7, Sep 2026
Al Qadsiah Club and LogRhythm | Exabeam Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Explore Cybersecurity Innovation
Sept 07: Al Qadsiah Club and LogRhythm | Exabeam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities for collaboration in the field of cybersecurity. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of LEAP 2026, reflecting both parties’ commitment to supporting innovation and strengthening digital security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration brings together Al Qadsiah Club, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading sports clubs, and LogRhythm | Exabeam, a company specializing in cloud-based cybersecurity solutions and AI-driven analytics, with the aim of exploring ways to enhance cyber resilience and protect the Club’s digital environment.
The MoU focuses on evaluating opportunities to leverage advanced security information and event management technologies and solutions that support threat monitoring, detection, and response capabilities, while helping safeguard the systems, platforms, and digital services that underpin the Club’s day-to-day operations.
The two parties will also explore opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity practices and enhance the readiness of the Club’s digital infrastructure to keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation agenda and the objectives of Vision 2030.
Commenting on the agreement, Sultan Al-Alanazi, Country Director, LogRhythm | Exabeam Saudi Arabia, said:
“As the sports sector continues its rapid shift towards digital services and data-driven environments, cybersecurity has become essential to protecting operations, services, and information. This Memorandum of Understanding with Al Qadsiah Club marks an important step in supporting the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia’s sports sector. We look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration and leveraging cloud-native technologies and AI-powered capabilities to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience.”
For his part, Saud Al-Omari, Executive Director of Operation of Al Qadsiah Club said:
“Cybersecurity is a fundamental pillar of Al Qadsiah Club’s digital transformation journey, and enhancing cyber resilience is an important part of our efforts to build a secure and sustainable digital environment. Through this MoU, we look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration with LogRhythm | Exabeam and benefiting from its expertise and advanced technologies to strengthen the protection of our systems and digital services while supporting our future ambitions.”
The MoU reflects the shared commitment of Al Qadsiah Club and LogRhythm | Exabeam to advancing innovation and cybersecurity, contributing to the protection of the Club’s digital ecosystem and supporting the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s sports sector in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
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- By Neel Achary
7, Sep 2026
Sensex, Nifty Slip at Open as Middle East Tensions, IPO Activity Pressure Markets
Mumbai, Sep 7: Indian stock markets started the week on a cautious note on Monday, with the Sensex and Nifty opening slightly lower as investors remained wary of rising crude oil prices, tensions in the Middle East and a packed IPO calendar.
The Nifty 50 opened at 23,883.15, down 14.55 points or 0.06 per cent, while the Sensex slipped 69.38 points or 0.09 per cent to 76,446.05.
Selling was more visible in IT and media stocks in early trade. The Nifty Media index fell 1.26 per cent, while the IT index declined 1.15 per cent. Auto, Chemicals, Private Bank, FMCG and Cement stocks also traded under pressure.
Some pockets of the market, however, managed to stay positive. Oil & Gas, Metal, PSU Bank and Realty stocks recorded modest gains.
A major concern for investors this week is the strong IPO pipeline. With several mainboard issues opening for subscription, a significant amount of investor money could move towards new offerings, potentially reducing liquidity available for the broader secondary market.
Global developments are adding to the cautious mood. Renewed tensions involving the US and Iran have pushed crude prices higher, raising concerns over energy costs and their possible impact on India’s economy and corporate earnings.
The market is also coming into the new week after four consecutive weekly declines, making investors more selective in their approach. Analysts are watching the 23,800 level on the Nifty as an important support, while 23,960 could act as an immediate hurdle.
For the week ahead, movements in crude oil, foreign fund flows, IPO activity, global interest-rate expectations and developments in the Middle East are likely to remain key drivers of market sentiment.
With several competing factors at play, investors could see continued volatility and stock-specific movements during the week.
6, Sep 2026
Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh Re-elected APPU Secretary-General for Second Term
New Delhi: Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh, a 1988-batch Indian Postal Service officer, has been re-elected as Secretary-General of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) for a second consecutive four-year term. He was elected unopposed by acclamation during the 14th APPU Congress held in Bangkok on September 4, 2026.
Dr. Singh’s re-election is seen as a significant recognition of India’s role in international postal cooperation and reflects the confidence of postal administrations across the Asia-Pacific region in his leadership. His second term will begin in January 2027 and continue through December 2030.
