WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the global demand for medical travel, medical tourism, and healthcare tourism continues to accelerate, Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) remains at the forefront of advancing safe, transparent, and patient-centered cross-border care. Recognized as the first accreditation body dedicated exclusively to medical travel, GHA has played a pivotal role in shaping international standards, strengthening patient trust, and enabling healthcare providers and destinations worldwide to compete and collaborate in an increasingly globalized healthcare ecosystem.

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) has appointed Dr. Jilan Liu as Vice President of Global Strategy, reinforcing its leadership in advancing safe, patient-centered medical travel worldwide. Dr. Liu brings over 30 years of international healthcare experience across accreditation, consulting, digital health, and health system transformation.

Against this backdrop of rapid industry growth and transformation, GHA is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jilan Liu as Vice President of Global Strategy, further strengthening its global leadership and strategic expansion across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Dr. Liu brings more than three decades of international healthcare experience, extending to over 30 countries and multiple sectors including accreditation, consulting, health systems, and digital health transformation. She previously served as Chief Executive for Greater China at Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, where she played an essential role in advancing the adoption of international health IT standards and accelerating digital transformation across hospitals in the region. In addition, as Principal Consultant and Director for Greater China at Joint Commission International, Dr. Liu advised hundreds of hospitals globally, guiding them in improving patient safety, operational excellence, and quality of care.

Dr. Liu’s appointment reflects GHA’s commitment to deepening its presence in the APAC region and supporting healthcare organizations in delivering high-quality, patient-centered, and globally aligned care. As Renée-Marie Stephano, CEO of Global Healthcare Accreditation, shared, “Jilan’s extensive experience across accreditation, digital health, and healthcare transformation makes her uniquely positioned to guide our strategic growth in the APAC region and globally. Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our mission to improve patient safety, elevate standards, and support healthcare organizations navigating the evolving global healthcare landscape.”

Reflecting on her new role, Dr. Liu noted, “I am honored to take on this role with Global Healthcare Accreditation at such a dynamic time for healthcare in the APAC region and beyond. There is a tremendous opportunity to align global standards with regional needs, strengthen trust, and support organizations in delivering high-quality, value-based, patient-centered care across borders. I look forward to contributing to GHA’s continued growth and impact worldwide.”

With Dr. Liu’s leadership, GHA aims to further expand its footprint in Asia-Pacific and other strategic regions, foster strategic partnerships, and support healthcare providers to develop programs and operations in meeting the growing demand for safe, high-quality, and internationally trusted care.

About Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA)

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) goes beyond accreditation, serving as a strategic partner committed to enhancing patient experiences and promoting global healthcare practices. Drawing on expertise from leading accreditation bodies, healthcare innovators, and senior executives in the medical travel and wellness tourism sectors, GHA delivers tailored solutions for governments, healthcare providers, and industry stakeholders worldwide. Its Standards 5.0 for Medical Travel have been accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (ISQua EEA), underscoring alignment with the highest international benchmarks for accreditation entities.

Through its accreditation, certification, training, and advisory services, GHA promotes transparency, patient-centered care, and continuous improvement across the global healthcare ecosystem.

Nearmap unifies capture, AI analytics, and materials intelligence – bringing the full property intelligence value chain into one proprietary platform

SYDNEY, April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nearmap today announced the next phase of its evolution as a global property intelligence company, bringing together geospatial data capture, AI-derived analytics, and verified building materials data to create a single, trusted source of truth for property decisions.

Across insurance, government, and the architecture, engineering, construction and operations industries, understanding property conditions has traditionally required piecing together information. Imagery may come from one provider, analytics from another, and materials data only after a loss occurs. This fragmentation slows decision-making and leaves organisations working with incomplete insight.

Nearmap property intelligence connects visual data, AI analytics, and verified materials insight to create a comprehensive understanding of properties at scale, turning what was once disparate information into clear, actionable evidence. While most providers specialise in individual layers of property data, Nearmap brings capture, analytics, and materials intelligence together in one platform.

“Organisations have long been forced to make important property decisions without having the full picture – an image here, a dataset there, and a lot of manual interpretation between,” said Andy Watt, Chief Executive Officer at Nearmap. “Nearmap connects capture, AI-driven analysis, and materials intelligence into a single, reliable source of truth. When organisations can clearly understand what exists on a property and how it’s changing, they can reduce uncertainty and make better decisions at scale.”

“Nearmap imagery is one source of truth that allows us to understand many attributes about a property that standard data sources may not catch,” said Adam Sturt, SVP of Data and Analytics at Kin Insurance. “Recent imagery from Nearmap allows us to review the insights against the analytics and truly understand the property’s condition.”

Nearmap controls the full property intelligence value chain, from patented camera technology that captures high-resolution aerial imagery to AI-derived insights about structures, conditions, and change over time. When combined with building materials intelligence, the result is a consistent and verifiable understanding of properties at scale.

A key step in expanding these capabilities came with the acquisition of itel in 2025, a leader in building materials intelligence. Integrating itel’s verified materials data and pricing expanded what Nearmap can deliver to insurers and property professionals, particularly when evaluating repair-versus-replace decisions and improving claims accuracy within a single platform.

“Nearmap has been a part of our business for as long as I can remember. Witnessing the evolution of the product – and the insights it now delivers – has been truly remarkable,” Ben Marsonet, Chief Executive Officer, Altus Traffic Australia.

Another milestone in the company’s growth was its acquisition by leading software investment firm Thoma Bravo in 2023, which accelerated investment in capture technology, artificial intelligence, and data innovation.

“Organisations are under increasing pressure to understand property risk, cost, and change with far greater precision,” said Peter Hernandez, Principal at Thoma Bravo. “The Nearmap approach to combining capture, analytics, and materials intelligence creates a differentiated platform that addresses those needs. We’re excited to support the company as it continues to scale that vision.”

As risks tied to climate, infrastructure, and development continue to evolve, organisations need clearer insight into the properties and assets they manage. Nearmap helps replace uncertainty with evidence so teams can see truth, assess risk, and act with certainty.

Founded in Australia in 2007, Nearmap has grown into a global technology company supporting customers across North America, Australia, and beyond. For more information, visit www.nearmap.com.

About Nearmap
Nearmap is a global property intelligence company redefining how organisations understand and act on the built environment. By owning the entire intelligence value chain – from high-recency geospatial capture powered by patented camera technology to accurate AI-derived analytics and guaranteed building materials data – Nearmap delivers a single, trusted source of truth for property decisions. Insurers, government agencies, and AECO organisations rely on Nearmap to transform property uncertainty into evidence, helping organisations move beyond fragmented data and manual processes with verified, frequently updated insight. These proprietary insights enable faster, more confident decisions across underwriting and claims, assessment and response, and planning and construction so teams can see truth, assess risk, and act with certainty. Founded in Australia in 2007, Nearmap stands as the definitive source of truth that shapes the livable world. For more information, visit www.nearmap.com.

Media Contact
Taylor Cenicola
Taylor.cenicola@nearmap.com

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/nearmap_logo.jpg

Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana will bring together elite teams from across the globe, all competing for the final spots at the world’s most innovative sporting event where physical sport meets competitive gaming.

DUBAI, UAE, April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The race to the Games of the Future 2026 is entering its final stage, as Phygital International has announced the full line-up of teams and athletes set to compete at Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, bringing together some of the best phygital talent from across Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

Phygital Football athletes competing at GOTF 2025

Taking place from 10–15 June 2026, the tournament will feature leading teams across Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball and Phygital Dancing, all aiming to secure qualification to the Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026), where they will compete for global glory and a share of over US$4 million prize pool.

With qualification on the line and only a limited number of slots available, Astana will host some of the most intense and competitive matchups seen across the phygital calendar to date. Teams arriving have already proven themselves across the Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals regional circuits, but only a select few will progress to compete on the global stage at the Games of the Future 2026 this summer, raising the stakes across every match and performance.

Across all three disciplines, teams will compete in the Games of the Future’s signature phygital format, combining digital gameplay with live physical performance into a single competitive structure.

In Phygital Football, one of the most popular disciplines, a strong international field will take to the stage, with teams such as KMF Titograd from Montenegro returning with unfinished business after narrowly missing out on a place at GOTF 2025 last year, alongside teams including Lahore Athletics, coming all the way from Pakistan for the first time, and one of the most successful Liga Fut7 teams in Brazil, OEASTE SP, all set to compete for qualification in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.

In Phygital Basketball, Valencia Basket 3×3, winners of Phygital Rivals Spain, arrive as one of the new phygital teams to watch. Representing the city’s professional 3×3 team, they will face strong opponents including Boca, the official 3×3 team of Boca Juniors from Argentina, and Serbia’s 2025 3×3 champions, Vozdovac, as they look to secure their place at the Games.

Meanwhile, blending rhythm, precision and physical endurance, Phygital Dancing will bring together a truly international line-up of performers from across the globe, featuring established names such as Brazil-based GOTF 2025 runner-up Tiago Silva and Netherlands-based Dion Visser, alongside emerging talents including Armenia-based Lala Geborgyan and Jose Campos from Peru, all competing for the final places on the global stage later this summer.

