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Judge rejects request to sideline San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgenderAirports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here’s what we’re following today: Here’s the latest: “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ’I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches, with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts
Eggs are available — but pricier — as the holiday baking season begins
S&P/TSX composite, U.S. markets end the trading day lower Friday
Ria Cheruvu has been ahead of the curve for most of her life. After graduating from her Arizona high school at just 11, the student deemed prodigy became one of the youngest people to ever graduate from Harvard. Her collegiate record is a marvel to many. Following a period studying neurobiology and during the completion of her first computer science degree, Cheruvu was hired for Intel's ethics team — preceding the AI boom that would soon hit mass markets, and years before the phrase became a household utterance. At the time of her hiring, Cheruvu was just 14 years old. In the years since joining the tech giant and graduating from the Ivy League, she's become a go-to voice on responsible AI development, bolstering her resume with multiple AI patents, a Master's Degree in data science from her alma mater after a neuroscience internship at Yale, and multiple teaching credits for digital courses on AI ethics. She's working on a PhD, as well, because... why not? Today, as one of Intel's AI architects and "evangelists" — yes, that's the real word — the 20-year-old is on the forefront of one of the world's hottest topics: How do we move forward with this technology, and how can it be done in a way that ensures real people remain at its core? Her presence is a rare thing in an industry now steamrolled by capital investors, commercial interests, and self-proclaimed tech "disruptors." But her age is more of a benefit than a hindrance, as the future of AI will soon be placed in the hands of the next generation of technologists and users — her peers — and many of them are already embracing the complex integration of generative AI in their daily lives. Cheruvu spoke to Mashable about her now-established career in the realm of "AI for Good," one of the few young voices with a seat at the table as the world reckons with accelerating change. Mashable: Your accomplishments run through a gamut of scientific fields: Computer science, data science, neuroscience. Why did you turn your attention to AI, and Intel, specifically? Cheruvu : After I graduated with my Bachelor's in computer science, I was looking for the next step. It was a turning point: Do I go into neuroscience, or do I get into something that's pure computer and data science related? I had a brief interest in AI. Both of my parents are software engineers by training and have their Masters in computer applications and technology. At the time, my dad was working at Intel Corporation. I had actually been on a number of field trips in high school to our local campus. I applied, and I interviewed with three different teams in different areas. One was pure math and AI, the other was a little bit on the neuroscience side, and then the last was deep learning and hardware. Eventually, I picked that third team and got accepted. It evolved from there into a six year journey of different roles at Intel. The industry has had so much turnover, especially in the last couple of years, what has kept you there? I've been in so many different roles in different areas. Some of them have been pure business or the technology side, others on the pure research side, and then some bridging the two. I was a team lead, and now I am an evangelist and public speaker and architect. I'm gearing back more to technical architect roles. So lots of jumping around the map. But my network and the community has stayed true, which is what encourages me to continue to work at Intel, and continue to work in the AI industry, too. I find it really rare to hear of a person as young as yourself being so integrated into AI's ethical development, not just its use. Why this and not a different aspect? I've been looking at ethical AI for about two to three years now, professionally and personally. From the technical angle, there's a lot of things to be done: technical tooling, analysis, metrics, quality assurance, all of that fun stuff. On a societal aspect, an incredible amount of work needs to be done toward privacy, consent, bias, and algorithmic discrimination. It's been a whirlwind, learning about all of these topics and then trying to understand which are practical versus which just seem to be talked about a lot, and doing honest reevaluations. There is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies. My mom did her PhD in metaphysics and philosophy, so we have very deep conversations around AI and humanity. What exactly is our idea of consciousness? How far can AI go in terms of being able to mimic humans? What is our framework for helping each other? And have these reflections been fruitful? What does "AI for Good" actually look like, then? Right now, the phrase "human centered" is very buzzy but what does that mean for the future? Folks who are exposed to technology and digital technology are getting