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A $7 Smartphone is Launching in India Tomorrow
An Indian handset maker is ready to launch the country's cheapest smartphone under Rs 500 ($7), which could be a game changer in one of the world's fastest growing smartphone markets. Called Freedom 251, it has been manufactured by a homegrown company, Ringing Bells.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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India Sets Target to Eliminate Malaria by 2030
The Centre on Thursday set the target of eliminating malaria by 2030 after neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal reported no deaths due to the vector-borne disease in the past several years.
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- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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What a Bank’s Foundation Is Doing to Push Financial Inclusion in India and Beyond
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on the Citi Foundation’s financial inclusion work, but rest assured that this funding is still going strong. Citi is one of the top driving financial inclusion forces in corporate philanthropy, splitting support among North America, Latin America, Asia/Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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India’s Paytm Is Raising Another $400M to Build Out Its New Payment Bank
Alibaba-backed Paytm, one of the bigger e-commerce startups competing against Amazon in India, is raising money again, just months after a reported $680 million round. Sources close to the company say that Paytm is now looking to raise $400 million by June to help with the launch of Paytm’s new payments business, Paytm Payment Bank.
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- Technology
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- South Asia
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- fintech
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Menstrual Hygiene Makers Like Aakar Innovations, Saral Designs Signal Emergence of Local Brands
Aakar Innovations, makers of affordable, 100% compostable sanitary napkins for women in low income segments, is testing a new variant of its product that will be made from indigenously available raw materials.
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- Environment
- Region
- South Asia
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USAID Awards $767,000 Grant to Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and New Ventures India for Clean Energy Initiative
In an effort to lift one million of the 289 million people in India without electricity out of darkness, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University and New Ventures India (NVI) have been awarded a $767,000 grant for an Energy Access Investment Readiness Program. This public-private partnership, made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID, has the goal to enable delivery of clean, innovative, off-grid power to people in India who currently lack energy access.
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- Energy
- Region
- South Asia
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Thai Health Policy Seen as Model for Emerging Economies
The President of the World Medical Association said Thailand’s universal health program is a model for other emerging economies in Asia, including India, in providing health services to low income workers. There are growing tensions within the Thai health system amid pressures for co-payments to cope with rising costs.
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- Health Care
- Region
- South Asia
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India Blocks Zuckerberg’s Free Net App
India's telecoms regulator has blocked Facebook's Free Basics internet service app as part of a ruling in favour of net neutrality.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia