10, Jul 2026
New Initiative Seeks to Empower India’s Next Generation of Scientists
New Delhi, July 10: RSI-India, supported by the Adani Group, has announced efforts to encourage scientific learning and nurture the next generation of Indian scientists through advanced educational opportunities and research exposure.
The initiative aims to identify and support talented students by providing them with access to mentorship, innovation platforms, and opportunities to engage with scientific research.
Through its programmes, RSI-India seeks to strengthen India’s science and technology ecosystem by encouraging curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving among young learners.
The initiative highlights the importance of developing scientific talent and creating a strong foundation for future innovations in areas critical to the country’s growth.
RSI-India’s efforts are expected to inspire more students to pursue careers in science, research, and technology while contributing to India’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation.
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- By Neel Achary
10, Jul 2026
Assam Budget 2026 Prioritises Youth, Infrastructure and Healthcare Expansion
Guwahati, July 10: The Assam government has presented a budget focused on employment generation, infrastructure development, healthcare improvement, and overall economic growth, outlining 10 major initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s development agenda.
The budget places strong emphasis on creating new job opportunities, supporting youth, and enhancing skill development programmes. It also prioritises infrastructure expansion, including improvements in connectivity and public facilities to support long-term growth.
Healthcare remains another key focus area, with proposed measures aimed at improving medical services, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and making quality treatment more accessible to people across the state.
The government said the initiatives are designed to promote inclusive growth, improve public services, and create better opportunities for citizens. The budget also reflects Assam’s focus on strengthening key sectors while addressing the needs of different communities.
Officials highlighted that the planned measures will support economic development, improve living standards, and accelerate Assam’s progress in the coming years.
10, Jul 2026
The UAE’s aviation sector showed its resilience and ability to effectively manage operational challenges and disruptions
10, Jul 2026
Small Businesses Set to Benefit from Faster Payment Mechanism Under TReDS
New Delhi, July 10: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has said that the TReDS settlement mandate will help accelerate payments to small businesses and improve their access to working capital.
The Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) enables MSMEs to convert their unpaid invoices into immediate funds by allowing them to receive payments from financiers before the actual due date. The new settlement mechanism is expected to make the process faster, smoother, and more efficient.
The ministry said the move will address one of the biggest challenges faced by MSMEs — delayed payments — and provide businesses with better liquidity to manage operations, expand capacity, and invest in growth.
Officials highlighted that improving cash flow for small enterprises will strengthen the MSME ecosystem and support entrepreneurship across the country.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to create a more supportive business environment for MSMEs and ensure timely access to finance for small and emerging enterprises.
10, Jul 2026
High-Alcohol Medicines Under New Regulatory Watch; Licensing Rules Proposed
New Delhi, July 10: The government has announced that formulations containing high levels of alcohol will require appropriate licences and prescriptions to ensure regulated use and prevent misuse.
Pic Credit: Pexel
The move aims to strengthen oversight of alcohol-based medicinal and healthcare products by bringing stricter controls on their manufacturing, distribution, and sale.
Under the proposed regulations, manufacturers and suppliers will need to follow specific compliance requirements, while consumers may be required to provide valid prescriptions for accessing certain high-alcohol formulations.
Officials said the step is part of efforts to improve safety standards, ensure responsible usage, and maintain better monitoring of products containing significant alcohol content.
The government is expected to issue further guidelines detailing the licensing process, regulatory requirements, and implementation framework for stakeholders.
10, Jul 2026
WeR1 Consultants Approved for Two Programmes Under SGX’s S$30 Million Value Unlock Initiative
SINGAPORE, July 10 – WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd (“WeR1”), a specialist in corporate strategy and investor relations, has been appointed by Singapore Exchange Limited (“SGX”) as a service provider for both programmes under the Value Unlock initiative designed to strengthen foundations and drive value creation among SGX-listed companies (“listcos”).
Founded in 1999, WeR1 has been approved for both the Equip and the Elevate programmes of the S$30 million MAS-SGX initiative under which Singapore listcos can avail themselves to grants to offset costs for professional services related to enhancing corporate strategies, sharpening investment narratives and deepening investor and media engagement, as well as costs for training programmes to strengthen capabilities.
