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Barry Silverstein and David Velasquez Named to Newly Formed Strategic Advisory Board, Myrias Optics

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AMHERST, Mass., Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Myrias Optics, a world leader in wafer-level metaoptics and diffractive optical technologies, today announced the formation of its Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) and the appointment of Barry Silverstein and David “Dave” Velasquez as its inaugural members.

The Strategic Advisory Board will advise Myrias’ leadership team as the company advances the commercialization and scale-up of its proprietary all-inorganic nanoimprint manufacturing platform. Its initial focus will include technology and product roadmaps, strategic customer engagement, manufacturing scale-up, capital allocation, and market expansion across augmented reality, consumer electronics, semiconductor, aerospace and defense, advanced imaging, and other high-growth optical markets.

“The formation of our Strategic Advisory Board is an important step in Myrias’ evolution from a breakthrough technology company into a trusted commercial partner ready to support our customers as they start to scale,” said John Fijol, Chief Executive Officer of Myrias Optics. “Barry and Dave bring exceptional and highly complementary experience. Barry has helped define the future of AR display and optical systems, while Dave has repeatedly converted complex, capital-intensive technologies into large, profitable global businesses. Their guidance will strengthen our ability to align innovation with customer needs, accelerate qualification, and build the partnerships required for high-volume adoption.”

Barry Silverstein

Barry Silverstein is a recognized leader in augmented reality (AR), display technology, and advanced optical systems. In 2026, he joined the University of Rochester faculty as Director of the Center for Extended Reality after serving as Senior Director and Chief Technology Officer of Optics and Display at Meta’s Reality Labs.

During seven years leading optics and display research at Meta, Silverstein focused on creating smaller, lighter, and more efficient visual imaging systems. His work included microLED, liquid crystal on silicon, silicon carbide, and laser-scanning display engines; lightweight, high-refractive-index materials; and waveguide architectures based on volume holography, polarization volume holograms, and surface-relief gratings. Across Meta, IMAX, and Kodak, his career has spanned the research, development, and commercialization of optical systems, laser projection, sensing, imaging and printing, space imaging, and optical recording.

Silverstein received a 2024 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific and Engineering Award for contributions to the design and development of the IMAX Prismless Laser Projector. He is named on 100 awarded U.S. patents and has led multiple successful patent and technology licensing programs.

“Myrias has developed a differentiated platform with the potential to address some of the most important optical performance, manufacturability, and cost challenges facing next-generation AR and imaging systems,” said Silverstein. “I look forward to helping the team connect its materials and process advantages to the system-level requirements that will drive commercial adoption.”

David “Dave” Velasquez

Velasquez is a board director, strategic advisor, and technology commercialization executive with 25 years of experience helping industrial and technology companies translate breakthrough engineering into scaled, profitable global businesses. His work spans semiconductors, photonics, advanced materials and packaging, and aerospace and defense, and he is particularly focused on portfolio strategy for capital-intensive technology businesses; where to place bets, how to structure customer partnerships that share risk, and how to align technology roadmaps with commercial execution. Since 2025, he has led Horizon Delta LLC, an independent advisory practice serving CEOs, boards, and investors.

Velasquez spent 25 years at Corning Incorporated, culminating in Corporate Vice President and General Manager roles leading the $1.2 billion Gorilla Glass and Augmented Reality division and the $600 million Advanced Optics division. His record includes leading global manufacturing networks, securing more than $200 million in customer co-investments for capacity expansion, structuring long-term supply and intellectual property agreements, and aligning multi-year technology roadmaps with Tier 1 customers in semiconductors, consumer electronics, and defense. He has served on the boards of Bharat Innovative Glass Technologies, Mosaic Microsystems, and Menlo Microsystems.

Velasquez began his career as a U.S. Army officer and AH-64 Apache helicopter officer. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Systems Engineering, with honors, from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

“Myrias has built a differentiated optics platform at exactly the moment the market needs one,” said Velasquez. “The work ahead is picking the right customer partnerships, structuring them so risk and reward are shared, and building the manufacturing scale-up path that turns technical leadership into durable market position. That is the work I am here to help with.”

