23, Sep 2026
Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach Named Iconic 5-Star Deluxe Hotel 2026 at Times Business Awards
Sep 23: Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, Varun Hospitality’s flagship beachfront hotel managed by Accor, has been recognised as “Iconic 5-Star Deluxe Hotel 2026” at the Times Business Awards 2026, reinforcing its position as one of Visakhapatnam’s leading premium hospitality destinations for business, leisure, MICE and social events.
Located on R.K. Beach Road with views of the Bay of Bengal, the hotel has become a key address in the city’s hospitality landscape, catering to corporate travellers, leisure guests, destination weddings, conferences and social celebrations. The recognition highlights the hotel’s role in strengthening Visakhapatnam’s appeal as an emerging coastal business and tourism hub, supported by its beachfront location, service standards and integrated facilities.
The award was presented at the Times Business Awards ceremony in the presence of actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood, Guest of Honour. Mr. Nitin Gosain, Director of Rooms, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.
Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Nitin Gosain, Director of Rooms, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, said:
“This recognition is a proud milestone for Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and a testament to the consistency, commitment and guest focus demonstrated by our team. As the city continues to attract travellers for business, leisure and celebrations, we remain focused on delivering experiences that reflect both the warmth of Andhra Pradesh and the service standards of the Novotel brand.”
Ms. Lakshmi Sridhar, General Manager, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and The Bheemili Resort Managed by Accor, said:
“The award reflects the trust of our guests, the dedication of our colleagues and the strength of Visakhapatnam as a growing hospitality market. Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach has played an important role in shaping premium accommodation, dining and event experiences in the city, and this recognition encourages us to continue building on that momentum.”
With 225 ocean-view rooms, the hotel offers a comprehensive hospitality proposition spanning accommodation, dining, wellness and events. Facilities include multiple dining venues, a bar, swimming pool, fitness and wellness amenities, a rooftop jogging track, and indoor and outdoor venues for conferences, weddings and social gatherings. The property also brings regional identity into the guest experience through Andhra Pradesh-inspired flavours and culinary traditions, alongside the international standards associated with Accor’s Novotel brand.
The “Iconic 5-Star Deluxe Hotel 2026” recognition further strengthens Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach’s standing in the region’s hospitality sector and underlines its continued contribution to Visakhapatnam’s growth as a destination for business travel, leisure, celebrations and large-format events.
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- By Neel Achary
23, Sep 2026
Cruise Money showcases India’s first agentic card – an AI money companion that plans, decides & pays on the user’s behalf
At Global Fintech Fest 2026, Cruise Money previewed a card that doesn’t just spend within a limit – it decides how to spend, executed through a single chat-based consent flow.
MUMBAI, India, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cruise Money has showcased an agentic payments card that turns its AI money companion into a full money manager — one that optimises a user’s investments, plans their purchases, and now executes them, within limits and guardrails the user sets once in a single conversational flow.
The agentic card involves a virtual prepaid card that will be issued by LivQuik Technology (India) Private Limited, and was shown for the first time at Global Fintech Fest 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. While LivQuik is the card issuer, M2P Fintech is the technology partner providing the API infrastructure.
Beyond spend limits: a card that makes the money decision for the user
Most agentic payment products announced globally over the past eighteen months share the same design: a user types a number, and the AI spends up to it. Cruise Money goes further on two fronts. First, the limit itself isn’t guessed — it’s calculated. Cruise’s Safe to Spend figure is derived continuously from a user’s income, committed bills, EMIs, investments, emergency reserves and savings goals. Second, and new to this: once a budget and guardrails are set, the agent doesn’t just spend within them — it decides how. The Cruise agentic card layer is being built to orchestrate each payment across a user’s permitted funding sources, choosing whichever mix produces the best outcome for that person — cash flow preserved or rewards optimised, depending on what matters most to them. At preview, the card runs on a single prepaid funding source, with multi-source orchestration to follow as approvals allow.
“The interesting question was never whether an AI could complete a payment. It was whether it should — and increasingly, how,” said Vinay Bharathwaj, Founder & CEO, Cruise Money. “Most agentic cards are handed a budget by a person who is guessing. Ours works the budget out from what’s actually in the account, what’s already committed and what the person is saving toward — and then thinks the way a good money manager would: how to use credit, how to use debit, when to hold back. Over time, the line between one kind of card and another stops mattering, because the card itself is deciding. That’s the agentic card — spending is the easy part; the decision-making is the product.”