India’s Role in Asia-Pacific Postal Cooperation
The re-election comes as the Asian-Pacific Postal Union continues to strengthen cooperation among postal administrations across the region. Headquartered in Bangkok, the APPU is an intergovernmental organisation with 32 member countries and functions as a Regional Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations specialised agency for the postal sector.
Dr. Singh first assumed the position of APPU Secretary-General in January 2023 after being elected at the 13th APPU Congress in 2022. During his first term, he contributed to strengthening cooperation among postal administrations and supporting efforts to modernise and develop postal services across the Asia-Pacific region.
His second term is expected to provide further opportunities to deepen regional postal cooperation, promote modernisation and address emerging priorities facing the postal sector.
Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh’s Career in Indian Postal Service
Dr. Singh has more than three decades of experience in public administration and the postal sector. During his career, he has held several senior positions in the Government of India, including Member of the Postal Services Board, Senior Deputy Director General and Chief Vigilance Officer in the Department of Posts.
He has also served as Chief Postmaster General of Uttar Pradesh Circle and Chief General Manager at India Post Headquarters. His professional experience includes assignments with the Union Public Service Commission, the United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan and the Army Postal Service Corps.
Academic Background and Recognition
Alongside his administrative career, Dr. Singh has an extensive academic background. He was a Gold Medallist in Modern History from the University of Allahabad and holds a Ph.D. in Management from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
The Department of Posts has congratulated Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh on his re-election and wished him a successful second term as Secretary-General of the Asian-Pacific Postal Union.
His continuation in the post through 2030 is expected to further strengthen India’s engagement in international postal affairs and regional cooperation across the Asia-Pacific postal network.
6, Sep 2026
Board Of Practical Training, Eastern Region, Ministry Of Education, Government Of India Commemorates Regional Apprenticeship Day 2026
Photo Caption: Image 1: (L-R) Prof. Dr. Sadhan Chandra Ray, FIE, Kolkata; Shri R. N. Lahiri, Hon’ble BoG Member, BOPT (ER); Shri Dibakar Chandra Deka, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University ; Dr S.M. Ejaz Ahmad, Director, Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Ministry of Education, Government of India; Prof. Dr N K Agarwal, Director, Department of Higher Education, Government of Bihar; Shri Sandipan Chakraborty, Ex-chairman BOPT(ER) & Tata Motors Logistics Ltd.; Dr. Ratna Sinha, HR Advisor, Kolkata were present on the occasion of Regional Apprenticeship Day 2026 in Kolkata.
Kolkata, Sept 06: The Board of Practical Training, Eastern Region, BOPT(ER), Kolkata, an organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, commemorated Regional Apprenticeship Day 2026 in Kolkata today. The event was organised around the theme “Empowering MSMEs through NATS: Catalyzing Regional Growth via Structured Apprenticeships” and focused on highlighting the importance of apprenticeship training and the role of the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) in creating job opportunities, building skills and empowering youth for a future-ready workforce. The programme also highlighted the role of structured apprenticeships in supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and contributing to regional growth, in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Prof. Dr. Sadhan Chandra Ray, FIE, Kolkata; Shri R. N. Lahiri, Hon’ble BoG Member, BOPT (ER); Shri Dibakar Chandra Deka, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University; Prof. Dr N K Agarwal, Director, Department of Higher Education, Government of Bihar; Shri Sandipan Chakraborty, Ex-chairman BOPT(ER) & Tata Motors Logistics Ltd.; Dr. Ratna Sinha, HR Advisor, Kolkata & Dr S.M. Ejaz Ahmad, Director, Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Ministry of Education, Government of India were present on the occasion and addressed the media.
BOPT(ER) has been working towards strengthening apprenticeship opportunities for graduates and diploma engineers through NATS, enabling them to gain practical industry exposure and improve their employability. During FY 2025-26, BOPT(ER) trained 1,45,449 apprentices under the NATS programme, of these, 1,15,193 apprentices secured employment after completing their apprenticeship, accounting for around 79% of the total apprentices trained.
“Regional Apprenticeship Day celebration intends to mobilize graduates and diploma engineers to come forward and get their skill honed to meet the current industry demand and improve their employability. It is observed that 1,15,193 apprentices are either absorbed in the same industries or secured employment in other establishments post completion of their training”, added by Dr S.M. Ejaz Ahmad, Director, Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Ministry of Education, Government of India.
