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Tag: India

  • Tragedy Strikes as Ten Succumb to Heart Attacks After ‘Garba’ Dance in Gujarat, India

    Tragedy Strikes as Ten Succumb to Heart Attacks After ‘Garba’ Dance in Gujarat, India

    BY Milcah  Tanimu

    In a heartbreaking incident, ten individuals have tragically lost their lives due to heart attacks in Gujarat, India, following the energetic celebrations of the traditional “Garba” dance during the ongoing Navratri Hindu festival. Garba, a dance rooted in honoring and worshiping the divine feminine form, is deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of Gujarat.

    The victims, ranging from teenagers to middle-aged individuals, included the youngest, a 13-year-old from Dabhoi in the Vadodara district. The surge of emergencies was notable, with over 500 ambulance calls made within a 24-hour period after the Garba dance festivities.

    In response to the alarming situation, the government swiftly issued an alert, urging event organizers to implement crucial safety measures. Among these measures are the availability of ambulances at Garba venues, ensuring swift transportation to hospitals if anyone feels unwell. Additionally, public hospitals and community health centers near Garba sites have been placed on high alert to handle potential emergencies.

    Doctors have emphasized the importance of revelers taking breaks during Garba sessions, avoiding prolonged periods of physical strain. Event organizers have been instructed to have automated external defibrillators on-site, vital devices that can save lives in such critical situations. Moreover, individuals trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation have been urged to be present at the venues, emphasizing the need for immediate and skilled medical assistance during the festivities.

    This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the significance of prioritizing safety and well-being during cultural celebrations, urging communities to be vigilant and prepared to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

  • US Returns Over 40 ‘Stolen’ Antiquities to Italy

    US Returns Over 40 ‘Stolen’ Antiquities to Italy

    In an effort to combat its reputation as a global hub for illicit art trade, New York authorities have returned more than 40 stolen antiquities worth nearly $3.5 million to Italy. The restitution ceremony, attended by Italian officials, marked the return of 42 exceptional artifacts, some dating back 2,500 years.

    Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated that the return of these artifacts is part of ongoing efforts to counteract decades of organized antiquities smuggling networks that have impacted Italy. Since assuming office in 2022, Bragg has overseen the repatriation of over 200 antiquities to Italy.

    Vincenzo Molinese, commander of Italy’s Carabinieri Art Squad, praised the successful collaboration between the United States and Italy that led to the recovery of these valuable pieces.

    Among the items returned is a vase from the Apulia region in southern Italy, dating back to 335 BC. This vase, used for mixing water and wine, was stolen from a burial site and smuggled abroad by Giacomo Medici, a notorious trafficker of Italian antiquities. The vase was located and seized from a private collection in New York last month, following its transit through London.

    New York prosecutors have been active in repatriating looted artifacts from various countries since 2017, spanning pieces originating from ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine empires, Iraq, China, India, and Southeast Asia. This ongoing effort reflects a commitment to addressing the global trade in stolen cultural heritage.

  • Tinubu Sympathizes With India Over Incident Involving Triple Train Crash

    Tinubu Sympathizes With India Over Incident Involving Triple Train Crash

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commiserated with the government and people of the Republic of India over a multiple train crash which claimed the lives of over 280 passengers in the country.

    The fatal crash involving two passenger trains and a goods train in the Indian city of Balasore, in the eastern state of Odisha, occurred on Friday.

    Aside those killed, over 900 others were injured in what was one of the worst rail crashes in recent history.

    The president, in a release issued on his behalf by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz on Saturday, described the train accident as heartrending, while consoling the Indian government and families of the victims.

    President Tinubu said: “My heart goes to the families of those affected in the unfortunate and heartrending train crash in the Indian state of Odisha.

    “We stand with India in brotherhood at this difficult time. The magnitude of the crash and the high casualty figure call for global support for India to adequately respond to this calamitous accident.

    “I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of India and the families of those trapped in the crash.”

  • KGSCAC Represents Nigeria, Participates In Crafts Festival In India

    KGSCAC Represents Nigeria, Participates In Crafts Festival In India

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Kogi State Council of Arts and Culture (KSCAC) representing Nigeria at the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela, in India,
    has arrived India.

    In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Comrade Gabriel Edicha said the state cultural troupe will be in India from 19th March to 4th April.

