23, Jun 2026
VIRGIO Bets on Made-On-Demand Fashion to Build the World’s Largest Demand-Led Fashion Brand
Bengaluru, India, June 23: As the global fashion industry continues to grapple with overproduction, excess inventory, and increasing demand uncertainty, fashion-tech brand VIRGIO is championing a fundamentally different approach to building fashion – one that starts with consumer demand rather than inventory forecasts.
Amar Nagaram, Co-Founder & CEO, VIRGIO, is building what it aims to become the world’s largest on–demand fashion brand by 2030 through an AI-led operating model that enables fashion to be designed, produced, and scaled based on real-time consumer demand signals.
For decades, the fashion industry has relied on forecasting consumer preferences months in advance and committing significant capital to inventory before understanding actual demand. This approach has often resulted in excess stock, markdowns, and inefficiencies across the value chain. VIRGIO‘s Made–On–Demand (MOD) model seeks to address these challenges by continuously testing new styles in small quantities, analysing consumer response in real time, and scaling production only after demand has been validated.
VIRGIO believes that the fashion industry’s biggest challenge is not manufacturing, but forecasting. In a world where consumer preferences evolve rapidly and trends emerge daily across social platforms, predicting demand months in advance has become increasingly difficult. The company believes the future of fashion will belong to brands that can learn from consumer demand in real time rather than relying solely on long-range forecasts.
At the core of the model is VIRGIO‘s proprietary technology ecosystem, which identifies emerging fashion trends, tracks evolving consumer preferences, and enables rapid decision-making across design, merchandising, and manufacturing. By integrating technology with supply chain operations, the company can move styles from concept to consumer significantly faster than traditional fashion cycles while reducing inventory risk.
The company’s AI-led technology stack continuously analyses emerging fashion trends, consumer behaviour, and demand signals across digital channels. These insights help identify opportunities early, enabling teams across design, merchandising, and manufacturing to respond faster and make more informed decisions. By combining artificial intelligence with human creativity, VIRGIO aims to create a more responsive fashion ecosystem built around consumer demand.
Unlike conventional fashion businesses that prioritise inventory accumulation, VIRGIO‘s demand–led approach is designed to maximise agility, responsiveness, and assortment. Every product launch generates consumer insights that help inform future production decisions, creating a continuous feedback loop between demand and supply.
For consumers, this translates into access to a constantly evolving assortment of fresh styles launched throughout the year rather than waiting for traditional seasonal collections. The model enables VIRGIO to respond to emerging trends faster, offer greater variety, and continuously refine its assortment based on what customers are actively choosing.
The model is further supported by an integrated manufacturing ecosystem that allows the brand to align production capacity with real-time demand patterns. By bringing technology, sourcing, and manufacturing into a unified operating framework, VIRGIO is working to build a more efficient and adaptive fashion supply chain.
By producing only after demand has been validated, the model also helps reduce excess inventory, minimise markdown dependency, and lower the risk of unsold stock. As the fashion industry faces growing scrutiny around waste and overproduction, VIRGIO sees demand–led manufacturing as a more efficient approach to building fashion businesses while creating long-term value across the supply chain.
Amar Nagaram, Co-Founder & CEO, VIRGIO, said: “Fashion has traditionally been built around predicting what consumers might want months in advance. We believe the future belongs to brands that can learn directly from consumers and respond in real time. At VIRGIO, made–on–demand is the foundation of how we operate. Every style generates learning, every demand signal informs production, and every decision helps build a more intelligent fashion ecosystem. Our ambition is to build the world’s largest on–demand fashion brand by 2030 by fundamentally changing how fashion is designed, manufactured, and scaled.”
“The future of fashion won’t be defined by who can produce the most inventory. It will be defined by who can understand consumers the fastest and build products they genuinely want.”
