18, Sep 2026
ADHD Diagnosis Gap for Girls From Immigrant Backgrounds

Girls from multilingual and immigrant families could be missing out on ADHD support – according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

ADHD is already known to be under-recognised in girls, whose symptoms are often less externally visible than those seen in boys.

But a major new study suggests that language and cultural factors could further delay diagnosis, causing girls to miss out on vital support during some of the most important years of their education.

The study involved more than 70,000 children in Norway from a large population-based cohort study.

But the team say their findings raise important questions for the UK – where around 5.1 million people in England and Wales speak a main language other than English.

A growing issue for the UK

Dr Maria Garraffa, from UEA’s School of Health Sciences, said: “ADHD represents a substantial demand on UK health services, with an estimated 741,000 children and young people aged between five and 24 living with ADHD in England alone.

“But many children still go undiagnosed which can lead to struggles at school, poor mental health and problems with relationships.
“When children don’t receive a timely diagnosis, they miss out on targeted support, guidance, and treatment that can help them manage their symptoms.
“We wanted to better understand which children might be slipping through the net, particularly focusing on children from multi-lingual and immigrant families.
“We studied children in Norway and found that girls whose mothers spoke a language other than Norwegian were diagnosed with ADHD significantly later than other girls.

“This raises concerns that language, cultural and immigration-related factors may be creating barriers to timely diagnosis.

“Our work highlights the need to investigate whether similar inequalities exist in Britain, particularly among girls from culturally and linguistically diverse families.”

How the research happened

The study was led by Dr Köder at the University of Oslo in collaboration with UEA. The team analysed data from 70,102 children and linked parental reports of attention difficulties with official ADHD diagnoses recorded in Norway’s healthcare system.

Dr Garraffa said: “We found that multilingual children were more likely to be rated by parents as having more attention difficulties than monolingual children. However, they were no more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis.

“We then went on to look at the timing of diagnoses and found that girls whose mothers spoke a language other than Norwegian were diagnosed almost two-and-a-half years later than girls with Norwegian-speaking parents.

“Among families where the mother had a non-Norwegian language background, the gap between boys and girls stretched to almost five years,” she added.

Multiple barriers for ADHD girls

The findings suggest that some girls may face multiple barriers to having their symptoms recognised and assessed, potentially delaying access to treatment and support.

The team also found that some children from immigrant backgrounds were potentially being underdiagnosed – with ADHD diagnosis rates significantly lower among children whose mothers came from parts of North Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania than among children with Norwegian-born mothers.

“Our work doesn’t explain exactly why these disparities exist,” said Dr Garraffa. “But we believe that a combination of cultural, linguistic and healthcare-system factors may be involved.

“Some parents may be less familiar with ADHD or less likely to seek help because of concerns about stigma. Others may encounter difficulties navigating healthcare services or communicating concerns through language barriers.”

The researchers also suggest that commonly used assessment questionnaires may not work equally well across different cultural and linguistic groups. And they say that the implications are likely to extend beyond Norway.

Devastating consequences

Dr Garraffa said: “Although healthcare systems differ between countries, our work highlights a potential inequality that deserves closer examination in nations with increasingly diverse populations, including the UK.

“I would like to see more culturally sensitive assessment approaches to ensure that children from multilingual and immigrant families are not disadvantaged when seeking support for ADHD.

“Delayed diagnosis can have lasting consequences, affecting children’s education, wellbeing and future opportunities long after symptoms first appear.”

This study was funded by the Research Council of Norway, as part of the AttCom project (the role of attention in communication) for which Dr Köder at the University of Oslo is the Principal Investigator.

‘The Impact of Multilingualism and Immigration Background on Attention Difficulties and ADHD Diagnoses: Findings from a Large Cohort Study in Norway’ is published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.