“This second edition of Phygital Contenders reflects the strength of the pathway we have built,” said John Hewitt, International Marketing & Communications Director at Phygital International. “Seeing such a competitive and diverse line-up, with both returning teams and new challengers, is a strong indication that we are moving in the right direction. As teams compete for their place at the Games of the Future in Astana this summer, it is clear that the ecosystem is not only growing, but also becoming more competitive with each season.”

With Astana preparing to host the Games of the Future 2026, the qualifiers provide an early opportunity to showcase the city’s role at the centre of the global phygital calendar.

Alibek Khassenov, Head of the Directorate of the Games of the Future 2026 said: “Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana represents a key milestone on the road to this summer’s Games of the Future, and an opportunity to showcase Kazakhstan’s ambition to be at the forefront of innovation in sport. Together with our partners, we are proud to welcome the world’s top phygital athletes and support the continued growth of this dynamic format.”

In parallel to the announcement of the lineup for Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, the first teams for the Games of the Future 2026 in Phygital Shooter have also been revealed. Among them are new challengers such as South Africa’s Hybrids and Spain-based Klan Pedrajas, who will join reigning champions xGoat as part of an eight-team line-up in Astana.

The Games of the Future 2026 (July 29 – August 9) will bring together multiple phygital and esports disciplines, including Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter and Phygital Fighting, alongside thrilling esports competitions including MOBA on both PC and mobile, as well as Battle Royale.

As the pinnacle event of the global phygital calendar, GOTF 2026 is expected to bring together more than 900 participants from over 50 countries, continuing to define the future of sport by integrating digital competition with physical performance under a single competitive framework.

The full list of participants at Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, along with the rankings overview across all phygital disciplines, is available here.

To keep up to date with the latest news on Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana and the Games of the Future 2026, visit the official website.  Fans can catch all the action from Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana live (and relive the action from GOTF 2025) via the official OTT platform: tv.gofuture.games. 

Notes to Editors:    

Looking forward to covering our upcoming phygital sport events?

Media interested in covering Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana and/or the Games of the Future 2026 will soon be able to apply for accreditation please visit the Media Centre at GOTF2026 website for the latest updates.

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 were held in Abu Dhabi while the Games of the Future 2026, will be held in Astana.

For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games/ 

About Phygital International (PI):  

Phygital International is the promoter of phygital sports globally and is focused on innovating and redefining sports. It is the custodian and rights holder of the Games of the Future and oversees the bidding process for each host city.  

For further information please visit https://Phygitalinternational.com or contact us at: press@phygitalinternational.com

Phygital Basketball athletes competing at GOTF 2025

As Legacy Tools Continue to Fail Mobility Teams, Horizon Arrives as the First AI-Native Platform Built Around How Programs Actually Work, Not the Other Way Around

DENVER, April 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Topia, the global leader in workforce mobility technology, today announced the launch of Horizon, the first agentic AI platform purpose-built for global mobility. Horizon doesn’t just manage employee movement — it actively works alongside mobility teams to build, run, and continuously optimize their programs through embedded AI agents, a natural-language policy builder, and deep integration into existing tools and workflows.

For decades, global mobility has been underserved by software designed for a different era. Legacy tools forced programs into rigid structures, generated compliance risk through manual processes, and left HR and mobility teams buried in administrative work. Horizon was built in direct response to that failure.

“The mobility software market has been broken for a long time, and the people who have suffered most are the teams trying to do right by their employees,” said Dave Walters, CEO of Topia. “Horizon is our answer to that — an AI-native platform that meets mobility teams where they are, thinks with them, and does the heavy lifting so they can focus on what actually matters: getting people where they need to go, compliantly and confidently.”

Agentic AI That Works the Way Mobility Teams Do

Horizon introduces a new paradigm for mobility operations: agentic AI embedded throughout the platform that proactively surfaces insights, automates complex tasks, and suggests actions without requiring teams to leave their workflow. Built natively into leading MCP (Model Context Protocol) environments, Horizon’s agents operate inside the tools companies already use — eliminating context-switching and bringing intelligent mobility management into existing HR ecosystems.

Every interaction is enterprise-compliant with zero data retention, grounded in deep enterprise context, and runs on your data and your infrastructure. No implementation consultants. No months-long setup.

“We architected Horizon from the ground up to be AI-native, not AI-bolted-on,” said Mark Lemmons, CTO of Topia. “Every agent shares a unified data layer, so they reason across the full mobility lifecycle. When a new assignment is initiated, Horizon’s agents are already assessing risk, modeling cost, flagging compliance requirements, and drafting policy recommendations before a mobility manager has to ask.”

What Horizon Delivers

• Agentic AI Across the Full Mobility Lifecycle — Proactive agents that surface insights, automate compliance checks, and recommend actions from pre-move planning through repatriation.
• AI Policy Builder — Describe your program in natural language; Horizon generates fully configured, audit-ready policies instantly.
• Real-Time Compliance Intelligence — Country-by-country tracking with proactive alerts, risk scoring, and audit-ready documentation.
• Cost Modeling & Scenario Planning — AI-assisted estimation across compensation, tax, housing, and relocation before a move is approved.
• Employee-First Experience — Clear guidance, real-time status, and AI-assisted support throughout the employee journey.

To learn more or request a demo, visit topia.com/horizon/capabilities.

IRVINE, Calif., April 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – Boston Aesthetics today announced the appointment of Brandon Nye as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Nye will lead the company’s strategic growth initiatives, commercial expansion, and operating execution as Boston Aesthetics enters its next phase of market development in the global medical aesthetics sector. For more information, visit https://bostonaesthetics.com/en-US/.

The medical aesthetics market continues to evolve as providers increasingly seek solutions that deliver both strong clinical outcomes and sustainable practice economics. At the same time, the market is becoming more complex, shaped by shifting patient demand, the rise of medical weight-loss therapies, tighter capital conditions, and a growing focus on utilization and return on investment. Boston Aesthetics is positioning its business to meet these dynamics through differentiated technologies, flexible commercialization pathways, and long-term provider partnerships.

Boston Aesthetics is powered by Peninsula Medical Group’s engineering, innovation, and manufacturing capabilities, supported by a global platform in energy-based medical aesthetic technologies. Peninsula Medical Group has a research and development team of more than 400 engineers dedicated to rapid innovation, engineering excellence, and the development of next-generation aesthetic technologies.

“At Boston Aesthetics, we believe the future of aesthetics must be built on more than clinical outcomes alone. It must also create lasting value for providers, reduce friction in adoption and use, and deliver a better experience for patients,” said Shawn Ho, Chief of Staff for Peninsula Medical Group and Head of Business Development for Boston Aesthetics. “We do not believe meaningful aesthetic results should come at the cost of pain, inefficiency, or unnecessary burden. Our belief in ‘Beauty With No Boundaries’ reflects a deeper commitment to redefining the balance between treatment experience and clinical outcome. Brandon shares that conviction at a fundamental level. He understands our long-term vision, our partnership-driven approach, and our belief that the future of this industry belongs to companies that can create meaningful outcomes for both providers and patients.”

“Boston Aesthetics is uniquely positioned at the intersection of innovation, scale, and market insight,” said Brandon Nye, Chief Executive Officer of Boston Aesthetics. “As the aesthetics market evolves, providers increasingly need solutions that combine strong clinical outcomes with sustainable economics and a better treatment experience. Our focus is to build differentiated technologies and commercial models that support long-term utilization, strong customer partnerships, and durable value creation.”

“We are building a model designed to support customers across the full lifecycle of adoption and use,” Nye added. “Through flexible go-to-market pathways and a long-term partnership approach, we aim to help providers grow their practices while delivering consistent value to patients.”

“Peninsula Medical Group’s strategy has always been grounded in clinical outcomes, scalable innovation, and long-term partnership models,” Ho added. “Our investment in Boston Aesthetics reflects a strong belief that success in the U.S. market requires both local commercial agility and deep global capabilities in engineering, manufacturing, and innovation.”

Brandon Nye is a 15-year medtech industry veteran who most recently served as Vice President of Sales at InMode. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Boston Aesthetics, Nye led high-performing growth teams and built commercialization capabilities across capital equipment markets.

Boston Aesthetics will continue to operate from its headquarters in Irvine, California, leveraging Peninsula Medical Group’s global research, development, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate innovation, commercialization, and strategic partnerships across the medical aesthetics market.

About Boston Aesthetics

Boston Aesthetics is a medical aesthetics company headquartered in Irvine, California, focused on delivering advanced energy-based aesthetic solutions to physicians and practitioners worldwide. Guided by its mission, Beauty With No Boundaries, the company is committed to advancing technologies that combine strong clinical outcomes, a better treatment experience, and lasting value for providers and patients. To learn more, visit https://bostonaesthetics.com/en-US/.

About Peninsula Medical Group

Peninsula Medical Group, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is a global platform in energy-based medical aesthetic technologies, distinguished by its sustained investment in research and development, engineering depth, and manufacturing scale. Rooted in a core medical belief that advanced technology should benefit more people, the company is committed to developing and commercializing innovative aesthetic solutions that make high-quality care more accessible worldwide.

Media Contact
Shawn Ho,
Chief of Staff, Peninsula Medical Group; Head of Business Development, Boston Aesthetics
Email: shawn.h@bostonaesthetics.com
Website: https://bostonaesthetics.com/en-US/