24, Sep 2026
Huawei Unveils Six Global Power Showcases, Unlocking a New Power System with AI-Energy Synergy

SHANGHAI, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — During HUAWEI CONNECT 2026, Huawei held the 2026 Global Electric Power Summit under the title ” AI × Energy: Unlocking a New Power System.” More than 600 representatives from global power companies, industry organizations, ecosystem partners, and media gathered to explore new pathways for integrating energy transition with digital and intelligent technologies.

Huawei Unveils Six Global Power Showcases, Unlocking a New Power System with AI-Energy Synergy

At the summit, Huawei, together with the global power companies, also unveiled six power showcases, demonstrating end-to-end digital and intelligent transformation practices, from power generation to consumption, and from domestic to international markets. This marks a substantial step forward for the power industry, moving from unidirectional enablement to computing-power synergy.

The global energy landscape is currently undergoing profound change. Distributed renewable energy has become crucial to reducing external dependency while balancing grid resilience and universal access to electricity.

Philippe Adam, Secretary-General of the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE), said in his speech: “The power industry is undergoing massive transformation, driven by energy transition, AI data centers (AIDCs), and digitalization.”

Faced with the intertwined challenges of the renewable energy transition, intelligent transformation, and the lack of electricity access for 700 million people worldwide, AI has become a survival essential of the century-old power system. Huawei believes that low voltage—the bottleneck of power grids—will become the main arena for AI in the future. To close the low-voltage management gap, systematic and transparent management is required on the low-voltage side. This rests on six core capabilities—observability, measurability, controllability, adjustability, tradability, and traceability—that are all essential for long-term sustainability.

David Sun, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Huawei Electric Power Digitalization Business Unit (BU), commented: “The essence of low-voltage transparency is simple: faster data, higher quality, and greater cost-efficiency. To unlock a new power system, the industry needs to advance with three core priorities: digital talent first, digital infrastructure first, and digital regulated asset base (RAB) first.”

Scenario-Based Implementation: Six Global Showcases Highlight the Success of Digital and Intelligent Transformation

At the Global Electric Power Summit, the six global showcases unveiled include the digital and intelligent grid of Brazil’s CEMIG; the new power system demonstration zone featuring distribution and microgrid synergy in the Guangzhou Baiyun Power Supply Bureau of the China Southern Power Grid; the intelligent diagnosis and smart operations of the new power distribution network in Shaoshan, Hunan, China; intelligent power supply and consumption in Jiangxi, China; the ±800 kV UHV digital converter station in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China; and the power communication network in Liaoning, China. Together, they demonstrate successful practices across different scenarios spanning the entire power process in the intelligent era.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to focus on its strengths in the information and communications technology (ICT) field. Using its three-layer framework of metrics, architectures, and technologies, the company will work with global power enterprises, standards organizations, and ecosystem partners to drive innovation, fostering the upgrade of the industry and overall ecosystem prosperity.

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24, Sep 2026
Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre Awarded 2026 Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize for Leadership in Amazon Science and Conservation

Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre Awarded 2026 Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize for Leadership in Amazon Science and Conservation

Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre honored with the 2026 Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize for Leadership 
in Amazon Science and Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo, 
Sept. 23, 2026. Credit Terria Clay @ WCS
NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 — Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre, one of the world’s leading scientists on the Amazon and its relationship to the global climate, has been awarded the 2026 Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize in recognition of more than four decades of groundbreaking science, leadership, and commitment to the future of the Amazon rainforest.
 
The prize was presented Wednesday evening at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo during New York City Climate Week. It recognizes an exceptional individual advancing breakthroughs in the conservation of the Amazon through science, vision, collaboration, and respect for natural and cultural diversity.
 
Dr. Nobre has spent his career working to understand the complex relationship between the Amazon rainforest and Earth’s climate. From his early years as a researcher at Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research and his 30 years at the National Institute of Space Research to his current role as Senior Scientist and Professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo, he has combined scientific research with a commitment to collaboration and practical solutions for the rainforest.
 
