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Detention of a 95-Year-Old Religious Leader Damages Korea’s Reputation: European Scholars of Religion Call for the Release of Chairman Lee Man-hee

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July 10, 2026

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Detention of a 95-Year-Old Religious Leader Damages Korea’s Reputation: European Scholars of Religion Call for the Release of Chairman Lee Man-hee

PRWire:

Concerns Raised at European Academy of Religion’s International Conference Held in Rome—Strong Appeals Over Violation of International Law

European scholars of religion are making strong appeals to the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, who remains in detention.

Chairman Lee was detained on 24 June on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act and was indicted on 30 June. The Joint Police–Prosecution Investigation Headquarters alleges that, between July 2021 and January 2024, he directed the mass registration of approximately 50,000 church members into a particular political party.

In response, Shincheonji Church stated that individual members freely participated in political activities and that both Chairman Lee and the church have faithfully cooperated throughout the entire investigation process, including the searches and seizures. The church also expressed deep regret, stating that detaining Chairman Lee, an elderly man aged 95, amounts in effect to a form of physical punishment.

Scholars of Religion State that Detaining an Elderly Person Over Non-violent Allegations Violates International Law

The European Academy of Religion (EuARe), a non-profit academic network connecting scholars and institutions of religious studies across Europe, held its Ninth Annual Conference in Rome, Italy, on 3 July, where the circumstances surrounding Shincheonji Church were addressed. During the session titled “Shincheonji, a Korean New Religion in Global Context,” European scholars of religion presented their respective academic papers on Shincheonji Church. The recent situation in South Korea, including the detention of Chairman Lee, was also shared with participants.

At the conference, Dr. Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist of religion and the Founder and Managing Director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), commented on the detention of Chairman Lee as follows:

“In all European Union countries, legislation mandates that, those older than 80, only exceptionally, should be put in jail; they should be under house arrest if needed, and only for violent crimes, if there is a risk of actual violence connected with blood crimes. Here, of course, there are no blood crimes, and the accusations are violations of electoral law.”

“And what Korea is doing to this elderly religious leader is in violation of international law, including the United Nations’ so-called Mandela Rules, which mandate that preliminary detention should be, in general, not the rule, and only in an extremely limited number of exceptional cases may be applied to elderly prisoners. So what is happening is an unmitigated scandal, which hides a political and religious vendetta.”

Eric Roux, an interfaith advocate and President of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF), who also participated in the session, reiterated the injustice of detaining an elderly person.

“A man of 95 years old being put in jail is not something that you can reconcile with the objective of respecting human dignity. Even if what you pretend he has done is true, you would not put a man of this age in prison as is the case now. So I would suggest that this be reviewed very fast to avoid something that would be very detrimental to the reputation of South Korea, which is please, get that man out of jail and do it now.”

Human Rights Expert Describes the Detention as Unthinkable in a Democratic Country

Human rights lawyer Alessandro Amicarelli expressed concern, citing South Korea’s democratic tradition. He is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, a barrister in Italy, and Chairman of the European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB).

“As a human rights lawyer, I always considered South Korea a true democracy where human rights are upheld like a foundation of the democracy. Unfortunately, what’s happening now is truly shocking. … We cannot accept that a religious leader in a democratic country, at the age of 95, has to be under this kind of pressure.”

“What we’re seeing right now, … it looks like South Korea is departing from its own Constitution, its own human rights foundation. For this reason, I’m very happy to support Shincheonji in your fight against abuse and persecution in South Korea and anywhere in the world.”

Shincheonji Church emphasized that the detention of Chairman Lee has gone beyond academic interest and is now being raised as an international human rights issue.

The international human rights organizations United for Human Rights and Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP-LC; Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience) submitted a joint written statement on the human rights issues faced by Shincheonji Church to the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 25 May (Document No. A/HRC/62/NGO/236; circulated on 10 June). In the statement, the two organizations assessed that “the situation has intensified” in South Korea and noted that framing members’ registration with a political party as evidence of “religion–politics collusion” is inconsistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees every citizen the right to participate in political life.

The two organizations further stated: “In December 2025, the President ordered the creation of a joint police–prosecutor task force explicitly targeting Shincheonji… Senior officials have publicly referred to Shincheonji as a ‘criminal organization,’ statements incompatible with the presumption of innocence.” They also added, “We [urge] the Government of the Republic of Korea to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of religion, non-discrimination, and state neutrality.”

Shincheonji Church noted that “As support and petitions from prominent figures in the international community continue to grow regarding the detention of Chairman Lee Man-hee, pressure on the South Korean government and the judiciary is also mounting.” It further said, “The prompt release of Chairman Lee is a matter of safeguarding freedom of religion and human rights, which are core values of democracy.”

Stigma Across Borders: Concerns Grow Over Discrimination Against Shincheonji Members Abroad

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July 9, 2026

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Stigma Across Borders: Concerns Grow Over Discrimination Against Shincheonji Members Abroad

PRWire:

International human rights group CAP LC submits written statement to U.N. Human Rights Council, urging that administrative and judicial decisions be based on verifiable evidence

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, said on July 9 that the international human rights organization CAP LC, the Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, had submitted a joint written statement to the U.N. Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

In the statement, CAP LC focused less on the controversy surrounding Shincheonji Church of Jesus itself than on the standards by which such matters are assessed. The group expressed concern that negative perceptions and unverified materials formed in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could have a serious impact not only on public opinion in other countries but also on administrative and judicial decisions.

CAP LC therefore urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church of Jesus on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the statement showed that if unfounded stigma were allowed to gain international acceptance, other religious minorities could also be judged in the same manner, underscoring the responsibility of states to protect the rights of all religious minorities.

CAP LC, which holds special consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council, or ECOSOC, is an international NGO that has consistently raised internationally watched cases involving religious freedom. It has previously brought before the United Nations issues including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over violations of religious freedom stemming from the Japanese government’s request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the fact that such an international NGO had issued a statement on the matter demonstrated that the case involving the church was not merely a domestic controversy in South Korea, but one that was also drawing attention in light of international human rights standards.

Stigma Without Evidence: Cases Across Countries Point to Social Discrimination

The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries, saying that negative perceptions of Shincheonji Church of Jesus members had gone beyond public opinion and led to administrative proceedings and interference with individuals’ social lives.

In the United Kingdom, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ application for registration, describing the church as a “cult,” a term whose legal definition remains unclear. CAP LC pointed out that the use of such terms without a clear legal basis in official administrative procedures can produce a strong social stigma.

In Germany and other German-speaking countries, cases have been reported of members facing workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media outlets and church figures. CAP LC said a critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was a major factor in deepening such discriminatory perceptions.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said such cases were not limited to isolated instances of harm identified in some countries. It said unfounded stigma and unverified claims were causing disadvantages for individual members in their workplaces, families and broader social lives, and called for administrative and judicial decisions in each country to be based on clear legal standards and verifiable evidence.

Rights Concerns Raised Over Detention of Elderly Leader Amid Party Membership Probe

The statement also shed light on controversy in South Korea over political participation. CAP LC criticized claims by some political forces that the party membership of Shincheonji Church of Jesus members amounted to “religion-politics collusion,” saying that political participation should not be treated as grounds for suspicion solely because those involved are members of a particular religion.

On that basis, CAP LC called on the South Korean government to uphold freedom of religion, the principle of non-discrimination and the state’s religious neutrality.

Amid these concerns, South Korea is conducting an investigation into allegations related to church members’ party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, citing concerns including possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act.

While the final determination of the charges will be made through the trial process, Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that this case, too, should be handled in accordance with due process and objective evidence, rather than social perceptions or political controversy. The church said this position was also in line with the concerns raised in CAP LC’s statement.

The necessity and proportionality of detention during the investigation have also emerged as issues. Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that the necessity and proportionality of detention should be subject to stricter scrutiny, given that Lee, born in 1931 and now 95, is of advanced age, has actively cooperated with the investigation, and that key materials have already been secured through searches and seizures.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the cases of discrimination cited in CAP LC’s statement and the investigation in South Korea raised a common question: what standards should state judicial and administrative authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities?

The church said the issue went beyond controversy over a particular religious group and served as a measure of whether the rights of religious minorities are being equally protected in domestic and international procedures. It also said this was why the international community was watching the case — to determine whether legal grounds and the principles of due process are being consistently upheld in South Korea’s investigation and in administrative and judicial decisions in other countries.

Ultimately, the church said, how the case is resolved would serve as a test of the strength of social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities, beyond the matter of a single religious organization.

Detained at 95: South Korea’s Prosecution of a Religious Leader Draws International Alarm

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July 9, 2026

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Detained at 95: South Korea’s Prosecution of a Religious Leader Draws International Alarm

PRWire:

International criticism is mounting over the detention and prosecution of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and over recent public remarks by South Korea’s Minister of Justice, Jeong Seong-ho.

On June 30, Minister Jeong announced on his social media account that Chairman Lee had been indicted while in detention, writing that “strict criminal punishment corresponding to its responsibility is inevitable.” He closed the post by quoting Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets.” Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a Christian denomination founded in South Korea in 1984.

Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religion, has published two articles in the religious-freedom and human-rights outlet Bitter Winter addressing this situation: the first on June 24, 2026, criticizing the detention of Chairman Lee at the time of his arrest; and a second on July 2, 2026, raising detailed criticism of Minister Jeong’s public remarks.

Detention of the 95-Year-Old Chairman: ‘Jailing an Elderly Religious Leader Violates International Standards’

Chairman Lee was taken into custody on June 24 on charges including violation of the Political Parties Act, and was formally indicted while still in detention on June 30. Investigators allege that between July 2021 and January 2024, Lee organized the enrollment of roughly 50,000 Shincheonji members into the People Power Party (PPP) in an effort to influence the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries.

Dr. Introvigne argued that placing an elderly religious leader in detention over a case that does not involve violence or other serious crimes falls short of the proportionality standards required under the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the “Mandela Rules”) and the principles articulated by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

He linked the case to that of Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church (the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), who was being held in a separate case, warning that “this is not an issue confined to a single religious group — a pattern is emerging in which physical detention is repeatedly used against elderly religious leaders.”

Immediately after the detention, Shincheonji Church of Jesus responded that “Chairman Lee and the church have fully cooperated with every stage of the investigation, including the search and seizure operations,” calling the detention “in effect a physical punishment imposed on a 95-year-old suspect.”

■ Justice Minister’s Public Remarks Targeting a Specific Religion: ‘A Conflict With State Neutrality’

What Dr. Introvigne found particularly troubling was the timing of Minister Jeong’s statement. Jeong made his public call for “strict criminal punishment” on the very day Chairman Lee was formally indicted while in detention. Introvigne noted that when the official who oversees the justice and prosecution system publicly declares the need for punishment just as a case is beginning, it risks being seen as prejudging the outcome.

Dr. Introvigne also pointed out that a public official’s use of a Bible verse that could cast the defendant in a negative light may conflict with the state’s principle of religious neutrality. Because a sitting Minister of Justice’s public statements are likely to be read as more than personal opinion — effectively as the government’s official position — he argued that such remarks warrant far greater caution.

■ The Central Issue Will Be Whether Coercion Occurred

The legal question at the heart of the case is not that members joined a political party, but whether they were coerced into doing so. Prosecutors say the evidence points to an organized, forced-enrollment campaign, while Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that members were not compelled by force or directive.

Dr. Introvigne predicted that the trial will hinge on what evidence and legal reasoning are used to prove coercion. He argued that “these charges risk criminalizing ordinary civic participation simply because the individuals belong to a religious minority,” adding that “Shincheonji members, like any other South Korean citizens, have the right to join a political party and support a candidate.”

■ “A Stain on South Korea’s Democratic Credentials”

Dr. Introvigne said the case is being closely watched in international religious-freedom circles not simply as a question of guilt or innocence for one religious group, but as a test of “whether a democratic state applies the same standards of rule of law and human rights to religious groups that are controversial or classified as minorities.”

If statements by senior government officials appear to influence judicial independence, a defendant’s right to a defense, or the political freedom of believers, the damage extends beyond the fairness of a single case — it can undermine confidence in the state’s commitment to the rule of law and human rights. A genuine democracy, he said, must guarantee the same procedures and rights to minority groups as to everyone else.

Dr. Introvigne described the situation as “a stain on South Korea’s democratic credentials” and said it is “a matter the world should pay attention to.”

Campaign Creators Earns HubSpot’s Software Industry Accreditation

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June 26, 2026

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Campaign Creators Earns HubSpot’s Software Industry Accreditation

PRWire:

Recognition validates Campaign Creators as a top option to help software companies design HubSpot around the full customer lifecycle, connecting acquisition, onboarding, customer success, renewals, expansion, and recurring revenue into one connected system.

San Diego, California — June 25, 2026 — Campaign Creators, a HubSpot Elite Solutions Partner, has earned HubSpot’s SaaS Industry Accreditation, recognizing its ability to help software companies architect HubSpot around the full customer lifecycle—from acquisition and activation to onboarding, customer success, renewals, expansion, and recurring revenue. With this latest accreditation, Campaign Creators has reached the maximum number of HubSpot Industry Accreditations awarded to a single Solutions Partner, a milestone that reflects the company’s continued investment in specialized, industry-focused HubSpot expertise.

Software companies need more than just one sales process to grow. Customers go through trials, onboarding, subscriptions, customer success, support, renewals, and expansion. HubSpot works best when all these stages connect in one system, so every team can see the full customer journey.

Campaign Creators earned the accreditation by showing strong results and expertise for software companies. The proof included real client projects, documented customer success after setup, and helpful articles showing how software companies can connect customer activity, onboarding, customer success, subscriptions, recurring revenue, and reporting through HubSpot.

Campaign Creators also holds SOC 2 Type II certification. Together with this new accreditation, it places the firm among a small group of HubSpot partners known for software expertise across HubSpot’s global partner network.

The award reflects Campaign Creators’ approach to working with software companies: build the structure first, then add automation; understand the customer journey first, then build campaigns; connect operations first, then focus on growth. The organization helps software companies build a connected revenue and customer lifecycle system. Every team shares the same customer information, every customer gets a more consistent experience, and leaders get better visibility into the business.

For software companies setting up HubSpot or improving their current system, this means more confidence in:

Structuring HubSpot around the complete customer lifecycle
Supporting free trial, freemium, demo, and sales-assisted buying journeys
Connecting product usage data, Product-Qualified Leads (PQLs), customer activity, marketing, sales, customer success, and support
Building onboarding pipelines that reduce time-to-value and help customers reach product adoption faster.
Tracking customer health, renewal dates, churn risk, and expansion opportunities from one connected system
Connecting HubSpot with Stripe, Chargebee, NetSuite, QuickBooks, and other subscription or finance tools to keep customer, billing, and revenue data aligned
Using HubSpot Service Hub to connect customer support, onboarding, customer success, ticketing, and lifecycle reporting

“Winning a customer is only the beginning,” said Bob Afsari, CEO of Campaign Creators. “Software companies grow through successful onboarding, product adoption, customer success, renewals, and expansion. Every team needs the same view of the customer so they can give a better experience and make better decisions. This accreditation shows our ability to build systems that help software companies connect every stage of the customer lifecycle into one complete operating model.”

Companies in SaaS keep facing pressure to improve customer retention, grow annual recurring revenue (ARR) and monthly recurring revenue (MRR), and reduce churn. Reaching these goals depends on connected teams, reliable customer data, and clear visibility across the whole customer lifecycle. The accreditation shows Campaign Creators’ ability to help software companies build HubSpot systems made for how Software companies grow today.

Learn more about HubSpot for software companies:

https://www.campaigncreators.com/hubspot-for-saas-companies

About Campaign Creators
Campaign Creators is a HubSpot Elite Solutions Partner that designs and operationalizes HubSpot systems for organizations with growing technical and operational complexity. With capabilities spanning architecture, CRM infrastructure, integrations, migrations, and cross-hub execution, Campaign Creators helps organizations build more connected systems that support better communication, stronger adoption, and scalable growth.

From Idea to Execution – Cancun Intensive

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June 23, 2026

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From Idea to Execution – Cancun Intensive

PRWire:

Why Do Smart Business Owners Stay ‘Stuck’ on Decisions They Already Know They Need to Make?

BOSS Cooperative announces “From Idea to Execution,” a five-day immersive business experience in Cancun built to help owners stop deliberating and start moving.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., June 22, 2026 — BOSS Cooperative today announced From Idea to Execution, a five-day immersive business experience in Cancun, Mexico, running September 16-20, 2026. The event brings together established business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs, and people considering a future venture to work through business and personal decisions they’ve been delaying, but know they need to make. Registration closes August 25, 2026, and the all-inclusive price is $4,997.

The format breaks from the standard business event. There’s no stage, no lineup of keynote speakers, and no networking reception where owners swap cards and forget each other by the elevator. A small group of owners and six experienced coaches spend the week together, with direct access to the coaching team from breakfast through dinner.

“Most business owners don’t need another book, podcast, webinar, or framework,” said Billie Olds, founder of BOSS Cooperative. “They already have more information than they can use. What they need is momentum. They need clarity. They need better conversations and an environment that helps them see what they’ve been missing.”

The premise is that owners usually already know their next move. The hire they need to make. The service they need to drop. The price increase they keep delaying. They just haven’t acted. The week is built to change that.

Coaching and strategy sessions are paired with shared experiences chosen for their impact on perspective, including a day exploring a thousand-year-old Mayan city and an evening navigating underground caves and rivers. Organizers say the excursion is never the point. Owners report that a decision they’d been circling for months became obvious once they were out of their usual environment and around people facing the same challenge.

“The biggest breakthroughs rarely happen when someone is sitting in a room trying to solve a problem head-on,” Olds said. “They happen in a conversation over dinner. In an experience that shifts your perspective. In a question someone asks at exactly the right moment.”

Attendees come for different reasons: some to grow, some to simplify, some to prepare for a major decision, some to figure out what comes next. The event is designed for owners and professionals across a range of fields, including trades and service businesses, professional service and accounting firms, consulting and coaching, marketing and creative agencies, real estate, and healthcare and wellness.

The $4,997 all-inclusive price covers flights from select cities, lodging, meals, excursions, and daily access to the coaching team. The event runs once a year. Because the program centers on business development, leadership, and decision-making, many attendees fund their participation through business or professional development budgets; individuals should consult their accountant or tax professional regarding their specific circumstances.

For more information, visit https://www.bosscooperative.com/cancun-boss

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About BOSS Cooperative

BOSS Cooperative is a business education and entrepreneurial ecosystem that helps business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs build capability, confidence, and freedom through experiential learning, coaching, community, events, and implementation-focused development. The organization works from a simple premise: action creates information, capability creates options, and options create freedom.

Open House Center Professional Counseling

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June 22, 2026

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PRWire:

The Center for Professional Counseling Invites the Public to an Open House, June 27, 2026

A Tradition of Counseling Excellence — Celebrating Half a Century of Service to the Community, with a year-long series of events

North Hollywood, California — June 27, 2026 — The Center for Professional Counseling, an award winning, accredited, provider of affordable mental health services for individuals, couples, and families, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of events to mark the milestone. The Center invites the community to its Open House on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5445 Laurel Canyon Blvd, North Hollywood, CA.

Bring the whole family as there will be games and fun activities for the kids along with refreshments for all. It will also be an opportunity to tour The Center, meet the staff and counselors; hear interns discuss their specialty in counseling, including those who focus on children, seniors, couples, trauma, parent/child communications and addictions.

Join the discussion about mental health and learn about The Center’s proven approach to treatment. For five decades, The Center for Professional Counseling has been dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care rooted in trusted expertise, personalized support, and a lasting legacy of excellence in mental health care.

“We honor a tradition of professional counseling rooted in integrity, experience, and genuine care—helping people navigate life’s challenges with confidence and clarity,” at The Center for Professional Counseling. “As we celebrate 50 years, our commitment to accessible care remains as strong as ever. Counseling does not need to be expensive to be effective.” Dr. Jack Mayhall, Executive Director at The Center

Celebrating 50 Years of Service

What: 50th Anniversary Celebration Open House
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: 5445 Laurel Canyon Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91607
Cost: Free, open to the public and students training to be therapists

About The Center for Professional Counseling

For 50 years, The Center for Professional Counseling has provided compassionate, high-quality counseling to individuals, couples, and families. Guided by a tradition of professional excellence, the Center helps clients navigate life’s challenges with confidence and clarity. To learn more, visit our website at www.thecenterpro.org or call us at 818-761-2227. Appointments are available 24/7 either in-person or via Telehealth.

Media Contact

Dr. Jack Mayhall, Ph.D., LPCC, LMFT

Campaign Creators Earns HubSpot’s Information Technology Industry Accreditation

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June 1, 2026

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Campaign Creators Earns HubSpot’s Information Technology Industry Accreditation

PRWire:

Recognition validates Campaign Creators as a top option to help IT services providers, technology organizations, and SaaS companies implement and optimize HubSpot as a secure, integrated, and scalable customer platform.

San Diego, California — June 1, 2026 — Campaign Creators, a HubSpot Elite Solutions Partner, has been awarded HubSpot’s IT Industry Accreditation, recognizing the firm’s ability to help IT services providers, technology organizations, SaaS companies, and managed service providers (MSPs) design and operationalize HubSpot as a secure, integrated, and scalable customer platform across marketing, sales, service, data, and customer operations.

For technology organizations, the recognition matters because HubSpot success depends on more than implementation. It depends on whether the platform is architected in a way that IT teams can trust, govern, scale, and evolve without creating security, integration, data, or operational risk. That requires thoughtful CRM governance, scalable API integrations, reliable HubSpot data sync, and customer operations architecture that supports long-term growth.

Campaign Creators earned the accreditation by demonstrating technology-specific delivery, successful industry implementations, and a clear go-to-market focus in the technology sector. That proof included real-world client execution, documented customer adoption of HubSpot after implementation, and public-facing thought leadership that demonstrates how technology organizations can approach CRM governance, customer operations, API integrations, HubSpot data sync, and scalable platform architecture with greater confidence.

In addition to its SOC 2 Type II certification, this accreditation places Campaign Creators among a select group of HubSpot partners recognized for technology-specific expertise within HubSpot’s global network of solutions partners, positioning them as a trusted partner for IT services providers, technology organizations, SaaS companies, and MSPs that need HubSpot environments designed around governance, integrations, customer operations, data architecture, and long-term scalability rather than a generic implementation approach.

The recognition reinforces Campaign Creators’ approach to technology-focused HubSpot engagements: governance before automation, architecture before customization, and connected systems before scale. Rather than treating HubSpot like a standalone CRM, the firm helps technology organizations design HubSpot as a secure, integrated, and governable customer platform that supports marketing, sales, service, data, and customer operations across the broader technology ecosystem.

For IT services providers, SaaS companies, MSPs, and technology organizations implementing HubSpot or modernizing an existing environment, that means greater confidence in areas such as:

structuring HubSpot around real customer operations workflows
improving visibility across disconnected systems, teams, and customer data sources
supporting CRM governance through field-level permissions, approval processes, and audit visibility
designing scalable API integrations and HubSpot data sync strategies across business-critical systems
creating a stronger foundation for reporting, service delivery, lifecycle management, and long-term scalability

“As technology companies grow, complexity grows with them,” said Bob Afsari, CEO of Campaign Creators. “More systems, more teams, more customer data, and more operational dependencies all place greater demands on the platform. This accreditation validates our ability to help organizations build HubSpot environments that can support that growth without creating unnecessary complexity along the way.”

As more technology organizations look to improve customer operations, operational visibility, and cross-functional alignment, the need for connected systems continues to grow. This accreditation proves that Campaign Creators can help IT services providers, SaaS companies, MSPs, and technology organizations build more unified HubSpot environments designed for governance, integration, and long-term scalability, enabling the firm to continue helping its top-tier customers grow better with HubSpot.

Organizations evaluating HubSpot for IT services, technology companies, or SaaS businesses can learn more at Campaign Creators’ HubSpot for IT page:

https://www.campaigncreators.com/hubspot-for-it-services

About Campaign Creators
Campaign Creators is a HubSpot Elite Solutions Partner that designs and operationalizes HubSpot systems for organizations with growing technical and operational complexity. With capabilities spanning architecture, CRM infrastructure, integrations, migrations, and cross-hub execution, Campaign Creators helps organizations build more connected systems that support better communication, stronger adoption, and scalable growth.

Mindfulness United Appoints Joseph Russell as CEO to Lead Mindfulness.com and Mindful.org Into Their Next Chapter

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May 27, 2026

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PRWire:

Award-winning app pioneer and digital product veteran joins prominent mindfulness ecosystem to deepen its global impact

BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA—26 May 2026—Mindfulness United, the company behind two of the world’s most respected mindfulness platforms—Mindfulness.com and Mindful.org—today announced the appointment of Joseph Russell as Chief Executive Officer, effective 25 May 2026.

Russell brings over 15 years of experience building, scaling, and leading digital products and mobile technology businesses. As co-founder and CEO of DreamWalk, one of Australia’s most recognized app development companies, he helped hundreds of brands and businesses—from Coca-Cola to The Secret—design and launch successful digital experiences. Throughout his tenure, DreamWalk produced dozens of chart-topping mobile applications before it was acquired by multinational advertising group Wellcom in 2012. The brand was then re-acquired by Russell and relaunched under his leadership in 2017.

Russell has been featured by The Today Show, The Project, The Australian, Lifehacker, and Executive Style, and has written extensively on digital product strategy for Smart Company, B&T Weekly, and Inside Small Business. He has also served as a mentor and advisor to social impact startups through ygap.

He joins Mindfulness United at a pivotal moment for both the company and the broader mindfulness industry. Mindfulness.com offers daily video coaching from world-class teachers, guided meditations, and structured courses anchored by some of the most credentialed practitioners in the field. Mindful.org, now in its 15th year of publication, is widely regarded as the world’s most trusted evidence-based mindfulness magazine and digital publication. It is home to more than 4,000 articles, 230,000 email subscribers, and the long-running 12 Minute Meditation podcast, which has produced nearly 500 episodes with some of the most respected teachers and researchers in the field.

“I’ve spent my career building digital products aimed at improving people’s lives,” said Russell, “but joining Mindfulness United is a rare opportunity to create genuine, lasting change. Mindfulness isn’t a wellness trend. The science is real, the teachers are world-class, and the need has never been greater. I’m here to make sure this platform reaches everyone who needs it.”

On the broader context in which he is joining, Russell was candid about why the timing feels meaningful: “We’re living through a period of extraordinary uncertainty. The research on what mindfulness does for human resilience—our capacity to respond rather than react—has never been more relevant.”

Russell added: “Mindful.org has spent 15 years earning the trust of readers, researchers, and practitioners. Combined with an app guided by teachers who helped build the clinical science of mindfulness, that’s something genuinely rare. My job is to bring those two things together and do justice to the groundbreaking products and legacy this team has built.”

Matt Dickinson, founder of Mindfulness United, said: “Joe brings exactly the combination of skills this company needs at this moment—deep expertise in mobile product and digital growth, a genuine understanding of what it takes to engage an audience, and a personal connection to the mission. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and excited to see what he builds.”

Russell assumes the role of CEO with immediate effect and will be based in Byron Bay.

About Mindfulness.com

Mindfulness.com is a leading meditation and mindfulness app offering daily video coaching, guided meditations, and structured courses from world-class teachers. Available on iOS, Android, and web, the platform is built on the principle that mindfulness practice should be evidence-based, taught by teachers with genuine depth of training, and accessible to everyone. mindfulness.com

About Mindful.org

Mindful.org is the world’s most trusted mindfulness publication, with 15 years of evidence-based editorial content reaching millions of readers globally. Home to m

ore than 4,000 articles, the 12 Minute Meditation podcast, expert-led courses, and an annual print magazine, Mindful.org has been the definitive English-language resource for practitioners, clinicians, educators, and researchers since 2009. mindful.org

Media Contact: Christine Fritz – Head of Marketing, Mindful.org & Mindfulness.com
christine@mindful.org

Saudia Takes Delivery of the First Airbus A321XLR in the Middle East and Africa

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theconverser.com

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May 25, 2026

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Saudia Takes Delivery of the First Airbus A321XLR in the Middle East and Africa

PRWire:

Saudia Receives Middle East and Africa’s First Airbus A321XLR

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to receive the extra long-range narrow-body aircraft.

The delivery took place in Toulouse on Sunday, May 24, 2026, and represents a major step in Saudia’s fleet growth program. The aircraft is part of the airline’s broader investment in newer aircraft models designed to improve operational efficiency, guest experience, and sustainability performance.

What makes the Airbus A321XLR important for Saudia

The Airbus A321XLR offers a range of up to 8,700 kilometers and can operate flights of up to nine hours. This gives Saudia the ability to serve longer international routes using a narrow-body aircraft.

For the airline, this means greater flexibility in matching aircraft capacity to route demand. It also allows Saudia to expand international connectivity more efficiently while maintaining its onboard service standards.

The first aircraft to feature “The New Saudia Experience”

The newly delivered A321XLR is also the first aircraft to include core elements of “The New Saudia Experience,” Saudia’s updated onboard offering.

The new experience focuses on several areas of the passenger journey, including comfort, connectivity, entertainment, dining, and service consistency.

The aircraft cabin includes:

24 Business Class suites designed for privacy and comfort
120 Guest Class seats
13-inch personal entertainment screens in Guest Class
Enhanced seat design
Charging ports for passengers

The aircraft will also feature high-speed inflight connectivity. According to Saudia, the service is designed to support browsing, live streaming, virtual meetings, and access to major entertainment platforms.

Business Class guests will also have access to Saudia’s in-flight chef service, offering a personalized dining experience with Saudi and international cuisine.

Saudia says delivery reflects its transformation strategy

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said the delivery reflects the momentum of Saudia’s ongoing transformation.

He said the airline’s focus is not only on adding capacity, but also on investing in aircraft, products, and capabilities that strengthen Saudia’s competitiveness and support the Kingdom’s aviation ambitions.

He added that “The New Saudia Experience” brings together enhanced onboard products, service quality, and operational efficiency to deliver a more distinctive journey for guests.

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s wider aviation ambitions

Saudia Group said its fleet investments also carry wider industrial and economic value for the Kingdom.

The airline group recently signed a deal with Airbus for 105 confirmed aircraft. According to Saudia, this agreement supports local content, creates opportunities for Saudi suppliers, and strengthens Saudi participation in global aviation supply chains.

As part of the agreement, Airbus will continue working with suppliers in Saudi Arabia to support their qualification for global aviation supply chains. The aim is to help build national capabilities and generate long-term economic value beyond aircraft acquisition.

More A321XLR aircraft expected by 2027

Saudia is scheduled to add 15 Airbus A321XLR aircraft to its fleet by 2027 as part of its wider fleet growth program.

The aircraft are expected to support network growth across several travel segments, including tourism, business, major events, and pilgrim travel.

The fleet expansion also aligns with Vision 2030 and the Saudi Aviation Strategy, as the Kingdom prepares to host major international events in the coming years, including the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo 2030, and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Nairobi Summit Unlocks Billions for Africa’s Clean Energy Future

theconverser.com

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May 22, 2026

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Nairobi Summit Unlocks Billions for Africa’s Clean Energy Future

PRWire:

African and French leaders have announced a major clean energy investment push in Nairobi, marking a significant step in efforts to position Africa at the center of the global green transition.

The commitments were unveiled during the Africa Forward Summit 2026, held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 11 and 12 May 2026. The summit was co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, and brought together African heads of state, business leaders, investors and innovators under the theme of building a more equal Africa-France partnership.

According to the Associated Press, more than $11 billion in renewable energy investments were announced during the summit, covering projects in sustainable aviation fuel, hydropower, solar energy, wind generation and clean cooking. The wider investment package announced by Macron was valued at €23 billion, or around $27 billion, with €14 billion expected from French companies and €9 billion from African entities.

A new energy partnership takes shape

The Nairobi summit was presented as more than a diplomatic meeting. It was framed as a shift from traditional aid-based relationships toward investment, co-development and industrial growth.

For Africa, the clean energy transition is not only about reducing emissions. It is also about expanding electricity access, developing local industries, creating jobs and ensuring that the continent benefits from its own natural and renewable resources.

Kenyan President William Ruto captured this message clearly at the summit, saying that Africa has an opportunity not only to participate in the global energy transition, but also to help lead it. He added that for Africa, the energy transition must also be an industrial transition.

That distinction matters. Africa has some of the world’s strongest solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower potential, but much of it remains underdeveloped. At the same time, millions of people across the continent still lack reliable access to electricity. The challenge is therefore not simply to produce clean energy, but to ensure it supports factories, transport systems, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and local economic growth.

Major deals announced in Nairobi

Among the headline announcements was an agreement between Kenya Airways and Rubis Energy to develop what the companies described as Africa’s first sustainable aviation fuel production facility in Kenya. The facility is expected to produce around 32,000 metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel per year.

Sustainable aviation fuel is seen as an important tool for reducing emissions in air travel, a sector that is difficult to decarbonize. For Kenya, producing this fuel locally could reduce dependence on imports while opening a new industrial opportunity linked to global aviation.

TotalEnergies also announced plans to spend $10 billion in Africa by 2030. This includes a $2 billion renewable energy project in Rwanda and $400 million for clean cooking initiatives in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Clean cooking remains a major development and health issue across the continent, where many households still rely on traditional fuels that can contribute to indoor air pollution.

Other announced projects included a planned 2-gigawatt hydropower project by EDF, a $350 million commitment by Global Telecom for a 250-megawatt solar plant in Zambia, and a $200 million investment by Meridian to double the capacity of Kenya’s Kipeto wind project to 200 megawatts.

Together, these announcements suggest that international investors are increasingly looking at Africa not only as a market for energy projects, but as a strategic player in the future of global clean power.

Finance remains the biggest test

While the Nairobi announcements are significant, African leaders made clear that investment commitments alone are not enough. One of the summit’s most important themes was the need to reform how global financial markets price African risk.

African governments have long argued that the continent is often treated as a high-risk investment destination, even when projects are commercially viable. This can raise borrowing costs, slow infrastructure development and make it harder to finance major energy and industrial projects.

Reuters reported that African leaders used the summit to push for easier access to credit and a rethink of risk pricing. Macron also backed the idea of a first-loss guarantee mechanism to help de-risk investment in Africa and said he would promote the proposal at the G7 summit.

This is a central issue for Africa’s energy future. Renewable energy projects require long-term capital, and high financing costs can make projects more expensive or prevent them from moving forward. If financing becomes fairer and more accessible, Africa could accelerate the deployment of solar, wind, hydropower, clean cooking and industrial energy solutions.

From aid to co-investment

The Africa Forward Summit was also politically significant. France has been trying to reshape its relationship with Africa at a time when its influence has declined in parts of the continent, especially in former French colonies in West Africa. Holding the summit in Kenya, an English-speaking country that was not a French colony, reflected a wider attempt to build a new kind of partnership.

The official summit platform described the event as a partnership “built on equal ground,” with themes including energy, finance, agriculture, artificial intelligence, the blue economy, health and industrialization.

For African countries, the message is increasingly clear: partnerships must move beyond aid, extraction and symbolic diplomacy. They must deliver infrastructure, technology transfer, local jobs, industrial capacity and fair access to finance.

For France and Europe, the summit highlights Africa’s strategic importance in a changing global economy. As demand grows for clean energy, critical minerals, digital infrastructure and new consumer markets, Africa is becoming a central arena for international investment.

A good-news story with real-world challenges

The Nairobi energy package is encouraging, but the real test will be implementation. Large investment announcements often take years to translate into completed projects. Questions remain around financing terms, environmental impact, local ownership, job creation, procurement transparency and whether communities directly benefit from the projects.

Still, the direction is important. The summit showed that Africa’s clean energy future is no longer being discussed only as a development issue. It is increasingly being treated as an investment, industrial and geopolitical priority.

If the announced projects move forward, they could help expand clean power, reduce reliance on imported fuels, support new industries and strengthen Africa’s role in the global energy transition.

Protein fibers: another sustainability breakthrough

The Good News report also highlighted a separate innovation in sustainable fashion: recyclable protein-based textile fibers developed by engineers at Washington University in St. Louis.

The research focuses on materials produced in bioreactors using genetically engineered microbes. According to Phys.org, the protein-based fibers can be recycled after use and remade into the same fibers over multiple cycles. Any microparticles released during washing would also be biodegradable, which could help reduce microplastic pollution from clothing.

This development is still at the research stage, not yet a mass-market replacement for polyester, nylon or cotton. However, it points to a promising future for fashion, where textiles could be designed from the start to be recyclable, biodegradable and less harmful to the environment.

The bigger picture

From renewable energy deals in Nairobi to protein-based fibers in the lab, the broader message is one of practical innovation. Governments, companies and researchers are no longer only talking about sustainability. They are beginning to build the systems, materials and partnerships that could make it work.

The Nairobi summit is especially important because it places Africa at the heart of that transformation. The continent is not simply a destination for outside investment. It is a source of solutions, markets, talent and renewable potential.

The coming years will show whether the pledges made in Nairobi become real projects on the ground. But the signal is clear: Africa’s clean energy future is moving from promise to strategy, and the world is paying attention.