Editor's take: Some riders of robotaxi services have been experiencing harassment from people emboldened by the absence of a human driver. These incidents raise the question of how emergency response protocols can be adapted for autonomous vehicles. As Alphabet's Waymo expands its driverless taxi service across major U.S. cities, a new set of challenges is emerging for passengers who find themselves in unexpected and unsettling situations. While the promise of increased safety and convenience has drawn many to these futuristic vehicles, recent incidents have shown that sometimes a human at the wheel is necessary when navigating urban environments. The Washington Post spoke with several people who experienced harassment while in these vehicles. One person, a tech worker in San Francisco whom the Post identified as Stephanie, initially embraced Waymo's robotaxis for their perceived safety advantages, particularly for women traveling alone. However, her perspective shifted dramatically after a harrowing experience one Saturday night. As she and her sister were being driven home, their Waymo vehicle was pursued by a car full of young men who began catcalling and following them closely. The incident left Stephanie feeling vulnerable and wishing for a human driver who could have easily altered the route to evade their pursuers. The inability to quickly redirect the vehicle's path in threatening situations has become a significant concern for some Waymo users. Stephanie's attempts to seek help were frustrated when a 911 dispatcher informed her they couldn't dispatch police to a moving vehicle. In another unsettling incident, Elliot, a San Francisco tech worker, found himself face-to-face with a potential assailant who attempted to enter his Waymo vehicle while it was stopped at a red light. The man briefly displayed what appeared to be a knife before walking away. Elliot, who later filed a police report, said he wished that the vehicle could have reacted more swiftly to the threat. Madelline, a 25-year-old restaurant server, recounted a late-night ride where her Waymo became immobilized due to a road rage incident unfolding ahead. The robotaxi's adherence to traffic rules left her feeling trapped and anxious as the situation escalated. Waymo has acknowledged these concerns, noting that they are relatively rare. "We take these events very seriously and understand how upsetting they can be," company spokesman Ethan Teicher told the Post. Waymo offers support agents who can stay on the line with riders during incidents and work with law enforcement when necessary. Passengers can also use the Waymo app to request the vehicle to pull over or change its destination. Some users would like further protections, though, such as having greater control over the vehicle's route, particularly in potentially dangerous situations. And when Stephanie asked Waymo for video footage of the car that had been following her hoping to get the license plate, the company declined to provide it, she said. Experts in the field of autonomous vehicles are not surprised by these riders' experiences. Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, pointed out to the Post that while robotaxis excel at following traffic rules, they struggle with interpreting and responding to nuanced human behavior. This technological gap has led to situations where vehicles can be easily manipulated or obstructed by pranksters or those with malicious intent. The solution to these issues likely lies in a combination of improved vehicle sensing capabilities and enhanced coordination with remote operations teams, according to Missy Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University. However, Phil Koopman, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said there are limits to what autonomous vehicles can be programmed to do, especially when it comes to actions that might violate traffic laws. Despite these challenges, many riders continue to appreciate the benefits of driverless taxis. Madelline, for instance, still prefers Waymo to human-driven ride-hailing services, citing the comfort of being alone in the vehicle.www.mnl777 。

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JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in the cities of Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military didn't immediately respond to questions about Tedros' post but issued a statement saying it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively.” The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthis' media outlet confirmed the strikes in a Telegram post, and the Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also has targeted the Houthis in Yemen in recent days. The United Nations has noted that the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014 . Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv , while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that the council condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying weapons to the rebels. 5 journalists killed in Gaza Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight , the territory's Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said that all were militants posing as reporters. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel, which ignited the war. The Israeli military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, had confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militant groups operate political, media and charitable operations in addition to their armed wings. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. Sobbing young men attended the funeral outside the hospital. The bodies were wrapped in shrouds, with blue press vests draped over them. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel has banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accused six of its Gaza reporters of being militants . The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Another Israeli soldier killed Separately, Israel's military said that a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza early Thursday. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation more than a year ago. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border in an attack on nearby army bases and farming communities. They killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and driven around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said that it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that the name of the local news outlet is Al-Quds Today, not the Quds News Network. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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Janet Yellen urges immediate Congress intervention on debt ceiling; Speaker Mike Johnson in a precarious situation to get deal done or else he may lose his jobCommitments for a sustainable future A Pakistani man rests under the shade of trees during a heatwave in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 23, 2015. — AFP The pursuit of climate prosperity has become a defining theme of international cooperation, signalling the end of an era when climate commitments were viewed in isolation from socio-economic development with the operationalisation of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and their climate prosperity plans (CPPs). googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); The latest cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), referred to as NDCs 3.0, reflects a more cohesive approach: countries are updating their pledges under the Paris Agreement by mapping out concrete sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies that unite economic growth, social equity, and environmentally sustainable economic priorities. Recent examples from the UAE, the UK, and Brazil, presented at COP29, underscore the importance of operationalising Article 4.1’s temperature targets in a manner that respects national circumstances yet pushes global ambition toward limiting temperature increases to well below 2 C and, ideally, toward 1.5 C. This new wave of climate commitments extends beyond symbolic statements. Sector-focused policies for renewable energy, decarbonised transport, and industrial transformation exemplify the progression principle enshrined in Article 4.2, which requires each successive NDC to demonstrate incremental ambition. Yet the tension between economic prerogatives and climate action remains palpable, most visibly in nations reliant on fossil fuel revenues. Even when updated NDCs articulate bold objectives, inconsistencies in implementation can dilute progress, as evidenced by the underutilisation of Decision 4/CMA.1 on clarity in accounting methodologies. Without robust and transparent accounting, global stocktaking under Article 14 risks being muddied by inconsistent data, eroding trust and hindering coordinated action. Climate prosperity, as illustrated by Brazil’s CHAMP initiative ‘Coalition of High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships’, elevates climate policy from a narrow focus on emissions reductions to a broader transformative agenda. By incorporating subnational authorities, local governments, and civil society, these frameworks can generate synergy between climate resilience and socio-economic benefits. Decision 4/CMA.1 emphasises the necessity for clarity in NDC design, ensuring that ambitious goals translate into measurable and verifiable outcomes. The draft decision -/CMA.6 advances this discourse by mandating an annual synthesis report on NDCs – a critical instrument to aggregate best practices, identify bottlenecks, and pinpoint areas of overlap or duplication that could benefit from collective interventions. Although ambitious commitments are increasingly common, disparities remain. Major emitters sometimes present laudable targets but lack the policy muscle or enforceable frameworks to put them into effect. Article 4.3’s call for the highest possible ambition continues to clash with entrenched economic dependencies, particularly when fossil fuels still underpin large segments of national revenue. More acutely, adaptation measures remain underprioritised, despite Article 7.9 stipulating their integration into NDCs, leaving frontline communities vulnerable and undermining the comprehensiveness of climate strategies. Similarly, loss and damage considerations often lack detailed guidance in national pledges, weakening the potential for a truly inclusive approach that safeguards those most at risk. Effective NDC implementation hinges on frameworks that move beyond aspirational statements. Decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 26, offers pathways for legally binding commitments, timelines, and accountability measures that ensure compliance with Article 4.1’s temperature goals. Likewise, Article 13’s enhanced transparency framework requires harmonised reporting formats for both mitigation and adaptation, reinforced by Decision 18/CMA.1. These guidelines lay the groundwork for an annual synthesis process, as advocated by draft decision -/CMA.6, providing a realistic barometer of global progress and revealing areas where corrective measures are most urgent. In concert with multilateral platforms like the G20’s net-zero coalition, countries can pool resources, deepen technical collaboration, and orchestrate the large-scale shifts required for a just and inclusive transition. For Pakistan, whose vulnerability to climate shocks is well documented, the trajectory toward climate prosperity demands targeted policy choices. In a context where development deficits converge with intensifying climate threats, updated NDCs must serve not just as compliance documents but as cornerstones of socio-economic transformation. A National Climate Action Transparency Portal could complement the Article 13 requirements by systematically tracking progress on emissions reduction, adaptation initiatives, and loss and damage assessments, feeding the information for Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). Coupled with annual synthesis reports as outlined in Decision 1/CMA.3, paragraph 30, this platform would allow policymakers to detect gaps in near real-time, refining strategies that unite mitigation with resilience-building. Public institutions in Pakistan should enact legislative frameworks that institutionalise climate commitments, mandating that federal and provincial budgets allocate resources for renewable energy expansion, resilient infrastructure, and climate-smart agriculture. Incentives can encourage research and development in low-carbon technologies, creating local supply chains that support green jobs and economic growth. Complementing these measures, the private sector must align corporate strategies with net-zero aspirations, invest in decarbonising operations, and adopt transparent accounting methodologies to bolster the credibility of emissions reporting. Greater financial innovation, including green bonds and blended financing models, could channel private capital toward clean energy, sustainable transport, and climate-resilient urban development, amplifying the momentum generated by public investments. People at the grassroots level should be empowered to participate in shaping climate policies through local consultative forums and awareness initiatives. Community-driven adaptation projects, such as climate-resilient farming systems and disaster risk reduction protocols, can be scaled up with targeted support from development partners and national agencies. Civil society organisations have a pivotal role