#Budget 2021 India

[adastra-sf]

Climate change-driven heatwaves threaten millions

Extreme record-breaking heat leads to severe crises across the world.

Already in 2024, from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria in the West; to Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines in the East; large regions of Asia are experiencing temperatures well above 40°C (104°F) for days on end.

The heatwave has been particularly difficult for people living in refugee camps and informal housing, as well as for unhoused people and outdoor workers.

Using the Heat Index Calculator, at that temperature and a relative humidity of 50%, residents see a heat index of 55°C (131°F) - a temperature level humans cannot long survive:

In February, the southern coastal zone of West Africa also experienced abnormal early-season heat. A combination of high temperatures and humid air resulted in average heat index values of about 50°C (122°F) - the danger level, associated with a high risk of heat cramps and heat exhaustion.

Locally, temperatures entered the extreme danger level associated with high risk of heat stroke, with values up to 60°C (140°F):

Even here at Ad Astra's HQ in Kansas, last summer we saw several days with high temperatures of 102°F (39°C) at 57% humidity, resulting in a heat index of 133°F (56°C):

Of course, the major difference in survivability in Kansas versus some of the places suffering extreme heat right now is that air-conditioning abounds here. Those who live somewhere that faces extreme heat but can escape it indoors are a lot more likely to survive, but a person who lives somewhere without such life-saving gear faces not just discomfort, but heat stroke and even death.

This includes unhoused and poor people here in the wealthier parts of the world, who often do not have access to indoor refuge from the heat.

About 15% of US residents live below the poverty line. Many low-wage earners work outside in construction or landscaping, exposed to the ravages of heat. Many do not own an air conditioner, and those who do might need to budget their body's recovery from heat against cost to purchase and run cooling equipment. Because heat stress is cumulative, when they go to work the next day, they’re more likely to suffer from heat illness.

Bad as that is, for those living on the street, heatwaves are merciless killers. Around the country, heat contributes to some 1,500 deaths annually, and advocates estimate about half of those people are homeless. In general, unhoused people are 200 times more likely to die from heat-related causes than sheltered individuals.

For example, in 2022, a record 425 people died from heat in the greater Phoenix metro area. Of the 320 deaths for which the victim’s living situation is known, more than half (178) were homeless. In 2023, Texans experienced the hottest summer since 2011, with an average temperature of 85.3°F (30°C) degrees between June and the end of August. Some cities in Texas experienced more than 40 days of 100°F (38°C) or higher weather. This extreme heat led to 334 heat-related deaths, the highest number in Texas history and twice as many as in 2011.

The Pacific Northwest of Canada and the USA suffered an extreme heat event in June, 2021, during which 619 people died. Many locations broke all-time temperature records by more than 5°C, with a new record-high temperature of 49.6°C (121°F). This is a region ill-suited to such weather, and despite having relatively high wealth compared to much of the world, many homes and businesses there do not have air-conditioning due to a history of much lower temperatures.

Heatwaves are arguably the deadliest type of extreme weather event because of their wide impact. While heatwave death tolls are often underreported, hundreds of deaths from the February heatwave were reported in the affected countries, including Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Extreme heat also has a powerful impact on agriculture, causing crop damage and reduced yields. It also impacts education, with holidays having to be extended and schools closing, affecting millions of students - in Delhi, India, schools shut early this week for summer when temperatures soared to 47°C (117°F) at dangerous humidity levels:

At 70°C (157°F !), humans simply cannot function and face imminent death, especially when humidity is high. This is the notion of "heat index," a derivative of "wet-bulb temperature."

Though now mostly calculated using heat and humidity readings, wet-bulb temperature was originally measured by putting a wet cloth over a thermometer and exposing it to the air.

This allowed it to measure how quickly the water evaporated off the cloth, representing sweat evaporating off skin.

The theorized human survival limit has long been 35°C (95°F) wet-bulb temperature, based on 35°C dry heat at 100% humidity - or 46°C (115°F) at 50% humidity. To test this limit, researchers at Pennsylvania State University measured the core temperatures of young, healthy people inside a heat chamber.

They found that participants reached their "critical environmental limit" - when their body could not stop the core temperature from continuing to rise – at 30.6°C wet bulb temperature, well below what was previously theorized. That web-bulb temperature parallels a 47°C (117°F) heat index.

​The team estimates that it takes between 5-7 hours before such conditions reach "really, really dangerous core temperatures."

On March 5, 2024, Hong Kong saw temperatures of 27°C (80°F) with 100% humidity, which results in a heat index of 32.2°C (90°F) - seemingly not so bad until considering it's higher than the critical wet-bulb temperature. Also, if you watch the video, imagine the long-term effects of water accumulating in residences, such as dangerous mold.

We are witnessing the effects of climate change right now, all around the world, and rising temperatures are just the most-obvious (what we used to call "global warming"). Many, many other side-effects of climate change are beginning to plague us or headed our way soon, and will affect us all.

Unfortunately, those most affected - and those being hit the hardest right now - are people most vulnerable to heatwaves. With climate crises increasing in both intensity and frequency, and poverty at dangerous levels, we face a rapidly rising, worldwide crisis.

We must recognize the climate crisis as an international emergency and treat it as such. So much time, creative energy, resources, and life is wasted in war and the pursuit of profit or power - consider how much good could come from re-allocating those resources to ensuring a future for Earthlings, instead.

(Expect to see a "Science into Fiction" workshop on climate change coming soon - SF writers have a particular responsibility to address such important topics of change and global consequence.)

[mariacallous]

As Russia ramps up its second offensive, a debate has erupted over whether Moscow or Kyiv will have the upper hand in 2023. While important, such discourse also misses a larger point related to the conflict’s longer-term consequences. In the long run, the true loser of the war is already clear; Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine will be remembered as a historic folly that left Russia economically, demographically, and geopolitically worse off.

Start with the lynchpin of Russia’s economy: energy. In contrast to Europe’s (very real) dependence on Russia for fossil fuels, Russia’s economic dependence on Europe has largely gone unremarked upon. As late as 2021, for example, Russia exported 32 percent of its coal, 49 percent of its oil, and a staggering 74 percent of its gas to OECD Europe alone. Add in Japan, South Korea, and non-OECD European countries that have joined Western sanctions against Russia, and the figure is even higher. A trickle of Russian energy continues to flow into Europe, but as the European Union makes good on its commitment to phase out Russian oil and gas, Moscow may soon find itself shut out of its most lucrative export market.

In a petrostate like Russia that derives 45 percent of its federal budget from fossil fuels, the impact of this market isolation is hard to overstate. Oil and coal exports are fungible, and Moscow has indeed been able to redirect them to countries such as India and China (albeit at discounted rates, higher costs, and lower profits). Gas, however, is much harder to reroute because of the infrastructure needed to transport it. With its $400 billion gas pipeline to China, Russia has managed some progress on this front, but it will take years to match current capacity to the EU. In any case, China’s leverage as a single buyer makes it a poor substitute for Europe, where Russia can bid countries against one another.

This market isolation, however, would be survivable were it not for the gravest unintended consequence of Russia’s war—an accelerated transition toward decarbonization. It took a gross violation of international law, but Putin managed to convince Western leaders to finally treat independence from fossil fuels as a national security issue and not just an environmental one.

This is best seen in Europe’s turbocharged transition toward renewable energy, where permitting processes that used to take years are being pushed up. A few months after the invasion, for example, Germany jump-started construction on what will soon be Europe’s largest solar plant. Around the same time, Britain accelerated progress on Hornsea 3, slated to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion. The results already speak for themselves; for the first time ever last year, wind and solar combined for a higher share of electrical generation in Europe than oil and gas. And this says nothing of other decarbonization efforts such as subsidies for heat pumps in the EU, incentives for clean energy in the United States, and higher electric vehicle uptake everywhere.

The cumulative effect for Russia could not be worse. Sooner or later, lower demand for fossil fuels will dramatically and permanently lower the price for oil and gas—an existential threat to Russia’s economy. When increased U.S. shale production depressed oil prices in 2014, for example, Russia experienced a financial crisis. Lower global demand for fossil fuels will play out over a longer timeline, but the result for Russia will be much graver. With its invasion, Russia hastened the arrival of an energy transition that promises to unravel its economy.

Beyond a smaller and less efficient economy, Putin’s war in Ukraine will also leave Russia with a smaller and less dynamic population. Russia’s demographic problems are well-documented, and Putin had intended to start reversing the country’s long-running population decline in 2022. In a morbid twist, the year is likelier to mark the start of its irrevocable fall. The confluence of COVID and an inverted demographic pyramid already made Russia’s demographic outlook dire. The addition of war has made it catastrophic.

To understand why, it’s important to understand the demographic scar left by the 1990s. In the chaos that followed the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Russia’s birthrate plunged to 1.2 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed for a population to remain stable. The effects can still be seen today; while there are 12 million Russians aged 30-34 (born just before the breakup of the Soviet Union), there are just 7 million aged 20-24 (born during the chaos that followed it). That deficit meant Russia’s population was already poised to fall, simply because a smaller number of people would be able to have children in the first place.

Russia’s invasion has made this bad demographic hand cataclysmic. At least 120,000 Russian soldiers have died so far—many in their 20s and from the same small generation Russia can scarcely afford to lose. Many more have emigrated, if they can, or simply fled to other countries to try to wait out the war; exact numbers are hard to calculate, but the 32,000 Russians who have immigrated to Israel alone suggest the total number approaches a million.

