The Chandigarh poll event was deemed a mockery of democracy by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court condemned the returning officer on Monday for alleged irregularities in the contentious Chandigarh mayoral election, which the BJP unexpectedly won 16–12 after the AAP–Congress coalition's eight votes were declared invalid. The court expressed its disgust at the way the returning officer "murdered democracy" by tampering with ballot papers before rejecting them.The Chandigarh mayor election vote papers and video footage were ordered to be turned over to the Punjab and Haryana High Court registrar by the Supreme Court.On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered that the registrar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court get all of the ballot papers and other original records, including the video footage, pertaining to the Chandigarh mayor elections."It's evident that the returning officer tampered with the ballots? Is he destroying democracy? The top court stated, "Can't allow democracy to be murdered like this," in response to a case filed by Kuldeep Dhalor, a councillor for the Aam Aadmi Party who had lost the mayoral race to Manoj Sonkar of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "This is an abomination of democracy," declared the highest court. The meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, which was set for February 7, was also ordered to be postponed by the highest court.The presiding officer's decision to eliminate eight opposition votes helped the BJP win the mayoralty, as evidenced by the harsh statement made by the top court a few days later. Allegations of vote rigging were raised by the action.In the race for mayor, Sonkar defeated Kuldeep Kumar of the AAP with 16 votes to his opponent's 12. There were eight invalid votes.AAP council members squatted outside the municipal corporation building under the leadership of Sunny Ahluwalia, the party's co-incharge for Chandigarh."The goal of this relay hunger strike is to preserve democracy and oppose the BJP, which we believe is a vote thief." He declared that this demonstration will go on until the "fake" mayor is deposed and Presiding Officer Anil Masih is taken into custody.In anticipation of the Lok Sabha election, the Congress and the AAP had projected an easy victory for their alliance in the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, viewing it as an early test for the opposition grouping in INDIA.  

The announcement of Kalyan Jewellers entry into Ayodhya

One of the most reputable and well-known jewelry businesses in India, Kalyan Jewellers, has announced that it would open its first showroom in Ayodhya on Friday, February 9. Shri Amitabh Bachchan, brand ambassador, will open the new shop at Civil Lines in Ayodhya. The inauguration is set to take place at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 9. With this event, the company will celebrate reaching its 250th showroom worldwide as well as entering the Ayodhya market. As of right now, the jewelry brand is present in four West Asian nations and 23 Indian states.Kalyan Jewellers is celebrating the introduction of its 250th store with a special promotion. The jewellery brand is providing 0% manufacturing charges for half the purchase value, with a minimum purchase value of Rs. 1 lakh*. The Kalyan Special Gold Board Rate, which is the lowest on the market and consistent throughout all of the company's showrooms, will also be applicable. These deals are only available for a short time.In addition, Kalyan Jewellers has stated that, in honor of the occasion, it will be launching a pre-booking deal for customers wishing to purchase jewelry for the impending Akshaya Tritiya celebration. The special Akshaya Tritiya pre-booking option will be accessible starting on February 9th.Mr. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director of Kalyan Jewellers, made the following statement in response to the opening of the new showroom: "As a company, we have achieved huge milestones and taken major strides towards creating a holistic ecosystem to enhance the customer shopping experience." We are excited to share the news of our venture into Ayodhya, which has enormous unrealized potential and will accelerate our expansion. The company's recent expenditures in this area are a reflection of its dedication to improving its visibility in North India and increasing customer accessibility.The company's plan to increase its retail presence and operations in the area includes the opening of a showroom in Ayodhya, which will increase customer accessibility to the brand and fuel its growth. A wide variety of designs from Kalyan Jewellers' numerous collections will be on display in the store. Modern amenities and a top-notch atmosphere are what guests can anticipate, offering an unmatched experience.Every piece of jewellery that Kalyan Jewellers sells is BIS hallmarked and goes through several purity tests. The Kalyan Jewellers 4-Level Assurance Certificate, which guarantees purity, free lifetime maintenance of jewelry, comprehensive product information, and open exchange and buy-back policies, will also be given to customers. This certification is evidence of the brand's dedication to provide its devoted clientele with the best possible service.Additionally, popular house brands from Kalyan will be available in the showroom, such as Rang (precious stone jewelry), Anokhi (uncut diamonds), Apoorva (diamonds for special occasions), Muhurat (wedding jewelry line), Mudhra (handcrafted antique jewelry), Nimah (temple jewelry), Glo (dancing diamonds), Ziah (solitaire-like diamond jewelry), and the recently launched Lila (colored stones and diamond jewelry).  

Relaxed Maharashtra dance bar regulations could increase alcohol sales

According to industry analysts and executives, the Supreme Court's relaxation of the rules controlling the state's dance bars could temporarily increase sales of alcoholic beverages in Maharashtra.The prohibition was repealed by the supreme court in 2015, opening the door for these clubs to obtain licenses—with the requirement that the shows not be pornographic.But as per a series of appeals filed by hotel and restaurant operators, a 2016 Maharashtra law effectively outlawed any kind of dancing.The Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dancing in Hotels, Restaurants, and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act, 2016, was maintained by the Supreme Court on Thursday, albeit with certain modifications.It eliminated rules including the need for a divider between the bar and performance space and the prohibition against selling alcohol on the dance stage.It's going to open up another sales channel, so it will help right away. Because spirits were so expensive, dance clubs were major consumers of beer. However, spirit consumption may increase if they are permitted and some are modernized, according to Deepak Roy, executive vice chairman of Allied Blenders and Distillers Pvt. Ltd (ABD).Sales of all types of alcohol—including wine, beer, and spirits—were negatively impacted in 2017 by the Supreme Court's decision to outlaw the selling of alcohol close to highways. Since then, Maharashtra has had two additional setbacks. The Maharashtra government sharply raised the excise charge on beer at the end of 2017, which hurt sales in 2018. Additionally, as of January 1, 2019, the excise duty on spirits was increased by 5% for minor brands and by 20–25% for premium and mid-sized brands."It seems like there will be more low- and mid-end spirits at dance clubs. Although I don't think there are too many premium spirits on the market, Abneesh Roy, senior vice president at Edelweiss Securities, stated that it is undoubtedly good for the sector as a whole.According to a Mumbai-based industry expert, dance bars used to account for a significant portion of volume sales during their peak, and the relaxation should help, particularly for beer sales. When these venues were at their busiest, dance bars supplied almost 20% of Mumbai's beer consumption, according to the above-mentioned executive, who spoke under anonymity. According to the CEO, there were about 3,500 of them in the city alone.The director general of the All India Brewers Association, Shobhan Roy, does not anticipate any notable changes in beer consumption, though."Dance bars are limited to Mumbai." They're largely in the suburbs even there. Although it's not a big channel, it adds one more avenue for consumption," Roy stated.The mid- and lower-end segments will profit the most, but even they won't gain much. Dance bars' patrons used to frequent them for both entertainment and alcohol consumption, but after they closed, they would have found another place to go, according to Pramod Krishna, a former leader of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies and current independent consultant for the alcohol business.  

Soon, Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda will wed. Going over their love story again

The upcoming nuptials of Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda have prompted 'roka' rumors recently. (Image: Instagram/Ria Samrat Luthra)Although the pair hasn't revealed much about their marriage, they frequently post pictures of their family. (Image: Instagram/Ria Samrat Luthra)Bollywood couple Pulkit Samrat and Kriti Kharbanda have taken their relationship to the next level by becoming officially engaged after dating for years. Although the couple has not yet released an official statement, Pulkit posted a touching photo from their engagement ceremony to his Instagram story.In an interview, actor Pulkit Samrat revealed his and fiancée Kriti Kharbanda's plans to get married and how much they enjoy "staying best friends" in their relationship.Since many Bollywood couples have recently tied the knot, actor Pulkit Samrat was also questioned about when he planned to wed his partner, actor Kriti Kharbanda. The actor sidestepped the topic by calling the two of them "best friends" and stating that marriage occasionally tends to alter that equation.For almost three years, Pulkit and Kriti have been in a relationship. Together, the two have acted in Veerey Ki Wedding, Taish, and Pagalpanti. Despite their tendency to keep their marital plans to themselves, the two have been rather transparent about their romance.Pulkit recently said, "Mera toh funda simple hai (My funda is simple), as long as you are living as best friends things are sorted," in response to a query on marriage in an interview with Bombay Times. In this manner, "Your arguments and love are all friendly" (aapke jhagde aur pyaar friends wale hote hai). This equation between the two people occasionally changes when marriage is involved. Therefore, why worry so much if you are surrounded by your closest friends?The actor went on to discuss how their relationship works well together. "As closest friends or partners, we encourage one another to advance personally and concentrate on our careers. We're both driven, ambitious people. We need that ongoing encouragement since we have made our fair share of mistakes in our careers. She is a blessing in my life because she helps me stay focused and centered. To be the finest versions of ourselves so that we may be even better for one other is what we are doing right now, he said.Currently in production is Fukrey 3, the third entry in Pulkit's popular franchise. Suswagatam Khushmadeed is another project he is working on. In the meantime, Kriti will be starring in her first Malayalam film this year, Alone, starring opposite Mohanlal.  

Animal Sandeep Reddy Vangas political views and craft are equally immature.

