New council brings together international panel of sport, innovation, and policy leaders to guide global strategy and accelerate the growth of phygital competition.

HONG KONG, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The World Phygital Community (WPC), the global regulator of phygital sports has announced the launch of its first Advisory Council, a distinguished body of international experts assembled to guide the long-term strategy, innovation agenda, and global expansion of phygital sport – the fast-emerging fusion of physical and digital sporting competition.

Initially comprising four leaders from the worlds of sport, technology, diplomacy, and entrepreneurship, the Council will advise WPC on global policy engagement, commercial opportunities, and frameworks that ensure the sport’s sustainable development worldwide. It shall also support the wider cultivation of the phygital sporting ecosystem, including the pinnacle of phygital sport, the Games of the Future.

“Phygital sport is more than a new category of sport – it’s a new way for people everywhere to connect through competition,” said Dan Merkley, Chairperson and Managing Director of WPC. “This Council brings together exceptional leaders who understand both the power of sport and the potential of technology. Each member represents a bridge, connecting traditional sport with the digital frontier, and linking local innovation to global opportunity. Their insights will help us grow responsibly and inclusively, shaping a shared vision for how phygital sport can thrive on a global stage.”

The Council’s inaugural members represent a diverse cross-section of expertise – from Olympic-level event management and international diplomacy to innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. Each brings a unique perspective to WPC’s mission and will serve a 12-month term:

• Bernt Erik Bjontegard – A former NASA rocket scientist and R&D executive at Qualcomm, Bjontegard has led pioneering projects in space technology and mobile communications. He is the founder of Spark Compass, an award-winning contextual intelligence platform that has powered smart city solutions and enhanced fan engagement in sports through augmented reality and the Internet of Things. Bjontegard has also managed multiple partnerships with global tech giants including Apple, IBM, and Samsung and has multiple awarded patents globally with over 50 pending, bridging the divide between ideas and their practical implementations.

Bernt Erik Bjontegard

• David Feng Xintao – An expert in international communication and event coordination within global sport, David has extensive experience supporting the Olympic Movement. As Protocol, Event and Hospitality Manager at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he led the planning and delivery of hospitality programs for the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games. His work spans close collaboration with governments, Local Organizing Committees, National Olympic Committees, International Federations, and major global brands associated with the Olympic Movement.

David Feng Xintao

• Francline Fonderson – As founder and President of the Cameroon Association for Technology and Cultural Exchange (CATCE), Francline has pioneered programs that merge traditional sport with digital competition. He is widely respected for his work in bringing together local governments, sponsors, and youth networks to build sustainable pathways for young athletes and gamers across Central and West Africa.

Francline Fonderson

• Jorge O’Ryan Schutz – Jorge’s career spans diplomacy, public administration, and sports management. A former professional basketball player, he has served as President of Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, as Chile’s Ambassador to Germany, and as Director General of ProChile – the country’s export and investment promotion agency. Today, he serves as Director of International Development at the UC Innovation Center and Director of the Board.

Jorge O’Ryan Schutz

The Advisory Council will focus on four key areas: raising awareness of WPC initiatives, exploring new markets, advising on commercial opportunities, and contributing to the development of regulatory standards. It will convene regularly with WPC leadership, with outcomes shared publicly to ensure transparency and accountability in guiding the growth of the phygital movement.

Through this initiative, WPC continues its commitment to fostering collaboration among leaders who share a vision for the future of sport, one that bridges physical skill and digital innovation while creating new opportunities for athletes, clubs and federations worldwide.

Notes to Editors: 

About the World Phygital Community (WPC): 

The World Phygital Community (WPC) is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital members globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting ranking tournaments for the Games of the Future: https://worldphygital.org/ 

For further information please contact: press@worldphygital.org 

About the Games of the Future (GOTF): 

The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in the Abu Dhabi, while the Games of the Future 2026 will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. For more information please visit: 

https://gofuture.games/ 

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SurplusGLOBAL (CEO: Bruce Kim) announced that it has successfully held a topping-out ceremony for Building B of its Yongin Namsa Cluster, marking a symbolic milestone in the construction of what will become the world’s largest offline mall and storage facility dedicated to legacy semiconductor equipment and parts, the SemiMarket Parts Mall. Rooted in a traditional Korean practice of raising the main beam to symbolize the “spirit” of a new structure, the ceremony was reinterpreted by SurplusGLOBAL as the establishment of a new technological backbone for the global legacy semiconductor ecosystem.

The SemiMarket Parts Mall (building B), currently under development, spans approximately 41,000 square meters of gross floor area and is scheduled for completion in July 2026. Once operational, it will serve as a global hub where legacy semiconductor equipment and parts from around the world are exhibited, inspected, stored, and transacted in a single integrated location.

The facility will be fully synchronized with the company’s global online marketplace, www.SemiMarket.com, enabling real-time integration between hundreds of thousands of online listings and their physical counterparts, and establishing a truly hybrid online–offline ecosystem for the legacy semiconductor supply chain.

SurplusGLOBAL emphasized that the new Parts Mall is not simply a physical warehouse, but a core pillar of its long-term strategy to build an AI-powered, sustainable semiconductor ecosystem. Within the Yongin Cluster, the company will roll out its Harvest Project for asset recovery and recycling, precision repair and refurbish services, component-level restoration and quality programs, and AI-based Bill of Materials (BoM) matching and parts recommendation technologies.

By combining robust offline infrastructure with advanced online intelligence, SurplusGLOBAL aims to address long-standing inefficiencies in the legacy semiconductor parts market, where critical parts remain fragmented across thousands of small sellers worldwide.

The topping-out ceremony was attended by SurplusGLOBAL CEO Bruce Kim, Vice President James Park, company executives, representatives from the Yongin City Semiconductor Policy Office, and Dong Kyu Lim, Head of Construction at CJ Logistics Construction Division, which is responsible for Building B. Participants celebrated the event as the rise of a new structural pillar for a global supply chain that connects data, technology, and people. “This topping-out ceremony is not just about completing a building,” said Bruce Kim, CEO of SurplusGLOBAL. “It marks a new starting point in transforming the legacy semiconductor sector into a sustainable, circular industry. We are building a global hub where legacy equipment and parts can flow, be connected, and return to productive life.”

SurplusGLOBAL Cluster, now emerging as one of the world’s largest dedicated legacy semiconductor facilities, consists of two main buildings, A and B. Building A is focused on equipment refurbishment and parts repair, while Building B, which has just reached its structural milestone, is being developed as the core hub for warehousing, inspecting, and data-driven parts management. With Building B now topped out, SurplusGLOBAL is accelerating internal system development and infrastructure preparation toward the grand opening of the SemiMarket Offline Parts Mall in July 2026, with the goal of establishing a central node in the global legacy semiconductor equipment and parts supply chain.

• Global wellness brand JUNG KWAN JANG rolls out major Black Friday and holiday-season promotions across the U.S.
• New products including EVERYTIME and Hong Sam Won gain momentum on Amazon, Costco, and other major retail channels
• Korean Red Ginseng rises worldwide as a leading natural, non-GMO, gluten-free health ingredient backed by scientific benefits

CERRITOS, Calif., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The world’s No.1 ginseng brand, JUNG KWAN JANG, is strengthening its leadership in the U.S. wellness market with nationwide Black Friday and holiday promotions, along with the launch of new science-based products tailored to American consumer needs.

From November 20 to December 1, JUNG KWAN JANG is offering up to 60% off its most popular products, including Korean Red Ginseng Extract, EVERYTIME, and Hong Sam Won. These promotions aim to help more consumers experience premium Korean Red Ginseng at accessible prices.

EVERYTIME—known for its convenient liquid stick format—expanded nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market last year, while the caffeine-free functional beverage Hong Sam Won continues to see high demand through Costco. In addition, a Winter season sale will provide holiday shoppers with meaningful wellness gift options for family and friends.

New at Costco: “Pomegranate with Korean Red Ginseng” for Inner Beauty & Antioxidant Support

Reflecting health trends among U.S. women, JUNG KWAN JANG has launched Pomegranate with Korean Red Ginseng at Costco.
Designed around the concept of “Natural Antioxidant Double Inner Beauty,” the product blends Korean Red Ginseng—known to support circulation and immunity—with antioxidant-rich pomegranate, while also providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, folate, and potassium.

The product is GMO-free, caffeine-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly, making it an accessible, clean-label wellness option.

Amazon Launch: “EVERYTIME Sport Performance Edition” for Active Lifestyles

To support the growing sports nutrition category, JUNG KWAN JANG has launched the EVERYTIME Sport Performance Edition, designed to fit seamlessly into workout routines. Following the slogan “Support Your Perfect Workout Plan With EVERYTIME,” the liquid stick lineup includes:

• Everytime PowerForm – With Korean Red Ginseng, black maca, and taurine to support endurance
• Everytime Calo Trim – With Korean Red Ginseng and green tea extract to support metabolism and calorie burning

Both products are now available on Amazon and the brand’s official online store.

K-Wellness Icon: Korean Red Ginseng, a “Safe and Multi-Beneficial High Functional Herb”

As the global health market shifts toward premium natural ingredients, Korean Red Ginseng continues to rise as a standout natural remedy that aligns with today’s clean-label trends: natural, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Scientifically verified and recognized as a “Safe and Multi-Beneficial High Functional Herb,” Korean Red Ginseng has been officially acknowledged by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for seven key functions:

• Immune support
• Improved blood circulation
• Fatigue relief
• Antioxidant action
• Memory enhancement
• Menopausal women’s health
• Blood sugar control

A JUNG KWAN JANG spokesperson said, “Backed by 120 years of expertise, rigorous quality control, and clinically backed benefits, we are committed to delivering the true value of Korean Red Ginseng to U.S. consumers. Through our Black Friday and holiday promotions and new product launches, we hope more people experience the genuine value of K-Wellness.”

Global Recognition and Growing Interest in K-Wellness

At the APEC Summit held in Gyeongju, Korea, this October, JUNG KWAN JANG’s premium Korean Red Ginseng products gained attention among global leadership delegations. Several officials even requested additional EVERYTIME products, highlighting its rising profile as a symbol of Korean wellness culture.

Earlier in March, the brand received the prestigious Varro E. Tyler Award from the American Botanical Council (ABC) during NPEW (Natural Products Expo West) in Anaheim. JUNG KWAN JANG continues to lead the global ginseng retail market and has maintained the No.1 global market share in herb- and tradition-based health supplements for 11 consecutive years (Euromonitor International, 2014–2024).

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Walmart officially kicks off its AE2 Black Friday Event from November 25–30, leading home-wellness brand MARNUR announces a standout lineup of deep discounts across its best-selling massage and heating essentials. Arriving just as “cozy season” sets in and holiday gift searches reach their peak, MARNUR’s Black Friday offerings aim to elevate home comfort, ease daily stress, and inspire thoughtful gift-giving throughout the Christmas and New Year season.

Highlights: MARNUR’s Best Black Friday Deals on Walmart (Nov 25–30)

–49% Off | MARNUR Shiatsu Shoulder Massager

Deal Price: $23.99 (was $46.99)
With 8 bi-directional kneading nodes, gentle built-in heat, and a 3D ergonomic U-shape, this top-rated shoulder massager (4.3 stars, 1,089 reviews) delivers a spa-level experience for home, office, and even in the car. A trending “holiday stress-relief essential,” it remains one of MARNUR’s most gifted wellness items of the season.

–53% Off | MARNUR Mini Massage Gun (Red / Grey / Black)

Deal Price: $25.99 (was $54.99)
A viral pick during last year’s gifting season, this compact 0.78 lb massage gun returns at an unbeatable price. Featuring four interchangeable heads, a quiet yet powerful motor, USB-C charging, and a 2000mAh long-lasting battery, it’s the perfect stocking stuffer for fitness lovers, busy professionals, or anyone chasing daily comfort. Rated 4.5 stars by users.

–53% Off | MARNUR 72″ x 84″ Heated Blanket

Deal Price: $32.89 (was $69.99)  
Crafted in ultra-soft flannel with 4 heat levels and full-bed dimensions (72 × 84), this winter staple (4.4 stars, 2,786 reviews) transforms cold nights into soothing warmth. Machine-washable, durable, and ideal for bedrooms, couch lounging, or gifting to parents and grandparents as a “winter-care” favorite.

–53% Off | MARNUR Electric Throw Blanket 50″ x 72″ (4 colors)

Deal Price: $32.99 (was $69.99)
Featuring luxurious faux-fur softness, 6 heat levels, an upgraded LED controller, a 4-hour auto-off, and multiple stylish color options, this extra-large heated throw (4.4 stars, 450+ reviews) is trending as a top “Christmas cozy-gift pick” across social media.

A Holiday Season Framed by Comfort, Wellness & Thoughtful Giving

As searches spike for “warm gift ideas,” “wellness upgrades,” and “stress-relief gifts for Christmas,” heating and massage products have become must-have seasonal essentials. MARNUR’s AE2 lineup meets this demand with premium, practical, and affordable options for every household.

