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post 43:Fashion companies will face economic headwinds, technology shifts, and an evolving competitive landscape in 2024. However, shifting consumer priorities will continue to offer opportunities.

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post 43:Fashion companies will face economic headwinds, technology shifts, and an evolving competitive landscape in 2024. However, shifting consumer priorities will continue to offer opportunities.

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Surge In Passport Seva Portal Searches Due To Maintenance Outage

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The Passport Seva portal saw a 75% increase in Google searches following its scheduled maintenance downtime from August 29 to September 2, 2024.

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post 41:Texas School's Ban on All-Black Outfits

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post 41:Texas School's Ban on All-Black Outfits

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Texas school bans all-black outfits, citing mental health concerns

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Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas, has introduced a new dress code policy prohibiting students from wearing all-black outfits, citing concerns over mental health. Principal Nick DeSantis informed parents that this new rule aims to address an emerging trend among students.

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Can Festive Spending Jumpstart India's Slowing Economy? | Economic Outlook 2024

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Can Festive Spending Jumpstart India's Slowing Economy? | Economic Outlook 2024

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https://www.bizzbuzz.news/top-news/can-festive-spending-jumpstart-indias-slowing-economy-economic-outlook-2024-1338133

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Can Festive Spending Jumpstart India’s Slowing Economy? | Economic Outlook 2024

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Discover how festive season spending might revive India’s slowing economy. Experts predict a boost in rural demand, with automakers hopeful for a sales recovery. Will this shopping season fuel…

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India's IPO market over-heated, upcoming 'K-pop' issues will drain liquidity, says Ramesh Damani

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India's IPO market over-heated, upcoming 'K-pop' issues will drain liquidity, says Ramesh Damani

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1. Market Liquidity Concerns: Ramesh Damani, a veteran investor, expressed concerns that the upcoming Korean IPO could drain liquidity from the market1.

2. Overheated IPO Market: Damani mentioned that India's IPO market is currently overheated, with valuations in the mid and small-cap space looking stretched2.

3. Shift to Large Cap Names: Due to the overheated market, Damani has started to lighten up positions in mid and small-cap stocks and shift to large-cap names3.

4. Froth in the Market: There is a perception of froth building up in the stock market as big public issues seem to be getting the valuations they seek4.

5. Strong Run-Up in Markets: The strong run-up in the markets has contributed to the current situation, with ample liquidity and bullish sentiment driving high valuations

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India’s IPO market over-heated, upcoming ‘K-pop’ issues will drain liquidity, says Ramesh Damani

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Ramesh Damani also said that after the strong run up in the markets, he finds valuations in the mid and smallcap space looking ‘stretched’, and has started to lighten up positions in this space and shift to large cap names.

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'Suicide Pod' Suspended Amid Switzerland's Investigation Over US Woman's Death

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'Suicide Pod' Suspended Amid Switzerland's Investigation Over US Woman's Death

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1. Suspension of Applications: Over 370 applications for using the Sarco device have been suspended pending the investigation3. This highlights the potential risks and the need for thorough scrutiny.

2. Legal and Ethical Debate: The incident has reignited debates on the legal and ethical implications of assisted suicide and euthanasia4. Different countries have varying laws and attitudes towards these practices, and this case could influence future policies.

3. Advocacy Groups' Role: The Last Resort and Exit International, advocacy groups supporting assisted suicide, are involved in the controversy5. The outcome of the investigation could impact their efforts and the future of such devices6.

4. Global Impact: Switzerland's permissive laws on assisted suicide mean the investigation's results could have broader implications for other countries considering similar legislation or devices7.

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'Suicide Pod' Suspended Amid Switzerland's Investigation Over US Woman's Death

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Switzerland has some of the most permissive laws in the world when it comes to assisted suicide, though the first use of the Sarco has prompted a debate

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The article highlights Noor, the first Indian live wedding painter, who captures the essence of weddings on canvas in real-time. Noor’s unique talent brings a new dimension to wedding celebrations, blending art with the joy and emotions of the event1

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The article highlights Noor, the first Indian live wedding painter, who captures the essence of weddings on canvas in real-time. Noor’s unique talent brings a new dimension to wedding celebrations, blending art with the joy and emotions of the event1

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1. Innovative Wedding Trends: Noor’s work represents a growing trend of incorporating unique and personalized elements into weddings, making them more memorable.

2. Cultural Fusion: This practice combines traditional art forms with modern wedding celebrations, showcasing a blend of heritage and contemporary creativity.

3. Empowerment through Art: Noor’s success story is an inspiring example of breaking barriers and pursuing unconventional careers, encouraging others to follow their passions.

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In a world where weddings are celebrated with grandeur and extravagance, there's a new trend that's adding a touch of magic to the special day: live wedding painting. While this concept may be novel in India, it's been a beloved tradition in other parts of the world for quite some time. Picture this: a talented artist, armed with brushes and a canvas, capturing the essence of the ceremony in real-time, transforming fleeting moments into timeless works of art.

And at the forefront of this art is none other than Noor, a trailblazer who has defied all odds to become the first Indian live wedding painter. Join us as we delve into Noor's inspiring journey, marked by an unwavering commitment to turning dreams into reality.

Here's Noor's Story In Her Own Words

"I was 17 when I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, psoriasis. Since it couldn't be cured, I was advised to control my stress, as it was causing my skin to swell up. The problem was that you can't control stress, and for the diseases, they hear no excuses. So, I had to learn to manage stress along with some lifestyle changes. I was in my I was waiting for my first gig when I learned that an acquaintance was getting married. But who knew? My Ever since then, I have been graduation year when the pandemic happened. I came across a video by Bob Ross. His paintings were so soothing that I could watch them and entire day without blinking an eye. I fell in love with art. The next thing I knew, I was doing oil paintings myself. As time passed, my skills improved. But by then, I had done a terrific job! I got all consumed with work, and my passion took a back seat. I remember sitting in the courtroom and doodling at the back of my file in my free time. I was certainly missingthe opportunity to paint. One day, I came across a video of an American artist who used to do wedding paintings! I whispered to myself, "Mujhe bas yahi kama hai." I started the hustle of coming back from work and painting throughout the night to master this skill. But the real question was how to start it professionally. Weddings are the most special event in one's life, so I took a chance and pitched my idea. They simply loved it and let me paint their beautiful day on my canvas. Everyone was speechless, and I had the biggest smile of satisfaction and achievement on my face. At that moment, I decided that this was what I would do for the rest of my life. I decided to quit my job and follow my heart. I came home and explained my decision to my parents. Mom said, 'Jaldi jaa and quit karde!' struggle had just started. For 2 years, I had no work. To top it all, relatives would mock me. All this would take a toll on my mind and add to my frustration. The stress triggered my disease, and things became really difficult. But then, Mom and Dad always had my back. painting happiness on my canvas. I had my highs and lows, but honestly, looking at the overwhelming reaction of my clients makes me feel like I am on the right track."

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Watch: How Noor Captures Love On Canvas As Live Wedding Painter

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Meet Noor, a trailblazer who has defied all odds to become the first Indian live wedding painter. Join us as we delve into Noor's inspiring journey, marked by an unwavering commitment to turning dreams into reality.

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The article explores a growing trend among young Chinese women who are turning to AI-generated boyfriends for companionship. These AI boyfriends, created through advanced chatbots, offer emotional support and personalized interactions, which many women find more fulfilling than traditional relationships1.

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The article explores a growing trend among young Chinese women who are turning to AI-generated boyfriends for companionship. These AI boyfriends, created through advanced chatbots, offer emotional support and personalized interactions, which many women find more fulfilling than traditional relationships1.

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1. Technological Integration: The use of AI in personal relationships highlights the increasing integration of technology into daily life, offering new forms of companionship.

2. Emotional Fulfillment: AI boyfriends provide consistent emotional support and understanding, addressing the emotional needs that may not be met in real-life relationships.

3. Changing Social Dynamics: This trend reflects broader changes in social dynamics and relationship expectations, influenced by rapid technological advancements and urban isolation.

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‘Better Than Real Men’: Chinese Women Are Turning To AI For Love

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Amidst rapid technological advancements, young Chinese women are increasingly turning to AI boyfriends as an alternative to conventional relationships.

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post 23:The article highlights Noor, the first Indian live wedding painter, who captures the essence of weddings on canvas in real-time. Noor’s unique talent brings a new dimension to wedding celebrations, blending art with the joy and emotions of the event1

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post 23:The article highlights Noor, the first Indian live wedding painter, who captures the essence of weddings on canvas in real-time. Noor’s unique talent brings a new dimension to wedding celebrations, blending art with the joy and emotions of the event1

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1. Innovative Wedding Trends: Noor’s work represents a growing trend of incorporating unique and personalized elements into weddings, making them more memorable.

2. Cultural Fusion: This practice combines traditional art forms with modern wedding celebrations, showcasing a blend of heritage and contemporary creativity.

3. Empowerment through Art: Noor’s success story is an inspiring example of breaking barriers and pursuing unconventional careers, encouraging others to follow their passions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In a world where weddings are celebrated with grandeur and extravagance, there's a new trend that's adding a touch of magic to the special day: live wedding painting. While this concept may be novel in India, it's been a beloved tradition in other parts of the world for quite some time. Picture this: a talented artist, armed with brushes and a canvas, capturing the essence of the ceremony in real-time, transforming fleeting moments into timeless works of art.

And at the forefront of this art is none other than Noor, a trailblazer who has defied all odds to become the first Indian live wedding painter. Join us as we delve into Noor's inspiring journey, marked by an unwavering commitment to turning dreams into reality.

Here's Noor's Story In Her Own Words

"I was 17 when I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, psoriasis. Since it couldn't be cured, I was advised to control my stress, as it was causing my skin to swell up. The problem was that you can't control stress, and for the diseases, they hear no excuses. So, I had to learn to manage stress along with some lifestyle changes. I was in my I was waiting for my first gig when I learned that an acquaintance was getting married. But who knew? My Ever since then, I have been graduation year when the pandemic happened. I came across a video by Bob Ross. His paintings were so soothing that I could watch them and entire day without blinking an eye. I fell in love with art. The next thing I knew, I was doing oil paintings myself. As time passed, my skills improved. But by then, I had done a terrific job! I got all consumed with work, and my passion took a back seat. I remember sitting in the courtroom and doodling at the back of my file in my free time. I was certainly missingthe opportunity to paint. One day, I came across a video of an American artist who used to do wedding paintings! I whispered to myself, "Mujhe bas yahi kama hai." I started the hustle of coming back from work and painting throughout the night to master this skill. But the real question was how to start it professionally. Weddings are the most special event in one's life, so I took a chance and pitched my idea. They simply loved it and let me paint their beautiful day on my canvas. Everyone was speechless, and I had the biggest smile of satisfaction and achievement on my face. At that moment, I decided that this was what I would do for the rest of my life. I decided to quit my job and follow my heart. I came home and explained my decision to my parents. Mom said, 'Jaldi jaa and quit karde!' struggle had just started. For 2 years, I had no work. To top it all, relatives would mock me. All this would take a toll on my mind and add to my frustration. The stress triggered my disease, and things became really difficult. But then, Mom and Dad always had my back. painting happiness on my canvas. I had my highs and lows, but honestly, looking at the overwhelming reaction of my clients makes me feel like I am on the right track."

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Watch: How Noor Captures Love On Canvas As Live Wedding Painter

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Meet Noor, a trailblazer who has defied all odds to become the first Indian live wedding painter. Join us as we delve into Noor's inspiring journey, marked by an unwavering commitment to turning dreams into reality.

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The Future is Bright: Embracing the Promise of Biotechnology

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The Future is Bright: Embracing the Promise of Biotechnology

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From groundbreaking medical advancements and sustainable agricultural practices to innovative environmental solutions, biotechnology harnesses the power of living systems to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges. With its potential to enhance healthcare, improve food security, and combat climate change, the future is indeed bright for those who dare to dream and innovate in the realm of biotechnology.

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The future is bright, the future is biotechnology

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As PLOS Biology celebrates its 20th anniversary, our April issue focuses on biotechnology with articles covering different aspects of the field, from genome editing to synthetic biology.

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The article discusses the need for Indian retailers to have a transformative moment similar to what Zomato and Walmart experienced. This “Zomato-Walmart moment” refers to a significant shift in business strategy that can lead to substantial growth and market dominance. The article emphasizes that Indian retailers must innovate and adapt to changing consumer behaviors, particularly in the digital space, to stay competitive1.

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The article discusses the need for Indian retailers to have a transformative moment similar to what Zomato and Walmart experienced. This “Zomato-Walmart moment” refers to a significant shift in business strategy that can lead to substantial growth and market dominance. The article emphasizes that Indian retailers must innovate and adapt to changing consumer behaviors, particularly in the digital space, to stay competitive1.

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1. Digital Transformation: Retailers need to embrace digital technologies to enhance customer experience and streamline operations.

2. Consumer Behavior: Understanding and adapting to evolving consumer preferences is crucial for staying relevant in the market.

3. Innovation: Continuous innovation in business models and strategies is necessary to achieve significant growth and market leadership.

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Walmart now owns a smart TV maker and Zomato has a stake in a digital billboards company. Will we see more retailers invest in new ad networks?

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47. Emotional marketing is trending as brands leverage personal connections to foster loyalty and stand out in a saturated market. By evoking emotions like nostalgia or empathy, companies resonate with consumers' values and experiences, making their messages more impactful. As consumers seek authenticity and meaningful connections, emotional marketing has become a key strategy for engagement.

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47. Emotional marketing is trending as brands leverage personal connections to foster loyalty and stand out in a saturated market. By evoking emotions like nostalgia or empathy, companies resonate with consumers' values and experiences, making their messages more impactful. As consumers seek authenticity and meaningful connections, emotional marketing has become a key strategy for engagement.

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Idea in Brief

The Problem
Companies know that emotions drive customer behavior, but most have little idea how to connect in ways that motivate the desired behaviors. The process is more guesswork than science.

The Solution
The authors have created a lexicon of "emotional motivators" and, using big data analytics, have linked them to specific profitable behaviors.

The Opportunity
By identifying the most powerful emotional motivators for a given customer segment, companies can design marketing and other strategies to leverage those motivators, giving them a new source of competitive advantage and growth.

When companies connect with customers' emotions, the payoff can be huge. Consider these examples: After a major bank introduced a credit card for Millennials that was designed to inspire emotional connection, use among the segment increased by 70% and new account growth rose by 40%. Within a year of launching products and messaging to maximize emotional connection, a leading household cleaner turned market share losses into double-digit growth. And when a nationwide apparel retailer reoriented its merchandising and customer experience to its most emotionally connected customer segments, same-store sales growth accelerated more than threefold.

Given the enormous opportunity to create new value, companies should pursue emotional connections as a science-and a strategy. But for most, building these connections is more guesswork than science. At the end of the day they have little idea what really works and whether their efforts have produced the desired results.

Our research across hundreds of brands in dozens of categories shows that it's possible to rigorously measure and strategically target the feelings that drive customers' behavior. We call them "emotional motivators." They provide a better gauge of customers' future value to a firm than any other metric, including brand awareness and customer satisfaction, and can be an important new source of growth and profitability.

At the most basic level, any company can begin a structured process of learning about its customers' emotional motivators and conducting experiments to leverage them, later scaling up from there. At the other end of the spectrum, firms can invest in deep research and big data analytics or engage consultancies with specific expertise. Companies in financial services, retail, health care, and technology are now using a detailed understanding of emotional connection to attract and retain the most valuable customers. The most sophisticated firms are making emotional connection part of a broad strategy that involves every function in the value chain, from product development and marketing to sales and service.

Hundreds of "emotional motivators" drive consumer behavior. Below are 10 that significantly affect customer value across all categories studied.

In what follows we'll describe our research and our work with companies-to our knowledge, the first to show direct, robust links among specific emotional motivators, a firm's actions to leverage them, consumer behavior, and business outcomes.

Defining Emotional Motivators

Our research stemmed from our frustration that companies we worked with knew customers' emotions were important but couldn't figure out a consistent way to define them, connect with them, and link them to results. We soon discovered that there was no standard lexicon of emotions, and so eight years ago we set out to create one, working with experts and surveying anthropological and social science research. We ultimately assembled a list of more than 300 emotional motivators. We consider customers to be emotionally connected with a brand when it aligns with their motivations and helps them fulfill deep, often unconscious, desires. Important emotional motivators include desires to "stand out from the crowd," "have confidence in the future," and "enjoy a sense of well-being," to name just a few.

Identifying and measuring emotional motivators is complicated, because customers themselves may not even be aware of them. These sentiments are typically different from what customers say are the reasons they make brand choices and from the terms they use to describe their emotional responses to particular brands. What's more, as we'll discuss, emotional connections with products are neither uniform nor constant; they vary by industry, brand, touchpoint, and the customer's position in the decision journey.

Why Emotional Connections Matter

Although brands may be liked or trusted, most fail to align themselves with the emotions that drive their customers' most profitable behaviors. Some brands by nature have an easier time making such connections, but a company doesn't have to be born with the emotional DNA of Disney or Apple to succeed. Even a cleaning product or a canned food can forge powerful connections.

Identifying and leveraging customers' emotional motivators can be broken into three phases.

First, inventory your existing market research and customer insight data. You will probably find qualitative descriptions of your customers' motivating emotions, such as what aspects of life they value most (family, community, freedom, security) and what they aspire to day-to-day and in the future. From there, pursue research to add detail to your understanding of those emotions. Define a set of emotional motivators to probe-the list in the exhibit "High-Impact Motivators" will provide ideas, as will your qualitative research. Online surveys can help you quantify the relevance of individual motivators. Are your customers more driven by life in the moment or by future goals? Do they place greater value on social acceptance or on individuality? Don't assume you know what motivates customers just because you know who they are. Young parents may be motivated by a desire to provide security for their families-or by an urge to escape and have some fun (you will probably find both types in your customer base). And don't undermine your understanding of customers' emotions by focusing on how people feel about your brand or how they say it makes them feel. You need to understand their underlying motivations separate from your brand.

Second, analyze your best customers-those who buy and advocate the most, are the least price-sensitive, and are the most loyal. To do this, identify those who are highly satisfied with your brand-whatever the degree of their emotional connection-and divide them into quartiles according to annual purchases, advocacy, and so on. Examine the top quartile to see how the characteristics and behavior of your best customers differ from those of people in the other quartiles. Look at demographics, whether people buy in person or online, how much they buy from your competitors, and where they get their information about your brand (traditional media, social networks, and so on). Compare the emotional motivators of your best customers with the ones you've researched for your overall customer base and see which are specific or more important to the high-value group. Find the two or three of these key motivators that have a strong association with your brand. They will serve as an initial guide to the emotions you need to connect with in order to grow the most valuable customer segment of your business and to the marketing strategies and customer experience tactics that will provide the greatest connection opportunities.

Third, make the organization's commitment to emotional connection a key lever for growth. Use the language of emotional connection when you talk about your customers-not just in the marketing department but across the firm. In our experience, successful strategies based on emotional connection require buy-in from the top and must be embraced across functions. For example, if people in product development are working on a version that's easier to use, they shouldn't just ask whether customers will be satisfied with it; they should learn which emotional motivators it resonates with and how it will strengthen emotional connections.

The process, in brief, looks like this: Applying big data analytics to detailed customer-data sets, we first identify the emotional motivators for a category's most valuable customers. High-value automobile customers, for example, might want to "feel a sense of belonging" and "feel a sense of freedom." Next we use statistical modeling to look at a large number of customers and brands, comparing survey results about people's emotional motivators with their purchase behavior and identifying spikes in buying that are associated with specific motivators. This reveals which motivators generate the most-profitable customer behaviors in the category. We then quantify the current and potential value of motivators for a given brand and help identify strategies to leverage them.

The model also allows us to compare the value of making strong emotional connections with that of scoring well on standard customer metrics such as satisfaction and brand differentiation, thus highlighting the potential gains from looking beyond traditional measures. We find that customers become more valuable at each step of a predictable "emotional connection pathway" as they transition from (1) being unconnected to (2) being highly satisfied to (3) perceiving brand differentiation to (4) being fully connected.

Although customers exhibit increasing connection at each step, their value increases dramatically when they reach the fourth step: Fully connected customers are 52% more valuable, on average, than those who are just highly satisfied. In fact, their relative value is striking across a variety of metrics, such as purchases and frequency of use.

The pathway is an important guide to where companies should invest-and it reveals that they often invest in the wrong places. To increase revenue and market share, many companies focus on turning dissatisfied customers into satisfied ones. However, our analysis shows that moving customers from highly satisfied to fully connected can have three times the return of moving them from unconnected to highly satisfied. And the highest returns we've seen have come from focusing on customers who are already fully connected to the category-from maximizing their value and attracting more of them to your brand.

Four insights from our research are especially relevant to firms looking to build on emotional connection.

Emotional motivators vary by category and brand.

Of the 300-plus motivators we've identified, 25 significantly affect customer value across all the categories we've analyzed. Anywhere from five to 15 additional motivators are important in any given category. For example, the sense that a home furnishings store "helps me be creative" inspires consumers to shop there more often. The wish to "feel revived and refreshed" drives loyalty to fast-food restaurants. Emotional motivators also vary within categories, depending on the desires of brands' most valuable customers. Because brands differ in how well they align with their customers' motivators, each may have a different starting point in any effort to strengthen emotional connections-and that point won't necessarily relate to conventional measures of brand perception.

Emotional motivators vary across customer segments.

Recall the credit card designed with Millennials in mind. Our model uncovered desires to "protect the environment" and "be the person I want to be" as key motivators in the banking category for that age group. (Traditional industry motivators such as desires to "feel secure" and to "succeed in life" are more typical of older groups.) The bank crafted messaging and features to connect to those sentiments, leading to its fastest-growing new credit card.

Emotional motivators for a given brand or industry vary with a person's position in the customer journey.

In banking, the desire to "feel secure" is a critical motivator when attracting and retaining customers early on. When cross-selling products later, the wish to "succeed in life" becomes more important. To maximize results, companies must align their emotional-connection strategies with their specific customer-engagement objectives-acquisition, retention, cross-selling, and so on.

Emotional-connection-driven growth opportunities exist across the customer experience, not just in traditional brand positioning and advertising.

For example, social media can have a big impact on emotional connection. One condiments brand found that 60% of its social-network-affiliated customers (especially followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest)-versus 21% of all customers-were emotionally connected. It accelerated growth in a matter of months by increasing its focus on its social media network, developing its online customer community, and pointing customers to the website for recipes and promotions.

Putting Emotional Connections to Work

Let's look at how an emotional-connection strategy paid off for a national fashion retailer. The company was struggling with common industry challenges. Although it had a well-known brand and a strong market presence, same-store sales were stagnating, and promotional pricing was shrinking margins. So it focused on cost management, logistical efficiency, and streamlining the merchandise and store mix-with limited success. Over the past two years we worked with the retailer on a four-part strategy to identify, understand, and quantify the value of the most emotionally connected customers. This exposed large, unexploited opportunities and allowed the retailer to better direct investments across the firm.

Further Reading

Marketing Digital Article

Advertising is still very much about the brand messaging business, not just the reaching the consumer on any device business.

1. Target connected customers.

We set out to answer two basic questions: How valuable were the retailer's fully connected customers, and could the company attract more of them? We used statistical techniques to measure the strength of customers' emotional connections with the retailer and with its competitors. The process began with surveys to discern how consumers related to key motivators in the category and with analysis to see which motivators best predicted purchase behavior. We then modeled the financial impact of building emotional connections with customers at each step on the pathway from unconnected to fully connected.

