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.
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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- By Sai Krishna
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.
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.
24, Sep 2026
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Visits Speaker Surama Padhy at AIIMS Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24 (UDN): Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, to meet the Hon’ble Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Smt. Surama Padhy, who is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Pic credit:x.com/MohanMOdisha
During the visit, the Chief Minister enquired about her health and interacted with the attending doctors to assess her medical condition and progress. He emphasized that all necessary medical care and support should continue to be ensured for her recovery.
The Chief Minister prayed to Lord Jagannath for Smt. Surama Padhy’s speedy recovery and wished her good health and well-being.
24, Sep 2026
Casio to Release Limited-Edition Timepiece Celebrating MR-G 30th Anniversary.
Latticework Dial Finished in Platinum Leaf, with Structural Color Technology Employed to Create Metal Leaf-Inspired Textures for Bezel and Bracelet
TOKYO, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of a new MR-G timepiece, adding to the flagship line of the G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches. The new MRG-B2100HR, featuring a dimensional latticework dial inspired by kigumi*1 and finished in platinum leaf, is available in a limited edition of only 800 pieces worldwide.
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*1 Kigumi is a traditional Japanese construction method and woodworking technique used for wooden joinery without the use of nails or other metal fittings. |
To commemorate the 30 years since the debut of MR-G in 1996, Casio drew from metal leaf, embodying tradition and innovation. The design expresses a strength that transcends time through the theme of haruka (eternity). Metal leaf artist Hiroto Rakusho created an original artwork, which together with the timepiece design brings the world of haruka to life.
Built on the shock-resistant MRG-B2100 with its octagonal bezel, the new MRG-B2100HR features a dimensional latticework dial. Each timepiece is adorned with platinum leaf applied by Rakusho. Powdered platinum leaf creates depth and gives each timepiece distinct character.
The bezel and bracelet evoke Rakusho’s artwork, with metal leaf-inspired textures rendered using structural color technology. *2 Precision laser processing produces colors that change with the viewing angle. The design brings together traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology to highlight the beauty of metal leaf.
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*2 Structural color is the phenomenon in which iridescent colors appear on butterfly wings, minerals, and other objects. For this timepiece, structural color is achieved using an ultrashort-pulse laser. |
The bezel is formed from 27 components, each polished before assembly. The bezel and bracelet employ the super-hard alloys COBARION*3 and DAT55G*4, respectively. Together, the finishes and materials deliver both refined metallic beauty and toughness.
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*3 COBARION is a trademark for a cobalt-chromium alloy manufactured exclusively by Eiwa Co., Ltd. |
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*4 DAT is a registered trademark of Daido Steel Co., Ltd. in Japan. |
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24, Sep 2026
Copper Announces Leadership Transition and New Management Team for Next Phase of Growth
Elin Cherry and Sam Goh appointed Co-CEOs to lead Copper through its next phase of growth, with a focus on product development and the evolving needs of institutional clients
London, Sept 24- Copper, the builder of blockchain-based infrastructure for secure and efficient collateral mobility across capital markets, announced a new management structure to lead the next phase of its growth, building on recent progress across its regulatory footprint, institutional offering and market infrastructure. To lead this next phase, Copper has appointedElin Cherry andSam Goh as Co-Chief Executive Officers, withAmar Kuchinad, Copper’s current CEO, moving to an advisory role.
Elin currently serves as Copper’s Chief Compliance Officer. She brings over thirty years of experience across compliance, regulation and business leadership at broker-dealers, banks and digital asset firms, including Société Générale, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America. Sam has served as Copper’s Chief Financial Officer since 2023 and brings extensive experience in commercial strategy, financial leadership and scaling high-growth businesses in the Fintech sector.
Mike Kuehnel, Copper Chairman, said, “Elin and Sam bring highly complementary experience across institutional markets, strategy, regulation and finance, together with a deep understanding of Copper and its clients. As digital assets and traditional capital markets increasingly converge, Copper is exceptionally well positioned to play a leading role in building the global financial infrastructure institutions will need. The Board has full confidence in Elin and Sam to lead Copper through this next phase. I would also like to thank Amar for his leadership and significant contribution to Copper, and I am pleased that we will continue to benefit from his experience through the transition.”
Matthias Winter, currently Head of Legal, EMEA at Copper, has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer, further strengthening the leadership team across regulatory, financial, legal and operational functions. As Copper advances its next phase of development, its Board of Directors, which includes Chair Mike Kuehnel and founderDmitry Tokarev, provides strategic guidance to Copper’s leadership team, with a particular focus on product development and growth strategy.
