News for 'Public Health and Safety'

HC permits statutory activities during poll code, quashes Maha circular

HC permits statutory activities during poll code, quashes Maha circular

Rediff.com8 Nov 2024

"What would be prohibited is the creation of any fanfare and holding of ceremonies with the involvement of political functionaries," it observed.

Govt headhunter fails to find right candidate for BPCL top job

Govt headhunter fails to find right candidate for BPCL top job

Rediff.com2 Mar 2025

After HPCL, the government headhunter struggled to find a suitable candidate for the top job at Bharat Petroleum, as most applicants were narrow specialists lacking multidisciplinary experience needed to run a large organisation. The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) last month interviewed a dozen candidates including BPCL director (finance) Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta and its director (refineries) S Khanna but found none suitable for the job of chairman and managing director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), according to a PESB order.

The C P Radhakrishnan You Didn't Know

The C P Radhakrishnan You Didn't Know

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

'In my 26 years at Raj Bhavan, working with more than ten governors, I can tell you C P Radhakrishnan Sir stands out.'

Modi's visit: Drones, kites, balloons banned in Mumbai

Modi's visit: Drones, kites, balloons banned in Mumbai

Rediff.com15 May 2024

Modi is scheduled to hold a campaign roadshow in Ghatkopar in eastern Mumbai on Wednesday and address a public meeting in the city on Friday.

Centre To Boost States' Heatwave Plans

Centre To Boost States' Heatwave Plans

Rediff.com9 Jun 2025

About 57 per cent of Indian districts, home to 76 per cent of the country's population, are currently at high to very high risk from extreme heat.

Red alert issued in Kerala's Palakkad for high UV radiation

Red alert issued in Kerala's Palakkad for high UV radiation

Rediff.com13 Mar 2025

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has declared a red alert in Palakkad district due to high levels of ultraviolet radiation. The UV index has been recorded at 11, with the highest levels occurring between 10 am and 3 pm. The KSDMA has advised the public to take safety precautions, including wearing protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses, and avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Crores attend Maha Kumbh, but no call drops or slow internet

Crores attend Maha Kumbh, but no call drops or slow internet

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

Telecom service providers and the Maha Kumbh Mela administration are on their toes to ensure smooth connectivity at the grand event set to witness record teledensity.

India's First Dengue Vaccine Likely To Be Ready By 2026

India's First Dengue Vaccine Likely To Be Ready By 2026

Rediff.com30 Jul 2024

Dengue has become a major public health concern in India with 289,235 cases reported last year. This year there were 19,447 cases of dengue which resulted in 19 deaths till April 2024.

'Guys desperate to get back but safety is paramount'

'Guys desperate to get back but safety is paramount'

Rediff.com8 May 2020

England Test captain Joe Root is keen to play international cricket this summer but not by compromising on quality of the game or its intensity, the 29-year-old has said. With professional cricket suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering playing the series against West Indies and Pakistan behind closed doors.

6 killed, over 70 injured in stampede at Goa temple festival

6 killed, over 70 injured in stampede at Goa temple festival

Rediff.com3 May 2025

At least six people were killed and 30 injured in a stampede during a temple festival in North Goa, India. The incident occurred at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, around 40 km from Panaji, as thousands of devotees thronged the narrow lanes to the temple for the annual festival.

Biden unveils health team; names Vivek Murthy as surgeon general

Biden unveils health team; names Vivek Murthy as surgeon general

Rediff.com7 Dec 2020

Dr Anthony Fauci has been named as Chief Medical Adviser to the President on COVID-19, while Dr Rochelle Walensky has been named as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith as COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair.

Safety concerns over Maggi noodles back to haunt Nestle

Safety concerns over Maggi noodles back to haunt Nestle

Rediff.com30 Nov 2017

This time food regulators found excess presence of ash content in Maggi

Companies Join Battle Against Sugar, Salt

Companies Join Battle Against Sugar, Salt

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

Mondelez, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle India have been working on bringing down the sugar, salt, and sodium content.

