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Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Repurposed school bldgs help in boosting women's incomes
Ranchi: Over 35,000 women entrepreneurs and self-help groups across five districts benefited from repurposed govt assets, primarily unused school buildings, which are eventually used for economic and administrative activities. The initiative, led by Grant Thornton Bharat LLP (GTB) with support from the Gates Foundation and in collaboration with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) under its PALASH programme, is helping women achieve sustainable, women-led development. Currently, the initiative benefits women in 15 blocks across Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribag, Bokaro, and Seraikela Kharsawan. The programme has repurposed more than 50 such assets into hubs of economic empowerment and social cohesion. The initiative converts vacant or abandoned primary school buildings into offices, training centres, storage facilities, and processing units. These spaces provide safe, cost-free environments for community-based organisations such as producer groups, cluster level federations, farmer producer organisations, and village organisations. Khurshida, a participatory resource person from Raghunathpur village, Chanho block, Ranchi, said, "Earlier, we used to operate our cluster-level federation office from a rented room for Rs 1,800 per month. It was congested and inadequate for holding meetings. We now have a spacious, rent-free building for our activities. The saved amount is being reinvested in printing registers for SHGs and village organisers. We're also planning to offer sewing and beautician training for local women." Anamika Sinha, a consultant at Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, said, "We've reached five districts and plan to expand further. The journey began with an asset-mapping pilot in Katkamsandi block of Hazaribag, which successfully demonstrated the potential of leveraging existing public infrastructure to support rural women's entrepreneurship. Encouraged by the outcomes, the initiative was scaled up with vital support from the rural development and education departments of the state govt, which provided approvals for the reallocation of unused school buildings. "
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi hospitals told to paint ‘red cross' on rooftops
The Delhi government on Friday directed its hospitals to implement emergency preparedness measures, including prominently marking their rooftops with the Red Cross symbol, increasing their medicine stocks, ensuring backup power systems are operational, and clearing basements to serve as makeshift shelters amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The directions were issued by the Delhi health department in an official order on Friday, accessed by HT, instructing all 38 Delhi government-run hospitals to urgently carry out a set of precautionary actions. Among the most visible of these measures is the requirement to paint the roofs of all hospitals with the Red Cross emblem, a move aimed at protecting healthcare facilities during potential aerial attacks by identifying them as protected sites under international humanitarian law. Hospitals have been also asked to give updates the progress of the painting work, the officials cited above said. Out of Delhi's 38 government hospitals, around 25—including Lok Nayak, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, GTB, and Indira Gandhi Hospital—confirmed by Friday evening that they had begun painting their rooftops, while some informed authorities that they had requested the Public Works Department (PWD) to undertake the task. The department also asked hospitals to submit updated inventories of essential medicines, verify the functionality of their generators (GENSETS), and finalise a Hospital Disaster Management Plan. Each hospital has been directed to conduct a mock drill by Saturday, March 10, to test readiness. Some, like Lok Nayak and GTB, began staff briefings on Friday in preparation. 'Lok Nayak is conducting mock drill training for our hospital along with GB Pant and Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC),' said Dr Ritu Saxena, chief medical officer at Lok Nayak and disaster management expert. All hospitals have been issued detailed Hospital Safety & Disaster Preparedness guidelines authored by Dr Saxena. These guidelines advise citizens to familiarise themselves with air raid sirens—long wails indicate an alert, while short bursts mean all-clear—and identify shelter areas such as basements and underground car parks. During drills or actual alerts, all outdoor activity must stop immediately, and people should calmly move to designated shelters. Hospitals have been specifically asked to adopt a 'Contingency Planning' strategy to utilise cleared-out basements for shelter and evacuation purposes. 