One97 Communications Ltd. was founded in December 2000 by Vijay Shekhar Sharma in New Delhi, India with just Rs. 10 in his pocket. The company initially focused on telecom value-added services and later pivoted to digital payment and financial solutions, including the launch of the Paytm brand in 2009 as a digital payments platform to facilitate cashless transactions for users.

Since then, the company has reached some major user milestones. Paytm was the first digital wallet to receive RBI and SEBI licenses for payments banks and stock-broking and IRDAI license for insurance broking. In 2017, Paytm crossed 200 million active wallet users and won “the best digital wallet” award the same year. As of August 2023, Paytm Payments Bank recorded over 50 million UPI Lite transactions with over 9 million users and over 100 million KYC wallet customers. In 2021, One97 executed the largest IPO in Indian history with over 8.5 crore total equity issue size aggregating to Rs. 18,300 crore. 

The platform also boasts one of the highest user strengths of any product built and launched in India. As of 2024-2025, One97 Communications (Paytm) reported more than 150 million monthly active users, marking continued growth in digital payments adoption and an undisputed leadership in merchant payments with 1.3 crore (13 million) merchant device subscriptions in MSME and enterprise segments. The current employee fleet of One97 is more than 10,000 strong with global reach and international offices. One of its major international ventures is through “PayPay” in japan through a major joint venture.

The story of Paytm is not just one of entrepreneurial success, but of a company that facilitated the leadership of India in global digital payments. Today 49% of all global digital payments happen solely in India through the UPI payment system. Vijay Shekhar and One97 team did not just pioneer the reality of this achievement but majorly power it through Paytm with millions of payments everyday. 

One97’s  current user strength	85 million monthly active	Market cap	83,241 cr.
Q1 FY26 revenue	1918 Cr.	Current price	Rs. 1303
YoY growth	27.6%	ROE	-10.3%

The story of Vijay Shekhar Sharma

Vijay Shekhar Sharma was born in Uttar Pradesh in 1978, to a humble family with humble financial means.He completed engineering at Delhi College of Engineering at just 19, but struggled greatly with English, coming from a Hindi-medium background – a factor that he admitted often made him felt isolated and underestimated in the urban student community.

During his college years, Vijay said he was inspired by Silicon Valley successes such as Yahoo and also dreamed of studying abroad, but financial constraints kept him in India. Instead, he poured his entrepreneurial energy into launching indiasite.net, a web portal he sold for $1 million, and subsequently founded XS Communications, which provided content management solutions.

He used the profits from his previous ventures and founded One97 Communications in 2000. The company initially provided telecom value-added services like SMS-based content and marketing for mobile phones at a time when internet penetration in India was low. Seeking to democratize information and financial services through mobile technology, Sharma pushed One97 into newer spaces despite skepticism, as his board and early investors preferred focusing on B2B services. 

The pivotal moment for Sharma came in 2010 when he decided to Launch Paytm(Pay Through Mobile), hedging all of his bets on the future of India’s mobile revolution. At that time, he had not even foreseen the digital payment revolution that India would have, yet he invested all his savings, took long term loans at huge interest rates, even mortgaged his house to make Paytm possible. 

Paytm was not without its challenges, Paytm initially faced a lot of regulatory hurdles with securing licenses from RBI, SEBI for digital wallet services in India and also met a lot of skepticism from investors because the mobile segment in India had itself not developed yet, reliable internet for payments was still a far cry when Paytm launched. However in 2016, Vijay Shekhar saw his investments and effort materialise in the aftermath of demonetization which invalided Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes; overnight millions of users turned to digital wallets especially on Paytm. 

To solve the problem of consumer confidence, One97 ran a very successful mass-marketing slogan “Paytm karo” which is still audible in every Paytm merchant soundbox which is widely accessible to everyone irrespective of the size of their business. From fruit sellers to large supermarkets, “Paytm karo” was something you could hear everywhere. This marketing campaign along with the next huge boost from the covid pandemic, which shifted billions of people to online payment platforms from traditional cash helped Vijay Secure investments from global giants like Alibaba, Ant Financial, and SoftBank, leveraging their resources and expertise to scale even more rapidly. From facing language based prejudice to building the backbone of the rural-urban world, Vijay Shekhar Sharma came a long way. 

One97 communications product portfolio

Product Subsidiary Full Name	Stock Name / Status	User Strength (millions)	Revenue (₹ crore)
Paytm Payments Services Ltd. (Merchant Services)	PAYTM (Listed)	40	1200
Paytm Entertainment Ltd. (Digital Goods)	Private Subsidiary	20	600
Paytm Financial Services Ltd. (Financial Services)	PAYTM (Listed)	15	500
Orbgen Technologies Pvt Ltd. (Ticketing – BookMyShow)	Private Subsidiary	5	300
Others (Various smaller subsidiaries & products)	Mixed	5	200

One97 communication market dominance strategy

1) Product and infrastructure building

One97 invested heavily in building a robust technological backbone to support high transaction volumes even before digital payments became mainstream in India, now they process over 2 billion transactions annually on their own infrastructure which gives them the technological edge over their competitors. They were the first to introduce market innovation such as QR code payments, AI-driven analytics, UPI integration, and IoT, enabling seamless, secure, and scalable digital payment experiences. They simply made it difficult for competitors to replicate their business formula because their formula was made on successful product innovation.

2) Merchant network and Ecosystem strategy 

One97 established an extensive network of over 24 million registered merchants by Q2 FY2024, covering more than 90% of India’s retail sector from kirana stores to large enterprises. This large-scale merchant onboarding, enabled by a dedicated field force, helped Paytm reach users even in remote areas and made everyday payments of all scale, small and large transactions, from the smallest shop owners to large supermarket retail outlets possible and seamless. Even today, with several competitors in the UPI app space itself, One97 communication faces almost none in the merchant networking sector because it has all been captured early by them with a great product that merchants do not want to switch away from.

