Author: Rasmita Jena

  • India’s Live Music Boom: Why Concerts Are a Hit with Young Fans

    India’s Live Music Boom: Why Concerts Are a Hit with Young Fans

    India’s middle class is growing fast, and young people are falling in love with live music. This is making big music stars from around the world want to perform in India. Just this past week, Dua Lipa and Maroon 5 had concerts in Mumbai. Exciting shows like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, and Green Day are also coming soon!

    23-year-old Aseem Khan from Bhopal attended Dua Lipa’s concert with 20,000 other fans. He said, “We’ve listened to these artists online for years, so seeing them live is amazing! Concerts are the best way to hang out with friends.” With two-thirds of India’s 1.4 billion people under 35 years old, there’s a huge desire for live music.

    Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres” tour just added a fourth concert in India, set for January 25, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It’s going to be one of their biggest shows!

    But why is this happening? India is the second-largest market for music streaming worldwide. Anil Makhija from BookMyShow noted that this is leading to more music concerts and spending. A report from Bank of Baroda states that concerts will help grow India’s economy, boosting sectors like hotels, travel, and retail.

    Already, ticket sales for concerts have reached Rs 771 crore, and spending on sponsorships, transport, hotels, and food is increasing too! The government will also earn more money through taxes on ticket sales.

    Affluent Indians, especially those with extra money to spend, are excited about these live events. Even though the average income in India is around $2,500 per year, more people are earning over Rs 1 million ($11,808) annually. This number has doubled in the last five years, helping to fuel the concert boom.

    Tickets for Coldplay’s shows in 2025 are priced between 2,500 rupees ($29.50) and 35,000 rupees ($414), which is cheaper than their shows in South Korea. Their first two shows sold out super fast, so they added three more shows in Ahmedabad, where they will perform in front of a huge crowd of 130,000 people!

  • RBI Reduces CRR: A Boost for Indian Exporters

    RBI Reduces CRR: A Boost for Indian Exporters

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to reduce the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 0.50%, bringing it down to 4%. This change will take place in two steps on December 14 and December 28. The CRR is the amount of money that banks must keep with the RBI, and lowering it will allow banks to lend more money.

    The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) thinks this is great news for exporters, who are struggling to find enough money to run their businesses. Ajay Sahai, the Director General of FIEO, mentioned that this cut will help put more money into the banking system, making it easier for exporters to get loans.

    With this CRR change, banks will have about Rs 1.16 lakh crore (1.16 trillion rupees) extra to lend. This could lower short-term interest rates, which means loans may become cheaper. FIEO has warned that if banks don’t lend enough money to exporters, it could hurt their business.

    In the last two years, exports went up by 15% in terms of money earned, but bank loans to exporters dropped by 5%. FIEO President Ashwani Kumar believes the government should extend help for exporters with low-interest loans for up to five years. He stated that more affordable loans will help increase manufacturing and boost exports, especially for small businesses.

    S.C. Ralhan, Chairman of the Hand Tool Association, echoed these thoughts, saying that global issues have made it harder to get paid on time, and affordable loans are necessary for shipping more products.

    When asked about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to apply high taxes on Chinese goods, Sahai said this could create new opportunities for Indian exporters as demand may shift to India. He believes that the U.S. is unlikely to increase taxes on Indian products.

    A K Goswami, a hand tool exporter from Jalandhar, said he sees good demand in Europe and expects strong growth in engineering exports this year.

  • The Rise and Fall of Vinod Kambli: Cricket’s Missed Legend

    The Rise and Fall of Vinod Kambli: Cricket’s Missed Legend

    When we think about great Test cricket players, two names shine the brightest: Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar. Bradman’s batting average of 99.94 from just 52 matches is a record that seems impossible to beat. In contrast, Sachin Tendulkar is known as the complete batter of cricket history. He holds records for the most runs and centuries in international cricket, and was the first player to score a double century in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

    In the early ’90s, as Tendulkar was taking the cricket world by storm, a young Indian batter named Vinod Kambli was also making waves. It was 1991, and India needed fresh talent as they were still relying on older stars like Kapil Dev and Mohammad Azharuddin.

    Despite a slow start, Kambli’s first year in international cricket took off in 1992 with a brilliant unbeaten century against England. He made his Test debut in Kolkata, which opened the door to a thrilling cricket career.

    Kambli quickly became known for his amazing performances. After just seven Test matches, he scored two centuries, including back-to-back double hundreds – 224 and 227 runs – against England and Zimbabwe. His total runs after those seven matches reached 793, giving him an incredible average of 100.4, even better than Bradman’s.

    However, despite this fantastic start, Kambli’s career took a downturn. After crying when India lost to Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup semi-final, things didn’t go well for him. He struggled to score runs and couldn’t maintain his place in the team. His off-field behavior also became a problem.

    Kambli made many comebacks to the Indian team between 1991 and 2000, but by the time he was just 28, his career was over. He played 101 ODIs, scoring 2,477 runs with two centuries.

    Sadly, Kambli is often remembered as a player who never reached his full potential, despite starting out so brilliantly.

  • RBI Reports Improved Financial Health of Banks and NBFCs in 2024

    RBI Reports Improved Financial Health of Banks and NBFCs in 2024

    On Friday, Shaktikanta Das, the boss of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), shared that banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are doing well. He explained that the gap between the money banks lend (credit) and the money they hold (deposits) is getting smaller. This means that there is more money being saved in banks, which helps support loan growth.

    As of November 15, 2024, the loans given by banks grew by 12.4%, while deposits increased by 11.6%. This shows that people are saving more money, which is great for the economy!

    The quality of loans in banks is also getting better. The RBI reported that the amount of loans that are not being paid back (called non-performing assets or NPAs) has dropped to a low of 2.54%, the best it has been since March 2011. Additionally, the rate at which new loans are falling behind on payments has gone down from 1.70% to 1.35% over the past year.

    The RBI is carefully watching the financial system to make sure everything runs smoothly. They keep a close eye on any signs of trouble and take steps to handle problems before they get big. If things get really bad and no solutions are found, the RBI may have to limit some bank activities to protect the public and the financial system.

    Recently, the RBI has taken actions against companies like Paytm Payments Bank, JM Financial, and IIFL Finance to ensure they are following the rules. In October, they stopped four NBFCs, including Navi Finserv, from giving loans because of issues with their management.

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs, Features, and Launch Details!

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs, Features, and Launch Details!

    As we get ready for 2025, big things are happening in technology, especially with smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the most anticipated phones set to launch soon—most likely in January or February 2025!

    What Will the Galaxy S25 Ultra Look Like?
    Many photos of the Galaxy S25 Ultra have leaked, showing it might have a sleek, curved design with a flat front and back. People are saying it will be the thinnest Ultra model yet at just 8.4 mm thick! The screen is expected to be bigger, growing from 6.8 inches to 6.9 inches. It will probably use the M13 OLED display, which is similar to last year’s model. Fans can look forward to four color choices: titanium, black, blue, and green.

    How Fast Will It Be?
    The Galaxy S25 Ultra will be super fast! It’s going to run on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which means better performance. Testing showed impressive scores of 2481 for single-core and 8658 for multi-core tasks. It may also come with more memory, boosting from 12GB to 16GB, plus faster storage with UFS 4.1.

    It will run on OneUI 7, based on Android 17, providing exciting new features and brand-new Galaxy AI capabilities. To keep everything running smoothly, it will include a 5000mAh battery, so it should last all day!

    What About the Camera?
    The camera setup is expected to stay similar but with some cool upgrades. It might feature a new 50MP ultrawide camera, upgrading from the previous 12MP. The main camera could be an amazing 200MP, plus a 50MP telephoto lens that can zoom in on objects with different focal lengths.

    When Can You Buy It and How Much Will It Cost?
    The Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to launch in January or early February 2025. There have been some price rumors about increases, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to know the exact price and features.

    Stay tuned for more updates on this awesome smartphone!

  • Hama Massacre: How the Past Influences Syria’s Civil War Today

    Hama Massacre: How the Past Influences Syria’s Civil War Today

    Over 40 years ago, an event called the Hama Massacre shocked the Arab world. In February 1982, the Syrian president at the time, Hafez Assad, ordered a violent attack on the city of Hama. Thousands of people—estimates range from 10,000 to 40,000—were killed or went missing during this month-long siege. Hama was known for its beautiful waterwheels along the Orontes River, but the name soon became known for the terrible violence that occurred there.

    Hama was a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group that was against the government. Hafez Assad wanted to stop their protests and ordered warplanes to bomb the city, which was followed by ground troops. His brother, Rifaat Assad, led the attack, earning him the nickname “the Butcher of Hama.” Recently, Rifaat was charged with war crimes related to this attack.

    Fast forward to 2011, the Syrian civil war began, which many believe is connected to the events of Hama. Hama became a key place for protests against Hafez Assad’s son, Bashar Assad. During the protests, residents painted parts of the city red, showing their anger over the massacre that happened 30 years earlier. A popular chant in the protests was “Erhal ya Bashar,” meaning “Come on, leave, Bashar!”

    In August 2012, government forces returned to Hama and violently attacked the city again, killing many and shutting down the opposition. This sad history makes Hama very important in the ongoing conflict in Syria. Recently, the leader of the Syrian insurgency announced that they had taken back control of Hama, trying to heal the wounds of the past.

    Hama is located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Damascus, the capital. It connects different areas of Syria and is important for transporting resources. If insurgents take control of Hama, they could also aim for the city of Homs, which holds strategic value because of its oil refinery and connection to Damascus. Homs’ fall to insurgents could significantly change the situation in the Syrian civil war.

