The Signal Daily

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

And in other news, we're talking about TikTok and its future in the US. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill by a landslide, giving TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, a stark choice: sell TikTok or risk being banned.

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Yash Hirave

Also, check out the TechTonic Shift episode on dating apps - The Evolution of Dating Apps 

For the first story, we are looking at how India's ride-hailing companies are switching from commission-based models to subscription models to attract gig workers.

Also in today's episode, we interviewed Lt General DS Hooda, an army veteran and co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research. We essentially discuss about the new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute that says India was the largest weapons importer in the world between 2019-23 and the global arms race that is building up in this era of insecurity.

Tune in to this insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

Also, check out our previous episodes on geopolitical tensions around the world and its effects on India:

The ongoing conflict in the Red Sea

What Indian stands to lose the Israel-Palestine War?

Palm Oil Get More Expensive

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

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In this episode, we are talking about Bengaluru's water-shortage crisis. But what's the root cause of this problem and what can the city do to save itself? We take these questions to Mridula Ramesh, a climatetech investor and the founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute.

In other news, we are delving into how Indians found themselves in the conflict zone in Russia, shedding light on the nation's labor crisis.

Tune in for an insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In today's episode, we're diving into the performance of the Indian media industry throughout 2023. We've also got Soumya Gupta, senior editor at The Signal, joining us to provide her insights.

In other news, Apple's iPhone sales are hitting a plateau in India.

And to wrap up the week with our third segment, we are talking about Binance's Women's Day marketing campaign which involves launching a "CRYPTO" perfume.

Check out The Impression's latest edition - State of media: no💰 just vibes.

Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily!

Episode Credits
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Anup Semwal and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Soumya Gupta 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

In today's episode, we're talking about the McDonald's cheese controversy, where one of its outlets in Maharashtra is accused of using substitutes instead of real cheese.

And for our second segment, we are delving into the antitrust concerns surrounding Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store dominance, questioning if it's time for alternative platforms to step up. Joining us for this discussion is Dinoo Muthappa, an Antitrust lawyer and competition law partner at Talwar Thakore & Associates.

Also check out our previous episode on Apple's Walled Garden Gets a Side Gate & Google Play Store vs Indian Apps

Tune in for an insightful episode!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

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

What's the uproar with India's new AI rules
Google Play Store vs Indian Startups
Reliance steps in Disney World
Made-in-India social media wasteland
Fewer planes in the skies this summer

India's Electronics and IT Ministry issued unexpected guidelines on AI regulations, causing concern among AI developers. The guidelines mainly focus on preventing AI misuse for unlawful content and requiring government approval for experimental AI models. But what are the real intentions behind these regulations, and what is India's stance on AI regulation? To shed light on these questions, we turn to Prateek Waghre, Policy Director at the Internet Freedom Foundation.
Aman Taneja, an IP and technology lawyer at Ikigai Law Firm, also joins us on to help us understand possible future approaches to AI regulations in India.

In other news, China is entering the whiskey segment, but can it beat India? Tune in to learn more about both the stories!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been active on X, recently, you've probably seen the trending hashtag #SaveOurStartups. But what's the story behind it? Why do Indian startups need saving?

In other news, the ongoing turmoil in the Red Sea – one of the world's most vital maritime trade routes – is extending its reach into various sectors. Currently, attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on commercial shipping are disrupting trade at a time when global economies are grappling with high inflation. Now, this crisis in the Red Sea could also impact your internet. In fact, it already has for Indian internet services.

Tune into The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Joshua Thomas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, TikTok and Universal Music Group are embroiled in a dispute over royalties. Despite a month-long standoff, neither side is willing to budge. As a result, many TikTok videos are going silent as the platform loses access to Universal's music catalog. Also checkout our previous episode where we explain the TikTok vs Universal Music Group beef in further details. 
Tune in to The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits:The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Indian social media landscape is scattered with unsuccessful attempts by homegrown companies. Consider Hike Messenger, which aimed to challenge WhatsApp, along with other short video platforms like Chingari, Mitron TV, Trell, Roposo, Bolo Indya, and Josh. Where do they stand now? And why do Indian platforms struggle to carve out a niche among giants like YouTube, Instagram, Meta, and Twitter? To shed light on this, we invited Soumya Gupta, senior editor at The Signal. Also, check out her latest piece in The Impression where she dives deeper into this topic - Social Media is Work(place).

In other news, Apple has pumped the brakes on its electric vehicle aspirations. What's the reason behind this? Tune in for more details!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Soumya Gupta
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are there fewer planes in the skies? Well, it's a combination of factors, but one of the primary reasons is the shortage of new aircraft globally. 

In other news, BSNL is gearing up to make a comeback. So, the government is considering various reforms for this PSU to improve its performance. This includes upgrading networks, boosting sales, and providing better services to keep up with the competition.

Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily for more! 

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That's because the obsession with fairness creams in India is gradually diminishing, with a 3% drop in sales volume according to recent data from NeilsenIQ. But what's the driving factor here? We have the Gen Z to thank for.  

On today's episode, we are also talking about the upcoming Reddit IPO. Reddit is giving its dedicated users and content moderators a substantial amount of shares before going public. Surprisingly, many Redditors aren't interested. Why is that the case? Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, there's a troubling trend of gambling associated with popular video games. According to Barron’s, there are 73 gambling websites, mostly based overseas, linked to Counter-Strike. Why is this worrisome? Tune in to The Signal Daily to learn more!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Byju Raveendran is in trouble again. The latest reports indicate that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is seeking another Look-Out Circular (LOC) notice against the edtech tycoon.

In other news, Nvidia's profits skyrocketed, surging ninefold to almost $12.3 billion in the three-month period from $1.4 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. Plus, its revenue soared more than triple to $22.1 billion, up from $6.05 billion a year ago. What's the reason behind this massive surge? Tune in to today's episode to learn more!

Episode Credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amazon is all set to launch Amazon Bazaar, a platform aimed at budget-conscious shoppers. This move comes as the value segment is already densely populated with competitors such as Meesho, Shopsy, and Ajio Street. So why is Amazon eager to tap into this market? Stay tuned for the details. 

Also in today's episode, we are talking about Thai legislators pushing for new laws to prohibit the recreational consumption of cannabis in the country, just two years after decriminalising its use. But what's prompting this reversal in policy? 

Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily for all the details!

Episode credits:
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Soumya Gupta and Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, two major players in the American credit card lending scene — Capital One and Discover Financial are set to join forces and become a behemoth. But who might be on the losing end of this deal? Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily for all the details!

Episode Credits:

Researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Dinesh Narayanan 
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, even Apple fanboys are returning their Vision Pros. What is not working in Apple’s design?

Tune in to this episode of The Signal Daily for these stories.

Episode Credits:

Researched and written by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth 
Hosted by Shorbori
Produced by Manaswini
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, Bloomsbury, known for publishing the Harry Potter series, has raised its profit forecasts due to a rising demand for fantasy novels, especially those by Sarah J. Maas. What's behind this surge in popularity? Tune in to find out!

CREDITS

The Signal Daily is produced in association with IVM.
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

In other news, Lyft, the ride-hailing platform's stock price soared after it released its earnings, all thanks to a silly typo.

Tune in for more! 

CREDITS

The Signal Daily is produced in association with IVM.
The episode was researched, written, and produced by Shorbori and Manaswini
Edited by Venkat Ananth and Dinesh Narayanan
Mastered and mixed by Manas and Nirvaan 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.