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Pakistan Railways is planning to launch a high-speed express train between Lahore and Karachi, similar to the Green Line Express that operates between Islamabad and Karachi via Lahore. "The primary goal of this new train service is to provide passengers with advanced amenities and an enhanced travel experience," an official in the Ministry of Railways said. Currently, the official said the teams from relevant departments are working on preparations for the launch of this modern train, which is expected to begin by the end of January next year. The official emphasised that Pakistan Railways is focused on improving passenger services and using new technology to locally produce coaches, which will eliminate the need for imports. Additionally, he said the department is working to enhance food quality and cleanliness to ensure a comfortable and clean environment for passengers. The Green Line Express, which was inaugurated in 2015 by the then prime minister at Islamabad's Margalla Railway Station, currently takes about 20 hours to travel from Islamabad to Karachi Cantonment Station, with stops at key locations such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sukkar/Rohri, Hyderabad, and Drigh Road. The official said the train offers various classes, including AC, AC parlour, and Economy Class, along with a modern dining car that provides high-quality services. The Pakistan Railways had outsourced commercial management of 13 trains, as well as brake and luggage vans, for better efficiency and earning, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Muhammad Usman Awaisi had told the National Assembly earlier this month. Awaisi claimed that the decisions were taken to optimise the utilisation of available resources which boosted the earning of Railways, adding that they achieved Rs946 million in the fiscal year 2023-24. Awaisi detailed that the earning was possible through implementation of financial restructuring plans aimed at reducing operational costs, optimising revenue generation, and improving financial discipline. Giving the strategies adopted and measures taken to achieve the earning, it was stated that load optimisation strategy was adopted that entailed in operating full train loads as per hauling capacity of the locomotives. Passenger trains were being operated on the average with 19 coaches which had resulted in revenue of Rs43.512 billion (Rs7.763 billion more than the target), The News reported. Freight trains with a load of 3,400 tonnes had enhanced revenue freight earnings to Rs25.025 billion (Rs2.699 billion over target). Passenger fare and freight tariffs have been indexed with fuel price. Pricing decision is based on market dynamics. E-ticketing App "Railway Automated Booking and Travel Assistance" (Rabta) had also been introduced for ease of customers and better service delivery. After the approval of Railway Land and Property Rules 2023, Rs3.246 billion had been generated from lease of land. The parliamentary secretary said that the Railways had developed long-term strategic plans to revitalise the sector, improve service quality, enhance safety standards, and ensure sustainability in revenue generation. He said up-gradation of ML-1, which is a rail link between Karachi and Peshawar, will increase the line's capacity from 34 to 100 and 20 trains per day. Awaisi informed the House that 80 new high-capacity freight wagons and 32 passenger AC standard coaches would also be inducted this year to increase the revenue.Bryant defeats Tennessee State 97-85
Before being elected as the first transgender woman to the US Congress, 34-year-old Sarah McBride said she expected hostility. A harsh national spotlight has fallen swiftly upon her. "They may try to misgender me, they may try to say the wrong name, they will do what we can predictably assume they might do," she told the TransLash podcast last month ahead of her resounding election victory on November 5. "They are going to do that to get a rise out of me and my job will be to not give them the response they want," the Democrat from Delaware explained. Ahead of her arrival in the House of Representatives on January 3, McBride was targeted by a resolution this week from a right-wing Republican colleague that would ban transgender women from women's toilets in the Capitol. "Just because a Congressman wants to wear a mini skirt doesn’t mean he can come into a women’s bathroom," South Carolina firebrand Nancy Mace wrote on social media as she led a highly personal campaign against McBride. House Speaker Mike Johnson, after initially seeking to buy time to debate the issue, came out in support of a ban, saying that all single-sex facilities would be "reserved for individuals of that biological sex." McBride -- who wears knee-length dresses, not miniskirts -- issued a statement saying that she said would respect the rules "even if I disagree with them." "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," said the politician and activist, who transitioned as a 21-year-old and told her parents on Christmas Day 2011. Donald Trump repeatedly raised transgender issues in the closing stages of his presidential campaign, with aides noting how questions around trans identity struck a nerve with swing voters. Two of the biggest issues -- at the heart of ongoing "culture wars" between conservatives and progressives -- are whether transgender women should be allowed in women's toilets and be admitted in women's sport. Mocking transgender athletes and "woke ideology," Trump promised to get "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports." McBride has long been an advocate for trans rights and she helped campaign for a law banning gender discrimination in her home state of Delaware, during which she was publicly called a "freak" and the "devil incarnate". "Listening to that was demeaning and dehumanizing for my child," her mother Sally told The Washington Post in a 2018 profile. "I still have a hard time coping with that." Undeterred, McBride rode the blows and was elected as the first US transgender state senator in 2020. She has been open about her mental health struggles growing up as a boy named Tim and the personal tragedy that has marked her life since, writing a memoir called "Tomorrow Will Be Different" in 2018. "I remember as a child praying in my bed at night that I would wake up the next day and be a girl," she told a TED talk in 2016. She first gathered major public attention with an open letter while a student leader at American University in Washington that announced her transition. She went on to encounter President Joe Biden and his family, also Delaware natives, when she became active in grassroots politics there. After interning at the White House under President Barack Obama, she secured an invitation to speak at the 2016 Democratic Party convention. The White House was also the scene of her first encounter with her late husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man and LGTBQ+ activist. They married two years later shortly before Cray died from cancer. Knowing the attention she is destined for in the US Congress, she says her aim is to be an effective congresswoman focused on everyday voter priorities such as housing and inflation. But she knows she will be constantly pushed to be a spokeswoman -- and defender -- of the trans community. "I can't do right by the trans community if I'm not being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she told TransLash. "It's the only way that people will see that trans people can be good doctors, can be good lawyers, good educators, good members of Congress. I can't be there to put out a press release and tweet every time someone says something." adp/bgs
Legendary former Indian wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani, one of the players who led India to win the 1983 Cricket World Cup released his autobiography titled ‘Stumped: Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-Two Yards’ on Sunday, December 29. In an interview with The New Indian Express , Kirmani says the book offers personal glimpses of his life shaping not just his cricketing journey but the experiences that shaped him both on and off the field. Kirmani reminisces days from playing gully cricket in the streets of Bengaluru to international cricket grounds. “Everybody goes through good times, bad times, ups and downs – this is the untold story of my life. The true facts without any bias or prejudice” says Kirmani about the book. Kirmani takes his readers beyond the stumps, sharing the highs and lows of a career that spanned an era of transformation in Indian cricket. “There are quite a few surprises in the book where the reaction from fans will be ‘Oh my God, is this what happened?’” remarked Kiramni playfully. The book coming out on his 75th birthday promises to reveal intense and heartfelt anecdotes from his career bringing the audiences a never-seen-before look into the world of ‘80s cricket. Published by Penguin Play and priced at Rs 499 the book took five years to make for Kirmani and his co-authors Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak.Onfolio Holdings Inc. Announces Quarterly Preferred Stock Cash Dividend of $0.75 Per Share
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Reniya Kelly had 18 points and six assists, Maria Gakdeng added 16 points and nine rebounds, and No. 16 North Carolina beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53 on Thursday night in the SEC/ACC Challenge. North Carolina opened the game on a 14-4 run, capped by Alyssa Ustby’s fifth 3-pointer of the season. The Tar Heels led 36-25 at halftime after holding the Wildcats to 36% shooting. North Carolina only made one field goal in the opening five minutes of the third quarter as Kentucky got as close as seven points. But The Tar Heels made five field goals in the final five minutes to take a 50-39 lead into the fourth. Kentucky’s opening four baskets of the fourth were from 3-point range to get within 60-51 with 5:52 left on Dazia Lawrence’s basket off a nice assist from Georgia Amoore on an inbounds play. North Carlina sealed it by scoring the next six points — all from the free-throw line. Ustby scored 13 points with eight rebounds for North Carolina (8-1). The Tar Heels outscored Kentucky 42-10 in the paint. Lawrence scored 17 points and Amelia Hassett had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Kentucky (7-1). Amoore added 10 points and eight assists and Clara Strack, averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game, was held to four points on 2-of-10 shooting. North Carolina stays at home to play Coppin State on Sunday. Kentucky returns home to face Queens University on Monday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
Reniya Kelly scores 18 and No. 16 North Carolina women beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53The Australian Senate committee has thrown its weight behind a controversial bill aiming to ban social media for children under 16. This landmark decision could place Australia among nations with the toughest online controls, as it pushes for stringent age verification measures including biometrics. This legislative effort, endorsed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government and the opposition Liberal party, is set to be fast-tracked before the parliamentary year ends. The Senate's environment and communications committee emphasized the importance of exploring alternative age assurance methods without compromising user privacy. Major tech players like Google, Meta, and TikTok have voiced significant reservations, citing the need for more deliberation. Companies violating the proposed law could face fines up to A$49.5 million. The debate continues as stakeholders balance security with youth engagement and user rights. (With inputs from agencies.)This Grade School Offers AI-Only Classes, No Teachers InvolvedEntrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta has caused quite a stir with his recent remarks about an unnamed Indian film star, whom he referred to as "an extremely egotistic man." During a podcast appearance on Dostcast , where he was joined by fellow 'shark' Anupam Mittal , the boAt founder opened up about his experience working with the star. Aman recalled how his company had hired the actor as a brand ambassador, only to be taken aback by the star's attitude. “We had this actor as our brand ambassador. He was an extremely egotistic man. In the news, I had always heard good things about him. People only wrote that he is ‘sweet,’ ‘nice,’ ‘kind,’ and ‘humble’... They often mentioned his good behaviour with the paps and his fans, they also wrote that ‘he travels in economy class’, but his attitude was the extreme opposite when he worked with us. This experience taught me that people today have mastered the art of being humble,” Aman shared. The entrepreneur further added that he was confident the actor's true nature would eventually come to light. "However, Indians are pretty smart. One day or the other, they will get to know the reality. They do understand the difference between a genuine person and a pretentious person. They quickly understand which hero has ego, attitude, style and rizz,” he said. While Aman Gupta did not name the actor directly, the clip quickly went viral, leading to widespread speculation about the identity of the "egotistic" star. Fans took to social media to debate who the star could be, with two names emerging as possible suspects. Some users pointed to Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh , who has previously endorsed boAt, while others speculated it could be Kartik Aaryan , another actor known for his humble image and also a boAt brand ambassador. One comment even noted, "It has to be Diljit or Kartik. Both have endorsed boAt and are known for humble image." As the internet continues to buzz with theories, the mystery remains unsolved, leaving fans eager for more answers.
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NoneJimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, has died at the age of 100. The Carter Center announced Sunday that his father died at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. His death comes about a year after his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, passed away. The Carter Center will provide updates about ceremonies and activities to honor the life of President Carter as they become available here and soon on the official Carter Family Tribute Site ( https://t.co/Tg5UZt7kPV ). Read our statement: https://t.co/CNBUBpffPz — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 Despite receiving hospice care at the time, he attended the memorials for Rosalynn while sitting in a wheelchair, covered by a blanket. He was also wheeled outside on Oct. 1 to watch a military flyover in celebration of his 100th birthday. The Carter Center said in February 2023 that the former president and his family decided he would no longer seek medical treatment following several short hospital stays for an undisclosed illness. Carter became the longest-living president in 2019, surpassing George H.W. Bush, who died at age 94 in 2018. Carter also had a long post-presidency, living 43 years following his White House departure. RELATED STORY: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: A love story for the ages Before becoming president Carter began his adult life in the military, getting a degree at the U.S. Naval Academy, and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He then studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at Union College and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew on a nuclear submarine. Following the death of his father, Carter returned to Georgia to tend to his family's farm and related businesses. During this time, he became a community leader by serving on local boards. He used this experience to elevate him to his first elected office in 1962 in the Georgia Senate. After losing his first gubernatorial election in 1966, he won his second bid in 1970, becoming the state’s 76th governor. As a relative unknown nationally, Carter used the nation’s sour sentiment toward politics to win the Democratic nomination. He then bested sitting president Gerald Ford in November 1976 to win the presidency. Carter battles high inflation, energy crisis With the public eager for a change following the Watergate era, Carter took a more hands-on approach to governing. This, however, meant he became the public face of a number of issues facing the U.S. in the late 1970s, most notably America’s energy crisis. He signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, creating the first new cabinet role in government in over a decade. Carter advocated for alternative energy sources and even installed solar panels on the White House roof. During this time, the public rebuked attempts to ration energy. Amid rising energy costs, inflation soared nearly 9% annually during Carter's presidency. This led to a recession before the 1980 election. Carter also encountered the Iran Hostage Crisis in the final year of his presidency when 52 American citizens were captured. An attempt to rescue the Americans failed in April 1980, resulting in the death of eight service members. With compounding crises, Carter lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in 1980 as he could only win six states. Carter’s impact after leaving the White House Carter returned to Georgia and opened the Carter Center, which is focused on national and international issues of public policy – namely conflict resolution. Carter and the Center have been involved in a number of international disputes, including in Syria, Israel, Mali and Sudan. The group has also worked to independently monitor elections and prevent elections from becoming violent. Carter and his wife were the most visible advocates for Habitat for Humanity. The organization that helps build and restore homes for low- and middle-income families has benefited from the Carters’ passion for the organization. Habitat for Humanity estimates Carter has worked alongside 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build 4,390 houses. “Like other Habitat volunteers, I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others, and this is especially true when those others are desperately poor or in need,” Carter said in a Q&A on the Habitat for Humanity website. Carter also continued teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown well into his 90s. Attendees would line up for hours, coming from all parts of the U.S., to attend Carter’s classes. Carter is survived by his four children.MT Democrats project confidence in Medicaid expansion passage