  • AAP Member Avadh Ojha’s Interview Stopped Over Controversial Question

    AAP Member Avadh Ojha’s Interview Stopped Over Controversial Question

    A recent interview by BBC Hindi with Avadh Ojha, a new member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a well-known educator, was unexpectedly stopped at the party’s office in Delhi. Ojha, who has taught in classrooms and now coaches students on YouTube, joined AAP after rumors of him joining BJP or Congress, and after both parties did not give him Lok Sabha tickets.

    The interview got tense when BBC reporter Anshul Singh asked Ojha if he would keep praising BJP leader Yogi Adityanath and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, since they are rivals of AAP. Ojha, who often admires different leaders in his videos, said it’s good to recognize others’ successes, just like famous cricketer Sachin Tendulkar praised Brian Lara.

    However, an AAP member interrupted, saying, “I had told you not to ask any strange questions. Stop this.” Singh insisted he was just asking a normal question. When Singh asked Ojha if he found the question inappropriate, Ojha answered, “Look, the party will decide what to say. This is what they will decide.” He then took off his microphone, ending the interview.

    In a description of the video shared on YouTube, BBC News Hindi claimed that AAP officials stopped the recording and did not let the conversation finish.

  • Keira Knightley Opens Up About the Harsh Reality of Fame

    Keira Knightley Opens Up About the Harsh Reality of Fame

    In a recent interview, British actress Keira Knightley talked about her experience with sudden fame when she was a young woman. After starring in the popular movie “Bend It Like Beckham,” she became famous worldwide for her role as Elizabeth Swann in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. However, this fame came with challenges. Knightley shared that being famous at such a young age made her feel like her privacy was taken away, and it was very hard to deal with all the attention.

    She explained that during her teenage years, she faced a lot of strange situations, including being stalked by men. “It was tough to be watched under a microscope when you are still growing up,” she said. Knightley admitted that even though fame helped her build a stable life and career, it was not easy. She described the atmosphere around her as “violent” and “misogynistic,” saying that some people made her feel like she wanted bad things to happen to her.

    Today, she worries about the impact of social media on young girls, explaining that fame often leads to public shame, which can be really hard to handle. Knightley’s latest project is “Black Doves,” a spy thriller series that came out on Netflix this month.

  • RBI’s Shaktikanta Das: Key Insights on Growth and Inflation Explained

    RBI’s Shaktikanta Das: Key Insights on Growth and Inflation Explained

    Shaktikanta Das, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), recently shared his thoughts about the economy. Here are important things he mentioned:

    1. Growth is Important: Das said that the RBI is really focused on helping the economy grow, especially after tough times like the pandemic.

    2. Inflation Needs Attention: Even though growth is vital, prices of things (inflation) are also a concern. The RBI wants to make sure prices do not go up too much.

    3. Global Issues: There are problems worldwide, like rising prices in oil and food. These affect India too. The RBI is watching how these issues influence our economy.

    4. Future of the Pandemic: The economic impacts of the pandemic are still felt, and the RBI is cautious about how quickly we can recover.

    5. Support for Small Businesses: The RBI aims to support smaller businesses, as they help create jobs and strengthen the economy.

    6. Financial Stability: Ensuring that banks and financial systems are stable is a major task for the RBI.

    7. Interest Rates: Das mentioned that interest rates may need to adjust, depending on what happens with the economy. Higher rates can help control inflation, but they can also make borrowing more expensive.

    8. Taking Steps Wisely: The RBI will make decisions carefully to boost growth while keeping an eye on prices and global events.

    9. Future Challenges: There are still challenges ahead, and the RBI is prepared to face them while supporting economic growth.

    10. Hope for Recovery: Overall, Das feels hopeful about the future of the Indian economy and believes that with the right steps, growth can return.

  • Health Scare at Galaxy Theatre During Pushpa 2 Screening: Police Investigate

    Health Scare at Galaxy Theatre During Pushpa 2 Screening: Police Investigate

    Mumbai Police are looking into a scary incident that happened at Galaxy Theatre in Bandra during the screening of the popular movie Pushpa 2: The Rule. Moviegoers reported that the film stopped for about 15 to 20 minutes right after the break.

    An unknown person sprayed something in the theater, which made people cough, feel sick, and even vomit. One person who watched the movie, Deen Dayal, explained, “We left for a break, and when we came back, we started coughing because of a strange smell. The show stopped for about 10 minutes, and the police came in to check on everyone.”

    Another viewer, Ramzan, added, “When we returned after the break, we started coughing, and I had to go to the bathroom to throw up. The bad smell lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes but went away when the doors were opened. The movie started again after that, and the police are still investigating.”

    In another city, Hyderabad, fans of actor Allu Arjun rushed to the Sandhya theatre to see the same film on its premiere night. Unfortunately, things got out of control, and the police had to use sticks to manage the crowd. Sadly, a woman lost her life, and a child got hurt in the chaos.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police for Central Zone in Hyderabad said, “We have filed a case against those responsible for the stampede, based on complaints from the family of the deceased. We will take strict action according to the law.”

    Pushpa 2: The Rule is directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media. It features Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil in key roles.