For FY 2026-27, BOPT(ER) has set a target of training around 1.5 lakh apprentices under the NATS programme. This is part of the overall target of training around 6 lakh apprentices across all BOATs/BOPTs during the financial year. The initiative is aligned with the theme “Empowering MSMEs through NATS: Catalyzing Regional Growth via Structured Apprenticeships”, with a focus on strengthening apprenticeship opportunities and supporting MSMEs through a skilled and industry-ready workforce.
As per the NILERD report, around 79% of apprentices secure permanent employment after completing their apprenticeship under NATS each year. The findings highlight the role of apprenticeship training in providing practical workplace exposure and improving employment opportunities for graduates and diploma engineers.
The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) provides practical training opportunities to graduates and diploma engineers across industries and establishments. The programme enables apprentices to gain hands-on experience and develop industry-relevant skills, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace requirements.
BOPT(ER) has also been conducting Apprenticeship-cum-Job Melas throughout the year to connect students and graduates with industries and establishments offering apprenticeship and employment opportunities. These initiatives are aimed at creating a direct link between skilled youth and industry requirements.
The Regional Apprenticeship Day 2026 also emphasised the alignment of apprenticeship training with the vision of NEP 2020, particularly its focus on skill development, vocational education, practical learning and improving the employability of young people. The initiative seeks to encourage more students, graduates and diploma engineers to take up apprenticeship opportunities and develop skills that are relevant to the evolving employment landscape.
5, Sep 2026
Archaea As Flexitarians: Ammonia-Oxidizing Microbes Also Feed on Amino Acids
Sep 05: Symbiotic ammonia-oxidizing archaea in marine sponges are not strict specialists, but true “flexitarians”: A team led by microbiologists Bettina Glasl and Katharina Kitzinger from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with partners from Australia, has shown that these microbes dine not only on ammonia but also on amino acids such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine – and presumably do that to communicate with their animal host. The findings shed new light on one of the oldest animal-microbe symbiotic relationships on Earth and point to a previously underestimated role played by archaea. The study was published in the prestigious journal Science Advances.
For decades, scientists assumed that ammonia-oxidizing archaea had a strict diet, feeding exclusively on ammonia, and to some extent, on the simple nitrogenous compounds cyanate and urea, to fix CO2. A new study led by researchers from the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science at the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, shows that symbiotic ammonia-oxidizing archaea, unlike their free-living relatives studied thus far, are actually “flexitarians”. They use amino acids, such as valine, leucine and isoleucine, as additional food sources. This finding also suggests that these symbiotic microbes may have an unknown ability to communicate with their animal hosts.
An ancient symbiosis
Marine sponges are among the oldest animals. Their simple bodies are teeming with microbes. This partnership, also called symbiosis, is vital for the sponge’s survival in the oceans. Ammonia-oxidizing archaea are key symbionts in marine sponges. They are renowned as the sponge’s microscopically sized sanitation crew as they remove toxic ammonia, a metabolic waste product.
Until now, it was assumed that they are strict “chemolithoautotrophs”: They derive energy from inorganic compounds, in this case ammonia, and use CO2 as their carbon source.Hints that symbiotic ammonia-oxidizing archaea might be more flexible came from their genomes. Unlike many free-living ammonia-oxidizing archaea, they carry genes encoding transporters for branched-chain amino acids. The new study provides the first direct experimental evidence that symbiotic ammonia-oxidizing archaea actually are mixotrophs, capable to use CO2 and amino acids as a carbon source.
Zooming in on individual microbes’ activity
The researchers studied the coral reef sponge Ianthella basta, also called elephant ear sponge, and its ammonia-oxidizing archaeal symbiont Nitrosospongia ianthellae. Using a cutting-edge combination of advanced chemical and microscopic imaging techniques, including NanoSIMS, they were able to watch the dietary habits of individual symbiont cells in their sponge host.
“The real challenge was to prove which specific cells were consuming the amino acids within the sponge,” says Katharina Kitzinger, co-lead author and specialist in single-cell analysis. “We could literally see the labeled amino acids being incorporated into individual symbiont cells, linking a cell’s identity to its function rather than relying on genome predictions alone.”
From waste disposal to microbial communication
The discovery has implications beyond the microbes’ diet. As they can both consume and produce branched-chain amino acids, symbiotic ammonia-oxidising archaea may influence the availability of these essential amino acids within their ancient animal host.