3) Brand building and user acquisition

Paytm’s strategy prioritized the “next billion” Indian users, emphasizing regional language support, simple interfaces for first-time internet users, and aggressive mass-market advertising (the iconic “Paytm Karo” campaign). The company leveraged partnerships with several organisations such as Uber, IRCTC, Shopify, AWS and several others offering a direct payment bridge to the Paytm UPI app. Customers did not have to click on the UPI option and select a payment app or go through with entering their bank details for a NEFT transaction; the paytm app would show up as a payment option on the payment page itself, with the amount and transaction details loaded, all the user had to do was enter the UPI pin and the transaction was done. Paytm took this ease-of-transaction model and extended services on the paytm app covering mobile recharges, utility bills, ticket booking, recurring payments, and many more. All forms of payment were just a UPI PIN away directly through the Paytm app. 

4) Market Adaptability 

A landmark in Paytm’s dominance was its readiness during the 2016 demonetization, capitalizing on India’s abrupt turn to digital payments due to the ban on high-value cash notes. Paytm’s infrastructure allowed it to scale overnight, onboarding millions of new users and merchants. The subsequent integration with UPI accelerated its growth even further. The company also expanded smartly into banking, lending, insurance, and investment, ensuring that users had all their financial needs met on the app itself. To make this possible, Paytm partnered with several banks across India, both small and large, rural and urban to make banking operations of every Indian citizen as accessible and fast as possible. Today, Paytm’s subsidiary services disburse huge loans for businesses and personal use in lakhs and even microfinance loans worth a few thousand in minutes. One97 communication effectively cut off the need to wait in queues for banking operations, making everyday life much easier for the common man.

The One97 and RBI feud

On January 31st 2024, RBI essentially ordered Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of One97 communications to cease accepting fresh deposits, wallet top-ups, and credit transactions after February 29, 2024. Specifically, PPBL was barred from onboarding new customers and facilitating deposits or credit transactions in wallets, FASTags, prepaid instruments, and savings accounts linked to PPBL after the stipulated date. Paytm continued to operate its UPI merchant services, and wallet transactions through partner banks but PPBL was the banking armchair of Paytm which had been taken away hugely hindering operations. 

RBI’s directive was a result of “persistent non-compliance” by One97 communications regarding the lack of regulatory audit or investigations and lapses in governance models regarding concerns over large volumes of accounts that had not completed their KYC, questionable transactions amounting to several hundred crores, and many other regulatory lapses. RBI said that prior warnings had been issued to PPBL since 2022 but they failed to address any of the above concerns. Such findings underscored risks to the integrity and stability of the financial system, compelling RBI to take unprecedented restrictive steps.

This regulatory measure, attracted a lot of attention especially from personalities in the fintech sector such as BharatPe founder Ashneer Grover who called RBI’s move as “Doglapan” – or hypocrisy; that on one hand they want to strengthen the UPI system in India but at the same time they have heavy-handed sophisticated regulatory measures and also heavily penalise home grown fintech leaders. He said this can lead to effects such as investors losing confidence in Indian digital payments companies, loss of innovation and disincentivise younger entrepreneurs from entering the market in this space. 

In response to RBI’s actions against PPBL, One97 ensured their commitment to regulatory compliance and customer welfare and built a system that can facilitate better regulatory oversight over banking operations under PPBL and address all the previously flagged out concerns by RBI. Additionally One97 accelerated its plans to shift its payment and financial service operations to a broad network of partner banks, effectively decoupling critical services from Paytm Payments Bank.

The One97 and RBI incidence exposed the criticalities of being a fintech company in India handling a large sum of payments, where you critical business operations also have to handle the load of all the regulatory requirements that the RBI will mandate you to follow in this space, failing which you may be heavily penalised. This sparked a question in the Indian market regarding whether maintaining the integrity of the financial system is worth effectively breaking down one of the large fintechs that support the system to begin with?

FAQs

1. What is One97 Communications, and how is it related to Paytm?

One97 Communications is the company behind Paytm; it owns it and runs the whole business.

2. What year did Paytm launch, and what was its original function?

Paytm started in the year 2010. In the initial stages, it was used only to load money into the phone’s account.

3. What made Paytm grow so big and popular in India so fast?

When the big cash notes got banned in 2016, everybody suddenly needed digital payment apps like Paytm.

4. Apart from just sending and receiving money, what other services does Paytm offer?

Now you can do banking, buy insurance, get loans, invest money, shop online, and pay all bills. 5. How did Paytm help people who had never used banks before? Paytm made digital money so easy that even folks without bank accounts could start using it.

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Canadian Leader Apologises for Political Advertisement

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the two countries will not be renegotiating the trade agreement. However, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took time out to inform him about a provincial advertisement in Ontario that used former President Ronald Reagan and his talk on tariffs. “It was a very good thing but in my opinion, they did a bad thing,” Trump commented. “He apologised for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial.”

When reporters asked for his reaction to Trump’s remarks, Carney didn’t respond right away. Last week, in response to a local advertisement, Trump called off the negotiation of a trade deal in the province of Ontario. At the same time, he also announced that he would be raising tariffs on Canada by an additional 10 per cent over the existing ones.

Ontario Ad Used Reagan Talking About Tariffs

The ad by Ontario featured the speech of one of the greatest Republican heroes – Reagan – where he said that tariffs on foreign goods would lead to trade wars and eventually, people would lose their jobs. Reagan was one of the strongest advocates of free markets and free trade during his presidency in the 1980s. It is very clear from the ad that Trump was quite upset with the message that was conveyed and hence, he decided not to proceed with the trade negotiation.

Trump believes the ad to be untrue and that it should not have been produced in the first place. Although the Canadian prime minister has already apologised, Trump is not ready to come to the table to negotiate trade deals at this moment. The U.S.-Canada relationship has deteriorated due to the disagreements that have taken place over tariffs and trade.

Trade War Getting More Serious

Trump has slapped tariffs on a number of countries including Canada. In short, tariffs are taxes on imports. These tariffs, according to Trump, shield the American workers and businesses from foreign competition. However, other countries and a great number of economists argue that tariffs make life harder for everyone by increasing prices and causing trade wars to break which, in turn, escalates the shuffling of tariffs from one country to another.

Canada is one of the United States’ top trading partners. The 2 countries, linked by a lengthy border, transact several billion dollars worth of business annually. When trade talks come to a halt, companies, and workers on both sides of the border suffer the consequences. The Trump-imposed 10% extra tariff means that things made in Canada will be more expensive in the U.S., which in turn could be quite detrimental to Canadian firms that are seeking to expand their markets in the U.S. by selling them more products.

Key Points:

• Trump mentioned that the US and Canada were not going to restart their talks on tradeCanadian
• Prime Minister Mark Carney was apologetic about Ontario’s political adAn ad showing Ronald
• Reagan saying that tariffs result in trade wars and loss of jobs was the main feature
• Last week Trump put an end to the negotiations and added 10% more tariffs on Canada
• Trump said he likes Carney but thinks the commercial was wrong and false

FAQs

Q: What made Trump decide to cease trade talks with Canada?

A: A political advertisement from Ontario was the reason. The ad was using former President Ronald Reagan’s words to explain how tariffs are detrimental and ultimately lead to trade wars. 

Q: Did the Canadian prime minister make an apology?

A: Yes. Mark Carney gave his apology to Trump for the commercial, however, Trump is not willing to restart trade talks.

Q: What did Trump do besides quitting talks?

A: On top of the current tariffs, he raised the tariff on Canada by an additional 10 per cent.

Q: What did the Ontario commercial consist of?

A: It revealed Ronald Reagan, the greatest Republican icon, is saying that tariffs on foreign goods will cause trade wars and eventually job losses.

Q: Will the US and Canada talk about trade again?

A: No. Currently, they have no plans for a talk. Trump said they would not restart trade talks even after Carney’s apology.

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Hurricane Melissa has ripped the Caribbean apart this week and has killed at least 50 people. The storm tore down houses, led to the flooding of towns, power outages affecting close to half a million people. The worst damage occurs in Jamaica but also Haiti and Cuba are reported to be heavily damaged.

Jamaica Takes the Biggest Hit

On Tuesday, Melissa hit southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane. A Category 5 is the most severe hurricane one can have. It was the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica directly and the first time since 1988 that the hurricane winds affected the island. The impact is enormous. The damage all over the western Caribbean is estimated by the experts to be between 48 and 52 billion US dollars. Jamaica recorded at least 19 deaths and the officials are expecting to find the bodies in the course of their search. Lack of power is experienced by 462,000 households. 

The government has started to distribute emergency food to people who have lost all their possessions. The Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie visited the port of Falmouth and said that the situation was very ugly. The town hall got destroyed. The hospital was destroyed. The courthouse got destroyed. In short, most of the things that were of great importance to the town have disappeared almost completely there. Haiti and Cuba Also Suffer

Haiti and Cuba Also Suffer

Haiti was spared a direct hit but the slow-moving hurricane always dumped rain on the country. At least 31 people were killed and 20 are missing in Haiti. Out of all the tragedies in the southern town of Petit-Goave, where 23 people lost their lives, among them 10 children, the most horrible one was that. A river broke through its banks and took over the town. Drowned houses, flooded fields, and cut-off roads are just some of the results of the river’s assault on the town. The officials are very concerned about the possible outbreak situation of cholera which, being a waterborne disease, may spread due to the presence of a large amount of water in the area. 

Hurricane Melissa was still a Category 3 hurricane when it hit Cuba, so it was a very strong hurricane. As of Friday, no deaths have been reported, but the storm has destroyed many homes, roads, and farms. Many people living in the eastern part of the island, close to Santiago de Cuba, which is the second-biggest city on the island, had to leave their homes. They evacuated to safer places before the arrival of the storm.

People Describe the Destruction

The World Food Programme sent a representative to investigate the devastation in Black River, Jamaica, which is a location close to where Melissa made landfall. Brian Bogart stated that the area looked like it had been hit by a bomb. People were still going around in a daze and did not know what to do. Aid flights loaded with food and supplies began coming to Jamaica on Thursday. To assist with the work of finding people, the army brought in more soldiers.

Pamella Foster is a resident of Black River. After returning, she found that her house had been demolished. The roof had been taken off. The windows and doors had been ripped away. Her kitchen had been blown away towards the sea. She stated that she was trying to be strong for her grandchildren, but the grieving was too much. She said it felt like her heart and stomach were breaking. However, she still said that they would find a way to live.

Researchers say that hurricanes such as Melissa are intensifying and happening more frequently due to the increase in ocean temperature. This is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Many Caribbean leaders are demanding that rich countries which pollute a lot should either pay for the damage or write off the debts of the Caribbean countries. Eventually, on Friday morning, Melissa was very close to Iceland and the Faroe Islands. It had lost a lot of its power and was only a post-tropical cyclone.

News At Glance 

• Hurricane Melissa led to at least 50 casualties in the areas of Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba this week
• As a result, Jamaica experienced the highest number of deaths with 19 people losing their lives, 462,000 people being without electricity, and the damage estimated from 50 million to 52 billion
• Haiti had a death toll of 31 among which 10 children were swept away due to the flooding of the river in the town of Petit-Goave
• Although Cuba evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, there were no fatalities reported, however, the homes and the crops were damaged.

FAQs

1. How many people died due to Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean?

Across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, at least 50 people have died, and there are still possibilities of more bodies being found.

2. What Caribbean country was the hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa?

As the strongest hurricane to ever directly hit the island, Jamaica suffered the worst of the storm.

3. How much damage did Hurricane Melissa do in the Caribbean?

The experts put it as a figure between 48 and 52 billion dollars for the damage done and the economic loss in the region.

4. Are people in the Caribbean being rescued after Hurricane Melissa?

Yes, relief flights came with food and necessities on Thursday. Rescue and military operations are assisting the victims.

