Gujarat is seeking to strengthen its collaboration with Walmart to help the state’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small artisans gain greater access to international markets ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2027. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who reached Washington, DC on Wednesday after completing his engagements in San Francisco as part of his week-long US-Canada visit, met Walmart Executive Vice President Dan Bryant for discussions on expanding export opportunities for local businesses.
During the meeting, Patel and Bryant focused on improving product quality and creating better avenues for Gujarat-based MSMEs to enter global markets. The Chief Minister also proposed joint workshops involving Walmart and relevant state government departments to identify opportunities in specific sectors. The two sides are expected to work together over the next three to four months to map potential international markets and develop opportunities for MSMEs and small-scale artisans from Gujarat.
Bryant also highlighted Walmart’s Vriddhi programme, which has trained more than 1.15 lakh MSMEs since its launch in 2019. The programme has set a target of supporting and training 1.70 lakh MSMEs by 2028. Introduced initially with the goal of empowering 50,000 MSMEs over five years, Walmart Vriddhi surpassed that target by training more than 70,000 enterprises during its first phase. The programme, implemented in partnership with the Ideas to Impact Foundation, provides free supplier-development support, combining digital training and business tools to help Indian entrepreneurs modernise operations, expand their businesses and become more competitive.
Patel and Walmart also discussed establishing a clear action plan for MSME collaboration, with the possibility of announcing a roadmap at the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2027. The Gujarat government delegation, led by Patel, has also held meetings with senior representatives of global companies working in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, deep technology, startups, cybersecurity and skill development during the Chief Minister’s San Francisco visit. According to the state government, these discussions focused on attracting investment and strengthening Gujarat’s position as a major hub for semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technologies in India.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from CM Bhupendra Patel.
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, convicted in a case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at a Delhi hospital on Thursday at the age of 80. Kumar, who had been serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Doctors declared him dead on arrival. The hospital has yet to officially state the cause of death. A three-time Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, Kumar was once a prominent Congress leader. He left the party following his conviction in 2018.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31 that year. Widespread violence followed in Delhi and other parts of India, with armed mobs attacking Sikh families, homes and businesses. More than 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs in Delhi, were killed during the violence.
Kumar remained involved in several legal cases arising from the riots for more than three decades. His legal history included both acquittals and convictions at different stages. On December 17, 2018, the Delhi High Court overturned a 2013 trial court acquittal in one of the key cases against Kumar. The High Court convicted him for criminal conspiracy and abetment and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.
The case concerned the killing of five Sikh men in Raj Nagar Part-I of Palam Colony and the burning of a gurdwara during the riots. In its judgment, the High Court described the 1984 violence as “crimes against humanity.” Kumar later challenged his conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court, where the matter remained pending at the time of his death.
In January this year, a Delhi court acquitted Kumar in two separate cases involving allegations that he had incited violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri during the 1984 riots. The acquittals, however, did not lead to his release because he was still serving life sentences in other cases related to the violence. Kumar received another life sentence in February 2025 in the Saraswati Vihar case. The Rouse Avenue Court convicted him over his alleged role in a mob attack in which a father and son, Jaswant Singh and Tarundeep Singh, were reportedly burned alive. The prosecution had requested the death penalty, but the court imposed life imprisonment, taking into account Kumar’s advanced age and health condition.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, along with its first foldable iPhone. However, the new models could arrive at a time when Apple is facing rising component costs, particularly for memory, storage and advanced processors. Memory prices have surged sharply over the past year, with DRAM costs reportedly increasing by around 400% and NAND prices by more than 300%. At the same time, Apple is expected to use a new 2nm-based A-series chip for the iPhone 18 lineup, which could further increase production expenses.
Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously warned that higher prices were becoming unavoidable. The company has already increased prices for several Macs, iPads and other products, including some significant hikes in India. The iPhone lineup has so far avoided similar increases, helping Apple maintain strong demand even as the broader smartphone market struggles.
Counterpoint Research estimates that global smartphone shipments declined 11% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, the weakest second quarter since 2013. Apple, however, recorded 3% shipment growth and captured a 20% market share, its strongest Q2 performance on record. The company's tablet business tells a different story. Global tablet shipments dropped 9.9% during the same period, according to Omdia, while Apple's iPad shipments declined by roughly 7.5%.
The rising cost of components could eventually force Apple to increase iPhone prices. Counterpoint estimates that the bill of materials for a high-end iPhone 18 Pro Max with 12GB RAM and 1TB storage could rise by nearly $300 compared with the previous generation. Costs for 256GB and 512GB versions could also increase by around $200-$250.
Apple may not pass the entire increase directly to customers. Instead, the company could adopt different pricing across storage configurations, with smaller increases for entry-level models and larger increases for higher-capacity versions. This would allow Apple to protect its margins while keeping the starting price relatively competitive. Apple's strong position in the premium smartphone market could also help it absorb higher prices. Counterpoint says smartphones priced at $600 or above accounted for 29% of global smartphone shipments in the first half of 2026, up from 25% a year earlier. Apple and Samsung together controlled 84% of this premium segment.
India is another example of Apple's pricing strength. In 2025, Apple accounted for 9% of India's smartphone shipments and 28% of the market by value. The iPhone 17 also became India's best-selling smartphone by volume during the first quarter of 2026, despite starting at Rs 82,900. Financing and EMI options could further reduce the impact of a higher price tag. Counterpoint expects financed purchases to account for 42% of India's smartphone sales in 2026, compared with 35% in 2025. For consumers, spreading a price increase over several years can make a more expensive phone appear more affordable on a monthly basis.
