Apple to take a bigger bite from Indian smartphone market

Tech giant Apple is “investing more energy in India” to cash in on the booming smartphone market in the country, even as global sales of the iconic iPhone grew at its slowest pace.

The California-based company, which saw total iPhone sales growing 76 per cent in the country, said it will continue to invest in markets like India in the long-term.

“India’s growth, as you know, is very good. It’s quickly becoming the fastest growing BRIC country. It’s the third largest smartphone market in the world, behind China and the US,” Apple CEO Tim Cook, said on an investor call.

After years of rocketing growth, Apple reported the slowest sales ever of its market-leading iPhone for the quarter ended December 26.

It sold a record 74.8 million iPhones, but only fractionally higher than the 74.5 million in the same period last year and the slowest growth since the iconic handsets were introduced in 2007.

However, it posted a record quarterly profit with net income growing 2 per cent year-on-year at USD 18.4 billion, while revenue was also up at USD 75.9 billion.

Recently, Apple has sent an application to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) for approval for setting up retail outlets in India.

India is one of fastest growing handset markets globally and is poised to overtake the US soon.

According to research firm IDC, shipments in India grew 21.4% year-on-year to 28.3 million units in the July-September 2015 quarter.

Samsung led the tally with 24 per cent share, followed by Micromax (16.7 per cent), Intex (10.8 per cent), Lenovo Group - Lenovo and Motorola (9.5 per cent) and Lava (4.7 per cent).

Comparing India with the Chinese market, Mr. Cook said the population of India is incredibly young.

“I think of the China age being young, at 36, 37 and so 27 (median age in India) is unbelievable. Almost half the people in India are below 25. And so I see the demographics there also being incredibly great for a consumer brand and for people that really want the best products,” he said.

He said revenues from India were up 38 per cent and in constant currency, the growth was 48 per cent.

“So it’s a very rapidly expanding country. And I think the government in India is very interested in economic reforms and so forth that I think all speak to a really good business environment for the future,” he said.

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G20 for joint steps to fight terrorism

The crisis in Syria, the base to the Islamic State, which was already high on the G20 Summit’s agenda, in the wake of the attacks by it in Paris, took center stage at the talks between world leaders in the Turkish seaside resort city of Antalya, not far from the Syrian border. G20 leaders on arriving here for the summit, including U.S. President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called for joint efforts to combat terrorism.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint news conference on Sunday with Mr. Obama, ahead of the G20 Summit, that he expected the meeting to produce a “strong statement” on the fight against terrorism. “We will, of course, carry on with our discussions at the G20 Summit within the predetermined agenda; however, we will put a strong emphasis on having a firm stance on international terrorism,” he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he would soon present to the member-states a comprehensive plan to prevent violent extremism.

The leaders will deliberate on terrorism and migration over a working dinner. Traditionally, the forum has primarily discussed global economic issues but the skies had been darkened by the horrific attack in Paris just a day and half ago, Mr. Obama said. “As was true with the terrible attacks that took place in Ankara, the killing of innocent people based on a twisted ideology is an attack not just on France, not just on Turkey, but it’s an attack on the civilised world,” he said.

United against terror: Modi

Mr. Modi, in his lead intervention at the opening session of the G20 Summit, said the leaders were united in condemning the barbaric attacks in Paris, the recent bombings in Ankara and Lebanon.

Earlier, at a meeting of the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — nations hosted by Mr. Putin, Mr. Modi demanded that the G20 push for stronger, coordinated global action for putting an end to finance, supplies and communication channels of terrorists and an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. He also sought a special international legal regime to take on terrorist activities and cooperation for the prevention of the use of cyber networks by terrorist groups.

The killing of at least 129 people in Paris on Friday by suicide bombers and gunmen linked to the Islamic State cast a shadow on the two-day summit in Antalya, further raising pressure on the G20 leaders to increase cooperation on fighting terror. Mr. Ban told presspersons that he wished to stress to world leaders that the response needed to be robust but always within the rule of law and with respect for human rights “otherwise we will only fan the fire we are trying to put out.” He said there was a need to address the underline drivers of violent extremism. “No grievance or cause can justify such violence … Those who claim to be acting in the name of religion are only harming their religion … It is tragic to see so many young men so radicalised that they are willing to lose their lives.”

President Putin said: “We have all seen the horror that took place recently in Paris and we sympathies with the affected people ... But we are always in favour of joining efforts to deal effectively with the terrorist threat ... Of course it is necessary to act in strict accordance with the United Nations.”