exposed to AI at a faster and faster rate. The reason why I gravitate toward "human centered" frameworks is to focus on the fact that the infrastructure, the technology, should be able to empower users. According to regulations, and the communities that we're building around them, you should have the right to control the data that you generate. On the technical side, we should be empowering developers and creators to be able to test for bias, and to remove data from models. We're not training data models with data that we don't have consent for. When you're a person in AI, it's assumed you're advocating for AI development. But there's a lot of areas, personally, where I feel that more AI development doesn't make sense. Maybe it's something that needs to be more streamlined or in the hands of creators and artists. When we see a lot of these technologies, like robots and self-driving vehicles, starting to pop up, how are they empowering user experiences? How are we building trust into these relationships? There's a couple leading researchers who are the subject matter experts in this field. I'm thinking of Fei Fei Li and Yejin Choi . It's been really interesting to see how their research and the research coming out of their labs and teams has been connected to bigger advancements or leaps in AI. I have been using that research as a marker to demystify what's coming up next in [the AI industry]. Your title is "evangelist," which is an interesting term to use for scientific development, but essentially you're a public communicator. How do you navigate that role amid the onslaught of AI coverage? There's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of hype, placed on certain topics. It takes a pretty strong will and determination to push through that and say what is important for me, for my community, for the industry, right now. To focus on what is really driving the practical impact I want to communicate and share with folks, things I can inspire them to be optimistic about. I want to be honest about risks and challenges, too. Instead of buttering up the truth, be straightforward about it. As an evangelist, someone who's passionate about public speaking just as much as coding, what does that balance look like? There has been an emergence, or a boom, of AI experts and evangelists in this space. Not to say anything direct about credentials or anything, but everybody has an opinion about AI. I personally have been listening to perspectives that have been in the industry for longer. That wisdom that's getting passed down is something that I like to tap into, as opposed to, maybe, some of the newer folks who are forming some quick assumptions. How do you envision your peers getting involved in these conversations? I think that there is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies. Through their usage of it, [the technologies are] getting mastered pretty quickly. And it's important to bring a fresh perspective to [AI design]. Not only consuming the technology, but contributing to its development, being able to shape it in ways that are different. Rather than seeing it as a kind of "disruptor" or a "bubble" that needs to be explored and pushed to the limit, we can bring it back to the applications where it can be most useful. There's a lot of opportunities to contribute. Not a lot of them are as recognized as other applications, in terms of priority, coverage in the media, or public interest, but they definitely lead to a much more meaningful impact. There's always bigger projects, and bigger themes — like large language models — but the smaller applications really make a difference, too. Sorry to use a cliché, but it feels like AI is yet another "global inheritance" we'll be tossing down to younger generations, much like we've done with our current climate crisis. I was reading that quote recently about being able to leave the world behind a little bit better than how you found it initially. In a generational context, we need to continue to have conversations about this, especially with the AI algorithms that are close to us, whether it's social media or apps that are writing content for you. You're getting exposed to them on a day to day basis. In my opinion, many people are uncomfortable with the widespread pressure to use AI in our daily lives, when we don't fully understand what's at stake. They want things to slow down. I feel like folks who are working on AI and machine learning know that very well, but, for some reason, it doesn't proliferate outside of that bubble. Folks who are working in AI know to be very, very cautious when they see a tool. Cautious in the sense of, "I'm not going to adopt it, or I'm not going to use it, unless I think it's useful." But when it comes to [AI stakeholders] externally, I think it's just a kind of hype. Ironically, that's not what you see in the inner circle. It just gets pushed on us. What do current stakeholders or developers owe to the next generation of technologists and users, including yourself? Human labor disruption is a really big topic, and I'm thinking about talent and folks who want to enter into the AI space. When we talk about AI and these technologies, it's always: fast, rapid innovation, moving forward. These kinds of words and other terminology keep getting added to a pile that makes it even more intimidating for folks to be able to understand and truly grasp [AI]. "AI" itself is one of those words. The field started off with "deep learning" and "machine learning," and it's been a gradual transition. I've seen my job title change from deep learning engineer to AI architect. I'm part of that, too. I think that there might be an opportunity to take AI as a buzzword and break it down — and we can still keep the word, the general feeling around it. But there's only so much responsibility that a user can take on. Providers and developers and creators of infrastructure also need to be able to shoulder that responsibility. Of course, regulations come in to help protect the rights of the individuals involved to a certain extent. A lot of folks may not have the time to sit down and read through the full compendium of what they need to know. I'm valuing content and people who are taking the time to break it down and say, "You've got this. This is something easy. This is how you contribute." It doesn't need to be a fearful topic. It's something you can voice your concerns on. I've had so many conversations over the past few years with brilliant people on inclusive AI, democratizing AI, AI literacy. There's a lot of different ways to enable that empowerment. For example, there's been a lot of really great efforts on digital readiness programs that I'm honored to have been a part of, going to community colleges or creating AI curriculum for free. Five million or so folks who have been trained as part of Intel's digital readiness programs. We need more accessibility, more tutorials, more content, more one-on-one interaction, saying, "You know, this is easier than you think it is. You can be a professional in this space. It's not hard to get started."Seahawks' defense dominates in low-scoring win over Bears
VANCOUVER - Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians in South Korea to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution after the country’s president imposed an hours-long period of martial law. The situation in South Korea arose after President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on Tuesday, vowing to eliminate what he described as “anti-state” forces from the opposition that controls parliament. Yoon’s declaration triggered tense political drama, as troops surrounded the parliament while 190 lawmakers gathered inside to vote to lift the martial law shortly after it was imposed. Global Affairs Canada has not raised the risk level for Canadians in South Korea but did ask those in the country to monitor local media for the latest information, while following authorities’ instructions, such as curfew orders. A Vancouver-based travel agent says the chaos in Seoul is not likely to have a major effect on Canadian visitor numbers to South Korea. Glynnis Chan, owner of Happy Times Travel, says the martial law dissolved quickly and will likely have minimal impact on people’s travel plans, which tend to be made at least two months in advance. “There’s always some sort of impact, but it really depends on what happens with the situation over the long term,” Chan says. “If nothing more happens, people forget after a week or so about what took place.” Chan says she is not expecting any impact on her business, since Japan is a more popular destination among her customers. Several Korean-Canadian travel agencies in Metro Vancouver declined to comment on the political situation in Seoul. After Yoon’s declaration of martial law, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the national assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment, while others scuffled with military troops. The South Korean parliamentary members eventually voted to lift the declaration, with national assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring it “invalid.” Police and military personnel were then seen leaving the assembly’s grounds after Woo’s call for their withdrawal. Jae-Yeon Lim, vice-president of the Canada Korea Business Association, says seeing military personnel clash with protesters and lawmakers brought back “harrowing” memories of the 1980 student-led demonstrations in Gwangju that were violently suppressed. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987, and South Korea’s last previous martial law was in October 1979. “It has been a very difficult experience to see that,” Lim says of the latest martial law declaration. “But that said, I’m really happy to see that ... the national assembly managed to get the majority vote to repeal this, and they managed to do that at the risk of their own lives, even though military was there. “This is a country that will stand up for democracy.” Lim also says there would likely be little impact on bilateral relations or trade between the two countries stemming from the sudden onset of political drama, given how quickly martial law was lifted. “It’s not going to stop business from seeking to expand in Canada,” Lim says. “There’s still a very strong interest to do so from many businesses (in South Korea). “We have yet to see what will happen next, but I think that I’m a little bit reassured in seeing what has transpired ... that people are ready to defend their country and democratic rule-of-law.” — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.NEW 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.