In the 1990s, Dr. Nobre was among the first scientists to identify and model what is now widely known as the Amazon tipping point — the critical threshold beyond which large-scale forest loss and climate change could disrupt the rainforest’s self-sustaining water cycle and threaten its long-term survival. His research helped transform global understanding of the consequences of deforestation and helped establish the fate of the Amazon as a global climate concern.
 
Dr. Nobre said: “The Amazon Forest is very close to a tipping point that can degrade more than 70 percent of the forest within 30 to 50 years. If deforestation exceeds 20 percent of the total forest—currently it is 18 percent—and global warming reaches 2.0 C—it will warm to 1.5 C by 2030—the tipping point will be reached. We need to implement immediately nature-based solutions: Global TAFF (transition away from fossil fuels) by 2040; zero deforestation, degradation and fires by 2030; large scale forest restoration; valuing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities’ knowledge; and implementing a socio-bioeconomy of standing forests and flowing rivers. We all want to save the Amazon and our planet.”
 
Dr. Nobre has also helped build many of the institutions and scientific collaborations that have shaped environmental research in Brazil and beyond. He helped design the landmark Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia and founded the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, the Center for Earth System Science, and Brazil’s National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN).
 
As Co-Chair of the Science Panel for the Amazon and through his Amazonia 4.0 initiative, Dr. Nobre has championed approaches that use science and technology to create economic opportunities from the standing forest, including for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, while conserving biodiversity.
 
A contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and an advisor to international organizations, Dr. Nobre is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He also became the first Brazilian scientist elected to The Royal Society in more than a century.
 
The Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize honors the legacy of Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, the world-renowned conservation biologist and passionate champion for the Amazon rainforest who died in 2021. Lovejoy helped bring the concept of biodiversity to global prominence and spent his career bringing together science, advocacy, and collaboration to advance conservation of the Amazon and the natural world.
 
Previous recipients of the Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize are Belén Paez of Ecuador, Marc Dourojeanni of Peru, and Martín von Hildebrand of Colombia. Together with Dr. Nobre, they represent a growing tradition of recognizing individuals whose work, leadership, and commitment are helping secure a future for the Amazon and the people and wildlife who depend on it.
 
Said Sebastian Troëng, Chief Executive Officer of Conservation International: “Carlos Nobre is an incredibly deserving recipient of the Lovejoy Prize — a fitting tribute to a lifetime spent studying our climate and fighting for the Amazon. His work has changed the way that the world sees tropical forests and brought to light the urgency with which we must work together to save them. Carlos embodies what it means to lead for nature: he’s always understood that science serves real people in real places — a blueprint for saving what we cannot afford to lose. He champions the same passion for nature and the people who depend on it that our friend and mentor Tom poured into this work. Congratulations, Carlos, few honors are more well-earned than this one.”
 
Said Claude Gascon, Interim CEO, GEF: “Carlos Nobre has spent more than four decades turning rigorous science into a call to action for the Amazon. His identification of the tipping point fundamentally changed how the world understands the stakes of deforestation. It is a privilege for the GEF to join in honoring a scientist whose work has done so much to protect this extraordinary ecosystem.”
 
“At a time when climate change and biodiversity loss pose enormous risks for communities and economies around the world, Dr. Carlos Nobre’s scientific leadership has helped illuminate both the challenges facing the Amazon and the solutions within reach,” said Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy.“His work has deepened global understanding of why protecting this extraordinary ecosystem is essential for people, nature, and our shared future. Dr. Nobre’s career exemplifies the power of science, collaboration, and determined action.”
 
Said Dr. Adam Falk, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society: “Dr. Carlos Afonso Nobre has devoted his career to helping the world understand that the future of the Amazon is inseparable from the future of our climate, biodiversity, and people. His groundbreaking science on the Amazon tipping point has not only sounded an alarm, but helped point us toward the solutions needed to keep this extraordinary ecosystem healthy and resilient. Tom Lovejoy believed deeply in the power of science, collaboration, and determined action to protect the Amazon, and Carlos embodies that legacy.”
 
