8, Jul 2026
Amarnath Yatra Sees Steady Pilgrim Rush, Over 1.13 Lakh Devotees Visit Holy Shrine
Srinagar, July 8: The annual Amarnath Yatra continues to witness a strong turnout, with more than 1.13 lakh pilgrims visiting the holy cave shrine in the first five days of the pilgrimage.
A fresh batch of devotees left for the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, joining thousands of others undertaking the sacred journey. Pilgrims are travelling via the Pahalgam and Baltal routes under tight security and with extensive support arrangements in place.
Authorities have deployed security personnel, medical teams and other essential services to ensure the pilgrimage proceeds safely and smoothly. Officials are also keeping a close watch on weather conditions and coordinating with various agencies to assist devotees throughout the yatra.
With a steady influx of pilgrims arriving each day, the Amarnath Yatra is progressing without major disruptions, reflecting the continued enthusiasm of devotees from across the country to take part in one of India’s most revered annual pilgrimages.
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- By Neel Achary
8, Jul 2026
South Korea’s Biopharmaceutical Exports Set for Record First Half as Global Demand Grows
Seoul, July 8: South Korea’s biopharmaceutical exports are on track to post a record performance in the first half of the year, driven by strong global demand for high-value medicines and contract manufacturing services.
The country’s biopharmaceutical sector has continued its upward momentum, supported by increased exports of biologic drugs, biosimilars and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services. Industry experts attribute the growth to South Korean companies expanding their global footprint and securing new overseas partnerships.
The robust export performance highlights South Korea’s growing position as a key player in the global biopharmaceutical industry, with continued investments in advanced manufacturing capabilities and research helping the sector remain competitive.
Analysts expect exports to maintain their positive trajectory in the coming months, backed by sustained international demand and a healthy pipeline of innovative products.
8, Jul 2026
Indian Stock Markets Start Lower as Global Uncertainty Weighs on Investor Sentiment
Mumbai, July 8: Indian benchmark equity indices opened in the red on Wednesday as investors turned cautious amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and weak global market cues.
The Sensex slipped 364.27 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 77,816.45 at the opening, while the Nifty fell 139.15 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 24,259.55.
Selling pressure was visible across most sectors, with Oil & Gas stocks leading the decline. Media, PSU banks, realty, cement, metal, auto and FMCG stocks also traded lower. However, pharma and IT stocks bucked the broader market trend, registering modest gains.
Among the Nifty 50 companies, Shriram Finance, InterGlobe Aviation, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance, Eicher Motors, Larsen & Toubro and JSW Steel were the biggest losers in early trade.
Market participants remained cautious after a sharp decline in US technology stocks and mixed trends across Asian markets. Investor sentiment was further affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East, which pushed global crude oil prices higher. Brent crude rose above $76 a barrel, while WTI crude climbed past $72.
Analysts said the Nifty is likely to face resistance around the 24,450 level, with immediate support at 24,200. A break below this level could open the door for a further decline towards the 24,000 mark.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei traded lower, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng posted strong gains of more than 2 per cent, while South Korea’s KOSPI remained under pressure.
8, Jul 2026
Ayuvya Strengthens Scientific Backing with Clinical Trial After Shark Tank Appearance
New Delhi, July 08: Ayurvedic health and wellness brand Ayuvya has completed a multi-centre clinical study on its flagship weight-gain formulations AYUVYA i-Gain+ Tablets and AYUVYA Lets Gain Powder, marking a significant step in strengthening scientific validation for Ayurvedic wellness products while drawing attention to a health challenge that has long remained overshadowed by the global focus on obesity.
The announcement comes months after Ayuvya‘s appearance on Shark Tank India Season 5, where the brand impressed the Sharks with its ₹51.5 crore revenue in FY25 and strong presence across Tier-3 and Tier-4 India. While appreciating the company’s growth, the Sharks questioned the lack of clinical validation behind its formulations, with Kunal Bahl remarking, “Pehle vishwas banao” (Build trust first). The feedback prompted the company to invest in registered clinical research to strengthen the scientific evidence supporting its products.
The study also addresses a much larger gap in the healthcare conversation. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), nearly 18.7% of women and 16.2% of men aged 15-49 in India have a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 18.5, classifying them as underweight. Globally, research published in The Lancet estimates that more than 390 million adults are underweight, with India accounting for one of the world’s largest underweight populations. Despite these numbers, healthy weight gain remains a relatively under-researched area, with limited clinical evidence supporting interventions specifically designed for this population.
Against this backdrop, Ayuvya‘s clinical study, registered with the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2026/02/103541) under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), enrolled 110 adults aged 18 to 35 years with poor appetite and a BMI below 20 across two clinical sites in Bengaluru. Conducted over 45 days, the open-label, single-arm study evaluated changes in appetite, body weight, BMI, nutritional status, gastrointestinal comfort, quality of life, and safety parameters, including liver function. A total of 106 participants (96.4%) completed the study.
According to Ms. Astha Jain, Co-Founder of Ayuvya, “When we appeared on Shark Tank India, the Sharks challenged us to build stronger scientific credibility for our products, and we believed that was fair feedback. At the same time, we realised there is another conversation that deserves more attention. While obesity has dominated public discourse for decades, millions of people continue to struggle with being underweight, poor appetite, and healthy weight gain. We wanted to respond to both challenges by investing in clinical research that strengthens trust while contributing evidence to an often-overlooked area of health. According to the investigators, participants using the combination of AYUVYA i-Gain+ Tablets and AYUVYA Lets Gain Powder demonstrated improvements in appetite, body weight, BMI, nutritional status, gastrointestinal health, and overall quality of life while maintaining a favourable safety and tolerability profile throughout the study period. The study reported up to a 5.90% improvement in body weight and up to a 7.47% improvement in BMI.
The company aims to provide clinical validation for every major Ayuvya product, reinforcing its commitment to scientific research and evidence-based Ayurvedic formulations. Through this approach, it seeks to build consumer trust and establish Ayuvya as a household name synonymous with clinically backed wellness solutions.
8, Jul 2026
Wi-SUN FAN Becomes First Wireless Mesh Network Standard Adopted by ISO/IEC
International recognition as ISO/IEC/IEEE 32857:2026 removes procurement barriers for utilities and smart cities, accelerating adoption of standards-based wireless mesh networking
BEAVERTON, Ore. July 08: — The Wi-SUN Alliance, the global ecosystem promoting open, secure, and interoperable wireless mesh networking for utilities and smart cities, announced that the Wi-SUN Field Area Network (FAN) specification has been formally ratified as ISO/IEC/IEEE 32857:2026. The designation makes Wi-SUN FAN the first wireless mesh networking specification adopted as an ISO/IEC standard and provides utilities, municipalities and infrastructure operators with an internationally recognized framework for wireless mesh networking. This carries direct implications for utility operators, municipal governments, and infrastructure procurement agencies evaluating wireless networking technologies for critical field-area deployments.
“When a specification carries ISO/IEC recognition, it signals to procurement officials, regulators and policymakers around the world that the technology has been vetted at the highest level,” said Phil Beecher, president and CEO of the Wi-SUN Alliance. “Wi-SUN technology already supports some of the world’s largest utility networks, including nationwide smart metering deployments in Japan and large-scale smart grid projects across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, demonstrating that the technology is already proven at scale. ISO/IEC/IEEE 32857:2026 gives utilities, municipalities and infrastructure providers an internationally recognized standard they can rely on and reference when planning the next generation of critical infrastructure.”
Only 3% of IEEE-originated specifications achieve ISO/IEC joint recognition, a distinction that reflects both the technical maturity of the Wi-SUN FAN specification and the strength of the open, consensus-based process behind it. For utilities and municipalities, it removes a significant procurement barrier: procurement officers and regulators can now reference an internationally ratified specification when evaluating or mandating smart grid and smart city connectivity solutions, rather than relying on industry-driven documentation alone.
“The Wi-SUN FAN specification was developed through exactly the kind of rigorous, consensus-driven technical process that ISO and IEC look for when evaluating IEEE work for joint adoption,” said Gary Stuebing, Past Chair Entity Collaborative Activities Governance Board, IEEE SA. “What ISO/IEC/IEEE 32857:2026 tells the market is that this specification was built to last — designed with the depth and precision that implementers need to build global interoperable, certifiable solutions at scale.”
