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New Delhi, Jun 26: As many as 423 infrastructure projects, each entailing an investment of Rs 150 crore or more, have been hit by cost overruns of more than Rs 4.95 lakh crore, as per a report. According to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which monitors infrastructure projects of Rs 150 crore and above, out of 1,568 projects, 423 reported cost overruns and as many as 721 projects were delayed. “Total original cost of implementation of the 1,568 projects was Rs 21,59,802.67 crore and their anticipated completion cost is …Rs 26,54,818.05 crore, which reflects overall cost overruns of Rs 4,95,015.38 crore (22.92 per cent of original cost),” the ministry’s latest report for May 2022 said. According to the report, the expenditure incurred on these projects till May 2022 is Rs 13,42,535.22 crore, which is 50.57 per cent of the anticipated cost of the projects. However, the number of delayed projects decreases to 563 if delay is calculated on the basis of the latest … [Read more...] about Over 400 Infrastructure Projects Show Cost Overruns of Rs 4.95 Lakh Crore: Govt

It’s been over 100 years since the Spanish Flu outbreak swept across the world. It is a disease that has become synonymous with the Covid-19 pandemic , a cautionary tale of the destruction a flu virus can have on a global population. But did you know it is not actually Spanish? That the disease itself likely did not originate in Spain? Instead, it is named the “Spanish” flu because the Spanish media reported on this new and deadly disease, whilst other countries, beaten down by the First World War and wanting to keep morale up, simply did not . Understandably, Spain was none too happy about being saddled with “ownership” of the killer virus, preferring to pass the buck, locally calling the H1N1 influenza strain the “French flu” and the “Soldier of Naples.” But the name stuck, all because the media at the time had hit on an “easy” shorthand for a complicated disease. It may make sense to use these simple shorthands when reporting disease outbreak, but they are not … [Read more...] about Monkeypox isn’t ‘Black’ or ‘gay’ – it’s global

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russia was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region, “pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, the local governor said Monday, as Western leaders met to discuss ways of bolstering support for Kyiv. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces were pummeling Lysychansk after capturing the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. It's part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukrainian government control in what Western experts say has become the new main goal of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, now in its fifth month. “They’re pouring fire on the city both from the air and from the ground. After the takeover of Sievierodonetsk, the enemy army has concentrated all its forces on capturing (our) last stronghold in the Luhansk … [Read more...] about Russia ‘pouring fire’ on Ukrainian city as offensive mounts

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 26 ELMAU, Germany (AP) — Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for “as long as it takes” with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. The new aid and efforts by the Group of Seven leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. U.S. … [Read more...] about G-7 leaders confer with Zelenskyy, prep new aid for Ukraine

The development of the internet has completely transformed the way we do business; and the “oldest profession” is no exception. In a world of online chatrooms, webcam performers can market anything from conversation to explicit sex acts. And unlike pornography or prostitution, there are virtually no laws regulating this form of sex work. Webcamming is an easy market to enter. All it takes is a computer, a decent webcam, access to a high-speed internet connection and a webcam hosting site. The hours are flexible, the working environment is safe and the salary can be very rewarding. The majority of performers are women, but there are also male and transgender performers. On sites such as Chaturbate and MyFreeCams, a tipping system operates in public chatrooms. Here, payment is voluntary, and performers are tipped for performing sexual and non-sexual acts. This makes a show profitable for the performer, at a relatively low cost to the viewer. Recommended Mother … [Read more...] about Webcamming: The sex work revolution that no one is willing to talk about

Price rise is bad. It pinches you where it hurts the most. You have to rethink and regroup your life and plans. However, when premium rates are raised, as in many things in insurance, it is not exactly what it seems to be. An increase in premium is an indication of something good because it is still a promise that your increasing losses will be reimbursed. Increasing claims When insurance companies increase premium rates, they are catching up with increasing claims. The way it works in the real world, they rarely are ahead of that race. There may be a higher number of claims (as during COVID-19 or a natural disaster), claims of higher value (due to rising cost of healthcare or car repairs or whatever) or a combination of both. Price rises as well as unforeseen events can through the economics of insurance into disarray. Add to this the complications of investment returns with interest rate drops and tanking stock markets. Higher claims logically lead to less profits or … [Read more...] about An insurance premium rate increase isn’t always bad!

With much pomp and pageantry, China launched its third aircraft carrier this month. The Type 003, now named Fujian, is China’s biggest, most modern and most powerful aircraft carrier. At 80,000 tons and 318 meters, the Fujian outstrips all but America’s supercarriers, the new USS Gerald R. Ford-class. The vessel is named Fujian, after the Chinese province that sits across from Taiwan. This is China’s third aircraft carrier and second indigenously produced carrier after Liaoning and Shandong. The prior was purchased from Ukraine and commissioned in 2012, while the latter was manufactured in Dalian Shipyard and commissioned with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in 2019. Besides power projections in the near seas (Yellow Sea, East China Sea and the South China Sea), both Liaoning and Shandong are essentially classified as training ships and are intended to allow the Chinese Navy to experiment, train and gain familiarity with aircraft carrier operations — a relatively new domain … [Read more...] about What Does China’s New Aircraft Carrier Say About Its Technology and Strategy

The United Arab Emirates offered assistance to Russia and Ukraine in an event of a possible prisoner exchange, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported citing people familiar with the developments. The people also told RIA Novosti the proposal sent by the Emirati is being considered as both nations finalize lists of prisoners scheduled to be swapped. Russia and Ukraine have claimed that both nations have captured hundreds of prisoners of war (POWs) since Russia’s war on Ukraine on February 24. Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu in the first week of June said Russian forces have captured more than 6,500 Ukrainian fighters. The Ukrainian government earlier in June said that 11 rounds of prisoner swaps have been organized since the outbreak of the war. Dozens of prisoners were swapped in those rounds. Both nations have accused each other’s forces of committing war crimes and atrocities and mistreating civilians and POWs. Videos surfaced where Ukrainian forces were seen … [Read more...] about UAE Offers To Help Mediate Prisoner Swap Between Russia, Ukraine

The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ordered a four-month suspension in exports and re-exports of wheat and wheat flour imported from India. The state-run news agency said that the ministry of economy of the UAE took the decision due to disruptions in global trade flows. The ministry also stated that the grain was exported by the UAE for its domestic consumption. “The resolution applies to all wheat varieties (spelt), namely hard, ordinary, and soft wheat, and wheat flour (spelt flour)… This decision comes in view of the international developments that have affected trade flows and in appreciation of the solid and strategic relations that bind the UAE and India, especially after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries and the Indian government’s approval to export wheat to the UAE for domestic consumption,” the ministry said in a release. The UAE government’s move means that many nations (mostly rich and developed … [Read more...] about ‘In Appreciation Of The Solid Relations…’: UAE Bans Export, Re-export Of Indian Wheat

Upset relatives at an Indian wedding aren’t a new thing but for this groom from Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, the dissatisfaction of his friend could cost him Rs 50 lakh. The friend was reportedly unhappy after the baraat left prior to the time mentioned in the wedding card. He decided to take extreme measures and has filed a lawsuit in a local court. According to an Amar Ujala report, the groom, Ravi, had asked one of his friends, Chandrashekhar, to distribute wedding cards on his behalf. The card specified that the wedding procession was supposed to leave at 5 pm. However, when Chandrashekhar, accompanied by other friends, reached the groom’s house at the specified time, the procession had already left. And to add to their disappointment, the groom asked the friends to go back to their home because they were late. The response left Chandrashekhar extremely miffed and he decided to sue the groom for defamation. Chandrashekhar claimed that he was mentally tortured by the people who he … [Read more...] about Haridwar Man Sues Groom for Rs 50 Lakh after ‘Baraat’ Leaves him Behind