BlackRock‘s Chairman and Chief Executive, Larry Fink, has stated that the greatest challenge facing artificial intelligence is no longer sophisticated computer chips but rather a lack of access to electricity, warning that the United States must update its obsolete power grid or risk delaying the next wave of technical innovation.

According to an interview with Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, Fink stated that the exponential rise of AI is driving an unparalleled need for computer power, which is revealing vulnerabilities in the country’s electrical grid.

Fink said that the lack of electricity is the biggest obstacle to AI development, saying that there isn’t enough power in the United States.

He stated that the US has enough energy resources, especially natural gas, but lacks the necessary transmission infrastructure to distribute electricity efficiently.

According to him, the nation possesses enough power from natural gas, but it is unable to distribute it effectively. He further stated that the country would need to invest hundreds of billions of dollars to grow and enhance its power grid.

He said that we won’t be successful in artificial intelligence if we don’t do that. Artificial intelligence is simply a collection of electrons. You therefore require the ability to produce the electrons.

Demand for AI computing capacity now outpaces supply, creating shortages in electricity and other critical infrastructure as well as advanced chips, according to Fink.

There is more demand than supply at this time, he stated. Right now, the United States is facing a lack of computing power, which I believe to be the greatest issue confronting the nation.

He cautioned that unless computer expenses decrease dramatically, smaller businesses may find it difficult to profit from the AI revolution.

Fink stated, “I’m not worried about BlackRock or J. P. Morgan having the cash to invest in these models. However, I’m quite concerned about hospitals and municipalities. Is there going to be an investment in this?

He called for increased access to AI technologies, stating that the United States must democratize AI so that small enterprises, hospitals, local governments, and transport systems may also utilize advanced AI technologies.

He stated that if we are unable to do that, we will encounter some significant structural issues.

Despite enormous investment in artificial intelligence, Fink also disregarded worries that equity markets are in a speculative bubble. Instead, he claimed that abnormally high demand had created shortages that permitted certain businesses to charge significantly higher prices for their goods.

According to Fink, the global economy’s robustness has been demonstrated by recent geopolitical crises, such as the conflict involving Iran.

He said that the global economy significantly reduced many of the pressures by diversifying supply, increasing energy output, and using technological improvements. We address problems.

Fink contended that ongoing economic expansion was the most effective method for controlling the country’s rising government debt.

He advised policymakers to encourage private investment and simplify infrastructure approvals rather than depend on higher taxes, stating that “we’re in trouble if we can’t grow the economy by three percent a year. “

India possesses one of the largest cooperative ecosystems in the world, covering almost every area of the economy, and that the Ministry of Cooperation has transformed cooperatives into drivers of inclusive growth over the last five years.

A greater effect at the local level has been made possible by improved service delivery, broader digital adoption, and more robust institutions. Rural economies have improved as a result of expanded infrastructure and improved market access. Development driven by cooperatives has opened up new possibilities for farmers and women.

July 6 marked the 5th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation, and the transformation of 50,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into e-PACS was one of the event’s most important highlights.

In order to improve the cooperative storage infrastructure, the program also saw the foundation stones for 47 grain storage godowns laid.

To enhance the management of milk procurement and distribution, the National Dairy Development Board unveiled a Milk Supply Review Dashboard Portal.

Furthermore, two NUCFDC flagship programs, Sahakar Sahyogi and Sahakar CBS, were introduced.

For metropolitan cooperative banks, Sahakar CBS offers a unified core banking solution. Customer service and banking operations are improved through Sahakar Sahyogi, an AI-powered conversational platform.

According to the factsheet, technology is becoming increasingly important for increasing cooperative governance and efficiency.

From an initial allocation of Rs 2,516 crore in 2022, the total financial outlay for the digitalization of PACS has been raised to Rs 2,925. 39 crore in 2025.

With a goal of raising milk acquisition by 50% by 2028–2029, the ‘White Revolution 2. 0’ is helping to fortify the cooperative dairy industry. According to the factsheet, there have been 25,282 dairy cooperative organizations registered thus far.

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has made a significant contribution to the financing of cooperatives’ expansion.

NCDC has authorized Rs 1. 55 lakh crore and paid out Rs 1. 27 lakh crore during FY2025-26. As of May 2026, the scheme has distributed Rs 2,320 crore to FPOs/Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) for the establishment and promotion of 10,000 FPOs.

Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited launched Bharat Taxi. Currently, Bharat Taxi has 3. 57 million registered clients and 637,000 registered drivers.

Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Mumbai are all served by the service. In the next few months, operations are expected to begin in Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore, and Nagpur.

“As India moves forward on its path of inclusive and sustainable growth, cooperatives will continue to promote fair growth and resiliency,” the official statement said.

The Centre announced that it had abolished the bulk of the emergency natural gas supply regulation order that was put in place during the West Asia war. This was done in light of the improvement in the regional supply situation and the return of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments via the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire.

Important operational rules that gave the government the authority to prioritize consumers in the distribution of domestically produced natural gas and imported LNG were removed from the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in an official alert.

According to the ministry, the situation in West Asia has dramatically improved, with talks underway, a ceasefire in place, and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resuming. Concerns about India’s fuel and gas supply have been allayed by the reopening of the strategic waterway.

After the dispute in West Asia interfered with LNG cargo going through the Strait of Hormuz, the emergency gas supply rules were enacted under the Essential Commodities Act.

Following military conflicts between the United States, Israel, and Iran, some LNG suppliers invoked force majeure and diverted cargoes, sparking worries about India’s gas supply.

One of three emergency steps implemented by the government to ensure domestic energy supplies was the limitations on gas supply. The other two steps, which were to mandate refineries to maximize LPG output by diverting feedstock from petrochemical facilities and to limit diesel sales to large users, had already been canceled once the supply situation returned to normal.

India still relies heavily on imports to satisfy its energy needs, importing roughly half of its natural gas consumption and approximately 88% of its crude oil requirements. The Strait of Hormuz is essential for India’s energy security since almost 65% of the nation’s LNG supply and between 40% and 45% of its crude oil imports come from West Asia.

During the disturbance, India was able to diversify its crude oil purchases by obtaining supplies from alternative producers; however, natural gas imports were especially susceptible since the Strait of Hormuz is used by the majority of LNG cargoes coming from Qatar.

The BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting, which is scheduled for July 8-9, is expected to have a solid basis thanks to the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting in Kochi, which also confirms the shared commitment of BRICS Member Countries to women-led development and practical collaboration.

India will conduct the BRICS Women Working Group (WWG) Meeting on July 6-7 in Kochi, Kerala, as part of its BRICS Chairship this year.

According to the statement, “Senior government officials from BRICS member nations will gather to discuss crucial issues related to women’s empowerment across all sectors and women-led development, while promoting collaboration across shared priorities. ”

The Women Working Group Meeting will allow Member Countries to discuss and agree on women-led development that promotes it.

The 11 countries that make up BRICS—Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates—together contribute about 40% of the world’s GDP.

Roughly 49. 5% of the world’s population is represented by BRICS. Within this framework, the economic, social, and political advancement of women influences results in all industries, establishing the Women Track as a strategically important track in BRICS 2026.

The Working Group Meeting expands on the broad consultations conducted at three previous virtual preparatory sessions. Member States have been able to continue talks prior to the meetings in Kochi thanks to these engagements.

The BRICS Women Track has prioritized four areas: women in government and leadership; women’s digital and financial inclusion; women’s entrepreneurship and skill development; and women’s role in climate action, food security, and nutrition, all of which are in line with India’s BRICS Chairship theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” which reflects a people-centric and humanity-first approach.

Before the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting from July 6 to July 9, the administration previously held the third preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women Track under India’s BRICS Chairship.

Australia defeated England by seven wickets in the final at Lord’s Cricket Ground in front of a record audience of over 28,000 people, ending England’s unblemished home World Cup record. Overall, this was Australia’s 14th Women’s World Cup victory.

In the final of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, opener Beth Mooney and youngster Phoebe Litchfield put together a match-winning 100-run partnership to lead the six-time winners to a dominant seven-wicket triumph over England, reinforcing Australia’s dominance in women’s cricket.

Australia achieved their goal in just 17. 1 overs after chasing 151, claiming a record-breaking seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title.

Australia’s position as the tournament’s most successful team has been cemented by the victory, which is their two separate hat-tricks of consecutive championships. Australia’s previous title-winning efforts in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023 have only served to cement their standing.

Australia started slowly after pursuing a difficult objective of 151 runs, scoring only six runs in the first over with only one boundary.

