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Chandigarh University Mechanical Engineering Students Continue Winning Streak at ASME IMECE India, Bag Rs 2.5 Lakh Prize

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Chandigarh University’s Mechanical Engineering Students Reduce Hexacopter Landing Structure Weight by 87.5%

CHANDIGARH, India, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Continuing their winning streak at the national-level engineering competitions, the six-member team of Chandigarh University’s engineering students has secured a consecutive podium finish at the second edition of American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) ‘International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) India 2026’ (ASME IMECE India 2026) in Chennai by winning second prize in two highly competitive contests ‘Brain Bolt-The Engineer’s Sprint 2026’ and ‘MechanIQ-The Engineers’ Quiz’ with a combined prize amount of Rs. 2.5 lakh.

After securing the first position in ‘Brain Bolt’ during first edition of ASME-IMECE in 2025 at Hyderabad, the six-member Chandigarh University team named ‘Mech Minds United’, consisting of talented final-year Mechanical Engineering students – SM Nafis Ahmad, Mohit Mishra, Akhand Pratap Singh Rana, Krishna Kumar Jha, Vishwa Raj Singh and Ghulam Waris Warsi – again secured podium finish during ASME IMECE India 2026 in Chennai with consistent pursuit of excellence, innovation, technical expertise, teamwork and unwavering spirit to take on real-world engineering challenges.

While over 400 competing teams competed in the first round of this competition to solve the preliminary challenge, 60 teams from four regions across India, including Chandigarh University’s team ‘Mech Minds United’, were shortlisted for the subsequent rounds, competing through three challenging rounds based on 15 industry-relevant problem statements during the 24-hoursprint.

With the theme, ‘Think Fast, Build Faster, Solve What Matters’, the ‘Brain Bolt-The Engineer’s Sprint 2026’ tested Chandigarh University team’s creativity, technical knowledge, engineering design, analytical thinking, teamwork, innovation and the ability to deliver effective solutions in the given time.

In Brain Bolt – The Engineer’s Sprint 2026, CU’s team Mech Minds United addressed an industry-focused structural engineering problem proposed by Siemens Technology and Services Pvt. Ltd to win the second prize of Rs. 2 lakh. The CU team was required to provide a solution for topology optimization and lattice-based redesign of an industrial hexacopter landing structure specifically intended for metal additive manufacturing. The main objective was to replace the conventional, material-intensive landing system with a lightweight, structurally optimized and additive-manufacturing-compatible design. At the same time, the hexacopter had to maintain adequate load-carrying capacity, stiffness and overall structural integrity.

The Chandigarh University team Mech Minds United succeeded in bringing substantial reduction in structural mass by reducing the landing structure from 6.26 kilogram (kg) to just 0.785 kg, a reduction of 87.5% in mass even as the given target was to reduce the same by 50%. The team surpassed the target by combining topology optimisation, lattice design, FEA validation and DfAM principles in developing a lightweight and structurally efficient landing system.

Alongside Brain Bolt, Chandigarh University team also participated in MechanIQ – The Engineers’ Quiz, which tested technical knowledge and engineering aptitude of participants. With a strong understanding of engineering fundamentals, quick thinking, analytical reasoning and effective teamwork, Mech Minds United secured second prize of Rs. 50,000 in this competition.

Congratulating the winning Mechanical Engineering students, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University, said, “We are immensely proud of Mech Minds United for achieving a remarkable double podium finish at ASME IMECE India 2026. After securing the prestigious first position in ASME Brain Bolt 2025, it’s really remarkable to see Mech Minds United once again finish on the podium at the 2026 edition of ASME IMECE India. This consecutive success is a testament to the team’s consistent pursuit of excellence, innovation, technical expertise, teamwork, determination and unwavering spirit to take on real-world engineering challenges. The achievement in Brain Bolt – The Engineer’s Sprint 2026 is particularly special, as the competition challenged engineering students to think beyond conventional approaches and develop innovative solutions to real-world engineering problems. Securing second prize and Rs. 50,000 in ‘MechanIQ – The Engineers’ Quiz added another proud achievement to Chandigarh University team’s ASME IMECE India 2026 journey. However, CU team’s this journey was not just about winning prizes. It was about learning, experimenting, failing, improving, collaborating and continuously pushing themselves as every round brought a new challenge, every discussion brought a new perspective, and every deadline taught the importance of discipline and teamwork. I am confident this success will inspire future generations of engineers at Chandigarh University to continue tackling real-world challenges and make their mark on the global stage.”

