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Mr. Subash Balar, Business Head – Confectionery, Chocolates & Coffee, ITC Ltd., said, “The modern Indian consumer is rethinking indulgence, seeking greater transparency, balance, and choice without giving up on experience. This is evident in the rapid growth of dark chocolate in India, which industry reports indicate has more than doubled over the past five years, outpacing traditional milk chocolate. Alongside this, demand for no added sugar options continues to rise. Through Fabelle, we are shaping a more refined chocolate culture that reflects how consumers want to indulge today.”

ollaboration to explore scalable solutions in high-growth renewable energy market 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 16 June 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, industry, and logistics solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dajin Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. a leading offshore wind equipment manufacturer to explore long-term cooperation across offshore wind supply chain development, maritime logistics, port infrastructure, and strategic vessel investments.

The collaboration builds on a series of strategic initiatives and partnerships announced by AD Ports Group in the renewable energy and offshore sectors, including recent agreements with Masdar, Siemens Energy, and Green Parrot, as well as the acquisition of Balenciaga Astilleros Shipyard in Spain, a specialist in offshore wind construction, all of which are building the Group’s offshore energy capabilities.

The MoU reflects the shared ambition of both parties to combine their complementary strengths in order to accelerate growth within the offshore wind and energy infrastructure markets in Europe and other regions.

Under the framework of the MoU, both parties will explore opportunities, including transportation solutions for offshore wind components, development of pre-assembly hubs, cooperation on selected offshore wind tenders and industrial projects, plus fabrication, assembly, and logistics solutions for offshore energy infrastructure. 

Friedrich Portner – Chief Commercial Officer, Maritime & Shipping Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “We are pleased to partner with Dajin Heavy Industry to jointly work on opportunities that leverage our maritime and logistics capabilities in support of the offshore wind sector, a strategic growth area for us. Together, we aim to deliver more integrated, efficient solutions across the renewable energy value chain.” 

Walid Oulmane, Chief Commercial Officer – New Products, Dajin Heavy Industry, said: “This MoU represents an exciting opportunity to combine industrial strength, maritime expertise, and long-term strategic vision. We believe both companies can create meaningful value together in support of the global energy transition.”

The offshore wind energy market continues to experience strong global growth, driven by accelerating decarbonisation targets, large-scale renewable energy investments, and the expansion of offshore wind capacity across Europe, Asia, and emerging markets. The industry is projected to grow from USD 109 billion in 2026, to USD 307.5 billion by 2035, reflecting the increasing scaled and strategic importance of offshore wind within the global energy transition.

Bengaluru, India, June 16: Saviynt, a leading provider of identity security, today released major enhancements to its Agent Access Gateway — a runtime authorization layer that controls what AI agents can do as they interact with applications, data, APIs, tools, infrastructure, and other agents.

As enterprises move AI agents from experimentation into production, security teams face a new access problem. Agents can reason, adapt, and execute thousands of actions across business systems within seconds. Traditional access controls, which were designed for human users and static applications, cannot always determine whether an agent’s action is appropriate the moment it occurs.

Saviynt’s Agent Access Gateway addresses this challenge by enforcing policy at runtime. Today’s release introduces Intent–Aware Runtime Authorization™ (IARA), a new capability that evaluates AI agent actions in real time based on identity, context, policy, and intent. If an action falls outside approved boundaries, Saviynt can block it and generate an audit event at runtime. With IARA, organizations can protect sensitive resources from unintended or unauthorized actions. 

“AI agents are becoming a new class of enterprise identity — autonomous, powerful, and capable of taking action across critical business systems,” said Vibhuti Sinha, Chief Product Officer, Saviynt. “Agent Access Gateway gives enterprises a way to control AI agent behavior at runtime, when decisions actually happen. With IARA, organizations can move beyond static permissions and make access decisions based on what an agent is trying to do, why it is doing it, and whether that action should be allowed.”

Along with IARA, Saviynt also announced expanded capabilities within its broader Identity Security for AI solution to help organizations address identity governance and security posture across the entire AI ecosystem. Agent Access Gateway now enables organizations to:

• Evaluate AI agent actions at runtime, in real-time, based on identity, context, policies, and intent
• Control an agent’s access to tools at runtime using static and dynamic policies
• Determine who an AI agent acts for by recognizing whether it carries out actions independently, on behalf of a human, or via another AI agent.