The Wi-SUN Alliance provides the definitive testing and certification program for this specification, helping ensure products are compliant and fully interoperable in multi-vendor deployments.
8, Jul 2026
Herbalife India Introduces Dates Caramel Variant in its Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Range
Bengaluru, July 08: Herbalife India, a premier health and wellness company, has introduced a new Dates Caramel variant to its Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix range. The caramel and dates flavours are brought together with the added texture of date crunches made from solidified date juice, offering a balance of indulgent taste and reliable daily nutrition.
This new addition comes as consumers continue to look for options that combine taste with convenience and consistency in their daily diets. With this, Herbalife builds on its existing Formula 1 flavour range, including Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Mango, Kulfi, and Rose Kheer, giving consumers more ways to choose flavours that suit their preferences while staying with products they already trust.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ajay Khanna, Managing Director, Herbalife India, said, “There is a noticeable shift today, with more people looking for nutrition that fits naturally into their daily routines without feeling like a compromise. The expectation is simple, something that is easy to use, enjoyable, and still supports overall well-being. With the Dates Caramel variant, the idea was to respond to evolving consumer preferences through our product innovation, offering greater choice while staying true to the balanced nutrition that the Formula 1 range is known for. It is about offering more choice in a way that helps individuals stay consistent with their routines. At Herbalife, the focus continues to be on delivering science-backed products that are relevant to Indian consumers and support them in leading healthier, more active lives.”
The Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix – Dates Caramel provides a balanced blend of essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, supporting daily nutritional requirements.
Each serving delivers 9 g of high-quality protein, 3g of fiber and 19 vitamins and minerals serving as a meal replacement, when consumed as per recommended usage specified on product label. In addition, it is a low Glycemic Index food, designed to support sustained energy release as part of a balanced diet.
Designed for convenience, the shake is quick to prepare and easy to personalise, making it suitable for individuals with active and busy lifestyles. It can be consumed as a nutritious meal alternative by replacing one or two meals a day, particularly when used alongside a calorie-restricted diet and moderate physical activity.
With an expanding range of flavours, the Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix continues to offer consumers more choice while maintaining consistency in their daily nutrition routines.
8, Jul 2026
Odisha Vigilance Arrests Jeypore Deputy Director of Mines in INR 2 Lakh Bribery Case
Jeypore, July 8 (UDN): The Odisha Vigilance Department on Tuesday arrested a senior mining official after allegedly catching him accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh from a sand leaseholder in Koraput district.
The accused, Satyajit Rout, Deputy Director (Geology)-cum-Deputy Director of Mines, Jeypore, allegedly demanded the money to facilitate the extension of a sand quarry lease and to provide favourable assistance in future spot auctions of sand sources.
According to Vigilance officials, the leaseholder lodged a complaint after being asked to pay the bribe for the official favour. Following verification of the allegation, a trap was laid, and the accused was allegedly caught while accepting the illegal gratification.
Officials recovered the entire ₹2 lakh bribe amount from Rout’s possession, and the tainted cash was seized as evidence.
Subsequently, Vigilance teams carried out simultaneous searches at properties linked to the accused. During a search of his residence in Rayagada, officials recovered an additional ₹2.9 lakh in cash. The total cash seized during the operation now stands at ₹4.9 lakh. Authorities are verifying the source of the recovered money as part of the ongoing investigation.
A case has been registered at the Koraput Vigilance Police Station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigators are continuing searches and examining documents to determine whether the accused was involved in similar instances of corruption.
The Vigilance Department said further details will be disclosed as the investigation progresses.
8, Jul 2026
At 75, Himachal’s Milkhi Ram Continues Academic Journey, Appears for 33rd Degree Examination
Hamirpur, July 8 (UDN): While most people look forward to a quiet retirement, 75-year-old Milkhi Ram from Himachal Pradesh has chosen a different path—one driven by an unwavering passion for education. Already the holder of 32 academic degrees and qualifications, the lifelong learner has once again taken an examination, reinforcing the belief that learning has no age limit.