About Myrias Optics

Myrias Optics focuses on metaoptics, diffractive optics, and AR waveguides, delivering wafer-level optical solutions that integrate advanced nanostructures with cost-efficient, high-throughput manufacturing. The company’s proprietary all-inorganic nanoimprinting technology enables precision optical components with industry-leading material performance, strong yield characteristics, and a clear path to production-scale deployment.

For more information: https://myriasoptics.com/
Contact: Info@myriasoptics.com

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Visa, MOONTON Games extend collaboration with new three-year partnership for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s M Series-the world’s most watched mobile esports tournament

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September 21, 2026

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As the Global Payment Partner, Visa will elevate how millions enjoy the M8 to M10 World Championships

SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a global leader in digital payments, and MOONTON Games, the international video game developer behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), today announced a three-year partnership to elevate the M Series experience for fans worldwide. The partnership sees Visa named the Global Payment Partner for the next three editions of the M Series—the M8 World Championship (M8) in 2027 through the M10 World Championship (M10) in 2029. The M Series is MLBB’s flagship international competition and is the most-watched mobile esports tournament in history with 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts.

From the M8 through the M10, Visa cardholders will receive preferential access to M Series tickets, as well as opportunities to win VIP Zone access, meet-and-greets, and behind-the-scenes tours–bringing fans closer to their favourite players and teams.

The partnership comes as the M Series expands its international footprint. The M8 will mark the tournament’s European debut, building on MLBB Esports’ global expansion strategy unveiled earlier this year. With Visa facilitating payments across more than 200 countries and territories, its reach and payment capabilities will support MLBB’s continued international growth while creating more seamless and rewarding fan experiences.

Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer at Visa Asia Pacific, said: “We’re proud to deepen our partnership with MOONTON Games and MLBB, one of the most remarkable gaming franchises in the world. MLBB is a powerful example of how mobile gaming is changing the way people play, connect with each other, and spend. Every year, millions of fans and gamers engage with the M Series. Together with MOONTON Games, we look forward to creating more iconic moments that fans and gamers will remember in the years to come.”

The multi-year agreement builds on Visa’s first entry into MLBB Esports at the M7 World Championship (M7) in Jakarta, Indonesia, anchored in a shared vision of empowering youth through digital innovation. Visa has also expanded its presence within the wider MLBB Esports ecosystem, joining MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines as an Official Sponsor for Season 18.

Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: “Our partnership with Visa at the M7 demonstrated how we can create greater value together across the fan journey. This multi-year agreement is a natural next step as MLBB Esports enters its next phase of globalisation. It also reflects the growing international scale and relevance of the M Series. Together, we are excited to deliver a more seamless, rewarding, and connected experience for fans around the world.”

Visa champions the moments that bring fans closer to the passions they love, from sports and music to gaming, fashion, and entertainment. Guided by a fan-first approach to partnerships, Visa designs experiences that deepen connection and make participation seamless, secure and accessible for audiences around the world. Through high-impact partnerships, Visa helps shape cultural moments while enabling effortless cross-border commerce. Visa’s partnership with MOONTON Games strengthens its growing range of gaming partnerships and its commitment to helping people connect with the communities and experiences they care about most.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

About MOONTON Games

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit https://en.moonton.com.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports

Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Latin America; MPL is the first esports event series to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time globally.

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SOURCE Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd

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CCTV4: CMG Mid-Autumn Gala Celebrates a Global Reunion at the Home of Chang’e

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September 21, 2026

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BEIJING, Sept. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — One of the most popular traditions associated with Mid-Autumn Festival is the legend of Chang’e who, to prevent her husband’s apprentice Peng Meng from stealing an elixir of immortality, consumes it herself and flies to the moon. The earliest complete account of this legend is contained in the 2nd century BC philosophical text, Huainanzi. The work, a collection of essays based on scholarly debates held at the court of Liu An, Prince of Huainan, also contains the first systematic record of the jieqi – the 24 Solar Terms observed in China since ancient times to predict changes in the weather and guide farming. 

