Page 10 - atoday

A10
WORLD NEWSFriday 26 February 2016
Mumbai sets no-selfie zones as deaths linked to selfies rise
RISHABH R. JAIN
MANISH MEHTA
Associated Press
MUMBAI, India (AP) — Look
around in any major In-
dian city, and you will find
someone with an arm out-
stretched, mobile phone in
hand, smiling widely and
clicking away. Even Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has
embraced the medium,
posting pictures online he’s
snapped with various world
leaders.
But the pursuit of the most
epic selfie can have lethal
consequences.
India is home to the high-
est number of people who
have died while taking
photos of themselves, with
19 of the world’s 49 re-
corded selfie-linked deaths
since 2014, according to
San Francisco-based data
service provider Priceo-
nomics. The statistic may in
part be due to India’s sheer
size, with 1.25 billion citizens
and one of the world’s fast-
est-growing smartphone
markets.
Alarmed by the trend,
Mumbai has declared 16
no-selfie zones across the
city, as authorities warn
people against taking un-
necessary risks.
Earlier this month, an
18-year-old college stu-
China criticizes Philippines over South China Sea dispute
M. PENNINGTON
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chi-
na on Thursday accused
the U.S.-allied Philippines of
“political provocation” in
seeking international arbi-
tration over territorial claims
in the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Minister
Wang Yi said the decision
by Philippine leaders to
lodge a case with a tribu-
nal in The Hague was “ir-

Indians take a selfie in Mumbai’s coastline. India is home to the highest number of people who with a fine of 1,200 rupees,
have died while taking photos of themselves, with 19 of the world’s 49 recorded selfie-linked or about $18.
deaths since 2014, according to San Francisco-based data service provider Priceonomics. The After the woman’s death
statistic may in part be due to India’s sheer size, with 1.25 billion citizens and one of the world’s last month, the city’s po-
fastest-growing smartphone markets. lice conducted a survey
to identify such danger-
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) ous places, police official
Dhananjay Kulkarni said.
dent on a class picnic lost a popular tourist spot. ing train approaching, and The city also plans to run an
his balance while taking a An engineering student sus- were hit. They’d been on awareness campaign.
selfie atop a rock near a tained fatal head injuries their way to visit the Taj Ma- Despite clearly marked
dam near the central Indi- when a rock he was stand- hal. signs demarking the selfie-
an city of Nashik. He fell into ing cracked and sent him In Mumbai, police have free zones, people can still
the water and drowned, tumbling. He’d been trying declared selfies off-limits be seen clicking away, and
along with a classmate to take a selfie with friends in areas perceived as risky often going to the edges or
who jumped in to try and in front of the Kolli Hills in — particularly along the standing on ledges to get
save him. Last month, an Tamil Nadu. coastline in spots with no the most thrilling shots.
18-year-old woman fell and And in January 2014, three railings or barriers. Anyone “When you are traveling
drowned in the sea while students aged 20 to 22 venturing into off-limits ar- alone, and do not have
taking a photo of herself at died when they stopped to eas, even if they take no anyone to take your pic-
Mumbai’s Bandstand Fort, take a photo with a speed- photos, risks being slapped tures, then it’s only selfie,”
said Murtuza Rangwala, a
student in Mumbai.
Mumbai psychologist Keerti
Sachdeva said she doesn’t
expect the constant pursuit
of selfies to end any time
soon, saying one probable
reason is the need for ac-
ceptance and love.
“You know people have
this sort of feeling in adoles-
cent age, especially that
they need to get this ac-
ceptance from everyone,
that I am a smart person,
I am a good-looking per-
son,” Sachdeva said. “So
for acceptance and rec-
ognition they are indulging
in taking of selfies.”

responsible to the Filipino kered deal. It contends pines for shutting the door ute to the Philippines’ eco-
people and the future of that China’s massive terri- to negotiations with Chi- nomic development.”
the Philippines.” torial claims in the strategic na over their dispute and Wang was in Washington
China has refused to partic- waters do not conform with seeking arbitration with- this week for talks with his
ipate in the proceedings. A the 1982 U.N. out China’s consent. counterpart, Secretary of
ruling is expected later this Convention on the Law of He said China was pre- State John Kerry. Differ-
year, after the tribunal de- the Sea and should be de- pared to negotiate “tomor- ences over the South Chi-
cided last October that it clared invalid. The Philip- row.” na Sea have strained U.S.-
could hear the case. pines also asserts that some “We are neighbors just sep- China relations. The U.S.
The Philippines initiated ar- Chinese-occupied reefs arated by a narrow body accuses China of militariz-
bitration in early 2013 after and shoals do not gener- of water,” Wang told the ing a key conduit for world
Beijing refused to withdraw ate, or create a claim to, Center for Strategic and trade. China says Washing-
its ships from a disputed territorial waters. International Studies think ton and its allies are respon-
shoal under a U.S.-bro- Wang blamed the Philip- tank. “We want to contrib- sible for raising tensions.