Our analysis showed that although fully connected customers constituted just 22% of customers in the category, they accounted for 37% of revenue and they spent, on average, twice as much annually ($400) as highly satisfied customers. Enhancing emotional connection could be a viable growth strategy if the retailer could attract fully connected customers from competitors, transform satisfied customers into fully connected ones, or both.

Further segmentation revealed a group of especially valuable customers. We labeled them Fashion Flourishers, because apparel connects to their deep desire for excitement, social acceptance, and self-expression. As a group, Flourishers are the most emotionally connected segment by far; half are already fully connected to the category. Comparing the ratios of various emotion-based segments' spending to those segments' size highlights extraordinary differences in value: Flourishers have a ratio of 1.9-nearly twice the market average and more than nine times that of the least-connected group (whom we called Can't Please Them, and whose ratio is just 0.2). Given the relatively fixed cost structure of retailing, acquiring and retaining Flourishers represented an opportunity to boost revenue and margins.

A detailed profile of Flourishers underscored their attractiveness and exposed ways for the retailer to target them. Customers in this segment:

have a high lifetime value, spending an average of $468 a year in the category, versus $235 for other customers.

shop more often and advocate more: Fully 46% of Flourishers shop key fashion categories at least monthly, versus 21% of all shoppers. Flourishers are 1.4 times as likely as other customers to recommend retailers to their friends and family members.

are less price-sensitive: They are 2.3 times as likely as other customers to say they are "willing to pay more for the best fashion products," 1.7 times less likely to make fashion purchase decisions solely on the basis of price, and 1.3 times less likely to shop for the lowest prices.

are predominantly female and younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to live in urban centers than other customers.

are more digitally engaged than other segments: They are 2.3 times as likely to research a fashion retailer online, 2.9 times as likely to shop for fashion products through their mobile devices, and 3.7 times as likely to follow a retailer on social media.

Drawing on these and other insights, the retailer created a blueprint for pursuing the most valuable customer opportunities. By applying the category segmentation scheme to the more than 25 million people in its customer database, it determined the financial value and behaviors of its own Flourishers, confirming that they spent substantially more than other customers and had the highest lifetime value and the lowest attrition and price sensitivity of any segment. It estimated that moving satisfied Flourishers up the pathway to full emotional connection could increase annual sales by 3% to 5%, and that luring Flourishers away from competitors could increase revenue by 5% to 8%. Because members of this group spend more per capita than other customers and turn over less often, the analysis also predicted improvements in operating margins and returns on capital.

Further Reading

Marketing Magazine Article

Most marketing organizations are stuck in the last century. Here's how the best meet the challenges of the digital age.

2. Quantify key motivators.

Next, by analyzing tens of thousands of Flourishers across the category, we quantified the impact of more than 40 motivators on the group's purchasing, spending, loyalty, and advocacy. We identified the most important category motivators-the ones that bore the strongest relationship to purchases-and assessed the retailer's competitive position in each. The financial analysis and modeling showed that further investments to strengthen the customer experience around the desires to "feel a sense of belonging," "feel a sense of thrill," and "feel a sense of freedom"-the motivators driving category purchase behavior and for which the retailer already had the strongest position-were likely to yield the highest ROI. Those motivators therefore became the focus of specific customer-experience investments.

3. Optimize investments across functions.

To maximize opportunities from emotional connection, companies must look beyond the marketing department. The retailer examined every function and customer touchpoint to find ways to enhance high-ROI emotional motivators. This brought four major investment areas into focus: stores, online and omnichannel experiences, merchandising, and message targeting.

Stores.

To estimate which of the retailer's more than 700 stores had the most Flourisher customers, we scored each one according to the presence of this segment in the store's trading area. We found that high-scoring stores generated up to 25% more revenue than others. Their same-store sales were growing twice as quickly, and their operating profit was 30% greater. Their profit margins were enhanced by 10% higher inventory turns and-consistent with expectations-by lower coupon usage. (Flourishers don't just say they're willing to pay more-they actually do pay more.)

These analytics changed the retailer's store location strategy. We mapped the concentrations of Flourishers in all U.S. markets and submarkets, along with the segment's propensities to shop at more than 150 other retailers. The company's real estate team now uses a predictive model to identify sites near Flourishers and also near other retailers they frequent.

The change is paying off. New stores in trading areas with high concentrations of Flourishers have first-year sales that are 20% higher than historical averages, leading to faster break-even times and higher returns on capital. Further analysis has revealed opportunities to open hundreds of stores catering to underserved Flourisher populations. To free up capital for new stores, the retailer is closing ones in low-Flourisher areas.

Emotional-connection analytics have also allowed the retailer to understand which aspects of the in-store shopping experience are most important to Flourishers. Because those qualities often aren't recognized by customers themselves, they had not informed store design. Flourishers say it's important that sales associates are easy to find, that clearance items are easy to locate, and that stores have free Wi-Fi. However, analysis showed that those aren't actually the features that drive their visits and purchases.

The "emotional connection score" (ECS) of a brand measures the share of customers who are fully connected. A gap between a brand's ECS and the share of customers who consider it a "good brand" signals an opportunity to transform satisfied customers into fully connected-and more valuable-ones. Gaps between a brand's ECS and competitors' indicate opportunities to seize (or maintain) advantage by attending to emotional connections.

SOURCE Scott Magids, Alan Zorfas, and Daniel Leemon
FROM "The New Science of Customer Emotions" © HBR.ORG

On the basis of its modeling, the retailer predicted that the option to purchase online and pick up in-store-something that few customers say is important and that was available only on a limited basis-would be a key driver of emotional connection (it speaks to Flourishers' desire to "feel a sense of freedom"). It tested targeted communication and in-store promotion of the option and saw a material lift in sales; it has now committed capital to a nationwide rollout of the capability. Similarly, the retailer predicted that seeing imagery in-store of "people like you" would drive emotional connection and purchasing among Flourishers (although they say that this factor is unimportant). As a test, it expanded its presence on photo-sharing social media sites and encouraged customers to submit selfies showing their favorite outfits and styles. Selfie slide shows are (with subjects' permission) displayed on large screens in test stores, thus addressing Flourishers' desire to "feel a sense of belonging." Research indicates that the segment has responded to this motivator and increased purchase intent.

The retailer is now designing and testing store experiences to leverage nearly a dozen other drivers of emotional connection.

Online and omnichannel experiences.

Like individual store environments, online and omnichannel experiences can be optimized for emotional connection. To this end the retailer quantified the impact of more than 100 omnichannel touchpoints on customers' emotional connection and spending. These included mobile app browsing and purchasing, visits to the retailer's social media pages, e-commerce site navigation, and in-store returns of merchandise bought online. Each touchpoint was scored according to its potential impact on emotional connection and spending. Statistical models then revealed the most powerful combinations of touchpoints at each stage of the customer journey, allowing the retailer to hone its omnichannel strategy and prioritize investments.

Further Reading

Customers Magazine Article

You can make ubiquitous advertising acceptable-even welcome-to consumers.

For example, Flourishers say that using a computer to shop online via an easy-to-use site is important to purchase decisions. In reality, the ease and allure of the mobile site and the availability of services such as ApplePay have a far greater impact on emotional connection and spending levels. The retailer is using such insights to design investments across e-commerce, mobile, and social media that will build emotional connections with Flourishers. For instance, it developed multiple concepts for the navigational redesign and aesthetic reskin of its mobile app, tested how effectively each version enhanced feelings of "freedom," "belonging," and "thrill" and drove purchases, and rolled out the best one.

Merchandising.

Merchandise selection, from the broad category level to specific labels, can be optimized to drive emotional connection. The retailer now tracks the purchasing habits of Flourishers nationwide through point-of-sale data collected from hundreds of retailers by independent research companies. By applying the Flourisher segmentation to these POS databases, it has modeled the segment's purchase behavior across more than 20 product categories and 100 labels and learned which of the approximately 10 competitive retailers these consumers buy from. The resulting insights have exposed gaps in merchandise important to Flourishers, and the retailer is working with its manufacturers to rebalance its mix.

Message targeting.

Having identified its Flourisher customers, the retailer can now send them personalized messages designed to resonate with the emotional motivators that drive behavior at each stage of the customer journey. For example, when Flourishers are initially considering the retailer, "having fun" while shopping is paramount. At the point of purchase, "helps me feel creative" emerges as key. Working from such insights, the retailer has developed a series of messages targeting Flourishers and timed according to their position in the journey: A rules engine sends out e-mails tailored to browsing, transacting, and servicing interactions. Response rates to this direct-marketing campaign are 40% to 210% higher than historical averages.

Beginning with a two-year research project involving literature review and social science experts, we identified 300 universal motivating emotions. To measure their impact on consumer behavior, we conducted intercept surveys of more than one million U.S. consumers through thousands of websites, gathering data across 30 industries and 400-plus brands that included measures of brand consideration, trial, repurchase, advocacy, customer satisfaction, brand differentiation, and emotional connection. Over six more years we collected more than one billion data points, including demographic and actual purchase data. Using analytical techniques such as multivariate regression and structural equation modeling, we determined which emotional motivators are most powerfully associated with customer behavior and customer value by category and by brand and the degree to which connecting to those motivators influences customer behavior, both in absolute terms and relative to more commonly measured drivers of behavior.

Media selection can also be finely tuned to boost emotional connection. We profiled the media consumption of Flourishers across 500 TV shows, 100 websites and social networks, 50 types of mobile apps, 80 print publications, and 20 types of radio programming. Working with its ad agency, the retailer is executing emotional-connection-based media plans. For example, knowing that Flourishers are enthusiastic users of Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, it has scaled up its programs on these platforms, which has increased its marketing ROI.

4. Systematize, measure, and learn.

Leveraging emotional connection does not require turning your business processes upside down; you can embed relevant strategies into existing work streams. This is most effectively done by making emotional connection a key performance indicator and including it on the cross-functional senior-management dashboard.

The retailer developed a scorecard that gives the CEO and the executive team a single-page view of customers' progression on the emotional-connection pathway, along with the increase or decrease in connected customers of the company and its key competitors. The scorecard shows the correlation of customers' emotional-connection scores with lifetime value measures such as annual spending, churn, and tenure. It also shows how the business impacts of specific emotions are trending and how Flourishers engage with key in-store and omnichannel touchpoints that drive emotional connection. In addition, the retailer includes emotional-connection metrics in its ongoing testing of media messages, store designs, and digital and mobile experiences.

The results of these strategic and operational changes are startling. Same-store sales for stores serving Flourishers realized growth of 3.5% over the past year, whereas annual same-store growth over the past five years has averaged just 1%. Inventory turns increased more than 25%. Market share and customer advocacy also grew (the number of customers recommending the retailer is up 20% year-over-year), contributing to record-high customer lifetime values. Underlying all these gains is a 20% rise in the company's emotional-connection score-largely the result of moving satisfied customers to full emotional connection.

The Management Imperative

Embracing an emotional-connection strategy across the organization requires deep customer insights, analytical capabilities, and, above all, a managerial commitment to align the organization with the new way of thinking. It's important that marketing not hoard the strategy as "its" domain (although the function can and should use emotional connection to demonstrate the direct financial impact of its spending). Instead, marketing must partner with other functions, teaching and socializing emotional connection. The retailer we profiled now uses emotional connection to drive alignment across the operations management team, the C-suite, and the boardroom. At the outset the CEO identified emotional connection as a strategy to restore profitable growth. The CFO and the chief strategy officer then "sized the financial prize," leading the heads of marketing, stores, customer experience, and merchandising to collaborate on an integrated strategy.

The advent of big data analytics brings clarity, discipline, and rigor to companies' long-held desire to connect with the customer emotions that truly matter. Emotional connections no longer have to be a mystery-they can be a new source of real competitive advantage and growth.

A version of this article appeared in the November 2015 issue (pp.66-74, 76) of Harvard Business Review.

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When a company connects with customers' emotions, the payoff can be huge. Yet building such connections is often more guesswork than science. To remedy that problem, the authors have created a lexicon of nearly 300 "emotional motivators" and, using big data analytics, have linked them to specific profitable behaviors.

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30. Reimagining Education: Embracing Trends and Innovations for Future Learning

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30. Reimagining Education: Embracing Trends and Innovations for Future Learning

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As we navigate the evolving landscape of education, innovative teaching methods and emerging trends are reshaping how students learn and educators teach. From personalized learning experiences powered by artificial intelligence to the integration of virtual and augmented reality in classrooms, the future of education promises to enhance engagement and accessibility. This exploration delves into transformative technologies, collaborative learning environments, and the shift towards lifelong learning, highlighting how these innovations can empower both learners and educators to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

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38. Creative cafes are trending in 2024 as they offer unique spaces for socializing and artistic expression. With the rise of remote work, these cafes attract individuals seeking inspiring environments that blend leisure and productivity. Their focus on community-building and experiential dining makes them appealing venues for workshops, events, and art displays.

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38. Creative cafes are trending in 2024 as they offer unique spaces for socializing and artistic expression. With the rise of remote work, these cafes attract individuals seeking inspiring environments that blend leisure and productivity. Their focus on community-building and experiential dining makes them appealing venues for workshops, events, and art displays.

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Post 5:The article discusses a statement by Dr. Kiranmayee Nayak, Chairperson of the Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women, who expressed concerns about the trend of pre-wedding photo shoots. She believes these shoots can be dangerous for girls’ futures and are not part of traditional Indian culture1. Dr. Nayak cited instances where pre-wedding shoots led to broken engagements and financial disputes, emphasizing the potential negative consequences2.

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Post 5:The article discusses a statement by Dr. Kiranmayee Nayak, Chairperson of the Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women, who expressed concerns about the trend of pre-wedding photo shoots. She believes these shoots can be dangerous for girls’ futures and are not part of traditional Indian culture1. Dr. Nayak cited instances where pre-wedding shoots led to broken engagements and financial disputes, emphasizing the potential negative consequences2.

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1. Cultural Concerns: The statement highlights a tension between modern practices influenced by Western culture and traditional Indian values.

2. Potential Risks: Pre-wedding shoots can lead to personal and financial issues, as seen in cases where engagements were called off.

3. Debate on Modern Practices: This topic sparks a broader discussion on the impact of adopting new cultural practices and their implications for individuals and society.

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Trend of pre-wedding photo shoot is dangerous for girls’ future: Chairperson of Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women

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Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 13 (ANI): The chairperson of Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women, Dr Kiranmayee Nayak on Saturday said that trend of pre-wedding photo and video shooting is dangerous for the future of girls. In reference to a case kept for hearing in the commission, the chairperson said, “Pre-wedding shoots are dangerous for the […]

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post40:“Who is Hannah Neeleman, Mother of 8 at the Centre of Ballerina Farm Controversy?” delves into the life of Hannah Neeleman, a social media influencer known for her traditional homemaking lifestyle. The article explores the backlash she faces amidst debates on gender roles and authenticity

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post40:“Who is Hannah Neeleman, Mother of 8 at the Centre of Ballerina Farm Controversy?” delves into the life of Hannah Neeleman, a social media influencer known for her traditional homemaking lifestyle. The article explores the backlash she faces amidst debates on gender roles and authenticity

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1. Tradwife Debate: Neeleman’s portrayal of a traditional homemaker has sparked discussions on the “tradwife” phenomenon and its implications ¹.

2. Social Media Authenticity: The controversy highlights the gap between online personas and real-life challenges ¹.

3. Cultural Reflection: This issue reflects broader societal debates on gender roles, family dynamics, and modern expectations ¹.

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Hannah Neeleman, also known as Ballerina Farm, has broken her silence on the viral 'Trad wife' article that thrust her life into the spotlight. The 34-year-old mother of eight has been dubbed the "queen of the trad wives" ("trad" being short for traditional) for advocating a return to traditional gender roles. Her TikTok-famous lifestyle gained wider public attention after a Times of London article portrayed her as a victim of misogyny.

Hannah Neeleman with her family in Utah.(Instagram/@ballerinafarm)

Here is all you need to know about Hannah Neeleman:

Hannah Neeleman is an American content creator and former dancer who posts videos of her traditional lifestyle under her Ballerina Farm social media accounts.

She is married to Daniel Neeleman, son of millionaire entrepreneur David Neeleman who has launched commercial airlines like JetBlue and WestJet, among others.

The couple got married in 2011 and have eight children together, whom they raise on their 328-acre farm in Utah called "Ballerina Farm."

The family homestead's name was inspired by Hannah's lifelong dream of becoming a ballerina, which she gave up when she married Daniel.

Hannah and Daniel met while she was pursuing her degree at highly-selective Juilliard School in New York. "We dated only a couple of months before getting married," she wrote in an updated "about me" section of her website while addressing the Times article controversy. "It was the best decision I ever made."

"I was going to be a ballerina. I was a good ballerina," Neeleman said in the controversial interview with The Times. "But I knew that when I started to have kids my life would start to look different."

The couple got married in 2011 and welcomed their first child the following year. Both Hannah and Daniel are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - more commonly known as Mormons.

On her Ballerina Farm TikTok account, Hannah frequently shares videos that show her raising hens, carrying out mom duties, cooking, baking, and engaging in other 'traditional' housewife roles.

Besides looking after Ballerina Farm and raising her eight children without a nanny, Hannah also participates in pageants - she took part in the Mrs. World pageant in January 2024, less than two weeks after giving birth.

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Who is Hannah Neeleman, mother-of-8 at the centre of Ballerina Farm controversy?

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Here is all you need to know about Hannah Neeleman, the mom-of-eight and the wife of JetBlue heir Daniel Neeleman. | Trending

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post 17“JOMO: Joy of Missing Out - Gen Z Trend for Social Media Detox” discusses how Gen Z is embracing JOMO, prioritizing mental well-being by intentionally stepping back from social media. This trend promotes self-care, offline connections, and a healthier mindset.

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post 17“JOMO: Joy of Missing Out - Gen Z Trend for Social Media Detox” discusses how Gen Z is embracing JOMO, prioritizing mental well-being by intentionally stepping back from social media. This trend promotes self-care, offline connections, and a healthier mindset.

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1. Mental Health Focus: JOMO encourages breaks from social media to reduce anxiety and improve mental health ¹.

2. Intentional Living: It promotes mindfulness and self-care, helping individuals reconnect with their true desires ¹.

3. Positive Impact: By fostering genuine offline connections, JOMO supports a more balanced and fulfilling life ¹.

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The Rise Of JOMO: Why This Trend Is Not Limited To Gen Z

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JOMO, the joy of missing out, is a trend promoting mental well being by embracing intentional solitude over social media comparison. It encourages breaks, self-care, and offline connections, fostering genuine self-expression and a healthier mindset.

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post 18:“Record High of 84,000 Japanese Women Reach Century Mark Amidst Shrinking Population” highlights Japan’s demographic milestone, with over 95,000 centenarians, 90% of whom are women. This reflects the nation’s aging population amidst a declining birth rate.

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post 18:“Record High of 84,000 Japanese Women Reach Century Mark Amidst Shrinking Population” highlights Japan’s demographic milestone, with over 95,000 centenarians, 90% of whom are women. This reflects the nation’s aging population amidst a declining birth rate.

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1. Aging Population: Japan’s centenarian population is growing, emphasizing the country’s demographic challenges ¹.

2. Economic Impact: The increasing number of elderly individuals places pressure on Japan’s economy, healthcare, and social services ¹.

3. Global Relevance: This trend is significant globally as many countries face similar aging population issues ¹.

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Record High of 84,000 Japanese Women Reach Century Mark Amidst Shrinking Population

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Japan’s centenarian population reached a record 95,119, with 90% being women, reflecting the nation’s aging demographic crisis. The number of people aged 100 or older continues to rise alongside a shrinking overall population. This aging trend places pressure on Japan’s economy, healthcare, and labor force, with significant social and economic implications. - TheDailyGuardian

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“Retirement’s a Struggle? Get a Boommate!” explores how rising apartment rents and inadequate retirement income are driving baby boomers to seek roommates. This trend is particularly prevalent among widowed or divorced individuals with spare bedrooms.

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“Retirement’s a Struggle? Get a Boommate!” explores how rising apartment rents and inadequate retirement income are driving baby boomers to seek roommates. This trend is particularly prevalent among widowed or divorced individuals with spare bedrooms.

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1. Economic Pressure: Soaring rents and insufficient retirement savings are pushing retirees to find affordable living solutions ¹.

2. Companionship: Beyond financial relief, having a roommate can provide emotional support and companionship ¹.

3. Trend Growth: The number of boomers seeking roommates has significantly increased, reflecting broader economic and social shifts ¹.

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Retirement’s a Struggle? Get a Boommate!

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40. Bow and tie tops are trending in 2024 for their chic and versatile aesthetic, offering a blend of sophistication and femininity. They can easily transition from casual to formal settings, appealing to fashion-forward consumers looking for stylish yet comfortable options. Additionally, the resurgence of vintage and retro styles in fashion has contributed to their popularity, as these tops evoke a sense of nostalgia while allowing for modern expression.

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40. Bow and tie tops are trending in 2024 for their chic and versatile aesthetic, offering a blend of sophistication and femininity. They can easily transition from casual to formal settings, appealing to fashion-forward consumers looking for stylish yet comfortable options. Additionally, the resurgence of vintage and retro styles in fashion has contributed to their popularity, as these tops evoke a sense of nostalgia while allowing for modern expression.

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Fit to be tied: why are bows absolutely everywhere in 2024?

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Saccharine or subversive, satirical or self-infantilising? This symbol of girlhood has been on a journey, from the industrial revolution to TikTok

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1. Thrift shopping is trending due to its sustainable approach, offering eco-friendly alternatives to fast fashion. As consumers become more conscious of environmental impact and seek unique, vintage items, thrift stores provide affordable and distinctive options. The rise of social media also promotes thrift culture, with influencers showcasing stylish finds, further fueling interest and making thrifting a popular choice for fashion-savvy shoppers.

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1. Thrift shopping is trending due to its sustainable approach, offering eco-friendly alternatives to fast fashion. As consumers become more conscious of environmental impact and seek unique, vintage items, thrift stores provide affordable and distinctive options. The rise of social media also promotes thrift culture, with influencers showcasing stylish finds, further fueling interest and making thrifting a popular choice for fashion-savvy shoppers.

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Second to none, thrifting set to outpace apparel market

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The rising number of offline and online thrift stores are in consonance with the demand, as indicated by reports too.

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11. Biohacking is picking up in India, with followers trying everything from cryotherapy to IV therapy. As more centres open up, taking the trend to the masses, should we practice some caution?

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11. Biohacking is picking up in India, with followers trying everything from cryotherapy to IV therapy. As more centres open up, taking the trend to the masses, should we practice some caution?

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Biohacking and the race to become superhuman

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Biohacking is picking up in India, with followers trying everything from cryotherapy to IV therapy. As more centres open up, taking the trend to the masses, should we practice some caution?

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Post 1:The headline “The Dangerous Evolution of Cancel Culture” discusses the growing and increasingly aggressive tactics used in cancel culture, particularly within academic settings12. This article highlights how cancel culture has evolved from social media boycotts to more direct actions, such as privately messaging students to discourage them from enrolling in certain courses12. This trend poses significant threats to free speech, open inquiry, and academic freedom.

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Post 1:The headline “The Dangerous Evolution of Cancel Culture” discusses the growing and increasingly aggressive tactics used in cancel culture, particularly within academic settings12. This article highlights how cancel culture has evolved from social media boycotts to more direct actions, such as privately messaging students to discourage them from enrolling in certain courses12. This trend poses significant threats to free speech, open inquiry, and academic freedom.

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1. Escalation of Tactics: Cancel culture has moved beyond public shaming on social media to more personal and direct methods, increasing the pressure on individuals ¹ ².

2. Impact on Education: The targeting of faculty and students disrupts the educational environment, stifling diverse viewpoints and open discussion ¹ ².

