The San Clemente Journal is a quarterly Magazine, published by Community Publications Network since 1995 that is your go-to resource to connect with the people, places, and things that matter most in and around San Clemente, California.

Celebrating Life in San Clemente | Celebrating Life in San Clemente

Five important lessons rescue dogs can teach you

Expert recommendations for how to weather a summer outage

11 fall traditions and new adventures at The Beach

Why Some Wedding Guests Are RSVPing No

Considering Ketamine Therapy? What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

The 10 Best Generative Engine Optimization Agencies in 2026, Ranked by AI Platform Coverage, Outcome Alignment, and Documented Results

GenOptima ranks first among generative engine optimization (GEO) agencies in 2026, according to an independent evaluation of methodology, AI platform coverage, pricing model, and documented client outcomes. This ranking compares 10 agencies that offer generative engine optimization services — the practice of optimizing content for citation in AI-generated responses from platforms including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, […]

Industrial Development Bureau of Hengqin Officially Joins ICCA, Exploring Global Resource Channels for the Macao-Hengqin MICE Industry

HENGQIN, CHINA –  Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – Recently, the Macao-Hengqin MICE Enterprises & ICCA Bay Area Members Seminar 2026 was held at Tianmu Qintai in Hengqin. With the theme "Global Bidding and Breakthrough Strategies for Emerging Destinations," the event was hosted by the MICE Industry Association of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and brought together more than 100 industry representatives. 
     
        
  
 During the event, Mr. Lin Yanjie, Head of the Culture, Tourism, Exhibition, and Trade Division, and Dr. Sherry Tan, Associate Professor at the Macao University of Tourism, shared their insights into the development opportunities brought about by this milestone. 
  It is noted that Macao-Hengqin MICE cooperation has entered a stage of regularized and sustainable development, supported by an increasingly well-established framework spanning policy, operational models, and talent development. 
  The revised  Measures for Supporting the Development of the MICE Industry in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, issued in January 2026, provide subsidies of RMB 800 per participant for international conferences included in ICCA statistics, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 1 million per event, together with additional special incentives. Enterprises obtaining ICCA accreditation for the first time will also receive a one-off reward of RMB 200,000, further strengthening support for the growth of MICE market players. 
  At the same time, the collaborative model between Macao and Hengqin continues to evolve, while efforts to develop a strong talent pipeline are advancing in parallel. 
  Over the next two years, Hengqin plans to attract more than ten international conferences eligible for inclusion in ICCA statistics. Applications for 2027 conferences in key fields such as artificial intelligence and materials science have already entered the bidding process. These initiatives will further enhance Macao-Hengqin's international visibility and influence, while strengthening its voice in the global MICE industry. 
 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Toys for Tots’ Operation Turn the Page Unlocks Futures Through Books

5 ways to improve airflow in multifamily homes

U.S. MINORITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOINS SBA EFFORT TO PROTECT TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND STRENGTHEN FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 20, 2026,  Chamber Supports SBA Recovery of $34 Million in Past-Due Pandemic-Era SVOG Funds The U.S. Minority Chamber of Commerce today announced its support for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and its continuing efforts to recover federal funds that remain outstanding from the pandemic-era **Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program). […]

AZIO AI Holdings (NASDAQ: AZIO) Unveils Atlas One for South Texas Compute Infrastructure Campus

AZIO AI Holdings (NASDAQ: AZIO) announced Atlas One, the first named development phase of Project Atlas, its more than 548-acre South Texas compute infrastructure campus engineered for up to 500 MW of planned behind-the-meter power capacity. Atlas One brings together the land, power, connectivity and modular compute infrastructure announced by the company since May 2026. Approximately 6 MW of compute infrastructure, forming part of approximately 11 […]

BOXABL (NASDAQ: BXBL) Unveils Server Pod Concept for Modular AI, Cloud Computing Infrastructure

BOXABL (NASDAQ: BXBL), a factory-built construction company, unveiled its Server Pod concept, a design study for modular, factory-assembled enclosures intended to house AI and cloud computing infrastructure. The company emphasized that the Server Pod is a concept only and is not currently being manufactured, with the initiative intended to demonstrate BOXABL’s factory capabilities and invite data […]

Quantum BioPharma (NASDAQ: QNTM) (CSE: QNTM) Advances Myelin-Protecting MS Therapy as Treatment Paradigm Evolves

This article has been disseminated on behalf of Quantum BioPharma Ltd. and may include paid advertising. Multiple sclerosis (“MS”) treatment has traditionally focused on controlling the immune activity that drives new inflammatory lesions and relapses. While this approach has transformed the management of relapsing MS, growing attention is being directed toward another fundamental challenge: protecting the nervous […]

From the Ground Up: Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards

HANOI, VIETNAM -  Media OutReach Newswire - 20 August 2026 - As global investors increasingly evaluate cities through measurable resilience, governance and sustainability, Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach, embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one. 
             
       Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam's most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.     
     
 Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company is seeking to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics. 
  When Data Becomes the New Currency of Cities 
  In the global competition for capital, talent and innovation, cities are increasingly judged by their ability to generate measurable outcomes. Investors today want evidence that infrastructure is resilient, mobility is efficient, governance is transparent and environmental commitments translate into long-term economic value. 
  This transition is reshaping how cities are planned. According to the OECD, data governance has become a foundational element of smart-city development, while internationally standardized indicators such as ISO 37122 enable cities to measure performance consistently, benchmark against global peers and inform better policy and investment decisions1. 
  Meanwhile, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) says that ISO-standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data enables cities to make better planning and investment decisions, benchmark performance against global peers, and attract investment through greater transparency and comparability2. 
  That helps explain why international standards such as ISO 37122 are attracting growing attention. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the framework establishes globally comparable indicators for evaluating smart-city performance across mobility, energy, environmental management, digital infrastructure, governance, public safety and innovation. ISO 37122 measures how effectively an urban system performs as an integrated whole. 
  For governments and developers alike, the implication is significant, future cities will increasingly be judged by what they can measure and verify. 
  Few developers have attempted to integrate those standards before a city is even built. Yet that is precisely the path Vinhomes is pursuing. Instead of treating certification as a post-construction credential, the company is embedding internationally recognized smart-city metrics into the planning process itself, a strategy that could place Vietnam among a new generation of countries helping redefine how future cities are conceived, governed and evaluated. 
  Embedding Global Standards from the Ground Up 
  On March 3, 2026, Vinhomes Green Paradise - Can Gio officially launched its Smart City Certification Project in partnership with Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC), the WCCD and the Standardized Urban Metrics (SUM) initiative. 
  The collaboration aims to achieve the WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Smart City Certification, a customized framework derived from ISO 37122 and specifically developed for large-scale greenfield urban projects. 
  Under the partnership, KMAC provides strategic consulting and technical advisory services to align the project's development with internationally recognized indicators. WCCD and SUM are responsible for developing the customized indicator framework, supervising the assessment process and overseeing certification, with an Interim Certification targeted within 2026 before full certification in subsequent phases. 
  The approach reflects a broader evolution in urban development. Historically, many cities have sought certification only after major infrastructure systems were completed. Greenfield developments, however, offer a different opportunity: sustainability, digital governance and performance measurement can be integrated into planning from the outset rather than retrofitted later. 
  "This project symbolizes a landmark collaboration between Vietnam and Korea in advancing global smart city standards," said Mr. Chulse Oh, Head of AX Group at KMAC.  "By combining Vinhomes' visionary urban development with KMAC's consulting expertise and WCCD/SUM's global certification framework, Vinhomes Green Paradise will become a model for data-driven governance, sustainability, and smart innovation." 
  Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam's most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve spanning more than 75,000 hectares. The project features 121 kilometers of coastline while maintaining a construction density of just 16%, reflecting a development strategy that prioritizes environmental resilience alongside long-term urban growth. 
  Its ESG++ framework expands upon traditional Environmental, Social and Governance principles by adding two additional pillars - Regeneration and Climate Adaptation - placing ecosystem restoration alongside economic development. 
  Once fully operational, the development targets 100% clean electricity generated from offshore wind, solar power and battery storage systems. Transportation is envisioned as an entirely net-zero ecosystem supported by electric cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, boats and a high-speed railway connecting directly with central Ho Chi Minh City. 
  The project also places biodiversity at the center of its long-term strategy. A dedicated Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund has been established to support research, ecological restoration and mangrove conservation, reinforcing Can Gio's role as a natural coastal defense system while strengthening climate resilience for future generations. 
  Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of WCCD and Director of SUM, believes the initiative reflects Vietnam's growing role in global urban innovation. 
  "Vietnam is emerging as one of the most promising leaders in smart and sustainable city development. The Vinhomes Green Paradise is a remarkable new development in Vietnam that deserves global recognition," she said.  "We are honored to partner with Vinhomes and KMAC to ensure that Vinhomes Green Paradise achieves global recognition through our WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Certification." 
  Vinhomes Green Paradise has also become the first official participant in the "7 Wonders of the Future Cities" campaign initiated by New7Wonders, further reinforcing its aspiration to become a benchmark for AI-ready, data-driven and environmentally resilient urban development. 
  A Broader Vision for Vietnam's Next Generation of Cities 
  Less than two months after launching the Can Gio certification initiative, Vinhomes unveiled another flagship development that broadens the company's long-term urban vision. 
  On April 25, 2026, the developer officially introduced Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long, a coastal mega-city spanning more than 6,200 hectares in Quang Ninh Province. Positioned as a "New Hanoi" beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the project is designed as a fully integrated urban ecosystem where residents can live, work, study, receive healthcare and enjoy world-class leisure amenities within a single destination. 
  More than 2,500 hectares are dedicated to green landscapes, water systems and mangrove forests, including 680 hectares of naturally filtered sea, approximately 200 kilometers of white-sand coastline and more than 660 hectares of Globe Ha Long Forest Park. Together, these natural assets form the foundation of an ESG++ ecosystem centered on regeneration, biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience. 
  Looking beyond today's internationally recognized benchmarks, the development is envisioned as the world's first ESG-oriented city progressing toward the emerging ISO 37125 standard for sustainable urban development. 
  If Green Paradise Can Gio demonstrates how internationally verified smart-city metrics can be embedded into a greenfield development, Global Gate Ha Long expands that concept into a broader model of human-centered urbanism. 
  Taken together, the two developments reveal an increasingly distinctive strategy. Rather than viewing international standards as external certifications to pursue after construction, Vinhomes is integrating them into the earliest stages of planning, governance and infrastructure design. 
  By building around those standards from the outset, Vinhomes is making the case that Vietnam can help shape the next chapter of global smart-city development, one where data, governance and environmental resilience become as important as architecture itself./. 
  Sources: 
  
   
     https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/smart-city-data-governance_e57ce301-en/full-report/component-4.html   
   
     https://www.dataforcities.org/about-wccd   
  
  
 Hashtag: #Vinhomes
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Claudio Bono’s The Homelessness Fix Book Returns to #1 on Amazon Kindle in Social Policy, Philanthropy & Charity, and Social Work, highlighting a Three-Year Blueprint to End Street Homelessness

The book shows how unredeemed airline and hotel points, together with a simple IRS Code Section 170 clarification, could be redirected toward qualified nonprofit organizations and used to address street homelessness without any new federal appropriation. Cupertino, CA — August 20, 2026 — Claudio Bono, a 36-year hospitality veteran, founder and CEO of GiveaRoof.org, and […]

Tonglu Enhances Regional Tourism Strategy Through Immersive Experiences and Infrastructure Upgrades

TONGLU, CHINA -  Media OutReach Newswire - 20 August 2026 - Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan visited the Chuiyun Tongtian River scenic area in Tonglu, China, in early August — not to dive, but to joke with the "Turtle Immortal," a costumed performer entertaining passengers on boats through the river and its caves. 
             
       The "Turtle Immortal," an interactive character at Chuiyun Tongtian River in Tonglu, greets visitors during a cave tour.     
     
 
 The exchange spread quickly on Chinese social media. For visitors, the character has become more than a photo opportunity: people stop to trade lines, ask questions and play along. Some have traveled specifically to meet the performer. 
  
 The small scene reflects a larger change underway in Tonglu, a county in Zhejiang province in eastern China. Long known for its scenery along the Fuchun River, Tonglu is adding performers, interactive storylines, water activities and even unexpected roadside attractions to encourage visitors to take part rather than simply look on. 
  
 A cave tour with characters 
  
 The "Turtle Immortal" is played by Zhang Yunbin, a 26-year-old opera performer who studied in Russia and speaks English and Russian. His setting is not a conventional theater but a river route winding through limestone caves. 
  
 At Chuiyun Tongtian River, Zhang is one of a rotating cast inspired by  Journey to the West, the classic Chinese novel. Visitors may encounter Zhu Bajie, also known as Pigsy, as well as the Bull Demon King and Taishang Laojun, a Taoist deity. 
  
 More than 120 performers take part in the program. Rather than delivering a fixed show from a stage, they improvise with visitors, pose for photos and pull travelers into short scenes along the route. 
  
 The approach is part of what tourism marketers call immersive travel, though the experience is fairly straightforward: visitors are invited to respond, joke back and become part of the moment. 
  
 Similar experiments are appearing elsewhere in the county. At Yaolin Wonderland and Yan Ziling Fishing Platform in Tonglu, performers appear among caves, riverbanks and mountain paths as characters drawn from folklore, history and local life. A visit might include a brief role-playing exchange, a story about the site or an encounter that changes the pace of an otherwise standard tour. 
  
