Latest news with #Parikh
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Stakeholders to set aside 1% to boost natural diamonds
Surat: In a landmark move to boost the appeal of natural diamonds across the globe, top natural diamond mining, manufacturing and marketing players signed the Luanda Accord on Wednesday, in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Stakeholders jointly agreed to contribute the equivalent of 1% of annual revenues from rough diamond sales to a collective marketing initiative. Under pressure due to conflicts between countries, slowing economies and shifting consumer preferences towards lab-grown diamonds, the natural diamond trade is taking various measures to stabilize the market. After a significant drop in the global diamond business, industry leaders are joining hands to secure the industry's interests. This is a significant development for Surat and India. Eight lakh people are employed in the diamond manufacturing industry in the city, while seven lakh more work in the gems and jewellery sector in other cities of the country. The agreement was signed by the governments of Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa, officials of India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and De Beers Group. The 1% contribution will be channelled through the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), which will take the lead in designing and executing a global generic marketing strategy aimed at enhancing consumer awareness and demand for natural diamonds. "Implementation details, including the mechanisms for making these contributions, will be finalized after legal review. Each participating govt will work in coordination with industry representatives to establish suitable arrangements for contributions in their respective jurisdictions," said an official present at the meeting. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The agreement included that, to ensure transparency and alignment with contributor interests, the governance structure of the NDC will undergo a review. Annual assessments of both financial contributions and the impact of marketing campaigns will be conducted by NDC members. "The Luanda Accord marks a fundamental shift in the way our industry comes together to protect and promote the future of natural diamonds. As the world's largest diamond manufacturing centre, India is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with African producer nations and global partners," said Shaunak Parikh, vice-chairman, GJEPC. "A unified global marketing push is no longer optional — it's essential. GJEPC remains deeply committed to this shared vision and is ready to contribute actively to the next chapter of sustainable growth for our industry," Parikh added. "The signing of the Luanda Accord marks a historic moment of unity in our industry. After a year of collaboration with African diamond-producing nations and global partners like the GJEPC and DMCC, we've committed to collectively fund and promote natural diamonds. This is a powerful step toward a stronger, more sustainable future for our industry — and I'm proud of the leadership role the AWDC played in making it happen," said Ravi Bhansali, vice-president, AWDC.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
Meet the doctors who rushed to save lives after deadly Air India crash
Navin Chaudhary had just begun eating his meal when a loud bang startled him. He turned back to see a massive fire taking over the dining area where he and other trainee doctors had assembled for lunch. As the blaze approached, he rushed toward a window and jumped. From the ground, looking upwards, the sight of the Air India plane's tail cone hanging from the burning building propelled Chaudhary and fellow medical students into action. 'There was fire and many were injured,' said Chaudhary. He said he felt lucky to survive but knew he had a task at hand. He rushed to the hospital's intensive care unit, where the injured, most of whom had burns, were wheeled in on stretchers. 'I felt that as a doctor I could save someone's life,' he said. 'I was safe. So I thought, whatever I can do, I should.' At least 270 died when the Air India flight crashed into the campus of a medical college in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Only one passenger among the 242 aboard survived. At least 29 others on the ground, including five medical students inside the hostel, were also killed. Many believe that the death toll would have been higher if it had not been for the intervention of the trainee doctors and students who emerged from the smouldering hostel and rushed to save their colleagues. Akshay Zala, a senior medical student, said the crash felt 'like an earthquake'. 'I could hardly see anything as thick plumes of smoke and dust engulfed everything. I was barely able to breathe,' he said. Zala rushed to safety, running through dust and smoke. He cleaned and bandaged a wound on his left leg and then joined others at the medical college's trauma centre to treat the injured. On Monday, the crash site teemed with excavators and workers clearing the debris. Officials inspected the building in search of clues that could enable the investigators to figure out what led to the tragedy. Barely a kilometre away, trainee doctors who survived one of India's worst aviation disasters were still working to identify the victims through DNA testing. Indian authorities have so far handed over the remains of 47 victims The bodies of 92 others have also been identified through DNA matching and will be transferred to relatives soon. College dean Minakshi Parikh said that many of the doctors who pulled their colleagues out of the debris, later that day went back to their duties to save as many lives as they could. 'They did that and that spirit has continued till this moment,' Parikh said. Images of the hostel's dining area shortly after the crash showed parts of the aircraft and pieces of luggage strewn on the floor. Dining plates still containing food lay on the few dusty tables that were left intact by the impact. 'So that is human nature, isn't it? When our own people are injured, our first response is to help them," Parikh said. "So the doctors who managed to escape... the first thing that they did was they went back in and dug out their colleagues who were trapped inside'. 'They might not even have survived because the rescue teams take time coming," she added.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Expert details how plane crash death toll could easily have been even larger
Although all but one of the 242 onboard the Air India Boeing 787 died following the crash, it is thought the death toll of those on the ground - said to be 29 - could have been greater The death toll of the India Air plane crash could easily have been even greater than the estimated 270 people, it is argued. More than the 29 confirmed deaths of people on the ground would have been likely had it not been for the heroic efforts of Good Samaritans who rushed to help, according to Minakshi Parikh, dean of the college, struck by the Boeing 787. He praised the actions of quick-thinking employees and students, some of whom were having lunch and missed impact by inches upon the collision. She said: "That is human nature, isn't it? When our own people are injured, our first response is to help them. So the doctors who managed to escape ... the first thing that they did was they went back in and dug out their colleagues who were trapped inside. They might not even have survived because the rescue teams take time coming." Ms Parikh believes more bodies would have pulled from the rubble had her colleagues at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, western India, not reacted so swiftly and bravely. It is thought 29 people in the building - and on the ground below it - have been confirmed dead, in addition to 241 people on the plane itself. Navin Chaudhary, a trainee doctor, rushed towards a window and jumped to help search for injured colleagues and students after the impact on Thursday. He said: "There was fire and many were injured... I felt that as a doctor I could save someone's life. I was safe. So I thought, whatever I can do, I should." Students also emerged from the smouldering hostel and rushed to save their friends and staff. Akshay Zala, a senior medical student, said the crash felt "like an earthquake." He said: "I could hardly see anything as thick plumes of smoke and dust engulfed everything. I was barely able to breathe." Mr Zala rushed to safety, running through dust and smoke. He cleaned and bandaged a wound on his left leg then joined others at the medical college's trauma centre to treat the injured. Many, like Ms Parikh, believe those actions and the subsequent treatment were life-saving moments. Images of the college's dining area shortly after the crash showed parts of the aircraft and pieces of luggage strewn on the floor. Dining plates still containing food lay on the few dusty tables that were left intact by the impact. The development comes as an expert has claimed new footage of the Air India disaster contains pivotal clues which could help investigators uncover why the plane crashed. Analysing a new video of the plane's sudden descent, commercial aviator Steve Schreiber said he noticed a "protrusion on the belly of the aircraft", with a "little grey dot" just below it.