Disastrously, the planning horizons of Russian families have been upended; it is projected that fewer than 1.2 million Russian babies may be born next year, , which would leave Russia with its lowest birthrate since 2000. A spike in violent crime, a rise in alcohol consumption, and other factors that collude against a family’s decision to have children may depress the birthrate further still. Ironically, over the last decade Putin managed to slow (if not reverse) Russia’s population decline through lavish payoffs for new mothers. Increased military spending and the debt needed to finance it will make such generous natalist policies harder.

The invasion has left Russia even worse off geopolitically. Unlike hard numbers and demographic data, such lost influence is hard to measure. But it can be seen everywhere, from public opinion polls across the West to United Nations votes that the Kremlin has lost by margins as high as 141 to 5. It can also be seen in Russia’s own backyard; while an emboldened NATO could soon include Sweden and Finland, Russia’s own Collective Security Treaty Organization is tearing at the seams as traditional allies such as Kazakhstan and Armenia realize the Kremlin’s impotence and look to China for security.

Perhaps most important of all, Russia has reinvigorated the cause of liberal democracy. In the year after its invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron won a rare second term in France, the far-right AfD lost ground in three successive elections in Germany, and “Make America Great Again” Republicans paid an electoral penalty in the U.S. midterms. (The far right did sweep into power in both Sweden and Italy, but such wins have so far failed to dent Western unity and appear more motivated by immigration.) And this says nothing of the wave of democratic consolidation playing out across Eastern Europe, where voters have thrown out illiberal populists in Slovenia and Czechia in the last year alone. It is impossible to attribute any of these outcomes to just one factor (U.S. Democrats also got a boost from the overturn of Roe v. Wade and election denialism, for example), but Russia’s invasion—and the clear choice between liberalism and autocracy it presented—no doubt helped.

Nowhere, however, has Russia’s invasion backfired more than in Ukraine. Contrary to Putin’s historical revisionism, Ukraine has long had a national identity distinct from Russia’s. But it’s also long been fractured along linguistic lines, with many of its elites intent on maintaining close relations with the Kremlin and even the public unsure about greater alignment with the West.

No longer. Ninety-one percent of Ukrainians now favor joining NATO, a figure unthinkable just a decade ago. Eighty-five percent of Ukrainians consider themselves Ukrainian above all else, a marker of civic identity that has grown by double digits since Russia’s invasion. Far from protecting the Russian language in Ukraine, Putin appears to have hastened its demise as native Russian speakers (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky included) switch to Ukrainian en masse. Putin launched his invasion to bring Ukraine back into Moscow’s orbit. He has instead anchored its future in the West.

Of course, one can argue that, however much the war has cost Russia, it has cost Ukraine exponentially more. This is true. Ukraine’s economy shrank by more than 30 percent last year, while Russia’s economy contracted by just about 3 percent. And this says nothing of the human toll Ukraine has suffered. But, like Brexit, Western sanctions on Russia will play out as a slow burn, not an immediate collapse. And while Russia enters a protracted period of economic and demographic decline, once peace comes, Ukraine will have the combined industrial capacity of the EU, United States, and United Kingdom to support it as the West’s newest institutional member—precisely the outcome Putin hoped to avoid. Russia may yet make new territorial gains in the Donbas. But in the long run, such gains are immaterial—Russia has already lost.

[ryanreynoldsfangirl]

Ryan Reynolds' Career

Today's hot topic is.... guess who? Ryan Reynolds! (his career but who cares.)

The charming, affable, and boyishly handsome Reynolds has made his way through everyone's hearts. His captivating personality and his witty humor never fails to amaze the crowd, be it teenagers or people old enough to be his grandmother.

HIS DEBUT ROLE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

At the young age of 15, Ryan made his debut as Billy Simpson in the Canadian teen soap opera, Hillside, in 1991. The show lasted till 1993. Along with that, his journey in Hollywood began from the movie Ordinary Magic in 1993. He played the 15-year-old Ganesh who was born and brought up in India. Hinduism and Mahatma Gandhi's teachings highly influenced his character in this movie.

(WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. EVEN WE'RE LOSING OUR SANITY OVER THIS!!!!!)

(Look at our lil' floatie-floatie boy <3333)

Anywaaaaay.

Reynolds had a few supporting parts in films and TV shows. Because he no longer wanted to play an adolescent, he declined the role of Xander in Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). (Terrible fate, we know.) Instead, he was cast in the ABC comedy Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place as medical student Berg (1998���2001).

His role in the comedy The In-Laws marked his entry into the world of high-budget entertainment. He had an appearance in The X-Files episode titled Syzygy. He also made an appearance as the letter 'A' in the A-Team, in the 4225th episode of the popular kids show Sesame Street.

(THIS IS OUR LITTLE ANGRY A-BOY.)

Now the more exciting part,

HIS MOVIES!

When it comes to effortless charisma and wry wit, it's hard to top Canadian charmer Reynolds. But even though the Vancouver-born actor is mostly unchallenged in those categories, it took a while for him to take off as a bonafide movie star. After a decade of hit-or-miss comedies, Reynolds eventually hit the bullseye with 2016's Deadpool, marking the perfect use of his naughty humor and comic delivery.

(Our top G Ryan as Deadpool *rock 'n' roll*)

Deadpool is regarded as one of the best superhero movies of all time and quickly became the highest earning R-Rated film ever, only beaten by Joker in 2019.

A few of his most adorable films include 'Definitely, Maybe' (2008), The Proposal (2009), The Change-Up (2011), and Just Friends (2005).

He's got many spectacular action movies under his belt. A few of them include, The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) with top-rated co-star Samuel L. Jackson, 6 Underground (2019), Free Guy (2021), Red Notice (2021), and The Adam Project (2022).

Let's not forget his role as Harvey Kinkle (with the bad hair, ew, but he's cute so we'll take it.) in the movie Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996).

And then there are a few movies which weren't very well received by his audience. These include R.I.P.D. (2013), Amityville Horror (2005), Green Lantern (2011), and Turbo (2013).

Moving on....

AWARDS HE'S RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS.

Our gorgeous superstar Ryan has received many notable awards as his career progressed. The first ever award he received was in 2003, it was the 'Young Hollywood Award for Next Generation - Male'. Then came an award for his role in Green Lantern - 'People's Choice Award for Favorite Superhero' in 2012, even though this movie was met with conflicting reviews, Reynolds managed to win different hearts by doing what he always does. Turn his charm on. (We AREN'T complaining at all.) A huge number of awards followed his movie Deadpool, which was a major box office hit. One for Best Entertainer in a Comedy Movie, and another for Entertainer of The Year.

Here's Ryan accepting the People's Icon Award at the People's Choice Awards 2022. (Look at his adorable smile, we all love him here at Ganesh Lovers' Community.)

Reynolds' has had a total of 60 nominations and 21 wins in his Hollywood career, which is actually quite a lot.

HIS PERSONAL LIFE

Childhood

Reynolds was raised in a Vancouver Irish Catholic home as the youngest of four boys. His parents were police officers and his mother worked in retail. Two of his brothers work in law enforcement, while a third is a member of the RCMP. From 1940 until 1944, his grandfather Chester Reynolds served as a legislator for Stettler, Alberta, as a member of the Social Credit Party.

Love Life

He was engaged to singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from June 2004 to February 2007, when they called off their engagement.

Ryan with Alanis.

Shortly after, Reynolds started dating actress Scarlett Johansson, with whom he married on September 27, 2008, at a resort in Clayoquot Sound, close to Ucluelet, British Columbia. In December 2010, they divorced and filed for separation.

Ryan with Scarlett.

He started dating Blake Lively, his Green Lantern co-star, in 2011, and the two got married on September 9, 2012.

Ryan with Blake.

Children

Ryan and Blake have three daughters together: James (born in 2014), Inez (born in 2016), and Betty (born in 2020). Betty’s name was publicly revealed by a close friend, Taylor Swift in her song of the same name from the album Folklore.

Them with their three kids. (Our mini Ryan's and Blake's <3)

Personal Achievements

In 2008 and 2009, People magazine ranked Reynolds as one of the sexiest men alive. He was named the magazine's sexiest man alive in 2010.

He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2011, but the event was postponed since he couldn't make it. (Kinda depressing, TBH.) The day of his official induction was October 18, 2014.

But in December of 2016, Reynolds was honored with a star of his on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

(They're the cutest, seriously.)

Let's move on to....

HIS CHARITY AND ADVOCACY WORK

(This is kind of lengthy, bear with us.)

He's a humble and down-to-earth man, at least from what we've heard, and with the help of his super incredible wifey Blake, they make the power duo and set foot on Earth to save a few souls here and there. Here are a few of their contributions:

A half-million dollars were given to the Canadian nonprofit Water First Education & Training Inc. in March 2022 by Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. 

In Vancouver, Canada, Reynolds also appeared in campaign videos sporting his recognizable "ugly" red-and-green sweater. By January 2021, according to the charity, $640,000 had been raised as a result of his fundraising efforts.

In March 2021, Reynolds and Lively gave $250,000 to a Canadian organization that mentored Indigenous youngsters, Influence Mentoring. 

Reynolds and his wife had also matched donations made to Covenant House Vancouver and Toronto up to a total of $250,000 in a remarkable gesture of generosity to help youngsters who are homeless, victims of trafficking, or in danger, back when COVID-19 had first struck.

Reynolds joined The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2008 when he participated in Team Fox's New York City Marathon run. Reynolds ran the marathon in his father's memory, finishing in under four hours and raising more than $100,000 for Parkinson research.

And lastly,

HIS ALCOHOL COMPANY AVIATION GIN

As we see his posts on social media promoting his gin company:

Let's give you a brief history on the company and his role in it.

