Ifc global infrastructure fund

The sight of a fellow student being mocked during a school function five years ago is etched deep in Anoushka Jolly’s memories. But for this 13-year-old, that incident became the push to start a social initiative to stop bullying and provide a platform for students as wells as parents to report anonymously. The ‘Anti Bullying Squad (ABS)’, with help from educational institutions, social organisations and experts, has positively impacted over 2,000 students from over 100 schools and universities, said Jolly as she spoke about the digital platform, she formed three years ago. The Class 8 student has also come up with a mobile application called ‘Kavach’ and it allows students and parents to report incidents of bullying anonymously, giving opportunity to schools and counsellors to tactfully intervene and take action. The incident of the girl being bullied “got registered in my memory and I still cannot forget her face”, she was terrified and felt helpless, said Jolly, who was nine years … [Read more...] about 13-Yr-Old School Girl’s App to Fight Bullying in Schools Lands Rs 50 Lakh Funding Offer

BRUSSELS — The world economy is heading into a potentially grim period as rising costs, shortages of food and other commodities and Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine threaten to slow economic growth and bring about a painful global slump. Two years after the coronavirus pandemic emerged and left much of the globe in a state of paralysis, policymakers are grappling with ongoing challenges, including clogged supply chains , lockdowns in China and the prospect of an energy crisis as nations wean themselves off Russian oil and gas . Those colliding forces have some economists starting to worry about a global recession as different corners of the world find their economies battered by events. Finding ways to avoid a slowdown while continuing to exert pressure on Russia for its war in Ukraine will be the primary focus of finance ministers from the Group of 7 nations who are convening in Bonn, Germany, this week. At a news conference on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Janet L. … [Read more...] about Economic Headwinds Mount as Leaders Weigh Costs of Confronting Russia

EU countries and lawmakers agreed on Friday to tougher cybersecurity rules for large energy, transport and financial firms, digital providers and medical device makers amid concerns about cyber attacks by state actors and other malicious players. The European Commission two years ago proposed rules on the cybersecurity of network and information systems called NIS 2 Directive, in effect expanding the scope of the current rule known as NIS Directive. The new rules cover all medium and large companies in essential sectors – energy, transport, banking, financial market infrastructure, health, vaccines and medical devices, drinking water, waste water, digital infrastructure, public administration and space. All medium and large firms in postal and courier services, waste management, chemicals, food manufacturing, medical devices, computers and electronics, machinery equipment, motor vehicles, and digital providers such as online market places, online search engines, and social … [Read more...] about EU Governments, Lawmakers Agree on Tougher Cybersecurity Rules for Key Sectors

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive arm moved Wednesday to jump-start plans for the 27-nation bloc to abandon Russian energy amid the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, proposing a nearly 300 billion-euro ($315 billion) package that includes more efficient use of fuels and faster rollout of renewable power. The European Commission’s investment initiative is meant to help the 27 EU countries start weaning themselves off Russian fossil fuels this year. The goal is to deprive Russia, the EU’s main supplier of oil, natural gas and coal, of tens of billions in revenue and strengthen EU climate policies. “We are taking our ambition to yet another level to make sure that we become independent from Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels when announcing the package, dubbed REPowerEU. With no end in sight to Russia’s war in Ukraine and European energy security shaken, the EU is rushing to align its geopolitical … [Read more...] about EU rushes out $300 billion roadmap to ditch Russian energy

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A number of foreign dignitaries and heads of international organizations on Wednesday congratulated the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on its 70th anniversary. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who attended a video summit marking the anniversary, said Indonesia and China have a lot in common as trade cooperation has developed rapidly, and investment in various sectors, particularly in mining and metallurgy, electricity and infrastructure, manufacture, agriculture, and fishery, reflects common interests. Today, the world needs greater collective actions and inclusive collaborations between developed countries and developing economies, he said. Indonesia will optimize its G20 presidency for the matters, the president said. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said that looking to Asia is looking to the future of the world, and that is why Ecuador has made joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for … [Read more...] about Foreign dignitaries, heads of int’l organizations congratulate CCPIT on 70th anniversary

