approach to building contextual AI for enterprise marketing and strengthens its ambition to bring Brand OS to more enterprise teams globally. As AI moves deeper into marketing workflows, the opportunity is not simply to add more AI tools. It is to give specialized AI applications the brand context, governance and human oversight required to make them useful inside real enterprise environments. For Zocket, that starts with a shared Brand Brain: one context foundation that helps every agent understand the brand before it generates, analyzes or recommends what happens next. About Zocket Zocket is an AI native operating system for enterprise brand marketing that brings together brand intelligence, creative production, consumer research, paid media, and related marketing workflows. The company develops Brand OS around a shared Brand Brain designed to organize information from connected business and external sources and make that context available to specialized AI agents. Zocket is headquartered in San Francisco, with operations and engineering in Chennai. More information is available at Zocket , and media inquiries can be directed to mukund@zocket.com .
- September 22, 2026Health
Eye Health UK research finds 14.5 million Brits risk sight loss and poor health due to missed test
New research by the charity Eye Health UK for National Eye Health Week [21-27 September] reveals that 14.5 million Brits are missing routine sight tests, potentially delaying the detection of sight-threatening eye conditions and hidden general health issues. The research highlights a worrying post-pandemic rise in the number of people skipping routine eye tests (up from 14 million in 2019), a trend driven by healthcare costs, systemic inequities and lack of awareness. David Cartwright chair of Eye Health UK warns: “ Neglecting routine sight testing could lead to a spike in advanced-stage diagnoses, overloading an already stretched ophthalmology sector where outpatient-appointments are experiencing unprecedented and unsustainable growth. ” David continues: “ Half of sight loss in the UK is avoidable. Increasing uptake of eye tests is vital to turn the tide of unnecessary vision impairment and improve overall population health. As well as identifying vision problems, eye tests can detect a range of other conditions including high blood pressure (hypertension), raised cholesterol, heart disease, brain tumours and risk of stroke. ” Four in ten (40%) who skip routine sight tests say they do so because their ‘eyes are fine’, however eye tests can detect sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma – one of the UK’s leading causes of blindness, years before a person notices a change in their vision. Early detection of glaucoma is critical and can slow progression of the disease by up to 50 per cent, preserving a person’s vision and independence. Catching glaucoma early can also reduce long-term treatment burden and costs. Managing early-stage glaucoma is often as straight-forward as adopting some simple lifestyle changes and using prescription eye drops. One in six surveyed said worries about cost prevented them from having regular eye tests, despite more than 34 million people in the UK being entitled to free sight tests on the NHS. Awareness about entitlement to NHS eye care (sight tests and help with the costs of prescription eyewear) was lowest amongst those who didn’t attend routine eye tests (59%) compared to those who have had a sight test in the last two years, as recommended (26%). NHS-funded provision means eye care services are accessible for all. Free sight tests and optical vouchers are available for many, including those on low incomes and people at increased risk of poor eye health due to age or medical history. People unable to leave home unaided are entitled to free domiciliary (at home) eye tests; whilst many local areas commission translation and interpretation services ensuring a patient’s language or communication skills are not barriers to eye care. High-street optometrists play a crucial role in improving health opportunities for all. As well as caring for the nation’s eye health and preventing avoidable sight loss, optometrists can direct people to get the help they need for a wide-range of illnesses, including 400,000 adults in the UK estimated to be living with undiagnosed heart failure and 88,000 people living with undetected brain tumours.” Simon Fletcher (67), a retired senior IT manager, from Macclesfield Cheshire knows only too well the important role optometrists play in keeping Britain healthy after a routine eye test turned out to be a potential life-saver when it revealed a hidden risk of a ‘widow-maker’ heart attack. Read Simon’s story here. A significant minority (6.4%), of those who haven’t had a recent sight test say they’re worried there might be ‘something wrong with their eyes’. David Cartwright comments: “ I’d urge people to not put off having their eyes checked. Early detection of problems with your sight or general health helps ensure the best possible treatment outcomes. High-street optical practices should be the first point of contact for any concerns you have about the health of your eyes. Many now offer a range of NHS primary care services, including appointments for urgent and minor eye conditions. Ask your local practice for information .” For more about looking after your eyes and National Eye Health Week [21–27 September] visit visionmatters.org.uk .
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