After that, Georgia Voll, the starter, tried to turn the tide in the second over, hitting two boundaries before Lauren Bell retaliated on the fifth ball of the over. England took an early breakthrough after Voll was clean bowled after scoring nine off six deliveries.

Phoebe Litchfield entered at number three and instantly looked at ease at the crease, hitting a boundary on the first ball she encountered. Beth Mooney got comfortable quickly at the other side before beginning her counterattack. In the third over, she discovered the border, and in the fourth over, she followed it up with three fours, putting pressure on England’s bowlers.

Litchfield mirrored her senior partner’s purpose by hitting a four and a six in the fifth over, quickly swinging the momentum in Australia’s favor. Even though Linsey Smith bowled an economic sixth over, Australia still sprinted to 62/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Even after the limitations on fielding were put in place, the scoring pace did not drop. Litchfield and Mooney kept the strike moving around brilliantly, making sure that at least one boundary occurred almost every over. Australia got closer to another world championship because to their optimistic attitude.

England suffered a particularly expensive 10th over when Lauren Bell gave up 11 runs, enabling Australia to reach 98/1 at the halfway point of the pursuit and having the goal well within striking distance.

In the 13th over, Mooney completed her half-century with a single, matching Nat Sciver-Brunt’s record by recording her ninth score of fifty or more in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

Charlie Dean clean bowled Litchfield on the last ball of the 13th over, ending England’s century stand at last. After scoring four fours and two sixes, the young batsman was dismissed for 48, missing out on a well-earned half-century by a narrow margin. In the history of a Women’s T20 World Cup final, their 100-run partnership ranked second, behind Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor’s partnership in the 2016 final in Kolkata.

Mooney made sure there would be no late turn despite losing her partner. She hit three boundaries in the following over as Australia’s triumph was only a formality with just 22 runs needed from the last six overs.

Australia was getting closer to their goal when Ellyse Perry, who had a slow start, entered the fray by scoring a boundary in the 15th over. After a successful review, Sophie Ecclestone caught Mooney lbw to give England one last breakthrough. With 10 boundaries, Mooney had already snatched the game away from the hosts with her fantastic 64 from 49 balls.

Ecclestone was unable to make a clean, hard catch in the following over, therefore Perry received a reprieve. Australia won another memorable World Cup after the seasoned all-rounder went unblemished on 13 as they crossed the finish line with 17 balls to spare.

Freya Kemp’s unbeaten 44 and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 58 helped England recover after a rocky start to record 150/4.

England lost Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the powerplay after being asked to bat first, before Alice Capsey’s brief 23-ball counterattack. Heather Knight was also out for little, as Australia continued to bat at a regular rate.

Sciver-Brunt then accelerated in the final overs after settling in with a calm knock and successfully rotating the strike. The unbreakable pair raised England to what seemed to be a respectable total as Kemp gave the ideal support, including swift runs during the death overs.

Sciver-Brunt’s 53-ball, unbeaten 58 runs, which included five boundaries, also made her the first English player to reach a half-century in both a Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal and final. Kemp scored four fours and a six, remaining undefeated on 44 from 28 deliveries.

Before their batters completed a decisive chase to win Australia Women’s T20 World Cup champions for an unprecedented seventh time, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Annabel Sutherland, and captain Sophie Molineux each took one wicket for Australia.

Following the successful conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, where Australia won a record seventh championship, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Monday commended the International Cricket Council (ICC) under the vibrant leadership of Jay Shah for spearheading a notable change in the sport.

Happy to observe the dramatic ascent of women’s cricket on a worldwide scale. The packed Lord’s for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final between champions Australia and England demonstrates how popular the game has grown and how promising the future is.

Saikia wrote on X, “Praise the ICC for encouraging this incredible metamorphosis of women’s cricket and inspiring a new generation of cricket lovers around the globe under the energetic leadership of Jay Shah. ”

Brief Scores:
England 150/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 58*, Freya Kemp 44*, Alice Capsey 23; Lucy Hamilton 1-19, Kim Garth 1-20)
Australia in 153/5 in 17.1 overs (Beth Mooney 64, Phoebe Litchfield 48; Sophie Ecclestone 1-24, Charlotte Dean 1-28) by 7 wickets

India’s aspiration to become a worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse is getting a huge boost as global technology giants have committed around $80 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure in the nation over the next few years, solidifying its position as a major innovation and digital infrastructure center.

