Category: Business

New Delhi, July 20: Gold and silver prices moved higher as a weaker US dollar provided support to precious metals, offsetting concerns over possible interest rate decisions by the US Federal Reserve.

Market sentiment remained influenced by global economic developments, with investors closely tracking currency movements and monetary policy signals. A softer dollar generally makes precious metals more attractive for buyers holding other currencies, contributing to the upward movement in prices.

Analysts said ongoing uncertainty over interest rate policies and global market conditions continues to influence precious metal trading. Investors are keeping a close watch on inflation trends, economic data, and central bank decisions for further direction.

The rise in gold and silver prices reflects continued demand for safe-haven assets amid changing global financial conditions. Market participants expect volatility to remain as investors assess future interest rate outlooks and currency trends.

New Delhi, July 20: Hyundai Motor India has announced expanded access to a network of 30,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across India, strengthening efforts to make electric mobility more accessible and convenient for customers.

The initiative aims to provide EV owners with wider charging options and greater confidence while travelling, addressing one of the major factors influencing electric vehicle adoption. The expanded network will support customers by improving access to charging facilities across different locations.

The move reflects Hyundai’s continued focus on developing a robust EV ecosystem in India through enhanced infrastructure support and customer-centric solutions. As demand for electric vehicles grows, reliable charging availability is expected to play a key role in accelerating the transition towards cleaner transportation.

Hyundai Motor India is working towards supporting sustainable mobility by integrating technology, innovation, and infrastructure development. The expansion of charging access is expected to encourage more consumers to adopt electric vehicles and contribute to the growth of India’s green mobility sector.

The company’s latest initiative marks another step in strengthening the electric vehicle landscape and improving the overall ownership experience for EV users across the country.

Nearly half of patients who completed an at-home test for colorectal cancer fail to repeat the screening consistently, according to Rutgers Health researchers who also found primary care provider behaviors can increase patient consistency – and catch more cancers early.

“This isn’t just about a doctor’s recommendation or the individual prevention beliefs of a patient,” said Ethan Halm, vice chancellor for population health at Rutgers Health and lead author of the study. “Systems can have a powerful impact.” Halm, a professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center together with RWJBarnabas Health.

The study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology followed 492,812 adults from four large health systems for up to a decade after a negative home stool fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Fifty-four percent repeated what is supposed to be an annual test in more than 75% of subsequent years, about 30% repeated it at least once and 16% never did it again.

Among patients who were subsequently diagnosed with colorectal cancer, advanced disease accounted for 19% of initial diagnoses in people who never retested themselves and 12% in the other two groups. Local-stage cancer, the easiest to treat, was the initial diagnosis of 56% of consistent retesters and 44% of never retesters.

Older and healthier patients were more likely to repeat screening, as were people with previous stool-testing experience and those who had seen a primary care clinician in the previous year.

That said, the biggest predictor – by far – of retesting rates was which of the four health systems provided their care. Even after researchers adjusted for patient differences, the odds of consistent testing varied more than 20-fold among the four systems studied: Parkland Health in Dallas and the Kaiser Permanente systems in Northern California, Southern California and Washington state.

The health-system differences pointed toward a practical way to improve results. Kaiser Permanente Northern California, which had the highest adherence, had long used organized population outreach strategies. The system mailed FIT kits to patients who were overdue and made kits available for anyone to pick up at primary care offices, laboratories, pharmacies and flu clinics. This helped catch patients who don’t regularly visit doctors for annual checkups or other treatments.

Halm said the sharp differences in patient retesting rates should inform how medical practices everywhere speak to patients on this issue and how health systems organize population health outreach programs. Proper colorectal cancer screening provides huge returns in both extra healthy years and medical spending avoided, Halm said.

The FIT test analyzed in the study has patients poke a stool sample with a plastic stick and return it to a lab, which checks for microscopic blood that can signal colorectal cancer or advanced polyps (little bumps that can turn into cancer). A positive result generally leads to a colonoscopy.

The FIT test is inexpensive and easy to conduct, but it is nowhere near as sensitive as a colonoscopy, so guidelines recommend that patients repeat it every year rather than every decade.

“For those doing FIT testing, this is not a one-and-done testing strategy,” said Halm, who is also the deputy chief population health officer at RWJBarnabas Health and a core member of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research. “You need to check your rear every year.”

The study noted some important limitations. It began with people who already had completed one negative stool test, so it doesn’t measure those who had never been screened or overall adherence across all methods. The study period also largely preceded widespread use of newer, combined stool DNA/FIT tests such as Cologuard.

For Halm, the main lesson is that making a home test available is only the first step. Health systems can improve the odds that screening continues by tracking who is overdue, proactively contacting patients and repeatedly putting tests in their hands.

“The best test is the test that gets done,” Halm said.

New Delhi, July 20: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent visit to Europe has strengthened India’s trade and economic partnerships, reinforcing the country’s commitment to expanding global business opportunities and fostering closer international cooperation.

During the visit, Goyal held a series of meetings with government officials, business leaders, and industry representatives to discuss ways to enhance bilateral trade, encourage investment, and promote collaboration across key sectors. The discussions focused on improving market access, supporting innovation, strengthening supply chains, and creating new opportunities for businesses on both sides.

The visit underscored India’s growing role as a trusted global economic partner and highlighted its efforts to build resilient and mutually beneficial trade relationships with European nations. Stakeholders expressed confidence that the continued dialogue would pave the way for stronger commercial ties and increased investment.

The engagements are expected to deepen economic cooperation, expand business partnerships, and contribute to sustained growth, reflecting India’s broader vision of strengthening its presence in global markets while supporting long-term prosperity for its trading partners.

Mumbai, July 20: Indian equity markets opened on a weaker note today as negative global sentiment and rising crude oil prices weighed on investor confidence.

Benchmark indices declined in early trading, reflecting cautious sentiment across global markets. Investors remained concerned about higher oil prices, which have renewed fears of inflation and increased costs for businesses, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on fuel and transportation.

Market participants also kept a close watch on corporate earnings and broader economic developments, with uncertainty prompting many investors to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. Financial, automobile, and other rate-sensitive sectors witnessed selling pressure during the opening session, while defensive stocks showed relatively better resilience.

Analysts believe that fluctuations in global markets and energy prices are likely to influence investor sentiment in the coming days. Despite the weak start, they expect domestic economic fundamentals and quarterly earnings announcements to play a key role in determining the market’s near-term direction.

Investors are advised to remain focused on long-term investment strategies while monitoring global developments and sector-specific trends that may impact market performance.

New Delhi, July 2026: Luxor, one of India’s leading writing instruments and stationery companies, is set to participate in Paperworld India & Giftex 2026, taking place from 30 July to 1 August at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the company’s comprehensive portfolio spanning globally renowned and homegrown brands including Parker, Schneider, Luxor, Doodles and Crayola.

At the exhibition, Luxor will present solutions catering to every stage of a consumer’s journey, from creative products designed for preschoolers and young learners to premium writing instruments and gifting solutions for professionals, business leaders and corporate executives. The showcase will highlight the company’s continued focus on innovation, creativity and quality across writing, colouring, art and gifting categories.

Paperworld India & Giftex is one of the country’s largest trade exhibitions for stationery, office supplies, gifting and corporate solutions, attracting thousands of business visitors including corporate buyers, distributors, retailers, resellers and procurement professionals from across industries.

Commenting on the participation, Pooja Jain Gupta, Managing Director, Luxor Writing Instruments Pvt. Ltd., said, “Paperworld India & Giftex provides an excellent platform to connect with our partners, customers and the wider business community. Our portfolio today caters to diverse consumer needs, from a child’s first creative experience to premium gifting and executive writing solutions. We look forward to showcasing our innovations and strengthening relationships with existing and prospective business partners.”

Visitors can experience live product demonstrations, discover innovative solutions across Luxor’s brand portfolio, and interact with the team to explore retail, distribution and corporate gifting opportunities.

Event Details

Event: Paperworld India & Giftex 2026 Dates: 30 July to 1 August 2026 Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Business visitors can register for the exhibition free of charge until 20 July. Registration after this date will be chargeable as per the organiser’s guidelines.

 

 

 

 

New Delhi, July 18: Bharat Tex 2026 has emerged as a major global platform for India’s textile and apparel industry, attracting investment commitments worth ₹14,300 crore and strengthening the country’s position as a preferred destination for textile manufacturing and sourcing.

The international textile exhibition brought together leading industry stakeholders, global buyers, manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, and innovators, showcasing India’s capabilities across the entire textile value chain — from fibres and yarns to fabrics, garments, technical textiles, and traditional crafts.

The event witnessed strong global participation, with exhibitors and buyers from several countries engaging in business discussions, partnerships, and investment opportunities. The commitments announced during the event reflect growing confidence in India’s textile ecosystem and its potential for sustainable growth.

A key focus of Bharat Tex 2026 was promoting innovation, sustainability, circular textiles, advanced manufacturing, and technology-driven solutions. The exhibition highlighted India’s efforts to expand its global textile footprint while supporting MSMEs, artisans, startups, and large-scale manufacturers.

