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With Gen Alpha already leading the latest wave of memes (skibidi toilet, anyone? No one?), it can start to feel like toddlers are learning to scroll before they can walk. With social media turning out to become a massive part of growing up nowadays, Australia has become the first nation to step up with plans to ban it for minors. This has sparked a question that desperately needs to be answered: just how much is too much when it comes to kids on social media? The risks aren’t just rumours. Researchers have been raising red flags for years, suggesting that too much screen time at a young age can have lasting effects. So, let’s take a look at what science has to say about how early exposure to social media affects kids’ minds, moods, and everything in between. <h2>The sleep struggle</h2>It’s not just adult sleep that gets disrupted by blue light — it’s kids’ sleep too, only they’re even more vulnerable. Screens, especially before bedtime, can delay the release of melatonin, the hormone that tells our bodies it’s time to sleep. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who use screens near bedtime often get less sleep and end up feeling groggy the next day. That leads to more than just fatigue; lack of sleep can also affect kids' learning, memory, and even mood stability. <h2>Scrolling through emotions</h2>The social media effect on mental health is a bit like playing with fire. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, while moderate use can boost self-esteem and help kids feel more connected, too much can tip the scales the other way. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="115056492" title="I&amp;#39;m a mom of 6 and don&amp;#39;t throw birthday parties after age 1. Kids don&amp;#39;t remember them and they are a waste of money." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Excessive social media can lead to anxiety, depression, and lower self-worth. Kids may also suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), as they constantly compare themselves to the perfect-looking snapshots of others. Imagine dealing with that pressure before you even hit high school — it’s no wonder it’s causing stress for young minds. <h2>Attention span on shuffle mode</h2>Social media doesn’t just grab kids’ attention; it keeps it on a fast-paced rollercoaster. Research from multiple regions, including India, shows that children who spend a lot of time on social media might find it harder to stay focused on tasks without instant rewards. The endless cycle of quick likes and notifications can make schoolwork and even daily routines feel sluggish by comparison. Think of it as training kids’ brains to expect rewards on a constant, rapid-fire basis — something that real life just doesn’t offer. <h2>Virtual friends vs. real connections</h2>Kids might feel like they have tons of friends online, but are those connections as meaningful as the ones they’d make in person? UCLA researchers found that kids who spend a lot of time online may struggle to develop strong social skills in real life, like reading body language and empathy. This doesn’t mean that social media is all bad; for marginalised kids or those who have niche interests, it can provide a sense of belonging and community. But the danger is when those virtual friendships start replacing real ones, making it harder for kids to connect offline. <h2>Cyberbullying and online harassment</h2>The internet has its darker sides too, and cyberbullying tops the list. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, more than half of adolescents have experienced cyberbullying in some form. Unlike traditional bullying, which might stop once the school bell rings, online bullying can follow kids home, affecting their mental health long-term. Kids who face bullying online are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm, making the need for boundaries even clearer. <h2>Body image battles</h2>Apps like Instagram and TikTok are fun — but they can also be a trap for body image issues, especially for girls. A study published in the Body Image Journal found that young girls who frequently use social media are more likely to experience body dissatisfaction. When kids see a constant feed of “perfect” lives and appearances, they can start to feel that they don’t measure up, even if they’re barely old enough to understand the concept of self-esteem.<h2>To post or not to post?</h2>Despite the risks, social media isn't all bad. When used responsibly, it can be a powerful tool for learning and creativity. These platforms can enhance creative expression and provide educational content that supports academic growth. For children with special interests or those who feel isolated, online communities can offer a sense of belonging and support. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="115028734" title="I was a teen dad on food stamps. Now that I&amp;#39;m a multimillionaire, teaching my kids to appreciate money is really difficult." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As we continue to integrate technology into every aspect of our lives, understanding and mitigating its impacts on our youngest members becomes ever more crucial. F or parents and caregivers, the key lies in setting boundaries, fostering open communication, and guiding children to navigate the digital world thoughtfully. Australia’s stance might just be the catalyst needed to inspire similar protective measures worldwide, ensuring that children can enjoy the benefits of technology without falling prey to its pitfalls.

Scrolling to doom? Here's what happens to kids when they are exposed to social media early in their lives

The <keyword id="19901179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-cricket-council" source="keywords">International Cricket Council</keyword> (<keyword id="19901177" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICC" source="keywords">ICC</keyword>) is mulling a dedicated fund of at least USD 15 million for <keyword id="19935483" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Test-cricket" source="keywords">Test cricket</keyword> that will help increase the players' match fee and address the migration of talent to lucrative <keyword id="22888428" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-franchise-leagues" source="keywords">T20 franchise leagues</keyword>. The initiative, which was was proposed by <keyword id="19897940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cricket-Australia" source="keywords">Cricket Australia</keyword> (CA), has the support of <keyword id="19901245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BCCI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BCCI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> Secretary <keyword id="19930802" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jay-shah" source="keywords">Jay Shah</keyword>, who is the front-runner to become the next ICC Chairman, and the <keyword id="20312896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="England-and-Wales-Cricket-Board" source="keywords">England and Wales Cricket Board</keyword> (ECB), a report in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' stated. The fund would increase the minimum match payment for Test players and cover the cost of sending teams on overseas tours. It would support national boards like the West Indies that currently struggle to compete with the wages offered in global T20 competitions. "The fund would ensure a minimum Test payment for all players, thought to be USD 10,000, and pay the costs of overseas tours for struggling countries," the report stated. "It's fantastic to see some momentum behind the Test match fund," CA chairman <keyword id="21076759" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mike-baird" source="keywords">Mike Baird</keyword>, who floated the concept in January, said. "We need to take away the barriers and encourage Test cricket to be the best of the best. To retain that history and that legacy, which goes alongside the newer forms of white ball cricket," he added. The fund is unlikely to benefit the three wealthiest cricket nations — India, Australia, and England — since they already offer substantial salaries to their players. However, how much money is available for Test cricket from the ICC is also likely to depend on a dispute with broadcaster Star, the report added. The Star network wants to renegotiate a 2022 broadcast deal with the ICC and reduce its value to half of the original cost of over USD three billion. The BCCI had introduced an incentive scheme for India's men's Test cricketers earlier this year to encourage players to prioritise Test cricket and reward consistent performances in the longest format of the game. Under the new scheme, a player who plays at least 75 per cent of India's Test matches in its annual cycle, from October to September, will earn a whopping Rs 45 lakh per match in addition to the Test match fees of Rs 15 lakh. The players who feature in the 50-75 per cent games bracket will earn a bonus of Rs 30 lakh per match. The non-playing members — if selected in the squad — will be paid half the amount.

