Equativ Brings ChatGPT Ads to Brands as Advertising Partner

Equativ becomes a technology partner of ChatGPT ads, bringing full-funnel contextual and native expertise to brands worldwide


NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equativ, the leading independent end-to-end media platform, today announced it is now a technology partner of ChatGPT Ads, becoming one of a select group of partners to help brands and agencies advertise within ChatGPT. As a technology partner, Equativ offers ChatGPT Ads to engage users at every step of their customer journey, from discovery to purchase intent, with bespoke ad formats, layouts, and messaging tailored to each stage.

ChatGPT has become one of the fastest-growing platforms in internet history, now reaching more than 1B weekly active users and processing 2.5 billion prompts per day, with 20% of conversations showing shopping intent. As consumers increasingly use ChatGPT over traditional search engines to discover, research, compare, and purchase products, the platform represents a significant and largely unexplored opportunity for brands to reach high-intent audiences at every stage of the consumer decision journey. Unlike traditional search engine marketing that relies on specific keywords, ChatGPT’s sophisticated LLM understands the nuances of user intent and conversation context.

That's also Equativ's clearest point of difference. While traditional campaigns are built around lower-funnel, keyword-style campaign management, Equativ delivers a comprehensive full-funnel strategy thanks to its contextual advertising expertise and years of honing native ad copy best practices. They used this expertise and lessons from live ChatGPT Ads campaigns to build a proprietary full-funnel tool called the Equativ Ad Studio, which helps recommend a customized targeting and creative strategy to allow advertisers to maximize the full-funnel of visibility, brand discovery, and purchase intent. This enables advertisers to engage audiences across every stage of brand discovery within ChatGPT with the optimal targeting and ad copy. The result is advertising that respects the ChatGPT user experience and ad principles while still driving measurable outcomes for brands at every touchpoint.

 
"This transition represents a natural step forward for Equativ. Our strategy has always centered on consumer-centric solutions, and building on over a decade of native advertising and contextual technology, we are uniquely positioned to help brands show up meaningfully within ChatGPT conversations while preserving the user experience that makes the platform so valuable," said Ben Skinazi, Chief Commercial Officer, Equativ.

Our partnership covers the markets where ChatGPT is currently available, including Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with additional countries launching on an ongoing basis.

Brands and agencies interested in activating ChatGPT Ads campaigns through Equativ can learn more at: Equativ ChatGPT Ads

About Equativ

Equativ is a global, end-to-end media platform empowering advertisers and publishers to achieve real outcomes by uniting premium inventory, dynamic creative formats, and engaged audiences with advanced curation and AI-powered ad tech across all channels. Purpose-built for the attention economy, Equativ delivers quality, engagement, and performance while prioritizing respectful, user-centric ad experiences. With a team of over 750 professionals across 19 countries, Equativ combines global scale with deep local expertise. Learn more at Equativ.com.

Media Contact:
Caroline Millié Figueiredo: pr@equativ.com 

SOURCE: Equativ

ITRON LAUNCHES GRID EDGE METERS FOR APAC UTILITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Itron Inc, an intelligent infrastructure provider for modern energy and water management, has announced the availability of its grid edge portfolio, including Itron Riva S and Itron Riva T IEC electricity meters, for utilities in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

As the first Itron Gen6 network platform devices available in APAC, the launch marks a significant milestone in its expansion of Grid Edge Intelligence in the region, according to the company in a statement.

Itron senior vice president of Networked Solutions, John Marcolini said the launch was an important step in helping utilities translate awareness into action, with an interoperable and modular architecture designed to preserve technology choice and expand value over time.

The Itron Riva meters provide utilities with a practical starting point to improve visibility across the low-voltage network and respond to the growing impact of distributed energy resources (DERs) with advanced intelligence over time.

Serving as both grid sensors and DER control points, the meters provide utilities with real-time visibility into grid conditions, enabling earlier identification of emerging network faults and constraints, proactive management of growing DERs across the low-voltage network, and optimisation of operational and capital budget allocation.

By extending sensing and intelligence to the grid edge, the Itron Riva meters allow utilities to begin with advanced metering and localised grid awareness and seamlessly expand to distributed intelligence (DI) applications as operational needs evolve, improving grid reliability, resilience and efficiency.

The meters also extend visibility beyond energy consumption data, helping utilities detect voltage fluctuations, transformer loading issues, emerging faults and other network conditions through high-frequency sensing and edge computing capabilities.