Said Dr. Carter Roberts, President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund-US: “Tom Lovejoy dedicated his life to helping the world understand why the Amazon matters. Dr. Nobre has carried that legacy forward through decades of groundbreaking research and leadership. Through years of collaboration, Tom helped inspire and strengthen Dr. Nobre’s conviction that rigorous science must be at the heart of conservation. Some of Dr. Nobre’s most influential work grew out of his close friendship with Tom, whose vision and mentorship helped shape Dr. Nobre’s lifelong dedication to protecting the Amazon. At a time when the future of the Amazon is inseparable from the future of our planet, Dr. Nobre has helped illuminate both the risks we face and the solutions within reach. Like Tom, his work and voice have inspired so many people, far beyond the scientific community.” 
 
The recognition comes at a consequential moment for the Amazon. Climate change, deforestation, fire, degradation, and other pressures are placing increasing strain on the rainforest and the ecological processes it sustains. The science advanced by Dr. Nobre and others has underscored the importance of maintaining a healthy, functioning Amazon for biodiversity, communities across the region, and the global climate.
 
The 2026 Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize is a collaborative effort of Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and individual friends of Dr. Lovejoy and of the Amazon.
 
The Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize
The Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize was created by five partner organizations (Conservation International, Global Environment Facility, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund) to honor the legacy of Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, who passed away in 2021. Dr. Lovejoy, a renowned expert on biodiversity, was a passionate champion for the conservation of the Amazon rainforest who brought together science and advocacy and a spirit of collaboration to his chosen cause. The prize honors his dedication to the Amazon by acknowledging the achievements of individuals who embody that same spirit and dedication. The Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize is intended to provide a platform for others to learn more about the prize winner’s initiatives and achievements, and to help to inspire a new generation of Amazon conservationists at a time of urgency related to the need to avoid reaching an ecological tipping point in the region. Previous honorees have included: Belén Paez (Ecuador); Marc Dourojeanni (Peru) and Martín von Hildebrand (Colombia).
24, Sep 2026
Avalara Ushers in New Era of Agentic Tax and Compliance with Avalara Aviator

Avalara’s new agent hub brings together specialized AI agents to execute complex tax and compliance workflows while keeping people in control of the decisions that matter

PUNE, India, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Avalara, Inc., the agentic AI leader in global tax and compliance, today unveiled Avalara Aviator at its CRUSH customer and partner conference. The new agent hub for tax and compliance turns days of manual work into minutes of oversight, with an audit-defensible record for every action.

Avalara

As businesses expand across markets, channels, and business models, tax and compliance requirements are becoming more interconnected, more digital, and increasingly real-time. For years, tax software has automated individual compliance tasks, but much of the work between those tasks has remained manual and siloed. Avalara Aviator is designed to close that gap with intelligent agents that can understand context, coordinate work, monitor variance, and take action. Humans delegate the work while remaining in control of the decisions.

“Our customers need a system they can trust to get real work done,” said Hugo Sarrazin, Chief Executive Officer at Avalara. “Avalara Aviator fulfills that need. It’s built on more than 22 years of closed-loop compliance data, which informs every calculation, every filing, and every report. And that’s what enables us to turn days of manual compliance work into minutes of confident oversight.”

A turning point for compliance

For years, tax software has automated discrete compliance tasks, such as calculating taxes, filing returns, and managing exemption certificates. While that sped up each task, finance professionals have been left bridging the gaps between them, such as having to manage configurations, interpret reports, chase approvals, and understand how to construct business logic to meet their requirements.

Avalara is the first company to bridge these industry-wide deficits by bringing specialized AI agents, tax and compliance workflows, and Avalara’s trusted compliance technology into a connected agent hub. This helps customers move from understanding what needs to happen to getting the work done.

Customers interact with Avalara Aviator in plain language through Avi, its orchestrator AI agent. Avi can orchestrate by reaching out to “lead agents” that oversee key areas like research, certificates, and returns. The agents validate, reconcile, proactively surface insights, and execute compliance work, while keeping people in control of decisions requiring judgment and oversight.

