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Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect womenGlobal Youth Philanthropy Youth Representatives Showcase Climate Action at COP29 11-22-2024 09:44 PM CET | Science & Education Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Global Social The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) recently convened in Baku, Azerbaijan. On November 19, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM local time, the China Pavilion in the Blue Zone hosted a side event titled "Actively Guard against Climate Risks and Build Low-carbon and Resilient Cities." Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/c8b0222587bfd4fe71f94f6c2a6d62da.jpg This event brought together representatives from government departments, international organizations, research institutions, and cities from both China and abroad to discuss the impacts of global climate change and strategies for risk prevention. Participants shared China's experiences in climate change policies and actions, while exchanging practical outcomes in the development of low-carbon resilient cities worldwide. The attendees unanimously agreed that addressing climate change is a global challenge, and only through collaborative innovation can meaningful progress be achieved. At the side event, Liu Hailiang, a board member of Global Youth Philanthropy, was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled "The Role of Youth in Addressing Global Climate Change and Environmental Crises." He emphasized that youth represent a vital force in tackling global climate change, contributing energy and vitality to the green transition through innovative practices and cross-cultural collaboration. Global Youth Philanthropy actively responds to the UN's "Youth 2030 Strategy" and Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to unite young people worldwide, foster innovation in global governance practices, and cultivate future leaders with social responsibility and global competence. Additionally, the organization seeks to promote cross-cultural exchanges among international youth, contributing to a more beautiful and shared future for the world. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/0504239355a8620488dbe9a8c3b69ad5.jpg Leah Wu, a youth representative from Global Youth Philanthropy and the founder and president of Fission for the Future , delivered a speech titled "Recent Technological Developments in Nuclear Energy and Its Promising Future in Climate Change." Leah addressed the urgent need for solutions to meet growing global energy demands while minimizing emissions. She explained how advancements such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could make nuclear energy cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Meanwhile, Leah Wu launched an initiative titled "Embrace Diversity of Clean Energy" at the event, calling on global youth to work together in advancing diverse clean energy development and building a sustainable future. A signature collection campaign was held on-site, receiving widespread support. Leah Wu emphasized that innovations in technology and policy can enable tailored energy solutions based on the needs of different regions, fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future together. Alice Hu, founder of Human Rights Youth Advocacy and one of the exhibition's lead curators, shared her plastic pollution advocacy through a video presentation. Using vivid data and examples, she urged young people to recognize the severity of global plastic pollution and take action to reduce plastic usage. Her presentation highlighted the responsibility and leadership of youth in addressing environmental challenges. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/359f63aaf4a0e053900f912a3daca0a2.jpg Youth representatives from Global Youth Philanthropy - Andy Zhou, Alice Hu, and Ariel Hu - curated an exhibition titled "Climate Adaptation Practices: Emergency Response, Capacity Building, and Youth Engagement." The exhibition showcased innovative projects led by youth from around the world, demonstrating their creativity and determination in tackling climate change. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/4b9bbce661143b93b4ecc9b703e89dbe.jpg Among the featured projects, the Food Bridge App aims to reduce food waste and has already helped over 300 families. The Sustainable Style Project advocates for reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion by encouraging more sustainable consumption habits. Art for Earth , a global public art initiative, raises awareness about climate issues through exhibitions in cities such as Beijing and Vancouver. Additionally, A Bang for Action , a project featuring Eco-Friendly Fireworks Innovations , highlighted its smokeless fireworks as a creative solution to reducing air pollution while maintaining cultural traditions. Adding to the event's depth, Celine Liu, a youth journalist from Youth Voice, reported on the conference from a young person's perspective. Her coverage offered thoughtful observations and heartfelt appeals, urging more youth to join the global climate movement. As China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Liu Zhenmin, noted during the conference: "An increasing number of young people are joining the noble cause of global climate governance. They are our hope for the future. I encourage young people to continue practicing low-carbon lifestyles, demonstrating leadership, and inspiring their peers to take part in this great endeavor." Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/1642fa6c159fc083ce15a348797b7a30.jpg This year's COP29 not only showcased the innovative practices and sense of mission displayed by youth in addressing climate change but also emphasized their vast potential to shape global climate governance. Looking ahead, Global Youth Philanthropy will continue to support and empower young people through collaboration and innovation, injecting hope and vitality into global climate action. Media Contact Company Name: Global Youth Philanthropy Contact Person: Liping Sun Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=global-youth-philanthropy-youth-representatives-showcase-climate-action-at-cop29 ] Country: China Website: http://www.youth-global.org/ This release was published on openPR.White House: Salt Typhoon hacked telcos in dozens of countriesNone

Normalcy returns in Kashmir after snow-led disruptions; Haryana, Rajasthan continue to shiver

Beirut, Dec 7 (AP) Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumours that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader's base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria's third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama, as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began November 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”. Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people”. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a years-long siege. The UN said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumours that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a UN resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began on November 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists". The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area”, apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkiye, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkiye is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticised Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. “Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria's “territorial integrity”. He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Villa came into the game winless in eight matches in all competitions but they jumped back into the top half of the Premier League with a scintillating performance in the opening 45 minutes. Unai Emery has never gone nine matches without a win as manager but Brentford never posed a threat to prolong that run as Villa cashed in on a dominant first period with goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash. Brentford have only managed one point away from home all season and Mikkel Damsgaard’s effort after the break proved to be in vain as their miserable run on the road continued. Tyrone Mings made his first start in the Premier League since August 2023 in place of Pau Torres while Leon Bailey was brought into the side following their heavy loss to Chelsea. Bees boss Thomas Frank opted for Vitaly Janelt and Yehor Yarmoliuk over Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen. Kevin Schade completed his first career hat-trick at the weekend and showed his confidence six minutes in when his drilled shot was deflected narrowly behind. It took a quarter of an hour but Villa began to knock the ball about and Watkins bent an effort towards goal but Mark Flekken was brought into action for the first time to collect. The tension inside Villa Park alleviated as the hosts took the lead in the 21st minute. Boubacar Kamara’s beautiful turn in the middle of the park set Watkins on his way and he teed up Rogers outside the box who whipped into the far corner in magnificent fashion. The hosts almost added a second straight away as Bailey got in behind the Bees back line but blasted straight at Flekken. Villa had another opportunity to go two in front when Ethan Pinnock dragged Watkins down inside the area and the penalty was eventually given by referee Lewis Smith. And England striker Watkins dusted himself down and snuck his spot-kick into the bottom right corner from 12 yards. Emery’s side showed no mercy and added a third 11 minutes before the break as Lucas Digne’s cross fell to Cash who was waiting at the back post to slam home. Things threatened to get worse for Brentford after the interval when Flekken came to punch Youri Tielemans’ corner away but almost diverted it into his own goal before he got back to push behind for a corner. The Bees got themselves on the scoresheet in the 54th minute as Bryan Mbeumo’s cross was diverted into the path of Damsgaard who cut back and lashed high into the net. Watkins wasted an opportunity to restore Villa’s three-goal advantage as he pounced on a loose pass but aimed straight at Flekken. The visiting goalkeeper was again called on to deny substitute Jhon Duran but Villa settle dfor three goals as they returned to winning ways.

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Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season on Sunday. Barkley entered the game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys needing 162 yards to join the exclusive club. He reached the milestone with a 23-yard run with about 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia leading 34-7. That gave him 167 for the day on 31 carries and 2,005 for the season. With one game remaining, Barkley has a chance to break Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season record of 2,105 yards, set during a 16-game season in 1984. In addition to Dickerson, the others to rush for 2,000 yards are Adrian Peterson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Derrick Henry, Terrell Davis, Chris Johnson and O.J. Simpson. With the Eagles locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC, it's unclear whether Barkley will play in next weekend's regular-season finale against his former team, the New York Giants. Barkley also broke LeSean McCoy's 2013 franchise record of 2,146 all-purpose yards. --Field Level Media

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Don Quixote is pronounced “dawn kih hoh tee”, colonel is pronounced “kuh nuhl”. English teacher Chitra learned this only after she got a smartboard. “Switching from blackboard to smartboard is one of the major changes in the past two decades,” says Chitra who teaches at a Chennai school. Her students now make PowerPoint presentations which are captured on mobile phones and uploaded to a YouTube channel, with the link shared with all students. Technology has changed the way teachers teach and students study. And the pandemic has accelerated the change. “When I started as a teacher in the 1990s, classroom instruction relied heavily on textbooks, explanations, and exam preparation,” says G J Manohar, a retired economics teacher. “Now, if students don’t understand something in class, they go online to access videos that explain things better.” University professors say online education has flipped things around in colleges and universities. “Students come to class to discuss and clarify what they read online. Classrooms have become more interactive, less about information delivery and more about engagement,” said T R Gopalakrishnan, head of the department of journalism and communication, University of Madras . Students are more comfortable with gadgets than books; it helps that online books are more interactive. “These days, students are preparing for exams entirely based on online books on laptops and mobile phones. They also prepare their own notes as PowerPoints,” said professor D Arivudainambi, department of mathematics, Anna University . In higher education, more and more students have started to enrol for degree, diploma, and other courses in Tamil Nadu in the past two decades. The Gross Enrolment Ratio increased by around five percentage points to 47% in the last 10 years alone in Tamil Nadu. There is also a greater emphasis on employability than a couple of decades ago. But the standout change is the shift to online mode. Online courses and certifications from portals such as NPTEL and SWAYAM have more takers after the pandemic. But even legacy institutions such as IITs have embraced the change. The online BS degree in data science by IIT Madras has attracted thousands, including working professionals from across the country. “More than 35,000 students are enrolled in two BS programmes, with nearly 35% from families with less than 5 lakh a year income. This combination of access, flexibility, affordability, and value is possible only by using digital means,” said professor Andrew Thangaraj of IIT Madras. Since the turn of the century, deemed and private universities have also come into their own. “Moving away from the affiliating system of education helped us transition from ‘standardisation at scale’ to ‘quality and innovation and scale’ in education. It’s similar to moving from Henry Ford’s Model-T to the Tesla model in education in the past two decades,” said Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, partner at Catalincs and former CMD, Cognizant India. But as digital tools reshape education, experts emphasise the need for a balanced approach. “While technology has made resources more accessible, it has also shortened attention spans in classrooms,” says Dr Sangeetha Chandrasekaran, a psychiatrist at SCARF and a school counsellor in Chennai. What has changed Use of technology in classroom learning No takers for BSc maths, physics and chemistry courses More focus on skilling college students No takers for core engineering courses Online courses and accessing e-content in mobiles Attention span; excessive use of gadgets What has not changed Preference for computer science-related courses Assessment of students Teacher shortage in primary and middle schools Faculty shortage in colleges, universities Poor learning outcomes Unusable toilets and hygiene issues Events that shaped education in the past 25 years 2007 | Abolition of entrance exams On the grounds that rural students are unable to get into professional courses including BE, BTech and MBBS, BDS, then CM M Karunanidhi abolished The Tamil Nadu Professional Course Entrance Examinations. Admission was based on Class XII marks in maths, physics, chemistry & biology. 2017 | NEET-based medical admissions Introduction of NEET-based medical admissions left aspirants in shock in Tamil Nadu. Students were not used to competitive exams. The syllabus had also not been updated for more than 10years. First-year, only four students from govt schools got MBBS admissions. This led the govt to introduce 7.5% special reservation for them three years later. 2020 | Pandemic and thereafter The long period of online education and lack of in-person classes created learning gaps. Students struggled to write exams after returning to school. It took 2 years for normalcy to return. 2021 | State Education Policy Following differences with the Centre on the National Education Policy, 2020, Tamil Nadu announced that it would bring an exclusive State Education Policy. It formed a panel headed by Justice D Murugesan, which has submitted recommendations. The panel’s report is yet to be made public 2022 | Breakfast scheme A flagship scheme of the Stalin-led govt, it offers free breakfast to nearly 20lakh children in govt schools. Govt says it has improved academic performance. State govt also launched a skilling initiative called Naan Mudhalvan, Ennum Ezhuthum to ensure all children below eight age can read and write by 2025.NoneCalzada TD to Alexander sends Incarnate Word to FCS quarterfinal with win over Villanova

It’s easy to use Amazon’s “thank my driver” feature to spread holiday cheer. Amazon is running a holiday promotion that lets customers show appreciation for their delivery drivers by clicking a button to send them $5 — on the retailer’s dime. If you’ve recently shopped on Amazon, you can either use the company’s Alexa virtual assistant and say, “Alexa, thank my driver” or type, “Thank my driver” in the search bar on Amazon.com or the Amazon app. You’ll get a brief message confirming that the driver who delivered your most recent order will receive a notice of your thanks. For the first 2 million driver thank-yous customers submit, drivers will receive $5 tips. Customers can actually thank a driver all year round, according to an FAQ about the program on Amazon’s website, so if you have a driver who regularly goes above and beyond, a thank-you is a nice way to show your appreciation that isn’t limited to the holiday season. The company first rolled out the Thank My Driver feature in 2022. Since then, customers have used it over 40 million times. Last year, when Amazon ran the $5 tip promotion for the holidays, the 2 million limit was reached in less than three days. After that threshold was reached, the retailer announced that 1,000 drivers receiving the most thank-yous each day would each get an additional $100 reward through the end of the year. In addition, Amazon also recognized 15 top-ranking drivers with $10,000 or $25,000 awards. Amazon declined to say how many shoppers have used the Thank My Driver feature since the program opened Wednesday. The holiday promotion is only available in the U.S. for drivers and for Amazon Flex independent delivery contractors. In addition to the promotion, there are several other ways to thank delivery drivers during the holiday season. Some customers leave drinks and snacks out on their porches for drivers. But keep in mind that shippers may have policies restricting what delivery drivers can accept. U.S. Postal Service workers, for example, can only take gifts under $20 — and you’re not allowed to give them cash. Includes VPN & password manager Up to $3 million identity theft coverage Comprehensive 3-bureau monitoring system Over 40 years of experience in the field More from Money: 6 Money Moves You Should Make Before the End of the Year Why the Odds of a ‘Santa Claus Rally’ in the Stock Market Are High This Year The FSA Deadline Is Coming. Here Are 12 Last-Minute Ways to Spend Your Dollars Pete Grieve is a New York-based reporter who covers personal finance news. At Money, Pete covers trending stories that affect Americans’ wallets on topics including car buying, insurance, housing, credit cards, retirement and taxes. He studied political science and photography at the University of Chicago, where he was editor-in-chief of The Chicago Maroon. Pete began his career as a professional journalist in 2019. Prior to joining Money, he was a health reporter for Spectrum News in Ohio, where he wrote digital stories and appeared on TV to provide coverage to a statewide audience. He has also written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Sun-Times and CNN Politics. Pete received extensive journalism training through Report for America, a nonprofit organization that places reporters in newsrooms to cover underreported issues and communities, and he attended the annual Investigative Reporters and Editors conference in 2021.Pete has discussed his reporting in interviews with outlets including the Columbia Journalism Review and WBEZ (Chicago's NPR station). He’s been a panelist at the Chicago Headline Club’s FOIA Fest and he received the Institute on Political Journalism’s $2,500 Award for Excellence in Collegiate Reporting in 2017. An essay he wrote for Grey City magazine was published in a 2020 book, Remembering J. Z. Smith: A Career and its Consequence.NoneCaparello signs on, Jets announce new recruitGlobal trading powerhouse Jane Street ’s recently made Rs 4.3 crore job offer to an IIT Madras student, reflecting the immense profitability of high-frequency trading firms operating in global financial markets. Meanwhile, this lucrative world contrasts sharply with the reality faced by retail traders , who continue to suffer heavy losses in the cutthroat game of options trading . Often touted as a lucrative opportunity for quick gains, options trading operates as a zero-sum game—profits for some come directly at the expense of others. This dynamic often leaves small retail investors, who are drawn in by the high-risk, high-reward proposition, at a disadvantage. Recent data from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) revealed the dire consequences for retail investors venturing into this arena. Sebi ’s study revealed that 93% of retail traders in options markets incurred losses between FY22 and FY24, amounting to a staggering Rs 1.81 lakh crore in total losses. Individual traders lost an average of Rs 2 lakh. Meanwhile, the dominance of global trading firms in the financial markets is built on their ability to deploy sophisticated algorithms that execute trades in fractions of a second, capturing incremental profits that add up to billions. While algorithmic traders at firms like Jane Street use sophisticated strategies to consistently win, the odds are heavily stacked against individual traders, especially those without access to such advanced tools. The disparity in outcomes is stark. Jane Street recently disclosed in a U.S. court that a proprietary options trading strategy employed in India was among its most profitable, earning over $1 billion last year. However, retail investors—who make up a significant portion of the market—face steep losses. According to the Sebi study, only 7% of individual traders managed to turn a profit over the last three years, highlighting the dominance of institutional players. Stock Trading Technical Trading Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Market 104: Options Trading: Kickstart Your F&O Adventure By - Saketh R, Founder- QuickAlpha, Full Time Options Trader View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Course For Beginners By - Chetan Panchamia, Options Trader View Program Stock Trading Candlesticks Made Easy: Candlestick Pattern Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading RSI Made Easy: RSI Trading Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Complete Guide to Stock Market Trading: From Basics to Advanced By - Harneet Singh Kharbanda, Full Time Trader View Program Stock Trading Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Point & Figure Chart Mastery: A Comprehensive Trading Guide By - Mukta Dhamankar, Full Time Trader, 15 Years Experience, Instructor View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Made Easy: Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Stock Valuation Made Easy By - Rounak Gouti, Investment commentary writer, Experience in equity research View Program Stock Trading Markets 102: Mastering Sentiment Indicators for Swing and Positional Trading By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Mastering Options Selling: Advanced Strategies for Success By - CA Manish Singh, Chartered Accountant, Professional Equity and Derivative Trader View Program Retail participation in derivatives trading has nearly doubled from 51 lakh in FY22 to 96 lakh in FY24, yet over 90% of retail traders continue to incur losses, as younger and low-income participants are hit hardest. Algorithmic firms like Jane Street dominate with high-speed strategies, capturing profits at the expense of smaller players. Also read | ICICI Securities picks 9 counters after DAC clears Rs 21,772-crore acquisition; BEL and HAL key beneficiaries While platforms now offer retail traders access to algorithms, their impact remains limited. The result is a market where institutional players thrive, while success remains elusive for most retail participants, highlighting the persistent inequities in the F&O segment. Sebi has introduced sweeping reforms to address this imbalance, including limiting weekly expiries to one index per exchange and increasing contract sizes for derivatives. These measures aim to curb speculation and volatility but may reduce access for smaller traders, raising the bar for market participation. These developments paint a vivid picture of the inequities within the options trading ecosystem. While institutional firms leverage technology and capital to dominate, retail traders face mounting losses despite regulatory safeguards. SEBI’s interventions may signal a shift toward leveling the playing field, but they also reveal how far the system still has to go to create balance opportunity and risk in the financial markets. Also read | Indraprastha Gas to consider bonus share issuance in December board meeting ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )

World News | Syrian Government Forces Withdraw from Central City of Homs as Insurgent Offensive Accelerates

NoneWhile there are healthy debates to be had about biometrics, few would argue that tools like biometric face matching can make the airport experience smoother and faster. A new study commissioned by Amadeus and conducted by market research firm Mercury Analytics confirms what anyone who has ever set foot in an airport knows: travelers hate friction. The biometrics sector, as it happens, also loathes friction, and so the fit is clear: according to a release from , “it is clear that technology can have the biggest impact in overcoming the gaps that currently exist in the traveler experience.” Travelers gave the thumbs-up to planning apps, automatic rebooking for delays, digital bag tracking, integrated travel booking across airlines and hotels, and fully and travel documents – all cited as useful ways to relieve the stress of a journey. “Whether it is , mobile apps, digital traveler identification, disruption management, or other applications, we believe there are opportunities to deploy technology to further relieve distress,” says Rajiv