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(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.
THE structure and strategy of Zimbabwe’s opposition are under intense scrutiny, as the political terrain grows more complex and volatile. With the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa facing mounting discontent over economic stagnation, corruption, and social decay, the opposition movement should theoretically be at its strongest. Yet, internal fractures and the absence of a cohesive leadership structure have left it vulnerable—not only to state infiltration but also to self-sabotage. This situation reflects a broader malaise within Southern Africa’s opposition movements, especially as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) experiences a wave of political transitions. In Zimbabwe, however, the lack of organisational clarity has given rise to self-appointed voices leveraging social media prominence to shape narratives and dictate the movement’s agenda. In a political system that thrives on suppression, the opposition’s decentralised structure has become both an advantage and a liability. On one hand, the absence of a centralised leadership allows for grassroots mobilisation and flexibility. On the other, it opens the door to opportunists—individuals who lack accountability but wield outsized influence due to their social media visibility. These individuals often dictate the conversation, drowning out experienced voices and well-grounded strategies. Such a scenario has proven fertile ground for state intelligence operatives to infiltrate the movement, either by posing as opposition figures or amplifying divisive rhetoric. Without a clear, uncontested leadership to steer the opposition’s course, the movement risks losing its focus, unity, and public trust. In their frustration with the ruling ZANU-PF’s failures, some opposition figures have resorted to narratives laced with colonial nostalgia. While this rhetoric may resonate with segments of the population disillusioned by decades of post-independence mismanagement, it plays directly into the hands of the ruling party’s propaganda machine. For ZANU-PF and its security apparatus, such rhetoric offers an easy opportunity to brand the opposition as agents of neocolonial interests. This framing is particularly damaging in a region like Southern Africa, where liberation movements still command significant symbolic capital. By associating the opposition with colonial sentiment, the ruling party can discredit them as Trojan horses for foreign interests, thereby undermining their legitimacy. Southern Africa is undergoing significant political shifts. In Botswana, for example, the opposition recently achieved an unprecedented victory, breaking the ruling party’s decades-long grip on power. Similar trends are emerging in other SADC nations, where liberation-era regimes are struggling to maintain relevance in the face of rising youth discontent and economic challenges. In Zimbabwe, however, the ruling elite has proven adept at adapting to these changes, often by exploiting opposition weaknesses. The state’s narrative, which paints opposition movements as destabilising agents backed by external forces, fits neatly into this broader regional strategy. This tactic not only weakens the opposition’s standing domestically but also complicates their efforts to gain support from neighbouring governments, many of which are led by parties with liberation-era ties. The opposition’s current trajectory raises fundamental questions about its future. Can it unify under a centralised, credible leadership that prioritises the public’s interests over personal agendas? Can it resist the temptation to play into the ruling party’s hands with uncoordinated and sometimes reckless rhetoric? To achieve this, the opposition must address several critical areas: Rebuilding Organisational Structure: Without a clear and unified leadership, the opposition will remain vulnerable to infiltration and manipulation. Establishing a transparent decision-making process is essential. Strategic Messaging: The opposition needs to craft a narrative that resonates with the electorate without alienating key constituencies. This means moving away from colonial nostalgia and focusing on forward-looking policies that address the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges. Leveraging Regional Momentum: While SADC nations are experiencing political transitions, the opposition must position itself as part of this broader movement for democratic renewal. Building alliances with other opposition movements in the region could amplify their voice and provide much-needed solidarity. Engaging the Youth: With a median age of 19.7 years, Zimbabwe’s population is overwhelmingly young. The opposition must tap into this demographic by addressing issues like unemployment, education, and social mobility. As Zimbabwe stands on the brink of potential change, the opposition faces a defining moment. The stakes could not be higher, both for the movement itself and for the millions of Zimbabweans who are desperate for an alternative to the status quo. However, without significant introspection and strategic recalibration, the opposition risks becoming its own worst enemy. In a region where political transitions are increasingly possible, Zimbabwe’s opposition must seize the moment—or risk fading into irrelevance. By embracing unity, clarity, and a vision that resonates with the electorate, the opposition has a chance to redefine itself and the country’s future. Anything less will leave it trapped in the shadows of the past, ceding ground to a ruling party that has proven its ability to adapt and endure.Principal of Presbyterian Senior Science College suspended following viral video