One conversation, one consent, every purchase. The entire experience runs through a single chat-based flow. A user tells Cruise what they want — set a monthly budget, allocate money toward a goal, book a flight, order groceries — and Cruise proposes a mandate: an amount, a category, a validity period, and an approval threshold. The user approves it once, in that same conversation.
A virtual card is then issued that only that agent can use, only within those boundaries. From there, the agent can act across a growing range of use cases beyond recurring bills and goal-based saving, including:
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Grocery and everyday essentials ordering
- Recurring subscriptions and utility payments
Every transaction is bound to a registered agent identity, and the demonstrated flow includes an explicit stop: when a purchase would draw against a user’s savings goal, the agent declines and returns to the user rather than proceeding.
“As the regulated issuer behind this card, our focus is on making sure agent-initiated payments are held to the same standard as any other transaction — the agent is certified, its intent is matched against authentication, and every action leaves an auditable trail. We’re glad to partner with Cruise Money on a product that treats those controls as the foundation, not an afterthought,” Bhargav Padh, Chief Executive Officer, LivQuik Technology (India) Private Limited said.
“Agentic commerce represents the next major evolution of digital payments. As AI agents become trusted participants in commerce, the industry needs payment infrastructure that combines autonomy with safety, transparency, and control. This preview demonstrates how regulated financial institutions, fintechs, networks, and technology providers can work together to make autonomous commerce a reality,” said Prabhu Rangarajan, Co-founder, M2P.
The demonstration at Global Fintech Fest showed journeys running from a single user-approved mandate — a recurring everyday purchase and a purchase made toward a savings goal — both executed by the user’s agent with consent on the same card, within the same boundary, with the funding decision handled automatically in the background. The agentic card is awaiting regulatory approvals before its public rollout. Access will be extended to waitlist members in phases.
To explore more – www.cruise.money.
About Cruise Money
Cruise Money is an AI-first personal finance platform that aggregates, analyses and interprets an individual’s complete financial picture. Cruise is an AI money companion built for Indian investors who want a smarter relationship with their money — one that gets to know their finances, talks them through in plain language, and now, with their consent, acts on their behalf to optimize how they invest, save and spend.
Cruise Money was founded by Vinay Bharathwaj, with Ganesh KV and Vikrant Mudaliar as Co-founders. Cruise uses the RBI-regulated Account Aggregator framework and read-only access to financial data. Cruise Money is a consumer brand owned and operated by NeuralFin Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
For more details, visit www.cruise.money
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23, Sep 2026
Hughes Precision Raises ₹250+ Crore to Accelerate Ammunition Manufacturing Expansion
Goa-based defence manufacturer to establish medium-caliber ammunition manufacturing capability
PANAJI, India, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s growing private-sector ammunition manufacturers, has completed an investment round of ₹250+ crore through a combination of primary and secondary investment from a group of marquee ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs).
The investment will support the Company’s next phase of growth, including the expansion of its existing small-caliber ammunition manufacturing capacity from approximately 80 million rounds to 220 million rounds and the establishment of a dedicated medium-caliber ammunition manufacturing facility.
Strategic entry into medium-caliber ammunition
A significant portion of the new capital will support Hughes Precision’s entry into medium-caliber ammunition manufacturing, representing an important expansion of the Company’s product portfolio beyond its established small-caliber business.
The Company plans to establish a dedicated manufacturing capability for medium-caliber ammunition, allowing it to address a broader range of requirements from the Indian Armed Forces and international defence customers.
The expansion represents a natural progression of Hughes Precision’s strategy – building from a strong small-caliber manufacturing base into a broader ammunition platform capable of serving multiple segments of the defence market.
The investment comes at a time when India is placing increasing emphasis on indigenous defence manufacturing while simultaneously seeking to expand defence exports.
For Hughes Precision, the strategy is built around both opportunities: serving India’s growing domestic defence requirements while developing internationally competitive products for global customers. The Company believes that increasing manufacturing scale, broadening its product portfolio and continuing to invest in quality and technology will position Hughes Precision for its next phase of growth.
Order book crosses ₹1,000 crore
The expansion is supported by strong demand visibility. Hughes Precision recently announced that its order book has crossed ₹1,000 crore, with approximately 60% of orders from the Indian market and 40% from exports.
Domestic orders include requirements from the Indian Army, Police and Paramilitary Forces, while the export order book reflects the Company’s expanding international customer base. The current order book is scheduled for execution over approximately the next two years.
