Digital push: LIC urged to double down on mobile-first outreach; focus on ‘insurance for all’, says Nagaraju

Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju has asked the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to sustain its push on digital marketing and a mobile-first strategy to help achieve the national objective of “insurance for all”.Speaking at LIC’s strategy meet in Mumbai, Nagaraju said the insurer’s expanding digital outreach would be critical to widening coverage and…

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Trade policy rethink: GTRI calls for tariff overhaul; simpler customs to cut costs and lift exports

India needs a comprehensive overhaul of its import tariff structure and customs administration to reduce trade costs, improve manufacturing competitiveness and revive export growth, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Saturday, PTI reported. In a report titled A Blueprint for Modernizing India’s Import Tariffs and Customs Regime, GTRI recommended a gradual move…

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Online search monopoly case: Google moves court against monopoly ruling, seeks pause on data-sharing order

Google has filed a notice to appeal a US federal court ruling that held it guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search, according to court records, AFP reported.A US district judge had ruled in 2024 that the internet major monopolised search and text advertising by using exclusive distribution agreements that made it the…

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Trade breakthrough: EU, Mercosur sign landmark free trade pact; 25-year negotiations end amid global tariff tensions

The European Union and the Mercosur on Saturday formally signed a long-awaited free trade agreement, closing more than 25 years of negotiations and creating one of the world’s largest integrated trading zones.The agreement was signed in Asunción, marking a significant geopolitical win for the EU at a time of intensifying global trade frictions, rising tariffs…

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Merchandise exports: CRISIL sees stronger headwinds; US trade risks keep outlook cautious

India’s merchandise exports are likely to face intensifying pressure in the coming months as uncertainty over the proposed US-India trade deal persists and concerns grow over possible additional US levies linked to India’s crude oil purchases from Russia, ratings firm CRISIL said.In its latest assessment, CRISIL warned that near-term stress could emerge in select agri-export…

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US-China trade: China pares US Treasury exposure to 17-year low; steps up gold accumulation

China has pushed its holdings of US government debt down to their lowest level in nearly two decades, underscoring a steady recalibration of its foreign exchange reserves away from dollar assets and towards gold and overseas investments amid strained ties with Washington, PTI reported.Data released by the US Department of the Treasury shows that China’s…

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