3. Broader Societal Implications: This evolution reflects a broader societal shift towards intolerance of differing opinions, which can undermine democratic principles and civil discourse ¹ ².

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America’s Regional Variations Are Wildly Overstated

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The Dangerous Evolution of Cancel Culture | Newgeography.com

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39. AR-enhanced museum tours are trending as they offer immersive, interactive experiences that bring exhibits to life through augmented reality. This technology makes museum visits more engaging by providing additional layers of information, 3D visualizations, and interactive storytelling. In today’s digital era, visitors are seeking more personalized, tech-driven experiences, and AR enhances learning and exploration, making it a popular trend in cultural spaces.

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39. AR-enhanced museum tours are trending as they offer immersive, interactive experiences that bring exhibits to life through augmented reality. This technology makes museum visits more engaging by providing additional layers of information, 3D visualizations, and interactive storytelling. In today’s digital era, visitors are seeking more personalized, tech-driven experiences, and AR enhances learning and exploration, making it a popular trend in cultural spaces.

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Augmented reality is the process of using technology to superimpose images, text or sounds on top of what a person can already see. It uses a smartphone or tablet to alter the existing picture, via an app. The user stands in front of a scene and holds up their device. It will show them an altered version of reality. There are many ways that museums could be using augmented reality.

A few of the most well-known applications of AR technology are from the gaming world. For example, Pokémon Go, the game where users can 'catch' Pokémon hiding in the world around them. Animated creatures are superimposed onto what players can see through their device's camera. The technology makes them appear as if they are existing in the real world. The app has been downloaded over one billion times. This shows that AR is accessible, and has the potential to reach a huge audience.

What is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality?

Virtual Reality offers total immersion in a different reality. However, AR shows reality and an altered version side by side. VR replaces what the user sees with an alternate reality. AR adds to what the user can already see. This means it can be useful for annotating scenes and providing extra information. It is also used to put scenes into context and highlight contrasts with the current reality. VR requires specialist technology, such as headsets, controllers and sensors. AR experiences only need a smartphone or tablet and are downloadable as apps.

How can museums use augmented reality?

There are many possibilities for the use of AR in museums. The most straightforward way is to use it to add explanations of pieces. This means visitors will get more information when they view exhibitions using AR. Museums could even use it to display digital versions of artists next to their work. These 3D personas are then able to provide a narration. AR gives an opportunity to add a third dimension to displays, bringing objects or scenes to life. There are already many institutions around the world using AR. These projects bring something new to existing collections and attract wider audiences. Here are some interesting ways that museums are using augmented reality.

Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

In June 2021, the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris launched an Augmented Reality experience using Microsoft's Hololens. The project called "REVIVRE" ("To Live Again") let visitors come face to face with digital animals which in the real world are now extinct.

The National Gallery

In 2021, The National Gallery in London looked to take the collections of the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts beyond their walls of the museum with an Augmented reality experience which members of the public could access through their phones. Users used an app to activate the artworks which were marked with QR codes on busy streets in central London.

The National Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore is currently running an immersive installation called Story of the Forest. The exhibition focuses on 69 images from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. These have been turned into three-dimensional animations that visitors can interact with. Visitors download an app and can then use the camera on their phone or tablet to explore the paintings.

The family-friendly installation uses technology to provide a learning experience. Much like Pokémon Go, visitors can hunt for and 'catch' items. In this case, these items are the plants and animals within the paintings. They can then add them to their own virtual collection as they walk around the museum. The app shows more information about them once they have been collected. Users can learn facts such as habitat, diet and how rare the species are.

The William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings is one of the museum's most important collections. Created by the Japanese digital art collective teamLab, this AR project brings the drawings to life. Audiences can interact with and explore the images in an exciting new way.

The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

In July 2017, the AGO worked with digital artist Alex Mayhew to create an AR installation called ReBlink. Mayhew reimagined some of the existing pieces in the collection. This gave visitors the opportunity to view them in a new light.

Visitors used their phones or tablets to see the subjects come alive and be transported to our 21st-century reality. For example, the painting Drawing Lots by George Agnew Reid depicts three characters. Their heads bend over their game together in a peaceful spot. In Mayhew's modern version, the three are separate and absorbed in phone screens of their own. Smoky traffic passes by behind. Mayhew is interested in the encroachment of technology on modern life. In his view, we are constantly bombarded by images and as a result, we consume art at a more rapid pace.

By using AR for this project, the artist hoped to turn technology into a way to engage rather than distract. The exhibition aimed to use the app to get people to look up, rather than look down. According to the AGO's Interpretive Planner Shiralee Hudson Hill, 84% of visitors to this exhibition reported feeling engaged with the art. 39% looked again at the images after using the app.

The Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

In 2017, the Smithsonian introduced AR technology to bring a whole new dimension to one of its oldest and most loved displays. Many of the skeletons in the museum's Bone Hall have been on show since 1881. Now visitors can download a new app called Skin and Bone which shows these pieces in a new light.

13 skeletons feature in the app, which superimposes images to reconstruct the creatures. Users can see how skin and muscle would have looked over the bones, and how the animals would have moved. This gives them a unique glimpse into the history of the pieces and helps to bring the display to life. Visitors can use the app to see a vampire bat take flight, or an anhinga demonstrating how it would have fished.

"This app is all about sharing some of the untold stories behind one of the museum's most iconic collections," said Robert Costello. He is the producer of the app and national outreach program manager at the Museum of Natural History.

The Pérez Art Museum, Miami

In December 2017, PAMM worked with artist Felice Grodin. Together they created the first fully augmented reality-powered art exhibition, called ' Invasive Species '. In the examples above, AR adds to existing works. However, Grodin's work for this project is completely digital. It is intended to be a full AR experience, conjuring images into an empty space.

The installation involved a series of digital images and species. These include eerie 3D models evoking creepy-crawlies, jellyfish or cryptic signs. Felice wanted to interact with the architecture of the building, and transform it. The exhibition is a comment on the fragility of our ecosystem and the threat of climate change. It transports visitors to a future version of the building, taken over by invasive species. For example, 'Terrafish' invades PAMM's hanging gardens with a 49ft tall jellyfish-like structure. It is reminiscent of a non-native species currently populating the waters around Miami.

PAMM curator Jennifer Inacio believes that art can be a pathway to debate. She wanted the exhibition to lead to conversations, to engage viewers in a dialogue, "The uncanny works that the artist created are meant to pull viewers into the serious discussion of climate change, but in an engaging and interactive way."

The Kennedy Space Centre, Merritt Island

AR can help visitors to understand historical events by making them appear in 3D. A great example of this is the Heroes and Legends exhibit in the Kennedy Space Centre. Here, an AR experience shows a key moment the history of America's space programme.

In June 1966, astronaut Gene Cernan performed the second spacewalk in history. He later called it the 'spacewalk from hell'. His spacesuit overheated and he went into an uncontrollable spin, unable to see. The display shows the Gemini 9 space capsule and uses AR to project a hologram of Cernan over it. Visitors can view the ordeal as he struggles to get back inside the capsule. There is also a voiceover from Cernan himself, describing his experience.

The exhibition uses AR holograms throughout. This technology gives faces and voices to the people who worked on the space programme. Visitors can hear stories from NASA legends told in their own words.

Are there any risks of using augmented reality in museums?

One of the concerns that PAMM had around its use of AR was the notion that technology can be isolating. Having visitors absorbed in the world on their phone and being in their own bubble would have run counter to what the artist wanted to achieve. In actual fact, it found that people were using the technology together. Groups were sharing screens and discussing what they could see. The exhibition even had the potential to engage strangers in conversation.

Another risk is that this new technology could exclude older generations. Digital natives and millennials are likely to take such installations in their stride. Older people could potentially struggle or feel left out. Again, PAMM found that this was not the case. Many of the visitors to their AR exhibition were aged 55+. This age group reported having a positive experience.

There have been some cases of unauthorised augmentations. The most famous example is from 2018 when a group of artists 'took over' MoMA's Jackson Pollock gallery. If visitors downloaded the app, they were able to see how these artists had reimagined the paintings. This included showing one piece as an Instagram post touting for likes. The concept is not too different to some of the examples above. But in this case, the artists did not have the permission of the museum. They were seeking to make a commentary on the position of the museum as 'cultural gate-keepers'.

Curators also need to be careful that AR installations don't have an impact on the work of other artists. PAMM was careful to only place Grodin's works in areas of the museum that were free of existing pieces, to avoid overwriting them.

What could the future hold for Augmented Reality in museums?

There are many exciting applications for augmented reality in the museum space. Virtual reality is still costly, prohibitively so in some cases. It needs a lot of specialist equipment. AR can provide a cheaper way to bring displays to life.

Museums and curators are already full of knowledge, and of the desire to engage people in a dialogue. Augmented reality is another tool that can communicate this knowledge. It invites visitors to find out more. A virtual rendition of an artist narrating his work has the potential to encourage more engagement. A skeleton that comes to life can help visitors understand new concepts. AR can even help contextualise history by blending the old and the new. For example, it can show historical scenes superimposed onto modern ones.

This technology can capture people's attention and keep their focus on exhibitions for longer. Before opening their AR installation, the AGO did a survey. It discovered the average visitor to the museum's collections spent on average only 2.31 seconds in front of each image. In a busy modern life where visitors are not always inclined to linger, museums can use AR technology to reach out and grab their attention.

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MuseumNext offer online learning for museum professionals striving for engaging, relevant and flexible professional growth content. Find out about our upcoming events here.

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Museums have been quick to adopt AR to create engaging interactives for their visitors. In this article we highlight the best uses of Augmented Reality in big name museums

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28. Ephemeral content, like Instagram Stories and Snapchat snaps, is trending due to its short-lived nature, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. It's relevant in today's fast-paced digital world, where people prefer quick, digestible content. Users are becoming conscious of privacy and fleeting attention spans, making ephemeral content appealing for its temporary, real-time engagement without long-term commitment.

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28. Ephemeral content, like Instagram Stories and Snapchat snaps, is trending due to its short-lived nature, creating a sense of urgency and exclusivity. It's relevant in today's fast-paced digital world, where people prefer quick, digestible content. Users are becoming conscious of privacy and fleeting attention spans, making ephemeral content appealing for its temporary, real-time engagement without long-term commitment.

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Ephemeral content and FOMO marketing: creating urgency in the digital marketing landscape

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Ephemeral content refers to any content that lasts for a certain period, typically 24 hours before it disappears

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The headline “Google Expands AI Tools for Advertisers” highlights Google’s recent updates to its AI-powered advertising tools. These enhancements include improved capabilities for creating and managing ad campaigns, particularly on platforms like YouTube1. This development is highly relevant in today’s context as businesses increasingly rely on AI to optimize their advertising strategies and reach target audiences more effectively.

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The headline “Google Expands AI Tools for Advertisers” highlights Google’s recent updates to its AI-powered advertising tools. These enhancements include improved capabilities for creating and managing ad campaigns, particularly on platforms like YouTube1. This development is highly relevant in today’s context as businesses increasingly rely on AI to optimize their advertising strategies and reach target audiences more effectively.

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1. Enhanced AI Capabilities: Google’s updates include advanced AI tools that help advertisers create more engaging and effective campaigns.

2. Broader Language Support: The AI tools are now available in more languages, making them accessible to a wider range of advertisers globally ².

3. Improved Advertiser Controls: New features provide advertisers with greater control over their campaigns, allowing for more precise targeting and optimization ².

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21. Embracing the Spectrum: Understanding Sexuality Identity in Today's World

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21. Embracing the Spectrum: Understanding Sexuality Identity in Today's World

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Sexuality identity encompasses the diverse ways individuals understand and express their sexual orientation and preferences. It reflects a broad spectrum, including identities such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, and many more. As society becomes more inclusive, recognizing and respecting each person's unique journey in exploring their sexuality is essential for fostering acceptance and promoting mental well-being. This exploration not only shapes personal relationships but also plays a vital role in cultural and social dynamics, inviting ongoing dialogue about identity, love, and belonging.

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What Is LBGTQ? | Sexual Identity Topics For Teens

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If you're a LGBTQ teen or ally, there are lots of resources to help you get the support and info you need as you work to understand yourself better.

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46.True crime podcasts are gaining popularity for their gripping storytelling and exploration of real-life mysteries. They are relevant today as more people seek engaging content that dives into human psychology and justice. As awareness of criminal cases and social issues grows, listeners are becoming more conscious of true crime's ability to inform, entertain, and spark discussions around justice and morality.

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46.True crime podcasts are gaining popularity for their gripping storytelling and exploration of real-life mysteries. They are relevant today as more people seek engaging content that dives into human psychology and justice. As awareness of criminal cases and social issues grows, listeners are becoming more conscious of true crime's ability to inform, entertain, and spark discussions around justice and morality.

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How do true crime podcasts impact public interest in criminal cases?

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The true crime genre is more popular than ever. But with so many people consuming true crime content, how does this trend affect actual criminal investigations and ongoing court cases?

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post 36:The headline “Venezuela Becomes First Country to Lose All Glaciers Amid Global Warming Crisis” highlights a critical environmental issue. Venezuela has lost its last glacier, the Humboldt Glacier, due to rising global temperatures12. This event is significant as it underscores the severe impact of climate change, with glaciers being key indicators of global warming. 

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post 36:The headline “Venezuela Becomes First Country to Lose All Glaciers Amid Global Warming Crisis” highlights a critical environmental issue. Venezuela has lost its last glacier, the Humboldt Glacier, due to rising global temperatures12. This event is significant as it underscores the severe impact of climate change, with glaciers being key indicators of global warming. 

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1. Climate Change Impact: The disappearance of glaciers is a direct consequence of global warming, reflecting the broader environmental crisis.

2. Ecosystem Disruption: The loss of glaciers affects local water supplies and biodiversity, impacting both human and natural systems.

3. Global Implications: This event serves as a warning for other regions, highlighting the need for immediate and sustained climate action to mitigate further losses ¹ ².

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Venezuela becomes first country to lose all glaciers amid global warming crisis

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Venezuela has become the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers, highlighting the urgent reality of climate change. Scientists have reclassified the Humboldt Glacier, Venezuela’s last remaining glacier, as an ice field, signaling the end of an era for the Andean nation.

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38. Celebrating Love and Diversity: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2023

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38. Celebrating Love and Diversity: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2023

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Honoring the history, achievements, and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. Across the globe, pride parades, educational events, and cultural activities united millions in a powerful display of love, acceptance, and solidarity. This year’s theme emphasized the importance of inclusivity and representation, reminding us of the ongoing fight for equality and the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Through art, activism, and personal stories, the month served as a reminder to celebrate diversity and foster a more inclusive society for everyone.

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From the Library of Congress:

"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as 'Gay Pride Day,' but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the 'day' soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally."

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The 2021 American Community Survey estimated there were 1.2M same-sex couple households in the U.S., and of them, 59% (711,129) were married couples.

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48. ASMR content is gaining popularity for its calming effects, helping people relax, reduce stress, and improve sleep. It's relevant today as more individuals seek mental health support and ways to unwind in a fast-paced world. As awareness of self-care and wellness grows, people are becoming conscious of ASMR's ability to provide soothing, sensory experiences, contributing to its widespread appeal.

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48. ASMR content is gaining popularity for its calming effects, helping people relax, reduce stress, and improve sleep. It's relevant today as more individuals seek mental health support and ways to unwind in a fast-paced world. As awareness of self-care and wellness grows, people are becoming conscious of ASMR's ability to provide soothing, sensory experiences, contributing to its widespread appeal.

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Allison Mooney Head of Trends and Insights, Marketing at Google

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ASMR videos: The biggest YouTube trend you’ve never heard of - Think with Google

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Sound-oriented ‘ASMR’ videos are resonating with millions of YouTube users. Learn how some brands are raising their profiles by lowering the volume.

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Makeup transcends traditional beauty norms, inviting everyone to embrace their unique style. Whether you prefer a bold, artistic look or subtle enhancement, makeup empowers you to express your personality and creativity. It's not just about covering flaws; it’s a celebration of individuality, confidence, and self-love. With a vast array of products and techniques available, makeup truly is for everyone—encouraging all to explore and redefine their beauty on their own terms.

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Now that people of all genders have embraced the rituals of beauty, once seemingly reserved only for women, what does it mean to adorn our faces?

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post 22:The article titled “Truck Drivers Can Drive 800 Kms/Day: Expressways Master Plan For 2047” discusses India’s ambitious plan to enhance its highway and expressway infrastructure by 2047. This master plan aims to enable truck drivers to cover up to 800 kilometers per day, significantly improving logistics efficiency1.

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post 22:The article titled “Truck Drivers Can Drive 800 Kms/Day: Expressways Master Plan For 2047” discusses India’s ambitious plan to enhance its highway and expressway infrastructure by 2047. This master plan aims to enable truck drivers to cover up to 800 kilometers per day, significantly improving logistics efficiency1.

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Relevance to Today’s Context: In today’s fast-paced world, efficient logistics are crucial for economic growth. This plan is particularly relevant as it aims to reduce logistics costs, improve India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, and support the country’s broader Vision 2047 goals. Enhancing the transportation network will not only boost trade but also contribute to overall economic development ¹.

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Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

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Truck Drivers Can Drive 800 Kms/Day: Expressways Master Plan For 2047 - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups

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The center appears to be working on a National Master Plan for development of highways and expressways for 2047. How Does This Help? This plan holds a great significance as it will enable trucks to more than double the distance they cover in a day to 800 km, as informed by a senior official on […]

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Embracing Mental Wellness: Nurturing the Mind for a Brighter Tomorrow

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Embracing Mental Wellness: Nurturing the Mind for a Brighter Tomorrow

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Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social dimensions. It influences how we think, feel, and act, shaping our interactions with others and our ability to cope with life’s challenges. Prioritizing mental wellness means fostering resilience, practicing self-care, and seeking support when needed. By breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, we can create a more compassionate society where individuals feel empowered to share their struggles and celebrate their journeys toward healing and growth.

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NAMI recognizes that other organizations have drawn distinctions between what diagnoses are considered "mental health conditions" as opposed to "mental illnesses." We intentionally use the terms "mental health conditions" and "mental illness/es" interchangeably. A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood.

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post:16The article titled “Swedish Space Delegation Bets on Industry Meet to Propel Ties with India” discusses a recent initiative by a Swedish space delegation to strengthen collaboration with India through an industry meet. This event aims to foster partnerships in technology, research, and space sectors between the two nations1.

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post:16The article titled “Swedish Space Delegation Bets on Industry Meet to Propel Ties with India” discusses a recent initiative by a Swedish space delegation to strengthen collaboration with India through an industry meet. This event aims to foster partnerships in technology, research, and space sectors between the two nations1.

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Relevance to Today’s Context: In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, international collaborations like this are crucial. They not only enhance innovation and technological advancements but also contribute to global sustainability efforts. The partnership between Sweden and India highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing global challenges and leveraging each other’s strengths in space technology and research ¹.

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Swedish space delegation bets on industry meet to propel ties with India - News Karnataka

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Sweden aims to bolster collaborations with India in space technology, leveraging innovation and private sector partnerships, Swedish officials stated.

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Navigating the Silent Struggle: Mental Health Challenges Among Students Today

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Navigating the Silent Struggle: Mental Health Challenges Among Students Today

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In an era marked by academic pressure, social media influence, and a rapidly changing world, students are facing unprecedented mental health challenges. Issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout have become alarmingly common, affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. The stigma surrounding mental health often discourages open dialogue, leaving many to grapple with their struggles in silence. It is crucial for educational institutions, families, and peers to foster supportive environments that prioritize mental health awareness and provide accessible resources for those in need.

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Mental health issues that students are facing today

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As we speak there is one suicide attempt every three seconds and one death by suicide every forty seconds by our youth. These statistics alone are alarming enough to take cognizance of the fact that mental health among students is going to be the next crisis.

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9. In the intersection of e-commerce and media, shoppable content allows viewers to purchase products directly from videos, TV shows, or digital articles. This trend, gaining traction with the rise of influencer marketing, blurs the lines between content and commerce, turning media into a seamless shopping experience.

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9. In the intersection of e-commerce and media, shoppable content allows viewers to purchase products directly from videos, TV shows, or digital articles. This trend, gaining traction with the rise of influencer marketing, blurs the lines between content and commerce, turning media into a seamless shopping experience.

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Shoppable content: Definition, platforms, and examples

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This article highlights the advancements in social commerce, including new platforms to add shoppable content to, like Twitter and TikTok.

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37. 11 Key Hurdles to Achieving Women's Equality by 2030

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37. 11 Key Hurdles to Achieving Women's Equality by 2030

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As the global push for gender equality intensifies, women continue to face significant challenges that impede progress. From economic disparities and inadequate access to education, to cultural biases and systemic violence, these eleven critical hurdles highlight the multifaceted nature of inequality. By understanding and addressing these barriers, we can pave the way for a more equitable future, empowering women and fostering inclusive societies by the year 2030. Join the conversation on how we can collectively overcome these obstacles and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all women.

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With just 27 per cent of parliamentary seats, 36 per cent of local government seats, and 28 per cent of management positions held by women, there is a lack of diverse perspectives in decision-making processes, hindering comprehensive policy formulation.
2. Poverty and lack of economic opportunities
More than 340 million women and girls are projected to live in extreme poverty by 2030. This represents a staggering 8 per cent of the global female population surviving on less than USD 2.15 a day. Social protections, access to decent work, and other support systems are urgently needed to provide a path out of poverty.
3. Workplace discrimination and inequalities
Only 61 per cent of prime working-age women participate in the labour force, compared to 91 per cent of prime working-age men. This affects both economic growth and societal progress. In 2019, for each dollar men earned in labour income, women earned only 51 cents.
4. An imbalance in unpaid care work
On the current trajectory, the gap between the time spent by women and men on unpaid care will narrow slightly, but by 2050, women globally will still be spending 9.5 per cent more time (2.3 more hours per day) on unpaid care work than men. This persistent gap limits women's participation in education, employment, and other opportunities.
5. Social norms and cultural practices
Harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation persist. Globally, one in five young women is married before age 18. The prevalence of child marriage highlights the need for attitudinal shifts and the promotion of legal frameworks that safeguard women and girls' rights.
6. Inadequate access to education and health care
An estimated 110 million girls and young women may remain out of school by 2030. Stalled progress in reducing maternal mortality and expanding educational opportunities call for targeted interventions to meet the 2030 goals.
7. Food insecurity
Nearly 24 per cent of women and girls are expected to experience moderate to severe food insecurity by 2030. Empowering women in food and agricultural systems by enhancing access to land and resources is vital for ensuring food security and economic growth.
8. Violence against women and girls
Each year, 245 million women and girls experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Older women also face higher rates of poverty and violence than older men.
9. Inadequate funding for gender equality initiatives
Only 4 per cent of total bilateral aid is allocated to gender equality and women's empowerment. The additional investment needed for achieving gender equality by 2030 is estimated at USD 360 billion per year.
10. Legal barriers and poorly enforced legislation
At least 28 countries do not have laws granting women equal rights to enter marriage and initiate divorce, and 67 countries lack laws prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination against women. Where legislation does exist to promote gender equality, effective implementation remains a challenge.
11. Lack of access to clean energy and sanitation
An estimated 341 million women and girls are projected to lack electricity by 2030. Universal access could significantly reduce poverty and improve women's health.

With just seven years remaining to achieve the 2030 targets, concerted efforts and funding are more necessary than ever. Each step forward, no matter how incremental, brings us closer to a future where gender equality is not just a goal, but a reality.

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The 11 biggest hurdles for women's equality by 2030 | UN Women - Headquarters

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There are only seven years left for the world to fulfil the promises made to girls and women in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and a new report highlights the biggest challenges remaining for global gender equality.

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NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are being explored as a new way to support independent journalism. Journalists and media outlets are creating and selling NFTs of exclusive stories, content, or digital assets to fund reporting. This trend combines decentralized finance with content creation, offering new revenue streams for struggling media outlets.

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NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are being explored as a new way to support independent journalism. Journalists and media outlets are creating and selling NFTs of exclusive stories, content, or digital assets to fund reporting. This trend combines decentralized finance with content creation, offering new revenue streams for struggling media outlets.

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Could NFTs help the media, or are they just a sideshow?

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Over the past several months, technology journalists have had to get used to a new concept: the “non-fungible token,” or NFT, a concept that has been lighting up the cryptocurrency world, as well as art and media. An NFT is a string of code that, once it has been “minted” (generated by a computer) resides […]

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The article highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the rapid acceleration of innovation and startup culture in India. He attributes this growth to timely government decisions and initiatives like hackathons and the ‘Startup Mahakumbh,’ which have fostered a supportive environment for startups1.

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The article highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the rapid acceleration of innovation and startup culture in India. He attributes this growth to timely government decisions and initiatives like hackathons and the ‘Startup Mahakumbh,’ which have fostered a supportive environment for startups1.

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Economic Growth: Startups contributing significantly to India’s economy ¹.

Government Support: Policies and initiatives aiding startup growth ¹.

Youth Empowerment: Young entrepreneurs driving innovation ¹.

Global Competitiveness: India’s rising status as a global startup hub ¹.

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India is emerging as the new centre for startups because the government took the right decisions at the right time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

"Innovation and startup-culture trends are on the rise in our country," he said. "Startup Mahakumbh has a big role to play, it showcases innovations like never before."

The event has both young and future entrepreneurs. It is important for the young growing Indian economy, Modi said in his address at the 'Startup Mahakumbh' in New Delhi. The event is a forum which brings together stakeholders from the world of startups, innovators and upcoming entrepreneurs.

"The reason why India is emerging as the new centre for startups is because we took the right decisions at the right time," he said. "The youth of the country has helped us reach the fifth-largest economy. I promise to make India the third-largest economy."

The prime minister said events like hackathons and various events organised by the government helped in the growth of the startups in the country. "They connected the innovators to the investors. It gave the innovators from tier 2, tier 3 cities to incubate their ideas as well," he said.

Modi said India became the third-largest ecosystem for startups. "We have nearly 1.25 lakh registered startups in the country. We have more than 110 unicorns. Indian startups have filed for over 12,000 patents so far."

He urged all the innovators to apply for patents first or along with their startup business.

Startups have conducted business for over Rs 20,000 crore in the Government e-Marketplace so far. The young entrepreneurs have become job makers from being job seekers, according to the prime minister.

Modi said Indian startups were doing a great job in the space sector and many were already launching space shuttles. "I saw some great innovations in different sectors - agriculture, yoga and space. It is good to know that young Indians are dreaming to be an innovator, along with being a doctor or engineer," he said.

Digitisation has helped in the growth of both the rural and urban economy, he said. "Indian startups are able to perform with minimum needs, it is the real strength of our ecosystem."

"More than 45% of the startups are being led by women in our country. Our daughters are leading our country via cutting-edge technology," he said, highlighting how the startups were also driving women empowerment.

Modi also asserted that India would have an upper hand on artificial intelligence.

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Innovation, Startup-Culture Trend Accelerating In India: PM Modi

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India is emerging as the new centre for startups because "we took the right decisions" at the right time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday. "Innovation and startup-culture trends are on the rise in our country," he said. "Startup Mahakumbh has a big role to play, it showcases innovations like never before."

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20. Redefining Boundaries: The Modern Landscape of Gender Equality

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20. Redefining Boundaries: The Modern Landscape of Gender Equality

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In today's world, gender equality manifests in diverse forms, reflecting progress across various sectors, including politics, education, and the workplace. It encompasses equal access to opportunities, resources, and rights, transcending traditional gender roles and biases. From female leadership in business to inclusive policies that support both men and women in caregiving roles, the movement toward gender parity continues to evolve. Yet, challenges persist, highlighting the need for ongoing advocacy and systemic change to ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to society without barriers.

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Progress towards gender equality is looking bleak. But it doesn't need to.

A new global analysis of progress on gender equality and women's rights shows women and girls remain disproportionately affected by the socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling with disproportionately high job and livelihood losses, education disruptions and increased burdens of unpaid care work. Women's health services, poorly funded even before the pandemic, faced major disruptions, undermining women's sexual and reproductive health. And despite women's central role in responding to COVID-19, including as front-line health workers, they are still largely bypassed for leadership positions they deserve.

UN Women's latest report, together with UN DESA, Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2021 presents the latest data on gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The report highlights the progress made since 2015 but also the continued alarm over the COVID-19 pandemic, its immediate effect on women's well-being and the threat it poses to future generations.

We're breaking down some of the findings from the report, and calling for the action needed to accelerate progress.

The pandemic is making matters worse

One and a half years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the toll on the poorest and most vulnerable people remains devastating and disproportionate. The combined impact of conflict, extreme weather events and COVID-19 has deprived women and girls of even basic needs such as food security. Without urgent action to stem rising poverty, hunger and inequality, especially in countries affected by conflict and other acute forms of crisis, millions will continue to suffer.

A global goal by global goal reality check:
Goal 1. Poverty
In 2021, extreme poverty is on the rise and progress towards its elimination has reversed. An estimated 435 million women and girls globally are living in extreme poverty.

And yet we can change this.

Over 150 million women and girls could emerge from poverty by 2030 if governments implement a comprehensive strategy to improve access to education and family planning, achieve equal wages and extend social transfers.
Goal 2. Zero hunger
The global gender gap in food security has risen dramatically during the pandemic, with more women and girls going hungry. Women's food insecurity levels were 10 per cent higher than men's in 2020, compared with 6 per cent higher in 2019.

This trend can be reversed, including by supporting women small-scale producers, who typically earn far less than men, through increased funding, training and land rights reforms.
Goal 3. Good health and well-being
Disruptions in essential health services due to COVID-19 are taking a tragic toll on women and girls. In the first year of the pandemic, there were an estimated 1.4 million additional unintended pregnancies in lower and middle-income countries.

We need to do better.

Response to the pandemic must include prioritizing sexual and reproductive health services, ensuring they continue to operate safely now and after the pandemic is long over. In addition, more support is needed to ensure life-saving personal protection equipment, tests, oxygen and especially vaccines are available in rich and poor countries alike as well as to vulnerable population within countries.
Goal 4. Quality education
A year and a half into the pandemic, schools remain partially or fully closed in 42 per cent of the world's countries and territories. School closures spell lost opportunities for girls and an increased risk of violence, exploitation and early marriage.

Governments can do more to protect girls education.

Measures focused specifically on supporting girls returning to school are urgently needed, including measures focused on girls from marginalized communities who are most at risk.
Goal 5. Gender equality
The pandemic has tested and even reversed progress in expanding women's rights and opportunities. Reports of violence against women and girls, a "shadow" pandemic to COVID-19, are increasing in many parts of the world. COVID-19 is also intensifying women's workload at home, forcing many to leave the labour force altogether.

And yet we can change this.

Building forward differently and better will hinge on placing women and girls at the centre of all aspects of response and recovery, including through gender-responsive laws, policies and budgeting.
Goal 6. Clean water and sanitation
In 2018, nearly 2.3 billion people lived in water-stressed countries. Without safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and menstrual hygiene facilities, women and girls find it harder to lead safe, productive and healthy lives.

Change is possible.

Involve those most impacted in water management processes, including women. Women's voices are often missing in water management processes.
Goal 7. Affordable and clean energy
Increased demand for clean energy and low-carbon solutions is driving an unprecedented transformation of the energy sector. But women are being left out. Women hold only 32 per cent of renewable energy jobs.

We can do better.

Expose girls early on to STEM education, provide training and support to women entering the energy field, close the pay gap and increase women's leadership in the energy sector.
Goal 8. Decent work and economic growth
The number of employed women declined by 54 million in 2020 and 45 million women left the labour market altogether. Women have suffered steeper job losses than men, along with increased unpaid care burdens at home.

We must do more to support women in the workforce.

Guarantee decent work for all, introduce labour laws/reforms, removing legal barriers for married women entering the workforce, support access to affordable/quality childcare.
Goal 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The COVID-19 crisis has spurred striking achievements in medical research and innovation. Women's contribution has been profound. But still only a little over a third of graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics field are female.
We can take action today.
Quotas mandating that a proportion of research grants are awarded to women-led teams or teams that include women is one concrete way to support women researchers.
Goal 10. Reduced inequalities
Limited progress for women is being eroded by the pandemic. Women facing multiple forms of discrimination, including women and girls with disabilities, migrant women, women discriminated against because of their race/ethnicity are especially affected.

We need to do better.

Commit to end racism and discrimination in all its forms, invest in inclusive, universal, gender responsive social protection systems that support all women.
Goal 11. Sustainable cities and communities
Globally, more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements and slums. Women and girls, often overrepresented in these densely populated areas, suffer from lack of access to basic water and sanitation, health care and transportation.

The needs of urban poor women must be prioritized.

Increase the provision of durable and adequate housing and equitable access to land; included women in urban planning and development processes.
Goal 12. Sustainable consumption and production; Goal 13. Climate action; Goal 14. Life below water; and Goal 15. Life on land
Women activists, scientists and researchers are working hard to solve the climate crisis but often without the same platforms as men to share their knowledge and skills. Only 29 per cent of featured speakers at international ocean science conferences are women.

And yet we can change this.

Ensure women activists, scientists and researchers have equal voice, representation and access to forums where these issues are being discussed and debated.
Goal 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
The lack of women in decision-making limits the reach and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergency recovery efforts. In conflict-affected countries, 18.9 per cent of parliamentary seats are held by women, much lower than the global average of 25.6 per cent.

This is unacceptable.

It's time for women to have an equal share of power and decision-making at all levels.
Goal 17. Global partnerships for the goals
There are just 9 years left to achieve the Global Goals by 2030, and gender equality cuts across all 17 of them. With COVID-19 slowing progress on women's rights, the time to act is now.

Looking ahead

As it stands today, only one indicator under the global goal for gender equality (SDG5) is 'close to target': proportion of seats held by women in local government. In other areas critical to women's empowerment, equality in time spent on unpaid care and domestic work and decision making regarding sexual and reproductive health the world is far from target. Without a bold commitment to accelerate progress, the global community will fail to achieve gender equality. Building forward differently and better will require placing women and girls at the centre of all aspects of response and recovery, including through gender-responsive laws, policies and budgeting.

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feature-what does gender equality look like today

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What does gender equality look like today?

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A new global analysis of progress on gender equality and women's rights shows women and girls remain disproportionately affected by the socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling with disproportionately high job and livelihood losses, education disruptions and increased burdens of unpaid care work.

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The article explores the “girl mossing” wellness trend, which encourages people to reject hustle culture by spending time in nature. This trend involves activities like lying on a forest floor and appreciating the natural environment, promoting rest and relaxation as a counter to the pressures of modern life

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The article explores the “girl mossing” wellness trend, which encourages people to reject hustle culture by spending time in nature. This trend involves activities like lying on a forest floor and appreciating the natural environment, promoting rest and relaxation as a counter to the pressures of modern life

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Mental Health: Addresses the need for mental well-being and stress relief ¹.

Anti-Hustle Culture: Pushes back against the relentless productivity demands of hustle culture ¹.

Nature Connection: Emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of connecting with nature ¹.

Social Media Influence: Gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok and Instagram ¹.

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What Is Girl Mossing, The Wellness Trend That Rejects Hustle Culture?

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Girl mossing recognises a need to step away from the pressures of modern, urban life, promoting spending time in nature as a restorative practice.

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13. Breaking Barriers: Unpacking the Real Challenges Facing Women Today

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13. Breaking Barriers: Unpacking the Real Challenges Facing Women Today

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Despite significant strides toward gender equality, many women still face barriers that hinder their personal and professional growth. From systemic discrimination and cultural biases to societal expectations and lack of representation, these challenges can manifest in various aspects of life, including the workplace, education, and family dynamics. Understanding the root causes of these obstacles is crucial for empowering women to overcome them and create a more equitable future for all. This exploration delves into the multifaceted issues that hold women back and highlights the need for continued advocacy and systemic change.

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Ask people to explain why women remain so dramatically underrepresented in the senior ranks of most companies, and you will hear from the vast majority a lament that goes something like this: High-level jobs require extremely long hours, women's devotion to family makes it impossible to put in those hours, and so their careers inevitably suffer.

Not so, say the authors, who spent 18 months working with a global consulting firm that wanted to know why it had so few women in positions of power. Although virtually every employee the authors interviewed related a form of the standard explanation, the firm's data told a different story. Women weren't being held back because of trouble balancing work and family; men, too, suffered from that problem and nevertheless advanced. Women were held back because they were encouraged to take accommodations, such as going part-time and shifting to internally facing roles, which derailed their careers.

The real culprit in women's stalled advancement, the authors conclude, is a general culture of overwork that hurts both sexes and locks gender equality in place. To solve this problem, they argue, we must reconsider what we're willing to allow the workplace to demand of all employees.

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Ask people to explain why women remain so dramatically underrepresented in the senior ranks of most companies, and you will hear from the vast majority a lament that goes something like this: High-level jobs require extremely long hours, women's devotion to family makes it impossible to put in those hours, and so their careers inevitably suffer.

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7.  As populations age, startups are focusing on solutions that help seniors live independently for longer. Aging in place technologies, home care services, senior living communities, and wearable tech for health monitoring are growing sectors within the elder care industry.

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7.  As populations age, startups are focusing on solutions that help seniors live independently for longer. Aging in place technologies, home care services, senior living communities, and wearable tech for health monitoring are growing sectors within the elder care industry.

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Caring for senior citizens at home can be challenging for a middle-aged or young person. From ensuring every material need is in place to taking care of the health, there are multiple aspects to consider when you have a senior citizen at home. If your home's senior citizen has movement issues, you might have to plan things differently.
One of the most important aspects of ensuring senior citizens' comfort and good health is ensuring that the home is safe and comfortable. After all, this prevents injury, ensures a comfortable sleep and helps in the long run for senior citizens. We have listed some of how you can create a safe and comfortable home for senior citizens. So, keep reading further and you will understand how to make your home better for your ageing parents.

Ensure that the path for movement is always clear and the seniors face no difficulty in movement at home. This is a massive step in preventing injuries and ensuring that the seniors in your home can walk smoothly and independently. This would also depend on whether the seniors are walking independently, with the help of support or moving with the help of a wheelchair.

As age increases, the eyes require more light to be able to see things. This is irrespective of whether the vision is alright or not. So, it is important to ensure that your home is well-lit to let seniors move confidently in the entire home. This should be a mix of natural lights and white and yellow lights depending on the preferences of your family members. And, if your home does not get enough sunlight, you can try going for light-coloured or sheer curtains to make the most of the natural light for senior citizens during the day.
Besides doing every basic change in your home for senior citizens, it is important to get their health check-ups done from time to time. And, taking the help of a team of experts is usually a better option than trying to manage everything on your own. With Samarth, an elderly care support organization, you can have doctor assistance, emergency support for senior citizens and timely check-ups without stepping out of your home. With tailored senior care packages available, you can easily go for the one that matches your needs and ensures that your parent or other senior relative gets the best care. Know more here.

Many times, it is practically impossible to have a 24x7 attendant to take care of the seniors of your family. Also, having support when movement is limited might even lead to over-dependence which might not be great in the long run. To ensure that your elders are independent and confident in their personal space, you can get handrails installed in your home close to the bed, the favourite chair of your elders or along the staircase. Also, you can go for a stair lift if your home has multiple floors and help is not available for this difficult movement. Explore more here. .

It is always advisable to have a folding wheelchair at or around your home to ensure that you are prepared for emergencies. While it might not be needed every day for movement, a wheelchair is a convenient option if you are taking your elders for a medical checkup when they are not in their best health. Not every home might have it but it should be accessible in your neighbourhood or apartment to ensure convenience on bad days.

Bathroom safety is one of the most important aspects of ensuring a safe space for your elders. Non-slippery floors, floor mats that do not get disruptive while walking and more are other important aspects that you must consider. Also, if the bathroom entry is at an elevated level as compared to the level of your regular flooring, you should have a handle along the door to offer additional support when seniors are entering the bathroom. Having handrails along the bathing area or close to the commode seat can work as an added comfort attachment that will make your home a comfortable place for senior citizens.

You understand the importance of sound sleep every night. And, it is even more important for seniors because their immune system is not very strong. In instances where the movement is limited, you can go for air beds or water beds to ensure that the patient does not start suffering from bed sores due to low or no movement. There might also be cases when your senior family member needs support in getting up from the bed. So, you may replace a regular bed with an adjustable bed that can be elevated from the upper half to make it easy for the person to get up.

Sitting in a room with good ventilation or living in a properly ventilated home is important for health. It is even more important for seniors who have limited movement and are taking medicines for their overall health. Ensure that your home is properly ventilated and the windows are opened regularly for fresh air flow. This will not only help in enhancing the immunity of seniors but also work to uplift the mood.

Maintaining the hygiene levels in your home is another important step to ensure that the environment stays safe and comfortable inside the home. This is not just important from the health angle but is also needed to prevent injuries by allowing a smooth movement of seniors inside and outside the home. The hygiene aspect becomes even more important when the senior citizen's movement is limited to avoid bed sores because of staying on the bed all day.

Everyone needs company to stay mentally happy and active. The same applies to seniors who do not have a large number of friends and do not step out regularly. They must have a company in their age group and that can happen if you make them a part of social and recreational activities in your area. This will give them something to look forward to for a few days and ensure that their mind is refreshed every few days. While the start of a new routine might be difficult at the start, once the momentum is set, this might even work as a good way of exercising for seniors as they will be stepping out and walking regularly.

There are plenty of gadgets available for senior citizens these days. These include smartwatches with constant monitoring of health metrics to keep a health check and send an alert in cases of emergencies. Also, support devices like a motorised wheelchair, hearing aids, BP monitor, glucometer, oximeter, thermometer, e-readers, home monitoring devices and more should be used as per the need. You can even have a smart camera installed in the room to easily communicate with your elders when you are not at home. Know more here.

When you have elders at home, it is important to make the necessary furniture arrangements to ensure that every family member is comfortable. Avoid having furniture with sharp corners or go for corner-proofing to avoid injuries. You might also have to change the bed or mattress in cases of special needs to ensure the safety and comfort of senior citizens. It is mentally and physically important for senior citizens to have a comfortable or favourite spot in their homes. Go for special chairs or recliners where elders can sit peacefully to have a cup of tea or relax every day.

When you are considering making changes in your entire home for senior citizens, you cannot forget the kitchen. After all, food is essential and it might be a place of hazard if something is ignored or not managed properly in the kitchen. For seniors, it is important that the kitchen flooring is even and non-slippery. The lighting should be adequate and the shelves should be at a height 3 inches lower than regular shelves. Avoid having too many things on the bottom shelves that might need seniors to bend down now and then. For safety reasons, you can consider getting a fire alarm and a fire extinguisher installed in the kitchen to minimise the damage in cases of mishaps.

Falling and getting injured is one of the biggest problems with senior citizens. This can make things difficult for you as a caretaker or child. To avoid this, ensure that seniors are getting proper sleep every night and are visiting the doctor for medical checkups regularly. Also, it is important to get the hearing and vision tested regularly. Practice that seniors stand and sit slowly instead of doing that instantly. This ensures a smooth movement of limbs that corresponds with the blood circulation in the body at that age. The floor of your entire home should not be slippery and any accidental spills of water or liquids should be wiped off immediately.

It is important to ensure that all the necessary medicines are at home all the time. At any point in time, you should always have a stock of at least 15 days of regular medicines at home. This will ensure that the medicine supply is never short even if the shop is closed, a particular medicine is not available instantly or you are travelling and cannot get medicines on time. Also, go for tools like medicine organisers and pill cutters to make the lives of seniors easier and prevent health troubles that can be caused by missing a medicine or taking an incorrect medicine. Read more here.

The safety and comfort of a senior in a home also depend on how happy and healthy the person is emotionally. Spend time, talk to them and keep them happy and you will see a positive change in their lifestyle and overall health. Yes, there might be tough times and disagreements but it is possible to conclude if you are handling the situations patiently with your elderly parents or relatives at home.

While no one wants to be in an emergency, it is always advisable to plan for emergencies. It becomes essential when you have senior citizens at home because any health emergency can happen at any time. Check with the doctor and have some emergency medicines prescribed that you must have at home. Also, keep emergency contact numbers on alert via the smartwatch or have them written at an accessible location at home. So, even if you are not at home and someone else handles the situation, the emergency contacts can be informed at the right time.
DISCLAIMER: At TOI, we keep you informed about the newest trends and products. The products listed have been well studied and researched, and are also in line with customer ratings. TOI is part of an affiliate partnership, meaning we may receive a portion of the revenue from your purchases. The product prices mentioned in the article are subject to change, as per retailers' deals

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Ageing In Place: Creating A Safe & Comfortable Home Environment For Seniors - Times of India

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Want to take care of the elderly at your home? Here is a list of everything you can do to make them feel safe and comfortable at your home. Keep readi

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37. Regenerative business models go beyond sustainability to restore or improve the ecosystems they touch. This can mean restoring biodiversity, improving soil health, or creating regenerative supply chains that actually improve the environment or society as they grow.

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37. Regenerative business models go beyond sustainability to restore or improve the ecosystems they touch. This can mean restoring biodiversity, improving soil health, or creating regenerative supply chains that actually improve the environment or society as they grow.

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Regenerative Business: Build a Net Positive Future | SAP Insights

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Reducing environmental harm is not enough. For greater sustainability and our survival, companies must shift operations from net-zero to net-positive.

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29. Empowering Women’s Health: Paving the Path to Gender Equality

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29. Empowering Women’s Health: Paving the Path to Gender Equality

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The intersection of women's health and gender equality becomes increasingly vital. This vision encompasses not only access to quality healthcare but also the dismantling of societal barriers that hinder women's full participation in all spheres of life. By prioritizing comprehensive health services, mental well-being, and reproductive rights, we empower women to lead healthier, more equitable lives.

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12. Subscriptions are not just for streaming services anymore. Businesses are exploring subscription-based ownership models for everything from furniture and cars to clothing. This model allows customers to lease or subscribe to products, upgrading or returning them as needed, reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles.

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12. Subscriptions are not just for streaming services anymore. Businesses are exploring subscription-based ownership models for everything from furniture and cars to clothing. This model allows customers to lease or subscribe to products, upgrading or returning them as needed, reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles.

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Subscription Service Model: How To Build A Profitable Business

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One business model that has seized the zeitgeist is the subscription service. This business model provides sustainable revenue. Here’s a guide to get started.

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post 33:India has decided not to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, which is under Western sanctions. This decision was confirmed by India’s Oil Secretary, highlighting the impact of international sanctions on energy trade1.

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post 33:India has decided not to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, which is under Western sanctions. This decision was confirmed by India’s Oil Secretary, highlighting the impact of international sanctions on energy trade1.

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Geopolitical Tensions: Reflects the ongoing geopolitical complexities and sanctions against Russia ¹.

Energy Security: India’s strategic decisions in securing energy sources amid global uncertainties ¹.

Economic Impact: Potential implications for global LNG markets and pricing ¹.

International Relations: India’s stance in balancing relations with Western countries and Russia ¹.

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As remote work continues to rise, entire business ecosystems are being built to cater to digital nomads, offering coworking spaces, visa services, insurance, and community-building platforms. Entrepreneurs are tapping into this mobile workforce by creating services and products specifically for remote workers and nomads.

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As remote work continues to rise, entire business ecosystems are being built to cater to digital nomads, offering coworking spaces, visa services, insurance, and community-building platforms. Entrepreneurs are tapping into this mobile workforce by creating services and products specifically for remote workers and nomads.

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Where in the world would you work from if you could? A hilltop village in Croatia? The hip surfing town of Tarifa in southern Spain? Or the lively city of Bogotá in Colombia? All three have recently emerged as locations that are now tempting people to pack their bags and work remotely thanks to their respective digital nomad visas.

With 50-plus countries (the number is growing all the time - the Czech Republic is one of the latest) enticing digital nomads with a visa typically lasting a year or longer, the ability to work from anywhere has become a more appetising proposition - especially with the cost of living crisis hitting pockets hard in the UK. It has really taken off afterthe coronavirus pandemic.

As the UK heads into winter, a fair few people will be mulling over the idea of setting up shop in another part of the world for a spell.

One recent report said digital nomads "have moved from eccentrics to mainstream in less than a decade", with one in nine (11%) US workers now describing themselves as one. Another said it expects the global number of digital nomads to top 40 million this year, and rise to about 60 million by 2030.

However, the visa schemes vary, with some more restrictive than others in terms of how they operate and who is eligible.

Previously largely a "tech" crowd, nowadays the nomadic demographic is interspersed with more traditional professions such as lawyers and accountants.

Hands up - I'm a semi digital nomad. Since 2012 I've taken my backpack or suitcase and worked from locations as varied as Hsipaw in Myanmar and New York.

As an on-off digital nomad for more than a decade, what have I learned?

First, if you are travelling solo, you need to be comfortable spending a lot of time on your own. Although I've made lifelong friends and had lots of rich experiences - from dinner with a family at their home in Buenos Aires after meeting them kayaking, to long conversations with strangers on buses - there will be times it's just me, myself and I. That can be challenging at times, especially when faced with not one but two rabies scares after a monkey and dog attack in Bolivia and Myanmar, respectively.

Suzanne Bearne has worked from various locations since 2012. Photograph: Suzanne Bearne

However, before a trip, I ask friends and contacts on social media if they have any local pals they can put me in touch with. One request led to me staying with Vicky in San Francisco for a few nights - saving me hundreds of dollars. Many have become good friends.

Over the years I have learned that I enjoy it and feel more productive if I put down some roots and stay in one place for months at a time. That way, you can find your feet, shop at the local food market, make stronger connections and understand the culture more. Although a privilege, constant travelling and lugging suitcases around every few days can feel exhausting at times, and it can be hard to focus on work when you are always on the road.

It is worth avoiding non-owner-occupied Airbnbs, given the impact they have on communities. Instead, ask friends and contacts on social media if they know anyone renting out their place while they are away. Also, booking spare rooms via Airbnb is not only considerably cheaper than a whole apartment, it means you can interact more with a local person.

I love volunteering in the UK, and when I'm overseas I'm always keen to engage with local communities. For example, I've volunteered at a soup kitchen in New York, an animal sanctuary in Bolivia and a refugee camp in Berlin. I also use my time overseas to scout out local stories - for example, interviewing former political prisoners in Myanmar.

Chris Cerra, 30, the founder of RemoteBase, an accommodation-focused newsletter aimed at remote workers, has been a digital nomad for six years. Currently in Bulgaria with his partner, Cerra says he usually visits a place for a month or two before moving on - and, in many cases, returning at a later date. He sticks to a schedule when it comes to work, and generally keeps exploring to evenings and weekends. "You need to find a sustainable balance for you."

He avoids travelling in high season: "Visiting before or at the end of peak seasons means you can still have good weather and a nicer experience without all the tourists."

As well as checking for strong wifi, he advises travellers to opt for places that are time zone compatible, "unless you're a night owl".

The RemoteBase founder, Chris Cerra, in Croatia with his partner. Photograph: supplied

When it comes to accommodation, Cerra recommends checking out local platforms such as Flatio and Idealista in Portugal and Spain, and Blueground in the US.

Other options that could help preserve money include housesitting through sites such as TrustedHousesitters, home swaps through websites such as HomeExchange, and chipping in with some work through Workaway in return for free accommodation.

Another option - and a way to combat loneliness - is to stay in a co-living residence.

"One of our main values is connecting people in a physical environment," says Emmanuel Guisset, the founder of Outsite, a co-living company with 50 locations ranging from Mexico City to Biarritz. "They become co-workers, business partners, and some find love."

Outsite's prices vary - at the time of writing, for example, you could pay just over $1,100 (£902) a month in Tulum in Mexico, or more than $3,300 a month to stay at a Chelsea brownstone in New York.

Recently, the nomad community has attracted a backlash for contributing to gentrification and pushing out local people. Guisset attributes this to people from other countries renting and buying houses rather than digital nomads.

But he is aware of the chasm and is introducing ways for nomads to easily integrate and contribute more to the local community. "We have people with strong skills and quite a bit of spare time, so this year we will be connecting nomads up with mentoring programmes with local entrepreneurs and running more regular volunteering initiatives."

"We try to integrate into the local culture - for example, our children are now fluent in Spanish and currently attend local clubs in Guatemala," says Lauren Hill, 41, a business strategy consultant who has been travelling with her daughters, 11 and nine, and partner, Tom, since autumn 2020, when they took off on their sailing boat. "We deliberately look for more local experiences."

An Outsite location in Cascais, Portugal. Photograph: Joao Sousa

How does Hill manage home schooling? "We have a routine where the kids will work alongside us and self-study using online programmes. We manage it using Trello boards [to plan lessons], so we can see what they have to do. We also link what they are learning to travelling, so they are not sitting in front of a screen all day. For example, when they were studying the Romans, we visited amphitheatres, and we've taken them to a slave museum in St Lucia."

To ensure work goes without a hitch, they pack extra necessities. "Video calls can be difficult if there's too many people using a network. We use Starlink [a satellite internet system], which costs us $100 a month, and travel with mini generators so we can deal with short-term power outages."

Before digital nomads head off, Morag Ofili, a managing associate at the law firm Harbottle & Lewis, says they should check the terms of any double tax treaty between the UK and the other jurisdiction.

"This is often a useful starting point to understand what income will be taxed, when and by which country," she says. "You should tell HM Revenue and Customs that you are leaving the UK if you intend to work abroad for at least one tax year, or if you are permanently emigrating. This ensures that your tax records are accurate and gives you a way to reclaim any UK tax that you are owed. Also, ensure that you have a right to work in the country - you may not be able to work on a tourist visa."

Have you considered working in another country? Photograph: Westend61 GmbH/Alamy

In practice, most digital nomads prefer to just be taxed in the UK unless they move to a country for a long period.

As for employers, they should ensure that payroll and social security are managed properly, and that they are complying with local labour laws, Ofili says. "Facilitating a shorter move is easier than most employers think but long-term moves require more careful consideration, as it would trigger a change of residency status, may create a permanent establishment for the company, and could require consideration of broader business operational factors."

I probably take fewer flights than people who take holidays three or four times a year

RemoteBase's Chris Cerra

Is being a digital nomad tricky when we are living in a climate emergency?

"I probably take fewer flights than people who take holidays three or four times a year," Cerra says. "And we spend longer in a place. But I think there's bigger fish to fry with people flying in private jets."

Those mindful of their carbon footprint can find more sustainable options. Having ditched flying and stuck to overland travel for the past four years, I can vouch for a huge network of brilliant and cheap trains across Europe to take advantage of.

Or, if you are feeling more adventurous, there's also a spot on a cargo ship if you have the time and patience.

But speak to any digital nomad and the benefits they reel off make it worth any delayed bus (or rabies scare).

"We get to work hard at work time but on our doorstep have new cultures, languages, amazing food, natural beauty that is available to explore and is constantly changing with every new destination," Hill says.

"Most importantly, we get quality time with our kids as they grow up and raise them to be true global citizens."

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Digital nomads: rising number of people choose to work remotely

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Mainstream workers join tech pioneers as the number of countries offering visas increases

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post 19:The article from The Conversation explores the rise of the “underconsumption core” trend, which is gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok. This trend emphasizes minimalism and frugality, encouraging people to buy only what they truly need and maximize the utility of their purchases. Instead of showcasing large hauls of clothing or other items, users are posting videos of thrift store finds, modest wardrobes, and practical, well-used everyday items1.

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post 19:The article from The Conversation explores the rise of the “underconsumption core” trend, which is gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok. This trend emphasizes minimalism and frugality, encouraging people to buy only what they truly need and maximize the utility of their purchases. Instead of showcasing large hauls of clothing or other items, users are posting videos of thrift store finds, modest wardrobes, and practical, well-used everyday items1.

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Economic Pressures: Rising costs and financial burdens, especially among Gen Z and Millennials ¹.

Environmental Concerns: Growing awareness of the environmental impact of mass consumerism ¹.

Social Pressures: Reaction against influencer culture and overconsumption ¹.

Sustainability: Increased interest in sustainable living and reducing waste ¹.

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A new TikTok trend called "underconsumption core" is gaining traction online. This trend champions minimalism and frugality, and encourages people to maximize the utility of their purchases and buy only what they truly need, challenging the culture of consumerism.

Instead of showcasing large hauls of clothing, makeup or over-flowing fridge shelves, users are posting videos showing thrift store purchases, modest wardrobes and practical, well-used everyday items.

The rise of this trend can be linked to several challenges facing young people today, including increasing economic pressures, environmental concerns and social pressures, all of which are particularly affecting Gen Z and younger Millennials. If you're also feeling financially squeezed, this trend might resonate with you.

Similar to the deinfluencing trend, underconsumption also appears to be a reaction to overconsumption - especially the way influencers have normalized it by posting haul videos. By promoting underconsumption, online users are rejecting and pushing back against this aspect of "influencer culture."
No one's 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you're not alone. Read more from Quarter Life:
Born of necessity

Young people are likely engaging with it as a way to adapt to increasing financial pressures.

For instance, the average federal student loan debt balance in the United States is US$37,574 per borrower, according to the Education Data Initiative. Student debt is a significant financial burden that often forces young adults to prioritize debt repayment over discretionary spending.

Inflation is also continuing to erode Gen Z's purchasing power. While there are signs of economic relief, such as interest rate cuts in Canada, the cumulative effects of high prices continue to strain young peoples' budgets.

Underconsumption core represents a growing awareness and adaptation to these economic realities, but it's not the only reason. Another driver of the underconsumption trend appears to be environmental consciousness.

Environmental concerns

Mass consumerism has created significant environmental problems, including the generation of vast amounts of waste. In Chile's Atacama Desert, an estimated 11,000 to 59,000 tons of used clothing is sitting in a landfill. This is just one example of how overconsumption is polluting the environment.

A report from ThredUp, an online vintage-resale platform, found that 65 per cent of Gen Z respondents wanted to shop more sustainably. However, one-third felt "addicted to fast fashion," and 72 per cent said they shopped for fast fashion in 2022. Similarly, researchers from Sheffield Hallam University found 90 per cent of university students bought fast fashion in 2022.

Despite this, many of these same consumers are concerned with sustainability and are actively seeking ways to be more responsible. Our recent study found a consistent shift in consumer attitudes towards sustainability practices, especially in fashion. This is particularly the case with Gen Z, who rely heavily on social media for shopping inspiration.

As younger consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions, they are increasingly drawn to sustainable fashion content.

This shift in consumer mentality aligns with the broader cultural phenomenon known as the " Marie Kondo effect," named after the Japanese organizing consultant. She is an advocate for only keeping things that bring one value and joy. Kondo's influence has sparked a growing interest in intentional consumption.

However, it is important to note that, in some instances, sustainable consumption behaviours may be driven more by selfish motives than purely altruistic ones. By choosing to consume less or more mindfully, younger individuals can project an image of thoughtfulness, responsibility and uniqueness - qualities that are increasingly valued in the social media landscape.

How to be a healthier consumer

If you are interested in practising healthier consumption habits, it's important to understand how you can sustain this lifestyle long-term. There are two main strategies you can use to do this.

First, find a way to strike a balance between frugality and quality of life to maintain your overall well-being. Research suggests a mix of experiential spending (such as travel) and material purchases (such as a new smartphone) can lead to greater happiness and satisfaction.

Don't completely abandon material purchases in favour of experiences. Instead, a thoughtful approach that includes both types of spending, albeit at a reduced overall level, will likely lead to better outcomes. This approach focuses more on mindful consumption, rather than blanket restrictions.

Second, try to focus on improving your financial literacy. Start by creating a budget that ensures basic needs and baseline expenses are met. Seek to understand the types of financial products and solutions that fit your particular needs. This will help you avoid overconsumption and make choices that support long-term financial stability.

Those with higher financial literacy are better equipped to select products that align with their needs and values, rather than falling prey to aggressive marketing or unnecessary features that can lead to overconsumption. For instance, young consumers are likely to spend more on credit cards that offer attractive rewards leading to overconsumption and strained budgets over the long-term.

While the underconsumption trend offers potential benefits, it's important to approach it in a balanced way. While combining healthy spending habits with financial literacy is key, it shouldn't be about deprivation. Instead, you should make informed choices that align with your personal values and goals. Done right, underconsumption can lead to financial stability and a more purposeful lifestyle.

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Understanding 'underconsumption core': How a new trend is challenging consumer culture

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'Underconsumption core' is a trend that challenges overconsumption by encouraging people to maximize the utility of their purchases and buy only what they truly need.

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4. The Power of Simplicity: Why a 'Less is More' Skincare Routine is Key to Healthier Skin

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4. The Power of Simplicity: Why a 'Less is More' Skincare Routine is Key to Healthier Skin

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The "skin streaming" trend is gaining momentum, emphasizing minimalism in skincare routines. By reducing the number of products and focusing on multi-functional, gentle ingredients, this approach not only saves time but prevents over-exfoliation and irritation caused by competing active ingredients. This pared-down regimen supports the skin's natural barrier, fostering balance, hydration, and a radiant complexion. The shift towards simplicity highlights that healthy, glowing skin doesn't require a complicated 10-step process, just the right essentials​.

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Why A Less-Is-More Skincare Routine Is The Real Secret To Healthier Skin

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What happened after one Vogue editor gave up moisturiser.

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8. As the metaverse grows, businesses are targeting avatars rather than real-world customers. The Direct to Avatar (D2A) model refers to companies selling virtual goods (clothing, accessories, real estate) to digital avatars, particularly in virtual environments like video games or metaverse platforms

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8. As the metaverse grows, businesses are targeting avatars rather than real-world customers. The Direct to Avatar (D2A) model refers to companies selling virtual goods (clothing, accessories, real estate) to digital avatars, particularly in virtual environments like video games or metaverse platforms

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In the 90s, some kids would save up every dollar they made from doing chores and working a summer job in order to buy those coveted Air Jordan sneakers or a 23 Chicago Bulls jersey. In 2020, children are asking their parents to get them Robux instead of cold hard cash, so they can buy their favorite gamer's skin in Roblox.

The Weeknd's recent TikTok concert, which was produced in partnership with the Wave XR, included closeups of the singer's shoes, outfit and even the car he drove in one of the songs. At the time of publishing, the concert hashtag had received more than 1.1 billion views, and shows how gaming, social media and entertainment are continuing to converge.

Trying out the new Ralph Lauren collection for Bitmoji on Snapchat.
Cathy Hackl

Additionally Snapchat just launched a brand partnership with fashion label Ralph Lauren where a user can select apparel from the brand's new collection and outfit their Bitmoji avatar virtually with the selected outfits.

There's a change happening in how we express ourselves in the digital world and it's giving rise to the emergence of what's been termed Direct-to-Avatar Commerce.

So we must ask, is director-to-avatar the new direct-to consumer?

"Direct-to-avatar (D2A) refers to an emerging business model selling products directly to avatars (D2A) - or digital identities - bypassing any supply chain management like dropshipping, logistics of how to get a physical product to a consumer's door," said Ryan Gill, co-founder and CEO of Crucible. "D2A brands are being sold in social or competitive virtual environments like games or open worlds where consumers project themselves as an avatar. Crucible is about making this an easy shift for both consumers & brands to make."

It's said that the significance of direct-to-consumer was that it allowed brands to enter the market directly - instead of through a middle-man entity. However, that still relies heavily on third parties for shipping and handling and it becomes a race to the bottom on who can get to the front door quicker. D2A will remove another layer of the friction that still exists for brands and allow some to reinvent themselves and find new inspiration.

Atoms vs Bits

For Gill, digital transformation means reimagining the world of atoms into a world of bits and pixels. Some industries - born from the internet - have been far ahead of this curve; and other, more legacy industries still remain resistant. In the post-COVID world, brands will need to rethink their business strategies all over again. The option of holding on to the old paradigm is becoming less variable with each year. 2020 is putting the nail in that coffin.

The Emergent Economics of Gaming

The Open Metaverse is being born partly from gaming.

"What used to just be a sequence of levels punctuated by a boss to defeat at that end, has become vast free-to-play open worlds with economies where people spend billions of hours and dollars a month, socially and competitively. It's where 30 percent of the planet is hanging out. It's also COVID-proof," added Gill. "Playing increased 75 percent during peak hours in the first week after lockdown, and March was a $10 billion month for gaming. Billions of people are living and spending their money online through their avatars within these worlds. So now the main way the creators of these games make money is by selling stuff inside called "skins" or outfits and ways to express themselves differently."

Free-to-play games generated $20.6 billion in 2019. One of the biggest ones, League of Legends earned $1.5 billion in revenue from these skins in 2019. The other big name, Fortnite generated $1 billion of its total $2.4 billion from in-game skins on the avatar marketplace. Gamers want avatars, skins and collectible content. This is all expected to reach $50 billion by 2022.

"The emergence of the metaverse as a computer-generated scaled shared space means that there will be a whole new (virtual) world where we can express ourselves and potentially introduce a different version of who we are all while playing together, learning together, creating together and more. Essentially, we think of the metaverse as the next global utility. To that end, we started a new company that creates insanely fun experiences for the metaverse, starting with games for Roblox", said Yonatan Raz-Fridman, founder & CEO of Supersocial, Inc.

Designer x Skins

Don't just think of these skins as exclusive to the IP of a specific game. Louis Vuitton has designed skins for League of Legends in a cross-collaboration with Riot Games. The Qiyana skin was designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton's artistic director of women's collections.

Another example, Gucci has teamed up with developer Wildlife on a Tennis Clash. The Gucci x Tennis Clash collaboration allows players to discover exclusive outfits designed by the Italian fashion brand and players can purchase clothing items to match their Tennis Clash character on Gucci's website.

"It would be a mistake to think of this like a digital billboard in video games. The opportunity is to give brands a full presence within these new worlds, Louis Vuitton designed the championship trophy for League of Legends and Gucci created an entire in-game tennis tournament called the Gucci Open. The skins are a way to plant the seeds within a game world and it represents an entirely new blue ocean of avatars to sell to," continued Gill.

BeyondFashion

The next logical shift from direct-to-consumer is direct-to-avatar. High-end fashion and streetwear brands seem to be recognizing this first, but this is not unique to just them.

Epic Games is taking some incredibly impactful steps with their Unreal Engine when it comes to real-time film production and distribution. They just recently announced an Unreal Fellowship for a 30-day intensive blended learning experience designed to help experienced industry professionals in film, animation and VFX learn the Unreal Engine to foster "the generation of teams in the field of real-time production". They have already hit their 200,000 application limit.

For Gill, one day very soon people will buy tickets to watch films produced and distributed completely in Unreal, at an in-world theater, through the eyes of their avatar.

"Avatars are a direct reflection of a player's identity, especially if they are created as digital twins," says Samantha G. Wolfe, NYU Adjunct Professor and Founder of PitchFWD. "The more embodied you feel in your avatar, the more likely you are to invest in its appearance and behavior traits. For example, a $10 Louis Vuitton skin might be expensive in the virtual world, but, if the digital purchase allows you to live vicariously in your favorite fashion designer's clothes, $10 becomes an affordable luxury."

Products are only one part of this. We now exist in an experience economy. Tomorrowland just used the Unreal Engine to completely re-create their massive music festival with DJs streaming live from their homes and approximately 1 million people bought tickets to the event.

More well known, Travis Scott made waves with his Fortnite collaboration, using the entire open world as a stage to perform and debut a new single to just under 30 million people. Travis' company Cactus Jack also released a whole new pack of skins during the week of his drop. Numbers for skins sales are not public, but even at conservative estimates Epic Games would have made $10 million and Travis over $2 million - for the week. To compare, Travis usually makes around $500,000 in merchandise sales per arena stop on his tour.

Education is set to see some exceptional improvements through these game engines. There's no more reason for expensive overheads and limited classrooms with overworked and underpaid teachers. Gill shared "the virtual campus that Axon Park is creating is a really exciting example of what education can look like direct-to-avatar."

"I believe this is even pointing to the future of work and how we make a living. L'Atelier conducted an in-depth study of these "virtual economies" earlier this year and found that "there are already hundreds of thousands of people earning real income from virtual platforms globally, generating over $66 billion in gross value added, higher than the GDP of Bulgaria," highlighted Gill.

Advice for CMOs

Every CMO should be taking game engine technology seriously. The future is being built with them. This will touch and transform nearly every industry that belongs in our future.

Wolfe adds, "The Stanford Human Interaction Lab coined the term " The Proteus Effect " about how avatars can change behavior in real life. Although Nick Yee and Jeremy Bailenson's 2007 study focused on avatar overall attractiveness and height, this direct connection between real and digital offers marketers an opportunity to integrate the virtual world in their campaigns with a high likelihood of an increase in consumer purchases in the physical one."

For Gill, "if you are a consumer company, Unreal or Unity should be added to the stack of how you think about running your business. Period. It's as important as a website, mobile app or social media was. If you were kicking yourself for how long it took you to leverage those - you have another, much bigger opportunity on the horizon. Our Emergence SDK will arm these engine developers on your team with all the tools needed to create a robust D2A strategy."

With D2A, things change. According to Gill, a good way to think of this is to imagine replacing your supply chain with design sprints and previsualization. Designing and prototyping everything in 3D allows you to share and review internally with stakeholders - then ship, market and sell without ever creating a product and distributing physically. The cost, scale and speed at which you can work could completely give your business new life. You get to push things past the boundaries of physics and reality and tap into a whole network of customers and future generations.

DigitalScarcity

Supply and demand relies heavily on scarcity, especially with high end brands. Fashion is the perfect pioneer for this new world, and specifically streetwear & sneakerhead culture. Brands like the billion dollar Supreme have been making a killing with cross-brand collaborations and limited edition drops for over a decade. It seems obvious to me that this kind of business model is what we'll see more of with Direct-to-avatar commerce.

Knock-offs are a real problem with sneakers and other high end fashion or streetwear, authenticity is key.

"To say it simply, people like to flex and if it's fake it's not as cool. It's no different when they're avatars. Part of what our technology will do for a brand is give them authentic digital scarcity and allow them to create white-labeled marketplaces which are placed in-world so they can sell direct-to-avatar safely and securely. We protect both the brand and the customer to support a network of new marketplaces, first with the Mozilla Web Monetization Standard and ultimately the Crucible Artefact Standard for D2A commerce," added Gill.

The Next Renaissance

Avatars don't just buy, they also create. Gill's Crucible wants to provide the blueprints for this new renaissance. Sandbox titles like Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite Creative rely on User Generated Content (UGC), which I think has the potential to create a whole new wave of entrepreneurship. Roblox expects to pay out $250 million to their mostly teen developers making things with their tools.

"We believe that a whole new world is emerging in which people of all ages will be able to not only play in these scaled shared virtual spaces but also to create, learn and make a living. A new generation is now actively proving that computer games are one of the most powerful forms of learning, creation and self expression, and we should relentlessly empower that", added Raz-Fridman from Supersocial.

The level of quality for UGC has come a long way and we see a way to unlock the collective reinvention of the economy through the ten million game developers and the nearly three billion people who navigate these worlds spending significant time and money as avatars.

Gill concludes that with Crucible, users will find an ever-present interface to everywhere they go in the Open Metaverse and on the web. This allows them to manage and access their data and digital property at all times, and have control of all their wallets and relationships - making the player the platform and giving brands a direct, secure channel into these new networks direct-to-avatar.

Now the question is what brand of shoes was The Weeknd wearing during his TikTok concert and when will users be able to buy the Ralph Lauren outfit their Bitmoji is wearing so they can sport it in real life?
This article is written in collaboration with co-founder and CEO of , a company building technical foundations for the Open Metaverse and enabling the digital trust needed for direct-to-avatar commerce to become viable at scale.

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Is Direct To Avatar The Next Direct To Consumer?

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In the 90s, some kids would save up every dollar they made from doing chores and working a summer job in order to buy those coveted Air Jordan sneakers or a 23 Chicago Bulls jersey. In 2020, children are asking their parents to get them Robux instead of cold hard cash, so they can buy their favorite gamer's skin in Roblox.

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A 2024 survey reveals women prioritize personality over looks, value emotional connection, and prefer emotionally expressive partners.

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A 2024 survey reveals women prioritize personality over looks, value emotional connection, and prefer emotionally expressive partners.

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These trends reflect broader societal shifts towards valuing emotional intelligence and deeper connections in relationships. In a world where digital interactions often dominate, the emphasis on personality and emotional bonds highlights a desire for more meaningful and authentic connections. This shift is particularly relevant as people navigate the complexities of modern dating, seeking partners who offer emotional support and understanding.

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Personality Over Looks: What Do Dating Trends In 2024 Look Like?

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A recent survey revealed 2024 dating trends, drawing insights from 15,000 diverse participants aged 18-35. Professionals, business owners, and students provided a comprehensive view into the evolving landscape of dating.

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12. Skinimalism: Embrace the Power of Minimalist Skincare

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12. Skinimalism: Embrace the Power of Minimalist Skincare

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Skinimalism is a beauty trend that advocates for a simpler, more effective skincare routine by using fewer, multi-benefit products. This minimalist approach focuses on enhancing the skin's natural glow without the need for heavy layering of products. The benefits of skinimalism include saving time, reducing the risk of over-exfoliation or irritation, and encouraging healthier, balanced skin by using essential products that deliver multiple results​.

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Ever feel overwhelmed by 20-step skin care skincare routines? Non-stop product launches? Beauty trends you can't seem to keep up with? Enter Skinimalism. Skinimalism is exactly what it sounds like: minimalist skin care.

What is Skinimalism?

Skinimalism is the idea of approaching our skin care and makeup routines with a simpler approach. Stripping back the number of products we use on our bodies and faces each day paying attention to what products we are using, and making sure our skin is getting exactly what it needs to glow, bringing out the best of your natural beauty.

Why excessive routines are bad for your skin.

While companies and media may make it seem like the only way to have nice skin is to use a cabinet full of different masks, serums, creams, gels, and tools, using too much product can actually be doing your skin more harm than good.

Excessive skincare routines are actually destroying your skin. In an article with Vogue, facialist Debbie Thomas explains that "using too many products, trying new formulas each day, layering incorrectly or combining too many actives overwhelms, overstimulates and confuses the skin". By layering too many products, you end up with a compromised skin barrier, irritation, redness, and even acne. As a result, you see none of the benefits of the actives you put on your skin.

The benefits of Skinimalism.

Now, we have established why excessive beauty routines may not be the best for your skin. Let's take a look at the benefits of Skinimalism or minimalist skincare.

The first benefit of a stripped back beauty routine is a more full bank account. You do not need to purchasing tons of products or follow every skincare trend. By sticking with Skinimalism will end up saving a ton of money.

Skinimalism will also put you on the path to living a more sustainable lifestyle. By utilizing less products, you are helping out the environment by reducing your overall consumption.

Diving into benefits Skinimalism has on your actual skin. By scaling back on what you use each day, the ingredients will actually be set into your skin and do what they are supposed to do. This leads to less irritation, less redness, less acne and a better complexion

What do you need for a Skinimalist routine?

What are the products you actually need?

The three products you absolutely need: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. According to Sejal Shah, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, once you have those three, that's when you add on products based on what your skin needs.

How address what your skin needs.

Once you stop paying attention to trends and start paying attention to your skin's concerns, that is when the real improvement will start to show. Dr. Idriss, another dermatologist, recommends to "focus first on the most problematic issue your skin presents, and then go after that".

When you take the time and address each issue one by one rather than trying to tackle them all at once, that is when your skin actually begins to transform, those issues start to go away, and your skin becomes much healthier.

Dr. Idriss also details in the InStyle interview what products and ingredients are best to look for when dealing with common skincare issues.

If you have...

Dry skin go for a moisturizer with colloidal oatmeal

Hyperpigmentation look into glycolic acid or hydroquinone serum

Crow's feet or loss of elasticity search for retinol

Acne look for products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

If you are still confused about what your skin really needs and the best products to address your skin concerns, consulting a dermatologist is the best way to go.

Decluttering your skincare routine

You do not need to purge your entire routine to be a Skinimalist. Simply start by using cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen everyday add-in products with the intention of targeting a skin concern. Skinimalism is all about focusing on the products, bettering your complexion and getting rid of the stress surrounding building out a skincare routine.

Minimalist makeup routines

The less is more approach can also extend from the medicine cabinet to the makeup bag. The number one thing to keep in mind when both putting together a minimalist skincare and makeup regimen is embracing your natural features.

Give your skin time to breathe and heal by scaling back on makeup products, you're giving your skin time to breathe and heal. By using minimal product to enhance your natural beauty instead of exaggerating or covering up, you will become comfortable in your own skin and learn to love yourself just the way you are.

For more on mastering minimalist makeup, check out our articles How to Declutter Your Beauty Regimen and No-Makeup Makeup Made Easier with These Celebrity-Loved Products.

Perfect skin

There is no such thing as perfect skin. Healthy skin has pores, spots, and scars. In today's world, filters, photoshop, and lighting are unfortunately becoming a norm for pictures and videos. Oftentimes we find ourselves comparing to things that are not real.

The idea of Skinimalism to let your natural skin shine through. Utilize as little products to make it look and feel the best. Extending beyond better skin and a freed up medicine cabinet, Skinimalism, just like minimalism, will save you money, time, and mind space.

Time to Skinimalize

So instead of stressing yourself out trying to keep up with the latest products, trends, and 20 step routines. Skinimalize to achieve the best skin and embrace your natural beauty for all of its perfections and imperfections.

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What is Skinimalism? The benefits of a minimalist skincare routine. - Minimalism

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Skinimalism is exactly what it sounds like: minimalist skin care. In this article we take you through why an excessive skincare routine can be bad for you and the benefits of scaling back and opting for a simple or skinimalist routine.

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49. Artful Braids: Elevating Hair to a Creative Masterpiece

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49. Artful Braids: Elevating Hair to a Creative Masterpiece

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In 2024, braids have transcended their traditional form, evolving into intricate, artful creations on the runway. Designers like Schiaparelli and Thom Browne have reinvented this classic hairstyle with whimsical twists—braids styled as neckties or arranged into gravity-defying loops.

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From Neon Braids to Natural Hair Sculptures, These 5 Women are Living Works of Art​

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On the streets and all over social media, these dauntless women are introducing some of the most provocative hairstyles to pop culture.

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post 26:Korean is the Hottest Trend in India’s Noodles Market, but FMCGs Aren’t Banking on It for Growth: The article examines the rising popularity of Korean noodles in India, driven by the influence of K-Pop and K-Dramas. Despite the surge in demand, major FMCG companies are cautious about relying solely on this trend for long-term growth. They are diversifying their product portfolios to include a variety of flavors and cuisines to cater to broader consumer preferences

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post 26:Korean is the Hottest Trend in India’s Noodles Market, but FMCGs Aren’t Banking on It for Growth: The article examines the rising popularity of Korean noodles in India, driven by the influence of K-Pop and K-Dramas. Despite the surge in demand, major FMCG companies are cautious about relying solely on this trend for long-term growth. They are diversifying their product portfolios to include a variety of flavors and cuisines to cater to broader consumer preferences

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Relevance to Today’s Context: This topic is particularly relevant as it highlights the dynamic nature of consumer preferences in India. The fascination with Korean culture has significantly impacted food choices, reflecting a broader trend of globalization in culinary tastes. However, the cautious approach of FMCG companies underscores the importance of sustainable growth strategies in a rapidly changing market

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Indo Nissin Foods Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Japanese noodle maker Nissin Group, has been making instant noodles in India for the past 36 years. Their popular products have been Cup Noodles and Top Ramen. While these products remain their mainstay, Indo Nissin has now launched Geki, their version of Korean instant noodles.

With Korean TV dramas and K-pop, a music genre, gaining traction in India since the early 2020s, the company figured that it was the right time to jump into the Korean instant noodles space.

"The masala instant noodles category is a very saturated one... which is Yippie, Maggi and us, (and it) has not been growing very fast for the past two to three years. It took leaps and bounds during the pandemic because people were at home. After that, growth is not that high," Sandeep Bakhshi, managing director of Indo Nissin Private Limited told The Core.

Indo Nissin reasoned that it might be better to hew its own path with Korean noodles rather than "fighting with these two giants" in a narrow product lane.

While Nestle makes Maggi, Yippie is an ITC brand. And Korean instant noodles were the forte of imported brands. Indian FMCG companies are now looking to diversify into Korean noodles for two reasons. One, the masala noodles market is saturated and leaves little room for new players or fresh growth. Two, those who buy Korean noodles, which are much more expensive than regular Indian noodles, are willing spenders, which means there is an opportunity to experiment.

Noodle Hallyu

Go to any supermarket today, and you'll find a mix of Korean flavours on the shelves, imported as well as locally made. Geki's packet noodles come in four flavours, and the cup noodle version comes in two.

The September 2023 FMCG Pulse report by market intelligence firm Kantar said that the penetration of Korean noodles had jumped from 2% in July 2020 to 5.7% in July 2023. According to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), 53% of Indian consumers say they are willing to pay more for instant noodles that come in new flavours.

"Nobody wants to buy another masala noodles brand," Sidhanth Madan, co-founder of Pan-Asian food brand Masterchow told The Core . While the brand already had a Korean sauce, a bestseller in the category, the brand launched Korean cup noodles in 2022.

South Korean brands like Nongshim, with its Shin Ramyun range of instant noodles, and Samyang, with Samyang and Buldak range of ramen, were the largest players in this market. However, they were prominently sold on e-commerce platforms and had pockets of growth in a few metro cities.

Of late, imported as well as locally produced brands like Indo Nissin's Geki have seen an increase in demand. This has gotten fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) majors to look at Korean noodles as an important market.

FMCG majors like Nestle and Hindustan Unilever began to explore the Korean noodles market late last year. Nestle launched a Korean BBQ noodle variant in vegetarian for Rs 55 and chicken for Rs 60, while HUL brand Knorr launched a Korean Meal Pot in two flavours as well at Rs 300.

What Are Nestle, HUL Doing Here?

While imported products are banking on the authenticity of their products' taste, FMCG companies are hoping their distribution network will do the magic. The customer base is also clearly defined because of the wide price difference between imported Korean ramen and Korean noodles made by traditional noodle makers like Nestle and ITC.

Aseem Asrani of Suresh Kumar & Co, which imports Samyang's Korean noodles in northern India, said that while the flavours of the two instant noodles may be similar, he doesn't see these two products in competition with each other.

The consumers of the imported brands are already familiar with the product and taste and are willing to shell out more money for authenticity. Those picking up products made by the mass brands are experimenting out of curiosity.

"Those who are buying the Rs 150 packet know what they are buying. And it is a pack of 5. So they just don't buy Rs 150 packets, they are buying a Rs 750 pack of five. They are not experimenting," Asrani told The Core . "They (FMCG majors) will have to Indianise it and make it less spicy, according to what will appeal to the mass market."

Maggi has launched two Korean flavours - Korean BBQ Veg and Korean BBQ Chicken. Madan believes that while this may be to expand its offerings and cash in on this trend, smaller brands have an opportunity here. "Unfortunately for them, Maggi, for example, the masala variant is 95% of their revenue. And Korean (flavours) will never get as big as Maggi. So, it ends up getting ignored. That's why there's an opportunity for brands like ours," he said, "There's no one to give strong competition to a Nongshim or Samyang. Because no one's focused on that core SKU. That's where our thought process is."

There is unlikely to be product impact with Maggi entering, according to Bakhshi, "as Geki has the first mover advantage in the korean noodles category." However, Maggi will still likely see the product sell because of their existing distribution network. According to consumer intelligence firm NielsenIQ Maggi has already chalked up 17% of the Korean instant noodles market share, next only to Indo Nissin's Geki.

A few distributors The Core spoke to said that the response for the Korean variant of Maggi was "good" but did not offer any specifics.

Where Do Imported Brands See This Going?

According to NielsenIQ, the Korean noodles market in India saw substantial growth, growing from Rs 2 crore in 2021 to over Rs 65 crore in 2023.

"In the last year that we have started doing it (importing Samyang instant noodles), the sales have at least doubled. They are expecting the sales to double every year," Asrani said. Nongshim launched two exclusive flavours for the Indian market in September last year.

However, neither of these brands is manufactured locally. "Maybe if the volume goes up that much, it makes total sense if they (Samyang) start producing in India," Asrani said.

The major barrier to their growth was the higher price point. The imported variants of Korean noodles in India are priced in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 150. Compare that to the masala instant noodles variants that cost somewhere between Rs 10 and Rs 15 a pack.
A Nongshim instant noodle packet is priced at Rs 129 for a 120 gms packet, putting its per gram cost at Rs 1.075. In comparison, a traditional 70 gms Maggi masala instant noodle packet is priced at Rs 13, costing Rs 0.185 per gm

Is Korean Cuisine Here to Stay?

Small brands and FMCG majors alike are investing in Korean instant noodles hoping that the category will expand just the way the East Asian country's film and music exports became popular in India.

Madan said that if his brand had to diversify, they wouldn't put all their bets on just Korean noodles, but it would only be part of the strategy. "If we're developing 20 SKUs in tandem, five are Korean. So, 25% of our bandwidth is going towards Korean food."

For many brands, Korean noodles is one of their core products today as the market demands it, but it may not be in the coming years. Brands often discontinue products depending on the business they bring.

Bakhshi believes that Korean noodles will keep finding a place on store shelves till another flavour takes over. He said that while it could happen in the next five year, it was unlikely to happen in the short term.

Editor's Note: Some parts of this article have been changed upon a source's request.
Also Read: Fast Food Chains Are Store Splitting. Is This Growth Hack Future Proof? Gourmet Foods: Indian Brands Are Flourishing In Import-Dominated Market

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Korean Is The Hottest Trend In India's Noodles Market, But FMCGs Aren't Banking On It For Growth

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For a sluggish and saturated instant noodles market, Korean instant noodles are promising growth, but for how long?

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Frugal innovation is gaining popularity for its focus on creating affordable, efficient solutions with limited resources. It’s relevant today as businesses and individuals seek cost-effective, sustainable ways to address challenges. As people become more conscious of resource constraints and environmental impact, frugal innovation offers practical, impactful solutions that meet essential needs without excessive consumption

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Frugal innovation is gaining popularity for its focus on creating affordable, efficient solutions with limited resources. It’s relevant today as businesses and individuals seek cost-effective, sustainable ways to address challenges. As people become more conscious of resource constraints and environmental impact, frugal innovation offers practical, impactful solutions that meet essential needs without excessive consumption

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Frugal innovation: why low cost doesn’t have to mean low impact

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Science is starting to recognize the movement to create mass-market products using local knowledge and materials to improve lives around the world.

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45. Adult coloring books are gaining popularity as a stress-relief and mindfulness tool, helping people relax and focus. They’re relevant today due to increasing awareness of mental health and the need for creative outlets. As more people become conscious of self-care, these books offer a simple, accessible way to unwind and improve well-being.

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45. Adult coloring books are gaining popularity as a stress-relief and mindfulness tool, helping people relax and focus. They’re relevant today due to increasing awareness of mental health and the need for creative outlets. As more people become conscious of self-care, these books offer a simple, accessible way to unwind and improve well-being.

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I get it now.

I have never changed my mind about anything as quickly or completely as I changed my mind about adult coloring books. I found the trend mostly baffling and maybe a little dumb. But I saw some in a bookstore the other day and I immediately said to my friend, "Well, I'm not leaving here without one of these."

And indeed, reader, I did not.

Let me clarify: When I say "adult coloring book," I'm referring to a specific subset thereof. I don't mean the Benedict-Cumberbatch-is-your-boyfriend coloring books or novelty coloring books based on beloved TV shows. These are silly and whimsical, and-while I am all for silly and whimsical, let's just be clear about that-they don't seem like they would actually be that fun to color? I mean, even if you make Barnabus Crumplecake into an alien and color his skin with polka dots or whatever, you're still just filling in a big human head over and over. (I'm sorry, Benny, I like you and your big head. Really.)

No, I am only interested in patterns. Like these ones. Or these ones. These ones in the shapes of animals are acceptable only because the animals are made of patterns.

Several trend pieces about adult coloring books lump them in with other "childish" activities that grown-ups are apparently engaging in to regress back to their simpler youth, like adult preschool and adult summer camp. But I think they fit better into the trend of meditation and mindfulness that's been going for some time now, one response among many to the high levels of stress many adults are living with.

Another page from the author's coloring
book (Julie Beck / The Atlantic)

In the admittedly brief time that I have had this coloring book, it has filled a particular activity niche for me, which is "something to do with my hands while I watch Netflix." Other activities in this niche include: knitting, painting my nails, texting, putting candy in my mouth. End of list.

Why do I need to do two things at once? Why can't I just sit quietly and enjoy a TV show? In part, it's because I feel a little less lazy if I'm making something while I wile away the hours with Friday Night Lights. But also, I'm watching TV in the first place to relax, to quiet my mind, and often my mind is loud enough that it shouts over Coach Taylor. I really do think that a lifetime of multitasking has left me occasionally incapable of subduing the entirety of my mind with one activity. If the front of my mind is occupied by the show, and the back is focused on picking colors and staying in the lines, there's not room for much else. It's a sort of mindfulness that's more like mind-fullness.

There are plenty of studies on the effectiveness of art therapy in reducing stress, and coloring seems to offer some similar benefits, as William Brennan wrote in this magazine when he noted the coloring books' particular popularity in France. And doodling is a way for people to organize their thoughts, and focus.

Coloring offers that relief and mindfulness without the paralysis that a blank page can cause. It's easier in the way that ordering from a restaurant with a small menu is easier than deciding what you want at Denny's, where you could eat almost anything. This is the paradox of choice, and it's been well-studied-too many options is overwhelming. But with coloring, you know what you're working with. You just choose how to fill it in. I think this is why coloring as a soothing activity feels so similar to painting my nails. I can get intricate with my tiny nail art brushes, but I still have a limited canvas, maybe a square centimeter or so, and I have the colors of polish that I have.

So the polish and the coloring both involve repetitive motion and limited space in which to work, creating a locus point around which thoughts can revolve. And here's where the patterns are important (have I mentioned I like the patterns?), because I think there's a comfort in the concentration detail demands, something that coloring in the vast expanse of Butterbeer Cornichon's head doesn't offer.
There's something satisfying about seeing your thought and effort create a tangible, pretty thing at a reasonable, predictable pace. This rarely happens in life.
The patterns also remind me of labyrinths, which some people use as a sort of therapy -a calming walk through a winding path. (Labyrinths aren't mazes; there are no dead ends, and it's easy enough to get in and out.) Coloring in a pattern is a lot like walking a paper labyrinth. There's nothing to trap you, there's nothing to solve. You just wander down the path until you're done. It feels simultaneously like repetition and progression.

It takes a good while to color one of these things in completely-a few hours, I'd say-and there's something very satisfying about watching the color slowly spread across the page, about seeing your thought and effort create a tangible, pretty thing at a reasonable, predictable pace. This rarely happens in life. (One of my most charming or insufferable qualities is that I make everything into a metaphor for life.)

I haven't become a hardcore colorer or anything. I'm sure my interest in this hobby will wax and wane with my whims, just as it does with knitting and nail-painting and cooking things that aren't quesadillas. But as someone who can't sit and breathe deeply and try to calm my thoughts for even 30 seconds without getting itchy all over, it's nice to have something other than meditation that still feels meditative. To sit and follow the lines to an end that's within sight.

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50. Digital art collecting is gaining popularity due to the rise of NFTs, which allow unique ownership of digital works. It’s relevant today as more artists and collectors embrace the digital realm for creativity and investment. People are becoming conscious of the value and authenticity that NFTs provide, driving interest in digital art as a new form of collectible and financial asset.

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50. Digital art collecting is gaining popularity due to the rise of NFTs, which allow unique ownership of digital works. It’s relevant today as more artists and collectors embrace the digital realm for creativity and investment. People are becoming conscious of the value and authenticity that NFTs provide, driving interest in digital art as a new form of collectible and financial asset.

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How Digital Art Has Fared since the NFT Boom | Artsy

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A slew of major museum moments, new venues, and art world appearances for digital artists is steering the medium into the mainstream art world.

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Instead of trying to be a catch-all, new social media platforms are emerging that focus on verticals (specific industries or interests). Examples include fitness-specific social platforms, mental health communities, or platforms dedicated to sustainable living enthusiasts.

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Instead of trying to be a catch-all, new social media platforms are emerging that focus on verticals (specific industries or interests). Examples include fitness-specific social platforms, mental health communities, or platforms dedicated to sustainable living enthusiasts.

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The rise of Vertical Social Networks (VSN’s) in India

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While the last decade has seen the proliferation of bigger players in the social networking space, there has also been a significant rise in vertical communities the likes of Strava, Twitch, Discord, Goodreads.com and many such others.

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Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are gaining popularity as new community models for content creators. These groups use blockchain and smart contracts to manage and distribute revenue, allowing creators to form self-governed communities without intermediaries.

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Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are gaining popularity as new community models for content creators. These groups use blockchain and smart contracts to manage and distribute revenue, allowing creators to form self-governed communities without intermediaries.

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The New Creator Economy – DAOs, Community Ownership, and Cryptoeconomics

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By Nader Dabit I first had what I can only describe as a spiritual awakening about 10 years ago to the fact that technology would (figuratively) rule the world. And since then, I’ve been obsessed with wanting to understand how software works and how…

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49. Platforms like Substack and Patreon allow users to crowdsource news and support independent journalists. These platforms are gaining traction as alternatives to traditional news media, creating a new ecosystem where audiences fund the content they want to see.

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49. Platforms like Substack and Patreon allow users to crowdsource news and support independent journalists. These platforms are gaining traction as alternatives to traditional news media, creating a new ecosystem where audiences fund the content they want to see.

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Crowdsourcing is the best weapon in fight against fake news

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Laypeople are much better than many would have expected at knowing which outlets to trust.

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21. With the rise of misinformation and deepfakes, there is growing interest in technology that can verify the authenticity of social media content. Tools like Truepic or Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative help verify the source and modifications of visual content to combat fake news.

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21. With the rise of misinformation and deepfakes, there is growing interest in technology that can verify the authenticity of social media content. Tools like Truepic or Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative help verify the source and modifications of visual content to combat fake news.

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Content verification: A project for photo authenticity in journalism

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Learn about this pioneering project by Reuters, Canon, and Starling Lab, to authenticate journalistic photos using blockchain technology and Fotoware DAM.