Hughes has the largest range of calibers in small caliber ammunition to offer to its customers. Hughes is India’s only manufacturer and exporter of critical high precision sniper ammunition used by Special Forces.
Sanjay Soni, Managing Director of Hughes Precision, said:
“The next phase of our journey”
“This investment marks an important milestone in Hughes Precision’s journey. We started with a clear objective – to build an Indian ammunition company capable of manufacturing products to the highest international standards.
Over the last decade, we have built our capabilities step by step, developed an international customer base and demonstrated that an Indian private-sector company can compete successfully in global ammunition markets.
The new capital allows us to move into the next phase of that journey – significantly expanding our small-caliber capacity, entering medium-caliber ammunition and continuing to invest in manufacturing, quality, technology and people.
Our ambition is to build Hughes Precision into one of the most respected ammunition manufacturers globally while contributing meaningfully to India’s objective of becoming increasingly self-reliant in defence manufacturing.”
Transaction advisor
STEER Advisors acted as the sole advisor to Hughes Precision on the transaction.
About STEER Advisors
STEER Advisors is an investment banking and corporate advisory firm with operations across India and international markets. With Consumer, Industrials and Sustainability as its core divisions, STEER provides equity and debt advisory solutions across eleven industry segments.
STEER has been active in India’s Aerospace & Defence sector since 2014, advising on joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, and growth capital transactions.
About Hughes Precision
Established in 2016, Hughes Precision has developed into an integrated ammunition manufacturer serving defence, law-enforcement and approved international customers. Hughes is a leading supplier to the Indian armed forces as well as Paramilitary forces.
Hughes Precision today supplies customers across more than 20 countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, giving the Company an increasingly diversified domestic and international customer base. Hughes R&D division is recognized by the DSIR, Govt. of India as an R&D center for excellence in Ammunition.
Hughes Precision received the award for the Highest Export Performance in the Defence MSME sector last year from Shri Rajnath Singh, Honourable Minister of Defence.
The Company’s growth has been built around a clear philosophy – “Always on Target”. Ammunition is a mission-critical product where quality, reliability and consistency cannot be compromised.
For more information, visit:
www.hughesprecisionm.com
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23, Sep 2026
A Full Moon for Every Child: STARTRADER’s STARCARES Brings Support to SOS Children’s Village Ho Chi Minh City
The Mid-Autumn initiative delivered gift sets, household essentials and direct financial support to 213 people at the village in Go Vap.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — STARCARES, the corporate social responsibility programme of global multi-asset broker STARTRADER, hosted “A Full Moon for Every Child,” a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at SOS Children’s Village Ho Chi Minh City in Go Vap. The on-site festival for the 60 children at the village was paired with essential supplies and cash support reaching 213 people, including house mothers and staff.
Every child received a gift set containing a lantern, cookies, a water bottle, a milk pack and a colouring kit. Hygiene, cleaning and pantry supplies were delivered to the village houses, alongside financial support for operating costs.
The village provides long-term, family-based care and education for approximately 160 children, from infants through university students, who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Since 2023, cuts to international aid have pressured operations, with remaining funding committed only through 2026. Contributions support tuition, caregiver salaries and the infrastructure that keeps these families together.
SOS Children’s Village plans care in years, not one-off gestures. STARCARES is built the same way, favouring recurring commitments under its Child Welfare & Community Aid pillar.
“The village was already doing the hard part long before we arrived. Our job is to make the practical side steadier, so the people raising these children can plan instead of improvise.” – Peter Karsten, CEO, STARTRADER.
“Support like this reaches our children in two ways. The essentials and funding ease real pressure on our households, and the celebration itself tells every child here that they are seen and thought of. That matters as much as anything we can put on a shelf.” – Mr. Hoang Long, Director, SOS Children’s Village Ho Chi Minh City.
STARCARES intends to extend this work across communities where STARTRADER operates.
About STARTRADER
STARTRADER is a global multi-asset broker empowering retail and institutional partners to access global markets through a range of platforms, including MetaTrader, STARTRADER APP, and STAR Copy. Regulated in five jurisdictions (CMA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA, and FSC), STARTRADER combines strong governance with a client-first approach, serving both retail clients and partners with a commitment to transparency, reliability, and long-term growth.