As AI agents increasingly interact with humans and other agents, governance should apply to every access. For example, a sales operations agent may be authorized to access CRM data to summarize a customer opportunity. But if that agent then attempts to export customer records, modify pricing terms, or trigger outbound communications, the critical question is whether those actions match the user’s original intent — not simply whether the agent is technically authorized to perform them. Saviynt’s intent–aware runtime enforcement is designed to identify that mismatch at runtime and prevent the action before it occurs.

The latest release also features new inbound and outbound access controls for AI agents, bringing identity governance principles to autonomous systems. Organizations can now govern who is authorized to interact with AI agents and what applications, data, and resources those agents are permitted to access. This enables enterprises to enforce least privilege, strengthen accountability, and reduce the risk of unauthorized AI actions at scale.

Saviynt’s Identity Security for AI control plane enables AI agent visibility, management, governance, and access across every layer of the stack – where they’re built, where they run, and the enterprise applications where they take action. The latest release extends Saviynt’s ecosystem of native integrations to include Microsoft Foundry, N8N, Snowflake Cortex, and more.

Additionally, Saviynt introduced new identity verification capabilities to help organizations reduce impersonation risk as AI assistance makes fraud, social engineering, and unauthorized access attempts easier to execute. New capabilities also provide high-assurance identity verification directly within the Saviynt platform for human identity certification, including biometric scanning, selfie photos, liveness detection, and support for more than 4,000 government-issued document formats across more than 177 countries.

Together, these capabilities help organizations address two of the most urgent AI-related security challenges facing enterprises today: controlling agent access at runtime and reducing identity impersonation risk.

Saviynt will demonstrate Saviynt Agent Access Gateway, including IARA, as well as owner recommendation for lifecycle governance, and identity verification capabilities at Identiverse. Attendees can visit Saviynt at booth 501 to see how Saviynt helps enterprises control agent access at runtime and strengthen identity assurance across the AI ecosystem. A free trial of Saviynt’s Identity Security for AI product is available here.

New Delhi, June 16: In a remarkably short span, The Matic Studio has emerged as one of India’s notable creative and animation studios, building a reputation for delivering high-impact visual storytelling, immersive brand experiences, and technology-driven creative solutions for leading national and global brands. 

Founded by Sidharth Vohra, The Matic Studio has collaborated with prominent organisations, including Dolby Atmos, Samsung, Mahindra, Tata, Adani, Vivo, Intel, Suzuki, TVS Motor Company, and Lenskart. The studio’s work has transcended traditional advertising and content creation, finding recognition on prestigious international platforms such as Times Square, New York, as well as showcases during New York, London, and Paris Fashion Week and leading art exhibitions in Dubai. He also serves as an advisor to the Ministry of MSME under the IID incubation programme for animation and motion design, contributing to initiatives that support innovation and the growth of India’s creative and startup ecosystem. 

As part of its next phase of growth, The Matic Studio is significantly expanding its service portfolio. While the company initially built its foundation in 3D modelling and 3D animation, it now offers a broader suite of creative services, including CGI and VFX production, 2D animation, motion graphics, interactive web design, and immersive digital experiences. This evolution reflects the growing demand for integrated creative solutions that combine design, technology, and experimental design as a one-stop shop for brands. 

Further strengthening its creative offering, the studio is also venturing into experiential design through Matic.Live, a dedicated initiative focused on live event curation and immersive brand experiences. The new vertical aims to create meaningful connections between digital content and physical environments through innovative event concepts and audience engagement formats.

The studio’s growth has been accompanied by industry recognition, with The Matic Studio being rated among the Top 20 Animation Studios in India. Under Vohra’s leadership, the company continues to embrace emerging technologies, including AI-assisted creative workflows and advanced visualisation tools, to push the boundaries of modern storytelling.

“Over the years, we’ve developed expertise across a wide spectrum of creative services, from animation and CGI visualisation to digital experiences and immersive storytelling. This breadth of capability allows us to solve creative challenges from multiple perspectives and offer brands a more integrated approach to communication. As we continue to grow, our focus remains on delivering meaningful experiences regardless of the medium,” said Sidharth Vohra, Founder & Creative Director, The Matic Studio.  

Beyond commercial projects, Vohra actively contributes to the design and innovation ecosystem through guest lectures and workshops on AI, creativity, and design at institutions such as Amity University, IIAD, and MIT.

With a growing global footprint, an expanding range of services, and a commitment to creative innovation, The Matic Studio is positioning itself as a future-focused creative partner for brands looking to build impactful visual and experiential narratives in an increasingly digital world.

SEATTLE, June 16:  As global soccer brings visitors from across the country and around the world to Seattle, Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington is proud to introduce a vibrant new addition to its Seattle flagship store, the world’s largest Goodwill: a permanent mural by celebrated Seattle artist Stevie Shao. 

Located just steps from Seattle Stadium, Goodwill’s 70,000-square-foot flagship store offers a distinctly local experience for visitors: part retail destination, part reflection of Seattle’s commitment to sustainability and community. Now, with the addition of Shao’s mural in one of its most visible, high-traffic interior spaces, the store offers an even richer sense of place for both travelers and locals exploring the neighborhood.

As one of the most unique retail destinations near the stadium, the store offers something distinctly local: a shopping experience shaped by community contributions, where every purchase supports life-changing programs—and now, a striking work of art that brings that mission to life.

The mural gives the space a new look at a time when the city is drawing global attention. Created in Shao’s signature style, it draws inspiration from themes of community, opportunity, and place, which makes her the perfect partner for a project rooted in the diversity and energy of Seattle’s Chinatown–International District and surrounding community. Completed in early June and designed as a permanent installation, the mural is intended to become a defining feature of the flagship store. As visitors explore the city this summer, Goodwill offers more than a place to shop; it’s an opportunity to experience a uniquely local intersection of art, community, and impact.

For more than 100 years, Evergreen Goodwill has generated revenue through retail to support tuition-free job training and education programs across Northwest Washington. The new installation builds on that mission by investing in placemaking and storytelling, transforming a high-traffic retail environment into a space that reflects the people and communities it serves.

The mural marks Evergreen Goodwill’s second collaboration with Shao, following a limited-edition tote bag for Secondhand Sunday last year. The continued partnership highlights the organization’s approach to working with artists as creative collaborators, while deepening ties to the local arts community.

Hakusan, Japan – EIZO Corporation (TSE: 6737) announced that it has been recognized as a Supplier Engagement Leader, the highest rating, for the fourth consecutive year by the CDP, an international not-for-profit organization that operates a global disclosure system for managing environmental impacts.

The CDP’s annual Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) evaluates a company’s supply chain engagement as it relates to climate issues based on responses to five key areas of the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire related to risk management processes, governance and business strategy, supplier engagement, scope 3 emissions incl verification, and targets. By engaging with their suppliers on climate change, Supplier Engagement Leaders play a crucial role in the transition to a net-zero sustainable economy.

In line with EIZO’s corporate philosophy of “Through the pursuit of imaging solutions with advanced technologies, we enrich people in their professional and personal lives,” EIZO has continued to carry out environmentally conscious product manufacturing and business activities.

EIZO is further accelerating Response to Climate Change and Supply Chain Management, EIZO’s materialities, by implementing information disclosure based on TCFD recommendations and obtaining SBT certification for its GHG (greenhouse gas) emission reduction targets, with the understanding and cooperation of our suppliers. In addition, EIZO established its “Transition to Net Zero” climate transition plan, under which EIZO aims to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions by the year 2040. EIZO will continue to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society through these and other initiatives.

New Delhi, June 16: Annual WPI inflation (provisional) stood at 9.68 per cent, compared with 8.26 per cent in April 2026. Fuel and Power inflation accelerated to 30.33 per cent, while Manufactured Products inflation rose to 7.48 per cent. Key contributors to inflation included mineral oils, crude petroleum and natural gas, chemicals, and basic metals.

“The launch of the new WPI and Producer Price Index series represents an important modernization of India’s price statistics architecture. The updated methodology, expanded coverage, and improved representation of economic activity will provide policymakers, businesses, and researchers with more accurate and relevant indicators of producer-level price movements said Mr. Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI.

Office of the Economic Adviser, has launched a revised series of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with base year 2022-23, replacing the existing 2011-12 series. Simultaneously, the Government has introduced new series of Output Producer Price Index (OPPI), Trial Input Producer Price Index (IPPI), and Service Producer Price Indices (Service PPIs) for selected service sectors.

The revised framework reflects structural changes in the Indian economy, incorporates a larger basket of commodities, and adopts improved methodologies for weighting, index compilation, and treatment of missing data. The new WPI basket contains 957 items compared to 697 items in the previous series and includes emerging energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power.