As consumer preferences evolve faster than ever and trend cycles continue to compress, VIRGIO believes the next era of fashion will be defined not by producing more inventory, but by producing smarter inventory. Through its AI-led technology stack, integrated manufacturing ecosystem, and demand-first philosophy, the company is working towards redefining how fashion is built for the modern consumer while creating a more responsive and efficient industry model.
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- By Neel Achary
23, Jun 2026
Listening for Quantum Oscillations in the Kondo Insulator YbB12
Ultrasonic measurements reveal magnetic quantum oscillations only after YbB12 transitions into a metallic state
Magnetic quantum oscillations have been unexpectedly observed in insulators, where freely moving charge carriers are not expected to exist. A joint study by researchers from Tokyo University of Science, The University of Tokyo, and Kobe University investigated this puzzling behavior in the Kondo insulator YbB12 using ultrasound. While no oscillations were detected in the insulating state, clear signals emerged after the material became metallic, offering new insight into unusual quantum behavior in next-generation materials.
Tokyo, June 23: The organization and movement of electrons within a material determine whether it conducts electricity, behaves magnetically, or even becomes superconducting. Since this electronic behavior cannot be observed directly, scientists study it by observing how materials respond to external forces such as magnetic fields. One important method involves magnetic quantum oscillations (MQOs), tiny repeating changes in physical properties that occur when electrons reorganize into specific energy states under a magnetic field.
MQOs are usually observed in metals and semimetals, where electrons can move freely through the material. However, unexpectedly, they have also been found in insulators, which do not host freely moving charged quasiparticles or a Fermi surface, leaving open the question of what causes these oscillations.
Now, a research team led by Dr. Ryosuke Kurihara of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, in collaboration with Dr. Atsuhiko Miyata of the Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo,Japan, Dr. Shusaku Imajo of the Department of Advanced Materials Science, The University of Tokyoand Dr. Ruo Hibino of the Department of Physics at Kobe University, Japan, has observed quantum oscillations in the field-induced metallic phase of ytterbium dodecaboride (YbB12) using ultrasonic measurements, while notably finding no such oscillations in its insulating state. Their findings, published in the journal Physical Review B on June 16, 2026, provide new insight into the puzzling behavior of this topological Kondo insulator.The paper was also selected as an Editors’ Suggestion, a distinction awarded by the journal to highlight particularly significant and noteworthy research.
“Since it is known that the quantum oscillations of YbB12 are sample-dependent, we wanted to verify whether quantum oscillations are truly invisible with ultrasound by using a sample in which quantum oscillations have already been confirmed, and the data have been compiled into a paper. In our previous ultrasonic studies of YbB12, no quantum oscillations were detected.Furthermore, if quantum oscillations are not visible with ultrasound, there must be some underlying physics that explains why they are not visible, and we wanted to verify that as well,” says Dr. Kurihara.
YbB12 is a Kondo insulator, a material in which strong interactions between electrons open an energy gap at low temperatures, causing it to behave as an insulator despite exhibiting unusual metallic-like electronic properties. However, previous magnetoresistance measurements, which track how a material’s electrical resistance changes in a magnetic field, detected quantum oscillations while the material was still insulating. This contradicted the conventional understanding that MQOs require freely moving charged particles.
To better understand this behavior, the researchers performed bulk-sensitive ultrasonic experiments on a high-quality crystal of YbB12 that had already shown quantum oscillations in earlier magnetoresistance studies. They exposed the material to magnetic fields of up to 65 T while cooling it to temperatures as low as 485 mK, close to absolute zero.
The researchers used ultrasonic measurements to track how the material’s elastic properties responded to magnetic fields, focusing on two elastic constants known as C11 and C44. In the insulating state below the field-induced insulator-to-metal transition near 45 T, the team found no clear evidence of magnetoacoustic QOs (MAQOs). Instead, they observed unusual features in the longitudinal elastic constant C11, including subtle dip-like and kink-like changes around 10 and 30 T, as well as another anomaly near 39 T. However, once YbB12 transitioned into a metallic state above approximately 45 T, clear quantum oscillations appeared in both acoustic modes, suggesting that sound waves interacted more strongly with quasiparticles in the metallic phase.