The initial Avalara Aviator experience supports compliance operations, including capabilities that help customers:

  • Map products to tax codes
  • Report transaction and tax liability data
  • Validate exemption certificates
  • Auto-generate tax matrices
  • Analyze results across multiple applications
  • Configure custom rules

For example, a customer can describe a needed tax rule in plain language. Avi then drafts the rule, simulates its impact on past transactions, and flags any conflicts with other rules. The customer reviews and approves the change before Avi activates the rule.

Avalara Aviator is initially being delivered to existing customers at no additional cost. Over time, Avalara plans to extend agentic capabilities across more of the compliance lifecycle and into the ERP, e-commerce, finance, and collaboration platforms customers already use. The goal is to make Avalara’s trusted tax and compliance platform available wherever work is happening.

Built for trust, accuracy, and control

Generic AI tools can struggle with complex, multi-step workflows that require context, accuracy, and continuity over time. They can’t connect to critical business systems fast enough to be useful, and they aren’t purpose-built for the accuracy that business-critical workflows demand.

In contrast, Avalara Aviator combines agentic AI with the compliance infrastructure Avalara has built for more than 22 years. That includes proprietary data and learnings from the market’s most trusted tax and compliance platform.

The result is an agentic experience designed to go beyond plausible answers and deliver source-backed, explainable, and expert-verified outcomes customers can understand, trust, and defend.

Preya Chandan, Senior Tax Accountant with Singer Equipment Company, Inc., a distributor of foodservice equipment and an Avalara Aviator beta customer, said the technology has changed how she approaches her work.

“As a tax accountant focused on audit readiness, I need tools that go beyond answering questions to help me think about the ones I haven’t asked yet,” Chandan said. “Avalara Aviator does that in one place, explaining taxability in plain language, surfacing considerations I might have missed, and providing trusted research I can rely on for detailed, defensible work.”

Industry analysts say that a combination of usefulness and defensibility is particularly important as AI moves deeper into regulated business processes.

“Agentic AI adoption in finance has moved well beyond exploration, and the question is now about how to broadly scale its use,” said Kevin Permenter, Research Director at IDC. “Finance teams are prioritizing agentic AI because they see it as an important operational capability. Scaling that impact depends on security and compliance, data quality and governance, and reliable outputs. That’s why many finance organizations lean toward agent capabilities that sit directly alongside their core SaaS systems, where existing security controls and financial data models are already established.”

The next era of agentic tax and compliance

Avalara Aviator advances Avalara’s broader vision for agentic tax and compliance: intelligent systems that find and manage risk before it finds you. It’s designed to not only monitor but proactively recommend actions. Upcoming enhancements will include features such as self-healing, in which agents examine changes to your business and recommend fixes to root discrepancies before they can turn into filing liabilities. It will be able to catch anomalies unloading a traditional human review onto an agentic worker.

Avalara Aviator will be generally available following next month’s Avalara CRUSH Europe event.

About Avalara

Avalara is the agentic AI leader in global tax and compliance. For more than two decades, Avalara’s trusted tax content, deep compliance expertise, proprietary data, and technology have helped customers succeed on a global scale. Avalara now pairs that foundation with agentic AI to help businesses execute complex compliance work while keeping people in control. Avalara processes more than 54 billion AvaTax API calls annually and supports millions of businesses worldwide. For more information, visit Avalara.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Avalara’s product plans, technology capabilities, and expected availability dates. These statements describe Avalara’s intentions as of the date of release and are subject to change without notice.

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24, Sep 2026
Tim Miller Joins Gaming Compliance International as Strategic Advisor

Former UK Gambling Commission Executive Director to Advise GCI on Regulatory Policy, Product Development and International Growth

HENDERSON, Nev., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Gaming Compliance International (GCI) have announced the appointment of Tim Miller as Strategic Advisor. Miller will provide an independent regulatory perspective on GCI’s transaction and market monitoring products and services as the company expands globally.