But looking ahead, the recently announced framework agreement between the United States and Iran, including the proposed reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, could have important implications for wholesale inflation in India, he said.

Global crude oil prices have already declined sharply on expectations of improved energy supplies and reduced geopolitical risk, with Brent crude falling by around 4% following the announcement.

Since fuel and power inflation was a key driver of the 9.68% WPI inflation recorded in May 2026, a sustained easing in international oil prices could moderate cost pressures across fuel, transport, chemicals, metals, and other energy-intensive sectors in the coming months.

The newly released Output Producer Price Index recorded an index level of 109.6 in May 2026, while the Trial Input Producer Price Index for the manufacturing sector stood at 104.9. Service Producer Price Indices have also been released for seven service sectors, including banking, insurance, telecom, railways, air passenger transport, securities transactions, and pension fund management.

The parallel publication of WPI and PPI over the next five years will facilitate a smooth transition toward a producer price framework that is increasingly adopted across advanced and emerging economies. Going forward, the expanded data on producer price indicators is expected to strengthen inflation analysis, and improve industry-level price monitoring said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, SG & CEO, PHDCCI.

Cairo, Egypt, 16 June: Pathfinder International officially launched Women&Co, a new innovation platform designed to advance women’s economic empowerment, employment, and inclusive opportunities while devising solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges in Egypt. The launch event brought together key stakeholders and featured the participation of Ms. Dina El Serafy, Assistant Minister of Social Solidarity for International Cooperation; Dr. Sahar El Sonbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM); Ms. May Mahmoud, General Director of the Women Business Development Center at the National Council for Women (NCW); Ambassador Nabila Makram, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the National Alliance for Civil Development; and Dr. Mohamed Abou Nar, Chief Programs & Impact Officer at Pathfinder International.

The event also brought together representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), CARE International, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), Banque Misr and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Egypt.

The launch event marked the announcement of the first service to be offered under the platform: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) advisory and capacity-strengthening services for the private sector. The services will support companies in improving ESG performance, strengthening workplace inclusion, and advancing climate-responsive policies and practices. Particular emphasis will be placed on helping businesses strengthen the social dimension of ESG through gender-equitable workplaces, inclusive leadership pipelines, employee wellbeing, and female workforce retention. By translating these practices into measurable ESG indicators, companies can enhance their sustainability performance, strengthen their readiness for sustainable and green finance, and improve long-term business resilience and competitiveness.

The launch brought together senior representatives from government, the private sector, financial institutions, development agencies, and international organizations to explore how gender equity, climate action, and sustainable finance can drive more resilient and inclusive economic growth in Egypt.

A key feature of the event was its co-creation approach. Through workshops and consultations, private-sector partners, civil society organizations, and women from local communities worked directly with Pathfinder to help shape future of inclusive ESG service offerings, ensuring that solutions are practical, business-driven, and tailored to the specific needs of women and companies operating in Egypt.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Mohamed Abou Nar, Chief Programs & Impact Officer at Pathfinder International, welcomed the strong participation of representatives from government entities, the private sector, financial institutions, development agencies, and international organizations. He emphasized that the launch of Women&Co marks a strategic step toward advancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Egypt.

“The launch of Women&Co is more than the introduction of a new platform; it reflects a tangible commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment and strengthening their active role in development, in line with Egypt Vision 2030, which places women at the heart of the country’s sustainable development agenda,” said Abou Nar.

He added: “We firmly believe that empowering women and creating equal opportunities in employment and entrepreneurship not only improves the lives of women and their families, but also represents a direct investment in building a stronger, more resilient, and sustainable economy. Through Women&Co, we aim to develop practical and sustainable solutions that support women, businesses, and local communities while generating measurable social and economic impact. The platform adopts a collaborative approach that brings together the public and private sectors, civil society organizations, and development partners to design services and initiatives that address real market needs and contribute to inclusive and sustainable growth pathways in Egypt.”

Pathfinder International highlighted the importance of positioning women’s economic inclusion as a driver of sustainable business performance, ESG readiness, and long-term competitiveness. Discussions throughout the day explored topics including gender inclusion in the workplace, carbon emissions reduction, the implications of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for Egyptian businesses, and pathways to expanding access to green and inclusive finance.