July 28, 2025
Philanthropic Foundation Teams with First Ladies to Boost Fertility Care and Fight Infertility Stigma Globally
A philanthropic foundation has partnered with African and Asian First Ladies to enhance fertility care capacity across multiple countries by training local embryologists and reproductive specialists. The foundation has awarded over 700 scholarships for advanced training in fertility and reproductive medicine to healthcare professionals from 41 countries. It also launched a campaign to break infertility stigma, promote infertility prevention, and raise awareness of male infertility through educational films, media training, and community outreach. Additionally, the foundation supports infertile women by providing business training to foster economic independence. The initiative includes culturally adapted children's storybooks and music to address social stigma and domestic violence linked to infertility. The foundation collaborates with governments and media to promote equitable access to reproductive healthcare and empower women, aiming to reduce discrimination and improve quality of life for infertile individuals in underserved regions.
July 28, 2025
Robotic Neurointervention Trial Shows Equal Safety, Cuts Operator Radiation by 96% Under GCP Standards
A multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated a neurointerventional robotic system developed by a Chinese biomedical company in collaboration with several hospitals. The trial, conducted under Good Clinical Practice standards and registered as NCT05778214, enrolled 128 patients undergoing cerebral angiography, comparing robot-assisted procedures to conventional manual operations. The study demonstrated that the robotic system is non-inferior in safety and efficacy, achieving 100% clinical success in both groups, while reducing the primary operator's radiation exposure by 96% without increasing patient risk. The system received regulatory market authorization in August 2024. Technical innovations include a master-slave architecture and a proprietary catheter interface enabling precise control. The company plans further product iterations and regulatory submissions to expand the system's neurointerventional applications. This trial's publication in a leading international neurointerventional journal marks a significant milestone for robotic-assisted neurovascular procedures and supports the system's potential to become a standard clinical tool globally.
July 28, 2025
AI-Powered Merchant Onboarding Suite Automates Verification, Classification, and Risk Management Under AML/KYC Rules
A payments infrastructure provider has launched an AI-driven Merchant Onboarding, Verification, and Classification Suite designed to enhance compliance, reduce fraud, and expedite the onboarding process for banks and payment aggregators. The platform uses AI and machine learning to assess merchant risk in real time, verify merchant data through trusted sources, and automate merchant classification and MCC code mapping. It enables institutions to set transaction limits based on risk scores, reclassify merchants in bulk, and maintain adherence to AML/KYC regulations and central bank guidelines. The solution aims to mitigate risk by flagging high-risk merchants, protect revenue by preventing misclassification, and improve operational efficiency by automating manual processes. This suite supports acquiring institutions in building compliant, low-risk merchant portfolios and is available for deployment to modernize payment infrastructure operations.
July 28, 2025
Industrial production growth slows to 1.5% in June 2025, hit by mining and power sector declines
Industrial production growth in the referenced country declined to 1.5 percent in June 2025, marking a 10-month low primarily due to decreased output in the mining and power sectors, which were affected by early monsoon rains. Manufacturing output showed a slight increase to 3.9 percent compared to the previous year. Mining production fell by 8.7 percent, reversing a prior growth of 10.3 percent, while power production dropped by 2.6 percent from an earlier growth of 8.6 percent. The overall industrial production growth for the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2026 was 2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in the same period the previous year. The National Statistics Office also revised May's industrial growth upward to 1.9 percent from an earlier estimate of 1.2 percent.
July 28, 2025
Jewellery Brand Offers Limited-Time Discount on 22KT and 18KT Gold with Savings per Gram
A leading jewellery brand has launched a limited-time promotional offer allowing customers to purchase handcrafted gold jewellery at significantly reduced rates compared to current market prices, with savings of approximately INR 1455 per gram for 22KT gold and INR 1292 per gram for 18KT gold. The offer, valid until mid-August 2025, applies to syndicate uncut diamond or Polki jewellery and is available both in-store and online nationwide. The brand's business model avoids hedging gold with banks, enabling direct transfer of procurement and manufacturing cost savings to customers. This initiative aims to provide genuine value, enhance accessibility to luxury jewellery, and simplify the buying experience while maintaining craftsmanship and authenticity. The brand plans further expansion across multiple cities following positive consumer response to a similar previous campaign.
July 28, 2025
RBI invites feedback on draft Master Direction for Business Authorization of Co-operative Banks until August 25, 2025
The Reserve Bank has issued a draft Master Direction concerning Business Authorization for Co-operative Banks, inviting public and stakeholder comments until August 25, 2025. Feedback can be submitted via the RBI's official website or by mail to the Chief General Manager at the Department of Regulation, Central Office. This initiative aims to regulate and standardize business authorization processes for co-operative banks.
