Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
INDIA boosted healthcare spending by 135 per cent and lifted caps on foreign investment in its vast insurance market on Monday(1) to help revive an economy that suffered its deepest recorded slump as a result of the pandemic.
Delivering a budget statement to parliament, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman projected a fiscal deficit of 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product for 2021/22, higher than the 5.5 per cent forecast by a recent Reuters poll of economists.
The current year was expected to end with a deficit of 9.5 per cent, she said, well up from the 7 per cent expected earlier.
Prime minister Narendra Modi said the budget was aimed at creating 'wealth and wellness' in a country that is battling the world's second highest coronavirus caseload after the US.
India currently spends about 1 per cent of GDP on health, among the lowest for any major economy.
Sitharaman proposed increasing healthcare spending to Rs 2.2 trillion ($30.2 billion) to help improve public health systems and fund a huge vaccination drive to immunise 1.3 billion people.
"All of us decided to give impetus to the economy and that impetus, we thought, would be qualitatively spent and give necessary demand push if we choose to spend big on infrastructure," Sitharaman told reporters after the presentation of the budget in parliament.
Unlike other countries, India refrained from announcing a big stimulus, offering greater liquidity to firms instead, and held off using its fiscal firepower until curbs to contain the virus were lifted.
The government estimates the economy will contract 7.7 per cent in the current fiscal year ending in March, in what would be the biggest fall ever recorded. However, it foresees a strong recovery in 2021/2022 with growth of 11 per cent.
That would make it the world's fastest growing major economy ahead of China's projected 8.1 per cent growth, but the government said it would take the economy two years to reach pre-pandemic levels.
"In a time of unprecedented economic stress, the government's responsibility was to spend enough to revive the economy or else face enormous human suffering," said Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra group, an autos to technology conglomerate.
"So I had one expectation from this budget: that we should be very liberal in terms of the targeted fiscal deficit. Box ticked."
Markets surge
India's main stock indexes surged. The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index was 4.7 per cent higher in its best performance on budget day in at least two decades. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed 5 per cent.
But, bond yields jumped after the government announced plans to raise additional funds from the market over the next two months.
Sitharaman said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap for the insurance sector would be increased to 74 per cent from the current 49 per cent.
To bridge some of the deficit, the government plans to sell its stake in the state run companies and banks including IDBI bank, an insurance company and oil companies. It also wants to sell state firms' surplus land.
Gene Fang, associate managing director, sovereign risk group, Moody's Investors Service, said the budget announcements did not change the credit rating agency's stance on India. Moody's rates Indian sovereign debt at 'Baa3' - the bottom rung of investment grade ratings - with a 'negative' outlook.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s decision to sharply increase H-1B visa application costs is expected to accelerate American companies’ move to shift more high-value work to India. Economists and industry experts say this will further boost the growth of global capability centres (GCCs), which manage operations ranging from finance to research and development.
India hosts about 1,700 GCCs, more than half of the global total. These centres, which began with a focus on tech support, have expanded into innovation-driven work, including car dashboard design and drug discovery.
Analysts say growing use of artificial intelligence and tightening visa rules are leading US companies to reassess labour strategies, with India-based GCCs emerging as key hubs combining global expertise with local leadership.
“GCCs are uniquely positioned for this moment. They serve as a ready in-house engine,” said Rohan Lobo, partner and GCC industry leader at Deloitte India. He said he was aware of several US firms currently reassessing workforce plans. “Plans are already underway,” he added, citing increased activity in financial services and technology, especially among firms connected to US federal contracts.
Lobo said he expected GCCs to “take on more strategic, innovation-led mandates” going forward.
Earlier this month, Trump raised the cost of new H-1B visa applications to $100,000, up from the earlier range of $2,000 to $5,000. The increase adds pressure on US companies that rely on skilled foreign workers to fill critical roles.
On Monday, US senators reintroduced a bill seeking tighter rules on H-1B and L-1 visa programmes, aimed at closing what they described as loopholes and misuse by major employers.
Industry experts say that if visa restrictions remain in place, US firms are likely to shift advanced work in artificial intelligence, product development, cybersecurity and analytics to their GCCs in India, while retaining more strategic functions in-house rather than outsourcing.
Lalit Ahuja, founder and CEO of ANSR, which has helped companies such as FedEx, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Target and Lowe’s set up GCCs, said, “There is a sense of urgency.”
Reassessing India strategies
Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former managing director of Cognizant India, said the trend could even lead to “extreme offshoring” in some cases. He pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic had already shown that critical technology work could be done remotely.
US government data shows that Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet (Google’s parent), JPMorgan Chase and Walmart were among the biggest sponsors of H-1B visas. All of them have significant operations in India but declined to comment, given the political sensitivity of the issue.
“Either more roles will move to India, or corporations will near-shore them to Mexico or Colombia. Canada could also take advantage,” said the India head of a retail GCC.
Even before the latest visa fee hike and plans for a new selection process favouring higher-paid roles, India was projected to host the GCCs of more than 2,200 companies by 2030, with the market size nearing $100 billion. “This whole ‘gold rush’ will only get accelerated,” Ahuja said.
Implications for India
Some remain cautious, noting the risks of new legislation. If the proposed HIRE Act is passed, US companies could face a 25 per cent tax on outsourcing work overseas, a move that could disrupt India’s services exports.
“For now, we are observing and studying, and being ready for outcomes,” said the India head of a US drugmaker’s GCC.
Trade tensions between the two countries have extended into services, with visa curbs and the HIRE Act proposal threatening India’s cost advantage and cross-border service flows.
India’s $283 billion IT industry, which contributes nearly 8 per cent of GDP, may come under pressure. However, rising demand for GCC services could offset part of the impact.
“Lost revenues from H-1B visa reliant businesses could be somewhat supplanted by higher services exports through GCCs, as US-based firms look to bypass immigration restrictions to outsource talent,” Nomura analysts said in a research note last week.
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EA to be acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
Shareholders to receive £166 per share, 25% above market value
Deal marks largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment ever
EA to remain headquartered in California under CEO Andrew Wilson
Transaction expected to close in early 2027
EA agrees to £43bn all-cash takeover
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), the studio behind blockbuster franchises such as FIFA, Battlefield, and The Sims, is set to go private after agreeing to a £43 billion acquisition by an investor consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
Shareholders will receive £166 per share in cash, a 25% premium on EA’s recent market price. PIF, which already owns 9.9% of the company, will roll its stake into the deal. Once completed, EA will no longer be listed on public markets.
Largest all-cash take-private in history
The deal is the biggest all-cash sponsor-led take-private transaction ever. The consortium has said it will use its experience in gaming, technology, and sports to support EA’s growth and innovation, aiming to create new opportunities for players worldwide.
Executives react
EA chief executive Andrew Wilson said the acquisition recognises “the extraordinary work” of the company’s teams and will help the studio “unlock new opportunities globally.”
Turqi Alnowaiser of PIF highlighted the fund’s commitment to gaming and esports, while Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban praised EA’s strong revenue growth and cash flow. Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, called EA “an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and bold vision for the future.”
What happens next
The deal has been approved by EA’s board and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval and shareholder consent. Funding will come from a mix of consortium equity and £16 billion in debt financing. EA will remain based in Redwood City, California, with Wilson staying on as CEO.
About EA
EA is a leading developer and publisher of video games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. Its portfolio includes some of the industry’s most recognisable brands, such as EA SPORTS FC, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies. In fiscal 2025, the company posted £5.9 billion in revenue.
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He will also receive an on-target yearly bonus of 150 per cent and a long-term incentive grant equal to 7.25 times his salary.
BRITISH drugmaker GSK on Monday named Luke Miels as its CEO designate. He will take over from Emma Walmsley, who steps down after nine years leading the company.
Miels will formally assume the role on January 1. He will be responsible for steering GSK towards its target of generating more than 40 billion pounds ($53.78 billion) in annual sales by 2031.
Remuneration
Miels’ annual base salary will start at 1.38 million pounds, lower than Walmsley’s 2025 salary of 1.43 million pounds, according to GSK’s annual report.
He will also receive an on-target yearly bonus of 150 per cent and a long-term incentive grant equal to 7.25 times his salary.
Who is Miels?
Miels, 50, joined GSK in 2017 as chief commercial officer. He has overseen the company’s global medicines and vaccines portfolio, which generates annual sales of over 20 billion pounds across more than 100 countries.
He is an Australian national, holding a biology degree from Flinders University and an MBA from Macquarie University. He began his career as a sales representative at AstraZeneca before moving into senior roles at Sanofi and Roche.
Career path
AstraZeneca 1995 – 2000: Sales and marketing roles
Sanofi-Aventis 2004 – 2006: Vice President, Sales Metabolism, New Jersey, USA 2004: Integration Officer, North America, Sanofi/Aventis merger 2003 – 2004: General Manager & Managing Director, Aventis Thailand 2002 – 2003: General Manager & Managing Director (Acting) 2000 – 2001: Head, Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management
Roche Pharmaceuticals 2009 – 2014: Regional Head, Asia Pacific (Shanghai, then Singapore) 2006 – 2009: VP/Head of Metabolism & Anemia Global Marketing, Switzerland
AstraZeneca May 2014 – August 2017: Executive Vice President, European business Earlier: Executive Vice President, Global Product and Portfolio Strategy, Global Medical Affairs, and Corporate Affairs
GSK September 2017 – Present: Chief Commercial Officer
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Many of the apps appeared legitimate when installed directly from the Google Play Store
More than 38 million downloads across 228 countries and territories
Cybersecurity firm HUMAN uncovered large-scale fraud campaign dubbed SlopAds
Apps disguised on Google Play Store and fake ad pages
US, India and Brazil hardest hit by fraudulent traffic
Google continues crackdown following recent security breaches
38 million downloads linked to fraudulent apps
Google has removed 224 Android apps after investigators uncovered a vast advertising fraud scheme. The operation, named SlopAds, involved apps that had been downloaded more than 38 million times across 228 countries and territories.
The discovery was made by the Satori Threat Intelligence and Research Team at cybersecurity company HUMAN, which confirmed that the apps were designed to manipulate online advertising systems by generating fake ad views and clicks.
How the scam worked
Many of the apps appeared legitimate when installed directly from the Google Play Store. Others were distributed via ads that led to fake download pages. Once installed, the apps carried out hidden instructions.
According to HUMAN’s report, the apps used steganography to conceal malicious code within images and then created hidden web views to open scam-controlled sites. These sites generated fraudulent ad impressions and clicks, tricking advertisers into paying for traffic that never existed.
Global impact of SlopAds
At its peak, the campaign accounted for 2.3 billion ad bid requests each day. The United States was the worst affected, with 30 per cent of fraudulent traffic, followed by India at 10 per cent and Brazil at 7 per cent.
Investigators also found hundreds of promotional domains and servers linked to the scheme, suggesting that those behind it intended to expand the operation even further.
Google under pressure
This crackdown comes during a challenging period for Google’s security teams. Earlier this month, the company confirmed a major data breach affecting Gmail users and issued a critical update to patch an Android vulnerability that allowed hackers to seize control of devices.
With services spanning 219 countries and territories, Google’s global reach makes it an attractive target for fraudsters seeking to exploit its platforms and users.
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FILE PHOTO: Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks during a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover car factory on April 7, 2025 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth - WPA Pool / Getty Images)
THE government will back Jaguar Land Rover with a £1.5 billion ($2bn) loan guarantee to help support its supply chain in the wake of the luxury carmaker's production shutdown following a cyberattack.
Jaguar Land Rover's shutdown has lasted nearly a month, and the government had been exploring options to support the company and its supply chain, with some small suppliers saying they had one week left at most before they ran out of cash.
The carmaker, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, has three factories that together produce about 1,000 cars per day, and sustain many jobs in the area around Birmingham, Britain's second biggest city, and the northern city of Liverpool. A survey on Friday (26) showed that some firms were reducing staff hours or making redundancies.
Business secretary Peter Kyle said the cyberattack was "not only an assault on an iconic British brand, but on our world-leading automotive sector."
"This loan guarantee will help support the supply chain and protect skilled jobs," he said.
The business ministry said the loan would be privately financed and guaranteed by Britain's export credit agency UK Export Finance, and was expected to unlock £1.5bn of support for the carmaker's supply chain.
“Jaguar Land Rover is an iconic British company, employing tens of thousands of people – a jewel in the crown of our economy. We are safeguarding thousands of those jobs with up to £1.5bn in additional private finance, supporting its supply chain and helping to protect a vital part of the British car industry,” said chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The announcement follows a recent visit by Kyle and industry minister Sarah Jones to JLR’s headquarters in Gaydon, West Midlands, as well as a tour of its sunroof supplier Webasto, where they met senior leaders and staff.
“With major plants in Solihull and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, and in Halewood, Merseyside, JLR is one of the UK’s largest exporters and a key employer, with 34,000 people working across its UK operations,” the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.
“It also maintains the largest supply chain in the UK automotive sector, much of it comprised of SMEs, supporting around 120,000 additional jobs.”
The department confirmed it remains in daily contact with JLR and cybersecurity experts to address ongoing concerns and provide support as the company works to resume full production, which is not expected before next month.
In a statement, JLR said it is working to clear the backlog of supplier payments by boosting its invoice processing capacity.
“As part of the controlled, phased restart of our operations, we have informed colleagues, suppliers and retail partners that parts of our digital infrastructure are now operational,” the company said. “Our recovery programme is well underway. We have significantly increased IT processing capabilities and are working to clear outstanding payments to suppliers as quickly as possible.”