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CJP Abhijeet Dipke leaves for India from US ahead of big Delhi protest: 'Fate in hands of Constitution'

Abhijeet Dipke leaves US ahead of Delhi protest tomorrow: 'Fate in hands of Constitution'

Fitness certificate delay leaves 61 schools in Kottayam in limbo

School managements attribute delay to uncertainty over the agency conducting fitness inspections. Official sources say inspections have been completed in 57 schools and issuance of certificates is largely a matter of procedural formalities

Sewage-mixed water leaves hundreds ill in Ahmedabad housing societies

According to officials, a leaking pipeline led to mixing of sewage with the Narmada water supply to the area.

The FIFA World Cup transit test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.

Country over IPL? Pat Cummins leaves 2027 participation in doubt

Australian captain Pat Cummins is considering skipping IPL 2027 due to a demanding international schedule. With major tours and tournaments ahead, he indicated that franchise cricket might be sacrificed to prioritize national duties. Cummins emphasized Test matches and the ODI World Cup as his primary focus, suggesting workload management for the pace attack is crucial.

DK Shivakumar oath ceremony LIVE: Rahul Gandhi leaves for Bengaluru for DKS' oath ceremony, city decked up

DK Shivakumar oath ceremony LIVE: Security was beefed up outside the residence of Karnataka chief minister-designate DK Shivakumar on Wednesday morning, hours ahead of his oath-taking ceremony.

Tirupati gets new eco-friendly waste disposal technology

The initiative does not require incineration, leaves zero residue, and generates fuel as well

Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road traffic crawls as rain leaves the stretch flooded

Shrinking Green Cover Leaves 76% Delhi Persistently Heat-Stressed, Finds New Report

The city’s green cover reduced from 25.36% in 2014 to 14.14% in 2024, while waterbody extent shrank from 1.25% to 0.99% over the same period

Bear Attack Leaves 4 Injured In North Japan

In the last fiscal year to March, bear sightings nationwide topped 50,000.

No sick leaves, 10% pay cut per personal day: Viral HR call leaves Internet stunned — ‘How is this even allowed?’

During a shocking 10-minute call, the company said it had a “flexible” policy that did not allow any sick or personal leave

Mumbai engineer leaves corporate job for cab business, now earns ₹2 lakh a month: 'You have to take risks'

According to the driver, he found little satisfaction in the salary offered after completing his engineering degree. Rather than continuing in a role that paid around ₹30,000 per month, he decided to invest his time and effort in building a business of his own.

Six arrested in Assam after months of abuse leaves 12-year-old girl pregnant

The arrests took place in Majuli, a river island district in Assam, following a criminal complaint filed by the girl’s family on Sunday.

Accused Dies In Encounter After Assam Attack Leaves 1 Dead, Girl Critical

Police sources said Roz Ali was arrested within hours of the incident.

'Wait For Two Days': Annamalai Drops Big Hint On New Venture Amid Strong Buzz Around BJP Exit

K Annamalai leaves for Delhi amid speculation he may quit BJP, hints at announcement in two days as supporters rally in Coimbatore.

Indian Employees Feel Burnout, Yet Over 80% Don't Exhaust Their Leaves

Only 17.2 per cent of Indian employees exhausted their annual leave entitlement.

Bengaluru man protests on road after VIP convoy leaves his pregnant wife stranded

A traffic jam on Old Airport Road, exacerbated by underpass construction, sparked public outrage after a man with his pregnant wife protested being stuck for nearly 30 minutes due to the Governor's convoy. The incident has reignited debates on VIP culture, with police launching an inquiry into the alleged 30-minute halt.

Nvidia CEO leaves a 'timeless note' outside bathroom wall in Taiwan's capital

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's reputation as a street-food influencer grew with a playful bathroom wall note at Taipei's Raohe Street Night Market. His global culinary trail, from Vietnam to the U.S., highlights his enduring connection to local food scenes. Meanwhile, Huang also addressed AI's impact on jobs, dismissing the notion of widespread layoffs as a 'lazy' narrative.

Massive Traffic Jam Near Joshimath Leaves Badrinath Pilgrims Stranded Amid Heavy Rush | Video

Massive traffic congestion near Joshimath in Chamoli stranded thousands of Badrinath pilgrims, with vehicle queues stretching kilometres as Char Dham Yatra rush intensifies.

Woman leaves IT manager job to drive auto-rickshaw: 'Left all pressure, stress and constant tension behind'

According to Midhlaj, the woman revealed that she had previously spent nine years working as an IT manager before deciding to leave the corporate sector behind.