    While departing for the two weeks event, the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello charged the troupe to be good ambassadors of the state and the country, respectively.

    He said that the troupe should use the opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage and crafts of the state and the country, effectively.

    In his response, the leader of the contingent, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Salifu Idachaba assured the governor that the troupe would justify the confidence reposed in them.

    Also speaking, the Director, Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs Wosilat Owuda, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation of the artistes for the event.

    “Surajkund Mela is an annual crafts festival, where painters, weavers, sculptors, among others, from India and around the world display their wares.”

    “This year’s festival is being hosted by the state of J & K in India; attracting all the other states in the country, and about 20 countries.”

  • India Accidentally Fires Missile Into Pakistan

    India Accidentally Fires Missile Into Pakistan

    India’s military accidentally fired a missile into neighbouring Pakistan, New Delhi’s defence ministry said on Friday, calling it “deeply regrettable”.

    Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from British colonial rule in 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

    Their shared border has a heavy military presence on both sides, and there have been numerous flare-ups between them, with tensions sometimes raising fears of an atomic exchange.

    “In the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile” on Wednesday, India’s defence ministry said.

    It did not specify the type of missile, but said it landed “in an area of Pakistan”.

    The incident was “deeply regrettable”, it said, adding that it was “a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident”.

    The defence ministry declined to provide further information to AFP.

    The statement came hours after Islamabad’s foreign ministry condemned what it called an “unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian origin ‘super-sonic flying object’”.

    India’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad had been summoned to the foreign office for a “strong protest”, it added.

    The “imprudent launch” had damaged property on the ground and put at risk both civilian lives and aircraft in Pakistani airspace, it said, accusing India of “callousness towards regional peace and stability”.

    New Delhi has more than 500,000 troops stationed in Indian-administered Kashmir, where rebel groups have battled for decades for the region’s independence or its merger with Pakistan.

    New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing the insurgents, which it denies.

    Indian aircraft bombed what New Delhi called a terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan in 2019 after a suicide bombing claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group killed 40 Indian troops.

    In aerial skirmishes over Kashmir the next day, at least one Indian jet was shot down and its pilot captured by Pakistan, but Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had him released in a “peace gesture”.

    AFP

  • UAE to lift ban on transit flights from Nigeria, others

    UAE to lift ban on transit flights from Nigeria, others

    The United Arab Emirates, UAE, will on Thursday lift a ban on transit flights from Nigeria, India and Pakistan.

    The National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) said on Tuesday in a post via their Twitter handle.

    NCEMA said that passengers travelling from countries where flights had been banned would be able to transit through its airports from August 5 [Thursday] as long as they present a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken 72 hours prior to departure.

    Recall that the UAE had last month announced an from Nigeria to Dubai.

    Pakistan and India are important markets for Emirates, Etihad Airways and other UAE carriers flydubai and Air Arabia.

    UAE, a major international travel hub, had banned passengers from many South Asian and African states from travelling through its airports this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Final destination approval would also have to be provided, the authority said, adding that UAE departure airports would arrange separate lounges for transiting passengers.

    The transit ban had also included Nepal, Uganda, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

  • FG Bans Passengers From Brazil, India, Turkey Over Spike In COVID-19

    FG Bans Passengers From Brazil, India, Turkey Over Spike In COVID-19

    The Federal Government will ban entry to non-Nigerian passengers who visited Brazil, India, or Turkey in the last two weeks.

    This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha via a statement issued on Saturday.

    He noted that the decision followed increasing cases of COVID-19 and fatalities in some parts of the world.

    Mustapha said the travel ban does not apply to passengers who have transited through those countries, adding that the travel advisory will take effect from Tuesday while it shall be subjected to review after an initial period of four weeks.

    “These precautionary measures are a necessary step to minimize the risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases introduced to Nigeria from other countries,” the statement partly read.

    “Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria.

    “This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.

    “The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with I and II(a) above: airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 for each defaulting passenger.”

    Nigerians and permanent residents who have been in those countries in the last 14 days will have to undergo mandatory quarantine for a week in a government-approved facility on arrival, it said.

    All passengers arriving in Nigeria will now have to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel rather than the previous 96 hours period.

