Technology

CGTN: Beyond the Tianshan Mountains: Xinjiang is a land of wonders

Published

4 years ago

July 20, 2022

BEIJING, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — “To both the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains you can see lush pasture; The Gobi Desert has been turned into fertile fields with melted snow irrigating farms…” The lyrics of the popular folk song named “Xinjiang Is a Wonderful Place” offer a true picture of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Tianshan Mountains, stretching for thousands of miles across China’s northwestern frontier, divides Xinjiang in half. Chinese President Xi Jinping has always held great affection for the Tianshan Mountains as well as Xinjiang. During his recent visit, Xi witnessed both the peace and stability of Xinjiang’s society and the prosperity resulting from its flourishing economy, on both sides of the Tianshan Mountains.

President Xi visited Xinjiang between July 12 and 15. He inspected nine places in three cities and attended a debriefing session and seven meetings. The president’s high expectations were clearly shown by his packed schedule and the vigor and intensity of discussions he attended.

From a remote corner to a core hub

Xinjiang, the relatively enclosed hinterland, now plays a vital role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the foreign trade value reaching over 67.4 billion yuan ($9.99 billion) in the first five months of this year, up 30.9 percent year on year.

Containing the Urumqi China-Europe Railway Express Hub and a comprehensive bonded zone, the Urumqi International Land Port area is a landmark project in the construction of the BRI in the region.

Since its construction in 2015, the land port area has drawn over 30 billion yuan (about $4.44 billion) in investment and attracted more than 340 enterprises. A cross-border e-commerce project has also been implemented.

By June 2022, the land port area had operated more than 5,900 China–Europe freight train trips via 21 routes linking 26 cities in 19 European and Asian countries and regions. The trains carry over 200 categories of goods, ranging from daily necessities and garments to mechanical equipment and building materials.

“With Belt and Road cooperation advancing, Xinjiang is no longer a remote corner but a core area and a hub,” Xi said while visiting the Urumqi International Land Port area.

A new vision

Accounting for one-sixth of China’s land territory, Xinjiang is home to 13 ethnic groups, six major religions and more than 25 million people. It has always been a region with strategic value.

“On our journey in the new era, we will endeavor to build Xinjiang into a beautiful place that is united, harmonious, and prosperous, with an advanced culture, a happy life for all and sound ecological environment,” Xi noted in the tour, calling for striking a proper balance between economic and social development and eco-environmental protection.

The region has seen a robust ecological development from 2010 to 2019, with a net increase of over 113 million mu (around 7.53 million hectares) of ecologically functional land as the latest land and resource survey of Xinjiang showed.

By 2019, the region had registered over 183 million mu (around 12.2 million hectares) of forests, 780 million mu (about 52 million hectares) of grasslands, 22.87 million mu (about 1.52 million hectares) of wetlands, and 33.18 million mu (about 2.21 million hectares) of rivers and lakes.

Xinjiang has planned to establish Kalamaili National Park and Kunlun Mountains National Park, the first of their kind in the region, to protect endangered species and local ecosystems.

According to the local government, it has set the region’s average annual GDP growth target for above 6 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and planned to create an average of 460,000 new urban jobs each year and bring the urban unemployment rate under 5.5 percent.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-07-20/Beyond-the-Tianshan-Mountains-Xinjiang-is-a-land-of-wonders-1bOC9Tg3HRS/index.html

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SOURCE CGTN

Technology

Rakhi Bazaar Shares New Insights into How Indians are Choosing Rakhi Gifts in 2026

Published

42 minutes ago

August 4, 2026

NEW DELHI, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rakhi Bazaar, a leading online shopping platform for rakhis and Rakhi gifts, presents a concise report on rakhi gifting trends. By analyzing responses from more than 1000 users online, it presents its report and highlights the major changes in gifting ideas for Rakhi. The rakhi gifting market in 2026 is driven by tech gifts, evil eyes, and personalized gifting options.

According to the company’s latest shopping insights, demand for tech gifts, wellness hampers, and personalized Rakhi hampers has increased by 65% compared to the previous festive season. The major shift shows how consumer expectations and gifting habits are changing with time.

For many years, sweets, dry fruits, and traditional rakhi gift hampers dominated the celebration. Today, a sister doesn’t just scroll through digital platforms to buy online rakhi for brother; they are searching for something that adds value, emotions, and overall worth to each delivery. They use AI recommendations before adding anything to their shopping list.

The report also highlights that digital shoppers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are moving beyond conventional gifting. They choose products and rakhi gift ideas that align with their siblings’ unique personalities and lifestyles.

“Having been in the market for more than 10 years, we have witnessed major changes in consumer preferences. Today, we are working with more advanced, more discerning, and AI-influenced audiences. That’s why we move with data, not word of mouth. We conducted the survey to better understand consumer behaviour and their preferences before adding Rakhi gifts on our platforms,” said Deelip Kumar, CEO of Rakhi Bazaar.

He further added that “My team has thoroughly studied the market and prepared the collection. We have added designer rakhis, kids’ rakhis, Evil Eye Rakhis, hampers, spiritual rakhis, and more personalized gifting options on our platform. Each rakhi gift hampers are thoughtfully designed and displayed on our platform.”

Tech Gifts and Personalised Hampers Lead the Way

The Rakhi Bazaar Trend Report highlights gift ideas consumers prefer when they send rakhi to USA from India. Some of them include wireless earbuds, smartwatches, Bluetooth speakers, wellness products, grooming gadgets, customised mugs, engraved accessories, premium chocolate hampers, and personalised gift boxes. These are among the fastest-growing gifting categories this festive season.

The company reported that the combination of traditional Rakhis with modern lifestyle gift products is in demand. The combination highlights the touch of modernization to the cultural values of Indian society. Consumers also prefer personalized handwritten notes, wellness essentials, premium accessories, and gourmet treats to create more memorable gifting experiences.

Younger buyers spend more time researching online before making a purchase. Instead of adding items at random, the company focuses on consumer preferences and combines multiple products into a single festive package. As Raksha Bandhan approaches, Rakhi Bazaar is ready with its products and thoroughly analysing the market, making updates from time to time.

About Rakhi Bazaar

Rakhi Bazaar is one of the leading digital platforms dedicated to Raksha Bandhan. It offers a huge collection of Rakhi, Rakhi gifts, and festive combos for customers. With this platform, customers can send Rakhi across the globe with free shipping. With keen attention to the website’s technical aspects, functionality, and overall design, it ensures users have a smooth experience when buying online rakhi for Brothers and siblings.

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Technology

PalTech Employees Pack 1,000 School Kits for Students Around Hyderabad

Published

42 minutes ago

August 4, 2026

HYDERABAD, India, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Before the workday began, PalTech employees came together over three mornings to pack 1,000 school kits for children in need—starting their day with purpose before turning to their regular responsibilities.

The kits, which include notebooks, stationery and essential learning supplies, are now being distributed to underprivileged students across schools in and around Hyderabad, helping them begin the new academic year with the resources they need. A second phase, adding another 800 school kits, is already underway.

“For many of our students, access to basic learning materials makes a real difference to how they begin the school year. The school bags, notebooks and stationery provided by PalTech have brought great joy to our children. We sincerely appreciate PalTech’s support and commitment to creating better opportunities for our students,” said P. Archana, Headmistress, MPPS Anjaiah Nagar.

While the initiative will benefit hundreds of students, it also reflects something that has become part of PalTech’s identity—employees who willingly come together to contribute their time and skills beyond the workplace. Rather than being driven by a single annual campaign, these efforts have become a natural extension of the company’s culture.

“Technology is what we do every day. But what defines a company over time is its people. What makes me proud isn’t the number of school kits we packed. It’s the number of people who chose to come in early, work together and make it happen. That says more about who we are than anything we could write in a slide deck,” said Shanthi Palreddy, Co-Founder & Director, PalTech.

Employee-Led Community Initiatives

The school kit initiative is one example of how PalTech employees contribute outside their day-to-day responsibilities.

Earlier this year, employees volunteered at Marepally Government School in Nalgonda district, repainting classrooms, improving the school campus and planting trees to create a brighter learning environment for the children.

PalTech also partnered with Seva Bharathi Telangana as the Platinum Sponsor and Technology Partner for the 10th edition of Run for a Girl Child, supporting girls’ education and empowerment. Beyond sponsorship, PalTech contributed its technology expertise by supporting registrations and digital event operations, helping deliver a seamless experience for nearly 12,000 participants—an event flagged off by District Collector Harichandana Dasari and cricket legend Mithali Raj, while allowing organisers to focus on the cause.