“Consumers want gifts that feel personal and bring comfort into daily life,” said a MARNUR spokesperson. “This Black Friday, we’re proud to offer high-quality wellness solutions at some of the most compelling prices of the year — products that make homes warmer, cozier, and healthier during the holidays and beyond.”

Why MARNUR Stands Out This Season

Trusted by millions of U.S. households

Consistently high-rated bestsellers

Deepest price drops of the 2025 holiday season

Ideal for holiday gifting, winter wellness, and home upgrades

Available exclusively during Walmart’s AE2 Black Friday event

From deep-tissue relief to full-body warmth, MARNUR’s curated selection brings comfort that lasts long after the holiday lights dim.

“This is the moment wellness shoppers have been waiting for,” the spokesperson added. “Whether you’re gifting or treating yourself, these are the products people actually want under the tree — spa-quality relaxation without the spa price tag.”

This year’s AE2 selection delivers up to 59% off top-rated products designed for consumers prioritizing warmth, relaxation, and healthier living — whether shopping for loved ones or indulging in personal well-being.

To discover more offers, just search “MARNUR” on Walmart.com.

NEW DELHI, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Comviva, a global leader in digital transformation solutions across customer experience management, data monetization, and digital financial services, today announced the unveiling of its GenAI driven MobiLytix® Real Time Marketing (RTM) with advanced AI capabilities designed to help enterprise marketers drive higher conversion, retention, and customer lifetime value.

The new MobiLytix platform introduces powerful GenAI capabilities that significantly reduce manual interventions empowering marketers to design smarter faster and high engagement campaigns across customer journeys. Marketers can instantly generate message variations, tailor content for different segments, and surface actionable insights through conversational prompts that simplify reporting and analytics—translating complex performance data into clear guidance marketers can use immediately. This accelerates campaign creation, improves content quality, and leads to higher-performing engagements.

The platform gives marketing teams a new level of agility, making them largely self-sufficient in campaign planning and execution by leveraging AI-driven decisioning and a library of proven, pre-defined templates for common high-impact use cases—enabling concept-to-launch of even the most complex campaigns in quick time.

With the new release, Comviva has also laid the AI foundation for a new wave of autonomous AI agents. These agentic capabilities are designed to continuously learn from campaign performance, optimize creative, offers and timing in real time, and operate under marketer-defined governance and approvals—evolving toward self-optimizing marketing orchestration.

Speaking on the launch Manish Singhal, Head – MarTech Solutions at Comviva said, “Tomorrow’s marketing teams won’t just run campaigns; they will command an intelligent ecosystem of AI agents that plan, optimize and execute in real time. With the new GenAI driven MobiLytix Real Time Marketing, that future starts now. We are moving from marketing automation to marketing autonomy—where AI agents continuously learn, optimize and orchestrate, while marketers stay firmly in control. Marketing functions can now actively improve campaign performance, lift conversion rates, strengthen customer retention, and deliver sustained business growth leveraging the platform.”

With an intuitive new UI, modular architecture, and enterprise-grade scale, MobiLytix RTM is engineered to power the next wave of growth for digital-first businesses. At its core, the platform combines more than 120 advanced predictive and prescriptive AI models with a modern AI decisioning engine to personalize every interaction using a live 360° customer profile across multiple lines of business and channels in real time. Its enhanced journey orchestration workspace and modern UI give marketers a faster, more intuitive way to build journeys, collaborate across teams, and optimize programs in real time.

With over 300 million deployed consumer base, MobiLytix has a proven track record of customer success, powered by more than two decades of Customer Value Management expertise.

Media contact:
Sundeep Mehta
DGM, Global PR & Corporate Communications
Email: sundeep.mehta@comviva.com
Mob: +91-9910030732

YIWU, China, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The global solar industry experts converged in Yiwu for the landmark Global BC Tech Innovation Summit and the 14th bifiPV Workshop, held successfully on November 24-25. Co-organized by International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz (ISC Konstanz) and AIKO, the summit attracted over 600 leading research scholars, technical experts, and top managers from prominent PV companies and institutions worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of back contact (BC) technology.

The bifiPV Workshop, a premier global academic summit for the PV industry, has a history of fostering high-level dialogue in locations including Konstanz, Amsterdam, Denver, and Doha. Following its 2024 edition in Zhuhai, this year’s event returned to China, specifically to Yiwu, a hub for advanced BC cell and module manufacturing, to inaugurate a new chapter in BC technology development.

