18, Jun 2026
India–UK Trade Agreement to Be Operational from July 15, Says PM Modi, Calling It a ‘Historic Milestone’
New Delhi, June 18: The India–UK trade agreement will come into effect from July 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Wednesday, describing it as a “historic milestone” in the economic partnership between the two countries.
Pic Credit: https://x.com/PMOIndia
The operationalisation of the agreement is expected to mark a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations, while opening new opportunities for businesses, exporters, and industries on both sides.
According to officials, the agreement is designed to enhance market access, streamline trade processes, and deepen cooperation in key sectors including goods, services, manufacturing, technology, and innovation-driven industries. It is also expected to support supply chain integration and encourage greater economic collaboration between India and the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Modi said the agreement reflects the growing trust and shared ambition between India and the UK to build a stronger, future-oriented economic partnership. He noted that the pact will contribute to expanding trade opportunities and fostering long-term economic growth.
Officials further stated that the implementation of the agreement will provide a structured framework for boosting bilateral trade flows and improving ease of doing business between the two economies.
The development is being viewed as a major milestone in India’s expanding global trade engagements, reinforcing its position as a key player in international economic partnerships.
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- By Neel Achary
18, Jun 2026
MENA Fintech Association and FINTECH.TV Forge Strategic Global Media Alliance to Amplify Fintech Leadership, Shape Industry Dialogue, and Connect Innovation Across Global Markets
Dubai, UAE – June 18 – The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), the leading not-for-profit fintech ecosystem enabler and industry advocacy platform across the Middle East and Africa, announced a strategic collaboration with Fintech.TV, the premier global media platform dedicated to financial innovation, capital markets, fintech, digital assets, and the future of finance.
The partnership will establish a dedicated series of high-impact on-air discussions, executive interviews, thought leadership programs, and ecosystem-focused broadcasts featuring global policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, fintech founders, investors, technology innovators, and industry leaders.
Powered by the MENA Fintech Association and amplified through Fintech.TV’s international media reach, the initiative aims to showcase the rapid evolution of the UAE and broader MENA fintech landscape while facilitating meaningful dialogue around the future of financial services, innovation, regulation, and digital transformation.
“The future of fintech will be shaped by those who lead global conversations, not simply participate in them. Through the MENA Fintech Association’s partnership with FINTECH.TV, we are creating a powerful international platform that positions the MENA region at the center of financial innovation, policy dialogue, and industry leadership – connecting regional excellence with global influence.”
– Nameer Khan, Chairman, MENA Fintech Association
The MENA region is rapidly becoming a global hub for fintech innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. At FINTECH.TV, we are excited to partner with the MENA Fintech Association to spotlight the leaders and ideas transforming the industry. By combining MFTA’s ecosystem leadership with FINTECH.TV’s international media platform, we will deliver impactful conversations, amplify regional innovation, and connect the MENA fintech community with audiences around the world.
Troy McGuire Co-Founder and Global Head of Content and Operations, FINTECH.TV
18, Jun 2026
PM Modi–Trump Meeting at G7 Focuses on Trade, West Asia and Strengthening India–US Ties
New Delhi, June 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former U.S. President Donald Trump held discussions on key global and bilateral issues on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, focusing on West Asia developments, progress on the India–US trade agreement, and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Pic Credit: https://x.com/PMOIndia
PM @narendramodi met US President @realDonaldTrump in Evian and reviewed progress in India-US cooperation across sectors such as energy, trade, defence, technology and people-to-people ties.
The two leaders also exchanged views on developments in West Asia. The Prime Minister… pic.twitter.com/CVZLtgcmDL
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 17, 2026
The MEA said the meeting covered strategic, economic and geopolitical priorities of mutual interest, with both leaders reviewing ways to further strengthen trade, investment, defence, energy and technology partnerships between India and the United States.
The discussions also included the situation in West Asia, with emphasis on regional stability and its global economic impact. Both sides expressed interest in deepening cooperation to support long-term strategic and economic alignment.
Following the meeting, business leaders and members of the Indian diaspora welcomed the engagement, saying it could help further boost confidence in India–US economic and strategic relations.
