World
We will here show case the latest trends in the Globe from different industries and different verticals.
Top Print Advertisers from July to September 23, 23: TAM AdEx, SBS Biotech, Maruti Suzuki, and Kia
In 2023, Top10VPN calculated the worldwide economic impact of shutdowns, which included 79,238 hours of government-mandated internet outages, to be $9.01 billion. This indicates that India was responsible for approximately 6.5% of the total economic damage caused by internet outages worldwide.The cost of these disruptions—which included significant ISP throttling, internet blackouts, and shutdowns of social media—was estimated using a variety of metrics from the US Census, the World Bank, the ITU, and Eurostat.In India, internet outages are not unusual. India experienced 92 internet shutdown occurrences in 2023, and just a few days into 2024, the nation has already recorded another internet outage, according to SFLC.in's internet shutdown tracker. Furthermore, the Center has a history of taking action against particular websites and pressuring social media companies to remove content at their request. Authorities have disagreed with digital rights advocates over shutdowns, despite citing grounds including putting an end to rumors and misinformation.Since many users rely on online services for information and business, internet disruptions come at a high cost since they reduce trade, which has an economic impact.
Yellow Wood Partners will purchase Unilever's Elida Beauty division.
The Elida Beauty division of the Unilever group, which includes the brands Q-tips, Impulse, Caress, Tigi, Timotei, Monsavon, Brut, Moussel, Alberto Balsam, and VO5, has reached a deal to be sold to the Boston-based private equity firm Yellow Wood Partners. In 2022, the company's revenue was approximately EUR 0.8 billion.Due to the fact that these companies are essential to their everyday life, consumers all across the world adore them. "Our previous collaboration with the Unilever team aided us in comprehending Elida Beauty's potential," stated Tad Yanagi, a partner at Yellow Wood Partners.
Moves and win roundup: Week of January 2, 2024
The media agency for Publicis Groupe, Starcom, has announced a new win: starting in 2024, Starcom Indonesia will serve as BMW Group's media agency of record, joining Starcom in China and Singapore, which will continue to hold that title in their respective regions. As the media agency of record in these markets, Starcom will oversee strategic planning, media buying, and business transformation for all of BMW Group's most iconic brands, including BMW and Mini, after a regional media assessment by BMW Group.Former chief marketing and customer officer of AXA Hong Kong Andrea Wong has left the company to become senior vice president of group marketing and communications at Shangri-La Group. As stated in a LinkedIn post, Wong will work with new colleagues “to further strengthen the hotel brands, create impactful marketing campaigns and PR efforts, and further build up the Shangri-La Circle propositions to deliver superior customer experience.” She will report to Kuok Hui Kwong, the chairman of the group. Wong joined AXA in 2008 and has worked there for more than 20 years. She was appointed CMO of AXA Hong Kong and Macau. To improve its social media marketing service, Innocean has formed a social marketing organization called Innocean S, which is scheduled to open for operation in January 2024. Span Wealth is the newest client of Human, an integrated agency based in Mumbai that was created by Imran Khan and Chirag Raheja. The agency's brief calls for giving the brand a fresh look, incorporating classic elegance, and developing an influential, forward-thinking online presence. With more than 500 crores of assets under management, Span Wealth is a wealth management firm situated in Mumbai. Dorothy Peng announced on LinkedIn that she has become a partner at Deloitte Consulting in Singapore. Peng will be focusing on design and customer strategy in Southeast Asia. She spent more than eight years as an employee of RGA before joining Deloitte. In 2015, she started working for the agency as a group account director. In 2022, she received a promotion to SVP managing director Asia.
Anushka Sharma takes Priyanka Chopra's position as Rajnigandha Pearls' brand face for DS Group.
New Delhi: Bollywood star Anushka Sharma has been named the new brand ambassador for the mouth freshener brand Rajnigandha Pearls by DS Group, the company that makes Pulse sweets and Catch spices. Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been marketing the brand since 2014, is replaced by her. Anushka Sharma was highlighted in a campaign by L&K Saatchi and Saatchi, an advertising agency, that emphasized the brand's innate goodness. In the TV commercial, Sharma saves a fellow model from a wardrobe malfunction by being the show-stopper at a fashion show. The underlying lesson is that even a small deed of kindness can benefit others.
MC Stan and MS Dhoni collaborate on Fire-Boltt
Leading Indian smart wearable manufacturer Fire-Boltt releases the #GaleTohMil advertisement, which stars the most unexpected pair—cricket great MS Dhoni and well-known Indian rapper MC Stan. This engaging movie seeks to showcase the exceptional qualities of Fire-Boltt's most recent invention, the ground-breaking Wristphone, which flawlessly blends the endless possibilities of a smartphone with the practicality of a smartwatch. With #GaleTohMil, Fire-Boltt showcases how technology is seamlessly incorporated into daily life while offering a new take on the marriage of sports and music.The video, which was conceptualized and filmed by the innovative powerhouse Moonshot, enthralls viewers with its distinctive fusion of humor, technology, and star power. The narrative takes place at a party, where MS Dhoni is approached by MC Stan and has an embarrassing encounter. As Dhoni struggles to remember Stan's name and songs, tension grows and the scenario takes an unexpected turn. The situation is amusing yet relatable.The story revolves around the Fire-Boltt Wristphone, which plays a pivotal role in saving Dhoni's life by giving him the knowledge he finds difficult to recall. The movie does a good job of conveying how useful the wristwatch is and why it is deserving of the hashtag #TheSmartestSmartwatch. "We are proud to introduce our first-ever Wristphone through this entertaining and engaging ad film featuring two iconic personalities, MS Dhoni and MC Stan," stated Arnav Kishore, CEO and Founder of Fire-Boltt. This wearable technology product is revolutionary, and we think the movie will do a great job of conveying to our viewers what makes it special. To guarantee broad visibility, the advertisement film will be heavily promoted on OTT channels and social media sites. Fire-Boltt wants to engage audiences from a varie
Many items in my business are designed: Piyush Pandey
I spent a brief time working at Ogilvy Mumbai in the early years of my profession. I was definitely looking forward to meeting Piyush and simply watching and learning from his talent. It was the strongest incentive to sign up. However, deep down I was also realistic about it. I was aware that he would never have a conversation with a junior. After joining, I came to the realization that he most likely would have, but I also understood it was impossible given the amount of work he had to accomplish each day. And boy, was I glad I was. Apart from the fact that he is an advertising genius, these are the things I picked up from him during my tenure, even though I never worked directly with him.I learned the power of words from him. On my first day there, I recall being sucked into a film short for a newly launched bank. I expected an assignment when I walked in, but instead I got a really good poem. It was exquisite. The story and the slogan were both brimming with skill. Written specifically for the pitch, Piyush delivered it to the group by reading it aloud. The client gave it their blessing because it was so clever. It was enjoyable to come up with ways to carry it out. That day made me proud to be a copywriter because he demonstrated to me the power of words to accomplish goals that so many rounds of PowerPoints couldn't. I learned from him that leaders are people too.Everyone gathered on the floor to celebrate Piyush's birthday by cutting cakes. He was asked to speak a few words, as custom would have it. He became so overcome by the festivities during his remarks that he started crying. The largest agency leader in our nation displayed weakness during a time when all of them exuded strength and conceit. Furthermore, this was taking place in front of 200 or more workers. And we all cherished it. He taught me early on that leaders are people too and that it's appropriate to occasionally display your feelings as a leader since it's the right thing to do.
Raaya's integrated marketing mandate is won by With & Chai Group.
Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image. Men's ethnic clothing company Raaya has awarded the marketing mandate to Pune-based advertising firm Wit & Chai Group. Following a multi-agency pitch, the mandate was acquired by Wit & Chai in October 2023.With online and offline promotions, Wit & Chai Group hopes to raise awareness of Raaya and bolster its standing as a high-end menswear brand. "Wit & Chai gave a strong pitch, and we think working with them will help our brand reach new audiences. Our goal is to set Raaya apart as a luxury brand that is reasonably priced and to highlight our exceptional craftsmanship. Preshit Jain remarked, "We are confident that Wit & Chai has our best interests at heart.Furthermore, Wit & Chai Group partner Nahush Gulawani added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with a brand like Raaya that has such an intriguing focus: men's ethnic apparel. We are eager to collaborate with the Raaya team and use our skills to further improve the brand image.
Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki, Shah Rukh Khans movie is getting about ₹500 crore worldwide.
Day 20 Box Office Collection for Dunki: "Dunki," Shah Rukh Khan's third Bollywood movie of 2023, is doing well at the box office. The Raju Hirani movie saw a drop on its third Tuesday; according to Sacnilk.com, early estimates indicate that the movie made ₹1.30 crore on Day 20. After 20 days after its premiere, the film has reportedly made over ₹219.27 crore in the Indian box officAccording to a Sacnilk.com assessment, the movie's occupancy on its twentieth day was 10.47 percent in Hindi, with morning shows seeing 8.72 occupancy, afternoon shows at 10.29 percent, evening shows at 10.25 percent, and night shows at 12.61 percent.In relation to the worldwide figures, Dunki is currently on track to surpass ₹500 crore worldwide. The industry tracker claims that the SRK film has made ₹430 crore in net revenue globally. According to a recent tweet by Red Chillies Entertainment on X, the movie has made ₹447.70 crore at the global box office.On the day of its release, Dunki brought in ₹29.2 crore net in India; however, Day 2 saw a sharp decline to ₹20.12 crore. Riding high on great word-of-mouth, the movie brought in ₹160.22 crore net in its first week, while the drama about immigration brought in ₹46.25 crore net in its second week in India.
Melissa Niebes is named CEO of Federal Package, effective January 1, 2024.
Melissa Niebes has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Federal Package, a turnkey contract manufacturer with its headquarters located in Chanhassen, MN. Her appointment will take effect on January 1, 2024. Niebes is Federal Package's President and Chief Commercial Officer at the moment. She will take over as CEO from Steve Dakolios, who recently declared his intention to become a Vice Chairman and Senior Advisor at Federal Package."Melissa has a strong track record as a growth-oriented leader in the consumer goods sector. She has given the business new life, direction, and energy. As the business grows, she will keep improving operational effectiveness and organizational procedures. The time is right for new leadership, and Melissa is qualified to advance our long-term plan and quicken
Israeli Strike Nearly Kills Entire Lebanon Family
Hussein Barjawi had invited his daughter, her husband and their two young sons to dinner in south Lebanon, but an Israeli strike nearly wiped them all out, an official said Thursday. A security source said a Hezbollah commander and two fighters from the powerful Lebanese movement were killed in the Israeli strike that targeted a building in the southern city of Nabatiyeh on Wednesday and also killed seven civilians from the same family. Lebanon's official National News Agency had reported that Hussein Barjawi, his daughters Amani and Zeinab, his sister Fatima and Zeinab's son Mahmud Amer were killed in the strike, while Hussein Amer, a small boy, was pulled alive from the rubble.The security source later told AFP that Barjawi's wife and niece were also killed. It was the bloodiest civilian death count from a single strike on Lebanon since cross-border hostilities erupted in October between Israel and the Iran-backed group. Amin Shomar, a local official in south Lebanon, said Ali Amer, his wife and their two sons, aged three and four, had been "invited over to his father-in-law's house in Nabatiyeh for dinner". Amer was "badly wounded" in the strike and was taken to hospital, Shomar told AFP, while his wife and son were killed and his other son was pulled from the rubble alive.
Cow transformed into Valentine’s Day canvas sparks social media frenzy
A man found a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. Instead of traditional cards or chocolates, he opted for something that is a bit more…udderly unexpected. An unsuspecting cow was turned into cupid’s canvas as the unknown artist decided to ditch the ordinary and deck the cow in a vibrant array of reds, pinks and blue, transforming the animal into a walking work of art. It became an unlikely muse for this Valentine’s Day masterpiece. The new look has taken the internet by storm. The post shared by @Rainmaker1973 got 25k views, 1.9k saves and 5.5k retweets within seconds. As the video of the bovine spread like wildfire across the social media platform X, netizens couldn’t help but churn out pun after pun in response. Comments ranged from hilarious to funny. An X user wrote, “I love how I see this kind of stuff shortly before I plan to go to bed. Definitely not what I want freshly served up on the subconsciousness platter.” Another joked, “I can definitely say I’ve never seen anything like that before. That’s pretty cool.” A third posted, “Awww. I like the way you moo-ve.” It seems the cow has stolen the hearts of netizens, proving once and for all that sometimes, all you need is a little creativity and a whole lot of moos to spread love.
Rat-cage heels scurry into the New York fashion scene
Forget boring pumps and predictable platforms. Rat-cage heels are the hottest new shoe trend. Think sky-high stilettos with a whimsical twist – a miniature rat cage perched on the heel. A bold statement perfect for those who dare to ditch the ordinary. The video has 2,060,168 likes and millions of comments. While opinions on this trend vary widely, with some embracing its eccentric charm and others raising eyebrows at its unorthodox nature, it has ignited discussions on the boundaries of creativity and self-expression in an industry often characterised by its conformity. Some say these heels are a statement, a conversation piece, and a daring exploration of the unexpected. Whether you are a fan of the film Ratatouille or simply seeking to inject a bit of whimsy into your wardrobe, these heels are undeniably turning heads.
