777pub pro

Despite the Congress party’s success in denting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s majoritarian dreams in the Lok Sabha elections, 2024 is a year most Indians are relieved to leave behind. Marked by calamities and few consolations, it’s a year everyone hopes will not be repeated in 2025. Among the few bright spots were examples of extraordinary courage. A. Sabeena, a nurse from Tamil Nadu, stands out for her heroism. She ziplined across the turbulent Chaliyar River in Wayanad, Kerala, to save 35 lives following a massive landslide that wiped out entire villages. Sabeena had seen footage of the devastation but was unprepared for the grim reality: bodies scattered, homes obliterated, and bridges destroyed. When no male nurses were available to cross the zipline built by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), she volunteered. “I wanted to do what I could to help. Everybody has to join hands during disasters,” she said matter-of-factly. Videos of her bravery went viral, earning her the Kalpana Chawla Award for Bravery from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Dr. Madhav Gadgil, the scientist behind the seminal Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report, was another hero of 2024. He was awarded the UN’s Champions of the Earth Award for his lifelong work in conservation and advocacy for marginalized communities. Gadgil’s 2021 report recommended declaring 75% of the Western Ghats—stretching across six states—an ecologically sensitive zone. However, the Kerala government rejected his recommendations, branding them anti-development. Politicians fueled anti-Gadgil sentiment, leading to rampant deforestation, illegal quarrying, and road construction—all contributing to the region’s landslide crises. At 82, Gadgil continues his advocacy, having founded India’s first biosphere reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in 1986. Equally remarkable is the resilience of Ritu Singh, a Dalit professor denied tenure at Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College in 2020. Singh claims her vocal advocacy for Dalit issues and opposition to RSS-backed upper-caste appointments cost her the position. Since her dismissal, Singh has protested outside the college gates, conducting classes on the Constitution and reading the Preamble to supporters. Her lawyer, Mehmood Pracha, poignantly described her plight in court, likening her to Eklavya, whose thumb was unjustly taken. Singh’s slogan, “Naukri nahi, nyay chahiye” (I demand justice, not a job), underscores her fight against systemic discrimination. On the flip side are figures whose actions—or lack thereof—warrant scrutiny. Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), faced allegations of conflict of interest. US-based short-seller Hindenburg accused her and her husband of investments in offshore funds linked to the Adani Group, potentially explaining SEBI’s tepid investigation into the conglomerate’s alleged accounting fraud and market manipulation. Further claims about Buch retaining ICICI employee stock options during her tenure at SEBI and alleged ties to equity firm Greater Pacific Capital added fuel to the fire. Despite denying these allegations, her credibility suffered. A protest by SEBI staff demanding her resignation and her absence from a Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee hearing on October 24 only deepened the controversy. Other government officials have also failed in their responsibilities. Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari admitted during Parliament’s Question Hour that road accidents claim 1.78 lakh lives annually, with 60% of victims aged 18–34. Gadkari candidly acknowledged the need for societal change and stricter enforcement of laws but has yet to introduce measures to curb this epidemic. His remark about avoiding Delhi during winter due to “itna bhayankar” (terrible) air pollution drew attention to the deteriorating air quality affecting millions in the National Capital Region. Yet, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav remains conspicuously silent on the issue. While BJP and Congress politicians blame each other, AAP’s Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has repeatedly sought a joint meeting with Yadav, to no avail. Studies, including those by The Lancet, report air pollution-related deaths in India rising from 4.5 million to 7.3 million in the past decade, underscoring the urgent need for action. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, nicknamed the “derailment minister” by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, has similarly evaded accountability. Frequent accidents—from signal failures to derailments—have resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. While Vaishnaw blames Congress for instilling fear among railway passengers, eleven railway unions have pointed out safety violations and staff shortages as key contributors to accidents. Their calls for prioritizing rail track renewals and filling vacant safety positions remain unanswered. As 2024 draws to a close, it’s clear that India’s heroes embody the resilience and courage needed to navigate crises, while its leaders must shoulder greater responsibility to ensure a better future. With hope as our compass, let’s work toward a brighter 2025. Rashme Sehgal is an author and an independent journalistCity launches new website to track progress made on Parker campaign promises

Daily year-round service will seamlessly connect our guests between the nation's capital and one of our key West Coast hubs SEATTLE , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines is proud to announce new nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), becoming the only airline to offer this direct route and enhance connectivity to the nation's capital. Tickets will soon be available for purchase on www.alaskaair.com . On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved our application as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 to operate roundtrip service between San Diego and DCA. For nearly 40 years, we've proudly served San Diego with the exceptional and caring service that we're known for. We've connected our guests to DCA since 2001 and today offer nonstop service from Seattle , Portland , San Francisco and Los Angeles . "We are pleased the DOT sees the value of Alaska providing direct service between San Diego and DCA, and we thank the many leaders, local businesses and organizations who supported our bid," said CEO Ben Minicucci. "This new route reflects our commitment to San Diego , home of the nation's largest military community, and offers our guests a seamless travel option to our nation's capital." "Today is a great day for the San Diego Region with the announcement of a new, nonstop flight to Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport. This flight will further connect our growing defense, research and innovation economies to our leaders in the Capitol," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria . "Securing this flight was a team effort by our partners from Alaska Airlines, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and our congressional delegation. I especially want to thank U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker for selecting San Diego as one of the five new DCA flight slot recipients." As the carrier with the most nonstop destinations from San Diego , Alaska will offer 40 nonstop destinations and more than 70 peak-day departures when our new service to DCA begins. Together with our Global Partners, we offer one-stop service from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to more than 330 destinations.* Currently, SAN has the greatest number of passengers of any U.S. airport without service to DCA. Whether you're flying nonstop or catching a connecting a flight at SAN, www.alaskaair.com has options for what works best for you: you can book flights on 22 partner airlines or redeem Mileage Plan miles, all on our site. "We are very pleased Alaska Airlines has received approval to begin nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport," said Kimberly J. Becker , president and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. " San Diego has been the largest origin-destination market without service to Reagan National Airport and it has significant defense, biotech, and communications technology sectors that require efficient access to the core of the national capital region. This new nonstop route will greatly enhance the connectivity between these two strategic regions for business and our leisure passengers." Alaska's elevated travel experience offers a blend of comfort and caring service for a seamless journey, including no change fees, the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class, satellite Wi-Fi and the most generous Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status. Savor the best of West Coast-inspired food and beverages, including complimentary snacks and chef-curated meals. With access to Alaska Lounge locations for members and First Class guests on flights more than 2,000 miles, you can unwind in ultimate comfort before take-off. Building off our newest Lounge in San Francisco , we're set to nearly double our footprint in 3 years. We recently announced a plan to continue expanding our Lounge program, including in San Diego and Honolulu , followed by a new world-class Lounge in Seattle to support international service. We'll begin with an expanded Anchorage Lounge early next year and open our new Portland Lounge in 2026. In September, we began adding more Premium Class seating across our mainline fleet, including our 900ERs, 800s and MAX9s. We plan to increase our 737-800 First Class seats from 12 to 16 to make it easy for our guests to upgrade and meet the demand for premium seating. In First Class, our new premium seating will provide a calf rest, new seatback device holder, 6-way headrest with neck support and USB-C charging capabilities. In our 737-800 Main Cabin and Premium Class, guests will continue to experience comfort and convenience at every seat with improved features, including new device holders with built in cup holders, USB-C charging and a 6-way headrest with dedicated neck support. *Peak-day AS+HA departures and YE1H25 destinations as of 12/16/24. Global Partner connecting destinations available round-trip on 12/19/24 (representative day) as of 12/16/24. **Out of any U.S. legacy airline excluding lie-flat seats About Alaska Air Group Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America , Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the one world Alliance. With one world and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com . Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog . Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK." View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-selected-to-connect-san-diego-and-ronald-reagan-washington-national-airport-with-nonstop-service-302334277.html SOURCE ALASKA AIRLINES

In a Nov. 22 decision, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled that a complaint of discrimination lodged against the Central Okanagan Board of Education will proceed to a hearing. A former student of George Elliot Secondary School in Lake Country, Faith Bigam, , alleging that she had been subject to discrimination by the School District No. 23 Board of Education, her school principal and a teacher. Bigam, who was in Grade 11 at the time of the incident, alleges that she was discriminated against "based on mental and physical disability." Bigam was diagnosed with , at 12 years old. According to the complaint, after years of building confidence, she voiced her desire to speak to the student body at George Elliot about her rare, degenerative condition in order to educate her peers. The complaint alleges that in 2019, a teacher, the school principal and the school district prevented Bigam from speaking at an assembly and then mishandled the aftermath of the situation. Bigam says that as a direct result of the incident, she was not able to return to George Elliot Secondary School. The presentation was scheduled for an upcoming school assembly and Bigam prepared a speech. There is contrasting evidence from Bigam, her mother and the teacher who was named in the complaint, about the incident that took place on the morning of the scheduled speech. According to tribunal documents, on the morning of the assembly, an interaction took place between Bigam, her mother and the teacher in charge of the assembly, that became heated. After a disagreement, it was decided that Bigam would not be present at the assembly. Bigam alleges that "everyone was raising their voices," and she felt embarrassed, panicked and began to cry. In a response to the complaint, the teacher alleges that she was not trying to prevent Bigam from speaking and says she did not raise her voice. She alleges that she was instead trying to work with Bigam to ensure the presentation fit with the theme of the assembly before the emotions escalated. After the incident, Bigam's parents spoke with and sent an email to the principal and the SD23, complaining about the interaction with the teacher regarding their daughter's now cancelled presentation at the assembly. The principal assured the family the matter was being taken "very seriously." Bigam stopped attending school after the incident. The school's vice-principal spoke with the BC Human Rights Tribunal and stated Bigam's mother was "adamant" that the teacher be fired and did not seem interested in an apology or “anything else”. Bigam never returned to George Elliot School, claiming she experienced stress, anxiety and emotional distress as a result of the altercation and graduated from an alternative learning program. Additionally, Bigam suffered a relapse of Multiple Sclerosis in June 2019, which her family alleges was spurred by the stress of the incident. Bigam says she missed out on important social and educational opportunities by not returning to the school. The BC Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed the complaint against both the teacher and principal but allowed the remainder of the complaint against the SD23. A date has yet to be set on the matter.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson won his first NFL MVP Award with Greg Roman as his offensive coordinator. But the honeymoon didn't last.Central Banks Dominate Markets Amid Rate Cuts and Inflation Concerns