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Players Era Festival organizers betting big NIL is future of college tourneysAmcor PLC stock falls Wednesday, underperforms marketActivists in Chad have launched a campaign to educate clerics and traditional rulers against early marriages, female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices on women. The campaign is part of the United Nations “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.” Government officials in Chad say about 70% of girls under 16 are forced into marriage to men who are at times older than their parents. More than 25% of women in the conflict-ridden country say they have been sexually abused. That’s why 27-year-old Voyang Claudine told a crowd at the N'djamena Central Market to fearlessly denounce all forms of abuses on women and girls. She said women activists in Chad strongly condemn early marriages and what she calls a culture of gang rape spreading through conflict-ridden towns and villages in Chad. Claudine is a victim of sexual violence and spokesperson for the Association of Chad’s Indigenous Women. She said more than half of the women who asked the association for help were either sexually assaulted or raped, while about 80 were forced into early marriages by their parents. She said all the women and girls who resisted abuses on their rights were physically assaulted. Activists in the central African nation say they are using the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence to educate civilians, especially traditional rulers and religious leaders, against traditional practices they say are harmful to women. Epiphanie Dionrang is president of the Chadian Women's Rights League, a non-governmental organization that fights to empower women with rights, freedoms and opportunities. She said this year's theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence in Chad is “Fight Back and Rebuild after Violence.” It is a clarion call, Dionrang said, to all civilians to amplify voices of survivors, give moral, psychological and financial support to women and girls and strengthen feminist movements to reduce and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls, and protect women’s rights. Speaking on state TV, Dionrang said her organization is part of several dozen humanitarian and rights groups that are visiting towns and villages in Chad to raise awareness, educate civilians and make sure women are protected. She said their aim is to encourage communities to give equal access to education for boys and girls and stop female genital mutilation, which some men erroneously think makes women remain faithful in marriage. Amina Priscille Longoh, Chad's Women’s and National Solidarity minister, spoke on Chad state TV Tuesday. She said Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who has a strong political will to end all forms of violence, has ordered his government to make sure women who are abused or whose rights are violated have free access to justice and medical and psychological care. She said Deby has ordered his government to prosecute troops and rebels who sexually abuse women. The government of Chad said it will also persecute traditional and religious leaders who promote the use of outdated and harmful cultural practices on women.
A senior Taliban leader in Afghanistan has indicated that they will continue to provide refuge to anti-Pakistan militants, describing them as "guests" under the country's traditions. Taliban Information Minister Khairullah Khairkhwa made the rare remarks just days after the Pakistani military reportedly conducted airstrikes against suspected terrorist locations in an eastern Afghan border province. The Taliban claimed that Tuesday's attack in Paktika resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 civilians, predominantly refugees from Pakistan. While the claims could not be verified from independent sources, the United Nations said that it had "received credible reports" from the remote Afghan province that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed in the Pakistani airstrikes. Islamabad has refrained from publicly acknowledging the cross-border strikes, but Pakistani security officials anonymously confirmed and told reporters that the military action had targeted and destroyed several "terrorist hideouts" of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed group engaged in lethal attacks against Pakistan. Several key TTP commanders were also said to be among more than a dozen militants killed. "We must honor the Afghan nation's commitment to safeguarding these guests, friends," an angry Khairkhwa said while denouncing the Pakistani attack. He was apparently referring to the TTP in his speech aired by Taliban-controlled state television and shared via X social media platform Friday. The Taliban minister emphasized the need for Pakistan "to draw lessons from the consequences of military interventions" in Afghanistan by Britain, the former Soviet Union and the United States, respectively, since the 19th century. "Anyone who attacks Afghanistan or harbors such intentions must learn from the defeat of three superpowers," Khairkhwa asserted. This is the first public admission by a senior Taliban leader regarding the presence of TTP operatives in the country. Previously, Taliban officials have