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U.S. Bank Announces Official Sponsorship of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

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Special Olympics USA Games

U.S. Bank Will Serve as the Official Volunteer Sponsor and Competitive Cheer Sponsor of the Games

U.S. Bank today announced it has committed to be a partner of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, to be held in Minnesota from June 20-26, 2026. U.S. Bank is both the Official Volunteer Sponsor and the Official Competitive Cheer Sponsor of the USA Games.

As the Official Volunteer Sponsor and Official Competitive Cheer Sponsor, U.S. Bank will help lead and mobilize over 10,000 volunteers and support the competitive cheer event at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.

As the Official Volunteer Sponsor, U.S. Bank will help lead and mobilize more than 10,000 incredible volunteers who are vital to the success of the Games. As the Official Competitive Cheer Sponsor, U.S. Bank will support this exciting event which will take place at Ridder Arena at the University of Minnesota campus. Competitive Cheer was introduced to the USA Games in 2022 featuring 150 athletes and Unified partners, and now more than 14,000 cheer athletes and Unified partners annually train and compete in the United States. “Hosting the Special Olympics USA Games here in our headquarters market of Minneapolis is such an honor,” said Reba Dominski, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Social Responsibility Officer for U.S. Bank. “We are looking forward to showing these amazing athletes and their families just how supportive this community is and how excited we are to welcome them to the Twin Cities.” U.S. Bank joins a growing list of passionate partners for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. As a proud partner, U.S. Bank will also have many of its own employees playing a significant role in supporting the Games through volunteering at various venues and helping to champion inclusion throughout the Games. “We are deeply thankful for U.S. Bank’s collaboration in making the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games a reality,” said Christy Sovereign, Chief Executive Officer of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. “Their contribution empowers us to highlight the incredible human spirit, where competitive cheer and, most importantly, the tireless dedication of our many volunteers, will unite to celebrate the extraordinary abilities of our athletes.” The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will be one of the largest sporting events in the U.S. that year, bringing together thousands of athletes of all abilities, coaches, volunteers and fans from all 50 states. To learn more about the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, please visit 2026specialolympicsusagames.org.
 
About U.S. Bank U.S. Bancorp, with approximately 70,000 employees and $676 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses including consumer banking, business banking, commercial banking, institutional banking, payments and wealth management. U.S. Bancorp has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, community partnerships and customer service, including being named one of the 2025 World’s Most Ethical Companies and one of Fortune’s most admired superregional banks.
 
Learn more at usbank.com/about. About Special Olympics USA Games The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games—scheduled for June 20-26, 2026, across Minnesota’s Twin Cities with sports competitions at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine—is a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The USA Games, with co-presenting partners Jersey Mike’s Subs and United Healthcare, will be one of the biggest U.S. sporting events of the year, drawing tens of thousands of fans to celebrate the ability of over 3,000 incredible athletes from all 50 states as they compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. As a state with a long history of championing inclusion, the USA Games now bring an unrivaled opportunity to Minnesota to spark new energy around the Special Olympics movement and create a lasting legacy of positive change.  
 
Photo: Special Olympics USA Games

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Introducing the Apple Games app: A personalized home for games and playing with friends

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Introducing the Apple Games app- A personalized home for games and playing with friends

Apple Games is a new all-in-one destination for games and playing with friends on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled Apple Games, an all-new destination designed to help players jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends, turning even single-player games into shared experiences. The Games app makes it easier than ever for players to enjoy all their games in one convenient place and see what’s happening across their games, including major events and updates, so they never miss a moment.

The Home tab in the Apple Games app displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.

Here’s what developers are saying:

As my friends have grown up and moved away, I miss hearing about what they’re playing on their phones, and the Games app is a great way I can get a window back into their gaming worlds. The app also helps us seamlessly integrate and extend all of the social community features we’ve built into Puzzmo directly into the center of our player’s existing daily play routine.” — Zach Gage, indie developer and cofounder of Puzzmo

“The introduction of challenges and a new social layer marks a major leap forward for both developers and players. While creators stay focused on gameplay, these features bring people together in just a few taps, effortlessly deepening player engagement — especially important for games like Thronefall.” — Glib Platonov, cofounder of Doghowl Games

The Games app is going to be a game changer for playing on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The app makes it easy for us to create moments just for groups of friends. The new challenges feature works great and feels natural for our games on Apple Arcade, including our latest release, WHAT THE CLASH?, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it!” — Tim Garbos, creative director and cofounder of Triband.