18, Sep 2026
87 percent Policyholders Show Stable or Improved Health Through Regular Monitoring, Reveals Aditya Birla Health Insurance Study

Mumbai, Sept 18, 2026: Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited (ABHICL), the health insurance arm of Aditya Birla Capital, today released its latest research paper, Unlocking Health Trajectories: Real-World Biometric Trends from Insured Indian Populations, revealing that 87% of policyholders either maintained or improved their health status through regular monitoring and preventive engagement. Based on internal study of anonymised data from 2.1 million adult ABHICL customers between December 2023 and December 2025, the study is among the largest analyses of longitudinal biometric trends conducted in the Indian health insurance sector.

Out of the 2.1 million adult customers analyzed, 5.2 lakh individuals had at least two biomarker datapoints enabling longitudinal health trend analysis. The study tracked changes in blood pressure, blood sugar (HbA1c), BMI and cholesterol levels. The findings show that nearly 62% recorded measurable improvement in key health indicators within 12 months, while 37% of individuals classified as high risk moved to medium or low-risk categories during the same period. This clearly highlights the potential of regular monitoring and sustained engagement in improving health outcomes.

The analysis also found meaningful improvements across major chronic health indicators. Blood pressure improved in 32% of cases, diabetes control improved in 33%, BMI and obesity indicators improved in 34%, and cholesterol levels improved in 17% of policyholders.

Commenting on the findings, Mayank Bathwal, CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said: “As healthcare needs become more complex, the focus must move toward improving outcomes across the care journey, not just at the point of hospitalisation. The insights from this research paper that consistent monitoring and preventive engagement can help manage chronic risks more effectively over time. At ABHI, we see this as an opportunity to support better health outcomes while also improving efficiency across the healthcare system.”

Powered by ABHICL’s proprietary Wellbeing Score, which combines biometric, lifestyle, wearable and mental health data, the study examined how sustained health monitoring and engagement influence long-term outcomes. The findings point to the growing role of preventive health management in helping individuals better manage chronic health risks.

Our analysis also highlighted clear demographic trends. Women above 35 years showed stronger improvement in biometric control, while men above 45 years recorded the highest burden of uncontrolled hypertension. Compared with NFHS-5 benchmarks, the insured cohort demonstrated higher rates of hypertension control (32% vs 24%), obesity control (34% vs 24%) and Diabetes control (33% vs 15%), underscoring the value of regular monitoring and early intervention in improving health outcomes.

The variations observed across demographic cohorts reinforce the value of a hyper-personalised approach to health management. By combining continuous data signals with contextual, individualised engagement, insurers can play a more meaningful role in supporting better long-term health outcomes. Importantly, the analysis demonstrates how longitudinal health data can move beyond passive reporting to actively strengthen preventive health performance, offering early signals and behaviour-linked insights that complement broader public health efforts under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

18, Sep 2026
Sugar Prices in Focus as Centre Tightens Stock Norms and Pushes for Consumer Relief

New Delhi, Sep 18: The Centre has stepped up efforts to bring greater stability to the domestic sugar market, tightening stockholding rules for dealers and asking traders to ensure that falling wholesale prices translate into relief for consumers.

Sugar Prices in Focus as Centre Tightens Stock Norms and Pushes for Consumer Relief

Under the revised arrangement, dealers in most parts of the country can hold up to 2,000 quintals of sugar at a time, compared with the earlier ceiling of 4,000 quintals. The revised limit came into effect from September 15 and will remain applicable until November 30, 2026.

Dealers are also required to ensure that sugar stocks are not retained for more than 30 days from the date of receipt. The measure is intended to encourage faster movement of stocks through the supply chain and prevent excessive accumulation at the trading level.

Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas have been kept under a separate 4,000-quintal limit. The arrangement takes into account the region’s role in sourcing sugar from major producing states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and supplying markets across eastern and northeastern India.

The government’s latest action comes amid increased attention on sugar prices, particularly after rates climbed during July and August. Seasonal demand, concerns over production and changing market conditions have contributed to price pressures in recent months.

By bringing down the quantity that dealers can hold, the government aims to encourage more active inventory management and ensure that available supplies continue to reach wholesale and retail markets.

