XI’AN, China, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news release from the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism: As the strains of Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot filled the Shaanxi Grand Theatre on the afternoon of November 9, the curtain fell on the 11th Silk Road International Arts Festival—a 25-day celebration that transformed the ancient capital into the epicenter of global cultural exchange.

Hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Government and co-organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Xi’an Municipal Government, the festival painted a modern portrait of East-West dialogue at one of the world’s most historic crossroads.

Between October 16 and November 9, Xi’an welcomed over 1,900 artists from 84 countries and regions, staging more than 60 performances and 30 cultural events attended by 80,000 in-person visitors. Online broadcasts reached audiences well into the hundreds of millions.

This year, China’s new 240-hour transit visa-free policy permits eligible travelers to enter China through Xi’an Xianyang International Airport and stay in Shaanxi for up to six days without securing a visa in advance. Festival officials noted a marked rise in international attendees—artists, tourists, and cultural delegations—who routed through Xi’an en route to third destinations, taking advantage of the city’s increasingly open gateway to the world.

For the first time, architectural works from the Politecnico di Milano were featured, signaling deeper cooperation between China and Italy in design and visual arts. Artists embraced cross-cultural creation with enthusiasm: an Argentine painter composed poems for his pieces inspired by Chinese aesthetics; Russian artists integrated the Chinese character “福” (fortune) into their oil paintings as a blessing for the Silk Road.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Clarinet Quintet introduced American chamber music traditions, while Broadway and London’s West End talent headlined a star-studded musical gala.

“It’s not just an exhibition,” one Slovenian artist commented. “It’s a conversation between people, and between ideas.”

The China–Central Asia joint exhibition, displaying over 100 representative works across painting, silk art, and intangible heritage, invited audiences to witness the shared beauty found amid cultural differences.

The 11th Silk Road International Arts Festival stood as a compelling testament to the power of culture to connect civilizations. The Silk Road, once defined by caravans and distant horizons, now shines anew — illuminated by creativity, shared humanity, and the enduring power of cultural exchange.

JINCHANG, China, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, a multi-rotor UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) flew steadily along a preset route, conducting refined autonomous inspections on the 330-kilovolt transmission lines of State Grid Jinchang Power Supply Company. By leveraging technological empowerment, the company has strengthened the “safety net” for power grid operations, injecting robust innovative momentum into the stable and secure operation of the power grid during the winter peak load period.

Transmission line corridors feature complex and diverse environments, often spanning highways, railways, power lines of varying voltage levels, and tree-growing areas. The safe distance at these “crossing points” is crucial to ensuring the reliable operation of the power grid. Insufficient distances, exacerbated by external factors such as strong winds and high temperatures, can easily trigger discharges, short circuits, and other accidents. Minor incidents may lead to line tripping and regional power outages, while severe cases could spark wildfires, posing a serious threat to public safety. Previously, traditional inspections relied primarily on line patrol personnel using binoculars, rangefinders, and other tools for ground measurements. This approach not only suffered from low efficiency and high labor intensity but also frequently resulted in measurement errors due to topographical constraints, making it difficult to detect potential hidden hazards in a timely manner and leaving risks to grid safety.

To fully address this industry challenge, the Transmission Operation and Maintenance Center of the company took proactive steps to innovate, actively introducing intelligent UAV inspection technology and initiating a smart transformation from “human-based defense” to “technology-based defense”—a significant breakthrough in the field of power grid inspections. The UAVs deployed by the center are equipped with high-definition visible light cameras and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) devices.

At the operation site, maintenance personnel only need to preset the flight path, and the UAV can independently complete a series of operations including takeoff and line patrol. Its high-precision positioning system works in tandem with LiDAR to instantly capture the 3D spatial coordinates of crossing points, generating high-definition point cloud models and orthophotos in real time. Through precise post-processing with professional software, the net distance between any two points can be calculated with centimeter-level accuracy, marking a qualitative leap compared to traditional measurement methods.

With technological innovation as its core, the Transmission Operation and Maintenance Center has driven the transformation of power grid inspection models. Utilizing innovative technologies, the center has completed inspections of 442.28 kilometers of key transmission corridors, accurately identified, and successfully addressed 7 potential safety hazards related to insufficient crossing distances. These achievements fully demonstrate the practical effectiveness of technological innovation in power grid operation and maintenance.

JINCHANG, China, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “Today, all the factory’s equipment can finally start up at the same time—we no longer have to worry about power supply!” On November 9th, Yang Shuguo, electrical contact person of Jinchang Bengxin Wangda Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., expressed his gratitude to State Grid Jinchang Power Supply Company at the company’s workshop. As the winter peak electricity demand approaches, a timely and efficient line maintenance has reassured this high-load power-consuming enterprise.

The 08 feeder of Branch 118 on State Grid’s 126 Jinwu Line, like a “power artery,” supplies developmental momentum to multiple small and medium-sized enterprises along its route. Among them, Jinchang Bengxin Wangda Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. has extremely high requirements for power supply stability—any disruption could impact production schedules.

“Winter power load keeps rising, so we must take preventive measures,” noted a relevant person in charge of State Grid Jinchang Power Supply Company. During winter equipment inspections, the company detected potential safety hazards on the line and immediately launched an emergency response: dispatching key operation and maintenance personnel to form a special maintenance team, formulating detailed plans, and clarifying work divisions and safety requirements. A race-against-time “power guarantee campaign” quietly unfolded.

At the maintenance site, bitter cold failed to dampen the staff’s enthusiasm. They strictly followed standardized procedures—patrolling lines, testing equipment, eliminating defects—each step executed with meticulous care. Targeting critical issues such as aging user boundary switches, the maintenance team implemented precise optimizations and adjustments to ensure equipment operates in “peak condition.”

This maintenance is not only an emergency measure to eliminate hazards but also a microcosm of State Grid Jinchang Power Supply Company’s special “Winter Peak Support” initiative. The company continuously enhances its quality services: on one hand, accelerating power grid upgrading and renovation while conducting regular inspections and maintenance; on the other hand, streamlining repair channels and launching “one-stop” services including electricity consultation, connection applications, and fault reporting, making power use more convenient for enterprises.

The tenet of “Electricity for the People” has transformed into tangible warmth in the cold winter. As the hum of machinery echoes again in Jinchang Bengxin Wangda’s workshops and stable electric current flows to thousands of households, this dedicated power team has injected strong vitality into local economic development with their sense of responsibility and commitment—making this winter warm and cozy, powered by reliable electricity.

Emerging Payments Association Asia recognises Thunes in two prestigious categories

SINGAPORE, Nov. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, has secured two top honours at the 2025 APAC Payments Excellence Awards: Excellence in Cross-Border Payments and Best B2C Payments Experience.

Hosted by the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA), the awards celebrate the most forward-thinking players shaping the future of payments in the region. This marks the second consecutive year Thunes has secured the Excellence in Cross-Border Payments title, cementing its position as the go-to leader for instant and inclusive global money movement.

The wins highlight Thunes’ momentum in expanding its connected and trusted Direct Global Network which spans 130 countries in over 80 currencies, with more than 22 billion endpoints including mobile wallets, bank accounts, stablecoin wallets, cards and cash pick up locations. As the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, Thunes empowers its Members and their end users to move money across borders faster, smarter, and more transparently than ever before.

Mathieu Limousi, Chief Marketing Officer at Thunes, said: “These awards are a powerful validation of Thunes’ original vision to make international payments as easy and accessible as sending a text. We’re incredibly proud to be recognised once again by EPAA, as proof that our relentless innovation, world-class Network, and commitment to financial inclusion are transforming the way the world moves money. We are grateful to our team for continuing to push boundaries every day, and to our Members for their ongoing trust and belief in Thunes.”

Daphne Huang, Chief Government Affairs Officer at Thunes, added: “Winning both of these awards in Asia, our home region, underscores the strength of our Network and the trust our Members place in Thunes to deliver at scale. From global brands to emerging fintechs, we’re enabling transparent, secure global payments that drive real impact for billions of people worldwide. This latest recognition fuels our ambition to set new industry benchmarks and lead the next wave of payment innovation across APAC and beyond.”