vehemently denied their existence, claiming that no foreign militants are permitted to operate and pose a threat to other nations from Afghan soil. TTP, designated as a global terrorist organization by the United Nations, has escalated attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban's August 2021 resurgence to power in Kabul, killing hundreds of Pakistani civilians and security personnel. On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his government's intention to enhance economic and trade relations with Afghanistan. However, he stated that the threat of TTP-led cross-border terrorism impedes that progress. "Unfortunately, the TTP continues to operate from there and killing innocent people inside Pakistan. This cannot go on," Sharif said in his televised remarks to a Cabinet meeting in Islamabad. "They must rein in TTP. ... This constitutes a red line for us. The TTP operating from Afghan soil is unacceptable under any circumstances," he stressed. Sharif said his country was ready to talk with the Afghan government to address the issue. "But there can be no progress if, on the one hand, they seek to foster relations with Pakistan while simultaneously permitting TTP to operate with impunity," he emphasized. Separately, the Pakistani military reported Friday that its counterterrorism operations and clashes with TTP militants resulted in the killings of over 900 "terrorists" this year, including 27 Afghan suicide bombers and fighters. The violence also left nearly 400 Pakistani security forces and officers dead, said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the military spokesperson. Who is Khairkhwa? Khairkhwa, a U.N.-sanctioned Taliban leader, was captured by U.S. forces in collaboration with Pakistani counterparts in early 2002 and subsequently transferred to the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison center. He was freed along with four other senior Taliban leaders in 2014 as part of a Qatar-mediated exchange for the release of U.S. soldier Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, American and Western-allied forces invaded Afghanistan, overthrowing the then-Taliban government due to its refusal to surrender Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, who was accused of orchestrating the deadly attacks from his Afghan bases. The Taliban leadership at the time justified its refusal to surrender bin Laden, asserting that he was a "guest" in the country and that surrendering him would violate local traditions. Subsequently, the Taliban regrouped and launched an insurgency against U.S.-led foreign forces, using sanctuaries on Pakistani soil. Bin Laden evaded capture and fled to Pakistan, where he was eventually tracked down and killed by American troops in 2011. Taliban leaders pledged to combat transnational militant networks to prevent them from using Afghanistan as a haven for global attacks after they seized power three years ago. However, an annual U.S. terrorism report released earlier this month cast doubts on Taliban counterterrorism commitments, citing TTP's growing attacks against Pakistan from Afghan sanctuaries and the threat transnational groups pose to regional stability from Afghanistan.SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation that reaffirms the state's role as a reproductive rights "haven" as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House and abortion-rights advocates warn of an uncertain future. Abortion remains legal in California, home to the strongest reproductive rights in the nation — unlike in some states, there is no required waiting period or counseling before the procedure, and minors can get abortions without parental involvement. In 2022 , voters solidified abortion access in the state constitution after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right, limiting healthcare for millions of women. But as Trump prepares to take the White House again, California's Democratic leaders are adamant that not enough has been done to secure reproductive access in case of further federal rollbacks. "The truth is, this is an urgent and dangerous situation," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference in Sacramento on Monday, pointing to renewed legal challenges to the distribution of abortion pills. "The right-wing extremists continue to wage attack after attack on our bodily autonomy at the expense of the health or life of pregnant persons." Bonta, a Democrat, said new legislative proposals will make reproductive rights in California "ironclad." Gov. Gavin Newsom's earlier focus on abortion rights after Trump's first term — including ad campaigns in red states — have drawn criticism from California Republicans skeptical of his national political motives and praise from advocates who say it is better to be safe than sorry. While he has signed dozens of bills firming up abortion access in recent years, some of his plans have proved to be more flash than substance. A temporary law allowing doctors licensed in Arizona to provide abortions in California, for example, expired without any doctors using it. "He makes the big pronouncements, but he's not a very good executor of those policies," said Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher of Yuba City. "It's kind of become his M.O. to make a big splash, and then nothing really ever comes of it." Democrats, however, see the need to shore up abortion access given the uncertainty of Trump's plans. A bill introduced this week aims to ensure availability of mifepristone and misoprostol — the commonly used two-step medication abortion process — even if the Trump administration attempts to interfere. At issue is how anti-abortion government officials could revive and interpret the Comstock Act , a federal law that once banned the mailing of "obscene" materials related to abortions. While Trump has said he has no plans to ban abortion nationwide, he has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue and taken credit for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who reversed the federal right to abortion with their decision in the landmark Dobbs case. Reproductive health advocates are worried that under his second term, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could limit access to abortion medication. To lead the FDA, Trump has tapped Dr. Marty Makary , who has echoed antiabortion messages on Fox News about fetal pain — something disputed by major medical organizations. The California bill by former Planned Parenthood attorney and legislative newcomer Assemblymember Maggy Krell , D-Sacramento, aims to ensure that Californians continue to have access to medication abortion for the foreseeable future and protects "manufacturers, distributors, authorized healthcare providers and individuals" from any legal action for distributing or administering the pills. "There are emerging threats to the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol, and California may not be able to guarantee a continued supply," the bill states. "Previously, Governor Newsom implemented a plan to stockpile doses of misoprostol. While this effort was successful, the Legislature finds that the state needs to renew its stockpile to ensure that Californians can continue to exercise their constitutional rights." Last year, Newsom rushed to stockpile hundreds of thousands of abortion pills after a Texas judge ruled against the authorization of the medication. "We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California," Newsom said then. But, facing expiration dates, the state released the stockpile to the public before the U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected the Texas court's ruling. In Washington, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee chose to hold onto a similar stockpile in case Trump was reelected. A spokesperson for Newsom said California "remains ready" to procure more pills if needed. In another precautionary move last year, Newsom signed a law that allowed abortion providers in Arizona to temporarily practice in California. The action came after the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated an 1800s law that essentially banned all abortions. No Arizona providers ended up using the program, which expired Dec. 1, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Concerns settled in Arizona after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that repealed the court decision, and voters last month passed a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion . The California legislation "was designed to serve as a swift stop gap measure to preserve continued access to abortion care, if necessary, during this very precarious moment," California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesperson Monica Vargas said in an email when The Times asked for data about the program's use. Newsom also signed a law last year that allowed medical residents from states with "hostile" laws to get abortion training in California. The state does not require the California Medical Board to track whether that program is being used as intended, a spokesperson said. For Republican critics like Gallagher, those programs are instances of "political theater" meant more to draw attention to an issue than provide substantive policy. Newsom this week called a special legislative session in Sacramento to prepare for legal combat with Trump on issues such as abortion and immigration — a move heralded by liberals as smart preparation for an unpredictable president and criticized by conservatives as unnecessary panic. "In California, abortion is constitutionally protected, and you have a president-elect who has said very clearly he will not support any national abortion ban," Gallagher said. "This perceived threat that they're trying to make into a political volley ... it's just Newsom drawing attention to himself." Some abortion advocates said that they'd rather have a nimble governor like Newsom and be cautious even if the emergency plans don't always pan out. "Now more than ever is the time for innovative policy solutions," said Shannon Olivieri Hovis, a spokesperson for Essential Health Access. "And inevitably, it is going to be the case that not all solutions we put forth will be equally effective." Other bills introduced this week seeking to fill California's reproductive health access gaps include a proposal to financially penalize cities and counties that block the building of abortion clinics, as has happened in Beverly Hills and Fontana. Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, introduced a package of bills that ensure hospitals enforce laws that require emergency rooms to provide abortion care; make it easier for Medi-Cal recipients to get birth control; and prevent birthing centers from closing. About 40% of California counties don't have abortion clinics, including rural areas where transportation can be a hurdle. In September, the state sued a Humboldt County Catholic hospital after a patient said she was denied an emergency abortion even as she feared for her life because of miscarriage risks. "We have to be absolutely clear-eyed about the political and social moment we're in right now... when we have a proven misogynist as a president," said Mia Bonta, who is married to the attorney general, referring to Trump's sexual abuse allegations and "your body, my choice" refrains that surged after his election. "I think while California has done an amazing job, we still have a lot of work to do to shore up the infrastructure of support for people who are seeking health care and abortion access and protection of our reproductive and sexual freedoms." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Presently, India has emerged one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the world and could be the third largest ecosystem by 2024. The entrepreneurial landscape has become explosive with the number jumping from 50,000 in 2018 to over 140,000 in 2024 and has been spurred by innovative ideas, flows of investment, and a considerable pool of talent that is currently changing the country into one of the global hubs of entrepreneurship. As the Hurun India 2024 on Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Gurugram are now considered to be the center for entrepreneurial activities. Hence, these three cities listed above are the major success and prized startups found in India, which are crucial for the country's progress. Bengaluru is known as the "Silicon Valley of India" because most entrepreneurs and innovation companies in the region cluster around this place. Mumbai is close to it since it is the financial capital of India. Hence, good access to capital along with an excellent business ecosystem can be availed here. Thus, this diverse nature of startup clusters makes Gurugram a fast developing technology and business-friendly city relative to the recent period. This blossoming ecosystem is transformed not only in the formation of the Indian economy but in the ranking given the position this country has taken within a list of innovative countries at worldwide level. Top startup cities in India Rank City No. of entrepreneurs No. of notable companies Notable entrepreneurs Notable companies 1 Bengaluru 98 66 Nithin Kamath Zerodha 2 Mumbai 73 36 Radhakishan Damani Avenue Supermarts (DMart) 3 Gurugram 34 31 Deepinder Goyal Zomato 4 New Delhi 51 15 Vijay Shekhar Sharma Paytm 5 Chennai 16 12 Vasant Sridhar OfBusiness 6 Pune 15 7 Supam Maheshwari, Sanket Hattimattur, Prashant Jadhav Firstcry 7 Hyderabad 11 6 Nandan Reddy Swiggy 8 Ahmedabad 10 6 Amit Bakshi Eris Lifesciences 9 Kolkata 7 2 Ravi Modi Vedant Fashions 10 Jaipur 6 2 Amit Jain, Anurag Jain CarDekho Leading startup cities in India 2024 India's startup ecosystem has witnessed a meteoric rise in the recent past, and the country has been ranked as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem in 2024. Hurun India's 2024 report on Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia has ranked cities based on the number of successful, self-made entrepreneurs leading significant startups. This ranking highlights the cities that have become hotbeds of innovation and entrepreneurship, making a substantial contribution to India's growth as an economic powerhouse. Bengaluru (98 Entrepreneurs, 66 Notable Companies) Bengaluru is generally considered the "Silicon Valley" of India and undisputed leader of the startup ecosystem of the country. There are 98 entrepreneurs and 66 of the most noted companies here that have established their signature in Bengaluru. Most have credited the origin to be here when India has come up with its most successful technology ventures. There is an entrepreneurial spirit that this status provides as the city ranks as a world hub in technology. Bengaluru is home to one of the biggest and most innovative companies in India, which happens to be Zerodha- the country's leading stock brokerage platform, spearheaded by its founders Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath. It has deep talent pools of engineers, IT professionals, and software developers. Because of this, it remains one of the most alluring destinations for tech startups. Moreover, Bengaluru is associated with an active venture capital network, which helps the sustenance of many companies there. Its infrastructure, connectivity, and access to various resources make it the highest destination for entrepreneurs in the country. Mumbai (73 Entrepreneurs, 36 Notable Companies) Mumbai is the financial hub of India and one of the major states in the entrepreneurial scenario in the country. Being at number two with 73 entrepreneurs and 36 significant companies, the business finance and industrial might have attracted Mumbai as the center. The entrepreneur who has created Avenue Supermarts or DMart, Radhakishan Damani, has made this city the retail and e-commerce start-up hub. It has good financial infrastructure and attracts capital and resources to the startup sector of retail, fintech, and