The goal of Aviation Gin was to develop a democratic gin blend with juniper in the background. It was formed in 2006 out of Portland, Oregon. a gin that is suitable for every cocktail. For the next ten years, it would remain mostly unknown.

Fast forward to 2018, when gin use was growing more rapidly than that of any other type of alcohol. This led to substantial changes in the sector, such as Reynolds buying a stake in the Aviation American Gin.  Reynolds is the creative director for the marketing campaign, and it is spectacularly successful (Aviation Gin is now the fastest-growing gin brand in America). How could it not? Reynold is a comic genius who conveys important messages about the quality of gin in the funniest, most approachable ways conceivable. Here's one of his advertisements for the company:

Hilarious! Are we right?!

Ah, sadly we have to end this splendid deep dive into our favorite floatie-boy Ryan Reynold's life here, but! We're not signing off without blessing your eyes with a few photos of his ;)

Your welcome.

Anyway, signing off, it's the dream team, Ganesh Lovers (get it?).

Adios till our next blog!

[johannesviii]

Top 10 Personal Favorite Hit Songs from 2022

Another pretty decent year for pop music ; a very slow one, with a lot of trash, but the good stuff was so good making a top 10 took me ages, unlike 2021 where it was way easier. Outside of the top 100, some incredible stuff dropped this year too, so yeah - even if the charts don't always reflect it, music as a whole is currently very interesting to follow.

Disclaimers / Rules:

I’m using both the year-end top 100 lists from the US and from France while making these lists. There’s songs that charted in my country way higher than they did in the US, or even earlier or later, so that might get surprising at times.

No song that I already put on a previous list is elligible.

No old hit song that is re-charting due to a holiday or a trend is elligible either.

Of course there will probably be stuff in French somewhere on this post. We suck. I know. It’s my list. Deal with it.

My musical tastes have always been terrible.

I have sound-to-color synesthesia which justifies nothing but might explain why I have trouble describing some songs in other terms than visual ones.

So. Uh. Again, again. How was your 2022??

Still didn't catch covid but I did catch a very nasty cold a month ago. Still drawing and writing a lot, and also spending more and more time customising my clothes with dumb patches and embroidered messages and stuff.

I went to a LOT of concerts this year, and they were all fantastic for completely different reasons! I'm so glad I finally have the budget to do this without feeling guilty or cutting down some more vital stuff. So yeah. I went to see My Chemical Romance, The Soft Moon, Sigur Ros, Placebo and Enter Shikari. Before that the last concert I had attended was VNV Nation all the way back in 2019!

Speaking of which, let’s start with the good or interesting albums that came out in 2022 or in late 2021, and this is going to be pretty long.

Albums

I have to mention that I tried to get into Ghost this year. It's definitely not for me apart from a couple of songs, but also, Impera was pretty bad. Probably wasn't a good idea to start listening to these guys in their current era.

I also have to mention that I've been thoroughly disappointed by Mainstream Sellout, because I'm one of those weirdos who actually liked Tickets to my Downfall by Machine Gun Kelly. But yeah, the guy became self-aware, and that's the worst thing that could possibly happen. Awful. Emo Girl is unintentionally funny, though.

Not sure this counts as an "album" since it's an EP, and a five minutes-long one at that, but Snake Eyes by 100 Gecs made me even more excited for their new album in 2023.

Electric Callboy's Tekkno is dumb and funny in all the right ways and I'm glad they got so much positive attention out of it. That's trolling with actual effort and passion put into it and it's kind of a lost art form at this point. The music videos are amazing too.

Rakshak by Bloodywood is exactly the kind of thing Nu Metal needed to move forward and I love the fact that energy came from India, of all places. A lot of fresh ideas, generally interesting topics and politics ; I'm sold. This is great. More, please.

Muna by uh Muna didn't leave much of an impression on me at first but I kept thinking about it and I eventually came back to it to relisten to it several times later in the year. I'm not sure what it means. Probably something good, though. Maybe it will be one of my faves of the year in retrospect..? Also it's very gay, which never hurts.

I'm somewhat conflicted about Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975. Objectively, it's probably their best album ; it's straightforward, it's very well produced, it has a couple of bangers. Subjectively, I'm not even sure I'd place it above Notes on a Conditional Form, which if you recall was a GIGANTIC MESS, just because the highs of this mess were stratospheric compared to the ones the new album has. Still really good, but I miss the chaos.

Death's Dynamic Shroud's Dark Life has SO MANY different ideas going in so many different directions it's kind of a miracle that the album stays so coherent. The colors and the textures are sometimes so complex and layered that just listening to them to try to pick them apart becomes a stim to me. Beautiful.

I only found this album last month but Dimensional Bleed by Holy Fawn is one of the best post rock things I've ever heard since Sigur Ros stopped releasing new music

Exister by The Soft Moon comes so close to being my album of the year. SO close. Among all the musicians trying to become the new Trent Reznor, this guy's the only credible candidate for me, just because he's not afraid to try really weird shit. When I saw him live in October, the last thing he played had a castanets solo over huge electronic beats. And it went hard as hell! I sincerely hope his future stuff will be even better. I'm sold.

But uh. Guys. I'm sorry.

I'm so predictable. Never Let Me Go, Placebo's comeback album, is my favorite album of the year. Of course, when one of my favorite bands ever decided to release new music after nearly ten years of nothing, I was thrilled, but also worried it would disappoint me. The first singles were amazing, but what if? What if the rest of the album wasn't as good? And yet, by the time it was over, I was trying to determine if it was my third or fourth fave album in their discography. Even now, I'd only put Meds and Sleeping With Ghosts above this one. It's distinctly them, but full of new and interesting ideas. I'm beyond happy things turned out so well.

Unelligible Songs

There's a TON of them! Because that year was very good! This is kind of a non-hits rec list of sorts, but you know the drill.

Should I start with some Gecs? I feel like I should start with some Gecs. So here's Doritos and Fritos, Hey Big Man and Torture Me. You're welcome.

While we're at it, if you've never watched any of the recent Electric Callboy music videos, your day is about to get slightly better. I suggest Pump It and Spaceman. Also both are actually good songs on top of being funny.

I might have trashtalked Ghost's new album earlier but Spillways is like Poison 2.0. That's a compliment by the way

I've not always enjoyed what these guys made post-Hot Fuss, but Boy by the Killers should definitely have been a hit.

What I Want by Muna also has this "should have been a huge hit" aura. I'm feeling every line of this chorus in my bones. Best song about delayed adolescence for queer people

Are we making a list of songs that should have been hits? Let me add Metric with What feels like eternity, then

However, American Teenager by Ethel Cain might still have a slight chance of becoming a hit song in the future. I want to believe

Hey do you want some cringe. Cause here's Slaughterhouse by Motionless In White oops

JEZEBEEEEEEEEEEL IF YOU'RE THE HUNTER THEN I'M THE PREYYYYYY

At this point I'm pretty sure I've listened to Precious Hearts by The Birthday Massacre for about six hours over the course of 2022 but since I'm an old idiot who only listens to music through .mp3 files and doesn't use spotify I have no way to check

My very first contact with Bloodywood was Dana Dan, and what a first impression that was. Turn the subtitles on, by the way.

Go_A dropped an absolute banger called Kalyna at the very start of the Ukraine war and it might just be their best track so far.

I am legally obligated to mention The Foundations of Decay by My Chemical Romance. Is it their best song? Hell no. Is it mixed like shit? Yes. Is it way to long? Absolutely. Do I enjoy it? Immensely. Also it had no music video and no promotion. What a power move

Nurture by Porter Robinson, which I mentioned last year as one of my favorite albums in a year full of incredible ones, was still one of my most listened-to albums of 2022, so it feels right to mention a song he released outside of any album this year (Everything Goes On).

Avantasia is back, with a..... an album I didn't like very much, oops, but damn, The Moonflower Society is one of their best songs ever. Long live ridiculous over-the-top power metal with super-serious poetry as lyrics.

Born Yesterday by Quadeca sounds like Sigur Ros trying to make a radio-friendly song, and it sounds absolutely immaculate. Also it's about someone who killed himself just before his birthday and his ghosts deeply regrets that decision

This is not the end by Gareth Emery might be standard EDM, but it's also genuinely comforting to hear these lyrics

I need to put a break here otherwise Tumblr won't let me post this thing. Are you still there? Ok good.