5. What makes the CPC hurricanes so strong and dangerous nowadays?

According to the scientists, the cause for this is the warming of ocean waters by greenhouse gases which makes storm intensification happen with higher frequency.

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The very first Oasis concert held in Australia turned out to be quite alarming when a flare was thrown at the crowd at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Singer Liam Gallagher was quick to identify the person at fault and, fans are now seeking action as they feel the reckless act endangered the lives of the people in the crowd and that the persons responsible should be held accountable.

Flare Goes Off During Hit Song

The band was performing their hit single Champagne Supernova on Friday night when the trouble happened. A video recording taken from the audience and later uploaded on the internet depicts fire breaking out from the middle of people packed tightly together in the crowd. Liam Gallagher saw the flare and told the crowd “that’s naughty, naughty, naughty” from the stage. The firework could have severely burned anyone who was closest to it.

After the concert, Gallagher took to social media to express his anger and called the person who threw the flare a “massive” idiot. He described the culprit as “seriously messed up” and foretold that they “will have to face the consequences”. Many fans wrote comments on social media in response to this with the majority of them labeling the act as a “scumbag” one. One fan said in a comment that they wish all people near the point where the flare was thrown were safe and that no one had been seriously burned. Another said that the person could have set someone’s face on fire and should not only be arrested but also banned from concerts.

Calls for Arrests and Better Security

The main point in the argument rest on the fact that flares are already in existence. Before, in the year 2019, a fan named Stacey Andrew was burned at a show in Sheffield in the UK when a flare that had been dropped down her shirt caught her on fire. She told reporters she was scared she would be disfigured for life by the burns. The memory of that made the fans in Melbourne at the same time very upset about what happened on Friday night.

According to the police in Victoria, they have not received any report from people regarding the incident in Melbourne nor were there any arrests made at the time of the concert. In a conversation with the media, Marvel Stadium said that no one was hurt in the incident but declined to comment further, instead referring to Liam Gallagher’s public remarks. At the beginning of this year, there were also already voices that demanded tighter security at Marvel Stadium after a teenage boy was accused of trying to smuggle weapons into an AFL game between the Swans and Bombers.

Oasis is scheduled to perform at five different venues in Melbourne and Sydney. The band is scheduled to perform two more times in Melbourne, this weekend and Tuesday, before leaving for Sydney where they will be playing two concerts at Accor Stadium next Friday and Saturday. Fans are now demanding the implementation of stricter security measures at the remaining shows to stop anyone else from being able to bring dangerous items into the venues.

News At Glance 

• During the performance of Champagne Supernova by Oasis in Melbourne, a person threw a flare into the crowd.
• After the dangerous stunt, Liam Gallagher took to social media and very angrily called out the person who did it.
• Fans branded the act as scumbag behavior and demanded that the police arrest the perpetrator(s) saying that someone could potentially have been set on fire.
• The police of Victoria confirmed that there were no reports of such an incident and that no arrests were made during the Marvel Stadium concert.
• Oasis will be playing four more concerts in Australia, and their fans are demanding security be increased.

FAQs

1. What was the cause of the fire at the Oasis concert in Melbourne on Friday night?

During the perfomance of the song titled “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis, someone threw a flare into the crowd, and suddenly, flames erupted among the audience.

2. Did the flare cause any injuries at the Oasis concert?

Marvel Stadium confirmed that no one was hurt, although the flare had the potential to cause severe burns.

3. What was Liam Gallagher’s reaction to the flamethrower incident?

On social media, Gallagher called the person an extreme fool and said that they would see the consequences very soon.

4. Have law enforcement officials detained any individual responsible for throwing the flare at the concert?

There have been no detentions or arrests, and Victoria Police mentioned that they have not received any official reports from witnesses.

5. How many more Oasis concerts are at risk after this incident in Australia?

Four more shows are planned: two in Melbourne and two in Sydney at Accor Stadium next week.

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Giant hailstones pounded parts of South East Queensland on Saturday afternoon, some of which were up to nine centimeters in size. The dangerous weather left thousands without power and caused major damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles across the region.

Massive Hail Causes Widespread Damage

Among the places most severely affected were Pratten, west of Warwick, where around 1 pm nine-centimeter hailstones were reported. At MJ’s Cafe in Pratten, owner Richard Manley saw his grand opening turn into a disaster when hail the size of a tennis ball broke through the roof. The entire roof collapsed into the bar area, thus, all the people present had to go to the kitchen for their safety. Approximately thirty drivers whose windscreens had been smashed sought refuge in the cafe from the hail that was striking them relentlessly.

In Clifton near Toowoomba, the cafe of Julie Blurton was hit directly when hail the size of a golf ball broke through the skylight and windows at about 2 pm. The storm also broke the dishes and the street’s trees were left bare. Many of the cars that were parked had their windows completely shattered. The hail came in two waves and lasted for twenty minutes, and what Blurton describes as “a very big mess” was left behind by it.

Supercell Storm Moves Through Region

The Bureau of Meteorology identified the storm near Toowoomba that caused the most damage as a supercell. Senior meteorologist Harry Clarke informed the press at 3 pm that they were following a very dangerous cell that was located north of Gatton. The storm had already resulted in giant hail across the Darling Downs and was still very active. Clarke said the situation was “very dynamic” and advised people to keep checking for updates on warnings.

The area from Strathpine in the Moreton region to the New South Wales border experienced lightning. More than 3000 people in the South East Queensland region had no power. Toowoomba, Logan, and Maranoa were among the areas most affected. In addition, hail with a size of two centimeters also fell at Mount Walker in the Scenic Rim. The bureau announced severe thunderstorm warnings over a large area of South East Queensland, the Darling Downs, and central Queensland due to the expectation of further storm activity.

FAQs

• Giant hailstones of a nine-centimeter diameter hit Pratten, a place located west of Warwick and major damage ensued to the properties.
• On MJ’s Cafe opening day roof collapse took place due to hail, and thirty motorists who were looking for shelter from hail came under the roof that fell apart.
• The hail in Julie Blurton’s cafe in Clifton went through skylights and windows as the hailstones reached the size of a golf ball.
• The Bureau of Meteorology classified the storm as a dangerous supercell that was moving north of Gatton and had a history of giant hail.
• Around 3,000 people were left without power in south-east Queensland, and more storms were predicted for Saturday.