Scene after credits: Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal is about as irredeemable as they come; it is intellectually bankrupt, morally repugnant, and stylistically incompetent.The film Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, is unbearably long. It starts with the protagonist, Ranvijay, marching into his father's steel mill and being literally put on a pedestal. There, he gives a passionate speech about honor and commitment while the business, Swastik Steel, is nicely positioned against a swastika in the background. Ranvijay is furious because his father just made it through a vicious attack. He lifts his right arm in the middle of his diatribe and commands his subjects to take an oath. In just a few minutes, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's tribute to Adolf Hitler's Nuremberg rallies is over. You're a little taken aback and wonder, "Was this movie made by a child?"In contrast to Vanga's first picture, the effortlessly enraged Kabir Singh, Animal seems to have been made with offense in mind. However, as is often the case, insincerity is easily recognized. People were incensed by Kabir Singh's misogyny mostly because it seemed as though the film was determined to give its disturbed protagonist a free pass. The most provocative scenes are woven into the plot of Animal, a far more stylized and hence more challenging to watch picture, rather than the plot being provocative in and of itself. Ranvijay marches into a school carrying a loaded assault gun, tells his sweetheart to kiss his shoe, and gives a woman a lecture about menstruation. This kind of fake edginess leads to a movie where a phallic machineThe film portrays the natural neediness of its director, which is embodied in Ranvijay's never-ending need for his father's love, who isn't there. In the days after Animal's premiere—this was, after all, the period when he became a superstar—Vanga's principal grievance was that reviewers didn't find the film to be very good. Vanga never referenced Animal's hundreds of crores in earnings, even as the rest of his colleagues used the movie's box office numbers to defend its reckless politics, as if that mattered. He was staring at his Moby-Dick, and he was probably never going to get the critical appreciation that he appeared to realize in real time.And although though Vanga had just recently come to grips with this very likely truth, he was still having fits and insisted that Animal's "craft" should be valued separately from its themes. But let's talk about the filmmaking for the sake of argument. Vanga has refuted claims that he plagiarized Oldboy in Animal's pre-interval action block, but anyone who have watched Park Chan-wook's groundbreaking movie, a modern tragedy about the futility of retribution, would understand Vanga's motivation. Aside from the obvious spectacle of Choi Min-sik slicing through a swarm of foes, what really set Oldboy's iconic corridor battle sequence apart was the meticulously staged single shot that was captured on film.Since then, corridor fight scenes have become more and more prevalent; some of the best imitations can be seen in Marvel's Daredevil and Gareth Evans' The Raid. These two projects seemed to realize that the staging, not the location, was what gave Oldboy's pivotal battle scene its incredible intensity. Conversely, Vanga decides to keep the claustrophobic setting (as well as the axe) but eliminates the element that first gave the scene its unique quality. The action is hacked to pieces, with so many cuts that it would make a butcher blush, as though the director himself took an axe to the film.  

After a viral video of a student being beaten went viral, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan responded. When I apologized to him, he began to cry.

In a now-viral video, singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is shown beating a man in a room over a "bottle." He explained the incident by saying the man was his apprentice.Speaking candidly, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan discussed a recently circulated video in which he was seen striking Naveed Hasnain with a shoe. Speaking with Adeel Asif on his podcast, the Pakistani artist expressed his regret to Naveed, referring to him as his "protege" or "shagird." He had already addressed the issue after receiving backlash on social media for supposedly physically torturing his protégé.Rahat apologized to Adeel for the incident and said, "I did apologize to him." Saying, "Ustaad ji (Sir), why are you doing this?" he broke down in tears. "Jaise role hota hai, baap ka," remarked the 49-year-old. Shagird ki jarurat hai baap hone ki baap. I am his instructor; humne woh role hi adaa kia hai. I've taken on the part of his dad).He continued by saying that he has been covering the costs of his employee's wedding and medical care for their family. Rahat was shown repeatedly kicking and slapping the worker with his shoe over a "bottle" in the widely shared video. He later clarified that it was "pir sahab ka dum ka paani (holy water)" in response to the many taunts he received.On trolls, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan The Pakistani singer responded to the trolling by saying, "He is my protege, and I accepted that I scolded and trashed him." I apologized afterwards. It was good up until this point, but now people are making fun of it. In actuality, though, he was carrying my holy water. People do not realize how serious the issue is. Since it concerns my spiritual guide, it is a very serious problem for me.Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, identifying the man as his pupil, was shown on the video striking and slapping him. "Where is my bottle?" he continued asking him. Rahat then referred to the event as a "internal matter" involving a boss and his worker. "What you have witnessed in these movies pertains to a dispute that exists inside between a shagird (protege) and a ustaad (master). We give our proteges a lot of praise when they perform well, and we penalize them when they make mistakes. In a different video that included Hasnain and his father, he clarified, "I had apologized to him at the same time."  

Overview for 2024 It is expected that the advertising market in India will reach a value of US$15.84 billion.