to play by raising climate literacy, bridging knowledge gaps, and ensuring that policy debates reflect grassroots realities. Initiatives aimed at behaviour change – ranging from water conservation to sustainable consumption – can reinforce the shift toward low-carbon lifestyles, particularly in urban centres where population pressures intersect with resource constraints. An additional consideration lies in recognising provincial disparities in emissions and capacities within Pakistan, where Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emit considerably less than Punjab and Sindh, yet shoulder disproportionate climate vulnerabilities. In the spirit of Article 6.2, enabling province-specific emissions targets not only advances intra-national equity but also promotes the concept of inter-provincial emissions trading, thereby embedding climate justice within the national framework. Through such cooperative approaches, provinces with surplus emission reductions – like Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – could trade these credits to provinces that fall short of their targets, ensuring that collective national commitments remain intact. This mechanism, akin to Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), could be adapted for domestic use, creating incentives for lower-emitting provinces to strengthen climate-friendly initiatives while preserving the flexibility needed for more industrialised regions to meet their commitments. By institutionalising provincial-level trading systems, Pakistan can reap the dual benefit of spurring localised investment in low-carbon projects and aligning overall NDC targets with equitable development, thus demonstrating a model for subnational integration that resonates with both national development priorities and global climate objectives. Pakistan’s integration of loss and damage considerations into its NDC can fortify the country’s standing in international forums, including the Warsaw International Mechanism and the Global Stocktake under Article 14. Such an approach would highlight the country’s climate vulnerabilities, attract targeted financial support, and catalyse regional partnerships with South Asian counterparts confronting similar climate hazards. By documenting the scale and frequency of climate-induced losses, Pakistan could make a compelling case for concessional financing and innovative insurance schemes designed to provide post-disaster relief and expedite recovery efforts. Climate prosperity envisions a future in which decarbonisation and socio-economic progress reinforce each other. Pakistan can fast-track this vision by establishing a Climate Prosperity Fund to underwrite integrated projects that combine emissions reductions, adaptation measures, and the generation of green jobs. These investments can also nurture a culture of innovation, encouraging homegrown enterprises to develop climate-compatible products and services. By proactively participating in global coalitions like the G20’s net-zero initiative and regional climate dialogues, Pakistan can access technical support, secure climate finance at competitive rates, and broaden the impact of domestic climate actions. In the age of NDCs 3.0, ambition without accountability is futile; every pledge must be backed by transparent implementation, reliable metrics, and clear legal scaffolding. From legislative mandates to corporate practices and grassroots engagement, a cohesive strategy hinges on synchronising public, private, and people-led efforts. Failure to seize the opportunities for climate prosperity could lock nations into unsustainable development paths, jeopardising global temperature goals and undermining collective resilience. But by aligning policy reforms with transparent governance, inclusive participation, and innovative financing, countries like Pakistan can carve out a resilient, low-carbon future. The evolution of NDCs, in essence, is a clarion call for nations to move from pledges to practice, ensuring that climate commitments spur an era of equitable growth that endures for generations to come. Twitter/X: @Khalidwaleed_ Email: khalidwaleed@sdpi.org The writer has a doctorate in energy economics and serves as a research fellow in the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

By Mumini AbdulKareem, Ilorin Kwara table tennis sensation, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai has narrated how he used his father’s sporting business to learn and improve his table tennis skills that got him where he is today. The 18-year-old from Adeta in Ilọrin West Local Government area told Daily Trust during a chat that he has won three tournaments this year within and outside the country. According to him, “I picked interest in table tennis because my dad has a tennis board outside our house where people come to play as a business though he is not a good player. “After sometime around 2918, I decided to go professional and started going to the stadium where the coach told me that I can make it in tennis if I am determined. The rest as they say is not history”. Abdulbasit, a Mass Communication student of Kwara State Polytechnic said combining sports with studies is not easy but needs sacrifices adding that “I still go to the stadium for training even during exams before I return home after my paper”. He said “The easiest way to combine both as a teenager or youth is to explore online opportunities. “Here, nothing is structured because of the country we find ourselves in, unlike in other advanced countries. You should have time for it and not just do it anyhow like me because of. “It is painful because inside you, you know you can do it but there is not enough good equipment which negatively impacts your game,” he said. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.54 Genius Things Under $35 That Are Critical To Have in Your HomeChildren Speak: Tsunami Releases 30-Second Clip for NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE of the Devastating 2004 Tsunami

What is Amazon Air? Jeff Bezos’ cargo airline explainedCoronation Street star Sally Dynevor has been branded 'wonderful' by another famous face as they found themselves sitting next to one another on a long train journey. Actor and comedian Matt Lucas took to social media to speak about the encounter with the actress, who is famed for playing Sally Metcalfe - nee Webster - in the ITV soap, over the festive period. He shared a smiling snap of the pair on the Avanti West Coast train on both Instagram and X, formerly know as Twitter, and said: "On the train today I found myself sitting next to Sally Dynevor, a remarkable actress and human being whose work I have enjoyed - along with the rest of the nation - for so many years. We...

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