El Alma Que Te Trajo (Safety Trance ft. Arca). Send tweet

It's kind of funny that emo came back a couple of years ago through 8-o-8's and sad rappers with face tattoos. It's even funnier that I genuinely enjoyed some of their stuff. It's even-even funnier that some of them are straight-up doing pop punk stuff now. All of this to say that I love Girl Next Door by Lil Lotus

If you've followed anything in the metal scene this year you already know that Lorna Shore absolutely killed it in 2022. Hell yeah let's put some melodies in deathcore, I'm all for it. Anyway Sun//Eater is great

I should probably recommend some cool music that cool people like before I humiliate myself further by recommending more edgy shit, so this is the perfect time to say that Judgment Bolt, Neon Memories and Messe de E-102 are now permanently etched somewhere in my brain. Seriously please listen to Darklife by Death's Dynamic Shroud if you have the slightest, smallest interest in electronic music I beg you

Ok back to the cringe. Speaking of neons, here's Neon Grave by Dayseeker. I've never liked a song by these guys before so this was a bit of a surprise for me

Also I've listened to it again and again but I still want to cry every time I hear This is what you wanted by Placebo. Not sure why it's my absolute favorite track on an album full of fantastic tracks. Not sure what it says about me. Not sure I want to know

I think I mentioned an Enter Shikari concert. Not sure I can call myself a fan yet, but I spent an ungodly amount of hours listening to their old and new stuff in 2022. Turns out one of my favorite songs they ever made is one of the newest ones, The Void Stares Back. This is exactly the kind of surreal and borderline apocalyptic lyrics I need in my life. I even bought a t-shirt saying "I'm the child with the telescope eyes" at that concert oops

Oh Caroline is one of the best songs The 1975 ever made and, like all my fave songs from that band, it's deeply awkward and embarrassing. It's a guy begging his ex to come back and it gets humiliating. Perfection. Thank you

Just when you thought this list couldn't get worse I'm about to confess I love The Boy in the Black Dress by Yungblud. Can't get the image of a teenager trying to remove his nail polish with his teeth after a teacher told him he looked girly out of my head now. God I love narrative songs so much

We've reached the terminal velocity of musical cringe so here's sTraNgeRs by Bring Me The Horizon because OF FUCKING COURSE I love sTraNgeRs by Bring Me The Horizon. You must be new here. WE'RE DYING TO LIVE AND WE'RE LIVING TO DIIIIIIIIIIE

Also I'm not going to recommend too many the Soft Moon songs but Become the Lies is now a classic for me only six months after it came out, and I've been obsessed with Him (ft Fish Narc, who kills it as the evil twin of the narrator) to the point of making fanart of the mental amv I have for it. Might even upload it after finishing this post, I'm not sure.

Honorable Mentions

Tití me preguntó (Bad Bunny) - I swear I had this song playing in my brain for days and I'm not even sure I like it.

Jour meilleur (Orelsan) - I'm usually not the biggest fan of the guy, but this one is really nice.

As it was (Harry Styles) - Perfectly serviceable little pop tune.

Where are you now (Lost Frequencies) - A great earworm.

Enemy (Imagine Dragons) - Listen. It's bad. But I can't get over the fact that an overly-hated band made a song where the chorus literally screams "EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY ENEMYYYY", it's so much fun to sing along with it

Shivers (Ed Sheeran) - Do I really like Ed Sheeran now. Is this my life. Is this what growing old feels like

Belly Dancer (Imanbek & BYOR) - I'm going to the gym now and this is on their playlist. It's completely brainless but it had a serious chance to end on my actual top ten at some point. I physically can't listen to it without at the very least tapping my foot on the floor.

One Right Now (Post Malone & The Weeknd) - This WAS on my list at some point but I ended up cutting it. Nobody seems to like this song, and I love it for all the wrong reasons. Namely, the fact that a duet between two male singers talking about someone cheating on them sounds like they cheated on each other. And I think that's unintentional comedy gold.

Bad habit (Steve Lacy) - The very last cut I had to make. It's a wonderful song, and I simply adore its vibe, but I tend to lose some interest after 2:20 for some reason. No idea why.

Pretty sure there's nobody still reading this post. Which might be good because there's one deeply humiliating pick on this top ten. Let's do this

THE ACTUAL TOP TEN LIST

10 - Santé (Stromae)

US: Not on the list / FR: #90

I still can't believe this idiot climbed his way out of depression and burnout just to tell every emergency worker to join a union. What a king. Legends only

Also I seriously considered putting it at the top of this list in very early 2022 if the year turned out to be mediocre. I never expected it to be placed so low in the end. That's a good thing, by the way

9 - Break my soul (Beyoncé)

US: #38 / FR: Not on the list

So uh. As far as I know there's still no music video for this one, which is kind of a power move in this day and age, not gonna lie. But yeah. You know me. Can't resist a eurodance diva. And Beyoncé as a eurodance diva is all I ever wanted and more. What the hell happened this year, music-wise, seriously

8 - J'la connais, pt. 1 (Emkal)

US: Not on the list / FR: #89

Okay, the autotune is a bit grating. Doesn't matter.

Look, I usually dislike this kind of songs and singers always talking about girls cheating on them and stuff. But no, this dude right there is singing about people telling him his girlfriend is going to cheat on him, and he basically tells them he trusts her more than them ("Cette fille, j'la connais, eh, mais toi, tu es qui ? On se connaît ?" ("I know that girl, eh - but you? who are you again?"). Very refreshing. Well played, sir.

7 - Thunder (Gabry Ponte)

US: Not on the list / FR: #59

BEHOLD. THERE IS NOW A GOOD SONG CALLED "THUNDER" ON THE CHARTS. AND IT'S COMPLETELY BRAINLESS.

So uh, this one also plays at the gym. It's just some very basic and very commercial EDM. For some reason, it kinda sounds like a pirate song to me, the kind of thing you'd drink to on an adventure or something like that. There's not a lot that can be said about it. The colors are especially trippy, though.

Does it look like I'm stalling for time? Uh, maybe I am.

Oh god, here comes the really embarrassing part.

6 - Bad habits (Ed Sheeran ft Bring Me The Horizon)

US: #13 / FR: #53

So uh. This was in my honorable mentions last year:

And it was slowly exiting the charts when this new version dropped all of a sudden in mid-February, with way more guitars and bombast, and of course Oli Sykes screaming his head out at the end. And it climbed up the charts all over again.

And since I'm a major sucker with no taste, of course I loved it.

Doesn't make up for the fact the lyrics are still very vague and Ed Sheeran is still Ed Sheeran, but clearly that wasn't enough to keep this version of the song off my list. It's enough to make me question my choices, though. Steve Lacy should probably be there instead.

Eh. Too late now.

5 - Numb Little Bug (Em Behold)

US: #32 / FR: Not on the list

I initially put this one higher ; I'm not tired of it or anything, it's just that I don't listen to it as often as some things above it. And it got popular through TikTok, too - I'd ask if the kids are okay, but we all know the answer to that question, I think. I can't get over how brutal these lyrics are for what's essentially a cute pop song. And yeah, that's a huge mood. Do you ever get a little bit tired of life? Yes! Quite often actually! Glad we're all on the same page, at least. It's somewhat comforting.

Imagine how bleak and scary that song would be if it was more serious and less upbeat, though.

Oh. Oh shit.

4 - L'Enfer (Stromae)

US: Not on the list / FR: #46

Guess we don't have to imagine. Guess it already exists. Guess it's on the French year-end chart. And it's absolutely terrifying.

Look, I'm glad Stromae is back. I'm glad he feels better. But uh- yeah. This track is genuinely hard to listen to. I'm pretty sure it's objectively better than the three songs I placed above it, but yeah.

J'ai parfois eu des pensées suicidaires, et j'en suis peu fier (I've had suicidal thoughts at times and I'm not proud of it) On croit parfois que c'est la seule manière de les faire taire (Sometimes you think that's the only way to shut them up) Ces pensées qui me font vivre un enfer (These thoughts that make my life hell)

Yeah.

3 - About Damn Time (Lizzo)

US: #12 / FR: Not on the list

I had a hard time deciding where to rank this song between #3 and #2. Maybe I should say it's a tie. It changes day to day with my mood, really.

But yeah, thank you Lizzo for being a combo breaker in this short series of songs about addiction and depression and death! This one is impossible to resist. You hear it and you just have to move or tap your feet and smile. And-

I'm way too fine to be this stressed, yeah Oh, I'm not the girl I was or used to be, uh Bitch, I might be better

Favorite lyrics of the year? I don't know. Maybe. Amazing, in any case. Thank you for this gift, madam.

2 - That's What I Want (Lil Nas X)

US: #14 / FR: Not on the list

Aaaaaaaaand back to the sadness. Well, not really. The song itself is pretty upbeat. In any case, you've probably seen that one coming from a mile away because of my 2021 Unelligible Songs list:

And yeah! It's elligible at last! I'm so, so happy. And I want Lil Nas X to find love and be happy too. Montero was gay as hell, Industry Baby was a victory lap, but this one? This one is the guy bearing his soul and you can feel it even through the impeccable production and pop sensibilities. Cry your heart out to this upbeat tune, my friend, it's gonna be okay. And we love you.

1 - Meet Me At Our Spot (The Anxiety)

US: #74 / FR: Not on the list

I think I've listened to this one more than any other song this year and yet I'm still not entirely sure why I love it so much, especially considering it took literal months to grow on me. I can't even describe its vibe. Is it melancholy? No, it's too happy. Is it happy then? No, it's too tired. But it has energy, too. Is it romantic? Not really. What is it?

One thing's for sure, whichever vibe it is, I got lost in it for hours, to the point of creating entire scenes set to it in my mind. Which led to drawings. Which led to me inventing characters completely disconnected from the song and writing a story where the initial scene I visualised is only a small one in the grand scheme of things.

There's magic in this song's vibe, and I've been on a quest to transcribe it, and I will probably fail. In the meantime, thank you for meeting me at this spot. It's been a wild ride. See you next year!

[sarkos]

Two years ago, Nautilus was big news. A vast, expensive Disney+ prequel to Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Nautilus promised to tell the early story of Captain Nemo as he embarked on an epic submarine adventure, seeking revenge on his former captors the East India Company. A colossal replica submarine was built. Several soundstages on Australia’s Gold Coast were given over to it. Hundreds of crew members were hired alongside hundreds of extras. Filming took almost a year. The Queensland government claimed that the series would inject A$96m into the local economy. It looked certain to be a hit; an exciting new big-budget spectacle, underpinned with contemporary themes, based on a legendary piece of intellectual property. Nautilus couldn’t go wrong. Except nobody is going to see Nautilus because, even though it has already been made, Disney+ has decided not to stream it. Clearly, this is unusual. The television industry has a long history of dropping previously announced shows for a variety of reasons – 2004’s animated Popetown was canned by the BBC after complaints from Catholics, 2017’s The Cops was axed after reports of creator Louis CK’s sexual misconduct came to light, and 2021’s Ultimate Slip ’N Slide was cancelled after the crew all came down with a highly infectious variant of explosive diarrhoea that can be spread through tainted water. But Disney+ has a different reason for getting rid of Nautilus: it was axed as a cost-cutting exercise. In May, Disney+ announced a content removal plan designed to cut US$1.5bn worth of content, meaning it substantially reduces the company’s value, giving it a lot less tax to pay. Nautilus is not the only victim: a live-action TV adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles was also completed and then axed. Disney isn’t the only network to abandon shows that have largely been made, with HBO Max cancelling the second season of feminist porn comedy Minx just as it was finishing production (only for Starz to buy it, saving it from never seeing the light of day). AMC has also deleted shows with completed and unaired seasons, such as the animated drama Pantheon and legal drama 61st Street, for similar tax purposes. It pulled the plug on its adaptation of Adrienne Celt’s Invitation to a Bonfire partway through production. One US sitcom, Chad, was pulled just hours before it was due to air on US network TBS. Shows are also steadily vanishing from streaming platforms. Earlier this year, Disney+ removed a range of high-profile titles such as Willow, The One and Only Ivan, Big Shots and The Mysterious Benedict Society. Nor is it alone. In a similar move, Warner Bros Discovery has also removed dozens of shows like Westworld, Raised by Wolves, Gordita Chronicles, Run and Love Life from its platforms to save money, as has Paramount+ with its Grease spin-off The Pink Ladies and Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone remake.

The great cancellation: why megabucks TV shows are vanishing without a trace | Television | The Guardian

[fahadventure]

My TEFL Journey In a nutshell

Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Almighty, in the 2nd last year (2021), I have passed the 198 hours Level 5 TEFL certification course (168 guided hours + Teaching English online 30 hours) from The TEFL Academy. For those, who might want to know, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) involves teaching English abroad or online where English is not the primary language. TEFL educators can work for international and global schools, foreign companies, international organizations and associations, and internationally recognized universities, just to name a few. You can read more about my adventures in  Fahadventure.

I have been thinking about doing this since 2018, just after my Graduation from the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University (IBA, DU), Bangladesh, but could not really focus much as I got involved in corporate culture, after joining an event management company, namely Asiatic Experiential Marketing Limited. Later on, in May,2019, I joined a locally reputed bank, BRAC Bank where I continued to work for two and a half years. In the meantime, the overall lockdown phases during 2020 and 2021 finally came as a blessing among all those office workloads, few trips and some personal hassles which motivated me once again to work from home and pursue my dreams. This certificate is just like a passport to travel the world while I'll start working on attaining the visa i.e jobs abroad once it reopens. For now, I am exploring the online possibilities to start with. Check out the vacancies for better exploration.

Just after leaving the job of my previous organization, BRAC Bank, I got the opportunity to join a global platform within few months, named as "Native Camp" where my everyday work nowadays involves teaching and talking people online, mostly from China, Japan & Taiwan and I can't even explain how happy I am right now to have those sessions and exchange our thoughts with fun while doing so. I am also an avid learner and traveler with interest in knowing cultures and norms from all around the globe. I have worked for a very short time in this period with Lingua Roma, a global teaching company where I had to work with South Africans, Russians, French, Kenyans etc. Apart from that, while traveling in various parts of India and Thailand, I resided in the local hostels and houses to mingle with mixed races and know more about them. You can have a look at my teaching profile.

Being a TEFL tutor is a great way to build transferable skills, like communication, creativity, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership etc. It's been a tiring journey with lots of obstacles since I didn't know who to connect with for suggestions; specially anyone from my country. So, I had to look for international blogs, knock random people and gain idea on this. I would humbly request to expand my knowledge if anyone wants to know & explore this beautiful world together. I'll be writing other detailed posts about my journey and other tefl course online, tefl jobs in the coming days. For now, you can look the official website if it fits your budget. Please keep me in your prayers so that I can smoothly advance towards my dream journey, not just by sitting at a corner of the office. Thank you all. Soooo excited! 🤩

Read the full article again and know more about my adventures in  Fahadventure.

[gadgetzview]

Top 10 Mobiles Under ₹10,000 in 2024

Affordable Android smartphones in the ₹10,000 price range are ideal for entry-level users and those who prefer basic functionality over heavy app usage or gaming. These budget-friendly devices offer reliable performance, essential features, and impressive battery life, making them a practical choice.

Here’s a look at Android smartphones available in India for ₹10,000 or less, highlighting key specifications such as processor, RAM, storage type, software, camera capabilities, battery performance, and charging options. Whether you’re seeking a device with an excellent selfie camera, a large display, or expandable storage, there’s something for everyone.

Key Features of Smartphones in This Range:

Solid performance for everyday use

Versatile camera setups with multiple lenses

Long-lasting battery life

Expandable storage options for added convenience

Diverse screen sizes and resolutions to suit your preferences

1. Motorola G24 Power - ₹7,999

Display: 6.6-inch HD+ (720p), 90Hz

Processor: MediaTek Helio G85

Cameras: 50MP + 2MP (Rear), 16MP (Front)

Battery: 6000mAh

Storage: 128GB (Expandable to 1TB)

RAM: 4GB

OS: Android 14 (My UX)

2. Redmi 12 - ₹8,950

Display: 6.79-inch FHD+ (1080p), 90Hz

Processor: MediaTek Helio G88

Cameras: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP (Rear), 8MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 128GB (Expandable to 1TB)

RAM: 4GB/6GB/12GB

OS: Android 13 (MIUI 14)

3. Tecno Pop 8 - ₹6,899

Display: 6.6-inch HD+ (720p), 90Hz

Processor: Android T-Go

Cameras: 13MP (Rear), 8MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 64GB (Expandable to 1TB)

RAM: 4GB

OS: Android T-Go

4. Samsung Galaxy M14 4G - ₹8,300

Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ (1080p), 90Hz

Processor: Exynos 1330

Cameras: 50MP + 2MP + 2MP (Rear), 13MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 64GB/128GB (Expandable)

RAM: 4GB/6GB

OS: Android 13

5. Poco M6 5G - ₹7,999

Display: 6.74-inch HD+ (1400p), 90Hz

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6020

Cameras: 50MP (Rear), 5MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB (Expandable to 1TB)

RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB

OS: Android 13

6. Realme C11 (2021) - ₹5,499

Display: 6.5-inch HD+ (720p)

Processor: Octa-core (Unisoc SC9863A)

Cameras: 8MP (Rear), 5MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 32GB/64GB (Expandable to 256GB)

RAM: 2GB/4GB

OS: Android 11

7. Itel Color Pro 5G - ₹9,999

Display: 6.6-inch HD+ (720p), 90Hz

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6080

Cameras: 50MP + 2MP (Rear), 8MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 128GB (Expandable to 1TB)

RAM: 6GB

OS: Android 13 (Go Edition)

8. Itel S24 - ₹9,999

Display: 6.6-inch HD+ (720p), 90Hz

Processor: Unknown

Cameras: 108MP (Rear), 8MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 128GB

RAM: 4GB

OS: Android 13

9. Oppo A17 - ₹9,999

Display: 6.56-inch HD+ (720p)

Processor: MediaTek Helio P35

Cameras: 50MP + 2MP (Rear), 5MP (Front)

Battery: 5000mAh

Storage: 64GB (Expandable)

RAM: 4GB

OS: Android 12

10. Tecno Spark 7 - ₹7,199

Display: 6.52-inch HD+ (720p)

Processor: MediaTek Helio A25

Cameras: 16MP + AI Lens (Rear), 8MP (Front)

Battery: 6000mAh

Storage: 32GB/64GB (Expandable to 256GB)

RAM: 2GB/3GB

OS: Android 11

Recommendations Based on Priorities

Best Display & Camera (Under ₹10,000):

Redmi 12 (FHD+ display, versatile triple-camera setup)

Poco M6 5G (Good for media consumption and 5G-ready)

Battery Life Focus:

Motorola G24 Power (6000mAh)

Tecno Spark 7 (6000mAh)

Performance:

Poco M6 5G (Dimensity 6020 with 5G)

Itel Color Pro 5G (Dimensity 6080 with 5G support)

Budget Option:

Realme C11 (2021) (Basic device at ₹5,499)

gadgetzview.com

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Not long ago, ₹100 crore was a benchmark for any film’s box office performance. Soon, it became the budget of big films, and as things now stand, it is usually the amount charged by the top stars for a single film. Needless to say, stars’ remunerations have increased by leaps and bounds in Indian cinema. And if new reports are to be believed, one star has taken it even further by ensuring he may earn ₹300 crore for a single film. India’s highest-paid actor charged ₹300 crore for one film? According to a report by Track Tollywood, Allu Arjun charged a whopping ₹300 crore for Pushpa 2: The Rule, his much-anticipated upcoming film. Given that big films like Jawan and Kanguva had budgets of ₹300 crore, this is an astronomical amount, making Arjun India’s highest-paid actor. The Telugu star surpassed Rajinikanth, who earned ₹250 crore for Jailer, and Vijay, who earned a similar amount for Leo. Bollywood biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have earned between ₹150-200 crore for their biggest hits, including their profit share. According to reports, Aamir Khan had netted over ₹230 crore for Dangal in 2017. Is the ₹300 crore figure even accurate? There have been doubts raised by many about the veracity of Allu Arjun’s ₹300 crore ‘fees’ for Pushpa 2. But there is a way the actor could be earning that amount for the film. Like many top stars today, including his contemporary Prabhas, Allu Arjun has begun to forego a large portion of the signing amount in favour of distribution rights and profit share. This would mean that if Pushpa 2 manages to be a blockbuster, crossing ₹1000 crore as predicted, trade experts say he stands to earn between ₹250-300 crore. This is how Aamir earned ₹230 crore for Dangal (due to the windfall from China). About Pushpa 2: The Rule Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 is the sequel to the 2021 pan-India hit Pushpa: The Rise. It brings back Allu Arjun as the titular sandal smuggler with a heart of gold. Also reprising their roles from part one are Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as Shekhawat. Pushpa 2: The Rule is one of the year’s most anticipated films and will hit the screens on December 5. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Not long ago, ₹100 crore was a benchmark for any film’s box office performance. Soon, it became the budget of big films, and as things now stand, it is usually the amount charged by the top stars for a single film. Needless to say, stars’ remunerations have increased by leaps and bounds in Indian cinema. And if new reports are to be believed, one star has taken it even further by ensuring he may earn ₹300 crore for a single film. India’s highest-paid actor charged ₹300 crore for one film? According to a report by Track Tollywood, Allu Arjun charged a whopping ₹300 crore for Pushpa 2: The Rule, his much-anticipated upcoming film. Given that big films like Jawan and Kanguva had budgets of ₹300 crore, this is an astronomical amount, making Arjun India’s highest-paid actor. The Telugu star surpassed Rajinikanth, who earned ₹250 crore for Jailer, and Vijay, who earned a similar amount for Leo. Bollywood biggies like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan have earned between ₹150-200 crore for their biggest hits, including their profit share. According to reports, Aamir Khan had netted over ₹230 crore for Dangal in 2017. Is the ₹300 crore figure even accurate? There have been doubts raised by many about the veracity of Allu Arjun’s ₹300 crore ‘fees’ for Pushpa 2. But there is a way the actor could be earning that amount for the film. Like many top stars today, including his contemporary Prabhas, Allu Arjun has begun to forego a large portion of the signing amount in favour of distribution rights and profit share. This would mean that if Pushpa 2 manages to be a blockbuster, crossing ₹1000 crore as predicted, trade experts say he stands to earn between ₹250-300 crore. This is how Aamir earned ₹230 crore for Dangal (due to the windfall from China). About Pushpa 2: The Rule Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 is the sequel to the 2021 pan-India hit Pushpa: The Rise. It brings back Allu Arjun as the titular sandal smuggler with a heart of gold. Also reprising their roles from part one are Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as Shekhawat. Pushpa 2: The Rule is one of the year’s most anticipated films and will hit the screens on December 5. [ad_2] Source link

[industrynewsupdates]

Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Market Forecast: Growth, Trends, and Opportunities

The global nanosatellite and microsatellite market was valued at USD 2.12 billion in 2021 and is projected to experience substantial growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 23.3% from 2022 to 2030. This impressive growth is primarily driven by the rising demand for miniaturized satellites across various sectors, which is enhancing their adoption and utilization in numerous applications. The smaller size, cost-effectiveness, and versatility of nanosatellites and microsatellites make them increasingly attractive for a wide range of industries, from communications and Earth observation to scientific research and defense.

One notable example of this trend is seen in November 2021, when a Japan-based Epsilon rocket successfully launched nine miniature satellites into orbit. This launch was part of a broader initiative aimed at encouraging educational institutions and businesses to engage in space exploration. The use of small satellites for educational and commercial purposes has opened up new opportunities for academic research, business ventures, and innovation in the space sector, further fueling the demand for nanosatellites and microsatellites.

The growth of the market has also been supported by advancements in launch vehicle technology. Traditionally, small satellites were launched as secondary payloads aboard larger rockets, which led to higher costs and logistical challenges due to the need for coordinating payload schedules and weight limits. This approach limited the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of small satellite launches. However, the rising demand for dedicated small satellite launches has led to the development of Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs). These specialized launch vehicles are designed to cater to the needs of smaller satellites, enabling cost-effective, on-demand launches without the constraints imposed by larger rockets.

An example of this shift is highlighted in April 2022, when Chinese scientists developed a fleet of small satellites aimed at conducting cutting-edge astronomical investigations. These satellites, being compact and efficient, were designed to operate within a cost-effective framework that addressed the specific requirements of advanced space research. The development of SSLVs has paved the way for such missions by providing a more affordable and accessible means of deploying small satellites into space, ultimately lowering the barriers to entry for both governmental and private sector space projects.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Market

Regional Insights

North America

North America led the nanosatellite and microsatellite market in 2021, accounting for a dominant revenue share of over 47%. This significant market share can be attributed to the region's substantial investments in space-related activities. For example, NASA allocates a substantial portion of its annual budget to space ventures, covering key areas such as aeronautics, space technology, exploration, and other essential space operations. Furthermore, the growing demand for small satellites across various end-use sectors—such as research organizations, military and defense, and telecommunications—has spurred further market growth in North America. This diverse demand has increased the region's overall investment in small satellite development and deployment, reinforcing its leadership position in the global market.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is expected to become the fastest-growing regional market for nanosatellites and microsatellites between 2023 and 2030. Countries like Japan and India are at the forefront of launching small satellites for critical applications, such as communication and navigation. In Japan, there is a concerted effort to tap into the increasing need for compact satellites and miniaturized aerospace technologies to support both commercial and governmental space programs. Additionally, nations like South Korea and Singapore have also entered the small satellite production market, positioning themselves as key players by launching their satellites into orbit, regardless of the scale of their projects. This increasing trend of small satellite adoption across Asia Pacific suggests the region will experience rapid growth, driven by technological innovation, government investments, and a booming space sector.

Browse through Grand View Research's Communication Services Industry Research Reports.

• The global clinical communication and collaboration market size was estimated at USD 2.99 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.1% from 2025 to 2030. 

• The global near field communication market size was valued at USD 30.85 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2025 to 2030. 

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The nanosatellite and microsatellite market has experienced significant growth over the last decade, particularly in the areas of spacecraft development, construction, and launches. One major factor driving this expansion has been the CubeSat concept, which has provided a new approach to satellite design. The CubeSat model has allowed smaller companies to carve out a role in the space industry, diverging from the traditional dominance of large system integrators. These smaller companies, such as Innovative Solutions in Space (ISIS) and Tyvank Inc., have played a pivotal role in the emergence and development of the small satellite industry, showcasing their ability to offer tailored, cost-effective satellite solutions.

A prime example of this trend is Rocket Lab USA, an American aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. In March 2021, Rocket Lab successfully launched seven small satellites into Earth’s orbit, demonstrating the growing importance of small satellite launches. Among the payloads were an Earth-observation microsatellite, two Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellites, three experimental satellites, and a technology demonstration CubeSat for the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC). This launch illustrates the expanding applications of small satellites in areas such as military defense, communications, and technological research.

Some prominent players in the global nanosatellite and microsatellite market include:

• Dauria Aerospace

• GomSpace

• Innovative Solutions in Space (ISIS)

• Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)

• Spire Global, Inc.

• SpaceQuest Ltd.

• Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL)

• The Boeing Company

• Tyvak Inc.

• Vector Launch, Inc

Order a free sample PDF of the Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[hpcaatcop29]

Experts Discuss ‘Industrial Policy, Trade, and the Political Economy of Decarbonization’ at COP29 Side Event Co-sponsored by the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements

Experts from academia, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector gathered Thursday (Nov. 14) for a side event, “Industrial Policy, Trade, and the Political Economy of Decarbonization,” at the Twenty-Ninth Conference of the Parties (COP-29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event was co-sponsored by the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements (HPCA) and moderated by HPCA Director Robert Stavins, the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School.

The other panelists were Daniele Agostini, Head of Energy and Climate Policies, Enel; Chantal Line Carpentier, Head of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development Branch at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Michael Mehling, Professor of Law at Strathclyde University and Deputy Director, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, MIT; and Joyashree Roy, Distinguished Professor at the Asian Institute of Technology.

Mehling launched the discussion with an overview of an HPCA Discussion Paper he wrote titled “Good Spillover, Bad Spillover? Industrial Policy, Trade, and the Political Economy of Decarbonization,” which examines the myriad ways in which spillovers can impede or advance climate actions in both intended and unintended ways.

“There's protectionist bias in trade policy that favors with tariffs, [that is] lower tariffs, upstream commodities to help keep domestic higher added value industries more competitive that further stimulates these emission transfers,” he said. “And if you consider the global carbon budgets report released yesterday that [in] each year still consistently adding to the annual emissions into the atmosphere, this is a problem that needs to be addressed.”

Mehling argued that we are beginning to see a “fundamental change in the paradigm of climate policy in major economies,” which could create some serious problems in the decades ahead.

“There's been this surge of industrial policy, especially in advanced economies just since 2021. I think there's been like 2,500 new industrial policies, many, if not the vast majority are trade distortive.  The reason is because they contain trade-related climate measures like conditional subsidies with localization requirements, local content requirements, export controls, domestic and export subsidies, and so on and so forth,” he remarked. “This interferes with the trade system and…part of my argument in this paper is that the positive spillovers of learning by doing of technology transfer, knowledge transfer, and eventually technology diffusion may be inhibited by the kind of policies that we now see emerging in reaction to many, many different drivers, many of which are absolutely justified and need to be dealt with.”

Mehling mentioned that the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) can have harmful spillover effects on trade policy through carbon leakage which can offset emissions reductions in one country with higher emissions in another. He also spoke of the so-called “green paradox” in which the anticipation of more restrictive climate policies in the future can provide incentives to oil and gas companies to boost their extraction of fossil fuels over the short term.