The Indian advertising industry has had a remarkable resurgence, outpacing forecasts and positioning itself as one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. It emerged as the fastest-growing market in the top 10 in 2023, taking eighth place in the worldwide ad expenditure rankings. Although the digital advertising business was initially predicted to develop at a moderate rate of 8–10% in the fiscal year 2022–2023, it exceeded predictions. Digital ad spending is expected to more than quadruple, reaching US$ 21 billion by 2027–2028, driven by economic tailwinds in 2023–2024.The growth of internet and smartphone users has caused a digital change in India's advertising industry. This has spurred a booming digital ad market that is expected to grow at a 12.3% annual rate to reach US$ 7.9 billion by 2027, according to IBEF. The internet and digital platforms are dominant, yet TV and traditional marketing still have a place. With 30% of advertising spending (about Rs. 8,757 crore or US$ 1.05 billion), social media takes the lead, followed by online video at 28% (almost Rs. 8,319 crore or US$ 1 billion). Display banners make up 16% (Rs. 4,816 crore or US$ 579.2 million) and paid search accounts for 23% (Rs. 6,895 crore or US$ 892.23 million).What's in store for 2024? For long-term business growth, the dynamic Indian digital marketing environment necessitates ongoing awareness of changing trends. According to projections, by 2024, advertising income in India is expected to reach Rs. 394 billion (US$ 5.42 billion). COO of Red Matter Technologies Vaasu Gavarasana, mentor and coach for marketing at T-Hub and IIT Madras, says: "Look for big changes in marketing strategies, especially a rise in TV advertising that is predicted to reach Rs. 394 billion (US$ 4.89 billion) in 2024. Surpassing its international rivals, Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising is expected to expand at an astounding 9.9% CAGR. As with television, the digital sector is expected to make about 38% of India's total advertising revenue. Anticipate a significant increase in spending on social media marketing, driven byFurthermore, in view of the impending interim budget declaration on February 1st, 2024, Red Matter Technologies CEO and co-founder Srikant Rajasekharuni emphasizes that "the proposed tax reduction for digital platform advertising from 18% to a lower rate lies in a potential game-changer." At the moment, there is an 18% tax on digital advertisements, which is far more than the 5% tax on ads in print media. Taking into account the rapidly expanding digital market in India, the Indian budget must review and reduce taxes on digital media in order to promote advertising and further revenue growth.A number of issues will influence the state of digital marketing and advertising in 2024. With 40% of the market, television is expected to dominate the Indian media landscape. Print media, at 13%, and the rapidly growing OTT and gaming sectors, at 8%, will follow closely behind. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24%, the advertising-based video on demand (AVoD) market is expected to grow significantly and reach a substantial US$ 2.6 billion by 2025. This environment is favorable for digital advertisements on these platforms.According to IBEF, 600–650 million Indians are expected to actively connect with short-form videos in the future, devoting 55–60 minutes of their day to this content. India is projected to overtake the US, Japan, and China as the world's four largest TV advertising markets by 2027. Furthermore, by that same year, mobile internet advertising is expected to account for 73% of all online advertising revenue in India, further reshaping the constantly shifting landscape of digital advertising.   These advancements herald a new era of interactive marketing and innovation and mark a turning point for digital advertising, affecting companies at all levels. The future seems like a dynamic environment where companies looking to succeed will need to strategically adapt to new trends.  

Google parent Alphabets share price drops 6 percentas ad revenue declines and capex increases.

Wall Street was let down by Alphabet on Tuesday when the company revealed that this year it would be spending more on things like servers that fuel artificial intelligence, despite the fact that holiday-season advertising sales fell short of forecasts.After hours trading saw a 6% decline in Alphabet shares. Alphabet's dominant businesses, Google and YouTube, have been up against competition for advertising budgets from other online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon.com, all against the backdrop of conflicting U.S. economic indications.The company's fourth-quarter ad revenue increased to $65.5 billion from $59.0 billion the previous year, with retail sales being a bright light. Based on LSEG statistics, that fell short of analysts' average projection of $66.1 billion.According to Thomas Monteiro, an analyst at Investing.com, "Alphabet's disappointing ad revenue numbers suggest that corporations worldwide are still uncertain about the pace of interest rate cuts from global central banks."Google, the creator of the technology that laid the groundwork for the current AI boom, is engaged in conflict with two major competitors in the market: OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, and Microsoft, which supports it.Microsoft's Azure grew faster in the same period that Google Cloud's revenue exceeded Wall Street forecasts and growth resumed with a boost from AI.Such AI demands significant investments in data centers, servers, and research. Alphabet's capital expenditures surged by 45% to $11 billion, the biggest level in years. During a conference call with analysts, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat stated that this year's capital expenditures will be significantly higher than those of 2023.Technology companies have been reducing staff and shutting down non-priority initiatives in order to save expenses. According to Porat, Alphabet anticipates spending $700 million on severance-related costs in the first quarter.Google is giving its ChatGPT competitor Bard access to a potent model suite dubbed Gemini. A agreement to invest up to $2 billion in the well-known AI firm Anthropic was also made, as it attempts to lure clients away from more established cloud rivals Microsoft and Amazon. Additionally, it is giving advertisers control over Gemini to maintain their financial support for Google's search division.However, because ad purchasers may be deterred by geopolitical and economic uncertainties, AI's boost to advertising may still be some way off. Alphabet's AI initiatives are being investigated by the US, and Google is preparing to file an appeal of a significant antitrust lawsuit that it lost. Alphabet reported $20.7 billion in profit for the fourth quarter."BETTER THAN AN AGENT" During the analyst call, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the advancements made with AI in various areas of the company, such as posing new queries that Google can skillfully handle. Since OpenAI's November 2022 announcement of ChatGPT, which demonstrated to the public how so-called generative AI can create fresh text and graphics with a single command, a frenzy has engulfed the technology industry. The possibility of AI "agents" managing human demands with more autonomy has also increased with advancements.When asked about Google Assistant, the company's digital assistant, Pichai stated that artificial intelligence (AI) "allows us to act more like an agent over time" and "go beyond answers and follow through for users even more." Investor interest in Google Cloud has increased as Alphabet concentrates on artificial intelligence. The segment turned a quarterly profit for the first time last year, but as clients reduced their cloud expenditure, sales growth slowed. While Google has promoted competing technologies, Microsoft has been a formidable foe, integrating AI into its cloud and productivity suite, which has long been adopted by corporations.Pichai informed investors that cloud expansion was being encouraged by generative AI. With $9.2 billion in sales for the most recent quarter, Google Cloud exceeded analyst projections of $8.9 billion. While it was less than the 32% growth in the same quarter last year, cloud revenue growth had resumed its upward trajectory from the previous quarter, reaching 25.7%. Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform, saw a 30% increase in sales, the company announced on Tuesday.LSEG data shows that Alphabet's total revenue for the quarter ended December 31 was $86.3 billion, versus projections of $85.3 billion.  