Elin Cherry, incoming Co-Chief Executive Officer at Copper, said, “Copper has built strong regulatory and institutional foundations to serve clients at scale. Our focus now is to build on that position as institutional digital asset markets develop, while continuing to evolve our product strategy around the needs of our clients. I am looking forward to leading that next phase alongside Sam and the wider team at Copper.”
Sam Goh, incoming Co-Chief Executive Officer at Copper, said, “Copper has a clear opportunity to build on the momentum we have created. For me, that means bringing together the trust and rigour institutions expect with the innovation and speed that digital asset markets demand. I look forward to working closely with Elin and the wider team as we lead Copper into this next chapter.”
Copper has continued to strengthen its institutional and regulatory footprint in 2026. Copper Markets (US) Inc., an SEC-registered broker-dealer, became a FINRA member, establishing Copper as a Qualified Custodian in the world’s largest capital market. The milestone also laid the foundation for Copper’s U.S. offering across qualified custody, staking, financing solutions, and collateral management solutions, as well as access to the ClearLoop Network, Copper’s shared collateral management layer that connects custodians, prime brokers, trading venues and post-trade infrastructure providers.
Amar Kuchinad, CEO, Copper said, “Copper has built a strong institutional platform and made important progress across regulation, product and market infrastructure. Elin and Sam bring the experience and perspective to lead the business through its next phase of growth, and I look forward to supporting them as Copper continues to build and deliver for its clients.”
The appointments took effect on September 21, 2026.
24, Sep 2026
ASG Power appoints Samir Habboosh as engineering manager
Experienced engineering leader brings 25 years of expertise in engineering, manufacturing and product development
ROCKY HILL, Conn. — ASG Power has appointed Samir Habboosh as engineering manager, bringing 25 years of engineering, manufacturing and product development experience to the company.
Habboosh will lead ASG Power’s engineering team in the design and development of machine control panels, power distribution equipment, switchgear, switchboards, motor control centers and other electrical systems. He will also oversee customer technical relationships from product development through production.
Before joining ASG Power, Habboosh served for eight years as director of R&D and product development, managing global R&D and engineering activities and supporting business development in the Department of Defense, aerospace and government markets.
Habboosh holds 23 patents and received the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award for Aerospace Sensors. His experience spans aerospace, medical, electronics, food, personal products, oil and gas and X-ray systems.
“Samir brings extensive engineering expertise and leadership experience to ASG Power,” said Dan Burke, general manager of ASG Power. “His background across complex industries will be a tremendous asset to our team and our customers.”
Habboosh holds an MBA from Pennsylvania State University, an MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Rhode Island and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He resides in Hamden, Connecticut.
24, Sep 2026
Mosaics Fine Art Festival Honors 2026 Best of Show Winner
(St. Charles, Mo., September 24, 2026) Mosaics Fine Art Festival awarded its 2026 Best of Show honor to Jessica Martinez of Washington, Missouri during the organization’s 31st annual festival. Martinez was selected from nearly 70 juried artists representing more than 15 states.
Martinez received a $1,000 cash prize as the first-place winner for her oil and acrylic artwork. Eight artists received Awards of Recognition and $500 prizes:
- Chris Abigt, oil and acrylic, Ottumwa, Iowa
- Larry Drake, jewelry, Nashville, Tennessee
- Justin Leszcz, clay, St. Louis, Missouri
- Tatyana Robberts, oil and acrylic, O’Fallon, Illinois
- Byron Rogers, printmaking, Florissant, Missouri
- Steven Ryan, clay, Quincy, Illinois
- Steve Springmeyer, photography, St. Louis, Missouri
- Suzanne Woolf, mixed media, Greenville, South Carolina
“Jessica Martinez’s work stood out for its exceptional technical skill, thoughtful use of color and compelling artistic vision,” said Denise Wulff, president of Mosaics Fine Art Festival. “Her pieces demonstrate the level of creativity and craftsmanship that makes Mosaics such a meaningful celebration of fine art. We are proud to recognize her as this year’s Best of Show winner.”
Pictured from left to right are artist festival judge Brian David Smith, Best of Show winner Jessica Martinez and Mosaics Fine Art Festival president Denise Wulff.
