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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

CII TCM ‘Cost Congress 2026’ to Be Held on 26–27 October 2026 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Pune Under the Theme “India’s Decade: Building Global Competitiveness in an Era of Disruption”

The 25th Edition of Cost Congress, a premier international conference by Confederation of Indian Industry TCM Division, is set to take place on 26th & 27th October 2026 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Pune. Convened under the theme “India’s Decade: Building Global Competitiveness in an Era of Disruption,” the conference will bring together chief executives, policymakers, and industry experts to deliberate on strategies for sustained growth amid rapid technological and economic transformation. Spanning two days, the conference will feature ten thematic sessions addressing the most pressing imperatives for Indian industry. The first day will feature topics like Innovation as a strategic competitive advantage, Indigenization and Localization of value chains, Business Resilience amid constant change, and the transition from compliance-led decarbonisation to genuine competitive advantage. Discussions will also examine export competitiveness and strategies for strengthening India’s global footprint. Now in its landmark 25th year, Cost Congress continues to serve as a premier national platform for dialogue on competitiveness, innovation, and industrial strategy, reaffirming its role in shaping the future of Indian industry on the global stage. The second day will center on the role of technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing manufacturing productivity, the imperative of human capital excellence in an AI-driven era, and the strategic inflection points reshaping business models, including the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles and from fossil fuels to clean energy. The conference will also mark the unveiling of TCM 3.0, a repositioned and rebranded framework incorporating an innovation index, technology interface, and new business strategy architecture for the emerging global context. The event will feature an eminent roster of speakers, including Mr. Girish Wagh (Managing Director & CEO, Tata Motors Ltd), who will moderate the inaugural session on innovation. Joining the distinguished panel of speakers are prominent leaders, including: Mr. Manoj Kolhatkar (Chairman - Cost Congress 2026 & MD & CEO, TATA AutoComp Systems Ltd), Mr. Rajendran Arunachalam (Group CFO, Thermax Ltd), Mr. B Thiagarajan (MD, Blue Star Ltd), Mr. Guruprasad Mudlapur (President, Bosch Group in India & MD), Mr. K.S.Grihapthy (President International Business, Bajaj Auto Ltd), Mr. Sachin Kulkarni (Executive Director & Board Member & Corporate Procurement, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India), Mr. Anand Kumar Sinha (Chief Digital and Information Officer, Tata Technologies Ltd) and other distinguished executive leaders. Now in its landmark 25th year, Cost Congress continues to serve as a premier national platform for dialogue on competitiveness, innovation, and industrial strategy, reaffirming its role in shaping the future of Indian industry on the global stage. For more details about the event schedule, full speaker lineup, and registration, please visit costcongress.in. “This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu businessline was involved in the publication of this release.” Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

CII TCM ‘Cost Congress 2026’ to Be Held on 26–27 October 2026 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Pune Under the Theme “India’s Decade: Building Global Competitiveness in an Era of Disruption”
North America
CNBC Finance

Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria defines event strategy as streamer eyes more live sports

Netflix's live sports strategy is predicated on finding games and tournaments it believes can be turned into events. That makes defining "event" paramount to the company's success. "The thing about an event is it's buzzy, cultural, zeitgeist – that really sort of unmissable moment," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria in an exclusive interview last week with CNBC Sport. "There's something in that that just feels like it's very appointment TV, but also with great conversation around it." Bajaria spoke from Melbourne, Australia, the site of the first-ever, regular-season NFL game in the country. Netflix owned the global rights to the game, which resulted in a 27-7 victory by the San Francisco 49ers over the Los Angeles Rams. CNBC asked Bajaria if NBC's "Sunday Night Football, " the most popular primetime program for 15 consecutive years, would classify as a Netflix "event." "If I had a dollar for every time I'm asked that, that money would just pay for 'Sunday Night Football,' and I wouldn't even have to take it out of the $20 billion content budget," Bajaria joked. "The first NFL game [ever on Netflix] was Christmas Day, right?" Bajaria said. "So we're like, Christmas is a holiday, Beyoncé is gonna do the halftime, and we can sort of turn that into an event. And it can be World Baseball Classic in Japan. It can be Home Run Derby, but it also can be Alex Honnold Taipei 101, when he climbed a building. It can be when we did the BTS concert in Seoul." Bajaria's explanation suggests a large package of NFL games isn't suitable for Netflix's strategy, which echoes comments from Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos earlier this year. The NFL can potentially renegotiate its media rights for games beginning after the 2029-30 season, when the league has an opt-out clause on its current deal. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told CNBC last week that the league would consider reworking its established game packages. Netflix is airing five NFL games during the 2026-27 season – last week's Australia game, the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, two Christmas Day games, and a Week 18 game that's guaranteed to be one of significance – either to decide a playoff spot or to determine seeding. The NFL doesn't currently sell a package of international games, but that might be appealing to Netflix if it existed, Bajaria said. There are nine international games this year and 10 scheduled for next season. "We obviously have this large global audience and a very engaged global audience," Bajaria said. "I think people will probably just go to that as kind of like a natural, 'Would we do international?' We have lots of U.S. members who obviously love NFL and football, and so I think we're always going to continue to have conversations." Bajaria also confirmed Netflix's potential interest in bidding on the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2030 and 2034. Netflix already has the Women's World Cup U.S. and Canadian rights for 2027 and 2031. CNBC first reported Netflix's interest earlier this year. "Obviously it's a beloved sport around the world, and we have the Women's World Cup, so I'm really excited about that. We have a great partnership and relationship with FIFA, so we're definitely going to always have those conversations," Bajaria said.

Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria defines event strategy as streamer eyes more live sports
Europe
BBC Business

Will you get £13,000 a year when you stop working? Here's how to check

Image source, Getty ImagesByKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentPublished4 hours agoIt may well be decades away, but do you know how much money you will get when you stop working? Yet one in eight people surveyed by the UK tax authority have never checked how much money they are forecast to receive. If you're working, it is highly likely you're contributing to the state pension - paid by the government when you hit pension age in your late 60s. the flat-rate state pension - for those who reached state pension age after April 2016 - is £241.30 a week (£12,547.60 a year) the old basic state pension - for those who reached state pension age before April 2016 - is £184.90 a week (£9,614.80 a year) Many people on the old basic state pension may receive a top-up called the additional state pension. Most pensioners have other income, primarily from pension savings built up over their career. The state pension goes up each year in line with the highest of either inflation, wage increases, or 2.5%. So next April, the flat-rate state pension is expected to go above £13,000. Workers pay National Insurance (NI) contributions. In general, you need 35 years of qualifying contributions to get a full state pension. You may have gaps in your NI record if, for example, you have lived abroad. If you've taken time away from work to care for children or family members, then you get NI credits if you receive child benefit or carer's allowance. It's possible to boost your contribution history with voluntary payments. Since April 2025, you have only been able to make payments for the previous six years. That's one reason why it is important to check your state pension forecast well before you retire, experts say.

Will you get £13,000 a year when you stop working? Here's how to check
Europe
The Guardian

Starbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’

A barista prepares a drink inside a Starbucks in New York on 24 February 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenA barista prepares a drink inside a Starbucks in New York on 24 February 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesStarbucksStarbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’Several workers say they’re opting to go without health coverage due to premium costs soaring this year Starbucks workers say their health insurance premiums have soared this year, in some cases more than doubling, according to a recent survey conducted by Starbucks Workers United. The survey of more than 130 Starbucks workers in both unionized and non-unionized stores, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found baristas are experiencing significant hikes in costs for their health insurance coverage starting 1 October. Some workers reported their premium costs per paycheck nearly doubling, even as they struggle to afford other basic necessities andare scheduled to work enough hours to be eligible for the benefits. The changes come as Starbucks Workers United launched a boycott last month against the company demanding a union contract, what would be the first since stores started to unionize in December 2021. Since then, more than 700 Starbucks stores have won union elections, with the union representing over 12,000 workers at the company. Several workers said they are opting to go without health insurance coverage due to the costs and the price hikes are forcing them to worry about whether they need to find an additional job. Kaye-Lani Story, who has been a barista in Edina, Minnesota, for nine years, said she took herself and her son to the doctor this month as their health insurance is set to lapse on 1 October. Her health insurance premiums were set to go from $130 a week to $170 a week, a 30% increase. “That is another $40 each week that I am not going to have in my income, if I choose to go with it, and that’s just not something that financially I can afford,” she said. “I have to drop my insurance because the company will not cover those costs when it’s clear that they’re definitely making enough.” In the past, Kaye-Lani was qualified to receive Minnesota’s state health insurance, but switched to the company’s health insurance plan when she made too much income to qualify. “I make too much to qualify for coverage through the state. I don’t make enough to keep my medical coverage through work, and so at this point, I just have to drop it completely,” she added. “During the winter, the heating bill goes up. During the summer, the electric bill goes up from the AC. There are just all these wavering things throughout the year that I have to pull from to be able to apply to expenses just to be able to keep a roof over my head and food on the table and whatnot, and then this happens, and it’s too much.” Cory Wagner has relied on Starbucks’s health insurance for five of the seven years he’s worked as a barista at Starbucks in Woods Cross, Utah, outside Salt Lake City. “This is the first year that [premiums] nearly doubled,” Wagner said. “My insurance rates are going up to a point where I am now having to consider getting a second job, potentially leaving the company.”

Starbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Kolkata-based Anmol Industries files draft papers with SEBI for ₹1,800-crore IPO

The IPO, with a face value of ₹5 per equity share, is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of equity shares aggregating up to ₹1,800 crore by the promoter entity Baijnath Choudhary & Family Trust. The company will not issue any fresh shares and will not receive any proceeds from the offering. The offer is being made through the book-building process. Not more than 50 per cent of the net offer will be allocated to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), while not less than 15 per cent and 35 per cent of the net offer will be assigned to non-institutional bidders and retail individual bidders, respectively. Anmol Industries manufactures biscuits, cookies and cakes. Its product portfolio is supported by a strong family-pack offering, which contributed 23.85 per cent of its revenue from sale of products in fiscal 2026 and generated ₹485.5 crore. As of the date of the DRHP, the company operates a network of seven manufacturing facilities located across key regions including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. These facilities have an aggregate installed capacity of 360,965 tonnes per annum for biscuits and cookies and 16,372 MTPA for cakes as of March 31, 2026. Manufacturing operations are supported by technology-enabled processes and defined quality control systems that help maintain consistent product quality while enabling efficient production. The company has received certifications and recognitions across product quality, food safety and manufacturing standards. The filing marks Anmol's return to the IPO market after an earlier attempt in 2018. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Kolkata-based Anmol Industries files draft papers with SEBI for ₹1,800-crore IPO
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

J Infratech files IPO papers; eyes ₹600 cr via fresh issue

J Infratech Ltd, an integrated infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm, has filed preliminary papers with the market regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO) comprising a fresh issue of shares worth ₹600 crore. Apart from the fresh issue, the company's proposed IPO comprises an offer for sale (OFS) of 1 crore equity shares by promoters, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Friday. The Haryana-based company may also consider a pre-IPO placement of up to ₹120 crore. In case the placement is completed, the size of the fresh issue will be reduced accordingly. The proceeds from the IPO will primarily be utilised to meet working capital requirements, repay or pre-pay certain borrowings and for general corporate purposes. J Infratech is an integrated infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company focused on roads, highways and bridges, with experience in executing large-scale road development projects involving specialised structures across India. The company commenced operations in 2005 through its partnership firm, Jandu Construction Co, which was subsequently converted into J Infratech in 2019. As of July 31, 2026, the company had completed 35 projects and was executing 46 projects across 16 states and three Union Territories. The equity shares proposed to be offered through the IPO are proposed to be listed on both BSE and NSE. Systematix Corporate Services is the book-running lead manager to the issue, and KFin Technologies is the registrar to the offer. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

J Infratech files IPO papers; eyes ₹600 cr via fresh issue
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

3-day nationwide bank strike called off

Bank managements have averted a major three-day nationwide strike, which was to begin today, by agreeing to form a high-level committee of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)to deliberate on the issue of five-day work week. This will ensure that banks have a smooth half-yearly closing on September 30th. Had this understanding between bank managements and bank unions not been reached in a late evening meeting on September 27 (Sunday), branches of public sector banks (PSBs), regional rural banks (RRBs) and old generation private sector banks across the country would have been closed for three-days (from September 28 to September 30), causing inconvenience to the public. “Today (September 27th) at 9.30 pm there was a meeting between IBA and UFBU After due deliberations, it was decided that a high-level committee of IBA and UFBU will be formed immediately to deliberate on the issue of declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays. This committee will explore, all possible alternatives; discuss with all stakeholders, and work out a solution acceptable to all stakeholders and, more importantly, the customers,” UFBU said in a statement. As regards the PLI (productivity linked incentive) Scheme for Scale IV and above officers, the discussions can start with IBA to propose modifications to the Government in the scheme to address the observations of the Unions/ Associations, it added. Further, the residual issues as listed in the March 8, 2024 minutes will be discussed between the parties for expeditious resolution. In view of the above, it was agreed by the UFBU that the proposed agitational programmes and strike actions will be deferred. PSBs and RRBs across the country kept their branches open on Sunday following Finance Ministry directive in this regard in the backdrop of the UFBU calling for a three-day nationwide bank strike to press for implementation of its demand for 5-day work week. Old generation private sector banks (PvSBs) too kept their branches open as their operations are expected to be affected as the old guard in these banks will be joining the strike. Some of the new generation PvSBs, especially those with currency chest operations, kept select branches open. In order to ensure that the genuine banking needs of the public are not adversely affected for an extended period,all Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks will function normally on Sunday, the 27th of September, 2026, the finance ministry said in a September 23rd statement. The ministry noted that the Reserve Bank of India has granted approval for all bank branches, offices, ATM-link branches and Currency Chests to remain fully operational on September . Devidas Tuljapurkar, Chairman, Banking Education Training Research Academy, and trade union leader, said: “The demand for a five-day weekis neither unreasonable nor unprecedented. Banking institutions in most countries function through a five-day working structure. “Within India, the Reserve Bank of India, insurance institutions, financial regulators, government offices, stock exchanges and most major financial-sector institutions already follow five-day working.

