1. MSC to Launch North India-Middle East Route by End of September

MSC will launch a new weekly service linking North India and the Middle East by the end of September. The service will deploy three vessels, each with a capacity of approximately 2,500 TEU. These ships will call at Hazira, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Sohar, and Abu Dhabi, before returning to Hazira. This new loop strengthens trade connections between India and the Middle East and provides more reliable shipping schedules for exporters and importers in the region.

2. India to Incorporate E-commerce Price Data for More Accurate Inflation Index

The Indian government has announced plans to reform the compilation method of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by including, for the first time, commodity price information from major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart. The statistical department has already started scraping online prices in 12 major cities and plans to obtain weekly average commodity prices from these platforms to update the inflation calculation system.

3. Puma May Consider Sale; Anta, Li-Ning Among Potential Buyers

German sportswear brand Puma is reportedly exploring multiple strategic options, including asset sales, with potential buyers including China’s Anta and Li-Ning. According to Bloomberg, Puma’s shareholder, the Pinault family, has been studying development strategies with consultants and has approached potential buyers to assess interest—including Chinese sports goods companies Anta and Li-Ning, U.S. sportswear firms, and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds. The Pinault family holds approximately 29% of Puma’s shares.

4. Four Major Security Risks in Cross-Border Parcel Mailing to Be Alerted

As globalization accelerates, cross-border parcel mailing has become increasingly frequent, but differences in national laws and regulations hide potential risks. China’s Ministry of State Security has highlighted four major security risks:

- Mailing classified materials is prohibited.

- Special biological materials may violate the target country’s laws.

- One should stay alert and report to the police when receiving overseas parcels of unknown origin, with inconsistent contents, or that have been repackaged.

- Some daily items may be deemed prohibited when sent cross-border.

Citizens should fully understand relevant regulations to avoid legal issues due to negligence.

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