The Games app is also the best way to experience Apple Arcade, Apple’s subscription service with more than 200 award-winning and highly rated games for the whole family, including Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Sneaky Sasquatch, and Mini Motorways.

Apple Arcade displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.

Launch Favorite Games, Discover New Ones

The Games app allows players to see all the games they have ever downloaded from the App Store for their iPhone and iPad, and brings together all the games they have on Mac.

The Library tab in Apple Games displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.

They can connect any compatible game controller for easy navigation around the app and to launch right into their games. Players can explore personalized recommendations based on games they’ve played, games their friends are playing, and games supporting Game Center features, that can be played together.

A white gaming controller with an iPhone 16 Pro displaying the Apple Games app.

Editorial collections also appear in the app to help players find new games, including some of the most exciting games on the App Store, such as Balatro, Crashlands 2, and DREDGE. If they are an Apple Arcade subscriber, players will see curated collections of the best games included in the catalog that help them get the most out of their subscription.

Recommendations displayed in the Home tab in Apple Games on iPhone 16 Pro.

Play Together 

Players now have all their Game Center friends and groups they’ve played with in one place, so they can easily enjoy their games together. They can see their shared gaming history, compare achievements, and send friends invite links and party codes using any messaging app, bringing them right into a competition or multiplayer match.

The Play Together tab in the Apple Games app displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.

The Games app introduces challenges, a new way to compete with friends in score-based showdowns. Developers that have Game Center leaderboards for their games can add these unique challenges that are catered to a smaller group of friends. Challenges can turn single-player games into shared experiences with friends, giving them even more ways to rally a group, crown a winner, and have a rematch.

A Play Together challenge displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.
The leaderboard after a challenge between friends in the Apple Games app displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.
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Players can invite friends to challenges by selecting their friends or contacts. Whether competing to see who can survive the most waves of enemies in Thronefall, or who can rack up the highest score in each week’s featured course in Skate City: New York, challenges unlock a whole new level of friendly competition.

Stay Up to Date with In-Game Events

The Games app introduces new features to help developers keep their players in the know about the latest game updates and can’t-miss events. Game pages in the app come to life, highlighting the latest activity for that specific game. Players can see what’s most relevant to them and the games they’re actively playing, front and center, like updates, live events, and timely activity from their friends.

Availability

The Games app is available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. The Games app will be released with the launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 this fall as a free software update. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.

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Mahindra EPC enables savings of 262 Crore Litres of Water and 8.4 MU of Energy in FY25

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Mahidra epc

Aims to create a positive impact based on water and power management systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation and other AgTech solutions Part of the Mahindra Group’s commitment to create a positive impact on society and the environment

 

Mahindra EPC Irrigation Limited, a pioneer in micro irrigation in India, has enabled savings of an estimated 262 crore litres of water and 8.4 MU (million units) of energy in FY’25. With a commitment to land restoration and drought resilience, Mahindra EPC achieved this feat through its customized micro irrigation systems, community irrigation and agricultural water management projects.

This achievement is an outcome of Mahindra EPC’s broader effort to “Do More with Less” and “Rejuvenating Nature”. This is a key pillar of Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Mandate and aims to safeguard natural resources and play a meaningful role in climate action.

Commenting on the achievement, Ramesh Ramachandran, Managing Director – Mahindra EPC Irrigation Ltd.“Putting farmers first, at Mahindra EPC we aim to drive widespread adoption of micro irrigation. With this milestone we not only enabled significant water savings, but also energy savings, all while continuing to make Indian farming more resilient. Underlining our dedication to environmental stewardship and farmer prosperity, this milestone aligns with the government’s goal of ‘Per Drop, More Crop’, as well as that of the Mahindra Group’s Sustainability Roadmap.”