For consumers, the focus is now on whether the measures lead to more stable and affordable sugar prices. Sugar is a regular household purchase, while it is also an important input for bakeries, sweet shops, restaurants, beverage makers and food-processing companies.

A sustained decline in sugar prices could therefore provide some relief not only to households but also to businesses that use sugar as a key production ingredient.

The revised rules will require traders to keep a closer watch on their inventory cycles. Faster turnover could become increasingly important for businesses operating within the new stockholding ceiling, particularly during periods of fluctuating demand.

The government’s approach also extends beyond stock limits. It has been monitoring sugar stocks held by mills, dealers and traders and taking steps to improve domestic availability. These efforts are aimed at ensuring that adequate quantities remain available in the market, particularly during periods of higher consumption.

The Centre has also taken measures to strengthen supplies, including permitting duty-free imports of one million tonnes of raw sugar and encouraging sugar mills to begin crushing operations earlier in the season. The intention is to improve availability ahead of the festive period and ease pressure on domestic prices.

For the sugar industry, maintaining a balance will be important. While consumers need reasonable prices, farmers and mills also require a stable market that supports sustainable operations and timely payments for sugarcane.

The government has said that sugarcane payments remain largely on track, with 97 per cent of dues for the 2025-26 season paid as of August 20. A stable sugar market can therefore benefit different parts of the value chain, from farmers and mills to traders and food businesses.

The coming weeks will show how effectively lower wholesale prices are passed through to retail markets. With the festive season approaching, the government’s focus remains on keeping supplies moving, limiting unnecessary stock accumulation and ensuring that consumers are able to access sugar at more stable prices.

18, Sep 2026
India Rice Production 2026: Output May Fall 10 Million Tonnes, but Record Stocks Could Support Exports

India Rice Production 2026: Output May Fall 10 Million Tonnes, but Record Stocks Could Support Exports

 Pic Credit: Pexel

India’s rice sector is heading towards a significant production decline this year as below-normal rainfall during the crucial crop development period threatens yields, even as large government-held stocks are expected to provide a cushion for domestic supplies and exports.

Industry estimates suggest that rice production could fall by around 10 million metric tonnes from last year’s record output of about 154 million tonnes. If realised, the decline would be close to 6.5 per cent and mark the sharpest fall in nearly two decades.

The weaker production outlook is largely linked to rainfall conditions during the monsoon season. India has received around 15 per cent less rainfall than normal since June 1, while some major rice-producing states have recorded significantly larger deficits.

The impact is already becoming visible in cultivation trends. The area under summer-sown rice stood at around 42.68 million hectares as of September 11, nearly 4 per cent lower than the corresponding period last year.

Summer-sown rice accounts for more than 80 per cent of India’s total rice production, making the performance of this crop particularly important for the country’s overall food supply and export position.

Production pressure could lift rice prices

A weaker harvest could put upward pressure on domestic rice prices, particularly for premium varieties. Farmers growing higher-value varieties may receive stronger prices in open markets as supply tightens.

For exporters, however, higher domestic prices could make Indian rice more expensive in international markets. This comes at a time when prices in other major exporting countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, are also showing upward movement.

The combination could make the global rice market more competitive and potentially affect the price-sensitive segments of India’s export business.

Strong stocks provide a cushion

Despite the production concerns, India enters the new crop season with substantial rice inventories.

Government-held stocks, including unmilled paddy, stood at a record 59.6 million tonnes as of September 1, significantly above the government’s target of around 10.3 million tonnes for October 1.

These large reserves provide an important buffer against a weaker harvest. They could allow the government to maintain adequate domestic availability while supporting continued exports without immediately resorting to restrictive measures.

India has emerged as the world’s largest rice exporter, making its production and stock position important not only for domestic food security but also for global rice markets.

Water availability adds another concern

The pressure on production could extend beyond the current summer crop. Industry experts have warned that the area under winter-sown rice could also come under pressure if reservoirs do not receive sufficient water.

Lower reservoir levels could affect irrigation availability and influence planting decisions in the coming months, adding another layer of uncertainty to the overall production outlook.