Roy spoke of decarbonization efforts in India through market-based policies that reward companies for reducing emissions. These voluntary efforts, she remarked, were spawned by the nation’s Energy Conversation Act, first introduced in 1991 and revised in subsequent years. Among other things, she explained, the Act created a “perform, achieve, and trade” platform, analogous to emissions trading policies elsewhere, in which companies were rewarded with certificates when they reduced their CO₂ emissions.

“They had to consistently reduce the fossil fuel intensity of their output to get the energy certificate, and the price of the energy certificate was related to the oil price so they always wanted to compare the fossil fuel price, how it is moving in the international market, and what price they have to pay and then what was the energy fossil fuel cost of their output,” she said.

Agostini, affiliated with Italy’s largest energy company, spoke of the ways in which Mehling’s paper stimulates the debate over how a wide range of climate policies intersect and sometimes intervene with global trade and economic efficiencies.

“As a company, we often look at what happens, and of course we espouse the cause of global trade economic efficiency, and we think everything should work accordingly. But then our scenario is [often] wrong because things don't [always] go that way,” he remarked. “We've seen that especially with carbon markets lately in this arena. So, papers and research that try to better understand why that doesn't happen and what we can do to optimize the process [are helpful]. But most of all for the private sector who needs to do the investments, [we want to] make the entire outlook more predictable because we need predictability.”

Agostini also argued that the private sector has an important role to play in ensuring that climate policy best practices are promulgated.

“The faster we spread good practices among policymakers, the faster the world is going to be more predictable. [Having a more] predictable investment context for the private sector will allow the private sector to upscale its investment. And in terms of spreading good practices, again the policy toolbox is key. More and more governments are starting to realize that it's not about constraining versus supportive, but it's getting the two to work together,” he stated.

Finally, Carpentier spoke of recent UNCTAD research conducted in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), focusing on developing a deeper understanding of the different carbon pricing metrics and climate change mitigation policies to inform policymakers and policymaking.

“What we find is that developed countries, the OECD countries, have moved from regulation to standards to subsidies and then to carbon pricing,” she remarked. “They have not [immediately] jumped into carbon pricing... The price would be so outrageous, it would be politically unacceptable. So, you kind of start and then the policy mix [will] be different country by country depending on the environment, depending on the institutional capacity, and several other facts.”

Carpentier argued that better coordination is needed amongst countries and regions seeking effective CBAMs, and greater technical assistance is necessary to enhance the pace of global emission reductions.

“There is an effort within… the G-20 Plus [countries], the 35 largest greenhouse gas emitters that represent 85 percent of all the greenhouse gas emission. And the idea is probably for those larger countries and larger emitters, perhaps they should have a carbon price and if they're going to have a carbon price, they will have a border adjustment most likely. How do we work with them?,” she asked.  “Some of them, like Indonesia, have already asked the UN to help them because if you're going to put a carbon price, how do you go about it? What are the best practices? And we have several requests from several countries on that.”

Following their remarks, the panelists responded to questions from audience members, ranging from how to create larger markets where lower carbon products are more profitable to how to ensure that CBAM revenues can be more fairly distributed to impacted countries.

Stavins, reflecting on the session, commented that “climate change policy and trade policy can complement or conflict, and attempts to minimize conflicts can have unintended consequences, which is at the heart of current controversy regarding the new CBAM in Europe.  Whereas many of the more wealthy countries see the CBAM as a positive step possibly leading eventually to a carbon-pricing club, people from developing countries tend to see the CBAM as little more than environmental protectionism.” 

The side event was co-sponsored by the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, the Enel Foundation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Foundation Environment - Law Society.  

[mariacallous]

The concept of “American exceptionalism” has a long history. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines American exceptionalism as the “idea that the United States of America is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons.” What if American exceptionalism has a different meaning when compared with other industrialized countries? What if, beyond the dominant positive narrative, there lies a negative one?

In 2015, the global community adopted the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the watchwords “leave no one behind.” It is a framework that recognizes development happens everywhere—not just in the Global South or in “developing” countries. Yet experts, policymakers, and the media still stubbornly categorize countries as “developed” or “developing.” The United States, of course, is part of this “developed” category. Why not? The U.S. economy is the largest in the world and “larger than the combined economies of Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, France, and Italy.” The military is the most powerful in the world with the biggest defense budget. The U.S. is home to more top-ranked universities than any other country.

Those narratives, labels, and categories, however, mask the plethora of socioeconomic inequities in the U.S. stripped bare by the pandemic. The people Michael Harrington labeled over 60 years ago as “the socially invisible“ have become more visible since 2020. When numerous other issues are assessed, including poverty in America, as Matthew Desmond reminds us, the inequities not only stack up but the picture that emerges is exceptional only in deeply distressing ways, with development extremely uneven and poverty rates unmoved for decades. On many levels, notwithstanding the size of the economy, the strength of the military, or excellence in higher education, the U.S. has many characteristics more in common with those the World Bank labels as “less developed.”

American exceptionalism in context

Midway to 2030, it is time to not only retire the label of the U.S. as developed but to deploy disaggregated data by race, gender, and where possible, locality—city-level data—and align with SDG targets and indicators to forge more just and healthy communities. In fact, when we have such data, the findings make clear why the SDGs apply to the U.S. and not just the Global South. If that does not happen, numerous communities and millions of Americans will continue to be left behind well beyond 2030.

What follows is not a systematic examination of all the inequities plaguing the U.S. Instead, I offer a few examples suggestive of the larger phenomenon where the U.S. is not meeting the basic needs of millions: reduced life expectancy, spikes in maternal mortality, persistent food insecurity, and poverty levels—none of which resemble peer nations.

These are not new findings, but they have gotten worse in recent years. In 1990, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study looking at the “survival analysis show[ing] that black men in Harlem were less likely to reach the age of 65 than men in Bangladesh.” Fast forward several decades, and shifting to Washington D.C., disaggregated data on the life expectancy of Black men before and during COVID-19 still compared negatively with men in Bangladesh. In 2021, the life expectancy of men in Bangladesh was 73.6 years. For that same year, estimated life expectancy for Black men in the nation’s capital was 65.2. More broadly, the dire declines in life expectancy across several demographics in the U.S.—particularly “the young, the poor, and the vulnerable”—is startling as John Burn-Murdoch reports in the Financial Times.

With regard to maternal mortality, the U.S. has ranked last among industrialized countries for many years. What happens when we pull forward data on Black Americans? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a sharp rise in 2021 when Black women experienced 69.9 maternal deaths per 100,000. That rate is just below the 70 deaths per 100,000 that the WHO has set worldwide for the SDG target to reduce maternal mortality. Compare the aggregated maternal mortality rate for the U.S. in 2021: The number is 31 per 100,000 (a 40 percent spike from previous years). In comparison, the average maternal death rates in the UK and in Western Europe were 4, in Eastern Europe 12, and in Central Asia 24 per 100,000 for 2021, according to the Gates Foundation. No wonder some argue that the U.S. is the most dangerous place in the “developed world” to give birth.

In the capital of the world’s richest country, in the fiscal year 2022, 22 percent of its residents relied on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to address food insecurity. That’s nearly twice the percentage of Americans in the U.S. that were on SNAP. Most strikingly, nearly a quarter of children (23.9 percent) in Washington D.C., according to the same source, lived below the poverty line. That’s less than but near the number of children in poverty in the poorest state in the U.S., Mississippi at 27.7 percent. Those are exceptional numbers for the richest country on earth.  

More examples of how Americans’ basic needs are not being met could have included the millions who lack access to clean drinking water or sanitation. Tracking these needs and relating them to the SDGs, and then translating percentages into the numbers of people affected would illuminate who is being left behind, a methodology that McArthur and Rasmussen developed to assess the SDGs in Canada. Were such disaggregated data delivered in real time—fixing the current data gaps and lags—they could help drive changes in policies and funds and the conditions of communities.

Not meeting the basic needs of millions of Americans is, alas, not the only way the U.S. is exceptional. Consider that Myanmar, Haiti, South Sudan, Yemen, and the U.S. are the only countries in the world to never have delivered or committed to deliver at least one Voluntary National Review—the way in which the world measures and communicates about the SDGs. When it comes to the rights of the child, the U.S. is the only country in the world not to have ratified the relevant U.N. Convention. (A decade ago, Somalia was the only other country on the list but signed on in 2015.) The U.S. is in the minority to not have signed the Rome Statute and joined the International Criminal Court despite policies advancing human rights around the world. The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world, while the vast majority of the nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population incarcerated are Black, Latino, or Indigenous. The next four countries on the list? Rwanda, Turkmenistan, El Salvador, and Cuba. The era of American double standards—leading Summits for Democracy while appearing on such lists—needs to come to an end.

How to change

Is it problematic to focus on such negative examples of American exceptionalism? Does it feed the “what aboutism” practiced for decades by Soviet and Russian leaders? Does it diminish the misery experienced in other parts of the world where vastly more people’s basic needs are not met?  Do these examples eclipse the leap made in just one generation in my own family—from a shtetl in Eastern Europe to Yale University and the United Nations?

Ignoring, or worse, not even gathering disaggregated data, only reinforces the sorrow and the violence inherent in the inequities experienced by many communities across the country. When we talk about the U.S. as a “developed” country while focusing on the needs of the “developing” world, in effect, millions of Americans are left out of the picture, while directing our gaze to the more “exotic” poor, a point detailed by Anand Giridharadas.

Fortunately, there are ways to tackle these problems. From the first day in office, the Biden administration set in motion numerous policies to address domestic inequities. Some of the policies Congress and the White House enacted in 2021 had swift but short-lived impact: The expanded Child Tax Credit temporarily “lifted 2.9 million children out of poverty” or cut the child poverty rate nearly in half. These policies made sense morally but also strategically; meeting people’s basic needs at home helps leverage the U.S. work around the world to advance democracy and human rights.  The administration has, however, not yet embraced the 2030 Agenda as have all its peers and many others including China. By not committing to the SDGs, the administration is obscuring the development framework that the Obama-Biden administration helped shape and risks continuing to leave some Americans behind at the same time it cedes ground to China internationally. Advancing sustainable development at home and abroad impacts our ability to compete in the world and remain a global leader.  It is time for the U.S. to become exceptional in a way that finally leaves no one behind—here and everywhere.

[marketanalysisdata]

Squalene Industry - Technologies, Applications, Verticals, Strategies & Forecast 2030

The global squalene market was valued at USD 149.4 million in 2023 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% from 2024 to 2030. The increasing use of natural ingredients in personal care and cosmetic products is a primary driver behind this growth. Squalene, a natural organic compound, is highly valued in these industries due to its translucency, minimal odor, and strong moisturizing properties. These characteristics make it one of the most widely used emollients in skincare. Moreover, squalene’s non-toxic nature has further expanded its applications, making it ideal for use in various personal care products. In cosmetics, squalene oil is especially valued for its role in combating free radicals that damage skin cells and accelerate aging.

The European Union has banned shark oil-based products in cosmetics, which has pushed manufacturers to seek plant-based and synthetic alternatives for squalene production. Concern over shark population decline and the environmental impact of harvesting shark oil has led to increased demand for plant-derived squalene, primarily extracted from sources like olive oil, rice bran, and amaranth oil. Currently, about 65% of the world’s olive oil is produced, consumed, and exported within the European Union, making it a key region for squalene derived from plant-based oils.

Squalene-based adjuvants have been used in influenza vaccines for over 20 years due to their capacity to improve immune response, boost antibody production, and allow for lower doses of the main antigen. This ingredient has been widely recognized for its role in health emergencies, such as influenza outbreaks, due to its effectiveness as an immune enhancer. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored its utility, as animal-derived squalene was included in COVID-19 vaccines for its immunity-boosting properties. Companies like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have established partnerships with other firms, including Sanofi S.A. and CureVac N.V., to facilitate the use of squalene in vaccine production.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Squalene Market

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific Squalene Market Trends:

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness significant market growth due to the region’s access to raw materials, lower labor costs, reduced manufacturing costs, and the expansion of industries such as personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and food and beverages. Countries like India, China, and Japan, which are abundant in raw materials like shark liver oil and olive oil, are emerging as leading producers of squalene for the market.

Europe Squalene Market Trends:

Europe led the squalene market in 2023 with a revenue share exceeding 32.8%, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region. The high share of the European market is largely due to the extensive production of olive oil, which is a primary plant-based source of squalene. Demand for squalene in Europe is particularly high in key economies like Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Among European nations, Spain holds a significant portion of the region’s olive groves, which positions it as a major supplier for plant-based squalene. Consequently, European squalene manufacturers are shifting away from shark-based squalene toward plant-based sources.

France

In France, the pharmaceutical industry is notably influential in this market shift. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the pharmaceutical sector in France had one of the largest R&D budgets in 2021, with R&D spending representing 9.8% of total pharmaceutical revenue. Pharmaceutical companies in France are increasingly investing in research and development focused on creating eco-friendly medicines that utilize bio-based ingredients, a trend that is expected to increase the demand for plant-based squalene in the country’s pharmaceutical industry over the forecast period.

Germany

Germany also demonstrates strong demand for plant-based squalene. In 2020, the country imported approximately 85 tons of olive oil, driven by rising health-consciousness among consumers and the preference for plant-derived ingredients across various sectors. Major companies like L’Oréal in Germany have transitioned from animal-based to plant-based squalene in their formulations, aligning with consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products.

Browse through Grand View Research's Category Food Additives & Nutricosmetics Industry Research Reports.

The global glutamic acid market size was valued at USD 12.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2025 to 2030.

The global stearic acid market size was valued at USD 11.24 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights:

The squalene market is highly fragmented and competitive, with major players concentrated in Europe and North America. However, numerous smaller players operate in the Asia Pacific region, where they benefit from proximity to raw materials, particularly shark liver oil and olive oil, which are essential for squalene production.

To extend their reach, major players are adopting partnership strategies. By collaborating with companies in different regions, they can leverage established networks to distribute their products more broadly. For example, in May 2023, Amyris announced a partnership with Croda International Plc. This collaboration aims to supply pharmaceutical-grade squalene for use in vaccine adjuvants, enhancing immune response. Such partnerships demonstrate the strategic moves by leading companies to expand their market presence while meeting the growing demand for high-quality squalene in various applications, from personal care to pharmaceuticals.

Key Squalene Companies:

Amyris, Inc.

Sophim SAS

Henry Lamotte Oils GmbH

efpbiotek

Vestan Limited

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Croda International Plc

AASHA BIOCHEM

Arbee

Oleicfat, s.l.

Kishimoto Special Liver Oil Co., Ltd.

Order a free sample PDF of the Squalene Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[marketstudyreport]

Squalene Market 2030 Top Key Players, Trends, Share, Industry Size, Segmentation

The global squalene market was valued at USD 149.4 million in 2023 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% from 2024 to 2030. The increasing use of natural ingredients in personal care and cosmetic products is a primary driver behind this growth. Squalene, a natural organic compound, is highly valued in these industries due to its translucency, minimal odor, and strong moisturizing properties. These characteristics make it one of the most widely used emollients in skincare. Moreover, squalene’s non-toxic nature has further expanded its applications, making it ideal for use in various personal care products. In cosmetics, squalene oil is especially valued for its role in combating free radicals that damage skin cells and accelerate aging.

The European Union has banned shark oil-based products in cosmetics, which has pushed manufacturers to seek plant-based and synthetic alternatives for squalene production. Concern over shark population decline and the environmental impact of harvesting shark oil has led to increased demand for plant-derived squalene, primarily extracted from sources like olive oil, rice bran, and amaranth oil. Currently, about 65% of the world’s olive oil is produced, consumed, and exported within the European Union, making it a key region for squalene derived from plant-based oils.

Squalene-based adjuvants have been used in influenza vaccines for over 20 years due to their capacity to improve immune response, boost antibody production, and allow for lower doses of the main antigen. This ingredient has been widely recognized for its role in health emergencies, such as influenza outbreaks, due to its effectiveness as an immune enhancer. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored its utility, as animal-derived squalene was included in COVID-19 vaccines for its immunity-boosting properties. Companies like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have established partnerships with other firms, including Sanofi S.A. and CureVac N.V., to facilitate the use of squalene in vaccine production.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Squalene Market

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific Squalene Market Trends:

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness significant market growth due to the region’s access to raw materials, lower labor costs, reduced manufacturing costs, and the expansion of industries such as personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and food and beverages. Countries like India, China, and Japan, which are abundant in raw materials like shark liver oil and olive oil, are emerging as leading producers of squalene for the market.

Europe Squalene Market Trends:

Europe led the squalene market in 2023 with a revenue share exceeding 32.8%, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region. The high share of the European market is largely due to the extensive production of olive oil, which is a primary plant-based source of squalene. Demand for squalene in Europe is particularly high in key economies like Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain. Among European nations, Spain holds a significant portion of the region’s olive groves, which positions it as a major supplier for plant-based squalene. Consequently, European squalene manufacturers are shifting away from shark-based squalene toward plant-based sources.

France

In France, the pharmaceutical industry is notably influential in this market shift. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the pharmaceutical sector in France had one of the largest R&D budgets in 2021, with R&D spending representing 9.8% of total pharmaceutical revenue. Pharmaceutical companies in France are increasingly investing in research and development focused on creating eco-friendly medicines that utilize bio-based ingredients, a trend that is expected to increase the demand for plant-based squalene in the country’s pharmaceutical industry over the forecast period.

Germany

Germany also demonstrates strong demand for plant-based squalene. In 2020, the country imported approximately 85 tons of olive oil, driven by rising health-consciousness among consumers and the preference for plant-derived ingredients across various sectors. Major companies like L’Oréal in Germany have transitioned from animal-based to plant-based squalene in their formulations, aligning with consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products.

Browse through Grand View Research's Category Food Additives & Nutricosmetics Industry Research Reports.

The global glutamic acid market size was valued at USD 12.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2025 to 2030.

The global stearic acid market size was valued at USD 11.24 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights:

The squalene market is highly fragmented and competitive, with major players concentrated in Europe and North America. However, numerous smaller players operate in the Asia Pacific region, where they benefit from proximity to raw materials, particularly shark liver oil and olive oil, which are essential for squalene production.

To extend their reach, major players are adopting partnership strategies. By collaborating with companies in different regions, they can leverage established networks to distribute their products more broadly. For example, in May 2023, Amyris announced a partnership with Croda International Plc. This collaboration aims to supply pharmaceutical-grade squalene for use in vaccine adjuvants, enhancing immune response. Such partnerships demonstrate the strategic moves by leading companies to expand their market presence while meeting the growing demand for high-quality squalene in various applications, from personal care to pharmaceuticals.

Key Squalene Companies:

Amyris, Inc.

Sophim SAS

Henry Lamotte Oils GmbH

efpbiotek

Vestan Limited

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Croda International Plc

AASHA BIOCHEM

Arbee

Oleicfat, s.l.

Kishimoto Special Liver Oil Co., Ltd.

Order a free sample PDF of the Squalene Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[mbbsabroad360]

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