Business - The Purbottar

19 Aug

South Africa tourism minister to visit India for BRICS meeting, eyes stronger ties with Indian market

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South Africa’s Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille will visit Jaipur on August 21 and 22 to represent the country at the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting hosted by India under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. South African Tourism COO Ismail Dockrat will accompany her as part of the delegation. The visit is expected to strengthen tourism cooperation between India and South Africa, with both countries seeking deeper engagement across trade, culture, investment and people-to-people ties. Minister de Lille said India is a “valued and strategic partner” and highlighted tourism as an important avenue for strengthening bilateral connections. India is an important and…

19 Aug

Yamaha refreshes 125cc scooter range with new colours and connected-tech upgrades

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India Yamaha Motor on Tuesday announced a refresh of its 125cc Fi Hybrid scooter range, introducing new colours, updated graphics and technology upgrades across the RayZR 125 Fi Hybrid and Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid models. The company said the move is aimed at meeting the preferences of young and style-conscious riders seeking a combination of design, performance, convenience and connectivity.The RayZR Street Rally variant now gets a Colour TFT instrument cluster with Turn-by-Turn navigation, while the wider RayZR range receives new paint finishes and graphics. The Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid has also been updated with new shades and contemporary design…

19 Aug

Rising premiums and higher cover signal stronger life insurance demand in India

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India’s life insurance market is witnessing a gradual shift towards higher protection levels, with policyholders increasingly opting for larger coverage and spending more on financial protection, according to an analysis of FY2021-FY2025 business data compiled by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) of India. The data showed that the share of policies with a sum assured of ₹2 lakh-₹5 lakh increased by 5.6 percentage points between FY2021 and FY2025, while the ₹10 lakh-₹25 lakh category gained 2 percentage points. Policies with cover above ₹50 lakh rose 68% from 4.4 million to 7.4 million during the period, generating annual premium of ₹975…

19 Aug

Western Himalaya heating faster than east, faces sharp snow loss by 2100: Study

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The western Himalaya is warming faster than the central and eastern stretches of the mountain range and is projected to suffer the greatest snow loss by the end of the century, according to a new study published in the Journal of Earth System Science. The study, titled “Vulnerability of the Himalayan region under the climate change”, analysed 120 years of temperature observations from 1901 to 2020 and projections from eight global climate models under five emission scenarios. Researchers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and Ashoka University found that the western…

18 Aug

Realme Price Hike in India: 16 Pro+, 16 Pro and C-Series Smartphones Get Costlier

sunny EditorBusiness

Realme has increased the prices of several smartphones in India, following similar price revisions by brands such as OnePlus, Oppo and Vivo. The latest hike affects multiple models across the Realme 16 and C-series, with prices increasing by up to Rs. 4,000. The revised prices came into effect on August 18. According to a communication reportedly shared by Realme with its retail partners, the company has cited rising costs of memory, chipsets and other smartphone components as the reason behind the price revision. The Realme 16 Pro+ 5G has received the biggest price increase. Its 8GB RAM and 128GB storage…

18 Aug

Asian Energy Services Q1 profit jumps 129% to Rs 12.8 crore

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Asian Energy Services Limited reported a strong start to FY27, with consolidated net profit for the first quarter rising 129% year-on-year to Rs 12.8 crore, while revenue surged 135% to Rs 271.2 crore. EBITDA increased 81% year-on-year to Rs 21.9 crore, supported by strong execution, operating discipline and continued momentum across the company’s domestic and international operations. The company said its FY27 guidance for both Asian Energy Services and Kuiper remains unchanged. As of June 30, 2026, Asian Energy’s standalone order book stood at Rs 1,754 crore, with around 60% coming from oil and gas services and 40% from mineral…

18 Aug

Axis Max Life opens FY27 with stronger growth and profitability

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Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd reported a strong first-quarter performance for FY27, with Individual Adjusted First Year Premium rising 17% year-on-year to ₹1,810 crore and private market share improving 13 basis points to 10.1%. Total APE grew 15% to ₹1,922 crore, while Value of New Business (VNB) jumped 33% to ₹446 crore. New Business Margin expanded 315 basis points to 23.2%. Renewal premium increased 20% to ₹4,639 crore, taking Gross Written Premium up 19% to ₹7,607 crore. Individual new business sum assured grew 32%, while policies rose 12% to 1.87 lakh. AUM crossed ₹2 lakh crore at ₹2,02,621crore, up 11%,…

18 Aug

Nestlé Targets Growing GLP-1 Market With New Nutrition Products

nanika EditorBusiness

Nestlé is seeking to turn the rapid growth of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs into a business opportunity by developing nutrition products tailored to users of medicines such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The company is using artificial intelligence and nutritional science to study clinical research, identify nutrient combinations and develop products aimed at addressing challenges associated with rapid weight loss, including muscle loss, dehydration and reduced nutritional intake. Nestlé has already introduced products such as Boost Advanced Nutrition Shake in the US, containing 35 grams of protein, while a higher-protein version of Milo has been launched in Asia and Australia. Its Vital…

18 Aug

RCM hosts Special Women’s Academy 2026 to advance women’s leadership and self-reliance

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RCM Consumer Products Private Limited has concluded its Special Women’s Academy 2026 at RCM World, Bhilwara, reinforcing its focus on women’s empowerment, leadership, confidence, health and self-reliance. Held on August 15-16 under the theme “Har Naari Samman Ki Adhikari”, the two-day programme brought together women associate buyers and leaders from across the country. Organised to mark Independence Day, the event began with a march-past and flag hoisting, followed by performances by school-going girls and cultural presentations showcasing India’s diversity. A felicitation ceremony on the first day recognised women achievers. RCM Founder T.C. Chhabra and Managing Director Priyancka Agarwaal addressed participants,…

18 Aug

Chindi Pakad trailer spotlights the untold struggles of ragpickers

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Sonarpur-born filmmaker Prasenjit Chakraborty’s independent Hindi film Chindi Pakad has unveiled its trailer and music at an event at PVR in Mumbai, with veteran actors Rakesh Bedi and Makarand Deshpande attending as chief guests. Set around massive dumping grounds, the film explores the lives of ragpickers and the challenges they face, including poverty, addiction, exploitation, family struggles and the fight for dignity. The trailer presents a stark world where garbage heaps become a backdrop for broken relationships, unfulfilled dreams and hopes of a better life. Chakraborty, who has directed and written the film, said the project seeks to tell the…