Unloading of Union Carbide waste begins in MP's Dhar

Unloading of Union Carbide waste begins in MP's Dhar

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

The unloading of 337 tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal began at an incineration unit in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. The exercise, which commenced amid protests from locals concerned about its impact on health and environment, is being carried out following safety regulations. The waste, comprising soil, reactor residues, pesticide remnants, and other materials, has been transported from Bhopal to Pithampur for disposal. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has asserted that the chemical effects of certain substances in the waste have diminished. The local administration has launched an awareness campaign to address concerns regarding the disposal process.

Rana identified Delhi for terror attack akin to 26/11: Court

Rana identified Delhi for terror attack akin to 26/11: Court

Rediff.com14 Apr 2025

A court in New Delhi has sent Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to 18 days of National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody. The court cited the need for sustained interrogation to uncover the extent of the conspiracy and the involvement of multiple targets across India, including New Delhi. Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman and close associate of 26/11 conspirator David Coleman Headley, was extradited to India after the US Supreme Court dismissed his review plea against his extradition.

In phone call to Ukraine president, Modi emphasises on N-safety

In phone call to Ukraine president, Modi emphasises on N-safety

Rediff.com4 Oct 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday and asserted that there can be no military solution to the Ukraine conflict, while also underlining that endangerment of nuclear facilities could have catastrophic consequences.

2 Chinese arrested for smuggling 'biological pathogen' into US

2 Chinese arrested for smuggling 'biological pathogen' into US

Rediff.com4 Jun 2025

FBI director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest on X and called the case a "sobering reminder" that the CCP is working to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target the food supply in the US.

Pneumonia outbreak in China: Centre asks states to...

Pneumonia outbreak in China: Centre asks states to...

Rediff.com26 Nov 2023

The Union health ministry has advised states to immediately review public health preparedness in view of recent reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness in children in northern China.

Why Calcutta Remains A City Of Bhoy

Why Calcutta Remains A City Of Bhoy

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

A year after the RG Kar rape-murder Swarupa Dutt/Rediff look at the city where it happened, Kolkata -- its study in dichotomy, at once the self-proclaimed cultural capital of India as also a petri dish for a peculiar rage that breeds crimes against women.

Banks' Digital Push Risks Customers' Safety

Banks' Digital Push Risks Customers' Safety

Rediff.com28 Jul 2023

We as customers have to be conscious and careful to sidestep numerous types of frauds made possible under a mindless shift to a digital ecosystem without customer-redress procedures, warns Debashis Basu.

LMV licence holders can drive heavy vehicles: SC

LMV licence holders can drive heavy vehicles: SC

Rediff.com6 Nov 2024

The judgment from a five-judge Constitution bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, offers clarity on licensing regulations and is expected to prevent insurance companies from rejecting claims based on the type of licence of drivers involved in accidents.

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Indians Are Saying NO To SUGAR!

Rediff.com9 May 2024

With rising incomes, education, and health awareness in India, especially in the big cities, droves of people are saying no to sugar.

1 killed, 3 injured as Kamakhya Express derail in Odisha

1 killed, 3 injured as Kamakhya Express derail in Odisha

Rediff.com30 Mar 2025

The train was heading to Kamakhya station in Assam's Guwahati from Bengaluru.

Why 'Swastha Bharat' needs the e-health push

Why 'Swastha Bharat' needs the e-health push

Rediff.com13 Jan 2017

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw points out how the adoption of information and communication technologies can provide India with a very effective health care tool.

Bengal junior doctors call off 'cease work' after 42 days

Bengal junior doctors call off 'cease work' after 42 days

Rediff.com20 Sep 2024

Ending the logjam persisting for 42 days in the wake of the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar hospital, the agitating medics withdrew the 'cease work' after holding a march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Salt Lake in Kolkata from the state health department's headquarters, where they had been demonstrating for over a week.

Women Voters: The Rising Power Transforming Politics

Women Voters: The Rising Power Transforming Politics

Rediff.com15 Jan 2025

'Women' as a political constituency appears to be an idea that has come of age. It is changing India in ways that we only dimly understand, asserts Aditi Phadnis.

'When we talk about safety, it falls on deaf ears'

'When we talk about safety, it falls on deaf ears'

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

'Because of the callous attitude of the railway administration, they don't take care of safety.'