As the host city of this year’s CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, Huainan is drawing on its rich heritage to create a memorable evening of celebration and family reunion. Lying on the banks of the Huaihe River in Anhui Province, the city offers a delightful and romantic setting for an evening of music and entertainment beneath a full moon. Performances will also use cutting-edge technology in the form of AI, robotics and drones to reimagine Mid-Autumn traditions for a worldwide audience. 

Among the evening’s highlights will be British singer Sarah Brightman duetting with China’s own Zhou Shen on The Music of the Night; and a performance of Clair De Lune and May We All Be Blessed with Longevity by pipa virtuoso Fang Jinlong, Croatian cellist Ana Rucner and German pianist Oskar Roman Jezior. Also making an appearance will be two of the stars of China’s latest box-office hit Dear You – Li Sitong and Wu Shaoqing.

Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Mid-Autumn Festival has for centuries brought families and loved ones together. In Chinese culture, the full moon is a symbol of reunion and shared longing – an image that also speaks to a universal sense of romance and connection.

The 2026 CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala will be broadcast worldwide from Huainan at 8 p.m. Beijing time on September 25.

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Spiritual Journeys and Southeast Asian Escapes Mark Indian Travel Interest in September: Agoda

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September 21, 2026

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda’s latest accommodation search data reveals growing interest in India’s spiritual destinations ahead of September, with several temple towns noting an increase in searches, alongside continued popularity of Southeast Asian cities.

Interest in India’s Temple Towns Climbs 

Among domestic destinations, Pachmarhi, known as the “Queen of Satpura”, recorded an almost 7x increase in accommodation searches for September compared with the same period last year. Set in the Satpura ranges of Madhya Pradesh, the hill destination is home to the Jatashankar Temple, a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is also known for its forests, waterfalls and scenic views. Ujjain, another city in the state, recorded an almost 3x increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Mahakaleshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the city offers travelers a mix of pilgrimage, historic ghats, and cultural experiences.

In Puri, accommodation searches increased by 2x, with the Jagannath Temple being a key part of the city’s identity, while its coastline and beaches offer travelers another experience during their stay. Varanasi recorded a 44% increase in searches, with its temples, ghats and cultural heritage offering another way to experience India’s spiritual traditions. Further down south, Tirupati recorded a 29% increase in accommodation searches. Known for the Sri Venkateswara Temple, the destination remains an important pilgrimage centre and spiritual travel destination of interest.

Southeast Asia Brings Spiritual and Cultural Experiences into September Travel

Beyond India, September travel searches also point to Southeast Asia, where travelers can find spiritual and cultural experiences alongside beaches, food and city breaks. Hanoi recorded a 58% increase in accommodation searches, with its historic streets, cultural heritage and local food offering travelers a city experience shaped by Vietnam’s traditions.

Da Nang saw a 50% increase in search interest, combining its beaches and proximity to Hoi An with cultural attractions such as Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula, a Buddhist site known for its 67-metre statue of Guanyin. Kuala Lumpur recorded a 35% increase, offering multicultural heritage, food and landmarks including Batu Caves, Thean Hou Temple and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

In Indonesia, Bali recorded a 24% increase in accommodation searches, offering a mix of beaches, natural landscapes and spiritual experiences, with renowned temples such as Tanah Lot, Besakih Temple and Lempuyang Temple adding to its cultural appeal.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director, Indian Subcontinent & Indian Ocean Islands, Agoda said “Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report found that 19% of Indian respondents consider spiritual or religious experiences when planning a trip this year, pointing to the diverse motivations shaping travel decisions. Our latest accommodation search data reflects this shift, with destinations being explored for pilgrimages, cultural experiences, nature getaways, and overseas holidays. At Agoda, we make it easier for travelers to find stays that best fit the diverse experiences they desire.”

With a global network of over 6 million hotels and holiday properties, along with flights, activities, and more, Agoda offers travelers a wide range of options to explore destinations across India and around the world. Whether discovering domestic hill escapes or international cities and island destinations, Agoda’s broad selection makes it easier to plan any trip.

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