WeR1 is launching three training programmes – Lining Your IR Calendar Effectively, Turning Crisis into Opportunity, and Specialist Writing for Financial Markets – under the Equip Grant, under which participating companies can claim 50% co-funding support of up to S$15,000 each.
For the Elevate Grant, WeR1 has been approved to offer investor relations (“IR”) services. Undervalued companies which intend to bridge the valuation gap can receive 50% co-funding support, capped at S$200,000 per listco, for this programme.
WeR1’s appointment reflects its 27-year proven track record of helping small- to mid-cap listcos, which often struggle with weak market visibility, in their financial communications. Led by former Reuters correspondent and Merrill Lynch equity analyst Lai Kwok Kin (“KK Lai”), the firm has supported dozens of listcos in the region for corporate strategy, IPO and crisis communications, and IR.
A core approach of WeR1 for the Elevate programme is its Corporate & Business Update (“CBU”) methodology, a disclosure-based narrative refresh designed for listcos with limited analyst coverage, uneven trading liquidity and low investor engagement. WeR1 has helped more than 30 companies articulate their corporate transformation, including Fu Yu Corporation and Zico Holdings.
KK Lai, WeR1’s Founder and Managing Director, said: “We are deeply honoured to have been approved for both programmes under the MAS-SGX Value Unlock Initiative. Many smaller listcos remain undervalued because they do not communicate with clarity and consistency. WeR1 intends to bring its experience and approaches to help these companies overcome the valuation gap and increase trading liquidity.”
WeR1 is inviting SGX-listed companies, particularly smaller Mainboard and Catalist issuers, to explore their eligibility under the Equip and Elevate programmes.
10, Jul 2026
University of Sydney awarded Australia-India grant for landmark music partnership
Musicians from Sydney Conservatorium of Music with musicians from India’s Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts at the 2024 Australia-India Youth Dialogue: l-r, Lu Liu (Sydney Con), Vladimir Gorbach (Sydney Con), Bindu Subramaniam (CEO of SaPa), Ambi Subramaniam (CCO of SaPa), Pirashanna Thevaraja
July 10: The University of Sydney has been awarded a 2026 Maitri Grant to support a landmark music partnership between Australia and India, creating new opportunities for students, educators and communities in both countries.
The $180,000 grant was awarded to the University’s Conservatoriu
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott said the partnership would help strengthen the University’s connection with communities across Sydney.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership is its potential to connect the University’s expertise in music and education with communities across Sydney,” said Professor Scott.
“By building relationships with Indian-Australian
India-Australia partnership
The Sydney Conservatorium project is one of 41 initiatives funded through the 2026 Maitri Grants Program, which supports projects that strengthen cultural, educational and research links between Australia and India.
The partnership reflects the growing importance of education, research and cultural exchange in the Australia-India relationship, creating new opportunities for students, educators and communities in both countries.
Minister for Education Jason Clare said education was one of the most important bridges between Australia and India.
He said of the Maitri Grants and the wider university projects around Australia: “This is bringing a world-class Australian education closer to home for more young Indians and creating new opportunities for our researchers to work together.”
Student experience
A key focus of the project is enriching the student experience.
Through the three-year partnership, Sydney Conservatorium of Music students will have opportunities to travel to India to learn alongside musicians, educators and students at Bengaluru’s Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa), a leading centre for music education, performance and intercultural learning in India.
The project will also bring Indian musicians and educators to Sydney, creating new opportunities for students to engage with Indian musical traditions through workshops, performances and creative collaborations at the Conservatorium’s Macquarie Street campus and future teaching facilities in Parramatta.
Students in Sydney will also learn from artists and educators from Sydney’s Indian diaspora community through workshops, performances and collaborations bringing Indian musical traditions to the heart of Conservatorium life. The partnership is expected to support community engagement activities for many years to come, extending the Conservatorium’s cultural engagement into communities with deep and enduring connections to Indian music and culture.
“This project represents a wonderful opportunity to rethink what a conservatorium can be,” said Dr Alex Chilvers, one of the four grant recipients from Sydney Conservatorium of Music. “Australia’s musical culture is enriched by extraordinary traditions that have travelled here with migrant communities, yet those traditions are not always reflected in the core of higher music education.
