4, Jun 2026
How to Dress for & Host in Soccer Summer Sustainably, Affordably, and Full of Team Spirit
Seattle, WA June 2, 2026. With global excitement building around the FIFA World Cup, fans everywhere are getting ready for watch parties, international pride, and nonstop soccer energy. Whether you’re gathering friends at home or heading out to celebrate with fellow fans, you don’t need an official jersey—or a big budget—to get into the spirit. Thrifting offers a creative, sustainable way to show your team pride and host memorable match-day gatherings.
What to Wear When You Don’t Have a Jersey
No official kit? No problem. Thrifting makes it easy to show your team pride with creative, one-of-a- kind looks:
• For Team USA: Look for white and red striped shirts—an easy, recognizable nod to national colors that’s simple to thrift.
• Retro soccer jerseys: Keep an eye out for vintage international kits or local club gear—they add authenticity and a unique edge.
• Color blocking: Build an outfit around your team’s palette using basics like tees, jackets, and accessories.
• Athletic wear: Tops, hats, sneakers, and other pieces can mirror team colors and styles. Pair bold colors with classic denim or neutral basics for a balanced, wearable look.
Style tip: Balance bold colors with neutral staples like denim or solid basics to keep the look wearable beyond match day.
Thriftable Hosting Essentials for Match-Day Watch Parties
Hosting a World Cup watch party? Skip disposable décor and build a reusable, visually striking setup with secondhand finds:
• Serveware in team colors like red, white, and blue—or mix and match pieces to reflect the countries playing that day.
• Platters and bowls for passing and sharing snacks like chips, fruit, or sliders.
• Glassware, mason jars, or reusable cups for beverages that minimize waste.
• Table linens or scarves in bold colors that can double as décor and conversation starters.
Pro tip: Choose a versatile color theme you can reuse throughout the tournament—or adapt it as different teams play.
Why Thrifting Matters This World Cup
Celebrating the World Cup through secondhand finds isn’t just cost-effective—it’s impactful. When you thrift your outfits, décor, and hosting supplies, you help reduce waste and extend the life of quality goods. With Evergreen Goodwill, you also support community programs that create pathways to jobs and economic mobility.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
4, Jun 2026
Vedanta Advances Low-Carbon Operations, Cuts Metals Emissions Intensity by 15 percentage Since FY21
New Delhi, June 4 : On World Environment Day, Vedanta Group, India’s metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power, and technology conglomerate, reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable and low-carbon growth, reporting a 15 percentage reduction in metals emissions intensity since FY21. The company reduced its metals emissions intensity from 6.45 tCO₂e/tm in FY21 to 5.44 tCO₂e/tm in FY26, reflecting sustained progress in decarbonization, operational excellence, and resource efficiency.
Central to this progress is Vedanta’s four-pronged decarbonization strategy: mitigating emissions through technologies that enhance operational efficiency, switching to cleaner fuels, increasing the quantum of renewable energy in its energy mix; and offsetting residual emissions through large-scale afforestation, ecosystem restoration, water stewardship initiatives, and various carbon sequestration techniques.
Under its emissions mitigation pathway, Vedanta increased renewable energy consumption by over 50% year-on-year to nearly 400 crore units (3.97 billion units) in FY26, equivalent to nearly 454 MW of round-the-clock renewable energy capacity. This helped avoid approximately 30 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions during the year. The company also deployed 365 kilotonnes of biomass as an alternative fuel across its businesses, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 5–6 lakh tonnes in FY26. Of the total biomass utilized, approximately 360 kilotonnes were contributed by Vedanta Power’s Talwandi Sabo Power Limited , where biomass now constitutes more than 5% of the plant’s fuel mix, reinforcing the Group’s efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources.
Complementing these efforts, Vedanta continues to advance its carbon offsetting and environmental stewardship initiatives. Since FY21, the company has planted nearly 40 lakh trees across its operational regions and is progressing steadily towards its target of 70 lakh trees by 2030 under the World Economic Forum’s 1 Trillion Trees movement. In FY26 alone, close to 10 lakh trees were planted, supporting the restoration of mining landscapes, industrial land, and native ecosystems while enhancing long-term carbon sequestration.
The Group that comprises Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Oil & Gas, Vedanta Power and Vedanta Iron & Steel, has also strengthened water stewardship across operations. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc Limited, Vedanta Oil & Gas, and Vedanta Iron & Steel’s iron ore business maintained net water positive status, replenishing more water than they consume and contributing to long-term water security in the regions where they operate.