FAQs

1. How big were the hailstones that hit Queensland on Saturday?

The biggest hailstones were nine centimeters in diameter, about the size of tennis balls, which resulted in the smashing of parts of homes and cars.

2. Which areas in Queensland were hit hardest by the hail?

Pratten west of Warwick, Clifton near Toowoomba, and Allora south of Toowoomba were the places that most heavily impacted by the hail.

3. What is a supercell storm and why is it dangerous?

A supercell is a rotating storm which can very quickly produce giant hail, damaging winds, and other severe weather.

4. How many people lost power during the Queensland hail storms?

The number of people who lost power were 3,000 plus and they were living in different places in the South-East of Queensland such as Toowoomba, Logan, and Maranoa areas. Apart from these places, power outages occurred in various locations across the south-east of Queensland, too.

5. What should people do during a severe hailstorm warning?

In the case of a hail storm, people have to find a safe place inside, not approach windows, and not driving until the weather has passed.

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Have you ever thought about why some people are willing to take risky steps in business, while others are more inclined to choose safe options? Or why certain individuals seem to have been born with the qualities of a leader? The explanation could be in our DNA. According to science, a large part of our personality is determined by our genetic makeup. This is very important for business and entrepreneurship.

Understanding the Genetic Basis of Personality

The personality we have is not only the result of our upbringing or what we learn, but also a combination of both. Behavioural genetics research has convinced us that genes can’t be ignored. There are studies that indicate that 40 to 60 per cent of personality traits are genetically determined. To put it differently, almost half of what makes up the unique “you” was with you right from the start.

It has been established by scientists that particular characteristics such as risk tolerance, extroversion, openness to new experiences, and conscientiousness are strongly influenced by genetics. Consider this: if your parents are tidy and self-controlled, you are likely to have some of those traits as well. These traits that we inherit have a great impact on how we make decisions, how we lead others, and even the amount of creativity we possess. All these factors influence business to a large extent.

One of the advantages we get from recognising this genetic background is that we understand ourselves and others more. For example, a business owner who realises that he is a naturally cautious person can find a perfect partner in someone more of a risk-taker. As a result, there is equilibrium and progress is made more easily.

Risk-Taking and Innovation

People do not uniformly feel about taking risks. Some people are invigorated by new ventures and the thrill of the unknown. On the other hand, some people feel frightened in such situations. Studies confirm that in general, the genetic makeup of entrepreneurs predisposes them to accept risks and to be curious about new things.

Genes influence the production of chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are linked to how we experience rewards and pleasure. Certain individuals carry genetic differences that make them exceptionally responsive to rewards. This is what drives them to go and start a business or come up with a new idea even when the chances of success are low. To them, uncertainty brings more excitement than fear.

This knowledge is useful in numerous ways. For example, investors can recognise natural innovators who will strive to push the limits. Corporations, on the other hand, can decide who among their employees is better suited for generating new ideas and who excels in stabilising the company’s operations. Neither one is superior to the other; both are necessary. However, understanding the difference enables everyone to be in the right roles where they can naturally excel.

Persistence and Resilience

Hard work and starting your own business have never been easy. Setbacks, failures, and moments when you feel like giving up are all part of the business-making journey. Still, some of these people don’t even think about quitting and continue to walk their path. Maybe a little bit of it is in their genes as well. Some people are born with a higher level of stress tolerance and emotional stability. Their genes are like their helpers during difficult times when they have to be calm.

This inborn ability to recover is linked to what specialists term “grit.” Grit is the power of holding on to something even when it becomes tough. Frequently, firm entrepreneurs exhibit this quality to a very high degree. They get rejected, face money problems, and fail but still, they go on with their plans. The composition of their genes makes it possible for them to get over their setbacks quickly and hence, they can be ready for their next steps soon.

Clever companies, if they act morally, can use this insight for their benefit. One’s character evaluation may be a means of staff formation, by which different people can supplement each other. A person who is able to keep his/her calm in a stressful situation and a person who can very quickly come up with new ideas, are a good match for each other. Both of them together make a team more powerful than either of them would be alone. The critical factor is to apply the knowledge people have acquired, not to exclude or discriminate.

Leadership and Team Dynamics

Leadership manifests itself in various ways. Some leaders have a loud and charismatic nature. However, others are quieter and more considerate. These distinctions are influenced by genetics. Social dominance, empathy, and communication style are some of the features that are influenced by one’s genes. Such traits influence leadership behaviour.

Introverted leaders who are open to new experiences and have these traits, usually, find it easy to make new contacts and create innovations. Meeting new people and discovering new ideas makes them feel energised and alive. They can motivate their teams to think differently and explore new possibilities. Companies that are launching new projects or entering new markets are getting more value from this kind of leadership.

Conscientiousness and agreeableness are character features that, when present in a leader, make that leader most effective in areas such as operations, planning, and team management. Leaders who have these traits are very detail-oriented, they diligently execute the tasks they commit to, and in the groups, they belong to, they work for the creation of harmony. These leaders are the ones who keep the wheels of the business turning day in and day out. All leadership styles count, the strongest companies, however, have both present.

Genetic Diversity as a Strategic Asset

Wouldn’t it be a little bit scary if you were working with an organisation where all the people were thinking exactly alike? They would also all look at problems from just one point of view. And they would also all want solutions of the same kind. It might feel very pleasant, but it restricts growth anyway. Both genetic and personality diversities attract the other person’s thinking styles to the table. Which in turn, leads to more effective problem-solving and higher creativity.

By mixing different personality types, teams become better and more productive in the long run. The risk-takers are always the originators of the most daring ideas. The planners find a way to put those bold ideas into practice. The stabilisers take care of the parts of the projects that they safeguard against failure during execution. In fact, every role is of great importance. When entrepreneurs understand this equilibrium, they create teams that can both innovate and be stable.

The research is clear on this point: diverse teams find more errors, consider more alternatives, and become more flexible with changes. The only drawback to this is that they are not able to agree quickly, which can sometimes be misunderstood as a problem. However, what really takes place is quite the opposite – thorough discussions result in better decisions. The point is to accept and value each other’s standpoints rather than see them as hurdles.

Ethical and Practical Considerations

One very important thing to remember is that genetic information should not in any case be the reason for hiring or firing decisions. It is absolutely unethical and sometimes illegal to discriminate against someone based on their genetics. The main purpose of the research on genetic factors of personality is not to stereotype people or decrease their chances, but rather to increase self-awareness and personal development.

By no means goals of genetics studies be the restriction of personal freedom or labelling individuals. It is a human right to have access to knowledge about one’s own genetic makeup. People can use this knowledge for their own development in many different ways.

The ultimate goal is to let individuals know their innate tendencies so they can use them instead of fighting against them. For example, if you realise that you are naturally an impulsive person, you can create routines that allow you to have a second opinion on your decisions. If you realise that you are inclined to avoid conflict, you can prepare yourself to speak up when the situation requires it. The study of genetics reveals tendencies, not inevitabilities. Your genes may determine your potential, but they do not decide your choices.

Worldwide, different studies have shown that companies that recognise neurodiversity and personality diversity in their workforce have better financial results and higher productivity than those with teams that lack diversity in these aspects. The statement “different brains together create magic” explains this phenomenon perfectly. Major corporations have to dedicate all their resources towards creating an atmosphere where employees from different personality types can give their best performance. Such a work environment, for instance, would include a flexible working hours system, a variety of leadership opportunities, and mutual respect for different problem-solving methods.

Takeaway for Entrepreneurs

What does all this information come down to for entrepreneurs and business leaders? First of all, be aware of your own wiring. Being aware of your genetic predispositions will undoubtedly lead to better decision-making, particularly under stressful situations. For instance, if you are aware that you are a big risk-taker, you could intentionally slow down the process and do your analysis before you actually jump. Conversely, if you are aware that you are averse to risks, you could push yourself to do new things when the time is right.

Secondly, there is the matter of teamwork. Having a balanced team is extremely important. This means that you should seek people whose strengths can cover your weak points. For example, if you are good at coming up with new ideas but bad at managing the details, then find a person who enjoys organising and planning. If you are a person who works better alone, find a partner who is able to energise the team. Mutually complementary personalities eliminate individual biases and lead to better results.

Thirdly, it is very important to really understand the individual natural strengths of each team member and then maximise them. Assign people with matching traits to roles that require those traits. Confer naturally imaginative persons the liberty to innovate. Permit relentless people to be in charge of long-term projects. Assign interpersonal people to manage relationships and networks. Whenever people operate with their inherent talents rather than against them, the result is a win-win situation for all.

Lastly, bear in mind that genes set the limit for a person’s potential, but the final result depends on experience, culture, and mindset. Your genetic makeup can be compared to a starting point, not to an end point in a race. We all can develop, learn new things, and change over time. Gaining insight from your DNA traits can be useful, however, it is the choice you make that is of utmost importance.

In future, businesses will be more and more aware of the fact that people are fundamentally different from each other. Eventually, the companies that will prevail are the ones that understand these differences as their assets. Their strategy would include building diversified teams, pairing people with the right jobs, and establishing a work culture where everyone performs their best. Genetics gives us insight into human nature. Wise entrepreneurs use this insight to build better businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What percentage of our personality is determined by genetics?

Studies indicate that 40-60 per cent of personality traits are genetically inherited.

2. Are there different genetic traits in entrepreneurs compared to other people?

Essentially, entrepreneurs manifest higher genetic predispositions for risk-taking, novelty-seeking, and stress tolerance than others.

3. Is it possible for genetics to identify future successful business leaders?

Certainly, leadership is one of the areas where genetics plays a role; however, success is a result of experience, learning, and the surroundings too.

4. Is it advisable for companies to conduct genetic testing when recruiting?

Definitely no, information about one’s genes should not be a factor in hiring decisions, nor should genetic-based discrimination be allowed. Genetic testing is solely for development purposes.

5. Can one change genetically influenced personality traits?

As a matter of fact, people are able to develop and change through insight, experience, and purposeful effort even though certain characteristics are hereditary.

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President Trump this week announced a huge deal to build lots of new nuclear power plants. It’s an $80 billion plan involving a company called Westinghouse Electric. Two Canadian companies own Westinghouse: Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management.

Here’s how it works: The American government helps the company get permits approved faster and arranges money for constructing the reactors. In return, the government gets to keep 20 per cent of whatever profits come later. If Westinghouse becomes super valuable by 2029, for example, the government might own a fifth of the whole company. Trump wants these plants built quickly because computers running artificial intelligence need huge amounts of electricity.

Why Some People Are Nervous

A lot of safety experts don’t like this arrangement. Their concern is simple. If the government makes money when these reactors get built, will it still check them properly for safety problems? Greg Jaczko ran the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before. That’s the group responsible for making sure nuclear plants don’t cause disasters.

Jaczko brought up three bad nuclear accidents everybody knows about. There was Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. Chernobyl happened in what’s now Ukraine. And Fukushima happened in Japan a few years back. He says all three happened partly because the people checking safety weren’t truly independent. When someone has skin in the game, they might not want to slow things down even if they spot warning signs.

Last Big Project Went Badly Wrong

There’s another reason people are uneasy. Not long ago, Westinghouse tried to build two big reactors in Georgia at a place called Vogtle. It was a complete disaster. The company went bankrupt in 2017 because costs spiralled out of control. Those reactors were supposed to take a certain amount of time and cost $14 billion. Instead, they finished seven years late and cost $35 billion.