Employees also partnered with Goonj for a clothing collection and distribution drive, promoting sustainable reuse while supporting families in rural communities.

Different initiatives, different causes, but the same willingness to step forward.

“Being part of these initiatives reminded us that even small contributions can create visible change. Whether it was packing school kits or helping improve a school space, every activity felt meaningful because we could see the impact directly,” said Santhosh Gongada, Senior Manager, PalTech.

A Culture of Participation

For PalTech, community initiatives are not about visibility. They are about participation. Whether solving complex technology challenges for global enterprises or supporting local communities, the focus remains the same: bringing people together to create meaningful outcomes through collective effort.

As the organization continues to grow as a technology partner for enterprises worldwide, the company remains equally focused on strengthening its role as a responsible corporate citizen. PalTech will continue to build programs that support children, schools, rural communities, and social causes where sustained participation can create meaningful, long-term impact.

About PalTech

PalTech is a global technology services company helping enterprises solve complex business challenges through Artificial Intelligence, Digital Product Engineering, Data & Analytics, Cloud and DevOps. With offices across the United States and India, PalTech combines engineering excellence with an execution-focused approach to deliver practical, measurable business outcomes. Built on a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning, the company partners with clients to transform ideas into lasting value.

For more information about PalTech and its community initiatives, visit PalTech CSR page.

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Technology

ICC Loyalty joins Mintoak to build a unified Payments and Engagement OS for banks

Published

42 minutes ago

August 4, 2026

ICC Loyalty, serving 30+ banks and 11 million customers across 10+ countries, joins Mintoak. The combined entity now partners with more than 50 banks across 20+ countries.Combined annual revenue exceeds US$30 million with a profitability margin exceeding 30%.

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ICC Loyalty, the Dubai-headquartered loyalty and rewards technology company serving over 30 leading banks across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, today announced it has joined Mintoak, the payments and engagement OS for acquirers.

ICC Loyalty serves over 30 leading banks across 10+ countries, catering to over 11 million customers, including Emirates Islamic, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), RAKBANK across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

“Joining Mintoak allows us to integrate their advanced AI and platform capabilities into ICC’s ecosystem, delivering next-generation hyper-personalisation for both our existing and new clients,” said Amit Narang, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, ICC Loyalty. “Together, we will help banks deliver more meaningful customer experiences while creating measurable commercial value.”

“This acquisition represents a defining milestone for Mintoak,” said Raman Khanduja, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mintoak. “Payments have become the foundation of banking relationships. The next phase of growth will come from engagement. By bringing together merchant engagement, customer loyalty and data-driven intelligence, we are building a Payments and Engagement OS that enables banks to create greater value for merchants, consumers and banks.”

Following the acquisition, Mintoak now partners with over 50 banks across 20+ countries, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and SBI Payments in India, Emirates Islamic and RAKBANK in the Middle East and Absa Bank in Africa. Backed by investors such as PayPal Ventures, British International Investment, Pravega Ventures, HDFC Bank and Z3Partners, its platform supports over 5 million merchants and 11 million customers while powering more than US$93 billion in annual payment volume.

Together, ICC Loyalty and Mintoak are building the leading Payments and Engagement OS for banks, helping financial institutions unlock deeper customer relationships and new revenue streams.

Key contacts

Khushaal Talreja, Group Head of Marketing, Mintoak
+91 9768005040 | Khushaal.talreja@mintoak.com

Riddhi Sharma, PR Lead, Jajabor Brand Consultancy
+91 8587804685 | riddhi.sharma@jajabor.io

About ICC Loyalty

ICC Loyalty is a Dubai, UAE-headquartered loyalty technology company helping banks build customer engagement and rewards programmes. It serves over 30 leading banks across 10+ countries, catering to more than 11 million customers, including Emirates Islamic, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and RAKBANK across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

About Mintoak

Mintoak is the payments and engagement OS for banks, helping financial institutions transform payment transactions into customer engagement, recurring revenue and long-term value. The company partners with more than 50 acquirers across 20+ countries, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and SBI Payments in India, Emirates Islamic and RAKBANK in the Middle East and Absa Bank in Africa. Backed by PayPal Ventures, HDFC Bank, British International Investment, Pravega Ventures and Z3Partners, among other investors.

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