'Hospitals must be clearly marked with the Red Cross, Red Crescent, or Red Crystal symbols to benefit from the protection provided under international humanitarian law,' the guidelines note. Additionally, the government on Thursday asked hospitals to ensure fire safety measures, including ensuring the availability of fire extinguishers, without exception. Hospitals are required to report on the adequacy of their existing manpower – especially in emergency care roles such as surgeons, anaesthetists, orthopaedicians, and burn specialists. Data has also been sought on ICU bed availability, operational ventilators, and oxygen supplies. Nodal officers responsible for trauma and emergency response must also be identified with their contact information. To ensure full mobilisation, the Delhi government on Thursday cancelled all leave for doctors in government hospitals. The order was reiterated on Friday with fresh instructions from hospital authorities directing all doctors currently on leave to return to duty. 'I had applied for leave and was on my way to catch the train at 11.30pm on Friday night to go to my hometown in Bikaner. However, soon after I was told on Friday night to cancel my leave, I got my tickets canceled. A fresh order was issued by the hospital informing us that leaves for all doctors have been canceled till further orders,' said Inayat Ali, nursing officer from Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Medical superintendents and directors have been told to submit compliance reports on an urgent basis.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari 296 Speciale revealed with 868bhp and radical aero set-up
The new Ferrari 296 Speciale is billed as the 'most fun to drive, emotionally charged' car the marque has built yet, with its 868bhp claimed to be 'very close' to the limit of what a rear-wheel-drive car can offer. Priced from €407,000 (£349,000) in Italy and offered in both coupé and spider forms, it packs 49bhp more than the 296 GTB, has 20% more downforce and is 60kg lighter. However, it is 'not just an exercise where we put a few additional horsepower', said Ferrari marketing chief Enrico Galliera. The Speciale instead represents a more comprehensive engineering effort. For instance, its twin-turbo V6 uses aluminium pistons and the titanium conrods from the new F80 hypercar, and the head is secured to the block with titanium bolts. This has allowed an increase in combustion chamber pressure of 7%, boosting the V6's output from the previous 654bhp to 690bhp. Moreover, the crankcase has been shaved down to save 1.2kg and the turbo design has been reworked to shed another 1.2kg. Ferrari has also doubled the size of the 'hot tube' – the sound pipe linking the engine bay and cabin – to improve the sound quality and volume of the V6. Revised cooling for the hybrid system has unlocked a further 13bhp, independent of the V6. 'We are very, very close to the limit of the maximum horsepower that we can manage for a rear-wheel-drive car,' said development chief Gianmaria Fulgenzi. With that in mind, an aerodynamic overhaul has resulted in a redesign of the 296's rear end, inspired by the Challenge and GT3 racers. This has brought about the fitment of two winglets atop the car's rear haunches and a small active spoiler that rises from the back end – from just above the Prancing Horse badge. The spoiler has three possible positions and adjusts based on the steering angle and throttle position. It plays a key role in boosting the car's maximum downforce by 20% compared with the 296 GTB, with 435kg at 155mph. The damper and spring set-up has been revised, bringing a 5mm drop in ride height and a claimed 13% reduction in maximum body lean when cornering. The cockpit has been reworked to minimise weight, with new seats that are said to be 5kg lighter than those in the 296 GTB. There is more carbonfibre than before, including on a new single-piece door card, and the new steering wheel swaps the previous unit's touchsensitive control pads for traditional buttons. Ferrari said the Speciale will not be strictly limited in number but by the time it spends in production, which will be significantly shorter than for the GTB. It will be 'very exclusive', said Galliera. Ferrari will offer the car only to what it calls 'active' clients: those who have bought a new or approved-used car (or maintained an older car) through an official dealer within the past five years. ]]>
30-04-2025
- Automotive
Ferrari Unleashes the 296 Speciale for 2026 with Blistering Power
Ferrari has officially pulled the wraps off the 296 Speciale and its convertible twin, the 296 Speciale A, in the brand's legendary hometown of Maranello. That's where our colleague, Saheb Shashaa, got an exclusive look at the latest chapter in Ferrari's hybrid supercar saga. Set to arrive as a 2026 model, the Ferrari 296 Speciale is a mid-engine hybrid coupe that redefines dynamic driving in Maranello's current lineup and across its class. Building on the foundation of the 296 GTB, the Speciale elevates output to a staggering 880 horsepower—700 hp from its twin-turbo V6 and another 180 hp from a plug-in hybrid system—marking a 50 hp increase over the GTB. With a weight reduction of 60 kg, Ferrari has achieved a class-leading 1.60 kg/hp power-to-weight ratio, the best yet for a rear-engined coupé from the brand. Thanks to active aerodynamic solutions like an air brake and sculpted side winglets, downforce has been boosted by 20%, reaching 435 kg at 250 km/h. Handling is sharpened with a bespoke suspension setup, the latest generation ABS Evo, and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The V6 powerplant is enhanced with motorsport-grade upgrades including titanium connecting rods and a lighter crankshaft. It's paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) for razor-sharp gear changes. Visually, the