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Imagine taking a deep breath, expecting fresh, clean air, but instead, inhaling particles so tiny they’re invisible but powerful enough to change your life. For millions worldwide, that’s the reality — and it’s taking a toll on their lungs. A new global study shows that nearly 30% of <keyword id="22476122" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asthma-cases" source="keywords">asthma cases</keyword> can be traced back to long-term exposure to <keyword id="20147117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fine-particulate-matter" source="keywords">fine particulate matter</keyword>, or <keyword id="20573061" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM2-5" source="keywords">PM2.5</keyword>, the kind of pollution that often comes from cars, factories, and even cooking fires. <h2>How PM2.5 impacts asthma</h2>Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by recurring symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. While the exact causes of asthma remain complex and varied, this new study underlines that PM2.5 pollution is a significant risk factor. The study brings together insights from 68 epidemiological studies conducted across 22 countries, spanning regions from North America to South Asia. This comprehensive meta-analysis demonstrates the consistent impact of PM2.5 on asthma development. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114504550" title="Most people miss THIS warning on their mosquito repellent vaporizer’s label" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Lead author Dr Ruijing Ni explained, “We estimate that globally in 2019, almost a third of asthma cases are attributable to long-term PM2.5 exposure, corresponding to 63.5 million existing cases and 11.4 million new cases.” <h2>The Indian asthma problem</h2>India, one of the world’s most polluted countries, faces a particularly severe burden from <keyword id="19900550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="keywords">air pollution</keyword>. Studies have shown that PM2.5 levels in many Indian cities far exceed the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Health-Organization" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Health Organization" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</keyword>'s safe limit of 5 µg/m³. This exposure is especially dangerous for children, whose lungs and immune systems are still developing. The numbers are worrying: around 15-20 million Indians suffer from asthma, making up a significant portion of the estimated 339 million cases worldwide. Children are disproportionately affected; a 2019 report indicated that approximately 6% of children aged 1 to 5 in India show asthma symptoms. This exposure often results in airway inflammation and oxidative stress, which increases vulnerability to <keyword id="19923193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="respiratory-diseases" source="keywords">respiratory diseases</keyword>. <h2>What the data says</h2>The research team employed exposure-response curves to better understand the link between PM2.5 levels and asthma cases. By considering data from both high-income and low- and middle-income countries, the researchers could provide a more accurate global assessment of PM2.5’s <keyword id="21037424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-impact" source="keywords">health impact</keyword>. The study found that in Germany, for instance, PM2.5 may be responsible for about 11% of new asthma cases — roughly 28,000 people. However, the burden is even higher in low- and middle-income countries like India, where higher levels of pollution are coupled with limited healthcare access. This disparity highlights the need for global action to reduce PM2.5 emissions, especially in regions where pollution levels and health impacts are most severe. <h2>Policy implications and recommendations</h2>The findings have clear implications for policymakers. Strengthening <keyword id="19918941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-quality" source="keywords">air quality</keyword> regulations, especially in high-exposure regions, could prevent millions of new asthma cases and reduce healthcare costs. “Our findings highlight the urgent need for policymakers to enforce stringent legislation to continuously combat air pollution,” emphasised another study author Prof. Yafang Cheng. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114695519" title="Are your green firecrackers really ‘green? Here’s all you need to know before doing your Diwali shopping" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In addition to governmental measures, personal protective actions like wearing masks and installing air purifiers in homes can also help individuals reduce their exposure to PM2.5, particularly during high-pollution periods. This study adds to the growing evidence that reducing air pollution is critical for public health. While global challenges like PM2.5 pollution may seem daunting, each step toward cleaner air can bring significant health benefits. For countries like India, where asthma rates and pollution levels are both alarmingly high, these findings underscore an urgent need for both policy and community action to protect the most vulnerable — particularly children.

Air Quality Alert: Nearly 30% of asthma cases tied to fine particulate matter exposure from bad air

Congress MP <keyword id="19916336" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="shashi-tharoor" source="keywords">Shashi Tharoor</keyword> emphasised <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s importance as a global economic and political power during a conversation here at Rice University's Baker Institute. "<keyword id="23108209" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india-matters" source="Orion">India matters</keyword>," <keyword id="20304436" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tharoor" source="keywords">Tharoor</keyword> said, stressing that "what happens in India affects a sixth of humanity". The Thiruvananthapuram Member of Parliament explained that India, now the third-largest economy in purchasing power parity, can no longer be ignored or underestimated on the world stage. Delivering a compelling talk on India's <keyword id="4090360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-influence" source="Orion">global influence</keyword>, moderated by <keyword id="23107140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="david-satterfield" source="keywords">David Satterfield</keyword>, the institute's director and former US ambassador to Lebanon and Turkiye, Tharoor highlighted how India's rise as the world's most populous nation and fastest-growing major economy positions it as a significant player in world affairs. Tharoor, who was visiting Houston as a prominent author and speaker at the seventh edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival from September 6-8, also addressed the geopolitical challenges faced by India, particularly its relations with China, Pakistan, and the US. He noted India's delicate balancing act in these complex relationships while asserting the country's growing role in shaping the future of the region. The discussion explored India's technological advancements, with Satterfield noting the country's rapid growth in this sector. Tharoor acknowledged the increasing influence of India's tech industry, which is driving innovation and economic development, making the country a key player in global trade. Domestic issues were also a key focus of the conversation, with Tharoor touching on India's energy challenges and its ambitious goals for renewable energy. He also spoke about the country's infrastructure development needs, acknowledging the gaps while expressing optimism about future improvements. Tharoor further discussed the rise of Hindu nationalism and its impact on India's social and political landscape, noting that it poses new challenges to the country's long-standing democratic fabric. Tharoor's talk emphasised India's growing importance in global politics, economics, and technology, painting a picture of a nation whose decisions resonate far beyond its borders. "India is a key player on the world stage," he concluded, "and the choices it makes today will have a lasting impact on the world." Tharoor's insights underscored the growing importance of India on the world stage, leaving the packed hall with over 300 people from all walks of life with a deeper understanding of the country's dynamic role in global politics, economics, and diplomacy.

