Archives May 2026

Epson announces Call for Entries for The 17th Epson International Pano Awards and launches inaugural Epson International Pano Awards Exhibition

SYDNEY, May 05 – Epson has announced the call for entries for the 17th edition of the landmark Epson International Pano Awards – the world’s largest competition devoted to the craft and art of panoramic photography. It has also detailed the launch of the inaugural Epson International Pano Awards Exhibition – an evening of breathtaking panoramic photography, featuring a curated collection of award-winning images from past Pano Awards.

17th Epson International Pano Awards

Overall winner of the 2025 Open Photographer of the Year and the Nature/Landscape category Last Fireworks by Alex Wides

The unique Epson International Pano Awards Exhibition 2026 runs from 4 -10 June 2026 and will be set within the iconic Garden Gallery at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Attendees will see a striking showcase of award-winning panoramic images – all printed on an Epson SureColor P9560 Professional Photo and Fine Art Printer – and be able to take part in a silent auction.

The Garden Gallery at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

The Garden Gallery at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

 The proceeds from the silent auction on selected pieces will be donated to Epson’s corporate partner Botanic Gardens of Sydney, to support the Australian Institute of Botanical Science and the Australian PlantBank’s Rainforest Seed Conservation Project. This important initiative helps preserve at-risk rainforest plants against threats like deforestation, climate change and disease. Winners of the silent auction will be notified and collect their pieces at the end of the exhibition.

Following a successful 2025 awards, Epson Australia and Epson Southeast Asia again join forces as the main sponsors of The Pano Awards 2026, which is now one of the most highly regarded and acclaimed photography awards in the world.

Epson Australia corporate marketing manager ANZ Priscilla Dickason said, “Every year we feel it is a real privilege to sponsor of these amazing awards. They mean so much to the industry and occupy a special place in the hearts and minds of photographers from all around the world. Epson is 100% committed to helping and supporting creativity through photography and print and the Pano awards are the perfect way to help us to achieve that goal. We are also delighted that we get to celebrate these amazing photographers and their incredible creations in such a prestigious gallery this year and have a wonderful exhibition of previous winners to complement them too.”

In 2025, The Epson International Pano Awards saw many thousands of entries submitted from hundreds of photographers across the globe. This year’s competition looks likely to be even more successful.

The winner of The Epson Digital Art Prize 2025

 

The winner of The Epson Digital Art Prize 2025

 

The Epson International Pano Awards’ Curator David Evans said, “I’m always delighted when I can officially announce that professional and amateur photographers around the world are now invited to enter the next Epson International Pano Awards. I can also announce that there is a new Aerial category in the Open and Amateur competitions, if you enter five or more images at once during the early bird period you save 20% and you’ll also be in the running to win the $1000 curator’s award.”

The Epson International Pano Awards’ Curator David Evans

The Epson International Pano Awards’ Curator David Evans

Hattori Tai, Regional Director Commercial Products & Industrial Inkjet, Epson Southeast Asia, said, “Southeast Asia’s photography community is one of the most dynamic anywhere in the world. Panoramic work is a powerful way for our region’s visual storytellers to show how quickly their cities, coastlines and cultures are evolving. The Epson International Pano Awards gives these photographers a rare opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best on a truly global platform. By supporting the awards, Epson Southeast Asia is committed not only to providing the print technology behind the final exhibition, but also to helping more photographers from our region gain the recognition their work deserves.”

 The judging panel for the 2026 Pano Awards includes some of the world’s top photographers and industry professionals, including Bill Bailey, Aaron Spence, Dan Zafra, Jacky Lee, Daniel Kordan, Abe Blair, Annette Mossbacher and Jennifer Renwick amongst others.

To hear from previous Pano Awards winners go to: https://youtu.be/vJ0AkDxLUuY and to hear from David Evans go to: https://youtu.be/EjL4DoQIHwY

Early-bird entries for the Epson International Pano Awards 2025 are now open until 22 June 2026 and final entries are due by 13 July 2026.