ICC planning multi-million dollar fund to save Test cricket: Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's Xi Jinping negotiated a truce with India's leader, Narendra Modi.</li><li>They agreed to a patrolling arrangement on a disputed Himalayan border.</li></ul>At the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-hosts-brics-summit-defy-west-us-economy-china-dollar-2024-10">BRICS summit</a> in Russia this week, China's leader Xi Jinping and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook hands for the first time in five years.The symbolic moment came after a deal was struck to resolve a long-standing feud between the Asian superpowers.In the lead-up to the summit, the countries announced they had reached a patrolling agreement that would reduce tensions along a disputed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-china-buying-new-light-tanks-for-himalayan-mountain-warfare-2023-6">Himalayan border.</a>The dispute had led to deadly hand-to-hand combat in recent years, taking the lives of 20 Indian troops and at least four Chinese soldiers.After their meeting at the summit hosted by Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Xi and Modi said they would continue discussions on resolving the issue.<h2 id="997cee52-7fd6-4283-bf77-94e40a12b5cc">A setback for the US</h2>Some analysts believe it is a development that's unlikely to be welcomed in Washington, DC.The US has sought to recruit India to help it contain China's growing regional aggression alongside other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a security pact that also includes Japan and Australia."So definitely, this is a setback for the United States of America's Indo-Pacific outlook, given the kind of rapprochement we are seeing in India-China relations, and particularly India, China and Russia coming together," Jagannath Panda, head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, told Business Insider."Putin, Xi, and Modi meeting definitely signals that there is a kind of understanding under the carpet that has happened, which is quite subtle," he said.It's an assessment echoed by Zhiqun Zhu, professor of political science and international affairs at Bucknell University."The thaw in India-China relations is a boon to both countries. This is particularly significant for China because India may now be less inclined to confront Beijing as part of Quad," Zhu told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.voanews.com/a/india-china-deal-raises-questions-about-us-indo-pacific-strategy-/7838623.html">Voice of America. </a>"In this sense, the effectiveness of Quad would be diluted with a less enthusiastic India."<h2 id="baf534cf-4366-41b8-b9ef-d526ffe91fda">Competition between Asia's rival powers intensifies</h2>Tensions have been building between China and India for years.As the two biggest economies in Asia, the countries have long jostled for regional power, with the dispute over the Himalayan border a flashpoint that led to clashes in 2020, 2021, and 2022.Amid the stand-off, Chinese vessels have reportedly surveilled the Indian Ocean in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/another-chinese-research-vessel-spotted-off-india-fuelling-unease-2024-03-11/">what experts told Reuters</a> was a likely intelligence-gathering operation, while India has strengthened its security ties with China's chief global rival, the US.In 2017 India played a key role in restarting the Quad, an alliance designed as a bulwark against growing Chinese influence and aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.But India has long sought to balance its relationship with rival superpowers the US and China, and does not at this point want to tie itself too closely to either side, say analysts.In addition to being a member of the Quad Alliance, it is a founding member of the BRICS, an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-asia-countries-flaunt-russia-putin-diplomacy-relationship-brics-2024-9">association of non-Western economies </a>that China has sought to transform into an alternative global economic power base to the US.<div type="image" title="India-China border" height="683" width="1024" msid="114594056" hostid="261" sizebytes="158650"></div>"This explains why it remains part of multilateral groupings with contradictory goals," said Praveen Donthi, a South Asia analyst with the Eurasia Group in Washington, DC, pointing to both its membership of the US-aligned Quad and China-dominated BRIC group.The truce comes with China on the back foot diplomatically, said Panda, pointing to its damaged relations with Europe and the US after its support f<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-and-china-anti-us-coalition-is-growing-more-threatening-2024-9">or Russia's invasion of Ukraine.</a>"One could draw a conclusion at this point that probably the Chinese are more interested to rebuild the ties with India than the other way round," said Panda.He said there's also the possibility that Xi has reached an agreement with Modi behind the scenes for India to remain silent if China acts on its longstanding ambition to seize back control of Taiwan.Such a move would likely draw in the US and its other regional allies, who have pledged to help defend<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-taiwan-drone-swarms-uav-us-playing-catch-up-production-2024-10"> Taiwan's independence.</a>"I think China's bigger ambition and target is the Taiwan issue, and therefore they would not really like to continue the kind of tensions they were engaged in with India for the last three to four years," he said."Therefore, they would like to rebuild, and they would like to ensure that India does not react to the Taiwan issue so sensitively."In any case, its a setback in US attempts to include India in a deeper security alliance, he said."For a long time, the US has tried to develop security and defense ties with India," said Panda.For the time being, a truce suits both Russian and Chinese interests, Rahul Bhatia, an analyst at the Eurasia Group, said. But, he added, tensions remain.He said that though both parties have opened discussions about the border dispute, the underlying problem remains unresolved, and future flare-ups are likely.Donthi said the progress between the leaders could also be derailed if tensions between the US and China increase."This comes as a relief after four years of eyeball-to-eyeball troop deployment in the Himalayas. However, it's only the beginning," he said.