"What happens in India affects a sixth of humanity": Shashi Tharoor highlights India's growing global influence

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian President Vladimir Putin is engaging in a war of attrition in Ukraine.</li><li>Russia has more to gain by prolonging the war, regardless of who wins the US presidential election.</li></ul>Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have starkly different visions of how they'll seek to end one of the gravest security crises in recent decades: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zelenskyy-ukraine-north-korean-troops-preemptively-long-range-strike-restrictions-2024-11">the</a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zelenskyy-ukraine-north-korean-troops-preemptively-long-range-strike-restrictions-2024-11"> Ukraine war.</a>Harris has pledged to continue the policy of President Joe Biden, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-look-up-abrams-tanks-face-new-threats-ukraine-2024-8">arming Ukraine to defend itself </a>against Russia's two-year invasion.Trump, meanwhile, claims he can bring about a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-handle-ukraine-war-if-reelected-scenarios-2024-10">rapid end to the conflict </a>through negotiations.Whoever is in charge in the White House come January, analysts believe Putin is likely wagering that he has more to gain by prolonging his war of attrition than ending it.<h2 id="3a744150-ba82-4dfb-b30b-8811820f42fe">Pressure mounts on Ukraine</h2>Russia has, in recent months, been ratcheting up pressure on Ukraine, bringing its larger troop numbers and artillery supplies to bear, and making incremental but important gains on the front lines."There are plans to call up more than 160,000 people," the secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, told parliament last week.North Korea is also believed to have <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-appears-show-north-korean-soldiers-gearing-up-in-russia-2024-10">sent thousands of troops</a> to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, per officials from South Korea, Ukraine, and the US."The key advantage gained by Russia [in prolonging the war] is 'events'" Robert Dover, Professor of Intelligence and National Security at the University of Hull in the UK told Business Insider."Ukraine seems to be highly strained by the conflict, and this is - in part - a product of the numbers Russia is able to throw into the conflict," he said.<div type="image" title="Trump n Putin" height="820" width="1024" msid="114953184" hostid="261" sizebytes="31598"></div><h2 id="712a570c-ce6b-49c6-b90b-0c08b2faeb64">Trump's peace plans could embolden Russia</h2>The terms on which Trump would seek to broker peace in Ukraine are unclear, though he's criticized the aid Biden sent to Ukraine, suggesting it could be used as leverage.He has also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://newrepublic.com/post/185652/trump-sanctions-promise-adviser-charged-russia-media">questioned the effectiveness </a>of the administration's sanctions against Russia.His running mate, JD Vance<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-handle-ukraine-war-if-reelected-scenarios-2024-10">, recently outlined a </a><a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/12/vance-trump-ukraine-russia-war-plan/">plan for ending the war in Ukraine</a> under a possible Trump administration, with the establishment of a "demilitarized zone" in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.Both candidates have also questioned US commitments to NATO, the security pact that has been the main bulwark against Russian aggression in Europe.However, in reducing aid to Ukraine and, in effect, handing over swaths of territory to Russia, the US would likely embolden Kremlin aggression, say critics."If Russia knows its territorial revisionism in Ukraine can be permissible by Washington, it is hard to see how Moscow will not see the same elsewhere (or even further in Ukraine, like it did after 2014)," Paul Cormarie, a policy analyst at the RAND Coproration, told BI."Peace in Ukraine in favor of Russia isn't peace, it's a truce."Undermining Western unity by criticizing NATO could have much the same effect.<div type="image" title="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden shake hands during a joint press conference at the Masseria San Domenico on the sidelines of the G7 Summit hosted by Italy." height="683" width="1024" msid="114953181" hostid="261" sizebytes="29734"></div><h2 id="43d5159f-1892-46df-b087-cadcd5c43edf">Harris pledges to continue backing Ukraine – but it likely won't be enough</h2>Harris, by contrast, has pledged to continue US support for Ukraine, which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/#:~:text=To%20date%2C%20we%20have%20provided,invasion%20of%20Ukraine%20in%202014.">has cost $64.1 billion</a> in military assistance since the 2022 Russian invasion.US aid has played a key role in helping Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion and inflict vast losses on Russia's forces.But the Biden administration has long placed limits on how Ukraine can use the weapons. Ukraine also says US aid often arrives in a piecemeal way.It's part of a US effort to balance support for Ukraine with not provoking Russia and causing a bigger war.But it means that Putin likely believes he can continue to wage his war of attrition against Ukraine with Harris as president as she likely won't provide enough military aid to defeat his forces.It's a war Putin has staked Russia's economic future on, underlining the importance of victory for the Russian leader.One key tool Biden has used to punish Russia is sanctions designed to damage its economy by limiting its capacity to sell oil and gas internationally.However, Russia has managed to open new export markets in major economies including China and India, making the economic damage of the sanctions has been more limited than some experts projected.Economist <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-crisis-ukraine-war-moscow-inflation-sanctions-putin-spending-2024-10">Alexander Mertens recently wrote</a> that Russia would likely suffer economic damage regardless of whether it continues the war or not, meaning there's not a major incentive for Putin to stop now.<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping enter the hall for Russian-Chinese talks on May 16, 2024 in Beijing, China." height="760" width="1024" msid="114953186" hostid="261" sizebytes="24578"></div><h2 id="41991dd2-f4c0-4eea-aac2-1fdc873df772">Putin plays the long game</h2>Putin's thinking about the global picture, too said Dover.China is observing the Ukraine conflict closely as it weighs whether to launch an invasion of US-ally Taiwan, say analysts, while the Middle East is engulfed in a conflict that could spiral into a much bigger war.Dover said a major conflict in either region could draw in US resources and energy and distract from Ukraine."A regional conflict in the Middle East will help Russia maintain a conflict in Ukraine, with lower risks," he said, cautioning though that the situation was a "fluid assessment conditioned by events."Overall, Putin's mission is to not just seize Ukraine but also work in tandem with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-china-brink-military-alliance-may-overwhelm-us-putin-xi-2023-12">other authoritarian leaders</a> to damage US global power."In the near-term, Russia and China have embraced a strategy of joint confrontation with the United States and its Allies in Europe and Asia respectively," analyst Jonathan Ward of the Hudson Institute told BI last year.Neither Harris nor Trump are likely to get Putin to change course in his pursuit of victory in Ukraine, and his bigger global ambition."He has taken personal responsibility for achieving that outcome and likely judges it as worth nearly any cost. Trying to coerce him into giving up is a fruitless exercise that just wastes lives and resources," wrote Peter Schroeder, former Principal Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council, for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://archive.is/Y92WB#selection-1479.348-1479.412">Foreign Relations in September.</a>The best course, writes Schroeder, is for the US to play Putin at his own game and outlast him in his war of attrition, waiting for him to die or leave office."Only then will there be a chance for a lasting peace in Ukraine," he said.