Participants can submit their entries here: https://thepanoawards.com/enter-awards/

For more information, contact David Evans at contact@thepanoawards.com

The Epson International Pano Award Exhibition details

  • Date: Thursday, 4 -10 June 2026
  • Location: Garden Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

 Picture credits

Overall winner of the 2025 Open Photographer of the Year and the Nature/Landscape category Last Fireworks by Alex Wides

The Garden Gallery at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

The winner of The Epson Digital Art Prize 2025

The Epson International Pano Awards’ Curator David Evans

 IIT Mandi Invites Applications for PRAYAS 4.0, One-Month Residential Programme in AI, Robotics, IoT

Mumbai, May 05: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, one of India’s premier IITs, has announced the commencement of PRAYAS 4.0, a one-month residential programme offered by its Centre for Continuing Education (CCE). The programme, focusing on emerging domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), is scheduled to be held in July 2026 at the IIT Mandi campus.

IIT Mandi Invites Applications for PRAYAS 4.0, One-Month Residential Programme in AI, Robotics, IoT

RAYAS, an acronym for “Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Students,” is an initiative of the CCE, IIT Mandi, aimed at nurturing future-ready talent. Since its inception, the programme has played a pivotal role in inspiring hundreds of students through experiential and application-oriented learning opportunities.

Continuing its legacy, PRAYAS 4.0 seeks to foster innovation, enhance technical competencies, and strengthen problem-solving skills among young learners. The programme is open to participants from diverse academic backgrounds and does not require prior technical experience, thereby making it inclusive and accessible to aspiring innovators.

The residential programme will comprise 5–6 hours of daily sessions conducted by faculty members from IIT Mandi. The curriculum is designed to combine theoretical lectures with hands-on laboratory work, enabling participants to gain practical exposure to AI, robotics, and IoT technologies.

Over the four-week duration, participants will progress from foundational concepts to advanced topics, including embedded systems, basics of artificial intelligence, sensor technologies, and intelligent automation. They will also have access to the institute’s state-of-the-art facilities, providing an immersive environment for innovation and skill development.

Commenting on the initiative, Tushar Jain, Head, Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), IIT Mandi, said,

“PRAYAS 4.0 is aligned with IIT Mandi’s mission to democratise access to advanced technologies across all sections of society. By integrating academic learning with practical project-based exposure, we aim to empower young minds to emerge as innovators in areas such as AI, robotics, and IoT.”

The programme will offer on-campus boarding and dining facilities, ensuring a holistic residential learning experience. Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded certificates by the CCE, IIT Mandi, recognising their training in advanced technology domains.

DEEP Trust launches flagship initiative “Happy Wheels”; to donate 18-seater TATA Winger to support transportation for special children

 

 Hyderabad, May 05: DEEP (Disease Eradication Through Education and Prevention) Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventive healthcare, health education, community health screenings, education and livelihood support, and environmental sustainability initiatives, has announced the launch of its flagship initiative — “Happy Wheels.”

As part of this initiative, the Trust will donate a TATA Winger 18-seater school transport vehicle to Sri Vidhyas Centre for Special Children, Hyderabad, at a special function to be held on Wednesday, May 6, at the Centre’s premises in Mahindra Hills, Secunderabad. This meaningful initiative has been made possible with the generous support of Hexagon AB/Octave, the CSR partner sponsoring the vehicle.

Sri Vidhyas Centre for Special Children has long faced transportation challenges despite its dedicated efforts in nurturing and educating children with special needs. For many families, lack of safe and reliable transport has been a major barrier to consistent education and therapy support.The “Happy Wheels” initiative is not merely about donating a vehicle — it is about restoring dignity, independence, accessibility, and opportunity for children with special needs.

Happy Wheels

The new TATA Winger school vehicle will safely transport children between their homes and school, enabling them to attend classes regularly and participate in educational trips and social outings. The initiative will also significantly reduce the burden on parents and caregivers while improving attendance, continuity in education, and overall access to learning opportunities for children with special needs.

As outlined in the agreement, the vehicle will be used exclusively for the transportation of children with special needs, ensuring that its purpose remains focused and impactful.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rakesh Kalapala, Founder & Trustee, DEEP Trust, said:“Every child deserves access to education, regardless of their challenges. ‘Happy Wheels’ is our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind simply because they cannot reach school.”

