True IDC Continues Investing with 6 Billion Baht in Its 7th Data Center in Northern Bangkok

India–US Trade Deal Talks Progressing Decisively: Sergio Gor

New Delhi, June 23: India and the United States are making steady and decisive progress towards finalising a bilateral trade agreement, according to Sergio Gor.

Gor noted that discussions between the two sides are advancing constructively, with both countries working towards strengthening economic ties and expanding trade and investment cooperation.

He highlighted that the proposed agreement is expected to further deepen economic engagement between the world’s two largest democracies, with a focus on improving market access, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting balanced trade relations.

Officials from both countries are reportedly engaged in ongoing consultations aimed at addressing key issues and aligning mutual interests across various sectors, including goods, services, and emerging technologies.

The development comes at a time when India and the US are seeking to reinforce strategic economic partnerships and reduce barriers to trade. Experts believe that a successful agreement could significantly boost bilateral trade flows and create new opportunities for businesses on both sides.

The statement underscores growing momentum in India–US economic relations, with both nations signalling intent to move forward in a coordinated and timely manner on the trade deal.

Northern Railways and Indus Towers Strengthen Women’s Hygiene Access Across 175 Railway Stations

New Delhi,  June 23: Indus Towers, one of the world’s largest telecom infrastructure companies, in partnership with Northern Railways, has installed 500 sanitary napkin vending machines under its CSR program, Nari Samman. Deployed across 175 railway stations in the Delhi, Firozpur, Ambala, Moradabad and Lucknow divisions, the machines are equipped with IoT-enabled monitoring and have dispensed approximately 3 crore sanitary napkins to date. The initiative ensures round-the-clock availability and free access to sanitary napkins for women travelers.

The Nari Samman program is implemented under Indus Towers’ flagship CSR initiative, Pragati, which focuses on building a sustainable ecosystem of awareness, access, and community support. The program is aligned with the Government of India’s efforts to improve menstrual health awareness and access to sanitary products through the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) under the National Health Mission, reinforcing national priorities around women’s health and gender sensitive public infrastructure.

Shri Rajesh Kumar Pandey, General Manager, Northern Railways, said,

 “Indian Railways serves millions of passengers every day, including millions of women and girls who depend on the network for work, education and healthcare. Ensuring their comfort, safety, and dignity remains a priority for us. This collaboration with Indus Towers is an important step towards making public spaces more inclusive and supportive for women. It reflects our commitment to embedding meaningful social outcomes within public infrastructure.”

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Tejinder Kalra, Chief Operating Officer, Indus Towers Ltd., said,

“Executing this initiative at scale across one of India’s busiest railway zones reflects Indus Towers’ experience in deploying and managing resilient, technology‑enabled solutions, we bring the same rigor, precision and commitment to social infrastructure. Our partnership with Northern Railways extends this capability to one of the country’s most extensive public networks. When access is seamlessly embedded into everyday spaces like railway stations, dignity becomes part of daily life, and we are proud to help make that change possible.”

The initiative complements Indian Railways’ sustained efforts to make travel safer, more inclusive and dignified for women. By integrating menstrual hygiene infrastructure into stations, alongside women‑reserved coaches, and ongoing improvements in station amenities and sanitation, the program addresses a critical yet often overlooked need. It strengthens the overall ecosystem of women‑centric facilities across the railway network, ensuring dignity is built into the everyday travel experience.

This initiative forms part of Indus Towers’ broader CSR vision to positively impact over 150 million lives by 2030.

Ericsson and partners launch national 5G, 6G and AI test center in Sweden

As the focus of Sweden’s political, business and academic leaders turns to the annual Almedalen discussion forum on Gotland today, Ericsson, Telia and other partners are demonstrating their commitment to the country’s future digital competitiveness by announcing a new national connectivity and next-generation test center.

Called Digital Arena Sweden, the new national test center is an investment of more than SEK 300 million. It aims to strengthen Swedish industry by providing early access to advanced digital solutions in 5G, 6G, and AI.

Supported by Sweden‘s innovation agency (Vinnova) through the Avancerad Digitalisering innovation program, the collaboration brings together Ericsson, Telia, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (and its subsidiary AstaZero), Future by Lund and others.

Under the initiative, Ericsson is responsible for establishing and progressing a unique, pre-commercial 6G test environment in collaboration with Lund University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

A top-level delegation of Ericsson executives will discuss the role of connectivity in Sweden’s digital competitiveness during Almedalen 2026, which gets underway on the Swedish island of Gotland today.

Erik Ekudden, CTO, Ericsson, says: “In Sweden, we have extensive experience in driving technological leadership. By creating one of the world’s first test environments for the combination of 5G,6G and AI, several years before the technology becomes commercial, we are ensuring that Swedish industry and research remain at the absolute forefront. For Ericsson, this is an opportunity to define, together with our partners, how a connected society will function, where AI agents, physical AI (robotics), and autonomous systems can be developed and validated to meet the future.”

Anders Olsson, CEO, Telia Sweden, says: “Through the new test center, we are opening up for more companies to take part in the latest 5G technology and AI, where we can meet high demands for security and sovereignty. This is a prerequisite for connecting and digitizing the most critical parts of operations and products, but also where the value in terms of efficiency, customer value, and societal benefit is greatest. This is how we can step up the work of both strengthening Sweden‘s digital security and competitiveness.”

The test center will facilitate industries, from mining and transport to defense and medtech, in  exploring the potential of 6G. The insights will also feed into the global 6G standardization process.

The new 6G environment builds on the Telia-Ericsson innovation program, NorthStar, which provides access to the latest 5G capabilities.

Digital Arena Sweden aims to empower enterprises by harnessing connectivity and AI to innovate safely and securely, accelerating the path from concept to commercial deployment.

The center aims to provide a shared digital portal and common framework for testing, making advanced technology more accessible to the entire Swedish innovation ecosystem.

Goodwill Welcomes Soccer Visitors as the Go-To Destination for Last-Minute Essentials, Sustainable Finds, and One-of-a-Kind Seattle Souvenirs

SEATTLE, WA- June 23:  As soccer fans explore Seattle between matches, Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington is spotlighting a surprising discovery just steps from Seattle Stadium: the world’s largest Goodwill. Located in the vibrant International District (1400 S Lane St), Evergreen Goodwill’s 70,000-square-foot flagship store offers far more than traditional retail: it’s a dynamic, ever-changing destination where visitors can pick up travel essentials, discover local style, and experience Seattle’s commitment to sustainability and reuse. 

A Smart Stop for Travelers 

For fans navigating a busy and often expensive global event, Goodwill offers a practical, affordable solution for items they may have forgotten-or didn’t realize they’d need, including:

o   Clear stadium-approved bags

o   Reusable water bottles for watch parties and sightseeing

o   Weather-ready layers for Seattle’s changing conditions Comfortable walking shoes and travel accessories

o   Unique souvenirs and Seattle memorabilia

With approximately 10,000 new items hitting the sales floor each day, no two visits are the same, making this one-of-a-kind store the ideal place to pick up both essentials and unexpected finds. 

A Destination Experience, Not Just a Store 

As thrifting continues to grow in popularity, the Seattle flagship has become a destination in its own right. Like Pike Place Market, it’s participatory and always changing. Like MoPOP, it celebrates creativity and self-expression. And like the Space Needle, it holds a standout distinction that resonates with visitors. Staffed by a team from more than 20 countries, it reflects the diversity of the global community gathering in Seattle for the world’s most international sporting event. 

Sustainable Travel Meets Meaningful Impact 

Beyond convenience and discovery, shopping at Evergreen Goodwill offers travelers a way to make their visit more sustainable. By purchasing secondhand items, visitors help reduce waste, extend the life of goods, and participate in Seattle’s circular economy. Every purchase also supports Evergreen Goodwill’s tuition-free job training, education, and career placement programs across Northwest Washington-connecting a simple shopping trip to long-term impact in the community. 

Whether stopping in briefly between matches or spending time treasure hunting, the Seattle flagship store offers a memorable, distinctly local experience. 

India Leads Global Ship Recycling Market in 2025

New Delhi, June 23: India has emerged as the world’s leading ship recycling nation in 2025, capturing a 35.4% market share, according to the Ministry.

The achievement highlights India’s growing dominance in the global ship recycling industry, supported by its expanding infrastructure, competitive capabilities, and adherence to international standards. The country’s recycling hubs, particularly along the western coast, have played a key role in handling a significant volume of end-of-life vessels.

Officials noted that India’s leadership in the sector reflects its strong industrial capacity and increasing focus on sustainable and regulated recycling practices. The industry also contributes to employment generation and supports the domestic steel and allied sectors through the recovery of reusable materials.

The Ministry emphasized that continued policy support, modernization of facilities, and compliance with global environmental norms will further strengthen India’s position in the ship recycling market.

With this development, India has reinforced its role as a key global hub in the ship recycling industry, marking a significant milestone in its maritime and industrial growth story.

India’s Economic Growth Remains Robust in June Despite Slight Moderation, PMI at 57.4

New Delhi, June 23: India’s economic activity continued to expand at a healthy pace in June, even as growth showed a marginal slowdown compared to previous months, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data, which stood at 57.4.

The reading, well above the neutral mark of 50, indicates sustained expansion across key sectors, reflecting resilience in both manufacturing and services. The data points to continued strength in demand conditions, steady business activity, and overall economic stability despite global headwinds.

In the manufacturing sector, firms reported stable output levels supported by consistent domestic demand and improved supply conditions. The services sector also remained a key growth driver, benefiting from strong client activity, new business inflows, and ongoing recovery in consumption-related services.

Employment trends remained positive, with companies continuing to hire in response to rising workloads. Input costs and output prices showed mixed trends, but overall inflationary pressures remained manageable within the broader economic context.

Experts noted that while the slight moderation in PMI suggests a cooling from earlier highs, the index continues to signal strong expansion. They added that India’s growth remains supported by resilient domestic consumption, government spending, and improving business confidence.

Economists further highlighted that external uncertainties, including global demand fluctuations and geopolitical risks, may influence short-term momentum. However, India’s domestic-driven growth model is expected to provide a buffer against external shocks.

Overall, the June PMI data underscores the strength and stability of India’s economy, reinforcing expectations of sustained growth in the coming months, supported by strong fundamentals and broad-based sectoral performance.