The situation highlights the growing importance of water management and weather resilience for India’s rice economy. With a large portion of rice cultivation dependent on monsoon conditions, irregular rainfall can have a direct impact on yields, farm incomes, prices and export competitiveness.

Balancing farmer incomes and food security

For farmers, higher market prices could provide some relief from the impact of lower yields, particularly for those cultivating premium varieties. However, a sustained increase in prices could also affect consumers and food-processing businesses.

For the government, the challenge will be to maintain a balance between protecting domestic food supplies, supporting farmer returns and preserving India’s position in the international rice market.

The country’s substantial stockpile gives policymakers greater room to manage this balance in the short term. However, the production decline underlines the need for continued investment in irrigation, climate-resilient farming practices, improved water management and higher-yielding crop varieties.

India’s rice market therefore enters the new season with two contrasting forces at play: a weaker harvest outlook on one side and historically strong inventories on the other. How these factors interact will determine domestic prices, farmer earnings and India’s export competitiveness in the months ahead.

18, Sep 2026
Bollywood Meets Business Legacy: Ranbir Kapoor Praises PNG Jewellers Chairman’s Raw New Memoir, Choosing Gold

Bollywood Meets Business Legacy: Ranbir Kapoor Praises PNG Jewellers Chairman's Raw New Memoir, Choosing Gold

Mumbai, Sep 18: Stories of resilience from business leaders often inspire individuals across all walks of life, and this time, it was Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor who shared his appreciation for the profound insights in Choosing Gold, the debut memoir of Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers, when presented with a copy by the author recently.

Released nationally by Penguin Random House India, Choosing Gold traces the mindset that built the 194-year-old legacy of PNG Jewellers and that of its Chairman and Managing Director, Dr. Saurabh Gadgil. During their interaction, Ranbir Kapoor revealed he was excited to dive deep into the book after being drawn to its premise, praising its raw reflection on legacy, choices, tough decisions, learnings from failures and overcoming setbacks. Ranbir is an avid reader and appreciates real life stories and autobiographies.

Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, CMD of PNG Jewellers, said, “Writing Choosing Gold meant resisting the temptation to rewrite my past with the clarity I only have now. I wanted the honesty of what I actually knew and felt in each moment, not the polished version hindsight gives you. Sharing this book with Ranbir led me to have one of the more meaningful conversations I’ve had about the book. We come from very different worlds, but the weight of legacy, and the discomfort of choosing the harder path, turned out to be something we both recognized in each other’s lives. If even one reader finishes this book and makes their next difficult decision with a little more courage, I’ll consider it to have done its job.”

Sharing his thoughts about the book, Ranbir Kapoor said, “I love reading autobiographies and real-life stories, because the best ones don’t just tell you what someone achieved, they show you what it cost them and what they were willing to risk. Choosing Gold caught my attention immediately, and the title says it all: this isn’t a story about one big break, it’s about a series of hard, deliberate choices made again and again, often against the safer option. What struck me most is how Saurabh writes about failure, not as a footnote before the success, but as something that actually shaped his instincts. That’s rare in this genre. Building a legacy like his isn’t about a single moment of vision; it’s about the discipline to keep choosing the harder path when an easier one is right there. That mindset is what makes this book worth reading, whether or not you’re in business at all.”

Choosing Gold offers a candid look into leadership and resilience beyond balance sheets. Formally celebrated at an exclusive Mumbai event featuring actor Madhuri Dixit, the memoir is available across PNG Jewellers stores, pngjewellers.com, Amazon, and leading bookstores nationwide. Ranbir Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, both are brand ambassadors for PNG Jewellers.

