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A nationwide study has found that prolonged exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes, with women in India's mountainous regions—including Northeastern states such as Meghalaya, Nagaland and parts of Assam—emerging among the most vulnerable despite traditionally cooler climates. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Communications, the study analysed 209,266 births recorded across India between 2015 and 2020. Researchers matched each pregnancy with local heat conditions using the India Heat Index, measuring consecutive "sweltering" days rather than average temperatures. The findings showed that every additional consecutive day of extreme heat during pregnancy increased…

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes, with women in West Bengal's humid subtropical regions facing a heightened threat of delivering low-birth-weight babies, according to a first-of-its-kind population-scale study conducted across India. The research also found that rural, less-educated and socially vulnerable mothers are the most affected, underscoring the need to prioritise pregnant women in India's heat action plans. The study, Effect of extreme heat stress on adverse pregnancy outcomes in India, analysed 209,266 births recorded between 2015 and 2020 by matching each pregnancy with local heat exposure. Researchers measured consecutive "sweltering"…

Kotak Mahindra Bank reported a 26% year-on-year increase in standalone net profit to ₹4,123 crore for the first quarter of FY27, supported by lower credit provisions, healthy loan growth and higher fee income. The bank's consolidated net profit rose 23% to ₹5,480 crore during the April-June quarter, according to its unaudited financial results approved by the board on July 18. Net interest income (NII) grew 9% year-on-year to ₹7,928 crore, while operating profit increased 10% to ₹6,131 crore. Fee and services income rose 11% to ₹2,500 crore. Provisions declined sharply by 45% to ₹668 crore, helping improve profitability despite a…

ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the super-premium and luxury spirits subsidiary of Allied Blenders & Distillers Limited (ABD), has entered the Telangana market with the launch of three award-winning whisky brands — AODH Irish Whiskey, WOODBURNS Contemporary Rare Indian Whisky and YELLO Designer Whisky. The company, co-founded by Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, unveiled the products at a launch event in Hyderabad on Monday. The launch marks ABD Maestro's expansion into Telangana's growing premium spirits segment, with the company targeting consumers seeking high-quality and craft-driven alcoholic beverages. The three whiskies are now available at leading retail outlets in Hyderabad and will also…

Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness has expanded its presence in India with the launch of a luxury mental health, addiction recovery and holistic wellness retreat in Sikkim, marking its fourth centre after Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Nestled in the Rumtek Hills, the new facility is designed to support individuals dealing with addiction, burnout, behavioural addictions and other mental health concerns through an immersive recovery programme that combines evidence-based clinical care with nature and holistic wellness practices. The launch comes at a time when awareness of mental health and substance dependence is increasing across India, prompting more individuals and families to seek…

Shares of Chinese memory chip giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) skyrocketed more than 500% during their Shanghai stock market debut, propelling the semiconductor manufacturer to become the most valuable publicly listed company in mainland China. The explosive market entry followed Asia's largest initial public offering of the year, raising $8.6 billion as investor demand overwhelmed available shares. CXMT’s dramatic surge pushed its market capitalization past 3.6 trillion yuan ($539 billion), briefly eclipsing major state-backed banking titans like the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) producer has drawn widespread international attention amid reports that tech giant…

UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement producer by capacity, is planning to raise ₹5,000 crore through rupee-denominated bonds, which could become the company’s biggest bond fundraising exercise in the domestic debt market. According to banking sources, the company is in discussions with merchant bankers and arrangers to tap the bond market ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s upcoming policy decision. The proposed fundraising is expected to be used to strengthen the company’s financial position and support its business requirements. The planned bond issue will be divided into three maturity periods — two-and-a-half years, three-and-a-half years, and five years. UltraTech Cement…