“We used to think of these symbionts primarily as a waste disposal service for the sponge” says Bettina Glasl, co-lead author and expert in sponge–microbiome interactions. “By producing and consuming these amino acids, the symbionts can potentially modulate important signalling molecules for the sponge. This could be a form of communication between microbes and animal hosts with deep evolutionary roots.”
The researchers propose that this metabolic activity could even influence the mTOR signaling pathway, a conserved regulator of cell growth and metabolism that responds to branched-chain amino acid availability.
“This work would not have been possible without the tight collaboration of many people in Austria and Australia, and the generous support from the FWF for the Cluster of Excellence ‘Microbiomes drive planetary health'” says Michael Wagner, head of the FWF-Cluster and last author of the study.
5, Sep 2026
Utah researchers join NSF center that studies how robots and people learn to work together
Sep 05: A new National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, led by the University of Texas at Austin, will study what happens when assistive robots leave the lab and move into the real world to live and work alongside humans.
The Center for Human and Robot Co-Adaptation will bring together 39 researchers from six universities and multiple industry partners to establish a new science of “human-robot co-adaptation”—how people and robots learn from one another and adjust their behavior over long periods in everyday settings that will include homes, hospitals and assisted-living residences.
The University of Utah will play a central role in the new center under the leadership of Daniel Brown, assistant professor in the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering’s Kahlert School of Computing. The Utah contingent of researchers has expertise spanning human-AI alignment and safety, robot learning and manipulation, human-centered computing and human factors.
“A lot of research into robotics research today focuses on whether a robot can successfully complete a particular task,” Brown said. “Through this center, we want to dive deeper and understand what happens when a person and a robot live and work together for weeks, months or even years.”
“This kind of long-term study of co-adaptation is really only possible with the kind of large-scale effort afforded by the center,” he said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity to get the research we’ve been developing in the lab into hospitals, dormitories, museums and care facilities to better understand how to create human-robot interactions that benefit and empower people.”
Other Kahlert faculty involved with the 5-year collaboration, which is funded by a $30 million NSF grant, include Tucker Hermans, Jason Wiese and Kenneth Marino, along with Frank Drews, a Utah professor of psychology.
The University of Utah will also provide one of the center’s most important real-world proving grounds. Through the Human Environment with Robots Facility Network, robots will be deployed at University of Utah Health sites, including the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital and the planned One U Residential Center, designed to support independent living for people with complex physical injuries.
Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital is a leader in patient-facing technology and innovation, providing a clinical environment to develop and test new technologies that can increase patient independence, improve rehabilitation outcomes and support care teams. The project builds on a longstanding collaboration between Jason Wiese; Dr. Jeffrey Rosenbluth, Vice Chair of Innovation and Community Programs at Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital; James Gardner, who coordinates the development of new patient-facing technology at Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital; and Brent Eliesen, Health Innovation Team Lead with University of Utah Information Technology.
Their work includes the hospital’s 75 smart patient rooms, where assistive technologies are integrated into patient care and studied in a clinical setting. This established infrastructure and experience provide a strong foundation for expanding this work into assistive robotics.
These real-world settings will allow researchers to study how patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and robots adapt to one another during extended, real-world interactions—moving robotics research beyond short laboratory experiments toward technologies that can safely support rehabilitation and independent living. Utah will also contribute to the center’s education and outreach efforts through collaborations with the Utah STEM Action Center.
“This project gives us a chance to study robotics where the technology really matters: alongside people in their everyday environments,” Wiese said. “We want to understand how robots can adapt to individual needs and support greater independence.”
Partner universities include Indiana University Bloomington, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and Yale University. Industry collaborators include Amazon, Apptronik, Diligent Robotics, Google DeepMind, Hello Robot, MassRobotics, NVIDIA and Robust AI.
5, Sep 2026
New ESG Framework Maps Key Risks and Growth Opportunities Across India’s FMCG Sector
Mumbai, Sep 05: Aspire Circle and Aspire Impact have launched “Fast Moving Consumer Goods: An ESG Performance Framework,” a new research publication under the Impact Future Project, a thought-leadership initiative supported by Capgemini. The publication brings together 19 senior ESG, sustainability and business leaders to develop a sector-specific approach to measuring ESG performance and assessing ESG risks and opportunities.