Dr. Madhu Vasepalli, Founder & Trustee, added: “This initiative is about compassion in action. When we remove barriers like transportation, we unlock the true potential of these children.”

Ms. Swati Mohanty, CEO, DEEP Trust, said: “‘Happy Wheels’ is a step towards building a more inclusive society where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered.”

While this marks a proud beginning, DEEP Trust emphasized that many more children across India continue to face similar challenges. Lack of transportation and accessibility infrastructure often prevents children with special needs from accessing education and therapy services.

Calling upon corporates, philanthropists, and the public to support the cause, Ms. Swati Mohanty urged greater participation in providing school transport vehicles, improving accessibility infrastructure, and supporting education and therapy for special children.

“A small act of giving can create a lifetime of opportunity for a child,” she added.


K&L Gates Establishes Global AI and Innovation Partner Role

Newly created role places global AI strategy under a practicing partner’s leadership ahead of agentic AI deployment

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has appointed Jake Bernstein to the newly created role of Global AI and Innovation Partner, effective immediately. In this role, Bernstein will lead the firm’s global artificial intelligence strategy, governance, and innovation operations, including AI platform selection, workflow development, and data and knowledge management, working in coordination with the firm’s technology and security functions. The role formalizes global responsibility for the firm’s AI strategy and innovation roadmap under a single practicing partner leader.

Bernstein will also serve as co-chair of the firm’s AI Solutions Group, alongside Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis, who leads firmwide leadership coordination and AI-driven revenue growth, and Guillermo Christensen, who is responsible for global policy, cybersecurity, and geopolitical considerations. Together, they will guide the firm’s AI vision, governance, and implementation, ensuring alignment across practices, regions, and client needs.

“Jake’s appointment reflects a deliberate choice about how this firm leads in AI: with a practicing partner, accountable for outcomes, working in close partnership with our technology and security functions,” said Stacy Ackermann, Global Managing Partner of K&L Gates. “Agentic AI is moving from concept to deployment in months, not years. The market demands a partner driving this work who is in the practice every day, who understands what clients need, and who can move at the pace this moment requires.”

K&L Gates earned ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification in March, making it among the first law firms globally to do so, and has deployed its primary AI platform, Legora, across all practices and offices. The firm’s broader stack includes Vincent, Westlaw Advance, Relativity Analytics, CoCounsel, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. The firm’s AI Forward℠ framework establishes the expectation that lawyers reach for AI first on their own work, within firm policy.

“The AI Forward℠ posture is straightforward: lawyers should be using these tools every day, on their own work, within governance the firm has built and certified,” Bernstein stated. “What’s coming next, agents that can plan and execute multi-step workflows on a matter, makes supervision the central partner-level question of the next 18 months. The firms that build that fluency now will lead what follows. The firms that wait will not.”

Bernstein is a partner in the firm’s Technology Transactions and Sourcing and Data Protection, Privacy, and Security practice groups, where his work spans data privacy and cybersecurity compliance, SaaS agreements, AI/ML addenda and responsible AI frameworks, technology licensing, and IT outsourcing. He holds CISSP and CIPP/US certifications, serves on the firm’s General Counsel team advising on AI and technology matters, and is an active user of the firm’s AI platforms in his own practice.

 

Cyberhaven Solves the 509 percent Surge in Shadow AI

Cyberhaven empowers security analysts with an extensible platform and workflow-native capabilities built to govern the surge of agents in the enterprise

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – May 5, 2026 – Cyberhaven today announced an expansion of its Unified AI & Data Security Platform to govern autonomous agents and protect data across enterprise workflows. This announcement introduces Agentic AI Security, which enables security teams to discover, monitor, and control AI agents; the Analyst Plugin, which turns every analyst into a power user by embedding Cyberhaven’s intelligence into AI assistants such as Claude Code and Codex; and a Standalone Browser Extension that extends data loss prevention to ChromeOS, any browser-capable contractor device, and unmanaged endpoints.

Enterprise AI Agent Adoption is Accelerating

AI is rapidly shifting from chat-based tools to autonomous agents operating on endpoints. According to Cyberhaven Labs research, enterprise adoption of endpoint-based AI-native apps has grown 509% over the past year, and enterprise adoption of coding assistants has jumped 357% year over year. These agents are being given increasing access to data and systems, unlocking productivity gains while introducing a largely unaddressed governance challenge: shadow agents, AI systems operating outside enterprise visibility and control.

“The way enterprises use AI has fundamentally shifted,” said Nishant Doshi, CEO of Cyberhaven. “AI is no longer just generating content. It is executing work. These agents have access to data, tools, and systems, operating with a level of autonomy the industry has not seen before. Most governance programs still focus on what users type into AI, not on what AI agents are actually doing. Security has to operate in real time, at the point where AI is taking action. That is what Cyberhaven is addressing with today’s launch.

Agentic AI Security: Govern Shadow Agents Across the Enterprise

Most security tools built for cloud-based AI are blind to agents running locally on endpoints in developer tools, integrated development environments (IDEs), and desktop applications. These shadow agents often inherit employee identity, gain access to sensitive data, and can execute bulk operations across production systems.

Cyberhaven’s Agentic AI Security addresses this through three integrated layers:

  • Discovery provides a continuously maintained inventory of new and emerging AI agents, GenAI applications, and MCP servers across the enterprise, including shadow agents running locally on endpoints, with Risk IQ scores across five dimensions.
  • Observability reconstructs the full execution lifecycle of every agent interaction: the data accessed, the tools invoked, the actions taken, and the complete multi-turn conversation context, so violations that unfold across multiple steps surface automatically.
  • Controls enforce runtime policy guardrails at the prompt and response level, replacing generic block pages with plain-English explanations that coach users toward sanctioned behavior rather than simply blocking them.

Data Lineage makes this possible. Where other agentic security tools report what an agent did, Cyberhaven connects every agent action to the data it touched, where that data originated, what it contained, and where it went next. That is the difference between an alert and an investigation.

“Every CISO is wrestling with the same blind spot: they don’t know which AI agents are operating in their environment, let alone what data they’re touching,” said Saro Subbiah, SVP of Engineering at Cyberhaven. “Our Agentic AI Security leverages the data lineage foundation we have perfected over the years, providing the context that makes the difference between an alert and a successful investigation.

Product Releases Expanding Agentic AI Security Capabilities 

  • Cyberhaven Analyst Plugin: Turns every analyst into a power user by bringing Cyberhaven’s security signals directly into Claude Code, Codex, and any MCP-compatible client. The plugin ships with more than 40 pre-built security skills and more than 20 specialized analysis agents that run complete, multi-step workflows for incident triage, GenAI exposure analysis, user risk profiling, and executive reporting, with skills that can also close duplicate incidents and execute triage decisions inside the analyst’s existing workflow.
  • Standalone Browser Extension: Extends data loss prevention to ChromeOS, contractor devices, and unmanaged endpoints with no endpoint sensor required. Traces uploads, downloads, and copy-paste activity with content inspection applied, and is managed through the same interface used for endpoint deployments.

To learn more and register for today’s live launch event, visit https://events.cyberhaven.com/agentic-ai-launch/

SimonMed Scales AI Across Routine Imaging to Deliver Preventive Insights Nationwide

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – May 5th, 2026 – SimonMed, a national outpatient imaging provider and leader in radiology innovation and longevity health technology, today announced the expansion of its AI-enabled imaging platform, embedding advanced, FDA-cleared technologies directly into routine diagnostic exams across its nationwide network.

The expansion reflects a broader shift in healthcare from imaging as a one-time diagnostic test to a continuous source of preventive insight, enabling earlier detection and personalized risk assessments.

The new offerings—Calcium Score+, CT Bone Density, and MR Lumbar Spine+—apply AI to standard imaging exams, providing additional clinical insights from scans patients are already undergoing, without requiring extra scan time or radiation exposure.

Patients who opt into these services receive results through SimonMed’s Digital Health Platform, an interactive, mobile-first experience designed to make complex findings easier to understand and act on. Reports include clear summaries, visual explanations, guided next steps, and one-click access to a patient navigator who can support follow-up care and coordination.

“AI is accelerating a fundamental shift in healthcare, from reacting to disease to managing health over time,” said Dr. John Simon, CEO and Founder of SimonMed. “By embedding AI directly into routine imaging, we’re able to extract more meaningful insights from exams patients are already having and make those insights easier for patients to understand and act on.”

Calcium Score+ and CT Bone Density provide additional insight into heart and bone health—two leading drivers of long-term risk—from CT scans patients are already receiving. Both cardiovascular disease and bone loss often develop silently, progressing without symptoms until advanced stages. By unlocking additional insights from existing imaging, SimonMed enables earlier identification of risk and supports more proactive care.

Calcium Score+ enhances traditional coronary calcium scoring with AI-enabled analysis and a more guided reporting experience, helping quantify calcified plaque in the coronary arteries which is an established marker of cardiovascular risk from existing CT images.

CT Bone Density uses AI to assess bone mineral density opportunistically from CT scans that include the spine, enabling evaluation of bone health without the need for a dedicated DEXA exam. This approach can help identify osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients who may not otherwise be screened.

 

Both services can be added, individually or together, to non-contrast CT chest exams, including lung cancer screening. CT Bone Density may also be applied to abdomen and pelvis CT exams, expanding opportunities to assess fracture risk across a broader patient population.

MR Lumbar Spine+ applies FDA-cleared AI to standard lumbar MRI exams, transforming complex imaging into quantitative measurements, severity grading, and annotated visualizations. The result is more standardized, objective insights to support both clinical interpretation and patient understanding, without additional scan time or workflow disruption.

“Imaging has always been one of the most powerful tools in medicine, but for too long its value has been locked inside reports that patients struggle to act on,” said Dr. Sean Raj, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at SimonMed. “What we’ve built is one of the most comprehensive AI platforms in outpatient imaging – bringing FDA-cleared technologies directly into routine care, at scale, across the country. We’re not just adding AI, we’re fundamentally redefining how imaging drives earlier detection, personalized risk insight, and proactive health.”

SimonMed’s AI platform is designed to integrate seamlessly into routine workflows, enabling advanced diagnostics to be delivered in community-based settings, not just academic centers. By scaling AI across its national footprint, SimonMed is expanding access to more advanced, data-driven insights for millions of patients each year.

These new offerings are part of SimonMed’s broader strategy to build an integrated, AI-driven imaging ecosystem, where advanced analytics, patient engagement, and preventive screening come together to support earlier detection and more continuous care.

The expansion also complements SimonMed Longevity, the company’s preventive imaging division, which combines whole-body MRI with multi-modality screening to help patients establish a baseline, track changes over time, and identify risk earlier—when intervention can have the greatest impact.

New Study Finds Low-Dose Eye Drops Successful in Managing Adult Myopia for 24 Hours UH Researchers Say One Drop of Atropine is All it Takes for Beneficial Effects

HOUSTON, May 5 – Groundbreaking research from the University of Houston shows that a single low-dose atropine eye drop can produce daylong effects in managing myopia, or nearsightedness, which affects roughly one-third of U.S. adults.  

Professor of Optometry Lisa Ostrin and postdoctoral researcher Barsha Lal are reporting that even one drop in the eye of low-dose atropine (0.01%–0.1%) produces clear changes in pupil size and focusing ability that persist for at least 24 hours. Importantly, they also found that the drop shows no short-term structural effects on the eye, with only temporary changes in blood flow inside the retina.

Ostrin’s latest research is published in the journal Eye and Vision. It adds to a growing body of vision research from David Berntsen, Golden-Golden Professor of Optometry at the University of Houston, who is co-leading a national $25 million NIH-funded clinical trial to delay the development of myopia in children by using the atropine drops.

Low concentration atropine is widely prescribed to slow myopia progression in children, yet its short-term retinal and choroidal effects remain incompletely understood. Ostrin’s new study evaluated short-term effects of a range of low atropine concentrations on the length of the eye, the blood vessels in the retina and the thickness of the retina and choroid, which sits just behind the retina. These are important measurements because longer eye length is associated with myopia and as it gets longer, the retina and choroid are stretched.  

“These findings indicate that a single instillation of atropine does not alter axial length or retinal or choroidal thickness over 24 hours but may transiently affect superficial retinal perfusion in a time-dependent manner,” said Ostrin. 

In the double-masked, randomized study, twenty healthy adults received a single instillation of either a placebo or atropine in the right eye during five separate sessions. Researchers then checked the eye structure, thickness, and length in the central retina both one-hour and 24-hours later.

“Characterizing these short-term effects is important for a better understanding of the physiological responses to atropine in clinical and research settings,” said Ostrin who previously published research results of a study investigating the short-term effects of a range of low-dose atropine concentrations on the pupils of young adults. In that study, she found similar results with a single drop of atropine inducing significant changes in the pupils.

Together, the studies indicate that atropine induces early functional and vascular effects in the eye, in the absence of structural change.

“By linking objective ocular responses with subjective visual experience, this work advances our understanding of how atropine works and supports more precise, evidence-based, and individualized approaches to myopia management,” said Ostrin.

BIS and IIA Delhi Host Strategic Meet to Boost MSME Ecosystem

New Delhi, 05 May 2026

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in collaboration with the Indian Industries Association (IIA), Delhi State Chapter, organised a high-impact industry awareness programme today at Crowne Plaza, Rohini, New Delhi, under the joint chairpersonship of Smt. Sneh Lata, Deputy Director General, Central Region, BIS, and Dr. Mamtamayi Priyadarshini, State Chairperson, IIA Delhi. The event drew an overwhelming response, with nearly 200 MSME leaders, manufacturers, exporters and entrepreneurs from Delhi-NCR participating.

BIS in Collaboration with IIA Delhi Organises High-Impact Industry Meet on Quality, Certification and MSME Growth

The programme commenced with a ceremonial Lamp Lighting Ceremony led by senior dignitaries from BIS, Indian Industries Association, and prominent industry leaders, symbolising a shared commitment towards quality, standards, industrial excellence and nation-building.

Smt. Sneh Lata, Deputy Director General, Central Region, BIS, highlighted the vital role of standardisation in strengthening the economy and ensuring consumer trust. She reaffirmed BIS’s commitment to supporting industries, especially MSMEs, through simplified certification processes, awareness initiatives and technical guidance. She added that standards-driven growth is key to India’s development journey.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mamtamayi Priyadarshini said that quality, certification and compliance are essential for sustainable business growth in today’s competitive economy. She stated that Indian MSMEs have immense potential and, with proper standards adoption, can successfully scale from local markets to global platforms. She urged entrepreneurs to see certification as an investment in credibility and long-term success.

Sh. Ved Prakash, Director & Head, Delhi Branch Office-II, welcomed the participants and reaffirmed BIS’s commitment towards industry partnership, quality awareness and responsive facilitation for enterprises.

BIS in Collaboration with IIA Delhi Organises High-Impact Industry Meet on Quality, Certification and MSME Growth

Sh. V. Ramesh, Director & Head, Delhi Branch Office-I, stressed that standardisation and compliance help industries reduce inefficiencies, improve product acceptance and strengthen brand confidence.

Sh. Kartick Pal, Assistant Director, BIS, delivered an insightful presentation on the overall functioning, mandate and industry support ecosystem of BIS.

Sh. Aakash Singh, Assistant Director, BIS, gave a practical presentation on the BIS certification process and important digital resources available on the BIS website for applicants and industry stakeholders.

Dr. L.K. Pandey, CEC Member, IIA, emphasised agripreneurship as a strong avenue for employment generation and rural economic growth. He encouraged youth and MSMEs to explore agriculture-linked entrepreneurship for India’s self-reliant future.

Ms. Renuka Aghav, Branch Manager, ECGC Limited, said that ECGC supports exporters through credit risk protection and financial security. She highlighted that MSMEs can expand confidently into global markets with ECGC assistance and risk coverage.

One of the key highlights of the programme was an extensive and highly engaging interactive session with industry participants. A total of 45 questions raised by industry leaders were taken up in detail, along with supplementary queries, reflecting the seriousness and enthusiasm of the participating entrepreneurs. Experts and officials responded comprehensively on issues relating to certification, standards, compliance, export facilitation and operational challenges.

The programme received an overwhelming response with packed attendance and active participation, reflecting growing industry awareness towards quality, market readiness and global competitiveness. It concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration between institutions and industry to build a future-ready, quality-driven industrial ecosystem for India.

Other dignitaries and representatives present included Aditya Raj, Devesh Sharma, Md. Israfil and Rahul from BIS; Mrigendra Kumar, Vice Chairperson; Neeraj Bajaj, Secretary; Rishabh Gupta, IYC Convenor; Convenors Jatin Sharma, CA H K Gupta Narendra Kothari and Sushil Tiwari; and organising committee members including Manish Chawla, Anoop Aggarwal Mohan Nirwan, along with other distinguished members of IIA Delhi and other industry associations of Delhi-NCR.

St. Charles to Host 31st Annual Mosaics Fine Art Festival

Family-friendly celebration to feature 100+ artists, live music, children’s activities, and more.

(St. Charles, Mo., May 5, 2026) The 31st annual Mosaics Fine Art Festival will take place Fri., Sept. 11 from 4 to 9 p.m., Sat., Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free family-friendly event will be held along several blocks of North Main St. in Historic St. Charles, Mo., home to more than 30 restaurants and over 75 shops are located.

St. Charles to Host 31st Annual Mosaics Fine Art Festival

The three-day festival will feature over 100 juried artists from more than 15 states exhibiting and selling their original artwork. Media categories include clay, drawing, glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor, and wood. A total of $5,000 will be presented to the top nine artists.

Children can enjoy hands-on art experiences in the popular Children’s Village where they can create their own make-and-take art masterpieces on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mary Hediger’s Memorial Art Shop for Kids allows children 14 and under the opportunity to purchase professional artwork. Designed to foster art appreciation at an early age, all pieces are donated by participating festival artists and can be purchased for a nominal fee. 

St. Charles to Host 31st Annual Mosaics Fine Art Festival

Festival entertainment will include live performances throughout the weekend on the H. Robert Pank Memorial Music Stage. Families interested in pet adoption can visit the Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion, located at the north end of the festival, to meet animals from Stray Paws Adoptables.

The nonprofit Mosaics Fine Art Festival highlights local and regional artists while inspiring community engagement with the arts. The festival features a vibrant mix of emerging, mid-career, and established artists across all media. For more information, call (314) 406-2067 or visit http://www.stcharlesmosaics.org.

ten23 Health, West Partner for Synchrony™ S1 Syringe Manufacturing Readiness

ten23 health and West collaborate to ensure manufacturing readiness for West Synchrony™ S1 Prefillable Syringe System filling

Basel, Switzerland. May 4th, 2026 — ten23 health®, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in sterile fill-finish and advanced drug delivery systems, today announced that it has already successfully tested and ran the newly launched West Synchrony™ S1 prefillable syringe (PFS) system on its manufacturing equipment. The announcement follows West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.’s global commercial availability of the West Synchrony S1 PFS system, an innovative platform that uniquely integrates the syringe barrel, plunger, and needle shield/tip cap into a fully harmonized, verified system from a single supplier.

 
By evaluating the container system early on its fill-finish lines, ten23 health enables biopharma customers to rapidly adopt the West Synchrony S1 PFS system for clinical and early commercial programs, reducing technical risk and accelerating development timelines.

Having already implemented and tested the West Synchrony S1 prefillable syringe system on our equipment, we are well positioned to support our partners with operational readiness,” said Hanns-Christian Mahler, Chief Enablement Officer, ten23 health. “Early hands-on experience with new container systems is critical for de-risking development, particularly as combination products and home-based administration continue to grow.”

The West Synchrony S1 PFS system offers a broad portfolio of configurations for biologics and vaccines, including staked needle and Luer lock options, along with high-performance NovaPure® and FluroTec™ film laminated plunger components. ten23 health’s early evaluation focused on manufacturability, compatibility, and process robustness under representative fill-finish conditions.
As drug developers face increasing regulatory and technical complexity, early alignment between container systems and manufacturing processes has become essential. ten23 health’s proactive early adoption and testing approach allows clients to transition seamlessly from development into clinical supply using commercially available, validated delivery platforms and add to ten23’s toolbox for available container and delivery options for its customers.

ten23 health will co-host an event together with West today (May 4th) at its Basel premises, showcasing the filling of the Synchrony syringes on its pilot filling line.