As a producer of critical energy transition materials including aluminium, zinc, silver, copper, iron ore, and steel, Vedanta continues to play a vital role in supporting India’s industrial growth while advancing its sustainability ambitions.
Key sustainability achievements during FY26 include:
- Vedanta subsidiary Hindustan Zinc became the first Indian mining company to join the International Council on Mining and Metals and secured the no. 1 global ranking in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026.
- Hindustan Zinc’s Rampura Agucha became India’s first Zinc Mark-certified mine, setting a new benchmark for responsible and sustainable zinc production.
- Vedanta Aluminium was featured in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026, placing among the top 10% of companies globally and ranking 2 in its sector for the third consecutive year.
- Vedanta Aluminium expanded its portfolio of low-carbon aluminium products with the launch of Restora at BALCO, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and responsible growth.
- Vedanta Iron & Steel inaugurated the Maem Bandhara Watershed Management Project in Goa, strengthening water security, improving irrigation access, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for over 150 farming families.
- Vedanta Oil & Gas achieved the Gold Standard Pathway under the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0.
As industries worldwide accelerate climate action, Vedanta remains focused on building a future-ready business anchored in sustainability, innovation, resource efficiency, and long-term value creation.
4, Jun 2026
WiXtar Introduces Agentic AI Store Manager for Automated Restaurant Operations
Featuring a 24/7 AI Store Manager, the solution combines front-of-house, back-of-house and headquarters operations to support data-driven decision-making across chain restaurants.
With an annual output value of NT$40 billion, Taiwan’s hotpot sector stands as one of the largest segments within its food and beverage (F&B) industry. Nevertheless, a persistent labor crunch has left frontline store management grappling with ongoing staffing gaps. In order to resolve this labor-induced management deficit, WiXtar, the leading brand in F&B technology under the BenQ Qisda Group, has partnered with 6owl Door to debut the world’s first Agentic AI hotpot store at COMPUTEX 2026. The actionable deployment of Agentic AI in the F&B industry is demonstrated by a “24/7 AI Store Manager” that integrates front-of-house (FOH) consumer experiences, back-of-house (BOH) management, and corporate headquarters (HQ) decision-making. This highlights the Group’s strategic layout in “AI solutions and smart manufacturing.”
According to the 2025 annual report of the Ministry of Labor, annual salaries in the food and beverage (F&B) sector surged by 7.5%. However, persistent vacancy rates and staff turnover suggest that the labor shortage cannot be resolved through wage adjustments alone. Lee Yu-hsuan, General Manager of 6owl Door, noted: “The real challenge for chain restaurants stems from rapid employee turnover alongside inexperienced new hires, compounding the operational complexities of frontline management. From labor scheduling and inventory control to sales forecasting and anomaly detection, numerous tasks that once relied on empirical judgment are precisely the scenarios where AI delivers its greatest value.”
AI 24/7 Store Patrol Robot: The World’s First “24/7 AI Store Manager” Delivering Round-the-Clock Inspections
Integrating 360-degree panoramic imaging and Vision-Language Models (VLM) scene recognition and analytics technology, this system automatically collects images for analysis and converts them into execution commands via WiXtar’s AI decision-making platform. Additionally, the system recalibrates detection tasks based on mealtimes. This includes conducting sanitation and personnel grooming audits pre-service; monitoring food preparation volumes in-service; and managing safety and disaster-prevention protocols post-service. This 24/7, uninterrupted smart inspection support offloads multiple manual inspection functions from frontline staff.
AI Self-Ordering Kiosk: The Sales Expert on Consumer Behavior and Preferences
In the front-of-house (FOH) customer touchpoints, self-ordering kiosks, QR code ordering, and the integration of VLM scene recognition and analysis enable the detection of customers’ hesitations or transactional friction in real time. Customers are then directed through the ordering process and given AI-based product and set-meal options. The endeavor to provide recommendations increases average order value (AOV) and alleviates the FOH manpower burden.
AI Decision-Making Platform: The Data-Driven Store AI Command Center
An AI decision-making advisor that offers actionable recommendations has been created by integrating omnichannel transactions, membership data, inventory, and ERP systems, and by leveraging D8AI’s AI Agent Builder platform. These recommendations include pre-opening ingredient prep and labor scheduling, mid-shift real-time sales intelligence, and post-closing operational insights and improvement plans. This advisor drives real-time frontline execution, enabling management decisions to transition from being “experience-driven to data-driven.” Simultaneously, it empowers corporate headquarters to proactively align with frontline demands in real time while maintaining a precise grasp on individual store performance.