“We’re looking forward to learning alongside our colleagues at SaPa and working closely with Indian-Australian musicians to explore new ways of teaching, creating and understanding music. We hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship that benefits students, educators and communities in both countries.”
Sydney Conservatorium grant recipients, left to right: Dr Anthony Chmiel, Dr Lu Liu, Dr Alex Chilvers and Ms Kirsty McCahon. Photo: Grace Sui/University of Sydney
The project, A Partnership for Indian-Australian Music, Diaspora Empowerment, and Cultural Exchange, is led by Sydney Conservatorium academics Dr Alex Chilvers, Dr Lu Liu, Dr Anthony Chmiel and Ms Kirsty McCahon (International Partnerships and Events).
The project will support staff exchanges, curriculum development and new approaches to teaching music across cultures. Through the collaboration, educators will develop new curriculum resources, teaching assets and learning materials designed for conservatorium and music programs in both countries, creating a lasting educational legacy for students in Australia and India.
Professor Anna Reid, Dean and Head of School at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, said the project builds on the Conservatorium’s commitment to international collaboration and intercultural learning.
“This partnership will open up extraordinary opportunities for our students to learn directly from musicians, educators and communities in both Australia and India,” Professor Reid said. “Music has always been a powerful way to build understanding across cultures, and we’re excited to create new opportunities for students to play together, learn from one another and engage deeply with Indian musical traditions. The experiences and relationships that grow from this partnership will enrich our Conservatorium community for years to come.”
Bindu Subramaniam, co-founder and CEO of the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts, welcomed the partnership.
“Our partnership with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music has the potential to bring knowledge and understanding of Indian music into mainstream higher education in Australia. It will create opportunities for students, artists and educators in both countries to learn from one another and deepen cultural understanding through music.”
Left to right: Dr Lu Liu (Sydney Conservatorium of Music), Associate Professor Vladimir Gorbach (Sydney Conservatorium of Music), Bindu Subramaniam (CEO of SaPa), Ambi Subramaniam (CCO of SaPa), with musicians from SaPa Academy at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2024. Photo: Tim Dwyer
SaPa, headquartered in Bengaluru, India, teaches music to students of all ages and works with over 40,000 children annually as part of its in-schools program. The organisation is recognised for its innovative approach to integrating Indian and Western music traditions and fostering intercultural understanding through music education.
The Maitri Grants Program – Sanskrit for “friendship” – supports projects strengthening the Australia-India relationship through cultural, educational, research and business collaboration. The program is administered by the Australian Government’s Centre for Australia-India Relations.
10, Jul 2026
Airties to Acquire Aprecomm to Accelerate Growth in Emerging Markets & Expand Portfolio of AI-Driven Connectivity Experience Management Solutions to ISPs
Bengaluru, July 10: Airties, a global leader of AI-driven software that improves the connectivity experience for ISPs’ subscribers, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aprecomm, a leading provider of intuitive, self-healing network and customer experience solutions. The acquisition accelerates Airties’ geographic expansion serving broadband operators in high-growth regions and benefits from synergies across product portfolios, R&D, and added AI expertise from Aprecomm to further serve ISPs around the world. Financial details were not disclosed.
Aprecomm, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bengaluru, India, has built a reputation for its intuitive, self-healing Wi-Fi and broadband network solutions for ISPs. Aprecomm allows ISPs to improve connectivity through AI-driven software services that deliver real-time insights and optimizations to reduce operational costs and increase customer satisfaction. Today, Aprecomm manages more than seven million homes and business locations, serving more than 50 ISPs worldwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aprecomm will operate as a subsidiary of Airties following the close of the deal. Aprecomm will continue to provide tailored solutions to serve its customers and the markets in which it operates.
“Aprecomm is very well positioned in growth markets like India and Southeast Asia, so we now have an unmatched foundation to accelerate our expansion further across Asia-Pacific and into South America, two markets where demand for intelligent connectivity is growing at extraordinary speed,” said Metin Taskin, CEO and Co-Founder of Airties. “In addition, the acquisition is aligned with our vision of helping ISPs move to agentic AI platforms for the connected home, where the network autonomously anticipates, adapts and acts to provide the best broadband connectivity experience, lower churn and unlock new revenue for ISPs.”