USTR flags hurdles in medical device exports to India

USTR flags hurdles in medical device exports to India

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

The USTR report, released just ahead of the US' April 2 deadline for implementing reciprocal tariffs, has also cited high tariffs and price caps, which have not increased in line with inflation, as key obstacles for US businesses.

Agitating docs continue 'cease work', seek fresh meet with Mamata

Agitating docs continue 'cease work', seek fresh meet with Mamata

Rediff.com18 Sep 2024

The protestors called the state's administrative measures "only partial victory" of their movement.

Doctor's murder: Under fire, Kerala brings steps for medical staffers' safety

Doctor's murder: Under fire, Kerala brings steps for medical staffers' safety

Rediff.com12 May 2023

The proposed committee, to be headed by the secretary of medical education, would study various issues raised by postgraduate students and house surgeons and submit a report within one month, health minister Veena George said.

Can't sack everyone: Mamata tells protesting doctors

Can't sack everyone: Mamata tells protesting doctors

Rediff.com19 Oct 2024

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the junior doctors protesting the rape and murder of their colleague at R G Kar Hospital to end their fast-unto-death stir, stating that most of their demands have been addressed while rejecting their insistence on removing the state health secretary.

Want A Govt Job? 10 Competitive Exams You Can Take

Want A Govt Job? 10 Competitive Exams You Can Take

Rediff.com29 Jan 2025

rediffGURU Rohit Gupta, co-founder and COO of College Vidya, provides a list of competitive exams that can help you land a job in the public sector.

How can schools reopen safely? UN agencies lay down guidelines

How can schools reopen safely? UN agencies lay down guidelines

Rediff.com6 May 2020

The guidelines note that while there is not enough evidence yet to measure the impact of school closures on the disease transmission rates, the adverse effects of school closures on children's safety and learning are well documented. Gains made in increasing access to children's education in recent decades risk being lost and, in the worse cases, reversed completely.

Striking Bengal docs await govt response to email

Striking Bengal docs await govt response to email

Rediff.com19 Sep 2024

The e-mail, detailing the points which were discussed and agreed upon between the two sides and also those which weren't, was sent as per the state's requirement based on which the government is expected to issue directives, the doctors said.

'None of the existing vaccines can prevent emerging variants of Omicron'

'None of the existing vaccines can prevent emerging variants of Omicron'

Rediff.com25 Jan 2023

'We seem to be in a situation where we can do little, and nothing needs to be done anyway.'

'Unhappy with talks', Bengal doctors to continue 'cease work'

'Unhappy with talks', Bengal doctors to continue 'cease work'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2024

The second round of talks between junior doctors and officials of the West Bengal government failed to break the medics' strike over the RG Kar issue, following the state's refusal to give written minutes of the meeting, the doctors alleged.

Talks between protesting doctors, Bengal govt fail to break ice

Talks between protesting doctors, Bengal govt fail to break ice

Rediff.com10 Oct 2024

Agitating junior doctors, whose nine representatives are on a fast-unto-death demonstration, termed talks with senior officials of the West Bengal government as 'the most disappointing meeting so far'.

COVID-19 Kills 1,700 People Globally A Week

COVID-19 Kills 1,700 People Globally A Week

Rediff.com28 Aug 2024

WHO has urged people at risk to keep up with their vaccinations with boosters.

Petition filed in NGT seeking safe disposal of carbide waste

Petition filed in NGT seeking safe disposal of carbide waste

Rediff.com5 Jan 2025

A petition has been filed in the National Green Tribunal's Bhopal bench, seeking an assurance from the Madhya Pradesh government that the Union Carbide waste disposal in Pithampur won't harm people in nearby areas. The petition, filed by a Jabalpur-based social organisation, has urged the NGT to direct the state's chief secretary to declare on oath about the safety of people in Pithampur in Dhar district where the waste has been transported for disposal. The petition also seeks direction to the MP government to publish a specific report regarding the disposal of this waste to allay public concerns.

USTR Report Intensifies Trade Tensions With India

USTR Report Intensifies Trade Tensions With India

Rediff.com2 Apr 2025

The US Trade Representative noted that India's average applied tariff rate stood at 17% per cent, the highest of any major world economy.