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23, Sep 2026
Orenda Group and Sai Ram Dave Launch ‘Radha – Ek Prem Avtar’, Bringing a Timeless Indian Cultural Narrative to Contemporary Audiences
The original cultural property, curated by Gujarati folks artist, humorist, author and educator Sai Ram Dave, has presented in Ahmedabad on the occasion of Radhashtami and reflects Orenda Group’s broader vision of developing meaningful Indian stories and cultural subjects into enduring intellectual properties.
AHMEDABAD, India, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Orenda Group, the multi-sector holding platform led by Chartered Accountant-turned-entrepreneur Tarun Shah, has presented Radha – Ek Prem Avtar, a culturally rooted storytelling experience curated by Sai Ram Dave, at AUDA Auditorium, Shela, Ahmedabad, on 19 September 2026, on the occasion of Radhashtami.
Conceived as more than a one-time presentation, Radha – Ek Prem Avtar forms part of Orenda Group’s growing interest in developing culturally significant Indian narratives into original intellectual properties that can engage contemporary audiences while retaining the depth of the stories from which they originate.
The idea behind the property traces back to a personal experience of Tarun Shah during a family visit to Vraj in November 2024.
That experience eventually became the starting point for Radha – Ek Prem Avtar.
Tarun Shah, Co-Promoter, Orenda Group, stated, “The thought began during a family visit to Vraj, when I happened to visit Raval village – A real birthplace of ‘Radha Rani’. What stayed with me was the realization that while we have grown up knowing so much about Krishna, many of us know comparatively little about Radha beyond the familiar love story. Her story carries layers of devotion, surrender, longing and philosophy that deserve to be explored more deeply. That experience stayed with me, and over time became the starting point for Radha – Ek Prem Avtar. At Orenda Group, we want to build culturally rooted properties that allow timeless Indian narratives to be experienced meaningfully by today’s audiences.”
The event has been be curated by Sai Ram Dave, who brings together storytelling, philosophy, devotion, emotion and cultural interpretation in shaping the experience for present-day audiences.
Sai Ram Dave shared, “Rather than attempting to explain Radha through a single interpretation, the event seeks to invite audiences into the different emotional and philosophical dimensions associated with her story.”
The event has been held on 19 September 2026 on the occasion of Radhashtami, adding a meaningful cultural context to the Ahmedabad premiere. The occasion provides an opportunity to revisit and celebrate the story and significance of Radha through a contemporary storytelling format.
For Orenda Group, which is into large scale of fund raising and IPO, also represents a wider direction in its media and entertainment journey. The Group is looking at Indian cultural narratives not merely as subjects for individual performances, but as intellectual properties that can potentially be developed over time across audiences and formats.
Orenda Group currently manages a multi-sector fund of approximately $120 million and has been expanding its interests across media, entertainment and original intellectual property. Earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival, the Group announced the proposed INR 100 Cr Orenda Media Growth Fund, alongside singer-performer-producer Parthiv Gohil and National Award-winning actor-producer Manasi Parekh. The proposed fund includes original intellectual property and live-event IPs among its identified areas of investment, reinforcing Orenda Group’s broader focus on building scalable media and entertainment properties.
Radha – Ek Prem Avtar has been presented on the occasion of Radhashtami at AUDA Auditorium, Shela, Ahmedabad, on 19 September 2026 at 6:30 PM.
Disclaimer
Orenda Media Growth Fund is proposed to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as an Alternative Investment Fund; registration is currently pending. This note is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, invitation or solicitation to invest in any scheme or unit. The tenure, allocation and target IRR stated above are indicative, based on the proposed investment strategy, and are subject to the terms of the Private Placement Memorandum and applicable regulatory approvals. Target returns are not assured or guaranteed and actual returns may vary. Investments in Alternative Investment Funds are subject to market and other risks. Units will be offered only to eligible investors by way of private placement after receipt of registration.
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23, Sep 2026
Odisha Rain Alert: East Coast Railway Activates 24-Hour Control Rooms, Intensifies Track Monitoring
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): With a Deep Depression over the Bay of Bengal moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has intensified its preparedness to deal with possible disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Railway authorities have placed key operational and safety mechanisms on heightened alert across Odisha, with special attention being given to vulnerable sections of the railway network.
24-Hour Control Rooms Activated
A 24-hour Disaster Management Cell has been activated at Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar to monitor the weather situation and coordinate emergency responses.
Round-the-clock control rooms are also functioning at the divisional headquarters in Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Rayagada.