AI Ordering and Receiving: The Food Waste Sentinel of the Smart Supply Chain
By incorporating historical sales data, weather, holiday calendars, and budgeting, the system automatically generates AI order recommendations. Upon receipt, the system uses VLM image recognition to identify incoming orders, automatically cross-reference the data, and complete receiving verification. This eliminates labor-intensive manual invoice entry and verification, enforcing a digital audit trail across the entire workflow to mitigate food waste and cut operational costs at the source.
From SaaS Platform to AI Infrastructure: WiXtar’s Digital Edge and Strategic Deployment Roadmap
According to May Kang, CEO of WiXtar, “In the age of Agentic AI, global SaaS is transitioning from licensing sales modules to actively driving business outcomes, fueling WiXtar’s evolution into an execution-level Agentic AI that empowers brands to build actionable, quantifiable AI infrastructure. By leveraging our data-driven foundation, brands can obtain quantifiable business outcomes, such as improving restocking accuracy rates and increasing order volume.” Leveraging its one-stop vertical integration expertise across the Asia-Pacific region, WiXtar is accelerating the F&B industry’s AI transformation by scaling its Agentic AI operating model across more than 47,000 chain outlets.
WiXtar is joining the BenQ Qisda Group’s COMPUTEX AI IN ACTION exhibition zone to demonstrate the group’s commercial deployment and integration capabilities in “AI solutions and smart manufacturing.” The AI restaurant solutions will be showcased on the 4th Floor of TaiNEX 1 (Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1) (Booth Number M0104) from June 2 to June 5, fostering a more sustainable and intelligent future through collaborative endeavors.
Exhibition Information:
Date and Time: June 2, 2026, to June 4 9:30 – 17:30. June 5 9:30-15:30.
Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 (No. 1, Jingmao 2nd Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei City)
Booth Name: BenQ Booth Number: M0104 (4F)
Participating Companies at COMPUTEX 2026 of BenQ Qisda Group:
BenQ Corporation, Qisda Corporation, AEWIN Technologies, Alpha Networks, APLEX Technology, Arivor Technologies, DATA IMAGE, DFI, D8ai, Grandsys, MetaAge, Partner Tech, URSROBOT, WiXtar
4, Jun 2026
ITM Skills University launches AI-First MCA program
NaviMumbai , June 4 : ITM Skills University has announced its AI-First Master of Computer Applications , a two-year postgraduate program built around artificial intelligence, generative AI, data science, cybersecurity, and advanced software engineering, with applications open for the 2026 batch. The program is built in collaboration with industry practitioners and includes a mandatory six-month paid industry internship.
The curriculum is structured around the market skill gap and current requirements of technology employers now hiring for MLOps, Large Language Models , DevSecOps, Agentic AI, LangChain, Spark, and cloud-based systems. Rather than classroom instruction alone, students learn through production deployments, live projects, GitHub-based development workflows, and real-world system demonstrations, so the work mirrors a professional engineering environment from the start. The program also carries more than 350 hours of structured training in data structures and algorithms, system design, mock interviews, portfolio development, and communication skills, which together build the employability and professional readiness employers screen for.
The six-month paid internship places students inside professional technology environments for an extended, immersive stretch rather than a brief attachment. Beyond academics, students receive one-on-one industry mentorship, a MacBook from the first day of the program, international exposure through a Dubai immersion experience, and the option to study a subject abroad. The university also offers incubation support and seed funding of up to INR 1 crore for promising student startup ideas.
ITM Skills University states that graduates are prepared for roles with recruiters including Amazon, Walmart, Samsung, Flipkart, PayPal, TCS, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft, Paytm, Uber, Apple, LinkedIn, Atos, and EY, with salary opportunities of up to INR 16 LPA.
Dr. Lakshmi Mohan, Pro Vice Chancellor, ITM Skills University and Director, ITM Business School, said:
“We built this program around one test: can the graduate ship a working AI system on day one of the job, not just describe one. The six-month paid internship and the production deployments are where that gets proven, and it is what employers ask us about when they return to hire. Every skill and certification carries an important question, will this make the students just employable or will it empower them to build systems in their role. We have aced the program structure for the future.”
ITM Skills University, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, is part of ITM Group of Institutions, founded in 1991 with a single conviction: that education is only worth the career it makes possible. The university offers programs designed around employment outcomes.
4, Jun 2026
AI Must Complement, Not Replace Journalists, Say Experts at Digital Pahchan Event
New Delhi: As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries worldwide, a special dialogue and panel discussion on “New Technologies, AI, and the Future of Agriculture and Health Journalism” was recently organized by Digital Pahchan. The event brought together media professionals, communication experts, and thought leaders to discuss the transformative role of AI in journalism and its broader impact on society.
The discussion extended beyond technology, focusing on how AI is influencing agriculture, healthcare, media, and the overall information ecosystem. Speakers highlighted the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies and emphasized the need for responsible adoption.
Addressing the gathering, a keynote speaker spoke about the growing influence of AI in journalism and its implications for the future of newsrooms. He noted that AI is increasingly being used in content creation, research, data analysis, translation, fact-checking, and audience engagement.
“Learning AI is not merely about mastering new tools. It is about understanding when, why, where, and how these tools should be used effectively,” he said.
He emphasized that AI is not a replacement for journalists but a powerful collaborator that can enhance their capabilities and productivity. At the same time, he cautioned against challenges such as bias, misinformation, deepfakes, lack of transparency, and accountability issues. According to him, every AI-generated output must undergo rigorous ethical review, bias assessment, and fact-checking before publication.
The event featured insightful contributions from several distinguished speakers. Veteran journalist Uday Kumar shared valuable perspectives on editorial practices in the evolving media landscape. Amitabh Agnihotri discussed the changing nature of media and its growing responsibilities in the digital age, while Raja Ram Tripathi highlighted critical issues related to agriculture, environmental sustainability, and grassroots India.
Participants agreed that achieving the vision of a Developed India by 2047 will require a robust, trustworthy, and technology-driven information ecosystem. They stressed that while AI will play a pivotal role in shaping the future, its success will depend on responsible use, human judgment, and ethical standards.
The speakers also expressed gratitude to the Digital Pahchan team for organizing the event and creating a platform for meaningful discussions on the intersection of technology, journalism, and social development.
The discussion concluded with a shared understanding that the future of AI is not solely about technological advancement but also about responsibility, credibility, and human wisdom—qualities that will be essential in building an informed and resilient society.
4, Jun 2026
TERI, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Sign MoU to Strengthen Indo-Swedish Sustainability Collaboration
New Delhi, June 4: In a significant move to deepen Indo-Swedish cooperation in the field of environmental sustainability, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 3, 2026, at TERI’s India Habitat Centre office in New Delhi.
The agreement establishes a strategic framework for collaboration on key areas including sustainability, climate action, resource efficiency, circular economy, and environmental innovation. The partnership is expected to foster knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, and the development of scalable solutions to address pressing environmental challenges.
Welcoming the Swedish delegation, Sanjay Seth, Senior Director, TERI, underscored the significance of the partnership in advancing shared sustainability goals.
“Through this partnership, we aim to co-create tangible, impactful, scalable, and inclusive solutions. The collaboration aligns closely with India’s ambitious sustainability agenda and Sweden’s global leadership in environmental innovation,” Seth said.
Expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration, Anna Söderholm, Executive Vice President, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, said the MoU marks the beginning of a promising long-term engagement between the two institutions.
“We are delighted to begin this cooperation through the MoU and look forward to expanding our collaboration across diverse areas in the future,” Söderholm stated.
The partnership reflects the growing strategic relationship between India and Sweden in the areas of climate resilience, sustainable development, and green transition. By combining TERI’s extensive experience in sustainability research and policy advocacy with IVL’s expertise in environmental science and innovation, the two organizations aim to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and the implementation of practical solutions for environmental challenges.
Officials from both institutions noted that the collaboration will focus on developing research-driven approaches that support sustainable resource management, climate adaptation, and inclusive growth while strengthening international cooperation on environmental issues.
The MoU is expected to pave the way for joint projects, expert exchanges, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative studies that contribute to a sustainable, climate-resilient future for both countries and the global community.
4, Jun 2026
El Niño Threat Looms Large: June–August Period May Witness Drought-Like Conditions
Bhubaneswar, June 4 (BNP): Concerns are mounting over the possible impact of El Niño on weather patterns this year, with meteorologists warning that the climate phenomenon could trigger drought-like conditions across several regions between June and August. The development has raised fresh apprehensions about rainfall deficiency, agricultural productivity, and water availability during the crucial monsoon season.
Representational image
El Niño, a naturally occurring climate event, is marked by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Though it originates thousands of kilometres away from India, its influence extends globally, often disrupting rainfall patterns and intensifying extreme weather events.
Scientists explain that under normal conditions, strong trade winds push warm ocean waters toward Asia and Australia while allowing cooler, nutrient-rich waters to rise near the South American coast. During an El Niño event, these winds weaken or reverse, causing warm waters to shift eastward and altering atmospheric circulation patterns worldwide.
The resulting changes can significantly affect monsoon systems. In India, El Niño has historically been associated with weaker southwest monsoons and below-normal rainfall. Experts caution that a prolonged El Niño phase could reduce precipitation during the June-August period, increasing the risk of drought conditions in several states and impacting crop yields.
Beyond India, El Niño often causes severe droughts and heatwaves across parts of Asia and Australia, while bringing excessive rainfall and flooding to regions of North and South America. The phenomenon also contributes to a temporary rise in global temperatures by releasing vast amounts of heat from the Pacific Ocean into the atmosphere.
Agriculture experts are closely monitoring the evolving weather situation, as any significant shortfall in rainfall could affect sowing activities, water reservoirs, and food production. Authorities have also been urged to strengthen drought preparedness measures and promote efficient water management practices.
Climate scientists note that while El Niño is a natural part of Earth’s climate cycle, its impacts can be amplified by ongoing global warming, making weather extremes more intense and unpredictable.
With the southwest monsoon season approaching, weather agencies continue to track Pacific Ocean conditions closely to assess the extent of El Niño’s influence on India’s rainfall outlook in the months ahead.
4, Jun 2026
Odisha-Born Fintech iServeU Strengthens Bhubaneswar’s Position on India’s Digital Banking Map
BHUBANESWAR, Odisha— Homegrown fintech company iServeU is emerging as one of Odisha’s most prominent technology success stories, helping position Bhubaneswar as a growing hub for digital banking and financial technology innovation.
Founded by Odia entrepreneurs and headquartered in Bhubaneswar, iServeU has developed into a leading cloud-native banking infrastructure provider, delivering payment, banking, merchant acquiring and digital financial services solutions to banks and fintech companies across India and overseas markets.
The company’s technology platform supports several major public and private sector financial institutions, enabling digital banking services and accelerating financial inclusion initiatives at scale. Its infrastructure is designed to help banks modernize operations, expand digital offerings and improve customer access to financial services.
Industry observers say iServeU’s growth reflects the increasing maturity of Odisha’s startup ecosystem, which has traditionally been overshadowed by larger technology centers such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. The company’s success has contributed to Bhubaneswar’s emergence as a destination for fintech innovation and payment technology development.
As India’s banking sector continues its rapid digital transformation, demand for cloud-native infrastructure and embedded financial services has increased significantly, creating opportunities for technology providers that support financial institutions’ modernization efforts.
Beyond its business expansion, iServeU’s rise highlights the growing role of regional technology startups in shaping India’s fintech landscape. The company has demonstrated that globally relevant financial technology solutions can be built and scaled from emerging startup ecosystems outside the country’s traditional technology corridors.
While market interest in fintech companies remains strong, iServeU is currently an unlisted private company. Any potential public listing would depend on future strategic decisions by the company and the completion of required regulatory processes.
The company’s growth trajectory underscores Bhubaneswar’s increasing importance in India’s digital economy and signals the potential for Odisha-based startups to compete in high-growth technology sectors on a national and international stage.
Source: iServeU
4, Jun 2026
Paradip Port Hospital Conducts Ebola Awareness and Preparedness Workshop
PARADIP, India — Paradip Port Hospital conducted an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) sensitization workshop aimed at enhancing awareness and preparedness among healthcare professionals and key port stakeholders.
The workshop focused on strengthening disease surveillance mechanisms, infection prevention and control measures, emergency response protocols, and public health safety practices. Participants were briefed on the identification, reporting, and management of potential Ebola cases, as well as strategies to mitigate the risk of disease transmission.
Officials said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to reinforce health security and emergency preparedness within the port ecosystem.
The programme underscored Paradip Port’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of employees, healthcare workers, and the wider port community through proactive public health measures and capacity-building initiatives.
4, Jun 2026
World Environment Day: Rethinking Sustainability in the Built Environment
By:- Mr. Aakash Patel, Director, Atul Projects
The World Environment Day is a reminder sustainability within the built environment goes beyond having green features. It starts with good planning and design. As the world continues to urbanize and environmental problems become more apparent, developers are tasked with creating spaces where residents can use fewer resources while enjoying a higher quality of life. Things like natural ventilation, maximizing natural light, and integrating features like rainwater tanks, energy-efficient utilities, water-saving plumbing fixtures are now expected to be included in a developer’s plans as well as the greater landscape. Sustainable development can reduce the environmental impact and reduce the cost of operating a community; at the same time, it helps create a more liveable and resilient urban community. The future of real estate is going to be defined by how we manage growth and the environment with a focus on both long-term sustainability.
