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The last six months of the year have witnessed a surge in road rage incidents in our overcrowded cities. Police in Bangalore have reportedly registered 40 cases of road rage this year. Between August and October, volatile Delhi recorded more than ten incidents, including one that led to the death of a 20-year-old man. In suburban Mumbai , a 27-year-old man was beaten to death by a group of men after an altercation on a busy road. What is traffic psychology? While traffic congestion, the stresses of urban life, and long commutes are primary triggers, there is much more to the story, says Anagha Pullangotte. Based in Kozhikode, Pullangotte is one of the few traffic psychologists in India. Traffic psychologists—an exceptionally rare profession globally—study driver behaviour on the road and their relationship with their vehicles. Pullangotte, who trained in traffic psychology at IIT Hyderabad, runs Traffix, a consultancy working with organisations such as Bangalore-based Rasstep, a traffic planning and engineering firm, and Kochi’s SCMS Institute for Road Safety. A former design faculty member at Hyderabad’s Mahindra University, Pullangotte founded Traffix about a year ago. "I wanted to spend less time working on research papers and more time on the ground," she says. In this interview with the Hindustan Times, Pullangotte delves into the emerging field of traffic psychology, the socio-economic factors behind road rage, and the common traits shared by those responsible for such incidents. Q: What exactly does your work entail as a traffic psychologist? There are several aspects to my work. We collaborate with private organisations, state governments, and NGOs focused on road safety and sustainable transportation. For instance, Rasstep is involved in transport planning and policy research, while at the SCMS Institute for Road Safety, we train traffic police in Kerala on the behavioural aspects of driving, including the general psychology of drivers. We aim to positively influence driving culture. In addition to conducting research into the traffic environment and stressors, much of my work involves reviewing dashcam footage from participating vehicles. This helps us understand environmental behaviour: how drivers react to specific situations, the kinds of emotions these situations provoke, and how they behave in crowded settings, for example. I also consult with people dealing with driver anxiety—those who have driven before but are no longer able to, often after being involved in accidents. Q: Do you think road rage is more pronounced in developing economies such as India? Developed nations also experience high levels of road rage, but it is often better managed due to more effective enforcement and greater public awareness. The extent and manifestation of the problem can vary depending on cultural, social, and economic factors. In developing countries like India, traffic, particularly in urban areas, is extremely heterogeneous. Unlike many other countries, we have everything from Mercedes-Benzes to bicycles, two-wheelers, large trucks, and rickshaws all sharing the same roads. Many people might not realise it, but there is a significant class divide. The way people from different socio-economic backgrounds judge one another, along with the general stereotypes we associate with people from different parts of the country, can also contribute to the rising instances of road rage. Some of the factors identified in my research within the Indian context include a sense of entitlement among drivers of luxury cars or government vehicles, gender bias, power dynamics (where larger vehicles may use intimidation tactics against smaller ones), and even caste and regional factors that might spill over into driving behaviour. Q: Are men more prone to road rage than women? I wouldn’t say it’s absolute, as road rage is influenced by various social and moral factors. Statistically, men may be more aggressive, but in the context of India, women are generally not exposed to the conditions that tend to provoke road rage. Q: What’s the one thing that is common to perpetrators of road rage? Overconfidence, without a doubt. They have a strong belief that they are in the right, regardless of the situation, and they believe this very convincingly. Some studies have shown that around 70% of drivers feel they are better than others on the road, and this overestimation of one's abilities is a key contributor to road rage. Q: Could technology in cars, such as advanced driver assistance systems, help reduce the factors contributing to road rage? Perhaps, but it is generally difficult to influence or change behaviour in collective situations. While it is possible to work with individuals, changing society’s collective attitude is much more challenging. Many of the newer safety features in cars do minimise the scope for errors, but they can also make drivers overly dependent on automated systems, leading to a reduction in attentiveness. In some cases, drivers may begin to take these systems for granted. Q: Is the daily commute one of the most stressful parts of a car owner’s day? I would say so, because you have the stress of a long day ahead, with work piling up, and by the time you’re heading home, you’re exhausted from the demands of the day. We spend an excessive amount of time in our cars, especially in our metropolitan areas, where the traffic environment is full of stressors. It’s no surprise that many people enjoy driving in off-road or controlled environments—they don’t have to deal with the road and the traffic!
Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, with 66 more wounded, according to local officials. The strikes, marking the fourth attack in the area within a week, intensified as diplomatic efforts to negotiate a cease-fire continued. The escalation follows U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's visit in pursuit of a peace deal between Israel and Hezbollah, amid a war that has claimed over 3,500 lives in Lebanon and displaced 1.2 million residents. On Israel's side, 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have died due to northern bombardments. The ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire face significant hurdles. Proposals suggest a two-month truce, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and increased Lebanese military patrols along the southern border, monitored by an international committee. However, disagreements persist on terms ensuring Hezbollah's disarmament and committee composition. (With inputs from agencies.)The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has been a diehard politician and reputed for keeping in constant contact with his people, especially when he served as the governor of Zamfara state between 2019 and 2023. He was, however, allegedly rigged out of office by the then cabals in Aso Rock just because he fought the attempted unlawful naira swap policy which he jointly challenged along with two of his colleagues (former Kaduna governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i and former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello) and defeated the federal government in court where the Supreme Court ruled by halting the swap policy. Matawalle’s position as the North-west Presidential Campaign Council Coordinator ensured that the APC won a landslide in the 2023 presidential election in the Northwestern zone of the country where he served with dedication, transversing wider campaigns in the zone for Tinubu/Shettima ticket. This earned him respect and more recognition from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who later appointed him as the Minister of State for Defence as the administration kick started the business of governance. He officially moved to the federal capital, Abuja to serve as a National Executive Council member representing Zamfara state despite the desperate opposition staged against him in his home state of Zamfara by his successor and other callous elements within and outside the state. As a former governor, the minister stayed away from the state in order to maintain political peace but at the same time, he kept in touch with and saw his people either by proxy or they would go to Abuja to meet him while he also assisted many people cutting across party divide especially those affected by human and natural disasters, with his support sometimes coming even before the arrival of state government intervention. The situation remained so until after many pleas by the people of the state particularly APC members that he should come to the state, that Matawalle finally yielded last Friday, December 21, 2024, for a six-day official/private visit by visiting banditry and other disaster victims, inspecting some military formations and meeting party members and relatives. Driving by road from Abuja to Gusau through Kaduna, the minister stopped over at all the military check points along the road where he encouraged personnel to be more committed to their assigned responsibilities assuring them that the federal government has made adequate arrangements to provide more sophisticated weapons and other benefits to ensure the complete elimination of the criminals by the incoming year 2025 with the military on their part hailing the federal government over the information. On arrival in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, the minister was received by an overwhelming crowd of party supporters, party faithful, well-wishers, party leaders and other stakeholders who made a beehive of activities around the former governor’s GRA residence with traders of various wares making brisk business while entertainers and praise singers chose their acquaintances to raise money. Following his declaration that his six days stay will positively impact the people, the minister made sure that anyone who came smiled back home. Addressing the crowd of supporters, Matawalle implored them to continue to be law abiding, peaceful, and prayerful so that APC’s leadership with him as governor will return to the state. He explained that he would be coming to the state very often, hence so that they would be strategizing for a greater Zamfara. The minister also continued to meet and interact with APC leadership ranging from SWC, state exco, local government party chairmen, elders, youths, women, and other critical stakeholders where he explained more about the reforms of the Tinubu administration which are not anti-North but aimed at improving the standard of Nigerian citizens economically, socially and politically without denying any region. He explained the security measures being put in place to restore peace in the North-west and the country as well as in providing all the needed support to security agencies especially the military to fight banditry that is bedevilling the North-west and assured that the government will ensure that in the coming year 2025, all forms of banditry and other criminalities are eliminated. He said the current military operations in the zone is yielding positive results because of the deployment of committed and patriotic military personnel in most of the flash points as large number of bandits were being neutralised and some are on the run, he appealed to the citizens to support government and security agencies with genuine intelligence that will lead to success. Matawalle also said that security is everybody’s concern and the need to take every person and property’s security serious and urged citizens to support the troops with prayers for success rather than condemnation. The minister’s home visit has created more awareness about President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda and a lot of people have changed their perception. APC is honoured by the minister’s visit because he exhibited a high sense of belonging to all party members and supporters at all levels.
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Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streakNEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers than ever are on track to use ‘buy now, pay later’ plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don’t report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper’s mind at least, more money for smaller purchases . They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. “Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you’re going to make anyway,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The challenge is that it does fuel overspending.” For merchants, that’s part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. “The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they’re already relying on revolving credit,” Elliott said. “The psychographics of ‘buy now, pay later’ may be different — people don’t think of it as debt — but it is.” If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. “Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red,” she said. “And, based on what we’re seeing in the data, they’re continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend.” The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Two of Pa. Rep. Summer Lee's closest allies lost reelection bids. What could it spell for her future?Published 9:40 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024 by Jake Winfrey West Point knocked off Class 2A No. 5 Decatur Heritage 68-52 on Saturday to earn the title at its annual Christmas tournament. Jay Lamar (22), Jaxon Shelton (19) and Maddox Chapman (11) each scored in double figures for the Warriors, who outpaced the Eagles 27-8 in the third quarter en route to improving to 14-4. “I’m extremely proud of our resiliency this week,” West Point coach Mason Voce said. “We trailed at the half all three of our games but responded well each second half. This group is very fun to be around — it’s 11 guys who really care about the success of their teammates as much as themselves. They compete like dogs, but they also support and encourage one another with everything they have. They deserve a little reward for their hard work this week.” Email newsletter signup See below for more scores and stats from contests Monday, Dec. 23 through Saturday, Dec. 28. Saturday — December 28 Varsity Boys Cullman 61, Spain Park 43 Jake Dorough: 24 points, 8 assists Brooks Loftin: 22 points, 12 rebounds Moody 58, Fairview 49 Good Hope 67, Leslie County 40 Tyler Cone: 17 points Gavin Pace: 14 points Tucker Malin: 9 points Jacob Haynes: 8 points Springville 57, Holly Pond 44 Sawyer Olinger: 15 points Carson Ryan: 9 points West Point 68, Decatur Heritage 52 Jay Lamar: 22 points Jaxon Shelton: 19 points Maddox Chapman: 11 points Varsity Girls Pensacola 64, Cullman 35 Fairview 63, East Jessamine 51 Whitney Quick: 16 points Darby Nichols: 12 points Davi Stidham: 12 points Nolensville 63, Good Hope 51 Ava McSwain: 29 points Friday — December 27 Varsity Boys Good Hope 81, Freeport 76 Jacob Haynes: 26 points Tucker Malin: 21 points Gavin Pace: 17 points Tyler Cone: 8 points Cullman 75, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 57 Jake Dorough: 23 points Preston Gay: 14 points Evan Wilson: 12 points Gray Hopper: 10 points West Morgan 67, Hanceville 29 Peyton Twilley: 12 points Holly Pond 53, East Lawrence 52 Cade Allbright: 19 points Asher Thrift: 14 points Sawyer Olinger: 11 points West Point 65, Corner 60 Jay Lamar: 37 points Jaxon Shelton: 11 points Fairview 60, Asbury 44 Varsity Girls Cullman 63, New Brockton 39 Molly Wilson: 32 points, 8 rebounds Rachel Hoffman: 12 points, 6 rebounds Holly Pond 43, Rogers 39 Ava Thomas: 19 points Maggie Nail: 15 points South Pontotoc 53, Fairview 51 Whitney Quick: 17 points Peyton Defoor: 13 points Vinemont 61, West Limestone 47 Caroline Miller: 18 points Morgan Flanagan: 12 points Carley Stephens: 9 points Good Hope 51, Dickson County 40 Sophie Konrad: 12 points Ella Gossett: 12 points Jolee McHan: 9 points Thursday — December 26 Varsity Boys West Point 65, East Lawrence 57 Jay Lamar: 23 points Maddox Chapman: 21 points Jaxon Shelton: 16 points Corner 76, Holly Pond 60 Sawyer Olinger: 16 points Carson Ryan: 11 points Cade Allbright: 11 points Fox Westall: 9 points Ty Dunn: 8 points Varsity Girls Fairview 62, University High 20 Whitney Quick: 14 points Lexi Golden: 14 points Darby Nichols: 9 points Monday — December 23 Varsity Boys Cullman 70, Pike Road 40 Brooks Loftin: 16 points, 10 rebounds Jake Dorough: 9 points, 10 assists Preston Gay: 9 points Gray Hopper: 9 points Evan Wilson: 8 points LOCAL SPORTS: Good Hope’s McSwain named Athlete of the Week PREP BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD ALL-STATE FOOTBALL: Four local players earn 1st-team honors; Several other athletes recognized by ASWA PREP FOOTBALL: Hanceville lands players on All-Region Team