India’s FMCG sector generated USD 245.4 billion in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 615.9 billion by FY2027, touching more than 1.4 billion consumers. The framework moves beyond a single blended ESG score by assessing ESG Risk and ESG Opportunity separately, providing companies, investors and other stakeholders a clearer view of vulnerabilities and potential for sustainable value creation.
The framework combines sector-agnostic KPIs with FMCG-specific indicators across Personal Care, Household, Food Products and Diversified FMCG. The assessment covers Environment, Social and Governance issues including emissions, energy, water, packaging, product lifecycle, responsible sourcing, employee health and safety, customer impact, governance and ethical conduct.
Key ESG risk areas include packaging waste, water stress, energy-intensive manufacturing, supply chain traceability, sustainable sourcing, product quality and safety, responsible marketing and natural resource stewardship. Opportunities include circular packaging, renewable energy, refill and reuse models, ethical sourcing and regenerative agriculture. The essence of the framework is that clearer identification of material ESG risks, combined with measurable opportunities, can help FMCG companies build consumer trust and brand equity, anticipate regulatory and market shifts, and drive innovation and responsible growth, ultimately contributing to stronger long-term business performance and stakeholder outcomes.
The framework integrates Risk and Opportunity assessments through a 2×2 Risk–Opportunity quadrant. The framework integrates Risk and Opportunity assessments through a 2×2 Risk–Opportunity quadrant, where the respective scores position a company within the quadrant and provide a clear view of its current ESG risk–opportunity profile and direction of travel. This goes beyond a single embedded score by showing where a company stands, where it should aim to move, and whether progress is being driven by reducing risk, strengthening opportunities, or both.
Amit Bhatia, Founder, Aspire Circle and Aspire Impact, said,
“India’s USD 245 billion FMCG sector reaches over a billion consumers every day, giving it a unique ability to turn everyday choices into large-scale climate and social impact. Our ESG framework, with separate Risk & Opportunity ratings and both sector-agnostic and sector-specific KPIs, lets FMCG companies benchmark themselves against peers and translate ESG intent into measurable, comparable action.”
Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director & CEO, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, said,
“As the FMCG sector touches billions of lives every day, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to make sustainable choices more accessible and impactful. At Colgate-Palmolive India, our experience of embedding ESG across our products, operations and communities has shown us the value of clear, measurable goals and collective action. Through our 2030 SMILE Strategy, we are advancing climate action, circularity, oral health and community impact..”
The publication is the latest in IFP’s planned series of 12 sector-specific ESG performance frameworks, following frameworks covering industry-agnostic ESG KPIs, Financial Services, Healthcare, Information Technology and Utilities. The Working Group members for the FMCG publication included Amit Saha, Founder & CEO, Pro India, Ex Chief Sustainability Officer, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages; Dr. Ankur Chaturvedi, Assistant Vice President Operations & ESG Lead, Emami; Burzin Dubash, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Ankur Capital; Dipanwita Chakraborty, Founder Advisory at Visible Growth Inflection Points; Former Regional Director – Corporate Responsibility & Sustainable Development, Asia Pacific, Cargill; Gagandeep Singh Sethi, Senior Vice President, Integrated Operations, Sustainability & Responsibility, Pernod Ricard India; Gayatri Divecha, Senior Advisor, Gayatri Divecha Consulting; Former Head, Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, Godrej Group; Kanika Pal, ISB-BIPP Visiting Fellow; Milind Datar, VP Manufacturing and EHSS, Tilak Nagar Industries; Nehit Vasavada, Deputy General Manager, Operations Management and Food Safety Management Systems, Amulfed Dairy; Prachi Singh, Senior Vice President, INI Farms; Saloni Malhotra, CEO, Aspire Impact Assurance; Former CEO, MIPL; Sanskriti Kapoor, Vice President, ESG & Impact, Omnivore; Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director, ESG & Communications, Colgate-Palmolive; Sreemoyee C. Bhattacharyya, Lead, Sustainability, Marico; Srinidhi S. Rao, Head Sustainability, Diageo India; Tannya Garg, Director, Impact, Partnerships & New Initiatives, FarMart; and Dr. Taruna Saxena, Former Director Sustainability & Societal Initiatives, Nestlé.