Easy cardio exercises by Malaika Arora to get a flat, toned abdomen

Bollywood’s original yogini, Malaika Arora, also known as the chaiyya chaiyya girl, is renowned for her extreme levels of fitness. Her passion for fitness stems from the fact that she mixes easy-to-do cardio exercises into her regimen. Malaika uses skipping, a great aerobic workout that increases heart health, burns calories, and develops coordination, in her routine. Malaika customizes her exercise regimen to suit her tastes and degree of fitness, and she displays her fitness cards for public viewing every Monday.Her most recent Instagram post demonstrates how she works out cardio first thing in the morning to burn fat and maintain her toned, slender figure. Malaika, who was wearing a yellow short exercise outfit, exuded confidence and encouraged everyone to strive for better personal growth. She captioned her inspirational video, saying, "Always killing it, this one  Starting the week off with some fun cardio and a dose of Casper's energy."Here are a few of the cardio workouts she usually incorporates before beginning her exercise program:A fantastic cardiovascular exercise that raises heart rate and improves cardiovascular system function is skipping. This generally strengthens the heart and increases stamina. Jumping rope offers a complete exercise and is an excellent way to burn calories. It helps burn calories quickly, which can help you lose weight and keep it off.Among other muscular areas, jumping jacks exercise the arms, shoulders, core, and legs. This is an intense, full-body workout that increases muscle tone and strength. Exercises like jumping jacks are simple and accessible because they don't call for any additional equipment.Mountain climbers burn calories throughout their ascents because they partake in strenuous physical activity, which aids in weight management and fat loss. The lower back, obliques, and abdominal muscles of mountain climbers are strengthened by their constant use of their core muscles. This enhances the stability and support of the spine and the core.Without any equipment, you can do Russian twists; alternatively, you can use a medicine ball or weight. They can therefore be used and are suitable for at-home training. Russian twists are an effective way to burn calories and get a flat stomach when included in a full workout program.Malaika's go-to workout is the in-and-out activity, sometimes known as jackknife sit-ups or V-ups. They are an effective abdominal exercise that strengthen the rectus abdominis and hip flexors. In-and-outs, like many abdominal exercises, aid in burning calories, which is beneficial for anyone attempting to reduce weight or improve their general physical condition.Pop squats are a great exercise to acquire a flat tummy like Malaika because they mix strength and aerobic elements, which burn calories. Pop squats work the complete body, not only the lower body but also the upper and core during the jumping and landing stages.  

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Seven developed nations with a 4-day workweek culture

Many offices have now fully opened following the COVID-19 outbreak, and businesses are requesting that their staff members return working from the office. However, many businesses are now allowing a 4-day work week culture, given the convenience of working from home and the work-life balance that many employees experienced during the pandemic. Germany has lately made headlines because it plans to experiment with a 4-day workweek for six months, beginning on February 1, 2024. The purpose of the study is to determine whether the four-day workweek culture that labor unions have proposed will indeed improve employee happiness, health, and productivity.Germany is not the only nation that has opted for a 4-day workweek culture, though. Here is a list of developed nations that have also embraced this.Belgium was the first nation in the European Union (EU) to introduce an optional 4-day work week in 2022. The catch is that, in a 4-day work week, the total number of working hours stays the same as it does in a 5-day work week. There are forty hours of work in a week.The Netherlands has the world's shortest workweeks on average, according to official statistics. There, employees put in just 29 hours a week at work. Despite the absence of official regulations, stories state that individuals in the Netherlands only work four days a week.According to an OECD report, Denmark has the second-shortest workweek, with 33 hours worked. Although there isn't an explicit 4-day work week regulation in Denmark either, most individuals there only work four days a week. Despite their rigorous work ethic, Danes prefer to complete their tasks inside the legal 37-hour work week. The majority of workers depart at around 4 p.m. to pick up their kids and start cooking the evening meal; staying later is discouraged," according to a Denmark.dk article.Australia is doing a trial run of a 4-day work week with 20 enterprises. It states that employers in Australia should anticipate their staff to put in 38 hours a week of work. With the new work arrangement, called the 100:80:100 model, workers can work 80 percent of the hours and still keep 100% of their salary as long as they maintain 100% productivity. There are several models besides 100:80:100. According to a News.com.au report, some companies offer conventional 40-hour work weeks spread over four days, or they let employees work less weeks in exchange for a wage decrease.In 2021, the government of Japan published an annual economic policy urging firms to choose for a 4-day work week in the country, in contrast to the country's rigorous work ethic. Preventing "karoshi," which means "death by overwork," is the goal. Permitting folks to spend time apart from work is another goal. Due to increased spending and family life, which will increase the number of births in the nation—which is greatly required given its aging population—this will assist strengthen the economy. According to sources, the Spanish government intends to spend 50 million euros over the course of three years to test a four-day work week. Approximately 200 Spanish companies are anticipated to take part in it.The United Kingdom went to a 4-day work week in 2022. In accordance with their regulations, participants in the trial run comprised 61 enterprises and more than 300 employees, with the expectation that workers would put in no more than 48 hours each week. With 61 organizations taking part, this was the largest experiment ever, and according to a Bloomberg report, there was a noticeable 65% decrease in sick leaves.According to a Bloomberg article, "when a 4-day work week was implemented, anxiety levels and sleeping problems receded by roughly 20%." This in turn has a favorable impact on the economy as a whole as well as the productivity of workers at work.  