UK baker’s life-size Taylor Swift Super Bowl cake goes viral
A 37-year-old baker, Lara Mason, is winning hearts on the internet after she created a lifesize Taylor Swift‘s Super Bowl cake. The UK baker took 38 hours to make the red velvet vanilla-flavoured cake and used 130 kg of ingredients, The Guardiaskills. rted. Mason also filmed the making of the giant cake, which garnered more than 3 million views on TikTok. She shared the pictures of the same on X and left netizens spellbound. The cake has the pop star holding the Super Bowl trophy and also donning a Kansas City Chiefs sweater. For those who have been asleep for decades, Taylor Swift’s footballer boyfriend, Travis Kelce, plays for the American football team. The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League. “I’ve always wanted to make a Taylor Swift cake because for the last maybe five years, she has been top of everyone’s list. I really like her, I’m not a diehard Swiftie but I do really appreciate her music and the fact she is a role model for women,” Mason told the British newspaper. The photos show Mason taking a selfie with the giant cake. “I made a Lifesize cake of @taylorswift13 in a @Chiefs sweater holding up the @NFL Super Bowl trophy. What do you think,” the baker wrote. Mason’s cake won plaudits from several users online. One user commented, “Ahhhmazing!! Wow! Very talented.” Another user commented, “I love this. What an amazing cake to make. I hope TS sees it.” Yet another user said, “Gurllll… you’ve got mad skills
Jagdeep Dhankhar And M Kharges Big Face-Off In Parliament Over Rules
When Mr Dhankhar appeared to accuse the Congress of "insulting" a Bharat Ratna recipient, Mr Kharge lost his cool and asked the Vice President to not indulge in politics. The Vice-President then retorted, "Because I come from the farmer community, does not mean I am a weak Chairman. I have tolerated a lot."New Delhi: The buzz around the Jayant Chaudhary-led RLD joining hands with the NDA and the consternation this has caused in the troubled INDIA alliance spilled over into Parliament on Saturday, sparking a sharp exchange between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The exchange began after Jayant Chaudhary, whose party is a member of the INDIA alliance, rose in the Rajya Sabha and started thanking the BJP-led NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing that the Bharat Ratna would be conferred posthumously on his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh. Congress leaders objected to the speech and Mr Dhankhar then asked Mr Kharge to either "control your people or rise and address the House". Prefacing his remarks with the assertion that he and the Congress were happy that former Prime Ministers Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, and the father of the Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan, were being awarded the Bharat Ratna - and that he "saluted" all three personalities - Mr Kharge wondered how Mr Chaudhary was allowed to speak on the issue. "Whenever we want to discuss something, you always ask us what rule we should be allowed to do so under. I want to pose the same question to you: under which rule was he (Mr Chaudhary) permitted to speak? If this is the way it is, you should always give us permission as well. On the one hand, you talk about rules, and on the other, you allow whoever you want (to speak)," Mr Kharge said in Hindi. Incensed, Mr Kharge thundered, "Don't make politics (sic). I said we salute all the people who have worked for this country. Irrespective of political parties. Irrespective of caste and creed. We salute them. But the way the discussion is going on, neither are you following the rules nor have you brought that agenda for discussion. We all could have participated."
UPA pushed India into fragile five club: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tore into the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Friday, saying it pushed the country into the Fragile Five and left it in dire straits in 2014 with its economic mismanagement by putting the "first family" first.During the UPA regime, the security of the nation was compromised, environmental clearances were delayed, and the leadership failed as it was run by a "super prime minister" and there was at least one big-ticket corruption case every year. Initiating the debate on the 'White paper on Indian economy and its impact on the lives of people of India', Sitharaman said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who put the nation first, pulling the country out of crisis and placing it among the top five economies of the world. India is now on the way to becoming the third-largest economy, she said, adding that the NDA government will make India a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.The youth should know what efforts the Prime Minister has put in to restore the country's past glory, said the FM, even as opposition members Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress Party and NK Premachandran of the Revolutionary Socialist Party moved substitute motions against the white paper. On the need for the document being presented now, the finance minister said citizens as well as government officials would have been disillusioned had the white paper been released in 2015-16."Had we done that, no investors would have invested in India and if the truth of the economy was given out at that time, people would have lost faith," Sitharaman said. She said when the NDA government took over in 2014, there was a critical shortage of ammunition and defence equipment. Bullet-proof jackets and night goggles were not available for soldiers."When you don't put the nation first, when you put your first family first, and when you have other considerations than transparency, the results are out there for you to see," Sitharaman said. "So what happened after 2008 when there was a global financial crisis and what happened post-Covid shows clearly that if the intent of the government is sincere, results will be good."
