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IMD says monsoon to hit Andamans around 16 May; warns of severe heatwaves in northwest India

Economy

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IMD says monsoon to hit Andamans around 16 May; warns of severe heatwaves in northwest India

Extremely Severe Alert on phones? Loud alarm warns of bad weather in Delhi NCR — ‘such alert for basic thunderstorm’Mint ImageAt exactly 5:18 pm, a loud emergency alert tone suddenly sounded on my phone. The message on the screen carried a stark warning: "Extremely Severe Alert."The text below read: "Severe Thunderstorm (wind speed 60-80 KMph, Gusting to 90 Kmph) with Lightning and Moderate to Intense Spell of Rain and Hail is very likely to occur at a few places over Aligarh, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Gautambuddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Mathura, Meerut in next 3 hours."Not just me, but millions of residents across Delhi-NCR reportedly received an emergency alert on their mobile phones warning of severe thunderstorm and rainfall on Saturday evening.An "Extremely Severe Alert" is a government-initiated notification designed to warn citizens of imminent, life-threatening disasters such as cyclones and heavy rainfall.https://x.com/DelhiPolice/status/2050469684290723851Saturday likely marked one of the first times the alert system was deployed. While many netizens praised it as a "commendable" initiative, several questioned the decision to issue an "Extremely Severe Alert" for what they considered relatively moderate weather conditions.A social media user posted on X, saying, "It is a commendable step that the Meteorological Department is continuously sending Broadcast-based “Extremely Severe Alert” on mobiles. This technology instantly delivers warnings to villages, fields, and those working in the open without internet.""However, labeling even a regular storm of 60-80 km/h as “extremely severe” every time could create a . Repeated siren sounds may lead people to take real disaster alerts lightly," the post added.https://x.com/search?q=Extremely%20Severe%20Alert&src=typed_queryAnother user complained, "...might not die due to storm or lightning but can definitely die due to this stupid alert…🚨My phone was so close to my ear and heart when this rang😭😭 What’s the need of such alert for just basic thunderstorm.. Govt of India???? 💀💁🏻"About the AuthorAkriti AnandAkriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry. In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism. Connect with Akriti here LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199 Twitter/X: https://x.com/AkritiAnand7 Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsIndiaExtremely Severe Alert on phones? Loud alarm warns of bad weather in Delhi NCR — ‘such alert for basic th

Watch: Full song or not? ‘Vande Mataram’ row erupts in Kerala | Above the Fold | 29.05.2026

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keralanationalhealth

Watch: Full song or not? ‘Vande Mataram’ row erupts in Kerala | Above the Fold | 29.05.2026

The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6/2023-24) data has a mixed bag for Kerala, with the State making significant gains in immunisation coverage, child nutrition and maternal and child health, while it deepens the concerns about the steep rise in the burden of non-communicable diseases and obesity, especially amongst women.NFHS-6 also reveals a very dark side of Kerala society, with reported spousal violence going up from 9.8% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 17.7% in NFHS-6. Another shameful revelation is the increase in physical violence during pregnancy, which has also increased from 0.5% in NFHS-05 to 1.7% in NFHS-6. However, it needs close examination whether this increase is due to increased reporting of violence or increase in actual violence against women.Rise in population above 60 yearsKerala’s ageing demographic profile sharpens further in NFHS-6, with the proportion of the population aged above 60 years rising from 18.6% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 20.7% in NFHS-6 (2023-24), which is significantly above the national average of 12.9%. This demographic profile has deep implications for the State’s health system planning, social security spending and elderly care and welfare policies, something that the State has only begun to take cognisance of.Nearly half of the adult women population in Kerala are obese or overweight—NFHS-6 puts the proportion of obese or overweight women in Kerala at a whopping 46.7%, up from 38.2% recorded in NFHS-5. This is way above the national average of 30.7% (which also showed an increase from 24% in NFHS-5).About 37% of men in Kerala are also overweight or obese, against the national average of 27.3%.The rising burden of NCDs in the State is well documented in many previous studies. NFHS-6 data shows that Kerala is far ahead of the national average when it comes to the prevalence of NCDs.NFHS-6 puts the proportion of women in the 15-49 years years with high (systolic 141-160 mg/dl) or very high (above systolic 160mg/dl) blood sugar and already on medication at 28.9% (national average is 17.8%) and the proportion of men in the same category at 31.9% (national average is (20.9%)About 36.6% men and 31.9% women in Kerala have elevated blood pressure or hypertension and are on medication, against the national average of 22.1 % and 19.4% respectively.A rapidly ageing population and high prevalence of NCDs indicate that Kerala’s public health challenges ahead are immense and that this will have significant implications on the State’s health expenditure as well as the out-of-pocket expenditure on health.Kerala, however, has made significant gains when it comes to immunisation, child nutrition status according to NFHS-6. The proportion of fully immunised children in the 12-13 months age group has improved from 78.4% in NFHS-5 to 84.9%. The rotavirus vaccination coverage (the vaccine was made part of the national immunisation schedule in 2019) has shown a leap from 9.5% to 87.2% .The second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) has also jumped from 31.9 % to 83.3 % between the two NFHS rounds. About 95.2% of the immunisation in the State takes place in public hospitals.Child nutritionWhen it comes to child nutrition, among children under 5 years, the proportion of stunting has come down from 23.4% to 20.1%; wasting shows a drop from 15.8% to 10.9%; the proportion of underweight children has come down slightly from 19.7% to 17.8%.Male alcohol consumption in the State is now at 22.7%, a slight increase from 19.9% in NFHS-5, while tobacco use shows a slight decline from 16.9% to 15.9% in NFHS-6The NFHS-6 survey covered 6,79,238 households, 7,16,397 women, and 1,00,977 men across the country. In Kerala, the households surveyed was 13,005, with 11,187 women participants and 1,542 men. Published - May 29, 2026 11:55 pm IST