The Mosaics Fine Art Festival is a nonprofit organization that showcases local and regional artists while educating the community’s children and adults on how art can enhance their lives. The festival features a wide array of artwork produced by a mix of emerging, mid-career and established artists in all media. For more information, call (314) 406-2067 or visit Mosaics Fine Art Festival.
23, Sep 2026
Efectis Group Strengthens Its Presence in India with the Launch of Efectis India
New subsidiary combines global fire safety expertise with local capabilities to support India’s infrastructure, industrial and energy ambitions
CHENNAI, India, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Efectis, a global leader in fire safety and explosion risk management, has officially launched Efectis India following the acquisition of a majority stake in AADIT, developed by entrepreneurs Mr. Anil Agarwal and Mr. Jothi Ramalingam. This strategic milestone marks a significant step in the Group’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.
With more than 70 years of experience as a testing institute, Efectis group has inaugurated a new fire testing facility in Chennai, dedicated to performing fire tests based on Indian, European and international standards. This is the first international fire testing laboratory in India, operated by a strong local team and supported by more than 300 fire experts from Efectis. The Group aims to support India’s development ambitions by providing internationally recognised fire safety expertise tailored to local needs.
The official launch was celebrated at a high-profile event in Chennai, organised with the support of Business France, reflecting Efectis’ ambition to become a trusted partner for India’s rapidly evolving construction, infrastructure, industrial and energy sectors.
The event, held at the Taj Club House Hotel, brought together the Consul General of France in Puducherry and Chennai, Mr. Etienne Roland-Piègue, along with representatives from industry, government institutions, technical organisations, academia and the wider French Indian business ecosystem. Throughout the event, speakers and industry professionals highlighted the need to further strengthen fire safety in India.
Efectis Supporting India’s Next Phase of Growth
India’s rapid urbanisation, large-scale infrastructure projects and industrial expansion are generating increasing demand for advanced safety, resilience and regulatory compliance solutions. In this context, Efectis India will offer a comprehensive range of services, including fire safety engineering, testing, certification, inspection, risk assessment, technical audits, training and compliance support.
Combining local presence with international experience, Efectis India will support safety improvement, developers, manufacturers, infrastructure operators, industrial facilities, energy transition projects, battery technologies and critical infrastructure. Efectis will be available to assist national and regional public authorities or their representatives in addressing evolving fire and explosion safety challenges linked to modern and scientific assessment methods. The new facility will make fire testing more accessible and cost-effective for manufacturers and project owners in India, while ensuring a direct link with recognized international and local practices.
The launch comes at a time when India is accelerating investments in smart cities, industrial corridors, logistics hubs, transportation networks and clean energy infrastructure. As these projects grow in scale and complexity, this investment in India aims to strongly contribute to the improvement of Indian safety in construction, transportation and energy development, ensuring life safety, and make safer international industrial investment.
“The launch of Efectis India through a partnership with AADIT reflects our strong confidence in India’s long-term growth trajectory and our commitment to supporting the country’s ambitions with internationally recognised technical and scientific expertise in fire safety and risk management,” said Daniel Joyeux, President of the Efectis Group
“Our objective goes beyond delivering technical services. We want to build lasting partnerships with Indian stakeholders, contribute to skills development and support the creation of safer, more resilient infrastructure and industrial projects across the country. India is a strategic market for Efectis, and we look forward to working alongside our customers and partners in the years ahead.”
Through engineering expertise, testing and certification capabilities, technical training and regulatory support, Efectis India is positioning itself as a trusted long-term partner for safer buildings, more resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrial growth.
Efectis is an international third-party fire safety company, covering fire and explosion testing, inspection, certification, audits, investigation and engineering. With more than 70 years of experience, more than 350 professionals operating from 28 offices, 8 fire testing laboratories, and recognition as a certification body in 35 countries, Efectis supports clients throughout the entire project lifecycle. In 2025, the Group carried out more than 20,000 tests worldwide, serving sectors including construction, infrastructure, transport, energy, logistics, industry, batteries, and nuclear facilities. Based on a very strong technical and scientific background, Efectis Group actively participates in developing European and international standards and supports the improvement of national fire safety regulations.
Contact
india@efectis.com
Efectis headquarter
Route de l’Orme des Merisiers
91190 Saint-Aubin, France
Fire And Explosion Safety Experts
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23, Sep 2026
MobileSphere Index Finds Mobile Numbers Are Becoming the New Digital Identity
Financial services account for 41.6% of identified verification activity, as messaging and global mobility highlight the expanding role of the mobile number
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sept. 16, 2026 – MobileSphere, a leading provider of global mobile communications, today released its Mobile Identity Index for the first half of 2026, finding that the mobile number is evolving from a communications endpoint into an important digital identity credential used to access banking, payments, technology platforms, messaging services, and other parts of everyday digital life.
Powered by SLYNUMBER data, the research analyzes more than half a million aggregate and anonymized mobile verification events from January through June 2026. Financial services accounted for 41.6% of identified verification activity, more than twice the share of any other single vertical. Digital services, including platforms such as Google, Microsoft and AI services, represented 18.8%, while messaging accounted for 11.0%. Together, financial services, digital services, and messaging apps represented 71.4% of identified activity, rising to 81.2% when transportation was included.
The findings show the mobile number functioning as more than a way to call or text. It is increasingly part of the identity layer consumers use to access money, activate digital services, communicate, recover accounts, and stay connected across devices, networks, and locations.
“The mobile number has quietly become a critical part of our digital life,” said Toufic Mobarak, founder and President of MobileSphere. “We depend on it to access our money, communicate, activate social and messaging apps, recover accounts, and confirm our identity. That role becomes even more critical when people travel, relocate, or live across borders.”
Financial services emerge as the leading mobile identity use case
Financial services led the identified verification mix across the first half and gained 9.7 percentage points in share from the beginning to the end of the period. Activity spanned banks, payment services, bank-linking platforms, credit products, and cash-flow tools, reinforcing how deeply the mobile number is embedded in financial authentication, account access, and customer continuity.
Additional Findings:
• Messaging gained share. Messaging represented 11.0% of identified activity across the half and increased 4.4 percentage points, with higher aggregate activity across several international messaging services during major travel periods.
• Mobile identity moves with consumers. Aggregate verification activity shifted around tax season, major travel periods, and global events, showing how aggregate demand for access to financial, communications, and mobility services can change alongside real-world events.
• Connectivity and identity are different layers. For travelers and expatriates, eSIMs, roaming plans, Wi-Fi, and hotspots can provide connectivity, but continued access to a recognized mobile number may still matter for banking, payments, messaging, and account recovery.
• Mobile identity is concentrated in essential digital services. Financial services, technology, and messaging accounted for 71.4% of identified activity, rising to 81.2% when transportation was included.
• Emerging service trends are visible. AI services and international messaging produced some of the strongest growth signals in aggregate verification activity during the half, with OpenAI-related activity reaching record levels in May and June and multiple messaging services reaching record or near-record levels during major travel periods.
By tracking aggregate verification activity over time, the Mobile Identity Index is designed to detect emerging shifts in the digital services consumers rely on for identity and access. This report highlights these trends to underscore the critical importance of user digital identity. To download the full 1H 2026 report, visit:
https://slynumber.com/docs/
23, Sep 2026
Wordly Turns Live Event Translation into Revenue Generator
Organizers can now fund language access for multilingual events with high-visibility sponsor logo placements
LOS ALTOS, CA – September 23, 2026 – Wordly, the pioneer in AI translation and captions used across conferences, governments, schools, and enterprises, today announced the launch of Sponsor Logos, a new enhancement that allows event organizers to sell sponsor placement within the live translation and captioning experience for the first time. The release marks the beginning of a broader series of new features rolling out this fall, each designed to expand Wordly’s value for event teams.
Sponsor Logos places a partner’s branding directly on the attendee screens, whether they are following captions on their phones or reading translated subtitles on the screen of the main stage. For multi-stage events, each session can carry its own sponsor, creating a new tier of high-visibility inventory that organizers can sell to partners. In addition to providing a new piece of sponsorship inventory while helping fund the language access that makes an event more inclusive, and potentially more valuable to sponsors and attendees alike.
“Event organizers are constantly challenged to stretch budgets while providing inclusive, accessible experiences,” said Wordly Founder & CEO Lakshman Rathnam. “With Sponsor Logos, language access isn’t just a cost center anymore, it’s a high-visibility revenue stream.”
Sponsor Logos builds on Wordly’s growing momentum across the events industry, where demand for real‑time captioning and translation continues to rise. Adoption of live AI translation and captions has pushed Wordly past the 1‑billion‑minutes and 6‑million‑users milestones, fueling 668% three‑year growth.
“Event organizers have already saved more than $200 million by switching from traditional human interpretation to Wordly,” continued Rathnam. “Sponsor Logos takes that value even further by giving teams a powerful way to showcase sponsors and generate more revenue.”