A resident of the Gandar area in Kangra district, Milkhi Ram recently appeared for the Master of Arts (Sanskrit) examination at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) study centre in Hamirpur. The programme is recognised as equivalent to the traditional Acharya degree. As the oldest candidate at the examination centre, his presence drew admiration from fellow students and invigilators alike.
Milkhi Ram’s educational journey spans more than five decades. After joining the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department in 1972, he pursued higher education alongside his professional responsibilities. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 1976 and continued to enrol in academic programmes while balancing work and family life.
By the time he retired as a Grade-I officer in 2010, he had already earned 26 degrees. Since then, his academic accomplishments have continued to grow. His qualifications include B.Ed., LL.B., MBA, M.Phil., a Ph.D. in Hindi, Journalism, and postgraduate degrees in Hindi, Political Science, Sociology, History, English and Economics, among other disciplines.
Speaking about his lifelong pursuit of knowledge, Milkhi Ram said education is the greatest wealth a person can possess and that age should never become a barrier to learning. He encouraged young people to remain committed to their studies and to view education as a continuous process rather than a destination.
He also acknowledged the unwavering support of his wife, Vidya Devi, and other family members, crediting them for helping him pursue his academic ambitions over the years.
Officials at the IGNOU study centre lauded his dedication, describing him as a living example of lifelong learning. They said his remarkable journey demonstrates that determination, discipline and curiosity can inspire people across generations and prove that the pursuit of knowledge never truly ends.
8, Jul 2026
Tech Alert: Leostream Checklist Helps Organizations Evaluate a Move Beyond Citrix
Seven considerations for small and midsize enterprises planning the next generation of digital workspaces
BOSTON – July 8, 2026 –Leostream Corporation today released a practical checklist to help small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) considering a migration from Citrix to a more flexible digital workspace platform.
SMEs in particular are evaluating alternatives due to anticipated increases in Citrix renewal costs or because maintaining the environment has become more complex than their business requires. However, Leostream advises cost alone should not drive a potentially disruptive migration decision.
“Organizations have a unique opportunity to modernize their digital workspace rather than simply replace one platform with another,” said Karen Gondoly, CEO of Leostream. “The right solution should prepare your organization for where IT is headed over the next decade and not just solve today’s licensing challenge.”
Leostream recommends evaluating prospective platforms using the following checklist:
1. Will the platform give you freedom to change infrastructure?
The digital workspace should support the business, regardless of where workloads are physically located. A platform should allow you to move between on-premises infrastructure, private cloud, public cloud, or hybrid environments without replacing or impacting the connection management solution.
2. Can you choose the hyperscaler that’s best for each workload?
Along with the freedom to change is freedom to choose as cloud strategies evolve. With a platform that agnostically supports AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and other environments, future cloud decisions remain business decisions and not software limitations.
3. Does the platform adapt to different user populations?
Knowledge workers, engineers, developers, contact centers, healthcare providers, scientists, students, and creative professionals all have different workspace requirements. The ideal platform should allow IT administrators to tailor access policies, desktops, applications, display protocols, and authentication methods based on each user’s needs.
4. Can you deploy only the software and tools you actually need?
Maintaining numerous adjacent components to support capabilities they rarely use is inefficient, costly, and incurs added complexity. The digital workspace platform should deliver the core functionality organizations need without requiring unnecessary infrastructure or additional management overhead.
5. Is the platform simple to deploy and operate?
Operational simplicity reduces risk and lowers administrative costs. Determine how much infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and specialized expertise are required to manage the environment over time. Automation of routine tasks such as on/offboarding users and provisioning resources helps reduce management.
6. Is your investment protected as technology changes?
Virtualization platforms, cloud providers, authentication systems, and remote display protocols continue to evolve. The digital workspace platform should allow organizations to adopt new technologies without requiring another major migration.
7. What kind of partner will you be working with?
Products are only part of the equation. Organizations should consider whether their vendor is responsive, collaborative, and easy to work with throughout deployment, support, and future scaling. Customers consistently tell Leostream they value direct access to experts, transparent licensing, and a customer-first approach that simplifies long-term success.