    The SGF added, “The following condition shall apply to such passengers: Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test.

    “If positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with national treatment protocols.

    “If negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on day 7 of their quarantine.”

    According to the guidelines, passengers arriving in Nigeria from other destinations must observe a seven-day self-isolation at their final destination.

    They are also required to carry out a COVID-19 PCR test on day 7 at the selected laboratory and shall be monitored for compliance to isolation protocol by appropriate authorities.

    Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has reported just over 165,000 cases of the coronavirus and 2,063 deaths since the virus first emerged in China at the end of 2019.

  • India hits new record with COVID-19 infections, US vows aid

    India hits new record with COVID-19 infections, US vows aid

    India has been battling the world’s worst COVID-19 outbreak and on Monday recorded another record in new cases with 352,991 in the past 24 hours along with 2,812 deaths.

    Reuters reported that the situation in the country is dire, with hospitals in Delhi and other cities being forced to turn away patients due to a lack of medical oxygen and other supplies.

    Every hospital is running out (of oxygen). We are running out,” Dr. Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director of Batra Hospital, a leading hospital in the capital, told a local channel.

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement Sunday that the U.S. stands ready to support “our Indian partners in their hour of need.”

    He said he has directed the department to “use every resource at our disposal, within our authority” to rapidly provide India’s frontline healthcare workers with the materials they need. He said he instructed the department to provide transportation and logistics assistance and is prepared to “deliver needed supplies” including oxygen-related equipment.

    The BBC reported that the U.K. shipped its first consignment aid on Sunday that included 495 oxygen concentrators, which the report said has the capability to extract oxygen from the air if the hospital systems buckle.  A correspondent from the network who covers India posted a video on Twitter that she said showed an oxygen tanker with a police escort.

  • Fire Erupts At World’s Biggest Vaccine Maker In India

    Fire Erupts At World’s Biggest Vaccine Maker In India

    A fire broke out Thursday at India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest maker of vaccines, but a source said production of the coronavirus vaccine was not affected.

    Television channels showed thick clouds of grey smoke billowing from the site in Pune in western India.

    The Serum Institute is producing millions of doses of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

    “It is not going to affect production of the Covid-19 vaccine,” a source at the Serum Institute told AFP, adding that the blaze was at a new plant under construction.

    An official at the local fire station told AFP that six or seven firetrucks had reached the site.

    “We have no other information… on the extent of the fire or whether anyone is trapped,” the official said.

    In January, Indian regulators approved two vaccines — Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute, and Covaxin, made by local firm Bharat Biotech.

    India began one of the world’s biggest vaccine rollouts on Saturday, aiming to vaccinate 300 million people by July with both Covishield and Covaxin.

    Many other countries are relying on the Serum Institute to supply them with the vaccine.

    India exported its first batch on Wednesday — to Bhutan and the Maldives — followed by two million doses to Bangladesh and a million to Nepal.

    The country plans to offer 20 million doses to its South Asian neighbours, with Latin America, Africa and Central Asia next in line.

    Serum Institute, the world’s biggest vaccine maker by volume, also plans to supply 200 million doses to Covax, a World Health Organization-backed effort to procure and distribute inoculations to poor countries.

    AFP

  • UK PM Postpones India Trip Due To COVID-19 Crisis

    UK PM Postpones India Trip Due To COVID-19 Crisis

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday postponed a post-Brexit trip planned this month to India after the Covid crisis worsened in Britain, Downing Street said.

    “The prime minister spoke to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned,” a spokesperson said, blaming a fast-spreading strain of the virus.

    Johnson announced a new England-wide lockdown on Monday following the emergence of the virulent new strain, explaining urgent action was needed to prevent spiralling numbers of cases overwhelming health services.

    “The prime minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus,” Downing Street said Johnson had told his Indian counterpart.

    Johnson still hopes to visit India in the first half of 2021, before Modi is due to attend a G7 summit in Britain later this year.

    The British leader was due to be a guest at India’s annual Republic Day celebrations on January 26, shortly after the UK left the European Union’s single market and as it seeks new trade deals around the world, particularly in fast-growing Asia.

    Announcing the trip last month, Johnson said the visit would showcase “Global Britain” and help to deliver a “quantum leap” in Britain’s relations with India, the jewel of its former empire.