The researchers suggest that the absence of MAQOs in the insulating state may result from weak coupling between the proposed fermionic quasiparticles and acoustic phonons, the vibrations that carry sound through the material. In addition, the large cyclotron mass of these quasiparticles may suppress the oscillatory signal, making it difficult to detect using ultrasound.
By clarifying when and how these oscillations appear, the study may help researchers better understand unusual quantum states in materials and advance the search for next-generation quantum materials.
“Our findings provide further information on the puzzling behavior of the insulating state of YbB12,”saysDr. Kurihara.
23, Jun 2026
FPT and Green Power Systems Help Boost Algeria’s Powdered Milk Production
FPT and its distributors Bimotor and Avoni Industrial joined Green Power Systems to power one of North Africa’s largest agro-industrial projects, set to revolutionize powdered milk production in Algeria.
The project, worth $3.5 billion and cofounded by the Algerian National Investment Fund and Qatari dairy producer Baladna Q.P.S.C., involves the construction of one of the world’s largest integrated dairy farm and powdered milk facility, spanning 117,000 hectares of agricultural land, and designed to support 270,000 dairy cows.
Located in Algeria’s Adrar province, the agro-industrial facility is scheduled to start production in late 2027. Once fully operational, it expected to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of powdered milk per year, thus meeting about 50% of Algeria’s needs. Being in a Saharan region with temperatures often exceeding 40° C for over 130 days a year, the agricultural land meant to feed the dairy cows is at the center of a huge non-stop irrigation project in which the gensets provided by Green Power Systems and powered by FPT engines play a crucial role.
The FPT-powered Green Power Systems, in fact, support central pivot irrigation systems, a crop irrigation method in which the equipment rotates around a central pivot and crops are irrigated using sprinklers, thus creating circular irrigated area centered on the pivot. Less labor-intensive and more water-efficient, this irrigation method is particularly effective in large plots of arid land and can rapidly transform them into agriculturally productive zones.
“Green Power Systems’ participation in this project further confirms its role as a reliable international partner in the supply of power generation solutions for large-scale agro-industrial and infrastructure applications,” says Flavio Faggiolini, Export Area Manager for Green Power Systems. “In projects of this magnitude, power continuity is essential to ensure the proper functioning of the entire infrastructure. The collaboration with FPT Industrial contributed to delivering a solution aligned with the reliability requirements of the operational context.”
“Being part of a such a large-scale project, meant to improve Algeria’s food security and to create about 5,000 local jobs, is both a great honor and a great responsibility,” adds Vittorio Bertalli, Head of Sales EMEA at FPT. “But we are confident that our CURSOR 13 engines, together with hi-tech Green Power Systems products, will once again live up to the most demanding expectations”.
RELIABLE POWER, ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE
The CURSOR 13 is designed to deliver robust performance and optimized fuel efficiency for power generation applications, ranging from unregulated to Stage V / Tier 4 Final emissions standards. Engineered with an electronically controlled unit injector, it ensures precise power delivery, rapid load response, and consistent fuel optimization under all operational conditions.
The G-Drive configuration provides a ready-to-integrate solution, while highly regulated versions incorporate an ATS pack with patented Hi-eSCR2 technology, enabling advanced emissions reduction without compromising performance. The engine offers 50/60 Hz frequency switching capability, facilitating inventory management for customers. With an industry-leading 600-hour service interval, the CURSOR 13 maximizes uptime and minimizes maintenance requirements.
C13 for Green Power Systems – Technical specifications
Certification: unregulated
No. of cylinders / valves: 6L / 4
Injection System: ECR
Air handling: TAA
Displacement [liters]: 12.9
Bore x stroke [mm]: 135 x 150
Stand-by Power [kW] @ 1500 rpm: 330
Prime Power [kW] @ 1500 rpm: 300
Stand-by Power [kW] @ 1800 rpm: 360
Prime Power [kW] @ 1800 rpm: 327
Dimensions [L x W x H, mm]: 2281 x 1223 x 1454
Full specifications available on FPT website
FPT is a brand of Iveco Group N.V. (EXM: IVG), dedicated to the design, production, and sale of powertrains and solutions for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as marine and power generation applications. Over 8,000 people across ten production sites and ten R&D centers work for FPT all around the world. Active in nearly 100 different countries, its global sales and its Customer Service department supports all Brand customers. The extensive product offering includes six engine ranges with power outputs from 30 hp to over 1,000 hp, transmissions with torque up to 500 Nm, and front and rear axles from 2.45 to 32 tonne GAW (Gross Axle Weight). FPT offers the most complete line-up of natural gas engines for industrial applications on the market, with power outputs ranging from 50 to 520 hp. A dedicated ePowertrain division is accelerating the path towards net zero-emissions mobility, with electric drivelines, battery packs, and battery management systems. This extensive offering, and its strong focus on R&D, makes FPT a world leader in industrial powertrains and solutions. For more information, visit www.fptindustrial.com.
23, Jun 2026
PM Modi Calls on Young Civil Servants to Drive Viksit Bharat@2047 Vision
New Delhi, June 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged young civil servants to take the lead in advancing India’s development agenda under the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, emphasizing their role in strengthening governance and delivering citizen-focused outcomes.
Interacting with probationary officers, the Prime Minister highlighted that the future of India’s public administration depends on innovation, efficiency, and a strong commitment to public service. He encouraged them to work with a sense of responsibility and purpose as they enter the civil services.
PM Modi stressed the importance of integrity, continuous learning, and the effective use of technology in governance. He noted that young officers can bring fresh perspectives that help improve implementation and bridge gaps between policy and delivery at the ground level.
He further underlined that Viksit Bharat@2047 is a national mission requiring coordinated efforts across institutions and individuals, with civil servants playing a central role in its success.
The interaction reflected the government’s continued focus on building a capable and forward-looking administrative system to support India’s long-term development goals.
23, Jun 2026
Global Tech Weakness Weighs on Nasdaq, S&P 500 Futures and Nifty IT
June 23: Global markets witnessed weakness in the technology sector, with Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures trading lower, while India’s Nifty IT index also declined amid broad-based selling pressure.
The downturn was driven by profit-booking in major technology stocks after recent gains, along with concerns over elevated valuations in the sector. Investors also turned cautious ahead of key global economic data and expectations around interest rate movements.
The decline in global tech shares weighed on Indian IT stocks, which are closely linked to demand trends in key overseas markets such as the United States and Europe.
Market analysts said the sell-off reflects a combination of valuation concerns, global macroeconomic uncertainty, and cautious investor positioning in technology-heavy equities.
Despite short-term volatility, experts noted that the long-term outlook for the technology sector remains supported by structural growth drivers such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation.
Overall, the weakness highlights a cautious global risk sentiment impacting major technology indices across markets.
23, Jun 2026
TRAI Reports 1.09 Billion Internet Users in India
New Delhi, June 23: India’s internet subscriber base has grown to 1.09 billion, registering an increase of over 6 per cent, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The growth reflects continued expansion of digital connectivity across urban and rural areas, driven by rising smartphone usage, affordable data plans, and ongoing network expansion by telecom service providers.
TRAI data indicates that both wired and wireless internet subscriptions have contributed to the overall rise, with wireless services continuing to account for the majority of users in the country.
The steady increase in internet penetration highlights India’s accelerating digital adoption, supporting growth in areas such as digital payments, e-governance, online education, and entertainment services.
Industry observers note that improved network infrastructure and competitive pricing among telecom operators have played a key role in expanding access to internet services across diverse socio-economic groups.
The regulator said the upward trend underscores India’s position as one of the largest and fastest-growing digital markets globally, with continued scope for further expansion in connectivity and digital inclusion.
23, Jun 2026
CUET-UG 2026 Scorecards Now Available
New Delhi, June 23: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the results of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) 2026, bringing relief to lakhs of students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes across India.
Candidates who appeared for the examination can now access their scorecards through the official CUET portal by logging in with their credentials.
According to NTA, over 15.68 lakh candidates had registered for the exam, while around 11.64 lakh students appeared. The examination recorded nearly 67.56 lakh test attempts, reflecting wide participation across subjects and regions. Candidates were allowed to choose up to five subjects, resulting in a large number of subject combinations.
The gender-wise participation included approximately 5.78 lakh male candidates, 5.85 lakh female candidates, and two transgender candidates.
In a social media update, the NTA said that the results are now available and advised students to download their scorecards from the official website.
The agency has also urged candidates to carefully verify all details on their scorecards, including personal information and subject-wise scores. Any discrepancies should be reported to the authorities for correction.
Earlier, NTA released the final answer key after reviewing objections to the provisional version. Seven questions were found to have technical issues and were removed from the final evaluation.
The CUET-UG 2026 examination was conducted between May 11 and May 31, with a few papers held on June 6 and June 7. The final answer key was issued before the declaration of results, completing the evaluation process.
Officials noted that the results mark an important step for students transitioning into undergraduate admissions across central and participating universities.
23, Jun 2026
Inga Ruginienė Steps Down as Lithuania PM
Vilnius, June 23: Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has resigned from office, marking a significant political development in the country’s leadership.
The resignation comes amid ongoing political adjustments within the government, though no immediate details were provided regarding the specific reasons for stepping down. The move is expected to trigger discussions on leadership transition and the formation of a new government arrangement.
Ruginienė’s tenure was marked by efforts to address key economic and social priorities, along with managing domestic policy challenges during a period of regional uncertainty in Europe.
Following her resignation, the process of appointing a new Prime Minister is expected to begin in accordance with Lithuania’s constitutional procedures. Political consultations among governing parties are likely to shape the next phase of leadership.
Officials stated that government institutions will continue to function normally during the transition period to ensure stability and continuity in governance.
The development marks an important moment in Lithuania’s political landscape as the country prepares for a new phase of executive leadership.
23, Jun 2026
ITU’s AI for Good Global Summit brings world leaders, AI pioneers and breakthrough technologies to Geneva
The world’s leading platform for AI solutions, skills, standards and policy convenes alongside the UN’s inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance
Geneva, June 23: Geneva will become the global focal point for artificial intelligence as world leaders and policymakers, leading AI researchers, technology pioneers, and United Nations agencies meet for the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 and the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
Taking place from 7 to 10 July at Geneva’s Palexpo convention centre, the AI for Good Global Summit is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for digital technologies, together with more than 50 UN partners and co-convened by the Swiss Confederation.
The Summit follows the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, meeting from 6 to 7 July, convened by the United Nations General Assembly and facilitated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Together with the WSIS Forum 2026, taking place throughout the same week, these events create an unprecedented global gathering to advance international cooperation on AI and digital technologies. Discussions at the events will span AI policy, standards, innovation, skills development, and real-world AI deployment
At a time when countries around the world are developing national AI strategies and deploying increasingly capable AI systems, the AI for Good Global Summit will showcase how AI is already improving healthcare, education, food security, disaster response, accessibility, and public services. It will also explore frontiers including agentic AI, robotics, autonomous systems, quantum technologies, and brain-computer interfaces.
The Summit is expected to welcome thousands of participants from government, industry, academia, civil society, and the UN system, alongside hundreds of speakers and exhibitors from around the world.
23, Jun 2026
Lenovo Recognized in the Gartner Supply Chain 25 for 2026
India, June 23: Lenovo has once again been ranked in the Gartner Supply Chain 25 for 2026, achieving its highest-ever ranking at seventh globally. The Gartner Supply Chain 25 is a renowned annual ranking of the world’s superior supply chains. Now in its 22nd year, the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 identifies, celebrates, and profiles excellence in supply chain management. Supply chain teams use the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 to benchmark performance, transform operations and lead in the future. Lenovo ranked eighth in 2025, 10th in 2024, and eighth in 2023.
AI Builds Greater Supply Chain Resilience
Global supply chains have faced unprecedented disruption over the past 12 months, driven by tariffs, component shortages, and geopolitical tensions. Lenovo’s strength amid these challenging circumstances has been its ability to build on its AI infrastructure behind its global supply chain, improving resilience, adaptability and execution at speed and scale.
Over the past year, Lenovo has evolved its Supply Chain Intelligence “digital nervous system” to develop iChain, a continuously learning orchestration system that coordinates thousands of suppliers and more than 30 manufacturing sites globally. iChain is delivering tangible results for Lenovo’s supply chain operations, including 60% faster decision-making, near real-time disruption response, and a 90% automation of network simulations that reduces manual analysis from two to three weeks down to two to three hours.
Lenovo remains committed to sustainability and continues to focus on future-proofing its operations by making the supply chain more resilient and intelligent.
“At Lenovo, we’ve always considered our Global Supply Chain as a key pillar of our operational excellence,” said Che Min Tu, Senior Vice President and Group Operations Officer, Lenovo. “Over the past 12 months, the ability to respond quickly to disruption has become essential for every business. By fully integrating AI into our operations, we’ve been able to meet our customer needs more quickly and respond to complex situations. We not only withstand disruption; we become stronger because of it. It’s this approach that’s helped Lenovo navigate changing market conditions, maintain a competitive advantage, and deliver its strongest year in the company’s history.”
Resilience Delivers Measurable Business Results
This resilience is translating into business performance. Lenovo retained its number one position in global PC market share, with the gap to the second-ranked competitor widening to its largest level in 15 years.
At the same time, integrating the Infrastructure Solutions Group supply chain into the broader global network has helped accelerate growth in Lenovo’s infrastructure business, supporting record operating profit and margins.
As global supply chains continue to grow more complex, Lenovo’s model is evolving beyond the high-volume PC business, where a single device can include an average of 2,500 components, to meet hypergrowth demand for AI infrastructure, enterprise solutions, and next-generation workloads. This positions Lenovo to maintain leadership in the global supply chain landscape by scaling AI server manufacturing, expanding liquid-cooled server capacity, and strengthening its global-local manufacturing network.
Lenovo’s Global, Anti-Fragile Supply Chain Strategy
Today, Lenovo’s supply chain spans more than 30 manufacturing sites in 10 markets across Asia Pacific, China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North America, and South America. Last year, Lenovo broke ground on a new manufacturing base in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Once operational, the advanced manufacturing facility will manufacture PCs, smartphones, and servers for the Middle East and Africa market, and will include a research and development center, talent enablement programs, and a customer experience center. Lenovo is committed to supporting the creation of thousands of local jobs, enabling knowledge transfer, and driving long-term economic value creation in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, Lenovo’s manufacturing site in Monterrey, Mexico, was recently recognized as one of 12 new additions to the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, a community of 201 leading manufacturers recognized for applying advanced technologies at scale. It is the second Lenovo site to receive this recognition, following the company’s site in Hefei, China, which was recognized in January 2023.
In September 2025, Lenovo announced a major investment and job expansion at its U.S. manufacturing and fulfilment campus in Whitsett, North Carolina. The three-building campus spans more than 800,000 square feet and employs approximately 1,100 people. The site supports server manufacturing, rack integration, and order fulfilment for customers across the United States.
