Technology

Echoes of Courage: The Living History of Luding Bridge

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2026

BEIJING, July 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on an international group retracing the Luding Bridge crossing and sharing their reflections on the enduring legacy of the Long March through global communication.

“Were they human beings or madmen or gods?”

That was the question American journalist Edgar Snow captured in “Red Star Over China,” reflecting the awe of the opposing troops who tried to hold the bridge against Red Army soldiers in a desperate battle nearly 90 years ago.

The answer lies right here, at Luding Bridge.

In May 1935, only 13 iron chains stood between the Red Army and survival. Twenty-two of its soldiers volunteered to lead the way across. Behind them stood an entire army; ahead lay a hail of enemy gunfire; below, the roaring Dadu River.

Snow later recorded this dramatic episode in his book “Red Star Over China.”

The battle — the heroic seizing of Luding Bridge — was a key episode in the Long March, a 12,500-kilometer trek the Red Army undertook from 1934 to 1936 to break through enemy encirclement.

By the time they reached the Dadu River, they had been marching for months. But this river loomed as the ultimate barrier to their path north. Luding Bridge became their only viable hope. Losing it could have ended the Long March.

Defying overwhelming odds, they crossed under a hail of fire. The victory paved the way north and became one of the defining moments of the Long March.

Today, Luding Bridge is welcoming people from around the world.

As a major stop on the Sichuan leg of China International Communications Group (CICG)’s “Together on the Long March” international communication project, Luding Bridge welcomes participants from around the world as they retrace the Long March, revisit the places where history unfolded, and explore why this journey continues to inspire people today.

Like Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager at Springfield Urban League, observed, the battle was “a direct reflection of the resilience of the Red Army soldiers.” Learning how they survived on hardened rice while drenched in rain, sweat and blood, then crossed the swaying iron chains under enemy fire while looking after their comrades, gave him “an even deeper appreciation of their courage and determination.”

Television presenter Iain Inglis said, “The 22 people… were all in their early twenties,” he said. “They had the future before them, but despite that, they were willing to lay down their lives.” Inglis said he “could not have imagined having to face something like that.”

That feeling was shared by Sky Gommeren, a student at California State University, Northridge.

“A lot of the soldiers were probably around my age,” he said. “I’ve never had anything close to this kind of experience.” Living in peacetime, he said, made him appreciate even more the sacrifices made by those who fought for what they believed was an important cause.

For Elsbeth van Paridon, a foreign expert and sinologist at CICG, preserving places like Luding Bridge matters because “it’s keeping history alive, and their stories are still being told.”

More than 90 years later, the bridge still stands. But everything around it has changed.

The battlefields are now peaceful villages. The rugged mountain roads have become highways and tunnels.

Along the Dadu River, communities are building a new future through eco-tourism, agriculture and their historical legacy.

In Lengqi Town, revolutionary heritage and green development are now intertwined. Visitors come not only to honor the past but also to experience the beauty and vitality of today’s Luding.

Standing here today, it’s impossible not to admire the courage it took to cross this bridge.

But perhaps the real legacy of Luding Bridge isn’t just the battle itself.

It’s the belief that even in the hardest moments, people can still find a way forward.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Echoes of Courage: The Living History of Luding Bridge
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2026-07/10/content_118593079.shtml

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SOURCE China.org.cn

Technology

LeanDNA Launches Demand Scenario Modeling in APEX, Replacing Spreadsheet Guesswork With Real-Time Production Feasibility

Published

25 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

New capability lets production planners test demand changes against live supply and BOM data in minutes, without exporting ERP data or risking live system records.

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LeanDNA, a leading intelligent supply chain execution platform, today announced the general availability of Demand Scenario Modeling (DSM), a new capability within its APEX platform that lets production planners, buyers, and supply chain managers instantly test demand changes against real supply and Bill of Materials (BOM) data, without spreadsheets or system risk.

When forecasts shift, most production planners still turn to spreadsheets to find out whether production can support it: exporting ERP data, flattening multi-level BOMs, and reconciling supply just to answer one question — can we build this? The process is slow, error-prone, and disconnected from real-time system data, and it often produces false shortages that obscure the actual constraints.

Demand Scenario Modeling replaces that manual exercise with what-if analysis built directly into APEX. Production planners can model a demand change and immediately see which components truly constrain production, how many units can realistically be built, and where shortage risk increases, turning a process that has historically taken hours into a workflow measured in minutes.

Because DSM runs in a sandbox environment connected to live ERP and BOM data, planners can test and compare multiple scenarios, adjust quantities and dates, and recalculate instantly, without posting temporary plans or manipulating live records to get an answer. That combination of speed and system safety is central to how LeanDNA has built the capability.

“Production planners shouldn’t have to choose between speed and safety when they’re testing a demand change,” said Andy Ellenthal, CEO of LeanDNA. “Demand Scenario Modeling gives them both: an answer in minutes, grounded in the same supply and BOM data running their factory, without ever touching a live ERP record. It replaces guesswork with a repeatable way to say yes, no, or not yet with confidence.”

Demand Scenario Modeling is available now to APEX customers and is purpose-built for the tactical-to-mid-horizon planning window — roughly one to twelve months out — where production teams most often need to turn a demand question into a production commitment.

About LeanDNA

LeanDNA powers the world’s discrete manufacturing with a single source of truth for factory-first supply planning, materials management, and inventory optimization. APEX, the AI-powered expert execution platform from LeanDNA, transforms data into optimized decisions and action. LeanDNA empowers manufacturers in aerospace, HVAC,industrials, automotive, and medical to improve on-time delivery and working capital levels. Leading manufacturers including Caterpillar, Daikin Applied, Safran, and Siemens use APEX for supply chain orchestration to gain visibility into current and incoming materials, take action based on inventory criticality, collaborate in real time with suppliers, and track progress toward inventory optimization goals. Learn more at LeanDNA.com.

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SOURCE LeanDNA Inc

Technology

OppFi to Participate in September 2026 Conferences

Published

25 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OppFi Inc. (NYSE: OPFI) (“OppFi” or the “Company”), a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans, today announced that management will participate in the following conferences in September 2026:

Oppenheimer Fintech Leaders Conference
Location: New York
Date: September 15, 2026

U.S. Bancorp | BTIG Consumer Finance Conference 2026
Location: Boston
Date: September 17, 2026

To schedule a meeting with OppFi, please reach out to your Oppenheimer or BTIG representatives.

About OppFi
OppFi (NYSE: OPFI) is a leading tech-enabled digital finance platform that works with banks to provide financial products and services for everyday Americans. Through a transparent and responsible platform, which includes financial inclusion and excellent customer experience, the Company supports consumers who are turned away by mainstream options to build better financial health. OppLoans by OppFi maintains a 4.4/5.0 star rating on Trustpilot with more than 5,400 reviews, making the Company one of the top consumer-rated financial platforms online. OppFi also holds a 35% equity interest in Bitty Holdings, LLC (“Bitty”), a credit access company that offers revenue-based financing and other working capital solutions to small businesses. For more information, please visit oppfi.com.

Investors:

investors@oppfi.com

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SOURCE OppFi

Technology

Zillow Group to present at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference

Published

25 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

SEATTLE, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG), which is transforming the way people buy, sell, rent and finance homes, today announced Zillow Group will present at this year’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco.

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Hofmann will participate in a fireside chat on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10:50 a.m. PT / 1:50 p.m. ET.

Register and access the live webcast here. Live and recorded versions of the webcast will also be available under the Events & Presentations section on Zillow Group’s Investor Relations website.

About Zillow Group:

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people.

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more.

Zillow’s ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

(ZFIN)

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.