Milestones underscore clinical progress and strengthen commercial foundation

LOS GATOS, Calif., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Supira Medical, Inc. (Supira), a clinical-stage company focused on transforming the percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) market, today announced FDA approval to initiate the SUPPORT II Pivotal Trial. The trial is designed to support a future PMA submission and represents a critical step toward U.S. market entry.

SUPPORT II (SUpira System in Patients Undergoing High-Risk Percutaneous COronaRy InTervention (HRPCI)) is a prospective, randomized controlled study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the company’s next-generation pVAD in patients undergoing HRPCI. The study will enroll up to 385 patients at up to 40 U.S. sites and is led by national co-principal investigators Dr. Ajay Kirtane, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and Dr. David Kandzari, Chief of the Piedmont Heart Institute and Chief Scientific Officer for Piedmont Healthcare, Atlanta, GA.

“In HRPCI, the decision to use hemodynamic support is often influenced by access, deliverability, and the balance between support and procedural efficiency,” said Dr. Kandzari. “A system that can provide effective circulatory support with a smaller profile has the potential to expand the available treatment population and improve effectiveness.”

“The appropriate use of a pVAD allows physicians to safely perform procedures of the highest complexity, offering HRPCI to patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Kirtane. “The initiation of this pivotal randomized trial of a novel, lower-profile hemodynamic support device is an important step in advancing the care of some of our highest risk patients.”

Advances in Cardiogenic Shock

Separately from SUPPORT II, the company has been pursuing opportunities to improve treatment options for patients experiencing cardiogenic shock. Recent case experience outside the U.S. includes the initial series of cardiogenic shock patients, utilizing percutaneous axillary access to enable patient ambulation with an active 10Fr pVAD.

Together, these milestones highlight what the next generation of temporary mechanical circulatory support can potentially enable; expanding access options, supporting mobility, and advancing how physicians manage critically ill patients.

For interventional cardiologists and heart failure specialists, full hemodynamic support with flexibility in percutaneous access site and the potential for patient mobility during support represent important steps toward improving the overall care pathway for cardiogenic shock.

Appointment of Medical Device Industry Veteran D. Keith Grossman as Independent Board Member

In parallel with these clinical milestones, Supira announced the appointment of D. Keith Grossman to its Board of Directors. Mr. Grossman’s 40-year leadership experience in the medical technology industry, including a foundational role in the mechanical circulatory support space, will reinforce the company’s focus on scaling toward market readiness and growth.

“Keith brings a valuable combination of operational discipline, commercial insights, and strategic perspective,” said Dr. Nitin Salunke, President and CEO of Supira Medical. “His addition as an independent member of our Board reflects our commitment to building an organization that is not only clinically differentiated but also positioned to execute at scale.”

“Supira has established a compelling clinical and technological foundation that is uniquely positioned to change the growing and still under-penetrated pVAD landscape,” said Mr. Grossman. “I look forward to supporting the company as it advances its pivotal trial and prepares to become a leading presence among treatment options for high-risk PCI and cardiogenic shock patients.”

About Supira Medical, Inc.

Supira Medical is focused on the development of a next-generation pVAD for use in high-risk patients undergoing interventional procedures and experiencing cardiogenic shock. To date, the Supira System has been used in 99 patients. To learn more about Supira Medical, please visit www.supiramedical.com.

pVADs are important for supporting cardiovascular function during HRPCI and in patients experiencing cardiogenic shock. HRPCI patients have complex coronary anatomy, compromised hemodynamics, and multiple comorbidities, while cardiogenic shock is a high-mortality condition where the heart is too weak to pump sufficient blood to vital organs, usually resulting from a heart attack or heart failure.

The Supira System is an investigational device and is not approved for sale in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. The device is limited by federal law to investigational use.

Media Contact:
Craig Brandli
VP of Marketing
craig@supiramedical.com

Conversational access to 150 years of interconnected scientific knowledge sets a new standard for trusted discovery

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, today announced the launch of CAS Newton℠, science-smart agentic AI built specifically for scientific discovery. CAS Newton is grounded in published scientific knowledge curated by CAS scientists, drawing on more than 150 years of literature within the CAS Content Collection™ to ensure accuracy and scientific rigor.