Xi undercut the West by negotiating a truce in China's long feud with India

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will travel to Ahmedabad to witness the summit clash between <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> and <keyword id="6355478" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="australia" source="Orion">Australia</keyword> at the <keyword id="3859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cricket-world-cup" source="Orion">cricket World Cup</keyword> on Sunday. Marles, who is also Australia's <keyword id="32723" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="defence" source="Orion">defence</keyword> minister, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are visiting India to co-chair the second edition of the "2+2" ministerial dialogue along with their Indian counterparts on Monday. The defence ministry on Saturday announced the Australian deputy prime minister's two-day visit to India from November 19-20 primarily for the "2+2" dialogue that is expected to focus on boosting the overall defence and strategic ties between the two countries. It said Marles will also attend the cricket World Cup final between India and Australia on Sunday. "Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will visit India from November 19 to 20 to co-chair the second India-Australia 2+2 ministerial dialogue with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh," the ministry said in a statement. The Indian delegation at the "2+2" dialogue will be led by Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "During his visit, Minister Marles will also attend the Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on November 19," the ministry said. It said Singh and Marles will hold a bilateral meeting on November 20 that would be followed by the "2+2" dialogue. "India and Australia are pursuing a comprehensive strategic partnership and the visit of Minister Marles is expected to give further impetus to the collaboration as well as bilateral defence cooperation," the defence ministry said. "The two countries are expected to discuss wide-ranging issues of mutual interest during the 2+2 dialogue and the bilateral defence ministers' meeting," it added. The two sides are expected to focus extensively on further ramping up the overall defence and security ties and boost the strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region during the "2+2"dialogue. Both Australia and India are part of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition that is focused on working towards ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The other two members of the Quad are the United States and Japan. The situation in West Asia in view of the Hamas-Israel conflict, China's increasing military muscle flexing in the Indo-Pacific and issues relating to regional security is expected to figure in the talks, people familiar with the preparation for the dialogue said. The inaugural "2+2" ministerial dialogue between India and Australia took place in September 2021. India has such a framework for talks with a very few countries, including the US and Japan. The latest edition of the India-US foreign and defence ministerial dialogue took place in New Delhi on November 10. The bilateral defence and strategic ties between India and Australia are on an upward trajectory in the last few years. In June 2020, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed a landmark deal for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support. The <keyword id="10796857" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mutual-logistics-support-agreement" source="Orion">Mutual Logistics Support Agreement</keyword> (<keyword id="449908" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mlsa" source="Orion">MLSA</keyword>) allows the militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, besides facilitating scaling up of the overall defence cooperation. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/ind-vs-aus-icc-world-cup-final-past-battles-head-to-head-record-and-more/slidelist/105309620.cms">India vs Australia ICC World Cup final – Past battles, head-to-head record and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-strengthens-market-leadership-with-3-25-mn-new-subscribers-vis-decline-slows/articleshow/105289414.cms">Jio strengthens market leadership with 3.25 mn new subscribers, Vi’s decline slows</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-pc-market-surges-to-4-5-million-devices-in-q3-2023/articleshow/105285251.cms">India’s PC market shipments surge in Q3 amidst import restrictions talks</a>

Australian Deputy PM Marles to watch India-Australia World Cup cricket final in Ahmedabad

The <keyword id="13535043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india-australia-economic-cooperation" source="Orion">India-Australia Economic Cooperation</keyword> and Trade Agreement, which would give a big boost to especially textiles, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals sectors, is expected to create new 10 lakh jobs, said <keyword id="269080" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-commerce-minister" source="Orion">Union commerce minister</keyword> Piyush Goyal. "Since the labour-intensive sectors will be benefitted, it is expected to create additional employment of at least 10 lakhs jobs in India, create ample opportunities for investment, promotion of start-ups. Similarly, it would provide enhanced job opportunities for Indians in Australia and increased remittance flows to India," Goyal said. The Australian parliament has announced the passing of the <keyword id="120586" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="free-trade-agreement" source="Orion">free trade agreement</keyword> (FTA) with India, Goyal on Tuesday said adding that the initial size of bilateral trade between the two countries can go up to around USD 45-50 billion in the next five-to-six years. Addressing a press conference on the trade deal following the approval of the Agreement by the Australian Parliament, Goyal said that duties on 100 per cent tariff lines would be eliminated by Australia under this deal. The Minister underscored that the Agreement was finalized after extensive and exhaustive stakeholder consultations and pointed out that it was "unanimously accepted" and supported by all quarters. The deal which was signed on April 2, 2022, is now ready for ratification for its early implementation. The Agreement will enter into force shortly, on a mutually convenient date once both sides have completed their domestic processes, India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Tuesday evening right after minister Goyal's presser. Australia is an important strategic partner of India and both democracies are part of the four-nation QUAD, Trilateral Supply Chain Initiative and the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum (IPEF). The trade relationship facilitated through the deal will open a new chapter on India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership between two vibrant economies with shared interests and trade complementarities. This Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade, the statement said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/googles-parent-company-alphabet-prepares-to-lay-off-10k-employees/articleshow/95691119.cms" style="">Google's parent company Alphabet 'prepares' to lay off 10K employees</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/vedanta-announces-third-dividend-of-rs-17-50-per-share/articleshow/95690324.cms">Vedanta announces third dividend of Rs 17.50 per share</a>