This Week’s Hottest Two-Wheeler News Stories
The upcoming KTM 390 Adventure, based on the all-new KTM 390 Duke, has been spied testing on Indian roads for the second time. It gets an aggressive looking front-end with a beak-like high-rise fender and a sleek looking rear-end. The instrument console mounted high above the handlebar, like the consoles seen on rally bikes.The iconic Luna finally made its comeback this week as Kinetic Green launched the all-new Kinetic E-Luna in two variants: X1 and X2. It has a range of upto 100km and a top speed of 50kmph with a payload capacity of 150kg. The upcoming Ather Rizta’s seat was teased by the EV maker’s CEO, Tarun Mehta, this week. The seat is quite long and wide, an indicator of the family-oriented approach from Ather Energy with the Rizta electric scooter.The Yamaha FZ-X got updated this week but only with new colour schemes. The 150cc naked got new Chrome and Metallic Black colour options on top of the Matte Titan, Dark Matte Blue and Matte Copper already available. Bajaj launched the updated Bajaj Pulsar N160 and N150 this week. The bikes get all-new LCD instrument consoles with smartphone connectivity via Bajaj Ride Connect app and the switchgears are updated too.It seems like, in addition to the upcoming 350cc ADV, Honda might also be working on a scrambler based on the CB350’s platform. Some of the details spotted in the images were that the bike will get a split-seat setup, fork gaiters, upswept exhaust and alloy wheels.
The Week That Was: Indian Women Empowerment News Overview
Women's empowerment is the process of establishing conditions that allow women to exercise their legal rights, take charge of their own lives, and make choices that have an impact on those lives. Giving women equal opportunities in every section of society is the ultimate objective of empowering women. Their choices should be respected and valued on an equitable basis. Indian ladies have the potential to succeed in anything they set their minds to. Regardless of their age, societal norms, or any other conditions, they are showcasing their skills to the world. This week, womenentrepreneurindia.com revealed some of the stories of these accomplished women. The woman robot astronaut, "Vyommitra" is about to set on an amazing space mission. India's space exploration activities would be significantly advanced by Vyommitra, which was designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). India's first human-manned space flight, ISRO's 'Gaganyaan' mission, will have her during the space expansion. The World Defense Show 2024, organized by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, showcases global defense advancements and provides a platform for networking, partnering, and sharing knowledge. It features women officers, promoting gender diversity and representation in the defense industry. Women officers will showcase Nari Shakti, promoting gender diversity and representation in defense, attended by top military leaders, government officials, and industry captains. U.N. Women is collaborating with Kerala to support the Safe City project and establish a gender data hub. The initiative aims to create safer urban spaces for women and girls by addressing sexual harassment and violence in public areas.U.N. Women will offer expertise and guidance to improve the Safe City project's execution. This covers methods for preventing and handling sexual harassment in public areas. Working closely with the State's gender parks, which provide forums for advancing women's empowerment and gender equality, acts as a key component of the partnership. The U.N. Women's delegation suggested that the State will look into issues about online spaces and treat them as public spaces. In order to address digital safety and ensure women's well-being, this recognition is essential. The Indian women's hockey team lost for the third time in a row in the Women's FIH Pro League 2023-24. The Indian squad dropped 3-0 against the World No. 3 Australia Women’s Hockey team in the match played in Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. India geared up with a fast start, scoring a penalty corner in the third minute but gradually lost the match. The "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)", a significant sub-scheme under the PM Matsya Sampada, has received approval from the Union Cabinet. With investments worth more than Rs 6,000 crore, this initiative seeks to regulate the fishing industry and assist small businesses throughout all states and union territories between 2023–2026.