The rumor mill is churning with exciting news for Nintendo fans eagerly awaiting the next generation of the Switch. A recent leak suggests that the tentatively titled “Switch 2” will not only sport the long-awaited Hall-effect joysticks but also boast increased power when docked. This information comes from a Reddit user, “NextHandheld,” who claims to have had hands-on experience with a retail version of the console and its dock. While Nintendo remains tight-lipped, these leaks, corroborated by sources at The Verge, have ignited a firestorm of speculation and anticipation. This isn’t the first time whispers of a Switch successor have surfaced, but the level of detail and alleged firsthand experience make this leak particularly compelling. NextHandheld’s claims, if true, paint a picture of a console that addresses some of the Switch’s biggest criticisms while potentially introducing exciting new capabilities. Let’s dive into the specifics of this intriguing leak and explore what it could mean for the future of Nintendo’s hybrid gaming console. Hall-Effect Joysticks: Saying Goodbye to Drift? One of the most persistent issues plaguing the Switch has been the infamous “Joy-Con drift.” This frustrating phenomenon causes the joysticks to register movement even when untouched, leading to gameplay disruptions and costly repairs. NextHandheld’s leak suggests that Nintendo may finally be addressing this issue with the implementation of Hall-effect joysticks in the Switch 2’s controllers. Unlike traditional analog sticks that rely on physical contact, Hall-effect sticks use magnets and sensors to detect movement. This technology is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear, making it a popular choice in high-end controllers and arcade cabinets. The inclusion of Hall-effect sticks in the Switch 2 would be a significant upgrade, potentially eliminating the dreaded drift and ensuring a smoother, more reliable gaming experience. Docked Power Boost: Unleashing the Potential The leak also hints at a potential performance boost for the Switch 2 when docked. While specifics remain scarce, this suggests that the console could leverage the increased power supply of the dock to deliver enhanced graphics and performance on larger screens. This would be a welcome addition for players who enjoy the flexibility of handheld mode but crave a more immersive experience on their TVs. Imagine playing the latest Nintendo titles with improved resolutions, higher frame rates, and more detailed visuals when docked. This could significantly bridge the gap between the Switch and its more powerful competitors, offering a more compelling experience for hardcore gamers without sacrificing the portability that makes the Switch unique. A New Dock with Familiar Features NextHandheld also shared details about the Switch 2’s dock, claiming it retains the same ports as its predecessor: two USB-A, one USB-C, one Ethernet, and one HDMI port. While some might be hoping for additional features or connectivity options, this suggests a continued focus on simplicity and compatibility with existing accessories. However, there’s always a possibility that the dock could house additional hardware or functionality that hasn’t been revealed. Perhaps Nintendo is exploring new ways to enhance the docked experience, such as improved upscaling technology or even dedicated processing units within the dock itself. Only time will tell what secrets the new dock may hold. Other Intriguing Tidbits Beyond the major points, the leak also mentions a few smaller details that have caught the attention of fans: While these details might seem minor, they contribute to the overall picture of a refined and improved Switch experience. Nintendo has always paid close attention to the ergonomics and user-friendliness of its consoles, and these tweaks suggest a continued commitment to those principles. Looking Ahead: What Could This Mean for Nintendo? If these leaks prove accurate, the Switch 2 has the potential to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor. Addressing the Joy-Con drift issue alone would be a major win for Nintendo, restoring confidence in its hardware and improving the overall user experience . The rumored docked power boost could also attract a wider audience, appealing to both casual and hardcore gamers alike. However, it’s important to remember that these are still just leaks, and Nintendo has not officially confirmed any details about its next console. The final product could differ significantly from what’s been described, and it’s always wise to temper expectations until we have concrete information from the source. Despite the uncertainty, the excitement surrounding the Switch 2 is palpable. Nintendo has a history of defying expectations and delivering innovative gaming experiences, and fans are eager to see what the future holds for the Switch. Whether it’s called the Switch 2, Super Switch, or something else entirely, the next generation of Nintendo’s hybrid console is sure to be a hot topic in the gaming world for months to come.Giants topple Colts 45-33 to eliminate Indy from the playoff race