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1.35 million people die every year in road accidents: WHO

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New Delhi (NVI): Around 1.35 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes, according to a recent Global status report on road safety by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The fact that an estimated 1.35 million lives are lost every year due to road traffic collisions is an outrage. It is an unacceptable price to pay for mobility,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5 to 29 years, according to WHO’s most recent Global status report on road safety.

A high-level meeting to discuss new steps to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, has been organised Stockholm, Sweden from 19-20 February, where Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will represent India’s commitment in this regard.

Ministers from over 100 countries will meet to agree on new global Road Safety agenda at the event.

More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, according to the WHO report. The risk of a road traffic death remains three times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries.

Moreover, as many as 50 million people experience non-fatal road injuries, which impose human suffering and major economic losses, according to the report.

Jaishankar inaugurates India Pavilion at Berlin Film Festival

S Jaishankar inaugurated the India Pavillion at 70th Berlin Film Festival. (Source: @DrSJaishankar )

New Delhi (NVI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today inaugurated India Pavilion at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2020.

The Indian Pavilion this time at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, will provide a platform to popularise Indian cinema in the overseas market and facilitate new business opportunities.

The film festival will be held from February 20 to March 1 in Berlin, Germany.

During the inaugural ceremony, Jaishankar said that the medium of cinema has the potential to build collaboration and partnerships between India and the world. Co-production agreements, the Film Facilitation Office (FFO),and India’s premier Film Festival – IFFI – have showcased India as an emerging market and a filming destination, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement.

Jaishankar also mentioned that India’s partnership at Berlinale offered tremendous opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relationship in vertical of film making and taking forward the co-production platform.

The minister also invited Berlinale participants, directors, film makers to participate at the 51st IFFI through films, delegations & partnerships.

The EAM later unveiled the poster for the 51st edition of India International Film Festival to be celebrated in Goa this year, along with its booklet. The delegation also released Pickle Magazine at the pavilion.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is also participating at the film festival, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

India congratulates Ghani on re-election as Afghan President

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New Delhi (NVI): Putting its weight behind Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, India today congratulated him on his re-election in the polls whose results have been contested by rival candidates.

External Affairs Ministry expressed hope that the new government and all political leaders in the war-torn country would work to strengthen national unity and conveyed India’s commitment to continue working with the new government and the democratic polity in strengthening bilateral strategic partnership.

The Election Commission, on February 18, announced that Ghani had secured 50.64 per cent vote in the September 28 elections.

His main rival and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah had got 39.52 per cent votes, the Election Commission said, while declaring the final results.

Abdullah, while alleging massive fraud, has refused to accept these results and vowed to form his own government.

“We congratulate President Dr Ashraf Ghani on his re-election following the announcement of final results of the Presidential elections by the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

“India supports the democratic aspirations of the people of Afghanistan and remains committed to continue to work with the new Government and the democratic polity in strengthening our bilateral strategic partnership in fighting the scourge of externally sponsored terrorism and for an enduring and inclusive national peace and reconciliation which is Afghan led, Afghan owned and Afghan controlled,” it added.

“We hope that the new Government and all political leaders in Afghanistan would work to strengthen national unity, promote inclusivity and protect the rights and interests of all sections of society,” the MEA said.

Germany shooting: 10 killed, suspect found dead

New Delhi (NVI): At least ten people were killed and four others injured in multiple shootings in the German city of Hanau yesterday. A man suspected of killing the people was found dead, along with another body, foreign media reports said today.

The shootings took place in two locations last evening. A police operation was launched to find the suspects, reports said.

A police officer was quoted as saying by a report that they received information about a fleeing vehicle after the shootings, and that the “alleged killer was found dead” in his apartment, along with “another corpse” early this morning.

Investigations into the identity of the victims and the suspect are underway.

Meanwhile, the apartment where the suspect’s body was found, has been blocked off and was being searched by special forces. There are no indications of other perpetrators, another officer said. They have not yet revealed any suspected motive for the killing.

The spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel also offered condolences to the victims’ families. “Deep sympathy goes to the families affected, who mourn the loss of their dead,” Merkel’s spokesman Steffen wrote in a tweet.

Hanau is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Frankfurt.

Watch: Woman plays violin during brain surgery

New Delhi (NVI): Dagmar Turner, 53, went under the knife at King’s College Hospital in London to have a dangerous tumour removed from her brain. The British woman played violin through part of the operation, in order to keep her skills intact, as her video of playing the musical instrument during the complex surgery went viral on social media.

The tumour, in her right frontal lobe, was dangerously close to areas of her brain that were responsible for coordinating delicate movements in her left hand, as per media reports. These regions are crucial for playing the violin, and in some spots, their distance from the tumour was as narrow as a credit card.