“During this innovation marathon, our engineering students displayed their skills for tackling real-world situations. To develop such skills, Chandigarh University integrates experiential learning through hands-on workshops, industry collaborations, and real-world projects which bridge the gap between theory and practice. Being a research-intensive and innovation-driven institution, Chandigarh University has 30 Industry-sponsored high-tech R&D labs and 16 Centers of Excellences established by leading MNCs which foster practical skills for a successful career in modern day world. The industry-collaborated and future-ready program of Chandigarh University are meticulously designed to equip students with the latest industry insights, practical skills, and hands-on experiences, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of the modern business landscape,” he added.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

 

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Xryma Plc Reports Steady H1 2026 Results While Positioning the Group for Its Next Phase of Growth

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NICOSIA, Cyprus, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Xryma Plc (“Group”, “Xryma”), a banktech group providing regulated cross-border open banking, international transactional banking and real-time EU and UK payment services, whilst also independently offering banking software and technology to third party banks and financial institutions, today announced its audited H1 2026 financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

“The first half of 2026 remained firmly within the strategic investment period we outlined to shareholders. We made a conscious decision to prioritise the infrastructure and new opportunities required for Xryma’s next phase of growth, accepting the near-term impact this would have on Client Revenue and profitability,” said Ajay Treon, Group Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director, Xryma Plc.

“Importantly, that investment is now translating into delivery. We completed our Eurosystem T2 integration in June, continued to progress TIPS, PaidBy® and XrymaCoin, while Technology Services (as defined in the Prospectus) continued its strong growth, with revenue increasing 77%. Our SaaS and Banking Platform activities provide stable recurring income alongside higher-value consulting, bespoke development and customisation revenues.

We have achieved this while remaining profitable and maintaining a strong financial position, ending H1 2026 with €59.4 million of net assets and €50.9 million of cash. As the principal build phase of our strategic investment programme approaches completion, our focus is now shifting to activation, commercialisation and growth. We expect to see the first signs of that commercial momentum in Q4 2026, with the benefits of the investments we have made beginning to materialise from 2027 through revenue growth and operating leverage.”

H1 2026 Highlights

Strategic investment programme nearing completion, with the Group’s focus progressively shifting from investment and build to activation, commercialisation and growth.Client Revenue of €16.9 million, compared with €27.7 million in H1 2025, reflecting the anticipated near-term impact of prioritising strategic investment, and deferring certain complementary enhancements to existing products and services.Technology Services revenue increased 77% to €1.65 million, compared with €0.93 million in H1 2025, supported by recurring SaaS and Banking Platform income alongside higher-value consulting, bespoke development and customisation.The Group remained profitable throughout the investment period, reporting profit after tax of €0.03 million, compared with €12.3 million in H1 2025.Strong financial position maintained, with net assets of €59.4 million and cash and cash equivalents of €50.9 million at 30 June 2026, while continuing to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements.Major strategic milestones delivered, including completion of direct Eurosystem T2 integration in June 2026 following successful notification of participation in October 2025, together with continued progress across TIPS, PaidBy® Mastercard and XrymaCoin.Active capital allocation continued, including the early termination and repayment of the restructured NSX loan facilities and increased investment in BeEmotion AI, alongside progress towards completing the KYC initiative with BeEmotion.Commercial momentum expected to be regained in Q4 2026, with the benefits of the strategic investment programme expected to begin materialising from 2027 through revenue growth and operating leverage.

Nikogiannis Karantzis, Group Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Xryma Plc said: “Our commitment to delivering outstanding products and services to our existing customers remains unwavering. We are dedicated to expanding our customer base and increasing revenues in H2 2026, following the deep infrastructure upgrades of 2025 and H1 2026. Whilst this upgrade programme has impacted our short-term performance, we are of the belief that Xryma will be better positioned to grow revenues in the mid to long-term, with better margins due to our unique positioning in the market.

We are also pleased to have announced that the company’s Prospectus was approved by its competent authority, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) on the 14th of July 2026. We will continue to advance our stock exchange listing plans, thus providing liquidity to our existing shareholders, broadening access to capital markets and supporting the Group’s long-term growth ambitions.”

View Xryma Plc H1 2026 – Interim Six Month Results

About Xryma Plc

Xryma Plc is a regulated European bank-tech group that develops banking technology via its Probanx® subsidiary and operates digital payment services underpinned by direct central-bank settlement. Xryma is one of the first non-bank participants authorised to connect directly to the Eurosystem’s T2 RTGS and TIPS platforms. The company holds Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisations in both the EU and the UK and offers multi-currency corporate accounts. Its open-banking service, PaidBy®, delivers one of the world’s first cross-border, account-to-account, dynamic-currency-converting service for merchants, with instant local payments and next-business-day settlement in major and exotic currencies. Xryma is also the issuer of the upcoming electronic-money token XrymaCoin (XREUR).

Media Contact: Media@xryma.com 

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SOURCE Xryma Plc

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Scailarc, Elisa and Nokia demonstrate world-fist call handled without answering, powered by IMS Data Channel

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HELSINKI, Sept. 18, 2026 Proof of concept shows how customers can complete an important service task  even when they cannot answer a call            

Scailarc, Nokia and Elisa have completed a proof-of-concept demo of a new mobile calling experience that enables interactive, visual communication before and during a call. The showcase demonstrated a first-of-its-kind scenario where a customer can complete a call-related action without answering the call, using IMS Data Channel technology and trusted caller verification enabled through Nokia’s Network as Code platform. The call was made with the new Jolla Phone. 