Whats fresh on the menu for advertisers Swiggy, Zomato, and additional fast commerce applications

Zomato and Swiggy detect when you use their applications to peruse but leave without making a purchase. Then, very quickly, they entice you with the same discount or deal that you had looked at, using such enticing language that you are forced to complete the transaction. These companies have discovered where you spend your time online, even if you only window shop without making a purchase. So, forget about Netflix and relax, it's time to shop on Zomato or Swiggy.According to Gopa Menon, Head of Digital at Mindshare, South Asia, the practice has grown from its beginnings as a growing trend that was especially aided by the epidemic. "People use these platforms to browse, click, read reviews, add items to their cart, swipe, and make payments with ease."Food delivery, speedy commerce, fast fashion, and other sporadic platforms are becoming more and more popular, and customers are depending on them more and more for their daily necessities. Menon and other experts claim that because these platforms have a large number of users who are actively using them, they have developed into an important and captivating platform for advertisers to interact with their target demographic.Zomato has more than 50 million active users per month, according to data, while Swiggy claims to have more than 40 million users. Furthermore, any brand can reach potential customers with these figures. These platforms have a better chance of becoming recognized as brands are shifting where they spend their advertising budgets. Although Shubham Shrivastava, AVP, D2C Pro, powered by Team Pumpkin, notes that the effectiveness may depend on numerous factors such customer behavior, ad format, product quality, and more, he still finds it fascinating to "witness the growing popularity of these platforms as an advertising space." These platforms give bands access to a sizable user community where they may interact and increase the likelihood that their brand will be recognized.People spend a lot of time these days looking through grocery stores, restaurants, and tracking delivery. This presents another opportunity for marketers to use these areas for advertising material. These areas provide improved user experiences, data-driven insights, and targeted advertising in addition to being accessible to a larger user base. Referring to it as consumer media, Co-Founder and CEO of Shopalyst Girish Ramachandran predicts that this tactic will increase brand value, "especially for its lower funnel marketing initiatives. Despite the fact that Amazon has developed a strong media business and offers self-serve solutions for marketers, other e-commerce companies are catching up and drawing FMCG businesses' marketing spending. Menon thinks that these platforms are definitely becoming more well-known because of their remarkable capacity to precisely target and micro-segment customers.  

Media. Monks aren running theye sprinting.

Chief Content Officer Azazul Haque and Chief Operating Officer Kiran Ramamurthy of Media.Monks discuss the agency's achievements.They haven't exactly adhered to the agency handbook. In contrast to most Indian agencies, which initially prioritized revenue from retained accounts over projects and bet heavily on brand communication and conceptualization before attempting production or execution, Media.Monks decided to turn the tables, gradually expanding to cover every aspect of the advertising value chain, albeit from the other end of the spectrum. And it appears to have been a successful approach for the business, as they have now generated over Rs 100cr in income in less than four years since the agency's founding in India.Following a formal launch in the Indian market in early 2020, the company changed its name to Media.Monks, and following the merging of Media Monks and MightyHive in 2021, it became the unified brand of Sir Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital. Despite operating as a single P&L business with 57 offices in 32 countries, Media.Monks India has managed to forge its own identity. Even though Media.Monks India began as a production company combined with a content factory, today just 20% of its earnings comes from production and about 60% from agency work. Retained business already accounts for about 35% of billings rather than project-based ones, and the goal is to increase this percentage to 50–60%.The proud authors of this success story, Azazul Haque, Chief Content Officer of Media Monks, and Kiran Ramamurthy, Chief Operating Officer of Media Monks, tell us in this talk that almost 80% of Indian business is made possible by "Local Heroes," or small firms. Nevertheless, several of the company's most esteemed international clients, like Google and BMW, use India as a development and deployment hub. Reputable brands from the India repertory include, to mention a few, ONDC, Xiaomi, HP, Tata Tea, Bajaj, Amazon, and Booking.com. With an arsenal full of weapons, Ramamurthy is optimistic that Media. Monks India will contribute significantly to the worldwide firm revenue in a few years. Haque continues by saying that when  