One wrong move by doctors might have cost Turner 40 years of violin practice, robbing her of the dexterity needed to play the instrument.

Keyoumars Ashkan, a neurosurgeon, came up with a creative solution.

They mapped Turner’s brain, opened up her skull for the surgery, then woke her from her anaesthesia and asked her to play the violin. The activity allowed them to see and avoid the parts of the brain she needs to play, while successfully cutting away bits of the tumour.

Turner played music by Gustav Mahler, George Gershwin’s jazz classic Summertime and pieces by Spanish songwriter and singer Julio Iglesias, according to reports.

“We perform around 400 resections (tumour removals) each year, which often involves rousing patients to carry out language tests, but this was the first time I’ve had a patient play an instrument,” Keyoumars Ashkan was quoted as saying by Washington Post.

“We managed to remove over 90 per cent of the tumour, including all the areas suspicious of aggressive activity, while retaining full function in her left hand,” he added.

The patient was released from hospital three days after the surgery.

Turner is a former management consultant who plays in the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra. She said she was relieved that the surgery didn’t rob her of the skills she’s developed over the last four decades.

“The violin is my passion,” she told the media. “I’ve been playing since I was 10 years old.

“The thought of losing my ability to play was heartbreaking,” Turner added.

Coronavirus: 2 passengers from quarantined cruise ship dead

Diamond princess, which was docked off in Yokohama, Japan.

New Delhi (NVI): Two passengers who were onboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, have died due to the coronavirus infection, the Japanese health ministry reported today.

The two elderly patients were hospitalised after they were diagnosed with the deadly infection that has claimed more than 2,000 lives so far. Both were in their eighties.

The ship had a total of 621 confirmed cases of the virus, the most in any single location outside of China.

Meanwhile, South Korea has also reported 31 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 82.

The mayor of the South Korean city of Daegu, Kwon Young-jin, today urged its 2.5 million people to refrain from going outside as cases of a new virus spike, according to media reports.

China’s National Health Commission reported at least 114 new deaths from the coronavirus outbreak as of the end of Wednesday, bringing the death toll to at least 2,118 nationwide.

Around 108 of the new fatalities were from Hubei Province, the epicentre of the epidemic.

The national health commission also reported 394 new confirmed cases, significantly lower than the 1,749 cases reported nationwide the previous day.

PM on Mizoram, Arunachal statehood day

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PM Narendra Modi (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh on their statehood day.

“On the occasion of their Statehood Day, greetings to the wonderful people of Mizoram. We are proud of the rich culture of this state. Those belonging to Mizoram have excelled in many spheres and contributed to India’s growth. Praying for Mizoram’s development in the coming years,” PM Modi wrote in Twitter.

“Best wishes to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on their Statehood Day. This state is synonymous with patriotism and unwavering commitment to national progress. Praying for Arunachal Pradesh’s continuous growth”, Modi said in another tweet.

On this day in 1987, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became full states from union territory.

TN: 19 dead as bus rams into truck

New Delhi (NVI): At least 19 people were killed after a passenger bus rammed into a truck on Coimbatore highway in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu early this morning.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus reportedly rammed into a container truck coming from the wrong side.

23 passengers were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.

Meanwhile, the truck driver is absconding and police have launched a look out operation for him.

Rain, thundershowers expected in Punjab, Haryana today

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New Delhi (NVI): With Jammu and Kashmir witnessing western disturbance, the effect can be felt over entire northern plains including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

Rain, thundershowers and strong winds are expected  in the region from tonight, according to Skymet weather reports.

Due to the humid winds, particularly the minimum temperatures have increased by two to three degrees over many places.

A few good spells are also expected to occur over Punjab and Haryana. Scattered rains will be seen over rest parts.

Meanwhile, Delhi may also receive a few good spells of rains. Light rains are expected over northern parts of Rajasthan. These rain activities will be short-lived, as summer can make its first move any time, according to the weather monitor.

Narnaul in Haryana and Umaria in Madhya Pradesh recorded minimum temperature at 6.0 and 10.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

Apart from this, Amritsar in Punjab recorded minimum temperature at 10.0 degrees Celsius as compared to yesterday’s 9.0 degrees Celsius.

Churu in Rajasthan and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh both recorded a minimum temperature at 8.0 degree celcius.

Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are experiencing wet conditions on Wednesday and Thursday, under the influence of not one, but two western disturbances (WD), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted.

In accordance with this forecast, a yellow alert has been issued in Jammu for yesterday.

Today, Delhi may also record minimum temperatures of 14 or 15 degrees as compared to the 9.4 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The maximum temperature today is expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The overall air quality in the national capital today is in “poor” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 228 which falls in the ” poor” category.

“No significant change temperature is expected in rest of the country,” it added.

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