Built on open DLMS/COSEM standards and designed to meet International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) requirements, the meters help utilities modernise their infrastructure while maintaining flexibility to integrate with existing and future technologies.

The Itron Riva IEC electricity meter is initially available in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and is expected to expand to additional APAC countries, helping utilities modernise grid operations and respond to growing network complexity across the region.

-- BERNAMA

World Off-Track on Nearly Every Food System Goal – Latest Assessment Reveals

Geneva, Washington DC, Sep. 23, 2026 /AgilityPR-AsiaNet/--

The 2026 Food Systems Countdown analysis reveals that progress is too slow and insufficient to meet 2030 goals, but 2050 could still be achievable, provided actions are consistent and accelerated.

The latest study from the Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) reveals the stark reality of where global food systems transformation stands – for most indicators on health, environment, livelihoods, governance and resilience, a vast majority of countries will not meet the internationally agreed 2030 goals. And for some indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions from food systems, no country in the world is projected to meet the target.

The study, published in Nature Food , represents the most comprehensive performance assessment of food systems to date, covering 197 countries and 44 indicators across five themes: diets, nutrition and health; environment, natural resources and production; livelihoods, poverty and equity; governance; and resilience. And for the first time, the study goes beyond tracking trends to assess progress and measure how food systems are actually performing, and how much more needs to improve to meet globally set targets.

“What makes this Countdown paper different is that it doesn't just tell countries whether they're moving in the right direction — it tells them how far they still have to go, and against a benchmark that's actually within reach. That distinction between tracking trends and measuring performance is what turns a monitoring exercise into a tool for accountability,” said Dr. Bianca Carducci, lead author.

Key Findings:

• The study finds that, of 30 indicators, only one — mobile phone subscriptions, a proxy for connectedness and resilience — has been met by most countries. For 22 indicators, fewer than one third of countries will meet their global target or benchmark by 2030.
• The indicator ‘greenhouse gas emissions from food systems’ has one of the largest gaps, with the global average 75% away from the target. No country in the world will meet the target at its current pace.

Most regions of the world would need dramatic annual changes to achieve 2030 targets. For example, Africa will require at least a 15-20% improvement across 23 indicators every single year, and Asia will have to cut food insecurity by over 63% every year. High-income regions are not exempt. In Europe, 19 indicators remain unattainable by 2030. The analysis also shows that some indicators are moving in the wrong direction, notably civil society participation, governmental accountability, ultra-processed food sales, agricultural water withdrawal, pesticide use and changes in emissions from food systems.

“Accountability for food systems transformation requires accelerated progress — without it, efforts risk becoming performative rather than transformative. We can no longer afford to continue at the present pace,” said Dr. Mario Herrero, Professor, Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, Cornell University.

Bright Spots Offer Hope

Despite the sobering picture for 2030, the study is not entirely bleak. For 7 of 33 indicators, at least a third of countries are already on track to meet the 2030 target. And half the indicators have been moving in a desirable direction at the global level. The study also offers the pace at which changes are required to achieve the targets by 2050, making progress feel achievable rather than impossible.

In some cases, regional and income benchmarks provide more realistic milestones that can motivate countries. For example, on average African countries are 58.7% away from the global benchmark for affordability of a healthy diet, but that gap narrows to 32.2% when measured against a regional benchmark set by the average of the top fifth of African countries.

“Bold global targets are vital for inspiring ambition. But they can become a source of inertia if they seem permanently out of reach. Therefore, regional and income-group benchmarks keep progress within sight and help identify the exemplar countries that can show others how it is achievable,” said Dr. Jessica Fanzo, James Anderson Professor of Food Policy and Climate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Europe.

Urgent Call to Accelerate Action

The study highlights the urgent need for accelerated action across all indicators. Priority actions should focus on indicators where progress is most off track, like food affordability, food insecurity, government effectiveness and food systems emissions. Food systems emissions change will require annual reductions exceeding 60%, which is challenging even for 2050.

“Food systems transformation is a shared responsibility. The governance indicators including government effectiveness, accountability and civil society participation are not just one category among five. They are the enablers. Improving them unlocks progress across the entire system,” said Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

Improving government effectiveness and accountability are the critical leverage points that interact with the largest number of indicators. However, the urgent need for transformation involves more concerted, creative and accelerated action from the global community that must recommit to achieving these targets by 2050, especially for those most vulnerable.

“The kind of comprehensive assessment that this Countdown study provides is critical for governments and all other partners to set priorities, direct investments and resources, and draft and redraft policies. Our global food systems demand urgent, decisive action — starting now,” said Dr. José Rosero Moncayo, Chief Statistician and Director of the Statistics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The 2026 Food Systems Countdown analysis gives every country a mirror, as well as a signpost for what needs to be done, in which direction and at what pace. The world owes it to the billions whose livelihoods depend on food systems, and the billions more who cannot afford a healthy diet, to act now, and to act fast.

WEBINAR:

The findings of the report will be presented at a Webinar, including a Q&A with the FSCI researchers.

Register Free -
https://gainhealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VzrB_-YjREGaXAzXNN5xPw#/registration

Date: September 25 th , 2026, Time: 9:30-10:30 Eastern Time.


MEDIA CONTACTS:

For interview requests and/or enquiries regarding the 2026 Countdown study and report, please contact:

T Sam Kaiser, Media & Communications Manager

Email: tkaiser@gainhealth.org

Phone: +91 96771 33877


Christopher Emsden, FAO News and Media (Rome)

Email: christopher.emsden@fao.org

Phone: (+39) 06 570 53291


More on this topic

Full report: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0778en

Summary: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0482en

Nature Food article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-026-01379-0


About the study:

The study, “Food Systems Performance Evaluated Against Targets and Benchmarks Reveals Urgent Gaps and a Path to 2050,” and accompanying report, “The Food Systems Countdown Report 2026: Assessing Performance, Driving Change,” is available at www.foodcountdown.org. Country-level data and profiles are accessible through the Food Systems Dashboard. Code is available on GitHub (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

About the Countdown:

The Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI) is a global interdisciplinary research collaboration co-led by Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. It produces annual monitoring reports and a country-level data platform to support evidence-based policymaking and accountability for food systems transformation.

Source: The Food Systems Countdown Initiative

--BERNAMA

YEAHKA’S YEAHPAY EXPANDS MERCHANT SERVICES TO SEVEN MARKETS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Yeahka Limited, a payment-based technology platform, announced that its international payment business, YeahPay, is working with Stripe to expand merchant services to seven markets.

Businesses incorporated in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States can now be onboarded by YeahPay for online acquiring in their respective markets, supporting merchants and platforms with integrated online and in-store payment capabilities.

Yeahka in a statement said the expansion further strengthens YeahPay’s online payment infrastructure across key global markets.

“The number of ways to pay is growing faster than any business can integrate them, and the gap only widens from here. New rails, new currencies, and buyers who are not always human.

“Our clients should not have to predict any of it. YeahPay is the single integration a business needs to accept any form of payment, and when the next way to pay arrives, they will already be able to accept it,” said YeahPay Global Vice President, David Tay.

Alongside expanding its international market coverage and payment capabilities, YeahPay is also preparing for the next evolution of commerce by prioritising capabilities around agentic payments, exploring applications across online retail, dining and gaming, and beginning proof-of-concept collaborations with international financial institutions.

As intelligent agents increasingly participate in transactions, YeahPay continues to expand its payment capabilities and help merchants prepare for the next generation of commerce.

Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020, Yeahka serves approximately 9.2 million merchants and nearly one billion consumers. Its international payment brand, YeahPay, offers secure, seamless and efficient digital financial services to global clients.

-- BERNAMA

CIGRE 2026: CHINT Highlights Advanced Power Technologies For Europe

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- CHINT, an integrated power and energy solutions provider, has showcased its advanced power technologies at CIGRE 2026 in Paris to support the modernisation of electricity networks and growing energy demands of the digital economy.

“As the age of AI, renewable energy and electrification reshape Europe's power landscape, customers are increasingly looking for partners that can deliver integrated, reliable and future-ready power solutions rather than standalone products.

“At CHINT, we see this transformation as an opportunity to drive innovation and create value for our customers,” said CHINT Global Vice President Beibei Zheng in a statement.

Held in August, CIGRE 2026 brought together power industry leaders and stakeholders, with CHINT’s engineering specialists engaging with utilities, contractors, consultants and technology partners on applications including high-voltage transmission, substation modernisation and sustainable power distribution.

CHINT also showcased two solutions, namely the 750 kilovolts Natural Ester Oil-immersed Power Transformer, designed to support the development of high-capacity transmission networks, and the Data Center Power Pod, an integrated power solution designed to support the infrastructure required by next-generation digital facilities.