Zee-Sony merger: NCLT issues notice to Sony to file reply in three weeks

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday accepted a petition by a Zee Entertainment shareholder seeking the merger of its Indian entity with Sony, which was called off last week despite regulatory approvals.The Mumbai-bench of NCLT issued a notice on a petition moved by Mad Men Film Ventures, a shareholder of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL), directing Sony Pictures Network India, now known as Culver Max, to file a reply within three weeks.Mad Men Film Ventures on Tuesday filed the petition requesting both ZEEL and Sony to implement the merger as it was approved by the NCLT in August 2023.The tribunal did not agree to the arguments made by the counsel stating that the approval by NCLT was conditional and depended on various conditions, which may be fulfilled or waived off in writing. Last week, the Sony Group Corp called off the merger with ZEEL following a stalemate over who will lead the merged entity.NCLT has kept the next date of hearing on this matter on March 12.The deal stipulated that the merger was to be completed before December 21, 2023, including regulatory and other approvals with a grace period of one month to complete the transaction.This merger could have otherwise created a $ 10 billion media enterprise in the country. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), on Tuesday, accepted a petition filed by a shareholder of Zee Entertainment seeking the merger of Zee Entertainment's Indian entity with Sony, a move that had been called off last week despite obtaining regulatory approvals.The NCLT Mumbai bench issued a notice regarding a petition filed by Mad Men Film Ventures, a shareholder of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) directing Sony Pictures Network India, currently known as Culver Max, to submit a reply within a three-week timeframe.On Tuesday, Mad Men Film Ventures submitted a petition urging both Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) and Sony to execute the approved merger, which was sanctioned by the NCLT in August 2023.    

NTPC Q3 results: Profit up 7% at Rs 5,208 cr, income falls to Rs 43,574 cr

State-owned power giant NTPC on Monday reported over 7 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 5,208.87 crore for the December 2023 quarter, aided by energy sales through trading. Its net profit stood at Rs 4,854.36 crore in the year-ago period, a BSE filing said. The total income fell to Rs 43,574.65 crore in the quarter from Rs 44,989.21 crore in the same period a year ago.The company's expenses rose to Rs 38,782.22 crore from Rs 37,007.51 a year ago. "Revenue from operations for the quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2023 include Rs 2,117.12 crore and Rs 7,012.90 crore, respectively (Previous quarter and nine months Rs 1,984.92 crore and Rs 6,039.14 crore, respectively) on account of sale of energy through trading," the filing said. The Board of Directors of the company has also approved a second interim dividend of 2.25 per share (face value of Rs 10 each) for the financial year 2023-24 in their meeting held on January 29, 2024. The date of payment/dispatch of the dividend shall be February 22, 2024. The Board had declared the first interim dividend of 2.25 per share (face value of Rs 10 each) for the financial year 2023-24 in their meeting held on October 28, 2023, which was paid in November 2023.The average tariff of the company was Rs 4.57 per unit during April-December this fiscal compared to Rs 4.96 per unit a year ago.The gross electricity generation of NTPC increased to 89.467 billion units (BU) during the third quarter against 78.646 BU in the year-ago period. Coal output increased to 8.09 MMT in the quarter from 5.35 MMT a year ago. Its production also increased during April-December this fiscal to 19.92 MMT from 13.75 MMT.Plant load factor or capacity utilisation of coal-based thermal power plants improved to 75.95 per cent in the quarter from 68.85 per cent a year ago.Domestic coal supply improved to 60.23 MMT in the October-December quarter over 52.45 MMT in the same period last fiscal.Gas consumption improved to 2.26 MMSCMD from 1.13 MMSCMD.  Imported coal supply stood at 2.15 MMT in the quarter against 1.57 MMT a year ago.NTPC Group's installed power generation capacity stood at 73,874 MW as of December 31, 2023.  

NDTV posts Q3 loss as advertising woes persist

New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV), part of the billionaire Gautam Adani-led Adani Group, reported a third-quarter loss on Tuesday, as businesses cut back on advertising spending.Companies diverted advertising spends to the cricket world cup during the quarter, hurting broadcasters that were unaffiliated with the tournament. Advertising is the biggest source of revenue for a broadcaster.NDTV's consolidated net loss stood at 95.5 million rupees ($1.2 million) in the three months to Dec. 31 against a profit of 25.9 million rupees a year earlier. Weak advertising spends have been hurting the news network, which posted its fifth straight revenue drop in the December quarter.Revenue fell 7% to 979.5 million rupees, while expenses climbed one-fourth on a nearly 35% jump in production expenses and cost of services.Another competitor Zee Entertainment, embroiled in conflicts related to its failed merger with Sony's India unit and licensing rights with Disney, will report next month.Rival TV18 Broadcast had posted a quarterly loss earlier this month.NDTV had posted a profit in the September quarter, and profit had last risen in June 2022.The Adani Group had taken control of the news network from its founders in December 2022.    

The state governor has appointed Sanjay Shukla (IAS: 1995: MP) as PS.