ESIC launches free annual health check-up programme for insured workers above 40

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ESIC launches free annual health check-up programme for insured workers above 40

The World Health Organisation had recently declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo a PHEIC. | Photo Credit: AFP A suspected Ebola case triggered a health alert in Bengaluru after a 28-year-old woman from Uganda, who developed mild symptoms including body ache, was shifted from a hotel to the State-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital on Tuesday (May 26, 2026).Bengaluru District Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Anil Kumar Banagar, said the woman had recently travelled from Uganda to Ahmedabad and had later arrived in Bengaluru.Although she did not show symptoms during airport screening, health authorities continued to monitor her because of her travel history from an Ebola-affected region.“The District Surveillance team and airport health officials were tracking her condition. She developed a mild body ache nearly 24 hours later, following which samples were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune,” Dr. Banagar told The Hindu.He said the woman was stable and had not developed any additional symptoms so far.Test reports“The test reports are expected in a day or two. Even if the result is negative, as per protocol, a repeat test will be conducted after 48 hours of observation. She will be discharged only after testing negative twice,” he said.Amid the Ebola alert, Karnataka’s Health Department has designated specialised isolation, quarantine and treatment facilities at government hospitals in Bengaluru and Mangaluru as part of precautionary preparedness measures.In Bengaluru, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has been identified as the isolation centre, while Epidemic Diseases Hospital has been designated as the quarantine and treatment facility.In Mangaluru, Srinivas Port Hospital under the New Mangalore Port Authority has been identified as the quarantine centre, while Wenlock District Hospital has been designated as the isolation and treatment centre.The preparedness measures follow directions issued by the Union Health Ministry asking all States and Union Territories to strengthen surveillance, hospital preparedness, and rapid response systems.The World Health Organisation had recently declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC). Published - May 26, 2026 10:41 pm IST

Technology

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SoftBank is creating a robotics company that builds data centers — and already eyeing a $100B IPO

Microsoft is purchasing 650,000 metric tons of carbon removal credits from startup BioCirc, the company said today. As carbon removal deals go, it’s not a big buy. But this one is notable because last month, two reports said the tech giant was pausing its carbon removal deals. BioCirc confirmed for TechCrunch that the purchase agreement was signed in May, weeks after Microsoft reportedly paused new deals. For the carbon removal industry — and the startups that depend on it — there’s a big difference between a pause and a recalibration. Microsoft is reportedly responsible for more than 90% of the carbon removal credit market, meaning its purchasing decisions alone can determine whether young companies in the space survive. Microsoft repeatedly denied that it had paused its carbon removal purchases. “Our carbon removal program has not ended,” Melanie Nakagawa, chief sustainability officer at Microsoft, told TechCrunch in a statement. “At times we may adjust the pace or volume of our carbon removal procurement as we continue to refine our approach toward sustainability goals.” The new deal generates carbon removal credits from five BioCirc biogas projects. The biogas plants take biomass waste — frequently from agriculture — and use industrial bioreactors to turn it into methane and carbon dioxide. BioCirc captures the carbon dioxide and stores it in an underground reservoir offshore. The methane is then burned in a power plant. Microsoft’s sustainability goals have been strained by the company’s push into AI. To power its data centers in Texas, Microsoft last month said it was working with Chevron and Engine No. 1 to build a natural gas power plant in the state that could eventually generate 5 gigawatts of electricity. Emissions from that project alone promise to dwarf the deal with BioCirc. Internally, Microsoft employees have also been debating whether to abandon the company’s goal of matching zero emissions electricity with its energy use on an hourly basis. Today, the company matches on an annual basis. That approach gives the company more flexibility to, say, use more natural gas to power its data centers at night, but it also makes the company’s clean energy claims harder to verify. If Microsoft continues to pursue fossil fuel power plants, it’ll need to ramp up its carbon removal purchases to meet its 2030 target of becoming a carbon negative company (one that removes more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than it generates). Last year, Microsoft signed several deals worth millions of tons of carbon removal credits. The program’s reported pause set off alarm bells throughout the carbon removal industry, which is still in its infancy. The new deal suggests that Microsoft is, in fact, recalibrating its carbon removal program — not abandoning it. Whether that remains true as AI drives its energy consumption higher is something the industry will be watching. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Tim De Chant is a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch. He has written for a wide range of publications, including Wired magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Ars Technica, The Wire China, and NOVA Next, where he was founding editor. De Chant is also a lecturer in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, and he was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT in 2018, during which time he studied climate technologies and explored new business models for journalism. He received his PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley, and his BA degree in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College. You can contact or verify outreach from Tim by emailing tim.dechant@techcrunch.com. View Bio

