News for 'emergency preparedness'

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective

Rediff.com16 Nov 2020

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna's announcement comes just a week after Pfizer and Biontech said their COVID-19 vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants.

World leaders thank India for Covid vaccine shipments to combat pandemic

World leaders thank India for Covid vaccine shipments to combat pandemic

Rediff.com29 Sep 2021

World leaders thanked India for its help and support in combating the coronavirus pandemic through "early and meaningful" shipments of COVID-19 vaccine doses, as they addressed the high-level UN General Assembly session this year.

Why is Modi angry with Twitter?

Why is Modi angry with Twitter?

Rediff.com27 May 2021

Social media is reflecting a reality that the BJP does not want communicated. More people are saying things on social media that are upsetting the government, asserts Aakar Patel.

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

No food, no medicine and little hope: The many challenges Rohingyas face

Rediff.com25 Aug 2018

Lives "will once again be at risk" if funding is not urgently secured, United Nations officials have said on the eve of the first anniversary of a military crackdown that forced them to flee their country.

Hyundai to go head to head with Maruti in connected car segment

Hyundai to go head to head with Maruti in connected car segment

Rediff.com6 Apr 2019

Major carmakers in the country are loading barrels for the coming battle in the field, reports Arnab Dutta.

PM tells DRDO to speed up work

PM tells DRDO to speed up work

Rediff.com12 May 2008

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday told defence scientists to speed up work on advanced technologies like hypersonic propulsions, unmanned vehicles and stealth machines to keep pace with current trends in warfare. Stressing that self-reliance and defence preparedness was not a case of numbers or percentages, the PM, addressing a Technology Day function, said scientists should clearly define strategic and critical areas in which development of national capability is must.

COVID-19 stings: Guj model under scanner

COVID-19 stings: Guj model under scanner

Rediff.com29 Apr 2021

Amid the growing queues of ambulances waiting for patients to be admitted with ventilators and oxygen, only time will tell if the state government has lost the plot or not.

28,252 mucor cases reported from 28 states/UTs: Vardhan

28,252 mucor cases reported from 28 states/UTs: Vardhan

Rediff.com7 Jun 2021

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said 28,252 cases of mucormycosis have so far been reported from 28 states/UTs in the country, of which 86 per cent cases have a history of COVID-19 and 62.3 per cent with a history of diabetes.

Centre gears up to help Gujarat face cyclone Nilofar

Centre gears up to help Gujarat face cyclone Nilofar

Rediff.com27 Oct 2014

The Centre on Monday reviewed the preparedness of relief and rescue measures taken by Gujarat and offered help to the state in the wake of impending cyclonic storm Nilofar, which will make its landfall on Friday.

RBI's IT subsidiary takes shape to tackle cyber threat

RBI's IT subsidiary takes shape to tackle cyber threat

Rediff.com29 Sep 2015

With the widespread use of new technologies, inter-connectedness and dependency, newer risks, threats and vulnerabilities have emerged.

WHO reminds Serum Institute of COVAX commitments

WHO reminds Serum Institute of COVAX commitments

Rediff.com18 May 2021

COVAX, 'the global COVID vaccine equity scheme', has so far delivered 65 million doses to 124 countries and economies but it is dependent on countries and manufacturers honouring their commitments.

85% of COVID-19 cases in India are from 8 states

85% of COVID-19 cases in India are from 8 states

Rediff.com27 Jun 2020

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal -- contribute 85.5 per cent of active caseload and 87 per cent of total deaths in India.

Cyclone Tauktae intensifies, 6 dead in 2 states

Cyclone Tauktae intensifies, 6 dead in 2 states

Rediff.com16 May 2021

Gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and high tidal waves swept the coastal belt of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa as Cyclone Tauktae hurtled northwards towards Gujarat on Sunday, leaving four people dead in Karnataka and two in Goa, damaging hundreds of houses, uprooting electricity poles and trees and forcing evacuation.

COVID-19 vaccination drive to start in India on Jan 16

COVID-19 vaccination drive to start in India on Jan 16

Rediff.com9 Jan 2021

After healthcare and frontline workers, priority will be given to those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crore, it added.

India biggest buyer of Covid vaccine with 1.6 bn doses

India biggest buyer of Covid vaccine with 1.6 bn doses

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

India has purchased 500 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, one billion from the United States company Novavax and 100 million doses of the Sputnik V candidate from Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute, according to the US-based Duke University Global Health Innovation Center.

The Taliban: Barbarians at our gate

The Taliban: Barbarians at our gate

Rediff.com12 Feb 2019

'With Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the unemployed jihadis will certainly turn their gaze to India and Kashmir.' 'Despite this imminent danger to national security, defence preparedness does not find a mention in the ongoing electoral campaign,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

India-US coalition begin clinical trials for coronavirus

India-US coalition begin clinical trials for coronavirus

Rediff.com17 Mar 2020

The trial began at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle as the first participant received the investigational vaccine.

Kerala nurse in Saudi tested positive for coronavirus; CM writes to EAM

Kerala nurse in Saudi tested positive for coronavirus; CM writes to EAM

Rediff.com24 Jan 2020

The affected nurse is being treated and is recovering well, junior foreign minister V Muraleedharan said. Meanwhile, China has locked down five cities, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain the coronavirus that has infected over 630 people and left 17 others dead.

China virus toll rises to 1,770; cases up to 70,500

China virus toll rises to 1,770; cases up to 70,500

Rediff.com17 Feb 2020

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said international experts were now on the ground in China to understand the outbreak and inform the next steps in the global response.

'We haven't heard the last about Omicron'

'We haven't heard the last about Omicron'

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

'Your body will be able to deal with Omicron at any time, but it depends (on when) if you are vaccinated.'

What the Raksha Mantri needs to do

What the Raksha Mantri needs to do

Rediff.com4 Sep 2017

'It is the government's most important duty to ensure that when war breaks out, the armed forces are absolutely ready to face the adversary -- well equipped, well trained and in high spirits,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Ladakh: What are India's options?

Rediff.com20 Jun 2020

'The one aspect which no Indian military thinker would wish to see emerge is a LoC type of posture at the LAC.' 'The LoC is manned for 750 km and terrorist infiltration has led to the creation of a virtual fortress along its entire length.' 'Something mirroring this at the LAC is going to be expensive although deployment everywhere is not warranted there.' 'However, given the complete trust deficit, there appear few alternatives,' notes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

As India records 2.34 lakh Covid cases, PM urges: Test, track, treat

As India records 2.34 lakh Covid cases, PM urges: Test, track, treat

Rediff.com17 Apr 2021

Top officers across various ministries participate in the meeting that started at 8 pm on Saturday. The meeting is currently underway. The country is currently witnessing a second and more severe wave of the pandemic.

Going to war will cost China and Xi dear

Going to war will cost China and Xi dear

Rediff.com17 Sep 2020

'How Xi Jinping will withdraw the aggression and justify it to his Communist party in case of a negotiated settlement might be his biggest headache.' 'Unless he is ready to gamble on an armed conflict, whose outcome given India's battle-readiness and determination is always uncertain,' observes Virendra Kapoor.

Pak raises Kashmir during SAARC video-conference on coronavirus

Pak raises Kashmir during SAARC video-conference on coronavirus

Rediff.com16 Mar 2020

Government sources in New Delhi said the neighbouring country's attempt to 'politicise' a humanitarian issue by its 'unwarranted' statement on Kashmir during the video-conference reflected 'very poorly' on it.

Signs of flattening of COVID-19 curve in US: Trump

Signs of flattening of COVID-19 curve in US: Trump

Rediff.com14 Apr 2020

On Monday, as many 1,334 died in the US because of coronavirus and 24,895 new cases were reported. The number was far less than the fatalities hovering around 2,000 for the past several days and over 30,000 new cases being reported daily.

Visa, re-skilling key challenges for IT industry: Survey

Visa, re-skilling key challenges for IT industry: Survey

Rediff.com11 Aug 2017

It said while Indian IT services companies were the "disruptors" and had created the modern offshoring industry, they are now incumbents, challenged by a host of specialised and niche start-ups that have emerged in the new digital environment.

Firms irked by RBI's order to store payments data in India

Firms irked by RBI's order to store payments data in India

Rediff.com20 Apr 2018

While most banks in India store all this data on Indian servers in their core banking systems, the current directive addresses new-age payment and fintech companies operating in the space

Prez censures Delhi violence; says govt vigilant amid LAC standoff

Prez censures Delhi violence; says govt vigilant amid LAC standoff

Rediff.com29 Jan 2021

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday strongly defended the three new agri laws saying their benefits have begun reaching 10 crore small farmers instantly, and condemned as 'very unfortunate' the Republic Day violence and 'dishonour' to the tricolour during the tractor parade by the protesting farm unions in New Delhi.

India registers spike of nearly 9,000 COVID-19 cases, 273 deaths

India registers spike of nearly 9,000 COVID-19 cases, 273 deaths

Rediff.com3 Jun 2020

A PTI tally of figures announced by states and UTs, as of 9.30 pm, showed the total number of confirmed cases having risen to close to 2.1 lakh and the death toll to approximately 6,000, showing an increase of nearly 9,000 cases since Tuesday evening and at least 273 more fatalities in this time period.

Centre to bear expenses for first round of vaccination: PM

Centre to bear expenses for first round of vaccination: PM

Rediff.com11 Jan 2021

Interacting with state chief ministers, Modi underscored the enormity of what he described as the world's biggest vaccination exercise, which begins from January 16, saying over 30 crore citizens will get the jabs in the next few months in India against only 2.5 crore people vaccinated so far in over 50 countries in around a month.

'No comparison between Rafale and China's J-20s'

'No comparison between Rafale and China's J-20s'

Rediff.com29 Jul 2020

'Rafale is much more advanced and lethal than the current fighter aircraft available with China. The timing of the arrival of the jets is perfect'

What India is doing to contain coronavirus outbreak

What India is doing to contain coronavirus outbreak

Rediff.com18 Mar 2020

As the Indian Army reported its first case of the infection with a 34-year-old soldier testing positive in Leh, the Army said it has taken a series of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus among the forces such as checking flu symptoms among soldiers on their return from leave and cancelling non-essential travel, conferences and recruitment drives.

Lashkar is a terror proxy of ISI: US lawmaker

Lashkar is a terror proxy of ISI: US lawmaker

Rediff.com13 Jun 2013

"We should make it clear to Pakistan that any LeT attack upon our homeland, they will bear responsibility for that because of their close relationship between ISI and LeT," Congressman Peter King said during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday.

8 states account for 90% coronavirus cases in India

8 states account for 90% coronavirus cases in India

Rediff.com9 Jul 2020

The GoM was told that six states -- Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal -- account for 86 per cent of the deaths caused by COVID-19 and 32 districts account for 80 per cent of such fatalities, the Union health ministry said.

For 6th time in a row, RBI leaves key rate unchanged, lowers GDP to 9.5%

For 6th time in a row, RBI leaves key rate unchanged, lowers GDP to 9.5%

Rediff.com4 Jun 2021

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to leave benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4 per cent but maintained an accommodative stance as the economy faces heat of the second Covid wave.

6 Indian public sector banks will cease to exist from Wed

6 Indian public sector banks will cease to exist from Wed

Rediff.com31 Mar 2020

As per the mega consolidation plan, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will merge into Punjab National Bank (PNB); Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India; and Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank. Following this merger, PNB will become second largest after the SBI, Canara Bank fourth, Union Bank of India fifth and Indian Bank seventh biggest public sector lender.

COVID-19: UN, WHO praise India for its lockdown

COVID-19: UN, WHO praise India for its lockdown

Rediff.com25 Mar 2020

In an attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus in India, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday announced a nationwide lockdown for three weeks.

Coronavirus: IndiGo, Air India suspend flights to China

Coronavirus: IndiGo, Air India suspend flights to China

Rediff.com29 Jan 2020

India's largest airline has also told its crew members -- who are working on flights connecting India with East Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore -- to wear N95 masks at all times when they are on ground.

Revealed: BJP's 'Mission Bengal' strategy

Revealed: BJP's 'Mission Bengal' strategy

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

Amit Shah, who missed campaigning in Bihar, made a two-day trip to Bengal starting November 5 to oversee BJPs preparedness for the state polls.