Workers Found All Kinds of Problems

Parts would arrive on the construction site with the wrong measurements. Things didn’t fit together like they were supposed to. Patty Durand spent years watching that mess unfold. She works with a group called Georgians for Affordable Energy. Now she’s afraid that if permits get rushed through, important stuff gets missed. She mentioned droughts as one example. When there’s not enough water and it gets too hot, nuclear plants have to shut down or risk overheating.

The White House says those who worry are flat wrong. They put out a statement saying the safety rules stay the same. Nothing in this deal changes how regulators do their job. Some experts back them up on this. Patrick White works on nuclear issues and he thinks regulation can move faster without cutting corners.

But Edwin Lyman isn’t convinced. He’s a physicist who studies these things. His fear is that the White House will lean on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission too hard. He thinks they might push regulators to say yes to permits even when there are real safety questions that need more time to answer properly.

News At Glance 

• Trump made $80 billion deal to build Westinghouse nuclear reactors with the government helping with permits
• The government gets 20% of profits creating worry that they won’t check safety properly
• Westinghouse’s Georgia project went bankrupt, ran 7 years late and cost double the original price
• White House insists all safety rules stay the same and critics are wrong

FAQs:

Q: Why does Trump want so many nuclear plants?

A: Computers that run artificial intelligence use lots of electricity. Trump wants enough power to keep all those data centres running.

Q: What’s wrong with the government making money on this?

A: Critics worry that if regulators know the government profits when reactors get approved, they might feel pressure to say yes even if there are safety problems.

Q: Didn’t Westinghouse mess up before?

A: Yes, their Georgia project was a disaster. It went bankrupt, finished way late and cost twice what they promised. Parts didn’t fit right.

Q: Could another Fukushima happen?

A: Former regulators say when safety checkers aren’t independent, bad accidents become more likely. That’s what they’re worried about here.

Q: Is this deal alright with anybody?

A: Some experts say that moving faster on permits does not necessarily mean less safe. The White House says all the safety rules are still in place.

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At least 19 people have been killed in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa, but officials acknowledge that more bodies could still be found. The powerful storm that hit the Caribbean this week killed another 30 people in Haiti. Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon reports that whole communities, particularly in the western parts of Jamaica, look destroyed.

This hurricane hit Jamaica on Tuesday, whipping the island with 185 miles per hour winds. It was a Category 5 storm, which is the strongest type possible. Now search and rescue teams are trying to find survivors and bring help to people in dire need.

Roads Destroyed, Aid Can’t Get Through

Getting help to people has become a huge problem. Most of the island still has no electricity. Many areas haven’t had running water in days, and food is running low. People are growing more desperate by the hour.

The main airport in the capital city, Kingston is working again and aid supplies are flying in. But smaller airports near the hardest hit areas are still badly damaged. Relief workers and soldiers are trying to drive supplies from Kingston but the roads are torn apart.

It is a trip that has been transformed from one hour into an eight-hour journey. Fallen trees, broken power poles, and missing chunks of road block the way. Army trucks and aid convoys can barely get through. Thousands in western Jamaica remain stranded, cut off without help.

BBC reporters driving toward Black River saw horrible damage everywhere. Pieces of road were simply gone. Men were climbing on roofs, trying to fix up houses with whatever materials they could find. In Santa Cruz, the sound of generators filled the air along with the smell of gasoline and mud. Everything was covered in thick mud. Barrington Robinson, a janitor, had to hack through fallen branches with a machete just to reach his job. “Every place flooded out,” he said. “I don’t know what to do.”

Entire Villages Wiped Out

Satellite pictures show that some villages have almost been completely destroyed. Trevor Whyte from White House told the BBC that words cannot describe how bad things are. “No one is able to get through to their loved ones,” he said. “Every tree is on the road so you can’t get anywhere.”

A drive from Kingston towards Montego Bay reveals buildings with roofs ripped off and people trying to dry their soaked mattresses by the roadside. Usually, Jamaica is a very green island covered with trees, but now it just looks bare and broken.

Aid is coming from around the world.The US is sending a disaster team to help with search and rescue. The UK announced £5 million in emergency help including shelter supplies and solar lanterns for people without power. The World Food Programme is organising food and supplies across Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

News At Glance 

• At least 19 people were killed in Jamaica and 30 in Haiti from Hurricane Melissa
• A Category 5 storm hit with 185 mph winds destroying entire communities
• Most of Jamaica is without power or water, and food supplies are running low
• Roads were destroyed making it nearly impossible to deliver aid to western regions
• International aid begins to arrive including US disaster teams and UK emergency funding

FAQs:

Q: How bad was Hurricane Melissa?

A: It was a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest category, with winds of 185 mph. It’s one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the Caribbean.

Q: Why can’t aid reach the people who need it?

A: The roads are destroyed with fallen trees, broken power lines, and missing sections. Journeys that took one hour now take eight hours or are completely impossible.

Q: How many people died?

A: At least 19 in Jamaica and 30 in Haiti so far. Officials expect the numbers to rise as rescue teams reach more areas.

Q: What do people need most right now?

A: Food, clean water, electricity and shelter. Many haven’t had water for days and are running out of food.

Q: Is help coming?

A: Yes, aid is being sent by many countries across the world. The US is sending rescue teams; the UK has pledged supplies worth £5 million; the World Food Programme is coordinating the relief efforts.

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The agreement was announced after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur. The deal between India and the US was signed to expand defence cooperation over the next 10 years. In a social media post, he stated that the agreement will improve “coordination, information sharing and tech cooperation” to help with “regional stability and deterrence.”

This comes while both countries try to close a trade deal and fix tense relations after President Donald Trump put 50 per cent tariffs on India. That includes a 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons. The agreement is supposed to provide direction for the entire India-US defence relationship going forward.

Signal of Expanding Partnership

Singh wrote on social media: “It is a sign of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership. Defence will remain as a major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”

Pramit Pal Chaudhuri from the Eurasia Group think tank said the agreement was supposed to have been finished in July or August this year. But India got irritated at Trump’s statements about his role in ending the conflict with Pakistan, which led to delays. The deal is the latest in a series of agreements between the two countries that have made it “easier for the two militaries to achieve interoperability, India to access technology and the two defence sectors to work together,” Chaudhuri said.