Mahindra EPC’s innovation in irrigation technologies is part of a broader initiative to address critical issues such as land degradation and drought. By providing farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge for effective water management, Mahindra EPC plays a vital role in boosting agricultural productivity while preserving essential natural resources.

The company provides customized end-to-end water management solutions to individual farmers and communities and supports farmers with modern scientific solutions, through automation, alternative techniques and community related initiatives.

To deliver on various solutions Mahindra EPC has a strong network of over 1,000 channel partners which is supported by its branch offices spread across India. The company is also known for its quality services related to planning, design, installation and agronomy, and it also enables delivery of these services to farmers digitally.

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate. The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

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Analysis

Apple’s Indian Experiment: Can the iPhone Spark a Nation’s Innovation Renaissance

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Apple's Indian Experiment

As Apple deepens its footprint in India, a bigger question emerges—can India move from assembling iconic devices to inventing the next wave of global tech?

By The Cover Story World Global Desk
June 15, 2025


A Factory That Hums with More Than Assembly Lines

It started as a strategic shift. Seeking diversification beyond China, Apple began ramping up iPhone production in India. Now, almost one in five iPhones worldwide is assembled on Indian soil. But this is no longer just a manufacturing story—it’s a turning point in India’s economic and technological narrative.

Apple isn’t just assembling devices in India. It’s building an ecosystem.

Behind every polished phone lies a rising army of local engineers, developers, logistics professionals, and component suppliers. The question now is not whether India can build. It’s whether India can innovate—and whether Apple will be the unlikely spark that ignites that transformation.


Apple’s Ecosystem Effect: More Than Just Jobs

Apple has always been more than a manufacturer—it’s a system-builder. And in India, that system is starting to bear fruit. From industrial training centers to small and mid-sized suppliers learning to meet Cupertino’s famously exacting standards, Apple is indirectly catalyzing a wave of capability upgrades across the board.

When a $3 trillion brand arrives, it doesn’t just bring dollars. It brings discipline, design principles, and the pressure to think bigger.

And India is responding.

Can the iPhone Spark a Nation's Innovation Renaissance

Can the iPhone Spark a Nation’s Innovation Renaissance


The Rise of a New Tech Ambition

The Apple effect has galvanized other tech giants, startups, and policymakers to imagine a different future: not just assembling the world’s products, but inventing them. As Apple scales its operations—from assembly lines to developer academies and local app ecosystems—India’s own confidence in design-led innovation is rising.

Indian engineers who once supported backend systems are now contributing to core features, AI tools, and user experience design. The transfer of knowledge is slow, but real.

It’s not far-fetched to imagine a day when an iPhone feature is not only made in India—but imagined here.


From Digital Infrastructure to Digital Ingenuity

Apple’s expansion coincides with India’s bold digital leap. With hundreds of millions now plugged into mobile internet and a vibrant digital payment ecosystem, the conditions are ripe for innovation. The foundations—data access, payment rails, consumer appetite—are robust.

The challenge? Turning those digital roads into runways for takeoff.

Apple has shown that world-class products can be built in India. The next step is world-class ideas.


The R&D Gap: Still a Hurdle to Cross

Despite the momentum, India still trails global peers in research and development investment. While Apple contributes significantly to local employment and technology transfer, building an innovation economy will require bolder steps—deep-tech investments, stronger university-industry ties, and a regulatory environment that rewards invention.

What’s needed is a culture of experimentation—of failing forward. Apple’s presence helps, but the movement must be broader and deeper.


The Bigger Picture: Why Apple’s Bet Matters

Apple’s India story is about more than logistics or cost. It’s a vote of confidence in India’s ability to move up the value chain—from sweat to smarts.

If India succeeds, it won’t just be a nation where iPhones are made. It’ll be a place where ideas that power future generations of iPhones—and much more—are born.

In Apple’s glass and steel manufacturing floors, India sees its own reflection. Not just as a supplier, but as a creator.

And in that mirror lies the future.

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