Missing rabbi in the UAE killed in ‘heinous antisemitic terror incident’, Israel says
Chennai: The two-member fact-finding committee of the National Commission for Women (NCW) arrived in Chennai on Sunday to probe the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Anna University. On Saturday (December 28), NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar constituted the committee to investigate and recommend action. The two-member committee consists of Mamta Kumari, a Member of the NCW, and Praveen Dixit, IPS (retd.), former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and Special Rapporteur for Maharashtra and Goa in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Praveen Dixit arrived in Chennai via an Indigo flight from Pune while Mamta Kumari arrived via an Indigo flight from Kolkata. The committee will investigate the case, examine the circumstances leading to the incident, and assess the actions taken by the authorities, as per the statement. The committee will also interact with concerned officials, the victim, her family, friends, and various NGOs to ascertain the facts and propose measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The Commission has taken a suo moto cognisance of an alleged sexual assault of a student at Anna University. It has already issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) regarding the incident. On Saturday, the Madras High Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers to investigate the Anna University alleged sexual assault case. A second-year student of Anna University was allegedly sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus on Monday night, Chennai Police said. One person has been arrested in connection with the case. In her December 23 complaint to police, the student alleged that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her when she was talking to her friend on campus on Monday around 8 p.m. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station and an investigation is underway. Pulling up the Chennai Police for revealing the contents of the FIR on its website, including the rape survivor’s identity, a Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Lakshminarayanan ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the victim.The Atlanta Falcons drafting of Michael Penix Jr. just six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract doesn't seem like that much of a head-scratcher anymore. Penix, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, was supposed to serve as Cousins' understudy for a year or two, a plan that was scuttled when Cousins quickly lost the zip and accuracy on his passes and his grip on the starting job. It was hard to argue with making the change after Cousins had nine picks and one touchdown pass in his last five starts — but it was a daring move nonetheless with the Falcons trailing first-place Tampa Bay by a single game with three weeks left. Penix made the move pay off with a solid first NFL start in the Falcons' 34-7 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday that bolstered Atlanta's playoff hopes , and the Falcons (8-7) moved back into first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers' loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would’ve been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender for Penix’s lone interception. “He went out and played almost flawless football,” coach Raheem Morris said. Cousins will almost certainly be looking for his fourth team in 2025. If the Falcons cut ties as expected, they'll have paid Cousins $90 million for 14 games. Cousins' career earnings are about $321 million and his record is 84-77-2, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs and 7-7 this season. In the spirit of expedited judgments, let's take a gander at how other quarterbacks have fared with their new teams in 2024. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed the biggest bargain of the season in Wilson, whom they signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.21 million, leaving his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the hook for the remaining $37.79 million of his 2024 salary. Wilson's calf injury in camp forced the Steelers to start Justin Fields, who went 4-2 before Mike Tomlin made the risky switch to Wilson, who's gone 6-3 with 15 TD throws and four interceptions. With the Steelers (10-5) playoff-bound, Wilson will make his first postseason appearance since 2020. The only question is whether it'll be at home as AFC North champ or on the road as a wild-card. They're tied with the Ravens atop the division but currently own the tiebreaker. This was expected to be a rebuilding year in Minnesota after the Vikings lost Cousins in free agency. They signed Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018, to a $10 million, one-year contract and drafted national champion J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener and has undergone two surgeries, opening the way for Darnold's breakthrough season. Darnold brought a 21-35 career record with him to Minneapolis and all he's done is go 13-2 while setting career highs with 32 touchdown passes, 3,776 passing yards and a 67.2% completion percentage. The Vikings are tied with the Lions atop the packed NFC North and the division crown could come down to Minnesota's season finale at Detroit on Jan. 5. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract and he beat out incumbent Aidan O'Connell for the starting gig. But he only went 2-7 and sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in a Week 12 loss to the Broncos, opening the door for O'Connell (1-4) to return. The Raiders' 19-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday snapped a 10-game skid but might have taken them out of the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes. They are 3-12, a game behind the Giants (2-13), who jettisoned QB Daniel Jones less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract and have gone with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito instead. The Chicago Bears had high hopes after drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but it might turn out that the second QB taken — Washington's Jayden Daniels — is better than the first as was the case last year when C.J. Stroud outperformed Carolina's Bryce Young. Williams has a terrific TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5, but the Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine in a row. Their last win came way back on Oct. 13 against Jacksonville. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has led the Washington Commanders (10-5) to the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2020. His bolstered his Rookie of the Year credentials with a five-TD performance Sunday in leading the Commanders to a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the year, Daniels has 22 TD throws and eight interceptions. The former Auburn and Oregon star hasn't looked much like a rookie after starting an NCAA QB record 61 times in college. The Broncos (9-6) could snap an eight-year playoff drought with a win Sunday at Cincinnati thanks to Nix's steady play , Sean Payton's exhaustive guidance and Denver's traditionally stingy defense. Nix was drafted 12th overall after the Broncos released Wilson despite a a whopping $85 million dead money charge on top of the $37.79 million they're paying Wilson to play for Pittsburgh this year. With 22 TDs and 11 interceptions, Nix has almost matched Russell's win total (11-19) in his two seasons in Denver. AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report. Behind the Call analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL during the season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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What we know about the Jeju Air plane crash in South KoreaA whopping Rs 640 crores will be splurged in the two days of the IPL 2025 players auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. So, expect some madness. Auctions always do that. However, what will truly stand out this time is the ruthlessness of the process. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results It’s expected to be a market-driven, or rather need-driven, exercise with no place for emotions. This auction will highlight how the IPL has evolved into a market-driven brand proposition, with return on investment (ROI) as its guiding principle. Players will be picked with two clear objectives — assembling a squad capable of winning eight games to make the playoffs and building a strong brand. For instance, picking Rishabh Pant for a hefty price will not just be a cricketing move, it will also be a strategic brand call. Any team Pant joins will see a significant boost in its brand value, which will bring in sponsors; and in the IPL, it all adds up. All the teams have been ideating for days now and have excel sheets ready with clearly defined plans A, B and C. Despite all the efforts, two teams will have a bad season and end up 9th and 10th in the points table. That’s the harsh reality. Emotions have always played a role in the IPL auctions. With some of India’s richest people in the room, it is only natural that egos will come into play -- and that’s where things usually go wrong. However, this auction is expected to be different. It will not be about egos. It will be about team balance and brand. After 18 years, the teams seem to have a better understanding of cricket and the needs of their teams. They are better prepared to stick to the plans and make tough decision under pressure. 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View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Leadership Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program As Sourav Ganguly said, “When the paddle goes up and you know the purse isn’t all there you do feel the pressure. You need to be extremely focused to get it right”. Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, put it well, “We come in with a very conscious strategy. We want to add particular skillsets to the side and not simply go by names. Team balance is the key and that’s what we will aim to do again in the auction”. At the auction, some of cricket’s sharpest minds will be at the helm, strategizing for their franchises. If it is Stephen F leming and MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings and Mahela Jayawardene for Mumbai Indians, it will be Zaheer Khan for the Lucknow Super Giants and Ashish Nehra for Gujarat Titans. Each franchise knows that not every buy will go their way. With 10 teams now in the fray, this has become the norm. The challenge is to maintain composure. It is tough to back off when the need is urgent. Desperation leads to mistakes. Unlike smaller auctions, which are all about who is available and less about cricketing pedigree, the talent pool in the mega auction is enormous. At the end of the two-day mega auction, every team will walk away with matchwinners in their ranks. After that it will be all about which team plays the best cricket. You can do only so much at the auction table. The final act is always performed on the 22 yards, where the game is ultimately decided. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024 (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )