Friday, March 6, 2026

AIG Hospitals Launches South India’s First ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Neuro-Radiosurgery Platform

*  Transforming Brain Tumor Treatment into a Non-Invasive Day-Care Procedure

AIG Hospitals announced the launch of the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Neuro-Radiosurgery® Platform, the first installation of its kind in South India and only the second in the country, marking a major advancement in the treatment of brain tumors and complex neurological disorders. Designed exclusively for intracranial radiosurgery, ZAP-X enables doctors to treat brain lesions with extreme precision that too without open surgery, without incisions, and as a day-care procedure.

The system delivers highly focused radiation beams with sub-millimeter accuracy, targeting tumors and abnormal tissues while sparing healthy brain structures. For patients, this means a completely non-invasive treatment that is painless, requires no hospital stay, and allows them to return to normal life quickly.

Brain tumors and related neurological disorders represent a growing health burden in India. Traditionally, many of these conditions have required complex neurosurgery involving craniotomy, prolonged hospitalization, and significant recovery time. Stereotactic radiosurgery has emerged globally as a safer alternative for carefully selected cases, and the introduction of ZAP-X at AIG Hospitals brings one of the world’s most advanced neuro-radiosurgical technologies to patients across South India.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said “At AIG Hospitals, our vision has always been to bring the most advanced medical technologies to patients in a manner that makes high-quality care both accessible and patient-centric. The introduction of the ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery Platform represents a major step in that direction. Conditions that once required complex brain surgery can now be treated with extraordinary precision, as a day-care procedure and without a single incision. For patients and families, this means less trauma, faster recovery, and renewed hope. We believe this technology will significantly benefit patients across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and neighboring regions, while further strengthening Hyderabad’s position as a center of excellence for advanced neurological care.”

The ZAP-X platform is designed to treat a wide range of intracranial conditions, including benign and malignant brain tumors, brain metastases, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), trigeminal neuralgia, and other complex neurological disorders. Highlighting the clinical scope of the technology, Dr. Subodh Raju, Director & Head – Neurosurgery, AIG Hospitals, said “Modern neurosurgery increasingly focuses on precision and minimal invasiveness. With ZAP-X, we are able to treat several brain conditions that previously required open surgery or complex radiotherapy protocols. This includes benign tumors such as meningiomas and acoustic neuromas, malignant tumors, vascular malformations, and severe facial pain conditions like trigeminal neuralgia. AIG Hospitals has built a strong multidisciplinary ecosystem involving neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, and medical physicists, ensuring that each patient receives a carefully coordinated treatment plan. Our goal is to deliver the best possible outcomes while preserving neurological function and quality of life.”

One of the areas where ZAP-X is expected to make a particularly significant impact is in the treatment of brain metastases, tumors that spread to the brain from cancers elsewhere in the body, most commonly from the lung, breast, or melanoma.

Brain metastases are among the most common brain tumors worldwide. Traditionally, treatment options have included open surgery or whole-brain radiation therapy, which can expose large areas of the brain to radiation and may lead to side effects affecting cognition and quality of life. In contrast, ZAP-X allows doctors to target only the tumor deposits with extreme precision, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy brain tissue.

Studies have shown that this focused approach can significantly improve outcomes, especially for patients who may have multiple small metastases, allowing them to receive effective treatment without the need for invasive surgery or prolonged hospital stays.

Prof. John R. Adler, renowned neurosurgeon, inventor of CyberKnife® and ZAP-X®, and one of the world’s foremost pioneers in radiosurgery, emphasized the broader potential of the technology adding “Radiosurgery has evolved tremendously over the past three decades, and ZAP-X represents the next generation of this field. While brain tumors remain a primary indication, the precision of this technology also opens up exciting possibilities in the treatment of functional neurological conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, movement disorders, and now we are seeing trials to treat depression as well. The goal has always been to treat disease with surgical accuracy but without the invasiveness of traditional surgery. It is gratifying to see institutions like AIG Hospitals bringing this level of innovation to patients in India.”

The installation of ZAP-X at AIG Hospitals also reinforces Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced healthcare technology and medical innovation, offering patients access to world-class treatment closer to home.

With its ability to treat complex brain conditions through precise, non-invasive, outpatient radiosurgery, the ZAP-X platform is expected to benefit thousands of patients across India and neighboring regions, transforming the landscape of brain tumor care and neurological treatment.