“Rather than evaluating alternatives because of significant increases in Citrix renewal pricing, we encourage IT leaders to use this moment to consider the broader strategic opportunity,” said Gondoly. “Our goal isn’t to convince customers that there’s only one way to build a digital workspace, it’s to give them the flexibility to choose the infrastructure, cloud providers, protocols, and technologies that best serve them today and in the future.”
The Leostream® Remote Desktop Access Platform for hosted desktops and workstations offers a comprehensive solution for remote access to maintain productivity, control costs, and ensure security with strict authentication and authorization built on zero-trust concepts. Its connection management system eliminates clunky corporate VPNs with an ultra-efficient gateway that gives users access to only the specific resources they have permission to use, automatically, regardless of their location or device. The Leostream Platform shines even in environments that rely on complex, specialty applications like energy and science; large files such as media and entertainment; real-time performance like financial services; and bulletproof network security like government and defense.
About Leostream
Leostream digital workspace management solutions embody over 20 years of Leostream research and development in supporting customers with hosted desktop environments, including VDI, hybrid cloud, and high-performance display protocols. The Leostream high performance Remote Desktop Access Platform provides the world’s most robust digital workspace connection management and remote access feature set, allowing today’s enterprises to choose the best-of-breed components to satisfy their complex security, cost, and flexibility needs while working with them as they evolve into tomorrow. The Leostream Privileged Remote Access service simplifies, secures, and monitors temporary access to corporate resources for vendors, service providers, and external contractors. Follow Leostream on LinkedIn and X.
Leostream is a registered trademark of Leostream Corporation in the United States. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
8, Jul 2026
AdClarity Expands CTV Ad Intelligence Across 20 Countries, Delivering the Industry’s Widest Cross-Market Coverage
NEW YORK, NY, July 8, 2026.BIScience, the company behind AdClarity, the world’s leading AI-powered ad intelligence platform, today announced the expansion of its Connected TV (CTV) ad intelligence to 19 new countries, bringing total tracked CTV ad spend to $70 billion across 20 markets. The expansion gives brands competitor benchmarking across countries, agencies a single source of truth for global CTV, and publishers demand signals by market.
CTV is becoming a central part of the TV ecosystem as linear viewing declines, evolving rapidly with more platforms, formats, and countries entering the space. It is growing faster than any other major channel and now represents 10 percent of all tracked ad spend globally. In the United States alone, CTV now represents a 16 percent share of all US ad spend tracked by AdClarity.
To help organizations make more informed decisions with global media intelligence, BIScience has added CTV coverage in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Spain, New Zealand, and Denmark. Each market includes local platform depth. For example, the United Kingdom features Channel 4 and ITV, Germany includes Joyn and Sky, and Australia covers 10 Play, 7plus, 9Now, and Stan.
With this release, BIScience’s AdClarity now combines the industry’s widest cross-market CTV coverage with AI-powered ad intelligence. Built on one consistent methodology across markets and media, including CTV, AdClarity gives teams a unified way to compare activity, uncover competitive shifts, and move from data to decisions faster. Customers report generating insights in under 10 seconds, reducing manual analysis by 85% through AI-driven automation, and saving an average of 7,980 hours annually per customer.
AdClarity’s panel of 30 million opt-in users spans 132 streaming platforms, 5 million smart TVs, and 52 countries, with 8 years of historical depth. AdClarity serves 27 percent of the Fortune 500, including Adidas, Amazon, Booking.com, Disney, Shell, Sony, and Wix. The platform is also used by four of the five top global advertising agencies and seven of the top ten global market research companies.
“Global advertisers don’t work in silos, and their intelligence tools shouldn’t either. By expanding AdClarity’s CTV coverage to 20 markets and integrating built-in AI, we’ve unified the cross-media view and bridged the gap between seeing data and taking action. One methodology, one platform. Total visibility across every screen,” said Dorit Kaplan, VP Product and Strategy at BIScience.
AdClarity CTV coverage is available now across all 20 markets as a premium add-on. Existing clients can extend immediately. To learn more, visit https://adclarity.com.
