WTO reform urgent as global trade faces inflection point, status quo not sustainable: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The World Trade Organization (WTO) needs urgent structural reform as the global trading system undergoes rapid economic and technological shifts, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, warning that maintaining the current framework is no longer viable, AFP reported.Speaking in Geneva on Wednesday, Okonjo-Iweala said the global trade body and the broader multilateral…

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Beyond Silicon Valley: India and UAE are building a new human-centric AI model

India UAE AI Partnership: Human-Centric AI Collaboration for Social Welfare and Growth In 2026, two of Asia’s fastest-advancing digital economies, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are deepening their collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI), moving beyond commercial interests toward a shared vision of human-centric AI that emphasises social welfare, responsible governance, equitable growth and…

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Stranded! How H-1B backlogs are creating cross-border tax compliance risks for professionals

As H-1B delays persist, the issue warrants attention beyond immigration policy alone. For more than three decades, the H-1B visa program has been a cornerstone of economic integration between India and the United States, enabling movement of highly skilled professionals into sectors critical to US productivity and innovation. Indian nationals account for more than 70%…

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Cipla Foundation, Tata IISc Med School to set up Centre for Pulmonary Medicine

Bengaluru: Cipla Foundation Wednesday announced a partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to set up the Cipla Foundation Centre for Pulmonary Medicine at the Tata IISc Medical School. The facility will provide diagnostics, outpatient and inpatient care, a dedicated intensive care unit, and high-dependency services for the treatment of respiratory illnesses.The Centre for…

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Rail electrification drive: Diesel use falls 178 crore litres since 2016-17; 99.4% broad gauge network now electrified

Indian Railways’ accelerated electrification push has sharply reduced diesel consumption, helping cut crude import dependence while expanding cleaner rail operations across the country. Mission-mode electrification has now covered about 99.4% of the Broad Gauge network, with the remaining stretches also taken up for completion.According to information shared by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok…

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Budget sets total expenditure at Rs 53.47 lakh crore for 2026-27 as govt balances growth with fiscal discipline: FM Sitharaman

The Union Budget for FY 2026-27 has pegged total expenditure at Rs 53.47 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while replying to the discussion on the Budget in the Lok Sabha, outlining the government’s strategy of maintaining high capital spending alongside fiscal consolidation.The revised estimate for the current financial year ending March 31 has…

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