Japanese LifeWear Brand - UNIQLO Opens Second Store At The Phoenix Mall Of Asia In Bengaluru


Global apparel retailer UNIQLO today opened its second store in Bengaluru at Phoenix Mall of Asia, bringing LifeWear to even more customers in South India. The new store welcomed enthusiastic shoppers with special launch offers and in-store experiences designed to introduce customers to LifeWear - high-quality, thoughtfully designed, and functional everyday clothing. This marks another milestone in the brand’s steady expansion across India.

“We are delighted to open our second store in Bengaluru and deepen our connection with customers in the city,” said Kenji Inoue, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, UNIQLO India. “We were very grateful to see such a strong response to our first store in Bengaluru showing us that our LifeWear - simple, high-quality everyday clothing - connects strongly with people here. Through our new store at Phoenix Mall of Asia, we look forward to providing another high-quality shopping experience for the people of Bengaluru, making LifeWear accessible to more locals.”

Spanning approximately 17,000 square feet, the new store, nearly double the size of the brand’s first location in the city offers the full range of UNIQLO LifeWear for men, women, and children. Customers can explore signature innovations such as AIRism, along with globally loved essentials including Bratops, premium denim, and everyday wardrobe staples designed for comfort and versatility.

To celebrate the launch, UNIQLO introduced special opening offers and exclusive giveaways for early shoppers, creating a vibrant and engaging retail experience. The first 100 customers receive a Round Mini Shoulder Bag and a 1,000/- voucher redeemable on spends of 6,000/- and above, along with coffee and cookie from Blue Tokai. The brand also brought elements of local culture into the celebrations, giving shoppers an exclusive tote bag designed by Bengaluru artist, Neethi on spends above 6,000/- between 6 – 8th March, there by reinforcing its commitment to becoming part of Bengaluru’s dynamic community.

Photo Caption: (L-R: Chintala Venketesh - First customer, Anushka Biswas - Store manager, Kenji san - CFO and COO, UNIQLO India, Rashmi Neha - Mall CEO, Neha Kapoor - Retail Director & President Leasing).

Overview of the Store

Store Name: UNIQLO Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru
Address: Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru – 560092
Sales Floor Area: Approx. 17,000 sq. ft.
Opening Date: March 6, 2026

For more information about UNIQLO and its collections, please visit the website or download the UNIQLO India Official App.

About UNIQLO LifeWear

LifeWear is clothing that is made for all, designed to make everyone's life better. It is simple, high quality, everyday clothing with a practical sense of beauty - ingenious in detail, thought through with life's needs in mind, timeless in style, and always evolving.

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 3.4 trillion yen for the 2025 fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 (US $23.16 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2025 rate of $1 = 146.8 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a global brand. Today the company has a total of more than 2,500 UNIQLO stores across the world, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. The total number of stores across Fast Retailing's brands is now over 3,500.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere.  For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com

Aye Finance Announces Strong Q3 FY26 Results: FY26 Outperforms FY25 PAT Grows By 87% And AUM Surges By 23.5% YoY

Aye Finance, India’s leading NBFC specialising in micro-enterprise lending, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26. Building on the momentum of its recent successful IPO, Aye reported robust year-on-year (YoY) growth across its key performance indicators, driven by deep penetration into India’s "missing middle" MSME segment.

Business Highlights Q3FY26

35% YoY Growth in Disbursement from INR 973 Crores to INR 1310 Crores

23.5% YoY Growth in AUM from INR 5145 Crores to INR 6356 Crores

41,015 new borrowers added in Q3FY26

Branch network growth by 9% YoY from 523 to 571 branches

Financial Highlights Q3FY26

Profit After Tax (PAT) grew 87.1% YoY from INR 23 crore to INR 43 Crore, resulting in RoA of 2.4% and RoE of 9.74%

GNPA was 4.94%, and NNPA was 1.98%

Four quarters of continuous reduction in Credit Cost, which stood at 4.67% in Q3FY26.

Credit Rating: A (Stable) by ICRA & India Ratings

Financial Highlights: 9M FY26

• Total income increased by 18.54% YoY to INR 1282 crore

• Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 108 crore

Commenting on the performance, Mr Sanjay Sharma, Managing Director, Aye Finance Ltd, said, “Our Q3 results demonstrate the resilience of the micro-enterprise sector and our ability to bridge the credit gap for underserved businesses. Disbursals are accelerating, and we remain firmly on track to deliver the 29-30% AUM growth in FY26 and beyond. With asset quality improved to normalised levels, we have cleared the runway for a sharp, sustained uptick in profitability over the coming quarters. Our focus remains on sustaining this trajectory through disciplined underwriting and a customer-centric approach enabled by technology & data science”

About Aye Finance Ltd.

Aye Finance is a non-banking financial company – middle layer (“NBFC-ML”) focused on providing loans to micro-scale MSMEs across India. Aye offers a range of business loans for working capital and business expansion needs, against hypothecation of working assets or against security of property to customers across manufacturing, trading, service and allied agriculture sectors. Aye is among the leading nonbanking financial companies providing business loans to the largely underserved micro-scale enterprises in India, across 18 states and 3 union territories, with assets under management (“AUM”) of ₹ 6356 Crores as of December 2025. Aye offers small-ticket business loans with an average ticket size (“ATS”) on disbursement of ₹ 0.18 million to micro enterprises. The Company’s expertise in underwriting business cash flows of a variety of business clusters has enabled it to maintain stable credit costs and to profitably scale up its operations.

International Women’s Day Is A Reminder To Empower Women With Right Skills And Opportunities Who Can Help Transform Economies


This article highlights views of some leading Indian woman from all walks of life, who have risen to top management and entrepreneurs over the years.

Manisha Dubey, Head of IDEMIA India Foundation and VP – Marketing Communications & Brand at IDEMIA

“International Women’s Day is a reminder that empowering women with the right skills and opportunities can transform communities and economies. At IDEMIA India Foundation, we are committed to advancing digital inclusion by equipping women with future-ready skills in technology and innovation. Our initiatives focus on access to learning, mentorship, and meaningful career pathways, especially for those from underserved backgrounds. When women are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy, they not only build stronger futures for themselves but also drive sustainable progress for society. Investing in women’s potential is investing in a more inclusive and resilient tomorrow.”

Vasudha Madhavan, Founder & CEO, Ostara Advisors

“International Women’s Day is a moment to spotlight the growing role of women entrepreneurs and investors who are redefining the future of climate finance and clean energy. Across markets, more women are building ventures, mobilizing capital, and driving solutions that support a low-carbon and more resilient economy. The climate transition needs diverse leadership, and there is immense scope for women to shape how capital, technology, and policy come together to build the next generation of sustainable businesses. I strongly encourage more women to explore opportunities in climate tech and climate-focused sectors, where their ideas and leadership can make a real difference. Creating stronger support systems, access to funding, and leadership opportunities will help more women step forward and scale impactful climate solutions worldwide.”

Simmi Dhamija, Chief Operating Officer, AIONOS,

“AI today is at an inflection point when it comes to gender inclusion. On one hand, we’ve made visible progress: there is far greater awareness of bias and more deliberate efforts to audit datasets and models. But the reality is, much of AI still reflects the structural inequalities it learns from. Nearly half of AI systems studied globally continue to exhibit gender bias and women remain underrepresented in the very teams building these technologies. This creates a deeper challenge: we are not just inheriting bias; we are at risk of scaling it. From hiring algorithms to healthcare models and even everyday interfaces, AI can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or overlook gender-specific needs. The shift we now need is from ‘bias correction’ to ‘inclusive design by default.’ That means diverse development teams, context-aware datasets and AI systems that are tested not just for accuracy, but for equity. Because the true measure of AI maturity will not be how intelligent these systems are, but how fairly they serve everyone.”

Kavitha Ramachandragowda, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Routematic

“Gender equality is no longer an emblematic dialogue; it is a strategic industry priority. Genuine progress is reflected in who gets hired, who advances into leadership, and who feels supported enough to build long-term careers. Inclusion cannot rely on intent alone; it must be embedded into systems, infrastructure, and everyday decision-making.

At Routematic, we recognise that safe and reliable mobility is a critical enabler of workforce participation, particularly for women. When organisations invest in equitable hiring, leadership pathways, and safety-first, technology-driven transport solutions, they remove structural barriers that often go unnoticed. Equality must be experienced in daily operations — not discussed once a year. The goal is simple: create workplaces where opportunity is determined by capability, and growth is accessible to all.”

Jermina Menon, Brand & Marketing Strategiest, Bhartiya Urban

Marketing centric option: “Women today are not just consumers of brands; they are architects of culture and community. The most impactful marketing strategies emerge when diverse perspectives shape storytelling, experience design, and brand purpose. Women bring empathy, intuition, and data-backed insight together, enabling brands to move beyond transactions toward meaningful engagement. This Women’s Day, the focus must shift from representation in campaigns to representation in decision-making rooms where brand narratives are truly shaped.”

Generic option: “Women’s Day is a reminder that resilience, clarity, and innovation are powerful forces women bring to every table. True leadership is not about securing a seat; it is about building new tables where more women can lead, influence, and thrive. Empowerment cannot remain a theme for a day, it must become a growth strategy embedded in how we measure success, allocate opportunity, and amplify voices. When women stop underestimating their worth and start claiming space with confidence and purpose, industries don’t just diversify, they transform.”

Motorola Launched “motorola edge 70 fusion”, Bringing Breakthrough Camera Innovation, Immersive Visual Experience


* Other features includes on-device AI to mid-premium smartphone segment

* Motorola edge 70 fusion” launched; early bird sale starts today, 12 pm – featuring the world’s 1st 50MP Sony Lytia 710 sensor, luxurious fabric finish and a power-packed 7000mAh battery

Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation and India’s leading~ AI smartphone brand launched the “motorola edge 70 fusion”, bringing breakthrough camera innovation, immersive visuals, and next-gen on-device AI to the mid-premium smartphone segment. The device features the World’s 1st 50MP Sony-LYT 710 Camera with motoAI, delivering superior low-light clarity, blur-free shots, 100% True Colours and skin tones validated by Pantone™, and 4K video recording across all lenses. It sports an All-New Design with luxurious fabric finishes in Pantone™ curated colours, paired with India’s Only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour^ Quad-Curved Pantone™ Validated Display. Backed by a 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 68W TurboPower™ charging, powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4, and reinforced with IP68 + IP69 and MIL-STD-810H durability, the motorola edge 70 fusion delivers a true segment leading smartphone experience.

The motorola edge 70 fusion sets a new benchmark in imaging with the World’s 1st 50MP Sony LYTIA™ 710 Camera powered by motoAI. Featuring OIS and an advanced f/1.8 aperture, the new LYTIA™ 710 sensor delivers exceptional clarity, superior signal-to-noise performance, and outstanding low-light results with brighter highlights and deeper shadows. motoAI enhances textures, dynamic range, and motion detection in real time, ensuring crisp, blur-free captures even in fast-moving scenes. With Pantone™ Validated Colours and Pantone™ SkinTone™ Validation, the camera reproduces authentic, true-to-life colours and natural skin tones exactly as creators intended.

Complementing the main sensor is a 13MP Ultra-Wide + Macro Vision camera with 120° field of view for expansive landscapes and intricate close-ups, along with a 32MP front camera optimized for sharp selfies and crystal-clear video calls. The device supports Ultra-Sharp 4K video recording with Video HDR across all cameras, enabling seamless lens switching while filming. Advanced features such as AI Photo Enhancement, Adaptive Stabilization, Portrait Mode with multiple focal lengths, Auto Night Vision, Horizon Lock, and Hyperlapse, combined with powerful Google Photos AI tools, deliver a truly pro-grade AI camera system designed for effortless, cinematic creativity.

Blending craftsmanship with modern sophistication, the motorola edge 70 fusion introduces an All-New Design paired with luxurious linen-inspired fabric finishes, delivering a soft, warm texture that feels as premium as it looks. Despite housing powerful hardware, the device remains ultra-slim at just 7.99mm and lightweight at only 193g, ensuring exceptional comfort and balance in everyday use. The flawlessly curved front glass seamlessly merges into the back, eliminating sharp edges and creating a natural, ergonomic grip for extended usage. Available in three distinctive Pantone™ Curated Colours — Pantone™ Blue Surf, Pantone™ Country Air, and Pantone™ Silhouette — and complemented by first-ever accent colour detailing around the camera housing, the motorola edge 70 fusion makes a bold yet refined design statement with standout visual appeal and durability.

The motorola edge 70 fusion elevates visual excellence with India’s Only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour^ Quad-Curved Display, validated by Pantone™ for accurate colours and skin tones exactly as creators intended. The stunning 6.78” Super HD+ (1.5K) Extreme AMOLED panel delivers cinematic brilliance with HDR10+ certification, 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut, and 10-bit colour depth, producing lifelike contrast, richer gradients, and ultra-vibrant visuals. With a segment-leading 5200 nits peak brightness, the display ensures exceptional clarity even under harsh sunlight, while the 144Hz refresh rate enables ultra-smooth gaming. Enhanced with Smart Water Touch, SGS Eye Care Certification, and protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i, the device offers an immersive yet durable viewing experience. Elevating everyday entertainment further are dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos® and Hi-Res Audio, offering immersive, multidimensional sound with remarkable clarity and depth.

Despite its ultra-slim form factor, the motorola edge 70 fusion houses a Massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery, engineered to deliver up to 52 hours of battery life without compromising performance. Designed for uninterrupted streaming, gaming, 4K recording, video calls, and social media usage, the advanced silicon-carbon technology ensures long-lasting endurance in a sleek profile. Complementing this is 68W TurboPower™ charging, which provides a full day’s power in just 10 minutes, enabling users to refuel quickly and stay productive and entertained without pause.

Powering the motorola edge 70 fusion is the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4 Mobile Platform, delivering major upgrades across AI, CPU, and GPU performance for faster, more immersive experiences. Built on the new Qualcomm® Oryon CPU architecture, it offers a 27% performance boost and an impressive 1Mn+ AnTuTu score, making multitasking, gaming, and heavy tasks seamless. A redesigned GPU enables 30% better graphics performance, while a 65% faster NPU powers smarter on-device AI experiences with co-pilot and Perplexity built in. Backed by a 4473mm² vapor chamber for improved cooling, up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 16 5G bands with Wi-Fi 6E, it ensures ultra-smooth performance and blazing-fast connectivity.

The motorola edge 70 fusion also comes with moto ai 2.0, delivering next-level intelligence. It brings Next Move contextual suggestions that understand what’s on your screen and offer the right actions in real time, along with creative tools like AI Image Studio, Sketch to Image, Style Sync, Text to Sticker, and avatar creation. Productivity is elevated with Catch Me Up 2.0, Pay Attention live transcriptions, AI Playlist Studio, Global Search, Auto Screenshot Blur, and seamless cross-device task flow via This On That. Features such as Remember This and Recall act as a smart memory vault, while Perplexity integration enables instant exploration, planning, and contextual recommendations. With the freedom to choose between motoAI, Copilot, Perplexity, and Google Gemini, users experience truly versatile, intelligent assistance.

The motorola edge 70 fusion meets ultimate military standards for durability, passing 16 tests of MIL-810H Military Grade Certified Protection. All while maintaining a sophisticated, elegant look and feel. It’s protected against extreme temperatures, including harsh winters as cold as -20°C or scorching summer days as high as 60°C, even the blazing temperatures inside a parked car. It also withstands up to 95% humidity. With the Highest level of water protection IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering superior protection against dust, dirt, sand, and high-pressure water, it’s designed to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. T.M. Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola India, said, “At Motorola, we continue to challenge conventional boundaries by combining purposeful innovation with a deep understanding of how consumers live, create, and connect today. With the motorola edge 70 fusion, we have focused on delivering an exceptional camera performance, design excellence, intelligent experiences, and dependable power and performance in an ultra-refined form factor. This launch reflects our commitment to moving beyond specifications and creating technology that feels personal, expressive, and effortlessly powerful. It marks another important milestone in our journey to deliver premium, design-led and AI-driven experiences that elevate everyday life in a meaningful way.”

Running on Hello UI based on the latest Android 16, the motorola edge 70 fusion comes with a promise of 3 OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates. with the device also comes with NFC support and enhanced software experiences like Moto Secure 5.0 with ThinkShield, Family Spaces, Moto Unplugged, and intelligent system optimization, the device ensures robust privacy, security, and long-term reliability.

Bringing together pro-grade imaging, refined fabric-inspired design, powerful performance, immersive audio, and intelligent software, the motorola edge 70 fusion redefines what users can expect from a mid-premium smartphone—delivering a seamless blend of style, substance, and innovation in one thoughtfully crafted device.

