The Signal Brief

In today's episode, we're delving into the world of dating apps with Roshni Nair, executive editor at The Signal, and Naina Hiranandani, co-founder of the Indian offline dating platform, Sirf Coffee. Bumble's new CEO is eyeing a revamp because users aren't too happy. So are dating apps losing their allure? Stay tuned until the end for all the details. And in other news, we're talking about TikTok...

For the first story, we are looking at how India's ride-hailing companies are switching from commission-based models to subscription models to attract gig workers. Also in today's episode, we interviewed Lt General DS Hooda, an army veteran and co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. We essentially discuss about the new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research I...

In today's episode we are taking a look at the latest updates in India's EV sector. And for the deep dive, we are talking about India's $100 billion trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. We'll be joined by Dinesh Narayanan, Managing Editor of The Signal & The Core, to unpack what India stands to gain or lose...

In this episode, we are talking about Bengaluru's water-shortage crisis. But what's the root cause of this problem and what can the city do to save itself? We take these questions to Mridula Ramesh, a climatetech investor and the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute. In other news, we are delving into how Indians found themselves in the conflict zone in Russia, shedding light on the nation's...

In today's episode, we're diving into the performance of the Indian media industry throughout 2023. We've also got Soumya Gupta, senior editor at The Signal, joining us to provide her insights. In other news, Apple's iPhone sales are hitting a plateau in India. And to wrap up the week with our third segment, we are talking about Binance's Women's Day marketing campaign which involves launching a "...

In today's episode, we're talking about the McDonald's cheese controversy, where one of its outlets in Maharashtra is accused of using substitutes instead of real cheese. And for our second segment, we are delving into the antitrust concerns surrounding Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store dominance, questioning if it's time for alternative platforms to step up. Joining us for this discussion...

Today's episode isn't our typical two-story format. Instead, we've got some big news to share. The Signal is merging with The Core, founded by financial journalist and media entrepreneur Govindraj Ethiraj. Together, we'll be bringing you in-depth stories across business, economy, technology, and geopolitics. Stay tuned and catch our latest episodes right here: What's the uproar with India's new AI...

India's Electronics and IT Ministry issued unexpected guidelines on AI regulations, causing concern among AI developers. The guidelines mainly focus on preventing AI misuse for unlawful content and requiring government approval for experimental AI models. But what are the real intentions behind these regulations, and what is India's stance on AI regulation? To shed light on these questions, we tur...

If you've been active on X, recently, you've probably seen the trending hashtag #SaveOurStartups. But what's the story behind it? Why do Indian startups need saving? In other news, the ongoing turmoil in the Red Sea – one of the world's most vital maritime trade routes – is extending its reach into various sectors. Currently, attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on commercial shipping are disrupti...

Reliance and Disney, former rivals in the streaming market, are teaming up to potentially create India's biggest media conglomerate. The joint venture is reportedly valued at $8.5 billion. But what are the implications of this merger for both companies, and how does it influence the media industry overall? We turn to media analyst and author Vanita Kohli Khandekar for insights. In other news, TikT...

The Indian social media landscape is scattered with unsuccessful attempts by homegrown companies. Consider Hike Messenger, which aimed to challenge WhatsApp, along with other short video platforms like Chingari, Mitron TV, Trell, Roposo, Bolo Indya, and Josh. Where do they stand now? And why do Indian platforms struggle to carve out a niche among giants like YouTube, Instagram, Meta, and Twitter?...

Why are there fewer planes in the skies? Well, it's a combination of factors, but one of the primary reasons is the shortage of new aircraft globally.  In other news, BSNL is gearing up to make a comeback. So, the government is considering various reforms for this PSU to improve its performance. This includes upgrading networks, boosting sales, and providing better services to keep up with the com...

That's because the obsession with fairness creams in India is gradually diminishing, with a 3% drop in sales volume according to recent data from NeilsenIQ. But what's the driving factor here? We have the Gen Z to thank for.  On today's episode, we are also talking about the upcoming Reddit IPO. Reddit is giving its dedicated users and content moderators a substantial amount of shares before going...