entertainment, bringing together a very broad market with an international financial hub with great infrastructure, one of the top contenders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of India. Gurugram (34 Entrepreneurs, 31 Notable Companies) Gurugram is one other important city, as a hub located close to New Delhi, which features 34 entrepreneurs and 31 prominent companies. The hub has emerged as one of the most significant business cities and tech with an accommodation for industries in every e-commerce and fintech company among other IT services. Among the notable companies established there, is Zomato-a popular food delivery application-by Deepinder Goyal. Gurugram is a major business destination because the city is just a stone's throw from New Delhi, so administrative and business resources in the national capital are instantly accessible. Modern infrastructure that comprises IT parks, office spaces, and coworking hubs has helped it evolve into an innovation center. New Delhi (51 Entrepreneurs, 15 Notable Companies) New Delhi is the capital city of India and placed fourth with 51 entrepreneurs and 15 notable companies. New Delhi-based entrepreneurs include Vijay Shekhar Sharma who founded Paytm. Paytm is one of India's biggest fintech firms offering wallets and payment options. Delhi is the buoyant entrepreneurial ecosystem and especially in the fintech, edtech, and e-commerce segments. When talking about infrastructure and its closeness to governmental institutions, Delhi offers networking opportunities, influences policy, and access to funding for any start-up, and hence New Delhi shall remain an element which shall be very high as a position of India's startup culture and also boast more of self-made entrepreneurs. Chennai (16 Entrepreneurs, 12 Notable Companies) Chennai was an automobile and manufacturing city; it is now in the fifth position with 16 entrepreneurs and 12 notable companies. Entrepreneurs such as Vasant Sridhar, who have founded the B2B platform OfBusiness for SMEs, have helped in diversifying the entrepreneurial profile of Chennai to be much more tech-driven and industrial startups. Chennai has an industrial base, which makes it strong with a qualified workforce, mainly in industries like automotive, information technology, and healthcare. Its entrepreneurial culture is growing and increasing day by day in areas such as fintech, software, and education. Pune (15 Entrepreneurs, 7 Notable Companies) Pune is in the sixth place with 15 entrepreneurs and 7 significant companies. Pune has, over time, developed specific niches for itself in areas such as information technology, education, and e-commerce. Amongst such stalwarts of e-commerce stands Firstcry, co-founded by Supam Maheshwari, Sanket Hattimattur, and Prashant Jadhav. The city is known for its thriving startup culture, driven by its educational institutions, research centers, and tech parks. Pune has also become a destination for tech talent, which further supports its growth as a startup hub. Hyderabad (11 Entrepreneurs, 6 Notable Companies) Hyderabad ranks seventh with 11 entrepreneurs and 6 notable companies. Known for its role as a technology and pharmaceutical hub, Hyderabad is home to Nandan Reddy, co-founder of Swiggy, India's leading food delivery platform. Hyderabad's burgeoning startup ecosystem has received tremendous support from several thousand technology companies, including in the software development sector, e-commerce, and healthtech. The reason Hyderabad appeals is that its cost of living is low, talent pools are abundant, and the infrastructure is very strong. Ahmedabad (10 Entrepreneurs, 6 Notable Companies) At the eighth position is Ahmedabad with 10 entrepreneurs and 6 notable companies such as Eris Lifesciences, whose CEO is Amit Bakshi. Strengths are there in manufacturing, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, which increasingly position Ahmedabad as an innovation hub. The city enjoys a favorable business climate due to low operating costs and a strong industrial infrastructure. Its growth in the startup ecosystem has been driven by ventures in industries such as healthcare, retail, and software development. Kolkata (7 Entrepreneurs, 2 Notable Companies) With an entrepreneurial ecosystem smaller in size, Kolkata is at the ninth position with 7 entrepreneurs and 2 notable companies. Ravi Modi is from Kolkata. He founded Vedant Fashions with the Manyavar ethnic-wear brand, and Kolkata is his place. Kolkata is still in its infant stages compared to other big cities, but it has been promising especially in retail and fashion. The potential for growth lies in this city as more entrepreneurs spring up in the region. Jaipur (6 Entrepreneurs, 2 Notable Companies) Rounding out the top 10 is Jaipur with 6 entrepreneurs and 2 notable companies, such as CarDekho, by Amit Jain and Anurag Jain. The company is a popular online portal for buying and selling cars. Although Jaipur's startup ecosystem is pretty small, in the past few years, it has indicated significant potential. The cost of doing business in this city is pretty low and it is now emerging as a hub for e-commerce and digital services. Also Read | What is one cabin bag rule in India? Know the key changes, impact and purpose of new luggage rule Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