Availability:

The motorola edge 70 fusion will be available in three storage variants 8GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 256GB and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant and will come in three luxurious Pantone™ curated colour options — Pantone™ Blue Surf, Pantone™ Country Air and Pantone™ Silhouette. All variants feature a refined, fabric-inspired premium finish designed to deliver a soft, tactile in-hand feel while enhancing everyday grip and sophistication, seamlessly blending luxury aesthetics with durable craftsmanship.

Consumers can be the first to own the Motorola edge 70 fusion on 6th March between 12pm-4pm as part of an exclusive, limited stock, early bird sale on Flipkart.

The device will formally go on sale from 12th March 2026, 12pm onwards on Flipkart, Motorola.in, and at leading retail stores across India, at an effective launch price starting just INR 24,999*.

LAUNCH PRICE

Edge 70 Fusion 8/128 GB : Rs 26,999

Edge 70 Fusion 8/256 GB : Rs 29,999

Edge 70 Fusion 12/256 GB : Rs 32,999

Affordability Offer details:

Bank Offer: ₹2,000 Instant Discount on HDFC & Axis Credit Cards along with No Cost EMI for 3 & 6 months on Axis & SBI Credit Cards.

Exchange Offer: Flat ₹2,000 Exchange Bonus on all brands.

NET EFFECTIVE PRICING (including offers)

Edge 70 Fusion 8/128 GB : Rs 24,999*

Edge 70 Fusion 8/256 GB : Rs 27,999*

Edge 70 Fusion 12/256 GB : Rs 30,999*

Operator Offer:

Free access to Google Gemini Pro Plan for 18 months, worth Rs. 35,100

To know more about the product visit:

Flipkart - https://www.flipkart.com/motorola-edge-70-fusion/p/itm0119095a14fb0?pid=MOBHJ7TXGWKERGJG

Motorola website - https://www.motorola.in/smartphones-motorola-edge-70-fusion/p?skuId=633

With US Exit, Questions Rise Over WHO’s Global Relevance — Will India Reconsider Its Stance?


· America’s exit raises concerns over WHO’s financial stability and global health leadership, exposes structural weaknesses.

· US exit threatens WHO’s funding base, raising questions over reforms, efficiency and accountability.

· India as a leading force in the Global South might need to recalibrate WHO’s alignment with local public health policies and approach.

Recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & the U.S. Department of State announced the United States’ completion of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the organization's inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. This prompted countries worldwide to reassess how international health frameworks influence domestic public‑health decision‑making.

The global health system often overlooks national contexts, struggles with flexible policymaking, and prioritizes ideology over results. This moment of recalibration provides an important opportunity for India to reflect on its long‑standing tradition of public‑health self‑reliance. India has historically demonstrated strong public‑health leadership when it has taken decisions rooted in local evidence. From scaling HIV/AIDS treatment with locally produced, affordable generics, to deploying digital platforms like CoWIN for one of the world’s largest vaccination drives, India succeeded in creating blueprints for health sovereignty.

Tobacco control is a prime example of how global policy can be shaped by donor priorities. President Trump on January 20, 2025, announced the U.S. plan to leave the WHO. During this yearlong process, WHO stopped receiving funding from its largest donor creating an opportunity for philanthropic entities like Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to step in and support specific health agendas. The concentration of influence has reignited discussions on whether global frameworks sufficiently represent the diverse needs of the Global South.

India’s tobacco policy landscape reflects how these global imbalances are playing out in real time. With over 267 million users—many of whom rely on smokeless or informal products—India has one of the world’s largest and most diverse tobacco-using populations. Over the past decade, India has adopted policies on tobacco control within WHO’s framework which one can debate to be more externally aligned than local evidence based.

As a part of this WHO compliance, India banned alternatives to smoking under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) in 2019 without any independent domestic research to assess comparative risks, and without reviewing the growing body of international scientific evidence differentiating these products. As a result, adult smokers in India have no access to regulated, scientifically evaluated alternatives—depriving them of genuine products with harm reduction benefits and restricting their freedom of choice. This vacuum also fuels illicit markets and holds back the public‑health gains.

Dr. Lancelot Mark Pinto, Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist Consultant at P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre stated, “Health policy needs to be data-driven, with local preferences, cost-effectiveness and social norms taken into account. Something as simple as ORS, with no pharma-lobbying or vested stakeholders possibly saved more lives than many drugs combined and is a great example of how local solutions need to be prioritized. A blanket ban deprived current smokers of safer harm reducing alternatives and was not science driven. While the loss of funds and know-how from the WHO will be missed, this is an opportunity for us to ramp up local research and have the results of the research drive policy.”

Prof Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos, Cardiologist and most-cited harm reduction researcher in Greece stated, “Today we still have 1.2 billion smokers in the world and that big countries like India and Brazil are deprived of the opportunity to engage in a risk reduction strategy and deprive smokers of their right to less harmful alternatives is a serious issue. It has nothing to do with science, because science is quite clear. And that raises a lot of ethical questions about why smokers are not given what they need and what they deserve.”

As the broader international environment evolves, India has an opportunity to reaffirm a model of health sovereignty that is shaped by scientific evaluation, population‑specific local realities, and the right of adults to access less harmful choices. Strengthening domestic research, modernising regulation, and enabling structured stakeholder engagement will be key to building a public‑health pathway that reflects India’s needs. 

NABARD In Partnership With Gates Foundation And Dalberg, Launches “National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge”

* This is being done to build Climate Intelligence for Rural India

* Applications open from 6 March 2026 for innovators to develop near-term climate hazard forecasting models and practical dashboards

* Top three teams receive awards of ₹15 lakh, ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), in collaboration with The Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors has announced the launch of the National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge, a national initiative to strengthen India’s climate resilience architecture by building the foundational layers of a National Climate Stack for rural India.

The Challenge is open for applications and details are available at https://www.climatestackinnovationchallenge.com/

India’s climate risks are intensifying, with heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones placing increasing pressure on agriculture and rural livelihoods. While climate data availability has improved, near-term hazard forecasting remains fragmented across datasets and siloed models. Existing risk management systems remain largely reactive, underscoring the need for forward-looking, interoperable, and decision-ready climate intelligence.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shaji, Chairman, NABARD stated that, “At a national level, we have indeed covered a vast distance in climate data collation and analysis. The challenge is that these datasets sit in isolated websites. The National Climate Stack Innovation Challenge is an effort to bring the best minds to come forward and help us develop a solution which brings all these data streams together in a seamless manner. The larger objective is to develop a tech solution which truly democratizes climate data in a way which has not been done till now. In that way this challenge is in complete sync with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging technology to build a more resilient rural India”

Objective

The Challenge seeks to mobilize India’s scientific and innovation ecosystem to contribute to the development of a National Climate Stack. Specifically, the Challenge seeks proposals that:

Credible near-term (10–15 year) climate hazard forecasting frameworks that can serve as the foundational forecasting layer of the Climate Stack

Practical use-case dashboards built on top of the hazard layer to demonstrate operational applications and system integration

Together, these efforts aim to move from climate data aggregation toward operational climate intelligence for agriculture, rural finance, and public planning.

Challenge Structure and Timelines

The Innovation Challenge will follow a structured, multi-stage process:

Open Call (6th March 2026): A national call inviting proposals from research institutions, universities, startups, and private-sector innovators.

Screening and Shortlisting (March–April 2026): Structured review of submissions to shortlist high-potential teams based on eligibility, problem understanding, and proposed methodology.

Guided Model Development (April–May 2026): Shortlisted teams will participate in a 6–8 week development sprint to refine and document their climate hazard models, with expert inputs.

Technical Validation and Jury Selection (May–June 2026): Independent technical assessment followed by jury-led selection of final awardees.

Submissions will be assessed on scientific rigor, explainability, practical relevance, interoperability, and scalability.

DiCRA and Governance

The Challenge is anchored in DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture - https://dicra.nabard.org/), NABARD’s climate data platform. Through this initiative, NABARD seeks to strengthen DiCRA’s evolution from a digital public good into a digital public infrastructure capable of supporting interoperable, forecasting-enabled climate intelligence.

NABARD will serve as the anchor institution for the Challenge with The Gates Foundation and Dalberg Advisors acting as strategic partners.

Awards and Way Forward

The top three solutions will receive awards of ₹15 lakh, ₹10 lakh, and ₹5 lakh, respectively. Selected solutions may also be considered for post-Challenge pilots and adoption pathways through NABARD and partner programmes.

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