Apple can also rely on its services business to offset some hardware-related costs. Counterpoint estimates Apple's services business at around $120 billion and believes artificial intelligence services could eventually create another major source of recurring revenue. Any potential AI subscription pricing, however, remains a research scenario rather than an announced Apple plan.
Apple may also attempt to negotiate better terms with suppliers and reduce costs in areas such as displays, cameras, materials and packaging. However, increasing demand from data centres and other industries is putting additional pressure on chip and memory supplies, limiting Apple's ability to control costs. As a result, the iPhone 18 Pro series could become more expensive, but Apple has several ways to limit the impact on consumers. The company may keep lower-end configurations relatively close to current prices while placing larger increases on premium storage variants. Whether higher prices hurt demand will ultimately depend on how aggressively Apple passes its increased production costs to consumers. Given the company's strong premium-market position and continued demand in markets such as India, a moderate price increase may not significantly affect sales.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
India’s ambitious nuclear power expansion is facing a growing fuel-security challenge as domestic uranium production remains below the requirements of the country’s existing and planned reactors. India is preparing for a major increase in nuclear generation as it looks to strengthen energy security and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The government has set an ambitious target of taking nuclear power capacity to around 100 GW by 2047, compared with roughly 8.8 GW currently.
However, expanding reactor capacity will also significantly increase demand for uranium, the basic fuel required by most of India's operating nuclear reactors. A recent Parliamentary Standing Committee assessment has highlighted the gap between domestic uranium production and reactor requirements. Domestic production is currently estimated to meet only about 30% of the uranium requirement for India's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), making overseas supplies an important part of the country's nuclear fuel strategy.
India has consequently been strengthening long-term uranium supply arrangements with several countries. Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Canada and other international partners have supplied or agreed to supply uranium to India. Diversifying these sources is seen as important because disruptions involving any one supplier could otherwise put additional pressure on the country's nuclear fuel stocks. Canada has emerged as an important supplier in this effort. Cameco has agreed to supply uranium ore concentrate to India under a long-term arrangement covering the period from 2027 to 2035. The agreement is expected to provide a substantial additional source of nuclear fuel as India prepares to expand its reactor fleet.
Australia is another significant potential source. The country possesses some of the world's largest uranium resources, and nuclear cooperation between New Delhi and Canberra has opened the way for Australian uranium supplies to support India's growing requirements. Despite the increasing role of imports, India is also looking to expand domestic uranium production. The government has been pursuing additional exploration and mining projects, while policymakers have discussed ways to increase investment and improve the efficiency of domestic uranium extraction.
The challenge is particularly important because uranium is not an ordinary energy commodity. Nuclear reactors require carefully planned and reliable fuel supplies, meaning a sudden disruption cannot always be overcome as easily as a temporary shortage of conventional fuels. For India, greater dependence on imports therefore presents both an economic and strategic consideration. International purchases can help meet immediate demand, but excessive dependence on overseas supplies could expose the nuclear sector to geopolitical tensions, transport disruptions and changes in global uranium markets.
India's long-term nuclear strategy also includes the development of technologies designed to make greater use of its substantial thorium resources. The country's three-stage nuclear programme envisages eventually using thorium-based fuel cycles to reduce dependence on conventional uranium. However, those technologies remain a longer-term proposition and cannot address India's immediate uranium requirements. As India prepares to add more nuclear reactors, the country's approach is increasingly focused on maintaining a balance between imported fuel and domestic production. Multiple international suppliers can provide a buffer against disruptions, while expanding domestic mining can strengthen India's strategic autonomy.
The success of India's nuclear expansion will therefore depend not only on how quickly new reactors are constructed, but also on whether the country can establish a dependable fuel supply for them. With nuclear power expected to play a larger role in India's future electricity mix, uranium security is emerging as an important part of the country's broader energy-security strategy.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis can now override decisions taken by state ministers if he considers it necessary in the public interest, under the newly notified Rules of Business, 2026. The rules, notified on August 14, replace the 1975 framework and require the CM to record reasons in writing. The power does not apply to quasi-judicial matters. The change follows a 2023 Bombay High Court ruling that held the Chief Minister lacked independent authority to alter a minister’s decision under the earlier rules. The new framework also gives the CM power to seek departmental files and sets procedures for financial decisions, legislation and Centre-state matters.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
A new survey by TOUCH Community Services found that although six in 10 parents reported that their children had faced mental health challenges, only about one in six believed these issues were moderately or directly connected to their online experiences. Hairianto Diman and Justine Modd examine what parents may be overlooking and explore ways to better support children as they navigate the digital world. They also speak with Dr Chew Han Ei, an online safety researcher at the Institute of Policy Studies, about the issue.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
In today’s 17 August market analysis on Open For Business, Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss are joined by Nick Ferres, Chief Investment Officer at Vantage Point, to discuss the latest market trends and developments.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
On today’s (13 August) episode of Open For Business, Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss discuss the latest market trends and economic developments with Will McGough, Chief Investment Officer at Prime Capital Financial. The conversation explores current market conditions, investment sentiment, inflation, interest rates, and the broader outlook for investors as global financial markets respond to evolving economic signals and changing expectations.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Only weeks after basking in the success of the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is now facing growing pressure over his position. Infantino has apologised for his controversial proposal to sell the World Cup, but the apology has failed to stop calls for him to step down. The plan has sparked widespread criticism, raising fresh questions about his leadership and whether this latest controversy could prove too damaging. Why did the proposal trigger such a strong backlash, and could it ultimately bring Infantino’s FIFA presidency to an end? Sport reporter Jack Snape joins host Reged Ahmad to examine the growing crisis surrounding the FIFA chief and what could happen next.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