Leaf sheep slug takes the internet by storm
Fascinating sea creatures called the leaf sheep slug are taking the internet by storm with their fluffy appearance and quirky antics. Found primarily in the waters around Japan, the leaf sheep slug, also known as Costasiella kuroshimae, is the only sea creature in the world that can perform photosynthesis like plants.One of the most endearing features of the leaf sheep slug is its resemblance to a tiny, grazing sheep. Covered in fluffy green appendages called cerata, these slugs munch on algae, giving them their distinctive colour and helping them blend with their surroundings. It is like they are wearing a fluffy green coat. It is a type of sea slug that looks like a tiny, walking ball of green fuzz.Leaf sheep slugs can often be seen “herding” together in groups, moving gracefully through the water like a flock of sheep. Scientists believe this behaviour helps them protect themselves from predators and find the best grazing spots.Despite their small size, leaf sheep slugs are making a big impact on marine conservation efforts. Their reliance on algae makes them an important part of their ecosystem, helping to keep algae populations in check and maintaining the health of coral reefs. Leaf sheep slugs are harmless to humans, making them the perfect subject for underwater photography enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Prince Harrys visit to see King Charles III amid cancer news cost him…
Prince Harry's recent meeting with his father, King Charles III, amid his cancer news, has been doing the rounds in media circles. The long journey from the US to London reportedly took him more than 10 hours, lasted than an hour, but cost him a lot of pounds. The unfortunate cancer diagnosis reunited the Duke of Sussex with his father and his homeland for the first time since September. Flying overnight from California, he landed at Heathrow alone as his wife Meghan Markle and two children stayed back in California. After stepping down from their royal posts, the nuclear family unit has lived there since 2020. It's quite likely that Harry may have spent more than £18,000 on plane tickets alone. Security and other transport charges are yet to be added to the cost. Daily Express confirmed that a flight from LA to Heathrow costs £1,317 (Economy). The rising charges for Premium Economy, Business and First Class are £2685, £7040 and £8624, respectively (as listed on the British Airways website on February 7). The return flight may cost £1,458 for Economy, £2,929 for Premium Economy, £7,284 for Business, and £8,868 for First Class. Therefore, a return First-Class ticket would have cost him a whopping £17,492 overall. On top of that, the Prince's private security cost estimation is listed as around £1.5million to £2.3million a year. This would possibly also include guards posted at Harry and Meghan's California home, and other scouting teams. Former reports from royal experts also suggest that even otherwise, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 'spending problem' vexes the Palace.
Americans have record-high credit card debts totalling $1.05 trillion amid historic inflation
Americans started 2024 on a hopeful note, but it seems a chunk of spending landed on credit cards. The average balance per cardholder hit a record high, reaching $6,360, contributing to a total credit card balance of $1.05 trillion in the fourth quarter. Economic pressures from historic inflation and 11 Federal Reserve rate hikes led many to rely on credit cards to make ends meet, says Michele Raneri from TransUnion. Higher interest rates and elevated living costs worsened the situation. Gen Z and millennials are bearing the brunt. About 10% of those aged 18 to 29 and 8% of those aged 30 to 39 are 90 days past due on their credit cards. Subprime borrowers, with less favourable interest rates, saw balances grow by 32% to $105 billion. Serious-level delinquencies are at their highest since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. This includes both normal credit cards (2.59% delinquency rate) and private label credit cards (1.79% delinquency rate). The surge in credit card usage contrasts with a dip in credit originations, showing lenders' cautiousness amidst increasing delinquencies. However, millennials accounted for 29.6% of all new credit card originations. Over the past years, there has been a shift towards credit card reliance, especially post-pandemic. While stimulus payments temporarily eased the burden, reliance on credit cards surged afterwards leading to an increase in cardholders carrying balances month to month. The potential for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts later in the year could provide relief. Lower interest rates might make refinancing an attractive option, allowing consolidation of high-cost debt into lower-interest products. The road ahead is uncertain, but understanding the causes and trends can help individuals navigate the storm of credit card debt. Awareness, budgeting, and seeking financial advice are crucial steps towards financial stability.
"Person Who Does Good Work Never Gets Respect": Nitin Gadkari
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday raised concern about opportunistic politicians wanting to remain associated with the ruling party of the day and said such "deterioration in ideology" was not good for democracy. He also said there are leaders who stand firm in their ideology but their number is gradually declining. "I always say this jokingly that no matter which party's government it is, one thing is sure that the one who does good work never gets respect and those who do bad work are never punished," Mr Gadkari said, without taking names. The minister was addressing an event organised by the Lokmat media group here to present awards to parliamentarians for their exemplary contributions. "In our debates and discussion, differences of opinion is not our problem. Our problem is lack of ideas," the senior BJP leader said. "There are people who stand firm with conviction based on their ideology but the number of such people is declining. And deterioration in ideology, which is happening, is not good for democracy," he said. "Neither rightist nor leftist, we are known opportunists, some people write like this. And all want to remain associated with the ruling party," he added.Mr Gadkari said India is the world's largest democracy and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words, India is the mother of democracy."It is because of this speciality, our democratic governance system is an ideal for the rest of the world," he added.
