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By:-Mr Amit Goyal, MD, India Sotheby’s International Realty

The RBI’s decision to hold the repo rate steady at 5.25% is, in my view, a necessary call at a moment of considerable uncertainty. Crude oil prices are rising sharply on the back of prolonged geopolitical tensions in West Asia, rising inflation and climbing construction costs are already showing up in project budgets and delivery timelines. The Central Bank is walking a real tightrope in early 2026.

For the Indian real estate sector, stable borrowing costs are a critical lifeline as they keep home loan EMIs predictable, protect buyer affordability and prevent demand from softening at a time when the market has been showing genuine momentum. Developers too are able to quietly absorb rising input costs. If sustained, it could compress margins, slow new launches, and in some cases, push project timelines.

The RBI’s projection of 6.9% GDP growth for FY27 is reassuring and tells us that India’s macroeconomic foundation remains intact. But with inflation forecasts revised upward to 4.6% and the rupee under pressure from global energy shocks, the operating environment is tightening. The rate pause has bought us valuable breathing room on how effectively the sector uses it will determine how the growth story holds through the rest of the year.

June 10 Webinar to Provide Key Insights into Evolving Transfer Pricing Regulations Across Five Major Jurisdictions

Malaysia, June 5: Businesses and tax professionals across the Asia-Pacific region will have an opportunity to gain valuable insights into the rapidly evolving transfer pricing (TP) landscape through an upcoming webinar hosted by Baker Tilly Asia-Pacific.

Scheduled for 10 June 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (GMT+8) on the Zoom platform, the webinar will bring together leading transfer pricing specialists from across the Baker Tilly Asia-Pacific network to discuss the latest regulatory developments and emerging trends impacting multinational enterprises and tax practitioners.

As transfer pricing regulations continue to become more sophisticated and closely scrutinized by tax authorities worldwide, organizations operating across borders face increasing challenges in maintaining compliance and managing tax risks. The webinar aims to provide participants with a concise, practical, and jurisdiction-specific overview of recent changes, enabling businesses to stay informed without navigating multiple sources of information.

The session will feature presentations from experienced transfer pricing professionals representing several Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, including Australia, Cambodia, Japan, India, and Malaysia. Speakers will discuss recent legislative changes, compliance requirements, tax authority expectations, documentation obligations, and key developments shaping transfer pricing policies within their respective markets.

According to Baker Tilly Asia-Pacific, the webinar has been designed to help organizations better understand the evolving regulatory environment and prepare for potential transfer pricing challenges in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

The event is expected to attract finance executives, tax directors, CFOs, transfer pricing specialists, consultants, and multinational business leaders seeking to keep pace with changing international tax requirements and regional developments.

With transfer pricing remaining a critical area of focus for tax authorities worldwide, the webinar offers a timely opportunity for professionals to gain expert perspectives and practical guidance from specialists operating on the ground across the Asia-Pacific region.

Bangalore, India June 05: Zendesk has named Tifenn Dano Kwan as Chief Marketing Officer. This appointment comes as Zendesk accelerates its push into creating a true Autonomous Service Workforce. Dano Kwan will oversee the global marketing organization with a specific focus on market differentiation and pipeline.

Dano Kwan joins Zendesk from Amplitude, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer, leading the company’s strategic go-to-market transition into an AI-native analytics platform. During her tenure, she oversaw a 52 percent year-over-year increase in website traffic and built a global marketing engine responsible for over a third of marketing-sourced pipeline. Prior to Amplitude, her executive career includes nearly a decade at SAP, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer for both SAP Ariba and SAP Fieldglass, as well as leadership roles at Collibra and Dropbox.

“Tifenn is a disciplined leader who understands how to connect marketing strategy to measurable growth,” said Tom Eggemeier, CEO, Zendesk. “As we reinvent Zendesk for the next generation of customer service, Tifenn’s deep expertise in scaling pipeline, leading AI-driven marketing, and aligning GTM functions will be essential. Her ability to articulate the tangible value of our technology makes her the right person to lead our brand as we move toward an autonomous service workforce.”

This appointment coincides with significant business momentum for Zendesk’s AI offerings. AI bookings more than doubled in fiscal year 2026, and the company is currently on track to more than double that figure again in fiscal year 2027 to over $400M. This surge in demand reflects widespread customer adoption following the recent rollouts of agentic messaging alongside new voice and email AI agents.

“Agentic Service is the defining opportunity in CX right now and there’s no brand better positioned to lead it than Zendesk. Years of category leadership have built a level of trust and credibility with the market that you can’t manufacture overnight, and that equity is exactly what’s needed to take AI from promise to proof. Our true structural moats lie in our deep industry vertical expertise, our massive knowledge and data foundation, and a platform with trust and governance engineered directly into it. I’m excited about the opportunity to further extend and amplify Zendesk’s category leadership in the AI era,” said Dano Kwan.

Dano Kwan steps into the role as market demand for specialized, outcome-based AI solutions outpaces general-purpose alternatives. Her executive career spans major global markets, including leadership positions in Singapore, Sydney, Paris, and San Francisco. She will put this deep international experience to work immediately to drive global demand for Zendesk.

World Environment Day: Smiling Tree Inspires Positive Change with “एकहाथ, एकपेड़, एकआशा” (One Hand, One Tree, One Hope)

New Delhi, India | June 05 – World Environment Day 2026 – Marking World Environment Day, Smiling Tree reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action through its inspiring campaign, “एकहाथ, एकपेड़, एकआशा” (One Hand, One Tree, One Hope). The initiative encourages individuals, families, students, and organizations to plant and nurture trees while taking personal responsibility for protecting the environment.

At a time when climate change, deforestation, and environmental degradation continue to pose significant challenges, Smiling Tree believes that meaningful change begins with simple actions at the grassroots level. Through tree plantation drives, awareness programs, and community engagement activities, the organization is spreading the message that every individual has the power to contribute toward a greener and healthier future.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kwatra, Founder of Smiling Tree, highlighted the importance of collective action in environmental conservation.

“Environmental protection is no longer an option—it is a shared responsibility. Our campaign, ‘एकहाथ, एकपेड़, एकआशा,’ represents the belief that every helping hand can plant a tree, and every tree can create hope for future generations. Trees are among nature’s greatest gifts. They provide oxygen, absorb carbon emissions, support biodiversity, improve air quality, and help combat the effects of climate change. If each individual commits to planting and nurturing even one tree, the impact can be extraordinary,” said Dr. Kwatra.

Over the years, Smiling Tree has become a recognized environmental and social initiative dedicated to promoting sustainability, tree plantation, environmental awareness, and community participation. The organization has successfully engaged thousands of volunteers, students, environmental advocates, and corporate partners in its efforts to increase green cover and encourage responsible environmental practices.

As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, volunteers participated in plantation activities across residential communities and green public spaces. Educational sessions and awareness campaigns were also conducted to highlight the importance of biodiversity conservation, water preservation, waste reduction, and sustainable living.

The campaign’s message, “एकहाथ, एकपेड़, एकआशा,” serves as a reminder that every tree planted today contributes to a cleaner environment, stronger ecosystems, and a better quality of life tomorrow.

On this World Environment Day, Smiling Tree renewed its pledge to continue driving positive environmental change and called upon citizens across the country to join the movement. By embracing the spirit of “एकहाथ, एकपेड़, एकआशा,” individuals can become active participants in building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

This World Environment Day, Café 77 East at Taj Bangalore presents Earth & Harvest — a specially curated dinner buffet that celebrates mindful dining through seasonal produce, hyper-local ingredients, and contemporary global flavours.

Rooted in the philosophy of conscious gastronomy, the experience brings together ingredients sourced from nearby farming communities, creating a menu deeply connected to regional produce while embracing a refined culinary approach. With an emphasis on reducing food miles and working closely with local growers, the showcase reflects an ingredient-led style of dining that is both sustainable and flavour-forward.

The buffet features a thoughtfully crafted selection of Indian and international dishes including Charred Carrot & Millet Salad, Smoked Pumpkin & Sunflower Seed Hummus, Ancient Grain Risotto with Market Vegetables, Smoked Jackfruit Galouti Kebabs, Country-Style Eggplant & Chickpea Stew, and a Zero-Waste Homemade Vegetable Lasagne. Desserts such as Wild Honey & Coconut Milk Panna Cotta and an Artisanal Jaggery & Almond Flour Tart complete the experience on a refined note.

Accented with earthy décor and potted plant centrepieces, the evening reflects Café 77 East’s understated interpretation of sustainable luxury dining.

Details:

• Venue: Café 77 East, Taj Bangalore
• Date: 5 June 2026
• Time: 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM
• Photograph: Cafe 77 East (Eve shots)

Reserve your table for an evening inspired by seasonal flavours and conscious dining.

Proposed cathode project near Red River Army Depot would strengthen U.S. national defense and battery supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign cathode materials, and create high-quality manufacturing jobs in Texas

San Diego, California and Austin, Texas—June 5 — Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc. (“Wildcat”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Holyvolt Group, and Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”)  announced they have entered into an agreement to advance a U.S.-based lithium iron phosphate (“LFP”) cathode active material manufacturing facility in Hooks, Texas, adjacent to EnergyX’s Project Lonestar™ lithium plant and near the Red River Army Depot.

Under the joint venture, Wildcat and EnergyX plan to establish domestic manufacturing capacity for LFP cathode material, a critical battery component used in energy storage systems, electric vehicles, military platforms, drones, and other advanced energy applications. The proposed facility is designed to produce approximately 15,000 metric tonnes per annum (tpa) of LFP cathode active material in Phase 1, with the ability for future expansion. The project would be located on 330 acres of land already secured by EnergyX at the TexAmericas Center, a strategic industrial location with rail transportation access, available utility infrastructure, competitive energy resources, and proximity to important defense and battery supply-chain assets.

The project represents more than $230 million of total project investment, including substantial private-sector cost share from the project sponsors. If selected for DOE funding, federal support would accelerate construction, commissioning, and scale-up of one of the first meaningful domestic LFP cathode production facilities in the United States. 

In addition to supply-chain and national security benefits, the joint venture is expected to create an estimated 150 high quality, direct permanent jobs, and up to 800-1200 indirect and construction jobs in Northeast Texas. The companies expect to work with local workforce partners, community colleges, and veterans’ organizations to support hiring and training for operations roles including chemical operators, technicians, engineers, maintenance personnel, and plant support staff.

Importantly, it is expected that EnergyX will supply the majority, if not all of the lithium carbonate needed for the joint venture partnership with commercially favorable terms, including a discount from market rates, and a price floor and ceiling. With lithium precursor materials accounting for 60-85% of the bill of materials for LFP cathode production as estimated by IDTechEx, access to stable and affordable lithium supply establishes a distinct competitive advantage. While most LFP producers are extremely exposed to lithium price volatility, the partnership between EnergyX and Wildcat solves this challenge. Further, EnergyX controls approximately 50,000 acres of premium lithium mining rights underneath the co-located cathode production facility and Lonestar™ lithium plant.

Both Wildcat and EnergyX have already validated demonstration-scale LFP cathode and lithium carbonate production capabilities at their facilities in San Diego, CA and Hooks, TX, respectively, and have sampled material to customers across energy storage, mobility, and defense-related markets. Further, Wildcat’s LFP product roadmap includes successive generations of higher-density LFP materials, while its broader cathode platform includes future cobalt- and nickel-free chemistries, creating exciting expansion possibilities for the joint venture. EnergyX’s lithium product portfolio includes not only lithium carbonate for LFP cathodes and lithium hydroxide for NMC cathode chemistries, but also lithium metal anodes for high energy density solid state batteries and lithium isotopes for the nuclear material supply chain.

“LFP cathode materials are essential to the future of energy storage, defense electrification, and affordable electric mobility, yet the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign supply,” said Mark Gresser, CEO of Wildcat. “This project is designed to help close that gap by combining Wildcat’s cathode materials technology and high-throughput development platform with EnergyX’s domestic lithium supply strategy and Texas project footprint.”

Teague Egan, Founder & CEO of EnergyX commented, “EnergyX is thrilled to build one of the largest American cathode plants in collaboration with Wildcat. In addition EnergyX’s global lithium technology and production platform, which includes the Project Lonestar™ lithium plant in Texas, this cathode plant is a critical step towards EnergyX’s larger vision of the Battery Mecca™. Cathode production is a natural next step, which will eventually include lithium metal anode production, and high energy density cell manufacturing. By pairing domestic cathode manufacturing with our domestic lithium supply, this project can help position Texas and Battery Mecca™ as a leader in the next generation of battery materials, and establishes a complete U.S. battery materials supply chain, directly adjacent to the Red River Army Depot.”

“This project is an important stepping stone toward Holyvolt Group’s mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable, resilient, and profitable energy systems across the Western world,” said Mathias Ingvarsson, Founder of Holyvolt Group, which acquired Wildcat Discovery Technologies in February 2026. “Localized battery and battery-material supply chains that are low-carbon, resilient, and strategically independent are essential not only to our mission, but also to maintaining Western competitiveness in one of the world’s most important industries.”

Ingvarsson added, “The proposed facility creates a pathway to bring next-generation proprietary cathode materials to market and to expand the use of Wildcat’s AI-ready, high-throughput materials platform. Over time, we believe this platform can help Western companies close the gap with overseas competitors — and ultimately surpass them. We are also seeing strong support across the battery supply chain, including from major OEMs, which reinforces both the strategic importance and market demand for what we are building.”

Today, most LFP cathode materials are produced in Asia, particularly China, creating supply-chain risk for U.S. energy storage, transportation, and defense markets. Wildcat and EnergyX intend for the proposed joint venture to create a secure, U.S.-controlled pathway from domestic American lithium resources through cathode production, supporting a more resilient North American battery supply chain.

The proposed facility also creates a platform for Western mining, refining, and materials companies to commercialize and scale within the United States. By linking domestic lithium resources, non-PFE raw-material supply, U.S.-based cathode production, and advanced materials innovation, the project is designed to support a more secure and competitive battery supply chain. The companies believe the proposed facility would directly support U.S. priorities around domestic manufacturing, critical materials independence, energy security, and defense readiness. Its location near the Red River Army Depot further underscores the strategic value of establishing advanced battery materials production in Northeast Texas.