Officials at these centres are maintaining continuous communication with field teams and monitoring any impact of heavy rainfall on railway operations and infrastructure.
Vulnerable Railway Sections Under Watch
Railway officials have intensified inspections of tracks, bridges, yards, signalling installations and overhead equipment (OHE) in areas likely to be affected by the adverse weather.
Additional patrolmen and watchmen have been deployed at vulnerable stretches to detect problems such as waterlogging, track damage, fallen trees or other obstructions at the earliest.
Field teams have also been instructed to maintain increased vigilance during periods of intense rainfall and strong winds.
Emergency Equipment Kept on Standby
The railway has positioned essential manpower and emergency equipment at strategic locations so that any weather-related disruption can be addressed promptly.
Diesel locomotives, tower wagons, engineering equipment and heavy machinery have been kept ready for use in case tracks are blocked, infrastructure is damaged or urgent restoration work becomes necessary.
The arrangements are intended to reduce response time and facilitate the early restoration of train services if operations are affected.
Passenger Safety a Priority
East Coast Railway CPRO Deepak Raut said the preparedness measures have been taken with a focus on passenger safety and minimising disruption to train services during the adverse weather.
As the Deep Depression approaches the coast, railway officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are prepared to take operational measures depending on ground conditions and weather developments.
Passengers have been advised to keep track of official railway updates and allow for possible changes to train operations if weather conditions deteriorate.
23, Sep 2026
BRAHMA AI RAISES $150 MILLION ROUND LED BY MULTIPLES
Funding will accelerate R&D, global go-to-market and a significant Silicon Valley presence as Brahma AI builds the operating system for enterprise audiovisual content
LOS ANGELES and LONDON and MUMBAI, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brahma AI, the AI-native operating system for enterprise audiovisual content, today announced that it has raised $150 million through the issuance of preferred shares with a $100 million investment by Multiples Alternate Asset Management. The company has also received a further $100 million of investor interest.
Brahma AI is focused on four global verticals: media & entertainment, sports, healthcare and advertising. Global anchor customers include Warner Bros, the NBA and Mayo Clinic and strategic distribution partners include Google, Hakuhodo and DNEG.
Brahma AI was founded and is led by Founder & CEO Prabhu Narasimhan. Brahma AI was born from Narasimhan’s vision to bring together the technology stack and capabilities developed across DNEG, Metaphysic and Prime Focus Technologies to build an AI-native platform for the world’s largest enterprises. Under his leadership, Brahma AI has developed its AI-native platform around Brahma AI Core and Brahma AI Studio, secured major global customers and partnerships, and expanded the application of its technology across media & entertainment, sports, healthcare and advertising.
Today, Brahma AI combines enterprise content intelligence and management with sophisticated AI creation technologies spanning visual AI, digital humans, voice and multilingual performance. Its technology has received significant industry recognition, including a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award.
Jo Plaete, Co-Founder & CTO and one of the world’s leading experts in AI, visual AI, digital humans and high-fidelity synthetic media, heads Brahma AI’s technology and R&D division as the company continues to develop and expand its AI platform.
Renuka Ramnath, Founder, MD & CEO of Multiples
“Brahma AI is reimagining the content supply chain in the age of AI. Built on a unique heritage of Hollywood-grade technology and enterprise innovation, the company is helping organizations unlock greater value through AI-powered content, intelligence, localization, digital humans, and workflow automation. Its strong customer traction, differentiated capabilities and recognition thereof, including a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award, reinforce our conviction in its ability to appropriate the multi-billion-dollar market opportunity.
Our investment is anchored in the belief that every enterprise is becoming a content enterprise. Prabhu, Jo and the broader team bring a deep understanding of the industries they serve and have translated cutting-edge AI into highly relevant solutions, spanning enabling multilingual visual experiences for films to developing digital twins for physicians. Multiples Private Equity will be an active partner as the company navigates the next phase of growth through investments in R&D, global market expansion, and talent & process build-out. The company has all the ingredients required to build an enduring global institution in a category that is only beginning to take shape.”
Namit Malhotra, Founder & CEO of DNEG
“Brahma AI began with Prabhu’s bold idea: to bring together the technology stacks and capabilities developed across DNEG, Metaphysic and Prime Focus Technologies and create a new, independent technology company built for the AI era. What he and his team have built from those foundations in such a short period of time has been remarkable.