Gaming Compliance International

Miller recently founded GamReg Consulting, a consulting practice focused on gaming regulation, after 10 years at the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), most recently as its Executive Director of Policy and Research. GCI will be one of Miller’s first clients for the new venture, where he will work directly with GCI CEO Matt Holt and his team to provide perspective as a former regulator. In this role, Miller will be tasked with supporting GCI’s international market expansion efforts, ensuring GCI solutions meet the evolving needs of gaming regulators, and viewing product development through a regulatory lens. Miller will also bring regulatory policy and strategic insight to the advice GCI provides to its regulatory clients as they work to meet the needs of their citizens.

Since its founding in 2025, GCI has provided a range of services to gaming regulators globally, including market-leading transaction monitoring and market intelligence platforms. For the 2026 World Cup, GCI provided regulators with market monitoring insights, helping them understand overall wagering activity in their jurisdictions from licensed and unlicensed operators. In a single U.S. state alone, GCI identified over 2,000 active operators—the vast majority of which were unlicensed.

“As GCI works to become the go-to provider of market intelligence for gaming regulators worldwide, adding someone with Tim Miller’s expertise and reputation shows regulators that we understand the challenges they face, and that we are building the tools and services that will leave them better equipped than ever to meet those challenges,” said GCI CEO Matt Holt. “Having watched Tim’s efforts over the last decade with the UKGC, we are thrilled to have him play a critical role in shaping the future of GCI.”

“Partnering with the GCI team as they provide tools that regulators need around market intelligence makes complete sense as I launch GamReg Consulting,” said Tim Miller, Strategic Advisor to GCI and Founder of GamReg Consulting. “I know firsthand that the tools regulators need to protect their citizens continue to evolve, and I will make sure that GCI and its clients stay a step ahead in optimizing their markets.”

Holt and Miller will speak at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas on the “New Tools for a New Age – Helping Regulators Understand Market Dynamics and Stop Illegal Gambling” panel. The panel will take place on Wednesday, September 30, at 2:00 p.m. PT in Titian 2305 at The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas. Joining Holt and Miller will be Oliver Shawano, Vice-Chairman of the Forest County Potawatomi Gaming Commission, Stephanie Maxwell, Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, and Jonathan Michaels, Principal at Michaels Strategies.

About Gaming Compliance International (GCI):

For more information, visit gamingcompliance.com 

Info: contact@gamingcompliance.com

About GamReg Consulting

GamReg Consulting is a UK-based international advisory firm helping governments, gambling regulators and the organizations that support them design regulatory systems. Founded by former UK Gambling Commission Executive Director Tim Miller, the consultancy brings senior regulatory experience, international insight and practical networks to help clients strengthen licensed markets, tackle illegal gambling and improve consumer protection.

Media Contact

Ross Anderson, COO, Gaming Compliance International

+1 (725) 218-9103  |  ross.anderson@gamingcompliance.com

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24, Sep 2026
Odisha Govt Cites Weather, Crop Damage Behind Rise in Food, Vegetable Prices

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): The Odisha government has attributed the recent increase in prices of vegetables and some essential food commodities to adverse weather conditions, crop damage and broader developments affecting markets at the national and international levels.

Odisha Govt Cites Weather, Crop Damage Behind Rise in Food, Vegetable Prices

 Representational Image

Responding to questions from Opposition MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the price movement was part of a wider trend being witnessed across India.

The minister said unfavourable weather and flood-like conditions in key vegetable-producing regions had affected crops and contributed to higher prices of several vegetables. He also referred to marginal increases in the prices of pulses, edible oil and onion.

Odisha Prices Below National Average for Several Commodities

According to figures cited by the state government, retail prices of several commodities in Odisha remain below the national average.

The government said arhar dal is 3.13% cheaper than the national average, while moong dal is lower by 4.15%, chana dal by 3.90%, biri dal by 1.75% and potato by 31.87%.

At the same time, prices of some commodities were reported to be higher than the national average. Edible oil prices in Odisha were stated to be around 2.5–3% higher, while onion and sugar prices were 4.96% and 0.48% higher, respectively.

Government Steps Up Market Monitoring

The minister said the government was keeping a close watch on the prices and availability of essential commodities across major markets in the state.