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Breaking news live updates, May 17: WHO declares public health emergency over rare Ebola strain

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reaffirms India’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage at World Health Assembly News On AIR

Kochi Port on alert after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Politics

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kochipubliccalls

Kochi Port on alert after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Cracks and bulging seen on the overhead water tank at the P&T Apartment complex in Mundamveli, Kochi. (File) | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Frustrated by the continuous leakage of their apartments since moving in two years ago, residents of the P&T Apartment Towers at Mundamveli in Kochi have issued an ultimatum threatening to lay siege to the office of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which commissioned the project.The P&T Apartment Owners Association issued the ultimatum to the GCDA Secretary on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). Residents have been protesting against the persistent leakage since 78 families moved in in January 2024. They have also raised concerns about cracks and an alleged tilt in the buildings, issues that have largely gone unaddressed. A resident points to leakage stains on the walls of her flat at the P&T Apartment complex in Mundamveli, Kochi. (File) | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT “We will be at the gate of the GCDA office if a drop of water falls on us in the next rain. We have had enough waiting for the benevolence of the authorities to resolve our hardships,” said Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of the P&T Apartment Owners Association.Bathroom leaksAfter much delay, a pilot project was launched in April this year to plug bathroom leaks, as recommended by IIT Madras, which was appointed as a consultant to address structural flaws. Two coats of a leak-proof solution were applied to the floor of one apartment bathroom, which was then left flooded for about 10 days to test its effectiveness. “While it was found effective, residents protested against applying it to all the bathrooms at one go. Instead, they insisted that it be tried on a select few more to further convince them. We are now preparing an estimate along those lines,” said engineering sources with the GCDA.Meanwhile, fibre plastering of the exterior of the twin towers, originally planned to plug leakage and estimated to cost ₹28 lakh, has been dropped. “The IIT Madras shot down the proposal and instead recommended another methodology focussing on joints, using a solution having leakage-prevention quality. However, residents opposed its implementation and insisted that the IIT Madras representatives convince them in a meeting. We have initiated file proceedings and preparation of an estimate, though implementation will depend on the outcome of such a meeting,” said sources.Work on a proposed truss, complete with solar panels, funded through the local MLA’s development allocation, has also made little progress. An IIT Madras assessment report found that certain structural works did not conform to the Indian Standard Code IS 800:2007 governing steel constructions, and recommended strengthening to support the roof truss and solar panels. The report further warned that continuous exposure to moisture could lead to progressive corrosion and eventual loss of serviceability unless immediate waterproofing and corrosion-control measures were undertaken. Published - May 19, 2026 04:57 pm IST

Health officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after first fatality

World

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iranianofficialsattacks

Health officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after first fatality