Over the weekend, Byju's and its founder Byju Raveendran faced a lot of drama. During the emergency external general meeting, chaos erupted due to a "phishing" attack, causing delays and a lengthy verification process for attendees. And as expected, shareholders unanimously voted to remove Byju Raveendran from his leadership role. Truly tough times for Byju's! In other news, there's a troubling tr...

Byju Raveendran is in trouble again. The latest reports indicate that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is seeking another Look-Out Circular (LOC) notice against the edtech tycoon. In other news, Nvidia's profits skyrocketed, surging ninefold to almost $12.3 billion in the three-month period from $1.4 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. Plus, its revenue soared more than triple to...

Amazon is all set to launch Amazon Bazaar, a platform aimed at budget-conscious shoppers. This move comes as the value segment is already densely populated with competitors such as Meesho, Shopsy, and Ajio Street. So why is Amazon eager to tap into this market? Stay tuned for the details. Also in today's episode, we are talking about Thai legislators pushing for new laws to prohibit the recreation...

The Supreme Court recently issued an interim order asking States and Union Territories to follow the dictionary definition of "forest" as laid down in the landmark Godavarman judgment of 1996. This is good news for approximately 1.97 lakh square km of undeclared forest lands which previously weren't protected under Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023. In our main segment, we deep dive into th...

It’s no secret that Indians overuse and over-prescribe antibiotics rather freely. This is one of the leading causes of antimicrobial resistance or AMR which claimed nearly 300,000 lives in 2019 alone. By now it’s become a serious public health crisis that has to be dealt with urgently but what is India doing to tackle it? For our main story, we deep-dive into India’s antibiotic abuse. In other new...

In the run-up to the General Elections, the Supreme Court has struck down the electoral bond scheme, which allowed anonymous donations to political parties. It's been touted as a win for democracy, but is it too little too late? We are joined by Ritika Jain, a Law Correspondent at BOOM, who sheds light on the matter. In other news, Bloomsbury, known for publishing the Harry Potter series, has rais...

In a repeat of the 2020 events, more than 200 farmers' unions from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have once again marched towards Delhi in protest.  This time the key demands from the government are MSP guarantee for 23 crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, waivers of farm loans, and withdrawal of cases registered against them during the previous agitation.  In o...

Happy Valentine's Day to all the lovebirds out there, as well as the businesses making the most of the romantic buzz. Per the Economic Times, many luxury hotels in Rajasthan are booked out. Meanwhile, quick commerce company Blinkit is on a mission to become the go-to online app for romantic gifts, offering everything from chocolate boxes and rose bouquets to freshly baked cakes. Join us in today's...

SpiceJet is going through a bad patch. It’s fleet size has gone down, its market share has shrunk and now it is laying off 15% of its employees or about 1,400 people roughly. The news of layoffs at the airline is coming at a time when several reports suggest that its ₹2,250 crore fund-raise has hit a snag. Join us for today's episode as we delve into the challenges faced by SpiceJet. In other news...

As if the insane money that some social media influencers make isn’t enough to make us regret our life choices, the Indian government has now reportedly decided to hand out the national creators’ awards. Could this be the government's way of wooing influencers? Tune in to today’s episode to find out.  In other news, Pakistan's 2024 election delivers a shocker.  CREDITSThe Signal Daily is produced...

Will AI play the ace in the upcoming elections? Can deepfakes sway Indian voters? Have political parties begun deploying AI as a strategic weapon in their campaigns? In today’s episode, we’re joined by one of India’s leading election campaign consultants Shivam Shankar Singh, who answers all these questions and more.  In other news, American CEOs are busting some moves in China.  Lastly, because i...

In Uttarakhand, it will soon be a crime to stay in a live-in relationship without notifying the state government. The Uniform Civil Code Bill, which mandates registration of heterosexual live-in relationships and bans polygamy, was passed by Uttarakhand's state assembly on Wednesday. Join us in today's episode as we give you the lowdown on the soon-to-be law.  We're also discussing why young India...