18, Sep 2026
EcoGuard Global and CONFED Go-Live with Carbon Office Platform in Philippines Serving 3 million Coconut Farmers

EcoGuard Global and CONFED Go-Live with Carbon Office Platform in Philippines Serving 3 million Coconut Farmers

September 18, 2026: EcoGuard Global (“EcoGuard”), the Swiss-based climate-tech company and spin-off from the Web3 & AI technology engineering firm, The Hashgraph Group (“THG”), and the Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organizations (“CONFED”) of the Philippines, have today announced the official platform go-live of the “CONFED Carbon Office”. This ground-breaking deployment in the global carbon market signals the transition from the collaboration agreement announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year to operating the first digital carbon market infrastructure in the Philippines to serve over 3 million coconut farmers nationwide. 

The EcoGuard platform delivers cutting-edge digital carbon market infrastructure for the assurance of high-integrity carbon credits through the secure and tamper-proof issuance, transfer, and retirement of carbon units, including the ability to register, verify, finance, and manage carbon projects across coconut-growing regions spanning approximately 3.6 million hectares of farmland in Philippines. By combining project registration, digital monitoring, reporting and verification (dMRV), documentation, traceability, carbon credit management, and transaction capabilities into a single local environment, the CONFED Carbon Office will enable the financial inclusion of coconut farmers as well as project developers to access climate finance with greater transparency, efficiency, and trust. 

Speaking about the go-live of the Carbon Office platform, Charles Avila, President of CONFED, said, “The Philippines has significant potential to participate in global carbon markets through its extensive coconut-growing regions, agroforestry landscapes and agricultural communities. We are very pleased with the launch of the CONFED Carbon Office platform with EcoGuard as an important step towards converting potential into measurable climate impact and practical financial opportunity for farmers.”

CONFED and EcoGuard announced their intention to build the Philippines’ first digital Carbon Office on Hedera during the launch event of EcoGuard Global at WEF Davos in January 2026. Today’s launch demonstrates that commitment has moved from memorandum to implementation. EcoGuard has led the platform deployment, bringing its proprietary carbon bank architecture, workflow automation, and 60+ digitized carbon methodologies, to support compliant registry-grade traceability, auditable data provenance, and reduced risk of double-counting across the carbon asset lifecycle, leveraging the Hedera network as the underlying distributed ledger technology (DLT) and trust infrastructure. 

Yashodhan Ramteke, CEO of EcoGuard Global, said, “The go-live of the CONFED Carbon Office is more than a technology deployment; it is the delivery of the promise we made in Davos. EcoGuard has built and brought live the digital carbon market infrastructure needed by CONFED to connect coconut farmers, project developers, buyers and investors through a trusted carbon ecosystem in Philippines This important milestone achievement and platform deployment by EcoGuard Global demonstrates how high-integrity, digitally verifiable, national carbon markets can move from ambition to execution. We aim build on our work with CONFED in the Philippines and develop a scalable model that can be replicated in key markets like India through local partnerships, with a focus on nature-based sectors and farmers.” 

As a further demonstration of EcoGuard’s commitment to the Philippine’s carbon market, EcoGuard Global has made the first investment in the initial tranche of credits expected to be generated from the Samar project. The Samar COCAL Agroforestry Project, located on Samar, the Philippines’ third-largest island, is the first major project onboarded onto the platform. The project has the potential to generate 200,000 carbon credits annually, creating a new pathway to channel global climate finance towards sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, and rural communities.  The transaction, executed on the live CONFED Carbon Office platform, provides an early proof-point for how digital carbon market infrastructure can help connect nature-based climate projects with institutional buyers and investors. 

Stefan Deiss, Co-Founder & CEO of The Hashgraph Group, said, “We are very excited to go-live with the CONFED Carbon Office that turns carbon market participation into a commercial opportunity for millions of Filipino coconut farmers. Financial inclusion begins with digital inclusion. With this go-live, CONFED and the Philippines now have Hedera-powered carbon market infrastructure for issuance, tracking, trading, and retirement of high-integrity carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.”