The Madhya Pradesh government reorganized its administrative structure, assigning new assignments to eighteen IAS officers and giving thirteen others more responsibility in different departments.On Sunday, the Madhya Pradesh government reorganized its administrative team, giving 18 IAS officers new assignments and giving 13 other officers greater duties in a variety of departments.This is a list of the officers that have been given new duties. The announcement states that Manu Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for Technical Education, will take over as the ACS of the Energy Department. Sanjay Shukla, the Public Health Engineering Department's current Principal Secretary (PS), has been assigned to the governor of the state. Sukhbir Singh, the incoming PS of Food Processing and Horticulture, will be replaced as Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD) by DP Ahuja, the outgoing PS to the Governor.The Jail Department's Principal Secretary is now Manish Rastogi. The Tribal Affairs Department's Principal Secretary is now E Ramesh Kumar. In addition, he now holds the additional responsibility of Commissioner of the Department of Religious Trusts and Endowments and the Department of Tribal Affairs. The commissioner of higher education will be Nishant Varwade. Dr. Ramrao Bhosle is now the Commissioner of the Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, having previously served as the Commissioner of the Women and Child Development Department.Sophia Farooqui Wali, a commissioner of the Khadi Village Industries Board, has been appointed to the position of commissioner for the Department of Women and Child Development.Manish Singh, the former commissioner of public relations, has been appointed to the position of Registrar at the Madhya Pradesh State Consumer Redressal Disputes Commission. The Water and Land Management Institute's (Walmi) new director is Tarun Rathi. Saurabh Kumar Suman has been appointed as the Department of Backward Class and Minority Welfare's Director/Commissioner. The position of Managing Director at the Handicrafts Handloom Development Corporation and the Madhya Pradesh Khadi Village Industries Board has been filled by Mohit Bundas. The position of managing director at Women Finance and Development Corporation has been awarded to Nidhi Nivedita.The department of minority welfare and backward classes has appointed Kumar Purushottam as deputy secretary. The department responsible for Free Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes now has Neeraj Vashishtha as its director. Deputy Secretary of the Forest Department Kishore Kanyal, the collector who was fired for verbally abusing the driver in Shulajalpur, has been promoted.  

The Energy Department has appointed Manu Srivastava (IAS: 1991: MP) as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS).

New Delhi: The recently established government of Madhya Pradesh started the transfer of eighteen Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in a significant bureaucratic reorganization. Manu Srivastava, who is well-known for his contributions to the energy industry, has been promoted to Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Power and Renewable Energy, one of the major changes. Prior to his noteworthy involvement in the field of renewable energy, Manu Srivastava was instrumental in guaranteeing his state's uninterrupted electricity supply. His previous work in the Indian government entailed managing natural gas affairs, demonstrating the breadth and depth of his administrative knowledge.Manu Srivastava, who holds an IIT-Delhi degree in Electrical Engineering, adds thirty years of expertise to his new role, including an impressive fifteen years in the energy industry. Notably, he oversaw the ground-breaking 750 MW Rewa Project, which broke grid parity and won the President's Award from the World Bank Group. This project was a turning point in India's solar energy history.The only other project in India that serves an institutional clientele is the Rewa Project, which provides electricity to Delhi Metro. The project's case study has received recognition on a global scale and is being taught at Singapore Management University and Harvard University courses.Apart from his accomplishments in large-scale solar projects, Manu Srivastava has been instrumental in putting solar rooftop initiatives into action with the lowest prices in the nation. He is currently working with NITI Aayog to bring solar rooftop projects to healthcare facilities around the country without receiving funding from the government or beneficiaries.Prior to his noteworthy involvement in the field of renewable energy, Manu Srivastava was instrumental in guaranteeing his state's uninterrupted electricity supply. His previous work in the Indian government entailed managing natural gas affairs, demonstrating the breadth and depth of his administrative knowledge.  

Its vital to explore, travel, and engage with the wide world of food firsthand.Chef Kunal Kapur

Despite being made fun of for spending time with street sellers, chef Kunal Kapur claims he wanted to learn from those who prepare meals on a regular basis.One of the first things you notice about chef Kunal Kapur, a die-hard foodie and Delhi guy at heart, is his brilliant smile. In addition to being a judge on MasterChef India, the judge has a large social media following and works as a restaurant, author, digital artist, and culinary aficionado.This January, we celebrated National Oatmeal Month. The chef shared with us some of his favorite memories and explained how he travels the world to constantly reinvent himself.I don't think the curriculum was bad; I think it was just constrained. There isn't a single book that can include all of culinary knowledge. I think it's vital to get out there, explore, and discover the wide variety of foods available to us.Chef and restaurateur Kunal Kapur, a celebrity from Delhi, is well-known in the culinary world. His role as judge and co-host of the well-liked TV program MasterChef India is well known. He was also asked to judge with Gordon Ramsey in the MasterChef America semifinal. In a more recent development, the Indian Ministry acknowledged him for providing German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with satvik food in Bangalore.During the lockdown brought on by the pandemic, cooking has really taken off. A ton of individuals have been sharing videos and images of the food they have prepared online. Do you think the pattern will hold even after everything has ended? There won't be as many people cooking in the kitchen when everyone gets back to work, but the great thing about cooking is that if you enjoy it, you'll probably want to attempt it again—at least on special occasions or days off.In addition, I observe a trend where chefs who were laid off due to the lockdown are using social media to instruct and cook. The coolest trend right now is having celebrity chefs share their recipes, tips, and techniques with the public.Which meal brings back memories of your early years? My childhood home was situated close to two halwai stores. I therefore associate barfi, lassi, pakore bhature chole, and samosa with chutney with happy childhood memories. Additionally, I always look forward to my mother's food. Which food has influenced you the most? I've learned a lot over the process of visiting new places, getting to know new people, researching regional cuisine, and sampling it. Almost every month, I visit a different location in India, mostly for research on the subtleties of the local food. Indian ethnic cuisine, in my opinion, is still confined to Indian homes. Thus, my quest for understanding