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post 2:Australia’s new ‘right to disconnect’ law lets employees ignore work-related calls and texts after hours, promoting work-life balance and reducing burnout.

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post 2:Australia’s new ‘right to disconnect’ law lets employees ignore work-related calls and texts after hours, promoting work-life balance and reducing burnout.

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1. New law in Australia: Employees can ignore work calls after hours ¹.

2. Right to disconnect: Protects employees from after-hours work communication ¹.

3. Global trend: Similar laws exist in France, Germany, and other countries ¹.

4. Employee well-being: Aims to improve work-life balance and mental health ¹.

5. Effective date: Law takes effect from August 26, 2024 ¹.

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A 'right to disconnect' law has been passed in Australia, which is aimed at protecting employees who refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from their employers outside work hours. Similar laws giving employees a right to switch off their mobile devices are already in place in France, Germany and other countries in the European Union.

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New law in Australia allows employees to ignore calls, texts from bosses after work hours

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a right to disconnect law has been passed in australia which is aimed at protecting employees who refuse to monitor read or respond to contact from their employers outside work hours similar laws giving employees a right to switch off their mobile devices are already in place in france germany and other countries in the european union

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25. While personalized feeds are not new, advanced AI algorithms are now tailoring not just content but also timing and frequency of posts to individual user behavior. This results in hyper-personalized experiences that go beyond simple interest matching to create unique, optimized user journeys.

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25. While personalized feeds are not new, advanced AI algorithms are now tailoring not just content but also timing and frequency of posts to individual user behavior. This results in hyper-personalized experiences that go beyond simple interest matching to create unique, optimized user journeys.

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28. The Rise of Knotless Braids: A Revolution in Protective Styling

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28. The Rise of Knotless Braids: A Revolution in Protective Styling

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Knotless braids have quickly become one of the most popular hairstyles in 2024, offering a sleeker, more comfortable alternative to traditional braids. This technique begins with your natural hair, gradually feeding in extensions to create a seamless, natural-looking braid that reduces scalp tension. Known for being less painful and promoting hair growth, knotless braids have taken over as a go-to protective style, celebrated for their versatility, longevity, and minimal maintenance, making them a favorite for those seeking both beauty and comfort.

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The Rise of Knotless Braids (Published 2022)

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A new style has driven up demand at salons in Harlem and Brooklyn.

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48. Peach Fuzz Takes the Spotlight as Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year, Celebrating Nature’s Soft Hues

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48. Peach Fuzz Takes the Spotlight as Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year, Celebrating Nature’s Soft Hues

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Peach Fuzz, a warm and inviting shade, has been crowned Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024. Drawing inspiration from the soft, peachy tones found in nature—from sunsets to blooming flowers—this color is making waves in the fashion and beauty industries. Universally flattering, it’s embraced in makeup products like blushes, eyeshadows, and lip shades, adding a natural, radiant glow to any look. Its presence extends beyond cosmetics, influencing everything from fashion palettes to home decor in 2024​.

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Peach Fuzz Is Pantone’s Color of the Year--And It’s Everywhere in Nature

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This warm, fuzzy color can be found all over the natural world, from land to sea to space

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45. The Balletcore Movement: Fashion's Newest Soft and Feminine Aesthetic

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45. The Balletcore Movement: Fashion's Newest Soft and Feminine Aesthetic

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Balletcore, a 2024 fashion trend, draws inspiration from ballet costumes with its focus on delicate pastel tones, soft fabrics, and graceful silhouettes. This style emphasizes subtlety and femininity, featuring shades of pink, white, and cream in both matte and shimmery finishes. Balletcore outfits often include flowing skirts, satin textures, and dainty accessories, offering a romantic yet minimalistic look that enhances natural beauty. The trend blends functionality with elegance, making it a versatile choice for everyday wear

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With the “balletcore” hashtag trending on TikTok and Gen Z reinterpreting the aesthetic, ballet fashion is being reclaimed for a new generation.

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47. Red Reigns Supreme in 2024: A Bold Fashion Statement

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47. Red Reigns Supreme in 2024: A Bold Fashion Statement

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In 2024, the color red has cemented its place as a dominant trend in fashion, radiating confidence and power across global runways. From crimson nails to bold red outfits, designers in cities like New York, Milan, and Paris have embraced this vibrant hue. Whether seen in sleek stiletto-shaped nails or striking red ensembles, red continues to symbolize strength and passion, making it the standout color of the year​.

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Welcome to the Red Zone: How does a color become dominant, and how does it spread? | Kornit

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In the year 2024, the prominence of the color RED in fashion, interior design, and beauty can be attributed to various cultural and societal factors.

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24. With increasing concerns over data permanence and privacy, there’s a growing trend toward ephemeral content (like Instagram Stories or Snapchat), where posts disappear after a certain period. This gives users a sense of safety and allows for more authentic, real-time content sharing.

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24. With increasing concerns over data permanence and privacy, there’s a growing trend toward ephemeral content (like Instagram Stories or Snapchat), where posts disappear after a certain period. This gives users a sense of safety and allows for more authentic, real-time content sharing.

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Ephemeral Content: What It Is and Why You Want It

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Creating ephemeral content can help boost engagement among your audience. Learn what it is and some key tips for using it to maximum effect in your marketing!

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Bollywood’s Bangs Revival: Stars Leading the 2024 Trend

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Bollywood’s Bangs Revival: Stars Leading the 2024 Trend

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In 2024, Bollywood has embraced the bangs revival, with stars flaunting fresh, bold fringe styles that redefine chic. From micro bangs to longer, wispy fringes, these hairstyles are gaining popularity across red carpets and movie screens. Celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are at the forefront of this trend, experimenting with edgy and versatile bangs that complement both casual and glamorous looks. Whether it's sleek or textured, these bangs reflect Bollywood’s evolving fashion aesthetic, marrying timeless elegance with contemporary flair.

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Bollywood's Bangs Revival: Stars Leading the Trend

The resurgence of bangs in Bollywood is more than just a fleeting trend; it represents a bold fashion statement that reflects the evolving aesthetics of the industry. In recent times, several stars have embraced this hairstyle, influencing fans and fashion enthusiasts alike. This essay explores the celebrities leading the bangs revival in Bollywood, highlighting their impact on contemporary fashion.
Indianfastearning.com
Embracing a Classic Look

Bangs have long been associated with a classic and sophisticated look. In Bollywood, this trend is making a strong comeback, thanks to stars who have revived this hairstyle with modern twists. One prominent figure in this resurgence is Deepika Padukone. Known for her impeccable style, Padukone has seamlessly incorporated bangs into her look, whether it be for red carpet events or casual outings. Her ability to balance the traditional charm of bangs with contemporary fashion has made her a trendsetter.

New Age Icons

Another influential star in this trend is Janhvi Kapoor. Kapoor has been seen sporting various styles of bangs, from curtain bangs to blunt cuts. Her versatility in adopting different looks has shown how bangs can be styled to suit various occasions and outfits. Kapoor's choice of bangs adds a youthful and dynamic element to her appearance, resonating with a younger audience that seeks both glamour and relatability in their style icons.

The Bold and the Beautiful

Kangana Ranaut, known for her fearless fashion choices, has also contributed significantly to the bangs revival. Ranaut's embrace of bold, statement-making bangs aligns perfectly with her larger-than-life persona. Her ability to pull off dramatic and edgy looks with bangs underscores the versatility of this hairstyle, proving that it can complement a range of personalities and styles. Ranaut's influence has encouraged many to experiment with their looks, embracing bangs as a way to express individuality.

A Trend with Versatility

The beauty of bangs lies in their versatility. They can be styled in numerous ways, making them a flexible choice for different hair types and face shapes. Alia Bhatt is another Bollywood star who has effectively used bangs to enhance her look. Bhatt's soft, wispy bangs have added a touch of elegance to her appearance, showcasing how bangs can be both stylish and understated. Her choice has made bangs a go-to option for those looking to add a subtle yet impactful change to their hairstyle.

Bangs on the Big Screen

Bollywood films have also played a significant role in popularizing bangs. Characters in various movies sporting bangs have captured the audience's imagination, further cementing the hairstyle's place in contemporary fashion. Actresses like Ananya Panday have showcased bangs in their roles, blending character-driven fashion with real-world trends. This crossover between cinema and everyday style demonstrates the significant impact Bollywood has on shaping fashion trends.

A Global Influence

The revival of bangs in Bollywood is not an isolated trend but part of a broader global movement. International celebrities have also embraced this hairstyle, influencing Bollywood stars and fans alike. The interplay between global fashion trends and Bollywood's unique style sensibilities has created a vibrant fashion landscape where bangs are celebrated across cultures. This global influence has contributed to the widespread acceptance and popularity of bangs in Bollywood.

Personal Style and Identity

The resurgence of bangs is not just about following a trend but also about personal expression. For many Bollywood stars, bangs represent a form of self-expression and individuality. Whether it's through classic cuts or innovative styles, bangs allow stars to convey their personalities and fashion sensibilities. This personal connection to the hairstyle has played a significant role in its revival, making it a meaningful choice for both celebrities and their fans.

Future of Bangs in Bollywood

As Bollywood continues to evolve, the trend of bangs is likely to adapt and innovate. The influence of current stars and their creative approaches to styling will shape the future of this hairstyle. With ongoing experimentation and the introduction of new styles, bangs are expected to remain a prominent feature in Bollywood fashion. The versatility and adaptability of bangs ensure that they will continue to be a popular choice for years to come.

Conclusion

Bollywood's revival of bangs reflects a dynamic blend of classic elegance and modern flair. Stars like Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Alia Bhatt, and Ananya Panday have led this trend with their unique interpretations of bangs, influencing both fashion and personal style. The global impact and the versatility of this hairstyle underscore its significance in contemporary fashion. As Bollywood continues to embrace and innovate, bangs will likely remain a stylish and expressive choice, resonating with audiences and setting new trends in the industry.

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revivalBollywood's bangs revival: Stars who are leading the trend 2024 - indian fast earning

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43. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are no longer just for entertainment; they are becoming popular for “edutainment” (educational entertainment) content. Microlearning is on the rise, with creators offering bite-sized educational content on topics like finance, mental health, or cooking, gaining massive followings.

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43. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are no longer just for entertainment; they are becoming popular for “edutainment” (educational entertainment) content. Microlearning is on the rise, with creators offering bite-sized educational content on topics like finance, mental health, or cooking, gaining massive followings.

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Social Media as an Educational Tool: Leveraging Platforms for Learning and Engagement

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Discover how social media transforms into a potent educational tool, fostering learning and enhancing engagement among users.

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Augmented Reality (AR) is being incorporated into social platforms like Snapchat and Instagram in creative ways. Beyond just filters, users can now create interactive AR content that engages followers in immersive experiences, from virtual try-ons to interactive stories.

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Augmented Reality (AR) is being incorporated into social platforms like Snapchat and Instagram in creative ways. Beyond just filters, users can now create interactive AR content that engages followers in immersive experiences, from virtual try-ons to interactive stories.

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AR And Social Media: Is Augmented Reality The Future Of Social Media?

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Is Augmented Reality the future of social media? And if so, what are the implications for brands and marketers? Find out what the near future might hold for social media and AR, particularly when it comes to social media marketing.

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46. The 2000s & '90s Resurgence: 23 Fashion Trends Making a Comeback

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46. The 2000s & '90s Resurgence: 23 Fashion Trends Making a Comeback

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Fashion in 2024 is heavily influenced by the early 2000s and '90s, with iconic trends like frosted eyeshadows, oversized denim, and chunky platform shoes making a return. Key pieces include slip dresses, baby tees, baggy cargo pants, and bold accessories like choker necklaces and micro sunglasses. The revival of nostalgic styles from these eras is both playful and chic, blending vintage flair with modern updates. From Y2K-inspired tech-wear to grunge aesthetics, these retro looks are being reimagined for today’s generation of fashion enthusiasts.

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23 Early Aughts & ’90s Fashion Trends That Are Coming Back In Style - Glam

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If you live for nostalgia, you’ll probably be excited about these major retro trends from the ’90s and ’00s making a significant comeback in the modern era.

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42. users become more conscious of their digital health, platforms are integrating features like usage tracking, reminders to take breaks, and “focus modes” that disable notifications. This trend is especially appealing to Gen Z, who is vocal about mental health issues related to social media

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42. users become more conscious of their digital health, platforms are integrating features like usage tracking, reminders to take breaks, and “focus modes” that disable notifications. This trend is especially appealing to Gen Z, who is vocal about mental health issues related to social media

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In an increasingly digital world, we find ourselves incessantly checking our phones. If you ARE feeling this way, maybe you should rethink your digital habits if they don't seem to be benefiting your mental health.

In an increasingly digital world, we find ourselves incessantly checking our phones: Instagram likes, Facebook messages, Spotify, emails, text messages, voice messages, podcasts and apps constantly pinging, begging for our constant attention and luring us into the temptations of scrolling and clicking. How many of us have been caught up watching Instagram stories or scrolling Facebook posts for hours, mindlessly clicking through until you jar yourself awake and you can't remember the digital route that you took to wind up where you are? Not only that, but how do you FEEL after you finish a solid scroll sesh? Guilty? Jealous? Sad? You're definitely not alone - so many of us get caught up in social media webs and wind up feeling awful after spending hours on the phone. If you ARE feeling this way, maybe you should rethink your digital habits if they don't seem to be benefiting your mental health.

I'm going to throw some scary statistics at you: studies show that Americans check their phones between 80 and 300 times per day, with the average adult spending more than 11 hours per day watching, listening, reading or interacting with media (TV, smartphones, tablets, laptop usage) and 26% of Americans are constantly online! This is, of course, gathered from market research so it could be more or less if you were to launch a global study of developed nations.

What does that mean though? Well, my interpretation would be that we are losing actual face-to-face interaction with our friends and family due to our preoccupation with the digital world, adversely affecting our mental health. Many people are suffering from depression, anxiety and eating disorders that are fuelled by the idealised photos, videos and posts found on their social feeds. What we all need to remember is that posts online are not necessarily an accurate reflection of reality. The majority of people post a glamourised version of reality; how they want to be seen in the world and how they want to portray themselves. Remembering that what you see online is not necessarily reality can lead to some profound realisations about both yourself and who you follow.

Constant comparison to others leads to limited creativity and inspiration; breeds irritability, anger, jealousy and feelings of inadequacy. If this is how you are feeling, it's time to break the scroll cycle and adapt a new approach to social media usage.

Acknowledge, Analyse and Reflect

Maybe you don't know why you feel the way that you do when you are online. Take the time to acknowledge how you are feeling whenever you have a negative online experience, analyse why this triggered specific feelings of negativity, and reflect on what you can do to change the experience. Once you have identified the why and how, implement it! Possibly that means you need to do a cull of friends or people you are following, mute stories or posts, or even block, if necessary.

Hit the Unfollow Button

Does someone constantly pop up on your screen that immediately makes you feel awful, self-conscious and upset? Unfollow. Take control of your feed/feeds and tailor them to reflect exactly who and what you want to see when you open your social media. Worried about offending a friend or acquaintance you were roped into connecting with on socials? Facebook and Instagram have released a great feature where you can mute people's posts and stories so they will never appear unless you manually search for them.

Limit Your Screen Time

I know, I know, this sounds daunting, AND difficult! Many of us have jobs that require us to spend hours and hours behind a computer, as well as commute to work. Ironically, "social" media can lead us to feeling more lonely and isolated. Decreasing screen time in your off hours has proven benefits, such as feeling less depressed and anxious. Use your time to connect with friends and family, exercise, read, meditate, cook, paint, write or practice yoga. There are plenty of activities that require no screen time, and these are just a few. Find the best ones for you and give them a regular slot in your weekly schedule! When I can be off my phone, I put it on 'Do Not Disturb', and I like to spend my time choreographing dance routines, reading books and spending time at the beach. I also allocate a block of time daily, in the evenings, to be present with my husband, so I'm sorry if I take a bit of time to get back to your comments! Boundaries are so important to enforce on yourself, and will only benefit your mental health at the end of the day. Temptation will be strong, but like anything, the urge to be constantly connected and glued to your phone will wane.

If the thought of trying to decrease screen time is too overwhelming, there are also apps that can help you set limits to your daily screen time, that notify you or force you off if you try to extend the time allowed.

Turn Off Notifications

Turning off notifications or turning your phone on Do Not Disturb can be a great way to disconnect from your social media for awhile. Instead of seeing tons of notifications of things happening online, you can rest easy not knowing for a while - and when you do go on to check, you'll have the reward of a buildup of notifications to look through instead of just one or two at a time.

Using Social Media for Good

Now guys, I don't want you to only take the negatives away from this blog post. Obviously, the majority of my job is utilising social media and the internet so I don't want to beat it down too much. Social media has allowed me to create authentic, fun content, connect with YOU and build a community of like-minded people who want to celebrate each other's success. This is exactly why I created the upBEat tribe - a rapidly-growing group of amazing humans, who build each other up and cheer each other on every day.

Social media is an important tool for businesses, brands and individuals. When used mindfully, social media allows you to connect with brands you love and allows those brands to become a multi-dimensional entity now as well - showing you their founders, employees, likes, dislikes and opens the communication channels in an unprecedented way. Social networking platforms allow you the tools to connect with people locally and internationally, that you may have never crossed paths with otherwise. The access to the free flow of both written and visual content is astounding - as well as the ability to interact with that media.

Social media can make you feel less alone and more connected, but with the right niche groups and a supportive, nurturing online environment, you can thrive and build genuine, meaningful connections.

Create a Better Digital Experience

So I've hit you with a lot of information here, and it can be a lot to break down. If you think that you want to change your digital habits, but are reluctant - start with small changes. For example, using 'Do Not Disturb' mode incrementally, make sure your phone is switched to night mode at night (soft orange light instead of harsh blue light), begin tracking and limiting your online time and identifying what makes you feel bad when you scroll. More and more you will be able to tailor your online experience to exactly what you want to see and you will begin to see and feel the benefits.

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Digital Wellbeing | Checking In With Your Social Media Habits - Up To The Beat

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In an increasingly digital world, we find ourselves incessantly checking our phones. If you ARE feeling this way, maybe you should rethink your digital habits if they don't seem to be benefiting your mental health.

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35. Vintage Vibes: Retro Fashion Trends Making a Bold Comeback in 2024

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35. Vintage Vibes: Retro Fashion Trends Making a Bold Comeback in 2024

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Retro fashion is taking center stage again in 2024, with styles from the '50s, '60s, and '70s re-emerging on runways across the world. Bouffant hairstyles, frosted blue eyeshadow, and doll-like lashes evoke a sense of nostalgia, while modern twists on '70s mullets and choppy bangs are breathing new life into these timeless looks. Iconic elements like bold red nails, structured vintage silhouettes, and glamorous hair are transforming how we blend history with contemporary flair​.

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“VINTAGE VIBES - RETRO FASHION TRENDS MAKING A COMEBACK”: DE MODE GLOBAL

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Vintage fashion has a timeless allure that continually reinvents itself, capturing the essence of bygone eras while blending seamlessly with

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How Brazil’s suspension of X is hurting ‘stan Twitter’

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post 25:How Brazil’s Suspension of X is Hurting ‘Stan Twitter’ The article discusses the impact of Brazil’s suspension of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on its vibrant “stan” communities. These fan groups, which play a significant role in promoting artists and creating trends, have been largely silenced due to the suspension. The move came after X defied court orders to remove accounts and posts that violated Brazilian laws on political misinformation and hate speech12.

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post 25:How Brazil’s Suspension of X is Hurting ‘Stan Twitter’ The article discusses the impact of Brazil’s suspension of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on its vibrant “stan” communities. These fan groups, which play a significant role in promoting artists and creating trends, have been largely silenced due to the suspension. The move came after X defied court orders to remove accounts and posts that violated Brazilian laws on political misinformation and hate speech12.

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Relevance to Today’s Context: This issue is particularly relevant today as it highlights the tension between social media platforms and government regulations. The suspension affects millions of users and disrupts the global conversation, especially in the realm of pop culture and fandoms. It also underscores the broader debate about the responsibilities of social media companies in curbing misinformation and complying with local laws

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How Brazil’s suspension of X is hurting ‘stan Twitter’

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Brazilians have played a big part in creating and sustaining fervent fan communities on the internet, but one of their main platforms is now off limits.

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TikTok in the 2024 US Presidential Race: Trending Campaign Strategy or Passing Trend?The article explores the increasing use of TikTok by presidential candidates in the 2024 US election. 

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TikTok in the 2024 US Presidential Race: Trending Campaign Strategy or Passing Trend?The article explores the increasing use of TikTok by presidential candidates in the 2024 US election. 

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This topic is highly relevant as it highlights the evolving landscape of political campaigning in the digital age. The use of TikTok underscores the importance of social media in modern elections, especially in engaging younger voters who are less likely to consume traditional media.

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TikTok in the 2024 US Presidential Race: Trending Campaign Strategy or Passing Trend?

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A new tool to reach young voters has entered the race for the White House. A new tool to reach young voters has entered the race for the White House.

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The article discusses ErgonBand’s innovative watch band design, which addresses the issue of watch faces being at the wrong angle during activities like cycling and typing.

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The article discusses ErgonBand’s innovative watch band design, which addresses the issue of watch faces being at the wrong angle during activities like cycling and typing.

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It takes a lot of guts to rethink a form as well-established as the watch band. But Canadian company ErgonBand reckons that plenty of activities, from cycling to running to typing, place our watch faces at the wrong angle to read. Thus they designed the rather elaborate alternative their company is named for:

I would not have guessed this design would succeed, but the company held a successful Kickstarter during the pandemic; four years later, they're still going strong.

The materials choice puzzles me: It's made out of real leather. For their part, the company says you can keep it on while washing your hands, but I imagine the leather would get funky over time. And they say you oughtn't swim with it on.

If this is your thing, they run $220 to $230.

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Rethinking the Ergonomics of the Watch Band - Core77

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It takes a lot of guts to rethink a form as well-established as the watch band. But Canadian company ErgonBand reckons that plenty of activities, from cycling to running to typing, place our watch faces at the wrong angle to read. Thus they designed the rather elaborate alternative their company

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post 35:Adidas has launched its ‘3 Ka Dream’ campaign, celebrating the Indian cricket team’s quest for a third ICC ODI World Cup victory. The campaign features a rousing rap anthem by Raftaar and showcases cricket icons like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. The campaign aims to ignite national pride and support for the team, with a special focus on the new ODI jersey and limited-edition Adidas Grand Court shoes12.

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post 35:Adidas has launched its ‘3 Ka Dream’ campaign, celebrating the Indian cricket team’s quest for a third ICC ODI World Cup victory. The campaign features a rousing rap anthem by Raftaar and showcases cricket icons like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. The campaign aims to ignite national pride and support for the team, with a special focus on the new ODI jersey and limited-edition Adidas Grand Court shoes12.

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Relevance to Today’s Context: The ‘3 Ka Dream’ campaign is highly relevant today as it taps into the immense passion for cricket in India, especially with the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 around the corner. By integrating cultural elements and national pride, Adidas not only promotes its products but also strengthens its emotional connection with the audience. This campaign resonates deeply with over a billion Indian fans who dream of seeing their team lift the World Cup trophy for the third time ¹ ².

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Mumbai: Rooted in the belief ‘impossible is nothing’, adidas sets the stage for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 with its ‘3 Ka Dream’ campaign. A testament to the country’s unwavering support for team India, 3 Ka Dream gives words to over a billion Indian fans’ dream to see their team win a third ODI World Cup.