Officials noted that the interaction reflects continued efforts to expand the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries.
18, Jun 2026
Indian Markets Trade Flat in Early Session Amid Mixed Global Cues
Mumbai, June 18: Indian benchmark equity indices traded flat in early trading on Thursday as investors remained cautious amid mixed signals from global markets.
The domestic market opened on a subdued note, with buying in select sectors offset by weakness in others. Investors largely adopted a wait-and-watch approach while tracking developments in international markets and key economic indicators.
Market sentiment remained influenced by global uncertainty, with traders closely monitoring movements across Asian and international markets. Sector-specific activity was seen in banking, information technology, and automobile stocks, while broader market participation remained moderate during the opening session.
Analysts said mixed global cues and investor caution contributed to the range-bound movement in early trade. Despite the muted start, domestic equities continued to find support from steady investor participation and resilient economic fundamentals.
The benchmark indices fluctuated within a narrow range during the initial hours of trading as market participants awaited fresh triggers for directional movement.
Trading activity is expected to remain focused on global developments, corporate updates, and economic data releases that could influence investor sentiment in the coming sessions.
18, Jun 2026
Kothari Group Forays into Retail Jewellery with the Launch of Lab Grown Diamond Brand Keemti Jewels
Mumbai, June 18: After over 35 years of building a global legacy in jewellery manufacturing and exports, the Kothari Group has officially entered India’s retail jewellery market with the launch of Keemti Jewels, a contemporary lab grown diamond jewellery brand founded by Armaan Sunil Kothari and designed for a new generation of Indian consumers.
Backed by entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath, along with entrepreneur-investor Kavin Shah, Keemti brings together the Kothari Group‘s deep-rooted expertise in jewellery manufacturing with a modern, consumer-first vision for the future of lab grown jewellery.
Marking its retail debut, Keemti has launched its first flagship store in Andheri, Mumbai.
The store was officially inaugurated by Smt. Amruta Fadnavis, former banker, singer and social activist, and entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath in the presence of Armaan Kothari, Founder & MD, Keemti, Sunil Kothari, Chairman, Keemti, and entrepreneur-investor Kavin Shah. The launch event was attended by prominent guests from the entertainment, business, and social circles, including Jackie Shroff, Stebin Ben, Seema Singh, and Varun Sharma. Located on Link Road near Infiniti Mall, within one of the city’s prominent jewellery and lifestyle hubs, the store introduces consumers to the brand’s fresh perspective on modern fine jewellery and accessible luxury.
At a time when consumer preferences are rapidly shifting toward conscious luxury, transparency, and self-purchase behaviour, Keemti aims to redefine how modern Indian consumers engage with diamonds. The brand moves away from traditional narratives of inheritance and occasion-led gifting, instead positioning jewellery as a symbol of personal ambition, individuality, and self-earned success.
Designed as a contemporary luxury destination, the Keemti flagship store offers an immersive retail experience that goes beyond traditional jewellery shopping. The space showcases the brand’s signature collections across everyday wear, occasion-led jewellery, statement designs, and modern essentials, allowing consumers to explore a wide range of lab grown diamond pieces under one roof. Thoughtfully designed interiors, personalised consultations, private viewing experiences, and dedicated lounge areas further enhance the customer journey, creating a relaxed and welcoming environment for discovery, celebration, and self-expression.
While Keemti’s flagship presence begins in Mumbai, the brand is also focused on catering to the evolving aspirations of consumers across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets in India through its omnichannel approach. Recognising the growing demand for contemporary, accessible, and value-driven fine jewellery beyond metro cities, Keemti aims to make lab grown diamond jewellery more approachable for a wider new-age consumer base across the country. In addition to its retail presence, Keemti is available through its website and leading e-commerce marketplaces, including Amazon, enabling consumers across India to seamlessly access and purchase its collections.
What sets Keemti apart within the rapidly growing lab grown diamond category is not only its consumer-first positioning, but also the structural advantage of the Kothari Group’s long-standing manufacturing expertise across the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. By owning its manufacturing process, the brand is able to deliver aspirational design, trusted quality, and stronger value for today’s consumers.
Speaking about the launch, Sunil Kothari, Chairman, Keemti, said: “For decades, we have built our legacy on craftsmanship, trust, and a deep understanding of the global jewellery industry. With Keemti, we saw an opportunity to build a brand that reflects where the future of fine jewellery is headed. The growing shift toward lab grown diamonds is not just a trend, it represents a larger evolution in consumer mindset toward conscious luxury, accessibility, and modern design.
Keemti combines the strength of our manufacturing expertise with a contemporary consumer-focused approach, allowing us to create fine jewellery that is both aspirational and relevant for today’s market. I see Keemti as a long-term growth story, and we are committed to expanding our retail and omnichannel presence across key markets in India while continuing to strengthen consumer trust in the lab grown diamond category.”
Sharing his vision for the brand, Armaan Kothari, Founder & MD, Keemti, added: “At Keemti, we believe the next generation of luxury brands will be built around consumers, not just products. Keemti was created for a new-age audience that seeks transparency, relevance, and self-expression in everything they buy. Our ambition is to make fine jewellery feel more contemporary, more accessible, and more aligned with evolving consumer values.
With our expansion plans, we are focused on taking the Keemti experience to newer markets across India and building a brand ecosystem that seamlessly blends retail, digital, and community-led engagement.”
With an expanding omnichannel presence across retail stores, e-commerce, and marketplaces, Keemti aims to make lab grown diamond jewellery a more contemporary, accessible, and smart choice for a new generation of consumers that values meaning, versatility, and conscious luxury in equal measure.
18, Jun 2026
Tinaa Dattaa Is Back with Her Most Layered Role Yet in Hungama OTT’s ‘Personal Trainer 2’
Hungama OTT is all set to raise the temperature with its hit original series Personal Trainer 2, releasing on 18th June 2026. Featuring Tinaa Dattaa in a compelling new role as Neha Malhotra, and also starring Akanksha Puri, Poonam Pandey and Rrahul Sudhir in pivotal roles, the series returns to the gleaming, high-stakes world of Mumbai’s most elite gym, where ambition, desire and dangerous power games play out behind polished mirrors and sculpted bodies.
Personal Trainer 2 unfolds at one of Mumbai’s most exclusive fitness spaces, where celebrities, influencers and the city’s wealthy elite come to sweat in secrecy. But beneath the surface of this world of ambition lies a far darker arena, where seduction becomes strategy, betrayal lurks around every corner and desire pushes boundaries beyond control. Loyalties shift, alliances crack and the stakes grow dangerously high. In this world, true strength has nothing to do with muscle, it is about manipulation, survival and knowing exactly when to strike.
Sharing her excitement about the role, Tinaa Dattaa says, “In my real life, I have always been into fitness, whether it’s yoga, gym workouts or Pilates. So when I heard about Neha Malhotra, I instantly connected with her. But she is far more than just a fitness enthusiast, she is a woman of many faces and layers, and what I love most is how those layers slowly unravel as the series progresses. Audiences will get to see a side of me they have simply not seen before. Personally, I was really impressed with the story of Season 1 and when the makers approached me for Season 2, I didn’t take a second to say yes. The way my character evolves throughout the show is truly amazing. Working with Akanksha Puri was wonderful, she is also very passionate about fitness and we shared many fitness tips on set. It was also great working with Rrahul Sudhir, he is a fantastic actor and brought a lot of depth to our scenes together. I’m sure audiences will love Personal Trainer 2 as well.”
Personal Trainer 2 premieres on Hungama OTT from 18th June 2026.
18, Jun 2026
Accrelist Appoints Derek Cheong as Chief Executive Officer
Group sharpens focus on aesthetics retail under the CEO’s first initiative, a proposed entry into the Xiamen aesthetic clinic market
SINGAPORE, June 18 - Accrelist Ltd. (“Accrelist” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”), listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “SGX-ST”), today announced the appointment of Mr Derek Cheong Sheng Ze (“Mr Cheong”) as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with effect from 16 June 2026.