India-Australia trade deal estimated to create 10 lakh jobs: Piyush Goyal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had his power pegged back in elections this week. </li><li>It was also the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in China. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/narendra-modi-won-already-seeing-cost-him-allies-cabinet-funding-2024-6">Narendra Modi's strongman ambitions</a> suffered a setback this week.His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party fell<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/narendra-modi-win-bjp-india-election-explained-2024-6"> short of the landslide victory </a>many had predicted in the Indian elections.As Modi becomes India's prime minister for a third time, his party will have to enter into a power-sharing agreement with alliance partners.It's a chastening lesson from the Indian electorate for Modi, who, while boosting India's global standing, has been accused of stoking division and weakening India's democracy.On the same day as the Indian election results, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/on-the-35th-anniversary-of-tiananmen-square/">the world marked the 35th anniversary </a>of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which saw a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing.In the decades since, China has slid back into Maoist-style authoritarianism.The events this week highlighted how the competition between India and China is about more than raw power. It's also a competition between two very different political ideologies.<h2 id="6acd91a8-36b3-408f-85c1-259d5944f4e0">India is a flawed but thriving democracy</h2>India is the world's largest democracy. Its first elections were held in 1951-52 after it gained independence from Britain. Free elections have been held in nearly every election cycle since, with a coup in 1975 briefly threatening India's democratic status.It is a rare bright spot in a world where democracy seems to be in retreat. Even in the US, the global champion of democracy, former president Donald Trump is accused of launching an attempt to cling to power illegally after losing the 2020 election.<div type="image" title="Indian voters" height="683" width="1024" msid="110819479" hostid="261" sizebytes="88454"></div>"India isn't a perfect democracy but it is still a role model for developing nations, large or small. And given trends in some Western democracies, I would have to say that there are several things they, too, should be learning from India," said Jabin T. Jacob, an expert on India-China relations at Shiv Nadar University, India.India's democracy, though, faces a stern test under Modi, say critics. Global democracy watchdog <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56393944">Freedom House in 2021</a> downgraded India's democratic status, saying Modi's Hindu nationalist movement had menaced journalists, attacked Muslims, and corroded civil liberties.Jacob said this week's results showed India's democracy remained resilient despite the pressures, while dealing a blow to a leader seen to have overstepped his authority."We have just seen an election in which the Indian electorate decided that their interests are best served by power shared more evenly among a set of political formations that represent diverse interests and aspirations. That is the essence of democracy," he said."The Indian electorate is a very mature one, and it has always intervened in a timely fashion against authoritarian tendencies in its rulers."It's unclear whether Modi will now double down on the nationalism he's championed or seek a more moderate path based on economic reform.<h2 id="c1fe728e-200a-4edb-8d77-94ea6111c952">China's rise comes at a high cost</h2>There are those in India, though, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/daa87f88-ae0e-11e3-974d-00144feab7de">who have been astonished</a> at the speed and efficiency of China's rise to economic superpower status.China has become the world's second-largest economy, and the lives of millions of ordinary Chinese people have been transformed. Though India has made huge economic progress under Modi, it still lags behind.<div type="image" title="China high speed rail" height="644" width="1024" msid="110819477" hostid="261" sizebytes="117068"></div>"Perhaps the greatest challenge democracy faces in India is that is has failed to deliver the kind of sustained economic development enjoyed by neighbors like China over the last four decades. It has also failed to eliminate extreme poverty," wrote Chatham House <a target="_blank" href="https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/04/democracy-india">analyst Gareth Price in 2022.</a>But with prosperity in China, has come reduced freedom.Since Tiananmen Square 35 years ago, China's Communist Party has rolled back many of the freedoms its citizens once had.Its current leader, Xi Jinping, has imposed a draconian surveillance state and is considered <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-xi-jinping-ai-wreak-havoc-america-world-economy-2024-6">China's most authoritarian ruler</a> since Mao Tse Tung.Dominic Chiu, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told Business Insider that China's system had given it an economic advantage — but at a cost."China's one-party rule in the reform era enabled consistent long-term policymaking and economic planning," he said. "This benefited China's economy immensely when the leadership decided to liberalize markets, privatize industries, and open the country up to foreign investment." But, he said, China's repressive one-party system was also deterring investors. And with China's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-falls-out-of-love-with-natural-diamonds-industry-struggles-2024-6">economy experiencing a steep </a>downturn, this poses a serious problem for its future growth.<h2 id="ebafe111-fa5e-49b8-95d3-f92a674d0da2">China and India vie for dominance</h2>Having achieved economic superpower status, China is now seeking to assert its power more aggressively both regionally and internationally.Tensions with India are increasing. In 2020, clashes along the countries' Himalayan border resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese.<div type="image" title="India-China border" height="683" width="1024" msid="110819475" hostid="261" sizebytes="158650"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/modi-mission-assert-indias-global-123002908.html">Analysts told BI</a> that building stronger alliances to counter Chinese aggression will be one of the core aims of Modi's third term.And its commitment to democracy hands it an important advantage, said Jacob."India's democratic status is critical for its international standing. It is an opportunity to develop a model of economic and political development that is both equitable and democratic and thus distinct from the aggressive capitalism of the US or the authoritarianism of the PRC," he said.In 2021, India entered<a target="_blank" href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/modi-went-straight-reelection-needling-103142130.html"> into the "Quad" partnership </a>with democracies the US, Japan, and Australia, to counter what is perceived as growing Chinese aggression in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.It's a political alliance that would've been more difficult to broker if India was ruled by an authoritarian government,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/democracy-and-the-us-india-relationship/"> say observers.</a><h2 id="b9b7d5ac-0c25-43f4-adf2-9128d9242020">Competing nationalist visions</h2>Some analysts, though, say that the competition between India and China is not, at its core, about competing political systems but about competing nationalist visions.According to this interpretation, both Xi and Modi are committed to restoring what they see as their nation's rightful place at the top of the global order.But in his quest to strengthen India, critics are warning Modi not to undermine the commitment to democracy and pluralism they believe is at the heart of its post-independence success.Jacob said those in India jealous of China's economic might should look more closely at the reality."Indians who argue against democracy using the China comparison clearly don't understand anything about the reality of China and the Chinese people," he said.

The competition between India and China is about more than raw power

<keyword id="6355478" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="australia" source="Orion">Australia</keyword> World Cup-winning captain <keyword id="783062" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pat-cummins" source="Orion">Pat Cummins</keyword> became the most expensive player in Indian Premier League (<keyword id="6354312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl" source="Orion">IPL</keyword>) history after <keyword id="1494441" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sunrisers-hyderabad" source="Orion">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> (SRH) secured his services for whooping Rs 20.5 crore during the second round of the IPL 2024 mini-auction, here on Tuesday. Following an intense bidding battle involving Chennai Super Kings and <keyword id="6354506" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="royal-challengers-bangalore" source="Orion">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>, Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually secured the Australian captain for a record-breaking amount. Starting with a base price of Rs. 2.00 crore, <keyword id="113731" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cummins" source="Orion">Cummins</keyword> became the center of a bidding war between IPL heavyweights CSK and Mumbai Indians. The fierce battle escalated the bid to 4.8 crore, led by CSK. Soon after, Royal Challengers Bangalore entered the fray with a bid of Rs. 5.00 Cr, joining Chennai and Mumbai in the pursuit. Sunrisers also stepped up, placing a bid at Rs. 8.00 Cr, marking Cummins as the day's first millionaire. The bidding war intensified between SRH and RCB, with both pushing the bids to Rs. 12.00 Cr. As the bids surpassed the 15-crore mark, the competition heated up, prompting SRH to elevate their offer to 17 crore. Crossing the Rs 18.5 crore mark, Cummins claimed the title of the IPL's priciest player in history, surpassing Sam Curran's record sale of Rs 18.50 crore in the 2023 auction. Yet, the competition remained tight with RCB pushing the bid to Rs. 19.25 Cr. Eventually, SRH surged ahead, reaching Rs. 20 Cr. The bidding war escalated further to Rs. 20.50 Cr, securing Pat Cummins for the team. This marked the inaugural breach of the 20-crore barrier in an <keyword id="90837" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-auction" source="Orion">IPL auction</keyword>. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/air-indias-new-global-brand-identity-rollout-to-begin-from-delhi-and-mumbai-airports/articleshow/106119401.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/air-indias-new-global-brand-identity-rollout-to-begin-from-delhi-and-mumbai-airports/articleshow/106119401.cms" target="_blank">Air India’s new global brand identity rollout to begin from Delhi and Mumbai airports</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/inox-india-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-and-gmp-value/articleshow/106109279.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/inox-india-ipo-how-to-check-allotment-and-gmp-value/articleshow/106109279.cms" target="_blank">Inox India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/best-deals-on-5g-new-mobile-phones-on-amazon/articleshow/106116521.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/best-deals-on-5g-new-mobile-phones-on-amazon/articleshow/106116521.cms" target="_blank">iPhone 13 to Redmi Note 12 – Best deals on 5G smartphones</a>

IPL Auction 2024: Australia captain Pat Cummins becomes most expensive player in IPL history

<ul><li>India and Australia signed two new landmark agreements to boost their cooperation in defence. </li><li>This includes the ‘Australia-India Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement’ (MLSA) and the ‘Defence Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement’.</li><li>“We have a strong shared interest in working together to support a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” said Austalia’s Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds. </li></ul>India’s Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced two landmarks defence agreements between the two countries — the ‘Australia-India Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement’ (MLSA) and the ‘Defence Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement’. “We share an ocean and we share a responsibility for that ocean. Its health, well being and security,” said Morrison during the virtual summit between the two countries on Thursday, June 4. The central theme of both the agreements of maintaining a ‘rules-based’ maritime order in the region based on international law as put forward by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This includes tackling issues like terrorism, piracy, drugs and arms smuggling, irregular migration, poaching of marine species, and other challenges. An indirect message to China as military interoperability gets a boost Australia’s Minister of Defence, Linda Reynolds explained that the MLSA will enhance military interoperability between the two countries. This means that all segments of the Armed Forces, especially the Navy, are likely to hold most joint operations. Reynolds said that the arrangement will enable more complex military engagements and greater combined responsiveness to regional humanitarian disasters. “We have a strong shared interest in working together to support a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” she said. The MEA re-iterated that both countries have shared interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in the <keyword id="1574110" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indo-Pacific-region">Indo-Pacific region</keyword>. Given that India and Australia are “natural partners” in maintaining open, safe and efficient sea lanes for transportation and communication, “Both sides agreed to continue to deepen and broaden defence cooperation,” it said explaining that the scope and complexity of their military exercises will find new ways to address security challenges. These “security challenges” may also include incursions by China in the South China Sea although it wasn’t specifically mentioned during the summit. It has been involved in a number of disputes with Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan. The US and other nations have frequently expressed their concerns over what they see as China expanding its power in the region, especially with the fortification and militarization of smaller islands. Beijing, on the other hand, has always maintained that it poses no threat to the free flow of commerce and navigation through the seas. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/india-and-australia-pump-12-7-million-into-ai-quantum-computing-and-robotics/articleshow/76194354.cms">India and Australia pump $12.7 million into AI, quantum computing and robotics — renewing their cyber and critical technology partnership</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-and-australia-ink-landmark-defence-pact-after-modi-morrison-online-summit/articleshow/76192782.cms">India and Australia ink landmark defence pact after Modi-Morrison online summit</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-responds-to-prime-minister-narendra-modi-and-us-president-donald-trump-conversation/articleshow/76188158.cms">China responds to Modi-Trump conversation — ‘there is no need for any third party to intervene’</a>

India and Australia sign defence deal to support a 'stable' and 'rules-based' Indo-Pacific region