Stock declarations submitted by dal and sugar millers, wholesalers and retailers through the government’s monitoring portal are being scrutinised, while field-level officials are conducting physical verification of declared stocks.

The department and its Market Intelligence Branch are also carrying out inspections to detect and prevent hoarding, black marketing and profiteering, the minister said.

Onion Sold at Rs 35 Per Kg

Amid the increase in onion prices, the state government has facilitated the sale of onions at Rs 35 per kg through mobile vans at different locations, with support from NAFED and NCCF.

The government said the measures are aimed at maintaining adequate supplies of essential commodities and preventing unfair market practices.

The issue of rising food and vegetable prices was raised in the Assembly by MLAs, including Dhruba Charan Sahu and Prakash Soren, among others, prompting the government’s response on the factors contributing to price fluctuations and the steps being taken to regulate the market.

24, Sep 2026
Deep Depression Crosses Coast Near Kalingapatnam, Heavy Rain Batters Southern Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed the coast near Kalingapatnam, between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, late Wednesday night, triggering heavy rainfall and gusty winds across parts of southern Odisha.

Deep Depression Crosses Coast Near Kalingapatnam, Heavy Rain Batters Southern Odisha

 Representational Image 

The system made landfall at around 11:30 pm, approximately 30 km southwest of Kalingapatnam. The landfall process continued for nearly three hours, accompanied by winds reaching 55–65 kmph.

Although the system has moved inland, its influence is expected to persist over Odisha and neighbouring areas for several hours, bringing further spells of heavy rain and strong winds.

System to Move Northwestwards

The weather system is expected to move northwestwards for about eight hours while maintaining its intensity. It may subsequently take a north-northwestward track and gradually weaken, according to the latest weather assessment.

Several coastal and adjoining districts of Odisha have been experiencing heavy rainfall under the influence of the system. Gusty winds have also been reported in affected areas, while sea conditions remain rough along parts of the coast.

Waterlogging Reported in Low-Lying Areas

Persistent rainfall has led to waterlogging in several low-lying locations, with authorities closely monitoring vulnerable areas.

The combination of heavy rain and strong winds could affect normal movement and local infrastructure in some areas. Residents in vulnerable locations have been advised to remain alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

Fishermen Advised to Stay Ashore

With the sea continuing to remain rough, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea until weather and marine conditions improve.

Authorities are maintaining close surveillance of the situation as the system moves further inland and gradually loses strength. People in affected districts have been urged to keep track of official weather bulletins and local advisories.

Further rainfall activity is likely over parts of southern and coastal Odisha as the remnants of the system continue to influence the region.

24, Sep 2026
Deep Depression Makes Landfall Near Kalingapatnam, Heavy Rain Continues Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): Heavy to very heavy rainfall continued across several parts of Odisha on Thursday morning as the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal moved inland after making landfall near Kalingapatnam late Wednesday night.

Deep Depression Makes Landfall Near Kalingapatnam, Heavy Rain Continues Across Odisha

 Representational Image 

The weather system brought widespread rain to southern and coastal parts of the state, with several areas experiencing intense spells since the early hours of Thursday.

Following the landfall, the system is expected to gradually weaken as it moves further inland. However, its associated weather conditions continue to influence rainfall activity over Odisha, prompting authorities and residents to remain alert.

Several districts have witnessed persistent downpours, raising the possibility of waterlogging and disruption to normal life in vulnerable areas. Commuters have also been advised to exercise caution, particularly in areas experiencing intense rainfall.

Rainfall Activity to Continue

The deep depression has intensified rainfall activity over Odisha, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) monitoring its movement and its impact on the state.

Weather conditions are likely to remain unsettled in several districts through Thursday, with periods of heavy rain expected in areas under the influence of the system.

Authorities in affected districts are keeping a close watch on the situation, particularly in low-lying areas and locations vulnerable to flooding or waterlogging.

Residents have been advised to follow official weather alerts and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall.