Putin is in no hurry to end the Ukraine war, no matter who wins the US election

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Five Gen Zs and millennials explained to BI how they <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/budget-cruises-harder-to-find-carnival-royal-caribbean-2024-7">pay for travel</a>.</li><li>Some say they've gone into debt or used "buy now, pay later" services like Affirm for their vacations.</li></ul>Money can't buy happiness — but it can buy a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silversea-new-ultra-luxury-cruise-ship-winning-over-younger-guests-2024-7">weeklong vacation</a> to the Amalfi Coast.And if you don't have the cash, you can just fake it 'till you make it — or at least put the trip on a credit card and worry about it later.Would you <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/genz-millennials-going-into-debt-summer-vacation-travel-taylor-swift-2024-6">go into debt</a> to fund your dream vacation? More than one in three Americans who said they planned to travel this summer would — either by borrowing money, using credit cards, or a buy now pay later service like Klarna and Affirm — according to an online Bankrate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/survey-summer-vacation/">survey</a> of about 2,300 adults in March.According to the survey, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/genz-millennials-summer-travel-debt-remote-work-blame-2024-6">millennials and Gen Z</a> were the most willing to take on debt, with 47% and 42% of them, respectively, saying so. That's a stark comparison to Gen X and boomers, of whom 31% and 22%, respectively, said they're willing to do the same.Why not, when, as one young globetrotter, 24-year-old India Roby, put it, "There's biggest fish to fry," she told Business Insider, pointing to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-americans-build-wealth-changing-stocks-homes-people-missed-out-2024-8">general attitudes about the economy</a> and global conflict.<h2 id="8718bd13-63ec-4d28-ad67-b419474f8afe">'Fuck it — we ball.'</h2><div type="image" title="India Roby standing in street in Korea" height="1725" width="2300" msid="112607255" hostid="261" sizebytes="254606"></div>Family vacations weren't a staple of Roby's childhood, she said. Instead, she recalls growing up "super poor" with a "tumultuous upbringing, especially when it came to finances." Evictions and electricity being turned off were "a common occurrence," she said.But that's in the past. Now, she's a freelance journalist in New York City and earning what she says is the most anyone in her family has ever made, at an average of $65,000 annually. (BI could not verify this.)Her new financial freedom has come with the goal of going on one big vacation a year. So far, that's been trips to Honolulu and Los Angeles in 2021, Seoul, Korea in 2023, and again in June.She may not always have the cash to pay for it in full. But as the adage goes, if there's a will, there's a way.When she was "definitely broke" last year, she charged her flight to Korea on PayPal Credit, which prominently <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=daa803ea8347c2c61c809cec387a51ac86e04fe54aaa2bba43ea52bf6ce4bf9e&amp;postID=66aa41e9220fcb2243b8b0ff&amp;postSlug=millennial-gen-z-travel-debt-affirm-klarna-credit-cards-2024-8&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.com%2Fus%2Fdigital-wallet%2Fways-to-pay%2Fcredit-services%2Fpaypal-credit">advertises</a> its "buy now, pay over time" option. For her recent trip back, she opened a new Chase Sapphire Preferred card to pay for the flights, not the points. "I want to go to Korea," she said. "We're going to make it happen. I don't have the money, so I need to get money."That trip left her credit score "very in the gutter." She's now paying credit card debt, but happy she had a good time.<div type="image" title="photos of black and white photos of Roby with colorful markers" height="1725" width="2300" msid="112607257" hostid="261" sizebytes="100384"></div>"I don't want my finances and economic status to be the reason I can't have fun, live life, and be cute," Roby told BI. "I want to live my life and worry about the specifics later."But her secret sauce to affording traveling isn't just putting big payments on new cards. It's also buy now, pay later services like Affirm and Klarna, which she said she uses for almost every purchase, whether Instacart, supplies from Petco for her two guinea pigs, or "impulse purchases at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instyle.com/sandy-liang-nyfw-fall-2024-interview-8581691">Sandy Liang</a>."Some flights, such as a trip to New Orleans in 2023, and Airbnbs, like the one she had booked for her trip back to Seoul.And she's not alone — 16% of millennial and Gen Z travelers said they were considering using these services to fund their summer vacation, according to a recent Credit Karma <a target="_blank" href="https://www.creditkarma.com/about/commentary/young-americans-want-a-summer-of-fun-no-matter-the-funds">report</a>, which surveyed 2,006 adults online from June 6 to 8."I can't afford a $4,000 trip right off the bat, but if you split it up across six months, I could probably make that work," Roby said. "I am treating my childhood self to things I wasn't afforded, and also current me because I want to go on a vacation too."<h2 id="336f99d9-6701-4bb3-8775-6e67153e6bd3">'For now, it's going to be credit cards and Klarna until I die.'</h2><div type="image" title="Gilmore facing away from camera and towards pool and trees" height="1725" width="2300" msid="112607259" hostid="261" sizebytes="342398"></div>About a third of Gen Z and millennials said they don't feel "financially stable" in Credit Karma's survey.Hailee Gilmore, 27, isn't one of them. She and her husband share a two-year-old child and "a lot of student debt." But they both work two jobs each, with Hailee earning about $85,000 annually from her full-time position at the New York State Health Department and her part-time job at a car dealership.Despite this stable stream of income, Gilmore, like Roby, said she would likely use buy-now, pay-later services to book vacations for the foreseeable future.Before them, Gilmore — who also said she grew up "poor" — had been fronting travel costs on credit cards, although not to the same carefree degree as Roby. "I felt like I was making a bad choice," Gilmore said. "I felt irresponsible."She was initially skeptical of Affirm and Klarna — that is until it came time to book her and her husband's almost $3,200 honeymoon at a luxury all-inclusive resort in Mexico.He said they didn't have the money for it. She suggested using Affirm.And that they did, booking their big getaway in March 2021 with a 14-month payment plan of about $154 a month. "We go out to dinner a lot," she said. "That's the price of a dinner and drinks."The vacation had been paid off by their wedding and honeymoon in October 2022.