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UPDATE: India Plane Crash Death Toll Rises To 279

Published

4 weeks ago

June 14, 2025

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Disturbed families waited Saturday for news after one of the deadliest air disasters in decades, with the toll rising to 279 people killed in the Indian passenger jet crash.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call shortly before it crashed around lunchtime on Thursday, bursting into a fireball as it hit residential buildings.On Saturday, a police source said that 279 bodies had been recovered from the crash site in the northern Indian city of Ahmedabad, one of the worst plane disasters of the 21st century.

There was one survivor out of 242 passengers and crew on board the jet when it crashed, leaving the tailpiece of the aircraft jutting out of a hostel for medical staff.

No fewer than 38 people were killed on the ground.”I saw my child for the first time in two years. It was a great time,” said Anil Patel, whose son and daughter-in-law had surprised him with a visit before boarding the Air India flight.”And now, there is nothing,” he said, breaking down in tears. “Whatever the gods wanted has happened.”

Distraught relatives of passengers have been providing DNA samples in Ahmedabad, with some having to fly to India to help the process.

The official casualty number will not be finalised until the slow process of DNA identification is completed.

Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members.

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said Friday that a flight data recorder, or black box, had been recovered, saying it would “significantly aid” investigations.

Forensic teams are still looking for the second black box, as they probe why the plane crashed after lifting barely 100 metres (330 feet) from the ground.US planemaker Boeing said it was in touch with Air India and stood “ready to support them” over the incident, which a source close to the case said was the first crash for a 787 Dreamliner.

AFP

News

Malnutrition Cost Nigeria $1.5bn Yearly- Rep Okafor

Published

25 minutes ago

July 9, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…as Nigeria rank 2nd globally

By Gloria Ikibah

Chairman House Committee on Food and Nutrition, Rep. Chike Okafor, has said that malnutrition in the Nigeria cost the nation about 1.5 billion dollars annually.

Re. Okafor who stated this at the ongoing National summit on nutrition and food security on Wednesday in Abuja, said the summit was organised to profer solutions to halt the growing concerns about the effect of malnutrition and lack of adequate food on Nigerians.

He added that beyond the health effects of malnutrition and lack of food which include Stunting, low birth weight, Anaemia in children, adolescent girls and women, there is a considerable cost economically.

According to him, the cost of inaction on these parameters on the Nigeria’s economy is aggregated to about 12.2% of the Country’s Gross National Income, about $56b, based on data from Nutrition International and the World Bank.

He said: “Food insecurity has been aggravated by post-harvest loss, estimated at $2b by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), yearly, this colossal loss alone is more than the Nutrition budget of the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education and Women Affairs put together.

“This continued loss is not only unacceptable, but unsustainable given the austere times in which we currently live. On the above premise my committee is working with those in the 36 states of the federation to do things differently.

“First of all, we are undertaking strategic capacity building sessions to have a better understanding of the root and dynamics of current nutrition and food security challenges in Nigeria. A wise man once said that once you are not informed, you are deformed.

“We are hoping that the capacity building sessions are institutionalized in partnership with the National Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies, with support from our ever helpful development partners.

“This will put us in a better pedestal to provide strategic oversight to all nutrition and food related interventions and implementing partners, including but not limited to the UN family, the World Bank, International and National NGOs, and of course the government at Federal, State and Local Government levels. By so doing, we will not only have more money for nutrition, but also more nutrition for the available money”.

In her remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Anwukah said Nigeria currently ranks second on the global scale of malnutrition and the first on the African continent.

Anwukah who spoke on the topic: “Strengthening Nutrition Co-ordination in Nigeria through the N-774 Initiative”, explained that Nigeria signed up on the N-774 initiative as a way of addressing malnutrition right from the grassroot level, adding that the initiative has been endorsed by the National Council on Food security and the Nigerian Governors Forum.

News

Ghanaian Photographer Buried in Camera-Designed Casket as Tribute to His Passion

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Ghanaian photographer has captured worldwide attention after being buried in a casket designed in the shape of a camera — a symbolic tribute to his lifelong dedication to photography.

The unique burial was revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @eddie_wrt, who shared a video of the poignant ceremony.

In the footage, pallbearers are seen carrying the camera-shaped coffin to the gravesite, honoring the late photographer in a deeply personal and creative way.

The video quickly went viral, sparking emotional reactions online as users praised the powerful tribute and shared messages of admiration.

See some reactions below:

@Wee3ny3: “Don’t try to die now wait make this generation finish before you do.”

@AmanorJulious: “Diogo Jota make lucky say he no be Ghanaian like no be small football boot.”

@evils_only: “Eiiiiii Ghana oooooooh nooooooo. Who even brought this style.”

News

Deadline for Hajj 2026 registration extended by 48hrs

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The deadline for Hajj 2026 registration has been extended by two 48hours.

According to Spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Haromy Muhammad Umar Butt, the registration will now continue by Friday through designated banks and the Ministry’s online portal.

He said this decision was made in response to requests from intending pilgrims to keep the registration process open until Friday. He said so far, 313,000 individuals have completed their registration for next year’s Hajj. The expenses and other terms and conditions for Hajj 2026 will be issued separately in accordance with the official Hajj policy.