The latest weather system comes as Odisha remains under the influence of an active monsoon pattern, with the deep depression adding to rainfall activity across the state.

24, Sep 2026
Jindal Global University Expands Agreement with D2L to Accelerate Learning Innovation and Help Scale Growth

An Institute of Eminence in India renews D2L Brightspace for 10-years to deliver personalised experiences and help scale growth to reach 30,000+ learners

NEW DELHI, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — D2L, a global leader in learning technology, today announced that Jindal Global University (JGU), one of India’s premier Institutions of Eminence, has renewed and expanded its agreement with D2L for the next 10 years. Under the expanded agreement, JGU will extend its use of D2L Brightspace beyond online courses to support learning across all online and in-person programmes for more than 16,000 learners and over 1,100 faculty members.

The expansion will support JGU’s Vision 2030 by creating a more connected, learner-centric and outcome-driven learning ecosystem. As the university enters its next phase of growth, D2L Brightspace will serve as its core learning platform, bringing in-person and online learning onto a unified solution.

“Jindal Global University’s decision to adopt D2L Brightspace across its online and campus learning programmes reflect the growing role of technology in shaping the future of higher education in India,” said Lee Poteck, Chief Revenue Officer, D2L. “The partnership brings together JGU’s ambition for globally scalable, learner-centric education with D2L’s expertise in creating engaging and outcome-driven learning experiences. We are proud to deepen our partnership with JGU and support its impressive Vision 2030 journey.”

D2L and JGU have worked together for the past year, initially supporting the university’s online learning programmes. Over the next 10 years, D2L will help JGU establish a long-term digital foundation across the university as they scale for global growth to try and reach more than 30,000 learners by 2036 and support a more unified experience for learners and educators.

“As JGU continues to scale as an Institution of Eminence, consistency and rigour across our online and in-person programmes are central to how we think about growth,” said Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean, Office of Academic Governance at JGU. “Extending D2L Brightspace university-wide gives us a reliable platform to uphold our academic standards, track learning outcomes, and ensure every student receives an equally high-quality education, regardless of the mode of study. In an era increasingly shaped by AI, this partnership strengthens our ability to build stronger teaching and learning outcomes and forms the foundation for our ambitions ahead.”

In addition to D2L Brightspace, JGU will leverage several D2L solutions including D2L Creator+ and D2L Performance+ to advance its online and blended learning strategy. These tools will support richer course creation, personalized learning, data-driven insights and more effective engagement with learners. Together, JGU will deliver a more seamless experience for students and educators while supporting greater flexibility, engagement and scale.

About Jindal Global University

O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary, research-oriented university founded in 2009, with 16,000+ students, 1,100+ full-time faculty, and 2,900+ administrative staff across twelve schools spanning Law, Business & Management, International Affairs, Public Policy, Liberal Arts & Humanities, and more. Recognised as an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 2020, JGU brings together faculty from 50+ countries and students from 160+ countries, with collaborations spanning 600+ institutions in 80+ countries.

JGU was ranked Number 1 in the world and awarded ‘Gold’ by the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Learning Rankings 2024, and has been ranked India’s Number 1 Private University for three consecutive years by the QS World University Rankings 2023. The Jindal Global Law School has held its No. 1 rank in India for seven consecutive years and is ranked among the Top 35 globally for Law by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. The Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) featured for the first time in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2027, ranking among the Top 200 Business Schools in the World (171-180 globally, 23rd in Asia, and Number 1 Private Business School in India), and earned AACSB International Accreditation in 2025 — a distinction held by only 6% of business schools worldwide.

About D2L

D2L is transforming the way the world learns, helping learners achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is on a mission to make learning more inspiring, engaging, and human. Find out how D2L helps transform lives and delivers outstanding learning outcomes in K-12, higher education and businesses.

D2L Media Contact

PR@D2L.com

X:@D2L

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24, Sep 2026
Xinhua Silk Road: From temple visit to island getaway: Fujian’s Meizhou Island expands tourism appeal

BEIJING, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Meizhou Island, located in Putian City in southeast China’s Fujian Province, is renowned as the hometown of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu.