By grounding AI‑generated insights in comprehensive, curated scientific knowledge, CAS Newton delivers reliable answers that help researchers confidently navigate ambiguity, conflicting results, and incomplete evidence to accelerate progress. Early user feedback reinforces the value of this approach, with three out of four respondents rating CAS Newton answers as more trustworthy than those from other AI tools.

“CAS provides the most authoritative, comprehensive, and rigorously curated chemistry data available,” said John Yates, Professor, Scripps Research Institute, speaking in his personal capacity. “Developing intelligent AI agents on top of this foundation will significantly expand access and improve efficiency. CAS Newton will empower users, transforming casual users into highly effective superusers.”

Based on user feedback, CAS Newton is considered the best agentic AI for science because it engages conversationally with complex scientific questions and carries context forward as inquiry evolves, grounded in published scientific knowledge curated within CAS data. Through follow‑up interactions, it refines questions and synthesizes results across multiple steps, lowering the barrier to accessing trusted scientific knowledge and helping researchers move from question to insight more efficiently while maintaining scientific rigor across disciplines.

• Extract new and greater insight from published science data: CAS Newton draws on the CAS Content Collection to connect concepts across chemistry, biology, materials science, and intellectual property.
• Save time and get reliable answers to accelerate decisions: Science-smart agentic workflows summarize large reference sets into concise insights and refine their approach as questions deepen.
• Make global scientific knowledge easily accessible: CAS Newton provides conversational access to the world’s published scientific knowledge without requiring specialized search expertise.

“The launch of CAS Newton marks a major shift in how scientific knowledge flows through discovery,” said Tim Wahlberg, Chief Product Officer and interim President, CAS. “CAS Newton pairs science‑smart agentic AI with the reliability and governance of the CAS Content Collection so researchers can move from question to grounded answers they can verify. It extends beyond a single interface, meeting teams where they work, including within secure environments that allow organizations to apply CAS Newton alongside proprietary data. This gives R&D leaders and researchers a practical path to innovate faster without compromising trust.”

R&D organizations can deploy CAS Newton within secure environments and integrate it alongside proprietary data through MCPs, APIs, and third‑party AI platforms. This approach enables teams to innovate using their own data while maintaining the reliability, governance, and trusted scientific foundation of CAS data across research workflows. In alignment with the CAS approach to ethical artificial intelligence, CAS Newton operates within a secure application boundary, ensuring no user input is shared outside the solution, and that queries and results are never used for cross-user model training.

Users can now access CAS Newton within CAS SciFinder^®, CAS BioFinder^®, and through a standalone CAS Newton interface. To learn more, visit the CAS Newton introduction page on cas.org.

About CAS

CAS connects the world’s scientific knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs that improve lives. We empower global innovators to efficiently navigate today’s complex data landscape and make confident decisions in each phase of the innovation journey. As a specialist in scientific knowledge management, our team builds the largest authoritative collection of human-curated scientific data in the world and provides essential information solutions, services, and expertise. Scientists, patent professionals, and business leaders across industries rely on CAS to help them uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, and unlock shared knowledge so they can get from inspiration to innovation faster. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society. Connect with us at cas.org.

Media contact:
Joe Singh
Senior Communications Manager
CAS-PR@cas.org

The cloud-native solution delivers continuous updates, real-time visibility, and streamlined operations without system disruption

BOSTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Duck Creek Technologies, the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, today announced the general availability of Duck Creek Reinsurance with Active Delivery, a groundbreaking solution that eliminates the need for costly upgrades and empowers insurers to manage complex reinsurance programs at scale in an era of rapid market change and risk diversification. 

Built on the secure, scalable AWS platform, Duck Creek Reinsurance with Active Delivery delivers monthly product updates automatically. These updates are applied seamlessly in the middle of every month, ensuring zero disruption to month-end operations and removing the need for costly, resource-intensive upgrades. All updates are feature-flagged, giving insurers full control over activation timing, while protecting production environments. Any customization, if needed, is handled by the Duck Creek team.

Carriers today are held back by spreadsheets, fragmented systems, and limited visibility—driving claims leakage, slow financial close, and operational risk. As reinsurance complexity grows, these manual processes make it difficult to scale and respond to market changes. Duck Creek Reinsurance with Active Delivery replaces this with a cloud-native, always-current platform that centralizes contracts, automates workflows, and delivers real-time insight. By eliminating leakage and accelerating financial outcomes, insurers can shift reinsurance from a manual burden to a strategic advantage. 

“We are excited to introduce Duck Creek Reinsurance with Active Delivery, which brings a new level of functionality and control to reinsurance operations,” said Celine Thierry, Senior Director of Product Management, Reinsurance at Duck Creek Technologies. “By eliminating upgrade cycles and enabling continuous delivery, insurers can respond faster to market changes, improve financial outcomes, and focus on optimizing risk strategies and driving growth, rather than maintaining legacy systems.” 

Key Benefits Include: 

Cloud-native. Always current. 

• No upgrade projects 
• Continuous innovation without disruption 
• Secure, scalable SaaS delivery 

Centralized contracts. Total visibility. 

• One source of truth across treaties, facultative, assumed, and retrocession programs 
• Real-time, holistic view of contracts, exposures, and recoverables
• Improved contract certainty and audit transparency 

Stronger financial performance.

• Maximize recoverables and reduce leakage
• Accelerate collections and improve cash flow
• Faster close with more accurate reporting

Goodbye spreadsheets.

• Eliminate fragile workarounds
• Replace manual processes with purpose-built automation 

The platform also supports omnichannel access, enabling collaboration between underwriting, finance, and reinsurance teams. Dynamic workflows and rules-based processing help ensure consistent outcomes and optimized treaty performance. 

About Duck Creek Technologies
Duck Creek Technologies is the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built enabling the industry to capitalize on the cloud to run agile intelligent and evergreen operations. Authenticity purpose and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when where and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts
Marianne Dempsey/Tara Stred
duckcreek@threeringsinc.com 

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

SEOUL, South Korea, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kwang Mo Koo, Chairman and CEO of LG Corp., visited Silicon Valley—the global epicenter of AI innovation—to clarify LG’s direction for AI commercialization and accelerate execution across its business portfolio.

On the April 2, Chairman Koo met with Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies, and with Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, Co-founders of Skild AI—two of the world’s leading companies in AI software and physical AI, respectively. The meetings were designed to sharpen LG’s AI commercialization priorities, especially in AI-driven enterprise transformation and robotics, and to identify collaboration opportunities that translate into tangible outcomes.

Chairman Koo met with Alex Karp, founder and CEO of Palantir, and senior executives to discuss Ontology, Palantir’s AI- and data-driven decision-making framework, and representative innovation cases enabled by it.

Palantir has delivered distinctive AI transformation outcomes—including manufacturing, finance, and logistics—by combining large-scale data integration with AI-based rapid decision-making developed through its work with major global enterprises. Koo expressed particular interest in Palantir’s achievements in manufacturing and industrial environments, exploring potential benchmarking elements and collaboration opportunities, and discussing ways to enhance LG’s execution capability.

Koo met with Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, co-founders of Skild AI, at Skild AI’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. He attended a demonstration of a humanoid robot equipped with Skild AI’s intelligence and discussed the broader impact that a physical AI ecosystem could have on industrial sites.

In particular, Koo reviewed Skild AI’s growth strategy and its leading-edge robotic intelligence technologies, using them as an opportunity to assess the direction for LG’s robotics business and the implementation of manufacturing-focused AI transformation.

Skild AI is a company co-founded by Carnegie Mellon University professors Deepak Pathak and Abhinav Gupta, both recognized global authorities in physical AI. It is regarded as a top-tier player in the Robotic Foundation Model (RFM) domain, which serves as the “brain” of robots. Strategic investments have been made by leading global companies such as SoftBank and NVIDIA.

LG has applied its robotics technologies to the hospitality industry—such as serving, delivery, and guiding—as well as logistics centers for transport and loading, based on Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR). More recently, the company has been pursuing a home robot business utilizing humanoid robots.

Last year, LG signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Skild AI for the first time in Korea and also made an equity investment through LG Technology Ventures. LG CNS plans to develop an industrial AI humanoid robot solution based on Skild AI’s robotic foundation model, optimized with industrial data from manufacturing and logistics to support tasks that conventional robots struggle to perform.

Going forward, LG CNS aims to accelerate its robot services business by combining Skild AI’s RFM with LG CNS’s proprietary robotics solutions across manufacturing and other industrial settings.

Separately, LG Innotek is exploring component-supply collaboration opportunities with Skild AI.

About LG
LG is a technology innovator and global leader in consumer electronics, advanced materials, and automotive components. Founded in 1947, LG was a driving force behind South Korea’s modernization. The company produced South Korea’s first radio and television sets and today is a global leader in organic light-emitting displays (OLED), electric car batteries, and advanced industrial plastics. The LG group of companies operates in more than 60 countries that together generate USD 140 billion in annual revenue. LG Corporation (LG Corp.) is the holding company for industry-leading LG subsidiaries, such as LG Electronics, LG Display, LG Energy Solution, LG Chem, to name a few. For more information about the LG group of companies, visit lgcorp.com.

Park Hyatt Changsha Earns Prestigious Accolade;
Ratings Showcased on ForbesTravelGuide.com

CHANGSHA, China, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and cruise ships, recently announced its 2026 Star Awards. Park Hyatt Changsha earned a new Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star award and is showcased with other honorees on ForbesTravelGuide.com.

Occupying the top floors of Changsha IFS Tower 2, situated within one of the city’s most iconic shopping and commercial complexes, Park Hyatt Changsha is a stylish and sophisticated residence that harmoniously combines breathtaking views, cultural heritage and curated aesthetics with impeccable service. The interiors of Park Hyatt Changsha inspired by the natural colors and materials of Hunan province – famed for its caves, waterfalls, and soaring quartzite sandstone columns as well as the contemporary spirit and dynamism of Changsha as a commercial, manufacturing, and transportation hub. True to the Park Hyatt brand’s renowned connection to the arts, Park Hyatt Changsha is adorned with original paintings and sculptures that are deeply rooted in the context of their location.

Park Hyatt Changsha houses 230 modern rooms, including 24 suites with panoramic views of the city and Xiangjiang River starting from the 54th floor. The natural beauty of Hunan’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the timber slats and sage green palette, and the spacious rooms include a lounge area and walk-in-wardrobe. Spanning the hotel’s entire 62nd floor, Lilan is the dining and drinking destination, featuring five unique venues, each with its own distinctive décor and ambiance. Lilan’s attentive butlers provide impeccable service tailored to each guest’s preferences. Led by Executive Chef Zhang Wenwen, the culinary team at Park Hyatt Changsha showcases innovative Hunan cuisine that inherits traditional flavors, utilizing the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients. With a prized location in the heart of the city, evocative interiors and excellent culinary offerings, Park Hyatt Changsha is well-positioned to stage spectacular events, and has its sights set on being the city’s preeminent location for successful gatherings, big or small. Furthermore, the fitness center on the 48th floor, inspired by the concept of body-mind balance, offers an urban wellness retreat, complete with unique hydrotherapy facilities, providing a tranquil oasis amidst the vibrant city, reflecting an understated luxury approach to hospitality. 

“With its elegant interiors, exquisitely landscaped gardens, charming floral arrangements, and inspirational contemporary art, says Albert Hong, general manager, Park Hyatt Changsha. “We aim to offer unparalleled comfort and exceptionally attentive service to its worldly guests seeking reprieve from their extensive travels.”

Forbes Travel Guide’s highly anticipated 68^th annual Star Awards list covers more than 95 countries.

“Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award winners exemplify excellence in hospitality,” said Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “This year’s list reflects the changing landscape of luxury with properties setting the standard for authentic experiences while offering unparalleled amenities, enhanced well-being and delivering unforgettable moments. We are thrilled to recognize their dedication to creating truly world-class travel options for today’s discerning guest.”

To view the new Star Award winners, visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.

To learn how Forbes Travel Guide compiles its Star Ratings, click here.

Connect with Forbes Travel Guide:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide

X: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

About Forbes Travel Guide: 

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, cruises and their restaurants. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travelers select the world’s best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspection process. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, please visit ForbesTravelGuide.com.

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt’s legacy spans over 45 years of being the luxury choice for discerning global travelers, offering refined and exceptional accommodations in the world’s most desirable cities and resort destinations. Each property is thoughtfully designed to deliver residentially inspired elegance through architecture, housed world-class art, and curated immersive culinary experiences—all complemented by an intuitively personalized level of service. Guests enjoy carefully appointed rooms, acclaimed design, and signature restaurants led by award-winning chefs—creating experiences as personal as they are memorable. For more information, visit parkhyatt.com. Follow @ParkHyatt on Facebook, X and Instagram, and tag your moments with #LuxuryIsPersonal.

BANGKOK, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Blending the charm of Thai cultural heritage with a contemporary lifestyle, the event elevates Thailand’s iconic festival onto the global stage under the concept of a “Festive Iconic Landmark of Songkran Culturtainment Destination” in the heart of Bangkok throughout April.

The celebration begins at Central Court, 1st Floor, with World-Class Thai Showcases from April 11–15, 2026. This curated program brings together rare and remarkable Thai cultural performances in one place—from Khon, Hun Lakhon Lek (traditional Thai puppetry), and Nang Yai shadow play, to contemporary interpretations such as the “Sabai with Jeans” fashion showcase. The experience is further enhanced with mini concerts by rising T-Pop artists and a vibrant Mascot Parade featuring beloved elephant characters “Chuenjai–Chaiyo,” spreading joy throughout the festival. Visitors can also take part in auspicious activities such as the “Maha Song Nam Phra,” featuring sacred Buddha images from five countries, along with Snap & Refresh, where guests can capture moments for a chance to receive vouchers from leading brands within the center.

The excitement continues with the key highlight, “PEPSI Presents THAI LIZM 2026,” from April 11–13, transforming the centralwOrld Square into a Summer Beach Club in the heart of the city. Infused with modern Thai pop culture, the event creates a one-of-a-kind “Songkran beach party experience” featuring over 100 artists, including JOEY BOY, TaitosmitH, PROXIE, PERSES, BNK48, and F.HERO. Spanning four experience zones—concert stage, water play zone, chill-out area, and the thrilling PEPSI Giant Slider soaring over 12 meters high—the festival delivers non-stop energy across three full days.

Another standout moment is the three-day consecutive Songkran Parade, marking its first-ever appearance in the city center. Led by Opal Suchata Chuangsri, Miss World 2025, the parade showcases the elegance of Thai culture to a global audience, alongside renowned artists who bring vibrant energy to each day of the celebration.

The festivities continue with “FWD Music Live Fest 5” from April 17–19, along with The Summer Club 2026, further amplifying the city’s music and lifestyle scene.

This Songkran, centralwOrld is more than just a place to celebrate—it is a world-class destination for experiences, where entertainment, culture, and Thai Soft Power come together in one iconic location.

BEIJING, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When foreign media professionals, business leaders and scholars from 12 countries walked into Chongqing recently, they gained a chance to learn more about the vibrant automobile industrial base in southwest China.

The tour dedicated to feeling new quality productive forces in automobile sector in Chongqing was organized by China Economic Information Service, China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. (CAERI) and the Belt and Road Economic Information Partnership.

In general, site visits, immersive experiences and face-to-face talks with local industry representatives gave foreign guests insight into Chongqing’s R&D, testing and certification strengths in automobile industry.

At Chongqing Changan Automobile’s (Changan Automobile) global R&D center, also its “technological heart”, the group of foreign media, business and academic professionals observed its edge-cutting labs and the entire R&D, testing and production process of autos.

Its comfortable family sedan model, the CHANGAN NEVO A06, positioned as “The Grand Beauty & Ultra-Comfort New Sedan” and built on the basis of its industry-leading Software Driven Architecture (SDA), features a suite of technologies integrated to enable smart driving, including expressway and urban navigation assistance and full-scenario parking.

In a trial ride of the CHANGAN NEVO A06, participants of the Chongqing tour were impressed by its quiet and smooth driving and interactions with the smart cabin, let alone other tech-enabled care for passengers such as seat massage and thermal comfort.

Representing the progress of the new generation of electric vehicles, the model is equipped with advanced automation and AI technologies, commented Malaysian scholar Chung Tin Fah. Prensa Latina journalist Diez Millan Isaura expressed her sense of safety in the trial ride of the CHANGAN NEVO A06.

At CAERI’s headquarter, these foreign guests stepped into its wind tunnel, analog network and security centers, experiencing in-person CAERI’s supreme testing capabilities and standards regime for made-in-China vehicles.

While introducing its overseas technological layout, Wang Honggang, deputy general manager of CAERI stressed its strategic shifting from a testing service supplier to an international technology and rule-aligning promoter.

CAERI, which boasts testing capabilities across the full industrial chain, will explore more sustainable modes to spur technology, standard and service capacity cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries.

Chongqing, home to Changan Automobile and a city with a complete industrial chain.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/349996.html