<div type="image" title="the Gilmores in front of a colorful Riviera Maya sign and trees" height="1150" width="2300" msid="112607262" hostid="261" sizebytes="179172"></div>What she once thought was a "scam" has become a routine part of booking Airbnbs, flights, and an annual family vacation to Ohio. In the next year and a half, the Gilmores also plan to take their first family trip to Disney — using Affirm, of course."I would be able to pay a chunk of money, but my heart, growing up poor, is saying I shouldn't pay $2,000 right now for a vacation," Gilmore told BI. "In my mind, it's more feasible when I look at it as a monthly budget item."<h2 id="c0e1190b-5b56-471b-841c-4c02b2328699">To some, going into debt isn't worth a vacation.</h2><div type="image" title="Witter sitting on ground in front of people and lighthouse" height="1725" width="2300" msid="112607250" hostid="261" sizebytes="501898"></div>Take Crystal Witter, a 27-year-old law student, entrepreneur, and content creator in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for example. As a self-proclaimed solo travel lover with no commitments, she says now is the time to prioritize seeing the world, especially as she envisions a short-term future in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-law-paul-hastings-list-non-negotiable-expectations-debate-2023-4">Big Law</a>, notorious for its long working hours.She took out a "small" student loan to supplement her full law school scholarship. But because it's so little, she doesn't foresee paying it off as a long-term concern. (Interest rates for some student loans are typically lower than that of traditional loans or credit cards.)"Money comes back, but experiences you'll have forever," Witter told BI, calling from her vacation in Dubai. "I'll never be 27 again, in Dubai, traveling solo, falling off of dirt bikes, and living life."However, she believes financial responsibility is more important than "impressing people on social media."<div type="image" title="composite of Witter in Dubai" height="1070" width="1427" msid="112607252" hostid="261" sizebytes="157424"></div>Witter funds her trips using her earnings from her TikTok accounts, her main source of income, which she said averages more than $6,000 monthly. (BI could not verify this.) While she does use a travel-specific credit card for points, she won't accrue a balance or use buy now, pay later services, calling them "risky.""Having high debt is not the real trend despite what people see on social media," Witter said. "As young people, we have a responsibility to ensure our future is safe as much as we want to enjoy the present."<h2 id="337c5328-110e-4f89-97ab-6afa38915745">Take it from someone who learned the hard way.</h2>If there's one person who can speak to Witter's sentiments, it's Canada-based Erin Spencer. Her full-time job is in the "financial industry," but she also creates TikTok content about her journey with debt, a topic she's personally well-versed in.By 19, she was accruing credit card debt while "going on trips I couldn't afford," Spencer told BI. By 24, she had accumulated 25,000 Canadian dollars — about $18,300 — in debt, ultimately filing for bankruptcy.Now, at 30, she still owes more than CAD$26,150 — about $19,100 — for payments such as taxes, car, and student loans. "I've basically had debt my entire adult life," Spencer said.Like others, accruing a credit card balance was her way of affording trips. For example, her Boston vacation in 2022 and an international shopping trip to Maine in 2023, which she estimates had added a "couple thousand" onto her card.<div type="image" title="photo of trader joes" height="1369" width="1825" msid="112607254" hostid="261" sizebytes="85760"></div>But just because she went on these vacations doesn't mean they were stress-free. "I felt like I was living a lie and hiding something from people," she said. "I was embarrassed.""Am I really enjoying it?" Spencer recalled asking herself. "Am I trying to keep up with the Joneses?"That is, until a switch flipped in November, when she shared her bankruptcy story on TikTok.Now, she's wholly committed to paying off her debt."I don't want to be a statistic," Spencer told BI. "I don't want to get into a cycle of filing bankruptcy."Despite this mindset shift, she still has a goal of traveling once or twice a year. But instead of going further into debt, she now uses a sinking fund, which she supplies with earnings from some of her TikTok brand deals and about $50 to $100 from each of her corporate job's paychecks. (She said she makes between CAD$75,000 to CAD$85,000 annually from both. BI could not verify the amount.)While she still has debt, having a travel-specific fund has allowed her to truly enjoy her vacations, including her latest two-week "recharge" trip in April to Florida, which cost about $2,500 — but didn't deepen the well of her debt.<div type="image" title="composite of Spencer in Florida, walking by water and posing in front of it" height="1080" width="1440" msid="112607266" hostid="261" sizebytes="141728"></div>Yes, she got some backlash on TikTok for going on the trip. And yes, she could've put that money toward her payments. "But I would still have debt, and I'd probably be way more burned out if I didn't take a break and come back focused and ready to pay off my debt again," she told BI. "Everybody needs a break sometimes."According to Credit Karma's survey, about one in four and one in five Gen Z and millennials, respectively, said they will use cash from a travel-specific savings fund to pay for their summer vacation.Like Spencer, Zakaria Karanikos, 25, is one of them. She uses a sinking fund to budget for travel despite graduating with student debt — a balance of which currently sits just shy of $120,000 — in 2022.In the past, she would put her vacation expenses on a credit card and work extra shifts to pay it off. Now that she earns more in her post-grad job — $72,000 annually — she only uses credit cards for the points."People my age feel this pressure to either not care about money and travel because they're never going to be this young again, or prioritize their career and never travel to get financially ahead," Karanikos told BI. "I think you should find a way to balance both. Our time is limited. Both can be important."<div type="image" title="Karanikos posing by fountain" height="1725" width="2300" msid="112607268" hostid="261" sizebytes="360488"></div>Or, as Spencer put it, a disagreement with the proliferation of the casual "treat yourself" mentality. "You really deserve it when you save for it and earn it."But that doesn't mean she no longer struggles with the urge to spend more than she can budget for.Her springtime Florida trip almost completely emptied her travel fund. For her 30th birthday in July, she was tempted to put another trip on her card. "I was having a full battle with myself, even if it's just a few thousand dollars," she said. (She ultimately decided against it.)Spencer said she doesn't judge people who put vacations on their credit cards. Of course, she's been there, too.But now, she "sleeps peacefully.""You can't live life in a delusion, put everything on credit, and hope you're going to get rich or pay it off somehow," Spencer said. "Eventually, it catches up with you."

These millennials and Gen Z-ers are going on vacation — no matter how much it costs 

<ul><li>The average ticket size of debit cards grew by 24% in H2 2023, even as their value and volumes fell.</li><li><keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>’s average ticket size fell by 8%, mainly indicating a wider usage for almost all types of transactions.</li><li>While card transaction volume and value are falling, credit cards are bucking the trend. </li></ul>Indians have gotten habituated to fishing out their phones instead of cards, and that’s been fuelling a remarkable increase in UPI payments. Unlike their uppity cousins (credit cards), debit cards have been losing out on transaction value and volume. But all’s not lost for these ubiquitous cards. People seem to ‘still’ rely on debit cards for large-sized purchases, as per data by <keyword id="20219639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="worldline" source="keywords">Worldline</keyword>’s <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> Digital Payments Report. The average ticket size (ATS) of debit cards grew by 24% year-on-year to ₹2,642 in the second half of 2023, the data says. In fact, most of the growth seen in the cards business, which also includes credit and prepaid cards, was driven by debit cards. The number of debit cards in circulation is 960.8 million, which showed a miniscule growth of 2% YoY. “The growth in debit card ATS suggests that while debit card transactions volume fell, there was still a significant population that used debit cards for their purchases and that ensured that transactions value did not fall parallelly,” says Worldline. Debit card volumes are now a fraction of UPI transactions at 1.15 billion in H2 in 2023 — a drop of 34% YoY. Debit card transaction value at ₹3.02 lakh crore also saw a fall of 16%. In India, UPI rules On the other hand, UPI’s ATS also fell, but that too is a sign of growth, as people seem to use it even for small transactions. Its ATS declined 8% YoY to ₹1,515 from ₹1,648. “The ATS persistently follows a downward trend, indicating a more profound integration of UPI, particularly in smaller or micro-transactions. This decline is predominantly propelled by the surge in person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions,” said Worldline. This decline, however, is related to an extensive growth in UPI transactions. As of the second half of 2023, as much as ₹99.68 lakh crore flowed via phones —exhibiting a whopping 44% surge. The volumes grew 56% YoY to 65.77 billion in H2 in 2023. Between July 2022 and December 2023, there was a notable increase in the payment acceptance infrastructure channels. Point of Sale (PoS) terminals expanded by 26%, dominated by private sector banks with a 73% market share. “This trend underscores users' growing confidence and familiarity with smartphone-based payment methods. The proliferation of Point of Sale terminals has reached unprecedented levels, concurrent with the ascendance of mobile payments as a dominant transaction avenue,” said <keyword id="21180241" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramesh-narasimhan" source="keywords">Ramesh Narasimhan</keyword>, CEO- India, Worldline. While UPI is rising fast ahead of debit cards, credit cards tell another story of growth. Not only did credit card issuances rise a strong 21%, but credit card transaction value rose 11% to ₹9.39 lakh crore. The number of credit card transactions also grew by a healthy 30.5% — indicating the rising popularity of buy now pay later trends, both online and offline.

Size does matter: Debit cards for large payments & UPI for smaller ones

<keyword id="20114810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal-chief-minister" source="keywords">West Bengal Chief Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19909056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mamata-Banerjee" source="keywords">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> has written another letter to <keyword id="19898052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi" source="keywords">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword>, expressing concern over the lack of response to her previous communication regarding the rape and murder of a PG <keyword id="22760814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trainee-doctor" source="keywords">trainee doctor</keyword>. In her letter, dated August 30, Banerjee emphasised the gravity of the situation and urged for prompt central intervention, highlighting the inadequacy of the reply received from the Union Minister of <keyword id="20086338" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women-and-Child-Development" source="keywords">Women and Child Development</keyword>. The letter reads, "No reply was received from your end on such a sensitive issue. However, a reply has been received from the Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India (vide their No. 1/RESC/HMWCD/2024 dated 25th August 2024), which barely addresses the gravity of the issue raised in my letter. I am of the view that the seriousness of the subject and its relevance to society have not been adequately appreciated in this generic reply." The letter was posted on her social media handle, X. In response to Union Minister Annapurna Devi's allegations regarding the state government's failure to implement essential safety measures for women and children, including Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), CM Mamata stated that the state government has approved 10 exclusive POCSO FTSCs, while 88 FTSCs and 62 POCSO-designated Courts are functioning with complete state funding. The letter mentioned, "Moreover, I would also refer to some of the initiatives in this area that our State has already undertaken, which appear to have been overlooked in the reply. Regarding Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), 10 exclusive POCSO Courts have been approved by the State Government. In addition to this, 88 FTSCs and 62 POCSO-designated Courts are functioning throughout the State with complete State funding. Monitoring and disposal of cases are entirely in the hands of the Courts." Highlighting the issue of appointing Presiding Officers in FTSCs, she further stated that this process requires examination and action from the Government of India, which, according to her, needs PM Modi's intervention. "As per Central Government guidelines, only retired Judicial Officers can be posted as Presiding Officers in FTSCs, but the Hon'ble High Court has observed that, in view of the severity of the cases, permanent Judicial Officers need to be appointed. This requires examination at the level of the Government of India and appropriate action thereafter, for which your intervention would be necessary. Moreover, Helpline Nos. 112 and 1098 are functioning satisfactorily in the State. Additionally, Dial 100 is also extensively used in emergency situations," the letter added. Urging for central <keyword id="20082569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="legislation" source="keywords">legislation</keyword> and exemplary punishment for heinous crimes, the West Bengal CM expressed hope for very considered attention from PM Modi. Mamata Banerjee mentioned in her letter, "I would reiterate and earnestly request that a stringent Central legislation and exemplary punishment for heinous crimes of rape/rape and murder be considered, with a mandatory provision for the disposal of cases within a specific timeframe by the trial authorities. I hope this matter would receive very considered attention at your kind end in the interest of our society at large." On August 26, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi criticised the West Bengal government for its failure to implement essential safety measures for women and children in the state. In a letter written to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the Union Minister stated that 123 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) were allocated to the state, but none of them are functional yet. Earlier, on August 22, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the central government to bring in central legislation and set up fast-track courts for "sensitive" issues to ensure a speedy trial. Mamata, in the letter, mentioned that such "sensitive" issues need to be addressed comprehensively through stringent central legislation prescribing exemplary punishment against the perpetrators of such heinous crimes. The Bengal Chief Minister suggested the setting up of "fast-track special courts" to deal with such cases, which require a speedy trial. This development comes after the trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