Speciale takes heavy inspiration from Ferrari's racing DNA. A prominent front splitter and aggressive rear wing define its exterior presence. It rides on staggered 20-inch wheels—245/35 ZR20 at the front (J9.0) and 305/35 ZR20 at the rear (J11.0)—wrapped in track-ready Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Key Dimensions and Weight Length: 4625 mm Width: 1968 mm Height: 1181 mm Wheelbase: 2600 mm Dry Weight: 1410 kg Weight Distribution: 40% front / 60% rear Fuel Tank: 65 liters (with 10-liter reserve) Front Luggage Compartment: 169 liters Rear Storage: 112 liters Powertrain & Hybrid System Under the hood lies a 2992cc twin-turbo V6 producing 700 hp at 8000 rpm and 755 Nm at 6000 rpm, mated to an eight-speed F1-style DCT. Supplementing the combustion unit is an electric motor powered by a 7.45 kWh battery, generating an additional 154 hp. It allows for up to 25 km of electric-only driving at speeds not exceeding 135 km/h. Combined, the hybrid system delivers a total output of 880 hp. Performance Stats Top Speed: Over 330 km/h 0–100 km/h: 2.8 seconds 0–200 km/h: 7.0 seconds Fiorano Lap Time: 1 minute 19 seconds Acoustic Engineering While rooted in the signature sound of the 296 GTB, the Speciale takes audio immersion to the next level. The engine's acoustics benefit from less restrictive design, richer high-frequency tones, and enhanced volume. Ferrari also developed new audio pathways and integrated advanced 3D sound simulation. The drop-top variant doubles the number of internal sound channels compared to the GTB, with redesigned positioning for a more spatially refined auditory experience. A specially developed piping system delivers raw V6 engine noise directly into the cabin. Interior Philosophy Inside, the 296 Speciale follows Ferrari's modern Speciale blueprint—stripped-down yet refined. Compared to the GTB, the cabin is simplified with fewer individual elements, contributing to weight savings. Extensive carbon fiber and Alcantara use give it a motorsport-focused ambiance. Even the aluminum trim and component layout are optimized to align with the car's lightweight ethos. With this launch, Ferrari adds another icon to its Speciale lineage—one that blends power, precision, and emotional engagement like no other.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Ferrari 296 Speciale unveiled with 880 bhp, is the hardcore version of the 296 GTB
Ferrari 296 Speciale features a power increase to 880 hp and significant weight reduction. Ferrari has unveiled the new 296 Speciale in the global market. It is the more hardcore version of the standard model, which is the 296 GTB. The new model will be sold in two body styles - Coupe and Aperta. The brand has added track focused upgrades, more power and reduced the weight as well. Ferrari 296 Speciale: Most powerful RWD Ferrari road car Total power has increased to 880 hp, a 50 hp gain over the GTB, making it the most powerful rear-wheel-drive Ferrari road car to date. Aerodynamic changes are equally significant. Downforce is up 20 per cent compared to the GTB, with 435 kg generated at 250 kmph. Weight reduction has been another major focus. At 60 kg lighter than the GTB, the 296 Speciale features carbon-fibre bodywork, titanium engine parts and a pared-down interior. The result is a weight of just 1,410 kg (coupe), which translates to a class-leading power-to-weight ratio of 1.6 kg per horsepower – again, a record for a rear-drive Ferrari. The five aspects that the brand says have been improved are sound, gear shifts, braking, acceleration and lateral grip. The 3.0-litre V6 engine that is turbocharged now puts out 698 bhp. There are electric motors that have a power output of up to 178 bhp and torque is 315 Nm in the Qualify driving mode. Ferrari says the total power output from the combine setup stands at around 878 bhp. It comes mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels only. Because it is a hybrid, there is a battery pack which has a capacity of 7.45 kWh and it has an electric-only range of 25 km. The interior uses a lot of carbon fibre, racing bucket seats and gated design for the gearbox shifter. Ferrari 296 Speciale: What are the acceleration times? Ferrari claims that the 296 Speciale can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 2.8 seconds 200 kmph comes up in 7 seconds. Also Read : Man's dream Ferrari 458 Spider went up in flames just an hour after being delivered Ferrari 296 Speciale: What are the aerodynamic changes? The bodywork on the track-focused car is new to provide better aerodynamics. The newly designed vertical fins at the edges of the bumper enhance wake management and minimize drag; they also feature an upward curve, with the shape of the horizontal surface contributing to increased downforce. These aerodynamic components have been adapted from the 296 Challenge and the FXX K, and are integrated into a cohesive unit in this design. The front of the vehicle features a redesigned duct that facilitates the movement of air from beneath the chassis to above it, a characteristic inspired by the 296 Challenge. Additionally, there are enhanced louvres on the sides, aerodynamic fins at the edges of the bumper, and a significantly more pronounced splitter to improve airflow around and beneath the vehicle. New side winglets are also available. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 30 Apr 2025, 17:07 PM IST