Industry leaders said the investment announcements mark a significant step towards strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in global textile markets.

With substantial investment interest and international engagement, Bharat Tex 2026 has reinforced India’s vision of becoming a global hub for textile production, innovation, and sustainable sourcing.

The hospitality industry is advancing faster than most people realize.

Artificial intelligence, AI, and biometric scanners can analyze guest emotions. Virtual simulations can recreate high-pressure service scenarios. Behavioral analytics can reveal how people respond to experiences in real time.

At the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism, students and researchers are using those technologies in the Digital Transformation Lab, a pioneering facility and one of the first of its kind in hospitality and tourism research at Texas A&M University.  

The lab gives students hands-on experience with tools reshaping the hospitality, hotel and tourism industries while creating new opportunities for industry collaboration and research.

Lab director and professor Babak Taheri, Ph.D., who is also associate head of the department, designed the space around a question the hospitality industry increasingly must answer: How do guests and employees actually experience a service interaction, beyond what they report afterward?
“Hospitality has always been about people,” Taheri said. “Our lab helps us better understand how people experience services and how innovation can make those experiences more meaningful.”

Understanding the guest experience

The lab combines biometric technology, artificial intelligence and immersive environments to capture insights that traditional surveys often miss. Researchers can use galvanic skin response sensors and AI-powered voice analysis software to measure physiological and emotional data in real time, helping uncover how people react during service experiences.
For doctoral student Faezeh Cheraghi, those digital tools have fundamentally changed the questions she chooses to ask in her research.

 “What I value most about the Digital Transformation Lab is the way it expands the scope of what we can study as researchers,” Cheraghi said. “Working in this environment has reshaped how I approach research design, data collection and the questions I choose to pursue.”

Simulating the real world

At the center of the lab is the PRISM Virtual Simulation Room, an immersive environment that allows students to navigate realistic hospitality scenarios before they experience them professionally.
Students can respond to a crowded hotel check-in desk, manage a restaurant during a service failure or work an emergency at a convention venue. Instructors can then repeat, adjust and debrief each scenario, creating learning opportunities that are difficult to replicate in traditional classroom settings or via research and rarely achievable through conventional workplace training.

Just a few years ago, this type of experiential, scenario-based training required expensive travel, extensive industry coordination or simply waiting for a real-world situation to happen.

Taheri said the technology allows students in the Aplin Department of Hospitality to encounter those situations before they ever set foot in a professional environment.

“Technology should support, not replace, the human side of hospitality,” Taheri said. “This lab gives us new ways to explore that balance.”

A living laboratory for industry collaboration

Beyond student training and faculty research, the lab also functions as a research and development space for industry partners. Hotels, restaurants and tourism organizations can use the lab to test new service concepts, pilot emerging technologies and study how guests respond before committing to large-scale changes.
Doctoral student Saba Ebrahimzadeh Maboud sees that capability as one of the lab’s most consequential contributions and one that reaches well beyond the hospitality field. The lab has opened the door to a wide range of interdisciplinary studies, she said.

“The Digital Transformation Lab has added a powerful new dimension to hospitality research,” Ebrahimzadeh Maboud said. “Its potential, however, reaches far beyond our field.”

That collaborative model reflects a broader reality as the hospitality sector continues to evolve faster than traditional curricula can follow. The lab is designed to close that gap.

Taheri said the Aplin Department of Hospitality sits at the intersection of two priorities that define the industry’s current moment: the demand for highly trained human talent and the rapid adoption of AI-driven tools.
The Digital Transformation Lab reflects the department’s belief that understanding people more precisely, through data, immersion and behavioral research, does not diminish the human element of hospitality. Rather, it empowers organizations to create more personalized, meaningful and effective experiences.

“What excites me most is the opportunity to create a space where students can experiment, industry can collaborate and new ideas can come to life,” Taheri said.

Discover the lab

Explore the technologies, research and immersive learning experiences shaping the future of hospitality at Texas A&M.

Mumbai, July 18: Gold prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) may see further movement toward the ₹1.39 lakh support level as global uncertainty continues to influence precious metal markets, according to analysts.

Market experts said changing global economic conditions, currency trends, and investor sentiment are playing a key role in shaping gold and silver prices. While gold continues to remain a preferred investment option during uncertain times, short-term fluctuations are expected.

Silver prices have also come under pressure, with analysts maintaining a cautious outlook due to weak global cues and market volatility.

Investors are closely monitoring key price levels and international developments to assess the future direction of precious metals. Despite near-term challenges, gold and silver continue to remain important assets for investors seeking stability during uncertain market conditions.