India is set to import sugar for the first time in more than a decade as tighter domestic supplies raise concerns over availability. The move comes as more sugarcane is being diverted to ethanol production under India’s E20 fuel programme, which aims to blend 20% ethanol with petrol. Lower sugar output and changing production priorities have added pressure to domestic stocks. The government is considering imports to stabilise supplies and control prices. While the E20 policy supports cleaner fuel and reduces oil imports, the sugar shortage has sparked debate over balancing food security with India’s growing ethanol needs. (PC: Reuters)

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has highlighted Starlink’s potential to improve internet access in India’s underserved and rural regions. In a social media post, Musk said Starlink could particularly benefit communities that remain poorly served by existing connectivity infrastructure. The satellite-based service aims to provide high-speed internet without relying heavily on conventional terrestrial networks, making remote locations easier to connect. The comments come as Starlink continues efforts to expand its presence in India. Reuters reported that Starlink has reapplied for regulatory approval to deploy its satellite network in the country, signalling renewed efforts to enter the Indian market. (PC: PTI)

Sugar prices across major Indian cities have surged nearly 20% since August 7, rising from Rs 52 to around Rs 62 per kg in 12 days amid record-low stock concerns and the approaching festive season. Analysts expect prices to rise further, increasing pressure on the government over domestic supplies and pricing. Lower production, permitted sugar exports and diversion of sugarcane-based feedstock to ethanol have contributed to the increase. The government has assured adequate sugar availability and imposed nationwide stockholding limits on dealers until November 30, 2026. Closing stocks for the October 2025-September 2026 season are projected at just 32 lakh metric tonnes, below the required 60 LMT and last season’s 47 LMT. (PC: New Indian Express)

Flipkart is facing criticism over a Freedom Sale advertisement that used the style of obituary notices. The ad showed photographs and details of people inside memorial-style boxes. It said Flipkart was not sad, as the people would keep living while its sale was ending. Many social media users called the campaign insensitive and inappropriate. Author Shobhaa De also criticised the ad and urged people to boycott Flipkart. Some users questioned whether the images were made using artificial intelligence. Others defended the campaign as attention-grabbing. Flipkart has not commented on the controversy. The Freedom Sale began on August 8 and ends on August 16.

Vishal Garg, the Indian-origin founder and former CEO of Better.com, is seeking to return as the company’s chief executive after being fired by its board on August 3. Garg has hired high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro and sent a letter demanding reinstatement. He accused new CEO Daniel Lewis of gaining the board’s trust before helping remove him. Garg became widely known in 2021 after firing around 900 employees during a controversial Zoom call. The layoffs affected about 9% of Better.com’s workforce and included the company’s entire diversity, equity and inclusion team. Garg now says Better still has a bright future. (PC: NDTV)

Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty in US federal court to stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and admitted shooting him in Manhattan on December 4, 2024, causing his death. Mangione told the judge he understood he could spend life in prison. He said he tracked Thompson to a 2024 investor conference after gathering information by posing as an investor and contacted the insurer beforehand. Mangione attributed his actions to years of severe back pain and difficulties with the health insurance system. His lawyer said he accepted full responsibility and argued he should not face two prosecutions. His defence team plans to seek dismissal of the New York murder case on double-jeopardy grounds. (PC: Reuters)

Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced plans to work together on an indigenous engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The proposed partnership will cover engine design, development, manufacturing, testing and long-term support. The companies will also explore setting up an Aerospace Gas Turbine Complex in India. The facility could support advanced engine and propulsion technology. Reliance will bring its manufacturing and technology capabilities, while Rolls-Royce will provide its aircraft engine expertise. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s defence technology and reduce dependence on imports. It could also create opportunities in civil aerospace and other power systems.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a mega order from US-based AI cloud company Together AI to build India’s largest single-cluster AI infrastructure facility. The project, valued at ₹10,000–15,000 crore, will deploy 10,000 NVIDIA B300 GPUs at L&T’s Chennai data-centre campus. The facility will combine advanced computing, high-performance networking, ultra-low-latency connectivity and high-throughput storage to support large-scale AI training and inference. The deal marks L&T’s entry into the AI Factory segment and strengthens India’s position in the global AI infrastructure ecosystem. L&T said the project is part of its broader Gigawatt AI Infrastructure Mission.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk received $158.3 billion in compensation in 2025, more than 2.5 million times the pay of the company’s average worker, according to a new AFL-CIO report. The extraordinary figure dramatically increased the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio among S&P 500 companies to 5,387:1, compared with 312:1 when Musk is excluded. Average CEO compensation reached $22.8 million in 2025, rising sharply when Musk’s package is included. The report highlighted widening economic inequality and declining workers’ share of national income. Tesla did not immediately comment. The findings have renewed debate over executive compensation and worker pay disparities. (PC: Getty Images)

India’s merchandise exports rose nearly 20% year-on-year to $44.24 billion in July 2026, supported by stronger shipments of electronics and engineering goods, according to Commerce Ministry data. However, imports grew faster, increasing 17.51% to $76.22 billion, as elevated input and commodity costs linked partly to the West Asia crisis pushed up import values. Consequently, the merchandise trade deficit widened to $32 billion, its highest level in six months, from $27.9 billion in July 2025. Economists noted that both exports and imports have recorded double-digit growth for four consecutive months, partly reflecting higher commodity-price inflation. Imports of coal, fertilisers, electronics and chemical products expanded by more than 20% in July. (PC: @geovishalsharma)