Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday addressed the Lok Sabha. While answering the questions from the Members of Parliament, Vaishnaw highlighted several significant initiatives and achievements of the Indian Railways. Speaking on a wide range of topics, the Minister detailed efforts to enhance passenger convenience, improve operational efficiency, ensure safety, and promote transparency in recruitment processes. From infrastructural advancements to innovative train services, the Minister emphasized the Railways' commitment to serving the diverse needs of the nation. While speaking in Parliament, the Union Minister for Railways emphasized the balanced focus on both economically weaker and others by maintaining a ratio of 2:3 for non-AC coaches and 1:3 for AC coaches. To meet the growing demand for general coaches, a special manufacturing program has been launched, aiming to produce 12,000 general coaches. Out of this, 900 have already been added this financial year, with a target of manufacturing 10,000 more, ensuring convenience for unreserved category passengers. While answering question from Member of Parliament, the Union Minister detailed the extensive preparations for the upcoming Mahakumbh. A total of 13,000 trains have been planned to cater to the anticipated surge in passengers, reflecting a focused effort to serve middle-class and economically weaker families. The Minister highlighted the operational efficiency of the Railways during the Chhath and Diwali festivals. During these periods, approximately 7,900 special trains transported over 1 crore, 80 lakhs passengers without major inconveniences, showcasing the commitment to passenger convenience during peak travel seasons. In response to the question, the Minister said that the induction of the Amrit Bharat train series, designed entirely for non-AC passengers. Equipped with cutting-edge technology similar to Vande Bharat trains, these trains offer a noise and jerk-free travel experience. Plans are underway to produce 50 additional Amrit Bharat trains after the successful operation of the initial fleet over the past ten months. The Minister highlighted the Namo Bharat train initiative, designed for short-distance city pairs with high-frequency shuttle services. Two Namo Bharat trains are already operational, and after performance evaluations, large-scale production will be initiated. This step aims to replicate European regional train standards for the Indian middle class. The Union Minister cited the recent Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) examination as a model of transparency and efficiency. With 1.26 crore candidates participating across 211 cities, the examination concluded without a single paper leak or incident. As a result, 1,30,581 young individuals secured employment, setting a benchmark for fair recruitment processes. Addressing demands for a structured recruitment process, the Minister said the Railways have introduced an annual calendar for exams. Recruitment for 58,642 positions is currently underway, with over 11 lakh candidates recently participating in the loco pilot selection process. He assured Parliament of the Railways' commitment to providing maximum employment opportunities transparently. The Minister said that all unmanned authorized level crossings are today 100% manned or eliminated by constructing a flyover or underpass. 12,000 flyovers and underpasses have been constructed in these 10 years. This achievement ensures enhanced safety and efficient train operations, marking a significant milestone in railway infrastructure development.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is asking President-elect Donald Trump to clarify the ethics standards that will apply to Elon Musk, given the tech billionaire’s prominent role on the Trump transition team. Musk has been a fixture at the president-elect’s side since the November election and will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, alongside fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Warren says that the new role, combined with Musk’s private interests as the CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and other government-contracted companies, presents “a massive conflict of interest.” SpaceX, Musk’s space technology company, manufactures rockets and spacecraft, often for the federal government’s use. Tesla, meanwhile, inked a deal with the Biden administration to make at least 7,500 of its electric vehicle charging stations accessible to EVs from other carmakers by the end of 2024. Warren further pointed out that Musk’s companies have an interest in the government’s enforcement of labor laws and regulations, particularly after having been the subject of federal investigations and litigation. Warren also voiced concern over media reports that Musk met secretly with Iran’s U.N. ambassador and participated in a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Federal law contains ethics rules for government employees that are specifically designed to protect the public from dangerous conflicts of interest and ensure government employees are working on behalf of the public interest rather than twisting government policy to line their own pockets,” the senator wrote. “As a member of the transition team, Mr. Musk is not a federal employee, but the conflicts he faces are enormous, and the need for him to be subject to similar ethics standards is obvious.” The Trump team’s ethics pledge requires members to disqualify themselves from transition matters in which they may have a direct financial conflict. Referencing that pledge in her letter, Warren asked if Musk had signed and complied with that standard. She asked the president-elect to respond by Dec. 23. In a statement provided to The Epoch Times, Trump–Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt waved off the senator’s concerns. “President Trump has assembled the most impressive and qualified team of innovators, entrepreneurs, and geniuses to advise and staff our government,” Leavitt said. She added: The Trump–Vance transition will continue to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards possible.”Initiative recognized with the AMCHAM Corporate Social Responsibility Award in 2020, highlighting its impact on conservation and sustainable development In a joint effort to restore and preserve marine biodiversity in Guanacaste , the Culebra Reef Garden project, led by Península Papagayo, the Marine and Limnological Research Center (CIMAR) of the