Fort Lauderdale, USA, October 1st, 2026, FinanceWire

Local payment infrastructure is designed to help marketplaces, gig economy platforms, gaming and esports companies, insurance providers, affiliate networks, clinical research organizations and other enterprises deliver funds through domestic payment rails in local currency

International Payout Systems, Inc. (“i-payout”), a global provider of payment and payout technology, today announced the continued expansion of its true local payment capabilities as part of the company’s broader strategy to help enterprises manage increasingly complex domestic and global payout programs.

For i-payout, a true local payment means funds delivered through domestic payment rails directly to a recipient’s local bank account in the recipient’s local currency — not through SWIFT and not through an international wire.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important for enterprises that need to pay large and geographically dispersed recipient populations across multiple countries, currencies and payment methods.

Marketplaces may need to pay thousands of sellers and merchants. Gig economy and freelance platforms may need to compensate independent workers across dozens of markets. Gaming and esports companies may need to pay players, creators, affiliates and tournament participants. Insurance companies may need to distribute claims and reimbursements, while clinical research organizations may need to compensate study participants across multiple jurisdictions.

Although the use cases differ, the underlying challenge is similar: delivering funds securely and efficiently while supporting different payment methods, currencies, banking systems and regulatory requirements.

i-payout’s payment infrastructure is designed to help enterprises manage those complexities through a configurable technology platform.

Global Reach With a Local Payment Experience

Traditional cross-border payments frequently rely on correspondent banking networks and international wires to move funds between countries.

i-payout’s local payment strategy is designed to provide another path: delivering payments through domestic payment networks in the recipient’s market.

This approach can help create a more localized payment experience for recipients while giving enterprises additional flexibility in how they structure their global payout programs.

“When we say local payments, we mean truly local,” said Eddie Gonzalez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-payout. “The payment travels through domestic payment rails and is delivered to the recipient’s local bank account in local currency. It is not simply an international wire that happens to end in another country.”

“Our customers operate globally, but the people they pay live and work locally,” Gonzalez added. “Our objective is to bridge those two realities by giving enterprises global reach while creating payment experiences that make sense in each local market.”

Multiple Payment Options Through One Platform

Beyond local bank payments, i-payout supports multiple payment and payout methods designed to give enterprises and their recipients greater flexibility.

Depending on market availability, program structure and regulatory requirements, those capabilities can include:

• Local bank payments
• Virtual and physical cards
• Digital wallets
• Real-time payment capabilities
• Alternative payment methods
• API-driven payment orchestration
• Recipient onboarding and identity verification

The combination allows enterprises to provide recipients with payment options appropriate to their market while managing those programs through a more unified technology environment.

Supporting Multiple Industries and Payment Use Cases

i-payout’s infrastructure supports enterprises across a range of industries and high-volume payment programs, including:

• Marketplaces: seller, merchant and participant payouts
• Gig Economy & Freelance: contractor and worker payments
• Gaming & Esports: player, creator, affiliate and tournament payouts
• Affiliate & Performance Marketing: commission payments
• Direct Selling: distributor and commission payments
• Insurance: claims, reimbursements and other disbursements
• Clinical Trials & Market Research: participant and research payments
• Refunds & Reimbursements: consumer refunds and corporate reimbursement programs
• Enterprise & Global Workforce: high-volume domestic and international disbursements

“Every industry has different payment requirements, but enterprises increasingly want fewer integrations, greater visibility and more control over how payments are delivered,” Gonzalez said. “Our role is to provide the infrastructure that allows businesses to manage those different payment experiences through one configurable platform.”

Building a More Connected Global Payments Infrastructure

The continued development of i-payout’s local payment capabilities complements the company’s broader investment in regulatory infrastructure, payment technology and compliance.

Earlier this month, i-payout announced the continued expansion of its U.S. money transmitter licensing footprint and advancement of its European Electronic Money Institution strategy.

Together, these initiatives are intended to give i-payout greater control over the payment infrastructure supporting its customers and expand the range of capabilities it can provide as enterprise payment programs grow.

“Global payments should not require enterprises to build a different technology stack for every country they enter,” Gonzalez said. “We are building toward an infrastructure where businesses can manage global payout programs through one relationship while giving recipients payment options that work locally.”

About i-payout

International Payout Systems, Inc. (“i-payout”) is a global payments technology company providing configurable payment and payout solutions for businesses and organizations that need to distribute funds to recipients domestically and internationally.

Founded in 2007, i-payout supports multiple payout methods and serves enterprises across industries including marketplaces, gig economy and freelance, gaming and esports, affiliate marketing, direct selling, insurance, clinical research, market research, refunds and reimbursements, and other high-volume payment programs.

i-payout’s technology combines payment orchestration, recipient onboarding, identity verification, compliance capabilities, APIs, digital wallets and program-management tools within a unified enterprise payment environment.

For more information, users can visit www.i-payout.com.

For further information, contact i-payout at discover@i-payout.com.

Contact

VP Customer Success & Relationship Management
Dailenys Garcia
i-payout
dailenys.garcia@i-payout.com
9545133151

Community leaders, humanitarian advocates and peacebuilders gathered at the Church of Scientology London to mark the UN International Day of Peace and examine how human rights, education and local action contribute to peaceful communities.

Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 1st Oct 2026 — Community leaders, humanitarian advocates and peacebuilders from across London gathered at the Church of Scientology London for a round-table discussion marking the United Nations International Day of Peace, with participants focusing on the practical contribution individuals and civil society can make to building more peaceful communities.

The gathering reflected the 2026 United Nations theme, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” which places particular emphasis on people working at community level to bridge divisions, strengthen dialogue and create the conditions for lasting peace. The International Day of Peace is observed annually on 21 September and was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981.

Rather than approaching peace solely as a question for governments and international institutions, speakers at the London meeting explored its connection with everyday choices, human rights education, humanitarian work and community responsibility.

Lorna Marah, a Peace Ambassador, United Nations Women Advocate and member of the UK Civil Service Women Alliance, described peace as something requiring deliberate effort rather than something that emerges by itself.

“Peace is not accidental. It is intentional. It is crafted through our choices, our leadership, our compassion, and our willingness to challenge the norms that divide us,” Marah said. “Peace is a design project and every one of us is a designer.”

Her remarks echoed an important element of this year’s UN observance: recognition of the role played by people whose work in neighbourhoods, schools and communities helps create stability, dialogue and cooperation from the ground up.

The discussion also brought a humanitarian perspective through Eleanor Daibowon Moore, the London-based founder of Eleanor’s Children Foundation, which works in Liberia with young orphans and widows, including through projects intended to support sustainable livelihoods and greater independence.

“Peace is a ship — a responsibility, which needs our care and help,” Moore told participants.

Her contribution placed economic independence, care for vulnerable people and community support within the wider discussion about the conditions in which peaceful societies can develop.

Suraiya Kassamally of Rotary Club London presented another approach to peacebuilding, briefing participants on the work of the Rotary Peace Centers and their international fellowship programme.

Since the programme began in 2002, more than 1,900 fellows have received training through Rotary’s peace fellowship programme, with alumni working internationally in government, civil society, education, peacebuilding and related fields.

“We all need peace now — more than ever before,” Kassamally said.

Human rights education as part of peacebuilding

A central theme of the London discussion was the relationship between peace and knowledge of fundamental human rights.

Tracey Coleman, Community Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology London, highlighted human rights education as one means of addressing intolerance, bullying and discrimination before they become entrenched within communities.

“Peace has everything to do with human rights,” Coleman said. “Where we see lack of harmony, where we see bullying, we see violations of human rights.”

“We must join hands, work together in positive action and make sure our youth know their 30 human rights. We must not only ‘know’ these rights but apply them in our lives to bring about a world with respect and tolerance.”

The Church supports the educational work of Youth for Human Rights International, a nonprofit initiative that presents the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in formats designed for young people and educators. Its resources include booklets, audiovisual materials and educator materials intended to make the principles of the Declaration understandable and applicable in daily life.

The support forms part of the wider humanitarian and social initiatives associated with the Church of Scientology and inspired by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, including programmes concerned with human rights education, drug prevention, literacy and community service.

The London round table placed that work alongside the experience of other organisations and advocates, illustrating how people from different professional, humanitarian and civic backgrounds can find common ground around dignity, responsibility and peaceful coexistence.

Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, proposed the following reflection on the gathering:

“Europe’s experience has repeatedly shown that peace cannot be separated from human dignity and fundamental rights. Those principles acquire their full meaning when they become part of everyday life — in our schools, neighbourhoods, institutions and relationships with people whose beliefs or backgrounds may differ from our own. Meetings such as this bring together people with very different experiences around a shared responsibility: turning respect, dialogue and human rights into daily practice.”

The emphasis on human dignity is consistent with the UN’s approach to peace as more than the absence of conflict, connecting it with safety, dignity, opportunity, cooperation and respect for fundamental rights.

The International Day of Peace was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981. In 2001, the General Assembly strengthened the observance by designating 21 September as a day of non-violence and ceasefire. The annual observance has since developed into an international occasion for governments, organisations and communities to examine how dialogue, education, human rights and cooperation can contribute to more peaceful societies.

The London gathering reflected that community-level interpretation of peace: not as a single annual event, but as a continuing process involving education, cooperation and respect across differences.

About the Church of Scientology in Europe

The Church of Scientology, founded on the religious and philosophical works of L. Ron Hubbard, maintains churches, missions, groups and members throughout the European continent. Scientologists support a range of educational and community initiatives addressing human rights awareness, drug prevention, moral education and volunteer service. The Church and its affiliated religious communities have obtained various forms of religious and charitable recognition in European jurisdictions as their presence and engagement with civil society have developed across the continent. Its humanitarian programmes continue to place emphasis on education, prevention and practical community betterment.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release id: 49602

The post London Peace Day Round Table Links Human Rights Education with Everyday Peacebuilding appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

About 1.5 hours from Tokyo, awaits an extraordinary journey through mountains and rural landscapes

Japan, 1st Oct 2026 – The Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail, connecting six cities and towns in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, has now fully opened as an approximately 350-kilometer route, Ibaraki Prefectural Government Northern Region Development Bureau announces. 

With its full opening, the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail is now the longest long trail in Japan designed as a loop route.

Stretching approximately 350 kilometers, the trail connects a diverse range of local attractions, including lush forests and satoyama landscapes, valleys, coastlines, and historic cultural heritage sites. What awaits here is more than simply hiking toward a destination.

Walk through the region’s natural landscapes, encounter its history, meet the people who call the area home, and experience the local food and culture unique to each place. On the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail, a new way to travel in Ibaraki begins—one that allows visitors to experience the region’s appeal in a way that can only be discovered on foot.

And through this trail, Ibaraki offers opportunities to discover the many different sides of Japan.

A New Way to Travel in Japan: “Travel by Foot”

Hitachinokuni Trail

Unlike mountain climbing, where reaching a summit is the primary objective, a long trail is a route designed for journeys where walking itself is part of the experience, connecting hiking and mountain trails with paths through satoyama landscapes, agricultural areas, and local communities.

Hitachinokuni Trail

Along the way, travelers can encounter not only spectacular natural scenery but also the history, culture, everyday life, food, and other landscapes unique to each region.
From forests and valleys to the Japan countryside and coast, every section offers a different perspective on the places and communities along the route.

Japan has a long tradition of traveling on foot, from the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes to the Shikoku pilgrimage.
In recent years, as interest in health and well-being and in spending time in nature has grown, long trails have attracted increasing attention as a new style of travel.

Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail

A 350-Kilometer Journey Connecting Satoyama and Communities

Hitachinokuni Trail

The Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail is a long-distance trail that connects the diverse natural landscapes, food, historical and cultural heritage, and other regional attractions scattered throughout northern Ibaraki Prefecture via hiking trails and other paths. Its concept is “an extraordinary journey of repeatedly walking through mountains and rural landscapes while experiencing both everyday life and the extraordinary.”

One of its greatest features is the opportunity to walk through rich natural surroundings while experiencing Japan’s satoyama landscapes, local culture, and the lives of the people who live there. The trail passes not only through deep forests and valleys, but also through communities, fields, and historic sites, and areas along the coast, where visitors can experience the distinctive scenery of a coastal trail alongside landscapes shaped by generations of human life.

Its convenient accessibility from the Tokyo metropolitan area is another major attraction. There is no need to walk the entire trail in a single trip. Depending on their fitness level, interests, and itinerary, visitors can enjoy individual travel as section hikes or day hikes.

Whether embarking on a long journey or a short one, travelers can enjoy the trail at their own pace. That is the appeal of the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail.

Discovering a New Kind of Slow Travel in Ibaraki

Hitachinokuni Trail

The appeal of Ibaraki is not limited to visiting a large number of tourist attractions in a short amount of time. Walk. Talk with local people. Make something. Taste the region’s cuisine. Spend time in nature.

Through each of these experiences, travelers can slowly come to understand the culture and everyday life of a place.

The full opening of the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail represents the potential for this new kind of slow travel in Ibaraki—one centered on taking the time to experience a destination.

Just one to two hours from Tokyo, Ibaraki’s proximity and diversity are among its greatest attractions.

Here, travelers can encounter an incredibly diverse Japan, from the forefront of space exploration to mythology and prayer, traditional crafts, fermentation culture, and satoyama landscapes where local communities continue to live in harmony with nature.

Beyond traveling along the long trail itself, visitors can discover different sides of Japan according to their own individual curiosity.

With the full opening of the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail as a starting point, Ibaraki is opening up its diverse attractions as a new destination capable of responding to the curiosity of every traveler.

Discover more: https://kenpokult.com/en/

—

Company: Ibaraki Prefectural Government Northern Region Development Bureau
Name: PR
Email: kenpokusinkou2@pref.ibaraki.lg.jp
HP URL: https://visit.ibarakiguide.jp/en/

Media Contact

Organization: Ibaraki Prefectural Government Northern Region Development Bureau

Contact Person: P.R.

Website: https://visit.ibarakiguide.jp/en/

Email: Send Email

Country: Japan

Release id: 49603

The post Japan’s Longest Loop long trail, the Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail, Fully Opens appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section