Under Prabhu’s leadership, Brahma AI has developed its own technology and products, won major global customers and partnerships, and established a clear identity and ambition of its own. There is also a special symmetry to this moment. Prabhu, United Al Saqer Group and Thor Björgólfsson backed and invested in Prime Focus Limited, DNEG and me at an important stage in our journey. Today, all of us are backing Brahma AI and Prabhu alongside new investors led by Multiples.”
Prabhu Narasimhan, Founder & CEO of Brahma AI
“What excites me most about this investment is what it allows us to build next. We are close to launching interactive digital humans, we are building Brahma AI to be model agnostic, and we are taking our technology into entirely new use cases. And security, authenticity and provenance are such an important part of what we are building.
What resonated with us about Multiples is our shared belief that category-defining companies are built through a combination of bold ambition, disciplined execution and long-term thinking. I could not be more excited to have Multiples alongside us as we scale globally and continue pushing the boundaries of enterprise AI.”
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. served as sole placement agent on this equity financing.
About Brahma AI
Brahma AI is the AI-native operating system for enterprise audiovisual content. Its platform combines Brahma AI Core, its enterprise content intelligence and management layer, with Brahma AI Studio, its AI-powered creation platform spanning visual AI, digital humans, voice and multilingual performance. Brahma AI works with some of the world’s leading content owners and enterprises and is the recipient of a 2026 Technology & Engineering Emmy® Award for its visual AI technology.
Mind² — Human emotion. Machine execution.
About Multiples
Multiples is India’s leading Alternate Asset Management company, distinguished by its long and successful experience of partnering with entrepreneurs. Multiples has backed over 35 enterprises to build aspirational, distinctive, and responsible businesses. Multiples identifies opportunities that benefit from big shifts in its chosen sectors and partners with exceptional entrepreneurs and management teams in creating transformational growth.
Multiples focuses on core sectors of financial services, pharma & healthcare, consumer and technology and more recently the green economy. Some of Multiples’ distinctive investment partnerships include ACKO, Delhivery, Encube Ethicals, India Energy Exchange, Kogta Financial, Licious, Milltec, MoEngage, PVR, Quantiphi, TI Clean Mobility, Vastu Housing Finance, VIP Industries, and Zenex.
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23, Sep 2026
TAT illuminates VIJIT Thailand 2026 across three distinctive regions
Lamphun, Trang and Roi Et reinterpret distinctive regional identities through immersive cultural performances and creative technology
BANGKOK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is staging VIJIT Thailand 2026 in Lamphun, Trang and Roi Et from 25 September to 18 October, with an expanded regional format shaped around each destination’s identity. Light & Sound, projection illumination, 3D mapping, drone displays and cultural performances reinterpret local heritage, nature and culture while extending evening activity, encouraging regional travel, and generating income for local businesses and communities.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “VIJIT Thailand 2026 shows how creativity and technology can present local identity in modern ways while remaining rooted in the places, people and stories that give each destination meaning. This reflects TAT’s direction under ‘The Year of Transformation’, with emphasis on meaningful experiences, quality tourism and wider distribution of tourism benefits. Lamphun, Trang and Roi Et each offer unique cultural narratives and different ways to experience Thailand after dark.”
Developed as a sustainable event prototype, VIJIT Thailand 2026 presents 10 curated installations or experience points in each destination. The programme moves from Lamphun’s Hariphunchai heritage and faith to Trang’s natural and multicultural character and Roi Et’s beliefs, music, and Isan culture, interpreted through creative technology and live programming, and follows the VIJIT format used in earlier editions, including Vijit Chao Phraya in Bangkok.
VIJIT @LAMPHUN opens the programme from 25 September to 4 October, from 17.00 to 24.00 Hrs., across Lamphun Old Town. Under the concept “The Eternal Kingdom of Hariphunchai”, 10 illuminated locations connect its history, Buddhist heritage, faith and architecture through contemporary light art, multimedia and cultural performances.
The route begins at Tha Sing Bridge with “HARIPUNCHAI – The River of Light”, followed by Tha Nang Gate at Wat Chang Rong with “Wall of Memories”; the old city moat near Wat Mahawan with “The Eternal Stream of Time”; the Phra Rod basketry installation with “Timeless Light of Dharma”; Khum Chao Chakkham Khachonsak with “The Light of Time Royal Blood of Lamphun”; the Queen Chamadevi Monument with “The Eternal Queen of Hariphunchai”; Black to Basic café with “Lamphun Eternal Charm”; Wat San Pa Yang with “Sacred Mandala”; Chedi Chai Chana with “The Radiance of Triumph The Glory of the Realm”; and the chedi at Wat Si Bun Rueang with “The Great Illumination of Faith”.