Coordinating action against Daesh should be the G20’s aim, said Union President Donald Tusk. “Cooperation between us and Russia is a crucial one.”

Mr. Xi expressed shock as also solidarity over both the Paris attacks and the Russian plane disaster. “We will work more closely with the international community to reject and fight terrorism in all its manifestations,” he said.

Earlier, at a meeting ahead of the joint news conference, President Obama and President Erdogan discussed the conflict in Syria and the efforts to secure Turkey’s borders. They also talked about the refugee crisis affecting Turkey and Europe as well as the progress made in Vienna, where, ahead of Mr. Obama’s arrival in Antalya, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed with his counterparts from other countries, including Russia, on a road map for political transition in Syria aimed at ending the over 4-year-long civil war.

“The discussion we had was very helpful in continuing to coordinate work that we are doing together,” Mr. Obama told the conference.

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BRICS can give shape to G20: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday strongly condemned the dreadful acts of terrorism in Paris and expressed deepest sympathy and support to Russia for the loss of life in Sinai. He spoke of the need for a united global effort to combat terrorism has never been more urgent and called for making this a priority for BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - nations.

Ankara and Beirut are also reminders of terror's growing spread and impact, Mr. Modi said in his opening address at a BRICS nations leaders meeting hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, here in Antalya, ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit that starts later this afternoon.

“The entire humanity must stand together as one against terrorism,” Mr. Modi said at the meeting that is being seen as a signal from the BRICS nations to the developed countries of their rising significance in global matters.

There was a time when the logic of BRICS and its lasting capacity were being questioned, Mr. Modi said. “We have provided proof of the relevance and value of BRICS through our actions…and, this has come at a time of huge global challenges”.

The New Development Bank, the Currency Reserve Arrangement, Strategy for BRICS Economic Cooperation are clear evidence of the BRICS’ vision and resolve, said Mr. Modi. “Together, we can also give shape to G20.”

The meeting was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma and President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff.

Speaking of India’s imminent assumption of the chairmanship of BRICS from 1st February, 2016, the Prime Minister said: “India attaches the highest importance to BRICS”.

The theme of India's BRICS Chairmanship will be “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions” or 'BRICS'.

Mr. Modi also assured China of India’s support during its presidency of G20. China is set to take over the rotating presidency of the G20 starting in December 2015.

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Sharif, Modi wave at each other at UN peacekeeping summit

Reflecting a chill in bilateral relations, waving at each other was all that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif did today as they attended the UN peacekeeping summit.

Assembling for the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping hosted by US President Barack Obama, Mr. Modi walked into the conference hall first and took his seat at the right-side of the horse-shoe shaped table in chamber hall.

Mr. Sharif walked in a few minutes later and took his seat right across from Mr. Modi at the left-side of the table. The two leaders did not immediately wave or smile at each other.

Just minutes before the programme was about to begin, Mr. Sharif waved at Mr. Modi, who on seeing Mr. Sharif waving at him, smiled back and responded with a wave. After a brief pause, Mr. Modi waved again to Mr. Sharif, who smiled back and nodded his head.

Apart from the wave, there was no other interaction or gesture between the two leaders.

Since they had reached the chamber just minutes before the summit was to begin, they took their seats and did not walk around the room to meet or greet any other leaders present. They clapped at the end of each other’s speech.

On Mr. sSharif’s side of the table was seated US President Barack Obama, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leaders from Rwanda, Ethiopia.

On Mr. Modi’s side were the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders from France and Indonesia. Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif were in the chamber for almost an hour and a half and the Indian leader left immediately after addressing the summit. He did not walk up to any leader to shake hands. Mr. Sharif left the summit about 10-15 minutes after Mr. Modi.

Before taking his seat next to Indian leader, Mr. Abe had walked up to him and cordially shook his hands.

Mr. Modi, sitting in his chair, also smiled back and shook hands with the Japanese leader.

Mr. Sharif and Mr. Modi were staying in the same hotel and the summit was the only platform where they were under one roof during their stay in the city for the UN General Assembly.

Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif had last met in Ufa, Russia, in July on the sidelines of the BRICS and SCO summits. India-Pak ties are going through a chill particularly after last month’s cancellation of NSA-level talks following differences over the agenda proposed by Islamabad, and a planned meeting between Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz.

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