Rajian, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Americas, Travel, Amadeus. Tech, however, is best paired with a human component. Despite the convenience of biometric check-in and systems, travelers report wanting more human interaction during airport security and border control, as well as hotel and accommodation check-in and check-out. Amadeus’ Senior Vice President of Solution Consulting Robert Buckman says “technology can make a significant impact in overcoming travel friction and remains our unwavering mission. By innovating with our customers and partners – including airports, hoteliers, travel sellers, airlines, payments and corporations – and leveraging data orchestration across the trip lifecycle, together we can help breakdown silos across the .” One such innovation is on display at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) in St Maarten, where , an Amadeus company, has deployed its Seamless Border Program in the reconstructed arrivals area. A release says the program uses “real-time flow orchestration through advanced biometric technology to verify passenger identities quickly and accurately.” For eligible travelers, transaction times for passportless e-Gate crossings are reduced to 6-10 seconds per entry. “Delivering a contactless, stress-free experience is essential to setting new standards in the industry,” says Vision-Box Vice President of Strategic Sales & Global Partnerships, Jeff Lennon. “This marks a major achievement for Vision-Box and its long-lasting partners, fully demonstrating the power of .” A study from tells a similar tale to that of Amadeus. The Entrust Seamless Travel Experience Survey’s bane and kryptonite is friction. Customs, immigration, and visa applications are typically full of it, so it is little wonder the data shows 66 percent of travelers expressing preference for options such as biometric corridors (a path or location that uses biometric technology to process people without the need for manual processes) and remote . If options can reduce airport wait times by 20-30 percent, 92 percent of respondents indicate they would use them. likes biometrics best, with general support standing at 88 percent of travelers. Next are Canada and Spain, at 53 and 56 percent respectively. Those pesky data privacy concerns, however, are not completely gone: in the UK and U.S., there is more concern for potential technological failures and the ways in which data is managed and protected. That said, travelers have suggestions for how to optimize frictionless travel. Electronic visa applications, remote identity verification, and were tabled as ways to make border processes faster and more secure. “Travelers are calling for an experience where security meets convenience,” says Gordon Wilson, vice president of identity verification at Entrust. “With weather, engineering, and worker issues already causing regular disruption, technology needs to be set up to ensure that it alleviates the barriers to travel without creating new ones. To help meet this demand, Entrust aims to redefine through trusted digital identity.” The Seamless Travel Experience Survey was conducted for Entrust by market research firm Cint, involving 1,750 respondents across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia, Spain, Australia and India. Indeed, it appears to be a losing battle for friction, as the combined effort to smooth it out of existence rises in strength and numbers. In a , Condatis, the UK market leaders in Entra Identity and Access Management solutions, ask you to imagine “a world where your travel experiences are tailored to your every preference, seamlessly and securely.” Condatis uses Entra Verified ID’s decentralized capabilities to develop decentralized ecosystem management tools in Cenda and partnering with the decentralized and (SSI) communities. “Our goal,” it says, “is to reimagine the traveler experience by giving travelers the ability to carry their own data, profiles, and preferences as credentials in . These credentials, which can include verifiable, self-attested, or biometric data, break today’s siloed mobile data models by making verifiable, reusable, and data-rich attributes available to entire ecosystems.” These ecosystems can connect processes like and flight check-in with “verifiable data (passport), personal preferences (food or room preferences), and biometrics (for virtual or physical access control).” These could in turn be analyzed by so-called , which “involves the development of agents that work with us in a transparent and consenting manner to solve complex tasks,” to curate “hyper-personalized offers, itineraries, and experiences based on our preferences.” While the tendency may be to imagine yet another vector for endless ads, the post brings up an interesting example: a customer who is running late and misses their flight. “Rather than using multiple mobile applications and search engine queries to cancel and reorganize bookings, find new flights, and book a hotel, your Agentic AI agents handle this on your behalf.” Suggestions and recommendations are offered based on your location, flight, and hotel preferences, as well as profiles and preferences stored in your digital wallet. Ai airports across the globe, friction loses ground by the day. has plans to implement its friction-reducing E-GATE system at Kotoka International Airport by the end of 2024. According to from 3 News, Flagbearer of the NPP Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia confirms that those who have a Ghana card will only need to slot the card in at immigration to gain clearance. | | | | | | | | | |