India and Australia on Thursday inked a landmark agreement for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support besides firming up six more pacts to further broadbase ties after Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and his Australian counterpart <keyword id="826044" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Scott-Morrison">Scott Morrison</keyword> held an online summit. The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) will allow militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation. India has already signed similar agreements with the US, France and Singapore. The other pacts will provide for bilateral cooperation in areas of cyber and cyber-enabled critical technology, mining and minerals, military technology, vocational education and water resources management. In the talks, the two sides also deliberated on a host of key issues including dealing with growing threat of terrorism, maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, reform in the World Trade Organisation and ways to deal with the coronavirus crisis. According to a joint statement issued after the Modi-Morrison talks, both sides discussed the issue of taxation of offshore income of Indian firms through the use of the India-Australia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and sought early resolution of the issue. It said both sides also decided to re-engage on a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) while suitably considering earlier bilateral discussions where a mutually agreed way forward can be found. The two countries recognised that terrorism remains a threat to peace and stability in the region and strongly condemned the menace in all its forms and manifestations, stressing that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. The joint statement said both sides support a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, including by countering violent extremism, preventing radicalisation, disrupting financial support to terrorists and facilitating prosecution of those involved in acts of terror. The two sides also called for early adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). In his opening remarks, Modi also pitched for a coordinated and collaborative approach to come out of the adverse economic and social impact of the epidemic that has infected around 65 lakh people and killed 3.88 lakh globally. He said a process of comprehensive reforms covering almost all areas has been initiated in India as his government viewed the coronavirus crisis as an "opportunity". Referring to the virtual summit, the prime minister termed it "a new model of India-Australia partnership, a new model of conducting business". It was the first time that Modi held a "bilateral" virtual summit with a foreign leader. The prime minister described his talks with Morrison as "an outstanding discussion", covering the entire expanse of ties between the two strategic partners. "Our government has decided to view this crisis as an opportunity. In India, a process of comprehensive reforms has been initiated in almost all areas. It will soon see results at the ground level," the prime minister said. Modi also conveyed his appreciation to Morrison for taking care of the Indian community in Australia, especially the students during the "difficult time". In his remarks, Morrison complemented Modi for his "constructive and very positive" role including at the G-20 role in pushing for a concerted global approach in dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Modi said he believed that it is the "perfect time and perfect opportunity" to further strengthen the relationship between India and Australia. "We have immense possibilities to make our friendship stronger," Modi said, adding: "How our relations become a 'factor of stability' for our region and for the world, how we work together for global good, all these aspects need to be considered." The prime minister said India was committed to expand its relations with Australia on a wider and faster pace, noting that it is important not only for the two countries, but also for the Indo-Pacific region and the world. "The role of our comprehensive strategic partnership will be more important in this period of global epidemic. The world needs a coordinated and collaborative approach to get out of the economic and social side effects of this epidemic," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-responds-to-prime-minister-narendra-modi-and-us-president-donald-trump-conversation/articleshow/76188158.cms">China responds to Modi-Trump conversation — ‘there is no need for any third party to intervene’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-china-border-standoff-reaches-lieutenant-general-level-military-negotiation/articleshow/76167405.cms">India-China border standoff reaches Lieutenant-General level military negotiation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-is-a-bully-says-us-representative-on-india-china-border-issue/articleshow/76147159.cms">China is a ‘bully’ says US Representative on India-China border issue</a>

India and Australia ink landmark defence pact after Modi-Morrison online summit

New York [US], May 21 (ANI): International tourist arrivals and the <keyword id="2173225" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel-and-tourism" source="Orion">travel and tourism</keyword> sector's contribution to <keyword id="572312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-GDP" source="Orion">global GDP</keyword> are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, driven by the complete lifting of COVID-19-related <keyword id="19916662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="travel" source="keywords">travel</keyword> restrictions and strong pent-up demand, as per the new <keyword id="20020435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Economic-Forum" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Economic Forum" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Economic Forum">World Economic Forum</keyword> travel and <keyword id="19997361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism" source="keywords">tourism</keyword> study, released on Tuesday. Topping the 2024 list of economies are the US, Spain, Japan, France and Australia. The Middle East had the highest recovery rates in international tourist arrivals - 20 per cent above the 2019 level, while Europe, Africa and the US all showed a strong recovery of around 90 per cent in 2023. <keyword id="21745194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel-and-Tourism-Development-Index-2024" source="Orion">Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024</keyword> (TTDI), a biennial report published in collaboration with the University of Surrey, analysed the travel and tourism sectors of 119 countries around a range of factors and policies. "This year marks a turning point for the travel and tourism sector, which we know has the capacity to unlock growth and serve communities through economic and social transformation," said Francisco Betti, Head of the Global Industries team at the World Economic Forum. "The report offers a forward-looking window into the current and future state of travel and tourism for leaders to navigate the latest trends in this complex sector and sustainably unlock its potential for communities and countries across the world." The <keyword id="840423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-tourism" source="Orion">global tourism</keyword> industry is expected to recover from the lows of the COVID-19 pandemic and surpass the levels seen before the crisis. As per the report, this is largely being driven by a significant increase in demand worldwide, which has coincided with more available flights, better international openness, and increased interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions. However, the report painted that the global recovery has been mixed. While 71 of the 119 ranked economies increased their index scores since 2019. Although the sector has moved past the shock of the global health crisis, it continues to deal with other external challenges, from growing macroeconomic, geopolitical and environmental risks, to increased scrutiny of its sustainability practices. In addition, labour shortages are ongoing, and air route capacity, capital investment, productivity and other sector supply factors have not kept up with the increase in demand. This imbalance, worsened by global inflation, has increased prices and service issues. Out of the top 30 index scorers in 2024, 26 are high-income economies, 19 are based in Europe, seven are in Asia-Pacific, three are in the Americas and one (the United Arab Emirates) is in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). The top 10 countries in the 2024 edition are the United States, Spain, Japan, France, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy and Switzerland. The results highlight that high-income economies generally continue to have more favourable conditions for travel and tourism development. This is helped by conducive business environments, dynamic labour markets, open travel policies, strong transport and tourism infrastructure, and well-developed natural, cultural and non-leisure attractions. "It's essential to bridge the divide between differing economies' ability to build a strong environment for their travel and tourism sector to thrive," said Iis Tussyadiah, Professor and Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey. "The sector has big potential to foster prosperity and mitigate global risks, but that potential can only be fully realized through a strategic and inclusive approach." If managed strategically, the travel and tourism sector - which has historically represented 10 per cent of global GDP and employment - has the potential to emerge as a key contributor to growth, it said. (ANI)

Worldwide tourism and its contribution to global GDP to return to pre-COVID levels this year: WEF study

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks AI, closing the Activision Blizzard deal, and his best business decision so far