Special shows add another dimension at key locations. Tha Nang Gate hosts five-minute Light & Sound multimedia presentations at 19.00, 20.00, 21.00 and 22.00 Hrs. daily, with fireworks incorporated into the 20.00 Hrs. show on 25–27 September and 2–4 October. Khum Chao Chakkham Khachonsak also presents four nightly Light & Sound shows at the same times, while Queen Chamadevi Monument features four nightly Light & Sound presentations plus cultural performance at 19.00 Hrs. each evening.
VIJIT @TRANG runs from 2 to 11 October, 17.00 to 22.00 Hrs, at Chaloem Phrakiat 95 Public Park in Mueang Trang. Under a “Trang Lights Alive” theme, the lakeside park features 10 illuminated experiences that draw on Trang’s natural environment, local symbols, and multicultural character.
Centred on “Magic Island”, the route includes “Beyond Perspectives”, “Richly Dugong”, “Live Reflection”, “The Tourist”, “Soul of Forest”, “Mantra Path”, “Light Bio Floral”, “Royal Benevolence” and “Multi-culture Bridge”. Together, the installations interpret Trang through dugong, flora, forest, visitor experience and cultural diversity, creating a nocturnal journey that combines nature, local identity and contemporary light art.
VIJIT Roi Et Illumination completes the programme from 9 to 18 October, from 17.00 to 24.00 Hrs., at Bueng Phlan Chai. Its 10 installations explore faith, beliefs and Isan cultural identity through illumination, mapping, lasers, mist, LED displays and sound, with an opening-night fireworks display at 19.30 Hrs. on 9 October.
The route opens with “The First Beat”, followed by “Portal 101”, an illuminated gateway; “Hello 101”, an LED landmark installation; “Inthanin Pulse”, combining mapping and reflections inspired by the inthanin flower; “Follow the Naga”, centred on a large animated naga display; “Whisper of Himmapan”, creating a mythical forest through lasers and mist; “Faith of Light”, drawing on local beliefs and imagery associated with Thung Kula; “Isan Playground”, interpreting regional culture through white squirrels, wot music and firefly-like lighting; “Purple Memory”, an illuminated pathway inspired by inthanin blossoms; and “Phlan Chai Pavilion of Faith”, illuminating Roi Et’s distinctive octagonal pavilion. Live music on 9–11 and 17–18 October complements the programme.
TAT targets 200 million Baht in economic circulation, 150,000 online and on-site participations, and 1.5 million awareness impressions across the three destinations. These targets reflect the key programme’s role in uniting destination experiences, local economic opportunity and sustainable event development.
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23, Sep 2026
Huawei Releases Intelligent WAN White Paper in AI Era
—Building an Intelligent Connectivity Foundation to Accelerate Intelligent Transformation
SHANGHAI, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On September 17, 2026, during HUAWEI CONNECT 2026, a high-profile session themed “Intelligent WAN, Building an Intelligent Connectivity Foundation” was held in Shanghai. Dozens of infrastructure managers, industry leaders, and experts gathered to discuss the importance and urgency of building a foundation for intelligent connectivity and the planning and deployment of intelligent WANs in the AI era.
Colin Hu, Vice President of Huawei’s Global Public Sector BU, stated in his opening remarks that global networks across diverse sectors face the dual challenges of extending coverage and enabling agile AI deployment. AI integration across all sectors is accelerating, which is placing higher demands on network security, coverage, real-time performance, and deterministic assurance. Meanwhile, issues such as network coverage gaps and digital service disparities persist, particularly in remote and underserved areas. To meet evolving needs, network deployment must strike a balance between inclusive coverage and intelligence, building a solid intelligent WAN foundation.
Dustin Kehoe, Head of AMEA Tech Research, GlobalData, highlighted that AI demands a fundamental modernization of WAN architecture to handle explosive and unpredictable traffic spikes. Legacy networks cannot cope with the massive, real-time data flows AI requires. AI workloads call for highly distributed, edge-enabled frameworks that process data closer to the source, reducing latency and optimizing bandwidth. Intelligent WANs must also deliver a deterministic experience, backed by granular performance guarantees. This trend redefines the requirements for intelligent WANs.