BC Technology: From Pioneering Path to Mainstream Momentum

The summit positioned BC technology as the undeniable future of crystalline silicon PV, poised to dominate the market. In his opening address, Radovan Kopecek, Founder and Committee Member of ISC Konstanz, outlined the bright prospects: “BC technology is rapidly gaining market share and customer acceptance. With its pathway to over 25% efficiency, exceptional temperature coefficient (well below -0.28%/K), bifaciality factor of 0.8+, lower degradation, and a compelling cost of ownership, BC is set to become the emperor of energy markets, driving Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) below 1 cent/kWh.”

Dr. Gang Chen, Chairman of AIKO, delivered a keynote speech titled “N-Type ABC Technology: Leading Humanity into the Zero-Carbon Era.” He emphasized the critical role of technological innovation in the energy transition. “The industry is now entering an era of value competition, driven by end-user needs,” stated Chen. With module efficiencies rising from 15% to 25% and heading for 35% (in 15 years), he asserted the industry’s focus must now be on value-driven, customer-centric innovation. He emphasized that BC technology is key to unlocking the high-performance, safe, and reliable energy solutions required for diverse applications worldwide.

A pivotal panel discussion, titled “BC Technology: The Next Big Thing is Here,” brought together key industry leaders to explore BC’s transition from a premium niche to a mainstream contender. The panel featured Dr. Yongqian Wang, Chief Scientist of AIKO; Dr. Hongbo Tong, President of The First Research Institute at LONGi; Prof. Dr. Peter Fath, CEO of RCT Solutions GmbH; and Dr. Gianluca Coletti, CTO of the FuturaSun Group, and moderated by Min Ge, Co-founder of TaiyangNews. The discussion highlighted BC’s superior value proposition, anchored not only in higher efficiency but also in greater reliability, safety, and a lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). While acknowledging current cost challenges, the panelists outlined a clear path for BC’s expansion beyond premium rooftops into utility-scale markets. They emphasized that success hinges on continued manufacturing innovations to improve yield and reduce costs, alongside robust supply chain collaboration.

Collaborative Ecosystem and Safety Standards

The innovative nature of BC technology necessitates collaboration across the entire industry chain. The summit served as a platform for in-depth exchanges among companies and institutions specializing in silicon materials, wafers, cell and module R&D, manufacturing, testing, and system integration.

A significant highlight was that TÜV Rheinland awarded AIKO and LONGi the “PV Module Anti-Ignition Hazard Certificate.” The certification validates that BC modules maintain significantly lower surface temperatures under high heat and shading compared to TOPCon, confirming their superior safety performance and enhanced protection for PV power plants.

Witnessing Innovation Firsthand

Delegates were invited to tour AIKO’s state-of-the-art Yiwu factory, observing the intelligent manufacturing process of ABC (All Back Contact) cells and modules firsthand. AIKO’s ABC modules, which have topped TaiyangNews’ highest efficient commercial solar module ranking for 33 consecutive months, exemplify the technology’s commercial readiness. The ABC INFINITE series modules, now being delivered to global markets, boast a mass production efficiency exceeding 25%.

The success of the Global BC Tech Innovation Summit underscores a strengthened global collaboration within the PV industry. As a co-organizer, AIKO reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners across the industry, academia, and research sectors to build a robust BC ecosystem, accelerate technological innovation, and collectively advance the world’s transition to a sustainable, zero-carbon future.

About bifiPV Workshops

The bifiPV Workshops have been at the forefront of the photovoltaic industry since their inception in 2012. These workshops have played a critical role in paving the way for the adoption and advancement of bifacial technology, which has since become a key component of the global solar industry. Now, with the focus shifting to bifacial BC technology, the bifiPV Workshop continues to lead the way, driving innovation and setting new benchmarks for the future of PV technology.

About ISC Konstanz

Founded in 2005, ISC Konstanz is Europe’s largest non-profit solar research institute. Dedicated to continuous innovation in BC technology, ISC Konstanz also focuses on the development of energy system applications, including system efficiency, stability, grid-integrated ecosystems, and hydrogen energy. The ISC Konstanz now holds a leading position worldwide, particularly in the field of crystalline n-type solar cells.

For more information, please visit https://isc-konstanz.de/en/startseite-english/

About AIKO
AIKO, a top-ranked solar technology leader, specializing in the research, development, and manufacturing of solar generation products. AIKO provides customers with solar cells, ABC (All Back Contact) modules, and scenario-based packaged solutions. Guided by the mission of “Empowering transformation towards a carbon-free era,” AIKO continues to pursue extreme innovation and cutting-edge technology.
For more information, please visit https://aikosolar.com.