<ul><li><keyword id="2900267" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Byju">Byju</keyword>'s plans to invest $1 billion in the North American market over the next two years.</li><li>The company believes that that international market would make a third of its revenue in the future.</li><li>The Bengaluru-based company is estimated to earn $300 million from the US market in FY22.</li></ul> Byju's has had global aspirations since 2019, when it acquired US-based educational game system Osmo for $120 million. The pandemic and the resultant boost for online education platforms in 2020 have led to aggressive expansion by the Indian decacorn (startup valued at over $10 billion) this year. “India can provide teachers to the world, just like software engineers,” founder Byju Raveendran said in an interview with Business Insider in October 2020. <div type="Youtube" id="qIe5VhDvJXU" title="How EdTech Can Shape The Future Hereon?" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qIe5VhDvJXU/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Byju’s has already laid out an elaborate plan for the estimated <a href="https://www.austrade.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/5085/Edtech-US-market-snapshot.pdf.aspx/">$43 billion</a>+ edtech market in the US dominated by Age of Learning (valued at $3 billion) and Kajabi (valued at $2 billion) in the kindergarten to class 12 (K12) segment Byju’s is looking at. Two acquisitions in the last one month ⁠— Epic and Great Learning ⁠— have cost Byju's over $1.1 billion, and it plans to invest over a billion dollars in the North American market over the next two years. Besides that, the Indian startup has launched its core Disney-based learning app in the US and launched Byju's Global School for vocational learning. Industry watchers believe there may be more deals and acquisitions along the way. Investment bank Dexter Capital’s founder Devendra Agrawal, in an interaction with Business Insider, said that there is a lot of headroom for edtech to grow globally and there are few with the kind of muscle that Byju's ⁠— with a valuation of $16.5 billion ⁠— has. More importantly, Byju's can make more revenue ($376 million in FY20) in countries like the US, UK and Australia, where people can afford to pay more. Anita Kishore, the head of strategy at Byju's, told Business Insider that international markets would make a third of the company’s revenue in the next three to four years. The USA would be dominating the international market for Byju's. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[ ]]></cdata></div> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Metric </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Base </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">July 2021 </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Growth </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Valuation </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$6 billion (2019) </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$16.5 billion </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2.7X </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Users </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">50 million (May 2020) </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#ffffff;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">100 million </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2X </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Subscribers </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3.5 million (May 2020) </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6.5 million </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1.8X </td></tr></tbody></table> With steady business growth prediction in India, why do Byju's want to look at the American market? The company started its expansion plans in 2019 by acquiring Osmo, which produces augmented reality games for mobile devices. <div type="ExtQuote" text="“We are building a product for the international markets. At present, our focus is getting the K-3 (lower grades first, then second and third grades) product ready for launch in the next few months.”" auname="— Mrinal Mohit, chief operating officer at Byju&amp;#39;s, said in 2019 while announcing the acquisition."></div> <div type="image" title="Image 1 Byju&amp;#39;s last two acquisitions and a deal with Disney reveal its American dream ⁠— one that is anchored in India" msid="84784080" hostid="261"></div> The company made its second acquisition in the US last week. It acquired digital reading platform Epic for half a billion dollars. The buyout provided Byju's with access to the company’s user base of 50 million students and 20 million teachers in one hit. Byju's also leveraged its<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-karan-bajaj-sold-his-less-than-18-month-old-startup-white-hat-jr-to-byjus/articleshow/77415329.cms"> $300 million acquisition</a> of the coding-for-kids startup WhiteHat Jr by launching the <keyword id="7677076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Future-school">Future School</keyword> brand that will focus on providing extra-curricular courses in international markets. The company has already launched its services in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other English speaking markets last month. It has also been piloting in non-English speaking countries like Brazil and Mexico, and will plan a full-roll out soon. <div type="ExtQuote" text="“The other advantage that [the] US market gives us is the fact that it is English speaking, right? A lot of our products, while you know, they need to be customised, and so on. Given the language is English, we are able to actually scale those products well, with teams in India. Hence, the US has been a key market for us.”" auname="— Anita Kishore, head of strategy at Byju&amp;#39;s, told Business Insider"></div> The 10-year-old startup expects to earn $300 million in the US in the financial year ending March 2022, all thanks to these three products. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Projected revenue in FY22 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Byju's Future School </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$100 million+ </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Epic </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$100 million+ </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Osmo </td><td style="border-left:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-right:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-bottom:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;border-top:solid #cccccc 0.8333325pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:2pt 2pt 2pt 2pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">$100 million+ </td></tr></tbody></table> Notably, the company has made four acquisitions, amounting to $2 billion, in the last six months. Two of which — Great Learning and Epic — directly related to the company's international expansion plans. Kishore emphasised that Byju's does not have any target number for acquisition or investments to expand its presence in the US. “It is more where we see a strategic fit and an alignment of vision with the founders. That’s where we go ahead and do that [acquisition].” <div type="image" title="Byju&amp;#39;s last two acquisitions and a deal with Disney reveal its American dream ⁠— one that is anchored in India" msid="84783979" hostid="261"></div> “ India will continue to be Byju's biggest market in terms of revenue for the next two years. However, they would want this ratio to change going forward. How soon it could change is hard to comment. The outside market, like the US, the growth could be higher. Two-three years later, the percentage revenue they get from the US market could be sizeable. It would not be more than 50% or more than Indian market. In the long term, it may happen that Byju's is getting more revenue from outside India.” -- Devendra Agrawal, founder, Dexter Capital A dream so big, it may need bigger deals Acquisitions are usually done for three reasons. First, to enter new geographies. Second, to incorporate new services or products into business offerings. Third, to eliminate a disruptor that could be a potential threat to the company in the long run. “Because of all three reasons, Byju's will continue to acquire new players…,” Agrawal told Business Insider. The organic way of doing so, by building a team and hiring people, may actually take a couple of years. The inorganic way, by acquiring companies, can help speed up the process of scaling up. Madhur Singhal, managing partner and chief executive officer (CEO) at consulting firm Praxis Global, explained that the company’s expansion largely depends on how well the company develops an empirically grounded model of technology and capability that taps the market opportunity with cross-selling into customers of acquisitions they are making. “If this strategy comes right, it could result in bigger and faster outcomes,” he added. While the global market will make up a third of Byju's revenue, India will continue to be the biggest market for the edtech company due to the massive growth of its core product in two to three years, Kishore emphasised. The recent acquisition of the test preparation chain Aakash Educational Services, which has over 200 coaching centres across India, is going to accelerate the company’s growth in India as well. Byju's had acquired Aakash for $1 billion earlier this year and it was the biggest edtech deal in the world. <div type="image" title="(image 3) Byju&amp;#39;s last two acquisitions and a deal with Disney reveal its American dream ⁠— one that is anchored in India" msid="84784062" hostid="261"></div> Even though Aakash may not contribute much to Byju's international plans, the acquisition will give the company a sizable revenue as well as profit. “If somebody has to distribute Byju's revenue — organic revenue versus revenue of acquired companies — Aakash would give them largest leverage purely from the EBITDA [earnings with interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation] and revenue perspective,” Dexter Capital’s Agarwal added. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/lok-sabha-mp-mahua-moitra-says-delisting-of-adani-power-need-to-be-looked-into/articleshow/84752594.cms">Adani Group in spotlight again — Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra says delisting of Adani Power needs to be ‘looked into’</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/tesla-shrugs-off-the-global-chip-shortage-to-post-its-most-profitable-quarter-yet/articleshow/84777571.cms">Tesla shrugs off the global chip shortage to post its most profitable quarter yet</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/six-red-flags-for-investors-to-avoid-becoming-a-victim-of-misselling-by-agents-or-financial-advisors/slidelist/84782913.cms">Six red flags for investors to avoid becoming a victim of misselling by agents or financial advisors</a>

