Fitch Group's BMI forecasts India's growth to slow to 6.6% in fiscal year 2027

Microsoft has reportedly increased the prices of Windows 11 OEM licenses, which could make personal computers more expensive. Although PC prices are already under pressure due to the RAM and storage chip crisis, the situation may worsen in the coming weeks.

OEM licenses are specifically intended for computer manufacturers; they allow the operating system to come pre-installed on machines like laptops. The value of this license is incorporated into the final equipment price, eliminating the need for separate purchase.

The cost of these OEM licenses is influenced by several factors, including the volume of negotiated licenses, the destination country (due to taxes or exchange rates), and the type of hardware, since more advanced processors generally have higher pricing.

Although adjustments to OEM licenses are negotiated directly with manufacturers and are therefore rarely disclosed publicly, the Taiwanese portal United Daily News reported receiving information from executives of PC brands. According to these executives, Microsoft implemented increases in the price of Windows OEM licenses in July of this year, ranging between 7% and 10%.

These same executives indicated that while readjustments occur annually, the increase in 2026 was more significant compared to previous years. Since Microsoft has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, there is no definitive confirmation.

If the price increase is confirmed, one hypothesis raised is that the applied percentages might be considering the company's expenses for developing artificial intelligence functionalities.

It is important to note that the impact of this change varies by country. However, manufacturers state that, generally, these adjustments are already being passed on to final products. Consumers notice the increase in PC prices but tend to attribute this rise to increasing costs of RAM and storage solutions.

Regarding the magnitude of this increase, the answer depends on the specific market or brand. However, Liao Yi-hsiang, general manager of the systems division at Asus, clarified that in Taiwan, the brand's computers saw an increase of approximately 30% between the fourth quarter of 2025 and May 2026. With the adjustment in Windows licenses, another price increase is expected to be recorded in the current quarter.

The 128 GB Galaxy Tab S10 Lite Wi-Fi is being offered for R$ 2,199, allowing payment in up to 12 interest-free installments, an exclusive offer for Amazon Prime members. This Samsung tablet, designed to assist with studies, features a 90 Hz screen and comes with the S Pen stylus in the box, representing a 21% saving compared to its original price of R$ 2,799.

Although it is a more basic model within the Tab S10 line, the Lite model has specifications adequate for handling daily activities, making it particularly useful in learning environments, such as classrooms.

The 10.9-inch LCD screen of the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite operates at a 90 Hz frequency, providing ample space to run applications and view documents with great fluidity during transitions between them. The set comes with the S Pen for notes and drawings, as well as a case that also serves as a stand.

Performance is supported by the Exynos 1380 processor and 6 GB of RAM, which ensures good operation of educational applications. Additionally, the 128 GB internal storage can be expanded using microSD cards with capacities up to 2 TB.

In terms of cameras, the device features a 5 MP front camera, considered good quality for video calls among Samsung's latest tablets, and an 8 MP main rear camera, capable of capturing documents and notes with sharpness. Both cameras record in Full HD.

The 8,000 mAh battery offers up to 16 hours of video playback, as specified by Samsung, and supports 25 W fast charging via USB-C (although the charger included in the box is 15 W). This allows the device to be used during classes at school or university without worrying about running out of power.

The 128 GB Galaxy Tab S10 Lite Wi-Fi, with the promotional price of R$ 2,199 in up to 12 interest-free installments exclusively for Amazon Prime, features Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and will receive software updates up to Android 22.

Credito Emiliano Bank (Credem), located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, has been known for decades as the 'cheese bank' due to its acceptance of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheels as collateral for loans. However, the bank is currently facing difficulties caused by heatwaves.

Credem's vault holds over half a million wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, with an estimated total value exceeding 300 million euros. These stocks are used as guarantees for issuing loans to local dairy farms—a practice that has existed since 1953.

The process is quite simple: after receiving unripened wheels from local producers, Credem's subsidiary, Magazzini Generali delle Tagliate, handles their aging in two warehouses in Reggio Emilia and Modena. As explained by the American publication Fortune, producers typically receive an advance of 60% to 80% of the cost of one wheel.

Currently, producers can also store the cheese rounds as collateral themselves, which allows the bank to double its lending potential.

Overall, Italy produces about four million units of Parmigiano Reggiano annually, and 'cheese banks' hold approximately 500,000 of them, Giancarlo Ravanetti reported in an interview with CNN International. Nevertheless, maintaining this amount of cheese at ideal temperatures has become more expensive, especially against the backdrop of a roughly 30% increase in daily energy consumption due to record heatwaves in Europe.

Furthermore, climate change is negatively affecting milk supplies from producers. Since cows rest more and eat less, milk production is decreasing by 10% annually. Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, explained that 'extreme heat affects the quality and quantity of milk.'

Consequently, if producers have less milk, they also have less cheese to deposit with the bank, which complicates obtaining loans.