Capgemini continues its association with the Impact Future Project. Anurag Pratap, VP & CSR Leader, India, Capgemini, said,
“We believe the time has come to mainstream the principles of an Impact Economy. The Impact Future Project is playing a significant role in accelerating this vision by fostering greater awareness, encouraging collaboration, and bringing together diverse stakeholders to drive meaningful action towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.”
The framework is also supported by IKOO World, Aspire Impact’s digital platform for ESG, Sustainability and Impact Assessments and benchmarking, with data for more than 750 organisations.
Harpreet Kaur, Chief Knowledge Officer, Aspire Impact, said,
“The publication ultimately seeks to make ESG measurement more useful for companies, investors, regulators and other stakeholders by combining a common set of industry-agnostic indicators with FMCG-specific KPIs, separating ESG Risks from ESG Opportunities, and moving ESG assessment beyond broad sustainability claims towards more measurable, comparable and actionable insights.”
5, Sep 2026
SAIL Achieves Record August Steel Production, Sales Jump 13 percent as Borrowings Fall by Rs 870 Crore
State-owned steel giant Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has delivered one of its strongest monthly performances in recent years, posting record production and double-digit sales growth in August 2026. The Maharatna PSU achieved its highest-ever August output of hot metal, crude steel and saleable steel, while robust domestic demand and improved retail sales helped push overall sales volumes to 1.87 million tonnes. The performance further strengthens SAIL’s position as one of the key drivers of India’s expanding steel consumption story.
SAIL’s production numbers reflected strong operational momentum across its integrated steel plants. Crude steel production increased 8% year-on-year to 1.68 million tonnes, while hot metal production rose 9% to 1.78 million tonnes. Saleable steel production also edged up to 1.69 million tonnes, marking a new August record for the company. The growth comes as India’s infrastructure, construction and manufacturing sectors continue to generate healthy demand for domestically produced steel.
The company also reported an impressive commercial performance during the month. Overall steel sales surged 13% year-on-year to 1.871 million tonnes, compared with 1.654 million tonnes in August last year, supported by strong demand across Tier-1 and Tier-2 retail markets. Cash collections jumped 23%, reflecting better customer realisations and disciplined commercial execution. SAIL also recorded its highest-ever August sales in value-added steel products, including cold rolled, galvanized and alloy steel, while reducing inventory levels through faster supply-chain movement and improved market servicing.
SAIL’s growth was also visible in its supplies to the railway sector, a major consumer of long steel products. Rail supplies to Indian Railways increased 5% to 1.23 lakh tonnes, while supplies of long rails touched an all-time monthly high of 1.12 lakh tonnes, registering 11% growth over the corresponding period last year. On the financial front, the company reduced its borrowings by ₹870 crore compared to its position on March 31, 2026, strengthening its balance sheet and improving financial flexibility.
The strong performance extended beyond August. During the April-August 2026 period, SAIL’s cumulative steel sales reached 7.71 million tonnes, up 5.6% over the same period last year despite global market volatility and fluctuating steel prices. Higher sales of finished and processed steel, an improved product mix and wider regional market penetration helped sustain growth during the five-month period.
Commenting on the company’s performance, Dr. A.K. Panda, Chairman and Managing Director, SAIL, said the results demonstrate a strong alignment between operational efficiency, commercial execution and financial discipline. He added that ongoing expansion projects, improving domestic demand and India’s long-term infrastructure push position SAIL to accelerate growth while making a significant contribution to the country’s rising steel consumption and manufacturing ambitions.
4, Sep 2026
Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Slip as Indian Demand Cools in August
Kuala Lumpur, Sep 4: Malaysia’s palm oil exports weakened in August as softer demand from India weighed on shipments, highlighting growing pressure on the world’s edible-oil market even as palm oil prices remain close to a two-year high.
Pic Credit: Pexel
Malaysia is estimated to have shipped around 1.3 million tonnes of palm oil in August, about 8 per cent lower than in July. At the same time, inventories are estimated to have risen nearly 6 per cent, reaching their highest level since January.
The decline in Indian purchases is significant for the global market because India is among the world’s largest edible-oil importers. A prolonged slowdown in buying could leave Malaysian exporters with larger inventories and increase competition for overseas markets.
For India, weaker palm oil imports could also influence the sourcing decisions of refiners and food companies. If palm oil remains expensive, businesses may increasingly compare it with alternatives such as soybean and sunflower oil, depending on relative prices and availability.