"No reply received, hope this matter receives considered attention": CM Mamata writes to PM Modi again on rape-murder case

<keyword id="19896118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="United-Nations" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="United Nations" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="United Nations">United Nations</keyword>, <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> with its significant economic growth and leadership of the <keyword id="19930049" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Global-South" source="keywords">Global South</keyword> deserves a permanent seat at the <keyword id="19900775" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UN-Security-Council" source="keywords">UN Security Council</keyword>, <keyword id="20047250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhutan" source="keywords">Bhutan</keyword>'s Prime Minister <keyword id="20103768" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tshering-Tobgay" source="keywords">Tshering Tobgay</keyword> has said. He also expressed "deepest" gratitude to India for its "support and friendship" for his country's journey of graduating from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category. "The United Nations must evolve to meet the realities of today's world. The Security Council, as it stands, is a relic of the past. We need a Council that reflects the current geopolitical, economic landscape and social realities," Tobgay said in his address to the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN <keyword id="20282473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="General-Assembly" source="keywords">General Assembly</keyword> on Friday. He said Bhutan has long advocated for reform of the 15-nation Security Council to make it more representative and effective and voiced support for India to sit as a permanent member at the horse-shoe high table. "For this, India with its significant economic growth and population and leadership of the Global South deserves a permanent seat at the Security Council," Tobgay said. He also voiced support for Japan, "a leading donor and peacebuilder", to become a permanent UNSC member. During the high-level week, several UN Member states, including permanent members France, UK and the US explicitly voiced support for India to become a permanent member in a reformed Security Council. In his address, Tobgay also highlighted Bhutan's journey of graduating from the <keyword id="23349840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LDC-category" source="keywords">LDC category</keyword> in December last year, about 52 years after it joined the United Nations. He noted that this achievement did not come easily, it was a journey marked by hard work, perseverance and one in which Thimphu was not alone. It had the support of many friends who "accompanied us on this important journey", he said extending "deep gratitude" to the United Nations, its specialised agencies, and <keyword id="23349841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="development-partners" source="keywords">development partners</keyword>, including Japan, the European Union, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for their unwavering support. "But most importantly, I would like to reserve our deepest thanks to India, our closest friend and neighbour. They have been with us from the very beginning of our development journey, and have remained steadfast in their support and friendship," Tobgay said. He noted that graduating from the LDC category is a significant milestone and what truly matters is that Bhutan did it on its own terms. Describing Bhutan's story as one of hope and also a call to action, Tobgay however voiced concern that only seven nations have graduated from the LDC category in about 50 years and 46 countries are still in need. "This is unacceptable. The international community must intensify its efforts to ensure that no nation is left behind, that all LDC countries achieve graduation," he said, adding that to accomplish this, "we must address poverty, inequality and vulnerability with a renewed sense of urgency." The Pact for the Future, which UN Member States adopted collectively at the Summit of the Future earlier this week, provides "us with a road map to transform the lives of the world's most vulnerable," he said.

India deserves permanent UNSC seat: Bhutan

<keyword id="20017832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skyscanner" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Skyscanner" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Skyscanner">Skyscanner</keyword> has recently launched its annual "<keyword id="23717519" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel-Trends-2025" source="keywords">Travel Trends 2025</keyword> Report" and it shows that <keyword id="20183888" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-travellers" source="keywords">Indian travellers</keyword> are eager to explore destinations other than Europe. The report also shows a change in travel preferences, shedding light on the fact that many Indian travellers want shared experiences. It also reveals that 66% of Indians plan to travel more in 2025, looking for adventures that help build community connections. For the unversed, Skyscanner is a travel search engine that helps you find and compare prices for flights, hotels and car rentals, making it easier to plan and save money on your trips. <h2>Spending for experiences</h2>No matter the economic situation, Indian travellers are eager to invest in experiences. Recent data shows a significant increase in spending, with 58% planning to spend more on flights, 45% on accommodation and 34% on car rentals. While people are willing to spend, budget still plays a crucial role in choosing a holiday destination. The top considerations are: 65% look at hotel costs, 62% prioritise flight expenses and 54% consider food and drink prices. This focus on budget has led to lower airfares for destinations like Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Singapore, making travel more affordable. <h2>The rise of <keyword id="23717520" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lesser-known-destinations" source="keywords">lesser-known destinations</keyword></h2>The report also says that travellers are exploring options beyond the usual European destinations. Shillong, India, is currently the most searched destination, with an impressive 828% increase in searches over the past year. Baku, Azerbaijan, follows closely with a 744% rise, and Langkawi, Malaysia, has seen a 433% increase. <h2>Embracing nature and tangible experiences</h2>There’s also a noticeable shift towards experiences that connect travellers with nature and offer a break from our tech-heavy lives. The report mentions that 90% of travellers enjoy visiting gardens and activities like dining around a campfire, sleeping under the stars and horse trekking are becoming more popular. <h2>Rise of <keyword id="19984369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sports-tourism" source="keywords">sports tourism</keyword> and other adventures</h2>The data also reveals a strong preference for shared experiences and immersive adventures. Trends include a growing interest in live sports events, immersive art experiences, stargazing and holistic wellness. Sports tourism is also on the rise, with 63% of respondents travelling for entertainment, 59% motivated by excitement and 50% hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite sports stars. Astro-adventure tourism is also gaining traction, with 56% of travellers interested in night sky photography, 53% wanting to sleep under the stars and 44% hoping to see the <keyword id="20079917" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="northern-lights" source="keywords">Northern Lights</keyword>. This shift shows that many are looking for meaningful experiences. Another interesting trend is game-themed travel, with 88% of travellers inspired to visit locations from their favourite video games. Leisure travel and art-focused trips are also becoming popular. Apart from this, health and wellness tourism is also growing, especially among older generations. The data shows that 71% of those aged 45-54 prioritise health-conscious choices while travelling, compared to 54% of younger travellers (18-24 years old). Overall, 70% of Indian travellers report being more mindful about their health and well-being than ever before. This report thus highlights an exciting year ahead for Indian travellers, marked by a strong focus on shared experiences, immersive adventures, and wellness. As travel preferences evolve, destinations offering unique cultural experiences and good value are likely to attract more interest. Plus, the use of AI tools in travel planning is making it easier for travellers to fulfil their dreams of exploration and connection.

Europe is no longer India's favourite, we are up for experiences now, says Skyscanner report

<ul><li><keyword id="19896380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-industries" source="keywords">Reliance Industries</keyword> is expected to launch an IPO for <keyword id="6354504" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-jio" source="Orion">Reliance Jio</keyword> in 2025.</li><li>Reliance Retail is expected to go public after <keyword id="19906886" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jio" source="keywords">Jio</keyword>, with no date fixed yet.</li><li>The <keyword id="7784314" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="reliance-jio-ipo" source="Orion">Reliance Jio IPO</keyword> will emerge as the country’s biggest IPO, beating the Hyundai IPO.</li></ul>Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is reportedly gearing up to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of its telecom arm, Reliance Jio in 2025. The telco will join its competitors, Bharti Airtel and Vi, which are already public. According to a<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/ambanis-reliance-jio-ipo-set-2025-retail-debut-much-later-sources-say-2024-11-04/"> report</a> by Reuters, Reliance Jio is expected to go public in 2025 and the IPO for the retail arm is planned later. As per two sources familiar with the matter, <keyword id="19916798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mukesh-ambani" source="keywords">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> plans on sticking to the timeline he mentioned in 2019, where he said he will “move towards” listing in five years. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114931927" title="October auto sales – Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors report a decline, Mahindra continues to grow" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The company has firmed up plans of taking the telecom arm public as it feels the company has achieved a stable business and revenue stream. Jio is currently the biggest telecom operator in India, with over 471 million subscribers as of August 2024. Reliance Industries has raised over $25 billion for the company’s digital, telecom and retail businesses from investors like KKR, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, General Atlantic and more. <h2>Reliance <keyword id="6059106" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jio-ipo" source="Orion">Jio IPO</keyword> to be India’s biggest</h2>Existing rules state that companies that are valued at ₹1 lakh crore or more need to sell at least 5% of total shares during an IPO. Jio is currently valued at $112 billion (₹9.42 lakh crore) as per Jefferies. A 5% stake sale would put the IPO at around ₹47,100 crore, beating the recently concluded IPO of Hyundai Motor India, which raised ₹27,870.16 crore. <h2>Retail IPO further away</h2>While no timeline has been mentioned, the retail arm’s IPO has reportedly been pushed further away, as the company feels it needs to address internal business and operational challenges. Not only this, the company reportedly wants to avoid two big IPOs hitting the Dalal street in the same year. With Jio’s IPO planned for 2025, we might see the retail arm going public in 2026 or later. Reliance Retail operates over 3,000 supermarkets and also deals in the e-commerce segment. The company feels the retail arm has grown “too fast” and needs some stability before the IPO. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/upcoming-ipos-this-week-swiggy-niva-bupa-health-insurance-and-more/slidelist/114937405.cms">Upcoming IPOs this week – Swiggy, Niva Bupa Health Insurance and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/october-auto-sales-maruti-suzuki-and-tata-motors-report-a-decline-mahindra-continues-to-grow/articleshow/114931927.cms">October auto sales – Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors report a decline, Mahindra continues to grow</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-13-announced-with-snapdragon-8-elite-6000mah-battery-and-more/articleshow/114842638.cms">OnePlus 13 announced with Snapdragon 8 Elite, 6,000mAh battery and more</a>

Reliance Jio IPO – India’s biggest telco to go public in 2025, retail IPO further away

In a recent notification, the <keyword id="20004725" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="NSE" source="keywords">NSE</keyword> (National Stock Exchange) noted that markets will remain closed on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, on account of state elections taking place in Maharashtra. However, <keyword id="19895774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSE" source="keywords">BSE</keyword> has issued no notification on this matter so far. However, given how both the exchanges largely operate in sync, BSE is likely to declare a holiday as well. Before the elections, both BSE and NSE will be shut for trading on November 15 as well, on account of <keyword id="23718443" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Guru-Nanak-Jayanti" source="keywords">Guru Nanak Jayanti</keyword>. Next month, the bourses will remain closed for regular trade on Christmas, i.e., December 25. Earlier this week, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mandated that all businesses and workplaces in Mumbai should grant paid leave on November 20, 2024, to all its employees so that they can participate in state elections. Failure to do so could mean penalties for employers. All the 288 states in the Maharashtra state assembly are set to go to polls in a single phase on November 20. <h2>Markets close the week on muted note </h2>Both Nifty and Sensex closed the week on a damp note, with Nifty dipping 0.21% to close at 24,148.20 points. On the other hand, Sensex also slipped below the 80,000 mark to close the week at 79,486.32 points. Of the 50 stocks that constitute Nifty, 23 stocks advanced during the day, while 27 saw declines. However, this week has not been all that bad for the markets, with Nifty rising 0.31% and Sensex inching up 0.65% during the last 5 days. All broad market indices fell during today's trade, with smallcaps falling by over 1.5%, while midcaps also closed the day over 1% down. As for sectoral indices, most of them ended the week in reds, with realty and media losing over 2% during trading today. Pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and consumer durables recorded marginal upticks during the day, inching up by 0.07%, 0.22%, and 0.41%, respectively. FIIs (<keyword id="19932515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-institutional-investors" source="keywords">foreign institutional investors</keyword>) continued their selling spree today as well. In this month so far, FIIs have been net cash sellers, offloading around Rs 16,445.49 crore. DIIs (domestic institutional investors) have stepped in to maintain some balance by becoming net buyers worth Rs 12,265.74 crore in November till date. Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities, explains that global market sentiment saw sharp volatility in the aftermath of Republicans winning all three branches of the US government, resulting in rising US bond yields and the dollar, as well as the US equity markets beating most EMs. Meanwhile, the Q2 FY25 earnings season continued to remain weak, with more misses than hits observed. <keyword id="20993056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FPI-flows" source="keywords">FPI flows</keyword> are expected to remain volatile for some time to come. Amidst emerging markets, only Brazil saw inflows worth $115 million between November 1 and 7, 2024.

Markets to remain shut on November 20 due to Maharashtra elections

In a boost to Elon Musk's <keyword id="20034452" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="starlink" source="keywords">Starlink</keyword>, Communications Minister Scindia has said the spectrum for satellite broadband will be allocated and not auctioned as sought by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal. The satellite broadband spectrum will however be not given free and sector regulator Trai will fix a price for the resource, he told PTI in a text and video interview. "Every country has to follow the <keyword id="20848482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-telecommunications-union" source="keywords">International Telecommunications Union</keyword> (ITU), which is the organisation that lays out the policy for spectrum in space or satellites, and the ITU has been very clear in terms of the spectrum being given out on an assignment basis. In addition, if you look across the world today, I cannot think of a single country that auctions spectrum for satellite," Scindia said. India is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technology. Musk's Starlink and global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper back an administrative allocation. While Ambani's Reliance Jio has been vocal about the need to allocate such spectrum through an auction to provide a level playing field to legacy operators who buy airwaves and set up infrastructure like telecom towers, Mittal last month at an industry event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present articulated the need to use bidding for such allocation. Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel - India's largest and second-largest operators, respectively - feel that giving away the satellite broadband airwaves at a pre-decided price by the government will create an uneven playing field since they had to compete in an auction to get spectrum for their terrestrial wireless phone networks. The two are vying for a piece of the satellite broadband segment as well. Musk-led Starlink is demanding administrative allotment of licences in line with the global trend as it looks to tap into the world's fastest-growing mobile telephony and internet market. Scindia said the Telecom Act of 2023 passed in December has put the matter in 'Schedule 1', which means that the Satcom spectrum will be allocated administratively. Such an allocation will be at a government-decided price, and allow foreign firms like Starlink to offer voice and data services. If the spectrum were to be auctioned, it would have made it costlier for Starlink to roll out services. Starlink has applied for a licence to start operations in the country. Scindia, however, offered no clues on the fate of his application. The minister said that the regulatory process is very clear and transparent. The new Telecom Act has been passed, and the Satellite spectrum is very clearly a part of that in schedule one, he pointed out. "...and therefore, we are open to looking at the application of any entity that wants to invest in India at this point in time. I think only one or two licenses have been given out. And whoever else wants to participate, India is surely going to welcome that," the minister said. Last month, Musk, in a post on X, termed the demand made by Jio for shunning sector regulator Trai's consultation paper on satellite broadband being allocated and not auctioned as "unprecedented", and when Mittal made the pitch in the presence of the Prime Minister, he asked if it was "too much trouble" to allow Starlink to provide internet services in India. This was perhaps the first time that Musk, whose networth of USD 241 billion is more than the combined wealth of Ambani, Mittal and Gautam Adani, had spoken directly against demands for a level playing field made by the Indian firms. Musk, the mind behind PayPal, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter), uses his social media platform on a daily basis to make his views known on a vast array of topics.

In a win for Elon Musk, Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

R <keyword id="19987305" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="praggnanandhaa" source="keywords">Praggnanandhaa</keyword> set the tone on the top board as the Indian men's team blanked Morocco 4-0, while the women romped home against Jamaica, conceding just a draw in the process, in the first round of the 45th <keyword id="6362158" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chess" source="Orion">Chess</keyword> <keyword id="6417781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="olympiad" source="Orion">Olympiad</keyword> here. With world championship challenger D Gukesh taking a break in the opening round, Praggnanandhaa delivered the goods against <keyword id="23137140" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tissir-mohamed" source="keywords">Tissir Mohamed</keyword> out of a Sicilian defense game while Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna also pulled off comfortable wins to start off confidently on Wednesday. In the women's section, <keyword id="2588824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="R-Vaishali" source="Orion">R Vaishali</keyword> and <keyword id="22399512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tania-sachdev" source="keywords">Tania Sachdev</keyword> scored fine victories in the first time control itself. However, on the other two boards there was stiff resistance as <keyword id="20380119" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="divya-deshmukh" source="keywords">Divya Deshmukh</keyword> had to sweat hard for a much-needed victory while Vantika Agarwal was forced to concede a draw in the endgame against her rival. It was business as usual for the top guns despite the occasional hiccups. Top seeded United States also won 3.5-0.5 against Panama. Wesley So was the lone American who was unable to force matters and had to be content with a draw. Armenian-American Levon Aronian came out of an early mishap to turn the tables and ensure smooth sailing for the American team into round two. As many as 99 teams in the open section started off with wins giving them all two points each. A total of 182 teams were paired while 15 teams were still grappling to reach Budapest. Praggnanandhaa was up against a Sicilian by top Moroccan Mohamed who had only himself to blame after the opening got over. The Indian teen had a stronghold on the king side that he utilised to the fullest to take the first point home for the team. Not very far behind was Gujrathi who was clearly in his elements. He also got an opening advantage out of a King pawn game against <keyword id="23137139" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jacques-elbilia" source="keywords">Jacques Elbilia</keyword> as he knocked down a pawn and never looked back. Erigaise may have had to work harder but the Indian youngster, who is currently ranked number four in the world, was never far from winning his game. Harikrishna faced some initial resistance from Anas Mosyad in a closed Sicilian but his superior understanding of the structure gave him the vital point. The second round will see the Indian men clash with a spirited Iceland. In the women's competition, <keyword id="20251131" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaishali" source="keywords">Vaishali</keyword> had no trouble in converting her position with black pieces as D Harika was rested on the top board. Tania Sachdev was in command right through and despite a little mess-up, she did not let the advantage slip through her hands playing on board four. On the second board, there were some serious issues for Divya Deshmukh but the recently-crowned world junior girls' champion proved her mettle out of an equal position. The same, however, was not the case with Vantika as she was forced in a drawn queen and pawns endgame. The women's event features 178 teams as of now with 19 still awaited to join the extravaganza from round two onward. Indian results round 1: R Praggnanandhaa beat Tissir Mohamed; Jacques Elbilia lost to Arjun Erigaisi; Vidit Gujrathi beat Ouakhir Mehdi Pierre; Anas Moayad lost to P Harikrishna Women: R Vaishali beat Adani Clarke; Divya Deshmukh beat Rachel Miller; Raehanna Brown drew with Vantika Agrawal; Tania Sachdev beat Gabriella Watson.

You Searched For "india matters" and got 12 results

Air Quality Alert: Nearly 30% of asthma cases tied to fine particulate matter exposure from bad air

BI India Bureau

"What happens in India affects a sixth of humanity": Shashi Tharoor highlights India's growing global influence

PTI

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