University of Costa Rica, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), celebrates its fifth anniversary. Since 2019, the project has focused on the recovery of coral reefs, preserving more than 10,000 coral fragments thanks to the support of over 125 volunteers who have actively participated in this initiative. The project emerged in response to the global phenomenon of coral death, primarily in Culebra Bay, one of the most important spots for reefs in Costa Rica. In the 1990s, the coverage of reefs in the bay was 70%, but by 2019 it had reduced to just 4%. Predictions indicated a possible extinction of coral reefs between 2040 and 2050, which motivated the creation of this initiative with the aim of reversing the trend and ensuring a more sustainable future. “The coral restoration in Culebra Bay is a reflection of our commitment to the environment and sustainability.” We thank our volunteers, whose efforts are fundamental to the health of our marine ecosystems and the well-being of the communities that depend on them,” said Susana Vicente, Sustainability Director of Península Papagayo. The initiative began with planning workshops and training in restoration techniques, followed by the installation of coral nurseries at Playa Jícaro, then extending to Playa Viradores and Playa Blanca, promoting ecological restoration through coral gardening. Nurseries have also been integrated on the Pelonas Islands. In five years, the project has created more than 110 coral nurseries, housing over 10,000 growing fragments. This has allowed for the recovery of coral coverage by 15% to 20%, and has increased fish biomass and diversity by 50%. To celebrate its first 5 years of commitment to ocean protection and to highlight the importance of community collaboration in preservation, The project has reimagined its website ( https://culebrareefgardens.org/ ) to invite interested individuals to contribute from anywhere in the world: Adopt corals and structures Sign up for volunteer experiences in the various processes. Donate to the project Monitor your adopted corals The project has worked with four of the main coral species in the northern Pacific of Costa Rica: Porites lobata, Pavona clavus, Pavona gigantea, and Pocillopora elegans, with the latter being the one with the best growth and survival. In addition to its impact on marine biodiversity, the project was recognized with the AMCHAM award in the environmental category in 2020 and, in 2024, as a replicable initiative at the ocean conference “Inmersed in Change” in Barcelona. Vital for the balance of the oceans “Coral reefs are vital for the balance of the oceans, acting as carbon sinks and protecting our coasts from erosion.” “This project is key to strengthening these ecosystems to ensure long-term benefits,” explained Juan José Alvarado, a researcher at CIMAR. Since corals grow approximately 4 centimeters per year, the project has optimized their development in nurseries, eliminating sources of stress and creating favorable conditions, which has tripled the annual growth rate and facilitated the transplantation of corals, with a survival rate of 83%. Tags costa rica costa rica news Daily News National News news San Jose Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Edgewell Personal Care's chief supply chain officer sells stock for $165,266As the highly charged battle to decide on real 'Sena' will be settled on November 23, Saturday, Thane's Kopri-Pachpakhadi has emerged as a crucial seat where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is currently fighting against Uddhav Thackeray's faction leader Kedar Dighe. The Thane seat emerges as essential battleground as the Chief Minister has been winning this seat for every election, though with undivided Shiv Sena. This would be the first time when he is contesting on the seat after split in the Sena. Apart from looking forward to results, this seat holds importance for Shinde as his rival is nephew of Shinde's mentor the late Anand Dighe, who wielded immense influence in the Thane region as a Shiv Sena leader. Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly Elections 2024: Poll and result date The Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Maharashtra will go to the polls on November 20. The results for Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Maharashtra will be announced on November 23. Candidates for Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly Election 2024 The 2024 Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly election is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive race, with key political figures vying for the seat. Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde is contesting against his mentor's nephew, Kedar Prakash Dighe, from Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction. Additionally, Babukumar Kashinath Kamble is contesting on behalf of the Lokrajya Party. 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The poll season was dominated by conflicting narratives ranging from the opposition's planks on economic distress, farmers's woes, the Centre's "discrimination" against Maharashtra and the BJP's alleged role in breaking up the two regional parties. Meanwhile, the ruling alliance touted its welfare schemes, development projects and the Hindutva agenda against what it slammed as the MVA's appeasement politics. The election featured two major political alliances competing for a majority: Mahayuti alliance (NDA): Led by the BJP, the alliance includes Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP. Maha Vikas Aghadi (INDIA bloc): This opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar's faction of the NCP. Both groups campaigned extensively across the state, aiming to secure a mandate to govern Maharashtra. (with agency inputs) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )MEMPHIS 99, NO. 2 UCONN 97, OT

Askew also had six rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals for the Beach (3-8, 2-0 Big West Conference). Austin Johnson scored 14 points and added 10 rebounds. TJ Wainwright went 5 of 9 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points. The Rainbow Warriors (5-3, 0-1) were led in scoring by Marcus Greene, who finished with 17 points. Gytis Nemeiksa added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Hawaii. Akira Jacobs also had 11 points. Long Beach State takes on San Diego on the road on Tuesday, and Hawaii hosts Texas A&M-CC on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .