AD Ports Group Enhances Al Faya Dry Port’s Integration with the Global Trade and Logistics Ecosystem

Business

AD Ports Group Enhances Al Faya Dry Port’s Integration with the Global Trade and Logistics Ecosystem

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 18 June 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of integrated trade, logistics, and industry, today announced that Al Faya Dry Port has been assigned UN/LOCODE (AEALF) by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), further strengthening the port’s integration into the global multimodal trade and logistics ecosystem.

The globally recognised UN/LOCODE system is used across the international shipping, logistics, and trade sectors to standardise location identification, facilitate customs processes, and enhance the efficiency of global supply chains. The issuance of UN/LOCODE (AEALF) establishes Al Faya Dry Port as an internationally recognised inland logistics hub, supporting more efficient cargo movement across interconnected ports, inland facilities, and multimodal trade corridors. 

AD Ports Group Enhances Al Faya Dry Port’s Integration with the Global Trade and Logistics Ecosystem

Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer – Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “Securing the UN/LOCODE for Al Faya Dry Port from UNECE marks a significant milestone in further integrating the UAE into the global trade and transport network. This designation strengthens connectivity between our ports, inland logistics hubs, and multimodal trade corridors, while enabling more efficient cargo movement, streamlined customs processes, and enhanced supply chain resilience. As global trade continues to evolve, initiatives such as this highlight the importance of internationally recognised standards and digital trade integration in supporting seamless, future-ready logistics networks and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading global trade and logistics hub.”

The designation enables customs declarations to be processed by Abu Dhabi Customs at a single approved facility while accelerating cargo movement between connected logistics hubs under the same customs framework without requiring additional customs documentation between ports in Abu Dhabi. It also supports seamless bonded cargo movement and the issuance of Through Bills of Lading, enabling Al Faya Dry Port to serve as both an export origination point and a final destination point for imports.

Strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Al Faya Dry Port is digitally integrated with Khalifa Port. The facility provides handling services for customs-controlled goods under Abu Dhabi Customs, advanced container handling capabilities, and integrated logistics solutions designed to support growing cargo volumes and strengthen multimodal trade connectivity across the UAE.

This strategic step underscores AD Ports Group’s commitment to developing future-ready logistics infrastructure and enabling smarter, more resilient trade flows through the seamless integration of ports, inland logistics facilities, and digital trade solutions.

News

HCLFoundation invites applications for Edition XII of HCLTech Grant

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Noida , June 18 : HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, announced Edition XII of HCLTech Grant to provide a platform to non-profits in India to create sustainable, community-led change across rural India.

A total of ₹24 crore will be provided to NGOs, selected by an esteemed jury, for transformative projects in sustainable rural development across the themes of water, biodiversity, health and education. Four winning NGOs from each category will receive ₹5 crore each, while eight other NGOs will receive ₹50 lakh each for their proposed projects. The last date for submitting applications on www.hclfoundation.org/hcltech-grant is June 30, 2026.

“At HCLFoundation, we believe that some of the most transformative solutions emerge from grassroots organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve. Through this edition of HCLTech Grant, we aim to provide a platform for NGOs to unleash their potential, scale innovative ideas and create sustainable change that improves lives and strengthens communities across the country. We look forward to partnering with organizations that are driving meaningful impact and contributing to India’s development journey,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCLFoundation.

The HCLTech Grant-supported projects have significantly advanced sustainable development through the years, uplifting 2.3 million lives across 61,000 villages in India. The Grant-funded initiatives have led to the planting of 3+ lakh saplings, the rejuvenation of 68,300+ hectares of land and a reduction of 67,000+ tons in CO2 emissions.

So far, over ₹203 crore has been committed by HCLFoundation through HCLTech Grant. In Edition XI of the Grant, Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti from Rajasthan, Live Foundation from Jharkhand, Goodwill Foundation from Mizoram and Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti from Rajasthan were selected for grant of ₹5 crore each for projects ranging from water harvesting in the Thar desert and biodiversity conservation in Jharkhand to enhancing healthcare access in Mizoram and enabling gender equality through education in Rajasthan.

HCLFoundation also announced the HCLTech Grant Edition XII Pan India Symposiums 2026 in an effort to bring together NGOs, experts, government, corporates and policymakers on one platform across India to deliberate on how CSR can contribute towards nation building. This year, the Symposiums have been scheduled in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Nagpur and Delhi.

Technology

India’s Exports to BRICS Nations Projected to Reach Dollar 200 Billion by 2030: ASSOCHAM

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, June 18: India’s exports to BRICS countries are projected to reach around $200 billion by 2030, driven by expanding trade linkages, diversification of export markets, and growing demand across key emerging economies, according to industry body ASSOCHAM.

The report highlights that stronger economic cooperation among BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—along with the inclusion of new member countries, is expected to create significant opportunities for Indian exporters in sectors such as engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, and IT-enabled services.

ASSOCHAM noted that India’s competitive manufacturing base, improving logistics infrastructure, and policy support for export promotion are likely to play a crucial role in achieving this growth target over the next decade.

It further stated that rising intra-BRICS trade and efforts to reduce dependency on traditional Western markets could help India diversify its export basket and strengthen its global trade position.

Industry experts believe that strategic trade agreements, supply chain integration, and digital trade facilitation will be key enablers in accelerating export growth to BRICS economies by 2030.

Education

NIT Rourkela Develops Low-Cost Ceramic Adsorbent for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Rourkela, June 18 (UDN): Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed an innovative and cost-effective ceramic adsorbent capable of removing harmful dyes from industrial wastewater, offering a sustainable solution to one of the most pressing environmental challenges.

NIT Rourkela Develops Low-Cost Ceramic Adsorbent for Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Representational image

The research team from the Department of Ceramic Engineering, led by Associate Professor Sunipa Bhattacharyya along with scholars Susanta Mohapatra and Sourav Ranjan Satpathy, designed the adsorbent using industrial by-products such as fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and kaolin clay.

Industries such as textiles, dyeing, and printing generate large volumes of coloured wastewater containing toxic chemicals that can contaminate rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, posing serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are often expensive, energy-intensive, and generate additional waste.

To address these challenges, the NIT Rourkela team developed a ceramic adsorbent specifically engineered to remove Methylene Blue, a commonly used dye found in industrial effluents. Laboratory tests demonstrated remarkable performance, with the material achieving more than 95 percent dye removal efficiency.

A key innovation of the research lies in the use of raw kaolin clay instead of heat-treated metakaolin, eliminating an energy-intensive production stage. This not only reduces manufacturing costs but also makes the process more environmentally sustainable.

Researchers estimate that the adsorbent can be produced at a cost ranging between ₹25 and ₹50 per kilogram, making it an economically viable option for large-scale industrial wastewater treatment applications.

The findings of the study have been published in the reputed journal ChemistrySelect and support global efforts toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, sanitation, and responsible production practices.

The breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable wastewater management and reinforce NIT Rourkela’s reputation as a leading centre for innovative research addressing real-world environmental challenges.

News

India’s CAD Seen Rising to 2.2 pc of GDP in FY27 Amid Elevated Crude Oil Prices

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, June 18: India’s current account deficit (CAD) is projected to widen to around 2.2% of GDP in FY27, driven primarily by sustained high global crude oil prices and increased import-related pressures, according to recent macroeconomic assessments.

Analysts say the outlook reflects continued vulnerability to global energy price fluctuations, as India remains a major importer of crude oil to meet domestic consumption needs. Higher oil prices are expected to keep the import bill elevated, thereby widening the trade gap in the external sector.

While the CAD is likely to increase, strong performance in services exports—especially IT and business services—along with steady remittance inflows are expected to partially offset the pressure on the external account.

Experts also point out that global geopolitical uncertainties and commodity price volatility remain key risks that could further influence India’s external balance in FY27.

Despite the projected widening, India’s healthy foreign exchange reserves and stable capital inflows are expected to provide a cushion against external shocks, supporting overall macroeconomic stability.

Economists emphasize the importance of energy diversification and prudent external sector management to contain risks arising from volatile global oil markets.

 
Technology

India Sets Global Benchmark in AI Growth and Innovation: Piyush Goyal

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

June 18: India is positioning itself as a compelling global example in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday, highlighting the country’s rapid progress in digital transformation and innovation-led growth.

Speaking at an industry event, the Minister noted that India’s expanding digital ecosystem, strong startup culture, and large talent pool are driving the country’s emergence as a key global hub for AI development and deployment.

He said India’s approach to AI is focused on inclusive growth, real-world applications, and large-scale adoption across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and governance. According to him, this practical and people-centric model sets India apart in the global AI landscape.

Goyal emphasized that India is not only adopting AI technologies but also building capabilities in innovation, data infrastructure, and skilled manpower to support long-term leadership in the sector. He added that collaboration between industry, academia, and government is playing a crucial role in accelerating AI-driven solutions.

The Minister further stated that India’s digital public infrastructure, including platforms for payments, identity, and governance services, has created a strong foundation for AI integration at scale.

He expressed confidence that India’s continued investment in technology and innovation will further strengthen its position as a global leader in AI and emerging technologies.

Business

Trupeer AI Appoints Former UiPath CEO Raghu Subramanian as President & Chief Business Officer

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

June 18: Trupeer AI, the workflow knowledge layer for teams and AI agents, today announced the appointment of Raghu Subramanian as President and Chief Business Officer, as the company accelerates its next phase of global enterprise expansion. Backed by RTP Global and Salesforce Ventures and trusted by more than 50,000 teams in over 100 countries, Trupeer is strengthening its leadership team to scale adoption across enterprises, SaaS companies, Global Capability Centers (GCCs), and technology-enabled business services companies.

Raghu joins from a distinguished career at the forefront of enterprise automation, most notably as a founding member of the management team at UiPath, where he was part of the core executive team that helped build the company from a single-digit-million valuation to a $35+ billion NYSE-listed enterprise. Bringing over 25 years of enterprise technology leadership experience, Raghu has built and scaled enterprise businesses across global markets, with deep expertise in automation, business process management, and enterprise AI adoption. He established UiPath’s India operations in 2016 and later served as President & CEO for India and APAC, helping drive the company’s growth into a global automation leader. Prior to joining UiPath, he served as CTO of EXL Service.

At Trupeer, he will lead the company’s next phase of commercial expansion, driving adoption across enterprises and technology-enabled business services companies in key global markets. Trupeer’s platform transforms unstructured, multimodal workflows into SOPs, guides, training assets, studio-quality videos, and continuously updated AI-ready context for employees and intelligent agents. Delivering knowledge transfer in 120+ languages, it enables organizations to scale knowledge globally while localizing at scale. His experience will be instrumental in accelerating Trupeer’s next phase of growth.

Shivali Goyal, CEO and Co-Founder, Trupeer AI, said,

“Raghu has spent decades helping organisations adopt and scale transformative technologies and brings deep experience in building enterprises globally. Having seen first-hand the challenges enterprises face in organisational knowledge and agentic AI enablement, Raghu immediately resonated with our vision and the momentum Trupeer has built globally. His expertise will help us strengthen our commercial capabilities, deepen partnerships, and unlock the next phase of growth at Trupeer.”

Raghu Subramanian, President and Chief Business Officer, Trupeer AI, said,

“Enterprises have long struggled to get real value from AI, and the reason is fragmented context.  The knowledge that makes AI useful sits trapped in people’s heads and scattered across tools. In the agentic AI era, where agents are only as good as the context they run on, that gap becomes the difference between AI that works and doesn’t. This is the gap Trupeer was built to close. I look forward to partnering with enterprises and organisations across the globe to build the context layer that makes enterprise knowledge structured, accessible, and actionable, and AI genuinely useful.”

As enterprises move from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment, knowledge readiness has emerged as the defining constraint on AI outcomes. Gartner predicts that while 40% of enterprise applications will embed task-specific AI agents by the end of 2026, 60% of AI projects will be abandoned in the same period due to poor data and knowledge infrastructure. Trupeer is built to address exactly this gap, and with Raghu at the helm of global business, the company is positioned to accelerate enterprise adoption.

Technology

AI Upskilling Drives Up to 150 pc Salary Growth in India: Report

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, June 18: AI-related upskilling is significantly boosting career growth in India, with professionals reporting an average salary increase of up to 150 per cent after acquiring artificial intelligence and emerging technology skills, according to a recent industry report.

The findings highlight a sharp rise in demand for AI, data science, machine learning, and automation skills across sectors such as IT services, fintech, e-commerce, and consulting. Employers are increasingly prioritising candidates with AI competencies as businesses accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

The report indicates that professionals who transition into AI-enabled roles or enhance their existing skill sets with AI tools and technologies are witnessing faster promotions, higher compensation packages, and improved job mobility compared to peers in traditional roles.

Industry experts noted that organisations are actively investing in workforce reskilling programmes to bridge the widening talent gap in advanced technologies. This trend is also being driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI and automation across business operations.

Hiring trends show strong competition for AI-skilled professionals, with companies offering premium salaries to attract and retain talent in high-demand roles. Entry-level and mid-career professionals are particularly benefiting from structured upskilling pathways.

Experts said AI upskilling is becoming a key factor in long-term career sustainability, as industries continue to evolve toward data-driven decision-making and intelligent automation systems.

The report further suggests that India’s large talent pool and growing digital ecosystem position the country as a key global hub for AI-skilled workforce development.

Technology

Litera Announces New Cloud AI Automation to Boost Security for Law Firm Communications, Removing Metadata Risk

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

CHICAGO and LONDON – June 18: Litera, the legal AI platform provider that best unifies the practice and business of law, announced Clean+, the cloud-hosted evolution of Metadact Server. In the practice of law, where speed and volume are constant, every outbound email attachment carries hidden risk. A single missed scrub can expose privileged work, breach client confidence, or trigger a legal ethics inquiry. Clean+ (formerly Metadact Server) delivers server-grade metadata protection across every Outlook environment, on infrastructure Litera manages, with no server for IT to provision, patch, or maintain. 

“The practice of law runs on trust, and hidden document data breaks it,” said Joey Benedek, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Litera. “As AI accelerates how lawyers draft and collaborate, the volume of outbound documents is climbing and so is the risk. Clean+ gives IT leaders the server-class protection their firm depends on without the infrastructure burden that has always come with it.” 

As AI generates more documents faster, the volume of outbound documents is climbing while IT teams are asked to do more with less. Probabilistic AI tools cannot be trusted to decide what metadata stays and what gets stripped.

Litera addresses this with a fully hosted service that routes attachments through the Litera server, enforcing one policy across classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook for Mac, Outlook for Web, and mobile — with no server to provision, patch, or maintain. Clean+ is built on a deterministic, rules-based engine refined over 30 years and trusted by 42% of the market (ILTA Tech Survey, 2025). No AI-first entrant can replicate that foundation, and when metadata mistakes are eliminated at the source, lawyers send legal advice with confidence and clients receive work that reflects the firm’s standard.

Clean+ is part of a broader consolidation of the Metadact line under the Clean brand, giving firms a clear tier of protection for every deployment model: Clean Desktop (formerly Metadact Desktop), Clean Cloud (formerly Metadact in Litera One), Clean Server (formerly Metadact Server), and Clean+ (formerly Metadact Server in Litera One). It is available as a standalone package and included in Draft Advanced, the company’s end-to-end AI drafting suite. Existing Metadact Server customers will receive dedicated migration support. General availability is June 30.

News

Madagascar and Zanzibar Announce New National Shark and Ray Protections at Our Ocean Conference

Jun 18, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

MOMBASA, KENYA, June 18: At a side event this evening at the Our Ocean Conference, the governments of Madagascar and Zanzibar announced sweeping new national protections for sharks and rays, marking the latest milestone in a decade of conservation progress across East Africa.

Madagascar and Zanzibar Announce New National Shark and Ray Protections at Our Ocean Conference

Sharks and rays are experiencing one of the fastest extinction crises of any vertebrate group on Earth—more than 37 percent of species are now threatened with extinction, driven largely by overfishing and an international trade that, for decades, went largely unregulated. Over the last decade major gains in international management of these species have begun to change the trajectory for these species, and we’re now seeing countries implement these protections at a national and local level.

“Sharks are an essential part of healthy ocean ecosystems,” said Luke Warwick, Senior Director of WCS’s Threatened Marine Species program. “This rapidly accelerating global framework of laws, coupled to enforcement and local level conservation action gives us hope we can end the declines of the last half century, and start these ancient predators on the long road to recovery.”

Madagascar announced it will offer full national protection for 14 species of sharks and rays under the country’s Wild Fauna Decree, including the Critically Endangered oceanic whitetip shark, as well as whale sharks and iconic manta rays. Zanzibar also announced full protection for 34 species in its coastal waters, including hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and the endemic Zanzibar guitarfish. 

“The actions taken by the Madagascar government to protect these species, among other positive actions, comes at a time when sharks and rays need conservation efforts more than ever,” said Ravaka Ranaivoson, Partnership and Program Development Director for WCS Madagascar. “This highlights Madagascar’s commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of its marine resources.”

As recently as a decade ago, the global trade in sharks and rays was largely unregulated, and these species were fast running out of time. Today, that trade has rules, those rules are being enforced, and governments around the world are writing them into national law via species protections and the inclusion of shark specific conservation measures in fisheries and protected area laws and designations. The announcements from Madagascar and Zanzibar are the latest proof that momentum, once built, continues to grow.

Today’s announcements build on past successes and three years of historic global progress. At CITES CoP20 in November 2025, countries adopted every shark and ray proposal on the table, listing more than 70 species and bringing 96 percent of the global shark fin trade and 70 percent of shark and ray meat trade under international regulation for the first time. In total, 180 species are now listed under CITES, with 33 carrying a full commercial trade ban.

“From global decisions to local action on the water, the scale and pace of progress in shark conservation is truly remarkable,” said John Mandelman, Executive Director, Shark Conservation Fund. “Yet threatened sharks and rays, and the habitats they depend on, still require the strongest protections. Together, these efforts are creating an essential pathway toward recovery.”

The announcements were made at a private reception entitled “Celebrating a Decade of Shark Conservation in East Africa: Profiles of Shark Champions,” hosted by Shark Conservation Fund in partnership with the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar, and supported by WCS.