The most recent drive occurred after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed an additional $13 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure in India by 2030, raising the company’s total intended investment in the nation to $48 billion over the following five years.

Furthermore, the research underlined that the new pledge includes over $21 billion set aside for growing AI and cloud infrastructure.

In addition, the investment supports similar pledges made by other multinational technology companies.

It further stated that Google has pledged $15 billion over five years to build its first AI hub in Visakhapatnam, while Microsoft has announced $17. 5 billion in investments for AI and cloud infrastructure in India through 2029.

These expenditures represent almost $80 billion combined, indicating increasing trust in India’s AI environment from international technology businesses.

According to the study, this impetus is a result of a combination of governmental support policies, a sizable pool of technical talent, a growing digital infrastructure, and a rapidly expanding local market.

According to the announcement, the government’s IndiaAI Mission, which was established with a budget of about $1. 25 billion, hopes to create a complete AI ecosystem by fostering indigenous AI models, datasets, startups, skilling, responsible AI development, and computing infrastructure.

In order to encourage private sector investment in innovative technologies like biotechnology, quantum computing, semiconductors, and AI, the government has also established a $12 billion Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund.

Meanwhile, India is experiencing rapid growth in digital infrastructure.

According to the report and industry estimates, AI investment in India increased by 58% year over year in 2025.

It further stated that India is becoming more and more recognized as a favored location for creating and implementing AI applications at scale, given its substantial digital consumer base and over 1. 5 million engineering graduates joining the workforce each year.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that, the India-France Strategic Partnership is ideally positioned to lead the next stage of sustainable, resilient, and innovation-driven expansion.

She established the context of a quickly changing global economy influenced by technological change, supply chain diversification, energy transition, and geopolitical events while speaking at an India-France Business Roundtable with prominent firms and institutions in Paris.

To work towards shared prosperity for both nations and strengthen the India-France Strategic Partnership, the Finance Minister invited French investors and businesses to join India in its path toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

FM Sitharaman stated that India and France are reliable partners in building the global AI ecosystem and generating fresh opportunities for cooperation in trusted AI, digital infrastructure, and next-generation technologies.

She also emphasized the significant advancement in bilateral economic involvement.

The Union Finance Minister emphasized that India-France trade has doubled over the previous decade and acknowledged that about 1,000 French businesses are located in India.

According to a Finance Ministry post on X, she stated that India is a major digital economy, propelled by Digital Public Infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, ONDC, and India Stack, which account for almost half of all real-time digital payments globally.

She told industry leaders that India’s ambitious clean energy transition—which includes the goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes—is creating significant investment opportunities in renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage, offshore wind, and smart grids.

She highlighted the International Financial Services Centre Authority, stating that it has grown into a major international financial centre with more than 1,200 registered entities as of June 2026, banking assets totaling $111 billion, cumulative banking transactions totaling $176 billion, and expanding chances across banking, fund management, leasing, Global Capability Centres, reinsurance, and sustainable finance.

The Finance Minister stated that investors can explore greater collaboration in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology by capitalizing on complementary strengths in life sciences, vaccines, APIs, clinical research, precision medicine, and digital health in order to create strong healthcare value chains.

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, which offers long-term investment opportunities through its forthcoming $3. 5 billion Infrastructure Fund II and $1 billion Private Markets Fund II, providing exposure to green hydrogen, energy transition, and other high-growth industries, infrastructure, and digital infrastructure, was also highlighted by her.

According to All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), jewellery demand is predicted to stay slow, although the holiday season may increase sales, particularly in lightweight categories.

It further said that the industry is awaiting clarification regarding reforms to the Gold Monetisation Scheme and potential tax modifications, while geopolitical risks continue to be a major element that might spark a new need for safe-havens.

In the first half of the year, there were unprecedented increases in bullion prices, which were followed by corrections that changed the mood of consumers and the industry’s perspective, according to the report.

In January 2026, gold prices reached an all-time high of Rs 1,70,480 per 10 grams before falling to about Rs 1,42,800 per 10 grams by the end of June. During the same period, silver prices surpassed Rs 4,02,490 per kilogram in January before declining to roughly Rs 2,25,940 per kilogram by the end of June.

These changes drove investors to safe-haven purchases, but affordability issues caused a decrease in jewellery demand, according to the report.

The Council observed that customers are increasingly turning toward lightweight jewellery designs, reflecting both budgetary considerations and changing fashion sensibilities.

The council stated that a customs duty increase that was announced in May 2026 caused domestic prices to rise and put a burden on retail demand. Demands for rationalisation were made as GST load and compliance requirements continued to put pressure on profits.

In order to realize the worth of idle household gold, lower import reliance, and reinforce domestic supply chains, the council reiterated its call for changes to the Gold Monetisation Scheme.

Rajesh Rokde, Chairman of the GJC, stated, “Looking ahead, the peak wedding calendar in the second half of the year and the approaching festive season are anticipated to provide strong support to jewelry demand, especially in lightweight categories. ”

These cultural drivers, along with India’s strong emotional attachment to gold, will guarantee that the market continues to be resilient despite volatility, he continued.

He claimed that even if futures prices were adjusted, retail prices would remain high and that the market was currently correcting after unprecedented highs.

Expectations of continued high interest rates, profit taking, and a stronger US dollar index are the causes of these changes. He added that worldwide mood has also changed as demand for safe havens diminished after the recent geopolitical panic subsided.

Nat Sciver-Brunt was crucial as England defeated South Africa by 40 runs in the semi-final at The Oval to face Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup final.

Sciver-Brunt assisted England in overcoming a shaky start and scoring 169/5. Despite a spirited fifty from Tazmin Brits, South Africa could only muster 129/8 in their 20 overs.

The Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the final on Sunday between the competition’s two undefeated teams, England and Australia. England will be looking to maintain their perfect record at home as well. They have never hosted a World Cup for women, T20 or ODI, and lost.

Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp got South Africa off to a strong start after deciding to field first. Ismail dealt the first strike by taking Amy Jones’ wicket, while Kapp bowled Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Ismail came back and caught Alice Capsey leg before the wicket to bring England’s score down to 23/3 in 3. 2 overs. Ismail became the first bowler in the process to reach the milestone of 50 wickets at the event, according to ICC.

Kapp was dismissed early by South Africa in their search for another significant wicket, and the pacer completed her four overs with amazing statistics of 1/16.

Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight led England’s comeback with a 133-run stand for the third wicket after early blows, making it the highest partnership in knockouts in the tournament.

Sciver-Brunt was outstanding with her footwork and ran hard between the wickets, smashing 11 boundaries and a six on her way to her eighth half-century in the Women’s T20 World Cup. This placed her alongside Suzie Bates (New Zealand) and Beth Mooney (Australia), two of the sport’s greatest players.

Knight maintained the runs moving at the opposite end as well. She hit a six over deep mid-wicket to score her fifty. When it seemed like England was going to change gears, Nonkululeko Mlaba delivered crucial blows in the 19th over. She had England’s captain caught in the deep as she attempted to sweep, ending their collaboration. Knight lifted the ball straight to Laura Wolvaardt at extra-cover two balls later.

Despite not reaching their peak speed at the end, England ended with a difficult 169/5.

Wolvaardt and Brits collaborated for 43 runs as South Africa had a cautious start to their reply. Sophie Ecclestone caught Linsey Smith’s high catch at mid-on, stopping Wolvaardt from continuing his innings.

Freya Kemp later quickly dismissed Annerie Dercksen for 3. The loss of Kapp, who tried to flick the ball into the leg side after scoring only five runs but got a leading edge, leaving Sciver-Brunt with the easiest of catches, was a crushing blow. The South Africans were 68-3 in 10. 4 overs as a result.

Despite South Africa losing wickets frequently, Brits fought alone, reaching 50. However, she was dismissed on the very next ball when Sciver-Brunt took a leading edge off Charlie Dean. England won after the South African challenge crumbled as the Brits left.

Dean and Lauren Bell were the most effective bowlers, taking two wickets apiece. In addition, Freya Kemp, Smith, and Eccelestone each contributed with a wicket.

The outcome further helped England get revenge for two consecutive semi-final losses to South Africa at the 2023 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ODI World Cup.

Brief scores:
England Women 169/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 75, Heather Knight 58; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-25, Shabnim Ismail 2-31)
South Africa Women 129/8 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 51, Laura Wolvaardt 17; Lauren Bell 2-28, Charlie Dean 2-32)