 The goal is to give visitors a reason to linger. 
  
 An aquarium at a highway rest stop 
  
 Tonglu's most unusual tourism experiment may not be in a scenic area at all. 
  
 During China's May Day holiday this year, travelers stopping at the Tonglu service area on the G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway found more than fuel, snacks and restrooms. The rest area featured a large aquarium, mermaid performances and crowds pausing to take photos. 
  
 The attraction turned a routine highway break into a destination in its own right. According to figures released by local authorities, the service area received more than 80,000 visitors a day during the holiday. 
  
 The idea is to capture some of the spending that would otherwise pass through the county without stopping. A traveler who pulls over for coffee may stay for a show, buy a meal or decide to explore nearby attractions. 
  
 County data show that Tonglu received 1.61 million visits during the May Day holiday, up 13.2% from a year earlier. 
  
 Tourism revenue reached 958 million yuan, or roughly $132 million, a 12.4% increase, according to authorities. 
  
 Those numbers do not prove that a single aquarium or character program drove the growth. But they point to the value Tonglu sees in making travel stops more memorable — and in turning short visits into longer ones. 
  
            
                 Scenic Tonglu County. Photo by Huang Qiang      
     
 More ways to spend a summer day 
  
 In late July, Tonglu launched a summer tourism campaign "Water Play Kingdom: Tonglu Is Wild." The branding is aimed at visitors looking for a mix of rafting, family activities, village stays and outdoor recreation. 
  
 The county's tourism offerings now range from river rafting and mountain-stream activities to the family resort, rural walks and evening events. The strategy is less about promoting a single landmark than about creating enough options for visitors to spend a full weekend — or return in another season. 
  
 That broader approach matters in a destination with no shortage of natural scenery. Tonglu's rivers, caves and hills remain the foundation of its appeal. But local planners are increasingly treating those landscapes as settings for activities, stories and encounters rather than as backdrops for a quick stop and a photo. 
  
 
 Making travel easier for overseas visitors 
  
 Tonglu is also preparing for more international travelers. 
  
 The multilingual "Turtle Immortal" has become a lighthearted symbol of that effort. When the performer chats with overseas visitors in English, Chinese social-media users joke that "the Heavenly Palace has opened an international branch." 
  
 Behind the joke is a more practical effort to improve the visitor experience. Yaolin township in Tonglu has been selected as a provincial pilot area for inbound-tourism innovation, with work underway on multilingual signs, international payment options and other services for overseas guests. 
  
 For international visitors, those details can matter as much as the attractions themselves. A cave performance or rafting trip may be memorable, but clear directions, workable payment systems and accessible information determine whether a trip feels easy or frustrating. 
  
 The county's tourism push is still rooted in the things that first drew people there: water, mountains and caves. What is changing is the role of the visitor. 
  
 In Tonglu, tourists may still come for the view. But they may also find themselves joking with a cave character, watching mermaids at a highway rest stop or joining an activity that asks them to do more than pose for a photo. 
 Hashtag: #Tonglu 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

From the Ground Up: How Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards20

Geofought Launches G14, M5 and F8 High Power Electric Scooters, Empowering Global Riders

Built upon solid OEM and ODM manufacturing know‑how, rising global mobility brand Geofought has launched three flagship high‑performance electric scooters: G14 for urban high‑speed commuting, F8 for professional racing, and M5 for long‑distance off‑road adventures. Unlike brands focused purely on assembly, this factory‑backed brand delivers industrial‑grade build quality, robust dual‑motor power, multi‑terrain capability and an […]

The 10 Best Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Agencies for the Indonesian Market in 2026: Ranked by Methodology, Tooling, and Documented Results

GenOptima leads this ranking as the only GEO agency operating a Result-as-a-Service (RaaS) model with a dedicated Jakarta/Tangerang office, where fees are tied to measurable AI-search outcomes — brand mention rate, citation rate, engine coverage, and prompt coverage — rather than hours or content volume. The company’s GENO monitoring system covers 20+ AI platforms and […]

Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP) Closes $12M Registered Direct Offering

Wrap Technologies (NASDAQ: WRAP), a global public safety technology company delivering intelligent detection, orchestration and response solutions designed for the next generation of autonomous public safety, announced the closing of its previously announced registered direct offering with a fundamental institutional investor and an existing investor consisting of 8,571,609 shares of common stock, or pre-funded warrants in lieu […]