“Joining Airties, the industry’s pioneer and leader in advancing connectivity experience, is a strong validation of the vision that has shaped Aprecomm from the start,” said Pramod Gummaraj, CEO and Co-Founder of Aprecomm. “Aprecomm was built with the belief that every service provider should be able to deliver a far more intelligent and reliable broadband experience. This combination gives us a broader platform to take that vision further and extend our impact across more markets globally.”
“This combination brings together Airties’ global reach and Aprecomm’s AI-native platform. With our edge AI, cloud-native architecture, and vendor-agnostic design, we have a strong foundation to deliver smarter, more scalable connectivity experiences to service providers worldwide,” said Guharajan Sivakumar, CTO and Co-Founder of Aprecomm.
The acquisition brings complementary go-to-market capabilities for ISPs across the globe. Aprecomm’s software suite enables service providers to deliver intuitive, self-healing networks and improved in-home broadband experiences. Distinctively, Aprecomm’s product portfolio was purpose-built to address the economics and ARPU profiles of ISPs in developing markets, while delivering core improvements to home connectivity for consumers. Conversely, many of the world’s leading Tier-1 operators rely upon Airties’ proven AI-powered Connectivity Experience Management Platform to optimize performance, lower churn, reduce expenses, boost satisfaction, unlock new revenue, and build stronger customer relationships. Airties complete product suite, including Airties Home, Airties Pro, and Airties Multi is designed to provide the performance, features, scale, and flexibility required to serve Tier-1 operators across their fibre, cable/DSL, and fixed wireless access (FWA) footprints. Having different offers available underneath the Airties or Aprecomm banners will enable Airties to customize solutions and address a wide range of customer requirements and market dynamics.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close later in 2026. Additional details about Airties is at www.airties.com, and more about Aprecomm is at https://aprecomm.ai/.
10, Jul 2026
Beyond Fuel Prices: E20 Brings Energy and Agricultural Benefits, Says Govt
New Delhi, July 10: The government has said that while E20 fuel may appear costlier at current crude oil prices, its long-term benefits include reducing India’s dependence on imported oil, saving foreign exchange, and increasing farmers’ income.
E20, a blend of 20 per cent ethanol with petrol, is part of India’s strategy to promote cleaner fuel alternatives and reduce reliance on crude oil imports. Officials highlighted that greater ethanol blending will help lower the country’s fuel import burden and improve energy security.
The government said the ethanol programme is also creating new opportunities for farmers by providing an additional market for agricultural produce used in ethanol production, thereby supporting rural incomes.
Although the price impact of E20 depends on global crude oil prices and market conditions, authorities emphasized that the broader economic benefits of the programme extend beyond fuel costs.
The initiative is expected to support India’s transition towards cleaner energy, strengthen the agricultural economy, and contribute to the country’s goal of reducing fossil fuel dependence.
10, Jul 2026
Breathe Battery Technologies’ Dr Ian Campbell Presented with Princess Royal Silver Medal
London, July 10 – Dr Ian Campbell, co-founder of Breathe Battery Technologies, was presented with The Princess Royal Silver Medal last night by HRH The Princess Royal at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Awards Dinner in London.
His win was announced last week, and the medal is one of the Academy’s most prestigious individual honours, recognising an outstanding personal contribution to UK engineering by an early- to mid-career engineer.
Ian received the medal alongside fellow 2026 honourees Dr Liucheng Guo (TG0) and Professor Robert Thomson FREng (Heriot-Watt University).
Breathe Battery Technologies is a London-based company whose software simulates the inner workings of batteries to optimise charging and design without any hardware changes.
Its technology has been adopted by major automotive and technology partners including Volvo Cars, OPPO and Bang & Olufsen.
Speaking when his win was announced last week, Dr Ian Campbell said:
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the Princess Royal Silver Medal. Climate change and air pollution continue to threaten health and livelihoods worldwide. By combining battery physics simulation with materials libraries built in industrial-scale labs, we can screen millions of potential designs and rapidly optimise the most promising candidates using advanced software. This capability is helping to bring cleaner, quieter, healthier and more affordable cars, trucks and energy storage systems to market faster.”