The operational go-live of the CONFED Carbon Office will support end-to-end functions including:

  • Project origination and onboarding
  • Digital MRV and data management
  • Carbon digital asset management
  • Portfolio-level tracking of climate projects
  • Carbon credit transactions and monetization
  • Carbon project documentation and traceability
  • Investor and buyer transactions and engagement
  • Transparent digital records across the carbon value chain 

By consolidating these capabilities into a single secure digital carbon market environment, EcoGuard and CONFED aim to reduce the fragmentations in carbon project development, strengthen investor confidence, and simplify the agricultural and nature-based projects to actively participate in domestic and international carbon markets. 

EcoGuard Global works closely with Telenym as an on-ground tech partner to connect individual farmers to the CONFED Carbon Office platform, while digital data collection is supported by national satellite-enabled initiatives. EcoGuard Global is also engaging with various other governmental departments in the Philippines, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with the focus on providing digital carbon market infrastructure to enable the carbon economy in the Philippines. The platform launch aligns with the Philippines’ newly adopted 2026–2030 roadmap for the voluntary forest carbon market, which identifies 1.2 million hectares of classified forest land and agricultural areas as key investment zones for carbon projects.  

Looking ahead, EcoGuard and CONFED will continue to expand the Carbon Office platform by strengthening farmer-level connectivity, supporting the further development of scalable carbon market infrastructure aligned with international climate finance frameworks, and building out a pipeline of high-integrity carbon projects. The deployment in the Philippines also reinforces EcoGuard’s broader vision to deliver trusted digital carbon banks and marketplaces for governments, enterprises, and project developers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and other high-impact regional markets.

18, Sep 2026
RAKEZ positions Ras Al Khaimah as a growth platform for Irish businesses at IBN Dubai seminar

RAKEZ positions Ras Al Khaimah as a growth platform for Irish businesses at IBN Dubai seminar

 

Ras Al Khaimah, Sept 18: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) showcased Ras Al Khaimah as an attractive base for Irish businesses looking to establish, scale and access markets across the UAE, GCC and beyond at the Irish Business Network Dubai’s annual ‘Rise & Thrive’ seminar.

Addressing senior Irish and Ireland-affiliated executives, entrepreneurs and government representatives, the RAKEZ team presented the emirate’s combination of economic stability, competitive operating environment and expanding investment pipeline, and the opportunities these create for businesses seeking a regional growth platform. The discussion formed part of the event’s featured panel, ‘The UAE Advantage’, with RAKEZ also supporting this year’s seminar as a gold sponsor.

RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said: “Irish businesses looking at the UAE are not simply choosing where to establish a company, but the platform for their next stage of growth. Ras Al Khaimah offers the stability, cost competitiveness and flexibility to build from here while accessing opportunities across the UAE, the GCC and wider markets. Importantly, there is already an established Irish business community within RAKEZ, so companies entering the market are joining an ecosystem where others from Ireland are already operating and growing. As Ras Al Khaimah continues to develop, we see significant scope for more Irish companies to bring their capabilities, expertise and investment into the emirate.”

More than 250 Irish-linked companies are already part of RAKEZ’s business community of over 50,000 companies from close to 200 countries. Among them are Kelly Steel, which has expanded its operations in Ras Al Khaimah into a substantial manufacturing business, and E+I Engineering, which established PowerBar Gulf in the emirate before becoming part of global infrastructure company Vertiv. These success stories demonstrate how Irish businesses can establish a regional presence, expand their operations and continue growing within RAKEZ’s business ecosystem.

The economic zone representatives also drew attention to the next wave of development underway across Ras Al Khaimah and the opportunities it is opening for Irish suppliers, manufacturers and service providers. Projects and destinations including RAK Central, the emirate’s emerging mixed-use business district; Tech Flex, a next-generation technology and innovation ecosystem; and the USD 5.7 billion Wynn Al Marjan integrated resort project are adding to the emirate’s growth pipeline, while creating new areas of demand for businesses which could support its expanding economy.

With an established Irish business community already operating within RAKEZ, the seminar provided an opportunity to build on these commercial links and engage more Irish companies on how Ras Al Khaimah can support their regional growth ambitions.

 

18, Sep 2026
FIA and WRC promoter confirm final round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship

FIA and WRC promoter confirm final round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship

 

Dubai, UAE, Sept 18: The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, and WRC Promoter have confirmed that Rally Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place from 12–15 November, will not form part of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship.

The FIA and WRC Promoter have worked extensively in recent months with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the local organising team and championship stakeholders to explore every possible avenue to enable the WRC event to take place as planned.

FIA and WRC promoter confirm final round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship

 

Despite these efforts, ongoing uncertainty in the region and its effect on logistical arrangements, requires the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia not to proceed in 2026.

Saudi Arabia remained ready to host the event safely and successfully. The Kingdom continues to operate normally with national systems fully functional and sports and entertainment events continuing as planned as part of a busy year-round calendar.

Reflecting that confidence, Rally Saudi Arabia will, however, proceed as scheduled from 12–15 November as part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), with the WRC element of the event no longer taking place. The FIA will continue to work closely with SAMF and the organising team to support the safe and successful delivery of the event.

The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship will instead conclude at Rally Italia Sardegna from 1–4 October, which will become the 13th and final round of the season. With the FIA Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship leaders separated by 17 points, Sardinia’s demanding gravel stages will provide a fitting setting for the conclusion of the 2026 title fight.

FIA and WRC promoter confirm final round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship

 

The calendar change remains subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “We have worked closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, our Member Club the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, WRC Promoter and our championship stakeholders in recent months to explore every possible route that would allow Rally Saudi Arabia to take place as planned.

“However, ongoing regional developments mean that the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia will not proceed this year. These are never easy decisions, particularly after the significant work undertaken by everyone involved in preparing for the event.

“While the WRC element of the event will not take place this year, our confidence in the organisers and in the long-term future of the rally remains unchanged. The FIA Middle East Rally Championship event will continue as planned in November, and we will continue to work closely with SAMF, SMC and the organising team to support the successful delivery of the event in November.

“Our focus now is firmly on the future. We will continue working together with our partners in Saudi Arabia and WRC Promoter towards bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back in 2027.

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of SAMF and Chairman of SMC, said: “We respect the decision taken by the FIA and WRC Promoter, while recognising how much anticipation there was around Rally Saudi Arabia in Jeddah this November.

“Nothing has changed in Saudi Arabia’s readiness or confidence. The Kingdom was ready to host, preparations were advanced, and our ability to deliver safe and successful international motorsport remains clear.

“That confidence will be reflected through the continuation of our local and regional motorsport calendar, including the Middle East Rally Championship. Motorsport in Saudi Arabia continues, major events across the Kingdom continue, and our commitment to bringing the FIA World Rally Championship to the Kingdom remains unchanged.”

Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter, said: “This has been a difficult decision, particularly given the significant work and commitment from our partners in Saudi Arabia to prepare for this year’s event.

“However, the ongoing regional developments and the resulting logistical challenges mean that we need to provide certainty and clarity for the remainder of the 2026 season.

“We greatly value our partnership with SAMF, SMC and the Ministry of Sport, and this decision is in no way a reflection of their ability or readiness to deliver a world-class WRC event. Our focus now is on working closely together towards the successful return of Rally Saudi Arabia to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2027.”

 

 

18, Sep 2026
iPhone 18 Series Goes on Sale in India, Buyers Queue Up at Apple Stores

New Delhi, Sep 18: Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale in India on Friday, attracting customers to Apple stores in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Sales began at 8 am, with long queues reported outside Apple stores as customers arrived early to get their hands on the latest Pro models. The launch has also drawn attention to the new camera, performance, battery and artificial intelligence features introduced with the latest iPhone generation.

One of the biggest upgrades is the camera system. The iPhone 18 Pro models feature a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a new variable aperture, allowing the camera to adjust to lighting conditions and provide greater control over depth of field. Apple says the new system is designed to improve low-light photography and video recording.

The phones also come with 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide and 48MP Fusion Telephoto cameras. The telephoto system supports up to 8x optical-quality zoom, giving users more flexibility when photographing distant subjects. New Pro camera controls and updated Photographic Styles are also aimed at users who want more control over the look of their photos and videos.

The front camera has also been upgraded to an 18MP Center Stage camera. It is designed to keep people in frame during photos and video calls and supports additional features for video recording.

Performance is another major focus of the new models. The iPhone 18 Pro series is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, which is built using a 2-nanometre process. The chip includes a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and a new dual 16-core Neural Engine designed to handle demanding applications and on-device AI workloads.

Apple has also introduced a larger vapour chamber for improved heat management. The company says the new cooling system can deliver up to 40 per cent better sustained performance compared with the previous generation, which could be useful during high-intensity gaming and other demanding tasks.

Battery life is another key feature. Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max can deliver up to 43 hours of video playback, while faster wired charging can take the phone to 50 per cent in around 15 minutes with a compatible adapter.

The new models also bring a stronger focus on artificial intelligence. iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max run iOS 27 and include Apple Intelligence features along with the new Siri AI. Siri AI is designed to understand more personal context and help users work across apps, messages, emails and other information on the device.

The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned to display more information at once. Apple says it can now show up to three Live Activities, allowing users to keep track of information such as sports scores, navigation and music without opening another app.

The iPhone 18 Pro models are available in four finishes, including the new burgundy option. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900 in India, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,79,900.

For customers, the latest launch brings improvements across the areas most commonly associated with premium smartphones — photography, performance, battery life and AI. The strong turnout at Apple stores on the first day also reflects continued consumer interest in the company’s flagship iPhone range in India.

18, Sep 2026
Britannia Treat Croissant And Havmor Blockbuster Come Together For A Delicious Croissant And Ice Cream Pairing

Mumbai, Sep 18: Some indulgences are worth having twice. And when the soft, filled Britannia Treat Croissant meets the rich, chocolatey indulgence of Havmor Blockbuster, there is little reason to choose just one. The two favourites have come together to create the Croissant Blockbuster ice cream sandwich, a deliciously indulgent pairing that brings two distinct treats into one irresistible bite.Britannia Treat Croissant x Havmor Blockbuster Collaboration

The collaboration takes the familiar croissant-and-ice-cream pairing a step further with the Croissant Blockbuster ice cream sandwich, bringing Britannia Treat Croissant and Havmor Blockbuster together in three combinations: Vanilla Croissant & Triple Choco, Mixed Fruit Croissant & Wild Berries, and Cocoa Croissant & Triple Chocolate. The soft, filled croissant meets the rich indulgence of Havmor Blockbuster, bringing contrasting textures and flavours together in one indulgent bite.

Sometimes, seeing the combination is all the persuasion you need, and the digital film captures the idea from start to finish, building up to the moment when the two indulgences come together.

Shekhar Agarwal, GM – Marketing, Cakes, Rusk and Croissant, Britannia, said,

 “Consumers are always looking for new ways to enjoy their favourite treats, and this collaboration brings two favourites together and further elevates the experience. Britannia Treat Croissant and Havmor Blockbuster each bring their own distinct taste and appeal to the combination, creating a new way to enjoy them together. We are excited to democratise this experience for our consumers and see the pairing become part of consumers’ indulgent moments.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Rishabh Verma, CMO – Vice President Marketing, Havmor Ice Cream, said,

 “Today, food is not just about taste; it is increasingly about discovery, experience and the excitement of trying something new. The viral croissant-ice cream trend is a great example of how consumers are turning simple food combinations into shareable moments. With Havmor Blockbuster and Britannia Treat coming together, we wanted to build on that excitement and create an indulgent experience that feels fresh, playful and distinctly relevant to today’s consumer. This collaboration reflects our continued focus on creating innovative formats that make ice cream more experiential and give consumers new reasons to engage with the brand.”

The Britannia Treat Croissant and Havmor Blockbuster Ice Cream Sandwich will be available for a limited time at select Havmor parlours across Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai, and as a combo on Zepto, allowing consumers to enjoy the pairing at Havmor parlours or from the comfort of home.