The  demo uses an Elisa customer service scenario: Elisa calls about a fibre  installation. The customer cannot speak but sees a trusted interactive call  screen and selects “Book installation time”. Elisa sees the customer  move to self-service, and the customer completes the task immediately – without  having to answer the call. 

A new phase in the mobile call lifecycle

Created by Scailarc with support from Nokia and Elisa, the solution brings rich, interactive content into the native phone experience without requiring a separate app. It extends the phone call from a voice connection into a trusted media channel before, during and after the call.

For  companies, this can enhance efficiency by improving reachability and service  completion by displaying customers a clear reason for the call, verified context  and simple interactive options. For customers, it offers a convenient way to  handle service tasks when speaking is not possible or appropriate.  

Technology foundation

The solution is based on IMS Data Channel, a 3GPP standard that enables rich data interactions inside a normal phone call. Nokia’s Network as Code capabilities support caller identification, helping create a trusted interaction between caller and customer. The standards-based solution works independently of device model or mobile OS ecosystem.

Security and trust are central to the concept. IMS Data Channel interfaces run inside an isolated environment in the phone’s native calling app, preventing access to phone data. Data is encrypted, and Scailarc verifies application content and digital fingerprints to help prevent hijacking.

“This proof of concept shows how the traditional phone call can become a trusted, interactive customer service channel. Visual context, verified caller information, and simple self-service actions can help customers complete tasks faster and with confidence,” says Marko Rapeli, Co-founder & CEO, Scailarc.

“Elisa is exploring innovations that make digital services easier and safer. Today’s Proof of Concept demonstrates the potential this service has for the reduction of daily life friction. We are looking forward to further developing this technology for the benefit of our corporate and consumer customers,” says Laura Pitkänen, Vice President, Subscriptions and Services, Corporate Customers, Elisa.

“Programmable network capabilities can help developers and service providers create new real-time experiences. This showcase demonstrates how network capabilities can support trusted, contextual communications directly in the call experience,” Shkumbin Hamiti, Vice President, Network Monetization Platform, Nokia.

The companies see potential for trusted, interactive calling in sectors where identification, timely action and customer confidence are critical, including healthcare, banking, public services, logistics, public safety and legally required customer contacts.

CONTACT:

Further information and interview requests:

Elisa’s Mediadesk, mediadesk@elisa.fi, tel. +358 50 305 1605

Scailarc

Marko Rapeli, Co-founder & CEO, marko.rapeli@scailarc.com, +358 50 323 3973 
OlliPekka Nokkonen, Co-founder & COO, ollipekka.nokkonen@scailarc.com, +358 50 444 0894

Nokia

Press Office, press.services@nokia.com  

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/elisa-oyj/r/scailarc–elisa-and-nokia-demonstrate-world-fist-call-handled-without-answering–powered-by-ims-data,c4397644

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Twenty Years of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway: A Path Toward Harmony Between People and Nature

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LHASA, China, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Spanning nearly 2,000 kilometers and reaching altitudes of over 5,000 meters, this railway traverses the “roof of the world.” By overcoming formidable challenges like oxygen deficiency and harsh climate, it remains one of the most remarkable feats in the history of engineering.

To build the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, the engineers had to face a series of challenges rarely seen in the history of railway construction worldwide. About a quarter of the railway passes through permafrost regions. In some areas, ice accounts for more than 80 percent of the permafrost, while soil accounts for less than 20 percent. Permafrost is unstable as season changes. It can thaw and sink when temperatures rise in summer, while in winter it will freeze and shrink. So it is easy to crack during construction. Under the combined challenges of high altitude, low temperatures and oxygen deficiency, it was a global engineering challenge for Chinese engineers to ensure the long-term stability of the railway bed.

Faced with such extreme conditions, Chinese engineers and technicians adopted a range of innovative technologies. Along both sides of the railway, tens of thousands of heat-conducting pipes extend deep into the permafrost, draining underground heat to the surface and helping keep the permafrost frozen and stable. The 111-kilometer-long railroad bed with crushed rock ventilation can promote air circulation, carry away heat and reduce subgrade temperatures.

The construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway focused not only on engineering safety, but also on ecological conservation throughout the project. A total of 33 wildlife passageways were built along the railway, preserving migration routes for animals on the plateau. The Wudaoliang Bridge alone allows more than 5,000 Tibetan antelopes to pass through each year. Since the railway opened, students in remote mountainous areas have the better access to sound education. Herders can reach markets more easily. Over the past 20 years, the Qinghai-Xizang Railway has transported more than 100 million tons of freight.

The animated video China’s New Pulse: How did China build a railway spanning the roof of the world? produced by China Matters, tells the story behind the Qinghai-Xizang Railway. Today, this railway serves as a crucial transport infrastructure for local people with a balanced development between economic growth and ecological conservation.

YouTube Link:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V83lZVWsp8A

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SOURCE China Matters

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