9, Jul 2026
India, Australia deepen energy partnership with uranium trade agreement
July 9: India and Australia have taken a major step towards strengthening their energy cooperation with the signing of a new agreement aimed at enhancing energy security and paving the way for expanded uranium trade between the two nations.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in the growing strategic partnership between India and Australia, with both countries focusing on long-term collaboration in the energy sector. The move is expected to support India’s efforts to diversify its energy sources while strengthening bilateral ties.
Australian leaders welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and reaffirmed their commitment to building a deeper partnership with India across trade, investment, technology, and energy. The discussions highlighted the shared vision of both countries to promote secure and sustainable energy solutions.
The latest development reflects the steady expansion of India-Australia relations, with cooperation growing across multiple sectors and creating new opportunities for economic and strategic collaboration between the two nations.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
9, Jul 2026
FICCI opposes blanket US tariff, advocates evidence-based action on forced labour
July 9: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the United States to reconsider its proposed economy-wide tariff on Indian imports, stating that an evidence-based and sector-specific approach would be more effective in addressing concerns related to forced labour.
Presenting the views of Indian industry during a hearing before the US Trade Representative (USTR), FICCI reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating forced labour from global supply chains. The industry body, however, expressed concerns over the proposal to impose a uniform 12.5% tariff across all Indian products and sectors, arguing that such a measure does not distinguish between compliant and non-compliant industries.
FICCI stressed that targeted enforcement based on credible evidence, combined with stronger collaboration between governments and businesses, would better address labour rights issues while minimising disruptions to legitimate trade. It also noted that broad-based tariffs could adversely affect businesses, supply chains, and consumers without effectively addressing the underlying concerns.
The industry body called for continued dialogue between India and the United States to strengthen trade relations while promoting responsible business practices and internationally accepted labour standards.
9, Jul 2026
PM Modi welcomes AustralianSuper’s Dollar 500 million India investment
Pic Credit: https://x.com/narendramodi
July 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed AustralianSuper’s planned $500 million investment in India, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s long-term growth potential and investment environment. The investment reflects growing interest from global institutional investors in India’s expanding economy.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed his government’s commitment to deepening economic ties with India, saying Australia will continue working closely with its strategic partner to strengthen trade, investment, and business cooperation.
AustralianSuper CEO Paul Schroder praised Prime Minister Modi’s understanding of business and long-term investing, highlighting India’s strong growth prospects and the fund’s confidence in expanding its investments in the country. The announcement underscores the strengthening India-Australia economic partnership and growing collaboration between the two nations.
9, Jul 2026
India advances free trade agenda after breakthrough EU deal
July 9: India is stepping up efforts to expand its network of free trade agreements (FTAs) following the landmark trade pact with the European Union, marking a significant milestone in the country’s global trade strategy. The agreement is expected to strengthen India’s access to international markets, boost exports, and attract greater foreign investment.
Building on this momentum, the government is pursuing trade negotiations with several key economies to deepen economic ties and create new opportunities for Indian businesses. Expanding the FTA network is aimed at improving market access for goods and services, enhancing supply chain integration, and increasing India’s competitiveness in global trade.
The broader strategy aligns with India’s vision of becoming a leading global manufacturing and export hub while supporting long-term economic growth. Businesses across sectors are expected to benefit from reduced trade barriers, improved market access, and stronger cross-border commercial partnerships as India advances its trade agenda.
9, Jul 2026
Indian shares open higher as investors buy on dips despite geopolitical concerns
July 9: Indian equity markets opened on a positive note on Thursday, with benchmark indices recovering from the previous session’s decline as investors returned to buy stocks at attractive valuations. The gains reflected improved risk appetite in early trading, although caution persisted amid renewed geopolitical tensions.
Most sectoral indices traded in positive territory, led by gains in pharma and healthcare stocks, while IT shares remained subdued ahead of the quarterly earnings season. Investors continued to monitor developments in global crude oil prices and broader macroeconomic trends, which are expected to influence market sentiment in the coming sessions.
Market participants are also focusing on the upcoming corporate earnings announcements for further cues on the strength of the economic recovery and the outlook for Indian equities.