The transformer combines high-voltage performance with enhanced environmental protection and safety. It supports lower-carbon power infrastructure while enhancing fire safety, contributing to the sustainable modernisation of Europe’s power networks.

Beyond the two featured products, CHINT also presented a wide array of solutions spanning transmission and distribution, energy storage and digital infrastructure. Its presence at CIGRE reflected its focus on delivering integrated solutions and supporting customers throughout the lifecycle of increasingly complex energy projects.

Operating in more than 140 countries and regions, CHINT aims to support the development of power infrastructure capable of meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities as Europe invests in a more secure, sustainable and digitally enabled energy future.

-- BERNAMA

EBC Financial Group Named Best CFD Provider - Global at Global Forex Awards 2026

Award reaffirms EBC Financial Group's commitment to regulatory accountability and consistent execution for clients navigating fast-moving markets

LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) has been named Best CFD Provider – Global in the Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail, further extending the Group's international recognition and reaffirming its commitment to delivering reliable access to global markets while reinforcing the regulatory and infrastructural standards behind its trading environment.

The Global Forex Awards is one of the retail forex industry's most closely watched recognition programmes. The 2026 edition attracted more than 25,000 public votes, the highest participation in the awards' history, with winners recognised across global and regional categories spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

For EBC, this Best CFD Provider – Global recognition reflects a broader priority: building a trading environment where regulatory discipline, institutional-grade infrastructure, and consistent execution work together, especially as market conditions grow more complex.

Regulatory accountability as the foundation of trust

EBC's operating entities hold financial licences calibrated to the products and clients each is authorised to serve, with regulatory status independently verifiable rather than simply claimed. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the Group's own operating funds, and further protected by professional indemnity insurance arranged through the Group's institutional insurers. Each entity operates within the specific regulatory framework of its own jurisdiction, reflecting EBC's view that accountability is built entity by entity rather than asserted at group level.

Institutional-grade infrastructure, extended to every client

EBC connects to more than 50 Tier-1 banking and non-bank liquidity providers, aggregating interbank pricing into raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with five-level market depth. Order execution averages under 20 milliseconds, more than 87.6% of orders are executed at improved prices, and system stability stands at 98.75%. Eligible professional clients can also access liquidity clearing accounts with leverage of up to 100:1, while high-volume traders use EBC Private Room, a dedicated channel designed to protect trading information from market targeting.

Access spans forex, commodities, indices, precious metals and energy, as well as US stocks and ETFs, across more than 100 countries, supported by EBC's international network of local teams.

“Being recognised as Best CFD Provider – Global is meaningful because the quality of CFD trading is ultimately measured by what clients experience when they enter the market: the reliability of their access, the consistency of execution and the conditions available to them when markets move quickly,” said Andria Phiniefs, Marketing Director, EBC Financial Group.

“Our responsibility is to keep strengthening the infrastructure and service behind that experience. As EBC continues to grow internationally, we remain focused on pairing global market access with high operational institutional-grade standards and local expertise, so clients can approach opportunities across markets with greater confidence.”

A global award shaped by an increasingly engaged trading community

The Global Forex Awards – Retail have grown alongside an increasingly sophisticated global trading community. With more than 25,000 public votes cast in the 2026 programme and nearly 295,000 verified votes recorded across Holiston Media awards to date, this year represented the awards' highest level of participation so far.

Commenting on the 2026 winners, Archie Humphries, Director of Holiston Media, said, “The Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail have once again shown the depth of excellence throughout the industry, with many returning names and some new faces taking home awards. This year's winners continue to make their mark within the industry and will now benefit from increased brand awareness, enhanced credibility and an elevated level of trust from their traders and industry peers alike.”

Building on a year of global recognition

The latest award extends a strong run of international recognition for EBC in 2026. Earlier this year, EBC received two global honours at the World Finance Forex Awards 2026, where it was named Most Trusted FX Broker and Best CFD Broker, the fourth consecutive year the Group has been recognised by World Finance. Together, the awards highlight complementary dimensions of EBC's development: the trust and consistency expected of a global financial services provider, and the infrastructure, execution and market conditions underpinning its offering.

As trading markets become more interconnected and clients gain access to an expanding range of global opportunities, EBC continues to invest in technology, operational resilience, regulatory compliance, institutional-grade infrastructure and client support, while strengthening its presence across key markets. Today, EBC serves clients in more than 100 countries, with over 5 million registered users and more than USD390 billion in average monthly trading volume, supported by regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions and local teams providing market insight and support across regions.

The Best CFD Provider – Global recognition at the Global Forex Awards 2026 – Retail therefore represents more than the performance of a single product category. It reflects the standard EBC is working to maintain as it scales globally: regulatory accountability, institutional-grade infrastructure, and dependable market access for every client.

For more analysis from EBC, visit: www.ebc.com.

Disclaimer: This material is for information only and does not constitute a recommendation or advice from EBC Financial Group and all its entities (“EBC”). Trading Forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed your deposits. Before trading, you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and consult an independent financial advisor if necessary. Statistics or past investment performance are not a guarantee of future performance. EBC is not liable for any damages arising from reliance on this information.

About the Global Forex Awards – Retail

Now in their eighth year, the Global Forex Awards – Retail recognise brokers and fintech companies demonstrating excellence across the global retail forex industry. Awards are presented across worldwide and regional categories, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa.

The awards are organised by Holiston Media, which operates international recognition programmes across both retail and B2B financial services, including the Global Forex Awards – Retail, Global Forex Awards – B2B, Online Money Awards and Professional Trader Awards.

About EBC Financial Group 

Founded in London, EBC Financial Group (“EBC”) is a global brand known for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. Through its regulated entities operating across major financial jurisdictions—including the UK, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, South Africa and others—EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, CFDs and more.

Trusted by investors in over 100 countries and honoured with global awards including multiple year recognition from World Finance, EBC is widely regarded as one of the world's best brokers with titles including Best Trading Platform and Most Trusted Broker. With its strong regulatory standing and commitment to transparency, EBC has also been consistently ranked among the top brokers—trusted for its ability to deliver secure, innovative, and client-first trading solutions across competitive international markets. 

EBC's subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia's Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); EBC Financial (MU) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC); EBC Financial Group SA (Pty) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). 

At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

EBC is a proud official foreign exchange partner of FC Barcelona and continues to drive impactful partnerships to empower communities – namely through the UN Foundation's United to Beat Malaria initiative, Department of Economics at the University of Oxford, and a diverse range of partners to champion initiatives in global health, economics, education, and sustainability.

https://www.ebc.com/

Media Contact: 

Ginny Dang
Global Public Relations Executive
Ginny.dang@ebc.com

Aldric Tinker
Global Public Relations Lead
aldric.tinker@ebc.com 

SOURCE: EBC Tech Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.  

--BERNAMA 

LRN LAUNCHES COMPLIANCE POLICY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- LRN Corporation, a global provider of ethics and compliance solutions, has launched Catalyst Policy, a compliance policy management solution integrated into LRN Catalyst platform.

In a statement, the company said Catalyst Policy enables organisations to manage policy creation, communication and adoption across geographies, languages and regulatory requirements, as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes governance, risk and compliance requirements.

The solution was developed based on LRN’s work with clients managing global policy governance, including collaboration with Howden Group, a global insurance intermediary. The partnership drew on Howden’s experience in building compliance programmes and ethical cultures.

LRN Chief Executive Officer, Bob Lemmond said Howden’s experience had helped shape Catalyst Policy around the needs of global ethics and compliance teams.

Meanwhile, Howden Group Head of Compliance, Ian Jacob said effective policy lifecycle management was essential to reducing risk, meeting regulatory obligations and ensuring employees understood workplace conduct expectations.

LRN said organisations face growing policy complexity as regulatory requirements, business risks and the deployment of AI-related policies and governance continue to expand, increasing the need for clear oversight, accountability and audit readiness.

Catalyst Policy enables organisations to manage policies through a centralised model, replacing fragmented repositories and manual review and translation processes. Its features include in-platform redlining and track changes such as AI-assisted translations with human review; scoped access for external auditors and reviewers; and evergreen links and an immutable repository.

The solution also connects policy governance with attestations, training, policy access, analytics and behavioural insights within the LRN Catalyst platform.

LRN said its research on ethics and compliance programme effectiveness shows that high-impact programmes integrate data and analytics across ethics and compliance initiatives into day-to-day management. Catalyst Policy forms part of the company’s broader approach to connected governance, behavioural insights and data-driven compliance management.

-- BERNAMA