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Nordstrom Reports Third Quarter 2024 EarningsTEHRAN –The administration has focused on increasing women's share of entrepreneurship in the science and technology sector from currently 12 percent to 30 percent, Zahra Behrouz-Azar, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, has said. “Since graduated women constitute a large percentage of unemployed individuals, we are trying to implement the idea of increasing the share of women in entrepreneurship in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, technology parks and business incubators, as well as the Ministry of Information, and Communication Technology, to minimize the gap and witness the presence of more and more women in businesses,” IRNA quoted Behrouz-Azar as saying. The official made the remarks on Saturday, December 21, on the sidelines of an exhibition called ‘Women, the pivot of innovation and technology’. According to Behrouz-Azar, women account for more than 24 percent of inventions in the country, compared to the global average of 17 percent. In Iran, entrepreneurship officially commenced in 2000. Following that it was defined as a field of study in universities, and the first entrepreneurial major as an interdisciplinary one launched at University of Tehran, she explained. The official went on to say that the concept of entrepreneurship is interwoven with various fields such as economy, psychology, culture, sociology, and even religion. With the conceptual development of entrepreneurial thought, women’s entrepreneurship begins to grow because there is a difference between men and women in terms of performance, motivation, and access to resources. One of the most important differences between entrepreneurship among women and men is the issue of motivation. Men’s motivation in entrepreneurship is more concerned with earning a living and increasing wealth, but women all over the world tend to use it to strengthen the family foundation. The most important goal in women’s entrepreneurship in the current administration is to promote motivation. Men entrepreneurs can more easily provide resources and capital for their businesses, but this happens less for women. Therefore, educated women face funding problems to start their businesses. The government is well aware of the issue and is looking for solutions to boost access to finance for women entrepreneurs, Behrouz-Azar highlighted. Addressing the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 19 to 21, Behrouz-Azar stated that the current administration focuses on empowering women in social and economic areas, as well as improving their access to social services and facilities through implementing certain national programs. “Iran has always focused on programs that empower women, particularly those who are heads of household, economically and socially. Actions taken by the country have always aimed to promote women’s status by observing the principles of the constitution and Islamic teachings,” Mehr news agency quoted Behrouz-Azar as saying. Referring to Iran’s remarkable achievements in education, health, science, technology, and entrepreneurship, she underscored the prominent role of Iranian women in these fields. The official further said the seventh National Development Plan has stressed the need to overcome barriers to women’s professional development. Accordingly, the current administration has put supporting women’s entrepreneurship and home business growth on the agenda despite unfair sanctions. Addressing a roundtable focusing on ‘Advancing women’s economic empowerment through employment, decent work, social protection, and entrepreneurship’, Fakhr al-Sadat Fatemi, an advisor to the deputy vice president for women and family affairs, for her part proposed three ways to advance women’s empowerment in different fields, these ways include training, empowering, acquiring skills, and developing opportunities for women’s participation, as well as providing legal and executive support, Mehr news agency reported. MT/MG
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