The first edition of Whitathon Run, being organised by LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), was flagged off by Sivangi Akhil, a retinoblastoma survivor, on Beach Road here on Sunday. Whitathon Run, initiated in 2018 at Hyderabad, is the institute’s annual event aimed at raising awareness and funds for early diagnosis and treatment of Retinoblastoma, a life and vision-threatening eye cancer in children. The run was organised in two categories – 3 km and 5 km. The T-shirt for the very first edition of Whitathon was unveiled by Innukurthi Venkateswara Rao, Dronacharya awardee and chief coach of the women international boxing team, and Usha Nagisetty, two-time silver medallist at the international senior world women boxing championship. One of the most common symptoms of retinoblastoma is white reflex (white glow) in a child’s eye. A ‘white reflex’ in a child’s eye could be a sign of eye cancer and needs immediate medical intervention. With the funds raised, LVPEI has been able to … [Read more...] about Whitathon Run held in Visakhapatnam to create awareness on retinoblastoma

The State Cabinet on Wednesday accorded sanction to the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation to purchase 700 new CNG buses by availing of a ₹455-crore loan from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) at 4% interest. The decision is seen as a leg-up to the financially ailing public utility which is struggling to pay salary to its employees. Moreover, spiralling fuel costs and a disgruntled workforce have further hobbled KSRTC functioning. SC/ST welfare The Cabinet decided to constitute monitoring committees in all Assembly constituencies for the effective, transparent and time-bound implementation of all Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe development programmes conceived by the government. The district SC/ST Development Officer/Assistant SC/ST Development Officer will be in charge of the monitoring committees. The local MLA will be the chairman and the SC Development Officer will be the convener of the committees. The members of the said committees will include … [Read more...] about ₹455-crore KIIFB loan for KSRTC to buy 700 CNG buses

After a crowded primary night, some of North Carolina and Pennsylvania ’s races are still too close to call this morning. Former president Donald Trump saw many of his preferred candidates triumph in both states, but others flopped or are in races that are too tight to call; we can expect plenty of arguments about who triumphed and who truly lost. Meanwhile in some races, progressive and moderate Democrats duked it out while in others, the field was clear. Here are some of the top takeaways from the events of last night. Firstly, it’s clear that while Trump’s endorsement helps, it isn’t a guarantee. As of Wednesday, it is still too early to determine whether Dr Mehmet Oz , the former television host that Trump endorsed, won or lost the Senate primary in Pennsylvania. But the fact that the ex-president’s backing failed to slingshot him far ahead of the pack shows that a Trump endorsement won’t override reservations conservatives have about a candidate – as many did with Dr Oz, … [Read more...] about From Madison Cawthorn to Dr Oz, who really won and lost on Trump’s big primary night

Sawdust will be a key component in tomorrow's toilets. It is part of the basic kit that makes up a composting toilet, at least those created by S'Klo, a company from the Black Forest in Germany. Most other firms in the business use a similar model. Fridolin Einwald and Michael Heizmann build the toilets themselves and deliver them when clients order them for use at a wedding, say, or a company party or to be dotted along a hiking trail. According to Einwald, many of their clients are "nature-oriented and environmentally aware". The thinking with this kind of toilet is to save water by using sawdust instead of flushing away the waste. The sawdust stops faecal odours from forming, says Einwald. "At worst, it smells like a farm." His concern is not to waste drinking water. "A lot of people don't even think about what happens when we flush the toilet." After using this composting toilet, you cover the waste with sawdust, instead of flushing it away. Every day, each … [Read more...] about Composting toilets help to conserve water

Marred by a host of unnecessary controversies, the second Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is seeking to refurbish its sagging public image as it celebrates its first anniversary on Friday. Right from the formation of the Cabinet to the latest round of verbal one-upmanship between Health Minister Veena George of the CPI(M) and Deputy Speaker and Communist Party of India leader Chittayam Gopakumar, the one-year regime of the LDF has earned some bad press. However, the politically trouble-free Left coalition can fervently hope to implement some of its poll promises, especially the ambitious Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod semi-high-speed rail (SilverLine) project, even as the Thrikkakara Assembly bypoll outcome may throw up challenges to the Pinarayi Vijayan government. Given its dominant position in the sweepstakes, a CPI(M) triumph in the tightly contested bypoll will bolster the confidence of the Left government. On the other … [Read more...] about On first anniversary, Pinarayi govt. seeks to better its public image