Trade Talks Ongoing While Defence Ties Grow

India and the US have recently been working on increasing their defence ties. Defence was one of the major areas discussed when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in February. Trump said America would increase military equipment sales to India by many billions of dollars, eventually providing Delhi with F-35 stealth warplanes.

But since then, Delhi’s use of cheap Russian oil and its long relationship with Moscow for weapons have irritated the Trump administration. While Russia continues to be a major arms supplier to India, its share of Indian defence purchases has been falling as Delhi tries to buy from different countries and make more weapons at home. In recent months India has hinted it would be open to buying more energy and defence equipment from the US. The two countries are in high-stakes trade talks aimed at reaching a deal by November.

News At Glance 

• India, US sign 10-year defence cooperation agreement in Kuala Lumpur
• Deal aims to improve coordination, information sharing and technology cooperation
• Comes as countries try to close trade deal amid Trump’s 50% tariffs on India
• The agreement was delayed because India was irritated by Trump’s statements on Pakistan.
• Both countries are working toward the trade deal deadline of November

FAQs

Q: What did India and the US agree to?

A: They signed a 10-year framework agreement to expand defence cooperation, including in coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation.

Q: Why are relations tense at the moment?

A: President Trump put tariffs of 50% on India, adding a penalty of 25% for buying Russian oil and weapons. Both countries are trying to work out a trade deal.

Q: When was this agreement supposed to happen?

A: It was supposed to be finished in July or August but got delayed because India was irritated by Trump’s statements about Pakistan.

Q: What military equipment might India get?

A: Trump said the US would increase military equipment sales, by many billions of dollars, eventually providing India with F-35 stealth warplanes.

Q: Does India still buy weapons from Russia?

A: Yes, Russia is still a major arms supplier to India, but its share has been falling as India tries to buy from different countries and make more at home.

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Jensen Huang helms the world’s most valuable company, Nvidia. On Thursday night, he visited a fried chicken shop in Seoul, South Korea, accompanied by two friends. One was Jay Y Lee, chief of Samsung Electronics. Another was Chung Euisun, chief of Hyundai Motor. Put together, the three men are worth $195 billion.

They chose a local establishment named Kkanbu Chicken, a name that means really close friend in Korean slang. People of Korea love having fried chicken with cold beer, and they do have a special word for this combination-chimaek. Huang told reporters he loves this combination, too, and that’s why he chose this place.

Three billionaires ate cheese balls, cheese sticks and different kinds of fried chicken. They drank Terra beer and soju, a strong Korean rice alcohol. Video showed them linking arms to shoot shots together. In Korea, doing this shows you’re good friends.

Everyone Took Pictures

Word spread fast: these famous tech bosses were eating there. Crowds gathered outside. Journalists showed up. TV news channels aired live shots of them eating and talking. People inside the restaurant took photos like crazy. When the three men walked outside, they handed out chicken and cheese sticks to everyone watching.

“The chicken wings was so good. You ever been here before? It’s incredible, right?” Huang said, offering food to the crowd. He gave chicken to a police officer standing nearby. Later he signed autographs on whatever people handed him. This ran the gamut from a two dollar bill to someone’s skincare bag.

Stocks Went Wild Next Day

Here’s where it gets interesting. On Friday morning, chicken-related stocks in Korea jumped like crazy. Kyochon F&B is a rival chicken chain. Their shares shot up 20 percent just because of these photos. A company called Cherrybro processes chicken meat. Their stock hit the maximum daily increase allowed – 30 percent. Another company called Neuromeka makes robots that fry chicken. Trading in their shares went up almost 200 times normal volume.

This wasn’t actually about the dinner itself. Huang gave both Lee and Chung gifts-special boxes with Nvidia’s AI computer systems inside-and also gave them a note that said, “To our partnership and future of the world!” Days earlier, news reports said Nvidia planned big contracts to sell chips to Samsung and Hyundai.

Why This Matters

The Huang visit occurred during the same time as a large summit in the vicinity where President Trump was meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. Access to AI chips is a huge issue between America and China right now. Nvidia makes the chips everyone wants for artificial intelligence.

The next day, at the summit, Huang met with Korea’s president. He announced that Nvidia would provide over 260,000 computer chips to Korean companies like Samsung and Hyundai. They’ll use them to build things like self-driving cars.

This isn’t the first time Huang has moved markets by merely showing up somewhere, or by mentioning companies. Last year several AI stocks jumped after he spoke about them in a presentation. When you run the world’s most valuable company, people watch your every move.

News At Glance 

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had fried chicken with the bosses of Samsung and Hyundai in Seoul.
• Photos went viral, causing Korean chicken-related stocks to jump 20-30 percent the next day.
• The three billionaires paid for everyone’s meals at the restaurant.
• Huang gave gifts of Nvidia AI systems to the other two executives.
• Deals with Korean companies on major chip supplies were announced after the meeting.

FAQs:

Q: Why did stocks go up due to a dinner photo?

A: Investors saw the meeting as big business deals in the making between Nvidia, Samsung, and Hyundai. The gifts and friendly meeting suggested partnerships worth billions.

Q: Did the chicken restaurant benefit?

A: Kkanbu Chicken isn’t publicly traded so no stock to buy. But their competitor Kyochon jumped 20 percent and related chicken companies saw huge gains.

Q: What were they really doing there?

A: More than that, they were solidifying business relationships. A day later, Huang announced that Nvidia would supply 260,000 chips to Korean companies.

Q: Is this normal in Korea?

A: Korean stocks often move on such viral moments and celebrity appearances, especially smaller companies. It is not necessarily based on hard business fundamentals.

Q: What did they eat?

A: Cheese balls, cheese sticks, boneless chicken, regular fried chicken, Terra beer, and soju. Classic Korean chimaek: chicken and beer combo.

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