A South Korean government-commissioned study found paper straws had higher carcinogenic and acidification impacts than conventional plastic, raising questions about material substitution as a pollution-control measure.
Italian envoy Antonio Bartoli calls for deeper India-Italy manufacturing ties, citing textile trade below USD 1 billion and scope for growth under the India-EU FTA
Raw-material prices have risen 30-40 per cent amid West Asia tensions, while subdued volumes and intense competition limit pricing power
The report recommends restricting merchant discount rates to businesses with annual turnover of Rs 50 crore or more and exempting loan repayments and debt collections
UPI transaction value could decline 10 per cent and volumes 4 per cent as a 0.4 per cent MDR on payments above Rs 2,000 reshapes consumer payment choices
India’s retail inflation rose to 4.82 per cent in August, driven by higher food prices, with ginger, onion and garlic recording sharp inflation
Wholesale inflation rose from 9.78 per cent in July, with Fuel and Power inflation accelerating to 22.93 per cent from 20.05 per cent
The FAO Food Price Index rose to 133.3 points in August, with all five commodity categories recording higher prices amid weather and geopolitical risks
Rising sugar prices and tighter supplies prompt BigBasket, Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart to limit purchases in select markets
India’s plant-protein ingredients market could double to Rs 9,000 crore in five years, driven by rising protein demand and domestic manufacturing opportunities