Politico
4 days ago
- Health
- Politico
When an Air India flight crashed into a medical campus, surviving doctors rushed to save lives
AHMEDABAD, India — Navin Chaudhary had just begun eating his meal when a loud bang startled him. He turned back to see a massive fire taking over the dining area where he and other trainee doctors had assembled for lunch. The blaze approaching him, he rushed toward a window and jumped. From the ground, looking upwards, the sight of the Air India plane's tail cone hanging from the burning building propelled Chaudhary and fellow medical students into action. 'There was fire and many were injured,' said Chaudhary. He said he felt lucky to survive but knew he had a task at hand. He rushed to the hospital's intensive care unit, where the injured, most of whom had burns, were wheeled in on stretchers. 'I felt that as a doctor I could save someone's life,' he said. 'I was safe. So I thought, whatever I can do, I should.' At least 270 died when the Air India flight crashed into the campus of a medical college in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Only one passenger among the 242 aboard survived. At least 29 others on the ground, including five medical students inside the hostel, were also killed. Many believe that the death toll would have been higher if it had not been for the intervention of the trainee doctors and students who emerged from the smouldering hostel and rushed to save their colleagues. Akshay Zala, a senior medical student, said the crash felt 'like an earthquake.' 'I could hardly see anything as thick plumes of smoke and dust engulfed everything. I was barely able to breathe,' he said. Zala rushed to safety, running through dust and smoke. He cleaned and bandaged a wound on his left leg then joined others at the medical college's trauma center to treat the injured. On Monday, the crash site teemed with excavators and workers clearing the debris. Officials inspected the building in search of clues that could enable the investigators to figure out what led to the tragedy. Barely a kilometer (less than a mile) away, trainee doctors who survived one of India's worst aviation disasters were still working to identify the victims through DNA testing. Indian authorities have so far handed over the remains of 47 victims The bodies of 92 others have also been identified through DNA matching and will be transferred to relatives soon. College dean Minakshi Parikh said that many of the doctors who pulled their colleagues out of the debris, later that day went back to their duties to save as many lives as they could. 'They did that and that spirit has continued till this moment,' Parikh said. Images of the hostel's dining area shortly after the crash showed parts of the aircraft and pieces of luggage strewn on the floor. Dining plates still containing food lay on the few dusty tables that were left intact by the impact. 'So that is human nature, isn't it? When our own people are injured, our first response is to help them,' Parikh said. 'So the doctors who managed to escape ... the first thing that they did was they went back in and dug out their colleagues who were trapped inside.' 'They might not even have survived because the rescue teams take time coming,' she added.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
After the Air India flight crashed into a medical campus, the surviving doctors rushed to save lives
AHMEDABAD, India — Navin Chaudhary had just begun eating his meal when a loud bang startled him. He turned back to see a massive fire taking over the dining area where he and other trainee doctors had assembled for lunch. The blaze approaching him, he rushed toward a window and jumped. From the ground, looking upwards, the sight of the Air India plane's tail cone hanging from the burning building propelled Chaudhary and fellow medical students into action. 'There was fire and many were injured,' said Chaudhary. He said he felt lucky to survive but knew he had a task at hand. He rushed to the hospital's intensive care unit, where the injured, most of whom had burns, were wheeled in on stretchers. 'I felt that as a doctor I could save someone's life,' he said. 'I was safe. So I thought, whatever I can do, I should.' At least 270 died when the Air India flight crashed into the campus of a medical college in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on Thursday. Only one passenger among the 242 aboard survived. At least 29 others on the ground, including five medical students inside the hostel, were also killed. Many believe that the death toll would have been higher if it had not been for the intervention of the trainee doctors and students who emerged from the smouldering hostel and rushed to save their colleagues. Akshay Zala, a senior medical student, said the crash felt 'like an earthquake.' 'I could hardly see anything as thick plumes of smoke and dust engulfed everything. I was barely able to breathe,' he said. Zala rushed to safety, running through dust and smoke. He cleaned and bandaged a wound on his left leg then joined others at the medical college's trauma center to treat the injured. On Monday, the crash site teemed with excavators and workers clearing the debris. Officials inspected the building in search of clues that could enable the investigators to figure out what led to the tragedy. Less than a mile away, trainee doctors who survived one of India's worst aviation disasters were still working to identify the victims through DNA testing. Indian authorities have so far handed over the remains of 47 victims The bodies of 92 others have also been identified through DNA matching and will be transferred to relatives soon. College dean Minakshi Parikh said that many of the doctors who pulled their colleagues out of the debris, later that day went back to their duties to save as many lives as they could. 'They did that and that spirit has continued till this moment,' Parikh said. Images of the hostel's dining area shortly after the crash showed parts of the aircraft and pieces of luggage strewn on the floor. Dining plates still containing food lay on the few dusty tables that were left intact by the impact. 'So that is human nature, isn't it? When our own people are injured, our first response is to help them,' Parikh said. 'So the doctors who managed to escape ... the first thing that they did was they went back in and dug out their colleagues who were trapped inside.' 'They might not even have survived because the rescue teams take time coming,' she added. Ganguly, Hussain and Nagpal write for the Associated Press. Hussain reported from Srinagar, India.