July 28, 2025
IT firm to cut 12,000 jobs amid shift to AI and tech focus, with support for affected employees
The IT Ministry is monitoring the decision of a major IT services firm to lay off over 12,000 employees, approximately two percent of its global workforce, primarily affecting middle and senior-level staff. The firm attributes the layoffs to a strategic shift towards becoming a "future-ready organisation," focusing on technology investment, AI deployment, market expansion, and workforce realignment. Despite recent workforce growth, the company plans to release employees whose redeployment is not feasible, while providing benefits, outplacement, counseling, and support. The ministry is engaging with the company to understand the underlying causes and emphasizes employment growth through initiatives like Employment Linked Incentive, alongside skilling and reskilling efforts.
July 28, 2025
Domestic Currency Drops 15 Paise to 86.67 Amid Dollar Demand and Trade Talk Uncertainty
The domestic currency depreciated against the US dollar, closing 15 paise lower at 86.67 amid sustained month-end dollar demand from importers and cautious investor sentiment ahead of pending trade negotiations between two major economies set for August 1. The decline was influenced by a strengthening dollar following a recent trade deal between the EU and the US, foreign fund sell-offs in the domestic market, and negative trends in local equity indices. Market participants remain wary of upcoming monetary policy decisions by the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. The foreign exchange reserves decreased by over one billion USD during the week ending July 18, continuing a recent downward trend. Uncertainty around the trade talks poses risks to exporters and may maintain pressure on the currency until a resolution is reached.
July 28, 2025
Markets slide nearly 1% amid private bank profit drop and trade deal uncertainty, with mixed global market results
Stock markets experienced a decline for the third consecutive day, with major indices falling nearly 1 percent due to significant selling pressure on a leading private bank and uncertainty surrounding an international trade agreement. The bank reported a substantial drop in quarterly net profit compared to the previous year, citing challenges in its retail commercial vehicle segment linked to adverse economic conditions. Other prominent companies also saw declines, while a few firms recorded gains. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth a considerable amount recently. Regional markets showed mixed results, with some Asian indices closing lower and others higher, while European and US markets ended positively. Additionally, global oil prices increased modestly during this period.
July 28, 2025
Regional Bank Reports Record Profit with Growth in Agri Loans and New Term Loan Scheme
A regional bank reported a record quarterly profit driven by increased lending in agriculture and retail sectors. The bank introduced a new all-purpose term loan for agriculture, resulting in significant growth surpassing major competitors. It set a target to exceed Rs 5,000 crore in agricultural loans for the fiscal year. Retail loan business outside its primary region also saw substantial growth, particularly in home and auto loans, while the bank reduced exposure to the corporate sector due to competitive pressures. The bank allocated Rs 87 crore towards investment in a regional rural bank following a merger, which slightly impacted net profit. Internal process improvements, including centralized processing for various loan segments, were implemented to support sustained business growth.
July 28, 2025
Engineering Firm Invests Rs 500 Crore to Launch Copper-Clad Laminate Plant, Creating 350 Jobs and Cutting Imports
An engineering and manufacturing company has launched a new business division focused on producing high-performance base materials for printed circuit boards. The company is investing approximately Rs 500 crore to establish a copper-clad laminate manufacturing facility in Karnataka, expected to generate around 350 jobs. This facility aims to produce over 6 million sheets of copper-clad laminates and related materials, addressing the current reliance on imports for these products. The initiative is supported by the state government and central ministry, intending to enhance supply chain resilience and boost competitiveness in sectors including telecommunications, automotive electronics, consumer devices, industrial systems, and AI infrastructure.
July 28, 2025
Opposition Blames Tax Bias and GST Flaws for Falling Investment and Factory Closures
An opposition party criticized the government for a significant decline in net foreign direct investment and a lack of domestic investor confidence, attributing these issues to alleged discriminatory tax policies and favoritism toward select business groups. The party highlighted that private sector investment remains sluggish despite previous corporate tax cuts and pointed to stagnant wages and a flawed goods and services tax system as factors hindering market growth. Additionally, it accused the government of failing to protect domestic industries from cheap imports, particularly from a neighboring country, resulting in factory closures and reduced investment opportunities. The party called on the government to support incomes, reform tax policies, overhaul the GST framework, and implement measures to shield local industries from unfair foreign competition.
July 28, 2025
EU-US agree on 15% tariffs for most EU exports to US to avoid higher duties and support investment fund
The European Union and the United States reached a trade agreement that sets tariffs on most EU exports to the US at 15 percent, up from a previous 1 percent, avoiding higher import duties that could have disrupted global economies. The deal, announced following a meeting between US and EU leaders, remains under negotiation with no formal written agreement yet. The arrangement aims to facilitate a significant investment fund directed by the US administration. Concurrently, trade talks between the US and China continue amid mixed market reactions in Asia. The agreement follows recent US trade deals with other countries and precedes an upcoming deadline for further negotiations. The Federal Reserve is also expected to consider interest rate decisions in light of these developments and their potential economic impact.
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