Trump Administration Drops Opioid Ban Following Kratom Lobbying
Health officials backed down on an opioid ban for kratom products following intense industry lobbying.
via The New York Times
Today’s briefs
Business, economy, regulation and policy, briefly.
Congress draws blank in four-state Legislative Council elections
Congress failed to win any seats in Legislative Council elections across four major Indian states, where voting was conducted using ballot papers.
via Business Line
US Restricts Trade With Chinese Genomics Firm BGI
The US restricted trade with Chinese genomics firm BGI over alleged links to forced labor and minority abuse.
via The New York Times
India hikes dearness allowance by 3 percent for central staff
India approved a 3 percent hike in Dearness Allowance for central government employees and pensioners, benefiting 1.17 crore people.
via Business Line
PVR INOX net profit surges to Rs 263 crore on record revenue
PVR INOX posted a net profit of Rs 263.1 crore and record quarterly revenue of Rs 2,105.1 crore in Q2, driven by strong box office returns.
via Business Line
UK Budget: Energy payments, wage hikes and tax changes announced
Chancellor John Healey's first Budget introduces cost of living support, energy payments, minimum wage increases and adjusted savings taxes.
via BBC News - UK Politics
UK Budget 2026: Energy bills, taxes and spending changes
Chancellor John Healey has set out tax and spending plans including energy bill overhauls, pension rises, and new levies on savings and bank profits.
via BBC News - Business
Australia inflation accelerates to 4.3 percent as RBA rejects
Australia's headline inflation rate has risen to 4.3 percent, though the Reserve Bank's chief economist has ruled out a recession.
via The Guardian
No clear winner in Israeli parliamentary election
Exit polls from the Israeli parliamentary election show no clear winner, leaving neither political bloc with a majority.
via Financial Times
Rupee edges up 4 paise to 95.03 against US dollar in early trade
The rupee edged up 4 paise to 95.03 against the US dollar in early trade as markets awaited the Federal Reserve policy decision.
via Business Line
Jio Platforms IPO absorbs market liquidity and dampens indices
India's largest IPO absorbs significant market liquidity, diverting capital from secondary equities and contributing to a decline in benchmark indices.
via Business Line
Anthropic targets Australian retail investors in blockbuster IPO
Anthropic is offering shares in its massive IPO directly to Australian retail investors, providing a rare chance to back a frontier AI model maker.
via The Age
Ultrobotix Advances AI Food Technologist Toward Proof of Concept
Ultrobotix Ltd. is advancing its AI Food Technologist initiative by preparing a proof of concept to test regulatory screening capabilities in Israel.
via Financial Post | Canada Business News
Beauty businesses are driving new life into High Streets
Beauty and personal care businesses are helping to support physical high streets by filling vacant spaces and attracting shoppers.
via BBC News - Business
UK SMEs Urged to Tackle International Growth With Local Strategy
UK small businesses attempting overseas expansion must adopt localized strategies, from targeted market research to transparent pricing, rather than relying on generic domestic models.
via Business Matters | The Uk's Leading Sme Business Magazine
Green Bean Studios Partners With Findel Group for New EdTech Series
Green Bean Studios has partnered with Findel Group to launch an early years edutainment subscription series, expanding the Manchester company's reach across UK schools and nurseries.
via Business Matters | The Uk's Leading Sme Business Magazine
UK Chancellor set to deliver Budget
UK Chancellor John Healey will deliver the Budget today, setting out the government's tax and spending plans for the year ahead.
via BBC News - Business
Congress draws blank in four-state Legislative Council elections
Congress failed to win any seats in Legislative Council elections across four major Indian states, where voting was conducted using ballot papers.
- The Congress won zero seats out of 28 contested across four major states.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted the defeat involved ballot papers rather than EVMs.
- The BJP and its allies secured multiple seats in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar.
- The elections serve as a key indicator of political momentum ahead of future state polls.
The ruling party and its allies secured major victories in Legislative Council elections spanning Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar, while the opposition Congress party failed to win a single seat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the defeat on social media, pointing out that the elections were conducted using traditional ballot papers to counter recent opposition claims regarding electronic voting systems.
The regional contests are viewed as a critical barometer of political strength ahead of upcoming assembly elections, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP and its allies maintained strong leads or secured victories in multiple constituencies across the four states, while debutant political formations also made notable gains in local races.