3-day nationwide bank strike called off
North America
CNBC Finance

Stephen Curry says his Li-Ning signature shoe will debut early next year

Curry announced in June he had struck a deal with the Chinese shoe company after his 13-year partnership with Under Armour came to a close. "I think it was a great run," Curry said of his relationship with Under Armour, adding the decision to end the relationship was "mutual." "Sometimes good things do come to an end," he said. "I don't have any regrets of how anything happened." Curry said he was looking for longevity, legacy and global reach in a new partner. He signed a 10-year, $400 million contract with Li-Ning, according to ESPN. "I tried literally everything, and there was a reason that Li-Ning stood tall at the end because the product reigned supreme," he said. The four-time NBA champion also said he was influenced by Golden State Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler and former NBA player Dwyane Wade, who also represent Li-Ning. Curry said he will wear Li-Ning shoes designed by Butler and Wade until his own product comes out. Entering his 18th NBA season, Curry said he has no plans to test free agency or retire when his contract runs out in 2027. He said he'd like to remain with the Golden State Warriors. "I want to be a lifer with Golden State," Curry said. "What we've built there, the fact that I get to run it back with Draymond [Green] and Coach Kerr ... my interest and mission is to stay and be competitive. ... The contract stuff will take care of itself." Curry acknowledged he tried to recruit LeBron James to join the Warriors after the former Laker announced he was leaving that team. James ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, per various media reports. "If anybody didn't [try to recruit him], I think they'd be a fool," Curry said. "It was a good time for the NBA — obviously with a guy of his stature, his notoriety, to be in that position where he got to choose where he wanted to go." Curry spoke to CNBC from an event at the Bethpage Black Golf Course with the Underrated Golf Tour, a national junior golf circuit he founded to provide access to young and underrepresented golfers.

Stephen Curry says his Li-Ning signature shoe will debut early next year
North America
CNBC Economy

Why de-dollarization discussions are more talk, less action

When BRICS leaders met over the weekend, they talked about the economic power of the Global South and the need to expand trade in local currencies, signaling a push to cut dependence on the greenback. The bloc aims to reduce its reliance on the greenback due to geopolitical tensions, economic sanctions, and the U.S. tariff policy, experts said. However, they raised doubts about the ability of the BRICS to wean away from the dollar. For years, the term "de-dollarization" has come up from time to time, especially when confidence in the U.S. is shaken. The idea is simple: Countries mostly transact in the U.S. dollar today, thereby underpinning most of the world's financial systems. For example, two of the world's most traded commodities, oil and gold, are denominated in the greenback. Data from the Bank of International Settlements reveals that the U.S. dollar made up 89% of the forex market — up 1 percentage point from a year earlier — while the euro and the yen made up 29% and 17%, respectively, as of April. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his address at the BRICS Summit that BRICS should "press ahead with greater use of local currencies, stronger cross-border payment systems and deeper financial interconnectivity." Energy-rich economies such as Iran and Russia, two members of the BRICS, whose ability to trade in dollars has been hampered due to U.S. sanctions, also urged the bloc to develop payment, settlement and depository infrastructure within BRICS. The current financial system is "vulnerable to political shocks due to its concentration on a limited number of currencies," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, hinting at the need to diversify away from the dollar. Yet lack of financial and macroeconomic integration, wide trade imbalances and deep distrust between key member states, such as China and India, are the biggest hurdles the BRICS need to cross before it breaks free from the hegemony of the dollar, experts said. The BRICS lack the unified institutional, financial, and macroeconomic infrastructure needed to substitute the "inherent liquidity and trust" of the dollar globally, Jayant Krishna, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNBC. The most common mention of de-dollarization is usually among the BRICS countries. U.S. President Donald Trump has in the past threatened the bloc with tariffs if they moved away from the dollar. "We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. dollar, or they will face 100% Tariffs and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy," Trump wrote. Collectively, 10 BRICS member countries accounted for 27% of world output, 24% of merchandise exports, and 22% of foreign direct investment inflows in 2024, a United Nations Trade and Development report said in March.

Why de-dollarization discussions are more talk, less action