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post 38 The headline “Balance Humour and Humanity in Creative Campaigns: Ed Pank, Cannes Lions” emphasizes the importance of integrating both humor and human elements in advertising and creative campaigns. Ed Pank, a notable figure at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, advocates for this balance to create more engaging and relatable content

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post 38 The headline “Balance Humour and Humanity in Creative Campaigns: Ed Pank, Cannes Lions” emphasizes the importance of integrating both humor and human elements in advertising and creative campaigns. Ed Pank, a notable figure at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, advocates for this balance to create more engaging and relatable content

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In today’s context, this approach is particularly relevant as brands strive to connect with audiences on a deeper level amidst a rapidly changing media landscape. By blending humor with humanity, campaigns can resonate more authentically, fostering stronger emotional connections and enhancing brand loyalty ¹ ². This strategy is crucial in an era where consumers seek meaningful and entertaining interactions with brands ¹ ².

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Balance humour and humanity in creative campaigns: Ed Pank, Cannes Lions - ET BrandEquity

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Publicis: Ed Pank from Cannes Lions discussed the mission to celebrate creative marketing that matters, aiming to showcase Indian creativity on the global stage at Cannes Lions. He emphasised the importance of diverse teams, humour and innovative uses of Al, citing examples like Siemens Health’s MRI campaign and Pedigree’s Al-driven dog adoption ads.

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30-year-old woman collapses at work, dies after manager denies her sick leave request” reports a tragic incident where a woman in Thailand, identified as May, died after her manager refused her request for sick leave. Despite being diagnosed with an inflamed large intestine and having a medical certificate, she was forced to return to work, leading to her collapse and subsequent death from necrotising enterocolitis

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30-year-old woman collapses at work, dies after manager denies her sick leave request” reports a tragic incident where a woman in Thailand, identified as May, died after her manager refused her request for sick leave. Despite being diagnosed with an inflamed large intestine and having a medical certificate, she was forced to return to work, leading to her collapse and subsequent death from necrotising enterocolitis

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In today’s context, this incident underscores the critical importance of workplace health and safety, and the need for compassionate management practices. It highlights ongoing global discussions about work-life balance, employee rights, and the potentially fatal consequences of neglecting employee well-being ¹ ². This case serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of inadequate workplace policies and the urgent need for reforms to protect workers’ health and lives ¹ ².

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30-year-old woman collapses at work, dies after manager denies her sick leave request

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A 30-year-old factory worker collapsed and died a day after her manager refused her sick leave request.

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“Disney Layoffs: The Walt Disney Company Lays Off Hundreds of Corporate-Level Employees as Part of Cost-Cutting Restructuring” highlights a significant move by Disney to reduce its workforce. This decision is part of a broader strategy to cut costs and restructure the company amid challenging economic conditions and shifts in the media landscape12.

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“Disney Layoffs: The Walt Disney Company Lays Off Hundreds of Corporate-Level Employees as Part of Cost-Cutting Restructuring” highlights a significant move by Disney to reduce its workforce. This decision is part of a broader strategy to cut costs and restructure the company amid challenging economic conditions and shifts in the media landscape12.

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In today’s context, these layoffs are particularly relevant as they reflect the ongoing struggles of traditional media companies to adapt to declining pay-TV subscriptions and the increasing shift towards digital platforms ¹ ². Disney’s actions are part of a larger trend in the industry, where companies are focusing on streamlining operations to remain competitive and profitable.

Feedback

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Disney Layoffs: The Walt Disney Company Lays Off Hundreds Corporate-Level Employees As Par of Cost-Cutting, Restructuring Business | 🌎 LatestLY

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Disney has laid off nearly 300 employees from various divisions, continuing its plan to restructure the business and cut costs. The Disney layoffs have been initiated after the company had reduced 3% of its workforce, by letting go 140 employees. 🌎 Disney Layoffs: The Walt Disney Company Lays Off Hundreds Corporate-Level Employees As Par of Cost-Cutting, Restructuring Business.

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Post 6: “Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, spotted eating hot dog in Times Square; internet calls it ‘billion-dollar hot dog’” captures a moment where Bill Gates, known for his immense wealth and philanthropic efforts, is seen enjoying a simple street food item in New York City. This juxtaposition of a billionaire indulging in an everyday pleasure resonates with many, highlighting his relatable side.

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Post 6: “Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, spotted eating hot dog in Times Square; internet calls it ‘billion-dollar hot dog’” captures a moment where Bill Gates, known for his immense wealth and philanthropic efforts, is seen enjoying a simple street food item in New York City. This juxtaposition of a billionaire indulging in an everyday pleasure resonates with many, highlighting his relatable side.

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In today’s context, this moment is particularly relevant as it coincides with Gates’ active participation in high-profile events like the UN General Assembly and the promotion of his new Netflix show, "What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates"¹ ². It serves as a reminder that even the most influential figures appreciate the simple joys of life, bridging the gap between their public persona and everyday experiences.

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Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and a prominent philanthropist, surprised the internet when he was seen purchasing a hot dog from a street vendor in Times Square, New York. Captured in a video, Gates was enjoying this classic New York treat. It appears that the billionaire was indulging in the snack as part of a shoot. The footage, shared on Instagram by photojournalist Elder Ordonez, quickly garnered significant attention online.

Bill Gates was spotted enjoying a hot dog in Times Square,(Instagram/elderordonez1)

(Also read: Dolly Chaiwala, who served tea to Bill Gates, charges ₹5 lakh, stays in 5-star hotel, claims Kuwait vlogger)

Watch the clips here:

Viral moments in New York

The videos of Gates enjoying his hot dog have attracted a flurry of reactions on social media, as people were amused to see the billionaire indulging in such a simple pleasure. Comments poured in, with many expressing their surprise and admiration. One user wrote, "Wow, even billionaires love a good hot dog!" while another chimed in, "Imagine running into Bill Gates at a hot dog stand!" Maria added, "He's just like us! Who knew Gates was a hot dog fan?" Deepak Patil stated, "Guess billionaires also have street food cravings." Meanwhile, Sarah Hennson joked, "Does Bill prefer mustard or ketchup?" and Aditya Sharma simply commented, "Iconic."

The laid-back moment with the hot dog seemed to resonate with many who appreciated seeing Gates in such an everyday setting. It showed that even one of the world's wealthiest men enjoys the simple pleasures that street food brings.

(Also read: Bill Gates enjoys tea made by Dolly Chaiwalla, says 'looking forward to many chai pe charcha')

Chai time in India

This isn't the first time Bill Gates has captured hearts with his love for street food. Earlier this year, during his trip to India, Gates shared a heartwarming video where he was seen savouring a cup of chai from a tea stall run by the famous social media influencer, Dolly Chaiwala. The video, which quickly went viral, showcased Gates immersing himself in India's vibrant street culture.

Check the post here:

In the Instagram post, Gates shared his appreciation for the creativity and innovation present in everyday Indian life, stating, "In India, you can find innovation everywhere you turn - even in the preparation of a simple cup of tea!" The video starts with Gates asking, "One chai, please," from Dolly Chaiwala, who then demonstrates his unique and artistic method of making tea.

As Gates sipped the steaming chai from a glass, he expressed his excitement about being back in India, highlighting the country's role as a hub for innovators who are dedicated to improving lives. Gates praised how even something as simple as making tea could be elevated to an art form. He wrapped up the video by looking forward to more "chai pe charcha" (discussions over tea), standing beside Dolly Chaiwala.

About Bill Gates' net worth

As per Forbes, Bill Gates ranks as the seventh richest man in the world, boasting a staggering net worth of $138.9 billion.

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Bill Gates spotted eating hot dog in Times Square, internet calls it 'billion-dollar hot dog'

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Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, was recently spotted enjoying a hot dog from a street vendor in Times Square, New York. | Trending

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post 20:The article explores the trend of “gig tripping,” where fans travel to different cities or countries to attend concerts, such as Coldplay’s performance in Abu Dhabi1.

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post 20:The article explores the trend of “gig tripping,” where fans travel to different cities or countries to attend concerts, such as Coldplay’s performance in Abu Dhabi1.

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Cultural Experience: Enhances cultural exposure and global connectivity.

Tourism Boost: Increases tourism and local economy.

Fan Engagement: Deepens fan engagement and loyalty.

Travel Trends: Reflects evolving travel preferences post-pandemic

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Travelling To Abu Dhabi To See Coldplay? You’re Gig Tripping! Know All About This Travel Trend

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“Gig tripping” typically refers to people travelling specifically to attend concerts or performances of their favourite musicians or bands, Travelogues News - Times Now

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post 45:The article discusses a report by SBI Research indicating a decline in India’s population growth rate. Despite the population reaching an estimated 138-142 crore by 2024, the growth rate is projected to decrease from 2.20% in 1971 to around 1.00% in 20241. This trend is significant as it highlights shifting demographic patterns, with southern states contributing less to population growth compared to northern states1.

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post 45:The article discusses a report by SBI Research indicating a decline in India’s population growth rate. Despite the population reaching an estimated 138-142 crore by 2024, the growth rate is projected to decrease from 2.20% in 1971 to around 1.00% in 20241. This trend is significant as it highlights shifting demographic patterns, with southern states contributing less to population growth compared to northern states1.

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Relevance and Necessity:

1. Policy Planning: Understanding population trends is crucial for effective policy-making, especially in areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

2. Economic Impact: A declining growth rate can influence labor markets and economic productivity, affecting long-term economic planning.

3. Regional Development: The shift in population growth from southern to northern states can impact regional development strategies and resource allocation.

4. Demographic Dividend: With a significant portion of the population in the working-age group, India can leverage this demographic for economic growth ¹.

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Indias Population Growth On Downward Trajectory, Souths Share To Dip: SBI Research

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Indias Population Growth On Downward Trajectory, Souths Share To Dip: SBI Research

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Sleepmaxxing is a viral wellness trend aimed at optimizing sleep quality by minimizing distractions and using various products and techniques. Enthusiasts incorporate tools like magnesium foot spray, mouth tape, chin straps, and sleep trackers to enhance their rest.

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Sleepmaxxing is a viral wellness trend aimed at optimizing sleep quality by minimizing distractions and using various products and techniques. Enthusiasts incorporate tools like magnesium foot spray, mouth tape, chin straps, and sleep trackers to enhance their rest.

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Why It’s Necessary:

Health Benefits: Quality sleep is crucial for physical and mental well-being, and sleepmaxxing aims to address common sleep issues ¹.

Modern Challenges: The demands of modern life and technology often disrupt sleep, making such trends relevant ¹.

Relevance in Today’s Scenario:

Increased Awareness: Promotes awareness about the importance of good sleep hygiene ¹.

Consumer Market: Drives innovation in sleep-related products and technologies ¹.

Mental Health: Highlights the link between sleep quality and overall mental health, encouraging healthier lifestyles ¹.

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Heard Of Sleepmaxxing? This Trend Is Fuelling ‘Perfect Sleep’

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The growing trend of “sleepmaxxing” highlights an increasing obsession with perfect sleep, as more people struggle with sleep quality due to modern lifestyle factors., Viral News - Times Now

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33. Why Cannes Matters: The Film Festival Shaping Cinema and Culture

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33. Why Cannes Matters: The Film Festival Shaping Cinema and Culture

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The Cannes Film Festival isn't just for film buffs or the elite; it plays a pivotal role in shaping the global film industry, influencing everything from movie trends to cultural conversations. Even if you don't realize it, the films and filmmakers Cannes elevates often define the stories we see and the way we experience cinema for years to come.

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If You Care About Movies, You Care About Cannes (Even if You Think You Don’t)

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In the greater scheme of our movie landscape, what matters is the breadth and variety of the movies chosen by the 75th Cannes Film Festival’s programmers.

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post 10:Study Finds 200 Chemicals Linked to Breast Cancer in Food Packaging

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post 10:Study Finds 200 Chemicals Linked to Breast Cancer in Food Packaging

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Why It’s Necessary:

Health Risks: These chemicals, including PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates, can migrate into food and be ingested by humans, posing significant health risks ².

Regulatory Gaps: The study highlights the inadequacy of current regulations in preventing harmful chemicals from entering the food supply ².

Relevance in Today’s Scenario:

Consumer Awareness: Raises awareness about the potential dangers of everyday food packaging materials ².

Policy Change: Could prompt stricter regulations and better safety standards for food packaging ².

Preventive Measures: Emphasizes the importance of reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals to prevent breast cancer and other health issues ².

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A team of researchers has identified nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens in food packaging materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard

A team of researchers has identified nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens in food packaging materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard highlighting widespread exposure despite existing regulation.

ADVERTISEMENT

The findings, published in 'Frontiers in Toxicology' on Tuesday, underscore an urgent need for stronger preventative measures to reduce these chemicals in everyday products.

"This study is important because it shows that there is a huge opportunity for prevention of human exposure to breast cancer-causing chemicals," said Jane Muncke, Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study.

"The potential for cancer prevention by reducing hazardous chemicals in your daily life is underexplored and deserves much more attention," she added.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. It is the number one cancer in women.

In 2022, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 670,000 died globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

For the study, the team compared a recently published list of potential breast carcinogens. They found 189 potential breast carcinogens have been detected in food contact materials (FCMs), including 143 in plastics and 89 in paper or board.

Further, the team limited their study to the most recently available studies in 2020-2022.

They also found evidence of exposure to 76 suspected mammary carcinogens from FCMs purchased all over the world, 61 of which (80 per cent) are from plastics.

This indicates continued exposure of the global population to these chemicals under realistic use conditions.

Importantly, the food contact materials were purchased within the last few years from markets in highly regulated regions, including the EU and the US.

Despite existing regulations in these countries, intended to limit carcinogenic substances in FCMs, the study highlights gaps in current regulatory frameworks.

"Our findings imply that chronic exposure of the entire population to suspected mammary carcinogens from FCMs is the norm and highlights an important, but currently underappreciated, opportunity for prevention," the researchers said.
Also Read: Packaged juices harmful, no matter 'healthy' branding, warn experts
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Study finds 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer in food packaging materials

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A team of researchers has identified nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens in food packaging materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard

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post 12:Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Explosion Causes Permanent Hearing Loss Incident: A Turkish user reported that their Samsung Galaxy Buds FE exploded while in use, causing permanent hearing loss12.Company Response: Samsung has denied the explosion, attributing the damage to external factors

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post 12:Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Explosion Causes Permanent Hearing Loss Incident: A Turkish user reported that their Samsung Galaxy Buds FE exploded while in use, causing permanent hearing loss12.Company Response: Samsung has denied the explosion, attributing the damage to external factors

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Why It’s Necessary:

Consumer Safety: Highlights the importance of rigorous safety standards and quality control in consumer electronics ⁴.

Corporate Accountability: Raises questions about how companies handle product malfunctions and customer complaints ³.

Relevance in Today’s Scenario:

Tech Reliability: As reliance on wireless devices grows, ensuring their safety becomes increasingly critical ².

Public Trust: Incidents like this can significantly impact consumer trust in major tech brands ⁴.

Legal Implications: Could lead to stricter regulations and more robust consumer protection laws ³.

This incident underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the tech industry, ensuring that consumer safety is always a top priority.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Explosion Causes Permanent Hearing Loss in Turkish User

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The incident, reported on Samsung’s Turkey forum, has sparked concerns about the safety of the company’s new earbuds, drawing comparisons to Samsung’s previous Galaxy Note 7 battery crisis., Technology & Science News - Times Now

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Thailand’s Cabinet Approves Marriage Equality 

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Thailand’s Cabinet Approves Marriage Equality 

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Equal Rights: The amendment aims to grant same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, including the right to form a family ¹.

Inclusivity: It changes the terms “men and women” and “husband and wife” to “individuals” and "marriage partners"¹.

Relevance in Today’s Scenario:

LGBTQ+ Rights: This move is a significant step towards equality and inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community in Thailand ¹.

Regional Impact: If passed, Thailand will become the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following Taiwan and Nepal ¹.

Social Progress: Reflects a broader trend of increasing acceptance and legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights globally ¹.

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Thailand legalizes same-sex marriage, allows couples to wed starting in January

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Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill has been officially written into law, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed.

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Why Cannes Matters: The Film Festival Shaping Cinema and Culture

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Why Cannes Matters: The Film Festival Shaping Cinema and Culture

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The Cannes Film Festival isn't just for film buffs or the elite; it plays a pivotal role in shaping the global film industry, influencing everything from movie trends to cultural conversations. Even if you don't realize it, the films and filmmakers Cannes elevates often define the stories we see and the way we experience cinema for years to come.

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If You Care About Movies, You Care About Cannes (Even if You Think You Don’t)

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In the greater scheme of our movie landscape, what matters is the breadth and variety of the movies chosen by the 75th Cannes Film Festival’s programmers.

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 44. The Rise of Eco-Literature: Exploring Nature and Environmental Themes in Modern Writing

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 44. The Rise of Eco-Literature: Exploring Nature and Environmental Themes in Modern Writing

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Eco-literature, a genre that intertwines nature and environmental concerns with storytelling, is gaining prominence in today's literary world. This movement reflects society’s growing awareness of environmental issues, with writers using their narratives to explore the relationship between humans and the natural world, climate change, sustainability, and ecological preservation. From fiction to poetry, eco-literature inspires readers to reflect on their impact on the environment, fostering a deeper connection to nature and a sense of responsibility towards its preservation.

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The Rise of Eco-Literature: Nature and Environmental Themes in Writing

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Eco-literature, also known as environmental literature or ecocriticism, has emerged as a crucial genre in contemporary literature…

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2. Revolutionizing Tomorrow: The Intersection of Innovation, Technology, and Creativity

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2. Revolutionizing Tomorrow: The Intersection of Innovation, Technology, and Creativity

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In today’s fast-paced world, innovation and technology drive transformative changes across industries, reshaping the way we live, work, and create. From artificial intelligence to sustainable design, the fusion of cutting-edge technology and creative problem-solving fuels breakthroughs that push boundaries and redefine possibilities. This dynamic intersection fosters advancements that enhance efficiency, improve user experiences, and create more connected, intelligent systems that elevate human potential.

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BBC Innovation | Technology, Health, Environment, AI

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BBC Innovation brings you the latest in Technology news and coverage from around the world, including health, environment, AI, and more

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41. Navigating the Micro-Influencer Marketing Landscape: Insights, Trends, and Impacts

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41. Navigating the Micro-Influencer Marketing Landscape: Insights, Trends, and Impacts

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This comprehensive overview explores the dynamic world of micro-influencer marketing, highlighting its significance in today's digital landscape. Delving into the current trends, we analyze how brands leverage the authentic connections of micro-influencers to enhance engagement and drive consumer trust. With insights into the measurable impacts on brand awareness and customer loyalty, this guide equips marketers with the knowledge to effectively harness micro-influencer partnerships for successful campaigns.

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A Comprehensive Overview of Micro-Influencer Marketing: Decoding the Current Landscape, Impacts, and Trends

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This research provides a comprehensive overview of micro-influence marketing, analyzing the characteristics of influencers and the mechanisms of their impact. A systematic review was conducted, encompassing 2091 citing articles and references across 74 studies involving 95 research institutions and over 12,000 samples. Employing an interdisciplinary approach that integrates insights from computer science, information science, communication, culture, psychology, sociology, education, business, and management, this study outlines the distinct features of micro-influencers. These features include performable authenticity, affinity expressed through consistency and transparency, musical and artistic media talent, and competitive individual traits. The research synthesizes antecedents of trust and attachment mechanisms commonly employed in influencer theory, taking an objective standpoint and minimizing emphasis on audience engagement and perception to trigger influence. The findings highlight that followers’ pursuit of self-branding, driven by self-consciousness, social consciousness, credibility, and social presence, significantly influences the impact of self-expressive products on the audience’s purchase intention. The research contributes to micro-influence marketing theory by integrating mechanics, offering practical implications for micro-influencers, and suggesting future research agendas.

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40. Threads: Unraveling the Social Fabric of Meta's Latest Innovation

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40. Threads: Unraveling the Social Fabric of Meta's Latest Innovation

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Threads, Meta’s latest social app, promises to reshape online interaction by emphasizing text-based conversations in a visually engaging environment. Designed as an alternative to traditional social platforms, Threads encourages users to share thoughts, ideas, and stories while fostering authentic connections. With features that blend Instagram's visual appeal and Twitter's conversational essence, Threads aims to create a vibrant community focused on dialogue and creativity, making it a compelling addition to the social media landscape. Discover the app's innovative features and the vision behind its development, as Meta strives to redefine how we connect and communicate in the digital age.

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Threads: The inside story of Meta’s newest social app

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Earlier this year, a small team of engineers at Meta started working on an idea for a new app. It would have all the features people expect from a text-based conversations app, but with one very ke…

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31. Navigating Tomorrow: Unleashing Hyper-Personalization and AI for an Enhanced Customer Experience

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31. Navigating Tomorrow: Unleashing Hyper-Personalization and AI for an Enhanced Customer Experience

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In an era where consumer expectations are ever-evolving, "Navigating The Future" explores the transformative dynamics of hyper-personalization and artificial intelligence in shaping customer experiences. This insightful analysis delves into how brands can leverage AI-driven insights to create tailored interactions that resonate deeply with individual preferences. From personalized recommendations to dynamic engagement strategies, discover how the fusion of technology and consumer-centric approaches is revolutionizing the marketplace, fostering loyalty, and driving business success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

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Council Post: Navigating The Future: The Dynamics Of Hyper-Personalization And AI In Customer Experience

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Being committed to delivering effective personalized customer experiences should be the compass in driving businesses forward.

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43. Harnessing Connections: The Rise of Social Commerce

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43. Harnessing Connections: The Rise of Social Commerce

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Social commerce is transforming the way consumers discover and purchase products by integrating social media platforms with e-commerce functionalities. This innovative approach leverages user-generated content, influencer marketing, and social interactions to create a seamless shopping experience. By fostering community engagement and building trust through authentic interactions, brands can tap into the power of social networks to drive sales and enhance customer loyalty. As social commerce continues to grow, it represents a significant shift in consumer behavior, merging entertainment with shopping in an increasingly digital world.

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The Rise of Social Commerce and What It Means for Indian Retailers - Indian Retailer

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The Indian retail landscape is undergoing a dynamic transformation, driven by the meteoric rise of social media and its increasing convergence with the world of commerce. - Indian Retailer

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36. Show Me the Money: Feminist Stories on Shifting Power and Resources to Movements

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36. Show Me the Money: Feminist Stories on Shifting Power and Resources to Movements

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This compelling narrative explores how feminist movements are working to reshape global power dynamics by advocating for the redistribution of resources. It highlights the challenges and triumphs faced by grassroots organizations striving for gender equality, financial autonomy, and social justice. By centering stories from diverse movements, this work emphasizes the importance of direct funding and support to empower feminist causes, ensuring that they lead the charge in creating sustainable change.

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Show me the Money: Feminist Stories on Shifting Power and Resources to Movements

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As we approach the end of the first year of implementing the Feminist Accountability Framework, we offer this updated report with stories from over 110 feminist actors from Asia-Pacific, Latin America…

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Transnational Feminist Activism: Uniting Global Women's Movements for Equality and Justice

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Transnational Feminist Activism: Uniting Global Women's Movements for Equality and Justice

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Transnational feminist activism is a powerful force driving the global women's movement, bridging diverse cultural and political contexts to address shared struggles. It emphasizes collective efforts to tackle issues such as gender-based violence, reproductive rights, economic inequality, and intersectional discrimination. By connecting grassroots organizations with international coalitions, these movements amplify women's voices across borders, fostering solidarity in the fight for gender justice and equality on a global scale. The focus is on challenging patriarchal systems and pushing for inclusive policies that transcend national boundaries.

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Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies

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Transnational Feminist Activism and Globalizing Women’s Movements

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“Transnational Feminist Activism and Globalizing Women’s Movements” published on by Oxford University Press.