The announcement pursuant to Rule 704(6) of the Catalist Rules, in relation to the appointment of Mr Cheong has been separately announced on the SGXNET.
About Mr Cheong
Mr Cheong joins Accrelist after a career spent building consumer-facing businesses in Malaysia. Most recently, in his role as Chief Strategy Officer of Thong World Sdn. Bhd, he is advising the organization on growth and expansion plans.
Before that, he served as Managing Director of Collab Working Lifestyle Sdn. Bhd., the master franchisee of Xing Fu Tang in Malaysia, where he managed business strategy and financial operations, and oversaw the build-out of the franchise network. He previously sat on the board of Supreme Falcon Sdn. Bhd., which operates in the healthcare sector, and held the role of Project Director at My Vacation Travel Sdn. Bhd., an event management business, giving him exposure to healthcare-adjacent services and experiential consumer brands.
Mr Cheong holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.
First Initiative: Entry into the Xiamen Aesthetic Clinic Market
The Company has entered into a strategic collaboration through a non-binding term sheet with Mr Zhou, Zan (the “Vendor”) under which Accrelist proposes to acquire a 51% interest in a target company (“Target Company”) to be incorporated by the Vendor in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), and the Target Company shall be establishing and/or acquiring aesthetic business in the PRC (including aesthetics businesses in which the Vendor currently has a controlling interest). The Group will license its A.M Aesthetics brand to the Target Company on a royalty-free basis, allowing the Xiamen clinics to operate under the Group’s flagship aesthetics brand.
As his first initiative, Mr Cheong will be driving this collaboration further, giving the Group a stronger positioning in the Greater China aesthetics market.
The rationale is twofold. First, the proposed acquisition enhances Accrelist’s foothold in the PRC, one of the largest aesthetics markets in the world, at a valuation anchored to performance, with multi-year visibility on the underlying business before the Group is committed to completion. Second, the licensing arrangement allows the A.M Aesthetics brand to be built in the PRC market in advance of completion, at no cost to the Group.
A separate announcement on the entry into a non-binding term sheet in relation to the proposed acquisition has been released on SGXNet and shareholders are advised to refer to that announcement for further details.
Sharpening Focus on Aesthetics Retail
Under Mr Cheong’s leadership, the Group will continue growing its A.M Aesthetics business, deepening its presence in existing markets and expanding into new ones. The aesthetics sector continues to be one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in the region, and the Group sees significant headroom to scale a differentiated, premium brand across Southeast Asia and Greater China.
Consistent with this direction, the Group will keep its broader portfolio under review to ensure that capital and management resources are channelled where they generate most value for shareholders. This includes its 52.5% controlling stake in Catalist-listed Jubilee Industries Holdings Ltd. (SGX: NHD) and its 27.34% strategic stake in Bursa Malaysia-listed MClean Technologies Berhad (KL: MCLEAN), each of which the Group will continue to manage and evaluate as part of its overall capital allocation. Any material developments will be communicated through the appropriate market announcements in due course, in accordance with the Catalist Rules and the rules of any other relevant exchange.
Mr Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of Accrelist, said: “It is a privilege to take on this role at a moment when Accrelist is strengthening its position in aesthetics retail. The opportunity in this sector across the region is enormous, and our A.M Aesthetics brand is a competitive platform for scale. The Xiamen collaboration is a deliberate first step: a derisked, strategic venture in a high-growth market, with a clear runway to scale. I look forward to working with Dato’ Terence, the Board and the wider team to deliver value for our shareholders.”
17, Jun 2026
Airrived Named Gartner Emerging Tech AI Vendor for Transforming Autonomous Security Operations with Agentic AI
DUBLIN, Calif.– Airrived, the company behind the Agentic OS, today announced it has been named by Gartner as an Emerging Tech AI Vendor in its “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Most Prominent Use Cases in Agentic AI by Industry” report (June 5, 2026). This recognition follows Airrived’s recent distinction as a twice-named Gartner Tech Innovator in Agentic AI.
Airrived was spotlighted for its Agentic OS, which enables enterprises to deploy, scale, and manage custom AI agents—positioning the company as a leader in domain-specialized agentic AI for enterprise security, IT, and business operations.
The Gartner report highlights Airrived in the use-case insight, “AI Agents Proactively Remediate IT and Security Issues to Improve Enterprise Security Posture.” The report details a case study of a global enterprise that faced mounting operational challenges across its security operations center (SOC), security engineering, and compliance functions due to disconnected tools, manual investigations, and repetitive tasks.
To overcome these hurdles and a lack of specialized AI expertise, the organization deployed Airrived’s modular, agentic AI platform. The solution unified the analyst experience by enabling conversational support across disparate systems like Splunk and CrowdStrike, while integrating prebuilt AI agents to autonomously handle incident triage, gather evidence, and execute audit questionnaires.
According to the report, “The deployment transformed operations by autonomously handling 90% of SOC alert triage and investigation activities, reducing mean time to respond (MTTR) by 80%, and automating post-incident reporting. AI agents continuously gathered and correlated evidence across security products, improving analyst productivity by 90% while significantly accelerating audit readiness. The AI-driven self-service portal also reduced security engineering ticket volume by 50%, eliminating multiday response delays. As a result, security professionals became creators of AI agents, enabling autonomous operations, scaling expertise, automating decisions, speeding compliance, and focusing on strategic risk reduction over manual tasks.”
“Being recognized by Gartner validates where the market is heading rather than a destination – from AI experimentation to true autonomous operations at scale – a massive market transformation,” said Anurag Gurtu, Co-Founder and CEO of Airrived. “Our mission is to help organizations transition from AI-assisted workflows to fully autonomous operations while maintaining governance, security, and trust.”
A Different Kind of Foundation
While much of the market remains fixated on copilots, wrappers, and orchestration layers dressed up as intelligence, Airrived is building something categorically different: the Agentic OS — a new foundational layer for the enterprise that doesn’t just assist, but executes, adapts, governs, and scales.
The Agentic OS combines fine-tuned domain models, deep reasoning, multi-agent orchestration, and policy-driven control into a single governed infrastructure. It transforms autonomous AI from experimental capability into trusted, production-grade operation. Others are enabling AI to act.
Airrived is defining how AI can be trusted to act.
At the center of this vision is AetherClaw — Airrived’s flagship security capability and the clearest expression of its mission: autonomous systems that operate across every domain of the enterprise, governed by design, and trusted by default.
Already in Production
Months after emerging from stealth in February 2026, Airrived is not a promise — it is a platform. The company is already deployed in production at some of the world’s most demanding enterprises:
- Airrived and Wisdom Technology launched Qatar sovereign cloud with Agentic AI, powering secure, intelligent operations for energy, government, and financial institutions.
- A Fortune 150 insurance company, running high-volume, mission-critical agentic workflows at enterprise scale.A global bank, with governed autonomous agents operating across regulated financial environments.
- One of the largest fast-casual restaurant chains in the world, deploying operational intelligence at scale.
- A major telecom infrastructure provider, running autonomous operations across complex, high-availability infrastructure.
These deployments are not pilots. They are proof that governed, reliable, scalable agentic intelligence is not a future capability — it is a present one.
Industry Recognition
Since emerging from stealth, Airrived has earned major recognition: 2x Gartner Tech Innovator in Agentic AI • Inc. Best Workplaces • Globee Pioneers Award “Best of Category” in AI-Powered App Development Disruptors • Cybersecurity Excellence Award, Agentic AI Platform (highest votes) • Global InfoSec Award, Most Advanced in Agentic AI • Security Today CyberSecured Award • BIG Innovator in Agentic AI • 2026 AI Excellence Award, Business Intelligence Group.
These honors are not accolades collected at a distance. They are independent validation that Airrived is delivering what the industry has long demanded: agentic AI that enterprises can actually trust.
What Comes Next
Gartner’s report makes clear that the urgent imperative for enterprises is to move beyond single-task AI toward multi-agent systems capable of orchestrating complex, cross-domain workflows at scale. The question is no longer whether agentic AI will transform the enterprise. The question is who will build the infrastructure that makes it safe to do so.
Airrived has answered that question.
17, Jun 2026
Bridge Conference closes its second edition with startups shortlisted for investment talks as Jukebox Ventures joins as partner
200 delegates from the music, tech and startup worlds gathered at Petram Resort & Residences in Umag, Croatia, last month.
The second edition of Bridge Conference brought 200 delegates from the music, technology, startup, tourism and creative industries to Croatia’s Istrian coast for three days of programming, closing with a tangible result: of more than 50 startups that pitched during the conference’s accelerator programme, 11 have been shortlisted by lead partner Jukebox Ventures for further talks and potential investment.
This year’s edition was held in partnership with Jukebox Ventures, the music-focused startup accelerator and investment platform.
“I came back so inspired, there was so much talent in the room,” said Alex Jukes, Founder and CEO of Jukebox Ventures. “We’ve really built something special there for the first year of doing it as Jukebox Ventures… we’ve found 11 projects that we wanna continue further talking to and hopefully, invest further into.”
The programme drew senior figures from across the live and recorded music business, including Maria May (Head of Electronic, Creative Artists Agency) and Steve Hogan (Agent & Partner, WME), who opened the second day with a keynote on electronic music’s rise from underground scenes to global stages. Further sessions brought together leaders from Sziget, Boom Festival, Yourope, Sony Music Latin-Iberia, Pollstar and the International Live Music Conference.
Artificial intelligence ran throughout the programme – from “Ticketing 2.0: How AI is Revolutionizing the Ticket Journey” to “The Human Edge: Why Belonging Beats Engagement in the Age of AI,” which weighed technology’s reach against the value of authentic human connection. Other panels tackled the financial realities of building events, data-led artist development, music tourism, women’s leadership across the industry, and sustainability.
“When we launched Bridge, we hoped to create a place where the future of the industry could be shaped through real human connections,” said Dušan Kovačević, Founder and CEO of EXIT Festival Group. “This year, seeing startups pitch their ideas, investors discover new opportunities and industry leaders begin new conversations showed us that the future is already being built here.”
Held overlooking the Adriatic, the conference paired high-level sessions with networking events, gala dinners, sunset meetups and its signature La Dolce Vita evenings. Jennifer Cochrane (CEO, Getahead; Booker, EXIT Festival Group) called this year’s edition “nothing short of outstanding,” adding the team is “already looking forward to what next year will bring.”
17, Jun 2026
India’s Digital Fraud Rate Nearly Double the Global Average: TransUnion
New Delhi, June 17 (UDN): India is witnessing an alarming rise in digital fraud, with the rate of suspected online fraud attempts reported to be nearly twice the global average, according to a recent report by TransUnion. The findings have raised concerns over the growing sophistication of cybercriminals and the increasing vulnerability of digital transactions.
Representational image
The report highlights that as digital adoption continues to expand rapidly across sectors such as banking, e-commerce, financial services, and telecommunications, fraudsters are also leveraging advanced technologies and social engineering techniques to target consumers and businesses.
Experts attribute the surge in digital fraud to the widespread use of online platforms, increased digital payments, and the growing volume of personal data shared through internet-based services. Common forms of fraud include phishing attacks, identity theft, account takeovers, fake investment schemes, and financial scams conducted through social media and messaging applications.
The report underscores the need for stronger cybersecurity measures, robust identity verification systems, and greater public awareness to counter emerging digital threats. Industry experts have advised users to exercise caution while sharing personal information online, verify suspicious communications, and adopt multi-factor authentication to safeguard their accounts.
The findings come at a time when India is experiencing unprecedented growth in digital transactions and internet usage, making cybersecurity a critical component of the country’s digital transformation journey. Stakeholders have called for closer collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, technology companies, and consumers to strengthen fraud prevention mechanisms and enhance digital trust.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the report serves as a reminder of the importance of digital vigilance and the need for continuous efforts to protect users in an increasingly connected world.