9, Jul 2026
SUD Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance Reaches Over 3,000 Citizens Across Goa Through Statewide Insurance Awareness Campaign
Panaji, July 9: Reinforcing the Government of India’s vision of “Insurance for All by 2047,” Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance , the Lead Life Insurer for Goa, successfully conducted a comprehensive insurance awareness campaign across the state during the first quarter of FY 2026–27. The initiative reached more than 3,000 citizens through grassroots awareness programs, financial literacy sessions, interactive community engagements, and free health check-up camps.
The campaign aimed to strengthen insurance awareness, improve financial resilience, and promote the adoption of social security schemes among rural and semi-urban communities. During the quarter, SUD Life organised 25 Gram Panchayat Seminars and 25 Market Activations across North and South Goa, creating a widespread outreach platform to educate citizens on the importance of financial protection.
A key highlight of the initiative was the organisation of free health check-up camps at Gram Panchayats. These camps witnessed encouraging public participation and served as an effective platform to engage residents on the importance of preventive healthcare alongside financial security, reinforcing the close link between health and long-term financial well-being.
The awareness sessions focused on educating citizens about the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the critical role of life insurance in safeguarding families against unforeseen financial risks. Participants were informed about affordable insurance solutions, government-backed protection schemes, and the importance of long-term financial planning in building household financial stability.
To further strengthen awareness at the grassroots level, SUD Life distributed PMJJBY awareness leaflets and Claims and Grievance Redressal Information Leaflets to help citizens better understand insurance benefits, claim settlement procedures, and grievance registration mechanisms. All awareness materials and communication were provided in local languages to ensure greater accessibility and community engagement.
The campaign also introduced a series of interactive insurance-themed games, quizzes, and community engagement activities designed to simplify insurance concepts for rural audiences. These innovative initiatives helped participants better understand risk protection, policy benefits, and social security schemes in an engaging and relatable manner, generating enthusiastic participation across villages and market locations.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Abhay Tewari, MD & CEO, Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance, said:
“Insurance awareness is the first step towards building financially resilient communities. Through our grassroots initiatives in Goa, we are empowering citizens with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial protection decisions. By combining financial literacy with community health initiatives, we are creating meaningful engagement that supports the national vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047.’ We remain committed to expanding insurance inclusion and ensuring that every family has access to financial security.”
As the Lead Life Insurer for Goa, SUD Life remains committed to working closely with Gram Panchayats, banking partners, local administration, and community stakeholders to deepen insurance penetration, enhance financial literacy, and contribute towards building a financially secure and well-protected Goa.
9, Jul 2026
International Workshop on AI-Driven Semiconductor and Energy Efficient Hardware, Concludes Successfully at T-Hub, Hyderabad
Hyderabad, July 09: A two-day International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence Driven Semiconductor and Energy Efficient Hardware was successfully organized on 7–8 July 2026 at T–Hub, Hyderabad; by the Sri Vishnu Educational Society (SVES), with active contribution from Penn State University, USA. SVES comprising Vishnu Institute of Technology (VIT), Shri Vishnu Engineering College for Women (SVECW), BVRIT Hyderabad College of Engineering for Women (BVRITH), and B V Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT) technically cosponsored by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), IEEE CAS Chapter Hyderabad section.
The workshop brought together more than 350 eminent academicians, researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and students from across India and abroad to deliberate on the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence, Very Large-Scale Integration, semiconductor technologies, advanced packaging, photonics, edge computing and intelligent power electronics and hardware systems.
The workshop commenced with an inspiring inaugural session, during which Mr. Aditya Vissam, Secretary, Sri Vishnu Educational Society (SVES), addressed the gathering. He highlighted the visionary initiatives undertaken by SVES in transforming its educational institutions to meet the demands of the Artificial Intelligence era. Elaborating on the revolutionary measures introduced across SVES institutions, he emphasized the integration of AI into teaching, learning, research, innovation, and skill development to prepare students for emerging technologies and future careers. He also underscored India’s growing opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, advanced packaging, and AI–driven technologies, stressing the need for engineering graduates to acquire industry-relevant competencies. Motivating the participants, he encouraged students to actively engage with the eminent speakers, make the most of the learning opportunities offered by the workshop, and equip themselves to contribute meaningfully to India’s vision of becoming a global semiconductor powerhouse. His inspiring address set an enthusiastic tone for the two-day workshop and was warmly appreciated by the participants.