Ado, CEO of Huawei’s Wide Area Network Domain noted that the advent of the agentic AI era is shifting the network paradigm: network connections are shifting from humans to agents; traffic patterns are shifting from heavy downlink traffic to massive uplink traffic; and network experience assurance is expanding from specific applications to the entire agent workflow. Conventional connectivity pipelines need to evolve and provide an intelligent connectivity foundation in the AI era. He recommended that top-level planning be prioritized across sectors, with a focus on upgrading backbone network experience, security, and devices. Improved experience requires intelligent awareness, proactive prediction, and precise flow-level scheduling to deliver intelligent, uninterrupted deterministic experiences for users and agents. Security requires a comprehensive approach including devices with built-in security, end-to-end encryption, quantum-resistant links, network-security collaboration, and automated closed-loop management. Devices must be equipped with AI-native capabilities to enable intelligent, robust connectivity and strengthen the network foundation.
Ethan Liu, Vice President of the Router Domain of Huawei’s Data Communication Product Line, said the Stellar AI Integrated Data WAN Solution offers four capabilities to support intelligent transformation: converged ultra-broadband, which eliminates bandwidth bottlenecks for a highly efficient multi-purpose network; multi-dimensional awareness, which optimizes computing power delivery to support the efficient rollout of AI computing services; security and resilience, including proactive defenses for networks; and network autonomy to transform traditional O&M to enable self-healing within minutes.
Nick Liu, Vice President of Huawei’s Enterprise Optical Domain, delivered a keynote speech. He noted that Huawei has proposed a national fiber target network, characterized by ultra-broadband, flexibility, security, reliability, and intelligent O&M. Cutting-edge technologies—including 400G/800G, all-optical cross-connect (OXC), OTN-QKD integration, 50 ms WSON, AI-DAS, and NOEMate—can be used to build national information highways. Huawei calls for collaborative efforts to deploy national all-optical backbone networks, ultimately enabling inclusive connectivity and advancing national digital and intelligent strategies.
At the session, leading experts across relevant fields shared best practices and forward-looking insights regarding network planning and deployment. During the event, Huawei, in collaboration with GlobalData, released the Intelligent WAN White Paper in AI Era, offering a systematic analysis of industry trends, WAN target architecture, and evolution roadmap in the AI era to help customers accelerate their transition to the agentic AI era.
Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to leverage its strengths in network infrastructure, collaborating with partners and customers to drive AI-era intelligent transformation across industries.
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23, Sep 2026
Deep Depression Nears Odisha Coast, Landfall Likely Tonight; Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Forecast
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): Odisha is bracing for heavy rainfall and strong winds as a Deep Depression over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moves towards the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast.
Representational Image
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the system is likely to cross the coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur on the night of September 23, bringing intense rainfall to several coastal and southern districts of Odisha.
The system has been moving westwards and travelled at a speed of around 7 kmph during the six hours preceding 11:30 pm on September 22, according to the IMD.
System Positioned Close to Coast
At 11:30 pm on September 22, the Deep Depression was centred near 18.0°N latitude and 85.0°E longitude over the Bay of Bengal.
It was located approximately 100 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam, around 150 km south of Gopalpur and about 220 km south-southwest of Puri. The system was also around 180 km east-northeast of Visakhapatnam.
The weather system is expected to continue its west-northwestward movement before making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha coast.
Winds Could Reach 75 Kmph
IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said wind speeds could reach 55-65 kmph, with gusts of up to 75 kmph, around the time of landfall.
Such conditions could damage small trees and branches and affect standing crops, particularly paddy and vegetables. Vulnerable structures, including old tin-roofed, thatched and mud houses, could also face damage.
Authorities have been advised to remain alert in areas likely to experience the strongest winds and rainfall.
Heavy Rain to Continue in Interior Odisha
The Deep Depression is expected to produce heavy rainfall across coastal and southern Odisha, with prolonged rain potentially triggering waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Continuous rainfall may also increase the possibility of landslides in hilly and vulnerable areas, particularly in southern districts.
While rainfall activity is expected to continue over interior Odisha on September 24, the IMD has forecast a gradual reduction in rainfall intensity from September 25.
Residents Advised to Stay Alert
With the system approaching the coast, residents in affected areas have been advised to monitor official weather updates and follow instructions issued by local administrations.
People living in vulnerable structures and landslide-prone areas have also been urged to exercise caution as the Deep Depression makes its way towards the coast.