Byju's last two acquisitions and a deal with Disney reveal its American dream ⁠— one that is anchored in India

Logistic supply agreements with various countries have helped the <keyword id="6355100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Navy">Indian Navy</keyword> to enhance its role as the primary responder to any crisis, especially in the <keyword id="150701" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Ocean-Region">Indian Ocean Region</keyword> (IOR). The Indian Navy has reciprocal military logistics agreements with US, France, Australia, South Korea and Singapore. Japan is the sixth country that India signed logistics agreements with earlier this month. "India is now moving ahead to sign similar deals with Russia and United Kingdom," said a senior government official. While India has some notable accomplishments as an overseas responder, the assistance to Maldivian President Gayoom as part of Operation Cactus in 1988 was a key event. Thereafter the 'coming of age' event for the Indian Navy was the post-tsunami response in December 2004, which went on well into 2005.The tsunami was catastrophic for many nations in Asia, particularly in South and South East Asia where India was one of the most severely affected nations."Whilst the Indian nation mobilised all resources at its disposal, including the armed forces, to provide succour to its citizens, it did not forget its neighbours," said the official adding that as a responsible neighbour and collaborator, the government of the day rushed help and supplies to many countries in South and South East Asia; principal being Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. Recognising India's capabilities and resources, the US invited India to be a part of the Tsunami Core Group, the others being Japan and Australia. The group was subsequently expanded to include the UN, EU and Canada. The Tsunami Core Group clearly brought out the capabilities and response mechanisms of nations with similar governance and ability to reach out to others in their hour of need. The original core group would pave the way for the 2007 proposal of Shinzo Abe, then Prime Minister of Japan for initiation of a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or 'Quad'. "We are currently dissecting QUAD 2.0 and how it is an anti-China group, which may be a disservice to the larger aims of this grouping," the official explained. The Tsunami was a trigger for many reforms and change in operational mindset for India. India and its Navy realised the need for large deck amphibious ships; ships that can carry men and material to places that are in need of them and using helicopters on the ships to quickly transfer them ashore, as also more pronounced outreach. India was one of the first responders in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and directed the Indian Navy to evacuate Indian nationals. Along with Indians, the Navy evacuated Sri Lankans, Nepalese and Lebanese nationals. In 2015, India launched Operation Raahat and ordered the Indian Navy into war-torn Yemen to evacuate Indian nationals. Along with Indians, the Navy rescued more than 1,000 nationals from over 30 nations, including the US and UK, who directed their citizens to seek help from India. The Navy has therefore been doing the heavy-lifting in the Indian Ocean Region to help countries in the region and beyond. "Operational logistics simply put, is ensuring availability of diesel, spares and lubricants for machinery onboard ships and water and food for the crew, towards undertaking uninterrupted operations," the official pointed out. It makes sense to get these operational logistic requirements from close to an area of operation, rather than from India. This is particularly so if naval ships are undertaking an operation say in the Southern Indian Ocean or South East Asia. The logical step, therefore, is to identify nations and their infrastructure that have the capacity to provide services to India to facilitate continued operations. Similarly, nations that have amicable relations with India and enjoy a high level of inter-operability also prefer to have similar agreements with India to suit their needs in the region. Towards this, India has in recent years, concluded Logistic Supply Agreements with many nations across the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. "These provide our nation with the ability to expeditiously respond to an emerging situation in remote and inaccessible parts of the world, using the assets of the Indian Armed Forces," the official added. As the world shifts increasingly towards multi-lateralism, India is negotiating various new agreements and pacts with like-minded nations to meet common threats and challenges. "One must also remember that agreements and pacts are not always a zero-sum game," the official said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/its-not-just-india-chinese-intelligence-has-its-eye-on-more-than-2-4-million-individuals-across-the-us-japan-canada-australia-and-the-uk/articleshow/78101034.cms">It's not just India — Chinese intelligence has its eye on more than 2.4 million individuals across the US, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the UK</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-china-border-tension-will-be-in-focus-as-the-parliaments-monsoon-session-begins-today/articleshow/78098575.cms">India-China border tension will be in focus as the Parliament's Monsoon session begins today</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/all-eyes-on-parliaments-monsoon-session-the-banking-regulation-amendment-bill-2020-may-not-be-on-the-docket-for-long/articleshow/78101791.cms">All eyes on Parliament's Monsoon session — the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020 may not be on the docket for long</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hcl-tech-share-price-jumps-after-mid-quarter-guidance-pulling-tcs-infosys-wipro-and-tech-mahindra-in-the-green-along-with-it/articleshow/78103743.cms">HCL Tech's mid-quarter guidance optimism sparks rally in TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra too</a>

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