The inaugural session was followed by an address by Mr Ravichandran Rajagopal, Vice chairman of SVES. An inspiring keynote address by Prof. Madhavan Swami Nathan of Penn State University, USA, who highlighted the future of 3D Heterogeneous Integration and its transformative role in next-generation semiconductor systems. Technical sessions throughout the first day featured and distinguished experts including Mrs. Nupur Shah, Mr. Navin Bishnoi of Marvell Technology, Prof. Sharath Sriram of RMIT University, Mr. Ravikanth Reddy of NXP, Dr. Charan Gurumurthy of Tata Electronics, Dr. Bhagwati Prasad of IISc Bangalore, Dr. Suraj Rengarajan of Applied Materials India, Dr. Nikita Ambasana of SimYog Technology, and Mr. Sharat Babu Kotamraju of AMD. Their presentations covered AI-enabled network transformation, semiconductor innovation, bio sensing, edge computing, memory technologies, advanced packaging, semiconductor testing, and Physical AI.
A major highlight of the first day was an engaging panel discussion on “Education, Research, and Innovation Ecosystem for VLSI & Semiconductors” where experts from leading universities and industries deliberated on strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem through collaborative research, industry-academia partnerships, and skill development. Another thought-provoking panel focused on Edge AI in Semiconductors, addressing FPGA acceleration, chip validation, processor architectures, and future semiconductor design paradigms.
The second day featured advanced technical sessions by national and internationally acclaimed speakers including Prof. Rohit Sharma (IIT Ropar), Dr. Manish Kumar Hooda (India Semiconductor Mission), Prof. Christos Argyropoulos (Penn State University, USA), Dr. Yutaka Uematsu (Hitachi, Japan), Mr. Paul Ilanghovan (Kaynes Semicon), Dr. Sai Rama Krishna Malladi (IIT Hyderabad), and Dr. Harsha Sanjeev (CMTI, Bangalore). The deliberations focused on signal and thermal co-design, startup ecosystems, graphene-based terahertz photonics, advanced semiconductor devices, MEMS technologies, and photonics characterization.
The workshop also featured an insightful panel discussion on “From Silicon to Systems: Power-Aware AI Computing through Algorithm and Hardware Co-Optimization” emphasizing sustainable AI hardware development and next-generation computing architectures.
The concluding technical sessions included lectures on VLSI design for neural networks, energy–efficient FPGA accelerators, advanced packaging for SiC and GaN technologies, AI-enabled metrology tools, power electronics for AI infrastructure, and advanced glass substrate metallization delivered by Prof. Asral of UNIMAP, Malaysia, Dr. Akshay of IIT Bhubaneswar, Prof. Satya Savithri, Director R & D, JNTUH, Mr. Vijay of IVP Semiconductors, Mr. Parikshit Sengupta of Horiba India, Prof. Pradeep Dixit, IIT Bombay.
The speakers were honoured by Mr. K. Sai Sumanth, Joint Secretary, SVES. These sessions provided participants with valuable insights into emerging research directions and industrial practices shaping the future semiconductor ecosystem.
The workshop served as an excellent platform for knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and research organizations, inspiring students and faculty to pursue innovation in semiconductor technologies and AI-enabled hardware systems. The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Sanjay Dubey, Principal BVRIT and SVES Team, expressing gratitude to all the distinguished speakers, panellists, organizers, participants, and supporting institutions for making the workshop a grand success.
8, Jul 2026
Next Frontier in Indian Textiles: How Everything Furr is Crafting One-of-a-Kind Luxury
My journey to entrepreneurship has been shaped by a highly diverse background. I started in the field of science, which instilled in me a strong analytical mindset. Later, I transitioned into the corporate world, working in the fast-paced consulting sector in Gurgaon. This consulting experience was pivotal, as it equipped me with the strategic skills, business acumen, and operational knowledge required to build a brand from the ground up.
8, Jul 2026
Fibe’s New Campaign Shows Why Aspirations Shouldn’t Come with Compromises
Pune, July 08: Fibe, a digital lending platform in India, today unveiled its new brand film campaign created using AI. The campaign is rooted in a simple yet deeply relatable truth, that as aspirations keep expanding, financial constraints often step in as the unwelcome “pause button,” pushing people to delay, scale down, or rethink their plans. The campaign explores how timely access to credit can help consumers pursue important life goals.
The campaign, titled Jiyo Full Size, reflects the realities of today’s Indian consumers, who are increasingly focused on improving everyday living, whether it is managing essential expenses, upgrading lifestyles, planning meaningful experiences, or investing in personal goals. At the heart of this three-part AI-led brand film series is the familiar Indian expression, “Paisa kahan se aayega?”, which serves as the creative springboard for the campaign.
This witty and engaging campaign transforms the familiar expression into the memorable sonic mnemonic, “Paisa yahan se aayega”, creating a distinctive thread across the three films while reinforcing the campaign‘s central idea.
Across the three films, Fibe uses humour and visual metaphors to show how financial constraints can make life’s biggest aspirations feel unexpectedly small. A groom’s wedding horse suddenly shrinks, an international flight becomes miniature, and a woman’s dream home setup is reduced in size. As each moment returns to its full scale, the idea behind the campaign comes to life.
Speaking about the campaign, Sudesh Shetty, Chief Marketing Officer, Fibe, said, “Our latest campaign is called Jiyo Full Size and is a natural extension of what Fibe has always stood for – enabling the aspirations of India’s middle-income consumers. Whether it’s a dream wedding, a long-awaited holiday or creating a home you truly love, these are some of the moments for which consumers most often turn to personal loans, but they’re also the moments where financial constraints can sometimes lead to compromise. We wanted to capture that reality in a way that felt relatable, optimistic and memorable. AI gave us a fresh creative canvas to bring this idea to life, while staying true to our belief that aspirations deserve to be lived full size.”
The campaign was developed in partnership with Punt Creative, with AI serving as a key creative tool to create a distinctive visual language for the films. Rather than using AI simply as a production technique, it was used to translate a familiar consumer insight into imaginative visual storytelling.
Commenting on the campaign, Harsh Shah, Managing Director, Punt Creative, said, “For young India, dreams are never small. The challenge often comes now when money becomes the reason to compromise. With this campaign, we wanted to capture that feeling in a fresh, entertaining, and highly visual way. AI helped us dramatise the emotion of dreams becoming smaller in a format that is instantly relatable and memorable. Through the campaign we are reinforcing Fibe’s promise of helping consumers access timely credit so they do not have to scale down life’s big plans.”
The campaign is currently live across Fibe’s digital and social media platforms and is aimed at engaging digitally savvy consumers across India. Fibe offers financing of up to ₹10 lakh through its app, built for salaried professionals across India who need access to credit for the moments that matter most to them.
8, Jul 2026
Adani Energy Project Opens New Chapter in Kenya-India Economic Partnership
New Delhi, July 8: The Adani Energy project has marked a significant step forward in strengthening economic cooperation between Kenya and India, paving the way for a new phase of collaboration in the energy sector.
The project is expected to enhance infrastructure development, support Kenya’s energy requirements, and deepen bilateral ties between the two countries. The initiative reflects the growing partnership between India and Kenya in areas including investment, technology, and sustainable development.
The development comes as both nations continue to explore opportunities for greater cooperation in key sectors. Energy infrastructure remains a major area of focus, with investments aimed at improving reliability, expanding capacity, and supporting economic growth.
The project is also seen as a reflection of the increasing role of Indian companies in Africa’s infrastructure and development landscape. Through such partnerships, India and Kenya are working towards strengthening trade and investment relations while creating new opportunities for mutual growth.
Officials said the initiative represents a broader commitment to expanding India-Kenya cooperation and building stronger economic links between the two nations.