US and Iran Trade Fire, Tennessee Redistricting, US Boat Strikes In Caribbean Download Embed Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today's top stories The U.S. military says three Navy ships came under attack yesterday while navigating through waters near Iran. U.S. Central Command says it responded by launching strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites. Iran says that the U.S. started Thursday's violence by attacking one of its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident marks the first report of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian soil since the ceasefire began a month ago. Malta-flagged oil tanker Odessa arrives near Daesan Port in Seosan City on May 8. Shin Yong-ju/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Shin Yong-ju/AFP via Getty Images 🎧 Despite the recent violence, neither Iran nor the U.S. seems inclined to return to war, NPR's Aya Batrawy tells Up First. President Trump told reporters yesterday that the ceasefire remains in effect. But Trump continues to threaten Iran with more bombing if it doesn't agree to a U.S. proposal to end the conflict. Iran says it's reviewing the proposal and will deliver a response to mediator Pakistan. Republicans in Tennessee passed a new congressional map yesterday that would divide Shelby County — home to the majority-Black Memphis — into three districts. The action aims to eliminate the state's only remaining Democratic-held seat. Currently, Tennessee is represented by eight Republicans and one Democrat. The state is the first to redraw its congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court last week weakened the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination in redistricting. 🎧 Protesters from Tennessee's blue cities argue that the new map will silence the voices of voters who support Democrats. These voters make up roughly a third of the state's population, according to Marianna Bacallao from NPR network station WPLN in Nashville. The NAACP has filed a petition to challenge the map, arguing that it is too close to the election to make changes. The organization says it could cause confusion about which district people are in. Over the last few days, Republicans in the Southern states of Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina have also rushed to redraw congressional maps. Currently, California and Virginia are the only states that have adjusted their district boundaries to support the Democrats. Global public health authorities are working to contain a hantavirus outbreak that began on a cruise ship early last month. There have been eight cases reported, including three fatalities. The ship is currently off the coast of Africa, but dozens of passengers have already disembarked and flown to destinations in Turkey, New Zealand and the United States. Despite a series of alarmist headlines, the World Health Organization emphasizes that the risk to the general public remains very low. Here's what else you should know about the hantavirus outbreak, including what the symptoms are, how it spreads, how the U.S. has responded and more. 🎧 Epidemiologists are racing to identify individuals who've come into contact with those infected in the outbreak. Their goal is to ensure that those exposed get treated if needed. NPR's Ari Daniel speaks with the disease detectives about the challenges they face in this race compared to their work with other outbreaks. The Court of International Trade struck down a second round of worldwide tariffs that Trump ordered to replace the import levies that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled were unlawful. The international court's decision was limited to two importers who contested the tariffs, as well as the state of Washingt

Health Ministry to Observe Pan-India Fire Safety Week in Healthcare Facilities from Tomorrow

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Health Ministry to Observe Pan-India Fire Safety Week in Healthcare Facilities from Tomorrow

3 min readRanchiMay 3, 2026 11:23 PM IST Durgacharan Banra alleged when he had brought his pregnant wife Binita Banra – a community health worker from Hathisiring village, to the hospital Wednesday, she was “healthy and walking normally”. (Express Photo/Image enhanced using AI)An Adivasi health worker and her newborn son died during delivery at a community health centre in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district, with the procedure allegedly conducted using mobile phone flashlights during a power outage. A probe has been ordered after the family alleged negligence. The incident occurred at the Community Health Centre in the Rajnagar police station area.Durgacharan Banra alleged when he had brought his pregnant wife Binita Banra – a community health worker from Hathisiring village, to the hospital Wednesday, she was “healthy and walking normally”. She remained stable through Wednesday night and Thursday, but late at night, when he briefly stepped away, nurses allegedly shifted her to the delivery room, he claimed. “When I returned, a nurse came panicking and asked if I was with the patient. I was with my father’s sister and my older paternal aunt. I rushed to the delivery room and saw there was no doctor and no electricity. The nurses were forced to conduct the delivery without power. I used my mobile phone flashlight while they were doing the delivery,” he alleged He claimed that he urged nurses to conduct a surgery, but his requests were ignored. “She kept getting weaker and losing energy. Finally, the baby came out breathless and at the same time, my wife also lost her life,” he said. Banra further alleged that after the deaths, staff shouted at him and asked him to leave. “After some time, I booked a vehicle and took my wife the same night. Despite her deteriorating condition, she was neither given adequate treatment nor referred in time to a higher facility, and demanded strict action,” he alleged, adding he would approach the police. The deceased is survived by two daughters. Following the incident, officials reached the hospital and assured an inquiry. Seraikela-Kharsawan Deputy Commissioner Nitish Kumar Singh said a committee has been formed to probe the incident and a report is expected soon. “The committee is conducting an investigation, and we will be able to share the findings by tomorrow evening. As per the preliminary inquiry, the woman died due to postpartum haemorrhage. The baby was found entangled in the umbilical cord, leading to choking during what was a normal delivery. This is what the preliminary report suggests. A detailed report will be released once the investigation is complete,” he said. Shubham Tigga is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, presently based in Pune, where he covers the intersections of infrastructure, labor, and the modern economy. His reporting focuses on civil aviation, urban mobility, the gig economy, and workers' unions, providing critical insights into how transit and commercial sectors impact the daily lives of citizens. Expertise & Background Before moving to Pune, he reported extensively from his home state of Chhattisgarh, where he focused on Indigenous (Adivasi) issues, environmental justice, and grassroots struggles in mainland India. This experience gives him a unique lens through which he analyzes the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects on local communities. Academic Foundation He is an alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), where he honed his skills in investigative reporting and ethical journalism. His academic training, combined with his field experience in Central India, allows him to navigate complex socio-economic landscapes with nuance and accuracy. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Tags: newborns death

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Quality health care within reach

Quality health care within reach World Health Organization (WHO)

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