Palm oil prices have gained around 7 per cent in the third quarter and are trading near their highest levels in about two years. The price strength comes despite weaker exports, reflecting concerns that global supplies could tighten in the months ahead.
Weather remains a key risk. The possibility of an El Niño pattern affecting palm production has raised concerns about future supplies, while Indonesia’s expanding use of palm oil for biofuel production could reduce the amount available for international trade.
Higher palm oil prices could also raise input costs for food manufacturers, particularly companies producing packaged foods, snacks, bakery products and other items that use vegetable oils. For consumers, any sustained increase in edible-oil costs could eventually add pressure to household food budgets.
The combination of weaker Indian demand and rising Malaysian inventories may create some short-term pressure on the market. However, potential production disruptions and stronger biofuel demand could limit any significant decline in prices.
Market participants will now watch Indian buying, Malaysian inventory levels and weather conditions closely. The direction of these factors will determine whether the current weakness in exports develops into a broader slowdown or proves to be a temporary pause in demand.
4, Sep 2026
Second Point S campus to help workshops manage growth in a changing automotive industry
For the second consecutive year, Point S welcomes young automotive leaders from nine countries to France. • Building on the success of the inaugural programme, the campus continues to prepare the next generation of family business leaders for a rapidly evolving automotive industry. • This year’s programme focuses on managing growth across people, teams, and business performance.
Sept 04: Independent tyre dealers and mechanical workshops will descend upon France for an exclusive conference aimed at preparing future leaders to manage growth in an automotive aftermarket shaped by technological change, evolving customer expectations, and increasing market competition.
Following the success of its inaugural event in 2025, Point S International is bringing together the next generation of automotive entrepreneurs with the second Next Generation Campus, taking place from 31st August to 4th September in Provence, France.
This year, the campus is centred around the theme of growth management, helping participants develop across four key areas: My Growth, Team Growth, Business Growth, and Brand Growth. Through a series of interactive sessions, attendees will strengthen their leadership and managerial capabilities, learn how to motivate and develop high-performing teams, improve customer satisfaction, monitor commercial and financial performance, and enhance the local digital visibility of their businesses to complement wider national and international marketing initiatives.
Participants from Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, South Africa, and the UK will come together to share experiences and learn from industry experts while building lasting international relationships
Fabien Bouquet, CEO of Point S International, commented: “The independent sector, like many others, is undergoing an age of rapid digital transformation. New technologies, digital tools, and AI are changing the way workshops operate and engage with customers, but sustainable success depends on much more than technology alone. Strong leadership, motivated teams, good commercial management, and an exceptional customer experience remain the foundations of every successful business. Our role is to help the next generation develop the skills to grow across all of these areas with confidence.”
The campus is Point S International’s bespoke response to one of the industry’s most significant long-term challenges – preparing the next generation of family business leaders to succeed during a period of unprecedented technological and commercial transformation. While previous generations were able to build on relatively stable business models, today’s emerging leaders must navigate workforce shortages, changing customer expectations, digitalisation, electrification, and rapidly evolving vehicle technologies, while continuing to grow profitable, resilient businesses.
Participants represent three stages of the leadership journey: students preparing to join the family business, employees developing towards future leadership roles, and recent successors who have already taken over day-to-day management. Building on the foundations established during the inaugural campus, this year’s programme places greater emphasis on developing practical management skills that help leaders drive employee engagement, improve business performance, and support sustainable long-term growth.
The campus also continues to strengthen the growing community of young leaders across the Point S network. Alongside the formal programme, participants will build relationships through team activities, networking opportunities, and shared experiences, creating an international peer network that will continue long after the event concludes. Professional translation services will once again support collaboration across languages, ensuring participants can exchange ideas freely regardless of their country of origin.
Fabien Bouquet added: “Last year’s historic inaugural campus demonstrated the value of bringing together the next generation of leaders from across our European network. The challenges facing our industry continue to evolve, making it more important than ever that young business leaders develop the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to lead with confidence. By investing in their development today, we are helping ensure that our members remain strong, innovative and successful for generations to come.”
The second edition of the Next Generation Campus reinforces Point S’s long-term commitment to supporting its members beyond day-to-day business operations. By equipping future leaders with the leadership, commercial, and operational skills needed to manage growth, alongside an international network of peers, Point S is helping to safeguard the continued success of its independent tyre dealers and automotive service providers while preserving the entrepreneurial values that have defined the network for generations.