Photo shows a scene from the large cultural performance "Impression Mazu", which combines AR glasses with live performances to create an immersive audiovisual experience for audiences.

In recent years, the island has been tapping its tourism resources and developing distinctive Mazu culture-themed tourism activities, offering visitors a wider range of experiences and giving them more reasons to stay longer on the island rather than leave after half-day temple visit.

Born as Lin Mo on the island in 960, Mazu is believed to be a legendary woman who was deified as a protector of seafarers. Mazu has more than 300 million followers worldwide. In 2009, “Mazu belief and customs” was inscribed on the UNESCO representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

“In previous years, visitors mainly came to Meizhou Island to worship Mazu. Many would arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon,” said a staff member of the island’s administrative committee. “Now, more visitors are treating the island as a vacation destination, with a notable increase in family travelers, self-driving tourists and young visitors.”

Meizhou Island received about 3.23 million tourist visits in 2025, surpassing the 3-million mark for the first time. With the popularity of slow tourism, more visitors are no longer simply coming to “pay their respects” before leaving, but are choosing to stay for several days, taking leisurely walks, enjoying the sea views and embracing the relaxed pace of island life.

Popular experiences on the island include dressing in traditional attire and taking photos in front of distinctive local architecture. Visitors can also experience “a day in the life of Mazu” at her former residence in the Mazu Heritage Park, and visit the Mazu cultural museum, and the Ping’an Pagoda.

Moreover, large Mazu-themed live performances and fireworks after sunset can definitely light up visitors’ night life on the island.

From “paying respects and leaving” to lingering for the scenery, and from a half-day trip to “living a day in Mazu’s world,” Meizhou Island is transforming the appeal of a single temple into the allure of an island where visitors want to stay.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/352337.html

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24, Sep 2026
Odisha Clears Rs 2.47 Lakh Crore Investment Proposals, 50,000-Plus Jobs Expected

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): Odisha has cleared a major set of industrial investment proposals worth Rs 2,47,115.70 crore, with the projects expected to create 50,162 employment opportunities across the state.

Odisha Clears Rs 2.47 Lakh Crore Investment Proposals, 50,000-Plus Jobs Expected

 Pic Credit: x.com/IPR_Odisha

The proposals were approved at the 46th meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Wednesday.

The 27 projects will come up across 15 districts, covering sectors ranging from data centres, artificial intelligence and renewable energy to steel, semiconductors, green hydrogen, healthcare, textiles, chemicals, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing.

Data Centres, AI Drive Major Share of Investment

A significant portion of the proposed investment is concentrated in Odisha’s emerging digital and technology ecosystem. Four projects in the IT, ITES and Data Centre segment together represent an investment of about Rs 1.43 lakh crore.

Among the key proposals is an integrated data centre by High Density Datacentre Limited in Khordha, involving an investment of Rs 1,04,550 crore and potential employment generation of around 1,000.

HCL Technologies Limited has received clearance to establish an AI-optimised data centre in Khordha with an investment of Rs 14,257 crore. The project is expected to provide employment opportunities to around 385 people.

In Puri, Sentraforge AI Ltd will establish an AI data centre along with a Global Capability Centre. The project entails an investment of Rs 22,634 crore and has the potential to generate around 2,320 jobs.

Another data centre project, proposed by RKD Construction Private Limited in Cuttack, has been cleared with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore and potential employment generation of 220.

The approvals are expected to strengthen Odisha’s digital infrastructure, while supporting the growth of data centres, artificial intelligence, Global Capability Centres and technology-enabled services in the state.

Renewable Energy Projects Also Get Clearance

The HLCA also approved four projects in the power and renewable energy sector, together involving an investment of Rs 54,287.70 crore and potential employment generation of approximately 5,300.

With investments spread across 15 districts, the latest clearances are expected to support industrial expansion beyond Odisha’s major urban and industrial centres and create new opportunities across multiple sectors.

The latest round of approvals underscores the state’s focus on attracting large-scale investments in both traditional industries and emerging sectors such as AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.